It's all about the Hammock

Flying through the air with the greatest of ease...

Some of the many amazing gifts Omega treats us with are lotteries to attend different workshops by the generous teachers here. One of them is Peter and his amazing crew of acrobats-

So every year I put my name in the lottery for this course, praying that I don't get picked! Hoping to cure my bodies illogical fear of heights, maybe this is an extreme way to do it.


So Scott won! Here he is, flying. Just amazing! So proud of him. It takes a lot of guts to get up there.

They say we approach the trapeze the way we approach our lives, a lot to learn from that.

Enjoy the Silence

The whole campus is silent this week

no talking

no playing charades

no communicating, period.

We got the news last Friday

Adyashanti

who studies and teaches in the

Zen Buddhist tradition

is here with a Five day silent retreat

for Omega's "Retreat Week"

Staff are reacting in a variety of ways
some bitter, it's not their choice
some relieved, taking pleasure in the peace

It's wild

it's quiet

it's nice

it's weird

five hundred people in a room eating

not talking

I am talking because I am working

but I am considering asking my boss

for silence for the last three days

I've been looking into doing this for a while

apparently it's very profound

I'd imagine it would be

after you loose your mind for a minute

I guess that's the point

I'll let you know how it goes...

Friday the 13th

Always loved Friday the 13th
truly, I'm a freak for a scary movie
the moment right before you always get frightened
when your stomach drops, and then you drop your popcorn
it's the best
nothing like a good scare
I got one today from a chipmunk of all things
was sitting in the woods with a friend talking
and heard an animal in the bushes
got up as it coming from behind me, really scared actually
as it was making tons of noise
jumped and there he was
a chipmunk
again
nothing like a good scare
and the outcomes are usually better than your fears, ey?

So yes lots going on here
and at the same time
nothing, which is just lovely actually
not running around from event to person to activity
this year
more like walking slowly, working, lake walks
hammock reading kayaking
and lots of snuggling and resting
much needed much needed

So just in summary
Alex Grey was here again this week
had a run in with his wife at the bookstore, she was being all New Yorky
and Jersey Christie wasn't ahavin it
but all is good
Scott got picked for the trapeze lottery this week
so looking forward to him taking the leap
feeling less social but hanging with some friends from last year
looking at my need for external stimuli in the form of people
specifically in my typical role as counselor and listener
wondering how that serves me anymore....
and not having any phone service and barely any computer time
leaves me feeling distant from my loved loved ones
so just know
you are in my thoughts and heart
and i will be in touch again soooooon

Poetry and Reason

Working in the bookstore
I have become a book slut
seriously
three pages here
a paragraph there
sometimes I get a chapter in
there is so much here
and so much I want to read
I wouldnt mind spending the rest of the summer
reading and snuggling, that would be complete satisfaction

So I've turned to the poetry section
so to not loose my mind
as I already have four books I am deeply committed to
I still flirt with all of them though
so much so many I want to ready all of them
all of it is all so dense and majestic

poems provide me a sense of completion
in between the "do you haves" and "i needs" of the
needy new yorkin purchasers
who want an Om symbol or prayer beads
or trendy new yoga tank
to cover up the holes
I just smile
and take their fake money

have to say it's an odd gig
but its a good gig
I get to listen to amazing music
and be around beautiful things
enjoying them
without possessing them
it's a nice practice

So yes I will share
one of my current favorites
I am very inspired by
this man I am madly crazy silly in love with
who is providing me with deep lessons in love
and beyond, every day, every moment
you make me feel cherished and adored
thank you~*

The minute I heard my first love story,

I started looking for you, not knowing

how blind that was.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,

they're in each other all along.

Rumi

I'm Here

And away from the noise and traffic and distraction
Sitting on hammocks and reading and being
going to yoga and singing and sleeping, a lot
We slept in the tent on the first night
and it was sooooo cold
the coyotes were too close too
thought they might bite my butt when I got out to pee
had to pee so hard I didn't care
(this is not an exageration, there are coyotes near my new tent site, te he he)

Finding myself moving very slowly, very thoughtfully
Paying attention to where I am, what is around me
what I am chewing, drinking, seeing
it is peaceful
I fell into this faster than last time
I cannot beliveve the shape I showed up in
scattered and haggard and anxious
Jersey Christie is what i'll call her

Happy now
more peaceful
so peaceful I can't even find the computer or phone
and a walk through the garden is now my morning commute

I was on the hammock for hours today
lounging and reading my book
staring at the lake and the leaves and the children playing in the water
looked to my side at my love and he gazed lovingly back
swoon swoon swooning away
the way it is
the way it is
I'm Here

Happy 7/7/07