by Tracy Karkut-Law As the days grow darker and colder, we need to find ways to stay warm and keep our spirits up. With this in mind, Iâve been learning about the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai: the value of meaningful activities to help us stay happy and well. Hereâs what Iâve learned so far, and hopefully, thereâs some inspiration for ... Read More ►
Could you start by telling us a little bit about Lightforms Art Center? How did the center come to be? What kind of work does the center support, and what are some of your guiding principles? In 2017 a group of artists began meeting around the idea of creating a multipurpose art center dedicated to spirit and art. After many ... Read More ►
by Nancy Blanning Things are different now. The pandemic is subsiding, to everyoneâs great relief, though it is not gone. We weathered two-and-a-half years of anxiety and isolation as best we could. Everyone had to make sacrifices and realize that we did not have the freedom to go or do usual thingsâbeing with family and friends, sharing meals, attending artistic ... Read More ►
Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? What is your experience as an artist? What mediums do you work with? I first trained as a nurse during the 1960s when there was no television in the patientsâ rooms, and volunteers came to the hospital with crafts and games for the patients. I always thought the volunteers ... Read More ►
By Nancy Blanning How human beings learn the way things workâachieving a new skill or following a sequence of thoughtsâis an interesting question to ask. For adults who want to learn something newâjuggling, sourdough starter preparation, or washing machine repairâthe internet and YouTube are often where we go first in our modern world. We watch the video, follow the steps ... Read More ►
By Michael Oliveira While growing up, the word âprideâ was filled with shame. To be proud of my accomplishments was a sin. To be proud of who I am was not allowed because I was not allowed to be my honest self. Seeing out and proud individuals filled me with anger. I thought they were the ones making everyone elseâs ... Read More ►
By Suzanne Down Something quite amazing happens when a child listens to a story well told, full of warmth and wonder in the storyteller's voice and heart. The child is taken on wings of imagination to the landscape of the story, where characters, archetypes, actions, challenges, and resolves of grace and greatest care take place. The child is carried to ... Read More ►
David Tresemer, PhD A person sits across from youâyou as a licensed professional or life coach or mentor or elder or friendâand asks in words or in a tone of voice, âWhatâs wrong with me?â A list of symptoms pours out, intermixing with this question. Then comes a very important event: the moment of diagnosis. You name a construct. You ... Read More ►
Beatrice Birch Inner Fire, Inc. is a licensed, not-for-profit, proactive, healing community in Brookline, VT, that offers striving individuals the choice to recover from debilitating and traumatic life experiences. These individuals struggle with difficulties that typically lead to addiction and mental (soul) health challenges, creating the need to strengthen oneself on a deeper spiritual level but without the use of ... Read More ►
Faith Collins Some passions can lie dormant for years, sleepily lifting their heads from time to time until they finally get the chance to explore and be explored more deeply. For me, gardening is one such passion. Iâd had occasional veggie boxes and planted flower bulbs here and there, but it wasnât until I started working in early childhood education ... Read More ►
