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.

Hello

If your eyes are reading this…hello. I wish that I was seeing you in person and feeling my cheeks lift and my eyes crinkle as I smile at you. Thank you for seeing my name, thinking of me, and reading my words. However we became connected, no matter the length of time or number of…

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Messages from Plants

Be with us. Listen gently for our vibrations and wisdom. We’ve been echoing for eternity, you can’t miss the truth if you stop & listen. Gentleness is powerful. Be soft, be gentle with yourself. The arc of time is long, pace yourself. Let the light give you warmth, energy, and love. Let it fill you…

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Inside Job

I’ll be 45 in 2 days. Someone asked me what I want for my birthday. I couldn’t put it into words until right now. What I want feels way too big to ask for, unless it’s a prayer. What I want for myself is an inside job. I need to create it, do it and…

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Madrone

The first time I saw a Madrone tree I was mesmerized and completely lit up inside. I couldn’t believe how beautifully the red skin peeled off the smooth and sensuous green trunk & branches. Everything about Madrone trees resonates with me. Seeing them helps me answer a deep question I’ve always had that I didn’t…

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Meaningful

Consciously moving towards what is meaningful. Meaningful moments occur most consistently when I create time and space for them. Connection with others, with nature, and with myself, all feel meaningful. I’m interested in all the gritty and glorious details of life. When it feels safe to be my full, authentic self, those moments are full…

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Sad

I feel sad when things don’t work out the way I wanted them to. Life is often not the way I imagined it would be. I could be endlessly disappointed. I could (and do) spend time wishing things were different or imagining how I could have created a different outcome if I had only been…

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Oak Trees

I was thinking about why I love oak trees so much. They make me feel like anything is possible. I learn so much from being near them and absorbing their peaceful presence. However big my problems seem or however hard my thoughts, an oak tree can give me the perspective that there is always a…

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Living and Dying

For many years I’ve noticed this beautiful oak tree that is both living and dying at the edge of China Camp along the Bay. When I see it from a distance at certain times of the year, I feel sad that such a majestic tree seems to be in distress. Today I walked up close…

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Details

I was thinking a little too hard about what made me happy today. I don’t feel the need to force happiness if it’s not there, that’s not happy. It makes me feel good that people check in with me regularly and tell me about their lives. I love that. I’m into the tiniest details and…

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Always Be Kind

Always be kind. We can never know the underlying causes of another’s behavior. Always save some room for redemption, for forgiveness, and for allowing ourselves and others the chance to restore our own honor. Today at the farmers market, I was with 3 others from Marin Community Fridges gathering donated food from the farmer’s stands…

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Let Life Be What It Is

This morning I spent some time sitting, drinking my tea, listening to the sounds of life happening around me, and watching my thoughts come and go. I can string my thoughts together with such passion and dedication when I am invested in communicating them in order to achieve a certain outcome. Sometimes I catch myself…

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My Ancestors Love

Remembering the dead & feeling my ancestors love. My maternal grandmother, Helen Aherns Berger, was the elder most present in my young life. What I remember most about her was the feeling of being accepted. I knew she was rooting for me to be myself. In retrospect, it seems like she wanted to see who…

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