spirituality

Create Peace – Be Peace

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Lake Superior, Minnesota (photo by GG)

It’s been about a month since I deleted my Facebook (FB) account. At first, I missed FB. I felt FOMO (fear of missing out). Mainly, I thought I’d miss photos of my granddaughter, Athena. But knowing that I wasn’t on FB, my daughter regularly texts me photos of Athena. Plus, I’d rather see her in person.

There is one thing I noticed since deleting my FB account: I have more peace. My family and friends can text or call me anytime. I’m here for them. But it feels so good to take back my life.

I no longer feel the pressure to keep up with everyone, and I’ve had more time to do things I enjoy. If someone says they posted something, I just say, “I’m no longer on Facebook.” I’m free from any commitments.

The good thing about FB is that I can rejoin at any time. But for now, I love the peace. I’m also limiting my time on all screens – which reduces my anxiety. I create peace. I am peace.

I want to share a heart meditation that I find helpful. It’s from the book “Awakened Sleep: An Ayurvedic Approach to Getting Rest and Unlocking Optimal Health,” by Suhas Kshirsagar and Sheila Patel.

Heart Meditation:

  1. Do the heart meditation anytime after 6:00 pm or before going to sleep at night.
  2. Lie down in a comfortable position.
  3. Scan your body from head to toe. Observe any tension in your body.
  4. Let go of any tension. Take a few deep breaths.
  5. Focus on your heart. Feel any sensations without fear.
  6. Return to your breath. On the inhale, focus on your heart area. On the exhale, say to yourself, “OM SHANTI.”
  7. Repeat, focusing on your heart on the inhale and saying the mantra on the exhale.
  8. Do this meditation for 15-20 minutes or allow yourself to go to sleep (if you do the meditation before bedtime).

It’s a special time to be alive. There is a “Great Awakening” happening. But with this awakening, we need to bring peace and love into our lives. We need to set boundaries and take back our precious time.

May peace be with you.

Namaste.

Transformation in a Crazy World

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Right now, a lot is going on in the world. It can feel overwhelming. But in times of transition, we must go within. The external world wants to drag us down, but we have a choice to go inwards to find peace and love. When we have wisdom, we see all things as impermanent. If all troubles and problems are removed, what remains is our tranquil minds. Remember, all the answers are within us.

We need to be careful with information on the Internet, including on AI (Artificial Intelligence) platforms. I noticed that when working with AI, it doesn’t always give correct information. There are still filters built into the model. Also, it’s becoming difficult to determine what is real and what is not. We need a good dose of discretion and also not to take everything so literally.

Even though it may seem like we are in scary times, it is a gift to be living right now and to witness the transformation of the world. You are alive right now because your wisdom is needed. Each of us can help shape the world.

Last night, I had a fascinating dream. I dreamt that I could fly! My dream appeared to be in the near future. I was wearing some sort of flying saucer around my waist. I also remember it was an option for people to use the device. I had ChatGPT create an image for me:

According to ChatGPT, the flying saucer-like device around a woman’s waist is both futuristic and symbolic. The image may represent freedom, transformation, protection, or a rise in consciousness. Because the waist and core are often connected to balance and personal power, the dream could reflect inner strength, movement, or spiritual growth. Its vivid and unusual nature made it feel almost cinematic, blending spirituality, technology, and imagination into one powerful symbol.

I interpret the dream as futuristic. I think we could have a flying device like the one in my dream in the future. Also, I agree with ChatGPT, I think the waist does connect with personal power. In Tarot decks, the belt is often a symbol of self-control, power, and the ability to direct one’s energy with purpose. The dantian (energy center) is also located in that area.

There are several ways we can transform in a “crazy world.” The main way is to take back our personal time. We need time, away from screens, to reflect, meditate, do yoga, and tap into creativity. At first, it might look like boredom, but with some stillness, you will find ways to be more creative.

We can transform our thinking. It’s easy to have negative thoughts about all the drama in the world. However, negative thoughts bring us down and make us feel depressed. When we have positive thoughts, we feel lighter and more hopeful. We need to separate ourselves from the bad news.

We are living in exciting times! We can replace fear with excitement! How will AI transform the world? Can we make a better world for all living beings? Do we need a little “shake-up” to get to a more balanced world?

I hope these words are helpful to you. May you have peace and joy.

Namaste.

Manufactured World (Poem)

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Manufactured World, by GG

Fake lines of clouds torch the blue sky
The brilliant sun still triumphs with a smile

Divinity buried with our silent ancestors
Golden tablets glisten and ring

Churches stuffed with rubbish
Christ consciousness lives in the beating heart

Photoshopped blue marble earth
Yin and yang on a stationary earth

Manufactured humans
We are one breath with spirit

Active Participation in Life

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About a week ago, I read about a woman who worked at Disney World for over 30 years. She said she noticed a big change in today’s children. She noticed children on cell phones, not even looking up. They were visiting the most magical place on earth, yet not participating. What kind of memories are children creating? Just online shorts and nothing real?

Cell phones foster passive participation rather than active participation. Humans are watching and listening to other people and events. Before cell phones, we actively participated in life. We didn’t just watch things on a device.

We need to define what it means to be human. Also, we need to ask, “How can we live our lives to the fullest? And “What takes away from our precious time?”

The cell phone literally pacifies us. We go on it for entertainment and relaxation. But we need to be careful not to let it take away from living life. Screens also dull the mind and train the brain to accept a mediocre life. Humans are so distracted that they accept not being fully present in life.

And, more importantly, we must allow our children to participate fully in life. They need movement and to engage the senses. Every time they look down at their phone, they miss out on living out their childhood and being in the present moment. A human child needs to communicate, play, dream, and create.

The Internet is just like Disney World. It wants our engagement so it can make money. But to participate, we have to follow their rules. Tech companies have spent billions of dollars to find ways to capture our attention.

The system is set up in their favor, not ours. But we still have a choice about whether we want to play. We are at the crossroads, right now, to still have a choice. We need to make some big decisions on how we want to interact with screens and technology.

Namaste.

Becoming a Diamond (Poem)

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Open Mic (Poetry Reading)
Chanhassen Library
7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen, Minnesota
February 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.                                                                                                                                           


Becoming a Diamond, by GG

My ancestors are buried deep in the Earth’s mantle
Over millions (maybe billions) of years, their remains turned into shiny, black carbon
Each rotting body dissolved  

from earth to water 
water to fire 
fire to air 
air to space

Eventually, each ancestor became a radiant diamond, taking their place in the twinkling sky

The way to the Earth’s depths requires an inward journey 
My turbulent mind holds positive and negative thoughts
The facets of my life reflect the past, present, and future

The intense heat of my emotions rolls on the whipping winds of a swirling storm
Daily stress cooks and bakes me into something resilient
 
Life’s pressures sculpt something precious inside me
And I can be brilliant or dull – the choice is mine

My spiritual jewel is revealed when I become awake to a higher consciousness
Through meditation and self-reflection, I polish myself into luminosity
I am strong and refined

I become a diamond

Finding the Truth (without technology and screens)

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In the midst of death life persists, in the midst of untruth truth persists,

in the midst of darkness light persists.

-Mahatma Gandhi

I love this line by Mahatma Gandhi: “In the midst of untruth truth persists.” No matter what happens in life. No matter how many lies are on the surface. The truth exists at the core.

There is also a truth that is within us. One way to find this truth is to come back “home” to ourselves. The word “home” contains “OM.” There are so many distractions in life that we need to intentionally find the truth within us. Meditation, self-reflection, silence, and yoga are ways to find this truth.

Technology is changing the way we think and function. We must reduce our screen time. Engage with screens and technology in small doses. Each time we are on a screen, our brains change (our phones may be using technology that we do not understand right now). The dopamine hits light up certain aspects of our brain, which creates addiction. We need to figure out a balance when engaging with screens.

In the documentary “The Social Dilemma,” I recall Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and futurist, discussing the crucial need for humans who are not manipulated to sit down and have a conversation. He is referring to people whose brains are not addicted to or manipulated by screens. I understood that he said this because we will need humans with normal brain function to make life-changing decisions. People who have become zombies will be of no help.

Also, we must not give children iPads or smartphones. Children are our future, and they are becoming zombies. The human child needs to play, dream, imagine, create, and have space. Screens are rewiring their brains to become addicted, distracted, and have less focus and concentration.

One of the goals of meditation is to learn to focus and concentrate. Screens are the opposite of meditation. The distraction of screens takes us farther away from ourselves. As humans, we need to come back home to ourselves.

We are at a crossroads right now. Each adult needs to do an assessment with their phone, computer, or any other screen. Ask yourself:

  • How do I physically feel when I’m on my screen for more than an hour?
  • How does my brain feel after scrolling on my phone?
  • Do I feel dizzy when I’m on my phone for too long?
  • In my day-to-day life, do I feel distracted and impatient?
  • Do I have enough attention span to mindfully listen to someone in person?
  • Are my emotions more severe after spending over two hours on my phone?

I know that I physically feel dizzy and nauseous if I’m on my phone or computer for too long. I actually start to feel “unwell.” Therefore, I know that phones and computers are unhealthy and dangerous to the human brain.

I still use screens, but in small doses (like radiation, which it is). I do not allow any technology, including my cell phone, in my bedroom. I turned off all notifications except text messages. I also find ways to disconnect by doing art projects, practicing yoga, meditating, exercising, or reading. I also enjoy phone-free conversations with family and friends.

We can find a way to balance our screentime. We need to have normal brain function without manipulation and addiction. We need to find the truth within us.

Namaste.

Human Crisis – Martin Luther King Jr. Words on Justice

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During my yoga class last night, two participants were in tears because of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota. One woman sobbed so hard that she took sharp, shallow breaths. I realized that everything that is happening in my home state is deeply affecting people.

At the core of the human heart, is a human crisis. When will the mistreatment of human beings end? When will we treat one another as family on this planet? When will we stop the abuse?

As yogis, we agreed that humanity continues to create cycles of trauma. We are deeply saddened that this injustice continues in 2026. We are appalled that this is happening.

So, what did Martin Luther King Jr. say about justice? He said:

“It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.”

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

“We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King Jr. was a trailblazer of nonviolence and peaceful protesting. Just like Mahatma Gandhi, he used his brain, not brute force. It’s his intelligence and cleverness that lead the way. I hope we can channel Martin Luther King Jr.’s energy and spirit to help us in these trying times.

When the yoga class ended, we embraced each other in a group hug. We may feel helpless, but we can be part of nonviolent and peaceful protesting. We can also do things “behind the scenes.” We must also serve as a guiding light for others.

ICE OUT, by GG

My Minneapolis
Ms. Good shot down
Angry roars
Dark night with lights of protest
ICE doesn't belong to this winter

Namaste.

Resource:

You Do Matter Minnesota
Living Through Crisis

Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing
University of Minnesota

http://z.umn.edu/ydmMN

The Power of Deep Breathing to Reduce Anxiety

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Use your breath to calm yourself.

-Bhante Sathi (www.triplegem.org)

Several weeks ago, as I woke up from sleep, I had a vision. I saw a tunnel about three inches in diameter open up near my forehead (third eye area). I heard a “snap” as it briefly opened up for a second. I saw a ring of light around the circle, and in the center of the circle were white, twinkling stars in a black background.

AI generated from my sketch.

I’ve never had a vision like that before. I wasn’t scared, but I also didn’t feel ready to go “down that rabbit hole.” I even questioned if I was ready to dive deeper into my spirituality.

To calm my nervous system, I practiced Ujjayi Pranayama. Here is the practice:

  1. Start to breathe in and out through your nose, naturally (mouth closed).
  2. Then take a slow, deep breath through both nostrils. The passage of the incoming air is felt on the back of the palate and makes an oceanic sound (sa). The sound is audible. You can use the mantra “Saha.” It connects to the crown chakra (sahasrara).
  3. Exhale slowly, deeply, as the outgoing air is felt on the back of the palate and makes a sound (ha).
  4. Repeat the cycle for five to ten minutes.
  5. Ujjayi breathing sounds like the ebb and flow of the ocean.

Ujjayi Pranayama is also helpful when practicing yoga, especially during pain when stretching. I remember reading years ago that yoga can give the practitioner the skills to work with pain.

One more thing, emotions are very powerful. We can use our emotions to send out our intentions into the universe. If you feel a strong emotion, send out a prayer with that emotion as a catalyst for change.

Namaste.

Two Canoes (Poem)

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AI generated picture.

Two Canoes
by GG

Mother prepares a canoe. The canoe is ready to bring me across the lake to a new land, a new life. I ride alone with the pull of the magnetic moon. I feel the blue waves pressing. I see the illuminated darkness around me. I am drawn toward the bright light. I am not afraid. I arrive in the new land with my head first and a demanding voice. Then I grow every day, and I look at the shining moon above. I see the yellow sun set on the horizon each night. I experience life. Then, one day, Mother prepares a canoe. It’s ready with love to take me back across the waters to the other side. I ride alone. I am not afraid. The shimmering moon pulls me back toward the night sky. The white lights guide my way.

I chose to write about “Two Canoes” because it brought back a memory of one of my hospice patients. As he neared his death, he would say, “It’s almost time to get into the canoe.” He said it with quiet acceptance.