Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

After landing in an atmospheric river last week, we enjoyed a sunny and clear weekend. It was cold around the edges, but on our Sunday roam, we could enjoy the brightness and long views from the top of Twin Peaks. And then the heavy rain was due back for Thursday. Since I still had all my rain gear out, I figured I would manage the commute somehow. In the end, I got out of the house in a break in the rain, and barely got wet on both commutes, which was a relief. 

On other evenings, the moon, stars and planets have been shining. I have enjoyed sleeping back in our comfortable bed with a good pillow set up, after quite the variety of mattresses on our trip. Also enjoying consistently good coffee in the morning – while traveling I am happy just to get the caffeine in the system, but there were a lot of less than ideal cups of coffee to be had. Although Ruth has still been struggling with the sinus headaches from the lingering sickness, I have been loving the simple routines of being home. I have started to pick up my riding again, after so many slack weeks, and look forward to building up the miles over the next few weeks

It was one of those weeks where I was leading meditation sessions from Monday to Thursday, noticing how the residual tiredness of jet-lag crept in while I was sitting, sending my thoughts off the rational conveyor belt into that slippery mode of pre-sleep. My posture and alignment have not felt quite right most of the time, and I was watching what I think of as the hinge around my heart level that easily closes down, if I don’t focus on keeping it open, sitting tall and expansive.