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.
housesitting
Veronica was housesitting for 3 nights at the home of family friends. It was her 2-year anniversary with her boyfriend. She’d packed her cutest outfits & pajamas, she’d planned yummy meals & she’d spent weeks making his gift. It was a framed collage of photos of the two of them. She arrived two hours early…
Rosetta Veronica
Veronica was overcome by the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. She was 7,420 miles (11,941 kilometers) away from San Francisco, but the Sydney coastline gave her the feeling of coming home. She felt deeply connected here. She’d come alone to Waverley Cemetery to play a game she’d played with her aunt. They walked around cemeteries…
chicago
Veronica peaked out the door of her library carrel & looked at the clock. It was 5:50. Her roommates were picking her up at 6pm. She’d been studying all afternoon & was looking forward to a delicious Taco Bell dinner & a York Peppermint Patty for dessert. The luxury she could afford as a college…
rebound
Day 1 of #NovelPossible. If you know, you know… Veronica was on the prowl. She was 6 months out of a toxic 2-year relationship. She was in graduate school in SF. She had a new life and a new group of friends. She was in therapy, in school to become a therapist, and surrounded by…
Uncle George
I wrote these words to share on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at the Memorial Service for George Grey Eagle Bertelstein held in El Cerrito, CA. “George called me Niecie. I called him Uncle. My prayer in this moment is to let something greater take over and, for the grace of it, share some words about…
breathe
This is from my Higher Guidance today… Tune in to your breath. Feel your body as you breathe in and out. This is everything. This is what matters. Your whole system will take cues from your breath and attune to the rhythm you set as you notice how you are inhaling and exhaling. This kind…
restorative
6 weeks ago I rejoined my local yoga studio after a 6 month break. For the first 4 weeks, I went to 5 restorative classes a week. I kept commenting to people about how I needed to pay money to lie on pillows and breathe. It felt like a humorous thing to say, but making…
ants
It’s 2:09am. I’ve been trying to fall asleep for more than 2 hours. I got up to make myself some Calm with magnesium, L-theanine, and GABA. This has been SO helpful with my sleep when I remember to take it. I engage in another round of killing ants as I wait for my hot water…
root rot
Last weekend, I noticed the root of one of my San Pedro plants is rotting. This is a first in the 13 years I have been tending these plants. Even with all I have learned, I still felt crushed, as if it were personal or my fault. I had all my feelings about what a…
labyrinth
I walk into the labyrinth with this prayer: I can be happy in this life. I walk slowly, intentionally and calmly repreating this prayer several times to myself. I feel the magic of the Marin Headlands. I open myself wider and take in the expansive views from the Pacific cliffs overlooking the fog covered waves.…
connection
I recently caught myself performing connection. I’ve done this before and I’m sure I’ll do it again. I had an intention to feel connected. I noticed myself straining to be present, hyper-vigilant about noticing everything, working so hard at “connection.” Something about the realization this time made me wonder if I’ve ever even known anything…
ocean
I met my friend for lunch at the beach in Half Moon Bay today. There was no one on the beach when I got there. That Boys of Summer song played in my head. It was foggy, but the sun kept trying to peak through. As I sat looking out at the water, I saw…