One Heart, Inc. Blog (News)

Wisdom for All

Carolyn Lewis — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:09:33 GMT

There is nothing I have to do, nowhere I have to go, and no way I have to be except exactly the way I am being right now. My happiness is knowing this, my joy is expressing it, my bliss is experiencing it.

Neale Donald Walsch

Earth Prayer

Peggy Nelson — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:27:15 GMT

Just sharing a lovely prayer from Fredric and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality & Practice.

The Earth is always a good teacher undefined and especially in spring. End your days this season with this prayer from the Native American tradition.

Earth teach me stillness
       as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering
       as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility
       as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring
       as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage
       as the tree which stands all alone.
Earth teach me limitation
       as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
       as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
       as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
       as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself
       as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
       as dry fields weep with rain.

- Ute prayer

A Chinese proverb

Carolyn Lewis — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:34:34 GMT

"Tension is how you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are."

Recent Events.....A Participant's Perspective

Peggy Nelson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:49:26 GMT

One Heart hosted two new events this past month, Clearing Family Agreements facilitated by Debra Morrill and Celebrating Imbolc facilitated by Marita Kelter and Lisa Hartman. I had the privilege of attending both.

I will begin with Debra's workshop held on January 21st.

We (my fellow participants and I) were invited to bring our awareness to a family agreement that is no longer serving our highest good and we wrote an intention to release the agreement. Debra very skillfully led us through a series of breath practices, visualizations, meditations, and ritual to release our agreement and unplug. Debra's loving and gentle guidance combined with the healing energy of the Yum Yum Hill farmhouse made it a transformative experience, indeed. She also provided us with some actions to take should that old agreement come up again.

Learn more about Debra and her shamanic healing practice at http://debramorrill.posterous.com. She will be offering a Basic Shamanic workshop on June 9th and 10th through One Heart.

Imbolc was new to me, and interestingly, I received several references to it in e-mails on that day, February 2nd. Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day is a celtic festival marking the beginning of Spring and it is most commonly celebrated on the 1st or 2nd of February. It falls halfway between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. We celebrated Imbolc with some chanting, a guided visualization, and silent pauses. Lisa and Marita, both talented musicians, offered an evening of reflection, celebration, and laughter. When I left... my body was vibrating.

Lisa Hartman and Marita Kelter are Pearls of Polymnia. The hold a monthly chanting circle at Marita's home along the banks of the Wisconsin River. For more information contact Lisa or Marita.

Stay tuned for more from these facilitators. I am so pleased that are part of the One Heart Facilitator's Network and I look forward to future offerings.

In closing... I offer a few verses from Bridget's Song by Celia

"Goddess Bridget
Peace Weaver, Healer, Poet, Queen
Melt the snow and bring the Spring.

Saint Bridget
Gold Bender, Keeper of the Flame
Blessed Imbolc
We sing your name..."

Song - Copyright 2012 Red Granite Goddess Publishing/ASCAP
Image - Brigid by tattereddreams on deviantART

You Are a Miracle!

Peggy Nelson — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:07:26 GMT

You Are A Miracle: A Holiday Blessing

by Barbara DeAngelis

No matter what else you think
is happening
or is not happening in your life,
something miraculous
has already happened:
You arrived here, on this exquisite planet,
in the middle of the Infinite Universe
to experience the Great Journey of Love.
In this season of wonder,
take time to remember that
You Are A Miracle,
and your presence here
is true evidence of astounding Grace.
May you and those you love
be blessed in all ways
now and in the coming year.
Happy Holidays!

One Heart, Inc.
2011

Irish Holiday Blessing

Peggy Nelson — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:39:15 GMT

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours.

My Trip To NY/MA/NH

Carl Rosenstock — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:05:49 GMT

Dear One Heart.
I spent time with
my daughter Tierney and
had one on one time
with at least
25 people that
I worked and
lived with in NY.
Tierney took on the job of
creating and
organizing a symposium
for her masters at Antioch
in NH.
She chose the subject.
It was Fare Trade and
the sustainability of the planet
we can achieve.
She got 10 speakers from
all over the USA and Mexico.
She got 10 vendors sharing their
fare trade goods.
It was her first time and
it felt like she,with volunteers,
achieved this as if
she had done it
for years.
Bravo.
The whole trip was
filled with love in
ALL directions!!!
As ALL Ways,
In Love and
Service,
Carl

Peace

Karen O'Connor — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:47:52 GMT

I came across this article (almost a prayer) and wanted to share it, so I am posting it for all One Heart readers. It is written by James O'Dea.

I Am a Peace Ambassador by James O'Dea

I am moving from being locked into anger and outrage at war and violence, or being defined as a protest movement, to creating a culture of peace from the ground up, and from the inside out.

I am moving from reactive finger-pointing condemnation and judgment of others, arising out of my presumed superior moral positions, to engaging in dialogue, listening and non-violent communication strategies.

I am moving from making those who disagree with us as the enemy to recognizing the inherent flaw in creating hostility or enmity as a peace stategy. In this way my work attempts to dissolve polarizing approaches and behaviors.

I am moving from consciousness that is problem-sourced to one which is solution-centered. This has a radical impact on how I organize. I am informed by vision, and my tactics are not always defined by the opposite side of the problem.

I am moving from piecemeal, feel-good, band-aid approaches and interventions to whole-system maps and whole-scale systemic transformation.

I am moving from relying on ideological frameworks and intellectual theories to integral approaches that are embodied manifestations of peace at individual and collective levels.

I am moving from activism which leads to burn-out and relationship breakdown to one in which working for the cause of peace requires self-care and time for quality relationships.

I am moving from the battleground of proving who is right and who is wrong to understanding worldviews and how they are transformed - and exploring who is wounded and how they can find healing.

I am moving from an obsession with punishment to the search for truth, reconciliation and restorative justice.

I am moving from demanding rights to assuming our responsibility to create environments which promote rights and emphasize individual and collective responsibility for an ecologically sustainable, socially just, democratically vibrant and healthy world.

I am moving from merely critiquing the absence of humanity in others to honing our collective capacities for compassionate action, deep empathy and authentic forgiveness.

I am a Peace Ambassador and I am moving towards planetary peace.

WWW.peaceambassadortraining.com

October 28, 2011 The End of the Mayan Calendar?

Peggy Nelson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:55:03 GMT

In Deep Appreciation

Carl Rosenstock — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:29:55 GMT

Dear One Heart,
I would like to express my deepest appreciation for ALL the people who are involved with oneheartinc.org on ALL levels of connection.
As ALL Ways,
In Love and Service,
Carl

THe Origin of Halloween

Peggy Nelson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:52:35 GMT

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

Continue reading: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Celebrating Mabon, Autumn Equinox

Peggy Nelson — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:10:14 GMT

It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings.

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Mabon, but typically the focus is on either the second harvest aspect, or the balance between light and dark. This, after all, is the time when there is an equal amount of day and night. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

Taken from About.com

One Heart, Inc. has a new ramp!

Peggy Nelson — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:14:54 GMT

Thanks to the efforts of David Roberts and Carl Rosenstock, the Yum Yum Hill farmhouse has an accessible ramp, making it easier for persons with limited mobility to participate in classes and workshops. This ramp also offers greater ease of access for facilitator's to transport their materials into the house.

View Pictures

It was very important to the our Board members that the classes and workshops held at the Yum Yum Hill farmhouse be as inclusive as possible. David spent many hours designing and building the ramp. Thank you, David, for once again offering your talents to help One Heart meet its mission.

While this ramp does not meet ADA guidelines, it comes pretty close. Participants who are unable to step across a threshold or are restricted to a wheelchair for mobility will have difficulty entering the farmhouse or using the toilet due to the narrow doorways. (The farmhouse is over 100 years old).

Autumnal Equinox

Peggy Nelson — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:43:37 GMT

The beginning of Autumn is just around the corner. The leaves in my neighborhood are just beginning to show signs of change and there is a heavy dew in the morning. It is back to school time... signaling the end of summer.

One Heart is offering and will be offering an evening of ritual and a potluck in celebration of the change of seasons.

Time and Date (.com) offers the following:

According to myth, it is believed that the September equinox is a time of balance when “day and night are equal” and that that by some mystical force one can balance eggs on their end on these days. Some believe that one can only balance an egg within a few hours before or after the exact time of the equinox.

According to Jewish superstition, when Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac at the autumnal equinox, and blood appeared on his knife. Another superstition relating to the four Tekufot, which refers to the equinoxes and solstices, is that during the September equinox a mysterious precipitation poisoned all water, which was not be drawn or drunk.

In many cultures, the September equinox is a sign of autumn in the northern hemisphere. In Greek mythology autumn begins as the goddess Persephone returns to the underworld to live with her husband Hades. It has also been believed that magically it was a good time to enact rituals for protection and security as well as reflect on successes or failures from the previous months. Animals associated with the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere are dogs, wolves and birds of prey. Mythical creatures associated with this time of the year include gnomes, minotaurs and the sphinx.

Thought for the Day

CaSandra May — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:37:13 GMT

"Whether I am a small or a big wave of Being, the same Ocean of Life is behind me."

Paramahansa Yogananda

The Gaze of Love: A Body-Loving Invitation to all Women From Patricia Lynn Reilly

Peggy Nelson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:41:22 GMT

Today, and everyday, let's turn toward other women's bodies, and our own, with mercy and unconditional acceptance, letting go of the competition and scrutiny-based sizing up of each other, letting go of the subtle put-downs and diminishments when we're threatened by each other, allowing healing attention to flow one to another until the gaze of love heals us.

A gaze of love, calling wise women with their beautiful silver hair and life-lines out of hiding; inviting our smart, gifted daughters to reject the tyranny of thinness and to cease from harming themselves; welcoming the full, rounded bodies of our friends, bodies that refuse to be battered into shape by diets and admonishments.

A gaze of love so powerful, so encompassing, embracing the whole community of women, all sizes, shapes, colors, ages, and languages, with the widest welcome, the deepest affirmation, the highest calling, the loudest YES.

A gaze of love, inspiring us to bite into LIFE and the fullness of its possibility, to express LIFE through us in color and shape, sound and movement, to honor LIFE by turning our body-loving energy toward projects of justice, relationships of comfort, strategies of wellness, and words of affirmation.

Knowing we're all in this together.
One breath. One body. One life. And so it is.

Patricia Lynn Reilly
Imagine a Woman International

An Excerpt from David Howard's book, In This Moment

Peggy Nelson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:01:33 GMT

The Present

In the stillness of this moment, I am present.

I feel the beat of my heart.

I sense my chest rise and fall with each breath.

I hear every thought as it peacefully flows through my mind.

I experience this moment in its fullness.

I am at peace.

I lack nothing.

I want nothing.

I need nothing.

This moment is complete.

I am complete in it.

In This Moment; Prayers for the Well of Awareness by David Howard (p.83)

Blessing for Yum Yum Hill Farm by Marita Kelter

Peggy Nelson — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:55:23 GMT

Marita wrote and shared this lovely blessing at our Grand Opening Celebration on June 25th. Thank you Marita!

Today, we call upon all the kingdoms of Creation to hold, support, assist and nurture all programs, services and events that will be held at YumYum Farm. We ask that these kingdoms bless all those who come through these doors and that each and every individual experience healing and love, for the Greatest Good of all.

I    MINERAL AND GEM KINGDOM
    May the deep soundless wisdom of the stones and rocks, gems and minerals within the heart of our Mother Earth help all who come here to know their own bedrock of Truth.

II    PLANT KINGDOM
    May the life giving energy of the plant kingdom put on this earth to nourish us, give us beauty and raise our vibration help all who come here to know a healthy and wholesome, balanced and harmonized physical being.

III    ANIMAL KINGDOM
    May the companion rhythms and melodious songs of the animal kingdom, those of the water, of the land, of the sky, 4 legged, 2 legged, gills and lungs help all who come here to know the Essence and Truth of who they are and live from that truth.

IV    HUMAN KINGDOM
    May the voice and dance of all sentient beings, the kingdom we share form with, the global kingdom of humans help all who come here to know the Oneness of the human family and to know that our effort offered in loving-kindness can make concrete differences for ourselves and for others.

V    ELEMENTAL KINGDOM
    May the laughter and delight, play and wonder of all elementals, fairies, elves and small beings help all who come here to be open to the lightness of their own being and realize the benefits of cooperative co-creation and learning.

VI    ANGELIC KINGDOM
        May the Archangels and Angelic Kingdom help all who come here to know that as One Heart is a holding place, they hold and protect us in our networking activities.

VII    MASTERS, GUARDIANS, SPIRITUAL GUIDES AND TEACHERS
    May the vibrational Essence of all Masters, Guardians, Spiritual Guides and Teachers help all who come here to live lives of conscious responsibility and awareness and to be a crucial part of helping humanity evolve.

In gratitude to the Universe, our Creator and these kingdoms, we sing 3 Rolling Oms.

©Marita Kelter, 2011

Meet CaSandra May

Peggy Nelson — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:25:59 GMT

It seems most fitting that we feature CaSandra May this month since she IS the vision behind One Heart, Inc. She began her professional career as a licensed psychotherapist and she decided to close her clinical practice when she realized the mental health system was not meeting the needs of her clients who needed to go deeper to uncover the source of the imbalance or disharmony they were experiencing. She continues to offer personal counseling as an adjunct to her energy healing work.

CaSandra received her training in energy healing work and interfaith ministry through the Inner Focus School of Energy Healing It is the primary focus of her practice.... and the rest is history.

CaSandra has touched and changed many lives with her healing work and she continues to do so with the founding of One Heart, Inc. CaSandra is its heart and soul. She has held steadfast to her vision of a gathering place and spiritual community dedicated to healing the mind, body, and spirit of individuals and the collective. CaSandra holds and embodies the energy of our One Heart, the blessings of a shared humanity.

For more information on CaSandra, visit her website at: http://casandramay.com

Solstice Prayer

Peggy Nelson — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:22:52 GMT

On this Summer Solstice Day, I offer the following prayer from Shanta Gabriel.

Divine Presence, Masters and Great Beings of Divine Light, Angels and Archangels, Beloved I AM,

Thank you for this opportunity to receive Divine Light into my life and into the world. May I be a pure receiver of this energy, in a way my body is able to integrate and use at a deeper level than ever before. Please bring this Light energy into every cell and fiber of my being to be used for healing and for my evolution. I ask to be a clear and radiant channel for this Divine Light to move deeply into the Earth for the healing of this planet.

May the energy of this powerful Divine Light reach into the heart and mind of each person, and connect them to the awakening consciousness that is transpiring right now on earth. May this awakening of the Light of Peace and Love contribute to raising the consciousness of all beings and assist the evolution of the planet. May all live in Harmony with Divine Love from the Highest Source of Light that exists. Be it so. Thank you.

Shanta Gabriel
For Archangel Gabriel
Copyright: June 15, 2011