Articles, Essays, and Papers

Leaving a Mark - So often in life we're focused on what kind of mark we're leaving on the world--our "significant" or "important" contributions that will, at least for a time, be remembered. Yet those marks invariably fade with time, at different rates, perhaps, but fade they will. What's more important then, are not the marks we leave on the world, but the marks that we allow our experiences in the world to leave on us, marks that accrue to the soul. April 2010

New Year's is Good Timing for New Year's Resolutions! - While I once thought that New Year's resolutions were little more than a form of cultural group therapy, the fact that millions of people are simultaneously focused on making changes to their lives gives real support for any changes we want to make in ourselves. January 2010

Saints in Small Packages - Cases of terminal childhood diseases often awaken our pity, and even dismay at the apparently unfairness of the universe. But in some cases, at least, there is the possibility of real purpose behind what otherwise appears to be a life cut short, a purpose to awaken in us not mere pity, but a deeper compassion and understanding. January 2010

Children or No Children–Which Life Path is More Valid? - To ask whether the life path of having a family is more or less valid than a life path of remaining childless is to ask the wrong question when either path is lived on auto-pilot. What truly brings validity to any life path is conscious intent, regardless of the forms involved. October 2009

Qualities of the Spinal Centers or "Chakras" (and related thoughts) - A reference article describing the spiritual and psychological aspects of the various spinal center or chakras. June 2009

Dynamic Balance: How to be Active, Engaged, and Energized without Burnout - The secret to living a "balanced life" is not to strike a balance between activity and passivity, but to strike a balance between the qualities of equally-energetic activities that utilize different parts of yourself. November 2007

A Matter of Choice - A road wash-out just before ski season opened gives cause to reflect on how circumstances never dictate a response; whether we see what life brings us as good or bad is a matter of choice. November 2006/March 2007

Rewriting the Negatives - The outcome of the 2004 presidential election inspired attitudes of vehement rejection, but truly, the easy path of negating negatives ultimately leaves us with nothing. But within the negation lies a much more empowering vision if we rewrite those negatives into constructive and tangible actions. November 2006

Courage on the Wall: An Experience of the Vietnam Memorial, Washington D.C. - Visiting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., I found my the various pieces of my own name on the wall in the names of fallen soldiers. I realized then that while some part of all of us may have died in Vietnam, some part of those who died still lives in each of us. September 2006

The Hidden Messages of Music - Regardless of the external or "explicit" messages of any piece of music, as expressed by its lyrics, there is also a hidden or implicit message that's communicated through its qualities of feeling, our own emotional response to the music, its quality of energy, and its consciousness, which is to say its inherent resonance with our subtle energy bodies. What's communicated in these dimensions is the real message of the music. February 2005; Updated June 2009

Instruments for Positive Change - To be an instrument for positive change, the most important step is to keep yourself positive and uplifted. This is the first responsibility of anyone wishing to serve the world. Written as a handout for a talk to a group of Americorps*VISTA Volunteers. April 2003

Questions and Answers on Popular Conceptions of "Simple Living" - Simple living is about moving to the country, making your own clothes, growing your own food, and chucking away technology, right? May 2002/July 2007

The Power of Thoughts and Words - Even the smallest decision between love and anger can affect the entire world, as shown by the story of an email battle that erupted within Microsoft in 1996 but was resolved by a simple act of courageous love. February 1996/March 2007

Leaving a Mark - So often in life we're focused on what kind of mark we're leaving on the world--our "significant" or "important" contributions that will, at least for a time, be remembered. Yet those marks invariably fade with time, at different rates, perhaps, but fade they will. What's more important then, are not the marks we leave on the world, but the marks that we allow our experiences in the world to leave on us, marks that accrue to the soul. April 2010
New Year's is Good Timing for New Year's Resolutions! - While I once thought that New Year's resolutions were little more than a form of cultural group therapy, the fact that millions of people are simultaneously focused on making changes to their lives gives real support for any changes we want to make in ourselves. January 2010
Saints in Small Packages - Cases of terminal childhood diseases often awaken our pity, and even dismay at the apparently unfairness of the universe. But in some cases, at least, there is the possibility of real purpose behind what otherwise appears to be a life cut short, a purpose to awaken in us not mere pity, but a deeper compassion and understanding. January 2010
Children or No Children–Which Life Path is More Valid? - To ask whether the life path of having a family is more or less valid than a life path of remaining childless is to ask the wrong question when either path is lived on auto-pilot. What truly brings validity to any life path is conscious intent, regardless of the forms involved. October 2009
Qualities of the Spinal Centers or "Chakras" (and related thoughts) - A reference article describing the spiritual and psychological aspects of the various spinal center or chakras. June 2009
Dynamic Balance: How to be Active, Engaged, and Energized without Burnout - The secret to living a "balanced life" is not to strike a balance between activity and passivity, but to strike a balance between the qualities of equally-energetic activities that utilize different parts of yourself. November 2007
A Matter of Choice - A road wash-out just before ski season opened gives cause to reflect on how circumstances never dictate a response; whether we see what life brings us as good or bad is a matter of choice. November 2006/March 2007
Rewriting the Negatives - The outcome of the 2004 presidential election inspired attitudes of vehement rejection, but truly, the easy path of negating negatives ultimately leaves us with nothing. But within the negation lies a much more empowering vision if we rewrite those negatives into constructive and tangible actions. November 2006
Courage on the Wall: An Experience of the Vietnam Memorial, Washington D.C. - Visiting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., I found my the various pieces of my own name on the wall in the names of fallen soldiers. I realized then that while some part of all of us may have died in Vietnam, some part of those who died still lives in each of us. September 2006
The Hidden Messages of Music - Regardless of the external or "explicit" messages of any piece of music, as expressed by its lyrics, there is also a hidden or implicit message that's communicated through its qualities of feeling, our own emotional response to the music, its quality of energy, and its consciousness, which is to say its inherent resonance with our subtle energy bodies. What's communicated in these dimensions is the real message of the music. February 2005; Updated June 2009
Instruments for Positive Change - To be an instrument for positive change, the most important step is to keep yourself positive and uplifted. This is the first responsibility of anyone wishing to serve the world. Written as a handout for a talk to a group of AmericorpsVISTA Volunteers. April 2003*
Questions and Answers on Popular Conceptions of "Simple Living" - Simple living is about moving to the country, making your own clothes, growing your own food, and chucking away technology, right? May 2002/July 2007
The Power of Thoughts and Words - Even the smallest decision between love and anger can affect the entire world, as shown by the story of an email battle that erupted within Microsoft in 1996 but was resolved by a simple act of courageous love. February 1996/March 2007