Inside Job

I’ll be 45 in 2 days. Someone asked me what I want for my birthday. I couldn’t put it into words until right now. What I want feels way too big to ask for, unless it’s a prayer. What I want for myself is an inside job. I need to create it, do it and…

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My Ancestors Love

Remembering the dead & feeling my ancestors love. My maternal grandmother, Helen Aherns Berger, was the elder most present in my young life. What I remember most about her was the feeling of being accepted. I knew she was rooting for me to be myself. In retrospect, it seems like she wanted to see who…

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The Preacher

About 6 years ago, my good friend and her fiancé called to ask if I would officiate their wedding. I was incredibly honored and immediately said an enthusiastic. “YES!” As what I had agreed to do slowly set in, I realized that I felt insecure about performing a wedding ceremony given that I’ve had so…

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Meeting Myself in a Million Beautiful Ways

Today I’m celebrating my relationship with myself. I have been single for 16 or 17 years. I can’t remember anymore. All this time I’ve been in relationship with myself, having all the ups & downs, twists & turns by myself. Who can say whether it’s been easier or harder to be alone? I celebrate the…

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Tiny Moments

I’ve been wanting to say something for days, but I can’t quite get it out. It’s a quiet truth, one that’s easy to ignore and override. It’s that vulnerable risk that’s a little too scary to fully embrace. It’s the part of you that longs to be seen but is mostly shy. It’s noticing that…

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44

I’m finding a lot of peace at the start of my 44th year. Peace in the present moment, peace in being with myself, feeling peaceful in the body I’ve got right now, and peace with those in my life however close or far away they choose to be. There is also an abundance of feelings…

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My Heart

A year ago I shared a beautiful afternoon with Kristen and John. Kristen unveiled this amazing medicine painting to me for the first time. It was love at first sight and I am still completely mesmerized by each detail. It’s so familiar and so precious that I can barely believe it exists and that I…

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The Best We Can Do

***This post took me 2 hours to write. It takes about 10 minutes to read. I posted it and then deleted it last night, but then reposted it today because I really do want to share even though it feels vulnerable.*** I’ve spoken with a lot of people in the past year who are struggling…

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Spirit of the Forest

Walking slowly. Stopping often to listen and observe. Noticing the millions of details of these woods, trees, leaves and earth – each in their fluctuating states of growth and decay. I come here to transform myself, to let the natural world impress itself on me and not the other way around. I come here to…

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Message from the forest

Message from the forest: Stay relaxed. Take your time with everything. Do not let the fast pace of the human world rush you. Do not be ashamed of your slow deliberate pace. Take steady, conscious steps and walk softly on the earth. Let your feet slowly kiss the ground. Feel the quality and weight of…

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