Connected and Committed

Nominations, please

Best cyber-telemarketing generated name: Fletcher Darnell.

"I enjoy the freedom of just using my hands and "found" tools - a sharp stone, the quill of a feather, thorns. I take the opportunities each day offers: if it is snowing, I work with snow, at leaf-fall it will be with leaves; a blown-over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches. I stop at a place or pick up a material because I feel that there is something to be discovered. Here is where I can learn." 

- Andy Goldsworthy

living your truth

Forever, physical humans are saying, "give me the truth, give me the truth." And we say, there are all kinds of truths. Choose the truths that serve you. Now, there are a lot of people that would feel great discomfort with that. But the thing that we want you to hear about it is: there is a truth of cancer, and there is a truth of wellness. Which truth serves you? You can activate either of them within you, and make it your truth. Truths are created; they aren't static. They aren't conditions that exist that then it is your obligation to identify and catalog. You are the creator of your truths--and what you are living is your truth. --- Abraham-Hicks

prize for cleverness in cyber-marketing

Cleverness in Subject Line for Email Cyber-Marketing: Recent Dirty Units.

Yup, I almost opened that one, yessirree-bob.

practice

The thought that you think, you think, which attracts to it; so you think it some more, which attracts to it; so you think it some more. In other words, when you have an expectation, you've got a dominant thought going on, and Law of Attraction is going to deliver that to you again, and again and again. And you say "The reason that I believe this, is because it is true." And we say, the reason that you believe it, is because you've practiced the thought. All that a belief is, is a thought that you keep practicing. --- Abraham

Heat

My morning and evening commute has been a delight of late - I've been listening to Heat by Bill Buford on CD. Bill does his own recording, and the listening experience is doubly rich. The sense memories, the relationships, the inflections, the rhythm of his writing, all come to life in ways that of course no one else could conjure. 

An intriguing title on many levels, but for our purposes here, Heat pertains to his synchronistic journey into the kitchens of some of the finest cooks on the planet, to learn what they were willing to teach him, and all those delicious, no pun intended, things one discovers about oneself along the way.

What I didn't realize until I got my hands on a copy of the text is that the recorded version is abridged. But that only means that there are more treasures awaiting me, and that my "first time" with this material is not yet over.

The journey begins with Buford apprenticing himself to chef Mario Batali of Food Network fame, and the employees in one of Batali's NYC restaurants, as a kitchen slave. Tracing Batali's culinary roots is also an integral thread of the narrative, and the affection Buford has for this red-haired, pony-tailed agent provocateur is evident throughout.

From what little I know of Mario by watching a few episodes of Iron Chef and Molto Mario, he seems like the kind of guy you either love or hate. "Wretched excess is just barely enough," a quote of his from the book, pretty much captures him perfectly in my mind, and while I'm fairly certain that after being in his company for more than an hour I would expire in an exhausted heap, I think I'd love the guy too.

Buford zips across the Atlantic many times to interview friends and former colleagues of Mario's, often to apprentice with them as well, for months at a time. The sections of the story that detail his stints in Italy are particularly evocative for me, and the last few days my brain has been marinating, no pun intended, in memories of the three years I lived there, way-y-y-y-y-y-y-y back in another lifetime.

The small towns, the characters who are larger than life, the olive oil, the wine, the wood stove ovens where bread that has no equal is made, the country farms - oy, I am homesick when I read one of these books. Agony, I tell you, but welcome agony.

Two nuggets that I take away from this encounter with the divine. One, Buford captures eloquently the relationship between the market and the land. It's not so much fast food versus slow food, as it is small food versus big food. And the other, what I see as profound insight into why we are here on this orb: "I didn't want this knowledge in order to be a professional; just to be more human."

Bill, you nailed it.
   

   

sensation

Whether you are addicted to craving, or aversion, or hatred, or passion, or fear, the addiction is to a particular sensation that has arisen because of a bio-chemical flow. This type of matter results in reaction at the mental level, and the reaction at the mental level again turns into this bio-chemical reaction. When you say that you are addicted, you are actually addicted to the sensation. You are addicted to this flow, the bio-chemical flow. --S. N. Goenka

In another lifetime, I participated a meditation retreat in one of Goenka's centers on the West Coast. Nine days of practice, great vegetarian food. The fact that you couldn't talk to or look directly at anyone for seven of those days was the most excruciating part of it, never mind the constant sitting and bringing back the monkey mind from wherever you suddenly realized it had wandered. Excruciating, and then relief. I knew I was addicted to the bio-chemical flow of communication, and felt the genuine rush from my fix when we were allowed to converse once again.

However, now I'm reading The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, which posits that, based on physiological research, those of us of the feminine persuasion think in ways and make decisions "that are actually shaped by hormonal effects on the female brain compelling connection and communication." Just getting into this text, so I will pass more on as warranted.

it changes the human being into a monster

"We shall not ask who or what is the not-personal intelligence. But we should recognize its servants, and we should discover when and where it settles within our being, within our own being, when and how it changes the human being into a monster."

Imre Makovecz

Resistance is about believing that you are vulnerable or susceptible to something not wanted and holding a stance of protection, which only holds you in a place of not letting in the Well-being that would be there otherwise. There is nothing big enough to protect you from unwanted things — and there are no unwanted things big enough to get into your experience.  ~~ Abraham-Hicks

Said stance is hereby relinquished. Verily, I say unto the universe, I shall no longer mime the existence of a glass wall or ceiling around me. I shall traverse this great planet with the knowing that all before me is exactly where it should be, exactly when it should be there, doing exactly what it should be doing. Amen.

And when I forget how this dreamy, floaty feeling feels, someone please remind me.

october

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aurora
"You are flying high right now, which may threaten others. But don't descend, because others will soon become inspired by your example."

Additional Message: "Your intentions have created an upward trend in your life. New opportunities are coming your way, and your inner and outer self radiates this positive growth. You may worry that others will be jealous of your current and forthcoming success, so you will be sensitive about discussing your achievements. You may also worry about the future, about where your new path is taking you. You may wish for a guarantee of future success."

"I am here to help you enjoy the present, and the process of your new venture. Trust that each moment is taking care of itself. God has always taken care of you, and He always will. Ask me to help you stay focused on the now, and to let go of the worry habit so that you can enjoy these gifts. Gratitude is essential right now . . . to keep your flight at a high altitude."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Athena
"It is safe for you to be powerful. You know how to be powerful in a loving way that benefits others as well as yourself."

Additional Message: "You have been afraid of your own power. You have worried that others would disapprove of you or leave you if you allowed your true power to shine. You have also been concerned that you might abuse your power and that your masculine energy would become unbalanced. I am here to help you reveal your power to yourself and others in a way that enhances your relationships, self-esteem, and life purpose."

"Your power comes from love, from God. You who are made in the image and likeness of your Creator have unlimited power within you right now. You aren't capable of abusing your power because your heart chakra has opened like a flower in bloom. Think of a person whom you admire, who is both powerful and balanced in their masculine and feminine energies. Such power is beautiful. It also amplifies your spiritual healing and psychic gifts. You are a strong and powerful lightworker, and God needs you to accept and reveal your power."

culture is

Culture is something you catch. - Brian Chernett

Let go. - Reach.Dabble.Shine

from jen gray's site

i travel at the speed the wind blows stopping at the magical places.

at the gas pump

OK, when you're at the gas pump and you grab the nozzle and it doesn't fit into the receptacle on your car's gas tank, that means you grabbed from the diesel pump and not that the entire world has turned upside down. Duh.

friday

The thoughts that you think, regarding those things that you want, set into motion the creation, and eventual fulfillment, of that which you want. The thoughts that you think, regarding those things that you do not want, set into motion the creation, and eventual fulfillment, of that which you do NOT want.

Abraham-Hicks

a way to reach me

Worthiness, in very simple terms, means, I have found a way to let the Energy reach me, the Energy that is natural, reach me.

Abraham Hicks

psychic

Local artist in a library exhibition~~

The other night I had the opportunity to experience a reading with a psychic. She gave a little talk before she started working with each of us in the group, and I liked what she had to say about all of us having the ability to listen to our inner knowing, that getting quiet in whatever form works best for you is necessary to be able to hear that knowing, and that she says "thank you" when she receives whatever messages she does for herself during meditation, her chosen technique.

Anticipating what she might pick up on considering the recent changes going on in my life, I sat with her for a quiet moment when it was my turn and awaited what she had to say.

Nothing of any value. Period.

I almost wanted to laugh, but kept it to myself until asked for feedback on the experience to the group for future engagements with this person.

No thank you.

I'd been reading Sonia's Choquette's Psychic Pathway, which was heads and shoulders above what this flesh-and-blood person had given her paid clients. I believe as the author does that "psychic" means pathway to the soul, a pathway that allows you to either tap into your subconscious storehouse, a telepathic connection, or a higher plane of consciousness.

I believe that we all have messages we need to hear from our true selves, and whatever method we decide to pursue to figure out what that message is, more power to you for exploring. And I'm glad that I could laugh at what the psychic told me the other night.

I was listening to my inner knowing at the time, which she had no gifts to conjure.

class picture day for your pet

This truck sidled up next to me yesterday. Huge truck. Since I am not a pet owner, I was not aware of this particular opportunity in the pet world. I wonder if they have the same props and backgrounds and combs and brushes waiting for each take like they do for class pictures for children. And what do they have in their bag of tricks to get pets to pay attention and smile?

snow squalls

Snow squalls today.  Ew.

there's more to cutting hair....

Love this bike. Want this bike. Appreciate this bike. Have this bike. That is how it works.

So I drove to the library at lunchtime, grabbed some literary fodder, ogled this splendid vehicle, and on the way back to work, I noticed a pop-and-pop sort of barber shop, a teeny-tiny building sticking out among the mostly larger stores along the consumer row. I've not found a stylist who cuts my close-cropped coiffure to my satisfaction, so I was willing to try this avenue. Following an impulse, I went inside to inquire as to their accommodating women clientele. The owner, a smaller gentleman named Larry, wouldn't even consider the possibility before shaking his head no.

His colleague, Dan, on the other hand, was willing to venture out into gender bender territory and cut my hair. Dan, with tattoos on his arms and cigarette odor on his fingers, did his magic with the clippers and a comb. No plastic attachments, oh no - he told me that he could tell those implements of ineffectiveness had been utilized during the previous attempts at leveling my locks. That's when he said, "There is more to cutting hair than meets the eye."

So Dan did his thing, and his talent is remarkable. He alone in the styling world seems to understand my tapering needs. I inquired whether he would be at this same establishment in a month, and he deferred to Larry, saying he was on probationary terms pending approval for permanent employment. Larry got my vote of confidence, and Larry then asked my name for future reference.

I think my reaching out to play with them today opened up a whole new world for Larry. I imagine that my visit will be popular conversation there for some time to come. I'd even venture that I'll be mentioned when he gets home tonight.

You just never know when you'll change the world.

chromotherapy

According to the color patches I clicked on during a visit
to a chromotherapy site, this is the totally individualized reading for me
based on my color preferences:

*********************
Your Desired Objective
Seeks success, stimulation, and a life full of experience. Wants to develop freely and to shake off the shackles of self-doubt, to win, and to live intensely. Likes contacts with others and is enthusiastic by nature. Receptive to anything new, modern, or intriguing; has many interests and wants to expand her fields of activity. Optimistic about the future.
*********************

Gosh, I'd love for that to be true about everyone.

good on ya

This afternoon I escorted Little Man to a community education class. When we arrived, the instructor announced that there were 20 students signed up for the course. As he began his introduction, a young lady and her mother approached the doors to the room we were in. The look of abject horror on her face said it all - her classmates were all boys.

Mom did the talk in the hallway thing but came into the room by herself, sitting down and listening to the details of what would be unfolding. At some point the girl had come into the room and sat at the table with her mom. The next thing I knew, she was on her own, with another late-comer, a boy, the two being partners in the tasks that were set out before everyone else in pairs at tables.

Good on ya, young lady, for sticking it out and being the only girl in a room of boys. Good on ya, mom, for being the kind of mom who would raise a daughter to not flinch in that environment. And good on ya, instructor, for letting her know you were glad she decided to stay. And good on ya, guys, for not saying a word about it.

tis the season

Where will the design and holiday boundaries for these fan-propelled abominations stop? Groundhog Day? Can you picture the burrow with the cute little rodent peeking out? Perish the thought.

I am guided

I have an inner ear, 'voices' that, if I listen to them, save me from going wrong; if I listen I do right and, in fact, as I listen, an awareness comes of something in myself larger than myself, a feeling of being allied, that I am guided.

Rumer Godden

Have you ever been minding your own business, and then suddenly find yourself thinking about someone you met 30 years ago? That happened to me today. And now I wonder - where are they? What did their life turn out to be? If I tried to find them, would that be a good idea, or not?

I wonder......

balloon

This balloon was doing a dance in the vortex of the air vent above it today while I was standing in line at Trader Joe's. Just joyously dancing within the few inches of pull from the vent. No children were within watching distance, so no one was really that excited about it. And maybe the only person who noticed me taking a picture was the person standing behind me. Remarkable, all of it.

do you want the answer?

Do you want the problem or do you want the answer?

     -- A Course in Miracles

Um, the answer, please. Yes. The answer.  Not so interested in the problem. No sirree bob. Can't think of a good reason to keep looking there. Not a wise expenditure of energy. Stop looking there, and look over here. Answer. A-N-S-W-E-R.

And it might surprise you.

truth

You don't need to get anyone else to agree with your truth. You just need to live it.

     --  Alan Cohen