Speaking of Spirit

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,  And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,  Sell one, and with the dole  Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul. by Saadi of Shiraz Many years ago, my mother taught me this poem, which is filled with such great wisdom.  The poet, Saadi, was a Persian medieval scholar.  Each Easter, I buy hyacinths for the house, transplanting them into the garden once they go by. Why? Because, after a long, cold and difficult winter, my soul needs the beauty they provide.  Their scent, the gorgeous, rich purple blooms, the delicate shape of each flower does more to wash away the doldrums than all the medicine in the world! So, as the Easter morning sun rises on the first day of April, may you find something beautiful that will feed your soul.  Blessings of Light, Healing and Renewal!

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,  The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,  The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;  And a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6 Yesterday, millions of children, young people, their teachers, parents and supports protested gun violence. This was a world-wide event with sister protests in every continent except Antarctica.  The speakers at the Washington, DC protest were very articulate, very courageous children and young people. They brought me to tears with their words, their bravery, and their conviction.  Emma Gonzalez, one of the Parkland students, a student leader and activist, stood for six and a half minutes in silence. Six and a half minutes - the time it took to the shooter to kill her classmates. She ended her speech with the challenge, "Fight for your lives before it's someone else's job."  Martin Luther King's granddaughter was among the speakers. She shared that she too ha

Photo Credit: Crocus - (c) 2018 LMN Is it any wonder that spring is associated with birth, resurrection, and new life? Each spring, I am in awe of how, out of earth turned gray and lifeless by the winter's cold hand, bits of green can suddenly appear, growing daily until blossoms of spring flowers shock the senses with their presence. From the beginning of time, when humans first walked Earth, there has been an awareness of how mystical and magical this time of year is. From standing stones to burial mounds, from pyramids to great cathedrals, the changing of the seasons has been recognized through art, music, poems, prayers, and ritual.  Standing in a garden that is beginning to return to life is akin to watching the raising of the dead. For all intent purposes, most of the trees and flowers look dead, beyond the ability to produce life, yet, each spring buds start to fill, green shoots appear, and life returns in all its glory. This has been a long, hard winte

Photo Credit: (c) 2017 LMNeas "Despite the forecast, live like it's spring." Lilly Pulitzer Each March, Nature plays games with us up here in New England. Warm, sunny days come with their promise of spring blooms. Then, just as we begin to think all the snow is gone, our world is once again dressed in icy lace.  But, what if we see this as a life lesson? Nature, despite the sudden snows, doesn't succumb to the cold and ice. Rather, it takes nourishment from it, bringing forth even brighter blooms with stronger stems.  We, too, can gather strength and brilliance when the dark days in life threaten to overwhelm us. Like the shoots of crocus, daffodil and snowdrops, we can use the temporary gloom to feed ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically. Strengthened and enlightened, we can then face the days ahead with confidence. Live like it is spring! Let your Light shine bright with the knowledge that behind every cloud the Sun still sparkle