Happy May, everyone! Our reading this week covers the meeting of St. Peter and Cornelius, a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea. Cornelius is described in the New Testament’s book of Acts as a “devout man who feared God with all his household.” We’re told that he prayed unceasingly and gave generously to the poor, for which the Jews held him in high esteem, despite the fact that he was a “gentile” or non-Jew. The story […] The post WHAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN, YOU MUST NOT CALL PROFANE: The story of St. Peter and Cornelius appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. Seneca How many times have you heard someone described as being willing to “give someone the shirt off their back?” And when you hear this, what does it mean to you? At first blush, it probably appears that the person is kind, generous, thoughtful and empathetic. But my first thought is, I hope he has more shirts. There’s kindness and then there’s taking kindness to the extreme. […] The post STOICISM AND KINDNESS: Practicing kindness while keeping reason in mind appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

As the months rush by like a bullet train, the Year of the Dragon will soon be halfway through, so now is the perfect time for some self-reflection and introspection to help us make the most of the rest of the year. In Chinese astrology, the Year of the Dragon is associated with action, leadership, passion, power and rapid change. This means that in 2024, there is a lot of potential for growth and personal transformation, if we harness these […] The post UNLEASH YOUR INNER DRAGON: 3 crystals that’ll help you step into your power appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

In the chaotic dance of modern life, women are often expected to pirouette seamlessly between two conflicting realms: their motherhood and their career. It’s a relentless performance where the spotlight rarely shines on the real struggles beneath the surface. Let’s strip away the facade and confront the raw truth: Being a mother while pursuing a career is a Herculean task, and the stage is set against us from the start, but picking an alternative path as a woman is sometimes […] The post THE UNFILTERED TRUTH: Juggling motherhood, career and societal expectations appeared first on The Mindful W ..read more

Early spring is the time of breaking bud. My apple and pear trees shrug off their winter dormancy, and every day they awaken so quickly, reminding me to stop and appreciate them. Spring holds new wonders, and I look forward to my favourite season. Sometimes in dreams, I’m carried back to spring in Japan and the traditional custom called Hanami, which literally means “flower viewing.” Hanami is a time out from work and stress, when people gather and share a […] The post HANAMI DREAMING: The start of spring in Japan appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

This past Sunday, Catholics around the world were treated to a reading from the First Epistle of John. This letter, likely written between 95 and 110 A.D. in Ephesus, is addressed to believing Christians and covers themes of love and genuine fellowship with God. The excerpt read at Mass this week, 1 John 2:1-5, covers precisely these topics, with a focus on learning to recognize when God—and by extension, love—truly abides in a person. This is an important subject that […] The post TO WALK THE SAME WAY HE WALKED: A reflection on John’s first letter appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

Coltrane You enhance the shoppingexperience of my life. You aremy essential oil, a delicate glazeon my ribs, that secret blendof spices that strokes on myguitar strings that sound so right; you linger in my mind long afterthe song has ended. You are myanguish, my handwritten notes bythe coffee machine, and the bodylanguage that makes me want tocry with you and make love to youand install art with you and stir shit up with you. To let go ofdistractions and connect […] The post POEMS BY GEORGE PAYNE: Coltrane, Where the Sky Touches the Earth and more appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

Quantum entanglement is one of the most beautiful and observable phenomena of contemporary physics. Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance” because it demonstrates how two particles can be linked together no matter how far apart they are in space or time. As Paul Levy explained, “When two quantum entities interact, they become intermingled in such a way as to remain forever linked together….Exhibiting a form of contagious magic, each seems to telepathically “know” what the other is doing….Their […] The post SOULMATES, SYNCHRONICITY AND TELEPATHY: Who are you entangled with on your lif ..read more

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of falling in love. It’s what prompts songwriters to work their craft. The pursuit of love brings us to movie theatres for rom-coms and fills conversations with our friends. Fairy tales instill in us the hope of finding that one special someone who will make our heart flutter with their mere presence. With love, everything is possible. Life is endlessly beautiful, calories don’t count, and when you’re in it, you believe it’ll last forever. […] The post STOICISM ON LOVE: Follow your heart—and the 4 virtues appeared first on The Mindful Word ..read more

WELCOMING BEGINNER’S MIND: Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature Gaylon Ferguson [Shambhala, 248 pages] As I’ve explored Buddhist philosophy over the past few years, I’ve found richness in reading books by experienced practitioners because each one provides their own interpretation of basic teachings. Diving into Gaylon Ferguson’s newest book, Welcoming Beginner’s Mind: Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature, has been a rewarding reading experience. Ferguson is a longtime Buddhist practitioner and has […] The post WELCOMING BEGINNER’S MIND: Ze ..read more