Shames Phantom

Have you spotted the phantom lurking in the mountains? Two cat nip treats ... thanks Dad.

Happy Birthday @ Cranberry Lane

Most folks know that I absolutely LOVE my birthday and this year marked a milestone of 35 years on this earth. So the festivities took place at our special new retreat, Cranberry Lane. The guys worked really hard to whip the renovations into shape so we could enjoy the house without tripping over skill saws and wood piles. The May garden was in full bloom and so were all of our fine Terrace friends. The hot tub was delivered, a new water pump installed and the BBQ set to feast on Skeena Salmon. Special guests, Friz and Natalie arrived in full force from Vancouver. We gathered up the groceries, pitched the tent, kicked up our heels and had a whale of a time.

This gathering gave me a glimpse into the future ... to turning long time dreams into reality. The potential for Cranberry Lane to evolve into a holistic creative centre complete with the enchanted forest, 'civilized' camping, garden fresh food, relaxing treatments, workshops and days filled with fun local activities. It is possible! And as I transition from ED of tourism and turn my focus to a more inward direction, I know that the Cranberry Retreat is poised to become a centre of rejuvenation amidst the coastal mountains and old growth rainforest. It is at 35 that I truly feel I am now working from the heart.

Labyrinth of Life

In Greek mythology, the labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed to hold the Minotaur, a half man half bull creature. It was built so cunningly that the architect himself could barely escape it after he built it.

The term labyrinth is often interchanged with maze, however a labyrinth only has one path to the centre and back unlike a maze with many choices of paths and directions.

On Thursday April 22nd, I resigned from my position as Executive Director of Kermodei Tourism. It was a really tough decision that I struggled with for months beforehand. I was consumed with questions, fear and doubt as the position holds great responsibility, has allowed me to travel and meet many interesting folks in our community and within the tourism industry. Read my resignation message in the May 2008 KT e-zine. Heart thumping and mind skipping a mile a minute, I knew I had to break the news to my board. After I emparted my news, I felt a huge weight lift that I had been carrying for a long time. It felt so liberating and in that mindset I was off with Ewa and Magda, the Polish Connection for a 17 hour drive to the Naramata Centre near Penticton for the 30th Annual Spring Festival of Awareness. It was exactly what I needed to get back in touch with myself, renew my spirit and reinforce the fact that I made the right decision. Highlights included:

• The past life regression workshop (apparently I was a middle aged man in Roman times as well as a young East Indian girl in a very busy city) At least this is what was conjured up in my imagination during a guided regression session
• The healing oasis, a centre where one can choose from a variety of holistic treatments from Acupuncture to Shiatsu to Thai Massage
• Qi-robics - Qigong / Tai Chi with Hajime, Dancing Dragon moving playfully into body, mind, spirit wholeness
• A reminder of how to experience joy beyond our wildest dreams through the law of attraction - Abundance in Action with Ariole Alei
• Living a happy and meaningful life - discussing Gandhian philosophy with Mahendra Singh
• Walking the labyrinth with intention in the evening sun
  

Indeed the festival was action packed and attended by a variety of characters from BC and Alberta. I was super happy that I decided to go and the road trip was a reminder of how lucky I am to be living in north-west BC, one of the most pristine areas on this planet. My mind does not feel like such a maze anymore. There are so many choices and directions in life but I finally feel that I am walking the path of the labyrinth with a focus on my true happiness. After years of working the corporate grind, I am taking charge and doing exactly what I want to do in my life ... not what I feel I should do to earn the most money I can and be a productive member of society. The vision is becoming more and more clear. I am releasing myself of my fears and entering the space of courage and working from the heart. Treehouse Yoga and Wellness Studio is coming to fruition. This multi-purpose space will offer a variety of yoga classes, creative workshops, special events, wellness and aesthetic services. This is the beginning of a dream that I have had for a very long time. And I can say from experience that nothing makes you happier than to listen to your inner voice, be at peace with yourself and make your wildest dreams come true.

Yoga Festival Toronto

If you are in Toronto August 22-24, 2008 I highly recommend participating in the Yoga Festival Toronto. Over the course of the three days there will be a wide spectrum of heartfelt lectures and focused asana classes. This is the first event of it's kind...grassroots, non-profit, urban retreat style... that explores and embodies the true essence of yoga.

Here are a few wise words on meditation from one of YFT's faculty members:

By Dr. Pradeep Kumar

"Meditation is the realization of one's individual and universal nature which brings freedom from fear and allows the person to live in a state of wholeness and well-being. Meditation begins with a technique, an intentional awareness of outer world, sensations in the body and of one's feelings, emotions, thoughts and experiences. During such practice a person discovers that his/her mind was programmed and conditioned by the society and culture. Later on, meditation becomes spontaneous and effortless, and life itself becomes a meditation. Whatever we think, speak or do, positive or negative, is a meditation because meditation is not a virtue, morals, good behavior or thinking; it is the awareness of all that is."

Ski Hill Extravaganza

According to my friend Meredith, if it's one party you don't want to miss it's the Last Day Festivities at Shames Mountain, our local ski hill. Well, Meredith was right, this little shaker was a big barrel of laughs ... a chance to connect with old friends, meet new friends, roast marshmallows and bask in the glow of the largest bonfire anyone has even seen underneath a blanket of stars. This mountain culture sure is something special. We breathe the cleanest air, live for powder days and practice our own form of meditation within the serenity of nature. We camped amidst the mountains, evergreen trees, laughed and danced till the wee hours of the morning. It felt good for the soul. The morning dawned ... we rubbed our eyes, strapped on the skis and headed for the hills.

A little philosophy

8 Universal Principles for Stepping to the Edge
1. We are either now here or nowhere.
2. Be in the now and you'll know how
3. Growth is the most important thing there is
4. Exceed yourself to find your exceeding self
5. In order to heal, you need to feel
6. Think less. Be more
7. We are the sum total of our reaction
8. Don't try hard, try easy

Laws of Transformation Principles
• Seek the truth
• Be willing to come apart
• Step out of your comfort zone
• Commit to growth
• Shift your vision
• Drop what you know
• Relax with what is
• Remove the rocks
• Don't rush the process
• Be true to yourself
• Be still and know
• Understand that the whole is the goal

Principles of Alignment
• Build your house on a rock
• Establish neutral alignment
• Stack your joints
• Balance, control, and surrender
• Work from the bones

Mistakes or Misbeliefs in Principles
• Mistake 1. Believing in your doubts
• Mistake 2. Despising the days of small beginnings
• Mistake 3. Embracing tradition over intuition
• Mistake 4. Not recognising that the prize is in the process..
• Mistake 5. Falling into the trap of competition and comparison
• Mistake 6. Not recognising that sometimes less is more
• Mistake 7. Not understanding your resistance

Fresh

The crocuses and daffodils are peeking out of the earth. As the days get longer, the sun continues to warm our souls and nourish the planet. I love spring. It always feels so invigorating, full of life and optimism. It's also a great time to cleanse the internal body ... the bloodstream, muscles, joints, organs and prepare for summer time fun and sun. I just completed a 12 day cleanse; the Wild Rose D-Tox and WOW what a great feeling to purge the entire digestive system and re-set the body + mind. It has given me a renewed sense of motivation and discipline. I feel like I have replenished my OJAS. It has made me look a little harder at everything I choose to put in my body. By removing wheat, refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, etc., I feel lighter, brighter and have more clarity. Yoga (and this includes proper diet) is a sure fire way to feel happy every day.