Today is Wednesday, October 24, 2007. This is the first day that the winds have died down. For the past 4 days the dry terrain and the powerful winds have added strength the damaging fires that have devastated  Southern California.  The air is still dirty with ashes and debris, and it has caused me to seek shelter inside my home. This gives me cause to be grateful, and, at the same time, sad for those that lost their homes. It is a time for reflection. Mercury is in retrograde until November 2, and this aspect adds power  to the practice of reflection. In this past fews days, I have made a pact with myself. I will make a concerted effort not to focus on my personal mundane concerns, worries, and doubts. This is small thinking. Whenever I become aware of my thoughts heading in this direction, I will focus on others--my family, my community, my state, my nation, and  my world. This shift of focus  opens my heart. Just writing this, and the feelings coming up, makes me know  that  I am on to some thing.