Welcome to my monthly newsletter, Attunement!

Each month we “tune into” a theme related to mindfulness and
explore a creative practice and tune based on this theme!

This month of November we’re TUNING INTO the frequency of:

WISE SOCIETY.

When asked about the creation of a wise society, the Buddha counseled that when a society comes together to make decisions in harmony, when it honors its elders and the wise ways they have established, when it cares for its most vulnerable members, when it respects the environment and listens to its citizens and its neighbors, it can be expected to prosper and not decline. For the Buddha, a wise society is not based on greed, on hatred or delusion, but on generosity, respect, mindfulness and compassion.

-Jack Kornfield

The Buddha’s vision, as shared by Jack Kornfield, feels both timeless and urgently relevant.

A wise society isn’t measured by its wealth or power, but by its capacity to care—for one another, for the earth, for those who struggle, and for future generations.

I was witness to this caring at the recent NO KINGS protest I took part in, where people gathered to challenge systems of oppression and assert that all lives, all voices, and all communities deserve recognition, safety, and dignity.

Each mindful act of standing up, speaking out, and showing solidarity is a tangible expression of what it means to participate in a wise society.

And while we don't have control over the larger systems around us, each of us can incline our hearts towards wisdom in each moment—in how we speak, how we listen, and how we treat the people in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

Every mindful action we take ripples outward.

As we enter this month of Thanksgiving, may we keep attuning to what wisdom looks like in action. By choosing compassion, standing up for justice, and caring for one another, we help build the kind of world the Buddha described—one rooted in connection, courage, and kindness.

When we envision a society of compassion and justice—and as a nation we are called upon to do this—our actions can stem from respect for all beings, and peace is the result.

-Jack Kornfield

Creative Mindfulness Practice: Tending Your Wise Inner Hearth

Pause & Reflect:

Settle in and take a few slow breaths. Imagine sitting beside a hearth—a steady, comforting flame. Reflect on Jack Kornfield’s quote and ask yourself:

What keeps my wise inner fire of generosity, respect, mindfulness, and compassion burning, and how do I/can I share this warmth with others?

Create Your Hearth:

On a journal page, draw or collage your own symbolic hearth or flame.
Inside it, write or collage images of the qualities/values you aim to keep aflame in yourself and your community (i.e. patience, understanding, kindness).
Around the hearth, add images or words that represent the people, practices, or places that help you stay grounded and wise.

You might decide to keep your “hearth” somewhere visible through the winter as a reminder to keep tending to that inner light—especially when things feel dark or divided.