Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
We first published this post two years ago. It’s seems particularly important in the current moment that we revisit Lamp Lighting. Some time ago, I had reason to visit my doctor. I’ve been seeing Althea for more than twenty years and she is among the most knowledgeable people I know. She is a practitioner of Oriental Medicine and an herbalist of considerable note. Beyond everything else, … Continue reading Lamp Lighting
Noble fathers have noble children. ~ Euripides I recently attended a meeting where men shared intimate stories about their relationships with their fathers. Some felt broken and bruised by their fathers, others told of fathers who provided protection and tender loving care. Then there were the stories of “adoptive” fathers, the self-selected fathers who were stand-ins for absent or deceased fathers, or who provided supplemental … Continue reading Adoptive Sons, Noble Fathers
Originally published December 17, 2016. The other morning as I sat nestled in my easy chair with the New York Times harrumphing at the latest outrageous headline, I heard a high-pitched squeal coming from the dining room. I bounded out of my chair to see what was going on. There was Marsha, bent over, examining one of her many plants. “Come see my new baby,” … Continue reading Sometimes It’s the Little Stuff that Matters
I recently visited the cemeteries and grave sites of my family. Each soul is sacred and with each grave stone there is a story. Taken together they represent my ancestral identity. I do not inhabit this world alone; my family was assigned to me without my consent. My ancestral identity surrounds me, and there is no escaping their presence. At Holyrood Cemetery lies my father’s father, … Continue reading The Power of Ancestors
The following post was originally published February 4, 2017. I worked hard to perpetuate my stupidity for half my life. The other half has been spent gathering up my loose marbles. This marble gathering experience describes my process of recovery. For me, recovery has been 95% recovering parts of myself that I lost along the way. This has entailed: Challenging my ingrained biases Harnessing my … Continue reading The Gift of Silence