A Good "Happiness" Retreat 7/11

The 4 day retreat has come to an end. It was good. In the book "The Art of Happiness" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, MD (pg 62-64): "...it is often useful just to stand back and remind ourselves of our overall purpose, our overall goal. It may be useful to take an hour, an afternoon, or even several days to simply reflect on what it is that will truly bring us happiness, and then reset our priorities on the basis of that. This can put our life back in proper context, allow a fresh perspective, and enable us to see which direction to take.
So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the basis of that. The purpose of our life needs to be positive. We weren't born to cause trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities - warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful - Happier."
I hope you are able to create some time for your own retreat so you too will be happier!

The White Goddess

Listen to your dreams. Yes please day dream too, it's healthy. Pay attention to the pull to create something, anything! A poem; a drawing; a garden; an art festival; a nook in the corner of the living room; capture a picture in the moment when the light is just so; tell a story; create a BLOG! This longing, the visions, the dreams, the day dreams, this pull to create, is the Inner Goddess. She is chanting your name and pulling you into deeper layers of life. Simply put: Express yourself to yourself and see what you uncover. The process is healing, a path which brings wholeness. A journey to the center of the wheel, which is a return voyage, back to where you began, back to your own basic goodness.

Bobcat Totem

As the sun was setting last night a bobcat strolled through the wash behind my house. She was stalking her dinner. As I am on a spiritual retreat, and have requested guidance from the Grandmothers and Grandfathers, the encounter had significance. I am thankful bobcat has come to lend her "medicine" to my questing for wisdom and knowledge.


An animal totem is a representation of an archetypal force within ourselves. The image can help us bridge the gap between spirit (the invisible, quantum world) and the material, natural world.

I find it totally appropriate that bobcat showed up - since the New Moon in Leo the Lion is present as well. Lovely Synchronicity!

I spent the morning reading about bobcat and meditating on Her gifts. I am sure insights will follow over the next weeks and months. I hope to share them with All my relatives. Ho.

The River

I sit by the river

It is filled with tears

I sit by the river

It is filled with joy

The river laughs at my grasping mind

The river is great

She receives it all and stays the same

Poem by Joyce

New Moon Retreat

I'm fortunate to be able to be away from work over the next few days and spend time on a spiritual retreat at home.
There is a New Moon in Leo on Saturday (7/30/11) which will lend Her courageous heart to my spiritual questing. I'll begin tonight with a little ceremony to welcome the Grandmothers and Grandfathers and ask for their guidance.
The Goddess of the New Moon is dark, quiet, mystical and deep. To all my friends from the Dream Lodge and the Turtle Lodge - I send you blessings. Gather in the Red Tent of our Ancestors and vision so that All Our Relatives will be happy and have all that they want and need.

Quote: Let the darkness show you what wants to change
The Truth will lead you back to the light

Summer Rain

Summer is the growing season. We received much needed rain in the Arizona desert last night. I am thankful. During the summer cycle reflect on what conditions you need in order to grow. Look at the environment you have created to support your growth. Where do you need to bring fresh rain and sunshine into your world? Play, creativity, curiosity, communion with nature, are all fertilizers for your happy heart. The Wise Woman knows when to play and be light hearted and when to work. Summer Medicine gives us permission to kick back, reflect, and redefine the "good life".

The Kachinas dance on the mountain tops

Happily

They stamp their feet up there

and great billowing clouds begin to form

We join them in the dance down here in our fields

Joyfully

Welcoming the rain

Poem by Joyce

Let it all go

When we sit and meditate the aim is to let go. Let it all go. The thoughts, the stories we tell ourselves, the planning for what we are going to do next, scenes from our past experiences etc, etc. Our brain is always developing stories, acting out scenes in our heads trying to prepare us for what may come next (that important conversation with the boss on Monday morning). The stories also help us make meaning out of what we are experiencing and give us a vehicle for sharing that story with others. This story telling is part of being human. But when we carve out time to meditate, or walk slowly, or chant, we want to give ourselves a break from all this chatter to uncover our natural, calm, still, Buddha nature. The great ones teach this letting go. Achaan Chah simply states "let things take their natural course." I posted a picture of the Grand Canyon as a reminder of how beautiful the landscape becomes when we let go and allow things (the Colorado River, wind, and rain) to take their natural course.

Live Art-fully

Drink deep the wisdom

of creativity

and let the spirit

come truly alive!

El Mar De Las Bellenas

(Sea of Whales)

A Poem from Rumi

"Do not look back, my friend
no one knows how the world ever began.
Do not fear the future, nothing lasts forever.
If you dwell on the past or the future
you will miss the moment."