Checking in...

By Vichara


Schopenhauer was out walking one evening, deep in thought. A passing suspicious policeman approached him and asked "May I know who you are?" Schopenhauer stood for a long time and then replied "I wish I could tell you". It is so true, no matter how many ways we are identified the majority of them are external. The clothing style we wear, the care we drive, the voice, the laugh, how we adorn our home or office. All out worldly personality markers. But we are much, much more than this collection of bones, blood and flesh and as long as we identify ourselves in the physical sense we will keep using all our energies to satisfy these needs. Try to take just 15 minutes a day, by yourself with no distractions to check in with you and your spirit and try to feed that instead of the external.

clandestine \klan-DES-tin\ , adjective:
Characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, esp. for purposes of subversion or deception.
One of the many shiny art panels at the back of the room is actually a clandestine two-way mirror (look carefully, the color is slightly different). Back in the day (perhaps now) it allowed managers to survey service and presentation, which are still impeccable.
-- Ike DeLorenzo, Five classics revisited, Boston Globe, 27-May-09

Koan #2...

By Vichara


This week’s Koan is…”The wave and the sea are One”. While we may feel separate, we are actually art of a very large connected ocean. The deep currents of life propel our personal wave. If we just experience the surface of things we will generally have the feelings of being pitched and crashing on the shoreline. If we experience things deeper we will know that we are the whole ocean. If you feel anxiety envision yourself as a wave with the power of the whole ocean. Fighting the current is a waste of energy, pushing the current will not hurry things along. Ride the waves with equanimity and know that you are the whole ocean.

skimble-skamble • \skim-bul-SKAM-bul\ • adjective
: rambling and confused : senseless

Example Sentence:
"What a lark it is to tag along after constantly astonished Alice as she meets up with all those skimble-skamble Lewis Carroll creations," raved one theater critic of an adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Did you know?
One of the best examples of "skimble-skamble" used in context is also its first known use. It occurs in Shakespeare's Henry IV when Hotspur speaks of Mortimer's father: "Sometimes he angers me / With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant, / Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies, / And of a dragon and a finless fish… / And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff…." After reading Hotspur's rambling, we can clearly understand the word's meaning, but from whence did the Bard come up with the word? More than likely, he coined the word as a reduplication of "scamble," a word meaning "to stumble along" that was widely used during his time but is now only heard in some English dialects.

Embracing change...

By Vichara


If there were ways to reassure ourselves that tings on a daily basis would be ok I am confident most of us would seize the opportunity. However the undercurrent impermanence of everything has domain over every aspect of every moment of every day and creates challenges for us. We can choose an erratic existence and be troubled by everything or we can be strong like water, flowing along, embracing and learning from change.

crescent • \KRESS-unt\ • adjective
: marked by an increase : increasing
Example Sentence:
"The people love me, and the sea is mine; / My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope / Says it will come to th' full." (William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra)
Did you know?
You probably know "crescent" as the shape of a moon that is less than half-illuminated. These days, "crescent" is generally used of either a waxing or waning moon, but that wasn't always the case. Originally, it referred only to the increasing illumination phase that immediately follows the new moon. That original meaning nicely reflects the meaning of the word's Latin ancestor "crescere," which means "to grow." The meaning of "crescere" also shines through when we use "crescent" as an adjective meaning "increasing" or "growing." English speakers have been using "crescent" in this way since the 16th century.

Landscaping...

By Vichara


While there is a certain degree of disregard to those who tend to look at the world through “rose-colored glasses”, there is some need for a daily fresh outlook for everyone. Yes, while it can seem a bit naïve and simple with a cheery outlook by elevating (either naturally or with a little encouraging push) oneself out of the daily negative aspects, could change the whole landscape that you and those around you walk upon. It all changes with one decision…and you.

desolate • \DESS-uh-lut\ • adjective
1 : devoid of inhabitants and visitors : deserted
2 : joyless, disconsolate, and sorrowful through or as if through separation from a loved one
3 a : showing the effects of abandonment and neglect : dilapidated * b : barren, lifeless c : devoid of warmth, comfort, or hope : gloomy

Example Sentence:
The landscape looks truly desolate in the winter, but when it blossoms in the spring, it can be surprisingly beautiful.

Did you know?
Something that is desolate is literally or figuratively "abandoned," so you probably won't be surprised to learn that "desolate" has its roots in the Latin verb "desolare," meaning "to abandon." The Middle English word "desolat" comes from the past participle of "desolare," which in turn combines the prefix "de-" and the adjective "solus," meaning "alone." "Desolate" is not at all alone in this family of words. Some other familiar descendants of "solus" include "solitary," "sole," "solo," "solitude," and "soliloquy."

Compassion footprint...

By Vichara


These days there is a great deal of emphasis in recognizing our “carbon footprint” in this world and try to reduce it. I think the same kind of principles can be applied to increase our “compassion footprint” in the world. As we do little things to lesson the carbon footprint (i.e. using reusable water bottles, fluorescent light bulbs, etc) likewise we can do little things to increase our compassion footprint. Like be more forgiving of yourself and others, telling someone you love and care about them for no apparent reason, help someone that looks lost and discover the answer together, hold the door for one more person, make a phone call to someone just to tell them how much they mean to you. You get the picture. Reduce carbon, increase compassion.

cavalcade • \kav-ul-KAYD\ • noun
1 a : a procession of riders or carriages * b : a procession of vehicles or ships
2 : a dramatic sequence or procession : series

Example Sentence:
The crowds cheered and waved as the cavalcade of fire trucks rolled through the streets along the parade route.

Did you know?
When "cavalcade" was first used in English, it meant "a horseback ride" or "a march or raid made on horseback." Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, used it this way in his 1647 History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England : "He had with some Troops, made a Cavalcade or two into the West." From there came the "procession of riders" meaning and eventual applications to processions in a broader sense. "Cavalcade" came to English via French from the Old Italian noun "cavalcata," which in turn came from an Old Italian verb, "cavalcare," meaning "to go on horseback." Ultimately, these words came from the Latin word "caballus," meaning "horse."

Gratitude...

By Vichara


If even given the brightest light would there be enough illumination to see? In most cases no. This is not to be negative but a statement of fact. Even if one were given what they need right in their own hands there would always be a desire for what “else” is out there. Of course this could be said as human nature but I believe this could be but only in certain geographic areas of the world. There are those in this modern fast paced electronic world that are thankful for a single pencil and a piece of paper, a single vital meal, the ability to stand on two legs and walk and having someone to talk with. Let’s be a little more grateful today.

corvine • \KOR-vyne\ • adjective
: of or relating to the crows : resembling a crow

Example Sentence:
"Many residents of cities along the Pomona and San Bernardino freeways say, yes, indeed, they've noticed an increase in their corvine neighbors." (Edmund Newton, Los Angeles Times, December 17, 1989)

Did you know?
Few people crow about "corvine" -- it's not often you'll come across the word -- but it has been part of the English language since the mid-17th century. Like most taxonomic terms, "corvine" has a purely Latin pedigree. "Corvine" is from Latin "corvinus," which in turn is from Latin "corvus," meaning "raven." (The word "raven" itself is from the Old English term "hræfn," which is akin to "hraban," the Old High German word for "raven," and also to "corvus.") Another word from "corvus" is "cormorant," which refers to a dark-colored seabird and comes from Old French words meaning "raven" and "of the sea."

Koan #1...

By Vichara


Recently I have been dipping into some of my really old notes and a collection of Zen koans. For those that may not be familiar with what a koan is I will try to define. A koan is like a window which we may glimpse a “truth”. These phrases or questions can be used as an object of contemplation, a starting point to dive deeper into understanding life and gaining some insights. I thought I would share one of these at the beginning of each week for a while. Some of the old Zen masters would meditate on a koan for years but I thought a week would be a good starting point. Perhaps you may want to write it on a post-it and read it different times during the week to see what thoughts and feeling arise. Who knows what insight may come about and maybe we can share. Here is the first;

“We stand in our own shadow and wonder why it is dark”

plethora • \PLETH-uh-ruh\ • noun
: an excessive quantity or fullness; also : profusion
Example Sentence:
A plethora of books on the American Civil War stood out among the many titles stacked here and there in the professor's office.
Did you know?
"Plethora" comes from a similar Greek word meaning "fullness." It was first used in English in the 16th century to describe a supposed medical condition marked by an excess volume of blood causing swelling and a reddish complexion. Later, the medical use of "plethora" was extended to indicate related medical conditions (such as an excess volume of bodily fluid or the red-skinned appearance of some newborns). These days, however, "plethora" is more often used in a general, non-medical sense, with the meaning "excess" or "abundance."

Living a posh life...

By Vichara


We should all strive to live a posh life! I’m not necessarily meaning in the traditionally ostentatious meaning of the word posh, but posh in our outlook. My dear friend, Dr. O and I, were travelling by a tour boat to a local island off the coast of California for a bit of hiking and he regaled me with the origin of the word posh. It seems that back in the day when British aristocrats where travelling by sea to the Mediterranean, the best choice for views toward land was Port Out, Starboard Home. Posh! I think in the same way that these upper crust travelers of yesterday positioned themselves to get the best view that we, align our hearts and minds as we rise today and everyday and position ourselves to meet, greet, live and view life in a posh fashion. Oh and don’t forget to raise your pinky finger as you sip your tea.

gravitate • \GRAV-uh-tayt\ • verb
1 : to move under the influence of gravitation
2 a : to move toward something * b : to be drawn or attracted especially by natural inclination

Example Sentence:
Left to their own devices in a department store, children will naturally gravitate toward the toy aisle.

Did you know?
English has several weighty words descended from the Latin "gravitas," meaning "weight." The first to arrive on the scene was "gravity," which appeared in the early 16th century. (Originally meaning "dignity or sobriety of bearing," it quickly came to mean "weight" as well.) Next came "gravitation" (used to describe the force of gravity) and "gravitate" -- both mid-17th century arrivals. "Gravitate" once meant "to apply weight or pressure," but that use is now obsolete. In the late 17th century, it was recorded in the sense "to move under the effect of gravitation." It then acquired a more general sense of "to move toward something" (as toward a specific location), and finally a metaphorical third sense of "to be attracted" (as toward a person or a vocation).

A drop of change...

By Vichara


Who among us is willing to take bold steps to change life for the good of all people? I bet you thought of a few as your read this. Probably ones like Jesus, Gandhi, Mohammed, Mother Teresa, Buddha, Moses, Rosa Parks and Dr. King. Amongst these giants of change there are many others that may not get the recognition like Beethoven, Saladin, Hildegard Of Bingen, St. Teresa Of Avila, Yogananda and including you! Yes you! We all have the capacity and the strength to change things in the world. You may diminish what you are capable of but each one of us has this ability. We may feel like just a tiny drop of water in the ocean, but each tiny drop is needed to make the ocean mighty with the capacity to make a change in the world.

short shrift • \SHORT-SHRIFT\ • noun
1 : barely adequate time for confession before execution
2 *a : little or no attention or consideration b : quick work

Example Sentence:
Parents are complaining that, due to recent budget cuts, physical education and arts programs have been given short shrift in the local schools.

Did you know?
The word "shrift" is an archaic noun referring to the confession or absolution of sins. These days, "shrift" is rarely encountered on its own, but it does keep frequent company with "short" in the phrase "short shrift." The earliest known use of the phrase comes from William Shakespeare's play Richard III, in which Lord Hastings, who has been condemned by King Richard to be beheaded, is told by Sir Richard Ratcliffe to "Make a short shrift" as the king "longs to see your head." Shakespeare uses this phrase quite literally ("keep your confession short"), but since at least the 19th century the phrase has been used figuratively to refer to a small or inadequate amount of time or attention given to something.

Change...

By Vichara


The losses that we feel are only the places that are created so we can be open to receive something new. Regardless what this “new” is, it will be brought forth as a result of the changes that are part of your natural growth. Changes can be of course met in various ways but regardless of your acceptance or reluctance, they will happen and they are happening right now as you read this. These changes are of course part of the impermanence of life, as I have often sited in the forum and are the foundation of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.

preeminent • \pre-EM-uh-nunt\ • adjective
: having paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding, supreme

Example Sentence:
Carrie considered herself lucky to have one of the country’s preeminent novelists as her writing professor.

Did you know?
What is noteworthy about the following sentence? "Mount McKinley is a prominent eminence in the Alaskan landscape." You very likely recognized two words that are closely related to "preeminent" -- "prominent" and "eminence." All three words are rooted in the Latin verb stem "-minēre," meaning "to stand out." But did you note as well the related word "mount"? Not too surprisingly, "-minēre" is related to "mons," the Latin word for "mountain." That relationship leads us in turn to "paramount," a word closely related in meaning to "preeminent."

Quick to judge?...

By Vichara


There is a Zen koan that says, “Water is one essence: but drunk by a cow it becomes milk, while drunk by a snake it becomes poison”. When something sp pure and simple is given to two different people the results and proceeds can be completely opposite to each other. Yes simple and self-evident it is interesting to see this example in our daily lives. You may hear how someone has worked hard on something and is reaping the rewards of this and someone may see this hard work as a means to be greedy and manipulative. One simple act consumed by two people and two different results. One observation is milk, the other poison. In our frenetic pace we can be quick to pass judgment on someone and what they do. We can all take a moment before our personal gavel strikes down in judgment to insure that we are not creating more unnecessary poison in the world.

occiput • \AHK-sih-put\ • noun
: the back part of the head or skull

Example Sentence:
"So let me suggest that everyone put away their pitchforks and firebrands and stop trying to 'bury the hatchet' by planting it in the other fellow's occiput." (Allan Falk, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, May 7, 2007)

Did you know?
"Occiput" came to English from Latin, where it was created from "ob-," meaning "against," and "capit-" or "caput," meaning "head." Its adjectival form, "occipital," meaning "of, relating to, or located within or near the occiput or the occipital bone," abounds in medical texts but is found in literary ones too, as in George Eliot's description of the coiffure of the "young ladies who frizzed their hair, and gathered it all into large barricades in front of their heads, leaving their occipital region exposed without ornament, as if that, being a back view, was of no consequence…" in Scenes of Clerical Life. Another "caput" derivation is "sinciput," a word used to refer to either the forehead or the upper half of the skull.

Saddle up!...

By Vichara


Time to gird up your loins, take the spear of perception and hold it firmly in one hand and in the other, the shield of self-preservation. It is time to once again step out beyond the safety of your abode and face the myriad of concepts, ideas and a parade of personalities. Sounds like a description from a Grade B gladiator film eh? Well yes, but it is not too far from the truth. We can try to hide away and not face interactions but the funny thing is that they will always find us…no matter what. None of us are completely equipped to handle every situation, so then how do we at least attempt to? We can start by building a metaphorical foundation that is less reactionary and more porous & transparent. Wait you say, if it is porous we will be vulnerable. No, infused in this foundation is the netting of compassion. Anything that passes through will be filtered through and tempered by this crucial element and delivered with less reaction and more compassion. Saddle up Peace Warriors!

complaisant • \kum-PLAY-sunt\ • adjective
1 : marked by an inclination to please or oblige
2 : tending to consent to others' wishes

Example Sentence:
Derek was a complaisant boy, always happy to oblige whenever his mother or father asked him to go on an errand.

Did you know?
The homophones "complaisant" and "complacent" are often confused -- and no wonder. Not only do they look and sound alike, but they also both derive ultimately from Latin "complacēre," meaning "to please greatly." "Complacent" usually means "self-satisfied" or "unconcerned," but it also shares with "complaisant" the sense of "marked by an inclination to please or oblige." This sense of "complacent" is an old one, but that hasn't kept language critics from labeling it as an error -- and on the whole, modern writers do prefer "complaisant" for this meaning. Conversely, "complaisant" is sometimes mistakenly used in contexts such as "complaisant about injustices," where "complacent," with its sense of "marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies," should go. One aid is to remember that with the preposition "about," you probably want "complacent."

Thought #148...

By Vichara


While there are many things that may seem out of our influence, there are still things that we can be thankful for on a daily basis. While there are those that choose to bicker and fight in a sophomoric, childish way there is still an ability among us to work together with resolve. And while there are some truths that many around us fail to see we must still treat each other with love, compassion and patience.

links • \LINKS\ • noun plural
1 Scottish : sand hills especially along the seashore
2 : golf course

Example Sentence:
Numerous celebrity golfers took to the links this weekend to raise money for charity.

Did you know?
The game of golf originated on the sandy hills of Scotland, on a type of terrain known as "links" or "linksland." Eventually, the game's layout came to be called by the same name as the land, and "links" developed the meaning of "a golf course built on the coastline," which eventually broadened to include any golf course. "Links" is ultimately derived from the Old English word "hlincas" (the plural of "hlinc," meaning "ridge"). Recorded evidence of "hlinces" (a variant of "hlincas") goes back as far as 931, but "links" began appearing in English only in the 15th century. Britain has a number of old-fashioned links courses (built to resemble the Scottish landscape and located on the coastline), and there are a few in the United States as well.

Enjoy the ride...

By Vichara


What is it that will inspire you to reach beyond the barrier of conformity? Is there something that will elevate you from complacency to engagement? No matter your chronological age states, the time is now; the time is here to turn a corner. We have all heard the average life expectancy of an average human is roughly 75 years and you know I always state the facts of impermanence here. This could end today, tomorrow, next week or next year. Isn’t there something that you want to taste, smell or see? I’m not just thinking of grand things, I’m thinking of the small things too. Get that small kit of watercolors and try painting. Stop by that museum you always wanted to visit. Try cooking something different. Pick a local place you’ve never been before and just explore for no reason. Try something different and be kind to yourself. This vehicle called the human body will run out, enjoy the ride as much as you can and want.

effrontery • \ih-FRUN-tuh-ree\ • noun
: shameless boldness : insolence
Example Sentence:
The other guests at the party were astonished by the effrontery of Patrick’s insulting behavior toward the host.
Did you know?
To the Romans, the shameless were "without forehead," at least figuratively. "Effrontery" derives from Latin "effrons," a word that combines the prefix "ex-" (meaning "out" or "without") and "frons" (meaning "forehead" or "brow"). The Romans never used "effrons" literally to mean "without forehead," and theorists aren't in full agreement about the connection between the modern meaning of "effrontery" and the literal senses of its roots. Some explain that "frons" can also refer to the capacity for blushing, so a person without "frons" would be "unblushing" or "shameless." Others theorize that since the Romans believed that the brow was the seat of a person's modesty, being without a brow meant being "immodest," or again, "shameless."

The day's voyage...

By Vichara


What travel plans do you have for your heart today? Do you have reservations for a journey that will take you on a different path? It does seem odd to ask these questions of ourselves when for the majority of us just think things happen. Yes random events do occur and the accumulation of these events will steer that day in many directions but at the heart of all of this is the cause and effect and how we react to these events. It would be best if at the center we align our “hearts” in a compassionate and decisive position. Yes the day’s journey will still reflect both the negative and the positive but by having this guiding mechanism at the center will you will be better equipped to steer clear of the rocks of deception and sail onward to the waters of universal understanding.

flamboyant • \flam-BOY-ant\ • adjective
1 : characterized by waving curves suggesting flames
2 : marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior

Example Sentence:
The circus performers were easily identifiable by their flamboyant costumes and stage makeup.

Did you know?
If you've ever heard of a dessert served flambé, you already have some insight into the origins of today's word. "Flamboyant," which was borrowed into English from French in the 19th century, can be traced back to Old French "flambe," meaning "flame." In its earliest uses "flamboyant" referred to a style of architecture, often in the florid French Gothic style, which featured waving curves that suggested flames. Eventually, the word developed a more general second sense for anything eye-catching or showy. As you have no doubt guessed, Old French "flambe" is also the origin of the English adjective "flambé."

The "seedlings"...

By Vichara


A penetrating thought will leave in its wake, the seedlings of increased analytical process. Nurtured, these will grow and help develop the necessary tools and mechanisms to cope and resolve day-to-day issues that will arise. If left scattered they will become husks of what could have been, the missed opportunities of future revelations and enlightenment. The choice, as an advanced homo sapiens, is up to you. Rise up and gather these seedlings to increase your grasp in this frenetic world or continue on a complacent path that will just meet your expectations.

appreciable • \uh-PREE-shuh-bul\ • adjective
: capable of being perceived or measured
Example Sentence:
"The banker's speech was fluent, but it was also copious, and he used up an appreciable amount of time in brief meditative pauses." (George Eliot, Middlemarch)
Did you know?
"Appreciable," like the verb "appreciate," comes from the Late Latin verb "appretiare" ("to appraise" or "to put a price on"). It is one of several English adjectives that can be applied to something that can be detected, felt, or measured. Specifically, "appreciable" applies to what is highly noticeable or definitely measurable, whereas "perceptible," which is often paired with "barely" or "scarcely," applies to what can be discerned to a minimal extent. "Sensible" refers to something that is clearly perceived; a sensible difference in someone's expression is easily detected. "Palpable" applies to something that, if it doesn't have actual physical substance, is nevertheless quite noticeable via the senses ("a palpable chill in the air"). "Tangible" is used for something capable of being handled or grasped, either physically or mentally ("tangible evidence").

I wonder...

By Vichara


I ask myself naively, are these thoughts that I write normal? Is what I think and write here something that is shared with that many other people? Of course those of you who stumble upon these “thoughts” here and other writings by greater minds than me are obviously in tune to a more conscious state, but what about the others we don’t know. When you are in line at the grocery store and you look at that person in front of you, do they think these thoughts? When someone cuts you off in traffic, does this person think of the greater good of mankind? I realize these are slightly exaggerated examples but I do wonder if the universal radio station of love, patience and compassion has a pre-set button in their hearts or is their radio controls left on “random” with the slight chance that a fleeting compassionate thought may pass by and luckily divert their self-absorbed thoughts? Harsh perhaps, but I wonder?

vignette • \vin-YET\ • noun
1 : a running ornament or design (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) on a page
2 a : a picture (as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper b : the pictorial part of a postage stamp
3 *a : a short descriptive literary sketch b : a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)
Example Sentence:
As a writing exercise, Jamie filled her journal with vignettes about her teachers and classmates.
Did you know?
"Vignette" comes from Middle French "vignete," the diminutive form of the noun "vigne," meaning "vine." In English, the word was first used in the mid-18th century for a design or illustration that ran along the blank border of a page, or one that marked the beginning or end of a chapter. Such designs got their name because they often looked like little vines. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that usage of “vignette” had shifted to cover a brief literary sketch or narrative, as we commonly see it used today.

Symbols...

By Vichara


You can adorn yourself with crucifixes, amulets, talismans, bobbles, babbles, beads and other spiritual accouchements but they will be simply weights of vanity unless they are equaled or surpassed by the presence of love, patience and compassion inside your heart. Wear what you like but these three elements must be able to stand on their own; strong, open and committed to equal unification of all people.

kibitzer • \KIB-it-ser\ • noun
: one who looks on and often offers unwanted advice or comment; broadly : one who offers opinions
Example Sentence:
Sybil warned Jack not to take any advice from Carl, a notorious kibitzer whose suggestions often did more harm than good.
Did you know?
The Yiddish language has given English some particularly piquant terms over the years, and "kibitzer" (or "kibbitzer") is one such term. "Kibitzer," spelled "kibitser" in Yiddish, came to that language from the German word "kiebitzen," meaning "to look on (at cards)." "Kiebitzen" may or may not be derived from a German word for "lapwing," a type of bird noted for its shrill and raucous cry. (We can speculate that the bird’s cry reminded people of the shrill commentary of onlookers at card games.) The word became more popular and widespread after the 1929 play The Kibitzer came out. Although "kibitzer" usually implies the imparting of unwanted advice, there is a respectable body of evidence for a kibitzer as a person simply making comments.

Spread the news...

By Vichara


Bad news sells, good news sits waiting for the bus. Perhaps by watching all the negative news that it in a way lessons the severity of our own personal problems, but I think not. It is what the media wants you to believe but I do believe there is an alternative. While yes human tragedy and depravity will always exist, it is up to each one of us to try to tip the see-saw of negative news by contributing one good act a day. There are many people out there that are doing this as you read this but most will go unnoticed. It is of no fault of their own, just our cultural indulgence of the negative. How about when you encounter or are involved in a “good” thing that you spread the news and like that old commercial, they will tell 2 friends and they will 2 friends and so on and so on. The tide can turn away from most of the negative; one voice at a time…spread the news.

deterge • \dih-TURJ\ • verb
: to wash off : to cleanse
Example Sentence:
In order to prevent infection, it is necessary to properly deterge and disinfect the wound.
Did you know?
"Deterge" is not a particularly common word in the English language. However, it is related to a word with which most of us are likely familiar: "detergent." Like "detergent," "deterge" comes (possibly by way of French "déterger") from the Latin verb "detergēre," itself from "de-" and "tergēre" ("to wipe"). "Deterge" entered the English language in the early 1600s and has primarily been used in medical contexts, such as Ambrose Cooper's 1757 recipe for Vulnerary Water: "This Water is of excellent Service in Contusions, Tumors attending Dislocation, Fractures and Mortifications, the Part affected being bathed with it. Some also use it to deterge foul Ulcers, and incarn Wounds…."

How much?...

By Vichara


Everything is relative. What may not be enough for you, will be plenty for someone else.

pompadour • \PAHM-puh-dor\ • noun
1 a : a man's style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front b : a woman's style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face
*2 : hair dressed in a pompadour
Example Sentence:
The actress Katherine Hepburn is nearly as well known for her pompadour as she is for her portrayals of independent, feisty women.
Did you know?
The Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of the French King Louis XV, exerted much influence over French tastes in the mid-18th century. The Marquise continues to exert linguistic influence on English, and not only through the hairdos styled after her. "Pompadour" is also used (though now rarely) for a pink or crimson fabric and for a textile design of small printed or woven floral effects. It's also the name of a small South American bird that is bright reddish-purple with white wings.

Finding the pieces...

By Vichara


Are we conducting our lives by just filling in the needed blanks like a crossword puzzle or word game? Are we merely just filling time in an effort just to get by to the end of each day so we can escape to the pillow so we can hide for a few hours? Of course the problem with that is everything will pretty much be there where it was when we put our heads down to sleep. Is lack of engagement underscored with the feeling that most cannot and will not get resolved? I believe that the majority of our unresolved or difficult situations are like finding the pieces like in a big jigsaw puzzle. They exist, all of them, but they may not be in close proximity to where you are. They may not be in your circle of things you are reading. We may all need to turn to the most unlikely places but this will take a great deal of openness, acceptance and engagement to things where you have been closed before.

melee • \MAY-lay\ • noun
: a confused struggle; especially : a hand-to-hand fight among several people
Example Sentence:
The shoppers' voices grew tense as they argued over the last Cool Sally doll, and for a moment I feared that a melee might erupt.
Did you know?
"Fray," "donnybrook," "brawl," "fracas": there are many English words for confused and noisy fights, and in the 17th century "melee" was thrown into the mix. It comes from the French "melee," which in turn comes from the Old French "meslee," meaning "mixture." "Meslee" comes from the Old French verb "mesler," or "medler," which means "to mix." This verb is also the source of "medley" ("a mixture or hodgepodge") and "meddle" ("to mix oneself in others' affairs" or "to interfere").

Without attachment...

By Vichara


Breathe in the truth and exhale the lies. Pick up the determination; cast aside that which hinders movement forward. See the possibilities; turn your eyes away from the cyclical negativity. The reflection you see is just an illusion, a moment that is temporal and will always be changing. Once you understand that “secret”, your grasp will be open without attachment and life will flow to you, through you and past you with full engagement without possession tempered by love, patience and compassion.

tenebrous • \TEN-uh-brus\ • adjective
*1 : shut off from the light : dark, murky
2 : hard to understand : obscure
3 : causing gloom
Example Sentence:
"A zigzag line of windows … cuts up from the base of the building, bringing light into its once-tenebrous interior." (Philip Kennicott, The Washington Post, September 28, 2008)
Did you know?
"Tenebrous" means "obscure" or "murky," but there's nothing unclear about its history. Etymologists know that the word derives from the Latin noun "tenebrae," which means "darkness." "Tenebrous" has been used in English since the 15th century, and in the 20th century it was joined by some interesting relations. "Tenebrionid" is the name of a nocturnal beetle that is usually dark-colored and is also called a "darkling beetle." "Tenebrism" refers to a style of painting -- associated with the Italian painter Caravaggio -- in which most of the figures are engulfed in shadow but some are dramatically illuminated by concentrated light