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Volume 6, Issue 1 | January 2017
 

Happy 2017!
It is clear to me that this year will be like no other - not that any one year, or even day ever is. Especially for those of us living in these here United States, there's a lot of action coming from the Oval Office - and it's spurring me on in various ways...
 
I'm reminding myself repeatedly that whatever goes on in the outer world is (1) a reflection of the inner world, and (2) an opportunity for me to be introspective, rise in consciousness, practice forgiveness, practice keeping my peace, etc. I'm getting quite a workout - and the new president has been in office only about one week! I am striving to not remain in the physical muck, but to view things from a metaphysical perspective, to see the deeper reasons and the plan behind what is happening. I am taking extra pains to learn and remain open to different perspectives, then form an opinion, and endeavor to remain respectful and calm.
 
As much as I would like to totally focus inwardly, I AM in a body and must deal with the physical world and what goes on - at least to some extent. There IS balance, and "the Way" ("the Tao") is how I can live in harmony.
 
How's your new year going? What do you do/think to keep your equilibrium in these crazy times?


Blessings,

Joyce's signature


Inspiration and Contemplation
The Human Heart

"You may break a mosque, you may break a temple, you may break any holy place, but you must not break the human heart, because there the Lord Himself dwells. Inside a temple you worship an idol, inside a mosque you worship the void, but in the temple of the heart, the divine light is scintillating, sparkling all the time, and that is the true house of the Lord."

- By Mansur Mastana, as mentioned in "the Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore" by Alan Cohen (page 276)

Spirituality
The Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2016
   
Each year Spirituality & Practice names the most spiritually literate films. Here's some of the ones for 2016:
  • "13th" by Ava DuVernay - A call to speak truth to power regarding the history of racism in the U.S. and the creation of a prison industrial complex.
  • "20th Century Women" by Mike Mills - A dramedy about a mother's unusual project to teach her son how to be a good man.
  • "A Man Called Ove" by Hannes Holm - A Swedish dramedy about the strange and wonderful ways in which a difficult person's heart can be tenderized.
To read more about these films, and to find out the other films on the list, click here
 
People Helping People
Reforming Our Throwaway Approach to Possessions While Building Community

At Repair Cafes, 'beloved but broken' possessions find new life. Learn more...

 

Wishing you an extra dose of peace as this 'interesting' year progresses...

Blessings,
  Joyce's signature
   
 
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