Last week was unusual weather for Taos. Cold, snowy and cloudy. We haven't had the combo since Xmas... My daughter Jenn was visiting from Colorado to take her Level II ski instructor's certification exam at Taos Ski Valley. The conditions were blustery and icey. Her exam was all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and she passed! There were 30 people signed up for the exam and only 4 people passed all three days. For part of the celebration we went out to dinner at Graham's Grille (the home of the best key lime pie anywhere)and spent an afternoon at Ojo Caliente Hot Springs on Saturday.
Today it was 28 degrees when I left the house for my writing day, a bit of New England in the air. Beginning the first week of April I have signed up for an 8 week class by Natalie Goldberg on "Writing Memoir" in Santa Fe. That will mean late nights on Tuesday - the class is from 5:30 - 7:30 so I probably won't be home until at least 9 pm as it's an hour and half drive each way. Natalie has written at least 10 books (most famous for "Writing down the Bones")and I am eager to meet her and be one of her students.... I found out a few weeks ago that I didn't win a scholarship to the Women's Writing Conference at Ghost Ranch in August but am applying for one to the Taos Summer Writer's conference, which I need to work on soon because the deadline is April 15th.
Here's a bit of bright news. This is the first year in a long time that I will be getting a tax refund (a whopping $54.00!) due to the shortfall on my stocks/bonds. So yeah I don't have to pay the government any more money. Of course that does't quite make up for the amount I lost in the stock market before I took my money out in October but we won't go there. It also means I qualify for a reduction in my New Mexico health insurance because I earned below the median salary. So that's a blessing, too.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
I had a first this week. I was invited to participate in an authentic Apache Two Spirit Sweat Lodge on Thursday night, on the Spring (vernal)Equinox. I am claustrophic and sensitive to the heat so I knew this was going to be a real challenge.... The Lodge is located in Arroyo Hondo about eight miles from Taos in the Hondo River Valley. Jim, the Lodge Master, lives on 5 acres of beautfil sagebrush-filled land with beautiful mountain views. He has a Tepee, fire pit and traditional lodge. The lodge is made from birch saplings stretched and bound together with twine and then covered with canvas to create a small dome that you have to crawl into on your hands and feet and then sit on the ground around an indoor fire pit. Mercifully there were small rugs covering the dirt so we (there was 13 of us)could sit on them instead of dirt - although, truthfully as it started getting hotter and hotter I would have enjoy sitting directly on the cooler dirt and not care how dirty I got. As it was I got plenty dirty enough...
The ceremony consists of "four rounds", for the four directions (East, South, West and finally North). The stone bearer brings in 6-8 basalt (volcanic) rocks that have been heated in the outdoor fire pit all afternoon and carries them by pitchfork, one by one into the lodge. After everyone has situated themselves in the lodge the flap is closed and you are in complete darkness. The lodge master then ladles water onto the hot rocks, creating steam, after each person says a prayer for the direction of that particular round. Each round brings 6-8 more rocks, more water, intenser heat, etc. We were each given sprigs of sage to inhale to help us endure the heat and were thankifully given permission to lie down on the ground (not enough space to fully lie down - but in a modified fetal position - symbolic, I suppose)when we got too hot. I discovered a "trick" after getting through the first round, when I scrunched myself up on the dirt my hand immediately sought out the underneath of the back of the canvas - and then my hand found a hole and was released into the freedom and coolness of the outside air. This of course is not encouraged and in some lodges strictly forbidden. And I was determined to make it all the way through the four rounds and this was my survival technique. I must admit that as the rounds went on my silent prayer was that everybody's prayers were short. Laying down I can't honestly say I heard their prayers. I did however discover that when my hand found the space between the dirt and the canvas on the back wall I could lift it an inch and get a cool puff of air.
He allowed everyone the opportunity to take a "break" between the second and third rounds. Everyone except him left the lodge and went outside for 15-20 mins to cool down. This made it so much easier to endure the last two rounds. The ceremony started at sundown and I didn't get home until after midnight. After the ceremony was over we had a "feast" - a potluck that everyone contributed to - which is also part of the tradition. I don't know yet whether this was a first last or whether I will be called to do it again. We'll see. Maybe at the summer solstice.
He does hold other native american ceremonies - one of which is shamanic journeying which I do plan to try. "While in Rome, do as the Romans...." What better place than in the Southwest to try Native ceremonies. Speaking of which a long time friend is visiting soon so I plan to take that opportunity to visit the Taos Pueble and Chimayo (a Southwest "Lourdes" - known for its healing miracle waters and sacred ground).
The ceremony consists of "four rounds", for the four directions (East, South, West and finally North). The stone bearer brings in 6-8 basalt (volcanic) rocks that have been heated in the outdoor fire pit all afternoon and carries them by pitchfork, one by one into the lodge. After everyone has situated themselves in the lodge the flap is closed and you are in complete darkness. The lodge master then ladles water onto the hot rocks, creating steam, after each person says a prayer for the direction of that particular round. Each round brings 6-8 more rocks, more water, intenser heat, etc. We were each given sprigs of sage to inhale to help us endure the heat and were thankifully given permission to lie down on the ground (not enough space to fully lie down - but in a modified fetal position - symbolic, I suppose)when we got too hot. I discovered a "trick" after getting through the first round, when I scrunched myself up on the dirt my hand immediately sought out the underneath of the back of the canvas - and then my hand found a hole and was released into the freedom and coolness of the outside air. This of course is not encouraged and in some lodges strictly forbidden. And I was determined to make it all the way through the four rounds and this was my survival technique. I must admit that as the rounds went on my silent prayer was that everybody's prayers were short. Laying down I can't honestly say I heard their prayers. I did however discover that when my hand found the space between the dirt and the canvas on the back wall I could lift it an inch and get a cool puff of air.
He allowed everyone the opportunity to take a "break" between the second and third rounds. Everyone except him left the lodge and went outside for 15-20 mins to cool down. This made it so much easier to endure the last two rounds. The ceremony started at sundown and I didn't get home until after midnight. After the ceremony was over we had a "feast" - a potluck that everyone contributed to - which is also part of the tradition. I don't know yet whether this was a first last or whether I will be called to do it again. We'll see. Maybe at the summer solstice.
He does hold other native american ceremonies - one of which is shamanic journeying which I do plan to try. "While in Rome, do as the Romans...." What better place than in the Southwest to try Native ceremonies. Speaking of which a long time friend is visiting soon so I plan to take that opportunity to visit the Taos Pueble and Chimayo (a Southwest "Lourdes" - known for its healing miracle waters and sacred ground).
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Astrology 101
This week my new adventure was a 3 hour class in "How to read your own Astrology Chart" by astrologer, Julie Kelly. She had taken our birth info weeks before and created a "natal" chart for us. Wow! Talk about learning a different language. South nodes, north nodes, ascendent signs, planets, houses, moon, sun, etc. etc. It was a crash course. Fascinating stuff - although my zodiac sign is Gemini I learned other celestial influences that have created an influence on my personality, health and relationships. I certainly didn't absorb it all but have ordered a primer on it to help me decode some of the information. In my tarot class this week I discovered that my "life card" or soul's mission this incarnation is the "Hierophant" - a medieval term for teacher. My lessons have to do with being a student, a lover of knowledge and sharing this learning with others. Seems to fit and may explain why I love taking classes and learning new information all the time.
I wrote a short story this week about "Gym class" that high school nemesis - at least for me. Humorous and poignant at the same time. My teacher pronounced it almost flawless. I'll take it. I'm anxious to start an 8 week memoir class by Natalie Goldbery ("Writing down the bones"fame)the first week in April. She lives in Santa Fe but spent alot of time living in Taos when she was younger. She even wrote about it in her novel, "Banana Rose".
Blast from the Past - this coming week Holly Near comes to Taos and is performing at the Community Auditorium on Saturday night. I have listened to alot of her music over the years but have never had the privilege of hearing her live. She's a folksigner, political activist and bisexual. A pretty juicy combination....
I wrote a short story this week about "Gym class" that high school nemesis - at least for me. Humorous and poignant at the same time. My teacher pronounced it almost flawless. I'll take it. I'm anxious to start an 8 week memoir class by Natalie Goldbery ("Writing down the bones"fame)the first week in April. She lives in Santa Fe but spent alot of time living in Taos when she was younger. She even wrote about it in her novel, "Banana Rose".
Blast from the Past - this coming week Holly Near comes to Taos and is performing at the Community Auditorium on Saturday night. I have listened to alot of her music over the years but have never had the privilege of hearing her live. She's a folksigner, political activist and bisexual. A pretty juicy combination....
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Working Girl
The owner of Northside Health & Fitness Center where I work called in sick this week; the manager is out of town due to a family illness. The upshot was that they requested I help fill in with shifts. So I ended up working six days this week - a total of 37 hours... By the sixth day I was exhausted. I was grumpy. I was tired. And I didn't want to see the gym again - even to work out. So my sympathy goes out to all you who regularly work 40 plus hours/week. Yes, I definitely have become spoiled and am used to my free time and mostly stress-free life. Of course I do have stress - but it is self-generated by my own worries and occasional obsessive thinking. I didn't have much time to write, actually, none. Luckily I had written something earlier that I could bring to class on Thursday am.
And so I am grateful for my ability to work only parttime and have the luxury of the extra hours to pursue artistic endeavors. Of course there are tradeoffs. I haven't bought any new clothes for months, I don't own my own house and I rarely go out to eat. And a big chunk of my salary goes towards health insurance. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. I would rather have less material things and more freedom. Time is money, as they say. And if I look at it in that regard I am well paid indeed.
And I am discovering some new ways to generate income - one of which is doing Tarot readings. I did my first this week and charged for it. I am also charging for Reiki treatments and am currently knitting an adult size fisherman knit sweater. There's a Memorial Day craft fair at Kit Carson Park that I plan to sign up for to sell my knitted creations.
This next week only one extra shift scheduled.... Now to more writing.
And so I am grateful for my ability to work only parttime and have the luxury of the extra hours to pursue artistic endeavors. Of course there are tradeoffs. I haven't bought any new clothes for months, I don't own my own house and I rarely go out to eat. And a big chunk of my salary goes towards health insurance. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. I would rather have less material things and more freedom. Time is money, as they say. And if I look at it in that regard I am well paid indeed.
And I am discovering some new ways to generate income - one of which is doing Tarot readings. I did my first this week and charged for it. I am also charging for Reiki treatments and am currently knitting an adult size fisherman knit sweater. There's a Memorial Day craft fair at Kit Carson Park that I plan to sign up for to sell my knitted creations.
This next week only one extra shift scheduled.... Now to more writing.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Writing for Contests
It's my teacher's fault. She told me that one of my recent writing pieces for class was good enough to be entered in a contest. So then of course I had to find some. There's three so far. The Discovery awards given to NM, CO or TX residents who have never been published; "The Room of Her Own foundation" week long writer's retreat at Ghost Ranch, Abiqui, NM and the Taos Summer writer's cfc in none other than Taos, NM. Flurries of email back and forth to my writing teacher for assistance with editing, proofing and format. I never did buy a copy of APA guide in college.... Punctuation, grammar and syntax has never been my forte.
So we'll see how it goes. The first one was sent off tonight. A $35 entry fee. Apparently you have to pay money to have the privege of being chosen to win money. The piece is about fond memories of my 4-H sewing teacher, Mrs. Larsen. I've titled it, "Tuesday Afternoons". The next one is not due until April 15th and the third, May 1st so I'll have time to obsess adequately before submitting them.
Last week a friend invited me to go with her to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. What a treat. Seven different natural mineral pools built into the sides of a cliff: sulphur, iron, arsenic, sodium and lithium Your skin feels as smooth as a baby's .... when you're done. Of course they have spa services, too, but that requires a more luxurious budget. I went on a Tuesday which is 2 for 1 day for NM residents. Not good for much of anything productive after I got back. But sleeping that night was great.
I've now made to high school in my memoir writing and have discovered why I don't ever want to go to any high school reunions (haven't either). Life definitely is better after high school.
So we'll see how it goes. The first one was sent off tonight. A $35 entry fee. Apparently you have to pay money to have the privege of being chosen to win money. The piece is about fond memories of my 4-H sewing teacher, Mrs. Larsen. I've titled it, "Tuesday Afternoons". The next one is not due until April 15th and the third, May 1st so I'll have time to obsess adequately before submitting them.
Last week a friend invited me to go with her to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. What a treat. Seven different natural mineral pools built into the sides of a cliff: sulphur, iron, arsenic, sodium and lithium Your skin feels as smooth as a baby's .... when you're done. Of course they have spa services, too, but that requires a more luxurious budget. I went on a Tuesday which is 2 for 1 day for NM residents. Not good for much of anything productive after I got back. But sleeping that night was great.
I've now made to high school in my memoir writing and have discovered why I don't ever want to go to any high school reunions (haven't either). Life definitely is better after high school.
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