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WHAT’S NEW? 2014!

What are your dreams and desires as we begin this wonderful New Year? One of the things I’m blessed with, is the opportunity to chat with sooooo many folks who come through the Journeys of the Spirit website. There has been a particular theme that I’ve noticed over the past year and that is challenging situations – whether they revolve around health, work, relationships or massive change. Whew. I’ve never heard of so many difficult situations as I have this past year.

So what does it all mean? Who knows? I’m not one to make up stories to make myself feel better – but I will say this. Life goes in cycles and every so often we get hit in the head by the glorious cosmic two-by-four to remind us to live our authenticity, to make sure we are where we need to be and don’t fall asleep into complacency.

Every year is an opportunity to grow, change and expand the image we have of ourselves, to break old limiting structures and move beyond what we felt was possible for ourselves. So I am going to chose a word for 2014 that I want to represent MY experience for the coming year and that word is: ABUNDANT EXPANSION.

Take a moment to think about what word or phrase you would like to represent your experience of 2014 and post it below – I want to know!!

Blessings and love, Sheri Rosenthal

Connect with me: Email | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

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EVENTS, WEBINARS, VIDEO-CLASSES & NEW PROGRAMS!

Warrior Goddess Wisdom Series

I’m excited to be part of a new Warrior Goddess Wisdom Series with my friend HeatherAsh Amara (we studied with don Miguel Ruiz together).

I’ll be one of 13 women interviewed over 13 weeks starting January 13th. Get the introductory webcast and all 13 video interviews for FREE by registering now …

Sign up here: insighteventsusa.com/warrior-goddess-wisdom

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I’m so thrilled to invite you to my dear friend Maria Saracen’s first annual “New Year, New You Giveaway.”

What does that mean? It means $1500 of free, no strings attached gifts! More details coming on December 28th when she is launching her giveaway. And yes, I’m part of her event. 🙂

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SPECIAL JOURNEY

Mastering the Buddha Nature Within: Bhutan
Dec 7-18th, 2014

As I mentioned a couple of newsletters ago – I’ve been wanting to go back to Bhutan soooo much (one of my favorite places on the planet!). I’ve been working on creating the perfect itinerary based on my previous time there and am happy to be able to offer this amazing journey to you! Deposits need to be made now so I can reserve space at the 5-star Zhiwaling Hotel where we’ll be staying the last two days of our journey. 🙂

Everyone who visits Bhutan is touched in the most astonishing ways, by the landscape, the heart of the people, and their philosophies. By the time we leave, the experience will have opened your heart in a manner that that is totally unexpected. Author Sheri Rosenthal and Lisa Tully invite you to join them on this magical and sacred pilgrimage – through meditation, chanting, prayer and ceremony we will expand our consciousness and cultivate the compassion and loving-kindness of Buddha within.

Thankfully we’ll have the opportunity to spend a day at the Druk Wangyal Festival. Held at the Dochula Pass which is an incredibly scenic location – you’ll have a panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range – simply stunning! We’ll also spend time visiting the very rare and endangered Black Necked Cranes in Phobjikha. And as a special gift, a Lama will be preparing a prayer and blessing ceremony just for us. Please go to the trip page and read up on all the wonderful inclusions on this journey (including our pre-trip preparation).

Trip cost: $5599 USD per person double occupancy, all meals, and flight from Bangkok to Paro included (an $820 USD value)!

Sign up NOW for our payment plan and be ready to go next December!

Details for Bhutan here!

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OUR GUEST ARTICLE

The Inner Shaman Work-out

What does it take to build a relationship with our Inner Shaman?

Focus. Desire. Practice. Trust.

How about just one more New Year’s resolution? Join us at the gym: the Inner Shaman gym.

In our last article, we shared the idea of awakening our Inner Shaman: that part of us that makes the unseen seen, the unknown known, and lives in alignment with our heart’s desire or soul’s purpose. We also offered that we would share tools for awakening and sustaining our relationship with our individual Inner Shaman. So, come on! Let’s start working-out to develop our Inner Shaman.

First, let’s walk into the Inner Shaman gym. The lights are already on, and have been, waiting for us to remember that this place exists. In front of us is a mirror. As we approach, we see a single candle in front of the mirror, hovering right at chin level. With each step closer, our awareness of the gym recedes and our Focus grows. With the light of the candle and the mirror, all we can perceive is our eyes. Looking deeply into our own eyes, everything else drops away. The mirrors in this gym don’t reflect the outer us; they reveal the inner us.

What happens when we REALLY look deeply into our own eyes? It can be a bit awkward, intense, or even scary. Never mind the thoughts that pop-up, just keep going. Take a deep breath, gaze deeper, and go past the false images and thoughts about ourselves or this process. Focus instead on the truth revealed in this connection. We can all recall that going to the gym for the first time is not easy: the practices are unfamiliar, the atmosphere is strange, and the fear is high. It’s the same with the Inner Shaman Gym. Just hang-in there, don’t look away, just keep going. Now we’re warmed-up and ready to begin our work-out.

With our warm-up complete, something magical begins to happen. A long-forgotten Desire begins to stir in us. It could be the desire to know ourselves; to understand our connection to the universe; to simply live in happiness; or to create some long-buried dream hidden away since childhood. The possibilities are endless, and knowing our heart’s desire opens the portal through which who we are emerges.

As our desire to know our self grows, we can see and begin to shake-off the many complicated layers we have piled-up over our lifetime trying to be what others (and we!) thought we should be, or do, or become. The more layers we shake-off, the more clearly we begin to know ourselves. Once we reach our core, our desire becomes our biggest ally to keep us returning to the Inner Shaman Gym. One little taste is all it takes!

As with our body’s muscles, our Inner Shaman needs use and repetition to grow and strengthen. How do we grow our Inner Shaman? With a strengthening Practice. Back in our Inner Shaman gym, we find our first strengthening apparatus: the CoreConnecting chair. This is a very special chair. It is the place where we develop our ability to perceive life and make choices from our heart rather than from habit or fear. In our CoreConnecting chair, we practice shifting our perception from our heads to our hearts. This is best learned in-person with instruction, but here are the basic steps to get started:

• Sit comfortably in a chair, with your feet fully on the ground and your hands resting, palms down, on your thighs. Close your eyes.
• Focus on lengthening your breath and relaxing, letting go of all worldly concerns.
• Imagine a tiny, glowing light near the base of your skull where you perceive the world around you. With each exhale, imagine this light floating gently downward into the core of your body.
• Once grounded in the core of your body, begin to perceive yourself from this point of view. Travel around your body, seeing everything from the perspective of a cell. Eventually, with more training, this technique can be used to heal yourself, bring balance and inspiration to your life, travel outward to other places, and more.

Many times we sat in the chair and nothing happened. Perhaps, that “nothing” is exactly the workout that was needed. Where we “go” is not as important as the practice, and daily practice is essential. Through our practice, we become flexible in our point of view and strengthen our ability to understand the voice of our Inner Shaman.

Now, we are at the last part of our Inner Shaman workout: the cool down. This is the time to enjoy and be grateful for the new vision we gain with every work-out. It’s also a time for Trust: the leap of faith that’s required when we leave the gym to step out into the world until we return for our next work-out. Trust in ourselves and in the exercises we use to strengthen our Inner Shaman. Trust will also reinforce our belief in ourselves. Ultimately, trust is what will help remove the distinction we make between us and our Inner Shaman.

Where is this Inner Shaman gym? It’s located right where YOU are.

What is the work-out to develop a strong Inner Shaman?

• First: FOCUS. Open your heart with a daily practice of looking, really looking, into your own eyes.
• Second: DESIRE. Know that the stirring in your heart is you; calling yourself to awaken your Inner Shaman.
• Third: PRACTICE. Practice CoreConnecting daily to clear away limiting beliefs so you can hear the voice of your Inner Shaman more and more clearly.
• Fourth: TRUST. Be grateful everyday for the awareness you have gained, and the unconscious habits you have left behind. Trust that inside YOU exists an Inner Shaman that is wise, willing, courageous and exactly what you need to live a heart-centered, magical life.

You are the Inner Shaman you seek.

Blessings & Love, Luca & Laura
Co-founders of One Community Programs

If you want to cultivate your inner shaman and visit the stunning sacred ruins of Peru (all the lovely pictures above are from Peru) – I highly recommend signing up for Luca + Laura’s upcomingDREAM YOU 2.0 PERU – April 22–May 1, 2014. (Jorge Delgado will be your Peruvian guide and he is not to be missed!)

For over 25 years Laura Pirie has drawn from extensive training in Environmental Design & Awareness, Elemental & Energy Healing, and Indigenous Traditions to work with individuals, groups and communities. She shares energy awareness, movement, healing and insight with those on a path to creating lives built from their innate wisdom, passion & purpose.

Luca DiMatteo has studied healing traditions for over 25 years, and for the past 9 years has been in leadership roles on retreats to Italy, Ireland, Peru, England and Mexico. Luca uses his keen ability to “See” that which is not visible, his nurturing, compassionate nature, sense of humor, and his gifts as a healer to support others on their path of discovery.

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~HEART-WARMING JANUARY ADVENTURES~

Unconditional Love in Action: Volunteer Journey to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia – LAST CALL!!
Trip Leader: Rev David Ault
Jan 22-Feb 1st, 2014

~MAGICAL MARCH SOJOURNS~

Mystics, Oracles & Shamans of Ladakh
Ladakh, India
Trip Leader: Lisa Tully
Mar 6-19th, 2014

The Enliven + Energize Women’s Retreat
Maui, Hawaii
Trip Leaders: Sheri Rosenthal and Deborah Kagan
March 18-23rd, 2014

A Week of Sacred Renewal
Sedona, AZ
Trip Leader: Susan Gregg
March 29-April 5, 2014

~ENLIGHTENING APRIL TRAVELS~

Dream You 2.0!
Peru – NEW!
Trip Leaders: Laura Pirie + Luca DiMatteo + Russ Jones + Jorge Luis Delgado
April 22-May 1, 2014

~MARVELOUS MAY EXCURSIONS~

Highlands and Mystical Islands
Scotland – NEW!
Trip Leaders: Glenn + Cameron Broughton
May 11-18th, 2014

A Women’s Journey to Avalon
Sacred Britain – NEW!
Trip Leaders: Cameron Broughton
May 29-June 6th, 2014

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Want to see our whole line-up for the upcoming year?
Visit our Trips at a Glance page.

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