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Archive for RestoringWholeness – Page 10

Oneness

I’ve recently found out about the ‘Oneness Project‘, an international project that videos interviews with people all over the world about their lives and subjects like religion, politics, art, health care, the environment, etc.

The project recognizes the interconnectedness of all things and asks how we think about oneness in this increasingly globalized world. They answer this question with particular sophistication and creativity; check out these riveting videos and support them by subscribing (it’s free) to their video feed if you like what you’re seeing.

Reunion

My honey and I just got home from his 35th high school reunion in Hawaii. This group has the most amazing class spirit – thirty-five years after graduating, almost 1/2 the original HPA (Hawaii Preparatory Academy) Class of ’72 showed up to break bread and ‘talk story’ (as they call it here).

The morning after the traditional big party at a rented South Kohala beach house, a group of about 15 of us made our way to the top of the mountain behind their school – La’ela’e it’s called – to go maile hunting…

Maile is sacred to these islands and holds special meaning for the men of this group – a trek through the rainforest to find enough of this increasingly elusive vine to make leis for their sweeties has become an essential part of their reunion celebration. This is Chrys, wearing hers:

Chrys

Sacred & the Mundane

I was suffering with a bad hair day-after-a-haircut when a friend took pity on me and brought me to a small salon in Mill Valley she’d just discovered, run by two beautiful women who she thought might be able to help.

Their salon was as beautiful as they were, and quirky. Named ‘Sacred’ it was all fresh flowers and icons and prayer cards amidst ornate French ironwork, country wood floors and comfortable chairs. There was a waiting room with a plump couch and magazines, fresh lemons in the ice water and a plate of fancy chocolates.

My mood began to improve immediately…

Even though we didn’t have an appointment, they were very happy to see us. Michelle was free and said she’d be happy to
see what she could do for me. When we asked, she said she wouldn’t
charge – just ‘see what she could do’.

So I sat down and first she just
held my head in her hands for a moment, looking in the mirror at the situation. Then she thanked me for trusting her
with my hair…

Not only was that one of the most wonderfully affirming and completely
relaxing welcomes I’ve ever received in a hair salon, she was an excellent at her craft and
in a few snips worked a miracle with my hair.

I believe I’ve finally found my ideal hair cutter… Which is great because I’ve been searching for her for several years now. It’s amazing to me how these simple things – beauty, kindness, generosity – make all the difference in the world.

This Morning

I awoke this morning to the language of bird song – a new bird to me; its call rich with tonal variation, surprising and fresh against the early sounds of the city, somehow revived me more than the scant few hours of sleep I got.

Yesterday from the train window I noticed lilacs in bloom everywhere – that and oceans of brilliant yellow mustard rolling over the hills like waves.