Posted on June 20, 2009 By Michael Mead

Don't know if it's so, but I suspect one of the big attractions to organized religion is the weekly community gathering.  There’s nothing like hanging with your peeps. Seems like we can rest the deepest and feel the most nourished when we are a part of a community.

Here are five keys to tapping into the grounding -- and expanding -- possibilities of community:

Key #1:  Pick your peeps carefully.  We are drawn to those who most reflect our attitudes, beliefs and values.  If you want to know what you value, look at what the 5 people with whom you spend the most time.  Or as Jim Rohn says, “You become the 5 people with whom you spend the most time.”

Categories: Stillness Practices  |  Technology of Stillness

Posted on June 5, 2009 By Susan Manning

I’m not all that fond of spiders.  So when I got in the hot tub the other night, I was not really pleased to see a spider web built between the two tree branches and the tall planter above the corner of the spa.  URGH!  That's the corner where I sit because the pressure jets are the best there, sending out the best water jets and bubbles. 

I didn't want the spider in my space, but I didn’t want to destroy the web or kill the spider.  So I reached up and disconnected the web from the places that it was anchored to the branches and the planter. The web and spider gently floated toward the planter and I was satisfied that it was out of my way. That was that. 

The next evening, however, the web was back in the same place, glistening with the light from the patio. The spider was sitting happily in the center. I again disconnected the web’s anchors and watched it all float toward the planter.

Categories: Stillness Practices  |  Technology of Stillness

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Karen Baker Blum, Long Island, NY , June 7, 2009 at 9:42 PM | Reply Today I gave up a chance to go sailing with a dear friend, an early-season invitation manifested from a request oft-asked for, last summer! I gave it up in order to keep my word to my hubman, to attend and staff a festival in our hometown, during which we meet many prospects for our bodywork business. I was remarkable aware of the loss I felt giving this up, aware of the feeling I had while doing so, consciously monitoring the sensations of giving up this desire. Asking what there was to learn here was a piece of my processing this decision. I never expected the high of staying true to my word, the energy and the leadership that showed up in me, to carry the day as I did, thru to the end where our son was tired and crabby and Fred was sick, but I kept to the high road as the center of quiet, calm and effective, loving action. That is what curiousity showed me today!

Posted on May 20, 2009 By Cynthia Zaal

Last week the three of us gathered with a small group from the Stillness Family to feel John Gorka sing.  Here is our happy group with John (the one with the beard). 

If you haven't made his acquaintance, John Gorka is the singer/songwriter who graces the end of every Experience Stillness retreat with his beautiful song, Paradise, Once.

Categories: Stillness Practices  |  Technology of Stillness

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Karen Baker Blum, Long Island, NY , June 7, 2009 at 9:38 PM | Reply Hello gang, You are looking good! Fred and I attended a concert of John's here in Huntington, NY last night! The last time we saw him was at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, nearly 5 years ago with our newborn son in arms. We found him delightful and traded stories of children piecing together language and music thru hearing and imitating tiny sounds. We sang along, laughed, cried and danced slowly in the midst of a seated crowd to "Love is Our Cross to Bear". The music has many deep and tender anchors for both me and Fred. Thank you for sharing your community of sweet faces with us!

Posted on May 18, 2009 By Robert Petteway

So I ask you - "have you ever wanted to go back in time?  Ever wanted to be able to do it all over again ... a rewind and replay - seeking to find some greater meaning - some wonderful new way?"  We too have wondered about this - and have sought to find the way to go back and experience the vitality and possibility of youth all over again!

What's THE SECRET to generating that flow??  Well, there are many pieces, but the one that often gets missed - except in our in-person retreats - is the Vibrational Release Technique.  Vibrational Release has two parts that are combined to create an amazingly predictable state of flow:

Categories: Stillness Practices  |  Technology of Stillness

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Gaye Abbott, Philomath, Oregon , June 13, 2009 at 6:24 PM | Reply I join you Robert in realizing that who I am now is who I have always been. There is just greater awareness around how magnificent we truly are! I recently watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on DVD and was taken by a journey from a baby born old and crippled to a man that slowly becomes young, vibrant and aware - the awareness coming from the wisdom gained that had come before. A fascinating movie and one that stimulates open dialog. Being fully in the moment with stillness and curiosity opens the door for the flow of life to be passionately lived and expressed within that expansion. Thanks for this article Robert! LOVE!!

Posted on May 17, 2009 By Michael Mead

On a recent trip to the bookstore I was struck by the title of Wayne Dyer's book, "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, Living the Wisdom of the Tao."  The book is about applying the spiritual principles of the Tae Te Ching, written by Lao-tze around the Sixth Century BC, to daily life.

It struck me that this 2600 year old document, as well as Mr. Dyer's interpretation, is all about changing your thinking.  From my experience, most all spiritual paths are about changing your thinking or your beliefs.

I know I have changed my beliefs over the years, significantly in some cases.  I also know all the pain, suffering and time it took me to do so.

What if you could transform your life without changing your thoughts?  What if spiritual transformation is much simpler than changing your beliefs?

Categories: Stillness Practices  |  Technology of Stillness

Posted on May 5, 2009 By Cynthia Zaal

There was a loooong, pregnant pause . . .  Then, the man pulled a name out of a hat.  He read out loud: "Cynthia Zaal."  In just that moment I won $5000!

Well, it was confirmed in that moment, but strangely I had known it already.  I have only won two drawings in my life and both times I knew that I had won before my name was called.  Somehow it was a done deal . . . couldn't go any other way.  Could manifesting be that simple -- to KNOW that your desires are already fulfilled?  hmmmm...

Categories: Stillness Practices

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Cornelia Powell, United States , May 6, 2009 at 4:32 PM | Reply Congratulations, Cynthia!! On both the money attracted & received AND the noticing the noticings! Especially if in the noticing we indeed let stuff go!! Yippeeee. As always, you're inspiring. Sending love, C'nelia

Posted on April 20, 2009 By Michael Mead

As some of you know, I'm a movie buff.  Whenever people ask me about a hobby or what I do in my spare time, the only answer I can give is "go to the movies."

Give me a movie with a great "message" and I'm as happy as a pig in slop.  The message that most inspires me is one that helps me resolve that most basic of human conflict - between Ego and Spirit.

Categories: Stillness Practices

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Michael Mead, , May 31, 2009 at 2:49 PM | Reply In American Beauty, you can watch the process of "waking up" from various points of view. Lester Burnam (Kevin Spacey) struggles and succeeds in waking up. Every other character has a very interesting response to the process. It's like watching the various "voices" about waking up that we all have.

D.T., , May 23, 2009 at 6:13 PM | Reply Michael, as you know I too am a movie buff. Have not seen any of Judy's, but even their titles are intriguing. Some of your's too: Fearless is a classic, but not seen yet by me, nor Five People or Don Juan. I am writing because one on your list I would not thought of as spiritual, at least not in the same sense as the others, and that is American Beauty. Now I want to see again, and see if I notice what you noticed about it to put it on your list. Perhaps, I will reflect on my own list and write more later. There are so many - just off the top there is Amelie, a personal favorite because of her pro-active non-ego way of helping others get what they want unseen, and possibly unknown (magical even) and somewhat similar quieter films like Ikiru, An American Friend, and Once. A few out this year are Everlasting Moments and The Secrets, and suprisingly to me even Waltz with Bashir and Sin Nombre. I just noticed that everyone of these is a foreign film. Some epic (and American) spiritual films that come to mind are 2001: A Space Odyssey (ok - English), the Lord of the Rings trilogy (director - Kiwi), and even semi-documentaries like the Qatsi trilogy (Hopi - truly American!). OK, next quest, find more American films not on your list! Dave Tupper

Michael Mead, Houston, TX , May 14, 2009 at 8:09 PM | Reply I've never seen, nor even heard of, Diamonds or Elsa and Fred. But, I checked them out on the Internet. I'm intrigued, the story lines sound entertaining and the messages--reconciliation and love--are certainly the stuff of which spiritual growth is made. I'm going to rent them both. Thanks for the introduction.

Judy Forio, Atlanta, GA , May 11, 2009 at 7:42 PM | Reply I'm delighted to know that you see some movies as being a spiritual lesson. Movies are my hobby too. My two current favorite spiritual movies are: Diamonds Elsa and Fred I'd love your comments on these two. Judy