What If We Made It FUN?

I needed a new headshot.Not because I suddenly developed a burning desire to stand in front of a camera.

Quite the opposite. Photoshoots are not my thing.

I’m much more of a backup-singer-kinda-chick. Put me just slightly to the side of the spotlight and I’m good.

The limelight? Not exactly my happy place. Which is mildly ironic, considering I lead a community of 200+ people. I know. I call myself ‘The Reluctant Leader.’

I created a group that apparently needs to be led, so… shoulder shrug. Anyway.

I scheduled a photoshoot with Courtney Krankall, an amazing photographer who also happens to be a member of Tribe TLC Wellness Networking Group.

And because I have done this before, I already knew how I felt about it.

Uggggh.

In fact, just before the photoshoot, I was at one of our TLC gatherings chatting with another member. She said, “Have fun at your photoshoot!”

And I mumbled…“Uggggh.”

She laughed. And then she said something that stopped me.

“Make it fun.”

Hmmmmm.

What if I did? That tiny little comment got under my skin—in a good way. Because suddenly I realized that my ugh wasn’t just about having my picture taken.

It was about the story I had already created around the experience.

In previous photoshoots, I would put on makeup I never wear—which would inevitably make my skin irritated and itchy. I’d worry about my hair and put product in it—which I never do. I’d agonize over what to wear, trying to find something that looked “professional” instead of something that actually looked like me.

And somewhere along the way, I realized I had been doing something much bigger than trying to take a good photograph.

I had been making myself smaller.

Trying not to be too much.

Trying to look “right.”

Trying to fit into some imagined version of what a professional woman was supposed to look like.

Trying to be seen…

…but not too much.

And there it was.

The Holy Shift.

What if I stopped trying to be the version of me I thought I should be…

…and simply brought ALL of me?

So this time, I turned up the Fun Factor.

I left the Ugh behind.

And I walked into that photoshoot with my playful spirit, my curiosity, my personality—and a willingness to take up some space.

I laughed.

I played.

I moved.

I showed up as myself.

And guess what?

It was FUN.

And the photos?

Well…

They kind of speak for themselves.

But here’s what really matters to me:

I now have a photograph that will always remind me of this particular Holy Shift.

Not because it’s the “perfect” headshot.

But because when I look at it, I see someone who didn’t shrink.

Someone who didn’t try to be less.

Someone who brought her whole self into the room.

And that got me thinking…

Where else am I bringing the Ugh before I even begin?

What if the thing you’re dreading doesn’t actually need to change?

What if your relationship to it does?

What if instead of asking, “How do I get through this?”

you asked…

“How can I make this fun?”

Maybe it’s a photoshoot.

Maybe it’s networking.

Maybe it’s making a difficult phone call.

Maybe it’s launching the thing you’ve been talking yourself out of.

Maybe it’s walking into a room where you’re not sure you belong.

Maybe it’s simply being more visible.

The shift doesn’t always have to be huge.

Sometimes it’s one little thought.

One tiny reframe.

One decision to leave the Ugh behind.

And sometimes that tiny shift changes everything.

For me, it changed a photoshoot.

And maybe, just maybe, it changed the way I see myself in the spotlight, too.

Backup singer and all.

What's Stirring Within?

As I write this, an epic snowstorm is blowing in. The sky is heavy. The wind is howling. The world feels like it’s bracing.

And yet…

Rumi whispers to us:

“Don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots down there are riotous.”

I love that word — riotous. Beneath frozen ground, beneath bare branches, beneath what looks like stillness… there is wild becoming. There is unseen preparation. There is life gathering itself.

We are being roused from a cold, deep winter — both seasonally and collectively. And while the landscape may look stark, something inside us is stretching, softening, remembering.

“The extraordinary is waiting quietly beneath the skin of all that is ordinary.” ~ Mark Nepo

Isn’t that the invitation?

Not to rush spring.

Not to force blossoms.

But to trust the riot beneath the surface.

• What is quietly gathering strength within you right now?

• What dream is rooting deeper?

• What part of you is preparing to break through when the light returns?

There is wisdom in this storm.

There is medicine in the pause.

There is ecstasy in the roots.

Spring will come. It always does.

And when it does, it won’t be accidental. It will be the result of everything that was happening underground.

So as the snow falls, I invite you to sit with this gentle question:

What is stirring within me that the world cannot yet see?

And if you feel called to tend those riotous roots a little more intentionally, I invite you to explore my offerings below - both online and in-person - intentionally designed to help you stay curious, dig deep, and open to the wondrous nature of yourself and the world around you.

You don’t have to wait for spring to begin blooming.

Sometimes the tending begins right here, in the quiet.

The roots are riotous.

And something extraordinary is on its way.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Summer Splash of Soul

"If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it…Joy is not made to be a crumb.” ~ Mary Oliver

Ahhh, mid-summer. The rhythm of life shifts again—days stretch long, calendars feel looser, and somehow there's this illusion of more time. And yet… that doesn’t always translate into doing the things we love to do.

I’ve been craving time to write, to play with my Tarot cards, to simply sit in stillness and breathe. These are the things that truly feed my soul—and give my introvert self the energy to enjoy all the summer social sparkle.

But more often than not, I find myself placing them quietly at the bottom of my list. And I know I’m not alone in this conundrum.

So I’ve decided to bring some gentle, soul-feeding FUN to the virtual table - offerings designed to create space for what lights us up, fills our cups, and reconnects us to ourselves. For me. For you. For US.

Because summer doesn’t have to be all go-go-go and rosé all day. It can also be a season of softening, of returning, of choosing ourselves—again and again.

What might it look like for you to rediscover your rhythm this summer?

To carve out time not just for the sunshine and social invites—but for what truly nourishes you from the inside out?



I’d love to hear what you're longing to make space for. And I hope you’ll join me for some sweet, soul-centered offerings in the coming weeks.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Stop. Drop. Be Here Now.

"Be crumbled so wild flowers will come up where you are. You have been stony for too many years. Try something different. Surrender." ~ Rumi

Surrender. All that is happening in the world is stirring up so many challenging emotions within me. And it’s given me reason to ponder the power of surrendering…

I love the image of the hungry little caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

Waiting in its cocoon, it surrenders to a higher purpose - the natural process of transformation. And when the change is complete, the watercolor wings split their silken cage and the butterfly emerges - ready to fly! Metamorphosis!

This kind of surrender is to a force bigger than oneself. And it's learning how to harmonize the energies at play in any given moment.

This kind of surrender has nothing to do with waving a white flag, or collapsing into complacency or ceasing to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Spiritual surrender means relaxing - letting go of our fixed agendas, unclenching our fists, being open to responding to what is unfolding rather than reacting in a holier than thou kind of way.

What if surrender is our greatest source of strength rather than a weakness?

In battle the person surrendering is seen as the loser, but in life it's not about losing or winning. Surrender is about being okay with what is.

Being present doesn't mean that you can't plan for a bright future or take that trip you've always wanted to take. It just means you don't worry about the outcome or micromanage how you'll spend each hour.

Surrender is really just a state of non-attachment.

There is no greater act of courage than to take a deep breath and be with exactly what is happening in the present moment.

Stop. Drop. Be here now.

Get out your journal and favorite pen and let's write...



Journaling SPARKS:

Where are you fighting with life?

Where can you surrender to create more ease?

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Ch Ch Ch Changes

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

Change is in the air...earlier sunsets, later sunrises, cooler temperatures, yellow schoolbuses rolling down the road, leaves starting to drop...

I love this time of year...a new beginning for students...a collective fresh start for all...teachers, parents, observers of life.

The truth is that every breath is an opportunity for a brand new start - bringing renewed energy as we let go of the beliefs and emotions that no longer serve us - and step into the present moment.

Wherever you are - HERE is your new beginning. So gather up your courage and let's embark on a new adventure! 

Change is coming, whether we like it or not.

So let's embrace it and create a 'Holy Shift' in our lives!

• What vision do you hold for yourself?

• What are you wanting to transform in yourself and in your life?

Go ahead...get your journal and favorite pen and let's get it moving across the paper in an exploration of your intention for this new adventure that awaits you.

Journaling SPARK

Let the following prompt start you off and then just keep writing for at least TWO pages. Don’t think about what you write, don’t wait for the right word to come, just write, write, write. See where it takes you

Two pages. Three if you're an overachiever! Keep writing, even if you think you are done.

• If my goal is to experience all of who I am, I might...

Meditation Musing

"If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."

~ Ray Bradbury 

Leap! And the net will appear...

Blessings on your path,

Beth

The Art of Surrender

What's in a word?

This past week I have been mulling over the word 'surrender.' At a recent tarot party, I asked the woman I was reading for if there was any situation in her life that required she surrender? She looked at me aghast - and said 'I will never surrender!' She said it with such conviction that indicated she was proud of that. For her, 'surrender' meant giving in - giving up. It took me aback and gave me reason for pause. I had another way of looking at surrender.

One word - different perspectives.

"We shall go on to the end...whatever the cost may be...we shall never surrender." - Winston Churchill

"Be crumbled so wild flowers will come up where you are. You have been stony for too many years. Try something different. Surrender." - Rumi

Surrender. I have spent a lifetime trying something different on my life's journey as I learn to crumble and heal myself. And I wouldn't have survived some of the challenges on my path if I hadn't learned to surrender at least some of the time - admittedly with varying degrees of success!

I love the image of the hungry little caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. As it waits in its cocoon, surrendering to a higher purpose - the natural process of transformation. And when the change is complete, the watercolor wings split their silken cage and the butterfly emerges - ready to fly! Metamorphosis!

This kind of surrender is to a force bigger than oneself - not to another person. And it's learning balance and discernment - how to harmonize the energies at play in any given moment. We learn to advance when doors are open and to pause when they are closed, moving with rather than against these forces. This kind of surrender has nothing to do with waving a white flag, or collapsing into complacency or ceasing to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Spiritual surrender means relaxing - letting go of our fixed agendas, unclenching our fists, being open to responding to what is unfolding rather than reacting in a holier than thou kind of way.

What if surrender is our greatest source of strength rather than a weakness? In battle the person surrendering is seen as the loser, but in life it's not about losing or winning. Surrender is about being okay with what is.

There is no greater act of courage than to take a deep breath and be with exactly what is happening in the present moment.Being present doesn't mean that you can't plan for a bright future or take that trip you've always wanted to take. It just means you don't worry about the outcome or micromanage how you'll spend each hour. Surrender is really just a state of non-attachment.

Stop. Drop. Be here now.

Thanks for the life lesson, Universe! I am surrendering my attachment to a definition of 'surrender'.

Meditation Musing:

"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders." - Lao Tzu

Get ready. Get set. It's time to write...

Journaling SPARK:

Where are you fighting with life?

Where can you surrender to create more ease?

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Free Fallin'

Change...it's the only constant. We live in a world that is always changing, bringing unpredictability and instability and requiring that we constantly reinvent ourselves in order to survive and move forward.

It can bring up lots of fear as we struggle to let go of the old trapeze bar before the next one has swung into view.  And yet those transition zones in our lives are incredibly rich places.  They should be honored, even savored. Because by hurtling through the void, we may just learn how to fly.

The great thing about trapezes is that you can't hold onto two bars at the same time. You have to let go of the old one in order to reach out and grab the new one. In between you aren't holding onto anything.

And that's where all the possibilities are - in between. That's where you're open to new possibilities. That's where the magic happens. 

Energetic Experience:

Say 'Ahhh!' Open up your mouth big and wide and YAWN! Make full relaxing yawning sounds as you exhale. Let your eyes crinkle and your nose wrinkle, and even let your tongue hang out for full relaxation response!  We can often tell how relaxed we are just by observing our tongue. How does yawning make you feel?

Indulge in the pleasure of deep yawning throughout the day to get stale air, old emotions and limiting beliefs out while bringing fresh new opportunities into your heart and mind and oxygen into your bloodstream.

Everything you want is on the other side of fear.

Let's shift the fear of transformation into the transformation of fear!
So, get your pen and paper and do tell...

Journaling SPARKS:

• What are you afraid of?

• What would you do if you weren't afraid?

• What do you desire, really?

Meditation Musing:

"Come to the edge," he said.
"We can't, we're afraid!" they responded.
"Come to the edge," he said.
"We can't, we will fall!" they responded.
"Come to the edge," he said.
And so they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew."
― Christopher Logue

Blessings on your path,

Beth

The Art of Surrender

What's in a word?

This past week I have been mulling over the word 'surrender.' At a recent tarot party, I asked the woman I was reading for if there was any situation in her life that required she surrender? She looked at me aghast - and said 'I will never surrender!' She said it with such conviction that indicated she was proud of that. For her, 'surrender' meant giving in - giving up. It took me aback and gave me reason for pause. I had another way of looking at surrender.

One word - different perspectives.

"We shall go on to the end...whatever the cost may be...we shall never surrender." - Winston Churchill

"Be crumbled so wild flowers will come up where you are. You have been stony for too many years. Try something different. Surrender." - Rumi

Surrender. I have spent a lifetime trying something different on my life's journey as I learn to crumble and heal myself. And I wouldn't have survived some of the challenges on my path if I hadn't learned to surrender at least some of the time - admittedly with varying degrees of success!

I love the image of the hungry little caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. As it waits in its cocoon, surrendering to a higher purpose - the natural process of transformation. And when the change is complete, the watercolor wings split their silken cage and the butterfly emerges - ready to fly! Metamorphosis!

This kind of surrender is to a force bigger than oneself - not to another person. And it's learning balance and discernment - how to harmonize the energies at play in any given moment. We learn to advance when doors are open and to pause when they are closed, moving with rather than against these forces. This kind of surrender has nothing to do with waving a white flag, or collapsing into complacency or ceasing to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Spiritual surrender means relaxing - letting go of our fixed agendas, unclenching our fists, being open to responding to what is unfolding rather than reacting in a holier than thou kind of way.

What if surrender is our greatest source of strength rather than a weakness? In battle the person surrendering is seen as the loser, but in life it's not about losing or winning. Surrender is about being okay with what is.

There is no greater act of courage than to take a deep breath and be with exactly what is happening in the present moment.Being present doesn't mean that you can't plan for a bright future or take that trip you've always wanted to take. It just means you don't worry about the outcome or micromanage how you'll spend each hour. Surrender is really just a state of non-attachment.

Stop. Drop. Be here now.

Thanks for the life lesson, Universe! I am surrendering my attachment to a definition of 'surrender'.

Meditation Musing:

"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders." - Lao Tzu

Get ready. Get set. It's time to write...

Journaling SPARK:

Where are you fighting with life?

Where can you surrender to create more ease?

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Reflections on the Dark Side

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious."  Carl Jung

The solstices and equinoxes mark the changing seasons and remind us of the life cycle - seasons come and go, things change, nothing stays the same, yet all will return in its time.  One year ends and a New Year is created. 

The WInter Solstice is a deeply mystical time for many.  It is the longest night of the year, all have gone deep inside and faced the long dark night of the soul and now await the return of the sun.  The New Year is a time to consider the true nature of reflections.  Take a moment to light a candle and meditate with mindfulness on the sunlight within yourself.

As you learn to accept the brightness of who you are, you will begin to understand your deeper nature which is both light and darkness.  Do not fear your shadow side, for the shadows are what give you depth, experience and wisdom and they provide opportunities for the perfect expression of theDivine that you are.  Your soul is a beautiful mirror that seeks to reflect the light of the Divine.  This light is bright enough to forever illuminate your path and the paths of those with whom you come in contact.  Meditating upon this light will provide insight to your deeper nature.

The word 'insight', which means to see into something, is really a function of seeing with your inner eyes - with the 'eyes of understanding.'  When we are distracted and deceived by appearances, we may judge others quickly and react defensively.  True vision requires that we see beyond actions into their source - and then beyond the source into the soul.

Practice seeing with the eyes of understanding - beyond the frustration, irritation or disappointment of the moment into the underlying reasons for behaviors or events.  Challenge yourself to see into yourself - to monitor responses and reaction patterns, to consider why you create certain situations in your life, to explore ways in which you can turn apparent misfortune into an opportunity for growth and ultimately into good fortune.  Begin by trading judgment for non-judgmental observation and by trading reaction for thoughtful response -  and your eyes of understanding will begin to open.Though the night is dark, when we see with our heart and soul, our true path will always be visible, illuminated by the light within.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Leap and the Net Will Appear...

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

Change is in the air...earlier sunsets, later sunrises, cooler temperatures, yellow schoolbuses rolling down the road, leaves starting to drop...

I love this time of year...a new beginning for students...a collective fresh start for all...teachers, parents, observers of life.

The truth is that every breath is an opportunity for a brand new start - bringing renewed energy as we let go of the beliefs and emotions that no longer serve us - and step into the present moment.

Wherever you are - HERE is your new beginning. So gather up your courage and let's embark on a new adventure! 

Change is coming, whether we like it or not.

So let's embrace it and create a 'Holy Shift' in our lives!

• What vision do you hold for yourself?

• What are you wanting to transform in yourself and in your life?

Go ahead...get your journal and favorite pen and let's get it moving across the paper in an exploration of your intention for this new adventure that awaits you.

Journaling SPARK

Let the following prompt start you off and then just keep writing for at least TWO pages. Don’t think about what you write, don’t wait for the right word to come, just write, write, write. See where it takes you

Two pages. Three if you're an overachiever! Keep writing, even if you think you are done.

• If my goal is to experience all of who I am, I might...

Meditation Musing

"If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."

~ Ray Bradbury 

Leap! And the net will appear...

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Learn to Listen

"Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering." - Winnie the Pooh

Each day listening offers us an invisible path to our desires and goals - whether it's the music of the environment around us or the sound track of our own thoughts. Listening is the homing device by which our soul directs us.

Nothing is more personal than how we listen. We each remember places and people differently because of our auditory acuity, or how well we listened to our environment.

"The word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent'.” - Alfred Brendel

CHALLENGE of the DAY:

Wherever you are - right here, right now - STOP.

Take a deep breath.

Listen.

Describe what you hear in your journal for extra credit!

JOURNALING SPARK:

Take a 'Listening Walk' through your mind today. Use the following prompt to begin a journal entry, story, poem - whatever rings your bell, baby!As I listen to my thoughts, I hear...

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Spring Forward

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."

- Lao Tzu

Do you wish every day could feel fresh instead of like a replay of last one?

Change is often our deepest most insatiable desire, which we fervently deny and so desperately fear. And yet change is the only thing we can count on. What to do?

Growth requires change and reaching and stretching beyond our comfort zone on every level of being - moving into a new way of living.

Habits are automatic behavior - learned and practiced. It saves us the bother of being here now, of "experiencing the experience". We can live in our heads and not be present, fantasize reality. It's safer. We feel more in control, because if we change, who KNOWS what might happen!

But simply making a fresh choice from our rote behavior will open up a whole new way of thinking, helping us entertain a whole new set of possibilities in our lives. This fresh choice just might help resolve a problem we've been struggling with, or plant a seed of realization.

"We cannot become who we want by remaining who we are." - Max Dupree

Spring is coming...can you feel it? Nature is getting ready to explode in a symphony of birds singing in the season, and a kaleidoscope of colorful crocuses, daffodils, tulips and cherry blossoms. It's the perfect time to tap into Mother Nature's growth spurt, and harness the energy to grow whatever you desire for yourself in your life.

So, now it's time to shake off the winter doldrums and bring in spring!

How? Here are some ideas of ways to welcome a change:

MAKE A DATE WITH MOTHER NATURE: Nature is a solution for nearly everything. Enjoy the splendor of the natural world. Schedule some time to surround yourself with greenery, woodlands, water. Allow yourself to be inspired by the beauty that surrounds you. There is a sunrise and a sunset every single day - and they are priceless. Join me for my Full Moon Spring Equinox Afternoon Retreat on March 20th or my Follow the Path Afternoon Retreat on 4/23rd - both at Sticks and Stones Farm in Newtown - and reconnect with Mother Nature.

MEDITATE: Stop. Drop. Breathe. Meditation calms your mind and creates space for new ways of being. Set a timer for 5 minutes, take some nice deep breaths and tune in to the sensations in your body. Breathe in. Breathe out. For meditation support, join my 28 Day Meditation Challenge or schedule a private online session.

PLAY: Embrace your inner child and invite her out to play! Get some sidewalk chalk, a jump rope, bubbles, finger paint. Channel that childlike energy and give yourself the freedom of the process. Have FUN! Unleash your creative spirit.

SET A DAILY CHALLENGE: This week, try something new every day. Or commit to creating room in your life for something new by making March/April your decluttering month - by finding 1 thing every day to throw away, donate or sell.

Join me for my super FUN Online Odyssey: Unfold Your Own Myth. This program includes fun daily emails and live weekly online gatherings as we create a holy shift in your life! I will support and guide you wherever you are - as you take your own symbolic road trip into self-inquiry, personal discovery and conscious growth. Join in the FUN! 40 Days of Transformation starts March 21st!

Remember, springtime is all about freshness, growth, new habits - new life.

So, are you ready to throw open your inner doors, release your creativity, discover surprising connection and spark fresh ideas this Spring? Find the way to the you you were meant to be.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Finding Equanimity

Good News, Bad News.

"I live by letting things happen." - Dogen

Lessons in Zen

One day in late summer, a farmer was working in his field with his old sick horse. The farmer felt compassion for the horse and desired to lift its burden. So he let his horse loose to go up in the mountains and live out the rest of its life.

Soon after, neighbors from the nearby village visited, offering their condolences and said, “What a shame. Now your only horse is gone. How unfortunate you are! You must be very sad. How will you live, work the land, and prosper?”

The farmer replied: “Who could say? We shall see.”

Two days later the old horse came back rejuvenated after meandering in the mountainside while eating the wild grasses. Returning with him were twelve new and healthy horses which followed the old horse into the corral.

Word got out in the village of the farmer’s good fortune and it wasn’t long before people stopped by to congratulate him on his good luck.

“How fortunate you are!” they exclaimed. You must be very happy!”

The farmer softly said, “Who could say? We shall see.”

At daybreak on the next morning, the farmer’s only son set off to attempt to train the new wild horses, but the farmer’s son was thrown to the ground and broke his leg.

One by one the villagers arrived to bemoan the farmer’s latest misfortune. “Oh, what a tragedy you have had! Your son won’t be able to help you farm with a broken leg. You’ll have to do all the work yourself. How will you survive? You must be very sad,” they said.

Calmly going about his usual business the farmer answered, “Who could say? We shall see.”

Several days later a war broke out. The Emperor’s men arrived in the village demanding that young men come with them to be conscripted into the Emperor’s army. As it happened the farmer’s son was deemed unfit because of his broken leg. “What very good fortune you have!!” the villagers exclaimed as their own young sons were marched away.

“You must be very happy.”

“Who could say? We shall see.” replied the farmer as he headed off to work his field alone.

As time went on the broken leg healed but the son was left with a slight limp. Again the neighbors came to pay their condolences. “Oh what bad luck you have; too bad for you!”

But the farmer replied simply, “Who could say? We shall see.”

As it turned out the other young village boys died in the war and the farmer and his son were the only able bodied men capable of working the village lands.

The farmer became wealthy and was very generous to the villagers. They said: “Oh how fortunate we are; you must be very happy” to which the farmer softly calmly said, “Who could say? We shall see.”

Finding equanimity in these times can be super challenging. Going about my daily life in uncertain times, I feel myself becoming the villagers - my mood swinging high and low with the change of news at the moment. I am riding an emotional roller coaster.

When I sit down to meditate or write or walk or create, I am the farmer - grounded, open minded, open-hearted, kind, curious, in the present moment.

I am learning to find equanimity in these uncertain times - by sitting and being, watching, observing, practicing non-judgment.

What comes next?

Who could say? We shall see.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Reflections on the Dark Side

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious."  Carl Jung

The solstices and equinoxes mark the changing seasons and remind us of the life cycle - seasons come and go, things change, nothing stays the same, yet all will return in its time.  One year ends and a New Year is created. 

The WInter Solstice is a deeply mystical time for many.  It is the longest night of the year, all have gone deep inside and faced the long dark night of the soul and now await the return of the sun.  The New Year is a time to consider the true nature of reflections.  Take a moment to light a candle and meditate with mindfulness on the sunlight within yourself.

As you learn to accept the brightness of who you are, you will begin to understand your deeper nature which is both light and darkness.  Do not fear your shadow side, for the shadows are what give you depth, experience and wisdom and they provide opportunities for the perfect expression of theDivine that you are.  Your soul is a beautiful mirror that seeks to reflect the light of the Divine.  This light is bright enough to forever illuminate your path and the paths of those with whom you come in contact.  Meditating upon this light will provide insight to your deeper nature.

The word 'insight', which means to see into something, is really a function of seeing with your inner eyes - with the 'eyes of understanding.'  When we are distracted and deceived by appearances, we may judge others quickly and react defensively.  True vision requires that we see beyond actions into their source - and then beyond the source into the soul.

Practice seeing with the eyes of understanding - beyond the frustration, irritation or disappointment of the moment into the underlying reasons for behaviors or events.  Challenge yourself to see into yourself - to monitor responses and reaction patterns, to consider why you create certain situations in your life, to explore ways in which you can turn apparent misfortune into an opportunity for growth and ultimately into good fortune.  Begin by trading judgment for non-judgmental observation and by trading reaction for thoughtful response -  and your eyes of understanding will begin to open.Though the night is dark, when we see with our heart and soul, our true path will always be visible, illuminated by the light within.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Spring Forward

Do you wish every day could feel fresh instead of like a replay of last one?

Change is often our deepest most insatiable desire, which we fervently deny and so desperately fear. And yet change is the only thing we can count on. What to do?

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." - Lao Tzu

Growth requires change and reaching and stretching beyond our comfort zone on every level of being - moving into a new way of living. Habits are automatic behavior - learned and practiced. It saves us the bother of being here now, of "experiencing the experience". We can live in our heads and not be present, fantasize reality. It's safer. We feel more in control, because if we change, who KNOWS what might happen!

But simply making a fresh choice from our rote behavior will open up a whole new way of thinking, helping us entertain a whole new set of possibilities in our lives. This fresh choice just might help resolve a problem we've been struggling with, or plant a seed of realization.

"We cannot become who we want by remaining who we are." - Max Dupree

Spring is coming...can you feel it? Nature is getting ready to explode in a symphony of birds singing in the season, and a kaleidoscope of colorful crocuses, daffodils, tulips and cherry blossoms. It's the perfect time to tap into Mother Nature's growth spurt, and harness the energy to grow whatever you desire for yourself in your life.

So, now it's time to shake off the winter doldrums and bring in spring!

How? Here are some ideas of ways to welcome a change:

• MAKE A DATE WITH MOTHER NATURE: Nature is a solution for nearly everything. Enjoy the splendor of the natural world. Schedule some time to surround yourself with greenery, woodlands, water. Allow yourself to be inspired by the beauty that surrounds you. There is a sunrise and a sunset every single day - and they are priceless.

• MEDITATE: Stop. Drop. Breathe. Meditation calms your mind and creates space for new ways of being. Set a timer for 5 minutes, take some nice deep breaths and tune in to the sensations in your body. Breathe in. Breathe out. For meditation support, join my 28 Day Meditation Challenge or schedule a private online session.

• PLAY: Embrace your inner child and invite her out to play! Get some sidewalk chalk, a jump rope, bubbles, finger paint. Channel that childlike energy and give yourself the freedom of the process. Have FUN! Unleash your creative spirit.

• SET A DAILY CHALLENGE: This week, try something new every day. Or commit to creating room in your life for something new by making May your decluttering month - by finding 1 thing every day to throw away, donate or sell.

• Join me for my super FUN Online Odyssey: Unfold Your Own Myth. This program includes fun daily emails and live weekly online gatherings as we create a holy shift in your life! I will support and guide you wherever you are - as you take your own symbolic road trip into self-inquiry, personal discovery and conscious growth. Join in the FUN! 40 Days of Transformation starts May 11th!

Remember, springtime is all about freshness, growth, new habits - new life.

So, are you ready to throw open your inner doors, release your creativity, discover surprising connection and spark fresh ideas this Spring? Find the way to the you you were meant to be.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Are you a Carrot, Egg or Coffee Bean?

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

My meditation and writing practice yesterday was focused on perspective and adversity. And I was reminded of one of my favorite stories. Maybe you've heard it...

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity..boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However,after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water,its inside became hard.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

Which are you?" she asked her daughter.

When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Reflections on the Dark Side

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious."  Carl Jung

The solstices and equinoxes mark the changing seasons and remind us of the life cycle - seasons come and go, things change, nothing stays the same, yet all will return in its time.  One year ends and a New Year is created. 

The WInter Solstice is a deeply mystical time for many.  It is the longest night of the year, all have gone deep inside and faced the long dark night of the soul and now await the return of the sun.  The New Year is a time to consider the true nature of reflections.  Take a moment to light a candle and meditate with mindfulness on the sunlight within yourself.

As you learn to accept the brightness of who you are, you will begin to understand your deeper nature which is both light and darkness.  Do not fear your shadow side, for the shadows are what give you depth, experience and wisdom and they provide opportunities for the perfect expression of theDivine that you are.  Your soul is a beautiful mirror that seeks to reflect the light of the Divine.  This light is bright enough to forever illuminate your path and the paths of those with whom you come in contact.  Meditating upon this light will provide insight to your deeper nature.

The word 'insight', which means to see into something, is really a function of seeing with your inner eyes - with the 'eyes of understanding.'  When we are distracted and deceived by appearances, we may judge others quickly and react defensively.  True vision requires that we see beyond actions into their source - and then beyond the source into the soul.

Practice seeing with the eyes of understanding - beyond the frustration, irritation or disappointment of the moment into the underlying reasons for behaviors or events.  Challenge yourself to see into yourself - to monitor responses and reaction patterns, to consider why you create certain situations in your life, to explore ways in which you can turn apparent misfortune into an opportunity for growth and ultimately into good fortune.  Begin by trading judgment for non-judgmental observation and by trading reaction for thoughtful response -  and your eyes of understanding will begin to open.Though the night is dark, when we see with our heart and soul, our true path will always be visible, illuminated by the light within.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Chasing Sunrise

4:15am…

shoes on, journal in hand

off to the beach

3 wild turkeys strutting their stuff

taunt me in my rush

open sunroof - soft spring air

heavy with dew not yet landed

gray watercolored sky

a magnificent backdrop for the

red and white light house

circling around and around

searching for a single soul

to guide to safety

no one to be found - is it me?

there is a brand new day

hovering in the air

a sliver of light

shifting from baby pink to

a deeper peachy promise

growing from side to side

demanding a landscape view

changing by the second

mist and fog blowing in from the right

gradually obscuring the inevitable moment

and just like that

dawn fades from view

walking away

head down

I spy a beach rose bud…

Finding Equanimity: Good News, Bad News.

Lessons in Zen

One day in late summer, a farmer was working in his field with his old sick horse. The farmer felt compassion for the horse and desired to lift its burden. So he let his horse loose to go up in the mountains and live out the rest of its life.

Soon after, neighbors from the nearby village visited, offering their condolences and said, “What a shame. Now your only horse is gone. How unfortunate you are! You must be very sad. How will you live, work the land, and prosper?”

The farmer replied: “Who could say? We shall see.”

Two days later the old horse came back rejuvenated after meandering in the mountainside while eating the wild grasses. Returning with him were twelve new and healthy horses which followed the old horse into the corral.

Word got out in the village of the farmer’s good fortune and it wasn’t long before people stopped by to congratulate him on his good luck.

“How fortunate you are!” they exclaimed. You must be very happy!”

The farmer softly said, “Who could say? We shall see.”

At daybreak on the next morning, the farmer’s only son set off to attempt to train the new wild horses, but the farmer’s son was thrown to the ground and broke his leg.

One by one the villagers arrived to bemoan the farmer’s latest misfortune. “Oh, what a tragedy you have had! Your son won’t be able to help you farm with a broken leg. You’ll have to do all the work yourself. How will you survive? You must be very sad,” they said.

Calmly going about his usual business the farmer answered, “Who could say? We shall see.”

Several days later a war broke out. The Emperor’s men arrived in the village demanding that young men come with them to be conscripted into the Emperor’s army. As it happened the farmer’s son was deemed unfit because of his broken leg. “What very good fortune you have!!” the villagers exclaimed as their own young sons were marched away. “You must be very happy.”

“Who could say? We shall see.” replied the farmer as he headed off to work his field alone.

As time went on the broken leg healed but the son was left with a slight limp. Again the neighbors came to pay their condolences. “Oh what bad luck you have; too bad for you!”

But the farmer replied simply, “Who could say? We shall see.”

As it turned out the other young village boys died in the war and the farmer and his son were the only able bodied men capable of working the village lands.

The farmer became wealthy and was very generous to the villagers. They said: “Oh how fortunate we are; you must be very happy” to which the farmer softly calmly said, “Who could say? We shall see.”

Finding equanimity in these times can be super challenging. Going about my daily life in uncertain times, I feel myself becoming the villagers - my mood swinging high and low with the change of news at the moment. I am riding an emotional roller coaster.

When I sit down to meditate or write or walk or create, I am the farmer - grounded, open minded, open hearted, kind, curious, in the present moment.

I am learning to find equanimity in these uncertain times - by sitting and being, watching, observing, practicing non-judgment.

What comes next? Who could say? We shall see.

Blessings on your path,

Beth

Holy Shift!

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. 

This Carl Jung quote illustrates the power of the tarot.  Tarot is less about predicting the future - and more about revealing the answers that lie in waiting within you. The images speak to your subconscious in a way that allows things to bubble to the surface so you can see them clearly - providing insight and sometimes BIG revelations - AHA moments.  This is the true magic of the tarot.

There's a card which I consider to be the most challenging - and it's not the dreaded Death Card.  It's called The Tower.  The image is of a tower perched high atop a craggy mountain - big dark gray clouds of misfortune hovering over head. Lightning strikes and flames burst from the castle windows.  A man and a woman are leaping from the tower head first in desperation.

It's a shake up of epic proportions.  It's about being shattered - crumbling - being cracked open.  Life will never be be the same.  And it won't after an illusion has been shattered and there has been a sudden shift in perception.

Holy Shit! 

When this card comes up in a reading, I tell my clients. Relax, Calm down. There's another perspective here.I call this the SHIFT HAPPENS card.

My life has seemingly been a steady stream of Holy Shift moments. 

One of my earliest happened when I was 15 – one of the most challenging years of my life. I was dealing with and processing years of sexual abuse by my alcoholic father, an emotionally abusive mother, struggling to fit in, wanting to stand out, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, friends' suicides, sex, drugs, rock n roll - pressure everywhere.

Everyday felt like I was drowning in a sea of my emotions - being swept away by a strong undertow - alone, disconnected, afraid - moving further and further away from solid ground.  People on shore having fun, waving - oblivious to the seriousness of my situation.

It was a hot spring Friday night - my father was home from a week on the road and was 3 scotch on the rocks in to his wind down.  I was planning a fun night out with friends,  when I emerged from my bedroom - braless -  smelling of incense, cigarette smoke, and cheap perfume. I was hoping to slip past him - going unnoticed and tip toed past him on my way out of the house. I was one step away from the door. 

Where are you going?  

Out. 

When will you be home? 

When I want to. 

I had dared to poke papa bear He said something about my curfew. I said something like 'FUCK YOU'...and then ran like a bat out of hell down the long gravel driveway to wait for my friend to rescue me in her VW bug. While I was waiting,  I sat in the dark on a big rock on the edge of the woods, listening to the peepers and my heart beating - feeling simultaneously FIERCE and shaking in my too big high heels.

Suddenly I had an inkling that I wasn't alone - that someone was watching me. And it was moving closer and closer until the nape of my neck started to tingle.  The pressure was growing stronger and stronger until I felt 2 hands on my shoulders - and the energy kept increasing until I felt it lift me up and move through me.  And finally when it was in front of me - I could see!  It was a GIANT... Angel! Humongous!  It was simultaneously visceral - and visual.  I was IMMEDIATELY overcome by a sense of comfort beyond measure and beyond a doubt. And I 'heard' - All is in Divine Order' - and I KNEW it was. My whole field of vision expanded in an instant.  

The darkness turned to brightness. All my fear and angst and despair and hopelessness seemed to evaporate In that instant - I MORE than believed that I was not alone - that I was seen and heard and that there was a greater plan unfolding. I didn't need to know what it was. I just needed to know that ALL is in Divine Order. For the first time in my life I felt no fear, no despair, no hopelessness - and I KNEW I was not alone. This Angel had thrown me a surfboard - and I knew, if I held onto that belief, I could save myself from the emotional waves - All is in Divine Order. I stood up, and learned to ride the waves.

There have been lots of big waves over the years - being widowed at age 43, suicides, fractured family dynamics. We all get our growth opportunities. But that core belief - that inner KNOWING that All is in Divine Order has sustained me through good times and dark – and I have become a pretty damn good surfer.

Remember the Tower card we talked about? Well, on the other side of the Tower is the Star.  There's a woman who is kneeling at the edge of a small pool - naked, vulnerable, open.  She has one foot on the ground and the other foot in the water - listening to her inner voice.  The stars are shining upon her - illuminating the darkness - giving her hope.  With this card comes enlightenment and peace, illumination. And she knows that All is in Divine Order.