à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Zen
When a Reader Writes
Writing this blog is like repeatedly casting messages in bottles into the ocean. Even though plenty of people read my posts regularly, frequently they don’t comment or otherwise engage, so I forget that they’re here. Sometimes I wish someone I don’t know will open these bottles, read the messages, and send one back to me. Ideally that message … Continue reading
Humpty Dumpty and the Beauty of Feldenkrais
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again. – Mother Goose For those who’ve been following my Feldenkrais training, my first segment began with lessons on sucking, revisiting our most primal movement in a considered way. Fast forward … Continue reading
The KonMari Method: A Decluttering “Camino”
Frequently I’ve fantasized about living differently. A few years ago, while following a guided imagery offered by my Zen teacher, I visualized my home as a light-filled and spare dwelling, furnished with carefully chosen items and sleek storage to reduce visual clutter. Imagining myself in such a pristine environment felt peaceful and spacious. When I opened my eyes, I lost … Continue reading
When Adventure Beckons, Pause. Then, Buy a Toothbrush.
Last weekend I attended a workshop at the Embodied Life School in Sebastopol, CA, in Marin County. It’s a 75 minute drive from San Francisco, the location of my Feldenkrais training program, far enough that I needed to rent a car, yet close enough that I couldn’t justify getting a room for the night. Marin, with its rolling hills and farmland that … Continue reading
Common Denominator: Moshe Feldenkrais and Gertrude Stein
“Let me listen to me and not to them” – Gertrude Stein “The object of this learning is to remove outside authority from your inner life” – Moshe Feldenkrais Friends invited me to a “Night of Gertrude Stein” at a bookstore the other evening. I knew little about her poetry, save for the oft-quoted … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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