Bisexual. The first time I ever heard that word I was in 9th grade history class. I remember my entire body suddenly … listening. I looked down at my bare legs and the sandals I was wearing, taking in that
For as long as I can remember, I felt uncomfortable in my own skin. If I was walking down the street and made eye contact with you as we passed and you didn’t smile at me, I would think, “What did
What makes us who we are? It’s a big question, and perhaps one best considered with a background of good music. Invoke writer Siri Undlin has been avidly exploring identity for years as a musician, author, and world roamer, so we
As a child, my hair poofed carelessly down my back. My Granny, a beautician, taught me early the necessity of monthly deep conditionings and the trimming of split ends to ensure long and healthy hair. The length of one’s hair
It’s incredible the shift that’s occurred within the public realm with the #metoo movement. I’m grateful to see how many women are feeling empowered to share their experiences with the wider world. Bringing this shadow around the treatment of women
I've tended to be a bit ambivalent about holidays like Women's Day and Earth Day. A single day feels inadequate to honor something so core to life itself. But I recently learned that Women's Day has its roots in the
Trump is president and I am afraid. Sometimes I cry on my way to work or at the warehouse when I'm in a truck all by myself. My boss, bless his pendejo soul, says, "You'll be alriiiiight." Me and my
Tuesday Jan. 17, 5:53 pm Minneapolis-St Paul Airport We’ll be lifting off shortly—all collectively choosing to act like flying through the air in a metal, bird-shaped contraption is unremarkable. I wonder at the impeccable patience of flight attendants. While their
Here's some music to feed the soul and fire the spirit, shake our roots and inspire our fruits as we put our hands together for a better world. Image by Elena Ray
Since the U.S. election I’ve been cycling through grief, fear, overwhelm, and moments of clear action. I spiral into a news wormhole or challenging discussion, and my body clenches tighter and tighter. Yet I’ve also had a few powerful moments
A few weeks ago, I sat on the edge of my bed, despondent. I sat in pain and bereft. Hurt by this election. Hurt by this rhetoric. Hurt by all the words being tossed around that have broken my heart
In these turbulent times on earth, we need music that reconnects us—to ourselves, to one another, and to our gratitude for this world. Lydia Violet’s new album, “Already Free,” does just that. Based on her deep study with her teacher
Mni wiconi—“Water is life.” This Lakota phrase weaves throughout my days here on Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. Over the past week, I’ve seen it on T-shirts worn by teenagers, on banners held by children, painted on family cars,
This article was originally published by New America Weekly. I am an arms dealer in Libya, but my weapons reduce violence and last longer than a bullet. As the founder of the Voice of Libyan Women (VLW), a women’s rights
Many memoirs have covered the terrain of grief, but Nora McInerny Purmort’s does so with more sass, swearing, and style than most. For a book that chronicles the author’s experience losing her husband, father, and unborn baby all within two
499,226. That’s how many refugees washed up on the shores of Lesbos, Greece in 2015, fleeing war, poverty, and hopelessness. It’s a number—and conflict—that’s hard to wrap your mind around. But for Zoe Wild, it wasn’t about wrapping her mind
Feeling boxed in by stale social constraints, double standards, and prejudice? Here’s a playlist to incite the freedom-loving rebel in you! As per En Vogue, “free your mind and the rest will follow!” Photo of Santigold by Whittlz on
In many ways, my search began on YouTube, that ubiquitous archive of modern life in all its glamour and grime. I am a strong believer in the process of the “YouTube wormhole,” a spiritual practice (should you choose to view
You know that moment when you realize spring is finally here? That’s what this mix feels like. It invites you to put your headphones on and go for a walk or turn up the volume in the car with the
I have been in a wheelchair for three years and six months. Long enough to feel the weight of it but short enough to know I still have a lot to learn about living with a disability. After my accident
In 2004 I apologized to the Peace Corps for being raped, because I believed them when they told me it was my fault. The messages I received during my counseling from Peace Corps have stayed with me as little reminders,
When I lived in the city, I thought I knew what farming was like: hard work, pretty sunsets, living simple. And of course, there are those elements. But now that I make my life as a farmer, I know there’s
The first time I listened to Undlin & Wolfe’s new album, I found myself replaying the last two songs again and again, caught between the soulfulness of “Heart of the Wood” (particularly at the 2:45 mark, when singer Siri Undlin lets
Clare Dakin is an Earth lover, facilitator, and social entrepreneur with a big vision. The mission for TreeSisters came to Clare in a flash of white light after her car crashed into a tree. Once it arrived, the mission was
In July 2015, Rosemary Alles left her high-paying job with NASA’s SOFIA mission and began the process of leaving behind her San Francisco home and giving away her possessions. She’s moving to South Africa to advocate for elephants, in order
On a 10-day retreat in India, I ended up literally facing my own garbage. It has changed me deeply. Here's how it happened and one practice I use to heal my relationship with the Earth. *** To reach the small Himalayan
The theme for this month's Practice Series is NATURE. This month we’ve deepened our connection to nature by listening to and creatively invoking the elements. Last week we clarified how we are called to steward the earth, by committing to take
The first time I listened to this album, I could not remain in my chair—I had to jump up and dance around my living room. Ayla Nereo’s voice is so beautiful I can (and do) listen to her all day.
The theme for this month's Practice Series is NATURE. Being a steward of nature can feel immensely overwhelming. This week we’re going to make our love for the earth concrete in a simple, connected, practical way. Throughout this month, we’ve connected
Once upon a time, and a very long time ago at that, an ancestral ape climbed down from the trees, stood upright on two back legs and walked out of the forest. I often wonder why she did it. Perhaps
The theme for this month's Practice Series is NATURE. We are made of nature—she exists within us, in our bones, muscles, heart, and lungs. She is pulsing through our movement, our breath, and our heartbeat. This week we are honoring the
This spring, I read an article about why humans experience awe, a state the authors describe as “being in the presence of something vast that transcends our understanding of the world.” They describe awe as the “ultimate collective emotion,” one
The theme for this month's Practice Series is NATURE. This week we will connect with and bring gratitude to the elements within us, to build a strong connection to nature wherever we are. By building intimacy with the earth, we forge a
When I was 29 years old, I jumped out of an airplane for the first time. Until then, my idea of an extreme sport had been jaywalking. But my sister had been trying to get me to do it for
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” —Plato The theme for this month's Practice Series is PLAY. Playing alone is fun, but playing with someone else can be even better—a
The theme for this month's Practice Series is PLAY. This week, you’re invited to take your practice out of the house and into the streets—to the bus station, office, grocery store, post office, any place that could use a little
The theme for this month's Practice Series is PLAY. It’s easy to get into routines, which tend to become habits that over time become ruts and eventually make us downright rigid. One of the many definitions of play is “movement.” Just
The theme for this month's Practice Series is PLAY. As adults, many of us view play as a frivolous pastime and a distraction from the serious business of living. As a result we tend to split play off from daily
In this fourth and final part of our household detox series (find parts 1-3 here), we’ll look at personal care products and our beauty routines. Our skin is our largest organ, taking in anything we put on it, including cosmetics,
Holy Taya’s album “Halleluyah All Night” gently nudges us to remember what it is to be a woman. These Hebrew and English chants are primordial prayers to the divine feminine. Holy Taya evokes a circle of women, deep in their
Dear Anne, I’ve been a fan of yours for years, and your writings have helped sustain me in my own life journey. So I was confused to see your recent tweets making disparaging remarks about Caitlyn Jenner and her gender
Note: Last month, we profiled Angela Maxwell, who’s spending the next five years walking around the world solo. We’re excited to share occasional dispatches from her journeys on the road. Here’s her first installment, from Australia: I knew from
I belong to the sisterhood of stick-shift women. We seem to gravitate toward each other. There’s a look of recognition, a nod of respect, a knowing laugh when we meet. It’s like a secret club. I learned to drive on
In part 1 and part 2 we detoxed the kitchen and bathroom, taking stock of which products to toss, keep, or replace. In this segment we’ll explore the laundry room. Many of our clothes, if they’re not made from organic
I grew up in a society deeply wounded by war. The USSR of my childhood was covered with monuments to war heroes. The culture was saturated with movies, books, and songs dedicated to the bravery of the Soviet soldiers defending
Dear Sister, Have you wrestled with the idea of feminism: what it really is and if it is even necessary anymore? As a woman who grew up in the '60s and lived through several waves of feminism, I want to share
Have you ever been scrolling through your Facebook feed when you suddenly run across a violent news story, or sitting in a public place when you see on TV that people were killed in a bombing somewhere? What did you feel
On May 1, 2014, Angela Maxwell and her boyfriend celebrated their two-year anniversary in Bend, Oregon. On May 2, she left her boyfriend, her thriving coaching business, and her happy home life to spend the next five years walking around
In part one of our spring-detoxing series, we tackled the kitchen, looking at what everyday products might be harmful to our health. In part two, we’ll explore the bathroom. The bathroom is a big one, home to many sprays, soaks,
In 2007, Suzanne Sterling joined with Seane Corn and Hala Khouri to create Off the Mat Into the World, a nonprofit aimed at bridging yoga and conscious activism, taking the fruits of practice out into the world. I first heard Sterling
