10/28/2018 I arise today, comfortable on my Japanese futon. Every morning I wake up at 5 am. The morning light starts to flood in the cabin at this early hour. I was never a morning person but without electricity I awake early to utilize the morning light. I enjoy watching the sun rise over the … Continue reading Maine days- Other Journals
Journals
1/26/2018 I saw a photo of Baudelaire. He looks evil. I had to go to the bathroom so badly on the train, I almost peed myself. I said sorry twice while I was in Chicago. The moments I experienced are like the ones I saw in paintings at the Art Institute. Timeless moments captured, like … Continue reading Journals
Nudity and the River
The beginning of my connection to rivers As a child my father took my brothers and I canoeing down the Namekagon River. The Namekagon runs 101 miles in Northeastern Wisconsin eventually dumping into the St. Croix River. The route we took was a day trip. 8 hours of paddling, never knowing what would be around … Continue reading Nudity and the River
Part IV of the Shaman Series: Ojibwa Healing Ceremony
Initially the ceremony was supposed to be a sweat lodge. In the end it was at the shaman’s house. The sweat lodge was no longer an option, but I do not remember why. The shaman is part of the Ojibwa tribe in Wisconsin Rapids. I travelled to the ceremony from Chicago with Mona, my roommate … Continue reading Part IV of the Shaman Series: Ojibwa Healing Ceremony
Part III of the Shaman Series: The gift of a name
Thanks again to guest writer Gertrude Gingerly for this enriching piece on her experience with a Lakota Shaman. On the days prior to the ceremony, I remember feeling insatiably hungry. My stomach was an endless pit that could not be filled. The temperature in Chicago was hot to an unbearable degree and the air conditioning … Continue reading Part III of the Shaman Series: The gift of a name
Part II of the Shaman Series: A journey to the jungle with ayahuasca
Guest writer Gertrude Gingerly is back with another story in her search for spiritual truth. I was staying in Quepos, Costa Rica. It is a small town located on the west coast of the country. I was trying to catch a taxi into town from the place I was staying. To get a cab you … Continue reading Part II of the Shaman Series: A journey to the jungle with ayahuasca
Lena Dunham’s talk
Lena Dunham came to Chicago to speak at the Chicago Cultural Festival in 2014. This is a critique of her talk. At this time in 2014, there was a celebrity fad of talking about Feminism. It all started with Emma Watson's talk on Feminism. Many celebrities during this time were asked if they were Feminist … Continue reading Lena Dunham’s talk
Part I of the Shaman Series: The Vortex on Mountain Drive
This is special guest writer Gertrude Gingerly. She has traveled to corners of the world seeking spiritual refuge in search of finding something she does not know, but knows exists. Gertrude is going to write a four-part series on Shamanism. From the jungle of Costa Rica to the mountains of Santa Barbara, Gertrude’s series is … Continue reading Part I of the Shaman Series: The Vortex on Mountain Drive
Signs from the Seine
#TRUMPsays Bring dark underground areas where people can barely breathe and perform back-breaking work in hot smoke filled stench pipe laden trip-wired environments due to explode at any moment back. Come dance with me A tree, young in age but not in wisdom stands outside a place where books and heads rest … Continue reading Signs from the Seine
The Morning Fall
A special thank you to guest writer Dr. Lucenta. This morning I woke up not wanting to wake up. That feeling used to happen to me every day, but not so often anymore. I laid in bed watching the sun slowly rising. My dog suddenly jumped out of bed, which is unusual. Usually, I … Continue reading The Morning Fall