Spirits of winter, I celebrate you!

We did what humans frequently do: we created a ritual.

I have struggled forgiving myself for not knowing how to create appropriate boundaries.

I’m proud to belong to a living religious tradition that embraces evolution, both scientifically and spiritually.

How much notice would I want ahead of time before I die?

It's my actions and choices that determine my connection to others.

Growing connects me to ancestors who had their hands in the dirt because it was keeping them alive.

Blessing something or someone is a way of expressing my gratitude and reverence for them.

When the holy month of Ramadan approaches, it becomes a beautiful reminder to return to myself.

I was often being a stern taskmaster over my mind. I yearned for more openness and joy.

May we release ourselves from the need to fit every truth neatly into our own language.

I am learning to give up needing to know the answers, and instead live with the questions.

Spirit of Life and Love, help me to notice when I am hooked.

Impermanence, mortality, ashes, dust: this is the truth of being human.

What’s the one word you hope will define your upcoming year?

Sometimes, there is no reprieve from the pain of this world. Sometimes, it is too big and too obvious to ignore.

What once seemed certain is now unpredictable, even dangerous.

The most life-giving coping strategy—for me—is to attune to a voice calmer and wiser than mine, and allow that seeking to be its own expression of faith.

One of my most treasured New Year’s traditions is coming up with a word for the year: a single word that I want to be the theme for my entire year. When I’m questioning what’s the right thing to do, I will look to my word of the year for guidance.

Outside of the meditation hall, we plan for the future and think of the past. But so often we replay past regrets and worry about future events to the point where we’re no longer present in the present.