Consecrating the Chaos — staying soul-centered in tumultuous times

In the midst of a particularly crazy week, that phrase — “consecrating the chaos” so resonated with me.

Generally, all I need to ground myself in the midst of the whirlwind is to look at pictures of the most precious people in my life… like this photo of my 3-month-old grandson Parker with my almost-94-year-old mom. (It’s a pretty great picture, isn’t it?!)

But in the week in question, I was faced with a shocker that involved both my beloved spiritual community, the Fourth Universalist Society, and the equally special 4thU Artivists theater group I founded there 15 years ago. I won’t go into detail here, but I will say that for about 10 days, I felt like l was on a proverbial roller coaster.

As we created deep, meaningful dialogues with all involved — both in conversations and via email — glimmers of light began to emerge. And that’s when I encountered the notion of “consecrating the chaos”… particularly apropos as it involved 4thU’s spiritual leadership!

Really, how do you wrap your head around the idea of chaos being sacred? Is there such a thing as “holy chaos?!

Apparently so. I’ve been reading Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations newsletter for awhile now (more details on that below in the Picks) and there have been some gems within 2024’s theme, “Radical Resilience”. Perfectly timed, here’s an excerpt from the “Consecrating the Chaos” message that sustained me:

“In the storm of chaos, lost in confusion and disorder, … the question is whether there might be some way to use the harsh, unpredictable winds and the relentless currents of our lives to get us moving to where we actually want to go. Do we have the spiritual audacity and the practical means to turn chaotic energy to our own purposes?”

In the words of one of my all-time favorite quotes (from Nietzsche), “We must have chaos within us to give birth to a dancing star”.

Embracing the chaos

That’s exactly what happened. I found myself describing one of the painful, pivotal conversations as “beautiful” when I was summarizing it the next day for someone. And with that shift, we were able to do some powerful heart-storming to come up with an elegant, even exciting, solution.

In a nutshell, our “dancing star” is that the Artivists will now be presenting “The Vagina Monologues” as our Spring show, instead of “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”, as I announced here last month. You can read more details below in the first “Deb’s Picks”.

So where does the upcoming Virgo/Pisces Full Moon on Sat., February 24th fit into all this?? Well, it obviously wasn’t influencing what went on a month ago… no, that was Pluto entering Aquarius for a 20 year ride! (You’ll have to google what it means when slow-moving Pluto changes signs… moon magic is the only astrology I go into here 🙂 )

However, I think it embodies the energy of “consecrating chaos” beautifully — the organized, structured Virgo Moon is the perfect foil to contain the spiritual/magical, sometimes ethereal and confusing, “one with the universe” Pisces Sun.

It’s a great time to slow down, take a deep breath and get organized. Focus on our self-care, beef up our health commitments, and jettison the stuff that’s weighing us down, then create practical new routines for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

[And if you really want to dive into the water-y, intuitive Pisces vibe, definitely tune into the my virtual Pisces New Moon SisterCircle at the Wellness Universe on Monday, March 11th. Our theme will be “Honoring our Deepest Emotions” and I guarantee you’ll come away feeling expanded and nurtured at the same time!]

So, as always, my Deb’s Picks this month are a creative mix of all of the above, sprinkled with a few random offerings.

Be sure to join us for my upcoming Virgo/Pisces Full Moon TeleMeditation this Fri., February 23rd at Noon ET — click HERE for details on how to join us or see the sidebar below for the call-in #. Hope to “hear” you then!.

4thU ARTIVISTS PRESENTS “THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES“, April 12/13

We’re going back to our roots for our FINAL benefit as 4thU Artiivsts! (That’s a whole other story, in addition to the one I shared above.) We’re inviting anyone who’s been involved with any of our productions over the last 15 years to join us on stage, or as a volunteer night-of or help with all the PR and fundraising work that needs to be done beforehand. The production will be performed with the updated monologues collected by V (formerly Eve Ensler) over the years. We know we can incorporate an extremely large cast which serves us well for attracting a large audience and raising lots of money for our beneficiaries,  Women Deliver and VDay’s City of Joy. Click on the poster ASAP to fill out the Participation Form — all the rehearsal/meeting dates are outlined on that page. If you want to be in the cast, you must get the form in by Tues., Feb. 20th so our directors can finalize casting before our first gathering on Sun., Feb. 25th.

CENTER FOR ACTION & CONTEMPLATION (CAC) w/RICHARD ROHR

This is the “Daily Meditations” newsletter where the phrase “consecrating the chaos” came from and I don’t think there’s a better way to describe CAC than paraphrasing their website — “Franciscan Richard Rohr founded CAC in 1987 because he saw a deep need for the integration of both action and contemplation—the two are inseparable. Contemplation is a way of listening with the heart while not relying entirely on the head. It is a prayerful letting go of our sense of control and choosing to cooperate with [God(dess)/Spirit’s] work in the world. Prayer without action, as Father Richard says, can promote our tendency to self-preoccupation & without contemplation, even well-intended actions can cause more harm than good.” Yes, it’s Christian-based but the wisdom shared is usually universal. Definitely check it out and the rest of their many offerings!

JOYELY & THE CHAIR OF JOY™

Things are exploding at Joyely since I joined them in September! We’re getting such amazing feedback on the impact of the simple Chair of Joy meditation — SIT BREATH THINK FEEL. I continue to find powerful research on the “science of joy” and have led the CoJ experience many times since I first shared it with you here in my October newsletter, AND I highlighted it in my “Spiritual Practices” vlog with the Wellness Universe. We have a monthly call for anyone who’s interesting in learning more and/or becoming a Joyely Global Ambassador — the next one is March 12 and you can register for it HERE. Hope to see you there!

SUSCEPTIBLE TO LIGHT by CHELAN HARKIN

This beautiful collection of spiritual poetry was introduced to me by my dear friend Minx, whose wonderful newsletter, Balance Point, I’ve higlighted here before. Simply put, the poems are all deeply heart-centered, light-filled and uplifting. I’ve been reading one before bed each night and each one sooths both the mind and soul. Like a little bedtime prayer, they definitely calm the chaos of the day before going to sleep. Click on the link above to find it.

CREATING SIMPLE, SACRED RITUALS by DEBORAH ROTH

I’ve always said that the Virgo/Pisces combination feels like the perfect embodiment of ritual — it’s the art of creating a safe structure (Virgo), around a spiritual theme (Pisces). This was one of the very first articles I wrote after getting my Master’s degree in the mid-90s and starting Spirited Living. I finally added it as a blog on my website a few years ago… maybe you can get some good tips if you create your own Full Moon ritual (or any other one) this month!

I hope some of these Picks will inspire you to find ways to consecrate the chaos in your life more often! And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them.

With sacred, playful blessings,

Deborah

Sacred Play… purposeful practices to delight yourself AND serve the world

As I was ruminating on how I wanted to weave together the energies of Leo and Aquarius for the upcoming Full Moon to come up with some interesting Deb’s Picks, I kept coming back to a phrase that I use often – “sacred play” (you’ll see why in a minute).

Ever since I wrote my Master’s thesis in the mid-90s, it’s been one of my favorite ways to describe ritual, especially wedding ceremonies which I’ve often called the highest form of sacred play… no somber ceremonies for me, as you can see in the photo!

In fact, I’ve paired that juicy word “sacred” with a bunch of different ideas over the years. In my Master’s thesis on the transformative power of women’s ritual, I dove into it’s origins. It comes from the Latin root sacer, which means “holy,” and which is derived from the same Saxon word root as the word “whole” – hal, meaning healthy or complete. I really do believe that the path to wholeness involves balancing and honoring equally all aspects of our beings: mind, body, heart, and spirit. Hence, that journey is truly a sacred one.

Likewise, when I morphed and expanded that thesis into my book “Circle of One“ 15 years ago, I coined the phrase “sacred SELF-Centeredness” to describe the kind of radical self care that is grounded in mindfulness, compassion, and a commitment to honoring our deepest wisdom. Because if we’re not operating from the essence of who we truly are — our Circle of One — we won’t be whole enough to support all of those things we’re most passionate about, whether it’s our relationships, our careers, or the important work we want to do in the world… you name it.

Then, there’s all the ways I’ve written or taught about how important it is to create sacred space in our lives, whether it’s at home, in the office, or even on the road. I won’t give you a list of all my workshop outlines and blogs about it, but here’s one I wrote 5 years ago that’s a good overview: “How To Create ‘Sacred’ Space At Home Where You Can Actually Relax”.

How about you, what’s your relationship with the word “sacred” and where does it show up in your life?

And circling back to the idea of sacred play, just what does that have to do with the upcoming Leo/Aquarius Full Moon on January 25th?

Well, among other things, Leo’s fire-y energy is literally about playing creatively with your inner child, re-connecting with your authentic self (your Circle of One), and not being afraid to shine your light joyfully. You’ve heard of Leo the Lion(ess)? Embrace that proud, “look at me”, self-confident vibe… in a playful way, of course!

And when you integrate that with the open-minded, collective-oriented, purpose-driven, and humanitarian Aquarius season we’re moving through from January 20th to February 18th, you’ve got the perfect combo for using your most unique qualities to make a difference in the world.

But Aquarius is also about being a little (or a lot) quirky and eccentric and we’ll be tapping into that in my virtual Aquarius New Moon SisterCircle at the Wellness Universe on February 9th when we’ll come up with some radical new ideas for “Welcoming Prosperity into Our Lives”. (you can register for that HERE).

So, in true fashion, my Deb’s Picks this month are a bit of a hodge-podge, some embracing a practice of sacred SELF-centeredness, and some reflecting Leo’s flare for the dramatic, but with a CAUSE (Aquarius). Enjoy!

4THU ARTIVISTS PRESENTS “for colored girls who have considered suicide…”

I announced auditions for our Spring show last month (which we had last week), but I had to include it again here cuz it’s a perfect example of the Leo/Aquarius theme of “drama for a higher purpose”! Not only is its message powerful AND empowering, but all net proceeds always go to organizations who work to end gender violence and systemic oppression. This year, it’s Women Deliver and Vday’s City of Joy Over the last 15 years we’ve raised over $200,000… not bad for a “little” church theater group! If you haven’t seen or read this play in it’s many iterations over the last 30+ years, definitely google it, let me know how you’d like to volunteer. And if you want to know more about 4thU Artivists, click on the blue link above.

ETHICAL CULTURE: ETHICS & the THEATER SERIES

I just found out about this other “purpose-driven” theater group which is just down the street from 4th U at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. They describe their mission as offering “a stimulating theater experience and, by engaging in our post-play reading discussions, the opportunity to gain greater insight into the ethical and moral behavior of the characters in our plays.” The most recent show is 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2013. You can still catch the second reading on Tues., January 23… just click in the poster. And if you miss it, you can sign up for future productions — the next one is on February 17-18.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES SERIES at THE WELLNESS UNIVERSE

I’ve been having such a good time creating year-long blog series at WU! In 2023, it was highlighting different Seasonal Celebrations each month. For 2024, I’ll be sharing a different spiritual practice on the 3rd Tuesday of the month with a video and short description… is that still called a “vlog”?? When I discovered pretty early on that I’m really bad at the “clear your mind” kind of meditation, I set out to find a bunch of rituals, chants, mantras, and more that incorporate some active component to them, either physical movement or singing or directed visualization. You can click on the blue link above to read/watch them each month, or just go to my YouTube channel. Let me know what you think… and I’d love to hear some of yours!

METHOD COLLECTIVE FITNESS STUDIO — 2293 12th Ave. NYC

I’ve been doing a rotating mix of Pilates, barre, and yoga for many years now and loving it. I was doing a class every day at my local studio, then during the pandemic, actually got into doing it on my own at home which I have to say, I’m also loving. But now 3 of my favorite instructors have opened a beautiful new studio of their own in Harlem! That’s my wonderful yogi, Dani, and as you can see, the studio is light-filled and overlooks the Hudson River. They’ve got a full range of classes and are having their “official” opening (with a FREE class) on February 2nd. If you’re in the NYC area, click on the blue link to check out their website… I hope to see you there!

I hope some of these Picks will inspire you to find your own unique ways to play with a higher purpose! And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them.

With sacred, play-full blessings,

Deborah

Tap into the wisdom of the lunar cycle

If there’s one constant in the night sky, it’s the changing face of the Moon. Certainly, the most obvious one is the brilliant orb of the Full Moon, but there are actually eight distinct phases of the Moon and each one represents a different theme or energy tap into for your life and relationships.

Whether you’re an ardent moon-lover, or just happen to notice the lunar phase on any given night, there’s no denying that the Moon has a powerful influence on our outer world in so many ways. Just look at the effect the Moon has on the tides. Is it any wonder that, with our bodies made up of ~60% water (80% at birth), we humans are inexorably tied to her rhythms as well?

But as many sensitive souls will tell you, our inner world is deeply affected by the moon as well.

Yes, I’m one of those sensitive souls, a Moon baby, born under the sign of Cancer which in astrology is ruled by the Moon. But I promise, it’s not just us Cancers who feel Her gentle (and sometimes not so gentle!) pull.

The powerful impact of the Moon phases has been highlighted since ancient times. Both Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman historian Pliny the Elder proposed that the brain was the “moistest” organ and therefore humans were particularly susceptible to the changes in the Moon.

And in modern times, astrologer Dane Rudhyar was the first to outline the psychological meaning of the phases of the moon in his classic book, The Lunation Cycle.

 So, how can you take all this lunar wisdom and use it to support your life, work, and relationships?

Let’s take a look at what each Moon phase represents and then play with some ways you might tap into their energy.

1) New Moon – also known as the “dark of the moon”.

This is when the Sun and Moon dance their closest in the sky, with the Earth wiggling in between them, and the Moon seems to disappear into the Earth’s shadow. This phase corresponds to growth and new beginnings.

It’s a time for reflection, for alone time to re-build your energy and not to be influenced by others.

If you’re looking for a relationship, that might mean chilling out by yourself on a Saturday night and thinking about what your non-negotiable traits are for your ideal life partner.

Or, if you’re wondering what direction to go with work, carve out some time for “creative silence” and conjure up a vision of what your next big project might look like.

2) Waxing Crescent Moon (from 3 1/2 days after the new moon through the 7th day).

The moon looks like a fingernail at this point, facing to the left in the sky. Gardeners know that this is a good time to plant seeds and you can do that figuratively, too!

Start to get more concrete about setting intentions based on your New Moon ruminating. You could create a vision board, a mind map, or make a wish list of those qualities or ideas you want to bring into your love life or work.

3) First Quarter Waxing Moon (from 7 to 10 days after the new moon).

The Moon continues to grow from a crescent toward her full glory. This phase corresponds to the development and growth of life, as well as the expression and expansion of new ideas and direction; a “crisis of action”, according to astrologer Dane Rudyard.

Action is the keyword here. If you’re single, that means putting some wheels on your relationship quest – get yourself on Match.com or start to read some of the great books that are out there.

And if you’re working on a work-related goal, now is the time to reach out to the people who can help you manifest your vision or know someone who might. There may be some dicey conversations to be had – the First Quarter Moon is when you can encounter your first challenges to the intentions you’ve set.

4) Gibbous Moon (from 10 to 13 days after the new moon).

At this point, the Moon looks like a pregnant belly, which is a great metaphor for the energy of this phase! The last months of pregnancy require flexibility and patience, just like you’ll need to practice as you get deeper into the New Moon intentions you set for yourself.

You’ll find there are changes you’ll need to make as you face reality. How will you adjust and refine your expectations for your vision?

That can mean literally tweaking your online dating profile after you’ve attracted a few duds or adjusting your timeline and/or potential partners for your work project.

5) Full Moon – this is the moon phase that’s most easily identifiable.

Its energy extends both 3 days before and 3 days after the actual date of the Full Moon.

If the Gibbous Moon represented the last stages of pregnancy, the Full Moon is about giving birth – to plans made and projects started since the New Moon. It’s a time when we can feel most vibrant and creative and want to celebrate all we’ve accomplished so far.

In the relationship arena, that means a night out on the town! Go to a fun singles event and be prepared to use some of those dating skills and techniques you’ve been studying. If it’s a work success you’re celebrating, drinks with your team or planning a mini-retreat to compress might be in order. New opportunities can show up as a result of your hard work as well.

6) Disseminating (Waning Gibbous) Moon (3 to 7 days after the full moon).

Just as the name implies, this is the time to share your adventures and what you’ve learned with others — disseminating means to “spread something widely” and this Moon phase is associated with the “teacher” archetype.

Continue to celebrate the fruits of your labors, but now expand it into your circle of friends, family, or colleagues. This phase of the moon prompts you to feel grateful and to show your gratitude in creative, generous ways.

7) Last Quarter Waning Moon (7-10 days after the Full Moon).

When the Moon is in this “half-full” phase, we feel a growing urge to turn our energies inward for reflection; Rudhyar calls it a “crisis of consciousness”. You begin to “clean the slates” and finish up old business, to regroup and prepare for the energy of the next lunation cycle.

Whether you’ve been working on your personal or professional goals, this is a powerful time to forgive yourself or others for past mistakes, and to let go of self-limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. Are you judging yourself or others for any missteps up to this point?

Write down whatever that old baggage is and create a simple releasing ritual – burn it, bury it, or flush it down the toilet!

8) Waning Crescent (Balsamic) Moon (10-13 days after the Full Moon).

Everything is now ending and the energy has been spent. This is the time for reflection and introspection as you get ready to go deep into the New Moon phase.

Whatever your last New Moon intention was, it’s important to withdraw from the world periodically and recharge your batteries.. The idea is to relax and surrender into whatever inklings bubble up from your deep unconscious.

Your intuition is thought to be at its height during the darkest phases of the moon. Do some divination with Tarot or the I Ching for some guidance into what you want to focus on for the next lunar cycle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

You may not be able to religiously follow the energy of the eight phases of the Moon every month, but knowing what each one signifies can help you move through life more powerfully. Feeling anti-social? Oh, it’s the Balsamic Moon… it’s OK to tell the people you around you that you need to hibernate for a few days. Want to launch a fabulous new project? Use the Waxing Moon phases to plan it all, then put it out into the world on the next Full Moon.

Whether you’re a moon-maven or not, it’s a good idea to get comfortable with her considerable powers and use them to your advantage in both life and love!

[***This blog is an update of an article I wrote in 2019 that focused solely on your love life… you can read that at: http://tinyurl.com/bdfsa776 ]

How grounded and balanced do you feel as we head into the holidays?

With Thanksgiving behind us, we’re now officially in the holiday season! This long, lovely weekend was fun and family-filled — we had the whole Roth/Donovan/Castro gang with us on T-giving day for the first time in several years and all 3 grand-cuties spent the night. (Yes, if we’re not connected on Facebook or Instagram, you may not know that we welcomed Parker Max Roth on November 3rd — that’s him with his adoring cousins!).

Then the day after, the rest of my family typically comes in, though a few couldn’t make it this year and we had our post-Thanksgiving gathering of footballing, feasting, and gabbing. AND on Sunday morning, I’ll join our wonderful new Minster at 4thU, Rev. Jonipher Kwong, to talk about the Chair of Joy™ (see last month’s Picks for more about that) and other simple, but powerful practices to get us through the holidays.

So, yes, all of that is amazing and… it’s also a LOT. I’m already looking at the huge “to-do” list that’s even longer than usual for the month of December.

How about you? Are you already feeling overwhelmed by what’s ahead?

Hopefully not, but if so, the upcoming Gemini/Sagittarius Full Moon on November 27th comes at a perfect time to remind us to take some time to create concrete strategies to support us through the (hopefully) happy whirlwind.

We entered the Sagittarius season on November 22nd and its positive, uplifting, social energy can carry us through the month as long as it’s tempered with some solid planning and self-cae practices. (You can read about some of my daily favorites HERE)

Sag also compels us to expand our horizons, spiritually and intellectually, to search for meaning in the world and within ourselves. You can read more about that in my Sagittarius New Moon blog from 2022 (the dates may be off but the information is timeless), then join us on Thurs., December 14th for my virtual Sag New Moon SisterCircle at the Wellness Universe.

With the rational, mental energy of this Gemini Full Moon, we’ve got a solid counter-balance to the sometimes over-the-top Sagittarius Sun energy shining down on us. (Remember, while the Sun and Moon dance cheek-to-cheek on the New Moon, they’re tango-ing in opposite signs on the Full Moon)

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, so on this Full Moon you may also be drawn to examine how you think, then communicate what you’ve discovered. Just be sure to listen, and not just TALK in all your social situations this month… communication is a two way street!

My Deb’s Picks this month reflect all of those themes in one way or another, with a few holiday treats thrown in.

Check them out below and let me know what resonates with you.

Then, be sure to join us for my upcoming Gemini/Sagittarius Full Moon TeleMeditation next Monday, November 27th at Noon — click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then!

***And btw, Happy Thanksgiving! Or perhaps more appropriately, Blessed Indigenous People’s Day. I wrote about the many facets of this holiday in my latest Seasonal blog for the Wellness Universe and also talked about it in my November 2020 #InnerGoddessTeam video — definitely click on the links and check both of them out.

*** ONE MORE THING!! I’ll be sharing the pulpit at 4thU this Sunday, Nov. 26, talking about the Chair of Joy™ and a few other simple tools to help you “Choose Joy” in this holiday season. I’d love to see you in person (at 76th and CPW), or in our sacred Zoom room — just go to www.4thu.org and you’ll find the Zoom link in the yellow box.

PURPOSEFUL SCRIBBLES™ w/LISA GRUENLOH

I’ve known Lisa for over 15 years and have been involved with several of her powerful brain-children (Empower Parties and Purpose Journeys are two). This one looks like another winner, and a perfect blend of Gemini’s urge to write & communicate, and Sag’s impulse to go deep and find meaning. Purposeful Scribbles is a quarterly journal-based subscription and community, designed to encourage you to “use your inner and outer voice in ways that connect, uplift, and inspire well-being and positive impact”. If you’ve been wanting to start, sustain, or deepen a meaningful journaling practice AND do it in a supportive community, this is for you! Just click HERE to learn more.

HYPNO-THRIVE w/MARY LOU RODRIGUEZ

I was connected with Mary Lou recently and loved hearing about all of the brain-enhancing work she does (get the Gemini connection?!). She describes herself as a “brain trainer and money mentor” and offers a terrific assortment of hypnotherapy tools to help you shift your stories, upgrade your beliefs, and transform your habits. You’ll learn new ways of thinking to break free from anxiety, trauma, addiction, and unwanted behaviors. Definitely check out her website and see what fits for you!

THREE TOMATOES HOLIDAY PARTY – Dec. 5th, NYC

I was introduced to The Three Tomatoes more than 10 years ago and love getting their “NYC Insider’s Guide for Women who aren’t Kids”. Each week, they broadcast dozens of offers, tips, articles and exclusive giveaways. AND they offer wonderful events, like their annual Talent Show and this upcoming Holiday party. Granted, you have to be in NYC to attend these live events, but you should still subscribe to their newsletter and get lots of fun, useful tidbits!

SOHARMONIUMS HOLIDAY CONCERT   Dec.18, 8pm at 4th Universalist Society

What a thrill — two of my most beloved communities are coming together — my wonderful women’s chorus is presenting their Winter concert in my beautiful UU church! We’re representing three generations of women and will serenade you with our usual captivating repertoire, ranging from classical to contemporary to holiday favorites… all melodies to warm you on a chilly winter’s night. Sadly, we won’t be streaming it as we did during the pandemic, so I hope you’ll join us LIVE!

WOMEN’S SELF-RENEWAL RETREAT w/RENEE TRUDEAU Jan. 19-20 Kripalu Yoga Ctr.

Ahhh… I love Renee’s retreats. If you haven’t been yet, it’s time! The name of this one is “Sing, Dance, Pray: Romancing the Beloved” — and the Beloved is YOU! You’ll do all of that, and also sit in stillness, in nature, and in yoga nidra. Renee has been leading these for more than 20 years and is always bringing in new tools, practices, and experiences. If you’re in transition anywhere in your life, or just in need of some powerful, sacred self-care, I hope you’ll join us there. Just click on the link to learn more and register!

I hope some of these Picks will help support you through this busy holiday time. And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them!

With grounded holiday blessings,

Deborah

I’ve been focusing a LOT on Joy lately… you got a hint of that in last month’s Deb’s Picks, and even moreso in the past few weeks if we’re connected on Instagram and/or Facebook. (If not, join me there!)

Well, maybe more accurately, I’ve been re-activating my life-long connection to joy. And that’s because in mid-September, I was introduced to the “Chair of Joy™” movement.

I admit, when my dear friend Minx (she’s one of the co-authors on our Authentic Woman Seasonal Playbooks) turned me on to it, my knee-jerk reaction was to roll my eyes and think “Really?? You want me to jump onto that clichéd JOY bandwagon with Oprah and Deepak??”

Which, in retrospect, was pretty out of character for me — #1 because my default response to most things is generally more positive than cynical; and #2 because years ago, when I was first trained as a coach in the late 90s, I identified JOY as one of my top three core values. AND it’s at the center of my “Life Purpose Statement” that I crafted back then and still resonates deeply for me today. (I’ll share it with you if you ask!)

I’m still unpacking exactly why I responded like that… something about not wanting people to think I was superficial or “Pollyanna-ish” to be so passionate about joy, especially in the midst of tumultuous times. And also feeling as I have in the past, that I have to tone down my natural enthusiasm cuz it’s “too much” for some people. (I actually had a friend in high school tell me I was depressing to be around because I was always so cheerful.)

The Chair of Joy™ Experience

Whatever it was, within a few weeks, I was with the totally joy-full, visionary founder of Joyely, Sheryl Lynn, introducing the Chair of Joy™ (CoJ) experience at two different events in Trenton, NJ. I was blown away by the reactions of people who participated and sat in Sheryl’s magical “throne” (that’s me in it above!), from burly maintenance guys and police detectives, to sensitive social workers and pastors. (You can click on the photo to go right to Joyely.com and find out more.)

So what exactly is this “experience”? Basically. it’s a 4-part meditation — SIT, BREATHE, THINK, FEEL — that anyone can do, anywhere, in just a few minutes. So simple and, I’m discovering, incredibly powerful. I now do it every day — in my office, on the subway, under one of my trees — and have introduced it to tons of people already, including highlighting it in one of my recent YouTube videos (definitely check that out to get a taste.)

An added bonus, and something that really locked in the importance of this work for me, is that there’s an extensive body of neuroscience research that shows the affects of JOY on the brain, and by extension, in your life. A regular, mindful practice focused on joy can help reduce stress, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and increase resilience and productivity. Pretty cool, huh?!

How about you? What’s your relationship to joy? Is it something you can call on in tough times?

One of the reasons I think the CoJ is so powerful is that you actually evoke a special “chair” and place yourself in it very viscerally during the meditation. As one of my coach friends said after he went through it, “I get it now — imagining yourself physically sitting in a significant chair really allows you to fully embody the experience of joy.”

And the earthy-y, body-loving energy of the upcoming Taurus Full Moon is the perfect time to introduce this to my Spirited Living community! The fact that we’re now moving through the deep, transformative Scorpio season from October 23rd — November 22nd only highlights this embodied energy as well.

So be sure to join us for my upcoming Taurus/Scorpio Full Moon TeleMeditation this Friday, October 27th when, among other things, I’ll lead everyone through a Chair of Joy experience! Click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then

Now check out this month’s Deb’s Picks for a creative mix of joy and/or body-centered resources!

SAY YES TO JOY: A 5-DAY PRACTICE Nov. 13-17

Minx found this one, too… and as you can see, I jump on anything she recommends cuz I know it will be great! This 5-day practice offers questions for reflection, poetry, videos, short essays, and research highlights, as well as a guided practice that builds on the day’s focus and resources. Sounds like yet another powerful way to build your joy muscle. I’ve registered and you can, too, by clicking on the link above.

KIRTAN KRIYA MEDITATION

I’ve written about this powerful kundalini practice before… it’s been one of my “morning meds” since the beginning of the pandemic and it’s another one of those mindfulness practices that’s has some powerful research attached to it. What I love about it is that it’s one of those very embodied forms of meditation (are you catching the theme here?!), with both chanting and mudras (sacred hand movements). Click on HERE to watch my YouTube video about it and get more information. Let me know if you try it!

SOMATIC EXPERIENCING (SE) WITH REV. LYNN BOURBEAU

If you’re overwhelmed or have experienced trauma, any number of sensations can hijack your nervous system — anxiety, panic, anger, rage, hopelessness, depression, sadness, body aches and ailments.  If there’s anyone who can help you calm down and re-calibrate before you go over the edge, it’s my dear friend, Lynn. SE is what it sounds like — a powerful body-oriented therapy. This Taurus season could be a perfect time to explore it and re-discover joy. Click on Lynn’s name above and check out her website.

AUTHENTIC MOVEMENT

When I first started leading Women’s Circles in the mid-90s, one of my early mentors introduced me to this gentle, therapeutic form of movement and I’ve incorporated it into many circles and workshops since then. With your eyes closed and no music, you explore spontaneous gestures, movement, and stillness, while being “witnessed” by someone else. Your witness can be live or even holding the space for you through Zoom. It really is a powerful experience for both the Mover and the Witness. Janet Adler’s book “Arching Backward” offers a beautiful glimpse into its healing power.

VOCAL MEDITATION AND SINGING

I’ve often said that singing is one of my favorite “therapies” and has brought me joy since I was a kid, so of course I want to share resources here! That’s me singing with some of my SoHarmoniums chorus sisters (next month I’ll tell you about our Holiday Concert coming up in December) in 4thU Artivist’s Cabaret a few years ago… and if you click on the photo you’ll get a terrific article on the health benefits of singing. Sacred chanting is another wonderful outlet — basically it’s like a vocal meditation. I did two videos 10 years ago offering some favorite chants — one of them with Sanskrit chants and the other Women’s Circle chants. Click on the links and enjoy! And let me know if you want to hear more.

I hope some of these Picks inspire you to find new ways to cultivate JOY in your life, and from that balanced space to spread it into the world. And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them!

With joyful Autumn blessings,

Deborah

Wow… It’s hard to believe that I’ve been facilitating my Moon circles at the Fourth Universalist Society (fondly known as 4thU) for 27 years!

We started in one of the downstairs classrooms in October 1996 with Full Moon SisterCircles just for 4thU members, then added New Moon Circles two years later that were open to the public. I think it was at that point, too, when we moved up to our beautiful sanctuary.

For the next several years, wonderful “lunar-tics“ (which we were dubbed by one of our loving partners) from the congregation co-facilitated the Full Moon Circles with me. Somewhere in there, we even made those Circles coed for awhile at the request of several men, though that was short-lived. Then my dear friend and CircleSister, Carolyn MacLaury, shared Full Moon facilitating for a few more years before we dropped them completely and I just continued with the New Moon SisterCircles.

Ritual is basically symbolic action around a particular theme so there’s a major schlep factor involved when getting all those symbols to 4thU for a Circle! I have closets and file drawers filled with all the paraphernalia I’ve collected over the years to create beautiful altars and deep ritual experiences. Candles, incense, altar cloths, goddess statues, crystals, essential oil sprays… and that’s just the basic stuff before we get into what’s needed to create magical tools and takeaways for each circle.

Life is a series of cycles

But just as we follow the Sun through the cycles of the seasons and the Moon through its cycle each month from New to Full and back again, so too, do we move through our own cycles in our lives, projects, and relationships.

And it appears now that it’s time for my New Moon SisterCircles cycle to wind down.

It’s been such an extraordinary ride. I started offering them in the mid-90s as part of my Masters’ degree program when I would critique them each month as part of my curriculum. Since then, I’ve offered wonderful workshops at conferences all over the country on the power of transformative ritual. I even created and facilitated a year-long women’s spirituality program for 10 years that evolved directly from the Circles.

Virtual Circles will continue through The Wellness Universe

I’m so, so grateful for all the people and opportunities that have come into my life as a result of my SisterCircles. I’ll sorely miss connecting in that deep sacred space each month with extraordinary women, though I’m comforted knowing that I’ll be continuing my virtual New Moon SisterCircles through a wonderful online community I’m part of called The Wellness Universe. (You’re welcome to join us there at: https://bit.ly/NewMoonSisterCircles  )

So thank you, thank you, to all of you who have supported me in big and little ways through this journey. It’s been a deep, expansive, and life-defining journey in so many ways. I do hope you’ll click here to join me on Sunday night, October 15th for my last Circle.

As I say to my coaching clients who are in the midst of big life transitions, you never know what will fill the space when you release or let go of something.

I’m so curious to see what shows up!

I’ve been ruminating alot lately about the ideas of peace, happiness, and harmony. Maybe cuz there seems to be so much turmoil and change swirling around in the larger world, and in my own little corner of the world. Sometimes it feels like such a struggle to tap into my natural optimism and positivity.

So, that old song, “Let there be Peace on Earth” keeps playing in my head…

“Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

With every step I take let this be my solemn vow:

To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

I know, maybe a little corny, but I absolutely know that if I’m going to able to stand strongly in the midst of the whirlwind, I’ve got to be meticulous with my self-care — my morning “meds” (check them out HERE!), my daily pilates/barre/yoga practice, getting outside for regular “tree-sits”, and spending precious time with friends and family, especially with my grand-cuties and my 93 year-old mom.

And it turns out that last one — nurturing our special relationships — is the #1 key to happiness, according to a famous 85-year Harvard study. The study revealed that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives. There are a ton of articles and videos about the study online but here’s a good one to start with, then do your own exploring.

So, what does it mean to be a “warrior for peace”?

For starters, it means you get really serious about committing to — or up-leveling — whatever practices infuse you with a sense of happiness and calm. I shared some of mine and I’ve embraced a new powerful practice called the Chair of JOY™ experience… I’ve now added it to my “morning meds”! You’ll hear more about it in the coming months, but if you’re curious, you can go to their website and wander around.

How about you? What self-care practices are you passionately committed to? More importantly, what specific actions can you take to cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace? And taking it one step further, how can you fearlessly bring that energy into the world around you to make a difference?

The energy of this Aries/Libra Full Moon

Now is a good time to act on that peace-loving, harmonious vibe since we’re moving through the Libra season from September 22nd to October 22nd. And you’ll get an extra cosmic dose of that energy on the New Moon on October 14th when the Sun and Moon are both in the sign. In fact, the theme for my Libra New Moon Circles this year is “Embracing Peace & Balance in our Lives & the World” – take a look in the side bar below to join us live or virtually.

But before then, we have the fire-y Aries Full Moon coming up on September 29th. Ruled by the warrior god and planet, Mars, Aries is quintessential fearless, “me first”, full steam ahead energy – the perfect dynamic partner to gentle, loving Libra. Now can you see how this an ideal time to become a “warrior for peace”?

So be sure to join us for my upcoming Aries/Libra Full Moon TeleMeditation this Friday, September 29th — click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then.

Now check out this month’s Deb’s Picks for a creative mix of harmonious, inner-and-outer peace-related resources!

THE AUTHENTIC WOMAN PLAYBOOK: FALL EDITION  by Deborah Roth

With Fall officially upon us (the Autumnal Equinox was on September 22nd), of course, I want to remind you about my favorite seasonal guidebook… a perfect way to deepen your relationship with YOURSELF! I co-authored this magical series 10+ years ago with my dear coach-sisters, Minx Boren & Marsha Lehman. It’s a creative feminine treasure map, complete with revelations and reflections about 13 aspects of our divine feminine nature, along with exquisitely outlined mandalas representing each FemType, just waiting for you to color and claim as your own. Get yours now so you can wander through the Fall season to reap the harvest of both your carefully planned and carelessly playful meanderings of the past several months!

STAND UP SPEAK OUT: EPISODE #3 — REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Produced by my dear friend Katherine Brewster, this entire series totally embodies the fierce, fearless fight for women’s rights over the past 50+ years. I’ve highlighted the first 2 episodes on Equal Pay and Voting Rights in previous Deb’s Picks and this latest episode on Reproductive Rights addressing bodily autonomy is equally powerful. Click on the graphic to learn more and get involved as part of your own Peace Warrior initiative this month!

HEARTMATH INSTITUTE & HEART/BRAIN COHERENCE

I was introduced to HeartMath™ when I first started coaching in the late 90s and have been fascinated to watch their evolution into a global leader in emotional physiology, optimal function and stress-management research. How can you not love an organization whose mission is to “help establish heart-based living and global coherence by inspiring people to connect with the intelligence and guidance of their own hearts”?! They also offer beautiful global peace projects that are so in alignment with our PEACE theme this month. And to further tickle your curiosity, the Chair of JOY™ experience perfectly embodies HeartMath principles as well. I promise I’ll write more about it next month!

“I ME WED” by ROB BREZSNY

I think I’ve mentioned Rob’s newsletter for several months in a row now, but he’s just so brilliant! This latest article is a beautifully written invitation to “master the art of loving yourself ingeniously.” It’s a balls-y/wombs-y concept to re-dedicate yourself to the most important relationship in your life… to YOURSELF. Click on the link to read it and let me know what you think.

MINDFUL BREATHING IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS

This blows me away… at the start of this school year, all public schools in New York — from pre-K through grade 12 — are required to offer two to five minutes of mindful breathing every day to improve mental health. As part of this initiative, the city has rolled out a citywide professional development program for educators to make sure at least one staff member in each school is trained in mindful breathing practices. Yaayy for NYC for starting young to create peace warriors! Click on the link above to learn more. Now we just have to get Chairs of JOY™ in every classroom to replace the “time-out” corner.

I hope some of these Picks inspire you to find new ways to celebrate your most important relationships, and to embrace peace within yourself, AND in the world. And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them!

With crisp Autumn blessings,

Deborah

Before I jump into this juicy topic, a few caveats —

#1 — I’ve been having a wonderful fun, family-filled summer which includes a getaway to Cape Cod with my 93-year-old mom the last week of August. We’ve been doing these mom-daughter, mid-week trips for over 30 years now and the older we get, the more precious they are!

Sooo, there will be NO Full Moon Meditation on August 30th. But I’ll still give you the deets about its energy below, as well as a link to listen to last year’s meditation if you’re so inclined.

#2 — because I’m so wonderfully mellowed out from all this summer fun, I’ll be re-cycling my Deb’s Picks blog from last year for this upcoming Pisces/Virgo Full Moon. That’s a first for me! However, I am updating some of the actual Picks themselves to turn you on to some of my more recent finds — you can check them out below. And of course, you can look at last year’s Pisces Picks to see some more!

So on to Practical Spirituality…

When I was working on my Master’s thesis 25 years ago, I was fascinated by the writing of the feminist theologian Mary Daly — the title of her provocative book, “Gyn/Ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism”, gives you an idea of the ways she de-constructed old words and created new ones in powerful, mind-bending ways. Check her out if you’re ready for some pretty brilliant brain food!

And I’ve always loved weaving words together myself that seem contradictory:

Soft intensity — a phrase I offered one of my yoga teachers to describe her classes (she ended up using it in her promo!)

Static movement — a concept I coined with one of my first coaching clients years ago for when things seem quiet on the surface but there’s lots going on underneath.

Ruthless compassion — when you’re struggling to feel empathy for someone and have to dig deep and hard to find an emotional connection.

Practical spirituality. It’s one of those word combinations that’s always fascinated me. The Oxford Dictionary defines spirituality as “the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things”. But in order to ground our soul-searching, I believe we must find practical, tangible tools and resources to make it real in our lives.

How the Pisces Full Moon embodies practical spirituality

The Pisces/Virgo Full Moon coming up on August 30th embodies those two qualities perfectly! In fact, Full Moons in general are always a powerful time to bring together two different energies since the Sun and Moon are in opposite zodiac signs.

When the Moon is in Pisces, it’s a great time for tapping into our intuition and imagination, for “going with the flow”, and for holding compassion and empathy for ourselves and indeed, for all of humanity. And this Virgo season (from August 22 — September 22) brings with it a big dose of practical, quick-thinking mental energy, particularly focused on healthy self care.

(Remember, New Moons are when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign – you can read my Virgo New Moon blog to get some ideas about you could tap into that energy, even though the actual New Moon won’t be until September 14th.)

I hope some of my Deb’s Picks below will expand your practical spirituality toolbox – I’d love to hear some of yours, and some of the ways that you’ve played with language and word combinations as well!

INTERVIEW W/VALERIE BENNIS for FRAGRANT NOTES

I first connected with Valerie years ago when she had her award-winning aromatherapy company, Essence of Vali. Fragrant Notes (great play on words, right?) is her next chapter and it’s designed for women who appreciate timeless beauty, health and wellbeing. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to be interviewed for her podcast! Click on the link above to listen to our conversation, then go to her website and check out her other offerings, including her new fragrance, Earth Embrace — perfect for this upcoming watery/earthy Pisces/Virgo Full Moon!

EARTH TREASURE VASES — FULL MOON GLOBAL HEALING MEDITATION SERIES

This organization was born when the founder met a 106-year-old Lama in his cave in a remote corner of Nepal. In answer to her question, “What can we do to bring healing and protection to the Earth?” she was given a practice of filling, sealing and burying Earth Treasure Vases around the world in places of need, bringing this ancient Buddhist practice alive for our times. Since then, the original 30 vases have been buried as well as many 2nd generation treasure vases and they form a living global mandala of prayers. Every full moon you can participate in a guided meditation to direct prayers and intentions into the vases and energize the global mandala. I’ve attended a few and they are fascinating, reverent experiences.

MY GRANDFATHER’S BLESSINGS BY RACHEL NAOMI REMEN

I’ve been reading this book in delicious, bite-sized pieces since a friend gifted it to me last year (thanks, Phyllis!). Dr. Remen is an oncologist, but is probably better known now as an exquisite storyteller. Her first book was “Kitchen Table Wisdom” which I read years ago and both books celebrate the power of kindness and of healing connections. If you want a lovely reminder to stop and recognize the blessings in your life, then to bestow them on others, definitely treat yourself to her writing.

“FEELIE HEARTS” FROM BRIDGES BEREAVEMENT CENTER 

I found out about these beautiful little hearts from Rachel’s book and did some further digging. While this Center offers them as a tangible, soothing source of comfort for grieving children, it turns out that many organizations offer some version of them — google them and you’ll see. As Rachel describes them, they are “small enough to put into a little pocket & take to school to hold… giving children permission to hold their own hearts tenderly & to grieve. To remember that they were loved & know that they can love.” Such a sweet example of combining Pisces compassion with Virgo’s concrete, practical energy.

“BLESSINGS” POEMS BY DAVID WHYTE — A VISUAL JOURNEY

I met David Whyte when he spoke at a coaching conference years ago. He’s written some wonderful books, weaving his poetry with practical lessons about life and work and this video just seemed to capture the transcendent (Pisces) power of words with a very grounded celebration of Mother Earth (did I mention Virgo is an Earth sign?). Watch and listen and prepare to be transported for a few moments.

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I hope you’ll check out some of these powerful, practical offerings and of course, I’d love to hear about ones you’ve found, too!

With sweet late-summer blessings,

Deborah

It’s time again to step through the Lion’s Gate! If you’ve never heard of it, now is the time to find out so you can participate in this powerful, celestial heart-opening event that occurs this week on August 8th.

Each year, this energetic portal opens up in the cosmos around July 26th and stays open until about August 12th, with the peak occurring on August 8th – the eighth day of the eighth month. It’s marked by the heliacal rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky… basically that means that Sirius will be visible above the eastern horizon just before sunrise.

The many keys to the Lion’s Gate

In numerology, eight symbolizes balance and represents changes that bring about harmony and alignment in ourselves and in the world. And in astrology, Sirius symbolizes abundance, prosperity, and creative power. The ancient seers considered Sirius to be the “spiritual Sun” and believed that its light showed the path to heaven. Just as our own Earth’s Sun energizes and sustains our physical body, so does Sirius raise our spiritual vibration and deepen our connection to our intuition and to the divine.

As if the Sirius and 8/8 combination wasn’t enough, the sun is in Leo from July 22 to August 22 and guess what Leo’s symbol is? You guessed it… the Lion! Leo rules the heart and inspires a sense of purpose and passion for creation and self-expression. AND it’s ruled by the Sun – a perfect partner for that spiritual Sun Sirius that’s dancing through the skies right now.

How to use the powerful energy of the Lion’s Gate

The bottom line is that this triple whammy of cosmic energy opens up a celestial portal that allows high vibrational energy to be sent to Earth for all of us to embody.

How can you channel the roaring symbolism of Lion’s Gate to enhance and elevate your own mind, heart and spirit?

Here are some ideas:

1) Journaling — What do you need to release? What do you need to forgive yourself for? Use this time to release your self-limiting beliefs that block your path to abundance. Write them down and burn them, either under our own fire-y Sun, or before sunrise when Sirius itself is rising.

2) Meditate — again, preferably outside under the sun and envision the combined energy of our beautiful Sun dancing cheek to cheek with Sirius. Imagine it coming into your crown chakra and moving down and clearing all of your chakras. Feel that deeply spiritual, peaceful energy move through your body and ultimately ground you on Mother Earth.

3) Breathe into your heart chakra and open up to your 5th chakra (third eye) as well.  Open your heart to your deepest wishes and intentions and open your third eye to embrace your deep intuition so that you’re ready to manifest all you desire.

4)  Get creative – drawing, vision-boarding, etc. Now that you’ve burned away your self-limiting beliefs and cleared your chakras, spend some time envisioning what new possibilities, projects, and ideas you want to flow into that empty space. Then, invite Leo’s gift for creative self-expression to shine brightly and do a little arts and crafts! You don’t have to be an artist, just trust whatever you produce with right intention will open you up to new paths.

Play with any or all of these ideas, then let me know how you danced through the Lion’s Gate!