2016 felt like ripping off a giant, stinking bandage and exposing the raw, festering wound that lies underneath. Now we are all just gathered around, aghast, mouths gaping, wondering what the fuck to do and how could this be. When the air hits, it burns. When the ugly and shocking truth arrives into the light … Continue reading The year of Light.
Spirituality
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.
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
You Are Your Own Oracle.
On the side of Mt. Parnassus in Greece lie the ruins of the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi. From 1400 BC -381 AD the temple was visited by leaders and kings and people from far away seeking wisdom and divine guidance from the Oracle of Delphi. Animal sacrifices, divination and rituals were performed by priests who … Continue reading You Are Your Own Oracle.
Walking Meditation
My son woke extra early this morning. So we went out for a walk and watched the sun lighten the sky. "Wherever we walk, we can practice meditation. This means that we know that we are walking. We walk just for walking. We walk with freedom and solidity, no longer in a hurry. We are … Continue reading Walking Meditation
The real story.
There is some popular rhetoric out there that negative feelings can be extinguished simply by overriding them with positive thinking and affirming thoughts. Don't feed the negative, and it will - poof!- vanish away and only love and light will remain! Wouldn't that be nice. The thing we come to realize sooner or later though, is … Continue reading The real story.
Mantras for Real Parents
Today I am reposting an article from Shawn Fink of abundantmama.com. I have come across this a couple of times in the last two years and it is simply one of those posts that is worth coming back to again and again. Just...scroll... it's so worth the read. Oh and by the way - these … Continue reading Mantras for Real Parents
Mama needs space – or else!
It is getting harder and harder to practice in the morning with my now two-year old... because well, he's TWO and its pretty much hard to do anything you want to do for more than 5 consecutive minutes or risk potentially hazardous situation. I mean, could just open the back door and set him free in the … Continue reading Mama needs space – or else!
In sickness.
We are deep into week two of sickness. One bug followed by an even bigger, meaner bug and day five of the all-night brigade to alleviate breathing passages, soothe, and pray desperately for the much-needed mercy of sweet, deep healing sleep. This is only the second major bout with illness for my son but our first experience with the … Continue reading In sickness.
uncharted ground 