barns burnt down---now i can see the moon -Masahide

I've been "grounded" for several months now in bend's unusually lush spring (except a trip to laramie, brietenbush & eugene). This staying put is not the normal for me, but i am settling into a nice mellow & sustainable routine. The seeds went into the garden on a "seed day" in the astrological and moon cycles last weekend and then it proceeded to rain everyday after to coddle and feed them into tiny spoutlings.

What prompted this entry this morning was an epiphany stepping out of the Yoga building in "eastside" bend. The view west from my daily habit locale is the majestic Sisters and Bachelor mountains. This morning the foothills were visable through mist and rain as dark bodies stark against steel grey sky. And there nestled into them was a very wide rainbow, the largest breadth of rainbow i've ever seen.

The realization was more an appreciation for the "little things" in life. Nature's changes & her sensual nurturing, the comings, goings & sharing of life with family and friends...

Here at home the back rose bush tucked behind the yurt is starting to burst out with endless yellow blooms, see picture.

There hasn't been a lot of "drama" in my life for weeks...almost too mellow if I reflected on my life of Olympic ski training travel, yoga studios, numerous "bands" and musical endeavors, extensive India travel and depth of Indian cultural immersion, huge weddings, and spontaneous travel..etc. But i am realizing at this age of 40yrs that mellow is good and the subtle small pleasures are lasting and satisfying. Like cooking a meal for friends, smelling the fresh rain first thing in the morning, the wake up call of a warm cat purring in my face, seeing the beauty & potential in others and myself, and the drifting off to sleep at night knowing i've lived and loved well that day.

The cup is more than half full.

May Day

april showers bring may flowers...
woke, went outside and put my hands in the strawberry patch to pick up some morning dew to rub softly on my face. a gaelic ritual for this first day of may.
the welcoming of a fertile year and may day.
see this interesting link about beltane, the pagan version and symbolic meaning of May 1st:
http://www.geocities.com/cecylyna/beltane2.html

i like the "Beltane is also about being naked. Not necessarily nakedness of the body, but nakedness of the soul, of removing the veils we put up between the world and our true self: even of removing the veils we put up to hide our true desires from ourselves"

may your day be filled with joyful abandon

nature

Quotations, however eloquent or inspiring, cannot compare to a day spent free amidst the wonders of wild nature.
passed on by a friend.

hot stoves

jet lag is great for computer productivity!

but don't sit too close to hot fire stoves or your clothes will melt and smell terrible.

have gone quote crazy recently...2 from uncle bruce:

But if you do not find an intelligent companion, a wise and well-behaved person going the same way as yourself, then go on your way alone, like a king abandoning a conquered kingdom, or like a great elephant in the deep forest. - Buddha...

Laughter is the closest distance between two people. - Victor Borge

home nest

landed home to wonderful bend and all goodness .

reflecting on the trip i learned something. people go to india to become "enlightened", and i say they might come back not magically changed but rather knowing more about enlightenment. that's what i feel...

enlightenment is seeing things light.

it is also devoting oneself to the art and skillset of loving better in this lifetime...

and as a dear soulfriend says it is realizing that we have a choice...that is between acting from fear or from love. its all about awareness, and turning up the lamp...

next gypsy journey...nearby places like brietenbush and silver lake hotsprings for some ease of climate change and then ...ಲವ್

j

goodbye india

the ganges alternated between ice green and blue color, holy waters off the himalayan glaciers. (left, and Varanasi sacred offerings above)
found my way back "home" to the south in mysore for one more day of goodbyes to dear India friends and family, a concert, sandelwood shop, incense and last tastes of Indian delicacies...
i am sore from a 10 hour trek out of Rishikesh to a glorious Goddess temple to Durga, high above steppe rice farms and foothills... and a view of the really big mountains far off, to be continued on another trip.

see you in bend.
love and blessings,
j bird

path by the river Ganges

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving." ~Lao Tzu



"Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe." ~Anatole France



Rishikesh...where the Beatles came to be with their Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Feb of '68...they were supposed to have composed around 48 songs while staying at the ashram here... many of which are on the White Album.



My journey has brought me up the Ganges from the Holy city of Varanasi to Haridwar and now to Rishikesh. I must admit the River is pulling me further and further towards the giant Himalaya range but i have only a few more days so will go as far as possible this trip.



Being a "traveller" is a far cry from the comforts, friends and routine of wonderful Mysore but the wandering path feels right for my transition home. i woke early in the Ganapathi Ashram with a mind full of thought and a craving for chai. so out i went at 5:30 am, had tea and washed my face and hands in the crystal clean Ganges across from the Ashram, and stopped by a small Hanuman (monkey God) shrine where a priest was doing morning prayers and puja (flowers and chants). Then a quick auto rickshaw ride brought me to a suspension foot bridge to cross the river. These travel days i have had the unstoppable desire to WALK...through the towns , up to the temples on the hills, into the mountains, along the river Ganges...and this morning was no exception. The sun had not quite come up as i started out on a winding "river trail" (with hat, scarf etc. it is chilly here in in the morning). there is something calm and deeply soul- satisfying about walking along a river for me. it dawned on me that i have come thousands of miles and three and a half months to realize that i am most at home walking by a river somewhere near the mountains, and here i am.


"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow". ~Lin Yutang



As my hike brought me up the hill behind Rishikesh on a switchback road, then a trail, I flashed back to the entire trip to India and wondered what i had to show for this time. Of course that was an entirely western point of view to look for tangible results or accomplishments... or to have expectations/ desires in the first place. what did i do here? get closer to enlightenment, grow 4 months older in a magical place...?
yes & some some wisdom nuggets:


1. Walk yer own path: contentment = living according to ones own unique way and blueprint...not by any others or what any others say is right for you. (with grace)

2. Believe in yourself and others and the connection between the two.

3. Take naps

4. Travel light

5. Make decisions slow but be bold too

6. Learn music by ear and develop your listening skills

7. Pay attention

8. Bow to the feet of those you love as teachers/Gurus especially the challenging ones

9. Stick with your Guru (s) for life

9. Always shine the light back on yourself if things appear to be going wrong

10. be quiet

11. drink tea

12. Recognize your impending death and live accordingly . live without worry or fear

13. tap into your own unique spirituality...whether thats Krishna or art or being outdoors. worship and devote yourself to spending time with the divine thing every day. find your "Yoga"

14. pay attention

15. trust in the journey

16. if you feel nervous or have stage fright, imagine everyone in their underwear.

17. make fun of/with each other Indian style

USA 6 days and counting...
j