Half a dozen of us around the globe decided to share the moment of sunrise together, lifting our swords in shoko — a salutation — as the sun rose for each of us on the last day of the year. And though it turned out to be a cold rainy morning for me, the global peer pressure got me out … Read More
Three stones meditation
A sunny afternoon yesterday to visit Lake Massapoag. The winter lake continues to surprise me with treasures — simple treasures, like three nicely-matched stones that feel good in my hands. I use them for the meditation I learned at a retreat with Thich Nhat Hahn many years ago. I wrote more about it here, but the gist of the meditation … Read More
Cutting and Blessing with Sword
One of the major themes in my life the last few years has been “cutting and blessing.” …Going through life changes, getting unstuck, using a wooden sword for my body to feel this. And to do the cutting in a way that doesn’t just discard the past, but blesses it at the same time. Anyone who has gone through a … Read More
Solstice Haiku, 12/21/19
Gets dark so early — go run around with a stick / and catch the last rays (There’s a feeling I get looking at the sky, and especially such a beautiful sky, that is more expansive than whatever is currently bothering me. Looking at the sky can be a way of taking care of myself. And the staff extends my … Read More
Lake Massapoag Haiku 2, 12/20/19
Not the big waves that / crash on shore — the little ones / reach and pull you in (Notes: it was so peaceful sitting at the Lake watching this at sunset. Mesmerizing. My friend Cyril from Shintaido UK commented on facebook “…sweetly singing sirens (Tales of brave Ulysesses)”. And I think that might be what’s going on here…the sirens … Read More
Lake Massapoag Haiku, 12/20/19
Walk by the lake’s shore / look down at iced pebbles and / find the lake’s heartbeat (Notes: This haiku was one of the most liked that I’ve posted on the Sharon What’s Up facebook group, and I think it’s because it’s such a striking image that leads up to the phrase “lake’s heartbeat.” The lake becomes magical in the … Read More