Great poem from my mentor Jan Phillips

Jan Phillips is an inspiring teacher and a sacred teacher! Got her winter newsletter and found this quote:
If prayer would do it

If prayer would do it
I'd pray.

If reading esteemed thinkers would do it
I'd be halfway through the Patriarchs.

If discourse would do it
I'd be sitting with His Holiness
every moment he was free.

If contemplation would do it
I'd have translated the Periodic Table
to hermit poems, converting
matter to spirit.

If even fighting would do it
I'd already be a blackbelt.

If anything other than love could do it
I've done it already
and left the hardest for last.

~ Stephen Levine ~

(Breaking the Drought)

Seems to be a prayerful week???

I am not the praying type...

But I can look at this as a meditation:

23 Pharmuti 2 days and counting

Well, I just repacked my suitcase and now have only one bag to lug around, unfortunately, it is the big one, but I think that I can handle it!

Went to mediation this morning, and for our art project, we worked in clay, which I always enjoy. I made a low bowl, and we painted with black paint. Not a whole lot of time to work, so it is unfinished, but it will be here when I return!

The weather has been nasty, blustery, windy and dusty here today. But this is March, so I guess that we should not complain.

I just checked the internation weather forecast and it was 90 degrees F today in Cairo!

Lots of News to Share

I had a BUSY weekend. Starting on Friday night, I went to a trance dance event. I had never gone before, and I really enjoyed it. The music was fantastic, and I lost myself so totally that at one point I had no spatial recognition-- I might have been hanging from the ceiling. We danced for 45 minutes, and it seemed like only a few minutes. We started with a intention, and that really helped me to focus. For more information see http://www.studiopizazz.com/.
The next morning I attended a meditation/art workshop at First Unitarian Church. I am not that keen on structured meditation, but this was very interesting. Again we had to focus, and I was able to use the same focus point that I had used the evening before.
That afternoon, I sat in the gallery at 516 Arts . They have a new exhibit called "Trappings: Stories of Women, Power and Clothing. This is a great multimedia exhibit that asks the question: What do you wear that makes you feel powerful? Of course, each woman answers differently, but the results are fascinating. This show runs through Aug. 18.
And finally, if you are anywhere in the area, you MUST see the Cradle Project. This is a gathering of almost 500 cradles created by artists and school children from around the world, in a benefit show for African Orphans. The scope of the exhibit, on two floors of the old First National Bank Building (Central Ave. downtown between 2nd and 3rd) is absolutely staggering, and some will bring tears to your eyes. A very worthy project, and you can bid on the cradles at the online link above. Unfortunately, the exhibit closes next weekend, and they are only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I went to the opening, and wanted to go back and see it again, but just will not be able to get back and see it again.