Gettin' the Groove Back (Just in Time for Thanksgiving:)

Two days of heavy rain/sleet/snow breaks up just outside my Tahoe window. Life, the constant metaphor, is presenting a beautiful practice opportunity. The sun shines through magnificent puffy white and silver clouds in a canvas of blue sky. "Happy Thanksgiving" is a very real and visceral reality for me this year--I was released from hand therapy yesterday after 4 months, graduating with flying colors as my finger is only 5 degrees from straight! I'm back in the full time ASL interpreting saddle and life is a relative normal as routine returns, which means...creating has returned. Keyboard skills and writing are restored. I couldn't be happier. For the first time in almost a year, I sit before the muse with an open heart, waiting....

She Loves by Shiloh Sophia McCloud

What Needs to Be Said
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Almost a year since my focus has been pure,
intent on writing.
The reasons why:
lengthy illness and passing of a beloved pet,
injury, physical therapy,
deterioration and death of a loved one,
and all the day-to-day…
melt away,
insubstantial
as I meet you here,
in this constant and healing plane,
knowing a patient wait.

After so lengthy a gap
what needs to be said?

Space between the many moments
will allow gratitude to deepen and penetrate—
more space,
more space.

Love is the shining star of service,
guiding all paths to right action—
more love,
more love.

If these two guidances only are remembered—
space and love—
anywhere one goes
a panacea gently flows.

Right Livelihood: Land and Ocean

As we celebrate Veteran's Day this weekend, it seems a perfect opportunity to continue contemplation of the Noble Eightfold Path, picking up where we left off--step 3 on the path to happiness: Right Livelihood. One of the quickest ways to a happy life might be the path of service we choose. Thank you to all those brave ones who keep us safe and free and to all service men and women who care for people in harms way--running into the path of danger while most are running away.

How we express service is an expression of not only our skills but our hearts. What motivates our paths of service? Money, fame, love, sacrifice?

The Inner Constellation theme for November is service, which is directly connected to wholesome livelihood as a way to happiness. As beautiful life would have it, my husband recorded a movie this weekend, The Hurt Locker, written by a journalist who was on assignment with a bomb disposal unit in Baghdad. While watching the film I initially formed the impression that one particular character was fiercely ego driven, but then, as his story progressed, service to something much bigger than himself materialized--protecting human life. What struck me regarding this choice of service is the discipline and practice it takes to disassemble one's instinct for self preservation. Putting others before oneself is a calling, and it's also a practice in developing compassion.

Most of us will never serve in such an intense capacity, but we can consciously look at how we do serve and what drives our actions--perhaps it's compassion for animals, our planet, or a deep passion for what we love. Right livelihood expresses what we treasure and can move us and others in the direction of freedom.

From this land and across the many oceans, our choice of service affects the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. Each human being is as varied as the cosmos with talents that are numerous, mysterious and complex. On this Veteran's Day weekend, InnerConstellation.com* would like to honor and thank all the men and women who serve our country and protect the freedoms we enjoy everyday.

May all live in the world unharmed,
in a state of ease and grace.


 *mindfulness services are offered to Veteran's and their families at InnerContellation.com, scroll down for flyer details

Letting Go With Roses and Turquoise...

Fall Retreat 2017: Coming Home to Our Ancestors

Ancient Cottonwoods at our Glenbrook nest are about to pop! It looks as if we have this one timed perfectly and LTMC looks so forward to this day to sit together in community and enjoy this gem of a property tucked into a slice of Tahoe heaven. As our calendar has turned to October, LTMC plans a day of sitting meditation, walking meditation and total relaxation with the theme of coming home to our Ancestors. We also look forward to enjoying a Vegan potluck that has been known to be out-of-this-world delicious as we practice mindful eating together. Please RSVP for carpooling information from The Studio as our retreat location parking is limited. More details can be found on our Facebook Events page. Hope to see you there for a peaceful and happy Fall day.

September Theme: Healing the Ancestral Heart

This month's Inner Constellation theme is Healing the Ancestral Heart. How appropriate that it was my dear pop's birthday weekend--He would have been 77 years old. I spent the weekend reflecting on our happy times together and found myself caring for my ancient Geraniums. A poem was born. This piece also honors my momma, as she watered my love of plants and flowers with the many hours spent in the greenhouses where she worked...more precious memories.

  Ode to Wintering Geraniums

©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Every year they are brought indoors because

I can never bear to lose them to Tahoe's winter.

Four-inch annuals ten years ago

now fill the breadth of a sliding glass door.

Sitting upon my zafu*

I meet them most weekends,

clean the dead leaves

and collect red, heart-shaped petal offerings for the altar.

I've sat beside them for difficult phone conversations,

to journal great joys,

inhaling their pungent, earthy scent.

This year a tomato seed found home in their rich soil,

sprouted and bore fruit.

I'll care for it, too, through the winter

and gather more bright happiness. 

*round, Zen meditation cushion

Right Speech: Open Sky

This week continues the pondering of the Noble Eightfold Path or the path to happiness. Right View is the first of the eight steps to a happy life. It's the foundation for walking into the big wide world. Then, as we decidedly identify and step onto the road of well-being, we can begin practicing the second of the Eightfold Path--Loving Speech (aka Right Speech).

When I think of Loving Speech, I think of the metaphor of a boundless, open sky, recognizing the inherent goodness and limitless nature of every being. When we practice Loving Speech we remember this innate quality and speak to it, again and again. As I was pondering Loving Speech, I pulled a tea bag fortune that seemed to sum up the idea perfectly....

Awww, heck yah! The two questions come to mind again: Are my words alleviating suffering? Are my words creating happiness? Speak to a person's goodness and strengths, call them into remembrance again and again.

Another component often paired with the second step to happiness, Loving Speech, is deep listening. When we stop and truly listen to another we know better what to say, and what not to say. The same two questions can be asked: Do I listen purely to alleviate suffering? Do I listen for ways to water happiness?

The Noble Eightfold Path is a practice. May we enjoy the experiment of speaking and listening in loving ways. Next week on the path to happiness, number three--Right Livelihood.

You Vow To Do What!!!

The word "vow" can cause many people to break out in hives! Itching and scratching yet? However in Eastern tradition the word "vow" implies consenting action. A vow is also made with sovereignty and freedom, not under coercion, threats, or violence. In the West we also tend to think of vows in connection to our relationships, specifically the vow of marriage, where faith is placed in a human being. 

There are Four Vows of an Awakened Being or also known as Four Bodhisattva* Vows, where one's faith is placed not in a vacillating human being but in the sustainability of goodness (my translation). In any situation, no matter how difficult, we can respond mindfully with kindness. This doesn't mean we are stepped on like a doormat. No way! Allowing oneself to be stepped on like a door mat goes against our first and highest ideal--loving kindness! And, if we're not in good working order, love and compassion cannot be extended or sustained. We studied and sang the Four Bodhisattva Vows at the most recent Summer Retreat 2017. They matched perfectly our retreat theme of, "consent."  In our study, we discovered Thich Nhat Hanh's fresh translation of the Four Bodhisattva* Vows:  

The awakened way is unsurpassable; I vow to embody it.

• However innumerable beings are, I vow to meet them with kindness and interest.

• However inexhaustible the states of suffering are, I vow to touch them with patience and love.

• However immeasurable the Dharmas** are, I vow to explore them deeply.

• However incomparable the mystery of interbeing***, I vow to surrender to it freely.

–Thich Nhat Hanh

The Four Vows consent to actively be a source of kindness, peace, compassion to everyone, including ourselves. All suffering stops with us, all happiness begins with us. In these end days of summer may we consent to be happy, healthy and strong, safe and protected, free from inner and outer harm, may we live in the world with ease and grace.  


 *    Awakened Being
**   Spiritual teachings (and the practice of them in our lives)
***  Interconnection with each other and all things