Category Archives: holiday

40 years ago – Christmas 1981🎄📞📺⏳

I’ve enjoyed sixty-three Christmases with family and friends. Most of them were at home in the suburbs just south of Vancouver, and in the charming old heart of Vienna. A few were in rural India. One was in New Jersey, and one in North Carolina.
Although all of these occasions bring back colourful memories of abundance and joy, one of the most memorable happened when I was, internally and externally, quite down and out — at the bottom of a long dive that was about to transform into a steady ascent that is still bringing me higher and higher today.
Forty years ago, Christmas 1981 (before portable telephones, personal computers, The Internet, etc.) I was living in a ‘shack by the railroad track’, on the edge of a wealthy neighbourhood. At this time of my life I used to have my place open to parties with local peers on the weekends. On Monday I would cash-in all the beer bottles to buy a bit of food for the week.
My fridge was always empty (except for all the alcohol from Friday to Sunday). On this occasion I came back to my humble home late Christmas evening and opened the fridge for some reason. I can’t describe to you my utter surprise when I FOUND IT PACKED FULL OF EVERY IMAGINABLE FOOD! Although I tried to find out who did it, none of my many smiling friends would admit to doing the deed. I still don’t know.
When I moved back to Canada twenty years later, a mature married man who had traveled the world and enjoyed undreamed of wonderful experiences, it was about a year before I ran into one of the old crowd (back in the 1970s, a couple hundred teenagers, and then young adults, in North Delta). My heart sprang open and my chest was filled with gravity-defying mirth! Then that same day I ran into three more old buddies in various locations, between ten and thirty kilometers apart, something I consider nothing less than a miracle. (As a result I ended up organizing a reunion that brought about a hundred and fifty of us back together for a nostalgic gathering.)

One thing that life has taught me is that Friendship is the highest form of love (collective consciousness). Even in a family, if the members aren’t ‘friends’, there’s no real bond.
May the whole world become a family of best friends.

Merry Christmas 2021!
Lots of love,
Ed Saugstad

(more here: https://edwardsaugstad.com/reaching-the-top-reloaded/ )

https://goldenganeshart.com/

“Happy Easter 2021!”💐

“Happy Easter 2021!” 💐 (from us and our new ‘Family’!)
“Happy Easter 2021!” 💐 (our joyful garden Ganesha celebrating his 16th Easter with us!)

https://goldenganeshart.com

“Merry 2020 Lockdown Christmas!”

Lots of love from Brigitte & Ed.

Here comes 2021! …

Christmas songs:

an Austrian-Italian wedding!

NON-

STOP

FUN!

sunshine, beauty and friends!

when the Italians get dancing!

Traun Lake!

the Canadian Ice Cream Inspector hard at work!

what we happened to get as the last available hotel room in the whole area – the one guarded by ancient asian angels!

the romantic Spitz Villa in Traunkirchen

I Left My Heart In the Centre of the World

“Happy Diwali 2018!”
Festival of Light
🌞💗🌞💗🌞💗🌞
(benevolent grace in Greece)

If the ancient waters and coastlines could speak, what amazing tales they could tell us!

Have you ever spontaneously flown somewhere, not knowing what to expect but feeling a rare thrill rising in your heart? When my wife first heard that many of our friends were booked to fly to Greece to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light, she took out her smart-phone and booked two seats for us.

I’d never been down to that fabled peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea, but my first impression was similar to that of India, an ancient world that I’ve had the privilege of visiting many times. This initial intuition that began when my wife came home and announced that we would soon be going there, was boosted when we eventually boarded an airliner half full of laughing, singing, childlike Indian women, all of whom had also strongly felt the calling.

My first impressions there were that everything was familiar. It was easy to get around in, like any other Western country. The freeways were almost empty and everyone seemed to drive slowly, which was very relaxing  (although it did occur to Brigitte and me that maybe due to the economic hardships the locals are experiencing, not many can afford to speed, or even to drive). Then a massive wall of dark grey-purple cloud rose up and washed the landscape clean with a brief rain. We found it to be a significant welcome for all the pilgrims showing up that weekend, and I was reminded of the ancient demigods who were believed to inhabit this land in prehistory. (Human beings, in particular one or two ‘poets’, long ago wrote perverted interpretations of these titans’ lives on Earth, lowering them to the level of incest and murder, ideas unfortunately still generally accepted today.)

My wife’s favourite thing in life is to wake up early near a beach and go for a long walk and foot-soak there. We were sheltered near the scenic end of a bay, and because it was outside of the busy summer season, there was hardly anyone around. In Greece, even the stray dogs and cats seem at peace as they stretch out beside strangers and give the impression of being completely fulfilled (when actually they’re cleverly making friends to get something to eat!). Every morning our hearts would stretch out to the distant islands and mysterious waters so our souls could consume the vast beauty and deep history around us. We attended colourful Diwali functions, enjoyed ourselves immensely with many new and old friends, and even ascended the ancient inland hills to the Centre of the World, the Navel of Creation! (Weeks later, Brigitte hasn’t lost the inspiring heart-boost that she still rides on daily.)

They say that Zeus, king of the demigods, in order to determine the centre of the world, sent two great eagles flying, one from each extreme, east and west. They met in the place that was later named Delphi. A most magical place! I really felt like I was back in India where everything began thousands of years ago, not in young Europe any more. There’s even a natural free-standing stone in the original centre of the sacred grounds, recognizable as the Hindu child-god, Ganesha, emitting amazing vibrations (light and cool).

All two-hundred-and-fifty of us felt light and joyous, many reminded of the old tours of central India that we used to go on in the nineteen-eighties. In contrast to the great subtle significance of this location, Brigitte pointed out that the manmade history was just full of ego. Pompous conquerers would display statues of their officers there to show the gods and all the world how very important they were. Even down in the so-called civilized nation-state of Athens, such a great, benevolent genius (I would go so far as to say divine messenger) like Socrates was killed by men-on-ego. And here we are, thousands of years later, repeating the same patterns in our heads, hearts and actions.

Descending back down to the twenty-first century at the end of the day, I remembered how, as a twelve-year-old child in Canada in 1970, I had suddenly been overwhelmed to write a long Social Studies essay on the Greek gods, accompanied by a hand-drawn wall mural; and in Art class I passionately attempted to carve a plaster-of-Paris bust of Socrates. I didn’t know what overcame me at that time, but now I guess it was personal insight into a higher realm of existence. Forty-eight years later I’ve breathed those essential airs and walked upon the very roots of legend that send the restless mind up into soothing meditation.

If you’ve never been to Greece, go there soon — with an open mind and heart.

Best wishes (pure desires),
Ed

Delphi:
The eternal watch of Pallas Athena

Ed initializes time warp
“Beam us up!”

One eagle from the West …

… and one from the East

Ganesha!

 

“HAPPY DIWALI!”
******************

more photos here:

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10156077110191545&type=3

improv in the ancient Italian valley

Merry Christmas! (the Evolution of Eddie)

I was born into the realm of the Wild West when Elvis was king, at the height of social freedoms which were slipping steadily down into the mists of abandon. Unlimited alcohol and tobacco consumption were a household norm for many families, with few or no suspicions about their ill effects — gross and subtle.

My first eight years took me along an often bumpy road, with the scary shadows of evermore chaos lurking just around the next bend. But there was also love. I grew up with some delightfully humorous and caring souls. My best memories still shine from those joyous occasions when we, once a year, exchanged presents, had fun together, and temporarily forgot all our fears and worries: Christmas Days!

Just before my eighth Christmas in 1965, my Dad returned home, sober, after a four year absence. From that time on, everything seemed to get more prosperous and abundant — including the number of siblings. Within another three years we would be eight brothers and sisters celebrating at home together!
I was then blessed to live through a period of wealth and wellbeing that most children in the world will never know. Looking back at my long climb as a human being, I recognize how very lucky I’ve been this time around.

May the liberating Innocence, that we call Luck, fill the hearts of good people, everywhere.

Wishing you and yours Love and Light at this special time,
your friend in this abundant moment,
Ed

(We were, oldest to youngest: Dad, Mom, Darlene, Cheryl, Rick, Ed, Glenn, David, Allan and Don. Christmases were also celebrated at Nana and Grandpa’s place, Mom’s Finnish parents. Almost half-a-century later we would be three more, Tia, Karen and Cliff, senior siblings divided from us by Dad’s first divorce.)

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10155257909416545.1073741890.583641544&type=3

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Rick, Eddie, Darlene, Grandpa, Glenn and Cheryl

David and Glenn, Darlene, Rick, Cheryl and Eddie

Darlene, Eddie, Rick, Glenn and Cheryl

Rick, Mom, Nana, Glenn, Eddie, Darlene and Cheryl, Grandpa and David

Rick, Cheryl, Eddie, Glenn, Darlene and David

Eddie’s haircut, May 1965
(a month before the end of grade one, and still half a year before that special Christmas that marked the end of Dad’s long drunken absence)

Glenn, David and Eddie

Darlene, Mom, Cheryl, Rick, Eddie, Glenn and David

David, Glenn and Eddie

Cheryl and Darlene, Glenn, Eddie, Rick and David

Darlene, Rick and Cheryl (the ‘Big Kids’) and Eddie, Glenn and David (the ‘Little Kids’)

Cheryl, Glenn and David

Darlene, Mom and Dad, Eddie, Nana, Rick, Cheryl, David and Glenn

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Rick, Allan, Mom and Nana

Allan and Cheryl

Glenn, David and Eddie

Allan, Glenn, Eddie, Don and David

Darlene, Dad, Eddie, Don and Rick

Rick, Cheryl, Darlene and Eddie, Dad with David, Mom with Don, Allan and Glenn

Glenn, Eddie, David, Allan and little Don

FUN CHAOS!

Eddie (Ed the Head) and Don

Allan, Glenn, Ed and Don

🎄Merry Christmas!🎁 (the Evolution of Eddie)

I was born into the realm of the Wild West when Elvis was king, at the height of social freedoms which were slipping steadily down into the mists of abandon. Unlimited alcohol and tobacco consumption were a household norm for many families, with few or no suspicions about their ill effects — gross and subtle.

My first eight years took me along an often bumpy road, with the scary shadows of evermore chaos lurking just around the next bend. But there was also love. I grew up with some delightfully humorous and caring souls. My best memories still shine from those joyous occasions when we, once a year, exchanged presents, had fun together, and temporarily forgot all our fears and worries: Christmas Days!

Just before my eighth Christmas in 1965, my Dad returned home, sober, after a four year absence. From that time on, everything seemed to get more prosperous and abundant — including the number of siblings. Within another three years we would be eight brothers and sisters celebrating at home together!
I was then blessed to live through a period of wealth and wellbeing that most children in the world will never know. Looking back at my long climb as a human being, I recognize how very lucky I’ve been this time around.

May the liberating Innocence, that we call Luck, fill the hearts of good people, everywhere.

Wishing you and yours Love and Light at this special time,
your friend in this abundant moment,
Ed

(We were, oldest to youngest: Dad, Mom, Darlene, Cheryl, Rick, Ed, Glenn, David, Allan and Don. Christmases were also celebrated at Nana and Grandpa’s place, Mom’s Finnish parents. Almost half-a-century later we would be three more, Tia, Karen and Cliff, senior siblings divided from us by Dad’s first divorce.)

https://www.facebook.com/edward.saugstad/media_set?set=a.10155257909416545.1073741890.583641544&type=3

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Darlene, Eddie, Rick and Cheryl

Rick, Eddie, Darlene, Grandpa, Glenn and Cheryl

David and Glenn, Darlene, Rick, Cheryl and Eddie

Darlene, Eddie, Rick, Glenn and Cheryl

Rick, Mom, Nana, Glenn, Eddie, Darlene and Cheryl, Grandpa and David

Rick, Cheryl, Eddie, Glenn, Darlene and David

Eddie’s haircut, May 1965
(a month before the end of grade one, and still half a year before that special Christmas that marked the end of Dad’s long drunken absence)

Glenn, David and Eddie

Darlene, Mom, Cheryl, Rick, Eddie, Glenn and David

David, Glenn and Eddie

Cheryl and Darlene, Glenn, Eddie, Rick and David

Darlene, Rick and Cheryl (the ‘Big Kids’) and Eddie, Glenn and David (the ‘Little Kids’)

Cheryl, Glenn and David

Darlene, Mom and Dad, Eddie, Nana, Rick, Cheryl, David and Glenn

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Eddie, Rick, Darlene, Dad, Allan, Mom, Cheryl, Glenn and David

Rick, Allan, Mom and Nana

Allan and Cheryl

Glenn, David and Eddie

Allan, Glenn, Eddie, Don and David

Darlene, Dad, Eddie, Don and Rick

Rick, Cheryl, Darlene and Eddie, Dad with David, Mom with Don, Allan and Glenn

Glenn, Eddie, David, Allan and little Don

FUN CHAOS!

Eddie (Ed the Head) and Don

Allan, Glenn, Ed and Don

establishing equilibrium at Expo2015

http://feelyourspirit.squarespace.com/calendar/

http://meditatetoregenerate.org

http://coolcheck.org

http://www.freemeditation.com 

Song of Life Expo2015 Tree of Life Sahaja Yoga meditation Expo2015

fun over on that frightfully pleasant little island just off the Continent

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In case you have a Facebook account, here are a few glimpses of our splendid little time over in the UK, a happy present for YOU on my birthday!

-(click on Jim’s nose to sail over to the album)-

Ed Saugstad and Jim Carrey

wishing you and yours a very corny Christmas!

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Oh boy, here we go again!

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(click on YouTube, then in the wheel —Quality, HD— to see it in high definition)

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(Ed’s version of the Christmas Song is available for free download here …)

http://edsaugstad.com/AUDIO-files/EdsChristmasSong-2014.mp3

(ctrl+click audio file)

___________________

(and Mousie Marvin’s Rainbow Christmas …)

http://edsaugstad.com/AUDIO-files/MousieMarvins-RainbowChristmas.mp3

(ctrl+click audio file)

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A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GREETING!

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Jesus-statue thoughtless awareness

“May the whole world soon enjoy the soothing state of  alert thoughtless awareness, when everything flows with equilibrium, and there is no pressure of ego and conditionings on the shining heart. When this time comes, and it will, unnatural corruption and suffering will fade away in the natural light of wisdom and benevolence. Let it come!”

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Merry Christmas! from the Prime Minister of Great Britain

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a last minute bit

of Christmas cheer

😉

~click on the dancing Prime Minister~

PM dancing video

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natural working-holiday therapy in rural Italy – part 2

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Two Years Later …

~click the photo to see the progress~

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journey to India

In a few hours I’ll embark on a journey into deepest (lightest) Indian culture.
What once took weeks can now be done in just seven hours.
Visit here again in early April for the insights.
THANKS!
Till then, best wishes,
Ed Word
 
 
(I just finished writing a two hundred page novel about a little boy who journeys back in time to ancient India — now I’ll go work on the drawings, steeped in that magical atmosphere)
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merry always!

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Through modern social networking, the whole world is becoming one big Family in one big World House.
Merry Christmas everybody!

🙂
Best wishes,
Ed Saugstad

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we wish you a merry Christmas …

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and a joyful New Year!

(make a wish and click on an elf …)

😉

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natural working-holiday therapy in rural Italy

Okay, not everyone can make this kind of rejuvenating getaway (it helps if you have some building skills and personal means of transportation) but if you ever get a chance, try something like this. A couple of weeks ago I loaded the car with tools, screws, brackets and wooden posts, and drove over to northern Italy to help someone build some steps … think of them as steps to a peaceful, stress-free state – that’s what you get from sleeping under the stars and doing woodwork in the late-spring sunshine by an ancient riverbed near the Mediterranean Sea. The steps actually expanded into a beautiful, split-level terrace, that good folks from all over the world will enjoy for years to come.

Ahhhh.
Gelato anyone?

😉

(click on the sunny Italian postcard to visit the ‘site’)
(a ‘Ganesha’ statue in nearby Genova by my artistic wife)
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