I love sparkling wines. The sound of a popping cork uplifts my spirit and makes my heart sing. Though I drink little, I still enjoy a small glass once in awhile. Sparkling wines, champagnes, prosecco (from the Veneto area of Italy) and Asti’s, offer vibrant symbols of a happy harvest. They are made from grapes…

Stepping out the door this morning, it was obvious that crisp fall air has taken the place of the heavy, humid weather. It’s also showing up in foods at the supermarket and the ways my body starts to feel. In Europe, particularly in France and Switzerland, about this time of year people change their eating…

Buddhist teachers often refer to life as an illusion or maya. In India I heard Hindu teachers and sacred texts say the same. It’s challenging to understand the deeper meaning of illusion or “maya.” When we cut a finger or stub a toe, the pain is very real and immediate. The meaning of illusion as…

We often imagine we need to quit our jobs and volunteer for a non-profit or work for the Peace Corps or a soup kitchen for our work to hold meaning and spiritual value. But all work, when done with the energy of love and devotion becomes elevated. It gives a deep sense of fulfillment and…

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