I wanted to honor the indigenous cultures that took me in and transformed me. So, I named my blog Pickled Roots – a space where I can preserve and pay homage to the roots of our modern world.
Whether creating books and workbooks or contributing articles to journals, Pickled Roots inspires, guides and nurtures leaders like you.
In my blog, you will find sage wisdom, practical inspiration and gifts that will assist you in your leadership journey.
In addition to my blog, my articles: Leadership as Service created in 2002; and Sacred Crossroads, Race and Yoga, published by UC Berkley in 2017; witness the personal stories that grew into my current thought leadership and operating philosophy. And coming soon are two new books – Wisdom Traditions and the Essence of Leadership and The Work Journey. Visit us often to immerse yourself in wisdom and inspiration.
Dancing in Polynesia – Part II
I’ve written about dance before. Specifically, about how basic steps turn into a beautiful dance and also about Polynesian women dances. Now, I turn my focus to the men’s dances of the Polynesian Islands. As you may imagine, most of the men’s dances danced by Mana Polynesia were filled with [...]
Dancing in Polynesia – Part I
I recently attended a Polynesian dance performance by Mana Polynesia. The group specializes in bringing dances of the Polynesian islands to audiences around the world. Their dances were separated into men and women’s dances. The women’s dances are discussed below. Click here to learn about the men’s dances.LA 92 2017 [...]
Nature’s Wisdom
Early Morning Rabbit I awoke early this morning. The air was crisp after an evening of rains. I smudged my house and went outside to give thanks for the day with the towering trees and the green grass as my witness. After several moments of stillness, I saw a rabbit [...]
Africa in the Polynesian Islands
“Would you like to find Africa in Polynesia?”, asked Isaac, the man with chocolate skin and warm eyes. I’m sure he could feel my Spirit, but I answered “Yes” anyway. And he began to share his wisdom. He began to share his life. “The cultures in the Polynesian are similar. [...]
Walking the Buddhist Way
I recently heard a story on NPR that I was so intrigued by that I investigated and found the story online. The story is about a Monk from a Japanese Buddhist temple. The story is interesting because he walks for 6 hours every day as part of his spiritual practice. [...]
The Round Dance – A Circle of Laughter & Joy
The Round Dance is a traditional Native American dance. It is a social dance whose primary goal is to unify people. Traditionally, dancers from different nations came together to dance, symbolizing the unity of all people. At the 2012 Howard County Pow Wow, the audience was invited to participate in [...]
Q&A –The Pow Wow
One of the most common, yet misunderstood, customs of Native American culture is the Pow Wow. You can do a Google search for Pow Wow and read about them. But there is no better way to really feel the energy of a Pow Wow than to actually attend one. I [...]
Evolution of Dance — Evolution of Life
I went to dance class last week. My goal was to get a good workout and express my creativity. Perhaps Spirit had other intentions. The instructor taught us moves that expressed the feminine. Specifically, she taught us THREE moves. As we learned each move and began to weave them into [...]
Brazilian Seafood Stew
One of the dishes that I love is Moqueca - Brazilian Seafood Stew. I’m most familiar with the dish as it’s made in Salvador, Bahia. Traditional Moqueca includes Palm Oil, native to West Africa and brought to Salvador during the African slave trade. Palm Oil has a strong red color [...]
The Art of Indian & Latin Fusion
I love the concept of blending different ethnic food elements to create a palate-pleasing experience. There is no better way to experience a culture than by experiencing the food. Vermillion Restaurant allows us to experience both Indian and Latin cultures at once with their creative fusion restaurant. I visited Vermillion [...]