Category Archives: This & That

Stasis. Transformation. Magic.

  When little can be done, do little. * Magic comes from change—even change you don’t choose. * As part of a recent guided meditation I was instructed to create a mini movie of any problem I wished to address. … Continue reading

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Boredom. Bother. Beauty.

After sixty days which include the two-week Federal Quarantine Order before self-isolation, I hold two states of mind simultaneously: gratitude to have landed blessedly well and lethargy due to this serene limbo-life. I’ve been forced into a routine I imagined … Continue reading

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Painting 101: 5 Things to Consider

Over the past 10 days I made use of the self-isolation period to get rid of the murky gray/brown paint on my kitchen walls and trim. I would have preferred to change the countertop for something less ho-hum and not … Continue reading

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Musings on Mother’s Day

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face. ~ George Elliot

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Happy 2020 Birthday to Me!

I decided to make it a great one and go all out for my birthday this year. Why not? Most happiness is created–whatever else may be going on. It doesn’t often land on you unexpectedly (though it’s more than wonderful … Continue reading

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5.3 Arrangements on a Table

The object of this lesson is to create arrangements suitable for those occasions when people gather around a table, often a dinner table but not always. Normally the arrangement is placed in the center and should suit the size of … Continue reading

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Loss & Change

Part way through my quarantine my friend A and I chat via Skype. I tell her I know that returning a month ahead of schedule without achieving any of the goals I’d set for my Tokyo sojourn was necessary and … Continue reading

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Federal Quarantine Order: Week Two

This afternoon, about an hour after I finished the old-fashioned, Mennonite-style spring cleaning I gave my home during week two of my quarantine period; I received an email from the Government of Canada informing me that it was over. As … Continue reading

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Federal Quarantine Order: Week One

A week ago I arrived at my “place of quarantine” in the early evening (about the same time I left Tokyo on the same day). Immediately I place my luggage on the enclosed balcony outside my condominium. There the bags … Continue reading

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A Small Test of the Buddha Mind

Nothing, absolutely nothing went as meticulously planned. Almost every aspect of my Tokyo experience was a disappointment or challenge of an order that tested every ounce of grace I could muster while trying to maintain a Buddha mind. Even so … Continue reading

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