Dancing on Mars

by Lucinda Shirley

By the third year I was growing more and more despondent. I felt empty as a drum, and it became harder and harder to appear otherwise. I felt disconnected, like my soul was drying up, and my heart was heavy most of the time. It took a lot of energy pretending to others, indeed to myself, that all was well when I was screaming inside. It’s unhealthy and irresponsible to live a lie, no matter how “noble” the reason. Living that way drains away life energy, leaving nothing in reserve. Once the life force is diminished, you can bet your number will be coming up for a disease, accident, or worse. I think some low-level depression was factoring in by then. Yet I kept trying to make it better, make it better, make it better. I felt purposeless and totally without support. Self-help books didn’t help.

we can only meet ourselves where we are and work with what we have in a crisis. Sometimes our standards may be too high to resolve an impossible situation.

Taking steps to change family patterns takes the willingness of only one individual; it

If all our troubles were hanging on a line, you’d choose yours, and I’d choose mine.

I learned that spirituality is a journey from the head to the heart.

bumps: I think of God as the ocean and all of creation as drops in the ocean.

“The goal of self-healing is not to change yourself into a better person, but to love yourself and express more of who you really are.”

“Religious people worry about going to Hell; spiritual people have been there already.” Amen

A Meditator’s Diary by Jane Hamilton-Merritt

Carl Jung’s Memories, Dreams, and Reflections.

Emmanuel’s Book,

Robert Redford’s PBS documentary, “The Legend of Chaco Canyon.”

The United States of America was founded as a safe place to believe as one chooses, to practice or not practice one's faith without fear. To me, any love-based spiritual path is a worthy one. I will respect yours, even if it's very different from mine. And I would like that same respect from you.

The bottom line for me on relationships and marriage is that both people should be better in them than they are alone—not just happier but better. Being in partnership should help you explore different aspects of your self in a safe place; a partner should give you peace, comfort, support, and confidence to do and be more than you would without that partner.

If I had to say one thing to a young man today, it would be to drop all the macho behavior and just listen to the woman for a while. She’ll teach you what you need to know. I think women have all the wisdom that it takes guys years to learn.

hormonelady.com.

I control the happiness switch. It’s all up to me.

Until you can really enjoy the life you have made for yourself, no one can possibly ‘make you happy.’

I got a flight to Phoenix, then rented a car and drove to the Grand Canyon. On the way there, I stopped at Arcosanti and Sedona and loved learning about Arcosanti and seeing the artisans. Sedona was magical, one of the most beautiful, spiritual places I’ve ever been. I had never seen such red rock. I was there at sunset and visited a magnificent chapel in the rocks; I visited mineral shops and took nature photos along the way. As I drove up to the Grand Canyon there were fields of yellow flowers like I’ve never seen before or since. As I came into the park, I kept wondering, ‘Where is the Canyon?’ When all of a sudden there it was, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! I stayed in a cabin in the Canyon and watched the sun rise above the rim each morning. And saw it setting each evening. I hiked with a group, then went, on my own, beyond where the group had gone. It was dusty, windy and a bit intimidating, yet beautiful.

Have a look at Gleanings Foundation (in western North Carolina mountains) and the Sophia Institute (in Charleston, South Carolina).]

to Keb Mo’s “She Just Wants to Dance” and see if you can sit still.]