There is so much to take in. To receive. Moments to cherish. Fulfillment from life. Nature’s beauty. A rose. The toddler barely visible within the puffy snow suit. The animals. Our beloved companions. Love of family and friends. The endearing stranger we meet on the street. There is so much. The littered street. Plastic. Excess. Earthquakes. War. Suffering. There is so little. Time. I can’t possibly take in all that life has to offer. All the love. All the suffering. So, I turn my gaze towards the small things. These I can receive. Fully. These I can share. Moments of awareness. Discovery. Awe. Time stops. I can pick up the trash that is before me. I can be a listening ear. And when the smallest glimmer of light radiates and shines before me, In the most unexpected places, I can share this with you. A reminder to stop and smell […]
All posts by Amy Laederach
Lunar New Year
A crescent moon, an Earth Goddess and a White Hawk. These symbols are sure to have specific meaning to the family that now owns this painting, but with the celebration of the Lunar New Year, I found myself drawn to share this piece. The Lunar New Year falls between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It is a time to celebrate new beginnings. The seeds of purpose that have been buried in our subconscious mind can begin to emerge. The stage is prepared for new life, renewal and awakening. In the painting you will find a waxing crescent moon shining down upon the earth below. Looking into symbolism of the waxing crescent moon, you may discover new growth and creativity. The moon reminds us of cycles and transitions. The moon is connected to our emotions, receptivity and intuition. Like the moon illuminating upon reflection of the sun, we may reflect […]
Moments in Time
I get a break in my work day. It’s not a lunch break, for I stay with the students and eat my sun butter and jelly sandwich right alongside them. My break comes later. Thirty minutes. Enough time for a moment to myself, but not so much time that I become engaged in other matters. I sit with my back against the building and begin to observe my surroundings. Cars parked in the lot. Garbage dumpsters in view. A pebble in the crack of a sidewalk. I am pleased to observe life, typically overlooked in the hustle of a day. I have this moment. I see life growing out of weathered cement. Colorful pebbles and peeling paint become my companions. Nearby, the railroad tracks call to me. A bug becomes my friend. I am thankful for these moments and feel at peace.
You Are Your Sunshine, Your Golden Sunshine
It is springtime in the Northern Hemisphere. In Minnesota, we have seen proof! The grass is green. Tulips have sprouted. Leaves grace the tips of branches. It is a time of new growth and beginnings. Spring is also the time in which the sun draws nearer, bringing with it longer days of warmth and light. As we welcome the spring sun that heats the earth and warms our faces, I’d like to share with you how Golden Sunshine can become a part of your daily life, even during tumultuous spring thunderstorms or in the darkest hours and seasons on life’s journey. Life experiences may be challenging. At times, it can be difficult to see the silver lining around clouds of pain, illness, despair or uncertainty. Within our Mindfulness/Spiritual Tool Kit,* we find tools for Grounding, Clearing Space and Finding Neutrality. These are important first steps in healing. Even if we experience situations beyond our […]
Grounding: A Foundational Tool for Life’s Experiences
It’s a fast paced world, these days. Often it may seem there’s not enough time in the day to accomplish tasks at hand. We are faced with daily distractions, an influx of information to dissect, an array of people with varying beliefs, ideas and propaganda. People experience unease, fear and anxiety. Some feel discomfort in their own body, among crowds, or in the whole of society as they see it. Yet, others may have difficulty managing anger, excitement or experiences from the past or projected future. How can one find ample space to BE, to discover, express and live by their own Truths in joy and peace? Luckily for us, a plethora of tools exist to assist us in life, the most foundational being that of Grounding. With mindful awareness focused on Grounding, we begin to experience more clarity, peace, joy, and security. If you don’t already have Grounding as one of your tools, it’s […]
Roses – What’s with All the Roses?
By referencing roses in the month of February, one might anticipate a post about love, friendship, and appreciation for others. Nope. Not here! Though, I will speak about roses as they relate to personal development. Roses are known to be symbols of love, friendship, purity, all depending upon the color of the rose. Some traditions find that when gifting roses to another, one must send an appropriate color associated with personal intent and feelings. Simply based on color alone, there’s potential for miscommunication. Oh, my, it’s so complicated! I am proposing another use for the beautiful rose, in which color does not matter. In past blogs, “Cloudy with A Chance of Sunshine” and “Glitter Money & Anxiety,” I mentioned how we can get stuck on pictures, ideas, thoughts, emotions that no longer serve us well. I spoke about our ability to find neutrality and simply release our hold on […]
Glitter Money & Anxiety
There was a time in my not so far distant past, when I was feeling anxious about money. Money was something I felt I needed for survival. Curious how that happens. It seemed to me that not enough money was flowing in my direction; or perhaps it flowed too swiftly back into the Sea of Intangible Wealth. As I alluded to in a past blog, Which, What, Who, I’ve spent time searching for my next career path in support of financial stability and personal goals. It shouldn’t be so hard, right? I’m aware of the power of thought. I am aware of the concept of manifesting our reality. I saw The Secret. Heck, attracting money and abundance… It’s a Law, isn’t it? Okay, to be fair, I have not studied the Law of Attraction or done the exercises in The Secret. Maybe I missed out, but as the movie/book […]
Cloudy, with a Chance of Sunshine
As of late, I have not found my inspiration to blog. I skipped November and this is the beginning of a rewrite I had started for December. Originally, I began to write about inner light. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” It’s the season of celebrating light of all kinds; the birth of the Child of Light, the miracle of Hanukkah candles burning, store fronts and streets aligned with lights because, um, it’s a pagan ritual celebrating the return of light at the winter solstice? Oh, it’s good for business. ‘Tis the season of outer light illuminations. All well and good. Yet, when I began to write about inner light shining, I recognized that I was feeling more in the shadows. During the busy holiday season, perhaps if we’re lucky, mindful and/or aware, we will acknowledge the inner light within ourselves and others, radiating out to […]
Which What Who
October. A chance to put on a costume and become someone or something else. I’m not a Halloween enthusiast when it comes down to ME dressing up. Don’t get me wrong when I say I care not to be a sexy fairy or nurse, nor the store bought hot dog or crayon. No judgement here. Go for it, if so inclined! But for me, unless I can do something unique, highly authentic or completely ridiculous, I’d prefer to be just me. Last October, I attended a West Coast Swing dance event that featured an evening Halloween costume parade. I participated by wearing one of two ridiculous costumes I had put together that year. It was at this event that I began to wonder what on earth would be a worthy costume for next year. “Ah ha!,” I thought. “I will be a Which, What, Who! I’ve never seen that costume […]
Elven Woman & Friend
