We don’t know how much time we get, and we can’t go back. All we can do is be present, find what brings us joy, work through what doesn’t, and flow through it all.

March 1, 2023 - Phoebe turns 29!

Do you struggle in the fall? I do too. But this year I put together why. If you cyclically slip into the depths of despair this time of year (even for a few days), here’s some tips to help.

It was because of that journal that I wrote myself out of Four Winds, allowing myself to work through the feelings and experiences that wounded me. I cut out pictures and words from magazines, writing how I felt about the snippings, and taped drawings, group assignments and notes from the peers I met through my stay.

That journal was the medicine my soul had been craving. It let me unravel my innermost thoughts and turbulent emotions, unlocking an understanding about myself: I was ready to move forward.

Today, the Queensbury native is a little over a week into her largest piece to date: one of the oldest buildings in the city, a 30x80 ft. building-turned-canvas. “This project means everything to me. I've been so passionate about public art and murals, especially in this town and have been wanting this for almost a decade,” she expressed. Her design was one of three chosen for the city’s first mural program, an endeavor Glens Falls has been mulling over for a decade.

Sometimes meeting your heroes can be disappointing, but other times you spend an hour conversing with them, and the experience exceeds your expectations. That’s what happened when I met Stephanie. For an hour, we took a deep dive into her spiritual journey, her process for creating guided meditations, and her work with Oracle cards. Although we met virtually, her calming and compassionate presence was palpable through the screen.

March First Writings & Readings is your weekly dose of astrology, affirmations, and card readings. I hope these words speak positivity into your week ahead!

To help get you started, I made a graphic. I encourage you to use it as a loose guide, seeing where the flow of energy takes you, and I hope you receive new insights about yourself and the world around you.

The rain has always affected me. A dreary rainy day zaps my energy, and somedays, it makes me feel downright depressed. That’s how this week started; it was gloomy all day and rained consistently, the air felt heavy, and the sun didn’t shine once. When I got up for work, I could feel the familiar pulls of lethargy, glumness, and negativity. But instead of pushing back or leaning into the off-ness, I did three things.

My Mimi is with me every day. I see her eyes in the blue jay that finds me every week, smell her perfume carried by the spring breeze, and feel her embrace in the sun's rays. She isn't gone; the way we communicate has just changed. Still, there are days like May 2, when the realization sets in I won’t see her again in this lifetime, and grief bubbles to the surface again. But, it passes, replaced by the next moment’s emotion. There’s so much more I have to say about Mimi and the incredible bond we shared—the nuggets of wisdom, love, and understanding she gave over 27 years.

The yoga flow I selected was the first of the five yamas, a not-so-subtle reminder from the Universe that it was time to renew my dedication to a daily yoga practice; that the benefits of regular flows extend far beyond the roughly 30 minutes a day I spend on the mat. Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence toward oneself and all living creatures. The first yama calls for an attitude of universal benevolence. It’s the spontaneous expression of the highest form of love and the complete absence of violence from mind, body and spirit.

Life is dynamic. Your content marketing strategy should be too. March First Media offers blog posts, articles, press releases, website copy, social media campaigns, commercial scripts, graphic design and voice-overs. Turn your dreams into reality through a dynamic content marketing strategy.

“How is it possible that dogs, birds, Monarch butterflies all have some inner psychic ability? They know when they need to migrate, where they need to go, know when things aren’t safe, what to do when they’re pregnant, that’s all intuition, gut instinct, psychic ability. So, if you believe in God or a higher power, why would God give that to a bird and not his own divine image?”

So here I sit, feeling more aligned than I’ve ever felt in my life, and across the globe, an entire country of my fellow human beings are being attacked, killed, and displaced. They say that comparison is the thief of joy, in regards to coveting someone else’s life. But in this instance, comparison is the giver of compassion. My partner asked what I was working on this evening, and I told him of my attempt to put into words the conflicting emotions of joy for my own life, and complete heartbreak for the people of Ukraine. “Survivor’s guilt,” John calmly stated. “You’re experiencing survivor’s guilt.”

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet is collecting items through Friday, March 11, 2022.

When I finished the first draft of Life After Pentecostalism, Finding God After Leaving a Cult, I felt an energetic weight lift from my chest. Feeling that burden float away surprised me. I felt so much lighter, my focus intensified, and fears that had been lingering in the recesses of my brain became a whole heck of a lot quieter. The cleansing I felt was mildly shocking because I wasn’t aware I was still carrying the past’s burden.

In his profoundly charismatic way, he shouted, “If the truth is a cult, then I’m proud to be in a cult!” the howling and shrieking intensified as the musicians began to take their place on the alter, his voice growing, beckoning us to gather below him. It was in that moment I realized I was drinking the Kool-Aid. But I was too scared of what would happen to me if I decided to put down the glass.

Three years later, I’m me again. Connected to God and my highest self. I finally understand the words, “God is within you.”

It had been years since I spoke to Jes, and more than a decade since our week together. But her effervescence, compassion, warmth, perseverance and dedication to life seemed to transcend time. I was pulled into the recesses of my brain, remembering our time together as if it happened yesterday. Her death didn’t seem real, and my heart broke for her family.

I understand that yoga isn't for everyone. But, I do believe there's something like it for everyone, something that resonates with you on a soul level, something that intrinsically connects you to yourself. I urge you to seek that.