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Coaching and the Wisdom of the Body

Why Somatic Awareness Matters in Coaching, Leadership, and Pretty Much Everywhere Else There’s a
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The Alchemy of Hope and Hopelessness: Why Keep Showing Up for the Hard Work

In a world where the “right” thing often feels heavy and daunting, or even impossible at
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At the Crossroad of Humility and Wisdom

We finished a hike and then stopped at a sweet little cafe with a sunny patio, where Luna the puppy
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Know Thyself and the Missing Piece

The phrase “Know Thyself” is often attributed to Socrates, but its origins trace back even
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A Journey with Egypt

Somehow, I lucked out. My main Enneagram teacher, Russ Hudson, has been leading small groups yearly
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From Accepting to Embracing.

There is a flow to wake-up calls. A pattern that has a way of repeating itself, that –
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Doors. Closing and Opening.

It has been a very long time since the last reflection. Over a year, I believe. I am sending this
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Having More Fun

“Your homework is to have more fun. Play more.” This was given to me through an exploration of
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Musings on Needs and Wants

I was recently challenged by my coach to look into the theme of my needs and wants, within the
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A Timeless Question

Let’s dive right in, shall we?! Without stories, disclaimers, or ways of easing into a deeper
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A Quilt of Random Thoughts

There has been a lot happening as of recent, both for me personally and, obviously, in the world. As
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Right Livelihood Quest is Going Virtual

When does something actually start? What is that moment we call a “beginning?” Is there even
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How Do We Show Up Now?

A lot is happening in the world these days, and – of course – the main focus is on the
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He? She? It?

Something has been bothering me for a long time, every time I would see or hear it. It would come
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Bruce Lee and the Enneagram

With a diverse and mysterious history, the image of the Enneagram (ennea-nine, gram-image) dates
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Is the Universe Friendly?

Is the Universe Friendly? I have been working on this Reflection for a few weeks. Then for a couple
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There are no shortcuts…

to any place worth going. And definitely not when one is embarking on a long and arduous journey of
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Awakened Living Program Announcement

What does it take to birth a new program/project/venture/initiative? I have been thinking about it
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The Masks We Wear

“When it comes to recognizing the truth of our own identities, most of us experience a symbolic
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On a Journey of Awakening

This is a topic I gave a presentation on, this July, and it is an evolving area for me, both
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What Do I Know?

The only real question is not one of winning or losing, but of experiencing life with an
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Loving the Porcupines

Many elements and learning moments played their role in this reflection, as it all kept unfolding
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Loving Sadness

I might have just coined a new expression. At least, it is new to me. While I have been living with
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Winter is Coming

Leaves are falling non-stop, like a magical multi-coloured and multi-shaped rain. The days are also
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An Ode to a Fluffy Guru

This is the one reflection I never wanted to write. How does one review 14 years of a life with such
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Riding the EAC

This was a very different Friday. I didn’t really do any work. Meditated in the morning.
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Celebrating a Birthday

A person close to you has a birthday coming up. Usually, it will mean “all the usual,”
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Freedom and Discipline

I have this periodical and persistent drive to accomplish things. Sometimes, I also need to. Tasks
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The Bike Ride

I love cycling. The passion for it started many years ago, when I lived in Ottawa and a friend gave
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Learning to be Guided

It was a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Sunny, yet fresh, with all the beauty of a Fall that is
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Facing Ourselves

“Don’t give them too much to do on the weekend,” said the head counselor to the woman who is
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A Special Dinner Gathering

My students are completing a two year course in Leadership and Personal Development and are about
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On Being a Man

I am in the middle of a weekend workshop, which is a part of a 5-months Conscious Leadership
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On Trust and Surrender

Every end of the year I start this process, or perhaps a ritual, of reviewing the past year and
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House of Mirrors

One of the concepts I have recently started bringing into my teaching and into my life comes from
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Gratitude

Canadian Thanksgiving was yesterday, with a grey and rainy day in Vancouver. The trees started
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Quieter than Water

What is a happy and healthy childhood? Did you have one? Did I? Did anyone? Sure I remember moments
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I Will Make My Own Lunch

The journeys and the magic of the Right Livelihood Quest have been happening for about 4 years, with
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Living Fully

A beautiful house on a beach of a lake, somewhere in the wine country of Interior BC. 9 men have
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Creativity Is An Inside Job

“I am not one of those creative types,” he says. “I am an engineer.” He is a product
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What If Life Was Easy?

It is a wine and cheese reception, following a graduation ceremony of yet another group of students
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Like an Island in the Ocean

“Want to try an experiment in something different, love?” This was a written note in a
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What About Me?

For many years, I have been a fan (truth be told, more of an addict, really) of the 1 Giant Leap
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What’s For Dinner?

We have known each other for quite a few years. First, both D and J were students of mine, then they
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A Circle of Men

There are two circles. One of about 20 men, who came to participate in this weekend. We call them
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What Can I Learn from You?

As far back as I remember, I have never really had mentors or role models. Not until the past few
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Tending the Fire

Vacation is a wonderful thing. Especially when it meant spending 10 days in Spain with my beloved.
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Honouring Fathers

My fingers just flew over the keyboard last weekend, as though of their own will, pouring some
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A Letter from The Universe

Here we all are, trying to make a life, or perhaps a living. Wanting to create something, do a good
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Like a Marionette Doll

Where did the time go? I wrote the last Reflection at the end of January (here) and, despite my
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Through the Fog

Fog. There was fog at the airport when I was leaving Vancouver. There was heavy fog, early in the
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Thank You 2013

Dear 2013, Time came for us to part ways. It is nothing personal, really. Just the nature of things
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An Ode to Grief

It all started yesterday, as I was watching the TED talk by Johan Rockstrom. I am in the process of
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Of Time and Passion

Where did the summer go? I know it was here, because I remember hot days, and ocean, and sun on my
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The End of 14 Years

Even though I moved into my loft in August of 1999, I still remember coming to see it before the
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A Lesson in Patience and Trust. Again.

 The work of the Right Livelihood Quest has been growing and evolving over the past two years in
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Welcoming Discomfort

There is a deep dark hole, marking a beginning of a possible tunnel with no end in sight. Perhaps of
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Just One Question

A room. In it, two long rows of pairs of participants, sitting facing each other. Most of the people
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What Inspires You?

A student of mine recently posted a question to the group, curious about our sources of inspiration.
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Witnessing Courage

22 willing and engaged participants. 2 wonderfully supportive assistants. One me. A journey of 4
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When Does the Workshop Really Start?

One thing I learned over the years, and as a result of the many workshops and seminars I have
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Who is Driving My Bus?

I love what I do for “work” even though I actually don’t use this word much. Over
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Letter to Self

There is a chapter called “Giving an A” in the timeless gem of a book, The Art of
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First, Make a Road

The full phrase is, “First, make a road. Only then you can drive the car.” This is the
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A Gratitude Journal

I have been keeping this journal for some time now, and even though I don’t do it daily, it
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Beyond Hope

A student was recently sharing about a sense of hopelessness s/he was going through. Whether it was
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A New Beginning

“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment; we can start now, start slowly changing
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Life is (or “as”) an Offer

I am just finishing a period of a few full and rich weeks, with plenty of adventures and diversity
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Stepping into Elderhood

I just finished celebrating a birthday, which included a series of surprising and diverse events. It
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Living in a Global Village

It is perhaps both ironic and also uncanny that this Reflection comes in parallel with a whirlwind
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For the Right Reasons

As part of the work with the Right Livelihood Quest, I regularly interview people who have gone
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Leadership Theology

Leadership and Personal Development (LPD) is a 2-year course I teach at Bainbridge Graduate
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Decisions, Decisions,…

When faced with a dilemma, of a kind that is deeper and more challenging than a “latte or a
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A Hope for the Future

Earlier this week, students from the School of Inspired Leadership in India, where I taught at the
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Once Upon a Time

I recently had a chance to visit the Old City of Jerusalem and wander through the narrow streets of
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What’s Important

Dear friends who have been together for many years, have recently parted ways. Even though there is
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On Being Vulnerable

Today’s Reflection is about that which we often don’t want to talk about. Yes. Being
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The Pattern that Connects

Today’s Reflection is about the pattern that connects it all. A yearly retreat of my spiritual
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One More Day

Today’s Reflection is about my time in India, that is coming to an end.   I have just one
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Amidst the Extremes

Today’s Reflection is about a beginning of a whole new adventure. Light – the country of
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Thank You, 2011

Today’s Reflection is about the gifts of 2011. Well, some of them. Another year has gone by,
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Being the Board

Today’s Reflection is about what Benjamin and Rosamund Zander call “Being the Board,” in
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How to Not Know

Today’s Reflection is about that interesting place, on the edge of chaos and order. I am designing
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10 Years and 10 Minutes

Today’s Reflection is about a new baby being born. Of sorts. I think that, ultimately, we never
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A wake-up call. Again.

Today’s Reflection is about yet another wake-up call. The River of Life is a powerful metaphor to
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I am just looking

Today’s Reflection is about Istanbul, and a lesson from a vendor at the Grand Bazaar. Istanbul. A
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8 Years. A Lifetime.

Today’s Reflection is about a lifelong period of 8 years of a life with a precious companion.
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I Want a Savasana

Today’s Reflection is about passion, pace of life, and yoga. In a way. Savasana is a yoga pose,
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137 Meters

Today’s Reflection is about swimming, beginner’s mind, and wake up calls. The outdoor pool
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On a Right Livelihood Quest

Today’s Reflection is about quotes and passages, while exploring this : fascinating, and often
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Say “Cheese”

Today’s Reflection is about smiling, and about not. American Visionary Art Museum is located in
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Life in Full Colour

Today’s Reflection is about a life with an open heart. These past few weeks have been
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33 Dunes in the Ténéré Desert

Today’s Reflection is about indigenous wisdom. And future. The Ténéré desert in Niger is a
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Oh Canada… How I Cry for Thee…

Today’s Reflection is about the elections results here in Canada, and my reaction to it. I really
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A Story of a Wake-up Call

Today’s Reflection is about an encounter in the air, and the resulting story of listening to a
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Collaboration and Innovation in Leading Change Conference, Victoria, BC, on May 5-6, 2011

The Institute of Certified Management Consultants of British Columbia (CMC-BC) is hosting a
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A Perspective on Life – from Sendai, Japan

Today’s Reflection is about a different way of looking at, and experiencing life. This email, from
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Staying Hungry

Today’s Reflection is about being hungry. Though not only when food is concerned. I am fasting
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Lessons from a washing machine

Today’s Reflection is about the impermanence of life. My washing machine started misbehaving.
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The Power of Deep and Active Listening

Today’s Reflection is about a seemingly easy and natural-to-us all act. Or maybe not that easy. I
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Giving Way to Passion

Today’s Reflection is about year passed, duality, and passion. A rich combination indeed. 2010 has
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Remembering to Appreciate

Today’s Reflection is about Appreciating What Is I am spending the Christmas holidays with dear
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Combining Heart and Head

Today’s Reflection is about charity and donations. Sort of.Wilford organized a very unique event
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Big Brother in the 21st Century

Today’s Reflection is about Big Brothers, of the Orwell kind. My parents and I left Russia, or
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Life According to Four Basic Laws

Today’s Reflection is about a different set of laws to guide one through life. I think we live a
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Right Livelihood

Today’s Reflection is about a stone, of a particular kind. The words are somehow not coming. It
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Seven years. A lifetime.

Today’s Reflection is about the last seven years of my life, and a precious four-legged companion
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A River of Life

Today’s Reflection is about an activity, about a way of looking at one’s life, and perhaps also
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The Burning Flame

Today’s Reflection is about the Summer Gathering event I just attended at Hollyhock. Though I have
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Between two stories

Today’s Reflection is about integrating a duality of a life. Definitely mine. Perhaps yours too. I
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Mirror, Mirror on the wall…

Today’s Reflection is about a rich and profound journey of the past two years. They have graduated
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What Else Are We Missing?

Today’s Reflection is about being present. Or not. Washington, DC. Metro Station on a cold January
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Four Years. Go!

Today’s Reflection is about the gift and the blessing of meeting extraordinary people.  The
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Drumming Away

Today’s Reflection is about a recent drumming weekend in Seattle.   “I have had many
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Shamans of the 21st Century

Today’s Reflection is about the new healers, of many kinds, in our 21st century. A lone traveler
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One Day

Today’s Reflection is about dreams and visions. This was a good start of the day. As Tobi and I
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Unleashing and harnessing energy

Today’s Reflection is about the Vancouver Olympics 2010. In a way.  I felt like a real
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Feeling the Silence

Today’s Reflection is about the pleasure and importance of a time-out. The Olympics are here, in
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Not my problem. Or is it?

Today’s Reflection is about the Vancouver Olympics, the recent Toyota recall, and our
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Can I have a recipe please?

Today’s Reflection is about recipes, in all areas of our lives. In one of the courses I am
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Can there be too much of a good thing?

Today’s Reflection is about an irony of life. At least, one of them. I love what I do. It is both
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Empty and Loving It

Today’s Reflection is about being empty. And loving it. It is Saturday morning, and I am in
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Accepting the Offer

Today’s Reflection is about the concept of “Accepting the Offer” which comes from the world of
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Breaking the Chain

Today’s Reflection is about our Western view of the world. And about some of the implications of
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An apple from a tree

Today’s Reflection is about my recent travels, and some unexpected outcomes (aren’t they
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Mussel Beach Campground

Today’s Reflection is about a vacation, Nature, and our human ways of being in, and with, the
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Between Hope and Despair

Today’s Reflection is about a paradox, a duality, and a way of being with no easy or immediate
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About Solitude… and more…

Today’s Reflection is about solitude, surprises, and gratitude. I woke up early this morning,
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Transformational Creativity and Learning in The Netherlands

Transformational Creativity and Learning (TCL) Skills is a groundbreaking learning experience. This
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About Seiko Brown

Today’s Reflection is about the sadness of a loss, and the many kind words from many strangers.
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Lessons in Impermanence

Today’s Reflection is about the impermanence of our lives. “As the morning tide recedes at a
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What Will It Take?

Today’s Reflection is about taking action. Or not. Margaret Wheatley tells the story that happened
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I have something for you…

Today’s Reflection is about gifts. Several years ago, I was going to be away for about a week, and
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Three Questions

Today’s Reflection is about a story that crossed my path, “The Three Questions” by Leo
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This and That

Today’s Reflection is a collection of thoughts and quotes that has accumulated here and is waiting
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What to Remember When Waking

Today’s Reflection is about a poem that feels very relevant to my life right now. Perhaps to yours
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The Art of Possibility

Today’s Reflection is about possibilities. Possibility: 1. The quality or state of being possible;
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A Language Older Than Words

Today’s Reflection is about the end of a year and a beginning of another. And, I believe, a lot
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An Invitation to Make a Difference

Today’s Reflection is about an opportunity – and an invitation – to make a difference, of a
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To Give or To Receive?

Today’s Reflection is about another perspective of looking at our deeply and profoundly
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Into The Rain

Today’s Reflection is about being in, and with, Nature. Something that many of us, city dwellers,
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This and That

Today’s Reflection is not about any one specific topic. The past few weeks have been full of many
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October 14 is Almost Here

The article below has an enlightening – and sad – review of Harper’s economic
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Shaping Your Future

I am not much into politics. Never have been, really. Yet, I am beginning to see and realize, more
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To be creative is, in fact, Canadian

Mr. Harper is wrong: There’s more to the arts than a bunch of rich people at galas whining
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The Art of Creative Leadership

“Do your responsibilities as a leader give you a sense of seriousness – a sense of being
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Living Vision Retreat – Sep 26/28 2008 – Vancouver

LIVING VISION is an intentional community convergence of like-hearted visionaries, artists, and
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Time Out Of Time

Bang. Bang! BANG! What a way to wake up. It happened this morning, despite my attempts to bring
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A Real Revolutionary

Recently, a poem crossed my ears, eyes, heart and soul, and so I thought I’d share it with you. A
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