Positive Energy Guide

The Abbey in Melk, Austria, was not austere. It sported a staggering hoard of gem- and gold-encrusted relics, impressive religious costumes and accoutrements, and a jaw-dropping church like a cornucopia of angels, statues, precious paintings, and mysterious symbolism. The Abbey occupies the highest plot of land with the best overview of the area—a great spot […]

For several days my only verbal exchanges had been brief, impersonal and strictly practical. Being silent while shoulder to shoulder with talking people who did not even glance at me began to feel like living in a different dimension. Occasionally I actually spoke to people without being noticed. Sometimes I felt sort of helpless or […]

Spiritual development is not a straightforward process. Even as we gradually gain mastery of some skills, the level of difficulty of simple tasks can telescope as we go more deeply into experience. Using Divine Names in spiritual practice can address a vast array of issues at multiple levels of experience. We keep yielding deeper results […]

Another failure of my self mastery was a matter of perspective—literally as well as figuratively. Here’s the story, in which I hope you will see some humor: At the shriek of dawn I went out in the rain to get a few photos without people in them. The square by the Hallstatt boat station was […]

Spacious Vienna had been a visceral relief after unrelenting crowds in Prague and Cesky Krumlov. Now I was in Hallstatt, a tiny, lovely lake town in Austria. Don’t let my early morning photo make you think it was tranquil: It must have been highlighted and underlined in Asian tour agencies. After breakfast the streets became […]

The afternoon following my injury I took my previously scheduled shuttle from Cesky Krumlov to Vienna. After small towns, the city was big and sprawling, but roomy enough to give me a needed break from throngs. Taxis were largely lacking. Even Metro and trams stations required a lot of hobbling. I tired quickly. The next […]

Walking with the wound was its own concentration. Grateful that I could walk at all, I had to move with care. My slow, focussed rhythm was unusual. Those who notice others looked to my bandage and gave me room to reach handrails, or let me sit on crowded busses or trains. The wound spoke in […]

The underworld parts of my journey began with the wound. In life as in mythology, a lot of journeys do. I hope you will find my deeper processes useful. Some parts are difficult to share. At some point I asked myself: “Did I force the bike trip?” “Was I supposed to go?” “Did woman I […]

Grasping below the knee to apply pressure, I stared at my shin in disbelief. A chunk of skin had been gouged out. And I think I was looking at the lining of my tibia before blood obscured my view. Stunned, I picked a bit of flesh from my sock, feeling weird about throwing a piece […]

My visit to Cesky Krumlov—the charming medieval storybook town I was the most drawn to visit—proved to be challenging and pivotal. Initial delight thinned and frayed as the cute, cobbled streets filled and practically cramped with multitudinous tour groups. Frustrated, by not being able to move freely or see through the heads, I felt a […]