Retreat for Tying Loose Ends

Today I have nothing on my calendar: A free day to catch up with my garden, my earth care projects, and house tasks. It's a joy to finish things I've started!

Agenda:

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Planting

Vigor

Vigor and enthusiasm for life are components of effectiveness, happiness, and hope.

Today I set an intention to lean in to life with vigor and enthusiasm by giving attention to self-care and healthy habits, lighting a fire with visualization and curiosity, and taking one step at a time, because lethargy and overwhelm threaten to derail me everyday and if I delay, I’m not acting in the now. 

Agenda:

1. Devotions
2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Read "Perspective"

5. New narrative for vigor

6. Creative visualization

7. Writing themes and passion flow plan

Overwhelm

I feel overwhelmed, with ideas, projects, emails, and family demands. Today I want to take some time to get clear about immediate priorities, and what I can put on the back burner.

Agenda:

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

5. Beginner's mind meditation for worry

6. Teaching brainstorm

7. Projects for the week

Unity with Winter Rain

We have a paradoxical relationship with rain. Rain gives us life - we can't survive without it, but it's so inconvenient; we like to complain about it, and try to avoid being caught out in it. We sometimes find it dismal and depressing. (I certainly got tired of rain, as a young person who had to walk to school in it EVERY DAY; and not just gentle showers, but cold, sideways driving rain that penetrated every part of you...)

Agenda:

1. Ongo journal

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Explore rain

5. Write a mission haiku

6. Proaction and reciprocity plans

First Quarter Moon of Late February

Today is the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - growing in light and energy, creating a time for decisive action and full effort.

I use this late February quarter moon's energy to lean in to vigor and enthusiasm! Some strategies: Better diet, more water, movement and dance, sunlight, and visualization (wash negative energy away in a shower).

Agenda Today:

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Journal queries

5. Full effort for writing

6. Synergy and hope plans

Monday Reset

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:

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Ongo journal

5. Home projects

Pea Planting Day and Forgiveness Sunday

Pea Planting Day is a special anniversary for us. February 22 is listed on my planting calendar as the first day to plant peas in the Willamette Valley; it also happens that this is the day W and I got engaged to each other, 50 years ago!

Peas are traditionally the first vegetable sown outside in the spring because they will germinate and grow in very cool soil. We plant peas today to ceremonially kick off the start of the planting season, and also to remind ourselves of the beginnings of our relationship; the day we decided to be together forever.

Forgiveness Sunday is an Eastern Orthodox holiday that marks the start of Lent. The Western and Eastern churches usually celebrate Lent and Easter on different dates - the Western dates are calculated with the Gregorian calendar, and the Eastern dates use the Julian Calendar.

Agenda:

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

5. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness

6. Pea planting ceremony

7. Permaculture pea tips

8. Light a candle

Phenology Saturday

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal changes in nature. It's nature's calendar - when flowers bloom, leaves break bud, birds begin migrating, leaves change color and begin to fall, and so on. Farmers and gardeners use phenology to develop a planting schedule. Researchers observe changes in phenology as an indicator of the vulnerability of species and communities to changes in climate.

I record the phenology in my garden to broaden my awareness, deepen my connection to the wildlife around me, and to better understand the calendar of my environment and how it is changing. I'm focusing on a few native plants and personal favorites in my yard, the birds at my feeder, and some specific patches of leaf mulch (for insects).

1. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Phenology journal

5. New squirrel feeder

Priority Check In

My top four priorities are:

1. Grandsons and family.  
2. Writing my book.
3. Earthcare action.
4. Integrity with home projects.

I'm not great at actual prioritizing; I set good priorities, but then don't take action on them FIRST. I have a mental disconnect between knowing my priorities and acting on them.

I'd like to set an intention this month to schedule my priorities early in the day, define the smallest step, and then give deliberate focused attention to that specific task, saying  no to distractions and other matters.

Agenda:

1. Devotions
2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Read "Perspective"

5. New narrative

6. Days of passion flow plan

Ramadan

Sunset photo by Brayden

Last night was the start of Ramadan, an Islamic holy day that marks the discovery of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan is a month of blessing. The Islamic calendar is totally lunar, so Ramadan is a few weeks earlier each year, at the sighting of the thin crescent moon, hopefully at sundown tonight. By night, Muslims read the Qur'an, and celebrate the compassion of God with special prayers. 

By day, they give to charities, and observe the discipline of fasting: They eat an early morning meal before the sun rises, then eat and drink nothing until after sundown. The Ramadan fast includes abstinence from falsehood and anger, in words and in deeds.

Even though I don't partake in a fast, I observe Ramadan in this same spirit, renewing my relationship with God, and exercising self-discipline and generosity. I hope to build my empathy for Muslims as they observe their month-long fast.

1. Celestial awareness

2. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

3. Beginner's mind meditation for Being

4. Projects for the week

5. Celebrate Iftar

Ash Wednesday and Ramadan

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a 46-day period of preparation for the joyful Easter celebration. The word lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "lengthen"; it refers to the longer days of spring. Lent is about mortality and transformation; death and rebirth. Marcus Borg says, "It means dying to an old way of being, and being born into a new way of being, a way of being centered once again in God."

At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer. This year I'm really taking that to heart with a totally simple set of practices. My theme is Being At One with the Earth, because I want to help to  dissolve  the boundaries between myself and nature:

• Devotions: I intend to read Living Earth and Earth Medicine as daily devotionals, because starting my day with attention to the Earth will open the door to new connections.
• Beingness: I intend to fast from being indoors all day - I will spend much more time outside - walking, doing Oneness and awareness exercises, and simple garden tasks, because this will lead to a deeper experiential connection.
• Earth Action: And I intend to take action on my Nature-Culture book - writing and practicing what I write - creating sanctuary, practicing reciprocity, and producing creative Oneness projects, because I want to model how to shift the paradigm towards unity with all of nature.

And tonight is the start of Ramadan, an Islamic holy day that marks the discovery of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic calendar is totally lunar, so Ramadan is a few weeks earlier each year, at the sighting of the thin crescent moon, hopefully at sundown tonight. I'll write more about Ramadan tomorrow.

Agenda:

1. Devotions
2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

5. Proaction and reciprocity plans

6. Make pretzels

7. Hang up the Lent Lady

New Holiday Moon and Chinese New Year of the Horse

Today is the Chinese New Year, which starts when the new moon appears in China. This is the month of the Holiday Moon, and the year of the Fire Horse. Horses represent strength, freedom, and spirited perseverance, and the element of fire magnifies these qualities with its intensity, urgency, and passion. This will be a fast-moving, high-energy year, with a stronger drive -- ideal for pursuing new opportunities, and making it especially important to stay attuned to the body’s limits and energy reserves.

This first new moon of the Chinese year is called the Holiday Moon, because it's the start of a month-long holiday season in China. The new moon is 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, set intentions, and initiate something new.

The first day of the Chinese New Year is called Yüan-tan, the "Day of Origin". This one day determines the luck for the entire year, so Chinese people are careful to use their best manners and to remain honest and peaceful.

Agenda for today: 

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

4. Eat jai for breakfast
5. Give gifts

6. Make and give hóngbāo (money packets)

Maslenitsa and Chinese New Year

Maslenitsa (масленица) is the oldest of all Russian holidays. It began as a spring equinox festival called Jarilo, named for the Slavic god of the vegetation and spring. Later it became a Christian holiday, starting on the Monday one week before the Eastern Orthodox Lent.

Maslenitsa is the Russian version of Carnival, with eating, drinking, sledding, games, and costume parades. Like many spring festivals it's a melding of Christianity and Earth Religion, and all of its events still focus on driving away the winter and re-awakening nature.

In Russia, Maslenitsa lasts the entire week, and ends with Forgiveness Sunday, the day before the start of Orthodox Lent, on Clean Monday (February 27th this year).

And tonight is Chinese New Year's Eve. In China, New Year's evening is called Ch’u-yeh, the "evening of discarding", because we can finally be done with the old year, and with winter. This last day of the year is busy for Chinese families, because it’s the last chance to complete preparations and be ready to start the year fresh. When the running around is done, the family spends the rest of the day at home together -- family connections are the big theme for this holiday.

Agenda:

1. Make an effigy doll

2. Make blini pancakes

3. Thanksgiving ceremony

4. Welcoming ceremony

5. Have a family open house

Nirvana Day

Today is Nirvana Day, the celebration of Buddha's death at the age of 80, at around 487 BCE. It's celebrated in East Asia on February 15th, or on February 8th by some.

Buddhists celebrate the date of the death of the Buddha, because death is when the soul is released from the body to experience Nirvana. The word Nirvana means "to extinguish", but it's really more of a transformation to a new kind of existence. Nirvana is usually described as a state of bliss or peace, and a release from all physical suffering. The Buddha taught that Nirvana was beyond human imagination, and so speculation about what Nirvana is like is considered by some to be foolish.

Agenda for today:

1. Read the Buddha's teachings

2. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

3. Ancestor practice

4. Ongo Journal

5. Set intentions for Lent

Seed starting

I'm experimenting with new seed starting practices this year, to get away from using plastic and other ways we harm the earth; and also just because my seed starting hasn't been very successful lately.

Agenda:

1. Potting soil

2. Pots and trays

3. Lights and sun

4. Plant peppers

5. Brainstorm for Oneness with the Earth

Priorities

This week I've been brainstorming priorities for the next month, which is a process of decision-making: What is the next most important thing? What will give meaning to my life and help the world?

When I feel scattered it might mean I am avoiding something I need to decide, what to do and what NOT to do. Once I decide, I can set everything else on the back burner. I can explain the priorities to my team, build alignment, and eliminate chaos and that feeling of overwhelm. I can be intentional.

Agenda:
1. Love cycle
2. Read "Perspective"

3. New narrative

4. Days of passion flow plan

Brainstorm for teaching

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

2. Beginner's mind meditation for craftivism

3. Brainstorm teaching and Pre-K school

4. Projects for the week

Service and Activism

Service and activism is how I use my talents to support people and the Earth. Today I will brainstorm some ideas for how to manifest this in the next weeks.

 

Agenda

1. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

2. Brainstorm service and activism

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Little New Year

Kitchen God I drew a few years ago.

Today is called Little New Year - it falls one week before Chinese New Year. Little New Year is also known as the Kitchen God Festival because this is the day that the Kitchen God, Tsao-wang, and his wife, Wang Bo-jia, leave to report to heaven. A picture of these two gods, printed or drawn on rice paper, hangs in a niche just above the stove in a Chinese home.

In China a whole month is spent in preparations - cleaning, cooking, and decorating the house. All of the things displayed at Chinese New Year are symbols of the ideal life - tokens and reminders of the good things we hope for: Luck, wealth, long life, and happiness.

Agenda today:

1. Read the Sweet Spot

2. Ongo journal

3. Heart brainstorm

4. Forced Blossoms

5. Make a Tray of Togetherness

6. Kitchen God Good-bye Ceremony

Journal Brainstorm Week

Next week, at the new moon I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. This week 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.

-Write about the parts that excite me and the parts that might be hard to find motivation for.

-This month I will also review the brainstorming I did in December, for the new year.

  

Agenda:

1. Read "The Spirited Walker"
2. Walking script

3. Self-care brainstorm
4. Sanctuary brainstorm

Third Quarter Moon of Early February

Tonight is the waning Third Quarter moon of February. 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.

I relish this calm time before the busy-ness of March; time to make plans, study, and renew my spirit.

Agenda today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Ongo journal

3. Renewal plan

4. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

5. Ritual for Release and Realignment

6. Monthly journal brainstorm

7. 

Choose a theme for Lent

8. Surrender, rest, recuperate

Proaction

I've been working on Proaction for many years, but I think now I have a new handle on my dilemma - It's a battle of needs: My deeply ingrained need for justice and fairness, which I often respond to in a childish, reactive way, and my need for equanimity. It's a battle between red and blue parts of my personality, and my inner child and grandma.

Agenda:
1. Love cycle
2. Ongo journal
3. New narrative

4. Days of passion flow plan

St. Dorothy's Day

St. Dorothy lived in Caesarea in central Turkey, around the year 313 AD. She was tried for refusing to worship idols, and a mocking lawyer asked her to send him fruit from the garden of Paradise. In response to her prayer, an angel appeared and presented three roses and three apples.

"And then said the holy virgin with a glad semblant: Do to me what torment thou wilt, for I am all ready to suffer it for the love of my spouse Jesu Christ, in whose garden full of delices I have gathered roses, spices, and apples."

Because of this, she is the patron of gardeners. Also of brides, and brewers.

Agenda Today:

1. Garden visualization

2. February tasks

3. Prepare to plant

4. Make potting soil

5. Study soil health

6. Plant native plants

7. Make Persian Spiced Apples

Creative Imagining

I'm ready for a creative re-boot!

 Agenda:

1. Generosity practice

2. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

3. Beginner's mind meditation for my book

4. Pre-K school plans

5. Projects for the week

Coherence

Coherence is the ability to be clear, consistent, harmonious, and laser-focused. I long to be coherent in thought, act, and word.

Agenda

1. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

2. Love cycle

3. Gratitude meditation

4. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Mindfulness, Focus, and Choice

Mindfulness is an awareness practice. When I'm feeling anxious, scattered, and ineffective (like I have been), then I can go back to the moment I'm in. Take a deep breath, look around, notice the people, the room, the weather. Touch my heart and notice my feelings in this moment. Just BE for a minute, awake and calm.   

"When I am present centered and mindful rather than in my head (comparing, judging, planning, hoping) time slows down. I am grounded. Living becomes more interesting. I feel my feet as they touch the floor. I notice the sounds, the details, and the nuances. I notice this moment as unique- not part of a pattern, and I feel the inherent joy of being alive."

Agenda:

1. Read "Perspective"
2. Ongo journal

3. Love meditation

Imbalc

Yesterday was Imbalc (pronounced Im-molc), the Celtic Sabbat that falls between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It's celebrated sometime around the first of February, as the "beginning of the end" of winter.

Imbalc means "surrounding belly" - the Earth Mother’s womb; soon the seeds in the womb of the earth will begin to swell and creative forces will begin to come alive in the world.

Imbalc is sacred to Brigid, the European and Celtic goddess of healing, crops, poetry, and creativity. As a sun goddess her powers are light, fire, inspiration, and vital energy: Wow! She’s one of my favorite images of the Spirit.

Brigid is the maiden aspect of the Great Goddess and so her color is white; her symbols are a sun-wheel, Brigid's cross, snake, and cock (herald of the new day).

Agenda for today: 

1. Read "The Spirited Walker"

2. Walking script

3. Make a Brigid's Cross

4. Make Irish seed cake

5. Seed blessing ceremony

6. Have a fire