Twice in my life I have trained to become a hospice worker. The power of truth has a resonance I can feel.

My life has given me hailstorms in the past I’ll do my best to avoid one in the future because they hurt and change my direction

I read about quarantine fatigue, a term used to describe the exhaustion and low energy associated with the COVID constraints.

I’m calling all angels to support me In this present challenge of acceptance

Our minds are powerful entities. Our intentions can create our physical reality. How do I respond to a medical emergency?

Acceptance is important in this fluidity. I could be crying from a current news item and then notice a bright red cardinal on my deck.

Every morning I sit in silence, trusting I’ll be led to words I write or words already written. I’m reminded of the ebb and flow of breath.

Courage 1, 2, 3 Jump Ready set go Start Chin up, eyes forward Walk With Determination Courage is found in my breath Determination is found in my vision Focus is found in my faith In a desire to rise Something inside so strong A knowing of worth A feeling of trueness A belief in my right My small voice used to obey Its belief I was less than My smallness bought into my invisibility My body believed I didn’t count My breath believed it had no space Until there was no room for m

Gateways by Shirley Riga Silent meditation has become a source of comfort for me Space to just be Held in time like a safe boundary Where I explore nothingness Yet feel the richness of presence Tingling with the essence of connection To my higher wisdom I am grateful Yet annoyance gets my attention Because my body needs the bathroom. My stomach is growling And I need a shower. Welcome to the gateway I am human I am spirit I am the totality of both Gaining access to the gates

Though a day late, I was moved to share this writing. We pray for earth’s renewal. We pray for continued growth, abundance and viable life on our planet. In our current suffering, we hold high our vision of renewal, rebirth and purity of spirit. – Shirley Riga Happy Beltane -.this celebration is half way between the Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It is the time the earth is fertilized, pollinated, nests are being built, sprouting is happening. We are celebrating the beginni

Our walk into spring is different from any other Expectations are masked Time is free to roam Gentleness and patience Tame our minutes Be kind to yourself. - Shirley Riga Poem by Mark Nepo “My efforts now turn from trying to outrun suffering to accepting love wherever I can find it. Stripped of causes and plans and things to strive for, I have discovered everything I could need or ask for is right here— in flawed abundance. We cannot eliminate hunger, but we can feed each oth

Hope is Surrender By Shirley Riga I learned something about myself last night I won’t use a shopping service ever again I care deeply for my food choices Otherwise I am in pain I care deeply about my space Otherwise I am in pain I care deeply about my safety Otherwise I’m in pain I care deeply for my time Otherwise I’m in pain Pain is my motivator Pain is a global motivator Discomfort results in change Discomfort gets my attention The more I connect to my heart The deeper I f

Back in the late eighties I was involved in a small UCC church in western Massachusetts. My children were elementary school age. My daughter had survived her first five years of life and we lived day to day monitoring her health, imagining the worst and hoping for the best. I was quoted in a local newspaper featuring us in an article on organ donor awareness month. My quote basically said “we live under a black cloud always following us around” referring to when the next shoe

Once a month I have tea with an old friend via Zoom. We grew up in the same town, went to the same schools, attended Brownies and Girl Scouts together, learned to drive together, kept in touch in college, stood up in each other’s weddings and then life happened and we separated. We lost touch with each other for years. My life changed dramatically as I figured out who I was and what I wanted. We eventually reconnected years later when we met at a volleyball game for LGBTQ fol

I am many faces. I am a mother, spouse, medium, singer, actor, healer, author, teacher, friend, survivor, and witness to my life knowing there is so much more I cannot see but feel is there. I remember witnessing my now deceased daughter raging into a mirror screaming her hatred for her sick body. I remember screaming at my body for all its flaws. What we think of ourselves can be so painful. What we feel about ourselves can be so painful. I can still find things I don’t like

I had a blast on my birthday. My happiness meter hit a ten with all my birthday wishes, cards, emails and gifts. I was in such joy. I am hanging on to the thrill of it. I want to forever be surrounded by this good feeling. A wise teacher once shared with me the importance of allowing emotions to keep moving through the body. Emotions come and go – the incredible highs and the devastating lows; the trembling fears and the raging hot floods of anger. Our bodies are vessels to e

Years ago I was challenged to pause in front of a mirror I pass and say “I love you” while looking directly into my eyes. It sounded easy and I agreed. The challenge was for 21 days. Three weeks. I approached this exercise not knowing the challenge before me. At first I laughed at the idea, and when I gazed at myself, I couldn’t look me in the eyes. I grimaced out the “I love you” and moved on. There’s usually a mirror in every bathroom, bedroom, hallway, car and there they w

The word came in a flash – “authenticity”. The word is my barometer to my thoughts, actions and beliefs. Authenticity holds the essence of honesty. My first priority with authenticity is to myself. When I feel lost, I pose the question to myself, what do I need? My answer may come back “chocolate” and I know I must dig deeper. What do I need? “Life’s not fair.” What do I need? It’s important to have patience with myself. It’s my responsibility to give myself what I need. The

Snowing! There’s a Woody Allen saying which I am taking the liberty of changing to fit my beliefs. If you want to make an angel laugh, tell them your plans. Seeing the snow this morning feels confining. Why can’t nature cooperate with my mood? Sunshine means bright future, openness and smiles. The direction my mood is taking is not going to help me get through my day. Breathe! Where did my patience go? What do I need? I can visualize my inner ‘general’ with arms crossed, stan