Great Saturday Garden

Today is Great Saturday or Holy Saturday, the day between Jesus' death and his resurrection. In the Church, it's celebrated with watchful expectation and funeral hymns.

I'm celebrating with a morning of catching up with friends, house tasks, and gardening.

Garden this week:

1. April garden tasks

2. Hardening off

3. Planting

4. Sharing with nature

5. Build healthy soil

6. Cover everything with plants

Good Friday

Permelia and Madeline, our first duck ladies

 Today is Good Friday, when we mark Jesus’ death and burial. This morning I remember again that the soul's "dark night" is a part of the human condition. I reflect on desperation and despair. My capacity to experience despair is a gift; through it I am transformed. Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John 3:7). The ability to shift from despair to hope is how I get the strength to live life whatever the daily deaths I might face.

Agenda today:

1. Darkness to Hope Meditation

2. Read "Intrinsic Hope"

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans:

4. Dye eggs

5. Bake hot cross buns

April Flow

April is spring; the yellows and violets of March explode into all the amazing colors of the rainbow: orange tulips, pink azaleas, red-flowering currant, fresh green, and the blue true dream of sky - that rich blue of patience, peace, and understanding.

During this middle month of spring, I celebrate the limitless energy of the maiden and the crazy wisdom of the fool. I turn everything upside down and inside out - anything is possible! April offers me happiness and wonder; maybe now I can say YES with vigor, enjoy the surprises, confusion, and chaos that life brings, and feel comfortable in the depths of my life.

Agenda: 

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

5. Writing themes and passion flow plan

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the day when Jesus and his disciples gathered to share the Passover meal known as the Last Supper. Maundy is an English word that comes from the Latin mandatum, referring to the new commandment that Jesus made on that night: 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). 

On this day three important events are documented.

First, Jesus showed his great love and humility by washing the feet of his disciples.

Second was the introduction of the Eucharist.

Thirdly, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemani to pray and was betrayed by Judas and arrested.

Agenda today:

1. Show love and humility
2. Eat mindfully
3. Find new clothes for Easter

4. Take a bubble bath
5. Go to the garden tonight to pray

Full Hare Moon and April Fools Day

Carmella and Toffee

Tonight is the full moon; this one is called amanta kotantal or "Time for pounding camus" by the Kalapuya of my area, and the Hare Moon by others, because it's the month when rabbits leap and play and mate.

We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the shift to the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon. 

Agenda today:
1. Review, refine, and shift

2. Celebrate joy

3. Truth walk ceremony

Hope I can Agree With

Hope is necessary in order to have any kind of happiness, and I think I've lost it. I am unable to contemplate any dream of a better future without being washed in an overwhelming sense of dread and sadness. I need to find a new entry into hope.

Agenda:

1. Read "Intrinsic Hope"
2. New narrative for being present
3. Ongo journal

Easter Week

This whole week is called Easter week or Holy Week, and I enjoy celebrating it with my family. 

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and get ready for a week of Easter activities with my grandsons.

Agenda this week:

1. Read "The Spirited Walker"

2. Clearing and Home projects

3. Grandson fun

4. Pocket calendar plan

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