A New Year: 2022

 Prayer for the New Year: Roshi Joan Halifax

 

May we realize that this earth is sacred and live accordingly.
May the suffering arising from oppression, hatred, and fear be righted and remedied.
May all those in the grips of insecurity be released to the safety of understanding.
May those weighed down by grief be given over to compassion.
May those lost in delusion find relief in the path of wisdom.
May all wounds to forests, rivers, deserts, oceans, all wounds to the earth be witnessed and healed through our right action.
May we work for the ending of suffering from consumerism, the climate catastrophe, war, economic disparity, racism, sexual violence, and the abuse of children. 
May those in refugee camps and prisons find their way home, with our support. 
May those who are alone or abandoned by friends and family, and those who are unsheltered find a safe and loving harbor in community. 
May we give ourselves time for practice with each other and in the solitudes, to be taught by sangha and by silence, so that we have the courage and equanimity to be a source of love and wisdom for all beings.
May we all have the health, wisdom, and energy to serve in the years ahead. 
May all awaken and awaken others.

 

And may each and everyone of us as we enter this new year (where???? did 2021 go???) partake throughout the year in a frequent cleansing

Great Message

 

An East Coast friend forwarded this to me a few days ago. I thought "marvelous"!

So I want to share with all of you through a blog post.

Nature's Ornaments

"It is our quiet time.

We do not speak, because the voices are within us.

It is our quiet time.

We do not walk, because the earth is all within us.

It is our quiet time.

 We do not dance, because the music has lifted us 

to a place where the spirit is.

It is our quiet time. 

We rest with all of nature.

We wake when the seven sisters wake.

We greet them in the sky over the opening of the kiva.”

            NANCY WOODS

Although I am not a fan of persimmons to eat, I am ever so pleased by these "nature's ornaments" adorning bare trees. They are as beautiful, perhaps more so, than any holiday ornaments created by humans. Walking about our neighborhood one notices these trees with her stunning luscious orange ornaments. How could one not?

Winter Solstice greetings to each of you wondrous BEings as we negotiate, once again burgeoning COVID-19 cases. The culprit this time is the highly contagious Omicron variant of the virus. 

We all are asking how to celebrate the holidays in the safest way possible. I hear of so many cancelling previously made plans to fly for gathering with distant family members and friends, and questioning when will each and every one of us be free to resume our once previously familiar lives. From my perspective I am highly doubtful that will happen any time soon, if ever. 

Sporting events as well as other events happening in big spaces are either having the number of attendees radically decreased or events halted altogether. The Warriors, my very favorite basketball team ever, recently sent home their top players to avoid a possible detainment in Canada related to COVID. WHEW! The entire team is now back together in San Francisco. They are ready to play in their own Arena for two games before hitting the road again. 

The predictions are that the virus will hang around well into 2024. 

Me . . . I think each of us individually might as well figure out how to live as safely as possible with this virus. And now "at this quiet time" go inward for rest. ZOOM for family and friend connections if one want to BE with others. If one is with others, wear double masks and social distance. Where have we heard this before?

And perhaps the singularly most valuable tool is frequently engaging in a whole hearted belly

Joy Filled Winter Solstice

'"Always maintain only a joyful mind.
—Lojong Slogan 21

Shasta seems to generally "maintain . . . a joyful mind."

The Winter Solstice is quickly approaching. It is also know as Yule and is the astronomical first day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Light is Returning" by Starhawk:

"The Darkest Night Approaches

Solstice, Yule: the longest night and shortest day approaches. We have entered into the darkness, but just as it grows to its greatest extent, the light is reborn. This is a time to celebrate all that warms us and gives us hope. There is much reason to hope and celebrate, as well as so many reasons to feel pain right now.

These are times of extremes, but Solstice reminds us that the greatest darkness contains the seed of light—as, on the opposite pole of the year, the triumph of light begins the descent toward the dark.

The world is dynamic, not static; the wheel is ever-turning."

It is the time of the year to naturally go inward. The Winter Solstice is also an opportunity to joyfully celebrate. 

Dwight and I joyfully decorating
the Japanese maple tree that
has shed her leaves, leaving
bare red branches which invite
holiday decorations and lights.
Leigh, who was here visiting from
Seattle, and Dwight put up
lights. Above, we are hanging
the straw ornaments I purchased 
on the San Antonio, Texas,
Riverwalk when my parents
were visiting from Iowa.

One way to begin this season is to turn one's attention to his/her body. The below practice of turning the mind toward the body by Joan Halifax is one way of doing so. 

"Turning the Mind toward the Body

Do this practice laying down, sitting on a meditation cushion or a chair.

Breathe deeply into your belly, letting your body feel open and safe.

Now bring your attention to your scalp.

As thoughts arise, just let them be.

Move your attention to your temples and forehead.

As you breathe in, let your temples and forehead feel open and soft.

Breathe into your eyes and let them soften.

As you breathe out, let go of all hardness in and around your eyes.

Bring awareness to your ears.

Breathing in fully, open your ears.

Exhaling, feel grateful for being able to listen and bear witness.

Bring your awareness to your mouth. 

On your inhalation bring a slight smile to your mouth.

On your exhalation feel yourself letting go of any tension in your face.

Gently move your awareness to your throat and neck.

Breathe into your neck and throat and breathe out gratitude.

With your awareness on your shoulders, breathe into your shoulders, letting go of any burdens you might be carrying.

Let your awareness be in your arms and hands.

There is nothing that you need to hold on to.

Shift your awareness to your spine, letting it stretch with your inbreath.

Feel the strength of your spine on your outbreath.

Bring your attention to your chest and lungs.

Breathe deeply into your lungs.

Now breathe into your heart and be aware of any tightness in and around your heart.

Feel your heart open, as it trusts your attention and your breath.

Bring your attention to your stomach, bowels, bladder, and reproductive organs.

Give your entire pelvic area a feeling of space and ease.

Be aware of your legs.

Breathe into your legs as you settle your attention into them.

Breathing out, let your legs soften.

Breathe into your feet, aware of any tension in your feet.

To complete this practice, slowly, gently, and smoothly bring your awareness from your feet to your legs; to your pelvic area; to your chest, heart, and lungs; to your spine; to your shoulders, arms, and hands; to your neck; to your face; to the top of your head.

Breathe in and out smoothly as your awareness travels up and through your body.

When you have reached the top of your head, return your awareness to your breath, then let it gently spread to your whole body.

Take a few moments to relax with an open and quiet mind."

                                                                                    Roshi Joan Halifax

In the distant past, while attending gi gong practice in San Francisco, we also engaged in this movement to shift our attention from outward directed to inward. Cathie's teachers, Charlotte and Da-Jin Sun, now reside at their Daoist hermitage located in Moscow,Idaho. We are exceptionally grateful to them for our two month long, life changing trips to China with them.

Sunrise at Bosque del Apache viewing the take off of the Sandhill Cranes
in search of food throughout the Middle Rio Grande Valley.

Another way to celebrate with joy is to venture out into the wilds. Here we can often experience the joy of other living BEings. Above is a picture we took when doing so while living in New Mexico. At Bosque del Apache, a National Wildlife Refuge near San Antonio, New Mexico, one can feast one's eyes on upon thousands of Sandhill Cranes who spend their nights in the water to protect themselves from predators. Before our extended (almost 4 years) "vacation" in Santa Fe, we had gone to the Central Valley in California to view the Sandhill Cranes. While seeing the cranes was exciting, the setting was not nearly as spectacular as that near San Antonio. I feel immense joy just remembering the outing with my husband and I and Shasta, who of course had to stay in the car so not to scare the resting birds.

This year, as had been our tradition before living in Santa Fe, we went into  the National Forest North of Bridgeport, California on our return home trip, to cut our Yule tree and a small one for Auntie T as well. The picture above shows Dwight securing the trees on the roof rack as Shasta enjoys the smells of the high Sierra Mountains desert.

Our small by previous standards but gorgeous Pinyon Pine is decorated as you can see in the night time picture below. The tree's luscious smell wafts through our home . . . delicious for many senses!

And may we all find time to rest for deep rejuvenation for each and everyone of us. Shasta is such a good model of resting as the picture of her below in her doorless crate demonstrates:

As we all frequently get caught up in the dither of the holiday season, may we take time for a cleansing of our emotions with a 

Mono Lake

Sad, sad, sad; overwhelmed with sadness as we drove along Highway 50 East of Placerville where the Caldor fire, the 15th largest in the state of California, raged this summer past. Seeing all of the old, old, old trees burned was just heart wrenchingly devastating.  The travel through the area is slow as crews are cleaning up and logging trees, so ample opportunity to BE with the ravaging of the landscape. 

In spite of the delays on Highway 50 we arrived in Bridgeport, the home of the stately county courthouse where we were married.

Much of the town is now shuttered. The effects of the sequestering during the pandemic? Or houses and businesses have just been forever vacated? Or just shut down for the Winter? Luckily the library is open and we were free to check out books which we did. It is so much easier to find the best reads here than within the Sonoma County library system where, of course, the demand is far greater.

The view of Mono Lake 
hiking the trail from South Lee Vining
to the Visitors' Center.

Another view of Mono Lake
hiking along Lee Vining Creek
towards the Visitors' Center.

Lee Vining Creek
which has so much less water
than usual because of the
severe drought.
We noticed many of the older
and larger sagebrush, 
are dying from the severe drought.

Mono Lake Committee mission statement: "The Mono Lake Committee is a non-profit citizens' group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mono Basin ecosystem, educating the public about Mono Lake and the impacts on the environment of excessive water use, and promoting cooperative solutions that protect Mono Lake and meet real water needs without transferring environmental problems to other areas."  

We delight in donating to this endeavor, which is close to our hearts, that does such stellar work safe guarding this treasure, Mono Lake .                                                                                                        

Hiking from Doc & Al's Resort

to amidst the aspen trees

and up into the Ponderosa pines
looking Southward towards the
Sawtooth Mountains.
On Shasta's way back to Stella, our Prius,
she found a deer bone which was
pretty fresh and cracked, probably
gifted to her by a Mountain Lion.
As she pick up the bone, she thought "a very tasty treat."

 

Returning to Stella with Shasta carrying her treasure.

The rock pile in Lundy Canyon where we have 
culled gorgeous rocks for our gardens.

Shasta checking out all of the good smells
while we search for just the "perfect" rocks to place in our Cotati garden.

The view towards the Sierras
from the rock pile.

The beaver dam and beaver on the Walker River,
which meanders along side of the 
Walker River Lodge
where we stayed in Bridgeport for the last time.

A beaver swimming 
in the river just below their dam.

The sign on the West side of 
LeeVining Creek.
We love hiking along the road
parallel to Mono Lake.

Shasta enjoying running along the road away from Lee Vining Creek.
She had such a great time with her freedom from a leash.
She is usually a good dog to come when called. 
If she does not respond, a treat will bring her running.

The North view of Mono Lake
taken from the end of the 
boardwalk from the County Park

Shasta, with visible tufa in the background, 
on the boardwalk in the
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve 

               

County Park
where over the many years we have
spent time in Cathie's most favorite place (Mono Lake)
on Mother Earth.

Our week long respite from our arduous year past of relocating from Santa Fe and back to Sonoma County, California, was topped off with a familiar event. On our way home we ventured out into the National Forest to the North of Bridgeport. 

Here in this stunning beauty depicted above, we cut a Pinyon pine for our annual holiday tree; markedly smaller than any previous. We also, as is our tradition, cut a small one for Shasta's Auntie T which she already picked up and transported to her home in Point Reyes Station.

As we settle back into our Cotati home preparing for the holiday season please join us in a hardy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Transplanting . . . Again

“We who have lost our sense and our senses --

our touch, our smell, our vision of who we are, we who frantically force and press all things, without rest for body or spirit, hurting our earth and injuring ourselves: we call a halt.

We want to rest. We need to rest and allow the earth to rest. We need to reflect and to rediscover the mystery that lives in us, that is the ground of every unique expression of life, the source of the fascination that calls all things to communion.

We declare a Sabbath, a space of quiet: for simply being and letting be, for recovering the great, forgotten truths for learning how to live again.”

                     U.N. ENVIRONMENTAL SABBATH PROGRAM

This past year has been difficult, disrupting, problematic, disturbing and has drastically altered our lives. We were settling into our lives in "the best neighborhood", as one of the long time Santa Fe residents stated who was living in the house in which she grew up. We were enjoying getting to know and developing connections to all of the neighbors living on San Felipe Circle. Then BOOM Cathie had two visits to the ER. She had never been a patient in one before. Then followed an admonition from her acupuncturist that she would be so much better off healthwise at sea level. Shasta was so bummed to leave behind morning play time with Hobbes, her treasured Great Pyrenees friend and morning playmate at Lopez Park. Whenever either dog would pass by Lopez Park both would sit and say, "Shasta/Hobbes will soon come play with me."

Shasta and Hobbes playing in Lopez Park

Hobbes in a creek near Moah, Utah

So the packing and organizing for a move back to Sonoma County where our longtime friends live began. In March we drove back to California, staying in what would turn out to be an emotionally disastrous short term rental while we began our search for a house. Fortune would have it that both Shasta and Cathie felt so, so, so much better at sea level immediately upon arrival. Luckily we found our home on Page Street in Cotati and initiated a move into the 1950's bungalow. Now some seven months later with all the many necessary projects completed we all are so ready for a Sabbath filled with resting, hiking and generally enjoying all the beauty of the region.

So we are returning to what use to be our annual trek to the Mono Lake Basin. We will be staying at the longtime familiar Walker River Lodge that has a two bedroom apartment right on the Walker River. Whew! a Sabbath . . . finally!

While on our week long Sabbath we will have and enjoy a frequent

Result

Beneath our living room window and to the left of our front door:  Clematis ligusticifolia (Western virgin’s bower) on the trellis    Cornus sericea occidentalis (‘Tomales Bay’ Western twig dogwood)

has “red twigs” which are spectacular & cheery

in the Winter after the leaves drop. It is planted near the

downspout so it gets lots of moisture during 

       the rainy season. Dwight’s Santa Fe sculpture is in

the far left of the above picture.

Beneath our living room window and to the

left of our front door: 

Clematis ligusticifolia (Western virgin’s bower) on the trellis

   Cornus sericea occidentalis (‘Tomales Bay’ Western twig dogwood)

Phytophthora root disease, as I discovered when I wanted to recycle empty containers at the local nursery I frequent, is causing nurseries to reassess their practices. They now must buy new containers continuously, keep most plants up on tables rather than sitting them on the ground where they are more likely to be contaminated with Phytophthora, and be continually vigilant for the danger of this organism infecting their stock.

Not reusing containers at nurseries is costing the nurseries more money AND is a dilemma for those of us who do not want to dump them into the trash only to be thrown into the landfill. Luckily I have discovered that Harmony Farm Supply will take empty containers 1 gallon size and up. I have loaded up all of those I have to drop off at Harmony before my next appointment with my acupuncturist who lives just beyond this business.

Our front yard does not look so beautiful just yet.
However, as the perennials, shrubs and trees
mature I am looking forward to a
spectacular display in this wildlife habitat.

Now that all the purchased perennials, shrubs and trees have found "their forever home" at PageRefuge, there are a plethora of empty containers. Luckily only a few of them are 4" pots which I can "sterilize" with vinegar and water for reuse when I have veggies starts. I am beginning to contemplate seed ordering which I usually do after the beginning of the new year. Perhaps by then raised beds will be in progress so I can realistically assess my veggie garden space. As I did in Santa Fe I plan to have circles of delish ear corn with small tasty melons planted in the middle. These circles thrived on San Felipe Circle so hopefully they will likewise flourish here.

Our shady area in the back along the North side of the house:
6 Heuchera maxima (Alum root),
2 Carpenteria californica (Bush anemone ‘Elizabeth’) 
& 1 Corylus cornuta v. californica (Western hazelnut)
which all thrive in the shade.

The more I read about Phytophthora, the more my dismay soars. In my humble opinion the climate catastrophe is setting the stage for more and more virulent viruses. Those viruses not only affect humans as with COVID-19, but Phytophthora is threatening native habitat here in California. Probably these virulent viruses are upsetting humans, plants and animals' well BEing far beyond California.

As humans have incredible difficulty altering their way of life to reduce the climate catastrophe, we are faced with a calamity that is distressing all BEings on Mother Earth, our home.

Happy and "sweet", as so many describe Shasta
when they come upon her, on a sunny
afternoon in our backyard.

Mathis Wackernagel in his blog post discusses the global leader meeting in Glasgow and the difficulty of change in spite of all the evidence of the climate catastrophe destruction upon us. As each of us perhaps come to grips with the impact of our human behavior and vows to alter ourselves before it is too late, may we 

Halloween: Cross quarter day

The moon is full, the autumn nights grow longer,

In the north forests startled crows cry out.

Still high overhead, the star river stretches,

The Dipper’s handle set to southwest. 

The cold cricket grieves deep in the chambers,

Of the notes of sweet birds, none remain.

Then one evening gusts of autumn come,

One who sleeps alone thinks fondly on thick quilts.

. . . .Man’s life is not as the grass and trees,

Still the season’s changes can stir the heart

WEI YING WU

“California” pepper tree, Schinus molle, originates 
from the arid regions of northern South America
 and the Peruvian Andes.

Each morning when I walk with Shasta I have the glorious opportunity to pass by my all time favorite California nonnative tree which is pictured above. Although it is not native I have been drawn to it since I relocated to  California in the '70's. In the past, on a small rental property where I lived, I planted two. They were a devil to find but I finally did purchase two in a Carlsbad nursery while visiting my now passed aunt and uncle.  At this time of the year it is especially beautiful as the "pepper" seeds turn bright red.

Halloween, short for All Hallows' Eve, descends from the ancient festival celebrated by the Celts and Druids in Britain who called this cross quarter day Samhain. It is also known as the "Witches' New Year according to Starhawk. This cross quarter day occurs half way between the Autumnal equinox when the sun sets due West and the Winter solstice when the sun sets at its most southern point on the horizon. Thus this day marks the longest night of each year for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tradition has Halloween occurring on October 31 when the true cross quarter day is actually November 07, 2021. Another discrepancy is evidenced in the ancient Celts' practice of celebrating the beginning of the year at this time.  We in today's world say Fall begins on the Autumnal Equinox. 

The local vineyards are alive with brilliant Fall color.

However, no matter your point of view Halloween is approximately half way between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice making it an astronomical holiday. And it is also one of the four cross quarter days occurring each year.

And South of our border in Mexico the people call this Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). This year the holiday falls on November 01 and 02. The souls of those passed are honored. Some say they are able to readily communicate with these souls at this particular time of the year when the "veil" is the thinnest. Often altars are created commemorating the dead and people prepare their favorite traditional dishes which are added to the altar. Celebratory parades are also widespread not only in Mexico but here in the United States as well.

Shasta enamored with the ghoul's recording.
The neighborhood with  new family homes located to our North
has a plethora of Halloween decorations
in both yards and front porches.

However you view this particular time of the year, may each and everyone of us have a releasing belly

BEing close to Mother Earth

Strong Heart 
created by Roxanne Swentzell

In these times, Roxanne Swentzell’ s message is "to be strong 

by staying close to the earth. 

Doing things close to our Mother Earth 

like touching Her, 

walking more in nature, 

growing gardens, 

and doing things that help us listen 

to Her better

 will help give us strength and guide 

us to do what's right. 

She helps us have a good heart 

by slowing us down and 

reminding us what is important."

As I have mentioned in an early post the entire yard has been sheet mulched. I have been to the Milo Baker (our local chapter) California Native Plant sale to purchase native plants. Although it is not my favorite place to buy natives, I have also been to California Flora Nursery in Fulton. My favorite place use to be Mostly Natives Nursery in Tomales where the climate was close to the climate of MuRefuge. The owners retired and the nursery was bought and moved to Pt. Reyes Station where the inventory is markedly smaller. However, they do have a desired shrub, Creek Dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp Occidentalis), which I plan to purchase the next time we visit Shasta's Auntie T. The red stems in the Winter are so lovely as they brighten the gloominess of the often grey skies.

Last week in spite of the severe drought I did plant a few natives in the rock hard soil. 

To the left of the walkway to our front door:
The four plants at the bottom of the picture above:
Penstemon heterophyllus (Blue Bedder Penstemon ‘Margarita BOP’)
 The 2 plants at the top of picture above:
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (California Wild Lilac ‘Skylark’)
Ceanothus (California Wild Lilac ‘Dark Star’)

                            Clematis ligusticifolia (Western Virgin’s Bower) 
                               to the left of our front door.

Our British friends living close by voiced surprise that I was planting in the drought, but I am wanting to get on with beautifying our sheet mulched yard.

From left to right in the above picture:

Heuchera maxima (Alum Root)

Carpenteria californica (Bush Anemone) 

Heuchera maxima (Alum Root)

Corylus cornuta californica (Western Hazelnut)

This is the North side of our house

in the backyard where it is shady year around.

These are the plants awaiting their "forever" home mostly in the front yard.
Of course, the plant (cherry tomato) in the far right will not be transplanted.
I am so hopeful I have enough plants!
I am focused on not over planting as I have a tendency to do.

Rain has now finally arrived here in Cotati. So far we have gotten 2.38" of rain. The quote below is a really good summation of the almost week long rain event which began a couple of days ago. This event is predicted to go through the beginning of next week.

"After nearly a year without rain, a series of potent Pacific storms is directed at Northern California this week, potentially bringing as much as a foot of rainfall and up to three feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada. 

Supercharged by a classic atmospheric river pattern, the storms could lead to flash floods and dangerous debris flows in a wide swath of the region already devastated by recent wildfires. 

With each successive storm, the moisture potential increases, peaking with possibly a rare category 5 atmospheric river event on Sunday.

"An atmospheric river marked as a category 4 or a 5 is capable of producing remarkable rainfall totals over three or more days, likely to exceed 10-15% of a typical year's precipitation in some locations," said Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego.

Atmospheric rivers are a narrow band of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere, cruising more than two miles above the ocean; they can transport as vapor, more than 20 times the water that the Mississippi River does, as a liquid. 

By the time Monday morning arrives, the parade of storms could drop as much as 8 to 12 inches of rainfall in parts of Northern California and add another 1 to 3 feet of snow to the high Sierra. For an area plagued by drought, a foot of rain is too much, too fast and too soon and will likely lead to run off, flash floods and debris flow in burn scar areas."                                                         Pedram Javaheri, CNN

So now I have on my calendar the completion of settling the purchased native plants into their permanent homes in the ground here at PageRefuge. I use biodynamic gardening principles in which planting days are chosen to enhance certain parts of the plants. The perennials, shrubs and trees are all flowering flora, so my intention is to plant on "Flower" Northern Hemisphere transplanting days: October 26 and 27. I am hopeful with the rains softening the hardpan soil that I will be able to accomplish this task within these two days. 

This joyful, to me, activity of planting a mostly native habitat does indeed connect me with Mother Earth. And I am optimistic that all who walk by will enjoy the beauty of the natives as they flourish.

May we all