When we relax into the heart of our spirit- that inner knowing- we can enjoy much greater confidence and find greater ease in our actions.

Many times, we act out of a sense of scarcity or fear. We are so busy protecting ourselves, our egos, our reputation, or our finances. With a regular assault of us versus them in the daily news- our communities have also become a source of debate and separation. In the same walk around the neighborhood, we can entertain questions about our personal policies around masks, our philosophy around child rearing and our vote for political candidates. Let's rephrase that- often the entertaining has shifted from questions to listening to other people's opinions. Quite often, people are so quick to assert their own beliefs without asking us about ours at all. 

If we operate out of a reaction to these words and ideas from the outside, we can find ourselves lifting up shields to protect ourselves from the onslaught or scurrying to figure out where we fit safely into the picture. We can suddenly question the manner and the way in which we were acting prior to the conversation. BUT, remember, this isn't spirit talking. This isn't our compass or our core talking. This isn't the true self talking. This is simple the ego trying to keep us in check so that we can fit into the social norms. This is the ego placing fear and doubt because it is reacting to an outdated story, it isn't a truth.

As the ego throws up warning signs, it is time to "befriend our ego" as Jalaja Bonheim, Ph.D. describes in her book, The Sacred Ego.  As the ego presents us with red flags and that ominous soundtrack or that gut-wrenching defensiveness it has called upon for generations to protect us, we can turn, instead to the heart. 

When we acknowledge that inside, there is a small child looking for protection, nurturing and comfort- we can see the Ego as a part of us that simply longs to be heard. Underneath that fear, we can ask questions of the heart. Why is this coming up for me? How would my actions serve my highest good and serve my community? Does it require bravery, authenticity, and faith- likely. Does it require a release of old patterns that no longer serve us- likely. Was there something in the past that triggered this fear?

Getting quiet, and asking our faith to guide us- we can begin to move through the world in a way that depends far less on the judgement or opinion of others. We feel more confident, more connected and less judging ourselves. We feel led.

There is a reason why faith and intuition has survived for so long and why the universe is waking up more and more to it now. As greater divisiveness presents itself, the light has to gather. 

Let it start inside your heart and grow, let it spread. Move from faith rather than fear. Move with love.

Love,

LeeAnn

Essential oils that support love, connection and faith:

rose, frankincense, Melissa, roman chamomile, sandalwood, spikenard, peace, Manuka, yarrow/pom, arise

You feel it. There is an inner being, an inner working, a compass- a core.  We know it when our intentions are misread and we feel sad. We feel it hurting when we are excluded, dismissed, unwanted or when our children or loved ones are in pain.

We know it when we are moved to act, to help, to give, and to love.

We know we are more than our body.

Yet, in this physical world, we are bombarded with images of perfection and fitness, the need to be liked and the dependence on others for our validation.  It is so normal to focus on our physical bodies, our material possessions and our popularity as a sign of success, strength or status. This picture was taken in a moment I felt body confidence and like I had pretty hair. It was only looking back at it that I realized the message of my image was deeper than the image itself.

What if we tune into the deeper world- instead of what is outside of ourselves for validation?

Meditation, fitness and personal development are vehicles to explore what really matters.

We can realize that being true to ourselves, accepting others in their wholeness, leading with love, and following our bliss are much more important than looking perfect, having thousands of followers or lining our closets with expensive shoes. 

The more we tune into that core and that voice inside, the more we see the light in our own lives and remember that this body and those materials are only temporary.

The judgement of others is meaningless. Our human side has a hard time letting it go and I am no different, but when we really get down to the heart of the matter- all that matters is living our truth with love and purpose.

The more we realize we don't have to get caught up in the darkness, the judgement, the muck and the mire of the world around us, the more brightly our light shines.

Today, I placed some frankincense, arborvitae, rose and Roman Chamomile in the diffuser. I listened to my personal development. I meditated and I did my workout. I strengthened my physical spirit and my emotional being- all in service to that inner light I hope to shine today.

Using my essential oils creates a deeper experience for me and it is one tool to connect with my truth, my light.

What tools do you use?

Love yourself today, regardless of the external. You are miraculous and a gift to the world.

Love,
LeeAnn

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Anxious? Depressed? Stressed? What do you do to help yourself or loved ones? Need a new idea or two? Try this.
The past months have been filled with excitement but also stress. Watching loved ones, family and friends navigate the remote learning, challenges and changes has been difficult. Many people are depressed, anxious, worried, and feel alone. 
It's been hard to maintain positive energy and I have a million strategies as a wellness coach and teacher. 
Recently, I discovered the power behind tapping and I was shocked to see how well it works. It was a method originally created by psychiatrists to support Vietnam Vets with their PTSD and has since been found effective with everyone as a way to unblock our energy and move into a new, more positive one. Try it. I'll show you how to do it in this video.
The other, is of course, my oils. I used a blend called, "Out of The Darkness" on someone I know and love who is battling depression. The oils have made a noticeable difference in this skeptic's mood and energy. It was made by Desiree Mangandog, a famous Chinese Medicine practicioner who found that essential oils, applied to the energetic centers can make a huge difference in physical and emotional well being.

Being cooped up during the winter and spring, I got into a bit of a rut with the boys. We weren't eager to venture out into the world with PK's asthma and COVID . We were running to sports where the set up is very controlled, but during the day, our adventures outward were  slim to say the least.

On Sunday, we decided to take a hike. As a family, we drove  out to a local mountain and found a place to park the car, the day was cool and misty, which offered a sort of comfort- the scorching heat wouldn't slow us down.

The closest trail happened to be labeled "very steep and rocky" which was cause for concern with my oldest being a bit injured from sports. His piriformis has been inflamed which causes pain in the sciatic nerve. BUT, as we started down the path, Phoenix lit up. "Let's keep going!" he said eagerly. We explored natural caves and views as we slowly descended and the rain increased a step.

Each moment, I was surprised to see how alive everyone felt- how excited and awake. It'd been a while and PK, especially, lit right up.

We kept the hike short so the boys felt successful and found ourselves at the sweet little Mountainside Cafe and Bakery. We ordered sandwiches with farm to table and freshly baked bread. We sipped chai lattes as the boys and Patty played catch.

It was a coming together moment- a short breath of fresh air. On our way home, we spoke about the experience and the week ahead. We made plans for more adventures. This was definitely a simple step in the right direction for the health of our family.

Sometimes, a new perspective is only a hike away. Don't forget the power of nature and movement.

Love,
LeeAnn

The rain outside the window is Heavenly. It envelopes the green leaves of my hibiscus and drips down to the vegetable garden below. Birds sing and chirp merrily. Finally, the worms will be easy to take, the soil is soft and yielding.  There is a slowness, a blanketing, from inside my quiet house, a calling and stirring inside my heart... yet there is also an ease- like the sensation of slipping into your softest pair of slippers but these are hugging your core.

I've been sifting through my soul- exploring the granules and looking for gems- the way an eager three year old with a plastic beach toy- searches for treasure. There have been rocks inside me- buried along my shores- pieces that merely exist now. They've been covered with years of sand and sea glass, taking up space in an uncomfortable way for some time- resisting the ocean waves.

Now, I explore them with curiosity. I'm ready to offer them forgiveness- for the harsh and hard experiences they brought me. For the pain they caused when hurtled at me- for the once insidiuos way they wounded and embedded in me- without permission and often unwarranted. I release the power of them now.

I know them now as a foundation- a moment of pain that created a ripple of learning. Like any memory of hurt- we can't give that memory away. BUT, we can release the hurt part we assigned to it. I cast the hurt away with a prayer of forgiveness. Forgiveness for the people who harmed me. Forgiveness and understanding- it wasn't about me at all anyway. I don't have to own that hurt anymore. I don't have to give it power.

Sifting through the soul is confusing and often too much feeling now and too little feeling then- sometimes skating on the surface when you want to dive deep but you just aren't ready. Sometimes it yields much information and, yet, it often answers, "wait". It is flying away and tethering down... always returning to the core. It can feel like your body is being whisked away and lifted by invisible fingers to the universe while your own-the fingers of one hand are anchored to  this Earth by a single blade of grass.

What am I sifting for? Guidance. Affirmation that I am aligned with my purpose that I am spending this blink of an eye in this body in the most impactful and positive way. Next steps- seeking out the places inside that long to heal and providing that light and space to do so. Love. Do I love and am I loved well? Worth. Seeking and finding that reminder that I am an integral part of this existence and evidence of our connection amidst so much division. I am a keeper of the light. I am a reminder of the hope. I am a part of the peace and an eager holder of the hands.

What I lack as a teacher of skills I more than make up for as a seeker and reflector of my student's beauty and strength. I can pull out a magnifying glass and show someone the diamonds in their beach that they didn't see as more than a lump in the sand. It's time to find mine now.

So much love and light,
LeeAnn

Some might call me a protective parent. We set up natural boundaries around things like swimming in a pool without adult supervision and we intervene when we hear the inevitable curse word or put down. Kids don't just come out of the womb knowing the rules around safety or what's ok and not ok to say out loud to other humans. We  nurture their kindness and call them on their behavior when it's unacceptable. Yet, we also might be pretty progressive when compared to others in the realm of conversations we are willing to have with them.

We have often talked to them about the big questions they have... and both of my boys are deep thinkers. Petey was obsessed with anatomy and physiology at such a young age that he used the gift card from his toddler teacher to buy his all time favorite book, "The Human Body Book" which brought out a whole host of questions about (mostly) the female reproductive system, coupled with some great talks about the pulmonary system which led to the refusal to eat "aveolis" (what he heard when I said, "raviolis").  Phoenix wanted to know who the first humans were and how many people have died in wars since the start of time around that age. We read early on the stories of freedom fighters and Phoenix designed wheel chair accessible ramps and elevators in case his grandma without a limb ever came to visit.

Now, it's racism. At bedtime, the talks start. In the car, the talks start. They wonder and they want to know. Truth is, I don't. I have my strong feelings that we all need to embrace one another, but I could never explain what life is like for a black American. I can tell you that I understand there are so many layers of oppression from the past and biases and imprisonments and such- that adversity by nature can increase your risk of violating laws and lead to more violence and greater percentages of your people in prison. Much of that adversity stemming from a fear and an intentional or inadvertant "holding people in their place". Between the military intentionally recruiting from lower income brackets and the flying in of illegal drugs, our world has certainly set up a metaphorical chutes and ladders with many more chutes for people of color.

But I don't know what it means because I couldn't. I'm a white girl. I am a caring white girl- but a white girl, no less. I have faced discrimination as a white woman married to another white woman. I know what it feels to be afraid you're rights will be stripped away or never issued at all. I remember the feeling for a full two years after we "illegally" wed with a large ceremony October- the month before it was legal to get a marriage certificate in MA. The year that every news channel showed images of gays and lesbians burning in the flames of Hell as protestors rallied to try to revoke the rights just issued in our state- I walked around with a bicycle chain in my gut- one that had shards of glass instead of metal links. Everyone had an opinion on the matter and talked openly about it- many forgot as I don't look the stereotypical lesbian- that I was there, listening.

So, at bedtime, many years later, I sit with my nine year old and my twelve year old and we read. We talk. Now, it's Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. The story, copyrighted in 2018, is about a 12 year old black boy named Jerome. He is bullied terribly in his inner city school and afraid of the drug dealers on the street, yet he is a "good boy" and loved by his popular sister and hard working poor family. He is shot and killed by a white police officer who thought a toy gun (which he would never normally carry and would be in great trouble if he did) was real. The story oscillates between chapters that are "Alive" or "Dead" and slowly tell the story about his family and community who grieve. Jerome is now a ghost and has formed an unlikely bond with the police officer's daughter who can see him and a mysterious second ghost boy- I'd tell you more, but I haven't gotten that far yet. The little girl poses questions to her father that cause him to question his own perception of the "man" he saw as dangerous... Jerome, who really is just twelve and the same height as the officer's daughter.

I don't know if I'm doing it right- and I am not entirely concerned about that. No one seems to have the answers or the path written out in neat, linear steps. I'm more concerned about staying open, curious and honest. I am more concerned about hearing the stories and re-writing the small part of the picture I can... that of mine and my family. I hope to inform my boys with a love for others and a deep trust in this inner compass- a trust so deep that when faced with the opportunity to oppress or to close a fist- they open their hand and reach out instead.

If that's all I can do right now, I am doing something important. I feel that in my heart.

Love,
LeeAnn

No genius ever grew in isolation.... or if one did... it would be very rare. It takes the combination of ideas to evolve. While it's easy to isolate and polarize, no one was ever opened to their bias in isolation of another who acted as a catalyst for that change. Do we bring change by separating... by withdrawing? Do we chose an "us or them" mentality... and look for people who will reflect back to us our own bias, our own opinion so we never have to grow and get uncomfortable?

Sometimes I want to tell others they are wrong as an idea is so fundamentally different than what I believe, and I'm not saying it's ok to stand idly by- especially in the face of oppression, human rights and racism. HOWEVER, I have to be willing to listen and to hear and to include others who are fundamentally different than I am. If we never get uncomfortable and cross into that "and" territory, we can not hear just as we won't be heard.

Our thinking is often This or That... Choose, choose. There is only one choice- love- and that one means that we open up to one another. We listen, we see the point of view and then we invite others to hear ours.  The only way to close a gap is to build a bridge.  The only way to change the darkness is to bring the light.

Let's get empowered together. Let's breathe through the discomfort. Let's find the common ground and use it to squash the fear that isolated us in the first place. Let's move away from polarization and toward unity.

Love,
LeeAnn

Sometimes it's the simple messages that we really need to hear. In times of transition or challenge or when someone asks you to do something you are uncomfortable with. Sometimes it's the moment when someone's opinion is loud and against your values and they seem to be seeking your approval or your agreement and you can't. It's the moments when you are deciding who are your closest friends and who you can trust- that you first have to trust your ideas and your heart. When we complete one goal and take time to celebrate the hard work and effort, the challenge we've overcome... when we put one foot in front of the other and decide to pursue something else... the moments we reflect and remember who we are and how important our single voice is to the world. Trust the miracle of YOU. Listen to your heart. Pursue your passions.  You deserve everything and more than you can dream up.
Love,
LeeAnn