nature
Say Good Morning To The World
Yesterday was a real hard one for me; too many things going wrong: kids not observing rules, friends who just needed a few minutes to talk, family calling with one problem or another, and then being notified to fill in at work at the last minute.
Good morning to the World.
There I went, off to the craziness of another day in the old rat race of work, and family chaos.
But this morning I took a different approach, by returning to my usual daily routine. Seeing the Sun rising high in the East, I went outside to sit on the bench with my second cup of espresso. To charge up my energy I started singing O’ Sole Mio in a clear, strong voice. This is the best way to welcome the blessings of another day – before everyone else wakes up. Continue reading
Grief And Spiritual Healing
Every one of us deals with loss at some point in our lives. A family member, a friend, even our beloved pets. We may be angry or depressed long after the loss occurs, and ask ourselves why it happened. As we work through the stages of grief, keeping a sense of spirituality is essential.
It’s natural to ask our higher power for answers. We have to keep the lines of communication open. In doing so, we work through our grief and learn more about ourselves. This is called “soulwork,” or “soul-searching.” It should not be confused with connecting to our loved ones on the other side, though this may be part of the journey. Expressing grief is the most important thing we can do. Continue reading
Meet The Archangels
Divine messengers and emissaries, the Archangels are the foremost of the host of angels, and they help and guide us in our daily lives. Although they are established in many religious traditions, anyone may call upon them for assistance.
Most of the Archangels have names ending in “-el,” which means “of, or in God.” Though the spiritual traditions debate how many Archangels there are, the following are some of the most well-known to humanity.
Michael (Who is like God?) is the leader of the Archangels, often depicted as a warrior angel with a blazing sword. He can help in conquering our fears and anxieties, motivating us to do greater things, and seeking the truth. He’s also a powerful ally in breaking our addictions. Continue reading
Spring Awaits Within The Sacred Circle
I was concentrating on work last night, while outside my window, without me realizing, a quiet blanket of white fell over the earth. The beauty of the quietness, the purity of the color gave a sense of all is well.
Of course, this snow puts the universe into a time of pause, a waiting time, where even the stars, the Moon, and the Earth seems suspended, still, ending movement, ending growth. Yet, underneath, the seeds and the bulbs are preparing, taking in nourishment, so that in the advent of the Spring season, sometimes even before the snow is gone, the beautiful new growths start to pop up here, there, bringing new life.
Many people wish for Spring all the time. Our lives are so busy. We wish to keep rushing, fast-paced, moving toward our goals and our dreams. We want to keep life moving as quickly as we can. Continue reading
Prairie Dog Wisdom
In Native American tradition the “prairie dog” brings with it a special message of retreat when it crosses our path. In times of stress and over-exertion it reminds us to take some time out, withdraw from our busy modern lives and recharge our batteries.
This is what the prairie dog does when it gets into trouble. It withdraws into the safe depths of the earth, with several escape routes waiting in case of emergency. The prairie dog teaches us to pick our battles carefully. Prairie dog medicine is also symbolic of the opposite. In times when we have become too withdrawn and disconnected from family, friends and the world around us, this magical animal encourages us to reach out to others and join in social activities. Continue reading
Always Be Free To Own Your Feelings
When was the last time someone suggested to you that you are much too happy, that you are smiling too much and needed to get on with it? My guess would be… probably never. Then why do you suppose it is that whenever we are in a place of sadness, or enmeshed in feelings of loneliness, grief or despair, we are often told there is a time limit on our feelings; that we need to get over it.
My brother passed away at the tender age of 12 and left such an enormous gap in our lives that my whole family mourned him for over 25 years. For us this was a normal and natural process. We knew instinctively that we would release our feelings of sadness and our great sense of loss at our own appropriate time, with the added luxury of not having anyone give us a grieving time-table to adhere to. Continue reading
Heliotherapy – Let The Sunshine In!
As winter is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, for many of us it’s also the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as “winter blues” or “winter depression.” Since most of us can’t afford a month-long trip to a tropical island to offset our melancholy, what can we do holistically and naturally to restore ourselves to balance?
Many of us spend our waking hours almost entirely indoors. We wake up when the sun is just rising, work for many hours, and then go home when it is already setting again. This is artificial and unhealthy.
Our ancestors, who were free from our modern lifestyle diseases, never would have experienced it. We need sunlight to grow, to heal, and to thrive, which is why SAD, in these months of diminished sunlight, can be so debilitating.
Make it a priority to get outside and take in the natural light. Without the Vitamin D and other nutrients we need, it’s easy for us to slip into a downward spiral. In addition, natural sunlight has benefits such as lowered blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and improved mood. Continue reading