Mandalas meet Ultra Deep Field

That's Tiny Mandala #38 of 53 in progress

Someone left a wonderful book on the free bookshelf in the mailroom of the condominium complex where I live.  That's where I learned about the Ultra Deep Field.  

For the Love of Physics: From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge of Time - A Journey Through the Wonders of Physics

I'm also reading Killers of the Flower Moon (by David Grann, from the public library), The Varieties of Religious Experience (by William James), God Talks with Arjuna:  The Bhagavada Gita (by Paramahansa Yogananda, indirectly recommended by George Harrison), The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World (by Lewis Hyde),  Opening to You:  Zen-Inspired Translations of the Psalms (by Norman Fischer)

Just learned about Werner Herzog's memoir, Every Man for Himself and God Against All, and have that on hold at the public library.  I'm #12 in line.  That will give me time to finish the other books.

Doing my best to keep my balance in these troubled times that seem to have no beginning and no end, not forgetting the joy which has no beginning and no end.

Joy

(Make sure to turn on sound.  I almost didn't)

The experience of joy

Today the topic of joy came up in a group of friends of mine.  Just what is it?  How is it experienced?  As I was listening to what everyone had to say, I remembered this YouTube video which brings tears of joy to me every time I listen.  It's been a while since I listened.

(where I left my warm winter gloves while happily making video clips)

Funny how, for me, being relaxed and happy sometimes goes hand in hand with losing things.  If that's the price for joy, I'm willing to pay.

Play them both at the same time for full effect of standing on the bridge and looking upstream and then downstream.

Morning view from my yoga mat

A few days ago I dreamed that I was living near the California coast again after 37 years of being away. As I walked down a steep gravel path with the ocean to my right, I felt sunshine as well as deep joy and gratitude. I was not with anyone but I was not alone either. The water was an unusual dark jade green. Grey whales began to appear just below the surface of the ocean, followed by golden fish with almost human faces. Sea lions came out of the ocean to be touched. Finally, a group of ancient sea turtles arrived to look into the faces of all those who stood on the gravel path. I woke up in amazement but drifted back to sleep. As I was between sleeping and waking, I heard this:

"Half of it is gratitude. The other half is being the mayonnaise."

"These are trying times that we're living in" (Mavis Staples)