Karen Shanley's Blog, page 4
June 26, 2025
Summer’s Unfolding
The cherries are ripe and ready for picking in the food forest, each one a small burst of sweetness and color. The mulberries are not far behind, still blushing their way toward deep purple perfection. Overhead, sunlight streams through slow-moving clouds.
This is the gentle unfolding of summer. Not a sudden arrival, but a gradual opening. A quiet reminder to savor what ripens in its own time.
Ripe—Cherries
Almost Ripe—Mulberries (with raspberries not far behind)
Magical—Light
Wishing … Read More
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June 23, 2025
The House Is on Fire. Now What?
We’re living through a profound transformation of the human experience. Institutions we once relied on are faltering, truth is up for grabs, and divisiveness festers. Many of us feel caught between rage and resignation, overwhelmed by the chaos.
But what if this craziness isn’t just about breaking us down? Let’s consider the possibility that it’s clearing the way for us to create something entirely new. And giving us the opportunity to rebuild ourselves in ways we’ve never … Read More
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Identity
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June 22, 2025
Where Does Your Dog Fall on the Most Popular Dog Breeds List?
There have been some interesting shifts up and down on this year’s list. For instance, the Yorkshire Terrier has moved up a couple spots and the Bulldog has dropped a few. No surprise, Aussies and Cavaliers make it into the Top 15. Miniature American Shepherds (mini Aussies) are also rising quickly. Always, when a dog breed becomes popular, it’s super important to find reputable breeders who have dogs with good health.
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June 16, 2025
The “Getting Ready to Get Ready” Stage
Q: I keep having this feeling that I’m ready to make a big change. But at the same time, I feel that I’m not really ready. What’s going on?
That’s the “getting ready to get ready” stage.
Q: What does that mean? Because I want to know how do I get ready as quickly as possible?
It’s a natural pacing mechanism. When you’re on the verge of a big shift—one that’s really going to be transformative—your system knows that it … Read More
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The Gaps
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June 11, 2025
Can Dogs Count?
Every time I take Arrow for a walk, I stuff a random number of small biscuits into my pocket. This is mostly for backup in case we encounter something really exciting (like a jogger or a biker flying past), and I want to be able to quickly grab his attention without grabbing his collar or cinching the leash. Also, as we walk, I like to randomly reward him with food (and always with praise) for looking back and checking in … Read More
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June 9, 2025
A Mirror- Not a Hug
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The Ocean of Awareness
Q: I was reading this quote from Nityananda: “While the ocean has plenty of water, it is the size of the container you bring to it that determines how much you collect.” I think I understand it, but can you comment on it?
This quote isn’t about abundance in the usual sense. It’s about awareness; our capacity to perceive and experience the infinite. The ocean here represents pure consciousness—always present, infinite, and undivided. It doesn’t come and go. It doesn’t … Read More
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June 2, 2025
Is Confidence Needed to Connect with the Inner Teacher?
For someone to be able to make use of the inner teacher, do they have to have a certain degree of confidence in knowing that what they’re getting is from the inner teacher?
What builds that confidence is validation over time—it requires duration plus positive experience with the inner teacher. It’s like anything else, you’re building a muscle. But this is a very different kind of muscle because it’s invisible and the results are, to a degree, intangible. It’s not … Read More
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