Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is only two days away! I know that this is a hard time of year for many. But this darkest time has its own beauty and power. It can be very helpful, if we can align ourselves with its energy, which is basically one of drawing inward. Allow yourself to rest, heal, regenerate. Face what you need to face. Don't be afraid.

Image source: Pixabay

Peace 

Wide open

Image: Pixabay

Meditation helps me a lot with this.

Peace 

A thousand doors

Image source: Pixabay

Peace 

Songs and flowers

The elders say 

That all we live behind

Are songs and flowers 

Don't live your life

With unsung songs within your heart 

With all the beauty that you have to give 

Unseen, Unshared

Be not afraid

Give what you have

However humble

Those little things 

Will make your life 

A garden 

Where someone else may find

Their solace, their delight

Image: Pixabay

Peace 

Soar

Image source: Pixabay

Also, today was my last sale of the season. I'm grateful for all the abundance that the earth provided; for all the people that worked with me to produce crops and otherwise sustain the farm; and to all the customers who came here and appreciated our work. Thank you so very much to everyone.

And now, Onwards!

Peace 

Home is wherever you are

Thank you, Bert, for the inspiration.

I took this picture at Cherese's art show last year.

Peace 

LinkedIn

I made myself a profile on LinkedIn a few weeks ago. I haven't posted anything and I don't check it much, but I can say that so far I am pretty ambivalent about the whole experience. I can see the positive side of networking and keeping up with what's going on in certain fields, but....

Despite my better understanding, I find myself intimidated by how impressive and together everyone sounds. I know it's not real, but I can't deny that it gets to me and makes me feel small by comparison, like I haven't "achieved" as much or I am not as worthy. Isn't that crazy?  Is that just me?

I stopped competing along conventional social norms a long time ago, when I decided to follow my own thing and do what I believed to be meaningful. Yet, it's interesting to see how powerful and deeply ingrained these norms truly are, how they can pit us up against each other, urging us to compare ourselves to each other and to compete just to feel worthwhile.

This being said, I don't actually feel down, because as opposed to when I was younger, I am able to see more clearly now, and I value myself outside society's main reference point. Not above or below others, just okay as I am.

So all in all, I feel that the whole LinkedIn thing has been interesting so far, but I can't take it too seriously.

Just wanted to share. I'd love to know what you think.

Peace 

Trust

Image source: Pixabay

Peace 

I am

Image source: Pixabay

Peace 

So we may help each other

Image source: Pixabay 

Have a beautiful day!

Peace 

Freedom

Image source: Pixabay

Have a beautiful day and stay open! Remember you are not alone.

Peace 

Onwards!

Our lives may not be perfect 

The world may not be perfect

But we can still 

Stand in the light 

And help each other walk in beauty 

Onwards, my friends!

One mind 

One heart 

One love 

My poetry book is Fertile Ground: Beauty and Brokenness. Get it for $15  at my farm, or at the Willimantic Food Coop, or on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/shundahaishop

I donate 100% of the profits to organizations like Natural Resources Defense Council, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket and Center for Whale Research, who do great work for the environment and all of us.

Peace 

I'll walk with you

For those who need to know that someone cares.

Image source: Pixabay

Peace 

More on Sena's work for the environment

Sena is being featured as part of the Ocean Heroes series put together by American Cetacean Society, where she presented last week at their 2018 Conference.

This is from their Facebook page:

🚨Ocean Heroes Alert🚨

This past weekend an elite squad of cetacean researchers, environmental educators, and ocean advocates got together in Southern California for the 2018 American Cetacean Society conference. We are so proud that our ACS Family is full of talented and passionate citizens of all ages who are in support of a future where all whales, dolphins, and porpoises are protected and respected! As of today, ACS will be profiling a new cetacean hero each Wednesday on our social media platforms for #WhaleWarriorWednesday! Keep your eye on this page today and every Wednesday going forward to learn about what these awesome folks are doing to ensure a future for cetaceans worldwide!

You can follow American Cetacean Society both on Facebook and Instagram if you want to keep up to date with their posts.

In a separate event, Sena was interviewed yesterday on Northeastern CT Community TV about her work with Warriors For Tomorrow, the environmental group she founded (warriorsfortomorrow.org).

The interview will be aired on Tuesday 11/13 at 2:30pm, and possibly more dates. I'll let you know. Here's a picture from the interview.

Peace 

One

Step outside dualistic thinking and see what's there.

Peace 

The master sculptors

For those who need to know.

Sena's presentation at the ACS

As you probably know, Sena was invited to be a speaker at the American Cetacean Society, happening in California right now. She spoke last night, about her advocacy on behalf of whales and the environment. Experts from around the country and internationally are attending. We are so proud of her and the work she's doing. 

Check out her presentation here (although the video quality is not great).

https://www.facebook.com/100025500349404/posts/260942708099072/

Warmed by the fire

That's all that we can hope to be to someone, don't you think?

Sanctuary

For when you feel afraid or alone.

Peace 

Sena going to California on her own

She will be presenting at the American Cetacean Society annual conference. Check it out here https://www.acsonline.org/2018-conference

Sena was invited to speak about her work with cetaceans, and she will also speak about a research paper she wrote about cetaceans released and tracked after captivity.

We are not going, but Cindy, who has been working with Sena over the years, is going with her.

I am so nervous and excited. Sena is mostly very excited. Here she is with Aiyana just before going to the airport.

Also, check out her progress on the pegboard below. She sets out to do something and she does it. She's such an inspiration to me!

https://www.facebook.com/100025500349404/posts/259922688201074/

Peace 

Little Halloween bat

Aiyana 

Yesterday's rally

Warriors for Tomorrow Environmental Youth had a great rally in Mansfield yesterday. Their demand was that elected officials take climate action and honor the Paris Climate Accord. Thank you to these young people and everyone supporting them!

Warriors for Tomorrow Environmental Youth

Please come out and support Warriors for Tomorrow Environmental Youth in their rally tomorrow, Sunday 10/28, 12-1:30, at the corner of 195 and 275 (right by Town Hall) in Mansfield.

This group, put together by youths from ourcommunity including our daughters, is demanding that elected officials take immediate climate action by supporting the Paris Climate Accord. This comes on the heels of the recently released Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change(IPCC) report. Let's show these young people and everyone else that we do care!

Please feel free to contact Sena Wazer with any questions about this event: sena.wazer@gmail.com.

https://www.facebook.com/Warriors-for-Tomorrow-Environmental-Youth-2464809107079004/

Thank you, have a great day, and we hope to see you on Sunday.

Frost and fire

Frost outside 

Fire within

Prepare for a long, cold winter 

But also beautiful 

And do your best 

To keep that fire burning 

Peace 

The second arrow

Do you know the Buddhist parable of the two arrows? 

"Buddha once said that if we’re hit by an arrow it will surely hurt, but if we’re hit by a second arrow in the same spot it will hurt much more. This may sound like common sense, but if we use the second arrow as an analogy to help clarify the harmful qualities of the thinking mind, its meaning deepens and becomes more useful. For example, if we get a headache, there’s no doubt it can be somewhat painful. But if we have the thought, “This is terrible” or “Why is this happening to me?” it’s like being hit by a second arrow, and it intensifies the physical pain. As we observe ourselves, we’ll see that we shoot ourselves with second arrows quite regularly, even though we’re normally not aware that we’re doing this. Why? Because we accept our thoughts and judgments as the unquestioned truth. How many times have you thought, “This isn’t fair,” without even questioning whether or not the thought was true? Or after making a mistake, which we can call the first arrow, we add the second-arrow thought, “I can’t do anything right.” From Beyond Happiness by Ezra Bayda.

Peace 

Ducklings for my mom

Lucinda and her babies.

Conformity

What can I give?

What can I give 

That you could hold on to 

When darkness closes in 

And all is dreary?

This love 

To hold inside your heart 

To warm you 

These words 

These images 

To know you're not alone 

This silence 

Which contains 

All that I want to say 

Peace 

That seed

Peace 

Into the fray

Maker of patterns 

Speaker of silence 

I search for you

In stillness 

It's you I've always wanted 

It's you, 

My refuge

Yet, when I come so close 

You point 

Straight back into the fray

You say

To look for you

Out there 

Breathe

(Sorry, there's a little typo: should say "there are no answers")

Peace and enjoy these beautiful, crisp autumn days!

What LOVE can do

See how mist rises

Off the water 

Into the morning sun,

The cold, dark night

Forgotten?

That is what love can do 

Picture is at Mansfield Hollow this morning, on my way with Aiyana to Keri's farm for horsemanship lessons. Isn't it lovely?

Peace 

The earth

I work for her:

The one who feeds us, clothes us

Shelters us

The one who gives and gives again

The one we stand upon 

Who's always here 

The one that we came from 

Who'll one day take us back 

Giver of beauty

My source of strength

Of peace and inspiration

It's a great honor

To work for her

Constantly reminded of this

I have a very hard time laying blame on people, because as soon as I start thinking how someone has hurt me, I start seeing how they were also hurt by their life circumstances, and how I have hurt others even though I didn't mean to. 

When I cry for myself, it ends up that I also cry for them. There's no blame, only breaking the cycle of ignorance and apathy and of unconscious acts. Which is really hard.

Peace 

Happy Bithday and Thanks to my Dad!

This past Monday we celebrated my dad's 75th birthday. It was nice to have a little party for him at my sister's house, although it's too bad my mom was not able to be there, because she's in Italy (and I hope she's having a great time on the Amalfi coast!!!).

I am grateful for my everything my dad did for us, especially the great sacrifice of leaving everything behind in Romania and moving to Canada at 41 years of age, with little more to his name than a toothbrush, so that he could offer my sister and I a better future. That's a lot to do, even for your own children...

Peace

So grateful for your feedback!

I am so grateful for all the feedback I've received about my poetry book. I'll list here a few comments that really touched me:

One couple said that they read my poetry to each other at night.

One woman said that if she had to go on a deserted island kind of scenario, she'd take my book with her.

Another woman actually carries my book with her in her purse.

One woman who bought my book said she didn't get a chance to read it because her mom snatched it up and would not give it back. Her mom apparently has some emotional problems and her daughter thought that my book was good for her.

Another man gave me multiple hugs to tell me how much he liked my book.

And another one said his kids were making fun of him because he'd read a poem and then be staring into the distance, lost in thought for a while.

My sister said she keeps my book on her night table.

All these comments mean so much to me and really warm my heart in a way that's hard to describe. Writing is solitary, and there's nothing more I can hope for than to know that what I've shared means something to someone else. Thank you all so much!

Peace 

Fallen leaves

Peace 

Stand firmly

Stand firmly on our Mother Earth 

Protect her, respect her, give her thanks 

In doing so,

You will protect, respect and give thanks to yourself 

Whatever's done to her 

Is done to you 

Her body is your body 

Her illness is your illness 

Her strength, your strength

Be still and know that this is true 

----

I took the picture in the Azores, in October 2017.

And this is a watercolor by Aiyana. She loves the new painting supplies she got for her birthday.

This works

I've experienced this. We all want to be seen for who we are, beyond what we've accomplished, said, done, or not done. We want to be recognized and held beyond judgement and labeling.

Diamonds

I don't need diamonds on my fingers

I don't need to be adorned

In stones ripped up from the earth

I need time and clear sight

To see the jewels that are always  

Scattered all around me

Free

Aiyana and Pride

Happy Birthday Aiyana!

She turned 13 yesterday! My beautiful, little baby is now a teenager!!!! And a great horse woman.
We had a great day: she and Sena came with me on my delivery route, and we stopped at Bluff Point. Then, in the evening, we had a little family celebration, and got Indian food. She also had a party with all the grandparents last weekend, and this Sunday she will celebrate with her friends. Lots of celebrations!

Peace

True

So true, this short movie (link below), and I like that in the text, the author also gives suggestions on how to move past, or transcend this sad state of things. 

Also, I want to add that for me, personally, seeking to be of service, realizing that I am part of something greater than myself, a connection with nature, and meditation have also been of great help.

https://anewkindofhuman.com/award-winning-film-animator-just-released-new-film-happiness-brilliant/

True love

Still blooming 

Even on this rainy day 

She gives away

The best she has to offer-

True love