Sleeping Bear Dunes
Earlier this month, I was looking for inspiration, something to remind me to find the patches of robin-egg blue in a sky often layered with darkness. I remembered a group of women I met two years ago, before COVID, women across religions, spiritual practices and traditions who filled me with hope; who reminded me that there are rituals, prayers, and practices to get us through the difficult times in life.
I decided to re-listen to those interviews, conducted to help me facilitate a retreat on the spirituality of water. Although I consider myself spiritual, not religious, I was raised Catholic. It is a religion rich in rituals. So, too the practices of the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and indigenous people. Practices that incorporate the sanctity of water.
Can I integrate some of those rituals across faiths and beliefs into my own spiritual life? Help me deal with loss, life changes associated with aging and illness, this ever-lurking, ever-lingering virus shadowing our lives?
And what about humor? That “strong medicine” that stimulates oxygen flow to organs, relieves stress, improves the immune system, cuts pain, improves one’s mood, and is just plain fun? Can I do a better job noticing that which makes me laugh and incorporate more of those moments into my life?
Beginning in January, I will again be posting monthly. Sometimes prose. Sometimes poetry. But always looking for the robin-egg blue in the sky while doing what I can to make this a more compassionate, healthier planet. I hope you will join me.
Have a healthy and joy-filled holiday season.
Mary
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