Five things I Like about Myself

Dear Friends and Family of Mari Hall and Wisechoices

The 21 day Virtual Usui Retreat will start in just 10 days from now on June 21, 2006. It is our 10th Anniversary. I do not believe that we had any idea when we started this retreat where it would take us or for how long. There have been profoundly deep moments coming together as a group that have benefited our earth and certainly all of the earth’s inhabitants. It has always been our intention that you choose the amount of time that you wish being part of the retreat. Each moment you hold the focus of love for the world is precious. If you would like refresh your mind on the purpose or practice please follow this link to the main Usui pages. http://www.wisechoices.com/usui.asp

Please invite your friends, family and support groups to join with us to celebrate Usui’s message, honor our past and look forward to the future together. People can go to the http://www.wisechoices.com/ page and look on the left side of the page for the newsletter link, fill it in to get their own notification.

I was interviewed last week by Bronwen Stein of the International House of Reiki in Australia. You can listen to the interview by following this link. http://www.reiki.net.au/copy.asp?id=PodcastMariH

To get us ready for the Retreat I have provided an exercise for us to do for this next week…after a few wise words from a lovely man and trainer here in Houston; Jim Spivey. There are some more pearls of wisdom and an invitation and then Jim's contact information following the exercise.

Note: Really take the time to do the exercise …you are worth it!

"There is overwhelming evidence in the world that we human beings do our best work and get the most, if not the impossible, done when we feel good about ourselves. When we do the right things and gain (or regain) our own forgiveness, healing, self-respect, etc., it unleashes tremendous positive energy that gets the most important things in our lives done, and done well. Doesn't it make sense to build communities and companies and families that focus their energies on each individual's effectiveness and well-being, such that great results get produced for all - customers, employees, family members, owners and society as a whole? Anything less produces less. In whatever capacities or roles we find ourselves in, let's always put and keep the things in place that let us do our best work.

When we forgive others…it sets them and us free. Remember: "Holding onto resentment of another person is like taking poison and waiting for them to die."
Jim Spivey


Listing Magnificence
Five Things I Like About Myself

Our primary relationship in life is with our selves. No one else goes through every experience in life with us. We are our one permanent companion, yet we are often our worst critic. To remind ourselves of our magnificence, we can do this exercise: "Five Things I Like About Myself."

Begin by writing down at least five things that you like about yourself. This is not the time to be modest. If you are having trouble coming up with a total of five items, you know that this exercise can really benefit you. Be sure to include more than your physical attributes on your list, since our bodies are only part of who we are. If you are still struggling with what to include on your list, think of what you like about your favorite people, because these traits are probably qualities that you possess too.

Another way to complete your list is to think of five things you don't like about yourself and find something about these traits that you can like. Continue this process for a week, thinking of five new things you like about yourself everyday. At the end of the week, read the list aloud to you while standing in front of a mirror.

Instead of looking for flaws to fix, allow the mirror to reflect your magnificence. You may feel silly about standing in front of a mirror and reading aloud a list of your admirable attributes, but it might just bring a smile to your face and change the way you see yourself. Remember, it is when you feel the most resistant that this exercise can benefit you the most.

Because we are constantly looking at the world, instead of looking at ourselves, we don't often see what's magnificent about ourselves that others do. When we take the time to experience ourselves the way we would experience someone we love and admire, we become our best companion and supporter on life's journey.


Power In Numbers
Sending Our Collective Light To The World

Like tiny ripples that merge to form great waves, combined human intent is worth more than the sum of its parts. A single individual can initiate worldwide improvement by emitting conscious frequencies of love, beauty, goodness, and wisdom. A group of people focusing their energy on sending out light to the world can set the stage for positive global transformation.

All of us possess the ability to channel love energy, to heal, to be a conduit for white light, and to positively influence our fellow humans from afar. Yet one person can only do so much. Imagine if each one of us took a few moments at the start of each day to send out light to the world from our hearts. Mother Earth would be quickly eased and the planet, as well as every organism and being on it, would be bathed in loving light. The world would be an infinitely beautiful place.

You can help bring about an earth where love triumphs over violence, air and water are nourishing in their purity, and people take pleasure in simply being alive. Alone, the light you emit is a wonderful healing tool, but when you join with others who share your intent to shine compassion and positive energy over the world, a powerful force is created. Your collective consciousness and collective light will wash over the planet, enveloping people, communities, cities, countries, and continents.

Inviting others to send light with you can be a daunting task. People may question the benefits of sending light to an already broken world. You will likely need to explain that each person's light joins with every other, and through the joining all are strengthened. Assure them that what matters is not technique or what religion or beliefs you hold but intent. As more people come in mindfulness to send their collective light to the world, the power of their planetary gift will increase exponentially.

You may already be affiliated with groups that would gladly participate in such a noble project. Children, who often feel incapable of influencing their world yet are reservoirs of innate power are usually enthusiastic about sharing their collective light. As you gather together willing people, your individual intent will become a great and powerful wave, and you will see results in your fellow humans, in the news, and in your daily life.

Note: This is what we are doing in the Reiki Retreat, coming together and sending LIGHT, LOVE and REIKI (it is all the same)


Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today."

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."

So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!

Attitude is everything.


Reiki for Africa- an Invitation

What is invisible, weighs nothing, can only be used for good and lasts a lifetime? Reiki, you all reply. Of all the foreign aid we send around the world, can you think of one that requires no technology, no start-up funds and can be mastered in days even by children? Again the answer is Reiki. Reiki often is the answer.

When we hear about the HIV/AIDS devastation in Africa good-hearted people want to do more. Apart from giving our pennies and urging national politicians and the U.N. to send drugs and food there is something profoundly important we can contribute: Reiki! Many are sending distant healing. But we can also, literally, get Reiki into the hands of the people who need it most.

You ask how; by sending them Reiki Master-Teachers of course. Who trains these teachers? We do.

Where do you find these adventurous souls? Start by asking around, ”Do you know of anyone who is going to Africa?" A surprising number of folks are headed to there these days, many to lend a hand with the crisis. Some of them will respond to the message ”There's something I want to send to Africa. It's beneficial and won't take up any room in your suitcase." The first person I approached replied "I don't believe in that (meaning Reiki)." Yet she also found my first (enthusiastic) student who recently went off to her new job with full Reiki training and all the teaching materials copied onto a few CDs.

Brainstorm with your Reiki family; ask each of them to spread the word to their personal contacts all the organizations they belong to--churches, service clubs and the like. Your own family, coworkers and neighbors can help extend your reach. As well, universities have associations of foreign students that could put you in touch with overseas students in education, community planning or public health who could see the potential of a free gift of Reiki for their people back home.

Hand out self-printed cards with your contact information. Ask to include a notice in your church bulletin, office or club newsletter. Talk up the idea, even with strangers at the bus stop. There are only six degrees of separation from the person you are looking, as the saying goes.

True, not everybody is a Master-Teacher. But what if your Reiki share group were to offer treatments for donations so that together you could train a Master who would do pro bono work? There is no stopping a good idea.

If you are so fired up by this idea that you decide to go to Africa yourself there are a few extra words of advice. Experienced aid workers all say don’t leave home until solid arrangements are in place with a clear written understanding of expectations on both sides. So in addition to the recommendations from your travel agent and guide book, you will need a local host with connections to 'back home'. This could be the counterpart of your faith group, service club or an agency or development project that you support already established in-country. Their knowledge of your cultural assumptions, of local conditions, plus the practical advice and contacts they can offer, will make all the difference between success and failure.

If the above suggestions are more than you can do right now, would you just keep the thought spreading? Eventually it will come to the right person. As Reiki so often reminds us, we are each an important link in the chain of humanity.

In Love and Friendship,

Marlene Jones,
Victoria, BC


Contact for Jim Spivey
Jim SpiveyRevolution Consulting
2219 McDuffie
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 854-4848
www.revolutionconsulting.com

Friends on the Journey

"Rather than looking at people as sex objects or work tools, we can see them as sacred. We can enter the Holiest of Holies through their eyes. Rather than seeing them as an 'it,' they can become a 'Thou.'"
Jim Spivey

Hello Dear Friends and Family of Mari Hall and Wisechoices

It is June already and the children are out of school. Gracious where has the time gone?
On the 21st of this month we mark our 10th Anniversary bringing you the 21 day Usui Virtual Retreat and in honor of this occasion I have written the three meditations we will be using. I will send out the Usui Retreat notices closer to the 21st. For information about the focus of the meditation and practice suggestions you can follow this link to our Usui Retreat pages, http://www.wisechoices.com/usui.asp…Please ask your friends and family to join you. It is fine to spend a few minutes a day or a week, what ever your schedule will allow. I always look forward to this time to get quiet and focus.

I am hoping a little later in the month to have a special surprise to share with you. I have my fingers crossed at this point! Stay Tuned please.

This month has been a mixture of welcoming new babies into the family and of saying goodbye to dear friends who have transitioned. Tears of joy and sadness have been shed. Death and birth…the never ending cycle of life and on many levels. One thing for sure we are brave spirits and friends on the journey of life and I am so glad to be walking this path with you.

Here are some lovely articles for you, evoking, uplifting and provocative...which one will resonate with you? Enjoy them!

Love and Blessings,
Mari


The Path of Archery
Paulo Coelho

The importance of repeating the same thing

An action is a thought that manifests itself; a small gesture denounces us, so we have to make everything perfect, think about the details, and learn the technique so that it becomes intuitive. Intuition has nothing to do with routine but rather with a state of spirit that lies beyond technique.

So, after practicing a lot, we no longer think about all the necessary movements: they become part of our very existence. But for this to happen, you have to train and repeat.

And as if that were not enough, you have to repeat and train. Watch a good blacksmith working the steel. To the untrained eye he is repeating the same hammer blows over and over again.
But those who know the importance of training know that each time the hammer is raised and then lowered, the intensity of the blow is different. The hand repeats the same gesture but as it approaches the iron it knows whether to touch it harder or softer.

Look at the windmill. Whoever sees its vanes just once imagines that it always turns with the same speed, always repeating the same movement. But those who know windmills know that they are conditioned to the wind and change their direction whenever necessary.

The hand of the ironsmith was trained after the gesture of hammering was repeated thousands of times. Windmill vanes can move fast after the wind has blown a lot and polished their gears. The archer lets many an arrow pass far from the target because he knows that he will only learn the importance of the bow, posture, the string and the target after he repeats his gestures thousands of times without being afraid of making a mistake; until he reaches the moment when he no longer needs to think about what he doing. From then on the archer becomes his bow, his arrow and his target.

How to observe the flight of the arrow

The arrow is intention projected into space. Once it is fired, there is nothing left for the archer to do except accompany its path towards the target. From that moment on, the tension necessary for the shot has no more reason to exist.

The archer therefore keeps his eyes fixed on the flight of the arrow, but his heart is at rest and he smiles.

At that moment, if he has trained enough, if he has managed to develop his instinct, if he has maintained his elegance and concentration throughout the whole process of the shot, then he will feel the presence of the universe and he will see that his action was fair and deserved.

Technique makes both hands always ready, breathing always precise, eyes able to fix on the target. Instinct makes the moment of the shot perfect.

Whoever passes by and sees the archer with his arms open and his eyes following the arrow will fancy that he is stopped. But the allies know that the mind of the one who fired the arrow has changed dimension and is now in contact with the entire universe: the mind goes on working, learning everything of a positive nature that the shot has brought, correcting any mistakes, accepting his qualities, and waiting to see how the target reacts when it is struck.

When the archer stretches the string, he can see the whole world inside his bow. When he accompanies the flight of the arrow, this world comes close to him, caresses him and makes him relish the perfect sensation of having fulfilled his duty.

A Warrior of Light, after fulfilling his duty and transforming his intention into gesture, need fear no more: he has done what he had to do. He has not allowed himself to be petrified by fear, for even if the arrow fails to reach its target, he will have another opportunity, because he has not been a coward.

Sure Shots

From a mother to her daughter

In the whole wide world there is no-one like me. I am the owner of my body, my thoughts and my ideas. The images that my eyes contemplate belong to me and I need to know how to choose them. I possess my own fantasies, my dreams, hopes and fears. Since I am owner of myself, I have to know myself intimately. There are aspects of myself that confound me, others that I do not know. But whether or not you agree with all that I am, this is authentic, this represents the moment that I am living.

From an Anglican bishop in the year 1100

When I was young and free, I dreamed of changing the world. In maturity I discovered that the world would not change, so I decided to change my country. After some effort I ended up understanding that this too was impossible. At the end of my years I tried to change my family but they went on being the same as they were before.

Now on my death bed I discover that my mission was to change myself. If I had done that, I would have been able to change my family. Then, with a little luck, that change would affect my country, and then – who knows – the whole wide world.

Midrach Rabba on Ecclesiastes

When men come into the world, their hands are always closed as if they wanted to say: the whole world is mine and I am going to hold on to it.
When men leave the world, their hands are always open as if they wanted to say: I have nothing in my power, all that I can take are my memories, and all that I can leave are my examples.

Kahlil Gibran to Mary Haskell

We are both trying to touch the limits of our existence. The great poets of the past always surrendered themselves to Life. They were not looking for some determined thing, nor were they trying to unravel secrets: they simply let their souls be overwhelmed by emotions. People are always seeking security, and sometimes they manage to achieve it: but security is an end in itself, and Life has no end. Poets are not those who write poetry, but all those whose heart is filled with the sacred spirit of Love.

Epictetus to his disciples

Two things can happen when we meet someone: either we become friends, or we try to convince the other person to accept our convictions. The same happens when the ember meets another piece of coal: either it shares its fire with it, or it is suffocated by its size and ends up extinguished.

As we are generally insecure at a first contact, we try indifference, arrogance or excessive humility. The result is that we stop being who we are and things start heading towards a strange world that does not belong to us.

Kandinsky on painting

Painting is an art. And art is a power that should be aimed at developing the soul. If art does not do this job, the abyss that separates us from God is left without a bridge.
The artist owes his talent to God and has to settle this debt. To do this, he has to work hard, know that he is free in his art but not in his commitment to life. Everything he feels and thinks is part of the raw material with which to improve the spiritual atmosphere around him.
Beauty, whether in art or in a woman, cannot be empty; it has to be at the service of men and the world.



The Truth of Interdependence
Connection

Picking a leaf off the ground and contemplating it as an object in and of itself is very inspiring. Its shape and color, the way it feels in your hand, its delicate veins and the stem that once held it fast to the branch of a tree-all of these qualities reveal a leaf to be a miniature work of natural art. As we contemplate this small object more deeply and consider where it came from and what purpose it has served, we find that the leaf is one small but essential part of a system that harnesses the energy of the sun, plumbs the depths of the earth, and in the process brings into being the oxygen many living things rely on to live.

A leaf transforms the elements of its environment-sunlight, carbon dioxide, rain-into nourishment for its tree. This beautiful, nearly weightless, ephemeral piece of nature is a vital conduit to the branch that is a conduit to the trunk that is a conduit to the roots of the tree. The roots, in turn, draw nourishment from the earth to feed the trunk, the branches, and the leaves. The living beings that inhale the oxygen that comes from this process exhale the carbon dioxide that feeds the leaves through which the tree is fed. It is difficult to know where one cycle ends and another one begins.

One of the many gifts that nature offers us is a clear demonstration of the interdependence between all living things. The person who exhales the carbon dioxide, the clouds that produce the rain, the sun that gives light, the leaf that transforms all these things into sustenance for a tree-not one of these could survive without being part of this cycle. Each living being is dependent upon other living things for its survival. When we look at the world, we see that this is not a place where different beings survive independently of one another. Earth is home to a web of living things that are connected to each other through a spinning kaleidoscope of relationships. We need each other to survive and thrive.


Remembering Who We Are
Brave Spirits

Most of us are familiar with the idea that we are not human beings having spiritual experiences; instead, we are spiritual beings having human experiences. We hear this and even though we may experience a resounding yes in our bodies, we may not take the time to really acknowledge the truth of these statements. Integrating this idea into how we view ourselves can broaden our sense of who we are and help us appreciate ourselves as brave spirits on an important mission to learn and grow here on earth.

As spiritual beings, we are visitors in this physical realm. The fact that we came here and lost all memory of what happened to us before we were born is one of the many reasons that it takes so much courage for a soul to incarnate on earth. This is why spiritual inquiry so often feels like a remembering-because it is. Remembering that we are spiritual beings is part of the work that we are here on earth to do. When we operate from a place of remembering, we tap into the wisdom that our spirit accumulated even before we stepped into this lifetime. Remembering who we are can give us the patience to persevere when we become overwhelmed or frustrated. It can give us the courage to work through the most daunting challenges and help us trust the ancient wisdom we carry that is offered to us by our intuition.

We have chosen to be on earth because there is something we want to learn that can only happen by inhabiting a body. Some of us are here to repay a debt, learn about love, or teach forgiveness. Most of us are here for a combination of reasons, we carry this information in our souls, and all we have to do is remember. As you go through your journey, try not to forget how brave you are, being here now. Honor yourself.

From this Beautiful Things will Blossom

Hello my Dear Friends, Students and Family,

Here we are at the end of April already and right on schedule we have been told to expect to have spring showers, that is ok because we need the rain for the blossoms and also to clean the air.


I remember as a little girl going outside when it was raining to dance in the rain and jump in the rain puddles. I adored everything about it especially the spontaneity of it all. And then there were a few times when it rained on one side of the street and not the other…I would run to where the rain began being amazed at what I was experiencing.

On a deeper leel we also need the rain of our emotions to clear the space inside us so that newness will come forth. Enjoy the rain on all fronts knowing that from it beautiful things will blossom from the sunshine of our souls.

I have received some heart touching articles that I have chosen to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.



The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.
-- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

What does it mean to be a human being in the highest sense? What is the deepest nature of our being? I began to be possessed by a gripping curiosity and longing to understand what happens when an individual heeds the urgings of the soul rather than having the soul subject to the ego. It seems to me that tangible information regarding these things would profoundly impact all areas of our lives --- the workplace, our health, our families, and our communities.
I have discovered that we are not left without access to this knowledge----fulfillment of the promise of our soul's nature is possible. Indeed, it is what we are here for: to enter the realm of our great potentiality. The answers are found in the individual and collective journey into our being and in the Great Stillness that leads us there.
-- Sri Paramhamsa Yagananda



The languages that God speaks
Paulo Coelho


A Spanish missionary was visiting an island when he came across three Aztec priests. “How do you pray?” asked the priest. “We have only one prayer;” answered one of the Aztecs. “We say: “God, You are three, we are three. Have mercy on us.”“Beautiful prayer,” said the missionary. “But it is not exactly the prayer that God hears. I shall teach you a much better one.”The priest taught them a Catholic prayer and went on his way to spread the Gospel among others.

Years later, on the ship taking him back to Spain, he stopped at that island once more. From the deck he saw the three holy men on the beach – and waved farewell to them. At that moment the three began to walk on the water towards him. “Father! Father!” shouted one of them, approaching the ship. “Teach us again the prayer that God hears, because we can’t remember it!”“It doesn’t matter,” said the missionary, seeing the miracle. And he asked God to forgive him for not understanding before that He spoke all languages.

Below are some of those prayers:

Dhammapada (attributed to Buddha)
Instead of a thousand words,
Better just one,
One that brings peace.
Instead of a thousand verses,
Better just one,
One that shows beauty.
Instead of a thousand songs,
Better just one,
One that spreads joy.

Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, 13th century
Out there, besides what is right and what is wrong, there is an enormous field.
That is where we will meet.

Prophet Mohammed, 7th century
Oh Allah! I come to you because you know all, even what is hidden.
If what I am doing is good for me and my religion, for my life now and later, then let the task be easy and blessed.
If what I am doing now is bad for me and my religion, for my life now and later, then keep me far from this task.

Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 7- 7-8
Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek and you shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asks receives;
and he that seeks finds:
And to him that knocks,
it shall be opened.

Jewish prayer for peace
We shall go the mountain of the Lord, where we shall walk with Him. We shall change our swords into plows and our spears into baskets for harvesting fruit.
Let no nation raise its sword against another, and let us never learn the art of war.
And no-one should fear his neighbor, because thus spoke the Lord.

Lao Tsu, China – 6th century B.C.
For there to be peace in the world, the nations must live in peace.
For there to be peace among nations, cities must not rise up against one another.
For there to be peace in the cities, neighbors must get on well with one another.
For there to be peace among neighbors, harmony must reign in the home.
For there to be harmony at home, it must be found in your own heart.


The Upside of Irritation
Things That Annoy Us

There are many stories of spiritual masters embracing the presence of an annoying student in their community. There is even one story that documents a teacher paying an irritating person to live among his students. From an everyday perspective, this is difficult to comprehend. We generally work hard to avoid people and things that we find annoying so they don't bother us. From a deeper spiritual perspective, however, irritation can be an important teacher and indicator that we are making progress on our path. Being able to remain centered and awake even when we feel uncomfortable is much more impressive than doing so in an environment where everything is to our liking. No matter how good we are at controlling our circumstances, there will always be factors and people that we cannot control. How we respond to these experiences to a great degree determines the quality of our lives. The goal of spiritual development is not to learn to control our environment-which is more of an ego-driven desire. And while having some measure of control over our external reality is important, it is when we are confronted with a person or situation that irritates us and we can choose not to react that we know have made progress spiritually. It is when we have mastered our internal reality that we will have become the masters of our lives. The more we try to eliminate annoyances, instead of learning to handle them gracefully, the further we get from developing the qualities that come with spiritual growth, such as patience, tolerance, and acceptance. It is often in the presence of people and experiences we find annoying that we have an opportunity to develop these qualities. Fortunately for most of us, our lives offer an abundance of opportunities to practice and cultivate these traits.


Feeding Your Spirit
Taking Time for Yourself

Modern life compels us to rush. Because we feel pressured to make the most of our time each day, the activities that sustain us, rejuvenate us, and help us evolve are often the first to be sacrificed when we are in a hurry or faced with a new obligation. It is important we remember that there is more to life than achieving success, making money, and even caring for others. Your spiritual needs should occupy an important spot on your list of priorities. Each task you undertake and each relationship you nurture draws from the wellspring of your spiritual vitality. Taking the time to engage in spiritually fulfilling activities replenishes that well and readies you to face another day. Making time for the activities that contribute to your spiritual growth has little to do with being selfish and everything to do with your well-being. Regularly taking the time to focus on your soul's needs ensures that you are able to nurture yourself, spend time with your thoughts, experience tranquility, and expand your spiritual boundaries. It is easy to avoid using our free moments for spiritual enrichment. There is always something seemingly more pressing that needs to be done. Many people feel guilty when they use their free time to engage in pursuits where they are focusing on themselves because they feel as if they are neglecting their family or their work. To make time for yourself, it may be necessary to say no to people's requests or refuse to take on extra responsibilities. Scheduling fifteen or thirty minutes of time each day for your spiritual needs can make you feel tranquil, give you more energy and allows you to feel more in touch with the universe. Writing in a journal, meditating, studying the words of wise women and men, and engaging in other spiritual practices can help you make the most of this time. Making time to nurture your spirit may require that you sacrifice other, less vital activities. The more time you commit to soul-nurturing activities, the happier and more relaxed you will become. The time you devote to enriching your spirit will rejuvenate you and help you create a more restful life.


And Finally I am sharing a beautiful inspiring message with you that has been sent to me.

Follow this link: http://www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com/

I hold you forever in my heart...
Love, Light and Laughter,

Mari

Coming to Terms with Being Cared for and Being a Caregiver

My Dear Friends, Family and Students,

I have been overwhelmed lately with coming to terms with taking care of my Dad and his aging process that I am a witness to. Everything came to a head when Dad was hospitalized and as a result had to be placed in a full care nursing home. It is the ONE PLACE he said he never wanted to be. I was quietly sitting at my desk yesterday morning listening to my breath slowly coming in and out and the birds singing outside when I was struck with a realization about being cared for and being a caregiver that I have choosen to share with you. The picture at the left is of my Dad and I when he was certainly taking care of me.

Coming to Terms with Being Cared for
and Being a Caregiver

When an individual has been hurt or is sick and requires care from others, the realization that they are no longer the same person can trigger feelings of depression, pressure, pain and emotional judgment in both the person who this has happened to and the caregiver. Another factor to consider: when one is under pressure, in pain or on medication - how much remains to connect to their Higher Self? In these moments where reaction plays a predominate role there is very little space to touch the infinite.

For me, when I had my heart attack my world became very small. Also leaving my business and home in Czech to move in with my daughter and her family thus coming from my perception of weakness where everyone else was stronger and healthier than was an opportunity to experience being needy and cared for. When I allowed my self to be still I could feel a sense of order and perfection. I had to understand only “this moment”. Now in retrospect, I clearly see that people who are dependent have a different world - a different view of reality. There are many variables and considerations to being a receiver of care. I have always taught that receiving for most people is very difficult, for in receiving we must give up control. When we are the giver, we can control how much and when we give. To be on the receiving end of care is also quite difficult and often confusing.

Surely I was different: unsure of myself, physically weak, foggy memory, angry and frustrated for not understanding and also for being weak and needing help. It seemed that people looked at me differently and I felt a great deal of pressure. All I saw was my own world and I could not understand any other. I was only doing my best to find myself, working at doing everything I could, not really knowing how I used to do something, only knowing that I was doing it differently and feeling like it was not as good as it was before - whatever that was. And foremost that I had to prove I was worthy of living.

The role of caregiver can often push people beyond their own boundaries. Before one becomes a caregiver, they usually have more than a full life to deal with and manage. Care giving can occupy many different energetic levels, based on the needs of the dependent person and the desires of the caregiver. For some, this might mean limited hours, for others it can become a task that occupies all their waking moments.

One example from perhaps millions of situations was a couple I heard about after my own health issues. The man had been a bed-ridden stroke victim for more than 5 years. He had become his own limitations and no longer could relate to the person he was before his stroke. As a result, his wife of more than 25 years felt anger and resentment at him 'giving up'. What began as her husband's stroke with hope of recovery had faded and disappeared after weeks, months and years. In her mind, this meant that the man she had loved was dead for she was caregiver to a stranger, living with only the illusion of what was before.

Now that I am a care giver to my Father I am faced with the same feelings that the woman had; resentment at him for giving up. This attitude has been a death to my soul…after all who elected me God. This self righteous idea that I know how he is supposed to be and it is not this. I imagine that my family thought the same things about me only a few years before when I was recovering. No I am not the same as before…I am certainly more honest about myself and it has been humbling to admit I am no longer the person I once was. My Dad is no longer the same person either. In some regards that is a blessings as he is more mellow, his bite is not as bad as it was in my growing up years. But still I found myself less able to cope. It has been only while writing this that I remembered my own journey of recovery, the confusion and pain of giving up control.

Here is a man who was in charge of his life, knew where he was going and how to get there. He is now completely reliant on people to move him, bath him and handle his basic needs. He has lost his old self and can not identify with what is in his place. No wonder life is holds no promise for him. It is my task to love him as he is and be with him in these changes for how ever long it is. It is hard to let go of our old selves and accept much less relate to the new version with all its imperfections and limitations. That in it self is perfect; today I can truthfully say I am grateful for the experience of being cared for and for caring for another person and the lessons both continue to bring.

I wish you and yours a Blessed Easter and Passover season. May you be filled with light, joy and song.

Mari

Personal Hamony and The Simple Way

Dear Friends and Family,

The month of March is almost a memory for us. How did it pass so fast? I have noticed that the trees are holding a promise of spring and in a few weeks our Texas wildflowers will be gracing the hills and valleys. There is nothing to compare to the fields of Blue bonnets and Indian Paint Brush, a virtual sea of bright blue and orange. I am planning a trip to the hill country to feast on the beauty of nature and taking my camera.

My father Dean is 89. Yesterday he had to go into a full care nursing facility; I have been in a mix of emotion watching how he is declining and also enjoying his lucid moments when we can talk and laugh together. No one told me when I was younger I would have to become my parents…parent. The experience has served to remind me how fragile yet very special life is and in the end we leave with nothing. I am extremely grateful for all my life experiences; the highs, lows, the in between times and to all of you who continue to bless my life.

I am including two evoking articles that hopefully will give you something to think about. They are certainly timely in my life at this point. You will understand why I have a floor plan when you read the piece on Personal Harmony.

Love and Blessings,
Mari


Personal Harmony
Balance

Like pieces of a puzzle, the many different aspects of your being come together to form the person that you are. You work and play, rest and expend energy, commune with your body and soul, exalt in joy, and feel sorrow. Balance is the state that you achieve when all of the aspects of your life and self are in harmony. Your life force flows in a state of equilibrium because nothing feels out of sync. While balance is necessary to have a satisfying, energetic, and joyful life, only you can determine what balance means to you.

Achieving balance requires that you assess what is important to you. The many demands of modern life can push us to make choices that can put us off balance and have a detrimental effect on our habits, relationships, health, and career. In creating a balanced lifestyle, you must ascertain how much time and energy you are willing to devote to the different areas of your life. To do so, imagine that your life is a house made up of many rooms. Draw this house, give each part of your life its own room, and size each room according to the amount of importance you assign to that aspect of your life. You can include family, solitude, activities that benefit others, healthy eating, indulgences, exercise and working on self. You may discover that certain elements of your life take up an inordinate amount of time, energy, or effort and leave you with few resources to nurture the other aspects of your life. You may want to spend less time on these activities and more on the ones that fulfill you!

A balanced lifestyle is simply a state of being in which one has time and energy for obligations and pleasures, as well as time to live well and in a gratifying way. With its many nuances, balance can be a difficult concept to integrate into your life. Living a balanced existence, however, can help you attain a greater sense of happiness, health, and fulfillment.

The Simple Way

"It seems today that many people crave the spectacular. People are drawn to lights and celebrities, to arenas and mega churches. In the desert, Jesus was tempted by the spectacular, too - to throw himself from the temple so that people might believe - to shock and awe people, if you will. Today the church is tempted by the spectacular, to do big, miraculous things so people might believe, but Jesus has called us to littleness and compares our revolution to the little mustard seed, to yeast making its way through dough, slowly infecting this dark world with love. Many of us who find ourselves living a little differently from the dominant culture end up needing to 'despectacularize' things a little so that the simple way is made as accessible as possible to other 'ordinary radicals' awakening all around us.

Sometimes people call folks here at "The Simple Way Saints". Usually they either want to applaud our lives and live vicariously through us, or they want to write us off as superhuman and create a safe distance of impossibility. One of my favorite quotes, written on my wall here in bold black marker, is from Dorothy Day: 'Don't call us saints; we don't want to be dismissed that easily.'

The truth is that when people look at us as sacrificial servants, I have to laugh. We've just fallen in love with God and our neighbors, and that is transforming our lives. Besides, I think if most other folks knew Adrienne and the kids, a beautiful family that has been living with us after coming out of the shelter system, they'd do the same things we are doing. It just makes sense not to have families on the street or in abandoned houses, especially when we have a spare bedroom. Honestly, the way of life we have chosen often seems more natural than the alternative. The alternative - moving out and living in the suburbs - seems terribly sacrificial (or painfully empty). What must it be like not to have regular block parties and to really know and love the people living around us? There are times when I have been very frustrated with wealthy folks for accumulating and hoarding their stuff. But now I know enough rich folks to know the loneliness that is all too familiar to many of them. I read a study comparing the health of a society with its economics, and one of the things it revealed is that wealthy countries like ours have the highest rates of depression, suicide, and loneliness. We are the richest and most miserable people in the world. I feel sorry that so many of us have settled for a lonely world of independence and riches when we could all experience the fullness of life in community and interdependence. Why would I want a fancy car when I could ride a bike or a TV when I could play outside with sidewalk chalk? Okay sometimes I still want the hot tub on the roof, but the rest I can live without. And I mean really live without. Patting Mother Teresa on the back, someone once said to her, 'I wouldn't do what you do for a million dollars.' She said with a grin, 'Me neither.'"

Shane Claiborne, in The Irresistible Revolution

All That I am and do is Through Joy

I just returned from my trip to Thessalonica, Greece last night. Can you imagine Greece covered with a thick blanket of snow? Normally we don’t think of Greece that way, quite the contrary we think of sun drenched streets, bright colors, cats wondering the streets and the smell of wild herbs and wonderful cooking. However it is a beautiful sight to see the snow covering the old city so white and quiet in the early morning.

I enjoyed being with my Greek family/friends Tassos, Maria, Dimos, Elissavet, Demetri and the Reiki community there. The Greek culture has late nights and siesta in the afternoon. By the time they are on their way out to dinner, 10pm we in the USA are usually watching the late night news and going to bed. It takes a few days to adjust to the heartbeat of a new country. Thank goodness for alarm clocks! Dinner goes on for hours with plenty of talk and passionate debates. What is enjoyable is that we all can talk about different subjects; the joy is in being fully expressive and listening/watching each other. The food is served family style with everyone helping themselves. And it is perfectly fine to dip your crust of bread in the sauce, in fact it is encouraged.

The debut of “Gateway to the Heart” was on the 2nd weekend I was there, from that new courses will spring and in many countries. The manual has been translated into Greek thanks to many long days and nights by Maria. It is a smaller course taken out of the Path of Insight that normally lasts over two years. The students found it went very deep given the time I had to work with them. Plans are in the works for me to return every six months to teach and do private sessions.

When I was there I was given a message, “Mari you must work through joy. Everything you do must bring you the greatest pleasure and happiness. All must keep you IN JOY, and your living, working being is through joy.” The message has the clear ring of truth. Can this be another doorway/gateway to explore in my life’s journey? I bet it is.

I took time to take some beautiful pictures of old doors…doors being a theme in my life. We cross through thresholds as we explore avenues on the other side of the door. We close doors to our past and open doors to the future. At this junction of my life I choose to be like a river flowing so that all I am and do is through joy.

Following my letter are three articles I thought you may be interested in especially since they follow a similar theme.

May all your days be joyful.

Love and Blessings,
Mari



To be like a River Flowing
Paulo Coelho

“A river never passes the same place twice,” says a philosopher. “Life is like a river,” says another philosopher, and we draw the conclusion that this is the metaphor that comes closest to the meaning of life. Consequently, it is always good to remember during all the year to come:

(A] We are always doing things for the first time. While we move between our sources (birth) to our destination (death), the landscape will always be new. We should face these novelties with joy, not with fear – because it is useless to fear what cannot be avoided. A river never stops running.

(B] In a valley we walk slower. When everything around us becomes easier, the waters grow calm; we become more open, fuller and more generous.

(C] Our banks are always fertile. Vegetation only grows where there is water. Whoever comes into contact with us needs to understand that we are there to give the thirsty something to drink.

(D] Stones should be avoided. It is obvious that water is stronger than granite, but it takes time for this to happen. It is no good letting yourself be overcome by stronger obstacles, or trying to fight against them - that is a useless waste of energy. It is best to understand where the way out is, and then move forward.

(E] Hollows call for patience. All of a sudden the river enters a sort of hole and stops running as joyfully as before. At such moments the only way out is to count on the help of time. When the right moment comes the hollow fills up and the water can flow ahead. In the place of the ugly, lifeless hole there now stands a lake that others can contemplate with joy.

(F] We are one. We were born in a place that was meant for us, which will always keep us supplied with enough water so that when confronted with obstacles or depression we have the necessary patience or strength to move forward. We begin our course in a soft and fragile manner, where even a simple leaf can stop us. Nevertheless, as we respect the mystery of the source that gave us life, and trust in His eternal wisdom, little by little we gain all that we need to pursue our path.

(G] Although we are one, soon we shall be many. As we travel on, the waters of other springs come closer, because that is the best path to follow. Then we are no longer just one, but many – and there comes a moment when we feel lost. However, as the Bible says, “all rivers flow to the sea.” It is impossible to remain in our solitude, no matter how romantic that may seem. When we accept the inevitable encounter with other springs, we eventually understand that this makes us much stronger; we get around obstacles or fill in the hollows in far less time and with greater ease.

(H] We are a means of transportation. Of leaves, boats, ideas. May our waters always be generous, may be always be able to carry ahead everything or everyone that needs our help.

(I] We are a source of inspiration. And so, let us leave the final words to the Brazilian poet, Manuel Bandeira:

“To be like a river that flows silent through the night, not fearing the darkness and reflecting any stars high in the sky. And if the sky is filled with clouds, the clouds are water like the river, so without remorse reflect them too in the calm deep.”



Going Deep
Self-Examination at Depth

There are times when life urges us to seek more. Small changes to our comfort zone may fail to alleviate any sense of stagnancy or frustration, and we may need to examine our lives and ourselves more deeply to find the right place to start. Everything we need for success and joy lies within. But so often, life's debris accumulates, building layers around our core that makes it difficult to access the truth that resides within. To reach the depth we wish to access, we must dive below these layers to the deepest parts of ourselves. The first layer can be found in our minds. Our to-do lists and busy work are usually less important than we think, so we must look past them to examine the thoughts that matter most to us. The next layer can be found in our hearts, where past hurts and disappointments can sometimes cover up our vulnerabilities, as well as the truth of who and what really stirs the love within us. We can choose to go even deeper - to our center. If we can go beyond anything has affected us to the point that it blocks us at the gut level, we can reconnect with our power, our raw instincts, our organic yeses. Here, at the core, lies our truth. Our core is our foundation that supports us and what we'd like to build our authentic life upon. When we examine ourselves to these depths, we are able to find what we wish to bring to the surface and what we wish to let go. When we remember what lies beneath our layers, we can look at what was floating on the surface, causing blocks and pains, and understand the purpose that they served. Oftentimes, it is the built up debris that causes us to go deeper, so we can search for the truth. Go deep, live life from your truth within, and watch your innate beauty manifest outward.

The Healing Power of Gratitude
V.N. Mittal,RM/T

Acknowledging divine presence and expressing gratefulness for all the small and big things in life which are the main ingredients of Gratitude, lead you to a spiritual awakening and healing by way of establishing connectivity with all life, mutual love and trust. Attitude of gratitude, however, comes by practice and not by chance as the move is faster for those which have learnt to “dance.”
Before my accidental fall which had left my femur bone broken, over a decade back, I used to be a self righteous and a thankless person. The crippling physical injury after the fall had left me completely shattered. I had lost all hopes and thought that I would never ever walk on my own legs when the grace of Almighty descended on me in terms of a successful operation and implantation of prosthesis in place of the broken bone. My fast recovery from hip surgery came as a blessing in disguise. It not only helped me come out of the trauma but also amazingly changed my attitude towards all beings. With the positive change in my attitude of gratitude, I found myself stepping on to my spiritual healing journey, easily.

Gradually, I made a conscious effort to create a habit to offer thanks to all creatures whenever and as often, it was warranted. Of course, I would also not forget my daily Gassho in order to offer my gratitude to God for all the abundance in my life. A regular chanting of a few of my favorite Vedic mantras just on rising and while retiring to my bed, day after day, put the control of my life back into my own hands. I felt perpetually connected to every living being and the fear of being isolated no more haunted me. The divine spark in my heart had already set the ball of love, compassion and mutual trust, rolling for me.

With the practice of attitude of gratitude in my life, new doors started opening up for me. I felt blessed with the special grace bestowed upon me. It provided me enough inspiration to search for deeper meanings of the word ‘GRATITUDE’ as if that would dictate the much needed change in my behavior pattern, further. A closer look at each letter of the word, intuitively, guided me to the following mystic meanings.

G-ratefulness for all the abundance in life
R-eleasing all anger and worry
A-ttaining mutual trust
T-aming the mind to ever acknowledge the Divine presence
I-nviting happiness through thanks giving
T-ranscending all barriers of hate, jealousy and ego.
U-nconditionally loving all
D-eriving pleasure in forgiving others
E-xperiencing and establishing connectivity to all life.

Interestingly, the above meanings in the acronym, pointed to well treaded ideals on the path of spiritual healing. Gradually, I found myself practicing most of these as a way of living.

Years later after the incident, when I had become a Reiki channel, I realized the reason why Dr Mikao Usui the founder of Reiki, insisted that his students practice Kensha Shite - attitude of gratitude inter-alias other Reiki ideals, regularly. He exhorted people to follow and practice what he called, ``the secret method of inviting happiness through many blessings; the spiritual medicine for all illness”.

To me, this ideal appeared to be the most significant of all the Usui’s precepts. The attitude of gratitude is interwoven with the other four Reiki precepts in such a way that one leads to the other. You cannot have an attitude of gratitude unless you shed anger; anger unless you control your ego and unconditional love without shedding hate and jealousy. Practicing forgiveness and expression of gratitude lead us to connectivity to all life. The Constant feeling of the Divine presence puts an end to our feeling of isolation and consequent worry. It works as a catalytic agent to establish love, and mutual trust and accelerates inter-connectivity, which ingredients are so important from the point of view of spiritual healing.

Everyday We Have An Opportunity To Make History

Dear Friends, Students and Family of Mari Hall and Wisechoices,

I am off to Greece in a few days to teach for three weeks and to introduce a new course “Gateway to the Heart” as many of you know the heart is the bridge between the physical and spiritual aspects of our energy system and the energy center or “chakra” we seem to close the most when we do not love out of fear or judgment/reaction. It is an experiencial course using many different techniques and will be taught in English and translated into Greek. Many of my advanced students will be there to support the work in all the classes. It will be a real homecoming.

The focus of this newsletter is about making our personal history. Each and everyday we all touch others and leave lasting impressions. At times when we may have forgotten how interwoven our histories are we can be blessed with a reminder. This is what happened to me last Sunday when I received an e mail from Jitka, a dear friend and student in the Czech Republic. Along with the letter I received photographs of Jana and Ota; two of the children I had attuned into Reiki many years ago in Czech.













Of course they are almost grown up now. It was so lovely hearing from Jitka their mother. She wanted me to know how much I mean to their family, that I am missed, appreciated and loved. Receiving the letter put me in touch with how our lives have been touched and enhanced by each other...we have a history. Afterwards I sat and looked at some of the pictures I had taken in the Czech Republic; the pictures of Kolin where I first lived and remembered the English classes in the hospital and Gymnasium. All of these children from the school are now grown up and are parents and making their way. I thought of the very first Reiki class for 28 doctors… the people that touched my life in such profound ways, the days at the Red Cross with Josef translating for me while I worked with so many people giving Reiki and love, how we converted a sewing room into a Reiki Room on Friday after seeing clients all day, making sure to pick up the pins on the carpet before teaching Reiki on the weekends. I remembered all the miracles that I had witnessed, the changes in the people as they touched their own souls. I remembered the conversations started and continued with a dictionary, trying to speak Czech, and practicing to ask, ”how much is this,” only to be frustrated because I forgot to learn the numbers. I still had to hold out the change in my hand for them to take what they needed me to pay. I was impressed with the Czech spirit, how the people sang from their heart then and still do now. It was a time to acknowledge the start of coming away from everything that had been familiar, and having to discover my inner will and resolve to trust and embrace the unknown and to find the gift that each new day brings.

Foremost is the impression of how I came into a deep realization how we are the same, no matter what religion, philosophy, color and language we speak. We can choose to find a common language. We can come to understand each other. And this is born from the compassionate heart.

I have changed and learned so much about myself during this time. Looking at the photographs of me taken over the last seventeen years in the many countries I have been blessed to teach in. I see my hair going from dark brown to more silver and then turning to dark blonde, “a woman’s prerogative. In those pictures it is evident how softness had come over me as I moved into my own peaceful place inside. I acknowledged all the inner battles of my spirit. I came to terms with my past, let go of demands, and forgave, let go of people that came into my life and left again. I realized that people came into my life in the “right moment” and that I could choose to let these arrivals awaken me. I also learned not to take their departures personally. That was the biggest lesson. Losing your adopted family is always hard, as the mothering part of me also requires the letting go of those who are precious and yet not to take it personally. I had to realize that it was about choices in living, my process to learn and fine tune while living and working in Europe. And of course during the transition back to the USA and to living with my biological family.

I still haven’t finished learning; life by its very nature will always bring lessons to deepen awareness and turn this new understanding back out to the world. I am more exposed, vulnerable, and I shine from the inside out. I am more dedicated than ever to helping people find this inner same kind of beauty. I am here to light a path to brotherhood and peace from a new perspective. I realize that, like eagles, we all have our own patterns of flight. But I hope we meet in the vast sky of love and compassion. I invite you to join me in this grand adventure called Life. I invite you to remember to fly free and high but you do not have to fly alone.


Love and Blessings,
Mari


Making History Every Day
Your Personal Legacy

When we focus on people who make a huge historical impact-presidents, visionary artists, great spiritual leaders-we sometimes forget that we, too, are making history and influencing the future with the way we live our lives. This is obvious if we just look at our own parents and how the way they lived affected us. In the best case, we received lessons from them or other mentors that have empowered us. On the other hand, we may have decided to depart dramatically from the way they conducted their lives. If so, then their mistakes and shortcomings were catalysts for us to change old familial patterns. Either way, their way of being determined the course of our future. By the same token, our actions determine the course of the future for others, and those who follow us will remember us as part of their history. In light of this, it is good to ask ourselves what our legacy will be. We have all heard stories about family members we may or may not have known; sometimes it is their humor that shines through in others' memories, or their contagious positive energy, or their skill in managing the family assets. People outside our immediate family may have changed the course of our lives as well-a teacher who encouraged and inspired us; a neighbor who helped us in a time of need; or even a stranger who came to our aid in a difficult situation. When we remember these people, we realize that however small our daily lives seem, they are actually very important. How we treat people in each moment, with each interaction, can have a major impact. It helps to begin our days with an acknowledgement of this fact, taking a moment to consider how we want to be in the world and how powerful we really are. We must remember that our lives are not meaningless--quite the opposite. Every day we have an opportunity to "make history" and influence the future for the better.

The Daily OM