Water is Life
and the trees have eyes.
It was not a torrent today,
but it whispered and giggled.

M E D I T A T I O N

Ecola State Park, Oregon

“Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves”

~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

M E D I T A T I O N

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there
may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on
good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have
their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations
to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become
vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser
persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your
plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a
real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution
in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But
let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive
for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be
yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical
about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is
as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of
spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress
yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and
loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with
yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees
and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it
is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of
life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and
broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful.
Strive to be happy.

                                ~ Max Ehrman (1872-1945) Desiderata

A Poison Tree I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles. And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine. And he knew that it was mine, And into my garden stole When the night had veiled the pole; In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree. William Blake

H a r b i n g e r s O f S p r i n g

Vienna Dioscorides

Thank you
for the harbingers of Spring:
puffballs in the wind,
in Remini,
in Amarcord,
and Richmond's first daffodil
brilliantly blooming
in my front yard.

M E D I T A T I O N

Natural Bridge, Jefferson National Park, Virginia

"Everything, except for God, is metaphor."

D A I L Y G R A T I T U D E

Today, I remembered Joy!

Thank you for the ability
to recognize your beauty
and my beauty
as one.

Let Yourself Soar!

" This is a journey without distance,
to a goal that has never changed. "

I C a m e L i k e W a t e r

With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow,
And with my own hand labour'd it to grow:
And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd -
"I came like Water, and like Wind I go."

~ Omar Khayyám

P i e c e O f B e a u t i f u l

Schiedam, Netherlands

Market in Amsterdam

Rome, Italy

Den Haag, Netherlands

Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France

San Marco Piazza, Venice, Italy

Greece

Carnival, Viareggio, Italy

Greece

I want to make
a little piece of beautiful
somewhere in the world.

For me and for you, I will.

S w e e t L o v e

Sweet Love say
Where, how and when
What do you want of me? . . .

Yours I am, for You I was born:
What do you want of me? . . .

~ SAINT TERESA OF AVILA

(images found online. The bottom one is pic of a cottage for sale in Bulgaria. I am considering it.)

K e e p T h e C h a n n e l O p e n

There is a vitality, a life-force, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you.

~Martha Graham

b e a u t y

You give people
their beauty back:
that which they think
was taken from them
or which they lost
or never knew was theirs.

We create beauty for youonly to inhabit it ourselves.
I forgot how until you came.

You belong to the Winds.
(If anyone does, you do.)

D A I L Y G R A T I T U D E

Thank you for cold stone benches and fallen tree lounging, for bird song and river chants, for frozen toes in soggy wool socks in muddy boots and jasmine tea.

M E D I T A T I O N

" You will gain nothing by denying the truth. "

o d e t o w i l d e r n e s s

simple snow globe sounds

w i n t e r b l a n k e t

Thank you for the communion of birds, streets becoming streams,
and glitter and stardust underfoot. Thank you for the swollen river,
licking the trunks of trees...everything with its perfect, white shadow. Yesterday, i sat in bed at the window, watching birds beak-lift leaves.
Today i took a trek out back and listened to everything. I felt the snow and licked my fingers. I saw your fingerprint frozen in the river. (That means you are coming back). I saw your burlap bag - the one you house your treasures in - having an argument with two birch trees. A twig was holding your pink scarf captive. Writhing in the wind, threadbare and torn, it finally surrendered.