I’m back! My month-long break was superb. I visited family on the East Coast, and vacationed with my life partner on the West Coast. I had never before seen an ocean generate such huge waves or roar so loudly! If you were unaware, a series of storms out of the Pacific pummeled California & pointsContinue reading “Winter Vaca and a Change of Schedule”
Category Archives: Holidays/Seasons
Aspects of Autumn
If I were a bird, I would fly about the Earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot Fall hasn’t always been my favorite season. As a kid, I loved Summer, when school was out, more than any other. (Maybe that’s true for everyone?) As I got older, vibrant colors & cooler temperatures started having aContinue reading “Aspects of Autumn”
6 Benes of Winter Hiking
I hiked one of my favorite winter trails a few days ago. The abundance of volcanic rock in the area reflecting the heat of the sun makes it one of the warmest hikes around. Snow and ice still covered over half the footpath, courtesy of a weather system that enshrouded parts of northern Arizona forContinue reading “6 Benes of Winter Hiking”
Magnificent Autumn
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;Conspiring with him how to load and blessWith fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core . . .~John Keats The first line of Keats’ lovely ode To Autumn always remindsContinue reading “Magnificent Autumn”
The Sweetness of Spring
Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke For the past few days, I’ve noticed the birds are back and making their happy presence known. I took time out this morning to admire the black, white, and vibrant red of two acorn woodpeckers out a back window. InContinue reading “The Sweetness of Spring”
Winter in the High Desert
The first time I witnessed a big snowfall, it was in Northern Arizona. I was walking back to my hostel from a yoga class when the flakes first started. After having lived full-time in the Southern US, where snow seldom makes an appearance, I was super-excited to see it. Two days later, there was anContinue reading “Winter in the High Desert”
Gifts of Nature
Gift-giving has been a popular custom for hundreds of years. Initially, small gifts to help the poor were given at this time of year across many religious traditions. Unfortunately, this compassionate practice that epitomized holiday spirit has been all but lost; somehow, receiving gifts has become more important than giving.
Chai My Way
It’s chai season here. Although it’s my favorite hot tea and I drink it throughout the year, the chillier months seem to claim it as their own, and who am I to argue? I first tried chai while living in community and working in the kitchen at Omega Institute in Upstate New York. One ofContinue reading “Chai My Way”
Spirit Traditions
“Traditions represent a critical piece of our culture. They help form the structure and foundation of our families and our society. They remind us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become.”
Micro of the Macro 