This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn how to co-create relationships without drama with Michael Rios. What would relationship be like if everyone took 100% responsibility for their own feelings?  What if every surge of emotion was seen as an invitation to connect with essence and rise to a new level of awareness and love?  What if we made the commitment to never again blame another person for our feelings? 

The more we do our own inner work, the more available and loving we are in the moment.  We no longer cling to rules and impose agreements that we hope will keep our partners from triggering painful emotions in us; we welcome those emotions, work through them, and delight in our connections whatever form they might take.  There are many paths to spiritual and emotional growth; join us as we walk the path of open-hearted relationship.

And avoid having to clean up post drama blood from the shower stall ever again! :-)

Michael Rios (http://michaelrios.com) has been creating and living alternative lifestyles and personal growth experiences for over 40 years; currently he lives at Chrysalis, an intentional community in Arlington, VA (http://www.chrysalis-va.org). His favorite social organization principles include guerrilla capitalism and responsible anarchy.  He regularly co-organizes "New Culture" events aimed at creating a culture based on awareness, compassion and freedom rather than on fear and judgment (http://www.cfnc.us, http://www.nfnc.org).

The workshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

This entry was posted on May 27, 2010 at 2:22 PM and has received 1789 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we go into a very deep relaxing state with a gong meditation by Werner. The mind can't keep thoughts going during the gong for more than 90 seconds and hence these are very restful and deep meditative state. It heals all the cells in the body. Werner has a 38" large sonic gong and he will play it with chakra activation. Gongs have been used since ancient times to awaken us to the infinite reverberations of Being, within our own consciousness, vibrating in infinite frequencies of silence. Similar to the sound of the ocean, this complex sound of the Gong, can not be comprehended by the linear mind, mind becomes suspended, and awareness drops through to a primordial state.
 
Like the sound heard and felt in the roar of a waterfall, or the surf of the sea, listening to the sound of the Gong creates an opening that goes beyond hearing, beyond mind, into a state of reverberation of consciousness onto itself, opening the awareness beyond the self-identification with mind and its conditioned patterns.  It is therefore used as a form of therapy, creating an opening for transformation.

In a "Gong Concert"  I usually begin by bringing the listener into physical and emotional "present moment."
Then I work with the body awareness to lead the listener into a deeper state of awareness and connection to self and core issues.
In the next stage the listener holds a deep intention for  any desired transformation or healing to occur, affirming that all is well.
Then I ask the listeners to direct the sound of the gong to each individual chakra for clearing and empowerment.
After this activation, the listener is invited to bath themselves in the symphonic sound of the Gong, as we would bath in the warm rays of the sun at the beach, or a gentle breeze in spring.

During that main portion of the concert, the listener is encouraged to let any energy freely move through and clear from his system, with the intention to let go of all that does not serve, and inviting in new live affirming patterns of energetic flow and healing.................
By that time the listener is usually deeply immersed and  dissolved in the symphony of sounds and experiences a source of deep wellbeing within him/herself.
After a while the waves of sound subside and the listener settles down into the source of all sound, the sublime silence of being, feeling the sounds of the Gong reverberating in his/her awareness long after the outside sound has stopped.

It is a magical and primal experience, difficult to put into words, but a deeply refreshing opening of Self to itself within oneself.

I hope this gives you a feeling of what to expect from a "Gong Concert"

The gong begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

This entry was posted on May 25, 2010 at 12:40 PM and has received 725 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we tame our inner critic with Core Energetic Practitioner Barra Kahn. How loud is the voice of your inner critic?  Is it screaming at you from time to time?  Or is the volume low, providing a constant drone?  The inner critic is what keeps our mask (idealized self image) intact, and difficult to move.  We get caught in a cycle in which it is nearly impossible to be authentic.  In this Sandbox workshop, we will explore how you want to be seen, what you perceive will happen if you are not seen this way, and what you "miss" in life by keeping up this appearance.  For those interested in going deeper, we will explore lower self work around the actual voice of the inner critic.  Bring your inner critic with you, and we'll give him/her a good workout.

Core Energetics is the bridge between psychology and spirituality. It is the first western psychotherapeutic approach to incorporate the spiritual aspect of being with modern psychology and body psychotherapy, making Core Energetics a truly holistic and integrative therapy. It is an evolutionary therapeutic approach that seeks the integration of all aspects of our humanity - emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual. This evolutionary process is built on the foundation of the work of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Wilhelm Reich, and human development theory, the study of new physics, spirituality, and ancient charka and human energy theory.

Core Energetics is based on a deep understanding of the ways in which energy and consciousness work together in the transformative process of healing. This evolutionary process of healing encompasses knowing and revealing your whole self- your beauty, your defenses, and your dark shadow. This transformation is achieved gradually by bringing consciousness and movement to the core's overlaying defensive structures.

The result is the release of a vast amount of energy, which can then be used in the service of mental, physical and spiritual health. This creates vitality, greater life fulfillment, joy and pleasure.

Certified practitioners of Core Energetics must go through their own deep therapeutic process as well as to complete a rigorous 4 year post graduate training program.

Barra Kahn is a Certified Core Energetics Practitioner (CCEP), a professor of Communications at GMU, focusing on developing Interpersonal Communication skills both for groups and individuals. For nine years, Barra was on the faculty and Artistic Director of a national drama conservatory.  And just for fun, Barra has been teaching Ashtanga Yoga for 30 years. You can reach Barra at barra3 at gmail dot com or 703-786-7065

The workshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

This entry was posted on May 15, 2010 at 12:12 AM and has received 801 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.