Go With The Flow

“Go with the flow” is the slogan for the Newberry crater area, just south of Bend, Oregon. A nice play of words on the whole lava phenomena. Nature flows with what is. Finding harmony within disharmony. I wonder about how to be more like nature? Natural. Passing a forest where there had been a burn… Continue reading Go With The Flow

Move, Flow, Meditate

  We often refer to mindfulness and being mindful. What does this mean? Literally, the character for mindfulness can be translated as “presence of heart.” Gather on the University of Oregon’s  EMU lawn at 6:00 p.m., May 22, for Move, Flow, Meditate, a first-time mindful event to awaken to now. Join an actively mindful function… Continue reading Move, Flow, Meditate

Go to the empty places

January is empty for reservoirs. They hold the void. There is no water, wake, or waves. Hardly anyone is there. You’d see them if they were; there’s nowhere to hide. I tromped around wondering about the emptiness. Which reminded me of the importance of being empty. My friend recommends going into a room empty. Especially… Continue reading Go to the empty places

What is mental health?

© Mary Ann Petersen. Howth, Ireland.

We went from headaches to mental health fairly quickly. I asked him what he did for his own mental health? His answer: “I don’t know what it is.” Fair enough. An honest answer! A few beats passed and he asked, what do YOU do for your mental health? Touché! I told him that for my… Continue reading What is mental health?

Flowers wave at the traffic going by

I practiced 20 different introductions as I walked toward the Flower Garden of Mystery. This is a large plot of sunflowers and nasturtiums on the corner of Hilyard and E. 25th. “Hi, my name is Mary Ann and I love your garden and I wondered if I could interview you for my blog, which has… Continue reading Flowers wave at the traffic going by

Stand-up paddle the urban Willamette

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

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