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Religion Unplugged

January 23, 2014 — 4 Comments

Changing Hands Bookstore

Changing Hands Bookstore

book signing

book signing

A reformation of religion is happening before our very eyes. As the formal religions loose members and believers the souls are still out there wandering around seeking some meaning in life. This is an era of very lost souls grasping at self help, self hypnosis, and the usual self delusion. I am lucky my parents did not really introduce religion into my life.  They attempted, obviously out of guilt, to send me to the Presbyterians when I was about 11, but they told me it was for punishment. Maybe they let it slip, but I had the big picture which was that I was bad and the people at the Presbyterian church could whip me into shape.  That was my initiation into fake religion and it did have deep meaning in my formative years. I saw the lack of ethical standards, and besides, that church had a God awful choir. I had no positive reinforcement that would incline me to want to ever go to church. I felt perfectly righteous to rebel, and saw myself as something of a martyr whenever I had to go to any religious service. I have something like the opposite of Catholic guilt.  However, I have studied religion and read more books on the subject that most people, I think.

Last night in Tempe at The Changing Hands Bookstore I heard Thomas Moore speak to a crowd about his new book, A Religion of One’s Own, which I read and think is a grand opus…not a long and dry one…a deeply profound work that will change minds and souls. Tom Moore is to religion what Andrew Weil is to medicine. He has the education and credentials that are needed to start a reformation. I was surprised to hear the word reformation in his speech last night, but he knows of what he speaks. He talked about changing the world in the same way Pope Francis does when he makes his own breakfast. Since he spent years as a monk his piety can’t be questioned. Since he has a doctorate in world religion his knowledge of scripture, doctrines, and history are impeccable. Perhaps most important in our current soul crisis is his experience as a Jungian therapist. His direct experience with the suffering of his patients has shown him the sad results of religion served up with a side of hypocrisy and shame.

He asks the readers not to take this book lightly. I can’t imagine the kind of person who would do that, but they surely exist. He is sharing insight and wisdom that can extricate tortured souls from their day to day pain. He suggests that laborare est orare applies to all of us. In other words, each moment on earth has big potential in a sacred context. Every act, chopping wood, carrying water, or washing dishes provides an opportunity to make life a joyous celebration. Bliss and mysticism are states to which we can aspire and attain.  We are supposed to be happy, weird, and free.  So…here we have it, permission to go be free, from a verified expert in  academic knowledge. I hope we will all take him up on this offer, and predict the book will change the world in a very positive way.  (Read it.)

Edible Art Gala at Maker House

January 19, 2014 — 3 Comments

The Edible Art Gala hosted at Maker House last night by the Tucson Arts Brigade was extravagantly well produced.  There were musicians in all areas, some dancers and other short acts entertaining all the guests. The food art was set out for tasting and also served by waiters circulating through the crowd.  Artists with works in the silent auction were on hand, and everyone was encouraged to come in a costume that represented a work or art or a genre of art.    The lively crowd enjoyed the historic setting and the Maker House bar which makes a perfect community gathering place.  I tasted almost everything that had no meat, but the sensory excitement abounded, and I found I filled very quickly as I tasted my way around the tables.  I am happy to have been introduced to several catering businesses that are new to me and do some seriously high quality original work.  Everything I tested was delicious, but I saved myself for the scream cake as the last taste of the night.  It was outstanding kiwi flavor with the icing of the dreamiest texture.  I savored it with a lovely cappuccino from the bar as we enjoyed the outdoor patio with music under the stars.  It was an example of Tucson at it’s best.  Old friends, new art, and historic building turned community center…this is what I like to see happening in my city.

A Religion of One’s Own, Review

January 11, 2014 — 6 Comments

A Religion of One's Own

A Religion of One’s Own

I just read A Religion of One’s Own by Thomas Moore, an author I admire. I met him in person last May when he had recently completed the book and was in the editing process. The workshop I took with him then was about soul, spirit, and the distinction between the two. This new book goes into detail on this subject. Like his other books I have enjoyed the subject matter is easily accessible although the reader becomes highly aware of Tom’s deep background and knowledge of world religions, art, music, history, and natural magic. He spent many years as a monk learning languages and music composition as he studied to be ordained as a priest. His knowledge of Greek and Latin always add depth to his concepts because he carefully traces true meanings in words.  The words I learn from him stay in a special memory bank of super charged, precious possessions.  They are magic words for me, with mystical value.

I read the book almost non stop on my Kindle paperwhite, a new gadget I now think is excellent.  One feature of Kindle reading is the ability to look up words within the device as you read.  The words you look up are added to your ongoing vocabulary list.  Since I learn new words every time I read his work, this was fabulously useful. Here is my new vocabulary from this book:

  • pleroma
  • pusillanimous
  • constellate
  • canonical
  • inchoate
  • detrius

Normally I would take the meaning from context and go on, but now I am a real vocabulary builder.  What Thomas Moore is asking us all to do is to develop a much broader vocabulary and understanding of religion.  The mystical and mysterious is essential to our fulfillment and happiness.  Without soul, spirit, and practices that maintain the health and vigor of both in our lives we can become dead to the pleasure of being alive.  Churches and formal religion have lost the leadership role they once maintained without question.  Now it is important not to discard the sacred and the meaningful, but to make a unique personal system that is true to our own natures.  Dogma and deterioration from institutions can be replaced by practices that feed our souls and our spirits, and nurture harmony in our communities.

I know all of Tom’s many fans will be happy to read this latest edition of his teaching.  If you have not had the pleasure of meeting him in person or in writing you are missing a very special treat.  He is a Renaissance Man in that he is honestly creating a renaissance vortex and map for his readers to follow.  He is asking no less than a rebirth and re-empowerment of our sacred traditions so as not to loose the beauty and significance of them.  He gives concrete suggestions and guidance to achieve this goal by treating all the religious traditions as one’s own.  Personal wisdom and satisfaction are essential to living a blissful, peaceful life.  Thomas Moore has once again created a meaningful and significant lesson we can all easily grasp.  The book is short, compelling, and will leave you in a new frame of mind.  It is worth reading, and even more worth practicing.

Brazilian Othello

January 10, 2014 — 1 Comment

In Shakespeare’s Othello the protagonist Moor is a military commander and the action takes place during a time of war.  The twists and turns of the story are typical of a tragedy written by The Bard.  There is much misunderstanding and treachery leading to the deeply tragic ending.  The play has been performed in all kinds of settings and time frames because it has eternal themes that work well for any time or place in history.  Racism, betrayal, jealousy, and war are always in style, sadly enough.  It has been adapted into movie and opera in the past, and now it is being presented as a modern fusion of the latest technology possible combined with an ancient story.

The star and creator in this new production is from Salvador do Bahia, Brazil and has deep cultural and artistic roots in that city.  He has been fascinated with this play for many years.  Elisio Pitta wanted to use his talent and experience as a dancer and artist to produce a sharp protest against domestic violence, a worldwide problem. He  created a working collaboration of the most artistically gifted people he knew for this project.  Working as a team, they focused on the ideas they wanted to portray.   This new version of Othello has been merged with the cultural treasures and foundations of  Bahia.  Slavery, racism, liberation, and natural magic are strong themes in the artistic backgrounds of these artists.  They intentionally explored the similarities and dramatic meaning present in Shakespeare’s drama, and adapted it to their own time and place to send a message and make an emphatic statement.  They worked on it for over 3 years, and were ironically interrupted during rehearsal when Mr Pitta was badly injured in an incident of violence last August in his home city.  Elisio is a master martial artist in capoeira, but 10 large young angry men were more than he could handle.  This attack only strengthened his resolve to present his artistic response to violence, which is too common today.  In this show, since it is based on modern issues, Othello kills himself  in the end with a gun rather than a sword.  It is fortunate for everyone that the young punks who beat him up did not have  guns during that fight.

Now the show has opened in Brazil to sold out theaters and will be opening next week in Liverpool, England for an engagement.  A giant celebration is planned all year for the 450th anniversary of the birth of the most famous poet of all time.  I believe that William Shakespeare will be impressed with all the creative energy honoring his work and keeping it alive.  If you want to know more the largest festival ever honoring him, check out The Year of Shakespeare.  You can follow it on twitter and like it on Facebook to read and write reviews all year.  Enjoy!

Clear The Active

January 7, 2014 — 3 Comments

My Clean Office

My Clean Office

Clean desk, clear mind, well defined goals, and a new practices are being planned for the new year. Finishing what one starts is a big lesson in my life since I like to start everything all the time.  My declaration of the war on clutter has revealed how much of an overstock I had in some parts of my life and space.  Dilligence to stay clean is a constant effort, since tax season is upon us and the paper will be flowing in and sorted for that fun activity.  I know taxes are an excuse, and not a good one, to pile up papers rather than file or discard them on the spot. I have had a remedial session with a house keeper deep cleaning as I deep organize and toss.  I have a box of paper I need to sort, but I created a temporary clean desk for the week, and will not return to the stack of paper lifestyle in 2014.  I am dedicated to wasting less space and less time on distraction.  Nothing is more distracting than a bunch of really important tax documents mixed and stacked in a pile of all the latest AARP junk mail and bank offers, taking up the space around you.  It is very silly to allow that junk mail to get to the desk..Just like wiping one’s feet at the door, it is easier to keep the unwanted schmutz from entering in the first place.

In order to take off the runway must be cleared of any obstructions.  The glass top of my desk is to remain clean and clear beyond National Clean Desk Day.  I will not allow this achievement to drown in a sea of paper.  I vow to throw it out at the mailbox and edit it before it comes to the office.  Every day I will file, use or throw out  the papers that I keep.  Sticking to this practice will make me a happier person and therefore a better writer.  I am enthusiastic about the #CleanDeskDay contest launched in celebration of this wonderful concept.  Let’s get clean and stay clean all of 2014!!!  I can’t wait to see what will be posted in instagram under #CleanDeskDay to enter the contest.  The real prize is the clean desk.

Vero Amore, True Love at First Bite

January 6, 2014 — 1 Comment

Vero Amore Pizza has opened a new and very snazzy location near my home, so we tried it yesterday. Everything about it was outstanding. The new space is super open and contemporary, with a view of the kitchen and wood fired oven at work.  The staff is friendly and very prompt with service.  We had beer and a cocktail, both unusual and delicious.  Bob loves prosciutto, so he enjoyed a personal pizza without sauce.  In our minds pizza is all about the crust, and at Vero Amore the authentic Neopolitan style pizza is light and crisp.  I ordered manicotti which was rich and well balanced.  The sauce was garlic enhanced just perfectly.  My Oso Nero cocktail with honey bourbon and blackberries was fresh and complimented my seriously cheesy good manicotti.  I am glad I had not ordered anything else because I just a rely was able to finish my dinner, with a little help from Bob.  Next time we want to go for happy hour so we can sample smaller plates which all look very good.

We gave our server Matt a challenge by asking him to prepare a take home pizza checca to be ready when we finished our meals.  He did it perfectly, presenting the bill right when we finished with exactly enough time to settle it and walk out with our fresh from the oven pizza to share with a neighbor who stayed home.  We give Matt A plus in service.  In fact, from the manager to the bartender to the kitchen staff everyone is genuinely pleased to serve the guests and it shows.  We will return to explore the extensive menu and outdoor party patio.  This is a wonderful addition to the dining options in our neighborhood.

For catering the company owns a mobile fire truck with a wood fired oven that they bring to a party.  The pricing on this fabulous service is reasonable, and I am sure any event would be popular with authentic pizza cooked on site rather than boxed and delivered.

Time and the Trickster Archetype

December 26, 2013 — 8 Comments

How is your relationship with time?  A busy, rattled life may or may not bring satisfaction. One thing it can’t bring is free time. This is a gift you must find for yourself.  How can we define free time?  Is it doing something that is free of cost?  Is it free form, without a preconceived schedule or goal?  Is it free from all previous habits and delusional thinking?  Clearing the schedule involves being clear about priorities.  Find time in your life by observing carefully what happens to your time.

  • Schedule practice times for skills you want to improve
  • Budget time to find new pleasures
  • Eliminate time spent in unhappy pursuits
  • Liberate one day a week to do things differently
  • Examine the trickster in your emotional landscape
  • Learn a meditation practice to follow

It is time to plant the seeds to be harvested later.  Contemplative use of time and seasons brings meaning and depth to daily life.  Without perspective we often fall deeply into habitual use of time that is both wasteful and depressing.  The spark of new joy can be consciously brought into being by doing things differently on a regular basis.  This can be as simple as taking a new path to work, trying a new food, an art gallery, or activity.  It is not important to spend money to change the habitual use of time; It is important to notice how much time is invested in unhappy activities.  We can distinguish between duties that are unpleasant and bad habits by confronting the inner trickster who will always identify with your shadow instincts.  The trickster inhabits the emotional territory enforcing crazy concepts that keep you stuck in emotional sludge.  Look for a tendency to make excuses and flake out on your own best intentions.  Meditation is the remedy for trickster tendencies, because it clears the mind allowing spacious, free time.

We have a finite amount of time, and once it has been spent in one way, it can never be retrieved or recycled.  As the new year approaches, why not take a new look at time and happiness?  They are closely related.

Sounds and the Soul

December 23, 2013 — 2 Comments

Sound is a powerful meditation tool.  Chanting has been used around the world by all people to celebrate and honor spiritual beliefs.  All the senses are engaged in the holiday customs of now, with little time to be still and know why we are celebrating in the first place.  If you are a singer in a choir or caroling ensemble this is a time when you can share music with others in many ways.  I love to hear acapella choral music because it requires intense listening on the part of each singer.  There is much rehearsal to arrive at the harmony and balance each musical piece requires.  Gothic architecture creates superb acoustics for this art form which is still popular in religious services.  If you have no gothic cathedral, elegant concert hall or well rehearsed choir, please enjoy this heavenly break from your daily routine.  Harmony, in my mind, is the greatest of all human achievements.

Phun in Phoenix

December 16, 2013 — 3 Comments

There is an arch rivalry between the cities of Phoenix and Tucson. We Tucsonans know that people outside the state have no way to distinguish the two and often confuse them. Politics aside (which would be impossible for Arizonans), there are extreme differences in the tourism and hospitality styles of these two towns.  Tourists are attracted to the golf tournaments in both Maricopa and Pima Counties.  Baseball spring training has all moved up there, and brings in millions. Bowl games and the Phoenix Suns brighten the economic situation for them too.  The typical Tucson tourist is much less interested in shopping and is more likely to be spending time involved in outdoor sports of all kinds. Scottsdale is not afraid to step up and cover that niche offering the shopper from back east a wester phantasy phree phun time. Phree parking in old town allows these people to leave the car and ride around in a horse-drawn wagon for an exorbitant price. Everyone is excited to be way out west.  The city of Scottsdale hires the trusty horse Dusty and Gary J Sprague, the singing cowboy, to serenade the crowd 1-4 on Saturdays. They are a huge hit.

I am inspired to drive to the Valley of the Sun for the phabulous phood scene.  The AZ Slow Food newsletter informed me recently about the existence of a  special highly rare date variety growing only in Scottsdale known as the Black Sphinx.  The market was established in 1951 selling a date that developed there from seed and was distinct from all others. The extremely thin skin makes it a poor candidate (pun intended) for shipping.  The fresh dates require refrigeration and are extremely delicate.  After shopping the Scottsdale Pharmer’s market where I scored amazing produce and preserved items, we visited the date store, which features Arizona products of high gourmet quality.  Bob bought beers brewed in Arizona, one of which was a stout that contained the dates from the Sphinx Pharm.  We both agree the Black Sphinx is the best date we have ever tasted, and before Bob ate it he told me he does not like dates…a convert.  We also tried a very good date cookie and some chocolate covered Medjools that are scrumptious.  We came home loaded with gourmet groceries and exotic citrus.  We have to admit we had phun.

Posh Dining

December 15, 2013 — 4 Comments

Our first meal at Posh in Scottsdale was so memorable we have wanted to return for more.  The first two weeks of December are low season in tourism the world around, so we made the trip our holiday party.  The menu lists assorted groceries on hand, and the guest indicates any type of meat not desired in the meal.  I am a vegetarian, which is all they need to know about me.  The chef then creates culinary  improvisation around the guest’s wishes.

We like to sit up at the bar because we talk to the chefs and watch while they are cooking the food.  The night started with fresh potato chips with seaweed and drinks.  Each plate was packed with flavor and art.  All the presentations are appealing and imaginative.  Bob enjoyed the exotic boar bacon and perfectly cooked scollops.  The ginger wasabi slaw on top of ramen noodle cakes were a highlight, but all of mine were enjoyable and unusual.  We know when we come to enjoy our dinner at Posh we will be given a sensual treat and be served with impeccable professionalism. It remains on a very high pedestal in my mind.  The experience is superior to regular menu/dining in many ways. I have tried combinations I would not have ordered, but discovered I like.  It is more of an adventure than just a meal.  You can choose as many courses as you care to taste, add extras, and wine pairings a la carte.  When you go home they give you a tiny take home sweet to remind you of what a jewel of  a restaurant it is.