Happy 2008! And what a year it promises to be... I can feel some very new energy coming in -- can you? The synchronicities and "magic" seem to be happening at an accelerated pace now. One of the pieces of magic that's happened in my life is that a dear friend placed a copy of The Expected One (by Kathleen McGowan) in my hands at the very end of last year. It's a historical fiction narrative about Mary Magdalene and her "lost gospel". I've hardly been able to put the book down as we enter 2008; and it's literally been changing the way I view myself and the world. I highly recommend it to you if you are drawn at all to the goddess material that's resurfacing in our world today.
Speaking of change, this promises to be year of more creative change. A key symbol for the energy and consciousness our world is moving toward is water. (See p. 256 in my book for more.) This year, I encourage us all to meditate on the element of water. This will provide us with some keys as to how to move with the changes. Water flows, with grace and flexibility. It does not force, but rather moves around and with all that it encounters. Water deserves our deepest respect and gratitude -- even as it causes tremendous havoc in some parts of our world, sometimes even in our own neighborhoods. As we contemplate the gift of water, we are encouraged to go with the flow, move forward joyously, with flexibility and ease, enjoying the buoyancy. We might also ask water to connect us more deeply to our subconscious aspect, the feminine part of ourselves rich with symbols and images, represented by the dream world.
May 2008 create more fertile ground in each one of us for new growth and change. May we move with the changes, rather than resist, making our lives easier and more fun along the way. Deep Peace, Flexibility, and deLight, Dancing Heart
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, December 24, 2007
The Good Gets Even Better as We Create More Happiness
Hello, Friends! And Happy Christmas. On this Christmas Eve I wanted to direct you to a website of the woman who has created the new cover to the 2nd edition of my work, THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE. This edition will be coming out in spring of '08, through Findhorn Press of Scotland.
The artist for the new cover is Cathy Bennett and her website is: www.artwalaroad.com. I invite you to have a look at her first two pieces: The first is a lovely piece about creating more happiness in our lives -- such an appropriate message for our times and for the holy days, too! The second piece shares a little bit about the new cover and how Cathy came about being the artist for it. You can actually see the cover on her website, too...
Here's to our Good getting even better in this Christmastide and year's end! And in 2008, may we all be about creating more and more joy and happiness in our lives. It's the only way to go -- not to mention moving Out of the Box! Stay beautiful, as my spiritual director used to say. And don't forget to smile :)
Infinite Blessings of Peace, Light, Hope and deLight, Dancing Heart
The artist for the new cover is Cathy Bennett and her website is: www.artwalaroad.com. I invite you to have a look at her first two pieces: The first is a lovely piece about creating more happiness in our lives -- such an appropriate message for our times and for the holy days, too! The second piece shares a little bit about the new cover and how Cathy came about being the artist for it. You can actually see the cover on her website, too...
Here's to our Good getting even better in this Christmastide and year's end! And in 2008, may we all be about creating more and more joy and happiness in our lives. It's the only way to go -- not to mention moving Out of the Box! Stay beautiful, as my spiritual director used to say. And don't forget to smile :)
Infinite Blessings of Peace, Light, Hope and deLight, Dancing Heart
Friday, December 7, 2007
Transformation thru Stepping Outside the Box
On June 25th I wrote about an experience I had with Richard Bartlett and Matrix Energetics. Well, now I have had a whole weekend experience with Matrix Energetics, and I can honestly say that it is profoundly changing my life for the better. I've been healing (releasing) many layers of both physical and emotional "stuff" in my life for several years now. And perhaps I was building up to this. However, there's something very special about Matrix Energetics and its ability to help strengthen you in stepping out of the box to heal, to bring joy and magic back into your life.
As I've mentioned in my work, the whole world is "on hospice" these days because things as we know them are not working well on our planet. As long as we continue to "remain in our boxes," doing things the way we're used to doing them, life on planet Earth is not going to change. I believe that the transformative power lies in being able to courageously step outside of the box and try some new things.
One of the signatures of Richard Bartlett is his wonderful sense of humor, his lightness of being. He works closely with the dolphins and the whales, and this energy is apparent when he works, or rather plays with people. Some would call him a weirdo or a "crazy man," but I choose to see his craziness as exactly what we need in these times.
I encourage you to go to www.matrixenergetics.com and see for yourself. Or better yet, purchase Richard's book Matrix Energetics or attend an introductory (free) session to get the idea of what he does. It's likely to change your life for good! Thank you, Richard, and all who are involved in teaching this transformative work...
As I've mentioned in my work, the whole world is "on hospice" these days because things as we know them are not working well on our planet. As long as we continue to "remain in our boxes," doing things the way we're used to doing them, life on planet Earth is not going to change. I believe that the transformative power lies in being able to courageously step outside of the box and try some new things.
One of the signatures of Richard Bartlett is his wonderful sense of humor, his lightness of being. He works closely with the dolphins and the whales, and this energy is apparent when he works, or rather plays with people. Some would call him a weirdo or a "crazy man," but I choose to see his craziness as exactly what we need in these times.
I encourage you to go to www.matrixenergetics.com and see for yourself. Or better yet, purchase Richard's book Matrix Energetics or attend an introductory (free) session to get the idea of what he does. It's likely to change your life for good! Thank you, Richard, and all who are involved in teaching this transformative work...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Celtic View
I met a delightful man named Hans this morning on a walk I had on a nature trail. I had stopped in my tracks to pay attention to the hum of energy that the birds and wild life had created in that little corner of the world. Our poignant conversation about life, death, and the current state of the Earth reminded me of the Celtic view of death that I share with people sometimes. I've heard it said that the Celts say that a person needs to die before they die, so that when they die they don't have to die! In other words, if we can overcome our fears around death and truly know "in our bones" that there is much more than meets the eye on this precious earth, then when we are actually dying, we will be convicted that there is another chapter of life ahead of us. The need to tense up around the so-called end of life could be eliminated.
This way of embracing death is reminiscent of the wise woman who inspired the title of my book. I met her early on in my hospice work, a woman who'd lived through great challenges in her life and who was now living through the end-stages of lung cancer. She said to me one day, after giving up eating any food (although she kept the fluids and oxygen going), "I'm looking forward to the last adventure of life." Wow, I thought at that time, if only everyone could have this attitude toward the next chapter of life!
How do you view your life, death, and life-after-life? Can you see any possibility of seeing the end of life as a new adventure in living? I pray for all of us, that our "inner eyes" can see and our "inner ears" hear what is available for the seeing, hearing, and believing! May our lives be enriched and en-couraged as we face with openness and trust, the mystery of death -- which may not be as scary as we think it is, after all...
This way of embracing death is reminiscent of the wise woman who inspired the title of my book. I met her early on in my hospice work, a woman who'd lived through great challenges in her life and who was now living through the end-stages of lung cancer. She said to me one day, after giving up eating any food (although she kept the fluids and oxygen going), "I'm looking forward to the last adventure of life." Wow, I thought at that time, if only everyone could have this attitude toward the next chapter of life!
How do you view your life, death, and life-after-life? Can you see any possibility of seeing the end of life as a new adventure in living? I pray for all of us, that our "inner eyes" can see and our "inner ears" hear what is available for the seeing, hearing, and believing! May our lives be enriched and en-couraged as we face with openness and trust, the mystery of death -- which may not be as scary as we think it is, after all...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A Most Blessed All Hallows' Eve to You
Dear Friends and "Beloveds,"
Many blessings to you on this most special night (The Irish called this the "Vigil of Saman," as the Celtic feast of the dead was known as Samhain.) when we remember those who have gone before us. Their spirits are very close to us, especially at this time of the year...
I've been getting a smaller pocketbook size version of my book ready for distribution and use in my new Soul Baskets business. In this process, I've come across a most interesting "spirit" named Ramprasad. Ramprasad was born in West Bengal in 1718. He was very well educated, but he had no interest in the material life. He was devoted to the Divine Mother, and as a humble accountant, he would write the Mother's name all over the ledgers he handled. His employer recognized a "saint in the making" through this, and sent Ramprasad home with a promise to support him and his family.
Ramprasad is known to have waded into the Ganges River and sing songs in honor of the Mother. River boats going up and down this great River would pause and listen to his songs; it is said that people dying on the banks of the Ganges would ask Ramprasad to sing to them, too. He even became a favorite of the local king! Here's one of his poems that I share in my new booklet version of The Last Adventure of Life:
Listen with inward ear to the music
of her wisdom, teaching all creation.
With inward eye visualize her brilliant name,
Flowing across your heart in letters of molten gold.
Happy Halloween :) Dancing Heart
P.S. If you're interested in seeing my mini-book, just email me at Dancingheart22@gmail.com and let me know. They're selling for $4.50 (plus shipping and handling).
Many blessings to you on this most special night (The Irish called this the "Vigil of Saman," as the Celtic feast of the dead was known as Samhain.) when we remember those who have gone before us. Their spirits are very close to us, especially at this time of the year...
I've been getting a smaller pocketbook size version of my book ready for distribution and use in my new Soul Baskets business. In this process, I've come across a most interesting "spirit" named Ramprasad. Ramprasad was born in West Bengal in 1718. He was very well educated, but he had no interest in the material life. He was devoted to the Divine Mother, and as a humble accountant, he would write the Mother's name all over the ledgers he handled. His employer recognized a "saint in the making" through this, and sent Ramprasad home with a promise to support him and his family.
Ramprasad is known to have waded into the Ganges River and sing songs in honor of the Mother. River boats going up and down this great River would pause and listen to his songs; it is said that people dying on the banks of the Ganges would ask Ramprasad to sing to them, too. He even became a favorite of the local king! Here's one of his poems that I share in my new booklet version of The Last Adventure of Life:
Listen with inward ear to the music
of her wisdom, teaching all creation.
With inward eye visualize her brilliant name,
Flowing across your heart in letters of molten gold.
Happy Halloween :) Dancing Heart
P.S. If you're interested in seeing my mini-book, just email me at Dancingheart22@gmail.com and let me know. They're selling for $4.50 (plus shipping and handling).
Saturday, October 20, 2007
All Our Stuff!
I have a confession to make: I'm most grateful for the move/transformation I'm involved in just now as it is forcing me to sift through all the "stuff" I have. It's way too much for one household! I'm in the process of weeding through everything, but it takes time and effort. How much easier it would be if I were less encumbered. I'm reminded of a friend of mine who also grew up in Japan and then lived in India for a time. She said that one person only needed 2 boxes full of stuff that they could pack up and move -- at short notice.
Recently, I was at a neighborhood bookstore and wow, there's so much "stuff" in the bookstores, too! We Americans sure do have a lot of STUFF. I find myself reflecting on my daughter telling me about a conversation she overheard in which two men were having a talk about religion: One of them referred to the fact that we all have "spiritual cancer." Interesting analogy for the traditional word "sin"... I guess one could say that sometimes our glut of material possessions does get in the way and creates barriers to our spiritual wellness. What is it that gets in the way for you to move forward in a good way? What do you need to clear out of your household to feel less encumbered and more at ease to take the next step in your life?
On a lighter note, at the bookstore I found a most wonderful new book: It's called eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I started browsing the pages and found it beautifully written and "choreographed," using the numerology of prayer beads. Elizabeth traveled to three different countries -- Italy, India, and Indonesia -- in one year, and shares a rich collection of stories from her encounters around the world. It looks like one of those books that strengthens and enriches, especially reminding us that in the end, LOVE Is All That Matters.
Recently, I was at a neighborhood bookstore and wow, there's so much "stuff" in the bookstores, too! We Americans sure do have a lot of STUFF. I find myself reflecting on my daughter telling me about a conversation she overheard in which two men were having a talk about religion: One of them referred to the fact that we all have "spiritual cancer." Interesting analogy for the traditional word "sin"... I guess one could say that sometimes our glut of material possessions does get in the way and creates barriers to our spiritual wellness. What is it that gets in the way for you to move forward in a good way? What do you need to clear out of your household to feel less encumbered and more at ease to take the next step in your life?
On a lighter note, at the bookstore I found a most wonderful new book: It's called eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I started browsing the pages and found it beautifully written and "choreographed," using the numerology of prayer beads. Elizabeth traveled to three different countries -- Italy, India, and Indonesia -- in one year, and shares a rich collection of stories from her encounters around the world. It looks like one of those books that strengthens and enriches, especially reminding us that in the end, LOVE Is All That Matters.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Signs of Change
As I enjoy the magnificent colors bedecking the trees these days, I am reminded that autumn is here. It is also a reminder of the inevitability of change, death, and transformation. Eventually, all the colorful leaves must let go of the branches, just as one day, we must all release from this earthly existence!
Speaking of change, there are two healthy signs of change I've discovered recently that I'd like to call your attention to: One is a book by a physician Pauline Chen entitled Final Exam (a Borzoi Book, 2007). I havde just started to read this book, but not only is it a good read, it promises to be the best (and only!) book I've read by a surgeon so far. Pauline gives us an "inside view" of medical school and doctors' training such that we learn why death is handled the way it is in hospitals and the health care system today. This in turn makes me think of Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi who says that it's only in the last 100 years that death and birth have been "pathologized" by having been taken into the hospital.
The other is a movie I read about in Parade Magazine. It's called The Bucket List and will be coming out this Christmas. It stars Morgan Freeman, a mechanic who befriends Jack Nicholson, a billionaire. The interesting twist is that they both receive a terminal cancer diagnosis. Bob Reiner has said about the film: "It's not a downer;" rather, "It's about living your life and finding joy." Hmmm... sounds a bit like my book, don't you think?!?
Enjoy autumn -- with all it's colors, changes, and transforming life! dancing heart
Speaking of change, there are two healthy signs of change I've discovered recently that I'd like to call your attention to: One is a book by a physician Pauline Chen entitled Final Exam (a Borzoi Book, 2007). I havde just started to read this book, but not only is it a good read, it promises to be the best (and only!) book I've read by a surgeon so far. Pauline gives us an "inside view" of medical school and doctors' training such that we learn why death is handled the way it is in hospitals and the health care system today. This in turn makes me think of Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi who says that it's only in the last 100 years that death and birth have been "pathologized" by having been taken into the hospital.
The other is a movie I read about in Parade Magazine. It's called The Bucket List and will be coming out this Christmas. It stars Morgan Freeman, a mechanic who befriends Jack Nicholson, a billionaire. The interesting twist is that they both receive a terminal cancer diagnosis. Bob Reiner has said about the film: "It's not a downer;" rather, "It's about living your life and finding joy." Hmmm... sounds a bit like my book, don't you think?!?
Enjoy autumn -- with all it's colors, changes, and transforming life! dancing heart
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