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SARK's E Letter (e stands for energy)

Meditative March 2002
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"They can cut all the flowers, but they cannot stop
the coming of the spring."
Pablo Neruda

Welcome to my monthly e letter!  The "e" stands for energy. 
My intention is to infuse you with new energy, and nourish
you with quotes, book recommendations, fresh insights, and
places I am floundering.  I wanted to connect more often than
once a year when I write a new book, or briefly in person on a
book tour.

My vision is to have this turn into a forum, a place to
converse, a salon where we can extravagantly lounge together
(if you want that right now, go to campsark.com and click on
"Lounge and Chat.")

Throughout the year, this e letter will take various forms and
shapes as I experiment with what works best and feels most
juicy.

ACCEPTING THE UNACCEPTABLE

At the moment, my Mom "Marvelous Marjorie" is in the
hospital with a shattered and dislocated hip bone, anemia,
some malnutrition and mental delusions from all the
medication.

How can I possibly accept that this is so?

There is a marvelous amnesia that the brain provides.  I
cannot keep all of this in my brain at any one time.  I am
carried by waves of wild sadness to moments of sheer peace,
through tangled paths of rage and helplessness, and in some
tiny places … acceptance.

What does acceptance mean?

I think it means to sit, stand, and lie still in the face of
whatever is brought in.

With regard to my Mom's current "elder journey," I've fought
it, resisted it, been in denial about it, and overwhelmed
myself with care giving tasks.

I've been besieged with interior critical voices who call out,

"If only you had ____________________!"
"You should have been ______________________."
"Have you tried _________________________?"

I cannot save my mother from this journey or from her pain. 
A few weeks ago, I told her this on the phone, crying.  She
said,

"I know, honey, and I couldn't save you either." 

In a rush, I realized my arrogance in thinking that we can save
anyone, or ought to!  And in that moment, some acceptance
crowded in and took residence on my couch.  When I forget
that acceptance is sitting there with me, my healer, family,
friends and cat remind me by speaking about what my
brother and I are doing, and the love that flows from us to her.

I now know that wherever her body may need to go, her
essence is right here.

Accepting the unacceptable needs no special skills.  It only
needs AWARENESS.

I have a favorite pair of white cotton drawstring pajama
bottoms.  They are old and soft, and falling apart.  I've been
sewing them with pink thread, and now there are crooked
pink stitches all over the fabric.  The fabric is literally
disintegrating.  I think that my mother may be physically
disintegrating, beyond repair.  In this moment of writing
these words, I can accept that.

So, if I string all my shreds of acceptance together, perhaps it
makes a whole cloth.

Postscript:  Since writing this last week, my Mom has come
through a successful surgery and is emerging from intensive
care.  Thank you to all who have prayed and visualized for
her healing, and to my mother's team of friends and
supporters.

THINGS TO TRY ABOUT ACCEPTANCE

Develop your willing heart.  Do this by letting your
feelings come without judging or resisting.  Even doing
this for an instant will produce changes.

Sit, stand, or lie still with whatever it is, without acting to
change it.

Do this by just noticing and being with how it actually is.

Decipher which critical voices may be diverting you from
acceptance.

Do this by writing down what those voices say, and giving
those parts of yourself new jobs.

MAY WE ALL

Go within, so we don't need to go without.

Find kindred spirits asking similar questions/having
similar experiences and speak with them.

Stay close to the pain and let it melt you.

I SEND TO YOU

A sacred book with your name on the cover.  This is the book
of your life, and it is radiantly inscribed with your soul's
discoveries.  This book has no ending and can be read upside
down, and in any language.  The longest section in the book
is titled…Acceptance.  May those pages expand and be
awash with illuminated art and photographs from your
increased abilities to

ACCEPT THE UNACCEPTABLE

RESOURCES

Books:
"Where is the Mango Princess?" by Cathy Crimmins
"Still Here" by Ram Dass
"Spirit Matters" by Michael Lerner

Websights:
www.lifechallenges.org
www.berealmag.com
www.anothergirlatplay.com

Music:
Songs of the Spirit by Karen Drucker
www.karendrucker.com

Movies:
Amelie
Lord of the Rings

I'll be back in April, right before my book tour for Prosperity
Pie:  How to Relax About Money and Everything Else.

I share this preview from the book, from something I call the
Prayer Pie

"May you unfold willingly
May you be truly nourished
May peace be in your every step
May gratitude fill you
May you reach others
With your radiant heart."

Scrumptiously,

SARK

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SARK SIGHTINGS
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~~>ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, Tuesday, March 12, 2002, 7 p.m.,
Maryville University, Auditorium, 13550 Conway Road. 
SARK will be launching their Women's History Month
"Testing the Depths with Both Feet."  The event will be
followed by a wine and cheese book-signing reception.  Open
to the public for a donation of $5.00 benefiting Camp Quality
– a local summer camp for children living with cancer. 
Contact:  Debra Davis-McKissic, Director of Cross Cultural
Enrichment, 314-529-9684 for information.

"PROSPERITY PIE" 2002 BOOK TOUR

In April, SARK will be journeying around the country,
reminding us all that we are enough, we have enough, we do
enough, regardless of what outside circumstances may be! 
SARK events turn into kindred spirit parties where shy and
outgoing people meet and sign each other's SARK books. 
There is a rumor that SARK may be giving money away too. 
SARK will speak and sign and then nap.

MADISON, WISCONSIN
Wednesday, April 3, 6-7:30 p.m.
University Books, 1-800-993-2665

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Friday, April 5, 7 p.m.
Transitions, 1-800-979-READ

AUSTIN, TEXAS   
Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
Book People, 1-800-853-9757

ATLANTA, GEORGIA  
Thursday, April 11
Barnes & Noble, 770-953-0966

CORTE MADERA, CALIFORNIA
Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m.
Book Passage, 415-927-0960

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place for Books, 415-661-6670

TEMPE, ARIZONA   
Friday, April 26, 6 p.m.
Changing Hands, 480-730-0205

PORTLAND, OREGON  
Tuesday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
Temple Alexander Church (site)
In Other Words, 503-232-6003

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 
Wednesday, May 1, 7 p.m.
Third Place Books, 206-366-3333

AND MORE EXCITING NEWS – SARK is one of the
facilitators on Cheryl Richardson's new documentary series
"The Life Makeover Project with Cheryl Richardson"
premiering on Oxygen, Sunday, April 21, 2002.  Check your
listings and look for more information in SARK's April e-
letter.

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ORDERING SARK'S BOOKS
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We have made it possible for you to order all (11 total) of
SARK's books online at www.campsark.com.  Just click on
Magic Cottage Store, then Books, and you will be able to
order each and every one of SARK's books there by linking
with Amazon.com.

As always, you can find SARK's books at your favorite book
store.

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ORDERING SARK'S 2002 CALENDARS
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So many succulent souls ordered them, they're sold out for
2002.  SARK will take a calendar break for 2003 and be back in
2004.

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ORDERING SARK'S PRODUCTS
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At the Magic Cottage Store online, click on Gifts.   You will
find a link to Femail Creations or call them at 1-800-996-9223.

Impact also carries many SARK products but does not have a
websight.  Call them at 1-800-322-4810.

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SARK'S MARVELOUS MESSAGE BOARD
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Camp SARK has changed the message board and it's taken
some getting used to!  We appreciate your patience.  A lot of
the changes are "behind the scenes:"  you can download
MUCH faster (a big plus!), post photos so that all your friends
can [finally] see what you look like, and other fun stuff.  
Thank you for your feedback, and we will continue to make
changes to make the Marvelous Message Board a great
experience when you visit us at Camp SARK online!

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SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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I am sending you this e letter because you have subscribed or
written to me within the last few months.  If your friends wish
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THANK YOU!

Copyright (c) 2002 SARK.  All rights reserved.

Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this e-
letter so long as this copyright notice and full information
attributing SARK is attached.