- All
- Bereavement and End of Life
- Creativity
- Family and Friends
- My Land and Home
- Nature
- Psychology and Mythology
- Spirituality
Hopeful Signs of Spring
February was unusually warm and calm in the New York Finger Lakes, a quiet time for walks with friends on dry forest trails. The birds knew better than to sing love songs that early. I trusted them
Dark Sky Magic and the Planetary Dance
In late February, my son David who lives in North Carolina sent a text to his brother and me. “Did you see the sky?” he asked, including a cell phone photo of the evening sky taken in
Imagining a Visit from Eros
My dream visitor follows me as I walk up the trail with my dogs. I love the feel of him behind me. “What do you want to do today?” he asks. “I want to watch the sunset.”
Imbolc: Spring Awakens in the Belly of the Earth
I watch the sun on the western horizon all year. Its setting spot barely moves near Solstices, but in February, the sun travels north over the oak and pine canopy in plain sight from my windows. Up
No Cell Phone and a Great Excuse For Being Late
Snow pelted the windows and obscured the black night sky. It was 6 pm and my husband Vic was usually home by 5:30. I’d been through this before because we lived in a lake effect snow area
Inspiration from Marion Woodman
April 18, 2009 Dearest Elaine, …Ross (86, Marion’s husband) and I (80) laugh many times with our faulty hearing…. Tears and laughter are now two sides of one feeling. I love every workshop, but I’m finding my
A Cycle of Bountiful Beauty
Seasons in the New York Finger Lakes go from frigid cold in mid winter to blistering hot in summer, but each month brings gifts of beauty. I was
In the Crypt of St. Francis
Italian sun glowed through stained glass windows in the upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, but we headed for the crypt beneath the cathedral. The Poverty and Simplicity of Saint Francis had been covered by grandeur
Finding the Sacred Feminine: Lessons from India
The morning after Sankara’s funeral, we slowly walked the dusty road to the Sankara Mutt (temple) and bought flower garlands from a vender on the corner. The modest cement area where we’d meditated with the sage, where
Grieving for the Guru (Journey to India, Part 6)
Like so much else in India, Sri Sankaracharya’s funeral felt dreamlike and foreign, comforting and familiar. When the main ritual began, priests poured offerings on the sage’s head. His bright silk shrouds were soaked with yogurt, honey,
Elaine Mansfield
In my twenties, I married, nurtured my growing family, practiced yoga and meditation, and became a vegetarian and organic gardener. In my thirties, I became a nutrition and preventive health care counselor. In my forties, I studied natural approaches to menopause. In my fifties, I transformed my body with strength training and became a Certified Personal Trainer. In my early sixties, I lectured and wrote about strength training, bone health, nutrition, and healthy aging. Now, in my mid sixties, I am dealing with the death of my husband while writing about love, loss, and continuing bonds.
You’ll find old articles, guides, and stories in the sections on Bereavement, Exercise, and Nutrition. You can keep up with the latest stories and announcements on my blog.
Elaine Mansfield’s memoir Leaning into Love: A Spiritual Journey through Grief is now available from Larson Publications.