The glow of tubes in the bathtub cast a sickening turbulence on synergistic seafaring pinecones primed for rigorous cowboy cocktails your table is ready ma’am stop that right now that is enough even in this poor draft if you look softly and mind your wrecking cadence there will seldom run leaves of some thing suspicious if thoughts come what where even monkeys and werewolves and coffee and radio and drones and donuts and locusts of the harvest is missing what if everything went missing again.
Some Thoughts on Witnessing Genocide
More than once over the past twenty months, I’ve noted people expressing the following sentiment. “If you have ever wondered what you would have done in the face of the atrocities of Nazi Germany, you can find out by examining what you are doing right now.”
Indeed, we are currently witnessing the crime of the century in Gaza.
For nearly two years now, the world has watched as cruelty and misery escalate beyond what most of us could have imagined.
As individuals here in the US, we cannot stop it. But I believe that we have an obligation to do at least a couple of things to the extent that we are able.
Our first obligation is to be faithful witnesses. As tempting as it may be, we must not turn away. We must continue to acknowledge and speak the truth about this genocide and the historical and political conditions that have brought it about.
I believe that we also have an obligation to help provide what aid and comfort that we can to the victims of this slaughter. Although it seems almost futile at the moment compared to the need, if one hungry child receives a meal, if one person in pain receives medical attention, then any contributions we can make are worth making.
Frankly, any efforts we make are not enough. They do not absolve any of us. But they are all that we seem to have at the moment.
There are many, many organizations, large and small, helping to alleviate suffering and provide hope to people living in Gaza, and to Palestinian refugees. Find the ones you vibe with, and do your best.
Here are a few links that I have found to be helpful.
Decolonize Palestine – This site was important to me in shedding the programming and propaganda that poisoned the minds of Americans of my generation concerning the region.
Donate to Help a Displaced Family in Palestine – The organizer, Kyle, is a personal friend of mine. He interviewed Nour in 2021 for an article about children in Gaza, and was prompted to do what he can to help this family. It has been heartbreaking to follow the updates on this page, but we do have an opportunity to help them survive and let them know that people here care about them.
Doctors Without Borders – One of the most trusted organizations providing medical aid in Gaza and elsewhere.
UNICEF – Another trusted international organization providing food, shelter and other support.
Zakat Foundation of the United States – One of the largest and most respected Muslim led charitable organizations in the US. Recommended by my friend Khalid.
Blessings and peace to you.
Twenty-One Breaths
With Three Breaths
We rouse the Energy
and prime
its pathway
With Fourteen Breaths
We charge the pathway
and center the Energy
in an
upward flow
With Four Breaths More
We see the Light
We hear the
sacred
ॐ
Breathless
We learn to become
clear
awake
and free
What I’m Reading: The Green Witch’s Guide to Herbal Magick
I’ve been reading (and watching) a lot of witchy material these days. Annabel Margaret’s The Green Witch YouTube Channel has become one of my favorites. Her depth of knowledge, sensible approach and calming presence make the channel a pleasure to watch.
Her book, The Green Witch’s Guide to Herbal Magick, is a marvelous introduction to the subject. It includes lots of practical and philosophical information, common preparations and practices, details on numerous herbs, and a spell compendium for use and adaptation.
What I like best about the book is that it covers the “why” questions. It’s not just a list of instructions, but the principles behind them. She includes background on why things work they way they do, and how we can use this knowledge to make the practice our own.
Even if you’re not interested in formal spellwork or imbuing the workings with specific intent, a lot of what she imparts would be fun for mundane crafting and culinary use.
Although accessible to beginners, this book moves beyond to serve as a great guide through the intermediate stages of practice. I’m thankful to have found it.
Peace Can Be Louder Than War
In May of 2024 I learned about this cool project from one of my favorite bands, Merry Hell. They crowdsourced a choir for the recording of this peace anthem, written by Virginia Kettle.
Each of us (representing five continents) sent in audio of ourselves singing along, and the band mixed them all together to form the “1000 Voice Choir.”
The recording debuted on New Year’s Day and rose to the Top Twenty of the Folk Alliance International Folk Chart shortly after its release.
The message is timely, and timeless. Here’s a wish that “some with their minds unconsciously blind” will be awakened by listening.
Peace.
Wind Horses
I don’t know how
long the prayer
flags were down
before
we noticed.
Kid spotted them first.
What’s up with our flags?
I checked the calendar
for inauspicious
days for Lung Ta
before heading out back to reconnoiter.
The cord
was broken
or cut
on both ends.
Left a little noose
or loop
around the Maple’s branch to the west.
Left the first flag
– a yellow one –
to the east.
The rest of it
yellow blue white red green jumbles from Nepal
was strewn all about
the scratchy branches of an invasive bush
and wrapped around
the gentle old evergreen’s trunk.
Beyond my ken to repair.
I gathered the whole mess up
and offered it, carefully, respectfully, deliberately, ceremoniously
to the fire pit
on the patio
to rest ‘til spring
when the smoke
can carry our prayers.
My First Book of Poetry
Don’t Walk | Walk: And Other Poems About Pretending to Sleep and Waking Up
Many years ago when I began writing for a living, I told my wife that I thought I would publish a book some day. Her response was to ask “Will this be an actual printed book, or one of those bullshit website things?”
Thanks to the revolution in self-publishing tools since then, it turns out to be an actual printed book.
I looked at several options for publication, and although I have reservations about Amazon, their KDP platform fit best with my goals for the project. I wanted wide distribution and low out of pocket costs to publish, but (most importantly) I wanted to be able to control the overall look of the finished product – in particular the fonts, and the layouts of the poems on the page.
The book is now available at this link.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZJDMTC
These poems were written over the course of several decades, and capture some of my journey from a failing marriage to building a life with my true love, from deep cynicism to the first hints of spiritual awakening.
Should you decide to read it, I hope that you find something of interest.
New Recording Out – The Lokah Invocation
Links to stream on all of the major music platforms are on the Sharanam Records website.
May all beings everywhere live in peace and joy.
Any More
It’s a feeling
not quite like depression
not quite like longing
not quite like nostalgia
Not lethargy
nor anxiety
nor wistfulness
Quiet
Still
Distant
Neither pleasant nor
especially unpleasant
Anticipation
Anticipating
Oblivion
Is there any more yet to do?
Watching
It may seem as though we’ve advanced
We bring all of life’s
big rich pageant
to our
little screens
But some days I feel like
we’re all just
watching ourselves burn
on
YouTube