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"STAYING IN THE DAY"
My daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and is just days away from giving birth to her fourth child. Yesterday, her online journal read, "I really need to stay in the day right now." I responded to her entry with, "Yes - so wise - that's where the peace is." As I wrote this, I realized that my message was a reminder for me, as well.
In the face of harrowing life experiences, it's so easy, and often automatic, to fall into catastrophic thinking, excessively focusing on the future and expecting the worst. If you had told me a number of years ago that my daughter would have breast cancer and be undergoing chemotherapy treatments during the last three months of her pregnancy, followed by more chemotherapy, then surgery after the baby was born, I may have been consumed by fear and dread. There was, understandably, fear, and certainly shock, when we received the news, and we all continue to dip into and out of fear. But here we are, family and friends, walking through cancer together, one day at a time. Those of us who are able to keep coming back to the Now, including, most of all, Heidi, are really okay. Even my 85 year old mother, who isn't known for her equanimity, is managing much of the time to keep her attention on the here and now and be fully present in other parts of her life.
What does it mean to "stay in the day" in the face of adversity? A lot of letting go is required. We need to unhook from the what ifs, the need to know what's next, and we need to step back from the impulse to control every outcome. We learn how to be faithful to each moment as it unfolds - sensing and feeling what is true right here, right now, and trusting that is enough, that what we need to know will be available to us as we go. It also helps to know that, yes, we really can handle whatever life presents us with, no matter how difficult. We all know people and have heard many stories of those who not only survived seemingly untenable life situations, but thrived. In fact, these life-changing events can make spiritual warriors of us. Of course, not everyone is able to rise out of the ashes. Unfortunately, that is true, and sad. But people often amaze themselves and others by doing what seemed to be impossible.
"Staying in the day" puts us face to face with The Mystery. We realize that there is so much we cannot know. A great peace can occur when we release the mind's quite desperate grasping and driving need to know what lies ahead. A trust builds in us and we become more and more aligned with Being, able to flow with and not resist the unpredictable nature of the phenomenal world.
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WAKING DOWN IN MUTUALITY
Individual Sessions and Sittings
Waking Down in Mutuality is an integrated, whole-being spirituality that includes body, mind, feelings, and spirit. In this work you embrace your humanity and your divinity. Spirit is not seen as separate from the body or our world. Our full humanness is experienced as sacred, as is all of life.
I offer phone or in-person individual sessions, a 45 minute FREE Introductory Session, an Introductory Event, and sittings in San Rafael and Berkeley, California.
SITTINGS *A 10 minute period of silent meditation *Gazing Meditation - Being to Being meeting, in which the teacher briefly connects with each participant through eye contact *Personal Sharing Time - Each person who wants to, takes time to share. This can include speaking about what is currently important to you in your spiritual life, sharing an "edge" or area of exploration, or asking questions. Sittings in San Rafael (contact me for address) 2011 Saturday Dates and Times: September 10, October 15, November 26, December 10 10:30 am - 1:30 pm 2011 Wednesday Dates and Times: October 5, November 16, December 21 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm. Sittings in Berkeley 2218 Prince St. (August and September) Thursday, September 15 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Fee for Sittings: $20 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS FREE 45 minute Introductory Session One hour phone or in-person sessions Sliding scale of $40-$60/hour FREE INTRODUCTORY EVENT *What is Waking Down in Mutuality? Specifically, what is Waking? Down? Mutuality? *What is its history? *What are the basic teachings? *How does "Waking Down" work? Sunday, September 25 4:00-5:30 pm 6239 College Ave (near Claremont) Berkeley, CA. Contact me to reserve spaces for sittings and the Introductory Event susannewest888@yahoo.com or (415) 721-0766. For more information about Waking Down in Mutuality, see www.wakingdown.org |
UPCOMING COURSE
GUIDED IMAGERY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
Telecourse and Free Teleseminar Preview Call
In this 5 session certification telecourse you will learn innovative imagery techniques and guidelines for the successful use of imagery for your own healing and transformation and/or to expand the scope of yoru practice and your work with clients.
This course is for helping professionals of all kinds: teachers, coaches, somatic practitioners, hypnotherapists, social workers, nurses and physicians.
Nurses and hypnotherapists will receive CEUs.
You will learn:
Specific Imagery Techniques for Intuitive Decision-Making
How to Access the 'Inner Healer', 'Inner Entrepreneur' and Other Positive Selves Through Subpersonality Work
How to Apply the Healing and Symbols Process to Financial and Career Issues
How to Integrate Imagery Into Daily Life
How to Use All of the Senses to Increase the Effectiveness of Imagery
... and more
The telecourse begins Monday, October 10 and continues on Mondays for five weeks. Each class begins at 5:00 pm PT, 8:00 pm ET and lasts for 90 minutes.
All classes will be recorded, so if you miss any, you can listen via recording.
The fee is $127 before October 6 (single payment) and $247 after that, which can be paid in one, two or three payments.
FREE TELESEMINAR PREVIEW CALL - "Meeting and Greeting Your Subpersonalities"
Our personalities are comprised of many different parts, called subpersonalities. These semi-autonomous selves represent our varied ways of thinking, feeling and acting. You may have a "critic" or "rebel" within you, as well as numerous positive selves, e.g., "the entrepreneur" or "artist." In this FREE preview teleseminar, you will learn how to recognize subpersonalities, discover how they develop, and learn how to work with them to facilitate healing and transformation.
Monday, October 3
5:00 pm PT, 8:00 pm ET
One hour5
For information, or to register for the course contact me at susannewest888@yahoo.com or (415)721-0766 |
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WRITING FROM THE SOUL
Writing for Creative Expression and Spiritual Growth
In these ongoing, drop-in groups you will learn processes to free your imagination, develop ease and confidence in writing, cultivate your unique writing voice, and overcome blocks to writing.
San Rafael, CA (Call for address)
Alternate Thursdays
7:30 - 9:30 pm
Oakland, CA (6239 College Avenue)
Last Sunday of each month
6:15 - 8:15 pm
All levels of experience and all types of writing are welcome
INDIVIDUAL COACHING SESSIONS (phone or in-person) to assist you in any or all stages of the writing process:
- Start, develop, and/or complete writing projects
- Learn how to ignite and sustain motivation
- Overcome writer's block
- Discover your natural writing voice
- Develop confidence and ease in writing
- Create attainable short and long term goals
A FREE CONSULTATION is available. You can contact me at susannewest888@yahoo.com or (415) 721-0766.
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INSIGHT TO ACTION COACHING
INSIGHT TO ACTION COACHING phone or in-person coaching can help you: - Achieve your personal and professional goals
- Navigate through periods of transition
- Develop strengths and seed potentials
- Find your purpose and passion
- Overcome blocks and limiting patterns
- Quiet the voice of the Inner Critic
- Access inner knowing for decision-making and clarity about your goals and life direction
- Ignite and sustain your creativity
- Create action steps that generate tangible results
I specialize in helping clients overcome blocks of all kinds and translate ideas and visions into concrete action. Fees for individual sessions are based on a sliding scale. A coaching package is available, as well. Contact me if you'd like a FREE CONSULTATION. |
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For information or to sign up for courses or free consultations, contact me at susannewest888@yahoo.com or (415)721-0766.
Click here to visit my website if you'd like to learn more about my phone or in-person Insight to Action Coaching, Waking Down in Mutuality, Writing from the Soul Programs, or The Soul of Caregiving Workshops.
A Free Consultation is available. You can also sign up for my free monthly newsletter. |
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