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. 

Tiger the cat doesn't apologize for being scared—his fur stands on end, and he dashes under the deck to hide. He isn't afraid to ask for what he wants, and he rests when he needs to. He is the ultimate maestro, having taken a seat in the middle of his life.

Maybe you think that you can't meditate because the inner critic is so very loud for you. Your mind might even tell you that you are a hopeless case and that you might as well not even try (anything, whether it is meditation or a new hobby like stand-up paddle board).

I walked outside the morning after Bear's visit, and two of my car doors were open. I could barely believe it, but there were muddy, bear-shaped paw prints next to the handles. Bear opened my car using the door handles!