Read my August 20 opinion piece in The Monterey Herald about why history doesn't have to repeat itself as the Soberanes Fire burns towards Tassajara. Photo by Mako Voelkel … [Read more...]
Soberanes Fire, August 6, 2016 Update
Please follow my … [Read more...]
What comes around comes back
Fire is in the neighborhood again at Tassajara. No surprise as there is plenty of kindling left over from the 2008 fire, and we had so little rain this winter. Updates are being posted on Tassajara Zen Mountain Center's Facebook page. Please keep Tassajara and all beings in the burn area in your protective thoughts--especially the firefighters braving the steep, dry Ventana slopes. And...more monastic fire news... Zen Mountain Center in Idyllwild was evacuated earlier this week. Sadly, homes in the area were lost, but it appears that ZMC was successfully saved by fire … [Read more...]
Fire on my Mind
Happy Interdependence Day, everyone! It's July 4th, the pyromaniac's favorite time of the year. Please be careful if you are lighting fireworks or playing with fire in any way. It's hot and dry out there. It's been a quiet few months on this blog as I've turned my attention to other interests and writing projects, but fire season is in full, hot fervor. We need no more dark reminder than the recent deaths of 19 firefighters on the Yarnell Hill fire. I've been working on a written response to the disaster but have nothing that feels at all adequate to the loss. I am holding … [Read more...]
Gone, gone beyond
As of Sept 26, I'm entering a three-month practice period at Tassajara, so things will be quiet on this blog and on my Huff Post blog for a while. I'm happy to say that Fire Monks is humming along, finding readers in places both expected and unexpected. Fire season will slide into snow season while I'm away. May the fires that have yet to start bring new life. I wrote a parting commentary published today in the Duluth News Tribune. The Pagami Creek fire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the approaching 20th anniversary of the Oakland Hills fire closer … [Read more...]