The Mary Christopher Podcast

Our Inner Peace Meditation Journey for Sunday February 23 2025

Early this morning, while I was still asleep, one of the wonderful people in my advanced meditation class sent the following message to everyone in the class.  This quote is the first text I read and it shaped my perception for the whole day, in a wonderful way!
 
This quote is from the book My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen.
 
"Days pass and the years vanish, and we walk sightless among miracles.  Lord, fill our eyes with seeing and our minds with knowing.  Let there be moments when your presence like lightning, illumines the darkness in which we walk.  Help us to see wherever we gaze that the bush burns unconsumed.  And we, clay touched by God, will reach out for holiness and exclaim in wonder "how filled with awe is this place and we did not know it."
 
Quote from Willaim Shatner about his journey into Space when he was 90 years old
 
“Last year, I had a life-changing experience at 90 years old. I went to space, after decades of playing an iconic science-fiction character who was exploring the universe. I thought I would experience a deep connection with the immensity around us, a deep call for endless exploration.
"I was absolutely wrong. The strongest feeling, that dominated everything else by far, was the deepest grief that I had ever experienced.
"I understood, in the clearest possible way, that we were living on a tiny oasis of life, surrounded by an immensity of death. I didn’t see infinite possibilities of worlds to explore, of adventures to have, or living creatures to connect with. I saw the deepest darkness I could have ever imagined, contrasting so starkly with the welcoming warmth of our nurturing home planet.
"This was an immensely powerful awakening for me. It filled me with sadness. I realized that we had spent decades, if not centuries, being obsessed with looking away, with looking outside. I did my share in popularizing the idea that space was the final frontier. But I had to get to space to understand that Earth is and will stay our only home. And that we have been ravaging it, relentlessly, making it uninhabitable."
-- William Shatner, actor
 
I was deeply moved by both of these quotes and they re-enforced my gratitude for my life on Earth. This is such an amazing place.  Earth is a great place to learn about Creation, to learn about how everything works! Something like photosynthesis is absolutely amazing!  We can learn so much and have so many amazing experiences.  Even something as simple as watching the Sunrise while we are sitting on a beach!  Or, the feeling we have when we hold a baby kitten or a newborn baby girl or boy!
 
This fall I was meditating in an Old Growth Forest. I had a wonderful, relaxing, regenerating meditation resting against a very conscious Tree.  When I finished my meditation, I opened my eyes and saw bright orange leaves on bushes all around me.  They were illumined by the setting Sun coming through the trees.  They had the most amazing red/orange color, like I had never seen.  I sat there, probably with my mouth open, absolutely blown away.  Then I started taking photos before the Sun went down.  If I had opened my eyes even 5 minutes earlier or later, I would not have seen those colors or those specific leaves all lit up!
 
In Nature, we are surrounded by light and color and amazing creatures, beauty that we can hardly describe.  All too often we miss it, but we can learn to look deeper into Nature, deeper into the night sky.  We can learn to sit quietly in the forest, watching all sorts of birds land gracefully on limbs.  We can remember how to "tune in to Creation" while tuning into the very best part of ourselves.
 
Remember, we are the ones we have been waiting for ... we are the Creators we need right now.  We have the capacity to create a civilization that serves Everyone and restores the health of this Earth. Tag, we are It !!!
 
May our Journey to Inner Peace show us how to build, and how to heal, and how to restore.
 
Mary Christopher

Caring for All Creatures Great and Small

As I am writing this article and doing my podcast, the temperature is dropping rapidly, caused by cold air coming down from the North.  At the same time, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is moving up.  That means we are going to have Snow early this morning!  And, not just a little, but potentially a lot of Snow.  All local schools are closed for tomorrow, and maybe Wednesday as well.  We are having Weather !!!
Shelters and warming centers were opened this afternoon for people without adequate shelter.  I cut up some mandarins and put them on the back porch for the Birds as well as any Squirrels.  Then I cut all the red berries off the Nandina bushes.  Nandina berries are toxic to birds and other animals, including humans. They contain cyanide, which can cause sudden death and organ hemorrhaging.  Birds usually don’t eat many of them at one time.  But, when it is extremely cold and there isn’t any other food,  Birds will eat enough of these berries to die!  I put all the berries in a plastic bag and dropped it in the Trash !!!
If you want to help Birds and any other small Creatures, consider putting out high-energy foods like suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seeds. Water is also essential, even with snow, so adding a heated bird bath can help keep birds hydrated.  Just remember to keep the water clean!  If you have a birdbath, you may need to use a warmer to keep the water from freezing! 
You can provide shelter for many species by installing roosting boxes or leaving dead trees that would be suitable for birds that depend on tree cavities. Planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs can help attract species like cedar waxwings.  Always plant native species because they will do better, and usually last longer.  If you aren’t interested in fruit-bearing trees, consider planting a few evergreens on your property!
Birds can stay warm by shivering, fluffing their feathers, or crowding together.  Squirrels and other small furry creatures do their best to eat enough nuts and seeds to have a layer of fat for insulation.  Or, their fur may be thicker.  Some small creatures nest together and go into a semi-hibernation state in really cold weather.  They will survive, but they will need food before Spring arrives !!!  And, they will need water!
We can do many things to help Birds and all small Creatures survive these weather extremes such as heat, or cold, or drought.  All it takes is a little thought and some research.  I learned about the Nandina berries from a delightful and very knowledgeable botanist who volunteers with the Oklahoma Native Plant Society !!!  There is good information everywhere and many people available to help.  
The National Wildlife Federation has an excellent website.  I have found the state Native Plant Society people to also be a great resource.  Here is the link for the National Wildlife Federation …
National Wildlife Federation
Wherever you live, may you be safe and comfortable.  And, whatever the weather, remember our Feathered Friends as well as All Creatures Great and Small.

Inner Peace Meditation ~ Spiritual Practices for Chaotic Times

During this past week, I’ve been thinking about what could be the most effective means for responding to all the anger, fear, and divisiveness in our World.  We know the “craziness” is not limited to the United States, but the chaos here seems to be escalating.
I decided that I would do more “short” meditations during the day, maybe 3 or 4 that were 10 to 15 minutes.  I also decided to use “heart-focused” meditations which are simple and easy to do.  With “heart-focused” meditations all I need to do is to focus my breath on my heart, breathing in and out slowly and gently.   My intention is to allow my heart to open naturally with my breath, allowing more Love to flow into my life and spread out into the world.  This is a practice that we often use in meditation class to establish grounding and flow.
I knew this particular practice would be helpful because so many “scientific studies” have been done on its effectiveness.  And, I know specific groups who are using similar practices for their meditations on the internet.  Then, later in the week, I saw a post on FB that I had posted 9 years ago!  It was a letter Albert Einstein had written to his daughter Leiserl in the mid-1900s.  
 
Here is that letter …
In the late 1980s, Lieserl, the daughter of the famous genius, donated 1,400 letters, written by Einstein, to the Hebrew University, with orders not to publish their contents until two decades after his death. This is one of them, for Lieserl Einstein.
…”When I proposed the theory of relativity, very few understood me, and what I will reveal now to transmit to mankind will also collide with the misunderstanding and prejudice in the world.
I ask you to guard the letters as long as necessary, years, or decades, until society is advanced enough to accept what I will explain below.
There is an extremely powerful force that, so far, science has not found a formal explanation to. It is a force that includes and governs all others, and is even behind any phenomenon operating in the universe and has not yet been identified by us.
This universal force is LOVE.
When scientists looked for a unified theory of the universe they forgot the most powerful unseen force.
Love is Light, that enlightens those who give and receive it.
Love is gravity, because it makes some people feel attracted to others.
Love is power, because it multiplies the best we have, and allows humanity not to be extinguished in their blind selfishness. Love unfolds and reveals.
For love we live and die.
Love is God and God is Love.
This force explains everything and gives meaning to life. This is the variable that we have ignored for too long, maybe because we are afraid of love because it is the only energy in the universe that man has not learned to drive at will.
To give visibility to love, I made a simple substitution in my most famous equation.
If instead of E = mc2, we accept that the energy to heal the world can be obtained through love multiplied by the speed of light squared, we arrive at the conclusion that love is the most powerful force there is, because it has no limits.
After the failure of humanity in the use and control of the other forces of the universe that have turned against us, it is urgent that we nourish ourselves with another kind of energy…
If we want our species to survive, if we are to find meaning in life, if we want to save the world and every sentient being that inhabits it, love is the one and only answer.
Perhaps we are not yet ready to make a bomb of love, a device powerful enough to entirely destroy the hate, selfishness, and greed that devastate the planet.
However, each individual carries within them a small but powerful generator of love whose energy is waiting to be released.
When we learn to give and receive this universal energy, dear Lieserl, we will have affirmed that love conquers all, is able to transcend everything and anything, because love is the quintessence of life.
I deeply regret not having been able to express what is in my heart, which has quietly beaten for you all my life. Maybe it’s too late to apologize, but as time is relative, I need to tell you that I love you and thanks to you I have reached the ultimate answer! “.
Your father Albert Einstein
To me, this seems to be an excellent explanation for the “power of Love”, as well as a reminder that we can allow more Love to move through our Hearts at any moment!  We can be a Blessing, anytime, anywhere, even if we are not in the best mood or the best frame of mind.  We can be a Blessing!  We can walk anywhere in the world with an open Heart.
In the Gospels, Jesus says, “the Kingdom of Heaven is within.”  When he was asked “what is the greatest commandment … “, his answer was very clear.  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind".  And the second is this … “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  That simplifies everything!
However, Jesus only had 3 short years for his public teaching.  Both Jesus and Buddha were spiritual teachers.  After reaching enlightenment at the age of 35, the Buddha spent the rest of his life, until his death at 80, spreading his teachings throughout India.  Big difference there … !  Buddha was able to teach people “how to develop spiritually”.  He was able to help people learn “how to go within … “.  He was able to help many people with their struggles and their meditation practice.  All this practical knowledge about spiritual development became part of the Buddhist tradition.  What we do know is that “Love” is at the core of both Buddhist and Christian teachings.  And, we can build on that.
During this week, whenever you find yourself feeling frustrated, or upset, or worried, take a few minutes to go within.  Relax as much as you can and take a few minutes using the Heart Breath.  Let your whole system rest just a bit, and allow your Heart to relax so more Love can move into your life.
For the quiet part of our meditation, I have used “rain sounds” recorded from YouTube.  Nature sounds often help us relax and feel more coherent and at ease with ourselves.  Let me know if the “rain” is helpful.  Have a blessed week and take good care of yourself … for sure.

We Love All Pollinators and Pollinator Gardens !!!

Several weeks ago I went to a local Native Plant Society “Seed Swap”.  I had a wonderful time.  I left with a blue paper bag full of carefully labeled pollinator plant seeds, a 2025 Soil Conservation Calendar as well as color-coded pages that showed the best time to plant each pollinator.  I also collected several excellent handouts about planting for Monarch Butterflies.  And, I won a brand new garden trowel !!!  
Several weeks before that I found 3 “free” books in my neighborhood library.  These were All about Alternative Pollinators, The Complete Book of North American Butterflies, and The Beginners Guide to Bats !!!  I scooped up those books and took them home.  All very exciting for learning more about how to care for Creation!  I started reading All about Alternative Pollinators because we know the Honey Bee population has been diminishing for many years.  We also know we need Prodigious Pollinators to have sufficient food production.
Honey Bees are certainly prodigious and they are struggling to survive!  The increased use of insecticides and herbicides is one of the main reasons for the decline of Honey Bee populations.  No matter how diligent and watchful Beekeepers are, their bees can be easily exposed to toxins.  This is because Honey Bees often fly 1 to 3 miles per day to reach flowers with the most pollen and nectar.  In their travels, they may cross fields that have been recently sprayed with toxins!  Or the spray from neighboring fields or even crops 2 to 3 miles away may reach the hives.
A large, healthy Honey Bee colony can have as many as 50,000 adult bees!  The Queen Bee can potentially lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day!  And, all these baby bee larvae need protein-rich royal jelly for the first 5 days in for them to thrive!  Royal jelly is a creamy, yellowish-white substance produced by honey bees.
Nurse bees feed royal jelly to larvae for the first three days after hatching.  Royal jelly is also fed to the developing queen bee throughout her life. This diet can allow the queen bee to live up to five years, while worker bees typically live for about 45 days.  The hive is kept busy gathering nectar and pollen to feed the queen and the growing larva!  If the worker bees are exposed to any toxins, the entire colony can be wiped out in a matter of hours!  Beekeepers, anyone who uses bees for pollination, and those of us who love honey are seriously committed to caring for the European Honey Bee. 
There are alternative pollinators.  They do not live in hives and they do not produce honey!  But they do pollinate!  And, they are not well-known.  These pollinators include Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Sweat Bees, and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee!  These bees are usually solitary and may live underground.  They are difficult to detect, but they can be encouraged to live in your garden or your yard by studying their habits and by growing their favorite plants.
This is a great time of year to put in a Pollinator Garden that will flourish and produce blossoms in the Spring.  There are great resources for gardening.  Look up your state’s Native Plant Society.  Do a search for city community gardens, your state Department of Natural Resources, or check with the Nature Conservancy or Sierra Club.  They are often a great resource for referrals.  Once you start looking, you will probably find all kinds of great resources!
We are looking forward to seeing your Personal Pollinator Garden this Spring !!!

We Are the Ones ... Inner Peace Guided Meditation for Sunday February 9, 2025

Welcome to another Sunday evening meditation as we continue through a very dramatic period in our lives.  As I was working on this podcast, I remembered the 70s.  I thought about the drama and intensity of protest marches, the homeless people in the big cities, and, of course, the Veterans from VietNam.
Those of us who were in the Order at that time, usually remember some of our "adventures" during Street Mission.  We had the Filmore Center for homeless men as well as Raphael House for homeless women and children.  I have always been so proud of our service wherever we were stationed.  I am confinved that our service "saved us" from having too much "spiritual arrogance"!  Since many of us were in our 20's or younger, we probably had enough arrogance already.  I know we have continued by finding ways to serve wherever we live.
We seem to be in a similar dramatic polarization now, more than most of us could have ever imagined during the 70s.  Once again, we are probably the ones we have been waiting for.  Thanks to Science and Technology we understand so much more about how meditation and spiritual practice work within us and for us.  Also, there is more and more excellent research showing the social effect of spiritual practices!
We know the Buddhists and other traditions spend hours sitting quietly, focusing on Compassion, or Loving Kindness, or Inner Peace.  The intent is to embody those qualities on a cellular level.  When we can repeat that kind of focus over days and weeks, our whole system resonates with those qualities.  As we move through the world, "humming" with Inner Peace or Compassion or Loving-Kindness, we are literally transforming the "mass mind".  This is the reason I remind us that "a rising tide lifts all boats".
We have the training and we have the experience and the skill to "raise the frequency", to increase coherence in the world.  In other words, " We are the Creators we have been waiting for ... "!  There are many other groups around the world doing this work wherever they live.  On Wednesday nights, I meditate with a group of people who have done at least one of Dr. Joe Dispensa's weeklong retreats.  And, they know how to move some energy !!!
As we all know, humans are wired for survival which means some part of our awareness is always keeping an eye or ear out for some creature or some other human who might want to eat us.  This "wiring" also makes us vulnerable to "conspiracy theories" or videos of racial violence that are programmed to go directly into our subconscious!  Yikes !!!  
Here is where our wealth of spiritual practice and service is paying off.  We have the ability to go within, find the Inner Peace or Compassion, and rest there, allowing that frequency to resonate, filling and transforming our cellular structure.  This is why we do these meditations!!!  And, this is why "We are the Creators we have been waiting for ... !"

Caring for Creation and Gardening!

Did you know that the Netherlands is the 2nd largest exporter of produce in the World !!!  China is number one in the world for produce, including grains.  India is near the top of the list as well.  The United States is usually at third.  The Netherlands does not have the land mass to grow as much grain, but they grow potatoes, onions, lots of vegetables, and some grains.  
Their main exports are vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and aubergines.  They are also the largest exporters of tulips and tulip bulbs!  Most of their vegetables are grown in hothouses, many using geothermal energy.  Growers in the Netherlands have upgraded and modernized all their production to become the 2nd largest exporter of produce in the World !!!
Following World War II and the devastation in Europe caused by that war, farmers in the United States were growing the grains that fed the world for several years.  Farmers that I knew when growing up, were quietly proud of the wheat and oats, and other grain crops they grew to feed the world.  The years immediately following WWII were bummer crop years on the Prairie.  In addition, many people had gardens that produced tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and watermelons at the very least.  Everyone, including Family Farmers, was eating well!
Now, much of our produce, including fruit, is shipped for miles to get to the stores.  Every year there are fewer and fewer Family Farms or orchards owned by a family.  We are relying more and more on Corporate Agriculture!  We know that most corporate businesses are run to generate as much profit as possible.  We also know these corporations usually have higher expenses than a family farm.  The corporations are paying for large and expensive planting and harvesting equipment as well as shipping or trucking costs.  Often the food costs more than it might if it were grown “locally”.
Because our food production has become more centralized, there can be major shortages of fruits and vegetables due to extreme weather or the massive fires that burned in California.  So, what can we do …
The Answer is Simple !!!  We can grow some of our own fruits and vegetables!  So many people in the U.S. have yards that are currently known as “lawns”.  There is often good soil under that lawn and adequate Sunlight most of the year.  More and more people are using some part of their yards for raised beds or even greenhouses.  Many communities have developed excellent community gardens where families can rent 2 or 3 or more raised beds for vegetables if they don’t have room where they are living!
In many areas of the country, people can sign up for a specific quantity of fruit from local orchards before harvest.  Everyone comes out ahead.  The orchards are supported and families know where their fruit is coming from and how it is raised.  Another advantage is that people get to know each other!  Community Gardens build Stronger Communities.  And, children learn first-hand where their food is coming from.  They also can learn how to grow food!  Parents have learned that children will eat what they grow, even Brussel Sprouts !!!
We can feed ourselves, at least with basic vegetables.  Often, when people discover the Joy of Gardening, they add strawberries, blackberries, even apple and peach trees to their gardens!  People who garden and raise at least some of their own food, usually feel more secure.  Research has shown that “gardeners are usually healthier, happier, and much less stressed” than people who do not garden !!!  Amazing !!!  And, nothing tastes better than a ripe tomato, sprinkled with salt, right from your own garden !!!
This is the perfect time of year to plan and develop your garden.  There are many resources in every community for gardening.  Most state agricultural departments and ag colleges have plenty of information, as well as knowledgeable people who are ready to help.
We can be more independent, resilient, and healthier, all from having our very own gardens !!!  We will have stronger and healthier communities as well !!!
 
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 
breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  
Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities. 

"I've Got Love Like an Ocean ... " Inner Peace Guided Meditation & Podcast

"I've got Love like an Ocean in my Soul."
 
During this past week, I have been wondering about our current cultural upheaval and all the political posturing.  I am aware that the turmoil we are experiencing did not happen overnight.  It has been in the making for years.  Those of us who came of age in the 60s and 70s felt those times were very difficult and threatening.  Many people put their lives on the line for social justice or to end the war in Vietnam.  I don't think any of us could imagine the kind of polarization and drama that we are experiencing now.  Nor could we have imagined the role that "news channels" or social media would play in our lives.
 
There seems to be so much emphasis on excess, such as how much wealth, or how much power can one person accumulate in their lifetime?  How much is "Enough" for any one person or any group to grasp and hold onto?  How much is "Enough" for anyone ever?  We could say that most of us have "enough stuff", given the number of storage units we see everywhere.  
 
I have been wondering what is the antidote for this human craving for more power, more money, more land, more crypto, more whatever.  This is especially curious since we are not able to take Anything with us when we leave this planet.  So, what is it in the "psyche" of humans that drives us to want more and more and more ...
 
I do not have an answer, but I did have an interesting sort of answer from my Saturday morning meditation.  As some of you know, I like to start my morning meditation as I am waking up.  As soon as I am aware that I am "waking up", I begin my heart breath practice.  My intention is to be gently awake and slide right into my meditation.  Most of the time, this works the way I want it to work.  This Saturday morning, as I was moving into the meditation, I heard a verse from an old Afro-American spiritual that goes back at least as far as the early 1800's. 
 
The line I remembered was "I've got Love like an Ocean in my Soul".  During the day, I repeated this line to myself or hummed it quietly.  After a while, I realized that this was like saying a Buddhist mantra or Sufi invocation.  The cadence was very similar.  Needless to say, I was delighted with the rhythm and the reference to Creation throughout all the verses!  And, it worked on my whole system like a mantra!
 
So, I decided I would add "Ocean Wave Sounds" to the end section of our Sunday Inner Peace meditation.  You can use the Ocean Wave Sounds or the verses from the spiritual, whichever you prefer.  There is a bit of "noise" where I switched to the wave sounds.  So, my apologies in advance ... !!!  I'll get better with the tech part of this podcast, for sure.  Let me know how you like having "Nature Sounds" for the meditation part. 
 
Have a Wonderful Week and take really good care of yourself.  Thank You for everything you are doing every day to make this world a better place for Everyone.
 
And, remember to Breathe ... Mary
 

Caring for Our Neighbors and Creation by Helping with the California Wildfires

On Labor Day weekend in 2011, the Spicewood Fire in western Travis County destroyed 45 homes and scorched almost 6,500 acres.  There were other fires in the Austin area at the same time.  The worst was in Bastrop County where flames spread to homes scattered among the trees in and around Bastrop, burning nearly 1,700 homes and businesses and claiming the lives of two people.
 
At that time, I was the Facilities Manager for the Pedernales Fire Department and an EMT.  The Spicewood fire was in our district.  It burned very quickly and traveled fast due to the long-term drought.  All our Firefighters and EMS were fighting the fire.  Within a few hours, Firefighters with equipment from departments north and west of us began arriving.  The Auxiliary went into high gear, bringing food, water, and other supplies to our 2 stations that were south of the Pedernales River.
 
We were not able to reach the station across the river due to the fire.  However, we were in touch by radio and cell phone and knew they were okay and fighting fire.  We knew they were in a relatively safe position, but none of our vehicles could get to them for several long hours.  
 
The fire lasted for 2 to 3 days due to our extended drought.  Clean-up took a lot longer.  One of our major expenses was the repair and replacement of equipment.  That included repair on the engines and hose, replacement of all kinds of tools, and replacement of the Firefighters' protective clothing.  There was a long list of repairs and replacements.  
 
During the fire, we were extremely fortunate to have very thoughtful and generous neighbors.  They began monetary donations immediately, brought cases and cases of water to the station, and anything else we needed.  We published a "needs list" on our FaceBook page shortly after the fire started.
 
This is what I learned from that experience with a wildfire.  The major expenses began after the big blaze was out and the fire was no longer dramatic.  Firefighters were still patrolling the burned areas, looking for smoldering trees or logs, anywhere there might be potential for the fire to restart.  Everyone was exhausted, and we needed to keep working the fire ground.  Firefighters from other counties needed to get back to their departments.  Because of the devastating fire in Bastrop County, east of Austin, we had difficulty getting some parts and equipment for repair and replacement.  And, we were very fortunate and had tremendous support from all our local businesses and neighbors.  
 
Our fire was dangerous and expensive, and we recovered over time.  I can't even begin to imagine what it will take or how long it will take to recover from the fires in California.
 
The need for donations and all kinds of support continues long after the fires are out.  I am including links for 3 foundations/charities that will put your donations to good use.  I am also looking for organizations that will focus on re-foresting and re-planting following the fires.  I will list those next month.  
 
You may have your favorite foundation or charity that is working on recovery from these fires.  I have included World Central Kitchen because they always show up for disasters and do such a great job of feeding people!  Just remember, when the fires are finally out, the real work of recovery begins.  Thank You for your contributions, your generosity, and your prayers !!!
 
Here are 3 links for contributions that will make a difference.  Check them out and contribute where it feels right for you.
 
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
 
Episcopal Relief and Development
 
World Central Kitchen California Wildfires