Welcome to the garden.

As I sit sequestered with a mediocre coffee and a fabulous view, I count my blessings. I am in San Diego, one of my favorite cities, with an open window, in bare feet while birds chirp and sing and call out in a sunrise concert. I've been here two days celebrating doing not much of anything, but am aware we are at war. Some things are necessary: food, water, and shelter for all living beings is a must. I would argue as I head into a conference on ending homelessness this morn

I've been thinking about this. I have seen clients, friends and family deprive their loved ones, including themselves, of little joys in the name of safety. Lately, I have been extrapolating this concept to the wider socio-political sphere, but for today I want to focus in just on the more individualized practice- and I then invite you to do your own extrapolation. Several years ago, there was a birthday party for my Dad. I think he was turning 80. Dad had a condition called

Welcome to 2026. Let's begin the year with the first letter of the alphabet. I've been thinking about and using this word quite a bit recently: agency. There are two Oxford Dictionary definitions for the noun agency. One is "a business or organization established to provide a particular service, typically one that involves organizing transactions between two other parties." The other is "action or intervention, especially such as to produce a particular effect" Similar words,

Recently I had the pleasure of spending an evening with the talented teacher and writer who taught the death midwife class I completed in person last December. She introduced our small group to several goddesses of the dark and night from various cultures around the world. Angie loves this time of year, when we can sit, be quiet, go in. And so do I. Truthfully, a lifelong morning person, I have felt this love grow quietly inside me through the years until at this time in life

November is the month we give to giving thanks, but I think we should be giving thanks every day of every month, so I am going to merge in a different direction. The dictionary definition of the term "merge" is to "combine or cause to combine to form a single entity." Companies merge into bigger companies on a far too regular basis. (So much for capitalism.) We merge into traffic and become one part of the greater flow on a highway. In shamanic practice it is common to merge

This month's blog will be short. I can't seem to find a reason to force myself to sit at the computer, unless it's for work. And writing...

Reminiscing and regular shamanic practice enhance daily living.

Raise your hand if you remember that old song where Mac Davis sings, "Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way....

I'm late, I'm late... Of course I need not ask if you remember the White Rabbit saying that in Alice in Wonderland. I am late, but not...

Recently, I spent a night in Copenhagen. Next morning, before taking a cab back to the airport, I walked the streets of the neighborhood...

Do you remember the tradition of hanging a May basket? Was this part of your childhood? It was almost Easter, and suddenly I was pulled...

We are on the cusp of Spring here in the high plains: warm sunny days followed by a dusting of snow or freezing rain overnight, causing...

Last month a young woman appeared right on time for Death Cafe. She had not been before and was curious. What is Death Cafe ? I explained...

I was late for a Board meeting mid-January so was the last person to do the ice breaker. I had heard a couple people respond, but hadn't...

Welcome to a new year. Welcome, New Year. This set of holidays is coming to a close, and on we go. Speaking of holidays, while at an...

It's giving season. We give thanks and gifts and help and cheer. But this month I would like to talk about receiving. Can you raise your...

Recently I was home in Maine for my parents' burial. On my last afternoon there, I visited the older of my two little brothers and his...

This past weekend I spent in Seattle with 3 other members of the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) board and over 100 others...

One week ago, before I left the house about 7:30am to begin my dog walking rounds, I snapped this photo and posted on Facebook with the...

I was just sitting out in the backyard, eyes closed, feeling the breeze and listening to the birds, when I heard a small "chirp." There...