à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Spiritual Practice
Bill Cunningham, Spiritual Hero
“Money’s the cheapest thing. Liberty and freedom is the most expensive” – Bill Cunningham It’s hard to imagine not liking, or at least not appreciating, Bill Cunningham, the New York Times photographer and youthful soul who recently passed away at 87. His sheer joy in photographing people in Manhattan infected even me, whose interest in fashion and … Continue reading
Facing a Frantic Bird, Facing Fear
I love being in nature and observing wildlife; that helps me feel centered and connected to the cosmos. When wildlife comes indoors, however, inner peace flies out the window. I morph from a quiet, harmony seeking human to a frantic, freaking-out idiot. To wit: years ago a bat entered my third floor apartment when I lived in Somerville, … Continue reading
New in 2016: My Articles on The Wisdom Daily
In the vast, ever expanding and always changing universe that is the Internet, it can be challenging for writers and readers to find a place to participate, let alone a place to call home. That’s why so many people create their own blogs, their own slivers of cyberspace on which to set up a base camp and, … Continue reading
CHECK ENGINE: Of Cars, Karma, Gurus and Rabbis
[Dear Readers: This is a long essay. The narrative is not linear, it contains at least one four letter word, references to sexual scandal (not mine), and cars! It’s not the usual fare. Happy New Year!]. When I lived in Colorado, my Subaru Forrester’s check engine light went on intermittently, for days or weeks, before switching … Continue reading
When a Flat Tire Inflates the Spirit
I’m spending some time in and around Ludlow, Vermont, “warming” a family member’s rental condo before the snow falls. Shortly before I drove here, the heater in my Subaru began clicking and whirring. I packed a wool blanket in case I ran into trouble and needed to wait for help. The other day, driving back to my temporary abode … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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