This week we look at what is sometimes considered the darker side of things... pain - both emotional and physical, grieving and death, using dreams to heal from emotional pain, and then we move on to the next step, starting fresh in rebirth.

Many things in life get a "bad rap": stress, the left-brain, the right-brain, disease, painful memories... but as with everything, there are always two sides to everything. Everything has a purpose...

The theme that shows up in this week's featured articles is the process of "reflection, vision, and action". In order to have a vision, one must reflect on what one truly desires. And in order to have that vision become reality, we need to take action. Our authors support us in making our dreams reality.

This week we reflect on our habits... some that are unconscious (good ones like breathing) and the ones we may or may not be aware of (a.k.a. the "bad" ones). However, the good news is that all habits can be upgraded and/or changed to ones that support a happier and healthier lifestyle.

We constantly choose whether we sleep-walk through our life (successfully or not), or whether we traverse our life's journey with consciousness, making choices based on our inner truth and awareness. This week we discover...

It is said that the Chinese have an expression that is both a blessing and a curse: "May you live in interesting times". This week we look at how to traverse the "interesting" or "precariously balanced" times in our lives.

As I began working on this week's articles, I thought the theme was communication and relationships. But as the articles came together, I saw that the theme was actually "trusting through fear". Which of course does apply to communication and relationships, and so much more.

This week we reflect on the path to happiness. This path of the heart includes self-validation and self-compassion, generating happiness, and the willingness to heal and to be happy. You might say, but of course I'm willing to be happy, however...

As I sit down to write this message, today is Father's Day. The day that children honor their fathers. However my message to you today is about honoring the children and the family. This is a plea to take action at some horrible injustices and callous behavior that is currently taking place in the USA.

This week we reflect on coming face-to-face with ourselves... on facing our suffering, discovering our intentions, clarifying our choices, and of course taking action towards the reality we wish to empower.

This week's featured articles look at our relationship with friends, aging parents, nature, our "partner" (whether married or not), and even our relationship with our past selves. The connection between all of these relationships is that all...

This week we look at being... in the flow, in the moment, in stillness, in life. Patience -- with yourself, with others, and with life itself -- is essential. This week's articles provide light and guidance for our journey...

This week we share some ways that our actions make a difference... from where we choose to place a tattoo (if we choose to get one), to identifying where our stressful thoughts come from and if they really belong to us, to connecting with where our traumas really come from and clearing them from our energetic space.

This week we bring you articles to assist in stepping out of the conditioning of our culture and explore different perspectives. We look at pain and how to move beyond it, we reflect on reincarnation, and we look at moving beyond the way of the ego to the path of spiritual will.

Today is Mother's Day and in our articles this week, we feature some of the traits that are usually associated with the feminine aspect of our being (whether male or female)...

This week our theme is symbolism... how one thing means something other than the obvious, or brings a message other than its apparent one. We launch our symbolic journey with "May 2018: On The Brink Of…. But Not Quite Ready To Jump!"  and then move on to the animal kingdom with "Receiving Symbolic Messages From Your Animals" and with...

One of the articles this week has in the title: " As Within, So Without" and that is the theme this week. Our authors share their path or their vision in hopes of sparking within you a recognition of your own truth and they provide methods and tools for you to arrive at your own "ah-ha" moments of "in-lightenment"...

As I focused on which articles beckoned to be included in this week's issue of InnerSelf, my conscious thought was that the focus was going to be Earth Day. While I am a firm believer that "every day should be Earth Day", this designated day gives us additional opportunity to reflect together on our love for our precious planet. However...

One could say that connection -- either the presence of, or lack thereof -- is the problem and the solution to all our ills. This week we look at our connections... connection to the All, to ourselves, to others, to Nature, to duality... and reflect on our search for harmony and balance.

This week we look at "hidden messages"... These are the messages from our unconscious beliefs, from our inner children, from our body, from our environment, and from our heart... And we discover that these messages are not really hidden as much as...

This newsletter is being released on April Fools Day... and its theme is that not only have we been fooled but we have fooled ourselves... not just today but for a long long time. Thus this week our authors help expose some of the tricks we've fallen for.

Things are not always as they seem... So even if you feel like you're about to get run over by a train, I guarantee you this is not the case. We can be grateful that things are not as they seem, because, yes, things seem to be crazy and definitely unsettling at times... but they are usually the first -- or one-thousandth -- step in a journey that we are taking...

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…” This is the theme of this week's edition of InnerSelf. What is within us affects the outside, and what is outside affects the inside. This includes "non-tangible" or "non-touchable" things such as sound, the language of flowers, the energy of tattoos...

This week's edition of InnerSelf may be resumed in the title of one of the featured articles: "Musings on Beliefs, Opinions, Facts, Knowledge, and Truth". We reflect, with Charles Eisenstein, on our "stories", old and new, and with Anne Tucker on the decisions we make that lead us towards tomorrow and our many tomorrows.

Life is made of cycles... day and night, summer and winter, rest and action, sun and rain, ups and downs... Each aspect of the cycle is important and needed. Just as action is needed, action without inner renewal creates imbalance. This week we look at cycles and at the balance between "being" and "doing".

This week we focus on perception... how we perceive things either through our senses, our imagination, our beliefs, or other people's beliefs... and also, through what we think we "know".

Balance. This week we focus on attaining balance. It seems that our whole world is also now in a state of seeking balance...yet not quite attaining it. Perhaps we're looking for balance (and love) in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways...

This week we reflect on fear and how to be stronger than our fears. It seems that our "new and improved modern world" has brought us more things to be afraid of. We watch TV and discover numerous "reasons" to be afraid, we surf the internet and find more of the same, we hear of another person with cancer, or another shooting, or some other fearful event.

The theme this week is "seeing things differently"... which reminds me of the title of Wayne Dyer's book, You'll See It When You Believe It". Wayne flipped around the expression, I'll believe it when I see it, to the more "meta-physical" or quantum-energy-like saying, I'll see it when I believe it. focusing on the power of our thoughts and expectations.

The theme this week is "Who Are You, Really". I especially get such enjoyment from seeing how each article, selected intuitively with inner guidance or by Divine timing, supports the theme and deepens the path. As the articles come together for the new issue, the theme becomes clear...

This week we take a look at creativity. You might not think of yourself as a creative person. But the fact is that we are all creating every single moment of our day. Creativity doesn't need a paint brush. It starts with a thought, followed by a word or action...

This week we bring you articles to assist in your journey of inner discovery and self-empowerment.

As life continues to present us with challenges and blessings (sometimes they are one and the same), we benefit from the energy and tools at our fingertips or inside our being...

This week we share with you some articles that deal with setting intentions (rather than resolutions), creating your vision, discovering who you are and what you really want...

As we approach the end of the year, we may have a desire to review our past and present, and reflect on our attitudes, beliefs, actions, and goals... May this newsletter's articles assist you in your journey...

The new issue of InnerSelf focuses on becoming truly ourselves, becoming an adult species and moving away from the traits of childhood and adolescence. This includes discovering the balance between...

The theme this week is "know thyself". This wise advice goes back centuries and probably millennia. Since the key to happiness and inner peace lies in knowing who we are, we bring you articles to assist you in this journey of discovery...

This week we dare take a look at our dark side, and also learn to befriend our shadow. As you scroll down through this week's articles, you will find the words fear, shadow, stress, manipulation, pain. Yet you also find the balance in the themes of kindness, love, prayer, compassion, vision, meditation, creating a better world, and choosing love over fear.

This week, as usual, our articles are focused on assisting us to create this world we dream of.

This week, in the US, is the week that is traditionally one for giving thanks... Of course, in order to have a life of fullness and joy, giving thanks needs to be a daily occurrence, not one limited to just one day, or one weekend. This week, we focus on many aspects of gratitude...

If I were to choose one word to summarize this week's featured articles, I would choose "within". We are being encouraged to look within to find solutions to our world's ills and to discover inner peace and happiness.

This week we look at the things that give our life meaning...whether it be our visions and dreams, simplicity, relationships, creativity, happiness...

This week we peruse life from what is usually considered "the dark side" and look at life and death through a new perspective... We are being encouraged to step out of old beliefs, old limitations and patterns, and trust the...

You have probably heard the quote "we have met the enemy, and he is us". However, the other side of that truth is "we have met the solution, and he is us". This week, InnerSelf looks into the power of the heart to heal not only ourselves but the world around us. We start with acceptance which is a basic form of love, and so is being true to yourself. We move on to...

There is a Chinese curse (allegedly) that says "May you live in interesting times". I would definitely say that these are "interesting" times, and of course, they are also challenging. This week we look at how to handle these events in our lives.

Life has its ups and downs... this we all know. However, there is another aspect that we are not necessarily as familiar with as that is the concept of "as above, so below", or "as it is inside, so it is on the outside" (and vice versa). Our inner being and our outer world are a reflection of each other. This week we take a look at some of the inside-outside connections. We start with looking at...

Perhaps the theme of this week's newsletter is best resumed in the title of this article: "From Chaos to Order: Planning a New Life with New Habits". We start with Joyce Vissell sharing personal experiences and perspectives on the chaos of natural disasters that were transformed to order with...

While the "outside" world may have a tendency to focus on what's wrong, touting the latest disasters, the newest divorce, governmental trauma, etc., to maintain inner peace and a sense of balance, we must remember to also focus on what's right! And we start off this week by focusing on joy.

This week we look at things we can do, and who we can be, in order to make a difference in the world...

Many people, world-wide, are experiencing numerous challenges these days, more than usual it seems. Some of the challenges come from nature, illnesses, war, or other severally traumatic situations. Thus, this week, we look at ways to deal with trauma and hardships.

In order for the world to change, we must change. And in order to change, we must learn new ways of thinking, and of being. This requires a source of new knowledge, usually brought to us by a teacher in some form. This week we expand our horizon as to where we find the teachings that we need.

Through the years, I've read many articles (and books) that recommend minding your own business. Never mind trying to "fix" the lives of your friends and family... deal with your own life. While I understand the concept of "keeping your nose out of others' business", I still find that I often disagree with that advice.

In order for things around us to change, we must change. This is not what we learned as children since everything then depended on our parents doing things for us. However, now that we are adults, we discover that we are the key to change. We start the new issue of InnerSelf with an excerpt from a brand-new book...

In this modern age, with all the tools of technology and instant communication at our disposal, we are exposed to many more stressful and traumatic events than our forefathers. This week, we bring you articles to help you through these experiences.

This week, as with every week, we look at different aspects of our life: the blessings and the challenges, and the things we can do to make our life more balanced. Many people feel like they are alone in this journey, yet we are never...

This week we look at how things (and people) are not always at they appear, and we see this first through the eyes of this week's lunar eclipse in "Life Under A Lunar Eclipse: Nothing Is Quite As It Seems..".

Life on earth is quite a dichotomy. We are in control of our life, yet we are not. We enjoy our existence, yet we don't. It's as if we are continually wavering between two extremes, two polarities, in somewhat of a free-fall. This week we look at the balancing act...

There are many expressions and idioms that suggest how to best deal with life. One that comes to mind is "when life throws you a curve ball, hit it out of the park". This week we look at various ways to deal with life's challenges and blessings...

The opioid crisis in the US is a near perfect example why the current push for  unregulated free markets is mostly nonsense. That said the idea that full government regulations and control of markets is the answer is equally ludicrous.

This week we look at family. We all have one, or if we no longer do, we did at some point. Family influenced our early beliefs of life, and in many cases is still influencing our current beliefs, whether consciously or subconsciously.

When life seems to be taking us on a roller-coaster ride, we can remember that the way to keep from "losing it" is to retain our center. And if you've become confused and dizzy from all the ups and downs going on around you, perhaps you will benefit from...

Relationship! We all are involved in one, even if it's only a relationship with our own self. How we deal with that relationship, as well as all others, creates a basis for our life experience. It's not always smooth sailing. This week we look at the essence behind our connection with our own self, our Self (with a capital S), and with others.

You may be familiar with the expression that says you can't give from an empty basket. This, of course, refers to taking care of yourself before you can give of yourself to others. This week we bring you articles to help you replenish your energy and "refill your basket".

Connection and communication. Two very important parts of life. We are connected to the world through our inner life, and through our outer contacts. This week we look at the effects of those two...

While we may all have hopes and dreams for our future, the basis for that future lies in our actions today, right now, in this moment. In order to assist with that daily journey, this week we look at...

As Bob Dylan famously wrote over 50 years ago, the times they are a-changin'. However, these days, a lot of things have the appearance of going in the direction opposite that which we might desire or even prefer. It could be easy to fall into despair or at least a feeling of helplessness. This week, we look at some of our options...

Who we are is at the root of what brings us happiness. This week, we delve into who we are, and how to be more of who that truly is. We start with...

This week's theme focuses on "who you are". Barbara Savin shares "You Are Already A Healer: It Is Time To Reclaim Who You Are" while Marc Allen reminds us of our innate power in "Karma and Politics: It's Time To Embrace Our Power" and Rabbi Daniel Cohen offers a path of reflection in "What Will They Say About You When You're Gone?"

This week we delve into the realms of the healing powers of nature and we look at what it takes to be a champion. We also reflect on parenting, on how to communicate with a loved one who is preparing to die, and many more topics.

We dream, we hope, we seek, we find, we enjoy... and sometimes we don't. These are the things life is made of. The ups and downs and the highs and lows. This week's articles assist us in moving forward with ease and joy on our daily path...

The theme this week is summed up in the title of one of the articles: "Be The Love Of Your Life and Get Ready To Be Happy!" as well as in...

When comparing notes with a neighbor I stated we are ordering more and more from Amazon. She on the other hand ordered from Walmart.

This week we reflect on the past and discover how it has led us into our future. However, our day-to-day actions affect the future we create for ourselves, no matter what our past was...

I was reminded lately of a thought that came to me as a child. I don't know what age I was, but I do remember that I was sitting in church on a Sunday morning. I vividly remember thinking to myself, almost as a declaration of life purpose, "when I grow up I want to be like Jesus".

In one of her articles, Sarah Varcas asks "Are You Ready to Be a Spiritual Warrior?" The good news is, of course, that we are all spiritual warriors whether we are aware of it or not, whether we are living a balanced life or not, and whether we even wish to be one or not. This week...

I have a new favorite song. Well at least it's my favorite for today, or this week anyway. This is a song that currently is my new mantra, a thought that's staying to the forefront of my consciousness.

Each week, we bring you numerous new articles. Our goal, at InnerSelf, is to bring you articles that will encourage you and assist you in creating a better life, for yourself and for all. This week we have...

One thing everyone has in common is relationships... with family, with co-workers, with friends, with pets, with people at the grocery store... This week we look at relationships and how they affect us, just as we affect them. And we look at how to make our experiences better for everyone involved.

I love rewards. And I've noticed that the Universe functions on a reward system. I suppose if you were looking at it from the opposite perspective, which many religions do, you might say the Universe punishes people. This is the premise of the belief in sins and the punishment of hell.

This week we look at the things we do and how we do them. "How" being not so much the physical way of doing, but the attitude behind the action...

I saw a cartoon the other day that posed the well-known question about whether the cup is half full or half empty. And the punch line was that if you think your cup is half empty, get a different another cup. 

This week we look at important questions. Not "Who Am I" but more in the area of "Who Am I Being" and  "What Am I Doing"? Who we are being in the moment, what actions are we taking or not taking, how we are expressing ourselves in the world, how we are treating ourselves and others.

It is time for us to recognize the truth: We are all connected. This week we look at many of the things that connect us. By putting certain attitudes and behaviors in practice, we act on that connectedness...

Recently Donald Trump stated, "Who knew healthcare could be so complicated." Democrats and most everyone else laughed and made fun of him. Healthcare for the US is actually not that complicated.

You may have experienced situations in life where you felt there was just no point fighting "it" anymore... whatever the challenge it was you were facing. And someone may have said to you, "Why fight the inevitable?"

The newsletter theme this week could be translated into these three words: Everything is important...

That the American electorate is fed up with business as usual is not in dispute.

I haven't bought products from Exxon knowingly in nearly 30 years except for a couple times for fear of running out of gas. My personal boycott of Exxon was proven correct when it was disclosed they were major funders of climate denial.

"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world..."

This week we take a look at how to best deal with, and heal, dysfunctional energies... whether in our homes, our relationships, our bodies, or in the world.

This week we take a look at the implications of cause and effect in our life. While we can't change the actions of our past, we surely can change the ones of today and tomorrow.

I know competition can provide motivation to try to be better in a particular field or skill. But I think we've taken this win at all costs attitude way too far. Competing against yourself in order to improve yourself is fine, but feeling like you've always got to compete...

If life is a school or a learning opportunity, then all the challenges we meet are tests administered to see if we've mastered the course material. Looking at current events that way, we can tell that we are in the middle of several exams all being administered at once.

The power within us resides in our heart and our intuition. We are all powerful beings and the articles this week guide us to connect with our inner power and create a world that we can all be proud of.

The new articles this week resonate with the message of taking action in togetherness. We invite you to find your own niche of participation, the one where you feel joy and a feeling of satisfaction at being alive and doing your part...

People are taking a stand on what they believe in. And while some believe in things you may not believe in, yet at least people are speaking out, taking a stand, and making choices. They are no longer being just spectators. They are participating...

The idea of resistance to an authoritarian regime is long, proud, and ultimately successful.

Americans and the world should count their blessings that Donald Trump is the new President It could have been worse. A lot worse.

Each week a theme naturally develops for the new issue. We don't start out with a theme or topic, but the articles that arrive or that are selected come together and have their own synchronicity and connection. This week, the theme is stretching beyond our small world and connecting with the world around us

I've always believed that we can learn from others' mistakes. And of course, the opposite is obviously true, we learn from others' experiences as well.