A Sustaining Book

“Then would you read a Sustaining Book, such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in Great Tightness.” —A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh is speaking to Christopher Robin while stuck in Rabbit’s doorway after—as usual—he’s eaten too much honey. I’m feeling a bit like Pooh these days, wedged in a time…

Self Care & General Wellness

I’ve been thinking about holistic health, overall wellness and self-care. Are others thinking about self-care at a time when we are also thinking about basic survival? I googled the term “self-care during the pandemic” and although I was researching the topic looking for comfort, I actually felt a bit overwhelmed by all of the resources…

Called to a New Thing

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” —Isaiah 43: 18–19 No! I’m not sure I can perceive it. I want…

Who Cooks for You?

AAAWWWHOOO AAAWWWHOOO Who cooks for you?? Still Still Blink Swoooooop Clutch, hold, hold, hold Swivel to peer, search, scan AAAWWWHOOO AAAWWWHOOO Who cooks for you?? Still Still Ruffle Gaze Swivel If you guessed it was the magnificent Owl that captured my imagination in last week’s blog entry, you were right! “Who cooks for you?” is…

Do You Need a Therapist?

Hello, Prairiewoods friends! My favorite days are the days when I fall in love over and over and over again. With people’s faces, their smiles, with the bees drinking water at the fountain or the prairie grasses dancing with the wind, a dog’s gruff bark, the feeling of love emanating from deep within me. I haven’t…

Praise Be!

Christine Valter Paintner’s beautiful four-minute reflection, Praise Song for the Pandemic, might offer us words for the gratitude we sense most deeply these months. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCYoikGaI6U —Ann Jackson, PBVM, Prairiewoods spiritual services coordinator

Horizons

“The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.” —Maya Angelou I began working from home on March 19. Since then, I have been mostly at home, self-isolating and having minimal in-person interaction with the rest of the world. Working from home has meant long days at my computer or on…

Feeling Good

On the days leading to Beltane, the Celtic May Day, I walked through the forest wishing for Beltane songs, wishing I knew the ancient words my ancestors would’ve sung to celebrate the season of fertility and new life. I found myself humming one morning, and spontaneously singing the opening of an old favorite song, “Feeling…