You can become your own most powerful resource, simply by learning to become “self-referring.” It’s exactly what it sounds like. When you train yourself to ground and breathe deeply and, then, to ask yourself what the answers are, you will find a well-spring of deep wisdom within yourself. You will discover that the answers that are within you are tailor-made solutions and better than anything anyone else can offer you. Each of us has infinite wisdom within us and can learn how to tap into it. It’s easy, it only takes practice.

What would happen to a relationship in which each party learned to give exquisite attention?

In the Inner Wisdom Peer Counseling course you will learn tools and techniques that allow you to remain focussed and attentive in any conversation.

Naturally, we try to address this demand by doing our best to find better words, the right tone, a sincere smile or interested and friendly eyes.

And, truth be told, while someone else is talking, we are often use part of our attention to begin formulating our responses. We all do it. After all, what are we supposed to do, ask the other person to be quiet while we think of what to say after they have spoken? That seems awkward.

What about turning the whole proposition on its head?

What if you could learn to listen in such an attentive, exquisite, compassionate and accepting way that it would transform the other person’s communication?

What would happen to communication between you and others fs you could, while listening, hold space for the other person’s wholeness, wisdom, perfection, and, if so inclined, divinity?

Can you imagine that this would make a difference? It is our experience with the Inner Wisdom Peer Counseling course that it does, and greatly so. Relationships can be altered profoundly for the better when we learn to listen powerfully  and compassionately.

And we, being caring and no wanting to impose on our friends and loved ones, do just that. Except, whatever inside of us was asking for healing through the loving and understanding attention of others, becomes an area in our consciousness that will continue to require our psychological and emotional management; nothing goes away, it only goes into hiding.

In the Inner Wisdom Peer Counseling course, you are taught to - and get the opportunity to- say all there is to say and feel all there is to feel, in the presence of a loving and exquisitely listening peer. A process that has proven time, and again, to lead to deep emotional releasing and, thus healing.

When all has been said and listened to, as many times as necessary, only then can we move on.

Are you ready to listen and be listened to with delight, compassion, understanding and acceptance?

October 17th was the 100th day of my barefoot walking meditation. I got a cold over that weekend and suspended my barefoot walking until I’m fully recovered. Today Is November 2nd and I’m almost good as new. By the weekend I expect to be back to going barefoot. I’ve missed it. And I still don’t know whether I’ll be able to go naked-footed through the winter. We’ll see :)

Love and Blessings,

India

I have to confess that last year when I saw the huge displays for New Moon at Barnes & Noble, I smirked. I made fun of the fools who fell for that. I ignored the Patt….something headlines and even more so the magazine covers in the supermarket and diligently skipped reading about whether so and so are dating or not. This was clearly for people who had no life. Ah, I was so wrong. It was for women with imagination, idealism, romance in their hearts, and desire. How delicious to dream a fantasy so sweet and delightful. My heart is lifted. Cheers to Twighlight, to New Moon and to Eclipse (December 4th, DVD release, you know what I want for Christmas) which I missed in the theater having discovered THE SAGA only last Sunday. Oh sigh. Waiting is such sweet sorrow. On another note, I’m a little confused by my psychology: I’m not sure if I want to be WITH Edward, or BE Edward. Or maybe both?? Anybody out there have that going on?

Dear Readers, it’s been a little while since I’ve written. A few of you have asked where the posts are. In answer, I have a full plate with Green Lake Spiritual Center and my book. It would go a long way if I got some encouragement from you. Please comment if you like the posts.

Notes and thoughts from the barefoot road

On my way to Whole Foods. It’s a little cold under my feet and I’m contemplating, would I take the bus if it were to pass? Yes. I didn’t say I’d walk everywhere. There is something about this practice that invites becoming more radical. I want to avoid that. On my way out of the house, I was wearing shoes (i’d been working around the recycling bin). The Greek contractor, who is working on the house next door saw and only said “You broke it.” He said it so sadly even though, only the day before he had made fun of me for going barefoot. I resolve not to take everything so seriously!

Shoes off at the edge of the sidewalk.
Here’s the skinny. I agreed with myself from the beginning that I could walk around the house in shoes, that the only time I was “require”d to go barefoot was when I went out into the world. I did this because I wanted to be able to nurture my feet and give them treats (especially in form of my soft slippers) from time to time. I also agreed that I would wear some kind of footwear if an establishment required it (this is not about rebellion). So far, I’ve not had to do that (this sometime involves begging ;)

Observation: When my goals are reduced to navigating the various surfaces with as little, or no pain as possible, life becomes very simple.

Today I saw a fellow barefoot traveler. We said yaaaaay to eachother.

There are oasises of smooth surfaces (see comparison pic below ;) . All the newer developments put in new sections of sidewalk. And these sections are made of much smoother material.

Walking on cold feet is painful. Moisture makes particles stick and poke into my soles. (Shoes in backpack. In case I can’t take it.)
Feet get warm as I heat up.
Stepped into a soft pile of poop. The grass works so well for wiping and cleaning, it’s awesome. Not all that gross.
So lost in thought, passed up 52nd and went down most of 51st before noticing what I’d done.

Haiku

Grass strips, soft and treacherous
Concrete, plain and hard   ;)

The buss passed while I was in between stops.

I invited attendees of the Guided Meditation and Bhakti Circle to dinner on Thursday and also Barbara Hinchcliffe, a lovely woman who’ll be teaching soul-work and monetizing-your-gift classes at Green Lake Spiritual Center.

Steven took time out from working. We had a wonderful crowd, delicious, mostly raw food. Even though, Stefan brought a richly flavorful curry. Yumm!!
Unfortunately this pic doesn’t have Elise and John in them. I keep having so much fun that I forget to snap pictures! This is the meditation gang. I saw an old movie day before yesterday. Already forgotten what it was, but the cool dude in it used the word gang and I love it. It’s so cheesy I want to resurrect it!

At the end of the evening we sang and played music. Kudos to Elise who washed every dish (I dried and Steven put away). We had so much fun with it :-D

Sunday Bhakti Circle with Matt Kahn and Julie Dittmar was fabulous! We had a full house and the event was a joy!!

Steven and I went to lunch and that was delicious too. We had hoped For Matt and Julie to join us, but it was wonderfully romantic just the two of us. We have little time together in the last few months, so, what a treat!

Monday Joey, a lovely young man who attnends the Guided Meditation at GLSC on Saturday mornings took me to UW campus to put up flyers for GLCS. It rained some of the time and the gounds were wet. It was so delicious. We chatted so much, I hardly know where we went. What fun. There are some heating vents and I got  chance to enjoy toasty toes ;)

Yesterday morning I had a melt-down, being mean and snarly. Been spending too much time away from GLSC. I’m blessed that Steven is kind and understanding and generous. He realy helped me, let me express myself, cry, be angry, etc. I go a little nuts when I don’t have enough time to keep working on creating the center.

The skin on the balls of my feet is getting thicker. It’s very cool. Speaking of which. I usually wash my feet whenever I get home. Tonight I did it in cold water (didn’t want to wait for the water to run hot) and it didn’t bother me one bit. I’m excited because I think it’s a good idea to train a little for cold weather…The balls of my feet and the tops feel little tender. Did a lot of walking Monday…

Sure, I woke up this morning thinking, Oh my gawd, I’m gaining back the weight I so happily lost. Help! But that is so fleeting and seems so irrelevant compared to one single dust mote dancing in a single beautifully slanting sunbeam. I could say, I really wish we had the funds in our budget to replace our aluminum windows, but do I care, really? No, not actually. They’re just windows, but I’m a miracle and so are you. Our bodies breathes and it feels so good…

The cold air on my skin and the promise of warmth when I go stand outside in the sun….