Peace in 2017

A first post in many years...expect ponderings on peace in this new year, a year of great tumult, to say the least. 

A year in retrospect:

I have been away from this space for quite a long span of time! Here is an attempt to catch up:

I have been busy looking for signs of peace & love everywhere I go. 

This was an especially lovely sight I came upon end of 2012:a sea of lit tress-each one with the name of a  loved one. 

There was not much snow this year and that was a disappointment as I so love the sense of quiet & beauty snow brings.

A trip to DR for a wedding gifted us with beautiful people, birds, food,beaches , blue skies

 and soothing seas. 

limited sight distance

It is hard for me to get a read on this New Year. Some moments I almost feel like I am on a plane that is on fire & I have located the parachute & am trying to time the best moment at which to jump. Other days I feel like I am on a plane that is just beginning to take off and become joylessly airborne. The juxtaposition of it all is what confuses me. Seeing this sign today: I took it as a "sign". Perhaps there is no way to know what kind of year it will be until it is all over.

2010

2010 is just hours away from being over & I will not remember it as one of our more peace filled years.

Some parting shots of the 2010 tornado/micro burst/macro burst here in F.H.

Very Merry

Some snap shots of the past few days in our family:

Wonderful trees, fantastic food,family & friends,nut crackers, wreaths , festive decorations & lovely lights, fun, gifts & good times. It flies by too quickly and my only regret is that we all do not get together more often and not everyone can be there when we do!

It was a VERY Merry holiday season :

Our annual gathering on Christmas eve at Aunt J. & Uncle P.'s was wonderful!

Our 80th birthday celebration for cousin Helen the next morning was a fun SURPRISE !

Christmas at Aunt P. & Uncle J.'s was filled with old family memories & photos from Christmas past!

And we made the annual visit to the cemetery -leaving with questions that got answered on Christmas day and we were VERY lucky-the big "blizzard" of 2010 came a day after, allowing all to get home safely.

end of year traditions

As the days grow shorter and the nights lengthen I look forward to the many holiday traditions to keep things upbeat. The many holiday markets scattered throughout NYC. (Bryant Park has a wonderful tree & ice skating rink)

This year we went for a very small tree. It simplifies things wonderfully to have something scaled down & it meant editing the ornaments to only those I really, really loved since there was no vast landscape of green to fill this year.

Hanukkah aftermath

Somes final scenes from this year's Hanukkah & one photograph depicting what I like to call the Hanukkah aftermath=lots of wax everywhere.

Each year I am left with just one question : How do you spell "Hanukkah"?

Hannukah aftermath

peace filled day

It was a peace filled day today. I switched from my summer bag-a gift from Cousin Helen-to my winter bag-a gift from Ely. Then I got out the Christmas tree ornaments - we have a small but meaningful collection. Here is today's favorite:

I think I am getting addicted to Apple's photo booth special effects. I just love how the color makes everything look amazing.

The man:

Friends came in from Syracuse this weekend and we toured parts of NYC (Times Square/AKA car bomb central /Chinatown ) . As we passed Radio City I spotted this. Would love to go as I have never seen his holiness, the Dalai Lama in person but would like to, having read some of the books written about him as well as a book or two he has written. I admire his ability to invoke calm love in the face of such adversity and suffering in Tibet. Then I saw the ticket price tag. I will have to wait for another opportunity...

as for the photo: I do love the juxtaposition of Radio City Music Hall and the Dalai Lama-there is a comic twist there, somewhere...

LOVE

Did you tell someone (or something) you loved them today? If not, you need to. It helps to make any day a better day and it can really turn a bad day around. Sandi cat decided to jump into this blue basket just as I had emptied it and was about to put it away. The artist is me thought-the wood, the blue , the cute cat-grab a photo-QUICK! The practiucal person in me wanted to tell Sandi to get out! Now! Stop impeding my all important work here!But instead I said "I love you" (and grabbed the photo) and it made me smile, and feel lucky and happy. That is what love can do. And the wonderful thing is, you don't need to search for "the one" or go through months of online dating...you just need to go find yourself a deserving kitten (or puppy) who will then grow into a cat (or dog) and jump into a blue basket-making your heart melt.

peace of advice

On my way home from a 4 day foray to Lancaster PA. I spotted this in the train station. Makes sense to me.

Spending time away gives one a sense of different locations and I do have to say there is a more everyday sense of peace in Lancaster than there is in N.Y.C.-maybe it has something to do with the craft fair I attended on Saturday or the women 2 women workshops I participated in on Sunday that dealt with everything from yoga , recycling ,rain water retention, composting, baby wearing (the concept was not new to me but the term definitely is!) and on and on. Very purpose driven and peaceful.

Meditation alert

Monday's plinthers have come online and at 9a.m. "Cathy" will be meditating for the world's children & she invites all to join in. Since Monday is Columbus day here in the states & thus a holiday for some, I would think all compassionate meditators would love the opportunity to join in this sangha.

Om shanti

You can go here to read up on more about this.

Images that give me a sense of stillness & calm and joy

I like the simple in life. As close as possible to nature. As little man made and as much God made as possible. I took these today and they are so simple - quiet - lovely - still. Life, unadorned, in all it's natural glory.

9/11-doves of peace & love

On 9/11/2009 the plinth was of interest to me as I wondered if anyone who presented on that date would do something related to 9/11. Then I saw some of this woman's hour. She had brought with her a collection of dove shaped balloons & as each was released it's wings would flutter. It was so peaceful & moving & beautiful & sad too. You can find her hour here . 9/11 was an odd day this year. Here in N.Y.C. it snuck up on me and then hit like a ton of bricks. The names were read and as it has been several years now, they take on a familiarity. You recall them and the photos that were to be found everywhere in N.Y.C. as relatives posted signs on every street light and wall, in hopes their family member was indeed alive.
I have one strong memory of that first month: At the time I was attending some amazing yoga classes on 34th street, by N.Y.U. medical center . Almost every day I would walk down 34th, on the way to & from class. I always passed this one apartment building and right after 9/11 outside it's first floor window sat the 2 boots of a fireman. They stayed there for what seemed like forever , like the signs posted on the long wall at N.Y.U. (which happened to be the site of where bodies were being brought when found at the Trade Center) . I never fail to recall that simple but poignant site, each time I have walked down that street & passed that building.

more yoga from the 4th plinth

If you are looking to be inspired and feel deeply centered go HERE . She did a wonderful and easy yoga practice on the plinth in honor of a program she participates in that brings ypga to prisons. She makes a wonderful case for yoga's place in prisons on her plinth page.
Om shanti...

meditation on the "plinth" in London, England

"One & Other" :
There is an interesting art happening going on right now in Trafalgar Square, England:From July 6-October 14th folks are being given 1 hour slots on one of 4 "plinths"=to do whatever they would like to do. This is an art piece and so much of what is being done is art making of one form or another.
I tuned in this past week and as I watched folks I did begin to mull over what I might do if I were one of the folks chosen to have a go at it. This evening from 11p.m.-12a.m. a man is meditating! It is one of the things I had thought about and it is ,no doubt, challenging . I was going to try & meditate along with him but found myself moved to chant instead & have found it quite calming-as it always is. I'll post some photos and a link to this hours footage in the next few days to make it easier to access but suffice to say I think this is the coolest thing!



You can go here to view whatever is going on at any given moment & go here to see this hour.

Yoga/peace/108 sun salutes

Are you into Yoga?
Are you into peace?
Are you up for trying to do 108 sun salutes?
Are you free on Sept. 19,20 & 21, 2009? (dates & times vary based on the location)
This is for you if you say "Yes" to any of the above:the global mala project is gearing up & you can find out more HERE
Time to start practicing my sun salutations...
Om Shanti

Are you into peaceful protests?

Let's talk about protesting for just a minute. I think we all would agree that the world could be a better place. There are things, big & small that need to be done to make everyone's lives better. We know this .
The actions needed to make these things happen can be the sticking point. knowing and doing are 2 very different things.
If you ask my husband he will probably tell you I am an "activist". That means I know what needs to happen & I take actions, when appropriate.
Sometimes, being an activist can be disquieting to one's inner peace. Confronting things & allowing yourself to be impacted & then making the decision to Do Something is not always easy, inexpensive, or popular. But you do sleep better at night knowing you have done what you can and helped in some small way to make a difference & make the world a better place.
With all of that in mind I am encouraging folks to go here & sign the petition regarding the signing of Michael Vick to the Philadelphia Eagles on August 13, 2009 for between 1.6 and 5 million dollars.
I held my breath when I heard the N.F.L. had reinstated Mr. Vick. I wondered "Who would sign this man to play on their team and represent their state?" I know our society can seem to condone actions that are awful and unforgivable & I wondered if folks would hold Mr. Vick accountable or let him slide due to his seemingly considerable talent. I would have taken this very personally if any of my home town teams here in New York took steps to sign Mr. Vick.
When I heard the Philadelphia Eagles had indeed signed Mr. Vick I had to wonder what kind of message they thought they were sending to their fans, their players, their sponsors and to the impressionable kids that follow sports & to the good people of Philadelphia as well as to animal lovers everywhere.
I could go on about the implications , I could vent , write letters , make posters . There is so much one could do in a situation such as this. While I watch what happens next with great interest one thing I have DONE is go here and sign this petition. It is a very little thing, a relatively small step & yet I slept better knowing I had done something ...

Happy

Things that make me happy today:

1. freshly vacuumed apartment(nothing like the absence of stray kitty litter )

2. Just cleaned windows in the apartment (I love how it almost looks like there is no pane of glass between you and the world outside.

3. Seeing my dear cats happy. Nothing like the eternal smile on Sandi's face or Nicki's sweet, yellow eyes.

4. A well constructed salad. (Home made , of course! This usually means the following ingredients are used:pine nuts,cranberries, crunchy lettuce or spinach

5. Lighting candles in the evening as the sun disappears for another day and dusk sets.(This is especially wonderful on cold winter nights=almost as good as having a fireplace)

6. Making art of any kind. I love creating things & I especially love making something for someone else.

7. Coming home to a letter in the mail box. Especially letters from artist friends as they choose wonderful stamps, have fantastic handwriting and make the most beautiful envelopes. The effect is such that it inspires me to continue the old art of letter writing much as I love the ease of email.

8. Recycling. Knowing that I am doing something good for the earth makes me very happy. Being able to use recycled materials in my art makes me even happier. (Like making a sketchbook cover collage out of a friend's amazing envelope.)

9. Opening up the bedroom curtains to sunny mornings. It starts the day off right and makes me feel like everything is going to go really well.

10. Bird song and rain hitting against the windows at night. Both make me very happy. I especially love hearing a bird, hidden in a bush or tree somewhere and being able to spot it among the foliage and identify it. Morning dove. Sparrow. Pigeon. Crow....

After ignoring all of the "Happy Lists" popping up in the world of blogs I finally caved in and made my own. If you happen to like reading other folks top ten things that make them happy go here . You'll find them scattered around the blog or under the listing of The Happiness Project.

Queens Crap: Trib: Bloomberg will not stop gassing until all geese dead

Queens Crap: Trib: Bloomberg will not stop gassing until all geese dead