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Many exciting new things are happening for Authentic
Matters.
I am working on a meditation
CD for people to use at work to reduce stress and feel
better about themselves and their jobs. Expected
release is September 2007.
My first E-book will be released this summer and will
also be about spirituality in business and offer good
reasons why bringing spirituality into the workplace is
good for business.
I am planning to start a working group in the Hague
called The Spirit At Work Forum for English
and Dutch
speaking business people to come together to
discuss spirituality in business trends and
developments and how to help companies
understand the value of bringing simple spiritual
principles to the workplace.
Based on the work of Judi Neal, founder of the
Association of Spirit at Work (ASAW) in the US, who
encourages
people around the world to create chapters to discuss
spirituality in business in the 21st Century.
This working group will meet later this year for the kick-
off
meeting at a location in the Hague yet to be
determined.
For more
information on any of these developments, contact
Barbara by email.
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May/June events cancelled due to injury
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Uplifting Spiritual Sites |
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Everyday Spirituality E-Newsletter
Celebrate the Spiritual in You!
May 2007, Volume 2, Issue 5
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Dear Barbara,
Welcome to the 8th edition of the Everyday Spirituality
E-Newsletter. With each edition, I am pleased to
gather some uplifting resources for you.
Did the 5 minute meditation for April with three
paths to choose, help you with some decisions
you had
to make? Sometimes if we get quiet and let our inner
guidance speak to us, it helps us see things more
clearly.
Speaking of seeing things clearly, I
have
broken my leg and as a result have had ALOT of time
on the couch in my living room to contemplate life and
my own state of affairs. I have learned several spiritual
lessons
from this injury that I will share in the section called
Ask Barbara.
The feature article this month is about
MOMFULNESS.
A bit late for Mother's Day but it has
relevance for all us mothers and those of us who have
or have had relationships with our own mothers.
I received a comment from one of our
readers that I would like to share:
"Dear Barbara,
just a short message to let you know that I am
regularly using your guided " 5 minutes meditations"
I found them very useful to relax and to find out so
much more about my inner me."Regards,
Alessandra Schirru
We
have 80 subscribers now and growing! Good news
and
thanks for your
continued interest.
Warm regards from the couch,
Barbara
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Feature Article: The Art of "Momfulness"
By Barbara Rogoski
As May is the traditional month of Mother's Day, an
article about the present day challenges of being a
mother seems appropriate. Denise Roy, a modern
day Mom and mystic who writes about parenting,
spirituality, peace making and women's issues
created this term.
In her book,
Momfulness;
Mothering
with Mindfulness, Compassion and Grace,
Ms. Roy
states that, "Momfulness is the word used for the
spiritual practice of conscious mothering. When we
mother with mindfulness and compassion and a
willingness to let this vocation awaken our hearts and
transform our lives, we walk a spiritual path. We
discover that caring for our children and family is not a
distraction from sacred practice but is the very
essence of it."
We often feel, as parents, that life is going too fast
without enough time to enjoy the present moment and
appreciate what we have in our lives. We want our
children to have the best of everything and participate
in many activities to be sure they are well rounded and
experience many things. Often times, what they really
want does not involve more material things or more
social activities, but to spend quality time with their
parents and family members. They want to be seen,
be listened to, be honored and be loved for who they
are and who they are becoming. As parents, we play a
key role in who they become as we help shape their
self esteem and self confidence, whether we are
aware of it or not.
If you are a mother, there are a few interesting
practices that you can implement today that could
have a big impact on yourself and your children and to
more fully appreciate and embrace the sacred task of
mothering:
1. Be truly present in all your interactions with your
children. This means to live fully in the moment in
your
relationships. Pay attention to the moment you are in,
right now, finding the wholeness that exists below the
busyness of everyday life. Ms. Roy writes in her
Momfulness book. "The state of being present in body
but not in mind or heart is called absent presence and
is actually the state that most of us live in much of the
time. It is as if we are walking ghosts. Our children
know we're not really there. They don't feel truly seen
or heard by us." They notice that distractedness and
lack of connection. Those other tasks such as making
lists or folding the laundry have their time and will find
their way to be completed. Try whenever possible to
be intentionally present and not unintentionally
absent.
2. Know that your job as Mother is in constant
transition and appreciate the process. If you have
small children, realize that your job as Mother is
evolving as they grow up more a little bit everyday. If
you have older children, know that they need you in
different ways and accept the circle of life. You cannot
change time or make it slow down, but you can smile
and appreciate the process and enjoy it, now. No
matter what age they are or you are, show gratitude
and compassion as they find their way on their journey
with your loving hand in theirs.
3. Practice unconditional friendliness and
acceptance
of yourself. So often we think that everything has
to be
perfect in our lives: tidy home, always on time, no
moments of anger or frustration at trying to juggle all
things as a busy Mom. The art and practice of
Momfulness shows us that our best is good enough.
We beat ourselves up when we think we are
inadequate or when these material things fall out of
balance but at that moment, it is time to
unconditionally love and accept yourself. Yes, the
beds aren't made, yes, you fell off the diet again, or
yes, you got mad when your child spilled his milk for
the hundredth time. Internal criticism for ourselves is a
destructive gremlin that we have to try to eliminate.
Say to yourself. "No, I am not perfect but my best is
good enough." If you are truly present with your
children and let them know that you love them and will
be there for them no matter what - those are the
important things to be really good at.
4. Appreciate your own Mother's efforts in the
past.
Whether your Mother is living or passed, whether you
think she did a good job or not, she also had many
challenges to face in her life. She had an impact on
your life in many ways, whether they were pleasant
experiences or not. They have helped to shape you
into the person you are. You did not realize this when
you were young but now that you are a mother, you do.
If you have the chance, tell your Mother that you
appreciate her efforts and realize she is human, too,
with many of the same insecurities and concerns that
you face.
Practicing the art of Momfulness will help you to see
the sacred moments of this all consuming job. Being
aware of things you learn along the way about
patience, compassion, being present, gratitude and
forgiveness offer many opportunities for spiritual
growth and a closer connection to God through this
sacred task of Mother.
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Five Minute Meditation
The 5 minute meditation for May is
THE DANCING FLAME. You will need a tall
standing candle and be able to sit eye level to the
flame. A single candle flame is a wonderful
object on which to focus your mind. It draws your
attention and it's warmth, light and beauty are
timeless and reassuring.
Just as moths are
drawn to a flame - so are we as humans. We have
used candles for devotion, rituals and celebrations in
our churches, communities and in our homes. They
provide us with a pleasing and easy objects for
meditation, as the dancing flame helps us focus and
reach a relaxed state and connect with our inner
guidance. I hope this simple meditation
helps you to relax and clear your mind. Come and
experience the Dancing Flame
meditation.*
*From The Meditation Bible by
Madonna Gaulding
Place a candle on the table in front of you and if
possible, sit eye level with the flame and within about
a meter (three feet) from it. Do not leave this
burning candle unattended at any time. Put some soft
music
on in the background and dim the lights if you
can .Eliminate wind drafts around the room before you
begin.
>
Sit back in your chair with your feet flat on the
floor with your eyes open.Your hands gently resting on
your lap and relax. Focus on your breathing and look
deep into the candle flame. Take a deep breath in,
hold for a few seconds and release. Again. breathe
in deeply, hold for a few seconds and release.
Relax your head and shoulders and back, soften your
jaw and facial muscles. Let all parts of your body relax
down to your hips, to your legs, down to your feet on
the floor.
Continue to breathe in - deep breath in,
hold and release and keep your eyes fixed on the
flame.
When the everyday little nagging thoughts creep into
your mind to distract you from your connection to the
flame, gently brush them away and
concentrate on your breathing and on the flame. All
your daily worries
and concerns will be taken care of in good time, but
not now. Put
them aside for the moment and listen to my voice and
watch the flame.
Breathe in deeply, hold a few seconds and release.
Now as you sit, relaxed and peaceful and
look into the flame, ask the question,
"What
do I need to know right now? and wait silently for
an answer. Do not force anything or strain to hear, just
simply sit in silence and watch the flame. Be aware of
little thoughts that want to distract you from your
connection to the flame, and try to push
them out in order to create a space to listen. What do
you hear?
Know that you inner guidance is
wanting to give you little messages of support and
wisdom if you just be silent and listen. You may want
to ask another question that is on your mind, such
as,
"What is wanting to come out into the
world through me?" Again, listen patiently for the
answer to come. It may come as a little voice in your
head, an image or a wise thought that comes to you in
a flash.
What other question do you want to
ask your inner guidance through the flame? Ask it now
and see if you get an answer that you are searching
for.
There are many more answers available
to you if you just ask and listen.
Now, since your eyes are open, you do not need to
return to where you are sitting as if we have been on a
journey in your mind's eye. But you have been on a
sort of journey through the flame into our own true self
inside you and received some guidance from that
place of wisdom.
Look around the room now and stretch your arms out.
Write down any meaningful information you have
received.
Try this exercise again on your own and
ask the questions in your heart and wait in the silence
for answers. They are surely there, waiting for you to
discover through the dancing flame.
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Closing Thought
The Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn
offers a lovely meditation prayer to help us stay happily
in the moment.
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment.
You can copy this and put this in a place to look at
when things get stressful in your life to help you find
peace again. It really helps!
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For more information or to give feedback, contact:
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Barbara Rogoski | |
31 626 898 717 | |
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Tender Mercies by Anne Lamott. An
inspirational story from one of America's most
unconventional spiritual teachers. It is a collection of
essays that offers a witty and often irreverent glance
at her reluctant journey into faith. Very entertaining
reading.