Author Archives: amy j howton

The TV is running in the background–another episode of The Office And i am by the river in New Richmond, with enflamed Sky Praying to Mother and to Libbie and to the river otter With gratitude for the grief and joy in setting Sun Where the beginning, middle and end Are one.

yesterday was my daughter’s college graduation. it was one of those days that involves plans. big plans. and, it was friday the 13th. the day announced herself when kate ditched walking across the stage, receiving her empty diploma holder and hearing her named called and choose instead a special celebration lunch with family which went…let’sContinue reading “graduation”

Yesterday, the day my son turned eighteen. As I celebrated the meaning of motherhood + mothering, there was breaking news of Roe v Wade standing on the precipice of being overturned by the Supreme Court. Nothing new in the story of reproductive rights in this nation, nothing surprising…and still a gut punch.  Western Christianity hasContinue reading “mother/child, choice, and the Honorable Harvest”

last night i listened to Brene´ Brown and Fr. Richard Rohr on her podcast, Unlocking Us. Fr. Richard’s point about our understanding of God as vulnerable–in addition to almighty–struck a chord. today, i worked with a team on a zine focused on the Genesis creation story. the theme is around “who is my neighbor?” andContinue reading “origin stories”

according to carl jung, the greater we increase the light, the greater we increase the shadow. i wish i could phone-a-friend and dial up carl. i wanna conversation about this. about the dance between light and dark, between our liberation and our slavery. when there is liberation, her sister slavery follows suit. an invitation toContinue reading “death, taxes, and carl jung”

this holy week, my heart and mind has been on passion. in Wisdom Jesus cynthia bourgeault writes of how Jesus’ sacramental life offers guidance in the journey of transformation. the Passion is one of these sacraments, including his suffering: the betrayal, arrest, persecution, and crucifixion. so, i’ve been sitting with the sacrament of passion, wonderingContinue reading “passion”

a communal poem from tonight’s closing ceremony of the 40 Day Journey to Remembering Soul and Spirit. with a heart full of gratitude. I used to put others before myself and now I’m making myself a priority. I used to feel unworthy of deep connection and now I wait for alignment knowing the Divine knowsContinue reading “i used to be___ and now i am ___”

there’s no going back. these were the words spoken from a woman in circle reckoning with the reality of life. they came as she shared the story of catching a glimpse of her aging body in the mirror of a dressing room as she tried on a swim suit–her body’s image revealing the changes thatContinue reading “there’s no going back”

during this season of lent, i’ve been hosting a 40 Day Journey to Remembering Soul and Spirit, based on my recently published book, co-authored with Quanita Roberson. the journey is inspired by the Dagara Cosmological Wheel and the elements of fire, water, earth, mineral, and nature. this week has been Earth Week, perfectly aligning withContinue reading “inclusion”

i met quanita three and a half years ago, in august 2019. i’d just returned from a meditation retreat where the red rocks in New Mexico told me that my inescapable fear was fear of myself. she showed up to guide me as i leaned into this fear, learned from it, and grew into moreContinue reading “quanita”