The two wings of mindfulness and kindness will begin to open the heart to more connection with our world.

When you are in touch with your body and heart, it allows you to then be in the world and act with intention and clarity and kindness.

Even going through the motions is a way of establishing a new relationship with our inner life that is caring and tender, versus one that is judging, distancing or ignoring. This is the beginning of being capable of intimacy with others.

I think of desire as the essence that brings forth the whole universe.

Our kids go to school and they come out feeling not intelligent, not desirable, not attractive or appealing to others.

Emotions are the interaction of thoughts and of sensations in the body.

Because we have such a deeply grooved conditioning to reject and condemn ourselves, particularly in this culture, I find that emphasis on the word "acceptance" is central in healing. It brings our attention to the possibility of saying yes to what we are experiencing in the moment, and counteracts the conditioning to push away what feels unpleasant or intense or unfamiliar.