“…It still amazes us—Abbot Steve Stücky, Mako Voelkel,
Graham Ross, Colin Gipson, and myself—to
recall the speed in which the
fire descended and converged on Tassajara simultaneously from four
sides: from Flag rock to the northeast, with 30- to 40-foot flames;
from Hawk mountain to the northwest, rushing down right above the hill
cabins with 10- to 15-foot flames; over the Hogback and Suzuki Roshi
Memorial trail to the west, and from the south via the Overlook ridge,
its progress cloaked by the canopy of trees above us. It was difficult
to determine which head of fire would reach us first, so we split up…” —from Tassajara Director David Zimmerman’s account of the Tassajara Fire
Last night I posted some of the anger and frustration I have long be feeling that the CA Wildfires seem to so aptly mirror. Meanwhile, Richard, my husband, wrote, too, using our shared memories, history and the sense of a heart on fire I feel. I imagine all, even you at a distance, may feel this, too, whether is about the California Wildfires and/or the suffering of any aspect of our world.
Here is his posting from Albion News that we started a few years back: Sitting with the Fire, Albion News
This morning, after reading Richard and watching a YOU Tube video sent by Kelly Hunter, on the celebration of Guru Light, I am "lightening" it up.
Lightening started the CA Wildfires and many many beings have acted with enormous and almost super human grace. And many fumbles and meanness but still grace exists and I want to have that kind of light and grace be what is spoken here. So here is a bit of a reframing of what I felt last night:
I sit in historic Monterey under foggy skies, the fog feels like the first of a generally foggy season.For now I welcome fog.
This fog is different. It is mixed with the smoke of fires, 122k and more acres burning just ten to twenty miles from us.My house is dusty; the air is acrid and hard to breathe.
We have many friends who have evacuated and yet we are oddly isolated. Meeting friends in the street I may mention ash on my car or hear of a bear being run out of the woods as I check out at the hardware store but we really don't connect.
Some of us seem to be in shock.
And so many many have been true heroes. I bow to the spirit in all that provides grace. This morning simply in awe. Now my shock shifts and I glimpse awe wonder and gratitude.
As the coastal fog drips and adds precious moisture, promising growth in the cycles of nature, I see grace in all that we are experiencing, even in my personal sense of angst. May each and every one and find gratitude, clarity and compassion that helps me/us sit with grace watching our own fires, each day, especially when the fire roars.
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