Speaking of Spirit

  Norman Rockwell [Public domain] This Thursday, people across the US will sit down with family and friends to celebrate the holiday we have come to know as Thanksgiving. Besides all the preparation going into cooking, many families enjoy the day by watching the traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, while others might bundle up for a rousing game of football played at the local high school. Still others might be enjoying the pro ball found on cable.    Thing is, this is the Norman Rockwell version of Thanksgiving. While I really enjoy Rockwell's work, I believe he did us no favors in portraying this day as completely blissful. For many, it is far from the idyllic scene he painted. So, as those of us who will enjoy the day with family and friends sit before the bounty on our tables, let us think of those who will not be celebrating with us. Whether through death or distance, hold those whose chairs stay empty on Thursday in your thoughts an...

    (c) 2016 Mystic's Moon by Linda M. Rhinehart Neas The poet known as Rumi was a Sufi Mystic who lived in the 13th century.  His words have often brought me peace, understanding and joy.  These are but a few of the quotes that have touched my heart and soul over the years.  May the bless you, now. “Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.  They’re in each other all along.” “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field.  I’ll meet you there.” “In your light I learn how to love.  In your beauty, how to make poems.  You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you,  but sometimes I do,  and that sight becomes this art.”

 By Apple Records Public domain via Wikimedia Commons The Book of George – by now, you have probably put one and one together and realized that I am talking about George Harrison , most notably remembered as one of the Fab Four – that is, one of the Beatles. In addition to this recognition, however, George gained quite a following because of his spiritual practice and beliefs. Gary Tillery in his 2011 book, “ Working Class Mystic : A Spiritual Biography of George Harrison,” writes about the April evening that George was suddenly overwhelmed by emotion so profound that he was quoted as saying, “ I felt in love, not with anything or anybody in particular, but with everything. Everything was perfect, in a perfect light, and I had an overwhelming desire to go around the club telling everybody how much I loved them – people I had never seen before.” Tillery calls George a “working-class mystic” because of his ability to relate to not only gurus and yogis, but also the everyday pe...