Are Smartphones and Social Media Our #1 Threat to a Healthy Life?
I discovered that technology’s quest towards the unknown requires us to accumulate more and more control, whereas growing in virtue requires an altogether different capacity: more and more surrender. ~Nipun Mehta Believe it or not, I do not own smartphones. I’m not averse to technology. But I spend so much time on my computer engaged […]
Be Still, and Respond with Kindness
Christmas, Hanukkah, and the Winter Solstice are a good time for reflection and renewal as well as celebration. This year, I invite you to take time to consider the way that you view the world, and how you might shift your thinking to become happier, healthier, more compassionate, and more at peace. In my work, I […]
Seven Easy Ways to Increase Oxytocin: The “Feel Good Hormone”
Sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is a powerful natural biochemical with physical and psychological effects. Acting as both a hormone (affecting the endocrine system) and a neurotransmitter (affecting the nervous system), oxytocin is well known for enhancing sexual behavior, reproduction, childbirth, breastfeeding, and maternal bonding. Perhaps less well known is the role […]
Reflections on The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount
At this holy time of year as we approach Passover and Easter, I reflect on the ways in which my faith informs my life. And I consider the ways in which I can strengthen my connection to the divine with these reflections. The central emphasis of Eastern Christian monastic spirituality is the belief that we […]
Can Stress And Low Level Exposure to Toxins Improve Health And Longevity?
Almost daily, we are warned of the dangers of exposure to toxins from pollutants in our air, water, food, home, and workplace. The reality of modern life is that no matter how careful we may be, we are inevitably exposed to a variety of toxins. For many people, knowing that toxins are linked to cancer, […]
Be The Light
In the midst of the busyness and celebration of the holidays, let us all as a collective pause to shine forth as a light with loving kindness and goodness. Be the Light The Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year, and the gradual but noticeable shift toward the light. Bonfires, candles, and twinkling […]
Living A Spirit Filled Life
Living A Spirit-Filled Life In life, the soul does not grow in the same way as the body, although we often speak as if it does. It’s a great gift, that as the body grows older and begins to lose strength, the soul gains strength—if we nourish our spiritual being. The mystery of spiritual growth […]
Living with Passion and Purpose: Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King and John Coltrane
On January 16th, 2017, MLK (Martin Luther King) day, the ten-piece band I play in, “Souliverse” (Souliverse.com), will be celebrating and performing at a mid-day event at the historic Ashland Armory in downtown Ashland, Oregon. If you’re in the area, please join us for this celebration. (Souliverse just released a live DVD/CD from the Mederi […]
Theology And Religion Are Key To A Better Life For Everyone
“[If] you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones— bad, muddled, out of date ideas.” —C. S. Lewis From all appearances, the importance of religion in the U.S. has dramatically declined in recent years. According […]