A River Between

Geocaching
Originally uploaded by holisticgeek

Even though winter can be really cold in Minnesota, it’s great when you can beat the cold and get out and have some fun! I gave Michael my GPS a few weeks back and introduced him to Geocaching. Basically it’s a modern-day treasure hunt, only you use a Global Positioning Device to find your treasure or “cache”.

Geocaching.com is where you should go to get a nice tutorial of this craze that’s been around only since 2000! There are hundreds of thousands of Geocaches all over the world that are tracked on geocaching.com (even 16 of them in Antarctica!).

The picture above was my first found cache! It may have been cold, but I felt that it was an incredible accomplishment! We tried to find another cache in another park in Minneapolis, but instead, Michael found a bird in a little cranny that nearly scared the bejesus out of him! We stopped looking after that!

So if you are looking for a fun and free activity, check it out!

Michael and I attended an “Introduction to Buddhist Meditation” class at the Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center Thursday night. We’ve both been interested in concepts of “creating your day”, consciousness, quieting the mind, etc. for a while. I think that a lot of times, those of us who spend our lives trying to be Peacemakers ™, often neglect the simple truth that peace has to also dwell within oneself. I’ll come back to that thought.

There were eleven of us sitting in a circle, learning good ways to sit, good ways to hold our hands, ways to quiet our mind or “dance” with the thoughts that come and go. The mind is a very busy place! We finally got to meditate and focus on only our breath for about five to seven minutes, which actually seemed to go very quickly. I remember focusing on a spot on the floor in our circle, and having an incredible visual experience where my breath would change my vision, and I would see shimmering color changes and light changes as I inhaled and exhaled. Not wanting to let my mind focus on the experience much more, I ended up closing my eyes once again. But it was just really cool!

I need to return to this place soon, as even afterward, I felt like life seemed to slow its pace and was quieter. I struggle, like many people in our culture, to be mindful as much as I can be. I so desire things like peace, joy, love, justice, and compassion, to come to the forefront in our world. I do think that peace has to come from within, from every one of us. I guess it all begins with me as well.

Namaste!
Peace be with you!

The holiday season can be both stressful and joyous for anyone - sometimes at the same time. One of the big stresses can be holiday shopping for everyone in your life. Every year I feel a small twinge of cynicism when I become attached to the rampant commercialism of the season when I shop for gifts. How were they made? Who benefits from my purchase of this item? Am I buying into the crazy cycle of consumerism when I do my holiday shopping?

This year I plan to buy at least half of my gifts from sources that are “fair trade” in their philosophy.

So what is meant by Fair Trade?

According to the International Fair Trade Association, Fair Trade means:

• Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged workers to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development.
• Accountability and transparency in the trading of goods.
• Gender Equity - Women are empowered and paid for their work.
• A fair price is charged to pass on a liveable profit to the workers, artisans, or producers of goods.
• Healthy Working Conditions that also respect human rights and do not exploit children in the manufacture of goods.
• Responsible environmental practices.

Have you ever stopped to think about those holiday purchases you make, and where your money goes when you buy a gift? One would hope that money could go to workers who make the goods we consume and that they are supported and provided a living wage and adequate working conditions. Unfortunately this just isn’t always so.

Here are a few good places to do your holiday shopping this season that I’ve collected.

Ten Thousand Villages - They have an all volunteer retail staff at a location in St. Paul, at Grand Ave and Victoria!

Global Exchange

Rawganique - Organic hemp cloting!

Real Goods - Environmentally Sustainable gifts here!

Conference of Catholic Bishops - Shopping links galore!

Happy shopping!!

The day after Thanksgiving I went skiing for the first time in my life! Michael, his mom, and I did some cross-country skiing on the trail behind their house. I only fell once, and I think I got the hang of it after a few minutes! I don’t know why I waited this long to try it out. I do realize that it is probably because ski equipment is somewhat pricey. However, so are computers and other things I’ve spent money on, so I guess it was an oversight. I plan to do it again!

I’ve also gotten back into doing Yoga again. I still really enjoy doing the OM Yoga in a Box for beginners. I’m in no way an expert, but I’m seeing some good results as far as greater flexibility, feeling less stressed, and getting better sleep. It was doing yoga that allowed me to make some other good changes in life I’m thinking. I quit caffeine about five months ago, and recently through Michael’s influence, I’ve stopped eating meat. Four months of vegetarian food has exposed me to a whole new world of great tasting food as well!

Winter is here in Minnesota! I’m liking that I’m not letting the winter stop me! More to come on Vegetarian food and yoga (and hopefully skiing too!) in the next few posts!!