Sunday, June 22, 2008

Sweet Spots cont.: SF Folk Fest, Eckhart Tolle & Hovering


Sitting on the deck of the Moss Beach Distillery watching birds hover in perfect updrafts having just taken part in the very joyful San Francisco Folk Fest at City College yesterday, takes it's place as another sweet spot. As my friend and I watched another hawk— this one hovering and eating a mouse at the same time— we concluded the the bird was demonstrating "Eckhart Tolle on steroids."
Everyone — my sister, my co-workers, Oprah, fellow commuters, and me — have read or been reading Tolle's latest book "A New Earth." Say what you will about trends, the book is a gem. Tolle distills the point(s) of every wisdom tradition and spiritual practice I've been privvy to try in easily graspable language: change toward happiness simply requires a shift of mindset, a a relatively slight adjustment. And kind of like Zen writer Pema Chodron, Tolle makes it seem possible for the most human among us, whatever your faith practice, to thrive and tip the global balance toward life rather than annihilation. I encourage you to read it if you haven't.
The Folk Fest was Exhibit A of the day's "New Earth" possibilities: an incredibly diverse line-up of artists, dancers, jams and voice techniques buzzing around the new campus buildings demonstrated the rich community of 'folk' musicians doing their thang in the Bay Area, and that there's room for us all. Shout outs to Richard Rice and Co. for making this event fly. I was delighted to play on the "Pete Seeger Stage," hear klezmer, folk-blues and country in a relatively short span of time, and see some pals, before heading to the coast to thoroughly enjoy the clear, sunny and warm afternoon and hovering lessons. Slight adjustments go a long way.

No comments: