tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-212355172011-12-24T09:55:38.920-05:00Seeking harmony and the music of the heartAutumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.comBlogger2001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-76513743909226448102010-04-25T10:41:00.001-04:002010-04-25T10:48:25.608-04:00

Finally!  Yes, I know I've been away for a VERY long time. No excuses. Sometimes you just need to take a break, I guess. Thanks for hanging with me. :) Today's Sunday Sounds comes from Dave Carroll, a talented Canadian singer-songwriter whom I had the pleasure to hear (and speak with briefly) at a conference in San Mateo, California. The conference was about social media (all this blogging,

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-73210490236950055612010-02-17T09:54:00.000-05:002010-02-17T09:54:55.571-05:00

I've kept this in my email inbox for while. Today seems like a good day to share it...with love. INSTALLING LOVE Author Unknown Tech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you? Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process? Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed? Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-48712256801519987282010-02-14T11:19:00.002-05:002010-02-14T19:14:31.073-05:00

To those who recognize such things, Happy Valentine's Day.  On a day devoted to romantic love, how can I not dedicate Sunday Sounds to himself, da' Bear, Mr. D.  Mr. D has a saying that we've adopted in our household: "Love is a verb or it's a lie."  There's so much truth in those seven words. Love - romantic, Platonic, compassionate, universal, passionate, familial - every kind of love you can

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-85526023883398185992010-02-07T08:50:00.002-05:002010-02-07T08:56:49.284-05:00

Today's Sunday sounds is a beautiful song from a Finnish band, Gjallarhorn. The song is "Suvetar," which translates to Goddess of Spring. I've loved this song and the video from the first time I saw it. My Beloved suggested it this week for Sunday Sounds, and all I could say was, "Heck, yeah!" I feel like I should apologize to all of you for not posting it sooner...it's that good. Belly dancing

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-52375845859962402942010-01-31T10:43:00.001-05:002010-01-31T10:44:11.176-05:00

A beautiful morning in Tennessee...snow still on the ground, sun shining, and a never-ending bird show out my dining room window. A perfect day for Sunday Sounds! Today...two more from Paul Simon. These songs are from the album, "You're The One." Reviews for this album were all over the place. Some loved it..some hated it...some wondered what Paul was smoking. I fall into the love it camp, lock,

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-85144197580847448502010-01-26T13:21:00.000-05:002010-01-26T13:21:51.116-05:00

Spent the weekend at Chattacon (sci-fi/fantasy convention) and failed to share a Sunday Sounds post for only the second time since I started the series. I'll be back next Sunday without fail. Thanks to those who let me know you missed the music. Today, my thoughts are more focused. My beautiful friend Sitara Haye posted the following on her blog today. How can we not be filled with gratitude

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-87981306110759051592010-01-17T12:55:00.000-05:002010-01-17T12:55:06.705-05:00

I'm way behind on blog posts. A recent event has consumed my thoughts for weeks. This post has been on my mind every day and I'm still not sure I can adequately say what I want to say. On December 23, a friend and co-worker, Susan Wood, was killed by a hit-and-run driver. She was crossing the street on her walk from the parking lot to the office. The driver apparently went on to park his car at

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-41018498069443608902010-01-17T10:51:00.001-05:002010-01-17T10:52:16.988-05:00

Have you ever been homesick? Ever found yourself at a place in your life - a physical place and a spot in your life journey - when you know it's time to go home? "Caledonia" captures the essence of that emotion. I love Dougie Maclean's music, and this song was my first introduction to this man's genius and heart. My husband and I were at a Celtic festival in Gainsville, Georgia. As part of the

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-5337689375619760052010-01-03T09:26:00.001-05:002010-01-03T16:04:00.661-05:00

I love bluegrass music. That hasn't always been true. As a child I hated the "twangy" sounds and thought it was hopelessly old-fashioned and uncool. Ah, but I grew up. :) There is something so rich and honest about the harmony, something so communal and shared about the traditional way bluegrass musicians lean in and share a microphone, keying off each other for their pitches, a cooperative,

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-49839245386340928562009-12-27T12:23:00.003-05:002009-12-27T12:41:01.793-05:00

Today has not been a good day for technology. I've been at this for about three and a half hours now, struggling with connections that don't want to connect, disappearing audio, and a host of other gremlins. My astrology-knowledgeable friends tell me to blame Mercury being in retrograde. Whatever is to blame, it's been frustrating. That said...today's Sunday Sounds is a bit of a departure. I

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-64005367281387163532009-12-20T09:30:00.002-05:002009-12-20T09:36:23.723-05:00

Ever been moved to tears by a song? I don't know anyone who hasn't felt their eyes well up a time or two when a song touches something so personal, so intimate, so true that you are instantly in the emotion."Let Me Fall" is one of those songs for me. The song speaks so eloquently of fear and courage and one line...one simple phrase out of all the lovely words...could have come from my own soul...

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-25817742587669164662009-12-17T00:01:00.001-05:002009-12-17T00:01:02.322-05:00

How do you help a young child explore the concept of inner guidance? How do you talk to your children about diversity, facing their fears, listening to their body's wisdom? Yvonne Perry has written a delightful series of children's stories that explore these topics and more. Inspired by her grandson, Sidney, Yvonne has woven her weekend visits and adventures with Sidney into charming tales.

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-14307714477537349042009-12-16T12:19:00.000-05:002009-12-16T12:19:53.523-05:00

Christmas music makes me smile...and that's good because there's no escaping it!  Today I heard Mariah Carey singing, "Joy to the World"...and she really rocks that song!  The lyrics of the song struck me as particularly appropriate today: "Let every heart prepare him room..." Whether you celebrate the birth of the Son or the rebirth of the sun...there's a lot of wisdom in those words. We have

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-51924968111436695792009-12-13T09:06:00.001-05:002009-12-13T13:54:15.352-05:00

Another Sunday, another song...I love Sundays! Today's song is "Hymn" by the amazing Three Weird Sisters. These beautiful ladies (and several friends, as evidenced on the featured track today) have been a constant presence in our home since we were introduced to them back in... well, I don't remember when. I do remember when I heard this song; it was at the North Georgia Celtic Festival a few

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-18106321296198306892009-12-08T12:48:00.002-05:002009-12-08T12:52:03.114-05:00

As a Pagan, my view of the "Christmas Story" is most certainly not the same one shared by most of my Christian friends and family. Still, I love the holiday season and find a lot of lessons and inspiration in the Biblical story of Jesus' birth. One need not take the myth literally to benefit from it.One such lesson has recently "smacked me up'side the head" and has put the story of Mary and the

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-54756477262128524502009-12-06T09:32:00.003-05:002009-12-06T09:43:08.223-05:00

From the heart of IndigoSatin...my beautiful, loving, and gifted friend...another post to share with you. Her prayer is my own, so beautifully stated that I could not hope to improve on it. She has a gift, and she is a gift to my heart, in my life. You can find more of her heart and words here. May her words take root and grow strong. Enough- IndigoSatinHow do you say 'ENOUGH' so loudly that it

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-36305644025629342792009-12-06T09:01:00.000-05:002009-12-06T09:01:03.459-05:00

Good morning (or afternoon, or evening...whenever and wherever you are)! Today's gift of music and prayer comes from Bobby McFerrin, from an album that rests near the top of the list of five albums I would keep if I had to give up all others. The album is Medicine Music and the song is "The 23rd Psalm." This much loved Psalm speaks so profoundly of gratitude, of saying "yes" to all that is

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-29166787559436001342009-12-01T20:37:00.001-05:002009-12-01T20:45:06.237-05:00

How often do you speak "the words of power?" I don't know how you answered that question, but my answer is, "Every time I open my mouth...and even when I don't." The words I use to speak and to think are part of my personal power. The way I speak to myself and others is one of the ways I exercise control and influence in the world.Words have power. Magical practitioners of all ilks have long

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-3772451024651478172009-11-29T09:10:00.002-05:002009-11-29T10:47:39.665-05:00

Today's Sunday Sounds is a very personal post. With Thanksgiving Day just behind us, I'm still enjoying a heightened sense of gratitude for all the good things in my life. Family and the beauty that surround me every day are at the top of the list. Friends sit right at the top, too...but I won't use pictures of my friends online without permission, and waking them up on Sunday morning to gather

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-71569696535290702052009-11-24T07:32:00.002-05:002009-11-24T07:33:57.089-05:00

My friend WitchGeek pointed me toward this blog, Pagan Godspell. The beauty of this post in particular almost made me weep. Such beautiful imagery and honest writing...well worth visiting often!Speaking of WitchGeek, have you visited The Accidental Streghone? You should. WitchGeek is a researcher for the love of it and a good writer. His articles are well organized, well researched, and easily

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-55922399538695632722009-11-22T08:58:00.001-05:002009-11-22T09:10:56.275-05:00

It's true...I have been on a Lyle Lovett kick lately. That's nothing new...I've been a fan of Mr. Lovett for a long time. I always hope that sharing his music will create more fans. "Here I Am" is witty, fast, and musically delightful. Enjoy...and if you find yourself liking Lyle Lovett more than you anticipated, please pick up a CD and give him a listen. I recommend "Live in Texas" or "Step

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-16677289350193543522009-11-20T08:34:00.002-05:002009-11-20T08:46:46.027-05:00

What do you believe about death? What do you believe about life?What do you believe about choices people make and their right to make them?We spend a lot of time out of our lives being angry or upset at other people for choices they make that have little to do with us. The anger or upset usually comes from worrying about them, feeling fear that someone we love will do something that will hurt

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-44974592968385178622009-11-15T15:17:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:17:28.699-05:00

Lyle Lovett, one of my favorites, has a new album. I'm listening to "Natural Forces" online right now, and I will be purchasing a copy before sundown today. If you're familiar with Lyle Lovett, give Natural Forces a listen. He's hard to peg into a genre. He's got a more "country" sound than a lot of current Top 40 country, but nothing like "traditional" country music. You'll hear hint of little

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-46857048961914469702009-11-15T08:48:00.001-05:002009-11-15T08:53:20.613-05:00

This morning...Dan Fogleberg and "Part of the Plan" from the album "Souvenirs"So much of life seems like there is no plan...no rhyme or reason to the random bits of madness that dot the landscape. And yet...when I look back on my life, I know that the person I am today is a result of my experiences, the lessons learned and wisdom gained from dealing with the random bits. Maybe the plan is this:

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-33209484731910147942009-11-10T21:27:00.001-05:002009-11-10T21:30:13.321-05:00

Do you know what you believe? Most people say yes. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of the people who say yes, when questioned, don't really know what they believe about a whole host of things that affect their lives. I believe (ah, here's one I know!) that what we believe is the key to how we feel, how we respond, how we live. I also believe (another!) that we can change what

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-66917422843353403132009-11-08T09:14:00.000-05:002009-11-08T09:14:16.319-05:00

Today's Sunday Sounds is one of the newer pieces from Neil Diamond. I'm sure Neil isn't aware of how much time we've spent together in my life, starting when I was about ten years old. My appreciation for his music matured along with his songwriting There are as many interpretations of this song as there are listeners. People will argue passionately that it's a love song; others will argue just

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-5286237697053295192009-11-06T19:08:00.004-05:002009-11-10T21:27:27.299-05:00

I am a witch. A lot of different images and thoughts may come to mind when you read that, depending on your perspective. There have been a million and one (give or take a few) essays, articles, and books about what a witch is or isn't, and I'm not going to write another. Rather than providing yet another definition, I'm going to focus on what is, in my opinion, the single greatest tool and

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-74286846764968635572009-11-03T11:59:00.002-05:002009-11-03T12:03:23.157-05:00

My daughter Amybeth wrote a note recently that must be shared. In her note, as in her life, she embodies the ideals of "kindness, compassion, tolerance, and civility" that I hold so dear. She also has a very fine way with words. :)A thank you note...So, recently, a very good friend of mine sent me a gift. She spent hard-earned cash and precious time out of her busy life to send me a quirky little

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-53065817349667025972009-11-01T08:07:00.003-05:002009-11-01T11:43:24.237-05:00

The divine in me ... the divine that is me ... wishes the beautiful, incredible, divine you a wonder-filled fall Sunday. The Universe IS listening ... pay attention to what you say today ... speak truth ... speak love ... speak gratitude. Send a message to yourself and know that you are loved.Blessings, friends...and may the coming year be filled with living, with love, and with

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-7691617907700449412009-10-25T09:38:00.001-04:002009-10-25T09:42:03.423-04:00

We had a wonderful Samhain celebration here last night...one I will carry with me all year. As a result of my well after two AM bedtime and my hungover without the alcohol, sleep-deprived state this morning, today's song is a gentle, wordless offering. :)Emerald Rose is one of our family's favorite bands. They played at our wedding; in fact, we scheduled our wedding around their availability

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-15557165828869495832009-10-21T16:46:00.001-04:002009-10-21T16:47:19.473-04:00

...my beautiful, loving, and as yet unmet friend, Maithri Goonetilleke, and his amazing blog, The Soaring Impulse. Words so true, so necessary to hear and remember, they must be shared.Beloved,There are days when nothing seems right. When every shell you pick up on the winding shore is broken. When the silken treasure slips through your fingers too quickly. When comforts are empty. And the world

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-83689483739966617332009-10-17T23:07:00.005-04:002009-10-18T20:52:43.565-04:00

Sunday again? Yay! That means I get to so another Sunday Sounds post. You have no idea how hard it is for me not to just fill this blog with music every day. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share the music that stirs my soul. Today's offering: Paul Simon's "Under African Skies" from the album "Graceland". The beautiful female voice is Linda Ronstadt, another favorite of mine. "This

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-45861160143075864282009-10-15T07:52:00.002-04:002009-10-15T08:13:11.487-04:00

Today is Blog Action Day. Each year on October 15, bloggers around the world join forces to write on one topic. This year's topic: climate change. As a follower of an earth-centered or nature-based spirituality, you would think the topic would be near and dear to my heart and show up frequently in this blog. You would be half right. Since you haven't seen a lot of posts about it, you probably

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-38622146511667965142009-10-12T22:59:00.001-04:002009-10-12T23:01:11.508-04:00

I haven't done a photo post like this in a while, but I had the urge tonight to just share things that have caught my eye of late. Grateful eyes see beauty everywhere. With all the rain we've had lately...well, there seems to be a theme. A Gerbera daisy in my yard Beads of water on a leaf on the deck Cherry tomatoes in our garden Water droplets on the dressina plant All photos by Linda

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-55774798710033013882009-10-11T08:58:00.001-04:002009-10-11T09:08:05.932-04:00

Welcome back to Sunday Sounds!  Today's offering is by a Pagan-oriented band out of the Northwest, Gaia Consort. These guys are so, so good! Pagan music in general has gotten a lot better in the last few years. Artists are maturing and, more importantly, audiences for Pagan music are growing, attracting a larger group of musicians to the genre. That's good news all around. I've always wanted

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-20289175039785519582009-10-09T11:47:00.004-04:002009-10-09T17:02:12.522-04:00

I'm working at home today, sitting behind my laptop screen at my dining room table. The doors onto the deck afford me a healthy dose of sunshine and an ever changing floor show of bird, leaves, wind, and weather. Moments ago I heard a rustle and looked up to see a flurry of leaves falling to the ground, shaken loose by the breeze...and I was broadsided by memories of so many autumns, so many

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-29556084798584937192009-10-04T09:36:00.001-04:002009-10-04T11:33:03.678-04:00

I couldn't decide between two songs for this week's Sunday Sounds, so you get a two-fer! These songs are written by two immensely talented songwriters. I've heard both Leonard Cohen and Sting perform their respective songs and they moved me deeply. But Jeff Buckley and Eva Cassidy, two gifted singers who died young, "owned" these songs. When they sing the words, something more than the original

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-33291315136559275932009-10-02T15:38:00.005-04:002009-10-06T10:13:00.428-04:00

A friend is crossing the veil today...and the Old Ones will welcome one of their own, a bright smile and beautiful spirit.  Friend, father, husband, brother, son...Kelly will be remembered with love. My eyes look to the west tonight...rest well, friend...well done. Kelly's death is a stark reminder of just how thin and fragile is the line between death and life. We go about our lives each

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-82173479315133415062009-10-01T11:58:00.003-04:002009-10-01T12:00:26.584-04:00

A cherished friend and heart sister wrote this poem recently. Her background is Christian and she has described her spiritual leanings fairly recently as a Christian-Buddhist-Pagan mix. Her words touched me deeply and I wanted to share them with you. It is, I believe, the first stanza that captured me most. What courage lives in those three short lines..and what wonders await us when we set

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-52349695327470242452009-09-27T00:05:00.004-04:002009-10-03T21:35:28.477-04:00

Today's offering: Mark Knopfler and James Taylor, "Sailing to Philadelphia" from "Sailing to Philadelphia." I can't tell you all the ways this song moves me...two amazing singers...soul-stirring instrumentation...and oh, those the lyrics...the story...the way my heart and soul and gut can feel the dreams, the fear, the excitement...yeah, it's just a killer song. Knopfler says he "respectfully

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-46339641620526348462009-09-23T14:22:00.003-04:002009-09-23T15:05:10.359-04:00

Days come and go work flows in and out and blends into continuous shades of gray and grayer. We put on our corporate masks take on our business casual aspects and don the drab mantle of political correctness. Then you drop by and for a few minutes we talk with each other not at each other using real words about real things in a real conversation. A spot of bright color appears and spreads

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-86953647831172226472009-09-21T12:19:00.001-04:002009-09-22T10:12:32.946-04:00

In Wiccan ritual circles, it is traditional to share a bit of food and drink near the end of the ritual. The plate and cup are passed to each participant with the words, “May you never hunger,” and, “May you never thirst.”It’s one of my favorite parts of ritual…but I’ve always been nagged just a bit by the words. To never know hunger…to never thirst…isn’t quite right.I don’t know that changing a

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-74944059532163229322009-09-20T00:14:00.002-04:002009-10-03T21:29:36.034-04:00

Music plays a big role in my life. I've always felt that no one really knows me until they know the music that moves me. So...with a tip of my pointed hat to Sitara Haye for the idea and without further ado...welcome to Sunday Sounds. Each Sunday I'll post a piece of music. There's no theme, no buried motive...just the music I love. Selections will be heavy on the singer/songwriter side of

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-64794600966912737672009-09-19T11:17:00.001-04:002009-09-19T12:22:12.886-04:00

Watching a fishing show with my husband this morning, interested more in his interest and the lake scenery than the fishing, a sporting goods commercial caught my attention:"Ignore victory; disregard defeat; look inward to what matters most."When I look back on my life so far, there have been a lot of wins and losses. I can still feel the emotion...the elation of the win, the despair of the loss.

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-32733561097397623932009-09-18T21:11:00.008-04:002009-09-23T16:42:57.752-04:00

What fascinates you? Captures your attention, fires your imagination, drives you to learn more, and creates in you a sense of mystery and wonder? I was playing around in my photo editor this morning, working with a photo I'd snapped of a Gerbera Daisy in my garden after a rain shower a few days ago. I dropped out all the background and adjusted the colors for more or less pure primary hues -

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-60067636492659492822009-09-15T09:16:00.000-04:002009-09-15T09:16:04.613-04:00

I found this quote this morning in my "A Word A Day" email from Anu Garg: All I ask is this: Do something. Try something. Speaking out, showing up, writing a letter, a check, a strongly worded e-mail. Pick a cause -- there are few unworthy ones. And nudge yourself past the brink of tacit support to action. Once a month, once a year, or just once. -Joss Whedon, writer and film director (b. 1964)

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-16971162688828220232009-09-13T09:50:00.002-04:002009-09-13T10:06:50.253-04:00

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self, so therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility. - Kahlil Gibran I attended a community ritual last night. It was a beautiful ritual about remembering where you come from, knowing that all that has transpired in

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-53415736213195904032009-09-11T12:52:00.000-04:002009-09-11T12:52:17.484-04:00

I, like many if not most Americans, have had the events of 9/11 on my mind all day. My heart still aches for those who died in fear and pain, and the families, friends, and shell-shocked nation they left behind. That pain extends to the perpetrators of the attack, who also lost their lives in an attempt to fulfil what they believed to be a God-given mission. My heart aches, too, for the affect

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-2179472993781989402009-09-10T13:04:00.001-04:002009-09-10T13:16:48.773-04:00

Today my old hippie soul rejoiced and laughed and smiled and nearly cried. The cause of all this ruckus? A beautiful blog I found today. The Hippie Parade is full of love and peace and life and the ups and downs of every single day with your eyes open to look for love and peace and life. And even if you've never considered yourself a hippie, old or otherwise, you will find a blessing in the

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-77938000704738276232009-09-08T17:18:00.001-04:002009-09-08T17:19:40.984-04:00

I am always looking for ways to better articulate things I believe, things I know...those bits of hard-earned (or generoulsly gifted) wisdom that have made such a difference in my life. For all the certainty I feel about these things, finding the words eludes me. As you can imagine, that's a frustrating state for a writer. Once in a while, I come across another writer's work that accomplishes

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-50523241854253740642009-09-07T09:56:00.000-04:002009-09-07T09:56:57.513-04:00

If you identify as Pagan in any of its various forms, please consider completing the Pagan Census Survey. This survey was first conducted 20 years ago and is being conducted again to measure change. I'll be completing the survey later today, and I hope you'll add your answers. And here in the United States, today is Labor Day. May the labors of your hands and hearts be blessed; may you always

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-81057346945980744262009-09-06T10:49:00.002-04:002009-09-06T10:51:44.347-04:00

“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” -- Robert F Kennedy "Love is a verb or it's a lie." - Jim

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-27753719376730700002009-09-03T10:05:00.010-04:002009-09-04T09:18:50.163-04:00

You’re leaving, aren’t you? Yes. Why? How many times must we go through this? I’m tired. I’m done. There is nothing more I can do here. But I love you! How can you just leave like this? What we have is so…so…intense. Intense…that’s a good word for it. Too intense. All on, all the time…nobody can sustain that forever. It’s too demanding, too draining, too… Too what? Too much for you? Fine

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-23020498601322076372009-09-01T21:38:00.001-04:002009-09-01T21:38:50.491-04:00

Cotton candy sunset, originally uploaded by Heartsong Images.I stopped for milk on the way home from work recently. None too happy with having to stop, I was grumbling to myself as I left the store...but not for long. The All gifted me with a cotton candy sunset. What a lovely surprise!

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-68808233649812924912009-08-21T17:53:00.005-04:002009-08-21T18:07:25.897-04:00

My day started with a walk in the woods behind our home. Nothing spectacular happened...unless you count just being in the woods as the sun climbs over the ridge...and I do. Come with me... Spider webs abound. I didn't have the heart to damage this one. She'd already taken a hit (near the top) and her tasty breakfast was trapped in the center. I changed my entire route to avoid tearing up her

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-16983633003628287752009-08-20T11:57:00.011-04:002009-08-21T10:05:22.523-04:00

I work downtown, and we have some of the most interesting wildlife here.  Yesterday, a red tailed hawk who frequents the area perched and posed for me just outside my office building. What a treat! Click on the pictures for a larger view.  Click here to learn more about these beautiful birds.  Red Tailed Hawks are also powerful totem animals. These hawks are exceptional hunters, and falconers

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-27226517855854318142009-08-18T23:41:00.000-04:002009-08-18T23:41:47.951-04:00

Everyone likes a compliment, and I just got a nice one. The folks at "Schmap!! Beyond the Map" selected one of my photos for publication in their online city guide to San Francisco. That's a very nice compliment! It's also a rather interesting business model. They apparently search Flickr and possibly other photo sites for pictures. When they find ones they like, they create a "short list" and

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-66138555524516431792009-08-18T16:05:00.001-04:002009-08-18T23:52:59.257-04:00

I've found a great new WordPress template for the Hymnal, and I'll be calling on my friend and web crafter extraordinaire, Julie at LadyCelt Designs, to help pull it all together soon. I'm so excited!The move will take a little while, but I don't want to dally long, so please watch this space for news of our new address. Getting fancy new digs for the Hymnal won't be any fun if you don't come

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-28427604128369555072009-08-18T08:58:00.000-04:002009-08-18T08:58:23.307-04:00

I was running a bit late this morning. That's not terribly unusual, sad to say, but this morning my lateness was compounded by a need to run an errand five miles in the opposite direction from my usual work route, and to stop for gas.  My errand route took me almost due east. As I'm racing along, I top a hill and catch the most beautiful sunrise...a true take-your-breath-away vision of gold,

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-36534829155389927352009-08-13T18:34:00.157-04:002009-08-15T11:06:04.153-04:00

Church signs have caught my eye several times of late. Here's the latest: Pity the poor atheist who feels grateful and has no one to thank. If you've been reading here for any time at all, you know that gratitude is one of the fundamental spiritual principles of my life. There are times when I am so filled with gratitude, with appreciation and receptiveness, that I feel like I might just burst,

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-27024411244252796922009-08-13T10:36:00.008-04:002009-08-13T12:17:05.935-04:00

Do you ever have those moments when something you don't even know you know comes gently into your mind, into your set of knowledge, as if it had always been there? Comfortable, old knowledge...something you know in your skin, in your breath...know without effort. I am not a knowledgeable gardner. My beloved is far more knowledgeable than I am about these things, and even he will quickly tell you

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-74029137929552987452009-08-07T12:44:00.001-04:002009-08-07T12:45:45.833-04:00

Since I started this blog a few years ago, I’ve managed to attract a smattering of intelligent, thoughtful, regular readers and a fair number of equally delightful drop-ins. I am grateful for each of you and for each visit you make to my little choir loft. My posts have ranged from personal rants, to pedantic lectures in print, to sharing things I find on the web or photos from my ever-present

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-28848360280304179662009-07-29T11:00:00.004-04:002009-07-29T15:27:41.026-04:00

That's me. And you. And we need to get busy. The world is waiting. I posted recently about the tendency for groups and individuals to identify themselves as much by who hates them as by who and what they are. Several thoughtful comments (Alli Silverwing, Sitara, Zephyr - thank you!) netted a host of theories as to the whys of the behavior. In response, Sitara Haye asked, "How do we change

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-42835329420816707072009-07-29T10:11:00.001-04:002009-07-29T10:21:57.062-04:00

One of my favorite bloggers and a personal hero, Maithri Goonetilleke, posted yet another beautiful reminder of our connections and our resonsibility to each other. I hope you read this wonderful story that includes the words... Sometimes people tell me that the little things we do, don't count. That they are lost to the winds, like little leaves in a storm. With all my heart, I know they're

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-50495173638600236782009-07-25T09:35:00.000-04:002009-07-25T09:35:13.216-04:00

...then you really need to visit Sitara Haye's beautiful website and join in the discussion there. Most recently, this post about lineage verses self-made Wiccans caught my attention. I've already voiced my opinion there, and I am eager to read the comments of others...including you. Sitara's entire site is a wonderland and not to be missed. Go check it out and, should you be inclined, join in

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-2743848293382169252009-07-19T20:09:00.003-04:002009-07-19T20:11:10.193-04:00

Unhappy because power had not been restored to her home after a damaging storm, an irate customer called her local power company to complain.* Customer: I can see the truck from my window, and there are six men out there, but only one of them is in the bucket fixing anything on the pole! The rest of them are just standing around on the ground! Why aren’t those other men working? Power employee:

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-50885071596428627522009-07-15T14:59:00.000-04:002009-07-15T14:59:53.796-04:00

Just sharing some joy from the garden. We've started harvesting vegetables regularly now, but we've been havesting beauty for weeks. Enjoy!

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-20593506194854025022009-07-15T14:48:00.003-04:002009-10-28T16:11:24.165-04:00

I saw this sign on a church on my way to work this morning: My first thought was that it was a clever reverse approach to the multitude of “message from God” signs so popular locally – “We need to talk.” – God “My house on Sunday – hope to see you there.” – God “How ‘bout introducing me to your friends?” – God My next thought was more interesting: Why is it that so many of us,

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-87896637682252125342009-07-10T09:39:00.004-04:002009-07-10T17:12:34.235-04:00

I had blackberries for breakfast this morninggrown on a nearby mountain by a coupleno longer young but still in their prime. I tasted their youth, felt the grit between my teethof a too-tight budget and a too-small house,smelled their dreams of acreage, farmland, a life made rich and fullby sweat and soil and a solid work ethic.I mashed up my berries and watched the juice run in the bowl,saw

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-11765318058204208582009-07-06T13:22:00.000-04:002009-07-06T13:22:02.504-04:00

We must find peace... Enjoy.

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-53864908764875853902009-06-29T11:36:00.010-04:002009-06-30T08:55:27.739-04:00

A dear friend invited me to participate in a gathering wherein each participant would have five minutes to share their spiritual truth. No other guidelines were given, and each was to be listened to with respect and appreciation and without discussion. Unfortunately, through a communications snafu I missed the event, and I hope we follow through on plans to do it again. I spent quite a bit of

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-82435956838511498222009-06-25T10:08:00.006-04:002009-06-30T08:58:58.805-04:00

I got a comment from the lovely and talented Sitara Haye nudging me to get off my blogger's arse and write something. She reminded me that I don't have to be profound or even articulate...just write something. "Something has moved you in the last couple of months," she said. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love you, Sitara, and I still hate it when you're right and I have to get up off the proverbial comfy

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-15728699573863578262009-05-25T12:47:00.032-04:002009-05-28T16:48:55.040-04:00

On the way to work a couple of days ago, I heard Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton on the radio singing, "When I Get Where I'm Going" (written by George Teren and Rivers Rutherford)... Yeah when I get where I'm goinThere'll be only happy tearsI will shed the sins and strugglesI have carried all these yearsAnd I'll leave my heart wide openI will love and have no fearYeah when I get where I'm

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-38304371235855135042009-05-21T17:18:00.000-04:002009-05-21T17:18:09.466-04:00

After my post yesterday about opening the God door, I had to share something. I was given a couple of glimpses of God today by people for whom, I'm sure, opening the God door was the last thing on their minds. The first came early this morning as I was walking into the office. A few yards from the door, I heard behind me, "She's running...she's running! She's running to catch up to YOU!"  I

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-9479146308090518002009-05-20T21:35:00.004-04:002009-05-20T23:03:36.693-04:00

My friend and beautiful, creative sister, Sitara Haye, said something last night that has stayed on my mind all day.  We (the members of my wonderful writing group) were talking about all the ways we keep ourselves from realizing our creative dreams.  Sitara said (loosely quoted)... Consider that what sets humans apart from other earthly beings is our ability to create, to do more than merely

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-75159525104250885412009-04-29T11:40:00.004-04:002009-04-29T12:01:20.314-04:00

I heard a speaker at the conference I'm attending (Society for New Communications Research in San Francisco, talking about protecting our "egosystem." By the time I figured out I had misheard him, that he really said "ecosystem," my mind had already taken off on the idea of egosystems and how we operate within them. Is there a better word for the complex environment of people and personalities

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-32403799008151018202009-04-27T21:41:00.015-04:002009-04-27T22:09:08.997-04:00

Hello from beautiful San Francisco! It really is beautiful, too...the weather is gorgeous, the city vibrant and fun. I'm grateful to be here and wanted to share some photos with you from my touristy trip through town yesterday. I'll share those a little further down in this post, but first, something more important...Have you heard about DonorsChoose.org? I am so totally pumped about this

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-1225304350102876132009-04-22T11:08:00.002-04:002009-04-22T11:09:19.344-04:00

I'm enjoying the flurry of messages bounding around my workplace, each encouraging us to recycle, plant trees, grow flowers, drive less, walk more...all the good, green practices that Earth Day brings to top of mind. Along with all those active, Earth-friendly practices, I'd like to suggest that we add a mindfulness component to our Earth Day: When you eat a meal, take a moment to be mindful of

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-75056348960683625552009-04-09T09:01:00.003-04:002009-04-09T09:31:14.131-04:00

Yes...yes, yes, yes!I love this poem by fellow blogger Maithri Goonetielke at The Soaring Impulse. The imagery, the unashamed intimacy, the sensual nature of the words you feel more than read, and my favorite part...Where wildness is sanctified, And humanness is holy...What a wonderful place that is...where we don't try to separate our wild, human nature from our spitirual nature...where we

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-19665302511066330162009-04-06T18:46:00.002-04:002009-04-06T18:50:24.874-04:00

When you pray for rain, buy an umbrella. I asked the universe to rain on me and end the creative drought I found myself in. Salvation came in torrents, waves of beautiful, quenching relief that washed over me like a flood, waking me up and bringing me back to life. I went to a women's retreat this past weekend. We called it a Goddess Weekend, but I like the name a friend from Twitter used for a

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-89231224859895272972009-03-24T19:03:00.005-04:002009-03-24T19:19:55.047-04:00

I am parched. Cracked.Dry as dust and windblown.Not a drop of creative juice is flowing. It seems that all my energy of late has been expended on work and getting over a sinus infection, and there just isn't anything left over for this blog or any of my other writing endeavors. I want a rain dance. Sweet, Blessed Lady, send me a gully washer!While I await the gentle-to-pounding rain to come...

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-41090322508730950862009-03-12T17:51:00.003-04:002009-03-12T17:56:54.521-04:00

Wow...I've been away for a long time. I've missed you!I just finished (finally!) reading "Life of Pi"...a wonderful book. In it, the main character as a child wants nothing so much as to know and love god. He finds willing teachers...the Rabbi, the Imam, the Priest...and studies with all of them, willingly and happily enjoying the good things he finds there, mixing and matching the prayers and

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-60222140349215001032009-02-26T18:56:00.000-05:002009-02-26T18:56:46.730-05:00

I've become quite a fan of the HBO Series "Big Love" that airs on Sunday nights. The show features a fictional Mormon family who live "The Principle" - the idea that a man should take multiple wives and have many children. I don't know much about The Principle; actually, I don't know anything other than the tiny bit I've gleaned from the show, and I don't count an HBO series an accurate source

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-32502488940988862222009-02-20T10:35:00.000-05:002009-02-20T10:35:38.159-05:00

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-52444964151855675892009-02-20T08:04:00.002-05:002009-02-20T08:06:08.894-05:00

...a man whose loving heart and spirit shine through his words. Dr. Maithri Goonetilleke is a medical doctor and gifted writer in Australia. His website, The Soaring Impulse, houses his beautiful poetry and his work toward growing love, compassion, and peace in the world. He is a bright light in the blogosphere and I encourage you to visit his site, read his words, feel his heart and mind and

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-84422285062771981932009-02-16T17:22:00.000-05:002009-02-16T17:22:55.351-05:00

I love to share with you things I stumble across on the web.  Today, the find is "Interfaith Heroes" - a section of a website called Read the Spirit. The site features, "...true stories of men and women who risked crossing religious boundaries to heal communities and, in many cases, to save lives."  Martin Luther King, Jr., Thich Naht Hanh, The Dalai Lama, Corrie Ten Boom, and many more are

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-70909791941825901582009-02-12T07:04:00.002-05:002009-02-12T07:42:34.736-05:00

I ran across a charming website today called My Inner World. It's the gentle work of Michele Bernhardt , filled with pretty illustrations and thoughtful insights - nothing heavy or dense but worth a visit.  Besides the pretty drawings and nifty Flash work, I picked up something really useful from the site. Michelle talks about the concept of "freeing a word" in her site, noting the power of

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-87462164530855733142009-02-05T13:29:00.006-05:002009-02-05T15:08:00.265-05:00

What is it about us that insists on labeling ourselves and each other? We apply and wear all kinds of labels. Christian, Pagan, conservative, liberal, straight, gay, pro-life, pro-choice…you name it and we’ve got a label for it. We seem to have a need to distinguish ourselves from others not of our kind and to identify with those who are. Labels are a kind of shorthand for describing ourselves

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-77500640654284554472009-01-18T11:52:00.112-05:002009-01-27T19:51:03.446-05:00

I received an email  from someone at work recently (who reads this blog and will know I'm talking about him) that made my heart sing. He just asked if we could sit down and talk sometime about my path. In his words, "I'm generally fascinated with the teachings of Wicca and Paganism (well, I’m fascinated with teachings of most faiths, but I like naturalistic aspects of the two particularly), and

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-49645465619331835072009-01-13T19:20:00.003-05:002009-01-14T11:03:30.512-05:00

Back in October, I participated in Blog Action Day by posting on the 2008 theme, poverty. I felt pretty good about the post and about the response it generated (I made good on my promise) and then, sad to say, I pretty much forgot all about it.A recent essay on The Witches' Voice yanked my chain and shamed me back into awareness. Jeffrey Pierce's, "The Magick of Giving" is an engagingly written

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-17849898133267880982009-01-05T23:59:00.012-05:002009-01-10T09:03:18.497-05:00

Sharing some beautiful things that have captured my eye, my lens, my heart of late... Heraclitus said (loosely paraphrased) that a man cannot stand in the same stream twice because it is never the same stream and he is not the same man. We are constantly in flux, dynamic, evolving, works of art and works in progress.  The stream is always moving.   I love sunrise, expecially in winter. As the

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-35199314965217027722008-12-30T12:24:00.003-05:002008-12-30T13:52:22.760-05:00

I want to live in a peaceful world.  The whole world, not just my little spot on the hill here in Tennessee. Jim and I have managed to bring our dream of a peaceful, welcoming home into reality and we're grateful...but it's hard not to feel helpless and overwhelmed when we look at the larger world and realize we have no control over events. I can't transform the whole world. Or can I?  I've

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-87382098449577318562008-12-27T22:27:00.006-05:002008-12-27T23:39:33.937-05:00

Yvonne Perry of Writers in the Sky has honored me with an Honest Scrap Award. The award is for bloggers who blog honestly and from the heart, and I'm really flattered. There are no medals, no trophies, no big checks to cash...just the opportunity to share ten of my deepest secrets with you. I also get to nominate seven additional bloggers for an Honest Scrap Award, which I will do at the bottom

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-27455474429879878162008-12-17T15:58:00.000-05:002008-12-17T16:28:25.719-05:00

I never cease to be amazed at the revelations and lessons life offers...and what a slow learner I can be. When I fell and injured my arm last week, I was with two friends I dearly love.  I know, too, that they love me. They made their love a verb by making sure I was cared for and working together to get me back to the office, to the ER, and back to connect with my daughter (who, along with her

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-10001312156012240572008-12-13T11:44:00.001-05:002008-12-13T12:43:36.226-05:00

My recent brush with the law (more of a collision, really) has reinforced once again that crime doesn't pay. Apparently, neither does confident, joyous exhuberence...the kind you feel when you're out with two of your best friends and enjoying the conversation so much that you turn and walk backward on the sidewalk to keep talking and fail to see the big chunk missing which your foot finds

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-7597813945228489932008-12-10T18:32:00.000-05:002008-12-10T18:33:19.691-05:00

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-13142985662483706262008-12-10T06:33:00.003-05:002008-12-10T07:33:17.753-05:00

No...really...hold me back. Take my car keys away. Help me remember how committed I was to driving slower, consolidating trips, and working from home when gas was $4.00 a gallon. And while you're at it, don't let me buy ice cream.I feel a little like a child who insists on playing with a sharp knife. I cut my finger, just a little; it hurt and it bled and it scared me. But then the bleeding

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-24200205587282834172008-12-09T10:53:00.005-05:002008-12-09T21:37:16.464-05:00

These are not my words; they are my thoughts. I could not have said them better myself.Religion and Politics Do Not MixBy Yvonne PerryYou may have been taught in school that America was founded upon Christianity, but proof of such is not reflected in the writings of our founding fathers. In fact, the first six American presidents were actually opposed to the doctrine and dogma of

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-47089336350124886892008-12-08T07:28:00.006-05:002008-12-08T12:26:45.120-05:00

What is the perfect family unit? Western culture has firmly embraced the notion of the one-man-one-woman-plus-children as the ideal family, the one to which we should all aspire. Is it? Is that the family you grew up in, the family you live in now? Is it the family of your friends, neighbors, relations? In "The Perfect Family is a Myth", Cornell University anthropologist Meredeth F. Small

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21235517.post-73002076457228758042008-12-06T07:33:00.005-05:002008-12-10T16:54:08.358-05:00

I don't get it.More Americans than ever, a pretty clear majority if a recent Newsweek poll is any indicator, are in favor of granting gays and lesbians virtually all the legal rights associated with marriage, but not allowing them to get married. Read the full poll results to see the numbers. Actually, I do get it. It's the same issue I've railed about in previous posts. We have allowed the word

Autumn Heartsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com4