Mindfulness Musings: Kate’s Blog

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your
one wild and precious life?”

Mary Oliver

Over 30 years of teaching has informed my belief that nothing is as transformative and powerful as mindfulness practice. My occasional blog posts deal with bringing mindfulness into whatever we do. May we all be at ease with ever-changing circumstances!

Kate

  • Yoga and meditation in Ecuador

    Yoga and meditation in Ecuador

    Guayaquil, Ecuador – First Annual Women’s Wellness Symposium It is nearly impossible, while living in Western comfort to imagine the barrio much less the women and their families living there in poverty.  But Mama Linda, the matriarch of Adopta Una Familia (AUF) and daughters Erica (who was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Guasmo) and Abby know them well.  Together with…

  • Vacation/Retreat in Tuscany

    Vacation/Retreat in Tuscany

    Ebbio, Tuscany, Italy – 7 day Meditation/Vacation Retreat Some of the retreats I lead combine meditation and vacation.  We practice yoga first thing in the morning followed by breakfast and then 2 hours of mindfulness and meditation. We practice sitting, walking and exploring themes and topics.  This retreat took place in Italy at an 800 year old farmhouse.  While very…

  • Why do we go on retreat?

    Why do we go on retreat?

    When we go on retreat, we leave our customary comforts and move into the unknown. As they say, our old problems will not be solved with the same thinking that created them. There are gifts that come to us from the challenges that being out of our comfort zone brings.

  • Baby doves, commitment and a cherry tree

    Baby doves, commitment and a cherry tree

    This spring a mother dove chose the cherry tree right outside our kitchen window to make a nest.  Now I know it’s “just” nature, but that mother dove, and apparently the father dove also, sat on those eggs for weeks through the nastiest April weather we have had in history. COMPASSION WITHOUT WISDOM One morning…

  • Mindful Choices in times of Life’s Storms

    Mindful Choices in times of Life’s Storms

    It is obvious, and we know it intellectually, but when life sends us storms, we are often surprised.  How we meet those challenges mindfully determines, to a great degree, how we will be affected.  AND…making mindful choices to meet life’s challenges is a process that cannot be rushed. Be it illness, loss, a fading flower, or…

  • WAIT or “Why Am I Talking”

    WAIT or “Why Am I Talking”

      Mindful speech is a great practice.  If there is really too much talking than why am I adding to it? This is the question I ask myself. Do I have something to say that improves upon the silence. Seems many folks are too uncomfortable to simply sit with a little quiet time. But it…

  • Resistance and Surrender

    Resistance and Surrender

    One thing about the new year is that the beginning of 2017 combined with the darkness of the season just naturally invites inner reflection. I sometimes wonder about how much we miss because we are in the habit of saying “no”.  No thats not the way I do it, No, I don’t like it that…

  • Simple…just need to remember

    Simple…just need to remember

    At a teacher’s retreat last Friday a friend shared this morning practice. Upon awakening and before getting out of bed she acknowledges “Here for another day” Might sound weird but it is so easy to forget this gift, yes, the day can be challenging at times but not to be missed. May we all use…