explanation--temple

Temple is where we do meditation, a small one-room place with candles in the middle, surrounded by meditation cushions. And sometimes meditation is followed by kirtan (chanting/singing), spiritual Q&A, or other similar things. There are little ceremonies as well and intentional prayers, to get rid of what does not serve us, or focus on bringing peace by being peace, etc. I am having a lot of emotional detox in there, a lot of feelings come up and then they are gone (since I allow myself to feel them--what you don't acknowledge will get stuck). Today I struggled with meditating--my legs hurt, I was sore, I forgot the mantra to focus attention, I kept thinking, I almost fell asleep. But it was still good. Things come up. But it would be easy to not participate and get nothing out the experience, intention matters a lot.

So I don't forget--recipe for the best raw cookies I have ever had--coconut flour (ground up leftovers from making coconut milk--has less fat and more protein and fiber than coconut cream), some agave, coconut oil, small amt of salt, small amt of spices as desired (cardamom, cinnamon, etc). Blend and dehydrate.

A funny story--a guy asked me if I speak Spanish, in Spanish, when I was in town today. I get a real kick out of Mexicans assuming I am Mexican--and it's even more understandable, now that I've gotten much tanner. He was looking for a store with stuff "del army"--love that Spanglish. I didn't know so I translated for him to ask the white lady ("gabacha"--they always think it's funny when I use that word, like it's some secret slang or something; probably by then he figured out I wasn't Mexican) where it was. So I got to be in my old familiar role of translator, which I love. (And luckily for the vibrations of Patagonia, there is no bodega con cosas del army here--it's in the border town of Nogales 17 miles away).