Monthly Newsletter
Heart Circle Express
August 2008
Below you will find…
IMPORTANT NOTICES – Please read.
From the Director
Sustainability Corner
Something Else You Can Do…
Global Feminism
Upcoming Events
Words to the Wise…
Networking
Health
IMPORTANT NOTICES
1. NEW HOUSEHOLD FORMING IN CENTRAL SONOMA COUNTY – designed for mature women who want to live with others and share a common lifestyle with a spiritual basis. This Women’s Spirituality household is looking for 4 members and is aiming at October or November for a start date. Open to women of all spiritual pathways, this house will have standards of behavior and some required activities that support positive attitudes and relationships, such as weekly circles/potlucks and occasional communication workshops. Interviews, references required. Must be responsible and open minded. Relationships important. Please tell your friends and have anyone interested contact me. Thanks.
2. HEALING STORIES WANTED: If you have experienced healing a physical, emotional or mental disease and are willing to share your story please contact me. We are looking for speakers at a conference on “Healing Options” in October. See below.
From the Director….
STAYING IN THE LIGHT, SHINING IN THE DARK…, Part 2
Living in the light means thinking and doing things that make us feel good, and knowing that others are doing the same thing. Inevitably, it is action that removes anxiety and confusion and uplifts us. In these discouraging days we can – in fact, must - take action both on the inner plane and the outer one to raise the vibration on the planet and to push the “good” through the “bad.” In fact, we must double our efforts. Whatever we have been doing do twice as much of it.
On the inner plane we need to reinforce our connection to, and reliance on, our intuition and inner guidance. Intuition is holographic; it shows us a bit of a larger picture that we may not be able to entirely see. Intuition is divinely sourced. It is more a knowingness, beyond our thinking which may be distorted by our fears and desires, unconnected to reality. Intuition goes straight to the truth. When we are aware of intuitive guidance, we are connected to the universe, and a trustworthy, positive direction. This is one aspect of Spirituality - knowing our individual true and divine path.
Acting on the outer plane means now, right now, each of us doing everything we can to take care of our planet; being fully and enthusiastically part of the solution. In an article in Shambhala magazine, Thich Nhat Hahn, my favorite Buddhist teacher, talks about calling on Earth Healer, a bodhisattva named Dharanimdhara. Bodhisattvas are female and it makes sense that an earth caretaker would be female. It is the feminine side of us that cares for our home and the beings on it. It is natural to us - you might say a part of our job here as women.
Hahn soothingly but strongly encourages us to follow the Fifth Mindfulness Training. “Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming.” Consumption to him means mental food, like entertainment and information as well as what we buy and what the food we eat. You might recognize this in the work of Abraham and other spiritual teachings. In this way we are all activists, and all take leadership roles. Spiritual practice keeps us moving forward in a wholesome way and in doing so we all become leaders.
Inspirational Words from a daylong conference put on the Center for Spiritual Living in Corte Madera, “3 Modern Mystics”…
JEAN HOUSTON suggests we be active in a cause – women, children, animals, etc. Do things with your hands, create, do music and art.
JOAN BORYSENKO says follow your inner guidance.
NEIL DONALD WALSCH reminds us that we are here for each other, not for ourselves.
Sustainability Corner…
Holy Vineger: Just a reminder that a wonderful non-toxic way of dealing with life’s daily activities…things you can do with plain old apple cider vinegar. Vinegar can be useful in every room in your house. The Babylonians used it, and so did the Greeks. Here are some examples for today’s world …
Use it to clean microwaves, coffee makers and pots, grease and grime in ovens (mixed with a little laundry detergent), cooking orders, lime buildup in tea pots, dishwashers, stainless steel, mildew stains in refrigerators, odors in plastic storage containers, blenders and food processors, wooden chopping boards, kitchen floors.
It is also useful for keeping hard boiled eggs from cracking, raw potatoes from discoloring, degassing beans, sweetening the flavor of frozen fish. You can rinse your hair in vinegar; it removes the soap and leaves it soft. Check it all out at… http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/ or google clean with vinegar.
Something Else You Can Sometimes Do…Speak Up!
Lately, I have taken to writing letters and making calls to companies that I feel are charging unfair prices. For example I thought the $232 bill for running a snake through my kitchen plumbing was too much - $37 for every 15 minutes. Outrageous. I called and they reduced it by 50%. Everyone might not do this, but it’s worth speaking your mind and letting people know. I also complained to my physical therapist that he did not ask me questions about my state of being, and other things I considered necessary for me to have for my own healing process. I encourage you to make calls and write letters when things seem unfair, or not to your needs. At least we let them know that we are not sheep, we are awake and we have something to say.
Global Feminism is on the rise….
Here is a wonderful podcast of a panel of feminist activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liberia, and Columbia – bright, aware and dedicated women at Women’s Magazine (airs the first 3 Mondays of the month on KPFA – I think it is the only women’s radio program around – let me know if you know of another). I was inspired by all of them. Wouldn’t it be great to have a pen pal in Africa or Asia? Kids do it, why can’t we? Imagine if each of us had one woman we wrote to, forming a kind of Global Sisterhood.
Upcoming Events…(tentative schedule)
- FRIDAY NIGHT MEDITATION FOR WOMEN. 7:00 – 8:30
Optional short class followed by general sitting and discussion.
- Mill Valley - Oct 3, Nov 14, Dec 12
- Santa Rosa - Sept 19, Oct 11, Nov 28, Dec 19
- Free, donations accepted. Let’s come together regularly throughout the year to nurture ourselves and each other. More information forthcoming.
- DIALOGUES WITH WOMEN – “INTUITION” September 18th. Trusty intuition. Why do we need it? How do we cultivate it? With Amallia and the Intuition Flash Cards. Mill Valley Community Center. 6:45 to 9:15 pm, Thursday, $20 in advance, $25 at the door at event.
- Conference: HEALING OPTIONS FOR WOMEN – October 18th tentatively. Further information forth coming. Rohnert Park Community Center. Stories from women who have healed, discussion and product information. If you have a story to share contact Sandy at sandymurphey@gmail.com . If you have a healing product that you want to present contact me. $20 in advance, $30 at the door. Some work exchange available. Limited to 40 women.
- “SEX OVER SIXTY” – November 15, Saturday, 1 to 4. A joyful and exploratory workshop about issues for mature women with Ellen Rush. In central Sonoma county. $40. You may register now by emailing me.
- POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR WOMEN – November 16, Saturday, 1- 4 pm. Refine and perfect your use of affirmations. Bring any issue you want to work on. With Oceana and her special cards for women. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. You can register now.
- INITIATION RITE OF INANNA – Dec 26, 27, 28. Honor Winter Solstice and the coming year with a 3-day cleansing and renewal by replicating this ancient goddess’s journey to the underworld and return. You too will find a new perspective. Shared with other women this is a very special and deep experience - perfect for the dark time of the year. Goddess work, priestesses work, personal growth for all women.
Words to the Wise…
“Blame is a neat little device that allows us to not take responsibility.” Wayne Dyer
If you have unwanted spiritual tapes or CDs please give them to me for resale as a fundraiser or to go into a spiritual library.
Networking…
FAMILY LAW
Helene L. Taylor is a lawyer and mediator whose practice is dedicated exclusively to the peaceful resolution of family law matters. Helene works as a collaborative divorce lawyer, neutral mediator and settlement negotiator with men and women whose primary goals are to negotiate quality individualized settlements without court involvement.
Helene L. Taylor is licensed in California and Hawaii and has nearly fifteen years of experience. Helene is a former San Francisco family law trial attorney who has litigated simple and complex divorce cases in both private and public courtrooms. Helene also is the President and Founder of The Modern Woman's Divorce Guide (www.themodernwomansdivorceguide.com) and has been featured in Entrepreneur.com, MSN.com, More.com and LovetoKnow.com, and has appeared on Healthy Life Net Radio. You may contact Helene at ht@moddivorce.com or 415.381.1220.
Health…
New questions have emerged about whether long term use of bone-building drugs for osteoporosis may actually lead to weaker bones in a small number of people who use them.
This newsletter is sent to you from the WOMEN’S SCHOOL OF HEALING ARTS & SCIENCES, a registered non-profit. Please pass it on.
You may contact me, Sharon Maser Danaceau, at sharon@womenschool.org or sharon_maser@sbcglobal.net.
Contact me at sharon@womenschool.org or 341 Linda Way, Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-383-1155
