Last night, a warm night, I sat outside to watch the changing light.  Birds were twittering away until a parting flash of gold and the crickets began their song.  I’m with these words.  

Once upon a time… there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated.

– Terry Tempest Williams

I listened last night and again this morning as I honored these words.

In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.  

– Pico Iyer

Listening to the birds on a warm, clear morning, I allowed myself to stay still as I watched the ball of the sun rise over the hill.  I resonated to the words of T.S.Eliot.

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards, Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,

There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.
I can only say, there we have been: but I cannot say where. And I cannot say, how long, for that is to place it in time.

I’ve been going through old journals and keeping and tossing.

I came across a sweet memory.  A hummingbird flew into a friend’s house, and to guide him or her back out, she filled glasses with water, and put a flower in each one, and set them in a path to the open door, and out the hummingbird went.  

There is such kindness in the world.

Last night, I watched the documentary, Going Clear, about Scientology.  It’s shocking and important to see how a cult develops when we hand our power and inner knowing over to another. Instead we need to trust what we know, and feeling within, follow the vases filled with flowers that guide our way.

In the United States, it’s Thanksgiving Eve, a time to gather even as we honor historical complexity.

This is my day to cook as memories jog, and yet before beginning the mixing of flour, butter, salt, and water for pie crust, I read the news. 

Shocking, and yet there’s a video on You Tube of a dog and sea lion playing catch at a beach in Santa Cruz.

May we all give thanks for diversity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and heroism on land and sea, especially where they meet.

With the challenges of these days, I now open Mary Oliver’s book Devotions in the morning.  I let it fall open and receive.

Today I open to “Where Does the Temple Begin, Where Does It End”?

“Looking I mean not just standing around, but standing around 

as though with your arms open.”

Just that enough to begin this day, a day where the fog is softly settled in, and squirrels are chirping as they scamper up and down the redwood tree and birds are singing.

She goes on as she does and comes to this: 

“And now I will tell you the truth.

Everything in the world

Comes.

At least, closer.

And, cordially.”

Yesterday, inspired by her invitation to go into nature I went to Hawk Hill and Rodeo Beach.  Clear here, the fog was playing its dance at the Golden Gate of in and out, hide and seek, form and dissipate. I walked and sat, embraced, expanded, entranced.

My mantra continues to be: Be loving awareness, breath blowing through everywhere.  

This day was special as all days are.  In our family, we receive a Secret Santa gift.  Mine was a family photo taken today in Golden Gate Park with brunch afterwards by the ocean at the Park Chalet.

It was so touching, so special, so sweet – no words – no pictures right now just gratitude for the sweetness and love that encircle this world and deep gratitude for my own small circle, as it expands within, and in and out. I am so grateful for my life and this world. Thank you! Head bowed!

It’s a day to absorb the excitement of gathering and to begin a slow return to the earth’s turning.  At the solstice, even the movement of the sun appears to come to a halt, to re-adjustment, and so do we.

Yesterday we were discussing the odds of intelligent life outside of what we know, and I found myself looking around amazed at what is here.  I was astonished at our gathering of family, dogs, and one elderly cat, in our small, intimate space for two days, and now, I am with the intelligent life within and on this planet – well, perhaps diversity is what is better celebrated as we all have different backgrounds, responses, and perceptions.

The continuing rain means a fire in the fireplace and candles aglow, and showers and abundance for All.  

This quote comes my way today, guidance for movement into this winter season, and a new year.

“When winter comes to a woman’s soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces. She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive… Look into her eyes, this winter woman. In their gray spaciousness you can see the future. Look out of your own winter eyes. You too can see the future.”

–Patricia Monaghan, Seasons of the Witch

On another note, I always thought of the Saint Bernard as a dog who rescues those caught in avalanches.  I now know that it’s a myth that these dogs carry brandy in kegs around their necks. Alcohol brings blood closer to the skin, and isn’t helpful in keeping warm.  When it’s cold, we want our blood tucked safely inside in its circular route.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t imbibe a bit of holiday spirit, but then, I was tucked inside a family womb.

I learned today there is a Saint Bernard.  He was confirmed as the patron saint of the Alps in 1923. His image appears in the flag of some detachments of the Tyrolean Alpine Guard. He is also the patron saint of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering.  And here is his wisdom.  

Saint Bernard: 

Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love. I love in order that I may love.