Former Vice President, Spiro Agnew, called them "nattering nabobs of negativism." I've used the term "diminishing mirrors." But we all know what that is, and we know too well the effect it can have. This can apply to chronically discouraging... Continue Reading →
"But human beings are not trash. We are the civilizing force on the planet." ~ Chris Offutt, "Trash Food" I came across a couple of articles this morning that stirred the fire-pot ... you know, that liquid lava center that... Continue Reading →
Julian of Norwich, born in 1342, is considered to be one of the most important Christian (or any tradition) mystics and spiritual mothers. There's good reason for that. Read on. She was an anchoress at St. Julian of Le Mans,... Continue Reading →
"Another world is not only possible, she's on the way and, on a quiet day, if you listen very carefully you can hear her breathe." ~ Arundhati Roy* There's something compelling about being reminded that a new story is trying... Continue Reading →
"Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language." "Don't search for the answers, which could not be given... Continue Reading →
I wrote recently on the 'power word' benediction, and today it's blessing and welcoming hospitality that arise, deliciously, for reflection. In the February message from Friends of Silence, the reflection theme was friendship, but moreso a quality of blessing and... Continue Reading →
When I saw this article from Rick Hanson, it took all of a nanosecond for me to recognize the pattern he's talking about. It's one that can make me wince just thinking about it, though it's common enough. In the... Continue Reading →
“Architects and planners use the term “desire paths” to describe the shortcuts taken by people for whom the laid-out pattern doesn’t fit their lives. But, in one sense, all paths are desire paths, the marks of human longing or need.”... Continue Reading →
"In a dark time, the eye begins to see." ~ Theodore Roethke In the pitch-black nadir of my own journey through the Underworld -- the dark night, the forest I knew not -- 0ne of the many sparks of light... Continue Reading →
With gratitude and appreciation to Linda at LiteBeing for the invitation to participate in this 2014 end-of-year ritual. As part of this blog ritual, Linda invited us to reflect on our experiences during and the gifts of this past year... Continue Reading →
Some traditions refer to the Divine Spark or Inner Light within us, which is hidden from us, then found, cultivated, and shared forth as 'medicine' or remedy for the world in these times. This awareness was part of the deeper,... Continue Reading →
"HIDING... is a way of staying alive. Hiding is a way of holding ourselves until we are ready to come into the light. Even hiding the truth from ourselves can be a way to come to what we need in... Continue Reading →
"The power of taking a stand centers us in something larger than our own life starring us. We start to realize that we have been “given” life and that it’s a gift. When we use our life as an instrument... Continue Reading →
"May you listen to your longing to be free. May the frames of your belonging be large enough for the dreams of your soul. May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart that something... Continue Reading →
"We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or... Continue Reading →
"What a long time it can take to become the person one has always been. How often in the process we mask ourselves in faces that are not our own? How much dissolving and shaking of ego we must endure... Continue Reading →
This is an 'evergreen', timeless update from the Sophia's Children archives. Is there a deeper purpose and beauty in relationship than what we might have been conditioned to see? A deeper beauty and richness of possibility that has been obscured... Continue Reading →
Here's a theme that's been growing in strength: the importance of reclaiming the power of our focus from the myriad bling-bling distractions, reclaiming the power of our dreaming, so that we can direct more and more of it towards desirable... Continue Reading →
It's the perfect time for checking in with the deepest stirrings of heart-and-soul ... a Season of Vision-Stirring, Vision-Seed Planting, and Vision-Tending. I've got a Vision-Stirring feature-page on the Sophia's Children work-table, but for right now, here's some Vision-Season inspiration.... Continue Reading →
"One person alone can't do it. I've learned that. But two people? That's a done deal. If two people believe in the same thing, it's automatically real." ~ Bulahdeen, in Lost Lake, by Sarah Addison Allen There's that age-old saying:... Continue Reading →
"When we are dealing with peoples' dreams -- their visions, really -- we are in the realm of the sacred." ~ Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way That's the way it is, really, when it comes to the dreams and visions... Continue Reading →
"The Magdalene quality of friendship is the ability to know everything there is to know about a person, to celebrate their fortunes, to weather their straits, to chance their enemies, to accompany them in their pain and to be faithful... Continue Reading →
ma-laise "A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify. "a society afflicted by a deep cultural malaise"* burnout "Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress."* Wherever we are, whether we're... Continue Reading →
"Asking for help does not mean that we are weak or incompetent. It usually indicates an advanced level of honesty and intelligence." - Anne Silson Schaef If experience has taught me anything -- and indeed, it's taught me much --... Continue Reading →
"Now I become myself. It's taken time, many years and places. I have been dissolved and shaken, Worn other people's faces. ..." May Sarton, Now I Become Myself* Over the years, I've noticed a pattern: A lot of astrologers, intuitives, and... Continue Reading →
"In your Anam-cara you discovered the Other with whom your heart could be at home." ~ John O'Donohue, The Confessions of St. Patrick (Introduction) On this notion of our soul-deep yearning for our anam cara, our true soul friends and believing mirrors, Carla... Continue Reading →
"As far as you can, hold your confidence. Do not allow confusion to squander This call which is loosening Your roots in false ground, That you might come free From all you have outgrown." ~ 'For the Interim Time' by... Continue Reading →