Abundant Michael: Sandbox

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Yule Carol Sing 12/16/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we have fun singing carols and pagan Yule songs.

 

David Hollies told me that he used to do Christmas big time. He had a big
neighborhood party, a fancy tree, lots of lights, and decorations all over the
place.  Since his brain troubles started a few years ago, he has had to be much
more careful about how he spends his energy.  He had to ask himself what was his
favorite part of Christmas and how could he continue to manifest that piece.
Here is what he figured out:

 

"Once I posed the question, the answer was obvious.  I just love getting a bunch
of people together and singing.  So a Wednesday Dinner Gathering dedicated to
caroling has become the centerpiece of our Christmas celebration.  We bring the
piano out of mothballs, light a fire in the fireplace, pass out
songbooks, and dive in with enthusiasm."

 

"Often, someone brings a guitar. We also have a piano for anyone who
feels inspired to play that.  I, for one, have a hard time carrying a tune, so I
find it helpful to sing with others.  Musical accompaniment makes it even
easier.  So, if you're a musician, please come and play with us.  Drums, flutes,
didigeroos (however you spell it!), or whatever calls to your musical
expression.  We hope you'll join us."

 

While David Hollies can't travel to events right now he will be with us in spirit and Gail Hollies will be with us in person (possibly in a sexy Santa outfit). Speaking of which if you want to dress up for this event as Santa, reindeer, elfs etc or just don a sarong then go for it!

 

BRING: Your enthusiasm -- good singing voice is NOT a requirement.  We'll
provide songbooks.  Piano fingers (we'll have a piano),
guitars, other instruments, or small percussion items.


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

 

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Erotic fire circle dance and drum 12/2/09

Fire DrumThis Wednesday Sandbox gathering we do an erotic fire circle dance and drum. With all the talk on the lists about the Beltane fire circle I thought it would be fun to do an fire circle dance and drumming session. The fire will be in the basement so no need to worry about the cold outside. And if you chose to dance naked that is fine too. And if you have a drum and want to help with the beat bring it along!

 

There will be a short demo on some erotic dance moves then we will dim the lights and let the glow of the fire and the sound of the drums lead you into a sacred fire dance. A chance to transcend our regular day to day existence and connect with ancient spirits of the fire. If you have dancing shawls with bells or other dance clothes bring them along. I will have a couple of items to share.

 

Passion, desire to play and have fun are more important than dancing experience.

 

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

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - The Shift 11/25/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering the day before Thanksgiving we watch the spiritual movie The Shift by Wayne Dyer. It is a moving story of spiritual growth and change. It is two hours long so we will start it at 7:30pm so that we have time to discuss and connect afterwards and end by 10pm. So if you are coming please arrive by 6:30pm or earlier. If you can not make it there is a link to how to buy the movie below.

M/M
PS If you are coming to Thanksgiving lunch and have not RSVPed yet please do so by end of Friday 11/20 at http://www.abundantmichael.com/blog/page.cfm/Thanksgiving. Thanks!

The Shift
Click Here to View the Trailer

What is The Shift? It’s the story of the most important moment of your life—when you stop striving and start arriving! It’s the choice you make to move toward a life that gathers up the pieces of your best, most fulfilled, most loving self. It’s the moment when you start living a life rich with meaning and begin playing the music you came here to play!

Are you ready to make the shift that changes everything? When will you find the joy, the peace, and the love that you came here to give and to receive?

In this inspiring new movie, you’ll enjoy an engaging, heartwarming and humorous tale of transformation on vacation. You’ll marvel at the beauty of the windswept ocean scenery. Share the characters’ delight as they receive the most precious gift—permission to follow their hearts. Hear Wayne say, “Don’t die with your music still in you” and see everyone set free to join the orchestra!

Join Wayne Dyer and a star-studded cast for a story that will capture your imagination and send you on your own quest for a life of meaning and purpose. In The Shift, we share the stories of three modern lives in crisis—a young mother who nurtures everyone but herself, an overachieving husband who has forgotten what love means, and a moviemaker desperate for the opportunity that will make him worthy in his own eyes. Every life has a turning point, a shift, a choice to make about what really matters.

Early in life, we follow the path mapped out by ego, a path of ambition, competition, and striving. When midlife dawns, we too often find ourselves stranded in a lonely and desolate place we never intended to visit. Our feelings of sadness and frustration tell us we took a wrong turn. Like a shift in the wind or a change in the tide, the yearning we feel at midlife is a call to renewal. The Shift shows us the path home, the path to rediscovering our true self, our purpose, and the life of meaning that is our true calling.

“When you get it—that you don’t do things because of what somebody else is going to do for you, but you do them because you’re living your life’s purpose—you can light up the whole world with that kind of love. That’s how it works for me.”
—Wayne Dyer

“From the moment I began watching the movie until the very end, I was just in tears. I was blown away by the story, and I’m so excited for people to be able to see this film.”
—Cheryl Richardson

“The Shift is a movie that touches your soul. Michael Goorjian has directed a visually beautiful movie with stirring music. Wayne Dyer’s message lingers with you long after the final credits. I loved it.”
—Louise L. Hay

Info from http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=4118

 

The movie begins  at 7:30pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Opening to prosperity 11/18/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn we learn how to be more prosperous. Do you worry about money a lot? Does it seem that others are better off than you are? Would you like to increase your prosperity? Learn how our money patterns affect our prosperity and work on identifying what patterns you have and changing them for the better. We will do some exercises to help. Here are some thoughts on prosperity from Abraham-Hicks "Ask and it is Given"

Abraham: It's possible for you to hold yourself apart from money indefinitely, or it's possible for you to begin to allow the money to flow in large sums almost immediately. While it does not take time for things to turn around, it does take making a vibrational shift. The universe responds to the vibration of your being.

Here is an easy way to understand this: You do not set your radio dial to 630 AM expecting to hear what is being broadcast on 98.7 FM. You know that the frequencies have to match up. We can feel that your vibrational frequency is set on 'it's not happening.' Meanwhile, your desire is set to, 'I really want this and I believe that I deserve for it to happen.' So there is a contradiction happening vibrationally within you that needs to be soothed.

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

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Getting Things Done 11/4/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn how to get things done. Are you stressed out about how much you have to do each day? Is your inbox overflowing? Would you like to be much more productive? Then come learn the Getting Things Done approach based on the book of the same name by Dave Allen.

  • Learn how to have an empty inbox everyday
  • Learn how to get rid of that nagging feeling that there is some important task you have forgotten
  • Learn productivity tips to save time and stress
  • Learn how to get old projects unstuck

Whether you are a homemaker or an executive, a graphic designer or an admin assistant it seems that people are getting more and more overwhelmed with the tasks they want to do. It might be work or home projects or dealing with bills. What ever your stuck area(s) with GTD you will get more done with much less stress.

PS There is no special PDA, calendar or software you must have to do GTD -  pencil, paper and a sharpened mind are all you need to start!

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

Some articles on GTD

The art of the doable list
http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/the-art-of-the-doable-to+do-list-270404.php
Think of your to-do list as an instruction set your Boss self gives your Assistant self. Like a computer program, if the instructions are clear, specific, and easily executed, you're golden. If not, you'll get undesirable results, like fear, procrastination and self-loathing.
At any point during your work day you are in one of two modes: thinking mode (that's you with the Boss hat on) and action mode (that's you with the Personal Assistant hat on.) When a project or task comes up, the steps you've got to take start to form in your mind. Now you're in thinking/Boss mode - the guy/gal who gives the orders. Your to-do list is a collection of those orders, which your Assistant personality will later pick up and do.
So when you're wearing your Boss hat, it's up to you to write down the instructions in such a way that your Assistant self can just do them without having to think. GTDer Michael Buffington called this "writing tasks that you can follow as if you're a robot."

Separate your email from your to-do's
10 must-have Thunderbird Addons (+ 25 more)
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-must-have-thunderbird-addons-25-more/
http://email.about.com/od/outlookaddons/gr/email_follow_up.htm
http://www.summersault.com/community/weblog/2006/07/20/five-power-tips-for-thunderbird.html
http://blog.ianbicking.org/getting-things-done-tools.html
Header tool http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=279907
Planner Pad and GTD
http://rickyspears.com/blog/2007/07/goodbye-planner-pad-organizer-i-hardly-knew-ye/

Inbox Zero: What's the action here?
http://www.43folders.com/2006/03/20/action
inbox:
1.    What does this message mean to me, and why do I care?
2.    What action, if any, does this message require of me?
3.    What's the most elegant way to close out this message and the nested action it contains?
Fifty percent or more of your mail may not make it past the ?rst question: delete. A majority of the remainder may not make it past the second (beyond perhaps a one- or two-line reply). And, God willing, you'll eventually get really fast at dispensing the rest with quick application of the third. The key is to get super-fast at turning valuable messages into actions or placeholders for action.


http://www.43folders.com/2006/03/13/email-cheats

Empty inbox with the Trusted Trio
http://lifehacker.com/software/top/geek-to-live--empty-your-inbox-with-the-trusted-trio-182318.php
·    If it requires a response or action which will take less than one minute to complete, do it on the spot, then move the message to Archive.
·    If it requires an action on your part that will take more than one minute to complete, move it to the Follow Up folder.
·    If it's a piece of information or a promise you're waiting on from someone else, move it to Hold.
·    If it's an informational message you may want to refer to later, move it to Archive.
·    If it's of no use, delete it.

 

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Erotic kissing, nibbling and biting 10/28/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn about erotic kissing, nibbling and biting. What turns you on, how to do it and safety tips. There’s nothing quite like a great kiss, but add some spice to your liplock with a little sensual biting and it becomes much more than a kiss; it becomes a tantalizing and irresistible weapon of master seduction. Great lovers know the secrets of sensual biting, and now you can know them too. Adhere to the simple directions and tips below and have your lover aching for you tonight!

 

Some ideas on where to nibble and bite:

  • The nipples of course, are number one when it comes to sensual nibbling. Mixed in with plenty of kissing and licking, sensual biting is incredibly arousing.
  • The neck, in front, on the side and the back is probably one of the most sensual places for biting on both men and women’s bodies.
  • The inside of one’s thighs is a favorite as a place for sensual biting.
  • In the peak of a heated moment, being bitten on the shoulder can be highly erotic, but it is better reserved for gentle kisses until things get really hot. Try this from behind for a super sexy sensation.
  • The inside of the elbow and wrist are rarely paid attention to sensually, but they are extremely sensitive and sexy places for a nibble.
  • The hip is an extremely erogenous zone, and it's great for kissing, touching, and also sensual biting. Near the hip bone and down toward the crease where your lover’s leg begins are the places where you should concentrate your efforts.
  • The back and inside of the knees are another great place for sensual nibbling.

(From article Sensual Biting by Brettani Shannon on Lovingyou.com)

 

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

 

Kissing tips from the Lifestyle Louge of India here. And more on kissing from Leonore at The Kinsey Institute  here

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Healing with Ho'oponopono 10/21/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn about the Hawiian healing method of Ho'oponopono. I have been using Ho'oponopono for the last 6 months and found it to be healing both of me and external world.

The basic idea is that each of us create all of our reality. The problem isn't with our external reality, it is with ourselves. To change our reality, we have to change ourselves. So if a person or situation is irritating us we can heal that part of ourselves and the "external" world will shift. The basic healing method is to see that person/situation as a representation of the divine and repeat (silently inside myself) the mantra “I love you. Please forgive me. I'm sorry. Thank you.”. Or just repeat "I love you" if you want it simpler. I have used it during client meetings if the client was being a pain in my butt and the meeting went better. I have also used it to bring in new clients to my business and to clear old clutter from my business. I use it on my body parts, especially if I have any dis-ease in any of them.

Look at it this way, even if you don't believe the external stuff works the mantra makes the "internal" feel better in "bad" situations. Any changes in the "external" are a bonus! :-)
M/M

You can learn more at at the articles at
http://www.self-i-dentity-through-hooponopono.com/articles.htm or read the books "Zero Limits" by Joe Vitale or "The Easiest Way: Solve your problems and take the road to love, happiness, wealth and the life of your dreams" by Mabel Katz

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.

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Ayurveda Healing and Cooking 10/07/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we will learn about Ayurveda Healing and Cooking from Ayurvedic expert Francis Warner who worked for 10 years at the for Chopra Center Wellbeing in California. I have Vata main type and I have found that eating Vata spices and tea has helped me be more balanced and healthy over the last year. Here is what the Chopra Center says about Ayurveda:

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India and has been enjoying a major resurgence in recent years. Early Greek, Tibetan medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine all have their roots in ayurveda. More than a mere system of treating illness, ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. Providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses, ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.


Recognizing that human beings are part of nature, ayurveda describes three fundamental energies that govern our inner and outer environments: movement, transformation, and structure. Known in Sanskrit as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth), these primary forces are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body. Each of us has a unique proportion of these three forces that shapes our nature. If Vata is dominant in our system, we tend to be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic, and changeable. If Pitta predominates in our nature, we tend to be intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented and we have a strong appetite for life. When Kapha prevails, we tend to be easy-going, methodical, and nurturing. Although each of us has all three forces, most people have one or two elements that predominate.


For each element, there is a balanced and imbalance expression. When Vata is balanced, a person is lively and creative, but when there is too much movement in the system, a person tends to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation, and difficulty focusing. When Pitta is functioning in a balanced manner, a person is warm, friendly, disciplined, a good leader, and a good speaker. When Pitta is out of balance, a person tends to be compulsive and irritable and may suffer from indigestion or an inflammatory condition. When Kapha is balanced, a person is sweet, supportive, and stable but when Kapha is out of balance, a person may experience sluggishness, weight gain, and sinus congestion.

 

An important goal of ayurveda is to identify a person’s ideal state of balance, determine where they are out of balance, and offer interventions using diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage treatments, music, and meditation to reestablish balance.

 

Francis will show us how to prepare an Ayurvedic meal : Channa Dhal: A soup made with high protein Chic-pea and Mung beans cooked with herbs and spices for maximum digestibility. Coconut Potato-Squash Curry: Butternut squash and Potatoes cooked in Coconut milk curry. During the meal preparation he will teach how to combine herbs, spices and vegetables to give dishes unique flavor and healing properties.

He will also show us how to prepare of Ayurvedic Churnnas (Mixture of spices for specific Mind/Body types). These Churnnas can be added to any dish as a condiment to maintain balance.

In discussion part of the evening he will give an introduction to Ayurveda and the three Mind/Body constitutional types (Doshas). We will also do a simple test to get a rough determination of individual constitutional type. Then we will discuss the Ayurvedic approach to Food, Cooking and Eating.

 

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.

 PS I found an interesting article on using Ayurveda for weight loss here:
http://www.personalgrowthplanet.com/dieting/maharishiayurvedaapproachtoweightloss.htm

"Health is won or lost in how we live day-to-day life. I encourage everyone with weight management issues to take initiative and get on an upward spiral of healthy activity. Your quick reward will be greater freshness, happiness and a lighter, healthier body."


For those with sleep problems here are some tips on using Ayurveda to help:
http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2542
(On Wednesday Francis will help you find your type: Vata, Pitta or Kapha)

And if you want more energy check this article out
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Ayurveda/id/1172
"If you are feeling dull, sluggish, and drained of energy every day, it probably means that your diet contains too many energy-draining foods, which have clogged your micro channels with toxins. This mean that you need to overhaul your diet to include foods that create ojas and energy. The important thing is to eat food every day that boost your energy, rather then relying on a artificial boosters when you feel your energy sag, because there will always be a negative side-effect."

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - The Shadow Effect 9/30/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we we look at Debbie Ford's new movie The Shadow Effect and do some Shadow processes. The shadow is our subconscious - the dark parts of our mind that may help us or may sabotage our goals time after time. If you keep having bad relationships, or work problems or the same old family dramas keep coming up then perhaps it is time to take a Journey from Your Darkest Thought to Your Greatest Dream!

You can try to hide your shadow, hate your shadow but in the end if you want to transcend your current shadow suffering I suggest bringing light and love to your shadow side. That is when you can find the hidden gold in your shadow.

 

"The Shadow Effect is an emotionally-gripping, visually-compelling docudrama that reveals the hidden forces that continually unseat politicians, destroy celebrity careers, destabilize the economy and affect the lives of millions each year."
In this age of public humiliation and media meltdowns, the work of New York Times best selling author, Debbie Ford, continues to make headway as she exposes the opposing forces of both light and dark that compete for attention within every human being. In her film debut, The Shadow Effect, Ford presents the hidden power of “the Shadow” alongside some of today’s most provocative thinkers including Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Mark Victor Hansen, James Van Praagh and others.

In this life-altering journey, individuals who have transcended child abuse, racism, the Holocaust, war, and wounded upbringings, share their remarkable stories. Meet those who have learned to face their terror, heal their wounds, and embrace their higher, heroic selves to overcome the shadow effect.

 

More info and movie clip at http://store.debbieford.com/product_info.php?cPath=17_5&products_id=16

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

Wednesday Gathering in Rockville - Healing Circle 9/23/09

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we do a healing circle. I feel that this is a time of great shifts and transformations on the planet for many people and that healing will help us transform with love.

Some of you may have experienced healing circles at the Lord's Chapel and this one will be similar. You can put yourself in the circle or your family and friends or a situation you want to shift. We will raise energy and prayers and send light and love for for all those in the circle. When I have done this before it has been very powerful for all concerned.

I am planning on putting David and Gail in the circle. And Mother Earth. Of course with any healing the intended recipient is at choice whether to receive it or not or can pass it on to someone else in need.

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

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