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On some days, I find myself swirling. Physically, emotionally, feeling like I’m at odds with the natural turning of the planet.

I literally get dizzy, nauseous even.

I used to fight it or just ignore the thoughts and feelings tilting me this way, then that.

But now, (after still trying to brush it off) I take a few moments to sit down.

And observe.

And feel (yikes!).

Then ground myself in, like roots reaching for more earth; for some sort of stability.

People ask, “how are you?”
Answer, “I’m hanging in there”, meaning I’ve tied the end of the rope into a knot and dug in a claw or two so as not to fall into the abyss.

Remember that poster from our childhood, Hang in there baby?

Yea, that!

I used to laugh at the poor kitty, now I empathize with it. I am that kitty!

Every day - stories of horror upon horror overwhelms my nervous system. Yes, I try to take breaks from the news, but also feel it necessary to know everything.

Just incase I can help -

or need to run.

Yesterday was rough.

I hunkered down, and towards the end of the day,

after meditations,

prayers,

breathing,

walking,

writing,

I put on an audio book (as suggested by a friend) and gazed outside. I was transported by the story.

My window turned into a living art gallery: a sky full of clouds, changing colors as the sun set glowed.

Deep exhales followed, then

pressure off the accelerator.

Shifting to neutral.

Slow and steady.

Thankful to survive another wave.

Tomorrow’s a new day.

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A journey to the mountains
on a crisp fall day

escape from the barren desert

Cool welcoming wind brushes through my hair
as I enter the sacred grove of aspens

Gentle step on hallowed ground

People wander the trail, but your magnificent beauty
brings me to a standstill

Humbled

Gazing up to perfect blue sky beyond the cathedral of white bark trees,
rustle of leaves dancing on the breeze

Beneath a shower of falling yellow
A deep exhale

Completely present in this moment
all my senses align to the sound of effortless release

The fullness of life

and this glorious death

Naturally

*Turn up the volume to hear the leaves falling

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Next month, I’ll be celebrating three years here on Substack.

As I looked back through my archives, I found myself reflecting on how much this journey has meant to me. It’s hard to believe how many articles have been inspired by the muse. Each one meant to share a lesson, insight, or conversation. Today, I thought I would share the very first article I ever published. Looking back reminds me that every path begins with a single step, and I’m grateful I took that one.

With temperatures rising around the globe, here are some ways I deal with the brutal heat here in Phoenix using mindfulness.

Retreat in the Heat - 9.13.23

I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has read, subscribed, commented, or quietly accompanied me on this path. Thank you for your love and support.

I’m so excited to share the news that my article, Following the Moon, has been published in an academic journal put out by University of California-Davis! I’m sharing the link to the whole anthology and just my article incase you don’t want to scroll through the whole thing, although I encourage you to browse from the 90 other authors from around the world.

I want to again say thank you to Jo Novelli-Blasko for asking me to participate. I explained our connection in a previous article:

As I mentioned in the above article, this was the piece that began my venture into long form writing and this Substack page!

Would love to hear comments/feedback if you’ve been following along through the years.

Here’s the link to the entire publication:

An Anthology of Urban Habits

Here’s my article:

Following the Full Moon

Lavina Singh

Moonlit Odyssey–A Monthly Sanctuary Nurturing My Soul and Spirit

I moved to the city of Phoenix to help take care of my father at home. He had been
diagnosed with dementia. My mother and I didn’t know what we were in for as we committed to a journey we had no idea how to navigate. It lasted 5 grueling years.
Additional significant life changes emerged, including a divorce.

I was completely overwhelmed.

~~~

In previous years, I had the privilege of dwelling in stunning and remote natural settings. I had never lived in a city before but through time I adapted like a bird who’s made its nest among the electrical wires creating a refuge in the midst of the urban sprawl.

~~~

It took awhile
to get used to living in the city
after a life of beaches, mountains, and trees.
How could I live without the beauty of nature?
Through time I’ve learned that everything is nature!
I am a part of this creation,
beneath me around me within me
at all times!
I’ve adapted like a bird whose made its nest among the electrical wires
creating my refuge in the midst of the urban sprawl
under the blue sky.

~~~

I found myself seeking and finding ways to stay afloat through this arduous voyage. In addition to the support of a couple of close friends, mindfulness meditation, spontaneous writing, connecting with nature through hikes, and full moon drives in and around the city of Phoenix, became my life rafts. I collected an arsenal of tools to nurture my weary heart.

The moon excursions in particular developed into a monthly event that kept me going and sustained me in multiple ways:

–Despite the hardships I was facing, the drives along busy streets offered me a poignant glimpse of humanity carrying on with life undeterred.

–The moon’s transits served as a constant reminder that there was something greater than myself unfolding at all times, encouraging me to embrace the transformations occurring in my own life.

– It helped to remember that “this too shall pass.”

– The moon’s sheer beauty took my breath away and distracted me from my misery.

– It brought up a remembrance of belonging to something eternal.

– It eased my anguish by tracing time through the cosmos.

– The moon became my friend, confidant, and guide.

~~~

How can I get through all this change?

The full moon rose and illuminated its light
Shine on dear one
Look within for all the answers
Let love guide you

Inhale

Let all thoughts be
Allow your feelings
Acknowledge the hard
Feel the calm energy increasing

Exhale

Release the questions
Come back to yourself

Align with the light of Love

Peace

~~~

To this day, every month I jump in my car and go chase la luna! I never know the direction of my sojourn or where I will end up. My mindfulness practice keeps me in the present moment which helps me let go of control and relax into the chosen route for the night.

The key for me is to watch the orb come up on the horizon when it appears larger and displays orangey red colors that are most magnificent. After it’s up in the sky it’s still amazing to see, but for me, the excitement, wonder, and awe lies in the epic moments when it first reveals itself.

The flat terrain at 1100 feet elevation here in the valley of the sun creates a perfect canvas to witness nature’s artistic play, the moon’s monthly ascension.

Once, there was a breathtaking moment when the lunar eclipse rose on the horizon between the downtown city skyscrapers and the Estrella mountains in the west valley. The unobstructed far reaching view made it an exhilarating experience to behold nature’s spectacular show.

Recently, at my monthly meeting with the celestial body, I found myself in an open field, which is rare to find in the Phoenix metropolitan area. As I got out of my car and looked to the sky, I realized behind me was the mortuary where my father’s funeral and cremation had taken place.

Again, I hadn’t planned to go to this spot. I didn’t even know it existed, but there I was with the grandeur of the rising moon before me and the place where I said my final earthly goodbyes to my father.

It was a full circle moment as I greeted my friend once again. I experienced tendrils of deep grief and ecstatic joy in the same moment as I understood the beauty of existence through remembering being by my father’s side when he took his last breath. I was filled with gratitude for my life and the opportunity to stand on the earth, recalling all the moons I had seen through the past 9 years and watching this full moon rise in front of me.

~~~

Undeniably, the moon and Earth engage in a mutual gravitational attraction. The most tangible manifestation of this connection between our planet and the moon is observed through its daily influence on the ocean.

Considering that our human bodies consist of 55-60% water, it is plausible to speculate that there might be an effect on us as well.

As I progress in life, this gravitational pull continues to beckon me to jump in my car, venture out in the twilight and connect with this celestial body, making me somehow feel less alone even amidst the 5th largest city in the United States.

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I’ve been empathic my whole life. There were no terms, definitions, or conversations about the word empath when I was growing up that helped explain why I experienced the world the way I did. I always thought something was wrong with me.

It wasn’t until much later that I realized my sensitivity wasn’t a flaw, it was a way of being.

Some of the characteristics commonly associated with being an empath resonate deeply with me:

Strong emotional awareness — I can often sense what someone is feeling even when they don’t say anything

Deep compassion — I have a deep desire to help or comfort others.

Sensitivity to environments — Crowds, conflict, loud noise, or tense situations leave me feeling drained or overwhelmed

Strong intuition — I notice subtle cues, tone of voice, facial expressions, or body language that others miss.

Need for solitude — Time alone helps me recharge after absorbing a lot of emotional energy from others.

Now that I’m older, I’ve come to accept and appreciate who I am and the gifts this trait offers. Sensitivity, once something I questioned, has become a source of kindness, understanding and connection. A compassionate, open heart is what is needed on the planet right now.

At the same time, I’ve learned empathy requires balance. To care deeply for others, I must also care for myself.

Over the years these practices have helped me remain grounded:

• Set clear emotional boundaries.

• Spend time in nature or in quiet reflection.

• Practice mindfulness or meditation.

• Journal to separate my feelings from those of others.

• To remember that caring for someone doesn’t require carrying their emotional burden.

I’ve found that empathy is most sustainable when it is paired with presence and wisdom. Compassion doesn't mean absorbing another person's suffering, it means meeting them with an open heart while remaining grounded in your own center.

Perhaps that’s why Anaïs Nin’s words have always resonated so deeply with me:

“I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”

For me, the mermaid is a beautiful symbol of the empath. She is not afraid to dive beneath the surface, into the depths of emotion, truth, and the human experience. She doesn’t seek a shallow life of appearances but one of authenticity, meaning, and wholehearted connection.

Like the mermaid, I have learned that living deeply doesn’t mean drowning in the emotions of others. It means returning, again and again, to the stillness within. It means embracing both depth and discernment, allowing compassion to flow freely without losing myself in the current.

May we all have the courage to dive beneath the surface, where wisdom, love, and our truest selves are waiting.

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Today I listened to an inspiring talk by Bhikkhu Pannakara, the Buddhist monk that lead the Walk for Peace See my article Walking for Peace.

At the end of the talk, during the questions and answers, a woman who was Burmese from Myanmar living in the U.S. spoke up. She explained how hard it was for her to meditate and feel peaceful knowing the violence and murders happening to her people in Myanmar. She asked how she could find peace amidst violence and tragedy.

Bhikkhu Pannakara’s response was simple yet deep (as always). Paraphrased:

“It’s normal to feel empathy towards all people who suffer. All that suffering and now we adding more suffering to it by our mind. Would that help or not? When we live with anger, negative thought, people around you feel the negative energy radiating out and spreading out. Whoever is close to us receives that energy. Once they see you angry and suffering they cannot be happy. We’re adding more and more trouble into the situation by living that way.

When we feel compassionate about other people it doesn’t mean we take their suffering and make it our suffering. We see people suffer and try to make it our suffering. That is not the way of the Buddha’s teaching. Seeing people suffer, we feel it, trying to help, but we can’t take their suffering and make it our suffering. If we do that we’re just adding more trouble to the situation.

As Buddhist followers we should understand there is karma. Karma of each person and the whole country that no one can escape. (he explains more about karma that I’m leaving out)

We should not add to the karma.

What we can do is to create peace within ourselves and our community first. Everyday say Today is going to be my peaceful day to tell the universe that. We’ve been spreading hate, anger, delusion, greed to the universe because of power etc we spread it with our mind and the universe receives it. Once the universe receives that energy, it showers backdown with disasters and all kinds of problems. Then we are the people who have to encounter it. We cannot escape when it comes. The law of karma nobody can escape.

It doesn’t mean we let our people suffer that way, it means we should do something to support our country, our people by being mindful. Don’t add more anger, don’t add more negative energies to that situation. Instead we practice loving kindness and radiate it out to the country, civilians and military. They’re all human beings. We suffer they suffer. For us to help our country please be kind, when we add more trouble to it we cannot solve the problem but if we settle down I think everything will follow along.

Buddhist monks can’t take political sides, so we walk the middle path. We don’t pick a side. The message of peace is for everybody, governments, military, and civilians.

My message is to support both sides to bring unity together. For everybody to live in harmony. That is the Buddha’s teaching and that is what we monks are spreading.

So let us all try to walk the middle path. (He has stated numerous times, his message is not religious. It is a sharing of the practice of mindfulness.)

You have your own war you have to fight within your own mind everyday. That is the war you need to fight. Let’s settle this war first before looking outside.”

By having a daily practice of meditation and mindfulness you build up resilience inside you so that when you have to face violence or anger in your own life, you have the tools to handle it. When negative energy is around you or directed at you, it takes great strength not to react with more anger. Your natural tendency is to defend yourself by returning the same negative energy. However, with mindfulness you are (sometimes) able to pause, take a step back, breathe, and choose not to engage. It is a challenging discipline for sure!

By cultivating peace in our own lives, we care for our mind and our corner of the world. Though we cannot end every war or prevent every act of violence, we can choose not to add to the suffering. In doing so, we offer a small but meaningful gift to our fellow human beings who are living through war, violence, and tragedy.

Not an easy ask but necessary.

When we live mindfully and align with the Divine, we help bring more peace, compassion, and healing into the world.

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 I'm not sure how
the sun rises
How the flow of the river travels
How the wind blows through the trees
across the flowers
touching my cheeks
drying my tears
as I stand here
Alone

I can’t be certain
How rising heat waves makes things wiggle
How that leaf floated effortlessly to its death
How the far stars twinkle
and how on that particular night
when I came outside I watched one fall across the sky
right above my head
as I stood Alone in the darkness

I can’t fathom how
the butterfly travels across oceans
How that bush was coming out of that mountain of rock
How that eagle flew above me in circles
each time I went to the river
to mourn so much loss
Alone in grief

It’s a beautiful mystery
who’s code I’ll never solve
but know there is an eternal rhythm 
A love so deep that exists
even when I’m not sure how it goes
I am never Alone

Nectar, page 117

As change accelerates, you may find yourself trying to hang on to a self that is constantly evolving. In that struggle it’s easy to feel off balance and loose touch with who you are, causing feelings of disconnection and loneliness.

Feeling alone and loneliness are related but not quite the same.

Feeling alone is a momentary experience. It can happen when you’re physically by yourself, when someone doesn’t understand you, or when you’re going through something no one else seems to see. It’s often tied to a specific situation and may pass when circumstances change.

Loneliness is a deeper, more persistent state. It’s the feeling that meaningful connection is missing, even if you’re surrounded by people. You can be at a party, in a marriage, or with family and still feel lonely because the relationships don’t provide the sense of being truly seen, known, or understood.

There's also an important distinction with solitude. Solitude is being alone without feeling lonely. It can be nourishing—a space for reflection, creativity, prayer, or simply being at ease with yourself.

I think there’s a spectrum of aloneness we all travel across depending on the day or even the hour! It’s all ok, we are humans in the midst of great transformation.

Mindfulness has assisted me in being able to tap back into the nourishing space of solitude. With consistent effort to stay aware and present in the moment, I’m able to connect to the beauty of life that is happening all around me right now.

I notice if I fall too far into loneliness or even grief, finding refuge in nature helps bring me back to my center. The poem above is about the awe I felt even when I was experiencing deep sadness.

Also, our breath is our best friend. It asks nothing of us but faithfully sustains each moment of our lives linking us to our ancestors, guides, and the divine. This can fill our hearts with the remembrance of love and belonging.

Slowing down and noticing the flow of the breath coming in and out of the body can help settle not only feelings of loneliness but help to clarify what is the cause of that loneliness.

We may ask:

Am I simply alone right now, or am I longing for connection?

What kind of connection is missing - someone to talk to, someone who understands me, or a deeper connection with myself?

Journaling can also be beneficial with this.

Sometimes what we call loneliness is really a hunger to be witnessed. Other times, it's an invitation to deepen our relationship with ourselves before seeking it from others.

The paradox is that learning to be at peace in solitude often makes genuine connection with others more natural, because you're no longer asking relationships to fill every empty space within you.

Even in solitude, you are not outside of life. The earth is beneath you, the breath is within you, and everything is still in relationship.

In this moment we are together.

May peace find you here.

Inhale

Exhale

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There are some situations I will never understand.

The heartbreak
The unnecessary chaos
The righteousness
The unconscious behaviors that cause pain

Why do we do this to each other?

We are an aspect of divine oneness
So when we hurt the other
We hurt ourselves

Life can become
more peaceful
as you learn how to manage these painful interactions
by practicing mindfulness.

Hold steady your heart.
Stand up for yourself in a loving way.
Pause before reacting.
BREATHE

Creating space before responding isn’t about suppressing what you feel, it’s giving yourself enough room to choose your next step instead of being carried by another person’s energy.

These steps have helped me to not escalate a situation in real time.

1. Notice the spark
Recognize the first signs: heat in the chest, tightening jaw, urge to explain, defend, correct, withdraw.

Silently name it:

• anger is here

• hurt is here

• defensiveness is here

Naming can reduce the feeling of being swept away by it.

2. Return to one anchor
Pick one thing:

• Feel both feet on the ground

• Notice three breaths

• Feel your hands touching each other

• Listen for one sound in the room

Not to calm down, just to come back.

3. Ask one small question
Before replying:

• What am I protecting right now?

• Will my next sentence create understanding or only discharge emotion?

• Do I need to respond now?

4. Widen the frame
Remember:
This moment is not your whole life.
This person’s tone is not necessarily truth.
You do not owe immediate access to your thoughts.

5. Choose your response intentionally
Your options are larger than react / don’t react:

• respond

• ask a question

• set a boundary

• delay

• say nothing

• leave

• return later

Examples:

• “I want to think about that before answering.”

• “I hear what you’re saying.”

• “I’m not able to continue this conversation right now.”

• “Let me come back to this.”

This is not easy in the moment because we are so used to responding/defending our position. To be able to pause takes practice. That’s why daily meditation helps. The practice of calming your mind in peaceful moments, kicks in easier in stressful ones.

There are some scenarios out of our control that cause pain, having the tool of mindfulness can help soften suffering for ourselves.

Peace

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I love taking pictures. At times I choose an app to enhance an image and in doing so, hidden details reveal themselves, things I hadn’t seen at first glance.

Sometimes life does this. It removes the blind fold and discloses what you hadn’t been able to see before.

Life is never the same again. You are awake. Like Neo in the Matrix, you’ve chosen the red pill. (Maybe you haven’t quite “chosen”, but it happens somehow).

Now what?

Grief, confusion, anger, disappointment, sadness, loneliness, may arise. How could I have not seen this before? What do I do now? Life situations, relationships, the way you interact with the world begins to change. You’ve transformed.

Please offer yourself compassion. There is a divine timing to every wake up call. You couldn’t have known, or perhaps on some level, you chose not to know because let’s face it, some things are easier to ignore so we don’t have to deal with them.

As they say “ignorance is bliss”.

Subscribe now

The collective is also stirring from a long slumber. The shocking inequities and what is often named as “evil” that is playing out on the world stage are not new. They have been going on for centuries. Let’s not kid ourselves, human beings have carried both destruction and disregard for one another, and for the planet, for a very long time.

I believe all of us, especially you my dear readers, are here to help shift this old paradigm.

So where do you begin?

You begin where you are, within your own individual lives. With a fresh new vision, you are invited to choose how you move forward. The call is to trust your heart and live in alignment with what is most authentic within you.

This can feel daunting, because now things you could tolerate before suddenly begin to feel no longer acceptable. In fact, some situations become unpalatable and literally make you physically sick. So with each decision, you are given the opportunity to choose what brings peace within you - or not. The choice is always yours.

Go gently. Let it be simple. One circumstance at a time.

For me, the answer is mindfulness. No surprise there!

Staying present keeps me anchored to my heart so I can listen to what brings me joy and peace. From that place, I make choices. This is not selfishness, but a more heart centered way of being. It may create ripples of disruption at first, yet in time, it often brings something more honest and sustaining for everyone involved. It’s also better for my health!

Go forward, like Neo, and see how life does not return you to what you once called normal. There is no going back to the old illusion in quite the same way. You learn, instead, how to live awake within what is real, navigating it with clearer eyes, a softer heart, and a deeper trust in what you now see.

You have been called. Welcome!

If you haven’t seen the Matrix, I highly recommend it!

Another Arizona summer is upon us and the orange tree in my back patio is already struggling.

It’s an older tree that I have managed to keep alive during my 10 years as its custodian. Its leaves have curled inward, one branch has surrendered entirely, and from a distance it appears thirsty. Yet the lesson it offers has little to do with citrus.

Gardeners in the desert know that shallow watering creates shallow roots. When water only dampens the surface, roots remain near the topsoil where the sun is fiercest and the moisture disappears first. The tree may appear satisfied for a moment, but it becomes increasingly vulnerable to heat, drought, and stress.

Deep watering asks for patience. The water must travel downward, reaching places unseen. The roots follow. Over time, the tree becomes stronger, steadier, and more resilient because it has learned where lasting nourishment resides.

Perhaps we are not so different.

Our culture specializes in shallow watering. Endless notifications, quick entertainment, short texts instead of phone calls, and hurried exchanges offer temporary relief. They moisten the surface of our lives without penetrating the deeper layers of our being. For a moment we feel refreshed, yet something still curls inward.

The soul longs for a different kind of nourishment.

A walk beneath a moonlit sky. Birdsong at dawn. A conversation that lingers. Finding a great song. A book that changes the way we see the world. Time spent in nature, fully present. These are forms of deep watering.

The results are rarely immediate. Deep watering never looks dramatic. It happens beneath the surface where no one is watching. Yet over time our roots descend into places of wisdom, peace, and presence. When life’s heat arrives, as it inevitably does, we discover we are drawing from reservoirs we did not know we possessed.

The branch that dies reminds us where attention is needed. The curled leaf is not a failure; it is a message. Something within is asking for more than a passing sprinkle.

The question is not whether we are being watered.

The question is how deeply the water is reaching.

Slow down, sink deeper, and become rooted in what truly sustains you.

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

I heard God laughing
- Hafiz

There is a jeweled veil of whimsy,
a permeable energy covering-
intertwining, moving in and out of

time. It has no concern of our wants
and need for control. It’s aliveness goes unnoticed
as it continues its celestial movement.

This whimsy laughs at time as it flows
underneath days, years, centuries.

An existence dissolving gently into alignment.
Where meaning is removed from the temporal
to instinctual remembrance.

Synchronicity cannot be summoned by force.
These moments cannot be consciously orchestrated.
Some phenomena belong to mystery, not manifestation.

To be touched by whimsy is to brush against
the divine.

You are forever changed. For some just in
that moment, because alas the mind returns
to the banal constructs we continue to aimlessly

follow. But for those on the path of awakening,
the light is ignited within and it continues to glow,
warm, familiar, known.

If you’re feeling lost in what I’m conveying,
here’s an example to bring it into focus:

One day, while my father was visiting my brother
in another state, he was invited into a neighbor’s home.
After a kind and unhurried visit, they arrived in the final room

where the man kept his library of books. My father took one
from the shelf, and as he opened it to a handwritten dedication,
something in the penmanship was instantly familiar to him.

It was his uncle’s handwriting-his uncle from India, who had visited the United States repeatedly during the 1950s and 60s. And there it was, his signature at the bottom!

I’ll give you a minute to ponder the implications of this.

Ah! What a coincidence-utterly preposterous! How could this be?
How, indeed!

I’ve been fortunate to experience these soul opening
occurrences throughout my life. You may call them fickle and reach to

catch one, but you can’t lasso the wind my friend. You can only
step outside, let your hair fall free, and stretch your arms wide.

You will eventually be softly kissed by whimsy and

blown open into its magic.

Note: They say these things happen once in a blue moon. This May 31 brings one- may whimsy find you in its light.

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

The importance of cultivating beauty during these times, benefits your life and the greater good.

Inviting beauty into your life becomes a way of honoring your well being by bringing body, mind, and spirit back into balance. In these uncertain times, beauty has a steadying effect, it calms the nervous system and restores a sense of inner stability.

Beauty is created through presence. It’s how you arrange your morning, how you use your words, your energy. It’s choosing softness in a harsh moment.

Paying attention to everyday moments transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary. Like when I notice the way the sunlight drifts across the walls of my apartment, shifting softly throughout the day. My west facing windows offer a front row seat to each Arizona sunset, where the sky unfolds in changing colors, minute by minute and I find myself in awe of it every single time.

Buying flowers and bringing them into my home becomes a simple act of inviting beauty and life indoors. Watching them blossom and slowly fade becomes a reminder of life’s natural cycles. (See previous article When Nothing Has Bloomed Yet, for more flower pictures)

Lighting scented candles and incense becomes a gentle ritual, an intentional pause in the day. The soft glow of the flame and the subtle fragrance in the air shift the atmosphere, inviting calm and presence. It signals to my body that it’s safe to slow down, to soften, to simply be. In that quiet moment, the space feels more grounded, and so do I.

These simple examples of how I cultivate beauty helps keep me regulated and inspired making me less reactive and more compassionate. Beauty increases patience, creativity, and generosity.

Further, think of how environments shaped with care influence everyone who enters them. One person tending to beauty subtly changes the emotional climate of a home, a workplace, even a community.

I recently returned from spending time with my mother at my brother’s home. He has thoughtfully created beauty throughout every space, inside and out. As we sat in his dining room I noticed the white stone wall decor, the sculptural light above the table, and the sleek credenza, all coming together to give the room a subtle, almost nightclub like ambiance. Such a cool vibe.

Outside, approaching his front door, jasmine and gardenia unfold along the path, offering a gently sensual welcome through their fragrance and presence.

As I left his home the scent of the flowers stayed with me. I was reminded that beauty is not separate from life, it is part of how we experience it. Nourishing both our inner and outer worlds by inviting in more beauty opens new pathways to love and peace.

Beauty doesn’t fix what is broken in the world.
But it restores something within us that allows us to meet the world differently.

It brings a steadiness within,
and that steadiness becomes a source of strength.

I’m choosing to cultivate more beauty in my life, knowing it changes how I show up for everything and everyone around me.

How do you create beauty in your life?

Happy Full Flower Moon!

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

The spaces in between are change spots
This flower is growing
The sidewalk lays flat on top of the earth
Walking around, I feel the real under the temporary
Calm, pulsing, knowing
Time worn gaps ferrying my feet
Constant change
Unending suffering
Infinite turmoil
And this space
Among all of it
High pitched tone in ears full of the cries of the world
Swimming through the waves coming up for breaths
Is when I can see the dolphins play
Full of joy
Riding the waters of life

Bouquet, page 55

This endless breaking open.

A path of true authenticity

requires courage.

It’s not this or that.

There’s no perfect situation

although it is all perfect.

The duality of life can be challenging,

and liberating,

once you realize

nothing needs to be fixed.

Surrender to the majesty

and set yourself free.

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

Angles of stems
filtering organic materials
floating through mucky waters.
The sunlight shines in and through.
Synthesis.
Creation allows life to bloom,
all happening in perfect harmony.

Bouquet, page 23

Last week, I went to the store during the rush of Easter weekend, to buy flowers for my friends. As I searched for bouquets, I found the Stargazer Lilly bucket emptied except for a single unopened bunch. The name comes from the way the flowers face up toward the sky, as if they’re “gazing at the stars.”

After choosing tulips and hyacinths for my friends, I went back and grabbed the flowerless stems for myself.

They looked so sad, overlooked by customers because there were no flowers in bloom, only unopened buds. They felt so lonely in that large emptied bucket. I couldn’t leave them behind, so I chose them and brought them home.

The next day one dark magenta flower began to open. Then it unfurled fully. Its beauty blew me away!

Over the next few days I was blessed with a wondrous show. Like fireworks exploding in the night sky, the blooms opened one after another releasing the most exquisite fragrance. My tiny apartment filled with joy! The flowers became my friends.

Every morning I greeted my visitors and was awed at the perfection of the unfolding and details of the flowers. Life giving life.

The details of the parts of the flower:

• Petals (tepals) – The large pink-and-white spotted “petals” you see (lilies actually have tepals, not separate petals and sepals)

• Stamens – The long, thin structures inside the flower that hold pollen

• Anthers – The tips of the stamens where the pollen is produced (often bright orange/brown and very noticeable)

• Pistil (stigma + style + ovary) – The central female part that receives pollen

The lilies became part of my daily meditation causing my own heart to bloom open as well.

Can I be grateful for my life as it is? Can I trust in Divine timing? When nothing has bloomed yet, can I have faith in the unseen unfolding? Can I witness beauty even though? Can I have patience and know the grace of things that are not yet ready? Can I remember the force behind all of life?

As of this writing, I have 2 withering blooms, color fading, tepals drooping, 5 vibrant flowers, 1 flower in mid bloom, and 2 tight buds. A visual reminder of the phases of life from birth to death, here on my coffee table.

Together, they form a beautiful harmony, a final gentle reminder that nothing is out of place, only moving through its time, just as it should.

In gratitude.

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

As a kid, whenever we went to the beach, excitement and fear would fill my tiny body.

The energy of the vast blue, caught my breath in the same instant my being exhaled.

Lingering on the sand, I busied myself by searching for shells, chasing birds, sinking my feet into the earth, while having a hesitant side eye towards the water.

The waves called, mesmerizing me with their timeless sound, kissing my feet by the water’s edge. Cool and wet. Come closer, my love.

I knew.

That’s why I stayed by the fringes, where foam gathers and sea creatures burrow and hide.

Just two steps forward and the undertow would pull my little body in. I sensed I could get taken so easily. Panic would fill me as I ran back- away- towards safety of the shore.

But again and again, I found myself bravely returning, going a little further, deeper each time. I would get hammered by the strength of the waves, being taken over by the power of salt-burning eyes, nose, and throat.

After being tossed and tumbled, I’d crawl out, coughing, gasping for air, laying in the safety of warm dry sand, looking up at the sky,

yearning to go back in.

This time, with abandon, deeper into the depths where swells could sweep me off my feet

losing ground

trusting,

allowing myself to be taken.

Feeling like it’s time to deepen trust as life moves faster and faster. What if we remember that there’s an eternal flowing undercurrent that knows exactly where we are meant to be and how it’s going to turn out. Relax into it and let go.

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

Recently a young man died after jumping off a waterfall in Arizona. He gave a thumbs up when he landed but then disappeared and drowned.

What happened? He got caught in what’s called a hydraulic, which is a recirculating current at the base of the waterfall. When water crashes down, it can create a circulating loop that pulls you under, then pushes you out, then sucks you back again over and over. People can get trapped in this cycle.

I looked up how to escape this, just in case,

How to escape a waterfall current

1. Don’t fight straight upward

Your instinct will be to swim up, but the current can keep pulling you back down. This wastes energy quickly.

2. Tuck and go deep

• Take a breath if you can

• Tuck your chin, pull your knees in, and dive downward

• The current is often weaker deeper below the surface

3. Swim out and away (horizontally)

• Once underwater, swim hard in one direction (sideways or downstream)

• You’re trying to exit the “washing machine” zone

4. Let it push you out

• When the current releases you toward the surface, use that momentum

• Then immediately angle away from the base of the falls

5. Float on your back if you’re clear

• Once out of the pull, float on your back with feet up (defensive position)

• This helps you breathe and avoid hitting rocks

I immediately thought about how we can also apply these steps when navigating overwhelming life situations. When life feels like that “washing machine,” the instinct is the same: fight, panic, push straight up. And just like in the water, that often drains you faster.

Here’s how the same principles translate:

1. Don’t fight straight upward

When things get intense, we try to force immediate relief, fix everything, control outcomes, make the feeling stop.

But some situations aren’t solved by force.

In life:
Pause the urge to fix everything at once.
Instead of “How do I get out right now?” ask:
→ What’s the next small, steady move I can make?

2. Go inward (tuck and go deep)

In the waterfall, going deeper gets you out of the strongest pull.

In life:
Going inward means:

• Sitting with what’s actually happening

• Naming the truth (fear, grief, uncertainty)

• Breathing instead of reacting

It feels counterintuitive but depth creates clarity.

3. Move sideways, not head-on

You don’t escape by pushing directly against the force, you shift direction.

In life:
If something isn’t working:

• Try a different angle

• Change the approach, not your worth

• Step away temporarily instead of forcing a breakthrough

Sometimes the path forward is… not straight forward.

4. Let the moment carry you when it releases

In the water, there’s a moment when the current loosens, that’s your opening.

In life:
Watch for small openings:

• A moment of calm

• A helpful conversation

• A new idea or perspective

Don’t miss those by staying locked in struggle.
Flow when the door cracks open.

5. Float when you’re clear

After escaping, you don’t immediately sprint, you stabilize.

In life:
When you get through something:

• Rest

• Integrate

• Don’t rush into the next storm

Healing includes stillness.

No matter how much you try, some situations are not meant to be conquered by force.
They’re meant to reshape how you move, respond, and trust yourself.

What feels like being pulled under…
may actually be teaching you:

• surrender without giving up

• patience without passivity

• strength without struggle

Now, if only we could remember this in the middle of the storm!

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

I’m in California again visiting my mom. She’s not feeling well, so I came to be by her side and provide love and support.

We had a visit with a 4 month old baby. It was such a treat to hold this angel baby. (I highly recommend holding a baby if you get a chance). His tiny fingers and toes, his cooing and smilies brought us all into another world for a few hours. A world with no worries.

I wondered what kind of life lay ahead of him. What will the planet look like in his future? I know a few people who are pregnant right now. Although the world looks like a mess, babies keep arriving, so maybe everything will turn out ok?

It has to-for them.

Several times during his visit this beautiful baby locked eyes with my 92 year old mother. He was mesmerized by her, giving her the biggest smiles of all. As they “spoke” to each other, my heart swelled. What was I feeling? Peace, calm, maybe hope? There was something powerful in witnessing their interaction. One soul at the end of their journey and one newly arrived passenger.

We all come into this world for a brief time, and then we leave. Some journeys last longer than others, but all of it moves according to a divine order.

It’s all a gift.

*****

Life is like this,
joy-sorrow
beginnings-endings
bliss-grief

Time swirls around us
temporary
ephemeral

Beauty waits to be seen
Look-before it’s too late, beloved

Life is.

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

Healing 528 Hz music

In the midst of chaos

within each step

the answer is revealed

to the awakening mind.

The ancient masters spoke of it.

Mystics try to convey it.

Wisdom keepers are softly yelling,

wake up!

Beyond the body and mind,

awaken-

to the timeless being that you are.

This world needs your consciousness

to remember

to reconnect

to align

with the endless circle.

When you become present, the shadows reveal that the circle is open.

Life is continuously unfolding in its perfection.

The open space represents

growth

evolution

possibility.

The message is,

all is in divine order

keep walking.

-Lavina
3.2.26

Wishing you peace and presence on this Worm Full Moon eclipse!

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

“You do not have to leave your room.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
Do not even listen, simply wait.
Do not even wait, be completely still and alone.
The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked,
it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”

-Franz Kafka

I came across this quote a few years ago, around the time I began practicing mindfulness meditation. Back then, I didn’t fully understand the simplicity of this teaching. Now, nearly ten years later, I’ve regularly practiced the first four lines and have caught brief glimpses of the ones that follow.

*****

Your hearts, your souls, live silently within you, even as life speeds up around you. There’s no pressure to contact this inner place, but you definitely feel the ache when you’ve drifted too far from it.

So much competes for your attention. Endless instructions, recipes, cute animals, historical facts and of course, the news. How much of it do you truly need?

It’s ok to sit outside and listen to the birds. To watch the clouds pass and notice the color of the sky.

Your existence is woven into this greater existence. When you sit in one, you naturally open up to the other.

Rumi said, “What you seek is seeking you.” The phrase is often understood to mean that your deepest longings, your purpose, your spiritual home, are not one-sided. That as you reach, something greater reaches back, the universe moving toward you as surely as you move toward it.

In addition to the above interpretation, what if he also meant - that when you become still, what you seek has space to find you?

And in that quiet meeting, you are seen. Acknowledged. Loved.

To give as much devotion to your inner life as you give to your outer one is a profound shift. It may be the very call of our times, to restore balance within ourselves so harmony can ripple outward into the world.

Referring to the final lines of Kafka,

“The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked…”
As if truth is not intentionally hiding, but waiting for our stillness. As if the veils remain only because we keep moving too quickly to see through them.

“It has no choice…”
This is our divine birthright. It’s just waiting for us.

“It will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”
This is the most beautiful image of all. As if this entire existence is here just for us to enjoy fully.

Perhaps the ecstasy is not the world performing for us, but our perception awakening. When we become completely still, even the ordinary shimmers.

And what once felt separate suddenly feels like it was waiting for us all along.

*****

If we can just sit still long enough, allowing whatever is present to unfold and tell its story, something begins to shift. What once felt urgent, softens. What felt solid, loosens. Some things may even dissolve altogether.

In that stillness, life stops being something to pursue or control. It comes toward us softly and we are there to receive it, just as we are.

Recently, I read, “somewhere along the way, we confused being busy with being alive”.

Pause long enough to remember the difference.

Be still. Return to your breath.

Resuscitate your soul and all of existence will rejoice!

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.

On the other side of the street
I am.
Don't be afraid to look.
I am you
on the other side
looking back.
Different colors
reflected under
one sun.
Same street.

 Bouquet, page 21

Will we ever see each other as we really are,
beyond thought, belief, and color?

The old programs are breaking down.
This is not loss, it is liberation.

It’s time to stop harming the planet
and each other.

Peace within

Peace without

Inktrails is a free “weekly” newsletter for our community. If my work resonates with you, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d consider supporting it—by liking or commenting on this post, becoming a paid subscriber, or sharing the Substack with others.

You can also find my books and more at lavinasingh.com.

Thank you, always, for your presence and support.