The Consciousness Collaborative Update
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Register for Upcoming Classes & Events
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Free Teleclass
April 11th  "What is Your Word Challenge?" This month join Writing and Performance Coach, Carol Burnes for an experiential hour of finding your own voice through written word and voice presentations.
Everyone has a word challenge - how to say what you really think and mean in the most powerful way possible -
how to discover what you actually do think and mean on a deeper level than everyday thinking takes you.
In this session we will consider some ingredients of effective writing and communication;
what is at the heart of writing and speaking that really works?
Writing is a process of discovery, learning, and getting in touch with yourself. It can be a powerful empowering experience.
What is your challenge?
Big or small - whether calling your boss,
a long lost friend, trying to write a thank you note to your muse,
an inter office memo,
finishing your Phd thesis, or generating the next poem - everyone has to use words
and perhaps could use them better.
You will be invited to participate in activities you can do on your own,
so line up paper and pen, or computer
and join us! Or just listen in and be stirred
by the exercises to respond in any way you wish.
And save the date for the Free May Teleclass in this monthly series: "What the Heck is Equine Inspired Discovery?" with Equine Inspired Coach, Lysa Wilkins. Free Public Event! April 11th Teleclass Instructor: Carol Burnes 7-8pm (eastern time) REGISTER ON-LINE (for your personal dial-in number and access code) |
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Connected
Breaths
Each of us lights up when we feel connected! Whether to a friend, a child, a spouse or a pet, this sense of energy flowing freely and evenly between beings enlivens us. And of course, the most important connection is the one you have to yourself.
When that light has dimmed, no one outside of you can turn the switch. If you are not allowing an even flow of both giving and receiving energies, you will notice the blocks manifesting in your interactions with others.
Breathwork provides a powerful medium for connecting to ourselves. The natural rhythm of breath reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving.
Since ancient times, work with the breath has been used for inner opening and connecting with spiritual dimensions. By 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, May 12th.
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Meditation
of the
Month
Appreciating Self
Occasionally we may experience an internal battle. It could sound something like this: "I wish I could just get rid of that part of me!" or "Why am I so stupid that I keep doing the same darned thing?"
In 2009, I wrote about the importance of "Loving the Water." This month's practice helps to create inner harmony with all parts of your being.
Give yourself a few moments of internal quiet. Breathe evenly, with attention on each breath.
Allow yourself to notice an "internal battle" tape that has played recently. Maintain the rhythm of the breath...
Scan in your memory for when in life's time line you learned to "do it that way." How old were you when you first: became obsessed with worrying, regularly made self-depreciating remarks, or cut someone to the quick. Bring to mind an image of yourself at that age. Really see the infant, child, or teenager as a unique individual. Still breathing...
Now, bring to mind one thing that you can genuinely appreciate about that youngster. Truly see that person, and find a trait that, if it were in any other person, you would consider it fabulous. Maybe you see her resourcefulness or his passion. Perhaps you notice his ability to read and respond to the energy of a situation or the brilliance in her ability to hide when danger was present. Whatever feels real to you, find that one thing, and visualize your adult self telling your younger self what you appreciate. Notice how it feels to connect with this part of you in this new way. What are the physical sensations of your body?
Stay with your breath, and with the image of sharing your admiration of this younger self, while allowing waves of sensational awareness to be felt. Experience your temperature, notice your breathing, be aware of any physical manifestations that are present. For this practice, continue with one age for at least three consecutive days - a month is even better! And with each day, you may notice your sensations change. Stay with your truth, and honor this connection to yourself. After a series of days, select another age, based on a different tape loop, and begin the practice again.
When our internal parts know that what they contribute is valued, it's a game changer.
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While in Costa Rica a couple of months ago, I fell in love with the creatures of the jungle. Among them was the three-toed sloth. I knew nothing about this animal of the anteater family until my husband caught sight of one at the base of a massive mahogany tree about 10 feet from the house we'd rented. When he spotted the creature on our first day, I ran to get my camera. She politely waited for me. When I returned with digital device in hand, I received a look of "Are you ready? It's time for me to climb now." (that's her in the photo above)
Then, ever so slowly she hooked her claws on the vines that covered the tree. One painstaking reach at a time, our neighboring sloth made her way into the canopy of leaves, moss, and vines, until she disappeared from view. Her camouflage, so complete, once we lost sight of her, we never spied her again over the next week.
We later learned, at the Jaguar Rescue Center, sloths only come down from their trees about once a week to defecate. Even if their babies fall from the tree, they will only be retrieved if it coincides with a cyclical descent. Already feeling grateful for the sloth's visit, I then realized how lucky we had been to witness her ascent.
Given how slowly sloths move (about 6.5 feet per minute), it's a wonder they don't face extinction. In particular, the three-toed variety of sloth is considered a prehistoric animal; it has no sharp teeth (an herbivore) and its genitalia reside within the body instead of outside. So, how does a prehistoric being survive in the modern-day world?
In addition to a coat of natural camouflage, a sloth's stillness encourages moss growth on the fur - Harry Potter's invisibility cloak couldn't do a better job in the jungle. As further protection, parasites nestle in to feed on the moss resulting in an apparently dormant, smelly, moss covered creature that predatory animals find unappetizing!
Sound like any humans you know? To fend off attraction, or in some cases to attract attention as a diversionary tactic, we manage to find our own brand of moss and parasites. We may carry extra weight, withdraw into shyness in social situations, proclaim judgments on others or regularly pronounce the glass as half empty. Depending upon your particular symbiotic relationship with this first glance defense, you may drink to excess, gregariously make everything into a joke, or physically present yourself as version of Lisbeth Salander.
What do all of these things have in common with the sloth? No one gets closer. The predators may stay away, but so do the companions. A female sloth births only one baby a year, but can go well over a year before finding a male to mate with, because neither one leaves their own tree. So while I love my three-toed sloth friends, I'm aware that their prehistoric nature does not provide a positive role model for an abundant human life. We thrive on the connection to ourselves and others. It doesn't serve our humanity to wrap too deftly in our defenses, because they stave off potential engagement with others in our species.
Think about what happens when we only show the defense. Even if someone is brave enough to get past the smell, and curious enough to stick around a while, we may feel scared to drop the camouflage. And yet, only when we reveal our true selves - our essence within, does the richness of relationship and the experience of being truly seen even become possible.
Wondering how this relates to you? Sit for a minute with your connections to others. Do you feel you are being your most authentic self? If so, dynamite! Then allow your curiosity to gently examine your "exterior package" and notice if you require your dear ones to get past a little moss before they get to you. Do you genuinely want/need that moss?
If you find that you're not experiencing the connections you desire, begin with envisioning how you would like to experience yourself differently. If you met you, how would you treat yourself? Would you find the person in the mirror easily accessible? Does that person share their vulnerability with you? Begin by having the relationship with yourself that you seek in another. That act of self compassion will likely encourage the parasites to find another feeding ground, and a whole new world may open to you.
With love and curiosity,
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Inject Your Business with Passion ...and Find Your Way Out of the Tunnel
 This month, Samvedam Randles welcomes special guest, Volker Frank to co-host a weekend of Organizational Constellations. As Volker says, "A lot of people feel stuck and consider giving up on their dreams. Internally, this notion is so unacceptable that it creates tension and paralysis.
It's important to make a distinction between your goals and your passion - your life's work. The tension comes from confusing the two. Sometimes it makes sense to give up a goal; but, no good ever comes from giving up a true passion.
When we get tunnel visioned by a specific goal, we miss opportunities to get passionate. I ask, what are you trying to prove, and to whom?"
Using the Constellation approach, Samvedam and Volker invite you to look at where your attention goes, despite the intention to live joyfully and passionately. Whether you are part of a large organization, a small team, or a solo practitioner, take heed of the hidden contracts and silent agreements that bind you, and get directly in touch with what serves you, opening doorways to live your passion.Wondering if this workshop is a good fit? If you...
- Feel stuck deciding how to focus your efforts and take next steps...
- Experience so much stress that it's difficult to stay creative and motivated...
- Wish you could resolve tensions in key relationships...
- Feel frustrated by office politics, making it practically impossible to do a good job...
The experience of organizational constellations may help to clarify organizational dynamics, identify social dynamics around business decisions, and provide an assessment tool for consultants to explore you may serve your clients best. The impact of this work is profound. Own your power and increase organizational effectiveness! Two Day Organizational Constellation Workshop
Watertown, MA
April 14th ~ 9am - 5pm
April 15th ~10am - 4pm
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The Parent-Child Tapestry
The parenting books line your shelves. You've heard descriptions of this problem and the diagnoses - both seem to match what you see in your child, but neither feels quite right. And, the list of people who have given you advice you are sure, or at least at one time were sure, would work is l o n g. If you are like most parents, the information stream is both unending and confusing. Why can't you just apply that golden advice and brilliant insight to make everything work? Basically, because you are a human being and so is your child. Each of us, parent and child, walks our own individual path. And yet in the unique relationship that is parenting, those two paths are interwoven - such is the job, and survival of the species dictates that it remains so. That interweaving can make it very tricky to see what is needed, and even when we do, it's hard to remain confident as we enact that decision. A mess! So what is the good news? The good news, really the great news is two fold: 1) Every parent I have ever met knows well, children come in with a special tool for prodding at our most unfinished and difficult places creating an opportunity for us to grow (okay, that may not sound great, but it is!); and 2) We are their parents and the same interweaving that makes it so difficult also gives us a heart knowing that is not replaceable by any book or expert. So, why is it still so difficult to parent? The catch is that when the children are using their special "get to the heart of Mom or Dad tool," we often get lost in our own unaddressed wounds and we stop trusting, and even stop hearing, our own deep knowing. That is one of the biggest gifts our children bring us: the opportunity, actually the challenge, to deal with our unfinished business and be all we can be. It is an opportunity we deserve, and, fortunately, our children are quite relentless in providing it! This is our human legacy, we all come with baggage and our children have always offered us the opportunity to work with that and become more fully and freely ourselves. As was once provided by community life, it can be helpful to have a guide along the way. The Parenting As Path workshop provides an opportunity to receive both acceptance of and support for untangling the knots. In this forum, my 40 years of personal growth work, meditation, therapy, and most of all, my 38 years of parenting and boundless sense of humor are put to good use. Together, we will uncover the great love and knowing that is parenting, by providing the time to parent ourselves first - a chance to experience and accept all that parenting rouses, and to find within that, the gem that is us. On this base, the program goes on to a personal consultation in which we apply the wisdom we have uncovered to specifically address your child's needs and the child's path. I welcome this opportunity to share with you my 43 years of teaching and work with sensory integration, reflexes, learning styles, behavior strategies and much more, for the benefit of your child. And then comes the all important part: discovering together how these two unique paths can be woven into a vibrant tapestry, and not one where the threads are just pulling the weaving to rags! Join us for a day of laughter and tears and appreciation of what it is to be a parent. Sign up today!
Parenting As Path WorkshopFacilitated by Parenting Consultant, Beth SuttonMay 5th ~ 9am - 6pmLexington, MAREGISTER ON-LINE
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For Special Guest: Marc David
The Consciousness Collaborative is honored to have special guest, Marc David M.A., as our teleclass instructor for June. Marc is a visionary health and nutrition consultant, eating psychologist, and the author of two acclaimed books - The Slow Down Diet: Eating for Pleasure, Energy, and Weight Loss, and Nourishing Wisdom: A Mind-Body Approach to Nutrition and Well Being. A nationally recognized teacher and speaker, Marc presents his expertise in nutritional medicine and the psychology of eating in a fresh and innovative way. His humorous, engaging, and informative speaking style have made him a popular and well loved presenter; and his non-dogmatic approach to nutrition appeals to a wide audience of eaters who are looking for positive, inspiring, and innovative messages about food and metabolism.
For this free teleclass, Marc will share a bit of his wisdom about " Transforming Your Relationship with Food." The question of what and how to eat is one of the most compelling topics of our times. If you are among the people who express dissatisfaction with their bodies, who battle with weight, or are simply frustrated and confused about all the conflicting information around, you are invited to participate in this delicious conversation about eating with one of the industry experts. Take a beautiful leap forward with food by learning some of the powerful tools and techniques from the fields of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. Allow yourself to be liberated from the rules and move from a relationship with food that punishes, to one that nourishes. For more information about Marc David, including a brief video introducing his revolutionary way of perceiving food, visit the Psychology of Eating. And then sign up for the June Teleclass. Free Public Event!
with Special Guest Instructor:Marc David, M.A.
Visionary Health and Nutrition Consultant,
Eating Psychologist, and Best Selling Author "Transforming Your Relationship with Food"June 13th7:00 - 8:00pm (eastern)This will be the conclusion of this season's Free Teleclasses. A new series will begin in September. If you missed classes over these last months, visit our new Free Stuff page, and download all of the recordings that interest you.
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More Meditation Opportunities
 "An on-the-spot equanimity practice is to walk down the street with the intention of staying as awake as possible to whomever we meet. This is training in being emotionally honest with ourselves and becoming more available to others. As we pass people we simply notice whether we open up or shut down. We notice if we feel attraction, aversion, or indifference, without adding anything extra like self-judgment. We might feel compassion toward someone who looks depressed, or cheered up by someone who's smiling to himself. We might feel fear and aversion for another person without even knowing why. Noticing where we open up and where we shut down-without praise or blame-is the basis of our practice. Practicing this way for even one block of a city street can be an eye-opener." - Pema Chodron, Comfortable With Uncertainty For the past three and a half years I have led an evening meditation on the third Wednesday of each month - first in Arlington, MA and most recently at Third Option Coaching in Lexington, MA. Accepting an invitation to expand this practice, on March 25th I began hosting an additional gathering one Sunday a month at Hollis Yoga in Hollis, NH.
In the spirit of Pema's practice (quoted above), I invite you to join me for either or both of these monthly meditation gatherings. Together we may explore our self compassion and share our openness with one another. Both the Lexington and Hollis events are open to everyone, whether you are new to meditation or a regular practitioner seeking the power of the group experience.
Each meditation is different, as we follow the seasons and include simple ways to connect with ourselves through: breath, vibrant visualizations, and long practiced Tibetan techniques. Your energy will be welcome at any time of the cycle. Email me to reserve your space.All profits will be donated to Next Generation Nepal, an organization dedicated to reuniting trafficked children within Nepal to their parents.
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Recipe of the Month
Two Cleansing Greens
Continuing the theme of gentle spring cleaning, these delicious recipes include supportive greens you may enjoy in new ways.
 Swiss Chard Salad
Prep Time: 10 mins
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch of rainbow Swiss chard, finely chopped
- 1/2 pkg baked tofu cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 C. red cabbage, shredded coarsely
- 2-3 carrots, grated
- 1 C. toasted walnuts
Oriental Dressing
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cloves garlic (pressed or chopped)
- 1/4 C. rice vinegar
- 1/2 C. walnut oil
- 2 Tbsp roasted sesame oil
Directions:1. Cut off stems of the Swiss chard and slice small, then chop leaves by rolling the chard into a tube and slicing thinly, creating narrow strips. 2. Blend all dressing ingredients and mix well. The dressing will last for a few days in the refrigerator. 3. Mix all salad ingredients and drizzle with dressing. Serve. Collards with Dill and Parsley
 Prep Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch of collard greens
- 1 C. fresh chopped dill
- 1 C. fresh chopped parsley - 2 Tbsp. olive oil - 1 tsp. black pepper - pinch of sea salt
Directions: 1. Wash collards, cut stems off and chop into small pieces and put aside. Stack leaves and roll them up as you would a sushi roll, then slice from the end to create long strips. 2. Warm oil in a pan with black pepper, and add stems, sauteing for a few minutes. 3. Add collard greens and sea salt, then saute for about 3 minutes. 4. Add water, cover and allow to steam for about 3-4 minutes, then remove from heat. 5. Add chopped dill and parsley, toss well and allow to sit uncovered for a few minutes, then serve. Variation: Mix the juice of a lime and a dash of cayenne. Toss with the greens for a little extra kick!
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N
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