When we were little kids, my mother told us that feathers we found were messages from birds. When we found a particularly pretty feather, we would pick it up and give it to my mother who would then read the message to us.
I will be interested to learn her reaction to this “painting” by a bird.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
When I was on my way to do volunteer work this morning, I rode the bus past the dregs of Occupy DC-McPherson Square. The police presence was thick. I wasn’t sure why the heavy construction equipment was necessary. It is hard to know what will happen to the movement when it loses its physical location. It is clear that the idea of “occupy” has already entered popular culture, and the idea of the 99% will be part of this year’s Federal elections.
As things are created and dissolved, it is always hard to know what will stay and what will disappear from the fabric of our lives. Part of it depends on the strength of the ideas. Part depends on the commitment of those involved to transform and evolve to keep what is good moving forward even when beset with challenge and upheaval. As for the last photograph, which was taken just down the street (the cop cars were clearly related to those in the Square)–I couldn’t tell you what god or whose country; could you?
Since arriving in Santa Fe late this afternoon, I’ve encountered many of the Hindu pantheon, almost more prevalent than who is indigenous or long settled here, but that’s probably just due to the first places I walked. Fitting perhaps since I’m mostly on this trip to bathe in the yoga practices.
There always seem to be heart shapes when I am walking over to William Penn House to lead the Tuesday night yoga practice. In the winter it is dark walking to practice. In the summer it is still light walking home. This evening I noticed how much earlier dusk is now coming than it did at the solstice.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
On Saturday, along with a few thousand other people, I went to the March for Our Lives at the base of the Washington monument. Set out before the monument, in even rows, were thousands of vases of white and orange flowers (orange for the most recent) hundreds deaths from gun violence. it was raining off and on; the speakers were on a platform with loud audio-video, people held signs–some expressing rage, discuss, and frustration, some suggesting productive action. Near the vases, apart from the crowd and the noise, a person dressed in purple sat in meditation. After spending some time in the crowd and focussing on the speakers, I went and joined the person who was sitting. We talked a bit; Satyani acts as a “mindfulness mentor” and can be found on Facebook as “Kosmique Light Meditation.” Satyani did not identify as a protester and felt uncomfortable fighting and felt moved to act, which was what led to coming and sitting for meditation. I suggested, referencing Gandhi and Quaker practices, that being here meditating, holding the space, connecting with those who have died while being present for the living is very much participating in protesting.
On Sunday (before going down to the Capitol Pride Festival), I took a class on Zoom with Michele Cassandra Johnson for Patreon subscribers. She offered a soothing/cooling practice, and invited us to consider how we can cultivate cooling and soothing while saying amidst the fire and engaged in the fight?
To stay in it for the intensity it is now and the life-long practice it must be, that is an essential question, the answer to which will shift depending on circumstances.
Pictures from the March for Our Lives, the Capitol Pride Festival, and some fabulous bird sightings at Kingman and Heritage Island the Friday before, are posted on Instagram and Facebook.
