Got back a week ago from a trip to Portland to study with my teacher, Matt Huish. The work he is doing is amazing. He combines traditional asana with some pretty esoteric energy work, based on opening the energetic channels in the body. Movement is united with mudra in this work, and it is a powerful combination. The tantric element in the practice is also very present, in that the focus is on working with the ‘macro’ in order to work the ‘micro.’ Matt says it best: “Tantra is liberation through expansion. This means that everything within our life is a part of our practice. We practice to liberate all of the 5 elements in our life to realize that earth and heaven are no different. All is the expression of God.”
Matt is now able to initiate others into a tradition of tantric practice called Sri Vidya, so my own tantric practice now takes on a much deeper level. It is exciting to me to bring this work home, both for myself and in my work with my horses.
“When we do allow self-evident truths to percolate past our defenses and into our consciousness, they are treated like so many hand grenades….We try to stay out of harm’s way, afraid they will go off, shatter our delusions, and leave us exposed to what we have done to the world and to ourselves, exposed as the hollow people we have become. And so we avoid these truths…and continue the dance of destruction.” -Derrick Jensen
My friend, Kate, and her husband, Scott, were visiting Portland from Denver, Colorado. We had a lot of fun with them, eating out, meeting up at the Marina Fish House for lunch, and here, at a Beaver’s ballgame. The Beavers played Tacoma and lost 13-5, but we still had a fun time stuffing ourselves with hot dogs and other foods commonly consumed at ball games! It was really great to meet Scott and to see Kate, who was my very best friend for many years and who I hadn’t seen in 18 year!! I was delighted to see that she has gotten older, wiser, and more fully herself, but in her essence, she is the same loving, lovable Katie I always knew! It was so great to see her!
The bakery, not the station! We frequent Grand Central at least three times a week, and this time we brought Mila with us. I love Mila to bits!!! Okay, there are pictures of us too. But Mila!!….
My good friend, Kate, visited from Colorado with her husband, Scott. I haven’t seen Kate for about 18 years! Since I lived in Manhattan. She and I were best friends when I lived in Englewood and then Littleton, Colorado, and we stayed in touch ever since, though lately by email. It was great fun to see her again. The picture above was taken by a very nice sheriff patrol man who was lashing his patrol boat to the dock.
The picture below was a display of the flag we thought quite impressive. Though I’m not feeling very patriotic these days, I thought it worth a shot!
Today I’m catching up on my blog. This was from Obama’s first trip to Portland, back before anyone knew his name. It was taken September 7, 2007, and John had read his book Audacity of Hope and wanted to see him be president. He predicted back then that Obama would be our candidate. Good prognostication skills, John! Around 3000 people showed up. Maybe a good number for a relative unknown, but nothing like the 100K that attended his most recent rally here in Portland! But at least we were close enough to see him!
Today we are putting our dear friend, Appie, to sleep. I have had her since she was very tiny, able to fit into the palm of my hand. She is very old and very tired and her life has become so narrowed and difficult for her. She tells us with her eyes she would really like it if we would let her go. She had been waiting patiently till we were ready.
Got back a week ago from a trip to Portland to study with my teacher, Matt Huish. The work he is doing is amazing. He combines traditional asana with some pretty esoteric energy work, based on opening the energetic channels in the body. Movement is united with mudra in this work, and it is a powerful combination. The tantric element in the practice is also very present, in that the focus is on working with the ‘macro’ in order to work the ‘micro.’ Matt says it best: “Tantra is liberation through expansion. This means that everything within our life is a part of our practice. We practice to liberate all of the 5 elements in our life to realize that earth and heaven are no different. All is the expression of God.”
