mystics

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sojourning with Stillness: Portals

, , , , , , , , , , ,

the return is unsettling. yes, i was ready to come home after 61 days away. to step through one final portal…the doors at Portland International Airport. ready to sleep in my own bed after lying in 24 strange beds while i was away, 25 if you count the Reykjavik Airport row of three seats that was a temporary nest. ready to reconnect with those close to my heart.

i remember this from my last sojourn. in a few days the body adjusts to sun rhythms. recalls how to make the morning smoothie. grind the right amount of coffee. slip into the pool and glide back & forth. however, the emotional & spiritual self hesitates. integration takes time. sifting through memories for old routines and deciding which expand my life. which restrict…

, , , ,

Gestation, Grief, and Gratitude

, , , ,

The air has been crisp as a tree-fresh apple this week. My cheeks slipping into redness as my hands dive into my pockets and the morning moon lingers high in the west. The waning moon holding onto night even as the sun rises low in the late autumn sky. I want to hold onto night, too. Want to snuggle under covers and discard the list of “shoulds” that I composed. Want to wane into the new moon of me and hide in the shadow of winter dark. To take a small candle and explore my interior landscape one, small step at a time. Take midday naps. Engage with my dreams. Listen deep for what is next. Hit pause on my commitments. Does this resonate with you? This desire to go inward as days shorten.

Ocean Wisdom

I find a deep spiritual connection when I am at the beach. I walk along the coastline as the tide flows in and out. The waves seem to chase each other back and forth—some racing toward me, while others recede into the background. Since I’m not a tidal expert, without looking at the longer shoreline, I can’t tell right away if it is high or low tide, if the beach is being revealed or masked. When I am in the midst of those waves grabbing at my ankles all I can see is the present moment. Feel the water swirling around me-the warmth of water kissed by summer sun or the cold Pacific undercurrent.

Follow @nurtureyourjourney on Instagram

after a pause, my latest Substack, “teachers come in many forms,” is available. it is a reflection on how my children have been my teachers and the value of amazement, as well a few other tidbits including a couple of thoughts from my ret
a Substack reflection on failure, falling, letting go of certainty and how that allows for awe and wonder. and also the need to Slow Down. i hope in a world that demands your attention 24/7, you are finding time to Slow Down and be tender with your h
this week’s Substack reflects on national poetry month and the importance of poetry in our lives from childhood to our elder years. how poetry can deepen conversations around difficult conversations. and can be playful too. i hope you take time
this week’s Substack (link in bio) delves into a difficult subject, deepfakes and the use of AI technology and how it harms “women and girls.” (i use more expansive language) and yes, i weave the natural world in there, because that
this week has been an emotional roller coaster and my latest Substack explores the journey through time spent with Birds and Water. Grief, loss, compassion…and gratitude. (it involves news I have to move again.) i hope you will take a few minu