Brain rinse

Do not favor the company of paranoia. Whether it’s people, places, or the internet. I recently advised someone asking for help, “don’t pick friends who light up your paranoia.” “If you walk there, you will smell like pennyroyal,” said a voice. “Is that good or bad?” I asked. “I think it’s good,” said another. “It’s… Continue reading Brain rinse

Misinformation

Misinformation is like junk food. Once you get hooked, nothing else compares. It hits all your immediate imbalances like sugar and salt and a sense of righteous satisfaction lands. It seeps into the synapsis that please the unwieldy parts of the brain. Brain loves anything that backs up brain’s already held opinions. I ask people… Continue reading Misinformation

Green Island

This is where two rivers meet: McKenzie and Willamette. Sometimes I think we ask too much of nature. We go forest bathing and swimming in it; walking and running through it; drinking, huffing, and gobbling it down, all the time. It gives all that we need. How do we give back? I thought this while… Continue reading Green Island

Summer

Summer can be a peak experience and that is why people like it. Summer feels generous. There is a bumper sticker that says “Be Love.” This is the season to be love. Fire is the element of summer. Fire is also spirit, the universal life force that supports matter and form. This is the time… Continue reading Summer

What’s your suchness?

I woke to two cats fighting inside my house. One of them was mine. This is part of the tension that holds the world together.  It was the suchness of the moment. Suchness is zen talk for the natural state of reality.  I am practicing using it in a sentence. How’s your suchness today?  What… Continue reading What’s your suchness?

Emotionally curious

I walked quickly by a chatty neighbor’s house but he popped out his door at the last moment- “hey Mary Ann!” I was caught and thought argh, no, not now, I’m busy. I stopped, backtracked, turned around to face him and noticed he had bruises and stitches on his face. He remembers nothing but being… Continue reading Emotionally curious