Hosted by prolific plant author Christopher Nyerges, nature guide, and founder of School of Self-Reliance: The Wild Food and Self-Reliance Discovery Meetup Group
(with 4.9 out of 5.0 stars with 143 reviews) is leading a nature walk:
Wild Food Ethnobotanical Walk
Saturday, May 9, 2026 10:00 am
$65 (seniors and students $45)
To attend and for exact directions, register HERE. Join us for an outing in Los Angeles where we explore the edible, medicinal, and other useful qualities of many of the native plants found in the environment with many introduced (invasive) plants.'
Both natives and non-native plants will be seen. This is a leisurely walk in the woods. All will also get a chance to taste some of the plants.
We will introduce a few basics of systematic plant identification and ways to start a record of various species.
We’ll bring up an important point: Many of the wild plants we see — especially the non-natives — can easily be cultivated in our own yards for ease of harvesting. There are also local native plant nurseries where we can obtain native plants — such as toyon berries, ceonothus, oak trees, mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia), elder, and so on — to grow them at home, where we can provide the ideal situation for them.
Wear comfortable footwear and bring water and a bowl for eating.
This class can serve as credit towards the the School of Self-RelianceEthnobotanyCertificate. Directions sent upon registration.
Today is Earth Day, so how shall we honor our Mother [Earth]? We can start by calling her Bhumi, Tierra, or Gaia. Then it might help to honor the Goddess as giving so much to us, our very bodies. Sure there's a karmic reason and an invisible alignment/arrangement of particles that make these amazing vehicles we're powering, but it is earth (base materiality) as the "what" these bodies are or appear to be. Is there "spirit" (prana)? Yes! That wind-like thing, the ephemeral airs as explained in Yogic philosophy and detailed in a collection of sacred Buddhist texts referred to as the "Higher Doctrine" (Abhidhamma or the "Dharma in Ultimate Terms"), can be called a "spirit" (pneuma). That's what "holy spirit" in Abrahamic religions seems to be getting at.
We have hardware and software as modern analogies, but in the past the seers had dense mud and invisible air to make the same comparison of the yang (hard) and yin (soft) that is this "self." Self is a persistent illusion, hard to grasp and understand, but the Buddha went to great pains to explain it in two doctrines, one being the Five Aggregates and the other being (in response to the common question, "Well, what is there then?!") Dependent Origination. If one understood the latter, the question of "what is there?" would not confuse the asker to assume there has to be something solid and "real." In the Allegory of the Cave by Plato, there's "something" (shadows), but that doesn't make them real, that is, that doesn't make them what they appear to be.
So this body, this earth, made of soil and the Four Great Elements (mahabhuta, the dhatus, which strangely are not "things" even though they sound like the most fundamental things but rather are qualities/characteristics of materiality, and that material can be reduced to something translated by Ven. Dhammadipa as "particles of perception" or what the historical Buddha called kalapas).
So thank you, Mother! "Where to next, Columbus?" Crass sings. Why? Westerners are imperial menaces in the world...
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated across the planet through earthday.org (formerly Earth Day Network) [1], including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries [1, 2, 3].
In 1969 at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco, the peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be observed on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
This day of Nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by him and signed by [Burmese Theravada Buddhist] Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations.
A month later, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970, and hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the national coordinator.
The name "Earth Day" was coined by the advertising writer Julian Koenig [4]. Activist Hayes and his staff grew the event beyond the original idea for a teach-in to include the entire United States. More
The Solvang Ranch (280 Crosby St., Altadena, California) is a historic 3,100 square foot craftsman courtyard house built in 1915. Situated on nearly an acre, it has been meticulously restored by owners Rob Bruce and Greg Gill and is known for hosting community events, such as the Soul Force Project's Earth Day Celebration. More
Earth Day Celebration in Pasadena, Los Angeles? These are the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, one of the most Buddhist places in the United States. Join us and the City of Pasadena as we celebrate Earth Day and the official release of the goats into the Arroyo ("gully," "wash," dry riverbed). This family-friendly event includes goat yoga, a goat petting zoo, educational experiences, and interactive booths from local sustainability organizations. Let's celebrate and find our Flow. How? Goat Yoga in the Arroyo. Enjoy a lighthearted outdoor yoga experience surrounded by playful goats, Nature's great grass eaters. This beginner-friendly yoga session blends movement, laughter, and connection with nature, offering a unique way to relax, recharge, and celebrate the arrival of the Arroyo Goats. More: OneArroyo.org
The City of Pasadena and the One Arroyo Foundation are set to host a distinctive Earth Day Celebration this Saturday, inviting the community to witness an innovative approach to landscape restoration and wildfire risk reduction. The highlight of the event will be the deployment of approximately 600 goats into the Arroyo Seco ("Dry Gully"), where they will embark on a targeted grazing mission across 100 acres to clear invasive vegetation. This natural method not only helps protect the beloved Arroyo but also offers a fascinating spectacle for attendees of all ages. More: pasadenanow.com/weekendr
What happens at Pasadena Zen Sangha? This Los Angeles-based group is growing by adhering to two principles. One, keep it cool, laidback, liberal lowkey, everyday normal but, two, make it exotic. How is that achieved?
American Zen Buddhist Priest Seigaku Amato
It is led by a Japan-trained, fully ordained American Soto Zen Buddhist priest, who follows all of the customs and ritual procedures of a formal (zazen) group sitting practice -- including Rinzai traditions that rely on koans ("cases," paradoxical riddles) and other less common activities of most U.S. Zen centers.
We walk in to practice mindful awareness of the present moment and everything going on in the here and now. This present moment may not always be pleasant, but it is always tolerable when viewed from the dispassionate perspective of, "Then there's this."
This point-of-view allows us to be the WATCHER rather than the usual, overly-involved "doer," "resister," or person taking it all very personally in accordance with the Three Poisons of passion, aversion, and delusion (greed, hatred/fear, ignorance).
WHAT HAPPENS?
Practitioners gather in the more than century-old Historic Quaker Meeting House. They take to zafus and zabutons, cushions, for seating themselves facing the wall or into the center of the hall. Laminated cards are handed out for chanting in English, Sanskrit, or a Japanese transliteration of Sanskrit, with singing bowl accompaniment. There's bowing and clacking sticks. Then the group settles in for the first sitting session of shikantaza or "just sitting." There's nothing to do but observe, no need to stop thinking or make anything other than how it is. A bell rings and walking meditation or kinhin begins, first very slowly then at normal speed, all the while remaining mindful. The bell announces the second sitting session. That ends with a bell, bowing, arranging the cushions in a circle, and the discussion begins. Sensei read a ponderous piece he had written about the impersonal aspiring for self-awakening. The group opened up for a Q&A. Then Sensei brought up a new documentary on psychedelics and Zen. This started a storm of comments, many laughs, and a lot of insight into American Buddhism. It resumes next week.
Los Angeles is a big place. There's Angel City Zen Center with artist and priest Dave, who replaced Brad Warner.
There's ZCLA (Zen Center of Los Angeles), which is a little stiff and set in their ways. Now there's a third good option, the Pasadena Zen Sangha with American Sensei Ese (S.A. for Seigaku Amato).
What's so good about it? It's new, it's open, it's under a fully trained Zen priest who was certified in Japan and has been around many Zen circles.
On a recent Thursday night, practitioners gathered, took to zafus and zabutons (sitting cushions), chanted Sanskrit the Japanese way then English, and started a session of shikantaza, just sitting.
Then came time for kinhin, the relief of getting up to stretch and walk slowly and mindfully before another sitting session. Then the fireworks: question and answer with discussion.
"Those who know don't say, and those who say don't know" is a Taoist saying and sentiment. Many things can be known, and many of them can be expressed. So we hit Sensei with two barrels' worth of questions. Next time we finish off with koans of such subtlety and complexity, he stands no chance. ;,)
Discover new yoga modalities, wellness innovation, and headliners Travis Eliot and Lauren Eckstrom at Yoga Expo LA 2026. All ages. The Yoga Expo LA 2026 is a Forward-Thinking Gathering of Yoga, Wellness, and Innovation.
Join in on Saturday, February 7th, 2026, at the prestigious Pasadena Convention Center for the nation’s largest yoga-inspired gathering.
Now in its 8th year, The Yoga Expo LA is evolving to highlight the future of yoga, wellness innovation, and conscious community building. This all-day immersive event welcomes 3,000+ attendees and features:
🌟 World-Renowned Headliners: Practice with Travis Eliot and Lauren Eckstrom, co-founders of Inner Dimension TV, as they lead powerful, transformational sessions designed to inspire and elevate.
🧘 Yoga for Every Body: Experience diverse styles and new modalities—from vinyasa and restorative to trauma-informed practices, sound healing, and next-generation yoga hybrids.
🌱 Wellness Innovation: Explore the latest in holistic living, biohacking, functional wellness, mindfulness technologies, and sustainable lifestyle solutions.
🎤 Presentations and Workshops: Engage with teachers, healers, and facilitators offering classes, talks, and practices to deepen this journey. Each exhibitor receives a 50-minute presentation slot to connect directly with attendees.
🤝 Community and Connection: Network with studio owners, retreat leaders, conscious entrepreneurs, and fellow seekers who are shaping the future of wellness.
✨ Opportunities to Participate: Presenters, Teachers, Facilitators: Share gifts on stage.
Exhibitors and Brands: Showcase products and services.
Sponsors and Partners: Align with a trusted platform and reach a highly engaged audience.
The Yoga Expo LA 2026 is more than an event—it’s a movement of forward-thinking wellness and conscious connection. Be part of a day that inspires, educates, and uplifts.
👉 Visit TheYogaExpo.org to register as an attendee, presenter, exhibitor, or sponsor.
Saturday, Feb. 7th, 2026
10:00 am-6:00 pm
9:00 AM VIP early entry
WHAT TO EXPECT
Enter the healing salon pyramid.
🌟 Headliners: Travis Eliot and Lauren Eckstrom: Experience transformational practices with Travis Eliot and Lauren Eckstrom, world-renowned yoga teachers and co-founders of Inner Dimension TV, leading main-stage sessions that will inspire, challenge, and uplift.
Yoga and Movement: From energizing vinyasa flows to restorative practices and cutting-edge new modalities, there’s something for every body.
Move, breathe, and expand practice while exploring the future of yoga. Expect classes all day long led by a diverse lineup of teachers, plus live music, movement, and community networking.
🧘🏾♂️ Meditation and Mindfulness
What would Patanjali do? (Yoga Sutras)
Discover accessible yet powerful meditation practices rooted in ancient wisdom and adapted for today’s world. Learn tools for stress relief, resilience, and clarity from teachers blending tradition with modern insights.
💡 Keynotes, Panels, and Wellness Innovation: Join inspiring talks, panels, and forums led by industry leaders, exploring yoga philosophy, integrative health, wellness tech, biohacking, longevity, and conscious business. This is where movement meets personal and professional growth.
👩🏼👦🏼 Family and Little Yogis: Yoga is for all ages! Kids can explore yoga, mindfulness, breathing techniques, and creative activities in a safe, playful space—making The Yoga Expo a family-friendly experience.
🛍️ Marketplace: Explore over 125+ conscious brands from local artisans to global innovators. Discover yoga apparel, retreats, clean skincare, wellness products, cultural crafts, and sustainable solutions—all curated to inspire conscious living.
🌿 Organic Food and Beverage Sampling: Fuel the day with delicious, health-focused food and drinks. Enjoy tastings and options ranging from vegan, organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO to innovative wellness snacks and beverages.
✨ Community and Connection: Beyond classes and products, The Yoga Expo LA is about connection—meeting teachers, practitioners, conscious entrepreneurs, and seekers who are shaping the future of wellness. Be Part of a Transformational Experience Step into a day of yoga, movement, and mindful living, hosted by Arianne Traverso and Sandra Tribioli. Together, they bring decades of expertise in yoga, wellness, and transformational community experiences, curating a space where ancient yogic traditions meet modern innovation.
🌟 Exhibitors and Sponsorships: For exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, connect with: Sandra Tribioli | sandra@theyogaexpo.co
WHAT ATTENDEES SAY
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"There was a great variety of classes offered and lots of different vendors to shop with. It was a fun-filled day, and well worth it! I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next one!"
"Amazing experience. Tried so many classes—there were endless choices. All the instructors were inspiring and unique!"
"Spent the entire day at the expo and was able to enjoy four different classes. The marketplace was out of this world. Already planning for next year!"
"Such a beautiful event filled with amazing people and conscious vendors. As a beginner, I felt so welcome—I explored so many styles of yoga. Best weekend ever!"
"It was a day full of laughter, joy, and unforgettable memories. The kids were glowing with happiness exploring yoga life."
WHERE TO STAY
⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Hotel Dena (formerly the Sheraton Pasadena) 📍 Right inside the Convention Center 303 Cordova Street, Pasadena, California, USA, 91101 📞 Toll Free: +1-800-457-7940. Why? Exclusive discounted group rate with breakfast included. (Call hotel directly for updated rates if needed.)
WHAT TO KNOW
💵 Cash-Friendly — Please support vendors. Discover innovative yoga mats, tools, clothing, jewelry, travel destinations, and more.
🎟 VIP & Ultra VIP (High Life) Passes — Enjoy early entry, skip the lines, receive a premium gift bag, and access extra perks.
🧘 Classes — First come, first served. Arrive early to secure a spot.
🚫 Ticket Policy — All ticket sales are final. No refunds. 🌦 Rain or shine — the event will go on regardless of weather.
✨ Learn more or subscribe at TheYogaExpo.org. Thanks to sponsors and partners! Holistic Wander Global Sound Bath and Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal
For years, Zen came to Pasadena through PasaDharma -- under the auspices of Founder Roshi Jeff Albrizze (aka Rev. Lotus Peace) and successor Meditation Guide Seven and PasaDharma's friends at:
perplexing riddles to help us overcome rigid and limiting habits of mind and get us thinking outside the box (koans),
questions and answers, and
an open group discussion.
Sensei completed his Hossenshiki ceremony in Japan, a necessary step for a Sotoshu novice to take toward becoming a full-fledged Zen Buddhist priest, as he became Zagen (pictured above), then Osho. He is also the author of a very helpful Guide to Zen:
With 4.3 out of 5 stars (38 reviews), this 2021 Simon & Schuster introduction to Zen is unlike any readers have ever seen — inspired by manga and graphic novels. It offers a comprehensive overview of Soto Zen Buddhism in a delightfully captivating way.
Complete with dynamic, detailed illustrations, American Soto Zen Priest Seigaku Amato uses a semi-narrative style to take readers on a visual tour of Buddhism and, using specifics to illuminate universals, dives deeply into the practices and forms of Soto Zen.
In honor of our teacher the Buddha Shakyamuni
Whether we are just taking our first step or have been practicing Zen for years, this creative and profound book can serve as a constant companion and guide on the journey as it explores topics such as:
How conservative Christian views on sex have changed over the years
Thou shalt not enjoy thyself...or else.
Regardless of faith, having an intimate conversation with a partner can sometimes feel odd to broach. In the case of many Christian denominations, relationship to one's partner, through sex and similar intimate moments, only gets addressed after marriage. [That's usually a bit late, like it or lump it because now you can take it, but you can't leave it.]
Get far enough from toilet to avoid splash back.
Although it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, this lack of sex-centric discussions creates a difficult barrier for partners who want to be considerate but don’t know the best practices to do so. So what kind of professional help can assist, and how do faith-centric couples handle conversations tied to relationship intimacy? Join delicate host Lair "Bear" Mantle to share their expertise on the matter are sex therapists and educators Clifford Penner and Joyce Penner, who jointly operate the practice Passionate Commitment (passionatecommitment.com) in Pasadena. Resources
(AOL/RIGBY) After seeing a viral TikTok about “spicy” bookstores, three local reading enthusiasts decided that eastern Idaho is in dire need of a way to spice up access to adult [c]literature.
Bailey Sutton-Moser, Mia Calderwood, and Rachel Moser -- three friends who share a love for reading -- came up with the idea to open Between The Covers after seeing an online video about an Arizona bookstore that specialized in selling romance books for women.
“I was like, ‘What if we just did this?'” Calderwood says. “We talked about it for an hour, and the next thing you know, we’re submitting for a business registration.”
Spicy, smutty, romance fantasy addiction?
Thanks to trends like BookTok, on TikTok, romance novels have become increasingly popular over the last few years, with viral obsessions like Quicksilver by Callie Hart, A Court of Thorns and Roses (series) by Sarah J. Maas, and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros.
“A romance bookstore is a space that women can go into and just breathe for once,” Sutton-Moser says. “It’s a chance for women to break away from reality, to find books that appeal to our natures, and just relax.”
The owners say everyone is welcome at the bookstore, and it is not an adult business because it doesn’t sell adult items, although some content is age-restricted. More: aol.com
Cruisin' 2 Freedom (car show)
Cali car culture creeps into everything.
Join the Slave 2 Nothing® Foundation’s Cruisin’ 2 Freedom™ event to fuel the fight against human trafficking. This high-octane evening features a Car Cruise, Car Show, and Dinner – all designed to drive real impact! From vintage to 4x4s – this is your chance to showcase your car, cruise the California coastline, and raise funds to support the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation. All guests can take part in a raffle giveaway, bid on exciting silent and live auction items, and enjoy a Double-Double®, chips, and a drink from Cookout Trucks: Cruisin’ 2 Freedom | Slave 2 Nothing
Supreme Court hears arguments over transgender athletes in school sports
Colorful intersex flag (LGBTQIA+)
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments today over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans, but the conservative-dominated Supreme Court might not follow suit. In the past year, the justices ruled in favor of state bans on "gender-affirming care" [gay-promoting treatment] for transgender youths and allowed multiple restrictions on transgenders to be enforced. The legal fight is playing out amid a broad effort by Pres. Trump to target transgender Americans, beginning on the first day of his second term and including the ouster of transgender people from the military and declaring that gender is immutable and determined at birth. Presented with files from the Associated Press.
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