self care

Shadow work:  bringing it into the light.

Shadow work: bringing it into the light.

Self-compassion is the most powerful light source on the inner shadow. Shine it on the full spectrum of your pain (from the ancient to the recent) and keep loving what you find in the dark. This is good parenting for your soul. Keep looking, keep listening, keep loving your wounds… and your radiance—your inherent, never-leaving, second nature radiance—will astound you.

Build strength

Build strength

Build strength through: reflection.
Build strength through: joy.
Build strength through: stillness.
Build strength through: action.

Comparing your pain to others?

Comparing your pain to others?

Sometimes pain comparison is an act of consciousness. It’s an empowering way to refine your thoughts and create your reality and practiced gratitude. And sometimes…pain comparison only numbs out our truth.And sometimes…pain comparison only numbs out our truth. And when we numb out, we dumb down. We become less conscious, and less useful to those around us. Denying your personal pain won’t lessen other people’s suffering…

Do you believe that life wants you to have what you truly want? Your relationship to prayer, to God, to desire.

Do you believe that life wants you to have what you truly want? Your relationship to prayer, to God, to desire.

I used to pray to sweat blood as a little girl. Dramatic, I know. I was a Catholic schoolgirl, an only child. We rented a small house in a small town, and my parents were young and hip and generally let me do anything I wanted to. The liberal headspace at home, acres of wheat fields to explore alone, and daily Jesus, Mary, ‘n’ Joseph at school made for the perfect environment for me to become the quietly intense mini holy roller that I was. At one point, I used the nooks of my bookcase to create a home for Barbie, and for the Virgin Mary. A leopard-print chaise and a rosary. Heavenly, really.

My travel tips: Rose water, keyboards, peppermint, and mantras

My travel tips: Rose water, keyboards, peppermint, and mantras

I’m on a few airplanes every year. “Few” is a relative term. Maybe a lot of airplanes. And, having five planets in Virgo (tho’ my Sun is in Gemini, FYI), I like things just “so.” I love my systems, my best finds, my compartments, and my comforting things. (This is way less neurotic than it sounds.) Here’s how I keep it all together and cozy on the road…

Respecting your natural ability and your never evers.

Respecting your natural ability and your never evers.

A sixtroopled layered meringue masterpiece. Layers of cakey meringue propped up with gorgeous goopy lemon curd and fluffy whipped white goodness whispering out of the tiers of scrumptiousness. Blessed with raspberries. And mint leaves. Placed on a heavy ceramic white rectangular platter. Sprinkled with edible fairy dust. I thought the co-hostess was joking when she said that she made it herself. I swear to the Gods of confectionery pleasure, this is what went through my head: It would be easier for me to build a bridge than to bake that mother…