When it Seems Difficult to be Grateful at Thanksgiving . . .
Given the many challenges in the world, some of us may find it difficult to be grateful amid what, for some, is sheer turmoil and chaos. As usual for most humans, we only care about what affects us, but as the world gets “smaller”, we can easily see suffering at the touch of a button. […]
The American Declaration of Independence—A Concept to Grow Into
As we honor America’s founding ideals, we must also recognize their contradictions and ask how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. Throughout human history, certain documents have had a profound impact on our world. The documents created by the founders of the United States of America are at the top […]
What’s in the Name Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, Commemorates the End of Slavery in the United States. I am a big celebrant of the Juneteenth holiday. I have noticed that some people don’t seem to respect or give the holiday the importance it deserves. However, as a person of African descent, I acknowledge its importance and what my life […]
The Value of Freedom: How a Runaway Slave Learned the True Cost of Living Life on Her Own Terms
Ona Judge, an enslaved woman on the estate of George Washington and his family, had the courage to escape a “privileged” life in captivity to find an uncertain, but priceless future in freedom. Ona Judge Staines Day was first celebrated in New Hampshire on May 21, 2022. The state honored her with a marker in […]
Harriet Tubman: Lessons From the Life of a Mystical Woman
As I was preparing for Women’s History Month, I began researching the amazing women who have made a difference in our world. There are many, but one reminded me of several important life lessons—Harriet Tubman. She was a former slave, an abolitionist, a leader of the Underground Railway, and worked as a cook and a […]
Celebrating Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s First Female President, for Women’s History Month
I have so much respect for Mexico. I admire how the people held on to much of their ancestral culture despite the ravages of colonialism. No place is perfect, and many issues remain, but Mexico is beautiful. The traditions, people, and food are extraordinary. It was heart-warming to see Mexico send firefighters to California to […]
If I’m Your “Black” Friend . . .
As a “Black” human living in the U.S., I often wonder if my friends who are not “Black” understand how my life can be different from theirs in certain places in America. Before we go on, I’d like to make a few clarifications. Not every “Black” person in the U.S. has had the experiences […]
Let No Man Pull You So Low as to Hate Him!
Wow! What a big ask! This can seem wrong at many levels! How could Martin Luther King say this? It might seem right in principle, but the practice is a whole other story. Martin Luther King, Jr. was beaten and jailed multiple times, and both he and his family continuously lived subject to death threats. […]
Spirituality & Health talks with author Olivia S. Benson about the inspiration of her book ANSWERS FROM WITHIN.
You practice law and became a metaphysician. How did your own career evolution inspire your writing? Being a student of metaphysics and spirituality isn’t generally inconsistent with virtually any career choice. Quite to the contrary, it can help us understand the role we each have to play in contributing to the Planet in a more […]
Letter Not Yet Written by Descendants of European Colonizers to the First Peoples of the Americas
Dear First Nations of the Americas, Our ancestors were wrong. They did not discover the Americas. You were here when they arrived. You had great civilizations and societies for thousands of years before they arrived. You are human, just like us, not savages. We apologize for them saying they discovered a place where there were […]