Riding a bike in my town is an adventure to say the least!
Every corner is cleverly covered by some bushes or tucked back into an alley, so that you don't see cars until you almost hit them.
Stop lights mean nothing to drivers, so bikers(the non motorized kind) beware!
And be you biker or pedestrian, you, of course have no right to the cross walk-even if you have the light.
You are also subjected to dogs snapping at your heels, slow old folks and some young ones who see you as invading their "space".
I have to say that, I am not immune to my own form of "road rage".
I do have passing thoughts of running down the old granny or maybe riding verrrrrrrrrrrrry slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwly through that blind corner.
So much for the Zen ( or lack of it) of bike riding.
Have pity on the bike rider! We share the road too.
Of course, I do have to laugh at myself.   I get so mad at the "jerks" and then I think "Hey what happened to all that calm and peace you were wallowing in during your chi and meditation this morning?'
Lucky for me I have good brakes--on the bike that is!

Today I was tending my 'garden". As I pruned. retied, and watered, I realized that this is becoming a deeply spiritual experience for me and also one that is connecting me to my own "roots".
Being raised in foster homes, I never really learned much about my ancestors until I was an adult.
About 20 or so years ago, I began researching my family history, mostly for my daughter's sake.
I was able to trace my family here in upstate New York back to 1745, when one of them enlisted to fight in the French and Indian wars.  He was just 18 and listed his occupation as --farmer.  His brother and cousin also listed themselves as the same.
I have another whose name is listed on a local Revolutionary War momumet, and again he lists himself as a farmer.
I don't want to sound spooky here, but as I grow my plants, I seem to have some kind of intuitive knowledge of what they need as far as sunlight, feeding, and water. I also have been noticing, that it just comes to me, when to prune and when to loosen the earth around them.
I did not read any books on gardening, it just seems to come naturally.
I also have not been using any pesticides like some of my neighbors do.
I just put some marigolds in a basket,..they are supposed to be a natural bug repellent.
And it's working.
I feel such a connection to the earth and my own past.  It is deeply fulfilling.  I meditate in my 'green space" now and it seems that the plants absorb the "Chi".
I can't help wondering how many of the women in my past tended their garden plots, smelled the earth and felt the deep peace of watching things come from the ground.

My beloved Tai chi teacher wrote a blog entry called the 'Tai chi manifesto"(you can read it at David dorian Ross) I decided to write one of my own.
I get awfully discouraged at the way that body mind practices are priced out of reach to the people who would beifit by them most.
I see yoga and chi classes that cost in the hundreds of dollors and it makes me sad.
I have a vision to reach lower income folks with these things that will enhance their lives.

Not really. I mean if I could be "famous" for doing the most good for the most people maybe, but I would rather shine my light in my own small corner of the world.

I have been"playing" T'ai Chi for going on two years now. It  can be and is a very exacting and precise art. At the same time my beloved Sufi David Dorian Ross says to play with it.
Sometimes you have to abandon to the dance.
This morning I was very upset about something. It just seemed that the day was starting on the wrong foot and I felt that it was "too Late' to get it back.
I went on into my Qugung in-spite of the late hour.
After I was calmed and relaxed, I started to go into my 24 form.
I have been working for the past two weeks on different concepts( sinking down, continuous motion, stepping drills, watching my head and hand movements) . I took a deep breath and --just gave in to the dance.
I put on "Celtic woman" and just 'er rip!
Yes, some of the music was a bit fast and my movements were not as precise as they should have been--but Oh the lightness that came back into my soul!
The whole room lit up as I got lost in "Onrono Flow" and "Dulman".
Then I slowed down with "Panus Angelicus"
My whole spirit was refreshed and I was able to go lightly into my yoga and meditation.
Yes, I am still working on the finer points, but it is good to know that sometimes you can just dance.

I saw my first tomato today. It was one of the most thrilling experences in my life.
To see fruit from the plants that I nurtured from seed is exciting in a way that is differnt.
Maybe it's almost like parenting.
Seeing things grow from the earth, Caring for things and seeing the hopes come to pass.
Soon I will be able to "eat of my own vine" and I am so happy about that.
I guess I am a bit overwhlemed.

"Talk to the Hand!" How many times have we said that in a mean way?
This week "Talk to the hand" became something totally different for me.
During my Tai Chi practice I have been focusing on following my predominate hand with my eyes-something important to do because it keeps you in sync with the yin/yang cycle of your routine.
This got me thinking about the strange attitude we Westerners have towards our bodies.
On one hand, our religious traditions, teach us to hate and punish our bodies. Yet, it seems we are always on a quest for the "perfect body" what ever that is.
One thing I am learning from my Chi and yoga is , I don't have to chase after what is already mine.
My body is "perfect" where it is right now--and where ever it is going to be in the future, it will be perfect too.
So I am going to be doing a lot more talking to my hand and the rest of me.
When the body and mind are well fed and cared for, it is perfect.

It's been raining. Rain used to make me sad. Have you ever stopped to wonder why there are so many sad songs about rain? These days rain has a new meaning for me.
Rain means growth, nourishment, cleansing and renewing.
Rain is the most welcome sight, weather it is gentle summer showers or raging thunder storms.
With the rain comes new life.

Right now I like the freedom I have in my body. Because of my weight loss I can do more and more everyday. I still have a long way to go, but I just love being able to walk, ride my bike, do Chi and yoga.
So many things that I can do without worring about aches and pains or being short of breath!!!
LIz

I was thinking the other day about the line of poetry that says , "I am the master of my fate, the Captain of my soul."
I got to thinking, what is a Captain? He/She is not just someone who stands around and gives orders. A Captain has to prove to be worthy if the responsibility that is trusted to them.
A Captain -a good one anyway does not blame the "crew" if something goes wrong.
A good Captain thinks in terms of the good of the crew instead of just themselves.
During my life time I have not been a very good "Captain" . I have let others take the responsibility or rather let others convince me that I could not take the responsibility for my own life.
But, I can take the responsibility and the good thing is, when I do, my life becomes more useful to others and to myself.
Like walking with a strait spine, it took practice and some pain.
I am the better for it.