love and prayers to big sur from iThou

Glad you are safe. Amazing pictures- beautiful and yet, haunting.

I have been on the phone with so many people giving up dates I am all talked out. Lisa G is putting up a website that should be online tomorrow noon that wiil be updated regularly by the Big Sur/Basin complex fire command communications group. I will post a link when it comes online.

Fire continues to spread in most direction. More later. S 

and all my other Big Sur friends. This is horrible.

Monika 

Just left Esalen this past weekend, after an amazing beauty of a week with Steven Harper and Susan Harper (Mountains & Waves: Wilderness and Continuum).

I vividly recall such spectacular images being painted on my mind of Big Sur (while driving slowly away, to home up north, not wanting to leave)--the forest, wild terrains, rivers, streams, ocean's edge, the vast sea--all resonating and echoing majesty + reverence + honor in "purest offering"...to us all.  I cannot think of a greater or deeper gift than what our earth gives to us, with such unrelenting generosity, to our humanity.  It beckons for our presence.  It beckons for our embrace.  It beckons for our bowing in sacred reverence.

I join with others in deep concern over the Basin Complex Fire (Gallery + Basin Fires) that ignited over this past weekend, from lightning.  My regret is that I am not there to give a helping hand to those in great need.  But, I can, from afar, send support in spirit and in prayer.  May all who reside in that region be safe and protected.  And, may the eco systems be restored to its perfect balance.

Steven:  Stay safe. My embrace.

shanti, corinne

http://www.surfire2008.org/showvolunteer.php?lookupId=19

I've been involved in everything from fire clearance to meetings with the operation commanders on backcountry trails and fire history, etc. I shook hands with Arnold (the "gov") today when he stopped by the fire camp/command center for a photo-op. We are experiencing everything from heroic efforts to bureaucratic nightmares in the "chain of command"... mostly great efforts by many good folks doing their best... got to go more when I can. 

words don't touch it.  

prayers and concerns and love and blessings and all else i can send from afar.

 sh & family/land; esalen & all that encompasses; big sur and all the losses that are touching so many lives for years to come....... 

'God' works in mysterious ways.  May there be abundant blessings that grow out of this tragedy, however hard that may be to consider at this time.

From LATimes June, 28 As flames approach Big Sur monastery, monks prepare to fight 

TASSAJARA, CALIF. -- In this remote Zen enclave on Big Sur's forested backside, wildfires lurk on three sides. As flames edge closer and ash falls from a crimson sky, the Buddhist monks are readying for a final stand.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-fires28-2008jun28,0,4613015,full.story

Bless you Steve ~ for all your efforts ~ you are a Bodhisattva

I am too involved to post much, sorry. I have photos and maps and up-to-date info just no time to post. Maybe I get a moment later, maybe not.

Fire stretched in all directions today, thinning resources as it expands its boundries. Constant drone of helicopters and air tanker and chain saws... in all the devistation... moments of beauty... moments of heartfelt contact... and then back to doing what can be done. Ultimately the fire will have its way. Love to all, S 

I am in daily contact with Tassajara. Here is a blog they have started to keep people infomed: http://sittingwithfire.blogspot.com/

i cannot begin to tell you how often i stop every day and pray and send love and energy to you and all the others who are making such heroic efforts to save what is so sacred there in big sur.  i pray your home is not threatened.  love love love love.  there's just not much else to say.  thanks for checking in.  with what little down time you may get here or there i hope you can rest, dear friend.  PEACE

Authenticity Heals....

From LATimes 3:13 PM June 29 ~~  Firefighters report progress protecting  Buddhist retreat  

 As more than 1,000 fires continue to burn around California, flames advanced toward more homes near Big Sur today, but firefighters said they are making progress in protecting an isolated Buddhist retreat in the Los Padres National Forest.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fires30-2008jun30,0,4034380.story

Steve, bless your heart!  You are truly a shining light.  I so much appreciate you and what you are doing.  I have been reading of so many others, too.  Just please accept my heartfelt gratitude to you as a surrogate for all who are working and loving and doing what they can.

Thanks,

Jane Beaver

I was interviewed by NPR early today... Here is a link to the interview that I just heard for the first time: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92034274

Always a risky thing to talk to the media... I wasn't sure any of the interview would make it to the air... then I started getting a lot of emails and phone calls from friends and past workshop participants that heard it, so I had to go listen.

The fire continues to grow. We continue to do our best and stay safe. Love to all, S 

I added more photos from today with comments. Here is the link: :http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157605795199248

Love, S

great interview, very concise (less risk with NPR) Interesting about the foam...stuff.

I got this email from Bill Herr that he sent out, I imagine he won't mind me sharing it... it is day old news:

Tuesday -1 July 2008
     After this morning's briefing by the fire 'chief', the first responders were given a demo of a fire retardant gel. Amazing stuff. Non-toxic, non-corrosive and biodegradable. There are several ingredients but the magical part is a material that has a great affinity for water. It's sprayed using a garden hose applicator like you'd use for spraying a pesticide on your lawn, not that you would of course. The liquid makes a film on the surface you spray it on, and even as you watch it, it begins to swell as the gel develops. It is, in effect a quarter inch thick layer of water adhering to the surface. He sprayed a wooden panel that included a plexiglass window, a Dr. Pepper can and the fender, tire and window of his pickup. He put an uncoated Dr. Pepper can next to the other one, fired up a major propane torch and directed it at the uncoated can to simulate an unprotected propane tank. It exploded in one second. He did the same with the coated one, and after 10 seconds it still was intact. He proceeded to torch everything he had sprayed including the window in his truck. And not just briefly. Maybe 10 seconds with a blast furnace flame. And nothing caught fire, broke or melted. He was demonstrating the home kit. They also make gel plants for situations like wild land fires where they load aircraft with this stuff for air drops. And it's cheaper than water. It is rated as 5 times as effective as water so a copter load, for example, could be the equivalent of 6000 gallons of water. The cost of a gallon of water scooped out of the ocean costs a quarter because of the operating costs of gathering it, even tho' the water is free. The cost of this gel is about 3 times that, but because of its greater effectiveness, well, you get the picture. There is a lot more good news about this stuff including simple cleanup and so on. Esalen has a lot of it. It can't be applied too far in advance, particularly in a warm, low humidity situation so it has been staged in the critical areas of the property.
       Perry Holloman, a member of the massage crew and long time Esalen teacher lives above South Coast, and right now his house is being threatened with flames several hundred feet away. A fire truck and 3 man crew are on site and the house has been gel'ed. There are two other houses in that area which are also exposed and have fire crews on site.
      Tonight for the first time I could see flames in Hot Springs Canyon. I went up to the Esalen water tanks which are a little inland from the highway bridge and several hundred feet higher. The entire face of the hillside in the distance was a ragged ribbon of flame slowly making its way down the slope. The cover was patchy chaparral with scattered solitary pines. At the distance from which I viewed it, the burning chaparral looked like an erratic line of candles. Intermittently a pine would combust and send up a bigger jet of flame.
     The fire crew is no longer quartered at South Coast and since we had previously evacuated it, we've increased our own spotters there. The indications are still that if the fire actually reaches the highway, it will arrive at South Coast sooner than at the property. Fires hoses have been deployed there.
      Further cleanup was done today, tho' not by me as I was in the kitchen. There was also a Dept of Corrections crew clearing under the highway bridge.  The staff is down to about 50 now and tho' the fire crew was here for dinner, this was maybe their last meal with us as they are being redeployed. There are still several engine crews nearby including one at South Coast and another here on the highway. This is in addition to the engines up the hill above South Coast.
       As of a few days ago all the Big Sur condors were accounted for and seemingly OK. This included two chicks in separate nests in nearby canyons. Most of the Esalen critters have been evacuated. That includes the Gazebo goats and pig as well as most of the kitties. Ping, Babooshka and Miss Piggy have found temporary homes elsewhere. Ping's  kennel digs are more expensive than people's, as some organization (maybe the Chamber of Commerce?) is arranging complementary hotel housing in Monterey for displaced Big Sur residents. Ruby, the kitchen cat is still here as is Sufi. Some of you may not know Sufi. He is Junior's replacement. Junior, sad to say, disappeared a bit ago. He was the big fluffy grey in the garden. So that's WHAZZUP. Blessings, Bill

Mandatory evacutation from Nepenthe to Molera SP (the whole Big Sur valley) on both the east and west side of the highway went into effect at 7:00 pm... and I am still here with Janna and a handfull of other neighbors scatter across the ridges and valleys. We sent out another van of belonging to Carmel. 600 hundred ft. of fire hose is laid. Gel kits ready. Car packed for camping a Pfeiffer Beach... not the workshop I had planned... and a chance to practice. Thanks for all the emails and messages of love and prayers. I/we feel them and receive them openly. We are blessed. Love, S

PS I would ask you all to light a candle for us... yet somehow I don't know that what we need is more fire element. How about going out and offering some water up the the air and the earth? 

 I am in such awe and so grateful to everyone who is keeping us informed during this very sad time. Please, if there is anything that I can do, that includes housing homeless work scholars, I would be honored. I live about 3 hours from Big Sur in Southern California, but I am open and most happy to help.

as a water bearer I do intend water to fall on all fires and for a miraculous good outcome soon;

the smoke has been prevalent here in Ashland, OR

Also Steve I looked at all your beautiful photos...the Kids in the ice was really cool.

Would like to know Daniel and Cynthia and their home (pets) are ok.

Quick report: 3 house lost last night above ventana inn; fire burned down to apple pie ridge where locals stopped it for now ; calm evening... winds picking up now.

Here is the amazing thing... the forecast changed drastically from what was predicted and from what is normal... there is a slight chance of drizzle tonight and tomorrow... keep the water prayers happening!

Here is a link to my favorite weather site; check it out and invite the drizzle: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=mtr&smap=1&textField1=36.247083333333&textField2=-121.80375

I am doing a rain dance here in Idaho!

My home town was surrounded and encroached upon by fires last fall.  Living with the smoke and uncertainty and constant adrenaline surges….very draining. 

I send you strength and peace and empathy….and faith….

LET IT RAIN!

and checking in to see the updates.....Thanks for keeping us so well informed...

After Kim and I read your post yesterday (July 2, 7:45pm) we went outside and spoke to the weather Gods.  There are many of us sending strong energy to Big Sur.

Your updates and commentary are sooo appreciated ~ I bow in homage to you (bodhisattva of big sur) ~ I bow, sit and eat in gratidtude to the forces of wind and rain ~ I grieve for the people who lost homes ~ I think about you constantly ..hoping you are safe

...and sending love and hope your way.  I am inspired by your courage.

 Weems

www.edgechange.com

wish i could get through to help.

Let us join together in collective support, offering, prayer for Big Sur and all those amidst the flames—a downpour of compassion from near and far.

what: our embrace
how: meditation, silence, blessing, prayer
when: tonight, 10:30pm, West Coast time

May the people amidst this struggle be strengthened in body, mind, heart, spirit, and soul--in all the ways they need, to get through the destruction and heartbreak. May fog, oceanic mists, and rain pour down upon Big Sur. May the earth quiet its flames…into silence.

“Let the soul banish
all that disturbs;
let the body that envelops it be still,
and all the frettings of the body,
and all that surrounds it.
Let the earth and sea and air be still,
and heaven itself.
And then, let the man think of the Spirit
as streaming, pouring, rushing, and shining into him
from all sides while he stands quiet”
~ Plotinus, 205 AD

Shanti (peace),
Corinne