Posted on

winter

Winter sometimes seems very long. That’s what people say. However, winter 2010-2011 is different. I don’t know why, but in this area of the world people are enjoying it, and it’s not because it’s warm, it’s not. Of course, I’m talking from a Philadelphia perspective, and not New England, or the midwest. Last year, in this part of the world, winter 2009-2010 had many grumblers not liking the snow or cold (especially the snow), at all, and they freely complained to anyone within earshot. This year the feeling is different; I even hear people calling from across the street to friends: Hey, ____ , are you loving the snow? Enjoying the cold? And they laugh. What happened between this winter and last? – I asked myself.

What makes me feel wonderfully toasty warm on a cold and windy day is when I’m out and about feeling rather chilly, and I see someone ambling towards me dressed in shorts and a cotton shirt. At that moment, I feel like a cold weather coward, and right away get the message to toughen up. And I do, and the day becomes warmer. And I smile at the impact we have on one another, often without realizing it; it’s immensely interesting and grand. Well, grand if it’s the right kind of impact.

A few weeks ago as I stood waiting for a green light, I saw someone across the street patiently waiting for the light to change. It was cold, and a persistent cold wind made it colder. He didn’t seem to notice the weather; he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and jeans, holding a jumbo drink filled with ice cubes, and sipping it as though palm trees surrounded him, and lazy warm waves on a calm beautiful sea called to him. I stared, and in staring I felt warmer by the second. Additionally, throughout the day if I wanted to stay warm while walking, all I had to do was picture him just the way he was. Ahh, thoughts are indeed powerful.

So, if one day you’re feeling cold, find the one oblivious to weather conditions, and keep that memory alive.

Posted on

caleb hawley, kalahari bushmen, rumi

I like your post, Emi, and when you described the five trained dancers kicking and flipping at Steps On Broadway while listening to the lyrics of Caleb Hawley, I was reminded that there’s another side to the how of meditating; it’s movement. Instead of sitting, the body moves, and dictates exactly how it will move. It’s the way of the Kalahari Bushmen of Namibia and Botswana – “one of the oldest living cultures on earth” who sing, dance – shake, vibrate – all night. THE BUSHMAN WAY of TRACKING GOD by Bradford Keeney, PHD.
www.shakingmedicine.com

Reading Bradford Keeney’s book is exhilerating, to say the least. He seems to forever be on cloud 9; his enthusiasm for this way of tracking God doesn’t stop throughout the book. And to read it is to suddenly find yourself wanting to find a beat on a CD that might somewhat duplicate the beat the Kalahari Bushman dances to. Oh, Yes! And there you are moving to your own body’s dictate, listening, being aware. To what? – you ask. To the place within you that’s been wanting to reveal things to you alone. The jacket of this wonderful book says, “The Bushman Way of Tracking God will redefine everything you ever thought you knew about life, spirituality, and the divine.” That’s the truth.

20140301-201808.jpg And a moving meditation was Sufi poet, mystic, and originator of the dance of the whirling dervishes Jalaluddin Rumi’s way when he began whirling, turning, spinning through the streets of Konya, Anatolia (present-day Turkey). If you carefully read and reread this simple, beautiful, 151 page book, Rumi’s Four Essential Practices – Ecstatic Body, Awakened Soul by Will Johnson, perhaps you will never eat the same way, breathe the same way, move the same way, gaze the same way – see things in quite the same way again.
www.hayatidede.org/events/htm
www.whirlingdervish.org/classes.htm

As you can see, Emi, your enthusiastic description of Sunday’s performance at Steps got me thinking. I liked it, and knowing you, I bet you wanted to be on that stage kicking and flipping, “shaking your booty” with the dancers.
www.stepsnyc.com

Time to get moving.

Posted on

“The Gig” a Collaboration of musicians and dancers at Steps

I just went to a brilliant event constructed by Whitney G-Bowley, a dancer who while dating a drummer back in college, was inspired to see dance and music live onstage together. Cut to now. January 2011, Steps dance studio on Broadway between 74th and 75th Street in Manhattan. Caleb Hawley is singer/composer/musician of the night whose work is performed on a stage in the large studio. Caleb was on “American Idol” last week, and his songs are beyond clever and hysterical, a perfect fit for the dancers who brought each lyric to life and kicked and flipped through every piece. It was a super idea of Whitney to bring so many gifted artists together! Caleb and his band were energetic and had fun while playing a great show, and the five trained dancers visually entertained and wowed us all on this very freezing NYC night, in the airy creative womb of a supportive excited crowd.

“The Gig” is aimed to show at The Highline Ballroom in March. I will post the details when they become available. For now here’s the event’s website: http://www.gigtheshow.com/

Posted on

the extraordinary healing power of ordinary things, shantaram, salaam bombay!, (and germs)

Are we too concerned with germs? Is advertising on tv, and in magazines causing fear to creep into our minds? Are the products on the shelves that suck out every bit of moisture from our hands leaving them dried and cracked (so that we need more products to heal our hands) really necessary? If we’re not careful, we’ll begin to feel that germs are attacking us around every corner we turn. That feeling doesn’t feel good. Germs will always be with us. It’s the fear of them that holds the real power. If it’s fear that rules, there’s a book that flows beautifully in the direction of balance called THE EXTRAORDINARY HEALING POWER of ORDINARY THINGS by Larry Dossey, M.D. Can we use the word delicious here? Because it is. Go directly to the chapter on Dirt, and don’t stop there continue to the chapter on Bugs. Now that should help, if you let it. Then, of course, there’s the rest of the book.
www.dosseydossey.com

SHANTARAM by GREGORY DAVID ROBERTS – What a book! is all I have to say. If you have an unhealthy fear of germs, there’s no way you’ll NOT come away feeling very differently about them. Well, to be fair to the book, this is a small part of it, but it’s a thread throughout a lot of its story. You can only know what that means after you’ve read it. It’s wildly entertaining, inspiring, disturbing; it’s a big story about life. And know this, somewhere along the line we get quite comfortable with the way of germs.
www.shantaram.com

The movie, SALAAM BOMBAY! “Spectacular! Excellent!” is what’s been said of it, and it’s all true. The director had “street kids” acting, along with top-notch Indian actors. Watching the “special features” simply adds more to what is already an important, entertaining, inspiring, and, yes, delicious film.

The slums of Bombay are a part of SHANTARAM AND SALAAM BOMBAY. I can’t help wondering about our sterile, antiseptic, squeaky clean way of living compared to the slums of Bombay (and other parts of the world where people live in similar conditions). Questions arise after reading SHANTARAM and watching SALAAM BOMBAY One is: How is it that these people are still alive? The other is: How is it that the hospitals in our squeaky clean part of the world are packed with sick people? The answers are complex. Or maybe not.

Posted on

happy new year to all of us

What a lovely day it is; the sun is shining brightly, the snow is melting, and 2011 is here. Are we ready for a new wonderful way to live so that we’ll find ourselves in a good place? It seems our intelligent universe is asking individuals to come forth and shine mentally, spiritually, and physically so that together we can all thrive in the world.

Happily there have always been people who have understood their connection with everything that exists, and their responsibility to look upon the universe with kind and generous eyes, and to hold compassion, love, harmony, joy, beauty in their hearts for all that exists. That’s impossible, you say. if you tell that to those who know life differently they’ll say that everyone can come from a place that’s nurturing and loving – that it’s a choice. They’ll also say it’s time in the evolution of humanity for every one of us to change the way we see the world. We need a new understanding of our fascinating world, our place in it, and the way in which our thoughts and actions affect it for better or worse. Before a new year arrives we begin thinking of things we can do to improve – once again the opportunity is ours to get away from worse forever. When that happens all that exists will benefit big time. That’s not too shabby a thought.

“. . .Every atom of your body is connected to every other atom in the universe. . .”
-taken from an essay by Nassim Haramein in the book: Transforming Through 2012
Leading Perspectives on the New Global Paradigm
Featuring 33 Authors – Scientists, Researchers, Futurists, Mystics, Astrologers, Indigenous Elders and Luminaries. . .

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF US.

Posted on

a precious one

Do you have a feeling sometimes, when seeing someone for the first time, that that person is a wise ole’ soul. It’s the eyes, and perhaps the posture. That’s how I felt about Charlie. The first time I saw him he was alert in a low-keyed kind of way, and in tune with what’s going on around him. And when I saw him reach for ultimate relaxation in a full-body stretch I was fascinated. He quickly took me into his world; it was so pure and simple. I could have stayed and watched him all day.

I noticed also that when someone talks he really listens. He’s not thinking about other things, his attention is on listening and understanding. Another thing about Charlie is his acceptance of what’s going on around him. He’s as okay with noise as he is with silence. That’s an important quality to have in today’s rather noisy world.

When I first saw him on 25 November 2010 at NYU Hospital he weighed a little over five pounds. He was small, and he was strong. It’s nice to feel that energy. He didn’t mind going from one set of hands to another as we eagerly waited turns to hold him. Charlie was tranquil, and he was beautiful. And there was a lot to be thankful for on that Thanksgiving Day.

Charlie is blessed; he’s in a loving home created by parents, Sumi and Toshi. I think he knows that, and that’s the reason he smiles a lot.

There are people who write that babies are much more than who/what we think they are. In many books it’s written that until the age of three (some say five), a child is more in the spirit world than the physical one. Stories abound telling of children who are able to give intimate details about their most recent past life. Sometimes I like asking Charlie what he knows. He seems to be thinking about that.

And so, this is to Charlie, welcome to our world. May it serve you well; may you serve it well. You are indeed well-loved. When sister Sophie has your attention you will be well-entertained. She has been waiting for you.

I saw a video on the Open Center’s website about Lorna Byrne. She writes about Angels. It’s her world. Click on: Sharing What the Angels Have Taught Me, and then click on: Angels and Children The Natural Connection, on her wonderfully-inspiring website.
www.lornabyrne.com

www.edgarcayce.org

www.opencenter.org

Posted on

ruka

When Christmas shopping has come to an end, I walk into a favorite shop and buy something for myself. A little special something, not a splurge, something only I would call exciting. That something has to be small enough to fit nicely into a suitcase. I never know beforehand where I’ll end up, or when. As in today when I passed Ruka at 114 South 19th Street in Philadelphia, and it hit me – here is the place; now is the time.

It’s always a pleasure to browse and shop at Ruka. There were desert bells hanging on the wall. I took them down. And there were a wonderful array of mala beads. I chose the simplest. Then a little hand bell looking old, and sounding wonderful called to me. I placed these three on the counter. A customer picked up a round metal container, and asked what it was for. It holds spices, someone called out. I’d seen that box in the home of a friend. It holds her fragrant spices, – those she uses most often, and can’t cook if she doesn’t have them. A spice box will one day be mine, too. Not just yet; I’m very good at knowing when it’s time to go. “Ruka offers a treasure trove of items to delight and entice the spirit.” www.ruka.com

Now at my place the mala beads are waiting to be fingered, the desert bells are on a hook and sound as sweet as they did in the shop, and the small hand bell has its own perfect place.

Enjoy the season.

May peace be ours the world over.

Posted on

michael

When Michael got his first camera, it was love at first sight. He wended his way along the streets of Manhattan observing, waiting, enjoying, clicking, and developing. He captured the city in spring, summer, winter, fall – the parades, the buildings, the solemn times, the happy times – people in general.

Recently I mentioned to Michael how nice it would be to see a few of these photos, perhaps as part of a blog. I think he said yes to that, but I’m not sure.

One incident stands out when remembering Michael and his camera. I remember a lovely evening and a teenage Michael. He’d left the apartment with his camera, and then he was back – his face had an expression I didn’t recognize.

This is what happened: There was for many years a wonderfully stocked newspaper and magazine shop with friendly and kind owners at 23rd Street and Third Avenue. He’d gone into the shop looking for the latest photography magazines. In front of the racks was a young man also carefully perusing the fine display. They stood together both earnestly looking for the right magazines. The young man finally chose, bought, and left. Soon after Michael left with his purchase. The scene that greeted him changed the evening. A few minutes ago a young man was happily browsing in a shop. Now he was sprawled on the street as were his motorcycle and magazines. They said he died instantly. That night a camera was put on its shelf for awhile.

In many books it’s written that we are all one with each other – that we are connected with all of life. If Michael had come upon the scene of the accident while walking, undoubtedly he would have continued on with the evening. However, a slight connection with the motorcyclist changed all that.

Why do I write about this story when it seems to not have a direct connection to photography? Well, it’s this – a good photographer has a keen eye and when that eye instinctively focuses on something, and clicks the camera which stills the image, the photographer’s photos “speak” about beauty, joy, harmony, love, sadness, tragedy, fun, sickness, faith, adventure, power, success, courage – life and death in their many forms. They “speak” to different people in different ways. Perhaps the things seen with a camera are seen because of one’s life experiences – not everyone sees the same things through a camera’s lens.

I  know posting this is not a guarantee that photos are forthcoming. However, I’m cultivating the fine art of patience.

Posted on

listening

There are those days when there is nothing to say. Nothing to say? – you say. Why there is always something to say. To that I say, hmm. Sure we can all talk incessantly about nothing much. Saying something is more than that though; it’s listening to all that’s around us, and what it’s trying to tell us. Oftentimes it can’t be heard because we are a society that embraces noise. When we put away the noise though, and listen to what’s inside of us, and the things outside of us that speak softly and need silence to be heard – when we do this until we hear, we pave the way for an exquisite way of being in the world. Maybe then there’s something to say, or not. 😎

******* ******* ******* ******* ******* ******* *******
RUN toward your fears! Embrace them. On the other side of your greatest fears lives your greatest life. – Robin Sharma

Surrender is like a fish finding the current and going with it. – Mark Nepo

Posted on

it’s a wonderful life. . .

Hallelujah! -autumn is here. May it stay tiil April 2011. I’m in Richmond, Va. right now staying with Alicia, Michael, Sebastian, and Clover in a large house. There’s a big trampoline and zip line in the big back yard – happily used by all who visit. Alicia is reaping the benefits of hot yoga (Phew!), Michael is still studying Sun Tzu, Art of War, and I just bought Qi Gong for Long Life Cleanse & Build Inner Qi at the Alchemist shop at Stony Point Mall. www.bikramyoga.com
www.shopstonypoint.com

About two weeks ago Clover celebrated her 2nd birthday and we in the north came to help her blow out those two candles. We being Sumi, Toshi, Sophie, Emi, and me. And Aunt Sumi and Uncle Toshi brought the DVD “Free To Be. . .You and Me” to Clover. I smiled when logging on to my laptop today and seeing a writeup on aol with Marlo Thomas’ words: “There were plenty of great moments in ‘Free to Be. . .You and Me,’ but Michael Jackson’s has stuck with her…” www.marlothomas.com Once upon a time I remember my children sang those wonderful songs with all their might.

Sophie’s brother is due in November; Sophie’s life will forever change, in a good way, of course. And in November Emi will be at a Film Festival in Manhattan on behalf on The Retreat Film, along with other filmmakers.
www.theretreatfilm.com

I think the drivers in this area are a bit better (perhaps a lot better – I’m a coward, no States named here) than those in the north. There’s more patience, a lot less honking, and more adherence to driving etiquette. Why is that? I wonder. www.virginia.org

Yes, there’s a coolness in the air, and those who “can’t take the cold” are planning their getaway. And those who can’t get away are planning their winter wardrobe hoping winter 2010/20ll will be very gentle.

Enjoy!