Leonids Over Us by Marge Piercy The sky is streaked with them burning hole in black space — like fireworks, someone says all friendly in the dark chill of Newcomb Hollow in November, friends known only by voices. We lie on the cold sand and it embraces us, this beach where locals never go in … Read more
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference. — Elie Wiesel Are you having any trouble relating to our discussion about enthusiasm and lavishing love on … Read more
Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself. — Miles Davis Just like a human child, our inner artist self is nurtured and inspired by a loving, supportive environment. Most of us have already spent a lifetime having our creative selves being shamed, punished, and forced to sit … Read more
The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with objects it loves. — Carl Jung As we go deeper into the healing process for our inner artist, we may find that we need a balance between exciting big dreams, … Read more
Hope is like a road in the country; there never was a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. – Lin Yutang We have been talking about how our need for greatness can overwhelm us, causing us to procrastinate, delay, and then beat ourselves up for our inability to … Read more
In every culture, in every society, in every tribe, city, religion, philosophy, point of view, we have one central thing on which we say we fully agree. We already have the most powerful tool ever created, that can change our world forever. We must wake up and actually use it. Those of us who are … Read more
As you may know, on weekends, I post words and wisdom from others, including videos, essays, poetry, and opinions of note. Today, inspired by the exquisite blog of Cate Kerr, I offer this excerpt from the recently deceased John Daido Loori, one of the first American Zen masters. He was founder of the Zen Mountain … Read more
As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. — Marianne Williamson In the post from Zen Habits I mentioned yesterday, author Leo Babauta tells us that patience and perseverance are essential. He tells … Read more
When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.” — Author Unknown I just love how there is a magic of synchronicity that happens on the Web. Often, when I am focusing on a particular topic, as if by coincidence (but we know better, don’t we?), some of my favorite bloggers, … Read more
We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. — Ralph Waldo Emerson We are beginning Chapter Nine, Recovering a Sense of Compassion, by examining the power of words. As you know, words have enormous power, from spells to curses, from treaties to laws. The old childhood … Read more