Happy 90th Birthday, "Thay!"

By Kathy Custren

"People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar." -Thich Nhat Hanh

Getting in Touch with Age is Not an Easy Thing

The celebrated Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, turns 90 years old on October 11, 2016. Born in Vietnam, this global spiritual leader and peace activist is an…

What Does It Take to Grow Your Tree?

By Kathy Custren

I have a confession to make, which may not come as a complete surprise: I am an old lady who likes trees. There, I've said it; and I feel better. Now, before I get the label of being either a hippie or a yokel, perhaps an explanation is in order. We can find a lot of wisdom in a tree, as you will see.

Know Your Tree - Beyond Image and Metaphor

When we look at a tree we may have a…

Communication is in almost everything we do.. We communicate by words, body language, writing, sharing on social media, etc. This means that in a lot of ways, it has become easier to communicate. But all these channels can also function as white noise. With so many ways to reach people, and so many people to reach out to, how can we be sure that our words are received with the intent we had when we sent them? Its often like playing "chinese whispers" - the words and the intent can get a…

Holding the Light: Visualizing the Future

By Judi Lynch

Word count – 709

Bio word count - 60

In this time of great chaos and spiritual evolution we all have our roles to play. Some of us are activators, some of us motivators. In these ever-changing lives all of us have unique purpose and…

One of the most advantageous aspects of fasting is the effect it has on our emotional states. Although emotions often feel more intense during and after a fast, this phenomenon is part of a natural process. The more calm an individual remains during a fast, the easier it is for them to move through emotional experiences. Research has noted common emotional themes during fasting, most notably related to feelings of irritability and joy. The negative emotions that surface during fasting tend…

Talk about inspiration and study together seems like nonsense, right? You got to do what you got to do, and that is it.

I used to agree with it, for sure. But I have changed my mind about it since my university years.

Inspiration is the base of motivation – and maybe this is why these words are so alike. And without motivation, we don’t get anything done. We just procrastinate…

Research on the merits of practicing gratitude has shown what Eastern wisdom has known for thousands of years. We can change our inner and outer world completely through qualities of our inner spirit, like practicing gratitude.  Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness, as well as better physical and mental health, reads a note from Harvard Medical School.…

When I talk about mindfulness and being present sometimes I forget that those are actually steps b and c. Step a is being open to what is. Open to what is, allows us to be present without the ego mind thoughts and conflicts that arise.

I wake some mornings from a dreamless sleep. Before I remember that I am Lynn and slip into her thoughts... about her dogs needing to be fed, or chores to be done, or worrying about her kids, and in that moment I am aware and in the presence of…

Autumn is blowing in with Summer behind us. Every season has significance and is a spiritual opportunity for growth.  The Autumn Equinox is a time of equal darkness and light, masculine and feminine, sun and moon; balance.  What might Fall mean for your romantic relationships? 

1.    It’s Time to Harvest the Goodness:  The Fall is the time when farmers gather crops for winter storage.  It’s a time of abundance, beauty and taking…

Helping our children to deal with their emotions is a vital part of parenting. Emotions are not necessarily a bad thing, but we as parents can get upset if we see anger or sadness or frustration expressed in our children. We believe that part of our job is to shelter them from negative emotions and experiences, and help them to live happy lives. While this is a noble pursuit, it is not necessarily of benefit to them.

We all come into this life knowing that we will experience a range…

After reaching the golden years, most of us really start to appreciate our health. General health is not usually a major concern in younger years, but staying healthy should always be a priority as we get older. After years of bad habits, it might be difficult breaking a lifetime of excuses. Fortunately, starting new healthy habits does not have to be a huge task. It is easy to start a fitness routine at any age, and we can always eat healthier foods. Whether downsizing a home, cutting back…

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” ~ Steve Jobs

I think the most idyllic situation would be to be 100% self-sufficient and expect nothing from any other, but life just isn’t like that, is it?

From…

Different Concepts of Nirvana



In Buddhism there is a final state of becoming called “Nirvana” (also Nibbana). Various Buddhist disciplines have differing views about the concept and experience of Nirvana. Some say Nirvana is beyond words and cannot be understood except by years of meditation. But there is agreement as to the general nature of Nirvana.



Through meditation and contemplation desires and cravings are extinguished, attachment to the physical senses…

This is my first "post" here. I love reading OM Times and have since way back. I find the articles very enlightening, empowering and helpful. This is my first entry and I find it fitting since I wrote this several years ago on my blog entitled OneUrbanMermaid, and read it for the first time on 9/23/2016 after seeing this magazine has a writers community - I am honored to be here. I have to say, I have come a long way since 2012. If you identify with any of this, I would love to know!…

You and only you are the source of all the love you seek and feel, always. You possess the sacred gift of free will to choose when and how you feel that inner love or when to block it off. Love has always been inside of you like a vast ocean with an infinite supply at hand; it never diminishes or fades away. No one can actually add love to you that you don’t already have; and no one can subtract love from you (no matter what you were taught to believe). 



Your inner…

That there are different types of abuse that occur in relationships many of which cause couples to seek marriage counseling. You may be psychologically, physically, and/or sexually mistreated. All kinds of abuse ought to be given serious attention as horrible effects can happen from any kind of abuse. Emotional abuse can involve bullying, humiliating, and tease.

I’ve seen a lot of abuse in relationships during my time during…

In the broadest sense, the term eating disorders refers to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that involves either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual health.



At my practice counseling in San Jose, I work with the most common types of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa). These are outlined in the…

Prepare for Equinox

--Positive Potentials of Equinox Gateway--

by Selacia



Equinox arriving Thursday is occurring during a powerful window of time.

Humanity has been doing lots of status-quo reviews, and most likely you have had your own on a very personal level.



The Mercury Retrograde, ending Wednesday, has been an excellent time to reassess your life circumstance and decide what you would want to keep…

Have you heard that marriage gets boring after a while? This is only true when things get too familiar and predictable. Granted, we like routines and it’s nice to know that we can count on our spouse being there when we go to bed and wake up. But this doesn’t mean that after you realize he’s (or she’s) the one that the fun has to end.

It means to notice when it’s time to add excitement to your marriage. When an activity you used to enjoy on your own or as a couple no longer…