While teaching a recent in-person class on the Be Love Principles, I was presented with an interesting question as I discussed the second principle, “See the divine essence in everyone and everything.”

During a spirited class discussion, we explored ways to be shown the divine essence in ourselves, fresh flowers, in a crystal, in animals and while listening to a beautiful song.

An elderly man raised his hand and asked, “What about disabled people? How does this apply to us?”  The man had already shared his challenge with a lifelong hearing issue and how he’d struggled to feel loved as a result.

“That’s a great question,” I answered. And proceeded to tell the class about my friend and her beautiful son, Michael.

My friend had shared with me that her 11-year-old autistic son had just finished his first season of basketball. Michael was not only the only fourth grader on the fifth-grade team, but the only “special needs”...

Have you ever noticed the graceful dance in life between goodbyes and hellos?

For example, our family said goodbye last week to a woman who was my children’s grandmother and my cherished friend for over 40 years. As I’ve been thinking about her, I realized she modeled “supportive, loving grandmother” in ways I adopted when my own grandson arrived.

I am grateful for what she taught me about sewing, how to feed a herd of hungry young boys, the way to support and care for ill family and – above all - how to love fiercely. I am forever grateful to love, and to have been loved by, this beautiful soul.

As my heart is saddened by this goodbye, life has given me a new hello.

Our new grandson is only three months old, and I smile when I think of all the hellos ahead. I’ll greet him as a baby, toddler, schoolboy and beyond. I’m already saying hello to his mom and dad as new parents, welcoming in this exciting new family chapter for us all. So many...

Sometimes the world gets too noisy. Too scheduled. Too focused on things that simply do not matter in the long run.

In the last couple months of last year, I began to realize I was focused more on what I “should do” instead of what I was called to do.

I needed a reset. Without really understanding what I was doing, I:

• Took a break from social media.
• Cleaned closets.
• Stopped writing blogs or sending emails because I “should.”
• “Unsubscribed” from email lists that no longer interested me.
• Left a couple online groups where I felt my participation was complete.

And

• Created more quiet time.
• Made more physical space in my environment.
• Took more walks in nature.
• Experienced profound meditations.
• Spent time journaling.
• Connected even more deeply with the Be Love Principles.

 While I still took care of my family and business, I realize now that I had created a silent cocoon where I began to think more clearly about…everything.

I feel...

I’ve heard it everywhere lately.

From participants in a recent retreat, clients, to friends and family I’ve heard versions of the following:

“It seems like the world is on fire!”

“ Why are people saying and doing the unthinkable?”

“ What the hell is going on?”

“Sometimes I’m afraid to even leave the house…”

I understand how they feel.

The wars, political rhetoric, gun violence and devastating environmental concerns are just a few of the challenges we all face. And when I search my own heart for answers, I know this for sure:

• War has never created long term solutions.
• Screaming at each other has never resolved issues.
• Violence generates more violence.
• Ignoring how we treat the Earth has consequences.

So what can we do?

I suggest we follow the example of the courageous souls I’ve seen who choose to center on love.

It’s important to note, these souls are not in denial of what’s going on. They...

“Everything responds to love,” is the phrase that came to me this morning as I woke up at 3:30am and thinking about our broken water heater and the mess I needed to clean up today.

“Well of course it does! Everything responds to love,” I muttered to myself as I lay in bed.

But what did that mean?

What did it mean to me, right now, dealing with a broken water heater, soaked carpet, possible water damage to several rooms, the plumber’s weekend schedule…and the cost of the clean up?

I decided to find out.

Still in bed, I prayed to be shown how to bring love to the water heater and the resulting chaos. Immediately I was told to “bring it to the Principles.”

So I did.

Taking a few deep heart breaths, I went through the Be Love Principles process I’ve taught for years. Silently I asked:

• Show me how to greet this situation with an open heart, without an agenda.
• Show me the divine essence here.
• Show me any forgiveness opportunities...

Sometimes on the spiritual path we receive many messages encouraging us to be:

• Present
• Joyful
• Open
• Allowing
• In service

All wonderful intentions!

Often the list of ways you want to show up in the world can clash with the mundane activities that call to you.

Life tasks like laundry, paying bills, going to the grocery store and food prep come to mind. As does business tasks like answering emails, strategic planning, creating content and working with clients.

It can feel overwhelming.

Your feelings are the key!

When you find yourself mired in the “to do” lists - feeling constricted and small instead of the expanded feelings of joy, peace, and presence - it’s time for a reset.

Breath work, using the Be Love Principles, or going for a walk in nature all help shift perspective and allow you to refocus.

My ultimate tip for overwhelm?

Ask.

Go inside the sacred space of your own heart, and ask Spirit/Love/God, “Show me.”

In your daily journaling or mediation...

I get up each morning between 4 – 5am, walk to the kitchen, argue with the cat about how much breakfast she needs, then grab my journal and sit down to write before my meditation.

Recently my journaling took a new turn.

I began with a familiar prompt I learned from Robert Holden, “Love, what do you most want me to know today?”

I was surprised by the words that flowed from my pen:

“Lightness is key. Light now refers to density, brightness and feeling. Light in all forms. Keep checking in with your heart. Light and lightness is the key.”

“What does that mean?” I said out loud. A few minutes later, I decided to do my best to be aware of all forms of light in my day.

I periodically set an alarm to check in with my heart and consciously connect to the divine light within.

Walking past my window I noticed how the morning light sparkled off the front yard grass still wet with dew.

Before I ate, I asked, “What food brings me the most light...

Nearly 20 years ago I studied Reiki from a local spiritual teacher who saw how curious I was about everything. I remember her smile as she said:

“There are so many traditions and practices that will interest you. Feel free to sample them! The key is to find what you love and go deep.”

I’ve never forgotten her words and it’s played out in my life in several ways.

For example, I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean. I spent years watching famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau on TV and reading countless books on sea life. Since I lived near the mountains and my parents weren’t “beach people” I rarely even saw the ocean as a kid.

Then in my mid 40’s I decided to learn to scuba dive. I went deep. Literally.

On my first real dive into the Atlantic Ocean off the Bahama shoreline, I was “gob smacked!” My desire to “go deep” opened the door to experiencing and interacting with the ocean, not just reading about...

Last week I spent several days with a few family members in a beach house at Duck, North Carolina (the Outer Banks).

I'm not a beach person. I love the mountains. And I'd made a few less than excited comments to friends about the beach in the days leading up to the trip.

But I'd made the commitment to go and spend time with the family (especially my young grandson) so I decided to be "all in." 

So what does that mean, exactly?

I decided to look for expressions of love. Everywhere. In the beach experience, the people I was with and met, and in the activities each day. I think A Course in Miracles explains it beautifully:

"When you want only love, you will see nothing else."

And that's what I experienced, many expressions of love:

• Joy as I watched sandpipers dancing on the beach.
• Peace while hearing the ocean waves.
• Excitement during a nature walk with a curious six year old boy.
• Peels of laughter during after dinner family games.
• Contentment...

Driving up to my friend's Sunday morning retreat held on her beautiful farm, I had several expectations.

I expected to meet new spiritually minded friends. (Check.)

I expected the skillful host to lead us through insightful and impowering inquiries. (Check.)

I expected to enjoy the fresh country air and powerful demonstrations with her animals. (Check.)

I did NOT expect to receive a personal message while meditating with the group at the edge of her wetlands area. (Whaaaat?)

Here's what happened...

My friend, a trained environmental scientist, led our group to the small wetlands area and explained it's varied purposes in nature. After a brief instruction, she invited us to sit and meditate.

The scene was beautiful, serene and felt sacred.

As I sat, connected to the wetlands and the earth, I could hear the trees sway in the breeze, the hum of a bee several yards away and birds singing to each other.

It was pure bliss.

As I felt myself sink deeper into a meditative...