Many holidays, all celebrating the Divine in us
Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Chalica, Boxing Day, Yule, Bodhi Day ...Yes, December is full of holidays and the list above is only partial. In Christian societies Christmas is well known and widespread....
View ArticleGive yourself the gift of inner peace
The article below was published on Christmas Eve 2008 as a guest opinion. It was the beginning of the Inner Peace column. George W. Bush ("43") was president at the time. Here is the article, updated...
View ArticleA walking meditation in Spain
Years in the makingmy path to Finisterreunfolds step by stepUnstructured spiritual paths, meandering as they tend to be, often prove most meaningful for many of us as we flee the strictures of...
View ArticleInner Peace: The Means Determine the End
“The end justifies the means” is a phrase attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) from "The Prince." He may not have said exactly these words, but he would have endorsed the meaning, defined this...
View ArticleKeep the voices of 'me too' ablaze for cultural change
The wake of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual allegations birthed a worldwide movement. Victims of sexual assault are speaking out. It is as if this "me too" has arisen from the deep belly of the Earth in a...
View ArticleThe woman in the blue coat (Part 1)
Certainly there isn’t a soul in Ashland who would have wanted Tasha (not her real name), a 42-year-old woman with a developmentally delayed disability, to be on our streets on her own during the recent...
View ArticleThe woman in the blue coat (Part 2)
(Continued from Part 1, Jan. 27, A4)I asked Tasha if I could give her a ride to the Starbucks inside of Safeway. It was 7:15 a.m. The Ashland Resource Center, physically located next to Safeway, opened...
View ArticleLove is calling — Will you pick up?
Love is calling. It is a pure omnipresent and omnipotent love. A love so rich, divine and pure; a love you can trust; a love that is unconditional. This love nurtures and pampers you. It accepts who...
View ArticleBeethoven: The creative genius in everyone
Among other famous winter birthdays we find Ludwig von Beethoven. Even if you don't love his music, it is undeniable that the man gave the world a great gift — soaring music in so many different genres...
View ArticleA life lesson in acceptance of negativity
The mediocre teacher tells.The good teacher explains.The superior teacher demonstrates.The great teacher inspires.— William Arthur Ward I was a freshman at the University of Delaware in 1954, where...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: A vote against the recall
Residents upset with Ashland Senior Center management decisions are attempting to gather 1,556 signatures from registered voters to recall three Parks and Recreation commissioners. Having background...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Thank you, Ashland
I want to publicly thank my community for all the support my family and I have received over the nine years have served on the Ashland City Council. At this past council meeting, I formally stepped...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Voting no is important
I simply do not think it is the way we treat people in Ashland. Never has been, never will be.The three people who are under the threat of recall are all good people, public servants who have stepped...
View ArticleAging Happens: How are your loved ones doing?
If you’re visiting friends or family this holiday season, you might notice that some things have changed. No surprise there, but when these changes have implications about a person’s well-being, it’s a...
View ArticleAging Happens: Three options for 'prepare to care'
My back “went out” recently. I’ve had back problems over many years, so I’m familiar with this painful event. I’ve addressed this condition through various medical and complementary approaches...
View ArticleAging Happens: All you need to know about falls
If I told you this was going to be another column about falling and fall risks, would you stop right here and skip it? In spite of all the information that’s out there on this topic, it’s still a heavy...
View ArticleFive ways hypnosis can help our minds
Most people have some understanding about hypnosis and mindfulness. But you might not realize all the benefits of these two modalities as aging happens. If I told you to think about hypnosis, would you...
View ArticleInner Peace: Appreciation is all you need
Appreciation is the is the magic formula you’ve been seeking.— AbrahamAs people walk down their spiritual path they run into many diverse spiritual tools, each with its own specific purpose. Some of...
View ArticleAccepting what is, even after a tragedy
Two hundred million people were killed in World War II, 53,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands Vietnamese died in Vietnam, nearly 3,000 American were killed in the 2011 9/11 attacks and now 58 have...
View ArticleFrom dehumanizing to rehumanizing
“There is a line. It’s etched from dignity. And raging, fearful people from the Right and Left are crossing it everyday. We must never tolerate dehumanization … When we engage in dehumanizing rhetoric...
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