My friend Kristen Dellaporta left this world on Friday, December 18 after living with metastatic breast cancer with wit, passion, love, and courage. Her motto up until the end, and inked on her arm was, “In grace, in love, be relentless.” French author Émile Zola’s famous pronouncement, “If you ask me what I came to do … Continue reading
At the end of September, I attended my first week of residency in the Certificate in Spiritual Direction program at Columbia Theological Seminary. It was an intense, emotional, and illuminating time spent with lay people and clergy who, like me, felt our ministries could benefit from training in the practice of sacred listening. When we listen … Continue reading
I’m in the middle of a 21 Day Self-Healing practice that Reiki practitioners may be asked to complete as part of their training. I require this practice of my Reiki students, and I will periodically “re-commit” myself as well. Although I have a daily practice, it’s good to do an occasional intensive to dust away the cobwebs. I … Continue reading
I recently held a workshop, where my students and I examined the Five Reiki Principles (sometimes called the Reiki Precepts) and discussed how we can find ways to apply them to our daily life and spiritual practice, During the workshop, I assigned a group exercise for the next 6 weeks. We are mindfully working with … Continue reading
I woke up yesterday feeling pretty good and the first part of the morning went as usual. Then, there was an unexpected change of plans and suddenly, a wave of stress and anxiety hit that I couldn’t shake for hours. That, and the Grumpy Monkey was back, tossing mental banana peels in my path. I … Continue reading
When I woke up yesterday, the body aches and fatigue were gone, only to be replaced by late afternoon with a deep, hacking cough. I spent a mostly sleepless night, tossing and turning. Oddly enough, it wasn’t because I was coughing a lot. I just could not relax. Every time I attempted Reiki self-treatment, an … Continue reading
The sun is out! It feels absolutely amazing to see light and blue sky again! Hello Sol Invictus! I must admit that after I sent my daughter off to school, I went back to bed. I used to resist sleep (my mental refrain used to be, “Only wimps go to sleep when they’re tired!”) but … Continue reading
A small group of my Reiki students and I have embarked on a 21 day challenge to support mind/body balance and spiritual development. We are committing to 3 weeks of daily Reiki self-treatment (many of us already do this) combined with an exercise in mindful speech that involves refraining from complaint, gossip, judgment or criticism (self … Continue reading
Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better, it’s about befriending who we are. ~ Pema Chödrön Meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg is holding her annual 28 Day meditation challenge beginning February 1, and I decided to participate this year. I meditate as part of my Reiki practice, but I’m not very structured … Continue reading
In spiritual communities, particularly those that have been brought from the East to the West, the issue of authenticity comes up fairly often. At some point, there is a movement towards getting to “the source” of the teachings, or practicing as the founder of a system once did. It’s important to know the historical roots … Continue reading
A life itself 