The Symphony

While listening to music en route to UMass, bringing Ashley back for her last semester, I began to think about the conductor of a symphony and how carefully each part and player is chosen.  Once musicians are chosen for a part, much time is spent rehearsing the part over and over again until it is flawless.

Next comes the blending of the orchestra – parts, timing, crescendos and decrescendos, emphasis on one part over another, interpretation.  The list could certainly go on, but my point is made.  I then began to think about my work as a parent and clinician, sometimes both, as my girls have always asked me to be active and pro-active in their care.  It can be a delicate balance with how much involvement to have with patients and family alike.

I’ve generally toggled this space very well and what I’ve noticed as I’ve grown and matured, is that I no longer hold onto the outcome as I once did.  In my earlier years as a young healthcare professional, I was intent on healing the world and being right in my conclusions, often researching beyond my scope of practice (I still do the research-it’s part of me!).  I no longer need to be right, but instead, follow my intuition, stepping in when necessary and backing off as well.  In the end, I visualize the outcome being positive, then let it go, much like a baby bird in flight.

This new phase, wiser phase of life, feels so much more rewarding, as I am not caught up in my ego, but rather keeping with the intention of desiring the greatest good for all.

Older and wiser,

Julie

Red and Blue Make Green

What a week it has been - tension, excitement, trepidation, polarization - all wrapped up together.  As I observe the news, my friends, family and clients, I find myself able to maintain a feeling of calm, peace and knowing that we are all where we are supposed to be in this place and time of evolution.

During my astrology class this Fall, there was discussion about the rising of the divine feminine once again, moving away from the patriarchal  time in history.  Indeed, there is to be unrest, uprising, dissent and disagreement as the energy begins to shift.

I believe this is a time for new beginnings, for transformation and as most who know me would say that the glass half full rather than half empty.  I often pause to try to understand my opponent, to bridge the gap bringing both sides together, and my prayer and wish for this next four years remains the same.

As I listened to the commentary regarding the election, I was struck by the colors of the parties - red, Republican and blue, Democratic.  I began to think of the chakra colors and associated energies - red is root, fire, earthly energy and survival, and blue is between the 4th and 5th chakras with varied shades of blue regarding healing, communication and using intuition.  These energies seem on point with the goals of the respective parties, each providing necessary tools for living.

While exploring these meanings, I began to think about blending, bridging and voila, realized that when one mixes red and blue, the color green emerges.  Green is the color of the heart - the chakra that allows humans to feel love and give love to all.

Moving forth, my focus and intention will be on the color green and its association with love.  May you "be love" to all you meet.

In gratitude,
Julie

Connections: An NPR Discussion

I characterize myself as an NPR junkie and am often in the car, pulling out my pen and a scrap paper to scribble notes fueling my blog ideas.  Today was no exception.  I am passionate about education and learning, wanting to help my clients understand their unique learning styles and today, the discussion brought up key points that are so important for us all to embrace.

Education is moving in the direction of being more collaborative and experiential, but since traditions change slowly, most educational environments still measure achievement by how much book learning and memorization one retains. 

What was refreshing to hear is that younger folks have an immense amount of knowledge available at the click of the mouse and that the successful learner will know how to navigate the web, knowing that information is available on the subject that is being learned.  Another key point is that students (and that refers to us all) must rely on others’ expertise in some areas, lending to a more collaborative way of learning.  This collaborative approach will facilitate more connection and as humans, connection is key for survival on each level-mind, body and spirit.

The emphasis of today’s discussion was on the 4 P’s:

Passion – find something you are passionate about to learn

Project – create a project in order to learn about the discipline

Peers – work with your peers – more ideas, different points of view

Play – use your imagination and don’t get hung up on perfection – it will thwart the creativity

As always, my hope is to inspire others to find ways to feel good about themselves.  I hope this blog does just that!

With love,

Julie

New Year's Eve - A Reflective Eve

I was invited to a service in my complex this evening - in fact the Ward Room is where Lindsay and Scott were married just four months ago.  I have not been there since that beautiful day in August, but the view of the harbor is still breath-taking and the memories, endearing.

The invitation intrigued me as the service was to be offered by a Sufi minister, representing the unity of various religious and spiritual traditions.  The concept of unification is so much a part of my life in many aspects - I strive to bring together various ways of thinking, being and living, with the intention of creating and spreading peace and harmony.

The service was lovely and I felt badly that I needed to leave before it ended because my next event is a satsang at a local yoga studio.  We will practice yoga by candlelight, chant and meditate as one.  I am so excited to share in this tradition as well because the postures, readings and reflections always touch a part of my life that either needs cleansing, uplifting or healing, AND, it offers me opportunity to share these teachings with my followers.

As I dawn my yoga pants, I feel blessed for the many gifts in my life and grateful for the grace to accept challenges with an open heart.

I wish you all a peace-filled New Year, one that offers bright new beginnings.

With love,
Julie

Christmas Blessings

Christmas 2016 is a different, yet blessing filled season.  For many years, our family had a strong tradition - my girls and I sang the two Christmas Eve masses at our church, then we filled the car with presents, our dog and for some years, our hamster - singing carols all the way to Gram and Gramp's home in the woods.  When we arrived, they had chinese food ready for the hungry singers!  It became a staple to enjoy chinese food since it was the one cuisine that was open and often quite busy on Christmas Eve.

Over the past few years, things have changed - I was ill, then Mom, then Mom passed away, now Linds and Scott married and there has been illness in the family.  Yet with these life experiences, one thing has remained strong - love for one another and understanding the true meaning of Christmas.  As the Grinch so eloquently states, Christmas does come packaged up with boxes and bows, yet the heart and spirit are what the true meaning is all about.  (we watch the Grinch every season)

Since my Dad can no longer drive distances, we traveled out a week ago to bring his gifts and to surprise him with a sing-along at the retirement home that he will eventually move into.  It brought back memories to my Dad for when he played Santa and I would sing and play guitar with my best friend, Jeanne.  We have been doing this since middle school - boy am I getting old!

On Christmas Eve, Ashley and I sang with our choir in Marblehead - it felt so good to sing songs of joy, peace and love.  Fr Steele, our new pastor, talked about how Pope Francis celebrated his 80th birthday this week and he hosted breakfast and lunch for the poor and homeless in Rome.  His homily reflected upon how we can exemplify the meaning of the birth of Jesus by giving of ourselves.

As was already in our plan, Ashley and I went on Christmas morning to a local American Legion to help pack up meals for the poor.  While there, we met such a warm and loving group of people - young and old, all together to celebrate bringing joy to those less fortunate.  We left there feeling so good.  The day was bright, sunny and crisp.  I took her to Singing Beach, a magnificent golden nugget on the northshore.  There were many people there with their dogs frolicking along the sand.  We walked and talked and Ashley did some yoga poses on the rocks.  It was fun and refreshing.

When we arrived home, we made homemade chinese food.  We chopped, sliced, diced and whisked together amazing flavors and I was able to share my cooking skills with her - something that is so near and dear to my heart.  Feeding others with love is something I learned as a young child, standing on the chair when little, helping Mom in the kitchen.  I went on to continue with my interest in food, thanking my college education for the influence of home economics in the delivery of nutrition services.  Feeding the body is akin to feeding the soul.

Today is Monday and we have the opportunity to repeat celebration with Linds and Scott.  We will share another family traditional meal and share the love that we all have for one another.

While the Christmas season does not end until January 6, my season will continue throughout the year - feeding the bodies, minds and souls of those I encounter.

Wishing you all the blessings of the season,
Julie

Joy

The word keeps ringing in my ears and is all around in my listening, my singing, my sight.  As I lay on my yoga mat last week, feeling the pain of family distress, most of it out of my control, I heard the words "Joy" repeated as my yoga mentors read from various texts.

I then listened to the gospel and homily at church and was again reminded of how Jesus stated, "That my joy be with you and your joy be complete".  It felt so reassuring, so timely and while life has been challenging over these past few weeks, deep inside I have been able to trust, to remind myself to "Let Go and Let God."

It has not always been this way and I can fall into old patterns of wanting to fix things, to rescue others from their pain and yet, my mentors have provided me with tools that I have been practicing over and over again, now to test and take flight.

In fact, I used this analogy with my family member - think of a tiny, baby bird, ready to take its first flight.  There is fear, there is likely a few falls, but with practice, the bird does indeed take flight.

It is innate for all living beings to heal, to move towards wholeness, to be held by God, spirit or however we call this miraculous support.  For me, this brings Joy.

May you find, peace, joy and love as we enter the final days of a holy season or just the end of a year.

With love,
Julie

Wishing All Well With No Attachment

How difficult that can be at times! I've been on a roll with the TUT reminders during these past few weeks.  I find it sometimes uncanny how the themes are just what I am needing to look at or possibly transform in my own life or it is a theme of the week with my clients.

" In all things, Julie, always and forever, simply wish the best for all involved, without stating what you think that is.
And then, whatever does happen, no matter what happens, know that it was.  All the best, The Universe"

We are coming upon a major holiday where gratitude for what we have and for those in our lives is to be celebrated.  Thanksgiving is the start of a month-long string of opportunities - spiritual holidays and the New Year.  Beyond that, we will have a new president with an unknown approach to leading our country.

It is part of the human condition to think and feel that one knows best, but do we really?  Knowing is an interesting word because it appears to be an absolute, yet it is important to recognize that in this vastness of knowing, there is the arena of what we don't know!  Wow - what a tongue twister.  My point here is that in life, circumstances occur that we may label as good or bad and yet, we do not know definitively if this is the case.

When I look over my life, the beautiful and the challenging experiences, I accept and embrace them all, seeing now how they played out beautifully for my own growth and development as a spiritual being.  I used to joke with my friends and family that if I had looked in my crystal ball back in my 20's, I'm not sure that I would have signed up!  Then, I state, I'd have it no other way.  It has been through joy and pain, that my heart has grown in compassion.

As we come upon the holiday season, I'll recite a phrase from "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" - "And his heart grew three sizes that day".
Amen