"...We spend far too much time and energy contemplating our inadequacies. We forget that we are all perfect in our imperfection."

-- Kate Dillon

Hi! I returned yesterday from another retreat with Jeddah Mali. I am so blessed to be receiving her teachings. I thought you might appreciate just this small sample of her work, which comes from her meditation on self acceptance in her 'Embracing Freedom' CD set:

"Just notice as your attention comes to rest in your inner experience how much acceptance is there of what greets you. What is the internal attitude you carry towards self? Do you greet your inner experience like a beloved friend or is there awkwardness or lack of connection? Is there lack of appreciation? Is there a sense of disappointment? Or is there a sense that one's being is not quite good enough, that changes need to be made, that things need to be different before you can enjoy the full embrace of your own company?

"Be conscious in this moment and ask yourself, 'Can you stop being who you are?' The answer is no. ... And if we cannot stop being who we are, then it makes sense that we become friends with our existence, that we appreciate our existence and that we enjoy our existence."

May each of us open to welcome ourselves home!

~ Patrice

"Loving yourself... does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion."

-- Margo Anand