Across the Universe

These are the lyrics to the Beatles' song:

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

Happy New Year 5771!

Rosh Hashanah only comes once a year!

It's time to dip the apples in honey and wish for a sweet and happy new year!

L'shanah tovah!

According to www.jewfaq.org:

...there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American midnight drinking bash and daytime football game.

There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one: Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayerbook called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. This was the second Jewish religious practice I was ever exposed to (the first one: lighting Chanukkah candles), and I highly recommend it. It's yummy. We also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason.

Enjoy!

Read, Eat, Pray, Love

I mean read Eat Pray Love, the book. I have!

After I read it I was thinking it has been a long time since I read a novel. But this isn't a novel. It is based on a true story. So is it fiction or non-fiction? It feels more like fiction, because most of the non-fiction I read does not have a story. This one has many vivid characters, and a lot of profound truths. Written as a triad, the author eats her way through Italy, majoring in pizza and gelato, then meditates 16 hours per day, which elevates her kundalini in India, then looks up a medicine man in Bali, who refers her to another healer when her wounded leg becomes infected. She has some interesting experiences in Indonesia, and meets the man of her dreams, even though she has just decided to live a monastic life. The story starts with a divorce, then a torrid love affair, and ends with a friendship which slowly turns to passion. Another triad.

I couldn't put this book down when I picked it up. There are three parts: Italy, India, and Indonesia. It does not go into depth with the author's marriage or divorce, except that it was a very painful, long, drawn-out process. In the first third, Italy was magnificent and the descriptions of food could send you running to your favorite Italian restaurant. The middle is about spirituality and did not translate well to the movie version. And in my opinion, the final third was a little unfocused. Her purpose in Bali was unclear. She set out to eat in Italy, and meditate in India, but went back to Bali to meet a man she met once years earlier, while writing an article. At that time he read her palm, and prophesized that she would come back and stay in Bali. He also promised to teach her everything he knew. I'm not sure he taught it all to her, but he was grateful that she made a permanent copy of all the notes that were given to him by his teachers. Bali looked beautiful. I bet this book, and movie, if nothing else, will at least revitalize the tourism to that island.


This is one woman's voyage of self-discovery in countries beginning with "I."

So another author has written the man's answer to Eat, Pray, Love. It is called Drink, Play, F@#k.

Irish Blessing

May you be blessed in the name of Jesus, who took the cross up the hill so we may be transfigured, in His holy name, may your life be blessed. May deep within you the places of darkness turn towards the light.
When pain comes may you be given a stillness in it. May you be given the wisdom not to resist it, but to let it flow through you.
May you recognize in any suffering that comes to the door of your heart a guest who brings you special gifts and may you have the courage to open that door so that your lovely heart can become larger and more kind and more beautiful.

May you never forget or lose the fruits of light which your own suffering has brought you. May you go back in your mind to recover these lost bright candles of light that you sorely earned and that you now need and may you now be able to gather around you the wonderful shelters that you have received and earned through your own pain.
May you realize that you are sistered to every thing that is alive and that what ever you suffer brings new life to everything that is.
May you never be afraid of suffering because may you know that within the eye of the storm, that there is the stillness of the Divine voice whispering to you that you are safely held within the loving embrace of a great tenderness which will never let anything happen to you.

Though the storms may rage in your heart and all about you, you will never fall out of the tenderness and love and gentle protection of the Divine Embrace.

John O’Donohue