What a week of powerful exploration I just had! Within the span of 10 days, I went from tantric transformation to discovering San Francisco to fire dancing the nights away in the Santa Cruz mountains, where I communed with passionate pyros from all over the world. Oh, I have fallen in love with life again. I am ignited!

I'm also totally infatuated with the Bay area. It was in the full bloom of spring in every way, and is beautiful and exciting beyond what I'd even imagined - the city, the semi-arid, hilly Pacific landscape, with it's strange (to my eyes) succulents, enormous trees and views of the ocean, and the vibrant, colorful people. (Dragonfly, you are right on that the men there are *hot*! They walk with their heads up and a sparkle in their eyes - that felt like it was just for me! - to match their sexy, freaky style.) I am *so* moving there, and can't wait to go back!

My thoughtful, dear friend, Surprise!, rocks! She introduced me to many wonderful people and places in her Nor Cal homeland. It was really nice just spending quality time with her and having fun together, as our busy schedules in DC had kept us from catching up for a few weeks.

We met up with my friend, Tim, a red rattlesnake cowboy I'd danced with on a platform above the Opulent Temple at Burning Man last summer, where we'd praised the stars and greeted the sunrise in absolute bliss. Tim gave us a tour of his chocolate factory, where he lovingly makes some of the most delicious chocolate I've ever experienced - TCHO - where technology meets chocolate - it's traditional German oompa loompa machinery all technically revamped. The tour was accentuated by photos of ripe cacao hanging from tropical trees, Tim's expert descriptions of the intricate chemistry of chocolate making, and our fantasies of magnificent parties, spin jams and massive scale art construction in the vacuous warehouse world of Pier 17.

Fire Drums was enchanting! On Friday morning, Surprise! and I drove high up into the redwood forested mountains for a weekend of fire spinning workshops and dance with 400 fellow fire arts enthusiasts, who generously shared their friendly, positive energy and lust for fiery movement and dance. The cold mountain nights led to misty dawns, and I marveled at the 6-inch long, yellow banana slugs and unique “Ribbit, ribbit” calls of the Pacific tree frogs.

Surprise! and I – and everyone who tried em' - adored our new, light weight, well-made Shakti fire hoops. I burned mine for the first time at Fire Drums. Either fire hooping is easier than it looks, or I've done my share of practicing, as what a thrill it is to fly inside that halo of light! I was also captivated by the dramatic fire tool inventions a few folks brought out – some propane fueled! (Sean Stiltdancer would’ve fit right in.) There were fire wings, fire samba costumes, and some tools that involved dozens of wicks, rolling on spokes or swinging on wires through the air. Wow!

In the whirl of activity, there wasn’t much time for catching up, but it was great to see familiar friends out there – including Rovo, Conway, Zan and Basil – as well as connect with new friends, like Victorio, the beautiful kindred spirit in this photo. When the late night cold sapped my usual hyper-activity, our stimulating, spiritual conversations warmed my heart and mind.

The only bummer (besides returning to DC) was missing the How Weird street festival in San Francisco because Surprise! and I spent 2 1/2 hours searching for someone we'd offered a ride. Ah, well, next time – and there will be a next time, as I *am* moving to the Bay area before the end of the year! As soon as I find a job in CA, I’m there.

What a powerful, healing enlightenment experience I just had! I spent the last 3 days meditating; throwing wild, screaming tantrums; dancing like the ocean; being worshipped by 10 men, who kissed my feet and belly; feeding others and being fed; holding people as they laughed, and again as they cried; turning into a lion and then into an eagle; sharing cobra breath with another scintillating soul in his temple – our chakras aligned; and helping others discover their way to the ecstasy of self-fulfillment. It was intense – and fun! I feel physically exhausted, but spiritually rejuvenated.

I returned from the tantra retreat called, Ecstasy, last night, my mind full of intriguing new information to process – just like waking up after a strange dream, or coming home from Burning Man – and I’m still trying to figure it all out – everything I learned, the processes I went through, and how I’ve transformed. Through shamanic and tantric techniques along with caring, spiritual people, this course did more toward healing and empowering me than years of therapy ever could! It sharpened my understanding of humanity as well as of many aspects of myself.

I want to share more, but this is all I have time to write now as I prepare for my first ever arrival in San Francisco and the adventure of Fire Drums. Come back to this blog in a week or so for details about the freaky tantric stuff I did in the woods last weekend.

;>)

Namaste!

Happy Earth Day, earthlings!

What a gorgeous spring day it is here, in the southern Maryland part of the planet. The radiant sunshine, grass lush with dandelions, and blossoms *everywhere* couldn't be more delightful.

I went for a run along the Potomac River, covering my favorite 2.5 mile stretch twice, going and returning. Every step of the way, I marveled at how alive, diverse and miraculous this world is. Mother Nature is the divine artist! The immaculate wildflowers of every shade and color, the tree frogs, with their patterned skin and orange legs reaching to round, sticky toes, calling exuberantly into the evening - it is all overwhelmingly amazing! A cluster of tiny goslings swam close between their parents in the canal; a young muskrat maneuvered busily through vegetation along the bank; boughs of rich lavender blossoms arched over tender new leaves lining gray branches - and the rain swelled river rushed past it all. I felt blessed to behold these treasures of spring.

My dad and I celebrated Earth Day this past weekend by boating around the Gulf coast of Florida and up the scenic, wild rivers of the Tennasaw Delta in Alabama. It was wonderful!

If you'd like a glimpse of what we saw, go to:

www.kodakgallery.com/merstortugapics

Then get outside and hug a tree!

Yesterday, The Baltimore Sun published an important article on the impending development of the Mattawoman Creek watershed in Charles County, MD. I went hiking through the woods in that area of southern Maryland a few years ago with an ecologist friend who grew up nearby. We saw bald eagles and scores of turtles basking in the afternoon sun. It was beautiful, remote, peaceful and wild.

Biologist, Alexandra Siess, brought the sad development news to my attention in an email. She wrote, “What strikes me is that the state has been buying up land to make a protective buffer along (the Mattawoman) stream corridor for decades, but for 8,000 homes, the county is apparently not concerned about the expected 50% increase in polluted runoff this project will dump into the watershed. That will kill the most sensitive stages of the creatures that live within and alongside Mattawoman Creek, including young fish & eggs, amphibians, beneficial insects, etc. (and so go the effects on up the food chain). And having that type of polluted input that high up in a stream corridor will pull the rug out from under the downstream section of the ecosystem, too, even the adjacent Potomac (River) into which the Mattawoman drains.”

Folks, this environmental destruction is hurting us all – wildlife and humans alike. We’ve got to do something to conserve our natural resources. See excerpts below, or for the full article, go to:

Highway threatens creek filled with life: Connector could foul Mattawoman in Southern Maryland

www.baltimoresun.com/news/lo...03.story

The Southern Maryland stream (Mattawoman Creek) is one of the most fertile fish breeding grounds in the Chesapeake Bay region. But state and federal officials warn that it could be destroyed if Charles County carries out its plan to build a four-lane highway across the creek to help serve at least 8,000 new homes planned in the area.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has called Mattawoman Creek "the best, most productive tributary in the bay." More than 50 species of fish breed in the stream's 20 miles of shady wanderings, including yellow perch and largemouth bass.

The stream valley also boasts the richest variety of reptiles (and amphibians) of any place surveyed in the state, with 18 species, including marbled salamanders and southern leopard frogs, according to a department report.

The $60 million road project and the houses are likely to increase runoff pollution in the creek by 50 percent, killing fish in an important Potomac River tributary, according to state and federal officials. "There would be dire consequences on the quality of life in the stream," said Paul Wettlaufer, a manager with the Baltimore branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

But the county's commissioners are determined to proceed. They say the east-west connector has been planned for more than a decade and would help prevent traffic congestion as exurbia inevitably marches south from Washington.

…When the growth goals of local governments clash with state conservation efforts, the system is designed to give more power to the local governments. To some current and former state officials, the case highlights weaknesses in state laws designed to control suburban sprawl and protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Since the 1970s, the state has been trying to protect large chunks of northern Charles County. The Mattawoman Creek watershed is about 70 percent forested, which helps to protect the stream from runoff pollution. From 1975 to 1997, the state purchased 2,509 acres lining the stream to prevent development and protect wildlife.

In 1998, the state under Gov. Parris N. Glendening spent $25 million to buy another 2,225 acres of forested land in the middle of the county's growth district and stop a 4,600-home subdivision called Chapman's Landing. County officials opposed the preservation of this land, which is north of Mattawoman Creek.

Glendening says continued development in the area is an example of a weakness in his 1997 "Smart Growth" law, as well other state efforts to control sprawl.

Ken Hastings, a coordinator with the Coastal Conservation Association, … said he worries that oil, gas, dirt, fertilizer and hot water gushing off the highway and new subdivisions will transform this river of life into a sterile ditch.

"The fish will just disappear," he said.

(Tom Pelton, The Baltimore Sun, April 7, 2008)

Yesterday was warm and rainy - perfect for toads' night out! I heard their peaceful trills among the chimes of the spring peepers in the woods near my house, and was late for dance class, stopping to rescue them in the roads. It's an extremely difficult process metamorphosizing into a toad, and living beneath things, in the mud, near the bottom of the food chain - so please don't run over the li'l buggers. Plus, they are so cute.