Moving with Release and Rebirth My mother-in-law left her earthly body recently. We're in process with all that comes after - notifying friends and family, planning a celebration of her life, and attending to her earthly possessions, seeing which ones will continue on in the family and which ones will find new life elsewhere. And like many of us in western cultures, she had no shortage of possessions. It's the kind of thing that can make you crave the simplicity of a tiny cabin in the middle...

Earlier this week, I listened to a woman sing an all too familiar tune - apologizing for how she felt, for not being able to hide it and for - gasp - having the gall to actually say so out loud.

Growing up (in honor of my father's Italian heritage), our Christmas decorations always stayed up through this day. Then my mother eagerly took them down. I've followed this tradition until recently. Then something changed.