{"id":110,"date":"2010-12-31T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-12-31T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/blissblog\/2010\/12\/and-the-year-has-just-begun.html"},"modified":"2010-12-31T01:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-12-31T01:00:00","slug":"and-the-year-has-just-begun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2010\/12\/and-the-year-has-just-begun.html","title":{"rendered":"And The Year Has Just Begun"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

New Year’s weekend 2004 into 2005, I began a ritual that I want to <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

continue for the rest of this earthly incarnation…and maybe beyond. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

It was an out- of- the ordinary weekend in many ways. A retreat at a <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

beautiful bay front home at the Jersey shore, attended by kindred <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

spirits who danced, sang, drummed, laughed, cooked and ate <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

together. Led by phenomenal Philly based performing artist and <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

teacher Ron Kravitz; it was a transformative time for me and I <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

daresay for the others there too.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

At midnight, we went outside and howled at the moon overlooking <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

the bay. The weather was unusual for this part of the country too, <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

as on New Year’s Day, we did yoga on the beach in 70 degree <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

temps. After the practice, I took a solitary walk at water’s edge and <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

felt, as I occasionally do, a bit sorry for myself. I was facing <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

challenges and saw no way beyond them at that moment. In a <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

flash, I said to myself: “Snap out of it, woman! Let’s make a list of <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

all of the loving souls you have drawn into your life in 2004 and all <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

of the beyond- belief experiences you have had.”…and so I did. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

With each name and experience and step, I felt lighter physically <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

and emotionally.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

As the end of 2008 approached, I found myself once again <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

meandering into that practice. I figure I have met thousands of <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

people when I consider those I have interviewed for various <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

publications, those I have married, and their families and friends, <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

people with whom I have attended workshops and classes, and who <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

have participated in workshops I have taught. Imagine how many <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

people I have snuggled while facilitating Cuddle Party workshops <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

who have gone on to ‘spread the luv’ to others. That doesn’t even <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

take into consideration, people with whom I have made a heart <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

connection, because other friends have introduced us. I am <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

particularly grateful for those ‘matchmaking’ encounters. I also think <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

about the serendipitous, ‘cosmically coincidental’ meetings, when <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

people show up unexpectedly. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

When I look at the list of experiences, I grin from ear to ear. I had <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

the blessing of living a 20 year old journalistic dream of interviewing <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

the Dalai Lama, began hosting my own internet radio show, traveled <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

to California to visit friends…was that ever an amazing adventure! <\/p>\n

I had gone to San Francisco to attend a reunion of Cuddle Party <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

facilitators, those pj-clad wonders who teach people how to be <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

authentic and give and receive nurturing touch without condition. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

Enjoyed time with my friend Jaz. Got to go to Cafe’ Gratitude, <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

indulging in raw food heaven, find a wild and wonderfully purple <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

cotton jacket at Goodwill, went to a costume party, steppin’ out in a <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

new black silk and lace boustierre (my first, but likely not my last), <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

skipped down the street holding hands with friends (hearing the <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

1960’s anthem written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

ringing in my ears: “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

wear some flowers in your hair.” Corny, but true. I met the ‘spiritual <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

cowgirl’ red-ilicious Sera Beak who wrote The Red Book and was <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

inspired by this red-volutionary whose work is nothing short of <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

Divine sustenance. I did leave a piece of my heart in San <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

Francisco. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

The last night in the city, before winging Eastward, I found myself in <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

a hot tub with friends (more like a cement pond with bubbling water) <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

surrounded by tall bamboo, overlooking the San Francisco Bay, <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

under a full moon. “Could life get much better than this?”, I mused <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

aloud to Reid Mihalko, ageless co-creator (along with Marcia <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

Baczynksi) of Cuddle Party. His broadly grinning response: “This is <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

your birthright, Babe! You get to have this.” He really does talk like <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

that.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

In 2010, I was honored to have my book in progress: The Bliss <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

Extraordinary make it into Round 2 of The Next Top Spiritual <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

Author Contest. I began this Bliss Blog in the Fall of this year <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

which <\/font>is an ongoing delight.  I witnessed the passing of <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

my sweet mother as we shared the journey of the last <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

seven months of her life; again a great blessing.<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

I invite you to find a way to honor all that you have done last year <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

and all the wondrous people with whom you have crossed paths; <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

folks that you may not even have known existed at this time last <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

year. I encourage you to open your hearts to all the people you <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

have yet to meet who are waiting on the other side of the threshold <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

between last year and this one.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

Wishing you a brand new year filled with everything your heart <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

desires, as you leave behind in the previous year, anything that no <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

longer serves. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How do you cross thresholds from one year to the next?<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

List the people you now know who weren’t even on your radar <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

screen when the year began.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What do you wish to leave behind?<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What do you wish to attract?<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  New Year’s weekend 2004 into 2005, I began a ritual that I want to   continue for the rest of this earthly incarnation…and maybe beyond.   It was an out- of- the ordinary weekend in many ways. 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