Growing Old When, halting in front of it, I look at the reflection which is in the depths of my clear mirror. It gives me the impression of meeting an unknown old gentle man. — Hitomaro The biggest problem with growing older in my physical body is that in my mind I am still in …
StoryTelling
Who are we, if not measured by our impact on others? That’s who we are! We’re not who we say we are, we’re not who we want to be — we are the sum of the influence and impact that we have, in our lives, on others. — Neil deGrasse Tyson Life is a continuum, …
Live Your Life
I watched a film a while back named "13 Assassins." During the closing scene, the dying father and leader of the group of thirteen says to his son, "Live your life." These are powerful words particularly when coming from a dying father to a son who was trained as a samurai but never totally embraced …
Why I Write
I was not born a writer. I write because I am a lover of words. I like to breathe life and meaning into these symbols of thought. I want to lift the word from the mind or page, give it air to make a sound, then shape and mold it into meaning. I write because …
I Am Not Me Anymore, At Least I’m Not The Same Me I Was
To be full of strength and vigor one moment and virtually helpless the next, in the pink and pride of health one moment and a cripple the next, with all one’s powers and faculties one moment and without them the next – such a change, such suddenness, is difficult to comprehend, and the mind casts …
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When Memories Are All That Remain
The other day I was thinking about memories, why they occur, their frequency and triggers. I was walking along the river under my own contemplative spell when I was suddenly hit with a memory of a lost love. The trigger was the back of the woman’s head in front of me. She had the same …
The View From My Window
I woke up early this morning because the roosters were roostering more and louder than normal. As I do every morning, I looked out my window to see if the mountaintops were clear. This is usually a good indictor of what the weather will be like for the day. This is the place I love …
They Just Don’t Understand Me
I am an Aries in Western astrology. A triple fire sign with sun in Aries, moon in Leo, and rising sign in Sagittarius. There is very little earth and no water in my chart, mostly fire and air. Therefore there are no conflicting elements. In Chinese astrology, I am the Rat. A creature who enjoys being …
Responsibilities
“You are the responsible one,” my mother would tell me when I would wine about having to reheat dinner for my brother and father when she left for work. “I know you will do it,” she would say. The responsibility of being responsible started early for me. I was eight years old. When mom and …
Go Wild And Bloom!
The only thing I know for sure, absolutely without question, is that one day my physical body will cease to exist. I will die. It is a fate that awaits all living organisms at some point no matter how long science may extend our life span. It is one of only two traits common to …
The Path Of Uncertainty
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do …
A Writer’s Diary — Acceptance
It was my pride that I was taken in as an equal, in spirit as well as in fact. From then on, everything was beautiful, and the voyage promised to be a happy one. John Griffith (Jack) London (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916) From the earliest recollection of my childhood I wanted to …
A Writer’s Diary — The Big Lie And The War Against Truth
If our leaders seek to conceal the truth, or we as people become accepting of alternative realities that are no longer grounded in facts, then we as American citizens are on a pathway to relinquishing our freedom…When we as people, a free people, go wobbly on the truth even on what may seem the most …
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A Matter Of Time
The time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time. — Bertrand Russell Time is all I have but I can not claim ownership because I do not know when it will run out. Remember Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz? The wicked witch gave her until the sand completely ran out of the hour glass to …
A Writer’s Diary — A Sad Day For The United States
Today is my mother’s birthday. If she were still alive, she would be ninety-five years old. I also discovered another one of my favorite people, Kahlil Gibran, was born on this day in 1883. So today is his one hundred thirty eighth birthday. These two individuals born only forty-three years apart filled my life with …
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On Being A Witness
It was November 30, 2014 and I was making a final survey of my luggage and cottage to see if there was one more thing I had to pack before leaving Savusavu, Fiji. I was leaving so much behind. Being here for almost four years and having to leave every four months for immigration requirements …
A Magical Christmas Morning
Tonight is Christmas Eve. The cat is curled up at the foot of the bed, the gas fireplace heats the room and I have just climbed into bed. As a child and during my early adulthood, my Christmas Eves were spent doing all those last minute tasks before the big day. I only remember bits …
Rollo Del Tomebamba XXV — Lessons From The River
One of the activities I engage in everyday when possible is a walk along the Tomebamba River near my home in Cuenca, Ecuador. During this walking meditation my mind wonders along with that of the river. I love the sound of water. When the river is high, it blocks out the sounds of the city …
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Loja Mágica — Lessons From The Mountain
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. Seneca (c. 4 BC – AD 65) Lessons From The Mountain 1. Remain solid and steadfast. A pillar for all to witness. 2. You are here because the earth exploded with life. You are life’s embodiment. 3. Be still and let the world come to you. …
The Hour Of Man
The Hour Of Man I wrote down the quotation below in my composition pad some years back before the time of personal computers, and although my research on the man who made the statement, Harold Maine, did not yield any results, I still find his words relevant today. Please see note below.* I want to …
Don’t Get Old
Tao Writer (April 17, 1948 -) **For my friend Bob McGuinn** Be careful of growing old, he tells me.It happens so suddenly over the years.One day you are young, in love, full of energythe next day you are old, loveless, lackingboth muscle mass and strength.The legs are the first to go, he continues,but from my …
A Writer’s Diary – Disparity Of Thoughts – Born Different
It has been a long time since I have written anything down. A lot of things have happened. So many things I have been unable to write them. Kelth Haring I “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end,” said Seneca. No truer words, I believe, have ever been spoken. One must always leave …
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Acceptance—What The World Needs Now
Acceptance—What The World Needs Now With the senseless killing of Black men by white police officers in the United States, at a rate which has not been seen since the racial unrest of the sixties, to the ISIS bombings in France, Yemen, Turkey, Afghanistan, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, and Brussels, etc., to the endless bloodshed between …
A Writer’s Diary – One Tenth Of One Percent
…for good or evil, we are a single people: the more we become conscious of this, the less difficult and long will be humanity’s progress toward justice and peace. Primo Levi (July 31, 1919 – April 11, 1987) Something we learned from the Human Genome Project is that the entire 7.5 billion-member human species goes …
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The Gate Keeper Of Inspiration: Epilogue
It is one of those mornings most only get to dream of and here I am living it every day with those who inspired and continue to be a great inspiration to me and this life I love and live, but it is time to leave. I have devoted enough time and words to this …
Loja Mágica – Thank You
This morning I woke up early, not for any particular reason. The alarm clock was not set, I fell asleep after midnight so a few more hours of sleep would have been good. I just woke and looked out upon the plants growing in pots on my balcony, at the rising of the sun, the …
A Writer’s Diary – America In Distress – Updated For July 4th 2020
For seventy-two years I watched as laws were passed, cities burned, appeasement tokens appointed and Black people killed by the police with no actions taken upon their white assailants. For Seventy-two years of my life Black people have been protesting for equality and being killed for being Black in America. For Seventy-two years I still …
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The Philosopher – Book II – Epilogue
A month later... It is the Coronation for Upashna, the Princess-Wizard of EarthSea and her wedding day to Tao. The Dragon Lord has invited dragons to return to the Other Realm with the promise to never call upon them again to reignite the sun. Humankind must begin to take responsibility for their actions as members …
The Philosopher – Book II – 14 – Reigniting The Sun
The father and son embrace for the first time since Ged cut Tao from his dead mother’s womb to give him life. Everyone watched in absolute silence, standing perfectly still. It was as if there was a private transmission of heart, soul, energy and time going on between the two wizards. All of The Philosopher’s …
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The Philosopher – Book II – 13 – The Assembly
While washing his face, Tao telepathically communicates with Simone. “Where did you get the ring.” “I do not know sire. It appeared when you asked Upashna to be your wife. I received the transmission of its story from the ring itself and passed it to you. I did not have the ring this morning when …
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A Writer’s Diary – Juneteenth – The End Of Slavery? But I Am Still Seen As A Slave
We believe all men are entitled to the blessings of liberty. Yet millions are being deprived of those blessings . because of the color of their skin. The reasons are deeply imbedded in history and tradition and the nature of man. We can understand - without rancor or hatred - how this happened, but it …
The Philosopher – Book II – 12 – The Time Is Near
Upashna woke early the next morning while Tao continued to sleep. Eno also woke to be with his mistress and Simone jumps upon Upashna’s bed and curls up besides Tao. Upashna and Eno leave quietly to visit her parents’ chamber on the other side of the courtyard. “Mother,” asks Upashna. “Did father speak with you …
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The Philosopher – Book II – 11 – The Void Between Dragons And Man
“We had best be getting back love. Look.” Upashna points to the darkening sun. “The darkness grows larger. We will have to time the reigniting of the sun when it is almost completely dark on this side to reduce any possible injuries.” “Any possible injury to whom?” Tao asks. “To the dragons who are selected …
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