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Yes, it’s true – if you haven’t already heard, knitting is a method of supporting a sustainable future.
You knew that, I’m sure.
In fact people in Flanders, Belgium have declared February 17th as Put on a Thick Sweater Day
- say, maybe like this one:
The third annual celebration of this action shows support for the Kyoto Protocol and brings attention to the issue of global warming – because if you are wearing thick – and, we hope, handmade – sweater, you turn down your thermostat – and the rest of the cycle falls into place. Read more about it here. One more of the many ways that knitting can be of benefit to the world.
By the confidence of the Golden Sun of the Great East
May All Beings Enjoy Profound Brilliant Glory!
KI KI SO SO!
Be safe, happy and generous in this year of the Fire Hog!
“for life’s not a paragraph
and death, i think is no parenthesis”
ee cummings from “since feeling is first”
My friend Cayce left this realm on Tuesday, February 6, 2007. He, like me, was nearly 39 years old. I met Cayce when we first entered High School at age 15. This made him one of my oldest friends. We had many classes together – I first met him in Journalism class, along with Steve Knopper (Steve reminds me, room 154, Boulder High School, 1983)- we were quite an accumulation of talent (Cayce went on to be a filmmaker and muscian, Steve to be a journalist, and myself a designer, writer, etc.) . We also had Film Studies class together – another prophetic place to encounter him – as he went on to earn an MFA in film making, made independent films and taught film at colleges around San Francisco. Most poignant, and probably most important to our bonding, is that we suffered/enjoyed 3 years of advanced high school French together. Salute Madame Roberts – Ca Va Bien?
His wife, Chela, is my dear dear soul sister friend – also from BHS days. It was really special to have relationships with each of them, together and individually. We stayed close all these twenty some odd years, shared college memories, grew up a little, went to each other’s weddings, bought houses, had babies, and enjoyed time together during Boulder visits.
As so many people mentioned at his memorial this past weekend, I too enjoyed Cayce’s insane and intense sense of humour that led to side splitting laughter, late night discussions of philosophy, Buddhism and who was the coolest superhero (that one might also be chalked up under philosophy, maybe Buddhism too.) We shared hours and hours of listening to U2, I would talk to him about Jazz (my dad, Fred Hess is a great Jazzer), and (I am definitely dating myself further here), I also remember discussing the place INXS in the history of pop music – an important band, or a “these were the moments of our lives” soundtrack – you can decide that one – I think we went with the latter. His deep seeded love of music and intense talent would lead him to be the front man of the SF based band Flying Canyon, having just released their critically acclaimed first album just last Fall.
Cayce, I hold you in my heart. I feel the sadness of your death, frustration for the pain you must have been holding and I surround you with love and golden light as you move through. Chela, I love you.
Dude-man, I miss you.
From “The Heart Sutra”
OM Gaté, gaté, paragaté, parasamgaté.
Bodhi! Svaha!
Which means…
Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone fully over.
Awakened! So be it!
(and I’m not talking “Sopranos” here.)
Pronounced like “Duns,” according to Tibetan lore, the end of the lunar year is considered a tumultuous and dangerous time. The root of the word dön means “doubt,” and essentially refers to mischievous and negative “Ju Ju” floating around – the accumulation of unresolved karma from the previous year. It’s that feeling of pushing a rock up a hill, or trying really hard to finish something, when in fact you are just spinning your wheels. Around here, when we have challenging experiences, we turn it into an adjective – “how was your day dear? – Oh, very dönsy.” In Boulder, döns season usually coincides with Chinook season- when the winds blasts down the front range foothills at up to 100 miles an hour or more. The two tend to go well together.
The döns season is the last ten days of the Tibetan lunar calendar. This starts today – February 7, 2007, and concludes on the Tibetan New Year, or Shambhala Day, Sunday, February 18th, 2007. The energy of the döns is represented by sudden bursts of confusion, passion, aggression and ignorance. During this time, these little demon doubt energies seem to suddenly possess you, so be very mindful of your behavior. Advanced Buddhist practitioners, and Kasung – or protectors of the Dharma, do special ceremonies to appease and disperse the döns. Some folks even choose to go into retreat during this week – to help dispel the effect of the döns for the rest of us, and perhaps to stay out of their way.
“Lhasang” fire purification ceremony in Boulder during Shambhala Week Celebrations
Tara “purifies” Zane by placing him in the smoke of the Juniper Branches at 2006’s Boulder Lhasang (Tara wears “Padma” and Zane wears “Auspicious Coincidences” from Compassionate Knitting.)
It is ill advised to begin any new projects, enter into any major agreements, or do much of anything besides watch the winds blow this week. Knitting is a very good döns activity. Knitting for the benefit of others even better, and Mindfully Knitting for the benefit of all the best. Even though the döns kinda suck (or in Boulder, blow), this time is in fact a gift. This is an entirely contemplative and Buddhist POV – turn it over, and every obstacle is in fact a lesson on the path. Consider what it means to be given time to resolve your unresolved karmic blips. Then, at the end of the Döns Season – on Shambhala Day – we celebrate the beginning of the New Year with a grand, day-long party. So, please take it EASY – and wait until after Shambhala Day to make any big decisions. Be with your family and friends and ring in the Year of the Pig – yup – Pig.
photo from the Boulder Shambhala Center Shambhala Day 2007 webpage.
Good Monday – The beginning of a busy week around here – mostly for Jack and Jack’s mom (moi) – homework club, choir, a writing class, the school Inquiry Fair, and of course the mid season re- “premier” of Lost. (we still care, but I’m not sure about everyone else). For some reason I thought it would all get easier as the kid got older – but it just gets different.
So, I’ve got this nine-and-a-half-year-old (darling Jack, above – totally worth clicking for the big pix). He’s a really great nine-and-a-half-year-old, and unlike my three-year-old, he actually enjoys wearing things I knit for him. Remembering to bring them home from school is another thing entirely. We’re working on that.
Many of my friends with 4th graders and up have told me they have trouble finding patterns – not just that they would like to knit, but more importantly, that their kids would want to wear (and maybe remember to bring home from school). I have up– or down– sized several things at Jack’s request, and I am curious . . .
All knitters who now serve, have served or will soon serve the elusive “tweens” – (ages 8-13) – Do you think there is a need for patterns for this age range – with enough hip factor thrown in so they will actually wear them (and remember to bring them home)? Do you think it is worth knitting for these guys? Why or why not? Please leave your answers in the comments. Jack would love to know.
