On Being Dumbfounded In The Face Of Life
Today I received the following comment on the blog I wrote about choosing “Interbeing” as my word for the year. I was so touched by it that I found myself writing a long response that’s turned into its own blog entry. Anne M., I am grateful to you. Anne wrote: Thank you for this lovely…
Read MoreAs Above, So Below… Interbeing for the New Year
There is no doubt 2022 was an, ahem, challenging year worldwide. I felt it, and I suspect you did, too. As the saying by Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary figure associated with the beginning of alchemy, the birth of material and spiritual science goes: as above, so below. In other words, what goes on in the…
Read MoreBooks of 2022 – Twelve More.
A little while ago, I posted ten books I’ve most enjoyed this year. As promised, and again, in no particular order, here are more, twelve to be exact, and at the end a few thoughts on my reading year: THE SECRET RIVER by Kate Grenville. “The Orange Prize-winning author Kate Grenville recalls her family’s history…
Read MoreBooks of 2022 – First 10
Picking an annual “best of” books list is always challenging since I know that books I love might bore someone else silly, and vice versa. Still, I read SO many good books this year (and 127 in all), and I want to share a few of my favorites. Besides, all the other cool kids are…
Read MoreOn The Death Of Animals
Someone told me they had to put their beloved eight-year-old cat to sleep quite unexpectedly. One day she was there, the next she left. My friend is in agony. We discussed a woman of our acquaintance named Moya, whose adored dog died. Moya dug a grave for her dog and then crawled into it for…
Read More“I Will Never See The World Again” by Ahmet Altan
Reviewing this book for The Guardian in 2019, Simon Callow said, “To review certain books seems like an impertinence. This is one of them. It speaks for itself with such clarity, certainty and wisdom that only one thing needs to be said: read it. And then read it again.” I agree. I have just…
Read MoreThe Marvel of the World
I’m sitting at my desk in front of the window at the cabin, looking out on the laneway and the creek. I am trying to write. I am trying to be present to the All-That-Is. I’m not doing very well. Monkey-mind and an inner voice that tells me it’s all shite after all. A thunder…
Read MoreWisdom Companion #5 – The Bittersweet Bread of the Human Condition
Another entry from my aman-cara, Sister Rita, on the wisdom she discovers as she walks this path with cancer… Rita says… One full course of treatment is complete, and I am now one-third of the way through course two. Each course consists of two shots of Fulvestrant and 21 days of Ibrance. My experience is mostly…
Read MoreAnnie Ernaux – “Happening” Review
Although I had heard of Annie Ernaux (one could hardly live for a decade in France and NOT hear about her), until now I hadn’t read her work. Why not? Well, to be honest I am generally not terribly interested in memoirs of someone’s erotic life, nor of autobiography at all. I rarely find they…
Read MoreWisdom Companion #4 from Sr. Rita. Season of Surrender
Another entry from my aman-cara, Sister Rita on the wisdom brought to her as she walks this path with cancer… Welcome back and thank you for taking the time to read this. Yesterday I met with the oncologist, got my double shot of Fulvestrant and an additional shot of XGEVA – a supplement to strengthen my…
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