Author: NancyL

I am a Writer, Artist, Nature Lover and Shamanic Guide. Transforming myself and my world, one little ripple at a time.
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Feel It All

“The opposite of love is not hate,
it’s indifference.”
~Elie Wiesel

It can be difficult to follow the current political news, much less act on it. So much of what is happening now is crazy and scary. I try to hold this quote from Elie Wiesel (above) close to my heart.

Sometimes I have powerful negative feelings bubble up when I see what’s happening in America today. I feel deep fear and anger and even hate at times. That’s ok. Those too are normal human emotions. It’s all spiritual grist for the mill – even the crazy ugly stuff. 

Denying or stuffing my negative reactions to the news doesn’t help anyone. Denial ties me up in knots. I lose my ability to act. But if I can allow myself the space to feel whatever I’m feeling about the chaos around me, no matter how uncomfortable, I come out the other side stronger and clearer and more capable of acting from a space of love and compassion.

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Embodied Joy

Embodied Joy

Yesterday I danced in the kitchen and felt JOY.  Earlier this week, I watched a funny movie and felt JOY moving through me as I belly laughed again and again. Last Saturday I got sweaty hiking up a mountain and felt JOY.  And who could forget the sex that left me breathless with JOY?

I think I’ve had it all wrong about JOY. For years I believed that JOY was an emotion that lives in the heart. If you had asked me what JOY was a month ago, I would have said something about JOY being a loving emotion of the heart. But now I’m beginning to think JOY is a full body emotion. JOY is embodied.

Why are little kids so JOYful? They live in their bodies!  Little kids don’t think their way through life, they jiggle and wiggle and dance through life. Life is a full body experience for little kids. Why are many adults so serious and JOY-less?  I’m guessing it has a lot to do with thinking their way through every experience.  By adulthood, body has become secondary to brain and life loses a lot of its JOY.

When I manage to get out of my head and allow myself to experience life through every sensation in my body, JOY spontaneously bubbles up inside of me. JOY fills me.

Hmm, even the language we use to describe JOY is body centered; we are JOYful = our body is full of JOY. We don’t feel JOY so much as fill with it!

Life is a full body sport. So, now I am on a mission: I want to embody JOY as often as possible. To feel myself fill with JOY every day. My body already knows how to do this. I simply need to get my head out of the way and allow my body to do what comes naturally.

If you pass me on the street next week, I hope I’m wiggling and jiggling with JOY.

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Political Circus

End of the Thinking Man

“There must be some kind of way out of here,”
Said the joker to the thief,
“There’s too much confusion,
I can’t get no relief…”

~Jimi Hendrix, All Along the Watchtower

The Trump administration is like that magical car at the circus – the clowns just keep pouring out.  Steve Bannon, Rick Perry, Ben Carson, Mike Pompeo, Jeff Sessions, an Exxon CEO tossed in just for fun … That’s quite a Brain Trust you’re building there, Mr. Trump. These guys certainly wouldn’t be winners on Jeopardy – or Wheel of Fortune for that matter.

And now it appears that Vladimir Putin may actually be the Ringmaster of Donald’s three ring circus. When American banks refused to loan Trump another dime, he got the money he needed from Russian financiers. Now he is “servicing” his debt to Russia. Trump is our next president, and Putin owns his ass.

After years of being labeled the Evil Empire, Russia is now labeled “not that bad.”  Ronald Reagan is twirling in his grave… A racist, sexist circus led by a Russian thug…

Trump Supporter:  Oh come on! Putin’s not that bad!
Me:  You mean as far as vile murderous thugs go, he’s ok?
Trump Supporter:  um yeah…

✧

 Truth is definitely stranger than fiction.  Donald Trump has now made it cool to be stupid and uninformed. And he’s working on transforming Russia into our best friend.  So much for truth and wisdom.  Those of us who value education, fact checking and people who actually know what they’re talking about – well, we are all just so uncool.

Sorry Mr. Trump, but I’m putting my money on knowledge and truth. Your days are numbered. It’s only a matter of time before the Republicans realize their mistake.

#ClownTrump        #NOTMyPresident

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Hold to the Truth

Image from Soul Pancake
Image from Soul Pancake

Can you stand at the edge of fear and hold to the truth of who you are?
No matter how big the abyss of fear feels,
it is nothing in comparison to your truth.
When you truly know yourself,  fear is merely a tool
that the Universe uses to get you to pay attention.

Stand strong.

~Robbie Warren,  Otter Woman Standing