May 20, 2018 by L.E. Hansen

Currents of Change

Mother’s Day ended up being a Mother’s Week, the few days of writing became a frenzy, and last night was an emergency. The emergency was a friend’s mother, and at least now she’s in the hospital and settled a bit. It is, my mother would say, the end game. (And she meant that in good spirit, applying it to herself as well as others.)

And we lost Tom Wolfe. Who had to die before anyone saw him in anything other than a white suit.

Berfrois

So we breathe, sit, and listen to wind chimes.

Now the catching of breath can be done in different ways, while still the anchor of grief tugs beneath the surface, breaking through the current of the river as we tow it beneath ourselves.

May 11, 2018 by L.E. Hansen

Tao & Zen

The Four Reliances

First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings, not on the words; Second, rely on the teachings, not on the personality of the teacher; Third, rely on real wisdom, not superficial interpretation; And fourth, rely on the essence of your pure Wisdom Mind, not on judgmental perceptions.

~ Traditional Buddhist teaching ~ Tao

May 10, 2018 by L.E. Hansen

Books…Books…Books…

Starting at the beginning—the novels, fiction beginning with A, according to author. In the living room. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

And the sorting, and placing, and replacing…the culling of the library, one room at a time. And it is time, I suppose, to be sensible about this. Going from carpet to wood floors is a project of itself. Having to move the many books in order to do such a thing creates a bit of a hurdle. And to be reasonable about it, there are many books that are not necessary to my life. Books I’ll never read, ones I’ve read and have no fondness for, books of lost authors—the ones I’ve outgrown or left behind. This is why there are used-book stores.

You see how I talk myself into this? I coach myself along, with each book I pick up. It’s time, I tell myself. It’s time to let go.

And that’s the way things are. Right now, tonight. I’m letting go.

May 8, 2018 by L.E. Hansen

Spring

Tao & Zen

Signs of Spring, yes?

In the photo below, of the Lily of the Valley, I am flown back to childhood. At the First House Mum had lilies of the valley planted along one side. It seemed a large patch then, in the way of childhood. I’d pick them and bring them in the house to my mum. And I’d always find her in the kitchen where she would be making something. I’d take my time getting the delicate flowers into the house, walking the long way around to the back door. I wanted to smell the scent of the flowers, so fragile and sweet, as long as I could. They never smelled quite so lovely once they went into a vase.