Day 11

Message to Megan: It’s almost impossible to feel lonely or depressed when counting your blessings. Visualize the facets of your life that make you grateful and feel the thankfulness fill you. Thank your creative spark that makes your home unique. I know what you can do with what you have. Your new apartment is a blank canvas. Cuddle Jada, feel her purr with the pleasure of love. Thank your positive intentions. I need to heed my words too. 

Day 10

It was a perfect day. Everything fit in time and space. The shopping and the lunch were just as we wanted and Hollie was back with time to spare for her retirement appointment. All’s well with us. I am grateful to have Hollie and Megan close geographically and emotionally. Rob Breszny’s timely message was about finding a personal religion by choosing a name for “God” and extracting meaningful rituals and beliefs from all religions. Mine is Divine Spark.

PS

If I were called to construct a religion, I would not force an old man to climb a mountain in a storm and come back with a bunch of negatively worded laws on super heavy stones. I would choose the commandments given to Zipporah, the wife of Moses, by the Goddess, the Divine Spark, during a quiet visit by a serene pond while both sipped fragrant tea from eggshell thin china cups.

1 – Thou shalt revere all life from the tiniest spider to the most magificent tree.

2 – Thou shalt create at least one random act of kindness each day.

3 – Thou shalt use these words each day: I love you, Thank you, I’m sorry.

4 – Thou shalt see through human facades with compassion.

5 – Thou shalt grow or visit a garden whenever possible and breathe deeply

6 - Thou shalt support and encourage all you meet and leave them feeling better than when you met.

7 – Thou shalt think with your own mind and hold your integrity.

8 – Thou shalt sing and dance with or without a partner or music.

9 – Thou shalt recycle everything.

10-Thou shalt find some bit of humor in every situation and smile often.
11-Thou shalt enjoy silence each day.

And the Goddess would instruct Zipporah to ask for directions so the sojourn in the wilderness would last only a few days.

Day 9

I’m setting aside the spiritual growing pains today in favor of a day with Hollie and Megan. We have fun together. It is a respite from routine. Hollie is planning to use her sick leave days before she retires. We have a Costco list, a Kokopilau list, the menu for lunch is already set, and let the laughing begin. I have new bones for the dogs so they will be OK for eight hours. I’m ready to go.

Day 8

I know that spiritual connections do not necessarily mean religious connections. I’m ambiguous about church membership. I need to define what I deeply want. I feel homesick for a place I’ve never been, nostalgic for events that didn’t happen, lonely for people I have not met. New feelings are roiling around looking for an outlet or at least a name. Pace around. Feel needy. I want peace and belonging. Is this the chaos that comes just before clarity?


Hi sweetie. From my iPad at home. I loved your blog today and yesterday.
The questions of meaning, where to find it, how to go deeper. Tomorrow at Friends of Jung we're exploring our spiritual practices, however we define that. Wish you were close enough to be part of this exciting conversation. It's Jungian, your quest for meaning. This thought was that this is the natural quest of folks of a certain age. 
We recommended to the group Robert Johnson's Inner Work. Megan probably can snag you a copy at her bookstore. It's got a Jungian approach to spiritual practices, like dreamwork, ritual, amplification of dream images. 
I know what you mean by the challenges of church. I want to be deeply reached and touched there — community not committee. Seems like most church language is about committee and "what have you done for me lately?"
It was in my church, the UU Fellowship, where the service did just what I needed and I surrendered to the knowledge I had to retire this year -- or die.
Anyhow, I continue to love your blog.
And you.
Barb=

Day 7

I returned to church in September promising myself six months to find a place there or not. I felt the pull during a depressed and unwell period. I am honestly looking at membership. It is a tiny congregation, mainly older women, who clean the church, cook for the homeless, or sit on committees. I don’t want to do that. I want to go to services and feel a connection with God. I need to belong or leave again.

Day 6

At the PD I see and hear the dark side of my community. The shadow that lives in all of us is displayed with the ripple effect on everyone. I see the resources converge to improve the situations. I may be there to own and integrate my dark shadow. I know there is a light shadow capable of higher deeds. I want it integrated too. In the middle, I explore it all knowing that as above, so below.

Day 5

The art lesson with the second graders was soul-satisfying. I gave eight kids the project and they each taught it to two of their classmates. It was lines, white spaces, colored spaces, and zen-tangles. Watching the dynamics was precious. There was the hum that signals the right combination of interest, ability, and material. Since Hollie is retiring at the end of the year, this is my last chance to be part of teaching too. My career finally ends.

Here is my March column for Senior News.

Pets. One of my favorite subjects since I live with three dogs who make great housemates. My 23 orchids are pets too. I call them my orch-kids. They take time and care and reward me with beauty. I also have pet projects and pet peeves.

Most communities have public land that is undeveloped. There are groups of residents who have needs and wants that can be satisfied by creating new uses for the land. Look around and make a plan for the enrichment of your community.

Crescent City is planning new uses for Beachfront Park. So far it houses the swimming pool, horseshoe courts, picnic area, disc golf stations, and Kid Town. After a year of planning and gathering together tools, materials, and volunteers, Kid Town was built in a week! It shows what can be accomplished when people work together to a common goal.

There is no place at this time for dogs to socialize and run around free of leashes. A dog park would require fencing, benches, water and many trash disposals containers. There would be rules for keeping it safe and clean for our dogs. I know three dogs that would enjoy it immensely.

There are people who would like to build a labyrinth on the property. They know how much land they need, the amount of grading, fencing, surfacing so handicapped people could use it, benches, plantings for a meditation garden, and maintenance would go along with it. A place for contemplation and enjoying nature would serve many people.

One pet project of mine is getting people involved in the life of the community. As a volunteer, I know the benefits of being part of daily life here. Many non-profit organizations who serve many would not survive without volunteers. Everyone had an hour or two to donate to a cause that means something personal to them.

My pet peeve is drivers who don’t stop for pedestrians. They drive by as if I’m not standing there at the crosswalk. I have boldly pointed to the lines that are there for my safety and have been rewarded with obscene gestures or rude words. I do it anyway. The law says pedestrians have the right of way and that means any time a foot goes off the curb, regardless of the lack of a crosswalk, the driver must stop until the foot is safely on the opposite curb. It’s the law!

So pets are not necessarily four-footed animals, or fish, or birds. They can be actions and ideas. What are your pets? Find a group of like minded friends and plan a development in your community.