Category: Costa Rica

Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 1)

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Dance Programs in Prison, Personal Life

One morning following my meditation I looked out at the garden and thought, “What this property needs is a labyrinth,” or laberinto in Spanish.  Hum…I wondered if there were many in Costa Rica and how I might go about having one here. So of course I Googled “labyrinth, Costa Rica” and yes a lot of links came up.  It would be possible.  First let me back up a bit and share how my interest in labyrinths began.

While I knew about the difference between a labyrinth and a maze I can’t remember if I had ever walked one before 2012.  Just a reminder, a maze, often made with hedges or walls, is a convoluted path that the walker needs to solve, leading to a goal. In contrast, a labyrinth doesn’t have a hedge or wall but rather a defined path on the ground that twists and turns and eventually leads the walker into the center.   The following description is from the Labyrinth Society:

A labyrinth is a meandering path, often unicursal, with a singular path leading to a center.  Labyrinths are an ancient archetype dating back 4,000 years or more, used symbolically, as a walking meditation, choreographed dance, or site of rituals and ceremony, among other things.  Labyrinths are tools for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. (https://labyrinthsociety.org/about-labyrinths)

My real interest in how the labyrinth could be a tool for meditation and growth didn’t happen until I was volunteering in a meditation and movement program with Aine McCarthy in the Santa Fe County Women’s Detention Center beginning in 2012.  Aine was in the chaplaincy program at Upaya Zen Center and we had met at a retreat. During a breakfast at the end of the retreat we learned that two dancers had stayed at her house when the Avodah Dance Ensemble had spent a week in residence at York Correctional Institution. (See blog https://wp.me/p9Mj5D-gM)  Aine was then a teenager… now over 10 years later here we were sitting across from each other at a breakfast table at Upaya.  When Aine shared that she was in the chaplaincy program I asked what she wanted to do as a chaplain, and she said she wanted to work possibly as a chaplain in the correction field and was planning to do a project in the Santa Fe County Jail.  She then asked, much to my surprise, if I might be interested in joining her and suggested we could develop a movement and meditation program for the women in the jail.  I thought, “Why not!”  And so we began working together.

We did the training program to become volunteers in the jail and developed a curriculum for guiding the women in an hour-and-a-half session once a week.  Working in a jail is very different than the previous work I had done in a prison. First of all there is a much greater level of anxiety, as the women don’t know how long they will be there.  Maybe they will soon be out on bail.  When will they get a court date? What kind of sentence will they get?  They may also be dealing with coming down from drugs or regular alcohol use. So the tension and stress level is very high.

We designed sessions integrating movement, meditation and writing.  Soon we were leading sessions and each one was totally different and unique.  Sometimes we just had 2 people and other times a crowded room of 7 or 8.  Our space was small and so we began by moving the tables to the side and started with movement activities.  Worksheets with quotes related to the session’s themes were shared and a writing or discussion prompt followed.  Each session ended with the women meditating and then tracing by pencil  a paper labyrinth.  Here’s a link to where you can download and print out several to trace with a pencil.  https://www.relax4life.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/papersimplechartres-.pdf

The Santa Fe County Detention Center has a yard where the women can spend some time outside each day.  Aine and I thought it would be quite wonderful if we could paint a labyrinth on the floor so the women might have an actual experience of walking it.  Again there were lots of hoops to jump through but finally we were able to do that.  Several women who had been regular participants were able to join us and it was an excellent event with Aine guiding us inmeasuring and then painting the lines.

Aine measuring the distance between lines for the labyrinth.

When Aine and I began working with women in a domestic violence center we again used ideas from the curriculum we had developed for the jail program.  And then when I made a film called Through the Door: Movement, Meditation and Healing, we filmed a session of the women from the Esperanza Shelter walking the labyrinth at Upaya Zen Center. Aine had spearheaded the project to get that labyrinth built.

Screen shot from Through the Door: Movement, Meditation and Healing

In the next blog I’ll share what I found out when I Googled “labyrinth in Costa Rica.”

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 2)

JoAnne Tucker / / Art, Arts in Education, Costa Rica, Personal Life

Knowing I wanted a labyrinth in my garden, I Googled “Costa Rica Labyrinths” to see if I might get some help in creating one at my home in Atenas, Costa Rica.  I was surprised when the search generated a lot of information.   The very first link was totally fascinating.  “Costa Rica is home to the World’s Largest Labyrinth.” It’s called La Senda and it is located about a four- to five-hour drive from where I live. There is a website all about it and several articles online about how it was created.  (https://lasendacostarica.com/en/). If you are interested in knowing more about it, please check out the website, and do a Google search for additional articles.  Among the names associated with this labyrinth is Ronald Esquivel, who was contacted to design the labyrinth related to two energy vortexes.  Ronald is a Costa Rican architect who specializes in sacred geometry and labyrinth design.

So, of course, my next Google search was “Ronald Esquivel” and again I was rewarded with lots of information both about him and about the different labyrinths that he has designed.  Instead of the usual circular ones that I was familiar with, his designs were totally different, and each one unique. He has built labyrinths for public parks, universities, a prison, a children’s hospital, a yoga center and private homes.  There was also a lot of information on YouTube where his channel has over 69 videos, many of them examples of the different labyrinths he has created.  I was totally fascinated.  He was a keynote speaker at the 2009 Labyrinth Society Gathering in Portland, Oregon as well as a speaker for the Society again in 2020 when he was interviewed in a program called “Creating Balance in Unbalanced Times.”  I listened to the interview and read his kindle book Labyrinth Design and The Energy of its Geometry.  When I found an email address for him online, I decided to send him an email and see if he helped private homeowners like myself create labyrinths for their gardens.

I was delighted when I got a response the next day, and a few emails followed.  We set up a time for him to come and visit the garden and to make some suggestions.  After reading his book, and in particular an article that he and Jan Hurwitch wrote in 2013, I knew that he creates different designs unique to the environment he is working in. For example, at the time of this article he had created 14 labyrinths including a Wisdom Labyrinth, a Growth Labyrinth, and a 4 Element Series. For more information I suggest reading the article. http://gaiacr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Labyrinths-of-Costa-Rica.pdf

In my mind I was beginning to think about a labyrinth here as part of the Artist Retreats I was thinking of offering on my property in Costa Rica!  When Ronald arrived, I felt an immediate connection to him as we walked the garden.  He asked questions and I shared how I envisioned using the labyrinth for both myself and for guests at the Artist Retreats.  Soon we were talking about the creative process and how the labyrinth might represent different stages of the creative journey.  I also talked about how important the diagonal line was to me as a choreographer and in my paintings!   Over the next few weeks, we continued emailing and discussing the different stages of creating something, whether it is a dance, a painting or a musical composition.

Another visit followed, during which Ronald took careful measurements of the garden, and I finalized my decision that he would design the labyrinth and we would use his team to chalk it and create it! We also determined that the borders of the path would be red brick, and when the work would begin.

The next step involved Ronald submitting the design for my approval and asking if I wanted any changes.  I loved it and we had fun following the design and envisioning how it would be on the property.

Design of the Labyrinth: “Camino del Artista” by Ronald Esquivel

Ronald also showed me where each of the physical places of the creative journey we had agreed on would be located.

The stages we had determined were:

  1. First you must show up!!  – that’s the beginning point, from which the two diagonal lines go out, and where you walk to enter the labyrinth.
  2. Then one tends to go inward to see what it is one wants to create. That’s a place in a corner which is very private and somewhat hidden.
  3. Next step is gathering all the tools and research one needs to make the vision happen. That is represented by the curves and twists in the labyrinth as one moves from one side of the garden to the other.
  4. There is a point where one looks outward… and begins to share, and this is represented by a corner where one can view the mountains in the distance.
  5. And of course, there is the center which the path reaches. I view that as the first draft!
  6. The return journey is all the editing that one does to complete a project.

Ronald’s friend and co-author of the 2013 article, Jan Hurwitch,  joined him as we reviewed the draft and she brought with her 5 crystals that would be buried on the path, representing different relevant emotions.  They are:

  1. A black Onyx to repel negativity
  2. Aquamarine for courage
  3. An Orange Agate to reduce stress
  4. Crystal Quartz for healing and spirituality
  5. Rose Quartz for love and compassion, particularly starting with oneself.

The crystals will be buried once the labyrinth is completed, at the inaugural ceremony.

Coming next will be Part 3 – Building the Labyrinth!!

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 3)

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Personal Life

With the design created for the Labyrinth, it was now time to focus on the building process.  The first step was to trace the pattern on the ground.  We had already decided that the path would be outlined with red bricks, so the same day that the tracing happened, the red bricks were delivered!  A team of three men came to help with the tracing and moving of the bricks.  Ronald Esquivel, the designer, was here for the tracing and supervised work for the next two days.  The rest of the week the men were here on their own working a full day to place each brick where it needed to be and to regularly check the measurements.  Slowly I could see the path developing.  I regularly took pictures of the process. 

Ronald begins the tracing process.
Tracing is now complete!
Building begins
One section is close to done.
Making progress in another section.
One of the corners is now complete
Part of the completed Labyrinth as it winds its way through the garden.

In the next blog I’ll share the opening celebration and thoughts on regularly walking the labyrinth. 

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Casa Uno – Labyrinth Number 26 – Camino del Artista (Part 4)

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Music

The Labyrinth was completed on a Saturday afternoon and of course I was excited to take my first walk that very afternoon.  As I walked it this first time, I saw the garden and the surrounding property in a new way.  For the next few mornings, I followed a pattern of walking the labyrinth first thing in the morning.  Again, I was surprised at how I saw things differently.  A new flower that had opened or a bird sitting on a nearby tree stump delighted me.  When our garden crew came on Monday, the “head” of the team walked it himself and shared that it wasn’t so easy.  Yes, it was filled with turns and curves.  I found it challenging and helpful in working on my balance.

A flower that just opened and only lasts for a day. Picture taken on one of my morning walks!

My thoughts soon turned to what kind of ceremony to have to honor the designer, Ronald Esquivel, and Jan Hurwitch, who had selected crystals to be buried in the labyrinth.  My good friend and very talented musician Newman Taylor Baker was coming with his daughter to spend some time, and I thought, “How perfect.  Let’s do the ceremony when he is here and maybe he will be willing to play his washboard.”  While Newman has toured around the world as a jazz percussionist, he now has been working on solo programs and small ensembles with the washboard.  He mentioned he would be bringing it.

A date was set, and then it was frustrating that I wanted to invite lots of people but knew with COVID and the limited parking at the house it was important to keep it to a very small number.  In the end we did two celebrations, one that was in English and included eight of my ex-pat friends in the community… that ended up being fourteen people in all when you counted Ronald, Jan, myself, Newman and his daughter, and Manrique the house manager.  The second one was for Manrique’s family who speaks very limited English.

When Ronald and Jan arrived, we discussed how to proceed.  I thought that Newman would play while we walked the labyrinth for the first time, but Ronald said no, we should just focus on walking first and then later Newman could play.  Our focus would not be divided, and Newman would have the option of walking with us!  Before we walked, Jan led us in a beautiful ceremony of planting each of the crystals.  As you remember from an earlier blog, she had selected five different crystals.

I must admit that I was a bit nervous about this part.  While I liked the idea of planting the crystals, I didn’t want this part to get too touchy-feely. Jan led it perfectly. She guided us starting with the black onyx which was planted at the point where we “show up.”  We haven’t entered the actual labyrinth yet, and the onyx is symbolic of releasing negative energy.  Its purpose is both to help the walker let go of any negative energy, and to protect the labyrinth from negative energy.  When Jan asked for a volunteer to plant it, Katy quickly responded, and we handed her the large spoon to use. The black onyx was planted with the purpose of repelling negativity.

Newman volunteered to plant the next crystal, the aquamarine, which represents courage.  It was planted at the most private place, giving an individual the opportunity to go inward and think about what they might want to create or to just be still for a few minutes with their personal thoughts!  The next crystal was planted at the opposite end.  It’s a point where one can look outward beyond the property. The orange agate was planted here by Raquel for the purpose of reducing stress!

Next the whole group moved to the entrance of the labyrinth.  Paul planted  the crystal quartz, which promotes healing and spirituality.  We didn’t follow the actual path at this point but rather just went to the places where the crystals would be planted.

Jan asked me to plant the last agate, the rose quartz, in the center of the labyrinth to represent love and compassion.  She reminded us that love and compassion must always start with oneself!

JoAnne finishing planting the rose quartz. After each crystal was planted, the person who planted it blessed the ground. Other individuals joined in by placing their hands on the person’s back to be part of the blessing. Photo by Stefani Baker

Now that all the crystals were planted, we regathered at the “showing up” place.  A few people had taken off their shoes to walk barefoot which is the most beneficial way.  Some places were ready for us to walk barefoot with lush grass. Others lacked grass and had stones, so I did mention that and some of us kept our shoes on.

Ronald led us and we followed the path into the center. Ronald gave us the option of following the path back out, which is the traditional way and how I do it as much as possible.  A few took that option.

Ronald guiding us as we walked the labyrinth as a group for the first time. Photo by Stefani Baker.
We made a circle in the center when we completed the walk in. Photo by Stefani Baker.

We celebrated with some refreshments and then enjoyed a wonderful intimate concert with Newman playing the washboard.  Everyone was totally mesmerized by his playing and the variety of sound that he could made from just one instrument.

Newman playing. Photo by Stefani Baker
Link to a short excerpt from Newman’s playing. https://vimeo.com/712620130

Our smaller celebration with Manrique’s family challenged Newman’s daughter Stefani and I to describe the labyrinth in Spanish.  We both worked with our teacher Raquel to be able to do this.  It was another wonderful experience that ended with each of the four women spending a minute or two playing the washboard.

I am amazed at how each day my walk on Camino del Artista is different.  Sometimes I am filled with a new idea and at other times I am seeing new things in the garden or far off landscape.  If I am off balance I know it and as I slowly follow the path, I regain my balance.    A deep bow of  gratitude to Ronald Esquivel for creating this special labyrinth and to Jan for selecting the crystals.  I look forward to sharing it with others.

Thank you, Stefani, for documenting the event, and I had to close with this fun selfie you took with your “Daddy” in the background!

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Beyond Van Gogh: How It Was Created

JoAnne Tucker / / Art, Costa Rica, Personal Life

About a month ago I saw a sponsored post on Facebook that Beyond Van Gogh would be here in Costa Rica, and I immediately made plans to attend. I was delighted for several reasons.  First of all, since moving to Costa Rica at the beginning of 2020  I had not been to a cultural event here, in large part due to COVID.  Now things were opening up.  I also have always been a fan of Van Gogh and the period in which he painted. And third,  I had seen some favorable posts of friends of mine in the US who had gone to the exhibit.  Here it was in Costa Rica, and I definitely wanted to go.  It was scheduled to be held in a large convention center that was about 45 minutes away so it was definitely doable.  Tickets were already selling and some weekend dates were already sold out.  I made arrangements to go during a weekday with two friends.

Tickets were spaced 15 minutes apart and we got there a little early and had fun taking some pictures outside.

Outside Beyond Van Gogh. Photo taken by my friend.

Soon it was time for us to enter, and I loved the experience from the moment we officially entered.  Slowly we walked through a path filled with quotes exchanged between Van Gogh and his brother Theo, giving us information about Van Gogh’s life.  We zigzagged along the quotes separated by empty picture frames and it definitely was setting a mood.

Photo I took of one of the panels. I love that the quotes were in both Spanish and English, as it gives me a good opportunity to practice my Spanish.  I took lots of pictures so I would have lots of quotes to practice.

I knew some things about Van Gogh’s life from reading Irving Stone’s book Lust for Life, published in 1934 and based on the letters between the two brothers.  And I also was aware of how many people have been fascinated with Van Gogh’s life. The movie Lust for Life starring Kirk Douglas, based on Stone’s book, was released in 1957.  It won Douglas a Golden Globe for Best Actor as well as an Oscar nomination for his role as Van Gogh.  Anthony Quinn, who played his friend Paul Gauguin, received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.  That is not the only movie about Van Gogh.  In a blog posted by Molli in Discover Walks Blog, she shares four other worthwhile films about Van Gogh: Vincent and Theo (1990); The Eyes of Vincent (2005) about his time in a mental asylum; Loving Vincent (2017), an Oscar nominated film which features a lot of animation and raised the idea that his death was an accident and not suicide;  and At Eternity’s Gate (2018) which looks at the final years of his life. Here’s the link where you can learn more and see some trailers of the films.

https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/paris/the-5-best-movies-about-vincent-van-gogh/

Clearly Vincent Van Gogh’s life and work have fascinated and served as inspiration for many other people in their artistic expression, including the creators of Beyond Van Gogh.

Now back to our experience at the exhibit. Following the space filled with quotes, we wandered into a dark space with a bit of animation and two black boxes which turned out to be the entrance into the main room.  It was a bit disorienting until we realized the black boxes were actually the entrance.  We must have stood there for several minutes with quite a few other people until someone walked through the boxes and then of course we all followed and were treated to a very spacious room filled with animation on the walls, floors and panels that were placed in central areas.  Animation inspired by Starry Night paintings filled the space and then shifted into a number of Van Gogh’s self-portraits.  For the next 35 minutes we were dazzled with over 300 hundred of his paintings appropriately grouped.  As a choreographer I was fascinated by the movement and energy that was created, as well as the unique way one set of images transitioned into another. Sometimes the walls faded and new images appeared… other times it was like a large wave swept through the room.

Some people sat on the floor, others stood in place or wandered around, and some of us were able to sit on the few benches or beanbag-like chairs.  I was pleased to see how many young people attended.  Lots of Ticos in their twenties, thirties and forties.  We found two beanbag chairs to sit on and our third person sat on the floor.  We stayed there totally fascinated and in wonderment at the way Van Gogh’s images were being presented until the program began to repeat. Then as we stood and began walking we realized that the experience was a bit different in each place and so we stayed for nearly the full next set moving about the large room!

Photo I took shortly after entering the large room.

It was indeed an immersion into a world creatively inspired by Van Gogh’s painting and as the title suggested,beyond just the images. It was very different than going to an exhibition of his actual paintings in a museum, which itself is an outstanding experience.  For me it was a different kind of creative adventure inspired by his work — animation (inspired by an artist) with its unique timing, spacing and invitation to step into a new dimension. I knew that as soon as I got home I wanted to learn about the people who created it!

A quick Google search led me to all the information I wanted to know.  Beyond Van Gogh was created by Mathieu St-Arnaud and his team at the Normal Studio.  St-Arnaud and a partner founded Normal Studio in 2009, and a trip to the website provided lots more information. The home page describes their mission to “transform urban spaces into full-on immersive experiences…. 360 projection and architectural mapping, we spark wonder into people’s everyday lives.”  They are a multi-disciplinary team of 30 professionals combining creativity and tech.

They describe their aim in creating Beyond Van Gogh:

Expanding Vincent’s universe to a sharable and lively 360 projection environment requires a different way of thinking, like Vincent himself.  While certain paintings are presented in all their simplicity, others have been enhanced, expanded, enlarged and juxtaposed in order to fill the space with life, texture and colour. (https://normal.studio/en/)

Other projects include: another artist-inspired project – Beyond Monet; a corporate creation for a Toyota Dealer Meeting; the set for La Traviata for the Icelandic Opera; and a stage production of Diary of Anne Frank created by Lorraine Pintal for a theatre in Montreal.

Of course it is still very meaningful for me to have the “classic” experience of seeing the original paintings in the museum setting, but I also adore and am inspired by the blending of the classical with the latest technology.   Thank you, Normal Studio, for creating a wonderful experience, and I joyfully celebrate being able to see it here in Costa Rica with two delightful friends!!

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Five, four, three, two, one!

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Personal Life

I was shopping one day in PriceSmart in Costa Rica (like a Sam’s Club or BJ’s), when I passed an aisle of workout equipment.  I had passed such displays before but I had never seen a recumbent bike available.  I had sold mine before we moved, and I missed it.  My hips don’t do well on a regular bike.  A recumbent bike actually helps my hips. I feel less pain and best of all I get a workout!!  Needless to say I bought it and was lucky to have someone put it together for me.  That was in late May and I have now enjoyed riding it almostevery day, having  logged in 71 rides.

“Five, four, three, two, one…. Now take the speed up higher and the resistance too!  Ride at a higher cadence with higher resistance for a minute!  Five, four, three, two, one… OK back to a slower pace with less resistance for a minute before we go again.”   These are typical instructions from the IFit trainer.  The bike is designed to go with programs produced by IFit.  I had a 14-day free trial and after that I didn’t hesitate to sign up to continue on a monthly basis.  A fun side benefit is that not only is the coaching excellent but the rides are filmed in locations all around the world.  I have done rides in Fiji, Hawaii, National US Parks, Costa Rica, Italy and Turkey!

Now why am I writing about this?  Recently, a writer was in residence at my home as part of the Artist in Residence program I offer.  At the end of her residency she led a writer’s workshop and gave us the prompt of writing about transitions.  First she asked us to list seven transitions that we had experienced in our lives and then to select one to write about.  No problem, I certainly had lots of major life transitions to write about, several of which were very recent, like moving to Costa Rica and losing my life partner of fifty-six years.  But what fascinated me at that moment was the little transitions I make each day related to aging, and I found the transition from slow to fast on the bike, and then back again to slow, a good metaphor.

In the last blog I wrote about finding a model of someone who has done new things in their 80’s.  That is very important for me and equally important is how to do them. What I am taking away from the writing prompt, and using the bike experience to write about, is a way to pace myself.  I want to be able to enjoy new and challenging things in a safe way. The bike exercise is  a strong reminder that a push, whether it is physical or mental, needs to be balanced with a time of lower energy and relaxing!

In the biking workout it has been an equal balance of pushing heavily for either a half minute or a minute and then pedaling easier for the same amount of time.  I do not know quite how I will carry this over into my life but I do know it is important and something I will keep in mind!

As I get nearer my eightieth birthday, questions on how to make this a quality time of life are often on my mind.  I wonder what other readers might want to share about this, whether it is turning eighty or experiences they have had at a younger age. I welcome your feedback and thoughts in the comments!

Photo taken by Manrique, who helped to put the bike together!
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Bonds of Friendship in a Writers’ Group: Remembering Jim Shaw

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Guest Posts

Our writers’ group in Atenas is just 7 months old, yet a special intimacy has developed in coming together and sharing what we have prepared for the week or in responding to a prompt.  I have experienced a similar rich friendship and closeness built when creating choreography for a new piece with a dance company, or going on tour with a small group of participants who only a few weeks before were strangers.  That kind of warmth and fellowship developed quickly in our small writers’ group.

The writers’ group grew out of a workshop presented by Jennifer Paquette when she was my guest spending several weeks working on a historical fiction novel.  A day before she was due to leave, she shared some of her writing and then prompted us to do some writing.  Immediately afterwards several participants enthusiastically suggested, “Let’s start a regular writers’ group here.”  And so we did.  Jim Shaw was one of the people who was at the workshop and immediately wanted to be part of the new group.

I had known Jim since January 2020, when my husband and I moved to Costa Rica.  At that time, Jim was President of our homeowners’ association and made a welcoming visit. Nine months later, when my husband passed away and Jim saw my post on Facebook, he immediately drove down to my house to check if there was anything he could do to help.  That gesture sealed a special place in my heart for Jim.

When I began to think about inviting artist friends to spend some time at my home, I reached out to several members of the community for suggestions on places to take visitors and ways that we might interact with the community. Jim and his wife Tracey had lots of good suggestions. A year later when the artists’ visits began, Jim and Tracey enthusiastically attended the artists’ presentations.

Jim came to the writers’ workshop when he could.  Writing wasn’t easy for him so sometimes he shared a combination of what he wrote and just talked about his poignant memories of growing up and being a pilot during the Vietnam war.  Since confidentiality is an important component of the group, we won’t reveal specifics, but we will share how much Jim meant to us. I personally am so grateful for Jim’s friendship, founding role in our writers’ group, and the opportunity to have heard his writing and storytelling.

Members of the Writers’ Group Share Their Thoughts

From Rosalie Olds

Even though I’ve been living in Atenas for about three years, I only met Jim recently when we both joined a local writers’ group.  His quick wit and twinkling smile endeared me to him right away.  When I shared my writing piece, I found his comments supportive and insightful.  I especially enjoyed hearing about his experiences serving in Vietnam.  Jim clearly felt compassion for others and delighted in being kind and helpful.  I’ll miss the ribbing he gave me when his beloved Astros beat the Mariners.  May he rest in peace.

From Trey Mallard

Haiku for Jim Shaw:  In Memoriam 01/17/2023

1943-2023

In one’s life, people cross your life’s journey for just a moment but have a lasting impact.  For me, one of those people was Jim Shaw.  We met at a party, and immediately, Crissy and I knew that Jim and Tracey would become fast friends.  We had similar stories in that we were both on second marriages, and some would say we married “eye candy.”  But Jim and I knew better.  Even though there were age differences with younger wives, we had both met and married our “soul mate.”  Jim joined the initial writers’ group organized by JoAnne Tucker, which met in her lovely home in Hacienda Atenas.  We were all would-be writers, but Jim was the only one who had not put his stories down on paper–Wisconsin farm boy to Top Gun in the Vietnam war.  His stories were difficult to transcribe because his war experiences were still much with him and hard to relive.  Jim lived with significant physical disabilities but was always up for a good time.  His smile and sparkle in his eyes belied internal pain but were an instant attraction to those he encountered. I was fortunate not to have been drafted into his war, but I understood what it was like to lose friends who never returned.  His death was sudden and too soon.  Here’s to you, my friend…

Top Gun y Mas

I

Home, country, farm boy

grew, handsome, gentle spirit

pilot, war, hero.

II

Soars on metal wings.

Flight, chase, fell the enemy.

Now, soaring on mist.

III

Second time love found

On love bird wings, two fly high

Soaring one flies home.

IV

Crippled body parts

needs extra feet for walking

now, one straight path, Light.

V

Blue eyes, smile lives on,

His loving memory strong.

New star, so bright, Jim

Jim Shaw
Photo taken by Tracey Shaw on the Roue de Paris (Ferris wheel) on the Place de La Concorde in Paris when they visited 6 years ago. They went on a wine cycling tour in Burgundy and visited Paris before and after their wine tour. Tracey described it as a truly wonderful trip.
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An Experiment: Writing Haiku with Accompanying Watercolor

JoAnne Tucker / / Art, Costa Rica, Personal Life

I have always been fascinated with the short poetic form of Haiku and how much meaning can be put into just 17 syllables.  During the pandemic I took a weekend Haiku workshop at Upaya  Zen Center via Zoom.  I had fun exploring the form and enjoyed reading Natalie Goldberg’s Three Simple Lines. However, it wasn’t until we began the Atenas Writers’ Group in Costa Rica that I was motivated to write Haiku on a regular basis.   At the same time, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review was offering a six-week online Haiku course, “Learn to Write Haiku: Mastering the Ancient Art of Serious Play,” taught by Clark Strand.  I quickly signed up.  Most sessions were prerecorded but a few were live sessions where we could ask questions.  Clark encouraged us to have a daily practice and to write lots each day!  What a great opportunity to learn from Clark, as he is totally dedicated to Haiku, with a big commitment to write Haiku himself, translate classical and contemporary Japanese Haiku and to encourage others to write Haiku.  Here is the bio that Tricycle has online:

Clark Strand is a former senior editor at Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. His books include Seeds From a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey and The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary, which was co-authored with his wife, Perdita Finn. He teaches the popular group “Weekly Haiku Challenges with Clark Strand” on Facebook and leads Tricycle’s monthly haiku challenge, as well as the Tricycle Haiku Challenge Facebook group.  (From Tricyle.org ‘s website)

The medium of watercolor has always both challenged and fascinated me so I decided I would choose the best Haikus that I wrote each week and do small watercolor paintings including the text in the painting.  Since mid-August I have completed 35 painted Haiku ranging in size from 6” x 8” to 9” x 12”.

I also made the decision that the Haiku had to be inspired by what I saw in my own backyard.  Living in Costa Rica, that’s not a problem.  My husband used to say that we were living in our own National Park.  In Clark’s course we were not only to follow the form of 3 lines with 5 syllables in the first, 7 in the second and 5 in the last, but also to include a seasonal word.  I decided to follow the traditional style as much as I could, including a seasonal word as it related to Costa Rica.  I also thoroughly enjoyed the different samples of classical Haiku that we were exposed to.

It has been great fun to do this practice, and I have been quite consistent until recently, when I started writing prose to share with the Writers’ Group.  I look forward to getting back to my Haiku/watercolor practice on a regular basis.  Meanwhile, here are eight favorites. To see more, visit my Facebook page – JoAnne Tucker Art – where you can see all 35.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ballet Nacional de Cuba: Costa Rica, April 23, 2023

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Current Dance Events, Personal Life

I never would have imagined that I would get to see the Ballet Nacional de Cuba here in Costa Rica, but I did, and what a delight, for several reasons.  First, going to theatre and ballet is what I miss most in my life here.  When I saw a sign advertising the Ballet Nacional de Cuba for two performances here, I knew that I wanted to go. Second, there were some unexpected surprises in the repertory and third, it was a fun evening, providing a chance to experience a different side of life in Costa Rica.

Checking online, I was able to find that the repertory the company would be doing here was a mix of classical — which they are well known for — and some new pieces which looked intriguing.  There was even a YouTube video of one of the new pieces, and after watching it I knew for sure I wanted to get tickets.  I asked a friend who I thought might be interested, and sure enough she was and even offered to drive.  Since I knew I would be having a guest at my house on the date of the performance, I also asked if she wanted to go.  She did, and so I went online and bought three tickets in what we would call the mezzanine.  The tickets were appropriately priced but the service charge for buying them online was outrageous.  Alas, there was no other way to buy them, and you are not told about the service charge until after you have paid and see the separate amount on your credit card.

We did a bit of research on possible parking lots and decided we also wanted to have something to eat before attending the 5 PM performance.  With the help of Google Maps we made it into the area and were immediately impressed by the stature of the theater – and this wasn’t even the National Theatre.  The Melico Salazar Theatre is built in the European Baroque style.  Originally called the Raventos Theater, the building was completed in 1928. Various restorations were done over the years, and in the mid-1980’s the government bought the theatre.  By law it became a “cultural institution especializada” of the Costa Rican State.  In 1986 it was renamed to honor the famous Costa Rican tenor Manuel “Melico” Salazar.

We drove around the area, but no parking lots were open, even though some had indicated they would be open for theatre performances.  So we pulled up in front of the theatre to ask where to park.  There were several cones blocking the direct entrance but a gentleman, clearly part of the theater staff, moved the cones.  When we asked where to park, he said that for 5,000 colones (around $9), right where we were.  We were thrilled and my friend Cynthia, who had driven and who speaks perfect Spanish, had a fun conversation with Hugo.  And to make things even easier for us, the theatre has a lovely Café Raventos with a menu that worked perfectly.

Following a wonderfully relaxing late lunch, we entered the theater.  I felt my usual excitement at attending dance and theater events.  The theater definitely had a feeling of grandeur, and we found our seats.  As the theater filled, it became clear that even though we were in the 4th row of the mezzanine the slope wasn’t steep enough for us to have a clear view.  Luckily there were empty seats behind us and even one on the aisle in front. So we each were able to get a good view of the entire stage.

The first half of the program was my favorite.  It opened with The Shape of Red, a recent addition to the repertory, by choreographer Ely Regina Hernandez.  While I found an interview online where she talks about the piece, I was unable to find her bio. There were no printed programs.  With a QR code I was able to download the program, but it contained no bios, and dancers who perform main roles in pieces are not named.  The choreography incorporated a lot of modern dance moves typical of choreography in the mid-20th century, and then suddenly there was a pointe solo added in.  That was a bit surprising, but as a whole the piece’s theatrical portrayal of the color red was very satisfying, including the ending where the lead character grabs hanging fabric and is lifted into the air. If you are interested in watching the piece, it is available on YouTube, and here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxGkxIfHH2A&t=745s

My overall favorite piece was La Muerte de un Cisne, (The Dying Swan).  Choreographed by Michel Descombey (1930-2011), it opened with the roaring sound of wind blowing, and what a surprise for me to see that the Dying Swan was a male dancer in bare feet.  This was clearly going to be a different version than the original one created by Michael Fokine for Anna Pavlova in 1905.  Descombey’s choreography worked with some very interesting and original dance phrases and it was beautifully performed!  Alas there was no information about Descombey on the Ballet Nacional de Cuba’s website nor do I have any information about the dancer.  The audience loved the work, and the performer received lots of bravos. From some research online I learned that Descombey was a French ballet dancer, choreographer and director.  Most of his career was in France but the last part of his career was in Mexico. There is a video of La Muerte de un Cisne on YouTube.  Here is the link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RphILIjOL0

The dancer in Ballet Nacional de Cuba caught the fragile quality much better than the performer in the link.

The other piece that that I really liked in the first half was Tres Preludes by Ben Stevenson.  A trio, it was beautifully danced by two men and a woman.  It had a simple quality to it, cleanly and playfully performed.

The rest of the program was what I had expected to see — well-trained dancers performing classical material, some of it credited to Alicia Alonso’s variation, such as the duet from Swan Lake.

The company is much loved in Cuba and the final curtain call showed that they are used to much adoration.  The Costa Rican audience was generous with its applause, but I got the feeling that the company is used to more.

It was a very special evening and a real treat to see a fine company here. I hope there will be other opportunities!

We were allowed to take photos, as long as we didn’t use a flash.  I enjoyed photographing the final curtain calls; here is the male dancer of the Dying Swan taking his solo bow.

Photo taken by JoAnne
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Chopping in the Kitchen

JoAnne Tucker / / Costa Rica, Personal Life

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you might have noticed that I haven’t been writing as much as usual. The last two blogs were a review of a book, and they took a lot longer to write than other blogs.  The second reason is that I have been doing a lot of dancing in the kitchen!  Chopping, sauteing, spinning around and chopping some more.  The chopping seems to go on and on forever.  The reason behind this is I am now eating a totally plant-based diet.

Here are some bowls of chopped veggies and beans ready for an eggplant recipe.

In March I noticed some swelling in my ankles, and I decided to do some research on the best way to eat in order to keep my health good and strong.  Everything I read led me to a vegan way of eating.  I did that for about a month with some help from an English-speaking general nutritionist here in Costa Rica, who had only some idea of what a good vegan diet is. I decided to get my blood tested.  I wasn’t pleased with the results and soon began to realize I was eating too many processed vegan products. So I searched for a doctor either here in Costa Rica or online who could help me with the proper way to go on a vegan diet.

Much to my delight I found an excellent doctor, Dr. Miranda Graham, who calls herself a VeganMD and lives less than an hour from my house.  I have learned so much from her.  My first visit was in person.  She suggested using Cronometer, which is a website for a computer (or there is an app for the phone).  I am under her account, where I log in, and she monitors what I am eating and makes suggestions. There is a free version one can use on their own.  It has been very helpful.  For example, I love it when she says my Vitamin A is too low, so make sure I add some carrots to my daily diet.  I am now at the point where I can look at my food page and see the kind of foods I need to add in my diet for dinner to make sure I am getting all the nutrients that I need for the day.

The result is that my blood work has improved, I have more energy and I weigh less.  I don’t think of this as a diet.  Rather I think of this as my new lifestyle.  I am enjoying finding new recipes and trying different foods.  There are so many wonderful resources on the Internet.  My favorites are https://foodrevolution.org,  https://www.drfuhrman.com, and https://www.forksoverknives.com.

Living in Costa Rica makes plant based eating easy, as there are always lots of fresh fruits and vegetables available.  Each Thursday I enjoy going to the Feria (Farmer’s Market), and as a regular, I always get a friendly greeting from the various vendors.

Shopping at the Feria del Agricultor de Atenas. Photo by Manrique
Here I am, with energy and a slimmer look, leading some guests on a walk on the labyrinth. Photo by Ed Needham
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