Sophia Bonnie Wodin

Flowing from head through heart, manifested in our thoughts and actions, gratitude impacts every aspect of our lives.   This is a big statement, but one that I live by. Years ago, during a time of personal stress and upheaval, a friend offered me this mantra.   “I am so very grateful for absolutely everything.   I have no regrets what so ever!”   I thought she was crazy.   And said so.     She affirmed that it was essential to work with the mantra exactly as it was offered; part of its effectiveness being the ludicrously superlative language, ‘absolutely everything’ and ‘NO regrets what so ever’ .   We practiced chanting the mantra together.   Eventually the ridiculousness of the statements got to me and I sort of snorted. Soon I giggled.   And then laughed.    She joined my laughter saying, “it really does work, doesn’t it?” And then I got it.   The statement helped me reach beyond my current reality ...

Some of you know that for many years I had a career as a landscape designer.   Gardening is in my blood.   Even here in the city we grow extensive gardens, producing as much of our own fruits and vegetables as we can.   And, of course, we welcome many wonderful flowers.   Recently, a student who was just completing the Priestessing Your Life training said to me, “You’re a gardener of souls.   Yes, that’s what you are now, a gardener of souls.” And so I stopped to think about it. And I thought, isn’t that what we all do?   As we live our lives, we tend our souls.   When we do our daily practices, whatever they are, however they look, we tend our souls. When we seek to know our deepest desires, we tend our souls. When we work to manifest those desires, we tend our souls. When we create intentions for our personal or community unfolding, we tend our souls. When we consider the ethics underlying our thoughts and actions, we ten...

We say that every ending has a new beginning.   And I believe that to be true.   But I am not sure that the portal between ending and beginning is always a quick step-through.   Sometimes we are in that Between space for a while before we are over the threshold and into tomorrow. This time between Samhain and Winter Solstice is such a time.   We are in the Underground. Having been received by Persephone, we may feel a sense of peace, of fulfillment or spaciousness until the cycle of rebirth propels us back into the light.   Here in the dark time, we have the opportunity wait.   We can settle in relieved by the peace that patience may bring. Of course, our outer lives continue apace.   We go to work, care for our selves and our families, prepare for the coming cold and snow.   And, of course, we get ready to celebrate the winter holiday season in keeping with our traditions.   But in some quiet corner of our bellies, hearts a...