Sanctuary Blog
Latest Sanctuary Post
When Song, Faith, and Joy are Enough
The full name of the song is “Ndikhokhele Bawo,” which means “Lead me, Father” in Xhosa. These South African youths, assembled in their school’s courtyard, transform their place of learning into a concert hall with nothing more than the power of their voices. But it’s their spirit of joy and solidarity that lifts the beautiful into the realm of the sublime.
Sanctuary Posts
An Autumn Sunrise
Mt. Monadnock as painted by Abbott Thayer (Image courtesy of the Corcoran Gallery of Art) Here in...
Colors!
For a dose of colorful beauty and hope, watch the Black Pumas sing their song "Colors" at the Biden/Harris Inauguration, January 2021.
With A Little Help from My Friends
In a time when we deeply need to connect to one another, we hold Joe Cocker's beautiful and powerful rendition of the Lennon & McCartney classic With A Little Help From My Friends close to our hearts.
Love Offering, Josefina H. Sanders
"Be gentle with your healing, be unapologetic with your rest, be considerate of your energy and give yourself grace in the process." Let Josefina H. Sanders guide you through self-love and compassion through her simple yet powerful words of wisdom. From one healing individual to another.
An Autumn Sunrise
Relax and watch the sun rise on one of the most climbed mountains in the world—Mt. Monadnock in Southern New Hampshire.
Heal Me: Melissa Etheridge Sings for Her Son
Melissa Etheridge recorded this concert in her home studio on June 20 of 2020. The main goal of doing the concert, entitled "Heal Me," she explains, was just that — to further the healing process after her devastating loss. Tune in for a moving performance and some meaningful talk in between songs about what families go through.
We All Just Wanna Be Shown Some Love
Need a blast of Love, Light, Beauty, Generosity, and Hope? Tune in to this 15-minute show from the celebrated Tiny Desk Concerts (NPR.org). Alicia Keys and her crew are the inspirational and fun-to-watch flavor of the day. Enjoy!!
Long-Distance Chorus
Just trying to manage on a day-to-day basis, and keeping up my fully virtual job for Allies, was plenty for me during France's shutdown. I got my news from my poly-sci major kid. So when I logged on to newyorktimes.com this morning, I was thrilled to avoid the news by clicking on this absolute jewel. It's America in all its diverse, talented and open-heart glory.
Just for Today
Discover the powerful phrase kyo dake wa . Here are some simple instructions to creating a mantra, just for today.
Staying Strong vs. Going Crazy
Annie Highwater offers grounding suggestions for staying sane during crazy times. Who doesn't need help with that?
Self-Care for the Spirit
Caring for the spirit involves making commitments to various parts of ourselves. In this post we examine how play, creativity, spirituality, and letting go can heal and nurture the self.
It’s Not Tough Love, But It’s Still Tough!
Editor Isabel Cooney realized that there was a striking parallel between the challenges of the CRAFT method and those of getting your baby to sleep. We fall into enabling behaviors at all stages and walks of life. Take this with a grain of salt of course…
A Trophic Cascade in Yellowstone…and At Your House?
Over 40 million people have watched this 4-minute video. We invite you to take this story as a poignant example of how making one small change can produce profound, wide-spread and lasting change. Organically, and systemically.
fears & vulnerability
Accepting vulnerability and admitting our fears … Asking for help … Letting someone hold us in our darkest moments … Stefan Weiner's song, Fearful Lullaby, speaks of these human needs. What does it mean to embrace vulnerability?
To the Voice in Your Head that Says Otherwise
Self-Care has been on my mind, not just because it's an important focus here for Allies in Recovery families. But also because I tend to push Self-Care to the bottom of my to-do list. Which basically translates to: I'm too busy to take care of me. Brodie Welch (who knows a few things about the subject) has whipped up a very important document that we should ALL take a minute to ponder.
Will You Hug Me?
Watch this young Arab-American opera singer offer his prayer and vulnerability to total strangers and see what happens. A "community of caring" just might exist, even where we least expect to find it.
k.d. lang performs “the valley”
Freshly inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, k.d. lang weaves her magic over a hushed crowd at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan with this haunting performance of Jane Siberry's "The Valley."
Can You Become a Model of Change?
The Authors of Beyond Addiction remind us: "Be yourself, but be as willing to change as you want your loved one to be." Have you experienced a ripple effect with your Loved One? Have you seen relief and change in the family dynamic when you have shifted your focus away from their problems and towards improving your own self-care? We'd love to hear from members on this topic.
Seaside Meditation
There is something healing about the place where the ocean meets the sand. In this short video, I encourage you to put down what is heavy, even if just for a few moments. Come stand at the edge of the sea …
Time to Dance!
Sending more live music your way. This Cesoria Evora concert is here to uplift your spirits – Get Up and Dance!