The Meaning of the Bear

One of the many mystical elements of Native American culture ( are the animal fetishes they create. This art is most often attributed to the Zuni Tribe. This is the Bear, a symbol of wisdom, introspection and dreaminess. I have several of the bear, plus many other animals, from frequent trips to New Mexico. My favorite is a standing bear, a position rarely seen - the standing element adds a layer of protection to the Bear. I find that when I am very worried or anxious, I hold my bear and simply use it in a way akin to a worry stone. It reminds me a bit of a security blanket as a child, but I feel watched over by a much more benevolent being.

Beginner's Mind

Without language, memory, mind, interpretations or expectations what is....happiness?

What happens? If you truly have stepped beyond language, memory and so on, you will feel a momentary blankness or void. Let yourself fall into it. Float in it. Then use the same question with new words - without guilt, shame, joy, love, anger and goodness.......what is happiness?

Inagural Post

The "dash" is usually on a gravestone, in between the year of birth and the year of death. Living life is about making meaning of the dash, within the dash.

I'm tired of the usual posts - except the one's about nature, animals, so on. The political blogs bore me. The allegedly smart and sophisticated cynicism. Obama gets sworn in, and the blogosphere is flooded with criticism, beliefs in conspiracies. I anticipated reading that Obama was a product of Area 51. "Hope" is just as politically correct as snarkiness. But snark is so much more clever, isn't it?

My 'dash' is, right now, weeping into the concrete of the grave marker. Oh, go ahead, label it as self-pity. Actual feelings are too scary to face. Better to label. My 'dash' is also full of anger. No one ever actually said life should be fair, but it seems we are all hardwired with that expectation.

We all go through losses, and they mount as we age. It's my season to be surrounded by losses through death, and other ways as well. I, too, am now indoctrinated into the world of trying to survive the loss of people deemed vital.

No neat ending. No railing against the fates.