Author Archives: Paula Josa-Jones

Feb12

bodyscape

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(I apologize to the photographer, Marconi.  I cannot find a really good link to his work.  If any of you have one, please pass it along.)

I don’t usually include the work of other photographers in my blog.  It feels dishonest, a little like cheating.  But that is just an old tune in my head. When I find something this beautiful, it has to be shared.

Here is what I love about this photograph.  It is completely kinetic – when I look at it, I can feel the contours of the landscape in my body, can feel the breath and music of it so clearly through my terrain of skin, muscle and bone.

When I was just out of college, I took a dance improvisation workshop with the great choreographer Trisha Brown.  One of the things she asked us to do to create movement was to “read” the a wall in the studio with our movement, to translate what we saw into dance.  We all got busy dancing the basketball hoop, the windows, the bleachers, the sky beyond.  That experience kicked open a door to something that has always stayed with me – connecting what is outside with what is inside – finding that creative, generative impulse from everything around me.

I teach a workshop called Cookbook for the Bonehouse.  Here is a recipe for you:  Sometime today, maybe right now, stand up and face a direction you usually don’t.  Let your shoulders or your hips or your nose “read” (translate) whatever you are looking at into movement.  Do it again, but this time slow it way down.  Do it again fast.  What are you feeling?

Tell me about it!

 

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Feb11

the plan

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Whatever you’re thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you’re worrying, you are planning. When you’re appreciating you are planning…What are you planning?

— Abraham

I have found myself worry planning some big trouble lately.  It is so easy.  Just think the scary thoughts and follow the scary mind movie to its scary conclusion.

I think this is in the category of not doing my best, one of the four agreements from  The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)by Don Miguel Ruiz.  “Always do your best,” he says.

When I do am doing this kind of worry planning, here’s what I do.  I tell myself that I want to feel good.  I pet a cat a dog a horse.  I take a walk.  I watch something like Bridesmaids again or listen to Annie Lamott reading Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. I get as general as I can, which means not drilling down into the situation or even a good feeling solution for that situation.  I leave it alone.  As best I can.

 

 

Feb9

smack talk

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Liam & Esme having a moment

Mostly I avoid these kind of interactions.  Then one will come out of the blue and surprise me.  This picture reminds me of my father and I at various points in our relationship.  I always figured that I got my big fight muscles doing battle with him.  But I actually think the opposite is true.  I think that this builds rigidity, fear and a headache.

A few years ago I read The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)by Don Miguel Ruiz.

  1. Be impeccable with your word
  2. Don’t take anything personally
  3. Don’t make assumptions
  4. Always do your best

The trainer at the barn where I kept my horse at the time had them posted inside the tack room.  She wanted a more mindful environment in her stable. I think that it did keep us on our toes, mostly in the right way.  I would love it if politicians had to sign a binding agreement to follow them.

These days I will do a lot to avoid smack talk.  Close up shop if necessary – hang out the closed sign.  Or treat it like a big wave and duck dive.  Come back when the sun is out.