Hello friends, There is magic in this world, if we remember to listen for it. To look for it. To allow ourselves to experience it. I don’t know what it is like to live in a war zone. I don’t know what it is like to live in daily terror. I do know what it is like to escape into books from a violent and unpredictable home environment. I have experienced chronic pain. Chronic illness. Heartbreak. All of these human things. And I know you have your own experiences, too. I also know what it is to live with sunshine on tree leaves. I know what it is to live with the frantic calls of hungry baby birds and music booming from cars on the street. I know what it is to look down, surprised, at a cluster of chive flowers, blooming at a sidewalk’s edge. And to look more closely, to see a tiny bee resting on the blooms. To me, it looked as if the bee was walking across a field of stars. I know that, as well. That walking these city streets each day, I too, walk among stars. We all move that way, because this planet we call home is part of a galaxy. This gives me a sense of peace inside—despite the suffering in the world— to recognize that every plant and creature is part of the stream of planets, moons, and stars. And we humans have the iron of star stuff in our blood. So, when I wonder whether my small acts of creation are worthy of this moment of time, I can pause, breathe, and remember that tiny bee, resting on a carpet of stars. Maybe you can, too. Best wishes — Thorn
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Hello friends, As a person who creates things for a living, I need to set boundaries around energy, attention, and time. Even from myself. That last might seem funny, but when you think about it, it’s very true. How often do we say something is important to us, but fail to make it a priority? That could be health, family, enjoyment, financial stability, creativity, spiritual practice, social justice work, or spending time with friends. How often do other things creep in, crowding out the...
Hello friends, I wrote about collective power for my Patreon supporters this week. I wrote about the importance of having each other’s backs, and protecting our neighbors. This was inspired by recent events in the US, of course, but the thing that coalesced my thoughts was a bit of sidewalk stencil graffiti. This is another reminder that the marks we make on this world are important. They invite thought, and conversation. Sometimes they keep a person going, when we don’t even realize it....
Hello friends, There’s a lot of new growth to see on my walks around the city. Tiny green needles at the tips of the Douglas firs. Sprouting grasses. New hops clambering over fences. Tiny figs and unfurling leaves on an equally tiny sidewalk fig tree… There’s planning happening, too. Finches scouting nest sites. Crows gathering twigs. Tiny green figs on a tiny fig tree. All of this new growth and planning fills my heart with joy. So does what feels like celebration in the riot of flowers, the...