Fashion & Passion

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.” Yves Saint Laurent

[jthnomad]

The Easter egg, represent the tomb of Jesus, yet it is the sacred womb of the earth through which all life travels to be born! The truth is that after winters darkness, life is born in the Spring. Easter is about Resurrection, an opportunity or reminder, that no matter what we have been or what we have done, we can always forgive ourselves and resurrect the spirit and truth within us. Basically, it’s never too late to be a better person… I guess it’s up to us, individually and collectively, to determine what our resurrection looks like... Happy Easter, Passover and Ramadan, one & all. XoxoX #easter #passover #ramadan #divine #divineguidance #divinefeminine #love #hope #peace (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CceY5V0Laqq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jthnomad]

“Beauty is not who you are on the outside, it is the wisdom and time you gave away to save another struggling soul like you.” #shannonlalder Never stop being utterly of yourself, for you never know how your grace in handling your own struggles will give others courage to be themselves when facing their own difficulties. A little lesson from the bodhisattva path! #unique #reflection #love #grace #wisdom #struggle #courage #brave #queer #beloved #lovestories #divinefeminine (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQxJ72v0Bx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jthnomad]

“If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.” #MicheldeMontaigne #individuality #reflection #boddhisatva #innerlight #peace (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcPfi7ULQOg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jthnomad]

In case you ever wonder what my life is like… 6AM wake up calls with the rest of my day split between 1) being a spiritual director for over 500 clergy in the United States via our temple 2) acting as a social worker for over 20 people and our housing program 3) overseeing our wildlife sanctuary for over a 100 rescued animals here 4) running our retreat center that supports all of our charitable missions! At the end of the day I get to play with our temple cats and my two foster parrots 🦜 who are rather cranky I don’t spend every minute playing with them! and did I mention that I’m planning our international conference on the Divine feminine at the end of April? And that I am planning and hosting a huge LGBTQI aids benefit fashion show at the end of May? Lol 😂 #overworked #helpplease #catsofinstagram #divinefeminine #spiritualguidance #hope #love (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb_ZR3rpTV6/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“Everybody fancies they have that rare thing, a sense of humour.” #oliviarobertson In celebration of #internationalwomensday I decide the post the day I ‘officially’ stepped onto my #spiritual path. That is the day I took my #vows to serve the #divine from the woman I consider to be my guide in this life #ladyoliviarobertson I learn from Lady Olivia to believe that we each have a path we choice to walk in this life - a dream we manifest into reality. We make the choices we do in life to make this reality a better one for those out come after. To experience love, joy and learn wisdom. Here’s to our #grandmothers #mothers #sisters - to the #women in our lives that gave us life and who teach us how to live! This photo was taken in 2007 when I was ordained as a priest of the Divine Feminine in our temples interfaith tradition. It took place underneath our 600 year old Douglas fir trees which is the heart center of our spiritual community, to the Bahai‘s before us, and to the indigenous Pomo women it was indeed a sacred space! Since that time I’ve also been ordained in my teacher’s Buddhist tradition. We all walk the path to love up the mountain, we stub our toes and bang our heads. Yet the trick is to never give up, specially with this gift of life we were given by the Divine Feminine! #strength #passion #wisdom #goddesses #divinefeminine #divine #womenempowerment #womenrights #equality #equalityforeveryone #goddess (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca3ZJ1WrdM_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.” #jimdavis I took a cue from our blessed temple cat and decided I need a little rest. Sometimes the best thing is to a break from whatever from life, to breathe into ourselves and just simply be. Self care is so utterly needed especially these days when it feels like the world is filled with stressful situations and chaotic environments. Breathe into yourself, remember you matter! #templelessons #loveislove #selfcare #selfcaresunday #wisdom #breathwork #breath #lifelessons (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaO_5YlrKZG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

As my first winter bloom comes to life, I wanted to take a moment to say a little something something… Those that know me know I have been identifying myself as a two spirit for years now. I feel like I am a creature born from a sensualist’s soul. Part of the reason I follow the path of the Divine Feminine is that I don’t believe in self repression. I believe that by fully realizing each and every aspect of ourselves without hiding anything we become a living embodiment of the divine. This path isn’t for the faint of heart. Hell, it is even for the brave as it takes a certain amount of ruthlessness to live this life as you are truly meant to live. It is ALL about the struggle, the pain, and freedom that comes from expressing these things. Be yourself, honey cause everyone else is taken! 💋 #beyourself #beloved #flowers #bloom #winter #lgbtq #twospirit #loveislove #freedom https://www.instagram.com/p/CZS-PHvLl6u/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

I can’t begin to share how deeply I am feeling the lose of this divine light right now. Earlier in my career when I was working at the Learning Annex, I had the pleasure to work with this guiding light at an event with Rev. Desmond Tutu and HH the Dalai Lama, it was one of the most cherished moments of my life! They are were such amazing Examples of what it means to be the best you can possibly be as a human being. They were utterly self realized and made no pretension that they weren’t flawed humans like the rest of us. Which is what made me connect with that energy so much. This grief I will carry for a long time, but the example he set by simply living his life is one that will never no away… Om Mani Padme Hum 👏 #quanyin #kuanyin #mercy #zen #wisdom #thichnhathanh #grief #passing https://www.instagram.com/p/CZBr2V0LONA/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“The will to make life beautiful was strong.” #zoranealehurston Lessons from the #temple 1) Self-care, I can’t say it enough! #selfcare #selfcare #selfcare Cause you can’t help change a thing if you too are drowning! 2) Love is always allowed! #loveislove #catlessons #cat #cats #kitty #kittylove #grace (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYP6yH3J4es/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“I have lived with several Zen masters -- all of them cats.” #eckharttolle Am taking a lesson from my beautiful temple cats (Ms Honey Voodoo on top, and Mr. Cat on the bottom) that today should be a day of reflection and self care! FYI - they don’t care for photos being taken so this was as good as I could get 🤪 Happy New Year! 🎊 #cat #catpeople #cats #integrity #meditation #peace #sereneity #spirituality #wisdom #zen #zenmaster https://www.instagram.com/p/CYNKJ-fvvrM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

Hey everybody welcome to the new year 2022. I hope everyone takes a moment to pause today and reflect on the joy and abundance in their life and thoughts for what they want the new year to be. I know this is the third year we’re going into a Covid situation. But hopefully we’ve learned a lot along the way both about ourselves and others. I am wishing you all a very beautiful year! Hint for the#newyear : Go ahead and craft the environment you wish to exist in and the universe will support you! #hope #compassion #action #wisdom #grace #divinefeminine #expanding #beingalive #beyourself #lgbt #lgbtq #beloved https://www.instagram.com/p/CYNIibMvWkb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“Hope Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering 'it will be happier'...” #alfredlordtennyson #happiness #hope #inspirational #newyear #newyearseve https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLpH1QrrJz/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

My cat 🐈 decided he loves the #ChristmasTree box… Sadly he doesn’t seem to feel the same about the tree and is wondering why I won’t let him climb it 😳 #cat #catlover #holidayseason #christmas #chrimastree #catbox (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CX-UEJVrJ9d/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” #CharlesDickens #AChristmasCarol "We set too high of a bar for ourselves when we contemplate about working for the benefit of all sentient beings. I don’t think it’s really possible to arrive at a time when you’ll be able to say to yourself that you are now accomplishing the benefit of all sentient beings. It’s more a matter of dealing with what’s directly in front of you in terms of the experiences of happiness and suffering that you - and the sentient beings you are connected with - are going through. I think you can meet situations of suffering with an open heart and a readiness to do whatever you can to reduce the suffering of sentient beings, to free sentient beings from suffering. Or in the same way, be ready to do anything you can to further the happiness of any given sentient being that you meet and to engage in this kind of conduct with a heart of joyfulness, cheerfulness and delight. This is really the meaning of accomplishing the benefit of all sentient beings. So it’s basically situation by situation and developing further the readiness to help, developing further this heart of wanting sentient beings to be free of suffering and to enjoy happiness in whatever situation they are in at the present. I think that’s what ‘accomplishing the benefit of all sentient beings’ really means. I don’t think that phrase means we are going to accomplish the benefit of every single sentient being at the same time." #goodwill #christmas #wintersolstice #christmasspirit #christmastree #seasonofgiving https://www.instagram.com/p/CX-SRSIr5-F/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“Honey… It’s not really Christmas without Pink Flamingos!” @jthnomad in case you don’t know every year I get to play technical director to our beautiful holiday solstice heart concert! Aka I get to make sure all the lighting is correct and broadcast via zoom (plus making sure everyone has their bloody mute on cause there is always one! And you know who you are 👏) Yet to me the #holidayseason is never complete without honoring my favorite #draqqueen #divine by watching one of her films 🎥 One of our family favorites is #lustinthedust all great dirty birdie family film, puurfect for any holiday gatherings of queers, artists and just plain old weirdos 🤪 Happy #solstice #holidays #winter #winterwonderland #wintersolstice (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXrxtdcvVXk/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

Beautiful Beings, As many of you know the Temple of Isis here in the heart of Sonoma is dedicated to the Divine Feminine since 1978, making us the oldest and largest interfaith Goddess temple in North America. I can honestly say that 2021 has definitely been the year of the challenges for us here at the temple. We’ve lost five amazing clergy members to the ongoing COVID-19 situation which deeply saddened our collective hearts. Our Isis Oasis Sanctuary & Retreat Center has been closed for majority of the last two year due to COVID-19 shutting us down and due to 2 1/2 weeks of being shut down during the huge fires which came in half a mile of our sanctuary. We provided sanctuary for up to 20+ people in our housing program at the temple. We maintain a animal collection of over 100+ rescue animals here at our wildlife sanctuary which we deeply care for. We are home to the largest devotional Goddess collection here at the Morning Glory Zelle (MGZ) Goddess Gallery. As the fires were raging through out the Guerneville area here in Sonoma, we provided refuge for 22 fire evacuees. The fires caused us to evacuee all of our 100+ animals due for over 10 days due to the horrible air quality. Normally we get by through running the retreat center which provides all the funding for all of our charitable efforts. This was definitely not the case this year. So it is with a humble heart and faith in the Divine Grace of Isis, The Great Mother Goddess that we are for your donations to help us get through this Holiday season! The Divine Mother definitely blesses you for your giving. May you go in love for love is the path of the divine mother! Many Blessings, Rev. Justin Howard Spiritual Director Temple of Isis #givingtuesday #givingback #giving #support #prayers #gratitude (at Isis Oasis Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW7EYGhJ85e/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jthnomad]

“May Goddess Durga provide you the strength to overcome all obstacles in life. Shubh Navratri!” #durga Today is the 2nd day of Diwali 🪔 Naraka Chaturdashi The festival is also called as "Kali Chaudas", where Kali means dark (eternal) and Chaudas means fourteenth, this is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark half of Aaso month. In India, Kali Chaudas is the day allotted to the worship of Shakti and is believed that on this day Mahadevi killed the asura (demon) Narakasura. Hence also referred to as Narak-Chaturdashi, Kali Chaudas is day to abolish laziness and evil which create hell in our life and shine light on life. #diwali #diwalivibes #durga #durgamaa #chanting #mantras #peace #protection #sanctuary #divine #divinefeminine https://www.instagram.com/p/CV2OOQOr2dg/?utm_medium=tumblr