The Palm of Grace- A One Love Nugget

This One Love Nugget dropped in during savasana after an auspiciously intense class with dear teacher, Mira (check out her site), at my all time fave yoga studio, Yoga Oasis (check them out too!)

Have you ever felt immense gratitude for feeling held right in the palm of grace, as if cupped gently by the Universe itself? Then life hiccups and suddenly, a drop down, far from the sanctuary of the divine embrace.

Today, I realized we are the yoyo, and the Divine is playing with us. Fall after fall, we are headed right back into the Source. Falling down and reeling back again and again. Humbling. Free Falling. And yet we are held, all along.

We are the golden thread of life...the current of Grace itself.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So I did both.

All Love, G

Free Hugs-International Day of Peace

Simple Equations:

• Inner Peace+ Authentic Love= Full Heart.

• Full Heart+Embracing Humanity = Free Hugs.

This year, on International Day of Peace, a few members of the One Love Alliance decided to show up at our local Farmer's Market and give "Free Hugs". The inspiration was simple. When we feel inner peace, we are able to be peace. In being peace, we can be love and in being love, the most natural expression, from this luminous, full place is to share the wealth.

This was a truly joyous improvisational experience. I was most touched by how willing most people were to embrace, smile, laugh, connect and radiate love right back. No one is really a stranger. We are all fellow travelers on this Earth walk. From where I walk, love is Queen. On this bright morning, a wave of lighthearted peace rippled through the farmer's market, and the world felt like a friendly, loving place, where all things are possible.

We have it on video to share with you!

First I'd like to send a shout out of deep gratitude to:

• Kenya, my beloved, brilliant life partner, the eye behind the camera. From idea inception, through execution, and project completion, he is always a co-creative ally by my side.
• My songbird, bhakti sister, Bronwin. Her devotional humble, sweet heart is golden.
• Heidi and her pal who saw our post on Facebook and came to give and get Free Hugs.
• All the willing huggers who joined our exchange of peace and love in motion.
• Mc Yogi, whose stellar, uplifting song, "Give Love" is the soundtrack to our video. He unifies masses in a spirit of devotion & love. He is a true transmitter of peace power.

Please share your comments!
Let us know what our video sparked in you!
And, of course, forward it on, generously. Post it, share it! Spiral this love around the world!

Ready...here it is! One Love Alliance Free Hugs!

Tales From the God Life-Falling Into Love...

"When you are falling , dive."Joseph Campbell

This Summer has been an over the top flow and fall into the deepest love, mystery and unity I have ever known. Even while surfing these currents of grace, I wipe out and stumble back into ecstasy, forgetting, then remembering again, and again.

This last month of delight kicked off with serving the Global Youth Peace Summit (check out the slide show of beautiful peeps from around the world). This life changing experience was a homecoming and has shifted the course of my life, forever. It deserves it's own post, TBA. Mid month was chock full of communion with family, friends and inspiring dance, music ,travel, play, wilderness, and immense beauty (two weeks at California Brazil Camp). And, it was all topped off with Bhaktifest last weekend. That is where these tales from the God life emerge today.

In the words of mystic, Meister Eckhart, "If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is "thank you," that would suffice."

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Bhakti : is defined by Wikipedia as a practice or active involvement by the devotee in divine worship. It conveys a fully engaged, devoted relationship with God.
Bhakti Yoga is the"yoga of the heart" or "the yoga of love and devotion".

I have been bhaktified. I felt right at home steeping in the bhava of ecstatic, unlimited divine love, invoking God's presence through chanting in kirtan, asana, dance, music and meditation for 4 days, and nights . The exquisite Joshua Tree desert setting, and camping under the big stary sky heightened the potency. Living within an eco-village of a several thousand others aligned in an agreement field of love, devotion and vitality took it to a new level of pulsating life force.

I have been delivered to a deeper intimacy in my direct relationship to the Divine... I have fallen deeper in... into the generous love, into the mystic. And so, what can I do, but dive? My heart continues to wash with tears of joy, humility, gratitude and blessing. I realize now, that as I danced and chanted, in prayer for hours upon hours, I took my vows and my bows to the One that is everything, everywhere.

My work now, is to remember. How does one sustain this open hearted, luminous inner body, that is merged with the one and celebrated in the many? Practice. Being that frequency and ground within humanity, within the Universe, is really all there is to do, or rather all that is worth being. Yet, I forget. Do you? Where does my devotion go when I lock horns with my husband, when my beloved, whining child is pulling on my energy, when I feel hurried and hassled by the logistics and details of the marketplace, when my nerve endings feel I might explode and lash out- and sometimes do?

For the record, I did not even have a single grumpy moment at Bhaktifest. It was easy to relax open as love there...24-7. Yet once home, I witness and observe, as I sigh heavily, roll my eyes, and feel annoyed at how the daily details of life "pull me away" from my God center. This is a lie. Actually, every moment is offering an invitation to practice, to remember, to go deeper into the heart of God, and stay there. If God is with in us, and we are also within God, then all of life is worthy of my devotion. And, if everything wants to drink from the love, then the grumpy mood, whining child, marital spats, life tensions, falls and forgetting can have a drink as well.

Humility is key on this path. True devotion, with a humble heart erases greed and arrogance, melts away fear and anxiety, transforms selfishness into selflessness and hatred into love , restoring the deep peace that is our birth right. No matter how often I forget, my practice of remembering Bhakti Bliss is vital to survive and thrive in the day to day, ordinary, "chop wood-carry water, mundane life.

The ante is up. I have tasted this nectar and there is no going back. That would be death, or foolishness, ignorance and sleep at best. I will chant and dance the sacred names to ground me, and integrate inspiration from the brilliant yoga teachers, incredible kirtan artists and musicians, I joined in practice. I will remember the treasures shared in darshan with many bright, sage bhakti elders of various traditions. The wisdom transmissions direct from ancient lineages of awakened beings were IN THE HOUSE!

One timeless teaching that I will pass onto you comes from Swami Rad, "Every living thing is seeking pleasure...", he said, "for humans, the pleasure of the heart, which is love, is the only pleasure that truly satisfies the soul or essence. This pleasure of love flows from our love for the Divine." No material possession, accumulation of goods, success, ambition or sensory pleasure will ever be enough to fulfill the real need and purpose of the heart. Meanwhile, the thieves of time will steal away our lives as we pursue pleasure elsewhere, aimlessly, endlessly, unless we stop and remember. Only the love of the Divine will do. " It is our nature to be in eternal, unlimited, divine ecstatic communion forever."

As the Upandishads tell us, "Meditation is the bow, devotion is the arrow, love is the target." Join me and aim well, sweet bhakti brothers and sisters. Practice hitting that target over and over again. The only real fulfillment in this life is merging in divine bliss with the ONE. Then, from that satiated, centered, full place, the only natural next step is to serve life. May we offer ourselves, in gratitude as a living, breathing sustainable force of peace and love in motion.

"The door is round and open... Don't go back to sleep."
Rumi

LOKAH SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
May all beings everywhere be happy and free!

Devoted,
One Love, G

Dream It-Live It!

Today's post comes to you in honor of THE DREAM...Your dream, my dream, the BIG DREAM that keeps dreaming us into life.

Lately, I have been grocking the magnitude of Universal Energy available that seems to want to be put into action and manifestation. I have been witnessing both subtle and huge shifts in my own life and those of my intimates as we stretch beyond our comfort zones while living our Big Dreams. I'd like to clarify that a "Big Dream" does not have to look or be "Big". I am referring to an internal measure and inner knowing. My idea of the Big Dream is listening to and following the guidance of the Universe as it seeks to live through us, maximizing our potential. You know what I am talking about...it is the voice of our hearts saying,

"This is what you must do...this is why you are here..."

It is from this Universal heart that I write you the following message:

• Take Risks, Go Big, Act Boldly in Alignment with your Universal Calling.

Understand that when I refer to you and your dreams, it has a broader context. I am talking about your " Big" Self, your Universal Self rather than the "little self"(looking out for me, making sure I get what's mine). The Universal Self knows how to lovingly ask the "little me", to move out of the the driver's seat and become a devotee of life and live in service to the Universal Plan. What is this plan? A mysterious unfolding to be lived. The good news is we can live in synergistic relationship with the Universal Energy as it informs our waking and dreaming life . There is impeccable guidance and information available to us in every moment. We just need to tune in and listen...then boldly act from that place. This includes not tripping out or getting drunk (and believe me, I have) with the awe and infinite possibility at hand. Instead, harness this Kosmic Energy to be a sober ambassador of living wonder and embodiment of the bigger life that is possible-for YOU.

Here is a real time example:
Kenya Masala: Energized-Entrepreneur-Consultant. (He also happens to be my hubs, favorite person in the world and is quite an incredible man.) Over the past 15 years that I have known him, he has taken many risks and followed his path of heart unwaveringly.

Last Summer a dream seed grew in him. He listened, and heard "Za Boom Ba". He visioned. He was both terrified and electrified by the enormity of the project that wanted to be born through him. With sobriety, creativity and courage, he moved forward. He visioned an amazing theatrical production with the spirit of tribal dance and global percussion, where the veil between performers and audience was broken to create a village of unity consciousness, playfulness and polyrhythmic love. He was guided to apply the culmination of skill, passion and love of his last 41 years into this production. Once he said "YES" to this calling, divine providence flooded in; and it has been unstoppable. I know, because the spirit of Za Boom Ba landed in our home and is living through us in a major way. We premiere May 7 & 9 in Tucson, AZ. Join us! Watch our latest promo video.

Going for this dream has stretched Kenya in every way possible. It has already resulted in such riches of personal/professional development and the fusion of an unbelievably talented community of over 50 cast/production team members...from dancers and musicians, to costume/set designers, sound/light tech specialists, media artists, instrument runners, and the 1000 people we expect at our two shows.

I admit, there have been times over the last many months when Kenya (and I) have felt overwhelmed and under pressure, tempted to cut corners or throw in the towel. Instead, he utilized anxiety and stress as allies to dig deeper, surrender and allow the force of the Universe to drive the project. He has continued to go Big on this Dream and let the power of it grow with and through his empowered actions and willingness to risk it all.

I know you can relate. Haven't there been times in your life when you were going for a Big Dream and had to expand to meet it? When the heat of transformation was so intense you could hardly bare the discomfort? Yet you knew that hiding out, and going for any less than 100% was not a an option. Playing it safe does not serve us. That track can quickly lead to an un-lived life.

I repeat:

• Take Risks, Go Big, Act Boldly in Alignment with your Universal Calling.

As Lee Lozowick said, (quoted by my Kali-Kick Asana teacher of life, Darren) "...to me, the worse things are, the more it is useful, maybe even crucial, to shake things up, to get some action, to generate movement, to take some risks, to show the Universe that you're a player...Show the Universe that in spite of fear, in spite of appearances, you are willing to stay in the game..."'

Perhaps equally and maybe more essential than achieving the outcome of a Big Dream is going for the moment to moment process of how showing up evolves us. I keep finding that true happiness comes from a success that is not goal driven. Rather, it is a fulfillment of playing big, cultivating rich relationships and and having an intimate experience of being fully ALIVE!

I love this passage by writer Paulo Coelho, (once again brought to me by beloved Yogi, Darrenji), "When we first begin fighting for our dream, we have no experience and make many mistakes. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times. Because, once we have overcome the defeats--and we always do--we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life...If you believe yourself worthy...then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here."

Why are you here?
Dream it. Live it. The force is with you.

Welcome to Your Vast, Miraculous Life!

“We do not practice zazen to attain enlightenment, but rather to express our true nature.”

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Shtick"1. A characteristic attribute, talent, or trait that is helpful in securing recognition or attention". In Yiddish, this funny little word means "a piece". When someone gives you their "shtick", you get just that, only a piece of who they really are. I want the real deal, the whole person, front, back and everything in between, not a crafty, charismatic, maybe funny, maybe predictable, caricature of who they believe they are or who they want me to see.

Most all of us can relate to having had a shtick at some point along our journey. You know, a mannerism or tendency we've used, that got us the acknowledgment, praise or comfort we were after. It can be a way of being in the world that through it's repetition, dulls our evolving edge and diminishes our authentic spark. A shtick can be a survival mechanism, one that allows us to form some pretense of control in a totally out of control, unknown Universe. My point, and I do have one, are that shticks are a cop out. They deny us (internally and externally) of the full potentiality of what it is to be multidimensional beings in an ever changing evolutionary process (not unlike the expanding Universe, in which we live).

Do you ever find yourself saying the same old comments, speaking or thinking the same old beliefs or ideas about how you've decided life is, reality IS? I am inviting you to think again; think something new...or maybe think about something old in a new way. Or better yet, stop thinking and just be available to sense the present moment.

According to Lee Lozowick, (as brought to me by soul brother, Darren Rhodes) " ...when, we get out of our own way, out of the way of the dominating life-script that runs our psychology, our personalities...out of the way of the ego that has convinced us that it is who we are, that this vast, broad and deep territory, this immense storehouse of wealth, will prove to be completely available, accessible. And what then? Each of us...will need to choose to bring this gusher to life."

Now that, is living in the shtickless! It is the greatest improvisation of all. Dwelling in the radiant present moment...raw, unrehearsed and humbly aware is an art. It is a practice, and, it is our natural state, by divine birthright. Sourcing life from this fertile, infinite place, we realize we are no-thing and everything. In this space, we have full access. All we need to say, know, see, do and not do immediately drops into awareness.

Here's a couple of Shtickless goodies I have for you to grock and ponder.

• The first, a recent Blog post by one of my fave Zen writers, Karen Maezen Miller, Who Turns?. I love how she masterfully simplifies perceptual and perspective reality shifts.
  
• Another shtickless wonder,The Universe, ancient, ever fresh, spontaneous and unrehearsed. I *LOVE* the Universe. Here's an amazing wee video on the Deep Field as seen through the eyes of the Hubble Telescope. Watch it and Marvel.
  
• And how about Mother Nature- Quite miraculous. Schtickless factor HIGH. No need to hook you up with You Tube here. Just go outside. Take an hour or even 5 minutes and let the natural world show you what it is to be real...unrehearsed, fresh in your response to the present moment.

As I was running the other day, I came across a glowing, bright green, robust sprout against the backdrop of mountains and brilliant blue sky. There it was unpretentiously growing out of wet black asphalt. It stopped me in my tracks. This little bold being got my heart. Nothing to prove, (as it burst through the thick asphalt, far from its brethren on the sides of the road), just life, living...and thriving in fact.

Shtickless.

The art of living in the shtickless means being as we were intended to. We are coded and wired for being vibrantly alive and present. We are lived by the flow of raw life force. It naturally floods a current of grace into all that will hold it. How juicy is that? Straight from the heart of the Universe, a mystery, a miracle, each and every ONE. As you are, as it is, no shtick necessary.

“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

From Doubt To Devotion

Today's One Love Nugget goes out to a sister who wrote in about taking action on her Big Visions. She writes "I must acknowledge the part of myself that fears and doubts. As the part of me that dwells in possibility grows larger everyday, there is still a valid part that is scared and unsure. Gabriela, do you have any suggestions for assuring this part that everything is ok?"

This question is universal. I don't know anyone on the planet who doesn't have moments of fear and doubt. On this miraculous life journey, it is natural, human and humbling to have moments of fear and doubt. Sometimes there is wisdom and valuable insight to discover in our fears or doubts that can support us in redirecting, or reevaluating details of our visions. Journal, writing out a dialogue with these parts or speak out loud in the loving witness of a creative companion or intimate friend. Go ahead and HAVE your fears, so that they don't "have" you. Often when we speak these voices, their gifts are revealed and the energetic charge, that otherwise halts our progress, loses steam and dissolves. In a nutshell, yes, all parts ARE valid, so let every one of them drink of the love, even the scared, self doubting ones. This will enrich your journey with the WHOLE of you being honored and included.

On a more meta level, sometimes my fears and doubts are a sign to me that I need to plug back into my Source. Reconnecting to the Genius that moves through us and staying surrendered there often puts everything into perspective and restores peace. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love gives an excellent talk about nurturing the genius of creativity.

My perpetually reSOURCEful friend, River, recently shared with me that , Louise Hay, Affirmation-Healing expert, found that "I approve of myself" was one of the most powerful mantras she had seen in action. I have been integrating it and find it stops self doubt in its tracks. My energy immediately, shifts from monkey mind to meta mind.

Speaking of monkeys...become like Hanuman, he is the embodiment of divine love, "compassion in action, devotion in motion." Hanuman directed all his energy towards merging with Ram (also known here as the God of your heart). Becoming like Hanuman means embodying the unlimited power that lies within us as we merge with our Source. We can be held and allied here as doubt redirects into devotion to our divine expression as an act of service.

Join me, "put your feet into the river, give your life to something bigger" and let me know if this helps assure the whole of you that everything is beyond OK, and right in the sweet spot. Follow your heart, trust your genius and Godspeed ahead...

Let The Flash Mobs BEGIN! Love in Motion!

“Creative work...is a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got.” Pressfield
We are off and rolling...Yogis Dance Flash Mob Mission has had two successful runs already. The premise was to marry two of my favorite movement forms-Yoga and Dance, with live drumming! in a public eruption of uncorked joy and playfulness. "Devotion in Motion, Compassion in Action" (that is actually MC Yogi's) came alive both on the U of A Mall, on Equinox, Sept 2009, and again, on a busy downtown street on a Full Moon Friday night, in Oct 2009. In a nutshell...

A few dozen yogis and dancers met on a busy street corner at 8:00pm. We spontaneously began a flow of freestyle yoga postures, as if it was the most natural and normal thing to bust into a few poses on the sidewalk on a friday night. We moved for 3 minutes until 8 or so drummers emerged from the shadows playing outrageously infectious rhythms. We flocked to them, dancing joyfully and wildly, for just 3 more minutes. When they stopped we all dispersed and blended back into the scene, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened!

What uncorked playfulness, and a blast of community love!
Here's what some of the participants had to say!

“What a great party and all in 6 minutes” "What a blast!" "More, more” “Magic!”

"One Love...the magic of me and you and all of us in the expanding moment...anything is possible-why wait-be-me-not afraid to love- unique-bonding-share the unexpected- play like it's the real thing-and it is!"

Yes, it is the real thing. We were are not performing-this is real life. Thank God!