Today I was on a Sensory Awareness call led by Miren Salmeron in Spain.  She leads and guides us in opening to, accessing, and knowing The Living Treasure of Being.  

I’m with these words of Goethe: When the healthy nature of man works as a whole, when he feels himself in the world as though in a great, beautiful, worthy, and precious whole, when his harmonious sense of well-being imparts to him a pure, free delight, then the universe, if it could experience itself, would, as having achieved its goal, exults with joy and marvels at the pinnacle of its own becoming and being.

Miren began with inviting us to visualize the waves of the ocean, and I felt how yes, the waves are part of a whole, and then, they fall into sand or rock, all so alive and vibrant in transition and change.

I was centered in and filled with an image of white light and the words of William Blake came to me: “Colours are the wounds of light “. 

I thought of how in the United States, we are so divided into red and blue right now.  I want to come together as white light.

Today, November 1st, the veil between the living and the dead is said to be thin.  We can invite them in, those who’ve passed before us, and be calm and embraced in wider presence and reception.

Today I learned a supportive way to watch the election results on November 3rd. 

Check it out as it might be a healing and expansive way to embrace and release what comes. 

I woke thinking of a Foucault pendulum which swinging shows the rotation of the earth.  Pegs placed below it are knocked down as the earth turns.  I love to wait and watch for the fall.

This November morning, I’m aware of the earth’s turning, the rise of the full moon last night, and the need for balance and change.

It’s the Day of the Dead, Dios de los Muertos, a day to honor and celebrate those who’ve passed.

May the pendulum swing bring the changes we want to see as we honor the cycles of life and death.  

It’s a full blue moon tonight, which means the second full moon in October.  Nature is giving us extra treats.  Fall is continuing to give us beautiful, sunny days where I live perhaps to counter the political news.

Mirabai writes: 

I know a cure for sadness:

Let your hands touch something that

makes your eyes

smile.

That should be easy today as we light candles and find creative ways to offer candy to ghosts, goblins, and witches as they come by.

Even so, I’m with these words: The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness.

I find myself setting extra intention to empty, and air the space in breath and head as so much pours in.  Perhaps it’s why we carve pumpkins this time of year.  I keep reading that writing haiku is a way to deal with the current stress, but perhaps a knife inserted into pumpkin flesh helps too.

The coyotes around here are howling with the moon.  Tonight, let’s all howl too!!   

My friend Elaine saw dolphins at Tennessee Valley yesterday.  Joy is everywhere.  

I’m still affected by the beauty in the film My Octopus Teacher, the learning and trust.  I’m floating on the magic of a kelp forest where the rhythm of the sea defines the lives of those twined there.  For us on land it is the rhythm of the air, the call of birds, and the wind blowing through us with each breath.  Do we receive and offer it like a kiss?

Roshi Joan Halifax: 

I finished reading Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan.

It begins with this quote from Rudyard Kipling in “The Secret of the Machines”.

But remember, please, the Law by which we live,

We are not built to comprehend a lie ….

I wonder if that’s why we’re struggling so deeply and intensely with the current  litany of lies.   We’re not built to comprehend such deliberate intention to deceive for the benefit of a few, rather than the wealth of the whole.

Tonight I watched My Octopus Teacher on Netflix.  It’s a beautiful meditation on life and death and trust in the transformation that sustains us as we feed, play, interact, and release.  It’s the perfect antidote to fear, and a philosophical statement on unity supporting the waves of change.  

I’m struggling with staying balanced in this last week before the election.  

Today I read in an article from the Washington Post that Trump will open up all 16.7 million acres of Alaska’a Tongass National Forest to logging and other forms of development.

I find his actions painful, a stab to heart and gut.

From the article:  For years, federal and academic scientists have identified Tongass as an ecological oasis that serves as a massive carbon sink while providing key habitat for wild Pacific salmon and trout, Sitka black-tailed deer and myriad other species. It boasts the highest density of brown bears in North America, and its trees — some of which are between 300 and 1,000 years old — absorb at least 8 percent of all the carbon stored in the entire Lower 48′s forests combined.

“While tropical rainforests are the lungs of the planet, the Tongass is the lungs of North America,” Dominick DellaSala, chief scientist with the Earth Island Institute’s Wild Heritage project, said in an interview. “It’s America’s last climate sanctuary.”

I’m aware that Trump doesn’t understand or relate to nature, or why we need trees and salmon and trout and deer, but we do.

Today Steve was sitting outside.  We’ve now placed a tub outside for the raccoon to wash his or her hands, and she or he comes when we’re not around, but today he or she climbed down from one redwood tree, and then peeking at Steve from behind another, tipped gracefully over to wash his or her hands.

What grace there is in sharing and knowing this yard provides food and shelter for more than we.  

My family gathered together yesterday and I’m feeling loved and tender. 

Watching a one year old is quite a stretch as though you might think you imagine life from a lower level, and place everything you perceive as dangerous out of the way, and up high, you can’t begin to encompass what they see and explore. Yesterday I wasn’t prepared to see Keo climb up, into and through the curved row of rosemary. Clearly he was enchanted with the texture, mystery, hidden places, blue flowers,  and pungency of the smell. 

 In his exploration, he discovered a solar light which he seemed determined to figure out how to take apart.  He allows me to feel and see how much I miss, how much is here to explore.

That leads me to this trailer for the documentary “My Octopus Teacher”.  I will watch the film, though my teacher is near at hand in a child.

I’m also with these words that begin the book This is Happiness by Niall Williams.  They help me navigate the political situation and the restrictions of the pandemic as life continues with people both sick and well.

From Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

All these squalls to which we have  been subjected are signs that the weather will soon improve and things will go well for us, because it is not possible for the bad or the good to endure forever, and from this it follows that since the bad has lasted so long, the good is close at hand.

Enjoy navigating new worlds as you and they unfold!

My neighbor with two young sons sent out an email to the people on our street asking if it would be okay to trick-or-treat, all of it socially distanced of course.  I was an immediate yes.  I see how hungry we all are for contact and a semblance of recreating how it was last year and will be next year.

This comes from my local community center.

“We hope you will join us on October 30th, from 3-6:30pm for our first ever, SPOOKY STREET!

“The plan is to have families drive our ‘Spooky Street’ where businesses will decorate their (socially distant) parking space (or trunk) in fun and engaging ways. Participants will remain in their cars, so this year requires extra creativity!

“At the end of the ‘street’ they will be given a Boo! bag filled will treats, activities and surprises. We are limiting participation to 12 cars every 25 mins, for a total of 80 cars. 

“Advanced reservations will be required.”

I’ve decorated more than usual, and I see my neighbors out decorating. We are creatures of creativity, and like carved pumpkins, our light is shining through.

This is a special day for me, though I was dismissing it thinking I’m rather old to be celebrating another year but then, well wishes come, and I open like a fan, even more grateful for life, family and friends.

I’m re-reading This is Happiness by Niall Williams, reading more slowly now, appreciating the poetry and space within the time period and the words.  I feel my brain expand, especially the right side. It’s as though I’d let the political news close me down, and now I can open to the breath and fresh air Joe Biden represents. I breathe more fully into my own creativity and the knowing and shared acknowledgment of what is right, and what is wrong.  

May we now come to calm, as I celebrate my day, well, two days, as family comes tomorrow, and I reflect back on the gifts of my life as they stack up like blocks on which to stand and view what comes in loving waves.  May we gather in the collective light of peace, growth, healing, and ease.

I just received the email notice that my ballot has been received and will be counted.  Hooray!!  It’s not the same as going into the voting place, but it feels super good.

I dropped it in the ballot box outside the Marin City library and there was someone before me and someone after me doing the same thing.  Voting pumps the heart with shared joy.  

My grandson is one today and I just received a video of him waking up to see his home decorated with balloons and a giant “one”.  His face as he’s twirled around is amazing.  Plus, he loves balloons and these are in beautiful autumn colors.  

I’m going down for the party, and will hang out at Filoli Gardens first, so a special day.

I’m also with the contrast of individuals in this election.   We have one man, and we have this.  Just this would determine my vote.

Heather Cox Richardson concludes her political report from yesterday with this.  My heart is lit!

Still, what made most news for Biden today was an old video of the former vice president at a memorial service for Chris Hixon, the athletic director at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who died when he tried to disarm the killer. In the clip, which circulated widely on social media, Biden expresses his sympathy to Hixon’s parents and is walking away when Hixon’s son Corey, who has Kabuki Syndrome, runs up and, as Biden turns to see what’s happening, throws himself into Biden’s embrace. Biden spontaneously kisses the young man’s forehead and asks if he’s okay. When he shakes his head no, Biden hugs him, cradling his head, and reassures him, “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay, I promise.”

I believe him. We’re going to be okay!!