Stories happen to be shared
In the south of the Appalachian Mountains, about two hours’ drive north from Atlanta, lies a magical forest. The mountains are becoming higher and steeper than around us in Pennsylvania, the mixed forest is becoming denser, the creeks are faster and larger. A wooden deck on the third floor of the old building served as … Continue reading Magical Forest
San Francisco was a bit underwhelming this time around. The city vibrated at a frequency that I could not connect to; not the way it happened on previous visits. The encounters, personal and professional, were meaningful, and at times moving. But my relationship with the place felt stuck. We got in the car and an … Continue reading The Gems of Northern California
Окна моей комнаты в отеле Нового Орлеана выходят на Миссиссипи. Река плещется всего в нескольких метрах. Паром отчалил от берега и пересек реку. Ему на встречу движется баржа, в противоположном направлении идёт прогулочный кораблик. Огни на реке, на другом берегу, на мосту сбоку, как когда-то. Странная машина времени, будто улыбка Судьбы, приоткрывает завесу прошлого или … Continue reading Реки текут
When I was a young girl (maybe 8 or 9 years old), I watched a play in one of the Moscow's theaters named The Blue Bird. I may have even seen it more than once. I really enjoyed the story line (based on a French fairy tale), in which the children were searching for the … Continue reading The Blue Bird
The train from London took a little more than an hour but it felt like we had gone back two hundred years. Exiting the train station, we stepped onto the streets, purposefully preserved from the 1800s. Yellow-beige buildings, cobbled streets running up and along the hill. A river casually flowing under the bridge. I was … Continue reading Bath
Little amethyst flowers are slowly opening up to display their purple glory. It’s been a while; an entire year with its cold winter of waiting. Waiting for the sight, the scent. The most impressive view is from my bedroom window, under which purple and white bushes present a regal appearance. But not for long; their time … Continue reading Times of Lilac
"We are loving ourselves when we give the body the benefit of every doubt." "The Three Questions" by Don Miguel Ruiz I’ve been open to learning of different kinds for as long as I can remember myself. I’ve been willing and eager to grow and develop intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. One area I’ve been rather … Continue reading Mothering your body
Девятиэтажная башня, рядом зелёный сквер. Большая комната, по середине ковер, на который стараются не ступать в обуви, даже в тапочках. Уютная кухня. Льняные полотенца, серебристый пузатый самовар, небольшой стол. Пирог только что из духовки. В хельге фамильное серебро. Рюмки, ложки, половничек и даже ведерко для шампанского. А еще есть маленький позолоченный сундучёк с чёрным замочком. … Continue reading Текстильщики
"Destiny itself is like a wonderful wide tapestry in which every thread is guided by an unspeakably tender hand, placed beside another thread, and held and carried by a hundred others." Rainer Maria Rilke, "Letters to a Yong Poet" I was in New York City to give a talk at the Teachers College, Columbia University. It … Continue reading Baltic and Other Shores
The leaves are long gone and the trees stand naked. They are not embarrassed by it. The trees show off their strong trunks and elaborate branches, the graphics of an incredible artist. The shapes and silhouettes vary: ovals, spades, and semicircles, narrow and wide. The winter air is clean. Some days are gloomy grey but … Continue reading Trees in the Winter
