Stretching...

I've been doing some pondering (what, me?) ;-) ... kind of about the whole spiritual concept that we are "whole, perfect, and complete" just as we are. This is the heart of spiritual principle and something we hear and say a lot. But do we really get what that means? And is it possible to sometimes misuse... or, dare I say... abuse this knowledge?

But first let me say that yes... yes, we are absolutely whole, perfect and complete. There is a spirit in us, an essence, that is pure, unconditional love... and unconditionally loving and lovable. One with God. One with the Universe. This is the deep down Truth that I believe and hold dear. My song lyrics reflect this:  that "it's enough"... that all you need to do is "come back to your heart... to all that you are"... and that "love will provide". I believe all of these things. Yet, I kind of think there is a danger in how we interpret this. Yes, grace is essential in this thing we call "being human"...  allowing grace for ourselves and others along life's journey. But maybe... just maybe... we sometimes use "I am perfect just the way I am" to justify certain things... and maybe we let ourselves off the hook a little too easily when we know we can be doing better. And by "doing better", I mean loving better. Loving our bodies better by taking better care of them. Loving each other better. Loving our planet better. Loving by taking loving action... READ MORE

Needs Improvement???

This week, in an attempt to "clean house", I went through old documents in an accordian file... various documents from the past decade or so... literally "shredding" my past. Wow. All kinds of feelings came up, some of them unexpected, as I revisited years gone by. In addition to a "mood journal" from 11 years ago (What a trip! More on that later...), there was rental information from a variety of living scenarios, health records, check stubs and past employment documents. I've been so happy and at peace lately... living freer than I ever have in so many ways... that I had almost forgotten some of the trials and tribulations along my journey that brought me to where I am now. Uncomfortable as it was pouring through some of that paperwork, it gave me an even greater appreciation for where I am today. The lyrics to my song, What Falls Away, have never felt so true: "the hurting, the crying... the stumbling and trying... all part of a greater good... what falls away, brings me closer to what I'm meant to be...". And, just to be clear, it's not that things just... ta da!... fall away like magic. It's more about becoming aware of the things that are no longer serving our real selves and allowing them to fall away. And that process often takes great courage and strength. Growth... as in real change... is not necessarily meant to be comfortable... READ MORE

Life According to Buddy: Lessons from a Country Canine.

Today... I pay tribute to Buddy. Buddy is a "country dog" who lives out here with us. Well, he belongs to Eric's parents, but freely roams the 40 or so acres on which we reside. He is a rescue dog who landed in Paradise. And he knows it. :-) (I guess I can sort of relate... lol). I've grown to love this quirky, big-hearted pup... and I've come to know his ways. He has unwittingly taught me some stuff, actually. That whole "DOG is GOD spelled backwards" thing? I'm pretty sure that isn't a coincidence. To me, a dog is one of the purest forms of unconditional love... a playful reflection of our own DOG-GOD nature. I love dogs. And I love Buddy.

So yeah, there are a lot of "what I have learned from my dog" lists out there, but every dog has his own unique personality... his own "thing". So here is my list. Ten things I have learned from this lovable Border Collie named Buddy... READ MORE

Simple... not boring.

There's this book I really love... a book I got years ago that I still check in with from time to time. It's called "Journey to the Heart" by Melody Beattie. It's a collection of musings and meditations with an entry for every day of the year. I've owned lots of self-help and spiritual books over the years, but this is one that has stuck with me and always seems to resonate. Looking for some blogging inspiration, I flipped to the entry for May 4th, entitled "Cherish Each Moment". It couldn't have been more in alignment with where I was. In it, she writes: "Most of us relish the magnificent spiritual experiences, those tremendous discoveries, those important times of change. But those moments don't happen that often. The truth is, each moment in time is a spiritual experience, an important time of change. Cherish ALL your moments. Let each moment have value. The life you desire is happening right now. Your destiny is here."

See, I thought I needed some inspiration. I haven't blogged in a few weeks because I wasn't sure I had anything of real value to blog about. Life is peaceful. Simple and peaceful. No angst... no deep soul searching... no major "a-ha" revelations. Oh, it's not that I don't have those human (or hormonal, lol) "moments" or upsets or irritations... it's just that life overall feels GOOD. And I almost feel guilty about that. ;-) Almost. Until I remember all the angst-ridden, raw nerved times of unrest before this. Working a stressful job, lamenting life choices, searching for peace, happiness, and love. Thinking too much and trying too hard.  It's not that I ever intend to stop growing or evolving... it's just that these days it feels like my heart has arrived, if you will. Or maybe it's more like I have finally arrived at my heart. I feel a sense of wholeness I don't think I ever have before. Like everything that matters is right here, right now... inside and out.  And I know to cherish it. And I am grateful... so grateful. Part of it is having seasoned perspective and awareness... and part of it is about spiritual alignment and what has manifested as a result. A healthy, loving, satisfying relationship. Work that doesn't feel like work  and pays my bills. Work that uses my gifts and talents, feels purposeful, and that I enjoy. Living simply and beautifully amongst the trees, birds, and frogs...  READ MORE

Related Article:  "Live with Ease"

The Secret o' Life...

"Try not to try too hard... it's just a lovely ride". These are the simple and wise words of James Taylor from his song "Secret o' Life". It's a line that always gets me. You see, there's kind of a danger in living a conscious life. There's often this tendency to overanalyze and try too hard to "get it right". I know this has been my experience, anyway. That line of the song instantly calms me... reassures me... and even gets me to sort of laugh at myself. Levity. Ease. Grace. The Big Exhale.

To allow the "ride" part of the journey, we have to see life as such. When we "take a ride", we have to allow ourselves to be carried... to flow with all the twists and turns and bumps in the road. This doesn't mean we just go whichever way the wind blows... it means we lay down a road of intention and allow the wheels to align with it... Read more

Related article:  "Allow the Flow"

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...