INSPIRATION

During difficult times, love, kindness, and truth are acts of resistance and personal freedom. We can befriend what grips us. Practice mind taming techniques. Look for experienced and caring assistance. Cultivate a wise heart that can hold it all and be with it, as it is. Act from generosity and mutual care. Take a little time to smell the roses.

I bought this purple wig for Halloween to shape shift into someone else, if just for a night. I discovered that my purple alter ego is actually me. Without the judgement and mores of society breathing down my neck, I embrace my wild spirit and tender heart. Who or what inside of you wants to come out and play?

We might not like it... But, according to "Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change" by Bruce Feiler, transitions and disruptions occur around every 12-18 months. Feiler reports that about one in ten disruptions becomes a "lifequake," or massive transition. Such as a serious illness or accident, divorce, career change, job loss, or death. Ugh! These lifequakes will happen three to five times in a person's life, last an average of five years, and result in spending roughly

Wisdom arrives in all shapes and sizes. Including our Starbuck's cashier in Auburn. He delivered a sweet response to my, "How are you?" He said, " I'm living the dream. Slaying the dragon and saving the princess". Translation: "Living the dream" : Fulfilling one's aspirations and purpose. "Slaying the dragon" : An obstacle to overcome, understand, or befriend to ensure forward motion. "Saving the princess" : The object of rescue, such as a precious treasure, community, or som

What if what's got you baffled, anxious, mad, or miserable (straw) becomes a lifelong practice opportunity for greater understanding, reverence, and self-compassion (gold)? I'm not talking about self-improvement. But, rather, about making the choice to step back, breathe, notice, and release our grip on how things are supposed to be. In doing so, no matter how difficult, grace, ease, and love have space to emerge and lead the way. For example: One client, a hospice nurse, was

"Be a light unto yourself; betake yourselves to no external refuge. Hold fast to the Truth. Look not for refuge to anyone besides yourselves". – Buddha Shakyamuni "The answers lie within you". Many have spoken of this. From Viktor Frankl and Rumi to Heraclitus . We were trained to ignore our own council. Go with the program. Blend in. Don't rock the boat. Follow the leader. Keep quiet and look intelligent. Stick to the script. Tow the line. Soul Essent is here to help you rep

We all have moments and long stretches of not doing what we think or know we should! You are in good company. We're over-busy, over-stimulated, over-tasked, and over-wrought. The Motivating Inertia Meditation is your 15-20 minute reset. Close your door. Find a solitary space. Mute your phone. Have paper and pen or a journal close at hand. Let yourself settle into your body while resting in a comfortable chair. Gently close your eyes. Imagine your spine lifting and shoulders

The shadow side of humanity is at play. The news is disturbing. Our own situation can be daunting. And yet... “When I play, I feel the...

Tibetan Buddhism offers aspirational chants and prayers to cultivate compassion, wisdom, non-judgement, connection with all beings, and...

Our hearts hurt. Our bodies hurt. Our minds hurt. And yet, we can also know love and feel loved, experience wonder, offer ourselves grace...

What are you holding onto that you would love to release? Our human minds are filled with a litany of hurts, judgements, stories, wishes,...