A brief reflection sparked by a memory from long, long ago. A memory of friends showing pure Kindness to me and my family. Which led me to look at the ways we are - and are not - Taking Good Care of one another. In these times, it is more important than ever to pay attention to this. It's not a difficult thing to do. Taking Good Care of ourselves and others is the best way we can "walk each other home."
Read MoreA reflection on the power and necessity of crying. How crying is good for us (and how a "good cry" can feel amazing), why it's important to not let anyone make us feel "bad" for crying, and celebrating the "ugly" crying that can happen while watching a great movie or listening to a beautiful song. Let those tears flow!!
Thank you for joining me on this reflection about the world-famous - and famously annoying - Knock Knock joke about bananas and oranges. I am still learning how to appreciate living in the beautiful anticipatory "banana" moments while navigating life in a fully "orange" world. Give this episode a listen. It'll all make sense, I promise. Well, I hope it will! And Thank You, as always, for listening.
Read MoreSitting with some amazing "coincidences" and the return of long-ago friends into my life. Recognizing how powerful these re-connections are, during these Days of Awe - the Holy Days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Reflecting, remembering, forgiving. It's all about Kindness, folks. Hope you enjoy this one.
Read MoreIt seems that many of us - me included - have recently been feeling the weight of depression. Along with the pressure to "get back to normal," there are just a lot of feelings swirling around. Please, take a few minutes to listen and to be reminded that none of us are walking this life alone. AND, that we have the opportunity to move forward in this moment, instead of "going back" to anything that is past and done. Don't give up.
Read MoreIt seems that many of us - me included - have recently been feeling the weight of depression. Along with the pressure to "get back to normal," there are just a lot of feelings swirling around. Please, take a few minutes to listen and to be reminded that none of us are walking this life alone. AND, that we have the opportunity to move forward in this moment, instead of "going back" to anything that is past and done. Don't give up.
Read MoreThis episode is a bit longer than any of the others. It covers about 4 and a half years! From the dream house becoming the house of terrors, from the beginning to (almost) the ending of my time at Ursuline College, from the beginning and into the on-going conversation with my Spiritual Companion, through laughter, grief, pain, amazement, triumph, frustration, hope, despair, Gratitude, and - of course - always with Maddie, we have come from there to here. Acknowledging, of course, that "here" is a moving target. Every time we reach "here," it moves! And we're in another "here." I am Grateful to have reached this particular "here" because of the Wisdom my Beloved Michael shared: "So we live and we learn, but we only learn if we live." Although this episode seems like an ending, it isn't one. It's just another "here." I will return in the next "here" to talk with you all again soon.
Read MoreThe journey continues on, even though we arrived at our destination (so we thought). My time in Ithaca with Maddie was filled with the Love and Support of our dear friend Joan. It was also a time of darkness and punishing depression that caught up with me when I stopped moving. Grateful for Joan, my Mom, Jody, Maddie, and my friend who always speaks the truth to me, for helping to keep me going through those ten months. And then, we arrived back in Ohio, only to face the reality that two very important people were not there anymore. This episode is an up-down-and-all-around ride, for sure. You do get to hear a recording of me singing when I was about 4, though. So, that's a bonus!]
Read MoreSo much ground to cover - literally, figuratively, inwardly, and outwardly! The ending of a relationship, the ending of my time in Alaska. The beginning of an adventure, the stepping (or, rather, driving) out into the un-known. Stories of Love, loss, grief, Gratitude, and bison await you in this episode. I hope you enjoy it!
Read MoreThis episode takes us through the year 2013. A year of excitement, new beginnings, change, challenges, endings, and learning to live with those endings. SpiritStone Spiritual Center opens its doors (with help from musical friends and the community). I get the opportunity to experience shingles (or, rather, Shingle - you'll hear more about that). Also, the sudden losses of two of my dearest friends. Two of My Boys, my Heart-Brothers. We welcome into the story the best therapist I have ever had AND you'll hear about one of my most favourite rituals we shared at SpiritStone.
Musically, we re-visit me singing my version of Anita Hollander’s beautiful creation of a Hebrew prayer (many Thanks to my sister for that one). And my own interpretation of Rumi's poem, The Guest House.
Thank you so much for listening!
adventure! Deeply spiritual, profoundly heart-breaking, epically terrifying, The River did not disappoint in its Power and Magnificence. Also, in this episode, the discovery that moving is sometimes the best thing we can do when things get rough. And then, sometimes, moving again is necessary! From San Francisco to Boise, Idaho and onward to Anchorage, this episode is packed! [Disclaimer - when I share about my spiritual life, please know that my approach to spiritually is an all-inclusive one. It's not about any one "belief" (or ANY belief, for that matter!). It is about connection. And a sense of Knowing. We can talk about it anytime, if you've got questions!]
Read MoreIn this episode, we learn what it feels like to find that perfect employment, and to leave it. To go from a 24/7 packed schedule, to hours of vast nothingness. Leaving the familiar to step into the unknown is an opportunity to grow and learn. It's also an opportunity for depression to dig in. Discovering what was my most reliable Source for help was powerful. And enlightening. And, getting knocked down by a dog helped me to learn - once again - that Gratitude is the key to survival! From Anchorage to San Francisco, the adventure continues!
Read MoreWelcome to Season 5! 2009 was a pretty epic year: the entrance of Shannon, the welcoming of Maddie into my life, Ordination and Graduation as an InterFaith/InterSpiritual minister, and - after 40+ years of waiting for the moment - my pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy. All of it reminding me to be Grateful that I stayed alive to experience it.
AND the announcement of my book! "From There to Here: an insider's guide to navigating the darkness" is now available for pre-order (through 20 March) at my website. Just go to: https://givebutter.com/from_there_to_here
Thank you SO much!!
Read MoreThis is a very full episode! Looking at my inner and outer journeys of finding courage in music, in therapy, in Love, and in metaphorical knife-fighting! Guided by creative musicians, wonderful healers, sweet friends, and the amazing Dan Millman, this moment in my story reminds me that - as long as I agreed to stay - the adventures would never run out! And the episode closes with some tunes that feature the guitar and vocal skills of Mark Pearson and the magnificent bass stylings of Dolores Catherino. The journey continues!
Read MoreThis is a very full episode! Looking at my inner and outer journeys of finding courage in music, in therapy, in Love, and in metaphorical knife-fighting! Guided by creative musicians, wonderful healers, sweet friends, and the amazing Dan Millman, this moment in my story reminds me that - as long as I agreed to stay - the adventures would never run out! And the episode closes with some tunes that feature the guitar and vocal skills of Mark Pearson and the magnificent bass stylings of Dolores Catherino. The journey continues!
Read MoreIn this bonus episode, we finally get to hear about my spiritual journey, my relationship with That Thing That is Larger Than Me, and my continuously evolving understanding of the difference between the Big-L-Love and little-l-love (including one more mention of pudding!). And how all of this comes together to help keep me going as I continue to live with depression. The most important take away from this episode is how it is very clear that I wasn't always like this. So very Grateful for my then and my now.
Read MoreIn this bonus episode, we finally get to hear about my spiritual journey, my relationship with That Thing That is Larger Than Me, and my continuously evolving understanding of the difference between the Big-L-Love and little-l-love (including one more mention of pudding!). And how all of this comes together to help keep me going as I continue to live with depression. The most important take away from this episode is how it is very clear that I wasn't always like this. So very Grateful for my then and my now.
Read MoreIn this bonus episode, we finally get to hear about my spiritual journey, my relationship with That Thing That is Larger Than Me, and my continuously evolving understanding of the difference between the Big-L-Love and little-l-love (including one more mention of pudding!). And how all of this comes together to help keep me going as I continue to live with depression. The most important take away from this episode is how it is very clear that I wasn't always like this. So very Grateful for my then and my now.
Read MoreIn this bonus episode, we finally get to hear about my spiritual journey, my relationship with That Thing That is Larger Than Me, and my continuously evolving understanding of the difference between the Big-L-Love and little-l-love (including one more mention of pudding!). And how all of this comes together to help keep me going as I continue to live with depression. The most important take away from this episode is how it is very clear that I wasn't always like this. So very Grateful for my then and my now.
Read MoreIn this bonus episode, we finally get to hear about my spiritual journey, my relationship with That Thing That is Larger Than Me, and my continuously evolving understanding of the difference between the Big-L-Love and little-l-love (including one more mention of pudding!). And how all of this comes together to help keep me going as I continue to live with depression. The most important take away from this episode is how it is very clear that I wasn't always like this. So very Grateful for my then and my now.
Read MoreRev. Rachel Hollander lives a kaleidoscope life as a Minister, Singer, Songwriter, Teacher, Writer, Interpreter, Counselor, Officiate.
“You won’t be able to fly unless you are willing to transform.”
- Suzy Kassem
Rev. Rachel Hollander • revrachelhollander@gmail.com Website Design: Victoria Price Art & Design.
