The
Consciousness Collaborative Update
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Register for Upcoming Classes & Events
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Free Teleclass
Dec. 14th 
"The Power of Sacred Journeys" Vision quests and sacred journeys provide powerful opportunities to delve inward and reveal one's true self. The unique circumstances and unfamiliar settings, when led by a gifted facilitator, create entirely new vantage points from which to view ourselves, and along the way, we discover our undeniable truth. If you've never participated in a sacred journey or vision quest, the prospect may feel a bit intimidating. Humans are creatures of habit; walking consciously into the unknown calls upon both our courage and curiosity. This month, Samvedam Randles will host our free teleclass, offering gentle guidance and information about the "Power of Sacred Journeys." With her upcoming trip, "Egypt: Remembrances, Exploring the Mysteries" as a focal point, Samvedam will share her personal experience of sacred journeys, and invite your questions. This is an excellent opportunity to explore the possibility of harkening your courage and curiosity for a future adventure of your own. Also, mark your calendar for January 11th, when "guide to your inner athlete," Lisa Andrews, will host the next free teleclass: "Finding Your Fitness Inspiration." Free Public Event! Dec. 14th Teleclass Instructor: Samvedam Randles 7-8pm (eastern time) REGISTER ON-LINE (for your personal dial-in number and access code) |
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Beautiful Body Types
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." -Janis Joplin
Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body, often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images of airbrushed models and celebrities. On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing weight even more difficult.
Our culture's preferred body type shifts every decade or so, but whatever it is, it is usually unattainable without spending enormous amounts of time, energy and money. Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your valuable resources weren't used this way? Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.
The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it maintains homeostasis, and it miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is your instrument for expressing your creativity, intelligence and love. By focusing on the 1% you don't like or wish was different, you may be ignoring the remaining 99% about your body that is beautiful, unique and delightful.
What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body, instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk, and to reconnect with your inner wisdom? Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean celebrating your body, rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing your body, rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body flourish just like a child flourishes when treated with care and respect.
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N |
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Balancing Breaths
When we go full-tilt everyday, with minimal sleep, we suffer from burnout. If inertia settles us into the "stop" cycle, we become couch potatoes. Likewise, when our breaths are shallow in the chest, we may experience anxiety; while deep belly breaths, that seemingly by-pass our lungs, may result in a depressive quality. In the same way we strive for balance in our lives, balanced, connected breath is equally important.
Since ancient times, work with the breath has been used for inner opening and connecting with spiritual dimensions. Working with consciously directed breath, old physical and emotional patterns become clear, and we can connect directly with our innermost Self.
We manifest our state of being through the breath and can influence how we feel by altering our breathing patterns. But in order to do so, we first need to gain awareness of how we hold or restrict our breath. Only then can we stretch and expand our ability to bring more life force into all parts of our bodies with balance and vitality.
As a trainer and guide of this inner art, I perceive
breathwork as a self-help healing method using a combination of breath, music, sound, and the presence of a facilitator to give the client an experience of Self. Using techniques from bioenergetics, massage, and meditation, each client is taught a circular breathing method called, the connected breath. With the energy of breath, the client embarks on an inner journey into one's soul.
Through learning conscious connected breathing in a safe environment, clients strengthen their relaxation response, let go of tension, and use the energy and rhythm of the breath to connect with their deepest and most spiritual selves. This experience is the foundation of psychological and spiritual integration. Each Breathwork session is different and regular practice will enhance general health, promote well-being and connection with ones Self.
Whether you have never experienced the power of connected breathing or practice regularly and would appreciate the support of a facilitator, I invite you to join me for the monthly breathwork class offered at The Arlington Center in Arlington, MA. The next two-hour class will be Saturday, December 17th. You may view the full schedule on-line.
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My friend, Ed, just attended his mom's 90th birthday party. In her sunset years, Lil (his mom) has made it very clear that when she dies she doesn't want one of those obituaries that says, "She played bridge and enjoyed crossword puzzles." Ed jokes, "If we follow her guidelines we're pretty much down to: She was born, lived, and died." That got a laugh out of me!
In the early 1990's I was an apprentice funeral director. Yes, I did all of those things you're wondering about... the late night pick-ups, embalming, greeting mourners at visiting hours, and helping folks pre-plan their own funerals. Due to the nature of my work, I witnessed thousands of survivors honoring the deceased they loved. I learned the best visiting hours sounded like a rockin' party to an outsider. And while I never knew the departed, a profoundly personalized funeral or memorial service always touched me deeply.
In my years away from the industry, I often attended visiting hours, rather than a funeral, simply because the timing was more convenient. A couple of years ago, a good friend's father died. There was no visitation; by default, I went to the funeral. As I listened to the nephew of the deceased share memories of the man he had known, I remembered the importance of our loved ones stories - it's what makes the service beautiful and personal. Since then, I've made it a point to attend funerals rather than visiting hours. While visiting hours provide a venue to support survivors, a funeral provides an intimate experience of the person being honored. For me, listening to those memories is the very best part; these stories live on beyond the corporal being.
At the end of October, my dad died unexpectedly. I have to tell you, I was really looking forward to listening to someone else's perspective of him...someone who knew him differently than I did. In my life, I never lived with my father, so I didn't know him well. And the notion of learning about him and his stories in this unique venue appealed to me.
Ironically, the priest who offered the eulogy never met my dad at all, so the intimacy I genuinely appreciate wasn't a part of his service. It was, however, a part of my daily shower ritual from the day I learned he'd died right through to the funeral. Unintentionally, I found myself creating a eulogy for him every day in the shower. So, in my way, I got exactly what I wanted and needed from the process.
All of this death activity reminded me of an exercise I tried at an African Dance class several years ago. At the start of one session, we were given an assignment: "Write three lines about yourself, as though you were already dead and honoring your memory. What would you say about yourself if you had to write three lines of your own eulogy?" Remember, a typical obituary will tell you the facts...education, career, survivors...but the eulogy gives insight into how a person entered the world. For me, this exercise touched upon the essence I would like remembered, and how I've manifested that in action.
As 2011 comes to a close, I encourage you to create pockets of reflective time amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays. And, if you're willing to stretch a bit, take a few moments to write a eulogy for yourself...the truth of how you enter the world, what genuinely matters to you, and if you died tomorrow, what might you be remembered for? As always, there is no right or wrong, this is simply an opportunity to remember what you value, and notice how you enact your passions in your life. If you discover, upon completing your personal prose, that you want to redirect your life's attention to things that reflect more accurately who you truly be, there's still time. Just like the ghost of Christmas present...you may offer this gift to yourself.
With love and memories,
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A New Look at the Family Tree
According to Wikipedia, "Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members. The results are often displayed in charts or written as narratives.
The pursuit of family history tends to be shaped by several motivations, including the desire to carve out a place for one's family in the larger historical picture, a sense of responsibility to preserve the past for future generations, and a sense of self-satisfaction in accurate storytelling."
Imagine taking this interest to a more profound and energetic level. On December 3rd, Samvedam Randles will facilitate "An Introduction to Family Constellations." Family Constellations is a therapeutic approach through which we explore the foundational, unconscious dynamics in family systems. We look to understand the impact of unresolved family issues, or secrets, and often become more aware of influences that our ancestors' fates may still have in our life. Once these connections are identified, a healing process may unfold in which we look for the love that is inherent in most families but which is often obscured by pain, fear and anger.
Samvedam explains, "This work allows you to see a much bigger piece of family history than a single traumatic incident, and with the wider lens comes greater understanding and compassion. Constellation work does not focus on who is to blame. It is much more about where is energy not moving well? Where is love not flowing well? Then looking at how to re-establish that flow.
When participants discover their rightful, dignified place in their family, they relax and disengage from painful old patterns. This offers the opportunity to move forward in new ways and leave past issues behind."
As we search for the deeper movements of the soul, we often discover how loyal children are to their families and how much their need to belong influences their actions. Unfortunately these loyalties don't necessarily serve us later in life, and we usually are unaware that we continue to attempt to balance unresolved energies in our families of origin.
Not sure if Family Constellation work fits for you? If you have experienced cycles of disconnection, physical suffering, or financial challenges...or would like to shift the on-going misunderstandings and entanglements you experience with a spouse, co-worker, or current family member, this may be a venue for long term, and often life-changing resolution. Inspired to give it a whirl? Join Samvedam Randles for:
Saturday, December 3rd ~ 10am - 5pm
This workshop is designed for individuals and couples interested in resolving life issues and seeking a solid foundation for new direction in their lives. Also welcome are health care professionals interested in enriching their practice with highly effective tools and new insights about disease, individual issues, and human behavior.
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Free Intro to What's Next?!
Plus...Advance Registration Discount for What's Next?! Workshop Spring 2012
For many of us, unconscious limiting beliefs hold us back from living the life we want. We may have a sense that we want something more, something new; we may even be able to picture it, but getting from here to there feels impossible. And more than that, we believe we can only be happy and satisfied if we have "that thing - out there" - a perfect example of a limiting belief in action.
Throughout the What's Next?! Workshop series, we explore the false foundational blocks that we've built our "less-than-helpful" actions upon. But only after we've first focused our attention on the inner support and guidance that, when we listen, provides a wisdom, safety and compassion to navigate through any situation, offering a connected path toward What's Next?!
The reality is that we're quite brilliant - all of us. Rarely will we give up doing something a known way, unless we are shown a superior alternative. Pretty smart! So, ask yourself, "how's that old way been working for me lately?" If you'd like to reveal a better way to approach your personal What's Next?! join Joanne Lutz, creator and facilitator of the series, for the spring session beginning in January.
If you're curious about the series or would simply be interested in discovering one of your own limiting beliefs, first try an Introduction to What's Next?! In this two-hour class, you may begin to know that it is possible to move through the obstacles that block you and live the life you want by using resources that are already within you. Details for both programs listed below.
December 6th ~ 7-9pm
Lexington, MA
Bonus - A couple of past participants will be joining us for the free two-hour class! From them you may learn, first-hand, how participating in the What's Next?! Workshop series supported their personal journey forward.
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Sweet Potatoes: Food Focus
Sweet potatoes are on everyone's mind this season. They seem to go hand-in-hand with the holidays, and fortunately, eating these and other sweet vegetables needn't be limited to this time of year.
Cravings for sweets can be greatly reduced by adding sweet vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, beets, squash, turnips and rutabagas, to your daily diet. Sweet potatoes elevate blood sugar gently, rather than with the jolt delivered by simple refined carbohydrates, so there's no energy crash after you eat them.
Much higher in nutrients than white potatoes and especially rich in vitamin A, sweet potatoes offer a creamy consistency that is satisfying and soothing. They are healing to the stomach, spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and help to remove toxins from the body. They can increase the quantity of milk in lactating women and can lessen cramps and pre-menstrual symptoms. If you don't have any sweet potatoes in your kitchen, go out and buy some (organic and local if possible) and try this Recipe of the Month.
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N
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Journeys of the Spirit
Egypt: Remembrances,
Exploring the Mysteries
It is said that during the journey to the afterlife the god Anubis weighs your heart against a feather - and only if your heart is as light as that feather will you have eternal life. By letting go of the stories which weigh heavy on our hearts, we too can be free and embrace our eternal consciousness. Calling upon the support of Anubis and other ancient spirits, I will be leading a Journey of the Spirit, from March 8-18th, Egypt: Remembrances, Exploring the Mysteries. This voyage will bring us to sacred spaces designed for the purpose of spiritual alignment and for remembering and exploring the ancient mysteries of Egypt. Truly these temples serve a special function, to stir and encourage the divine to awaken within us - to illuminate the way to enlightenment. During this heart-opening quest, we'll dream our own spiritual transcendence just as the ancient mystery school initiates did thousands of years ago through ceremony, meditation and group process. Using the mythology, stories and archetypes of the ancients we come to understand who we really are - the limitless consciousness that creates the very fabric of this reality. We'll experience the powerful energies at these sacred sites - compelling us to transcend rather than being enslaved by the old stories and mythologies of our ego-minds. This is an opportunity to delve deeply into our own truth, and share with others the journey of a lifetime. Inspired by my own learning and expansion from participating in such quests, in 2006 I began leading groups for the benefit of participants inner journeys. For this trip, we will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Egyptologist who will share his enthusiasm and wisdom of this incredible culture. Watching people transform brings me such joy, and I am ever honored by the opportunity to support the courageous individuals who test the boundaries of their own beliefs. I hope you'll consider joining me. March 8th - 18th, 2012
To learn more about sacred journeys, and this trip in particular, register for the Free Monthly Teleclass I will be hosting on December 14th. During this hour, I will discuss and answer questions about the possibilities that unfold when we take a Journey of the Spirit.
-Contributed by Samvedam Randles of the Inner Arts Institute
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Meditation of the Month
Intuition Visualization
This is a lovely meditation borrowed from Patsy Grey, creator of the Learning Mediation site. If you visit the site, you will have access to an audio version of this visualization, in addtion to the text quoted below.
As always, begin with a few deep, cleansing breaths. Feel the places your body comes in contact with whatever surface supports you. And with your focus on the breath...
"Picture in your mind a walkway. It is narrow and enclosed by blank, clean walls. Walk down this pathway until you come to an opening. It may be a door, or a gate, or a just a break in the wall. Go through the opening and find yourself in a deep, quiet, safe open space. It may feel like a forest or a cave or an valley. Whatever it seems to you, it is safe. It is safe for you to sit down and wait.
The place you have chosen is very quiet. It is all yours. There is no one else aware of your place. No one expects anything from you. Allow yourself to sit quietly as long as you like.
When you are ready become aware of another presence nearing you. It is of you, and brings various messages. Whatever you have been seeking, this presence is aware of and has a feeling to share with you. It has an essence to give you that will make you aware of the answers to your own questions.
Ask it any question you may have. Ask it to please answer you in whatever way it is able. Ask it for help, then wait. An answer will come. You will feel the answer inside yourself. Another presence may join you. Ask for additional information or ask for new feelings to answer another question. The answers will come to you.
Always know you are safe with each question, each answer, each presence. Stay with your thoughts in this place until you are ready to return. You will feel in touch with this inner messenger and you will trust the answers that came to you.
Know that you can return here any time. You may come back for new answers or to reaffirm the feelings you have just received. Thank those that came to you this day. Acknowledge the feelings that are part of you. Hold dear your sense of instinct and intuition. They are the conscious source of this intuition. Allow them to become part of your life.
Get ready to leave this place you created. It is your sacred place now and you will return often to gather more information for your life.
Walk back through the opening, back down the long pathway. You may be moving slightly more quickly now, anxious to awaken with your new sense of yourself, anxious to see how this will become part of your life. Your breathing may become quicker. Notice your breathing. Pause a moment and open your eyes."
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Recipe
of the
Month
Sweet Potatoes with Lime & Cilantro
This recipe is an eye-opener for those who find sweet potatoes cloyingly sweet or who feel tired of eating them smothered in brown sugar and marshmallows. Japanese sweet potatoes, with their pale flesh and delicate flavor, are a special treat if you can find them.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 30-40 mins
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
- 2-3 limes
- butter or olive oil, salt (optional)
Directions:
1. Wash the sweet potatoes and bake them whole, in their skins, at 375 degrees until tender, about 40 minutes.
2. Wash and chop cilantro leaves.
3. When sweet potatoes are done, slit open the skin and place on serving plate.
4. Season with salt and dots of butter or a sprinkle of oil, if you like, then squeeze fresh lime juice all over, and shower with cilantro leaves.
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N
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