Impermanence

"Nothing remains the same for two consecutive moments. Heraclitus said we can never bathe twice in the same river. Confucius, while looking at a stream, said, "It is always flowing, day and night." The Buddha implored us not just to talk about impermanence, but to use it as an instrument to help us penetrate deeply into reality and obtain liberating insight. We may be tempted to say that because things are impermanent, there is suffering. But the Buddha encouraged us to look again. Without impermanence, life is not possible. How can we transform our suffering if things are not impermanent? How can our daughter grow up into a beautiful young lady? How can the situation in the world improve? We need impermanence for social justice and for hope.

If you suffer, it is not because things are impermanent. It is because you believe things are permanent. When a flower dies, you don't suffer much, because you understand that flowers are impermanent. But you cannot accept the impermanence of your beloved one, and you suffer deeply when she passes away.

If you look deeply into impermanence, you will do your best to make her happy right now. Aware of impermanence, you become positive, loving and wise. Impermanence is good news. Without impermanence, nothing would be possible. With impermanence, every door is open for change. Impermanence is an instrument for our liberation."

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Woodpecker & Grasshopper Light

Woodpecker/Sapsucker's Wisdom Includes:

Connection to the earth
Ability to find hidden layers
Understands rhythms, cycles and patterns
Warnings
Prophecy
Associated with thunder
The Earth's drummer
Pecks away at deception until the truth is revealed

Grasshopper's Wisdom Includes:

Jumps across space and time
Leaps of faith
Jumping without knowing where you will land
Astral travel
Leaping over obstacles
New leaps forward
Ability to change careers quickly

Ted Kennedy: Reflections & Light

One of my fondest memories is being a "Kennedy Girl". I was too young to vote for JFK but was a campaign volunteer at the Tabernacle when he spoke there. I was invited to a function at the Hotel Utah where I met and talked with Ted and Joan Kennedy. Heady stuff for a nineteen year old. I had other experiences with the family members when I worked at the Cape Cod Hospital. Eunice Shriver, straight out of her garden with an amazing emerald ring and my staff who could only comment on her dirty finger nails. Ethel Kennedy's child having tonsils out and creating a three ring circus on the pediatric ward. Hannisport, what a elegant place. I never could be cynical about them and truly appreciate the contributions of this star crossed family.

The Light of Grace

“You are so weak. Give up to grace.
The ocean takes care of each wave
till it gets to shore.” - Rumi

Flamingos

Walking in Liberty Park this morning, paying a visit to the flamingos, I wondered why I have been so attracted to them for years.


Flamingo's Wisdom Includes:

* Ability to filter soul lessons from emotional waters
* Understanding the language of color
* Ability to maintain soul purpose in group living
* Understanding how to maintain balance

Body Image Light

Whale or Mermaid?

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tanned woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:

THIS SUMMER, DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans).
They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins - stuffing themselves with shrimp and other delicacies of the sea. They play and swim in the oceans, seeing exotic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia . Whales are excellent singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of psychoanalysts due to an identity crisis. Fish or human? Human or fish? They don't have a sex life, because they kill men that lure close to them. Therefore, they don't have kids. They are purported to be exceedingly vain and capricious. Not only that, who wants to be near a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who still makes me shiver and a coffee with my friends. With time, we gain weight, because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that, when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So, we aren't heavy; we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror, I will think, "Good
gosh! Look how smart I am".

I REST MY CASE.

Hidden Jewels

This is the duck pound on the grounds of the Garden Park Ward. It is located on Yale Avenue just above 11th East. Essentially right in the middle of Salt Lake City. Beautiful place to walk and stop and watch the hummingbirds and ducks.