We are overwhelmed at this time with conflict and suffering: internationally and at home, political, racial, economic, environmental...and I have been silently observing and wondering how to address all this. Today I read a thoughtful piece by David Spangler that offers some sage suggestions on how to cope with the onslaught, and I am moved to share his perspective with you. Thank you, David. The Spirit Amongst Us By David Spangler These are heart-heavy days. Nearly every day, the media bring us news of more suffering, more deaths, more anguish in the world. One day it may … [Read more...]
We Are All One
As we celebrate this season of holiday blessings, gratitude, and cheer, I want to share a story with you. For several months now I have been thinking about the distressing circumstances in which we find ourselves in the world today. I have been contemplating our situation and, ever hopeful, looking for understanding and reasons for encouragement. Notwithstanding the constant barrage of media and the fear mongers, I am encouraged! As I was leaving the gym last week, my attention was drawn to a woman standing with her back to me, in conversation with another. I did not know her, indeed … [Read more...]
People Are Good
Really. I mean it. We often forget this is fundamentally true, and are too often reminded of our weaknesses, not our strengths, as humans. But it is my consistent experience that generally people are good, they mean well, and try to do the best they can for themselves and others. We can feel so discouraged or disappointed at times in what we see in the world around us, and alas, any such sense of pessimism can be negatively reinforced from a variety of directions (not the least of which is the incessant barrage of bad news by media on a 24-hour cycle of filling digital formats of all … [Read more...]
Score: Darkness 2, Light 1,000,000
I am a Bostonian. We have had a tough week here. We suffered a violent act of darkness as two young men attacked us, killing 3, critically injuring and maiming scores of others, and attempting to shake our individual and communal senses of security and trust. They failed. Resoundingly. And so, even in the midst of this crisis, we have had a great week here. Everything that is the best in us, in humanity, is on full display: love, compassion, fearlessness in the face of danger, generosity, strength, selflessness, kindness, commitment to community, protection of others, clarity, … [Read more...]
Why am I here?
In my work I often am asked by others to help them understand why they are here. “What is my purpose in this life?” is the question I hear. And it is a universal question, perhaps not always in focus, but certainly surfacing during various stages of difficulty, growth and development. Our human experience is rather rugged, ranging through many emotional, spiritual and physical highs and lows, ever presenting new challenges, bringing us into direct confrontation from time to time with this question of “Why am I here?” Further complicating this fundamental existential inquiry is the … [Read more...]
Politics, Truth and Compassion
Are you as worn out from this election season as I am? I am beyond weary from fending off the incoming—all kinds of energetic approaches vying for my mental, psychic and emotional attention, ranging from snail mail, email, print and TV ads, the endless coverage by the media of each side’s daily talking points and the innumerable partisan surrogates appearing on behalf of each agenda, and, most difficult of all to bear, the relentless sniping and small hearted negative attacks that appear to be acceptable terms of engagement in politics. We are all being subjected to energetic fields replete … [Read more...]
Freedom and Unconditional Love
As I sit by my window, snowbound in New England, I have been thinking about love. We have moved past the frenetic holiday rush and settled into the steadiness of winter, watching each day lengthen into more daylight (not dark 'til 5 now), bringing the promise of Spring. Eventually. Meanwhile, love beckons. What is love? What is its true meaning? How can we each best express love in this short, sweet life? What does it mean to love unconditionally? Love is the expression outward from your center of your expanded self, your soul, your spirit, the unique spark of life and creativity … [Read more...]
Love Infinity
Creation begins at home. We are each and all participants in creating our world. We put together lives and partnerships and settings, seeded with intention, expressing our selves into our environments, presenting who we are as individuals. As we do this, often without great attention, we not only build a sense of home, both inner and outer, but we are also projecting our selves, the expression of our personal truth, into the world. So, the first place to begin in creating the world you would like to see is with your self. More precisely, through your embodied “Self”: the physical, … [Read more...]
A Call to Inner Action
These are interesting times. Our home, Earth, seems to be taking a strong, outward stand, erupting and quaking and behaving in volatile ways, all-in-all making quite a concerted effort to get our attention. Natural disasters, and, tragically, man-made ones, seem to be clustering together over the last many months, as if upping the ante each time. Many of us have a feeling that something in this is trying to get our attention, but don’t know what it is or what this means or what to do about it. We need to expand our response. We must craft a fuller response. But that response is not … [Read more...]