The only way to be happy and succesful; Do it anyway

Thanks to Susan Kerby for inspiring our MM group today with this poem version from Mother Teresa:

The only way to be happy and successful; Do it Anyway

 People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight;

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten;

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Poem version credited to Mother Teresa

UN International Day of Peace Poem

In honor of the International Day of Peace, I would like to re-post a poem I wrote last year after a group of us completed a silent meditative walk from the United Nations to Times Square.  A unique experience that I attempted to capture in my way.

Peace Making Isn’t Easy

Walking the busy streets of New York

I realized, peace making isn’t easy.

People’s glances and comments

made it obvious, there was still

work to be done.

One tried to scare us off…how can you scare peace off?

There is no such thing, as peace

is lived and felt within.

Another tried to point us to Jesus

“I hope you pray to Jesus”, he said, “I hope you do”

stepping aside perplexed, as we

sent him unconditional love.

A woman stood still, for a moment

wondering what we did.

Then, graciously bowed

our gaze silently affirming

the deeper connection within.

Still others came and went, frantic

enslaved in their own world.

It’s International Day of Peace today

a day to notice, to acknowledge

how peace is lived within.

For, peace does start in one’s heart

as it is felt therein, it radiates thereout

attracting and transforming what is

uneasy, turbulent, unjust.

Peace making isn’t easy, until

it is made first within your own heart.

A tribute to the UN International Day of Peace, Sept 21, 2010 © Liliane Mavridara

The Gratitude Book Project: A Celebration Of Personal Heroes

The Gratitude Book Project: A Celebration of Personal Heroes

The Gratitude Book Project once more publishes an inspirational book, this time commemorating the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, called “A Celebration Of Personal Heroes”.

As a contributing author, I can only confirm what a humbling experience has been to reflect on the topic and my life, remembering and noticing who/what has made a difference.

The concept of heroes for me includes both people and animals, which is part of my contributing piece in this ebook.

Download your own copy for free now by going to The Gratitude Book Project.

The Journey by David Whyte

As this part of my journey circles, coming to a natural completion, I find myself reflecting on the lessons, desires and accomplishments of the past couple of years. In The Journey, David Whyte captures some of the symbology I have been working with the last few days;

Above the mountains

the geese turn into

the light again

painting their

black silhouettes

on an open sky.

     Sometimes everything

     has to be

     enscribed across

     the heavens

     so you can find

     the one line

     already written

     inside you.

 Sometimes it takes

a great sky

to find that

first, bright

and indescribable

wedge of freedom

in your own heart.

[............................]

The House of Belonging, Poems by David Whyte

Conscious Medicine at Findhorn-April 26, 2011

Last day at Findhorn Foundation…

Key point: The body has a natural stress release mechanism, ie trembling and shaking,  which we tend to suppress because of social conditioning and “what others may think”. When stress is not released, especially if a traumatic experience created it, that energetic charge stores in the body,  affecting the major systems and over time creating disease.

Conscious Medicine – Day 4

27 April 2011

…It is time for Karl Dawson to share his experiences of conscious medicine through his work in EFT and Matrix Reimprinting. “Disease is no accident, everything our body reflects, illustrates our core beliefs.” He explains that trauma is not about the fight/flight response, it occurs when we are unable to discharge the natural freeze response from our bodies. This creates what he calls ECHOS (Energetic Conscious Holograms) that are resonances from the past that become triggered when sensory stimuli remind us of the original event.

“To the heart and mind, memories are current events. The body then responds by throwing our system into fight/flight mode and the cycle, unchecked, will eventually create disease.”

Read more on the Findhorn Foundation Blog

Conscious Medicine at Findhorn-April 25, 2011

Another beautiful day at Findhorn Foundation; cherishing the sunshine, the inspiring conversations and community.

Key points: nature is readily available to us for healing, whether it is through taking a walk on the beach or lying on the grass looking at the deep blue sky ~ Walking in a garden after a rain, just by touching the flowers that draw your attention you receive their signature healing ~  You can only transform and heal what you are conscious of.

Conscious Medicine – Day 3

26 April 2011

…Arielle Essex presents her talk entitled The Choice that Heals. Diagnosed with a tumour on her pituitary, her 10 year healing journey has left her curious and asking the question: What makes a spontaneous remission happen?

She skillfully shares with us eight mental/emotional factors for spontaneous remission: face the crisis, find new meaning, express your emotions, take control of your life, create a healing support team, work in partnership with medics, take 100% responsibility, reduce stress, let go and trust. She weaves throughout her talk clear illustrations of how to engage these eight elements in a healing journey.

Read more on the Findhorn Foundation Blog

Today’s wisdom from a seven-year old

Conversation with a wise seven-year old while at Findhorn:

Me: What is your favorite color?

Wiseone: I don’t have one…say one has blue as favorite color… how will the sun feel…and the flowers feel? They have all colors…

Me: (listening)

Wiseone: Or, say one has pink as favorite color? how will the flowers feel…and the sea…I like all colors…

Me: You have a good point, I never thought of this…

Conscious Medicine at Findhorn-April 24,2011

Easter Sunday at Findhorn Foundation started with Laughter Yoga.

Key point: the brain is not able to distinguish between fake laughter and genuine one.  Research has shown that 10 minutes of daily laughter whether you pretend or not, strengthens the immune system and enhances overall well being.

Conscious Medicine – Day 2

25 April 2011

……..Stephanie Mines, a neuro-psychologist and peaceful revolutionary, takes the presenter’s seat to share her practical self-help tools to heal ourselves from shock. She has named this method, The Tara Approach. Here she has blended the ancient eastern practice of the body maps of the 8 Rivers of Splendour with the western knowledge of neuro-physiology. She claims that emotional and psychological suffering is a physiological condition, a neuro-chemical event, not separate. Thus, for any transformation to occur, it needs to happen through the body, through a direct shift in our neuro-chemicals.

Change has to happen in the pathways of our primitive, reptilian brain. “Every human being is exquisite!” In every moment we reveal the truth of who we are. As conscious medicine practitioners we are the truth seekers, the truth see-ers, and it is our task to empower others to take ownership of their health and wellbeing by restoring a sense of self.

Read more on the Findhorn Foundation Blog

Conscious Medicine at Findhorn-April 23, 2011

I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the Conscious Medicine conference at Findhorn Foundation.  Great event, beautiful environment and amazing people.

Conscious Medicine – Day 1

23 April 2011

The first day of this spring conference welcomes us with a bright array of cherry blossoms hanging languid in the still air. Every now and then a warm breeze scatters their petals in glittering clouds against the thin grey sky. So too is nature reflected in the opening energy of the Conscious Medicine Conference. Over a hundred of us, spanning five continents (Antarctica excluded as penguins cannot get visas) and from 70 countries, nestle into the calming, distilled atmosphere of the Universal Hall. There is a sweet hum of excitement as we gather to greet one another, conversations flaring into moments of gentle laughter.

Gill Edwards, the organiser of the conference, speaks with heartfelt conviction: “The current shift in health care and medicine towards a more conscious medicine reflects the work of this era, the shift we are making in global consciousness… this is the marriage of heaven and earth, we become aware that there is no separation between the physical and the spiritual.”

Read more on the Findhorn Foundation blog

Expanding Under Pressure; Saturn vs Jupiter

The signature of the day came from David Bowie and Queen/Fred Mercury’s song, “Under Pressure”.  One of my all time favorites, heard it as the background in a preview trailer and realized it was embodying the energies of the day astrologically.

The constraints of Saturn as he pushes you against a wall, under pressure, confronting old conditioning, calling for awakening and aligning with what you value and want; the expansiveness of Jupiter as he stirs your soul through its longing, through music and human voice upliftment, through breaking free and meeting no boundaries, knowing all is possible and readily available.

Enjoy!