Blog of Jonathan Teel

The winter solstice comes every year and offers us an opportunity to make the most of a new Sun cycle that shines down upon us. That new cycle connects to a new cycle for us too, naturally. It is a time to reimagine and reignite intentions and enthusiasm for what is to come.  I've joined a lot of winter and summer solstice meditations over the years. I've used the chance to reset and rethink and feel into what changes I'd like to make in my life. As we set our winter solstice vision for the next months, we have to be prepared to take action on what we intend. We have to be prepared to tread gently and lovingly too with ourselves as we put energy into what we want to improve.  One could easily say that each day offers us a new opportunity to make a change in our inner or outer experience. Waiting for special moments on the calendar to do so aren't always helpful to our growth. The present matters. Still, we can take advantage of this winter solstice and the new year to c

For two decades, I have been on an intense journey of both understanding myself and deciding how I would like to show up in the world. Even if I always had a sense of the outcome, I had to navigate many competing and challenging parts within me and around me in my relationship to the rest of the world. I share this only because what follows is part of that outcome, but it also connects to what's going on right now in our world. It is relevant to the past, the present, and the future. It comes from a place of love.   Recently, I had yet another one of my premonitions (or intuitions) that outlined the present and offered up a view of the current and coming challenges. It existed mostly as a feeling. It wasn't novel per say, but I found it helpful in order to take stock of how I will show up as we move into this next phase of human experience. We are, in actuality, already in all of this, but there is still more to come. Let me briefly summarize by saying that these three challeng

Finding peace might seem to be a tall order and maybe this blog is too ambitious. Granted, these are only some keys that might be helpful and for many of us it could be a lifelong journey to experience the peace we want.  So often though I think, however, that if we can understand ourselves and begin to love and honor who we are, peace is a natural outcome.  It is one that involves taking a unique look at our lives, relationships, and our environment.   Most of us have been on our own journey. Each of us is also different with unique filters for perception. We've been tested and challenged to attain our worthy goals for a peaceful, happy, and healthy life.  We may be in the midst of that now.  Like anyone, I've lived through ups and downs, but my intention has often been to experience more peace. The more I intended, the more it showed up, even though there have been plenty of distractions (I'm still working on it too by the way).  That said, here are some keys to Peace:  1

Anxiety is a common experience for most of us. Some have it more strongly than others. Anxiety disorders or conditions have a wide variety of ways that they show up for people. Some have grown over time while others are triggered in stressful situations and then continue.  In my research of anxiety, it has been stated that anxiety often arises from a number of factors: a parent with an anxiety disorder (genetic), traumatic events, stressful situations, substance abuse, or health problems. These are not the only reasons, but the most common.  In my experience (and as defined by others), anxiety is a persistent fear or worry about every day circumstances. Anxiety is also focused largely on the future or something upcoming, whether real or imagined.  For anyone who has had anxiety or has an anxiety condition, we will know what it feels like to be anxious. How it impacts the body, mind, and emotions. How it leaves us feeling when we are in it, either from time to time or sustained over tim

Gratitude is the art or act of being grateful. Being grateful for life, for self, for others, and for the things or experiences we have. Gratitude is a thought, a word, and an action. Gratitude is a "felt sensation." Gratitude appreciates the simple and more complex moments in life both past, present, and even future.  It is very difficult to be grateful for the events, circumstances, or  experiences that have given us pain, hurt, or suffering. It is challenging to let go of loved ones or to experience personal struggles with self or with others. Life happens and in some of the worst case scenarios, gratitude is hard to come by.  Can we however begin to practice gratitude for the things that we have and for the things or people we have lost? We can gradually and gently cultivate a practice of being grateful for these difficult experiences in our lives?  What are the benefits of practicing Gratitude? One can find many studies on the benefits of gratitude, but these are my thou

Love is everything. Love comes and goes, flows and forms, upends and opens. Love is ever-present and presently everywhere. Love moves in and out, underpins coming together and falling apart, rising and meeting, or unraveling and disconnecting, but always coming together again.  Love is a benevolent force for Love without wavering. Love is a constant and never-ending experience, unconditional and free. Love may be at the heart of all of life here and there and intimate in its endless unfolding and uninterrupted infinity.  So why so much fear of expressing Love? Afraid to Love each other, to Love ourselves, or to Love the Earth or existence? Why so afraid to express an emotion or a feeling that is so ingrained in us, and yet so comfortable with those actions so far from Love?  Oh they say it is human nature to be unloving or survivalist, but I don't believe it. Even in the darkest, most mistaken places or hearts, could those individuals only be wanting love? Wanting to be seen, to be