When I put my house on the market a few years ago, I mentally gave myself a year for the full transition to happen because I knew people in my neighborhood that had their houses on the market for six months or more. One week after listing, I accepted an offer and three weeks later I was meeting the moving van at my apartment in another state. It was a lot of work but it all came together. I was settling into my new home.

Yep, there I was, without a doubt or second thought about my decision or my choices. I had yet to learn that fast, and at times, dramatic changes, are unsettling even when it is exactly what I want.

For example, I made up my mind about when to make an appointment to have work done on my car. I am retired and was new in town so there were no commitments keeping me from going to the dealership. I made the decision to have the work done and four or five days later I still hadn't called. Why? Because I was hung up on when to get it done!

As I write...

Actually, it was more than one child. I spent a fair portion of the day yesterday in my son's backyard. They hosted an Easter brunch and there were three children present under the age of five.

I watched these children with interest and joy, not realizing until this morning how clearly they illustrate the power of living in the present moment. That is all they have, especially the ones under two or three. Language is developing but not really a part of their world yet. All any of them cared about was what was right in front of them or in their hand or on the ground. They were taking in information and looking for ways to understand and organize each momentary experience. Everything is new and very important.

Their ability to concentrate is quite profound, especially when they see a ladybug or someone blows bubbles into the air. That is all that exists for them in that moment. It is fun to watch one-year-olds learn from each other. There is no judgement about who they are learning...

Today I wish you Love.

Love pure enough and deep enough and true enough to open your heart to know you are loved and allow you to love yourself.

Love pure enough and deep enough and true enough to open your eyes to see that you are doing your best and so is everyone else and it is enough.

Love pure enough and deep enough and true enough to heal you on every level.

Love pure enough and deep enough and true enough to set you free of self-judgement that elicits judgement toward others.

Love pure enough and deep enough and true enough to bring you peace.

Today I wish you Love because I love you.

May I walk more personal with you as you expand into the Truth of your Soul to know that you are Love in Form?

 Contact me with questions, appointment requests, or whatever is on your mind and heart:   [email protected] Please consider joining my online meditation group 

This morning as I sit in my rocking chair to journal and blog, my eyes consistently gaze toward a window. I stop typing and broaden my breath into my rib cage and belly. My gaze softens and I feel my own presence here in this spot, in this moment. I let my eyes close and sink into myself. I am really here. Right here, right now, I am really here.

There is nothing like it. Total immersion and presence in this moment.

Meditation practice makes a moment like this possible. It is not unusual not to feel this way while actually meditating. This is why it is called a practice (look up the meaning of "practice" even if you think you know exactly what it means). What I just experienced was spontaneous and simple and I loved it. This is why I am faithful to the practice. Yoga and meditation create my ability to release into this gift of being fully immersed in this moment.

There are times I experience the same thing in my meditation but, when it just comes to me like it is...

This is so often the question, isn't it? Which is more powerful - to be in control of a situation or to release control of that situation? It seems obvious that the "right" answer is to release control. Most of us have or are dealing with our control issues, especially during this time of upheaval in our country and our world. At least it is easier to talk about with friends and loved ones than it was in the past.

In the path of enlightened awareness, the motivation comes from a deep place within. Intellectually, I am very clear that control simply doesn't work even though it may appear to in the short term. Self-control is most useful in creating a healthier flow of life, especially until I grow up in some specific area of my life. Once my awareness level catches up with the heart desire to change a behavior, there is little or no need to exercise self-control because I am able to flow with that desire in a very natural way.

As with many healing insights, I begin to have a...

This morning I awaken feeling the presence of the love that flows to me through others. I do my morning meditation before leaving my bed and am wrapped in the warmth of that love. I am quiet and peaceful and I know who I am. I am grateful and awed by it all.

I Am All That I Am, the sum total of this life's journey has brought me to this moment of peace.

I abide in the peace of my Soul. This moment of peace holds me gently and allows me to breathe into my Truth.

I Am All That I Am and I rest in this moment of peace.

Aum shanti shanti shanti. (Divine Peace Peace Peace)

You are invited to join my twice-weekly meditation group to practice peaceful moments with us.

Contact me with questions, appointment requests, or whatever is on your mind and heart:   [email protected] Please consider joining my online meditation group

About five years ago I had lunch with someone I had not seen or connected with in over forty years. We went to high school together in Washington DC. It was an all-girls school and we shared the same circle of friends. We also dated a lot of the same boys, which was a source of laughter to us at lunch. Even back then it didn't create problems for us. I guess we were already into recycling and didn't know it!

I was excited as I drove to meet her, wondering what the Divine had in store for us. A reunion neither of us attended a year ago brought me into contact with several from that circle formed so many years ago. On the drive I am sweetly curious about why she is the one I am actually going to spend time with. Why has Life arranged this? An adventure begins!

My heart leaps with joy when I see her and we hug and look into one another's eyes. Memories rise as well as does the realization that I know nothing about this woman before me. What do you talk about after forty years? We...

In my studies of Native American spirituality and customs, I discovered a simple, yet profound, motivation for becoming fully myself. At the time I was examining what parts of me felt real as opposed to those parts that had developed in order to please others. I am not an expert on Native American philosophy but I know what came to me as a gift and what opened my understanding and allowed healing.

This particular teaching had to do with allowing each individual to follow their path and develop whatever gifts they had been endowed with by the Creator. The underlying belief is that the greatest gift we bring to our family, our tribe, our nation is to be most truly who we are. The only way to know who we are is to make our journey of discovery and enlightenment. Allowing a child to reveal their personality and their talents rather than telling them how to be and what to be is a profound gift.

Few of us have experienced this gift so we must "find ourselves" as adults. Our culture is...

In spite of the changes in our lives as a result of the pandemic, some amazing things are coming out of all of this. Not the least of which is the opportunity to explore and live from the expansiveness of your soul.

There are many ways to describe the Essence of Being that is manifesting through this body and personality. This Essence is known as the spirit, soul, True Self, Inner Wisdom, Higher Self, etc. When I become aware of "someone" looking out the portals of my eyes to see this world, I am connecting with this Inner Being. This is the real me. I like the terms True Self and Soul. This is that part of me that is untouched by the traumas of human life. It is One with All That Is. It is eternal.

The process of enlightenment is remembering (re-membering, re-connecting with) that Essence that is Divine, that is Love manifesting in human form. Once remembered, the Soul flourishes and brings the higher levels of awareness that heal and expand me physically, mentally,...

I often participate in the free 21-day meditation experience offered by Deepak Chopra with Oprah Winfrey. Each session takes just twenty minutes and I would encourage you to visit their web sites and consider participating at some point.

One day a meditation focused on being successful in the care of your body. A journal is provided after you meditate to bring your experience into your practical life experience.

I want to share this idea with you and ask if you have learned how to hear your body's messages, its voice. A very simple example comes from my own life. Years ago, when learning to buy and prepare healthier foods, I attended a women's retreat one weekend. One of the speakers was presenting ideas on introducing brown rice, unrefined sugars, higher nutrient foods to our families. This was 30 years ago so it was all new to us at that time.

One of the things she said that day struck me as so simple that I have never forgotten it. She put out the idea that most of us...