March 2011

Hello friend,

The morning after Japan's earthquake I awoke from my sleep and announced to Alan, "I'm not scared of dying, but I know I'm scared of living my life without you!"
We cried and held each other, absorbing the preciousness of life, those we loved and what we had. Wherever you are in the world right now, many of you are probably experiencing disaster fatigue, we're living in extreme times, it's like setting fire to the rain. On another level, we're seeing the signs - above, below and all around; life is asking us to wake up!  What does it take to awaken? If not now, when? When I lived in India as a nun, the Tibetans often contemplated how life is like a water bubble; reminding us of our fragile and ephemeral existence. Just imagine, one moment you're here, the next ... well, you get the picture. So I am wondering, with all the events in the world, how is it shaping the way you live, love and work?
 
FREE DOWNLOAD & Meditation e-Book
If you haven't already, download and listen to our soothing and refreshing ten minute sensory awareness meditation - Imagine. Includes a meditation e-book - 'Learn to Meditate.'

TRAININGS
Once again, we have a standby list for our workshops which are sold out! Discovering Your Needs as a Woman and our Advanced Meditation training. Spaces are filling for our Self-Care Meditation course and for our Awakening Sustainable Wellness workshop.

DANGERS OF MEDITATION
Most of you are probably aware of the benefits of meditation, but have you ever considered the dangers of meditation? If you're practising meditation techniques not quite suited to your personality, life cycle or gender, then you're potentially in harm's way. Read what meditation pioneer, Dr. Lorin Roche  discovered about the dangers of meditation in his research. Lorin and his wife, Camille Maurine, will be presenting at the Australian Meditation Conference  along with a post conference workshop, brought to you by The Intrinsic Group in conjunction with Meditation Events. Tickets are now available!

AUSTRALIAN TOUR - Dr. Lorin Roche & Camille Maurine
As part of their Australian tour in October, Lorin and Camille will also be facilitating workshops on the much loved, The Radiance Sutras in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Stay tuned for further announcements!

THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY
Watch the hilarious and moving TED talk by researcher and storyteller, Brene Brown, on The Power of Vulnerability. Amazingly her journey changed the way she now lives, works, parents and loves in the world!
(Thanks Camille & Janelle!)

KIRTAN PERFORMANCES - Last days in Australia!
You can't afford to miss the magical and mighty Dave Stringer (pictured at left) currently touring Australia. When you pre-book tickets for Melbourne and Adelaide, you will be in the draw to win one of eight copies of Lorin Roche's, The Radiance Sutras (the smaller book based on Dave's favourite sutras, pictured at left held by a Khampa woman in Lhasa, Tibet). Be quick!

YOGA FESTIVAL
March 27 welcomes the inaugural Melbourne, Evolve Yoga and Wellness Festival, an intimate and boutique affair exploring yoga styles and natural therapies.

YOGA CONFERENCES
In the spirit of union, the inaugural Yoga Australia Conference will be in Melbourne, April 2-3. I am really looking forward to this!

Another first, the Australian Yoga Therapy Conference, Sydney, June 11-12.

'MEDITATION SECRETS FOR WOMEN' IN NEW ZEALAND
For women wanting a more dynamic, feminine principled approach to their awareness and meditation, my dear mentor, Camille Maurine will be offering for the month of April, powerful insightful trainings in New Zealand, based on her book, Meditation Secrets for Women . I hope to see you there!

Finally, for the times we live in, a beautiful and poignant poem on what it means to be kind, 

KINDNESS

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead on the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

                                                - Naomi Shihab Nye

May you always abide in the vast view of love,

Arian

Arian Young

arian@arianyoung.com.au
www.arianyoung.com.au

The Intrinsic Group

Phone 1300 020 030

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