Author: hearthie

Animate Universe

I was re-reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Kimmerer and came upon this quote: “In Potawatomi 101, rocks are animate, as are mountains and water and fire and places. Beings are imbued with spirit…” In the book, Dr. Kimmerer discusses the tug of war between her scientific self and her Native spiritual self, and the knowing related to each.

My Christian self should not have this dichotomy. Am I not told that the very rocks would cry out, and that the world aches for the day of the Lord’s return? Are not rocks cut with human tools unfit for use on God’s altars? Nowhere am I told that the animate universe is inanimate.

Wardrobe Items Wear Out

There are a number of different types of “style blocks”, and one of mine is the fact that wardrobe items wear out. “Replace it? Didn’t I just get it sussed out? I’ve moved on to the next thing!”, is a phrase you would hear on repeat if you broke into my brain. (I don’t just feel this way about clothes – and yes, this is why I’m terrible about maintenance. I’ve moved on!)

Nevertheless, it’s true. And we can make it work to our benefit. How?

The Thing does not have to be perfect. It’s a wardrobe item, and it will wear out. Thus, The Thing will have to be replaced. This does not excuse treating it poorly – but it does give the opportunity for improvement.

Lady Adventurer

Public femininity is not something our 21st century is built to accommodate. For some reason, instead of feminism embracing lady adventurers and other womanly women, feminism embraced androgyny. (Whyyyy must “the best feminist” look most like a man? Riddle me that). Femininity became equated to weakness, fragility, uselessness – and it was sidelined. One does not wear long skirts to work in professional settings, and color is suspect. It’s a cultural thing, not a practical one -typing on a keyboard is equally easy in a satin blouse or cotton button-down.

Dressing for your environment

Dressing for your environment is more than dressing in work clothes for work and a swimsuit on the beach. Dressing for your environment means that you dress to fit in with the people around you, the culture and expectations.

I mean, we’ve all heard the trope that you should dress for the job that you want. That’s great, on the surface. But in practice, you don’t want to dress more than one level above the job you actually have. If you’re in the mail room, please do not dress like you have a corner office. It’s suspect (and won’t serve the work you need to get done). If you want a job as a creative, and you work in the accounting department, you honestly can’t dress like the graphics crew (or IT) – the most you can do is accessorize and hint.

Living a Wonder Full Life

Walking through the eucalyptus woods near me, not only do I see the eucalyptus trees (which were planted for fast-growing firewood, back when steam engines ruled the West) that could provide me with foraged eucalyptus oil (which is, of course, excellent for clearing out the lungs, and has many other benefits as well), I see banks of nasturtiums (seeds can be used as capers, leaves and flowers spicy and edible, a good trap plant for aphids) in the springtime, and even the sowthistle I now know can be part of a nutritious dinner. I drive by plant after plant, and the more you know – the more you know. You see food, fiber, poison, healing, … et cetera. One’s eyes open. You live a more wonder full life.

Leaving Laodicea

Leaving Laodicea includes practical tips on how to regenerate community, start communities from scratch, or join existing communities.  It encourages you to examine your values, use beauty as a weapon against mass distraction, and build a life that satisfies, something you can truly call “home”.  

Butterflies Don’t Plan

I met a butterfly today, fresh from the chrysalis. She was still fat – about the width of my pinky – and fluttering around my lemon tree while I was gathering lemons. Made me think about the series I’ve been writing here about butterflies and chrysalises. There’s been so many moments over the last few years where I thought, “finally, finally I’ve broken free. I’m drying my wings and any second now, I’ll fly”.

I’ve had a lot of plans. I’ve had ways to get to this goal and ways to get to that goal. I was a very good caterpillar, and I munched through my days (and through my plans) very effectively. I’m a very good planner.

But butterflies don’t plan.

Self-Induced Harrison Bergeron

Self-induced Harrison Bergeron… I was wearing headphones that, while they didn’t shriek 21-gun salutes at me, did keep me distracted from the thoughts in my head, the ones I didn’t want to deal with. I’m strong too, but I carry too much fat around, which causes pain, which makes me weak. I think of all the pretty girls in the world, endlessly wearing hideous clothing when pretty dresses are a dime a dozen. They’re making themselves “normal”, because they’d rather be normal than breathtaking.

Slavery is Evil

Human trafficking has been much in the news, as my native state debates whether or not buying a 16yo/17yo for sex should be a felony. I understand the position taken by those of good will who say that it is quite possible for someone in that age group to present themselves as over 18. You’re…

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Common Ground in Religion

Common ground in religion allows us to discuss serious topics with serious people without getting distracted by team jerseys. There is much wisdom to be had, and in the search, in the arguments, in the hashing out and thought that come with them, wisdom grows.