Welcome to The Seasoned Path
Welcome to The Seasoned Path. In each newsletter I will share some of my musings along the path as well as inspirations gained from those who have traveled this way before me. My hope is to tickle your curiosity, heighten your awareness, and encourage you to become an environmentalist for your soul.
In this Issue:
Quote of the Month
Gifts to OPEN BEFORE the Holidays
Nature’s Coaching Tips
Readings for the Journey
Upcoming events: January and February Retreats
Going Green Tip of the Month
Quote of the Month:
'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be.
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
We will live in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shall not be ashamed.
To turn and to turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.
Quaker Hymn
Gifts to OPEN BEFORE the Holidays
As this wonderful hymn proclaims the greatest gifts are intangible qualities not found in the shopping malls. The holiday seasons of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa inspire us to live up to our fullest potential as human beings. Each one of us has been endowed with a unique set of qualities and talents. If we un-wrap these innate gifts before the holidays and infuse them in all our preparations, our celebrations will be enriched. This may sound wonderful, but perhaps like many others, you haven’t the foggiest idea of what your gifts might be? Here is a simple game to help you get started. All you need is a pencil and paper and a place to sit undisturbed for about 30 minutes. Your answers need to be spontaneous and heartfelt. So don’t over think it. This is a game, play with it! A) Make a list 1 to 5 of your best qualities. Be honest and acknowledge your best assets. It might be your sense of humor, your just do it attitude, or your quite calm demeanor. If you are stumped, call a friend or two and ask what they think. You might be surprised to hear what people appreciate about you. B) Next list 1 to 5 your favorite activities. What gives you the greatest satisfaction? What intrigues and fully engages you? It might be ballroom dancing, reading to children, walking on the beach; anything that gives you joy and energizes you. C) Randomly pick two numbers from 1 to 5. At the top of your page write down one item from list A and one from list B that correspond to your selected numbers, so you will have chosen one quality and one activity.
Now brainstorm all the ways these two could be combined.Write down 3 to 5 ideas. Be spontaneous and creative. Don’t edit your thoughts with details of how, when, or where, just think of all the wonderful possibilities. For examples of the things I listed above I might have selected humor and reading to children. D) Repeat step C, two more times with different numbers from column A & B. E) You now have 9 to 15 ideas written down. Choose your 3 favorites that really light up your heart. These are your presents marked OPEN BEFORE the holidays. Your mission if you choose to accept it is to manifest one or more of these gifts during the next month. Have it be a celebration of who you are as well as the season. Have fun and savor the experience!
Nature’s Coaching Tips:
The Great Blue Heron seems to be frequenting my path a lot lately, whether I’m hiking in the wetlands of New Jersey and Maryland, or kayaking down a river of Colorado, or even during my local "Walk and Talk" coaching sessions in Pennsylvania. My husband took this picture when we were out walking last weekend. For fun I looked up on the web the meaning of the heron totem and was surprized to learn all the heron had to teach me:
Blue heron individuals are highly independent and are capable of handling any task, so long as they are left to their own devices. Their challenge in life is finding the balance between standing alone and being in relationship with others.
Blue heron individuals are also peacemakers. The Sioux Holy Man, Black Elk, defines peace as:
“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of the people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the Universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.”
Once the Blue Heron soul finds that peace within the self, the balance of standing alone and relating to others can be found in sharing the lessons learned on their journey and in guiding others to find that same inner peace.
This totem so acurately defines my personal challenges and my path as a Life Coach and Retreat Leader! Nature is always putting wonderful metaphors before us. We just need to be watchful and curious.What aspect of nature has been drawing your attention lately? How is it a metaphor for your present situation? What is it telling you?
Going Green Tip of the Month
This is a new addition to the newsletter. Each month I will include a simple earth-saving solution that you can incorporate into your everyday life.This one I was really happy to learn!
Almost everyday catalogs that I never use are delivered to my home, especially during the holiday season. Now you can sign onto the website (www.catalogchoice.org), inform them of the catalogs you no longer wish to recieve, and they will contact the companies. It's easy, it's free, and it will cut down on so much paper wastage!!
Readings for the Journey:
"Properity Pie: How to Relax about Money and Everything Else" By SARK
"The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron
"The Woman's Comfort Book: A Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life." by Jennifer Louden
Upcoming Events:January and February Retreats
WALKING BOLDLY INTO 2008
Step into the New Year with an outgoing adventuresome spirit and join me for a winter hike at The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Let this be your jump start into making 2008 the year that you boldly step outside the box, broaden your horizons, and become fully alive.
When: Sat. Jan.12th, Rain date Sun Jan 13th
Time: 12 to 3:00pm
Where: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
8601 Lindbergh Blvd,
Philadelphia, Pa. 19153
Fee: $40 pre-registration required, $30 if you register by 12/30
BREAKING PATTERNS & RE-INVENTING YOUR LIFE:
Feb. 28 – March 3 2008
At Maho Bay Camps Eco-Resort on St John in the US Virgin Islands.
A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY GIFT FOR YOU!!
Discover and embrace a new you with five days of renewal, reflection, and adventure! Through the window of the five elements and the wisdom of Classical Chinese Medicine, Linda Marrical will help you explore your patterns that repeatedly cause you emotional and physical difficulties. And Life Coach Karin Marcus will help you translate this new awareness into personal growth and by clarifying your life’s purpose help you begin to re-invent
the rest of your life. All retreat activities are in the morning and your afternoons are free to explore the gorgeous and tranquil environment of Maho Bay.
Retreat and Lodging:
Double Occupancy Cabin $1000 per person / $950 if you register with a friend.
Food and Plane Fare not included.
The Small Print
To schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching phone session, email me at Karin@SteppingOutCoaching.com or call 610-667-5247
Visit my website for more coaching info www.SteppingOutCoaching.com
A Note About My Recommendations
I provide links in this newsletter to products and services I am offering or I have personally found valuable. If you are ever disappointed with one of these recommendations, please let them and me know. If they don't make it right, I will.
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The Seasoned Path is published 12 times a year and distributed by e-mail to subscribers on or about the first Monday of each month. Comments, submissions and suggestions are welcome. Please forward any or all of this newsletter to those you know will appreciate it and encourage them to subscribe for themselves.
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Copyright © 2007 by Karin Marcus. All rights reserved.
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