New Dawn, New Day, New Life... Spring!

I love seasons. I need to live in a place with seasons. I'm always ready for them... for the changes both externally and internally that they bring. Spring is kind of a tough one here in the Pacific Northwest, though. We are more than ready for warmer, sunnier days by the time March rolls around... and we do get some "teasers" in there... but mostly, the grey and rainy days persist, sometimes well into June. So it always kind of comes up on me unawares... the official day of spring equinox. It was actually Facebook that alerted me with "Happy first day of spring, Lauri!" But, thinking about it now, I did feel it. Even before I realized it was spring, I felt a subtle shift... an openness to and awareness of new life. Inside and out. A sense of freshness... of breathing cleaner air, literally and metaphorically...  read more


Related article:  A Welcome to Your Spirit this Spring

In Your Eyes...

So much of spiritual practice involves going within... tuning into the depths of our own being and listening to that still, small voice inside. But lately I've been reminded of the importance of external feedback. Not in the sense of seeking approval... but as sort of a gauge.  The truth is, we can sometimes get too close to ourselves and our lives to really see. We often need another person's eyes to gain perspective and bring into sharper focus the ways in which we are showing up in the world. Are we living out the intentions we have set? Are we making progress? Are we growing? We can't always answer these questions on our own. Especially when our intentions involve other people and making an impact. And, really, doesn't everything come down to that?  Read more...

Love. At Last. Unconditionally.

This week I was asked to sing the Katy Perry song "Unconditionally" for an upcoming inspirational service. It got me thinking about the first time I was asked to sing it... two years ago in honor of Valentine's Day. I had never heard the song before, and I remember thinking, "Me? Sing a Katy Perry song?" But as soon as I listened to it, I knew it was mine to sing. Thank you, Universe.

You see, I was single at the time... unattached... un-partnered... whatever you want to call it. ;-) Being on my own a good number of my adult years, I had gotten pretty good at the independent life. I figured  since I couldn't seem to find anyone I truly clicked with, I would make the very most of my life as a happily single person.  Just as I was starting to "resign" myself and accept what I thought was my destiny, I was asked to sing this song about intimate, unconditional love between two people. BAM. That's when it hit me...  read more

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