I grew up Episcopalian. I went with my family to church until I was a teenager, sang in the choir, can still sing to you the beautiful Sanctus that Father Howell would intone before Communion. I loved the stained glass, the vestments, the rituals. And I never understood anything that was being said. I’d try, really strain to comprehend the message. What I remember is many versions of this: “And Jesus said to the Apostles, I come unto you to... Read more
Peter Munson is a great friend and inspiring colleague. I’m passing along his wise words for this Thanksgiving Day. Meditation for 27 November 2013 From The Rev. Peter A. Munson Luke 12:32-34 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For... Read more
man·tra noun ˈmän-trə also ˈman- or ˈmən- : a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated by someone who is praying or meditating : a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone’s basic beliefs (Merriam-Webster online dictionary) I was working with someone recently who was feeling pretty awful. She’d move some emotions through, and then grimace and well up all over again. When I asked her what the thought was that she was pummeling herself with, it took her a bit... Read more
Oak is a great friend, a member of our conscious community, and an incredible poet, activist, and torchbearer for all things good and true. She posted this description of what she want through during the September flooding in Jamestown, where she lives. I found the depth of her description to be heart-rending, exhilarating, and mind-boggling; and her courage (and those of her neighbors and responders) to be truly inspiring. I asked Oak if I could re-post this and she generously... Read more
Sirens blaring. The booming voice ominously repeating the warning to MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. The images on YouTube and TV of flooding and rescues and rushing water and ROAD CLOSURES and EVACUATION ORDERS. My adrenaline goes up and my brain thinks there’s an emergency, I should do something. But–what? Oh, nothing, there’s nothing to do right now. Sit back down. Watch more images. I found the whole experience to be quite compelling. I know about Reactive Brain and Narrow... Read more
Don’t you wish there was a way to figure out what’s true and what isn’t? As in–is it true that people are basically good, or are we actually sinners in disguise? Or–is it true that we should scrimp and save so that we have enough money for retirement? Or maybe we should live for today and buy whatever we want. How do we decide what is true? I believe that it’s all true. Uh-huh. Here’s what I mean: Imagine life... Read more
I worked with a couple recently that was totally stuck. Sleep-deprived with a newborn, they found themselves irritable with each other, having conversations that quickly escalated into conflict. They had a good idea of what the pattern was (A got mad, B tried to placate, A’s anger increased, B got mad, A got scared of B’s anger so withdrew). Their attempts to change the pattern, however, just weren’t working. “A” was clear that “B” was volatile, and that if she... Read more
I don’t know if it’s something about the spring, or an astrological issue, or just life unfolding. It’s been an intense time in my office, a time when people’s long-buried secrets, those that have caused them so much shame, pain, and self-recrimination, have been coming to the light. I have such a strange and fascinating job. As I sit with people, hour after hour, year after year, I am privy to a world that most don’t know about. While each... Read more
7,085,570,680. That’s how many of us there are in the world–well, about two minutes ago. The number of us cells there are that make up the human body. I saw about 40 of those cells out this morning on my walk and bike ride. I felt great appreciation for the dog walkers, bicyclists, carriage-pushers, meditators, sun-soakers, and runners (special blessing to the guy who was running in regular clothes and dress shoes). Here they all were, taking care of their... Read more
This morning I was just talking to someone about her process of being in the Goo. Last night it was a close family member who clearly has gone into Goo-dom. You know the Goo. It’s the sense of being unformed. The place of not being able to figure out who the heck we are without our career, marriage, kids who are growing up, the eating disorder, our close people who have died, or (fill in the blank) __________ The experience... Read more
EVOLUTIONARY POWER
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In