Solitude & Self-Awareness Spiral
Labyrinths have been used around the world since ancient times. A labyrinth combines the spiral and the circle as a tool to following a single, circuitous path to the centre and then out again. Labyrinths can be metaphors for our life paths, leading us to the centre of ourselves in a walking meditation, and then back out to be with the world.
The Art of Doing Nothing
Days away from summer vacation and I dream of doing nothing. Soon I’ll be able to do nothing every day. Nothing has become an important part of my busy life. I started this practice a couple years ago. I sit in my most relaxing chair, close my eyes, breathe deeply, and focus on nothing. During the school year, I can only do this on the weekend. I try to carve out 1-3 hours a weekend for this “do nothing” practice.
When Was Your Last Solo Road Trip?
Spring and Fall are my favourite times of year for solo road trips. A few weeks ago I packed up my car and headed out to Petroglyphs Provincial Park in Peterborough, then to the Craft Show in Buckhorn, and ended the trip at Whetung Ojibwa Centre in Curve Lake.
Building a Labyrinth in the Backyard
This week I have been reading about labyrinths. I’m dreaming of building one in my backyard. It’s on the “someday” list (along with a pool and a garden). When Spring arrives my attention turns from my indoor living spaces to the outdoors.
Five Ways of Looking at Summer
Today I dream of summer. The sun on my face. The relaxed rhythm of the day. When I was a young teen I remember drifting on the Magnetewan River in a canoe reading for hours. I wrote this poem (inspired by Wallace Stevens) to capture the carefree feeling and the peaceful knowing of having nowhere to be but in a canoe with a great book on a gorgeous summer’s day.
What I Learned from Wild Turkeys
On trusting my GPS…
Every time I drive into the Ottawa Valley area my GPS navigation device surprises me, transforming a simple road trip into an epic journey.
