It seems as if no matter where I am online at this time of year, I am finding someone’s top ten list of something on their sites. So I thought it might be fun to look at what have been the top 10 blogs of this year and repost the links here for your perusal. These are the top 10 blogs from my three areas: Inspiritual Reflections, The Zenful Kitchen, and Stirring my Spiritual Waters. It will be interesting to see if any of them are still on the list at the end of 2014. So in reverse order, here are the 10 most read blog entries of 2013.
Number 10
Embracing Your Inner Wisdom published on December 24, 2013
http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-reflections/2013/12/24/embracing-your-inner-wisdom
Interestingly, although this was just published a few days ago, it seemed to capture the attention of those who read it, landing it in the number 10 position. Maybe it was the quote by Wendell Berry, or the image of the stumps, or the simple message about looking for the hidden supports in our life which touched people’s lives. Whatever the reason, remember “Life is a mystery waiting to unfold before us.”
Number 9
Angel’s, Devils, and Heavenly Foods was published on August 1, 2012, over a year ago
http://inspiritual.biz/the-zenful-kitchen/2012/8/1/angels-devils-and-heavenly-foods.html
I had to chuckle that people were still reading this piece, which I had forgotten about. I remember that I wrote it after watching a documentary of people talking about God and Heaven. It seemed like a great inspiration at the time for The Zenful Kitchen.
Number 8
Warm Fuzzies was published on June 8, 2013
http://inspiritual.biz/stirring-my-spiritual-waters/2013/6/8/warm-fuzzies
I remember writing that piece more for me because I have always enjoyed this story and it has always reminded me to keep giving those warm fuzzies away. The more love I share, the more love flows back into my life. It seems like I am not the only one that this story resonated with.
Number 7
I is for Indigestion was just published on December 26, 2013
http://inspiritual.biz/the-zenful-kitchen/2013/12/26/i-is-for-indigestion
So this one I have to say I was surprised to see on the list. Maybe it was because having just feasted on holiday dinners, lots of people could appreciate what it felt like to be indigested. On the other hand, maybe it was the image of one’s stomach looking like it was about to explode that drew people in. Whatever the reason it attracted so many people, it is important to remember that “If we do not exercise what we say we believe in our lives, we can experience spiritual indigestion. Spiritual indigestion occurs anytime we agree with spiritual understandings but do not practice them. We can read, study, and have all the conversations we want about spirituality, but if we are not incorporating them into our lives, then we are not receiving the benefits.”
Number 6
Working on Healing was published on December 21, 2013
http://inspiritual.biz/stirring-my-spiritual-waters/2013/12/21/working-on-healing
As I am working my way through this list, it has dawned on me that the posts from the last couple of weeks are all on this list. So is it the holiday season which has drawn people to read inspiration and spiritual writings at this time of year, or was there something about what I have been thinking about that has been speaking to people’s hearts and souls. The most important point that I learned in this letter to my Ultimate Consciousness is to not be a time traveler and stay grounded in the present. It is only in the present that I can work on my healing and thus begin to grow and evolve.
Number 5
Food – A Universal Language was published on September 28, 2011
http://inspiritual.biz/the-zenful-kitchen/2011/9/28/food-a-universal-language.html
This was one of the surprising moments in this list. I had to laugh because I had written it so long ago, but I still find it true. Eating food is one of the things that is done around the world. As we experience different foods, we learn about their lives, their cultures, and their wisdoms. It is hard to imagine my life without guiton (pot stickers), empanadas, pierogies, and ravioli. Interestingly, they are all similar and different at the same time.
Number 4
Becoming a butterfly! Was published on November 26, 2012
http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-reflections/2012/11/26/becoming-a-butterfly.html
This blog was another blast from the past, but one that I continue to think about as I am part of an ongoing process of evolution and transformation. I used to think I was done with my metamorphosis, however, now I think I will not be done until I have transitioned to the next world and am able to fly in ways I cannot imagine in this world.
Number 3
It’s still the original Klondike bar was published on October 3, 2013
http://inspiritual.biz/the-zenful-kitchen/grgob583brqct3cv79a37ajkuwbbnf
My friend Sharon will be tickled that this particular blog made it to number 3. It was the story of her buying Klondike bars for her husband Bernie which inspired this post. He had been excited to bite into his Klondike bar until he saw that the inside was orange (Halloween). It was hard for him to see the old Klondike bar in a new way. However, “as we grow and evolve in life, we gain new perspectives and get to experience the old in new ways. Some of us will be okay with the newness, others will not. At the end of the day, it is still the original Klondike bar”
Number 2
Yugen was published on November 9, 2012
http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-reflections/2012/11/19/ygen.html
Even though it has been over a year, I still remember writing this post. It was inspired by a quote which I found on stumbleupon.com “According to the site, Yūgen means “an awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.” As I read the definition of this word, a wave of peace, exhilaration, and recognition moved through my body, mind, and spirit. I recognized this feeling quite well. The last time I experienced this was when I was seeking the word to describe my purpose in life and found the word Antevasin while reading Eat, Pray,” Love. However, we will talk about this next.
Finally, at Number 1
Are you an Antevasin? Was published on February 14, 2012
http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-reflections/2012/2/14/are-you-an-antevasin.html
It was while reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Eat Pray, Love that I came across the term Antevasin. So are you an antevasin? Gilbert describes an antevasin as follows:
“So I saw it during my last week at the Ashram, I was reading through an old text about Yoga, when I found a description of ancient spiritual seekers. A Sanskrit word appeared in the paragraph: ANTEVASIN. It means, ‘one who lives at the border.’ In ancient times, this was a literal description. It indicated a person who had left the bustling center of worldly life to go live at the edge of the forest where the spiritual masters dwelled. The antevasin was not of the villager’s anymore-not a householder with a conventional life. But neither was he yet a transcendent-not one of those sages who live deep in the unexplored woods, fully realized. The antevasin was an in-betweener. He was a border-dweller. He lived in sight of both worlds, but he looked toward the unknown. And he was a scholar.”
This definition resonated with my spirit and obviously with others around the world, as each month since being posted close to 300 have read this blog each month. Which is what made it the number 1 read post of 2013.