A mantra I've embraced this year and repeat to my son all the time, "The world is full of magic, medicine and miracles. Every day is a new adventure." Its been a rough few weeks....months? I'll be frank, its been a real rough year. For a lot of people, not just me. But the last few weeks really … Continue reading The world is FULL.
Self Care
On parenting in the dark.
I am completely alone in my house for the next four days. Well, there is a dog and a cat here but for the next 96 hours there are no other beings in this household that require my attention. I haven't been alone in my house for this length of time in over four years. … Continue reading On parenting in the dark.
1 in 7
1 in 7 mothers in the US today report experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety. Among lower socio-economic groups, the numbers jump to 1 in 4 women. It takes many forms. It may not look what a woman or her family thinks depression or anxiety look like. You cannot always tell a mom has postpartum depression just by looking … Continue reading 1 in 7
You are amazing, Mom.
Today at our weekly mom support group we made Mother's Day cards for ourselves. I decorated mine but I could not think of what I wanted to write as I was sitting there. It has been a tough couple of months. For the moment I am parenting predominantly alone and struggling with the implications of what … Continue reading You are amazing, Mom.
The education of a lifetime: Karen Maezen Miller on Motherhood, Meditation and Anger
Karen Maezen Miller is a Zen priest and author of Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood, Hand Wash Cold and Paradise in Plain Sight. I have written before about her profound book, Momma Zen, and how it inspired me more than any other parenting text I have ever come across. And this interview by … Continue reading The education of a lifetime: Karen Maezen Miller on Motherhood, Meditation and Anger
Ritual for New Beginnings
"Time is the substance from which I am made. Time is a river which carries me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger that devours me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire that consumes me, but I am the fire." ~ Jorge Luis Borges The modern Gregorian calendar recognizes … Continue reading Ritual for New Beginnings
Honoring the Dark.
December fell over me like a heavy blanket. All at once it seemed, I felt the energy drain out of me. I worried I was slipping into depression, as I have in the past struggled against that gravitational pull down into darkness - silence, deep introspection, isolation. I spent most of my adulthood watching for … Continue reading Honoring the Dark.
The in between place: Sometimes things are just shitty.
I'm in the hard holding space. The painful, restless, unknowing place of trying to hold more than a human heart is capable of holding without knowing how anything is going to turn out. The in between space, waiting for each next breath, each next step, having faith that healing can happen, that peace is possible. … Continue reading The in between place: Sometimes things are just shitty.
The only true thing.
A couple months ago I got this message from the Universe (yup, one of those). The message was that I needed to get start getting up earlier. Now, let me tell you what the big deal is about getting up early. I have this kid, you see. This sweet, wily, hilarious and over-the-top crazy little human who controls my … Continue reading The only true thing.
This very moment
When I come to sit, I always find what I need to find. I see what I need to see. So often we seek to rise above, to access a different plane of experience. I want to be filled with heavenly light and waves of unconditional love, of understanding and otherwordly-peace. Instead, I see my irritation … Continue reading This very moment
uncharted ground 