Woodstock/Rain of Flowers

We had a rain of flowers the last night I was in Woodstock. I'll post this picture because it may be the best photo of this phenomenon—rain falling while the sun is shining—that I ever take.

I went back and looked at my notes on "rain of flowers" at one of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche's recent teachings. Rinpoche said that if this event occurs near a high-level teacher, it's probably associated with that person; "Otherwise, it's just weather."

Woodstock/Graffiti 4, Then and Now

Woodstock then: Peace, Love, and Music

Woodstock now: Dollars, Stars, and Cars

Found in the restroom at Taco Juan's.

Woodstock/Graffiti 3, The Wall

Amazing. Someone should do a book on Woodstock graffiti; or perhaps they already have.

Woodstock/Graffiti 2, Eye of Horus

Horus was the falcon god of ancient Egypt, and his eye—especially the left eye—was considered a powerful symbol to ward off evil spirits. Or so I have heard. I really like this version, on the graffiti wall along Woodstock's Millstream.

Woodstock/Graffiti 1, Love

I waded up the Millstream yesterday with my friend Sandra, who knew where there is a good graffiti wall. Here's one of my favorites from the wall, above.

The most important thing you'll ever learn

Is to love and be loved in return.

KTD 10-Day Teachings/Coming Down

I'm down off the mountain today, to spend a couple of days holed up in Woodstock to do some writing and finish this section of my blog. I have needed to find some quiet time to put my thoughts together and write in some depth about the actual teachings, and about Machik Labdron; there really wasn't time to do any of this while in the thick of the teachings.

I found a great, quiet (at least today) place with wi-fi where I can get coffee and snacks. I am at tree level in "downtown" (really more like "downvillage") Woodstock; the picture, above, gives you an idea of my bird's-eye view.

I took my last final exam in a job retraining program the night before I traveled to the 10-day teachings; this last year has been full of study, with no real time for reading, writing, or really doing anything beyond the essentials. So in addition to writing more for the blog, I'm also looking forward to maybe going swimming, sharing some good meals with friends old and new, and listening to the new Levon Helm CD I picked up at The Golden Notebook, a local independent bookstore.

How precious to enter the gate of dharma. And how precious to have a couple of days to relax and just BE.