News & Blog

Dear Ones –

I lost a lot of sleep last night because of the events in Ferguson.

Today seems like a day for prayer — prayers for the angry, prayers for the confused, prayers for the suffering, prayers for any community or individual riven by distrust and sorrow.

Prayers of revelation and liberation.

We need a higher consciousness. All of us do.

I know that I do.

Will you thread your prayers together with mine?

It's simple: Prayers today for all who suffer, no matter who they are.

Prayers for everyone, no matter what.

Blessings and grace,
LG

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall

Read this book: BROTHER OF THE MORE FAMOUS JACK

Dear Ones –

Do you see this book? Do you see that I am holding five copies of it? That's because I'm giving it away to all my friends right now, because it's so awesome. (Actually, I had even MORE copies, but I already started giving them away.)

BROTHER OF THE MORE FAMOUS JACK was originally published in 1982, but this gorgeous new edition is just now being printed here in these United States. I am in love with this novel. It's a very British, super intelligent, and very sexy sort of coming-of-age drama about a brilliant young woman and the charismatic family she falls in love with.

I want everyone to read it. That's why, on the front cover, it says: "I won't rest until everyone in America has read (and fallen in love with) this fabulous author." My quote! Because I seriously mean it!

You know who else loves this book? Maria Semple (she of the terrific novel "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?") and my dear friend Ann Patchett (she of "Bel Canto" and other wonderful books.)

We have a fan club about Barbara Trapido, the fabulous author of this fabulous book. We want everyone to know about her.

As I used to say when I was a ten year-old writing book reports for school: "If you like good books, you will like this book."

That is all,

ONWARD,
LG

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall

HAPPY MONDAY, DEAR ONES!

OK, so I had a realization recently, which is this:

I have been thinking too small.

I have been aiming too small — if that's even a sensible way of saying it.

I realized this when I was hanging out with an old friend a few weeks ago, and we were talking about our aspirations and goals — where we want to be, how we want to be, who we want to be.

To my surprise, when she asked me to express my biggest dreams about where I wanted to be a year from now, all I could answer was that I wanted to be living in a state of pure and unconditional love for myself and all humanity.

I started talking to her about the two genuinely mystical experiences I've had in my life — moments when the walls of "reality" fell away and suddenly I saw myself, everyone else, and the entire universe for what it is: a divine dance of love.

One of those experiences, I wrote about in EAT PRAY LOVE, when I talked about the feeling of "sitting on the palm of God's hand" in meditation one day.

The other experience was almost a year ago, when — in the midst of a huge burst of angry conflict between me and two friends — I was suddenly overcome by the most peaceful sense of compassion I have ever experienced…overcome by a sense of our oneness, our shared suffering, our shared longing for peace. Right in the middle of the fire of our mutual anger, all I felt was love. Love for them, love for me, love for anyone who is standing in the hell of conflict, suffering.

In both cases (in India, and more recently right here in New Jersey) I floated around the world for a while in a state of pure bliss and love.

In both cases, I could never imagine worrying about anything or ever being angry at anyone again.

In both cases, I felt like, "Existence is so simple, once you get here — to this place of peace and kindness."

…and then it vanished.

And in both cases, after it vanished, I was like, "Oh, well…that was nice, but it can't last, I suppose."

And immediately I went about my mundane life again — getting caught up in dramas, being judgmental, getting mad at myself, getting mad at others, worrying about everything. Because those two golden moments of total peace and comprehension were just impossible divine visitations, right? Even though I would LOVE to live in a state of bliss and compassion and contentment all the time, it isn't possible…right?

But why am I aiming so small?

This is what I asked myself, while I was talking to my friend about my goals. Why have I put this limit on myself — this limit about what my heart is capable of feeling, and for how long?

Why have I committed myself to anything less than total love and harmony?

Why not aim for more than the mundane, the small, the restricted?

Why not aim bigger?

How much work am I willing to do — in terms of prayer and forgiveness and acts of grace — in order to grow my heart to its utmost capacity?

What addictions am I willing to give up (judgment, blame, shame, gossip, panic, drama?) in order to treat myself and others with the highest possible kindness?

Why did I give up so fast on unconditional universal love, once I'd been blessed enough to glimpse it those two times? Was that not an invitation?

Because if unconditional universal love is not worth striving for, then what in heaven IS?

And so…here we are.

It's Monday morning.

I'm hard at work. Living my life, doing my chores, meeting my obligations, cleaning my desk, editing my book, returning emails, etc.

But I'm working hard at something else, too:

BIG-HEARTEDNESS.

I'm working to manifest the biggest big-heartedness I can possibly reach. All the love I can hold, and more. That's what I'm aiming for.

Who's with me?

Is there anything you're aiming too small about?

Anybody ready to reach a little higher?

Anybody have any wisdom on how to do it?

Let's roll.

ONWARD,
LG

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall

DEAR ONES –

I loved so much reading about (and seeing images of) all your creative projects today. Gave me a thrill to picture all these minds and hands and voices and imaginations across the world, hard at work on the devotional practice of MAKING. So beautiful.

Meanwhile, I took the day off from my normal creative practice (writing) to practice the art of friendship — a slumber party with a beloved old friend, walks and talks, dressing up, laughing, and, of course, experimentation with temporary tattoos. (We elected to put doves over our hearts, and giant bears on our arms….this felt about perfect, for who we aspire to be…)

I feel restored by this day, as if by magic.

I will be back to work tomorrow, but with the heart of a dove and the power of a bear…and the soul-lift that only a golden friendship can provide.

Love to you all, and to all a good night!

LG

via Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook Wall