Mystical Mondays: Admiration, All Things, Results

Translations by Daniel Ladinsky

GOD'S ADMIRATION

God's Admiration for us is infinitely greater

than anything we can conjure up

for Him.

St. Francis of Assisi

IN ALL THINGS

It was easy to love God in all that

was beautiful.

The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me

to embrace God in all

things.

St. Francis of Assisi

  THE RESULT OF PRAYER

The result of prayer is life.

Prayer irrigates the

earth and

heart.

St. Francis of Assisi

Lenten Practice, bringing the Jesuit Center Home

check out the time

doing what I do there, Wernersville that is...

1.  Turn on the i Pod and go to tune 21, then stretch out and listen to music and breathe.

2.  Draw cards.  I have a history of drawing many cards while at the Jesuit Center.  Now I am 21-ing people at work.  I printed out a copy of the school's phone directory and while I did choose the first person to get a card, but then I counted 21 names and drew the next card, then again, then again.  When I reach 21, I may be staring at a name that brings on a variety of reactions, but that is part of the exercise.  The 21 gets a card.  I sign the card, then write hope and peace on the envelope and stick it in their mail slot.

March is going to be crazed.  An on-line class on teaching physics has begun and will end the first week of April.  Three craft shows in four weeks.  And there is that ever present day job as a teacher.  So can I afford to listen to jazz with God and to step into the studio and not work on a commission or a piece for a show?  The bigger question is,  what if I said I didn't have time for these things?

so the question from God becomes, Shall We Tango?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Words: Collaborations with Margaret Almon

Welcome Sign in Blue and Violet by Nutmeg Designs

Hope Spiral in Spring Green and Blue by Nutmeg Designs

Imagine Mosaic by Nutmeg Designs

Joy Mandala by Nutmeg Designs

Mystical Monday: Saint Francis connects me to Joni Mitchell

Translations by Daniel Ladinsky

WILD FORCES

There are beautiful wild forces within us.

Let them turn the mills inside

and fill

sacks

that feed even

heaven.

St. Francis of Assisi

I am enjoying the evening ventures into the love poems sent from God through St Francis.  As a Pennsylvania German I was not trained in running wild with forces that reside within me.  There have been moments though.  

And in my studio when a new design emerges, does God feed on the bread of life.  If this is the case, I am a happy man.

May your forces find outlets so we can turn giant stones that grind our talents, not into dust, but into flour.

peace and hope

and what come to my mind as I sit here, this Joni Mitchell tune, not heard in years, which may have planted a seed or two:

Wild Things Run Fast

by Joni Mitchell

He came
She smiled
She thought she had him tamed
But he was just as wild
Eating from her hand at last
Wild things run fast

In the dark
He could see
The trap that was lying in her
Sweet company
Eating from her hand at last
Wild things run fast

Winter beat the pines about
He heard the heater
Cutting in and out
While she dreamed away

In the night
It snowed
Fast tracks in the powder white
Leading out to the road
Winding from her tender grasp
Wild things run fast
Wild things run fast
Wild things run fast

What makes you run?
Wild thing
I thought you loved me

Wordless about Alice Chocolate

Alice Bakery & Confectionary

Alice Bakery & Confectionary

      Alice Bakery and Confectionary

late with mystical, timely with jazz

How I draw light from the heavens...
a simple design,
amazing glass

If I had posted last night....

Like Roots

Our hands imbibe like roots,

so I place them on what is beautiful in this world.

And I fold them in prayer, and they

draw from the heavens 

light.

St Francis of Assisi

feel free to consider where your hands have been today...

and as I am posting on Tuesday....

Bowie unfolds into the Wee Trio

The Wee Trio  ~ Ashes to Ashes
Jazz takes on David Bowie

OK, so I grant that my memory is far from the best, but if it is accurate, one of the first two LP's I bought was by David Bowie.

unfold... while many other LP's were bought by musicians, who fell out of favor, Bowie hung on strong through high school and college.

Unfold... Five months after college I met Mosaic Woman, who was also a big Bowie fan, maybe not as big as her sister, but they both introduced me to gaps in my Bowie collection.

Unfold... years of sharing music and changing taste.  Jazz emerges as our favorite genre eight years ago.

Unfold... Two years ago I went to a convention of science teachers and a buddy of mine from work went as well.  We decided to linger in the big city one evening to hear some jazz, and that is how I heard of the Wee Trio, because they were playing at Chris's Jazz Cafe that evening.

Unfold... A year ago we heard about Kickstarter and started supporting jazz musicians, who were searching public support.  The Wee Trio was there one night when I was seeking for a new project.  They wanted to be funded to bring Bowie to jazz.  We leapt in.

Unfold... Two months ago I see The Wee Trio is coming back to Philly, back to Chris's.

Backup--- A year ago when slashing our budget to make way for Mosaic Woman to quit unemployment/job search and focus on our business, I made a new line item: 

After we subtracted the following from our monthly art sales, if anything was left we would put a portion of the money into a BIG DATE FUND.

1. expenses
2. taxes
3. what was needed to keep a balanced budget 

Unfold... Thursday night we saw the Wee Trio play originals, standards, and of course... Bowie.

Backup--- First I said hello to them.

I am so glad my life unfolds into space and time and jazz and Bowie

Check out :  The Wee Trio     Chris's Jazz Cafe     Kickstarter    Mosaic Woman

Mystical Monday: reminder to keep an open mind

Translations by Daniel Ladinsky

On Saturday Margaret took over the nightly reading, as we switched from Rabia to St Francis of Assisi.  And this is what she read the night before our show reception at Pebble Hill Interfaith Church... 

BECAUSE HE GAVE BIRTH

So

Precious

is a person's faith in God, 

so precious;

never should we harm

that.

Because

He gave birth

to all

religions.

what I learned during silence

The Shadow of Wayne Stratz
Jesuit Retreat Center
Wernersville, PA

"Troublemakers: Since no one really knows anything about God, those who think they do are just troublemakers." -~~~~ Rabia 8th century Sufi woman.


with that said, this is what I learned and/or retaught in 24 hours of silence: 

1. If you are really tired, then God will let you sleep through dinner and then will encourage you to go off grounds to get a meal.
2. God will provide you with prophets who speak of hope and allow you the time to reflect upon your childhood.
3. God will encourage you to draw designs, once you are rested.
4. God will let you see the nature of time and retreats.
5. God will have you listen to your heart and when it aches with some spiritual anxiety over letting go of your annual 8 day retreat, your spiritual director will send you a message:  "God knows what you are letting go of and will find a way to provide what you will miss."
6. God will give you a plan that lifts your spirit and hope to face the future.
7. God digs hanging out with people who listen to jazz.