Author Archives: Musings

In his most recent book “Living Untethered”, Michael Singer tells the story of a Buddhist monk. One morning, the monk greets his guru, who notices that the monk is glowing. The guru asks if anything has just happened. The monk replies that on his habitual early morning walk to see his guru, he saw theContinue reading “Just a Tree”

On our first date, Bob and I discovered that we had both read John Gray’s now infamous “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”. The book has served us well, helping us to interpret each other. Oh, so when he says that thing, what he really means is…And when she does that thing, whatContinue reading “(W)Inner Dialogues”

At the grocery store today, the card aisle was packed. Some card-shoppers looked perplexed; others looked lost or pained, while others were laughing. They flipped from one card to the next in search of the perfect Mother’s Day card. Funny? Or serious? Bible quotes or open it up and an annoying song deafens you? TheseContinue reading “To All the Mothers”

Seeing and being seen is primal. For the first few weeks of life, a newborn baby can see 8 to 12 inches away. Which is the perfect distance to gaze into the eyes of their mother or father. As we grow, that distance increases. But, our seeing changes. We see  with preconceptions. We see theContinue reading “The Warmth of a Loving Gaze”

I am believing more and more in synchronicity. Yesterday started out a bit rough, and I was processing it all with my morning cup o’ Joe and journaling and listening to my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist. And three songs in, Victory’s You are Extraordinary came on. And instantly I was hooked. I was hooked withContinue reading “You Are Extraordinary”

There can be no genuine beauty or harmony that does not acknowledge the opposite powers of anger, fierceness and destruction…a true spirituality includes all of life’s aspects, not only those we find pleasing or simple, writes Jane Hirshfield. I need to be reminded of this time and time again. Because it’s so easy to configureContinue reading “The Joy that Wanted to Become You”

Earlier this week, one of my children called. Mom, I’m sick; doctor says it’s strep. My response? Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry; that must really be painful. Later that day, I was thinking about our upcoming move to Israel, and it looked somewhat like this: I’m kind of scared…I know we’ve moved a lotContinue reading “Light and Dark”

My heart is swollen. As if a gland,not a muscle, writes Kimiko Hahn in her poem “Utica Station”. A few words into Hahn’s poem, and I’m hooked, right there, remembering times past and feeling—as well—a swollen heart. Hahn’s poem invites us to look deep within. At what and whom we have loved. And lost. AndContinue reading “Flashing through the Storm”

This year Passover begins the evening of Friday, April 15. While traditional Passover dishes are not to my liking (I’m not a fan of matzo!), it is the holidays that most resonates with me. Because Passover is about freedom. I’ve spent most of my conscious life trying to be free. Of my past.  Of pain.Continue reading “Freedom to Choose”

My daughter and I were talking recently about the usefulness of writing. Journaling. Of artistic expression in general. I mean, how can you compare a poem with heart surgery? Or law? Or politics? When I read Meditations in an Emergency by Frank O’Hara I find my answer. In this prose poem, New York School poetContinue reading “Meditations in an Emergency”