June 14th, 2012
Innocence has reappeared in my meditations the past few weeks. The word keeps showing up. While in Peru on my first day, we visited the Saint Frances Monastery in Lima to see a famous painting of the Last Supper. I had flown all night and felt myself start to drift when I heard the tour guide say, “Notice what is different about this painting of the Last Supper. You can find children in the painting and that represents innocence.”
Perhaps the journey is not about releasing guilt. Perhaps the journey is welcoming innocence.
I am listening to innocence…
Breathing into innocence…
Mary Anne
Posted in Forgiveness | 1 Comment »
June 13th, 2012
The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give it away. ~David Viscott
What gifts have you discovered about yourself?
What gifts are you willing to give away?
How have you shared who you are freely with the world?
{Photo taken by Mary Anne Flanagan, Machu Picchu, Peru}
Posted in Meditation | Toning the Om
June 7th, 2012
I thought I knew why I was traveling to Peru – to say thank you for 11 years of shamanism as a student and teacher. I started studying Peruvian shamanism after my mom passed away and shamanism helped me get through my levels of grief. I thought I was going to South America to give back; to offer some mesa stones and dark chocolate to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. It seemed so perfect that the name of my trip was called, “The Hidden Treasures of Peru.”
I was completely surprised that my experience was not the celebration of 11 years of shamanism that broke open my grief, but rather my trip was about 11 years of celebration of my life. As I journeyed through the many sacred sites and ruins, I had the opportunity to place my hands on large stones and to plant stones from a global medicine wheel throughout Peru. I experienced playing with children, learning from the women weavers, dancing in Lima, feeding llamas, climbing Machu Picchu, walking on a floating island, and making many new friends. I realized the journey was about my presence in the world and the gifts I offer. The hidden treasure wasn’t the ancient lands, landmarks, or even Machu Picchu. The hidden treasure was my life and I celebrated it everywhere I went in Peru. I realized by the end of the trip that other people had joined me in celebrating life – my life.
When I came home, I received a beautiful email. A new friend wrote, “You brought a very special dynamic to the trip, and truly added to my whole Peru experience…as I think you did for many. In fact I feel that you were one of the hidden treasures awaiting me in Peru.”
I came home realizing that my gifts are no longer hidden. They are available for the world to see and experience. The hidden treasure of my life is ready to be celebrated.
Please join me in celebrating life and all your hidden treasures within!
Mary Anne
Posted in Shamanism | 7 Comments »
June 5th, 2012
As I traveled to Peru, I knew I needed to let go of some pre-conceived thoughts so I could make room for all the information and beauty I would encounter. I wrote in my journal, “I am willing to let go and let in.” There is no room if the bucket (of my mind) is full. I went to Peru with an empty bucket and it was filled with so much insight, joy, and laughter.
On my second day in Lima, I passed this little boy helping his father gather all the grass clippings and place them in the bucket. As soon as I took this photo, the little boy looked up and dumped the bucket of grass and smiled. His father quietly walked over with his broom and together they refilled the bucket.
As I smiled at the boy and his father, I was simply reminded: empty the bucket.
Empty the bucket and make room for more.
Over the next few weeks I will be posting my insights about my journey to Peru – after I empty the bucket of my mind.
Enjoy! Mary Anne
{Photo taken by Mary Anne Flanagan, Lima, Peru}
Tags: Empty Mind, Gratitude, Listen, Meditation, Peru, Spiritual Stories
Posted in Letting Go | Toning the Om
May 24th, 2012
On May 24 I fly to Peru to take part in a sacred journey. I will travel to the sacred sites of Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, and the Crystal City of Machu Picchu. The journey is an opportunity to deepen my practices as a teacher and student of the Andean Master Path of the Inkan Cosmology. I have wanted to go for years.
My growing edge is calling me to South America. And my mind is turning up the voice of doubt. I hear my doubt voice as a constant question: “Are you sure you want to travel for 11 days on a trip that you don’t know anyone and in a country you don’t speak the native language?” Then, there is the travel within Peru itself. I will be traveling by plane, bus, and train with at least 15 strangers and staying in at least five hotels.
Maybe our growing edges are the places that call us to do more and be more. Maybe our growing edge is ready for us to reach out our arms and stretch father than we have before. Maybe our growing edge is beyond our limited mind (thinking) and calls us to listen to our unlimited heart (being).
Maybe our growing edge wakes us up to who we really are in the world. My growing edge is inviting me to be adventurous, curious, and courageous. Machu Picchu here I come!
What is your growing edge saying to you?
Mary Anne
Tags: Growing Edge, Listening, Peru, Spiritual Adventure
Posted in Fun | Toning the Om
May 23rd, 2012
I had the privilege of hearing a TEDxEast talk a few weeks ago. One of the speakers, Keith Yamashita, gave a wonderful talk called The Other Side of Separation. His talk was about loss and connection. He told the story about his six month old son who needed an operation and how it felt to hand over his son to the anesthesiologist. He spoke about how scared he was about passing his son into the doctors’ hands and the experience of saying good-bye before the surgery.
As Keith said in his talk, “We are always saying good-bye to something or someone. If we can have the belief that just on the other side of separation is connection.” He spoke about the two strong emotions that run through us – Love and Fear.
I resonated with Keith when he said, “Life is what we choose and choice is what connects us. With all of our separation and fear, there is also connection. We become present. Let’s be open-minded to what comes next.”
Loss connects us to what is right in front of us – to the present moment – to who is in our lives. In the deepest moment of loss, there is a gift of connection. Within our deepest fears, there is the gift of love. And in our experiences of separation, there is presence.
One of the gifts I have learned is that life isn’t about what I have or what I have lost. Life is about the people (and relations) you meet along the way. We are all connected.
Feel free to share your stories of loss, separation, and connectedness.
Mary Anne
Posted in Letting Go | Toning the Om
May 21st, 2012
What wakes you up?
What brings you joy?
What fills you up?
What fills your cup with goodness?
Notice if your cup is too full or too empty.
Be present to what fills your cup with love.
{Photo: Turkish Coffee – taken by Mary Anne Flanagan}
Posted in Life | Toning the Om
May 17th, 2012
I have been listening to the message of uncertainty lately. There is some uncertainty about some of my projects ending and where to grow in the next phase of my business. I have noticed that when I am in my head, I want immediate answers. And when I am in my heart, I allow the universe to show me where to go next. Blazing the next trail requires me to align my head and heart in both the knowing and unknowing parts of life.
And as always happens when I am open and willing to listen (without solving), the universe provides more clarity and a message. This time it came through my friend’s, Joe Monkman, blog post. He wrote this week:
“Are you open to believing that the next step awaits? Are you open to knowing that the path you have chosen is absolutely in line with your highest good? Are you open to continuing to forge what may seem to you and others to be an unusual path?
The unusual is calling. The extraordinary is beckoning. The road less traveled awaits.”
Yes, the unusual is calling me. I am certain of my uncertainty and open to seeing the next step that awaits. The road of more joy, growing edges, and bliss awaits me – for that I am certain!
Mary Anne
Tags: Joe Monkman, Listening, Meditation, Open, Receive, Spirituality Stories, Uncertainty
Posted in Letting Go | Toning the Om
May 15th, 2012
As a lot of grief swept through me the days and weeks leading up to Mother’s Day, I reached out to some friends and spiritual teachers for guidance. One long-time teacher left me a message saying, “Go easy. Be gentle with yourself. Be your best companion to yourself on Sunday because you deserve it.” I am still learning how to be my best companion, especially when grief consumes my heart.
I wrote the words, “Be your best companion” in my small journal as I headed into the city. I wasn’t sure how I could practice this and asked to receive a reminder of my own gentle companionship. As I walked down the street, I happened to look up and saw a building with big letters that read: GRACE.
And grace appeared … a clear reminder.
How could I be my own best companion? It was clear – with Grace.
And so it is.
Mary Anne
Tags: Compassion, Grief, Heart-Center, Spiritual Stories
Posted in Letting Go | Toning the Om
May 11th, 2012
World Peace Begins with a Smile.
World Peace Begins with Your Smile!
Posted in Fun | Toning the Om
