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THE AMARYLLIS FLOWER

“ Love is the flower,  you’ve got to let grow”.

~John Lennon

This amaryllis flower is a symbol of love and determination. It is a message of renewal. It symbolizes the success won after a struggle.

It is a hopeful sign for our time.

So perhaps…

“ If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change”.

~Jack Kornfeld, Buddha’s Little Instruction Book

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New Year, New Intentions

Why should you set intentions ( vs resolutions ) for the New Year?

An intention ( in Yoga, called a Sankalpa) ,  is a vow or heart felt desire.

Please enjoy the following readings from Three Teachings:

Whether or not you plan to set New Year’s resolutions for 2021, the beginning of the year is a natural time to reflect on your goals, habits, and the changes you’d like to make in your life.

One powerful way to bring our lives into alignment with our deeper aspirations is to work with intention. An intention is the motivating force behind a particular action. Unlike a goal, which has to do with achieving a desired future outcome, an intention is something that we practice in the present moment. When we set an intention—like cultivating compassion or reducing stress—we continuously align and realign ourselves and our actions with that which we wish to create. Continue reading “New Year, New Intentions”

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Winter Solstice: December 21

It is almost time to celebrate the heat and light of the returning sun. Many cultures celebrate the solstice as a day of rebirth and renewal. Its origins can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony. It is a time of positive energy.
Please enjoy this beautiful passage about letting the Light in, courtesy of The Center for Spiritual Judaism. The light will always lead us through the darkness. During this solstice Jupiter and Saturn will form a rare “Christmas Star”. They will appear closer on Earth’s night sky than they have since 1226 A.D.

Continue reading “Winter Solstice: December 21”

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Season’s Greetings From Peace Mountain

Celebrate 

by Danna Faulds (with a bow to Dr. Suess)

Celebrate harmony, celebrate cheer,
celebrate courage, and celebrate fear.
Celebrate easy, celebrate stuck,
celebrate nervousness, celebrate pluck.

I think you are getting the simple idea
that to celebrate everything
is why you are here.

So celebrate silence and celebrate noise,
celebrate matter flowing in
from the void.

Wherever you are in your life
as you read, celebrate freedom,
abundance, and need –

Because all of it’s holy,
the whole thing divine,
so get on with enjoying –
don’t waste any time!

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HOW TO CULTIVATE A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

Spiritual life should include a great measure of common sense.

Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion. ~Jack Kornfield

The year 2020 has taught us all the lesson of impermanence. “The plans we thought we were making, the lives we thought we were living – 2020 has taught us just how illusory they were.”~Dan Zigmond, Lions Roar

We faced the unthinkable daily – a global pandemic coupled with racial injustice, political instability, economic hardships, and social isolation. We are familiar with, directly or indirectly, the pain, suffering and losses of our loved ones. The ongoing emotional toll on healthcare professionals and essential workers has been heart breaking.

The New Year will be another lesson in impermanence. The late Leonard Cohen reminds us: “Ring the bell that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything – that’s how the light gets in.”
 Continue reading “HOW TO CULTIVATE A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN DIFFICULT TIMES”

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Thanksgiving Thoughts

Please enjoy this lovely blog post from Kripalu, one of my favorite retreats and sources of peace and learning:

Yoga is a deeply rich and interweaving study of being fully alive. This Thanksgiving presents another moment for us to pause as an organization and reflect on what we want to share with you.

Read more from Kripalu’s greeting HERE

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FAITH and the WINDS OF CHANGE

“May you have a strong a foundation when the winds of changes
shift” ~ Bob Dylan

This was written on Election eve.

There was a strong wind rustling through the trees this morning. I watched a flurry of colorful leaves swirl in the gusts and tumble to the ground. I wonder if this could be the winds of change.

We are in the midst of an unimaginable global pandemic and a time
of social unrest.  Are these winds of change predictive of a calmer political climate? Can the above mentioned troubles be eased by a calmer political climate? Can I cultivate this faith?

 

A strong foundation of faith is needed to believe in a positive outcome when the winds of changes shift or when there is a change in fortune. What is faith? Continue reading “FAITH and the WINDS OF CHANGE”