The other day after a glorious morning in the wild orchard near me, birds flitting from gnarled tree to tree, teasel stalks blowing in the wind, the sweet earth laden with apples, surrounded by bright red rosehip sisters…I brought home
Knowing our needs as a parent
So much has smoothed out in my life now that my children are older. I have been reflecting with compassion for myself on how so much of the way we are asked to parent is so unsupportive for sensitive, present
Spring Equinox- What wants to emerge?
Today, on this beautiful Spring equinox day, I now understand why daffodils are so meaningful. In California they were just one of the many flowers all around. Here in the north, they are a bright sun star popping out of
Proximity as path to interdependence
Something that has been astounding to me as my ‘life got better’ and I found myself in middle class environments is how little those who have been raised with sufficient resources actually interface with the realities of others, especially ‘the
The heartbeat of relationships
Lately, I’ve supported many who are concerned about conflict in their relationships, whether it be with partner, parents, children or friends. I often hear the concern that if there is conflict there is something wrong with the relationship. When I
Dreaming and surrendering
I’m a little bit afraid to write this. Some parts of my memoir are just tricky and very vulnerable to share. But I feel moved that sharing my process may help others and this is the pulse I always follow
Celebrating Winter Solstice as a Family
In this time where corporate capitalism is telling us that materialism is the source of joy, Winter Solstice, like Mother Earth herself calls us back to what is grounded, true, enduring. The experience and language of our ancestors, our hearts
Managing holiday triggers
There is so much that can be triggered during the holidays and it varies for each person given your own family of origin and trauma. In this fragmented society alot of what we are collectively grieving is the dissolution of
Community longing and complexity
These last three years in Ashland, I have had difficulty finding a sense of community. I joke that I am too ‘low vibe’ for people here because on multiple occasions I’ve had people respond negatively when I talk about racial/social
Hermanas/Sisters
When I was four years old, my sisters organized a little birthday party for me. Struggling in extreme poverty as an immigrant single mother, my mother rarely celebrated any of her children’s birthdays. So it was significant that they pulled