How are you at expressing difficult emotions such as anger, sadness and fear with your partners or friends? And what about listening to others
express their strong emotions? How can we stay present to either other
in this process. Here are some questions on this:

1. Do you agree or disagree: It's never okay to feel angry!

2. Do you agree or disagree: If you feel sad, there is something wrong with you!

3. Do you ever have big mood swings? Describe what they're like.

4. Have you ever been confused about your feelings -like you knew you were feeling a strong emotion, but you didn't know what?

5. Have you ever said you were feeling one thing when, really, you were feeling something else?

6. Do you think it's important to understand what it is you are feeling? Why? What can happen if you don't?

7. Do you think there's something wrong with you if you don't always feel wonderful? Is it okay to sometimes feel blue? Why, or why not?

8. Are some emotions more difficult to express than others? Which are they? Why are they hard to express?

More questions at:
http://www.goodcharacter.com/BCBC/Emotions.html

This entry was posted on September 18, 2007 at 9:52 PM and has received 1641 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I liked this quote:

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

When all is right in your world, happiness, love, and positive emotions and reactions should flow easily. It’s how you handle adversity – the unexpected and negative – that defines you as a person. Most people allow their environment and other people to dictate how they feel, what they say, and who they are. It’s the rare but special person who can rise above his or her surroundings to always show a positive inside. This unique gift isn’t happenstance.


>From Dr. David Hawkins’ program The Discovery http://www.nightingale.com/prod_detail~product~Discovery.aspx

This entry was posted on September 11, 2007 at 9:54 PM and has received 916 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Playa del Fuego is Burning Man festival in Delaware - a celebration of 
the spirit of radical self-expression, community, and participation. And 
plenty of music and fire art! Playa del Fuego is the burning event of 
the Mid-Atlantic Region.  Our Fall 2007 event will take place this 
October Columbus Day weekend,(10/4-10/8) from Thursday 5 pm through 
Monday noon. Tickets are $35 for 4 days (what a deal!) for camping. The 
cut off for online tickets is Friday, Sept. 14th at 9pm. 

More info at
http://www.playadelfuego.org/

This entry was posted on September 3, 2007 at 9:55 PM and has received 515 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Here is the Erotic Trance Dance mix that I gave at Loving More East in September 2007

Warm up

1. Ravi Shankar - Omkaaraaya Namaha (1:53)
2. The Romantics - What I Like About You (2:58)
3. Binder - Billo Raneeay (4:08)
4. Deva Premal - Shree Ram Jai Ram (6:43)
5. Niraj Chag - Nomad (5:09)
6. Hot Club De Norvège - Hot Club De Norvège / Nuits Des Saints -Germain-Des-Près (5:03)
7. Rodney Jones - Groove Bone Part 1 (5:24)
8. Loreena McKennitt - Incantation (2:35)
9. Jason Hann - Boukman Impasse (6:26)
10. Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love (5:09)
11. Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love '97 (5:18)
12. Ganga Giri - Afrodisiac (6:55)
13. Madonna - Like A Virgin (3:11)

Trance Dance

1. Flowing (0:04)
2. Ravi Shankar - Gaayatri (3:28)
3. Various Artists - Didgeriddo Girl (5:20)
4. Staccato (0:05)
5. Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible (4:12)
6. Devo - Whip It (2:41)
7. INXS - Devil Inside (5:15)
8. Haircut 100 - Favorite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) (3:05)
9. Safri Boys - Rahaye Rahaye (5:35)
10. Chaos (0:04)
11. Telesma - ...Give (5:13)
12. Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People (3:39)
13. Lyrical (0:04)
14. Soni Pabla - Dil Tera (3:51)
15. Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love (5:34)
16. Sapna - Pyar Do Pyar Lo (5:26)
17. Stillness (0:08)
18. Sat Kartar - Guru Ram Das Chant (8:25)
19. Various Artists - Tower Whales (3:22)

This entry was posted on September 3, 2007 at 9:15 PM and has received 1062 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

It was a great wedding. Starting Talent night Friday night then wedding by the Potomac Saturday followed by a reception Sat night.

You can find the photos here

http://abundantmichael.com/blog/slideshow.cfm/LorneAliciaWedding

This entry was posted on September 1, 2007 at 7:49 PM and has received 1624 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Here are the tracks from today's Trance Dance. Most are Indian Bhangra songs which are very lively. Enjoy!

Warm up

1. Ravi Shankar - Vandanaa Trayee (4:32)
2. Ravi Shankar - Omkaaraaya Namaha (1:53)
3. Ravi Shankar - Sarve Shaam (5:07)
4. Juggy D - Akheer (3:48)
5. Imee Ooi - Om Mani Padme Hum (23:57)
6. Tumbara - Duality (6:08)
7. Krishna Das - Nina Chalisa (7:32)
8. C.I.D. (Commercial Indian Dance) - AaG (4:37)

Trance Dance

1. Flowing (0:04)
2. Ravi Shankar - Vedic Chanting (2:13)
3. Lata Mangeshkar - Tere Sang Pyar Main (3:35)
4. Sound Machine - Long Da Lishkara (5:23)
5. Staccato (0:05)
6. Soni Pabla - Dil Tera (3:51)
7. Taz - Apna Sangeet (4:16)
8. Saqi/Ewc - Akian (4:54)
9. Dance Music Federation Featuring Premi & Bindu - Shakin' Shankar (6:14)
10. Chaos (0:04)
11. INTER MIX - Mele Chalia Noo (5:18)
12. Sapna - Pyar Do Pyar Lo (5:26)
13. Lyrical (0:04)
14. Safri Boys - Rahaye Rahaye (5:35)
15. Daljit Mattu & Ravi Bal - Captain Bhangra Da (4:56)
16. Stillness (0:08)
17. Daphne Tse And Matt Pszonak - Om Shanti (8:58)

This entry was posted on August 24, 2007 at 8:36 PM and has received 1360 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Asserting what you want and don’t want

Many of us are afraid to ask for what we want in a relationship for fear or either not getting it or of having the other person give it to them out of obligation. Asking for what you want is an act of trust. You are taking a step into the unknown – not knowing how the other person will respond.

Here are 10 tips for asserting your wants
http://amikaplan.net/lists/top10.html

This entry was posted on August 20, 2007 at 5:07 PM and has received 1593 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Here are the tracks I played at the Trance Dance on 7/20/07

Warm up

1. Vangelis - Titles (3:34)
2. Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire (20:41)
3. Mike Oldfield - I Got Rhythm (4:43)
4. Hot Club De Norvège - Hot Club De Norvège / Nuits Des Saints -Germain-Des-Près (5:03)
5. Juan Carlos Quintero - Jobim (4:50)
6. Robert Palmer - I Didn't Mean To Turn You On (3:36)
7. Tom Tom Club - Booming And Zooming (4:35)
8. Philharmonia Slavonica (Florin Paul, Violin/Olaf Dressler, Piano)) - Violin Sonata in G major op.30/3 - Tempo di Menuetto (7:52)
9. Brian Eno - Here He Comes (5:39)
10. Marillion - Market Square Heroes (7:32)
11. James Asher & Madeleine Doherty - Orange (2:02)

Dance

This entry was posted on July 21, 2007 at 8:56 PM and has received 944 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I am hosting a Cuddle Party at my house in Rockville Sat 8/4/07

Saturday August 4th from 2-5:30 pm
My house Rockville, MD
Directions: http://abundantmichael.com/blog/page.cfm/Directions
Host: Michael Smith 301-996-8372
Fee: $40 per person, $30 per person if you register with a friend
You can paypal me or mail me a check. Limited seating so register early
to guarantee your cuddle spot!


In case you still wonder what Cuddle Party is all about:

A Cuddle Party is a three and a half hour communication workshop
Centered around touch and affection that teaches adults new ways to
connect with one another. It is a drug/alcohol free event which is
organized/hosted by respectful, caring, dedicated, highly-trained
individuals and is designed to meet the human need for nurturing,
non-sexual touch. A Cuddle Party meets this need by: creating a safe
environment to explore non-sexual touch, addressing concerns,
encouraging clear communication, fully answering any questions and
honoring a persons right to free choice at all times.

Besides, it's just plain fun! Where else can you come as you are, in
the company of p.j. clad adults and walk away (or float away) feeling
like you just spent a weekend at a relaxing retreat? Well, that's my
experience of it  :) 

Please also, pass this message on if you feel so inclined, to those in
your circles. The facilitator is the wonderful Edie and her numbers are 
215-249-9190 and cell 215-738-8668.
www.cuddleparty.com is the website. Check it out for all things cuddly!

This entry was posted on June 20, 2007 at 12:35 AM and has received 526 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Usually you are projecting parts of yourself (both the so-called positive and the so-called negative parts) which you have not seen, which are unconscious, and for which you have not yet taken responsibility. This is particularly true when you are reactive to what you see outside of yourself. By "reactive," we mean you have an unusual amount of energy attached to the particularly perception or that it has a "charge" for you. The more energy you have on something, the more you can be sure that what has touched you from the outside concerns what is happening inside yourself. I once thought Rhea was very insecure during one of our seminars, and I criticized her for it. When she hesitated in her response to a question, I thought she didn't trust her answer [which convinced me I was right]. Months later, I discovered the insecurity I had perceived as hers was actually my own.

What we are projecting onto the world around us is our own unconscious material...more  at http://www.terrylarimore.com/Projections.html

This entry was posted on June 18, 2007 at 5:08 PM and has received 1679 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.