This is the dark time. December is the month of the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day when the North Pole is tilted farthest from the sun. Our ancient ancestors observed this event, watching the stars and the shortening days, patiently abiding and taking note until one day…it changed. They learned that theContinue reading “Light in the Dark”
Tag Archives: Insight
The Golden Ticket
One day recently, a Buddhist monk stopped me on the street in Manhattan, offering me peace for the rest of my life. But I was late so I shook my head no and hurried on. I had no time for peace. The monk persisted. He followed me, repeating “Lifetime peace. Lifetime peace.” He smiled broadlyContinue reading “The Golden Ticket”
The Power of Stillness
This afternoon, I stood very still on the blue stone floor of my front porch, looking out the screen door at flowers and green and trees. Everything looked so still in the golden afternoon light, yet so much has changed—some of the flowers and even the slabs of blue stone I stood on were notContinue reading “The Power of Stillness”
Rise Up Rooted Like a Tree
“If we could surrender to Earth’s intelligence, we would rise up rooted, like trees.” –Rainer Maria Rilke When all else fails, sit down and be still as a tree. Even if everything is not failing, take time every day to let go of all of the stories that are constantly spinning to just sit down.Continue reading “Rise Up Rooted Like a Tree”
A Beautiful Mind: A Conversation with Gina Sharpe
I arrived at meditation teacher Gina Sharpe’s house prepared to talk about what it means to live a beautiful life for the “Beauty” issue of Parabola. The bare facts of Sharpe’s life were promising. Born in Jamaica, Sharpe moved to New York when she was eleven. She excelled in school and in the world ofContinue reading “A Beautiful Mind: A Conversation with Gina Sharpe”
Tracy Cochran 