Wonder and Peace

It’s morning and time to be about the day! I have a busy day filled with work and pleasure.

I’m going to work today at seeing everything I do as privilege.

I love my job and I’m privileged to do it.

I get to hear wonderful music.

I have dinner with a friend.

All in all, pretty wonderful.

What’s your day look like? How can you turn the conversation in your head from the immense amount of things you need to accomplish — and do you really need to accomplish those things or simply want to — to the privilege of being in life doing wonderful things.

Is laundry wonderful, you ask? Yes. We have clothes and we have a washer and a drier to accomplish a difficult task. And my favorite part of the laundry is the accomplish part. Laundry: you take a big ol’ pile of stuff and turn it into a folder pile of clothes to wear.

So if you have things to finish do that. If you have time to fritter away, do it mindfully. Be present to the day.

See the Wonder in your life. Embrace the Peace.

Full, Fall Moon

Fall has arrived and the temperatures and the leaves are both falling. The Full Hunter Moon, however is on the rise, glorious and huge.

It makes me think of bonfires and football games and digging out winter clothes for the first time. Why wool shorts were such a thing, when I was a kid, I’ll never know, but they were, and my mom made me a beautiful pair of rust plaid ones. (Remember when seams always matched?) I had a sweater set (purchased with money I’d made at the Fair) and knee highs to match. I was styling. (oh, my mom could sew!)

But the Moon is beautiful. Here‘s an article that tells you exactly why it will be so beautiful!

Tonight I’m going out on the river at dusk. I’ll watch the Sun set and the Moon rise and listen to our Riverkeeper talk as we eat dumplings and ride the Paddlewheeler, Hiawatha. I love when doing my work is a thing of beauty.

Enjoy the Moon, my friends. I wish you the Peace of its Beauty! May the glow of the Moon help to heal the world’s brokenness…

Porcupettes for Peace

Actually, I confess, I don’t know whether African porcupines are peaceable animals. Well thank goodness for Mr. Google, he had all sorts of information for me. African porcupines can way as much as 60 pounds — that’s a lot of quill pig!

They’re herbivores. They go about trying not to bother anyone. They collect bones… what’s that about? I’m sure there’s some sort of dietary thing there. They live about 20 ears. They’re monogamous. They weigh up to 60 pounds.

They’re not amused when people or animals bother them. These guys can have quills up to 14 inches long. But it’s the short ones that are more dangerous, lodging like fish hooks under the skin of their attackers. They have rattle quills on their tails which sound like hissing when the rattle. Mess with them, and they turn around and charge you, butt first.

But mostly, you leave them alone to go about their business. You work to keep their habitat healthy so they don’t become even more endangered than they are. Don’t buy things with their quills on them, because they’re very expensive and thus much prized. We pretty much have to stop buying things made out of animals. That’s just the way it is!

If you’re lucky, you get to cuddle a little (vewy carefully, vewy carefully!). Sadly the only reason you get to cuddle is because mama can’t mamma… So, hurrah for Dagny for taking care of this needy porcupette. (I’m in love with the name!)

Otherwise enjoy the picture and be grateful that there are those who take care!

Rustbelt City Peace

Rustbelt cities are being slowly reinvigorated. In this particular city, you can thank the arts and the artists for some of the movement.

First Fridays have laid claim to the down town. The Arts Center presents a constant (diverse) bill of interesting artists. And there are great restaurants.

There are still problems — more than they need. But there are changes and signs of hope.

Here’s to cities’ coming back! Here’s to the Peace of living in a place that works!

The Surprise of Peace

The world is plenty beautiful enough. But there is nothing wrong that I can see with occasionally gilding the lily.

Chihouly doesn’t have a subtle bone in his body. oh, I like that about him. Although actually, these beautiful tubes of glass are fairly ethereal… They float above this field of ferns and make you happy.

Beauty is great for happiness. Beauty and Happiness are both great for Peace. Celebrate!

Pumpkin Peace

It was brisk this morning. It’s still in the 30s at 9:00. There’s the first. There have been reports of frost. It’s October. Fall has fallen.

And it’s stunningly beautiful! The days are so clear. Walk across the bridge and the water sparkles.

Oh, it’s a busy time of year. But beautiful. And I find it fascinating how different the Peace I find in the days and the rhythm from the Peace I found only a couple short weeks ago.

The tomatoes, alas are gone, but the farm stands are filled with pumpkins and squashes. The bounty changes but continues to stun and delight. Cider, gingersnaps and pumpkin pies are all in. Change that palate to the weather appropriate food! Feast your eyes on the trees.

Figure out which sweater is the right sweater and what you wear under it and over it. Snuggle into the warmth.

The Earth offers endless opportunities to invite people in to Peace. We can capitalize on all of them. Peace of the Pumpkin to you, my friends.

Lunch in a Nice Peace

When I go out to breakfast, I often walk across the bridge to sit in the diner on the river.

It’s not the best breakfast in the world, or even the area, but it is the best view. Blueberry pancakes are so much better with the possibility of a glimpse of a heron or an eagle.

Terri had good lunch looking into the greenery. Who doesn’t love a meal at a seaside cafe?

My brother loves a good stream or a pond. My brother loves a pond so much that when they built their cabin they built a long narrow table facing the pond, so he and his wife sit together looking out at the Beauty.

Meals go better with Beauty. Let the water soothe you. Let the rustling leaves calm you. Let the brilliant views of sharp edged cities inspire. Any one of these is good for your digestion and your soul.

Offer your mealtime a bit of Peace. Life will be better for that.

Mystery, Wonder, Joy, Awe — Peace!

We need to keep paying attention! Mystery abounds — if only we look for it!

Moments like this happen — and they can be a jolt to remind us that Beauty and Awe and Wonder and Joy are alive and well in this world. And where they are, there can Peace be also.

But we have to notice and take the time to experience the Mysterious and the Beautiful. And then we have to use that glory to work for Peace.

The world offers us so many reasons and so much encouragement. Why not use them for good? Let’s Peace, for all the right reasons!

The Peace of Light at the End of the Day

Sometimes, in addition to our thoughtfulness and creativity, it is time that makes the difference. Whether it’s what softens the heart or what gives the penny time to drop; sometimes time can allow things to settle into place.

Sometimes perhaps it’s the in-breaking light through the imperfections that helps us. Leonard Cohen says, “Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

When that happens, there’s nothing to do but offer a heartfelt thank you — and accept the Beauty and the Peace.

Peace: Getting Along

These guys are great teachers. Here they are, hanging out in the sunshine. One of them nibbling grass the others… oh, are they waiting for treats? Shared snack time? Will there be a nap afterwards? Naps are good for Peace.

I’m always much more willing to be friendly if I’ve had my nap!

When we see this we need to think rather than… Oh, look, animals can get along!… Wow, Let me do some getting along work myself.

“All we are saying is give Peace a chance.”

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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