Compassionate Grandmother of Cookie Sutra by Judy Tart

Judy Tart, my Rigpa sangha-sister, whom we’ve heard from before on two previous Riehlife posts as an eclectic reader and eco-activist, just got back from a 10 day vipassana retreat in Santa Barbara. Judy was gracious enough to share the Compassionate Grandmother of Cookie Sutra. Here is compassion practice with taste buds! Judy says that…

St. Louis Public Library Ranked 2nd place in America’s Most Literate Cities Study; St. Louis finished 6th overall among the 69 largest cites in the nation

Shuntae Shields Ryan of the Downtown Partnership reports that: “For the fourth year in a row the St. Louis Public Library has garnered more positive media attention toward St. Louis, ranking 2nd place in the Library Category of the America’s Most Literate Cities study.

Dr. Eric Maisel’s “The Van Gogh Blues” explores premise: Creating connection chases depression in visual artists, writers, and performers by strengthening meaning.

Welcome to Day Two of “The Van Gogh Blues” book blog tour. Day One began yesterday on Gabrielle Swain’s “Handmaiden,” and there are some good comments building a discussion over there. In “The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path through Depression” Dr. Eric Maisel (pronouced May-ZEL) presents a number of useful tools and concepts….

“Charlie Wilson’s War” reviewed by Alan Brody, UN front-line 1993 Afghanistan witness for the end-game

Because of Alan’s time in Afghanistan, and because of the timing of his work with the UN in Afghanistan from 1993 onward, I was thrilled when he agreed to review the political satire “Charlie Wilson’s War.” I’d seen the film, thought it well-made, and well-acted, but really could find no words to share. So, it…

Writers in the Sky Podcast features author Velda Brotherton

Writers in the Sky, “a 3-Fold, Production (Blog, Podcast and Newsletter) filled with information about writing, publishing and book publicity” has the gracious and competent Yvonne Perry at the helm of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing and Editing Services. Velda Brotherton, author, “Fly with the Mourning Dove” “Yvonne has uploaded another show to Writers…

Free preview: “BANISHED”–Missouri Historical Society & KETC/Channel 9 present powerful evening of community cinema…straight talk opens door towards racial healing

Hundreds flocked to watch the Independent Lens preview for “Banished,” at the Missouri History Museum tonight. Parking was at a premium, and seating overflowed into an adjacent viewing room.

Riehlife’s St. Louis Black Fine Artist Feature Series Continues

This conversation with Joseph LaMarque is the seventh in my series of profiles on African-American fine artists and leaders of cultural organizations in St. Louis which now include (in alphabetical order): Rene Dimanche Jr., Ron Himes, Joseph La Marque, Edna J. Patterson Petty, Robert Powell, Freida L. Wheaton, and Rochleigh Z. Wholfe. You can go…