I pushed off at Sellwood Riverfront park. The plan? Paddle the board toward the city. I wouldn’t make it all the way, but the journey looked good. I parked on a street nearly under Sellwood bridge and headed toward what I thought was a boat launch. It seemed that it had been one a long… Continue reading Stand-up paddle the urban Willamette
Tag: health
Be the tree, strong and flexible: spring is in the air.
Wood is the element of spring. What are the conditions of spring and how do we notice, align, and incorporate with this season? This blog churns up a few notions about Chinese medicine from an elemental/seasonal perspective. We are all of this earth, so we have earthy elements. Studying the elements is a way to… Continue reading Be the tree, strong and flexible: spring is in the air.
Tend your life
It’s pussy willow season, did you know that? I’ve been out the last two evenings collecting gorgeous bundles along a nearby creek. I like harvesting them because you have to notice them, time it, pay attention. It feels old and sweet and real. While slogging around in my rubber boots tonight, I noticed two hawks,… Continue reading Tend your life
Field trip for the soul
I was feeling a little bummed out. I needed some different scenery. I had some things on my mind and they weren’t all happy things. What to do with a melancholic half day off? Leave town. First stop, the bird refuge. My spirit needed a rinse of water, sky, birds, rain. This is a story… Continue reading Field trip for the soul
Meditation provokes potato calm
Today’s group meditation was like a smooth slalom through warm, mashed potatoes. Visualize effortlessly carving left and right down a gentle tater slope. An occasional splatter sprays your cheek. You lick at this flavor of experience. There is only a slight drag on the bottom of your skis, not in an obstructive way, but in… Continue reading Meditation provokes potato calm
Emotional fitness
I work out for emotional fitness. I work out for heart health. No, not just the cardio blood-pumping heart health. Sure, that’s good common sense, which we all know. I like to work out to make my heart feel stronger on an emotional and spiritual level. Yep, that’s right. I think emotional fitness is where… Continue reading Emotional fitness
The finish of the PCT, back from the wilderness
Remember when I interviewed Chance Fitzpatrick about halfway through his walk from Mexico to Canada? Here is that: http://www.maryannpetersen.com/?p=120 Chance kept going as a thru hiker and made it to Canada in good time. We decided to chat again at the end of his journey. I wanted to ask a few more questions. 1. Why… Continue reading The finish of the PCT, back from the wilderness
DIY autumn body wash: Inspire; Release!
The following is a fall aromatherapy body wash based on Chinese elemental theory. The season is: autumn. Time to let go of the old, and take in the new. The direction of this time of year is downward- a quiet movement back into the earth to push nutrients into the soil for next spring. The… Continue reading DIY autumn body wash: Inspire; Release!
Aging. How to grow.
Suddenly it hits you, you’ve aged. Today’s blog is about aging beautifully. I spoke with Ilene Cummings, 85, who leads workshops about aging with grace: aging beautifully. This is part of her work as a human development counselor and retreat leader. “You have to learn to love yourself in spite of what is happening to… Continue reading Aging. How to grow.
Finding the window out of addiction
“I saw the window, so I took it,” was what he said. This was in response to the question of how did you quit large doses of prescribed pain medication and copious amount of pot smoking? He started out with neck pain and back pain. The pain medication and pot smoking rained down to cover… Continue reading Finding the window out of addiction