Vicki Matthews
This blog, Reclaiming Balance, is the passion of Vicki Matthews, a physician, author, and teacher in Chicago. Click on the photo to learn more about Vicki.
WeNeedBalance.com
A umbrella website for all things balance
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The Goddess Letters
The Goddess Letters is a story of love and faith, and one man’s unfolding relationship with both. A testament to passion of all kinds, it celebrates those who have the courage to discard the new in favor of the old, be it love, beliefs, or entire civilizations.
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Tag Archives: nature
Summer Solstice (and the Full Moon)
The summer solstice is a special time on our planet. At a physical level, for the northern hemisphere it’s when the axial tilt of Earth is closest to the sun. This creates maximum sunlight, making the summer solstice the … Continue reading
Posted in reclaiming balance, Uncategorized
Tagged Carole Carlton, Mother Earth, nature, summer solstice
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Shakespeare Nails It!
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. – Shakespeare I love the idea of the whole world being related, being kin. I guess that’s because I do think we’re all related. Not genetically, although scientists have gotten pretty … Continue reading
Circle of Compassion
What an interesting phrase for Albert Einstein to coin: a “circle of compassion.” It sounds like something a Buddhist monk would say, not one of the greatest theoretical physicists ever to walk this planet. Suggesting that our compassion embrace all … Continue reading
Building Bridges
“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” — Isaac Newton Walls separate and divide us, and there are clearly times when that’s good. Personally, I do prefer privacy now and then. But when we become used to walls, we … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged bridges, connection, equality, feminine principle, Isaac Newton, masculine principle, nature, patriarchy, reclaiming balance, separateness, survival
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A Spirit of Connection
“Feminine spirituality doesn’t separate or divide, it doesn’t order or rank.” — The Goddess Letters It’s always bothered me that most organized religions seem to foster a “them versus us” approach in their followers. I honestly don’t mean to insult … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, demanding, divinity, equality, exclusive, feminine principle, God, hierarchy, inclusive, jealous, masculine principle, nature, order, patriarchy, rank, reclaiming balance, religion, spirituality, The Goddess Letters, them vs. us, welcoming
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Mixed Bag of News: Fossil Fuel vs. Solar
We all love sharing good news. But sharing bad news can also be important when it’s instructive or perhaps even a warning. Today’s post is a mixed bag of news in the world of climate change, reclaiming balance, and the … Continue reading
Good News: Solar Bringing Us Back to Balance!
In our ongoing attempts to reclaim balance for our people and our planet, the use of fossil fuels has become a significant area of contention. Do they trash our environment? Can we afford to decrease our use of them without threatening the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged equality, feminine principle, fossil fuels, masculine principle, natural power sources, nature, new solar instillations, patriarchy, reclaiming balance, solar cost, solar growing rapidly, solar industry jobs, solar panels, solar power, the sun, venture capital, working with nature
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Balance Happening: Female Bishops Finally Official in Church of England!
Christianity has always been strongly patriarchal; for millennia women were blocked from top positions in almost every aspect of the church. And while progress has been made over the past 100 years in the Protestant sections of the faith, a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged America, Anglican Church, bishop, Christian, Christianity, church hierarchy, Church of England, conservatives, Episcopalian Church, equality, feminine principle, Katharine Jefferts Schori, liberals, masculine principle, nature, ordination, patriarchy, priest, reclaiming balance, religion, religious ministry, women's rights
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New Monday Feature: Thoughts on Patriarchy
Patriarchy Isn’t Balanced Power Men control a disproportionately large share of power. Lord Acton said it best: Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. By definition, a patriarchy isn’t balanced. No wonder our world is so off balance. We have lost the feminine … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged compromise is good, connection, economics, equality, feminine power, feminine principle, glass ceiling, government, male god, masculine principle, nature, nature female, oneness, patriarchy, power, power corrupts, reclaiming balance, spirituality, sustainability, white males govern
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Balancing News: People vs. Chevron – People Win!
Amidst the cynicism and apathy that characterized the elections last month, an inspiring story of reclaiming balance has emerged from Richmond, California. A town of about 100,000 residents on the east side of San Francisco Bay, Richmond is home to a … Continue reading
