Happy new moon and happy Tibetan New Year. Beginning tomorrow, there is an auspicious window for practice. Whether you follow Buddhist teachings or not, you can join in the energy of this time. Whatever your practice: yoga, meditation, nature, self-love, whispering sweet nothings to people in the grocery store... use this window to conjure kindness. … Continue reading Losar Tashi Delek!
"You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you're too busy, then you should sit for an hour."Old Zen saying It works that way, it really does. One of the best things I have found in my life is a meditation practice. Now let's talk about the crazy that is often my … Continue reading When practice feels difficult
"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones."Bruce Garrabrandt The muse can be conjured. Invited. Invoked. One of the mantras that has stayed with me all these years, is the mantra of creativity. Not just for painters and writers, cooks and potters, but for anyone who … Continue reading The Mantra of Creativity
Tonglen (Tibetan: གཏོང་ལེན་, Wylie: gtong len, or tonglen) is Tibetan for 'giving and taking' (or sending and receiving), and refers to a meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism. Tong means "giving or sending", and len means "receiving or taking". Tonglen is also known as exchanging self with other. Wikipedia I first encountered tonglen years ago in Sedona. Though the … Continue reading Insight in unlikely places
co·ro·na1/kəˈrōnə/noun 1.ASTRONOMY the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun and other stars. The sun's corona is normally visible only during a total solar eclipse, when it is seen as an irregularly shaped pearly glow surrounding the darkened disk of the moon. I spend much of my time in my neighbourhood. When I'm not writing in … Continue reading Coronavirus: Pearly glow? Or darkened disk?
On this day, the Bell Let's Talk day for mental health, I encourage you to do 2 things: 1. Nourish yourself Even if that means all you can do today is take a bath or a shower and get dressed. Do that. And know that it is enough. I never expected to spend a good … Continue reading Room to Breathe
I have been waiting all year to say goodbye to the year of Earth Pig. At the start of each Chinese New Year, I listen in to the energy forecast of the coming year from one of my teachers, Master Chunyi Lin. I use his forecast to feng shui my home according to the incoming … Continue reading 5 things I learned from the year of Earth Pig.
"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." Ralph Waldo Emerson Practices come and go over the years but some stick around. One such practice I enjoy each morning is a blend of Spring Forest Qigong and Ayurveda. As soon as you wake (and decide it's time to … Continue reading Morning Ritual: connecting mind and body
While loading the dishwasher yesterday, I turned on the TV to see Valerie Bertinelli on the Today Show. I love Valerie. She was part of my childhood. Who here grew up with One Day at a Time? I paused to listen to what she had to say. She talked openly about her struggle with emotional … Continue reading Emotional Eating
De-cluttering. I love it. It makes me infinitely happy to create space in my life. That space doesn't always remain, but it's still nice when it emerges. Over a year ago, I participated in a course by Joshua Becker: Becoming Minimalist. It's always fun to jump in on the energy of a group exercise. The … Continue reading Un-busy your Business
Stephanie Hrehirchuk - Author 