Meditation: presence, evenness

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

In that humanity is one whole, all practices from any tradition that emphasize wisdom, compassion, relatedness, and responsibility through responsiveness support the illumination of human consciousness that is now. Therefore, make a joyful noise through mantra, prayers, words in support of one another, and in support of your role and place today and everyday.

After an introduction, we settle and simply open. Ah.

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Play with your food 4: easy again

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

Brunch today: bollita beans with sweet potato and ham pieces (from pigs raised with thoughtfulness and not factory-torture raised), home sprouted peas, avocado with pepitas, and a little gf, sf, banana bread.

Here are a few things that make any kitchen cooking easier, especially for:

  • those with a time crunch or little ones needing attention
  • those who tire easily, cannot stand long, or have balance issues
  • those whose hands can’t cut things easily.
  1. Rather than abandon lemon or lime in a recipe because hands can’t safely cut a round object, go for a good quality frozen lemonade or limeade concentrate. I use both regularly. Plus, during summer, a bit of either is added to fruit sun tea for deepening of flavor.
  2. Since one is cutting and chopping, make any meat item bite size at that time. Then, cutting is done!
  3. Forget about dicing. Cut the items as best and safely as one can. Cooking will soften all ingredients and render them fork-able if an item is still a little big for safe swallowing.
  4. Soups, stews, pots of legumes all with lots of veggies. Serve in a small bowl with a warmed tortilla. Done! Excellent, healthy full meal.
  5. Add some rice or quinoa to any pot-cooked meal. That way, again, it’s done. No second pot, no waiting for rice to cook. I use about 1/3C of grain with a 1 gal. pot – which is 5-6 meals for me. It’s enough rice or quinoa to complete the protein and carbohydrate profile, but not a pile of starch in the bowl or plate. Remember that adding this water-absorbing item will require more water or stock in the pot.
  6. Freeze left-overs in small containers, one or two portions max. Then, on a low energy day or one when cooking is not on the agenda, there is healthy food waiting. Thaw in a bowl of cold water – not hot.
  7. Eggs! Forget the marketing b.s. . How many times in my lifetime, alone, the rap about white or yokes or eat them/don’t eat them has changed? Humanity has been eating eggs forever! With a veggie, this is an easy and healthy meal unless your medical profile or medications determine otherwise. Of course, pasture-raised, truly cage-free. Keep in mind that “grain-fed” is a marketing ploy. Chickens are omnivores who, when pastured or yard-roaming, eat more insects than grass or greens. Grain-fed chickens are not being fed properly and their eggs will not have a full spectrum of Omegas, Vit. E, or Vit. K which would be in the eggs from happy chickens. Spend the money: for the chickens’ well-being, yours, and your family’s. Doing so promotes beneficial agriculture: regenerative and the raising of animals with their biological natures accommodated.
  8. Tortillas. When I lived in Massachusetts, tortillas were not much of a consideration. Move to the southwest, and wow! how did I do without this simple meal completing item? Finding organic corn tortillas can be a challenge, which is a bummer because corn is a GMO crop, monocultured, and pesticide raised. So, try to find a good quality tortilla. We’re talking about the small, taco size, here. One warmed in a dry pan with a sprinkle of your favorite cheese served with a bowl of soup or stew, complete meal. (no American made cheese is in my home. Too many antibiotics, unkindly raised or aggressively milked with machines, etc.) Go for imported cheeses or make a farmer’s cheddar. Gruyere is my favorite. Shred it at home for freshness.

 

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Meditation: two: a shared light and saturate with loving-kindness

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

Thursday, we sat with the word “generate” regarding generating a great light because, at essence, all beings are light. The idea of generating is to focalize the mind to the radiance within, radiant Being shared by all.

Today, Saturday,  the inquiry was about “may I be filled with loving-kindness.” This led to “saturation.”

Thursday:

Saturday:

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We are here in this now

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

Monks walking for peace peacefully. Rain, shine, snow or cold; walking and talking with tones of peace in every syllable and word spoken, every gesture, every gaze forward and smile to the side. short video

Citizens standing, often yelling, holding signs and phones aloft to bear witness to atrocities in their neighbors, cities, school yards and places of business. Both methods serve an overall aim: to be participant in this Now; to fully bear witness through forbearance and action.

What can I do, one might ask? As a person with physical disability and no longer able to drive to a demonstration of solidarity, I have asked this. Here’s a short list of actions, participations in this Now which we all chose to incarnate for.

  • Reach out to your neighbors. Born of the genuineness of the heart which has no past but is always now, with cordiality and neighborliness, reach out. “Hi. It’s been awhile. Just want to check in and see if you need anything and how you’re doing.” or “Hi. How you doing today?” and then listen. It’s not a political conversation; nor an organizing one. If the conversation goes to that from their side, stay genuine. Stay true to the heart and to neighborliness.
  • Call or write congress people: representatives and senators. This country was declared a government for the people and by the people. Make your voice heard. Make your vote count.
    • 5calls.org : your zip code in the search box produces a list of reps and senators specific for your location with their phone numbers. A list of many issues is on the site. Choose an issue of meaning to you and 5calls. org provides a short script for you to say with the call or to help one be informed for improvising.
    • SignsofJustice.com : order preprinted post cards or signs from this black-owned small company. I did. My hands don’t work well anymore, so this was a welcome choice of action. Here is their About page. I ordered 16 cards for $20, free shipping. Absolutely worth it!
  •  Stand up, stand with. Bundle up and go stand with others for common decency, sanity, and goodness. Be the protectors by being on the street. Start with your neighborhood if you don’t want to face off with armed others. Recognize the cars that belong to your neighbors and therefore belong on the street so that one will recognize a vehicle that does not belong or is hanging out for no reason. Similarly, be aware of the dog walking neighbors and their dogs. One phenomenon that has happened too often is people abducted while walking their dogs. The dog is left ownerless, the evidence that an incident occurred.
  • Get a whistle – not from Amazon. I ordered mine from Target. $4 for two. Use it in unfortunate situations.
  • Remember the monks walking, steadfastly walking, bearing witness to the sanity and peace within, to the heart of all human beings and humanity. This is why one calls a state rep, why one reaches out to a neighbor, and why one reflects on one’s own variety of confusions. Be peace in every step by taking steps. Walk the walk.
  • Meditate on warmheartedness. Meditate and contemplate on courage and empathy. Meditate and bear witness to the Light that YOU Are. You are the light of the world! Each of us is radiant Presence. Those who, like zombies, hide behind masks and pepper spray are bewildered, are under a spell; and most of us are bewildered about one thing or another, too. Judgement is over; separateness is done. We are ONE. ONE Light. One Whole.

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Meditation: we generate a great light 3

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

Oppression and equanimity cannot coexist. They mutually cancel one another. Thus, we generate the great light of equality in confidence . The weakness of authoritarianism is readily seen: weaponry against its own people. Such are the actions of bullies, cowards, and weakness. The people around the world stand united, and are one in the knowing that light, sanity, and essential goodness are supreme and are innate.

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