Medicine Trails: A Life in Many Worlds by Mavis McCovey

"Sometime in 1933, in Northern California's lush Humboldt County, a Karuk medicine woman named Daisy Jones had a vision identifying the tribe's next medicine woman. Later that year, Mavis Smither (McCovey) was born, and in the first twelve years of her life she was groomed by a designated group of medicine women to become a spiritual healer.

Medicine Trails is Mavis McCovey's honest and lively account of the many worlds in which she moves: the Indian and white cultural worlds, and the day-to-day and visionary reality of the medicine woman's world, as well as trips to what she calls "the other side": one of the responsibilities of a medicine woman is to bring back a medicine man's soul if he gets lost on the trails of the world beyond—a task McCovey has been called upon to do.

One of very few first-person accounts of Native American healers, Medicine Trails is invaluable for its insights into the experiences of a modern-day medicine woman. And McCovey is a warm and engaging guide not only to her life, but also her family's history and the history of the Karuk, Yurok, and Hupa peoples of the region."

In the Land of the Grasshopper Song by Mary Ellicott Arnold & Mabel Reed

"In 1908 two young women—the authors of this book—accepted Indian Service appointments as field matrons for the Karok Indians in the Klamath and Salmon River country of northern California. Although the area had been the scene of a gold rush some fifty years earlier, they write in the foreword, "the social life of the Indian—what he believed and the way he felt about things—was very little affected by white influence. The older Indians still had the spaced tatoo marks on their forearms, by which they could measure the length of the string of wampum required to buy a wife. . . . The white men we knew on the Rivers were pioneers of the Old West. . . . All around us was gold country, the land of the saloon and of the six-shooter. Our friends and neighbors carried guns as a matter of course, and used them on occasion. But the account given in these pages is not of these occurrences but of everyday life on the frontier in an Indian village, and what Indians and badmen did and said when they were not engaged in wiping out their friends and neighbors. It is also the account of our own two years in Indian country where, in the sixty-mile stretch between Happy Camp and Orleans, we were the only white women, and most of the time quite scared enough to satisfy anybody."

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Looking for a good book in the gothic novel genre for a long airplane flight or to curl up with on a cold, rainy day?

"I'd like to say more about this superbly entertaining book but don't dare to hint any more about its plot twists. Suffice it to say that -- and here's yet another critical formula -- anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should." - Michael Dirda, The Washington Post


'Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Umberto Eco meets Jorge Luis Borges...Ruiz Zafón gives us a panoply of alluring and savage personages and stories. His novel eddies in currents of passion, revenge and mysteries whose layers peel away onion-like yet persist in growing back... we are taken on a wild ride that executes its hairpin bends with breathtaking lurches.' NEW YORK TIMES

A Story Waiting to Pierce You: Mongolia, Tibet and the Destiny of the Western World by Peter Kingsley

"A Story Waiting to Pierce You is a breathtaking account of our past and our future as human beings. Firmly and gracefully it traces the ancient threads that connect Mongolia, Tibet and Native Americans to the very origins of western civilization—showing how these sacred ties have shaped our lives today.
     This new book by the author of Reality and In the Dark Places of Wisdom is a work both of magic and of the finest scholarship. With haunting simplicity and power it tells the true story of where our western culture really came from—and of where it is taking us now."

Peter Kingsley's website

Harmony by Charles HRH The Prince of Wales

"With its holistic approach, this provocative and well-reasoned book takes the discussion of sustainability and climate change in a new direction. Prince Charles shows how the solutions to problems like climate change lie not only in technology but in our ability to change the way we view the modern world.

For decades, the Prince of Wales has been studying a wide array of disciplines to understand every aspect of man's impact on the natural world, and in that time he has examined everything from architecture to organic farming to sustainable economics. Now, for the first time, he speaks out about his years of research, presenting a fascinating look at how modern industrialization has led us to a state of disharmony with nature, created climate change, and pushed us to the brink of disaster."

Kyoto Journal Issue 75 "Biodiversity"

This is probably one of the most visually beautiful journals in the world! The current issue is especially so and has articles by Barry Lopez, Robert Brady, Satish Kumar, Thomas Berry and Gary Snyder (just to mention a few). Several are available as pdf downloads and there is an extended list of articles that are available only online.

Example of articles:

Satoyama: The Ideal and the Real by Brian Williams

Six Thousand Lessons by Barry Lopez

A Different Kind of Luxury: Japanese Lessons in Simple Living and Inner Abundance by Andy Couturier

This is an exquisite jewel of a book.  I am reading it slowly in order to savor each person's story.

"Raised in the tumult of Japan’s industrial powerhouse, the 11 men and women profiled in A Different Kind of Luxury have all made the transition to sustainable, fulfilling lives.

Based on Andy Couturier's popular articles in The Japan Times, this lushly-designed volume is a treasure chest of stories about real people who have created an abundance of time for contemplation, connecting with nature, and contributing to their communities. In their success is a lesson for us all: live a life that matters."

Vision from the Life of Hildegard von Bingen

Was very disappointed in this film. All the rich and unusual knowledge that Hildegard von Bingen received was virtually ignored in this film. They chose instead to focus only on drama and the lower nature of the various people involved. The whole film is about her one-upmanship of the abbot, her attachment to a younger nun and in earlier scenes some very graphic and gory scenes of flagellation, which she did not believe in. That's it! What a waste of an amazing caste, locations, costumes and mostly of Hildegard's legacy of knowledge about theology, medicine, and music to name only a few.

"In Vision, New German Cinema auteur Margarethe von Trotta (Marianne and Juliane, Rosa Luxemburg, Rosenstrasse) reunites with recurrent star Barbara Sukowa (Zentropa, Berlin Alexanderplatz) to bring the story of this extraordinary woman to life. In a staggering performance, Sukowa portrays von Bingen’s fierce determination to expand the responsibilities of women within the order, even as she fends off outrage from some in the Church over the visions she claims to receive from God. Lushly shot in the original medieval cloisters of the fairytale-like German countryside, Vision is a profoundly inspirational portrait of a woman who has emerged from the shadows of history as a forward-thinking and iconoclastic pioneer of faith, change and enlightenment."

The Mystery of Trees

"DIANA BERESFORD-KROEGER is a botanist and medical biochemist who is an expert on the medicinal, environmental, and nutritional properties of trees. She is also a precise and poetic writer, steeped in Gaelic storytelling traditions, gathered from her childhood in Ireland. Her indisputable passion for her subject matter will inspire readers to look at trees, and at their own connection to the natural world, with newfound awe." website

She is the author of four exquisite books, all of which i highly recommend:

• A Garden for Life
• Arboretum America, A Philosophy of the Forest
• The Global Forest (series of interesting, informative essays. If you really want a simple, elegant description of carbon sequestration, read this book!
• Arboretum Borealis, A Lifeline of the Planet

Satoyama Spirit

This is a beautiful blog written by a friend, Alan Zulch. He very articulately describes the traditional Japanese way of life lived in harmony with the land and nature which is called Satoyama. He explains that this older wisdom is being revived in modern Japan but often it is lacking a deep understanding of the ethics and values that are at its foundation.

Be sure and look at his collection of images, they convey the spirit of satoyama most eloquently:
Images of Traditional Satoyama Landscapes

Earth Pilgrim by Satish Kumar

Another good book, not to be missed!

"Satish Kumar has been a pilgrim ever since at the age of eight he joined the brotherhood of wandering Jain monks in his native India. Later he walked the length and breadth of India with Gandhi’s successor Vinoba Bhave, persuading landowners to donate a portion of their lands to the poor, and in the 1960s he made an 8,000-mile pilgrimage for peace, which included walking from India over the Himalayas to Paris via Moscow."

Tinkers by Paul Harding

A luminous novel of poetic prose that can take your breath away!

"There are few perfect debut American novels. Walter Percy's The Moviegoer and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird come to mind. So does Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping. To this list ought to be added Paul Harding's devastating first book, Tinkers, the story of a dying man drifting back in time to his hardscrabble New England childhood, growing up the son of his clock-making father. Harding has written a masterpiece around the truism that all of us, even surrounded by family, die alone." —John Freeman, NPR's The Best Debut Fiction of 2009

Queen of the Sun

"From the director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John comes a profound, alternative look at the tragic global bee crisis. Queen of The Sun draws from the insights of Rudolf Steiner an Austrian scientist who, in 1923, predicted that in 80 to 100 years, bees would disappear. Steiner said: “The mechanization of beekeeping and industrialization will eventually destroy beekeeping.” 
     Gunther Hauk, our main character and a protégé of Steiner’s, against all odds, begins to build the first bee sanctuary in the world. Surrounded by industrial agriculture, he is creating a 600-acre farm to help support the bees in crisis. Through his insights, we are launched into a journey around the world to uncover the compelling perspectives concerning the complex problems bees are facing such as malnutrition, pesticides, genetically modified crops, migratory beekeeping, parasites, pathogens and lack of genetic diversity from over queen breeding.  
     Seeking answers through unique and unusual beekeepers and scientists who have heart-felt respect for their bees we confront and address the harsh realities causing the bees to disappear.  Queen of The Sun finds practical solutions and discover the deep link between bees survival and our own."

The Secret of Kells

This is a beautiful and unusual animated film, both in quality and choice of subject matter.

"Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times.

In a remote medieval outpost of Ireland, young Brendan embarks on a new life of adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying a book brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the falry Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendans determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?"

Secret of Kells Blog

A few beautiful films

BRIGHT STAR– A drama based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25. Directed by Jane Campion. Stars: Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw.

LITTLE DORRIT – 2009 Masterpiece Theater production. Really wonderful cast and location, costumes.... as always superb!

SÉRAPHINE is the story of Séraphine Louis aka Séraphine de Senlis, a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41, self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel began painting brilliantly colorful canvases. In 1912 Wilhelm Uhde (Ulrich Tukur), a German art critic and collector discovered her paintings while she worked for him as a maid in his house in Senlis outside Paris. Directed by Martin Provost. Stars: Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur.

JANE EYRE– again a stellar Masterpiece Theater production from 2007. This has become one of my all time favorite versions of this story.
(all are available via Netflix)

The Elder Brothers & The Heart of the World

There is both a film, reviewed here, and a book, about this hidden pre-Columbian culture and their essential message to the world.

The book has been reissued and is available here. Or you can probably find a used copy of the original title at www.bookfinder.com (The Elder Brothers: A Lost South American People and Their Message About the Fate of the Earth).

On July 7,2010, the author and filmmaker, Alan Ereira, offered a live webcast via Link TV's website. He reported that the Kogi people asked for cameras and other film equipment and are making their own film, which they say will show us things we (The younger brothers) have never seen before.

I highly recommend the book and the film, some of which can also be seen on You-tube.

Mongolia

Reading several fascinating books about Mongolia. Hearing Birds Fly by Louise Waugh provides a very down-to-earth report of this young English woman's three-year stay in Ulaanbaatar and later in a remote western village.

In the Empire of Genghis Khan by Stanley Stewart is the beautifully written story of a long and interesting journey beginning in Istanbul and culminating in his 1,000 mile trek on horseback across Mongolia.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford is a very readable account of a most unusual and intriguing time period that has influenced the world as we know it. Many of the inventions, ideas, and beliefs that we would consider "Western" have been introduced to the West from the Caucasus region and further east into Mongolia.

The Mummies of Urumchi

Fascinating book by Elizabeth Wayland Barber about the 4,000 year-old mummies found in western China. They are very well preserved, especially their clothing. Some are over six feet tall, with blond or red hair, round eyes and otherwise Caucasian rather than Asian features. Their textiles are quite beautiful and have been extensively studied. Many are similar to tartan plaid.

Starting on March 27, 2010, some of these mummies will be part of an exhibit called "Secrets of the Silk Road" at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA.

Lily Yeh and The Barefoot Artists

If you buy one DVD from this years Bioneers Conference (2009), make it this one: The Rwanda Healing Project: Bringing Hope through Art and Creative Action

She gave one of the most inspiring talks I've ever heard. If there had been a plane parked outside, I think everyone in the auditorium would have followed her anywhere!

"This internationally celebrated artist works to bring the transformative power of art to impoverished and war-torn communities around the world to foster community empowerment, improve the physical environment, promote economic development and preserve indigenous art and culture. She portrays a heart-breakingly beautiful project (described in Terry Tempest Williams' latest book Finding Beauty in a Broken World) exemplifying how art can begin to heal the environment as well as the hearts and minds of the traumatized people." (from the Bioneers website)

The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul by Anne Baring

"A Website for the Recognition of the Soul" is devoted to the affirmation of a new vision of reality and to the exploration of the deeper issues facing us at this crucial time of choice.

Anne Baring has been working on her book, "The Dream of the Cosmos," for twenty years and is putting some chapters onto her website before it is published. The link above takes you to the chapters which are posted.

She co-authored, with Andrew Harvey "The Divine Feminine" and "The Mystic Vision" among other titles. This website holds many treasures , so enjoy exploring!

The Cult of Divine Birth by Marguerite Rigoglioso

"Greek religion is filled with strange sexual artifacts –– stories of mortal women's couplings with gods; rituals like the basilinna's "marriage" to Dionysus; beliefs in the impregnating power of snakes and deities; the unusual birth stories of Pythagoras, Plato, and Alexander; and more. In this provocative study, Marguerite Rigoglioso suggests such details are remnants of an early Greek cult of divine birth, not unlike that of Egypt. Scouring myth, legend, and history from a female-oriented perspective, she argues that many in the highest echelons of Greek civilization believed non-ordinary conception was the only means possible of bringing forth individuals who could serve as true leaders, and that special cadres of virgin priestesses were dedicated to this practice. Her book adds a unique perspective to our understanding of antiquity, and has significant implications for the study of Christianity and other religions in which divine birth claims are central. The book's stunning insights provide fascinating reading for those interested in female-inclusive approaches to ancient religion."

More good mysteries...

If you like to read about Tibet, you might find The Inspector Shan series by Eliot Pattison quite interesting. They are well written, very descriptive and and bring to life the history and daily happenings in this more hidden part of our world. The first one is called "The Skull Mantra" and the latest one out is "The Lord of Death." Don't be fooled just because they are written as "mystery novels" – the author spent many years there and brings a wide knowledge and understanding of the complex issues in China and Tibet.

His newest "Bone Rattler" series is a fascinating story, rooted in fact, about the overlap in the mid-1700s of the Iroquois and Scottish cultures in the new world.

Another mystery I really enjoyed reading is: "The Pale Blue Eye" by Louis Bayard. This is a beautifully written novel set during Edgar Allan Poe's brief time as a West Point cadet, and will keep you guessing up until the last page.

Being a Pilgrim: The Journey of Transformation, a Journey of Days

More on Helen Luke! Mark Nepo will be leading a retreat at the Sophia Institute in September.

Using Jungian analyst Helen Luke’s notions of authentic living and Dante’s legendary myth of the maturing that waits like a dark kiss in midlife, this retreat will explore the inevitable call of always waking more deeply into life. No pre-reading or prior experience necessary, only a beginner’s mind and heart.

The Horse Boy

This is an amazing story of an autistic boy and his unusual rapport with horses. This leads his father to take him on a horse-trekking ride across Mongolia in search of shamans and traditional healers who might be able to help his son.

Just finished reading this and it is a real page turner and a beautiful, mysterious and moving true story. I highly recommend it!

Spirituality & Practice

This website lists really good films, books, interviews and much more. This weeks feature describes some exquisite Iranian films.

Earthnews on the BBC

This is a great site for daily news about animals, oceans, plants and all aspects of nature and the life of the Earth. You can subscribe to RSS feeds if you like and get the headlines!

New Economics

There are a lot of interesting and exciting new ideas about the economy. Here are just a few that seem to have a lot of potential:

Bernard Lietaur and the Future of Money - this is a must read! Lietaur is a Belgian economist and has a deep understanding of economics, its underlying structures and history and how it is all interconnected. His ideas are radical and yet they really make the most sense! His website has several white papers as well.

The Economics of Peace Conference - Praxis Peace Institute and RSF Social Finance - The challenge before us is to align the efforts and energies of the millions of individuals, businesses, and organizations that are working to transform our failing economy. "The Economics of Peace" Conference will provide a space for such independent networks and organizations to form deeper levels of collaboration and to begin describing the next economic paradigm. In essence, it will be a place for the imaginal cells of a movement to begin transforming economic relationships to better serve people and planet.

Riane Eisler and The Real Wealth of Nations - another whole systems thinker, Riane points the way to a sustainable and equitable economy that gives value to caring for our greatest economic assets: people and our natural environment.

Slow Money, Inquiries into the Nature of Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered by Woody Tasch. Woody's work has developed into an organization called Slow Money Alliance. They are having a national gathering in September.

Both Resurgence Magazine and Yes! Magazine have had recent issues devoted to new ideas, local economies and more....

BALLE - Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, the brainchild of Judy Wicks, founder of White Dog Café.

Also, look at: E.F. Schumacher Society, Time Banking, Berkshares, and Green For All, for even more innovative and wholistic perspectives.

Always something of interest...

Just a small selection of E-newsletters that invariably have something of interest:

InnerNet Weekly, Daily Good, Karma Tube and more: all are projects of CharityFocus!

Read the Spirit: you can read it on the web, but I recommend the enewsletter. "Read the Spirit" is an online home for readers who believe that diverse spiritual connections between people of faith build stronger communities. Their online magazine includes inspirational stories, fresh voices, reviews of books and films—and much more.

Orion Magazine E-update: scroll down the left column to sign up. This is a great way to be alerted to the current articles.

Inspiring magazines

Orion Magazine, Nature/Culture/Place: this beautiful magazine is filled with well-written and timely articles. It is available in print or in digital format.

Kosmos Journal is the leading international journal for planetary citizens committed to the birth and emergence of a new planetary culture and civilization. Embracing a comprehensive approach to change, its cutting edge writers address the many facets of individual, cultural and global transformation. Articles address diverse cultural values, new spirituality, global activism and global political, economic, social, institutions.

Yes! Magazine is an award-winning, ad-free, nonprofit publication that supports people’s active engagement in building a just and sustainable world.

ReVision Journal: For almost thirty years now ReVision has explored the transformative and consciousness-changing dimensions of leading-edge thinking. Since its inception Revision has been a vital forum, espe¬cially in the North American context, for the articulation of contemporary spirituality, transpersonal studies, and related new models in such fields as education, medicine, organization, social transfor¬mation, work, psychology, ecology, and gender.

3 important websites for info on safe products

First check out this interview with Sandra Steingraber in Orion Magazine, then explore these informative websites:

Women's Voices for the Earth: Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) is a national organization that engages women to advocate for the right to live in a healthy environment. Find out about household cleaning products and personal care products that don't damage you, your children or the environment and much more!

Skin Deep is a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group. Look up an astonishing number of cosmetics, soaps, creams and shampoos and find out which ones use nontoxic ingredients.

Women's Health and the Environment: The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) produced this website using the materials and wisdom of many individuals and organizations. CHE is a diverse partnership of individuals and organizations working collectively to advance knowledge and effective action to address growing concerns about the links between human health and environmental factors.

Women Transforming the World

WorldPulse: Global Issues Through the Eyes of Women - really fabulous online and print magazine. Dedicated to listening to and broadcasting the unheard voices and innovative solutions of women worldwide.

Women's Earth Alliance: Uniting Women for a Thriving Planet: Women’s Earth Alliance unites women on the front lines of environmental causes by coordinating resources, training and networks to support thriving women, communities and earth.

PeaceXPeace: Peace X Peace is a rapidly growing international organization that connects women across cultures for friendship, support, and action for peace. Our global community of women is building a more balanced, peaceful world where our lives, stories, and voices are valued and honored.

Women Make Movies: films by and about women. For example, The Sari Soldiers. Filmed over three years during the most historic and pivotal time in Nepal’s modern history, The Sari Soldiers is an extraordinary story of six women’s courageous efforts to shape Nepal’s future in the midst of an escalating civil war against Maoist insurgents, and the King’s crackdown on civil liberties.

3 lively environmental websites to track

Mother Nature Network: Environmental news and information that makes sense.

Environmental Graffiti: an eclectic mix of the most bizarre, funny and interesting environmental news on the planet. We search the vast realms of the internet on behalf of all environmentalists who don’t take themselves too seriously and compile it into a daily blog.

World Changing: Change Your Thinking: Worldchanging.com is a nonprofit media organization headquartered in Seattle, WA, that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers. We cover the world’s most innovative solutions to the planet’s problems, and inspire readers around the world with stories of new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future.

World Cat – the world's largest network of library content and services

Wow! This is really a book lovers dream!

WorldCat.org lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world. WorldCat grows every day thanks to the efforts of librarians and other information professionals.

You can search for popular books, music CDs and videos—all of the physical items you're used to getting from libraries. You can also discover many new kinds of digital content, such as downloadable audiobooks. You may also find article citations with links to their full text; authoritative research materials, such as documents and photos of local or historic significance; and digital versions of rare items that aren't available to the public. Because WorldCat libraries serve diverse communities in dozens of countries, resources are available in many languages.

Also for book lovers: Bookfinder.com - BookFinder.com is a one-stop ecommerce search engine that searches over 150 million books for sale—new, used, rare, out-of-print, and textbooks.

3 websites to read often:

Top of my list is the CharityFocus blog by Nipun Mehta. Nipun and his family and friends started Karma Kitchen, a restaurant in Berkeley that is by donation or free or you can pay for the next person's meal.

iJourney.org started when couple of folks got together to sit in silence, on Wednesdays in the Silicon Valley. Today, it offers a weekly mailing of inspired readings to 59,468 people. Wednesdays are a grassroots expression of spirituality, service and gratitude. It's in their living room, proposes no particular following and attracts a unique combination of people every week. Our general format is an hour of silent meditation, followed by another hour of sharing thoughts, and then a vegetarian dinner in silence. It was started by Nipun, Guri, and Harshida ("CF mom") in late 1996.

Conversations.org is a collection of in-depth interviews with artists from all walks of life. They also offer a monthly newsletter, Monthly Conversations, highlighting recent articles and a gift-economy print magazine. Another one of Nipun's projects!

Three new films not to miss!

Watch for local screenings of these films. Taking Root can also be purchased for home viewing.

Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai – tells the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into The Green Belt Movement. Her understanding of our interconnectedness with the environment and her focus on simply telling people the truth about government and military corruption are truly an inspiration.

Food, Inc. – filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. There is also a book: Food, Inc.: How Industrial Food is making us sicker, fatter, and poorer and what you can do about it.

Dirt! The Movie – is an insightful and timely film that tells the story of the glorious and unappreciated material beneath our feet. One teaspoon of dirt contains a billion organisms working in remarkable balance to maintain and sustain a series of complex, thriving communities that impact our daily lives.

Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, Dirt! The Movie takes a humorous and substantial look into the history and current state of the living organic matter that we come from and will later return to. An eclectic group of participants ranging from biologists to prisoners incarcerated on Rikers Island offer answers to problems and inspire us to clean up the mess that we’ve created. Dirt! The Movie will make you want to get dirty.

Mysteries...

If you like Sherlock Holmes, then you may enjoy this spin-off series by Laurie King. They are well done and take place in the early 1900s. The first one is called The Beekeeper's Apprentice. It is a good idea to read them in order but not absolutely necessary. A young woman, Mary Russell, meets Sherlock Holmes, they have an extraordinary meeting of minds and take off to solve various mysteries that take them all over the world.

Another good and very readable mystery author is Amanda Cross (pseudonym). Carolyn Gold Heilbrun was a literature professor at Columbia and her books always have a literary theme. They are very well written, witty, dry and addictive!

"The Coroner's Lunch" and "Thirty Three Teeth" by Colin Cotterill take place in Laos. The characters, the setting and Laotian history come alive in these beautifully written stories.

A Verb for Keeping Warm

Just discovered this exquisite yarn store on 7th Street in Berkeley. They dye silk and wool and other fibers on site using only natural dyes. They also have a blog which has some photos of the store and news of fiber shows and patterns.

They are open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 to 5. Located in the back parking lot area of:

Activspace Building
2703 7th St #147
Berkeley, CA
510-388-5110

Leaving Mother Lake: A Girlhood at the Edge of the World, by Yang Erche Namu, Christine Mathieu

This is the fascinating true story of a still-intact matriarchal society in Southern China in which the women enjoy true sexual and economic freedom. The story is told through the eyes of Yang Erche Namu who was born into this society and felt driven to leave and experience the outside world through using her considerable singing talents. There is a very interesting afterword by the anthropologist Christine Mathieu. Excerpts can be read at the link above.

Secrets of the Dead: Amazon Warrior Women

Fascinating documentary. I highly recommend it. A good book to provide additional context and a fascinating read is: The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine by Barbara Tedlock.

This episode was shown on PBS and is available through Netflix.

"After unearthing evidence of a culture of ancient warrior women in the Russian steppes, Dr. Jeannine Davis-Kimball followed a trail of artifacts to a remote village in Western Mongolia, where her quest for a living link to a long-imagined tribe ended with a startling discovery. There, among the black-eyed Mongols, Davis-Kimball found a blond child, a 9-year-old girl named Meiramgul. Through DNA testing, Davis-Kimball finds that the DNA sequences of the warrior women and those from the girl of Mongolia are identical."

Interview with Jeannine Davis Kimball: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/previous_seasons/case_amazon/interview.html

Manjula's kitchen: Indian Vegetarian Recipes

This is a really nice website if you want to learn how to prepare Indian food. There are short videos with Manjula showing all the steps and also the full recipes. She really offers this from her heart and it makes learning easy!

The writings of Helen Luke

If you have not yet discovered Helen Luke, you have a rare treat in store.

Helen Luke who was trained in the work of Carl Gustav Jung, came to live at Apple Farm in Three Rivers, Michigan in 1962. All of her books and writings, articles, and interviews are listed on the Apple Farm website along with several essays which can be downloaded. I highly recommend everything she has written and would be hard put to even list favorites. Her biography, Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made Of and the video "A Sense of the Sacred" are excellent. She possessed a deep understandings of symbolism and meaning and had a beautiful gift for expressing this with clarity and grace. Below are just a few more titles:

Dark Wood to White Rose: Journey and Transformation in Dante's Divine Comedy
The Inner Story: Myth and Symbol in the Bible and Literature
Kaleidoscope: The Way of Woman and Other Essays
Old Age: Journey into Simplicity
The Way of Woman: Awakening the Perennial Feminine (Book Review at http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com)
Woman Earth And Spirit: The Feminine in Symbol and Myth

Writings about Water

The newest issue, Summer 2009, of Parabola Magazine is all about water. I found every single article fascinating and wonderful.

There are two articles from a Taoist perspective. Here is a short quote to whet your interest (and the source of this blog's title):

It is externalities that are caught up in all kinds of happenings–
The Tao itself is without mind.
Realizing this, one may put on
sleeves of light feathers and
be clothed in wind.
–Zhang Rong

Sophia and the Divine Feminine

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Robert Powell, the founder of the Sophia Foundation of North America. His work seeks to further the spiritual development of each individual and to cultivate world consciousness of Sophia, Divine Wisdom, through religion, philosophy, science and art. He has written several very interesting and thoughtful books, among them are:
The Mystery, Biography & Destiny of Mary Magdalene, The Most Holy Trinosophia and the New Revelation of the Divine Feminine, and The Sophia Teachings.

His work also includes several in-depth works involving esoteric astrology and a type of movement called Choreocosmos and much more.

Lithuanian Museum of Ancient Beekeeping

It is worth going to this wikipage for the beautiful picture of carved beehives.

As of 2006, the museum consisted of six buildings, about 500 displays, and 25 sculptures. In addition to illustrating the history of beekeeping in Lithuania, some of the museum's wooden sculptures themselves contain beehives. The sculptures pay homage to the honeybee's place in worldwide mythology and folklore, including Egyptian and Native American figures as well as the Lithuanian god Babilas and goddess Austėja. They were carved by Teofilis Patiejūnas and Ipolitas Užkurnis.

The honeybee is a symbol of friendship in Lithuania; the word bičiulis is an affectionate form of address. In 2005 Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko presented Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus with three beehives and bees, which were brought to the museum.

The museum is open from May to October. A Honey Harvest festival is held in August, and the museum features a "Honey Bar".

Peace Fleece

If you like knitting or felting, this is a gem of a place and not the usual kind of yarn company!

The Peace Fleece offices are in a barn on a sheep and horse farm in the small, rural town of Porter in the foothills of southwestern Maine. Peter Hagerty and his wife Marty Tracy started buying wool from the Soviet Union back in 1985 in hopes that through trade they could help diffuse the threat of nuclear war. Since then Peter has journeyed through eastern Europe, central Asia and the Middle East in search of farmers and shepherds who are willing to set aside historic enmities in exchange for opportunities leading to mutual understanding and economic interdependence.

Peace Fleece offers knitting yarn made from a blend of Russian, Romanian, American, Israeli and Palestinian wools as well as felting supplies, batts for quilters, Russian handpainted knitting needles and wooden buttons, patterns, knitting and felting kits and batting and raw fleeces for hand spinners.

Honey and Dust: Travels in Search of Sweetness by Piers Moore Ede

Unusual story about a man, Piers Moore Ede, who after a near fatal bicycling accident in San Francisco, returns to England for rehabilitation and begins a new life. His journey takes him to Tuscany where he apprentices with a beekeeper on a small organic farm and from there he goes off in pursuit of people who still use traditional methods of beekeeping all over the world. His travels take him to Syria, Nepal, Sri Lanka and more.

Animal photographs by Nick Brandt

Truly beautiful sepia tinted portraits of animals in Africa. I bought a copy and unbound the pages so I could frame them. He has a new book, called "A Shadow Falls" coming out in September, 2009.

The Bee Photographer

These are truly awesome photographs of bees and honey gathering from around the world. Men hanging on ropes off cliffs in Nepal and women who keep bees in terra cotta jars in Mexico. Be sure and check out "At a Glance" and look at the link for each country and also the "Photo Library" pages.