I recently spent three magnificent weeks on the island of Corfu in Greece, sinking into my hips alongside 50 women from around the world, diving into the depths of the feminine spiritual practice that is Awakening Women.

Needless to say, by the end of it, I was–and still am–glowing, overflowing with gratitude, on my knees with devotion and appreciation for the mystery that breathes me, for the magical life I get to live. ?Awakened to new insights and wisdoms sourced within my own body. ?Expansive. ?Free.

Afterwards, I packed my bags with a sense of excitement, ready to come home and integrate the abundant lessons of my journey. ?On my last day, I jumped out of bed, did my yoga practice, checked my flight information–and realized my flight had been scheduled for the night before. ?Saturday, July 13. ?It was Sunday the 14th. ?Oops. Read More

A seed is planted in a bed of soil.

If that seed were to wait until the conditions of its environment were perfect in order to sprout, we would have no food and no plants on this earth.

If the birds were to hold back their morning song, waiting for the perfect morning to sing, they would be mute.

If the sun were to wait for the perfect day to rise, we would spend our entire lives in darkness. ?That is, if we would still be alive.

If Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. or The Beatles waited until they were perfect to give their gifts of song and service to the world, where would we be today? Read More

There is an old children’s book called “Are You My Mother?” in which a newborn chick travels far and wide, asking everyone she meets, “Are you my mother?”

We seem to do the same. ?We spend most of our lives outside of relationship as this newborn chick, wandering from man to man or woman to woman, asking “Are you my beloved?” ?”Are you the one?”

We never actually speak the question out loud when we meet someone, yet it is apparent in our every gesture, in the look in our eyes, in the endless longing that creeps out from our subconscious and brings us to laugh at jokes that aren’t funny or steal glances around the room when we aren’t feeling satisfied.

Are you my beloved?

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Guest Blog and Documentary by Katalin Koda

In September of 2012, I married myself.

I know, I know, you?re probably rolling your eyes at the idea?self-marriage??Is it narcissism at its best, or what?

You may even be affronted by the idea.

Marry yourself? Is this a mockery?

Certainly it is provocative, and kind of crazy sounding. I first heard of the idea of self-marriage when I moved to the Big Island in 2008. A new friend I met at Kirtan?a devotional chanting group?invited me to her wedding with herself. I have to admit, I was simultaneously intrigued and mystified.

As a ceremonialist, one who adores ceremony and putting intention into sacred art forms, I thought it was fascinating that she wanted to say vows to herself. The wedding was quite beautiful and together with friends we celebrated not only our friend saying her personal vows and her commitment to self-love, but also each other in a ceremonial setting.

I didn?t feel moved to wed myself until a few years later. My husband and I were going through an incredibly challenging time. Somewhere in the midst of weeks of arguing and immense emotional pain, I heard the words, clear as a bell,??I need to marry my self.? Read More

You’re so emotional.

Don’t cry.

Be strong. ?

Don’t let it get to you.

You’re too sensitive.

These are the ABCs of too many of our childhoods.

As a child, I slowly learned not to cry in the classroom, or in public, or anywhere I could be seen or heard. ?Over time, I learned to save my tears for the sweet aloneness of my bedroom (in second-place was the school bathroom). ?There, I secretly prayed I would be–but never was–interrupted.

Moments of locked doors and leaky eyes–supplemented with Disney movies that taught me a prince would someday rescue me–did not set me up well for success. Read More

Heartbreak is the best thing that ever happened to me.

I wouldn’t have said this two years ago. ?In fact, if you would have told me then, “You will someday be grateful for your broken heart,” I would have laughed (or more likely cried) in your face.

But I say it now:?Thank you, dear heart, for being strong enough to fall apart. ?Thank you, heart, for the precious gift of your breaking.

Like many, I once fell deeply in love. ?I was so in love, the colors of the leaves on the trees turned brighter. ?So in love, I could hardly keep up with my mind’s rampant fantasies. ?So in love, fireworks went off in me every time I held his hand. ?And, as is the way with gravity, the fireworks between us ran their course and eventually came crashing down, leaving me dazed and heartbroken with a thousand questions left unanswered.

And let me tell you, the heartbreak that followed was like no other pain I’ve ever experienced. ?My broken heart was like a volcano: due for eruption at any moment, with periods of peace and stillness inbetween. ?Rather than some consistent immersion in despair and longing, I was surprised by the sudden, unpredictable way that sorrow wove in and out of my life.??A mysterious, almost beautiful darkness enveloped me completely, yes–and there was still plenty of space in me for light and laughter. ?A thick fog hovered over me, yet revealed in windy bursts the brilliant sun, made even more magnificent with the contrast. ?The dark periods were incredibly dark and at times unbearable, and they surprised me when they would suddenly pass. Read More

Two weeks ago, I returned from a wild 2-month journey in India. ?Inside the Mother. ?Inside myself.

A land where boxed-in concepts of western reality do not apply. ?Where the spiritual and the corrupt, the sacred and the profane dwell so closely together you would think they are one. ?Where the mixed fragrance of incense, jasmine flowers, mantras, pollution, and cow dung lingers around every corner.

Land of big hearts and hardened feet, of extreme poverty and inner wealth.

Where love and chai know no separation.

India blessed me with the chance to surrender myself completely–

In this time of social, political, environmental, spiritual and global change, we revere the great men and women who have given their lives for the betterment of the world. ?Those who have stood for human rights: Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Cesar Chavez, and Desmond Tutu, to name a few. ?Those who model for us total love and total compassion: Jesus, Moses, Mother Mary, Buddha, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Kwan Yin, and Tara. ?Those who reflect the truth of our interconnection: Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Rumi, Hafiz. ?And all those who go unrecognized, making choices every day to serve a better, more awakened world.

We revere these beings because they share a deep commitment to love, truth, and justice. ?

We look to them as examples because they model the principles of the Bodhisattva.

A Bodhisattva is someone who devotes his or her life to the liberation of all sentient beings from suffering, that they may realize their full potential of enlightenment and total love. ?A Bodhisattva can be an enlightened being, a being whose essence is enlightenment, or a being who is committed to enlightenment.

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