Columns

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini writer Raymond Carter (1938–1988) established a reputation as a master of terse minimalism. One critic noted that he practiced the “Theory of Omission”—an approach to writing fiction that mandates the elimination of superfluous narrative elements. But it turns out that Carver’s editor Gordon Lish had a major role in all […]

Q: “I am a successful, stable, satisfied man in his late 70s who has just been given a terminal diagnosis from an aggressive brain cancer. I am reasonably disappointed with the situation but also feel satisfied with what I have accomplished in my life and accepting that it may be my time to go. I […]

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The most successful people aren’t those who merely follow their passion, but those who follow their curiosity. Honoring the guidance of our passions motivates us, but it can also narrow our focus. Heeding the call of our curiosity emboldens our adaptability, exploration, and maximum openness to new possibilities. In that spirit, […]

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Classical ballet dancers often seek to convey the illusion of weightlessness through highly stylized movements. Innovative Taurus choreographer Martha Graham had a different aim, emphasizing groundedness. Emotional depth and rooted physicality were crucial to her art of movement. “The body never lies” is a motto attributed to her, along with “Don’t […]

Dear Dr. Jane, My husband and I have some minor communication problems, but overall we get along pretty well. Last summer, we started couples’ counselling because I discovered that he was secretly watching porn. My sister said that it wasn’t a big deal, but it feels terrible to me. We have a pretty good sex […]

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author Nellie Bly (1864–1922) was a daring trailblazer. It was almost impossible for a woman to be a journalist in the 19th century, but she did it anyway. One of her sensational groundbreaking stories came when she did an undercover assignment in New York’s Women’s Lunatic Asylum. Her reporting on […]

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You can’t see or hold the wind, though you can feel its force and observe its effects. It scatters some seeds far and wide, dispersing them to grow in unexpected places. When harnessed by turbines, the wind is a renewable energy source. It can be utilized to pump water and fuel […]

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy Have you heard of the Central Oregon Partnership?” my friend Jim Lussier began, as soon as we sat down, he sipping a latte, me a hot chocolate. It was late […]

Central Oregon is a place where spring is somewhat confused, wavering between beautiful warm days beckoning time on the river, right next to another epic pow day, calling us right back to the mountains. The flowers and trees are equally confused, but a recent blast of sunshine and warmth had the Juniper trees deciding it […]