Linda’s Spirit and Spirituality

Buddhism, Indigenous Traditions, Shaman/Priestess

Deeply Spiritual – no one who knew Linda would disagree about that description, her core, her life course. Growing from Judaic family roots, blossoming into indigenous and Eastern philosophies, she came to regard herself somewhat humorously as a Buddhist Hippie Shaman Priestess. But she equally identified as an Earth Mother, a Gaia devotee, and a Hindu devotee once initiated as “Gopi Radha”. Melded with her experiences and affinity with Native American spirituality, she manifested an ecumenical and embracing set of beliefs. Along with a love of music and travel, her spiritual focus constituted a fundamental current that coursed vibrantly through her daily life, through her entire life, and touched so many.

Throughout her life Linda’s spirituality manifested in her work, in her choice of travel destinations, and in her surroundings. She went where Spirit called her, and from these travels, filled her house with Divine Mother carvings and paintings, prayer wheels, and books – so MANY books. From intensive and incredibly deep lifelong study, her books filled the shelves of a two-car garage, books she ceaselessly sought out and acquired from all writers and traditions, books about spirituality, self-evolution, and development. All, I am certain, she read, as there were notes penciled in the margins, highlighting extracted nuggets of wisdom, an affirmation or aphorism that touched or inspired her.

Linda had intellectual chops, for sure, but her spirituality manifested more a deeply empathic connection. Connection to the earth and its creatures, to the sky, with nature and with the cosmos… connection to people, and especially to children and babies: that was Linda. To most who knew her, she was indeed an Earth Spirit, and in her midwifery and acupuncturist vocations, as much a shaman and a healer as she was a western medical professional.

All of this she shared. With everyone. That was one of Linda’s abiding characteristics; whatever wisdom she gleaned she passed on spontaneously and easily, often not requested, admittedly, but as good humored “advice” on how the world and life could be, and how any particular “someone” might adjust their attitudes or actions to more synchronously align with the cosmos! But it was never judgmental, and only rarely with an air of “I know best”. Instead, it was offered freely, to receive and accept or not.

These elements of her belief-system sustained and carried Linda far in this life: perhaps only so far, but by far, it was far enough. Her last years through her passing tell the tale how she succeeded on the deepest soul levels through the end.

NOTE: Linda’s website intends to memorialize her life and her most elevated self. The Eulogy, the Timeline, and the Themes pages attempt to do that in the best way possible. Beyond what a Memorial traditionally addresses, aspects of Linda’s life become more biographical. Additional detail and reflections from her Life partner can enrich appreciation of what Linda accomplished yet may feel irrelevant or even controversial to others. To keep the primary focus on what matters most, additional detail is reserved for password-pages that interested readers can access by clicking on the button below.