When we practice clear seeing and become willing to see the truth of our lives, we may feel disappointed if what we see is not similar to what we desire. The important thing is that we are willing to see our lives as they are with nonjudgment, kindness, curiosity, and self-compassion. We can apply our […]
Healing in nature, healing ourselves and the natural world is an interdependent practice of healing. In the natural world, we encounter the ecology of place. We discoverthat creatures are linked to one another and to their surroundings. We discover a communion of subjects amongst the birds, trees, flowers, animals, bodies of water, and ourselves that […]
Originally published at Wilmington Faith and Values on March 8, 2012. I developed a practice of mindful writing when began an in depth exploration of various writing practices years ago following a family tragedy. I had studied a number of writing practices, but I hadn’t found one in which I could find an ease, a […]
Seeing clearly can help us to have insights and open our hearts with greater compassion to whatever arises in our lives. I’ve come full circle back to the collage work. I tried to force something to be a photograph, but its deepest longing is to be collage. Last weekend’s yoga workshop in Asheville brought some […]
This article was first published in Religion News Wilmington on January 23, 2012 with the title “Mindfulness as a Spiritual and Secular Practice Increases Wellbeing.” Mindfulness for wellbeing is awareness of the present moment without judgment. It involves slowing down and focusing the attention on the body, feelings, and mind. It is an invitation to be […]
The power of intention is that it helps us to remain focused on what matters most. Yesterday there was something I needed to get done that I really didn’t want to do. I paused for a moment to become aware of my thoughts. “I’m tired,” I heard. “And it’s raining.” It’s raining? I smiled at […]
Creating New Year intentions keeps us grounded in what matters most. As the ending of this year approaches, we prepare to greet the coming of a New Year. It is a season of hope and a season of mindfully creating intentions for the New Year. Mindfully creating intentions is the first step toward opening to […]
Letting go of fear. What does this really mean? It’s more about feeling the fear and living our lives fully anyway. In North America, we are in the season of darkness. The hours of darkness continue to grow longer, and the hours of light decrease as we move toward the winter solstice, the darkest day […]
Eating mindfully during the holiday season takes effort and planning. The holidays are one of the most common times that mindless eating and overeating tend to occur. It’s easy to fall prey to the mind trap of convincing ourselves that it’s ok to go off of our eating plans just for the holidays. If you’re […]
Meditation and depression are two subjects we should be talking about more in the same sentence. Mindfulness meditation can help with depression. One of my favorite moments during a particularly challenging yoga class was when my teacher, while encouraging us to hold a very difficult pose for an extended period of time, laughed and also […]