I had a wonderful dream recently, about a week after the election. I dreamed that I was at an inauguration celebration for Kamala or Michelle Obama. I know that’s annoyingly vague, but I think my sleeping brain created this ambiguity because I admire both of them so much. My mother and I stood in a [...]
Hello, my friends! You might have noticed that I am BUSY over on YouTube these days, posting a "long form" video each Wednesday and a short each Sunday. My channel sits at the crossroads where Irish folklore and tradition meets creative practice and encouragement. Click HERE to visit my channel if you'd like to see [...]
Hello, my friends. I'm sending you the reddest fox to run through your thoughts and dash a little dose of magic into your week. This is inspired by the gift yesterday of seeing a red fox gallop through my yard as I sat on the back bench eating my breakfast. I couldn't stop smiling for [...]
Creating a strong and loving family requires skill, commitment, communication, and clarity. It requires consistently making the right choice (which works on every occasion). Today, I share a marvelous Irish folktale gleaned from the collection of Bab Feiritear, a warm-hearted storyteller from Dunquin, County Kerry, Ireland. I'd love to hear from you: 1. What wisdom [...]
There's a beautiful dance between the literal and the metaphorical in the Irish imagination. Today, we consider Irish holy wells - of which there are some 3000 in existence - and what they teach us about being, ourselves, a source of goodness, friendship, humor, and kindness in the world. Thank you for tuning in! Tell [...]
The star of traditional Irish midsummer - St. John's Eve on the 23rd of June - is the BONFIRE which turns out to be multi-faceted and multi-purposed, and altogether quite powerful! Let's take a leaf out of the traditional Irish playbook and kindle our own fires - of enthusiasm, love, and excitement about being alive. [...]
Irish tradition offers us some inspiring ideas about how to get older in a powerful way. I can't wait to hear what you think! Tell us in the comments: 1. Of the four ideas I shared, which are you eager to put into practice? 2. What's the best thing about getting older, in your opinion? [...]
I am an ardent fan of Irish proverbs and carry dozens of them in my mind. This one, though, I think needs just a bit of tweaking to help us harvest its dose of encouragement. Tell us in the comments: 1. What is one identity that you think our society regards with a fixed mindset [...]
A brief, passionate rant about the enlivening influence of poetry, very broadly defined with the help of John Stuart Mill and 19th century poet, Arthur O'Shaughnessy, and an invitation to throw off world weariness and cynicism and embrace and live YOUR poetry, your way. If you're moved and inclined, please share a comment - perhaps, [...]
Sometimes, a visitor to my home notices the mermaid-blue typewriter or the record player or the crowd of ink bottles and fountain pens on my desk. From time to time, one of them asks why I have these things in a tone that suggests I may be keeping a zebra in the bathtub or a [...]
