As I was thinking about how I honor my ancestors, I was reminded that Spiritual Awakening is a series of events rather than a one time, lightbulb-kind-of occurrence. There was a specific event, my father’s death, that launched my change in life focus. I had a spiritual awakening, then went through a Dark Night of the Soul. That dark night happened over years. Some months it was less dark than others. What made that period seem dark is being called to set aside all that I had known about human...

Yesterday I taught a Belly Dance class to a group of Seniors at a church. They probably have not taken a Yoga class or looked at exercise as a refined practice as in Tai Chi. A woman came to me after the class asking what I was doing when I guided the class to put their hands together and close their eyes. I thank her because it prompted me to articulate this practice. I have used it for nearly 20 years and don't recall anyone else asking. Belly Dance is a sensual practice that helps me honor...

You thought completing the certification training would make you feel like a healer. During the training, you felt excited to go out and use your newly minted healing skills. But that exuberance was fleeting. It takes a lot of energy to push out a new version of yourself, the one who offers healing to others. 3 months later you are back into your old routine of going to work and caring for your family. There are reasons why you find yourself almost exactly back in the same place as before...