Vacation Day

Beach Sand 

Maybe it is the memories 

the change of pace that brings us there 

the sense of vacation 

maybe the smell of the place 

the sights of the gulls, the dunes, the grasses 

but oh it is the feel of it,

 the crunch and slide of it 

the feeling of beach sand 

so different from dirt, soil, loam 

no, not earthy, moist, rich, 

but oh so granular and gritty 

even when wet, 

moveable paper spreading under toes 

sliding beneath the soles 

smoothing my skin 

clearing my mind 

unburdening me of the rest 

drawing me to the tactile, 

the feel of beach sand 

Raymond A. Foss

Counting the Days

One more month to go before completion. 

My only advice to others in a similar state, 

if you want to survive this intact, be the turtle. 

Jai and peace everyone!

Sunday Morning

A Buddhist Prayer Before Practicing

By the power and truth of this practice:
May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness
May all beings be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow
May all never be separated from the sacred happiness which is sorrow less
And may all live in equanimity with out too much attachment and too much aversion
And live believing in the equality of all that lives.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

First Steps

A new journey begins.  Its been a long year and the decisions have not come easy. How will I do this?  What do I need?  What do I need to figure out to make this happen?  Its been a collection of difficult choices with equally difficult people blocking my every turn.  The next few years will be life chnging to say the least.  This is a stepping off point and I'm not always entirely sure where it will lead, but its time to follow my own path.  Part of the discovery has been the unpleasant realization that when you choose to serve your personal highest good some will feel threatened and become quite nasty.  The rubbish I have heard this year could fill a sanitation dump. 

Its my time to start my research, finish my clinicals and untimely my doctorate.  Its also time be more present in my personal life, a place of powerful love and joy that has been denied to me repeatedly this year through countless selfish acts by others who lack regard or respect anyone who isnt serving their agenda.  

It also time to step back on the mat.  I foresee many achy classes and some ego busting moments but I also carefully carved out space for regular practice which I will be able to partake in the next couple of years at least.  I leave for a short training in Montreal at the end of the month.  Its the beginning, a good beginning.  

Blessing and peace to everyone on this lovely spring day!

Fight for your right

Always much love and blessings to you MCA.  Much respect, much much respect.  Be well in your travels, you are dearly missed.
Shalom my friend.    

Rainy Day

It's Friday at last!  As usual its a been a non stop week of mayhem and fun..... yeah right.  I'm trudging through my rainy days, getting my work done and deliberately making space for things like a practice, time at home and reaching toward bigger dreams.  Dream big, live well!  Happy Friday everyone