In the middle of an intuitive storytelling workshop for a local high school, I demonstrated an ‘impasse’ in a story, where it was unclear what the central character should do next. I used the first pillar of Intuitive Storytelling, ‘Attention’ and noticed three things in the room to use as a “seed” for the next  read more …

The first time I met Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy I was ten years old. Every Thursday I had a date with Marmee, I mean mom, as she stood there ironing. To make her arduous task go by faster, I read Little Women to her. Orchard House seemed the perfect setting to iron in and  read more …

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there within me lay an invincible summer.                                                                                read more …

We have reached the shortest days of the year, once again. The sun’s rays are fleeting. The nights are long. The air has cooled and depending on where you live, the first snowflakes may have already danced through the air in a slow descent to the cold, frost-covered ground. If your life is anything like  read more …

Amanda Soule, the author of the blog SouleMama, recently published her third book The Rhythm of Family with her husband Steve and their children. Rhythm of the Home co-creator Heather Fontenot was invited to contribute a piece to the book on yoga and meditation for children, and she recently interviewed Amanda and Steve on the  read more …

The holiday season is a time of magic and wonder for most children. There is an air of mysticism as St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Old St. Nick make their way to chimneys all over the world. As much as children love the holidays, for many parents it is a time of struggle between the  read more …

Hazel looks out the back window as we pass the memorial park and says “I miss our baby.” I hear my mother’s breath catch. “Your grandma would be horrified.” They are often together. Two of the most awesome people I’ve ever known, the only two I have to live without. They are often together in  read more …

Perceiving beauty, we become beautiful. —Polly Berrien Berends Winter brings stillness. The earth sleeps, the birch trees stand bare, the garden lies empty, waiting for spring. Animals are hibernating, and I too am hibernating, wrapped in warm blankets in my cozy chair, sipping hot tea. An inner stillness arises in resonance with nature’s own stillness,  read more …

I have the fondest memories of the Christmases of my childhood, of being surrounded by family, preparing special meals together, feeling pure magic in the air. Perhaps that is why it seems easier to reconnect with my inner child at this time of year. As I reminisce, I can still feel the warmth of that  read more …

When the winter winds have set in and everyone is inside, how better to lift spirits than by sharing a meal and song with friends? First inspired by a scene in the movie Once, we have hosted a “Sing for your Supper” with many groups of friends, and we love the way the shared nourishment,  read more …

It was Henry David Thoreau who captured in words the essence of seasonal living: Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink,taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. At no other time in the year is this more relevant than during winter. In England our winters  read more …