My Sunday List
April 2, 2023
Quote
In a controversy, the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves. — Buddha
Song
“Baby Bluebird” by Fruit Bats.
I love a great twelve-string acoustic guitar based record. So folky, so pretty, so wide in its tonal harmonic relationships — and this melody takes me to Badfinger land, which is always a good thing. I listen to Fruit Bats all the time — great songs performed so very well.
I watched
About three-quarters of the Pamela Anderson documentary. Yes, it’s rare that I make it through any program in one sitting unless I’m away from home — can’t wait to finish this — I think a lot of Ms. Anderson.
Book
I brought this beauty to my worktable for perusing and pondering the other day. Thank you, Dani Shapiro, for such a wonderful gift. It’s so gorgeous — I hope this inspiration of beauty finds its way to my fingers and tentacles out into my own artwork.
Thing
Creeping Phlox. Our dog Winnie is a big gal. The patch of grass in our front yard is small. I planted 8 tufts of creeping phlox on Friday, hoping that it will take root (it’s supposed to be dog peepee resistant) and give the big patches of dirt some love and cover. Fingers crossed. We also have a weeping cherry tree in the center of the patch of grass — not this one, but a baby we planted about two years ago. Spring inspires me and I get so much joy out of watching beautiful things grow.
Favorite Photo I Took This Week
Straggler tulips. I clipped several before I left town a few weeks ago and thought they were finished blooming — these two surprised me and welcomed me home.
Wish
That we will finally find a way to make people get REAL about guns.
That you will forward this to one person and that person becomes a subscriber too.
Prayer
Thank you, Great Spirit, for showing me what I need to see.
Intention for the week to come
Same as last week!
May I be mindful with my words and true to my highest intentions. May I be humble enough to ask for forgiveness when I am neither of those things.
Something I’m thinking about
Non-attachment. I’m also thinking about Buddhist studies.
A prayer for myself this morning: May I accept what comes to me with openness and gentleness. May I release what is not meant for me with humility and grace.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Habit
Letting go. I wrote about my negative thought patterns this week and how frustrating it is to feel at the mercy them. I know that if I judge myself harshly for having any thought or trait, I will accomplish the opposite of what I desire, which is to love myself through the dance of being a human being. So as I practice letting go in general, and practice letting go of negativity in a specific way (re-working the thoughts), I also practice letting go my judgment of myself for being who I am, because I do at least understand that the negative thought patterns originate with feelings I have about my own self. Referencing my new prayer about non-attachment all day today…
Have a wonderful, peaceful, joyous week. And thank you for supporting my work here at The Autotelic.
Lots of love,
Allison
Thank you, Allison. You graciously share your thoughts with us and I'm grateful. Have a great week!
On the subject of twelve-strings, this is one of my very favourites. Aimee Mann with Roger McGuinn (surely the king of the twelve-string) and "Fifty Years After The Fair". Just glorious.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0MgFx7O4HhUYhyIag5otnb?si=157a1776c93e46b0