Archive for the ‘Inner Work’ Category
16/11/2011
Uncertainty, Innovation, and the Alchemy of Fear
From: the99percent.com It’s not about ideas, it’a about making ideas happen
by Jonathan Fields
Uncertainty..Now What?
The ability to live in the question long enough for genius to emerge is a touchstone of creative success. In fact, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Creative Behavior revealed tolerance for ambiguity to be “significantly and positively related” to creativity.
Explaining the results, lead researcher, Franck Zenasni, argued tolerance for ambiguity “enables individuals to not be satisfied by partial or non-optimal solutions to complex problems. People who tolerate ambiguity may be able to work effectively on a larger set of stimuli or situations, including ambiguous ones, whereas intolerant individuals will avoid or quickly stop treating such information.”
Problem is, with rare exception, when faced with the need to live in the question, most people, creators included, experience anything from unease to abject fear and paralyzing anxiety. And there’s a (more…)
Tags:Fear, Inner Work, Mountain Spirit, Uncertainty
Posted in Health, Inner Work | Leave a Comment »
29/09/2011
From: Snatam Kaur’s Blog
Snatam Kaur on Yoga
Life has such an ebb and flow. One minute you can be riding the wave, the next minute you are under the wave. One minute you can feel safe and secure in your life, and the next minute you can feel totally threatened by something.
I find that when I meditate it helps me to separate myself from the sting of something to realize that it is all coming from God’s Divine Will. Usually the most emotionally charged things aren’t really that big of a deal anyway. (more…)
Tags:Blog, Chi, Kundalini Yoga, Mountain Spirit, Snatam Kaur, Ten Bodies Yoga Set, Yogi Bhajan
Posted in Blogs, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, Music, Service, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities | 3 Comments »
10/08/2011
Mtn Guide & Writer, Ken Wyle
When the Mountain Bites Back, And What Are the Lessons To Be Learned
Mountain guide, writer and longtime friend from Outward Bound days, Ken Wyle is writing a book about his accounts the day he was caught in the La Traviata avalanche in Canada that killed seven people. I had heard through the grapevine that Ken had been caught in a big one, and I felt a wrench in my gut. Mountaineering accidents, in which friends are involved affect me more than most things in life. Alan Bard was one of my ski-guiding mentors, and he goes and dies on the Grand Teton. One’s teacher isn’t supposed to do that. There was a cloud over me for a time after I had heard the news, and I did’t feel comfortable on the rock for a time too. There have been other friends too that are no longer with us, and I ask myself the same questions that we all do about events like this, and the meaning of it all.
Reading a few of Ken’s Facebook posts and on his blog, give me the impression, he too has been asking some questions. And while the answers are secondary, the questions he’s asking have weight, at least from my humble perspective. While compassion is one of outcomes of teaching an Outward Bound course, it looks like Ken is living it.
I caught up with Ken on Facebook last week, and he suggested I check out his blog The Energies of Adventure. Some glimpses of what will most likely be included his book can be seen on his blog.
Here’s the lead-in to his first post on that blog:
Seven Cairns
Chapter 1, “Lost in the Fog”
January 20th 2003, deep in the Selkirk mountains of Canada’s British Columbia. It is overcast and white out. Snow flakes are lightly falling from the clouds. The air is moving softly out of the southeast. Two groups of backcountry ski tourers collect at the frozen, snow covered, Tumbledown Lake for our first tea break of the day. My smaller group of read the rest of this story..
Tags:Alan Bard, Grand Teton, Ken Wyle, La Traviata avalanche, Lost in the Fog, Mountain Spirit, mountaineering accidents, Outward Bound, Randy Richards, Selkirk Mountains
Posted in Books, Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Experiential Education, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, Mountain People, Spiritual | 3 Comments »
26/05/2011
Bravo, Joe Simpson
Joe Simpson’s documentary, The Beckoning Silence, is a well-done re-enactment of Tony Kurtz’s infamous climb on the Eiger. It’s part adventure, part history and part personal reflection. It shows the insight of wisdom that, in this case, comes with age. Having almost died more than once, the first time in Peru, Simpson has arrived at place in his life that is refreshingly thoughtful. Simpson is a climber who is growing older and facing his own mortality. Congrats to Simpson for making this “on the edge of your seat” film and letting us into his personal growth.
I reflect on Eckhart Tolle who writes in his first book The Power of Now about thrill seekers such as climbers who get addicted to the calm that comes with climbing, where past and future fade away and one must focus next move or ice axe placement, because “taking your attention away from the task at hand, even for a split second can mean death”. Tolle adds, “Fortunately you don’t have to climb the north face of the Eiger in order to feel the presence of the moment, you can do it, right here and now*.”
I just did a bit of leading on rock yesterday, for the first time in a while, getting out from behind the desk here in New Zealand. It was great to clear the head and be on the cliffs right outside our house here in Kingston on Shirttail Cliffs.
Top of Shirt-tail Cliffs, Kingston, NZ
Great quality climbs in a spectacular setting. Moving on the rock again felt great, and motivating, being on the sharp end. However, I’ve never had that wild-eyed look of adrenaline, pumped, on the sharp end, need of the thrill . I like to test myself, but my survivalist instinct is too strong to be too bold. There are old climbers, bold climbers but not a lot of old bold climbers. I know quite a few fellow climbers who I’ve lost to the mountains over the years, including one of my mentors, Alan Bard. I think of these things too, as does Simpson, as we have a baby boy expected to arrive in four weeks. It’s good to be in the mountains, but to those hardcore dudes, don’t be afraid to take the easy way up, it won’t kill you.
*A free translation
Tags:Alan Bard, D.R. Richards, Eckhart Tolle, Eiger, Joe Simpson, Kingtson, Mountain Spirit, New Zealand, North Face, second attempt, Shirttail Rock, The Beckoning Silence, There are old climbers and bold climbers, Tony Kurtz
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Film/DVD, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People | Leave a Comment »
17/11/2010
Mountain Spirit is advertising in Wisdom Magazine, and Spirit of Change aiming at people who might be at a crossroads in their life, or simply wanting to try a new challenge, or learn something new.
A non-profit educational organization
Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle program will be held in Northern Vermont next spring at a peaceful retreat center, focusing on the personal – sustainability and health. Learn how to plant a garden, the basics of yoga and meditation and of course time for relaxation in a beautiful place.
Drumming Jamaica program taught by well-known instructor Bob Bloom will be held in Treasure Beach Jamaica from Feb. 7-11. There will be about 20 hrs of instruction with plenty of time to explore the beaches and local culture. Lodging will be at the Calabash House.
New Zealand: Our other base. We will be based on the South Island near the Southern Alps. Aimed at active travelers but with flexible offerings, depending upon your interest and focus. Options are trekking, glacier travel, rock climbing, or simply walks and getting into the lessor known areas of the Wanaka and Queenstown area, with options of other parts of South Island depending upon your availability, interest and energy. Be ready to step out and see something new.
For more info, see our website: www.mtnspirit.org
Tags:Bob Bloom, Gardening, Glacier Travel, Meditation, Mew Zealand, Mountain Spirit, Sky Meadow Retreat, Spirit of Change, Sustainability, Sustainable Agriculture, Trekking, Wisdom Magazine
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Conservation, Environment, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, MSI News, Music, New Zealand, Service, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities, Sustainable Travel, Traveling, Your Food Supply | Leave a Comment »
03/09/2010
Snatam Kaur &....
We’ve just had an amazing Mountain Spirit Institute fund raising concert: Snatam Kaur, Guru Ganesha Singh and Ramesh Kannan played at the Lebanon Opera House, New Hampshire, USA.
GuruGanesha Singh
Not only are we grateful for their music, but for who they are as people. We were fortunate that they made time in their schedule to come to central New Hampshire, and we responded with an enthusiastic audience, (301), and lots of willing volunteers who did everything from move gear, provide flowers, to cook wonderful meals. Thank you Snatam, GuruGanesha, Ramesh, Shanti, Sopurkh, and Japreet!
Snatam Kaur & Family/Band at Lake Sunapee/MSI
As we prepped for the fundraiser by printing brochures, prepping our booth, and coordinating volunteers, Snatam’s band rehearsed in our living room, here in Sunapee, NH, which was really tough duty for us, not.
I learned a lot about what music is meant to be, a spiritual communion – with good discussions about why Snatam and her band do what they do. Also I talked with Ramesh Kannan, and discovered that a book I’d bought in a Durango bookstore, is one of his favorites, on the treatise of the spiritual nature of making music. The book is called The Music Lesson, A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music.
Ramesh Kannan
Stay tuned for some wonderful footage, pending the band’s approval of course. Meanwhile here are some pix. Again a BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers, support team, Snatam’s family, band members, the Lebanon Opera House, and especially to our sponsors who made this fundraiser possible.
Randy Richards,
Founder
Mountain Spirit Institute
Tags:Concert, Fundraiser event, Gure Ganesha Singh, Lebanon Opera House, Mountain Spirit, New Hampshire, Ramesh Kannan, Snatam Kaur, Sunapee, urbannaturemusic
Posted in Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, MSI News, Music, Spiritual, Supporting MSI | 1 Comment »
17/07/2010
Snatam Kaur offers ‘Shanti the yogi’ – A yoga adventure for children in Lebanon, NH
Discover how much fun Yoga can be for your children with Snatam Kaur. Through imaginative stories, songs, mantras in motion and Yoga exercises especially for children, Snatam takes kids on a Yoga adventure. Magically woven into the adventure, Snatam conveys basic yogic principals to give kids the tools to be peaceful inside, and in their lives. Parents are welcome. Begin your child`s Yoga practice today.
Mantras for children
Wednesday, September 1st, 3:30 pm at the Carter Community Building, 1 Campbell Street, Lebanon, NH.
Cost is $10 per person. Parents, Kids’ Yoga teachers and children of all ages are welcome! Pre-registration is requested.
• Create a Fun Experience of Yoga for children
• Teach children mantras and songs for self esteem and happiness
• Teach basic yogic principals for a peaceful child and future leader of tomorrow.
A yoga adventure
The workshop is modeled after Snatam’s children’s yoga DVD “Shanti the Yogi – Mountain Adventure” and features music from Snatam’s newly released children’s album “Feeling Good Today!” Snatam Kaur takes you on an adventure of Yoga, singing, and play with Shanti the Yogi. Snatam Kaur’s story-telling is woven through with beautiful illustrations, a Yoga and movement class and her joy-filled music. This is a children’s yoga adventure that parents are sure to love too! This is the first time that Snatam Kaur’s children’s Yoga workshop is held in New Hampshire.
Space is limited so pre-registration is requested.
To find out more or register, please contact us at Mountain Spirit Institute
Tel: 603-763-2668 or Email: Amanda@mtnspirit.org
Tags:Children's yoga, Lebanon Opera House, Mountain Spirit Insititute, Snatam Kaur
Posted in Books, Experiential Education, Film/DVD, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Music, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »
27/06/2010
I have read this to many a program participant around camp in the mountains, and thought I’d share it here.
Hitchhiking in Labrador
The Invitation, By Oriah
It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive. (more…)
Tags:Labrador, Mountain Spirit, Newfoundland, Oriah, The Invitation
Posted in Blogs, Books, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, Mountain People, Quotes, Service, Sustainable Living/Communities | 1 Comment »
22/06/2010
We are not powerless to what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico
Dr Masaru Emoto is the scientist from Japan who is well known for his research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research revealed that water physically responds to emotions. Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed.
Let’s give energy of love and gratitude to all the living creatures in Mexico Gulf by praying like this. To whales, dolphins, pelicans, fishes, shellfishes, planktons, corals, algae and all creatures ion Gulf of Mexico
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.
Masaru Emoto
May, 9th 2010
We are not powerless. We are powerful. Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily…multiple times daily… can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening.
We don’t have to know how…we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.
To read the article published by Dr Emoto, go to
http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/dr.emotos_message_2.html
Posted in Animals, Blogs, Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, Health, Holistic Living, Indigenous Wisdom, Inner Work, Leadership, Power of Place, Spiritual, Traveling, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
26/05/2010
A Harvard Psychologist Gets The Hollywood Treatment
Does mind make the body age?
Robin Young, on her radio show, Here and Now, recently interviewed Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer and author of Counter Clockwise, Mindful Health and the Power of Possibilities about about what she calls mindfulness and mindlessness — and about the power of psychology on physical health.
Drawing on her own body of colorful experiments—including the first detailed discussion of her landmark 1979 “counterclockwise” study in which elderly men lived for a week as though it was 1959 and seemed to grow younger—and important works by other researchers, Langer discussed how studies prove that the magic lies in being aware of the ways we mindlessly react to cultural cues.
Her book shows how we can actively challenge these ingrained behaviors by making subtle changes in our everyday lives. The author describes ways to reorient our attitudes and language in order to achieve better health; she shows us the ways in which our belief in physical limits constrains us; and she demonstrates how our desire for certainty in medical diagnosis and treatment often prevents us from fully exploiting the power of uncertainty.
Jennifer Aniston is slated to play Harvard psychologist Langer, whose work helped trigger the positive psychology movement.
Tags:Counter Clockwise, Ellen Langer, Harvard psychologist, Here and Now, Jenifer Aniston, Mindfulness, Robin Young
Posted in Books, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work | Leave a Comment »
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