July 2025 Walk on Earth with Respect, See Beauty All Around

When Guiding Lights Go Out
I, like so many, are mourning the deaths of Colorado Poet Laureate, Andrea Gibson, on July 14; and EcoDharma Leader, Joanna Macy, on July 19. 

Andrea’s Gibson’s poetry first became known to me when Wild Writing teacher, Laurie Wagner, invited them to our zoom writing community to speak. Their radical vulnerability, truth telling, and capacity for stringing stream-of-consciousness words together like a symphony, got under my skin and right away I joined their Substack Things That Don’t Suck, bought their book You Better Be Lightning and two of their “Let your heart break so your spirit doesn’t” T-shirts, and watched every performance and interview I could find online. I’ve shared their work with friends, in death café circles and classes, in spiritual direction sessions. I still need to see their documentary, Come See Me in the Good Light. Andrea shared their full-to-overflowing love of life, and completely present moment-by-moment journey through ovarian cancer toward death. What an honor it has been to witness and receive their incredible gifts. Death is inevitable and yet, it is still a shock. Thank you Andrea, for sharing your precious Self with the world, and to Megan Falley, Andrea’s partner, for continuing to share what they will yet reveal. Tears falling now having just read, When Death Came to Visit.   “… my calling has always been this: to parent my own departure. To never punish the child for being who she is. To keep a roof over the head of the truth. To raise what will end me, with love.”  Damn, so f—ing good!

I was first introduced to Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects in an Eco-chaplaincy course taught by Rev. Lauren VanHam, when I was a seminary student at The Chaplaincy Institute (ChI) 10 years ago. My own spirit is most alive and at home in the sacred outdoors, communing with the trees, listening to the pounding surf, or hiking a mountain trail. I like to imagine my later years strolling on a beach for hours, watching sandpipers skitter back and forth along the surf line. Later years? HA! I’m already doing that! The next time Joanna entered my consciousness was when she attended ChI’s May ordination, just two months ago as a charge-giver for a new member of the clergy. Accompanied by beloveds, she appeared regal yet humble, a bit frail yet radiating profound grace. 

So my tears and sense of loss for these two guiding lights, whose lives I only brushed against briefly, are a bit of a surprise. Many of us are fragile and frazzled these days, and I think the emotions I feel speaks to their recognition and insistence that we are all interconnected. The wisdom and works of Andrea and Joanna will live on for ages, as will their Spirits. Though they’ve passed from this incarnation to ancestor-hood we can still call on them for inspiration. Andrea didn’t quite make it to their 50th birthday. Joanna was shy of a century by four years. Midway between their ages, I can’t help but reflect on my own mortality… what have I done with my life and what is mine to do with the little rest of it? For now, my heart’s calling is to offer beauty as medicine through imagery, writing, holding sacred space and retreats, hopefully infusing a little glimmer of joy and wonder into the hearts of others during these darkening times.

Beauty-as-Medicine Photos for July       (click on any image for gallery view and enjoy)

Below are links to recent events I’ve led. 

Marin Interfaith Council meditation evening July 9. The practice of Visio Divina, visual meditation.

The Chaplaincy Institute ChI Talk July 15. Come Closer to the Divine Mother Through the Elements.

I’m posting this blog a little early as I’ll be “retreating” with artist and friend, Alise Sheehan for our annual creative playdate. None of this post was written with AI, as you can probably tell by my over use of commas.  My photography is also original. Thank you to everyone reading my musings. Feel free to share with others, send me comments, share your thoughts. If you, or anyone you know, are in need of a spiritual guide, end-of-life doula, healer or ritualist, or if you’re interested in joining me for future events or retreats, drop me a note.

Peace, love and blessings,

Rev. Lisa
Spiritual Guide, Healer
End-of-Life Doula,
Contemplative Photographer
Free Photos at Pexels
Spirit-Infused Healing Photography Books at Blurb
“Photography is my love language. Teaching people to see Beauty-as-Medicine is my Ministry.” Rev. Lisa