One of the things that helped me through the months of my cancer saga this year was creating rituals that were personal and meaningful to me. Rituals and traditions are woven into most cultures around major life transitions, such as birth, marriage, and death, and to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. For me, ritual became […]
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After years without any particular word for a new year, a word did come to me this year – liberate. So I wondered how to focus on this word, to make it a priority, to commit to it. A prayer came to me, and so I decided to have a prayer of the year, to
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The answer is right there in the terms we use to describe ourselves when we are upset or at ease. It is a matter of direction. A few days ago I had an appointment with someone who was coming to my house. The person didn’t arrive on time, and as the minutes ticked by, I
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Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ~C. S. Lewis As the tectonic plates of culture alternately drift further apart and then crash into each other with increasing violence, I am reminded of blog posts of the past, written in times of heart pain
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If it weren’t for my mind, my meditation would be excellent. ~Pema Chodron You’ve heard me frequently emphasize and encourage practice. I’ve talked about the “razor’s edge” of practice, that place where we are challenged to release, expand, embrace, accept, forgive. The place where we meet fear on the battlefield and bow in respect. The
In a recent post, I described my grandson’s loving acceptance of George the lemur who lost his tail. This morning, George was found with his hand resting on Chao Chao in what appears to be a gesture of kindness. (Everyone denies staging this scenario, so think what you will about how this came about.) Chao
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We think ourselves unworthyAlways falling shortDamned by fatal flawsWe have forgotten who we areBeloved children allOf the Divine MotherEver held as babesIn her sacred embraceRocked in her armsTo the rhythm of her heartListening as she sings awayOur dreams of separationGazing into her eyes of graceReflecting back to us Our own perfection
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Buddhism says: Hatred never ceases by hatred but by love alone is healed. Christianity says: Love your enemies. Taoism says: I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Islam says: It may be that God will ordain love between you and those whom you hold