Monthly Newsletter

Hope and Joy Reflecting on January, I find myself contemplating hope and joy—not the forced positivity kind, but the genuine aliveness that emerges when we open ourselves to what's here, even in harsh conditions. This month brought extreme cold and significant snowfall, the kind of winter that could easily feel oppressive. Yet within it, I discovered such profound beauty: in the snow-laden trees deep in the woods, in the unbridled joy of my dogs bounding through fresh powder,

Cherishing What's Here Reflecting back on December, I find myself contemplating presence—the practice of being fully here with what and who we have, right now. As the year draws to a close, it's so easy to leap ahead mentally: planning for 2026, worrying about tomorrow's to-do list, or putting off meaningful moments until some future time when everything "works out." But the future is never guaranteed, and the present is all we truly have. This month, I've been acutely aware

Gratitude for the Journey Reflecting on November, I find myself sitting with gratitude—not just for the good things, but for the entire journey, including the parts that brought real difficulty and pain. This kind of gratitude isn't about toxic positivity or pretending hardship wasn't hard. It's about recognizing that everything—the losses, the "failures," the detours—has shaped who I am today. Over the past year and a half, I've experienced profound loss—my brother in May 20

Trusting Our Instincts Reflecting back on October, I find myself contemplating instincts—that innate wisdom we carry but so often override with overthinking, external expectations, or the belief that empirical data alone should guide our choices. This month has reminded me of the importance of waking up to the natural world and recognizing our place in it, not as separate observers but as animals with our own instinctual intelligence. It's easy to look back at past decisions

Fall Harvest As September draws to a close and we move past the autumn equinox, I find myself reflecting on harvest—not just the literal gathering of what's been grown, but the deeper recognition of what we've cultivated throughout the year. Mabon, the pagan celebration of the fall equinox (thank you to my friend Louie for reintroducing me to this concept!), invites us to pause and acknowledge the abundance we've created, even as nature begins its release into dormancy. This

Managing Contradictions As August draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the art of managing contradictions—those moments when life presents us with seemingly opposing truths that we must hold simultaneously. This theme emerged powerfully from our recent women's group session, and this month has been full of such paradoxes. I'm learning that the goal isn't to resolve these contradictions but to dance skillfully with them. I experienced this recently when I learned I wo

Freedom As July draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on freedom—not just the kind we celebrate on Independence Day, but the deeper...

Standing Proud As June unfolds in its full summer glory, I find myself reflecting on the theme of pride—not just celebratory pride, but...

Openings As May draws to a close with its characteristic unpredictability in the weather, I find myself reflecting on the theme of...

Acceptance As April's persistent rains tap against our windows, I find myself drawn to the theme of acceptance. Perhaps it's because this...

The Death-Rebirth Cycle As March ushers in the first whispers of spring, I find myself drawn to the theme of the death-rebirth cycle....

Forgiveness. While love is often associated with February, forgiveness is the theme that kept circling me this month. Perhaps it’s...

Happy January, friends! If you’re new to my monthly-ish emails, welcome. If it’s been a while, you know me - I’m a bit inconsistent with...