A New Legacy
It’s Veteran’s day as I write this, a powerful day to reflect on. As we honor those who have served in the military to protect the United States this day, I’m drawn to look at my own family’s legacy from wars long gone by.
Wise Sage or Innocent Child?
From a young age, I’ve been attracted to spirituality. In the 80’s, I followed channelers, investigated astrology, read tarot cards, collected crystals, and did a Native American vision quest. In the 90’s, I did shamanic drumming, read mystical texts, discovered yoga, studied world religions, and sat for my first meditation. My spiritual pursuits continue to this day.
Unfortunately, right from the get-go, my “know-it-all” tendency wanted my persona to be a wise sage. Bad idea.
Why? Because when you’re trying to be a wise sage, you can’t learn anything. You have to already know something to be a wise sage, and I was just a youngster!
Monthly Column in Sibyl Magazine!
I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be a featured columnist in Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Woman for all of 2015! Join me as we journey through the year in my monthly article on Awakening Through the Seasons.
On the path of spiritual awakening, we become deeply connected to the rhythms of the earth. Every season touches something within us. If we attune ourselves to the seasonal vibrations, our spiritual growth deepens and expands. Explore the energies of the changing natural world around you each month, and allow these insights and lessons to transform your life.
Speaking From the Heart
This summer, my daughter and I shared an extraordinary week-long camping experience. There’s not a lot of words yet for what I feel. I can only offer feelings from my heart. The heart speaks in non-verbal ways – how to communicate that in a blog?
Ready to Relax
School’s out and summer is here. I’m ready to relax – how about you?
What I realize, though, is that I really didn’t have to wait until summer. I could have learned to relax all along.
We tend to carry so much tension in our bodies – running our lives by the clock, stressing about deadlines or bills, rushing to the next appointment, working longer hours at work or on homework. Is it all really worth it?
Tranquility
Imagine sitting by the shore of a pond. There is a gentle breeze, just enough to tickle you, on a balmy, warm day. You can hear birds singing, talking to one another, with spacious periods of serene silence in-between. At the near edge of the pond is a grouping of lily pads, with several pale pink blossoms opening themselves to the sun. Other than the occasional duck that paddles by, the water is smooth as glass, undisturbed and reflective.
Just Begin
I like to walk on the treadmill at the gym, since I don’t have a nice hilly area right out the door to walk. When I say “like”, however, that may not be the most accurate description.
For the first several minutes, I constantly look at the time – how much longer? It feels like a lot of effort, my legs feel stiff, my muscles cold and complaining. I question whether I can really do this today. I don’t feel like going up those hills, or walking so fast, or expending the effort. It seems daunting, and I am tempted to stop.
May Day Motivation!
I’m writing this on the first day of May. It snuck up on me like a squirrel trying to steal the strawberries out of our garden. Before I knew it, he scampered away with a ripe red berry, and I was just as surprised when May arrived.
This mid-spring moment gives us pause to consider what is growing in our lives. This lively season is in full bloom – have we allowed something to bloom within us? Are you tending to those seeds that you planted, the goals and aspirations that gestated over the winter?
New Perspective
I remember back in college my Sociology teacher gave us an interesting assignment. For the next week, he told us, we needed to drive to and from our home by different routes each day. We were then to reflect on how the experience affected us.
Recently, I revisited this practice at my office, when my husband had taken my car for the day. This forced me to walk to lunch, rather than driving to one of my favorite spots.
Walking down a street that I usually drive down was a very different experience. Waiting at the crosswalk, ambling over to the other side of the street, and strolling along the roses growing next to the sidewalk was refreshing. It slowed me down and allowed me to actually see and appreciate what was around me.
Are You Sick And Tired Of It?
It’s part 2 of my Not-So Patient Patient story. Yeah, believe it or not.
Now I’m going on 8 weeks of having some sort of bug – I would seem to be almost over one ailment, and then I’d catch something else.
I believe that I’m just about over this cycle. But the journey has deepened, in unexpected ways.
My new-found patience led me to explore my internal attitudes. What thought was I holding onto in my consciousness? What could be behind this perpetuated illness?
