Faith & Spirituality

"Our unique perspectives, principles, and practices can create a rich and colorful menagerie of devoted living.” At the center of our identity - as individuals, communities and even as a species - is our system of belief. Whatever we believe, we can allow our convictions vis-à-vis religion and spirituality to either divide us or unite us, as human history has continually proven. In the 1960s, the anti-establishment movements challenged our social norms, economics, and p

Most of us are taught to “look before you leap,” to assess all available facts and consider possible consequences before making decisions or taking action. The frenetic pace of our lives today, however, does not always afford us the time to carefully review every pertinent detail. In fact, the less time we have, the more vulnerable we are to a decision-making flaw that neuroscientist refer to as availability bias – a mental shortcut the brain takes based on our own limited an

We share the planet with 8.7 million species of animals on land and in water Europe, Friends of the Earth, and this month we formally recognize, appreciate, and celebrate their magnificence and the ways they enrich our lives. “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” - Anatole France Internationally, we recognize World Animal Day on October 4 which coincides with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of birds and animals. Firs

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the earth turns to winter this month and we tend to turn away from our activities and perhaps even from each other as we nestle in our warm homes. As we near the shortest day of the year (which is not a true measure of time but an appearance of light or the lack thereof), life can feel harsh, cold and dark; the antithesis of what most of us strive to feel in our daily experience. Intellectually, we know there is no place that God

"Each day is a new creation, a new moment for a fuller awareness of spiritual reality and a time for designing the new life we want to live." - Ernest Holmes The dawning of the New Year often inspires a renewed sense of purpose, determination, and hope. It's a time when we cast the past and open ourselves to new possibilities. Yet so many of us get caught up in the demanding idea that we need to somehow radically improve or drastically reinvent ourselves at the start of ev

Defining moments typically involve a decision to change some aspect of our lives in order to gain a better experience. These pivot points in life can be a new beginning, the continued growth of our good, or the end of what no longer serves us well. Yet when these opportunities present themselves, we sometimes stall out with indecision, confusion, and uncertainty. Fear of the unknown is one of the biggest roadblocks to positive change. It may seem easier to sidestep the d

Everyone experiences loss in life – loss of a loved one, health, jobs, relationships, dreams, status, homes, finances, innocence, trust, and more. Grief is the natural response to loss, and the more significant the loss, the more intense the response may be. A loss can seem sudden and unexpected, or a long foreseen outcome. Regardless of the type of loss, understanding and embracing the grief process can help us heal and transmute such feelings of sadness, emptiness, and fu

Life is full of highs and lows. But at any point along the journey – not just the tough times, we can become stuck in our experience, like our cars in unsteady terrain. Sometimes we can navigate our way through the valleys and plateaus, and sometimes we lose our momentum and go nowhere. Photo Courtesy of Montana Department of Vehicles We can sink into the deep sand of emotions unhealed; fall in mental mud ruts of repetitive and unproductive thoughts; or stall high-c

The end of summer can feel more like the shadow of darkness than the season of sunshine. Much more than a gray, rainy day, we can experience any one or combination of three cyclical circumstances that stir up a murky storm of emotions and turn our final foray of fun into an endgame of gloom. 1. Good Things Come to an End Summer is often associated with fun, freedom, vacations, and play-time activities for all ages. Life feels full, alive, and ripe with possibility. Au

Cooler temperatures and turning leaves mark the beginning of autumn. Although trees may soon be bare, there are plenty of spiritual fruits to be harvested in the fall. "Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers, we more than gain in fruits." - Samuel Butler Abundance For many cultures, autumn harvest is considered the most important and abundant time of the year. Bounties of fruits, vegetables, and grains are coming into season, providing sustenan

Atonement is the spiritual practice of restitution that repairs our souls and reclaims our wholeness with Divine Love. Spiritually, atonement or “at-one-ment” is to be in the state of – unity – as the result of an action. When we misspeak or misstep, whether unconsciously or on purpose, we create fissions from our essential wholeness, the union of humanity and divinity within ourselves, others, and with God. Fortunately, we can re-establish Oneness through atonement.

​​ Thanksgiving is more than gratitude in return for our good; it includes expectation of and gratitude for all blessings in advance. Since known history, people around the world have been giving thanks as a standard yet sacred practice of devotion and spiritual well-being. Today, many nations observe a Thanksgiving holiday with special celebrations of appreciation for all the good received throughout the year. However, the ancient Hebrews understood that thanksgivi

When we dare to tread the darkness that uncertainties fear, we realize the beauty, power, and perfection of our true selves. When days grow short, or life gets tough, we seek ways to dispel the darkness with light. We equate light with the positive – hope, growth, abundance, life. And conversely, dark is attributed to the negative – despair, vice, scarcity, death. Light good, dark bad. Because of these broad-stroke judgments, we can miss the miracles the Universe prov

New Year’s resolutions are often empty promises based on the outside-in perspective of what we think should be. However, there is one resolution we can make that will truly transform our lives forever: to consciously further our own spiritual evolution. “The purpose of human life is to achieve our own spiritual evolution, to get rid of negativity, to establish harmony among our physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual quadrants, to learn to live in harmony within the

Love is a quintessential hallmark of spiritual living. Without it, we feel no impetus to create or connect…what is the point? So often, though, we confuse genuine, God-given love with the capricious sprite of human affection. But when we surrender our small-minded misperceptions and let the celestial love born within to prize open, we bare ourselves to a state of grace that transcends any earthly bounds. “The spiritual meaning of love is measured by what it can do. Love is me

When hardship strikes us down, and we have nothing left to lose, it is a call from the Almighty to reevaluate ourselves, rethink our lives, and rekindle our faith. In every life, some rain will fall. Most of the time, adversity serves as a reminder to turn within and reconnect with our own divinity. But when hardship strikes us down, and we have nothing left to lose, it is a call from the Almighty to reevaluate ourselves, rethink our lives, and rekindle our faith. As the 16th

"The concept of Christ consciousness is a universal truth that transcends religion. It is the awareness of the Beloved in all creation." Life is uncertain on a good day, exponentially so in times of crisis. When the constancy we need to feel safe, grounded and assured is upset, we can lose our foothold of faith. It is hard to believe all is well with the routines, systems, supplies, and conditions we rely upon for daily life in question. The longer we remain in flux, the more