Creating and listening

Today, I’m listening to Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul (2011) about spiritual awakening and letting go.  He discusses how we struggle with our inner fears, desires, and destructive relationship patterns. The book is insightful, exposing how our inner thoughts and our self-talk tend to control us.  Real spiritual growth comes when our inner self and our consciousness are united.  Chapter 8 is specifically about letting go of controlling everything around us and letting go of fear. 

I also make these short meditational videos as part of my creative process.  

I’m also practicing being creative.  I’ve tried to draw a still-life which brings me feelings of calm.  I have not tried drawing in years.  My perspective is all off, but perfection is not the point.  Just being creative is the practice, the discipline, & the goal. 

I’ve been fascinated with the idea of ritual tea ceremonies, like Japanese tea ceremony.  I’d love to visit the Japanese gardens in Portland, Oregon again...or even the Huntington Gardens here in SoCal.  I’m a member of the Huntington, but with the quarantine, few members are allowed in.  And I’m on a waiting list to visit the gardens again.  But I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Japanese and Chinese gardens as soon as possible.  

The traditional Chinese music on Wednesdays has been discontinued for now, but anyone who has heard the beautiful strains of the erhu or other stringed instruments there will agree that it is a pleasant way to spend a day.  

Happy words

Did you know that Blogger (blogspot) turns 10 in August? Congrats, Blogger! If you're like me, you appreciate the opportunity to keep a daily journal online. The discipline of writing daily has been invaluable. According to Blogger's statistics, more than 270,000 words are blogged here daily! That's a lot of words!

I've been on a word kick lately, choosing my words carefully, not only in writing but in every word I speak. My meditation today includes words I've seen around town. I dropped by Kaffe Bona in Tulsa where the walls are covered with affirming words like: Bliss, Dreams, Hope, Love, Peace, Joy, Good eats, Good friends, Good coffee, warm memories, Life, etc.

We've all been told to grow up at one point or another. "Be realistic." "Act your age." "Get your head out of the clouds."

But what if we were people who really did follow our dreams, our bliss, our passion? What kind of positive, energizing, empowering impact could we have on others if we held on to this thought from Imagination's Door, my upcoming book of children's poetry (and for the young at heart, too):

Dreamin'

They say that it cannot be done.
They say don't even try.
They say that I am only one.
They say all dreams must die.

They say not even Attila the Hun,
though he was a brave sort of guy,
would ever attempt what others shun.
They say I am aiming too high.

But they don't know what I know-
no matter what they say.
And little dreams begin to grow
in spite of the "no's" anyway.

They say that dreams are for sleepin',
that day dreams will just make me fall.
But I know that even pipe-dreamin'
is better than no dreams at all.


So, here's to all the dreamers and life-embracing wordsmiths on Blogger! Keep it up! Thanks for your inspirational posts and honesty in blog form.