During one of the three Samhain rituals I've been part of this last 10 days, the priestess asked "What breaks your heart open?" It's this world, and everything in it, everything about it, breaks my heart open, brings me to tears of grief and joy, fills me with the inspiration to keep offering and experiencing and being.

What breaks your heart open?

I’m reading a book called “The Well of Rembrance” by Ralph Metzner. It was given to me by a friend who thought it would be helpful to me in gaining more understanding of the pagan history and legacy of Germany. I’m enjoying the book very much, and finding some of my own roots in the descriptions of migrations and divine forms. It gives me plenty to think about, including my experiences in Germany this past spring and summer.

I’m starting to make my plans for traveling to Italy in the winter and staying there for a number of months. I’ve been offered a housesit in a small medieval village between Genova and Nice FR, and after some very difficult decision making, choosing between offers of wonderful places to be, have decided to go to Italy. It’s too good to pass up.

For now I am still in California. Here are a few photos of my abode.

Blessed Samhain..all hail the mighty dead without whom we would not be here. Survivors, progenitors, speaking to us, whispering in our DNA, in every cell and molecule of food and water and air. We have some big work to do, and we need the wisdom and creativity of those who survived the devastations of their times to assist us.

The salmon and tuna populations in the pacific off the coast of northern California are crashing. If you're eating pacific tuna or salmon, you're eating the last of them.

The warmongers continue their bloody dance. The ones elected to the US congress nearly a year ago have shown their true colors as collaborating warmongers with the murderer in chief. Now we know. The US is lost. What happens next?

And with all this ecological political tragedy there is still hope. Nothing dies forever. There is no end to life, in whatever forms. Out of ruin will come forth something else. Something smarter. It's good. My job now is to be as kind as I can, to reduce my footprint, to witness and feel and connect.

I'm staying in the yome still. I'll be here for a few more months. I am seeing wonderful people, sharing visions, riding the wave.

Warm rain in northern California. Visiting friends in Ukiah, speaking with a Psych class that one of my friends teaches tomorrow at a Community College.

I feel good. I see more than I used to and I am relaxing into a flow that will carry me for a while. Maybe all the way. I no longer choose to be in resistance, but to do my part of living in harmony with Earth and Life as much as I can. The old is collapsing, it will fall away, and some of what will be left will make different, healthier, choices. The ethical and moral midgets in power cannot hold us all. Life is free wherever it exists and it will continue to exist.

It continues to happen again, still, more, that I am offered choices between wonderful places to live for a time. It is truly an embarrassment of riches to be offered the opportunity to witness and be part of life in so many places.

Lots of gratitude, all the time.