Blog Archives - Joel Ybarra

Love Everything

October 10, 2026

How many more have to die before we realize compassion is the only true religion? Through contemplation, we see everything is connected. And we get connected ourselves – to what is really going on, way down at the bottom of everything. First, you must remove the structures you have brought around you that are giving you the illusion of safety. Those structures have also kept you separate. Let those structures fall away, one by one, so you can become connected with real life.

The path to loving ... Keep reading

Carry Grief With You

October 3, 2026

I wear this grief heavy like a cloak, but not for show. It is an inextricable part of me now. I will not let go because that is my single continuous act of devotion to the one I have lost and all who grieve anywhere for anything lost. I will not leave the dead behind. They have so much to teach me by their absence, and from beyond. And I won’t leave behind anyone living their life in a perpetual state of grief and sorrow. Some wounds just stick. If we abandon grief, we might forget. If we ... Keep reading

Reconciling In Death

September 19, 2026

Death is all around. It is waiting for us and sometimes comes cold and sudden. Most of our lives, we live without it being a palpable presence in our lives. That is a privilege. Then every once in a while, we come face to face with it. It shows up on our doorstep. We are forced to deal with not just this one death, but all deaths, and the deteriorating and seemingly hopeless nature of our existence.

Humans do all manner of things to avoid death and thoughts of death. Most of the time, we live under ... Keep reading

Let Your Body Lead the Way

August 6, 2026

Your body will tell you everything you need to heal. It is giving you subtle signals all the time about what it needs – how you need to move and how you need to relax. The problem is you have gotten just as many signals from outside – what others think you should be doing and other feedback, including the experiences that have become your “trauma.” Your body contains all the information it needs to effectively process everything that happens outside you, including the trauma. There is ... Keep reading

Triangles Are Everywhere

August 1, 2026

The triangle is the basic unit (building block) of existence. Triangles are not static structures. The entities that are the endpoints of triangles are always moving and changing and the relationships between the entities are also ever-evolving. Triangles are just a simple way to break down and think about the nature of reality, which is infinitely complex. Once you understand how triangles work and how to spot them, you will see them everywhere. You will also be more in tune with the dynamic ... Keep reading

All The Spiritual Portals

June 28, 2026

There are many ways to enter enlightenment. All forms of spiritual awakening spring from the horribly mundane: the things we don’t often think of as spiritual. This carnal realm is the touchpoint we have and need, however, to access the outer and lighter realms. Most of our lives, we feel dense, anchored to the ground by gravity and the heaviness of our bodies. Every once in a while, though (and sometimes accidentally), we go soaring. We just need to train ourselves to pass into this ethereal ... Keep reading

Growing Beyond

June 13, 2026

Growing up, there was a part of me that wanted to be what others thought I should be, and another distinct part of me that did not. I’m sure people had some idea of what they wanted me to be (we all have expectations). Inevitably, I would shake off those expectations and pressures and do something else. All of us have that intractable energy inside us to some degree. It’s the life energy. It’s growth.

A good parent wants to see their child fly, even though the child is going to fly some ... Keep reading

Nerves and Non-violence

May 2, 2026

Your nervous system is perfect. It has been honed over many years to keep you safe and to help you interact with others in meaningful ways. You may think you are overly sensitive at times, but there is no such thing as being too sensitive (or too emotional). You just need to understand the task: to utilize your nervous system’s powerful precision to respond to all the stimuli you encounter in the world. You deserve the chance to figure out how you feel about everything, how everything that has ... Keep reading