Historically, we know that women were not supposed to have an opinion, a good idea, or anything but a good dinner on the table. There was little a woman was allowed to do besides all of the housework, cooking, baking, When abolitionists and suffragettes began to stand up at a podium to speak in support of ending slavery and allowing women to vote.

Now women are speakers, writers, CEO’s, athletes and not the weaker or second sex. Are we equal. NO! I am a news junkie and America is suffering from an increase of racism and misogyny.  Black men are being targeted. Even a white woman like I am can see that. Republicans have made sure that women do not earn equal pay for equal work. We are the only citizens who are not legally equal. Why? Men are threatened by women, especially women who are assertive. I will never…

Dream Chaser by Cypherx

“Let yourself be drawn by the strange pull of that which you truly love.”  Rumi

Don’t you just love all of the inspirational quotes about following your dreams?  “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”.  Preach it, Eleanor Roosevelt!  Or what about our buddy Walt Disney:  “If you can dream it, you can do it”.   And since I have reached that 1/2 century marker, C.S. Lewis has become my new BFF with this one:  “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream”.  Makes me want to take up embroidery so that I can put that on a pillow.

I have found that the problem with growing older is that my freedom and capacity to dream seems to have diminished.  When I was young I could look toward the future and know that anything was possible.  Everything…

In my work with loss and bereavement, music is a powerful tool. It not only comforts the dying, but the living as well.

“Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying,” produced by Michael Stillwater and Gary Malkin, blends messages and music about life, death, forgiveness and acceptance, narrated by spiritual thinkers from a variety of faith traditions.

One of my favorites, which I use for myself from time to time to affirm my life journey, follows. Here, Jeanine Prevatt holds sacred her Cherokee lineage and her deep connection to the Earth. You can also find the accompanying music on iTunes if the words speak to your heart, as they do to mine.

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Walk On
~ Jyoti ~

Good morning, Grandfather.
I entered this life a ways back
and put skin on to walk two-legged on this Creation –
and what a glorious time it was.

It taught me…

May we all find peace within

This month’s Bloggers for Peace Challenge is Love Thy Enemy. How does one love thy enemy? I think it helps to clarify ‘like’ versus ‘love’. To love is to be responsible, to do what is best, and to bring no harm to another, or oneself. To like is more personal, or individual. I may like chocolate; you may detest it. I may like having animals around; you may feel they are pests. Likes vary from person to person, but most of us would probably agree that we do not like people who are selfish, cruel, or violent, aka enemies. It is ok not to like them, but we can still love them. We all have that choice.

‘Enemies’ are sentient beings too. When someone acts in an unkind or non-loving way, they are hurting inside. Finding compassion for their suffering frees us from…