Well, Conference of the Birds is over. The Birds have flown to other nesting grounds. All in all it was a great experience. I love working with the teens. They are just awesome!! I hope I can do it again next year.

In my personal life things are going nicely. I continue to struggle with fears...abandonment, worthlessness, and lack of love. Yucky stuff. At least I see the pattern now, see the feelings for what they are. It doesn't make the feelings go away, but my mind is aware.

Conference of the Birds opens this week. The key word for this play is "Unity" ~ but we have something less than unity happening with the cast right now. Many of the student actors are frustrated, feeling that the director is unorganized and the tech/costume is coming together too slowly. How do you respond to this? How do you alleviate their fears? Or do you even try?

Costumes just don't happen till the week you open, neither do lights or sound. As for directors...well, they are all different. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Is our director for Conference a "good" director? I can't answer that, as it would only be based on my pesonal criteria.

The Five Precepts

1. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from taking life.

2. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from taking what is not given.

3. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from false speech.

5. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from intoxicants which lead to carelessness.

-translated by Gil Fronsdal
From "Teachings of the Buddha"