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brother sun sister moon

I have a quest; I’m not exactly sure what it is. But I feel it’s evolving-slowly. Sometimes Life’s like that. It takes its time. It’s been said that the process is a vital part of the destination, sometimes more so. That being the case, I’m looking for clues suggesting that’s what’s happening.

I saw a beautiful movie “brother sun sister moon” which had an impact on me. Why? That’s what I want to know. Why? I saw it twice. There was no hidden message; it was right up front. When a story grips you, you want to know what’s going on within. The acting, the story, the scenery, the directing by Franco Zeffirelli was superb. The story’s about St. Francis of Assisi, the son of a wealthy merchant, who decided the life his father wanted for him was not what he wanted. Many people lately are saying they long for a different way of life. So although the message is an old one, it’s still a timely one.

It seems that more and more people are talking about how busy they are, and how tired they are. It’s all true. They look busy and seem tired. What are we doing that makes us so busy? Busy because we don’t know how to stop the roller coaster we’re on? Busy because we can’t say that tiny, wonderful, valuable-to-our-sanity little word,-no? Busy because we’re afraid to be alone? Busy because we need more money to buy more stuff? To be busy and tired most of the time is draining, and leaves people around us depleted too. Of course to be happily busy is an entirely different matter. And all the more power to us when we get up in the morning with a song in our heart because we love what we’re doing, and are bringing good energy to ourselves and our world. This quest of mine-could it be to create a happier, simpler way of life?

“If you want to live life free, take your time go slowly.” – brother sun sister moon
(sing it)

“If the purpose of life is this loveless toil we fill our days with then it’s not for me. There must be something better. There has to be. Man is a spirit; he has a soul, and that, that is what I want to recapture – my soul.” -brother sun sister moon

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A fine thing

So much going on in the world; it’s an amazing place. If you watch the news it could make you think that it’s all going to pot at any moment. That’s the reason to check out the opposite views-to keep the balance. Let’s always try to remember to keep the balance, and look at the many other ways there are of viewing our world.

The description of Calcutta in The Asian Journal of THOMAS MERTON on pages 131, 132 reminds me, in a peculiar way, to keep the balance. It’s a fine book. Thomas Merton used the word “fine” a few times. It’s a word I’m going to use more often. One balancing way for me is to believe, attempt to understand and deeply know that love and compassion are powerful forces in the universe. The support of a good book, a wise person, a desperate experience that gives a better understanding of a situation – anything that allows us more clarity of our world in all its extremes – is a fine thing.

Today for me it’s these words:
“Intent is a force that exists in the universe. When sorcerers (those who live of the Source) beckon intent, it comes to them and sets up the path for attainment, which mean that sorcerers always accomplish what they set out to do.” – Carlos Casteneda, The Active Side of Infinity

“Anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity.” – Thomas Merton

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. – Goethe

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patrick mooney, unlearning

After reading a few mind-grabbing articles in Namaste Magazine www.namastepublishing.co.uk , I turned a page and came upon an article by Patrick Mooney, and at the end of it was the heading “Whose Life are You Living?”. Wouldn’t that have caught your attention, too? Patrick Mooney is “an aspiring author, documentary filmmaker, lecturer and creator of the Institute of Unlearning.”

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“We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart.” -Blaine Pascal

“If you don’t like where you are, change what you are.” – Henry Knight Miller

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the new haven line

Everything is different outside of Manhattan. But you know that. I wanted to go to Harrison, Rye, Hartsdale White Plains and other towns along the way to check out possibilities, sort of a quest to find the right place. I took the New Haven Line at Grand Central. A friend of a friend met me at the Harrison train station. We drove around Harrison and Rye and had lunch at her lovely home in White Plains. Over Jarlsberg and smoked mozzarella, turkey, tuna, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and a good cup of coffee, we discussed the possibilities of the walking towns. After lunch we took off and drove up and down streets, to the downtown areas, checking out the feel of these places, always slipping easily into the next town. The towns were charming, clean, but I didn’t see any fruit and vegetable markets with all the produce hanging onto the sidewalks. Every town had lots and lots of restaurants. Where are the wonderful markets I’ve become so used to? I asked myself

We went to White Plains www.whiteplainsny.com . I’d never been there. Nice place with a very alive feeling. Lots of development going on. It’s a good size city and offers Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and many other fine shops. There’s a residential building by Trump and many rentals and co-op buildings all within walking distance of the train station. And, of course, there are lots and lots of restaurants. We drove through rather quickly since time was limited; I’ll return to walk in the near future since White Plains is definitely a walking city. The towns, they were clean and had all the right things for good living. It’s the feel of a place; the connection, that I’m looking for, and that’s different for everyone. So, when someone asks, “Well, how was it?” it’s difficult to say because when you’ve found it, you know, it’s that simple and cannot be explained so easily.

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beauty

A feeling of sadness came over me this week as I watched a TV program. The show was about a few women in their twenties and their passion for plastic surgery. The stories they told about why they needed plastic surgery to enhance their lives was not entertaining. They desperately want to be as beautiful as the beautiful women they see wherever they go. It’s difficult to understand why they choose to accumulate debt for themselves and their families. Why they freely and frequently put themselves under a knife. Why they can’t see themselves as already beautiful. They really were! It’s true that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. But maybe in our society we need to redefine what beauty is. Because somewhere along the line we’ve gotten terribly confused.

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new london pharmacy is that and more

Do you enjoy going to a drugstore? I do. Mainly because the one I go to when in New York is no ordinary drugstore. New London Pharmacy is its name, and it’s located at 246 Eighth Avenue, NYC, 212-243-4987. The co-owner, Abby Fazio, has given the word drugstore a whole new meaning. For one thing, she really, really listens to what her customers say about what they need. She has plenty of excellent products and the knowledge to go along with them. She’s a trained pharmacist who also has a handle on alternative ways of healing, and has hired a nutritionist who is usually within easy reach of a customer’s question. It’s obvious she likes what she does, which is the reason she does it so well, and it’s obvious she likes people and wants to help them. I first read of New London Pharmacy in an article in Elle magazine. I clipped the article from the magazine, and carried it around with me for awhile until I managed to get there. And I’m glad I did. I can say my needs were more than met. I bought Yu-Be, a skin cream, products called The Organic Pharmacy from London, a product from Quantum for cold and flu – excellent, and, of course, I bought a few others things I couldn’t resist. If you’re ever in the Chelsea area, don’t hesitate to visit New London Pharmacy. I think you’ll be glad you did.

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completely still


Do you ever go to bed at night completely exhausted and wanting seven or eight hours of sleep, and three hours later you’re still wide awake? Or do you sometimes fall asleep only to wake up refreshed 30 minutes later? You want to have your wits about you when the day begins; however, you think the way things are going, that might not happen.

A book I purchased in Galway, Ireland gave me a new way of thinking about sleepless nights. Although I don’t have the book with me, I remember a few of the author’s words. She said not to be concerned about losing a night’s sleep, just relax and enjoy the quietness of the night. It’s a soothing way to think. When we can’t sleep we can be still and relaxed, tomorrow will take care of itself. We’ll be fine.

When I don’t fall asleep, I usually do one of two things. I listen to my discs on the POWER OF NOW by Eckhart Tolle www.eckhardttolle.com , or I stay in bed and repeat a beautiful prayer. And when I repeat the words and concentrate on them, a calmness takes over. I give up the noise of the outside world and the thoughts in my head, and get into my own inner world. I read these beautiful words many years ago from a book written by Catherine Ponder, and have since read them in many other books. The prayer:

Be still, and know that I am God.
Be still, and know that I am God at work in this situation
Be still, and know that I am Supreme Good at work in this situation now
Relax, let go and let God
Relax, feel the peace of God
Feel the peace of God’s loving presence
Relax, let go and let God.


“When the mind is very quiet, completely still, when there is not a movement of thought and therefore no experience, no observer, then that very stillness has its own creative understanding. In that stillness the mind is transformed into something else.” -J. Krishnamurti, Indian Philosopher

www.jkrishnamurti.org

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those grand old nyc department stores

Once upon a time in Manhattan there existed elegant, old-world charm department stores. Then investors came on the scene who saw only money in their pockets, and not the beauty, and not the importance of keeping these wonderful places intact for the people living in and visiting this city. They  didn’t care that these buildings had their own special energy.  They ruined their essence with renovations and ideas that didn’t work, and then sold them when the profit they wanted was not realized. In the process, what was once grand was gone with the greed. I’m thinking of B. Altman & Co., Gimbel’s, Bonwit Teller, Franklin Simon.

B. Altman & Co. was located on 34th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues. It was elegant throughout. The old beautiful water fountain ( it was not any old water fountain) was on the main floor, and had an ever-ready supply of drinking cups.  And all the floors had their own wonderful feeling, along with friendly, knowledgeable sales people who had been employed there for years. They knew the merchandise, and were thoroughly professional. If you weren’t sure what exactly you were looking for, they managed to find out for you.

The very large restaurant on the top floor was airily decorated with huge white birdcages hanging from the inordinately high ceilings. It was all white and had a dreamy feeling. The waitresses were always cordial. What a pleasure it was to be in that atmosphere.

Indeed, I remember the times when these special stores existed. I remember because lately I’ve heard people commenting about the sterility of many Manhattan neighborhoods. And started thinking of the many delightful small bookshops, the “mom and pop” places, and the wonderful, well-loved department stores that were once an important part of life in New York. I know change happens, especially in big cities, but maybe not to the extent that New Yorkers experience it. Ethnic groups arriving have always been a part of NYC,  and we get used to and enjoy what they bring,  and the old stands side-by-side with the new. That’s good; we learn from each other. But those elegant, old-world charm department stores, well, that’s an altogether different matter.

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ireland can sometimes be wet


Around the year 2002, I began traveling with lots of anxiety, lots of inexperience and a big suitcase. I took off into the friendly skies and headed for Ireland. I decided to go there for the simple reason that I had to make a decision, and, at that time in my traveling life, it seemed one place was as good as another. It’s a weak reason, but as it turned out, it was a good choice. I liked Ireland; the public transportation is efficient and convenient, English is spoken, Irish people are friendly and they are great storytellers, and there are stunning sites in Ireland. How can one go wrong? I’ll tell you how: not paying attention to the weather.

People would say, ‘Why didn’t you come last month? -That’s the best time.” Luckily, my hooded, long raincoat and a pair of shoes that could stand up to any downpour were perfect – most of the time. I will always remember Galway and Connemara for the times I was caught in heavy winds and buckets of rain. I was whipped into traveling shape with those experiences. And I remember exactly where I was when Venice popped into my mind. I was facing Galway Bay, walking from town to a B&B when the rains came. There was no place to go, and it felt like a beating. I was soaking wet, and when the worst was over I continued walking to the B&B. Along the way, I remembered reading about Venice in a thin book I’d bought at a shop in Galway, and I grabbed onto that thought. Venice? Why not?

I came through that traveling experience in Ireland intact, mostly due to the kindness of people I met along the way. Not that I made any effort to meet people. No. I was too busy keeping myself together dragging a big suitcase from one B&B place to another. The B&B package I’d bought Stateside made the trip a bit difficult because tourists from other countries had a similar package, and the owners of the B&Bs wanted money in hand, not a voucher. I don’t blame them. But because of this, I had to spent a lot of time on the phone inquiring about availability.

Maybe someday I’ll return to Ireland; it will be when the sun is shining, the days are warm, and people say, “You’re lucky. This is the best time to be here.”

www.abbeyleigh.net
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www.kylemoreabbey.com
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