“…people never are alone now. We make them hate solitude; and we arrange their lives so that it’s almost impossible for them ever to have it.” ~ Brave New World, Aldous Huxley In this day and age, it’s becoming harder and harder to be alone, especially alone with our own Read more…
By Charles A. Francis “Life is available only in the present moment.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh I’ve had people tell me that they’re not interested in becoming a guru: they just want to learn how to be happy. While this sentiment may sound humble, and noble, it is not practical. Read more…
By Charles A. Francis “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment, and feeling truly alive.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh A while back, the BBC did a piece on the death of “purposeless walking.” Many Read more…
Do you assume that meditation is just for New Age types who spend time at retreats in the woods? It’s not: Meditation is for all types and all situations. Yes, of course, there are meditation paths for people who really do want to disconnect for a week and wander the Read more…
By Matt Abbasfard My journey in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse has been by no means a straight line. This is my third attempt to get clean, and there were times in my life when I never thought that recovery was possible. I’ve been to individual therapy, residential heroin Read more…
By Ben Knights The demands of modern society can leave us stuck in a routine that feels alien to our life’s purpose. Whilst working 9 to 5 and running errands are a necessity in order to get by, it’s inevitable there will come a time when you will ask yourself; Read more…
By Charles A. Francis ”Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” ~ Buddha Many people these days are starting a mindfulness meditation practice with great intentions and lots of enthusiasm. They’ve heard of the stress-reducing and other health benefits of the practice, and Read more…
By Charles A. Francis “Life is available only in the present moment.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh The holiday season is upon us and most of us are looking forward to enjoying the festivities, and spending quality time with loved ones. This is a time for sharing peace, love, and happiness. Read more…
By Charles A. Francis The rising popularity of mindfulness meditation in recent years has sparked a great deal of interest by the general population. As with any innovation, there are bound to be some misconceptions. Though mindfulness meditation is an ancient practice, it is relatively new to Westerners. Whenever I Read more…
By Dennis Merritt Jones “Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends. As a being of power, intelligence, and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, he holds the key to every situation.” ~ James Allen As a spiritual mentor, part of my job Read more…