FREEING UP OCEANS OF ENERGY

When you let go of trying to get more of what you don’t really need, it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have. LYNNE TWIST

WHEN IT GETS HARDER TO LOVE..

When it gets harder to love, love harder. VAN JONES Or could it be love "softer", or at least for elders like me..lol

Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution...

Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. ÓSCAR ROMERO

How Self-Compassion can change your life:

A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life. CHRISTOPHER K. GERMIER NOT self-pity which puts you into a needy victim role, which diminishes your life

We have an opportunity to make lasting shifts toward love and justice in our world.

The path forward may sometimes be unclear. And it may be messy. But the shared heart is calling, and we have an opportunity to make lasting shifts toward love and justice in our world. KRISTI NELSON

"The Power of Quiet in a World of Noise"

I will be reflecting on Chapter 1 of the book Silence by Thich Nhat Hanh (aka Thay-teacher). The tag line for the book is, "The Power of Quiet in a World of Noise" In chapter one, "A steady diet of noise", Thay points out the omnipresence of noise in each of our lives. He points out that often we have chosen noise, either external and/or internal, in an effort to avoid the silence which would result. In our meditative practice we have spent much time in following our breath, in calming our mind, and arriving at a spaciousness to observe "what comes up for us". What is in the silence? I am reminded of our Beagle dog that our family enjoyed when I was a kid. Babe loved to chase rabbits. She chased many a rabbit but never caught one - until she did. Babe stood over the rabbit which was on its back. Babe stared at the rabbit and then looked in wonderment at me. The rabbit took that distraction to scramble free and escape. What do we do after we catch our rabbit-Silence? Thay offers that this silence is where we "can come home to our true selves". This is the true gift of our meditative practice. Prior to Monday night I hope you have time to read the chapter. In addition, perhaps ponder these questions. 1. What is one noise-either external or internal- that you know is unhealthy for you, but you have yet to "turn off"? 2. Has an insight into a challenging problem come to you "out of the blue"? If so, were you deep in thought on the problem or doing something unrelated? 3. What is in your silence? I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow night. I look forward to your sharing as I learn so much from the wisdom each of you offer. Thank you 🙏 Dave

Happy Birthday Thay, and MOI~Oct. 14

How the light gets in, doing the best I can...

Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. LEONARD COHEN

LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART'S SONG, TO THEIR HEART'S SONG

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. EPICTETUS

Listen, Listen by Phillis Gershator & Illustrated by Alison Jay

Do you long for a community?

Longing, felt fully, carries us to belonging. TARA BRACH Belongingness is the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group. Whether it is family, friends, co-workers, a religion, or something else, some people tend to have an 'inherent' desire to belong and be an important part of something greater than themselves. Wikipedia

Can your love a weed?

Anyone can love a rose, but it takes a lot to love a leaf. It’s ordinary to love the beautiful, but it’s beautiful to love the ordinary. UNKNOWN

save MILKWEED, ROUND UP IS KILLING THEM AND KILLING MONARCHS AS WELL.

What are the two L words that are the same in all languages?

LOVE & LAUGHTER

AND THE YEARS GO BY...

There are years that ask questions and years that answer. ZORA NEALE HURSTON

We are never more than one grateful thought away

from peace of heart. BR. DAVID STEINDL-RAST