…but our lives are not as limited as we think they are, all things are possible, laughter is holier than piety, freedom is sweeter than fame, and in the end it’s love and love alone that really matters. – Tom Robbins

Greetings.

Welcome to my blog @ The Whole 9.

First, a bit of background.

Born and raised in Iowa. That is a flyover State in the US Midwest near Chicago.

My Family is Methodist and I attended a Lutheran College, where I was an English & Philosophy Major.

Went to Grad School in Counselor Education and worked as a Social Worker for over 8 years.

Been practicing Zen Buddhism for 21 years. Then, I took vows and ordained 12 years ago. Lived, worked and practiced at a variety of Zen Centers in the US for over 10 years.

Am a Registered Yoga Teacher. I have been teaching individuals & groups for 4 years. I also teach Meditation.

Am an Artist: Photographer and I make assemblages/collage/mail art. I aspire to be a painter.

Am a Writer.

Currently live in Belgium.

The focus of my blog is multi-fold.

Spirituality. Art. Wisdom. Humor. Encouragement. Love. Light.

I was approached to write about merging Life, Art and Spiritual Practice.

Finding a way to integrate our many selves into a fully present, functioning Life. Taking time from our busy lives to stop to be able to appreciate just this moment. And, hopefully, allow for the rising of feelings of gratitude.

And then to find a way to be of Service in The World. Because, The Light needs many hands.

After a longish life, many years of Spiritual Practice and some years making Art, I feel that I am just beginning to get a grasp on it.

So, I pass on whatever Wisdom has presented itself to me.

From an Apology Speech in Zen Liturgy: “I feel that a great crime has been committed and there is nowhere on Earth for me to hide. I hope there be enough water in the Ocean to wash my words from your ears”

A style note: After having some experience with the German language, I came to see the importance of capitalizing nouns and began to do this in my writing. It is rather arbitrary, but I do this for emphasis.