Author: William Ferro
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In Odd Places: Another Grief Observed
It strikes you in odd places, And at unexpected times. Engulfs you like a tidal wave As heartache’s redefined. And it’s bound to knock you over, And it’s sure to grind you down. It strikes you in odd places, Makes you feel you’re gonna drown. So take shelter where you find it; Seek refuge while…
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Radical Renewal
Mindfulness meditation and related contemplative practices are pervading the culture, and that’s a wonderful thing! As more and more people in various communities learn to practice well; as they learn how to acknowledge and transform their suffering, their whole community will benefit. If equanimity comes to define the character of enough people, the entire culture…
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The Bridge
Mindful breathing can serve as a bridge, one that connects body and mind. When your psyche and your physical body are alienated from each other, you are not at your best. Perhaps your body is in the room with someone you love, but your mind is somewhere in the past or future. In that state,…
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A Transformative Practice
If you wish to know joy, I recommend cultivating the habit of standing at a slight remove from yourself. What does that mean? If we can figure out ways of detaching slightly from our own ego, we can view ourselves more objectively. We can become an internal observer of what’s going on, rather than a…
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Your Reverse Bucket List
People often talk about their “bucket list;” the things they want to do, accomplish or experience before they shuffle off this mortal coil. But what if we each flipped that script and each of us created our own reverse bucket list? By this I mean, instead of looking forward to what you haven’t done yet,…
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Practical Suggestions for Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder
The days are getting shorter, the temperatures lower. For many, this means negotiating another bout, of Seasonal Affective Disorder; a form of depression brought on by a dearth of light. Since I’m one of those affected, I meditated and came up with proactive prescription for myself. I very much hope it will be helpful to…
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Earthing in Autumn…at Night
“Earthing…” You’ve heard of it, right? It’s a way we crunchy granola types refer to walking barefoot outdoors. It’s a wonderful practice that connects you bodily to the earth. Through the soles of your feet, the earth that gives you life, that nourishes you, interacts with your body directly. By walking mindfully this way, we…
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Chronic Afflictions, Effective Coping Strategies
I’m struggling today with a chronic affliction that’s connected to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s not at all unusual for anxiety, depression and OCD to present as a monolith. My friend the psychotherapist explained the phenomenon to me recently; this is my synopsis: What typically happens is that the person experiences a trauma, or lives or…
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Health Food for the Mind?
Have you ever stopped to think about how your patterns of media consumption may be affecting your practice? Most yoga and meditation practitioners I know are motivated by the desire to unify body, mind, and spirit. A devoted yoga practice tends to result in a healthy, wellbalanced body; meditation brings clarity of focus and a…
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What We Owe Each Other
You owe it to the people around you to do the things that make you happy. A person who is happy, calm and centered can’t help but contribute to the wellbeing of the human and other sentient beings in her sphere of influence. All she has to do to pull that off is to show…