Companioning Philosophy ~ Help in Grief

Companioning Philosophy ~ Help in Grief

Companioning Philosophy Dr. Wolfelt’s 11 Tenets of Caring for the Bereaved by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. www.center-for loss, com Companioning the bereaved is not about assessing, analyzing, fixing or resolving another’s grief. Instead, it is about being...
A Day to be Called Home

A Day to be Called Home

If life is a movie, Wednesday afternoon at 3 PM must have been the scene where one is called home. I took my mom to the doctor’s office. It was nothing serious. JG, our trusty caregiving friend, came with us. The first good chair in the doctor’s reception area sits...
I Love You into Love

I Love You into Love

You are seen. Everything is seen No judge here Simply seen. People in your world wrapped up in judgment I do not judge I love I love you into love I love you into love beyond the highest hills and mountaintops I love you into love beyond the greatest ocean depths I...
A Riser You Become

A Riser You Become

You were a warrior when young Then the world crouched in and a worrier you became And then you stood up and the world crouched out And Riser you became Regardless of the world, regardless of naysayers, of unconscious ones A Rise you became Rise I rise Rising like the...
When Pee Becomes A Pleasant Distraction

When Pee Becomes A Pleasant Distraction

I thought I was helping a friend over the phone when he interrupted me abruptly. I didn’t mind the interruption. I didn’t mind the abruptness. But the tone of voice was harsh, almost angry, and definitely impatient – and I felt hurt. My solar plexus hurt. I did the...
When Does the Killing Stop?

When Does the Killing Stop?

I hesitated to post this piece because increasing the polarity is not my intention, but there is a lot of frustration and sadness and wonder of why we don’t have sane gun control measures in this country is. My greater need is to understand. Understand why...
On Compassion for Caregivers ~ The Angels of Earth

On Compassion for Caregivers ~ The Angels of Earth

  If you are inclined to get on Creative Compassion, formerly The Story Circle, and receive meditations, stories and art, please sign up today. Access to a 15-minute video meditation towards the end of this post is available to you. It was created to help you...
Honoring Trees and Loved Ones

Honoring Trees and Loved Ones

This was first written twenty years ago after my dad passed on This March 29th is the anniversary Peace unto you and yours, wherever you or they may be Honoring Trees and Loved Ones To become comfort unto ourselves There is nothing else but us We are all here Those in...
Follow Your Dot: Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos

Follow Your Dot: Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos

This past holiday season, I walked into a store, and while listening to their jazzy holiday songs piped over the sound system, I waited for the clerk to help me. After half an hour, the energy drained from my body. I craved to do nothing for a long time. Nothing. It...
The Puzzle of Gratitude: Is it Just Another Platitude?

The Puzzle of Gratitude: Is it Just Another Platitude?

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a pastor asking me to speak at her church. I asked her if she had any suggestions and she wrote, “How about gratitude?” I paused and then wrote back. “”Well, that’s funny. Gratitude? I have a lot of anger and...
When You Are a Caregiver, Where Does the Art Fit In?

When You Are a Caregiver, Where Does the Art Fit In?

Holy Ground It doesn’t. It doesn’t. And if you’re someone like me, who needs a good amount of mental spaciousness and a place free of clutter, so your mind and imagination can soar, then it never fits in. It doesn’t. But you dutifully try until you wonder if you even...
A Riser You Become

A Three Prayer

Branches Threes Lead Three dreams Three wishes Three wise men The triple Goddess Sundari Saraswati, Kali, Lakshmi Om aim, srim, hrim The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost Threes grace this day And Lead my Way ~ Elizabeth...
I Love You into Love

Poem A Day

Footsteps in the Sand There is time And there is time beyond time When the door is open Doors that swing back and forth Between Soul and Earth and God and Good In the secret compartment of the Heart There is an inner chamber Known to the Keeper of Time It opens and...
Blameless

Blameless

Ice Buddha Do not blame yourself for not doing more of what you knew not what to do Blame and judgment are callous cavernous spaces That take you away from the beauty of this day Self-inflicted torture Like the ascetic who denies their body Or the man and woman who...
You are the Embodiment of Love

You are the Embodiment of Love

You are the Embodiment of Love Have no fear or despair; don’t worry about a thing. This is the wisdom you are to embody today. Have no fear or despair; don’t worry about a thing. You are the Embodiment of Love. But there is everything to despair and fear and worry...
Meditation, Writing, Miracles & Prayer

Meditation, Writing, Miracles & Prayer

Sky Meditation & Contemplation ~ In meditation you dive deep in silence. In that dive you may initially encounter the body, including sensation and feelings, the noise of your own thoughts or the honking horn outside. But slowly you get to see that although you...
Decluttering to Create: On Getting Rid of Stuff & Creativity

Decluttering to Create: On Getting Rid of Stuff & Creativity

What I would love in this new year? To write!! To paint again, with real paint!!! Childhood Art #1 I’ve been getting rid of old stuff Some of it really old Like tons of things from when I was a wee tot Sitting in the garage for decades and decades. Do you have...
I Wish I Had A Compass ~ Finding Your Creative Way

I Wish I Had A Compass ~ Finding Your Creative Way

I sometimes wish I had a compass but anger and sadness can be a kind of compass. They can give information for life’s direction. The thing is one has to be willing to listen and see where the compass points, and then go for it. Moving in the direction that the...
One Small Thing ~ Creative Discipleship

One Small Thing ~ Creative Discipleship

Angel at the Door I’m a creator. I always have been. I had to create. It was in my blood.                 To write or paint or teach or tell stories.                    It just flowed. It still does. I came to amass a resume filled with great credibility. Having...
The Power of Story to Bring World Peace

The Power of Story to Bring World Peace

The Power of Story to Bring World Peace Storytelling is as old as time itselfThrough story, song and dance we have lived and lovedCreated community, celebrated and grievedWe hear and tell them constantlyStories make us uniquely humanand connect us soul to soul ~...
The Voice Code ~  Awaken the Mystical Power Within ~ Part 1

The Voice Code ~ Awaken the Mystical Power Within ~ Part 1

Your voice has the power to heal. Your voice has the power to invite energy and create. Your voice has the power to bring you into a deeper silence. Your voice has the power to connect you to your miraculous Self. Earlier this year, I met a man in a hot tub—where many...
Free in My Heart, Free in Tehran

Free in My Heart, Free in Tehran

 In a real sense all life is inter-related. All persons are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be,...