The tree had cracked open, revealing a hollowed-out center and threatening to take down the whole thing. 

Surprise surprise! Joe came face to face with a big mama bear and two cubs.

Like the buck holding his ground while eating an apple, I refuse to let go of joy and hope.

Instead of piling the excess and waste of human consumption into an "out of sight, out of mind" spot that pollutes and stinks, something valuable is made. 

Let's turn towards each other because the waves are crashing, and it is easier to stay standing shoulder to shoulder.

The first lesson in the garden is that everything is connected and what we do matters. 

Tiger the cat continues to be both lovable and naughty. Sometimes he  bites my big toe when I am doing yoga! That's always a surprise.

The body is alive and it is my life. Can I learn to love it? Can I learn to love all bodies and all lives? Can we?

It's spring and Tiger says put down your device. He says step outside and rest your heart under a tree.

What are your deeper longings? Desire and longing shape our lives and yet we can look around us and see what happens to individuals and the earth itself when desire turns to greed or addiction. 

Papanca is a lot like that muddy creek. It's easy enough to wait until the creek flows clear again, but a lot harder to figure out what to do when your own mind is flooded with mental preoccupations.

The fetid adder's tongue reeks (fetid is right in the name!) yet it is still beautiful.

From the garden, I can hear the salmon as they splash and jump through the strong steady flow of water rushing to the sea. They push through, moving against the stream.

Most of all fire consumes. This is like life too - we consume. Food, of course, but also the news and even our thoughts and emotions. A fire is tended to with care, keeping the flames going; neither too hot nor leaving it to smolder and die out.

Aside from being the yoga model and the cook on retreats here at Pudding Creek, Joe's main mission is as an artist who champions peace.

We cannot know the future. Don't let your brain dupe you, and don't let the very smart experts on the news or in your video feed fool you into thinking we know for certain what will happen. 

Everything changed, and my ideas about the retreat center and any timeline projections completely evaporated. Lockdown was upon us, and even the beaches were closed. It would be an understatement to say there was fear and uncertainty at that time. Do you remember?

I have been filled with grief with the state of the world. How are you? Rage and grief both seem appropriate.

The world can be tough, and it feels like we are on the precipice of big changes with the election, the wars, and the climate. Even with all of that, there is still so much here to be grateful for. 

We live in a sea of change. It's not just the apple trees! To the disappointment of the chipmunks, the walnut crop this year is small.