During a chance encounter with myself at the one-and-only Spirit Rock Meditation Center, I received a Wow! message from “my inner being” that will enhance my memoir work as I take folks down the path to memories heretofore unspoken and unrealized. Another proof of the power that awaits us when we give ourselves space to listen to the quiet within and to the voices of loved ones in the present and those who walked before us not so long ago. For my work right now, that lingering power is realized in the voices of our mothers and our looking at them as individuals, all the while searching for universal connections through the energy of the female spirit and soul.
A new friend, memoirist, poet, and down-right good woman, Lynn Scott, invited me to her meditation group at Spirit Rock a couple days ago. Not something I generally do, but probably should do more often, especially when she welcomed me afterward to her home for her freshly made strawberry-rhubarb pie. Double yummy.
Spirit Rock is a Buddhist retreat and meditation center right here in Marin County – that place just north of San Francisco that can’t seem to shake the cloak of peacock feathers, hot tubs, and hedonism. (To see today’s face of Marin click Jim Wood’s link below.) I’m not advocating any spiritual practice over another – I like them all. So does that make me a Spiritual-American? Enough of the hyphenated Americanisms, already. I’m just a garden variety American and proud to be one of the fortunate people on earth to live in a country that was founded on freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom… please expand the list and count your blessings.
What is on your list? And remember to add those precious liberties that you may take for granted. The Story Woman would love to post what you hold dear as Freedom. Calling for comments.
Hot links:
Lynn Scott, A Joyful Encounter…
Spirit Rock Buddhist Meditation Center
Marin County, Up Close & Personal, by Jim Wood
Calling all daughters and sons to write a bio-vigentte that looks at the heart and soul of your mother and become a TellTale Soul.
Wow, awesome – good for you for going. As a former formal zen student, I’ve spent MANY a week and even months in Buddhist meditation retreats. Only in Zen they’re called seshins – very rigid daily schedule, little sleep, sparse food (although very good nutritional food) and loooooooong hours of sitting meditation (zazen) punctuated with twice daily private meetings with the Master who would test your level of realization in Dharma combat. Tremendous experience.
The Old Silly
It was reallly something. What you did as a formal zen student is amazing. Check out the Ghandi this morning, but was distracted – will go back soon to take a good look at what you’re up to today. Also, didn’t forget about common sense, now who could, more soon on that, too.