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I’m pretty fortunate, after all beyond my day job (being mother and housewife) I get to study the Tao Te Ching and spin yarn– it’s my *other* day job. Some people meditate with their eyes closed, I meditate with my eyes wide open and fiber in hand.

Right now my favorite copy of the Tao Te Ching is the translation and commentary by Stephen Hodge. I usually read the saying, spin for a while and then read Hodge’s commentary, then spin some more.

Just in case you aren’t familiar with Taoism, it’s not a religion. You pretty much have to be something and Taoist in order to get the proverbial “it” of the Tao. Taoists can be Catholic and Taoist, or Jewish and Taoist, or Buddhist and Taoist, or Atheist and Taoist. Some religions expressly forbid adding or practicing any philosophy next to faith– fortunately Christianity doesn’t forbid it, although that varies from church to church.

I’ve never run up against a situation where I’d have to ask “Do I act like a Christian or do I go with the tao?” Never ever.

Taoism isn’t one of those philosophies that demands someone take it and live a hermetic life in a cave without cable studying it. It’s meant to be used, in every situation, and there are particular parts for personal conduct, home, governing, warfare, and commerce.

I’m not out to convert or recruit anyone, but this is my blog and so mainly about me and what I do, and since what I believe is sort of intrinsic to who I am I thought it relevant. So please don’t worry about my spiritual path– I won’t be dressing up in a sheet and hassling people for change at airports any time soon (at least not for religious reasons.)

I might shave my head just for fun though.

Ooh, I could card my hair with mohair and make a super haloed yarn.