catching up

My time here is quickly coming to a close. I have no rhythm because my schedule changes all the time but I have been meditating every few days, riding my bike and sometimes doing yoga, learning tarot and doing a lot of reading.

I had a good time a week ago during ecstatic chant. I was really sick with a sinus infection (a result of the hurricane wetness and being out of my tent for two days) while also opening guest services every day at 7 am, but I would try and stay up til 11 or 12 each night and listen to the chanting. My two faves, Krishna Das and Jai Uttal were here. Hearing and seeing Jai live up close was such a thrill! I am going to make chanting (bhatki yoga) part of my regular practice.

I also had a lovely night this week at my managers place. A little cottage connected to a small goat and sheep farm  in Red Hook, NY. Unfortunately I didn't get to visit the animals but I did get to play with the adorable dog , Ferris. We made four different apple pies, drank and talked, and successfully warded off viscious mosquitoes.

Finally! Here are some short videos of part of the grounds and a groundhog!

What I have been reading

I thought it might be interesting to list what I have been reading since I got here as a mirror to what I have been thinking about. So here goes.


Tender to the Bone - Ruth Reichl, a memoir about cooking and food. This was early into my stay...

Soul Mates- Brian Weiss, MD, a non-fictional account of a psychotherapist & hypnotist's past life regression treatments with some of his patients, two who rediscover they are soulmates.

Mists of Avalon-huge fiction book, retelling of the Arthurian legend from a woman's standpoint. Slow start, but engrossing after all. Especially interesting being here and thinking about spiritual practices and what constitutes magic.


Conscious  Communication- Miles Sherts. Wonderful, if dry, teaching on how to communicate with people from a place of heart while retaining boundaries. Great for those who work in with the public as well as any one who wants to keep growing as a human being. Don't know if I will finish this before i leave...

Be Here Now- Ram Dass' seminal book on meditation, devotion and awakening. So great on so many levels.

Chants of a Lifetime - Krishna Das. Wow, who knew that Krishna could write too. (And he's here for chant weekend now!) Fantastic book on the practice of bhakti yoga and Das' experience as a devotee.

The Heart of Yoga - T. K. Desikchar. Going to study the roots of yoga baby!

Broken Open - Elizabeth Lesser. Musings on spiritual growth via life by one of the founders of Omega.

Doing Tarot Your Way - Can't say enough about this book. A fantastic starter book for any one interested in tarot and creativity.

Finding Your North Star - Martha Beck. I can never say enough about Martha Beck. She knows how to bring conscious change about with humor and smarts. A book helping me to map out my next steps.


In the pipeline: New books by Francis Moore Lappe, who BTW is a delightful woman.

Three books on animal communication, because I am going to do bodywork with animals!

The Yoga of Heart - Mark Whitwell. Longtime student of T.K. Deskichar who's father was the famous yogi Krishnamacharya.