During this time of personal, social, and environmental stress, developing compassion is so important. Yet, compassion isn’t always the first thing we think of when we feel attacked and triggered. If we unpack becoming triggered, we find we often become triggered when we feel overwhelmed and victimized. When this is the case, we most reflexively … Read the rest
WHEN WILL I BE LOVED?
I used to live life driven by expectation. Not just expectation, but outright demand. As you can imagine, I was disappointed much of the time. “It always breaks my heart in two. It happens all the time.”
That disappointment with life led to judgement, resentment, and blame. I blamed all the people in my life … Read the rest
HOLDING THE BROKEN
There are times we lag, times we resist and times we flat out refuse. In these moments, wrapped in the fabric of time and space, we hold tightly, becoming an emotional black hole. With infinite density, we sink deep into the universe.
And this is a beautiful place to begin.
For absolute darkness is where … Read the rest
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance is an integral step on our spiritual journey. Tara Brach and Pema Chodron, in particular, speak eloquently of its importance. In the well-known “RAIN” template, acceptance follows recognition as the foundation of mindfulness. Once we see what is happening, the important and immediate next step is to open to the experience. An essential point … Read the rest
INDEPENDENCE
INDEPENDENCE
Tonight’s discussion is about independence. True independence. Not just our yearly excuse to eat poorly, drink excessively, and blow stuff up, but the spiritual uncoupling of ourselves to the bonds that keep us imprisoned. The Shambhala Tradition references the cocoon, which is a protective enclosure fabricated by habitual patterns of attack and avoidance. Once
REPARATIONS
I am writing this on Juneteenth, a holiday in the US that has recently become a national observance, although many states have yet to institute that. The date marks the anniversary of the legal emancipation of enslaved people on June 19, 1865. A day we not only celebrate the independence American slaves, but also acknowledge … Read the rest
Moving On
Last week we discussed letting go from the point of view of releasing our grip. We spoke about this as not being getting rid of anything, but releasing our grip on a few things so we can gain access to everything else. This doesn’t mean we dont touch on things we need or appreciate, but … Read the rest
Letting Go
When we talk about letting go we usually think of getting rid of something or pushing something away. But this negative is perhaps more work than necessary. From a positive point of view, rather than struggling with anything, we can see letting go as adding space by releasing our grip. Letting go can be seen … Read the rest
MEMORIAL DAY
I’m writing this on the day set aside to honor those who died in the armed service of our country. More recently, it is the day that for many of us, despite the actual calendar date, commemorate the beginning of summer. We light up the BBQ, pull out the clubs, rackets, bats and bathing suits.
RAIN
RAIN
I.ve been thinking about the rain. Rain is lifegiving. It can be cleansing, healing, and rejuvenating. The sound of falling rain is a natural relaxant. And yet, it is a frequent nuisance and under some circumstances, deadly. From a grand perspective, rain is inherently neutral. Yet, its manifestation could be a blessing or a … Read the rest