Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife.  
The first question was, "Did you bring joy?"  
The second was, "Did you find joy?"

Monday, September 20, 2010

Snapshot Sanctuary: Iona

This moment of peace today comes from the Island of Iona off the coast of Scotland....picture a small, very remote, flat, wind-swept island where pagans and christians after them have been coming for thousands of years to meditate and find their inner compass re-balanced.....off in the distance is the famous Abbey...behind you a long walk to a beach filled with stones of every color and before you an evening of sitting in the little church next to the abbey where sparrows nest...perhaps, tonight, you will come across a group of pilgrims chanting for peace and love and joy...and you will join them...perhaps you will sit and look out at the rising moon and then sleep deeply and restfully....and in the morning you will feel grounded and strong and connected to the earth...

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Snapshot Sanctuaries

A dear friend of mine has been going through a rough time. On one particular evening he wrote that he was in a certain kind of "hell". So I sent him a photographic snapshot from one of my travels with a sort of verbal snapshot of being in that place in that moment so that he could just get away for a spell.

I've been doing them daily for over a week now and realize that I both like writing them and I love sharing these memories with him. It gives me a chance to recall the connection I felt to certain places, the power and gifts of the land itself.

I also realized a few days ago that this might be a great way to keep this travel blog going when I'm not actually traveling.

And if a few other people find them soothing or diverting in a moment of need, that would be wonderful too.

So....the first Snapshot Sanctuary.....



Imagine, if you will, olive groves all around and, as you walk towards town and the setting sun, you find yourself looking out over the Lingurian Sea...at the end of the path is a wee harbor and the piazza and dinner... And an overwhelming sense of peace.