Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
From the category archives:
Creating these new cards has brought so much color and light and cheer into my winter months. It has been a total joy. I’m in love with glitter- with the texture and depth it lends to the overall gift of the card. There are Eight in all so far. I think you’ll love them- to keep or to send.
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Let us live most happily, possessing nothing;
Let us feed on joy,
like the radiant gods.
~Buddha
Imagine how the earth would sigh with pleasure if everyone took a day or more off every week to refrain from driving, striving, shopping, producing and consuming. Imagine if we simplified our desires, practiced radiant idleness and the joys of roaming free. What if we loafed, rested, napped and dreamed, gardened, played, went for long walks, made love, sewed buttons, and cooked? Imagine the peace if we got creative with our ingredients instead of heading, out of habit, to the store.
It would be a beginning- a small step for mankind- toward a more peaceful, sustainable and joyful world, wouldn’t it? Does the thought excite your heart, sending shivers up your spine?
Once you see through transience and illusion
the joys of roaming free are wonderful indeed.
~Han Shan
Be content with what you have.
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize
there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you.
~Lao Tzu
The Freedom Of Joy passages excerpted from THE JOY BOOK by Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
Pictures taken last night at Great Rock Bite… someone left beautiful sand sculptures- a castle, and a frog.
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Hello Friends, I feel the need for a chatty catch-up… and the need for a sacred pause, for stillness. I’ll share some of my activities here… and then post a sacred pause. In fact, I think I’ll lean toward such posts as the summer frenzy begins. Because, as usual, I don’t want this blog to be about me as much as about all of us.
My sister and I visited with our good friend Wendy in Maine last week. We’ve known each other since high school. It was amazing how silly we all still are together… And how deep that connection, friendship, love still feels…amidst children, marriages, and long lengths of time between visits. I feel blessed.
One delicious ingredient of summer, for me, is to see my wares all set up at the Artisan’s Fairs here on Martha’s Vineyard, and to meet new people and catch up with old friends. This also means the beginning of frenzy for me. As much as I try to prepare ahead all winter, I still seem to generate huge lists of what I hope to produce 
in between shows. Pictured here is one quarter of my display…
The weather has been mostly unsunny here these days…. But still, it’s beautiful… Ok. Enough chat! xo, ing
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Here’s a shy invitation…! Dan Waters is hosting poets who write songs at Che’s Lounge on Wednesday night. (June 17th 7:30) I’m in the line-up, along with Dan, Justen Ahren, Richard Skidmore, and Michael West. In spite of my past life as a singer/songwriter, I haven’t sung out in at least five years- or written a song. I almost thought that door was closed - until last week, when three songs came knocking. If you’re looking for evening entertainment, come by! Che’s is all fixed up, with a beautiful garden, a fountain, new coffee, tea and treats.
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On A Portrait Of Hotai, God of Good Fortune
How much I desire!
Inside my little satchel,
the moon and flowers.
Translated by Sam Hamill,
Narrow Road to the Interior
I just came across this haiku by Basho- such a delight. I love to imagine opening that satchel and having the moon and flowers spilling out.
In case you are reading this blog from top to bottom (I know I do!) the poems below this are reflections on the road of my interior, the odd poet who lives within me, and some of the contents of my own gathering bag…
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I’ve just signed up for an online course on my favorite subject: AWAKENING JOY. It’s a ten month long experiential class. The course goal is to awaken joy through monthly principles and practices that incline the mind toward well-being, happiness and joy.
Awakening Joy is designed and run by James Baraz, who’s taught meditation courses, retreats and classes throughout the US and abroad for many years. Along with twice monthly practice guides James sends to you by email, you also get the live classes as video and audio downloads. Each month covers a different happiness theme, including gratitude, mindfulness, self-love, compassion, integrity and values, letting go, handling the “tough stuff,” and intention. James gives wonderful information and powerful monthly practices.
The principles of the course are universal, although much of the material includes Buddhist philosophy drawn from the James Baraz’s 30 years as a Buddhist meditation teacher. I’ve offered to facilitate or co-facilitate a Joy group on Martha’s Vineyard, if anyone is interested in taking the class and joining us.
There is a suggested amount for tuition, but if you are on a fixed income you can also set your own that feels comfortable for you.
CLICK HERE for a link to the Awakening Joy course, and also for wonderful links to articles written by James Baraz, lectures,and more.
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I’d be so happy to give one of these treasure boxes of love tokens away. Send me a note and I’ll put your name in a hat- to do a drawing on January 30th. These love boxes are for sale on my website for only $20.
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I was talking to an acquaintance the other evening, and she asked me if I was rich yet from my book sales. She was referring to the beautiful versions of my books of quotations published by Andrews McMeel a year ago. Unfortunately, the books faced placement and marketing problems from the start, and their sales have been disappointing. I told her that no, I wasn’t rich. Then I added, “I’ll just have to be happy.” “You seem happy,” she observed. And then she said, “I’m not. I wish I was happy but I’m not.”
I was immediately perplexed and wanted to give her some profound and comforting paradigm-shifting answer. But we were at a party of over 200 people, shouting over the din. Small talk was all that was possible, so what I managed was, “Well, I’ve been taking my vitamins.” She laughed and said, “I bet you’re taking your Bs. B6s and B12s.” “Yes,” I told her. And our conversation ended.
What I was hoping to imply from so simple a suggestion as taking vitamins was that happiness is something to be nourished, paid attention to and cultivated. I know there have been studies that show some people are born with happier dispositions than others, but there are also many studies that suggest there are things we can do to promote happiness. So I’ve been thinking about B Vitamins. As I am a lover of words and of spirit-centered living, I have composed a list of Bs which I have found very helpful to my own sense of happiness. I offer them in hopes they inspire a few Vitamins (promoters of vitality) of your own.
BODHICHITTA & BENEVOLENCE: Bodhichitta is one of my favorite words from Buddhism. One of its meanings is the peace of love which exists beneath all things. As Einstein suggested, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is whether you believe the Universe is a friendly place or not. Every day I hope to ground myself in Bodhichitta. I put my trust in BENEVOLENCE, the basic goodness, and the peace of love that exists beneath all things.
BELONGING: A sense of belonging is so important to happiness, and is something we need to cultivate through forging strong ties with our family, friends, community, workplace, world at large, and our sense of the BELOVED. Beloved is a name for the divine spacious presence we carry in our hearts and whose eternal and infinite presence holds us also. Beloved is a word for home. Beloved is also a name for our lovers, our children. Beloved is a word that cherishes relationships and an intimate sense of belonging.
BEAUTY, BRILLIANCE: These Bs are a matter of turning the eye, the heart and the mind to look for and perceive the sacredness of the world. There is beauty everywhere.
BLISS: This is the unique path that is yours- the gift or talent that is yours to give to the world. Those who are in touch with their gift, and who have learned to follow their bliss, are among all who can call themselves happy. BIRTH: This is a word for creativity- for channeling the energy of Life through you and into the world.
BIRDSONG: Birdsong represents many things: time spent in nature, serendipity and surprise, and the power of that still small voice within which sings to us when we are quiet enough to listen.
BELIEVE: As happiness is often a result of our thoughts and the stories we tell ourselves, what we believe shapes our perspective of reality. I’ve learned that I have beliefs that uplift me and those that limit me. I’ve learned to question my assumptions, and to keep the good ones.
BOUNTY: To perceive bounty, plenty, abundance, and to live your life from love as opposed to scarcity is a definite happiness booster.
BLESSINGS, BLESS, BLESSEDNESS: Happy people count their blessings. They have learned the power of gratitude. And they have also learned the power of blessing. If there is something that you can not count as a blessing, bless it- invoke the power of the hidden realm to fill the world with its blessings. Blessedness is the powerful perception of living in Bodhichitta, bounty, benevolence and beauty.
BREATH: A simple practice I use to invoke happiness is to breathe in peace on an inhale, and breathe out Joy on an exhale. We are blessed with over ten thousand breaths a day. Remembering this imbues life with a rich and harmonious sense of gratitude and celebration.
BOUNDLESSNESS: What a wonderful word for spaciousness, limitlessness, freedom, and eternal and infinite possibility…
BOUYANCY: Another word for resilience, a kind of pluck and faith that happy people have, understanding that clouds pass, storms move through, spring comes and the grass grows by itself….
BODY: Caring for and listening to the body is an important activity for happiness. Sometimes feelings of unease, distress, and depression are the body’s call for help. And it is important to mention here that happy people understand that sometimes unhappiness is a BIOCHEMICAL reality, and no number of words or ideals or practices will substitute for an understanding of the body and the brain….
BEING- To rest in the Universe’s benevolence with all of your being, knowing that sometimes simply being is far more important than all the doing in the world, does a lot to promote BALANCED and harmonious living.
BECOMING, BLOSSOMING, BLOOMING: These are inspiring words that speak to growth and learning, expanding one’s horizons, one’s understanding, and becoming more and more open to life.
BEGIN: Such a beautiful word, BEGIN. It reminds me of the Goethe quote: ”Whatever you can do or dream you can, BEGIN it. BOLDNESS has genius, power and magic in it.” BEGIN is a word that says don’t let your fearful mind talk you out of pursuing your passions and living your dreams. Happy people know how to begin and, when necessary, begin again.
That’s my B Brainstorm for now. May it promote health, happiness and vitality. Let me know if you think of any others!
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