à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Spiritual Practice
Lessons from a Goat
I met this goat yesterday at a farm where I attended a workshop on compassion (facilitated by humans but taught by horses). While the workshop was fascinating, I learned just as much from this creature, with whom I spent a good chunk of the lunch break. Unlike the horses and their subtler forms of expression … Continue reading
Potlucks as Spiritual Yardstick
Years ago, I loathed potlucks. As a former Manhattanite, I had dined at my fair share of upscale restaurants, thanks to a foodie boyfriend. Having traveled and lived overseas, I’d enjoyed lots of authentic if not exotic cuisine. At some point, I decided that if I were to eat a meal out (in a restaurant … Continue reading
Things Can Change in an Instant
On Saturday I awoke at 5a.m., intending to hike Mt. Flora (13,146′) and neighboring peaks with the Colorado Mountain Club. I hadn’t been at altitude in weeks, partly because I had been nursing a tweaked knee, partly out of fear. The longer I’m away from the higher peaks, the worse I feel and the harder … Continue reading
Behold the Karmic Vacuum
These days, I pay careful attention to who and what shows up in, or disappears from, my life and if the arrivals, departures or synchronicities carry meanings. While I’ve always been attuned to symbols, it wasn’t until I started writing creative non-fiction to identify themes in my à la carte life that I began … Continue reading
In Praise of Fools
Recently, I met someone new. At first glance, due to his profession and appearance, he reminded me of three people I had been close to a few decades ago. Immediately, my mind decided that he was a mash-up of these folks and started scanning the conversation, his gestures and expressions for evidence that, indeed, he … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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