When I was 30 years old, just before being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I blew up with 10 extra pounds of “puffiness” that I could not explain. Along with the puffiness came extreme joint pain, nausea, and esophageal reflux (heartburn). I couldn’t seem to get comfortable because of digestive distress. Nighttime was the worst, and I tossed, turned, got up, took TUMS, tried to eat before bedtime, tried to fast before bedtime, nothing seemed to work. At one point, I went into urgent care, because I was having such bad chest pain, I was sure I was having a heart attack. [Read more…] about Three Sneaky Causes of Weight Gain (and Loss), Pain, Autoimmune Disease, Cancer, and Digestive Distress
Shakshouka (shakshoka, chakchouka, shak-shouka, shak shouka) is a dish I was served whilst traveling in Africa. Our lovely hostess served it out on the veranda where we ate in the company of ostriches, buffalo, flamingoes, zebras, and giraffes who were quietly grazing and roaming the expansive land that surrounded her conservancy home in Kenya. 
I have found myself struggling as I work to break through the latest layer of growth I am encountering. Like a chick working to break through the hard shell of the egg; like a butterfly taking those first tentative wing flutters after escaping from the cocoon covered in heavy mucous; like the birth of a baby; like a woman entering menopause… when it all falls apart, it’s messy and it’s difficult, and I want to just sit in a comfortable chair and read a good book and hope it’s over by the time I turn the last page. 
I just returned from holiday visiting sacred sites in Scotland, England, and Wales. What drew to me to these places? The sacred spirituality of the land that was appearing in my dreams at night. Six months ago, I started having dreams about stone circles. In these dreams I could feel the stones like a magnet, pulling me toward them. 
In September of 2017, I had the great honor to participate in a vision quest in the Colorado Rockies near Crestone. I had participated in a number of other quests and journeys in other countries and with other cultures, but never with the native people of my own land. I knew immediately it was time when the invitation came.