Beauty emerges out of the stillness within, and you become a gift to others

Beauty emerges out of the stillness within, and you become a gift to others. – Harihar Ram Babaji

Dear Friends,

I’m not rewriting this one, but intuitively, I held this post until today, and wouldn’t you know it, another crisis is in the making. The USA and Israel are now at war with Iran. And the media is treating it as no big surprise, just another normal day. We are living in a deeply abnormal world, with moral injury being inflicted upon us daily. The definition of moral injury is the social, psychological, and spiritual harm that arises from a betrayal of one’s core values, such as justice, fairness, and loyalty. We must stay centered, resilient and prepared, while taking thoughtful care of our selves and each other.

So it goes without saying that the Lunar New Year Fire Horse energy has galloped in with a fierceness!  There are lots of posts to read from astrology sites to Psychology Today, about the positive and negative forces that accompany Fire Horse energy. “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go,” so says Rumi. While Fire Horse energy runs full steam ahead, to ride it, we need to be firmly holding the reins. The speed at which systems are crumbling is quickening, and my sense is that we are entering this time with new determination, dare I say anger (?) and greater urgency for change. And not minor change. Small victories are happening around the country and across the globe. As they accumulate it seems to me that the “burn it all down” sentiment is growing across generations, cultures and countries, not in a nihilistic sense, rather more focused on let’s get building new systems NOW, that actually work for everyone in spite of the “trumpstein class.” This can be good, and it will be painful with fits and starts.

The pain point that’s hitting close to home for me is the ever-present assault everywhere on women and children (period)… and specifically, the failure of accountability in the self-help, spiritual & wellness industry. “Industry,” therein lies part of the problem; the outsized commercialism of the so-called leaders in this space. I have a pretty good bullshit meter and have long been skeptical of the biggest names, and of those who pedal “love and light” without the capacity to face the shadowy dark. Standing on stage, having lots of followers, doing Ted Talks, can be a slippery slope for the ego. Recent posts on Substack by an inside whistleblower, names names and actions. These folks, in all of their imperfect humanity, are mirrors for us who walk the same paths to check our own authenticity and integrity, to do our best to cause no harm and to repair ruptures when they occur. As more manipulation and abuse comes to light, you too might find yourself tossing a few books as I have, and speaking up more.

What I’m reading:
Vigil by George Saunders
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

What I’m watching:
The Pitt
Paradise
not the news…

What I’m making:
New photo books coming soon…

Click on these Beauty-as-Medicine images for larger view.

Beauty-as-Medicine™ photo card decks for sale
Printed on deluxe 6×9 sturdy postcard stock with velvet finish, they feel lovely in the hand and are large enough to practice visual meditation and psycho-spiritual inquiry. An instruction card with prompts comes with each set. Email me if you’d like to experience Beauty-as-Medicine™ healing photography with me, or to order your own set of photo cards. $108 for each set, or $200 for both, shipped directly to you from the printer.

 

2026 Retreat & Workshop Dates
Sisters of Upasana – May 27 – 31 @Upasana *Full
PhotoPlay for the Soul – June 10 @ChI Retreat, Santa Cruz, CA
The Seen and The Unseen – July 15 – 19 with Katrina Leathers in Maine
Coming Closer to the Divine Through the Elements – July 30 – Aug 2 @Upasana
Celebrating Spirit’s Bounty – September 20 @CCC Tiburon
Retreat for Sonoma Ashram Sangha members – September 24 – 27 @Upasana
(Email me for more information)

Thank you to everyone reading my musings and spending time with my images. Feel free to send me comments and to share.  If you, or anyone you know, are on a spiritual quest, celebrating a significant threshold or nearing end-of-life and in need of spiritual guidance or healing ritual, please reach out. You’ll find no AI in this post.

Peace, love and blessings,
Rev. Lisa
Email: lisa@Ljwdivinesight.com
Spiritual Guide. Wise Woman.
Contemplative Photographer. Mystic.
Beauty-as-Medicine™ workshop creator.

Spirit-Infused Healing Photography Books at Blurb
“Photography is my love language. Teaching people to see Beauty-as-Medicine™ is my Ministry.” Rev. Lisa