Some would say that the process of therapy is about getting help with a critical life situation or problem that you’ve been struggling with on your own for some time. And yet, I always explain when asked ……. the fundamental purpose of therapy is to help clients see themselves (and their life situation) clearly [...]
I was speaking several months ago to someone at my gym. He is a retired ‘snowbird’ who spends half of his time in the GTA and half of his time in his home in Florida. I noticed that his gym workouts consisted of the same sort of routine; even using the EXACT ‘same’ stairmaster each [...]
What does it mean to have eternal life? How are we immortal? If you choose to honour life in its infinite perfection, and for the many experiences – all of which give us incredible opportunity for knowledge, growth, healing, joy (and fun), etc. – then the experience of death is yet another experience of life. Experiencing death [...]
The message of February’s ‘SURRENDER AND RELEASE’ reminds us of the power in “letting go”, of shedding the parts of our self (and our life) that are no longer working, nor contributing to the good of our Highest Self. When you surrender it means you can stop forcing something that may not be divine [...]
The soul’s journey is one of a peaceful existence. We listen to and allow the many ways in which the soul speaks quietly, purposefully to us and we are gently moved in the ways of spirit. What does your heart say that honours your spirit best? This is how you best guide your next actions [...]
From a young age, we learn to associate food with: comfort, a reward (or “treat”), a way of ‘sharing quality time’ with others (e.g. breaking bread together), and pure pleasure. Practically, food is for nourishment and survival. Yet, we live in a nation that offers an overabundance and variety of food - of which we often overindulge in. [...]
DIVYA PRAJNA RETREATS with Dorothy Ratusny presents… Honouring SELF on the Path of Enlightenment: A FALL RETREAT “Discover the WISDOM of your heart and the way to live enlightened now.” At SUGAR RIDGE RETREAT CENTRE in Midland, Ontario Friday, Oct 26th, 7:30pm* until Sunday, Oct28th, 2:30pm *First Didactic Session begins Friday [...]
As a child, the word: blessings carried with it a religious connotation. It described what I was ‘to feel grateful for’. To be ‘blessed’ meant that someone was fortunate, privileged or ‘lucky’; or that they were in some way special. Blessings were also something a religious official would offer members of the congregation; through prayer or thoughtful [...]
Sometimes I catch myself off balance. I may, for some reason be standing on one foot in a moment as I do something …and I feel my balance going. I may reach for something and notice a gentle wobble in my footing and realize that my balance in that moment is indeed missing. We can [...]
I don’t typically arrive home at night planning on unexpected adventure. By day’s end I am usually in a reflective mode, quietly examining events of the day…looking inward … quieting my mind and pondering peaceful rest. Alas, I recently found myself climbing a 15 yr old 70+ ft high tree to rescue two cats who had conveniently left [...]
My grandmother is suffering from dementia. While there still hasn’t been a formal diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, she suffers from many of the symptoms – loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning – for perhaps as long as the last 10 years. She is not the same person she used to be. A vibrant and [...]
Your sense of self is your knowledge and awareness of who you are. Sense of self requires a level of consciousness that predicates honesty (to yourself and others), about what you believe in, ascribe to, value, and uphold. Sense of self also implies evolution. To develop your sense of self requires ongoing introspection, self-awareness, and [...]
I think about what it means to have a sister. Not necessarily a blood relation (although you’re most lucky if you do!)…but a special female friend. Sisters are friends in the truest sense of the word. They force us to grow like no one else since they have the experience (albeit their own personal, unique [...]
I’m reminded that summer is in full swing as I enjoy multiple days of hot temperatures, and warm, sweet-smelling nights. One of the things that we tend to do is look ahead to the future but without planning what we want for our life. Looking forward to the summer for any number of reasons is [...]
