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    “Compassion Course” (NVC)

    Those of you who talk to me more regularly have heard me mention that I’ve been taking a modest on-line course in non-violent communication.  The course basically offers mindfulness and communication skills for more compassionate communication with oneself and others.  Though much I’d heard before, I found the course well constructed and accessible.  I found the weekly emails, even when I did not feel moved to complete the suggested exercises in writing for myself, served as a regular call for mindful speaking and reacting at a time in my work life (and in my life as an engaged citizen) when I can use all the reminders I can get.

    I’m repeating the course, which starts in June 2015. For those of you who may be interested, here’s the link:  http://compassioncourse.org/

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    A Job That Would Not Be for Me

    These workers were caulking the fifth floor windows of my building today. It was snowing. (the flakes were too fine to show up in the photograph.) I wish them (and will donate money and sign petitions, write letters, etc to back up my wishes for all workers) health care, child care, retirement benefits, and a safe (as it can be) job free from discrimination, harassment, and wage theft.

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    Wash Your Hands A Lot

    I have not much been one for hand sanitizer, though I have long washed my hands well and frequently and avoided touching directly door knobs and elevator buttons, etc, and appropriate social isolation when I am sick.

    In the present moment, it seemed like a nice idea to try and make hand sanitizer at home and then share it. I already had the alcohol for making tinctures and the tea tree oil, but mixing this combination of things all together will be a new thing. I would have done better with aloe vera gel than juice and a good deal less, but this was the smallest size. As long as it’s more than 60%alcohol, it should both sanitize and keep.

    The remaining ingredients are meant to add moisturizing and/or antiseptic properties. Both tea tree and lemongrass oil can be irritating, so that will only be a few drops.

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    Morning Walk

    After meditating and breakfast this morning and before meditating more, I took a walk along the short trail on the grounds. I saw several rabbits and some chipmunk/gerbil-like creatures, many different kinds of birds, and a small lizard. Though there were lots of holes on the path, I did not see any snakes, though we have been warned repeatedly to be careful of rattlesnakes, which abound here. To my disappointment, I did not see any members of the bobcat family that had showed themselves to some of the people who had arrived a day early.

    Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.

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    Slow Cooker Granola (and Intentions)

    It is my intention to write a newsletter talking about the shift in my life that is leading me, effective this week, to take a partial sabbatical from teaching yoga.  I will still have my Tuesday night class at William Penn House and hope to see many on at least an occasional basis.  I will also be available for single and group privates and expect to teach a workshop or two in the Fall.  But after eight years, I will no longer be  traveling up to Takoma Park every weekend, currently on Friday nights and before that Saturdays, to teach. In this shifting, I have much to say about Kali–goddess of sequencing–and moving within the limits of time and space and some other things beside.

    In the meantime, while I am wrestling with how to say what I believe are among the things I want to express and as I deal with a bout of being very busy at work and spending far too much time at the computer to want to spend more time writing in the evening, I just want to mention that it is indeed possible to make decent granola in the slow cooker.  I experimented with that today, in between conference calls and emails and document reviews (slow cooking, after all, takes very little consistent attention).  The cooking reached its conclusion while students and I gathered for Wednesday night practice.   More important than requiring little attention after the initial preparation stage, the slow cooker doesn’t heat up the kitchen, and I refuse to turn on the oven if it is going to be 80F or above.  Slow cooker granola is an excellent compromise between no homemade granola in the hot months and turning on the oven.

    When I’ve experimented some more, perhaps I’ll create a recipe, adding to the many dozens on the internet.  My first attempt was relatively low fat and no refined sugar.  Yum.  And if you’re a local, do come join me this Friday for a sweetly nostalgic and celebratory evening of restoratives.  5:45pm-7:15pm, Willow Street Takoma Park.  Drop-ins and make-ups welcome.

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