Episode 341 Humility Seeping In
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
I saved 3 quotes this past month that struck me. Without realizing it at the time, each quote lines up with my word for the year: humility. I’m grateful that humility is seeping into my consciousness and unconsciousness. Are you finding synchronicities and signs that remind you of the word you chose for the year? May you notice the ways your word of the year is showing up for you. May your word of the year seep in…so it can guide you and inspire you. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 340 Humility
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
Have you ever chosen a word to guide you through the year? This was the first time I’ve tried it. An inner voice popped the word HUMILITY into my mind. I’ve been thinking about humility, feeling into humility and on this week’s episode, I share some of my early reflections on the word humility. What word comes to mind for you? What word does your inner voice whisper to you for guidance and growth? Whatever your 2025 word might be, may it enlighten, uplift and inspire you. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 339 King & Carter
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
As we remember and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, I want to continue to learn about MLK and discover ways to continue his legacy in my daily life. I am struck by how much MLK had in common with Jimmy Carter. They were only four years apart in age, and even though the late President Jimmy Carter and Martin Luther King, Jr. never met each other, their philosophies were in alignment. It feels incongruent to honor MLK on the same day as Trump’s inauguration, but hold onto MLK’s words that ring truer today than ever before! “We need leaders not in love with money but in...
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Episode 338 Feed Both
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share the familiar Native American parable of the Two Wolves. You probably know the common version of a Cherokee grandfather acknowledging to his grandson that there is a battle of two wolves inside all of us, one dark and one light. The grandson asked which wolf wins and the grandfather replies “The one we feed.” As much as this version is a gentle reminder that we have a choice, we can choose to feed just the light wolf, I discovered another version of the Two Wolves story. Listen to the podcast to hear the new version, where the grandfather tells his...
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Episode 337 Reflections of 2024
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
As we start off 2025, I’d like to take a moment today to acknowledge our 7 year milestone and reflect on this past year. We launched the podcast in January 2018, so here’s to completing 7 years of Enlighten! January 2025 marks the beginning of our 8th year of the podcast. Wow! In 2024, I continued to cultivate my intimacy with nature, and took great pleasure in the everyday miracles that surround us. I delight in subtle and blatant glimmers of resilience, growth and transformation both individually and collectively. Thank you, 2024 for another year of inspiring guests, personal...
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Episode 336 NYE Ritual
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
Even though I initially thought I would skip an episode this week, I changed my mind and wanted to share two simple rituals from previous guests Shawna Emerick and Laura Pensiero. May these rituals help us take a moment to pause, reflect and envision what we want to manifest for the New Year. May we set intentions that help us live more fully, more authentically and more joyfully. May we manifest 2025 to be a creative, connected, easeful, and prosperous year. Check out the show notes for links to Shawna and Laura’s websites, they both offer such wonderful soul-nourishing gifts. Happy New...
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Episode 335 All Is Well
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
The chaos of our political landscape, the stressors of the holidays and tensions in our relationships can convince us that all is not well. In this week’s episode I share a personal struggle I’ve had with someone in my life and how de-railed I felt by fear and frustration. I asked for help and my spirit guides provided gems of wisdom that realigned me with understanding, acceptance and surrender. Louise Hay’s affirmation is a transformative mantra for me “All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. And out of this situation, this so called problem, only good will...
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Episode 334 Honoring Nikki Giovanni, poet & activist
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I honor the legendary poet, author, educator, activist, Nikki Giovanni who died this past week on December 9th at the age of 81. Her rich biography, prolific work that includes writings, essays, conversations, poetry, children’s books, records, tapes, CDs and film, as well as her awards, honors and multiple honorary degrees is expansive and impressive. Thank you Nikki, for all that you embodied and modeled. Thank you for shining your truth through decades of our collective darkness. Thank you for caring about children and the quality of books they read. Thank you...
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Episode 333 Spark of Light
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I acknowledge the spark of light that is ignited at this time of year. As the sun is setting by 4:30pm, shortening our days and expanding our nights, the tradition of lighting up our homes, is a wonderful reminder to honor the light in the midst of darkness. May we be a spark of light. May we connect with your own community, honor silence, light a candle, and feel the energetic hands of our sacred circle of humanity, join together to breath a new vision forward. May our vision spark a new kind of light. Check out the show notes to learn about the global ritual that...
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Episode 331 Hilary Carr Jones, In Memoriam
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode I re-release my conversation form April 19, 2021 with my beloved Aunt Hilly. This spectacular human, Hilary Carr Jones just died on Friday November 15th, so I wanted her voice and spirit honored. Before my conversation with her starts, I share the mystical connection I felt with Aunt Hil as she was transitioning from the physical realm into the spiritual realm, as the Super Full Moon was rising. May you open your heart and mind to how Source is calling you into the mystical, magical moments of your life. Grateful for the gathering in Camden, Maine this past weekend...
info_outline My guest today is Matthew Rushing. Not only has Matthew been an outstanding dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater since 1992, he has also choreographed three pieces for the company and became the Rehearsal Director and Guest Dancer in 2010. Matthew was 12 years old when he first saw the Ailey company perform and remembers being transformed; he saw his life danced in front of him and fell in love with the idea of the company! The clarity that followed was not that he simply wanted to be a professional dancer, but that he specifically wanted to dance in this company! 5 years later, at age 17, Matthew manifested his dream.
Matthew has a huge heart for young people in the arts, so along with all the classes he teaches, he co-founded the ASAP Mentoring Program, pairing Ailey students with Ailey professionals.
As part of the 60th anniversary of the company, a video was made of Matthew dancing “I Wanna Be Ready” (a male solo section from the dance “Revelations”). Matthew danced this piece in Alvin Ailey’s childhood church, in Rogers, Texas, which was both exhilarating and humbling for Matthew. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and Matthew says he couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to thank Mr. Ailey, who changed his life and gave him wings to fly.
Check out the links below for the Alvin Ailey website, where you will find photos, interviews and video footage of Matthew’s magnificent work with the company. There are also YouTube links of excerpts of Matthew’s choreography, and a link to Matthew giving an innovative keynote speech to the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts graduating class of 2015. Do yourself a favor and watch it, watch all the YouTube footage of Mathew dancing - he is exquisite and will uplift, inspire and maybe even move you to tears!!!
Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
Alvin Ailey web site
YouTube videos:
“I Wanna Be Ready”
Keynote speech at Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts
Uptown (2009) Harlem Renaissance
Odetta (2014) tribute to Odetta Holmes
Alvin Ailey: The Making of Matthew Rushing's ODETTA:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
New York City Dance Alliance
Matthew 28 Collaborative Performance--Gracefarms.org
NYIBC Gala: A Song For You, solo performance