Women in the LEAD

Celtic Wisdom: What can we Learn From the Wisdom of the Past?

Celtic Wisdom originates from an ancient culture which valued personal relationships and friendship, the rhythms of nature, including the interplay between light and dark, and creativity, magic, and beauty.  It revered the soul as an expression of unity and a symbol of oneness.  In today's society it is often difficult for us to take the time to listen in silence, to clarify our values and discover our inner voice.  In this workshop we will use storytelling and music from ancient Celtic folklore and myth as a way of reconnecting with our own intuitive nature and exploring a meditative and inspiring means of understanding the world that we live in. 

Caitlin Matthews, a renowned Celtic scholar, has described Celtic Wisdom and its role in bringing greater balance and wholeness into our lives.  She writes:

"… a great spiritual hunger to recapture the lore, traditions and wisdom of our ancestors is rising in the West. This search is not merely fuelled by a nostalgia for past times, before the intervention of the agricultural and industrial revolutions, nor by an atavistic yearning for past political power and greatness. Throughout the western world and its farthest flung colonies, there is a deep hunger to reappreciate ancestral heritage in a contemporary context, to live lives of greater spiritual meaning and planetary integration. Since the customs and traditions of the Celtic world are integrated into the elements and seasons in a way which few western traditions now enjoy, it is to the Celtic tradition that many have turned as part of their quest. Indeed, many have adopted the Celtic calendar and its seasonal celebrations as a means of personal and spiritual discovery.

"The way in which we observe and celebrate the unfolding year is very important to our daily life. This is especially true when the majority of us live in an urban environment where the seasonal shifts are less readily perceptible, where the growth cycle which annually unfolds is much easier to ignore.

"As human beings, we are also part of the growth cycle of the planet, being nourished by the elements, by vegetation and animal life and, at the end of our cycle, in turn providing nourishment for those same elements, vegetation and animal life. As year succeeds year, each season provides new lessons, insights and opportunities for us to understand our role in the planetary web of life. One way of becoming more consciously aware and reconnected with this web of life is to celebrate the seasonal round and look for the opening of the magical gates of the year as day succeeds day."

~ adapted from the introduction to The Celtic Book  of Days

Does you live relate and connect to a natural rhythm? What is this rhythm?

                                                                        Maureen Simon

WOMEN:Signs of Growth

"...Let go of your agenda. Unravel your patterns---get to the sweetness under your dreams." --- Wisdom of Morning Star, as told by Sue Bender, author, Stretching Lessons: The Daring that Starts From Within

Sometimes signs of personal growth show up in places you never expect. Last week, I bumped into one in my own life. An important presentation had been capturing my time and attention for a few weeks. I had great hopes for it. It took place on Thursday. I had the perfect everything all lined up for this moment in the spotlight...

- the perfect time slot on the agenda
- the perfect slides, serving as a backdrop for my message
- the perfect message, designed to be content rich in content;
  meaningful to everyone
- the perfect outfit, color coordinated with the slide motif
  ...and of course, my most stunning necklace

What I didn't count on was that I would severely injure my two BIG toes the week before on a 12-mile trek in very warm weather --- so badly that even after a week of nursing, I could not put on my perfect pumps, far less stand in them or walk in them. Hmmmm!

What would I do?

This was a question that at different times in my life I would have answered very differently. Those foolish reactions from other such decisions flew through my mind. I remembered the "grin and bear it" answer, doped up on excesses of aspirin to get through. I also remembered the "cancel at the last minute" that made me feel so horribly guilty. However, a personal growth moment flew out of nowhere...

I decided to make a slight change in my red and black outfit, choosing a longer skirt cut on the bias that flowed softly. I wore everything else with black velvet sandals hidden in my closet. I flashed on my mom's advice from many years ago, "Wear whatever you wear as your own personal signature." What I realized when I got myself together, focusing on what I had to give to others, instead of how I looked, everything else fell into place.

Most of all, I showed up doing the best with what I had, dressed in the victory coat of authencity.
It felt gooooood!

How about you? Any signs of growth popping up lately?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the LEAD

India’s Newly Elected Woman President

Last Saturday, Partbha Patil, a seventy-two year old woman was voted in as President of India.  President Patil holds the vision and hope of widening the role of the country’s often male dominated political scene.  President Patil has deep political ties and a strong friendship with Sonia Gandhi and is a long time friend of the Gandhi family.  She took nearly two thirds of the vote and for over four decades has held a number of political offices in India.  She’s a trained lawyer and served as the first female governor of the northern state of Rajasthan.  The office of the president has often been used to represent the un-represented.  India faces strong ethical issues such as the abandoning at birth of over 10 million female children because of the tradition of the bride’s family having to pay the groom’s family large dowries.  About 40% of Indian women cannot read or write as boys are given priority in education.  Sexual harassment is also another major concern in India.

President Patil believes that her presidency will be able to instill confidence in women but realizes that the country is a long way from representing all of women’s needs.  As I read about her election I felt a sense of hope.  I am witnessing many great women becoming president and taking great leadership roles in the politics of our world.  I am beginning so see politics as a major vehicle for the voice of women and the reformation of the world.

Maureen Simon

Be The Change That You Want To See In The World

Gandhi spoke the words in the title as he was fully engaged in reclaiming India back from the forced rule of England. He felt the pain of his friends and neighbors as the lived under a rule that dictated how they lived and greatly limited their potential.

Throughout history nations have lived under rules that they did not agree with. The great world leaders held courage to affect   change where many saw change as possible. Change is always possible and the truth always wins over greed and deception---in time.

“Mahatma Gandhi believed that we must be the change we want to see in the world. This was well demonstrated when he helped India gain its independence. Gandhi was a revolutionary man, but he accomplished India*s emergence as a nation without starting a revolution. In fact, he advocated no violence. One of the most powerful countries in the world yielded to the commitment of one man and the dream of millions.

What change can we effect? What*s the difference we want to make in the world? Gandhi said, in a gentle way, you can shake the world.

Here are some things to think about how to do just that.
Know that all significant change throughout history has occurred not because of nations, armies, governments and certainly not committees. They happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals. People like Joan of Ark, Albert Einstein, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Rosa Parks. They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.

Believe that you have a unique purpose and potential in the world. It’s not so much something to create as to be discovered. It’s up to you to discover it. Believe that you can and will make a difference.

Recognize that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak or DON*T speak counts. Nothing is trivial. The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters”.

                                                                                    Christian M. Gonzalez

What change do you want to see in the world? What do you need to be or do to make this change a reality?

                                                                        Maureen Simon

Healing & Growth is Always Available

“As we gain greater awareness, a tremendous amount of healing and growth takes place in our lives.  We begin to heal old wounds, attitudes, and patterns that no longer serve us.  We get more in touch with our own essence, and begin to develop and express ourselves in new ways.

Life is always attempting to move us in the direction of our own evolution and development.  This takes place in many different ways.  In fact, every experience and event of our lives contributes to our growth.  Once we become aware of the fact that life is one big learning experience, it’s easier to cooperate with the process.  We can actively support and participate in our own healing and growth.  Every step we take along out path adds to our experience of true prosperity.”

-Shakti Gawain, Creating True Prosperity: Workbook

Life is such an amazing journey. I so agree with Shakti’s words above-every thing that we experience can teach us something . The real art is to stay awake and participate.

Enjoy this amazing journey—both the light and the dark!

                                                                                    Maureen Simon

WOMEN: Accepting Our Success

Recently, I met with a couple of close friends. We meet a few times a year for what we've labeled "renewal parties". They are always inspiring days where we dump out all that is weighing on us. Then we all work to help the others get a grip and see life with a new perspective ---- we laugh at ourselves, remembering when...and in the end, we encourage some action-directed commitment out of each of us. Over the years, we have accomplished amazing things through this ongoing renewal process. What I notice each time is that none of us has yet mastered the art of "accepting our own success." We can remember our failings with great details, but successes, how rarely we spend time to celebrate or even credit ourselves with them.

Does this have a familiar ring for you, too?

Today I opened a favorite book, Stretching Lessons: The Daring that Starts from Within by Sue Bender --- a favorite author. It opened to a perfect story that describes this weakness I dare to say many women have and also ends with a call-to-action for us all.

Trophy
While transforming the closet, I discovered an old trophy. I had forgotten all about it. Only when I held it in my hands and read the inscription, "Best Character," did I remember. Three years after my great sadness at not receiving this award at camp, I won it without even trying. My disappointments I remember clearly. They are etched into my body and psyche. My victories are sometimes harder to recall. My intention is to give as much attention to my success as I do to my disappointments.

Accepting success can also be a stretch.

If you showed up here, perhaps we can make this a kind of virtual "renewal party" and each of commitment to start this week giving our successes equal treatment! Are you willing?

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the Lead

Are You Really in the Game?

“It is a game, in which the heart is entertained,

the game in which you are entertained.

It is the game you will win”.

                                                       Maharajah

The well-known meditation guru -- Maharajah, made the above statement, I believe to slow people down and to get them to think.

He is a great believer that- when our heart is entertained and engaged our life becomes available to experience the endless possibilities the world has available to us. What does it mean to have an entertained and engaged life? Joy is a key factor in fully experiencing life. How much of your day is joyful. Are you fully engaged in your life? Does your life reflect what you truly value and believe?

What does being engaged in your life mean? When our life holds purpose and meaning –any thing becomes possible to us. When our actions are backed by what we believe we live in integrity. Are you living your life in a way that reflects your values and what you believe to be true?

The real game is won when you are experiencing joy in your life and when you can clearly say that you are living your life in full alignment with what you value and believe.

                                                                                                          Maureen Simon

Real Communities: A Place Where People Truly Meet

“Most of the people on this planet live in real communities, while a majority of North American college-educated people arrange themselves in networks.  We work with, live with, and hang out with people like ourselves, with similar educational levels and similar media habits.  This has tended to isolate and alienate us from others.  We’ve come to mistrust people who are differently educated and informed.  We don’t know them.  We’re distant from them.  We’ve turned them into just that: the Other.”

                                                                                                Eric Utne

Eric points out that many of us isolate ourselves from the” Other.  By the very nature of our communities we are isolationists.

Take a look at your life.

Do you fit into this scenario? 

Where could you reach out and connect with those that are different from you?’

We can learn so much from each other if we are open to removing the invisible differences and if we can learn to learn and be open to the other.

Maureen Simon

We Need Your Special Gifts Today More Than Ever – Claim Them!

"When self-respect takes its rightful place in the psyche of woman, she will not allow herself to be manipulated by anyone".

Indira Mahindra

Many women have not been brought up in environments that encourage them to hold self-respect for themselves.  Women have been sent confused messages throughout history regarding to their value.  Self-respect must be found from within –  only from our own internal knowing  and our respect for our inherent value.  Take a look at your gifts, your offerings, your beautiful uniqueness.  Own it.  Each woman holds a unique set of offerings and gifts that the world needs today.  Claim it.  We need your specialness now more than ever. 

Maureen Simon

WOMEN: Freeing YOURSELF from a CHALLENGING WEEK

This morning I woke up remembering having written a blog post sometime back when I was in an overwhelmed place. Unfortunately, I was so overwhelmed at that moment I didn't have time to search for it. Somehow, its wisdom seemed to reach out to me anyway and I made it through all my fear. I FINISHED! The end result was better than I imagined. Don't you love it when you do your best work and you surprise yourself. This was one of those moments. However, now through the pressure and rush of it all, I decided to find that writing and share it with you. It may be just what you need to start your week:

CHALLENGING WEEK by dk

This has been a challenging week with looming deadlines flying at me from many directions --- and it seems many things asking much of me. My mind is FULL and overflowing. I am guessing that some of  you that hover over --- if we could talk with one another ---- would be able to share your similar tales too, YES?
It would be nice to have that chat today.

Do you ever work so hard or have so many things on your plate that you wish you could just push the RESET BUTTON and start over??? That's where I am today. Now you might be asking, where is the INSPIRATION in this story. Well, it's coming...

As I've been reaching deep inside today for that extra bit of determination to breakthrough, by chance ... a message showed up on my path. As I was looking through some old writings, I came across a quote from Lao Tzu. Here is the INSPIRATION...

“Learn to unclutter your mind.
Learn to simplify your work.
As you rely less and less on knowing just what to do,
your work will become more direct and more powerful.
You will discover that the quality of your consciousness is
more potent than any technique or theory or interpretation.
Learn how fruitful the blocked group or individual suddenly
becomes when you give up trying to do just the right thing.”

--- Lao Tzu    my favorite Lao Tzu Book

With that INSPIRATION of timeless wisdom, I am allowing my burdens to lift. All that is needed will emerge from the mind that is uncluttered. How about YOU?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the Lead