Living With Spirit Blog

Jun 17, "Twinkling, magical, beautiful, light-filled stardust!”

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:52:57 -0400

“Our physical presence is a spiritually directed conglomeration of a hodgepodge of chemicals, and the end result is that we're beings made up of the same stuff that makes up the stars. We're made up of stardust. That's right, the stuff of dreams—twinkling, magical, beautiful, light-filled stardust!” ~Wayne Dyer

Jun 17, Stunning time lapse video of the starry night sky

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:52:57 -0400

"Hierbas Buenas" Valley Petroglyphs (Night Time Lapse Movie) from Stéphane Guisard on Vimeo.

Jun 16, Heartwarming quote from "Zen and the Art of Knitting"

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 03:58:27 -0400

This quote from "Zen and the Art of Knitting ~ Exploring the Links Between Knitting, Spirituality, and Creativity" by Bernadette Murphy, has me reaching for my bag of wool and knitting needles ..

Jun 4, What is your solitary pleasure?

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 22:55:25 -0400

Some days the thought of making the leap from frantically busy to deeply contemplative just seems too much. What we really need in those times is an activity that falls somewhere in between. This is where pleasure comes into play. Not the gregarious kind of pleasure that takes us far outside ourselves and into the company of others but the solitary kind of pleasure that leads us within. Without us even trying. This kind of pleasure is all about devoted attentiveness to the task at hand. The lifting of a wine glass to our lips. The smoothing of sensual oils into our warm skin. The pressing and pulling of a tapestry needle through canvas. The gentle sifting of flour and spices into an earthen bowl. Any act of pleasure that brings us gently into the present moment. For me, photography is one such pleasure. The hours I spend alone in my garden with my camera are NOW times. There is no past or future in my garden at those times. I wonder. What is your solitary pleasure?

May 19, Setting SMART goals ~ Deepak Chopra

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:16:22 -0400

May 17, The peaceful sound of wind chimes ..

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:43:58 -0400

May 17, "The morning wind spreads its fresh smell." ~Rumi

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:43:58 -0400

“The morning wind spreads its fresh smell. We must get up and take that in, that wind that lets us live. Breathe before it's gone.” ~Rumi

Apr 17, Happiness Tip #9 ~ Look closely at a flower

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:40:37 -0400

Apr 17, Ten tiny tips for happiness

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:40:37 -0400

My mother keeps these words in a small silver frame on her dresser. She lives by them on a day to day basis and I am sure that is why her eyes sparkle with such irrepressible spirit at 86 years of age! 1) Think that good things will happen 2) Express gratitude to a loved one 3) Put your gripes away in a box 4) Be patient with an annoying person 5) Do something special for yourself 6) Reach out to someone who needs comfort 7) Focus deeply on each moment 8) Learn from a mistake 9) Look closely at a tree or a flower 10) Smile!

Apr 14, Songs for the joyful spirit

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:35:51 -0400

Apr 14, A beautiful collection of spiritual quotes

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:35:51 -0400

"Beyond the mind, at the deepest level of consciousnesss, resides the spirit. This is the part of us that is eternal, unchanging, and imbued with pure unlimited potential. Tapping into this potential is what enables us to manifest miracles" ~Deepak Chopra

Apr 12, Beautiful inspiring quotes on the power of solitude

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:01:14 -0400

"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up." -Pearl Buck

Apr 12, What is your solitary pleasure?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:58:22 -0400

Apr 5, There is a magic about you that is all your own

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 20:06:47 -0400

Apr 5, How to connect with spirit in the middle of your busy day

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 06:26:06 -0400

How do you connect with your spirit in the middle of a busy day? Look for things that make you say WOW! Look for things that send you into fits of giggles or loud belly laughs! Look for things that make your eyes sparkle or that fill your heart with love. Look for things that move you or inspire you or delight you or arouse you or fill you with peace and THERE – there you have found your spirit! Why? Because ~ Your spirit IS Joy Your spirit IS love Your spirit IS compassion Your spirit IS inspiration Your spirit IS sensuality Your spirit IS creativity Your spirit IS laughter Your spirit IS peace Your spirit IS beauty Your spirit IS wonder

Apr 4, The reconciliation of mind and spirit: quantum physics and spirituality

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 06:18:08 -0400

It seems to me that from a spiritual viewpoint we have a lot to gain by an understanding of quantum physics. The heart and spirit have long been familiar with The Great Beyond but reason and the rational mind have never quite got it and the end result of that for many in the western world has been a disturbing sense of disconnect between the mind and spirit.

Apr 4, A collection of inspirational quotes on finding your purpose in life

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 06:12:29 -0400

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake...” -Francis Bacon, Sr.

Mar 28, Give a one word meditation a try

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:13:43 -0400

A simple exercise for relaxation and calm is to gently and slowly repeat a single word as a meditation. As you repeat to yourself your chosen word, pay attention to the gaps between saying the word and perhaps widen the gaps progressively. Observe your breath at the same time either in the gaps or constantly. Using a single word helps focus your mind and nurture calm. Short positive words, especially those with one syllable, work nicely, although you could also use short phrases. This meditation works well because it helps you reduce your thoughts down to a single word. With practice the gaps between saying your chosen word can grow and therefore help you quieten your incessant thinking. The beauty of this technique is that you can feel calm and relaxed anywhere by taking a few moments out to compose yourself. Hundreds of opportunities arise throughout the day to explore a one word meditation. Waiting in queues, prior to appointments, on the telephone, during a journey – infinite occasions when you look closer. You can also practice this simple meditation during chores. Give the one word meditation a try and see how simple it is to feel calm and relaxed. -Blog Post by Paul Foreman of http://www.mindmapinspiration.com

Mar 25, Solitude: the Joy of Being Alone

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:12:31 -0400

Plan on talking to God in your alone times, even if talking to God is not something you've ever done. There's no need for any sense of distance. Just chat to the silence in the room about how you feel. Ask questions of the silence. Ask for guidance. Trust me – it will answer. Maybe not straight away but it will answer. Brother David Steindl-Rast talks of the wisdom that rises out of the great silence. That wisdom is there for all of us. No exceptions! ...

Mar 25, Nature is the art of God

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:12:31 -0400

Mar 25, Beautiful inspiring quotes on the power of solitude

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:43:51 -0400

"The great omission in American life is solitude; not loneliness, for this is an alienation that thrives most in the midst of crowds, but that zone of time and space, free from the outside pressures, which is the incubator of the spirit." -Marya Mannes

Mar 23, "Every dew-drop and rain-drop had a whole heaven within it"

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:47:16 -0400

Mar 23, Observing nature enlivens the spirit

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:29:58 -0400

The lessons I've learned from dewdrops ..

Mar 21, Being guided by spirit is like following a trail of breadcrumbs ..

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:56:08 -0400

Being guided by spirit is like following a trail of breadcrumbs, each one leading to the next and then to the next ..

Mar 20, The origins and benefits of Gregorian chant

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:49:22 -0400

In the 1960s a group of monks in the South of France developed a melancholy that no one could explain. Dr. Alfred Tomatis, called in to investigate this, found seventy of the ninety monks "slumped in their cells like wet dish rags" ..

Mar 20, Sacred moments in our everyday lives: Gregorian chant

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:49:22 -0400

Our daily routines here – here in the Western world at least – ignore our deep human need for closeness with spirit. Setting aside quiet time to listen to Gregorian chant will allow you those moments of closeness and brings a much needed revitalisation in mind body and spirit.

Mar 13, A selection of inspirational quotes on the power of gratitude

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:52:53 -0400

"What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life." -Oprah Winfrey

Mar 13, "Give a Little Love" ~ Noah and the Whale

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:52:53 -0400

Mar 10, Beautiful inspiring quotes on the power of silence

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 04:37:41 -0400

"Silence is the root of everything. If you spiral into its void a hundred voices will thunder messages you long to hear." -Rumi

Mar 5, Three Keys to Finding Your Life Purpose

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 14:44:39 -0500

"Each of us is an unparalleled idea whose time had come: We didn't manifest to be the same as each other, but to be like God and express ourselves as we agreed to when we merged into physical form.” -Wayne Dyer

Mar 5, A collection of inspiring quotes on finding your life purpose ~ Page One

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 14:44:39 -0500

"When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else." -Joseph Campbell

Mar 4, The Mindful ART of Thich Nhat Hanh - Calligraphic Meditation

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 14:15:22 -0500

Mar 3, Thich Nhat Hanh on how we can bring about peace in the world

Sun, 3 Mar 2013 17:58:33 -0500

"Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace.It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Mar 3, Looking at the world through the eyes of your heart

Sun, 3 Mar 2013 17:58:33 -0500

Mar 2, Thich Nhat Hanh ~ "At the moment of waking up"

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 20:52:51 -0500

"At the moment of waking up,
before getting out of bed,
get in touch with your breath,
feel the various sensations in your body,
note any thoughts and feeling that maybe present,
let mindfulness touch this moment,
Can you feel your breath?
Can you perceive the dawning of each in breath?
Can you enjoy the feeling of the breath freely
entering your body in this moment?
“Breathe in I smile,
breathe out I calm my body,
dwelling in the present moment,
it is a wonderful moment.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Feb 15, An inspirational collection of quotes on simplicity and frugal living

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:20:35 -0500

“How simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. . . . All that is required to feel that here and now is happiness is a simple, frugal heart.” -Nikos Kazantzakis

Feb 12, Finding purpose in life ~ Dalai Lama

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:51:54 -0500

Feb 12, A selection of inspirational destiny quotes

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:51:54 -0500

"You are the master of your destiny...the prediction of your horoscope; you are the leader of your day...the light of your life." -Yogi Bhajan

Feb 8, A collection of inspirational quotes from Rumi

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:33:50 -0500

“You wander from room to room Hunting for the diamond necklace That is already around your neck!” -Rumi

Feb 6, What life has taught me about the joy of frugal living

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 14:30:19 -0500

I realised I had also lost touch with the spirit of my stuff. Over time I came to see that the less stuff we have the more vivid and satisfying is our relationship with the things we do have.

Feb 6, Frugal living tips

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 14:30:19 -0500

... a list of frugal living tips that I choose to live by because they lessen my chances of catching the conspicuous consumption bug ~ and all the stuff and clutter that comes with it!

Feb 5, Take time to be alone today ..

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 15:26:04 -0500

Feb 5, What is your solitary pleasure?

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 15:26:04 -0500

Jan 30, A collection of inspiring quotes on science and spirituality

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:54:14 -0500

"I truly believe that only when Spirit and Science are reunited will we be afforded the means to a better world.” -Dr Bruce Lipton 'The Biology Of Belief'

Jan 30, The secret to thriving beyond 2012 ~ Gregg Braden's Fractal Time

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:54:14 -0500

The secret to thriving, and to finding 'our true path', at an individual level during the greatest changes in the history of humankind comes down to our connection to spirit and the practices we choose to follow in our everyday lives ..

Jan 29, How to Cook Your Life ~ Zen chef Edward Espe Brown

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:55:57 -0500

"When you're cooking you're not just cooking . You're not just working on food. You're also working on yourself. You're also working on other people" -Zen chef Edward Espe Brown

Jan 22, Beautiful inspiring quotes on the power of silence

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:44:14 -0500

"Silence is the root of everything. If you spiral into its void a hundred voices will thunder messages you long to hear." -Rumi

Jan 22, Eckhart Tolle on noticing the silence

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:44:14 -0500

Jan 21, A new collection of dream quotes ~ chosen to inspire!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:17:23 -0500

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." -Harriet Tubman

Jan 20, Manifest Your Destiny Part 1 Wayne W. Dyer

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:45:10 -0500

Jan 20, A collection of inspiring quotes on finding your destiny

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:45:10 -0500

"For me at this time in my life I recognize that everything is about moving closer to that which is God. And without a full, spiritual center — and I am not talking about religion, I am talking about without understanding the fullness from which you’ve come you can’t really fulfill your supreme moment of destiny…." -Oprah Winfrey

Jan 19, Heartwarming quote from "Zen and the Art of Knitting"

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 16:01:45 -0500

This quote from "Zen and the Art of Knitting ~ Exploring the Links Between Knitting, Spirituality, and Creativity" by Bernadette Murphy, has me reaching for my bag of wool and knitting needles ..

Jan 18, Setting SMART goals ~ Deepak Chopra

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:14:00 -0500

Jan 17, "The morning wind spreads its fresh smell." ~Rumi

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:30:25 -0500

“The morning wind spreads its fresh smell. We must get up and take that in, that wind that lets us live. Breathe before it's gone.” ~Rumi

Jan 17, The peaceful sound of wind chimes ..

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:30:25 -0500

Jan 17, The winds of grace blow all the time ..

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:30:25 -0500