Ruminations from the Temple

I love this blog. It seems to be a refuge in a way other venues just cannot. It is no wonder that throughout history people have withdrawn to writing as a way to both record moments and history, and to think deeply about their human experience. And, what's not to love about that? As the fog moves up the canal this late December morning, I am again awed at the place I find myself. Call it fortunate, or blessed, or just plumb-ass lucky...I am so very grateful for my circumstances. I think the seagulls that bob along with the winter migrating ducks agree. So, a bit of clearing the clutter is in order, I suppose. I took the luxury, during this school break, to clean out my closet. Gosh, I have another bag to give to donation; at the risk of sounding redundant, have you checked out the Fast-Diet  yet? It is neither a fast nor a diet, but I have been quite successful in dropping pounds and improving my health - which is the major benefit. Anyway, it was nice to clear out the old ...

So, here we are at the end of another year - I can hardly believe it! I left my beloved religious community and said goodbye to my mother in 2010, and then left my relationship of 20 years in 2012. I entered university in 2013 and now am getting ready to graduate with honors this coming spring. And, best of all - I am privileged to live life with two of the sweetest, most loving souls alive. Who could ask for more? I am grateful to come to this time healthy and the most happy I have ever been. I am grateful for my children, and their continued health and happiness. I am grateful for a beautiful and peaceful home on the coast. I am grateful for things to learn and for those who are willing to share their knowledge. I am grateful for an innate curiosity and motivation to learn. I am grateful for the wisdom that is available. I am grateful for good food to eat, and the joy that comes from preparation and sharing. I am grateful for life's necessities - power, heat, running w...

Dante's view of heaven - God as a point of light surrounded by angels Define heaven. Heaven , the heavens or seven heavens , is a common religious, cosmological , or transcendent place where beings such as gods , angels , jinn , saints , or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned , or to live. ( wiki ) I would define it a bit different... Heaven is a physical state of relaxation, freedom, and acceptance. Heaven is a state of feeling comfortable, safe, and at peace. Heaven is a state of mind - at rest and free from worry or fear. Not so much a place where anyone, supernatural or otherwise, actually lives, but an experience. Perhaps heaven and home could be defined similarly. I guess it would depend on if you felt all those things at the place you call home. I am very fortunate and privileged to say that our home at the beach is very much those things. A sanctuary in a world that can seem like it is spinning out of control. It has ...

"Thought and intellect are good servants - great tools, but poor masters...Our restless imaginings, obsessions, and incessant anxieties, uncertainties, and worries run amok, leaving us not a moment's peace." ~ Lama Surya Das I laid in the bed this morning two whole hours later than I have been for the last 14 weeks of my life. For me, taking an intensive Latin course, or any language for that matter, required me to rise early to take advantage of the quiet - a quiet world and a sleepily-quiet and somewhat refreshed mind. It took all that I had to survive my second intensive ancient language course. I indulged my mind mulling it all over, again. It was so awful...14 weeks is just too damn short to memorize such volume. It is just plain ole difficult for an older mind to retain so many disparate charts and conjugations (although, the younger minds struggled, as well!). It is beyond uncomfortable to be called out every day to perform publicly to the excessively high exp...

In hectic times, I tend to create a lot of bookmarks, and also send myself a lot of found online gems. All this results in clutter! Let me share a few... this is pretty awesome! Check out more of this ARTIST Well, my application is being reviewed at Lesley. While I wait, I can practice mindfulness, of course! Try this MEDITATION from Nancy Waring, director of the Mindfulness Studies Masters Program at Lesley. Maybe it will help you, too. Ah, come on...it won't hurt, I promise. :-) Weird happenings: Somehow, I ended up with two of the same book for my J-Term class. How the heck did that happen? It's a good book, but I don't really need two... probably the most important questions... ************ I am fully enjoying reading 365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao - it is one of the most impacting daily reading books I have ever had the pleasure to read (and, I have read quite a few of these daily thoughts types of books). I have to share another entitl...

Welcome to 4:30am at my house... The 13th week of this term is ending, and the last full week starts on Monday. I am truly trying to stay in the here and now, but I cannot wait until this term is on the transcript. Anyway, I have a few stickies...(or is it stickys?)...to get off my desk: First things first: On the bookshelf I am going to grab a copy or two of this BOOK to help out a fellow traveler. Maybe you would like to, as well? Gift giving time is upon us, y'know. And, a couple of interesting tidbits from the Latin student : betcha didn't know that, eh? And, then there is this intelligent ARTICLE  about safety pins, yard signs, and all that jazz.  What else...oh yes, I applied for grad school. That's a sticky, for sure. On the car radio , and now on the wish list: Can't you just feel the hot, sticky Mississippi heat on your skin when you listen to that? It not only makes me want to travel, but takes me back to George County whe...