Month: April 2023

To memorialize dad‘s life, my mom, brother, and I walked the property here where he lived for the last 50 years. We paused at specific locations and remembered significant events. We cracked open confetti filled Easter eggs and spread their colorful and biodegradable bits along with our memories.

The celebration fit mom’s needs. It’s been 10 weeks since he passed away. Perfect weather and perfect timing combined to make it a most memorable Easter, honoring dad.

What memories would you like to spread? How would you like to be remembered? Ki to Happiness spreads memories of joy and cooperation as she’d like to be remembered.

Easter time is the time for eggs and the time for eggs is Easter time. This little childhood ditty, my dad used to enjoy reciting every year. Today, in his honor, we will spread some confetti from colored eggs in his honor as his ashes remain intact it the urn.

A small bird with a yellow underbelly came to our window as we gathered yesterday. Dad always loved his property and spent the last of his days looking out the windows to the magnificent wildlife. I felt it was a little greeting from him, checking on us as we spend time with mom.

How will you celebrate Easter? What kind of greetings are you open to as indications of resurrection? Ki to Happiness sees the signs of spring all around us, and hears the bird songs reassuring us of renewal and energy’s continuance.

Growing up in St. Louis was all about the Mississippi River and the Arch. Today we drive past the Arch by one of our old residences and over the river. My brother and I will recall the many times we have made this journey as we head up to our mom’s for the first time since dad passed away.

He won’t be there to greet me and tell me how good I look, or complement me on my attire. I won’t bring him the special treats of macaroons. Mom will receive us as we celebrate his life, and show us her resilience.

How is your resilience? Are you able to celebrate those who have passed? Ki to Happiness becomes more resilient as she celebrates the best of those who’ve passed.

As I landed in my hometown, the air welcomed me. St. Louis has changed, at least as much as I have in the 50 years since I lived here. Yet somehow it stirs familiarity and nostalgia in my soul.

I won’t be here long as I am passing through to my dad‘s memorial in East Central Illinois, I’m gathering up my memories of him and our years here to take with me as my brother and I prepare to drive tomorrow. The scents of Spring blossoms and sights of young green leaves stir the birdsongs in my heart of family and friends together again.

What is your relationship with your hometown? What stirs the birdsongs in your heart? Ki to Happiness breathes deeply and remembers dad, our hometown and the many times we’ve smiled.

This day of holy week honors the way in which betrayal proceeded resurrection in the story of Easter. In the early years of my awakening, I would often feel a heaviness, depression, futility, and sadness on this day. I no longer do as I recognize breakdown has its role in order for breakthrough to occur.

I have always been a champion of the potential for breakthrough to occur without breakdown. I have wanted choice to be enough for breakthrough and change to occur. I have come to accept that I’m not in charge of these things, so I accept both choice and breakdown as valid ways to usher in the necessary changes in life, toward identification with the One.

Have you been successful choosing breakthrough? How have breakdowns led to breakthroughs on your path? Ki to Happiness honors all the ways that promote evolution of consciousness.

As this moon becomes full, it does so in the sign of Libra which represents justice. May justice bring balance to our world. Balance is beautiful.

As we observe this being played out on the global and national stages, we may reflect on our own personal material. Using the energies of this moon, we can correct injustices and imbalances brought to light. Doing so with the guiding principle of beauty, we make our word a lovelier place to live.,

What imbalances does light of this full moon bring to your attention? How can you best serve the need for justice in your life? Ki to Happiness handles imbalances and injustices beautifully.

As we practice Hatha Yoga, we open our energy field to our essential nature. Asana, pranayama and meditation help us heal from past trauma stored in our bodies and we start to find love, joy, happiness within. This love is for the giving.

This process in no way ensures that we will be getting anyone else to understand, participate or reciprocate. Accepting this reality, we may use the information we gain through the process to establish healthy boundaries. This includes taking responsibility for our choosing right timing and right proximity to all others and their circumstances.

Who do you need to forgive while you never forget? What right timing and right proximity could help? Ki to Happiness chooses responsibly to forgive all and reMember.

From yesterday’s Palm Sunday, we enter Easter week. Although the timeline may have been adjusted to fit the point of the biblical story, we learn that from one Sunday to the next, changes can occur which effect thousands of years to come. From the triumphant homecoming to betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection, we remember the story of one Son of God’s journey.

The story offers a map for other children of God on our heroic journeys through life. The overarching message is that beyond triumph, betrayal and death, energy resurrects. This lights the path for our journey through the darkness, ever onward.

What map do you use? How have you navigated through your triumphs and betrayals? Ki to Happiness resurrects daily, aligning with energy beyond apparent success and failure.

Each day after my yoga practices, I incorporate something I’ve learned from it into my teaching. Seeing the way my students respond teaches me how to do a better job instructing. I weave that back in to my next morning’s practice.

This process continues to refine both my learning and my teaching. Like day turns in to night and back into day, learning turns into teaching, which turns back into learning. The uncut gem of my understanding of yoga tumbles in the lapidary of these efforts as my rough edges smooth out, better able to reflect the Light.

What smooths out your rough edges? Do you invite refinement or resist it? Ki to Happiness alternates between learning and teaching each day and night even as sometimes there’s resistance to that which yoga invites.

On this April Fool’s Day I observe my foolishness with delight. 11 years ago I started a blog without ever conceiving that I’d still be blogging all these years later. Last fall I planted bulbs not knowing if they’d bloom in our new location.

I see our first tulip, waiting in the dark for the sun to trigger it’s petals to open again, like they did yesterday. I read the anniversary announcement from my blog host celebrating our anniversary. Without freedom to create as inspired by my Higher Self and a willingness to be seen as foolish, I wouldn’t have this satisfaction.

Do you allow yourself the freedom to be foolish? What would your Higher Self like you to create? Ki to Happiness changes in creative ways following Guidance even at the risk of appearing foolish.