On a desert walk — I carry my curiosity with me It looks like a journal and pen Out here in the desert, I wonder, as I walk alongside Joshua Trees and scattered boulders What thoughts will arise? What themes will present themselves? What gentle pondering wants to be gently pondered? I carry my curiosity…

A tribute to my mother — watching resilience flourish during pandemic anguish — About a year ago we all became aware that the pandemic was real and would affect us in ways none of us could have imagined. Little did we know, the year would be a pilgrimage into the disconnected unknown. …

Let’s reach out and touch each other with words — I’ve been purging as I get ready to move again. This has put me in touch with sentimental boxes where I have stored precious memories: my high school prom corsage, little souvenirs from different trips, honor cords from graduating from college, a teddy bear from my childhood that I forgot…

A poem of grief and love — “Say Yes! to life” It’s one of my highest aspirations But how do I say Yes to an 18-year-old shooter killing elementary school kids? How do I say Yes to heedless, needless death? How do I say Yes to polarization and righteous action? How do I say Yes to white supremacy? climate change? And…

What truths will your naked writing reveal? — A hundred of us were on a 3-day Outwild retreat for individuals looking to create more outdoor and value-driven lifestyles. On the afternoon of the second day, a large group of us sat at covered picnic tables at the Earth Trek retreat center nestled alongside the South Fork American River…

A juicy practice for getting present: Write Now Mind — What excites me more than anything is what I like to call “juicy practices for getting present.” …

In physical sensation, there is only physical sensation — R rest back E enliven the senses L love and A accept X direct eXperience now I’ve been playing with ways to remind myself to relax, to let go of my thinking mind and discover in my direct experience what is here right now without any ideas The other night I…

A poetic investigation on retreat of the nature of self and other — For three and a half days during a silent zoom retreat called, “The End of Separation” I sit. I watch my breath my thoughts my feelings All arise and pass away Unbidden Impermanent In the middle of the first session Insight drops in, with inviolable clarity No ordinary words these. They say, “Love is…

Pushing the edges of discomfort can be liberating — I recently watched the amazing documentary, My Octopus Teacher. I loved it and found that a few lines keep sticking with me long after I forget the beautiful ocean scenes. I rarely watch documentaries. I can count on one hand the documentaries I have watched in the last five years…