Palm Sunday

The first Palm Sunday was the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago. At that time Jerusalem had a normal population of about 50,000, and it at least tripled in size because of the influx of pilgrims celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Journal queries

3. Ongo journal

4. Egg tree

5. Figgy pudding

End of a Crazy Week

What a week! Spring break is not what it used to be - no break for us. We had the boys for longer days, and one with an ear infection - not fun. Still, we had the kind of conversation and time you can't have on shorter days. Tonight we will have them again for an extended evening, and I want to set us up for success.

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"
2. Creative imagining for Dragonfly Studio
3. Studio brainstorm
4. Projects for the week

5. Writing themes and passion flow plan

First Quarter Moon and Navratri Part 3

Navratri continues for the final three nights. The nine nights of Navratri are broken up into sets of three, and during each a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon. For these final three nights we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Saraswati, who is "the essence of self". Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

And Tonight is the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. Now is the time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities.

I use this March quarter moon's energy to create hope.

Agenda Today:

1. Morning meditation and mantra

2. Journal queries

3. Make a full effort plan

4. Add to the altar

5. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Sneaky Joy

Joy is a difficult emotion to consider right now, with life so challenging and the earth in crisis. I've decided to experiment in the next weeks with a sneaky path to joy, finding happiness through indirect, unexpected, or subtle methods rather than chasing it directly.

Agenda:

1. Read the Antidote
2. Stoic exercise of releasing control
3. New narrative for embracing the unexpected
4. Ongo journal

Pick Up the Pace

Spring is giving me new energy to get things done! 

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

Agenda this week:

1. Read "The Spirited Walker"

2. Walking script
3. Spring cleaning and Home projects

4. Spring plastic round up!
5. Grandson fun

Navratri Continues

 Navratri continues tonight with the visit of Lakshmi. 

The word navratri means nine nights; These nights are broken up into sets of three, and during each set we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti (the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us) - first the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati.

Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace. Tonight we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Lakshmi, the Goddess of success.

2021 rangoli

Agenda Today:

1. Morning meditation and mantra 

2. Read "The Antidote"

3. Start a new project

4. Make a new rangoli design
5. Add to my altar

Late March Garden

Today I will do some garden introspection and planning, then take action on some projects.

Agenda:

1. Late March tasks

2. Bed preparation and clean up

3. New spa bed and sand pit area

4. Make a tidy mess

Vernal Equinox and Nowruz

Spring equinox occurrs this morning at 7:46 a.m. PDT. The word equinox comes from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night). This is a moment of balance - the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west, and we experience twelve hours each of light and dark. From this moment on, we gain more light each day, until the summer solstice.

And Nowruz is the Persian New Year, which begins each year at the time of the spring equinox in Iran, and is celebrated for two weeks. The word Nowruz means New Day in Persian. It’s an ancient Persian belief that creation of the world took place on the first day of spring.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal queries

2. Writing themes and passion flow plan

 3. Spring decorating

4. Dye a few eggs

5. Make Koloocheh Cookies

6. Set up a haft sin

7. Nowruz Ceremony

Chaitra Navratri

Today is the start of Navratri, a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us.

The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights and ten days. Navratri is celebrated twice each year, in the spring and fall, because these are times when nature and people undergo great changes. Spring (Chaitra) Navratri begins the day after the new moon in late March or early April, and is celebrated as a request to Shakti for a good growing season.

The nine nights of Navratri are broken up into sets of three, and during each a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon - the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati. Each of the three goddesses marks a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

Agenda:

2021 Rangoli (with grandson help)

1. Morning meditation and mantra

2. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

3. Projects for the week

4. Make a rangoli design

5. Plant grain seeds
6. Set up an altar for Mother Nature
7. Make channa sundal (spicy chickpeas)

New Budding Moon

Tonight is the new moon; the Chinese call the second new moon the Budding Moon. As we cycle nearer to spring, I can feel my energy growing and swelling like the buds on the trees! 

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, prepare, and set intentions.

Agenda Today:

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a theme 

3. Set intentions

4. Proaction and reciprocity plans

St. Patrick's Day and Chaharshanbe Suri

St. Patrick's Day is an Irish holiday that falls on March 17 each year. In Ireland it's celebrated with parades, community feasts, singing, dancing, and church services, all in honor of St. Patrick, an English man who lived in about 400 A.D.

Pat’s whole name was Magnus Sucatus Patricus. When he was 16, Irish raiders carried him off from England to Ireland to work as a slave. He escaped six years later, traveled and studied for many years, and became a Christian missionary. He returned to Ireland, and grew famous for all the miracles he performed and for converting many Irish people to Christianity.

Chaharshanbe Suri, the Festival of Fire, is part of the ten day Zoroastrian festival, Farvardegan, which concludes with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 21. On this last Tuesday evening of the year, Iranians jump over bonfires.

Agenda:

1. Read the Sweet Spot

2. Family and community brainstorm

3. Synergy and hope plans

4. Prayer of St. Patrick

5. Plant peas and my straw doll

6. Enjoy hot Irish coffee

7. Make Ajeel

8. Build a fire and JUMP!

Hamaspathmaidyem

Hamaspathmaidyem is the sixth and last gahambar. This gahamber is the most significant to Zoroastrians, because it's devoted to remembering the fravashis or guardian angels. According to Zoroastrian religion, each of the 6 creations was created during one of the gahambars. Mankind was created on this last one. 

This is the start of the second half of  Farvardegan, which means “days of remembering the Fravashis" (guardian angels). It's a ten day Zoroastrian festival that includes the five days of Hamaspathmaidyem, which concludes with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 21.

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

Agenda this week:

1. Spring cleaning and big home projects

2. Grandson fun

Spring Brainstorm

This week, at the new moon, I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. This next few days I'll take time to write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days, including at least a few crazy, improbable notions. 

-Start with a list of seasonal themes and celebrations, vacations, and other events.

-Write about my biggest priorities this month, how they might fit into my life, and how they connect to my values and principles.

-Write about possible obstacles and factors such as the weather, upcoming schedule changes, or money problems.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Ongo journal

3. Brainstorm for my priorities

4. Potting Day plans

Sabbath for the Cusp of Spring

Today is the start of my sabbath - for a couple of days at the end of my week I step out of the fray, and regroup. We are on the cusp of spring, and I want to take time to prepare myself - body, mind, and spirit.

My perfect sabbath is a celebration, a holiday. I keep it holy with my attitude: I don't rush, complain, or worry. Everything I do has a flavor of peace. I schedule some work, but it's work I find fulfilling, or uplifting. Simple is a great word to describe my ideal activities for the sabbath: Simple tasks, simple foods, and an undemanding schedule. - Unfortunately I have a work-related meeting today, but I will surround it with easy, peaceful vibes.

Agenda:

1. Brainstorm for Spring

2. Practice a Reverent Way of Being

3. Plant spinach

Flexible Friday the 13th

I feel new energy arising, and I want to maintain this flow. I'm working on good habits, daily walks, and getting to my house chores with regularity. I'm working on shifting my natural resistance towards presence, effort, and follow-through (integrity) in order to build trust.

Today I want to give attention to flexibility, that ability to go with the flow and shift my plans and expectations so that we can all feel at peace and calm, and have fun rather than conflict. It's just another aspect of easing my resistance - and also the resistance of those around me.

Agenda:

1. Read "Perspective"

2. New narrative for flexibility

3. Writing themes and passion flow plan

Farvardegan

Today is the start of Farvardegan, which means “days of remembering the Fravashis" (guardian angels). It's a ten day Zoroastrian festival that includes the five days of Hamaspathmaidyem, which begin on March 16, and concludes with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 21.

Hamaspathmaidyem is the sixth and last gahambar. This gahamber is the most significant to Zoroastrians, because it's devoted to remembering the fravashis or guardian angels. According to Zoroastrian religion, each of the 6 creations was created during one of the gahambars. Mankind was created on this last one.

Agenda:

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being" 

2. Creative imagining for art and teaching

3. Teaching brainstorm

4. Projects for the week

5. Welcome the angels
6. Offer thanks

7. Recite prayers

Third Quarter Moon of Early March

Tonight is the waning Third Quarter moon of March. Today's moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care.

March is a month of actions it's a relief to take a small breather this week to discern the net steps forward.

Agenda today:

1. Devotions

2. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

3. Ritual for Release and Realignment

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. Proaction and reciprocity plans

6. Surrender, rest, recuperate

Emotional perspective

My theme this year is Creative Perspective. Perspective is just about how we look at things, like our opinions, actions, what's happening in the world and what happened in the past. 

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self and make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view the people in my life.

Agenda today:

1. Read the Sweet Spot

2. Ongo journal

3. Synergy and Hope plans

Monday

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

I especially want to get a handle on walking - how to get myself out the door more often.

Agenda:

1. Devotions

2. Read Spirited Walker

3. Step into spring

4. Spring cleaning and Home projects

5. Grandson fun

Sabbath for Renewal

Every month before the Third Quarter Moon, I take some time to think about self-care, renewal, and "sharpening the saw", as Stephen Covey advised. That is, I look at my whole Being, and how I can live with more balance and resilience.

Keeping a sabbath day is a personal thing. For me, it's a day with a slow pace. I don't pack it as full. I schedule some work, but it has a flavor of rest to it - it's work I find fulfilling, or uplifting. Simple is a great word to describe my ideal activities for the Sabbath: Simple tasks, simple foods, and an undemanding schedule.

My perfect sabbath is a celebration, a holiday. I keep it holy with my attitude: I try not to rush, complain, or worry. I open myself to the Spirit of Love, and schedule activities that celebrate the season or the act of creativity or the joy of community or are satisfyingly peaceful in nature. 

Today, I plan some creative sewing, some gentle gardening, and writing about bird song! I also have a couple community worship times, but online, so I don't have to engage too much.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Beingness 

3. Ongo journal

4. Renewal brainstorm

Early March Garden

March is when the gardening season increases in intensity. I will prepare my garden beds, and plant seeds indoors and out. Right now, it's still too cold to plant outside, but I have lots of preparation work to do!

Agenda:

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Ongo journal

4. March tasks
5. Plant indoors

6. Phenology journal

World Day of Prayer

The World Day of Prayer takes place every year on the first Friday in March. Women in the United States and Canada first formed this event after the devastation of World War I, when they were convinced that world peace was tied to world mission. Each year, Christian women from all over the world join together to plan and organize events, and suggest a theme and focus.

This year the theme was set by the women of Nigeria:

I Will Give You Rest: Come

Matthew 11:28-30

At a time when people worldwide are carrying heavy burdens, our Nigerian sisters offer profound insights into finding rest in God. Through their exploration of different kinds of burdens - shame, systemic oppression, religious persecution, poverty and despair - the writers help us understand both the weight of human suffering and the depths of divine rest. Their work shows us that true rest isn't just about physical relief, but about transformation through God's grace and community support.

Agenda:

1. Devotions
2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Read Matthew 11:28-30

5. Prayer for the Poor

6. Prayerful Action

7. Read "Perspective"

8. New narrative for building trust

9. Writing themes and passion flow plan

March Creativity

Today I have a wide-open day to fill with the work of creating my vision here on the earth. 

Agenda:

1. Beingness 

2. Earth Action

3. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

4. Creative Imagining for cleansing

5. Cleansing ritual for Earth Unity

6. Teaching brainstorm

7. Projects for the week

Holi

Today is Holi, a Hindu holiday that falls on the day after the full moon in March each year. It marks the end of winter in India. Holi is sometimes called the Festival of Color, because on Holi everyone in India throws paint at each other!

To prepare, folks buy gulal, which are powdered paints in rich colors of pink, magenta, red, yellow and green. Three days before Holi, families get together to sprinkle a little of the gulal powders on each other, to share love and blessings.

On the day of Holi the whole country goes wild with people laughing and running in the streets; they smear each other with powder, drench each other with buckets of paint, and spray paint with long pistons (like super-soakers). They also fill water balloons with paint! People often show respect for elders by sprinkling dry powder on their feet. 

By the end of the day everyone is covered with color- old people, children, men, women, rich and poor. Holi creates a feeling of equality in a country with strong disparity.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Ongo journal

5. Proaction and reciprocity plans

6. Make Malpua
7. Have a color celebration

Full Egg Moon and Hina Matsuri

Hina Matsuri is a Japanese festival that falls every year on March 3. It began in ancient times as a Shinto effigy ceremony to prepare farmers for the planting of spring crops: They would rub their negative energy off onto a doll, then float it down the river.

Today girl's set up displays of dolls, have a tea party, and - yes - some people still send dolls down the river.

The full moon of March is the atcha-uyu or "Women Dig Camus" moon by the Kalapuya of my area, and the Egg Moon by others, because this is the month when birds begin to lay eggs again. The egg is a powerful symbol of hope, new beginnings, and completeness: My vague ideas take a solid shape, enclosed in a perfect shell, and I have created a whole new beautiful thing! The March Full Moon is a good time to ponder ​t​he wholeness of life.

We are now at the peak of the high-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the low-energy yin time of the waning moon.

Agenda:

1. Take a vision walk

2. Celebrate strength

3. Synergy and hope plans

4. Make hina dolls and paper boats

5. The hina-okuri ceremony

6. Prepare to plant

7. Make hishi mochi and have a tea party

8. Plan a sabzeh