For twenty-four years, I have laid out this sacred cloth and placed a candle in the center of our circle. Next, I burn sage and sweetgrass. That clears the energy and invites Great Mysterious. The rattle, our talking stick, finds its spot in the south. This is the direction of trust on the medicine […]
Listen! Listen! Listen! Your life is about to change. These words play inside of me. Is this a prediction, a warning, or a promise? Nighttime Walking Meditation at Morton Arboretum is a time of reflection. An opportunity to be introspective. A dozen or so of us gather as our leader
This month I am taking a blog break. In place of a blog, I offer this poem: *Cosmos By Nancy J Hill: She looks back at me from her golden center. We sense our connection. Me the gardener. She the flower. That night as I brush my teeth, her image flashes before
When the world wobbles and uncertainty seems ever present, it is timeto listen for our soul’s voice. Checking in with it can bring a sense ofbalance and peace. In this noisy world, what is important can be difficultto hear. There is no place better to listen than in the heart of our childself. Our
Remember opening a new box of crayons. Vivid colors dance before your eyes. A waxy earthy scent fillsyour nose. Vibrant perfect points line up like a tiny rainbow. You choose your favorite color and slide it across a page. Smooth. Satisfying. Simple. Do you recall moments like these? Some of us
My badger carving has an arrow pointing from its heart to its mouth. Zuni artisans, make these animal figures. They say this symbolizes the flow of life force energy. What stirs in the heart needs an outward expression. This arrow forms a “heartline” and is more than a decorative flourish. It reminds us to live
Korean spice verbena stands outside the living room door. Round clusters of red buds will soon open to scented pink flowers. Our home will then fill with a fragrance that is both sweet and spicy. Roots of this pungent plant found their way into my garden some twenty years ago. Turning to nature
Goldfinch’s changing colors. Moon’s phases. Magnolia’s blossoms. Noticing Nature connects us to Deep Time. Time that is not measured in minutes but in moments. Deep Time reflects patterns that are not counted on a clock’s face but on the white faces of stars. When we experience awe and wonder we are in
“My closets had never been so clean as they were when I decided to write a book.” A friend told me this. I knew exactly what she meant. It is that temptation to straighten things up before we start following inspiration’s tug. Somehow everything around us needs to be neat and orderly before we
Early in the 12th century someone uttered the word “courage” for the first time. A new word was needed. The speaker took the word for heart and shaped it into a new form to express speaking from one’s heart. The word “courage” was born. Words like “courage,” “compassion,” “gratitude,” and “resilience”
