Is nostalgia a feeling for innocence that we’ve lost? Or is our innocence lost if we aren’t occasionally nostalgic, fully embracing all parts of ourselves as we move through the journey of life; past, present, and future?

In the words of David Whyte, the wonderful philosopher, poet whom I am fortunate to sit with on Summer Sundays:

“Innocence is not a commodity that is supposed to be replaced by experience. Innocence is our ability to be found by the world again and again at each new threshold in our life.”

This helps me to understand my nostalgia and the subsequent pangs of grief wafting through me, following my recent trip to Nelson.

Farewell Geronimo

Nelson is the remarkable community in the Kootenays where I raised my daughters and our animal family. Geronimo, a regal black stallion, was a noble and noteworthy member. He is symbolic in untold ways of myself and my girls during a unique time in our lives. Metaphorically, he gifted us with harnessing our own raw power. He was a living presence, an embodiment of how a powerful being can be both full of the potency of fierce life-energy and spirit, but as gentle as a benevolent grandparent. On this pilgrimage we celebrated and then sadly bid farewell to Geronimo as he crossed over the rainbow bridge. Our journey continued on with a book signing at Otter Books, and Yasodhara Ashram in Nelson.

Pilgrimage

Upon deeper and quiet reflection, as I age I encounter more of these significant passages. They all represent a pilgrimage from one place in time, one way of being, to an entirely new time and perspective. They are simultaneously disruptive, and heartening.

I had to find the spaciousness and compassion to hold the grief, as well as all the other memories moving through my body and emotions to allow my heart and senses to fully be with all of what is, what was and what may be. Assimilating all of this whilst supported by the wonderful care and companionship of David Whyte and his work, I realized that it is what we care about, that we are most nostalgic for. I came to the realization that it is through caring that we tap into our innocence repeatedly.

Caring

Caring is part of how we arrive here, get by here and leave here. Caring is fundamental to human nature and survival. We all witness how terribly wrong things may go when we don’t care for one another. Writing my book, Where Science Meets Spirit, and this blog I do because I care deeply about humanity and our collective future. I also care about you and your feedback and sincerely appreciate your support.

On that note, feel free to drop me a line on the website, and if you’ve read my book, please write a review on Amazon. Be sure to check my website for updates on upcoming events and book signings this fall.I will also be releasing videos on Youtube with a reading from the book and spaces for discussion. In addition, there will be practices for you so that together we may delve into the subject matter more fully.

Until next time, enjoy your journeyings.

With much love & care,

Mary-Jo

Fellow travellers,

A unique and enchanting birdsong called in to me at 5 am each morning this past week during my ambrosia hour rituals. With the increase of light in June in the North, many people all over the world — particularly the northern hemisphere will be celebrating Summer Solstice, June 21st. I love how traditions of this type go back in time before electricity, before technology, before we became so out of touch with the mystery of life. An extraordinary sunset, a life-changing solar eclipse, a fierce volcanic eruption, a novel and captivating birdsong, oh the beauties and wonders of our own sacred planet.

Touchstones & Connection

Traditions shared globally are significant touchstones of our mutual humanity and connectedness, especially those earmarked by nature like a rare total eclipse — because nature is neutral—without race, religion, dogma, opinion, or creed. Nature is always reminding us of our relationship to something beyond our mortal grasping. These awe-inspiring moments often render us small and somewhat insignificant within our human egos, to something great, something beyond even our comprehension or understanding.

In Greenland and beyond however, the fierceness of Nature causing awe, is also causing unsettling destruction to people’s lives. Events out of the ordinary like an eclipse will cause a disruption in the established order of daily life. These events, therefore, have the power to make us feel small — as the locus of control is clearly not ours, but usually something outside of normal, beyond our material world.

Rituals & Traditions

Turns out it’s ok to acknowledge our (surprising to us) identity as insignificant in relation to the great Intelligence that holds this whole spinning universe together. Of course, major disruptions may not be OK in our physical reality and that is where we need grounding, routine and ritual to mitigate feeling overwhelmed or completely devastated. Traditions celebrated through rituals can keep us stable and grounded during turbulent times.

Most of us are painfully afraid of our own inherent, brilliance and light, that part of us—the mysterious, can only be access when the ego truly moves out of the way. That’s what happens when we practice the routine of ritual. Silence, presence and order give way to intuitive brilliance. That solitary little bird who came to my morning ritual so beautifully this week is related to Gemini represented in the month of June. Both ask us to tune into our intuition and remain calm, curious and to balance on the fence as the observer, by practicing equanimity watching all of these events with compassion and yet a clear sense of neutrality.

I celebrate my tradition of sending out a solstice newsletter with you by the announcement of my book Where Science Meets Spirit-The Autobiography of a Paralyzed Yogi, being published and ready for reading. You can find all about my book signing events and where to purchase it on my website: Mary-Jo – Where Science Meets Spirit

Blessings,

Mary-Jo

“No other revelatory experience can do for the human what the experience of the natural world does.”

Thomas Berry Tweet

Nostalgia, Innocence & Geronimo

Farewell Geronimo

Pilgrimage

Caring

Celebrating Solstice 2024

Touchstones & Connection

Rituals & Traditions