 |
| From Random |
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
The Happy Book for the Bliss group is still in Australia, in the meantime here's a bit of happy from my corner of the world this week:
Ya, what's better than Olympic spirit and cake??
A group of women in the building I work in have been going all out with Olympic spirit the last couple of weeks, topping it off with cake today served up by their mascot, "the Beav". Thanks ladies for a fun way to end the week! * o
 |
| From Random |
Ya, what's better than Olympic spirit and cake??
A group of women in the building I work in have been going all out with Olympic spirit the last couple of weeks, topping it off with cake today served up by their mascot, "the Beav". Thanks ladies for a fun way to end the week! * o
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Hello Moon, Goodnite Moon
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
Yay! It's Friday again - something that always makes me happy!
The Bliss groups copy of The Happy Book has made it's way to Meg's in Australia - long journey for a little book!
Pieces of Happy for me this week include:
* Watching the Olympics - Go Canada!! Some awesome moments by Alexandre Bilodeau, Maelle Ricker and Christine Nesbitt, not to mention some nail biting good hockey from the Men's Hockey team :)
* Even better than watching the Olympics, is watching them with the boys - it's been wonderful to have the college kid home from school this week.
* My new camera - loving the new Canon Power Shot.
* The weather - despite a cold, crappy start to the week, it turned out spectacularly sunny for the end of the week. I'd love more of that, please!
* Steak supper, cooked on the BBQ - yum!
What made you happy this week? * o
The Bliss groups copy of The Happy Book has made it's way to Meg's in Australia - long journey for a little book!
Pieces of Happy for me this week include:
* Watching the Olympics - Go Canada!! Some awesome moments by Alexandre Bilodeau, Maelle Ricker and Christine Nesbitt, not to mention some nail biting good hockey from the Men's Hockey team :)
* Even better than watching the Olympics, is watching them with the boys - it's been wonderful to have the college kid home from school this week.
* My new camera - loving the new Canon Power Shot.
* The weather - despite a cold, crappy start to the week, it turned out spectacularly sunny for the end of the week. I'd love more of that, please!
* Steak supper, cooked on the BBQ - yum!
What made you happy this week? * o
Monday, February 15, 2010
Way of the Monk - Week Six - Final
This week wrapped up "Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist". It's been an amazing six weeks and I've met some wonderful fellow monks and artists along the way.
Christine has other offerings of this course available, and if you are in any way thinking that this is calling to you I urge you to check it out. You won't regret it.
This week, we looked at creating some sort of Rule for ourselves. A rule being a sort of framework for our lives as monks and artists. Being the creative group that we are, the rules came in all shapes and sizes - written rules, poetic rules, mandala's, etc.
Here are my "Rules of the Inner Monastery", they are all about "Bee-ing""
Written on the wings of the bees in the corners:
Be a friend to your body
Be a listener of the wind
Be thankful
Be in nature
Be in Awe
Be creative
Be an explorer of your soul
Be Here Now
Be Mindful
Be in prayer
Be Still and Know that I Am
Now I am resting in this week, as I prepare for the beginning next week of the next class, "Eyes of the Heart".......glad it's not completely over yet! * o
Christine has other offerings of this course available, and if you are in any way thinking that this is calling to you I urge you to check it out. You won't regret it.
This week, we looked at creating some sort of Rule for ourselves. A rule being a sort of framework for our lives as monks and artists. Being the creative group that we are, the rules came in all shapes and sizes - written rules, poetic rules, mandala's, etc.
Here are my "Rules of the Inner Monastery", they are all about "Bee-ing""
 |
| From Random |
Written on the wings of the bees in the corners:
Be a friend to your body
Be a listener of the wind
Be thankful
Be in nature
Be in Awe
Be creative
Be an explorer of your soul
Be Here Now
Be Mindful
Be in prayer
Be Still and Know that I Am
Now I am resting in this week, as I prepare for the beginning next week of the next class, "Eyes of the Heart".......glad it's not completely over yet! * o
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
Hey it's Friday again and time for The Happy Book update!
Featured on The Next Chapter blog, a fabulous slideshow by Nadia of her time with The Happy Book. The Bliss circle's copy is still making it's way to Australia.
And here's what is making up my pieces of happy this week:
1) One more day and the college kid will be home with us for a week!
2) Making my plans to go on retreat in May at Sisters of St. John the Divine, where I'll get to hear Phyllis Tickle!
3) Going out for chinese food tomorrow
and finally,
4) taking part in the Virtual Retreat this weekend - tonight and on Sunday! So pumped to be listening tonight to Patti Digh, and Fabeku Fantenmuse!
Happy Friday and have a great weekend! * o
Featured on The Next Chapter blog, a fabulous slideshow by Nadia of her time with The Happy Book. The Bliss circle's copy is still making it's way to Australia.
And here's what is making up my pieces of happy this week:
1) One more day and the college kid will be home with us for a week!
2) Making my plans to go on retreat in May at Sisters of St. John the Divine, where I'll get to hear Phyllis Tickle!
3) Going out for chinese food tomorrow
and finally,
4) taking part in the Virtual Retreat this weekend - tonight and on Sunday! So pumped to be listening tonight to Patti Digh, and Fabeku Fantenmuse!
Happy Friday and have a great weekend! * o
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Way of the Monk - Week Five
Nature Altars and a Fairy Tale
Once upon a time in a place called the Cave of the Heart there lived a tiny, elfish girl. She lived surrounded by her Shadow Sisters. These were not her real sisters, since she was an only child, but rather these were Sisters in spirit who had attached themselves to living with the little girl.
Sister Worrywart sat in the corner biting her nails and muttering. Sister Shy hid behind the curtains and only stammered when spoken directly to. Sister Romantic sat in the rocking chair, her nose buried in a book and Sister Lonely stared out the window, sighing heavily every now and again. Sister Envy was busy making a list of all the things she wished she had that other people seemed to have, and every once in awhile she would tally it off, waving her hands in the air. Sister Inadequate was busy in the kitchen trying to make a meal, and when it came time to sit down to eat she put it on the table, wringing her hands and muttering “oh, I hope it’s OK, I’m not a real cook you know, I’ve never been trained and I really don’t know what I’m doing.....” Sister Ugly was known to spend days going through the closets, trying things on, staring in the mirror and then stuffing everything back in the closets again moaning that there was “nothing to wear” that looked good on her.
One day there was a knock on the door of the Cave. Sister Romantic looked up from her book, sighed heavily “oh that Edward he is sooo mysterious and delish”, and got up to answer the door.
“Good Morning” said a tall, beautiful woman, “I’m looking for the little girl that lives here.” The beautiful woman smiled a warm smile. She was dressed in a pale blue silk dress, with a yellow silk shawl. She had long grey hair, and the most beautiful and deep blue eyes that Sister Romantic had ever seen. In her arms she was holding a big, wicker basket.
The little girl stepped out from behind Sister Romantic. “Good day” she said softly, “won’t you come in.” The little girl knew that this woman was a very Wise Woman and she bowed to her reverently as she stepped into the Cave.
“Thank you”, said the Wise Woman, “I have brought a gift for you.” And she handed the little girl the wicker basket.
“Careful, don’t take gifts from strangers!” barked Sister Worrywart, and then she went back to biting her nails.
“It’s Ok”, said the little girl as she took the basket, “It’ll be alright” she said soothingly.
“What is this?” she asked the Wise Woman.
“This basket contains the gifts of your soul. These are the gifts that you have to offer the world - your spirituality, your creativity, your friendship, your presence.....they are all here. And they are all unique to you - no one else has these gifts. They have been kept for you by your Soul Sisters and it is time for you to share these gifts with the world. You can nurture them here in the Cave of the Heart, but in order for them to grow you need to take them out and use them. No one can take them away from you - they are yours. Your Soul Sisters are waiting for you to come out into the world, and they will support you when you need it.”
The little girl took each of the gifts carefully out of the basket and looked them over, one by one, marveling at how they glowed.
“Oh no, we can’t possibly share these” exclaimed Sister Inadequate, “we’re not ready for them, we’d break them or something.”
“Besides” said Sister Envy, “they’re not as good as others gifts, why I know a little girl who has much better gifts than these.”
The little girl thought she should give the basket back to the Wise Woman, but the Wise Woman bent down, touched her cheek and said softly, “You know I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the Shadow Sisters. They are bound to get a little bit jealous from time to time, but they’ll quiet down.” She stood up and smiled at Sister Envy.
“Oh, there’s one more thing. These are for you.” The Wise Woman handed the little girl a beautiful set of wings that looked like monarch butterfly wings. The little girl put them on, and twirled around and around.
“Oh they are so beautiful, just like a fairy!” sighed Sister Romantic.
“Careful, you’ll break them!” shouted Sister Worrywart.
Sister Envy was about to say something, but one sharp look from the Wise Woman stopped her dead.
“It’s time for you to leave the Cave of the Heart, spread your wings and fly” she told the little girl and with that she took her hand and led her out the door.
It is said, that from time to time the little girl returns to the Cave of the Heart and visits with the Shadow Sisters - they are, a part of her after all. And when she is there, she also spends time going through her basket of gifts given to her so lovingly by the Soul Sisters, and restored and renewed she spreads her wings and heads back out to the world. * o
 |
| From Random |
Once upon a time in a place called the Cave of the Heart there lived a tiny, elfish girl. She lived surrounded by her Shadow Sisters. These were not her real sisters, since she was an only child, but rather these were Sisters in spirit who had attached themselves to living with the little girl.
Sister Worrywart sat in the corner biting her nails and muttering. Sister Shy hid behind the curtains and only stammered when spoken directly to. Sister Romantic sat in the rocking chair, her nose buried in a book and Sister Lonely stared out the window, sighing heavily every now and again. Sister Envy was busy making a list of all the things she wished she had that other people seemed to have, and every once in awhile she would tally it off, waving her hands in the air. Sister Inadequate was busy in the kitchen trying to make a meal, and when it came time to sit down to eat she put it on the table, wringing her hands and muttering “oh, I hope it’s OK, I’m not a real cook you know, I’ve never been trained and I really don’t know what I’m doing.....” Sister Ugly was known to spend days going through the closets, trying things on, staring in the mirror and then stuffing everything back in the closets again moaning that there was “nothing to wear” that looked good on her.
One day there was a knock on the door of the Cave. Sister Romantic looked up from her book, sighed heavily “oh that Edward he is sooo mysterious and delish”, and got up to answer the door.
“Good Morning” said a tall, beautiful woman, “I’m looking for the little girl that lives here.” The beautiful woman smiled a warm smile. She was dressed in a pale blue silk dress, with a yellow silk shawl. She had long grey hair, and the most beautiful and deep blue eyes that Sister Romantic had ever seen. In her arms she was holding a big, wicker basket.
The little girl stepped out from behind Sister Romantic. “Good day” she said softly, “won’t you come in.” The little girl knew that this woman was a very Wise Woman and she bowed to her reverently as she stepped into the Cave.
“Thank you”, said the Wise Woman, “I have brought a gift for you.” And she handed the little girl the wicker basket.
“Careful, don’t take gifts from strangers!” barked Sister Worrywart, and then she went back to biting her nails.
“It’s Ok”, said the little girl as she took the basket, “It’ll be alright” she said soothingly.
“What is this?” she asked the Wise Woman.
“This basket contains the gifts of your soul. These are the gifts that you have to offer the world - your spirituality, your creativity, your friendship, your presence.....they are all here. And they are all unique to you - no one else has these gifts. They have been kept for you by your Soul Sisters and it is time for you to share these gifts with the world. You can nurture them here in the Cave of the Heart, but in order for them to grow you need to take them out and use them. No one can take them away from you - they are yours. Your Soul Sisters are waiting for you to come out into the world, and they will support you when you need it.”
The little girl took each of the gifts carefully out of the basket and looked them over, one by one, marveling at how they glowed.
“Oh no, we can’t possibly share these” exclaimed Sister Inadequate, “we’re not ready for them, we’d break them or something.”
“Besides” said Sister Envy, “they’re not as good as others gifts, why I know a little girl who has much better gifts than these.”
The little girl thought she should give the basket back to the Wise Woman, but the Wise Woman bent down, touched her cheek and said softly, “You know I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the Shadow Sisters. They are bound to get a little bit jealous from time to time, but they’ll quiet down.” She stood up and smiled at Sister Envy.
“Oh, there’s one more thing. These are for you.” The Wise Woman handed the little girl a beautiful set of wings that looked like monarch butterfly wings. The little girl put them on, and twirled around and around.
“Oh they are so beautiful, just like a fairy!” sighed Sister Romantic.
“Careful, you’ll break them!” shouted Sister Worrywart.
Sister Envy was about to say something, but one sharp look from the Wise Woman stopped her dead.
“It’s time for you to leave the Cave of the Heart, spread your wings and fly” she told the little girl and with that she took her hand and led her out the door.
It is said, that from time to time the little girl returns to the Cave of the Heart and visits with the Shadow Sisters - they are, a part of her after all. And when she is there, she also spends time going through her basket of gifts given to her so lovingly by the Soul Sisters, and restored and renewed she spreads her wings and heads back out to the world. * o
Friday, February 05, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
The Bliss groups copy of the The Happy Book is on it's way to Meg in Australia - meanwhile, check out Gina's video tour of Sacramento where the book just was!
And here's a piece of happiness from me this week:
Hard to believe this fine young man has turned seventeen today!! (PS - don't tell him I posted this pic, he won't be impressed!!)
Happy Friday! * o
And here's a piece of happiness from me this week:
 |
| From Random |
Hard to believe this fine young man has turned seventeen today!! (PS - don't tell him I posted this pic, he won't be impressed!!)
Happy Friday! * o
Monday, February 01, 2010
Virtual Retreat - Early Bird Registration Ends This Week!
Love yourself INTO action and OUT OF depletion with Jen
Louden and 13 other world famous teachers… without even
getting out of your pj’s!
Jennifer’s book, The Woman’s Retreat Book, was featured on
Oprah. Now, Jen has created a Valentine’s Day weekend
VIRTUAL RETREAT designed to give your creative heart a boost
and your mind a rest!
The retreat package includes:
• A copy of “How To Retreat,” an eBook that helps you let
go of the fear and shows you how to create the time.
• Gentle ‘Get Ready’ emails – to help you prepare for your
self-caring-est weekend ever.
• Exclusive access to a members-only blog, where you will
get untold amounts of support and encouragement, PLUS…
• 13 heart-expanding mini-retreats with world-renowned
authors and healers.
• Easy-to-download recordings and transcripts of each
mini-retreat – so you can come and go as you please.
If you sign up before February 5th, you get a $50 discount!
So click here to come retreat with us! * o
Louden and 13 other world famous teachers… without even
getting out of your pj’s!
Jennifer’s book, The Woman’s Retreat Book, was featured on
Oprah. Now, Jen has created a Valentine’s Day weekend
VIRTUAL RETREAT designed to give your creative heart a boost
and your mind a rest!
The retreat package includes:
• A copy of “How To Retreat,” an eBook that helps you let
go of the fear and shows you how to create the time.
• Gentle ‘Get Ready’ emails – to help you prepare for your
self-caring-est weekend ever.
• Exclusive access to a members-only blog, where you will
get untold amounts of support and encouragement, PLUS…
• 13 heart-expanding mini-retreats with world-renowned
authors and healers.
• Easy-to-download recordings and transcripts of each
mini-retreat – so you can come and go as you please.
If you sign up before February 5th, you get a $50 discount!
So click here to come retreat with us! * o
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
Posts
