It feels like today more than ever, we could pray. Not because there’re more predicaments now than in times past but because our mindset has shifted. It’s retracted from faith in a power greater than us into fear of the world around us. We could pray every day to appease political hotbeds across the globe which concern us all; to turn around the titanic of climate change; to lift racial tensions; to receive guidance out of financial struggles; to end... Read more
Death, that of loved ones and our own, is what many of us fear most. And being entrenched, invested, and incarnate in this three-dimensional space we call reality makes us believe what we see with our physical eyes. Our culture’s terrified of aging (conventionally defined as decrepitude which, however, needn’t be), obsessed with eternal youth (however artificial), and afraid of death. Western culture views death as the end of a life that began when you were born. It’s a finite... Read more
For decades, our brains have been bombarded with messages from lobbyists, media, and society saying that we must stay out of the sun or else we’ll die and look old doing so. So we religiously slather on high-tech sun screen to escape the UV assault for the brief moments we may spend outside. We self-tan to look hot, bronze to dazzle, and self-medicate to feel good. But what if all that anti-sun business was a myth? What if there were... Read more
There’s amply opportunity these days to get caught up in our everyday self. It’s the self that has automated our actions so as to streamline our to-dos. That’s well and good and practical until you realize that your everyday self drowns out your sacred self. When was the last time you paused to reflect on whether what you’re doing is in alignment with your values, with your joy? Do you know what your innate talents are, and are you taking... Read more
If you’re a woman, you know you’re wired differently during menstruation. And I’m not talking about the stereotype of the hysterical lunatic that’s permeated through pop culture. No. I’m talking about the vast fields of grace you have access to during your period. When your body cleans house every month you have the unique, universal opportunity to retreat into your inner knowing. Dwell in the silence of this divine guidance. Sense the subtle forces you can tap into effortlessly... Read more
The reason most of us are holding on to more stuff than optimal is because we remember how much we paid for it. Or a friend or relative, deceased or alive, loved or not so loved, gave it to us. If there’re other members in your household, things get even more tangled in emotions. Obligation, grief, overwhelm, denial — pick your range. If it wasn’t for the stuff’s monetary or sentimental value, would you keep holding on to it? Is... Read more
The Great Mother is what we all have in common. When we burst onto earth like a kaleidoscope of soul lights shimmering in the cosmos, we separate. Sliding through our and Mom’s birth canal assigns us to and unites us as physical families. The Divine, Mother Earth, Mom, Mama… we need all of her love and guidance. It’s not about separating the universal mother from our physical mom; rather, it’s about allowing the big picture to come through. Invite in... Read more
Dismantle the external markers of social approval. Clear the way for you to truthfully live. Make room for the real you to unfold. If your naked nails let you shine, rest in that. If flats let you fly, root into that. If your natural face shows your true colors, rejoice in that. Dismantle the external markers of social approval. If you turn into a pumpkin at 8 pm, be firm in your decision to be home by then. ... Read more
Mother’s Day is coming up and while I feel that women’s work and love ought to be celebrated every day, I enjoy the breathing space in the calendar that’s dedicated to Mom. I hope you’ll find this piece useful. I offered it originally on Colors of Gratitude and hope that it’ll bring light, peace, and warmth to you here. Share with the world. From mother to daughter to sister to grandma to granddaughter to cousin to auntie to godmother to girlfriend:... Read more
Mother Earth is the Divine Feminine embodied. Just like you, your mother, daughter, sister, girlfriend, grandma, or auntie, Earth needs to be loved, honored, and respected. Earth Day is a great reminder to shift our thinking into behaving more environmentally conscious. But as long as we’re abusing Earth, abuse of women on Earth will continue. You can’t violate one and love the other. It’s all connected. May we celebrate and honor Mother Earth, today and every day. Environmentalism is a... Read more
Luminous Living with Miriam Ava
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