It’s been nine months since I gave away my wedding crystal, discarded hundreds of moldy, faded photographs, and followed a psychic’s suggestion to move west. What have I given birth to? How have I grown? A few years ago someone asked me what I did for fun and, sadly, I couldn’t think of anything. I… Read more »
Blog
Teaching Humanity in Our Schools
When I see reports about hate crimes, I wonder how these people feel justified in acting out their rage. There is not a gene for all-consuming hatred against a group of people or assurance of security by being part of a group whose common thread is a perceived enemy. Beliefs of separateness and isolation are… Read more »
Another Look Toward Healing
I opened a manilla envelope that contained my writings. I thought that I was ready to visit the Ellie of my past and to get a glimpse of an earlier life that I had forgotten. Curiosity tugged at my gut, wonder at my heart. I was wrong. I wasn’t ready or prepared to remember past… Read more »
Grow Your Roots for Spring
Spring is here…or almost here. I have been feeling spring-ish, cleaning out old papers and clothes, re-organizing files and thinking of planting. New ideas are sprouting like tender shoots. They are not my ideas, but things that people have told me to cultivate the richness of this season. Eat seeds, grains, greens. It is especially… Read more »
A Sacred Place Starts with Sacred Thoughts
A debilitating cold and cough have made me stop unpacking from my trip to NY and sit quietly on my porch to reflect. This was the first time that I went back east since moving to Santa Fe. Such different cultures and rhythms! Earphones have become an appendage that have to be disengaged if a… Read more »
“NO” is a Beautiful Word
Here are some thoughts from Cheryl Richardson’s lecture on Getting Comfortable with Saying No: “No” defines the quality of our lives, the quality of our relationships, the work we do and how we are of service. We’re not here to help everybody. We’re not here to fix people. We’re here to show up fully. Some… Read more »
What’s Your Story?
The Koshare is a story teller in Native American tradition. Appearing like a clown, the koshare is no clown, but a revered member of the pueblo passing on stories from generation to generation. I wonder what story we tell when we talk about ourselves. Does our story start with a past that confines and limits… Read more »
Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine Glass
Last night was the first meeting of what sounds like a secret society, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine Glass. When my neighbor proposed the idea it did seem mysterious. No one is allowed to cook or do work in preparation. No one is allowed to wash dishes, so everyone brings their own wine glass… Read more »
Beautiful Us
At the end of the qigong class with my mother, the group got in a circle and turned to the person on the left and the one on the right and said, “Thank you for your practice.” Then each person blessed the space leaving just my mother on a chair and me at her feet…. Read more »
The Spirit of MY Santa Fe
My mom left yesterday after a five-day whirlwind of southwest experiences. I wanted to show her MY Santa Fe…where I hang out, my friends, how I love the vast sky at sunset and red rocks and piñon trees dotting the mountainside. We saw Mr. Turner, an art film, at my favorite movie theater, and we… Read more »