Does choosing joy count as a spiritual practice? You bet it does! There is no greater spiritual practice than using your joy to flood our world with light. But sometimes joy can be elusive, especially these days as the harsh realities of living in the 21st century come closer to home. We read headlines that the very nature of civilization is at stake if we don’t act now. Or that the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals is occurring at a rate never seen before, mainly a

Although the world feels pretty “dark” out there right now, there is definitely a shift occurring. Can you sense or feel it? The old self-limiting story that has dominated our world for centuries–one based in fear and lack–is exhausted, outdated, and dying. We are currently witnessing its demise. A new story is emerging, one whose time has come. It tells us we are magnificent beyond our wildest dreams. It is grounded in compassion, wisdom, and joy. It trusts in the guidance o

Imagine this: The scene is on the edge of the Costa Rican Jungle. An abandoned cow pasture lovingly resurrected with thousands of indigenous trees and plants. Native animals returning, expanding the growing biodiversity of the land, jaguar included! An exquisite and magical setting for an initial dive into the practice of Shamanic Qigong led by Sifu Francisco Mena. After an initial and clear lecture on the nature of reality we are led, (we are not sure where until we arrive),

From ancient Qigong masters to self-help guru Louise Hay, the subtle yet profound power of smiling is becoming well known. It can even be a predictor of how long you'll live! Ron Gutman, in his entertaining TED Talk, reports on a variety of scientific studies that discuss the power of smiling. For example, by examining photos of students in an old yearbook, researchers were able to predict, just by the caliber of a person’s smile, how fulfilling and long lasting their marr