My lantern walks with me

 

Glimmer Lantern, Glimmer

SOOO many SHINING reasons to WALDORF. ‘MARTINMAS’ is just one BRIGHT one. 

Much to come

The horizon is looking chaotic and I’m finding it tricky to cope! Activities, appointments, meetings, pick-ups, drop-offs, friends-over, evenings out, parties, trips … lists, phone calls, conversations, follow-ups, check-ins … schedule tweaks, unforeseen events, overlaps … When the sailing is smooth, this ship is a beautiful sight to behold, but when the weather takes an inevitable turn for the worst we are keeling, reeling, and taking on water. 

No reminder to BE HERE NOW is necessary as laser focused presence is a matter of survival in precarious conditions. The body, heart, mind and spirit come together to navigate the squall. 

Freeze style

Not barren, just a bit numb.

“The ground is too frozen to pull up carrots today.”

The farmers pronounced the morning of the would-be field trip. Fair warning in nature is no warning. The ground will warm up, soften, and give in its own time. The frost doth thaw! Eventually. 

Abide

Adho Mukha Sukhasana

Abide - remain behind.

I notice only encouragement (in this society) to get ahead! stay ahead! be multiple steps ahead of!! … is it working?

Why not try ABIDING. Wait, dwell , remain, endure, stay firm under. 

Sukhasana

Sukha - easy. It’s anything but!

Sukha - comfort, joy. The end result, reward of abiding. 

Queen Vibes

Hello November.

Gentle is the way. Gentle is the way. Gentle is the way.

Be careful what you wish for !! 

Sacrament : an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

 

SLOW is fast

 

SNOW walk

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said

"Speak to us of children"

Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you

You may give them your love but not your thoughts
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow

Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them
But seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday

You are the bows from which your children
As living arrows are sent forth
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite
And he bends you with his might

That his arrows may go swift and far
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness
For even as he loves the arrow that flies
So he loves also the bow that is stable

- Kahlil Gibran

CLARITY dawns on a 2-hour snow walk with Berniedoodle in the shimmering frigidity of Jack Frost’s first hello.  PRIORITIZING then follows when we return to our hectic family homes with a peek of that new found peace and a slightly slower pace. 

The infuriation remains - “I hate latkes ! I want steak ! I hate my homework ! Why does Patrick get so many pillows ? I hate toothpaste. I want more toothpaste !” - but is received with humor. The next morning is equal parts torture - “I wish this jacket was THAT color with THIS pattern ! How should I know which gloves fit me ? There was breakfast ? Biscuits and bacon ? Why didn’t you tell me !!?? What do you mean it’s time to go ???” And so we must SNOW WALK again the following day. 

BIG house love

 

UTKATA KONASANA - GODESS POSE

Utkata - fierce, powerful

A house that swallows up all of your stuff !! Guest rooms that are just guest rooms - with empty closets !! An EXTRA laundry room with bare cabinets and clear counters !! Car storage for your in-laws’ SUV. En-suite bathrooms, drink fridges, everything in its place and … more empty storage!!!… Spoiled ? YES ! Big houses may be out of fashion, but at this stage in life, the McMansion is so my style !!! 😉

Work work work work work

Work work work work work - Some weeks are just like that.

A minute is long

If you need more of the most precious commodity, ASK the universe to    slow    time    down    .

 

Atonement

Atone : at one.

Utthita Parsvakonasana

 

Utthita Parsvakonasana  ; click to let the experts do the talking.

As the leaves change seemingly in the span of a few hours, so too are we more vibrant than ever only to SHED the very next moment. Not too comfortable is it??

Utthita Parsvakonasana - to stretch this open can feel inconvenient, painful, and the broad spectrum in between. This extended side angle gal dons an apron for she is disagreeable as of late from her endless responsibilities, including those in the cuisine. And from bygone pain returning to haunt her and… and… 

The point just past the glory of Autumn color.

Crisp, stunning, fortified on the outside; unsure, weary, mal à l’aise on the inside. Breathe into the shape of this asana. We are not expected to hold Utthita Parsvakonasana forever - this too shall pass. 

Seasons change

Michaelmas time, Michaelmas time!
Time is turning under the plough,
Under the stars, under the signs,
The ploughman toils with deep furrowed brow.
He turns his thoughts against the cold,
Buries his fears 'neath the Earth's deep mould.
Frost, like fire, burns white on the blade,
Of his iron share that red fire made.

Michaelmas time, Michaelmas time!
Time is bending over the scales,
Over the bread, over the wine,
The ploughman bows his head at the rail.
He turns his thoughts towrads the flame,
Raises his eyes to the thanksgiven grain.
Stars, like spears, gleam over the tower,
Of the house of God in Michael's hour.

Michaelmas time, Michaelmas time!
Time is changing the guard of the world.
Deep in his heart, dauntless in mind,
The ploughman guards against time growing old.
He stands and studies the star-patterned sky,
Fixes each spark in his wishing-well eyes.
Stars, like seeds, strewn over the land
And under the plough by Michael's hand.

Grandma so sweetly saved a dress I gave away - luckily to her - at least 20 years ago. My daughter wears it here to her Harvest Faire where she danced and sang the above song as a willful, courageous and wise queen: the attributes we must gather like nuts as we enter into Autumn and Winter.  

Purging is an all seasons favorite. Perhaps even my most favorite. But, beware! What they say in nearly every ‘letting it go’ style scripture - that ‘you’ll never miss a single item’ - is so not true!! I’ve had many many many missteps (as in, over donating again and again). That is the fee for tidiness and circulation of energy. These little “oopsies, I really wish I still had that,” are the price of admission for fresh beginnings, SPACE and sometimes, new things. 

Autumn Equinox 2020, 2021& 2022