Cindy Rasicot
Cindy Rasicot’s life has been a spiritual journey since she was a small child. At four she asked her older brother (who was five at the time): “Where is God?” His answer: “Everywhere.” Puzzled, she looked all around her, but didn’t find evidence. She kept her brother’s words in her heart while growing up, and figured she’d have an answer someday. In the meantime, she got her master’s degree in marriage, family, and child counseling, married, and held management positions in non-profits for twenty-five years―all while exploring her passion for dance, art, and writing.
Cindy’s spiritual journey took on new dimensions when she, her husband, and their son moved to Bangkok, Thailand for three years. She met her spiritual teacher, Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkuni, the first fully ordained Thai Theravada nun―an encounter that opened her heart and changed her life forever. This deepening relationship led to writing her memoir, Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter’s Spiritual Quest in Thailand, which chronicles her adventures along the spiritual path.
Her other writings include an article in Sawasdee Magazine in 2007 and essays featured in two anthologies: Wandering in Paris: Luminaries and Love in the City of Light (Wanderland Writers, 2013) and A Café in Space: The Anaïs Nin Literary Journal, Volume 11 (Sky Blue Press, 2014). She currently resides in Point Richmond, California, where she writes and enjoys views of the San Francisco Bay.
Instagram: @cindy.raiscot
Favorite non-reading activity?
I love to hike in the early mornings. I have a group of women friends that I hike with at 6 am. When I first wake up my mind is full of anxious thoughts about the day; walking sets my mind at ease. Once my mind is clear, I am free to write. My daily routine is hike, stretch, grab coffee, and sit down at my computer to write.
Is there a work of art you love?
I love Monet’s water lilies at Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. I’ve been there many times to see the paintings. Looking at his vast landscapes, I imagine myself floating with abandon among the flowers. It’s a wonderful feeling.
What brings you great joy?
My greatest joy comes from visiting my Buddhist teacher, Venenerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, at her-all female monastery in Thailand. It’s like coming home. Monastery life isn’t for everyone—getting up at 4 am to pray, eating two meals a day, sleeping on a two-inch plastic mattress. But I love it and always return from my visits feeling a sense of hope and renewal.
Not all books are for all readers…when you start a book and you just don’t like it, how long do you read until you bail?
I can usually tell within the first 50 pages whether or not I’m going to like a book. I’m pretty impatient. If I don’t get caught up in a book by that point, I set it aside. I keep the book however, and may try to read it at a different time in case my perspective changes. I had one book I didn’t like which I tried to read a year later and decided it was okay, after all.
What do you worry about?
You name it, I worry about it. I was raised in a Jewish household. Worry is my middle name. I worry about things that are beyond my control. Especially during the COVID pandemic, I have to make a conscious effort to focus on the positive and practice gratitude. Buddhism has helped me to learn to quiet my fears, but I have to constantly work at it.
