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 Natural Awakenings Lancaster-Berks

Letter From the Publishers, February 2015

Life is fleeting, period. Days merge into decades that spin out the tapestry of our lifetimes, and relationships are the connecting forces that build meaning into the masterpiece. Journeying along with each other we hold the opportunity to discover and uplift realities that merge and diverge, risking loss while opening to the greatest mystery of all.

Intimacy gives back, illuminating a path for navigating the steps we take together, while holding a mirror up to reflect our own soul. The stardust we kick up with our closest companions often contributes to the greatest questions, lessons and joys of our lives. So it is no surprise that a sense of timelessness can pervade those sparkling moments of synchronicity, adding to a sense of infinite and deep knowing.

This month’s focus is on finding that higher ground and prioritizing our relationships for the sacred unions they are. Honoring both the differences that intrigue us and the shared values that unite us can be a foundation for bonds that transcend any need for explanation. The treasure in return is an extension of self, an expansion of courageous potential and a full heart.

Along with adventure, this trek into uncharted territory is laden with change and unexpected twists that serve as a sure reminder of our impermanence here on sweet planet Earth, which makes February’s adjoining topic of Healing Grief equally compelling. There is no magic timeline for healing once the ground beneath has fallen away in the aftermath, but as Kathleen Barnes highlights in her feature, “Gentling Grief,” with adequate support and due time, the tears secure a layer of experience that begins to soften the pain.

The poem “When Great Trees Fall,” written by the late author and poet Maya Angelou, reflects the depth of grief-stricken emotions: “… When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. …”

Yet, Angelou finds the glimmer of inspiration in the end: “And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, … Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.”

May we discover the treasures in every person, and may we be inspired by the lessons and essence left behind by great souls.

            ~Jacqueline Mast & Kendra Campbell, Co-publishers