What Vision Are You Creating for Your Life?
" ...we aren’t much good in the outer world if we haven’t taken the time to heal our wounds and assess what truly makes us happy."
Not Goodbye, but “See You on the Other Side”
"...when our physical body passes away, the inner essence of our being simply travels on . . . continuing to help from the other side."
An Invitation to Calm and Inner Peace
Life’s difficult trials, perhaps more than at any other time, call upon us to dive deep into our spiritual practices.
My Roots Go Down
I’ve Learned to Listen— To the trees. To the child. To the breeze.
Hold On
But today, I feel like crying because I want to hug tight the people I love. I want us to make it through this. I want us to do better. To learn from this. To care more. To be more compassionate.
Building a More Loving Community this Holiday Season: “Just Listen”
During this holiday season, may our hearts be filled with peace. May our thoughts, words, and actions bring happiness—to ourselves, to others, and to the world. By listening, deeply, with love.
Honoring Loved Ones Who Have Crossed Over: Why Rituals Matter
Rituals give us an opportunity to share the stories of our friends and relatives who have passed. By joining together in community, we add value and meaning to our own lives...
Inner Peace: When the World Collapses Around Us
What can we do in times of tragic loss? We can continue to light candles, we can pray, we can sing, we can sob, we can dance, we can paint, we can write, we can rebuild, and we can gather our loved ones close. We can listen to our heart’s call.
Still Quiet Moments: Loss & Healing
As we sit with our sadness, we may decide not to waste time chasing the wrong things. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow likely no longer appeals to us because we understand the impermanent, fleeting beauty of the rainbow’s hues – knowing such splendor will not last. Knowing it is not meant to be here forever, but nevertheless wanting desperately to grasp each precious moment.
Women’s History Month: Honoring the Sacred
For all who came before and all who follow in our footsteps, we will honor the feminine, eternal, life-giving force of this Universe. And then, women will join together, once again, in the sacred circle dance that is our power and our divine source.
Peaceful Earth Warriors: Our Spiritual Awakening is Here, Now
We plant seeds of universal accord when we remember that we are here, as guests, for only a brief while. What makes us truly happy is never that which destroys. Rather, it is the connection to our Source and to our hearts that nourishes a deep, abiding love for humanity, for wildlife, for nature, and for our planet.
2017: Working Together for a New World Vision
Ask questions. Set aside judgments. Go beyond current comfort zones. Learn from the indigenous people, the scientists, the children, the plants and animals, the shamans, the musicians, the artists, the peacemakers, the homeless, the teenagers, the poets, and the dancers. Learn about other cultures, religions, races, and ethnic groups. We have so much we can teach each other! The skills we will need to develop include: openness, curiosity, nonjudgmental mindsets, and humility.
Seeking Solace
Our hearts seek comfort from things of beauty. We find solace in metaphors, stories, prayers, and songs. We gain strength from those creative souls who remind us, again and again, why we are here. They show us that we can do this hard thing: We can get up each day, do our work in this world, and stay awake to both our sorrow and our joy.
Our Earth, Our Home
Inner calm is mighty. It is the courage to get up each day despite hardships. It is the willingness to bear witness to loss, anguish, betrayal, death, and destruction. It is the capacity to hear the silence of children who speak volumes with their eyes. It is the ability to cry when tears are needed and the ability to laugh when human folly presents itself. It is the determination to hold fast to a vision that serves our earth home. It is a positive force that ripples out into the world in a myriad of beautiful ways.
Clarity of Vision: Hearing the Hawk’s Call
The heart’s tug is a reminder of what’s truly important and lasting: Kindness. Love. Compassion. Healing. Our inner knowing helps us see with clarity: This planet is our earth home. Land, water, trees, and sky are worthy. Future generations are worthy. We are worthy.
Embracing the Mosaic of Our Lives
One piece of my mosaic is this blog. It is a simple thing. It is also a part of me that I share with you. Whatever your work in this world, don’t give up. Valuable fragments often come from ordinary, daily pursuits. No one can duplicate or replace your piece in this life.
2016: The Year We Learn to Love Better
How do we achieve these goals? One way is to begin working together. We can honor our cultural, ethnic, religious, gender, and race differences while also embracing our commonalities. We can try to understand that the real enemies are ignorance, greed, fear, hate, and prejudice. We can refuse to follow any leader who promotes hate. We can joyfully decline to be governed by fear. We can embrace our power to make a difference.
Letting Go . . . Over the Holidays
Once we let go of our excessive mental clutter, we create more heart space. We can then fill our lives with the qualities we wish to embody: Compassion. Patience. Kindness. Forgiveness. Gentleness. Laughter. Joy. Gratitude. These are the gifts we can give to ourselves—and to those we love. These are the gifts that allow us to bring the Holiday Spirit to life.
Everyday Mindfulness: Remembering Why We’re Here
Home > Blog Index > Everyday Mindfulness: Remembering Why We’re Here “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment, and feeling truly alive.” —Thich Nhat Hanh “I celebrate myself and sing myself . . . for every atom [...]
Why the World Needs Dreamers
Not long ago, I watched the movie Tomorrowland. Sitting in front of me was a group of pre-teen girls, eating popcorn and giggling. At the end of the movie, these girls cheered and clapped with triumphant enthusiasm. The movie (starring George Clooney and Britt Robertson) explores the question of whether the planet can be saved from what ails it (violence, environmental destruction, wars, etc.). After much mayhem, a search ensues for the earth’s dreamers. Dreamers are needed because they haven’t given up. “They’re the future.”
The Ebb and Flow of Being in the Now
When we survive difficult trials, our ideas of happiness often get redefined. Rather than outward worldly pursuits, happiness may come in the form of appreciation for ordinary, daily miracles—the ability to drink water from a cup, visit with a friend, or hug the people we love. Sometimes, after a long, hard journey, wonderful surprises appear just around the bend. This turn in events may not be the way we thought things would (or should) work out—and certainly won’t take us back in time. Nevertheless, it’s possible the life waiting for us is deeper, richer, and more fulfilling than we ever imagined it could be.
Parenting as a Spiritual Practice: Roots & Wings
"The years are short. It all goes by in a blink. Mindful attention is helpful for fully appreciating each fleeting moment. Extreme loss brings a greater awareness of impermanence. Sometimes the mishaps are the things we remember later with laughter. Sometimes the mistakes are what change the course of our lives."
Fearless Living from a Boundless Heart
Living a fearless life does not mean we are devoid of doubts. It does not mean we are never afraid. It also does not mean we don’t make mistakes. Fearless living from a boundless heart simply means we are motivated by love. So much so, that when we are frightened, or even if our own safety is threatened, we act on what we know to be deeper truths. We gain courage as we go and trust that Spirit will show us the way.
Embracing the New Emerging You
Home > Blog Index > Embracing the New Emerging You “Open yourself to heaven and earth, then trust your natural responses; and everything will fall into place.” —Lao Tzu “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, Begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it, Begin it now.” —Johann Wolfgang von [...]
Accessing Deeper Levels of Peace
Many of us occasionally find ourselves overwhelmed with job demands, caring for aging parents, raising children, paying bills, dealing with health issues, or facing significant losses. During such challenges, serenity may seem like a far-off, distant planet. We know tranquility exists, but we don’t actually believe it’s feasible to visit (let alone live in) a place so alien to our current worldview. In turbulent life circumstances, we might doubt that inner peace is even possible.