| Taking Counsel in a Circle |
by Madisyn Taylor 
The use of a talking stick during counsel assures every voice is heard fully without interruption. When we sit in a circle together and share our thoughts and feelings, we participate in a powerful, unifying practice whose origins stem from the very beginning of human time. All early cultures practiced some form of this ritual, which gives each individual in the group a voice, and at the same time reveals the one voice, and the ultimate unity, of the group. This profound and simple way of talking and listening has experienced a modern rebirth in counseling, social work, and spirituality. Most circles benefit from the presence of a leader who opens the circle by calling in angels, spirit guides, and ancestors – beings of light who will be present with those taking counsel. The leader may announce a theme for the circle, or one may simply evolve from the unstructured expressions of each participant. The circle continues for as long as feels right, at which point the leader may summarize what has been said, perhaps leading everyone in a moment of silence before the circle disbands. One of the most powerful components of this work is the talking stick, which can be any object – a crystal, a flower, or a candle – that is passed around the circle from person to person. The person holding the object speaks until he has fully expressed his feelings, and no one else interjects, interrupts, or even responds until they are holding the stick. This enables people who have a hard time speaking out to express long-buried feelings and points of view. This is powerful because in a community it is often what is not said or acknowledged that causes the most pain and suffering. The circle, which contains no hard edges or angles, is the ideal container for these difficult truths. As we hear the many perspectives the subject at hand inspires, we begin to see that our individual truth is just one of many. Our own hard edges begin to soften as the circle flows from one person to the next, and each wave of words cleanses us of one more layer of mental and emotional armor, freeing us to be closer to the people around us. Try using counsel during your next family meeting, school class, or any setting where you feel a centering communication method is needed. |
DailyOm on Co-operation by Madisyn Taylor
| Cooperation |
by Madisyn Taylor
Cooperation is allowed to flow more easily when we let go of the necessity to be right all the time.
Cooperation seems simple: working together toward a common goal for the benefit of all involved. But amazingly it can be quite challenging, even when we have so many successful examples all around us. Human society is based upon the concept of cooperation, but finding a balance to ensure the good of all members of society is difficult. In nature, symbiotic relationships form between unlikely allies: a bee and a flower, a bird and a rhinoceros, small fish and sharks. Yet nature also shows us instances of constant competition in which only the strongest survive. Given the choice, it seems most people would choose the more peaceful path of cooperation. Intellectually, we know that together we can create something greater than what one could do alone, but cooperation still seems to be one of the greatest challenges people face. We don’t always agree on how goals can be reached. Our priorities may be different, or our methods, but in the end, cooperation offers the best chance for success.So how can we learn to cooperate with each other? We can gain greater perspective by trying to understand one another’s point of view, perhaps even putting ourselves in their place. We can search for commonalities as well as differences, and look for the good in different approaches. There is always more than one way of doing things, and some approaches are better suited for certain situations than others. All this is easier when we let go of the necessity to be right and to call others wrong. More important, we must believe that there is a solution that benefits all involved, not just one side. The results of cooperation can be as simple as effortlessly getting everyone in your household to their appointments to large-scale social shifts to changing minds and hearts or policies that affect the future. |
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Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charter Tours and Memorials Key West Florida: Captain Victoria Impallomeni-Spencer
SGC Admin: When we lose a loved one, it is difficult to say goodbye, we will always miss them.. and choosing the most thoughtful or ideal way to intern or release our loved ones isn’t always easy…Our family recently said goodbye to a loved ones “earth suit” in the most beautiful and peaceful way .. From the back a small boat into the clear ocean water of Key West surrounded by mangroves…
Captain Victoria and Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charter services was the right choice for us and we feel it was right for our loved one too..
Captain Victoria also offers other charter tours beside memorial ones… :)
The moment we met Captain Victoria and her assistant Kandy we felt comfortable. Captain Victoria and Kandy guided us on board and helped us to stow our things.. They even produced blankets, just in case the wind was cooler than we had dressed for.
We really weren’t sure what to expect, but we are so glad we said goodbye to our loved one this way… Captain Victoria took us out to see the dolphins, they came, it was magical… :) we felt blessed and joyful… We even saw an Osprey fly right across the bow… it was amazing…
We chose a beautiful Mangrove grove… the water was clear, everything was just right… Captain Victoria explained the importance of the Mangroves to the whole life cycle… :) A spiritual and healing feather ceremony was held, it was calming, soothing and peaceful…
Captain Victoria has many years of experience, she looks at the water like we would look at a road map… Her knowledge is boundless, and it is wise to listen well when she speaks… :)
Kandi (If she is there on your charter) is kind and caring, always at hand when needed, taking photo’s and video’s and happy to answer questions and keep you comfortable, while Captain Victoria guides the boat… and wow it’s wild … :)
For more information, pricing or to book a charter with Captain Victoria please check out
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Transiting Mars into Taurus March 2017
http://www.123rf.com: Copyright : dvar
- Astrological Event: Mars moves into Taurus
- Date: March 9 2017
- Time: 7:34 pm (ET) 4:34 pm (PT)
What does it mean?
Mars is the male planet, he is action and can be aggressive, he can be rash and selfish, but also work in heroic ways to help us move forward, speak up for ourselves and others and pushes us to experience new frontiers. He is the ruler of Aries and corresponds to the head, the blood and the muscles.
- Taurus is ruled by Venus (the opposite of Mars)
- Taurus is connected to the 2nd house of financial and material security.
- Time to put the brakes on for a while and slow down. Taurus doesn’t like to be rushed it only upsets her.
- Frustrations are likely for those who “demand” answers right away or expect results at the drop of a hat
- It’s a good time to talk about plans, but not always the best time to move ahead
- Some of us are going to be more stubborn about certain things… and won’t do anyone any good to try and get us to change our minds or our direction… advice is always appreciated though even if we don’t take it.
- It’ s not a time for quick action or for reaching goals quickly, however it is time to plod along slowly and deliberately, gathering information along the way, so in the end our results will be firm and long-lasting.
- Because Taurus rules the 2nd house and Aries (ruled by Mars) rules the 1st house, it’s possible that some folks may find this a good time to check out their personal finances and assess their material security (as in where they live and job prospects). We will want to take care of our needs, and while the welfare and comfort of family and friends will also be in our minds, self-care will be at the top on the list.
- Venus rules Taurus and is the most feminine of the planets, her main interests are money, beauty and an easy way with relationships (Venus turned retrograde March 4)… Taurus needs to feel comfortable and enjoys fine food and drink…
- Mars is the most male of the planets, his interests are action, heroism, his own needs first, and war… He rules Aries…
- With Mars being in Venus, some of us may experience frustrations regarding our personal relationships, especially if one partner wants to move quicker within the relationship then the other… Breakups may happen under this influence and while new relationships can happen now they will work out better if expectations are kept to a minimum.
- Take care regarding big purchases
- We may be more frugal with our spending under this influence
- Some folks may feel confused about their finances, spending now and wondering why the heck we bought something or spent so much one this influence has passed.
Got a Question?Copyright: Greta McKenzie astrology: updated March 7 2017
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Improv 55+ with Julie Ditta Bowmanville
- Improvisation (Improv) 55+
- Mondays, February 27- April 3
- 7:00 – 9:00 pm (6 weeks)
- 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville
- Phone: (905) 697-2856
- $25.20 members
- $32.75 non-members
- Bowmanville Older Adult Association
- Did you know Improv reduces stress, improves memory, and boosts your immune system?
- You’ll increase your confidence and connect with others through creative activities in a fun and nurturing environment.
- You don’t have to act or be funny to participate in this course.
- Improv uses spontaneous group games and situations to keep your mind and imagination sharp.
- The result is an increased sense of mental, social, and emotional well-being. “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Serenity's Gift Cove (sgc) 