Sangha of Auspicious Companions

Drawn into the Garden

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February 10, 2021

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Drawn Into the Garden: An Artist’s Journey

Take a stroll through Helen Stewart’s enchanted garden, and discover the allure of living in creative relationship with soil and soul. Gardening is in Helen’s blood. Her great grandfather ran the world’s largest nursery of his time. Following in his footsteps, Helen, a former sheep farmer, turned artist, author and community weaver — has gradually transformed the grounds of her heritage home in Victoria, Canada, into a place of wonder and quiet revolution. There is a combination of reverence, ecological wisdom, and whimsy to her approach. While all manner of creatures are nourished by her garden, Helen only plants things that she intends to draw, and she is guided by a conviction that gardens are meditative spaces. They deepen not just our contact with ourselves, but also our connection to the world, and give us new ways of seeing our place in it. This short film, that shares its title with Helen’s latest book, is a sanctuary onto itself. Watch, and let a little bit of Helen’s green, growing world spill into yours. { read more }

Be The Change

For more inspiration, join a special virtual conversation with Helen this Friday. More details and RSVP info here. { more }

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February 9, 2021

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The Artist’s Way, Serendipity, & My Inner Sanctuary

“Through a ‘not-so-smart’ smartphone mishap, the Universe tapped me on the shoulder recently and invited me into the Universal Flow of abundance and creativity. I’d meant to send a text message to a certain Julia I know, but my smartphone decided that a different Julia would be the recipient instead.” Eileen Rivers shares what happened next in this sweet reflection that weaves together art, poetry and the power in kindred community. { read more }

Be The Change

Move toward your dream today. For more inspiration, check out Julia Cameron’s advice on getting out of your own way. { more }

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February 8, 2021

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The Origin of Black History Month and Why It Matters

“The question that faces us today is whether or not Black History Month is still relevant. Is it still a vehicle for change? Or has it simply become one more school assignment that has limited meaning for children? Has Black History Month become a time when television and the media stack their Black material? Or is it a useful concept whose goals have been achieved?” Lonnie G. Bunch III explores the genesis of Black History Month and its relevance in today’s world. { read more }

Be The Change

In the spirit of Baldwin’s words, make time to listen to someone’s testimony this week. Notice what it brings up for you. Share your reflections with a friend or family member.

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February 7, 2021

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The Politics of Flower Cultivation

“The tradition of gifting roses for St. Valentine’s Day is actually a misguided ritual from an ecology perspective because the roses are actually transported from Kenya, for example. Roses do not grow locally in countries north of the equator during February. Because flowers are not food, we tend to overlook the fact that they are also seasonal products, and we just cannot have it all the time unless we buy it from abroad.[…] The commodification of the living is a very deep ethical question from a plant perspective, as much as from a human perspective. 10 years ago, Switzerland adopted a law that recognizes plant rights, and the underlying suffering or loss of dignity of plants.” Masami Charlotte Lavaut is the founder of Plein Air, the first flower farm in Paris. She shares more here about the ‘slow flowers’ approach, that speaks to our relationship with time, and nature, while also shedding light on the political implications and hidden costs of the floral industry. { read more }

Be The Change

Where does the cycle of life come most vividly alive for you? Do you have a practice that helps tune you into it?

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February 6, 2021

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9 Rules for the Woke Birdwatcher

“1.Lower your binoculars. See bird and person in the full context of their being, feathers or skin. We all share the same air, same water, same earth, and same fate in the end. Don’t just list and be done.” Author J. Drew Lanham shares eight other rules/invitations in this short and powerful piece. { read more }

Be The Change

What do the 9 Rules evoke for you? What helps you embrace ‘the disquieting complexity of ourselves’?

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February 5, 2021

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The Song of Grandmother Cricket

This beautiful animated short film, inspired by a myth from the Bolivian lowlands, was created by a group of Bolivian animators in collaboration with The Animation Workshop of Denmark. When Abuela Grillo (Grandmother Cricket) sings, it rains, and in a country marked by water shortages, the film is a response to the privatization of Bolivias water resources by foreign corporations. The Cochabamba water wars of 2000 was a series of massive protests by the indigenous community to retain access to their water supply, which eventually pressured the government to revoke the international contract. Voiced by Bolivian singer Luzmila Carpio, traditional Quechua singing weaves indigenous melody throughout the film, further illuminating the cultural roots of this fight for the universal right to pure water. { read more }

Be The Change

The next time you drink a glass of cold water or take a hot shower give thanks for your ability to do so and think about what you can do today to conserve this precious resource.

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February 4, 2021

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Invitations to Stillness: Japanese Gardens

“Every element in the Japanese garden from the shape of the pruned pine trees to the careful placement of stepping stones has intention and is specifically designed to cultivate nuanced awareness. The contrast between what is placed and what is left blank, brings to life a pictorial space that leaves room for our imagination. Symbolism and metaphor in the garden also offer powerful tools to help humans reconcile their own lives and relationships to both society and the larger forces of nature. The American garden scholar Kendall Brown argues that ‘The opportunity for direct engagement with nature is what makes all gardens compelling but, as Japanese gardens function so effectively as philosophical and physical microcosms, their power is even stronger.'” More in this lovely essay. { read more }

Be The Change

When have you felt your practice at its most vibrant? Reflect on what you attribute this to. What might further vivify your practice in this current time?

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