Karen Shanley's Blog, page 12

Navigating Life’s Maze: A Spiritual Journey to Inner Stillness

Q: Life today can often seem so overwhelming. Is there a way to look at our lives that will have it all make more sense?

It can help to think of life as a kind of maze. It has a beginning and lots of twists and turns, and even though we all try to see around corners to find shortcuts, the maze will still do what it will with us, until eventually we find the way out. That’s why, in … Read More

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If There Ever Was a Time to Start Growing Your Own Food, That Time is Now.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you, too, are shocked and dismayed at the rapid rise in food costs. But there is a way we can all fight back that’s not only good for our wallets but our bodies, too.

This is one day’s haul from my grape and berry patch: 3.5 lbs of raspberries and 4.75 lbs of Concord grapes.

Let’s do the math.

Today’s price for 6 oz of organic store-bought raspberries is roughly $5.99, and for … Read More

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Spiritual Seekers, External Teachers and GIMMES

Q: Sometimes we search for so long we reach a point where we don’t even know what it was we were searching. But there is this longing that remains. What now? 

What’s needed is a moment of recognition. Something clicks that makes us feel alive and excited.

That’s one of the things that happen when we find an external teacher. We have that sensation of hope that here’s somebody who could take me further down the path. You may not … Read More

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What Are the Spiritual Stages?

Q: What does it truly mean to live a spiritual life?

When someone first asks for a spiritual life, they are not aware, truly, of what they are asking for. They have read. They have heard. They have decided. But they do not know. And they cannot know at the beginning. Because if they did know at the beginning, without the proper preparation, it would only scare them. That’s because they aren’t ready for what they need to do. For … Read More

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Top 5 Game-Changing Dog Gadgets You Never Knew You Needed

It’s true—I’m a gadget person. My father ingrained in me that the right tool for the job is worth the search. Because when you find the right tool, it often is game-changing in time, effort, and enjoyment of the task at hand.

It’s no surprise this also applies to my dog equipment. If it doesn’t make my life easier and my dogs’ lives better, it doesn’t make the cut. So, without further ado, here are my:

Top 5 Game-Changing

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Cosmic DNA

Cos… Read More

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The Meaning of Life

Q: What is the meaning of life?
On what level would you like the answer? On an individual level, there are infinite answers because for every life form, each experiences a different meaning.

Q: Is it natural for people to want there to be meaning? Or is that something that religion has given us a need for?

Religion isn’t the entire culprit. When someone starts to wonder how to make their way in the world, or what they could do … Read More

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Pay No Attention to Success or Failure

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Changing Up the Routine

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Is My Australian Shepherd Puppy’s Energy Level Normal?

From the Mailbag: Stacie writes: My daughter brought home a 2 month old Aussie pup. I had never had one or didn’t know anything about the breed. I have 2 dogs that got along great and just need affection and some backyard time and they are fine. I have some major medical challenges and am trying to make this work with the new pup. He ,as everyone says is super smart but I’m just not sure I can provide what … Read More

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