ONE SPIRIT COMMUNITY

By Amoraea Dreamseed & Kerrie Dancing Butterfly

We stand here now, with the freedom to explore the expansive territory of our infinite potential.  As time unfolds, we are much closer to realizing that we are the Designers of the Map, that Time’s great spiral destiny is unraveling through humanity’s devotion to Illumination.  It is becoming lucidly clear that illuminating the Self is ‘Prime Directive’ and interwoven with illuminating the Planet.  Our personal evolution is not only inseparable, but absolutely critical, to the Earth’s awakening.

To cast no shadow is to become your own Light Source — radiant, emanating Ambassador of the Great Central Sun — no longer living off the light of others or hiding within the dark folds of the ego’s secret delusions and agendas.  The Earth speaks her intelligent request: “Clear your fields, align your intent and raise your vibration, so that our work together is impeccable and sent forth for the highest good of us all.”

As we wake up to our soul’s inherent design as Earth Steward / Light keeper / Healer, some of us are left bewildered at how we can possibly live up to the potential of this insistent message we hear from within.  The seed of our Ultimate Embodiment has just begun to sprout through the layers of soil that have been gestating us.  At times, it feels a daunting task to climb the spiral ladder of consciousness, outgrow limiting patterns, egoic comforts, fears, and self-doubt, to become a Divine Human, and to do it quick enough to ’save the planet’ from the ‘deluge of darkness’.  Breathe deep and exhale here.  Rest assured, the seed of your soul has a perfect timing mechanism of awakening, as does every other soul, along with the planet and communal consciousness. We are all perfectly interweaving, attracting the right inner and outer experiences to spark the continuum of our healing and awakening.  Strengthening, honoring, and blissfully surrendering to our unique inherent gifts is all that is needed.  To succeed collectively, we must offer unconditional support for each other’s individual choices during this process.

For many of us, 2008 challenged the stability of our identity by unraveling our subconscious imprints and areas of our personality that are outdated for these accelerated times.  We brought these to the surface by manifesting situations that would test the infrastructure of our being.  We are in the dynamic recalibration that comes during times of crisis, and like a centrifuge, that which is not sound and integral to our Divine Axis must spin off. In 2009 this process continues, but also sees the blossoming of our infinite potential flowering open, as the sheaths of the bud yield to the explosive desires of our innermost being to receive the Light.

Amoraea Dreamseed is a visionary artist, sound healer and Light worker ~ for more on information visit www.synergenesiscode.com

Kerrie Dancing Butterfly is a Shamaness of Transformational Empowerment ~ for more information visit www.JourneysfortheSoul.com

Join both Kerrie and Amoraea at http://www.onespiritweekend.com in Sedona Oct 2-5, 2009

By Erika Faith

Yamas – Restraints (Written as Affirmations)

Yamas are about our actions toward people and things:

a) I am kind and loving to all living things, including myself. (Ahimsa – non-violence)

b) I am truthful in thought, word, and deed. (Satya – dedication to Truth)

c) I am self-reliant and have boundless energy to create wealth. (Asteya – non-stealing)

d) I honor my sexuality as a sacred part of me. (Brahmacharya – sexual consciousness)

e) I am free from attachments and expectations. (Aparigraha – non attachment)

Niyamas – Observances (Written as Affirmations)

Niyamas are about nurturing yourself:

a) I keep myself and my environment pure. (Shauca – purity)

b) I am content, accepting and learning from events in my life. (Santosha – contentment)

c) I live simply, free from unnecessary distractions. (Tapas – focused enthusiasm)

d) I study my Self with inquisition and non-judgement. (Svadhyaya – self inquiry)

e) I unite myself with God and God merges with me. (Ishvara-Pranidhana – oneness with Spirit)

Asana

“The spinal column must be held straight and the body firm, in a comfortable position for meditation.” Patanjali doesn’t happen to mention the thousands of other asanas we have been learning in Hatha Yoga Classes. Yoga, as you have probably assumed by now, is not just the asanas and physical movements we have focused on practicing here in the West. But, steady poses help us to concentrate, become ultra aware of our physical body and move us into a meditative state.

Pranayama

Pranayama means breath control. In yoga practice, this is our intimate relationship with our life force (prana). The breath carries vital energy through our system and gives every cell oxygen. Breathing exercises and breath focus have a great purpose in Hatha Yoga practice: It helps us pay close attention to our body and ourselves, it brings relaxation by creating mental serenity, it builds physical heat within the body allowing us to stretch deeply without injury, and it rejuvenates through the releasing of dormant energy. Without proper breathing, yoga postures are incomplete and benefits won’t be attained.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara means “withdrawal of the senses”. To relax deeply and have a clear head, we sometimes need to detach ourselves from the external world. This doesn’t mean that we completely lose contact with outer reality, we just don’t let ourselves be disturbed by it. It is the feeling of hearing a sound, but it being far enough from us that it doesn’t cause us to react. The practice of pratyahara can be done in relaxation poses such as Savasana (the corpse pose), in asana practice, and even in daily life situations. Pratyahara teaches us that we have the power to choose how we respond to the external world.

Dharana

Dharana is the act of focusing our attention on a single thing. The goal is to become aware of nothing but the object in which you are concentrating. This is often done by fixating on a divine form (such as a picture of a spiritual master). As we hold our mind within a center of spiritual consciousness, we are connecting to the Truth within us. Other focal points are: a candle’s flame, the nose (which is also cleansing for the eyes), the “third eye” chakra, a mantra, and the breath. The practice of Dharana trains the mind to eliminate any excess thought or junk from our consciousness.

Dhyana

Dhyana is the state of meditation. It is the state in which uncluttered mind and heightened awareness lead to complete stillness. The focus is clear and vast – awareness resting on the All in the moment – without preferences. Meditation can be achieved through practice of Dharana and Pratyahara, Pranayama, and even Asana.

Samadhi

Samadhi means “to merge”. It is the ultimate goal of yoga. It is defined as a state of super consciousness where one has achieved, for any amount of time, oneness with the universe. This integration, or union of the All, is wonderfully blissful and is believed to be the true expression of our Eternal Self.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be safe.

May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.

May all beings be free.

Erika Faith is a movement facilitator at One Spirit Weekend.  Her school, Cloud Nine Yoga, prides itself in being a community based, non dogmatic Yoga Education entity with a history of facilitating the awakening of many hearts and teaching freedom of the mind and body.  For more information about Erika please visit http://www.cloudnineyoga.com/

By Erika Faith

Yoga is Creativity.

Creativity is a divine gift from God to humanity which anyone can access. Whether it is painting, ritual, music or movement we can all receive some type of benefit from creative expression. My on-going creative project is Yoga. How? Well…the simplest way for me to put it is: There are over 14,000 different postures (Asanas) and 50 different styles (Disciplines). A person can put together any routine for their own schedule or liking. Most styles involve some sort of relaxation. Whether a person is moving, breathing, or meditating, eventually there comes a time when the mind opens up and thoughts quiet down. This is where real insight and creativity happens. I don’t know HOW it happens. It just does. An exquisite mystery.

Yoga is Healing.

The ultimate goal of yoga is union with the All; it is to become completely aware of the Self or soul. The natural progression of practicing yoga leads one to: peace of mind and heart; power of will, love, and intellect; direct influence of the mind upon the body and the world outside the body; psychic abilities of various kinds; control of mind and better concentration; control of the emotions (removal of worry, pride, anger, fear, lust, and greed); bodily health, suppleness, beauty and longevity; and the prevention and removal of psychosomatic dangers and troubles. The Yoga Sutra’s Yamas (things to avoid) and Niyamas (things to do) are guidelines for living a life of integrity and truth. It is not necessary to obey these rules because these are just suggestions to live a happier, more fulfilled life. Yoga heals by allowing us to experience life in the continuous unfolding moment.

Yoga is Community.

Together, when people do yoga, something magical happens. There’s a wonderful feeling of togetherness, love, and camaraderie. This may manifest because each person starts to take responsibility for their life, beliefs, and experience. Yoga teaches that when the flow of the universe treats you kindly or harshly, you have control of your own attitude and outlook.The community of people studying and practicing yoga quickly becomes tight. I believe yoga brings people together in a magnetic sense; we want to share the bounty of its blessings with one another. A big group, focusing on transcending themselves, is a pretty incredible force of energy! As a teacher, I am excited to be able to share some of yoga’s power with my community.

Yoga is Committment.

Practice meditation (Dyana), breathing techniques (Pranayama), yoga postures (Asanas), and a deep relaxation (Savasana) at least three times a week. To really feel the essence of yoga, it is important to declare that yoga become part of your daily life. This is a committment that is only bound by your own will. Once you see the magic that yoga creates in your life, you will only want to continue with it.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be safe.

May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.

May all beings be free.

~ Metta Prayer

Erika Faith is a movement facilitator at One Spirit Weekend.  Her school, Cloud Nine Yoga, prides itself in being a community based, non dogmatic Yoga Education entity with a history of facilitating the awakening of many hearts and teaching freedom of the mind and body.  For more information about Erika please visit http://www.cloudnineyoga.com/

By Samantha Sweetwater

Creation Dances. The universe dances. When existence was born out of the great, undifferentiated field of the One, the dance was born. Since the beginning of time and the beginning of existence, being has been dancing with essence. Our souls are dancing the space where our spirit and our bodies meet.

The dance is the great unifier. Dance invites us into union with the masculine and feminine, seen and unseen, being and doing, spiritual and physical aspects of ourselves. Gently, fiercely moving us in the tides of our own bodies and emotions, it brings us right to the center of soul. To dance is to celebrate being human – being a spirit in the body living on this miraculous planet called Gaia.

Dancing Freedom is my spiritual practice. It is not a religion. It has no dogmas, no boundaries. It welcomes all bodies, all gestures, all gods. It invites diversity, and through embrace of the wild multiplicity of expression, teaches the truths of Unity. Dancing is spiritual because it is a way of joy. Joy means saying a divine yes to life – to the movement that IS life – all of IT – and, to our divine creatorship. When we move and just keep moving, we become one with all parts of ourselves and with the great cosmic dance.

I believe the dance can set us free. Freedom means that we are at home in our bodies and in our spirits. It means that we have fluidity between our inner connectivity and outer expressivity. When these two parts of ourselves are in dynamic flow, we live with soul. WE dance in the fire of love that is at the center of hearts. Freedom means embracing that fire – being ok with the full spectrum of our experience, at home in all of our stuff AND in our exaltation. I call this divine OK-ness. It is a place where there is no separation between the sacred and the mundane – a place where we KNOW that THIS is the true essence of sacredness. When we live here, we are free. Incredible magic happens. The world opens before us as a place of wonder, color, authenticity and beauty. Our instinctive, intuitive and worldly aspects reconnect. We stop going through the motions of life, and instead really feel the vibrancy and joy of existence pulsing through us.

No true freedom can emerge from resistance. What we resist persists. We are learning how to really love what is, how to embrace. The path of liberation asks us to surrender everything while we simultaneously hold the mother wisdom of creating safe space. What does this look like in the dance? It looks like working within a clear container of practice where we can really let go to explore. It means developing the clarity of our own sense of yes and no. It means exploring how our physical and emotional experiences are holographic reflections of all dimensions of our experience. Our skin is a sacred boundary. Our hearts have boundaries and borders that can be contained, entered, held, opened, surrendered, tuned. It is through naked dialogue with the bounded aspect of experience that we come to the blissful experience of boundlessness. It is through the existence of a contained self and a distinct other that we give and receive. When the flow is open in both directions, we can open to the infinity loop of creation.  Now, we are one with the universe dancing.  Now, we are Dancing Freedom.

Samantha Sweetwater, founder of Dancing Freedom, soul coach and priestess, empowers embodied leaders in seminars and trainings internationally.  Learn more: http://www.dancingfreedom.com or http://samanthasweetwater.wordpress.com.  Samantha is a movement facilitator at One Spirit Weekend.

By Morgan Langan

Many People are experiencing some form of increased “pressure” these days; in the form of financial struggles, relationship challenges or health issues. Any form comprises only a small percentage of “all that is” about your life. It is helpful to live life from the perspective that you are one part of a collective. We do not want things to remain the same! Thus we must be better prepared to adapt to even greater changes. We are evolving as a species, one individual at a time! New discoveries are proving scientifically what the great sages and saints of our history have been saying for thousands of years: We Are ONE!

In our human form we tend to focus on what we can see. It seems as if we are separate from each other. Yet many of us have had momentary glimpses of another reality in which we are all interconnected through One Spirit. It cloaks us in abundance, beauty and divine love. This view of life feels more real to us. It also feels good because it evokes love, compassion and awe. Studies have shown that the greater our feeling of connectedness, the less stressed we are. Positive emotions help us meet life’s challenges with grace. They account for the increased health and vitality among elderly people who have pets, or a circle of good friends, and are the reason that happily married couples live longer than singles. Yet because our interconnection defies our senses, positive emotional experiences are short-lived for most of us. They are unpredictable and wiped out in an instant when an event passes by that is not to our liking.

Just as our sense of connection evokes positive emotions our, sense of separation brings negative ones. They bump us out of our present moment of awareness, which is the only place that Oneness can be found. The more separate we feel the more depressed, angry and stressed we become. We feel as if we are in competition for limited resources. We know that stress taxes the immune system, making us prone to cancer, heart attacks and other life threatening illnesses. In short, we die sooner.

As adults, our natural tendency leans closer to negative emotional experiences than to our positive ones. Even when we know that we are Spirit at our very core, we function in a constant state of forgetfulness, thinking that our physical form is all there is. This is why we need a daily practice… to remember. In this remembering we can hold the Oneness, even though unseen, in a balance with the visible world.

It stands to reason that the more that we can stabilize positive emotions, the healthier, happier and more compassionate we will be. We will live longer and become better leaders. But how can we evoke and stabilize these emotions?

Scientists have been studying the biology of stress for years. We know that it triggers the Fight or Flight Response; regulated through the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hormone adrenaline.

What most of us don’t know is that our body also responds when we reach out to connect to others and to the natural world. In addition to the biology of stress there is the biology of love and compassion, and it also under the control of the ANS.

Research at the Institute of Heart Math has shown that we can bring on the Compassion Response by simply slowing our breathing. It is strengthened even further if we consciously generate feelings of love and appreciation, and imagine breathing directly through the heart area. We can strengthen this response many-fold by being in the presence of others who are stepping into their full potential SELF. By expressing from the Compassion Response, our hearts and minds synchronize as SELF.

It is in this experience that we become entrained in One Spirit and cloaked in the abundance, beauty and divine love of our inter-connection. This is the magic and the grace of One Spirit Weekend. We hope you join us to learn to embody your role as an awakening leader during this shift.

Learn more by attending One Spirit Weekend!

By Chutisa and Steven Bowman

Consciousness is the ability to be present in your life in every moment, without judgment of you or anyone else. It is the ability to receive everything, reject nothing, and create everything you desire in life – greater than what you currently have, and more than what you can imagine.

Consciousness is correlated to the intensity of one’s connection with oneself, with one’s acceptance of unlimited talents and abilities and the resulting expansion of one’s ability to be in communion with al things.

Being Conscious!

Being conscious is an experience of expanding our awareness beyond its present limits. It is a state of flexible awareness, with no fixed points of view.  The basic function of each being is expanding and contracting. Expanded beings are lightness, infiniteness and indefinable; contracted beings are solid mass, density and limitation.  A completely expanded being is what we call a conscious being.

When we are completely expanded, we have a feeling of total awareness, of being one with life; that place where we have a stillness, a sense of total peace and tranquility, in which we have no capacity to judge. Living in that reality means that we allow all of life to come to us with ease, joy and glory. Being conscious is the very process of expansion; it has nothing to do with new age concepts, the latest fads, or any “should” or “shouldn’t” beliefs.

Consciousness is our intrinsic faculty and inner resource; however, for most people it has been concealed and undeveloped. The majority of people are so disconnected from their own states of consciousness that they are not aware that it is possible to actually experience this state. For most people, everyday living is a struggle. However, we all have an inner urge toward living more naturally with ease, which is free of disharmony, trauma and drama. Yet within us also resides a strong attachment to anti-conscious habits from our past programming. This attachment to anti-conscious habits causes us to be quite disconnected from our own infinite possibilities. We have been impacted with so many external thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, energies, limitations and negativity that we are not able to perceive, know, believe and receive that we are that infinite possibility. We are not aware that it is possible to actually experience this state. Unconsciously, most people do not even realize that the state of pure consciousness is the true essence of their Beingness. A downbeat self depiction often obstructs the joyous exuberant expression and abundance of life that is the true essence of their Beingness (pure consciousness).

Ultimately, consciousness is a way of connecting what is happening at the present moment with the infinite possibilities. Conscious leaders constantly experience the abundance of life itself and the privilege of life itself because they are able to perceive, know, be and receive that wherever they are, just by the power of energy that is their true being, anything is possible. And this is a most glorious and magnificent place to be.

Excerpt from ‘Conscious Leadership – The Key to Unlocking Success’ by Chutisa and Steven Bowman who are key facilitators at One Spirit Weekend

By Morgan Langan

Puma and I had an amazing interview with Dr Vernon Woolf last week. His message for us was both inspirational and sobering. On the inspirational side, he told us that the timing of One Spirit Weekend is vital. We need leaders in their chosen field of expertise to step forward now more than ever. On the sobering side, he said that the time to take physical action is rapidly ticking down. Based upon all of the scientific data which he has available to him; the human race has as little as 2 years and perhaps as much as 25 years to change the WAY we are interacting with one another and this earth. I believe we are all sharing his sense of urgency. As a species we have been ignoring all of the warning signals so long that the world is literally on the brink of destruction. This is a pivotal point in our collective human consciousness.

Whether you believe personally you can make a difference to reverse this situation or you believe there is nothing you can do; you are right!

When I asked Dr. Woolf how to know what information is the right information, he said that the scientific information available regarding the physical status of our planet is undeniable. There are vested individuals who would rather we did not have all the facts. It is vital to carefully examine the source of any information you hear or read.

For 30 years Dr. Woolf has been teaching people how to utilize consciousness in order to “act responsibly” this is why we are so excited to have Dr. Woolf presenting our keynote address at One Spirit Weekend! He is at the forefront of changing physical reality. Not simply talking about it or theorizing about what could be done, he has been actively doing it! For 9 years Dr. Woolf worked with the Russian people as they transitioned from communism into a functional social and economic system. His program of Holodynamics was accepted and utilized by most levels of government as well as the scientific community. This comprehensive system of consciousness was integrated into many aspects of Russian life and lead to the largest privatization of land in the history of the world. This was accomplished without the need for war. Humbly, Dr Woolf says that during this entire time he never told anyone what to do. He simply taught the science of consciousness and people worked together to bring about the changes they wished to see.

What changes do you wish to see in our world? What is the legacy you wish to leave for future generations? Dr Woolf brings practical and demonstrable solutions to the problems which we are now facing. Based upon his success in Russia and his understanding of consciousness, he has designed “tracks” to direct your efforts in your particular area of leadership expertise. He will teach you the steps necessary to reach your full leadership potential so that together we may lead this world to a new WAY of being.

Please take the time to research Dr Woolf and www.Holodynamics.com then schedule your travel arrangements to join us in Sedona October 2- 5, 2009

Sincerely,

Morgan Langan

One Spirit Weekend Co-Founder

By Morgan Langan

Puma and I are in the final stages of remodeling and furnishing an organic Retreat Center. Throughout this process I have been amazed every time I venture forth into businesses, which showcase products for the home. Last night we went into a Do-it yourself arts and crafts store. As we wandered through the isles I was absolutely appalled by all “the Crap” people were willing to spend their money on. My mind ventured into thoughts of what we could do with the money spent on manufacturing, shipping, marketing, storing and selling all this crap. I envisioned all the things, which could be made to improve the lives of others with this money. I looked into the shopping carts, which filtered by me in the cramped isle ways. Most were overflowing with so much stuff it looked like cleanup day after a windy Macy Parade. I couldn’t help shifting my eyes from the cart to see who would be actually putting out money for this stuff. It was shocking to observe how much judgment came up for me around how I perceived these people. Initially, I tried to intellectualize my process as being one of discernment. I was merely discerning that most of the people were overweight, barely above survival subsistence and English was not their first language. I had to admit that no matter what language I utilized, this “discernment” sounded a lot like judgment. In any regard, it allowed me to create separation between myself and my fellow human beings.

Just as I was judging myself negatively for these unenlightened judgments, a large bin, overflowing with stuff caught my attention. The title of the display was quite effective from a marketing perspective- “Cheep Plastic Stuff.” Seriously–that was the name, which was proudly displayed. I found myself being drawn closer to the display. As I peered into the bins, I was curiously attracted to these robotic like figures called “Noggin Bops ™.” From a kinesthetic engineering perspective, these figures were ingenious. I couldn’t resist trying it out to see how it worked. It was quite animated and would dance from side to side, wiggle its hips, rotate at the waist, swing his arms and of course, “Bop his Noggin” from side to side. Now the amazing thing for me (and I admit that I don’t get out of my house enough) was that all this motion originated from 2 twists of a wand on his back. What a tremendous return of energy for a two-second expenditure. He had a bright smile and a certain sweetness that made me smile. When I saw the price, I could not believe my eyes- $3.00. As I calculated what it would cost me to build something this incredible, I knew that this was truly a bargain for me. I had to have it!

Now Puma, who was present throughout this entire transition, found the situation quite amusing. She was witnessing her spiritually advanced mate, as he quickly justified the purchase of a Noggin Bop ™ to her immediately following his diatribe on his disbelief that people actually buy this Stuff.

A great lesson to learn early when on a spiritual path is to remain humble. Especially, as we venture together along this path of Self Realization; know that a little humility will go along way. When we encounter those moments in our lives when everyone around you just nods their heads, not quite sure how to react to you, just nod back and smile. Now that’s a Noggin Bop worth sharing all day long!

Morgan Langan, Co-founder

http://www.OneSpiritWeekend.com

http//www.GraceGrove.com

By Yachay Azzaraya

I am sure you have heard the phrase “just take a deep breath and calm down.” This common technique of breathing to calm one’s self is more powerful and significant than one might think.

Fully imagine yourself in each of the following situations. With each one, enact your experience with a focus on how you would be breathing.

1) You are sitting in rush hour traffic, inching along.

2) You are giving birth to a newborn child.

3) You are riding a rollercoaster.

4) You are running a marathon.

5) You are gazing into your beloved’s loving eyes.

This exercise highlights the amazing way in which our breath is intimately connected to how we experience reality. The way we breathe creates the way we feel. The science of breath is known as pranayama in yoga, and is a powerful way to gain mastery of one’s emotions and life. Simple breathing exercises, with practice, can give us the ability to stay calm in tense situations, to experience greater peace of mind, and more joy in day-to-day life! More intensive breath practices can really open up the energy channels in the body, and the resulting bliss is well worth the dedication. I have never experienced such deep shifts from any other practice.

Pranayama has healed my physical body deeply. But more pronounced, perhaps, is the psychological transformation. The energy potential that is opened with the breath produces fundamental shifts in the way I see and experience the world. I experience regular shifts in my lenses of perception, constantly seeing things more positively and optimistically. It’s as if the power of prana is empowering me to live life more fully and vibrantly. Discover this ancient science for yourself, I guarantee it will make you feel amazing!

For a great introduction, I recommend Science of Breath by Swami Rama, and for advanced practices, Path of Fire and Light Vol. 1, both available from www.himalayaninstitute.com