I’ll never forget the day my life was changed

sunrise2

September 20, 2003, was a defining day in my life. In the early morning hours of that Saturday, my daughter Elizabeth and two of her six roommates died of smoke inhalation in their duplex, just blocks from the U of M where they were all beginning their sophomore year. That day my life was forever changed. One door was slammed shut in my face and I kicked and screamed and begged God to open it again. And he did...not in the same way of course, but in a way that brought me to re-connection and … [Read more...]

All How You Look at It

cow

I have been a vegetarian for many years for all kinds of reasons: health, morality, energy, ecology, and on and on. I don't think everyone should be a vegetarian, and I have never proselytized. I think everyone should follow their own body's guidance toward food that works for them. I just know what works for me. When Dee and I grew a family of dogs, we decided to feed them meat. That was a big decision for us, since we had never had meat in the house. But we love our "kids," and we want them … [Read more...]

How can the individual change the nature of society?

trash

We live in what could be called a "post-modern consumer" culture. All day, every day, we consume. As we change our surroundings from moment to moment we are constantly flooded with the opportunity to consume, whether it is food and drink, fabric, plastic, entertainment, intellectual material, or opinions, to name a general few. This influx is a never-ending chain of events systematically created to give us the sense of meaning and fulfillment in our daily lives. The problem, as we see it, is … [Read more...]

How good is change…really?

bloom_apple

Every time I hear someone blatantly espousing the catch phrase "change is good," I want to scream out, "It depends on what's being changed, and then you have to consider all the ramifications!" When spring finally arrives, we feel a surge of personal renewal from the rebirthing of our long-yearned-for plant life. During the summer we're glorified by the hues and scents of our blooming flowers; the birds, bees, butterflies and other insects they attract; and our lush trees. For many of us, … [Read more...]

How to be Spiritual Amidst this Chaos?

sadness_girl

Circumstances have overtaken man. His old languages are not sufficient to describe what is happening, and what is about to happen. To think in terms of a millennium or such tame concepts as "the eleventh hour" is ridiculous. Better that he should realize that he is in an era which might be more accurately described as the "eighth day of the week." - Idries Shah For the spiritual traveler, we are living in a complex and unique age - one of tremendous upheaval and great opportunity to solve … [Read more...]

Reflections on Egypt, Madison and Change

egypt

From the editor On this day, as I sit and write to you, it is February 18 and protesters in Egypt celebrated "Victory Day" in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the 18th day of the populist uprising, which has led to the exile of President Hosni Mubarak and has spread to neighboring countries where similar anti-government campaigns are underway. Closer to home, at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison, a throng of people carry on during the seventh day of protests against a proposed bill that … [Read more...]

A Resolution to love yourself just as you are

woman-hug-self

A new year has begun. You think, with a sigh, that you haven't lost those 20 pounds, you're still working at the same unfulfilling job and you are still in the same power struggle with your wife/husband/lover/child/yourself. Where did the possibilities go? A client recently said to me, "I have to make a New Year's resolution to stop procrastinating, but I'm better at breaking them than making them. Is there a trick to making a good New Year's Resolution? There is no trick, except in the … [Read more...]

How afraid are you to let it go?

harwig

I was raised to be very frugal, with the mantra of "waste not, want not" being drummed into me at a very young age. Frugality certainly has its place and, with the economy being the way it is right now, I am not suggesting anything different for people. Still, there comes a time when the ideas we are raised with no longer serve us. I thought of this when I recently read a newsletter sent out by Feng Shui expert Carole Hyder. In her article, Carole talks about people who save things just in … [Read more...]

Finding Hope in Trying Times

louise

Growing up, as a child of the '60s, peace, love and harmony were the words being chanted by the hippies, flower children and all who questioned authority and were against the Vietnam War. I remember thinking how I couldn't wait to grow up. I knew in my young mind, it was only a matter of time before these youthful rebels would age and mature and eventually be able to take their place in the world of politics and public opinion. With it, they would be able to change all the things they saw wrong … [Read more...]

Spiritual Freedom

mountain

In our search for the seemingly elusive higher consciousness we find that no matter how far we've come, we learn how far we have yet to travel. Stumbling and falling along our journey often will cause pain to varying degrees. Many times we may feel grief because of the ending of a relationship, a financial burden requiring aggressive resolution, or just simply growing away from what you once knew. These things can be rather difficult, but they are needed for our continued progression as we are … [Read more...]

Viral Love: Humanity’s Next Step

miejan

There are many differences between us as human beings. We look different from each other. We think differently. We believe differently. We speak differently. We certainly do things differently. It's easy to see the differences between us, because they are noisier. The differences tend to bully their way to the forefront. They get the headlines and the top billing on network broadcasts. Differences are the reason we wage war and kill each other. Differences also are a habit. Over time, … [Read more...]

Fear? Pointless.

fearful_woods

This morning I found myself reflecting on personal experiences lived over the past 30 years. Or so. I can now say that fully half my life has been spent actively engaging in the large-scale change of consciousness I agreed to assist before I arrived. A large group of baby boomers came in as transforming agents, and I dutifully took on my part and those structures within consciousness that were mine to transmute. I didn't always know I was doing such work, of course, but I can finally see the … [Read more...]

Your Body’s Owner’s Manual

exercise_water

When we are born, it would be helpful if we were given an owner's manual for our body, mind and soul. However, learning how to care for ourselves is part of our life's journey. But to make it a bit easier for you, let me share five key items that I believe would be included in our owner's manual. First, before the list began there would be a disclaimer that explains bio-individuality. Bio-individuality means that no perfect way of eating works for everybody. The food that is perfect for your … [Read more...]

How to Begin

passage_way

Have you made any New Year's resolutions? As Dr. Phil might ask, "And how's that been working for you?" If you are like most people, New Year's resolutions do not last more than a few days or weeks. Health clubs thrive on people signing up to begin a new regime after eating rich desserts over the holidays. Yet, many members cease going to the club after a short time, often more exasperated than when they began, compounded by self-judgment for not following through. So if New Year's … [Read more...]

As You Change and Heal, Others do so, too

nygard

Gary won't talk to Mark. Kim submits to Gary. Doug no longer speaks to Mark. Paul just recently ended his friendship with Mark. Mark's wife left him a few months ago after 30 years of marriage. No explanation. Mark, a soft gentle Piscean type, is bereft and confused by the emptiness in his life. Reaching, yet lost. Paul no longer speaks to Don. Sherri has Don in her cellphone as "Sicko" and no longer takes his calls. Sherri's boyfriend Charlie puts up with Don's intrusive, assumptive calls. … [Read more...]