Kuan Yin Day

Tomorrow is Kuan Yin Day. She is the Compassionate Rebel, the Bhodisattva of Compassion. Born to rather unkind parents, Kuan Yin went against her father's wishes, choosing life in a monastery over marriage. Furious, her father burned down the monastery. Extreme. Yet, when he himself lay deathly ill, and could be cured only by the severed arms and eyes of an innocent, she offered up her arms and eyes for the cure. Remembering only his love.

I know I couldn't have done that. Man, that is easier said than done. It seems that even though we do have selective memories, we don't always choose to remember the good, nor to feel compassion. I often forget I have the choice.

Herbalists have an expression: 'Let's use Little Medicine (herbs) to avoid needing Big Medicine (invasive drugs or surgery). We could apply the same thinking to compassion. There is such an overwhelming need for peace on a world level right now, in Tibet, Afghanistan, Iraq. We feel we can do nothing, but it hurts to do nothing. For me, Kuan Yin is a reminder to try to incorporate more compassion into my own thinking. Just to try that ripple effect. And to acknowledge the extraordinary kindness that is shown by others. Here are a few of my favourite compassionate local heroes and their work.

• Beauty Night, "because dignity is beautiful". Founded by Caroline MacGillivray, a Vancouver actress, Beauty Nights are evenings of pampering, massage, makeovers and fun for disadvantaged or indigent women. In seven years, Beauty Night has given more than 8,000 makeovers to women and youth in Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto, and has expanded to include other programs that help with self-esteem and confidence, such as theatre nights and classes. More
  
• Harvest Project, "extending a hand up, not a handout", has a food recovery project, that safely reclaims surplus food , and redistributes it. They are partnering with a community kitchen with a 'learn to cook' program, allowing folks to prepare and take home excellent meals. More
  
• North Shore Womens Centre, like all women's resource centres, doing so much with so little. northshorewomen.ca
  

Much of the work of these places is done by volunteers. Who has time to volunteer anymore? I know, I know. Well, thank goodness someone does. I used to take part, but kinda lost the habit. I could do more again. In fact, if I remember correctly, it feels so good to help out that it'll be rewarding to be there.

Service is often considered a kind of prayer. And it is without denomination, without dogma. Seldom fought over. Something anyone can do. And it feels good. Thanks for the reminder, Kuan Yin.

Happy Kuan Yin Day.

Rosemary Gladstar: making a difference

One of my favourite herbalists and teachers is Rosemary Gladstar. Taught by her Armenian grandmother, who used herbs daily, Rosemary's love of plants comes naturally. A gypsy by heritage and by nature, Rosemary has traveled the world, learning from herbal elders, getting to know hundreds of species of plants.

As well as founding the Sage Mountain Institute in Vermont, she has founded United Plant Savers, whose mission it is to save endangered plant species. Of her nine books, Family Herbal is nearly always open on my desk. It is full of intelligent, accessible information, with a wonderful warmth and a philosophy of using the best of what's around us to help and heal us.

Herbs are not meant to be part of our medicine, to be used only in crisis, but part of our lifestyle. Use of herbs on a daily basis, in our diet, teas and topical applications can keep us in optimal health, forestalling many a medical problem.

Here's a link to a lovely interview with Rosemary.

shareguide.com/Gladstar.html

• "One of the things that is important is to create work for yourself that is meaningful, that involves you in the positive. That makes all the difference in the world. You know, you see all these children around feeling hopeless. It's a problem in our society in general. Whether you work for yourself or someone else doesn't matter. Making a difference does."...Rosemary Gladstar

By making the use of herbs safe, easy and natural, Rosemary most certainly is making a difference. Thanks a bunch. Here's hoping we can find ways to do something good.

Blogging for Inanna

Blogging for ‘Inanna’

The Story of Inanna has been helpful to me, as I begin my new blog. Here’s my version of the ancient Sumerian myth.

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth, was losing sleep, hearing the cries of her sister. Her sister, Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld, was mourning the death of her beloved husband. So, Inanna decided to go visit her. To the underworld,~~where no one gets out alive!

Inanna knew the danger, but was determined. She asked the most powerful god, Enki, for help. He gave her seven magical layers of armour: breast-plate, helmet, amulet, and more.

Inanna’s great friend Nincurba traveled part way with her. Inanna left her, saying: “If I don’t come back in three days, send for help.”

When Inanna reached the first gate, the gatekeeper would only let her pass if she gave up her lapis lazuli rod. At the next gate she had to remove her breast-plate. At each of seven gates, another protection was removed. Finally, she stood naked before the last entry gate. And was allowed in.

Far from being glad to see her, nasty old Ereshkigal immediately had Inanna killed and hung up on a meat-hook! Lucky for Inanna, she and her friend Nincurba had their secret plan. Nincurba went back to Enki. He sent down his special flies, on a mission. Of course, being flies, they breezed right in.

When they found Ereshigal, she was crying and grieving. “Ohh, poor me!” The flies said: ‘Oh, poor you! We feel your pain. Ohh.’. The queen had never experienced kindness nor compassion before. She was charmed, and offered them anything they wanted. They only wanted to visit that corpse on the meat-hook over there. The flies gave Inanna’s corpse a magic elixir, and voila! Back to life, and outta there! Among the few who can say they got out of the underworld alive.

I’ve always admired Inanna, for her courage in confronting fearful things, her willingness to go deep, and to expose herself in order to find her real strength. I love that metaphor, so I named our company Inanna.

Inanna is a bit like a blogger, don’t you think? We know there’s a good chance we won’t get out alive. We know we’re gonna have to get naked! But we do it anyway!

As much as we like to go in with a clever plan, and work from a position of strength, still, we better have a darn good backup. And that backup oughta be based on friendship and the loyal support of our peops.

Here we go a-blogging! Have mercy!