Hi all! I'm Kiva, originally from Toronto, Canada, I've been working on The Mindful Word since the beginning, involved in the publishing, editing and writing.

I like to engage in discussions about spirituality as it's the thing I'm most passionate about. I practice Yoga and mindfulness so they're the things I have the most experience in but I'm interested in all aspects of spirituality and personal growth as I find I learn lessons from all different sources that help me on my path.

I'm living near Assisi, Italy with my wife and kids and am part of a Yoga community here. I love being in nature and try to be outside as much of the day as I can working on the homestead. Whenever I take a fun break, I enjoy playing with my kids, dancing, and hiking around the mountains whenever I get a chance.

Hi everyone, my name's Erica and I've been working on The Mindful Word for about 10 years, starting with writing and then getting into editing and social media. I've also done writing, editing and some social media for a variety of other websites, and have written a yet unpublished novel.

I'm from just outside of Ottawa and I've studied at University of Ottawa (Philosophy) and Algonquin College (Fundraising Management). In my spare time, I like to read, listen to music, and exercise. Yoga, kickboxing, Pilates and stand-up paddleboarding are some of my favourite fitness activities.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone I already don't know well, and getting to know those I do know well even better. I have no professional qualifications in the field of personal growth (although a coaching certification may count?) but I'll be happy to provide advice whenever I can. 

Hi everyone! My name is Lucas and I have been contributing articles to the Mindful Word since 2020. My area of expertise lies in Christian spiritual practice, which was the focus of my graduate research at Brock University in St. Catharines, Canada. Specifically, I am interested in the ways that Christians relate to, worship, and experience the divine in their everyday life. I look forward to sharing some of my insights here with anyone looking for a Christian spiritual perspective.

A little more about myself: I enjoy cooking, reading, and running in my spare time. I am also a huge Game of Thrones and Handmaid's Tale fan.

I hope to hear from some of you soon! Bye for now.

Hi, I'm Max!

I've been writing for The Mindful Word forever...no, wait, make that...I can't remember, it's been over 10 years I'm pretty sure. Since I received an email from Jane Olivier asking if TMW might publish a poem (or several) of mine that she'd found on another page. After that I began submitting things...testing the waters gradually to see how far I could go in terms of sharing things that I really cared about. And, for the most part, I still haven't found a limit to that. TMW has been like family. Long ago, these guys published a series of autobiographical short stories I had written, some of which went fairly far out, as my life has been, well, I had to write the whole book (titled TOWARD AN INTERIOR SUN, you can still get it from TMW or Amazon) because this particular series of dizzying balances, falls and recoveries, great inspirations and pretty deep pits, has been, like any of yours, unique. Fortunately, I've landed, or been placed, back on my feet each time.

I should perhaps say that for 53 years I've been a devotee of Meher Baba, about whom there's a pretty good Wikipedia article. I've written in TMW about the experience that I had in 1971, that continues even today to inspire me to KEEP GOING. I was also fortunate...blessed, I would say, because the odds seemed a million to one that anything like what happened COULD happen...to work with Ram Dass for a 6-month period, to overcome deep shame that had resulted from early trauma (have written about that, too here).

Because of these inspiring experiences, creative Inspiration and expression have become kind of the thing that tends to "define me" to myself. If I've just finished, or even gotten a good start on a poem, a story, a painting, or a song...I'm kind of on top of the world! (Later, when responses do or don't come in, is another thing...still learning to work with doing it FOR the Inspiration and Service and expression, rather than results. 

Could say much more. I teach preschoolers music and dramatically read children's books, and companion them (drumming circles and other instrumental work this year). I have a "grown-ups" CD called LOVE'S RIVER and a kid's CD called "Mr. Max's Neighborhood."

But enough about me. I want to remember for you a lovely experience from a number of years ago...the day I received a small package with a return address in India, that turned out to be a from Kiva here at The Mindful Word. He had been wandering around Pune, India, and had passed the Meher Baba Center there (Pune was the birthplace of MB) and gone in. And sent me a lovely letter and a few things like a small wall-hanging of the Indian elephant god Ganesh, that I still have in my little meditation alcove. 

I've also been interested in Jungian Psychology for a long time, and am currently taking courses in working with dreams and other aspects of this...to try to facilitate creativity, etc. 

Namaste'!

@lucas-coia Hi, Lucas! A recent pretty inspiring experience with a couple of Christian practitioners remains in the forefront of my mind from earlier in the week, so I thought I would share it with you.
Several months ago, I joined something called "Dream School" that is run by three Jungian analysts who have co-created a weekly podcast called "This Jungian Life" for probably 3 years or so now. I'm trying to become more conversant with my dreams and with symbols generally. Well, for the past 4 months I've been in a Dream Group on Zoom, just one morning a month for around an hour. We focus on one dream per session and have a rotating leadership. I've been inspired by these sessions, every one of them! What starts out as "someone else's dream" gradually, as we amplify it with our thoughts, feelings, associations, etc...becomes "everyone's dream" by the end of the session! It becomes clear that although the symbols may be "personal" to the dreamer, they are nonetheless universal, and so the dream becomes the property of all, so to speak! By the time I leave each session, I FEEL I've been given a totally universal experience, no matter whose dream we've worked on!

Well...that is the preface for my sharing that two of our 4 members a serious, spiritually-motivated Christians. One is a member of an Episcopal congregation (which he joined several years ago after around 40 years of agnosticism) and the other, a Catholic church. BUT: and this is the thing I wanted to share, that adds a dimension to their "institutional" Christianity. They are well-versed in the archetypal rituals and thought-forms of Christian practice, the beautiful Christianity of people like St. Augustine, John or the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Fancis of Assisi, etc.

They both have said, as well, that...hmm...how can I say it? I think best by sharing something I read long ago in a book by Mircea Eliade, the scholar of religions. He remarked that some religions or spiritual systems are "closed within" and some are "open within". That comes to mind here, in my sharing that each of my 2 friends in our Dream Group acknowledged that his/her spirituality is not so much anymore "institution-centered", but fed from within by the work with dreams and no doubt other practices etc of each. I've experienced to a degree how dreams in our group (and in my private life, as well) can basically invigorate from within, in a practically open-ended way. Without "telling" anyone's dream (we're supposed to keep confidentiality), I can say that symbols from other cultures and probably spiritual traditions work their way in to the dreams of my companions. And they FIT, perfectly! It all becomes a wonderful wholeness! That inspires me, each time, so far! I'm happy we can all access ALL the dimensions of our being!

I wanted to share this glimpse of the Christian practice of a couple of friends, and say how awesome it all feels to me... the way all of us are being iNFUSED with...well, when I worked with Ram Dass year ago, he would sometimes simply call it "the living God."

(I hope I've said this in a clean and clear way...that's what I've intended, anyway! xox)

@kiva-bottero Beautiful! Nice to hear a bit about your present life! xoxoxox

@erica-roberts Hi, Erica! I DID get on here! Good to learn a bit more about you, too! 🙂

@max-reif Hi Max. Wow thanks for sharing this! I haven't read much about dreams. But I do appreciate perspectives that appeal to universal knowledge that transcends the borders of institutional religion.

@max-reif @lucas-coia Thanks for sharing Max! 53 years you've been with Baba... wow! No wonder you know him so well. When I read your articles I can really feel how connected you are to him and to his teachings. When I went to the Meher Baba Center in Pune it's like the life lessons you have written about came to life when I was there!

Sounds like an interesting experience you're having with the dream school. I did some dreamwork as part of a group in the past and thought it was pretty cool. There is definitely a lot we can learn from dreams.

I like how you referenced the beautiful Christianity of St Francis and the others. He's a model of spirituality in many ways who I respect greatly. I felt guided to where I live because of him. For me it's mostly about his approach to nature, simplicity and his universal teachings. It's like he's drawn people to this area like a magnet. I feel something special here in the people and in the land.

I know Lucas you've written quite a bit on the saints in Umbria and around here. It's actually amazing to see how many there are that I've never even heard of, but to hear of their impressive life stories and what they were able to achieve. Like I'll walk into some random church in a small hill town of maybe 2000 people and from there comes a saint who started a whole order of nuns or monks. This kind of things happens quite a bit. I've also noticed this phenomenon in India (I see a lot of similarities between Italy and India). Often I find a mountain or mountain range with a particular energy attracts holy people, which then causes them to settle there, then they act as a source of magnetism which further draws people in.

Greetings humans, and others. I am Jane. I have been editing and writing for The Mindful Word since about 2010.

Born in Canada, and raised in South Africa by parents and grandparents from various parts of the globe and different cultures, I consider myself a league of nations in one set of skin and bones. I am a retired investigative journalist and have traveled to many countries as a sole traveler, volunteering and writing - needed to travel to have the stuff to write about and learn about others.

I returned to Canada some years ago and live in the countryside about 60km from Ottawa. I have to feel the grass under my feet, watch the birds, smell the rain on the grass, and get bitten by bugs. I volunteer here too, delivering Meals on Wheels, and other little things to do what I can for others.

My greatest 'job' at the moment is as sole caregiver for my partner who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer just over a year ago. It's been a learning curve of profound proportions and we are still learning. The will to live combined with the power of love and an excellent medical team and technologies has so far been a recipe for success. 

Being a stoic has many benefits - you take what you're given and deal with it. Having cats helps - they keep you humble.

@kiva-bottero 
Kiva, I was in Assisi for about a week in 1991. Yes, I felt all the things you say about it. I'm happy you guys live there!
I'm touched by your words about Meher Baba and your feeling at the Pune Center.
Glad you guys started up this journal/community, where we could and can all connect!
🌺

@janeolivier 
all I can say is: ❤️.
I'm moved by  your post.
Thanks for inviting me to submit, all those years ago!

@max-reif It turned out perfectly, didn't it, Max?

Hi, I am Alison Nicole. I work at a sober living home in Los Angeles. When I am free usually on weekends I love to ride a horse and netflix and chill.