Metafizzics

(More) Happy Talk

Diane Rehm interviewed Daniel Gilbert, author of a very interesting book called Stumbling on Happiness.  Definitely not a self-help book!  Gilbert draws on psychology, cognitive neuroscience, philosophy and behavioral economics to construct a funny/poignant explanation of how and why people are so hapless at making themselves happy. 

On the other hand, the leaders of remote Bhutan decided in 1972 that they could increase the chances that citizens would enjoy happiness--so Bhutan became the first (and so far only) country to institute a national happiness policy.  Find out more at BBC News, where there is not only a pretty slide show, but also an array of links, articles, and nifty videos that explore happiness from various angles.  (Skip the quiz--it's absurd.)

Romancing the Weather

It's still Spring, but . . . sumer is icumen in.  These are the days when weather patterns shift and collide, so the near future takes on a new urgency.  Rain or shine?  Drought or flood?  Stormy or still?

Many of us are also thinking about how our gardens will grow--what to plant and when.  For some inspiration from a different perspective, visit The Sacred Garden, which offers both fascinating lore and a simple plan for a richly symbolic herb garden.

You'll also find a detailed representation of the Yanyuwa calendar--and that could make you wonder about indigenous meteorology.  Then you might ask youself (as I did) . . . why not create a personal weather calendar, from my own knowledge of how the local world behaves . . . ? 

Or perhaps just cultivate a simple poetic awareness, like the 13th century Japanese priest Dogen:

In the spring, cherry blossoms, in the summer the cuckoo.
In autumn the moon, and in winter the snow, clear, cold. 

More feng shui (sort of)

I'd been wondering why--after many years of passing (but not passionate) acquaintance with feng shui--I have recently begun to focus on it much more attentively.  Then I came across this line from the American poet Wallace Stevens:

I am what is around me.

Stevens is a fascinating character, because his ordinary life (as an insurance executive) seems so far removed from his poetic investigations.  His best-known poems, such as "Anecdote of the Jar" and "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" speak to the intersection of imagination and matter.  Read them. 

And visit this lovely weblog: The Tao of Wallace Stevens.

The ONLY thing that--

has ever gotten me to do yoga at home!  Don't miss Shiva Rea's CD collection called The Heart of Yoga.  It combines excellent coaching  and flowing postures with gorgeous music, chanting/meditation, and freeform dance.  Four CDs (a solar set and a lunar set) for a bargain price . . . friendly to beginners, and a nice change for experienced practitioners. 

Visit Rea's website to learn more about her approach.    

Spring shiu

Lately I've been taking feng shui--the Chinese art/science of creating harmonious environments--very seriously.  Never mind whether it is superstition or common sense or just interior design with an extra agenda.  The fact is, it seems to work.

By which I mean . . . once I began thinking about my surroundings in terms of flowing energy, I saw (and corrected) a lot of problems.   At the simplest level, I realized that if your life is already full-to-bursting with old stuff (objects, relationships, beliefs, etc.), there is no room for new stuff.  Life becomes--to use the technical term!--stagnant.

The vernal equinox (aka, first day of Spring) is a splendid time to start clearing away the outmoded, the outworn, the out-of-touch, the never-wanted, and the maybe-useful items that block fresh energy from entering your life.  So explore!

Get information and ideas here.  Buy books here.    

Good news, Ananda!

Insight meditation teacher Sharon Salzburg relates a classic Buddhist teaching story this way: 

The monk Amanda observed:  “It seems to me, oh Lord Buddha, that half of the holy life is having good friends. 

The Buddha replied:  “Not so, Amanda!  In fact, the whole of the holy life is having good friends.”

So what does the Buddha really mean by "good friend"?  Here's my hands-down, all-time favorite commentary on the topic, from assorted sutras via the Burmese Buddhist monk U Jotalankara:

These are the four types that can be seen to be good or true friends.  They are, in order: 1. one who is helpful, 2. one who is the same in happy and unhappy times, 3. one who points out what is good for you, and 4. one who is sympathetic.

1. The first good friend, who is helpful, has four characteristics:  (1) looking for you when you are drunk, (2) looking for your possessions when you are drunk, (3) being a refuge for you when you are in trouble, and (4) letting you have twice what you ask for when some business is to be done.

2. The second good friend, who is the same in happy and unhappy times, has four characteristics:  (1) telling you his secrets, (2) keeping your secrets, (3) not forsaking you when you are in trouble, and (4) sacrificing even his life for you.

3. The third good friend, who points out what is good for you, has four characteristics:  (1) keeping you from wrongdoing, (2) supporting you in doing good, (3) informing you of what you do not know, and (4) pointing out the path to heaven.

4. The fourth good friend, who is sympathetic, has four characteristics:  (1) not rejoicing at your misfortune, (2) rejoicing at your good fortune, (3) stopping others who speak against you, and (4) commending others who speak in praise of you.

"Sacrificing even his life" seems like it might be a bit much--but "looking for your possessions when you are drunk" is the most endearing friend-quality I've ever heard about.  And "pointing out the path to heaven" is not bad either!

The above is just an excerpt, so if you'd like to know yet more about the Buddhist perspective on good and bad friends, read the whole commentary--it's not long.  (Spoiler:  Bad friends are those who among other things take all your stuff, lie to you, and keep you company when "haunting the streets at unfitting times.")

Amarillo Risen Biscuits

Recently rediscovered while slowly progressing through the exploration and disposition of my mother's many possessions:  one well-used copy of a well-loved recipe.  (Click the picture for a closer view of the original, and a quick trip back to the 20th century.) 

Easy to make and really delicious--but you have to start hours ahead of time.

Scald 1 pint milk.  Add 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 cup sugar.  Cool to lukewarm.  Add 1 envelope yeast and dissolve.  Add 1 1/2 cups flour.  Blend.  Cover and let stand one and one-half hours.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder.  Blend into risen dough.

Turn out onto floured board and roll to one-half inch thickness.  Cut into 2" circles.  Place on greased baking sheet.  Let rise another 2 hours.  Bake 12 minutes at 425 degrees.

If you're flirting with the idea of collecting/preserving some of your own family recipes, find wonderful, well-designed supplies (albums, cards, boxes, sleeves, etc.) online at We're Cooking Now!

Taking Names

There's a name on your birth certificate--and whether you like it or not, it's your "real name" for this lifetime because it represents not only your ancestry, but also the way your parent(s) originally imagined you.  Your birth name is not necessarily your only name, though.  If you are exploring your identity, following a spiritual path, marking a life transition, or just feeling rebellious, it may be time to relabel yourself!

If you're interested in changing your name for public purposes, visit the helpful Nolo site to find out how what's involved.  (Less than you'd think, actually.)  But most of us aren't looking for a new identity--just a "rebirth" name, something that tells us who we have become or reminds us of who we wish to be.   

If you need help in finding your true name, visit the The Ya-Ya Name Generator , where "the Mistress of Names, descendant of the Divine Tribes of Ya-Ya" will bestow your Sisterhood name.  (Note:  The generator is case-sensitive, which means that you'll get different names if you do or don't use initial capitals when you put in your birth name.  Based on a very small survey, the Ya-Ya name returned seems more "true" when capitals are used.)  If you haven't a clue what Ya-Ya means, catch up by reading the best-selling book.

Another cool name-finding tool is brought to you by BuddhaMind.  When you get there, choose "your essential name" from near the bottom of the gray panel.  My personal experience was that the name given to me evoked instant recognition.

Curious about why people change their names and what happens then?  For the true story of a chosen name, and how it has taken up a long life of its own, enjoy Cat Yronwode's short autobiography.  Then be sure to browse her wonderful shop/site/school/library luckymojo. 

Finally . . . suppose you want to go beyond name play to an "extreme makeover" of your whole persona.  Well, start by reading the Building Your Brand series for some insightful ideas about using astrology to create your personal "marketing" campaign.  (Posts in this series are reverse-ordered, so scroll down to the bottom and work your way up!)  If you are even more interested in branding and symbolism, don't miss this fascinating book: The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes by Carol S. Pearson.   

Surf the Rainbow, Part 3

Here's a colorful view of food from Carol Bridges, creator of the marvelous Medicine Woman Tarot.  Instead of the outmoded and uninteresting "pyramid" we all grew up with, Bridges suggests we choose our foods from the "rainbow of life-giving substances."  Here is her concept, as described in The Medicine Woman Inner Guidebook:

Violet, Indigo, Blue:  Berries and fruits, growing high off the ground, reaching for Spirit

Green:  Vegetables and weeds of the sea, healing me

Yellow:  Grains, eggs, cheese, butter, and oils, golden gifts of sustenance

Orange:  Carrots, pumpkins, and squash, citrus and melons, rich in the power of life

Red:  Beets, beans, nuts, seeds, basic building blocks of life

Brown:  And if there is a need to ground the self, to stabilize and warm the fragile body, cook the foods in the blessings of fire

Of course, there are lots of ways to break this down further (red strawberries, black beans, purple eggplant, and so on)--and there are also other types of foods that you might want to include in your own rainbow (yellow onions, pink shrimp, and so on).  But most important is the reminder to relate creatively to our food choices, recognizing that they represent the riches of the earth and the gift of nourishment.  We can use our senses to achieve a balanced, healthful diet.

"Keep watching the skies!"

Sci-fi buffs will notice that the title of this post was also the very last line of dialogue in a terrific 50s film, The Thing from Another World.  The point there, of course, was that only public vigilance could prevent hostile aliens (or godless communists) from sneaking up on us. 

But watching the sky is an age-old exercise in wonder that persists today among children of all ages.  Lifting our eyes lifts our spirits, and shifts our attention from the limitations of daily life to the limitless expanses of space. 

Most of us haven't the time, technology, commitment, or distance from ambient light to see the really great stuff.  Luckily, though, you can always get a current summary of what's going on over your head from This Week's Sky at a Glance, an online resource provided by Sky & Telescope.  Occasionally, you'll be alerted to interesting sights that can be seen with the unaided eye--like this week's close encounter of Venus, Saturn and Mercury, visible around twilight.  (Check out these tips for visual observing.)

If you'd like to enjoy telecope viewing without the investment or expertise, see if there are any star parties near you.  But whether you focus on the heavens with your real eyes, or just your mind's eye, it's nice to be reminded that amazing things are going on all around us, as far as the imagination can reach.