The Rio Chama Blog

A number of times in my life I have taken a few days, or even a week, to pray and reflect on my life. Before the birth of one of my children, I spent a weekend in a Catholic monastery. This revitalizing experience prepared me for tending to a new baby. After my divorce many years later, I heard of a sanctuary in another state, where Catholic nuns lived on the land. In the quiet and beauty of nature, people gathered to pray and meditate. I spent a week there in the solitude of a small cabin – taking walks to a nearby creek and enjoying Mother Nature surrounding me. It was an important time, and I returned to New Mexico energized with a number of ideas of how to make my life more internal and prayerful.

Of the many blogs posted thus far, Peace Begins with a Smile has been the most popular. Numerous people have spoken to me regarding it. In addition, as I’ve been smiling more in my life, I’ve been exquisitely pleased with the responses of others. Of note is when I go to the gym and check in—the people working behind the desk more and more greet me with a smile. And, of course, I smile back!

Because people often wonder what the differences are between Qigong and Tai Chi, I explore these increasingly popular practices in my recent book, The Paradoxical Return of the Feminine. I have personal experiences using each, and today I want to share information about the effectiveness of Qigong. Who knows—it may be time for you to begin and/or deepen Qigong practice!

Astrological influences have been studied for hundreds of years. Whether you are familiar with astrology or not, there is much to be said about 2018. This year began with optimism; yet halfway through, the desire for freedom, independence, and individuality became evident in the collective conscious, making it a time for those who are globally oppressed to rise up and demand justice in a way that can’t be ignored by the powers that be. For everyone, such conflict involves letting go of the past and preparing for the new, moving beyond the feelings of: “Change is too difficult, and I want to hold onto the familiar.” 

At the end of the previous blog, reference was made to Mother Teresa, who reminded people that peace begins with a smile. This prompted me to research information regarding the effects of smiling. Much to my delight, I learned how smiling affects the brain and the body: