The Clear and Simple Way

We leave our shoes at the door,

enter on quiet feet

and sit at sunken tables

on round straw cushions

we drink icy cold Japanese beer

and share flavorful dishes

laughter is the same

in every language

and we share that too.

What could be more perfect

than a cup of green tea

sipped mystically

while watching the sun rise golden

over the shining silver sea

here in this old beach town

of Hakodate, Japan?

What could be more perfect

than quietly contemplating the way

the morning grows calm and majestic

without any help from me

over the silver sea here in

this old beach town of Hakodate?

What could be more perfect

than sipping a second cup of tea

while contemplating the way

the sun expands and fills the whole sky

with beautiful light.

What could be more beautiful than writing poetry

while the birds fly over the sea

here in beautiful Hakodate.

Taxis in Japan

have seats covered

in white lace

like brides

so you feel new and pure

each time you enter

the back left door

opens

and closes

automatically

the drivers sit

on the right side

and drive there too

there are no tips

in Japan

not for taxi drivers, waitresses,

or anyone else

everyone is paid a living wage

and performs their duties

perfectly, pleasantly, and politely

without expectation

of an extra reward

it takes the tension out of

being served and serving

and puts the emphasis

on being.

Seaweed is so lovely

upon my plate

so many shapes and patterns

so many textures and colors.

Who knew

that eating 

could be so lovely?

Last night flowers walked along the beach

With bright happy faces

Obi tied like elaborate butterflies

Fireworks exploded over the ocean,

Strawberries, watermelon, peaches,

Orchids, sunflowers, thistle

Silver lights sparkled and glistened

Shot into space in the night sky

People's faces sparkled and glistened

Little girls wore flashing ribbons

in their shining dark hair 

The audience oohed and ahhed

No matter how many times

Theyd seen the scene before

There was no boredom here

Only serenity and gratitude

For the Ocean celebration

All over Japan

Only joy

Thank you, Hakaido.

Thank you, Ocean.

Thank you, Japan.

Flew into Hakaido today from Tokyo. Tokyo was hot and humid. Here the sea breeze is soft upon my skin. The producers for Hirth's show here took us to dinner and I ate the most fabulous sushi ever. This is a seaport city and the seafood is absolutely fresh. It is a beautiful area, surrounded by the ocean and nature. Tonight was celebration honoring the sea, a national holiday in Japan, and we watched fireworks spread out into the sky like huge flowers, strawberries, and watermelons. Everyone ooed and ahhed, a perfect audience. In spite of the crowds, there was no pushing; people were well-mannered and clapped at the end.

So it's good bye Tokyo, at least for a couple of days. Hirth gives his last performance in Hakaido tomorrow night. Tonight are the Hakaido fireworks, a special celebration. Monday is a national holiday in Japan, the holiday celebrating the ocean. We will return here on the 20th to fly back to Los Angeles. But for now, the day outside in Tokyo awaits me and I shall go fly through the streets and see what I see. More later. 

Okay, so the airport and many public places here have two kinds of toilets, the traditional, which means level with the floor (and reminds me of India) and very elaborate bidets. Think heated seats!

Hirth gave 2 stellar performances at FAB in Tokyo. Then a booksigning at Tower Records. I have had a great time here. Tonight was the wrap-up party with some wonderful musicians. Hirth played some and so did they. It was also a birthday party for Yoshi Nagato who turns 60. He's been great on this journey. Tomorrow we take a taxi to the airport, then fly to Hakaido, which everyone keeps saying is the most beautiful part of Japan. I shall see! Check back later to get my impressions.

The nicest thing about Kobe was that there was a temple behind our hotel. It was painted a bright orange red with lotus blossoms and gold leaf and situated in a park like setting. I went walking along the paths, punctuated by small enclosed places for meditation, some of them occupied. I was lucky enough to be at the larger temple during some spiritual ceremony. There were 11 priests or monks chanting and doing rituals. 3 others played some sorts of wooden flute instruments. And several girls in kimonos took part in the ritual.

On the shiny white bullet train on the way to Kobe, Yoshi, Hirth's promoter and our constant guide and companion, suggested I get off in Kyoto for awhile and enjoy the old city. So I did!

I walked through rain along narrow streets getting wet, looking for a particular temple. I saw a small shop selling umbrellas, so I stopped to buy one. I asked the lady if she knew where this temple was, showing her the map I had with me. She gestured for me to follow her through her tiny shop to the back. She opened the back door and there, like magic, was the temple! I felt like Alice through the rabbit hole.

The temple was Higashi Honganji, officially know as Ahinshu Honbyo. It is the mother temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha branch of Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhism), whose founder is Shinran (1173-1262). It is one of the largest Buddhist denominations in Japan. It is the largest wooden temple in Japan. I felt transformed just walking through the doors. So far it has been my best Japanese experience because it was so spiritually transforming. 

The architecture is amazing, with wide open spaces. Wherever you stand, you can see the exquisite lines and arches of the the pagoda structure. I fell into meditation as soon as I sat down in the shrine.

I walked back through the rain with my clear plastic umbrellas, feeling quite at home with all the other umbrellas.

When I got back Yoshi was visibly relieved. I think he had 2nd thoughts about leaving me alone and riding away on the train. Hirth said he kept saying things like, "She travel a lot, right?" "She very independent, right?" then he was silent awhile and said, "Japan very safe country."

Yoshi told me he saw on the news that the river in Kyoto was flooding and you should stay away from it, so he was hoping I would not go near it (I didn't!). I of course did manage to buy a train ticket and end up in the right place.

It is freeing though to walk through the streets with a feeling of safety...unlike of course in the USA where you always have to have an awareness of where you are in the country. On the streets of Kyoto people left items out, even little things, in their gardens (tiny gardens) or porches (tiny ones) that would disappear if it in was many places in the USA.

I've woken up in yet another city on Hirth's magical musical concert tour through Japan. And once again there's rain on the city, lotsa rain on the city...as Hirth sings in one of his songs. His performances are of course extraordinary, and he's engulfed with signing autographs after each show. We leave this morning for yet another venue.

Nagoya is a huge city. Ever since coming to Japan, I've had the feeling I am in a huge snow globe, due to the heavy white skies, though there is misty rain, now snow. The rains so far are not heavy. Coming from the dryness of Los Angeles, the rain is a treat. Whereas the desert air of Los Angeles greedily grabs every bit of moisture from your body (which reminds me of the sands of the Dune books) - Japan drenches you with moisture and plumbs up your skin. 

So yesterday, up early for a Japanese breakfast in the hotel. This means you take off your shoes before entering the tatami matted floor, which feels soft and welcoming on your feet. I loved the tables which were low and so were the tables. Did I know what all the food was on the Japanese breakfast table? No. Did that daunt me? No. So long as I am  not eating any sort of squid, eel, meat, or chicken, I'm good togo. Miso soup, seaweed, various pickled vegetables, rice, small pieces of fish, and of course green tea. I could eat Japanese breakfast everyday, but alas, I am not sure how to cook Japanese breakfast.

By 8:15 am we were on a bus headed to Nagasaki airport, the same route we took to get to Nagasaki. The bus ride takes about 2 hours and drives past green trees and foliage. Some of the trees here look like huge ferns, giving the landscape quite a different look then in the West.

The plane we flew by ANA was white and painted with bright flowers. I hoped it was as functional as it was pretty. To my great relief, there was not so much turbulence flying out as in, and we landed in  Tokyo easily. Then it was more walking to a taxi. Driving through Tokyo, across bridges, there is more whiteness, not only the sky, but the city itself seems to be a city of white, tall modern buildings and so sign at all of King Kong. The whiteness and subdued pastels colors give Tokyo a feeling of softness and again that snow globe feeling. I was imagining myself as a tiny figurine in a snowglobe, not real at all, maybe held in the hand of a child who shakes the globe with wonder, wondering if the misty rain will turn to snow.

It does the ego good to imagine itself as not real, as a miniature figurine inside a snow globe held by God. Maybe then we can also imagine God, though anything we can imagine is confined by the limitations of the mind. Universal Consciousness is beyond anything the mind can imagine. But imagination is a good place to begin. Once we begin there, the possibility of soaring beyond the limitations of the mind always exist.

The earth is itself a wonderful schoolroom. We always have the possibility to learn and grow as we journey through life, and this is what makes life truly worthwhile--the possibility to know ourselves not as we think we are, but as we truly are.

The seats of the bus were the same upholstery as thebuses I ride in Zurich, Switzerland--bright purple with colored confetti patterns, except the buses in Switzerland are more sophisticated--when you stop, the whole bus itself actually lowers to let passengers in and out. I've never ridden a bus in LA so I cannot say what they are like.

So, we landed in Tokyo and the taxi took us to a bullet train--the engine is shaped like something out of Batman--like a bullet. The trains are white and look like shiny lacquer. Two hours later, we were in Nagoya and took a taxi to the hotel. The hotel is also very white, inside and out, and looks like white marble, though it is only a good imitation. We arrived at the hotel around 4pm and Hirth's performance began at 7:30pm. You can read more about Hirth's tour, promoted by the great Yoshi Nagato, here: http://coconutgrove-inc.blogspot.com/

Now it is morning here and I am very hungry, I am not sure what time it is for my body. Stay tuned. Tuned to that perfect magical note of God. I will write more later....

Nagasaki is an old city. I am in a hotel that overlooks a canal below and reminds me rather of Venice, though I've never been to Venice I can imagine it in my mind. There are no boats floating by in this canal though, and the bridges are far too low anyway.

I awoke this morning early to find that rain had fallen and may continue throughout today. Coming from LA, land of little rain,  I lovethe chance to experience rain in a new place. The canal below is a deep green and runs between buildings on either side, including this hotel. The sky is a thick white mist, the same one we drove through to reachthe airport yesterday and then flew into.

I walked last night through China town, beneath bright colorful mosaics composed of lights, hanging above the streets.

The main street of Nagasaki goes on and on, covered with high arched ceilings, flanked by shops selling beautiful things.

The city of Tokyo reminds me of Zurich, Switzerland. It is so clean and there is obvious wealth in the stylish way people dress. Tokyo must be one of the most fashion conscious places in the world, not just what people wear, but in the way they artistically combine colors and patterns to to create an individual look. Walking through Tokyo is sortof like a live art museum, which is one of the things I love about Tokyo and remembered from previous visits. More later!

Japan itself is a poem. I slept most of the flight over from LA.

We were picked up in a taxi from Narita airport to Tokyo and drove beneath a soft blue sky already turning to dusk. A huge hawk-like cloud flew above. I watched the sunset change the sky to pink and yellow and send the hawk cloud flying in another direction. By the time we made Tokyo it was already dark.

Tokyo was warm and very humid, but I didn't mind. I seem to fit right in where there is warmth and water. The first thing you might notice about the people in Tokyo is how artistically stylish everyone is dressed, with great shoes.

We flew from Tokyo today to Nagasaki, where I am now. They weren't sure we were going to be able to land in Nagasaki, due to strong winds, however we made it---after too much turbulence for my peace of mind. I hate turbulence. I am too imaginative to endure turbulence calmly, nor does it make my body happy.

Yoshi Nagato took us to an organic Japanese restaurant that his friend,also named Yoshi, owns. It was organic and wonderful.--sashimi, shrimp salad, seaweed soup, and I could go on....oh, and this desert topped with his own homegrown black peppermint leaf that you can taste through your being as soon as it touches your tongue.

Okay have to go because I am falling asleep at the computer. So much for jet lag...

hello!

I am writing this from Japan where I landed a few hours ago. I've had a seaweed salad and hot bath in a Japanese tub - meaning it is very deep and not long -- I prefer Japanese tubs - they hold the heat longer and just feel better.

More later. Jet lag is calling me to sleep, well it is night here, but morning in L.A.

Dr. Masaru Emoto's Healing Prayer for the Gulf

"I send the energy of love and gratitude to the water and all the

living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings.

To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, coral,

algae, and all living creatures . . .

I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

Thank you.

 I love you."

I've just posted the new monthly message for July and you can read it here: July Message. Remember that all previous messages are arhcived for your reading pleasure! Today is July 1st and I hope it a month for you of growth, inspiration, and mostly Freedom!

Poems are meant to be written

in the silence of the soul

no matter how insane the din

of the distant world,

all poems spring from

tiny seeds germinating within

the long dark night of the soul

and the sweltering hot desert

of our existence

here on earth.

While the lotus is the symbol

of spiritual growth in the east,

give me the desert flower

that blooms in the heat of day

and survives the coldness of night.

Water is murky and cold

or warm and stagnant,

still the lotus grows up

through the mud into the light.

I prefer to stand alone

in the bright light of the desert

and let the sun burn all that is not me

away

leaving nothing but Reality.

I prefer to remain there

in the vast dangerous desert

so naked even my skin peels away

so free even I float away.

Looking down I see my bones

shining and white

as they never were when covered by skin

bleaching there in the noonday sun.

A rattlesnake crawls through

where my eyes used to be

and sits waiting for something

to transform its existence

from hunger to fullness.

And I turn to face the angels

who have always been there

and I turn to face the face of God

and recognize myself at last

and the blessed rain of peace

falls down

bringing eternal spring

and the color green

growing, glowing, transforming

me and everything

into the perfect flower of God.

Radiant and pure

the desert flower can endure

even the brightest light

even the coldest night.

For now, I am just here

walking the razor's edge

no matter how noisome the din

no matter how painful the insanity

of this lonely world,

I continue the journey within.

My eyes look upward

into the bright light of the sun

which hides nothing

and reveals everything

leaving me stripped and naked

to the bone

open and surrendered

to the final truth

there was never anything to defend,

nothing to protect,  

no one here at all

I was only a movie on a screen

projected by thoughts

which never belonged to the me

I thought I was.

The scent of Jasmine

heady and deep

as the night it blooms in.

Jasmine in my tea.

Jasmine the fat little girl

who lives next door.

Jasmine perfume

on my skin.

Jasmine flowers floating

in my dreams.