Pouring Rain

Travel Journals: A Rainy Season in Costa Rica

As my afternoon meditation, the rain has been a constant, peaceful presence almost all day.  Just as I was writing this passage all power suddenly went down….everywhere. 

Pouring rain in Central America, a remote area, and all power suddenly goes down.  It is almost impossible to convey that level of blackness and feeling of complete isolation if you have never experienced it.  I remember writing about this many years ago. Complete silence. Complete darkness.  Rain on the metal roof like a band of steel rim drummers.  That is meditation by immersion.  It was a brief reminder that even here I have many comforts I am accustomed to such as electricity and internet.  It was a brief glimpse of having none of these.

In my new kitchen I made tacos with huevos, avocados and nuts.  The eggs stuck like plaster to the pan on the old 1950’s Atlas electric stovetop.  Nonetheless, it felt great to prepare a delicious meal.  I am enjoying listening to Mercedes Sosa in the background while I cook. Today’s diet: banana, apple, coffee, mango, 3 eggs, avocado, nuts.

There were 3 blackouts throughout the night over all of the area.  It was a completely quiet and isolating experience.    I must remember to buy candles before the next one.

I drift off into the rainy night listening to my Costa Rica Playlist.

Paloma Negra by Chavela Vargas

La Bruja -Son Jarocho Tradicional

El Ultimo Trago by Chavela Vargas

Adoro by Chavela Vargas

El Conejo by Los Cojolites

La Llorona by Lila Downs, Mariachi Juvenil de Tecalitian

Gracias A La Vida by Mercedes Sosa

Veinte Anos by Buena Vista Social Club

Gracias a la Vida by Violeta Parra

Quizas, Quizas, Quizas by Gaby Moreno

Lagrimas Negras by Buena Vista Social Club

Pernambuco by Luis Bonfa

Samba de Orfeu by Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn

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Field Notes

If you are listening deeply
to the whisper of your soul
its guidance will rarely
make logical sense

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From the Archives

August is the celebration of Obon across Japan. Kyoto is one of the largest and most visually exciting cities for Obon festivals. Japanese people travel from far and wide back to their family homes to honor and greet their returning ancestors. I remember four years ago I was just settling into Kyoto as thousands of visitors descended up on the city.

On the evening of August 16th, we all made our way on foot, like legions of ants, to the shores of the Kamo River to watch the lighting of five mountain bonfires after dark. The daimonji fires, in the shape of kanji characters are lit one by one by Kyoto monks. The belief is that the lights help guide the ancestors back to the spirit world.

I remember thinking of my own grandparents then, as I often do now, they are perhaps still guiding me on my travels and my journey.

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”

―Thich Nhat Hanh

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Zen and Ink Journals represents hundreds of hours of writing over the past decade, sometimes from a train in remote China or a coffee shop in Kyoto, a hammock in Costa Rica or a simple cabin on a mountaintop in Boquete, Panama or Ciudad Colón.

On these pages, I share my observations of kindness and beauty from my adventures in the world and invite you to listen quietly for the call within you to explore the places that beckon your soul.

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