Well, a week has gone by all ready and so fast indeed. The weather here
in Minnesota has changed from 3 or 4 days of continuous rain, into a
freezing rain that caused much slipping and sliding in the condensed
urban area of the capital city, St.Paul. Then mid-week, it changed to
beautiful, white, glittering, fairy-like snowflakes that have almost
continuously filled the air for the past several days. Today the sun
reaches out its radiant hands and kisses all of the beautiful fluff and
fills it with spirit. As I shovel the snow in my driveway the snowflake
fairies begin to dance in the air as I empty my shovel and I dance in
the beauty of it all with them.
I've been waiting all week to write in, absorbing as much as I could of
the conversation going on. I have enjoyed learning from everybody, I
have learned about the many different views that exist on the topics
mentioned, yet I feel like we are all heading towards the same light. I
have also learned much about myself and continue to reshape my
connections with the universe. Yesterday, I was watching an interview
with poet, Anne Waldman and she stated that our Western culture and
mentality "could be a Bodhisattva act, that it is all a possibility for
enlightenment and the shedding of ego, manifested by the white dominance
in our society." I found this to be an interesting thought. I feel we
need to concentrate on similarities between ourself and others
(regardless of whatever form the other takes) not on the differences, to
enlarge the compassion for all things.
I continue to struggle with the challenge of understanding some of the
philosophical language and structure, counteracting my continuous
concrete, scientific- type language that is constantly taught in
college. Yet, I feel that I 'get' the major points and they will remain
food for my thoughts for quite some time. It helps me to shape some of
the theories and ideas brought up in my Environmental Ethics class into
new formations. I hope that as I realize the intensity of my feelings
regarding these topics concerning 'all that moves' I am able to live my
life with integrity, and can touch all that is with a compasssionate
hand.
Thanks again to all for such a warm and wonderfully stimulating week.
May the full moon tonight illuminate all of our souls with renewal of
energy to take the words that have been said and toss them into the
night sky for all to experience!!
Peace to all! Kari Lavold