Special to Edgelife.netDo you ever feel like the whole world is against you and that you are all-alone and no one is on your side? That is how I felt one day in August 2001 on a scheduled flight to Italy. Italy was to be my dream vacation, and back then I believed if I didn't hurry up and realize my dreams, I never would. So in my haste, I boarded the plane to Italy with my sick mother and my two daughters in tow. I remember it vividly.In one hand was my 14 month old. In my other hand, I pushed … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This May, the Theosophical Society in America [www.theosophical.org] will bring together leading representatives of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Judaic and Native American traditions to envision what a spirit-driven globalization would look like and to begin formulating a positive, creative and shared vision for the future.The Theosophical Society's Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference - "Globalization and Spirituality: Creating a Language of Possibility" - will … [Read more...]

"The whole year's work depends on a good start in the Spring." - Chinese ProverbCongratulations! You made it through another winter! Now, the warmer temperatures and the longer hours of daylight will be an awesome relief. No more feeling like a hibernating bear cooped up inside your house. You can go outside for lovely walks and appreciate the new life of spring. In the winter, your body is "fu chang" - Chinese for "in storage." In the spring, your body begins to … [Read more...]

Dear Kimberly,My boyfriend and I have been together for three years and I really do love him. He is so stable and steady. The problem is that I am really attracted to a new man in my life. He is flighty and romantic, like me. When I'm with him it feels right, and when I'm with my boyfriend that feels right, too. What should I do? - Missing OutDear Missing Out, First, you need to know that the people in your life are your mirrors. This means that they are showing you parts of yourself. You have … [Read more...]

Special to Edgelife.net Peru is a very mystical and powerful land filled with ancient sacred sites of stone that vibrate with energy. I was in Peru once again with a wonderful group of women who had come on this transformational journey to work with the ancient sources of wisdom that Peru offers to one who comes on a quest for personal self-discovery.Today we were at the Temple of the Condor in Machu Picchu, high in the Andes Mountains. This is where this great bird lives, with a wingspan of 12 … [Read more...]

We all need sleep to survive. Doctors recommend that we get at least eight hours of sleep each night. The truth is, we all have occasional nights when sleep eludes us.Insomnia is defined as poor quality or unsatisfying sleep. It indicates all types of sleep loss. It can be short term and last for a few nights, or it can become a chronic condition that persists for months or even years. This includes not being able to fall asleep, waking up too early in the morning and not being able to fall back … [Read more...]

"Faces of Madagascar" exhibitMAPLEWOOD, Minn. - Pat Connolly has traveled to 20 countries in seven years, sometimes as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. In his journeys, he has come to realize one thing: "We are the same everywhere in the world. We all want the same things."During these trips, Connolly photographs the everyday life of people. His photos have been exhibited in three galleries, most recently as part of the Arts & Spirituality series sponsored by the … [Read more...]

Special to Edgelife.netI have had so many meaningful travel experiences in my life. My travel experiences always have two central themes in common. They always highlight the awesome beauty of Mother Nature, and they illuminate the story and the spirituality of the people who lived there before my arrival on this planet. One such experience was a trip to Cahokia Mounds in 2001. I had heard that this place was amazing, but I had no idea how amazing it was until I got there. I made the trip at a … [Read more...]

Christina Pratt will present the following events and classes will be presented in the Upper Midwest. Her complete schedule with more details is available at www.shamansense.org. A local list serve for Shamanic events, including Christina's workshops is available. To be added to the list, contact Beth Somerville at somer012@umn.edu or call (612) 626-2395.May 28-June 2, The Christine Center, Willard, WIMasks of Illusion and the Authentic Self (Part 1 in the Cycle of Transformation)The Authentic … [Read more...]

Special to Edgelife.netSorting through racks of silky, bright clothes in a Somali store in Minneapolis, I was looking for a lightweight manteau (cover) to wear in Iran. Consulting the female staff, I settled on a tan, floor-length trench-coat style with buttons down the front that seemed suitable for a hot summer day. I added a pearl-colored headscarf shaped like a cape and went to the mirrors in the back to study the effect. Properly covered, the male tailors noticed me for the first time. … [Read more...]

For the first time in my life, I had the pleasure of enjoying the opera. I was able to go to opening night of Don Giovanni at the Ordway Theatre with my wife. It was such a joy to experience the drama of the opera (along with the drama of the event itself!)The story was about Don Giovanni, a Don Juan type who isn't quite as sympathetic. In the opening scene, Giovanni is trying to rid himself of a woman he supposedly raped, then kills her father when he confronts him. The whole scene is observed … [Read more...]

Special to Edgelife.netA few years ago, I had the chance of a lifetime to go to Germany and France with Brian, my boyfriend of six months. I was scared when he first mentioned the trip, because it made our relationship seem so serious. I was also afraid to go, because we'd be going to the French Alps to ski with two of his friends and his cousin. I had never been downhill skiing and didn't really want to learn. But I did want to see Germany and France. Brian assured me that the trip all be … [Read more...]

Special to Edgelife.netThe butterflies beckoned and we were ready. We had been anticipating this day for more than a year. The four of us, all "prime time" women from Minnesota, had each recently faced and survived a major setback in our lives, and we were eager to break free from our cocoons of crisis and begin our journey to Mexico in search of the migrating monarch butterflies. The Mariposa Monarca Butterfly Sanctuary, consisting of five separate areas, is nestled in the eastern … [Read more...]