Within every 24 hour period, we experience a full cycle of day and night. In the early hours, the sun slowly emerges above the horizon to bring light and at the end of day, it slowly disappears below the horizon giving way to darkness. In darkness, little is visible compared to daylight, where everything is visible and clearly definable. In the darkness of night, only the moon and stars emit natural light that brings magic and wonder to the mysteries of life. This cycle of day and night, darkness and light mirrors the human journey in surprising ways!

Being human involves fluctuations in energy and mood throughout any 24 hour period. With nightfall and the end of day, the body needs rest and downtime. During daytime and light of day, the body needs nourishment and activity. Through night and day, emotions also come and go with changing experiences. Moments of happiness spontaneously arise, perhaps intertwined with bouts of irritation, fear, sadness or peace. All are normal and natural experiences. All mirror the 24 hour cycle of night and day, light and darkness.

Accept light and darkness within yourself without judgement or rejection … without downplaying or exaggeration. Accept them as naturally and neutrally as you accept the cycle of night and day. These contrasts reflect the great rhythm of life. Stark differences reveals value in opposites.  Look to the sky tonight and see the gifts of darkness! Revel in the wonders above!  It is here where mysteries are discovered. There is beauty and light in both day and night!

A convocation speech posted on-line received over a million hits. In fact, it received so many hits that it was published as a beautiful little white hard cover book. Why? Because its message resonated deeply with many. What was the content that stirred so many people? What qualities rang throughout his speech? Truth, for one. Humour … and finally, profound wisdom.

Professor George Saunders spoke at the Syracuse University in 2013. He shared his life regrets, which surprisingly did not include becoming deathly ill after swimming (naked and with his mouth open) in a river saturated with monkey poo! No, his regret was based on his lack of kindness in high school, even though he felt he was not unkind. Rather, he wished that he were kinder. He realized looking back that his insecurity, ambitions, anxiety and fears were dark clouds that inhibited his true nature. But like the silver lining that reveals itself behind a dark cloud, his authentic nature eventually shone through, illuminating the truth that we are all capable of so much more than we perceive. He ends his speech by asking the graduates before him to not get caught up in illusory success but “to honor that luminous part of themselves that exists beyond personality – their soul – that is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeare’s, bright as Gandhi’s, bright as Mother Teresa’s … and believe that it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.”

Everything we say and do impacts our world. Thank you George Saunders for raising positive vibrations on our planet. This invisible magnetic field is ever present, impacting our surroundings in subtle ways. Hence, positive energy raises positive vibrations. Loving energy grows more love while fearful energy grows more fear. ‘Be kinder’ is the ultimate message … to yourself and others. Your life and the lives of every living thing around you will undoubtedly benefit!

It is Valentines Day. Public transit is very busy with several people carrying valentines gifts for loved ones. Beautiful bouquets of exquisite red roses lay nestled in arms. One young woman carries a single red carnation betweens her fingers as she smiles and texts a message on her cell phone. A deep sense of joy and satisfaction pervades her face. Love is in the air!

A young man gets up and starts to walk toward the rear of the bus. As he does this, he shouts “Thank YOU!” in a joyful loving tone to the bus driver and adds “Happy Valentines Day everyone!!” as he bounces out of the bus. Big smiles ripple throughout the bus, like a ripple of water that grows to become a tide. Love washes over people in surprising ways!

Imagine love growing and expanding in our world. Imagine love as a bountiful crop that is regularly harvested and shared worldwide! Imagine love permeating every being, every home, every nest, every nook and cranny in our planet! How different our world would feel. Love has a natural radiance that emanates well beyond where one can see. As Ghandi once said “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

Humans cry. Dogs whine. Trees crackle. What do these three have in common? Feelings! At least that is what author Peter Wohlleben proposes in his two popular books: The Hidden Life of Trees and The Inner Life of Animals. Peter shares intriguing facts revealing distinct personalities and the intuitive social nature of all living things! If you can wrap your mind around this notion, you will discover that humans have more similarities with the plant and animal world than you ever thought! In fact, thinking is one of the greatest blocks for humans, being both a virtue and vice.

Plants and animals instinctively know how to survive and even thrive. Humans on the other hand are a little different because of their capacity for imagination. Humans can imagine catastrophic disasters as well as heavenly blissful experiences, unconsciously triggering their nervous system into fight or flight when there is no real risk or meditatively inducing calm when exposed to real risk! Our capacity to thrive is just as inherent as the plant and animal world. We just need to disengage from limiting thoughts and trust our instinctual knowing. Easier said than done? Maybe!

Psychology, as defined in the dictionary, is the scientific study of the human mind and it’s functions, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context. Applying this to the plant world, imagine the behaviour of a tree revealing it’s ‘mindset’. If it grows toward the sun and flexes with the wind; if it grows massive roots that breaks through paved paths; or remains green and vibrant through all kinds of weather, what do each of these tell you about their inherent personality? Whether it is an evergreen tree that remains ever green, a deciduous tree that annually sheds it leaves or a coniferous tree that bears cones, each have a personality unique to its type … which brings to mind the monkey tree. Does it have a monkey mind?!

Buddhist texts use the term monkey mind to describe the continuous chatter of the human mind. Neuroscientists reveals that the majority of human thoughts are not only repetitive, but also negative. Monkeys on the other hand are brilliant creatures who have been tested to be even smarter than humans! This may be due to their instinctual nature and pattern of tuning into what feels right for them … which leads to the ultimate question we all need to ask ourselves: “What feels right for me?” Grab a banana and ponder this question for a while. See what emerges! Eep eeep!!

AHHchooh! sniffle, sniffle. Hawnkkk!!! Schoowhhhh! (wipe, wipe)

It’s cold season. Yes the season of cold! Where temperatures dip below freezing, where there is nip in the air and mist from human breath. Cold is also evident in the human body, where extremities can be chilled to the point of numbness and no feelings at all. Fingers, toes, hands, feet, ears and nose turn rosy red or white! Circulation is disrupted, joints stiffen and internal flow of air and fluids are literally stilted. Such are the perils of human journey!

Cold is also a term for an illness where blockages inhibit natural wellness. Air is constricted to the point that free flow is no longer present. Hence, sniffle sniffle, hawnkkk and schooowwhhh arises! Similarily, a ‘cold’ of the mind inhibits natural vitality with blocks to free flowing thoughts. Likened to mucus, these too can be relieved! Cold of the mind is self-induced for many. Release the ickiness and stickiness so that ease of flow awaits! Surprise yourself by applying this to any physical symptoms in the moment. Release negative thoughts such as “I am sick.” or “I hate this.” and replace it with “I am a healthy and vibrant being.” Repeat this for the rest of your life and see what happens!