My teacher Adnan often reminded us to trust ourselves when it came to spiritual work: "Try it out and see what happens!" He did not do a lot of explaining ahead of time. He wanted us to experience the work without activating too much thinking. On occ...

There are many types of consciousness available to human beings. You could be hyper focused, distracted, dreaming, drunk, high, or sick . . . to name a few. For Sufis, these are all the same sleep state.  The awakened state is spiritual con...

Excellence is the last of the three elements you need to be in the state of light. It is the highest aspect, the most valuable of the three. In Arabic, excellence is El Ihsan.Adnan, my teacher, said, “Whatever you do, do it with excellence.” Whe...

First, let me wish you all the best for the Winter Solstice and Holidays.Last week I wrote about Peace, one of the three elements you need to be in the state of light, according to my Sufi teacher Adnan Sarhan.The 2nd element is Faith....

Opps, I forgot to change the title.According to my spiritual teacher and mentor, Adnan Sarhan, there are three qualities you must cultivate to be in the state of light. They are peace, faith, and excellence (in Arabic: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan). “When...

According to my spiritual teacher and mentor, Adnan Sarhan, there are three qualities you must cultivate to be in the state of light. They are peace, faith, and excellence (in Arabic: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan). “When these three elements are acquired b...

While meditating, I heard this fragment of a Christmas carol -- Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward All. It brought tears to my eyes. This is the promise of the Solstice, the Turning from darkness to light on December 21st.I had the following thoug...

Everything changes, everything is impermanent! The Buddhists tell us.Lately, I find myself becoming more accepting of change. As I gain in age, changes seem to happen more quickly particularly with my body – a new ache in my wrist, another spot...

See the correction of the date at the bottom. Happy Thanksgiving Day!May your day be filled with community, connection, and contentment. I have just returned from a short trip to La Pine, Oregon to help my husband winterize the family cabin for...

Happy Thanksgiving Day!May your day be filled with community, connection, and contentment. I have just returned from a short trip to La Pine, Oregon to help my husband winterize the family cabin for the cold season. Six miles down a dirt road an...