The Consciousness Collaborative Update
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Register for Upcoming Classes & Events
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Free Teleclass
May 9th  "What the Heck is Equine Inspired Discovery?" Are you feeling stuck - held back from what you truly want in life? Perhaps you're looking for a way to let go of these feelings to reach what really matters to you? If this rings any bells for you, you're invited to join Equine Inspired Discovery facilitator, Lysa Wilkins for this month's Free Teleclass. Equine Assisted Discovery is a personal development technique that takes the natural laws by which horses in the wild live and translates them into something that will inspire human beings to live the life they desire, from becoming aware of the energy you bring to client meetings and relationships to discovering what that "stuck" feeling is about. As Lysa explains, "My mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of others by using the model of 'The Horse' to achieve freedom from limiting thoughts, in order to make a true connection with oneself.
My unique use of 'The Horse' as a training model, effectively demonstrates how the shift from 'knowledge into realization' and from 'understanding into actualization' can happen much quicker than may be experienced through traditional personal development programs.
My equine partners exemplify how a relationship with another being can lead to a fundamentally better life. Through my connection with my own horses, I can show you how to communicate through feel and intention rather than the language and logical side of your brain, which may cause blocks through worry, fear, pain, and stress. I will teach you how to read the signals the horses communicate to you when a connection is either made or broken. The signals you learn about through my equine partners will overlap with the interactions you have in your everyday life, helping you to become more perceptive and receptive to communication with your inner-self and the people around you." To learn more about this unique growth modality, sign up today for this Free Public Event! May 9th Teleclass Instructor: Lysa Wilkins 7-8pm (eastern time) REGISTER ON-LINE (for your personal dial-in number and access code) And save the date for our special guest, Marc David, when he facilitates the Free June Teleclass, "Transforming Your Relationship With Food." This will be the final teleclass of the season - you won't want to miss it! |
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Holding Your Breath?
Your neighbor comes to you with a complaint about the dog...your spouse is stuck at the airport and there will be no one to watch the kids...your boss wants a meeting, and it doesn't sound good...and what happens? YOU stop breathing! In moments of stress, we often seek to control something, and so we hold our breath. In that moment, though, we lose connection to Self.
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 our breath or restrict it. Only then can we stretch and expand our ability to bring more life force into all parts of our bodies and marvel at how alive and joyful we can feel.
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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Save
the Dates
July 20th-22nd
This July, April Prita Manganiello will lead another Emotional Re-Education Workshop. If you're a past participant, you have experienced the inner transformation and knowing that occurs in the space of this workshop container. Prita, with her team of facilitators and assistants create a welcoming environment for recognizing, releasing, and re-framing past traumas and learned beliefs. "While we all experience pain in our lives, true suffering is born of a disconnection from the core self," explains Prita. The Emotional Re-Education Workshop provides an opportunity to: be more fully connected to yourself and others; try on new attitudes (while clearing ancient beliefs); and accept support for your personal ability to give and receive love.
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(image borrowed from Encyclopedia of Life)
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As we wind down the Costa Rica stories, I need to share about the monkeys. In advance of arriving at our rental house in the jungle, we were told to bring ear plugs, assured that this would be the only way to get a good night's sleep. We brought them, and never used them once, because waking to the sound of howler monkeys is not a treat to be missed!
The rainforest that borders the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is teeming with alien-like insects, flamboyant arachnids, an assortment of reptiles, avian delights from sophisticated hawks to flashy toucans, and mammals that include sloths (mentioned in April), margays and howler monkeys. We happily enjoyed nearly all of these beings while relaxing at our jungle residence.
We arrived at our getaway in the dark of night - from what we could see, which was precious little in the starlight - the jungle was asleep. At about 5:00 am, from our slumber in Playa Chiquita, we heard a barrage of noise - seemingly right behind our heads - nature's mix-master crossed a barking dog and mooing cow through a megaphone to create a deep throated roar. Beyond our bedroom window, the howler monkeys had awakened.
These are the second loudest creatures in the wild, allowing their voices to carry 2-3 miles. And this troop was definitely nearby, because moments later, the howls made a ring around our house - some quite a distance by the sound of it. Imagine being in the center of the wave at Fenway Park performed howler monkey style. This link takes you to the closest version I can locate of what it sounded like.
As each troop woke, they announced where they were in the world, staking out their territory and claiming the day as their own. With the setting of the sun, the same round-robin began again. One leader called out where he and his 15-20 monkey family would be staying for the night, followed by other leaders within earshot chiming in. It reminded me of the Waltons saying good-night to John Boy.
The craziest thing though - it truly did awaken me! Not just to the day (because I allowed myself a few more winks of sleep), but to my personal resonance with the jungle and the beings that reside there. If we've met, you may know I am NOT a "nature gal." To me, a screened porch is about as outside as I like it, unless seated at an outdoor bistro as someone serves me delicious eats. I don't do bugs - in fact, unless it's feline formed, I'm generally not that interested. But these monkeys!
With that first wake-up call, I became curious and open to what awaited me in this strange land. I tried without success to capture images of half-dollar sized spiders that spun golden webs and butterflies painted to look like black eyes in a sea of orange. One evening a grasshopper landed on my shirt, and stayed with me for two hours. Only when it crawled up to my neck and tickled me, did I encourage it to change its course - and then it leaped away.
In the midst of this rainforest, my creative juices spurt as though I'd just bitten a lemon. You know that feeling, when you bite into a lemon and there's that tingle in your jaw and your mouth is suddenly filled with saliva? That's how enlivened my creativity felt - and it came just that fast.
My netbook now has a list of "Ideas and Musings" that bubbled up during this hiatus from day-to-day life. My experience in the jungle awakened a sleepy, if not dormant, part of me that bursts with energy, when given the space to do so. Imagine, though, if I'd worn the earplugs!
We never know where our own wake-up call will come from. It may be in the form of illness, a good book, the death of a loved one, a change of scenery, a new coach, or a howler monkey. Whatever your next wake up call may be, pull out the earplugs and welcome it - embrace it - allow yourself to revel in the tingle of being awake!
If life is for learning and thriving, listen in for the howls that rouse you from your slumber. It's quite magical.
"Good-night John Boy," may you truly awaken tomorrow!
With love and curiosity,
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Just Announced!
New Date Added This Month
Samvedam Randles just added another opportunity to participate in An Introduction to Family Constellations on May 19th. This month, special attention will be brought to adoption issues and how they influence families and fates. For more information about Family Constellations, watch Samvedam discuss the nature of this modality in video link above.
Then, take advantage of this additional opportunity to explore and unwind your family lineage, particularly if adoption has played some role in your world. Of course, other issues and themes will be welcomed, too. Simply bring yourself to the circle, with an open heart and open mind. Understanding the "Bigger Picture"
May 19th ~ 10am - 5pm
Watertown, MA
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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Listening to Your Inner Clarity
Do you hear yourself saying... "Uggh...I hate the way my wife makes decisions. Everything from our choice of restaurant to which couch to buy is made by committee.""My son is driving me nuts. He never wants to go on play dates. I'm afraid he's not going to have any friends.""I think my business partner is in la-la land. Every time I turn around, he's telling me not to stress about what our next move is. He doesn't care that we don't even have a plan!""My daughter is the most stubborn person on the face of the earth. In fact, not just stubborn, but contrary! If I say black, she wants white. If I say yes, she says no. It goes on and on all day long. I can't take it anymore."If any of these statements resonate, you are heartily encouraged to join Beth Sutton for a weekend workshop of Rousing Intuition. The Rousing Intuition Workshop explores ways to better recognize and trust the voice of our own intuition. Through a series of playful, active, and artistic exercises we begin to experience ourselves, and those who challenge us most, in a new light. We tease apart the expectations and assumptions that shrink our perceptions and block our intuition. We discover the ways fear and judgment shut down our perception, and we begin to open our ears to our own intuition. This deep knowing, in turn, informs our insight and understanding and opens life-filled options for us - moment by moment. Join Beth Sutton for a weekend of clay modeling, music, architectural installations, laughter, and provocative discussion. Working with the Buddha Families (Tibetan Buddhism) and Sensory Learning Styles (Enki Education), we will open up our expectations and explore new perspectives and possibilities. From there, we practice hearing our own intuition as we take a fresh look at that which challenges us - from the screaming child, to the coworker who seems to be deaf, to the undertaking that defies our plans - learning to trust ourselves, regardless of the hurdle before us.
Rousing Intuition WorkshopFacilitated by Beth SuttonJune 8th - 10thFarmington, CTREGISTER ON-LINE
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Transforming Your Relationship With Food
Free Teleclass with Special Guest: Marc David
The question of what and how to eat is one of the most compelling topics of our times. An extraordinary number of people express dissatisfaction with their bodies, battle with weight, or are simply frustrated and confused about all the conflicting information around nutrition. If you are among this growing crowd, join Nutritional Psychologist, best selling author, and founder / director of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, Marc David, M.A. for a delicious conversation about eating. Marc David is truly a leading visionary in the world of food and eating. 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. This Free Teleclass offers an opportunity to take a beautiful leap forward with food, as Marc shares some of the powerful tools and techniques from the fields of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. Liberate yourself from the limiting beliefs you've carried about eating, and finally move from a relationship with food that punishes, to one that nourishes. If you are:
- Tired of the same old messages about food, nutrition and health...
- Interested in letting go of the inner struggle around body image and weight...
- Curious about what may be possible if you transform your relationship with food...
Accept this invitation to discover a new relationship with food and self - a way of eating and living that could leave you truly nourished and fulfilled. For more information about Marc David, including a brief video introducing his revolutionary way of perceiving food, visit the Institute for the Psychology of Eating website. And then sign up for the June Teleclass.
Free Public Event!
with Special Guest Instructor:Marc David, M.A.
"Transforming Your Relationship with Food"June 13th7:00 - 8:00pm (eastern)
Attention coaches, counselors, teachers, healers, and other helping professionals, Marc will include a special focus designed to improve your skills and effectiveness when it comes to serving others around nutrition, weight, health, and eating concerns. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from as internationally acclaimed educator, who has held senior consulting positions at Canyon Ranch Resorts, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and the Johnson & Johnson Corporation, and presented at a long list of prestigious academic settings from Harvard University and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition to The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine.
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Seeking a Donation Opportunity?
 The MA Ride for the Ribbon is an event that fuels the fire for a brighter, more educated, cancer-free future. Though the event name changed, it is still the same great cause with riders gathering in honor and in memory of the women (and men) in their lives that have battled breast cancer. Participants from throughout the state embellish their favorite four-legged companions for a 10 mile trail ride through the woods and dirt roads near Felton Field in Barre, MA. The next ride, scheduled for June 3rd, marks the fifth anniversary of this event.
Last year's official equestrian event raised $90,000 thanks to the exhausting fundraising efforts of the participants. In just four short years, the dollars raised by this event have totaled approximately $350,000 in support of the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the CureŽ.
"Last year, over half of our riders were new," said Lysa Wilkins, MA Ride for the Ribbon President (and member of The Consciousness Collaborative). "This is significant because it means we are reaching more and more people with our message and our mission."
"Reaching more people means growing our event, and that means more money for the cause," she added. "The potential of this event is limitless. I am ever inspired to witness the collaborative efforts of so many individuals for such a pure, rewarding cause that celebrates Massachusetts' breast cancer survivors, supports those who are currently fighting, and remembers those we have lost.
Get Involved! If you want to donate to this amazing event - whether it is a monetary donation, a donation of services or goods, or if you want to simply donate your time, please contact Lysa Wilkins.
Funds raised by this ride help to carry out the Susan G. Komen for the CureŽ promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cures. The ride is dedicated to every women in the world who ever had to hear the devastating words that transform a simple pink ribbon into one of the most meaningful symbols of hope.
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Recipe of the Month
Kale Chips
This simple recipe has become a favorite snack for many of my clients. A healthy treat that satisfies the need for a little crunch in the diet. 
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 1-2 bunches of kale
- olive oil
Directions:1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees 2. Remove kale from stalk, leaving the greens in large pieces. 3. Place a little olive oil in a bowl, dip your fingers and rub a very light coat of oil over the kale. 4. Place kale on a baking sheet and bake 5 minutes or until it starts to turn a bit brown. Keep an eye on it, as it can burn quickly. 5. Turn the kale over and bake with the other side up. Remove and serve.
Variations:
Try different kinds of kale or collard greens. And for added flavor, sprinkle with a little salt or spice (such as curry or cumin) after rubbing on olive oil.
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N
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Meditation of the Month
Fire Breathing
There are so many different kinds of breath meditations, and we have published quite a few. This month we bring our attention to the breath of fire.
Many disciplines believe that fire is one of the five elements within us. Fire provides the passion, the energy - "fire in the belly." And true to form, the belly is exactly where you focus for Fire Breathing.
This meditative breath provides a sense of empowerment. You may practice this daily, and more specifically right before you have that challenging conversation with your ex-spouse or a few moments before walking into that big presentation. When you seek to call upon the natural power within you, Fire Breathing is an excellent resource.
This month, rather than writing down the instructions, I'm going to invite Yoga Instructor, Anne Novak, to lead us in this meditation through the video link above.
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