The Nature of Joy, Part II: Compassion

Compassion is to joy as as air is to life.
On a spiritual and emotional level, I stumbled and fell last weekend. The preceding week offered many challenges, not the least of which was my partner’s possible job loss as part of a sweeping layoff at his company. After getting the news Friday that he’d still have a [...]

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The Nature of Joy, Part I

These thoughts are not revolutionary; many who’ve gone before have spoken or written these words. In my case however, knowing these truths and experiencing them have been two entirely different things until very recently. The true meaning of joy is becoming less a mystery to me with each passing day.
If this sounds profound, I believe it is. If this sounds haughty, know that I [...]

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Bitches and Dark Chocolate

Last weekend I flew home to spend some time with my mom. It was an early flight, so I decided to get some coffee from a stand belonging to local chocolatier Dilettante on my way to the gate. I wasn’t really in the mood for something sweet, but it sounded better than that other place. (Bitter coffee is only suitable [...]

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Natural and Cruelty-Free Grooming: My Top 10

Grooming is a ritual I’ve always enjoyed because it quiets my mind and relaxes my body. Do you get flashes of insight while brushing your teeth or washing your hair, too?
In no particular order, here are my 10 favorite natural grooming products. Each is made from natural ingredients that aren’t tested on animals.
 
Kiss My Face Moisture Shave, Cool Mint (left) – This [...]

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Seven Random Facts About Me

I was tagged by Stuart Delony to participate in the following exercise in self-disclosure.
1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
Seven Facts About Me

I crave change and adventure, [...]

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My Book List

Inspired by Stuart’s post over at the ramblings, I decided to give this a go.
01. One book that changed your life
Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation by Sanaya Roman
02. One book that you’ve read more than once (I can’t pick just one…)
Love and Awakening: Discovering the Sacred Path of Intimate Relationship by John [...]

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Understanding Panentheism

While reading Wicca’s Charm, a Christian commentary on Wicca, I came across a term I hadn’t encountered before: panentheism. I decided to visit Technorati to see what other bloggers had written on the topic. Of the posts I read, this one seemed to offer the best explanation of the term. Its author compared and contrasted it with another term it’s apparently often mistaken for, pantheism. [...]

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The More You Know: Defining “Queer”

Did that word make you wince? It still causes me to twinge slightly when I read or say it. However because I recognize the importance of reclaiming this word in an effort to diminish its negative connotation, I offer the following. (This originally appeared in the post “Meeting Hecate.” I’m establishing it as a stand-alone post because [...]

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On Getting a Psychic Reading

Perhaps you’ve been curious what one of these “fortune tellers” would tell you about your life, your relationship, or your career, but are unsure how the process works. If so, this uncertainty is probably tied to one or more of the following questions.

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The seduction of judgment

Edit off.
Emotions are high…recently I’ve had bouts of anxiety rooted in uncertainty. Uncertainty about who I am and where I’m going. The last time I felt like this was when I was 19 and struggling with if and how to tell my parents I’m gay.
There aren’t many people…only one actually…I trust enough to ask for [...]

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