Bringing Light to the Shadows

It led me to one of my favorite books, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford
photo credit: Juli Isola

To truly embrace our authenticity, we must recognize, know and accept our whole self; not just the light-hearted, happy, socially-acceptable parts but also the sadness, irritation, discontent, and failings.

The theme for January’s Sunday talks was authenticity, so it’s no surprise that in two conversations with friends this month, the topic of the dark night of the soul and spiritual darkness came up. It led me to one of my favorite books, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford. In the first few chapters she reminds us that there are gifts in the traits and emotions we judge as bad. Frustration or ill-content with a job leads us to search for change. Anger and outbursts can protect our personal boundaries leading to greater self care. Our experience of sadness allows us to offer compassion and understanding to others who are facing loss or heart ache.

Ian Percy echoed these ideas in his talk at the Center this past Sunday. Ian suggested that we face irritation before insight. The irritation drives us to find the possibilities for greater expression.

Simply put the light and the dark are two sides of the same coin. Without one, we can’t really fully experience the other.

What part of yourself are you hiding today? Can you find the gifts in the characteristics or emotions you label bad or wrong? Freedom and true authenticity comes from bringing light to the darkness. When we understand and trust that there is only good and it is all God, then we can fully shine our light in the world.

~Juli Isola

Ian Percy "Free the Chickens"

If “thinking outside the box” is so wonderful why do we have boxes in the first place? When you think about it most of us were raised in boxes. As kids at home we had to “abided by my rules” as long as we were “under my roof;” schooling was largely a matter of sitting up straight in our boxes; religion made us do the same thing only in better clothes; and our work environments are likely the boxiest places of all. Alright, maybe I wasn’t in the best of moods. But when I saw the picture of the chickens in this egg farm I immediately thought of the boxes in a typical organizational chart; everyone sitting dutifully in their place fulfilling their measurable egg-laying obligations. Knowing that these chickens are almost born and raised in these cages breaks your heart. So is there a lesson to be learned here?

FREE THE CHICKENS!  ~ Ian Percy

And So It Is! 

What is Meditation?

Many people are intimidated by meditation or do not know how to meditate.

If you are intimidated by the traditional forms of meditation, allow me to suggest ideas of other forms of meditation:

1.  Take a walk in nature and be present to your surroundings.
2.  Sit on the beach and watch the waves crash up on the beach, and receded back into themselves.
3.  Sit on your back porch with a cup of tea and watch the birds flutter by.
4.  Lay with your pet for 10 minutes and be completely present to them.
5.  Watch the sunrise

It really can be as simple as that and, done everyday, even for 5 minutes, will have dramatic affects on your life.

Happy meditating!

 

Kids Day Out at the Center for Spiritual Living

Mommy needs a break! I felt guilty saying it, even thinking it. But as a person who prior to being blessed with motherhood needed lots of regular quiet time to stay sane ... let's just say that luxury has left the building.

Then came Kids' Day Out, for 2 - 4 year olds, there may be some 5's in there. Every Tuesday at the Center from 9:30 - 12:30 a small, co-op style playgroup meets. Parents are asked to volunteer occasionally so there are always two grown ups watching the kids.

Kate chose to paint.

My opportunity to stay and volunteer in the group was this past Tuesday.

We played. We washed our hands. We had snacks. We practiced our pleases and thank yous. We shared.

There was play dough, painting, games, doll houses, trucks, puzzles, books and the jump rope was a big hit. Kate chose to paint.

As I watched Kate sit at the table with her snack, smiling over her apple slice at her new friends, I realized how good this is for her. She needs play with her peers too. And that's okay.

She cried when it was time to leave but then she slept the sleep of a contented played-out satisfied little person. And that made Mommy very happy.

Join us some Tuesday! Contact our Youth Director Rev. Pattie Mercado to sign up.
Call 949-240-6463 ext 105 or email pattiem@cslcv.org.

When Mommies get a little extra time they get creative. Here's proof:
More pictures, straight from Juli Isola's photography blog post of Kids Day Out, thank you Juli Isola!

photo credit: Juli Isola

photo credit: Juli Isola

Photo Credit: Juli Isola

Ian Percy Insight & Uplifting Inspiration

Join Ian Percy Here Saturday January 26, 1 - 3:30 p.m. Members of the Center: Love Offering General public: $25 Child care available - contact Rev. Pattie Mercado 
Ian Percy challenges how people think. He's a positive 'disrupter' of old mindsets; enabling people to change their results by changing how they think. "All that will ever be possible," he says, "is already possible." Realizing those possibilities depends on how people think and how the limitless resources of the organization are aligned toward a peak purpose.
An organizational psychologist, Ian is a renowned business speaker and respected author of six books. As a speaker Ian is known for his remarkable ability to blend deep insight with uplifting inspiration -- all wrapped in home-spun humor. This ability to engage an audience like few do has led to the rare honor of being inducted into both the US and Canadian Speaker Halls of Fame. Successful Meetings magazine also named him "One of the top 21 speakers for the 21st century."
Percy's writing includes the breakthrough book on leadership titled Going Deep; an inspirational book called The 11 Commandments for an Enthusiastic Team and his most recent The Profitable Power of Purpose. He writes a regular column on performance improvement for Human Capital magazine read by over 100,000 HR leaders and is a frequent contributor to the online publication RetailWire.
Percy's insights on leadership and teamwork have been sought by a great variety of national and international organizations in the insurance, finance, health care, agriculture, manufacturing and technology sectors. They include Microsoft, Royal Bank Group, Cargill, Manulife Financial, Exxon Mobil, Aramark, Transamerica, Nortel, US Bank, Sanofi Aventis, and KPMG.
A truly gifted speaker, Percy's warmth and humour pave the way for a message that inspires and motivates individuals and leaders to reach infinite possibilities.

Welcome Home
To A World That Works For Everyone!
And So It Is.

You Are What You Tweet

The truth of my Being is always expressing in perfect harmony with my Source. #CSLCV
— Darin (@DarinRMcClure) January 13, 2013

I am mindful that I am at choice in every moment in how I speak the Truth. #CSLCV
— Darin (@DarinRMcClure) January 13, 2013

Regardless of whether I speak it in person or blast it into the ethers of social media. #CSLCV
— Darin (@DarinRMcClure) January 13, 2013

I remain loyal to my Knowing & inspire, encourage, enlighten & empower. #CSLCV
— Darin (@DarinRMcClure) January 13, 2013

I am the voice of God on this planet & am mindful in all moments that my words carry power beyond measure. #CSLCV
— Darin (@DarinRMcClure) January 13, 2013

You Are What You Tweet ~ Mindfulness in 140k or Less. #CSLCV twitter.com/DarinRMcClure/…
— Darin (@DarinRMcClure) January 13, 2013

Einstein, Energy & Creative Change: Using Universal Principles in your Life and Organization — with Ian Percy

The liberating discovery that your authenticity 

and your highest possibilities are one and the same.

For 400 years corporations - and individuals - have been locked into mechanistic Newtonian thinking and it's become clear that mindset has taken us as far as it can. A revolutionary understanding of how the universe works is gaining the attention of corporations, schools, hospitals, associations and more as a way to breakthrough to new levels of purpose, passion, performance...and profitability.

Ian Percy: Organizational psychologist and Possibility Coach.

Ian Percy was inducted into both the US and Canadian Speaker Halls of Fame.

Hosted by The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley 1201 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 100 (First Floor), San Clemente, CA 92673 949.240.6463

Saturday January 26, 1 - 3:30 p.m.
Members of the Center: Love Offering
General public: $25
Child care available - contact Rev. Pattie Mercado

The Beginnings of Science of Mind. ~ Ernest Holmes

You should organize this! 

Teach and practice, practice and teach;
that is all we have;
that is all we are good for;
that is all we ever ought to do.
                                                  ~ Ernest Holmes

There is something going on here.
And So It Is!

Center For Spiritual Living Welcome Home!

Happy New Year!

We are very happy and excited to share this first Sunday of 2013 with you. We have such a great year of wonderful topics and inquiries for the adults and our youth. 

This Sunday we are kicking off with a great theme for January: Authenticity, Your Inner Journey. Both the adults and the youth will be inspired and uplifted with knowing themselves and embracing the authentic self. 

We hope to see each of you Sunday.

Oh The Places You Will Go In 2013

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! 
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go... 

Oh The Places You Will Go In 2013
And So It Is!