Thoughts of a Taoist Babe

Tao Te Ching – Chapter 11

Thirty spokes join in one hub
In its emptiness, there is the function of a vehicle
Mix clay to create a container
In its emptiness, there is the function of a container
Cut open doors and windows to create a room
In its emptiness, there is the function of a room

Therefore, that which exists is used to create benefit
That which is empty is used to create functionality

I love this chapter of the Tao Te Ching.  It speaks about Nothing– a very useful and wondrous Nothing.  I take this lesson into much of my life and try to see the usefulness and the magical qualities of emptiness and of nothingness.  From nothing, I try to create something.

The act of creating something from almost nothing, that is useful or needed, or even pleasing to the eye, is something that is, to me, almost sacred.  As a Taoist, nothing exemplifies the Taoist spirit more than being creative and doing creative things.  From scratch, wondrous things take shape and are formed.  I take this approach with just about everything I do, from cooking to working my tiny garden, and even to art and crafts.

My latest project involves string.

String is a wondrous thing.  You can make so much from string that is useful, needed, and yes, even pleasing to the eye.  My latest string project involves a crochet hook, and plenty of patience and time.  I needed to continue my cultivation of patience, and I needed to take the time to do constructive things, so in that pure unadulterated Taoist fashion, I decided to make a Christmas tablecloth from string.  After all, what glorious way to celebrate Christmas than to become a creator, right?

So, filled with the joy of the season, off I went to the local craft shop and bought a huge ball of crochet thread.  It was the largest ball of thread I had ever seen, and I have seen plenty of large balls of threads in my lifetime.  The label said it was over 1.5 miles long.  That’s long!

One week into the project and I realized it was going to take another ball of yarn of the same size to finish.  I took comfort in knowing that by the time I was done, the total amount of thread I had used would be three miles long.  That is an excessive amount of string to have to finger through.   So, off I went again, to the craft shop and got another ball of thread, just as large as the first ball.

The tablecloth is moving along so well that I have moved my tentative finish date a full month ahead of schedule.   I plan to finish this table cloth in time for the Thanksgiving feast.

I’ll keep everyone posted on the progression of the tablecloth and will also post the directions as soon as I finish tweaking it so that it actually works flawlessly.

Check him out!  Sizzling new artist Petey Roxx has a latest new release, It All Matters.  It is hot off the sound tracks and is hitting the airwaves TODAY!!!

It All Matters is now available for your listening enjoyment.  You can download it right here.

Hi y’all!  I finally reactivated my thetaobabe twitter account, just to stay current with all my friends.  Please add me so I can keep up with all your twitterings.

When September peeks around the corner and the sweet spice of autumn sparkles in the air,  I know that it is time to cut back my dahlias, put in my marigolds, and start the watercress and the swiss chard planting.

Winter planting, unlike spring planting where anything grows, is decidedly targeted at a grouping of hardy winter plants that can withstand the colder temperatures and the shorter daylight.  This year, for my winter planting, I am getting a planter box built for me by my very own cabana boy!  He’s a sweetheart.  (…continue with article)

After one week of babying them inside the tiny greenhouse, they have grown large enough to plant in the tray planters.  Here they will stay until they are large enough to be transplanted out into the large vegetable planter box.

At this tiny stage, all sprouts look the same.  I have to label them so I don’t get them confused with my baby bok choi and my mustard greens.

I will update on the progress of the swiss chard, as it is exciting to see new life grow this quickly, even at my poor handling of their delicate existences.

Last week, my little sister came to visit me, all the way from Texas.  Living so far away from my family, it is rare that I get to see any of my sisters (yes, I do have another sister who is older than me, and yes, that does make me the dreaded, dull, boring middle sister), so when I get a chance to see one, I am thrilled!

Hanging out with her reminded me of certain very important things, one of which being that I am not alone and that I do have family who cares about me.  They may be far, far away, but they still care, and I am not alone.

We did the usual sister thing, kicking it, letting lose our hair, reminiscing about our childhood, and in general, having fun with each other as we were wont to do in our illustrious past.  This sister also happens to be a singer in a band, and it may seem strange that there would be two musicians in the same family, but I think it makes perfect sense.  We are, after all, genetically almost identical.  We have the same mother and the same father, and our genes are just about as close to being identical as any sibling could possibly be without being identical twins.

We also happen to be a part of a very ancient bloodline which runs through our father’s side, and this is part of the reason why I am as witchy Taoie as I am.  While she was here, I performed a I Ching divination for her, and I also did a complete Tarot reading, annotating and detailing all I saw and sensed so she could re-read and take it home with her when she left.

It is truly amazing that once a Taobabe, always a Taobabe.  I bring this into my daily life and I live it.  I don’t just consult the I Ching on special occasions or simply for the purpose of writing up yet another chapter on Taoism for the benefit of the Taobabe website.  I tap into her energies fairly frequently, as I would  a mother, a sister, a best friend, and I ask for advice and counsel, not just for myself but for others around me.

Speaking of which… I have not shared a I Ching divination with everyone for a very long time.  I will take the time out and post my most recent divination as soon as I finish working on the photos of my sister, who I think, is absolutely gorgeous.

How does Swine flu differ from “regular” flu?

The swine flu aka H1N1 Pandemic flu is not “mild” as the CDC (THe US Center for Disease Control) and WHO (The World Health Organization) have been saying (but have now changed the message to “moderate severity”). Some authorities are saying that the only difference between swine flu and regular seasonal flu is that people have no immunity as it is a novel flu virus, and therefore more people will become infected. While this is true, there are more reasons why swine flu is different from seasonal flu, and people who say this is the only difference are either ignorant or purposely misleading.

The swine flu is attacking people in the warm summer season which regular flu does not; it is attacking a large proportion of children, young adults and middle aged adults seriously, and killing a larger number of them. It is attacking pregnant women particularly severely. The symptoms are much more severe than with seasonal flu, including severe lung damage.  (this is critical information folks.  Keep reading…)

It’s here again.  Time to start my fall/winter vegetable garden.  I love California sunshine!  We can grow pretty much everything almost all year round, with the exception of maybe two months out of the year, and even then, if we choose hardy winter veggies, they’ll still grow, despite the chilly temperatures that can drop down to mid 40s at night in the depths of winter.

My little seedling box is cute and fairly easy to work with, and since I use all the dwarf varieties that do really well in containers, I don’t have to worry about weeds or rodents that dig up from the ground.

I put the seeds in, mist them, label them, cover them, and then I wait for the miracle of life to start anew.   I have two trays each of baby bok choi, mesclune lettuce, tiny cucumbers, and English watercress.  These guys will make good eating in a few weeks.  Can’t wait!

Well, here is the latest update on my band’s progress and latest photos from our band photo op.

Musicians are plentiful in my area, but we do have a slight edge.  We have a Taoist in the group (moi) who will forge ahead and take the bulls by the horns, scream at the top of my lungs, and shine like a beacon, with my pink attitude and my huge support base stemming from a huge vortex of Tao energy, streaming live and aimed directly at me, in full stunning force.

Now…what did I do with that pink wig and those fishnet stockings?

Let me first apologize to everyone for my long extended disappearance from TaoBabe, as it was  supposed to have been a very short pause while I gather my strength and run, but it didn’t turn out that way.  Several major things occurred in my life which I could not control.

1.  As most of you know, I work for a major bank, as a banker, and with the economic crisis hitting all the financial companies, I found myself jobless and facing the possibility of not being able to get back into the job market again until the dust clears and the financial industry is back on its feet again.  This is a major concern, as I do not want to become homeless and living under the freeway bridge with a sign that says I will work for food.

2.  I just started collaboration again with a new rock/dance band and all the time I have has been sucked into learning new songs and polishing up my performance.  I had forgotten how much energy it requires to front a group and jump all over the stage, singing at the top of my lungs.  Needless to say, I am way out of shape, and have been trying to just get back into the swing of things.

3.  I have a 16 year old beagle who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Need I say more?

So, I find my broad and easy path, all of a sudden, filled with pot holes and uneven jagged edges, and I am trying to avoid the worst of them.  I know this is not a very Taoie post, but at this moment, it’s all I have to give.

The Tao Babe