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Chaos and Glimmers: Balancing Meaningful Action and Meaningful Rest October 31, 2025 14:19
This past month has been a whirlwind of activity for me. I feel as though I have been spinning in a vortex of chaos and uncertainty. Managing these hectic moments with much-needed self-care and rest has been essential this month.
Some of the changes and challenges have been completely out of my control. For example, Hurricane Melissa recently slammed into Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti. Last I heard, it was heading toward the Bahamas, leaving a wide path of destruction in its wake.
My heart goes out to everyone who has endured and survived such profound loss and devastation that this storm has brought. This compassion extends to all who will experience loss from future storms as well.
Man-made storms, particularly those of a political nature, have caused chaos and mayhem, too. In the U.S., we are currently in the throes of a 30+ day government shut down. Federal workers have been furloughed, some working, but without pay. Congress has reached an impasse and is unwilling to negotiate to find a solution to benefit the American people. Millions across the nation, primarily children, the elderly, the disabled, and veterans, are slated to lose much-needed SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, which will lead to a nationwide hunger crisis.
Rising health care costs, insurance rates, and grocery prices only complicate and exacerbate this crisis, and our current administration is to blame.
I can’t fix these problems by myself, but I can (and do) call my state and federal legislators to voice my concerns regularly. I can donate food to local food pantries. Staying informed about local and national events and happenings is important—being an engaged and informed citizen matters.
I was one of the seven million protesters who participated in the No Kings protest on October 18th. I may not be able to control the chaos, but I can respond to it in a mindful and intelligent way. I can be mindful and aware of what’s happening around me, and I can voice my concerns and push back peacefully when others are harmed or treated unjustly.
On a much smaller scale, personal storms have also compounded my sense of frustration this month. My schedule has been hectic and dotted with a series of unexpected surprises (four vet visits for two aging fur babes, my own medical checkups, technology snafus, etc.).
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Needless to say, October has been a very busy and chaotic month, but there have also been bright spots. These glimmers have kept me calm and relaxed while navigating the chaos.
For example, earlier this month I attended a premiere viewing of the film The Wisdom of Happiness at a movie theatre in Indianapolis. This intimate documentary featured His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the audience in a very personal way about the importance of compassion, hope, and kindness. He shared practical wisdom and insights for finding peace and hope during uncertain times. It felt as though he was with us in the theatre, delivering a beautiful and practical Dharma talk—and a much-needed message relevant to all of us.
I recognized several people in the theatre; many had traveled from Bloomington to see this limited, one-day release. It felt uplifting to be in the company of so many others who also valued kindness and compassion.
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Last week, Jim and I attended the wedding of a family friend. The ceremony took place on a veranda overlooking rolling green hills and a waterfall. As the late October sunset turned the sky pink, a flock of geese flew by in the distance as the couple recited their vows. After the ceremony, we lined both sides of a paved driveway to greet and receive the newlyweds and their wedding party with a flurry of bubbles.
These small, pleasant moments, or glimmers, have really helped me find balance and connect with others in a meaningful way.
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I’ve been on Fall Break from school this past week. My schedule has been very full with other obligations, but I took time on Monday morning to make a vegetable soup in the slow cooker. While I sliced leeks, carrots, celery, and potatoes, I listened to an album playing on the living room stereo that I haven’t heard in many years (21 Strings by Al-Andalus Ensemble). “Song of the Water” is one of my favorite pieces from this album, and it brought me joy to hear it again. It also brought me joy to be fully present in the kitchen--taking time and effort to make a delicious soup that Jim and I would enjoy later.
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During Fall Break, I had an annual checkup with my eye doctor. The waiting area was crowded. A woman about my age was sitting next to me. I admired the wide green frames of her glasses. Her elderly mother sat next to her. She was doting and patient with her mother as she helped her fill out her paperwork on a clipboard. After a while, a nurse came out to call for them. This woman helped her mother stand up, and then she stood in front of her mother so that she could place her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. They shuffled slowly… and they shuffled together… the daughter leading her mother down the hallway. It was a small gesture—but a tender, meaningful moment for me. I appreciated the daughter’s kindness and patience, and the mother’s trust and willingness to receive her daughter’s assistance.
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Yesterday, I made time to practice a Feldenkrais lesson. I pushed all of my have-tos to the side and spent forty minutes to lie on the floor and listen to a lesson from Tiffany Sankary’s Movement and Creativity Library. It’s amazing how small movements like tilting the knees gently from side to side can foster awareness, relieve anxiety, and calm the nervous system.
I felt more relaxed and grounded by the end of the session. Feldenkrais lessons are like meditation for the body for me. The more subtle the movements, the deeper the awareness and feeling.
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Finally, one of the most enjoyable glimmers for me this month has been watching the leaves turn colors. The maples and oaks in our front yard are ablaze with orange and yellow leaves, and I have enjoyed watching them flutter to the ground this month.
These glimmers—these moments of presence and joy—have been welcome antidotes to the chaos and uncertainty.
I hope that you, too, have been able to find solace and joy in your corner of the world.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this month’s offering. If you happen to be in the Indianapolis area, know that I will be one of many vendors at the 10th annual Holistic Hub Wellbeing Fest on Sunday, November 9th. Hub&Spoke in Fishers will host this event. I will bring the full collection of malas as well as quarter malas, which are only available at in-person events. Feel free to stop by my booth to say, “Hello.” Perhaps, you’ll find a design that resonates with you and your practice.
If you won’t be able to attend this event, please visit the Middle Moon Malas online shop.
I hope the upcoming month of November treats you well—and may you be nourished by your practice as well as an abundance of everyday glimmers.
Photo Credit: Lucas K courtesy of Unsplash
One, Two, Three: Counter Beads and the Purposes They Serve September 6, 2017 18:20
What are counter beads, and why do some malas have them? A standard mala contains 108 beads; however, some malas include counter beads as well. These beads aren’t randomly placed extras. A japa practice is similar to a road trip, and counter beads can play an important part along the path of this mindful, meditative journey.
ONE: PAUSE
One of the primary purposes of counter beads is they act as rest stops or pause points in a meditation practice. Just like the brief pause at the peak of an inhalation, and the suspension at the base of an exhalation, counter beads can act as natural pauses in the recitation practice. They give practitioners a moment to hold space and take stock of the quality of the practice in that moment. The point of a japa practice isn’t simply to barrel through 108 recitations of a mantra. It’s not a race, and there isn’t a trophy waiting for us at the end of the finish line. A mantra practice is about training the mind; it’s about aligning and elevating our energetic frequencies so that we can become our best selves, and experience a sense of connection and interconnection with others and our world. There needs to be a balance between effort and rest, so in our practice, when our inner world is calling, counter beads remind us, “Please hold.”
TWO: PRESENCE
Another important purpose that counter beads offer is they act as mindfulness markers in the practice. Much like street signs or mile markers on a highway, counter beads remind us to stay present, focused, and alert in our practice. They encourage us to drive safely and to stay on course as we navigate the circuit of our mala. They help prevent our minds from wandering away from our intentions, and they prevent us from getting caught up in a tangle of mental chatter. Counters help to gauge both time and distance in our practice, and they can ease the restless monkey mind when it asks, repeatedly, “Are we there, yet?”
THREE: PIZZAZZ
Finally, counter beads can add a little bling, shimmer, and character to the mala and to the meditative journey. Much like fuzzy dice, a bumper sticker, or fancy detailing on a car, jazzy counter beads add a little bit of extra sparkle to help bring balance to the design of a mala. As a designer, I like to add counter beads that are different sizes, shapes, colors, or textures to break up the pattern of the design. Sometimes, it’s just a single counter bead after the 54th bead, or midpoint. Some malas include counters after bead #27 and #81, marking the first quarter and the last quarter of the design. For other pieces, I incorporate three counters, dividing the mala into four equal segments. Counters can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye or to the touch, offering visual or tactile interest to a design, which, as an added bonus, can inspire a meditator to practice, or simply make the journey more personalized, pleasing, or fun.
Whether you prefer a mala that includes counter beads or not, a japa practice is a meaningful journey, and having a mala that motivates you to practice and that reflects your intentions will help you grow and enjoy the ride.
The Subtle Side-Effects of a Chanting Practice March 2, 2016 15:00
Everything we are, and everything that is, is vibration. All sentient beings and all inanimate objects in the cosmos are teeming expressions of vibrational flow. When this flow is disturbed or disrupted, disharmony is the result. A mantra or chanting practice can help restore harmony and balance again by kneading the cells of the body with sound. One of the best ways to recalibrate and reboot your own system is through a regular practice of chanting Sanskrit mantra.
I've been practicing forty-day sadhanas with various mantras over the course of the last two years, and upon reflecting on this practice, I've noticed some interesting side-effects.
* Increased Presence
I'm finding it's much easier to stay in the present moment. This can be both a blessing and a curse. For example, I'm not writing nearly as many lists on Post-it notes, and I'm not as caught up in the trance of future thinking--the endless streams of "I have to do this," and "I have to do that," etc.
However, I'm finding that I immerse myself completely in the most mundane tasks. I'm totally engaged in loading the dishwasher or flossing my teeth, and time slips away from me. Last week, I spent twenty minutes in the produce section at Target--totally mesmerized by the colors, shapes, and smells of fruits and veggies, as if it were an art exhibit at the IMA.
*Managing Difficult Emotions
When anger, frustration, fear, resentment, and general crankiness rise to the surface, I'm able to stay with these unpleasant feelings for longer periods of time without casting judgment or pushing them away. I can sit (stand, walk, or drive) with them with an objective heart and mind--simply noticing and holding space for these feelings--until they dissipate on their own.
This morning as I was driving to school, a man in an old pick-up truck tailgated me all the way down Morgantown Rd. Every time I glanced in my rear view mirror, he made various aggressive hand gestures, clearly indicating his disapproval of me driving the speed limit. Instead of responding with equal and opposite frustration, though, I remained calm and focused, and when he barreled past me across the double line, I didn't take it personally, and I didn't feel the need to speed up and chase after him, which is evidence of significant growth for me.
*New Teachers and Adventures
One of the most pleasant side-effects of my mantra practice is that it has been sending new teachers and adventures my way. I've met amazingly creative,supportive,and nourishing people outside my usual circles who have helped me learn and grow in so many ways. They've helped me stretch beyond my comfort zones, offering guidance and encouragement at just the right time.
For a long time, I've wanted to visit the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana, and in the last few months, I've visited several times, attending various pujas, lectures, and events there.The monks have been very kind and warm-hearted, and their welcoming and open spirits have been both inspirational and refreshing.
In addition to honoring the Divine that dwells within, I've found that the heart of a regular mantra practice also includes elevating your vibrational frequencies. Each forty-day sadhana brings new experiences and insights, and each spiritual formula has its own unique lessons to teach. I'm looking forward to exploring the treasures that dwell in the next Sanskrit mantra.