Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Listen

Have you ever felt that the trees, the wind, the leaves, the water- the earth talks to you? I have found that when I want to get quiet it serves me best to get out in nature. I have yet to have success in quieting my mind in a room meditating. I am the quietest when I am out in nature. I could just be sitting there or I could be walking- as long as there are trees around me I am more centered.


I took my dogs for a walk in the park again this weekend and I heard the trees and the wind talk to me. When I posed a question to them about anything today they were quick to give me an answer. They told me that although we both have our imperfections we are perfect and that we will continue to grow. They told me to stay true to who I am and that they are always here.

They also encouraged me to release procrastination and to move towards action, so I did. This process was so interesting to me. You see as a human I inhale oxygen and I exhale, or release, CO2 and as a tree they inhale CO2 and exhale oxygen so that I may breathe. When I go into the trees they are saying, "Give us whatever is not serving you and take what you need. We are here in service just as you and we wish to assist you in all that you do."

The trees can be so wise as long as I am present and open to listening!

Monday, October 26, 2009

One Week

What a fantastic film. I am amazed at how wonderfully witty and clever this film is.

Two beautiful goddesses that I met in November of 2008 just got back from an eight month journey on the road. They traveled all over both Canada and the United States, visiting friends, family and just being. Since I returned home from my whirlwind summer I have been thinking of doing the same thing. I enjoy driving. I love photography- and I mean just imagine all the shots. I love to travel. I love to visit people.

Where would I go? Where would you go? What would you do if you only had only week to live? Would you drop everything and take a trip? Would you write a book? Would you make love under a starry sky in an open field?

Why is it that we don't do these things? Why is it that we wait? Why is it that I wait? This is about me as much as it is about anyone else. I am the only one responsible for my own life and when I refer to things in the third person then I am not owning up to them. When I don't own up to it I don't feel the need to actually do anything about it because it doesn't seem real.

So now I ask myself this question: Veronica if you only had a day, a week or a month to live what would you do?

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Projection

In all of my personal development work I've been doing I have come to understand that I project everything I see onto the world. Everything I see in others is simply a reflection of what I see in myself. More specifically they are the qualities I have within myself- I may not see them or even know that they exist. However, they must exist in order for me to see them because if they did not exist I would not understand what they were. Does this make sense?

Getting to the point... In having a discussion with my girlfriends from University they were saying- I'm writing my understanding of what was said- "Why do you have to take so many of these courses? You have always been to confident and sure of who you were, more so than any of our other friends anyway. You are strong enough to not need these courses and furthermore are they really helping you that much?"

I had many thoughtful responses to what was said. The first of which was, 'I'm doing these courses because I wish to continue to learn and grow as a person' my second was, 'I may have been that person in your eyes, however I was unable to see that person in myself until I began my transformational process' and my third thought was, 'Hell yes they are helping me!'

Here's what I learned from that evening; they were projecting this strong, independent and powerful girl unto me. I appreciate it because it makes me look good, however because they had already cast me into that mold I didn't fit into any others where they may have a crack of imperfection (not that they ever said anything about me being perfect). They had created my mold and they did not deviate from it; while I danced around it and refused to fit in it- they just did not see me.

After all of these courses I can now see the part of the girl that they saw. Although now I not only see her, I understand her. I understand that I am all things and that I am nothing. I am one with the universe.

I am me.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Colors

Sunday October 18th, 2009 was a most spectacular fall day in Montreal. One of those perfect days where it's not too cold and not too hot, there's a gentle breeze and the sun is shinning. One of those days where the light allows every color on every leaf of every tree to shine brilliantly bright. Taking advantage of the perfect day my parents and I took the dogs and went for a stroll in a forest/park not far from our house.
We strolled along the path through the woods and admired the amazing reds, oranges, yellows and greens. One of my favorite things to do is to just walk through wooded area and be present with mother earth. I realize that she is everything and everywhere but I feel so different when I am in the woods. I find this sense of calm comes over me while I am hidden in the trees. I feel like they are there to protect and shelter me. They are there to care for me and tell me that everything is fine and to keep growing. There are young trees and old trees. There are trees that still have lots of their leaves and others that are almost bare. Each tree is different. Each tree is unique. Each tree plays its part. Together, however, they are spectacular.

Fall in Montreal is my favorite time of year. The temperature is just right. The colors are just perfect. Thank you mother nature for making fall so beautiful.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Wizard Family

Another peaks family gathering at the Buna's occurred this weekend! We had many a Wizards over for fun and food. What an interesting bunch of people we are. We laughed, played, talked, sang, ate and then ate some more. Every time we have a gathering of people like this I learn something.

This weekend my lesson was that family always comes first.

I began these personal development courses with Landmark Education back in 2003; I was 17 at the time. My brothers and I attended the Teen forum and then decided to take the Advanced Course together. While attending the Advanced course they offered us the 10 week season course so we committed to taking that one as well, since it was our next step. We were ready to go when we got a phone call from Landmark saying that my youngest brother, Sebastian would not be able to take the course with us because he was not old enough yet.

My parents did everything in their power to get them to allow him in. They wrote letters to everyone and were even taking the course with us. Landmark would not budge. Well we were not about to leave a vital part of our family out of the process so none of us continued our education with Landmark.

I had always thought of this experience negatively- until this weekend. David pointed out to me that although this may have been frustrating it proved to us, our family, that we were the most important thing to each other. We were in it all together; "One for all and all for one!" (the three musketeers) Landmark showed me what it was to stand up for what I believed in and I believe in my family and our integrity!

Friday, October 16, 2009

8 seconds or less

What would you do if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
I will try not to sing out of key, yeah

Oh, baby I get by with a little help from my friends...

"The Wonder Years" theme song

I would watch the show every now and then; it certainly was not my favourite so I'm not sure why the lyrics came into my head today. Since they did though I figured I would look at them.

The question I posed myself is: no matter what happens in my life and how bad things get in my realtionships would I ever really just walk out on them? I think that truthfully no matter what happens I will always be there for my friends because there are times when I will need them too. That being said there are people in my life that I may encounter who are not necessarily my friends but that deserve to be treated with love as well.

In a process that I did this summer a challenge was put forth by the facilitators; 'could you get back to love, no matter what happens in 8 seconds or less?'

This means living from my higher self; the self the knows and understands that all human beings are equal, amazing and full of love and light. This means that even when someone cuts me off in traffic I can send them love in under 8 seconds. This means that even when someone is yelling at me I can send them love in under 8 seconds. In situations where you are prone to anger as a reaction can you come back to love in 8 seconds or less?

I'm not going to lie- it can be challenging. The thing is that it is also VERY rewarding. When I am able to just stop and breathe, realize that this person is still a person and that they may be having their own issues, it allows me to detach from the emotional effect the situation may have on me. I am then able to allow, hold space and get back to love.

Love is universal and without love the universe dies. So I propose the challenge to all of you as well: no matter what happens in your life can you get back to love in 8 seconds or less?

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Thanksgiving

Canadian Thanksgiving was this past weekend and I had the most amazing time. The Buna house was a gathering spot for friends and food. We had many of our peaks family members come and visit.

Irma was the first to arrive on Saturday. We spent Sunday going around Montreal and being tourists. Monday morning Joel and his parents drove in from Ottawa and Lea flew in for the day from Baltimore. Anne came from Quebec City, Sylvie and Mike came from Alexandria and Dale and Claude came from around the corner.We laughed and ate and rocked out and played ultimate frisbee. It was just amazing to have so much fun and vibrant energy around.

We were, however, missing some key people from my peaks family and I'd like to acknowledge them for being with us in spirit. The five goddesses front left to right: Lea, Katie, Kelly- back left to right: Irma and myself...

Katie and Kelly; our fellow goddesses, we thought of you often this weekend. The Book made an appearance. Irma has now been passed the book and it will finally start being mailed around to us all; the envelop still looks new! Girls you have been such an inspiration to me and I am so thankful that you are in my life.

To all those who have made an impact on me; being everyone I have ever met- whether you are in my life for a reason, a season or a lifetime you are important and I thank you.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Enlightened Summer

Of all the personal development camps and courses that I have taken, 10 since January 2008, I have discovered that Enlightened Warrior Training Camp is my camp. This camp is where I am the most myself. I resonate so strongly with this camp and its energy because it connects very strongly with my heart virtues.

I am committed to integrity and confidence!

Warrior camp provides this amazingly safe place for people to push themselves way outside of their comfort zones and grow. At this camp integrity is a major point that the trainers focus on.

Integrity:
  1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
  2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
  3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.
At Warrior we are taught that our word is LAW. When you say that you are going to do something you do it. Having integrity is keeping you word. Living your life as you have set out to live it. Being true to yourself!

Another huge part of this course is about building your confidence. There are many difficult processes that are presented to you throughout the week. Truthfully I did not believe I could accomplish half of them when I took the course. However I committed to playing 100% all week and so I gave every processes all I had. At the end of the week I could hardly believe all the things I had accomplished! The camp boosted my confidence that I could take on anything and that I am powerful.

The catch was that now I felt like a warrior; a masculine version of a warrior and I'm a girl! I sensed that something was still missing. This summer I volunteered at two Enlightened Warrior Training Camps. At the 1st camp in Ellenville, NY I found my feminine warrior. I found the goddess powered warrior. I felt that my warrior camp was now complete after volunteering in NY. In California I discovered just how much I like to play.

All in all this summer taught me a lot about myself and about others. I know what I am meant to be doing. I am meant to be holding space for others to grow.

I am committed to integrity and confidence!

I LOVE MY LIFE!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Top 5 Passions

While attending "Mind of Steel, Heart of Gold" this summer I met some of the most amazing people. One of them, Geoff, who I absolutely love ended up facilitating "The Passion Test" created by Chris and Janet Attwood for my mom, dad and one of my brothers after the camp. I was unable to go through the process at the same time because I was still traveling. My mother is now reading the book because it made such an impact on her and offered to help me figure out my Top 5 Passions. I am now sharing them with you and the universe. Universe please hear these and allow me to focus on them and getting each of them to a level 10!

My life is ideal, and I am...

1. Growing and expanding my knowledge and understanding of myself and the universe
2. Giving and receiving love in my romantically committed relationship with my ideal partner

3. Encouraging and supporting others to love themselves and to be their best at all times

4. Enjoying the company of my family and friends

5. Writing about my life; my joys, my heartaches, my successes and my challenges: my experiences

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Working on me...

I am slightly dazed at the fact that I am currently sitting at my computer blogging.
Earlier today I clicked on a fellow goddesses blog. I read a post had the urge to comment on it and then suddenly I was setting up my own blogger account. It's interesting how things happen.

I have always enjoyed writing. That's not to say that I am very good but I like it. I always have an opinion- about pretty much everything. I am not scared to voice those opinions and I tend to have really good insight. I find it easier to have these wonderfully insightful revelations when it is in reference to other people's lives though. Now I am going to write about my own life. I am intending that I become just as clever about my own life through my writing as I am about other people's lives.

Currently the men in my life that I seem to be in communication with are having relationship issues. Either they are breaking up with their significant others or they are just really unhappy. What's going on?

My parents just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary two weeks ago. I have always thought of them as the norm. I mean they are my norm. I have grown up knowing what love, compassion and joy means in a romantic relationship because I have seen it my whole life. Now I pause and wonder if they have become the rare ones. Are they abnormal? If this is the case the universe I want to be abnormal! I want what they have. I want to be confident, loved and overjoyed in a romantic relationship. None of the mind games or fighting everyone else seems to go through.