Wake UP!

At the age of 20, Ven. Tenzin Palmo left her home in London for India to pursue her spiritual path. There she met her guru, His Eminence the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche and became one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. In 1976, seeking more seclusion and better conditions for practice she found a cave in the Himalayan Valley of Lahaul where she lived for 12 years, the last three in strict retreat. In 2000, she founded the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery to give young nuns of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage the opportunity to realize their intellectual and spiritual potential.

Video: http://www.globalonenessproject.org/video/Tenzin-Palmo/1

Global Oneness Project

A friend shared this wonderful website with me, and I feel it is well worthwhile to share with you. Click on the link to learn more.


"The Global Oneness Project, a special project of Kalliopeia Foundation, was created to discover and document the diverse ways in which the emerging consciousness of oneness is impacting people's lives. We are traveling worldwide with a small camera crew, asking people from a variety of disciplines whose work is grounded in a perspective of oneness for their stories and insights. The video interviews from our travels are freely available through this website, which will be growing and changing as the project evolves. In addition to the web site, we are pursuing the possibilities of making a film and using the material for educational outreach."

SHAMANISM

Early this morning a fox ran across the road in front of my car. Being interested in Shamanism, I immediately wondered what the symbolism of the red fox represented.

"Fox Medicine" at www.birdclan.org/fox.htm says:

" If fox shows up in your life it is a sign that you are to be aware of the actions of the world around you. The world is shape shifting and growing into new patterns all the time. Use the art of camouflage and keep cunningly silent about who and what you are observing. After observing for a while you will become aware of certain patterns of predictability in situations and you will know what to do. Fox's medicine of camouflage teaches Oneness with all."

Several years ago I took an introductory Shamanism class where I learned how to journey and a bit about Power Animals and Spirit Guides/guardians.

The basic practice of contemporary core shamanism is the shamanic "journey." This is an experience that usually lasts from 10 to 20 minutes. Rhythmic sound from a drum or rattle can be used to guide the "journeyer" into a receptive relaxed state, and she has an experience like a lucid dream, which unfolds as she lies or sits quietly and travels to non-ordinary reality in her imagination. The journeyer asks questions for guidance. In shamanic journeys, people can swim like fish, fly over mountains, visit the spirits of people not physically present, and it feels real. Everyone's experience is unique and personally meaningful to them.

As I journeyed, I kept a log. Some of my journeys were incredibly complex, and the instructor felt they were highly symbolic. Two memorable journeys included my guardian Lumen, the cougar, who was also a power animal along with Abbo, the crow.

June 24, 2004
I entered the tunnel and went through the doors to the Polynesian ruin. Lumen joined me immediately, and we walked to the rainforest pool. I retrieved the sand dollar. We went through the waterfall into the jungle. We found the ape (chimp) with the book. I asked him what his name was -- received Myth/Mist. It became clear that his name was Myst.
I told him I wanted to discover the meaning of the remaining points of the star (in the sand dollar). The first three were TRUTH, TRUST, and LOVE.

Myst (ape) directed Lumen and me to a path. We walked down that path and the crow joined us. I asked the crow what he was called/known by, and he replied, ABBO.

The three of us eventually came into a clearing. In the clearing was a labyrinth which was in the shape of the star in the middle of a sand dollar. We entered the labyrinth, Abbo on my shoulder, and Lumen beside me. There were five traverses around the five points of the star. In the process of walking, I found the meaning of the remaining two points: HONOR/RESPECT and PEACE. All three of us completed the walk and sat within the center of the labyrinth. Abbo gave me a black feather from his wing.

When we left, we returned the way we had come. We met up with Myst again and I told him I had found the remaining meanings of the star points.

Abbo faded out of the picture, but Lumen and I returned to the pool through the waterfall. We parted there. I took the black feather with me, walked through the fire and back to the present.

Research -- Abbo was a Benedictine monk who lived in the late 900's. He was a scholar and wrote about astronomy, physics, philosophy, etc.

June 26, 2004
Lumen met me at the Polynesian ruins. I told him my intent for the journey -- to find the Indian chief. We walked to the prairie and I saw blue feathers in Lumen's eyes. We walked past a stone outcrop, like a mesa. Eventually we sat and built a fire. "Half-Moon" came to me -- Lumen and I sat by the fire until it got dark. The moon was half full.

The chief appeared out of the dark carrying a peace pipe. He sat down by the fire and smoked the pipe. I asked him why he was important -- what was his purpose? He said he was to remind me to stay balanced and connected to the earth. We sat there awhile. I asked if the chief was a guardian or spirit guide -- no real response.

I asked Lumen if he was a guardian or animal totem, and he is BOTH. We sat there until dawn when the chief left and Lumen and I returned to the ruin. I asked Lumen why I saw things in his eyes. "portent. . . portent. . . portent. . . " he replied.

SIRIUS

From "DREAM"

by Boris Levinson

I, a child

Try to reach the stars. . .

Sirius is so near.

I run to the nearest hill

My reach is always too short

Wait till I am a grown man!

Now, I am old and bent with years

No more running to the hill and mountain top --

Yet, a warm, steady, life-giving glow

Reaches me from Sirius. . . the unattainable.

I collect

White iridescent and evanescent starbeams

For my trip home to

Sirius the dog star.

We have all heard or used the expression "The Dog Days of Summer." Many of us likely assume that the phrase originated from areas where the climate was so hot and oppressive that dogs would lie about in a heat-induced stupor.

The actual origin is much more fascinating and is just another cosmological morsel to savor.

**All stars shine but none do it like Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Aptly named, Sirius comes from the Greek word Seirius, meaning, "searing" or "scorching." Blazing at a visual magnitude of -1.42, it is twice as bright as any other star in our sky.

Sirius resides in the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog, and is commonly called the Dog Star. In ancient Greek times the dawn rising of Sirius marked the hottest part of summer. This is the origin of the phrase "dog days of summer."

Because of Earth's 26,000 year precession cycle, in which the planet's axis slowly wobbles due to the gravitational attraction of the Sun and Moon on the Earth's equatorial bulge, Sirius no longer marks the hottest part of summer, rising later in the year. Precession gradually changes the location of stars on the celestial sphere.

Sirius is best seen at a favorable time during the winter months for northern hemisphere observers. To find the Dog Star, use the constellation of Orion as a guide. Follow the three belt stars -- obvious targets even for casual skywatchers -- 20 degrees southeast to the brightest star in the sky. Your fist at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of sky.

Sirius, the red giant star Betelgeuse, and Procyon in Canis Minor form a popular asterism known as the Winter Triangle.

Intrinsically, Sirius is 23 times more luminous and about twice the mass and diameter of the Sun. Of course it's farther away from Earth than the Sun. But not too far, cosmically speaking. At a mere 8.5 light-years distant, Sirius seems so bright in part because it is fifth closest star to the Sun.

In 1844, German astronomer Friedrich Bessel observed that Sirius had a wobble, as if being tugged by a companion. While testing his new 18.5-inch lens in 1862 (the largest refracting telescope in the world at that time), Alvan Clark solved this mystery by discovering that Sirius was not one star but two; the first compact stellar remnant had been discovered, and it would prove to be a pioneer of what would be later referred to as a whole class of white dwarf stars.

The companion, dubbed Sirius B, has the mass of the Sun in a package as small as the Earth, having collapsed after depleting its hydrogen. A single cubic inch of matter from this companion star would weigh 2.25 tons on Earth. At magnitude 8.5, it is 1/400th as luminous as the Sun. The brighter and larger companion is now known as Sirius A.**

**article taken from: "The 10 Brightest Stars"
By Pedro Braganca
Special to SPACE.com
posted: 07:00 am ET
15 July 2003

VERTIGO

This poem was inspired by my struggle to deal with undiagnosed tinnitus and vertigo.

Sound was not my friend –
It looped and spiraled into a vortex of vibration,
shaking my equilibrium.
Nystagmus accompanied the symphony of tinnitus,
Iris of the eye chasing cacophony,
a tsunami of sound waves pounding
the vestibular canals.

LETTING GO

Letting Go is one of the hardest lessons we recognize and attempt to learn in our lifetime.

ON LETTING GO
By Pat Burnette

To LET GO does not mean to stop caring for others; it means I can’t do it for someone else.

To LET GO is not to cut myself off; it’s the realization I can’t control another, only myself.

To LET GO is not to enable, but to allow others to learn from natural consequences.

To LET GO is to admit I cannot control what another does, which means the outcome for that other person is not in my hands.

To LET GO is not to change or blame another; it’s to make the most of myself.

To LET GO does not mean you condone what the other person has done; it just means you can move past it

To LET GO is not to care for myself, but to care about my SELF.

To LET GO is not to fix other people, but to be supportive of them and their growing process.

To LET GO is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To LET GO is not to be in the middle of arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To LET GO is not to be protective; it’s to permit another to face reality.

To LET GO is not to deny, but to accept.

To LET GO is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To LET GO is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To LET GO is not to criticize or regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To LET GO is not to regret the past, but to grow and live today, thus moving towards the future.

To LET GO is to fear less and love more.

STONES 101

Because Hannah gobbles her food so quickly, I have been putting three stones into her dish to slow her eating. It works.

After Hannah had a bout of gastroenteritis this week which necessitated a 24 hour stay in the emergency clinic for IV fluids, I nuked her bone in the microwave to eliminate possible bacteria that could aggravate her compromised digestive system.

This morning I got the brilliant idea that I should nuke the three stones that I put into her food dish. I carefully arranged them on paper, placed them on a flat dish, and fired up the microwave for 1 minute. I went upstairs and promptly forgot about the stones. Later I opened the microwave to prepare something for lunch, and the largest stone had exploded. The plate had shattered, and the microwave looked like a sandbox.

Hummmm, that must have been sandstone? Did those stones contribute to her intestinal upset this week? Was I stupid while looking out for Hannah's best interest?

A quick search online (campfire cooking stones) revealed:

"However, because some stones store water in tiny cracks and fissures, it's best not to take them from streams or other damp areas. Heating such a rock can cause the water it contains to vaporize and expand, often exploding the stone dangerously. For that reason, only bone-dry rocks should be used. I also recommend that sandstone, flint, obsidian, quartz, and any other hard, fireformed silicate types be avoided, as they tend to shatter when heated and then placed in water. "

Parallell Community

Until we extend the circle of compassion to all creatures, we will not ourselves find peace ---- Albert Schweitzer

PARALLEL COMMUNITY

The Parallel Community has been formed to create a platform

where people can express their positive contribution for change.

All human beings have the absolute right to live in peace and to claim that right for themselves.

Peace begins with each one of us living in harmony with our local community.

It is our responsibility to care for and have compassion for all life and the earth we live on.

Millions of people across the world feel exactly as we do and we all need to unite to make our voices heard.

War need not be an inevitable consequence of diplomatic failure.

WORLD ANIMAL DAY

HAPPY WORLD ANIMAL DAY

October 4, 2007

~Do Something Special Today for the Animals in your Life~

WORLD ANIMAL DAY MISSION STATEMENT

*To celebrate animal life in all its forms
*To celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom
*To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives – from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives
*To acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives

World Animal Day takes place every year on 4 October. Animal welfare groups, sanctuaries and individuals throughout the world hold special events to heighten public awareness of animal issues and to encourage people to think about how we as humans relate to animals.
Be part of something special and find out how you can get involved in World Animal Day 2007.

Yogurt Man

I've been going through old files and throwing things out. The other day I came across an essay I'd written about a racehorse I'd worked on in 1992 when I was doing equine sports massage. I was profoundly moved by this experience and never forgot Yogurt Man. To this day I wonder whatever happened to this special animal.

YOGURT MAN

The trainer saw me working on some horses in her shedrow, and in desperation, asked me if I had time to come and look at one of her charges. I agreed -- to a horse in need, I am a friend, indeed!

"Yogurt Man" was an Allowance horse. His trainer explained to me that they believed he had once tied-up so severely that he had suffered extreme muscle damage in his left hindquarter, involving the biceps femoris and semitendinosis muscles. He was left with a huge depression which crackled with scar tissue when I gently palpated it. How this horse had ever overcome such a handicap to race successfully was a true testimonial to the heart of a Throughbred. However, along the way, the spirit had suffered.

When I first entered his stall, Yogurt Man was standing dejectedly, with his head hanging, against the rear wall. I sensed depression and sadness. He made no move to recognize that I had entered his territory. When I spoke to him, there was not so much as a flicker of an ear to acknowledge my presence.

Becuase the trainer had contracted for a target massage rather than a full body treatment, I gently, but firmly, began to check the stress points. Yogurt Man still chose to be non-responsive. I continued to talk to him with my voice and with my hands.

When I reached the left hindquarter, there was a faint stirring of response. He communicated to me that my "touch" was appreciated and needed. After applying compression and preparing the area for deeper work, I progressed to acupressure therapy. When I applied direct pressure to the semimembranosus stress point, I elicited my first strong reaction! Yogurt Man began to push against me. My thumb was not strong enough to tolerate his weight, so I switched to my elbow and utilized deep tissue techniques to ease the spasms. Yogurt Man reciprocated by pushing so hard into my pressure that he was nearly sitting down on me!

I allowed him to dictate the pressure and length of therapy he wanted. Gradually he eased, until he was again standing normally. I finished the therapy with more compression and prepared to initiate work on his right side.

As I approached his forequarters, this previously unresponsive horse turned his head towards me and snuffed gently into my hand. When I reached up to stroke him, he laid his head in my arms and gave a deep sigh. I was deeply moved by this acknowledgement from such a noble animal.

*postscript: An enthusiastic phone call the next day reported that Yogurt Man was 100% better. The trainer was eager for my return, but two days later, I broke my ankle and was unable to continue my therapy with this magnificent soul.

Looking Up

Both Hannah and I look upwards.

Hannah watches birds, butterflies, moths, and airplanes. I watch birds, the moon, planets, and stars.

One evening when we were walking in the township park, several wedges of Canada geese decided to land in a nearby field. They announced their descent with raucous honks and a flurry of wings back-peddling the air in preparation for landing. When the first wedge approached, Hannah jerked her head upward to identify the onslaught of noise, trying to decide whether to run or watch. She weathered the first group only to see a second wedge approaching...and a third...and a fourth.

To Hannah, a goose is a goose is a goose.... Ironically, shortly after Hannah had her first experience with landing geese, a friend sent me this wonderful analogy.

LESSONS FROM GEESE

Dr. Robert MacNeish

FACT 1 - As each Goose flaps its wings it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds 71 per cent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON - People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

FACT 2 - When a Goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
LESSON - If we have as much sense as a Goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

FACT 3 - When the lead Goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another Goose flies to the point position.
LESSON - It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with Geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

FACT 4 - The Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON - We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

FACT 5 - When a Goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two Geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
LESSON - If we have as much sense as Geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

THE PLEIADES

When I lived on Georgana Farm, I used to lie on the stone wall by the barn on clear nights and look upwards. I always wondered what I was seeing. The only constellation I could identify was the Big Dipper. This fascination with the cosmos never left me. In 2002 I met a wonderful man who taught me about the sky. He would set up his telescope in my backyard so I could view Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. He challenged me to find the Great Nebula and the double star in the Big Dipper. The first time I saw the Pleiades through his telescope I was profoundly moved. Even today the Pleiades still moves me to tears.... my teacher is no longer a part of my life, but he left a wonderful legacy. When I am up with Hannah in the middle of the night my favorite companions are Orion, the moon, the Pleiades, and the bright morning star Venus. Indeed, I recall seeing this extremely bright and clear light in the early morning of September 2002 and asking my friend what it was. "That, my dear, is Venus," he said. "At this time of year when she rises in the east, she is called the morning star."

"Many a night I saw the Pleiades, rising thro' the mellow shade,
Glitter like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid."
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1837-8, Locksley Hall

Choosing Hannah

A friend emailed me the following story recently, and because I had just gotten Hannah, it was a "warm fuzzy" story. Yes, it's a little mushy, but the wisdom of kids astounds us in many ways.

Sighs of the Heart

by Bob Perks

"She keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the woman told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" she asked.
"Puppy size!"
"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."
"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration.
Just then the young child came walking into the office. "Well, did you find one?"
"No, not this time," she said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?" The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.
The young child took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I bet we'll find one this weekend," the child said.
Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now the young child knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, her mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.
There was an observation window so people could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted. The young girl walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.
"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"
"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held the last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size----sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love the bigger the sighs!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"

When I contracted with Hannah's breeder to take a puppy, it was explained to me that professional and serious hobby breeders would survey the potential owner and choose the puppy they felt would be best suited for that individual. Because both the breeder and the owner of Hannah's sire were people of integrity and very professional in their business operations, I trusted that they would select a wonderful little female for me.

Because the breeder had bred 2 bitches to Wes, I visited both litters. When I visited Bella's litter, Hannah and her siblings were just 5 weeks old. I picked up most of the puppies one by one. Hannah had a dusky olive green rick-rack identification ribbon around her neck. She was one of the tiniest puppies, if not THE tiniest. She was calm and looked at me steadily. I put her down, picked up another, and would pick her up again and again. I finally whispered to her, "Would you like to come home with me?" . . . . and the breeder overheard me. I told Luci that I wanted my puppy from Bella's litter, gave her a deposit, and made arrangements to pick up the puppy 2 weeks later.

I went home and kept my fingers crossed for 2 weeks. Prior to the pick up day I called Luci to arrange a time. I asked her which puppy she had selected for me, and she said that she thought the puppy I liked would be a great match for me. She had already started calling her Hannah. I was ecstatic!

Yes, Hannah had the puppy sighs . . .

Just What's In A Name Anyway?

“Words have meaning, but names have power” (anonymous)

Raven... Sophie... Dakota... Gaia... Heidi... Lyra... Moxie... Rio... Zoe...

Like anyone who is anticipating the arrival of a pet, I spent weeks thinking of names. Friends joined me by making suggestions and reacting to those I'd brainstormed. My list grew longer and longer.

Because I love "looking up" at the stars, planets, and constellations, Luna was at the top of my list for many weeks. Eventually as I sounded the name over and over, it began to sound like a looney name for a lunatic, something I did NOT want in a puppy.

Then I considered synonyms for black like Shadow and Onyx . . .

Complicating the process was the AKC regulation of limiting the name to 27 letters and spaces. I was also asked to include the kennel name Ridgeway.

One day the name Hannah came to me as if it were whispered on a breeze. There was absolutely no reason why Hannah suddenly went to the top of my list. It just seemed like the perfect name and was also two syllables and easily verbilized, valuable training tools.

Hannah is from the Hebrew name Channah. Hannah \ha(n)-nah\ is pronounced HAN-ah. Its meaning is "favored grace." Hannah was the mother of the prophet Samuel. Being barren, she asked God to bless her with a child, and her prayer was answered. Hence, the name literally means "God has graced me with a child."

Very appropriate. Our Hannah is certainly a favored one who has graced our lives.

And because I liked the names Shadow and Luna, her AKC registered name is Ridgeway Moonshadow Hannah.

My Way

"Learning the value of silence is learning to listen to, instead of screaming at, reality: opening your mind enough to find what the end of someone's else's sentence sounds like, or listening to a dog until you discover what is needed instead of imposing yourself in the name of training."
Thomas Dobush, Monk of New Skete

Once I gave official notice of retirement in February 2007, I began to prepare for the puppy's arrival ...... by reading! While I could not accept any trainer's total package, I came away with a new understanding of the canine mind. As a person who has been around animals most of her life, I knew that I would pull ideas from each book and ultimately train Hannah "my way."

Cesar's Way introduced me to the concept of alpha dog.

The Dog Listener reinforced the alpha dog concept but strongly embraced training without pain or fear. Trainer/author Jan Fennell was inspired by the famous Monty Roberts who authored The Man Who Listens to Horses and utilizes the "join up" method of human-animal communication.

Katz On Dogs resonated with me the most. Jon Katz is not afraid to admit that he loses his temper and makes mistakes while working with his dogs. The "case studies" he presents to illustrate specific training techniques showcase Katz's skill as a writer. I was genuinely sad to finish the book.

But Suzanne Clothier spoke to my heart in her book If A Dog's Prayers Were Answered...Bones Would Rain from the Sky. She refutes the alpha dog concept believing that it actually foster's unfairness and cruelty in dog training. She speaks of the "light" in a dog's eyes which should never be extinguished by inferior training.

"Lots of people talk to animals," said Pooh.

"Maybe, but . . ."

"Not very many listen though," he said.

"That's the problem," he added.

Bemjamin Hoff: The Tao of Pooh

May the light never disappear from Hannah's eyes!

Meet Hannah

When I decided to retire after 37 years in education, I knew I wanted to bring a puppy into my life. I specifically wanted a female, black Labrador Retriever sired by Wendi Huttner's stud dog Balrion Weathertop Nor'wester. Wes is an AKC Champion and comes from the Balrion Kennel in Wales. Both Wes and Hannah's dam, Bella, carry the English Labrador Retriever bloodlines. The English Labs are a smaller, more compact dog than the American Labs.

I knew that adding puppy energy to our home would force a huge shift in our very predictable lives. Hannah's presence has been felt in many ways, and she has been a major catalyst in returning me to the outdoors.

The Tao of River and Mountain

"Enlightenment is not a matter of imagining figures of light, but of making the darkness conscious." -- C. G. Jung

Tao is a Chinese term that represents the basic concept of Taoism. Hilary J. Barrett in her article "The I Ching and the Tao" writes, "The Tao is the way. To move with it is to be in harmony with the nature of the time, fitting with it as smoothly as flowing water. " Hence, today's title suggests the way of river and mountain.

The largest impact of this wonderful, spiritually renewing journey to Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana was through my experiences on the rivers and in the mountains. The mountains invite stillness through their solid immobility, yet are alive through eons of sculpturing. The rivers, often originating in these mountains, serve a constant reminder that water flows through the channels of least resistance.

On Sunday, July 17th I drove to Somers, Montana on the northeast corner of Flathead Lake to visit Katy Meyers and her husband Terry. Katy and I have known each other since we were second graders in Shippensburg. When we parted ways after graduating from high school, we kept in touch by letters and Christmas cards, and eventually just at Christmas. With the advent of e-mail, Katy and I renewed our correspondence, but had not visited in about 34 years.

When I arrived, Katy was working in her garden and the connection was reignited instantaneously. We had a marvelous visit reminiscing, catching up on 34 years, and enjoying each other's personas molded by our experiences over these many years. The soul connection actually runs more deeply now than it did when we were teenagers.

Katy and Terry generously gave two days of their time to take me to Glacier National Park and on a raft trip. On Monday we spent the day driving the "Going-to-the-Sun" highway in Glacier National Park. At the summit we sat by a tiny stream and enjoyed a delicious organic lunch Katy had prepared. The waterfalls, lakes, and wildlife of Glacier were spectacular.

On Tuesday we spent the day rafting the North Fork of the Flathead River. The trip was guided by Steve, a passionate environmentalist with a head full of dreadlocks. This river was much calmer than the Snake in Wyoming. We drifted slowly and paddled through some tame white water. We stopped several times to relax on small rocky islands. Both Terry and I fished, relatively unsuccessfully, but the rhythm of casting to the foam lines and riffles was the ultimate in zen. Eagles honored us with their presence. Imagine three of these magnificent birds circling overhead in the depths of wilderness on a river of green.

And so my final two days were spent in the mountains and on the river. If your soul is open, you "will" hear, see, and understand the tao of river and mountain. It is my wish for you, the reader, that you may someday enjoy a rebirth similar to what I have experienced on my journey westward this summer.

I promise to continue blogging whenever the spirit moves me. Likewise, please continue to share your own experiences, thoughts, and insights. For those of you who immersed yourselves in my daily entries and traveled with me in spirit, I thank you for your friendship and presence.

Namaste!

Big Sky and Tumbleweed

This morning I opted not to return to Yellowstone and headed north on Route 89 from Gardiner towards Livingston. The scenery began to change dramatically, and the beautiful Yellowstone River ran parallel to the road for a long distance where part of its flow channeled through a canyon.

In Livingston, I stopped for some fruit, snacks, film, and gas before picking up Route 90 west towards Bozeman, Butte, and Missoula. The terrain changed from brown rolling hills and mountains to peaks covered in lodgepole pines, and eventually the Rocky Mountains in the distance.

The drive was easy, and I never tired of the passing scenery. Montana is just as beautiful as Wyoming and Idaho. Visually, I could see why Montana is called "big sky" country, but I don't understand why the sky here looks so much larger and more overpowering. It just seems to wrap itself around the horizon, embracing everything in its orbit.

As I proceeded on Route 90 west, a lone tumbleweed suddenly blew across the road in front of me and other oncoming cars -- it rolled and bounced its way to the grassy medial strip. It made me giggle because I immediately saw an analogy between that tumbleweed and the attitude of taking risks and having fun. Tumble where ye may!

About 40 miles south of Missoula, I stopped briefly at a rest area. As soon as I parked, I saw a large bird with a white tail soaring overhead. As it came closer, I could see its white head and knew it was a mature male bald eagle. Suddenly I saw a second eagle, and the two of them flew in close proximity, twice attacking each other and tumbling in the sky like planes doing aerobatics. I'm assuming it was a territory issue, and they eventually disappeared over the mountain.

I'm settled into my room here at Mountain Valley Inn in Missoula and will be driving the last leg of my journey tomorrow to Somers, Montana to visit an old friend from Shippensburg I haven't seen in about 34 years. I'll be staying with Katy and her husband until Wednesday morning when I depart for home from the airport at Kalispell.
Keep in touch! Love to all --

The "Tail" of Lemon

Lemon is a bright yellow crocheted mouse who has been traveling across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana with me. He is in the midst of a custody battle between me and my friend Loretta who lives in Kentucky.

But maybe I should start from the beginning. . .

Two years ago Loretta came to Pennsylvania for a visit. When we pulled open the sofa bed for her first night's stay at our home, to our dismay there was a dead mouse which had been decomposing under the sofa. Most likely one of our cats had caught and injured it seriously enough so that it crawled under the sofa and died. Loretta hates mice, so all that night she had nightmares; she also swore that she could smell the decay regardless of my efforts to disinfect and deodorize the area.

When I flew to Kentucky to visit Loretta later that year, this little yellow mouse was hiding in my bed! When I arrived home, I found the mouse tucked away in a deep corner of my suitcase. Ever since then, Lemon has been traveling back and forth between Pennsylvania and Kentucky -- sometimes by car, sometimes by plane, sometimes by UPS, and sometimes by good old fashioned US Mail. He spends part of his time with Loretta, and part of his time with me, although recently he has been living in Pennsylvania more than Kentucky.

In June he arrived back in Pennsylvania after spending several months in Kentucky. He came by car when Loretta drove up for a visit. The morning she was to leave for home, I secretly tucked Lemon into one of her bags. Two days later, Lemon surfaced in my pocketbook where he had been hiding since Loretta's departure.

Because he was quite indignant about being left behind, I managed to placate him by promising to bring him along on my trip west. He flew Northwest Airlines in the safe confines of my riding helmet with his buddy Pumpkin Two, a little orange stuffed cat who lives with me full time. Since arriving in Jackson Hole, Lemon has gone driftboat fishing, trail riding, and in the Targhee Resort chair lift 10,000 feet to the summit of Fred's Mountain. He has toured Yellowstone and traveled into Montana in the confines of my Vera Bradley backpack. The hotel managements have allowed Lemon to stay regardless of their "no pets" policy.

Tomorrow Lemon and Pumpkin Two head to Somers, Montana to meet my old friend Katy and her husband Terry.

So continue the adventures of Lemon. . . . . .

I think he may be inspiration for a children's book!

Yellowstone Burn

July 15, 2005
When I decided to come through the south entrance to Yellowstone, I was not aware that I would pass through Grand Teton National Park first. The Tetons and surrounding park lands are just magnificent -- lush and green.

Yellowstone, while unique and beautiful, did not inspire or move me as much as the Tetons. In my limited time, I was able to visit Lewis Canyon and Falls, the West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin and Firehole River, Firehole Canyon and Falls, and the Gibbon River.

I also stopped to see Artists Paintpots, but the hike was a little too far, so I turned back. I am sorry now that I didn't go the whole way because this area is noted for having several examples of thermal features such as small geysers, mudpots, and steam vents. This spot is the best place to see excellent close-up views of mudpots.

I did not find Old Faithful to be that spectacular. I sat in the sun for 70 minutes waiting for the next eruption, having missed the prior eruption by about 20 minutes. The interval between eruptions is about 92 minutes, and the duration is anywhere from 1 1/2 to 5 minutes.

I especially enjoyed the West Thumb Geyser Basin. This is the largest geyser basin on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The magma chamber that heats Yellowstone's thermal features is close to the surface here -- less than 2 miles under the earth's surface. The same thermal features are also found in Yellowstone Lake and can be seen from the shore. It is amazing how intense the heat is when standing near the springs and vents.

Midway Geyser Basin contains two very beautiful and colorful prismatic springs -- the Excelsior and the Grand Prismatic Spring. The water from these hot springs empty into the Firehole River in a cloud of steam.

One of the most remarkable things I noticed was the enormous amount of burn acreage. At one of the check points, an information board explained that even though forest fires are devastating, they actually play an important role in returning nutrients to the soil. Some plant communities depend on fire to remove overgrowth and encourage new growth. It was easy to tell which burn areas were recent and which were not. Over 1.4 million acres burned in 1988.

Because I am traveling alone, I tend to reflect. As I observed mile after mile of visible reminders of burn, it made me think about endings and new beginnings -- not only in nature, but in our lives as well.

I am now at Yellowstone Basin Inn about 5 miles north of Gardiner, Montana. The geology of the area is much different than in Driggs and Jackson Hole. The territory there was green; here it is brown.

Tomorrow I hoped to back track to Canyon Village to see the Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, but I don't think I will have enough time before I head northwest to Missoula.

Having just reread this entry, I think I sound like a teacher!
Oh well --

Sagebrush, Timberline, and the quality of touch

Today was a day of leisure to rest and prepare for my journey onward to Yellowstone. I enjoyed a massage at the Grand Targhee Spa. My massage therapist was a girl named Joanna whose technique and variety of strokes were excellent. However, as I find with so many body-workers, the quality of touch was lacking. To me, as a trained massage therapist, massage does not just address the physical body; it is critical that the therapist be attuned to the spiritual and emotional aspects connected to the body. A bodyworker must be centered and grounded. It is the rare individual who is able to "touch" the spirit, the soul, and the physical body equally.

During my drives up the mountain and through the Teton Pass as well as on my trail ride, I became aware of varied types of timberlines. At 10,000 feet, not many plants or trees are able to survive. At the higher altitudes I noticed that most trees seem to be of the evergreen family. When I searched for Indian Paintbrush to pick and dry press, I noticed that it did not seem to be as evident at the lower altitudes. On our trail ride, there was a defined timberline where the aspens stopped growing. Aspens exist at lower altitudes, as does sagebrush.

Sagebrush grows abundantly here in the west on the plateaus in the valleys and lower altitudes of the mountains and passes. I stopped in Targhee National Forest on my way to the spa to pick some sagebrush for smudge bundles. It is popular as a smudge herb. For those of you who may not be familiar with smudge, Native American shamans would light tightly bundled dried herbs and use the ensuing smoke in spiritual ceremonies and also to cleanse negative energy from physical areas like a room as well as from auras. Sage is one of the more commonly used herbs for this purpose.

Do you think, as humans, we have our own timberlines? -- the timberline being the point in our lives when we cease being puppets manipulated by our warped society and begin to define who and what we are. When we cross that timberline, we acquire a sense of wholeness which affects our perceptions of people and situations around us.

My experiences here in the beautiful Tetons have touched me profoundly. Tomorrow morning I will leave Intermountain Lodge and Driggs, Idaho, to cross the Teton Pass into Jackson Hole and then north into Yellowstone.

Namaste!