TAKE ME TO: Our Next 2 Spiritual Journeys & Retreats
Sheri’s Article | Our Favorite Recommendations, Books & Videos | Ales’ Cool Travel Tips!
Our Upcoming Journeys | Favorite Quote!
Dear Friends,
What’s new? Journeys of the Spirit is hosting so many amazing journeys for 2011 and we are SO excited and grateful for all the wonderful teachers and people who we will be working with. We have been conscious of pricing too, and doing our best to keep costs down. It is important to let you know that every trip has a teacher and they need to be paid for their gift and what they have to share. So do keep in mind that if you traveled on your own – yes the cost would be less, but then again you would not have the wonderful group sessions, ceremonies and guidance. And we feel that gift is priceless.
That said, we start the new year off with our MERGING WITH THE DIVINE PRESENCE: Deeksha/Oneness Blessing & Mala-Making Retreat: Jan 9-15th! The pricing for this journey is great at $1995.00 including meals, teachings, mala-making and entrance fees to the ruins included.
**As a reminder: this is the last second to sign up for ZION NATIONAL PARK and DAY OF THE DEAD.
This month’s article is: THE ART OF REDIRECTION – do let me know what you think by posting your comments below (they won’t show up until approved) and please Tweet us to others!
I want to know where YOU want to go for your next spiritual journey or retreat! Please help me help create the perfect journey for you by taking a moment to answer this TRAVEL SURVEY. Thank you!!
Did you know that most dating is now taking place online? Wow. If you are looking for a spiritually minded mate consider Spiritual Singles. Certainly these is no guarantee you’ll be dating Buddha, but at least you might find someone conscious!
Also, please don’t forget about Ales – he is always ready to help you with your personal travel needs!
Blessings and love, Sheri Rosenthal
Email: info@sherirosenthal.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sherirosenthal
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Sheri_Rosenthal
OUR NEXT TWO SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS
LAST CALL – REGISTRATION IS NOW!
ZION NATIONAL PARK: Art & Spirit Painting Retreat – October 23-27th, 2010
Unleash your creative spirit amidst the breathtaking beauty of Zion National Park. Through guided visualizations, meditation and dreamwork, shamanic artist Linda Jacobson will help you access your artistic vision. Through personalized individual guidance and group demonstrations of art techniques you’ll learn to express your personal imagery inspired by the extraordinary beauty of the landscape.
In this workshop you will create free flowing spontaneous imagery, draw from nature and develop sketches into finished works. You will learn about color, paint handling and composition through discussions and demonstrations of acrylic, watercolor and pastel techniques. No prior art experience necessary – everyone is welcome, beginning and advanced artists. The 2010 trip cost is: $995.00 USD per person, double occupancy. Details for Zion here!
LAST CALL – REGISTRATION IS NOW!
DAY OF THE DEAD, Oaxaca Mexico: A Celebration of Life! – Oct 30th-Nov 7th, 2010
Mexicans love Day of the Dead, it’s a revered holiday where folk celebrate their beloveds’ who have passed. Families create festive altars filled with pictures, food and items that belonged to the deceased. During our 8 days together we’ll learn how to enjoy life as it is – to cultivate our joy and vitality and explore our manifestation as true “Artists of the Spirit.”
We’ll be visiting the graveyard, and creating our own altars – whether they are to our own loved ones who have passed, or to a relationship that we want to let go of, or even an aspect of ourselves we’re ready to let go of. We’ll also go to the local market, visit the sacred ruins of Monte Alban & Mitla, and so much more. By the end of this journey you’ll have the tools to re-create your reality and to face your greatest fear – expressing your life with integrity, honesty, fearlessness and joy. Join Sheri on this spiritual journey of the heart. 2010 trip cost is: $2465.00 USD per person double occupancy, some meals included. Details for Day of the Dead here!
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
NEXT FREE TELECLASS!
Weds October 20th 8:30pm eastern, 5:30 pacific: Join Sheri and author Susan Gregg as they ask If life is perfect – how come I’m not happy? Susan combines the Hawaiian concept of pono (perfect, right action, right thinking) with the Toltec tradition. One perspective is to realize everything is perfect unless we tell ourselves a story otherwise. When we see life from that perspective it is much easier to change and to create what we want in our life. Making that change internally is a process, one that leads away from limiting beliefs toward personal freedom, happiness and joy. We’ll do a meditation to help connect with that state of mind and see where we go from there.
DID YOU MISS ONE OF OUR TELECLASSES?
If you missed any of the previous teleclasses you can listen them on the library page of my website.
NEED SOME CLARITY & A NEW POINT OF VIEW?
Join me in 2010 for a personal intensive! These intensives will take place in St Petersburg, Florida. It’s a lovely place to take time to reflect upon your life and walking on the beach is beautiful and peaceful. You’ll stay at a hotel on the beach during your intensive. Figure we’ll spend around 3 hours together in the morning and then you’ll do your assignments in the afternoon. Then we’ll catch back up for ~1 hour in the evening to re-cap. Details here.
LOCAL MEETINGS IN ST PETE, FL!
Join us for lively discussion and like-minded community Oct 6th, 7-9:00pm! We work together to create a dream of love and respect in our lives using the Toltec technique of mirroring. In this way we can see ourselves more clearly and confront those beliefs that have been holding us back from creating a dream of loveliness in our lives. Want to join us? Call or email Sheri. The tuition/suggested donation is $10.00.
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FEATURED ARTICLE
THE ART OF REDIRECTION
Picture thanks to Tekatana @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tekatana/
I have to admit – I love a good martial arts movie. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of my favorites, and while I enjoyed the movie and its fabulous special effects – I also appreciated the wonderful spiritual lessons. For me, one of best teachings in the movie is on the art of redirection.
I’m not a martial arts expert, but this much I’ve observed: you can either meet your opponent directly matching him or her blow-for-blow, or you can re-direct your opponent’s energy causing much less harm to both of you. This simple concept applies to all of life, not just martial arts. Imagine for a moment that someone comes up to you and wants to start an argument. They’re very angry and start getting in your face accusing and blaming you for something.
Normally our immediate reaction is to defend ourselves because our mind frames this situation as an attack. Moving to victim mode and taking this person personally causes us to have an emotional reaction and lose our clarity and critical thinking. Arguing back, becoming upset, and getting in their face is a common response – albeit a useless one!
Going after someone blow-for-blow is going to get the two of you beat up. You’ll feel totally drained of energy which is no surprise considering each person has to hit harder in turn to “win.” So why choose a strategy that has no positive outcome? Instead, what if you observed your situation from a neutral position, not taking it personally, understanding that your opponent is suffering in some way?
Picture thanks to Targut @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-studio/
Just this simple change in perception will have you more centered and clear. Once you’re in a place of compassion rather than reaction, you’ll have the advantage. When the person comes at you again, you’ll move with them, redirecting the force of their energy and no longer absorbing their blows. I’m sure you’ve seen this type of move in Aikido or Tai Chi.
Aikido can be loosely translated as “the way of harmony with nature or life/universal energy.” The idea was to create an art based on non-resistance – one that seeks to resolve rather than oppose. In essence, Aikido blends our energy with our attacker’s, redirecting their oncoming force and energy rather than taking it head-on. You need very little strength to do this as you are leading and redirecting the other persons momentum preventing the two of you from physical harm.
The same goes for us in life. If you seek to live in harmony with life rather than resist it and others, you will not suffer and exhaust yourself. If you choose to stay centered and keep your clarity you can redirect anything in life that comes at you. Truly resistance is futile and the sooner we understand that what we resist persists the sooner we’ll have that harmony and peace we say we are looking for.
With all my love, Sheri
RECOMMENDED BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Reality of Being: The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff
Based on notebooks kept by G.I. Gurdjieff’s closest follower, Jeanne de Salzmann (1889–1990), this book offers new insight on his spiritual teachings—a way of gnosis or “knowledge of belonging” passed on from remote antiquity. It is a complete and uniquely authoritative guide to the great teacher’s ideas and to his methods for liberating ourselves from the state of “waking sleep” in which most of us live our lives.
Gurdjieff respected traditional religious practices, which he regarded as falling into three general categories or “ways”: the Way of the Fakir, related to mastery of the physical body; the Way of the Monk, based on faith and feeling; and the Way of the Yogi, which focuses on development of the mind. He presented his teaching as a Fourth Way that integrated these three aspects into a single path of self-knowledge. Progress in the Fourth Way comes through conscious effort toward a quality of thinking and feeling that brings a new capacity to see clearly and to love. Pick up a copy today: The Reality of Being. When you purchase a book through Amazon.com a small percentage of your dollars come back to JOTS to support our free teleclass series.
SPIRITUAL CINEMA CIRCLE
If You Love Movies, You Are About to Be Inspired AND Entertained!
When you join Spiritual Cinema Circle you will be making an important contribution to your world. You are encouraging talented, visionary filmmakers to continue in their efforts to add life and meaning to our movies and to raise the consciousness of the world by supporting and experiencing truly nourishing entertainment.
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This month – Sabah is our main feature: When Sabah, a Syrian immigrant living in Toronto, turns 40, the last thing she expects to happen is to fall in love, especially with a non-Muslim man. Sabah blossoms as her affair blossoms, making this touching romantic comedy much more than a multicultural love story. |
Also featured is Bob Proctor: Discovering Your Infinite Potential – in this exclusive SCC presentation, follow Bob’s inspiring journey from an unhappy, sick and broke young adult to a best-selling author who has transformed the lives of millions through his books, seminars and personal coaching. Bob shows you how to create the mindset and necessary paradigm shift to realizing your full potential.
Great news from our friends at Spiritual Cinema Circle – you can receive this full feature film plus 3 great short films for FREE when you sign up for a trial membership at no charge. ($4.95 US shipping fee applies, $7.95 international). Cancel your membership at any time ($21.00 per month). Join the Circle today! When you join Spiritual Cinema Circle a small percentage of your dollars come back to JOTS to support our free teleclass series.
OUR MENU OF UPCOMING FABULOUS ADVENTURES!
~BOLD OCTOBER EXPEDITIONS~
ZION NATIONAL PARK, Art & Spirit Painting Retreat
Trip Leader: Linda Jacobson
October 23-27th, 2010
DAY OF THE DEAD, Oaxaca Mexico: A Celebration of Life!
Trip Leader: Sheri Rosenthal
October 30th-November 7th, 2010
~DELICIOUS DECEMBER JOURNEYS~
TEOTIHUACÁN, MEXICO: Reclaiming Our Power and Faith
Trip Leader: Millie Muñoz
December 8-13th, 2010
~HEART-WARMING JANUARY ADVENTURES~
MAYAN RIVIERA: Merging With The Divine Presence (Deeksha/Oneness Blessing & Mala-Making)
Trip Leader: Charlene Proctor & Sheri Rosenthal
January 8-14th, 2011
~REFRESHING FEBRUARY RETREATS~
PATAGONIA ARGENTINA: Communion, Integration & Transcendence
Trip Leader: Sheri Rosenthal
Feb 19-26th, 2011
BAJA MEXICO: Majestic Grey Whales – Whale Watching
Trip Leader: Susan Gregg
February 9-14th, 2011
TEPOZTLÁN, MEXICO: Sacred Valley of Magic & Mysticism
Trip Leader: Susan Gregg
February 14-19th, 2011
~SUCCULENT MARCH VOYAGES~
EGYPT: Bridging Levels of Consciousness
Trip Leader: Samvedam Randles
March 3-13th, 2011
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA: Atmanada Yoga’s Mind Body Spirit Retreat
Trip Leader: Jhon Tamayo
March 5-11th, 2011
ISRAEL: Liberating the Divine Mystic Within
Trip Leader: Sheri Rosenthal
March 19-29th, 2011
~ENLIGHTENING APRIL TRAVELS~
COSTA RICA: Writing Down Your Soul
April 7-17th, 2011
Trip Leader: Janet Conner
SEDONA: Goddess Healing Spiritual Retreat
April 28-May 3rd, 2011
Trip Leader: Shanti Gilbert
ALES’ COOL TIP OF THE MONTH!
BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER
Ana y Jose Hotel Tulum
Many folks have been to popular vacation spots in Mexico, the Caribbean and other sun filled destinations. Having traveled around the world myself, I found that it’s a common tendency to gravitate to the big hotels and all inclusive resorts. It seems so much simpler to pick a resort that has everything in one place – even more relaxing. Like one-stop travel shopping.
However, if we make this choice we risk missing out on one of the most wonderful things about foreign travel – the culture, spirit and energy of the people and places! I understand that it can feel safer to go to a resort where everything is familiar, comfortable and up to par with American standards. But is this really experiencing life fully and completely?
As students of spirituality, we look to keep expanding our limited image of ourselves and travel is one of the best ways to accomplish that.
Ana y Jose Hotel Tulum
Recently, while arranging a journey for one of my dear clients to the Mexican Riviera, I was amazed at how many beautiful quaint hotels existed. Instead of just looking at 800 room super-sized resorts, I explored many with only 8-12 cabanas, right on the beach filled with one-on-one attention, home cooked Mexican food and precious personal interactions. You could practically fall out of bed and end up at the gorgeous sacred site and ruins of Tulum!
What a difference it makes to stay at a place where you and your interpersonal experiences are the highlight of your journey rather than the resort itself. This works great when traveling with family too. Instead of placing the kids in the cruise line’s children’s program for example, why not expose them to new cultures and different foods?
This way they understand that the whole world is not like the USA – people are different – yet they all have the same basic wants and desires. They might even come away from the experience having gratitude for what they have at home and more tolerance and less fear of people who are seemingly different from them!
I have found that when I do that with my own son, it is so much more rewarding and we create profound lifelong memories.
Of course there’s definitely a place for the all-inclusive vacation. But I encourage you to plan something different and out-of-the-box for your next journey. Call or e-mail me if you are looking for a special little place to spend your next vacation – I have lot’s of suggestions!
With love & blessings, Ales Stuna, Director of Custom Travel
WHAT I LOVE – LOVE – LOVE THIS MONTH!
Take a moment to watch this video!
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Everyone knows, deep down, that there must be more to life. How can we feel more happiness and fulfilment? Is there something that we should know but is hidden from us, some key we need to find to unlock the mysteries of true success? What if there was a way to awaken the heart and experience real love in our relationships? How do I find my true purpose? |
Being in Heaven is a fascinating film I’d like to introduce you to. It’s a transformational story, one that can show you how to make rapid and brilliant improvements in every area of your life in practical and simple ways.
You’ll watch Jason, the main character, free himself from the web of his past and embark on an extraordinary future. Not through philosophy, or beliefs, or fantasy, but through the application of easy and natural steps, and a new understanding of our innate yet rarely used powers. You can pick up the film here: Being in Heaven. Do let me know what you think of the movie!
FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Join us at Akal•Ki Spa on Lake Bacalar in the Mayan Riviera Jan 9-15th for the Deeksha Oneness Blessing!
Words of Wisdom for the Heart
“When you try to get rid of fear or anger, what happens? You just get restless or discouraged and have to go eat something or smoke or drink or do something else. But if you wait and endure restlessness, greed, hatred, doubt, despair, and sleepiness, if you observe these conditions as they cease and end, you will attain a kind of calm and mental clarity, which you will never achieve if you’re always going after something else.”
~ Ajahn Sumedho, “The Mind and the Way”
Thanks for the newsletter, Sheri. The article on redirection: I was recently attacked very similar to the imaginary situation you describe. I reacted defensively. After the event I realized all you said to be true. How about some tips on how to get to the neutral stage in the heat of the moment when my being is overwhelmed and totally immersed in fight or flight.
Ken
Dear Ken,
I think all of can recognize the benefits of changing our defensive postures. Doing it is another thing! First and foremost we must learn to pay attention to how we are feeling in the moment. You can feel that defensiveness welling up in your body even before you open your mouth. The key is is to change your action right at that juncture point. If you can notice and talk yourself down – tell yourself this is an upset and frightened person and I do not need to do the same – that is a first step. If that is not possible – if there is any way you can excuse yourself for a moment and run to the bathroom and splash cold water on your face, that will help.
In the end this is a habit behavior. And the only way to break a habit is to stop doing it! It’s just like quitting smoking – life is a series of cigarettes that you are being presented with – take them or not.
Blessings & love, Sheri xoxox