Cancer Update, and the Otsukimi or Harvest Moon Festival tonight.

My cancer saga continues. As soon as I had ended my last post and pushed "Publish," I got the call to schedule my biopsy procedure; of which, I know little today, but will be sure to give you the poop on when it arrives -- yes, I've been in Texas too long.

So today I consulted with AI, I asked AI, "Can they remove another lung lobe after I've already had one removed?" And AI said they could, so, maybe it's that again. Who knows? I wouldn't even attempt to ask AI about other cancer treatments, because I know there are way too many.

The funny thing about cancer, is it was one of two things I worried about as a youth after seeing my grandmother die of lung cancer. The other was nuclear war. And I'll be goddamned -- to quote from my grandfathers favorite curse lexicon -- if both aren't a threat to me at this moment -- sorry conservative brothers and sisters, but you've unleashed a Donald Trump Frankenstein monster we can only watch now as he grunts his way through the village.

Cancer is not my focus today, my focus today is on tonight's August New Moon, which begins at 12:36pm here in Dallas. And this is not any-old new moon, this is the August New Moon, more precisely, what we Japanese -- wait, I'm not Japanese, I'm Nichiren Buddhist, same thing -- call the Otsukimi or Harvest New Moon.

Japan is rich with legends surrounding the moon. The most famous of these is the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (竹取物語), one of Japan’s oldest folktales. In this story, a radiant princess named Kaguya-Hime is discovered in a bamboo stalk and eventually returns to her home on the moon. This tale speaks to the mysterious allure of the moon and has inspired countless adaptations in literature, art, and film.

The harvest moon in most cultures is an important moon, and many festivals such as the Japanese Otsukimi. (or Tsukimi), will be happening tonight. In some areas there will be Pagans dancing, calling forth the moons energy to dance in unison, others will be casting spells -- most benevalent, I hope. Me, I'll show gratitude for the harvest I have, such as my three regular viewers, where would I be without you.  Also, I'll chant for the happiness and protection of everyone under the moonlight, for years to come. And finally, I'll hedge my bets on this cancer, why not. 

Pagan Moon Fun

Seriously, and most importantly, in Nichiren Buddhism, the moon is a frequent metaphor for truth, enlightenment, and the reflection of the Buddha's compassionate life in the human heart.  This will be my main focus tonight.  See you there. Let's dance. 

~~ Eso Terry 

My Cancer Diary: Waiting on Pet Scan thanking Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

Hi, thanks for checking in.   I got my pet scan yesterday, and am now waiting on the results.  I've been through this cancer stuff before, five years ago, now I'm a little bit wiser and less scared.  I live my life for today, and accept what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy.  You've heard me talk about "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" before, and it is the "myo" part that means we are all mystic.  Mystic not in a guru-magic sense, but in the interconnection with all things, all matter, all vibration, all love, hate, heaven, hell....

Two things are about to happen in my life, 

1. I get the call telling me that the cancer scares was nothing but an accident, a thing we can't explain, a miracle, it's gone.  Today, as I write, I expect this, for I have a mission in life, and have prayed for all the cancer cells in my body to go away, if it is within the divine law. 

2. I get the call telling me that they need to do a biopsy, the threat is real.

Either way, I'm set to go, rather excited to be honest. For how can we have growth without suffering?  Because, in the end, it is all Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, trust me on this one. 

~~ Eso Terry

Eso Terry talks about the bad Omen of the Nazca Plane Crash Leaving 13 dead.