The Mary Christopher Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mary Christopher
Welcome ! Every podcast is designed to restore Peace and Harmony to your life. By restoring Peace and Harmony we are strengthening our Immune System and greatly improving our quality of life. Thanks for listening ! Contact me with questions or comments at mary@justbeingmindful.com
Sometimes, when the “world” seems to be tilting closer and closer to insanity, we may wonder if our prayers are doing any good at all. The answer is “Yes”… they are! A specific example is that our daily prayers are creating emotional and mental stability within us! When we focus on our Creator and on Creation and practice a bit of Gratitude, we are building Inner Strength and Fortitude. We are also becoming more aware of what is possible rather than just seeing “doom and gloom”. We know this happens because of scientific research that actually started early in the last century.
This is what our Celtic ancestors accomplished as they wove these wonderful prayers into the fabric of their day. Their lives were not easy. They did not have the conveniences we do. If they wanted fresh bread for breakfast, they had to have the flour and ingredients to make it. Or, they needed something of value to trade for a loaf. A bad harvest would mean people went hungry! They also had to deal with invading Anglo-Saxons or those pesky and dangerous Vikings. Their lives were not easy, but their spiritual practices carried them through difficult times, gifting their prayers to us!
~ Celtic Morning Prayer ~
You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the Light that shines in dark
You are the Heart's eternal spark
You are the door that's open wide
You are the Guest who waits inside
You are the Stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord, and with me still
You are my Love, keep me from ill
You are the Light, the Truth, the Way
You are my Saviour this very day.
(celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium)
~ Celtic Evening Prayers ~
This night and every night
grant to me light.
This night and every night
grant to me peace.
This night and every night
grant to me rest.
This night and every night
grant to me grace.
This night and every night
grant to me joy.
~~~~~~
May the God of peace
bring peace to this house.
May the Son of peace
bring peace to this house.
May the Spirit of peace
bring peace to this house,
this night, and all nights.
We are so fortunate to have a wealth of Celtic Prayers that have been handed down for centuries. Some of our daily prayers were not written down for 100s of years. Because we are so used to written records, it is difficult for us to imagine our ancestors’ capacity to memorize. They knew songs, stories, lengthy legends, farming wisdom, and detailed facts about herbs and plants by memory. In early US history, children memorized poetry, songs, and stories. They might be expected to “recite” at the dinner table, at school, or for special occasions. We know now that memorizing has definite emotional and neurological benefits!
Whenever I find a Celtic prayer I haven’t seen before, I am grateful for my ancestors who memorized and passed on these gems of heartful and lyrical verse! We are also blessed because the Celtic people considered all of Creation to be sacred! We could use more of that right now. Maybe people would pause or at least think twice before dropping bombs, chopping down forests for paper, or polluting water supplies. As we do our best to live these prayers, remember you are in Good Company, and you are Being a Blessing in the World.
~ Celtic Morning Prayer ~
I arise todayThrough a mighty strength:God's power to guide me,God's might to uphold me,God's eyes to watch over me;God's ear to hear me,God's word to give me speech,God's hand to guard me,God's way to lie before me,God's shield to shelter me,God's Host to secure me.
(First millennium - Bridgid of Gael)
~ Celtic Evening Prayer ~
God bless the corners of this house
and all the lintel blessed,
And bless the hearth and bless the board
and bless each place of rest,
And bless each door that opens as wide
to strangers as to kin,
And bless each crystal window pane
that lets the starlight in,
And bless the rooftree overhead
and every sturdy wall.
The peace of man.
The peace of God.
With peace and love for all.
Have you wondered why we use Morning and Evening Prayers? We know from their early history that Celtic people wove their prayers into daily activities, beginning with the first light of the Sun. They were immersed in the beauty and wonder of Creation every day. They understood their survival and well-being could improve as they aligned themselves with Creation. They could find peace and strength and delight in Creation. Their lives were not easy. For centuries, they had to be resourceful and diligent just to survive.
Right now, we are going through a very difficult time. We live with an undercurrent of uncertainty. Many of the political and social systems we have relied on in the past are not working. Some people are preaching and teaching fear and hatred. We know that fear interferes with making good decisions and that hatred is a downward path to destruction. The Celtic people understood this as well. When we begin the morning with an awareness of our Creator and Creation, we are setting the focus and tone of our whole day. When we end with a prayer of gratitude and blessing, we sleep better! And, we become a Blessing!
~ Morning Prayer ~
Christ above me, Christ below me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me.
Christ be on my right, Christ be on my left,
Christ when I sit down, Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
~ Evening Prayer ~
Blessing of the Three
The Sacred Three
My Fortress Be
Encircling Me.
Come and be round,
My hearth, my home.
Fend thou my kin
And every sleeping thing within
From scathe, from sin.
Thy care, our peace
Through mid of night
To light’s release.
Celtic Daily Prayers for the Week of July 5, 2026In the Celtic tradition, the Bible is considered the Little Book, and Creation is the Big Book. We also know that Jesus’ teachings were originally brought to the island of Britain by Joseph of Arimathea. He arrived by boat and walked inland to the area now known as Glastonbury Abby. According to the legend, 11 or 12 others came with him, bringing the Gospel to the Celtic people. The Celts did not read or write. Their teachings and traditions were passed on through stories, handed down through generations.
They paid great attention to Creation because that is how they survived. Joseph and his friends taught “the Gospel” through stories. The Celtic people already lived in the great mystery of Creation, so learning about Jesus just made good sense. Instead of hearing “the Gospel” as Jews, living in Judea, they heard it as a natural part of Creation. Christianity grew this way until after the literate Romans arrived in 43 AD.
~ Morning Prayer ~
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the New Day.
~ Evening Prayer ~
May the peace of the silent stars be yours.
May the peace of the quiet lanes be yours.
May the peace of the deep blue ocean be yours.
May the peace of the Son of Peace be always yours.
May the peace of the Spirit be ours this night.
May the peace of the Son of Peace be ours this night.
May the peace of the Father be ours this night,
Each morning, each evening, and for evermore.
GOD Bless America, Land that I Love !!!
There Are Very Good Things Happening Right Now !!!
Because of the Inherent Goodness of Millions of People all around the World, we will come through the current Insanity. And, we will create a Better World !!!
Celtic Daily Prayers for the Week of June 28, 2026
This time of year was very busy and very important for the Celtic people. It was the season of growth, farming and gardening, tending flocks of sheep, counting baby chicks, and hopefully, birthing healthy calves. People were busy with house repairs, spring cleaning, laundry, fixing fences, and anything else that couldn’t be done during winter.
For the Celtic people and other indigenous people, Spring and Summer were busy times, and also joyous. They could be outside in the Sunshine and fresh air. Most of us don’t have those chores, and we haven’t been closed up with a smokey fireplace all winter. But they knew that Sunshine was an antidepressant, and fresh air was healing and invigorating. They had the wonder of a starstudded sky at night and Rainbows after the rain. They knew they were blessed by their Creator, and they were grateful!
We live on the same planet as the Celtic people. But our lives are very different. Many of us spend our lives inside, protected from the weather and secure with plenty of food. We often sit for hours in front of screens and then wonder why we feel out-of-sorts, or dissatisfied with life. So, this is a great time to be outside, to walk in the woods, sit by a stream, and get far enough away from city lights that we can see the Stars in Heaven, again!
~ Morning Prayer ~
Christ above me, Christ below me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me.
Christ be on my right, Christ be on my left,
Christ when I sit down, Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
~ Evening Prayers ~
"May the peace of the tallest mountain,
And the peace of the smallest stone be our peace.
May the stillness of the stars watch over us.
And may the everlasting music of the Wave lull us to rest."
~~~
The peace of all peace be mine this night.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Sleep, O sleep in the calm of each calm.
Sleep, O sleep in the guidance of all guidance."
Celtic Prayers for the Week Beginning June 21 2026Sunday, June 21 is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere when the northern axis of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun. During Summer, our hemisphere is exposed to the direct rays of the Sun, making it our major growing season for fruits, grains, and vegetables.
Before the Roman invasion, the ancient Celtic people celebrated the Summer Solstice as a sacred fire festival. It was referred to in Gaelic as grianstad (meaning "sun stop") and focused primarily on agriculture, protection, and fertility. Hilltop fires known as Balefires, were the center of solstice celebrations. The fires were lit at sunset on the eve of the solstice and kept burning until the next day’s sunset. Ash and embers from the sacred fires were scattered across farming fields to bless the soil and hopefully guarantee a bountiful harvest. The ashes also helped restore nutrients to fields. The Celts understood their survival depended on their ability to live in harmony with Mother Nature.
Many famous megalithic structures, like Stonehenge or Newgrange, were actually built by older Neolithic societies thousands of years before the Celts arrived. The Celtic tribes recognized their solar alignments, and reused these ancient stone circles for feasting, storytelling, music, and tribal weddings.
~ Celtic Morning Prayer ~
I arise today, through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun, Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire, Speed of Lightning,
Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth, Firmness of Rock!
~ Evening Prayer ~
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Infinite Peace to you.
In May 2015, Peter Wohlleben, a German forester, published The Hidden Life of Trees. I have always loved Trees, so I got the book and read it at night before falling asleep. I was fascinated by his discoveries about the unseen and amazing lives of Trees. Reading that book confirmed my sense of wonder about Trees and Forests and Soil. Eleven years later, we know even more about our amazing world of Tree communities and Fungi and Root systems and so much more. Trees are intricate, highly functional, and support all our lives! Where would we be without the goodness of Trees ?
As we learn more about the extraordinary nature of Creation, it is easier for us to understand the Celtic tradition that all Creation is Sacred. Based on their prayers and traditions, Celtic people experienced Creation as an inherent and continual expression of the Creator. Even though their daily lives were often very challenging, Creation was their treasure of food, remedies, life lessons, beauty, and humor, all from the gracious bounty of our Creator. Their faith was rooted in their experience of the natural world as a living sanctuary where the divine is deeply and eternally present.
~ Celtic Morning Prayer ~
“You are above me, O God
You are beneath.
You are in Air.
You are in Earth.
You are in water.
You are in Fire.
You are here beside me.
You are within.
O God of heaven, you have made your home on earth
in the body of Creation.
This day, kindle within me a love for you in all things.”
~ Celtic Evening Prayer ~
Come to us this night, O God,
Come to us with light.
Let the tools be stored away,
let the work be over and done.
We light a light in the name of the Maker,
Who lit the world and breathed the breath of life for us.
We light a light in the name of the Son,
Who saved the world
and stretched out his hand to us.
Does it seem to you that the noise level in the human world is getting louder and crazier? All day, we are exposed to a barrage of frequencies like 4G, 5G, and soon we will have 6G as well! Are these “frequencies” healthy for us, or are they more like static? More and more, we are hearing that we need to turn off our cell phones and laptops at night, and even when we aren’t using them. Is it possible that our brain, as well as our entire nervous system, is being overwhelmed with all this noise? Do you often feel restless during the day, or have difficulty falling asleep at night? Many people do, and some symptoms may be related to all these incoherent vibes.Meanwhile, back at the farm, grass is growing. Birds are singing, creeks are flowing, and the Sun is shining. In city parks, around the world, some very aware people are having lunch beneath lovely trees. They are breathing fresh Oxygen, and feeling a gentle breeze. They are soaking up Sunshine which has numerous health benefits, as well as being a “natural antidepressant”! Sitting with Trees is also known as “forest bathing” and has been studied for many years. The benefits for Humans are amazing and well-documented! If you are having a difficult week, find a Tree!
~ Celtic Morning Prayer ~
I arise today, through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun, Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire, Speed of Lightning,
Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth, Firmness of Rock!
~ Celtic Evening Prayer ~
Christ above me, Christ below me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ be on my right, Christ be on my left,
Christ when I sit down, Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Have you ever wondered why repetitive prayers or verses are often used as “spiritual practices”? It is all about neurons and where we focus. Our entire nervous system processes millions of bits of information every day. One of the main functions of our “consciousness” is choosing where we will focus our attention. If we choose to focus on what we consider “ugly” or “bad” in our surroundings, we are signalling our system to pay more attention to precisely that during the day. Choosing any kind of negative focus will usually move us toward depression. However … If we actively focus our attention on whatever is good or beautiful in our world or on what is working, our internal system will look for more of that. We are continually training our attention, indicating where to focus. Where we focus affects the way our neurons connect. When we use repetitive prayer or songs or mantras of gratitude or joy or praise, we are reinforcing a specific uplifting awareness. This is especially true if we focus on Gratitude, or Loving-Kindness, or the Beauty of Creation.
~ Celtic Morning Prayer ~
Grant, O God, Thy Protection;
And in Protection, Strength;
And in Strength, Understanding;
And in Understanding, Perception of Justice;
And in the Perception of Justice, the Love of it;
And in that Love, the Love of All Life;
And in the Love of All Life, to Love God, God and all goodness;
And to Care for this Creation that nourishes and sustains us;
And, Jesu the Christ, Bearer of our Humanity.
~ Evening Prayer ~
Blessing of the Guardian Angel
O Being of Brightness, Friend of Light,
From the Blessed Realms of Grace,
Gently encircle me, sweetly enclosing me,
Guarding my soul-shrine from harm this day/night.
Keep me from anguish,
Keep me from danger,
Encircle my voyage over the seas.
A Light will you send me,
To keep and defend me,
O Beautiful Being, O Guardian this day/night.
Be a Guiding Star above me,
Illuminate each rock and tide,
Guide my ship across the waters,
To the waveless harborside.
In Honor of Mother’s Day, for all Mothers, Everywhere
I grew up in SW Oklahoma. We raised cattle and horses and sometimes chickens. We lived the cycle of Nature year round. We planted wheat and oats in late October. Depending on the weather, we could harvest truckloads of wheat and oats during the summer. It was an amazing bounty. The lesson I learned was this. If we pay attention and work with Creation, we would do well, even during difficult times.
One of the great blessings of farming is experiencing the rhythms and magic of Creation. Even now, I am reminded every morning that Creation is the constant expression of a Creator who is more than we can even begin to imagine. We are continually blessed and nurtured by all of Creation. Creation expresses Divine Harmony, Beauty, and Bounty, even if we forget. When the world of humans seems to be teetering on the brink, remember that all of us belong. We are all blessed by Creation, every day. Creation nurtures, heals, and sustains us all day and all night, with every breath we take.
~ Morning Prayers ~
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the New Day.
~ Celtic Evening Prayer ~
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you,
All through this night.
(Morning Has Broken, copyright ~ Cat Stevens)
“All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for.” The Hopi Elders, Oraibi, Arizona, Hopi Nation March 17, 2011 (Full Hopi Prophecy trans. Elder Dan Evehema)
Whenever I read, “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” I remember sitting with 2 of the Hopi Elders in Santa Fe and in Hopi. It was a rare privilege that I shared with several other good friends, and thanks to my teacher, Beth Hin. I do not remember the Elders exact words, but I do remember their peacefulness. Their presence felt unshakeable! I felt as if I had stepped into another world, which I had.
Hopi is a sovereign nation in northeastern Arizona. The reservation is in part of Coconino and Navajo counties, encompassing more than 1.5 million acres. It is made up of 12 villages on three mesas. I visited Hopi several times when I lived in Santa Fe and felt a deep respect for their culture. The name "Hopi" comes from Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, which translates to "The Peaceful People" or "Peace-filled People"
For me, the Hopi and the Celtic spiritual traditions seem very much aligned. We have greater access to the Celtic traditions, and our language has the same basic roots. When I think of the Hopi traditions and the meaning of Celtic prayers and blessings, they seem to resonate. The Hopi, like the Celtic people, care deeply for the Earth. We are blessed and strengthened by these 2 deeply rooted traditions, existing thousands of miles apart!
The Hopi Prophecy translated from Hopiby Elder Chief Dan EvehemaThis is The Hour…
“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships? Are you in right relation?
Where is your water? Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community. Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river
Keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you
And celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word “struggle” from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
~ The Elders / Oraibi, Arizona / Hopi Nation
When the world is just way too much, what can we do? So, this is what I did Saturday morning. I sat on the front porch and watched the Birds as they came to feed. We have 2 feeders in the front yard, and the Birds were busy. They took turns, zipping in and out, eating a few seeds, then flying into the trees. Some Sparrows were landing in the grass, hunting for Bugs! There was constant activity, but it was peaceful activity. Beautiful Birds, effortlessly flying from feeders to Trees and back again.
As I watched all this activity, I noticed my heart rate began to slow, and my breathing was deeper and easier. After a while, I realized I really did not want to turn on my computer and “catch up” on the news. I needed to do my morning writing, so I decided to write a few pages by hand. Then, I gave myself permission “not to catch up” on the news! What a relief! I spent at least 30 minutes having toast and tea with Sparrows, Cardinals, Squirrels, and a Gorgeous Sunrise! I did my writing, then went to the Farmer’s Market. Watching Creation is a wonderful way to start the day!
~ Morning Prayer ~
I arise today, through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun, Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire, Speed of Lightening,
Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth, Firmness of Rock.
~ Evening Prayer ~
Blessing of the Three
The Sacred Three
My Fortress Be
Encircling Me.
Come and be round,
My hearth, my home.
Fend thou my kin
And every sleeping thing within
From scathe, from sin.
Thy care, our peace
Through mid of night
To light’s release.
Celtic Daily Prayers for Easter Week April 2026Christ Is the Light ~ Christ is the Consciousness that permeates and sustains all Creation, all day and all night, always.
Christ is the Presence that heals. Christ is the Presence that can transform sorrow and grief into a peaceful heart. Christ belongs to all Creation, shining through every Sunrise, in every Ocean breeze, in the Heart of every Mountain, and deep within the noise of human existence.
When we have lost hope, or try to distract ourselves from the madness of the world at war, Christ is Present. Christ belongs to Everyone and links us to each other through our Hearts. We are the World. We are the Whole Family. This is how Jesus walked thru the world, always recognizing the Light within each person, his Heart always available. Being that Present and available is challenging and not easy, but always possible. Being that Present is not easy, but always possible, always. This is the Way of Christ.
~ Morning Prayer ~
Deep peace of the empty tomb.
Deep peace of the morning garden.
The eye of the Risen Christ be upon us
in waking and sleeping.
The Risen Christ beside us always.
The Risen Christ within us always.
The Risen Christ go with us, this day and always.
~ Evening Prayer ~
Christ, the light to illumine and guide me.
Christ, a shield to overshadow and protect me.
Christ be under me. Christ be over me.
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This night be the Light within me and all around me.
This night be the Light that guards and heals me.
This night be all around my house and home,
Be with those I know and love.
Be with all Creatures who share our lives.
Be in the hearts of friends and neighbors.
Be with those who now rest with you in heaven.
Through this night be within me and all around me.
Christ as Light.
Christ as my shield.
Christ be always with me.
Christ, the Light of the World.
Spring has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere! This means Fall is beginning in the Southern Hemisphere. Farmers and Gardeners in the Southern Hemisphere are harvesting crops and getting ready for Winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, we are waiting to get our native plants and vegetable seedlings in the ground. For gardeners, Spring means tending new seedlings, and watching the daily high and low temperatures.
It is very important to wait until after the last frost of the season before planting any seedlings outdoors. There are often late frosts that can damage young plants. Sometimes we wait and wait and still have a very late frost with no warning. It is usually worth the effort to wait as long as possible.
In the southeast and south central United States, early flowers are budding and getting ready to burst into bloom. Most trees are showing tiny leaves and may have tiny buds that will burst into bloom overnight. This is a magical time of year with amazing colors, blue skies, and often windy days.
This past Sunday afternoon, I was sitting with one of my favorite pine trees, looking at the tiny blossoms in the grass and checking the sky for birds. Before too long, I saw one hawk making a large circle over the field, and then I saw 2 more, all making circles. They were just floating on the higher air currents, occasionally moving their wings. Their flight was so elegant and effortless, it was amazing to watch! I could have watched for hours.
Creation is amazing, if only we take the time to pay attention. Every time I sit and rest with a tree, I always relax. And, after a few minutes, my heart rate begins to slow down, and I take longer and deeper breaths. Recent studies have shown that the health effects of regular “tree sitting” are very specific and can last for several days. Most of us know if we are calm and relaxed, our whole system functions more efficiently. Our blood pressure goes down, our digestion improves, and our immune system functions much better. And, we are usually in a better mood!
Maintaining our health is so important right now because of all the drama and nonsense in our world. As we know, if our stress levels are high, we may not be sleeping very well. Tree sitting is an excellent remedy for ongoing stress and insomnia. Sometimes I can even take a nap, sitting with a protective tree. And, I love to meditate with trees. My meditations are usually longer and deeper when I am sitting with a tree.
Spring is a great time for catching up on Sunshine and Fresh Oxygen. Spring is also an excellent time for “Birding” and counting those lovely light yellow butterflies that are flitting through our yards and parks. If possible, leave the leaves in your yard as long as possible. Tiny Creatures like Fireflies, Lady Beetles, worms, and all the ones that we can barely see need more time and protection from the weather to survive and thrive! Fireflies need 2 seasons to mature, so if you want to see Fireflies this season and next year, leave the leaves and don’t use pesticides !!!
Remember, if we take care of Creation, Creation will always take care of us!
Spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere! Winter is for resting while Spring is for Being Outside, breathing fresh air, and enjoying the Beauty of Creation. Spring is tiny flowers opening in green grass, a new foal learning to run in the pasture, and buds showing up on fruit trees. We are seeing new visitors at our bird feeders. Dandelions are everywhere in the yard. Spring is radiant color and pure joy for us to savor.
As we are well aware, the world of humans can be extremely difficult. We can’t ignore our responsibilities in the world, but we can heal our hearts by soaking up the beauty and wonder of Spring. The world is often “too much with us” as my mom used to say. At the same time, Creation is with us and all around us, and within us. We are part of Creation! The Beauty of Creation is also the Beauty and Light living within each of us. We can always celebrate that Light. Spring offers Renewal and Light and Hope.
~ Morning Prayers ~
Christ above me, Christ below me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me.
Christ be on my right, Christ be on my left,
Christ when I sit down, Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
~ Evening Prayers ~
May the Angels watch me
As I lie down to sleep.
May Angels guard me
As I sleep tonight.
Uriel be at my feet.
Ariel be at my back.
Gabriel be at my head.
Raphael be at my side.
Michael protect my Soul
With the strong shield of Love.
And the healing Son of Mary
Touch my eyes with Blessedness.
Mary Christopher
Celtic Spirituality Study Group
This morning when I woke up, I could tell it was windy outside. I turned on my phone, checked the weather, and discovered it was 22 degrees outside and windy. The wind chill was 12 degrees! Brrrrrrrr….. !!! So much for my morning walk!
I find my morning walk makes a big difference in my energy during the day, as well as my focus and concentration. So, I do miss my morning walk, especially since the weather has been dry and warmer. Regardless, I was not going for a walk with the wind chill of 12 degrees. So, I did a few breathing exercises to open my lungs and increase my circulation. Then I did my morning meditation.
I have found that my early morning “spiritual workouts” are even more essential now due to all the chaos, confusion, and devastation in the world. I need more time to get centered, relaxed, and at ease with myself. This is one of the reasons that I am waking up earlier. I need that extra time. When there is so much violence and destruction and death on our planet, we all feel it, whether we understand how deeply we are connected or not!
We are related because we belong to the same species. We are all Homo sapiens. We descended from a small group of ancestors who lived in Africa approximately 300,000 years ago, give or take a few thousand years. Regardless of our differences in appearance, all humans are 99.9% genetically identical. This makes us one of the most closely related species on the planet! If you trace your family tree back just a few thousand years, your ancestors - and the ancestors of someone on the opposite side of the planet - intermarried. So, that works out to all of us being Cousins, x number of times removed.
Living in a chaotic and increasingly dangerous world does not help us to sleep, or digest, or make good decisions! Wars and rumors of war always increase our anxiety and cortisol levels. As we go into higher and higher states of alertness, our whole system usually slides into “fight, flight, or freeze” mode. And, our amygdala is shouting “Danger, Danger, Danger”. This is not good, unless we are actually in Danger!
Our amygdala is an almond-shaped structure within our brain's limbic system. It is responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear, anxiety, and aggression. It is focused primarily on our survival and reacts to any kind of danger or perceived danger like a fast-acting "smoke detector". It triggers our fight-or-flight responses and regulates social behaviors.
When we live with such easy access to the “news of latest disasters” or bombings or major weather events, our amygdala can easily be constantly triggered. This means we are living in and adapting to higher and higher levels of stress and alertness. We are prepared for “danger”, but have no clear idea what that danger looks like. Human beings are very adaptable, which is usually an excellent trait until we keep adapting to higher and higher levels of stress and our “danger hormones”.
When we are “super-stressed” and walking around feeling hyper-alert, our amazing physical and emotional bodies are primed for danger. This is exhausting and can affect our perception of events, as well as our response to everyday challenges. We may have difficulty “falling asleep” or digesting our food. Or, we may indulge in food that is higher in sugar or salt, or drink more alcohol.
When we are living in chaotic and dangerous times, we need to take good care of ourselves. In most cases, this begins with recognizing when we are “stressed-out”! It also means knowing how to “unwind” ourselves and calm down so we can “rest and digest”.
This is why I look forward to my morning walk and give myself almost twice as much time to relax and slip into a calmer and more centered state. I do this just so I can start my day with a good meditation. When we can shift out of hyperdrive and back into “cruise mode”, our mind begins to clear, and our heart rate will slow down. Our digestion begins to function better, and our immune system comes back online. We may even make better decisions!
So, take the time you need to restore peace and calm to your system. Be aware of your heart rate and where your “train of thought” is headed. If you catch yourself having negative or fearful thoughts, then do whatever you need to do to restore your sanity.
As always, Creation is available to help us restore our sanity and good humor. Remember, Creation is always providing Fresh Air, Water, Flowers, Food, Honey, and Butterflies. Squirrels are still having a great time chasing each other up and down trees. Sunrise is always dependable, and photosynthesis is working just fine! Thank Goodness !!!
Take really good care of yourself. We will get through this current Insanity. See you next week !!!
Instinctively, we know that “caring for Creation” is directly related to our survival as Human Beings as well as the health and well-being of this Precious Planet. These go hand-in-hand.
We are blessed beyond our understanding by the Beauty and Resilience of Nature. When I have time to walk in a forest or sit with an old-growth tree for a while, I feel so Blessed. After an hour or two, I feel calmer and more centered, and much more at ease with myself. Now that we are going through such insanity and devastation, I find I need even more time with Trees, Sunshine, and lots of Fresh Air.
This is also one of the reasons many people are putting in vegetable gardens this Spring. Gardening is Grounding and Healing! And, we have fresh vegetables and maybe even fruit or watermelons! When was the last time on a hot afternoon, you sat in a cool spot, under a Tree, and ate fresh Watermelon? Probably too long ago … ! Remember, Watermelon is one of the very best ways to treat dehydration! It is Nature’s answer!
When was the last time you walked into your new garden, picked a few ripe cherry Tomatoes and popped them in your mouth? That is exactly what I will be doing this summer, because we are putting in a Garden this Spring!
Hanging out in the Woods with lovely Trees will lower your anxiety, slow your heart rate, restore your appetite, and your ability to taste food. You will sleep better, and your immune system will start functioning again. In general, Organic Gardeners are healthier, happier, and generally have more energy than people who are sitting in front of screens all day.
We will get through this current political insanity and cultural devastation. It will not go on forever. As we find our way through these absurd and violent times, we can create a better future by the way we care for the Earth and take care of ourselves. Every tiny heirloom seed or small native plant that we put into the ground is our investment in the Future!
Here is one of my favorite morning prayers. I like to read it outside, standing in the Sunshine. I always feel stronger, more grounded, and very Blessed by Creation and the Creator!
~ Morning Prayer ~
I arise today,
through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun,
Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire,
Speed of Lightening,
Swiftness of Wind,
Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth,
Firmness of Rock.
Celtic Daily Prayers for the Week of March 8 2026We have heard about the violence and destruction of the Nazi regime and the Roman Empire. Did we ever even consider the possibility that our country would go down a similar road of destruction and devastation? Regardless of our political persuasion, we are now seeing our current “government” acting deliberately beyond our Constitution. This is beyond what most of us could have ever imagined in our wildest speculations. But, here we are! What can we do … ?
There is plenty to do right here and now! We can speak up. Even though we may be stunned by the constant news of wars and betrayal, there are groups, well organized, who are “speaking truth to power”! We can do more for our neighbors and the people we know who are struggling. And, we can take better care of the Earth. Spring is just a few days away. We can plant more Native Plants in our yards. We can be sure the Birds in our neighborhood have food and access to water. We can support Pollinators by using fewer pesticides and growing Nectar Plants. And, we can dig deep into our own Hearts for strength and resilience in these difficult times.
~ Morning Prayer ~
Dedicating the Blessings of this Day for Peace.
The Glorious Sunlight,
The Fresh Breeze,
The cleansing of Clear Water,
The Beauty and Stability of the Earth,
To the Good of all Life,
To the Health of all Beings,
To the Joy of each Breath,
And, the Grace of each Moment
For Peace on Earth.
~ Evening Prayers ~
We ask
The Sacred Three,
To save,
To shield,
To surround,
Our Hearth,
Our Home,
This Eve,
This night,
And every night,
Every single night,
Each single night,
May the Blessing of the Sacred Three Abide.
Caring for Ourselves in the Midst of Chaos We are currently going through extremely difficult and challenging times! What matters most is the way we move through every day of this ongoing chaos. The way we walk through every moment determines our health and well-being. All this Insanity will not last forever, even though it feels like it might. So, we need to be as conscious and creative as possible. We want to be the ones creating a better world.
We all have feelings of frustration, anxiety, possibly depression, or extreme anger. These feelings are normal given the circumstances. However, we do not want these emotions to take over our lives. We want to develop our ability to shift out of our dissonate, negative emotions. That is easy to say and often very difficult to do. If we linger in strong emotions, we are actually pushing ourselves toward depression and short-circuiting our immune system. And, we may not realize what is happening!
Whenever we move from frustration or fear into prolonged anger, our nervous system reads that as “danger” and goes into fight, flight, or freeze. Because our subconscious does not know the difference between “them or us”, “you or me”, we are caught in the net of our own negativity! Then our system flips our survival switch, and off we go on a roller coaster of survival emotions.
We all know people who have strong political affiliations. Unfortunately, they may actually “love to hate”! These intensely polarized people may even have “lists of people they hate”! And, they are often very proud of their lists! Meanwhile, their prolonged, intense anger is tearing their system apart. Hatred actually constricts our heart! People who sustain strong negative emotions for long periods often feel life is pointless, people are terrible, and the world is a total mess. As they age, they can become bitter or move into deep depression. No one wants to live like that!
What can we do to take good care of ourselves during these difficult times? For starters, turn off the computer, the big screen, and your phone. We know we spend way too much time sitting and staring at screens. Then, weather permitting, go outside. Breathe fresh air. Close your eyes, and listen to the Birds. Look up at the clouds. If it’s going to rain, find your umbrella and walk through the park in the rain! Move your awareness back to Nature. Remember, Creation is working just fine!
The Sun came up right on time this morning. The Moon continues to revolve around the Earth. The Lunar cycles are consistent. Water is still H2O. Photosynthesis is working, as always. Trees are beginning to bud! Squirrels continue to chase each other up and down Trees. They are having a great time! It’s the human population that can’t seem to get along.
So, we need to set an example by being Good Neighbors. Check in with Friends who live across the country. Hold the door open for someone at the store. Send a note to someone who just had surgery. All these “little” actions add up to Big Blessings. The more we bless others, the more we are blessed. As we allow our Hearts to open, we begin to move out of survival and into a much calmer state of Being! We move from “fight, flight, or freeze” into a much more Coherent state of health. And, we become more of a Blessing to ourselves and others.
We will get through this period of insanity. We have had similar violent and destructive times in our country. And, we have come out with better ideas and better systems for governing. The more we work together and stand up for our Neighbors, the sooner we will move through all this upheaval and tragedy. Remember, we are the ones we have been waiting for … !!!
What do we do when the world around us seems to be going crazy and falling apart all at the same time? We know distractions don’t work for long. Falling into prolonged frustration and blame doesn’t work. So, how do we stay healthy and useful to ourselves and others?
Staying Present and Grateful will usually move us out of the dumps. People in ancient cultures lived more in the Present. There was bread to bake, eggs to be gathered, cows to be fed and milked, work clothes to be mended, wood to be chopped and brought inside. Celtic people were busy taking care of themselves, helping their neighbors, and using their daily prayers to keep themselves aligned with the Creator. They were busy, and they were Creative! Remember, Courage and Creativity come from our Heart. Using Celtic daily prayers as a spiritual practice keeps us aligned with our Heart and with our Creator!
~ Morning Prayer ~
Christ above me, Christ below me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me.
Christ be on my right, Christ be on my left,
Christ when I sit down, Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
~ Evening Prayers ~
May the Angels watch me
As I lie down to sleep.
May Angels guard me
As I sleep tonight.
Uriel be at my feet.
Ariel be at my back.
Gabriel be at my head.
Raphael be at my side.
Michael protect my Soul
With the strong shield of Love.
And the healing Son of Mary
Touch my eyes with Blessedness.
One of the most obvious reasons is that we need the Earth! We need Trees, and Bushes, and Grass for Oxygen as well as food! Green plants produce fresh O2 through Photosynthesis, a chemical reaction that takes place in the leaves of Trees and Plants and even Cactus! Photosynthesis is “triggered” by Sunlight. The plant absorbs Carbon Dioxide, CO2, from the surrounding air and transforms it through an interior chemical process into O2, sugars, and water. Remember, we need Creation much more than Creation needs Humans!
In order for us to survive, and thrive, we need O2 just to keep going through the day. We also need clean water. One new problem concerns the large amounts of water that are necessary to run the new AI Infrastructures. These are being proposed across the country. Many communities are having serious second thoughts because of the amount of water and the overall cost.
These facilities use great quantities of water to keep the system cool. The expense for a city or town can cause the price of water and other utilities to go up for the whole community. Usage can also affect the local ecosystem. So, what originally looked like a “good deal”, could easily become a liability!
Human Beings, as well as All Creatures Great and Small, need daily nourishment. In other words, we need food! And, we need food that is healthy and full of nutrients! Much of our soil is depleted. Even using fertilizers and soil additives does not always restore the nutrients that we need to thrive!
During WWII, backyard Victory Gardens supplied more than ⅔ of the fruits and vegetables that people ate every day. There are ways to restore nutrients as well as the health of farm soil without using commercial fertilizers or spraying crops! Healthy Soil is a key factor in the health and well-being of all Humans and Animals. One solution is to grow your own produce!!! We could all benefit by growing and sharing our “home-grown” produce !!!
Celtic Daily Prayers for the Week of February 22 2026Christianity originally arrived in “Great Britain” with Joseph of Arimathea! For unknown reasons, following Jesus’ crucifixion and ascension, Joseph traveled to that island, bringing the gospel of Jesus to the Celtic tribes. There is no written record of this, only legend. According to this legend, Joseph came to the area we know now as Glastonbury. He carried a hawthorne staff. He discovered a spring that provided fresh water. When he sat down, he put the staff into the ground where it immediately took root and blossomed. The spring became known as the Chalice Well, and the hawthorne is still growing and blooming at Glastonbury!
Stories of Jesus and his teachings spread through the Celtic tribes and were woven into their daily life. These native people had deep respect for Nature. They did their best to live in harmony with Creation. They had respect for a Teacher who could walk on water, heal the sick, and cure the lame. They understood Jesus as a mystic who loved the deep mystery of Creation. In the Celtic practice of Christianity, all Life is Sacred, from the birth of a lamb to the spring blossoms of the hawthorne. They blessed the glory of Sunrise, grateful for the gift of another day. We know all this from their ancient prayers. The same ones we use in our spiritual practices.
~ Morning Prayer ~
I arise today, through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun, Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire, Speed of Lightning,
Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth, and Firmness of Rock.
~ Evening Prayers ~
Blessing of the Three
The Sacred Three
My Fortress Be
Encircling Me.
Come and be round,
My hearth, my home.
Fend thou my kin
And every sleeping thing within
From scathe, from sin.
Thy care, our peace
Through mid of night
To light’s release.
Our Democracy and our ability to retain it, is certainly being tested! We had another week of ups and downs. Among the “ups”, our Buddhist Brothers arrived in D.C. to a wonderful welcome by Bishop Budde and a host of dignitaries. Many thousands welcomed them as they walked into the city. Several thousand people came when they spoke at the Lincoln Memorial and at Washington Cathedral! They were able to make this amazing journey because of their mindful intentions and spiritual practices. Walking meditation is one of their core practices. When we combine prayerful intentions with conscious walking, we are “walking” that intention into the World.
This practice is so similar to the way the Celtic Christians wove prayers into their daily life. They had spoken out loud prayers, quiet prayers, prayers for journeys, prayers for working, prayers for cooking, and prayers for sleeping. They expressed gratitude for everything in their lives, especially the blessings of Nature and “All Creatures Great and Small”. They felt Blessed and intended to be a Blessing in their community! This is one of the reasons we use Morning and Evening Prayers in our Celtic Study Group! We are building Spiritual Muscles!
~ Morning Prayer ~
"Thanks to you, O God,
that I have risen today,
to the rising of Life itself;
May it be to your own glory.
Even as I clothe my body with wool,
Cover my soul with the shadow of your Wing".
~ Evening Prayer ~
"I lie down this night with God,
And God will lie down with me.
I lie down this night with Christ,
And Christ will lie down with me.
May the peace of the Spirit be mine this night,
To bring me rest,
And keep me from
Celtic Morning and Evening Prayers
Week Beginning Sunday, February 8, 2026
As I write this, we are completing another week of almost unbelievable events, including conflict, violence, and absolutely absurd behavior from way too many people in positions of responsibility! It looks like the world run by people is running off the tracks! So, what can we do to maintain our own sanity and keep our lives on track? We can pay attention to Creation!
This is the beauty of Celtic spiritual tradition. All Creation is sacred. This is reflected in their prayers and traditions. Sunshine was a Blessing. Rain was a Blessing. So, since it was much warmer this week, I spent time outside, soaking up Sunshine. I always feel better and sleep better when I can be in Sunshine. There is research supporting this, but I don’t need the research to know it works.
The week before, I found 2 small potatoes that were sprouting. I planted them in little pots and put the pots in my sunny bedroom window. This week, both sprouts had grown above ground! Seeing plants grow reminds me that Creation is working all around us and within us! As I begin to feel grateful for all of Creation, I begin to feel better! My Heart slows down. My breath is deeper. And, I begin to relax.
~ Morning Prayer ~
I arise today,
through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun,
Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire,
Speed of Lightning,
Swiftness of Wind,
Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth,
and Firmness of Rock.
~ Evening Prayer ~
Blessing of the Guardian Angel
O Being of Brightness, Friend of Light,
From the Blessed Realms of Grace,
Gently encircle me, sweetly enclosing me,
Guarding my soul-shrine from harm
this day/night.
Keep me from anguish,
Keep me from danger.
A Light will you send me,
To keep and defend me,
O Beautiful Being,
O Guardian this day/night.
Be a Guiding Star above me,
Illuminate each rock and tide.
Guide my ship across the waters,
To the waveless harborside.
Caring About Creation Is One Way to Stay Healthy !!! As far as I know, my ancestors did not think of farming and gardening or ranching as “Caring for Creation”. They considered their relationship with the land as “survival”. A good crop of alfalfa, oats, or wheat meant cash as well as feed for livestock. That translated as survival. In other words, as farm people were waking up in the morning, no one was thinking, “What do I feel like doing today?” No one would even imagine using any kind of telephone to check the weather! Unless, of course, you wanted to call your cousin in the next county to find out what their weather was like!
Any grown-up who lived in a farming community had one general thought as they were waking up. And, that thought was, “What does the weather look like today?” Most farming and ranching activities are outside. It didn’t matter whether it was raining, or snowing, sleeting, or way too hot, certain chores just had to be done!
This is also one of the reasons that our ancestors had “large” families. Large families meant “free labor” as well as increasing the odds that at least a few of the children would survive. I am always a bit surprised by people who take vaccinations and inoculations for granted or want to do away with them entirely. Growing up after those early years of inoculations and vaccinations, meant more infants and young children grew up to become adults.
Taking a walk through the older section of any cemetery, 1900 ~ 1950 anywhere in the world, will show a significant number of graves for babies and young children who most likely died of “childhood diseases”! I remember the first time I started paying attention to the dates on gravestones and figuring out how old people were when they died. I was Surprised! There were always babies and always young children in the cemetery! What a heartbreak that must have been for parents and their families!
Mumps, measles, chickenpox, influenza, whopping cough, pneumonia, as well as tetanus and typhoid were often the cause of death for young people.
When I was growing up, it was not uncommon to hear about a family who had lost a young “almost” adult in a tractor accident or a gun accident. I grew up with horses and cattle. An unruly horse or a startled cow could easily cause injury or death for anyone in close range of their hooves or horns. If my mind was wandering when we were working with cattle or riding horses, my dad would usually say something like, “You better watch what you’re doing!”
Fortunately, I seem to have a strong immune system as well as functioning peripheral vision, usually good for seeing large animals heading your way at high speed. We all have an Immune System. It is built into our bodies, part of a whole system of maintaining our health. And, most of the time, it works really well. However, in order for Human Beings to stay healthy, we need Fresh Air, Clean Water, Healthy Food, regular Exercise, as well as sufficient calm and restful Sleep. If we don’t take care of ourselves, then our Immune System will not work as well. Human Beings are tough and fragile, resilient and tender. If we get better at taking care of ourselves, then we will be healthier!
We know that vaccines have saved countless thousands of lives around the world. We also know that we are picking up chemicals and other toxins from our environment and from the food we are eating. We also know that spending hours a day in front of a screen is Not Healthy for us, for our children, or grandchildren! We know this … ! And, now so many of us have a very strong addiction to “our screens”! Research on immunizations is controversial, and everyone seems to have an opinion, usually a very firm opinion!
So, what can we do … ? We can start by taking better care of ourselves, using good common sense. We can use AI to research recent studies about vaccines (remember to ask AI to list all sources at the end of your research request). If possible, talk to people who have good information along with experience. Remember, once a subject becomes politicized, we may have to dig really deep to get to the facts we need!
We are living in very challenging, difficult, and divisive times. Getting factual information may not be easy, even with AI. So, if you can, start a small vegetable garden. Take a walk in the woods. Spend one whole day away from all the screens we hang out around. And, be very kind and patient with yourself. That will strengthen your amazing Immune System for sure!
Celtic Morning and Evening Prayers ~ Week of February 1, 2026 When the winds blow and the temperature drops, we know to take shelter and wait out the winter storm. However, when political winds howl and chaos is raging in our neighborhoods, we are faced with difficult choices. How can we protect ourselves and those we love when people with masks and guns no longer respect the rule of law or the right to privacy in our own homes? People in Minnesota, Maine, California, and Oregon have been facing the disregard of their Constitutional Rights for weeks! There is no guarantee of safety for anyone when masked, armed, and very aggressive people are patrolling our neighborhood, breaking down doors, and hauling people off to “detention centers”. This is very similar to the experience of the Celtic people when they had surprise attacks by the AngloSaxons or Vikings. These raiders were likely to take livestock, and any supplies they could carry. The Vikings might take healthy women, or young men and young women to sell into slavery. So, when Celtic families were praying for protection, they meant every word! They were not sitting calmly in a well-appointed church, reciting prayers from a book with family and friends. They were on their knees, keeping warm by the hearth, praying fervently for protection and well-being. The ongoing chaos in our country can help us understand their challenges as well as their spiritual commitment. We are blessed to have their prayers!
~ Morning Prayer ~
Christ above me, Christ below me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me.
Christ be on my right, Christ be on my left,
Christ when I sit down, Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
~ Evening Prayers ~
May the Angels watch me
As I lie down to sleep.
May Angels guard me
As I sleep tonight.
Uriel be at my feet.
Ariel be at my back.
Gabriel be at my head.
Raphael be at my side.
Michael protect my Soul
With the strong shield of Love.
And the healing Son of Mary
Touch my eyes with Blessedness.
Caring for Creation Is Caring for Ourselves The events of January 2026 have gone beyond anything I could have imagined, ever. That is not because I have a limited imagination. I just never imagined that we would experience the level of cruelty, violence, and inhumanity that we have seen in less than one month into the new year.
There are “wild animals” who do kill for food and defense. However, humans are the only creatures on Earth who organize, arm, and kill each other for power, property, money, or revenge. And, we consider ourselves to be the most intelligent species on the planet! What we are seeing and experiencing is Tragic and Senseless.
There is no excuse for this kind of violence. I have lived in Texas, New Mexico, and southern California. I have never been attacked, robbed, held up, had an accident, or any kind of violent encounter with an illegal immigrant during that time. Yes, I know there are illegal and undocumented immigrants in this country, and it is a problem in definite need of a solution. But illegal “aliens” are not lurking in every parking lot!
So, what can we do to restore our sanity and heal our Hearts after seeing and hearing about all this violence? Good Question, and there is an answer as well as a cure!
No matter how insane our Human World seems to be, Creation continues to work just fine. Do we ever wonder if the Sun is going to come up in the morning? Do we ever doubt that we will have a New Moon followed by a Full Moon? Water is still H2O. The sky continues to be infinite shades of blue. Squirrels still bury acorns, and forget where many of them are buried. Buffalo herds are increasing in number and gradually restoring the Prairie!
This year, the number of Monarch Butterflies wintering in Mexico has increased! Beavers are restoring wetlands in the US and Great Britain. Honey Bees and Beekeepers are eagerly awaiting Spring. And the Earth continues to rotate on its axis and follow its usual orbit around the Sun.
Gardeners, especially organic gardeners, tend to live longer, are more active as they age, and are usually more hopeful. They are also good problem solvers! Given the right conditions, seeds still sprout in the Spring. The roots “know” to grow downward, and the stems always grow toward the Sun. Sunflowers will continue to follow the Sun when they are in bloom. “Plant a Radish, get a Radish, not a Buttercup!” (from the Fantasticks). In other words, Creation, also known as Mother Nature, is working just fine.
Unfortunately, our culture has made wealth the ultimate goal rather than well-being. How much property do we need to own to be content? How many houses does one person or one family need to be satisfied or even feel safe? From the perspective of Creation, human greed is a form of insanity. We seem to have lost our sense of proportion as well as our ability to create Community.
Screen time is no substitute for a glorious Sunset or watching a fawn follow its mother through the woods. Are we starving for the Beauty and Coherence of Creation? Probably we are. The good news is this … all we need to do is go for a walk in the woods or in a nearby park. We can give ourselves and our families the Blessing of fresh air, Sunshine, and the Beauty of Nature. Studies have shown that a few hours of “forest bathing” increases our sense of well-being, strengthens our immune system, and lowers our anxiety and stress, all for free!
When our human world gets to be too much, turn off the screens and head for the nearest park. Or, plant some vegetable seeds in paper cups using a seed-starting mixture. Keep the dirt moist and the cups in Sunshine. Before too long, you will have the beginnings of a vegetable garden, right there in your window! And, that will feel good! Nature has the capacity to restore our sanity and heal our Hearts, always!
Celtic Morning and Evening Prayers ~ Week of January 25 2026Most of us are familiar with the text in the New Testament where Jesus is asked by the Sadducees and the Pharisees what is the greatest commandment. Jesus responds, saying Love G~D with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. Then Jesus continues, saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. He goes on to say, “all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." This sets the foundation of Christianity, and our commitment to these 2 abiding principles.
Just as the people of Jesus’ time lived under the heavy weight of Roman occupation, so did the Celtic people. They also endured invasions of the Vikings, and the Anglo-Saxons for several centuries. We are faced with the same challenges now. How do we “love our neighbors as ourselves” in the midst of constant upheaval and violence? We are seeing a good demonstration with the non-violent marches in Minnesota this weekend. In freezing weather, more than 10,000 citizens braved the temperatures and possible violence to reclaim the rule of law for all of us. They were potentially risking their lives, their freedom, and their safety to stand up for the constitutional rights of their neighbors and their own.
~ A Blessing for the Stranger ~
I saw a Stranger yestreen,
I put food in the eating place,
Drink in the drinking place,
Music in the listening place,
And in the Sacred Name of the Triune,
He blessed myself and my house,
My cattle and my dear ones,
And the Lark said in her song
Often, often, often
Goes the Christ in the Stranger’s guise.
~ Evening Prayers ~
Blessing of the Three
The Sacred Three
My Fortress Be
Encircling Me.
Come and be round,
My hearth, my home.
Fend thou my kin
And every sleeping thing within
From scathe, from sin.
Thy care, our peace
Through mid of night
To light’s release.
What a Mess! It seems our American Experience has turned upside down! Food and other basic expenses are up, and continuing to go up! Political alliances are being bought and sold! American debt continues to climb, and is rising faster than ever, apart from the pandemic. What a Mess!
We are living through very stressful times! When we have ongoing stress and especially increasing stress levels, we need to take better care of ourselves. We need to take better care of ourselves every day! If you are tempted to retreat from life or revive any old habits that are not particularly healthy, then reconsider. Think about the possible results of too much fast food, or too little sleep, or too much “doom scrolling” on your phone at night before bed.
In order for Human Beings to survive and thrive, we need the basics. We need wholesome food, fresh air, Sunshine, and daily physical activity. We need to be more grounded and spend a lot less time sitting in front of a screen! The answer is staring us right in the face! We need to get started on our herb and vegetable garden for this Spring!
Gardening, all by itself, meets all the requirements for Healthy and Happy living. Numerous studies throughout the whole wide world have established that Gardeners, especially Organic Gardeners, are healthier, stronger, have better digestion, usually have better attitudes, and are great problem solvers! Seriously, the gardeners and farmers I have known since I was very small are generally more patient, more resilient, and more positive about the future.
From my own experience growing up farming and ranching, gardening and hanging out with Gardeners, I believe being directly involved with Creation is the answer. That is what happens when we are gardening. To grow anything, from flowers or herbs to organic vegetables and delicious melons, we have to pay attention to Creation. Therefore, we are grounded in “what is working”! Creation works just fine until humans, that’s us, start messing around with the internal programming or wiping out entire ecosystems! Creation has worked just fine for millions of Centuries, all by itself!
You may have noticed, the Sun comes up in the East every morning, right on schedule. We can time the beginning of the New Moon and the Full Moon every month. And, we can time the beginning of a Solar or Lunar Eclipse right down to a split second, no problem. If we put healthy organic vegetable seeds into good soil, in a biodegradable pot. Then we keep it moist and let it sit in Sunshine. Before you know it, there is a Sprout growing upward from the Seed! All by itself … just Imagine! Given the right conditions, that seed knows exactly how to grow and produce!
When we are involved with and focused on Gardening, we are directly involved in Creation. We are Grounded. We are breathing Fresh Air and getting real Sunshine. Studies have shown that our Heart Rate often slows down. Our breathing is slower and deeper. And, our whole system begins to relax. That is real Health, all bundled up in one activity. And, as a big bonus, we get good food! What more could you ask for … ?
Every city that I know about, has local gardening groups. Even small towns have expert gardeners. And, there are always local Farmer’s Markets! And, most Gardeners are happy to share their knowledge and experience. Gardening is such an easy way to make new friends! We are also learning how to work with Creation. And we are usually taking better care of the Earth! What could be better?
If you are considering starting a garden to grow vegetables and a few fruits this Spring, here is a guide that explains how the ground beneath your feet shapes the health of your garden, your food, and your family. Remember, our health starts in the Soil !!!
Supporting your yard, wildlife, and your health…
January might seem like a “quiet” month outdoors, but it’s actually one of the best times to do simple and basic, healthy activities that improve your yard, support wildlife, and set your garden up for a strong growing season. These activities get you moving in the cool air which is beneficial for body, mind, and spirit while directly benefiting (1) native birds, (2) beneficial insects and pollinators, and (3) planning your Spring Garden.
Create a Winter Bird & Beneficial Insect HavenRemember: January is a tough month for wildlife: natural food is scarce, and shelter can be limited. You can help All Creatures Great and Small by doing the following:1. Setting up or refreshing bird feeders and water sources * Clean existing feeders with warm, soapy water (or a mild bleach solution, rinsed thoroughly) to reduce disease. * Refill with high-energy foods: black oil sunflower seeds, suet, nuts, and for some species, nyjer seed. * Provide fresh water in a shallow birdbath; in very cold climates, use a birdbath heater or change water frequently. 1. Maintain “wild” microhabitats * Keep as much leaf litter, seed heads, and brush piles in as many places as possible around your yard. These areas provide a safe place for beneficial insects to survive the winter. * Seed heads from flowers like coneflower, rudbeckia, or grasses provide both food and shelter. * A loosely stacked brush pile offers hiding spots for small birds and overwintering insects.
Add simple insect hotels or bundles* Tie hollow stems (like bamboo or spent perennials) in bundles and place them under an eave or inside a sheltered shrub. * These can provide nesting and overwintering sites for solitary bees and other beneficial insects later in the season.
Environmental and ecological benefits* Supports native birds in lean times: Supplemental food and unfrozen water help birds maintain body weight and survive freezing nights, especially in urban and suburban areas with limited natural forage. * Boosts natural pest control: Birds and beneficial insects you support in winter often help control pests (like caterpillars, aphids, and beetles) once spring arrives. * Increases biodiversity: Even a small yard can become a mini refuge, helping migratory birds and local insect populations persist in developed landscapes. * Reduces yard waste impacts: Leaving some natural “mess” (leaves, stems, twigs) keeps organic matter on-site instead of in landfills, where it can contribute to methane emissions.
Why is January ideal to care for Birds?* Food scarcity is highest: Many berries and seeds have already been eaten or knocked down; your feeders and seed heads become crucial resources. * Insects are dormant: Cleaning and rearranging is less disruptive when many insects are tucked away in leaves, bark crevices, or underground. * Easier observation and enjoyment: Bare branches make birds easier to see, turning this into a relaxing, mindful outdoor hobby during an otherwise quiet month.
If you are considering a Spring herb or vegetable garden, you can do this in January 2026.
- Determining the appropriate planting zone and last frost dates for North Central Georgia.
- Plan your garden layout based on space, sun exposure, as well as companion planting principles.
- Selecting native or well-adapted vegetable, herb, and flowering plant species that are ideal if you are just starting a garden this year. Look for seeds for plants that are quick to germinate, and resistant to mold or mildew.
- Be sure to use seeds that are organic, non-GMO varieties, with region-appropriate cultivars.
- Develop a seed-starting schedule, including soil preparation, indoor light requirements, and watering systems
- Then, in late March or early Spring, you can set up your garden beds or containers for transplanting in early Spring, using organic soil amendments and mulching strategies
We will cover more about “getting your Spring Garden ready” in later articles. If you start planning now, you will be all set to plant when Spring arrives !!!
Some years ago when I was living in Lincoln, Nebraska, I worked at the University of Nebraska Planetarium. I loved working there. I did research, helped write programs, and did presentations. Our Christmas Star program was one of the most interesting, especially for grade school and middle school young people. And, their teachers loved it as well.The 30 to 40 minute program focused on what could have been seen in the sky long enough to be spectacular. And, been there long enough for the Three Wise Men to follow it to Bethlehem? So, how could anyone figure that out … ? Astronomers have been working on this for centuries. Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton discovered formulas describing how planets move. After Issac Newton figured out the “Laws of Motion”, tracking the placement of planets through the Heavens was much easier.
However, in the planetarium, we didn’t need to do any calculations. The projector that put all the planets and stars on the overhead dome could do that for us. All we had to do was “run the projector backward” to the general time frame of Jesus' birth. Then we would run the projector forward and watch as different planets aligned to create “bright conjunctions” in specific constellations. Astronomers could also compare these calculations with historical records of ancient observers in the Middle East and China. These comparisons helped confirm possible time frames for very bright planetary conjunctions.
Most current historians think Jesus was probably born sometime between about 7 BCE and 2 BCE (BCE is another way of saying BC). That is a window of a few years. During that time there was a conjunction of planets in the constellation we know as Pisces that could definitely qualify as a “bright star”. It would have been difficult for the people who wrote the gospels to explain “planetary conjunctions”.
There is general agreement that the “Three Wisemen” were Ancient Astronomers who kept meticulous records of the movements of the planets. They also would have studied the records of astromers who came before them. In other words, they knew how to track the movement of planets through the sky, even though these planets moved at different speeds. They could have known far enough in advance when to “pack up”, arrange for a caravan, load their camels, and head west. In those days, everyone traveled by caravan for protection. These were Wise Men, so they would have definitely been traveling with a group of people!
Within that particular ancient time frame, astronomers agree there was a specific ongoing conjunction of 3 planets in Pisces. The 3 planets that converged, over time, in Pisces were Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and possibly Venus. They gathered in or near that constellation for longer periods because they are farther from the Sun, so their orbits are larger and take longer. Also, planets have retrograde motion that makes them look like they are going in reverse. This is only an apparent motion based on our perspective from Earth.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System and is usually very bright because it gives off more energy than it absorbs from the Sun! Saturn orbits outside the path of Jupiter, and can be followed easily without any assistance. This was especially true when there wasn’t any Light Pollution! Mars is visible as a red planet. Venus also moved through Pisces later in that time frame. In ancient times, everyone paid attention to Sunrise and Sunset, Moon rising and setting, as well as those “bright planets” that moved across the backdrop of Stars.
It is definitely possible that the convergence of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, including the occasional appearance of sparkling bright Venus, could have been our Christmas Star. Tracking the convergence of these planets would have given the Wise Men enough travel time to get to Bethlehem. We may never know for sure, but this is one explanation that does make sense and can be verified.
Our “Christmas Star” programs at the planetarium were the most popular and held everyone’s attention. It was always amazing to see those planets converging in the area known as the Pisces constellation. We even had oooohs and aaaaaahs from many young people as well as adults. Socrates is believed to have said, “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom!" And, the expression of wonder or awe on people’s faces following the “Christmas Star” program was always gratifying.
Celebrating all our wonderful holidays this time of year is a great opportunity to “Count Our Many Blessings”. Why would we want to do this? What benefit would we have from actually counting “our blessings”? And, which blessings would we count?
All good questions, for sure. I would suggest counting the Blessings we have from Creation. Blessings like Fresh Air, Clean Water, Bird song, fertile fields and gardens, Earthworms !, Lady Beetles, Honey Bees, Carpenter Bees, Wasps, Spiders, Fish, and so many more! These are just a few of the inherent and essential “Blessings” that make it possible for us to live on Earth as Human Beings !!!
I did a search using Chatgpt, my new research assistant, and discovered some interesting numbers about the steady decline in “farm families” since 50 years before the Industrial Revolution. I compared this to the number of “family farmers” from 1950 to 2000. I knew there was a very steep decline, but I was not prepared for the numbers.
In the United States, from 1780 to 1800, approximately 85% of the population were “farm families”. By 1950, approximately 15% of the population were “farm families”. By 2000, approximately 1-2% were “family farms”, and these farms were run more and more like “large-scale” corporate businesses.
Farming has become more and more “mechanized”, based on a few specific crops that are planted and harvested by large and technically advanced machines. If your tractor breaks down, you may wait for several days for a “properly trained” technician to arrive at your farm with all his sophisticated equipment to “run scans and fix” your tractor! In the good ol’ days, some baling wire and a few adjustments with the carburetor might get you rolling again! And, your wheat crop would be harvested before that hail storm arrived the next afternoon and flattened the entire crop! Farming has become “industrialised”! There are many benefits to that as well as many disadvantages!
One of the obvious disadvantages is that fewer and fewer of us are engaged in any kind of farming or even gardening. As a result, we are more and more dependent on corporations for our food and other essentials. Many of us are at a distinct disadvantage because we don’t know or remember how to garden, or we are living in situations where we can’t grow any food. And, we have forgotten what is “Essential” for living a productive and healthy life on Earth! No one planned this to happen, but this is our current situation.
Bottom Line: In order for us, as Human Beings, to survive and even thrive, we need fresh air. We need clean water, not just water that has been cleaned, but Energized Water that restores our health and vibrancy. We need food without chemicals. We need lots of fresh air from healthy Trees that are producing O2 through Photosynthesis. We need Birds to maintain balance in the Insect World. Birds need Insects for food for themselves and their young. Since 1970, the Bird Population in the United States has declined by 1 Billion! If we enough Birds, we don’t need to spray insecticides!
We have forgotten there is a Balance and a Rhythm to Life. We have forgotten because so many of us are removed from Nature. We have forgotten that all Creation Is Sacred. We need Grass, Trees, Birds, Earthworms, and Bugs. Our lives on Earth depend on Nature. And, we need to remember that Nature could easily do really well without us!
During this holiday season, when you take a breath of crisp, clean air, thank the Trees for all the O2 they provide. When you see a Bird in flight, and you watch them making a graceful landing on a limb, tell them “thank you” for their Songs, and their Insect Consumption. If we take care of the Birds this Winter, they will take care of the Bugs this Spring and Summer!
Many things in our lives are beneficial, but not all things are Essential. Creation Is Essential, all day, every day. Let’s remember how Blessed we are to live on this Amazing Planet we call Home!
Our Lady of Guadalupe — A Story from TepeyacThe morning air on Tepeyac Hill had always felt different, a little cooler and quieter, as if it carried memories of the people who had once climbed it with offerings. Long before churches were built in Mexico, this hill had been sacred to the Indigenous communities in the Valley of Mexico. For generations, they had honored Tonantzin, on this special hill. She was the Aztec mother-goddess. Tepeyac had long been a place where people prayed for protection, good harvests, and guidance.
Near this same hill in December of 1531, Juan Diego, a quiet Indigenous man in his fifties, walked the dusty path toward the nearest church for morning worship. He wore a simple tilma, a cloak woven from coarse maguey fiber, and traditional sandals that protected his feet from pebbles. In the 1500’s, life in this part of Mexico was complicated and difficult, due to the colonization by the Spanish. Everyone, especially if they were native people, was suffering with disease, cultural upheaval, and deep uncertainty.
Juan Diego carried one additional worry: his elderly uncle, Juan Bernardino, who lay dangerously ill at home. Juan Diego was doing his best to care for him, though he had little to offer beyond herbs, water, and his prayers.
A Voice on the Hill ~As Juan neared Tepeyac, something unusual happened. The air grew strangely bright, and he heard a soft voice calling him.
“Juanito, Juan Diego …”
Startled, he looked up but could not see anyone. He heard someone call again and decided to climb up in case it was a traveler who had stumbled and fallen. But, at the top of the hill, he saw a young woman, radiant and calm, dressed in a mantle of blue-green that shimmered like a sunset. When she smiled, her face lit up. Her voice was kind and compassionate. Juan could tell that she was not Spanish. Then she spoke to him in Nahuatl, his native language, and he immediately felt calm and reassured. She asked him, "Juanito, the smallest of all my children, where are you going?”
When Juan didn’t answer, she said, “Do not be afraid.” “I am the Mother of the true God for whom we live, the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and of earth". She told Juan she wanted a church to be built where she was standing, so her children would know where to find her. She instructed Juan Diego to go to the Bishop of Mexico's palace and deliver her message. Then she said to Juan, “Go to the bishop and tell him what you have seen.”
This was not a request that Juan Diego liked to hear. The bishop, Fray Juan de Zumárraga, was a very powerful man, and Juan Diego was very poor and ordinary. But he agreed and promised the beautiful Lady he would go.
The Long Wait ~When Juan Diego reached the bishop’s residence after a very long walk, he was treated with disdain. He had to wait for hours, sitting on uncomfortable benches with others who were waiting. He was only one of many seeking an audience, and no one cared to bring him forward. When his turn finally came, he told the bishop everything he had seen.
The bishop listened, but didn’t believe him. He told Juan Diego to return another day, and to bring proof or not return.
A Second Encounter ~Tired but determined, Juan Diego walked back to Tepeyac. The Lady appeared again, and she asked him what had happened. Juan told her everything.
“Juanito, do not be discouraged. Return to the bishop. Tell him again what I ask.”
Juan Diego nodded, though he felt sad and discouraged. This time, when he visited the bishop, the wait was even longer. While he waited, important officials questioned him. They made him repeat his story, over and over, watching him closely. They were hoping to catch him changing his version. When Juan was finally able to see Bishop Fray, he told Juan Diego he needed a sign from this mysterious Lady. Obviously, the Bishop didn’t expect Juan to return!
His Uncle’s Illness and the Roses ~Before he could return to Tepeyac, Juan Diego looked in on his uncle and found he was much worse. Hoping to find a priest to administer last rites, he took a different path the next morning. He was hurrying and trying to avoid the Beautiful Lady’s questions.
But the Lady found him anyway.
“Que pasa? “Why do you hide from me, Juan Diego?” she asked gently.
Ashamed, he explained about his uncle’s illness and the pressing need for help. She listened patiently.
Juanito, “Do not fear this illness. Your uncle has already been healed. Now go to the top of the hill and gather the flowers you find there.”
Juan Diego was puzzled, “flowers”? In December? How would he find flowers on a rocky hill that could barely grow cactus?
But he did as she asked. At the top, he found something impossible: fresh Castilian roses ! They were a flower native to Spain and completely out of place during the winter in central Mexico. Their vibrant reds and soft petals were unlike anything that had ever grown there.
He gathered them into his tilma and carried them back to the Lady. Before he left for the Bishop’s palace, she carefully arranged the flowers in his tilma and sent him on his way with her blessing.
The Sign ~After another even longer wait at the bishop’s residence, Juan Diego was finally brought in to the ornate room where Bishop Fray received people. The Bishop asked Juan if he had brought a Sign from the Lady. When Juan opened his tilma to show the flowers to the Bishop, everyone in the room gasped.
Where the roses had touched the cloth, there was now an image of a beautiful woman in a shimmering cloak. It was the same woman Juan Diego had seen on the hill, her gentle face, her mantle bright with stars, her hands folded in prayer. The bishop fell to his knees.
This was the sign he had asked to see!
He immediately agreed to build the church on Tepeyac, just as the Lady had requested. And, he did!
Her Legacy ~In the days that followed, Juan Diego learned his uncle had recovered, just as the Lady had promised. News of the miraculous image spread quickly. Even as the church was being built, people came bringing their prayers, gifts from their meager harvest, as well as carrying sick family members or friends.
Over generations, Our Lady of Guadalupe became a symbol of unity, protection, and faith for millions. She is especially revered in Mexico, also in Central and South America, and in the Southwestern United States. The same image that the Bishop saw, still on Juan’s tilma, hangs above the altar in a much larger church, close to the site of the original one. There are altars and churches devoted to her all around the world. Thousands of people come to her sanctuary, asking for healing, protection, and guidance. Her image continues to bring comfort to families, workers, migrants, and communities seeking strength and comfort during these difficult days.
People turn to her for guidance, healing, and protection, and have done so for nearly five centuries. Her story connects Indigenous heritage, Christian faith, and the enduring promise that God’s love and compassion will meet people where they are, in the languages they speak, and in the struggles they share.
The Beautiful, and Very Busy Life of Leaves …There’s something quietly comforting about leaves - the way they flutter in a soft breeze, brighten up a yard, or paint the world with bursts of color every fall. But behind their appearance, leaves on trees and bushes are some of the hardest-working little factories in nature. Their daily activities keep our air clean, our soil healthy, our planet stable, our spirits uplifted.
First and most famously, leaves are nature’s tiny solar panels. Through photosynthesis, they absorb Sunlight and carbon dioxide, turning it into oxygen and energy for the plant. This beautifully efficient system does more than just feed a tree - it generates the air we breathe! Every leafy branch outside your window is quietly and efficiently producing oxygen all day long, without needing any help from Humans! This highly efficient process has been going on for millions of years and is one of the core reasons that mammals are able to live on Earth!
Leaves are also excellent at keeping trees and bushes hydrated and cool. When they release water vapor - a process called transpiration - they help regulate the plant’s temperature, almost like tiny natural air-conditioners. This same process adds moisture to the air, contributing to local rainfall as well as keeping the environment feeling fresh and alive.
Here is another amazing benefit! Leaves are natural filters. They trap dust, pollutants, and even noise, making neighborhoods quieter and the air cleaner. This is one of the reasons streets lined with trees just feel healthier, because they are. Numerous scientific studies have also shown that neighborhoods with Trees have less crime!
When leaves finish their active season and fall to the ground, their work isn’t over. As they break down, they feed the soil with valuable nutrients. This creates a rich, fertile environment for future growth - like nature’s own compost. Even the leaf piles children love to jump in are part of a this amazing cycle of renewal.
Finally, leaves create a sense of emotional well-being. Whether it’s the peaceful rustle on a summer night, the brilliant reds and golds of autumn, or the promise of spring’s first buds, leaves are woven into our sense of comfort and seasonal rhythms. These cycles of renewal and restoration remind us that life all around us changes, renews, rests, and grows again.
In every season and stage, leaves are always blessing our world. So, the next time you walk past a tree or brush your hand against a leafy shrub, remember to say “Thank You”! Remember, you are standing beside one of nature’s greatest Blessings - doing a hundred important jobs at once, always reliable and extremely efficient, without any assistance from us!
Why Does Leaving the Leaves Matter for Birds and Bees and Other Tiny Creatures in Your Yard?
Keeping fall leaves on the ground - or gathering them into quiet leaf piles - is one of the simplest and most beneficial ways to Care for Creation! Leaves are not “yard waste.” They are Winter Homes, excellent Food Sources, and Protective Blankets for thousands of species who depend on those resources to survive the cold months.
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Leaves Provide Winter Shelter for Insects and PollinatorsButterflies, moths, fireflies, lady beetles, native bees, ground beetles, and many tiny beneficial insects overwinter in leaf beds. Leaves protect them from frost, wind, predators, and sudden temperature drops. Many pollinator species cannot survive without this natural insulation.
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Birds Depend on Leaf Beds for Winter FoodLeaf litter is a natural feeding ground for thrushes, wrens, robins, chickadees, towhees, and other birds. They search for dormant insects, larvae, pupae, and eggs hidden beneath the leaves. Without leaf beds, birds lose key winter nutrition - especially protein needed for spring nesting. Birds also need these Insects later in the Spring to feed their young nestlings.
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Leaf Piles Create Mini Wildlife SanctuariesA simple leaf pile in a quiet corner supports:
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overwintering butterflies
- native bees
- frogs, toads, and salamanders (regionally)
- fireflies
- small mammals
- beneficial beetles and spiders
These piles stay warmer than exposed ground and release moisture slowly, protecting wildlife from harsh winter conditions.
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Leaves Feed the Soil and Protect Tree RootsAs leaves break down, they return minerals and organic matter to the soil, helping trees regain nutrients they shed. Leaf mulch also:
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prevents erosion
- reduces compaction
- keeps roots warm
- improves moisture retention
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supports earthworms and beneficial fungi
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Leaving Leaves Helps Reduce EmissionsAvoiding gas-powered leaf blowers reduces noise pollution and carbon emissions while keeping Wildlife from being disturbed during critical rest periods.
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Simple Ways to “Leave the Leaves”* Leave leaves beneath trees and shrubs.
- Create 1–2 leaf beds or leaf piles in corners of your yard.
- Wait until mid-spring to move or compost them—after nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F.
- Use rakes instead of blowers whenever possible.
- Lightly mulch some leaves into garden beds while keeping plenty whole for wildlife.
SourcesXerces Society, National Wildlife Federation, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, USDA Forest Service, Wagner (2020), Tallamy & Shropshire (2021), Hallmann et al. (2017–2022), USGS & USFWS.
Season of Gratitude Caring for Creation by Mary ChristopherMany of us know that in the Celtic spiritual tradition, all Creation is considered sacred. From the tiniest bug to the tallest Giraffe and the largest Whale in the deepest ocean, all of Creation is Sacred. All Human Beings, regardless of their place of birth, the color of their skin, or the sound of their voice, are Sacred! Our eyes may be different colors. Our hair may have a different texture. And, we come in many sizes, some tall, some short, some round, and some skinny. We are all the Children of G~D, regardless of size, or intelligence, or food preference!
In the Celtic spiritual tradition, every electron, proton, including the nucleus of every atom came into form from within the Creator. Now that may sound like a play on words, but it is not. Our science and technology is sufficiently developed for us to understand that particles become waves and waves can become particles. The Biblical reference I think goes well with current science is from John:1 KJV.
John 1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" is the first verse of the Gospel of John in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.
We know that when we “speak”, our vocal organs create “sound” which is, of course, waves. So, one way we could think about Creation, is that all form was the result of sound. Or, Creation reflects the “sound” of the Creator’s voice. So, listening to rain, or the song of a bird during Sunrise, or someone humming a lullaby to their child is the “sound” of the Creator. Obviously, we can use our voices to create, to build up, or to harm … our choice.
Most of us know that Creation is Amazing, and Wonderful, and Funny, and Awesome! We experience that whenever we make the time to wander around in the woods, or rest by a lake, or just sit on the porch, watching the Sun come up!
As we move into this Season of Gratitude, let us remember and, by remembering, once again feel how blessed we are by living in Creation. Even when “the world” all around us seems to get crazier and crazier, we can still breathe fresh air, see amazing colors, and watch Squirrels chase each other endlessly up and down Trees!
Here are 2 prayers from the Celtic tradition that may help us move more gracefully through our day.
~ Morning Prayer ~
Almighty G~D, Creator,
This morning is Yours, rising into fullness.
This Summer is Yours, dipping into Autumn.
Eternity is Yours, dipping into Time.
The vibrant grasses, the scent of flowers,
The lichen on the rocks, the tang of sea-weed.
All are Yours.
Gladly, we live in this Garden of Your Creating.
~ Evening Prayer ~
The Sacred Three,
To Save,
To Shield,
To Surround the Hearth,
The House this Eve,
This Night,
And Every Night,
Every Single Night,
Each Single Night.
Amen
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices
for personal well-being and spiritual awareness.
Her Caring for Creation podcast is an excellent resource
for connecting with the Earth and restoring well-being.
You can listen to her podcast here …
Caring for Creation!
Great Question !!!
We Care about Creation because all our Fresh Air, Water, and Food, including our fruits and vegetables, come from Creation! Fortunately for us, Creation is always doing its best to provide Fresh Air, Water, and Food! Everyday, Green Leaves and Green Grasses are continually absorbing CO2 (carbon dioxide) and generating clean, fresh Oxygen for US! We could call that the Daily Miracle of Photosynthesis!
There is a continual weather cycle that can produce the rain and moisture we need for humans, animals, our forests, and our crops. At the same time, every day we are spending millions and millions of dollars purifying the water we have already used. I have a good friend who worked in a city water treatment plant for more than 20 years! He told me it took time to adjust to the “toxicity” in the plant, especially when they were scrubbing down the tanks with strong chemicals. He said some guys got sick and had to transfer to a desk position!
For years, especially since the Industrial Revolution, human beings have been adding more and more toxins to our environment. We use toxic herbicides and pesticides everywhere all the time without much thought about the impact of those toxic chemicals. People used to wash their fruit and vegetables to remove dust or dirt particles that came from their garden. Now we wash our fruits and vegetables with other “special chemicals” to remove toxins from the outside before we cook. Of course, this does not remove any toxins that have been absorbed by the fruit or vegetable. Now, we look for “organic” fruits and vegetables and hope for the best.
My son, who lives in Georgia, is a Gardener. He grows vegetables, only from Heirloom seeds. And, he saves the seed from the vegetables that did well. During spring and early summer, we discuss pollinators, soil quality, compost, how and when to plant, as well as last year’s crops. We also talk about bugs and birds, which are common topics for gardeners. And, we often trade photos of our favorite Bugs, Butterflies, Lizards, and Frogs! You may not be a “Frog Fan”, but we can probably agree that the beauty, variety, and complexity of Nature is Amazing!
I am always fascinated by the seemingly endless shades of Green that we see in Spring. And, I love to look for the first blooms of plants with all their shapes and shades of color. Creation has amazing variety and, at the same time, it has tremendous stability and resilience. We can learn about stability, being grounded, and understanding resilience just by gardening or spending quality time in the woods. And, we can always benefit by breathing that soft, freshly minted air from Trees. We are Blessed in so many ways by the amazing Beauty, and Variety, and Radiance that surrounds us in Nature!
During this season of Gratitude, take some time to be with Creation, to feel the fresh air, listen to birds calling to each other, or watch squirrels playing in the trees. Being a Human Being, living on Planet Earth is a rare opportunity to experience beauty, resilience, amazing patterns like the Fibonacci Series, and the magic sounds of rain on the porch. If we slow down, just a bit, we will be refreshed and renewed by Nature, a Blessing in Time and Space, directly from our Creator!
Most of us remember seeing Dragonflies when we were growing up. I grew up in SW Oklahoma, and I don’t recall seeing very many of them along the creek or by the stock tanks. However, whenever we visited my aunt and uncle, who lived on a farm in the middle of Virginia, I saw plenty of them! And, I was fascinated!
There was a lovely creek that ran through the property, about a mile from the house. I spent hours at that creek, playing in the water, looking for small fish (it was a small creek) frogs, and turtles. The creek was a clear-running stream with a sandy bottom and assorted rounded rocks. It was lined with trees, so it was the perfect place to hang out on hot days in the summer.
I remember watching the Dragonflies zooming along the creek, sometimes just inches above the water. There weren’t many mosquitoes, flies or small biting insects there. The main entertainment was the gently flowing creek and the darting Dragonflies. At the time, I didn’t know the Dragonflies were the main reason there weren’t many flies or mosquitoes, or midges. The voracious Dragonflies were keeping the creek free of tiny stinging or biting insects.
Because their 4 wings are engineered to move independently, and their multi-faceted eyes, covering more than half their face, Dragonflies are amazingly accurate hunters. They easily detect small flying insects, even against complicated natural backgrounds. And, they have the speed and agility to catch them in mid-air. Truly amazing engineering … !!!
In addition to their hunting skills, the presence of Dragonflies tells us that any nearby water sources are healthy and not contaminated with pesticides, all of which kill insects!!! When we see Dragonflies, we know any water source in the immediate area is not poisoned!
The following is research on Dragonflies done during the past 3 years, along with the sources. I hope all this research inspires all of us to give up pesticides and allow Nature to rebuild the natural balance that can make us all healthier!
Dragonflies: Nature’s Aerial Guardians of Balance in Our Ecosystems1. Top-tier insect huntersDragonflies are among the most efficient predators ever studied. Field and lab work summarized by UC Davis biologists in 2023 reports that dragonflies often capture up to 95% of the prey they pursue—an astonishing success rate achieved with predictive “intercept” flight and panoramic vision. Those feats aren’t just athletic showpieces; they translate into real, daily removal of flying insects from the surrounding air. biology.ucdavis.edu
Crucially for public health and comfort, a 2023 meta-analysis in Journal of Animal Ecology pooled experiments across species and habitats and found strong evidence that dragonflies and damselflies reduce mosquito abundance, validating their role as biological control agents under the right habitat conditions. Effects were strongest where aquatic nurseries (for nymphs) and foraging corridors (for adults) were conserved or restored. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com+1
- 24/7 pest control - Underwater and in the airDragonfly life cycles amplify their impact on pest insects. For months (sometimes years), aquatic nymphs hunt mosquito larvae, midges, and other invertebrates among pond plants and leaf litter; after emergence, adults take over the aerial hunt. Studies in working landscapes show this matters beyond backyard comfort. For example, 2025 research from the University of Maryland reports that well-designed farm ponds can support robust dragonfly communities that exhibit behaviors consistent with conservation biological control—useful for reducing biting flies around cattle without more chemicals. Department of Entomology
Urban ecology is catching up, too. A 2024 open-access study tracking odonates across stormwater pond networks found that connectivity among ponds boosts dragonfly occupancy, suggesting that thoughtful placement of small water bodies in cities can strengthen natural pest control at a neighborhood level. PMC
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Living gauges of freshwater healthBecause dragonflies split their lives between water and air, they integrate signals from aquatic and riparian habitats. New studies reaffirm their value as bioindicators:
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A 2024 study in Science of the Total Environment tested dragonflies/damselflies as “amphibiotic” bioindicators, showing their community composition tracks both water quality and surrounding land conditions—useful for detecting subtle ecological shifts. ScienceDirect
- Broader 2025 syntheses call for trait-based conservation that links species’ thermal tolerances, habitat needs, and dispersal abilities to the exact threats they face—so we can read what dragonflies are “telling” us about freshwater stress and respond precisely. resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com+2hh.diva-portal.org+2
In plain terms: when dragonflies thrive, your creek or pond is likely oxygen-rich, structurally diverse, and less polluted; when they vanish, something is off in the water—or on the banks.
As we move through Fall to Winter and the temperatures continue to drop in north central Georgia, our backyard and woodland feathered neighbors will have a difficult time finding enough to eat. We know part of the reason is the continued loss of habitat, along with fewer reliable seed sources. Birds are hgh energy and need access to reliable sources of healthy seeds, possibly fall or winter berries, fresh water, and, if possible, suet.
We can easily improve the odds of survival for all our feathered friends with just a few additions to our yards. Even one or two hanging bird feeders with nutritious seeds, a source of clean water, and a suet hanger will go a long way to improving their odds of survival. And, we will have hours of entertainment by just looking out our window to see who dropped by for a healthy meal.
In this article, we’ll cover familiar birds who could use our help. We’ll also focus on those specific birds struggling to survive in Georgia’s changing environment. We have a list of easy and inexpensive ways to make your yard or your balcony a safe and welcoming place. We have also included suggestions for specific native plants you can plant this fall that will feed and shelter birds when Spring arrives. We can easily improve the odds for survival for our winged neighbors as well as increase the number of baby birds that will survive this Spring!
A scientific look at what’s happening in the U.S. And, why it matters for farms, beekeepers, and all of us who Care about Creation.
The short story in simple words …Across the United States, we’ve been losing birds—quietly, steadily, and in very large numbers. The best nationwide studies show that North America has lost about 3 billion birds since 1970. That big number comes from radar, long-running bird counts, and other careful science. It’s sobering, but it also gives us a clear signal: when birds disappear, it usually means the whole web of life—the insects, wildflowers, soils, and streams that support them—is coming apart. That’s what scientists mean by declining biodiversity. Science+1
In the past 12 years, newer “state of the birds” checkups and federal science updates have confirmed that the slide is still happening. Grassland and arid-land birds—think of meadowlarks, bobolinks, and other open-country species—are among the hardest hit, with losses above 40% since 1970 and continuing declines reported in 2025. Audubon+2NABCI+2
Below is a simple walk-through of what’s driving the drop, why it signals a wider loss of life, and how it connects to farming, beekeeping, and pollinators.
What’s driving bird declines right now?1. Less and less habitat (places to live).
When prairies turn into uniform crop fields, when fence-rows and hedgerows are cleared, and when lots of small wetlands are drained, birds lose their nesting and feeding grounds. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that North American grasslands are among the most imperiled habitats, and grassland birds have declined more than any other group. If there’s no place to nest and no nearby insects to eat, birds simply can’t raise young. U.S. Geological Survey
2. Pesticides that remove a bird’s food (insects).
Modern insecticides are designed to be powerful. A U.S. study in the last decade found that increases in neonicotinoid use were followed by measurable reductions in bird diversity, especially among grassland and insect-eating birds. Even when the chemicals don’t poison birds directly, they can sharply reduce the insects birds depend on to feed their young. That means quieter hedgerows and fewer fledglings leaving the nest. NYC Bird Alliance
3. Window strikes and city lights.
Hundreds of millions of migrating birds die each year by hitting glass, many after being drawn off course by bright city lights at night. Estimates commonly range from hundreds of millions to around a billion birds in the U.S. each year—an enormous toll that spikes during spring and fall migration. The good news: “lights-out” programs and bird-friendly glass can make a real difference. Lights Out Heartland+2Illinois Newsroom+2
4. A warming, weirder climate.
Heat waves, late freezes, droughts, floods—these can shuffle the seasonal deck. Plants may bloom earlier or later; insects may peak at the “wrong” time; nests may be flooded or baked. Large-scale biodiversity assessments warn that these combined pressures are pushing many species toward decline, with pollinators flagged as a special concern (more on that below). IPBES+1
Why bird loss equals biodiversity loss …Birds are messengers. When they vanish, it tells us that the whole living community is under stress: native plants are fewer; insect life is thinner; soils are less healthy; water is more polluted; and the timing of seasons is off-kilter. Global biodiversity reviews over the past decade warn that nature’s “everyday services”—pollination, pest control, clean water—are being eroded. Birds sit right in the middle of those services, and their decline is a red flag that the system is fraying. IPBES+1
Think of a meadow in June. If the wildflowers are sparse and the insect chorus is quiet, swallows and bluebirds won’t find enough to eat. Fewer birds means more crop pests survive, which can push farms toward still more pesticides—creating a loop that hurts the wider community of life. That’s biodiversity loss in everyday terms: fewer kinds of plants and animals, fewer helpful relationships, and a weaker, more brittle system.
Why this matters for farmers, their farms, and their families !!!Birds are natural pest control.
On many crops, birds help keep caterpillars, beetles, and other pests in check. A 2023 peer-reviewed study found that strengthening bird communities near brassica and cucurbit fields improved biological pest control, especially on farms that kept patches of native vegetation. Farmers have long known this in practical ways: barns swallows patrolling a field, or bluebirds gleaning caterpillars from orchard rows. When bird numbers fall, growers often face more pest pressure and higher costs. ScienceDirect+1
When Birds decline, pesticide use spirals upward.
As birds and beneficial insects shrink, farms can slide into a cycle of more spraying to chase more pests, which thins the food web even further. Research in the U.S. has linked heavier use of neonicotinoids to declines in bird biodiversity, especially for the very species that normally help with insects. That’s not a healthy long-term balance for farm budgets—or for the land. NYC Bird Alliance
Roots & Shoots: Growing Youth Leadership Around the WorldWhen I try to imagine a greener and healthier world, I usually think of Roots & Shoots ~ Jane Goodall’s inspired youth movement, growing hope from local to global. In the early 1990s, Jane Goodall quietly planted this idea. Today it is growing in dozens of countries, with thousands of groups and tens of thousands of young people working in small groups with heart, courage, and creativity. They are dedicated to making this Amazing Earth a better place for all Creatures Great and Small, including Human Beings!
A Brave Vision Emerged from Simple BeginningsRoots & Shoots began in 1991, on Dr. Goodall’s porch in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She had been speaking at local schools, and a group of 12 teenagers, selected by their classmates, came to her with their concerns. Their primary concerns were deforestation, water quality, and wildlife decline in their neighborhood. Instead of offering solutions herself, Jane asked them: What do you think you can do?
Together they developed a simple three-part mission: help people, help animals, help the environment. That small gathering became the first Roots & Shoots group.Roots & Shoots ~ The Jane Goodall Institute USA and Global
From that first meeting, the Jane Goodall Institute nurtured the idea, sharing stories, studies, and encouragement, the movement grew and spread. Since 1991, local youth groups, school chapters, and community clubs in many countries adopted this model. Young people obseerved their surroundings, identified a problem, took action, and celebrated their accomplishments together! Children, Nature and Responsibility
Structure & Organization: A Light Framework, Strong RootsRoots & Shoots is not centralized in the usual way of authority. Instead it offers a flexible, but resilient form and support so that youth-led groups can bloom locally, while connecting with each other around the world.
- Chapters / Global Offices: In many countries, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) or affiliated bodies host national Roots & Shoots programs. These may provide training, resources, communication, youth councils, and project funding. Jane Goodall Institute Host Roots and Shots Programs
- Local Groups / Clubs: At the grassroots, students, youth groups, or community members start or join a Roots & Shoots group — often anchored within schools, youth centers, environmental clubs, or informal community organizations.Roots & Shoots Anchored in Communities
- Basecamps / Hubs (especially in U.S.): In the U.S., certain regional “Basecamp” locations act as hubs or gathering points, helping coordinate events, mentoring, networking, and amplifying local efforts. Roots & Shoots
- Youth Councils & Global Networks: Some regions convene youth councils (as in the U.S.) to highlight outstanding youth leaders, create cross-group collaboration, and include youth people in the decision-making process. Jane Goodall's Good for All News
- Shared Method & Philosophy: Around the World, Roots & Shoots uses a 4-step formula (Get Inspired or Engage, Observe, Take Action, Celebrate) to guide participants in planning and developing. Children & Nature Network
Because groups are relatively autonomous, the program’s strength lies in its flexibility and adaptability. Young People choose issues that matter to them locally, and at the same time remain connected to a global network of encouragement, shared stories, and occasional collaborative campaigns (such as ForeverWild, tackling wildlife trafficking). Collaborative Campaigns
Roots and Shoots Does Not Publish local Membership numbers or locations.Because Roots & Shoots does not actively publish up-to-date, verified membership counts in its public materials, it is difficult to find reliable regional numbers. The numbers listed below are estimates.
- Globally, according to Wikipedia, Roots & Shoots operates in over 140 countries, with over 8,000 local groups and nearly 150,000 youth participants around the world. Wikipedia
- Jane Goodall Institute’s materials do note Roots & Shoots is active in more than 60 countries. Jane Goodall Institute ~ Acitive in more than 60 countries
- In just the United States, Roots & Shoots, USA reports 50 states, 2,118 registered groups, and 63,540 youth taking action (though not all may be formal “members”). Roots & Shoots
- Roots and Shoots, USA also mentions that in 2022, Roots & Shoots youth operated in 65 countries. Jane Goodall's Good for All News
One of the most beautiful things about Roots & Shoots is seeing the concrete, imaginative ways youth take action in their own contexts. Here are three examples, each one drawn from Europe, Africa, and North America:
Europe1. Bee “hotel” or insect habitat restoration (UK or Germany)
Youth groups in Europe have built insect-nesting habitats in school gardens or local parks to support pollinators and raise awareness of insect declines.
2. River litter cleanup & plastic waste campaign (Spain, Italy, or Poland)
Young Roots & Shoots groups have focused on cleaning local riverbanks or coastal areas, documenting plastic pollution, and running awareness campaigns about single-use plastics.
3. Urban greening/community gardens (Netherlands or Scandinavia)
In European cities, youth have transformed small vacant lots or school grounds into native plant gardens, vegetable beds, or micro-green spaces, improving biodiversity and community food.
Africa
- Tree planting & reforestation in Tanzania or Kenya
In these locations, youth groups working near forests or rural communities, plant indigenous tree seedlings to restore degraded land, sometimes involving schools and community members. - Water access/safe water filtration in rural villages
Some groups design affordable water filters or promote clean-water campaigns in villages where drinking water quality is poor, combining environmental, health, and community care. - Wildlife monitoring & habitat protection
In regions near national parks, youth monitor wildlife corridors, support anti-poaching awareness, or plant buffer zones to reduce human–wildlife conflict.
North America (U.S.-based projects)1. Pollinator gardens / native plant restoration
One of the favorite projects in the U.S. Roots & Shoots groups is planting native wildflower gardens at schools to support bees, butterflies, and birds.
2. Waste reduction & recycling challenge in high schools
In these communities, students organize and lead campaigns to reduce plastic use (say, banning single-use bottles), improve recycling, or establish compost programs.
3. Community tree planting or urban canopy expansion
These groups partner with city or nonprofit programs to plant trees in neighborhoods to reduce heat, improve air quality, and foster community pride.
For instance, in 2022, the U.S. Roots & Shoots program highlighted projects ranging from native pollinator oases to hydroponic garden initiatives as part of its youth portfolio.
These Young People and their Programs are building a Better World, all around the World! This is the Future! The more we find ways to support Young People, their efforts, and aspirations, we are helping to create a better world, step by step. Every effort counts and makes a difference in ways we can only imagine.
by Mary Christopher, Caring for Creation Series
Jane Goodall was born, April 3, 1934, in London, England, and grew up by the seaside in Bournemouth with her parents and younger sister, Judy. Jane loved animals. She spent hours watching birds and insects in the countryside with the family’s dog, Rusty. At an early age, Jane had the ability and patience to sit quietly and watch insects, birds, and other small creatures for long periods. She already had an amazing ability to focus and concentrate, which was unusual for such a young person.
One of her favorite toys was a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee, a gift from her father when she was one year old. According to her friends, Jubilee lived in her bedroom in her house in England after it was too tattered to travel with Jane. By all reports, Jubilee was still there, with Jane all her life!
Jane’s mother, Vanne, played a huge role in helping her follow her dreams. When other adults laughed at Jane’s ideas about traveling and studying animals, her mother encouraged her. She told her to stay curious and never give up. She also encouraged Jane to read about far-off places. She helped Jane keep exploring the world around her.
One time, when she was very young, Jane had found worms in the garden, brought them inside, and wanted to sleep with them in her bed. Fortunately, Jane's mother was very patient and understanding. She explained to Jane that "her worms" would not do well living inside. They needed their home in the garden. Then Jane's very patient mother helped Jane take the dirt, with the worms, back to the garden. She didn't scold Jane or fuss about the dirt. She must have been a very patient mother!
Jane also loved books like Tarzan of the Apes and Dr. Dolittle. These stories filled Jane’s imagination with dreams of living in Africa and studying animals up close, in their native habitat.
When Jane finished school, she worked as a secretary and film assistant to save enough money for a trip to Africa. In 1957, when she was 23, she took a big step, traveling by ship on the Kenya Castle to visit a friend in Nairobi, Kenya. While she was in Kenya, she met Dr. Louis Leakey, a famous scientist who studied ancient human fossils.
Louis was a Kenyan-British palaeoanthropologist and archaeologist whose work was to show that humans evolved in Africa. He and his wife were able to show this, particularly through discoveries made at Olduvai Gorge by his wife, fellow palaeoanthropologist Mary Leakey.
They saw something special in Jane - her patience, her sharp eye, and love for animals - and Louis invited her to help with his research. After working with the Leakey's for several years, he sent Jane to study chimpanzees at Gombe Stream Reserve in what was then Tanganyika (now Tanzania). In July 1960, it wasn’t considered proper for a young woman to go alone into the jungle, so her mother, Vanne, came with her for the first few months. Together, they set up a small camp near Lake Tanganyika, and Jane began her career!
Jane’s first days in the jungle were full of wonder and often challenges. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and insects, but the chimpanzees were shy and often ran away when she came near. So, Jane would sit quietly for hours, watching from a distance. Her patience paid off when one chimp, named David Greybeard, began to trust her. One day, Jane watched as he picked up a twig, stripped off the bark, and poked it down a Termite mound to catch termites for a snack.
This behaviour had never been seen before by scientists! Using a twig as a tool to catch termites was a revelation to the scientific community and began to change scientists' ideas about the intelligence and creativity of chimpanzees. This behavior had never been seen before in wild animals!
That moment changed the world’s understanding of animals and made Jane Goodall a pioneer in wildlife research. And, it all began with a little girl who loved animals, a mother who believed in her, and a dream that carried her all the way from England to the heart of Africa.
Jane Goodall continued her work, observing Nature, writing, speaking on behalf of many places and many species. She and the young people who worked with her in Kenya, founded Roots and Shoots, an International Youth Program dedicated to "caring for creation"! The Mission of Roots and Shoots is to empower young people to effect positive change in their communities. Young People can help build a better tomorrow! It starts right here, right now!
Challenges and How We Can Help Hummingbirds?A Fragile JourneyDespite their strength and beauty, hummingbirds face enormous challenges. They live close to the edge of survival every day. Their small size means they need constant food, water, and safe shelter. Even a short shortage of nectar or insects can be devastating.
When it’s time to migrate, many species undertake journeys of thousands of miles. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, common in the eastern United States, flies across the Gulf of Mexico in a single nonstop flight—500 miles over open water! Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds travel through the western states and down into Mexico. These incredible journeys demand immense energy and luck.
Difficulties Raising Young ~Hummingbird mothers face predation, storms, habitat loss, and the daily stress of finding enough food while caring for helpless chicks. A nest shaken by wind or destroyed by human activity may end an entire brood.
Facing Environmental Threats ~Climate change disrupts blooming cycles, so nectar may not be available when hummingbirds need it most. Pesticides reduce insect populations, which are vital for protein-rich food. Urban sprawl and deforestation remove the trees and shrubs they rely on for nesting.
How Humans Can Help ~The good news is that every one of us can make a difference for hummingbirds. Here are some ways to help them thrive this fall and winter:
- Plant native flowers that bloom at different times of year, ensuring a steady nectar supply.
- Avoid pesticides and herbicides, which kill insects and poison the food web.
- Put out clean feeders filled with simple sugar water (1 part sugar to 4 parts water, no dye). Change it every few days.
- Provide water sources, such as shallow fountains or misters, for bathing and drinking.
- Protect habitat, leaving small shrubs, trees, and native growth for nesting.
A Shared Future ~When we help hummingbirds, we also help bees, butterflies, and countless other species. And in turn, we help ourselves—ensuring that pollination continues, gardens flourish, and ecosystems remain strong.
These remarkable birds remind us that even in the smallest wings beats the heartbeat of Creation. Our care, our gardens, and our choices this fall and winter can give hummingbirds the chance not just to survive, but to flourish for generations to come.
Mary Christopher shares the gifts of mindfulness and simple spiritual practices, guiding others through one-on-one coaching and heart-centered awareness.
She is the host of Caring for Creation podcast. Each episode opens a window into the Wonder of Earth and the deepening of our own spiritual awareness.
Tiny Birds with Astonishing AbilitiesHummingbirds are among the most unique and fascinating creatures in the natural world. Weighing less than a nickel, they are built for aerial mastery. Unlike most birds, hummingbirds can fly forward, backward, sideways, and even upside down for short moments. But perhaps their most extraordinary talent is hovering. Their wings beat an astonishing 50–80 times per second, allowing them to remain suspended in midair while sipping nectar from flowers. No other birds in the world can hover with such precision.
Nature’s Tiny PollinatorsWhile we admire their beauty and dazzling colors, hummingbirds play a role far greater than their size suggests. As they visit flower after flower, their heads and beaks collect pollen and transfer it to other blossoms. This makes them vital pollinators—right alongside bees and butterflies. Their work ensures that countless plants can reproduce, which in turn provides food and shelter for other wildlife.
Without pollinators like hummingbirds, biodiversity would quickly collapse. Many of the fruits and flowers we enjoy depend on them. That means our survival as humans is closely tied to these little birds, even if we don’t always realize it.
Fueling the FlightTo power their nonstop energy, hummingbirds need to eat almost constantly. A single bird may visit hundreds of flowers a day, drinking nectar and catching tiny insects. Their hearts can beat over 1,200 times per minute when in flight! This high metabolism links them directly to the health of their ecosystems. If native plants disappear, hummingbirds lose their food, and the whole web of life begins to unravel.
Biodiversity Benefits for AllWhen hummingbirds thrive, so do the plants, insects, and landscapes they help sustain. A patch of native flowers in your backyard becomes part of a vast network supporting biodiversity. It means more beauty, more food security, and more resilience against climate change. In their shimmering wings, hummingbirds carry a message: every creature has a purpose, and even the smallest beings keep Creation flourishing.
Hummingbirds Flying South Through Georgia (Fall)What’s HappeningRuby-throated Hummingbirds are the primary species moving through Georgia in late summer and fall. Adult males are first to leave—most by late August—followed by females and juveniles; by October, the vast majority have moved on toward Mexico and Central America.
Georgia also enjoys a “second hummingbird season” as western species (especially Rufous) show up between roughly November–February. Leaving at least one feeder up all winter greatly improves your chances of hosting these visitors.
Fall Timetable for Georgia* Late July–mid-August: First southbound adult males appear; feeder traffic builds. * Late August–mid-September: Peak movement; birds tank up before long flights. * Late September–early October: Numbers taper; stragglers pass through. * Mid-November–February: “Second season”—sporadic western winter hummingbirds (most often Rufous). Keep one feeder up.
Difficulties Hummingbirds Face in Georgia* Tropical systems & strong fronts in Aug–Oct can blow migrants off course or halt feeding. * Habitat gaps where flowers are scarce late in the season. * Pesticides that reduce insects (protein) and contaminate nectar sources. * Window collisions & nighttime lighting around homes and buildings. * Feeder competition from bees/wasps and dominant birds.
How People Can Help in Georgia* Keep at least one feeder up year-round; you won’t delay migration (it’s day-length driven). Use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water; no dyes; clean weekly. * Plant late-season native flowers with tubular blooms (e.g., salvias, cardinal flower, trumpet honeysuckle, jewelweed). * Make windows safer (exterior dots/film ~2 inches apart) and dim outdoor lighting during peak migration. * Avoid pesticides; offer a shallow water feature with moving water. * Space multiple feeders apart to reduce aggression; use feeders with bee/wasp guards.
Hummingbirds Flying South Through Oklahoma (Fall)What’s HappeningIn Oklahoma, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are common migrants statewide (especially east), Black-chinned are regular in parts of the west/central, and Rufous pass through in smaller numbers. In fall, adult males usually depart first and may be gone by September; females and young mostly clear out by mid-October (with a few stragglers). The state wildlife agency recommends leaving feeders out until about Nov 1 (or three weeks after your last sighting).
Fall Timetable for Oklahoma* Late July–August: Early southbound birds; some Rufous appear. * Late August–mid-September: Peak passage; adult males thin out first. * Late September–mid-October: Mostly females/juveniles; numbers taper. * Late October–early November: Final stragglers; keep feeders available through ~Nov 1.
Difficulties Hummingbirds Face in Oklahoma* Late-summer heat and drought reducing nectar availability. * Windy fronts & storms during peak migration. * Habitat loss/fragmentation limiting stopover flowers. * Window collisions & bright night lighting near towns. * Feeder crowding/competition in dry years.
How People Can Help in Oklahoma* Feeders: Keep them up into late fall; 1:4 sugar:water, no dye; clean and refill weekly. Space several small feeders apart to reduce aggression; consider models with bee/wasp guards. * Plant drought-tough natives that bloom August–October (tubular salvias, agastaches, trumpet vine, cardinal flower along creeks). * Make windows safer with exterior patterns/tape; reduce outdoor lighting during migration. * Skip pesticides; provide clean water (misters/drippers are great).
Where Different Hummingbird Species Spend the Winter & How to Help Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Winters mainly from southern Mexico through Central America to Panama; some individuals linger along the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic coast/Florida. Help: Keep clean feeders available in Gulf/SE coastal areas; offer sheltered flowering shrubs and safe windows/lights. * Black-chinned Hummingbird – Mostly winters in western Mexico; more birds than once thought pass through the Southeast and some winter along the Gulf Coast. Help: Winter feeders and late-blooming natives in TX/LA Gulf region; window-safe homes. * Rufous Hummingbird – Winters chiefly in Mexico (western highlands), with increasing numbers wintering on the Gulf Coast; shows up in the Southeast in winter more than any other western hummer. Help: Maintain at least one feeder Nov–Feb in GA/AL/FL Panhandle and Gulf Coast gardens; protect from cold snaps (swap feeders before dawn if nectar could freeze). * Anna’s Hummingbird – Largely resident year-round along the Pacific Coast (some overwinter as far north as British Columbia). Help: Reliable winter feeders and winter-blooming shrubs in West-Coast yards; make windows bird-safe. * Calliope Hummingbird – Winters in pine-oak forests of Mexico. Help: Winter gardens in Mexico/SW with flowering shrubs; in the U.S., provide clean feeders for rare winterers. * Broad-tailed Hummingbird – Winters throughout highlands of Mexico. Help: Preserve/plant nectar plants in Mexican highlands and SW U.S. stopovers; avoid pesticides. * Buff-bellied Hummingbird – Resident in NE Mexico and South Texas; some move north to winter along the central Gulf Coast (especially Louisiana). Help: Keep winter feeders in South TX/LA; native evergreens and wind-breaks for shelter. * Allen’s Hummingbird – West-coast breeder; the migratory population winters mostly in central Mexico (some coastal CA populations are resident). Help:* West-coast winter gardens with nectar plants; maintain clean feeders.
Quick Feeder Recipe & Care (applies everywhere)Mix 1 cup white sugar + 4 cups water, no dyes. Clean and refill at least weekly (every 2–3 days in hot weather). Place feeders near cover but out of strong sun; keep several small feeders spaced apart to reduce territorial fights.
Fall Migration Through GeorgiaFall migration of birds and butterflies begins as monarchs, warblers, hummingbirds, and many other species journey southward from Canada and the northern states through Georgia, heading toward Florida, Mexico, and beyond.
Timing Through Georgia* Monarch butterflies begin their southward migration starting in September and October, with many arriving in coastal Georgia by November National Park Service+1. * Bird migration in Georgia typically spans from early September through October dashboard.birdcast.info+3dashboard.birdcast.info+3BWD Magazine+3. * Ruby-throated hummingbirds and others start migrating in late summer (August–September) and may continue into late October Instagram+15Real Simple+15BWD Magazine+15.
Species on the Move* Monarch butterflies * Ruby-throated hummingbirds * Warblers (e.g., Blackpoll, Cape May, Tennessee, Bay-breasted) * Hawks and falcons (e.g., broad-winged hawks, kestrel, merlin, peregrine) * Shorebirds and songbirds, including swallows and sparrows National Park Service+1BWD Magazine.
Risks During Migration* Habitat loss and deforestation reduce vital stopover and refueling sites, increasing mortality Facebook+10Wikipedia+10Wikipedia+10. * Weather events, such as storms, can lead to bird fallout, where exhausted birds are forced to land en masse, often ill-prepared Wikipedia+1. * Light pollution, especially at night, can disorient birds, causing collisions or delayed migration.
How You Can Help* Plant native nectar and milkweed species to support monarch butterflies and other pollinators. * Maintain hummingbird feeders, especially during August to October Audubon+6Real Simple+6Georgia Wildlife+6. * Illuminate whether it's safe to turn off or dim outdoor lights during peak migration nights to reduce disorienting birds. * Support habitat conservation groups and join initiatives like Georgia's Fall Flyway Festival promoting native plant landscaping Birds Georgia+1.
Fall Migration Through OklahomaEvery autumn, billions of birds and monarch butterflies migrate south from Canada and northern U.S. through Oklahoma, continuing toward Gulf Coast wintering habitats and Mexico.
Timing Through Oklahoma* Bird migration in Oklahoma is active from early September through October, aligning with continental patterns tulsaaudubon.org+1dashboard.birdcast.info+1. * The BirdCast dashboard recorded over 24 million birds in flight through Oklahoma on August 31, 2025, with peak activity around 9:20 pm CDT dashboard.birdcast.info+2dashboard.birdcast.info+2.
Species on the Move* Monarch butterflies, migrating southward through Oklahoma en route to Mexico Wikipediamonarchwatch.org. * Waterfowl (dabbling ducks, snow geese), wading birds, and shorebirds passing through refuges and wetlands Audubon+1. * Raptors and other land birds using the Central Flyway.
Risks During Migration* Road mortality and collisions are a significant threat; monarchs and birds may collide with vehicles Birds Georgia+3Oklahoma Wildlife Department+3Travel Oklahoma+3. * Habitat loss and fragmentation in the southern Great Plains affect stopover quality Wikipedia. * Climate change may shift timing and resource availability, stressing migrants.
How You Can Help* Plant milkweed and native nectar plants along migration routes to support monarchs Birds Georgia. * Support wildlife refuges and stopover sites by participating in citizen science or donating. * Reduce vehicle speeds in rural and refuge areas during peak migration times. * Report sightings to platforms like Hummingbird Central or contribute data to the BirdCast dashboard.
Caring for Creation and the Celtic Tradition Back in the good ol’ days, meaning when I was growing up in the previous century as a “Baby Boomer”, I remember that people prayed for crops, for the health of their cattle, for a generous pecan harvest, and for people they knew in their community. I know we still pray for people in our now widespread communities who need our prayers. But, I don’t know very many people who are praying for their crops, or their cattle, or the health of a new foal.
I can remember standing out in our wheat field with ripe wheat grains bouncing against my jeans as the wind blew the wheat in waves across the field. I remember my dad standing in the field, holding ripe grains in his hand, and watching the clouds move hopefully away from our fields. Believe me, my dad was praying! He was praying that the rain or the winds, or the hail would hold off until our very ripe wheat could be harvested and trucked to the elevator. All across the prairie, farmers prayed fervently for dry weather to last until that last field was harvested!
My family farmed, raised cattle and horses, owned a farm supply store, and a grain elevator. I helped out in the store as Chief Go-For when I was in grade school. Then I helped with the wheat harvest at the elevator when I was older. I knew when wheat needed to be sown in the Fall. I knew when our cattle had to be moved off the fields of green wheat in early winter. I knew all that ripe wheat went from our elevator by rail car to General Mills or Pillsbury after harvest. And, I knew the farmers and their families, just like mine, were working year-round as well as praying every day for a good harvest, healthy cattle, productive chickens, and bountiful gardens.
In many respects, my life during the mid-fifties was similar to the way people lived before the Industrial Revolution. It was similar in the sense that we understood our relationship to the Earth, and where our food came from. We knew the wheat from our fields went to Pillsbury or General Mills to become flour. Several families I knew, including mine, raised their own beef. Most of the fruits and vegetables in our locally owned grocery stores were shipped from “the Valley” in Texas. Some families owned small pecan groves for extra income. If there was a good crop, we might find half a gunny sack of ripe pecans on our kitchen doorstep in the fall! The same went for tomatoes and zucchini in the summer, and occasionally a pumpkin in the late fall. Many of the families I knew were intimately connected in some way with the Earth, with Insects, Birds, Rain, Wind, Cattle, Horses, Bees, Snakes, and all Creatures Great and Small.
We understood that the weaving of prayer and hard work was deeply connected to our well-being and often to our survival. We never talked about these relationships. We just understood. Because of those early experiences, I can go almost anywhere in the world and have meaningful conversations with Farmers, Ranchers, Gardeners, Beekeepers, Bakers, Brewers, families running Orchards, or Vineyards. We speak the same language. We have similar vocabulary, and often it feels just like “old home week”!
In the same way, I could “time-travel” back to Celtic times, change my wardrobe, rearrange my hair, definitely adjust my accent, and “sort of” fit right in. At the very least, I could “help” with farm chores, moving cattle, and gathering eggs! And, we would all be praying for the same outcomes! Now, many of us are not involved with the Earth, or cattle, or horses, or bees, or baking bread. As a result, our relationship to the Earth, to Creation, often doesn’t seem relevant, at least until there is a serious weather event or until our food supplies are interrupted!
In the Celtic Tradition, there are prayers for every aspect of Life, including the very mundane and ordinary. There is a sense of God’s Presence with every breath. Angels abound and are always available for conversation or in case of emergencies.
Here is a prayer that a Celtic herdsman, or herdswoman might say as they were turning out the cattle for a day of grazing.
Pastures smooth, long, and spreading,Grassy meads neath your feet,The friendship of God the Son to bring you homeTo the field of the fountains, Field of the fountains.
Closed be every pit to you,Smoothed be every knoll to you,Cosy every exposure to you,Beside the cold mountain, Beside the cold mountain.
The care of Peter and of Paul,The care of James and of John,The care of Bride fair and of Mary Virgin,To meet you and tend you, Oh! the care of all the band To protect you and to strengthen you.
Blessing for Your Day …
Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play.
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your Heart a song,
And gladness, waiting everywhere
All your whole life long.
Blessing of the Druidic Circle
Grant, O GOD, thy Protection;
and in protection, strength;
and in strength, understanding;
and in understanding, knowledge;
and in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
and in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
and in the love of it, the love of all existences;
and in the love of all existences, the love of God.
God and all goodness.
Every autumn, one of the most astonishing natural events unfolds right above us. Yet many of us barely notice. Monarch Butterflies, with delicate flashes of orange and black wings, make an epic journey that stretches from Canada all the way to the mountains of central Mexico. It is almost unbelievable that something so fragile could be so resilient. But year after year, these tiny travelers follow a path that crosses through Oklahoma and Georgia in September and October. This yearly expedition puts our yards and communities right in the middle of one of nature’s most amazing migrations!
Here is what makes the Monarch migration even more fascinating! The Monarchs that head south to Mexico are not the same ones that headed north the previous spring. It takes four or five generations of butterflies to complete the full round trip. In spring, a new generation hatches in the northern United States and Canada, beginning the journey southward. Along the way, these Monarchs pause to breed and lay eggs on their one essential host plant, the Milkweed. The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which gorge themselves on milkweed leaves, often stripping the plant bare in a day or two. The caterpillar then transforms into a chrysalis, and finally emerges as a new adult. That cycle - egg to caterpillar to chrysalis (pupa) to butterfly - is a miracle of Creation in itself.
It is a complete transformation from a crawling caterpillar to a beautiful, vibrant, Monarch Butterfly! By the time fall arrives, this “super generation” of Monarchs hatches from its pupa. Unlike their short-lived parents and grandparents, this final generation can live up to eight months, strong enough to fly thousands of miles to overwinter in the oyamel fir forests of Central Mexico.
So here is the key. Monarchs can only continue their amazing migration if they have the right plants waiting for them at every stage of their journey. Milkweed is absolutely critical! It is the only plant Monarch caterpillars can eat! Without milkweed, there’s no next generation. Adult Monarchs also need nectar plants along their path, from goldenrods in Oklahoma to blazing stars and asters in Georgia. These flowering native plants are the refueling stations that keep Monarchs going, mile after mile. When we plant native milkweeds, coneflowers, ironweed, Joe-Pye weed, and goldenrods in our gardens, we’re not only decorating our yards, we are creating stepping-stones for Monarchs as they migrate. Our small patch of native plants may be the very spot where a Monarch pauses to drink, lay eggs, or even begin the next leg of its journey south! By planting Native Plants in our yards and neighborhoods, we are being Good Neighbors to the Monarchs!
In a world where so much feels out of our control, it’s comforting to know that something as simple as planting a milkweed or a cluster of native wildflowers can connect us to a migration story thousands of miles long. Each fall, when those orange wings flutter through Georgia skies or across Oklahoma prairies, we are reminded that the Monarchs’ story is also our story, a story of resilience and connection. By Caring for Creation, we are Partnering with our Creator!
Thinking About Going Native for Pollinators in Your Yard?Caring for Creation by Mary Christopher
Do you know about the many benefits of growing native plants in your yard or garden? I know so many people who dream of a front yard that’s alive with color, texture, and movement, rather than a monotonous lawn that needs constant mowing and trimming. The good news is, it’s possible to create a space that’s beautiful, low-maintenance, and buzzing with life. All it takes is shifting from conventional turf grass to a vibrant, colorful native landscape.
Why Native Plants Are Worth It ...Native plants are those that have evolved over thousands of years in a specific region, adapting to the local climate, soils, and wildlife. Because of this long history, they offer powerful benefits for both the land and the creatures who live on it.
1. Wildlife Support and BiodiversityNative plants are the backbone of healthy ecosystems. They provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and shelter for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects that evolved alongside them.
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) offers nectar for bees and supports monarch caterpillars.
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) provides cover for ground-nesting birds.
- Native asters, goldenrods, and coneflowers keep pollinators fed well into fall.
These plants don’t just “decorate” a yard—they help it function as a life-support system.
2. Low Maintenance and Water EfficiencyOnce established, native plants need far less watering, fertilizer, and pest control than non-native ornamentals. They’re naturally adapted to the rainfall, temperature swings, and soil conditions of your region. That means more weekends enjoying your garden and fewer afternoons pushing a mower or dragging a hose.
3. Seasonal Beauty and Climate ResilienceBecause different native species bloom throughout the seasons, your garden can provide year-round beauty. Early spring wildflowers feed emerging pollinators, summer blooms keep butterflies fluttering, and fall seed heads feed migrating birds. These plants also tend to handle weather extremes—heat waves, sudden cold snaps, and heavy rains—better than most exotics.
Native Plants by Climate and SoilOne of the best things about native plants is that there’s a match for almost every soil type and climate zone.
- Sandy soils – Many prairie and coastal species thrive here, like coreopsis and seaside goldenrod.
- Clay soils – Tough natives like black-eyed Susan, switchgrass, and blazing star handle heavy, slow-draining ground.
- Dry climates – Desert species such as penstemon, desert marigold, and milkweed flourish with minimal water.
- Humid regions – Swamp milkweed, ironweed, and native hibiscus thrive in wetter, richer soils.
Top Picks for the Southeast (Attracts Butterflies and Beneficial Insects) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) – Bright orange blooms for monarchs and bees. * Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Long bloom time, attracts butterflies and seed-eating birds. * Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) – Monarch host plant that thrives in damp soil. * Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Blooms summer into fall, draws native bees. * Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum*) – Tall, pollinator magnet with soft purple flower heads.
Top Picks for the Southwest (Attracts Butterflies and Beneficial Insects) Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) – Sunny blooms loved by native bees. * Penstemon (Penstemon spp.) – Tubular flowers perfect for hummingbirds and butterflies. * Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) – Attracts clouds of queen butterflies. * Desert Milkweed (Asclepias subulata) – Crucial for monarchs in arid regions. * Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa*) – White flowers followed by feathery seed heads, supports pollinators and birds.
Where to Learn and Get StartedGetting started with native plants is easier when you connect with local experts and resources.
- Native Plant Societies – Most states have active chapters, offering plant lists, garden tours, and seed swaps. Examples:
- Georgia Native Plant Society – gnps.org
- Native Plant Society of New Mexico – npsnm.org
- Arizona Native Plant Society – aznps.com
- Native Plant Nurseries – Look for nurseries that specialize in locally grown natives rather than “wild-collected” plants. Many offer seasonal sales.
- Master Gardener Programs – Offered through Cooperative Extension offices, these programs provide training and volunteer opportunities for gardeners who want to learn and share sustainable landscaping practices.
By planting natives, you’re not just adding beauty to your yard—you’re restoring a piece of the natural world. Every milkweed, coneflower, or native grass you plant offers a lifeline to wildlife and reduces your environmental footprint. Going native isn’t just a gardening choice; it’s a small but powerful act of caring for creation.
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices
and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
With all this “political noise and chaos” we are not hearing much about “Taking Care of Our Planet!”. I know for many people having anything to do with the environment or ecology just does not seem relevant right now. I have noticed this with some older people who grew up in the 50s, 60s, or 70s. I also know there are numerous well-informed “older folks” gardening and taking good care of the land. And, many of them are being very vocal in support of Caring for Creation. So, I am writing to my friends and neighbors who are still using pesticides and herbicides, and do not seem much interested in the decline of birds or bees, or other small creatures.
We are all aware that the current political turmoil is demanding our attention. We have not seen this level of chaos in our nation or government probably since before the Civil War. (We know it was not a very “civil war" if there is such a thing.) We are also aware that this current turmoil may be very distracting for some time! So, I decided that in the midst of all this upheaval, I would continue my efforts to protect and preserve as much of Nature as I could,
For me, that meant “digging in” literally! I have been learning as much as I can about the land and all Creatures Great and Small where I live. We are not using pesticides or herbicides at home. We planted milkweed and nectar plants for Monarchs and other amazing Butterflies. We are careful with the amount of water we use, and we do recycle. I have also been learning as much as I can about providing safe habitat for birds, bees, bunnies, and all creatures great and small. I also use my articles and podcasts to inform others about being better Caretakers of our Earth Home. Hopefully, I am contributing to a better future for my children, my grandchildren, and all those amazing people who will show up on Earth long after I am gone.
When I was growing up in SW Oklahoma, my family owned a farm supply store and a grain elevator. I grew up with feed and seed, farming and gardening tools, real live bunnies and baby chicks at Easter, and a variety of plants in the spring. The store carried DDT, a very toxic pesticide which was still legal at the time. My dad did not like having it in the store or even using it because it was so toxic. DDT was banned by the EPA at the end of 1972, but is still produced in the US and sold to other countries that continue to use it on their food crops!
Several years ago, I was working at a retreat center in Florida. I usually shopped at the local Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and happened to find a beekeeper with excellent local honey. We talked for almost an hour about the decrease in Bees, and about the problem of pesticides in general. He told me that several countries, including China, have very few Pollinators and are challenged to find ways to pollinate their crops, especially fruits and vegetables.
He said that in the 1990s, the situation was so desperate in China that beekeepers in Florida gathered hundreds of hives with Bees and had them airlifted to China. The Bees were distributed to farmers, hoping to re-establish Bee colonies there. Within a few weeks, all these thousands of Bees had died! The ground and the environment were so saturated with insecticides that the transplanted Bees could not survive. What a letdown and what a tragedy! No one involved had thought the Bees could not survive there! And, such a good lesson for all of us about continuing to use pesticides and herbicides.
As you may know, I am living in Tulsa now. And, Tulsa has several excellent programs such as Master Gardeners, Yard by Yard, and Church by Church. Master Gardeners is an Oklahoma State University extension program. The other 2 programs are part of the Oklahoma Conservation District plan to create yards and church lawns into pollinator-friendly environments. Oklahoma also has a strong and expanding Native Plant Network providing native plants for yards, churches, and businesses! These native plant nurseries are owned by the next generation of growers and are definitely a sign of hope. Every state that I know of has a Native Plant Society as well as local Native Plant Nurseries. They can usually be found on Facebook or by searching the internet. Georgia has a very active Native Plant Society, a variety of excellent Farmers Markets, as well as small organic fruit and vegetable farms all over the state.
I am so impressed by the dedicated owners and growers of native plant nurseries. So, this fall, wherever you are, find one of these nurseries, buy some plants that have been raised with great care, and start returning native plants to your yard! All of us will be healthier! And, we will see more Beautiful Butterflies, Bees, and other Amazing Pollinators every year! Maybe we will all feel a bit more hopeful about the Future!!!
A Keystone Species is one having a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. Its removal would cause significant changes to the ecosystem, potentially leading to its collapse. Essentially, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and diversity of their environment.
- Outsized Impact:
Keystone species have a greater impact on their ecosystem than their numbers might suggest. - Ecosystem Engineers:
Some keystone species, like beavers, modify their environment, creating new habitats and increasing Biodiversity! - Apex Predators:
Top predators, like wolves or sharks, can also be keystone species by controlling populations of their prey. This usually limits the destructive effect of conditions like “over-grazing” in one area, or preventing the growth of important vegetation. - Pollinators:
Species like bees and hummingbirds, which are essential for plant reproduction, can be keystone mutualists. - Consequences of Removal:
If a keystone species is removed, the ecosystem can experience dramatic changes, including a decline in biodiversity and even collapse.
Buffalo are considered a Keystone species. When significant numbers of Buffalo were re-introduced to the prairie in South Dakota there was a significant improvement in the health and biodiversity of the land. Before the Buffalo were re-established, there was very little plant or animal, or insect biodiversity. Because of the way they graze and roam on the prairie, restoration happened faster than expected. This restoration is ongoing, with Buffalo grazing on nearly 60,000 acres across two properties.
Buffalo graze the grasses at different heights, providing nesting grounds for birds. They also roll around and pack down the soil in depressions in the ground known as wallows. These wallows fill with rainwater and offer breeding pools for amphibians and sources of drinking water for wildlife across the landscape. The Buffalo’s split hooves also create smaller depressions that can hold water, giving it time to be absorbed into the ground. Over time, this can raise the level of groundwater.
During the late 1880’s, Buffalo were hunted for their hides, and to remove the main food source for nomadic Native Americans. By 1900, it was estimated that there were fewer than 1,000 bison left in North America. In 1800, the Buffalo population in North America was estimated to have been between 30 and 60 million. It is possible that this drastic decline of the Buffalo from the Great American Prairie contributed to the dust storms of the 1930s. This would be an example of what can happen when a Keystone species is removed or eliminated from its environment. It can also demonstrate the amazing result of bringing back the Keystone Species.
You may have guessed it already, depending on how much you know about Beavers! Most of us did not grow up around Beavers. There were no Beavers in SW Oklahoma where I grew up. But, I was always fascinated with them and with their ability to build dams and lodges and raise families! I also admired them for their swimming ability. It always looked to me like they were having a good time. Probably the first live Beavers I saw were living in a Zoo!
In Great Britain and the United States, Beavers were, for the most part, hunted very close to extinction for their warm, water-resistant fur, their scent glands, and in some cases, their extraordinary flat tails. Beaver hats and coats were in high fashion for at least 300 years, from 1550 to 1850. As they were hunted down and removed from most of civilization, the environments they inhabited began to change. Farming and ranching took over much of their territory, destroying wetlands, lowering the water table, and erasing biodiversity!
It has only been in the last 20 or so years that Beavers were found in the wilderness or brought out of zoos and reintroduced to specific areas. Scotland began a trial period for Beavers in 2009, following 400 years when there were no Beavers in Scotland. During this trial period, another group of Beavers were unofficially “reintroduced” in Scotland, and both groups flourished.
Beavers are amazing and very efficient engineers. In the right environment, they can build a dam across a flowing stream in a few days. They can build a 35 foot dam in about a week. Their lodges take longer because they are built for safety from floods, a place to escape predators, and a nursery for their children. Their lodges are sturdy, water-resistant, and often at least 10 feet high!
Beavers, as engineers, seem to have excellent instincts about where to build their dams, which trees to bring down, and how high to build them. There were many unexpected benefits from these carefully placed dams. The first and most obvious was that water running in streams slowed down and began to spread out. As the water spread, it created a “wetland”, giving the water time to soak into the soil, raising the underground water level. By slowing the flow of water through the land, it helped prevent a dry stream bed during droughts or a flood caused by unexpected rainfall.
By slowing the water flow, this allowed silt deposits which enriched the soil. These wetlands provided the perfect environment for biodiversity of plants and small creatures like frogs, lizards, dragonflies, pollinators, and butterflies. Small fish began to appear and soon different species of birds showed up and enjoyed the feast! In some areas of Great Britain and the United States, this “sudden” biodiversity was surprising. Because there had been so few Beavers anywhere to be observed, ecologists and landowners had no idea what to expect. Most people were delighted.
Beavers are considered a “Keystone species” because they create habitats that support and encourage biodiversity. And, they do it faster and more efficiently than human engineers! During the last 8 to 12 years, Beavers have been reintroduced in many areas for the specific purpose of providing habitat for such species such as salmon in NW Washington.
Next week, I’ll cover more about the wonderful benefits Beavers create when they are brought into specific areas. When environmentalists began “reintroducing” Beavers in Great Britain and the United States, they had no idea what would happen or how quickly conditions in specific areas would improve. More about these Amazing Engineers next week … !!!
When we look around the world or watch the news or talk to friends or family, we often hear about turmoil, disagreements, warnings of disaster, or other distressing news. When we hear about so much chaos and disappointment, it can deeply affect us. We can become cynical and lose our faith in the future. Or, in some cases, people may just give up. This is not a good situation!
So, what can we do? Where can we go? Where can we look when we are faced with so much chaos and upheaval? We can turn to friends and family, or our friendly local therapist. Maybe we have a deep spiritual practice. Maybe we are part of a strong faith community. Or maybe we decide to pack up the SUV and head for the Hills! Definitely a tempting option ... !
However, for most people heading for the hills may not be an option for any number of reasons. Regardless of how crazy our civilization can become, there is an answer staring us in the face all the time. The antidote for this craziness can be found in Creation, in the daily examples found in Nature. Why is that? For one reason Creation is very orderly. At least it is until Human Beings start goofing around with it. However, that is another topic altogether.
Here is one of my favorite examples. When most of us go to bed at night, do we ever worry about whether the Sun will come up in the morning? Do we doubt that the New Moon or the Full Moon might not appear on schedule? Are we concerned that our Earth will stop rotating in the middle of the night? I don’t doubt Sunrise, or the arrival of the New Moon or Full Moon. And, I do not fall asleep worrying about the Earth’s rotation which is actually the reason that we have Sunrise! I am not surprised to see Sunlight streaming through my bedroom window early in the morning. I am grateful and delighted, but not surprised!
Why are we able to find peace or even just a sense of belonging by paying attention to Nature? One main reason is that Human Beings have lived in a deep relationship with Nature for at least 200,000 thousand years! Our well-being and our survival for all but the last 130 or 140 years of that time depended on our ability to understand and work with Nature. Usually, the best farmers, gardeners, dairy people, fishermen, cooks, builders, and medicine people were successful because they paid close attention to Nature! They were also successful because they learned to work with the patterns they found in Nature.
When we make the time to study recurring patterns in Nature, we find these often complex patterns are the result of simple mathematical formulas! This suggests an “Underlying Unity in Creation”! The effect for Humans of spending time in Nature is that we are reminded of this Underlying Unity. This often subliminal reminder can be calming and restorative. Scientific studies done with people who were “forest bathing” have established there is a positive result. Some of these studies showed that the longer Humans spent forest bathing, the longer the beneficial effects last! (No drugs involved!)
One of the most recurring patterns is the hexagon, or 6 six-sided shape. This shape is found in the honeycomb in a beehive. Hexagons are also found in the shape of the core in a snowflake. Insect eyes are made up of tiny hexagon shapes, giving them the greatest light-sensing area. Many different flowers have 6 petals that form overlapping triangles with 6 sides. The Prayer or Rain Lily is a good example. Nature uses simple formulas to create elegant and useful solutions. Honeycomb is an excellent example because the hexagon maximizes space and strength. When we pay attention to Nature, immerse ourselves in a forest, or spend time at the beach, we are reminded of this consistent underlying Unity! And, it permeates our entire consciousness, often causing peace of mind and happiness!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
Whenever we pay attention to or take care of the World of Nature surrounding us, then we are caring for Creation. When we take care of the birds and the bees and the grasses and the trees and the water and the soil and every bit of Nature all around us, that is practical spirituality.
Human beings live on this lovely gem of a planet because of photosynthesis, and rainfall, and chlorophyll, and red blood cells, and ants that till the soil beneath the ground, and birds that distribute seeds, and all the other amazing activities taking place every day all around us! All these activities supporting our lives on this planet happen without any help or instruction from us. There is some kind of spiritual activity that is very orderly and beautiful and filled with wonder sustaining us.
If I go through the day, and I get to the end of that day feeling grumpy, then I go outside and sit in the Sunshine, assuming it's not too hot. I listen to the birds. I listen to the sound of the leaves moving in the trees. I watch the grasses bend and the clouds moving, because of this invisible energy that we call wind.
Several years ago I was living in Texas, outside of Austin. It was a very warm summer. So, one afternoon I took a walk in an area behind the houses where there were trees. There was a lovely breeze and some older evergreens. I remember it was very warm. And, I remember walking underneath the branches of an old evergreen tree. The first thing I noticed was it was cooler and there was a little bit of moisture. It was not as dry under that evergreen tree, as it was out where there were no trees.
So, I sat down under that tree, leaned up against the trunk, and had a lovely meditation. It was cool! There was a breeze! After I sat there for a while, I began to hear the birds singing in the surrounding trees. Then after a while, I could hear little bugs crawling around in the dry leaves and grasses right next to me. I was sitting where it was cool and moist and very, very still. I remember feeling my whole body begin to relax. I could feel my shoulders dropping down. Then I noticed that my heartbeat was slowing and I was breathing more deeply! I noticed that I wasn't as irritated with the heat, even deep in the Heart of Texas!
All Creatures Great and Small, all of us living on this planet, are completely dependent on photosynthesis, on water, on wind, on the trees with leaves with chlorophyll that create fresh oxygen from carbon dioxide. Without those trees, and those leaves, and those little chlorophyll molecules, we would not be here. Somewhere deep down in our consciousness, we know this. We understand that we are part of Creation! And, we understand that Creation is showing us so much about the Creator! Deep in our Hearts, we know this! We may have forgotten. We may be so busy that we don't notice.
But, when we slow down. When we take a walk in the woods, see a beautiful sunset, stand beside a waterfall, or watch the Full Moon rising in the east right on schedule, we often stand in awe. And that is the beginning of understanding. It is the beginning of Spiritual Awakening. Or, maybe we could say it's the beginning of remembering Who We Are. These experiences also help us remember to have gratitude for our lives, for the beauty that surrounds us, for the blessings of delicious fruits and vegetables and the herbs for seasoning and healing and comforting.
We are so blessed and when we remember how blessed we are then, we begin to understand how important it is to Care for Creation!
One of the challenges we face in our “modern world” is our loss of connection to Creation. We live in houses shaped like boxes with running water and air conditioning systems that we can set to any temperature we prefer. We have running water for washing, bathing, and cleaning. We no longer have to dash to the outhouse or look under the bed for the chamber pot. And, thank goodness for all those blessings !!!
However, one dubious result is that we have lost our sense of connection to Creation, our direct contact with Nature. We use our cell phone, or our laptop to track the weather, rather than stepping outside to “feel” the wind and the humidity, as well as checking the clouds. That is how I learned to “check the weather” when I was growing up. Checking the weather was and still is a daily activity for farmers and ranchers. I still like to “check the weather” this way even if I have already looked at my weather app.
Humans have spent centuries honing our ability to read all the weather signs. Our ancestors survived because they could sense the weather and they knew which plants and fruits were safe to eat. They knew how to work with the land to grow crops and preserve nutrients in the soil. They learned how to live in harmony with Nature or they would not have been around to produce another generation. Those of us on Planet Earth right now are here because our Ancestors paid attention to Creation every day!
This lovely spiritual practice shows up in their prayers and spiritual practices. They had prayers for everything, from re-kindling the fire every morning, including blessing their food, for travelers and traveling, blessing the crops as well as their cattle. All of Creation was included because Creation reflected the presence of the Creator, as well as saints and angels. The Celtics were very good at being aware of our Creator!
Here is a good example of a Celtic blessing often used when kindling the hearth fire every morning.
This morning, as I kindle the fire of my hearth,
I pray the flame of God's love may burn in my heart
and in the hearts of all I meet today.
I pray that no envy or malice,
no hatred or fear,
may smother the flame.
I pray that indifference and apathy,
contempt and pride,
may not pour like cold water on the fire.
Instead, may the spark of God's love
light the love in my heart,
that it may burn brightly through the day.
And may I warm those who are lonely,
whose hearts are cold and lifeless,
so that all may know
the comfort of God's love.
God and God’s blessing and love are woven into every line of this prayer. It is a prayer and a blessing to cover all sorts of contingencies for that whole day!
This is one of the shorter prayers for milking.
Bless, O God, my little cow,Bless, O God, my desire;Bless Thou my partnershipAnd the milking of my hands, O God.
Bless, O God, each teat,Bless, O God, each finger;Bless Thou each dropThat goes into my pitcher, O God!
And, here is my favorite early morning prayer that always gives me a sense of being deeply immersed in Creation and connected to GOD!
Celtic Morning Prayer ~
I arise today,
through the Strength of Heaven:
Light of Sun,
Radiance of Moon,
Splendour of Fire,
Speed of Lightening,
Swiftness of Wind,
Depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth,
Firmness of Rock.
We are so blessed by the beauty and bounty of Creation which is an expression of our Creator, but we often go zipping through the day being unaware of all these Blessings.
So, the next time you are feeling anxious, or uncertain, or wondering where God has gone, just step outside and look around. Even better, take a walk in the woods, inhale some fresh air, and soak up the Creator’s Blessings that surround us all the time. God hasn’t “gone” anywhere. We just forgot where to look …
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
What Is So Important about Monarch Waystations?Each fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the United States and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. The monarch migration is truly one of the world's greatest natural wonders yet it is threatened by habitat loss at overwintering grounds in Mexico and throughout breeding areas in the United States and Canada.
Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for Monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, Monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world.
Why We Are Concerned …Milkweeds and nectar sources are declining due to development and the widespread use of herbicides in croplands, pastures, and roadsides. Because 90% of all milkweed/monarch habitats occur within the agricultural landscape, farm practices have the potential to strongly influence monarch populations.
Development (of subdivisions, factories, shopping centers, etc.) in the U.S. is consuming habitats for monarchs and other wildlife at a rate of 6,000 acres (9.4 square miles) a day - that's 2.2 million acres each year. This is roughly equivalent to losing an area of habitat the size of the state of Illinois (the 24th largest U.S. state) every sixteen years!
Widespread adoption of herbicide-resistant corn and soybeans has resulted in the loss of more than 100 million acres of monarch habitat in recent years. The planting of these crops genetically modified to resist the non-selective systemic herbicide glyphosate (Roundup) allows growers to spray fields with this herbicide instead of tilling to control weeds. Milkweeds survive tilling but not the repeated use of glyphosate. This habitat loss is substantial since these croplands represent a significant portion of the summer breeding area for monarchs.
The use of herbicides and frequent mowing along roadsides has converted much of this habitat to grassy areas that lack shelter and food for wildlife. Although some states have started to increase the diversity of plantings (including milkweeds) along roadsides, these programs are small. Unfortunately, the remaining milkweed habitats in pastures, hayfields, edges of forests, grasslands, native prairies, and urban areas are not sufficient to sustain the large monarch butterfly populations seen in the 1990s.
We can help Monarchs as well as other Butterflies and Pollinators!
To offset the loss of milkweeds and nectar sources we need to create, conserve, and protect monarch butterfly habitats. You can help by creating "Monarch Waystations" (monarch habitats) in home gardens, at schools, businesses, parks, zoos, nature centers, along roadsides, and on other unused plots of land. Creating a Monarch Waystation can be as simple as adding milkweeds and nectar sources to existing gardens or maintaining natural habitats with milkweeds. No effort is too small to have a positive impact.
Be sure to register your habitat(s) and encourage your friends and neighbors to follow in your footsteps! When you have several Monarch Waystations in your neighborhood, you can have a neighborhood “Welcoming Party” in the Fall for returning Monarchs!
Having a Monarch Waystation is a Wonderful Opportunity to support the Monarch Migration as well as protecting other Pollinators! Everyone comes out ahead when we work together and Care for Creation!
Caring for Creation anytime is Caring for Ourselves and for those who will come after us. Human lifetimes are not very long in terms of the life span of Earth. We are totally dependent on this lovely little planet for our health and well-being.
Without Fresh Air and Clean Water we would not last very long as a species. Plus we need good soil to grow our food. Most of the time we don’t pay any attention or feel any gratitude for the daily activity in Nature that supports and sustains us.
Fortunately, Creation doesn’t need us to tell it what to do. Because Creation or Mother Nature is Conscious, Nature “knows” what to do every day, all day. We usually walk through the day, generally unaware of these Blessings.
At the same time, we are here because our Ancestors were aware of their need for Fresh Air, Clean Water, and Food. I know my pioneer Grandparents were very focused on all those basic needs for themselves and their livestock when they settled in SW Oklahoma in the early 1900s. My grandmother kept a vegetable garden for as long as I knew her!
Today, I found a lovely Eastern White Pine in the park. It is an older tree and very comfortable to sit with. One of its limbs was so close to the ground that I could sit on it, lean back on the trunk and relax. I was able to meditate for at least 30 minutes! Have not been able to meditate actually Sitting In a Tree for a long time! That was delightful!
We had rain today so all the milkweed and nectar plants we have planted are doing well! The air was so fresh I took several deep breaths. That felt so good. The longer I stayed with this lovely tree, the more relaxed I felt. My shoulders came down. My heart rate slowed as well as my breathing. I could feel myself relaxing.
Also, remember that Human Beings are designed to move. That’s the reason we have so many joints. The adult human body has around 360 joints. This number varies depending on how you define a joint. Some sources suggest a range of 250 to 350. We do need to move in order to be healthy and alert. When we move, we increase our Oxygen consumption and release more Carbon Dioxide.
As you know, when we exhale Carbon Dioxide, it is absorbed through the leaves and broken down through Photosynthesis into Carbon and Oxygen. Trees use Carbon to make sugars and release Oxygen back into the atmosphere. The chemical reaction we call Photosynthesis is triggered by Sunlight! Very exciting !!!
We know that Creation works, especially when humans don’t disrupt the natural cycles and relationships! The Sun comes up on time, every morning without any assistance from humans. If you plant a radish seed, you get a radish plant, and sooner or later, you get more radishes! Trees don’t fight with each other. In most natural woodlands, trees work together. Through their root system, using Fungi, trees communicate with each other. They share resources and respond to threats. In my experience, they also respond to affection and appreciation. There are so many good reasons to spend time in Creation.
Having more “stuff” does not bring happiness, but when we spend time in Nature or outside in Creation, our Hearts can rest and relax. We can begin to unwind and find peace with ourselves just by “hanging out” in Creation. If we are at peace with ourselves and our Hearts can rest, we can be happy.
As we move through this very challenging year together, we are going to face all kinds of situations. And, some of these situations will call for discernment on our part. We will need to dig a little deeper within ourselves for courage and compassion. And, we will need to upgrade our ability to listen carefully and discern what is going on beneath all the noise and chaos.
I am so grateful to be in Creation right now. So grateful to have these amazing moments of peace and happiness.
Have a wonderful week. Thank You for all you are doing every day in so many ways to make this World a better place for Everyone! And, take really good care of yourself.
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
During Mother’s Day and into the next day, I kept thinking about all of us living together on this planet we call home. Here we are, sharing this 3rd planet from the Sun, trying to get along and having difficulties doing that. In the midst of all our difficulties, we often forget that our continued survival depends on how well we care for this lovely jewel of a planet.
In order for us to survive, we need fresh air, clean water, as well as good food. We tend to take fresh air and even clean water for granted. Most of us are not growing any of our own food, so we assume that farmers and gardeners will always be able to supply what we need.
As I was thinking about all the challenges we are facing right now, I was also having a lovely Mother’s Day. I was texting, checking in with family, and having lunch with friends. Then I spent more than an hour sitting in the shade, in a large meadow with hundreds of tiny spring flowers. At least half of these flowers were native to NE Oklahoma. The birds were singing. There was a gentle breeze, so for a while I could rest in Creation and recharge. It was a lovely day!
Being in Nature, even for a short time can be very restorative, partly because of the fresh air and the amazing colors as well as the Butterflies and all the Beneficial Bugs and Pollinators. There were small white and yellow Butterflies, a few Wasps, one or two LadyBugs. Recently, I have been paying more attention to “bugs” because so many of them are very beneficial.
For instance, Ants, found all around the world, are essential because they “till the soil” underground. Ants are essential for many reasons, but our usual response is to poison them! However, we need Ants for many reasons in addition to “underground tilling”!
We are having negative effects on Creation in many ways with our current form of “civilization” and “scientific progress”! Fortunately, there is great research going on as well as excellent programs on YouTube, Gaia, and of course, PBS! The information we need for a “course correction” is available. This is an excellent reason to transform your lawn into a Pollinator Garden or a Monarch Waystation !!! Creation needs all the help and support that we can give.
Everything we do now to support and Care for Creation, will help secure a healthy future of Fresh Air, Clean Water, and Healthy Food for all our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren! There are so many ways to protect and support Creation and All Creatures Great and Small. Building a Pollinator Garden in one corner of your yard is easy to do. Mowing your grass with the mower blades set at 3 or 4 inches up will make a big difference. And, of course, stop using pesticides so the natural relationships will be re-established. Remember, Beneficial Insects are also very determined predators and will reduce the number of aphids and mosquitoes naturally, no problem!
We can easily do so much to create a better future for our families and the health of the Earth. So, while politics and politicians are raging, and people are busy trying to figure out “What Is Going On … ???”, shift your attention to Creation. Take a break from “civilization”, tune into Nature, and take a deep breath of Fresh Air. Plant a few native plants and rest in the shade of a wise and wonderful Tree.
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
When We Care. When We Take the Time to Share,Amazing Blessings Happen! by Mary ChristopherOne of the most basic blessings of being part of a community is the Blessing of Opportunity. When we participate in religious or spiritual communities, we are offered many opportunities to share or respond to another person’s immediate need.
We may have gained enough trust to be asked to help someone with a problem or asked to pray for a relative or a neighbor. We may have paused long enough to help someone circling the block, looking for an invisible address. We may never know when we have been a Blessing unless that person reaches out to us with their affirmation.
This is why religious and church communities have telephone Prayer Lines, collect blankets and diapers for infants, canned food for food co-ops, and build community gardens to share their produce with community kitchens and more food co-ops. Most of the time, we have no idea why people are struggling or are homeless. We don’t know their medical history or why their last job didn’t work out.
Maybe we don’t need to know all that information. Maybe all we need to do is show up and care. We know that showing up is 90% of success. Right now our world is going through a bit of turmoil and ongoing structural change. It can be like trying to walk down a muddy path in the rain, and feeling like we are going to slip and fall every few feet, getting muddy at the same time. We can easily slip into that swamp of discouragement and cynicism.
However, there are 2 very important things to remember …
No. 1 ~ Regardless of all our Human Craziness, Creation is working just fine. Yes, there are problems caused by human arrogance and ignorance, as well as our wasteful habits. Regardless of all this, our Blessed Earth continues to rotate on its axis! The Glorious Sun comes up every morning! The Moon continues to orbit our Earth, creating tides and lunar cycles. Monarch Butterflies continue their amazing migration north in the Spring and south in the Fall. Squirrels continue to gather acorns, bury them in the ground to eat later, and forget where they have stored at least 10% or more of these acorns. This means that at least 10% of all acorns buried in the Fall may become an oak tree!
No. 2 ~ The Earth is filled with Amazing and Good People who are helping other people every day. We rarely hear about these Good People on the news. Since many of our local newspapers have gone out of business, we have lost our source to learn about the Accomplishments and Good Works of our neighbors! This is Tragic! There are so many Good People being a Blessing every day and all we hear about is the negative stuff! Not a good situation … !!!
What can we do … ? We can do exactly what we have been doing which is what Jesus and all great spiritual teachers have asked us to do. We can keep looking after our Neighbors, as well as our neighbors’ dogs and cats and hamsters. We can keep up our daily prayers and our genuine kindness. We can keep praying for folks and looking for the good in everyone.
We can include care of Creation and all Creatures Great and Small. Creation is doing its best to provide clean air, clean water, enough rain to grow crops for us. Creation is busy turning the Sun’s energy into fruits, and vegetables and herbs for our health and well-being. We can help by Protecting Pollinators, planting more gardens, conserving water, and planting more trees!
We live in challenging times! And, we are blessed with people who care. We don’t always hear about them, or see their good works, but they are there. And, you are probably one of those lovely, prayerful people who is keeping civilization afloat !!!
Thank You for all you are doing Every Day to make this World a better place for Everyone !!!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
This is a replay of an inner peace, guided meditation from Sunday, December 15, 2024.
Sometimes I do take my own advice and get good results! In this case, I spent at least an hour in a beautiful meadow, looking at all the tiny wildflower blossoms springing up due to a recent rain. I have an excellent nature app called Seek on my iphone. I took photos of at least 12 tiny blossoms or leaves. This app tells me if the plant is native to the region or invasive. Fortunately, more than half of these tiny plants were Native. I had a wonderful time and felt refreshed by the time I left! Some days it pays to take our own advice!
All text below the line is from the previous post.
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December 15, 2024
I am sitting in the Keystone Ancient Forest which is about 25 minutes outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Keystone is approximately 1300 acres of undisturbed old-growth forest. It has not been developed or had any settlements or roads running through it.
I have stepped out of civilization and back into Creation. It is so peaceful. I hiked up here on the Fire Trail and I am about as close to the top of the ridge as I could get. I sat down with this lovely evergreen, got comfortable, and immediately went to sleep. I was sitting in Sunshine. It was about 57 degrees and a little breezy, but I was wearing several layers so I was comfortable. I woke up after about 30 minutes and looked around. There were no lions or tigers or bears, so I closed my eyes and slept for about another 30 minutes.
The Sunshine was wonderful. The colors of the leaves were amazing. And, it was so peaceful. Sitting here with this lovely tree, it was not hard at all to align with my Inner Peace. What a Blessing !!!
Today I wanted to talk about something I've been meditating on for 10 days more or less. About two weeks ago, I saw this statement somewhere online that said “Healing the Future”, and it got my attention! We understand that Human Beings are Creators. Whether we mean to or not, we do create our future. Sometimes we do a better job than others, and sometimes we get all goofy and go into a major destruction mode! We get really frustrated and decide the thing to do is just tear it all down and start over again! Which, generally speaking, is usually not very helpful.
When I was growing up, I would occasionally hear someone on the farm say, in a moment of extreme frustration, “Give me a big enough hammer and I can fix anything!”. Well, we know that some things can be fixed beyond repair! I've never found that giving someone a big enough hammer is the best of all possible solutions. Usually, this means we are not being very creative or cooperative or even listening to each other. We all know when we work together, and listen to each other, and get creative, we accomplish amazing things! We all know that. Somehow we manage to figure out all kinds of amazing solutions.
Right now we have a lot of challenges in our country and the world. But 90% of the time, these situations are not the result of people being mean or stupid. They are usually the result of very rapid cultural change! Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, our social, industrial, and technological systems have been changing so rapidly that we have not had any time to adjust. Now we are dealing with systems that have not kept up with these changes! Many of the systems have not been updated or restructured and they are just not working well for many people.
I have a picture of my aunt, who lived to be 103. She was born right around the turn of the century. I treasure this early photograph, because it was taken where she went to school. She went to school in a one room schoolhouse. The younger children are seated closest to the camera. This would have been a big box camera. It's easy to see my aunt since she was one of the younger children. As you go toward the back of the room all the other children are older. There is only one teacher for a large roomful of children, maybe 20 to 30.
There were not enough qualified teachers to go around on the western frontier. But they did figure out a brilliant way to solve the problem. The older students who could read and write and do math would help the younger ones. They would sit down with them and go over the lesson. Or help them do a little bit of math while the teacher was working with other children. It was a great system! It worked! It was like mentoring. So this neat little system evolved. It was a very compassionate system, where the people that needed help got the extra attention that they needed. And it worked! Many cultural and social challenges have solutions if we can be patient and compassionate. Problem solved ... !!!
A week or so ago, I saw this little phrase, which was “Healing the Future”. So I started meditating on that. After a few days, I had an intuitive sense that if we can heal our hearts, we can heal the future. That means, if we can heal our hearts and heal some of this frustration and angst and despair and cynicism, then we can create a better future! We have done it before. We are perfectly capable of healing our Hearts, but we have to believe in ourselves.
So today, I would like for us to work with a simple way to heal the hurts of our hearts, to start the process, just a little bit. This is why I'm sitting in the wilderness, or as close to pure wilderness as I can get. I am sitting with a lovely tree, surrounded by many other lovely trees with beautiful fall colors and evergreens. It is just gorgeous. I'm sitting on a soft bed of leaves. The whole floor of the forest is covered with leaves. As these leaves break down, all the nutrients will go back into the soil to feed the trees. It is a perfect system, as long as we, that would be human beings, don't mess with it.
So I've stepped out of civilization, and I'm sitting in Creation. I'm relaxing. I am gently aware of every breath, relaxing, feeling my body settling down. What I have understood is that we are not able to think our way into a peaceful state. We can't think our way out of despair, or anger, or frustration. This is one of the things that is so difficult for people who are doing their best to learn how to meditate. We can't think our way into a quiet state or even into a peaceful state. It just does not work!
But we can go to our heart. We can rest with our Heart. We don't have to make our Heart do anything. We can just rest with our Heart and breathe through our Heart. We can let our Heart relax and be with our breath. Let our mind ramble on wherever it wants to ramble and not worry about it. Just, very gently, bring our attention back to our breath and our Heart.
One of the great miracles about being a human being is that our bodies, like our whole system, is always trying to heal itself. This is built in. When we relax and breathe gently, we begin to shift gears. When we look at the incredible beauty around us and breathe then we are aligning with Creation and becoming more coherent.
If we can shift out of looking for what's wrong and or what we think is not working, and focus on what is working, this begins to shift our perception of the world and of the people all around us. We start to see people as whole. If not as our brothers and sisters, at least as our cousins 3X removed, right?
We are all on the planet right now, and it's difficult. It is extremely challenging, and scary. At this point, we need to remember that Human Beings are programmed to have a bias for negativity. When we were evolving and our brain was developing, we were doing our best to survive while living on the Savannah. So, wherever we were on the world, we were looking for things that might be a threat. If we got really good at finding those threats and escaping them or getting rid of them, we stood a much better chance of living longer and producing offspring. So, we have a negativity bias. We're looking for what's wrong in order to survive.
But we're no longer living in the wilderness. We are no longer living in the savannah. We're living where there's some civilization. It might seem like a chaotic civilization, but it is still civilization. There aren't lions and tigers and bears and snakes. We don't have the same kind of threats, but we still have this negativity bias! So we need to be very conscious about what we pay attention to and where we put our awareness. This doesn't mean that we become naive! It means that we are aware of where we are and what is happening right now, in the present.
We need to be aware of and looking for what's working and who is helping, not harming. That is precisely what we need to know for survival. We need to know what systems are working. We need to know what people are capable of working with other people to build a better civilization.
This is exactly where we need to put our energy!
And we need to be very patient and compassionate with ourselves. Because if we are patient and compassionate with ourselves, we'll be so much better at being patient and compassionate with others. Maybe we will even get better at listening to each other. Wouldn’t that be Wonderful !!!
In our meditation, I would like for us to do a very simple practice. I've been doing this particular little exercise for more than a week. I've discovered that as I allow my heart to relax, my heart seems to take a deep breath and calm down. When I do this, it is much easier for me to find that place of Inner Peace. Amazing … so simple and it works !!!
You can listen to the podcast. Or, try it yourself …
This is so simple.
Just sit down or lie down and breathe, gently …
Follow your breath,
as we breathe in,
following your breath,
all the way down into your solar plexus,
feel yourself becoming more centered.
As you breathe out,
following your breath
from your solar plexus,
from the bottom of your lungs,
past your heart
and out into the space all around you,
allow yourself to relax,
Keep following your breath.
When you're feeling centered and relaxed,
at ease with yourself,
and comfortable with your breath,
then bring your awareness to your heart.
Allow your whole body to sink into the chair
or the floor or the sofa or the bed,
just wherever you are.
Let your body rest.
As you breathe in, be aware of your heart.
And as you breathe out, allow your heart to relax,
to open up.
We're in a safe space.
Or, we're with good people.
Allow your heart to open,
to relax just a little bit,
feel the power in your heart,
the rhythm of your heart.
Let yourself come to Rest
very gently with your Heart.
Feel the unconditional love,
the compassion, the blessing
That compassion is always there,
Moving through our hearts,
always there,
Let yourself feel with every breath
the love and compassion,
the unconditional love that moves through All Creation.
Let your heart begin to heal from anything
that has ever caused any hurt.
Very gently, stay with your breath.
Stay with your heart
for as long as it's comfortable and
and when you find that inner peace and calm,
then remember it.
Walk that feeling into your week,
remembering the goodness that lives within you,
and the goodness that lives within other people.
Mary Christopher
If you are interested in having native plants in your yard or garden this Spring, then you need to look for Native Plant nurseries in your area. These very special nurseries grow their plants from seed. The seeds are from native plants that are found in your area and are already adapted to the soil and weather conditions.
These local nurseries are growers. They aren’t buying plants from wholesale growers who may be in other regions or other states. This is one of the main problems with buying plants from “big-box” stores. These plants are often hybrids or even invasive species. And, these plants are almost always sprayed with pesticides before being shipped from the wholesaler to the store.
This means these plants are potentially lethal to beneficial bugs that may be living in your yard or your neighborhood! One of the many reasons that we want to use native plants in our yards or gardens is to support all the Beneficial Bugs that are “harvesting” those annoying aphids or mosquitoes that emerge in the Spring and Summer. This is one of the best reasons for getting plants that have not been sprayed. We are protecting all those Beneficial Bugs who are eating the bugs we spray for every year.
The worst part about spraying pesticides is that we are killing the Beneficial Bugs who are helping us take care of our plants, produce a better harvest, and lower the toxicity in our environment. In other words, when we invest in native plants, we are working with Nature to protect the Bugs we need. We are also keeping these poisons out of our air, water, and soil. We are being Good Stewards of the Earth.
When I was growing up in SW Oklahoma, my family owned a Farm Supply Store. We sold DDT which is a very strong pesticide. It was usually sold in gallon glass containers and then diluted and sprayed on all kinds of crops. At that time, no one seemed to understand that having DDT sprayed on crops that we ate could affect our health. Everyone who worked in the store was extremely careful with those heavy glass bottles. If any DDT spilled on someone, they rushed to the bathroom to wash it off before it could soak into their skin.
DDT is a persistent pesticide. This means it stays in the environment for a long time. It had a half-life of 2 to 15 years in soil and potentially much longer in aquatic environments. While DDT concentrations have been declining since its use was discontinued, it can still be found in the environment. Fortunately, DDT was banned for most uses in the United States in 1972. The ban, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), effectively ended the domestic use of DDT as a pesticide. While DDT is still produced in the US, it can still be exported for use in other countries. This means it can be used on crops that are imported to the United States.
Even though we no longer use DDT in this country, we are using chemicals that are not healthy for humans or animals. When we invest in Native Plants we are supporting our local ecology and improving the immediate area around our homes. We are also investing in a healthier future for our families and our neighbors.
Most Native Plant Nurseries are family-owned and operated. These people are dedicated to producing healthy, vibrant plants that will thrive in your specific environment. They are usually knowledgeable and happy to answer your questions. And, they may suggest other native plants that you are not familiar with. They are happy to answer questions and share their knowledge! When we get our plants from Native Plant Nurseries we are supporting a local business and investing in the next generation of growers!
Check with your state Native Plant Society website for a listing of Native Plant Nurseries in your area. You will be delighted and amazed by all the wonderful native plants that are available for sunny or shady or mixed sunlight areas in your yard.
Every day we are getting better and better at Caring for Creation! We are becoming more and more aware of the beauty, symmetry, and wonder of Creation! And, we are paying more and more attention to the Blessings we experience every day.
One of the amazing events we have every year is the double migration of Monarch Butterflies. If the spring Monarchs leave their Winter Home in Mexico and move north, some as far as Canada. In the fall, Monarchs begin their annual journey back to Mexico. Due to the short lifespan of a Monarch, it can take 7 sequential “lifetimes” for a single Monarch to reach their winter home in Mexico.
This means hundreds and thousands of Monarch Butterflies need stations between their summer homes and their winter vacation homes. This is where we, that’s us Human Beings, can make a big difference! We can provide a great Monarch Waystation in our yards, at our churches, and in our community parks. It is so simple and easy to do … !!!
This bi-annual monarch migration is one of the world's greatest natural wonders! However, it is threatened by habitat loss at their wintering grounds in Mexico as well as throughout breeding areas in the United States and Canada. Spring is the perfect time of year to plant Milkweed that is native to your region along with native nectar plants.
When we plant Milkweed and nectar plants now, then by fall, when hundreds of millions of Monarch Butterflies begin their migration south, they will find the plants they need to reproduce the next generation of Monarchs. Each successive generation will continue the journey south! When we plant Milkweed that is native to our region along with native nectar plants, we are providing the ideal stop-over or Waystation for Migrating Monarchs!
Why is this so Important?
Each fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the United States and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. The monarch migration is truly one of the world's greatest natural wonders yet it is threatened by habitat loss at overwintering grounds in Mexico and throughout breeding areas in the United States and Canada.
Milkweeds and nectar sources are declining due to development and the widespread use of herbicides in croplands, pastures, and roadsides. Because 90% of all milkweed/monarch habitats occur within the agricultural landscape, farm practices have the potential to strongly influence the increase or decrease of monarch populations.
Development (of subdivisions, factories, shopping centers, etc.) in the U.S. is consuming habitats for monarchs and other wildlife at a rate of 6,000 acres (9.4 square miles) a day - that's 2.2 million acres each year. This is roughly equivalent to losing an area of habitat the size of the state of Illinois (the 24th largest U.S. state) every sixteen years!
The use of herbicides and frequent mowing along roadsides has converted much of the Monarchs’ habitat to grassy areas that lack shelter and food for wildlife. Although some states have started to increase the number and diversity of milkweeds and nectar plants along roadsides, these programs are relatively small. The remaining milkweed habitats in pastures, hayfields, edges of forests, grasslands, native prairies, and urban areas are not nearly enough to sustain the large monarch butterfly populations that we saw in the 1990s.
MONARCHS Need Our Help!
We can make a Big Difference just by planting Native Milkweed along with Native Nectar plants right now! If we plant this spring and create numerous local Waystations, these amazing Butterflies will continue their migration and flourish. And, we will be rewarded by renewed populations of Magnificent Monarchs visiting us every Spring and Fall!
To show your support of Monarch conservation, you can also register your Monarch habitat with Monarch Watch as an official Monarch Waystation. Your habitat will be included in the Monarch Waystation Registry, an online listing of Monarch Waystations worldwide! You will also be awarded a certificate bearing your name and your habitat's unique Monarch Waystation ID number!
To learn more about specific paths of Monarch Migrations and the best native plants for your region, go to … MonarchWatch.org
You can make a Big Difference for Monarchs by working with Creation, and restoring Monarch Habitats!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
Pollen is a fine powder produced by certain flowering plants when they reproduce. During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, it's released into the air and picked up by the wind, which brings it to other plants to fertilize them. Plants that are fertilized produce seeds with similar or identical DNA so when those seeds germinate in the soil, they produce a similar plant! Creation is so Amazing !!!
Many plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollen that causes allergic reactions comes from trees, grasses, and weeds. These plants make small, light, and dry pollen grains that travel by the wind.
We are also familiar with Bee Pollen which is a mixture of pollen grains collected from flowers by foraging bees. It is carried back to their hive and mixed with their saliva, nectar, and enzymes. It is a natural food source that bees use to feed their young. Bee pollen also contains a wide range of nutritious elements, including proteins, carbs, lipids, and dietary fibers, as well as bioactive micronutrients including vitamins, minerals, phenolic, and volatile compounds. We have seen photos of bees on flowers gathering Nectar. In most of those pictures, we can see the yellow or orange-colored pollen sticking to the bee’s legs.
Bees do not go to flowers to deliberately gather pollen. They are drawn to flowers to gather Nectar which is also a food source for the hive. It is part of nature’s design that Bees “gather” pollen on their legs as they move across the face of the flower. So, both the nectar and the pollen are gathered at the same time and used as food for young bees. This is also the way that flowers are cross-pollinated. Nature is very efficient that way!
When I was growing peaches in Texas, I loved to watch the Bees and other pollinators like Wasps and some Beetles crawling across the blooms. I knew these pollinators were necessary to fertilize my peach blossoms if there were going to be Peaches! Fortunately, all the Pollinators did their job and I always had peaches! They never bothered me because they were so busy pollinating!!!
Most of us are familiar with Pollen due to our allergies. Unfortunately, some humans do have an allergic reaction to certain pollen. This is the reason the “pollen count” is often shown on weather apps and weather reports. Some people can reduce their reactions by taking organic remedies. Others of us need to take antihistamines every 12 hours just to get through the day. Fortunately, pollen season does not last forever!
Bee pollen can help those of us with allergies by reducing inflammation in our system. Flavonoids and phenolic acids like those found in Bee Pollen have been scientifically shown to reduce inflammation of the human body. These can help mitigate symptoms associated with inflammatory illnesses. Studies have shown that reducing inflammation is key to preventing and treating so many common disease states. Our ancestors and native people were very familiar with natural remedies which they probably used all the time.
All the Pollinators need our help due to a loss of wildflowers and the increased use of pesticides. So much of the farm and country land that supported wildflowers has been plowed under or turned into housing developments. But, as homeowners, we can make a big difference by planting Pollinator Gardens that provide food and shelter for all these beneficial insects!
Planting pollinator gardens in our yards creates a much healthier environment for humans (that’s us), birds, frogs, lizards, and all the other invisible creatures who contribute to our well-being. Many of these wonderful creatures eat most of the insects that we don’t want, like mosquitoes! So, we don’t really need to use pesticides on our lawns and property. All we need to do is work with Nature and plant Pollinator Gardens!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
This is our inner peace guided meditation for April 6, 2025. We have had another exciting or depressing or too exciting or “you fill in the blank that works for you”. I'm ready to move to a small cabin in the woods and hang out there until the shouting is over! There are aspects to this whole political situation that are so frustrating for me. One of the things that bothers me the most, is how emotionally, politically, and spiritually immature we seem to be as humans. We, in general, have such difficulty working together. Politically, we have difficulty even carrying on useful or helpful conversations with each other. That is so frustrating! Apparently, this is where we are right now!
One of the techniques I've been working with this week is a little sound trick I learned years ago. I probably learned this at a retreat or a workshop. It is a humming technique, and you may be familiar with it. It is similar in a quiet way to what Buddhist monks are doing when they're chanting OM. We know that the OM sound sets up very specific frequencies that are healing, unifying, and calming. Based on scientific research, we know when we hum in the area in our throat and along our sternum, we are working with our vagus nerve. Humming helps shift our nervous system from sympathetic, which is fight, flight, or freeze, toward the parasympathetic which is calming and centering. When we are calm and centered, our digestion starts to work again, and all those other helpful systems come back online. This includes our immune system as well as our ability to listen, think, and make better decisions.
We get centered, take a few breaths, and then just quietly hum in our throat and in our sternum area. I use this when I'm having difficulty getting centered, or getting into a meditation. I use this humming technique if my brain is too busy when I'm trying to go to sleep. I use this any time I am feeling out of sorts or discombobulated. Studies have shown that humming shifts our system from sympathetic toward the parasympathetic. Humming for a few minutes can give us a much calmer, much more organized, and functional brain. I can happily recommend this, especially when our world seems so crazy.
We know this chaos is not going to last forever. Some of us have lived through the 60s, and the 70s, and the '80s, and the '90s. So we know it is not going to last forever, but sometimes it does feel like it. This is when we take a walk in the woods, doing some Forest bathing, or join a group doing a coherent meditation. There are groups all over the Internet and there are plenty of apps for group coherence. The one I like to work with is the HeartMath coherence group. They usually have several meditations during the week. Often there are 300, 400, 500, maybe even a thousand people, using the HeartMath breath to be calm and coherent. These are people all around the world who are working together. That is one thing we can do. We've been doing our group meditation here for more than a year. I don't know how many of you are using this guided meditation on Sunday evening, but that's when I like to meditate. Remember, there is tremendous value, support, and effort out there in the world. These coherence groups are meditating for healing, peace, or greater awareness. At any given moment somewhere in the world, there are at least a thousand people meditating, chanting, or doing walking meditations to help the world. This is something I remind myself of often!
Any time you are feeling discouraged, sad, or down, or too up to go to sleep, try the humming. I'll do it on the recording. And remember how many people, all around the world are working to make the world better for everyone. There are lots of us on the job!
Thank you for everything you are doing to make the world a better place. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for taking the time to meditate, or pray, or feed people, or just cleaning up the trash. We have at least 10 or 12 people in Tulsa who are putting in pollinator gardens or seriously planning for one. This is the result of our pollinator gardening program that we did last Saturday. We've got some momentum and we've got excitement! People doing something creative which will help the Pollinators !!!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
Beneficial Bugs and Native Plants ~ Caring for CreationOn Saturday, March 29, we had a Pollinator Gardening Event at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is the first event on gardening or native plants at St. Dunstan’s. We had no idea how many folks might show up. We also had growers from 2 Oklahoma Native Plant Nurseries ~ Across the Prairie and Life Affirming Farm.
We filled the room! Karen Watkins, an Oklahoma Master Gardner, talked about Beneficial Insects. Sarah Cross discussed Oklahoma Native Plants. Alex with Life Affirming Farm, answered questions about planting and caring for native plants. Mary Christopher talked about the wonders and mysteries of Creation. And, we gave away 5 wonderful Pollinator Insect posters donated by Master Gardeners and Karen Watkins! Many people stayed afterward to talk with the presenters and the growers. People were still buying plants at 1 pm. We had a Great Time!
In May we will have an event dedicated to caring for and providing habitat for Monarchs! Okies for Monarchs and Plant Milkweed for Monarchs will be there. We are also hoping to have some of our local native nurseries with Milkweed plants. In the meantime, you can check out www.plantmilkweek.org and www.monarchwatch.org
Have a wonderful week and be kind to all Pollinators. We need them more than we know!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices. She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching. Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
This Saturday, March 29, I was one of 3 speakers at a Caring for Creation program hosted by St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Karen Watkins, a Master Gardener, talked about Pollinators and how to recognize and protect them. Sarah Cross, who runs Across the Prairie native plant nursery, spoke about all the benefits of gardening with Native Plants. I talked about Caring for Creation and how all of Creation is so essential to our well-being. As usual, I forgot to turn on the recording at the beginning, but the only thing missing is the introduction. This recording does not include our usual Sunday evening guided meditation but does discuss Forest Bathing and the benefits of “meditating with Trees”! After my talk, several people told me they wanted to go hiking with me in the nearby “Old Growth Forests” and try meditating with a Tree !!! We had a great time! The 2 native plant nurseries who brought plants, sold more than half their inventory !!! When we planned this Saturday morning program, we had no idea how many people might show up. So, everyone was delighted with the turnout and the response. I will post a guided meditation next Sunday. I am sure everyone can manage an Inner Peace Meditation this evening. Have a Wonderful Week and spend some time anywhere you can out in Creation, even if it is only for an hour. You will be so glad that you did … !!! Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices. She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching. Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices for connecting with our Sacred Earth and our spirituality.
During the week, I usually talk to several people about pollinator gardens, heirloom vegetable seeds, or native plant nurseries. Then toward the end of the conversation, I usually say, “Here are 2 or 3 great resources for help with your new garden project.” And, I name the state Native Plant Society, the Master Gardener Program, and the Department of Agriculture extension offices. At that point, I noticed that people’s eyes tend to glaze over and the conversation winds down. After a while, I decided that many people are not familiar with any of these organizations or services! So, I am including a short description of 3 of these, the Native Plant Society, the Master Gardener Program, and the state agriculture extension offices.
Each state has its own Native Plant Society organization. Here is a description of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society from Wikipedia …
“The purpose of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, organized in 1986, is to encourage the study, protection, propagation, appreciation, and use of Oklahoma’s Native Plants. It sponsors activities including field trips, a spring wildflower workshop, and a wildflower photo contest. The society also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Gaillardia, which keeps members informed of activities and contains stories and essays about wildflowers. In addition, the society sponsors Color Oklahoma, a project dedicated to the beautification of Oklahoma's highways via the planting of wildflowers and maintenance of naturally occurring wildflower populations in right-of ways.”
Master Gardener programs can be found in every state in the U.S. that I am aware of. Here is a general online of the program …
EXPERT GARDENING ADVICE FROM A MASTER GARDENER
Gardeners often become indispensable volunteers in their communities—creating gardens, conducting research, giving lectures, and contributing to other local horticultural efforts. Individuals must complete intensive horticultural training, typically available through universities in the U.S. and Canada, to become a certified Master Gardener.
“Agriculture extension services in each state teach agriculture, home economics, as well as basics of gardening to the public. The mission of the Extension services is to "advance agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities" by supporting research, education, and Extension programs at land-grant universities.” For more information about Pollinators, visit farmers.gov/pollinators
Most of these organizations have local headquarters or offices. The Native Plant Society and the Master Gardener program are all-volunteer, so it may take a day or two for them to get back to you. And, they will respond to your call or email!
Most USDA offices are staffed by professional agriculture folks who are able to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.
In addition, there are numerous groups and organizations dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enlarging the Monarch Butterfly population! These include …
Several organizations dedicate themselves to monarch butterfly conservation, including the Monarch Joint Venture, Monarch Butterfly Fund, Monarch Watch, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and the National Wildlife Federation! In Oklahoma, we have Okies for Monarchs!
So, wherever you live or whatever you want to do, beekeeping, gardening, supporting pollinators, cleaning waterways, counting birds, there is plenty to do. And, there is extensive and knowledgeable support for you as well!
Have a Wonderful Spring season and enjoy all the Wonder and Beauty of Creation !!!
Now for the Global Weather Report … Creation Continues to Work Just Fine !!!Humans, however, seem to be having difficulty getting along. I wanted to mention that in case you had not noticed. And, we seem to be sinking to new lows on the “Love Your Neighbor” scale! However, I am not giving up on Humanity, but I am increasing my prayers and meditations.
Again, this week, I am struggling with my allergies. For the past 2 weeks, we have had a high pollen count which is very good thing. And, there have been at least 100 wildfires in the general area of NE Oklahoma. Many people have lost their homes and many more are in the process of recovery. The winds and the ash from fires as well as the high pollen count have brought difficulties for those of us with “sensitive lungs”. We are hoping for better weather and not as much wind this week!
Whenever I hear of Wildfires, regardless of where they are, I am always reminded of the Courage and Dedication of all the Firefighters, EMS personnel, Police and State Troopers who respond to these events. I am also reminded of the Goodness and Generosity of Wonderful Neighbors and Friends who respond with kindness, food, shelter, and prayers. Far too often we only hear “negative news” about people and events that are difficult and scary. And, I know about the Goodness of Friends, Relatives and Neighbors from first-hand experience. We are a nation of very good and generous people!
For the past several years, I have been deeply committed to sharing what I understand about mindfulness, meditation, and heart coherence. I have also been very focused on Caring for Creation. Some days the rising level of negativity in the World seems almost overwhelming. But I am determined that “a rising tide lifts all boats”. So, I will continue to share what I know and have experienced through my spiritual practice. And, I will continue to remind us that our survival on this Earth requires our attention and care of Creation. The Earth does NOT need us aboard !!! We need to care for the Earth for Human Beings to survive.
Here is our Guided Meditation for Sunday, March 23, 2025. Thank You for all you are doing every day to make the World a better place for Everyone. And, take very good care of yourself!
Mary Christopher
This year Spring officially arrived at 5:01 am EDT (2:01 am PDT). For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this is marked by the arrival of the Spring Equinox. It signals the Fall Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
Equinox translates from Latin as “equal night” or “equal day, equal night”. This happens when the Sun is positioned directly over the equator, so we have approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night (give or take a few minutes).
During Spring, the path of the Sun continues to move north, increasing the duration of Sunlight. When the Sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer (latitude 23.5 degrees north), it has arrived at the point of the Summer Solstice. This is the beginning of Summer for the northern hemisphere and is usually the longest day of the year (give or take a few hours). On the Summer Solstice, the Sun appears to stop on its journey heading north and pause. This is why it is called Solstice, derived from the Latin word SOL (Sun) and sister, “to stand still”. After the Summer Solstice, the Sun appears to move south, back toward the equator and our days grow shorter.
This apparent “up and down” motion of the Sun is the result of the wobble in the Earth’s rotation of its axis. Our Sun is not actually moving up and down on the horizon, even though it looks like that. More on that in another article and podcast. The good news for gardeners and hikers is that the hours of daylight are increasing and the weather is getting warmer!
We often have a late frost, meaning a hard or light frost that comes after the Spring Equinox. So, it is a good idea to wait a week or two before putting any new seedlings out in your spring garden. This is also a good time to get over to your favorite nursery to pick up any vegetable plants that you didn’t have time to start from seed. You might also find a fruit tree or vine that needs a good home. We usually prefer planting “heirloom” seeds or plants, rather than “gmo” or those that are genetically modified.
Also consider picking up a few pollinator-friendly plants, especially perennials. If you plant more pollinator-friendly plants, you will usually have more fruits and vegetables. The more happy pollinators you attract to your garden, the more blossoms will be pollinated!
This is a wonderful time of year for a long walk in the woods or a day hike in the nearest county, state, or national park. When we slow down and take time to walk in the woods, we are lowering our stress levels and becoming more centered and coherent. Many people find they usually sleep better, meaning deeper and longer, after spending an afternoon in the forest. In Japan, this is known as “forest bathing”. The Japanese, the Germans, and the Koreans have all done scientific studies, showing all the positive results just from a few hours spent in the forest!
We will have a partial solar eclipse on March 29. This is the first Solar Eclipse of 2025! It will be visible in parts of North America, Europe, Africa, throughout Greenland, and Iceland, as well as parts of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. March is going to be a busy month for all kinds of wonderful and healthy activities out-of-doors!
Remember, if you are feeling too stressed, or just worn out with all the political chaos, step out of civilization and back into Creation for a while. Creation is working just fine, and Spring is a great time to remind ourselves of all the Beauty and Wonder that surrounds us.
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices,
and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!
This past week we had high winds, high pollen counts, and at least 100 Wildfires all over Oklahoma! There are still fires going, but no high winds today.
My allergies kicked in and I got behind on my podcasting schedule. I did get the podcast done, but not the notes.
Here is the podcast without notes. My allergies are better, but I am not taking my daily walk.
Have a great week and take really good care of yourself. Mary
Caring for Creation ~ Spring Is Almost Here! Spring is almost here! We are having warm and pleasant weather. Are you already planning your Spring Garden?
If you are considering a spring or summer garden, this is the perfect time to figure out what you need to get started. If you haven’t had a spring or summer garden for a while, or ever, it is a good idea to start with a “Pollinator Garden”. All gardens need pollinators, especially vegetable gardens! So, if you start with a small or medium-sized pollinator garden, you’ll have pollinators already hanging around for your vegetable garden.
Remember, these gardens do not need to be large or complicated. And, if you have a pollinator garden going, you are way ahead. Pollinator gardens can have a variety of blooming plants. Some plants like Butterfly weed bloom early in the gardening season, while others like Indian Blanket or Beebalm bloom midway in the summer. Showy Goldenrod or BlueSage are late bloomers. Having plants that flower in stages will invite Pollinators to your garden all summer!
There are so many kinds of Pollinators and we need all of them! For instance, there are more than 4,000 species of Bees that are native to North America! This includes Honey Bees who live in hives. Many of the other Bees nest underground, in twigs and leaf debris, or even in dead trees! These Bees are more often vulnerable because they are invisible!
Butterflies and Moths are excellent pollinators. Butterflies visit our gardens in the daytime while Moths visit at night. Hummingbirds and Bats are also reliable pollinators. Hummingbirds prefer tubular flowers in bright warm colors, like red. Beetles and other similar insects are reliable pollinators. At least 40 % of all insects are Beetles!
We need to pay attention to all the Pollinators and support them because they have been losing habitat for years! Fields and fence rows that were once covered with blooms have been plowed under for shopping malls and housing developments. Fortunately, some very new housing developments include community gardens, and composting as well as yards planted with flowers specifically for Pollinators. Unfortunately, there are very few developments that are this thoughtful and resourceful. Just think, a world without Pollinators would be a world without Apples, Blueberries, Strawberries, chocolate, almonds, melons of all kinds, peaches or pumpkins !!! That would be too terrible to even imagine!
You can help all Pollinators as well as any neighborhood gardens by putting in a Pollinator garden this Spring! Even putting a few Pollinator-friendly plants in pots on your porch or in your backyard can make a difference.
If you have questions, look up your state Native Plant Society. Most large towns and cities all over the country, have a Master Gardener Program. These wonderful garden people would be happy to help you with your garden. If you can’t find anyone to answer your questions or make suggestions, check with the Department of Agriculture office near you (USDA.gov) or go to their website. They will know someone locally who can help you. I know this because I have talked to all these people, asked loads of questions, and gotten excellent assistance!
Remember Honey Bees alone contribute to the production of many billions of dollars worth of crops every year !!! This is why “We Love Bees and All Pollinators”!
One of my teachers from the late 60s was Murshid Samuel Lewis, one of the very early Sufi teachers in this country. During that time he was teaching primarily in San Francisco. Murshid Sam was my first Sufi teacher. What I learned from him has been an ongoing blessing! He was a mystic, a spiritual teacher, an amazing gardener, and, of course, a Sufi dancer. So many people were blessed by his presence and his teaching.
Somewhere along the way, I also discovered Rumi, the amazing Sufi poet. I have used his poems in my classes for more than 25 years. So far, I have found that everyone loves Rumi. Whenever I am traveling, I carry a copy of The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks.
Currently, we are in the midst of Ramadan from March 1 through March 29-30. The followers of the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad are celebrating Ramadan. Muslims believe the angel Gabriel revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad over 23 years, beginning in 610 AD and ending in 632 AD, the year of Muhammad's death.
During Ramadan everyone who is able, fasts from sunrise to sundown. This fast is followed by dinner with family, and friends, or at the local mosque. This month is dedicated to prayer, charity, and community. I decided to support my Sufi and Muslim friends during Ramadan by using some of my favorite Jesus quotes from Rumi. The Sufis and Muslims revere Jesus as a great prophet. Mary, Jesus’ mother is mentioned more often in the Quran than in the Christian New Testament! So, we are definitely on the “mystic path” using Rumi’s poetry about Jesus!
From The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks
“There's a strong connection between Jesus and Rumi. I'm told a Christian church in Shiraz (Iran) has a quatrain from Rumi carved in stone over its door:
Where Jesus lives, the great-hearted gather.
We are a door that's never locked.
If you are suffering any kind of pain,
stay near this door. Open it.
A sweet inclusiveness and healing mercy are felt around both Jesus and Rumi. The Friendship of Rumi and Shams has no parallel in the great aloneness of Jesus' life, but the relationship with children and with society's outcasts is very similar. Rumi showed deep consideration for the least-recognized members of his thirteenth-century Muslim small town. He would always stop to bow to children and old women, to bless and be blessed by them. One day an Armenian butcher, a Christian, was passing. Rumi stopped in the road and bowed seven times to him. Another day he came upon children playing a game. He acknowledged each as he would have an adult. And there was one little boy far away running across a field. 'Wait, I'm coming!' Rumi stayed till the boy had come close, bowed, and been bowed to.”
I also love the humor we find in Rumi’s poems. This is a great example!
"I called through your door,
'The mystics are gathering
in the street. Come out!'
"Leave me alone.
I'm sick."
"I don't care if you're dead!"
Jesus is here, and he wants
to resurrect somebody!"
(Translations and text by Coleman Barks with John Moyne)
All the Mystics I know or know about are working diligently to help with the current crises happening around the World. Most of us understand that a better world is being birthed, even with all this chaos and confusion. This is one very good reason that we do our meditations and spiritual practices.
So, thank you for all the good work you do every day and for all the Blessings you carry into the World!
Keep it up … !!! And, do your best to keep your sense of humor alive and well … !!!
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices,
and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!
What do Sunflowers need to grow?
Sunflowers need plenty of Sunshine, at least 6 to 8 hours of Sunlight per day! As you know, Sunflowers are heliotropic which means the blossom follows the path of the Sun from east to west every day. Then, at night, the blossom or head of the plant rotates back do it is facing the rising Sun next morning. Sunflowers definitely need access to sunlight most of the day.
And, they will also need water and fertilizer.
Sunflowers have extensive root systems that help them reach the soil nutrients they need. They prefer well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 to 7.0, like clay loam and silty clay soils. You can test your soil to find out the pH level and whether you need to add nutrients before planting the seeds. However, if you can see organic material in your soil, you can plant the Sunflower seeds without testing.
Once the second set of leaves appears, use a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer that you would apply directly to the plants. This will speed up growth and produce larger flowers. Sunflowers will also benefit from applying half the recommended amount of nitrogen during planting and the second half later in the growing season. This is known as a split application of fertilizer.
You can begin planting Sunflower seeds directly in the ground after the last frost. Sometimes the weather surprises us by having a very late frost. But, get your seeds in the ground when you think you have had the last frost. Trying to out-guess the weather is usually not very productive and can be frustrating!
You can sow the seeds directly into the soil. Just poke a hole with your finger, drop in 2 seeds (in case one doesn’t germinate), and cover the hole. You are done. Then thin to one plant per hole if both seeds germinate.
Spacing is important.
For single stem Sunflowers, plants should be spread 4-9” apart. Remember, the closer the plants are spaced, the smaller the blooms. Closer is better if you are growing the blossoms for bouquets. Plants spaced farther apart will produce larger blooms.
For branching Sunflowers, plants should be placed 12”-24” apart. Usually 18” spacing works well.
There are so many different sizes, shapes, and colors of Sunflowers that it is often difficult to make a choice. Some will grow as tall as 6’ to 10’! These will need some kind of support. The taller ones can be grown along a tall fence or wall, using chicken wire for support. Shorter Sunflowers usually have strong stems that can support their blossoms.
If you want to use some of the blossoms indoors in a flower arrangement, be sure to cut them off the stem before the flower petals open. They will still blossom, and the blossom will last longer this way.
If you do use most of the blossoms in flower arrangements, be sure to leave at least 10% of the blooms on their stems. They will open, begin to produce pollen, and then seeds.
Bees love the pollen! Birds and other creatures love the seeds! And, you can harvest some of the seeds for next year’s crop! You can also save seeds to feed Birds, Chipmunks, and Squirrels during winter. A well-tended Sunflower patch or field will produce hundreds of highly nutritious seeds!
There are so many varieties of Sunflowers, in so many sizes and colors. Sunflowers are native to the United States, as well as Europe. Before Ukraine was invaded by Russia, they were one of the main producers of Sunflowers in Europe! In Europe, Sunflowers are used mainly for their oil.
Here are some examples of Sunflowers. Have a Wonderful time selecting and growing Sunflowers. Remember, they are easy to grow as long as they have lots of Sunshine as well as enough water and nutrients!
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices,
and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!
News Update: The world of humans is still not very functional and a bit crazy. Many people seem to have lost their sense of humor, as well as their “good sense”.
Creation, on the other hand, is still working just fine.
When the world seems to be crazy and getting more so every day, I look for a way to focus my attention and do some good in the World. For at least 3 months I have been working on a Pollinator Garden project with my friends at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church. Part of that project is a Saturday morning program with the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, Yard by Yard Pollinator Gardens, and Okies for Monarchs.
In general, all Pollinators are having a difficult time finding enough plants for pollinating and for producing the next generation of Pollinators. These 3 organizations are very active and committed to “saving Pollinators” and providing small or large gardens for them.
We need Pollinators far more than we realize. And, our children and their children will need Pollinators as well. We will always need Pollinators unless we want to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, and herbs by hand! So, by focusing my attention and energy on increasing Pollinator Gardens, I am doing something useful for now as well as for the future.
The other advantage is gardening projects often get people working together, sharing their knowledge and resources, and getting to know each other! That does not happen as much as it used to. When people work together, they get to know each other better. Also, gardeners tend to be generous, happy to share tools, produce, and their knowledge of Creation !!! What could be better ?!?!
Also, remember the studies that were done in the last half of the last century about the Super Radiance Effect of scheduled group meditations for Peace in specific places for a specific duration. One of the most well-known examples was the 1983 Jerusalem/Lebanon Peace Project. In this case, trained meditators with at least 5 years experience doing meditations came to Jerusalem. They lived all around Jerusalem and they meditated at a specific time where they lived every day for 2 months.
The data for the study was gathered from the military, the police department, hospitals, and local business associations. They gathered numerical information from all these sources.
Here are the results during the 2 month meditation practice …
- 76% reduction in crime
- Lower Death rate compared to previous years
- Increase in economic activity
This is now known as the Super Radiance Effect or the Radiating Influence of Peace Meditations. During the past century, there were 53 similar research projects, all showing similar results.
There was a similar project done in Washington D.C. which was structured in a similar way. That study showed a reduction in crime, as well as a reduction in cases brought to emergency rooms in the general area in and around Washington!
Our spiritual practices, our meditations, and our intentions can have a definite effect on our culture, especially during extremely chaotic times. Also remember, we, the meditators, are the ones who receive the first benefits of these meditations!
Maybe this is one reason that Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of G~D and all things will be added to you.” When asked by the Sadducees and Pharisees “Where is this Kingdom?”
Jesus replied, “The kingdom of G~D is within.” (period, full-stop)
Maybe, that is a clue … !!!
In other words, the time we spend doing our spiritual practices is a pay-off for us and for others. Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats!
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience. Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
Sunflowers are called Sunflowers because they follow the Sun!
The “head” or the top part of the sunflower follows the Sun as it moves across the sky from the eastern horizon to the western. All Sunflowers do this. And, they follow the Sun before they even bloom!
Sunflowers begin their day with the top of the plant facing east. Then, as the Sun moves from east to west, the top follows the Sun. During the night, the Sunflower top moves from west to east, to be ready for Sunrise. Scientists wondered what was the advantage to the plant by doing this. After studying the plants using time-lapse photography, they discovered that Bees like to gather nectar and pollen early in the morning. Also, Bees like brightly colored blossoms that are warm!
Bees also like to gather nectar and pollen early in the morning. So, Sunflowers have “learned” to produce bright blossoms that are warmed by the early morning Sun. When Sunflowers bloom, they can easily “capture” the attention of those early morning Bees. This increases the pollination of all the Sunflowers and guarantees a bountiful crop of Sunflower seeds!
If Sunflowers are planted in pots and moved indoors under overhead lighting that does not move, in just a few days, the Sunflowers “forget” to move from east to west or from west back to east overnight. Their movement is directly related to direct exposure to the movement of the Sun across the sky.
Science has also discovered there are specific plant cells on each side of the stem that take turns expanding. Cells on the east side of the stem swell during the day and angle the plant in the direction of the Sun. Cells on the west side of the stem swell at night, pushing the blossom back so it faces east by early morning.
Sunflowers have been growing and moving like this for centuries. In many countries they are a major crop. In 2023, the United States produced 2.26 billion pounds of sunflower seeds, down from 2.81 billion pounds in 2022. In 2022, the world produced 54 million tons of sunflower seeds. Russia and Ukraine produced the most sunflower seeds, together accounting for 51% of the world's total. Argentina, China, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania are a few of the other leading producers of Sunflower seeds. North Dakota is the leading sunflower-producing state in the United States. In 2023, North Dakota produced 1.12 billion pounds of sunflower seeds!
Most sunflower seeds are processed into vegetable oil. A significant portion of the oilseed harvest is used for birdseed production. Birds love Sunflower seeds because they are rich in oil and supply carbohydrates as well as protein! When hulls are removed from sunflower seeds, they are often burned for fuel.
Sunflowers are easy to grow and there are different varieties to choose from. They come in many different sizes and colors, so you have your choice for planting. They come in many heights. The taller ones only require a simple trellis to hold them upright when they have reached their full height. Next week we will discuss the best ways to plant, nurture, and harvest Sunflowers. Tune in for more about these fascinating flowers.
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing practices, and the HeartMath program for Building Personal Resilience.
She loves gardening and meditating with Trees!
Early this morning, while I was still asleep, one of the wonderful people in my advanced meditation class sent the following message to everyone in the class. This quote is the first text I read and it shaped my perception for the whole day, in a wonderful way! This quote is from the book My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen. "Days pass and the years vanish, and we walk sightless among miracles. Lord, fill our eyes with seeing and our minds with knowing. Let there be moments when your presence like lightning, illumines the darkness in which we walk. Help us to see wherever we gaze that the bush burns unconsumed. And we, clay touched by God, will reach out for holiness and exclaim in wonder "how filled with awe is this place and we did not know it." Quote from Willaim Shatner about his journey into Space when he was 90 years old “Last year, I had a life-changing experience at 90 years old. I went to space, after decades of playing an iconic science-fiction character who was exploring the universe. I thought I would experience a deep connection with the immensity around us, a deep call for endless exploration."I was absolutely wrong. The strongest feeling, that dominated everything else by far, was the deepest grief that I had ever experienced."I understood, in the clearest possible way, that we were living on a tiny oasis of life, surrounded by an immensity of death. I didn’t see infinite possibilities of worlds to explore, of adventures to have, or living creatures to connect with. I saw the deepest darkness I could have ever imagined, contrasting so starkly with the welcoming warmth of our nurturing home planet."This was an immensely powerful awakening for me. It filled me with sadness. I realized that we had spent decades, if not centuries, being obsessed with looking away, with looking outside. I did my share in popularizing the idea that space was the final frontier. But I had to get to space to understand that Earth is and will stay our only home. And that we have been ravaging it, relentlessly, making it uninhabitable."-- William Shatner, actor I was deeply moved by both of these quotes and they re-enforced my gratitude for my life on Earth. This is such an amazing place. Earth is a great place to learn about Creation, to learn about how everything works! Something like photosynthesis is absolutely amazing! We can learn so much and have so many amazing experiences. Even something as simple as watching the Sunrise while we are sitting on a beach! Or, the feeling we have when we hold a baby kitten or a newborn baby girl or boy! This fall I was meditating in an Old Growth Forest. I had a wonderful, relaxing, regenerating meditation resting against a very conscious Tree. When I finished my meditation, I opened my eyes and saw bright orange leaves on bushes all around me. They were illumined by the setting Sun coming through the trees. They had the most amazing red/orange color, like I had never seen. I sat there, probably with my mouth open, absolutely blown away. Then I started taking photos before the Sun went down. If I had opened my eyes even 5 minutes earlier or later, I would not have seen those colors or those specific leaves all lit up! In Nature, we are surrounded by light and color and amazing creatures, beauty that we can hardly describe. All too often we miss it, but we can learn to look deeper into Nature, deeper into the night sky. We can learn to sit quietly in the forest, watching all sorts of birds land gracefully on limbs. We can remember how to "tune in to Creation" while tuning into the very best part of ourselves. Remember, we are the ones we have been waiting for ... we are the Creators we need right now. We have the capacity to create a civilization that serves Everyone and restores the health of this Earth. Tag, we are It !!! May our Journey to Inner Peace show us how to build, and how to heal, and how to restore. Mary Christopher
As I am writing this article and doing my podcast, the temperature is dropping rapidly, caused by cold air coming down from the North. At the same time, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is moving up. That means we are going to have Snow early this morning! And, not just a little, but potentially a lot of Snow. All local schools are closed for tomorrow, and maybe Wednesday as well. We are having Weather !!!
Shelters and warming centers were opened this afternoon for people without adequate shelter. I cut up some mandarins and put them on the back porch for the Birds as well as any Squirrels. Then I cut all the red berries off the Nandina bushes. Nandina berries are toxic to birds and other animals, including humans. They contain cyanide, which can cause sudden death and organ hemorrhaging. Birds usually don’t eat many of them at one time. But, when it is extremely cold and there isn’t any other food, Birds will eat enough of these berries to die! I put all the berries in a plastic bag and dropped it in the Trash !!!
If you want to help Birds and any other small Creatures, consider putting out high-energy foods like suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seeds. Water is also essential, even with snow, so adding a heated bird bath can help keep birds hydrated. Just remember to keep the water clean! If you have a birdbath, you may need to use a warmer to keep the water from freezing!
You can provide shelter for many species by installing roosting boxes or leaving dead trees that would be suitable for birds that depend on tree cavities. Planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs can help attract species like cedar waxwings. Always plant native species because they will do better, and usually last longer. If you aren’t interested in fruit-bearing trees, consider planting a few evergreens on your property!
Birds can stay warm by shivering, fluffing their feathers, or crowding together. Squirrels and other small furry creatures do their best to eat enough nuts and seeds to have a layer of fat for insulation. Or, their fur may be thicker. Some small creatures nest together and go into a semi-hibernation state in really cold weather. They will survive, but they will need food before Spring arrives !!! And, they will need water!
We can do many things to help Birds and all small Creatures survive these weather extremes such as heat, or cold, or drought. All it takes is a little thought and some research. I learned about the Nandina berries from a delightful and very knowledgeable botanist who volunteers with the Oklahoma Native Plant Society !!! There is good information everywhere and many people available to help.
The National Wildlife Federation has an excellent website. I have found the state Native Plant Society people to also be a great resource. Here is the link for the National Wildlife Federation …
National Wildlife Federation
Wherever you live, may you be safe and comfortable. And, whatever the weather, remember our Feathered Friends as well as All Creatures Great and Small.
During this past week, I’ve been thinking about what could be the most effective means for responding to all the anger, fear, and divisiveness in our World. We know the “craziness” is not limited to the United States, but the chaos here seems to be escalating.
I decided that I would do more “short” meditations during the day, maybe 3 or 4 that were 10 to 15 minutes. I also decided to use “heart-focused” meditations which are simple and easy to do. With “heart-focused” meditations all I need to do is to focus my breath on my heart, breathing in and out slowly and gently. My intention is to allow my heart to open naturally with my breath, allowing more Love to flow into my life and spread out into the world. This is a practice that we often use in meditation class to establish grounding and flow.
I knew this particular practice would be helpful because so many “scientific studies” have been done on its effectiveness. And, I know specific groups who are using similar practices for their meditations on the internet. Then, later in the week, I saw a post on FB that I had posted 9 years ago! It was a letter Albert Einstein had written to his daughter Leiserl in the mid-1900s.
Here is that letter …
In the late 1980s, Lieserl, the daughter of the famous genius, donated 1,400 letters, written by Einstein, to the Hebrew University, with orders not to publish their contents until two decades after his death. This is one of them, for Lieserl Einstein.
…”When I proposed the theory of relativity, very few understood me, and what I will reveal now to transmit to mankind will also collide with the misunderstanding and prejudice in the world.
I ask you to guard the letters as long as necessary, years, or decades, until society is advanced enough to accept what I will explain below.
There is an extremely powerful force that, so far, science has not found a formal explanation to. It is a force that includes and governs all others, and is even behind any phenomenon operating in the universe and has not yet been identified by us.
This universal force is LOVE.
When scientists looked for a unified theory of the universe they forgot the most powerful unseen force.
Love is Light, that enlightens those who give and receive it.
Love is gravity, because it makes some people feel attracted to others.
Love is power, because it multiplies the best we have, and allows humanity not to be extinguished in their blind selfishness. Love unfolds and reveals.
For love we live and die.
Love is God and God is Love.
This force explains everything and gives meaning to life. This is the variable that we have ignored for too long, maybe because we are afraid of love because it is the only energy in the universe that man has not learned to drive at will.
To give visibility to love, I made a simple substitution in my most famous equation.
If instead of E = mc2, we accept that the energy to heal the world can be obtained through love multiplied by the speed of light squared, we arrive at the conclusion that love is the most powerful force there is, because it has no limits.
After the failure of humanity in the use and control of the other forces of the universe that have turned against us, it is urgent that we nourish ourselves with another kind of energy…
If we want our species to survive, if we are to find meaning in life, if we want to save the world and every sentient being that inhabits it, love is the one and only answer.
Perhaps we are not yet ready to make a bomb of love, a device powerful enough to entirely destroy the hate, selfishness, and greed that devastate the planet.
However, each individual carries within them a small but powerful generator of love whose energy is waiting to be released.
When we learn to give and receive this universal energy, dear Lieserl, we will have affirmed that love conquers all, is able to transcend everything and anything, because love is the quintessence of life.
I deeply regret not having been able to express what is in my heart, which has quietly beaten for you all my life. Maybe it’s too late to apologize, but as time is relative, I need to tell you that I love you and thanks to you I have reached the ultimate answer! “.
Your father Albert Einstein
To me, this seems to be an excellent explanation for the “power of Love”, as well as a reminder that we can allow more Love to move through our Hearts at any moment! We can be a Blessing, anytime, anywhere, even if we are not in the best mood or the best frame of mind. We can be a Blessing! We can walk anywhere in the world with an open Heart.
In the Gospels, Jesus says, “the Kingdom of Heaven is within.” When he was asked “what is the greatest commandment … “, his answer was very clear. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind". And the second is this … “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That simplifies everything!
However, Jesus only had 3 short years for his public teaching. Both Jesus and Buddha were spiritual teachers. After reaching enlightenment at the age of 35, the Buddha spent the rest of his life, until his death at 80, spreading his teachings throughout India. Big difference there … ! Buddha was able to teach people “how to develop spiritually”. He was able to help people learn “how to go within … “. He was able to help many people with their struggles and their meditation practice. All this practical knowledge about spiritual development became part of the Buddhist tradition. What we do know is that “Love” is at the core of both Buddhist and Christian teachings. And, we can build on that.
During this week, whenever you find yourself feeling frustrated, or upset, or worried, take a few minutes to go within. Relax as much as you can and take a few minutes using the Heart Breath. Let your whole system rest just a bit, and allow your Heart to relax so more Love can move into your life.
For the quiet part of our meditation, I have used “rain sounds” recorded from YouTube. Nature sounds often help us relax and feel more coherent and at ease with ourselves. Let me know if the “rain” is helpful. Have a blessed week and take good care of yourself … for sure.
Several weeks ago I went to a local Native Plant Society “Seed Swap”. I had a wonderful time. I left with a blue paper bag full of carefully labeled pollinator plant seeds, a 2025 Soil Conservation Calendar as well as color-coded pages that showed the best time to plant each pollinator. I also collected several excellent handouts about planting for Monarch Butterflies. And, I won a brand new garden trowel !!!
Several weeks before that I found 3 “free” books in my neighborhood library. These were All about Alternative Pollinators, The Complete Book of North American Butterflies, and The Beginners Guide to Bats !!! I scooped up those books and took them home. All very exciting for learning more about how to care for Creation! I started reading All about Alternative Pollinators because we know the Honey Bee population has been diminishing for many years. We also know we need Prodigious Pollinators to have sufficient food production.
Honey Bees are certainly prodigious and they are struggling to survive! The increased use of insecticides and herbicides is one of the main reasons for the decline of Honey Bee populations. No matter how diligent and watchful Beekeepers are, their bees can be easily exposed to toxins. This is because Honey Bees often fly 1 to 3 miles per day to reach flowers with the most pollen and nectar. In their travels, they may cross fields that have been recently sprayed with toxins! Or the spray from neighboring fields or even crops 2 to 3 miles away may reach the hives.
A large, healthy Honey Bee colony can have as many as 50,000 adult bees! The Queen Bee can potentially lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day! And, all these baby bee larvae need protein-rich royal jelly for the first 5 days in for them to thrive! Royal jelly is a creamy, yellowish-white substance produced by honey bees.
Nurse bees feed royal jelly to larvae for the first three days after hatching. Royal jelly is also fed to the developing queen bee throughout her life. This diet can allow the queen bee to live up to five years, while worker bees typically live for about 45 days. The hive is kept busy gathering nectar and pollen to feed the queen and the growing larva! If the worker bees are exposed to any toxins, the entire colony can be wiped out in a matter of hours! Beekeepers, anyone who uses bees for pollination, and those of us who love honey are seriously committed to caring for the European Honey Bee.
There are alternative pollinators. They do not live in hives and they do not produce honey! But they do pollinate! And, they are not well-known. These pollinators include Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Sweat Bees, and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee! These bees are usually solitary and may live underground. They are difficult to detect, but they can be encouraged to live in your garden or your yard by studying their habits and by growing their favorite plants.
This is a great time of year to put in a Pollinator Garden that will flourish and produce blossoms in the Spring. There are great resources for gardening. Look up your state’s Native Plant Society. Do a search for city community gardens, your state Department of Natural Resources, or check with the Nature Conservancy or Sierra Club. They are often a great resource for referrals. Once you start looking, you will probably find all kinds of great resources!
We are looking forward to seeing your Personal Pollinator Garden this Spring !!!
Welcome to another Sunday evening meditation as we continue through a very dramatic period in our lives. As I was working on this podcast, I remembered the 70s. I thought about the drama and intensity of protest marches, the homeless people in the big cities, and, of course, the Veterans from VietNam.
Those of us who were in the Order at that time, usually remember some of our "adventures" during Street Mission. We had the Filmore Center for homeless men as well as Raphael House for homeless women and children. I have always been so proud of our service wherever we were stationed. I am confinved that our service "saved us" from having too much "spiritual arrogance"! Since many of us were in our 20's or younger, we probably had enough arrogance already. I know we have continued by finding ways to serve wherever we live.
We seem to be in a similar dramatic polarization now, more than most of us could have ever imagined during the 70s. Once again, we are probably the ones we have been waiting for. Thanks to Science and Technology we understand so much more about how meditation and spiritual practice work within us and for us. Also, there is more and more excellent research showing the social effect of spiritual practices!
We know the Buddhists and other traditions spend hours sitting quietly, focusing on Compassion, or Loving Kindness, or Inner Peace. The intent is to embody those qualities on a cellular level. When we can repeat that kind of focus over days and weeks, our whole system resonates with those qualities. As we move through the world, "humming" with Inner Peace or Compassion or Loving-Kindness, we are literally transforming the "mass mind". This is the reason I remind us that "a rising tide lifts all boats".
We have the training and we have the experience and the skill to "raise the frequency", to increase coherence in the world. In other words, " We are the Creators we have been waiting for ... "! There are many other groups around the world doing this work wherever they live. On Wednesday nights, I meditate with a group of people who have done at least one of Dr. Joe Dispensa's weeklong retreats. And, they know how to move some energy !!!
As we all know, humans are wired for survival which means some part of our awareness is always keeping an eye or ear out for some creature or some other human who might want to eat us. This "wiring" also makes us vulnerable to "conspiracy theories" or videos of racial violence that are programmed to go directly into our subconscious! Yikes !!!
Here is where our wealth of spiritual practice and service is paying off. We have the ability to go within, find the Inner Peace or Compassion, and rest there, allowing that frequency to resonate, filling and transforming our cellular structure. This is why we do these meditations!!! And, this is why "We are the Creators we have been waiting for ... !"
Did you know that the Netherlands is the 2nd largest exporter of produce in the World !!! China is number one in the world for produce, including grains. India is near the top of the list as well. The United States is usually at third. The Netherlands does not have the land mass to grow as much grain, but they grow potatoes, onions, lots of vegetables, and some grains.
Their main exports are vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and aubergines. They are also the largest exporters of tulips and tulip bulbs! Most of their vegetables are grown in hothouses, many using geothermal energy. Growers in the Netherlands have upgraded and modernized all their production to become the 2nd largest exporter of produce in the World !!!
Following World War II and the devastation in Europe caused by that war, farmers in the United States were growing the grains that fed the world for several years. Farmers that I knew when growing up, were quietly proud of the wheat and oats, and other grain crops they grew to feed the world. The years immediately following WWII were bummer crop years on the Prairie. In addition, many people had gardens that produced tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and watermelons at the very least. Everyone, including Family Farmers, was eating well!
Now, much of our produce, including fruit, is shipped for miles to get to the stores. Every year there are fewer and fewer Family Farms or orchards owned by a family. We are relying more and more on Corporate Agriculture! We know that most corporate businesses are run to generate as much profit as possible. We also know these corporations usually have higher expenses than a family farm. The corporations are paying for large and expensive planting and harvesting equipment as well as shipping or trucking costs. Often the food costs more than it might if it were grown “locally”.
Because our food production has become more centralized, there can be major shortages of fruits and vegetables due to extreme weather or the massive fires that burned in California. So, what can we do …
The Answer is Simple !!! We can grow some of our own fruits and vegetables! So many people in the U.S. have yards that are currently known as “lawns”. There is often good soil under that lawn and adequate Sunlight most of the year. More and more people are using some part of their yards for raised beds or even greenhouses. Many communities have developed excellent community gardens where families can rent 2 or 3 or more raised beds for vegetables if they don’t have room where they are living!
In many areas of the country, people can sign up for a specific quantity of fruit from local orchards before harvest. Everyone comes out ahead. The orchards are supported and families know where their fruit is coming from and how it is raised. Another advantage is that people get to know each other! Community Gardens build Stronger Communities. And, children learn first-hand where their food is coming from. They also can learn how to grow food! Parents have learned that children will eat what they grow, even Brussel Sprouts !!!
We can feed ourselves, at least with basic vegetables. Often, when people discover the Joy of Gardening, they add strawberries, blackberries, even apple and peach trees to their gardens! People who garden and raise at least some of their own food, usually feel more secure. Research has shown that “gardeners are usually healthier, happier, and much less stressed” than people who do not garden !!! Amazing !!! And, nothing tastes better than a ripe tomato, sprinkled with salt, right from your own garden !!!
This is the perfect time of year to plan and develop your garden. There are many resources in every community for gardening. Most state agricultural departments and ag colleges have plenty of information, as well as knowledgeable people who are ready to help.
We can be more independent, resilient, and healthier, all from having our very own gardens !!! We will have stronger and healthier communities as well !!!
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness,
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
"I've got Love like an Ocean in my Soul."During this past week, I have been wondering about our current cultural upheaval and all the political posturing. I am aware that the turmoil we are experiencing did not happen overnight. It has been in the making for years. Those of us who came of age in the 60s and 70s felt those times were very difficult and threatening. Many people put their lives on the line for social justice or to end the war in Vietnam. I don't think any of us could imagine the kind of polarization and drama that we are experiencing now. Nor could we have imagined the role that "news channels" or social media would play in our lives. There seems to be so much emphasis on excess, such as how much wealth, or how much power can one person accumulate in their lifetime? How much is "Enough" for any one person or any group to grasp and hold onto? How much is "Enough" for anyone ever? We could say that most of us have "enough stuff", given the number of storage units we see everywhere. I have been wondering what is the antidote for this human craving for more power, more money, more land, more crypto, more whatever. This is especially curious since we are not able to take Anything with us when we leave this planet. So, what is it in the "psyche" of humans that drives us to want more and more and more ... I do not have an answer, but I did have an interesting sort of answer from my Saturday morning meditation. As some of you know, I like to start my morning meditation as I am waking up. As soon as I am aware that I am "waking up", I begin my heart breath practice. My intention is to be gently awake and slide right into my meditation. Most of the time, this works the way I want it to work. This Saturday morning, as I was moving into the meditation, I heard a verse from an old Afro-American spiritual that goes back at least as far as the early 1800's. The line I remembered was "I've got Love like an Ocean in my Soul". During the day, I repeated this line to myself or hummed it quietly. After a while, I realized that this was like saying a Buddhist mantra or Sufi invocation. The cadence was very similar. Needless to say, I was delighted with the rhythm and the reference to Creation throughout all the verses! And, it worked on my whole system like a mantra! So, I decided I would add "Ocean Wave Sounds" to the end section of our Sunday Inner Peace meditation. You can use the Ocean Wave Sounds or the verses from the spiritual, whichever you prefer. There is a bit of "noise" where I switched to the wave sounds. So, my apologies in advance ... !!! I'll get better with the tech part of this podcast, for sure. Let me know how you like having "Nature Sounds" for the meditation part. Have a Wonderful Week and take really good care of yourself. Thank You for everything you are doing every day to make this world a better place for Everyone. And, remember to Breathe ... Mary
On Labor Day weekend in 2011, the Spicewood Fire in western Travis County destroyed 45 homes and scorched almost 6,500 acres. There were other fires in the Austin area at the same time. The worst was in Bastrop County where flames spread to homes scattered among the trees in and around Bastrop, burning nearly 1,700 homes and businesses and claiming the lives of two people. At that time, I was the Facilities Manager for the Pedernales Fire Department and an EMT. The Spicewood fire was in our district. It burned very quickly and traveled fast due to the long-term drought. All our Firefighters and EMS were fighting the fire. Within a few hours, Firefighters with equipment from departments north and west of us began arriving. The Auxiliary went into high gear, bringing food, water, and other supplies to our 2 stations that were south of the Pedernales River. We were not able to reach the station across the river due to the fire. However, we were in touch by radio and cell phone and knew they were okay and fighting fire. We knew they were in a relatively safe position, but none of our vehicles could get to them for several long hours. The fire lasted for 2 to 3 days due to our extended drought. Clean-up took a lot longer. One of our major expenses was the repair and replacement of equipment. That included repair on the engines and hose, replacement of all kinds of tools, and replacement of the Firefighters' protective clothing. There was a long list of repairs and replacements. During the fire, we were extremely fortunate to have very thoughtful and generous neighbors. They began monetary donations immediately, brought cases and cases of water to the station, and anything else we needed. We published a "needs list" on our FaceBook page shortly after the fire started. This is what I learned from that experience with a wildfire. The major expenses began after the big blaze was out and the fire was no longer dramatic. Firefighters were still patrolling the burned areas, looking for smoldering trees or logs, anywhere there might be potential for the fire to restart. Everyone was exhausted, and we needed to keep working the fire ground. Firefighters from other counties needed to get back to their departments. Because of the devastating fire in Bastrop County, east of Austin, we had difficulty getting some parts and equipment for repair and replacement. And, we were very fortunate and had tremendous support from all our local businesses and neighbors. Our fire was dangerous and expensive, and we recovered over time. I can't even begin to imagine what it will take or how long it will take to recover from the fires in California. The need for donations and all kinds of support continues long after the fires are out. I am including links for 3 foundations/charities that will put your donations to good use. I am also looking for organizations that will focus on re-foresting and re-planting following the fires. I will list those next month. You may have your favorite foundation or charity that is working on recovery from these fires. I have included World Central Kitchen because they always show up for disasters and do such a great job of feeding people! Just remember, when the fires are finally out, the real work of recovery begins. Thank You for your contributions, your generosity, and your prayers !!! Here are 3 links for contributions that will make a difference. Check them out and contribute where it feels right for you. Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation Episcopal Relief and Development World Central Kitchen California Wildfires
Once again I have stepped from "civilization" back into Creation. And, I am happy to report that Creation is working just fine, all by itself! While humans are thrashing about, jumping up and down, and calling each other names, Creation is hummmming along, having a wonderful time being Creation. Today I am sitting in a park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, enjoying the quiet, soaking up the symmetry, and watching Canadian geese soar back and forth over the park. And, I am sitting in my truck, keeping warm since it is still cold here. I do love the "quiet of winter" which often makes it easier for me to find that place of Inner Peace within. I am looking at the limbs of an oak that are spread out against the grey sky in the amazing pattern that we find in similar trees. As I let my attention focus on the tree, the trunk, the big limbs, the smaller limbs, and then the very small limbs, I begin to relax. When I focus on Creation, I am reminded of the balance, the symmetry, the precision, the range of color and gentle motion all around me. After a few minutes, I take a deep breath and remember that I am part of Creation. I remember that my entire experience as a Human Being is always part of Creation! All too often, we get so caught up in the "busy-ness of ourselves" that we forget the essentials. We forget to look around us for Beauty, for Symmetry, for amazing Sunsets, for the Kindness of Strangers. We begin to feel alienated from life and from ourselves. Unfortunately, when we feel alienated, we are vulnerable to negativity and cynicism. Not a good place to be ... ! This is one of the main reasons I step out of "civilization" and back into Creation as often as possible! The only people in the park right now are a young girl, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and her very patient dad. She is having the best time ever, running up the hill to the playground and then down the hill to the parking area. Occasionally, she stops and looks back for her dad, telling him to "hurry up". She doesn't have a jacket on and is having a great time, running, running, running! I am sure she will sleep really well tonight. So, if we want to sleep really well at night or be able to find that "place of Inner Peace" within ourselves, we might want to spend more time in Creation and a little less time in "civilization". John Muir said it so well ... "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as Sunshine flows into Trees. The Winds will blow their own freshness into you and the Storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." — Our National Parks Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, join us as we rest in that place of Inner Peace whenever it works for you. As we relax and recharge, we are creating a place of coherence and healing that our Souls recognize. Remember, we are Blessed and we are a Blessing! ~ Mary Christopher
Nuturing Our Thoughts As Carefully As Gardeners Nuture Their SeedsWhat if we considered our thoughts as carefully as Gardeners choose for their seeds? All of the Gardeners I know, are so thoughtful and choosy about the seeds they sow. They research seeds, using the internet as well as seed catalogues. Most Gardeners share information about seeds and plants with each other. And, they do this every year with patience and diligence!
Seeds need to be chosen for a number of qualities, including soil type, weather patterns, requirements for Sunshine, length of germination, need for moisture and the list goes on. In other words, Gardeners are very picky and very thorough about the seeds they choose to sow in their gardens!
What if all of us, that would be all Human Beings, began choosing our “thoughts” with the same care and thoughtfulness? What would happen? How would we feel? We know that seeds produce plants that produce vegetables, or fruit, or herbs, or flowers that attract Pollinators. Do we pay attention to the “fruit” or the product of our thoughts? What if we did?
If we paid just a little more attention to the thoughts that we dropped into the “soil of our subconscious mind”, would we find the “fruits and vegetables more palatable? Most of us know something about how our subconscious works. To some degree we may be aware of the way our neurons respond to all our thoughts and feelings. But, are we aware that our thoughts actually have tangible results … ???
Most of us understand that negative or angry thoughts can shift our mood, putting us into “survival mode” and generating chemicals that set us up for “fight or flight or in some cases, a freeze response”. None of these survival responses are unhealthy in response to an actual threat. But, given what great imaginations we have, human beings have the capacity to misread situations or misinterpret other people’s words or actions. As a result, we often begin to generate some prime negative thoughts and feelings in a neutral situation.
Just like planting seeds in a garden, even our random thoughts and feelings may “take root” over time and produce an “unhealthy fruit or vegetable”. We all have this experience, but we don’t usually connect our more negative thoughts or feelings with the result.
Numerous studies using all kinds of sophisticated technology, have shown that any “negative thought or feeling” can immediately generate “the chemistry of survival”! The more we repeat those thoughts or feelings, the more deeply they are embedded in our consciousness where they begin to generate more “negative fruits”.
Once we think about thoughts and feelings being similar to seeds, it makes sense. The good news is that we can do something about this pattern of unconscious thought. In many spiritual traditions, this practice of carefully choosing our thoughts and feelings is known as “mindfulness”. Even beginners with this process often feel the benefits sooner than they expect. The benefits may include better sleep, improved digestion, fewer arguments with family or coworkers, and much less internal tension.
Suggestion: as a personal scientific experiment, try paying a little more attention to your thoughts and feelings. Begin by paying attention to those that are more “life-affirming” or choose thoughts less critical of yourself or others. Then, over a few weeks, check to see how well you are sleeping, or how your digestion is doing. Everyone’s response to their personal “survival response” is different. Yours will be unique to you, of course.
Remember, we are not trapped in our thoughts and feelings. We do have choice about where we put our attention. So, for a few weeks, try being aware of your thoughts and feelings. Be very picky about the ones you choose to nurture. You may be pleasantly surprised with the fruits of your carefully tended garden.
It is cold here in Oklahoma today and supposed to be colder most of the week! Brrrrr … !!! Grateful that I am not responsible for keeping cattle and horses fed this week! Definitely a blessing ... !!!
We are aware of the turmoil, upset, and misinformation in the world. It is apparent that some of the turmoil and upset is directly due to misinformation. We are also aware that “misinformation” can be very difficult to refute.
We know that we are living through an era of very rapid cultural change. We have been through historical periods of change before, but not at this “rate of change” or with such intensity. Because of social media and technology, we are struggling with split-second images, sound bites, and information that is practically impossible to “fact-check”.
Why am I stating the obvious, once again. Because we need an antidote to all this chaos. That antidote is within us, closer than hands and feet. That antidote is our own spiritual practice! By spiritual practice I am referring to our ability to “go within”, to calm ourselves, and reside in the “quiet” that lives within us. It is not hidden. There are no magical words or phrases we can use to get there. But, research has shown that using a heart breath or breathing through our heart center is a reliable method for getting centered and feeling coherent. One reason that using a “heart breath” works, is because it is almost impossible to think ourselves into “inner peace”.
When we are surrounded by chaos, we do have the ability to find our personal path through the world using our inner guidance. That guidance is always available, always. We just need to take the time, get quiet enough, and listen. When we are centered and coherent, we have the capacity to build a better life for ourselves and be a Blessing in the world.
There are many great and well-known examples of people who have done exactly that, based on their Inner Guidance. And, there are hundreds and thousands of people, past and present, we may never heard of, who have made or are making a difference in the world. If you are reading this, or listening to my podcasts, you are most likely one of those people!
Every global spiritual teacher that we have studied or know about has taught spiritual practices. Every indigenous culture that I am aware of has some kind of spiritual practice. Living in a culture with so many people glued to some kind of screen does not encourage spiritual practice!
However, we all know from our personal experience that spiritual practice works. We also know that real change happens from within. Most of us have seen that real social change happens from the ground up. We all have numerous examples of this.
We also know that where we put our attention is where our energy goes. So, I am suggesting that after we are centered in that “quiet place”, we focus on a few of the places where we have lived. Many of us have lived or been “stationed’ in numerous places. Let’s bless those cities or towns, lighting up the neighborhoods where we lived. Let’s just “light up” the whole country, one neighborhood, one city at a time.
Just as Sunlight is a reliable “antidepressant”, Light breaks up old patterns, also heals, and illuminates spiritual pathways. We know these practices work. We have experienced this and seen it work, more than once!
Have a Wonderful Week, and when in doubt, just keep rowing. I will meet you in the Peace of our Inner Sanctuary. Many, many Blessings, always, mc
Creation Is Working Just Fine this Morning! When I woke up, the Sun was shining through the window. Light was sparkling off the snow that was left from our Big Winter Storm. One squirrel was out looking for food. One of the resident kitties was nestled up against my right arm. I was warm and safe in the middle of Winter on the Prairie! Definitely, an accomplishment for Human Beings!January 13 was the first Full Moon of 2025. The lineup with Earth and the Sun is always perfectly timed down to the microsecond. Amazing how precise it is !!! This Full Moon is known as the Full Wolf Moon in many Native traditions. The Full Moon has been very bright, shining in the night sky.We are so blessed in so many ways and we sometimes forget how blessed we are to have this lifetime! Here we are, able to live on this planet as Human Beings because Earth has breathable air, water to drink, and enough Sunlight coming through the atmosphere to trigger photosynthesis. Also, there is enough Soil, with all kinds of tiny creatures, so we can "grow food"!We have learned how to cook vegetables, hunt and fish, sail in boats, gather honey, make moonshine and craft beer! We learned how to heal ourselves using herbs and minerals, often with sweat lodges, and prayers. We have been very busy creating "civilizations" that rise and fall over hundreds of years, often in a spectacular and devastating manner! We have learned a great deal, except, unfortunately, how to get along with each other. We could probably do a lot better in that department, for sure!Most of us have such busy lives that we go from day to day without an awareness of the Beauty that surrounds us. But, when we do take time and allow ourselves to experience the Beauty and Wonder of Earth, we are experiencing the Creator. This is because Creation reflects the Creator. From our point of view as Humans, it is very difficult for us to even begin "to imagine" the immensity of Creation. Are there as many Stars and Galaxies as there are grains of sand on all the Beaches of the World ... ??? Trying to imagine how many Stars exist in the Universe is beyond my comprehension. But, the experience of Creation is available whenever I step into Nature and begin to feel Gratitude for Being Alive.The last time I was in New Mexico, I was driving south from Gallup at night. The road was completely dark and all I could see were millions and millions of tiny lights from one horizon to another! Stars were everywhere !!! I had to get off the highway, stop the car, and get out. I stood by the car for some time, not sure how long. I was in a "state of Awe"! There were no words for what I was experiencing. I was aware that I was part of Creation. I have always been deeply grateful for that experience. I am sure most of you reading this article have had similar experiences.When I lived in Texas, I planted 2 peach trees. I had to dig deep through limestone so there would be enough room to add dirt so the roots could get a good start. The trees did well, even that first year. I remember how excited I was seeing the first tiny buds showing up on those slender tree limbs. After the buds appeared, I would check almost every morning to see if there were any blossoms. Then, one morning there were 2 or 3 blossoms, amazing colors of blended pinks and white, and then there were blossoms opening up on all the branches. I realized my little trees knew exactly how to grow and how to produce Peaches! Seeing all those blossoms was so exciting ... !!! I was having a love affair with my peach trees!Whenever we plant a tree, plant native flowers, put in pollinator gardens, or just sit with a Tree, we are participating in Creation! We are working with the Creator to preserve, protect, and defend Creation! We are helping and supporting the activity of Creation known as "growth". When we plant trees, we are showing our gratitude for Life on this gem of a planet. Instinctively, we realize that taking care of Creation is a good idea since we need Nature much more than Nature needs us!Last weekend I had been talking to several people about Monarch Butterflies and the importance of starting “pollinator gardens” from seed during January. If we start those gardens from seed this month, we will have seedlings to plant outside in the spring for all Pollinators! Two or three days later, I was walking back to my truck from the grocery store with a cart. I looked up and saw a large Monarch Butterfly to my right, fluttering through the air. This Beautiful Butterfly landed on the handle of the grocery cart. It sat right there, slowly moving its wings, and then flew away. Again, I was in a “state of awe”. I had not seen another Monarch for at least several months.
We are so blessed in so many ways, surrounded by Beauty and Light and the Energy of Life. All too often, we miss opportunities to experience Creation. However, if we give ourselves time to be in Nature, or care for Creation, we are nurturing our Hearts and our Soul. We are “touching” Creation. Living on Earth is a very Rare and Wonderful Opportunity for healing and spiritual growth.
Have a Wonderful Week wherever you are and whatever you are doing. I am looking forward to seeing you outside, and being with you in Creation.
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness,
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
This is our Sunday, January, 12, Inner Peace Guided Meditation. As you may know, I am in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we have been snowed in! However, yesterday afternoon the Sun came out, the snow started melting and families showed up at the park! It is cold today, but warm enough for a walk.
So, I am in the park, soaking up Sunshine and breathing fresh air. As usual, Creation is working just fine! Unfortunately, Human Beings seem to be having difficulty getting along. Lessons we might have learned in kindergarten, didn’t seem to soak in.
Last week I watched the funeral at the National Cathedral for Jimmy Carter. As I listened to the eulogies, again I was so impressed by all the good that Jimmy and Rosalynn were able to accomplish in their lifetime. They literally walked their beliefs into the world not only in the United States, but all around the world. This is not easy to do. Most of us are aware of how challenging it often is to bring Light and Healing into the world. So, I felt deep gratitude for the patterns of compassion and charity they were able to bring into the world.
Unfortunately, all those accomplishments do not seem to be nearly as exciting in the news for many people. Now that the “media” serves up hour after hour of disasters, murders, and near disasters, we are often “bored” with goodness. Because our brains are wired to be on the alert for “danger”, our attention is easily drawn to danger and drama!
Of course, there are times when there really is “danger”, but that is usually when the Weather Channel is showing the radar of approaching hurricanes, tornadoes, or snow storms.
If you have been watching any of the news on television, on your laptop or phone, you may have noticed how the news clips are structured to trigger fear or anxiety. I don’t watch much television anymore, mainly because of the ads selling illnesses. Now that I have noticed how the news clips are structured, I am avoiding that as well. One ad or news clip that I saw recently, was very short. It showed a photo of several young people of different races in a protest march. I couldn’t see anything about the focus of their protest because there was large signage on the lower part of the clip with Big Letters that said, “Socialism”! I didn’t keep watching because I was aware that the point of this clip was “to trigger” fear or anxiety. However, I was impressed at how well done this ad or “news clip” was. It was short and if I had not been paying attention, that image with the word “Socialism” might have slipped right by my conscious mind and into my subconscious.
I was aware, not for the first time, that we are being influenced to be afraid of, or worried about “other people” who may or may not look like us. And, these ads or “news clips” are often exceptionally well done.
Because we as Human Beings are wired to look out for danger, anything that looks or sounds dangerous or threatening can grab our attention quickly. If we are not aware that our attention has been grabbed, we may shift from feeling safe to feeling threatened. Sometimes, this can happen very quickly. This shift happens because of the way we are wired and because the amygdala may be triggered. The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped part of the brain. It plays a key role in processing emotions, especially fear, anxiety, and rage.
The amygdala is part of the limbic system, which controls emotions, behavior, and memory. It helps identify potential threats and can quickly trigger the body's "fight or flight" response. So, if we are not paying attention, or if “the news” is running in the background without our full attention, we can find ourselves feeling anxious or even fearful. Then we are moving into survival mode. Our cortisol levels go up along with our heart rate. If we are not entirely present and aware of the information and images that we are absorbing, we can be “triggered”.
Here is the Good News, courtesy of Google AI …
“Early scientific studies involving Buddhist monks and the amygdala primarily focused on observing how experienced meditators showed significantly reduced activation in the amygdala when exposed to emotional stimuli. When the research compared non-meditating individuals to Buddhist monks, it showed a potential ability to regulate emotional responses through long-term meditation practice.”
“This research often used brain imaging techniques like fMRI to measure brain activity during meditation sessions. In one of the very early studies, the monks involved had all been meditating on compassion or loving-kindness for at least 25 years.”
So, we are in good company and just need to keep up our spiritual practices, such as our Sunday Inner Peace Meditations !!! Most of us have been meditating, at least since the 1970s. This means we have been building “spiritual muscle”, and we tend to be more aware of the “mass mind” information we are absorbing! Good for us !!!
Thank You all for showing up. Thank You for keeping up your spiritual practices because it does pay off. And, thank you for all the good you are doing in the world every day !!!
Mary Christopher
For thousands of years, we lived our lives in the Sun and by the timing of sunrise and sunset. Then, as we became more "civilized" and modern, we have been spending more time inside with "artificial" lighting. We have been trying to fool our bodies and emotions that artificial light is the same as real Sunshine. and has the same benefits as the Real Thing.! As you know in our more recent history we have heard that Sunlight is not "good for our skin". However, it is not true that Sunlight is our enemy. Many current studies have shown how important Sunshine is for our emotional and physical well-being. I have included a short list of benefits. These are well-established, based on thorough scientific studies. Since we are having winter weather here in the northern hemisphere, we have shorter days, longer nights, and cooler to colder temperatures. The result is that most of us are not getting outside. So we are not exposed to enough Sunshine this time of year. Human Beings need Sunshine! For centuries, we have lived, played, worked, hunted and fished, and grown food out of doors in Sunshine. As a result, we tended to be more resilient, slept better, exercised more, and were generally stronger. There were many ways in which we were healthier. I am including a short list of a few well-established health benefits of Sunshine. During the rest of winter, we will explore more of these. Here are three important results of being outside in Sunshine. We have covered some of these benefits before, and they are worth reviewing. 1. Improved Sleep ~ the quality and to some extent the length of our sleep can be extended by exposure to early morning Sunshine. Serotonin helps wake us up in the morning by acting as a neurotransmitter that signals alertness in the brain, particularly when stimulated by sunlight exposure. When the retina of our eyes is exposed to early morning sunshine, it triggers the production of serotonin so we feel more alert and present. Serotonin promotes wakefulness, then melatonin is produced from serotonin, encouraging us to turn off the inside lighting and to go to bed. Melatonin plays a role in both sleep and wake cycles. Serotonin and Melatonin can be produced "naturally" by regular exposure to early morning Sunshine! This is how humans have been falling asleep and waking up for centuries! 2. Sunshine also functions as an anti-depressant for the same reason it "wakes" us up in the morning. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that strengthens alertness and our sense of well-being. So we engage more fully in our lives. We benefit along with everyone around us! Sunshine is also considered an effective antidepressant and can be used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a condition associated with winter and the lack of exposure to sunshine, especially early in the day. Some people use special full-spectrum inside lights to mimic Sunlight. These light treatments can be even more effective when combined with being outside, weather permitting. 3. Scientific studies are also showing that Sunshine therapy can clear up skin conditions like psoriasis. These studies have shown that exposure to Sunshine for 30 minutes a day can reduce psoriasis within 5 to 6 weeks. Exposure to Sunlight also improves our immune function, improving our resistance to infections and seasonal conditions. Since the 1960s, we have heard that exposure to Sunshine is not good for our skin. However, current research is showing that regular exposure to Sunshine is healthy for us. Remember that Sunshine is full-spectrum light. We are just beginning to understand the numerous benefits that are available. So, try getting at least 30 minutes of morning Sunshine, earlier is better, unless it is too cold. Do some research for yourself and see what results you find over the next several weeks. Have a Wonderful Week and take good care of yourself!
As you are probably aware, we are having Weather! In the U.S. from the Great Lakes region going south and east, we have plunging temperatures, freezing rain, snow, sleet, and very difficult conditions for travel.
During this week of Weather, please keep all the First Responders, including Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics, Police, Highway Patrol, City and County Linemen, and anyone else you think of in your prayers. All these women and men, including all the people staffing hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers are going the extra mile and may be putting their lives on the line. Please keep all these courageous people in your prayers
Also, remember those folks who are homeless and in need of adequate shelter. If there is a homeless shelter in the area where you live, consider giving them a call to find out if they need extra supplies. Weather events can stretch their resources very thin.
This week we are remembering Jimmy Carter who passed away on December 29, 2024. With all their years of service, Jimmy and Roselynn set an amazing example of compassion and integrity. They had integrity and set the bar very high for compassion and service. Please keep all the Carters' family and friends in your prayers.
Again, thank you for all you do every day.
Take good care of yourself and stay warm !!!
Mary Christopher
As I am sure you have noticed, we are facing a year of uncertainty and potential difficulties. We all know people who are celebrating and people who are very concerned. The road ahead looks potentially very bumpy.
Since early this morning, I have been thinking about Jimmy Carter, our 39th president who passed away Sunday, December 29. He was president from 1977 to 1981. In 2002 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to resolve global conflicts and create peaceful solutions, primarily in the Middle East. In 2000 he left the Southern Baptist Convention because of their rigid interpretation of the gospel, especially related to the rights of women. But Jimmy and his family continued their relationship with the First Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. I am sure his decision to withdraw from the Southern Baptist Conference was a matter of conscience for him, and not an easy decision.
Jimmy and Rosalynn lived their convictions. They were what I would call "New Testament" Christians who lived their beliefs with their work in the world. Their efforts and outreach while in the White House and during the years following spoke volumes about their commitment to Jesus's teachings. They simply were a blessing to the World without a lot of fanfare and noise!
We know we are facing challenges this coming year. We also know that so many of our social systems are not working well. But when we become reactive, and begin to blame "others" for these problems, we are coming from a place of fear and moving away from our hearts. When we begin to live from a place of fear, we are in survival mode. That is not a good place to be! And our Hearts begin to shrink! Not a good situation ...
So, what do we do? This is when our spiritual practice, our well-developed spiritual muscle known as mindfulness, becomes very useful. If we can catch those moments when we are moving away from our hearts and into survival, then we can shift direction. We can "choose" to stay centered, focused, and balanced. This is one of the great benefits of "practicing mindfulness"! Mindfulness enables us to choose our path, to stay aligned with our hearts and our convictions. Then it is much easier for us to be present and focused. When we are "present" and aligned with our Heart, we are a blessing to ourselves, and our families, including everyone within as much as 10 feet or more all around us!
As we move into this New Year, remember the thousands of people all around the World who are meditating, doing their spiritual practices and exercises every day. We are a "murmuration of Souls" who are doing the work that Old Souls do to heal the wounds of humanity and restore equilibrium. We have shown up right now with the capacity to be an Awesome Blessing in the World!
Also, do remember that Creation is working just fine! The Sun is coming up every day. Trees and grasses and plants are growing. Squirrels are gathering nuts. Birds are flying, no problem. I was doing errands this morning, and as I parked at one of the stores, I saw a small hawk flashing through the parking lot about 20 feet away from me. I had looked up at just the right moment to see this amazing bird, so close, soaring by, its wings out-stretched. Absolutely took my breath away!
The Good News is that we are part of Creation. We are living, and moving, and breathing from within this Amazing Creation that is way beyond our comprehension! But, in our Hearts, we Know we are held deeply within Creation. Please remember this ...
Winter is the perfect time for being quiet, for resting within, and for restoring our sanity. Let's give ourselves the "Gift of Quiet", a time to heal and a time to bless.
Have a Wonderful New Year.
Thank you for all you are doing!
And, remember to Breathe ...
We know that Creation is Conscious. We know this because we now have the technology that "shows us" our relationships and connections with plants and animals, even insects. We can demonstrate the ability of Slime Mold to find its way through a maze to food! Really … !!! We know that plants respond to “loving-kindness”. We know that herbs are healing.
We all know people who have amazing relationships with plants and animals. I have been very fortunate to have known several amazing veterinarians who care for and heal all Creatures Great and Small. We know people who are healed by “their pets” or others who are restored to sanity by gardening. We also know that some people can "grow anything"! They seem to have a "green thumb"!
We know people of all ages who have amazingly conscious relationships with bees, birds, camels, cattle, goats, horses, dogs and cats, chickens, and even snakes. We know farmers who grow bountiful crops of corn, oats, wheat, vegetables, herbs, flowers, apples, or oranges almost every year ... !!!
We don't actually need science and technology to tell us that Creation is Conscious. We know this in our Heart and in the deepest and most ancient awareness of our Souls.
That is why we care about Creation. This is the reason humans are so nurtured and healed by the Forests, by one Spectacular Sunset after another, by the sound of gentle rain on the roof. We laugh at Squirrels and marvel as Hawks soar through the air. Fields of ripening wheat are breath-taking as the wind makes wave after wave. People sit by the Ocean for hours, calmed and restored by the sound and rhythm of the waves.
We are part of Creation. We tend to forget this in our "high-tech" modern world. And, we tend to forget that we need Nature much, much more than Nature needs us. As long as we are on this delightful and amazing planet, we need Mother Nature. As soon as more of us understand that, our lives will be much simpler and healthier as well as happier.
One of my very early spiritual teachers told me several times, "If you want to understand the Creator, study Creation." I took his excellent advice and I am so glad that I did!
Happy New Year !!! May you find Peace and Happiness being a conscious part of Creation !!!
We are the Caretakers of this Earth. Right now, we are the ones who are making a difference for the next generations. This is like the game of tag. Those of us living on the Earth right now are the ones creating the kind of world that our children and grandchildren and their children will inherit! This is our moment to make a difference!
As you may know, I grew up in southwest Oklahoma. We farmed and raised cattle, horses, and a few chickens. Keeping the four-legged carnivores out of the chicken coop was always a challenge! But we did manage to have fresh eggs during the laying season. I learned so much from being around cattle and horses, farmers and ranchers, and veterinarians!
Much of what I learned could not be absorbed from a book. That learning came from experience. For instance, cattle don’t like to be rushed. Horses don’t like to be yelled at. Farmers and Ranchers don’t always talk a lot, but when they do, it is worth listening to. You can’t hurry any seeds to sprout once they are in the ground. Wheat seeds, oat seeds, and alfalfa seeds each have a specific schedule. An entire crop of alfalfa seeds can blow away overnight if the soil is too dry and the wind too strong! I also learned that Patience usually gets better results than impatience. Treating Everyone, including Animals, with courtesy and respect is a very good way to move through the world.
I learned how important it was to pay attention to the weather, and always carry extra flashlight batteries in the truck as well as extra water, especially in the summer. I also learned not to get too close to a “dead” rattlesnake on a farm road, until you are sure it is DEAD! I still have not heard the last of that one!
So much of what I learned growing up comes under the heading of wisdom and practicality. We were careful not to waste water on the farm. That water came from a well that could run dry during a Drought! My grandparents were able to “hang onto” their land during the Dust Bowl, but not everyone was so fortunate. Many people lost everything they owned. They were forced to move away and usually never came back! Trying to farm on the Great American Prairie is not a very good idea. Crops and fields can blow away.
We are the current Caretakers of this amazing Earth. Unfortunately, there seem to be fewer and fewer family farms. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream kept Vermont family dairy farms going for many years, but they were finally bought out. We can’t all farm, have orchards, or raise bees. But, we can support the people who are growing food or raising bees or fruits and vegetables. They are still showing up in Farmer’s Markets and along roadsides.
And, we can support the organizations who are preserving and expanding forests. Every generation is going to need clean air and clean water to survive. That is a legacy we can do something about right now.
Every tree that is planted and protected, every Old Growth forest that survives intact is our direct contribution to the Future. We are contributing to the health and well-being of the generations that follow us. We are “believing” in the future of Life on Earth. Many of us live in neighborhoods where there is no guarantee that Trees will be left undisturbed for many years. But, there are places where Trees and natural habitat can be sustained and protected.
Right now we are the Guardians and the Protectors of Creation on this beautiful little planet. We are making a difference! And, we can have an even greater impact by “giving Trees as a Gift” for holidays, birthdays, graduations, even as a memorial.
Remember, every Tree counts and every gift makes a difference!
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We know redwoods are more than just local landmarks; they are global climate protectors. They are also home to countless species. Owls nest in their towering canopies, amphibians find shelter in their shade, and mammals of all shapes and sizes rely on them for survival. By protecting these forests, we preserve the rich biodiversity that makes these ecosystems so unique. We can secure a healthy, thriving environment for future generations.
You can make a definite impact right now by supporting the ongoing work of the Sempervirens Fund. Your contribution funds the year-round work of sustaining these precious redwood forests. Sempervirens Fund is California’s first land trust, founded in 1900 and dedicated exclusively to defending the redwood forests and all creatures great and small that live in the Santa Cruz mountains.
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This is our Winter Solstice guided meditation and podcast for our weekly Inner Peace meditation. It is a beautiful day here. It is cold and the Sun is shining. I'm at a very lovely park in Tulsa. There are parents out with their younger children. It is so good to see young children outside on scooters and swings and climbing all over the equipment rather than sitting in front of a screen! This is a well cared for and safe park.
We are now officially in winter in the Northern Hemisphere which means it is now summer in the Southern Hemisphere. On the day of the Winter Solstice, the Sun appears to stop on its journey south through the sky. Then it gradually begins its journey north over the next several days. The winter solstice occurs at an exact time which is the time the sun appears to pause over the Tropic of Cancer. Then each day following the Solstice, the sun will appear to be a little bit higher in the sky until the Spring Equinox. Then we will begin our journey towards summer on the Equinox.
It is a beautiful day. The sky is clear. There's a breeze which is a bit cold, but not too cold for a walk. And, I was up this morning in time to catch a photo of the Sun coming up over the house across the street. That was great.
Unfortunately, in the midst of these holidays, we seem to have gotten ourselves into a bit of a political tangle. That could be my understatement for the year! I have noticed that humans tend to do this. We tend to get into serious and very challenging messes like this when there is a problem with refugees or overpopulation anywhere on the planet. The situation is made even worse when refugees are fleeing in large numbers from one country to another. This has been a problem throughout our history, and we have not managed to solve it!
When we have refugees knocking at the door, and it doesn't seem to matter which country it is, we tend to get a little crazy. Sooner or later we begin to feel threatened and then frightened and anxious. When we feel this threatened, we have a tendency to move into very unpleasant sorts of behavior. In order for us to solve problems like overpopulation, or refugees, or systems that are way out of date, we need to get much better working together.
Here is the Good News! There are people in government and in communities who know how to do just that. They have learned how to get people talking to each other, listening to each other, working together for the common good. If we can get better at communicating rather than polarizing, name calling, and threatening each other, we could make progress. We know from experience that all those behaviors exacerbate the problem!
So we're in a bit of a tangle. And, it is a very unpleasant tangle! It has become a very difficult political tangle, primarily because we haven't gotten much better at working with each other. And, there are people who refuse to consider any other solutions but theirs! Now we are in a situation where
people can get hurt. All kinds of people, young and old and everything in between, can get hurt. This is a tragedy in the making!
This is a tragedy in the making because it is what happens when people refuse to work together for whatever reason. There are tragedies that didn't have to happen or that could have been avoided. And there are tragedies that were made worse because of choices people made.
A good example would be the Titanic. This ship was supposed to be unsinkable, so the owners and builders decided not to load the required number of lifeboats! Why bother to put enough lifeboats on the Titanic for all the passengers since it was definitely “unsinkable”. Then there were people, immigrants, refugee people, on the lower levels, all crammed in below. In many ways they were considered “worthless”. Approximately 1,317 passengers died when the Titanic sank. 709 of them were 3rd class passengers. Three-quarters of those passengers perished. It was very difficult for them to reach the upper decks where the lifeboats were stored. The sinking of the Titanic was tragic, and it was made even more so by the decisions and behavior of human beings.
I'm not saying that life would have been any better if it had been easier for them to reach the upper decks. The Titanic went down regardless. What is tragic is the arrogance of the people who built the Titanic, who did not put enough lifeboats on for everybody. And, they probably overloaded the steerage! We keep doing things like that. I'm not sure whether we mean to or not. We are creating tragedies because we are not working out solutions together.
I am not intending to lower your spirits for the holiday, but I am asking for some serious consideration for ways that we as human beings can move forward together.
What can we do?
How can we learn to listen to each other better?
How can we get better at coming up with better ways to solve problems. Many people go to church, go to synagogue. People go to spiritual retreats. People do all kinds of activities in an effort to become more spiritual. I understand that because I've done that myself. And, I've been very fortunate.
The reason I feel so blessed is because the spiritual teachers I have studied and worked with were very practical and very grounded. One of my very early teachers in his professional life had been an electrical engineer. He was very knowledgeable and practical. And, he taught from that kind of understanding. Another of my early teachers was Murshid Samuel Lewis, the Sufi teacher who brought in the dances of Universal Peace. He was very practical. He was a gardener. He was an excellent gardener. And the plants that he put in, many are still growing at his house in San Francisco. One thing Murshid Sam said in one of the classes was when anyone showed up at his door for whatever reason, he would bring them in, wash their feet, and feed them. He would welcome them, and then he would try to find the best way to help them. All of my teachers had that kind of heart.
In the Benedictine tradition, welcoming a stranger is a major pillar of that teaching and of spiritual practice. Hospitality is a core value of the Benedictine spiritual practice.
What we have right now, what all of humanity has right now, is a big challenge to grow up a little bit, to become a little more spiritually practical. Our challenge is to close the separation between what we say and do in church, what we absorb and learn on retreat, and turn that into better listening and better systems of dealing with problems. This is not easy for humans, especially when we feel threatened! We can do this. We've done it before and we can do it again!
There's a place, a small town in Texas called Fredericksburg. It is near a sacred mountain, a granite outcropping, sacred to the native people who live there. The German immigrants arrived in 1836. There were probably some Spanish people there already. The German settlers were very ethical. They talked to the native people and made friends. And, they made a treaty. Those settlers and the generations that followed, kept the treaty. It is one of the few treaties in the US that was kept!
Good for them. That is an example of human being growing up, being mature! Keeping our word! That was a big deal in my family, keeping your word, taking care of your neighbor. Nobody in my family was a preacher, nobody. I come from a long line of attorneys, farmers and ranchers, and school teachers. So, I know that keeping our word can sometimes be challenging!
Being on this planet right now is a huge challenge! It is also a gift. This is an Opportunity to Grow! Earth is an amazing place. Creation is amazing, every day, it is amazing. Maybe if we paid a little more attention to Creation and how well it is working all the time, we might calm down a bit and do a better job! Creation is amazing! When I saw the Sun coming up over the rooftop this morning, it was just stunning! The sky was clear. The air was crisp. The world was gorgeous.
That is another reason I'm so glad to see children and parents outside! Some of the parents were wrapped up, like me! Children were taking off their jackets and tearing around. It is a good day to be alive. It is a good day to be on Earth! Yes, it is challenging! It is difficult, and we're up to it. We have to be up for it because it is right in front of us!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Hanukkah and Christmas are the same day this year. Kwanzaa starts immediately after on the 26th. We are incredibly Blessed and sometimes we forget.
I am deeply grateful to you, to everyone who listens to this podcast and reads my notes, and gets my emails, and makes lovely comments on Facebook! Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for all you are doing every day to make our World better for Everyone.
So, take good care of yourself. Have a wonderful holiday. And, let’s do a little better tomorrow. Let's be a little more creative with all these challenges!
And, remember to breathe. Mary Christopher
Today our redwood forests are at risk. Only 5% of the original old-growth coast redwood forests remain today. These national treasures are in danger !!! We know there are people who do not understand their value. This leaves what remains of these iconic treasures, and the wildlife that depend on them, in grave danger. However, there is hope and there is a plan, but we need your help to make it work.
These towering old-growth redwoods, some over 300 feet high and more than 20 feet wide, are nature’s giants! They are unique to the Santa Cruz mountains and the California coast while their impact stretches far beyond. Redwoods are nature’s champions in the fight against climate change because they absorb and transform a higher percentage of Carbon Dioxide than any other kind of tree! By protecting these forests, we are preserving a thriving local ecosystem, as well as contributing to a healthier global climate!
Redwoods are fire-resistant which is a great advantage for any kind of tree growing in Northern California! In one effort by another group to establish a new forest, Eucalyptus trees were imported to California from outside the country. Eucalyptus is not fire-resistant! As soon as there was a drought, there was a wildland fire, and the Eucalyptus bark caught on fire. Most of this planting burned to the ground because the bark is highly flammable! Fortunately, the Sempervirens Fund is very knowledgeable and experienced. They have a long history of caring for these national treasures.
Right now, they have a rare opportunity to re-establish an interconnected redwood forest. Once protected and restored, these ancient trees will continue to provide critical habitat for plants and wildlife, and continue to clean Carbon Dioxide out of the air. They will continue to provide a robust natural defense against climate change.
For nearly 125 years the Sempervirens Fund has protected these precious forests by purchasing priority forests for permanent protection. They have implemented extensive restoration techniques. They manage thousands of acres of forest for resilience against climate change and wildfire, establishing a growing network of healthy, resilient redwood forests. They are assisting a new generation of old-growth redwoods to emerge. These amazing trees provide a critical natural infrastructure that captures carbon, filters air and water, and supports diverse wildlife.
We know redwoods are more than just local landmarks; they are global climate protectors. They are also home to countless species. Owls nest in their towering canopies, amphibians find shelter in their shade, and mammals of all shapes and sizes rely on them for survival. By protecting these forests, we preserve the rich biodiversity that makes these ecosystems so unique. We can secure a healthy, thriving environment for future generations.
You can make a definite impact right now by supporting the ongoing work of the Sempervirens Fund. Your contribution funds the year-round work of sustaining these precious redwood forests. Sempervirens Fund is California’s first land trust, founded in 1900 and dedicated exclusively to defending the redwood forests and all creatures great and small that live in the Santa Cruz mountains.
The Perfect Gift ... these donations make a very special birthday and holiday gift for any family or friends who care about the Redwoods and our environment. All contributions are tax-deductible as allowable by law under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3).
Click here to make a secure donation!
This is our inner peace, guided meditation for Sunday, December 15. I am sitting in the Keystone Ancient Forest which is about 25 minutes outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Keystone is approximately 1300 acres of undisturbed old growth forest. It has not been developed or had any settlements or roads running through it.
I have stepped out of civilization and back into Creation. It is so peaceful. I hiked up here on the Fire Trail and I am about as close to the top of the ridge as I could get. I sat down with this lovely evergreen, got comfortable, and immediately went to sleep. I was sitting in Sunshine. It was about 57 degrees and a little breezy, but I was wearing several layers so I was comfortable. I woke up after about 30 minutes and looked around. There were no lions or tigers or bears, so I closed my eyes and slept for about another 30 minutes.
The Sunshine was wonderful. The colors of the leaves were amazing. And, it was so peaceful. Sitting here with this lovely tree, it was not hard at all to align with my Inner Peace. What a Blessing !!!
Today I wanted to talk about something I've been meditating on for 10 days more or less. About two weeks ago, I saw this statement somewhere online that said “Healing the Future”, and it got my attention! We understand that Human Beings are Creators. Whether we mean to or not, we do create our future. Sometimes we do a better job than others, and sometimes we get all goofy and go into a major destruction mode! We get really frustrated and decide the thing to do is just tear it all down and start over again! Which, generally speaking, is usually not very helpful.
When I was growing up, I would occasionally hear someone on the farm say, in a moment of extreme frustration, “Give me a big enough hammer and I can fix anything!”. Well, we know that some things can be fixed beyond repair! I've never found that giving someone a big enough hammer is the best of all possible solutions. Usually, this means we are not being very creative or cooperative or even listening to each other. We all know when we work together, and listen to each other, and get creative, we accomplish amazing things! We all know that. Somehow we manage to figure out all kinds of amazing solutions.
Right now we have a lot of challenges in our country and the world. But 90% of the time, these situations are not the result of people being mean or stupid. They are usually the result of very rapid cultural change! Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, our social, industrial, and technological systems have been changing so rapidly that we have not had any time to adjust. Now we are dealing with systems that have not kept up with these changes! Many of the systems have not been updated or restructured and they are just not working well for many people.
I have a picture of my aunt, who lived to be 103. She was born right around the turn of the century. I treasure this early photograph, because it was taken where she went to school. She went to school in a one room schoolhouse. The younger children are seated closest to the camera. This would have been a big box camera. It's easy to see my aunt since she was one of the younger children. As you go toward the back of the room all the other children are older. There is only one teacher for a large roomful of children, maybe 20 to 30.
There were not enough qualified teachers to go around on the western frontier. But they did figure out a brilliant way to solve the problem. The older students who could read and write and do math would help the younger ones. They would sit down with them and go over the lesson. Or help them do a little bit of math while the teacher was working with other children. It was a great system! It worked! It was like mentoring. So this neat little system evolved. It was a very compassionate system, where the people that needed help got the extra attention that they needed. And it worked! Many cultural and social challenges have solutions if we can be patient and compassionate. Problem solved ... !!!
A week or so ago, I saw this little phrase, which was “Healing the Future”. So I started meditating on that. After a few days, I had an intuitive sense that if we can heal our hearts, we can heal the future. That means, if we can heal our hearts and heal some of this frustration and angst and despair and cynicism, then we can create a better future! We have done it before. We are perfectly capable of healing our Hearts, but we have to believe in ourselves.
So today, I would like for us to work with a simple way to heal the hurts of our hearts, to start the process, just a little bit. This is why I'm sitting in the wilderness, or as close to pure wilderness as I can get. I am sitting with a lovely tree, surrounded by many other lovely trees with beautiful fall colors and evergreens. It is just gorgeous. I'm sitting on a soft bed of leaves. The whole floor of the forest is covered with leaves. As these leaves break down, all the nutrients will go back into the soil to feed the trees. It is a perfect system, as long as we, that would be human beings, don't mess with it.
So I've stepped out of civilization, and I'm sitting in Creation. I'm relaxing. I am gently aware of every breath, relaxing, feeling my body settling down. What I have understood is that we are not able to think our way into a peaceful state. We can't think our way out of despair, or anger, or frustration. This is one of the things that is so difficult for people who are doing their best to learn how to meditate. We can't think our way into a quiet state or even into a peaceful state. It just does not work!
But we can go to our heart. We can rest with our Heart. We don't have to make our Heart do anything. We can just rest with our Heart and breathe through our Heart. We can let our Heart relax and be with our breath. Let our mind ramble on wherever it wants to ramble and not worry about it. Just, very gently, bring our attention back to our breath and our Heart.
One of the great miracles about being a human being is that our bodies, like our whole system, is always trying to heal itself. This is built in. When we relax and breathe gently, we begin to shift gears. When we look at the incredible beauty around us and breathe then we are aligning with Creation and becoming more coherent.
If we can shift out of looking for what's wrong and or what we think is not working, and focus on what is working, this begins to shift our perception of the world and of the people all around us. We start to see people as whole. If not as our brothers and sisters, at least as our cousins 3X removed, right?
We are all on the planet right now, and it's difficult. It is extremely challenging, and scary. At this point, we need to remember that Human Beings are programmed to have a bias for negativity. When we were evolving and our brain was developing, we were doing our best to survive while living on the Savannah. So, wherever we were on the world, we were looking for things that might be a threat. If we got really good at finding those threats and escaping them or getting rid of them, we stood a much better chance of living longer and producing offspring. So, we have a negativity bias. We're looking for what's wrong in order to survive.
But we're no longer living in the wilderness. We are no longer living in the savannah. We're living where there's some civilization. It might seem like a chaotic civilization, but it is still civilization. There aren't lions and tigers and bears and snakes. We don't have the same kind of threats, but we still have this negativity bias! So we need to be very conscious about what we pay attention to and where we put our awareness. This doesn't mean that we become naive! It means that we are aware of where we are and what is happening right now, in the present.
We need to be aware of and looking for what's working and who is helping, not harming. That is precisely what we need to know for survival. We need to know what systems are working. We need to know what people are capable of working with other people to build a better civilization.
This is exactly where we need to put our energy!
And we need to be very patient and compassionate with ourselves. Because if we are patient and compassionate with ourselves, we'll be so much better at being patient and compassionate with others. Maybe we will even get better at listening to each other. Wouldn’t that be Wonderful !!!
In our meditation, I would like for us to do a very simple practice. I've been doing this particular little exercise for more than a week. I've discovered that as I allow my heart to relax, my heart seems to take a deep breath and calm down. When I do this, it is much easier for me to find that place of Inner Peace. Amazing … so simple and it works !!!
You can listen to the podcast. Or, try it yourself …
This is so simple.
Just sit down or lie down and breathe, gently …
Follow your breath,
as we breathe in,
following your breath,
all the way down into your solar plexus,
feel yourself becoming more centered.
As you breathe out,
following your breath
from your solar plexus,
from the bottom of your lungs,
past your heart
and out into the space all around you,
allow yourself to relax,
Keep following your breath.
When you're feeling centered and relaxed,
at ease with yourself,
and comfortable with your breath,
then bring your awareness to your heart.
Allow your whole body to sink into the chair
or the floor or the sofa or the bed,
just wherever you are.
Let your body rest.
As you breathe in, be aware of your heart.
And as you breathe out, allow your heart to relax,
to open up.
We're in a safe space.
Or, we're with good people.
Allow your heart to open,
to relax just a little bit,
feel the power in your heart,
the rhythm of your heart.
Let yourself come to Rest
very gently with your Heart.
Feel the unconditional love,
the compassion, the blessing
That compassion is always there,
Moving through our hearts,
always there,
Let yourself feel with every breath
the love and compassion,
the unconditional love that moves through All Creation.
Let your heart begin to heal from anything
that has ever caused any hurt.
Very gently, stay with your breath.
Stay with your heart
for as long as it's comfortable and
and when you find that inner peace and calm,
then remember it.
Walk that feeling into your week,
remembering the goodness that lives within you,
and the goodness that lives within other people.
Mary Christopher
What Is So Important about the Boreal Forest … ?Oxygen, Oxygen, Oxygen … !!!
The boreal forest, also known as the Taiga, is the world’s largest land biome and is characterized by coniferous forests. The boreal forest is an “old growth forest” in most areas. It is dominated by coniferous trees like pines, spruces, and firs. Some broadleaf species like poplar and birch also grow there.
A biome is a large geographical area characterized by a specific climate and dominant plant and animal life. This means that regions with similar environmental conditions, like temperature, precipitation, and soil type, will have similar ecosystems and communities of living organisms, like deserts, grasslands, rainforests, and tundras. So, the Boreal Forest is the world’s largest Biome!
Canada's boreal forest covers approximately 1.2 billion acres (485 million hectares). It is the world's largest intact forest ecosystem, stretching across northern Canada from the Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador! The entire boreal forest is found in the northern high-latitude regions, mostly between 50 degrees North and 65 degrees North. It covers areas in Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.
According to available information, Canada's boreal forest processes an estimated 113 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, which is equivalent to the emissions from roughly 24 million passenger vehicles!
The boreal forest is dominated by coniferous trees that are well adapted to thin, nutrient-poor soils. So, the coniferous do better than the deciduous trees with broad green leaves. Because conifers are evolutionarily older than broad-leaved deciduous trees, they usually do better in these soils with fewer nutrients.
Broad-leaved deciduous trees generally will out-compete conifers if they have more favorable soil and weather conditions. So this relegates conifers to areas with sub-prime conditions like the north. For some reason, conifers thrive in these challenging situations. Because they don’t lose their leaves like deciduous trees, conifers, also known as evergreens, keep their leaves all year. This increases the amount of time they have for photosynthesis!
This means there is more time for photosynthesis! So, more O2 (Oxygen) is released back into our atmosphere and more Carbon is removed from the atmosphere. Removing Carbon from our atmosphere by breaking down carbon dioxide is essential for the continued health of our planet as well as All Human Beings and All Creatures Great and Small!
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, our cars, trucks, planes, factories, refineries, as well as small engine equipment like motorcycles, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, etc. have steadily increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere !!! Before the Industrial Revolution got rolling, there were 275 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere. Now there is approximately 415 ppm in our atmosphere! That is 50% higher than the “pre-industrial” levels of Carbon Dioxide!
In addition to that, we have been chopping down trees and clearing land at an alarming rate! Unfortunately, Canada has been cutting down its forests at an alarming rate which is one of the highest rates of forest destruction in the world. Much of the wood from this priceless forest is getting turned into toilet paper and other paper products.
Every year, Canada clear-cuts at least one million acres of boreal forest, the equivalent of seven NHL hockey rinks per minute. From 2001 to 2017, Canada lost nearly 40 million hectares of forest !!! This released huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere which were equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 321 million cars !!!
So, what can we do besides calling all our friends and relatives in Canada to make sure they are messaging their government?
We can protect all the trees in our neighborhoods and communities. We can work with responsible and reliable Forestry Projects to plant more trees and make sure they survive to a ripe old age. The Arbor Day Foundation is recognized as one of the most reliable and responsible organizations for planting Trees and making sure the Trees survive. They have planted and continue to care for more than One Billion Trees worldwide! Here is a link to their website Arbor Day Foundation .
If you want to plant trees on your property, check with the Georgia Native Plant Society. They are a great resource. They are also all volunteers, so it may take a few days for them to get back to you. But, they will … !!! And, they are tremendously helpful !!!
Have a Wonderful Week and enjoy all the fresh air in your neighborhood.
Group Meditation at 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST and 10 pm EST
Happy Holidays ~ This week, Thursday, December 12, is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her day is celebrated throughout the Americas and wherever there are people with Hispanic family roots.
On Tuesday, December 17, Sufis and Mystics around the world celebrate the passing of Rumi, into Heaven. Jalal al-Din Rumi is considered the greatest Sufi poet and scholar. In many places around the world, this is a very solemn as well as joyful celebration. In Konya, Turkey, the Whirling Dervishes celebrate Rumi's passing with their amazing whirling dance.
This year the Winter Solstice occurs December 21 at 3:19 am. Happy Solstice !!!
Christmas is on December 25.
Hanukkah also begins on December 25 this year.
And, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January 1, 2025 !
More Good News ... Creation is working just fine !!! The Sun is coming up every morning. The Moon is still in her orbit. Photosynthesis continues to work, so we all have fresh air to breathe. We still have Bees and all the other Pollinators !!!
Humanity is still trying to figure out the common rules of engagement with each other. We are also still rolling the dice on the health and well-being of the Earth, all the People, as well as All Creatures Great and Small.
Thank you for showing up and for all you are doing for our Planet Home.
Have a Wonderful Week,
And, Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
This morning, as I was waking up, I "heard", "Seeds of Compassion". I did my best to stay as quiet as possible and listen. It was very clear to me this was a reminder that we need to be "Sowing Seeds of Compassion" even as humanity (that's us) is going through difficult times.
As we go through this unsettling period, we need to be doing things that are constructive and helpful. No matter how crazy our immediate world is we can build at the same time. We can still do many things that will create a better future. Human Beings are Creators, Builders, and Makers. We thrive when we are creative and work together. When we are fussing and fighting and causing chaos, not much gets done that supports life on Planet Earth.
So, being such sensible people, those of us who pay attention to Creation can keep building a "Better Future" for Everyone! Regardless of which political party is "in power", we still need clean air to breathe and healthy water to drink. We still need herbs for cooking and healing, as well as all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and grains. All these foods need pollination by Pollinators or by wind. Most fruits and vegetables need "direct pollination", by our Insect Pollinators.
When I was living in Texas, I had 2 peach trees. I had planted them and nursed them along. In the Spring after the buds appeared, I would check every morning to see if they had opened into blossoms. Once the blossom appeared, I would watch to see how many bees, butterflies, wasps, and any similar creatures were pollinating "my" peaches. Fortunately, in my neighborhood, we had plenty of Pollinators, so I had plenty of lovely peaches!
In our "modern" culture, we take so much for granted. We can walk into almost any grocery store and buy fruits and vegetables or foods from all over the world. Generally, we can purchase and walk out with as much food as we want without depriving other people. That is not the case in many parts of the world.
This is an excellent opportunity for us to start a small garden, at least a Pollinator Garden. Regardless of all the political posturing, Creation is doing its best to keep Nature functioning, all day and all night. When we work with Creation and support Mother Nature, we are creating a better future for our children and grandchildren and their children! When we plant Trees, we are making an investment in Oxygen production and Carbon capture for years to come. We are investing our time and energy in a Better Future for Humans and for all Creatures Great and Small !
In the midst of all this "noise and turmoil", we can also look for a few more opportunities for Kindness and Compassion. Most everyone I know is kind, thoughtful, and caring. The difficulty comes when there is too much social unrest and uncertainty. Then we may be so stressed that we miss opportunities for sharing or for compassion. We may walk right by someone who could use a little acknowledgment. Or, pass by someone who needs help getting their groceries in their car.
As we move into 2025, take good care of yourself. If you wake up worrying in the middle of the night, remember that Creation is working just fine. The Stars are shining, The Moon is still in her orbit and I am willing to bet the Sun will be up in the morning. If you can, remind yourself of all the good people in your life, and all the small, but important Blessings you experience every day.
Thank You for all your Good Work, for your Courageous Heart, and your Thoughtfulness.
And, remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Guided Meditation with the ArchAngels!
Welcome to the Holidays! Suggestions for Building Emotional Resilience
November was certainly a challenging month regardless of which side of the fence you were on. One of the most disturbing parts for me was the increase in negativity and blaming. We have seen this kind of political behavior in the past and it is usually tragic. I have friends who are very good people, who have become very cynical and in some cases are now "hating" people that they don't agree with.
We know what "hating" does to us. When we make a practice of judging or hating or becoming more and more cynical, we damage ourselves with these negative emotions. When we generate any negative emotion, our body immediately generates Cortisol and other stress hormones that throw us into "flight, or fight, or freeze".
These chemicals are useful if we are physically or emotionally threatened in any way. But, if these chemicals are generated due to our personal fears, anger, or frustration, then they are damaging to our whole system. When we choose these negative feelings day are day, we are primarily hurting ourselves!
So, what can we do? At the very least, we can practice Respect. We may not agree with someone, but we can respect their right to their perspective. If they want to fight about it, we can always walk away! And, we can choose to be aware of our thoughts and where we are putting our attention. Being aware of our thoughts and feelings is like catching a train just as it starts down a track going to a dead-end destination. We can always switch tracks!
What else can we do? We can carefully choose where we focus our attention. And, we can always ask for help from the Universe. During the Holidays, in my meditation classes, we do a special ArchAngel meditation. One of the reasons I like doing these meditations is that the belief in ArchAngels is shared by the Christian and Jewish traditions as well as Islam! So, it is a unifying spiritual practice!
This particular meditation turns up in the Celtic tradition and is also found in mystical Judaism. I read both in the podcast. These are wonderful evening or bedtime meditations, asking for Divine Protection.
Have a Wonderful Week and Thank You for everything you are doing to make this world a better place for Everyone!
And Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
We are so deeply blessed and cared for by Creation every day in so many ways. And we are often so busy or so preoccupied that we don't notice. For instance, if we step outside as the Sun is rising and soak up a few minutes of golden Sunlight, our brain will produce serotonin which helps us wake up! Serotonin is a neurotransmitter signaling our bodies that it is daytime.
This early morning Sunlight triggers specialized cells in our retina which causes serotonin production. Sufficient serotonin levels help us to wake up, and stay awake during the day. Serotonin is also linked to improved mood as well as having a sense of well-being.
Then, at night when the Sun goes down, our brain can use serotonin to produce melatonin. Melatonin is the neurotransmitter that signals the brain, saying it is time for us to go to sleep. We now live with so much “artificial light”, not only from light fixtures, but also from all our high-tech screens, that our brain gets confused and doesn’t trigger the process of changing serotonin to melatonin. This is why many people take a melatonin supplement to go to sleep at night!
These patterns of waking up with the Sun and going to sleep sometime after Sunset developed over thousands and thousands of years. We have had candles and oil lamps for centuries, but these could not produce the very bright lights that we live with now. If you want to be more awake during the day and begin to feel drowsy at night, try welcoming the Sun as it comes up in the morning. In the evening, lower the level of indoor lighting and turn off those screens at a reasonable hour.
You may find you are sleeping deeper and waking up feeling more rested! You may also feel more alert during the day! Remember, changing our waking and sleeping patterns will not happen instantly. It may take at least a week or more. But stay with it and you may find you are sleeping better and are more awake during the day!
Chlorophyll is another great blessing that we rarely, if ever, think about. In photosynthesis, chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy from the Sun. This energy triggers the chemical process in leaves that converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose (sugar) and oxygen. This works in all green plants, including grass.
Chlorophyll is the primary molecule responsible for capturing the sunlight that triggers this chemical reaction we call photosynthesis! Chlorophyll and human blood are similar in their chemistry. Chlorophyll has magnesium(Mg) at its center, while hemoglobin in human blood has an iron (Fe) molecule! In plants, the chlorophyll absorbs Sunlight. In humans, the Iron in red blood cells carries oxygen (O2) from our Heart to cells throughout our body! All this happens in our bodies and in leaves without any effort or even a single thought on our part! Amazing !!!
So, the next time you see the Sun rise, or walk on the green grass past trees with thousands of leaves, remember how blessed we are. Creation is working all the time to sustain our lovely little gem of a planet for Humans and all Creatures, Great and Small!
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving, remembering all our Blessings in Creation …
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness,
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
Welcome to a New Week! This is Thanksgiving week in the United States and the beginning of the holidays. As usual the "holiday shopping experience" has already begun. And, it seems to be gearing up earlier and earlier every year !!!
I recorded this podcast in the "Urban Wilderness" on Turkey Mountain, on the west side of Tulsa. It is known as an Urban Wilderness because it is close to the city and very accessible to hikers, bikers, and people with their dogs (on leases of course). It is also a very busy place, open 7 days a week for walking, hiking, and biking on 45 miles of trails!
This is the perfect kind of place for "forest bathing", much like similar places in Germany, Japan, Norway, and other locations in the U.S. It is easy to see the almost universal effect of "forest bathing" for hikers and bikers. Everyone is Friendly and at least somewhat Relaxed! At first, I didn't notice, but after passing a few people, including family groups, I realized how courteous and friendly people were. I felt like I was walking near a village with "neighbors" coming and going.
We have excellent research documenting the effects of "forest bathing" or "forest camping". For instance, we know that walking in the forest generates Endorphins in the Human body. Endorphins are peptides, or small proteins, that act as neurotransmitters in the body. They are produced in the brain's pituitary gland and hypothalamus and generate a feeling of well-being. This means our stress levels are going down! We are becoming more relaxed and at ease with ourselves.
We all know that life on Earth can be very challenging and stressful. If we think about it, we also understand that maintaining our health and general sanity is directly related to our ability to manage "stress". So, what could be better than a walk in the woods with Sunshine coming through the trees, breathing fresh air, and finding that wonderful sense of freedom as we move along the trail ???
Thank You so much for everything you are doing every day to make our World a bit better for Everyone. Have a great week and,
Remember to Breathe ... in the Woods if possible!
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness,
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
What Is Better Than Caring about Creation ... ?How about Participating with Creation ... ? We have an opportunity right now to work with Creation to support all kinds of wonderful Pollinators, right here in the Northern Hemisphere. In past Creation Care articles and podcasts, we have discussed how important it is to provide the plants and habitat that all Pollinators need every year. It is so important that our Pollinator Partners, have the plants they need to survive and to support the next generation of Pollinators. Fall is a great time to put in a few plants specifically for Pollinators, or start some seeds. Planting now gives those plants and seeds time to put down roots, and sprout when the weather warms up. Plants we start now will be available in the Spring when all the Pollinators show up! Even late fall is a better time to plant than none at all! When we create Gardens specifically for Pollinators, even small gardens at home, at our business, or in our churchyards, we are providing a "safe space" for them to survive and thrive. We know several varieties of Bees, Butterflies, Bats, Beetles, Birds, and even Moths are reliable pollinators. They play a vital role in pollinating crops like apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, melon, peaches, potatoes, vanilla, almonds, coffee, and chocolate! To help pollinators, we can incorporate native plants into our lawn or garden. You can also plant fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs, like blueberry, raspberry, elderberry, currants, and apple. Even if you don't have a yard, you can put a flower box on your balcony and plant herbs like mint, cilantro, dill, and oregano which will attract pollinators. Climate change is causing pollinators to shift their ranges and lag behind these changing climatic conditions. All these wonderful and amazing creatures depend on us (human beings) to help them survive unpredictable shifting weather patterns. It is difficult enough for humans to deal with some of these more extreme changes, and we even have the Weather Channel! We can make a difference! And, we can get it done without too much time or effort. If you are interested, search online for your state Native Plant Society, or look up the Nature Conservancy. Last weekend I found a local Native Plant Society "seed swap" on Facebook. They were set up in a nearby community center. All I had to do was walk in the door and start asking people behind the tables how to get started. An hour or so later, I left with lots of seeds, phone numbers, pamphlets, a large 2025 planting calendar, and a brand-new Fiskars steel trowel !!! The trowel was a door prize, just for showing up !!! I was a Happy Camper !!! All these folks were knowledgeable and happy to answer my questions. If you plant in your yard now, or in a pot on your porch, you will be so pleased when you step outside and see your first Monarch or Bee pollinating an early blossom. If you are prepared with your camera, you can get a photo and post it online! Remember, our Amazing Pollinators are counting on you !!! Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness,
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
Stepping Back into Creation ... What can we do when "civilization" is just too much, or way too crazy? We can always step back into "Creation"! That means finding a comfortable place in a forest, in a park with a friendly Tree, or by a lake or a stream. Forests, especially Old Growth Forests, and large parks are much more coherent and calm than many city neighborhoods. Although, numerous studies have shown that neighborhoods with more Trees are usually more peaceful and have less crime! As we know, humans are acclimated to Nature, even though it may take us a few visits to remember and "feel" at home in the woods. As we settle down, we may notice that our shoulders relax and drop away from our ears. We may also notice that our breathing is deeper and steadier. We may take a very deep breath and end with a long sigh. This is known as a "psychological sigh" and usually indicates we are now in a deeper state of relaxation.Click here to go directly to Mary's podcast ...
The rustling of leaves as the breeze moves through the trees is calming for most people. Sunlight filtering through trees is restful for our eyes. Even though everything in Creation is in motion, it is usually coherent and calming. Sitting in the Woods, by a stream or a lake can often bring on a nap or at the very least, a big yawn. Another way to think about this is to remember that Atoms are made up of 99.99999999% space. It follows that Molecules are 99.99999999% space. So, Humans must be 99.9999999% !!! That means we Humans, and all of the natural world around us are not as "dense" as we think we are! How about that ... ? As I remind myself that my body is 99.999999% space, I often feel "lighter" or at the very least, less dense. At that point, I usually relax a little bit more and feel calmer. At this point, someone in one of my classes will ask, "If everything in the physical realm is 99.9999% space, why can't I put my hand through that wall?" You may have figured this out already. We are not able to put our hand through the wall because our hand and the wall have the same density! Most of us know people who have tried to put their hand or fist through a wall and it has not turned out well for them. So what is the point of remembering that we are 99.9999% space? Because we are reminded that we are not as "dense" as we may feel. And, if we allow ourselves to relax into all this lovely space, it may be easier for us to discover our "place of Inner Peace". Our Inner Peace is always within us, and always available, especially as we settle into Creation. The longer we stay in our place of Inner Peace, the better all our systems function. The more relaxed we are, the more centered and coherent we are. Our digestion works better. Our Immune System is much more effective and we begin to "recharge". And, that is a Blessing! Have a Wonderful Week and, Remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness,
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
What Is So Special about Old Growth Forests?An Old Growth or Ancient Forest is a forest that has developed over time with very little disturbance. They usually have old trees, sometimes more than 200, 300, or even more than 500 years old! They often have very tall trees such as the redwood forests on the west coast.
These forests also have a complex structure. They will often have a variety of trees and plant life that support diverse wildlife. They will have trees in different stages of growth from very old to less than a few years old.
Most of these forests have deep layers of organic material such as leaves, twigs, and tree bark. As these layers disintegrate, the nutrients from plant material build the soil and nurture all the plant life underneath.
Often these forests are populated by plant and animal species that are native.. This helps protect native species and encourage their growth! Native plants also help support insects that thrive there. This, in turn, helps support the native plants. So, it is a very beneficial and economical system.
Ancient Forests also sequester or “trap” large amounts of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). This is a great benefit for our planet because of all the “carbon emissions” we have produced since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
All trees and green plants absorb CO2 through their leaves. Using photosynthesis, the CO2 is broken down into Carbon and Oxygen (O2). The O2 is released back into the atmosphere while the Carbon is used to make sugars to feed the tree or built into the tree itself.
This process goes on in all green leaves primarily during the day because photosynthesis is triggered by Sunlight! So, if you want to breathe really “fresh air”, go sit with a Tree for a while. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel just from breathing Fresh Air!
Many people take the time to hike in the woods or sit by a lake that is part of an ancient forest. Lakes and forests, just about anywhere in Nature, remind us of Creation. Most of us who live in “civilization” often feel tired or rundown. We may get to the end of the week feeling generally frustrated and wondering why.
One reason may be that we are spending most of our time outside of the Natural World. For centuries we have lived in or near forests, lakes, or oceans, immersed in the cycle of seasons related to farming, gardening, or fishing. Now we live in towns or cities, rarely putting our feet on the Earth or seeing stars at night. In some places, it is even difficult to see a beautiful Sunrise or a glorious Sunset! We may be depressed because we are deprived!
If you are inspired to step back into Nature, then look for a park with trees or an Ancient Forest. In the United States, we have the Old Growth Forest Network. There are 39 states with 271 protected forests registered in this network. These are wonderful areas to hike or spend the day in a quiet spot. In some countries, spending time in the woods is known as “forest bathing” and is highly recommended for reducing stress! Scientific studies of Human Beings who spend time in the forest have shown there are specific benefits.
Georgia has 17 Old Growth Forests. Twelve of these forests are in DeKalb County, one is in Gwinnett and one is the Fernbank Forest. Another is in the Chattahoochee National Forest. If you are anywhere in or around the counties that make up the Atlanta metroplex, you have plenty of opportunities for Forest Bathing! Oklahoma has 2 Old Growth Forests, Keystone and Turkey Mountain. Keystone is east of Tulsa and the Turkey Mountain Forest is in west Tulsa.
California has 24 Old Growth forests. Florida has 10 and Texas has 2.
Have a Wonderful Week and remember, if you want to understand more about the Creator, try spending more time in Creation! Find out what Creation can do for You. You may be amazed and delighted … !!!
Stepping Back into Creation ... Good News ~ This weekend my total count of downloads went from 7987 on Friday evening to 8012 Saturday morning !!! Thank You for downloading and listening! I appreciate your comments and your support very much. I want to know what is useful and helpful to you from our meditations. By doing our spiritual practices and working together we can create a more peaceful world for Everyone! Here in the United States, we are recovering from a very contentious and divisive national election. There is a definite shortage of Inner Peace. So, any contribution of Inner Peace you can make today and during the week will be very helpful! Today I stepped away from civilization and into Creation. I am sitting with a lovely oak tree in the midst of many wonderful trees in the Keystone Ancient Forest! This is an Old Growth Forest Preserve about 20 minutes outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Sun is shining through the Trees. There is a soft breeze gently blowing through the tops of the trees. My mind is calming down and my whole body is relaxing. Whew ... !!! We forget how peaceful and calming it is to be in Nature. To sit in the Sunshine and breathe Fresh Air is healing and renewing for our Heart and our Mind. Being able to live on this third planet from the Sun is a privilege and a gift. Being here is a Blessing! We have also forgotten what most of us learned in kindergarten. If we want to have peace, get things done, and even have fun, we need to get along with each other. If we want to have neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, and even countries that work for Everyone, we need to learn to listen to each other and work together. We see people helping each other every time there is a fire, a flood, a hurricane, or any kind of disaster. "The helpers are there!" as Mr. Rogers told us they would be. We are the helpers! We are the ones who can make this world work. To do that we need the Courage of our Hearts, great personal Resilience, and the deep well of our Inner Peace. We can create a better world. This is the reason so many of us are here. So, let's take a few deep heartful breaths of fresh air, soak up some Sunshine, and walk some Blessings into the world this week. We are the Ones we have been waiting for ... Take really good care of yourself this week and, Remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher
Some people would say, "Yes, it definitely does!". Others would say, "Not really ... "
Does it "matter" at all whether we care for the Earth?
Would humans be able to live here without clean air, clean water, without photosynthesis, or vegetables, or fruit trees, or pollinators, or worms that till the soil underground ... ?
What if a large portion of the Earth is below freezing most of the time? Or, what if there were larger and larger areas of desert?
We are completely dependent on a very narrow range of temperature, rainfall, sunlight, growing seasons, regular harvests, clean air, clean oceans and lakes for our survival. And yet, we have very little concern for the needs of the Earth. We dig, and plow, and drill, and use explosives to destroy significant geologic features without a second thought!
We treasure a bit of gold or silver, even precious gemstones like "blood diamonds" from Africa. We have to have the latest electronics that use rare earth minerals. We have been willing to sacrifice people's health, well-being, and even their lives for our luxuries. We collect all these things, and we are not able to take one tiny item, not even one molecule of matter with us when we pass on. And, we tend to look down on the people who honor and respect the Earth. Amazing …
For thousands and thousands of years, we have been living in a narrow range of temperature, weather, oxygen, enough pure water, and enough fertile land to grow our food. As I am writing this, we are in between 2 large storm fronts with high winds, rain, and possible tornadoes! We have been watching the weather reports all day, hoping these mega-weather fronts will not organize into tornadoes. At the same time, another potentially huge storm front is forming the Gulf of Mexico, heading for Florida!
Do you think it might be a good idea for us to be a bit more aware of this Wonderful Earth that sustains us, day after day? The Earth doesn't need Humans. We need the Earth! We need a relatively stable Earth for the continued existence of humans over time.
The Earth does well without Humans. The Earth rotates just fine on its own. But, we will not survive as a species unless we mature beyond our arrogance and begin to pay more attention to this part of Creation. We know when human beings work together, we do well. We also know we need to take better care of our precious planet.
Being here is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Creation. We could learn so much about "how it all works". What do you suppose would happen if humans started working together to take care of our Planet?
Thank Goodness there are amazing people around the world doing their creative best to preserve and protect the forests, the lakes and streams, the oceans, and all the creatures living in those places. If we could shift our priorities just a bit, we really could take much better care of the Earth!
Maybe when we think about government and leadership, we might include taking better care of our Little Planet a priority. When we look for candidates to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, we might also look for someone awake and aware enough to protect, defend, and preserve the Earth.
We might be much healthier and happier. We might sleep better at night. We might enjoy the amazing taste of fresh fruits and vegetables we are growing in our gardens. We might take a few minutes to absorb the incredible beauty of a Sunset or listen to the amazing songs of birds calling to each other. We might be more grounded and content.
Just Imagine what that would be like ...
Inner Peace Guided Meditation for the Whole Wide WorldGroup Meditation 7 pm PST, 8 pm MST, 9 pm CST, 10 pm EST
Here is another Inner Peace Meditation for our Sunday evening gathering. This is such good spiritual practice as well as a wonderful blessing for us and our families and friends. In general, we don’t always know how we are benefitting the World. But we do know there are frequencies beyond the realm of Space and Time that influence and impact this world. So, we do our best to gather on Sunday evening and move into that place of Inner Peace. Our intention is for that Peace to fill our hearts and minds, our whole cellular structure, and our entire energetic field.
As we know, the “civilized” world seems to be less and less civilized every day. Much of the news seems to be more out of balance. Church people I have known for several years are busy “hating” other people and looking forward to violence in the streets. They don’t see any discrepancy between their behavior and their religious beliefs!
We have noticed we are living in very challenging and potentially dangerous times. And every day we have an opportunity to embody Peace, to create the kind of world we want to live in with our words, our actions, and our spiritual practices.
When we generate “hatred” or encourage violence, we are sabotaging our own health and well-being. When we cultivate hate or focus on violence we are pushing our own physical and emotional systems into “fight, flight, or freeze”. We are causing cortisol, our body’s main stress hormone, to surge through our system. This also means that our digestive system and our immune system are shutting down. Our energy is going to our muscles so we will be ready to run away from danger or stand and fight! If we go through day after day of feeling hatred or anger, our entire physiology is compromised. We do not think as well or make good decisions. We are exhausting our bodies, our hearts, and our minds. This is tragic!
We all know that life is better and communities are stronger when we work together. When we fight and blame and refuse to listen to each other, everyone suffers. We know this and we often forget. This is why every spiritual tradition teaches compassion, lovingkindness, and forgiveness. When the world is falling apart all around us, we need the qualities of our heart for healing. As Rumi said, many, many years ago …
Christ is the population of the world,
and every object as well.
There is no room for hypocrisy.
Why use bitter soup for healing,
when sweet water is everywhere?
Thank You for showing up, and for all the good you do in this crazy, wobbly world every day. Take really good care of yourself this week and,
Remember to Breathe …
Mary Christopher
What About All the Other Pollinators? There are more pollinators, including Bats, Butterflies and some Moths, Wasps, some Beetles, as well as Black and White Ruffed Lemurs. (Black and White Ruffed Lemurs are only found in Madagascar.) We will have more flowers, more fruit, and more honey the more we care for and support all the pollinators! This is a great time of year to start a small pollinator garden at your house or apartment. You could even start one in a large pot on your back porch. Just make sure it will get enough sunshine thru the year. If you start a pollinator garden now, you will have plants blooming and ready to go this coming spring. Every state or county, even small towns usually have great resource information about Pollinator Plants that do well locally. The Native Plant Society is in every state and is an excellent resource for pollinator plants that are native to a specific area. Using native plants usually ensures the plants will survive and thrive in your yard. This also means the plants will tend to attract and support "native pollinators"! The Nature Conservancy is also a good resource. So, more pollinators equals more flowers, more fruits and nuts, and, over time, greater diversity of plants due to cross-pollination. Gardening is also known to be calming and relaxing (scientific studies have shown this to be true). A quick search on Google says the following: Research has consistently shown that gardening can be calming for humans, with studies indicating that engaging in gardening activities can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while improving overall mental well-being and life satisfaction; this effect is attributed to factors like physical activity, connection with nature, sensory stimulation from plants, and the sense of accomplishment from nurturing growth. This year we have major storms, train and boat accidents, wildfires, and politics. It is said that "politics makes strange bedfellows". It is also true that politics can generate stressful situations, as well as anxiety about the future. It also seems that we have been overwhelmed with information this year. Some sources are reliable, some are questionable, and other sources are misleading. We probably have misleading information about misleading news sources. Being constantly overwhelmed with conflicting or incendiary information is not healthy for anyone. If you are looking for a way to step away from this crazy world that the human species has created, then step into the Creator's World. Creation is usually calmer, much more coherent, definitely interesting, very often beautiful, and sometimes humorous. One of my very early spiritual teachers used to say, "If you want to understand the Creator, study Creation." I have found that to be very good advice. Have a Good Week and Take Very Good Care of Yourself! Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing, and spiritual
practices. Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
Peace Is Always Found Within …Group Meditation at 10 pm EDT, 9 pm CDT, 8 pm MDT, 7 pm PDT
Good News … Total Downloads on my podcast are now 7905 !!! And, there were more than 425 downloads in the last 30 days !!! Very Exciting !!!
Thank You all for listening and downloading and following !!! I deeply appreciate your support !!!
As you probably know, our intention for our Inner Peace Meditation is to enhance our own experience of Inner Peace. We also intend to live in that realm and allow that Peace to permeate our lives.
In our crazy, contentious world it is often difficult to be at Peace. So, when we gather and focus our intentions, the effect is amplified. We are strengthening our ability as well as increasing coherence. This can happen because our heart has an electro-magnetic field. And, the electro-magnetic field of our heart is 5,000 times stronger than the electro-magnetic field of our brain!
When we are calm and centered and breathing with our heart, we are much more coherent. When we are more coherent, the quality and impact of our field is greatly amplified. And, the strength of a coherent field is much stronger than one that is chaotic. It is the difference between noise and harmony. Our coherence improves our lives. The peacefulness and coherence of our field can have an uplifting influence on those around us. That is always a blessing!
In general, Nature is much more coherent and restful. That is the reason that I like to meditate in a park or the woods. In Japan, South Korea, and Germany, this is known as “forest bathing”. Many people take any opportunity to walk in the woods, or spend a weekend camping in the woods! They know how beneficial it is for them, even for several days afterward.
So, thank you for showing up and for doing your spiritual practices. As you know it is a blessing for you, for your family and friends, as well as your neighbors.
Have a Wonderful Week and
Remember to Breathe … Mary
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing, and spiritual
practices. Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Other BeesThe Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, the Blue Orchard Bee, Mason Bees,
and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee!
The Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee, Megachile rotundata, is a very important pollinator of alfalfa for alfalfa seed production. This bee species was introduced to the United States from Eurasia in the late 1930s. Wherever the bee is managed efficiently and effectively, alfalfa seed yields increase dramatically compared to pollination with honey bees or no bee. The alfalfa leafcutting bee is solitary and lives only several weeks in the summer. After mating with short-lived males, female bees construct their own nests, gather nectar and pollen for provisions in individual nest cells, and lay eggs on the provisions. At the end of the summer, females die without ever seeing their offspring that spend the winter as prepupae (large larvae) in leaf-lined cocoons.
Some alfalfa growers will manage their own bees, or will buy or supplement their bee stock from alfalfa leafcutting bee suppliers, who are usually in Canada. Bees raised in Canada are mostly free of chalkbrood disease and pollen balls and, thus, are very important for sustaining healthy populations of leafcutting bees for alfalfa seed production in the United States. Alfalfa leafcutting bees are also be used to pollinate canola, carrots, and melons.
In recent years, the Blue Orchard Bee, Osmia lignaria, (BOB) has become established as an alternative orchard pollinator in North America. With a strong preference for fruit trees, BOBs are highly efficient pollinators; in fact, just 250-300 females will pollinate an entire acre of apples or cherries. BOBs forage and pollinate under cloudy skies and at lower temperatures than most other bees. They are easy to manage and rarely sting.
Blue Orchard Bees are solitary nesting bees. They nest in 5/16" diameter holes, 6" deep. When properly managed, they can provide excellent pollination on their own or with honey bees. This would be an excellent combination to make up for any disease or toxic exposure for the Honey Bees who often travel 1 to 3 miles to gather pollen.
Mason Bee is a name now commonly used for species of bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests, which are made in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. When available, some species preferentially use hollow stems or holes in wood made by wood-boring insects.
Mason Bees can also be cultivated by providing a “home” for them made out of small bamboo tubes, stacked so the bees have access to an open end. They will nest and lay their eggs in these tubes. It possible to buy ready-made tube homes for Mason bees to ensure the next generation will hatch and pollenate in your garden or orchard. Female mason bees have a stinger, but they are not aggressive and rarely sting, even when handled. Male mason bees do not have a stinger.
Among the least common managed bees in the US is the Shaggy Fuzzyfoot Bee, Anthophora pilipes villosula. This solitary bee is native to Europe and Asia, and is a relatively recent introduction in the US - imported from Japan in the early 1990s by the USDA Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Maryland.
The fuzzyfoot is a fairly large bee that superficially resembles a drab bumble bee. Like bumble bees, the fuzzyfoot is reputed to have some thermoregulatory ability, and is capable of generating body heat— allowing the bee to forage even in cool and wet conditions. However, this bee apparently has limited winter hardiness, and its management is restricted to warm, humid climates.
Nesting for the fuzzyfoot occurs in exposed vertical banks or dry adobe. Female bees construct cavities by first softening dry mud with nectar or saliva, then they produce an oily secretion which is used to line the brood cells. Stackable adobe blocks, sheltered against rain and moisture, are used as a managed nesting system. Like some other cavity-nesting bees, the fuzzyfoot is gregarious and tends to locate nests near its own natal home.
Fuzzyfoot bees are reportedly excellent pollinators of high-bush blueberries, both in the southern US and in Japan. Adult foraging lasts roughly three weeks during the spring, and there is one generation each year.
There is an ongoing effort to help farmers, gardeners, and orchard growers have access to “alternative pollinators”. All bees need protection from toxins. They all need safe places to nest and lay eggs. And, Human Beings, that’s us, need lots of pollinators in order that we have the herbs, fruits, and vegetables that we need to be healthy. Let’s remember to be grateful for these very small and very essential “workers” and do everything we can to protect them!
I compiled this general information about “alternative pollinators” from the USDA, Wikipedia, and Google. More and more I am fascinated and amazed by all these wonderful creatures that exist with us in this world. We have been very blessed!
Have a Wonderful Week … Mary Christopher
Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
Another week has flown by and the World seems to be balanced on a very fine edge between "just crazy" and "more crazy".
We are living in "interesting" times. For me, that means I am called to be more aware, use my powers of discernment as fully as possible, and keep up with my spiritual practices.
One of the ways I protect my sanity is to look for systems or programs out in the world that are working. One of my favorite examples is Florida Power and Light.
I have good friends scattered around Florida. They all survived the 2 hurricanes with minimal damage, even though they lost power and had high winds and rain. One of my friends who lives in Alachua County had very high winds and rain. They lost power, but it was back on within 4 hours!
Florida Power and LIght was on the job! They have an excellent record for customer service and emergency response times. They were the first company outside of Japan to win the Deming Prize for quality management in 1989. This prestigious award is based on implementing Total Quality Management Sytems developed by Edward Deming. TQM systems were designed for ongoing product and service improvement, greater employee involvement and safety, and consistent customer satisfaction. FLP had to score consistently high in all these categories in order to win the Deming Prize. They have continued to develop these systems.
For me, Florida Power and Light is a great example of a system that is working. It works for the people at FLP as well as for all their customers. Whenever there are storms, or tornadoes, or hurricanes. I think about the linemen everywhere who are out in all kinds of weather, climbing poles, wrangling electric wires, and in many cases putting their lives on the line so people will have electricity and be safe in their homes.
I think when the whole world "seems" to be in tail-spin, we tend to forget how many good people are doing their jobs every day. We get focused on blaming people rather than being aware that we all work within systems. Some of these "systems" are working, like Florida Power and Light. Other systems are way out of date and may have been in place since the Ice Ages.
Yes, the world is definitely "wobbling" on its axis. Are we adding to the wobble or helping to create balance? Are we adding to the anger and frustration, or generating Peace, Coherence, and Creative Solutions? Remember, we are the Ones we have been waiting for ... !!!
So, thank you for showing up! Thank You for doing your meditations and spiritual practices! And, thank you for all the Good you do every day!
Have a Wonderful Week and,
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
As I mentioned in the podcast, I am having an exciting week! On Saturday I took some books back to the library. This particular library has a display with “Free Books” so I usually check it before I leave. These were 3 wonderful resource books that I immediately scooped up and brought home.
One is Managing Alternative Pollinators, the second is The Complete Book of North American Butterflies, and the third is The Beginners Guide to Bats !!! They are packed with information, very useful for learning more about "Caring for Creation"! I started reading Managing Alternative Pollinators first because we know that the Honey Bee population has been diminishing for many years. We also know that we need prodigious as well as alternative pollinators so we will have sufficient food production.
Honey Bees are definitely prodigious but they are struggling to survive! The increased use of insecticides and herbicides is one of the main reasons for the decline of Honey Bee populations. No matter how diligent and watchful Beekeepers are, their bees can be easily exposed to toxins. This is because Honey Bees often fly 1 to 3 miles per day to reach flowers with the most pollen and nectar. In their travels, they may cross fields that have been recently sprayed with toxins! Also, the toxic spray from neighboring fields or even crops 2 to 3 miles away may reach the hives.
A large, healthy Honey Bee colony can have as many as 50,000 adult bees! The Queen Bee can potentially lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day! All these baby bee larvae need protein-rich royal jelly for them to survive and thrive! Royal jelly is a creamy, yellowish-white substance produced by honey bees.
Nurse bees feed royal jelly to larvae for the first three days after hatching. Royal jelly is also fed to the developing queen bee throughout her life. This diet can allow the queen bee to live up to five years, while worker bees typically live for about 45 days. The hive is kept busy gathering nectar and pollen to feed the queen and the growing larva! If the worker bees are exposed to any toxins, the entire colony can be wiped out in a matter of hours! Beekeepers, anyone who uses bees for pollination, and those of us who love honey are absolutely committed to caring for the European Honey Bee.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this podcast, there are alternative pollinators. They do not live in hives and they do not produce honey! But they do pollinate. And, they are not well-known. These pollinators include Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Sweat Bees, and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee! These bees are usually solitary and may nest underground. They are difficult to detect, but they can be encouraged to live in your garden or your yard by studying their habits and by growing their favorite plants.
This is a great time of year to put in a Pollinator Garden that will flourish and produce blossoms in the Spring. There are great resources for gardening in Gwinnett County. They are listed below. Also, Alexander Park has a pollinator garden area that you can check out!
Gwinnett Parks & Recreation, UGA Extension Gwinnett, Master Gardener volunteers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are working together to encourage native wildflower growth, provide critical habitats, and promote plant pollination.
We are looking forward to seeing your Personal Pollinator Garden in the Spring!
Fortunately, for all of us, the Sun is still coming up every morning. The Earth is still rotating on its axis, and Stars continue to shine in the Heavens every night. Creation seems to be operating just fine, give or take a few hurricanes.
At the same time, Human Beings are still trying to figure out how to live together in some kind of peaceful relationship. And, we are still on a major learning curve to understand how to care for this jewel of a planet! We could say that right now living on Earth is very challenging! Even after centuries of spiritual teachers saying the same things about how we can live peacefully together on Earth, we continue to hate and fear and fight and argue. And we wonder why we have difficulty falling asleep at night!
So, how do we turn this situation around? How do we move ourselves from fear and anger and fighting to being calm and cool and coherent? Obviously, we have tried many things, some have worked, others have not. Most of us understand that arguing and making others “wrong” does not work out very well. But, we haven’t quite understood how to do “compassion” or “loving-kindness” on a daily basis.
In my experience, being compassionate or heart-centered every day is a challenge. This is especially true during a very high-volume, contentious election year, along with mega-storms, wars and rumors of wars, and refugees everywhere. Whew … !!!
I certainly find all this turmoil challenging. So, several years ago, I resolved that I would not “hate” anyone. I also decided that I would do my best to be aware every time I start down that “slippery slope” of irritation, frustration, blame, or any other negative emotion. I don’t always manage to do this all day every day. But, I have found that I am getting better and better at catching these debilitating thoughts and feelings before they gain momentum. I have learned from experience that I will not be a “happy camper” by the end of the day if I allow myself to get caught up in anything negative.
On the other hand, if I am able to stay “conscious” and mindful throughout the day, I can shift any train of thought to a healthier track. I think of my meditations as a commitment to mindfulness. I start my meditation as I am waking up in the morning. I have found that if I get up, make a cup of tea, and then sit down to do my meditation, my to-do list is already rolling.
Every day seems to be its own challenge so I have gotten to be more and more patient with myself. I have also learned to be more compassionate with myself when situations are challenging. I have also learned that the more attention I bring to my heart during the day and during my meditations, the better everything works! Amazing … !!! Maybe that is why the first 2 commandments begin with “Love”.
I am sure we are capable of learning to live with each other on this planet. I am also sure we can do much better caring for Creation. This century is definitely a challenge for Everyone. So, thank you for showing up! And, thank you for all the good work you are doing every day.
Mary Christopher
Bees, Butterflies, and Other Important Pollinators !!! Pollinators are absolutely essential for the growth of many fruits and vegetables. As you know, there are many small insects classified as Pollinators, including a variety of Bees, and Butterflies, The key pollinators in most ecosystems are Bees (including both honeybees and native wild bees), Butterflies, Moths, Hummingbirds, Bats, and some species of flies and beetles are also pollinators. Bees are usually considered the most important because they are diverse and they are dedicated pollinators!
Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That’s one out of every three bites of food you eat. More than 3,500 species of native bees help increase crop yields. Pollinators also help with farm crops such as alfalfa and wildflowers. In addition to pollination, Bees use the nectar they gather from alfalfa, wildflowers, and flowering trees to make Honey. Some types of honey include Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Clover, Dandelion, Manuka, and Orange Blossom. A strong and healthy hive can be home to 50–100,000 bees during the peak of the summer. Do a little quick math, and you can see how many beekeepers can average 60 lbs. of honey per hive, per year. With good weather and a dedicated beekeeper, some hives can produce as much as 100 lbs! That is a lot of Honey! Butterflies are another family of pollinators that are very important, especially this time of year. During late September and through October, we usually see beautiful Monarch Butterflies going south to spend the winter in Mexico where it is warmer. Monarchs that breed east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to the Sierra Madre Mountains of central Mexico, where they cluster on Oyamel fir trees. There are ancient legends about the Monarchs who travel to Mexico. In most traditions, these amazing butterflies are considered to be the returning souls of loved ones. Ancient people believed that, even after passing on, their souls lived on through Nature. It says a great deal about how deeply they appreciated the wonders of Creation and the mysteries of Nature. They had reverence for Nature and a better understanding of their relationship to Creation. The tradition of celebrating the return of the Monarchs in Mexico and the United States is known as "El Dia de Los Muertos". It is a wonderful family celebration.
Most Monarchs travel long distances to get to their winter home. We can help them make this journey by planting and nurturing Pollinator Gardens. If you don't have a Pollinator Garden in your yard, or on your back porch yet, this is the perfect time to start one. The Nature Conservancy is an excellent resource for creating the "perfect pollinator garden". Even though we might not have a place for Butterflies and other pollinators to rest and eat right, by putting in a simple pollinator garden now, we can be ready next Spring when the Monarchs come back! When you see Monarchs flying through this Fall, remember they are on their way to Mexico. Give them a special Blessing for their long journey! Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing, and spiritual practices. Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.
Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
Why are we doing these Inner Peace Meditations every Sunday?
There are several reasons that we might be taking the time to do these meditations.
One reason I do them is that I know we are making a difference in the state of the World! When good-hearted people gather with a specific intent to generate goodwill, or loving-kindness, or to increase the Peace in our turbulent world, it works. We know this because we now have technology refined enough to track the impact of these coherent groups.
I know we don't need to be perfect to accomplish this. I also know most of us have enough experience with Mindfulness and Meditation that we can participate and benefit personally as well as make a difference.
Another major reason is that I benefit tremendously by doing these meditations. Some weeks I am not able to sit at our specific time, but I get it done sometime during that day. And, I sleep better that night as well!
Some of us have shared experiences from living in spiritual communities. Some of us have specific daily spiritual practices. And, we all share the intention of making this World a kinder and safer place for Everyone!
When our human world goes through any kind of major change such as the Second Industrial Revolution (1870 to 1914) or the current and very speedy revolution in technology, it causes widespread social upheaval.
It took 2.4 million years for our ancestors to control fire and use it for cooking, but only 66 years for us to go from the first flight to humans landing on the moon.
This kind of change puts tremendous pressure on all our social structures. When we have high-speed social change, people are displaced, food production may fail or be delayed, prices often increase and people panic! This is when our real work begins. Will we add to the chaos and panic, or will we create peace and generate loving-kindness and compassion?
Unfortunately, some people seek power to take advantage of the fear and confusion. They are not interested in solving problems or finding better solutions. They create chaos and generate fear to gain personal power.
Rapid social change can be very dangerous and difficult. We can use the energy of change to create a better world that serves everyone and protects the environment. Or, we can choose to add to the chaos. It is our choice
Jane Goodall is one of my favorite people and an excellent example of someone who is clearly making the world a better place with her Roots and Shoots Program. She is amazing!
Whatever your reason for doing these meditations, thank you! And, thank you for Everything you do Everyday to make this World a better place for all the Crazy Humans and all Creatures Great and Small.
Take really good care of yourself and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
We love forests for many reasons. They provide healthy habitats for all our native species to survive and thrive. We know we also need healthy habitats for humans to survive and thrive. Most of us are aware that an afternoon walk in the woods is many times better for us than an afternoon spent in front of a screen.
Researchers have found that a mere 20-minute walk among trees can substantially lower our salivary cortisol levels. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone. Including the immune boost from lower cortisol, a walk in nature actually improves our brain function. Researchers have related this to our evolutionary development as well as to our vision. When we walk among trees, our peripheral vision improves as well as our depth perception.
So many of us are spending too many hours with our eyes focused straight ahead on a screen. This does not provide exercise for our eye muscles or improve our ability to shift our focus rapidly. We need visual flexibility and good peripheral vision to walk and drive safely. The more responsive our eyes are, the faster we can respond to anything in our pathway or to a person or vehicle approaching from the side. This makes a definite difference for our safety!
Currently, there are more than 43,000 studies that have been done around the world, establishing the tremendous benefits of “walking in the woods”! Many of these studies come from Japan and South Korea. In Japan, an afternoon walk through the woods is known as “Shinrin-Yoku”, or forest bathing. In Japan, Shinrin-Yoku is part of the public health system! Even office workers will use their lunch break to take a walk in the woods if possible.
One reason walking through a forest for at least 20 to 30 minutes can be so beneficial is that we are breathing in “phytoncides”. These are oils released by trees. There are thousands of these oils and they contain natural antimicrobial and insecticidal properties. The trees use these phytoncides to protect themselves from harmful bugs, bacteria, and diseases.
A study was done in Japan in 2005 with volunteers who spent 3 days in the forest. The study showed that exposure to these oils produced “natural killer cells”. Killer cells are a type of white blood cells that destroy infected or diseased cells. These “killer cells” also fight viruses and tumors in our bodies. They are essential to the function of our immune system! And, these cells remained active in the volunteers’ system for more than 30 days. Just imagine what spending a week in the woods could do for your immune system and general health!
A study done in 2011 by the University of Michigan, showed that being in the woods for at least 10 minutes, 3 times a week reduced stress levels and improved the volunteers' sense of well-being. Stress levels are easily determined by testing saliva for cortisol. This study showed a definite drop in levels of cortisol in participants' saliva during and following 8 weeks of this study. Other studies have shown similar results.
Another benefit of “walking in the woods” is breathing in fresh oxygen. Forests and even clusters of trees within city parks are producing very pure O2. We know from our own experience that human beings benefit from fresh air. Other studies have shown that exposure to “fresh air” improves our sense of well-being. As we relax and begin to breathe more slowly, our heart rate slows down, we absorb more oxygen, and we relax even more.
Other studies have shown that hiking and regular walks through the woods can generate “alpha brain waves”. When we shift from beta to alpha brain waves, we are moving from “a busy brain” to a more calm and coherent brain function. In addition, studies of neighborhoods in the United States have determined that those with more trees usually have a lower crime rate!
If you have an opportunity this week to take a walk in the woods, or hike in a state or national forest, you might be surprised to find that you are more relaxed. You may discover that you are sleeping better at night and thinking better during the day. Wouldn’t that be Delightful !!!
Have a Wonderful Week discovering all the benefits of “forest bathing”!
Mary Christopher
Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
For centuries religious and spiritual groups have come together to pray, usually for a healing or a better world. Although I am not sure that praying for Victory during the Crusades would qualify. Of course, prayers for ending the Crusades would definitely count.
When we do our Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole Wide World on Sundays, we are being as inclusive as possible. We are doing a "time-out" from our busy days to go within and rest in that place of Inner Peace. If nothing else was the result, at the very least, each of us would be more Peaceful and Coherent. That alone is a Blessing to the world. Remember, if that specific time doesn't work for you, just do your meditation whenever you can!
Many of us know from direct experience that our spiritual practices and our prayers can improve whole neighborhoods. We have seen that over time, our prayers and our service in our communities open hearts, as well as doors for all kinds of good change.
We also have excellent guidance from the Gospels. Jesus is quoted as saying, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven)!' When he was asked where this "kingdom" was, he replied, "The Kingdom of God is wiithin.". This is a very short and specific answer to the question posed by the Sadducees and the Pharisees! If he said anything more, it is not recorded.
When we go within and rest with our Heart, we are turning our attention away from the busy world, from all the distractions and confusions, and just plain ol" noise. We are consciously and deliberately seeking Inner Peace, Inner Guidance, and the healing that comes from within.
Studies have shown that the longer we linger within this place of peace and calm, we more we benefit. Usually, our heart rate slows down, and our blood pressure goes down as well. Also, our endocrine system begins to produce a whole cascade of healthy chemicals such as endorphins! The longer we linger within, the electromagnetic field of our heart is strengthened.
How do we know all this ... ??? Because scientists from many fields have been using technology to track all this for years, actually since the last century! So, here we are, centuries after Jesus and even longer since the Buddha was teaching compassion and loving-kindness, gathering with the intention of spreading Inner Peace wherever it will go. Our intention is to be a Blessing to Everyone and every Creature, everywhere, so we are deeply blessed as well.
Thank You for showing up and thank you for all the good you do every day.
Take good care of yourself ...
And remember to Breathe.
Mary Christopher
Sunday, September 22 ~ Fall arrived in the Northern Hemisphere as the Sun was rising over the equator. This happens at the Spring Equinox as well. We had equal day and equal night all around the Earth on the 22nd. Following the Equinox, our nights in the Northern Hemisphere will be a little longer each night and our days a little shorter until the Winter Solstice in December. The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere. The days grow longer and the nights shorter which is their summer.
The Fall Equinox followed the Harvest SuperMoon which was also a partial eclipse. This SuperMoon was called a Harvest Moon because it was the Full Moon closest to the Fall Equinox. It was a SuperMoon because it was closest to the Earth in its orbit. It was 14% bigger and 30% brighter!
The Full Moon closest to the Fall Equinox is called the Harvest Moon because the difference in rise times from one evening to the next after this date is the smallest for the whole year! The brighter, fuller phases of the Moon appear at approximately similar times, providing light later in the day for gathering the harvest. It was the abundance of bright early-evening moonlight on those consecutive days that traditionally lit the fields. This was especially important before the Industrial Revolution when harvest depended on crews to bring in the crops using hand tools and horses or oxen.
Since the Industrial Revolution, combines and other harvesting equipment have lights and continue running long after sunset. Now harvest crews come through, following the ripening crops so local farmers do not often work together in the same way our grandparents and great-grandparents did during harvests, or cattle round-ups, or sheep shearing.
We have also lost a sense of connection to Creation, to the awareness of New Moons, Full Moons, eclipses, or “shooting stars”. We no longer stand in a pasture with horses grazing, watching an amazing Sunset. We have lost the sense of magic in an afternoon rain that settles the dust on a dirt road. We don’t stand on the edge of a cornfield, listening to the ripe ears of corn whispering in the evening breeze. We have definitely lost some of the magic of living on Earth.
This is a kind of magic that can’t be conveyed on a screen, but needs to be “felt” and experienced with all our senses. We live so much of our lives indoors, in front of a screen, even having dinner mostly engaged with a screen. We have lost that sense of “belonging” on the Earth. And, we have also lost some of our sense of community. Sharing allegiance to a favorite football or baseball team is fun and entertaining. But, it is not the same as working together to build a barn, tend a community garden, harvest peaches from a neighbor’s orchard, or move cattle from one pasture to another.
Communities are not always perfect and can become entangled in all sorts of dubious pursuits. But, the alternative is not a good choice either. Because of the way we live, caring for each other and caring for the Earth takes extra effort. We need to make time for Sunsets, for watching a lunar eclipse, even a partial one. We need to find better ways to feed people who are hungry or who need winter clothing. We can remind ourselves to provide plants for pollinators and native trees for birds. It does take a bit of extra thought and effort. And, it is always worth every bit of thought and effort!
Caring for Creation and caring for people who are struggling is a direct investment in the Future. We are setting a pattern of compassion and consciousness in the World. We are sharing goodness. Our actions speak so clearly about our priorities that we don’t need to say a word! We are walking Blessings into the World and we are Blessed!
Thank You for everything you are doing every day to make this world a better place for Everyone !!!
Have a Wonderful Week …
Mary Christopher
Sunday, September 22 ~ Fall has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere as the Sun shines directly over the equator. This happens at the Spring Equinox as well. And, this is the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. We had equal day and equal night all around the Earth on the Equinox.
Following the Equinox, our nights in the Northern Hemisphere will be a little longer each night and our days a little shorter until the Winter Solstice in December. The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere. The days grow longer and the nights shorter.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had a Super Harvest Moon partial eclipse! Very Exciting! The Full Moon closest to the Fall Equinox each year is known as the Harvest Moon. It is visible in the sky longer for 2 or 3 days during harvest time, This meant that farmers had more light later in the evening which helped with the harvest. Of course, this was before the Industrial Revolution!
You have probably noticed that the world is still a bit chaotic. Also, there seems to be a flurry of "conspiracy theories" circulating. Whenever we have an abundance of "conspiracy theories" it is an indication that some people are very busy pushing the perspective of "them vs. us". This is unfortunate because it always increases most people's stress levels and does not resolve anything! And, we know better. There is really only US!
It is very difficult to fact-check any conspiracy theory, partly because we have so much misinformation circulating through the media. And, it is so easy to generate misinformation using AI. It seems to me that all this misinformation as well as these conspiracy theories just add to the collective unrest and upheaval.
Instead of focusing on "who is the enemy?", and "who is plotting what", why don't we use our amazing consciousness and considerable intelligence to search out what is actually working or who is coming up with solutions.
We know Creation Is Working because the Sun keeps coming up every day. And, Water is still Water. Trees with Green leaves continue to produce Oxygen! Atoms and Molecules are still functioning like Atoms and Molecules! It seems that Human Beings are the only ones going off the rails! Maybe if we start paying more attention to what is actually working, we might calm down a bit and be more useful.
Again, thank you for showing up, for doing your spiritual work, and for making this world a better place for Everyone.
Take good care of yourself and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 ~ Super Full Moon Partial Lunar Eclipse beginning at 22:14 EDT until 23:16 EDT. This partial Lunar Eclipse will be visible from the United States! If you can, find an open space and enjoy this eclipse. You should be able to see the Eclipse even with city lights.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 ~ This Super Full Moon will appear to be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual because the Moon will be closest to the Earth in its orbit! It will definitely look “bigger” than usual. And, it may look more “red” than usual when it comes up.
Sunday, September 22 ~ Fall arrives in the Northern Hemisphere as the Sun shines directly over the equator. This happens at the Spring Equinox as well. And, this is the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. We will have equal day and equal night all around the Earth on the 22nd.
Following the Equinox, our nights in the Northern Hemisphere will be a little longer each night and our days a little shorter until the Winter Solstice in December. The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere. The days grow longer and the nights shorter.
Monday and Tuesday, September 23 and 24 ~ The Moon will pass close to the planet Jupiter in the night sky. This is a perfect time to find Jupiter. It is a very large and very bright planet and is usually easy to find. This will be a spectacular sight with the waning Moon passing “close” to Jupiter.
Friday, September 27 ~ Comet A3 Atlas will reach its closest point to the Sun and will be visible. It could be one of the Brightest Comets in decades. Hopefully, wherever you are, there will not be much cloud cover. It will be visible thru early October.
Remember, “Awe is the beginning of Wisdom.” And, the Heavens are Awesome. We tend to forget the Beauty and Wonder of the Stars, the Planets, and the perfect timing of an Eclipse as well as our seasons every year. We forget because we are not always able to see the Stars or the Planets unless we get out beyond the “city light pollution”.
We often spend hours during the week in a semi-trance state looking at flickering lights on a screen. Those little images can never compare to the Beauty and Magesty of the Heavens. So, give yourself, your family and friends a real treat this week. Get out beyond the city lights, nourish your heart and soul by soaking up the wonder of Creation.
Have a Blessed Week and remember, “If you want to understand the Creator, study Creation.” !!!
Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
As we begin another week, we are confronting "climate adjustment", global unrest, an unprecedented rate of change, a presidential election, and masses of misinformation.
Most people understand how easy it is to generate dubious "news articles" using A.I. Several writers have suggested that A.I. should be called "Plagiarism Software" which does sound more accurate. Regardless of what we call it, misinformation is a Big Problem!
On the plus side of the news, we know there are hundreds and thousands of Wonderful People all around the World showing up every day., doing their best to make this world a better place for Everyone. We also know there are many people doing their spiritual work individually or in groups, in person or online, every day! If we stop and think about it, we know many of us are doing everything we can every day!
Remember, we are the fortunate ones because we benefit immediately from all our spiritual practices and our service. We are blessed by our intention and by our activity.
Thank you for showing up and for contributing to the well-being of the Whole Wide World!
Take good care of yourself, and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Remembering Ruby Bridges and Vivian Malone JonesBy Eric HolderIt might be easy to assume that stories of school integration are ancient history.
But this week, as Ruby Bridges — who made history by integrating her elementary school in New Orleans — turns 70 years old, we must reckon with the fact that the trauma that our heroes endured during the Civil Rights Movement occurred just decades ago.
In the years that followed the iconic image of federal marshals escorting Ruby Bridges to kindergarten, many Black Americans would follow in her footsteps.
That included the woman who would later become my sister-in-law: Vivian Malone Jones. My brave, brilliant, and barrier-breaking sister-in-law was one of the first two Black students who integrated and enrolled at the University of Alabama.
When Vivian arrived at the University of Alabama, she was met by Governor George Wallace who was determined not to allow her to attend her state’s university — simply because she was Black. It was only after President Kennedy called out the National Guard to escort her onto campus that she was permitted to begin her enrollment process.
It’s hard to imagine what Vivian endured as she dreamt of and pursued her college education — a few months after she arrived on campus, racists set off bombs mere blocks from her dorm. But Vivian never wavered. She would go on to make further history and become the first Black student to graduate from the university.
Today — and always — I’m thinking a lot about Ruby Bridges, Vivian Malone Jones, and the sheer courage and tenacity it must have taken for them to persist amidst so much hatred.
Their “firsts” paved the way for me, and for so many others.
Thank you to these trailblazers for lighting the path for all of us.
Eric H. Holder, Jr.,
82nd Attorney General of the United States
Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
Thank You for showing up and joining in for this meditation! If you are not able to meditate at the exact time, just do your meditation when it works for you!
This weekend I am in Fayetteville, Arkansas visiting friends. As you may know, the University of Arkansas is here, home of the Razorbacks (if you follow football). Fayetteville is nestled in Ozarks with all kinds of hiking and biking trails.
This morning I discovered the Kessler Mountain trail which runs back and forth all the up this small mountain. The trail is used by Bikers and Hikers. I found a wonderful oak tree that was just perfect for sitting and resting my back against the trunk.
Sunshine was coming through the trees all around me. I was sitting in sunlight, breathing fresh air and relaxing all over. Bikers and hikers going by on the trail, but they were so quiet I hardly noticed them I was sitting by this wonderful oak tree with my back to the trail. My clothing blended in with the trees so I am not sure anyone saw me sitting there.
I make a serious effort to get outside and meditate in the Woods or at least with a tree because it is so much easier for me to get centered and coherent when I am out in Nature. Being out helps me remember that Creation is orderly and coherent.
When I am out in Nature, I remember that I am part of Creation and I can feel myself calming down, relaxing, and becoming more coherent. When we are more coherent, it means that all our systems are functioning well together, just like a vehicle that has had a TuneUp!
As you may have noticed, Humans tend to get all wound up about all kinds of Stuff. Then we may have difficulty "gearing down" and becoming calm, and coherent. We also know that we function much better, make better decisions, and are more intuitive when we are calm and centered.
So, being in Nature, walking in the Woods, sitting by a lake or a stream is a definite way to return to Coherence!
Have a Wonderful Week. Take really good care of yourself, and ...
Remember to Breathe
Mary Christopher
More than 30 years ago I was back home in Oklahoma for a visit. One of my friends, who was a full-time farmer, was harvesting his first cantaloupe crop. He had a bumper crop. The soil was good. Rains came at the right time and the crop was ready to harvest. I don’t remember how many acres of cantaloupe he had, but it was a large field. It was a good summer day to harvest and it was hot and dry.
By the time we drove out to the field, the temperature was in the 90s and climbing. My friend had hired migrant workers to harvest these rapidly ripening cantaloupe. He had hired this particular family because they were highly recommended. They knew how to harvest cantaloupe! Apparently, there is a specific way to cut it off the vine and handle it so it doesn’t bruise.
I looked out across the field and realized there were 3 generations of this family out in the field, gathering the fruit and handling it carefully! Grandmother, Grandfather, Mom and Dad, and 2 children, somewhere between 7 and 12 years old were in the field. When we drove up and got out of the trucks, they all looked up, waved, and went right back to work.
My friend was a good farmer to work for. He made sure they had plenty of water and checked in with them during the day. I decided I would try harvesting a few cantaloupe myself. I got one of the large, and very sharp knives and walked out into the field. It was hot! The field was a bit sandy and the sand was very warm. I bent over to cut the cantaloupe from the vine and discovered it was not so easy. It took several tries for me to cut that fruit loose. And, it was heavy!
I managed to cut 3 fruits off the vine and then stood up. My back hurt! I had sand on my jeans and only 3 cantaloupe. I looked back at the trucks, then around the field at the Hispanic family steadily working their way down the rows. They were all wearing loose clothing with long sleeves and long pants. And, they were all bending and cutting and stacking cantaloupe as they moved through the field.
I suddenly realized how much time, effort, and know-how it took just to get cantaloupe out of the field and into the big trucks! I was hot, and tired, and thirsty! I only had 3 medium-sized cantaloupe to show for my effort. I was amazed by this family, all together, in the field, in the Sun, working all day. From that time on, almost every time I see a cantaloupe or a watermelon, I think of that family.
I know my friend was a good boss and took care of all the people he hired for plowing, or seeding, or harvesting. I also know he was probably paying the going wage. I always hoped that family had a good home somewhere across the border. I hoped their children were able to go to school every year. And, I hoped they were always safe and healthy.
I began paying more attention to the people who were harvesting our fruits and vegetables, working hard to get crops out of the fields and into the grocery stores. Now, when I sit down at the dinner table to eat, I do my best to remember to bless all the people all around the world who plant, tend, and harvest the food we buy in the grocery store. Working in those fields is real work and can be dangerous, especially for children.
On Labor Day, I am again reminded of all those families who tend the land, the crops, the cattle, the sheep, the goats, gather the eggs, and milk the cows. I know from experience that farming is not easy or simple. It is work, every day. Yes, we have much better equipment and technology, but someone has to take care of all those high-tech combines and tractors. The farm equipment we have now cannot be fixed with a strand of bailing wire and a bit more oil in the crankcase. Parts and highly-trained mechanics are very expensive! And, farm equipment tends to break down just when you need it the most!
So, this week, not just on Labor Day, whenever you are shopping and pick up fruits or vegetables, remember someone, somewhere picked that for you. Let’s remember those folks whenever we buy food. A lot of people, around the world, have worked hard to produce the food we eat every day!
God Bless Them All !!!
Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
We do our "group meditation" at a specific time each week because by working together we amplify the field and strengthen the overall effect. Most of us have experienced this effect either during group meditations that happen in the same place. Or, we have felt it in group meditations that are online using a Zoom room. However, if you are not able to join us at that specific time, just do your meditation when you can. It still counts!
When we were dealing with the "covid epidemic", I had 2 mindfulness/meditation classes meeting weekly in Austin, Texas. We combined those 2 classes into a Zoom class on Wednesday evenings. We followed our regular format of a "mindfulness" discussion followed by our meditation. The first time we met online and did our meditation, several people commented that it felt like we were all meditating in the same room, as usual! Everyone was amazed and delighted!
I was doubly delighted and pleased that most of the people in the class could "feel" the oneness or sense our group oneness! And, I know most of us with mindfulness training and meditation practice have experienced what is known as "group coherence".
Of course, many of us had plenty of practice during the 60's with all the “rock” concerts. I was invited to a Janis Joplin concert in San Francisco and had a great time. The atmosphere was a bit smokey, and the music was fantastic! There was definitely group coherence and cohesiveness!
There are many examples of "group coherence", including political and sports events. But, when any of us come together with a specific focus such as an "Inner Peace Meditation", we are able to create a strong "field effect" whether we are in the same location or not. Even if you are not able to meditate at the exact time, your intention and your effort still adds to the field!
We are learning more and more about the power of our Heart. Studies by the HeartMath Institute have shown that the electromagnetic field of the Heart if 5000 times stronger than the electromagnetic field of our brain. When most of us were growing up, "the brain was the thing"! But now we know that the field of our Heart is much stronger. And, that is good news!
One of the simplest ways to move out of stress is by using Gratitude or Appreciation. It is amazing to me how well this practice works. When I catch myself getting all ramped up about anything, all I have to do is remember someone or some experience that warms my Heart. I can feel the difference. We don’t need to walk around feeling “all ramped up” or “out of sorts”, even in the midst of these challenging times.
We are so Blessed in so many ways and have so much to be grateful for. Usually, all we need to do is Remember those Blessings !!!
Thank You for showing up, for everything you do every day to make this world a better place for Everyone !!! Take good care of yourself this week, and …
Remember to Breathe!
Mary Christopher
If you watched any of the Olympics, or either one of the Tour de France races, you were watching “coherence in action”. Those athletes are great examples of “humans performing coherently”. As you know, being an Olympic athlete or even qualifying for the Tour de France takes years of training. Actually, it takes years and years of training!
So, what are all these Athletes training for? They are training “to win”. At least that is what it looks like on the surface. What they are specifically training for is “coherence”. Because, the better any athlete is at sustaining coherence, the better their chances of winning.
So, what is coherence? It is the ability to sustain the most effective and energy efficient processes possible with all the amazing systems they have. In other words, all their emotional, mental, and physical systems are working together in balance and harmony. Our cars and trucks are usually the most coherent after having an oil change and a tune-up. A well-tuned and well-designed vehicle seems to purr when we are driving.
Human beings need to have all their systems working together to have coherence. This means our heart, mind, and body all need to be in sync with each other. We know it is usually much easier to get cars and trucks in sync than it is for Humans. We often struggle with mental distractions, losing our focus, or experiencing emotional ups and downs. We can easily go up and down emotionally 20 times in 10 minutes! Our wandering minds and our emotional roller-coaster rides can keep us out of sync as we move through the day.
However, that doesn’t have to happen. Just like any serious athlete, we need to work with ourselves to move back into coherence. A good example would be worrying about something in the future which of course has not happened yet. Worrying like this causes anxiety. When we become absorbed in worry, we generate stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline! These chemicals produced by our bodies are very useful in specific situations, but not usually in our everyday encounters.
If we catch ourselves judging others or fussing at ourselves for our lack of “perfection”, we can lose our internal balance and equanimity. Our coherence begins to slip. We might wake up in the morning, feeling all calm and centered and ready to jump into the day. Later, we might realize that we are not feeling so great or we might even be feeling discouraged!
So, what can we do? How can we shift back to the Present and into more equanimity? We can do it the same way prize-winning athletes do it. They usually pause, take a few breaths, gently restore their focus, and start again. This is a process that most athletes and their coaches use all the time. And, it is the reason that Simone Biles stopped competing during the Olympics in Tokyo. She had lost her focus and ability to concentrate which greatly affected her coherence. She was criticized by some people for withdrawing. It was a very intelligent move on her part! And, I am sure her coaches agreed with her decision.
Because Simone lost her focus and her inner coherence, she could have been seriously injured. Fortunately, Simone had the intestinal fortitude as well as confidence in herself to do what she needed to do! She also had great coaches who stood by her. Good coaches know how essential coherence is for health and well-being.
We all have days when everything seems to flow, time slows down, and we can think and feel effectively. Those are great days and we usually get things done as well as have a good time. When that happens, it means all our systems are in sync. But, because every day is a different configuration of timing, energy, and expectations, we need to be better at “training ourselves” for coherence.
It helps to remember our heart is the key to greater coherence. If we can remember to rest with our Heart, or even check in with our Heart during the day, we will create greater coherence. Our Heart sends more information to our brain than our brain sends to our Heart. If we are calm and centered with our Heart, our brain will be signaled to stay calm. And, we will be more coherent. It has become way too easy to allow the chaos of the world to “grab our attention”! We can catch ourselves finding fault, blaming, becoming cynical, frowning, and getting all ramped up in a few seconds!
Anytime you catch yourself getting all ramped up and taking an emotional nose dive into “them and us”, just remember … in Jesus' world there is “no them and us”. It is all Us, including those “awful money changers” in the Temple!
Have a very Blessed week, be gentle with yourself and that will flow out to others. As you become more coherent, you will find you are making better decisions, being more intuitive, and even sleeping better!
Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Meditation ~ 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
You may have noticed that the United States is in a political flurry right now, following the DNC convention in Chicago. One of the obvious problems with politics is that it is polarizing. People are encouraged to take sides and see people who don’t agree with them as the “other”. This does not generate “peace and tranquility” in the nation or the world.
Add to that all the restlessness and upheaval in the world and we have a very messy situation. Fortunately, there are hundreds and thousands of people all around the world who are doing their best every day to create a better and saner world. Scientific studies of Buddhist monks and nuns who have a specific meditation practice have shown that they are usually less stressed, have more coherent heart rhythms, and often have a smaller amygdala. The size of our amygdala is related to how stressed or fearful we tend to be. (very minimal explanation)
We know, just by searching Facebook or YouTube, there are so many groups doing all kinds of spiritual practices to be more centered, calm, coherent, compassionate, and healthy. There are also many groups doing coherent heart meditations for the World.
My experience is that every bit of our effort to raise consciousness does make a difference. In most situations we are not able to measure “this effect”, but our technology is getting better and better. One early study was done by Rene Peoc’h, a French researcher who wanted to study the possibility that “intention” might have an effect in our world. In 1988 he started with a computerized robot set up as a random event generator. He set it loose in a small arena and it turned left half the time and right half the time. This established that it was generating “events” randomly.
Then he allowed newborn Baby Chicks “to imprint” on the generator. After that the chicks were placed into a cage so they could see the generator, but were not able to get to it. Over time, the pattern of movement for the robot random generator changed. Its moves were clustered near the chicks’ cage !!! The robot was no longer moving randomly. It had gravitated to be near the Baby Chicks !!! The other great thing about this “study” is that it was easy to replicate and the results were the same!
If Baby Chicks can influence a random event generator, then might it be possible for focused groups of Human Beings to influence the “mind of the world”? Or, put another way, “a rising tide lifts all boats” !!! That’s us as well as other groups. Our Intention combined with our Practice plus all our efforts = greater coherence and calm within us that creates a strong resonance for the Whole Wide World.
Thank You for Showing Up !!!
Have a Wonderful Week, and …
Remember to Breathe.
Mary Christopher
As our thoughts move through our consciousness and through the tiny neurons in our brain, the structure and intent of those thoughts can change the way we feel. The way we “feel” can change our perception of our experiences as well as our perception of the world. In other words, our repetitive thoughts can “take root” neurologically creating subconscious patterns.
This is like practicing a golf swing or learning a new language. We practice our golf swing in order to play better. We rehearse a new language by listening, and then speaking or repeating phrases or whole sentences. Over time, we create neurological pathways that become stronger and more responsive. Then, seemingly all at once, we have a better golf game or we are speaking a new language. This process is known as “neuroplasticity” and is the reason we can improve our golf game and learn a new language regardless of our age!
When we plant a garden, we usually choose our seeds with care. We know whether we want tiny tomatoes or large ones. Do we want cucumbers or zucchini? Do we prefer mild peppers or seriously hot ones? Then we usually make an effort to sow our seeds in fertile moist soil with enough Sunshine to grow. If we do our planning, and pay attention to our garden, we will have a good crop of vegetables, and herbs, and even flowers. This same practice applies to our thoughts!
We now know that our thoughts affect the way our brain is wired. In general, this depends on our intent, how often we repeat specific thoughts, and the emotional charge we put on our thoughts. Neurological research shows “neurons that fire together, wire together”. With our repetitive thoughts, the neurological connections grow stronger. This is a good thing as long as we are staying centered, coherent, and focused on what is good in our lives. However, if we slip off the trail of clear and coherent perception, we may find ourselves dragging our feet through a swamp of negative emotions. Yikes !!!
For instance, as we “grow older”, we may find ourselves making judgements about current experiences based on our “past experiences” of a similar person or event. I know several people who do this often. I have watched them become more and more cynical! This is potentially a tragic situation, because it leads to viewing the world through the lens of their past negative experiences.
This is a sure pathway to cynicism. I have also noticed that people who become “cynical” tend to be “hard-hearted” and quick to pass judgment. The unfortunate result may be that over time, these people become more cynical, primarily due to their repetitive “negative” thinking. It is way too easy with all the “craziness” in the world, to feel that we are on a downward path. Plus the overwhelming amount of “negative news” from so many sources contributes to this slippery slope.
At the same time, most of us know many people who are doing their best every day to make the world better for everyone. I am very blessed to know 100s of people making an effort every day. For the most part, they are not in the news! Everywhere I go, people are polite, and often very thoughtful and respectful. We live in very challenging times that can feel overwhelming and chaotic. But, the people I know care deeply about the welfare and wellbeing of others.
If we spend too much time watching or listening to the “news of latest disasters”, we may begin to believe in that version of reality. It is not true! So many people on this planet care deeply about others. They volunteer, making consistent contributions of time and energy and money. This is what makes the World work. It doesn’t matter whether we consider ourselves to be Christian or Jewish or follow the beliefs of Islam. We may belong to the Native American culture or we may share deep beliefs in the Wonder and Beauty of Creation. Regardless of how crazy the world seems to be, we all have something to offer. All of us are gifted in many ways.
If you catch yourself going down a dark and difficult path, remember all the goodness and beauty in Creation. Shift your focus and “rewire” your neurons. You will begin to feel better. Your perception will begin to shift and you will see the world with greater clarity and compassion. You will begin to see all the good in others and within yourself! You will be planting “seeds of compassion and understanding” in your life.
Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT and 10 pm EDT
We have a Super Moon this Monday. Super Moons always seem to be Brighter and look closer to Earth. Usually an awesome sight as long as we don't have any cloud cover. Be sure and look for this month's Super Moon!
We know that being calm, centered, and coherent is better than being "wired and tired"! We function better. We can think and reason better. Our digestion and our immune system work much much better. And, generally, we are happier.
One reason we tend to be happier with that kind of internal harmony is because our endocrine system produces endorphins such as dopamine. Endorphins function like a reward in our system, affirming that we are doing something that works.
One of the Taoist exercises that I like to do is called the "Inner Smile" practice. It is really simple and just takes a few minutes once you get going. One of the reasons that it works so well is because "smiling" produces endorphins. Very Interesting !!!
So, we could say that even the "intention" to do an "Inner Peace" meditation can initiate a positive response within our whole system. Then if we decide we want to do a group-focused meditation, we are plugging into the coherence, energy, and intelligence of everyone participating in the meditation.
We are also contributing our coherence, energy, and intelligence which amplifies the effect for us and the group. I have done in-person group meditations with groups as large as 1200 people in the same space. Often the effect is amazing. And, I have done coherence meditations "in space" with people and these were just as amazing in their way.
Intuitively we know that the more coherent, grounded, and centered we are, the better we can function. And, the more of us who are walking around being coherent, calm, grounded, and centered, the greater the effect for our human collective! Studies have shown this to be accurate ... !!!
Thank You for showing up, for doing your spiritual practices, and for being on the planet right now !!!
Have a Wonderful Week, and ...
Remember to Breathe,
Mary
When we stop and think about our Hearts, we often realize how Blessed we are. Because of our amazing Hearts, we can function in this world and do all kinds of amazing things. The 2024 Olympics are a great example of what our hearts, bodies, and spirit can do. Even if our Heart isn’t working perfectly, we are still able to participate in life. Maybe not at the same speed, but we can still be present and be a Blessing.
In general, our Heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute, moving blood through arteries, veins, and capillaries to keep us going. The beating of our Heart moves blood through approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels every day! Our blood carries red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in plasma which is mostly water.
Red blood cells carry Oxygen (O2) to all the cells in our body through the arteries. White “blood cells” are part of our amazing Immune system. And platelets are small cellular pieces that heal cuts, or abrasions by coagulating and forming a barrier to prevent germs from getting into our system and giving the tissue time to heal. Whenever we are impatient with the speed of healing, it helps to remember that all healing begins within and moves outward.
Our Heart has its own very specialized nervous system that even has a short-term and a long-term memory. When we have an ECG (electrocardiogram), we can see the graph showing the electrical activity of our heart. The more peaceful and calm and centered we are, we will usually see a more regular and rhythmic pattern. If we are frustrated or angry, we may see an irregular rhythm.
Our Heart has 4 chambers and 4 valves that usually work in a steady rhythm, pumping 1.2 - 1.5 gallons (5 liters) of blood through our body! When we are calm and centered, our Heart maintains a steady rhythm. But, if we are too stressed or stressed for too long, our Heart rhythms may not be as steady and rhythmic. This would be like a car engine that needs a tune-up to function effectively. Fortunately for us, we can learn how to slow our breathing, relax our muscles, rest with our Heart, and return to a peaceful and centered state. When we do this, we are moving from stress to Heart Coherence and our whole system begins to calm down!
Our Heart also sends signals to our Brain. Our Heart actually sends more signals to our Brain than the Brain sends to our Heart! For many years, people thought their brain was managing all our systems. Now we know, based on scientific studies, that our Heart is the main focal point. This is the reason we can calm ourselves by slowing our breathing and bringing our awareness to our Heart.
Our Heart also has an electromagnetic field that is 5000 times stronger than the electromagnetic field of the Brain! This is another reason we can shift out of high stress or emotional distress by slowing our breathing and resting our awareness with our Heart. Amazing how simple this is. We just need to be mindful enough to recognize when we are “stressed out”!
Also, if we realize that we are worried or anxious or “too tired and wired”, we can shift into gratitude or appreciation as we rest with our Heart. Gratitude and appreciation or Being out in Nature are simple ways to restore inner peace and harmony. This is especially important to remember when the world seems to be “going bananas”!
If you are feeling anxious or depressed after paying attention to the “news of latest disasters”, just pause, take a few slow, deep breaths, and remember all the wonderful blessings you have in your life. Then check your feelings … you may find you are beginning to feel much better and possibly much calmer.
This is the reason that most religions and so many spiritual practices include appreciation, compassion, gratitude, or loving-kindness. Because these practices can work quickly and efficiently to restore our Inner Peace and Balance! This also can shift our perspective from dismal to hopeful. There is always time for us to remember the Blessings in our lives. Those Blessings didn’t go away, we just forgot.
Have a very Blessed and Beautiful week, remembering to be compassionate and kind to yourself. This is the simplest way to grow your capacity for compassion and understanding.
Inner Peace Guided Meditation 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
When we focus our attention on our Inner Space, we become more coherent as we allow ourselves to rest there. Sometimes it is not easy for us to get centered or calm down. Our minds may be Busy with the many details of our lives on Earth. We are often "tired and wired", or we haven't had enough sleep the night before.
But ... and this is the important part! If we simply have the intention of moving our attention from the outer world to our Inner World, we are setting an emotional and neurological pattern that will strengthen every time we have that focus. Scientific Studies have shown this really does work !!!
It is so important to be patient with ourselves! Being impatient or fussy with ourselves is counter-productive. It is disturbing and from my experience, generates internal static. We know internal static is not helpful.
By being patient and gentle with ourselves whenever we sit down to meditate, we are increasing our opportunity for "heart coherence" and for finding our sweet spot of Inner Peace.
Thank You for showing up, and for contributing to the coherence and peace of the world. If you can join us at the appointed time, that is Great. If not, do your meditation whenever you can.
Have a Wonderful Week and
Remember to Breathe
Mary
Inner Peace Guided Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EST
I am in Oklahoma right now and it is Hot and Dry! I actually prefer "hot and dry" compared to "hot and humid" because it seems to me that I cool off faster with hot and dry.
And, today, I have proof that G~D loves me because I was able to find parking in "real shade from a Tree" at Lowe's. So, when I opened the truck, it did not feel like an oven inside!
I know it seems to be hot most places right now, including upstate New York and around the Great Lakes. And, there are devestating wild fires in California! So, we have a lot of conditions and situations to include in our Prayers. I am also including all the "fired up" political activities as well.
Fortunately, we are able to address all these situations by resting in the Sweet Spot of Peace, deep within us. Jesus answered the Sadducis and Pharieses simply when he said, "The kingdom of Heaven is within." In the gospels he does not elaborate on that at all. I am sure he had more to say to the disciples, but that is all we have in the text.
When we find that Inner Peace within us or even "intend to find it", we are amplyfing the "effect" by adding to the collective effort. The HeartMath group does collective global "meditations and has been abele to document the over-all effect of those gatherings.
So we are adding our consciousness to that effort and the efforts of many others. We have been well trainded and many of us have done spiritual practices for years! Every day we are helping to create a more coherent frequency in the human consciousness. We are adding the peaceful process of the world in these turbulent times.
Thank You for showing up and for all the good work you are doing all around the World !!!
Have a Wonderful Week, and
Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Guided Meditation 7 pm PDT, 8 MDT, 9 CDT, 10 EDT
Whenever we gather, we are a Blessing!
This has been a Wild Week !!! Trust you are having a restful weekend as well as time for some fun.
We know from so many scientific studies that ongoing stress, as well as generating negative emotions can cause serious problems and interfere with healing. We also know that meditation, mindfulness, and spiritual practices can shift our perspective and strengthen our Immune System !!! Numerous scientific studies have determined this.
Paul's advice in his letters to the Corinthians is substantiated! If we use our spiritual practices to maintain our emotional equilibrium and manage to stay centered with our Heart, we will accomplish peace of mind and better health for ourselves as well as for our family and friends!
The next few months may be more of a "wild ride" for humanity. This usually means we need to spend more time with our meditations and practices so we won't get caught up in all the Drama !!!
Thank You for showing up and for all you do every day to make this world a better place for everyone! Keep up the good work!
Have a Wonderful Week and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Guided Meditation ~ 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
This weekend I volunteered at a Center for homeless families. These are usually Moms with 2 or 3 children. The Moms work full-time and are responsible people. Due to the high cost of rentals or owning a home, these families are sometimes without housing. They usually stay at the center for 2 to 3 months and have help finding an apartment or a home. Local churches provide dinner 7 days a week and usually stay and eat with everyone.
Friday evening I was sitting with 3 ladies from a church down the road. We started talking about community gardens and family gardens. We all had family gardens growing up. We learned early that if you plant a specific seed in good soil and take care of it, you can expect to harvest tomatoes, or peppers, or eggplant, or herbs, depending on the kind of seed you sow. We had a great time remembering the fresh vegetables we grew and ate growing up.
We also talked about how we felt "service" in our community was like sowing seeds and setting good patterns as well as cooking and serving dinners. So, that got me thinking about how our thoughts, especially our habitual thoughts and trains of thought are like sowing seeds in our Brain. We know that our habitual thinking creates neurological patterns. We also know we can generate Endorphins or stress hormones like Cortisol by thought alone.
I liked the idea of consciously "planting seeds" in my Mind and Brain. It seemed to simplify the whole process and remove any aspect of good or bad. I was also aware of what a delightful and fun conversation we had just by talking about gardens, and sowing seeds, and harvesting fresh herbs and vegetables.
Seems like such a simple and down-to-earth way to practice mindfulness.
Thank You for showing up and for all the good work you do every day.
Have a Wonderful Week and,
Remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher
I have noticed over the past few months that many people, including me, sometimes make decisions based on avoiding "Chaos"! I have also noticed that these decisions do not always create a pathway around Chaos.
Maybe we could use our energy and our time a little better if we focused on coherent frequencies such as those in our Heart or those in the alpha and theta brain wave category while making decisions. We know we can use our breath in specific ways to slow our heart rate and calm our nervous system.
We have scientific studies showing how simple breathing techniques can shift our mood, even shift our perception of "reality"! This is one of the main reasons that I begin our guided Inner Peace Meditation with conscious breathing.
Speaking about the value of shifting our perception, I just finished a delightful Young Adult fiction work by Rick Riordan, titled "The Serpent's Shadow"! Very exciting and well-written, Rick describes the adventures of a teen-age sister and brother. They are fighting a giant Serpent from Egyptian mythology to stop the forces of Chaos from taking over the World. I could tell my perception of our current "disorderly world" shifted from being super, super serious to being calmer and "enlightened".
There was plenty of fighting with demons and demigods and strange creatures. However, at critical moments, the heroines and heroes would step away from the frenzy of battle, find the Great Inner Calm, and carry on the battle from there. Great example, I thought !!! (They always won, of course!)
Thank You for showing up and staying on our Quest for Greater Inner Peace within and in the world. Trust you are doing well and taking good care of yourself.
Have a Wonderful Week and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Did you know the root system of trees is the most important part of the Tree? Roots “grow” underground, spreading away from the tree trunk. Most root systems tend to be shallow and may spread 25 to 35 feet out from the base of its tree.
This podcast is all about Tree Root systems, how they work, and what they do !!!
"If we want to understand the Creator, we can study Creation!"
Mary Christopher
Did you notice the world just got more chaotic and a bit crazier this week?
I am sure you did. And, you may be finding it more difficult to think clearly, understand your feelings, or even meditate.
The main reason is that chaos in the "outer world" can throw our Brain function into a form of panic. Technically this means that our brain waves may be fluctuating in what is known as high or medium-high frequencies.
When our brain waves look more like static, we are usually in a state of survival. We may believe that the sky is falling. We may feel light-headed. In extreme cases, people may feel they are having a "heart attack".
So, what can we do about these chaotic frequencies ... ???
One thing for sure we can is to breathe slowly and deeply. We can also take a walk outside in Sunshine and fresh air. Creation is usually much more coherent than our brain! When we are feeling calmer, we can sit in our favorite place and breathe our way back into our special place of Inner Peace.
Deep within is where we find Peace and Calm. We can get there. When we get to that place, we have shifted out of high beta, and are moving into more coherent frequencies. When we are in low beta or alpha brain waves, we are more relaxed and can function much better in our crazy world.
Then we are saner and safer. And, we are a Blessing to ourselves and others!
Thank You for showing up and for all the good you are doing every day.
Take Good Care of Yourself, and
Remember to Breathe
Mary Christopher
What does our Heart need? What does our Brain need? What do our Blood cells need? All these cells need Oxygen to work happily and efficiently. We know we need O2 and we know that it needs to circulate to every cell in our bodies for us to be happy, and healthy, and resilient.
The Happiness part is more important than we realize. Oxygen fuels all of our cells and keeps our Heart and Brain functioning at optimum levels. Why is this important? Because if our Brain Cells are not getting enough O2, the Brain goes into its “distressed” mode and immediately begins signaling that “something is wrong”! Or, signaling “danger, danger”! This signaling can sometimes be triggered even when there isn’t any “danger”, just “cellular discomfort”.
In other words, if we are sitting most of the day, either deeply engaged with our laptop or telephone, we are not moving very much. So, our circulation begins to gradually s-l-o-w down. Our brain may begin to feel sluggish since there is less O2 circulating. In addition, we will have a gradual build up of Carbon Dioxide in our whole system due to all systems slowing down. We may begin to feel drowsy or disinterested in whatever we are doing. Our attention may wander and we lose our ability to focus.
When you first notice these feelings, it is a good idea to get up and move around. Even better, get up and move around outside! Being out of doors can provide Sunshine and Fresh Air being produced by Trees and green plants! Remember, human Beings are designed to move, even if it is just wiggling our fingers and toes!
As we know, Sunshine is an antidepressant as well as Fresh Air! In Japan where they still have many forests, people practice Shinrin-yoku, also known as Forest Bathing. Japanese scientists have done numerous studies and have established the many benefits of Forest Bathing. Often office workers, teachers, and students will take a walk in the woods on their lunch break instead of going to get fast food or noodles!
We know we are made to move. All we have to do is watch an action movie or a baseball game or try-outs for the Summer Olympics in Paris! Young people and seasoned athletes are running faster, swimming longer faster, leaping higher and doing everything better every year. This is amazing and wonderful to watch.
However, most of us are not aspiring for the Summer Olympics and may find ourselves sitting longer in front of our larger-than-life watching all these amazing athletes. Maybe we should do more exercise now so we can enjoy sitting with the Olympics!
Unfortunately, our current “modern” society is structured to keep us sitting during the day. We are either sitting for work, or sitting in a car or truck or bus. And, sitting for entertainment. We have gotten too used to sitting.
So, whenever you have the opportunity, or you are feeling bored, or just generally dis-satified with life, get up and move. Seriously, clean the kitchen cabinets, the closet in the hall, or the neglected flower beds in front. You will feel better. All your systems will function better. Your memory will probably respond faster. And, you will be pleased with your accomplishments!
If you are not able to move around like you used to or you are recovering from an accident or surgery, then wiggle your fingers and your toes. Wiggle your nose. Then smile at your toes, your feet, your legs and knees. Keep smiling at your tummy and all your internal organs, especially your wonderful Heart. Remember to smile and appreciate your mouth and jaw, your nose, your eyes and ears and all the sensitivity of your skin. Pat the top of your head and tell yourself, “Good Job” just for being on the planet.
Then take a few deep and slow breaths, feeling the air moving in and down into your lungs. You will begin to feel better and your whole body will begin to function better. All those system alarms related to a lack of O2 will begin to fade. If you can find something to laugh about, even better!
It is warm outside, but if you can find a way to go out when it is cooler, you will find it is very pleasant and often calming. Have a wonderful week as you find more ways to move, including your ears!
Finding Our Way Through the Maze ...
With certainty, I think we can say, “This world is a mess right now … “! I doubt anyone connected to the “modern world” would dispute that!
So, what do we do?
Well, we could do what Noah and his family did. They built a better boat, loaded it up, and floated away when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. This Old Testament project was based on “divine intervention” and excellent note-taking on Noah’s part.
Probably a better option would be for us to light our candles, get comfortable, find our Inner Peace place within, and create a very coherent field of Light all around us. One of my favorite sayings is “A rising tide lifts all boats”. Together we can generate a “rising tide” that can move through and dissipate confusion and darkness. We have been there and done that. We know it works.
I also think “We are the ones we have been waiting for …”!
See you this evening at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, and 10 pm EDT.
Thank You for showing up !!!
Mary Christopher
Did you know that People who garden are usually happier, healthier, and are often saving money at the grocery store !!!
So, how do we know that People who Garden are usually Happier, Healthier, and saving money? Some of this is just common sense. People who garden are usually more physically active. They are outside more, soaking up Sunshine and breathing fresh air. We know that Sunshine can easily be an antidepressant.
Gardeners tend to be problem solvers and are more engaged with gardening friends and neighbors who are then blessed with fresh produce. We know that people who are active and engaged with other people are usually more cheerful and less prone to depression.
A good example is Will Allen, the original urban farmer. Some people consider him the “modern” George Washington Carver. After Will retired from professional basketball and a corporate job, he became the director of Growing Power, an urban gardening project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He developed this project by getting neighborhood young people involved with gardening. At first, they were just curious about this “crazy guy” who was trying to grow vegetables in the city. Then they started helping.
As their efforts at gardening began to pay off, these young people started taking their produce home. And, here is the best part … if they grew it, they would eat it! They were eating vegetables that they would not even touch before!
Amazing … !!!
And, their families were getting healthy food even living in or near an urban “food desert”! Not only that, these young people were showing up to work in the garden every day rather than hanging out on the streets being bored and getting into trouble!
So ... gardening is good in so many ways and for so many reasons. Give it a try even if it is only 1 or 2 pots of Tomatoes or Peppers. You too can become a famous "famous" Urban Gardener in your neighborhood !!!
Have a Wonderful Week,
Mary Christopher
Some days it seems that Inner Peace Place is almost impossible to find. And, we are tempted to give up, abandon our efforts and go do something else.
Totally understandable ... !!!
However, there are ways to move "thru" most emotional log jams. Our emotional log jams are difficult for many reasons. For one thing, emotions or emotional states tend to be "sticky"! When we try to fix anything that is "sticky", we usually get stuck! So, if we can resist the urge to try to "fix it" and keep our fingers out of our emotions, we may be able to move on and leave the logjam behind!
There are other ways of getting beyond our emotions which I mentioned in this podcast. Sometimes simply finding a way to shift our perspective may work well. Regardless of any outcome, remember that our focused intention and making a consistent effort builds better neurological pathways!
Thank You for showing up, for doing this spiritual work, and for everything you do every day to make this world a better place for Everyone!
Have a Wonderful Week and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Photosynthesis is an amazingly efficient chemical process that takes place within Leaves and Grass, any kind of plant that contains chlorophyll. This chemical process uses energy from photons to run the process. The photos come from Sunlight! And, the plant is also absorbing CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) from the air through its leaves!
In this process, the plant produces glucose (a sugar) by breaking down CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen. The O2 is released into the atmosphere and the newly formed sugar helps to feed the plant.
This is an amazing process that is happening around us all the time, and has been happening for thousands and thousands of years! All creatures get fresh O2 and the plant gets Food!
Another great mystery is the similarity between chlorophyll and blood or hemoglobin. There is only 1 atom difference between the 2 ... !!! You can learn more about that in the podcast.
Creation is Amazing and Wonderful !!! We are so blessed in so many ways on this Planet and often we are completely oblivious!!!
So, this week, slow down, take a look around you, and discover all the amazing miracles that are happening every day.
Thank You for Being here and for all you do to make this World a better place for Everyone.
Many, Many Blessings,
Mary Christopher
"According to Dr. Karyn Purvis, the late Director of Texas Christian University's Child Development Centre, scientists have discovered that it takes around 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain. However, if the repetition is done through play, it only takes 10–20 repetitions. Play can be a key factor in language development, and can also help children develop cognitively and emotionally. When children play, they are often more relaxed and open to learning."
One of the people in my advanced meditation class sent that quotation to me. When I read it, I felt like numerous light bulbs were going off in my mind. I was reminded of how often I have wished that I was better at having fun or at least being less serious! Now that I know for sure that "play" provides specificresults I decided to jump on it and do some serious research! Actually, I did start thinking like that, but caught myself in time and switched gears. I found a book about "play" on Audible, downloaded it, and started listening. The book is * Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan, M.D. I am just getting started, and so far I am pleased with the content and the way it is written.
Most of us are aware that as we grow into adulthood, we tend to become more serious. Being an adult is "serious" as well as challenging as we deal with careers, families, health, and taxes, just to list a few responsibilities we have faced. If we include spiritual development, that can add an extra level of being serious. Now that I know I can "learn" or "reprogram" my little neurons more effectively with play, I am looking for ways to include play and/or fun into my daily routines. And, this includes my spiritual practices. More about this later. There is a guided meditation included in this podcast. The official time for our group meditation is 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT. However, if for any reason, you are not able to do your Inner Peace meditation at that time, do it when it works for you. It is still a contribution to the growing and expanding consciousness of the whole world. Thank You for showing up! Thank You for being on Earth right now! And, thank you for everything you do every day to make the world a better place for Everyone! Have a wonderful week and, Remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher
In many parts of the world, we live with Trees. We live next to or in the middle of Trees. If we are really fortunate, we live in a neighborhood where the streets are lined with Trees! Any time that we are able to live in the same neighborhood with Trees, we are Blessed!
Did you know there are numerous scientific studies showing that there is less crime in neighborhoods that have Trees compared to neighborhoods where there are very few or no Trees at all!
“Neighborhoods and homes that are barren have shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Trees and landscaping help to reduce the level of fear. Also the different shades of green from Trees and Plants are calming and restful!” (Tree People)
How far down into the ground can Tree roots grow … ?
In general, most tree roots can grow anywhere from two to six feet deep. However, there are some tree roots that have been known to grow much deeper than that. The world's deepest tree root was found in South Africa, and it reached a depth of 24 feet!
Did you know that the pattern of growth for Tree roots resembles the branching pattern in our lungs? The Bronchia in our lungs form a pattern that starts with the trachea and ends in tiny air sacs called alveoli. This is how Oxygen (O2) gets to all our cells and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is removed and exhaled!
How Large Is the Area of Our Lungs ... ?
If an adult’s lungs were opened and laid out flat, it would cover an entire tennis court! This is one of the main reasons we benefit by walking or jogging or being active outside in fresh air. Any time we are working or playing outdoors, we are exercising and strengthening our lungs. We are also expanding our lung capacity or, at the very least, maintain a healthy lung capacity. This is very important as we age!
We also know from our own experience as well as from scientific studies that exercise functions as an antidepressant! That is because exercise usually causes our bodies to produce Endorphins! Human Beings have our own in-house pharmacy.
Our bodies are simple and complex and amazing. Usually, we go through the day without giving a thought to the elegance and sophistication of our lungs, or our heart and circulatory system. We seem to take Creation for granted, missing all the amazing systems that allow us to be here and survive.
Often, when I think about our human bodies or learn how well our bodies are designed, I am in Awe of the Creator. And, I am deeply grateful for Being here on Earth, even with all the challenges!
Take Good Care of Yourself and
Remember to go outside and Breathe, Breathe, Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Thank You all so much for showing up for our Inner Peace Meditations!
We are gathering momentum! We had more than 70 downloads for last week's podcast!
I always feel like there are so many wonderful people joining at our designated time, or doing the meditation when they have the time. Good for us ... !!! We are making a difference in our own lives by intentionally focusing on Inner Peace and we are making a difference for others. Let's keep going ...
It is a beautiful day here in this spacious park in Duluth, Georgia. I came over early so I could sit with one of my favorite trees before it got hot.
As I was sitting with this friendly pine tree, at least 40 feet tall, listening to the birds and feeling the warmth of the Sun, I felt so grateful and blessed to have this time and this place to record our guided meditation for this evening's group meditation.
If you sometimes have difficulty finding your "inner peace place", I can offer 2 suggestions. These are practices I use if I have any difficulty "tuning into" my sacred Inner Peace place.
One practice is to move into a state of gratitude, remembering all the small gifts and abilities that so many of us have. I usually start by smiling down to my little toe. This may sound silly, but there are specific reasons for doing this which I explain in this podcast.
The other practice that I find helpful is to work with "lovingkindness" for myself first, then extending that bubble of lovingkindness to include others. Either one of these 2 practices will usually guide me into my special "Inner Peace Place"!
Again, thank you for showing up for our Inner Peace Meditations and for all the good work you are doing every day !!!
Take very good care of yourself and,
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
John Muir was an amazing person, a naturalist, among the first most notable environmentalists, an inventor, an adventurer, and an accomplished writer. He loved the poetry of Robert Burns, a fellow Scot. On Muir’s rambles through the forests, mountains, and valleys of the Northwest, he often carried a volume of Burn’s poetry and one of Emerson’s books. Needless to say, “rambling” in the mountains and woods was Muir’s favorite activity.
John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland, April 21, 1838. He was the 8th child of 13. His father was a harsh and strict religious man who made sure everyone in the family worked hard. Apparently, John preferred to wander off into the fields and meadows whenever he could. As a result, John was often whipped by his father and forced to learn chapters in the Bible. By the time John was 11, he could recite all of the New Testament and a good bit of the Old Testament from memory! Even though growing up under the severity of his father was difficult, John said later in life that learning all those verses served to make him a better writer. During his life, he published 6 volumes, all describing in lyrical detail the beauty and wonder of Nature.
Muir wrote constantly, publishing books and writing articles on ecology, his studies of glaciers, and botany. He was consistently writing about the need for Yosemite to become a National Park like Yellowstone. Yellowstone was the first national park in the United States and also in the world! Partly in response to the need for Yosemite to become a national park, the Sierra Club was formed. On May 28, 1892, the first meeting of the Sierra Club was held. John Muir was immediately elected president. They also elected a vice-president and chose a board of directors. The Sierra Club led the way to establish “national forests” and to protect and preserve the natural beauty and heritage of the American landscape! Muir was president of the Sierra Club for 22 years until his death in 1914.
Thanks to John Muir, Emerson, Ansel Adams, and many other far-sighted women and men, many of our natural treasures were saved from development by being set aside as National Parks. John Muir’s books, articles, and conversations with leaders like President Teddy Roosevelt, influenced their thinking and decisions about the preservation of our national treasures.
We are gathering every Sunday evening at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, and 10 pm EDT for our Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole Wide World.
So far we have been gathering on our own. Some people can sit at that specific time. Other people do the meditation at the time that works best for them.
Sometimes, when I am focusing on a specific topic for my meditation, I will ask myself a question rather than just trying to direct my focus to a topic. For this evening, the topic would be "Inner Peace Meditation".
My intention is to structure the question so all my little neurons will scurry around and get lined up with "Inner Peace". As a result of all my neurons working so diligently, it would be easier for me to find that space or landing place. Today I used the question, "What if I am more energy and frequency than 'matter'?
I can usually tell when I have created a good question because I begin to feel more focused and coherent which is very exciting! With this particular question, I started feeling more focused and less material. I felt like holding my focus would be easier and I could stay alert longer.
Let me know how this sounds. And, if you try it, let me know how well this "practice" of crafting a question works for you ... ???
Thank You for showing up, for your Wonderful Heart, and for all the Enlightened choices you are making every day.
And, remember to breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Have you ever heard of "Forest Bathing"?
Now you have and it is a wonderful way to relax and unwind!
I heard about "forest bathing" several years ago. I started reading and researching to find out more. What I discovered was Amazing and confirmed everything that I "felt" about trees.
I spent plenty of time in Trees while I was growing up. There weren't lots of trees in Oklahoma where I grew up since it was originally praririe. But, as soon as Settlers arrived and started building homes and tiny towns, they started planting Trees.
One of my aunts and uncles had a farm in central Virginia with many Trees and a great variety as well. I loved to walk through the woods, following deer paths and imagining I would find a Native American settlement. (I have a very good imagination.) I didn't find any People but I had a wonderful time just Being in the Woods!
There are numerous, well-done, scienticfic studies about how beneficial "forest bathing is for Human Beings (that's Us). I will do another podcast about "forests and forest bathing very soon.
In the meantime, you can enjoy reading about The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Wonderful Book ... one of the books I like to take with me when I travel.
Have a great week and
Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher
Have you noticed that "humans" tend to be "enamored with form", also known as Stuff.
Most of us have lots of stuff. In many cases, we have way too much Stuff which is often in a storage unit or filling up the garage or our closets.
Amazing !!!
So, how much stuff do we actually need ... ? Good Question ...
Or, how can we put our Stuff to good use ... ?
I know from growing up with Farmers and Ranchers, they do need plenty of stuff, most of which is useful at some time or other. And, hopefully, their stuff is well organized!
Maybe the Lesson we are in the midst of could be called "Learning About Form!" Or, we could call it "Everything We Need to Know about Being in Form!".
What do you think ... let me know!
Thank You for showing up, for doing your meditations, for Being here with us on Planet Earthi right now!
And, thank you for all the good you are doing every day!
Mary Christopher
This morning I was thinking about Spiritual Sight. I realized there are people in my life that I can talk to about Spiritual Sight and people that I do not talk to about that kind of Sight.
I have been in groups where most people feel comfortable talking about what they can see that is beyond the Visible Spectrum. I am always relieved when I find myself in that situation.
For some time I have been thinking about Spiritual Sight and how we do or don't talk about it. I began to find references in fiction, and not just science fiction either. I also started noticing good examples in poetry.
So, I recorded this podcast on Spiritual Sight. I did not try to define it, except to say that it would include the frequencies beyond the "visible spectrum" that we are used to seeing and measuring. I am also aware that even our "everyday, walking around sort of sight" is limited or influenced by our personal perception of the world.
Let me know what you think ....
Have a Wonderful Week and
Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher
Thank You for showing up for our weekly Inner Peace meditation. As we continue to gather with focus and compassion, we are forming a Sacred Circle and generating a Blessing for us, our families, our neighbors, and our World!
Certainly, we are not the only people on our Beautiful Planet doing this sacred work. Rest assured that there are hundreds and thousands and millions of other people doing their spiritual work along side of us! Join us at this time if you can ... 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT. If this time does not work for you, do your Inner Peace Meditation whenever it works for you.
Monday, May 20 is the official World Bee Day as authorized by the United Nations in 2017! We are acknowledging the great work and the blessings that Bees contribute to our survival because they are pollinators. We have an abundance of fruits and vegetables due to the daily "work" of pollinators who are all insects!
Like all insects, a bee’s body is divided into three parts: a head with two antennae, a thorax with six legs, and an abdomen. All bees have branched hairs somewhere on their bodies and two pairs of wings. Only female bees have stingers (which are modified ovipositors, organs originally used to lay eggs). Many bee species have black and yellow coloration, but many do not ~ bees come in a variety of colors, including green, blue, red, or black. Some are striped, and some even have a metallic sheen. They range in size from large carpenter bees and bumble bees to the tiny Perdita minima bee, which is less than two millimeters long. (National Wildlife Federation)
There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, including the honey bee, which originated in Eurasia and has been imported around the globe as a domesticated species. Wild bee species live on every continent except Antarctica. In North America, there are approximately 4,000 native bee species occupying ecosystems from forests to deserts to grasslands. Bees feed exclusively on sugary nectar and protein-rich pollen from flowering plants, unlike the carnivorous wasps from which they evolved. (National Wildlife Federation)
As they forage, bees perform the critical act of pollination. As a bee enters a flower to feed on nectar and gather pollen, some of the pollen sticks to the bee’s body. When the bee flies on, it deposits some of that pollen on the next flower it visits, resulting in fertilization, allowing the plant to reproduce and generate the fruits and seeds so many other wildlife species rely on as a food source. Bees pollinate a staggering 80 percent of all flowering plants, including approximately 75 percent of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the United States. (National Wildlife Federation)
Though all female bees can sting, they only do so when threatened. Honey bees, with hives filled with honey and larvae that need protecting, are generally more aggressive and likely to sting when disturbed than solitary native bees. (National Wildlife Federation)
Unlike the hive-forming domesticated honey bee or wild bumble bee species, most bees are solitary nesters. They don’t form hives, create honey, or live a communal lifestyle. Instead, they lay their eggs in a series of tiny chambers in tunnels in the ground, in hollow plant stems, or in decaying wood. Unlike hive-forming bee species, which collectively care for their young, female solitary bees provision their eggs with a ball of nectar and pollen and leave them to grow and pupate on their own with no parental care. (National Wildlife Federation)
Both domesticated honey bees and many native bee species are in decline. Some species, such as the once-common rusty patched bumblebee, are now listed as endangered in the U.S. Potential causes of these declines include habitat destruction, disease, agricultural and lawn and garden practices, use of pesticides, habitat fragmentation, changes in land use, invasive species, and climate change.
Pollinators, notably native bees, are critical to the survival of North America’s native plants, other wildlife, and people alike. The National Wildlife Federation maintains and supports several initiatives that support pollinators. Learn more about our work through Garden for Wildlife.
Happy Mother's Day to all the Wonderful and Dedicated Mothers in the World. I am including those women all of us have known who were not biological mothers, but "mothered" and cared for many people during their lives. Bless all the Mother's everywhere around the world today and every day. Being a Mom is a Big Job !!!
Our Sunday evening Inner Peace Meditation is doing well. We are "gathering" from wherever we are at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, or 10 pm EDT for our group meditation. You can use this guided meditation or whatever works best for you.
We know when people gather to meditate with a specific intention, it changes us for the better. There is also a combined "effect" or influence for our families, friends, and neighbors. We become more coherent and centered. I always sleep better following our Sunday evening meditations!
Thank You for showing up, for joining our collective effort, and for everything you do every day to make this world a better place for everyone !!!
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher
Jane Goodall is living an extraordinary life of adventure, science, and service.
Through her research and her teaching, she has broadened our understanding of Primates and Nature in general.
In this podcast, I have covered the highlights of her early life and education. In many ways, she has led a charmed life.
Let me know what you think of her work and accomplishments.
Mary Christopher
Are you ready for another Inner Peace Meditation ?
I definitely look forward to our Sunday evening meditations. I discovered that I am sleeping better on Sunday nights following our meditations.
I have also noticed that each Inner Peace Meditation is unique. With some of our meditations, it feels quiet and centered! While other meditations feel all sparkly and radiant! Of course, this isn't surprising because we know that every meditation has its own special quality and character.
This week I recorded the podcast late Saturday afternoon in a lovely Gwinnett County Park. During the recording, which I always like to do outside, 3 special guests showed up! Three deer came walking by about 15 to 20 feet away. As you can tell from the recording, I got very quiet and excited all at the same time.
The doe in front kept looking at me and twitching her ears. She seemed to be wondering who or what I was and what was I up to! She kept walking through the woods and just a few minutes later, another, somewhat younger deer came right behind her! And then, another slightly smaller deer came along! Very Exciting!
When we hang out in the woods, we never know who may show up!
Thank You for all you do every day to make this World a better place for Everyone !!!
And, thank you for all your prayers and meditations.
Have a wonderful week.
Mary Christopher
This is the beginning of a podcast series about people who were challenged in some way or grew up in very Challenging times.
Sequoyah was born in southeastern Tennessee probably sometime during the 1730s or 1740s. No one knows for sure.
This podcast is about his amazing contribution of creating a written language directly from a spoken language. This had never been done before based to written history.
Hope you enjoy this podcast.
Let me know what you think in the notes.
Have a lovely week.
Mary Christopher
What do we do when the World seems to be going crazy ???
We get together with our friends and we meditate on Inner Peace.
Why do we do that ... ?
Because we have Measurable Evidence that our group meditations work as well as the Evidence of our own personal expereince !!!
In other words, we now know that Intentional Group Meditations do make a difference in the way the world works.
As you can tell from the podcast, I was able to record in the Woods, an actual genuine Woords, just off a lovely county park. I didn't hear any city sounds or people as I was recording except for one plane flying over.
I started the meditation using a breathing exercise, but I did not end it so you can meditate for as long as you want. I usually end meditations in the same way that I begin, using my breath to be centered and calm.
Thank You for doing this meditation with us. It does matter.
And, thank you for everything you do every day to make this world a better place for everyone.
Many Blessings,
Mary Christopher
This morning I had 2 "interesting" experiences early on.
In the first experience, I woke up feeling very SAD and was not sure why. But I was determined NOT to carry all that sadness into the day. In the process of clearing that out, I had an interesting revelation.
Next experience came during my morning walk, I had an "interesting" conversation with a gentleman who lives down the street and over a few blocks. He is a very good person and has a good heart, but tends toward being cynical. After talking to him, I kept walking, thinking about our conversation.
By the time I walked a few blocks, I had decided to do an extra podcast for this week.
We all know that we are living in "challenging and interesting times". In general, we are overwhelmed with way-too-much information, most of which we are unable to verify !!!
And, we are dealing with a very rapid rate of change which adds to the difficulty.
So, here is my rather spontaneous response to this morning as well as the remedies I used.
Thank You for Being on Earth right now !!!
And, thank you for everything you do every day to make this a better place for Everyone !!!
Mary Christopher
Happy Earth Day !!!
As you may know, I am writing articles about what some people would call "Humble Mystics" or "Modern Mystics". These are people who have a very specific life pathway
They find their path, jump on it, and follow it "religiously".
People like George Washington Carver, Luther Burbank, and St. Francis of Assissi were deeply connected to God's Creation in specific ways. George Washington Carver made enormous contributions to agriculture through his teaching and work at Tuskegee University.
Luther Burbank settled in Santa Rosa, California, and developed new varieties of many, many vegetables, fruits, and flowers. He even developed and "spineless" cactus !!!
St. Francis had a deep mystical connection to the Earth. He had a turbulent life as a young man, but found his calling as a monk and never looked back. It is said that the Birds flew around him when he preached. He could talk to Wolves or any other creature and he cared deeply for all Creatures, Great and Small. He is the patron saint of animals, merchants, and ecology. Maybe he should be the patron saint of Veterinarians as well!
Join us Sunday evenings at 10 pm EDT, 9 pm CDT, 8 pm MDT, 7 pm PDT for our weekly Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole World. We are not using Zoom, but are gathering in the Deep Space of Inner Peace. I have included a Guided Meditation in this podcast if you would like to use it.
Have a Wonderful Earth Day.
Thank You for all you do every day to make this World a better place for Everyone, including All of Nature.
Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Group Meditation for the World begins at 10 pm EDT, 9 pm CDT, 8 pm MDT, 7 pm PDT.
I am never sure what time it is in Arizona. So, if you live there, You probably know exactly what time to start.
If you are not able to begin this meditation when we are starting, then do your Inner Peace Meditation whenever it works best for you.
We are all well aware that the world is in turmoil and upset right now.
However, we may not be aware of the hundreds and thousands and even millions of people around the world who are meditating and praying and volunteering day after day with a strong intention to increase harmony and peace.
And, that is what we are doing every Sunday evening !!!
I have discovered this is a great way to start the week !!!
If you are going to bed at night worrying about the world or waking up feeling anxious, join us on Sunday evenings. There is plenty of evidence to show that these meditations make a difference for the people who do them and for the World.
Have a Wonderful week and Thank You for all you do every day to make this world a better place for Everyone !!!
Mary Christopher
On Monday, April 8, 2024, we experienced a unique, and amazing astronomical and social event. We had 4 plus hours of watching a Total Solar Eclipse as it traveled across the country. The path of this Total Solar Eclipse began in Mexico and passed through Texas, Arkansas, and Illinois. The path kept going past the Great Lakes and across Maine.
Millions of people gathered in parks and backyards, in fields and on hills, anywhere they felt they could get a good view of the Moon as it moved across the Sun. Because of our technology, many more millions of people around the world were able to watch the Eclipse on their phone, computer, or television !!!
As the Moon moved across the face of the Sun, you could see a range of feelings and emotions on people's faces. Some people gasped, some cried, and some people were jumping up and down! This was a shared moment of Wonder and Awe.
Socrates said "Wonder was the beginning of wisdom. Being in a state of Awe is considered to be a very profound spiritual state. And that is what we saw on people's faces yesterday !!! We witnessed an extraordinary celestial event and an amazing response by millions of People.
How often does that happen in our World ... ?
One of my early spiritual teachers often said, "If you want to understand the Creator, study Creation.". Well, we did that yesterday in a very big way! Good for Us !!!
We live on an Extraordinary and Beautiful Planet that could be a Paradise. We could live in relative peace with each other and with Nature. We could do that.
Thank You to Everyone for the Peaceful Gatherings, the extraordinary use of technology, and the amazing coverage of the whole event !!!
Have a Wonderful Week,
And remember to Breathe !!!
Mary Christopher
Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole WorldThis evening at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT we will have our evening meditation for Peace. As you know we are on the eve of a spectacular Solar Eclipse that will move through Texas, some of Arkansas, and the shift to the right as it goes across the country.
Since I am in Georgia and not in the path of this Eclipse, I am planning to watch the NASA channel on YouTube and listen to all the totally Excited Astronomers who will be commenting on this major astronomical event. I am excited even though I am not in the “path of totality”. I am also planning to focus on Gratitude all day tomorrow. I plan to very gently and joyfully be grateful for everything and anything I can think of.
In the next few weeks, I will include information about some of the studies that have been done when groups of people gather in specific places for a definite time to meditate on Peace. These studies are well-defined and documented. And, they are very encouraging!
One of these studies covered the Lebanon Peace Project in 1983. A large group of Transcendental Meditators gathered in Jerusalem and meditated for 2 months. During this time, according to police records, there was a 76% reduction in crime! Also, there was a 70% increase in economic activity!
So, thank you for showing up! Thank you for your commitment and your intention. Thank You for everything you do every day to make this world a better place for everyone !!!
Happy Easter !!! It has been a Beautiful Day here in Atlanta with trees leafing out and flowers blooming and the Sun shining. There is definitely a Resurrection Theme in Creation today.
I spent some time today just allowing myself to "be" outside in G~D's World. For me, being outside with Sunshine, Fresh Air, and Birds singing is like Heaven on Earth. Being out in the "Real World" is healing, and restful. And, I am always grateful for those times.
This evening we are doing our weekly Inner Peace Meditaiton for the Whole World, so the meditation section of this podcast can be used for that meditation as well. We are meditating as a group, but not on Zoom. We start at 10 pm EDT, 9 pm CDT, 8 pm MDT, and 7 pm PDT. If that time doesn't work for you this evening, then tune in whenever You can !!!
Thank You for your ongoing support and all the wonderful things you do every day to make this world a better place for Everyone. As most of us have realized, there really isn't any "them and us". There is only US. Whether we like it or not, we are all in this very challenging "classroom" together !!!
Many Blessings and
Remember to Breathe
Mary Christopher
Since the first Sunday in January 2024, several of us have been doing a Sunday evening Inner Peace Meditation for the World. We are doing this on our own, wherever we are at the time.
We are not sure how many people are participating, but we do know from the feedback, there are people, from across the country, gathering on Sunday evenings for this meditation.
We are not using Zoom so it is up to Everyone to meditate when they can.
I did have a few people ask for a guided meditation, just to help them get centered, focused, and relaxed. So, this is that Guided Meditation.
I did the beginning part to get you started, but I did not conclude the meditation. I assumed most of us have enough experience with meditation that we can finish our own meditations when we are ready. Sometimes when I listen to guided meditations they end too soon or go too long for my timing.
I hope this Guided Meditation works well for you!
Have a lovely week, and
Remember to Breathe ...
Many Blessings,
Mary Christopher
Let's welcome this New Year with 30-minute Coherent meditations at 10 pm EST, 9 pm CST, 7 pm PST on January 1, and January 2, 2024. We know there is more than enough chaos in our World. We also know we can transform or elevate any kind of energy into a much more coherent expression. So, let's move beyond the chaos, focusing on Light or Life or Love. Many of us do this all the time. There are many ways we could do these meditations or blessings. We could focus on one place, like Washington DC, or expand our focus and bless the whole country, or even the whole world.My personal preference is to begin by focusing on a specific location and then gradually expand my awareness to include the United States and finish with a blessing for the Whole World. By doing consecutive meditations, we are creating a kind of snowball or rolling effect that gathers energy as it goes. Let's meet on Zoom and welcome the New Year 2024 in a Big Way !!! New Year's Meditation for 2024 ~ Click here !!! Many Blessings of Peace and Joy and Well-Being to You and all Your Family and Friends ... Mary Christopher
The Winter Solstice in the Northern usually happens within 24 hours of December 21. It is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. And, it signals the beginning of Winter.
There were Winter Solstice celebrations and rituals that we know about in Great Britain before 3200 BC. We know about these events because there are "stone monuments" in New Grange, in the Orkney Islands, as well as in Brittany that were constructed to align with Sunrise or Sunset on the Winter Solstice.
The largest one is in Newgrange and has been completely reconstructed. It is shaped as an ellipse and is 279 feet at its widest point. It is made of stone and is 39 feet tall. At Sunrise on the Winter Solstice, Sunlight travels through a window box on the roof and down a stone corridor for 17 minutes. Amazing !!!
For centuries in the past, before the Industrial Revolution, Winter has always been a time of rest and repair for humans and farm animals. It was a time for family, story-telling, dream-time, and planning for Spring. During Winter, we can use this time to rest and repair, to dream, to plan, and to find that Deep Peace that lives within us.
Many Winter Solstice Blessings to you and to all your Family and Friends.
Mary Christopher
Another beautiful Fall Day here in the Atlanta area ...
I am doing this podcast in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area which encompasses over 400 million years of natural and human history in the Georgia Piedmont. This park covers about 40,000 acres of trails, historic areas, preserved natural habitats as well as rivers and streams. This is a beautiful area.
I am sitting among the trees, just up the hill from the trail, breathing fresh air and soaking up the Sunshine. I can hear a Woodpecker over by the river and probably a squirrel or two running through the leaves behind me. A gorgeous day to be out ...
Our ArchAngel Advent meditation is in this podcast. Any Angel meditations are an equal opportunity for followers of any religion or tradition as well as anyone who does not follow any religion at all.
I have included the link for our ArchAngels for Advent Zoom meditation, Tuesday evening at 6 pm CST.
Click here for the last Tuesday evening ArchAngel Meditation ...
Tuesday Evening ArchAngels for Advent Meditation
We are also having a special Winter Solstice meditation on Thursday, December 21 at 8 pm EST, 7 pm CST. Click the link below to join this very special meditation welcoming the beginning of the actual New Year.
Special Winter Solstice Meditation ~ Welcoming the New Year !!!
Have a Wonderful Week !!!
Many Blessings to You and all your Family and Friends during this Global Holiday season !!!
Mary Christopher
All around the World, during December, we celebrate Advent, Chanukah or Hanukkah, and Shab-e-Urs which celebrates Rumi's passing from this life. Shab-e-Urs means "The wedding night". Rumi counted the day of his death as a "reunion with the Creator". A verse recited by Muslims upon hearing the news of Rumi's death, says: "From God, we come and to Him we return."
Angels and Arch Angels are shared by each of these traditions. In the late 1990's I discovered "GOD Is a Verb", an excellent book about Jewish mystical traditions by Rabbi David Cooper. I found a wonderful ArchAngel bedtime meditation that is a family tradition in some Jewish families.
Several years ago I started using this meditation in my advanced meditation class. Everyone loved it and that began our tradition of doing ArchAngel Meditations every year during Advent. I have included that meditation in this podcast. This year I have included a new breathing practice that works well for meditation. That practice is included.
Happy Holidays and Many, Many Blessings to You and all your Family, Friends and Neighbors !!!
Do you meditate ??? Did you try to meditate, found it was difficult, and gave up ???
During my many years of teaching "meditation", I have seen that too many people make an honest effort to meditate, find it challenging and give up !!!
That is too bad because there are so many wonderful emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits available.
Yes, having a spiritual practice like meditation can be and often is challenging. Developing your ability to meditate is similar to practicing the plank pose in yoga or the tree pose in Qigong. Definitely challenging and very much worth the effort !!! An important thing to remember is these "practices" always require patience and persistence!!!
Do let me know what you think and how your practice is going ...
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe,
Mary
We seem to have several weather-related disasters all at once, including the ongoing heat wave in the Southwest, Hurricane Hilary reaching Mexico and Southern California, and the tragic fire on Maui. We are now in the "blame and finger-pointing stages" following the fires and the tragic loss of life. This often only increases the hurt and the damage without solving very much.
So, what can we do? Many of us are thousands of miles away from Maui, and Mexico or Southern California. We may know people in these areas or we may have lived there and have special memories. And, we can get stuck in sorrow or sadness and begin to feel powerless. Not a good situation !!! We often discuss this in meditation class and have several ways of "Dealing with Disasters".
Our primary response is "Remember the Helpers" !!! When I lived in Texas, I worked as the Facilities Manager for our District Fire Department. I was also an EMT. I can promise you that your prayers and good intentions for all the people who show up to help in any "disaster" are deeply appreciated and very helpful.
Getting stuck in sorrow or grief doesn't help us or others when we are not able to jump in the car and show up in person. However, thanks to our high-tech culture, we can find many ways to contribute and help. Turn your sorrow or sadness into compassion and find a way to contribute !!!
So, Remember the Helpers and Remember to Breathe !!!
Have a Great Week, Mary Christopher
Still plenty warm and humid in so many areas around the World !!! As we know, this can be very stressful, The result may be that we are irritable or anxious, not sleeping as well, grumpy or grouchy, or just plain ol miserable !!!
So, what can we do to shift ourselves out of our own personal misery? How about using a specific breathing practice like a 4:6 breath, or ladder breath? Or, how about doing a gratitude practice to shift our perception of the world? Or, how about chanting?
Tina Turner, one of the great vocalists of our era, used chanting to completely rebuild her life following a very challenging early life and early career. As you probably know, Tina Turner, considered the Queen of "rock 'n roll" became a Buddhist. She was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism and began chanting in 1973. During interviews, Tina said that Buddhism and chanting helped her rebuild her life and have greater clarity.
Tina passed on from Earth on May 24, 2023 from her home in Switzerland. God Bless Tina Turner !!!
Noticing good things happening in the world. Using Conscious Breathing for reducing stress and emotional tension as well as maintaining focus during your meditation. And, helpful for improving your perspective on Life !!!
We are definitely having a Warm Summer. So, I am getting up early and heading outside with my water and iced coffee to do my meditation. This morning I did my breath work and a walking meditation before I did this podcast.
Fortunately, the temperature was moderate and there was a lovely breeze so I was very comfortable doing my meditation and recording my podcast. It was a little "breezy" this morning so you may hear some wind noise on the recording.
I have found that I do much better during the day if I get outside early in the morning. I feel more alert and definitely have more energy throughout the day.
I can highly recommend getting outside early, especially when it gets Super Hot during the day. In my experience, Human Beings are not designed to be inside all the time.
Have a Wonderful Week. Be sure to look for the Beauty and Wonder in Nature.
And, Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher
I went outside to do this podcast just before Sunset when there was a gentle breeze and it was getting cooler. As usual, I sat near 2 older trees where there was plenty of fresh O2 (oxygen) to breathe. Whenever possible I like to be around Trees, especially older ones, to do my meditations.
In Japan, the tradition of spending time with Trees or in Forests is known as "Forest Bathing" and has many documented benefits !!! So, I do my best to take advantage of the O2 as well as the peacefulness found around trees.
I trust your week is going well and that you are finding some time to relax, re-center and have some quality time with yourself.
Many Blessings for a Wonderful Week ...
Mary Christopher
I am back with my weekly podcast !!!
Thank You to Everyone who kept downloading and listening while I was re-grouping, re-charging, and learning to be more patient with myself.
You all are the BEST !!!
For the last several months I have meditating 2 to 3 times a day, getting more exercise outside with walking and Qigong, and allowing myself to be more Playful. Definitely a good combination of activities ...
Currently, I am working on 2 courses that will be online classes and can also be in-person workshops !!!
Trust you and all your Family and Friends are doing well.
Thank You again for your ongoing support and interest !!!
Have a Wonderful Week and ...
Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher
On July 22, 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the migratory monarch butterfly to its “red list” of threatened species. It is now categorized as “endangered” which is two steps from extinction. Known for its spectacular annual journey of up to 3,000 miles across the Americas, the Monarchs are threatened by habitat destruction, pesticides, and climate change.
In this interview, Christopher (not related) tells how he became interested in Monarchs and their survival more than 21 years ago. As his commitment to the survival of Monarchs grew, he founded the Live Monarch Educational Foundation. Since then he has sent thousands of Milk Weed seed packets to people who care about Monarchs and want to provide the habitat they need to survive. He and his team have also provided seeds to many people and families, teachers, schools, churches as well as local environmental groups. LiveMonarch.com
The survival of Monarchs depends a great deal on the availability of Milkweed as a safe place for Monarch eggs and to provide food for developing caterpillars. Much native Milkweed has been destroyed by the use of insecticides and the destruction of "wildlands" due to development. We can make a surprisingly big difference by planting Milkweed seeds in our yards or nearby open spaces. Monarchs need Milkweed as they migrate south in the Fall and north in the Spring.
Given enough soil, and thoughtful care, it is easy to grow Milkweed where female Monarchs can lay their eggs. Milkweed is an indigenous and relatively hardy plant with beautiful blossoms.
This can be a great Fall project for your family or your school or even your business.
To order Milkweed Seeds for your yard, or nearby open spaces, go to https://www.livemonarch.com/
Have a Wonderful Week, hopefully by spending more time outside !!!
And, Remember to Breathe in all that freshly made oxygen while you are outside planting Milkweed Seeds from LIveMonarch.com .
Mary Christopher
Today we are celebrating the Fall Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. For everyone in the Northern Hemisphere, our days will get shorter and our nights longer until the Winter Solstice in December. The opposite is true for the Southern Hemisphere.
The reason we have changing seasons is primarily due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis of approximately 23.5 degrees. There are some excellent videos on YouTube that show this. It is much easier to understand the Earth's wobble using animation rather than trying to draw word pictures!
To get ready for the change of seasons, I have been sorting thru my closet shifting warmer clothes to the front. And, I have been going through files, getting rid of paper that I don't need anymore, and tying up loose ends. I am feeling very Productive !!!
We have started sprouts indoors under lights and have planted fall vegetables in large containers on the back porch. We are going to have lots of sprouts very soon and vegetables in several weeks. We are feeling very virtuous and healthy !!!
Happy Equinox Blessings to You and all your Family and Friends ~ Mary Christopher
So much change in the World right now! It seems like there is intense pressure on so many of the systems we have taken for granted including food production, weather patterns, and integrity in our political process.
When we have this much drama and trauma and upheaval in the world, we need to have ways to establish more stability within ourselves. We can do this by using our spiritual practices to center ourselves and remind ourselves we are part of Creation.
Also, the more centered and relaxed we are, the more creative we can be in our own lives. When we are centered, we get much better at solving problems and we make fewer errors in judgment.
Our famous and familiar Tree Meditation is a reliable way to create stability as well as grounding and centering ourselves. Try it and let me know how it works for you.
Have a great week out there in the world.
Thank You for listening. And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed on from this world. She served as Queen of Great Britain and the Commonwealth for 70 years and 214 days. She served actively and responsibly the entire time. Queen Elizabeth set a very high standard for serving as a monarch during a time of rapid change, political unrest, and personal loss.
There are people who feel the monarchy should be abolished, as well as some who find fault with anyone in public positions. Regardless of anyone's political or social perspective, I think we can agree that Queen Elizabeth II did her best to serve compassionately and thoughtfully. As far as I know, she never publically blamed others for her difficulties. And she supported more than 600 charities during her reign. She especially loved corgis and horses and was an excellent rider.
Queen Elizabeth II will be missed by her family and many people around the world.
Have a really good week. Thank You for all the good work you are doing.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Is it possible to be Calm and Centered in the Midst of Chaos .................................................. ?
Yes, it is possible and it does take patience and good effort on our part to develop that ability!!!
Having that ability is one of the greatest benefits of developing a spiritual practice such as meditation.
Regardless of what you believe about your ability to meditate, it is possible to develop a strong spiritual practice that will keep you going thru all the ups and downs of our chaotic world. That is one of the main reasons for my classes, ebooks, podcasts, and workshops.
The world will be a better place for all of us when more people are able to be calm and centered from one day to the next. So, hop on this podcast, and let's get more centered and calmer.
Labor Day Thank You to all the many people around the world who work every day to keep the electricity on, the trash picked up, our cars and trucks running, hospitals and emergency services available, and food on the shelves. It takes all of us, working together, to have a relatively safe world. Needless to say, our "civilization" could work better. And it will, as we get better at working together.
Have a Wonderful Week. Take really good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
My usual Meditation Podcast was rained out this Sunday !!! I did record the podcast but there was just too much background noise at the park. And, I was thoroughly soaked getting to a shelter thru the rain !!!
I did a short announcement about recording and posting another podcast tomorrow, Monday, September 5 without so much background noise.
Remember to tune in tomorrow for our weekly meditation podcast. I will have it posted by 3 pm EDT.
Be safe wherever you are in the World.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
My Apologies !!! The sound quality for the first half of this podcast is not as good as the second half. I had the microphone headed down instead of up! I discovered this about halfway thru and fixed it right away. If you want, you can skip the first half of the podcast and just listen to the back half which includes the meditation. Won't let that happen again !!!
How are you doing today? Are you feeling grumpy and out-of-sorts or centered and calm and relatively content?
If you are feeling generally content with yourself, that is wonderful! If you aren't, then hanging out inside, watching lights flickering on a screen, probably won't do much to improve your mood. Numerous studies have shown that getting in motion and heading outside, weather permitting, is usually a reliable boost to our mood and general well-being.
We know from personal experience that being active and outside increases blood flow as well as oxygen intake and absorption (again, studies have shown). We often overlook this solution for improving our mood and energy level because it is so simple!
Another factor to consider is that we are able to "recharge" our personal energy field just by having our feet or some part of our body in contact with the Earth. This is one reason that I much prefer to meditate outside, under a tree, with soft breezes and Fresh Oxygen. If you haven't tried doing your meditation outside, then give it try. As the seasons change from summer to fall in the Northern Hemisphere and from winter to spring in the Southern Hemisphere, it may be more enjoyable to be outside.
For a few days, spend more time outside, just as an experiment. See how it feels to you and let me know in the comments.
Have a great week. Thank You for listening!
And, Remember to Breathe ~Mary Christopher
There are days and sometimes even weeks when I feel like "the world is too much with us"! My mother taught English literature and loved to quote Shakespeare at relevant times. For me, this was one of those weeks. I had put too many items on my to-do list and some items took longer than I anticipated. By the end of the week, I was frustrated and somewhat burned out.
This doesn't happen to me often, but when it does I do my best to take 1 or 2 days OFF, completely OFF, and just read or take long walks or sit by a stream and watch the water go by.
This weekend I did spend some time outside, but it was humid and we did have some rain. So, I read a lot and rested. One of my favorite books that lives by my bed is Love Poems from GOD, collected and arranged by Daniel Ladinsky. These are lovely mystical poems written by a selection of mystics from different traditions and cultures.
I read several for today. I hope you enjoy these poems at least as much as I do.
Have a lovely week. Take really good care of yourself.
And, remember to breathe ~ Mary Christopher
When I first went outside and sat down in the yard to do this podcast, a small bird flew into the Trees on my left side and started chirping. Every time I turned my head to look for the little bird, it stopped chirping! After about 5 minutes it stopped chirping and flew away! So then I started the podcast.
For me, being in Nature is magical and also a mystery. I never know who will show up or fly by or what will drop in out of the trees. Could be an acorn or a feather or a leaf. I am always amazed by the beauty and magic and mystery of Nature. For me, being in Nature is very calming and can be very healing if I allow myself the time to slow down and let my nervous system re-calibrate and restore itself.
The longer I am outside, I remember that Nature is alive and conscious and responsive. I like to remind myself that I am in the midst of so many Blessings, such as Sunlight, fresh Oxygen, amazing colors, interesting mushrooms, tiny flowers, and soft breezes. We can remember that Creation is amazing if we just pay attention !!!
Nature is Calming and Healing, something we all need, given the state of the world.
Have a Wonderful Week. Spend some time outside in the Real World if you can.
Thank You for listening. And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
During the past week, I have been researching and writing for a new eBook. It is about the effects of technology and all our digital devices on the neurons that make up our nervous system. So many of us are spending more and more time indoors rather than outdoors. We are also spending more time in front of our screens absorbing more digital information than we can even begin to imagine.
And, we expect our Brain, the processing center for all the information we absorb, to somehow manage this constant inflow. We assume that this "digital input" has very little impact on our nervous system, our emotional stability, or our sleep patterns. However, underneath our hopeful assumptions about the effects of digital input, we know we are putting pressure on our whole system. We are upsetting our circadian sleep patterns as well as overstimulating certain centers in our brain, such as the Amygdala which scans our emotional responses and visual input for potential threats.
So, what can we do to help create more balance and relieve some of the stress on our whole system, including the brain? I have found one of the most reliable solutions is to combine being in Nature with Meditation. Over many years I have learned that I become calmer and more centered faster being outside rather than inside. This is the main reason that so many of the guided meditations that I do are related to Nature! And, there are even scientific studies that have established the relationship between Nature and our sense of well-being!
Have a Wonderful Week. Take really good care of yourself by spending some time out of doors, if you can.
Thank You for listening. And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Beautiful morning here in the Atlanta area. We had rain yesterday so the air is clear and fresh. I love being outside in the morning when it is still quiet. This is a great time for our meditation to get our day off to a great start.
During July in Meditation class, we have been focused on Gratitude, specifically being grateful for some of the very essential things we often take for granted. Among those would be our little toe, very essential for balance, our opposable thumbs which allow us to use tools, and our amazing Heart.
Our Heart has its own nervous system, its own circulatory system, and pumps gallons of blood through our entire circulatory system all day and all night without any thought on our part. Amazing !!!
If you are interested, I have included 2 links for YouTube videos about the Human Heart (that is us).
The Fascinating Relationship Between the Heart and Brain
Human Circulatory System
Have a Wonderful Week. Take really good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
For our meditation today, I recorded the sounds of a creek that runs through the park where I often meditate. I think I got a good recording of the creek. For most people, running water or wave sounds are comforting and relaxing. I hope you enjoy this "creekside" meditation.
One definite advantage of having a meditation practice you are comfortable with is that you can often find times and places to step into your "quiet space" and re-fuel or re-align. I have found places to meditate in busy airports, the back booth in a coffee shop, or an extra quiet corner of a library.
Knowing that I have the ability to calm and center myself no matter where I am, gives me great peace of mind. Needless to say, we want to make sure we are in a safe space before closing our eyes and focusing inward. If you are not 100% comfortable completely closing your eyes in a "public space", you can always just look down with your eyes partly closed and focus on your breath. Your partially closed eyes will usually detect any motion coming toward you. Also, we can count on our electromagnetic field and limbic brain to alert us to any nearby "disturbance in the Force"!
Have a Wonderful Week. Be sure to take good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Several people that I talked with this past week were either exhausted or dealing with health conditions or both. Often people who are caring and responsible push themselves into exhaustion. Not a good idea because it always takes longer to restore ourselves to a rested state than it does to get enough rest every day.
I know it is not always possible to get enough rest every day, but waiting for the weekend or our days "off" to recover just doesn't work well at all. I have noticed that when I try to use weekends to "catch up" on my rest, I am usually just barely catching up by the end of my days off.
Teaching meditation classes and doing personal coaching, I have worked with many people who tend to over-work themselves. So, I have come up with specific meditations and spiritual practices that are restorative and easy to do.
So, after talking to several exhausted friends this week, I decided that we would do a Tree Meditation for this podcast. Tree meditations can be done almost anywhere, using a tree in our yard or in a park. Or, we can use our Amazing Imagination and create the perfect imaginary tree for ourselves!
Try this meditation which we have done before and see how well it works for you.
Have a Wonderful Week. Take good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
During July, we are focusing on Gratitude and Grace. Specifically, we are bringing more and more awareness to our Breath in order to be more present in each moment. We are doing this very gently and with patience as we build the neurological connections that support being in the present moment.
This is an ancient practice, variations are found in most spiritual and religious traditions. It is always amazing to me how calming and refreshing it is to be with my breath, gently become more centered in the present.
One reason we are focused on "Gratitude and Grace" right now is because of all the drama and trauma in our world. The upheaval and distress seem to be off the chart and can definitely interfere with our Peace of Mind as well as our ability to function in this world.
These are simple practices that can be done almost anywhere or at any time. The more frequently we bring our awareness into the present moment, the better we are at Being Present. Often, this is the best gift we can give to our family and our friends, as well are for our work in the world.
Trust you are doing well wherever you are in the World and that you are taking very good care of yourself.
Thank You for listening and for all the Good You Bring to the World.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Today, July 4th is celebrated in the United States as Independence Day. This holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.
It is interesting that as this nation was ratifying its origins, much of the economy was dependent on slave labor or long-term indentured servitude. Seems like this country was founded with great aspirations and inherent contradictions. Here in the US, we are still trying to resolve and heal this very obvious flaw in our system.
When it seems like the entire world is in turmoil or is on a downward spiral into Chaos, we are challenged to maintain our equanimity and centeredness. We are challenged to be "our own Best Friend" and to apply a generous helping of Compassion to our lives. During these difficult times, it is essential to be our own "Best Friend", creating a solid spiritual and emotional foundation for plowing thru the chaos of this world.
That is our meditation, our spiritual practice, and our Challenge for this week.
Thank You for all the Wonderful Work you do in the World.
Take very good care of yourself and
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Sometimes it is almost unbelievable how much difficulty and distress Humans can cause. Obviously, humans are very creative and very determined to be right, often at any cost to ourselves or to others.
As I look at all the distress around this World, I think we have lost the fine art of listening, as well as the very useful art of conversation.
In my own experience, I have "learned to listen" as a result of or because of my meditation practices. And, just as important, I have always loved being in Nature and being with Horses, Dogs, and Cats, as well as Cattle. I learned to "listen" to them from a very early age.
So, back to the woods to listen to Birds, and to the Breeze moving through the leaves.
Whew !!!
Have a lovely week. Nurture the Compassion you find in your Heart ...
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Happy Summer Solstice 2022 !!!
The premise underlying many of my podcasts and classes is this ...
"If you want to understand the Creator, study Creation !!!"
This is a very ancient and wise statement that has been around for centuries. This obvious statement has also helped me stay on track on my spiritual path as well. And, it definitely applies to all the equinoxes and solstices.
Hope you enjoy this podcast all about the Solstice and the Planetary Array and the increased Solar Flares.
Have a Wonderful Summer Solstice.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads in the World, including all the people, women and men, who are great Fathers for children who are not always direct family. I have several people in my life who have been "great dads" to me. The Universe does provide !!!
This is a very busy week with the Summer Solstice on Tuesday and a spectacular array of planets that can be seen just before Sunrise all week. We will not have this same specular alignment again until 2040. Check the National Geographic website or EarthSky for more information.
Monday evening I will be doing a Special Summer Solstice Meditation.
We are having more Solar Flares from the Sun right now, so there is definitely an upsurge in energy thru the Earth's electromagnetic fields and our personal electromagnetic fields.
If you notice that you are feeling more emotional or anxious "for no apparent reason", just remember that increased electromagnetic energy can amplify our feelings and emotions.
So, what to do ...
Spend more time in Nature which is very healing. Be very kind to yourself and others.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Last week I took my own advice! I rested and I relaxed by being Creative! I did some drawing, some writing, and some fun reading.! I also took a few relaxed walks.
I had a lovely and restorative week! And, I can highly recommend that to you, especially if you are exhausted, stressed out, or just plain tired.
Wishing a Wonderful and Creative Week for You.
Thank You for all the Good you do in this world every day.
And, Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher
Do you remember how to rest? Like really kicking back, letting go of all the to-do's, and just resting?
Do you know "to do nothing" and be okay with it?
Doing nothing and just resting can be very difficult to do, especially when it seems the whole world is in turmoil.
Being able to do nothing is actually a fine art that could be carefully cultivated for the sake of our sanity.
Being able to "do nothing" and be at peace with it is actually a kind of spiritual practice that can help us be more centered. Regular practice of this can bring our attention back to our own sense of well-being.
"Doing Nothing" is similar to allowing ourselves to play or be creative without an agenda. The fine art of play or being creative can be very healing and restorative.
This week give yourself time to rest, time to put your feet up, and just do nothing for a while. And, if you are feeling really adventurous, do something creative like doodling or flying a kite or anything that makes you happy.
Have a lovely week. Take good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Well, the "Winds of Change" are certainly blowing throughout the world. We are living with almost constant upheaval and uncertainty, grief, and tragedy, as well as "wars and rumors of wars".
What can we do to survive this onslaught of very difficult news and events?
First of all, we need to get better and better at taking good care of ourselves so we are part of the solution, not part of the problem.
I know from personal experience that having specific spiritual practices helps me get through the day in many ways.
For instance, because of my daily practices, over time I have built "spiritual muscle". Having spiritual muscle can give me the strength and resilience to move through the difficulties and tragedies that may happen in life. Knowing that I have developed some spiritual muscle, gives me greater confidence in my ability to respond to most situations that come up.
And, the very nature of spiritual practices, can strengthen our faith in G~D, or in the Creator, or in the Universe. Spiritual practices can take our faith from belief to knowing.
Lots to be said for the cumulative effect of our personal spiritual practices !!!
Take good care of yourself. Thank You for all the good you do in this world !!!
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Dear Ones, this is a very difficult day for many of us following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Our Hearts and our Prayers surround the Children, the Families, the Teachers, the Police and EMS who responded, and the entire grieving community of Uvalde. This is the kind of tragedy that leaves us heartbroken, bewildered, and wondering what we can do to prevent another outburst of insanity in our country. In this podcast, I am doing a breathing practice for being okay with grief and some suggestions for ways we can respond to this new tragedy in our country. Remember, lighting a candle and offering a heartfelt prayer is one other immediate action you can take. Take really good care of yourself. Thank You for your prayers and your wonderful Heart! And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Most of us assume there are definite benefits from having a regular meditation practice. Some benefits are obvious. Some are cumulative over time. Other benefits can be detected or identified using technology such as MRIs or EEGs.
In this podcast, I go over some of the benefits that I have discovered from meditating on a regular basis.
What benefits have you discovered from your meditation practice?
Let me know ...
Have a Wonderful Week. Thank You for listening!
Take really good care of yourself, and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Whew !!! What a Week !!! So, much going on in our world right now, polarizing politics, Russian Insanity, wild weather, and Covid still causing deaths. Add to that a Full Moon Total Eclipse in Taurus and Scorpio and we have a very interesting weekend.
Because of this Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday may feel energetically and emotionally more intense than a regular Full Moon.
So, this is a good weekend for resting, relaxing, and being in Nature. The electromagnetic field of the Earth as well as Nature and all the elements can usually provide a refuge from the chaos and our current cultural insanity.
If you are able, find a beautiful and safe place in Nature where you and your family and friends can be safe and relax into the coherence of Mother Nature. It is the perfect refuge from the nonsense of our frantic techno-world!
If you possibly can, take time for yourself to relax, re-focus, recharge, and imagine a better world that works for everyone.
Thank You for all the work you do in this world!
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Happy Mother's Day to all the Wonderful Women and Men in our lives who have loved us, prayed for us, cooked for us, and looked after us in so many ways.
We are deeply grateful for all these people, some who have gone on and some who are with us.
Have a Wonderful Week and take really good care of yourself.
As you breathe in, remember to absorb the Light, Life, and Love that infuses Creation ~ Mary Christopher
At 4:28 EDT on Saturday, April 30, we began a new Lunar Month with a New Moon and a Partial Solar Eclipse !!! Very exciting and good timing for setting up new habits or patterns in your life. The first 2 weeks of a new lunar cycle are great for this.
Whether you live in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, this can be a great time to be outside in the "Real World". During Spring and Fall, the temperatures are usually moderate so we can spend more time in Nature and realign with the cycles of Creation. Consciously being in Nature can be healing and restorative, a welcome change of pace from our busy modern lives.
So, take good care of yourself and have a Wonderful Week.
Thank You for listening and thank you for all the good you do every day!
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
I decided to do this podcast for a couple of reasons. I have been checking in with different friends over the last few days and everyone has commented on the shift in energy they were feeling. When we have a New Moon with a Solar Eclipse it amplifies the effect of the New Moon. And, we have a very interesting lineup of planets in Pisces.
We do not always have a Solar Eclipse with each New Moon. And, we don't have a Lunar Eclipse with every Full Moon. So, when we do have an eclipse it is significant and worth paying attention to because it amplifies the effect of the New Moon. This New Moon is at 10 degrees of Taurus.
It is also interesting that Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune are lined up at 24, 26, and 27 degrees of Pisces. This is significant because Pisces is related to large historical cycles, the expression of compassion, as well as the potential for inner healing. So, we can use the energy of this New Moon Solar Eclipse for healing, generating Compassion, and experiencing Creation.
Have a Wonderful and Amazing Weekend!
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
In my Earth Day Podcast, I suggested it might be a good idea if we celebrated every day as Earth Day. This is a good idea because we are completely dependent on this amazing Earth for our survival as Human Beings.
The truth is that we go through most of our lives, being busy and at the same time being unaware of our Wonderful Earth.
The meditation for today is a "Tree Meditation" that I have done before. Most recently, I did this one for a group of Sufis who meet online for meditation practice. Everyone in the class enjoyed the Tree Meditation very much.
So, here is a somewhat shorter version of the meditation I did with the Sufi meditation group.
Thank You for listening and for all the Good that you do in the World.
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
In addition to Easter, Passover, and Ramadan, this is also a Full Moon weekend. Very Busy long weekend with High Energy and so many people all around the world in prayer, following their religious and spiritual practices.
I went to bed early last night, just to give my body time to rest and relax and maybe keep up with all this energy. I have also found that I need more rest with all the unrest and uncertainty in the world.
I wish I had a magic wand that I could wave around and calm things down in our very messy and angry world. Since I don't have a magic wand, I plan to take good care of myself and do everything I can to bring more kindness, compassion, and Light into this world.
So, I trust you will take good care of yourself this week. I am sure you are doing everything you can to make this world a better place.
Thank You for Listening. Have a safe and happy and productive week.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
We had some chilly weather last week as well as high winds and rain. The rain helped wash most of the Pollen out of the air which was a blessing for many people, including me.
The park was crowded today. Almost everywhere I stopped to record, people would show up. And, when I sat down to do our meditation, an entire family walked up and stood within 10 feet. They stood there like they were waiting for something to happen. I had to move 3 times as I was starting our meditation. Very interesting ...
Regardless of having to move around a lot, I loved being in the Park. It was a beautiful day to be out in Nature.
Remember, if you want to understand the Creator, study Creation !!!
Have a great week and take really good care of yourself.
Thank You for listening and for all the good you do in this World.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Spring in the Southern United States is Amazing !!! So many flowers and bushes and trees are in bloom with a great variety of colors. And, as you probably know, pollen is another very necessary product of Spring, along with allergic reactions to those tiny particles floating in the breeze.
I had adapted to the varieties of pollen in Texas but had completely forgotten about the many different kinds of pollen in Georgia. Now I am reminded and busy doing my research for natural allergy remedies.
You may be able to tell on this recording that I am not breathing as easily as usual. However, my allergic reaction is calming down. I hope wherever you are, you are able to enjoy Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Fall in the Southern Hemisphere without having too much allergic reactions.
Even with the pollen, I am enjoying all the amazing colors of Spring !!! I am also looking forward to getting fresh spring vegetables at the Farmers' Market !!!
Wherever you are living, I hope you are safe and healthy.
Thank You for Listening. And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
During extremely difficult times in our lives, whether it be from wars, rumors of wars, massive destruction due to weather, social disruption, or unexpected personal difficulties, we are often deeply challenged to find ways to restore peace and calm within ourselves.
I have found that I can usually take refuge in Nature, in the Beauty and Coherence of Creation to restore peace and calm within myself.
I also use Gratitude to restore my sense of Being Blessed and Being Grateful to be alive.
And, I remind myself that Every Day is an Amazing Opportunity to make a difference and build a better world.
Take really good care of yourself this week.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
As I am sure you are aware, this is a very difficult and challenging time for practically Everyone on our planet. We are facing another turning point in our evolution as well the survival of our Beautiful Planet.
Will we choose to shut down our hearts and use our intelligence and resources for destruction? Or, will we find ways to stay Heartful and Centered, as we find ways to build a World that Works for Everyone.
We know there is enough goodness, intelligence, and creativity in all of us to do this. And, we have enough resources and technology to make it happen.
So, how do we deal with the tragedy in Ukraine, the global pandemic, and the wasteful use of resources? How do we take care of ourselves, keep our Hearts open, and create a Better World?
In this podcast, I have included some suggestions for staying Heartful and Healthy. I hope this will be healing for you and keep us moving into greater LIght. I know, we can create a Better World, one that works for Everyone. I know there are enough of us who care.
So, take good care of yourself. Be as gentle and as compassionate as you can.
And, Remember to Breathe ~
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Mary Christopher
Due to all the upheaval and tension in the world last week, we did a special water and rock meditation or visualization for class. Everyone really liked it, so I used it for this podcast.
I have also included one of my favorite Celtic Blessings, "Blessing of the Guardian Angel". I copied it below.
I hope you will find both the meditation and the Blessing helpful.
Take really good care of yourself and Remember to Breathe ~
Much Love and Many Blessings, Mary Christopher
Blessing of the Guardian Angel
O Being of Brightness, Friend of LIght
From the Blessed Realms of Grace
Gently encircle me, sweetly enclosing me,
Guarding my Soul-Shrine from harm
this day/night.
Keep me from anguish, keep me from danger.
Encircle my voyage over the seas.
A Light will you send me,
To keep and defend me, O Beautiful Being,
O Guardian this day/night.
Be a Guiding Star above me,
Illuminate each rock and tide.
Guide my ship across the waters,
To the waveless harborside.
Today I gave myself a mini-vacation. I drove out to the country north and east of Atlanta to buy some local honey. It was a beautiful day and I had a lovely visit with the family who keeps more than 125 hives and produces many pounds of Raw Honey every year. I had a great time !!!
On my way back home, I stopped in a local park and recorded this podcast with a walking meditation.
Big News !!! This podcast has been downloaded more than 5025 !!!
Thank You for listening and Thank You for your support. You are deeply appreciated.
Have a safe and happy week. Thank You for all your prayers for the Courageous People of Ukraine.
And Thank You for all the Good Work you do in this World !!!
Many Blessings, Mary Christopher
During our Wednesday meditation class, we did an ArchAngel meditation with Raphael for Healing and Compassion for ourselves, for our families and friends, and for all the Helpers and Mystics and LightWorkers in the World.
Our meditation with Raphael was very healing, so I thought I would offer a similar ArchAngel podcast today.
I trust it will be healing and strengthening for you.
Much Love and Many Blessings and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary
This week I have been following the news of Putin's aggression and invasion of Ukraine. As far as I am concerned, this is tragic for any number of reasons. It is tragic for Everyone involved regardless of which "side" they are on. And, it is tragic for the entire World because we need to be taking much better care of this Beautiful Little Planet that we call home instead of blowing up parts of it !!!
War, any war, is stupid and wasteful. Putin's aggression is tragic and wasteful. So, as Mystics, LightBearers, and LightWorkers what do we do? What can we do to be calmer, sleep better at night and make a difference in the World?
We actually do make a difference every day by the way we treat each other and with our meditations, prayers, and spiritual practices. Our meditation for today is specifically designed to work with any situation in our lives, our family, our neighborhood, or the World.
Remember, Mystics have tremendous resources and we have tremendous strength in our collective practice regardless of which tradition we follow.
Thank You for your Kindness, your Compassion, and all your efforts and intentions to create a Better World for Everyone.
Many Blessings and keep up your Good Work ~ Mary Christopher
As the Northern Hemisphere moves closer to Spring and the Southern Hemisphere toward Fall, temperatures are moderating. We may have more opportunities to be comfortable being outside. As you probably know, if you have listened to any of my podcasts, I much prefer being outside and meditating outside whenever possible.
There are many reasons for this. One is that Nature, in general, is more coherent and more peaceful than most enclosed spaces inhabited by humans. We tend to think a lot and we can have a wide range of emotions. Basically, Trees and Plants and Animals don't think in the way that humans do. I am certain that all Creation is Conscious and feels and responds. Humans are gifted or burdened, however you think of it. with a lot of very specialized neurons that allow us to "think" and "imagine" and "worry". We can use our neurons to be very creative and productive or very destructive and dangerous to ourselves and others.
One of my Sufi teachers, Murshid Samuel Lewis, used to say, "You can get more stickin' from thinkin' than you can from drinkin'!!!" I didn't quite understand what he was getting at back in the early 70s, but it makes much more sense to me now !!!
For this podcast, I read the Introduction from one of my favorite newly-discovered books, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. It is a lovely and very informative book, that encourages us to get outside and explore the Wonderful World of Nature, from the perspective of Trees.
Have a lovely week and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
As I have been watching the Beijing Olympics 2022, I am reminded of being in Beijing in 1995 for the United Nations Conference on the Status of Women. When we arrived at the Conference, one of the first groups we met were lovely ladies from Japan who folded origami Peace Crans and gave them away. Their intention was to promote Glocal Peace.
The other experience I have always remembered was our visit to a Taoist Temple in a Beijing neighborhood. After we toured this lovely little temple, we asked if they had a statue of Kwan Yin. At first, the men who minded the temple did not understand who or what we were asking about. Then my friend, Beth, sketched an online of a Kwan Yin figure and they knew immediately what we were asking !!! We all laughed about our "American pronunciation" of Kwan Yin.
We were asking about Kwan Yin because "She is the greatest of bodhisattvas and embodies the totality of compassion for humanity." There are many saints and bodhisattvas who represent or embody compassion in all world religions. Kwan Yin is one of the most widely known, especially in the Buddhist tradition.
Why is Compassion so important ... because Compassion can heal our deepest hurts and wounds, especially those related to our early childhood experiences.
Have a lovely and Compassionate Week.
Enjoy all the Sports and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
On Saturday I drove to North Georgia for a memorial for an old friend of many years who had passed on in December. It was a small gathering, mostly family who had come together in a lovely valley with a creek running through it.
We took time to remember funny and wonderful things about Linda and how we remembered her. Sometimes it is difficult or we are hesitant to remember special people who have gone on because we miss them. And, I have found that the Love and Affection we shared is always present in my heart even though I do miss them.
So, allow yourself to remember people, to remember the fun or happy or even sad times you shared, and also remember the Love. Allow your Heart to be comforted by that shared Love and Affection.
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe ~ Much Love, Mary Christopher
During this past week, many of us have been aware of the passing of Thich Nhat Hanh and also aware of the contributions he made through his teaching, his books, and his efforts for world peace. "Thay" was a very public figure so we know something about his gifts and contributions to the World.
There are also 100s and 1000s of amazing people all around the world, doing their best to make this World a better place for Everyone every day. Because of Thay's deep compassion, I am sure he was aware of all the people, often with challenging lives, who are doing their best to be a blessing in the World.
So, let's find ways to support each other in our Spiritual Practices and our work so we can continue our daily efforts to be a Blessing in the World !!!
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the most important spiritual leaders of our time, died January 22, 2022 at Từ Hiếu Pagoda in Vietnam. He was 95 years young !!!
I have been aware of Thay and have studied his teachings since the 1960s when he was calling for an end to the war in Vietnam. Thay was Vietnamese. His family, friends, and early Buddhist training were all in Vietnam.
At the same time we are feeling loss with his passing, we can also experience the wonderful Blessing of his life.
Please remember in your prayers his Buddhist family, sangha, and all those who loved him, in France at Plum Village, in Vietnam, in the United States, and around the World.
Thay, thank you for Being here with us for 95 years !!!
Why would we want to be more Playful and Creative? Or, why would we want to be a little less serious and stressed?
Good Questions ...
One very good reason is that when we are more creative and playful, we are usually more relaxed and at ease with ourselves. This means our digestion is better. And that we are sleeping better and our Immune System is working more effectively !!!
Another good reason for being more playful and creative is that our problem-solving abilities are enhanced. That is definitely good news for most of us who are dealing with the technology and rapid changes of our "modern world".
I have also found that my meditation practice goes much better when I am less serious and more playful !!!
Wherever you are, have a Wonderful Week and take very good care of yourself, in a creative and playful way.
Thank you for listening and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
This morning as I was waking up, I realized that I have been Very Serious and a bit of a Workaholic for the past few weeks. So, I decided that I would do my best to be more Play-full this week. Studies have shown that we are often more productive, more creative, and also more present when we are in a playful mode.
I know this is true for me and I often forget. So, I am doing my best to be more playful, less serious, and generally have more fun this week.
How does this sound to you ___________ ?
Remember that many statues of the Buddha show him with a little smile, just the corners of his mouth turned up. Also, remember that smiling and/or laughter generates endorphins. I am sure most of us would enjoy having more endorphins circulating in our systems.
Let me know how this works for you.
https://www.facebook.com/mary.christopher.902
Have a very happy and healthy week.
Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile ~ Mary Christopher
Happy New Year and Happy New Moon !!! We have emerged from 2021 and here we are on Sunday, January 2, 2022, walking in the park on a cool and cloudy, rainy day. The air is fresh, lots of brand new Oxygen, and a new start on a New Year. It definitely, feels good !!!
I decided to do a walking meditation today because it felt so good to be moving and breathing. I did this moving meditation beside the stream that was up and flowing from the rain we had last night. You may be able to hear the stream as it tumbles over rocks and a few branches.
Wherever you are, I hope you are doing well, taking good care of yourself, and finding ways to enjoy your life.
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe whether you are sitting or walking ~ Mary Christopher
If you are celebrating Christmas, I trust you had a Wonderful Day whether you were with family and friends or celebrating with others from a distance.
Hopefully, there was not as much isolation and loneliness for people this year as there was last year !!!
I would love to know how you are doing with all our challenges here on Earth. And, how your holidays have been. I have included a link to my Facebook page. Please post and let me know you are commenting as one of my podcast listeners !!!
https://www.facebook.com/mary.christopher.902
Wishing a Happy, Healthy, and Joyful New Year to You and all Your Family and Friends !!!
Much Love and do Remember to take many gentle, and deep Breaths as we finish 2021 ~ Mary Christopher
Sometimes I feel very frustrated with all the turmoil and drama and distress in the World. And, I need something very specific to do that might be helpful and comforting.
One small action I have discovered, again, is to Light a Candle for the World.
Obviously, a candle flame brings a Radiant Light and a candle flame brings Warmth. The radiance from the candle and the warmth are comforting and reassuring. And, we are bringing more Light into the World!
Try Lighting a Candle for the World during this week and see how it works for you.
Have a Blessed Week and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
These 3 Gifts from Nature are so important for our health and well-being!
In order for Human Beings to be Healthy, Happy, and Thriving, we need Fresh Oxygen, Clean Water, and Sunshine. Join me in this podcast for a Sunshine Break and for Fresh Oxygen if you have a Tree nearby.
Have a Wonderful Week, and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
During the Holidays, there seems to be more baking going on. I thought it might be helpful to add one measure of Compassion to each recipe, just to leaven and sweeten the baking a bit more.
We have been working with Compassion for some time in Meditation Class and we find having Compassion for ourselves and others can be very healing. Try a measure or two of Compassion, beginning with yourself, this week, and see how it works for you ... ?
Have a lovely week. Be Safe, Be Happy, Stay Healthy and
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
We had a lovely Thanksgiving Celebration with Family and Wonderful Friends. This year especially, we have a great deal to be thankful for compared to last Thanksgiving when the Covid pandemic was still going strong and many people were isolated from family and friends. Thank Goodness and Silicon Valley for internet connections and "smart phones" !!!
I trust you had much to be grateful for this past week whether you were celebrating Thanksgiving officially or not. Remember that Gratitude can function as a "neurological anchor" and actually train our brain to find more to be grateful for in our lives.
Thanks for listening and have a Wonderful Week.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Wherever You are whatever You are doing today, may You be Happy, may You be Safe, and may You be Healthy !!!
I deeply appreciate your ongoing support and encouragement for my podcast.
Thank You for all you do to make Our World a better place.
And, remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Here we go ... off into the Holidays !!!
During November in Meditation Class, we continued to discuss Synchronicity, Gratitude, and Intuition. We had a great time sharing our experiences and doing our Meditations.
Beginning Wednesday, December 1, we will be doing our Annual ArchAngel Meditations for 4 weeks. We always have a wonderful time with these classes, especially during the Holidays.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all share a belief in Angels, as do many people who do not participate in any particular religion. So, followers of many faiths or no particular faith can certainly agree about the Presence of Angels in our lives.
Have a Wonderful Week. Take time to be Grateful.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
During class this past week, we continued to discuss Synchronicities and Gratitude while paying some attention to the way that our Intuition helps us notice Synchronicities. We are having some really good discussions.
On Thursday, the 18th, the Leonid Meteor Showers peak. And, we have the Full Moon with a Partial Eclipse on Friday, the 19th. We may be able to see some of this Eclipse in North America !!!
Interesting week in the Heavens ...
Trust you are feeling good about your spiritual practices and doing something creative, delightful, or just for fun during the week.
Take good care of yourself and ...
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Welcome to a new week !!! I hope you had a restful and/or productive weekend.
We had a delightful and restful weekend. Saturday evening we watched an amazing documentary, Kiss the Ground. It is about Regenerative Agriculture and Aving Our Soil, narrated by Woody Harrelson. Excellent information about how we can improve the condition of our soil, and remove more excess carbon from the atmosphere while feeding more people !!!
Click here to watch Kiss the Ground
I highly recommend watching this ... renewed my hope for the future of our Beautiful Green planet.
Have a Wonderful Week.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Welcome to a new week !!! I hope you had a restful and/or productive weekend.
We had a delightful and restful weekend. Saturday evening we watched a great documentary, Kiss the Ground. It is about Regenerative Agriculture and Soil. It is narrated by Woody Harrelson. Very information about the condition of our soil, climate changes, and removing more of the excess carbon from the atmosphere.
Here is the link click here to watch Kiss the Ground ...
I highly recommend watching this ... renewed my hope for the future of our Beautiful Green planet.
In meditation class, we are still focusing on Synchronicity and Gratitude and how they work together for us. We are definitely improving our ability to follow our Intuition, especially related to Synchronicities.
Have a Wonderful Week. Take good care of yourself and ...
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Trust you are having a restful weekend. We are having cooler weather with the Sun peeking out from the clouds now and then. Hopefully, you are safe and healthy and having good weather.
As we go into November, we continue to work with Synchronicity and practice Gratitude. During class this week we shared funny or happy stories about someone we love and care about who has passed on. We heard wonderful stories from everyone and finished class with one of our "heartwarming" meditations.
Have a Wonderful Week. Take really good care of yourself.
And Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Such a lovely Sunday, following a very busy week. I actually fell asleep under one of the many trees in the park. Fortunately, it is a very safe place with lots of family with children, playing and having a great time. I fell asleep on the ground with my head carefully propped up on my walking shoes !!!
Deeply gratefully for all my wonderful family and friends, wonderful trees, a beautiful butterfly, and my great new socks that fit !!!
Have a Wonderful Week and take very good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Another lovely day here in Georgia. We had more Sunshine and cooler temperatures. I hope the weather has been kind and gentle for you as well.
This week I have been working on classes and workshops for the rest of 2021. I had planned to do an in-person workshop in Austin this month. But, all of Travis County was at Stage 5 Alert for Covid Infections, so I decided not to travel.
I will be doing a Busy Brain workshop online in November and will post more information about that very soon.
Have a lovely week and take very good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Spent a lovely afternoon in the park. I was able to do our meditation by a stream which you can hear in the recording. I hope you enjoy listening to the stream while You are meditating.
Have a Wonderful Week and ...
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary
Lovely fall day here in Georgia with Sunshine and soft breezes.
This morning, as I was doing my Gratitude practice, I was aware of how "grounding" I was feeling! I had not noticed that specific result before. That sense of being more grounded felt really good.
Remember, during this week, to appreciate something about yourself. Remember that awake or asleep as Human Beings, we are vulnerable. And, we often feel vulnerable whether we recognize that feeling or not. Appreciating our tremendous resilience and creativity can help.
Have a lovely week and take really good care of yourself.
And, remember to breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Taking my own advice, always an interesting thing to do, we went to the Gwinnett County Fair near Atlanta, Georgia this Saturday. As you may know, I grew up with farmers and ranchers, horses and cattle, and farming. So, we went to the Fair to find some farmers and ranchers. We had lovely conversations with the folks from TNT Simmental Farms, Ally Bees Farm, and the Thousand Hills Organic Cattle Ranch. Always good to know where our food actually comes from ... !!!
Trust you are doing well and taking good care of yourself.
Have a wonderful week and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
In meditation class, we usually do a "check-in" to let each other know how we are doing. For more than a year we have been discussing ways we can take better care of ourselves during this global pandemic and upheaval.
Obviously, we rely strongly on our Spiritual Practices and the strength of our meditation group. We have found our Spiritual Practices give us strength and resilience. Our group provides a Spiritual Community that is supportive and understanding. And, we keep adding tools and methods to our practices.
In this podcast, as in previous ones, I have included a bit about what we are working with during the week.
Take good care of yourself this week.
Happy Listening and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Good News ... !!! Our Sunday podcast is back !!!
In July I moved from central Texas, near Austin to Atlanta, Georgia to be closer to my Family ... !!!
I have forgotten how exhausting and chaotic and demanding moving can be, especially moving halfway across the country.
Whew ... !!! I am more or less settled and getting rested. So, we are back on track with the Sunday Meditation series.
Trust you are doing well and taking really good care of yourself.
Have a Wonderful Week and do Remember to Breathe ~
All the Best, Mary Christopher
This week during Meditation Class we talked about the amount of suffering around the World. When there is a high level of unrest and suffering, we are all affected whether we know it or not. This high level can interfere with our quality of sleep or we may feel anxious for no apparent reason.
Meditation can definitely help ease our anxiety and make it easier for us to fall asleep. This is especially true if we practice any kind of meditation consistently. Our consistent practice has a cumulative result, just like learning or improving any kind of skill. Studies, and our own experience, have proven this over and over.
One important aspect of meditation is to allow ourselves to rest in our breath or in our meditation. This can be very restorative.
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe.
Thanks for listening and for sharing ~ Mary Christopher
Remembering how effective and simple it is to practice being grateful.
Most of us have so much to be grateful for, even if we are stressed or dealing with difficult people or situations. Having gratitude or appreciation can shift our perspective and raise our consciousness.
Have a Wonderful Week.
Thank You for tuning in and downloading my podcasts ~ Mary Christopher
This is one of my favorite Celtic Blessings that I use when I am going to sleep.
It is not very long and it is very lyrical, making it easy to remember.
Sweet Dreams, wherever you are ~ Mary Christopher
This particular Celtic Blessing is one I like to use when I first get up in the morning, especially if I can be outside. There are many wonderful morning blessings and this is one of my favorites.
Have a Beautiful Day and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
We are having a beautiful weekend, perfect weather with Sunshine and gentle breezes. I had a stressful week with a very sick kitty who spent all day Thursday with the Vet. Fortunately, she is doing much better.
Because this past week was so stressful, I had to use many stress reducing practices from my "Dealing with LIfe" toolbox. Fortunately, the kitty is doing much better now and I am sleeping much better.
Trust you are happy and healthy and taking really good care of yourself.
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary
During the week I have been thinking about "consistency in our spiritual practice" and how beneficial it is. We know with any skill, consistency with practice is usually necessary. Skills can include almost anything such as learning to cook a new recipe, learning how to play golf or tennis, improve our yoga postures, or be better at being quiet.
The reason "practice" improves performance is due to the flexibility and adaptability of our neurons. When we "practice" anything, we are creating new connections in our "mainframe" computing center, our brain. Over time, we are able to relax and be better with any skill.
As we all know, any kind of practice takes patience and repetition. So, we improve by doing something that may feel tedious or boring. But it does pay off. In this podcast, I offered some suggestions about working with the repetitive aspect of your meditation practice that may be helpful.
Have a Wonderful Week.
Take really good care of yourself and remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher
Beautiful weather today !!! The Bluebonnets are blooming and there are Butterflies all over. So Wonderful ... !!!
This week in Meditation Class, we have been discussing "coherence and resonance" specifically in relation to our emotions. And, our meditations have been focused on being more centered and coherent.
Have a Wonderful Week. Take very good care of yourself.
And remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Just a few thoughts about how we could think about Holy Week and Easter from a mystical point of view.
Have a Blessed Week ...
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Happy Spring Everyone in the Northern Hemisphere !!! And, Happy Fall to Everyone in the Southern Hemisphere !!!
We are having beautiful weather here in Central Texas and loving every minute. Wherever you are on the Planet I hope you are having a lovely day.
One of the topics that comes up in Meditation Class is related to Inner Guidance. For some people, this could be Intuition. For others, it might be a "gut feeling" or a heartful sense of what to say or do.
Inner Guidance is amazingly useful, especially when we have upheaval and uncertainty in the World. Sometimes, we may find ourselves wanting answers "right now". And, our mind starts chasing itself trying to come up with something useful which often does not qualify as good "inner guidance"!
But, when we practice meditation which is the fine art of getting quiet, we get better at listening for that quiet voice within or the inner nudge that we can trust.
Remember, Inner Guidance is always available, if we take the time to listen deeply and quietly.
Have a lovely week and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
We have another beautiful warm day to enjoy !!!
As a result of the stress and uncertainty of the Big Freeze in Texas and other states last month, we are more aware of how blessed we are in so many ways.
And, we are also aware of how Precious Life is. So, we are continuing our spiritual practice of being more aware of the people and the experiences that are precious to us.
As a result, we are finding that our lives are a bit sweeter and have more meaning. We are also discovering, once again, how important it is to use our attention in a very conscious way.
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe.
Thanks for Listening ~ Mary Christopher
Here in central Texas, we are still recovering from the Big Freeze. We are dealing with property damage and residual stress from that week, along with the virus situation.
We talked about how scary that week was and how uncertain it felt.
We decided that during March we would be aware of how precious Life is. And, we would do our best to Cherish any wonderful moments of Beauty and Joy and Happiness and Fun. During March we will be building our reserves of Gratitude and improving our ability to focus on what really matters to us.
I hope wherever you are, all is well and you are healthy and happy.
Have a Wounderful Week and Remember to breathe ~ Mary Christopher
As so many people and families are missing and grieving for lost family members and friends due to the Covid virus, we need ways to deal with the intense emotions of loss.
One of my favorite writings is from the Celtic Daily Prayer book, prayers and readings from the Northumbria Community. It is called "Walking with Grief".
I hope it will be helpful and comforting now and later as we all deal with the effects of this virus and other tragedies.
Many Blessings to You and to you Family ~ Mary Christopher
In this chapter, Arthur is doing his best to talk Merlyn into sending Kay with him on his next adventure.
Merlyn becomes very vexed before it is sorted out.
This is a lively prelude to their next amazing adventure.
Happy Listening ~ Mary Christopher
We are warming up here in Texas and across this part of the US. Last week was a relief from freezing temperatures and frozen streets. Everyone that I talked with last week was so relieved to be able to drive, buy groceries, and have fresh water coming through the faucet !!!
I was able to do our meditation for today outside !!! The temperature was comfortable, the birds were singing and the neighborhood was quiet.
I hope you benefit from today's meditation and have a wonderful week.
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
I definitely feel very Blessed to have come thru the past week with little damage to the house or the water system. We were very fortunate !!! We were cold, but not freezing in the house. We did have power and water.
So many people in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana have had a very difficult time. A close friend in Arkansas told me today that their temperatures went down to 20 degrees below with 10 inches of Snow !!! I can't even begin to imagine that. We would be buried for another week!
Have a lovely week and take very good care of yourself. We still have to deal with this pesky virus. And, we will get through this pandemic as well.
Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Texas, parts of Oklahoma and Louisiana are emerging from a week of freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Whew ... !!!
Full report in the podcast.
I hope wherever you are the weather has been moderate this week and you are doing well.
Thank You for all your prayers and good wishes.
When we help and support each other, everything seems to work much better for Everyone.
Mary Christopher
How are you today ? Here in Central Texas we are still in the midst of a Winter Storm and it is very Cold here.
I have been keeping the bird feeders filled and put out bread crusts for the Squirrels. I am also pouring hot, hot water into the bird feeder so they will have some water. However, it does freeze over fast.
In this podcast, I focused on the choices we can make every day so our lives will work better. There seem to be many things in our lives that we are not able to control, such as the Weather.
However, we can control or choose what we think about. We can choose what we are paying attention to. We always have a choice. We can choose the thoughts we have. This is not always easy to do and it may take some practice. But it is worth the effort because choosing the thoughts that run thru our minds is very Empowering !!!
Have a lovely and productive week.
Remember to Smile ~ Mary Christopher
The Big Freeze !!!
Temperatures here in Central Texas and all points North are below freezing and have been since Thursday. These very cold weather conditions are expected to continue thru Tuesday or Wednesday. Yikes ... !!!
In meditation class this week we are focusing on "finding the Miracles in our lives". We are getting Better and Better at noticing "Miracles". This is an excellent spiritual exercise for re-training our attention and our neurons to a different perspective. We are having a good time with this exercise.
I trust you are doing well and keeping healthy.
Have a Wonderful Weekend and remember to Smile. Smiling generates endorphins, also known as "Happy Hormones" !!!
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
We had a few technical problems, but those are fixed now.
I have included a special "belly breathing" exercise in this recording. I noticed that wearing a mask while I am doing errands is changing the way I breathe. So, I have included this breathing exercise to help with that.
Trust your week is going well.
Have a Great Day ... and remember to Breathe Deeply, outside whenever possible.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
This has been a big week here in the United States.
And a very difficult week for the World due to the increase in new cases and deaths with the spread of the Corona Virus.
In regard to all these changes, we know that Human Beings have difficulty with Rapid Change and holding any kind of Paradox. Both Rapid Change and dramatic cultural Paradox are very challenging for us.
Rember that a Paradox is 2 opposite or apparently opposite points of view. Some people deal with Paradox by choosing one over the other, as an Either-Or choice. When we successfully hold a Paradox, we are working with Both And. We are discussing this in Meditation Class and doing our best to be Centered and Calm and Aware.
I trust you are doing well and taking good care of yourself.
Let me know in the comments, how you are doing.
Remember to Breathe and remember to Smile. Smiling regularly generates endorphins (happy hormones). Breathing gives us the Oxygen we need to get up and get going.
Have a Wonderful Week ~ Mary Christopher
This is the 2nd half of Chapter 8 from The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White.
In this chapter, the young Arthur is changed into a Merlin and is left in the mews with the other hunting Hawks that belong to Sir Ector.
Arthur, also known at the Wart, spends a very spine-tingling night with the other hawks and learns a great deal about them.
Happy Listening ~ Mary Christopher
Here is the First Part of Chapter 8 which is another loooong chapter.
In this chapter, the Wart who is young King Arthur visits the raptors who live in the mews and are used for hunting.
I will finish this chapter this week.
Happy Listening ~ Mary Christopher
How are you doing today?
These first weeks of January have been discouraging and hopeful, all at the same time. Discouraging because of the number of deaths worldwide due to the virus. And, discouraging due to the violence here in the United States and other parts of the World
These weeks have also been hopeful because we now have several "good" vaccines that are being distributed around the World. And, I am always hopeful because of the hundreds and thousands of tremendously good people who are doing their best to make this World a Better Place for Everyone.
I hope the meditation is helpful.
Have a good week. Take good care of yourself.
And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Whew ... !!!
Today we heard or watched on the news and throughout the media that the Capital of the United States was mobbed and briefly taken over by supporters of Donald Trump.
It is a tragic and very challenging time for all of us because it demonstrates how polarized and desperate many people are. The fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic are certainly feeding into the turmoil.
We also know that good people around the world are working to bring peace and calm wherever and however possible
This meditation is for centering and calming so we can move through our day with less stress and more perspective.
Trust you are doing well and taking good care of yourself.
We will get through this difficult time and hopefully create a world that works better for Everyone.
Mary Blessings ~ Mary Christopher
Here is the last half of Chapter 7. Some chapters are short and others are very long. So, I am dividing the longer ones into 2 parts so they won't be so long to listen to.
Due to a change in my schedule, I will be reading and recording on Monday evenings.
Have a Wonderful Week ~ Mary Christopher
Beautiful Morning here, although a little too cold to be outside. So, I am recording inside while I am looking outside at the trees and the birds and the squirrels running through the trees.
This morning for our meditation we are focusing on "Being Our Own Best Friend". Hope you enjoy this.
Have a Wonderful Week and take really good care of yourself.
Thanks for Listening and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Welcome to 2021 ... !!! I am happy to be here.
I hope you are safe, and happy, and doing well wherever you are.
Today we are doing a Gratitude Meditation to help us be aware of all our blessings and gifts.
Tomorrow morning at 10:30 am Central Standard Time (US), we are doing a special Healing and Blessing Meditation to start the New Year off on a good note. If you would like to join in, send an email to me here mary@justbeingmindful.com
I will send a link to you for our secure zoom room meeting.
Take good care of yourself.
Thank you for listening ~ Mary Christopher
I read all of Chapter 6 and one-half of Chapter 7 because the chapters are of unequal length. Some are very short and others go on and on.
In these chapters, Arthur, the Wart, learns more about being a Knight !!!
Happy New Year ~ Mary Christopher
As you are aware this has been a difficult year and a very different holiday season for so many people. We get through these difficult times by being kind and generous, thoughtful, and compassionate with ourselves. This helps us to treat others with the same kindness and generosity.
Take really good care of yourself and have a Good New Year,
Thank YOu for listening ~ Mary Christopher
In Chapter 5, Arthur, also known as the Wart, has his first adventure with Merlyn the Magician, his new tutor.
I trust you are enjoying hearing about Arthur's adventures.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Welcome to a new week. I trust that everything is going well for you.
This week we celebrate Christmas. Many of us will not be celebrating with Family or loved ones. This is difficult.
So, be sure to appreciate the Friends and Family and Pets that you have.
We will get through this year by looking out for each other and sharing what we have.
Mary Christopher
This is Chapter 4 of The Sword and the Stone. It is all about King Arthur's adventures as a boy when Merlyn was his tutor.
I am 90% sure that we have all our technical difficulties taken care of. So, we should be on schedule now.
Remember, you are much more than you may think you are !!!
Wherever you are, have a wonderful week ~ Mary Christopher
We had a few technical problems getting this podcast transferred and posted.
However, I think we have it sorted out now.
So, here is the Sunday Morning Meditation for Sunday December 13 2020
Have a Wonderful Week ...
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Tonight I am reading Chapter 3 from this delightful story about King Arthur and Merlyn when Arthur was growing up and Merlyn was his tutor.
I hope you enjoy hearing this story as much as I enjoy reading it.
Have a Wonderful Week.
All the Best, Mary Christopher
Sunday turned out to be over-scheduled so I wasn't able to do my regular Sunday morning recording.
However, here is my Sunday Evening Meditation.
Trust you and all your family and friends are healthy and managing to deal with all the ups and downs of life on Earth right now.
Take really good care of yourself and have a Wonderful Week.
Remember, you are smarter than you may think and more courageous than you know. ~ Mary Christopher
We are beginning a new book this week, "The Sword in the Stone". It is based on the Aurtherin Legends and is about Arthur's relationship with Merlyn as he was growing up. I find the story to be delightful and humorous as well.
I haven't read it for several years so I am looking forward to reading with you.
Thanks for listening.
Have a lovely week ~ Mary Christopher
Most of us are aware that we live in "Challenging Times". No need to remind you of the Corona Virus or the Polarizing Politics in our world. However, there is another cause of upset and distress. It is our own emotional response to these challenges.
If we have a strong negative or highly emotional response to these "challenges", then we increase our own distress. On the other hand, If we can remember to breathe, to stay calm and centered, then we will be healthier and happier. We will be more at Peace with ourselves and probably with others. We will also be more creative and resilient !!!
Being more at ease with ourselves is one of many benefits that can come from having a spiritual practice such as meditation. Sometimes we underestimate the value of our meditations or even our intentions. Sometimes we gain the most benefit from keeping up our spiritual practices when it is the most difficult.
So, I hope and trust that you and all your family and friends are doing well.
Thank You for all the good work you are doing, for your kindness and thoughtfulness, and your courage.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Because of the Covid Virus, many people are having to adjust and be creative with the way they celebrate this holiday.
I woke up this morning feeling deeply grateful to be alive !!! And, as usual, grateful for and delighting in the Beauty of the Day.
Wherever you are I trust you are doing well and having a lovely day.
Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile, even to yourself. It creates Endorphines ... Mary Christopher
This evening I am reading verses from The Pooh Book by A. A. Milne. I couldn't settle on a particular book to start, so I decided to read some verses instead.
I hope you enjoy them. My children certainly did.
Have a Wonderful Week ~ Mary Christopher
This is the beginning of the last full week in November, as well as Thanksgiving in the US.
As you may have noticed, we are still up to our eyebrows in polarizing politics in America. One newscaster said, "the US is behaving like a 3rd world country." I think many people will be relieved and sleep much better when everyone manages to calm down!
Last week in meditation class we focused on Forgiveness and Compassion. During Thanksgiving Week, we are focusing on Gratitude. One benefit of having a Gratitude Practice is that it increases our capacity for being happy. Another benefit is that we are more satisfied or at peace with our lives. Being Happier and more at Peace with ourselves sets us up for having clarity and being more grounded every day. If we are more content with ourselves, we may not spend as much money or buy stuff we don't need this time of year.
During this week, take a few minutes at the end of your day to write down about 4 or 5 things you are grateful for. This can be someone or an experience or something that you use or appreciate. See how well this gratitude practice works for you. And, let me know in the comments.
Have a Wonderful Week. And, Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Having a lovely evening walk after a busy day and a busy week.
I have been thinking about how difficult it seems to be for Human Beings to live in Peace with each other. And, how difficult it is for us to be at Peace within and with ourselves.
So, in meditation class we have been focusing on Forgiveness and Compassion, beginning with ourselves. I have found the more that I am able to be forgiving and compassionate with myself, I am more at peace with others. The end result is that while I am becoming more at peace with myself, I am also becoming more at peace with others. Amazing ... !!!
Have a Wonderful Weekend. Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Pete's Dragon is short so I am reading the entire book this evening. This book is a special request from someone who remembers it from growing up and wanted to hear it again.
This is the official Disney version of Pete's Dragon, published in 1977.
Next week we will begin another, longer book. If you have any suggestions or would like to request a special book, let me know in the comments.
Have a Wonderful Week ...
Happy Listening ~ Mary Christopher
Another lovely Morning deep in the Heart of Texas. I hope it is lovely and peaceful and calm wherever in the world you are.
I made sure to be outside today, soaking up Sunshine and breathing lots of fresh air. I always feel better when I have several hours outside. And, I know that being in fresh air and Sunshine strengthens my Immune System!
Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile.
Have a Wonderful Week. ~ Mary Christopher
This evening we are finishing "King of the Wind". We find out what finally happens to Sham and Agba and Grimalkin.
We also learn what happens to the colts that were sired by Sham. Three of Sham's colts ran at Newmarket Racecourse more than 2 centuries ago.
I hope you enjoyed this book. I will start a new story next Sunday. Not sure which one yet, so if you have any suggestions, let me know.
Have a lovely week and thanks for listening. ~ Mary Christopher
Another lovely day here with blue skies, puffy white clouds, and soft breezes.
Here in the United States, we seem to have survived Election Week. I am sure there will be plenty of political posturing and a range of amazing rhetoric in the days ahead. And, I am confident we will get through that as well.
For the first part of our Sunday morning meditation, I did a "walking meditation" and included several suggestions about reaching out to Friends and Family who may be upset with the election returns.
Trust you and all your family are doing well. I will be finishing our current book. "King of the Wind" for Storytime this evening. If you have any suggestions for our next book, let me know in the comments.
Have a peaceful and productive week. Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Lovely afternoon here. I am outside, enjoying the fresh air and watching the deer walk by.
I included a short reading from "Anam Cara" Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World by John O'Donohue. Anam Cara means "soul friend". This is a beautiful and very heartening book.
I will post another meditation podcast tomorrow.
Several people have asked for extra help with tension and upset due to the Election and the Virus. For this week only, I am offering one-on-one Coaching sessions at 25 % off my regular fee. Call this number 512-677-9049 Leave a message saying "Bulletproof Immunity" and I will call you back as soon as possible. Call now and leave a message. There are just a few appointments left.
Have a wonderfu weekend.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Lovely day for a meditation outside, breathing fresh air loaded with Oxygen.
Thankful for the Trees, the Grass, the Butterflies, the Sunshine and the Quiet.
Several people have asked me for extra help with tension and upset due to the Election and the Virus. For this week only, I am offering one-on-one Coaching sessions at 25 % off my regular fee. Call this number 512-677-9049 Leave a message saying "Bulletproof Immunity" and I will call you back as soon as possible. Call now and leave a message. There are just a few appointments left.
Trust you are doing well today.
Thank You for listening. And, remember to Breathe, ~ Mary Christopher
Again today, I went out early to do this podcast. I can usually do a podcast in about 30 minutes. However, today, a large mower was running somewhere in the neighborhood. It kept coming closer and closer and then it would go away.
I paused the podcast twice because of the noise so the recording may be a little choppy. My apologies if the recording is choppy ...
Last week several people asked me for more help with tension and upset due to the Election and the Virus. So, for this week only, I am offering one-on-one Coaching sessions at 25 % off my regular fee. Call this number 512-677-9049 Leave a message saying "Bulletproof Immunity" and I will call you back as soon as possible. Call now and leave a message. There are just a few appointments available.
Trust you are doing well today.
Thank You for listening. And, remember to Breathe, ~ Mary Christopher
If you ever have a day or a time when you can't seem to sit still long enough to meditate, there is an alternative. Or if you can't seem to "slow down" your Busy Brain in order to sit quietly, you can always do a walking meditation.
Some "walking meditations" are more formal than others. Regardless of the style you use, you can still get real value from a walking meditation. I have recorded a walking meditation on this podcast. Let me know if it is useful for you.
Happy Voting if you are in the US and Remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
During this week I am doing special midday meditations to help us deal with our accumulated and ongoing stress. As you know, a few weeks of prolonged stress can have serious effects on our Health and Well-Being.
So, I am doing these "walking in the woods" meditations to help You do better, feel better, sleep better, and have greater clarity.
In addition, last week several people asked me for more help with tension and upset due to politics, or illness in the family, or work situations. So, for this week only, I am offering my one-on-one Coaching sessions at 25 % off my regular fee. Just call this number 512-677-9049 Leave a message and I will call you back as soon as possible. Call now and leave a message. There are just a few appointments available.
Have a great day and remember to Breathe ... Mary Christopher
Tonight we are reading chapters 18 and 19, finding out what happens to Agba, Sham, and Grimalkin. Agba and Grimalkin have been released from the prison and are on their way to rescue Sham.
What will happen to them now ...
Have a Wonderful Week. We will finish "King of the Wind" next Sunday.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Are you ready for November? If you live in the US, have you Voted?
Hopefully, after November 3, and when all the Votes are counted, we can all calm way down. When people are so stressed and polarized, nothing is getting accomplished. This is no way to run an Ice Cream stand, much less a country. We are better people than this ...
Because of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, I am offering my "Bulletproof Immunity" Workshop again this Saturday, November 7 at 12 pm CST. If there was ever a time that we need a Strong Immune System, this is it. If you are feeling stressed, your Immune System may be suppressed. To register for this Free Workshop, click this link >>> Build and Strengthen Your Immune System.
Today in the podcast we are doing a very calming breathing practice. This is one we use frequently in meditation classes. Try it and let me know in the comments how it works for you. Thanks for Listening!
Have a Great Week and remember to Breathe ~ Mary Christopher
Yesterday during meditation class, I got a request for a Stress Lowering Podcast. So, here it is with a very simple breathing exercise.
As you are probably aware we are in the midst of a very polarized election here in the United States. The political situation combined with the global pandemic is very stressful for everyone even if you are living in the middle of nowhere without any internet or television.
We know that living with prolonged stress is damaging to our physical and emotional well-being. When we are stressed no matter for how long, our Immune System is suppressed. This happens because we are in a Fight or Flight or Freeze survival mode.
So, when we can lower our stress levels, we are supporting our Immune System !!! Good for Us !!!
Try the Breathing Exercise in this podcast. It will work. I know it will work for you because I use it and people in my meditation classes use it. It works !
Give it a try and let me know how it is working for you ...
Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile ~ Mary Christopher
This evening we are reading Chapters 16 and 17 in which Agba and Grimalkin are arrested and thrown into Newgate Jail, accused of attempting to steal Sham. Will their troubles ever end ... ?
Let me know in the comments if you like this story.
Have a Wonderful Week.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Lovely day and very quiet here in the neighborhood. Getting cooler now which means the air conditioners are not running as much as they were during the summer. So, we are not using as much electricity and it is quieter. Thank Goodness ... !!!
If you would like to join us online for my online meditation class on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 pm or Thursdays from 3 to 5 pm CDT, send an email to me here mary@justbeingmindful.com I will send a secure link back to you.
If you would like to attend my Free online "Bulletproof Immunity" Workshop, on Saturday, October 31 at 12 pm CDT click here
Have a lovely week ...
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
This evening we are reading Chapters 14 and 15 about Sham's and Agba's and Grimalkin's adventures in England.
Let me know how you like this story in the comments.
Have a Wonderful Week.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
For our morning meditation, I included several short poems by Rumi, the Sufi poet.
According to some statistics, Rum is the most widely read Poet in the World !!!
Have a Wonderful Week.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
How I settle myself down for sleep at the end of a very busy day ...
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
What happens to Sham and Agba after they are sent to the King's kitchens to serve the Cook ... ?
Do they survive ... ?
Let me know in the comments how you like this story.
Have a wonderful week.
Thank you for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Meditation is such a good way to start the day and the week. As you may know by now, I love to meditate outside, by a tree providing lots of fresh Oxygen !!!
We know that Trees are like Oxygen Factories, taking in Carbon Dioxide and releasing Oxygen !!! Absolutely Amazing and one of those Gifts from Nature that we tend to take for granted !!!
This morning I read another story from, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, compiled by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki. It is an interesting story about a Fox.
Have a Wonderful Day.
Thank You for listening. ~ Mary Christopher
Sitting with one of my favorite trees, enjoying the quiet and all the green colors. There are a few Monarch Butterflies wafting around.
For this podcast, I read 2 short stories from one of my Zen meditation books, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, compiled by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki. I hope you enjoy them.
I trust you are safe and healthy and that your family and friends are doing well.
I hope you enjoy the Zen stories and the meditation. Have a lovely weekend. Take good care of yourself.
Thanks for listening. ~ Mary Christopher
This evening we are reading Chapters 9 and 10. We learn what happens to the Stallions and the Horseboys who were sent to France as a gift to the King.
Have a Wonderful Week.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Lovely day deep in the Heart of Texas with blue skies and gentle breezes.
I hope you are having a beautiful day wherever you are. And, I hope that you and your family and friends are doing well.
For our meditation, I have included a breathing practice that can increase your lung capacity. Try it and let me know how it works for you.
Have a Wonderful Week. If you are interested in one of my meditation classes, email me with the word "Interested" in the subject line. mary@justbeingmindful.com
Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile. Smiling generates Endorphines.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
A meditation to restore calmness and equanimity in the midst of our somewhat out-of-balance world.
I have also included a short reading from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Informal talks on Zen meditation and practice by Suzuki Royshi
Here is a link to my Facebook page. Message me and I will send you a secure link to my meditation group sessions. Mary Christopher's Facebook page ...
Take good care of yourself and have a delightful day.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
We are reading Chapter 7 and 8, to find out why the Sultan wants 6 horseboys and the Chief Groom of the stables to come to his palace.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish tradition. It is a day of fasting and reconciliation with Family and Friends and Neighbors, and of course with G~D. So, to all my Jewish friends, may you have a Blessed Holy Day.
I trust that wherever you are in the World that you are safe and healthy and doing well. We live in very challenging times which require resilience, compassion, and courage. May we be blessed with ample amounts.
Have a very safe and productive week. Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile. People will wonder what you are up to.
Thank You for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Thank You so much to Everyone around the World for downloading and listening to my podcast. This is a "Thank You" podcast !!!
I have also included a short story about the Medicine Wheel. This story tells how Buffalo, Eagle, Coyote, and Bear began to help the Spirit Keepers !!!
Rember to Breathe and Remember to Smile. Smiling generates Endorphines.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
The Fall Equinox happens at 9:31 am in the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the Spring Equinox.
So, Happy Equinox to Everyone all around the World !!!
Trust you are doing well. Thanks for Listening ~ Mary Christopher
Today I am reading Chapters 5 and 6. Sham is now almost 3 years old and is doing well. And then, something completely unexpected happens ...
I hope you are enjoying listening to "King of the Wind." Have a great week and I will be back next Sunday reading 2 or more chapters.
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Building Our Immunity Workshop with Mary Christoper
Saturday, Sept. 19 online 10 am to 2 pm CDT
Because of Covid-19, I have designed an online Building Immunity workshop. This course goes beyond washing our hands and wearing a mask. We will learn a 5-part process to build and sustain strong immunity while reducing stress. Remember, our Immunity is our First Line of Defense against any virus or bacteria! Cost per person: $45.
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18725671
If you have any questions, call me at 512-677-9049 and leave a message. I will return your call as soon as possible. Mary Christopher
Agba, a stableboy for the Sultan, is caring for his favorite Arabian mare who is soon to give birth to a colt. Agba is deeply concerned about the mare and about her coming foal so he is taking extra special care of this mare. She is Agba's favorite!
Have a Wonderful Week. Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Beautiful morning here in central Texas, with a clear sky, soft breezes and gentle sunshine through the trees.
Special webinar coming up next Saturday, September 19, 2020
Building Immunity with Meditation !!!
If we ever needed a strong Immune System, this is the time. You will learn a 5 Part Process for building and sustaining your Immunity. You will have the tools to stress less, sleep better, and make better decisions. And, we will have a good time doing this! I am not a "guru"., so no pie-in-the-sky. My workshops and webinars are practical and useful for everyday situations.
Call me and leave a message at 512-677-9049 or send an email to mary@justbeingmindful.com Just say, "help me with my Immunity" and I will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Thanks for Listening ~ Mary Christopher
We are having very cool weather here in the Heart of Texas due to a cloudy and rainy week. I am sitting out on the back porch watching the Cardinals searching for worms and Hummingbirds zooming in and out of the porch.
I hope your day is going well and that it is peaceful and calm wherever you are.
Have a Wonderful Weekend. Remember to Breathe and Remember to Smile. Smiling generates Endorphines !!!
Thanks for listening ~ Mary Christopher
Today we are starting a new book, "King of the Wind" by Marguerite Henry. This story is about the Godolphin Arabian and is based on the life of an Arabian Stallion who was a grandsire of thoroughbred horses.
Some of the chapters are short, so I will probably be reading more than one chapter per week. Let me know in the comments how you like the story.
Thanks for listening. ~ Mary Christopher