January 13, 2025

The true sign
of intelligence
is not knowledge
but imagination.
Albert Einstein

Why, sometimes
I’ve believed
as many as six
impossible things
before breakfast.
The White Queen

When I discovered, in my princess pink bedroom, that I could astral travel, I shared that news with my parents. It didn’t go well. They wrapped my experience in a cloak of fear and I didn’t go flying again. Well, until recently. But I’ll get to that in a bit. 

As I was strongly counseled to be concerned about my cosmic travel, I was also confused. How was I to reconcile this with my books filled with stories of animals talking, inanimate objects coming to life, and worlds filled with magical adventures? And what about Mary Poppins flying around with her umbrella?

While we are exposed to the fantasies of books and movies…and I’ve come to think of those who create those stories as wonderful subversive agents of the mystical and magical…we are also given strong messages about what is possible and what is not possible. And from the not possible, we are told to keep our distance. This cultural conditioning limits our imagination and creativity.

Do not grow old,
no matter how long
you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.
Albert Einstein

We are currently inundated with stories about what’s on the horizon, stories of horrific possibilities. Stories that suggest it’s impossible to change this trajectory. Yet we need our imaginations to run wild and to shift stories from impossibility to in possibility. We need to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast. And if we step away from the main stream media, we can see that all around us people are creating and doing the impossible.

Astral travel. While I never set an intention to go back and reclaim my cosmic travel experience, it seems that ability never left. It just went quiet for a while. When my sacred sister circles join together in a zoom meditation from locations across the US, Canada, Ireland and even Honduras, we often gather at one of Ireland’s ancient sacred sites. And we know ourselves to be there together. Some might say this is just a collective active imagination. But when we share our experiences we have so frequently seen and sensed exactly the same things, heard the exact same messages from ancestral and otherworld energies. Experiences well beyond imagination except that we imagine we can and we know we can. 

We can all disregard the boundaries and limits we have been given. We can all embrace the great mystery and create what is in possibility. 

Beannacht,
Judith

January 11, 2025

Creativity is intelligence having fun.
Albert Einstein

The natural world of plants, minerals, and even water can be consigned to categories of commodity and capital; but it doesn’t diminish their sacred nature. The term ‘woke’ can be thrown at me with derogatory intent; but it only strengthens my resolve to be awake to and inhabit compassionate consciousness. I don’t give a toss what others think. Please. Call me woke. I embrace it fully.

The landscape rooted in love is where we woke folk will do our work. This is where our intelligence and wisdom will shine, where our creative juices will flow freely. This is where we will inspire and support each other. This is where we will weave new structures and systems of community support and strengthen the weave of those that already exist. This is where we will dream and manifest visions of a sustainable world. This is where we will sing songs of the Earth. This is where we will dance.

Yes. I fully understand this is going to be a time of trauma and tragedy for so many of our people and devastation for the earth. But we will dig deep to leverage our intelligence and creativity for the joy of hope and possibility. And I find joy is always fun.

Let’s dance!!!

Beannacht,
Judith

January 10, 2025

When we stand in and manifest the energies of compassion, passion for social and environmental justice, divine harmony, and sacred communion, we are rooted in love. Love is our superpower. It is the power that is essential in all times and especially the times ahead for our nation and world.

And we don’t stand alone. We stand together and we stand with the majority of people in our nation and around the globe. It is the Light that shines in us.

With each passing day, it becomes more clear that those of the incoming administration are deeply rooted in anger, fear, hatred, and greed. There is no ambiguity. They are intoxicated not by the power of love but by the love of power. They are now abandoning any promise of helping anyone but themselves as they shift their focus from the price of eggs to terrifying imperialistic global domination.

And in this, they leave the landscape of love to us because this is one territory they cannot invade. This is foreign territory for them. Lost in their hatred, they don’t know how to navigate the terrain. But we do. We can and we will populate this landscape with hope and possibility. We can and we will create a place of refuge for those abused, those who grow weary, and those who will become disillusioned by the lies and fatigued by the hate.

The power of
Love
is stronger
than the
love of power.
Rooted
together
in Love
we will
fourish.

Rooted in Love, we will come together to take care of each other, our people, and our planet. Joining with so many who are already in action based in Love. Together, rooted in Love, we will flourish.

Take heart, dear friends. And embrace the power. Our superpower.

Beannacht,
Judith 

December 20, 2024

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Maya Angelou

On the eve of Winter Solstice, thinking about what I would write, I found this image. It so resonates. And it inspired a different direction for this post. 

In these darkest of days, I’m feeling battered. Yes. I focus on the Light. Yes. I focus on the vision and energies of peace and hope and love and compassion. Yet I am still grieving the political landscape and concerned about the horrors on the horizon. But this landscape is not of the natural world and has little, if any, concern for the natural world or human condition.

In the natural world, the Light will now return. As it does every year. In the natural world, there is the promise of new life. As there is every year. For those of us to choose to live our lives in alliance with the seasons and cycles, there is comfort. There is assurance that the cosmic rhythms and patterns will continue as they always have and always will. And when I know myself to be woven with these sacred rhythms and patterns, I know my Light to be in alliance with these greater forces.

On this Winter Solstice eve, I choose alliance with the sacred and cosmic. And with the certainty of the tides, I will continue to hold and shine my Light. 

Solstice Blessings,
Judith

December 13, 2024

But a tiny voice whispers in my mind
“You are lost, hope is gone
But you must go on
And do the next right thing”

When it’s clear that everything
will never be the same again
Then I’ll make the choice
To hear that voice
And do the next right thing

I continue to be amazed by the wisdom that comes from Disney studios. During the holidays I watched Frozen II. The messages were profound and uplifting for these times we are navigating. The graphics and music are stunning. The lyrics above are from Do The Next Right Thing.

If you haven’t yet seen it, the kingdom is in peril. The energies of the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, are not in harmony. And, spoiler alert, Elsa and Anna discover that they, with their Light, spirit, and even magic, are the fifth element necessary to restore the harmony. It’s Disney. So of course there is a happy ending.

These days I often find myself lost in what’s unfolding. But I know there is hope. It’s just a bit elusive some days. And then I choose to listen to that voice. 

May we all listen to that voice. May we continue to shine our Light and be the right thing. And in shining our Light, may we do the next right thing.

Beannacht,
Judith

November 21, 2024

When we embrace
being in right relationship
with community…

I know where I stand. But of late it’s been a bit tippy. I know myself to be rooted in the Dharma of my spiritual community, including this line from one of our fundamental prayers: I accept all people as my own and open my heart to share with them.

Then I read these words from James Baldwin. We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist. The resonance is strong.

In our nation right now, the trajectory of what is promised is absolutely rooted in oppression and the denial of humanity and basic human rights. So many people are rooted in these beliefs. How can I possibly open my heart to them? This is sorely testing my belief that everyone holds the Light of divine wisdom. It’s tempting to limit my definition of all people and just focus on my tribe. Tempting, but no. The challenge is to step away from the polarization. The challenge is to amplify the Light.

I do see all people as my human community. Yet I will not open myself to their anger and hate. I will open myself to their Light. And when they are open to their own Light, there can be sharing. For I know their Light to be rooted in love and compassion and peace, and I open my heart to sharing those energies. 

So for now, I will continue to shine my Light and pray it touches and awakens the Light in others. For now, I will continue to shine my Light and pray for collateral compassion.

Beannacht,
Judith

November 20, 2024

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

His light was extinguished too soon. Yet he left us a legacy of music that resonates, yet again, for the times in which we find ourselves. As powerful now as it was then. I find myself turning to music as salve for my soul. His brings me to tears. Because I am also a dreamer.

Just found this image in the Banksy community. Too good not to share. Too good not to weep. Tears of hope. Tears of knowing we are not alone. He is with us.

Thank you, St. John….as my husband names you. Thank you for your music and song and beautiful soul.

Beannacht,
Judith

November 18, 2024

November 14, 2024

We must build people power.
There is no other option.
Krystal Two Bulls
Executive Director
Oglala Lakota
Northern Cheyenne

I’m reminded of a huge anti-war rally in 1971. The student union ballroom was packed. The energy was high and people were chanting ‘power to the people’ when one of the speakers said, “Fuck the people. They voted for Nixon.” 

Perhaps the same could be said today, but I won’t. For the people is where our power is now. The power to resist the horrors promised by this coming administration: the concentration camps, defunding public education and health and social services, selling our national parks to private developers. OK. The list is long and you don’t need me to articulate it here. 

I can’t and won’t discount the hard journey ahead for us. But I do see a gift in where we are. I wonder whether, had the election been different up and down ballot, we wouldn’t now be sharing a huge collective sigh of relief, secure in in the belief that the future of our nation was in safe hands, and with the election behind us, turning to other concerns. 

But there is no turning away. There is no collective sigh of relief. We are coming together and galvanizing our resolve to resist, to create resilient networks, and to invest in systems and structures that can endure beyond election cycles, to build a stronger movement that can’t be ignored by the systems and parties in power.

Power to the people! For there is power in the people. And being part of what is unfolding across our nation energizes me and gives me great hope. And that is the gift of where we are. 

Beannacht,
Judith

November 12, 2024

Our laughter
will set us free
and our love
will lift up the world.

We order our sustainable toilet paper and paper towels from Who Gives A Crap. With a name like that, you can imagine the corporate culture. It’s delightful. Uplifting and playful. Each roll is wrapped with a message like the one above. Their marketing is hilarious.

The rest of the message on the roll today: Thank you for being part of our community. You’ve helped us donate millions to help people all over the world. It’s pretty incredible and we couldn’t have done it without you. Now imagine we have a rose in our mouth. And shiny hair. Maybe our shirt is ripped open? Tattered? Ok, we’re getting carried away. Yours forever and always, Who Gives A Crap. Keep the spark alive.

My point here is not to sell you on their paper products, although feel free. My point is that in the anxiety about the future of our nation and indeed the world, we cannot lose our sense of humor. We cannot lose our ability to laugh. We have some hard work and heavy lifting ahead of us, my friends. It will be a journey of passion and compassion as we work for justice for all beings and the Earth. But if we can’t add joy to our journey, then our journey will not be sustainable. 

Activist Emma Goldman said, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” It was true then. It should be true for us today. So let’s remember to dance and sing and laugh. It will feed the creative spirit we need for our journey. 

And Who Gives A Crap, you had me at keep the spark alive.

Beannacht,
Judith