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.
Create
Today I’m happy about being invited to sit down and make a collage by Oakland artist Jan Stamos in her studio. I’m happy about art, artists and people that feel a burning desire to create and share their creations. I’m happy about the art in my life, all the creative education I’ve been blessed with…
Wonder
I’m grateful for a day of big, extravagant self-care. I got a massage and did the bathing ritual several times at the Sonoma Mission Inn with some loving sisters. I gave myself as much opportunity for calm, relaxation and peace as I could. It helped a lot. I feel a renewed inspiration to take care…
Grandma
I usually love costumes, dressing up, carving pumpkins and trick ‘r treating…but I just wasn’t feeling any of it this year. I found a way to celebrate Halloween at Medicine Theater improv class tonight where we invited ancestor spirits into our intuitive, spontaneous play. I connected with my maternal Grandma, Helen Berger, who died in…
Women
I’m SO blessed because my entire life has felt like one long empowering women’s circle. Every woman in my family is a strong, powerful, can do, make it work, pushing the envelope, outspoken about women being kind, fair, intelligent leaders kind of woman. Every Kojola, Berger, Ahrens, Martin, Murray and Meek woman I know is…
Impatient
I felt very impatient today with the snails pace of change in our world. I watched two powerful documentaries by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In. I feel fired up about so many ISSUES in our culture that contribute to so much pain for so many people. It’s so hard to watch so many…
Yoga
In my yoga class last night, I noticed a familiar inner dialogue that was in opposition to the teacher; her voice, her tone, her instruction, and her adjustments…just not exactly the way I like it. I kept thinking I would kindly ask her not to touch me, that I would tell her that I know…
Dating
I remember when online dating was new, maybe around 2002. My friend & I made dating profiles “as a joke” we told each other. It was embarrassing to tell people you had an online dating profile. If you meet someone, you didn’t really want to admit that it had been online. Now it’s almost passé.…
Food
Re: food. I’ve struggled in the past (as recently as yesterday evening) to eat in a good way. Oh. My. God. There is SO much involved with eating in a good way. A least it seems that way to me at this point. I’m defining eating in a good way for myself as consuming excellent…
Single
Today I’m happy about being a single woman! I’m grateful to be of a mind to celebrate my independence. I spend plenty of time wishing I had a really great partner, but the reality is that I don’t at this time. The most true thing I can say is that I don’t know if I’ll…
Dad
I’m incredibly blessed to have a dad whose life path has taught me many valuable lessons in following my heart instead of following trends, money, job titles, or status. He’s led a simple, mostly drama free life (impressive considering a wife, 3 sisters, 2 daughters and, of course, the cats…) doing what he loves, being…
Grandpa
My grandpa, Hugo V. Kojola, aka Joe. To me, he was a funny, jolly man with a huge white bread, so naturally I thought he was Santa Claus for several years as a kid. He was a inventor, tinkerer and maker of many things in his basement workshop. He taught me to play a banjo,…
Diving
My dad took this photo of me diving when I was maybe 11 or 12. My young face looks so determined and also afraid. It’s been years since I’ve been on a diving board, but what I remember most about it, all those years and all those dives, is the vulnerability and the fear. There…