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I’ve found that having a personal shrine in my home has been a haven from the stress I experience on a daily basis. It is the place where I meditate daily but it also serves as a reference point for sanity and clarity when it seems hard to find.

For those of us who grew up in the West, there are two strains of philosophy that form our consciousness. One is the Platonic philosophy that everything around us is a (lesser) reflection of some kind of external ideal. Second is the Judeo-Christian view of God’s judgment and our own sin nature. Taken together we develop a belief that we are all innately capable of evil. We have to overcome this natural state of badness.

A special meditation session for the people of Ukraine

This perfectly describes the last several months. The feeling that things just aren’t right, that it has just been a very bumpy ride. For me this has caused a tremendous amount of anxiety and a desire to eat desserts, smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol (all things I don’t do that much.) It’s like I have a constant itch that can’t be scratched.

Meditation Instruction resource from Pema Chodron.

Instead of talking about getting rid of anger I want to outline some of the benefits. Anger is often seen as destructive, but sometimes destruction is necessary.

Strong emotions don’t need to be feared or removed. When I finally allowed myself to feel my feelings, I discovered that they passed quickly and, even if I cried or screamed aloud, they weren’t harmful.