tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24423001524573450272024-03-13T11:08:53.551-05:00little house in the ghettosharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-36951637497287606712011-05-27T14:03:00.007-05:002011-05-31T18:08:20.604-05:00ChangesSo, my dear Molly has moved out. She's taken a 6-month internship at <a href="http://www.earthaven.org/">Earthaven Ecovillage</a> in North Carolina. She's blogging about it at <a href="http://mmeinhardt.blogspot.com/">On the Wing</a>. Sounds delightful--I can understand why she doesn't ever want to come back to the Midwest. :/<br /><br />So now it's gonna be just me and my part-time kid at the Little House. When my daughter's not around, I'll be living by myself, with no roommate, family, or "domestic partner" (not a very romantic term), for the first time EVER. I'm tempted to change it to Little Hermitage in the Ghetto!<br /><br /><blockquote><br />HERMIT is a name now given to men who live alone in remote places, because they do not like to be around other people. Sometimes they become hermits because they do not like to work. Hermits seldom are neat. They usually have long hair and beards.<br /><br />There have been also, from very early times, men who left their towns to give their time to God in solitude. Elijah and John the Baptist are examples.<br /><br />The solitary worshiper, or hermit, is a feature of many religions. In the East, especially in India, devout men go off into the wilderness, where they sit and think or pray for days at a time. Usually they are thin and gaunt, for they eat little.<br /><br />World Book Encyclopedia, 1965<br /><br /><p></p></blockquote><br />Sounds kinda like me--except for the thin and gaunt part! Thought, famous hermits have been known to survive on graveyard weeds (Otman Baba) and nettle soup (Milarepa), and there's enough dandelion greens, garlic mustard, and lamb's quarters to feed me for a while.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, recent activities at the Little House include getting the mushroom logs situated in places where the mycelia will be comfortable. Reishi logs go into large clay flowerpots, upright, nestled into wet sand. Saralin suggested keeping a paper bag over the exposed top of the log. Hmm, I should probably check the moisture level in the sand sometime.<br /><br /><br />I've been harvesting lemon balm <em>(Melissa officinalis)</em> to dry for tea; and plenty of lamb's quarters (<em>Chenopodium album</em>) to eat as greens in eggs, salad, stir fry, and to dry for later use. Also, between bouts of Spring thunderstorms, uprooting asters to keep them from spreading even more. I'm seriously considering sheet-mulching huge portions of the yard, just to keep the asters down, and then I can at least sow desirable no-mow groundcovers in the sheet mulch.<br /><br /><br />I planted seed potatoes that Molly had prepped before she left, and mulched 'em with mower clippings and weeds from around the tater beds. I LOVE the free, nutrient-rich, mulch-at-hand!<br /><br /><br />Saralin, Julian, and their acquaintance Drew (whom I've not met yet) have dropped off small piles of firewood, starting to fill up the woodshed again before I've even cleaned it out from last year's wood. I'm ever so pleased to have free firewood delivered for free!!!<br /><br /><br />My temp job, which was JUST RIGHT for me, has dried up after a year and a half. I still work as a simulated patient at SIU School of Medicine, but that's not gonna be nearly enough to pay the mortgage. :( So I'm trying to decide between cube work and <a href="http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2008/10/23/the-cloudworkers-creed/">cloud work</a>.<br /><br /><br />Also, thanks to <a href="http://ranprieur.com/">Ran Prieu</a>r, I've been reading a lot of posts from <a href="http://www.stevepavlina.com/">Steve Pavlina</a>. At minimum, it's encouraging and inspiring material for me to soak up in this time of transition. At best, maybe I'll actually discover my true life purpose, cultivate burning desire, develop the courage to live consciously, and become an early riser.D. Lollardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02897835138834032200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-27669249996902290792011-04-02T14:37:00.004-05:002011-04-02T14:59:53.393-05:00Spring UpdateMy, how time flies on the Internet while stuff happens in real life. We have been welcoming Spring, with warm sunny weather pulling plants from the soil toward the sky. Some of our crew facilitated inoculating mushroom logs, so later on we'll have Shiitake and Reishi mushrooms fresh from the garden. (Special thanks to Saralin and Julian!) Molly and I trellised the raspberry patch, so it'll be easier to harvest and (we hope) less mosquitoey this summer. We have the usual spring bulbs coming up--crocus and daffodil blooming, with tulips and peonies leafing out. Oh yeah, and garlic and onions galore in the garden. <br /><br />The elm tree and cherry bushes are in flower, and I swear I saw red buds on one of the little redbud trees. Dandelions are starting to show their bright smiley faces already. <br /><br />Molting robins (with odd white spots on their backs) have been prowling the garden for bugs (they are birds of prey, technically). Our "garden tiger" Snapper has had a sore paw for a couple weeks, but he's healing up good, and he's back outside deterring squirrels and rabbits. <br /><br />This morning K and I saw a bee and a butterfly, both on the cherry blossoms. If I understand correctly, a bee will keep going back to the same kind of flower it finds first, so hopefully it'll pollinate the cherries and we'll have some fruit later on. The butterfly may be a Question Mark, Polygonia interrogationis, whose adults overwinter and thus are often the first butterflies seen in Spring. Also, they like elm trees, which we have.<br /><br />The average date for last frost in our area is April 15 (easy enough to remember), so there's still a chance some of our plant friends will get frosted. If we get a chill, perhaps the "heat island effect" of the city will help. It's been a relatively dry Spring so far, with March bringing us only 1.60 inches of rain, compared to the "normal" 3.15. (Per wunderground.com.) I scattered red clover seeds in various places--it's a TERRIFIC medicinal, not to mention nitrogen-fixer, bee-attractor, and beautiful. After a good rain, perhaps some of them will sprout. Weeks ago, I dug some experimental rainwater-channeling trenches (not really formal enough for me to call them swales), and I've been waiting a long time to see what actually happens when it rains. Still waiting. This may be a year to find out which of our yard/garden/feastfield friends are "drought tolerant." <br /><br />Either way, thanks and praises to the One and Only, the Source and Sink, the Overarching Underlying, the Uncontainable Container, for such a beautiful season.D. Lollardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02897835138834032200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-71127655719817327912010-12-07T11:54:00.001-06:002010-12-07T11:56:54.718-06:00By Way of Introduction<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Hello there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m not entirely certain who I am addressing, but whoever you are, I would like to henceforth issue my warmest greetings.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My name is Molly, y soy la <span lang="ES-TRAD" style="mso-ansi-language:ES-TRAD">compañera nueva de Don.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span>I have been living in the little house for a couple of months now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Perhaps I shall regale you with the delightful tale of how all of this came about… but, some other time, for it is long and complicated and not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">entirely</i> delightful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But here we are, and life is indeed quite blissful in this present moment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For a brief introduction:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am a “twenty-something” and a student at the University of Illinois at Springfield, studying experimental psychology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am interested in homesteading (obviously), brewing moonshine fruit wine, growing, wild crafting, herbal medicine, studying psychology and philosophy (particularly the phenomenological and anarchist varieties), reading and learning, and pretty much anything that gets slapped with the “radical” label.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I reviewed some of the Little House blog to see what it is all about before I start posting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The history of the Little House, as well as that of the Zomban community, is quite fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The recent posts seem to have taken on a rather philosophical tone, but as I went back, I found many different focuses, including a variety of homesteading activities as well as the importance of community.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As for my focus, at this time I am deeply interested in gardening, and I will likely be posting a great deal about my various adventures therein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Given the fact that it is currently just the beginning of winter and, though I’d like to deny it, I saw snow flurries this very morning, I find it quite the misfortunate timing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To turn a problem into a solution, however, I am focusing on reading (I’m engrossed in a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Square Foot Gardening</i> by Mel Bartholomew, which is acting as an excellent guide), planning, building, and experimenting with winter gardens and methods to get an early start come spring.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Speaking of winter gardens, I already have a charming little garden growing in our large, lovely, south-facing window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a long thin planter, members of the mint family – lemon balm, mint, and tulsi (holy basil) – are growing quite vigorously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Along side, my basil plant has exceeded 18 inches in height and my little rosemary plant is flourishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m sure though, that they will all be exceedingly happy after the solstice, as the days begin to lengthen and they get more sun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have plans to continue to expand on this garden, hopefully in the coming week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mi <span lang="ES-TRAD" style="mso-ansi-language:ES-TRAD">compañero, </span>after reading a chapter of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Square Foot Gardening</i>,<span style="mso-ansi-language:ES-TRAD"> </span>noticed that our milk crates are 13x13 inches – perfect for the square foot method – and we began to formulate the idea of growing vegetables in milk crates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m planning to line the crate with cardboard, filling it with potting soil, and plant some carrots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Left near the woodstove, the soil would get warm enough for the seeds to sprout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then, being in a portable milk crate, they can be relocated to the sunny window to flourish into food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If all goes well, we might build something more elaborate… but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’ll see what happens.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">peace,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Molly</p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-67174279295733696762010-12-01T15:28:00.004-06:002010-12-01T15:34:14.555-06:00The Circle TurnsWow, it's been a while. Things have changed, things have stayed the same.<div><br /></div><div>Sharqi and the sprout (she's more of a sapling now, actually) have moved to Urbana, which sounds WAY cooler than Springfield. I am back in the little house, feeding logs to the woodstove, snuggling with Snapper the Mouser, and scheming ... it's easier to imagine a complete sustainable utopia, than it is to see what steps to take here and now to get there!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have invited my companyera, who's been spending a lot of time at the little house, to blog here. So y'all may be hearing from us, from time to time. Though we don't have Internet at the house, so we do it at the public library, where I am right now. And now I gotta catch the bus home, probably chainsaw some firewood, and get ready for my folks to visit.</div>D. Lollardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02897835138834032200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-51976720208121675382010-05-20T09:33:00.002-05:002010-05-20T09:35:52.879-05:00I Love Swimmingby Kaleigh<br /><br />Swimming is fun.<br />Running is fun, too.<br />Sports are fun,<br />And almost everything is fun.<br />I love kickball.<br />I love scootering.<br />A lot of things are fun.<br />Best friends are funner.<br />I love swimming,<br />Because it's fun.<br />And so is writing.sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-5658007724118189552010-05-17T21:33:00.001-05:002010-05-17T21:33:58.872-05:00my mindbody enjoys<div class="snap_preview"><p>Love the earth and sun and animals,<br />Despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks,<br />Stand up for the stupid and crazy,<br />Devote your income and labor to others…<br />And your very flesh shall be a great poem.</p> Walt Whitman</div>sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-21281404857395546702010-05-03T17:09:00.003-05:002010-05-03T17:15:18.496-05:00smell thisOnions and garlic (bulbs and tops) sauteeing with the first two shiitake mushrooms (from my front yard log), with cleavers and new lambs quarters (edible weeds), seasoned with oregano and rosemary (from the garden)....topped with three eggs (straight from a friend's chickens' oviducts), scrambled, and fresh homemade chevre (goat cheese).<br /><br />And, of course, being a midwesterner, I had to put ketchup on it!<br /><br />careysharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-29691946887947526632010-04-29T09:10:00.000-05:002010-04-29T09:11:30.550-05:00birds bords burds byrdsBirds, birds,<br />They come in herds.<br />Birds, birds,<br />Shaking the trees.<br />Maybe the trees have bees!<br />Be careful,<br />Birds who are shaking the trees.<br />You too,<br />Wind,<br />Be careful too.<br /><br />poem by Kaleighsharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-44720664568255034182010-03-13T20:57:00.000-06:002010-03-13T20:58:10.535-06:00festival of life in the cracksLife in the cracks can be looked at in many ways. Weeds growing up through the cracks in the pavement are a fractal assertion of all life revealing itself through the cracks of civilization. My neighborhood is indicative of that. This year’s Festival of Life in the Cracks (March 10) coincided with a meteorologically beautiful day, one of the first of spring’s blessings of warmth and sunshine. On a typical working day, most “normal” neighborhoods are empty, their residents off working to pay for all the stuff in their fine homes. My neighborhood, on the other hand, is full of life. People are in the streets, walking and biking, wholly ignoring the hierarchy of vehicular traffic. My neighbors are out and about, getting stuff done and hanging out. I had the pleasure of washing and wringing my clothes outside in the bright sunlight and warm breezes, and hanging all on the clothesline to get that fresh earthy smell that cannot be extracted from a bottle. After my work was done, friends dropped by, hearty beers in hand, and we sat on the porch, talking, relaxing, spending time reinforcing the ties that bind our community together.<br /><br />The blighted areas of Springfield, Illinois, are a microcosm of the ruins of cities like <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268535082_0">Detroit</span>. The neglect and abandonment of our neighborhoods by those to whom we pay taxes is evident. And these feelings are reciprocated. What is the point of being a citizen in a city that doesn’t claim you? We are well aware that we have only each other to rely on. A tornado ripping through our city four years ago with its subsequent FEMA encounters made that obvious. If it were not for the good will of my friends and neighbors, who knows where I’d be; still waiting for FEMA assistance, maybe?<br /><br />And yet, there is life everywhere. Nature is reclaiming the pavement, the falling down houses, and empty abandoned lots. The people who remain here are here for the long haul. Poor people are well aware of the economy of the community, even if most of my neighbors do not know what that term means; it flows freely from their hearts. When you have not money to purchase the assistance and care you need, you use the time you have to assist and care for others, and they reciprocate. It’s security that life in civilization cannot buy, especially now that we are in the horribly depressed phase of our bipolar economy. <br /><br />A neighborhood filled with people on a traditional work day begs the question: how do these people get by? How do they pay their bills? It is increasingly challenging as the economy tanks, with middle class people lining up to take jobs that were formerly the sole purview of the poor—minimum wage service jobs. Many people here survive on government handouts, be it in the form of social security, disability, or welfare. Many people work nontraditional jobs (like metal recycling or giving plasma), have start-up companies in the black market (many people currently in prison were merely trying to make a buck and support their families), or live exceedingly frugally. <br /><br />Last year, I made less than $2000 from my job, but I want for nothing. Most people here live in a similar fashion. We get by the best we can with what we have. Many live by the mantra of the depression-era grandparents who raised me: use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without. We are scavengers, opportunists, and we share the bounty. We are producers, not consumers. We create abundance by our ability to share what we have. It’s an odd thing, coming from the money economy, where scarcity is the model. There is only so much pie to share, and each person for themselves! The competition is fierce, and if you can’t compete, too bad, you die. In contrast, the economy of community is based on abundance. There is pie for everyone, and more pie can always be had because we had the forethought to plant orchards. The more we share, the more we each have and are willing to give.<br /><br />We don’t each need a lawnmower; one will suffice for many families. Actually, we don’t need lawnmowers at all if we plant gardens to nourish ourselves and the entire community of life. Bioconcrete in the form of the American lawn is a delusion of idiocy; it makes no sense. One of the blessings of creating a new paradigm in the crumbling ruins of the old is the ability to throw out things that make no sense and replace them with things that do. Observation and feedback are excellent tools in paradigm building. Need generates its own power, and this is where our hope lies: we are what we want to become. There is nothing more adventurous and rewarding than real life.<br /><br />The challenge is creating systems of living for ourselves, cultures and rituals that provide for our needs. It is quite difficult, being raised without an understanding of what a viable human culture could be like—being raised in a culture of not understanding. Our reality is constructed by our beliefs, reinforced by our rituals. Many people now believe that working, consuming, and dying is the way to go, and they reinforce this belief by their daily patterns of working and shopping. Somehow they’ve become slaves of a system that makes no sense, and is indeed, killing off the basis of life itself.<br /><br />Waking up from this entrancement and becoming aware that options exist has given me opportunity and motivation in my own life. As hobo poet <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268535082_1">Vachel Lindsay</span> remarked, “I am further from slavery than most men.” This has been an unexpected gift from downshifting (dropping out) from mainstream consumer culture and exploring what can variously be called simple living, “green”, diy, urban homesteading, welfare and poverty, community, or even paradise. As Greek philosopher Heraclitus noted, we must expect the unexpected, or we’ll never find it.<br /><br />The wealth we hold may not be obvious. Indeed, it takes an eye for beauty to see the wealth that abounds in my neighborhood. Our wealth lies not in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268535082_2">consensus reality</span> dollars, but in our collective security and abundance. We have each other, and we will always have each other. As governments fall short on cash and their enforcers (police, zoning, etc.) disappear, our freedom increases. We use this freedom to create realities that make sense in light of the world we inhabit. We invite homeless people to squat the houses that are falling down from neglect. We scatter seeds of plants that nourish ourselves and the community of life in vacant lots and alley ways. We rediscover handy skills in the dumpster of history. We raise animals and build structures that do not fit into zoning’s view of safety, but that do fit into a paradigm of making sense. We raise our children with the knowledge that another life is possible, and provide them the tools they need to make a living in the economy of community. <br /><br />“<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268535082_3">Disintegration</span> and renewal are happening side by side—calamity and fertility, rot and splendor, grievous losses and surges of invigorating novelty. Yes, the death of the old order is proceeding apace, but it's overlapped by the birth pangs of an as-yet-unimaginable new civilization.” —<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268535082_4">Rob Brezsny</span><br /><br />There is life in the cracks, for which we are ever thankful. These pioneering plants and people are the seeds of a new paradigm, of what comes next. Life explodes into fecundity and abundance, emerging from the cracks with a fierceness beyond compare. It is a birthright our culture seems to have forgotten, but through the magic we create in our daily activities, we illuminate our culture’s collective blind spot. We discover the strength of ourselves in the love and care we share with each other. Who knew life could be such an adventure? Who knew life could be so sweet?sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-32343644069836085372010-03-06T10:39:00.001-06:002010-03-06T10:40:42.051-06:00do what you will“Reach within you, and fight with tools.” —the Flobots.<br /><br />Belief is a tool, perhaps the most effective one in our soul battle, in the landscape of consciousness, where paradigm shifts occur. How do we make this consciousness real without losing ourselves? How do we enact a story we’ve never been told? How do we reclaim our birthrights of mental and physical health, freedom from bureaucratic oppression, a membership in the reciprocal divine trust, and countless others we’ve forgotten? How do we begin to envision this story, knowing that our wildest dreams of freedom are mere seeds of this next beautiful paradigm? <br /><br />I get the feeling the word paradise and the visions of the garden of Eden are concepts we can’t yet fully take in, even if we think we’re ready for it. But still. Belief is a tool, and quite an effective one at that. We say “abracadabrazomba”, flap our butterfly wings, and find ourselves taking the form of chaos magicians, with change springing up in our footsteps, akin to the fruitful oases springing up in the wake of the Green Man, Khadir. We endow ourselves with magic spells, super powers—whatever it takes to make us powerful, full of energy and spirit. We radiate the golden cords, illuminating the way in front of us, the untrodden path.<br /><br />Somehow, we make it together. We figure it out—all of us. If there is a human story a few thousand years from now, this will be a part of it. There are no slaves in the landscape of consciousness. War is confusion, trickster friends and allies; we must remember our heritage. Hermes, divine thief, is poised to steal this current absurd reality of civilization. For a chaos magician, presto change-o reality is easy. Our consciousness manifests as reality. They make believe they are still in charge. We make believe we are in charge—of our own selves, to be sure!<br /><br />The ties that bind us to the old ways are slipping away. We have only to create new ways of living, to participate in a new kind of economy. We create rituals and myths around things that are actually important, not merely advertised as sacred. The relationship between city and citizen is practically nonexistent, but the relationships in our communities are born of love and are getting stronger with each day. These things are real. If you’ve ever lived through a natural disaster or (gods forbid!) encountered FEMa, you have learned that our government cannot take care of us and does not look out for our welfare. You remember that we have only each other. We are our strength, courage, and love. If you’ve never lived through a natural disaster, there’s no reason to wait. Community, yep. All that.<br /><br />Nature practices fecundity. It is organized to create abundance; we are nourished by it, in vivid contrast to the stark neglect we experience from those to whom we pay taxes. Pavement and poison are effed up, tentacles of the destruction empire machine. We extend our own tentacles, aiming for the blind spots of civilization, filling them up with love, beauty life—manifesting the reality of this as-of-yet unveiled paradise.<br /><br />The landscape of consciousness, this divine boundary between worlds, is where trickster warriors play. It is where “do what thou wilt” becomes the whole of the law. I shall meet you there. Who knows what we may create with our many allies, with our minds fully engaged in the task before us? Adventure to those who seek it!sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-59315351967871927512010-02-25T18:28:00.001-06:002010-02-25T18:29:50.637-06:00the gospel of beauty and the art of appreciationSpringfield’s hobo poet Vachel Lindsay worshiped in the church of the open sky and lived the gospel of beauty. As I remember my outdoor self who greatly enjoys her time in the divine church of the open sky, I usually find myself (weather permitting) with my hands deep in the dirt on the Sabbath. Often was I extended an invitation to join dressed up passersby on the way to their houses of worship. I cannot imagine a church inside four walls to ever be as inviting as communing directly with what I consider the divine, the higher power, life itself. I can’t really describe my religious beliefs, because I don’t believe in absolutes. I don’t hold much in the way of opinion for others to believe or disbelieve. But I do have feelings for what my perception of the divine invokes within me. My hands soak up the earth while my third eye soaks up sunshine. I nurture as I am being nurtured. In what possible way could I more directly commune with the divine than what I experience in the church of the open sky?<br /><br />Francis Bacon said: “There it is. I don't believe in anything, but I'm always glad to wake up in the morning. It doesn't depress me. I'm never depressed. My basic nervous system is filled with this optimism. It's mad, I know, because it's optimism about nothing. I think of life as meaningless and yet it excites me. I always think something marvelous is about to happen.”<br /><br />That is one way of living the gospel of beauty; doubtless there are many others. Again, it is hard to describe the gospel of beauty, because it seems to contain just about everything–all members of the set of reality—the milky way, little babies’ eyes, a butterfly’s proboscis, tears, cracked teacups, crooked teeth, wrinkled skin, sexy curves of fat people, duct-taped shoes, a bum who talks to your kid about Santie Claus, teenagers that cry in public, weeds that sprout up in potholes and in vacant parking lots—all manners of seemingly beautiful and ugly that can be appreciated for the uniqueness they provide to enrich our lives in the presence of never-ending awe of the immensity of what is (the wabi-sabi manifesto!).<br /><br />There is an art of appreciation that comes along with the ability to recognize beauty when your eye rests upon it. If I see weeds reclaiming a parking lot, I don’t tut-tut the downfall of civilization, our bankrupt economy, and the lack of eternal infinite progress. Instead, I welcome the beauty weeds provide, knowing they are helping break down the pavement, to create soil full of nutrients, and return the vibrancy of life to that deserted place. If I am dumped by my boyfriend, I relinquish my longing, and remember that I am a strong person, complete in and of myself while at the same time feel firmly supported by those in my community of friends. Going through hard times is what gives us our strength, and at some point, we may find we are a fountain overflowing. Many times, our struggles become a turning point in our lives when we realize the blessings in disguise.<br /><br />The shaman Bear Heart said, “Whatever we do in life starts with us. To be replenished, we need to keep emptying our selves to receive more. In that way, we become vessels, holding up one hand to receive the blessings and then opening up the other hand so that we become channels, letting those blessings flow into the lives of others.”<br /><br />It does not seem to matter if a situation can be labeled good or bad; the art of appreciation is an attitude taken to cope, adapt, and thrive in the realm of chaos, which orders our everyday lives. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read about is a Jewish woman who found herself in a pit, holding her grandson as soldiers took aim. She looked the baby in the eyes and cooed and smiled. I don’t know if this story is true or not, but I cannot imagine a more beautiful moment in the existence of humanity as her gesture of love.<br /><br />Growing up in America, the art of appreciation is generally not part of our shared culture, with many exceptions, of course. I grew up in often-violent poverty in an atmosphere of ignorance, alcoholism, and fundamentalism. I think the deprivation of normalcy (whatever that is!) has enabled me to wholly appreciate the good in my life now. I live a life full of blessings. Whatever I need seems to find me without worry on my part. And I appreciate it all, especially the people and the interactions we have. I find my outlook on life mirroring Francis Bacon’s: life is sweet, and I savor each mouthful. Whatever happens, things will be all right. No matter what happens in my life, I will find the truth of beauty in the reflection of each particle of this holographic universe. The gods will always smile on me, and I will see the fruits of each blessing. I will continue to reside in paradise. <br /><br />The shaman Bear Heart said: “The power of love—if that love is sincere and true—is the only force that can melt the human heart. Love repairs and heals; it comes from forgiveness being channeled into the lives of other people, making them feel their worth and stimulating their potential. Love is expandable. It can encompass this whole universe. It can heal.”sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-68558653227640072592010-02-25T16:27:00.001-06:002010-02-25T16:29:24.930-06:00francis bacon said it all<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/S4b5shYPEwI/AAAAAAAAASg/lc1u7SoFTEE/s1600-h/1flower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/S4b5shYPEwI/AAAAAAAAASg/lc1u7SoFTEE/s320/1flower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442311742993404674" border="0" /></a>There it is. I don't believe in anything, but I'm always glad to wake up in the morning. It doesn't depress me. I'm never depressed. My basic nervous system is filled with this optimism. It's mad, I know, because it's optimism about nothing. I think of life as meaningless and yet it excites me. I always think something marvelous is about to happen.<p><br /></p><p> </p>sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-66393068612404099682010-02-23T19:40:00.001-06:002010-02-23T19:41:44.162-06:00how much water under how many bridges?It's been a long time, and to catch up would take an even longer time. So, I'm just going to plunge into what's going on in the present. I just wanted to point out a site I've been writing for, for a wee while. It's called <a href="http://newoldtraditions.com/">these new old traditions</a>. I recently wrote about <a href="http://newoldtraditions.com/2010/02/23/my-wabi-sabi-life/">my wabi sabi life</a>. Here's the first part:<br /><br />Wabi-sabi is a Japanese term that does not translate well to English, but using a thousand words, perhaps we shall begin to understand. Wabi originally referred to the loneliness of living in nature, but now reflects a meaning more of rustic simplicity, freshness, or quietness. Wabi also refers to the quirks and imperfections that arise during the creation process. Sabi refers to the beauty which comes into being as something ages. According to wikipedia, “if an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi.” Also, wabi-sabi “nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.”<br /><br />You can read more about wabi sabi in operation in Springfield especially. <br /><br />I've recently been infused with divine RRRRAAWWWWRRRR!!!!! I think it is because spring is nearly here, or possibly, I'm just crazy. I got my seed order done today, and finally, FINALLY, found a 3-prong adapter so my grow lights can be powered by coal. Cabbage and broccoli sprouts, here we go. I'm re-learning how to prune as well.<br /><br />Life is pretty sweet in Springfield, having many friends who moved into the neighborhood, all with an eye for community, beauty, gardening, all that good stuff. <br /><br />sharqisharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-88828779114053067232009-12-24T07:32:00.001-06:002009-12-24T07:35:51.623-06:00breakdown breakthrough 2010 tarot forecast passionately infused with a kiss of pronoia“At the heart of the pronoiac way of life is an apparent conundrum: you can have anything you want if you’ll just ask it in an unselfish way. The trick to making this work is to locate where your deepest ambition coincides with the greatest gift you have to give. Figure out exactly how the universe, by providing you with abundance, can improve the lot of everyone whose life you touch. Seek the fulfillment of your fondest desires in such a way that you become a fount of blessings.” –Rob Brezsny, author of Pronoia<br /><br />I feel like a banker in the economy of the community–taking inner wealth, making it visible, and sharing it with others. There is so much! There is so much to be thankful for! There are so many blessings! No matter how terrifying our unknown future presents itself, we must not forget that the holy spirit (the homo plasmate, for all you PKD fans), has not abandoned us. It is inside us. Jesus, son of man that he was, said the kingdom of god is to be found not in heaven, but within us. We have it in ourselves to realize the garden of eden beneath our feet, to spit out the original sin. We thought we were getting a taste of the knowledge of good and evil, but that is for the gods alone. So, have we learned our lesson yet? We can sneak into the garden, through the back door, where angels with fiery swords do not deter us. The symbols, signs, and stories–they’ve all been given to us. Making any sense of them is the hard part.<br /><br />We are in fact living through the apocalypse right now. It’s a slow crash. You wouldn’t even notice if you weren’t paying attention, as usually these happenings are invisible. The ice cap melting–well, now, that’s a bit more in our faces, eh? Even with the silly repetitive blather about global warming, our blind spot is becoming obvious. The media-glorified spectacle of our culture may be able to distract some, but ever increasing numbers of us are waking up out of the trance of the cave of treasures, becoming cognizant of the bars of the black iron prison, wondering where are the keys to our gilded cages. There’s good news and bad news: there are no keys, and it is up to us to forge our own.<br /><br />The apocalypse (from Greek, to uncover) is as much about rebirth as it is about collapse. It’s damn hard to convince the nightly news of that, though. They enjoy telling us about murders, bombings, punishments; fear sells way more crap than telling us about people in blighted areas tilling under our yards, sharing seeds and produce, and forging community in abundance. For certainly, the primary way we experience apocalypse is through the intimacy of our daily lives. Ideas like abundance, chaos, beauty, community, love, passion, care–these are real things that exist, as long as we believe in them and enact the stories behind them in the background of our daily lives. These are the things that matter, and they don’t cost money. You do not have to enslave yourself to get them, nor shop at Wal-Mart. <br /><br />It’s exciting, isn’t it? We realize we have in ourselves the power to shape the humanity of the future. We realize we don’t need to trust someone else to take care of it for us. It doesn’t need to wait until the next president takes office, or even until tomorrow. As Thom Yorke says, “No more talk about the good old days. It’s time for something great.” It’s exciting to see the paradigm shift taking place before our eyes, in the fabric of our daily lives, and to look around at all the other robots, waking up out of their trances, realizing our minds, bodies, and souls are drawn into the process of figuring out the answers for ourselves. It’s not that we follow one answer or another, it’s that we think!<br /><br />During this time, we will instinctively be drawn towards that which encourages blossoming and abundance, and away from that which is of no help. Our ideas and inspirations come from our direct personal experiences. We are becoming what we are becoming. This dangerous and unknown future is being lit from within in our process of healing and renewal. We hear the call within ourselves that wakes us. We arise and begin a future of doing something different than age-old destructive civilization. As brief love affairs become distant memories, so too do the memories of full-time employment, health care benefits, and retirement packages. Into our lives waltz joys of deep human relationships, care for each other, and sharing wealth and scarcity, the joy and the sorrow. It is raw. It undeniably can hurt. But the joy of life shared in community is unmatched. <br /><br />“If you’re really listening, if you’re awake to the poignant beauty of the world, your heart breaks regularly. In fact, your heart is made to break; its purpose is to burst open again and again so that it can hold ever-more wonders.” –Andrew Harvey<br /><br />We have indeed passed through an arid stretch of our journey, but now, through the process of rebirth, we find ourselves in more fruitful surroundings. Times of desperation and inner tension, when recognized, can be some of the most fertile beginnings of our lives. We trust that the destruction of stagnant ideas and ways of life can only set us free, allowing us to assume the innocense of a child, and wander through the garden unhindered. If we allow ourselves to walk in the hands of the gods, we will. <br /><br />“The moment you come to trust chaos, you see god clearly. Chaos is divine order, versus human order. Change is divine order, versus human order. When the chaos becomes safety to you, then you know you’re seeing god clearly.” –Caroline Myss<br /><br />Retreating from fear or pain denies a central part of ourselves. Abundance comes from giving without question. We trust in our perception that the more deeply we are engaged in feeling the spectrum of human emotion, the more comprehensive our insights will be. We can trust in our intuitive nature, our inner voice, and our ability to heal ourselves. We trust in our responsibility to ourselves, the responsibility we have to our community, and the responsibility of our community to us. Introspection allows us to find our way to the fertile oases within, the source of which becomes a fount of our strength, courage, and creativity. The more we accept ourselves and share with others, the clearer our individual and collective vision will be. To transform, we relax and give ourselves up to the dance. To walk in the hands of the gods, we give up our worries and embrace the entirety of human existence, to remember the garden beneath our feet. Anamnesis, the loss of forgetting, is our recollected blessing.<br /><br />Contained within our daily lives is everything we need to remake, rebirth, recreate, realize–REALize–our future as humanity. It’s a challenge, no doubt, but surely one that our giant brains, vivid imaginations, and unending creativity are up for. It’s the greatest challenge of our lives, of the life of humanity as far as we know: turning on a dime, throwing our useless baggage into the gears of the system of destruction and death, and walking away into creation–giving birth to ourselves.<br /><br />The origins of any kind of wealth lie in human consciousness. When we bring these hidden treasures into the world, they manifest in our daily lives. The blessings overflow into our physical, spiritual, and emotional modes of being. We share the blessings, making them ever so valuable and abundant. Giving ourselves up to live this life we all know is possible takes courage–a tremendous amount. We discover this courage deep within ourselves, deep into where we radiate a satisfied sense of self-sufficiency. We draw up our courage and feel it spilling forth as we look around and see the strength in our numbers. Our fears have nothing to do with reality. Wake up and see what is really happening! Wake up! We are already free!<br /><br />Shine the spotlight directly into our blind spot. We become the black swans, the outliers, the butterflies of chaos, the unexpected events that change reality as currently perceived. Let the power of your inspiration liberate you from the bonds of your conditioning. Let the apparently impossible manifest itself in marvelous ways in our daily lives. In the course of human existence, we trust in our own energy and move with it. We give birth to ourselves, as do stars, which reflect every fractalized cell in our bodies. We have boundless potential. We face insurmountable opportunities.<br /><br />We have attracted to ourselves everyone who is a part of our lives. We have created and participated in every situation in our lives. Indeed, we create our own reality. The wealth we hold in our hands is ours to do with as we choose. It is our freedom and our responsibility. What a blessing to find ourselves endlessly wealthy in the things that matter.<br /><br />[poem]<br /><br />I mirror the universe–<br />a constant state of flux<br />to maintain some sort of<br />chaotic balanced order<br />so complex it cannot be perceived<br />and then, I explode, collapse<br />grow and expand<br />turn inward and get to know myself<br />an endless spiral of growth and decay<br />being reborn again and again<br /><br />[end]<br /><br />There is infinite abundance born from the dust of a decaying star, the love and strength and beauty flowing through us remind us of this. Everything unfolds at the proper time when we relax and trust in life. There is no fear or danger when we let go. Having given birth to our own souls, it becomes ever easier to support others doing so. We crawl out of our collective exoskeleton that no longer fits, and we follow our hearts as they push forth in search of beauty. The untrodden path beckons us to behold a new life waiting to be lived.<br /><br />“Learning is finding out what you already know. Action is showing you know. Teaching is letting others know that they know it as well as you.”<br /><br />–end–<br /><br /><br />Many thanks to Robert Brezsny for his book Pronoia and to Gerd Ziegler for his book Tarot, Mirror of the Soul. These two books have had a tremendous impact in my continuous breakdown breakthrough of the last six months. Also many thanks go to my community, for reminding me of my strength and courage when I forget.sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-17006012785293294672009-12-18T19:39:00.003-06:002009-12-18T19:45:10.959-06:00pronoia: the universe is conspiring to shower you with blessingsI am reading this fantastic book, Pronoia, by Robert Brezsny. An updated version came out, and I highly recommend taking a look if you can get your hands on a copy. I LOVE this statement:<br /><br />"At the heart of the pronoiac way of life is an apparent conundrum: you can have anything you want if you'll just ask it in an unselfish way. The trick to making this work is to locate where your deepest ambition coincides with the greatest gift you have to give. Figure out exactly how the universe, by providing you with abundance, can improve the lot of everyone whose life you touch. Seek the fulfillment of your fondest desires in such a way that you become a fount of blessings."<br /><br />I think this is how one walks in the hands of the gods. I really feel this is an accurate description of how I live my life on a daily basis. I'm so blessed! So blessed! I have everything I could need, and I am satisfied. What more can I ask for, than to share my abundance with those in my life? A fount of blessings. I'm glad have courage.<br /><br />careysharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-5490213994480699622009-12-15T21:21:00.002-06:002009-12-15T21:23:47.898-06:00well, pyramid workers, what shall we do?planting seeds of paradise<br />weeds, herbs, sustenance<br />relationships, community<br />wealthy in time and company<br />abundant in just enough<br />remembering ourselves as indigenous<br />belonging to this place<br />part of all that is sacred<br />alive, sentient<br />spitting out the fruit of the tree<br />of the knowledge of good and evil<br />and returning to the tree of life<br />to sustain us<br /><br />this is today<br />where it all begins.sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-46788919473567803272009-12-14T22:16:00.003-06:002009-12-14T22:55:37.088-06:00the sky is fallingI know this may come as a big surprise to you, but an ice cap is melting. Global warming yay or nay, but...an <span style="font-style: italic;">ice cap</span> is melting. Instead of global warming, let's call it climate change. No matter what the data and the politicians and the news media say, we have eyes that can see, don't we?<br /><br />Nowadays, anytime you open a newspaper, you can read a story of the slow ecological crash. Today's story is an update about the Arctic being ice free. A mere 8 months ago, scientists expected to have to start worrying about the ice cap melting in 2030. But today, we're down to an estimate of 2014, and what do you bet that'll be reconsidered when the latest models come in.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/2009/stroeve.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 468px;" src="http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/2009/stroeve.png" alt="" border="0" /></a> <br />Gotta love this graphic of sea ice predictions. The red line is actual observed sea ice, which makes the models laughable. This kind of thing should make clear the limitations of science and the knowledge of humanity. As big as our brains are, they are overwhelmed by the complexity of the order of the natural world (being...chaos!). We don't seem to grasp the volumes of what we do not know.<br /><br />Ever hear of the <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1398">Arctic Dipole</a>? That was yesterday's news. Interesting stuff. I wonder what tomorrow's sky is falling/slow crash keeps on news is going to be.<br /><br />In my life as a learning person, I've sought out a lot of generalized basic skills, from foraging to sewing, raising food to making bread--anything that interested me, usually focusing on low-tech, low-cost methods of making a living instead of making a dying. It's crazy reading books from the 70's. I feel like many of these authors were my contemporaries. We're interested in the same issues and lifestyles. I'm just amazed that I never even heard about any of this stuff until the last few years. It seems like keeping our habitat a viable living space would be one of our foremost concerns as a thinking and doing culture.<br /><br />Honestly, though, I think a good many citizens are brainwashed. Whatever and however, many people go through life, distracting themselves by whatever means possible. It's almost like they're robots, because they don't have the capability of saying no. It doesn't even occur to them. It seems like consumer culture has become the global religion, with its god Mammon firmly in place on top of the money-backed hierarchy. Mammon's temples have quick checkout lines for your convenience! There's something about the abstraction of money, something one trades her life for, and the abstraction of stuff, supposedly valued and of value, and these damn screens that keep us occupied, for our every last moment.<br /><br />Of course, not growing up in a culture of understanding, of having to figure out a way that we can live in a manner that suits us without destroying the foundation of our planet's vital processes, is challenging to say the least. It's a lot of hit and miss, following interests and intuitions, observing feedback and putting plan b in the loop of chaos and seeing what happens. <br /><br />Fortunately, I feel at some point I stumbled into a positive feedback loop with community at the core. I honestly feel like I walk in the hands of the gods every day. Whatever I need comes to me, in random blessings from others. I do spend a lot of my time and energy in returning these blessings to those I can, but giving and receiving are flip sides of the same coin. It's awesome either way. It is how to have power with instead of power over those in our communities, whether you're talking about a close-knit group of friends you potluck with, or you're talking about the flora and fauna of your habitat. <br /><br />I feel so very blessed. I don't know how I came to rest at this place, but I am here. I tell you, it looks and feels awfully similar to the garden of eden in my mind's eye. I feel this is a key to the problems we as a global community have right now. There's absolutely no government that can get us out of this, no movement that can stop it, no hope in some wonderful new technology to be our pop-up savior. We have effed up, royally. We can take responsibility for it, talk and think about it, and do SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different outcome is silly. <br /><br />Part of this is each of us taking responsibility for our own selves, our actions that either consciously support the living processes of our planet or consciously support the Mammon pavement machine. I mean, we are consciously acting, right? I think a lot of people realize that things are messed up, even if they don't have a clue what to do about it. No president seems capable of righting wrongs, only doing complete evil. <br /><br />We the people have our power back again. We have the power to ask ourselves questions that matter, and to talk to each other about what's for real. What do we value, and how do we support that? How do we live without destroying the ecosystem? How do we share knowledge and skills in a world that demands payment for either? We can create myths and legends that contain meaning, and name every living thing that surrounds us and teach it to our children--on and on, with different questions and answers for each of us. There's so much we can do that does not support empire. There's so much we can do that supports life. We have a choice. We just have to enact it.<br /><br />Yeah, so what, the sky is falling. It won't be the first time. We pick up the pieces and move on. We cope, we adapt, we create, we change, we pass along what we've learned. This is human culture. We love a challenge.sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-62667816625378587272009-12-10T10:21:00.003-06:002009-12-10T10:42:51.927-06:00meat, woodstove cooking, and presentmas<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgMmnOk7I/AAAAAAAAASA/OXTu_PElh3k/s1600-h/butchering.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgMmnOk7I/AAAAAAAAASA/OXTu_PElh3k/s320/butchering.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413643627971646386" border="0" /></a>Yum. My neighbor brought over a deer leg for me. As squeamish as I can be with bodily secretions, I seem to have no problem butchering meat. A deer leg has a surprising amount of meat on it. Thanks go to Patrick for butchering tips. In the woodstove picture, in front is the deer chili I made, with the heirloom garden tomatoes I canned this summer, and fresh onions and chard from the garden, and some garlic harvested earlier this year. I made it as spicy hot as <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgNvCINuI/AAAAAAAAASY/oZE-OwaZQek/s1600-h/woodstove+cooking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgNvCINuI/AAAAAAAAASY/oZE-OwaZQek/s320/woodstove+cooking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413643647411828450" border="0" /></a>I can stand it, and it is delicious. In the pot on the back of the woodstove is simmering deer bones and trimmings, making some of the most delicious fatty deer broth imaginable. Five quarts of venison chili and seven quarts of slow- and long-cooked venison broth set me up for an enjoyable winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgNH-vD3I/AAAAAAAAASQ/2XAMkjtVlBY/s1600-h/spidah+web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgNH-vD3I/AAAAAAAAASQ/2XAMkjtVlBY/s320/spidah+web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413643636928614258" border="0" /></a>Here's a picture of a spider, making a home in the rosemary plant I brought in from outside. I am hopeful it will keep the spider mite population down this winter. I only noticed the web because I was spraying water on my plants to pamper them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgM5IS1WI/AAAAAAAAASI/u_ZJYp8izRo/s1600-h/k.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbdNvvl_Z88/SyEgM5IS1WI/AAAAAAAAASI/u_ZJYp8izRo/s320/k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413643632942175586" border="0" /></a>It's been brrrr cold and super windy. The woodstove is keeping up, somewhat, but it's been chilly in the house, especially in the mornings when we first get up. My bedroom is about 45 in the mornings, and the house has been around 55. It doesn't take too long to warm up, but today the sunny living room is where we're at. We're taking the day off gymnastics and music class, not interested in waiting in the cold for the bus. Kaleigh's finishing up reading some library books, and we've been wrapping Christmas presents and making Christmas plans--or Presentmas, as Kaleigh likes to call it, being most UNinterested in God and Christ.<br /><br />I personally am looking forward to being toasty warm sharing a jacuzzi suite tomorrow! Merry Christmas!!sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-87286820130892154322009-12-08T21:11:00.001-06:002009-12-08T21:11:42.500-06:00ernest hemingway sings the bluesThe age demanded that we sing<br /><div id="container_container"><table id="container" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><div id="main"><div class="poembody" id="content"> And cut away our tongue.<br /><br />The age demanded that we flow<br />And hammered in the bung.<br /><br />The age demanded that we dance<br />And jammed us into iron pants.<br /><br />And in the end the age was handed<br />The sort of shit that it demanded. </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-67735477938034319852009-12-07T22:22:00.003-06:002009-12-08T08:10:14.271-06:00i am breathing oxygen because i am on fireand sometimes you might feel<br />as though you've been taken captive<br />by lunatics and that's cuz you have.<br /><br />upon realization of said quandary,<br />fasten your seat belts,<br />and take off, blast off.<br /><br />in inner and outer space<br />you may find yourself in a<br />better position to think,<br /><br />removed from the<br />dust-attracting qualities<br />of every day life.<br /><br />it just might happen.sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-14119109093459753452009-11-27T17:53:00.002-06:002009-11-27T17:54:46.003-06:00living without moneyMy thanks to my friend <a href="http://ranprieur.com/">Ran</a> for passing on this great story of a woman who lives without money.<br /><a href="http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article6928744.ece"><br />http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article6928744.ece</a><br /><br />careysharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-47339175365310997152009-11-25T11:50:00.002-06:002009-11-25T12:36:28.976-06:00dropping out and dropping inPer Lesa's request, I'll type up some more on dropping out and dropping in. Ten years ago, I was a professional employee, complete with suit, health insurance, regular shopping trips, car, salary, and ever-increasing debt. I did NOT enjoy the middle-class life in the least, but felt trapped. I mean, I couldn't just quit my hated job, could I? How on earth, in the free-est country in the world, did I manage to enslave myself?!<br /><br />I was blessed to have Michael Fogler's book Unjobbing: The Adult Liberation Handbook cross my path. After reading it, I realized that with all the expenses I had from work, and all the time commitments as well, I was making chump change--and this was the "best" job I ever had! Fortunately, our at-the-time foster daughter arrived, and although I had planned on working from home, that did not work out. I quit my job and became a stay at home mom. Between diapers, spitting up, and learning to walk, somehow I found my way to paradise.<br /><br />We consolidated our debt and focused on paying it off. We bought a small inexpensive house, and made extra principle payments to pay it off quicker. We kept track of where every last cent we spent went, and were appalled. We changed our behavior accordingly, shopping at 2nd hand stores and asking around for anything we needed. We grew some of our own food, and dumpster dived. The car died and was not replaced, except by bikes and a bus map. We stopped paying for entertainment, got rid of the tv, and made good friends instead.<br /><br />It turns out, friends, aka community, is where it's at for me. I stopped focusing on the money economy, where scarcity rules, and started focusing on the abundance in my life, mainly human relationships. It turns out community can provide anything and everything I need, and it does, without bureaucracy, paperwork, and undignified subordination. <br /><br />Sure, I still have a part-time job that pays the bills, but my bills are miniscule compared to most. I rarely shop, and if I do, it's usually for 2nd hand items, having replaced most of my "disposable" consumer goods with the real deal (hankies, cloth napkins, etc.). The waste stream in America offers plenty to choose from, as does the friend network (friendcycle). I don't know if I have amazing karma or what, but whatever I need seems to find me. I live in the hands of the gods, as do the lilies of the field, and I am cared for, without a doubt. <br /><br />So when I blow my nose into what used to be my t-shirt, I don't feel any sort of hardship, just relief that I didn't have to take a bus to the store and trade my life's energy for what used to be a tree, that I'm just going to throw away anyway. When I grow my own food, I don't worry about the labor it takes to plant and harvest, I think about the good medicine entering my body, keeping me healthy. When I hang out with my friends, listening to the deafening roar of crickets punctuated by our laughter, the thought of what movie is opening this weekend doesn't even cross my mind. When I get to spend each day with my child, watching her grow and learn, I feel so blessed. There's no money in the world I would trade for these experiences.<br /><br />There's dropping out of the money economy, and then there's dropping into the community economy. I've been told by people they admire me, or respect me, for my "sacrifice", but really I do it for selfish reasons. Living in a community, living in the hands of the gods--it just feels right, and it makes me happy. It's a life worth living, full of meaning. I am wealthy beyond compare. I turn my eye to look for beauty instead of despair, and amazingly, beauty is everywhere I look. I have no doubt I live in the garden, in paradise.<br /><br />careysharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-71485009972661524732009-11-15T17:13:00.001-06:002009-11-15T17:13:48.912-06:00dropping outThe more I drop out of the money economy, the more I drop into community, the more awesome life gets. It doesn't matter if you take it fast or slow, follow your heart or your brain, how much you work, or whether you stay put or travel around for mental and physical stimulation. If it doesn't feel good, don't do it. Ask yourself, if you weren't a slave or living up to someone else's expectations, what would you be doing with your life right now?<br /><br />When you get to that point of doing exactly what you want for most of your hours, you may find yourself in some sort of paradise. It's not to say that life is sparkling and happy face all the time, but it's real and immediate, rich with experience, and if you can figure it out, rich with human relationships. I live in the hands of the gods in the world of community, and they treat me well. Yeah, I live in utter poverty in the world of money, but I tell ya, I wouldn't trade it for anything.<br /><br />careysharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-25016452404614554372009-11-11T07:43:00.001-06:002009-11-11T07:45:58.464-06:00poetry<p class="poem" align="left"><span class="poem"><b>the great escape</b></span></p> <p class="poem">listen, he said, you ever seen a bunch of crabs in a bucket?<br /> no, I told him.<br /> well, what happens is that now and then one crab<br /> will climb up on top of the others<br /> and begin to climb toward the top of the bucket,<br /> then, just as he's about to escape<br /> another crab grabs him and pulls him back down.<br /> really? I asked.<br /> really, he said, and this job is just like that, none<br /> of the others want anybody to get out of<br /> here. that's just the way it is in the postal service!<br /> I believe you, I said.</p> <p class="poem">just then the supervisor walked up and said,<br /> you fellows were talking.<br /> there is no talking allowed on this job.</p> <p class="poem">I had been there for eleven and one-half years.</p> <p class="poem">I got up off my stool and climbed right up the supervisor<br /> and then I reached up and pulled myself right out of there.</p> <p class="poem">it was so easy it was unbelievable.<br /> but none of the others followed me.</p> <p class="poem">and after that, whenever I had crab legs<br /> I thought about that place.<br /> I must have thought about that place maybe 5 or 6 times</p> <span class="poem">before I switched to lobster.<br /><br />---------<br /><br />I've been reading a lot of poetry by Charles Bukowski. Reading his work is like a sucker punch to the heart. It's great proletariat poetry--sad, dark, bitter, raw, stark, and often pleasurable. I'm glad I finally have had the bukowski experience.<br /><br />carey<br /></span>sharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442300152457345027.post-17186702120097369592009-10-31T09:20:00.002-05:002009-10-31T09:34:03.526-05:00what's newPer Lesa's request, I'm posting!<br /><br />Of course, there have been a lot of changes going on. Don and roommate Joe are getting settled into their house a few blocks away. Don is working a temp job, doing data entry, and going on a Halloween date tonight (hope he doesn't mind me updating him for this blog!).<br /><br />Kaleigh is getting settled into the fall routine of classes: art, swimming, gymnastics, and music, plus an unschooling/knitting playdate, plus any other extracurriculars pop up. In other words, we spend a lot of time socializing--too much for my homebody self, but not enough for superextrovert Kaleigh. Anytime at home, Kaleigh's been reading furiously. She's had a few days of laying on the couch in utter exhaustion, where she's plowed through 5 or 6 novels. <br /><br />My mind has felt unfocused, and I have to remind myself to not be too hard on myself about it. It's okay to sit around and do nothing, but it's a lot easier for me to do that in a clean house with everything on my to do list crossed off. Type A!! Most recently, I cleaned everything out of my bedroom and painted it. Since I got the furniture put back into place, my insomnia has disappeared. I'm sure it's all symbolic and placebo, but I'm very thankful to be sleeping every night once again.<br /><br />I've been dating a guy from Normal of all places. I have enjoyed hanging out and getting to know him. We seem to have a pair of fairly compatible personalities. So, we're taking it slowly and enjoying all the niceness and newness of our relationship, and hanging out online a lot, which seems necessary with the hour plus distance separating us. However it works, yes?<br /><br />I'm not looking forward to the holidaze coming. I just don't care anymore, and I seem unable to acquire any sort of enthusiasm. Oh well! I've done a lot in past years, so it all averages out.<br /><br />Knitting has become my regular past time, what with Kaleigh's activities taking me out of the house, and needing to rely on a portable hobby. I've been knitting fingerless gloves, and I seem to be able to do a pair a week. I got an order for a pair for Christmas, which is awesome. I keep feeling like once I get "enough" to stock a place, I'll take them in and see if I can peddle them, but honestly, they'll probably all go to Christmas presents, and that's okay too.<br /><br />The last month has also been big in preserving garden flow. I finished canning the tomatoes and green tomatoes. There's not much in the garden now except onions and chard. I've collected raspberry, strawberry, and peach tree leaves, as well as mint and the herbs I have, parsley, oregano, basil, and sage. My kitchen looked like a jungle for a bit, there. I'm slooowwwwllllyyyy getting caught up. I still need to jar up mass quantities of kraut, for instance. Last weekend, we enjoyed some passion fruits we found in an alley. They were sooo good. We saved the seeds, and the cutting I got earlier this year is still showing signs of life.<br /><br />So, there's the update on life at the little house! Lots going on, but nothing that seems extremely important, as usual!<br /><br />careysharqihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946168340402981902noreply@blogger.com0