New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
For me, there’s a lot of comfort in a cup of tea. My childhood associations with tea are connected to memories of being safe, cared for, and loved. My British grandmother always made me tea and cookies, and I have many sweet associations. Boil the kettle and make tea in a favorite mug. Wrap your hands around the mug and feel the comfort of the physical heat. Take a sip, and as the warm fluid slides down your throat, notice how content you feel with the warmth in your belly. With each ...
Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival, ends today. The sukkah, an outdoor reed hut, is where families eat, recalling the time when the Israelites wandered the desert for forty years, sleeping and eating under the stars. Today, take time to get outside for a meal, and pause and give thanks for your harvest. Can you leave work at lunchtime to eat outdoors? Can you enjoy your evening meal on the deck or in the yard? As you eat, slowly savor the food, being thankful for all that you eat. Take time ...
As summer wanes, our altars need renewal. Remove everything from your altar. Sort things into sacred tools and objects, supplies (like sage, sweetgrass, or salt), and seasonal objects and symbols. Wipe down smooth surfaces, saying: May the grace of the Goddesscleanse this altar. Place a fresh cloth upon your altar. Say: May the beauty of theGoddess bless this altar. Place fresh candles in fireproof containers on the altar. Say: May the spirit of the Goddessshine in all I do. Carefully ...
The last weekend of August is a great time to get outside. Can you take the day to go to a lake, river, stream, or ocean? Or visit a forest, mountain, or park? With recent attention to what is called nature deficit disorder, there is more and more research documenting the positive effects of nature on the human psyche and body. While many of us live in cities, we can still find parkland, ravines, and cemeteries with large swatches of nature, wilderness, and greenery for us to connect to the ...
