Play Like a Girl!

Greetings, Friends. We always smile when we see the plot of a TV series overlap with something happening in the world. This time, it came through a teaser at the end of the last episode of the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso when we got a glimpse of a binder for "AFC Richmond Women's Team." Is a spinoff in the making? Well, there is no need to wait because starting Thursday, July 20, we can watch the very real, very un-scripted FIFA Women's World Cup.

The World Cup is the biggest stage for the most popular team sport in the world. For U.S. women, soccer means a deep sense of pride, generated in large part by the victory of the U.S. Women's National Team (USNWT) over China in 1999. The butterfly effect from that game has rippled into greater recognition, visibility, and equality for women soccer players and for women athletes in general. The meaning of "play like a girl" is changing.

Over the next month of play, as you cheer, gasp, celebrate, sigh, and balance on the edge of your seat, consider engaging in some spiritual practices. We've created some on Connections, Joy, and Justice.

Excited to join you in play and practice,

The S&P Team

Asteroid City



Attention Wes Anderson fans! And anybody curious about this director's appeal. His latest film is a play within a film about learning to see the world and all its surprises with fresh eyes. It boasts his usual blend of creative characters, colorful production values, and cryptic lines that may just explain the movie -– or maybe not. Here we are advised to “just keep telling the story” and “You can’t wake up if you don’t fall asleep.” The latter reminds us of the spiritual lesson that it may be necessary to examine what has you stuck and going nowhere (i.e. asleep) before you can truly wake up and grow into a new life.

Discover More!

• Summertime and Living Takes Practice. A month's worth of spiritual practices from the world's wisdom traditions as well as from books we've read.
• Full Time. A realistic drama about a single mother coping with a possible job change amidst a transit strike; it takes courage to deal with time pressures.
• I Am Earth's Keeper by Lisa Hendey. A poetic journey through glorious vistas that empowers children ages three to eight to be Earth caregivers.
• By the Glorious Morning Light. For our KidSpirit Youth Voices blog, Fatima Shafi, a 16 year old from Lahore, Pakistan, explains how Islamic practices support mental health.
• Gallery: 12 on Animals. A gallery of 12 memes that reminds us of our sacred relationships with animals.
• Saint Francis of Assisi. The most interesting collection of Saint Francis inspired art ever assembled.
• Cultivating the Good Life. Short & Sweet Spirituality blog offering simple answers from the religious and spiritual traditions.

Resources for Your Spiritual Journey to Carry You Forward

A Pearl of Wisdom

All the things of the universe are perfect miracles, each as profound as any.

— Walt Whitman

A Proverb to Ponder

A good cry lightens the heart.

— Yiddish Proverb

A Short Prayer

Open our eyes to your presence

Open our ears to your call

Open our hearts to your love.

— from Celtic Blessings compiled by Ray Simpson