Allies Vs. Crutches

We associate crutches with being broken, limited ability to do things, and being needy hence we have developed the term “crutches” as a negative. We label things as being crutches that are preventing us from standing on our own two feet, dealing with our issues, as a means of avoidance, and a distraction from what…

Building Yourself Up

Building something which is going to need to carry weight, provide support, stand against negative external forces and keep its integrity over a long period of time needs a strong foundation. Not all foundations look the same. Trying to lay a slab foundation under a house which is cantilevered over a cliff is just pouring…

Holiday Choices

At various times in my life I have had the opportunity to create holidays from scratch.  Not invent holidays, but create the holiday experience from the ground up.  In college I couldn’t afford to fly home for Thanksgiving so I caught up with some of my fellow students and we would create Thanksgiving for ourselves. …

Looks Good On Paper

Ever had an exchange with someone over email or text where you completely misunderstood what was meant? What is on paper loses something in translation and emoji and emoticons can’t quite make up for the emotional content which makes the intent and possibly the whole meaning mysterious and up to interpretation. Sometimes this has hilarious…

Invitation to Your Emotions

It’s practically impossible to will yourself into feeling something that you don’t. Opinions can be changed, but feelings simply are. For example: you can try to like Cod Liver oil. It’s good for you and as a supplement it has all kinds of benefits. You can will yourself into taking it because you know it’s…

Physics of the Past

We’re meant to make meaning out of our experiences. Learn from our past. But what is it we’re supposed to learn?  For so many people the past becomes its own form of gravity, its own force of nature which informs how their world works. You can tell when this is the case because the person…

Trauma and Empathy

It’s part of our hard wiring to feel empathy for others pain. Mirror neurons fire within us when we see someone else do or feel something.  It’s why laughter is infectious, why we get the shivers when we see someone else get a scalp massage, get hungry when we’re watching others eat food, etc. It’s…

We Manifest the Possible

Each of us is like a faucet. Akasha, the life force that allows our souls and our bodies to function as a complete system, flows through us every moment of every day. It flows into us from the universe entering through our heads and flowing out through our feet. It flows upward from the embodied…

To Those Who Have Lost

My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones in Paris today. Their shock, grief and loss is not a political statement, although it will be used in that way.  Their lives are not the raw material of symbols although they will be co-opted for that purpose. Their anguish is unique although…