Mindfulness Garden Games
by Joann Calabrese
author of Growing Mindful

A Path through the Dark Times

Greetings at the New Moon – December 1, 2024 Finding a Path Forward in the Darkest of Times It is winter in the northern hemisphere, and daylight morphs into darkness earlier and earlier. Sunset here in Denver is around 4:30 PM. Winter always brings less light, but this year the darkness is more than the … Read more

Celestial Tipping Point of Winter Solstice

The Sun Returns The celestial tipping point that is winter solstice happens Tuesday, December 21st at 8:59 AM Mountain Time. As our home planet journeys around the sun, it tilts on its axis. North of the equator we are leaning away from the sun. It has been tilting in that direction since summer, making the … Read more

Winter Mindfulness Scavenger Hunt

How does a mindfulness scavenger hunt work? Unlike a regular scavenger hunt the, goal is NOT to hurry or to necessarily find everything on the list.  Find what you can. The practice is to notice, engage, appreciate, and cultivate wonder for the natural world. If you deepen your connection by taking time with anyone of … Read more

Connection – Pumpkin Essence

I feel stretched between seasons. Just a few weeks ago I could pop raspberries and tomatoes into my mouth as I walked out the door. But today it is 25 degrees with large white flakes swirling outside my window. The garden exists mostly in my memory. Mostly. Because there are seeds and dried herbs on … Read more

Turning Points – Mindfulness Focus Words

    The mindfulness focus this week is turning points. The funny thing about turning points is that we don’t always know when we’ve made it around the bend.  Oh sure, sometimes it is obvious. It may be something dramatic like a new job or a move to a new city.  But often, turning points … Read more

Leaning Into Darkness

      Arguing With Winter I am not a fan of winter or the darkness that accompanies it. The sun sets in Denver just after 4:30 PM this week, making for a very long night.  And although the weather can be balmy here when the sun is up, temperatures can plummet twenty degrees after … Read more

My Four Point Plan for Dispelling the Darkness – thoughts on the longest night of the year

Winter solstice always carries the symbolism of light dispelling darkness. That image seems particularly comforting right now as we have entered a dark period in which people full of hate and mean intentions have captured the castle.  After weeks of mucking around in the darkness, I am ready to embrace the light.  I’ve written a … Read more

Winter Mandalas

Creating Winter Mandalas  This moment and this moment and this next moment….that’s what we have. These moments make up our lives. And yet we seem to be wired to be anywhere but in this present moment. Certainly more than at any time in our history, the information on meditation and mindfulness is readily available. But … Read more

On Winter Solstice

The celestial tipping point that is winter solstice happens on Saturday, December 21st (2013) at exactly 10:11 AM Mountain Time. (See other time zones below.) As our home planet journeys around the sun, it tilts on its axis so that those of us living north of the equator are leaning away from the sun. It … Read more

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