Say Their Names
As if–like chanting–you are saying the names of the divine. For if there is anything such as divinity, it is the spark in each and every one.

As if–like chanting–you are saying the names of the divine. For if there is anything such as divinity, it is the spark in each and every one.

The other day I noticed this “do not disturb” warning on the sidewalk and today, when I was walking past it again with a friend, paused to photograph it. I cannot imagine that most people who walk over or past it even notice it or read it, much less contemplate or know how to disturb it. When I found myself being led to wonder how I could disturb it (or perhaps what is inside or underneath it), I thought about how as soon as someone asks whether you are happy or you ask yourself or notice that you have been perfectly still or at peace or in complete meditation, the state of perfect being without thinking dissolves.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
It’s an idiosyncratic grouping, but it is my weaving of stories for the moment.
I believe the brass dish under the cactus on the left was a wedding present, though I am not absolutely certain of that. It was a long time ago.
The cloth with the tassels came from a shaman in Peru; I was there for 9/11.
I bought the gray scarf when I was in Costa Rica on a retreat with John Friend from a world-traveling fellow yoga practitioner who had brought an array of beautiful scarves to Costa Rica from Thailand.
Other things were brought home from India–mostly by me, but one a treasured gift from a friend.
The porcupine quills were also an inspired and loving gift.
The square of marble under the cactus on the right I found on the street in the neighborhood. The cactii came from a yard sale over a decade ago. They were being sold for only blooming once a year.
The bit of mother of pearl comes from Centerport beach on Long Island. I went there last fall the day before my father’s memorial service.
Other things came from vendors at Eastern Market and one from New York City.
The chestnut is from Stanton Park. I picked it up on my way to work one beautiful day last year.
The heart-shaped stone came from Arizona when I was on a meditation retreat some time late in the last decade. I’ve been to some really lovely places on this planet.
The mala Kuan Yin is wearing I strung and designed: rudraksha beads from my first meditation mala (which had broken), labradorite, and emeralds on silk thread.
The jet beads belonged to my grandmother Rose.
There’s a story about the lump of black and red rock behind Ganesha, but I think I’ll leave that for another day.
Though it was cold and windy, and I had lots of indoor things to do, I bundled up and went for a decent walk.
