Disqus - Latest Comments for alligator_kate

Re: Is A Life Partner Essential To Your Happiness?

alligator_kate — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:41:38 -0000

I'm incredibly grateful to my life partner. I adore him, and thank the Divine for his existence. I believe that we create our own happiness, so it would be possible to be blissfully happy alone, or very unhappy and still have the best life partner ever. Being with my partner is not something I take for granted, and it is a major facet of my happiness, but this is a choice, a state that I actively cultivate within myself. I believe that it would be equally valuable to cultivate happiness alone.

Re: Does It All Happen For A Reason?

alligator_kate — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:31:37 -0000

I believe that we co-create our world, and my favorite quotes are from Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet:
'We must love the questions themselves, like locked rooms, or letters written in a very foreign tongue.'
And: Something terrible is, in its deepest being, something helpless that wants help from us. So you must not be frightened when a sadness rises up before you larger than any you have ever seen, when a restiveness, like light and cloud-shadows passes over your hands, and over all you do. You must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you. It holds you in its hands. It will not let you fall.'

Something is happening with you, not to you. Lots of power in that.

Re: Positivity; How Do You Keep It Alive?

alligator_kate — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:12:56 -0000

Sometimes I think positivity is overrated. Recently I had some friends who said I wasn't "positive" enough because I was deeply upset by the events in Gaza. Sometimes we need to feel our grief. For me it always comes back to the earth. I imagine that grief being compost that renews the earth. When I really need to, I literally just find a spot to lie on the ground and feel connected again. Singing birds, the promise of spring, mentally planning the garden... these things fill my heart with joy in the most difficult times, reminding me that we are all connected in joy as well as in sorrow.

Re: How Will You Make Your Weekend Sensual?

alligator_kate — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:51:24 -0000

I'll be taking a bath with sea salt, linden, and rose infusion. Healing for my whole body, sinuses, and soul.

Re: Your Dream Home; Where Is It and Why?

alligator_kate — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:46:02 -0000

An old farmhouse ecologically retro fitted to utilize things like passive solar, with a south facing front yard to grow herbs and climbing roses, on a hill to utilize grey water efficiently, compost toilets (yes I really do fantasize about compost toilets), an old barn for animals-- a cow, a horse, barn cats, and a greasil-powered old Bently, next to National Forest, and not more than 2 hours via train to NYC. A wide, child safe stream/rivulet with drinkable water on the property, and neighbors who share our desire to help the earth renew, as well as a little writer's shack for me, a ways out in the woods, and an apothecary/greenhouse. Fertile fields for vegetables and orchards, and lots of wild flowers. Small town in bike or horse distance for needs and socializing.

Re: What Is Your Favorite Meal of the Day, and How Will You Enjoy It Today?

alligator_kate — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:40:57 -0000

Depends on the day, but I always look forward to breakfast, which is without fail very delicious and involving blueberries and cinnamon, as I use them to balance my blood sugar. Then it just depends on scheduling... but I love having dinner with my husband. We don't talk about much while we eat, just about the food, savoring it, and then have a leisurely conversation afterward. This is my favorite way to enjoy a meal, and I am lucky he shares my passion for good food, even if our tastes often differ.

Re: Taking Risks When It Comes To Love; Is It Always Worth It?

alligator_kate — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:49:32 -0000

As long as you love yourself unconditionally first, then yes.

Re: What Will Be Your Indulgence Today?

alligator_kate — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:04:09 -0000

Long leisurely morning enjoying a pot of tea and contemplating my dreams
tonight soaking in a linden/rose bath, which is medicine and indulgence put together.

Re: What’s The Secret That Doesn’t Need To Be A Secret Anymore?

alligator_kate — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:16:47 -0000

Intuitive knowledge is everyone's birthright. Everyone has the ability to strengthen their intuitive abilities, which make life easier, safer, more sane, and more fun.

Re: The Best Meal You Ever Ate Was…?

alligator_kate — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:43:40 -0000

Made by my amazing guy. Hard to choose one. But before you become too envious... I eat a largely vegetarian based diet, where meat is a supplement, not the other way around, and he's mostly a carnivore. I often abstain from his cooking. That said, he has made the Platonic ideal of: Calzone, chili, fish soup, mushroom barley soup, borsht, standing rib roast, ribs, rueben sandwich, cornish game hen, to name a few. He is a genius at cooking meat and making soup. We have foody friends who clamor for his cooking, demanding we have dinner parties, and he is very humble, like an old Swedish grandmother, always finding at least one fault in everything he makes.

Re: What Activity Sets You Free?

alligator_kate — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:57:20 -0000

Thanks for sharing this. Beautiful.

Re: What Activity Sets You Free?

alligator_kate — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:51:15 -0000

Dancemeditation, whirling, being in nature, and if I am completely honest I'd also say the time I was robbed at gunpoint, but unhurt. That took a lot of working through, but in the end I became more free.

Re: What Activity Sets You Free?

alligator_kate — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:28:59 -0000

Wow, this is the first spiritual explanation I have ever read for the allure of sky diving, and has me intrigued!

Re: What Item of Clothing Makes You Feel Your Sexiest?

alligator_kate — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:31:20 -0000

always silk dresses for me, with as little else on underneath as possible! I wear them a lot in the warm weather. My favorite is ocean green/blue, sleeveless v neck with a slight A line that hits just below my knees and makes me feel like a mermaid. It is from MoMo Falana, a designer in my neighborhood. I walked by that store for 10 years before I let myself go in and buy a dress.... and I love it.

Re: What’s The Most Beautiful Part Of Winter For You?

alligator_kate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:00:53 -0000

Carrie and Jessica pretty much said it--- but I'd add the long deep dreamtimes, and ice on the trees under moonlit starry skies after an ice storm.

Re: If You Could Only Take One Book With You, Wherever You Went, What Would it Be?

alligator_kate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:19:37 -0000

Great book.

Re: If You Could Only Take One Book With You, Wherever You Went, What Would it Be?

alligator_kate — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:36:59 -0000

I have a little leather bound journal that I have been handwriting my favorite poems (by other people) into for years now-- maybe 2 or 3 poems a year. It is like a prayer book, but with poems. That book would get me through anything. Prufrock and Burnt Norton by T.S. Eliot, poems by Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, Seamus Heany, Thomas Hardy, Mary Oliver, Tess Gallagher, Rita Dove, Ann Carson... just to name a few. It feeds my soul, and I always take it with me when I travel.

Re: Waiting for the Ring: Romantic or Anti-Feminist?

alligator_kate — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:56:18 -0000

hurray! It is so nice to read other women who haven't bought into the DeBeers thing. It puts such ridiculous pressure on the relationship, too, esp. the man. It is a pet peeve of mine. My husband worked for a time with an organization trying to come up with ways to end conflicts in Africa. Women who had PHD's in African studies were coming in with diamond engagement rings.... DeBeers did a good job with their marketing. I never get to grouse about this in my face to face life because of all of the sensitive, beautiful, caring friends I have who proudly sport their diamond rings. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I feel strongly about this.

Re: Waiting for the Ring: Romantic or Anti-Feminist?

alligator_kate — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:44:16 -0000

You said it. No diamond for me, either.

Re: What’s One New Word You Want to Bring Into Your Vocabulary This Year?

alligator_kate — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:21:50 -0000

Theory. I tend to choose a position, and stick with it. I want to remember that my beliefs are all theories, and can change if new information or experiences inform me.

Re: How Will You Stretch Your Mind This Year?

alligator_kate — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:10:10 -0000

Deepening my meditative path I am sure will stretch my mind, as well as everything else! Besides that... I hope to travel to places I have never been, and stick around long enough to really learn what it is like to live there.

Re: How Would You Like to be Cared For?

alligator_kate — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:14:38 -0000

For me it is about self care. I am very blessed to be pretty well cared for by others, with a partner who brings me tea every morning, cooks at least half the time, and does at least half the household chores. He listens to me and supports me. I feel heard and appreciated, and do my best to reciprocate. We have our moments, of course, but overall I can't complain. Ways I would like to be cared for by myself: truly adoring my body for what she allows me to do, making sure I eat foods that nourish me, take time out for deep rest, dance and move enough, pamper myself sometimes with long soaks in the tub and massages.... flowers, oh and saying no kindly but firmly with no guilt when I need to.

Re: If you could write one book, what would it be about?

alligator_kate — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:03:10 -0000

That would be great. We need all of these that we can get.

Re: If you could write one book, what would it be about?

alligator_kate — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:35:15 -0000

Congratulations on your publishing! Great title. Look forward to perusing your book :)

Re: What is the vision for your dream home?

alligator_kate — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:46:04 -0000

Whenever my place gets too cluttered, I pull out the book "Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston for inspiration. When I get to the "I'm not sure" pile I invite a discerning friend over with a bottle of wine and make it a little party. Will be doing this again come Jan.!