Farm, MWA Newsletter, -  Apr 08, 2023

Mountains and Waters Alliance – land care retreat, notes, and a poem

Dear Folks,

Land Care Retreat April 14-16

Next weekend is the Land Care Retreat: arrive Friday evening, leave Sunday afternoon. About half meditation and discussion, generous time outdoors in the warm weather (predicted 50’s and 60’s, some showers but not steady rain) including garden work Saturday afternoon, expecting a small group. (You might want rubber boots.) I’ll be in touch with people who register.

If the fee is an issue, email me and we’ll work something out. I’d love to have you if possible.

This is the last practice-related event for a couple of months, due to commitments I have elsewhere.

A Few Thoughts

I puzzle over what to say about the news. Sometimes I’m encouraged, sometimes outraged. Today I have more hope about fascism, because of public response to some outrages.

I’m less encouraged about climate change. It’s still true that we have the technology (mostly biological) that we need, and it’s still true that we need to completely change our expectations about “standard of living” and we need fewer people on the planet. The resistance to both is fierce. Still, there are a few hopeful notes:

The UN addresses climate responsibilities

The Vatican repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery, which had been used to excuse genocide and destruction around the globe for centuries. (no link)

And A Poem

All That Is Joy –

by Rabindranath Tagore

Let all the strains of joy mingle in my last song —

the joy that makes the earth flow over in the riotous excess of the grass,

the joy that sets the twin brothers, life and death,

dancing over the wide world,

the joy that sweeps in with the tempest, shaking and waking

all life with laughter,

the joy that sits still with its tears on the open red lotus of pain, and

the joy that throws everything it has upon the dust,

and knows not a word.

 

Blessed spring. I hope to see you soon.

Love,

Shodo