Gestures of Love

Got this on a forward. this reminds me of you.

Only love is big enough to hold all the pain of this world. - sharon salzberg

I think of a gesture of love as anything we do that helps others discover their humanity. Any act where we turn to one another. Open our hearts. Extend ourselves. Listen. Any time we are patient. Curious. Quiet. Engaged. I feel we become more fully human through our generorsity, when we extend to another rather than withdraw into ourselves. Conversation does this - it requires that we extend ourselves, that we open our minds and hearts a bit more, that we turn to someone, curious about how they live their life.

I learned this listening to Bernie Glassman describe a meeting between two homeless men. One was a "mole person." He lived underground in New York City, with thousands of other homeless people who never came to the streets. The other man lived in city parks. Bernie described his delight when the two reclusive and withdrawn men began talking to each other. A woman questioned whether there was any value in this conversation-the men seemingly had spoken more lies than truth. Bernie quickly replied: "It doesn't matter what they were saying. They were talking to each other."

I think about how much courage it took for those two frightened men to speak. Bernie knew the courage of their actions, the first tentative extension out from their painful, private experience. He wasn't concerned with their words. (And he knew that if they kept talking, they'd gradually become more truthful-for this is what always happens.)

Paulo freire described love as "an act of courage, not of fear." When we find the courage to approach those we fear, that is a gesture of love.

-Margaret Wheatley

WILD AND ALIVE WITH PEONIES

Em…so glad to hear about the farm…what an amazing opportunity to connect more with the earth. Llora than you for sharing your story…what a beautiful answer to your question. Gine we will go snow shoeing more in this life. Llora, Em, Gine, and Erin I am send you all so much love. I have a package waiting at home…I wonder what it is? Hmmmm I will be pretending to be sitting with all of you. In my brain Gine :^) I will create a world where you are closer to me.

I am at work. My mind is wondering…lustful for more and yet content for just this, just this breath. This moment of taking in your words…this moment of undeniable inspiration that comes from love…the strength that that love carries could part the red sea…my mantra lately is to have faith…faith that that universal love carries us to where ever we need to be and whatever we need to learn in this life. This is one of my favorite poems…it leaves me with such a potent image and feeling. Hope it does the same for you

Peonies
by Mary Oliver
This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting readyto break my heartas the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingersand they open ---pools of lace, white and pink ---and all day the black ants climb over them, boring their deep and mysterious holesinto the curls, craving the sweet sap, taking it awayto their dark, underground cities ---and all dayunder the shifty wind, as in a dance to the great wedding, the flowers bend their bright bodies, and tip their fragrance to the air, and rise, their red stems holdingall that dampness and recklessness gladly and lightly, and there it is again --- beauty the brave, the exemplary, blazing open. Do you love this world? Do you cherish your humble and silky life? Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath? Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden, and softly, and exclaiming of their dearness, fill your arms with the white and pink flowers, with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling, their eagerness

Amazing

That is amazing. We were both posting at the same time (roughly) yesterday connecting to similar ideas and I did not see your post until today.

 You wrote of the poem:

Breathing in, I have become space without boundaries.

I have no plans left.

I have no luggage.

The words "space without boundaries" feels particularly powerful to me right now. 

The mind and emotions have been limiting me recently and I am trying

hard to rectify this. Getting rid of the luggage is hard, but quite the goal.

I think for now I am content to be space without boundaries- thanks for this Llora.

Wherever you want to go, there you are

I suppose I have been drawn to checking our blog alot recently as well. Not sure why,

maybe because I love you all and it makes me happy to feel a little nit more of each other's lives with the distance.

   That sounds like a great opportunity Em. The farm will be such a good way to take quiet time and be out in the sunshine... once it comes back.

   Ellia- one of my favorite days from last year (2008) is when we went snowshoeing in the winter wonderland of your backyard. It probably becomes just a part of your life landscape that you are familiar with, but you are so lucky my dear. There is magic on the land. I am sure of it.

     I found a little magic yesterday in my own body. I was running on the indoor track at the school gym, which was tiring and liberating.    

     The magic is that I remembered I am in charge of my brain- no one else. If I don't like where  I am, what I am doing, or how I feel then I can change it. So, I wanted to be running on the river trail running at Wilson. I closed my eyes and I was there. I pictured every rock, fallen tree, river cane, cow, buckeye and sycamore tree. I ran the trail in my head with my eyes closed (opening every once in awhile to avoid running into walls and people) for a few laps.

This visualization was very powerful and positive for me and left me feeling much more

content and in control. It is easy to forget the power of the mind.

    No matter where we are in the world we can be where ever we want to be.

1/19/09

As a celebration of the new year my sangha does this cool thing. We ask a question to the 'bell oracle' (our facilitators have copied many wonderful poems and buddhist quotes and put them into our large bell that sits on the floor) We ask our question, breath 3 times and then draw the anwser from the bell. After I asked, "How can I find joy and creative inspiration in the midst of a hecktic schedule?"

The bell oracle said...

Breathing in, I have become space without boundaries.
I have no plans left.
I have no luggage.

(that's the poem under the heart, if you didn't notice)
wow. I folded my paper up and put it under my shirt right against my heart. This sentament is one that I really want to sink in.


look. this is my new mirror! I am starting a little wall sculpture. I was inspired by the altar we saw in the Thai restaurant in Nasheville. I love those things. and I could use some good joo, joo right now.
since arriving home my new year has been filled with self doubt, fear and worry about the future. But, all I can do is enjoy today. this moment is all that we have.

Thanks for posting, Ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its working. you are inspirering me!

For some reason, I felt drawn to checking this blog several times today, and now I know why! I'm so glad to see you around these parts! And glad to hear about your momentary return to childhood. That is so great to find, especially in the middle of this cold winter. After several days in below freezing temps, I appreciate what an incredible feeling of release and renewal must come with the spring.

So, how are we all doing in our relationships with inspiration? I would love to know how this month has been for all of you. I am inspired by both what we will celebrate tomorrow (MLK day) and for our new president! Ojala haga el cambio necesario.

I wanted to update you all on the things that I'm excited about for the new year. First, I have pretty much stopped drinking caffeinated coffee..if any of you remember my intense coffee addiction, you will recognize what a feat this is!! The first week was ROUGH, but I actually feel better now. The second thing that I'm excited about is that I will be helping out at an organic farm in the area once a week! It's run by a really awesome lady, and I'm super stoked because I get to learn everything from the beginning of the season thru the harvest. The third thing is that I decided to run a half marathon in April! I started training a few weeks ago, and my foot is really screwed up right now, so we'll see how that goes. But regardless, I ran 4 miles yesterday, which is kind of a personal record. It feels good to do what you never thought you could. We are more capable than we know, ladies!

This is a new and magical world

I found you! Yes on a computer page but I feel like I can feel all of you very close. When I opened the blogg page for the first time it made me feel so bitter sweet. Like when you first step out in to a snowey cold day...it's refreshing yet painful until you start moving. I played in the snow today jumping around in the fluffy cold blanket. It always brings me back to being a little girl. It is so important to let go and so hard to so sometimes. Today is an ode to snowey days...cold noses...feelings of youthful joy...and being oh so greatful for all of you. I miss you.

Ten gallons of beer

My biggest inspiration next to a secondary inspiration-

a fun, inspiring Saturday full of beer-making.

Meet Esteban's E.S.B. and Ten Stout!

Oh lonely bottle of salad dressing and cold empty shoes

Oh how the shoes sit, in their solitude, but together.... in the deep, dark abyss in the back of the Camry. Up front it is so warm and cozy (at 7:50 am and whatever time I leave work), but
in the depths of the trunk the shoes shiver and shake.
Road trip indeed. That dressing will stay good forever- it is mainly oil and vinegar and garlic,
you should definitely try it. Please finish off the Pomegranate one. I could careless normally about salad dressing- except that my mom made it.
That pie looked beautiful Llora. Apple pie is often one of my favorites. I like to thrown craisins and ginger into the mix. I may not have time for that pie this week, BUT I will be making
my second peanut butter cream (really tofu) pie of the week soon. It is the most delicious pie in
the world in relation to the amount of work you have to put into it (very little).

Much love to my ladies
Gine

pie inspiration

So at christmas my sister, Michaela said she was going to bring Apple PIe. when I heard this my reaction was: BORIIIING! Michaela is a great cook and usually brings along such delicious things as feta torte which consists of layers of feta, pesto, sundried tomatoes and pine nuts all shaped into a heavenly mound and ready to be spread on crackers. so you can understand my disappointment when she was bringing the boring, old, america, apple pie.

My mind and heart were changed however when i tasted this apple pie... oh my dears... and this is why i am bringing it to you. It is the BEST apple pie i have EVER tasted. I am not sure what makes it so amazig but it is delisious and satisfying in the same way a good apple pie is but, it is not too soggy or too sweet, not too dry or tasteless. it is perfect in flavor and texture and sweetness. Try it here. Michaela peels and cuts the apples into quarter inch slices which also made it amazing. it has a crumb topping so its kinda aple crisp esque but REALLY it is a pie unto itself and not a mere crisp. It is heaven.

I made one myself this evening. We'll see if mine is anywhere near as good as hers. I will let you know. Now that I have told you all about it my mouth is watering and I must go have a piece right now! Indulge this week, ladies and try this pie!
So, after tasteing my pie (it is not as good as Michaela's but still a fine pie) ...i would suggest you add 8 C of apples rather than the 6C suggested.

one lonely bottle of salad dressing

Ginelle,

Vincent Price misses you. I think this is definitely cause for another road trip soon. Although...how long does salad dressing last?

You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. -E. O. Wilson

Ellia?

Where's Ellia?

Knock, knock Ellia?

Anybody home?

Ellia adds inspiriation to my day!

"The sun never says to the earth,
'You owe me.'

Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights up the whole sky."

-Hafiz

I just rediscovered this album!!!!

The Be Good Tanyas are really speaking to my soul right now. I am way into 'hello love' the newest album. Do you all have this one? if not I will burn you a copy. i want you to be listening to this too! let me know and i will send it off.

check out this way cool video of 'human thing.' it is really way cool-promise. of course it is NOwhere near as cool as OUR music videos...take a look!

FYI: to add a website link to your post, you 1. highlight the text you want to be the link 2. then press the little link icon on the tool bar right above the text box. 3. paste the address in there. that's it. otherwise the link won't be 'alive.' you know, you won't be able to just click it to get to the page you want to show us.

OOOOOH! I also just noticed that there is a video tab.... erin.... when you are feeling better you could upload one of our funnies if you wanted.

A favorite quote

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I really like this one.

mysteries abound

Scroll down to read about the antennae!! (the author refers to it as a "rod". hahahahahahahahaha, love it!)

http://www.williamhenry.net/cityofsecrets.html

a giggle bubbles up in my belly just looking at this Gine! Bleeney anyone?

posing in the antenae to GOD!

a remeberance of the sexy serendipty that followed us to Nashville.

inspiration. Origin: middle english. (in the sense [Divine guidance])

here you are! I am so proud. This is a poem that someone shared at my sangha. I was blown away! it expresses exactly what I struggle with so much of the time. I was planning on giving you all a copy for x-mas, but i didn't- did i. love, llora

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.


~ Rumi