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.
song of my unborn children
Song of My Unborn Children Three souls entered my body,over three decadeseach for their own brief time. I felt them—deeply, wholly,in the marrow of my being.I loved them, and I let them go. They came in with passion, with fire,With the mystery of a momentary union.Not tied to time, or marriage, or a plan. Love…
sacred pause
Today I curated a day for myself filled with things that make me happy. Several moments happened organically that enhanced & deepened my happiness. It’s so beautiful & sacred to fuel & savor my own happiness. My current happiness holds as much no as it does yes. As much anger as joy. As much freedom…
power outage
I was working away this evening & planning to keep going late into the night when the power went out. After momentary irritation, I felt a huge relief. It was the perfect moment to go for a sunset hike. Something in me has been resisting moving my body. It’s been harder to start walks, hikes,…
illusion of control
Recently I booked a nonstop flight to Portland on Frontier. Then I got a notice that they changed my flight. The new plan was to stop in Las Vegas “on the way” to Portland…making it a 7 hour trip instead of 90 minutes. Ew. New plan! I canceled Frontier & paid more to fly United.…
steering my own vessel
I asked my Higher Guidance, “What would you have me know today?” Here’s the answer: I am proud of you for finding the center of your own life and steering your Self in the direction of your own North Star. This life is for you to walk your path the best way you can following…
the bench, the stars, and belonging
This was Tuesday night in Harbin Valley. The waning moon meant more stars than I remember seeing in a while. Taking the Village Path from the hot springs to my cottage, I discovered a bench with a message engraved at the center top, “Your spirit guides & guardian angel.” If ever there were a moment…
a moment with mom
On Wednesday I went to Cupertino to have lunch with my parents and celebrate my mom’s birthday a few days late. After lunch we had some lemon meringue pie that I made that morning. It was so lemony & delicious. My parents love a lemon meringue pie. After lunch, my mom & I worked in…
cold plunge
I went in the ocean at China Beach around 8:30am today. A friend was celebrating her birthday with a cold plunge in the Pacific! The bay by my house was glassy. As I drove past, I glimpsed the sun dancing across the surface. It reminded me of Fallen Leaf Lake near Lake Tahoe. For years,…
love
Someone spelled LOVE on the sidewalk. I almost accidentally stepped on it, but didn’t. I stopped in my tracks and tears came to my eyes. I breathed in deeply and walked on feeling the ache in my heart. My restorative yoga teacher read a quote in class last night, “If you want to let go.…
flying through darkness
I’m 2 hours into a 5.5 hour flight across the country. The light out my window is waning as we fly into tonight’s darkness. I watched a movie for the first 2 hours called, We Live In Time. It had me shaking, crying, and trembling with grief for what I’ve never had and will likely…
cheryl strayed
I spent the last three days on a writing retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with Cheryl Strayed, 300 women writers & about 6 men. I thought I would be cool, but I was overcome and a bit giddy with how warm, real, generous, funny and witty Cheryl is. Her writing has…