open

'your humble light
the fire of your mind
blinds you:
if you walk
with a lantern in the dark
you won't see the stars.'
~ hans børli

synchronicity

as i was finishing stamping the word 'effect' today while thinking on karma, my stool began to rock... 300 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake in virginia, i thought i was losing my mind... in the basement looking through the window, things seemed to be moving - or more accurately, i was moving... i ran upstairs to check the news on the internet and found nothing... called my dad - nope, he felt nothing... 'great,' i thought... 'i've imagined it.'


then my 13 yr. old called me - he was at a friend's house... 'mom, did you get out of the house? there was an earthquake... we went outside and took the dog.' 


really? my son knew to react... and his dopey mom sat in a basement over thinking...


cause - an earthquake/something unknown... not for us a life endangering event by any means (i am not comparing this to natural disasters that have taken many lives), just one i had never experienced...  


effect - the lesson being taught again to listen to your gut... i knew something was wrong... but we tend to reason it all away as adults... and in all seriousness, i was physically nauseous from it... 


i have to be honest, living very close to nyc and knowing people who were there on 9/11 i have thought many times on how i would have responded... we heard of how people in the towers were told to stay where they were after the first plane hit... some didn't listen to what they were told to do, they heeded instinct... and because of that they lived... 


funny how lessons come your way... 

meditating with metal

this week was all about making pieces, small and large... getting into zen mode... 

'move and the way will open.'

 ~ zen proverb

'only from the heart can you touch the sky.'
~ rumi

(obvious)

'fall down seven times
stand up eight.'
~ japanese proverb

'actions send out ripples
karma brings them back.'

working in this way can be so relaxing - trying to grab a hold of thoughts and feelings and bringing them to life... 

healing

'healing takes courage, and we all have courage,

 even if we have to dig a little to find it.'

~ tori amos

tears and water can wash away the rough edges of life... 

loosening thoughts and feelings long buried... 

because you already know -

'when one is pretending

the body revolts.'

~ anaïs nin

another step along the path

'keep yourself firmly centered inside here

and nothing will be able to shatter you.'

~ isan shinko (1740-1815)

this beautiful enso tattoo was received yesterday... and by one i deeply admire for his artistry and knowledge... his profound and generous spirit... i look at it and my heart swells... thank you tom... 

fertile

are you ripe to plant the seeds of Love?


to live the life of balance?


to nurture these things,


help them grow 


and send them out into the world?

'your work is to discover your work

and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.'

~ buddha

thank you to the one who gave of themselves here... 

the series is divine...