JaiKaur: Women's Grace, Grit & Gratitude

I have been off my game lately, a little more absent-minded and a little less with the joys of the day. At first I thought it was simply the changes brought about by the side effects of winter hibernation-too many carbs and not enough exercise-that was making me sluggish in getting together with the energy of spring. Or, I would blame the energetics of living in a world distressed by it’s economy serving as a wake-up call to grow up. However, as I sit here in my parents home and all that being here calls upon my emotions, I must honor the wisdom of what my tears are telling me…that loss is less about the words we use to talk of it and more of how it challenges us, even those who believe themselves ok with impermanence.

I am being brought back to the powerful workshop of grief and how important the work of grief is to growing compassion, first for ourselves and then the other. To our minds, feeling our sorrow is the antithesis of what it believes in and so we (more…)

This week, I took a day off from a life overbooked in responsibilities to pick up a lamp I had ordered from an artisan whose work I had fallen in love with almost 20 years ago when I lived in Santa Fe. Janna has decided to move on to a different expression of herself after 21 years of making beautiful ways to light up a room and I wanted to make sure to get another lamp of hers before I no longer could. Turns out that her studio was but 2 hours away -who knew!-from where I live in Massachusetts and so my spiritself whispered sweet nothings in my ear, asking for some time in my life as well. I had all the reasons that the pressures of too-much-to-do-in-too-little-time can argue for, and, I have learned over the years that taking time for what calls out within me, softly yet earnestly, never becomes a regret of mine.

So, I packed up our puppy from Chicago-another story of how what was true for my spirit and soul won out over the protests of Logical and Sensible-and played hooky from my shoulds of the day. I brought along my ipod (more…)

It is now officially springtime and here in new england we get excited about up-coming warmer temperatures, trees budding and then blooming with flowers and then leaves, and the sweet enjoyment of our gardens, be they vegetable or flower in nature. We have pored over seed and flower catelogues during the days of snow and cold, looking foward to the months when we eagerly are the hands that co-create beauty and pleasure around us. Our season of warmth and growth is shorter than some, granting us perhaps the grace to more consciously appreciate the pleasure of days warm and the plant kingdom in full regalia.

Much as we consciously choose what we desire to have surround us, choosing what we plant in our gardens, our landscapes, our homes, so we (more…)

For the last few days, I have been wondering what to blog about. Nothing profound was coming to mind, and my life was surely not providing me many inspirational moments. I put my desire for some water to come into my dry well of inspiration and then forgot about it. Then while dialoguing with someone about how we each chose to meet fear, I went halleluiah!…my blog topic has been delivered! I love it when what I know to be true-clarity, prayer, release, trust-works so that I recognize it in my 3D world!

I was sharing with a woman how when I felt my fear at the many challenges in my life, I am committing to instead…. (more…)

AS I write this, it is snowing outside, I am warm inside, and I feel a sense of coziness and peace. I welcome this oasis of ease, knowing it will not last, but not fearful of when the energies of chaos, confusion, and challenge again find their way into what I feel. I live in a time of great changes-really, massive changes-and to deny feeling what is “out there” would be to deny being in relationship with others and the world. Yet when I feel these challenging emotions, it is easier and simpler to redirect myself back to faith and trust through being in daily and active communication with my spirit and soul.

I am very blessed; I am healthy in body as are my family, I live in a warm and cozy home, and I do not worry as to my next meal. I am graced with (more…)

Along with millions and around the world, I watched Barak Hussein Obama become the 44th president of the United States of America and felt the joy, inspiration, and promise of this day. It was a good day for dreamers-from the dreamers of “we the people” to the dreamers of a world where all human being are born into a world in which there is no war, poverty, nor hunger of body, spirit, or mind.

A few years ago, while purchasing books, the person behind me began to speak of what a waste the ’60′s were…”lots of fuss and idealism and no real lasting change”. The bookstore owner and I looked at each other and (more…)

Happy New Year!

People in my daily life heard me grouse in December that if I were truly Queen of the Universe, the end of the year would have it’s own month, separate from a month in which so many holidays are celebrated. I enjoy taking stock of the year past and getting excited about the new year and it’s hard to do that at the same time as (in my household) preparing for and celebrating Christmastime.

What is it about the new year-is that anything seems possible?  New friendships in the wings, fabulous adventures awaiting on the horizon, and life’s events lining up to present themselves for  (more…)

Greetings!  My very first blog-whoohoo!  As a closet introvert, this “out there” process of blogging is a challenge for me and I found oh-so many ways to not put out my blog….too busy with clutter clearing, sunny day, school starting, just had to dust for the first time in months….  Yup, we can be creative when it comes to ways to justify not taking action on our wisdom and our convictions. And while I appreciate the value of inspiring reading, feeling, processing with my community, and personal contemplation,  taking inspired action transforms the mental theories of thought-be they mine or an  esteemed other’s- into the living wisdom of my own experiences and knowing, gifting me with the undeniable strength of my own knowing. (more…)