Bhagavan (what does it mean to be prosperous?)
Bhagavan — another name for Shiva — literally means “possessing fortune, blessed, prosperous.” What does it mean in this context to be possessed of fortune, to be blessed, to be prosperous? What does it mean in the context of balancing… (READ MORE)
Construction and Reconstruction
I have lived in my house for almost 20 years. The house came with a bottom of the line, circa 1977 Hechinger’s bathroom. The bathtub has been rusting for a over a decade, part of the faucet would come off… (READ MORE)
Creating Healing Energy (and communal knitting)
A friend of mine who is an avid and wonderful knitter decided to make a shawl for a friend who is about to have surgery. Instead of whipping out a shawl herself in a few days, she invited other friends… (READ MORE)
Julie and Julia (and “actionless action”)
I went to see Julie and Julia because I, like most other Americans of a certain age who like food, have a history with Julia Child. Seeing the movie brought back an episode from junior high school. By seventh grade,… (READ MORE)
Happy Anniversary Anusara
The Anusara teachings and this community fill my heart and ever challenge mind and body. Much gratitude to John Friend, my teacher, and to all my friends on and off the mat. Now off to teach Level 2 @ 8:30,… (READ MORE)
A Happy Life is an Engaged Life (and Sadhana)
I have spent most of my life practicing one thing or the other. What attracts me about practicing in the sense of complete absorption that it brings. For a time, the absorption can be enough. Ultimately, though, the absorption should… (READ MORE)
Rudra (and fierce indignation)
Ruda, who is both the ancestor of Shiva and another name for Shiva, is known as the howler. Rudra is wild and fierce. Rudra rages. I heard Paul Muller-Ortega recently describe Rudra. He said Rudra rages, but offered that there… (READ MORE)
Tomato Blight (and the web of life)
One of the conjectured reasons for the amazingly quick spread of tomato blight in the northeast this year (besides the crazy weather) is the upsurge in home gardeners. It is wonderful that so many people are growing their own tomatoes. … (READ MORE)
August News
I am continuing to get bounce-backs from email addresses on the mailing list that I know are valid. If you want to receive my occasional emails, please subscribe to the mailing list and make sure to check your spam filters. … (READ MORE)