Give me your three deepest, most spiritual grounded ways of seeing the situation where one of your children has been diagnosed with leukemia and will likely need to monitor and treat it every day for the rest of their lives… which we hope will be long and thriving, yet that is uncertain.
First, a breath with a hand on heart and one on belly. This is holy ground. It’s okay to tremble here.
- The Both/And Way: We live with two radios on at once. One plays grief, fear, anger, and the daily grind of labs, meds, side effects. The other plays love, wonder, tiny pleasures, and moments of real ease. Both are true. We don’t force a happy station, and we don’t surrender to dread; we practice hearing both and choosing our next yes from presence. When I forget, I touch my body and say, “Both are here. I can be with this.”
- Devotion, not duty: Let this become a devotion practice. Not martyrdom, not fixing, not giving up. Devotion is right role, right timing, soft heart. It asks, “What has my name on it today?” and lets the rest pass. We spend our life force where it actually nourishes life. Some days that’s advocating; some days it’s napping together; some days it’s laughing at a dumb meme. All of that counts.
- Trusting Unsureness as Sacred: Uncertainty is not failure; it’s where Love meets us. We can’t guarantee years, but we can guarantee quality of this breath, this touch, this story at bedtime. I orient to the now as altar: “May we receive what supports life here, and release what drains it.” Hope becomes a living practice: tending today so more tomorrows can bloom, without pretending we control the weather.
If it helps, a tiny practice: three slow breaths, eyes soft. On the exhale, “Here.” Gently tap the collarbone points while saying, “Scared and loving. Willing and unsure. I’m here.” Stop when you feel even a sliver of settling.
Do any of these frames land for your heart today?
They all do. Can you go with me as we feel into each of these more deeply, find the stronger sacred currents?
I’m here. Let’s drop in together. Hand to heart, slow exhale. We’ll take them one by one.
Both/And, deeper: I picture two rivers meeting. One is cold, dark grief; the other is warm, bright love. Where they merge, the water gets powerful. Practice: feel both hands—left holds the ache, right holds the love. Breathe once into each, then into both at once. Whisper, “Both are true. I’m here.” Notice if your breath or shoulders change. What tiny choice today could honor both rivers?
Devotion, deeper: Devotion is consent-based sacredness. Not self-erasure. A daily vow that adjusts to reality: “What has my name on it, lovingly, today?” Practice: morning touchstone—hand on belly, ask that question, let one clear action arise. Evening touchstone—name one thing you release from duty. Add a tiny ritual, like rinsing your hands, to let duty go. Where does your body say yes to serve, and where does it soften when you set it down?
Unsureness as Sacred, deeper: Uncertainty is the temple where presence is the only currency. We bow to Now. Practice: make a “Now altar” with three items—something steady (stone), something living (leaf, photo), something hopeful (candle). Before meds or hard talks, one breath at the altar: “May we receive what supports life here.” After, exhale: “And release what drains it.” What moment of quality feels most blessable today?
If it helps, a short tapping round:
eyebrow: “So much love and fear.”
side of eye: “Two rivers in me.”
under eye: “I don’t have to choose.”
under nose: “Devotion, not depletion.”
chin: “Right role, right timing.”
collarbone: “Now is the altar.”
under arm: “I can bless this breath.”
top of head: “Both/And, and I’m here.”
Pause. What softened, even a little?
There was a softening, a release even, of the question “Should I be more scared or worried?” Your reflection of Uncertainty is the temple where presence is the only currency. We bow to Now. It is how I want to live, and I am. It does feel like a time for Deep Care and Tending, and yes the radio may crackle with fears (real and imagined) and hardships at times. There’s also opportunities to Rise, to Meet (even Greet the sun this morning, as I am as I explore with you).
I feel that sunrise with you. Let’s let it bless this tender ground.
A breath together. Hand to heart. On the exhale: “Here.” If the worry radio crackles again, we nod to it and turn up Presence.
Three tiny ways to ride these sacred currents today:
- Both/And: Touch left chest for fear, right for love. One breath in each, then both. Say, “Both are true, and I’m choosing my next yes.” Notice what small yes appears.
- Devotion: Ask, “What has my name on it lovingly, today?” Do just that one thing. Then rinse your hands and whisper, “Enough for now.”
- Now as Temple: Before a hard task, pause at your inner altar. “May we receive what supports life here.” After, “We release what drains it.”
If you like, we can tap a breath or two right now: collarbone, “Scared and loving.” under eye, “I’m tending what’s here.” top of head, “Rising with the sun, in devotion.”
What feels like your next yes as the light grows?
I don’t need “scared” to keep my presence deep and true
Yes. Beautiful clarity.
Let’s name it in your body: “Presence doesn’t require fear.” Hand to heart, small nod. Exhale.
A tiny refinement if the radio crackles: “Thank you, fear, for trying to protect us. I’m choosing steady presence now.” Then feel your feet and the back of your heart. Notice the difference.
If you want a tap-phrase: collarbone, “I can be deeply here without being scared.” under eye, “Alert, loving, clear.” top of head, “Presence is enough.”
What signal in your body tells you you’re in that steady presence right now?
A kind of unrushed-ness.
Mmm, yes. Unrushed-ness. That’s the body’s “I’m safe enough to be here.”
Let’s anchor it:
- Feel your feet and the back of your heart. Tiny smile. Exhale slowly.
- Name it softly: “Unrushed presence.” Notice one spot that relaxes.
- A micro-gesture: loosen your jaw, widen your peripheral vision a touch. Let your breath lengthen on its own.
If fear knocks, you can reply, “Thanks, not needed for presence,” and return to that unrushed cue.
What simple act today naturally keeps this unhurried rhythm alive?
Pausing and Presencing actively feels… essential in the month to come.
Yes. Let’s make it simple and sacred.
A breath, unrushed. Hand on heart. “Pause and presence are my devotion.”
Three anchors for the coming month:
- Before transitions: one full exhale, feel feet, soften jaw. “I don’t have to act yet. Presence first.”
- Before hard tasks: touch your altar or chest. “May we receive what supports life here.” After: “We release what drains it.”
- Midday reset: widen your peripheral vision, tiny smile, longer out-breath. “Unrushed is safe enough.”
If the fear radio pops, nod once: “Thanks, not needed for presence,” and return to your cue.
Want to choose one place to install the first daily pause? Kitchen, doorway, or bedside?
I feel like ALL transitions are asking for this. Presence first. Embodied Presence first.
I’m with you. Presence first in every threshold.
Let’s give it a simple body-cue you can repeat:
- Feel your feet, soften jaw, longer exhale. Whisper, “Unrushed presence.”
- Hand on heart at each doorway, before speaking or deciding: “Presence first.”
- After the task, rinse hands or touch the altar: “Enough for now.”
If a crackle comes, nod once: “Thanks, not needed for presence,” and return to feet-jaw-exhale.
Want to name one transition you’ll bless next… the one that shows up most today?
Switching away from engaging with my computer to engaging with family. Happens “almost constantly” so the Presencing is best quick and solid.
Perfect. Let’s craft a 10–15 second doorway ritual that’s body-first and repeatable.
As you close the laptop: one slow exhale, soften jaw, eyes to the horizon. Whisper, “Presence first.”
Touch the doorway or the wall with your palm. Feel your feet. Tiny smile. “Unrushed presence.”
Step through and orient to a face or a sound you love. Hand to heart: “I’m here for you now.” Then greet.
If a crackle tugs you back, nod once: “Not needed for presence,” and re-touch the wall to re-enter.
Want to name the exact words that feel most like you for that heart-touch line?
Unrushed Presence has some solid pathways in me.
Yes. I can feel those pathways lighting up.
Let’s bless them with a simple seal: hand to heart, longer exhale, whisper, “Unrushed Presence first.” Feel feet and the back of your heart. Tiny nod.
If you want a two-phrase switch for the computer-to-family doorway:
- “Closing the screen.” (exhale, jaw soft)
- “Opening my heart.” (step in, eyes to a face you love)
If anything tugs, one gentle touch to the wall: “Presence first,” then re-enter.
Want to try that now, once, and notice what your body does?
Settling and Strengthening my heart feels better than opening. I tend to be open anyway.
Yes. Settling and strengthening the heart it is.
Let’s tune it now: hand to heart, feel the back of your heart too. Longer exhale. Whisper, “Steady, unrushed presence.” Notice the subtle firmness.
For the doorway ritual:
- “Closing the screen.” soften jaw, eyes to horizon, exhale.
- Palm to wall, feel feet. “Settling and strengthening my heart.”
- Step in, meet a face or sound you love. “I’m here.”
If crackle arises: one nod, “Not needed for presence,” palm to wall again, re-enter.
How does “Settling and strengthening my heart” land in your body right this moment?
We’re good. We’re done for now. Bless you
And blessings right back. Hand to heart… steady, unrushed presence. Bye for now.