Struggles with Conflict – Part 2

On April 17, 2014, I wrote a post called Struggles with Conflict. That turned out to be the second most popular post I’ve written. After reflecting some more about the topic, I decided to share some techniques you might find helpful when you are faced with conflict.

When someone is very angry with you, if you start defending or explaining, you may make the situation worse by giving the person more ammunition to use against you. While the problem may need to be discussed in depth, a positive outcome is not likely when one or both parties are escalated. In those cases, consider using one of the techniques I list below. That may be all that is needed. If not, then you can always set a later time for a serious discussion. Continue reading “Struggles with Conflict – Part 2” →

My Spirit Led Journey

May 19, 2014

I am not a meditator, but yesterday I found myself having the opportunity to practice a form of walking meditation that had occurred spontaneously to me many years ago. I had decided to take a brief walk in my neighborhood. As I began the walk, I realized I was entering an altered state of consciousness. Strange as it may seem to those of you who are reading this post, I decided I would allow my feet to decide where I would go.

As I looked down the street, my vision became more and more tunneled. I had the sense I was entering a long walkway covered on the sides and above by flowering trees. Continue reading “My Spirit Led Journey” →

Seabeck: A Home in the Universe for Me

Around 1980, I started attending a Unitarian Universalist church. Soon thereafter, I heard about an eight day family summer camp that was held at Seabeck Conference Center every year. It was sponsored by Eliot Institute, a regional Unitarian group. I was so excited and knew I wanted to go.

At that point my son was five and my daughter was two. I decided it would be too much for me to take a two year old to camp, so made plans for Sreejit and me to go. When we crossed the bridge into the conference center that first time, it was like entering another world. A world of unbelievable beauty, where one could relax, make new friends, get hugs, and simply breathe. I felt like I had found my “Home” in the universe. Continue reading “Seabeck: A Home in the Universe for Me” →

The Story Behind the Spiral Garden

In March of 2013, I attended an “Introduction to Permaculture” class taught by Netsah Zelinsky, a certified Permaculture Instructor. As part of the class, we built a spiral herb garden in the front yard of one of the participants. I was interested, but had no plans to make one anytime soon, if ever.

I woke up during the night, however, with a drive to build one, right away. I must have done so much planning in my sleep, because when I woke up in the morning, I knew exactly how I would build it. It was important to me that it was an inexpensive project, so I had decided I would use pieces of broken concrete. Continue reading “The Story Behind the Spiral Garden” →

A Tribute to Nirmalamrita

Yesterday, I was sitting in front of my altar and a picture caught my eye. It had belonged to a friend of mine who died in 1999. My friend used to focus on that picture whenever she meditated. It was given to me after she passed away.

Nirmalamrita's meditation picture — Nirmalamrita’s meditation picture

Nirmalamrita had been a special person in my life for many years. She was one of the first people I met in Amma’s community. At that time she was named Suneethi. She received the name Nirmalamrita when Amma initiated her as a brahmacharini (female monk) in 1996. Continue reading “A Tribute to Nirmalamrita” →

They Touched My Heart

In the last few months, I have seen five videos that really inspired me. They each touched my heart and encouraged me to move forward, to appreciate what I have, to recognize the strength of the human spirit, and to continue my commitment to make a difference in this world. I hope you find them inspiring as well.

How Do YOU Define Yourself Lizzie Velasquez at TED

“In a time when beauty is defined by supermodels, success is defined by wealth, and fame is deified by how many followers you have on social media, Lizzie Velasquez asks the question how do you define yourself? Once labeled, “The Worlds Ugliest Woman,” Lizzie decided to turn things around and create her own definitions of what she defines as beauty and happiness.”

Continue reading “They Touched My Heart” →

My Favorite Quotes

“Don’t be discouraged by your incapacity to dispel darkness from the world. Light your candle and step forward.” — Amma

“It’s not learning that brings you to perfection, it’s unlearning.” — Mother Antonia

“Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened!!” — Dr. Seuss

“I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. Sometimes I just wish he didn’t trust me so much. — Mother Theresa

“Lord, Please help me make it through this self imposed, and totally unnecessary challenge.” — Author Unknown

“Teilhard de Chardin wrote that we must ‘trust in the slow work of God’………Ours is a God who waits. Who are we not to? It takes what it takes for the great turnaround. Wait for it.” — Gregory Boyle

A Reason to Believe

There is a difference between blind faith and mature faith. To me, a mature faith is built on experience. With each positive experience one has in life, faith builds. With enough faith building experiences one has an ever maturing “Reason to Believe.”

I met my spiritual teacher, Mata Amritanandamayi (also known as Amma, which means mother, and as The Hugging Saint) in 1989. Over the years, I have had many faith building experiences, but probably none as remarkable as the one that happened in December of 1996. Continue reading “A Reason to Believe” →

Introducing Jeff Alexander and the Leap of Faith

I have been thinking about writing this post for some time. It is about an incredible teacher and a powerful workshop. It has been life changing for me and for countless numbers of people in my personal and professional life.

Continue reading “Introducing Jeff Alexander and the Leap of Faith” →

When the Mind is Still

Many years ago, I learned from Stephen Gilligan, an Ericksonian hypnotherapist, that our bodies must have trance (i.e. altered state) experiences, and that if we do not get that trance in healthy ways such as through meditation, singing, guided imagery, gardening, drawing, etc, we will create it through unhealthy behaviors such as obsessive thinking, compulsions, and addictions.

In an altered state experience, our minds become significantly slower than in our normal state and we are much more in the moment. As humans, our most powerful insights usually occur, not when we are thinking about them, but when our minds are silent. Creativity is the same in that art, inventions, and scientific inspirations so often emerge during times of stillness.

I will share two experiences where new forms of self-expression were birthed in this way for me. Continue reading “When the Mind is Still” →