Small miracles

Tonight I was stuck on the subway and stressing about whether I would be able to make it to my yoga class, I was running behind and the train had been stopped for 10 minutes, and I was stuck and running late and calculating the time it would take to make it to my house and then how long I would have to wait for the bus and then if I was going to be late should I even bother to go, and when would I get home, how much traffic would there be and then when I got to the studio would I get a parking spot, and I calculated if everything went well I could probably make it 10 minutes late, but I hate being late, especially when there is a quiet restorative class, which this was, but if I crept in quietly and timed it right maybe it wouldn't be so disruptive and I really really need to go to a restorative class and relax damn it!!!!!!! Well I got in the car and behind the wheel and said to myself don't rush don't drive so fast you get a speeding ticket and what then would you say to the officer anyway, hurry up writing that ticket! I am late for my yoga class!!!

Thankfully most of the lights were green, I quickly got a parking space in a perfect spot, ran up the stairs, and..... made it right on time! Not even a minute late. Enough time to grab a mat and settle in.

It was a fantastic class, with Neron teaching. At the start, before the invocation, he said to "Bring your mind to the inner corner of your eyes. Now bring your mind to the outer corner. Now slowly draw the line from the inner corner to your outer eye."

We did pranayama with bramari breathing. A new instruction here, too, which was to make the first cycle a high volume buzzing sound, then do normal breaths, then reduce volume to a  medium buzzing sound, and then a low, soft volume, and then as quiet as you could be. Very restful.

At the end, a reminder to give thanks to the energy that brings us life.

Yes, a much needed restorative class!

.....

The photo of my toes in the air was taken on my holidays, when I was doing yoga on the dock, and delighting in the view and the air and the warmth of the sun.

The more places you'll go

As Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 

  

This summer I’ve travelled the globe! Anatolia, Russia, Mexico, Vietnam, New York City and China; witnessed the decline of the Ottoman empire, oppression in Stalinist Russia and pillow talk in the court of Imperial China.

Fiction was for the holidays, with long periods of time and no interruptions as we travelled port to port. Bursts of non-fiction were great, I could focus for 20 minutes and then turn my view to the scenery. No book club meetings, so nothing I felt I 'had' to read.

Fiction

Birds Without Wings, by Louis de Bernières 

Published after 9/11, the author tells the story of the fall of the Ottoman Empire through the eyes of his characters. Christians and Muslims had lived together peacefully for centuries in a small coastal town before war and political ideologies destroyed their community and uprooted lives. 

The Avenue of Mysteries, by John Irving

A "dump kid' teaches himself how to read while his sister reads minds. Nunneries, monasteries, and circuses are colourful sets for strong characters. 

The Noise of Time, by Julian Barnes

A slim volume easily read in a few hours, the story lingers. What must it have been like for Shostakovich, to suffer the whims of Stalin? How did he feel about Stravinsky, who left Russia and became popular in America? Why did he stay when he so often feared for his life? The author bases his story on letters and historical details, while acknowledging the book remains a work of fiction.

Non-fiction

The Art of the Personal Essay by Phillip Lopate 

Fabulous collection of essays written in different times and places and written from a strictly personal point of view. It is quite incredible how modern some of the ancient voices sound, such as Sei Shonagan as she complains about mosquitoes buzzing at night and thoughtless lovers leaving noisily. Musings from Plutarch and Seneca and Virginia Wolf and Annie Dilliard. An extraordinary collection that I am so glad caught my eye one day in the bookstore. 

Luck, Lapham’s Quarterly

This edition seems especially well-curated.....The history of handicapping. When every decision is the wrong decision. Meeting the fates. Salvation from unexpected places. Master paintings. Interpreting dreams for fun and profit. 

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook,  by Anthony Bourdain

Irreverent, hilarious, maddening, informative, entertaining... 

Poetry

World Poetry 

My latest tour through these pages has inspired me to pick up volumes by Roethke, Stevie Smith, and Adrienne Rich. 

The Waking

I came across this again when I was browsing through a World Poetry anthology. So mesmerizing and lyrical. I keep re-reading it.

The Waking

Related Poem Content Details

BY THEODORE ROETHKE

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.   

I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.   

I learn by going where I have to go. 

We think by feeling. What is there to know?   

I hear my being dance from ear to ear.   

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. 

Of those so close beside me, which are you?   

God bless the Ground!   I shall walk softly there,   

And learn by going where I have to go. 

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?   

The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;   

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. 

Great Nature has another thing to do   

To you and me; so take the lively air,   

And, lovely, learn by going where to go. 

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.   

What falls away is always. And is near.   

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.   

I learn by going where I have to go.

Eat Your Veggies! (and beans and seeds)

The End of Dieting, by Joel Fuhrman MD

VB6 (Eat Vegan Before 6:00), by Mark Bittman

Both of these books advocate an alternative to SAD eating, or the Standard American Diet:  eating more nutrient rich veggies, beans, seeds, fruits and nuts. Promised benefits are weight loss, more energy, and better all-round health. 

Fuhrman suggests limiting animal fats and proteins to 5% of the overall diet. His Nutritarian approach is to eat as much as you want of nutrient rich food. These ‘G-bombs’ include greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, and seeds (chia, flax, hemp, sesame). No refined foods, like white sugar, flour, or rice.

Bittman is less extreme, suggesting the evening meal can include moderate amounts of animal proteins and fats, and that over time people will gravitate naturally to less and less animal proteins.

I can imagine a week or two of the eating vegan, provided all the meals were prepared for me. In reality though, even eating vegan just before 6 has been a challenge, especially once the weekend hits. 

Little changes are easy to make, like swapping out almond milk for dairy. But give up cheese and butter?? As the old joke goes, I might not live longer, but it sure would feel longer.

Had some great vegan and vegetarian food this past weekend at the Rectory Cafe: a pico de gallo, chili verde and a compressed watermelon salad. The watermelon looked like tuna, and was caked with black and white sesame seeds. Gorgeous to look at and absolutely delicious. 

Seems complicated to compress watermelon at home but I'll have to give it a try someday.

Meanwhile, I think this would be easy enough to get in the habit of prepping and eating:

Overnight Oatmeal
Serves 3
1/4 cup raisins and/or other chopped dried fruits
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups unsweetened soy, hemp or almond milk
3 cups fresh chopped fruit or frozen mixed berries

Place all ingredients except fruit in a container and refrigerate overnight to soften. If using fresh fruit, may want to add that just before serving.

Full Sturgeon Moon: August

The moon is full August 18, 5:27 a.m.

anthropomorphic spice jug by Susi Nagoda Bergquist