The Soulistry Blog
ADVENT 2: PEACE -We Can Be the Shamash
Oh, how our world needs peace. Oh how we, our families, our communities, our neighbourhoods, our countries, our world needs peace.But fear, busyness, worry, grief, physical pain, guilt, sleepless nights, and those “what-if’s” creep in. And then there are the actions...
LIGHT – The Moravian Star”
The United States - it's not very "united" these days. But then again, other countries are experiencing great division - families are experiencing fractured relationships - friendships are in jeopardy. There is a lot of darkness in the world - not just in the United...
Those Phrases and the “X” in Christmas
Have you read (and heard people complain) about the use of "Xmas" ... instead of the use of "Christmas" in advertisements, cards, written greetings? Have you begun to hear THOSE PHRASES yet? You know the ones ... "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons...
ADVENT 1: HOPE
A still, small voice ... whispers “Where is the hope?”A circle of friends ... gather, light candles and through tears, gasp “There must be hope.”Nations of people ... shake their heads and mumble “Is hope possible?” Phrases like... "It's hopeless"... "I can't even...
JOURNEY THROUGH ADVENT
Whether we like it or not, stores are beginning to display Christmas decorations and play Christmas music; Christmas trees are going up in homes, businesses and offices; inflatable Santas are appearing on lawns - and it's not even the month of December yet! Why the...
Thanksgiving and Gratitude Attitude
In the midst of the political rhetoric/reality/anxiety in many parts of the word, tomorrow our American neighbours are marking their Thanksgiving - a time and opportunity to express "giving thanks - thanksgiving."But these days, many struggle to find something -...
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Have you ever started to create a new dish for supperonly to realize it wasn't going to be salvageable unless you did some "thinking out of the box"? Have you ever created a greeting card or a painting or a sketch or some jewellery or ... and discovered it was a...
RISING WATERS OF LIFE
Some days, it seems as if the "rising-waters-of-life" are too much, and there's nothing we can do. I remember one such time well. My place of employment was vandalized – again. This time, the vandals pushed a hose through the window of the bathroom in my office,...
HOPE HAS TWO DAUGHTERS: ANGER AND COURAGE
I keep hearing the cry... “what is hope?” .the cry ... "where is hope?” as results of the Presidential election in the United States were announced. Things have changed - are changing - will change - dramatically. Lives (bodies, minds,...
GRIEF IS
Grief.It appears unexpectedly. ... wears different costumes. ... sometimes puts a smile on our face. ... often brings sadness to our heart.... is not predictable either in timing or outcome.Today and the coming days, weeks and months, as a result of the election in...
THE SALUTE – LEST WE FORGET – Remembrance Day
As part of our national recognition of Remembrance Day each year in Canada on this day, November 11th, we sing "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." Over the years, women and men have stood "on guard," defending borders and peacekeeping far away from Canada. ...
JOY FROM THE CLIFFS OF DESPAIR
"Joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair" wrote author and aviator Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Is it possible? Can joy ever spring from the cliffs of despair, which many are feeling since the election in the United States? I remember feeling a sense of...
Mushroom Metaphor
Time to process what has just happened in the United States ... and really, what has happened that will affect the world. So, I took a little walk around the yard, enjoying Mother Nature breathing in life, ruach, praying, healing. The mushrooms that keep popping up in...
HOLDING THE NIGHTLIGHT THIS NIGHT
This night, on the eve of the election in the United States,tensions are high. anxiety is higherfear is higher.Mail-in ballots are being readied to be counted.People are making plans to get to the polls in the morning.Foreign countries may have infiltrated the voting...
Dia de Los Muertos
Today is 'Dia de Los Muertos' - 'Day of the Dead - November 2nd, every year. The first time I learned about Day of the Dead was the Disney movie "Coco" and as a result, I wanted to learn more about the Mexican holiday known as Dia de Los Muertos. On November 2nd,...
STRAWBERRY SURPRISE
I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen them.November 2nd and there they were ... four strawberries in the strawberry planter on my deck, this morning! We've already had our first snowfall yet, they survived the snow and the cold and the rain and there's another...
THIN PLACES – ALLHALLOWTIDE
For many around the world, last night was All Hallow's Eve (Hallowe'en). Yoday is All Saints Day. Tomorrow is both All Souls Day and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Together, they form what is known as "AllHallowTide." If you've seen the movie "Coco," you'll...
TRICK OR TREAT – ALL HALLOW’S EVE
In some parts of the world, this night begins the ancient Christian three-day observance of Allhallowtide, predated from Celtic harvest festivals such as Samhain, designed as a time to remember those who have died. All Hallows' Eve is the evening before All Hallows'...
WINTER WEATHER – POLITICAL WINTER
This time of the year in many parts of the world, it is or soon will be Winter Weather At the same time, Political Winter weather is happening. The nights are dark and bring fear and political haranguing permeates social media. Hope is disguised, hidden, not-evident...
“WHAT HAS CHANGED”
Emails and social media posts from American friends who shared feelings of helplessness, isolation, and fear,lacking strength to face the next "drop of the shoe" haven't stopped since this time four years ago.. So what has changed? What has changed is - it's gotten...