This past weekend in Sedona, Arizona, two people died and several others were hospitalized after taking part in a sweat lodge led by self-help guru, James Arthur Ray. Adding to the irony of the situation, the retreat was located in Angel Valley. Ray, developer of The Science of Success and Harmonic Wealth® and a contributor to the best-selling book and video “The Secret,” is touted on The Secret’s website as “an expert on many eastern, indigenous, and mystical traditions.” Charging thousands ... Read Full Story

I wanted cats. The cats keep coming.  I took in Mr. Darcy in from a lady overrun with cats, and he’s a good fit. He’s made the place his own. Comes and goes as he pleases. The people who live in my downstairs house allowed their cat to have kittens, in spite of offers from others to get her spayed. In a town overrun with feral cats, it’s no surprise they can’t find homes for them. Seven kittens now scamper around the rocks and sit outside my door. Naturally, I feed the... Read Full Story

I’ve decided to delete some old posts so today I’m adding something new. I’ve always loved the sound of the wind. I’ve always loved the way it makes me feel. Today as I sit in my study, I feel at peace with myself and the world. I’ve been spending several months now in AA and am learning a lot. There’s something about listening to people be honest with themselves. Something happens. It’s not a place for everyone, but it is a place for me right now. I ... Read Full Story

It’s that time of year when hot dry winds blow across the mountains. Helicopters are circling overhead day and night watching for smoke. Wildfires are flaring up. A few days ago, one burned on a neighboring mountain. Smoke filled the air. Meg, the chocolate lab who lives downstairs howled all night. My dog curled up and watched with mournful eyes. Mr. Darcy, the cat remained aloof. Last week driving home from Reno a fire raged behind Hallelujah Junction. They are posted on the news. The... Read Full Story

I celebrated my birthday today without wine, without any substance of any kind unless chocolate truffles from Trader Joes count. Instead I woke up and meditated. Drank some coffee and went to Chester a tiny town in the mountains. Mt. Lassen hovers over it. In the evening my new friends Joelle and Carol took me out for drinks (iced tea in my case). I wish I were the sort of person who could drink wine. I so love it, but I’m pretty sure, no really sure, that I can’t. Something in my... Read Full Story

I’m ready to become who I am instead of worrying about who I’m not. I’m no longer a mother with children in the house, but I’m still a mother. I’ll always be one and my relationship with my children will continue to grow. I’m no longer a wife and while it broke my heart to walk away from that role I had to make a choice to live a life where I wasn’t growing or create a new one for myself. I don’t regret it. I’m still grieving the loss of t... Read Full Story

My first instincts are often the right ones. It’s only when we stop and question that we lose sight of our feelings and our feelings generally don’t lie. You can learn to look closely, to read people, but be careful that it’s objective. It’s so easy to slap our own interpretation on things when we don’t honestly know another person’s soul. And we certainly can’t know what’s best for someone else. Slovenly habits quite often indicate a slovenly m... Read Full Story

Ever since coming back to the land I’ve been wondering what happened to the quail. They used to be everywhere. In the morning they covered the rocks. They waddled down the driveway like little old ladies with feathered plumes on their heads. At this time of year the babies would be scurrying around them. Everything looking confused, but as long as they were together they knew what they were doing. They moved as a mass. I hardly seem them anymore. They’re disappearing. The foxes a... Read Full Story

Last night the sky was the most amazing deep purple. Shreds of clouds blew across a full moon. I drove home from Reno and realized how long it’s been since I’ve listened to God. But lately, the voice has been creeping in. Now and then. I went to a two hour meditation at the Buddhist church in downtown Reno. A small group, but there’s power in meditating with others. I do like to be around people. Maybe people reinforcing my world view helped end my marriage, but I don’... Read Full Story

Today I woke up and felt alive in a way I haven’t for a years. I feel ready to move a head and move on. My thoughts, my conversation no longer needs to include the past. Life is a peaceful thing today, maybe not everyday, but for now, it feels good. Everything that has happened has brought me here, the exact place I need to be. No regrets. No sadness. Freedom. Maybe I needed to come back to the world. I suppose I did exist in the world of my marriage and for a long time it was a good wo... Read Full Story