everything, everywhere

and the inner flame that follows

To the stepping out of the front door

only to turn around, pull a sweater from the back of the closet, 

and try again.

To the witnessing of a child

who harvests the end of her cherished tomato vine,

and honors it *properly.

To the bending of the final sunflowers

in a glass vessel,

while upon their altar a petal falls.

To each of us, clutching to our breasts the last of the light,

which will slip from our grasp even earlier tomorrow; 

may we hold it today,

and be satisfied.

- Acceptance/Transformation -

The summer light illuminates what is already beautiful, but it doesn’t discriminate; the broad hours of that sun extend themselves beyond imposed boundaries, exposing long-avoided corners with casual disregard. These are the intersections we circumvent our paths around less noticeably in the dark; but now, we must look at them, and if we choose, attend to them. With courage, and compassion. As long as the season shines on these edges and corners, we look after them with real attention. Inner work is a recovery of the whole of our selves. That which we reclaim from far-reaching corners, is the flame we take inwardly when the scales tip toward darkness once more.

Our family spent March through September, one whole Season of Light, living in an RV where it already felt like everyone and everything, everywhere. There was certainly no bending around anything to bypass it; former shadows, trauma, bad habits, impatience, misunderstandings, annoyances, avoidances, anxieties, frustrations, tantrums, big feelings, any feelings at all, out on noon-day display. There was no other way for them to exist. No place else for them to be.

As individuals, as a family, we did some real work. We took our everyone and everything, everywhere… and brought it even closer to the light. We held it all, held each other, and gently so. If awareness prompts acceptance; and attention, reclamation; maintained presence holds the final key to transformation, healing, and growth. 

When we’re all older, we don’t want to wonder where the time went—we want to be here for it now. Give ourselves grace, now. See each other in our full, imperfect, beautiful humanity, now. Offer our children our acceptance, our apologies, our full-hearted love, now. We moved here committed to a simple life that would support and nurture (not stress and strain) our mental, emotional, and spiritual soul lives; this increased our capacity these last few months to maintain presence, to transform, heal and grow, and nourish each other in infinite, eternal ways. Transitioning into shorter days after one Season of Light here in Maine, we lead in with a flame inextinguishable.

Blessed Equinox, as all things by the fire of the summer sun emerge to the altar sacrificially, regardless, and burn eventually–either white smoke or black. 

Until next week, keep your flame alight.

Corinne

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CHOCOLATE MOLASSES TAHINI COOKIE RECIPE

(An alternative take on Minimalist Baker’s version )

Combine:

½ C tahini

¼ C honey

¼ C molasses

Add:

1 C almond flour (I also used some coconut flour and it turned out fine)

4 heaping TB cacao powder

¾ C tapioca starch

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

Mix well, form into balls, roll each ball in a bowl of sesame seeds.

Thumbprint each ball of dough before baking for 10-12ish minutes @350F.  Notes: 1) these quickly overbake, so keep an eye on ‘em! 2) sub maple syrup in place of honey/molasses for a vegan version.

*LIESL’S HOMEGROWN TOMATO SOUP RECIPE

“Blend all the ingredients (raw tomatoes, onions, garlic, salt, dry herbs and *lots* of pepper) into a puree. Boil it over the stove, simmer it for 30 minutes. Add fresh basil at the end, and eat it with a greasy grilled cheese.”