Tuesday

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

Agenda:

1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Expressing Needs in the World

3. Family and community brainstorm

Mother's Day Rogation Sunday

Today is Mother's Day, and a low-key time for me, now that my daughter is a mother and I am a grandmother!

And it's also Rogation-tide, beginning on the Sunday five weeks after Easter and continuing for four more days, through Ascension Day on Thursday. 

Rogation is an early Christian tradition of singing psalms and chanting prayers of petition for God's protection on crops, beasts and people. Since medieval days, parishioners in Britain would walk around the parish boundaries, bearing a cross and banners, and asking for God to bless the crops, livestock, and fishing holes. The procession was called 'beating the bounds'; it helped everyone to remember the parish boundaries, in the time before maps were commonplace.

These boundary walks were also known as ‘gang days’ from the Anglo Saxon word ‘gangen’- to go. The parish would bond together as a community, offer charity to poor people they met along the way, and the priest would stop to preach at each prominent tree or landmark.

Now Rogation-tide is celebrated more as a time to honor the gift of creation of the land and waters, to offer thanksgiving for the labors on land and water that feed us, and to pray for stewardship of the earth.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal query

2. Mother Meditation

3. Monthly journal brainstorm

4. Brainstorm my summer

5. Cleansing 

6. Beat the bounds

7. Bless my garden

8. Make Rammalation Bisquits

Self-Caregiving Boot Camp

Self-care needs to be a discipline: It takes discipline to do the things that are good for me instead of what feels good in the moment, or just what "needs to get done". Self-care needs doing every day, every week, month in and month out - it’s taking care of myself as a daily practice, so I don't get stressed out, over-committed, over-weight, and over-tired.

Self-care requires tough-mindedness, a deep understanding of my priorities, and respect for myself and the other people in my life. It involves setting boundaries, communicating my needs, and showing up authentically. It involves doing battle with my inner demons — my traumas and addictions.

Of course, with disciplined self care I am able to be a better caregiver and activist for everyone else; I have the energy, health, and focus I need to create transformation in my world.

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

Agenda:

1. Read "The Achievement Habit"

2. De-stress journal

3. Stress-tamer menu

4. Expressing Needs in the World

5. Daily Boot Camp list so far

Maidyozarem

The Zoroastrian community honors the six seasons of the year by celebrating six Gahambars - the word gahambar means "proper season". Each of these six festivals is celebrated for five days, and each honors one of the six material creations: The heaven, water, earth, flora, fauna and man.

Maidyozarem, the first Gahambar of the Zoroastrian year, means "mid-spring", and it celebrates the creation of the sky, heaven, the stars, and the hot nebulous cloud of the fire of the Universe. It takes place each year from April 30 through May 4th.

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

2. Studio brainstorm

3. Recite prayers

4. Make Kachumber Salad

e. A Beltaine Fire

Prepare for the New Moon

Every month just after the third quarter moon, I take some days to be quiet and contemplative and prepare for the next phase of my life. I'm lucky that this year I have a three day Earthcare retreat just at the right time!

Agenda:

1. Read "Perspective"

2. Monthly journal brainstorm:

3. Brainstorm my Earthcare message

4. Cleansing 

April Third-Quarter Moon

Tonight is the waning Third Quarter moon of April. 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.

Agenda today:

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

2. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

3. Ritual for Release and Realignment

4. Projects for the week

5. Surrender, rest, recuperate

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

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

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!

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

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 next 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

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

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

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

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

My Birthday for a New Perspective

Today is the start of my 70th year -  and this calls for an acknowledgement and celebration of a real shift in perspective. Aging has brought a natural evolution of my priorities, and a realignment of the perceived importance of all the small traumas of life. I find I am generally happier and less attached to grudges and blue moods. I feel a profound sense of contentment from simply being present with the people I love. 

Agenda:

1. Generosity practice

2. Rite of initiation

3. Read "Find Your Unicorn Space"

4. Beginner's mind for creativity

5. Pre-K school plans

6. Projects for the week

7. Winter nature tray

New Year's Day

Today is the first day of a new year in my part of the world. I celebrate many beginnings throughout my year, but January 1 has emotional importance because it’s the New Year of my childhood.

January gets its name from Janus, the two-faced Roman God of gates and doorways; it's a month to look back with reflection and forward with hope. I stand at the doorway of this coming year with my mind open and curious, without fear or judgment, and with hope for the gifts that the year will deliver.

As I stand here, I remember that not all gifts are rosy. I thank the Creator for the shadows and mysteries, and potent gifts of sadness. When I live in the reality of the moment more than in my hopes and expectations, I can receive the riches that are hidden within my most challenging experiences - the gifts of compassion, self-awareness, creativity, wisdom, patience, love, strength of character, and integrity.

Agenda for today:

1. Set the tone for the New Year

2. Kwanzaa principle

3

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Light an imaginary candle for witness

4. Read "The Creativity Book"

5. Soyal retreat practices for witness

6. Witness brainstorm

7. First bird

8. Pre-K school plans

9. Projects for the week

New Year's Eve

Tonight is New Year's Eve - a big night for many people. W and I are visiting family for the New year's weekend, as has been our tradition for many years now.

This is the final day of 2025; it's time to see it out, and welcome in the New Year! 

Agenda today:

1. 

Kwanzaa principle

2

.

 

Light a pretend candle for celebration

3. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

4. Soyal retreat practices for celebration

5. Celebration brainstorm

6. Resolutions

7. Make noise!