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I sat across from a woman at dinner on a Saturday night-- a woman I knew first as a girl, who now has a beautiful girl of her own, and another on the way. Surrounding us were the flesh and faces that accompanied us both during our college days. We had all gathered after many years to celebrate the most recent accomplishment of one of our dear friends, and this had turned out to be a full-fledged college reunion of sorts, complete with the obligatory barrage of surface-level questions better suited for a job interview than a gathering of friends.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” – John Muir

Imagine walking through a forest - the soil hugs the soles of your feet, birds chirp in the distance, and the smells of moss and morning dew fill your nostrils. Sounds nice, right? Turns out, there's a science to it.

Last weekend, I went home to visit my family.  Lately, I’ve felt a change coming—a new adventure waiting for me, manifesting now only as the goose bumps riding my forearms.  Knowing that I might soon find myself far from my loved ones, I went home.  It rained all weekend—grey skies and even a surprise mid-May snowstorm.

What if your
traditional problem-solving methods were inadequate in dealing with an
uncooperative mind?

I have always been amazed by how much of my body operates without any conscious effort or thought on my part.  Our autonomic nervous system is responsible for our heartbeat, breath cycle, digestion and other unconscious bodily functions crucial to our survival as a species.  The source of the energy or force responsible for pumping our heart and lungs is of unknown origin…. or is it? There is still much mystery to behold and embrace in this life – and that is where the joy, bliss and excitement come in!

4 Ways to Be Present Right Now

The present moment is the only moment we have. Much cause of the human mind’s anxiety stems from not being truly in this moment.  This disconnection from the present moment, or lack of presence has many causes and effects in our modern society.

One cause of the problem is that technology so readily provides the perfect opportunity for absence from the present moment. As a teacher, I have seen this effect on my students. However, I recognize that these habits are a reflection of their surroundings.

            We cut through the mountains to get here, to Yosemite Valley.  After four hours driving, we discovered Tioga Pass was closed for the winter, so we looped back and added another few winding hours in the rugged East Sierra switchbacks. When we finally showed up to Yosemite the next day, it was raining.  Hard. We sat for a while in our tent, and when the rain let up slightly, we set out and found a place to read John Muir.

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How to get onto your area’s no spray list to protect your yard and bees from harmful pesticides.

Happy Spring! It’s that time of year when the birds are singing, the bees are buzzing … and the pesticides are being sprayed? Many counties, cities, and municipalities spray for pest management (particularly mosquitos) around the beginning of summer. These pesticides can be harmful to the surrounding environment, pollinators, and humans.

What do the gallbladder and liver meridians, sour flavors, Spring time, tendons and sinews, eyes and vision, planning and decision making, creativity and anger all have in common? They all live in the Wood Element of the 5 Element Theory of Chinese Medicine. Creativity lives in the Wood Element because it is about action. Just like the small sprout pushing its way out of the dirt to the sun, creativity has a direction of moving upwards and out into the world. My childhood was a continual process of being in that creative space.

Meditation Monday! This series is helpful for those new to meditation, and good refresher for those of us who have already committed to a daily practice. Each week I'll be giving you a meditative tip and some inspiration to find your own peace. 

In love and light,

joni

This week's tip: Your meditative practice starts with your breath. Focus on your breath and nothing else. Your mind will wander. Come back to your breath. It can be helpful to count. I count four in and four out. Your breath will always be there for you.