Healthy Home Workshop

with Rosalind Adams 

 

Saturday June 11th

2:00pm

$15 

 

 

___________________________________________ Playful Spaces Family Dance        Friday June 17th  6:30 - 8:30pm by donation    ___________________________________________

Two of our fabulous Board Members are "in a family way" and will be leaving the Board (hopefully only for Family Leave, and returning with a squirming one-year-old on their lap at a future meeting ; )

If you are interested in being on the Board, please look at the Prospective Board Members package on our website:
www.Matoto.org
Any of our current or former Board Members would be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have.  You are welcome to come to a Board Meeting or two to see if its a fit for you.
info@Matoto.org
Or talk with any of the wonderful MoonDancers that are currently involved:
Erin, Marielle, Andrea, Sheryl

CONGRATULATIONS AMALIA & PUTU.  Blessings for this beautiful journey you are embarking on (I know some of the parents reading that are laughing!  Spit-up and sleeplessness maybe aren't "beautiful" exactly... Work with me here!  So many of the moments are.  Sleep-deprived or not, its well worth the wild ride!)

What is Matoto?

Matoto Multicultural Arts Society is MoonDance's sister non-profit.  We always seeked ways to "give back" for the amazing gifts we receive from our Guinean "family", in particular the rhythms & dances that we all benefit from sharing so much.  Through the cultural arts of West Africa we have found community, celebration, fitness, confidence, fun (tell me what else ~ I love hearing your stories of what MoonDance means to you!).
Our biggest project so far was the invitation to build a school in a Village in Guinea.  Kubian and four surrounding villages have no school.  This

Education is key in all areas: health, politics & governance, sustainability... It is with great reverence that we offer this gift. And with enormous gratitude to all the generous supporters.

We are a grassroots, non-profit society that aims to bring cultural and arts awareness to our community, to provide humanitarian aid to our friends in Guinea and around the world, and to provide fundraising to support to select charities in our community.

We believe the gift of multiculturalism is what it teaches about humanity.

Using the arts to channel the natural desire to connect in meaningful ways, we participate not through philanthropy but by invitation, and with full recognition of others' unique experiences.

 

As one of our board members put it, "we're a vehicle for good vibes." We like to think so.

Music, Dance, and Eco-Activities

Aug 2 - 5th, 2011
OUR Ecovillage,
Shawnigan Lake

9:00am - 12:00pm
Tuesday - Friday
(Monday is a stat)

with:
Jennie Stevens of Woodruff Music
Lynn Weaver of MoonDance Dynamic Arts School
and special guest facilitators from OUR Ecovillage

 

29 Day Giving Challenge

   

 

 

Give something away every day for 29 days.

Why?
Giving is always good.  full stop.  AND we all know how much we receive through the act of giving. 
This challenge invites you to make note every day :

"Today I offered others..."
"Today I gratefully received..."
"Today I gave myself..."
"Today I learned/remembered..."

It doesn't have to read like America's best shopping list ~ this is not necessarily material things.
One day mine read:

"smiles"
"a prayer"
"hot bath"
"power of community"

Other days, yes, more "stuff" oriented, and that's great, too, with intention.

All this is good enough for me, but according to Mbali Creazzo, a South African medicine woman, if you fully go through all 29 Days, it is a powerful healing ritual, and much renewal will come into your life.
(I'll let you know if anything remarkable happens!)

She adds an additional challenge to it, as well, here in her words:

"I am a medicine woman, teacher, healer, creative artist and cowrie shell diviner. The 29 Day Giving Ritual originated from the Medicine work I have embarked on. When we have so much we can still live in the scarcity of not having enough or being enough a message received in the Western world on a daily basis. Giving of any kind, taking an action begins the process of change, moves us to remember that we are part of a much greater universe. Try this: what if you were to give away something that you felt you could never part with?"

 

A FEW HELPFUL TIPS from Cami, the creator of givingchallenge.com because her life was so shifted by this ritual:

1. Be mindful. The Challenge is intended to be a sacred ritual- it is your opportunity to cultivate a mindful practice of stepping outside your own story for a few seconds each day by serving others.

2. Don't quit. If you have a day that you feel unmotivated to give, it's ok. Just go for the simple give. Call a friend and give some kind words. Write someone a nice note. Or exchange smiles with a stranger. Every give doesn't need to be monumental. You might even notice that the "simple gives" feel more powerful than the grand gestures.

3. Don't worry if you don't do it perfectly. If you forget your give one day, be gentle with yourself. This ritual is about progress, not perfection. Sit down and quietly reflect on your day. Review the entire day mindfully and find the times you unconsciously gave so you can bring it into your consciousness. Don't forget that there is never a day that you don't give. There are only days that you don't acknowledge and remember you did.

4. Be receptive and have fun. Enjoy your 29 days. And remember to stay open to receiving. Giving can't happen without the receptors of our gifts.

In your day, invite these thoughts:

 

I discern my true calling.
I create a clear vision for this time in my life.

I set goals for achieving my purpose. 

I concentrate fully on what I am doing.

I enjoy giving excellence to each task.

I find the opportunity in every experience.