Category Archives: Mindfulness

What Brought You Here?

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“What brought you here?” you may ask. How was I able to finally lose weight and take better care of my body? Now that’s a long story, and you’d need to read my books and blog posts to follow my … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Overeating, Reflections, Resource, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Writing | Tagged alicia.kowalski, Anthony de Mello, arriving, Brad Yates, Brene Brown, Cheryl Richardson, Crispin Semmens, Donna Varnau, Esther Hizsa, Food Revolution Network, Glennon Doyle, Hafiz, Ignatius, Jessica Ortner, Journey's End, Justin Michael Williams, Kristin Neff, Mary Mrozowski, Nick Ortner, One year nearer to heaven, Pema Chodron, perfect peaches, plant-based diet, Radical Compassion, Redeemed & Forgiven, Richard Rohr, Rosie the Riveter, Rumi, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stephen Pougas, Steve Bell, Tara Brach, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas keating, Thomas Quine, Valarie Kaur, weight loss, Yoga with Adriene | Leave a comment

Drawing a Path to the Centre

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I once found a labyrinth drawn on the sand at low tide. The couple who created it were delighted that someone came at the right time to enjoy it. I walked the winding path to the centre and out again … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, labyrinth, Living from the Heart, Mindfulness, present moment, Second Beach La Push Washington, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thich Nhat Hanh, Yoga, Yoga with Adriene | Leave a comment

Preparing the Way Home

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

From the moment I stepped into this chapel, it felt like home. Wood, stone, glass, and flame together breathed a silent welcome. . . . Advent invites us to prepare the way for the Holy One who comes to meet … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Christmas, community, compassion, Creation, Mindfulness, Mystical, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged 3ter Advent, 4 Advent, Advent, Anton Raphael Mengs, Esther Hizsa, grosskopf_photography, Illuminated Advent Retreat, Jan L. Richardson, John 14:20, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John the Baptist | 2 Comments

The Wisdom of Tara Brach and Pádraig Ó Tuama

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Last week’s Love Mischief led me to a talk by Pádraig Ó Tuama. Before I had a chance to listen to it, this short video from Tara Brach landed in my inbox. What came up for me as I listened … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Stories, Wednesday Lunch Club | Tagged Elizabeth Bowen, Esther Hizsa, Imagining Peace, In the Shelter, Joseph Campbell, Krista Tippett, On Being, Pádraig Ó Tuama, receptive presence, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tara Brach, Travelling Light | 4 Comments

A Big Problem and No Guarantees

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“What’s that?” I said, pointing to the profusion of what first appeared to be dust. Fred turned off the engine. Steam continued to billow out from under the hood, and an “Oh no!” clenched my stomach. We were in Manning … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, anxiety, car troubles, Esther Hizsa, Fred, Manning Park, Mark 4:39, Mt. Hozameen, radiator, Snow Camp, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stephen Hui | 1 Comment

Inside a Living Temple

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“If your body is a living temple, you are inside that temple,” Donna Varnau said near the end of our guided meditation. I rested in my body-temple with deep gratitude. The belief that God is incarnate in all things is … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged 1 Corinthians 6:19, Donna Varnau, Esther Hizsa, Focusing. Full Body Presence, Judith Blackstone, Michael Pravin, Namaste, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Yoga | 1 Comment

Stepping into This Moment

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

To live mindfully in the present, I have to slow down and take deliberate steps. First, there is an awakening to this moment and noticing what is in it and me–what I see, feel, and think. I observe myself and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations, Esther Hizsa, hand in Wild Grass, Jonathan Emmanuel Flores Tarello, lloyd Morgan, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23, Psalms for Praying, Richard Wagamese, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Walkers!!! Ruun!!! | Leave a comment

Grace and Practice of the Present Moment

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Living in the present moment is a contemplative practice that has been difficult for me. You’ve heard me struggle with this in my blog posts. I am as addicted to thinking as I am to food. I’m constantly thinking about … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections | Tagged awakening to now, Bernard Ruelle, Esther Hizsa, Goutte d'eau, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Martin LaBar, Practicing Presence, present moment, Raindrops on daly lily leaf, Rod Janz, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, This | 4 Comments

Convergence

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

When I wake in the morning and all through the day, you are there to comfort and lift me up. Even at night, when emptiness threatens, you fill me with yourself. At my mother’s breast and now that I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Lent, Mindfulness, Overeating, Reflections | Tagged acid reflux, bees, Celtic Daily Prayer, dandelions, Diet for a New America, Esther Hizsa, high cholesterol, John Robbins, Justin Michael Williams, Matthew 27:52-53, Northumbria Community, obesity, plant-based diet, pre-frontal cortex, pxfuel, Radical Compassion, Richard Rohr, Sachin Inamdar, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stay Woke, Sunrise, The Empty Tomb, The Universal Christ, Veganism | 6 Comments

Spaciousness

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

More and more I’ve noticed that I live on a continuum between panic and peace. A misplaced click makes a document disappear, and suddenly I’m in “fight, flight, or freeze. My body, mind, and focus are constricted; my ability to … Continue reading →