After last year’s post-pumpkin season festivity, I upped the ante and defended myself from two pumpkins this year. (As always, the best approach is simply to avoid bad pumpkins in the first place).
The turning leaves: Shintaido Northeast fall retreat
Just got back from our fall retreat (gasshuku), and some of the powerful elements: the theme “Gratitude and Grace” as we work through with our longtime instructor and friend Joe Z. his experience of chemotherapy and our mutual support…The image of the muntjac deer on the gasshuku brochure with the theme of “encountering” the world and the interdependence that can … Read More
The traveling poet: “Cutting Sky”
The highlight of my day: coming across a poet-for-hire GennaRose Nethercott at the District Hall anniversary celebration tonight…I showed her this photo of me playing with jo staff and sky, and in about 3 minutes or less, she typed up this free verse poem: Cutting Sky Take up your sword, felled from a tree which grew into the swelling earth. … Read More
First time with fire sword
This weekend had my first experience swinging the blazing fire sword, as they say, my “virgin burn.” I hadn’t planned on it, had just mentioned to friend Jessie Jewels, who teaches “flow arts,” including the fire hoop, that I’d like to try the fire sword sometime. “Let’s do it now!” she replied. So there it was, my first time with … Read More
Experiencing the Total Eclipse 2017
(timelapse video above) I happened to be in the right place at the right time (after sifting through last minute weather forecasts) to experience the total eclipse at nearly the maximum length: 2 minutes and 33 seconds. In our case, we ended up outside an old graveyard in the rolling sandhills outside Arnold, Nebraska. A perfect place, perfect time, perfect … Read More
An extraordinary run on ocean trails in Australia
Had one of my best runs ever today – up a mountain trail I discovered by chance here in Victoria Australia. Past some waterfalls, up mountain stairs, startled two kangaroos, out to Castle Rock lookout with an exhilarating (and terrifying) view. I’m not a “serious” runner, but sometimes when the land is so gorgeous, it feels good to spend everything, … Read More
Contact Improv Melbourne: connecting with community
I had a great time at the Contact Improv group in Melbourne tonight — it’s an improvisational movement I’ve been practicing a few months in Providence. And even though I’m still kind of a beginner, parts of it remind me of some of the partner exercises I’ve been doing for years in Shintaido, where you become aware of your partner’s physical experience … Read More
William Ricketts Sanctuary: Forest of Love, Victoria Australia
Yet another extraordinary nature experience I had here in Australia…the William Ricketts Sanctuary in the Dandenong Mountains outside of Melbourne. The sanctuary incorporates 90 or so sculptures built into trails in the landscape…all by the visionary artist William Ricketts, who created a “forest of love” focusing on connection to nature and aboriginal experience. Feels like a combination of William Blake, … Read More
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