Hello Friends,

The days are still short, but from now forward for the first half of the year they are growing longer – offering us hope and the potential for  growth, as we approach the time for new year’s resolutions. Yesterday, my wonderful niephew (niece/nephew they/them) shared their thoughts about new year’s resolutions. I want to offer you their wonderful reminder to try out a slightly different focus:

Aim for a feeling-sense, rather than actions-we-so-often-beat-ourselves-up-for-failing-at, as an option. Perhaps, in this little journey I offer (below), you might find one or two affirmations that bring you a feeling-sense of freedom or fulfillment. If so, you are most welcome to make that resonant feeling your focus for the new year; instead of a commitment to action, make for yourself a loving commitment to a feeling, and in this way, place your focus on those things in life that hold up that feeling for you. 
 
(For example, rather than saying “I will go to the gym x times/week, you might say I commit to feeling fit and healthy this year.)
 
Do Affirmations work?
If you LET them, and if you ACT on them. . .
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/do-affirmations-work
 








A Little Journey of Affirmation
I remind you that we now know that whatever you are experiencing in your heart (your feeling-sense), your heart then signals to your brain – even if it is a conjured or so-called “imagined” feeling – the heart experiences this – and the brain proceeds as if it were true; generating incredible changes; an actual change in constructed neural pathways, a shift in breathing, digestive action, endocrine system’s behavior, etc.  So, as you read these affirmations, if they resonate for you, allow yourself to really feel them – AS IF TRUE – in your heart.
 
Take a few deep, slow breaths in, allowing belly to expand with the breath, upper chest to gently rise, then belly and chest slowly fall as breath flows out. If breathing is not your thing, try just placing a hand on your mid-chest, or heart. Feel the warmth there, . . .  and listen . . .
 
My breath is deep and slow and full and gentle, and each lung full of oxygen I bring in nourishes every cell of my body.
I allow any pain currently in my body to softly release now, and even more so as the days go by.
I can feel or imagine my healthy blood cells moving through my veins and arteries like nutrient rich rivers, bringing strength, nourishment and vitality to every part of my body.
As I breathe, I can feel my bones becoming sturdier and more resilient.
My digestive organs are healthy and I easily assimilate all I take in with grace and ease, and with equal ease, I release what I no longer need.
My endocrine system functions in perfect harmony, my kidney, liver and adrenal glands are both vibrantly healthy, and peacefully restful.
My nervous system functions in perfect harmony with my purpose.
My muscles and joints are strong and elastic; my body’s movements flow comfortably, and I see myself joyfully doing all the activities I love to do.
My heart beats at a rhythm and a pace that is perfect for my entire being’s well-being.
 
I allow any emotional hurts I have been carrying to become soft now, and when ready, Even from heated recent moments, even from years or decades ago, - I feel them gently melting and falling away.
At least for this moment, I release all people who have hurt me, I release them from the bondage of my obsession.
I release any emotional hooks I had placed in other people or situations and allow my energy to return to my self; I can feel the vitality return to me as I do so.
At least for this moment, I can feel a soft blanket of kindness wrapping around my most tender self, protecting me from the need to react to the thoughts or words of others.
I trust that what my body remembers will return to me at the right time and in the right way and thus I know I am safe within myself.
At least for this moment, I allow the Earth beneath me - or the Universe around me, or the Divinity within or beyond  – to hold me.
 
I easily let go of any thoughts or beliefs I have held that no longer serve me; as breath swirls within me, my mind becomes free and clear. As if a breeze, blowing off a great lake or ocean is washing through me, I can now feel a great openness and stillness within me.
I see my mind like a lake; the waves may be large but as I watch them they become smaller, gentler, until they may, when I am ready, become as still and flat as clear glass. . .
I can see myself as if looking down from a star, and I see that all is well within and around me.
 
I am safe. I am good. I am loved.
I realize that in this moment it is safe to allow myself to open to the unknown.
I embrace the bright, dark skies of winter, and can see in the distance, a light – the sun, slowly, slowly returning to light my world.
I allow this sunlight to flood my being.
I breathe the pure light through the skies, through my mind, through my heart, through my entire body.
 
I know that just as much as matter, I am filled with and made of light – the light of what I hold most sacred – the light of knowledge, the light of hope, the warm light of the heartful flame at Earth’s very core, the light of stars that falls upon my head and heart and down through my body, the light of God/Goddess/Goddex, or the simple, warm light of my own deepest self.
 
I am fulfilled, emptied, at peace.
And this is enough.
 
Take some deep, slow, full and gentle breaths.
If you like, place one hand on your belly and one on your heart to anchor in what we have experienced, and just be with that feeling for a moment, holding it in silence.
 
I love you all.
 
Thank you.

PS: You can LISTEN TO MAYA speak the affirmations HERE or on the Meditations page of this site.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, WHICHEVER ONE(S) YOU CELEBRATE,
and a
DELICIOUSLY HEALING AND INSPIRING NEW YEAR
to ALL MY HOSPICE FRIENDS!!
 
This is also a loving reminder to TAKE AS MUCH KIND & GENTLE CARE OF YOURSELF as you do of those around you, especially during the potential madness of holiday season!!
Know that I hold your hearts and celebrate your voices in so much gratitude for all you do and are.
 
With Buckets of Love to One and All,
 
Maya

Hi Friends!

There are lots of slots still available for my 12/17 open house - come visit me!

You can bring your kids - there are coloring books, stories about grief and loss and a basket of toys.  Bigger kids like the Angels Blessing - one young visitor told me to tell you all "I liked it so much and it got all the bad stuff out of me and you should go!" so, there, take it from a kid; experience an Angels Blessing for yourself and see what you think.  Or come close your eyes for a moment of rest while I ask God/Goddess/Universe/Nature/Source Energy to replenish you. . . or come sit in quiet. . .  or ask questions or learn about what "spiritual direction" really is (hint: there is no "direction" involved!!)  Or just come chat.
I would love to see you there!

And if you are unable to attend but would like to stop by in the new year, I am only a text or an email away. 

Go to the OPEN HOUSE page to sign up (just scroll down to the blue calendar for December 17th).

Here is to gentle, vibrant wellness for us ALL!
Much Love,
Maya

The poem I will read at tomorrow's hospice meeting is a gentle blessing written by author/artist Jan Richardson. I think Jan captures natures offering to us with grace. . .
It is from her book "The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief "

The poem is about a blessing that will find you, wherever you are. It is about the turning of year; Solstice, that night that is longest and yet gives way to days that grow brighter, bringing us light, growth, something new.  And it is a poem about grief, the long, dark night it can lay upon our hearts, and  also, it is about hope.

I hope you enjoy Jan's gentle words of comfort as we approach Winter Solstice and the arrival of the newborn sun.

(You can click the link HERE or above to go to Jan's website, order her books and/or learn more about her work.)

I will read this poem twice; once for the journey, once for my team to listen for a word or a phrase that spoke to them, or will be, perhaps, a key for them this day.  Maybe you would like to listen for your word, phrase or key. . .

Blessing for the Longest Night

All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.

It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.

So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.

You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;

a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;

a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.

This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,

knows the resting spots
along the path,

knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.

So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.

Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.

This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.

—Jan Richardson

Dear Friends,
On December 10th, at a walkable distance from my home in the Castine woods, a fatal car crash took the lives of four students of Maine Maritime Academy.  I am holding prayers, offering blessings and will be available as much as I can to support during this long deep journey of grief for families and community.

There will be a vigil this evening, around the flagpole in the main court yard at the academy. 
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY | 1 PLEASANT STREET, CASTINE, ME 04420

Thank you for your good thoughts for the families, friends and all who are suffering such loss at this time.

COME ON IN!! . . .

A BIG THANK YOU to all who attended my Office Open House on the 10th - it was wonderful to have your presence in the space, share what I offer, and hear a bit about each of you who visited.  Slots are OPEN on the second and last day of my open house, Saturday, December 17th.  If you would like one for yourself, or for someone you know who might enjoy some pre-holiday Rest & Rejuvenation, text me to reserve!

The Mini-Sessions are FREE during my open house. Come see what one of my most "woo-woo" offerings feels like - breathe a little LIGHT during these DARKEST DAYS of the year . . . give yourself or a friend the experience an Angel Blessing, or just come sit in the warmth and welcome of my office (to chat or enjoy a moment or two of silence), designed to hold you in Heartful Healing & a Hallelujah.

With Love Always,
Maya