Liver spring

The season of spring is vigorous and forceful because things have to grow. We need to move like the wind and in fact, wind is the weather of spring. Spring is the the color of bright green, the element is wood, and the organ is liver. Liver’s partner is the gall bladder. Anger is associated… Continue reading Liver spring

Lower the temp; raise the vibe

I think one reason mask wearing became controversial is because it was an act of respect and half of Americans didn’t want to. It was inconvenient. To be asked to put a mask over your blowhole to resist spraying others nearby was viewed as so totally unreasonable it actually got people killed. I’ve come up… Continue reading Lower the temp; raise the vibe

Autumn

We are in the business of unburdening our hearts.If it’s too heavy, it’s not worth carrying. I dug into the season of autumn and found a huge backstory. Inspired by Chinese medicine, meditations, and teachers along the way.  Fall brings grief, loss, and decay. Fall also brings breath, generosity, divine connection, unburdening, and balance.  There… Continue reading Autumn

What makes this a sacred moment?

This won’t be a linear story. When it was over, I walked away and saw a rainbow between two clouds. I went to the Oregon Pain Summit 2020 this past weekend in Lebanon, which is surrounded by pastures of sheep. A bunch of healthcare professionals got together and talked about how to take care of… Continue reading What makes this a sacred moment?

Hot flash stories x 2

Not my mother’s hot flash, by guest blogger, Kristi Lodge. I had my first hot flash in June 2018, in the waning days of my forty-second year.  My girlfriend and I went to Portland Pride.  On Saturday we found a café that served great breakfast and coffee within walking distance of our AirBnB.  I was… Continue reading Hot flash stories x 2

Confidential Conversations

We end up together in a small room and I listen. It goes like this: a person comes in, and they speak a stream of images regarding their condition. First, they might say, “COW BUCKET WINDOW BREAD SUN ECHO.” And I say, “oh, ok…,” and I address this list. The subject is aches and pains,… Continue reading Confidential Conversations

From injury to function

The lotus lifts from mud.

Injury and wounds call for attention, mindfulness, focus. They demand us to care for ourselves, which is a gift. To learn this is a gift. Below is a list of suggestions brought about by conversations with patients: things to do and not do every day toward recovering from pain, injury, illness. Do the work. Don’t… Continue reading From injury to function

A walk through backwater sloughs in a riparian forest

It’s like the place where Winnie the Pooh lives. It’s not the grounds to prove physical accomplishments, victories, or achievements. About 11 miles south of Corvallis, off Peoria road, Snag Boat Bend is a simple walk in a quiet place. It offers grass, blackberries, willows, water, leaves and trees. There is a bog. Beavers live… Continue reading A walk through backwater sloughs in a riparian forest

Act in favor with all sentient beings

Is there life to it? Does it lead to love? How is that for a couple of good questions? A project? A move? A relationship? What does it feel like when you consider these questions? I learned about these queries through a Quaker study group. I don’t know if Quakers invented it, but they brought… Continue reading Act in favor with all sentient beings