Sitting on the cushion, facing the wall. Eight hrs a day for the past four days. I notice that my facial muscles are clenched: tightness at the back of my jaw, tension around my eyes. Try to call up the slight buddha-like smile, thinking it might melt the furrow between my brows. Open mouth wide, …

My name is Roshin: Dew Drop Mind. This name was bestowed on me today by Roshi Joan in jukai, and it is absolutely my name. It fits just right. ‘Carmen’ is a name for spanish dancers and vamps, porn stars, video-game characters and drag queens. I’ve been wearing that handle my whole life, and it …

A resident left today without saying goodbye. She packed her bags and got on a train bound for California. Going home. This happens. We are a tight little group and it is shocking when someone leaves, whether we expect it or not. They leave a hole like a pulled tooth. But soon the gap heals …

I spread out the pieces of my rakusu, in readiness for dunking in the pot of black dye. A ragbag of precious bits gleaned from the patchwork of my life, these include: -A piece of denim from faux-bro Ki’s favourite jeans, veterans of many a forest rave we danced at together. -A scrap from my …