Month: July 2025

I maintain boundaries to protect my spiritual practices, even while traveling. Like all the cells in my body, I keep those boundaries semi permeable. In doing so I have some flexibility and yet I do my best to maintain integrity.

When circumstances push my boundaries, I’m more likely to make mistakes. In yoga practice, that can manifest as injury. Taking full responsibility for myself includes avoiding injury and mistakes by respecting my very real human limitations by upholding boundaries.

Are you willing to take full responsibility for yourself? How do you negotiate your human limitations with others? Ki to Happiness acts on Guidance with flexibility and integrity.



Mom returned from her outing to find me in her home with a full welcoming table of Mother’s Day and birthday gifts. It’s been three months since I was here which she pronounced as way too long. In the interim, she had been quite sick with a terrible bug.

As she explored her gifts and nibbled on our treats, a couple of deer crossed the road onto her property. She got up to look and noted that there should be a couple more little ones coming. A few minutes later, they joined the others having their own deer family reunion.

How often do you see your family? How joyous is your reunion? Ki to Happiness enjoys reuniting with family 3x per year with classes covered at Hatha Yoga Center.

I finally had no time to finish a book I’ve been reading. With that completion behind me, I’m open to what I may need to read next. It’s also inspired my writing.

I said I would read that book, and now that I have, I feel the integrity of keeping my word. With integrity and completion, my yoga practice this morning feels more solid. My whole self is ready to meet this day.

What do you need to do that you said you would? How do you feel when you live up to your word? Ki to Happiness completes and integrates, becoming whole.

I visited my beloved mentor yesterday. She shared with me her recent hospitalization for surgical removal of colon cancer. I can’t see another good friend in town due to his life changes regarding his prostate cancer.

Next, I will visit my best friend from high school who also just got out of the hospital. Her multiple cancers required removal of more body parts as she continues to beat the odds and survive. In this morning’s rainy dawn, I reflect on seeing each of these dear ones as I deepen my commitment to my yogic lifestyle and attitude of gratitude.

How is your lifestyle treating you? What adjustments are needed to enhance your attitude? Ki to Happiness adjusts yoga practices and expectations to accept life on life’s terms.

Driving my rental car from St. Louis to Champaign Urbana, I got caught in a major deluge. Semi trucks surrounded me as as we all entered into near white out conditions. I slowed down, but was uncertain of the other travelers and their speed.

I started praying to my travel guardians, St.s Christopher, Rafael and Anthony. A sudden bright spot appeared and I proceeded toward it until it cracked open to reveal the end of the storm. I drove on, in gratitude for safety, the saints and my driving skills.

When faced with danger, who do you call out to? When presented a bright spot, can you focus on it? Ki to Happiness concentrates on the bright spots and heads toward them like answered prayers.

One of my daily rituals is tea ceremony which accompanies my yoga practice. Even while traveling, I carry a thermos full of hot water, my travel tea set with it’s sniffing cup and loose jasmine green tea. On board, this simple luxury has companioned me through many journeys.

With just a little turbulence at the wrong time yesterday, the tea set’s lid fell and broke on the floor under my seatmate’s feet. His good nature took no offense at the interruption as he retrieved the pieces and handed them back to me. I put them back together enough to continue brewing for one last time, grateful for all the comfort its provided through my many trips.

What rituals travel with you? Do they require particular objects? Ki to Happiness keeps yoga rituals consistent with whatever objects are available.

Thanks to my cats, I’m up early enough to prepare for my journey with plenty of yoga practices first. Traveling is not nearly as fun as it once was. With tremendous uncertainties, it’s best to start early with balanced breathing regulating my nervous system to face the day ahead.

Parts of our interstate are closed for major repair, my airline had a systems wide hardware problem just a few days ago stopping all flights while the airport had a major security breach, and massive storms loom in the atmosphere. None of this can I change, so I change my breathing rhythm and my posture. In doing so I remember my final task, to put on my traveling shoes.

What do you do when faced with uncertainty? What in this world are you certain of? Ki to Happiness is certain that Peace can be found within.

Finishing up the last tasks from the past month, I am preparing myself for the new moon in Leo, occurring at noon here in Seattle. Changing the sheets, filling the bird feeders and finishing packing for my upcoming trip, I align with the energies upon us.

I propose others do the same. Replacing all fears with safety, we are more likely to attract the desired outcome we intend on this day. Truly, that’s not so different from every day.

 What outcome would you love to see in two weeks when the moon is full? How can you align with that desire today? Ki to Happiness sets intentions for peaceful health and joyous progress on all levels.

We have one more day before we enter into the new moon cycle. This gives us a chance to reflect back on the last couple of weeks and see if there’s anything else we would like to accomplish. Taking care of that business today will give us a chance to set fresh intentions tomorrow for the next lunar cycle.

Pausing in Midsummer like this, we might check the growth in our gardens physically as well as metaphorically. With a little water, some growth may perk back up and if not, perhaps it’s time to remove that which had already given their all. When we stop watering the dead, there’s more for the viable others.

What do you need to complete for a fresh start tomorrow?  Can you pause today and assess your growth? Ki to Happiness is grateful for all the progress, watering only what lives.

Today is the memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene. She presides over gardeners, aromatherapists, perfumers, and healers. Often remembered as a repentant sinner, she models the process of reconciliation.

Each of us in our own timing may come to the awareness that we need to reconcile our behaviors with our higher nature. In doing so we open our hearts to heal from isolation and the desperation that comes from reliance on the ego alone. Reuniting with a higher principle, we witness resurrection and surrender to its process. 

What behaviors do you need to reconcile with your Higher Self? Are you willing to surrender to Divine Will, reuniting your will with It? Ki to Happiness repents, reunites and resurrects following those who’ve show us a Way.