Episode 362 For The Senses
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share another John O’Donohue blessing, called “For The Senses”. My senses have been sweetly awakened and nourished on my travels. Wherever you might be this summer, I hope you are noticing the gift of your senses. May your senses breathe in all the wonder and beauty around you. May your senses illuminate sensations that stimulate and nourish you. May you be uplifted and inspired by nature, people, food, travels, experiences and all that enlightens you. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 361 For The Traveler
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode I offer a blessing for those who may be traveling this summer. I feel blessed and deeply grateful to be spending 3 weeks in Asia this summer. I’ll first be in Vietnam for 10 days and then traveling to Bali to visit my son, Wil, who moved to Indonesia in December of 2023. I recorded some short offerings before I left, so my listeners can still receive their weekly episodes. Wherever you might be this summer, I hope you are able to listen and continue to be uplifted and inspired by nature, people, travels, experiences and all that enlightens you. May...
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Episode 358 Nandini Austin
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
My guest today is Nandini Austin. Nandini, a British Indo-Mauritian, now living in the Hudson Valley, is a performer, workshop facilitator and certified Holistic Ayurveda Coach. Nandini masterfully blends ancient wisdom with her modern spirit of wellness in a workshop called “Temple Goddess: Global Dance and Ayurveda Retreat”. Temple Goddess will be at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY starting Friday evening July 4th through Sunday afternoon July 6th. From Chaka Kahn’s “I’m Every Woman” to Fleetwood Mac’s “A Woman of a Thousand Years”, two songs that reflect...
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Episode 357 Hold Our Ground
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I describe the uplifting event I attended in my community to honor and celebrate Tom Chapin’s 80th Birthday. Tom, his family, his music, the special guests, the stories and the social justice woven throughout the evening, were magnificent. I didn’t realize how much I needed to experience something so joyful and inspiring. As Tom’s step-daughter, Jessica Craven so beautifully articulated: “I was reminded once again…of the profound power of the arts, community and family to heal and uplift. It’s never been more important to make sure we’re immersing...
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Episode 356 Birthday Blessings
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I honor someone special in my life, Jenn M, whose birthday is Tuesday May 20th. I describe some of the qualities I admire in Jenn and give a shout out to her 8th grader, E, who typically listens to my podcast on the drive to school. Thanks E, for being my youngest listener. As I celebrate Jenn and the dreams that are stirring in her heart, I share John O’Donohue’s blessing “For Longing”. May it resonate for the birthday gal as well as all of my listeners. May we each honor the longings in our heart and trust that our longings are aligned with our soul....
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Episode 355 Beltane
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I describe and honor Beltane, the Celtic festival of spring. Beltane is rich with magic as we celebrate the fertility of the land, the potential for new life and the abundance of nature. With the following weeks of May, into June, I encourage you to find your own way to honor Beltane. We are invited to be intentional about what we are planting inside of us for future growth. Delight in the late afternoon sun rays, the stunning cloudbursts and rainbows of this season. It’s no coincidence that we celebrate mother’s day around the same time we thank our Mother Earth...
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Episode 354 Childer of Wonder
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I talk about my love for the word wonder. Wonder slows me down, drops me into curiosity, and then opens the rich doors to gratitude. Even as a senior citizen, I consider myself a child of wonder. Let the magnificent gifts of Spring re-ignite your sense of wonder. Check out the show notes for links to hear the poignant words of Dot, a 96 year old woman who strives to live in awe and to the timeless wisdom of Rachel Carson’s The Sense Of Wonder. May we embrace what it means to be a child of wonder. Enjoy the podcast! Links: IG:
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Episode 353 I Am Because We Are
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode I explore the African proverb Ubuntu, which means ‘I am because we are.’ The phrase came to me in meditation last week and has stayed with me everyday. How do we honor our universal bond that connects all humanity? In the midst of hatred, divisiveness and injustice, how do we deepen our compassion, find forgiveness and treat others with respect? Nelson Mandela’s commitment to Ubuntu reminds me that we are all interconnected and that we have a responsibility to care for one another. ‘I am because we are’ is a phrase and philosophy I am inspired by. I...
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Episode 352 Bless The Earth
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, as we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, I talk about what it means to bless the earth. From cleaning up trash in our local parks to cultivating more awareness and responsibility to care for our planet, we can bless the earth. I share the earth blessing meditation that organically came to me and through me years ago, that is a part of my daily spiritual practice. May we bless the sky, the land and the waters. May we all bless our precious planet earth. May everyday be Earth Day. Happy Earth Day! Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 351 Slow and Steady
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I provide a guided meditation to help ground us in these tumultuous times. Carve out a few minutes for silence, stillness and slow, steady, replenishing, deep breaths. You are not alone. I hold you, my dear listeners in loving-kindness and compassion. Enjoy the podcast!
info_outline This is the second week of Black History Month and I am entering Week Two of my reading and journaling of “Me and White Supremacy”. We had nearly two feet of snow this past week and I found my snow walks in the woods to be a helpful place to process some of the thoughts that surfaced for me. I ventured out last Monday after 12 hours of snowfall. Oh how inviting! The snow was magical, quiet, a perfect setting to be present to the peaceful beauty around me, while letting thoughts about white supremacy, my white supremacy emerge.
As I was sorting though these memories, the wooded trail had not yet been walked on and I found myself lifting my knees high toward my chest and then sinking down knee deep into the untouched, powdery snow. What an appropriate metaphor this snowy path is for walking the internal path of white supremacy. As I turned inward to take an honest look at my white privilege, white fragility, tone policing, white silence, white superiority, and white exceptionalism, I realized I was working up a sweat. My high knee lifting and stomping feet provided a good cardio work out as I delved deeper into these concepts/memories/images. I began to think of the ancestors that have literally and figuratively walked before me. You see, I guess we all have a blend of ancestors, those who have addressed and grappled with white supremacy, those who denied or ignored it. I have both ancestors who were active members of the underground railroad and ancestors who were slave owners. They all run through my blood and it is a heavy load. Oh my, the guilt and shame is tangible, like these heavy, laborious steps in this deep snow. It takes energy, perseverance and stamina for me to stay on the path, to not get lost in the woods of my mind, not let the intensity of pain paralyze me on my journey. I whispered to myself: “Stay true, Deb, face the ugly truth and the inspiring truth. Don’t turn away from the disturbing emotions, be with them, learn from them.
As the snow melts around me, may my conditioned white supremacy also melt. May I tell the truth to myself and others with integrity. May I cultivate the courage to speak up and out whenever I witness racist behavior. May I continue to embody more fully anti-racist thoughts, words and actions. May I devote myself to healing and restoring dignity of all Black, Indigenous, People of Color. And…may you also find meaningful ways to honor Black History month.
Check out the links to learn more about Layla Saad, her website, podcast and purchase her book “Me and White Supremacy”. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
http://laylafsaad.com/
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