I’ve been writing about the Yamas for the last few weeks. If you’ve been keeping up recently, skip ahead to the next paragraph. If you want a refresher read on. Yoga is an 8-limbed path that when taken in order, leads to ultimate bliss. (yes, please). The first two limbs of the path are yama […]
Category: Discomfort
Know Peace
I’m disturbed. That’s not a strong enough word. I’m scared and worried. Just this week one of my millennial friends had a psychotic break and is in the mental hospital. My Gen Z son rejects the notion of a loving God and embraces the idea that trans men can have babies. Since the beginning of […]
On Silence
When I was younger, in my late 20’s early 30’s, music was always on. The only time it was silent was when sleeping. I carried a transistor radio with me to listen to talk radio at my desk while working. Silence was a foreign idea. It didn’t occur to me to cultivate silence. During that […]
On the Deconstruction of the Self
Recently while feeling sad and a bit hopeless, my loving husband reminded me of how many obstacles I have overcome throughout my life. I pick the hardest things to do and then I succeed at that super hard thing. Power yoga with fused spine? Check. Single parenting and a challenging career? Check. Recovery from addiction […]
The Wildness of God
When I stop cajoling, negotiating, petitioning, and outright begging, that’s when I have surrendered.
The Dark Night of the Soul
Sometimes the darkness is brought on due to our actions, as evidenced in addiction. But other times, it feels random and unfair, like a cancer diagnosis for the mom who makes good choices and has two beautiful children and a loving husband.
Self Inquiry
Those of us who walk the spiritual path do it because we want to live with relative peace and calm. We want to be reasonably helpful to others. When our shortcomings stand in the way of our serenity and usefulness, we are off the path, causing us discomfort, irritability, and sometimes outright pain.
Worry is Negative Prayer
Worrying about the future doesn’t change the future. It simply wrecks the present.
Healing our Angst
Last March, some of us thought that this would all be over by Easter. Then when it wasn’t, we thought, “Maybe by the summer.” The lush summer came and went; everything turned red, gold, and brown; it got cold. “Maybe by the new year.” Each expectation leads to another disappointment. The disappointments feed our angst like a greedy child devouring cookies.
Fear is NOT a Virtue
It’s just like the Force in Star Wars. Do you want to be a Jedi or a Sith? Do you want to broker in love, hope, faith, justice, courage, prudence, and temperance? Or do you want fear, jealousy, arrogance, anger, lack of control, chaos, and confusion?