March 7th, 2012
Experience the exquisite and ecstatic energy of your heart that connects you to your authentic self. Using primarily classic meditations methods, shamanic journeying, guided visualizations, as well as other experiential practices, we will explore some important aspects of the heart. We will be drawing on the physical and energetic experiences as well as the inspiration of poetry and lore from various cultures, myths and spiritual traditions to awaken our untamed heart. Our week long retreat includes experiencing shamanic practices and other rituals to awaken and access our greatest source of power – our heart.
This special retreat will be held at Kalani Oceanside Retreat. Kalani is on the Big Island and is bordered by tropical jungle and the Pacific Ocean. Kalani Honua means harmony of heaven and earth and our retreat will allow you to experience this.
The retreat includes:
– exploring heart-centered practices …
Continue reading about this unique opportunity taking place on the Big Island, Hawaii, on November 4 – 10, 2012.
Mahalo~
Mary Anne
Tags: Drumming, Hawaii, Kalani Oceanside, Shamanism, Spiritual Stories
Posted in Fun, Meditation, Shamanism | Toning the Om
March 6th, 2012
The author and entrepreneur Jonathan Fields recently posted a blog, Why Failure Must Be on the Table, which describes the experiences of failures as gateways to opportunities. He writes, “Entrepreneurship–or any process that seeks to evolve the status quo–requires you to regularly test commonly held limits and beliefs. The natural outcome of this is that sometimes you’re right, other times you’re wrong. Either way, you never know until you get out of your head and take action in the world.
The potential not just for failure, but failure that matters, failure you feel, must be on the table. If it’s not, then what you’re setting out to do is either so safe or so devoid of the potential for impact that success might allow you to check a box on a piece of paper, but beyond that, nobody’ll care. Including you.”
We must know that what we are embarking on has the capacity to fail and yet give us as entrepreneur’s incredible lessons to grow and stretch. It’s the learning process and taking the leap that distinguishes the success stories to the stories that never get told. At times, it may feel like ‘a leap of faith’ but it brings us closer to the edges of our dreams. We push ourselves and do it afraid, because not doing it is more painful – and we fail ourselves.
Fields adds in his blog, “So, yes, living, acting and deciding to move forward in the face of potential failure isn’t easy. Especially when it requires you to go all in. And especially later in your lifecycle when you’ve got more on the line. To risk success in art, in business, in love, in life is, indeed, a bit terrifying.
But really, what’s the alternative?”
What is the alternative? Take the risk – and be willing to leap into failure that matters.
Mary Anne
Tags: Innovation, Jonathan Fields, Taking Risks, Uncertainty
Posted in Fun, Learning, Storytelling | Toning the Om
February 29th, 2012
I often encourage people to think bigger, go bolder, and reach higher. As my business started to grow, I knew it was time to expand my coaching practice – to reach more people – to be more visible. I began to draft my business design, update my bio, and launch a new website. After completing my draft, three things happened: 1. I came down with a horrible stomach virus; 2. A family member was diagnosed with a serious illness; 3 My computer crashed. All of this happened in the span of about seven days. While feeling vulnerable, the voice of doubt came whispering (okay, screaming) in. I had the thought, “Maybe I am not ready and capable of expanding my coaching business.”
When I was done feeling sorry for myself, I realized at that moment I was going to my growing edge. And for that reason I knew it was important for me to help other people discover theirs – because at any given moment, we are called to go beyond the voice of doubt and fear and see what incredible opportunity is awaiting us. It may not always be easy, but it can be simple. It can simple knowing what we are called to do. And it may take getting support to help us create the map to get there. Continue reading…
Celebrate your growing edge in Hawaii. For more details about the upcoming retreat in Hawaii on the Big Island, click here.
Peace, Mary Anne
Tags: Growing Edge Coaching, Leaping, Nonprofits, Organizational Leadership, Teambuilding
Posted in Coaching | Toning the Om
February 27th, 2012
In a conversation with one of my spiritual teachers I asked, “When does the suffering stop?” She took a breath and said she wanted to think about it more and allow the question to go in. She invited me to do the same. I took some time during a quiet retreat I was facilitating to sit with my thoughts about suffering. As part of the retreat I invited participants to take time for a contemplative walk in the woods and just listen to what nature had to say. I began walking down a long nature trail that narrowed deep into the woods. After walking for twenty minutes, I found a large tree that had fallen and I sat down to listen to my question about suffering.
I opened my journal and decided to shape shift the question into parts:
When does the suffering stop?
Does the suffering stop?
The suffering stops.
Suffering stops.
Stop.
Nature spoke and in that moment, the suffering stopped.
Mary Anne
Posted in Meditation | 2 Comments »
February 23rd, 2012
When you look out, what are you seeing in your world?
What is your vision?
What is your mantra?
What are you creating?
In stillness, your creative vision and mantra is available.
When you look within, what are you seeing in your world?
{Photo taken in Egypt by Mary Anne Flanagan}
Posted in Coaching | Toning the Om
February 21st, 2012
Each day the light is expanding more and more. As the light greets me each morning and evening, I take notice of the colors in the sky. As I sit on my early morning express bus, I look out the window to watch the sun illuminate before my eyes – and it never disappoints.
Here is this morning’s sun salutation:
{Photo taken by Mary Anne Flanagan}
Posted in Fun | Toning the Om
February 17th, 2012
I am the silence that listens.
I am the open field that sees.
I am the wind that hears.
I am the pulse that feels.
I am the air that tastes.
{Photo taken by Mary Anne Flanagan}
Posted in Life | Toning the Om
February 15th, 2012
Sit on the earth
You are not alone
Sit on the earth
You are not alone
Sit on the earth
You are ‘all one’
Mary Anne
Posted in Meditation | Toning the Om
February 13th, 2012
When was the last time…
You danced with a flower?
You fell in love with a tree?
You sang to the stars?
You saw the good in every encounter?
You found peace in forgiving another?
You listened to the rhythm of your heart?
Every moment is an opportunity to experience expansive love. When we stop seeking (or expecting) love or approval, we can begin to love ourselves in deeper ways.
As Pema Chödrön says, “The only reason we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.”
Falling in love means loving ourselves first and sharing that love with others. Go ahead, fall in love with yourself, again.
Mary Anne
Posted in Happiness | Toning the Om
February 10th, 2012
As I prepare to take another dream and make it a reality, I thought about all the dreams I have put on hold. Are there dreams I have abandoned? Am I ready to revisit some dreams and notice if it is time to shine light on them?
Is there an abandoned dream that is ready to be explored again?
This reminds me of a Lanston Hughes poem: A Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Listen to your dream(s). They are speaking to you.
{Photo taken by Mary Anne Flanagan}
Posted in Storytelling | Toning the Om
