Tag: Kinship & Belonging

topographia

An exploration of the relational architecture of the soul and the diverse ways we find our place in the human fabric. These essays examine the tension between biological kinship and chosen belonging, moving beyond conventional family structures to investigate the “spirit-ties” that sustain us. It addresses the universal search for resonance and the sacred work of building a home within the community of the heart.

  • The Blessing

    The Blessing

    People who have been blessed carry the weight of that blessing with them their entire lives and have something of substance to pass on to others.

  • How the Light Gets In

    How the Light Gets In

    “Start again,” I heard them say, “Don’t dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be.” — Leonard Cohen

  • Where is My Home?

    Where is My Home?

    “Where is my home?” poet Rainer Maria Rilke asks.

  • Where Is My Home?

    Where Is My Home?

    How difficult it is to be happy or content as a state of mind when one’s soul was schooled in loneliness, anxiety, and abandonment.

  • If Ever Bliss Was

    If Ever Bliss Was

    Birth is important, and what happened before birth is important, but most important of all is what happens afterward.

  • The Value of Reflection

    The Value of Reflection

    Shock reactions, fear, and shame throughout childhood inhibit brain development in areas that process perceptions of reality, the ability to relate to others, and the ability to reason.

  • Lord, Hold Us in Your Mercy

    Lord, Hold Us in Your Mercy

    In adoption we have many competing interests. We have two sets of parents, two families, but only one child. The adopted person so often feels torn. There’s the difficulty of trying to resolve much that’s deeply held.

  • The Hearth from Which We Leave

    The Hearth from Which We Leave

    How different it is to be in a nurturing family! Immediately, I can sense the aliveness, the genuineness, honesty, and love.

  • Family Tree Assignment

    Family Tree Assignment

    Not every adopted child was placed as an infant, and their day of birth wasn’t always a cause for celebration. Nor is adoption, as commonly idealized, a universally cherished event.