Even the hangry-inclined can practice fasting mindfully
Special guest column by Marina Robertson Readers are accustomed to seeing Ray’s column in this space but this week he has asked me to write about a topic that elicits equal amounts of fascination and horror for many: fasting. I know this because, as his wife, I have been telling folks about the fasting Ray […]
Seasonal Mindfulness: A Christmas Memory
My Christmas Eve column is based on Truman Capote’s short story “A Christmas Memory.” A 1966 TV adaptation starred Geraldine Paige as Aunt Sook (shown in the photo). I only have a faint memory of seeing this (not available for streaming). It was narrated by Capote. There is also a 1997 TV movie starring Patty […]
Remembering Alice Rhett: A wonderful life
One year ago Alice Rhett was doing what she did so often: Helping a friend by taking them to a medical appointment. She and her friend both died just north of Farmville when a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road hit them head on. Alice was the most fit person I knew: […]
A new effort in sharing Qigong and Tai Chi
I’m sharing the healing practices of Qigong and Tai Chi to both a larger region and with other friends and students online, now with two options. For a $15 monthly fee, students can attend my Tuesday morning meditation class via Zoom, with a recording available as well. The live class will be at 7:15 AM […]
Doulas and mindfulness for birth and death
Many people are not familiar with the term doula. Based on a Greek word for female helper, a doula is trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth. While midwives have medical training to assist with birth, doulas serve as advocates and provide nonmedical […]
Practicing mindfulness on a disc golf course
In Halifax County, Virginia, we are fortunate to have a great and well-maintained disc golf course at Edmunds’ Park. I’m very fortunate to have a 91-year-old Grand Legend World Champion teaching me the game. I found that disc golf is every bit as fun and frustrating as regular golf. I had many misconceptions before starting […]
AppleScript Automation
You may have reached this site from my other life at Automated Workflows and Scripting Matters where the specialty was/is publishing automation chiefly using AppleScript. Although I’m not actively seeking any new clients, I’m still open to more projects if the fit works for us both. I have some long-time clients maintaining and enhance automation […]
A prediction for when you will stop reading this column
I’m hesitant to share this column because the most common reaction might be, “Is this guy crazy, or what?” I’m considering being part of a group aiming to fast for seven days in mid-July, only drinking spring water during that time. There. That was the point where I predicted you would stop reading. Yet we […]
A poem for Alice
How could we loseBoth the sun and the moon The cool summer rainWinter day still River’s calm whisperIn the flow of the daoCrane’s graceful wingsTortoise gaze within Bereft in our sighsLungs thicken with painWe want to ask whyWhy, oh why, this one Vase suddenly shatteredIn clamor, in hasteThen earthquakes and thunderChaos takes reins Yet somehow kind […]
A life of kindness and hope: In memory of Alice Rhett
We all mourn when we lose leaders in our community—people prominent in government, church, business and other areas of life. Sometimes, we grieve at the loss of a bright light who lived a humble life of kindness. Such a person was Alice Rhett, who died in a car wreck Tuesday. Alice was doing what she […]