Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Rain today. I enjoyed an absence of heat. The moon which was new at Rosh Hoshannah is a waxing crescent now, a fat little boat sailing into tomorrow. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks and I think I have memories of that terrible day and the weeks with followed with mingling with concerns for our world today, especially regarding Syria. I keep thinking of the outward progression - peace in our hearts, our families, our communities, our nation, our world.

Monday, September 09, 2013

Tashlic

At this time of year Jews have a custom called tashlich where we leave our bad habits and defects of character in a body of moving water, like a creek or river in the form of bread crumbs. We let the movement of the water carry the old unwanted ways away and of course we have to work not to restart the same patterns all over again. I love how seriously Liam takes this practice at four and a half. At sixty three there is a lot more to leave in the river. This year I am working especially on moving away from the need to have people understand and appreciate my motivations and reasons for what I do and say. I want my message to be understood of course, but it is feeling more and more like ego to need my motivations to be understood - one more face of defensiveness and the need to be seen as right.


Thursday, September 05, 2013

New beginning

This is just a gesture at this point, but hopefully a meaningful gesture.  The new year has come in
- with thunder and lightening if not rain or cooling and a gorgeous sunset tonight.  Many I know are suffering greatly, more than usual.  There is also the joy in our house of a child delighted with starting "real" school.  I enter the high holy days with a strong sense of determination to live a sweeter year, more mindful in  little and big ways, and more intentionally connected with people I love.