I see three main ways wonder arises for me. The first way is by being in a place I’ve never seen before, a place of of deep beauty and vastness, like on a recent trip to the Hudson River Valley of upstate New York.

The second way I see is by contemplating the workings of nature, from the level of quantum mechanics to the molecules cells and organ systems of the body, to the mystery of stars and other planets, to the vastness, complexity and great unknowns of the universe.

The second way I see is by contemplating the workings of nature, from the level of quantum mechanics to the molecules cells and organ systems of the body, to the mystery of stars and other planets, to the vastness, complexity and great unknowns of the universe.

The third way is by coming to see the people and places around me, and my own body, from a new vantage point, through practices that focus my awareness and open my eyes to something I usually don’t notice, or bring me into a greater felt attunement with the life of others and nature.

The first thing that comes to mind is singing. The second is hugs. The third is friends being themselves, sharing openly together. The fourth is flowers. The fifth is service and seeing someone’s heart open like a flower or resonate like a song. The sixth is trees. The seventh is stars…. I’ll cap the list there for now, though it feels good to remember and name that right now!

And how do I know I’m happy? I mostly feel it in my chest, my heart – an expansiveness, tenderness, and affection, the sense of being deeply connected or sharing in life beyond my habitual concern with a concept of myself and all I supposedly lack or need before I can be happy.

All that melts away (or at least fades to the background) – and the feeling of shared life is revealed, the heart knowingness of our actual lived existence as part of nature, and part of each other, and inseparable from a mysterious, loving source.

The last dream I remember I was at a funeral for my mom, realizing my extended family were kinder than I usually give them credit for, and thinking how strange it was that we were gathered with an empty coffin, because my mom had been cremated.

I’m sorry if this dream triggers anyone. I don’t know what to make of it, except that I miss her, and the grief hasn’t really left me, even though the coffin I carry around doesn’t reflect the reality of life.

I believe the spirit of my mom is in her family – visible in their kindness. And it’s in me as well, if I can recognize it. Maybe that’s what the dream was saying, or maybe it’s what I make of it now. And none of this takes away the grief or the strange fragility of life that I became a lot more aware of when she died suddenly.

There’s something I knew in the dream too, maybe – we were fooling ourselves with this ceremony. In the midst of our kindness, honest tears would have done more to heal the loss than the empty ceremony we were participating in.

I hope I’m not causing offense! I think ceremonies can be deeply meaningful. It just seems to me they have to touch the heart to truly have their deeply healing affect. This is my best read on what the dream was saying – to touch into my heart and let in the kindness around (and within) me, and let go of empty concepts about loss, and to just feel it, no matter how long it takes.

What I notice most often is that I’m touched by the expression of the body more than the mental content of anything shared – laughter, tears, a hug, eye contact, holding hands, a warm tone of voice – all express more and stay with me more than anything we say.

I feel this is the same with strangers or loved ones, though the depth of what’s shared is different. Maybe this is because with a friend or loved one our bodies feel safer with each other, and there’s more trust that it’s okay to let our feelings flow…

I’m resonating with what Ose wrote, about learning to be vulnerable and seeing that this doesn’t result in me being pushed away (as I fear), but usually leads to more genuine closeness.

I’ve also been learning that I could sing all day, every day, and be deeply happy.

And I’ve learned how lucky it is to have others to show up for as a therapist, as it draws me out of my patterns of thought (that often swirl around all I lack) and absorbs me in compassionate connection and presence.

And I’ve learned that others also want to be there when I reach out, and that this can be a gift to offer them, this entry point into the circle of giving-and-receiving…

There are so many directions to go with this question! It’s one I often ask myself, and I appreciate the chance to delve into it with others here.

To focus on one particular area, it seems to me the next right action globally is to stop the life-negating combination of the oppression of others with the destruction of nature.

Personally, for me, this has to start small with myself. Which might mean simply slowing down today, breathing, connecting openly from my heart, singing songs that keep me grounded and that heal the wounds I carry, so I don’t act from a place of compulsively seeking escape from anxiety.

For the people closest to me and who I work with as a therapist, it means that I show up, ready to connect with an open heart and focused mind. And then giving in a heartfelt way that meets the needs I hear being expressed.

For my community, it seems to me it means asking each other what we need and what we have to offer. Truly listening. And then being able to give in a way that truly meets each other.

These are some ideas! It may seem different tomorrow. Thank you for the chance to ponder this in community!

I think I take my eyes for granted at times, other times my ears, sometimes my nose, and at moments my lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, circulatory system, nervous system, muscles, brain, heart, Adam’s apple and all the rest. Simply by not marveling at the miracles of their working, and their existence, and appreciating that I can move, see, hear, taste, feel, smell, think, be!

Sometimes I remember to notice and appreciate the wonder of all this existence, and sometimes I forget when I’m lost in worry for the future and regret over the past.

It’s beautiful to be embodied, and to be in reciprocal exchange with the Earth as the larger body of my being, and I hope to touch into this remembrance as often as I can.

I’d like to let go of fear – the fear of being seen, being loved, giving from a deeply open heart, doing what I love most deeply, letting myself have a vibrant and powerful voice on behalf of protecting who and what I love, and of really trusting life, myself and others. It’s one gentle step forward each day toward this horizon of love.

I’m not sure this horizon is ever fully reached (maybe there’s always more to let go of?) but I want to keep returning to this true north of my life, and at least let myself be one with the aurora borealis of this world’s soul for as many moments as possible during my short time to live and love.

And as far as how it would feel – like being hugged by the Milky Way. ????