Posted by Theadora
(http://theodoragoss.com/2011/11/29/simplicity/)
I'm just passing it along for others who care about Terri Windling
"Let me tell you about the auction to benefit Terri Windling.
Terri has been one of the benefactresses of the
fantasy community for many years. She is a writer,
artist, and editor, and writes one of my favorite blogs, The Drawing Board
She is also one of the loveliest people you are ever like to meet.
Because she’s been dealing with medical and legal issues,
her friends have set up an auction to help her out.
The most astonishing things are being auctioned:
art by some of the best fantasy artists, plenty of signed books, opportunities to have your manuscripts critiqued,
and some truly strange and interesting items.
If you’d like to see what the auction has to offer, click here"
“Each day as I leave the confines of my language and culture, these creatures seem to become in every way my superiors. They are more alert, sensitive, and aware. They’re in many ways, in fact, more intelligent. They’re understanding of the forest is beyond my ability to comprehend.”
source On Being "A public radio project hosted and produced by Krista Tippett, with a production staff of five including me, Chris Heagle, Nancy Rosenbaum,
Jackie Morris
Published by Frances Lincoln 2010
Audio Produced by bluemoon studios, St Davids Pembrokeshire
"When the great bear wakes in her ice den to find that one of her two cubs has been taken, she holds the second child close, but never forgets her lost child.
When a childless couple are given their hearts desire,
they too hold their new found child close.
But is Raven a force for evil or a force for good?
And when the child finds that the time has come to make a choice,
which will he choose?Set in the pristine polar regions of the Arctic,
"Love, accepting that we are not pure and lucent hearts, ricocheting towards each other like unlatched stars—no, we are tainted with self.
We sometimes believe the self is an invisible glass,
just as we believe the body is a suit made of meat.
Doubt all things invisible.
Doubt all things visible."
Einstein On God
"Often misquoted, Einstein strove for clarity in regard to his personal beliefs.
Some early photographs, thoughts written by his own hand, and the writings of his biographers comprise this well-referenced excerpt from the Christopher Hitchens
book 'The Portable Atheist.' Read by Nicholas Ball."
"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
"There is no need for temples,
no need for complicated philosophies.
My brain and my heart are my temples;
my philosophy is kindness."
A 'religion', I continue to aspire to, and a philosophy I must remind myself to remember. I'm still 'practicing' staying conscious enough in the fleeting 'now' of my days to reign in the flow of emotions that sometimes catch me in their whirlwind grasp - toss me around and round.
Mary Oliver
A favorite poet, a self declared Catholic, whose ability to be in, and to express the world most eloquently, moves me.
"To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work."
Hers, I think, is a decidedly spiritual point of view, mystical in respect of the mysteries, solidly grounded in the natural world. Several of her wonderful poems are here, at this attractive site.
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy."
"God, for you, is where you sweep away all the mysteries of the world, all the challenges to our intelligence. You simply turn your mind off and say God did it."
"The only good thing ever to come out of religion was the music."
I love the music, from gospel to Bach. It inspires me, even when I stumble over some words or phases. I changed the words of one tune in order to be able to sing it without reservation - "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a soul like me felt better than wretch, even though I'm no way sure where, if anywhere, that entity resides. Some say it's in the pineal gland. Some say it's too ethereal to have a home. I feel like it just might be the nucleus of every cell, or lurking in a dark chamber within the recesses of the original reptilian brain.
Here's a 10 Minute clip from his live show. I leave it to you if he makes you laugh the way he does me (with the warning that there is quite a bit of profanity, so, it's up to you.)
No Lack of Spirit Here - Can't find any specifically religious quotes or clips, though I remember some gorgeous references in - 'The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life In The Universe' - (I was fortunate enough to see the Broadway show way back when it opened, but I've seen the DVD and, if you can, do buy, get from the library, or rent it . It's realy, deliciously, delightfully brilliant). Here is an amusing 'interview' with her, nothing like any interview you might expect.
"Lily Tomlin appears on Night After Night to pitch her new movie, but instead of appearing as herself, she is interviewed as "Kate", a wealthy Manhattan socialite who bankrolled the movie and only has a passing acquaintance with Lily Tomlin. Further, it appears she doesn't even like Lily that much.Alan does a great job playing along - (it includes a very brief clip of the film)
New York City---last night about 5PM, I met a young man with his little dog, Romeo. He was on 14th Street as I came out of my Monthly food shopping trip to Trader Joe. Romeo, the pup he saved from someone abusive, was sitting in his lap looking sleepy. There was a water bowl and a kibble bowl, and a sign asking for help. We talked while his little dog cuddled close to him, with what seemed the sort of relaxed trust love produces. He told me he left Texas for some very good reasons after his father died. I'll keep the details to myself, but say that I think he was wise to leave, and perhaps, that there was no other choice that made sense. However, though he is an experienced tattoo artist (His family ran a parlor for years), has been applying for work at parlors around town in the month he's been here, he has found none. He and Romeo are homeless, not lost. They know exactly where they are.
One of his originals of another dog he owned once
who just got old and passed away
I was only able to drop a dollar in change, and gave him some of my apples and raw sunflower seeds. I told him I'd post at my blog with his permission. He gave it willingly, let me take some shots (omitting his face was my idea of respecting his privacy--a decision I now regret) He said to look for him at tattoobear.com to copy/paste some of his designs, and a site reference at face book--but that's the only lead I have, and there are so many artists at the site, I couldn't find him. I just wasn't thinking clearly I guess, and though I thought he said his name was Brad, I didn't write it down! By the time I got home, I had forgotten it.
This is a story of inattention on my part. I'm hoping things work out for him, but how feeble that is.
Because I see a great many homeless folks, and I know a thing or two about tall stories, it is possible none of the story was true, or parts were true and parts not. The little dog could have just been the gimmick to catch coins, or the story was pure fact. The fact remains that I was moved to some small action. I had watched a while, and several folks stopped to talk with him, two different women gave him something. Most of the crowd streamed by totally self involved, as I am most of the time.
