This thread is an open topic and is completely hijack-able... from the serene to the silly.

I'm going to open the thread with "My Spirit Flies to You" a YouTube video that Scarlet Rose posted a few months ago (thank you!) and that I have enjoyed many times.

"Meditation on Saviors"
by Robinson Jeffers

I
When I considered it too closely, when I wore it like an element
and smelt it like water,
Life is become less lovely, the net nearer than the skin, a
little troublesome, a little terrible.

I pledged myself awhile ago not to seek refuge, neither in death
nor in a walled garden,
In lies nor gated loyalties, nor in the gates of contempt, that
easily lock the world out of doors.

Here on the rock it is great and beautiful, here on the foam-wet
granite sea-fang it is easy to praise
Life and water and the shining stones: but whose cattle are the
herds of the people that one should love them?

If they were yours, then you might take a cattle-breeder's
delight in the herds of the future. Not yours.
Where the power ends let love, before it sours to jealousy.
Leave the joys of government to Caesar.

Has anyone come across any studies on the use of sustained (30 minutes or more) low-intensity circuit training in the treatment of clinical depression?

I love the Esalen Garden (and am fascinated by complexity theories). It was the location for much contemplation, peace, tears, and conversation. Recently, I realized that I know almost nothing about it...

Permaculture, local plants and animals? What has emerged agriculturally, socially, economically, therapeutically, spiritually?

Or, worded very differently, what's it like working in the Esalen garden and on the farm? What is grown there? How has the hot springs and local fires affected the land? (etc.)

Your moment captured forever, Henry!

Scarlet Rose,

Thank you for your many contributions (especially recently)... they're very much appreciated.

Warmly,
Michael

The Windhover
 
I caught this morning morning’s minion, kingdom of daylight’s dauphin,
dapple-drawn Falcon, in his riding
    Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! Then off, off forth on swing,
    As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend; the hurl and gliding
    Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird--the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valor and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
    Buckle! And the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
    No wonder of it; sheer plod makes plow down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
    Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.
 
by Gerard Manley Hopkins

[I was recently asked how to write a blog. I wasn't able to find an FAQ on this topic.]

How to start an iThou blog thread:

Click on your name in the upper right corner to go to your profile page

Click on "My Blog" (in the list beneath your member picture or default smiley face)

Click on "Post new blog entry." (under Your Screen Name's blog)

fill in the required fields (Title, Body, Audience)

click "Preview" or "Submit"

-----

Albert has written excellent FAQs on how to attach images, upload music etc.:

Kiosk (at 10:00 PM PDT)

One Love (not only but also)

Proud to be an American (God Bless the USA)

The foundation of America's Independence

Declaration of Independence [John F. Kennedy]

Happy 233rd Birthday, USA!

Star Wars Main Title [London Symphony Orchestra]

The Night They Drove Old Dixie [Joan Baez]

Real Good for Free [Joni Mitchell]

I wonder if someone could post a picture of mr. Price and mr. Murphy together for Father's Day. my favorite is them sitting outside the lodge(around 1980), Dick with a cup of tea and Michael fresh from the course at pebble beach. Happy Father's Day

henry

Hi Henry,

Here's Kathy Thurmod's 1982 photo from "The Upstart Spring". This is the best I could do from a scan.

Happy Father's Day!

Warmly,
Michael

PS--I discovered that a color version of this photo is here:  http://www.ithou.org/node/3259 

From:
"Monterey
The Presence of the Past"
Augusta Fink, 1972

(photos below)

Slate's Hot Springs
Today's Esalen was once called Slate's Springs, because
it had been the property of Thomas Benton Slate. About the
turn of the century, it was acquired by John Little,
who sold a portion of the land, including the springs, to
a Doctor Murphy. He hoped to build a sanitarium on the site.
In the 1930s there was a lodge, cabins, and open air
baths on a platform wedged into the cliff above the ocean.

A flag was raised at the top of the path leading to the springs
to alert bathers when the tubs were in use. It was a courtesy
to clean and partially refill the tub so that the water
would not lie too hot for the next user. The water turned green
after standing a short time, and those "not in the know,"

Especially for folks who may not have yet had the opportunity to be at Esalen:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Steven+Harper+Esalen

Thanks, Steven!

Warmly,

Michael