Wunjo Way of Joy
Years ago, I found The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum—a companion for the spiritual warrior, offering guidance through simple stones inscribed with ancient symbols. Among them, the rune Wunjo—joy—kept appearing, quietly insisting that joy is not just a fleeting feeling but a direction, a compass, a way of being. It still feels true. Wunjo is a reminder to orient toward inner alignment, beauty, and the harmonies that arise when we live close to nature and close to ourselves.
I’ve been writing on and off since my teenage years—scribbling into notebooks, chasing questions, trying to remember and reveal who I am and why I’m here in this body, on this Earth. Writing became a way of listening: to my own heart, to the natural world, to the whispers of something larger. Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages showed me how to meet myself on the page, honestly and without judgment. That practice stayed with me. Writing still brings me peace, joy, and the kind of clarity that comes only through attention and reflection.
This blog is an offering from that place—a contemplative space shaped by curiosity, longing, love, and a quiet devotion to beauty. It’s a way of tuning in, of learning through presence, of honoring the seasons both within and without. The Wunjo Way is not a fixed path—it’s a practice of becoming, again and again, with wonder and heart.
peace
This is one of my current favorite meals. It tastes so good and is so nourishing. I season boneless, skinless chicken thighs with garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, then air-fry them. I’m loving the no-mess cleanup and the consistent results of cooking in the air fryer. I put some jasmine rice on to…
hummingbird
Today I saw this hummingbird’s nest in my friend’s angel trumpet tree. I took a picture, zoomed in, and saw the mama sitting there—keeping her eggs warm. Waiting. It moved me. It swelled my heart. I realized I’ve been sitting on my own nest this winter too. Not growing babies—but nurturing hope. This season has…
safety
Deciding—and remembering—that I am safe, and that I feel safe, is powerful. Safety isn’t equally available. Many people are living with real, ongoing threats from what some call “law enforcement”, extreme violence, brutal harassment, or many other forms of abuse. I do not want to try to spiritualize that away or pretend anyone can “think” their way…
6 Shooting Stars
When I was in Peru, in the Andes—ten thousand feet above sea level—I went outside at night and looked up at the stars. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I lay on my back on the ground looking up and I decided I would stay there until I saw six…
nourishing
Today I’m thinking about how I relate to nourishing myself. This morning I decided to roast some sweet potatoes. I considered how to retain the most nourishment from them for my body, how I like them to taste and look, and how they will hold up as leftovers. I spontaneously felt so much love and…
delicate balance
Some thoughts I had while sitting still. It’s useful to see all the choices available to me in any given moment. Also, I don’t want to spend so much time weighing each choice that I miss out on my life. Finding the flow feels like a good way to navigate. Feeling into the stuck, tense…
winter solstice
In between the rain showers today, I spent time with wet trees & muddy trails. I met so many mushrooms & explored their under sides from below. I felt into the darkness of the lightest part of the day. I saw beauty in the decay & breakdown & I noticed new life everywhere. I went…
holiday spirit
Some moments that connect me to my holiday spirit. My neighborhood has a little floating Christmas tree that appears in the bay this time of year. It makes me happy when I notice it, especially at night when it’s all lit up. I enjoy walking around the Loch Lomond Marina at night. Holiday lights on…
eucalyptus love
A few months ago I met a volunteer China Camp Park Ranger on the trail. She launched into a rant against eucalyptus trees because of the fire danger. I felt sad and defensive of the trees. They are so beautiful, and providing all kinds of incredible housing for birds, butterflies, and other insects/animals. She called…
heart rock
It is neither useful nor possible to solve all the problems of the day at once. Piling on all the burdens of the moment & wearing them like a heavy coat doesn’t help. Nor is it a solution to run away from or ignore it all. Handling things strictly in the order they appear isn’t…
exactly as i am
It’s a time of year when things shift. From closing the curtains to keep the heat out to closing them to keep the heat in. From wondering if my plants need water because they’re too dry to wondering if they will be okay with all the rain and cold. From the AC in the afternoon…
Message from stars over Peru at 3am
We are falling. Falling in love with you. We fall in love because you woke up, got out of bed, got dressed, and came to say hello. You see us and we see you. This moment you say hello in recognition of our shared participation in the cosmos instead of being awe struck and full…