The SHiNE Blog with Candice Schutter

Talk Radio - Sept '09


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Candice was featured LIVE on the air on Wednesday, September 30th. You can listen or download a podcast of her segment here!

Team Sizzle Podcast - Live on September 30, 2009

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Soul Vibes: LoA Demystified

Below I am offering a synopsis of a recent presentation and coaching forum for those who may not have been able to attend. This has been a vision of mine for some time, and it was an honor and a joy to see come to fruition. The fact that I was offering the presentation itself is evidence of its content! Enjoy.

This serves as a great introduction to the Law of Attraction, and how it informs SHiNE Coaching from a “soulular perspective.”

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Soul Vibes: Vibrational Self-Mastery & The Law of Attraction
New Renaissance Bookshop, Portland, OR
Thursday, August 13, 2009
by Candice Schutter

This coaching forum focused specifically on a teaching that has gotten a lot of mainstream attention in the past couple of years – the Law of Attraction. It is my hope that you will leave here tonight with a greater understanding – not only of the Law of Attraction – but of HOW it relates to a deeper aspect of who you really are. We will explore the LoA from a soulular perspective in order to make it a meaningful and practical part of your spiritual practice. This gathering is about self-directing your energy. It is about consciously aligning with who you really are in each and every moment.

I was first exposed to LoA in 2000, through a daily martial arts (qigong) discipline. It was then that I was first introduced to the idea that my thoughts were powerful causal factors in my everyday life. I was hooked on learning more! Since then, I have been an avid student of metaphysics. In 2003, I was exposed to new thought ministries, and I studied how modern pioneers like Ernest Holmes created an philosophy and spiritual way of life that put this awareness to work through affirmative prayer. On my metaphysical journey, I have cycled through seasons of passionate inquiry, as well as times of intense skepticism and uncertainty. My recent studies – namely of the leading edge work of
Esther and Jerry Hicks – have led me to understand LoA in a larger sense. Much of what I will be sharing with you is inspired directly by their work – along with my own experience and the clients that I see applying these principles.

It is important to remember that the recent buzz around the Law of Attraction in mainstream circles is only hinting at a deeper pulse. We live in a marketplace. As a result, media created to appeal to the mainstream is often a watered-down version of the truth. I am interested in expanding your definition of these unseen forces, placing them into a spiritual framework that can lead to a joyful and uplifting existence. Remember to smile often and have fun!

What is the Law of Attraction?

The Law of Attraction is based on a number of progressing premises:
(inspired by the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, among others)

1. Everything is Made Up of Energy
The universe is made up of energy – both visible and not visible. Everything seen and unseen is energy. By definition, energy is in a constant state of perpetual motion - thus, it is also known as vibration. The slower the energy is moving the more dense it is. The more dense, the slower it is to change. For example: thought is a faster moving energy than matter. From this perspective, materialization is the slowing of a continual vibration into form. Therefore, it is said that there is a vibrational reality that exists, proceeding all that we see in physical form. The vibrational reality is real – it is just unseen until a continuous holding of that resonance results in matter (or evidence in physical form).

2. Energy is Life & Life is Perpetual and Expansive
Everything in the universe is in a perpetual state of expansion and growth. All living things move towards greater thriving, and change form in order to do so. This expansion is constant and all living things are an aspect of this expansion. Since everything is energy, it can be said that everything is one energy - one pulsing, expansive force of life. Put in a spiritual framework, it is Source expressing and evolving itself through all form that it takes. It is all a part of the overall expansion of life - even you. There is no escaping expansion, it is an inevitable aspect of life itself.

3. Expansion Happens Through Polarity & Contrast
Expansion happens through the law of polarity. The physical realm is driven by contrast. And through contrast, all desire is born. In other words, in order to become more, all living things experience contrast – it is in the not-wanting of things that a new experience is born – when we have an experience of “no not that” we co-create a vibrational version that is better – it happens immediately, as the way of the universe it one of expansion and continual creation.

The Law of Attraction (mainstream, material perspective):
We have been taught, plain and simply: like attracts like. The Law of Attraction says what you put your attention on will continue to evidence itself in your life. Whatever you focus on will expand. Therefore, the more that you focus on “what-is”, the more of the same you will get. So we are taught, focus your attention on what you want instead.

The Law of Attraction (soulular perspective):
Put in a larger context, we can take the Law of Attraction much further. (Or rather, it takes US further). The Law of Attraction is working continually. We cannot apply it any more than we can apply the law of gravity. However, we can certainly understand it better! From a greater context, the soulalar perspective says this: Your desires are born of the polarity of life. When you desire something (as a result of contrast), you become a vibrational match to something greater. And regardless of the form that it might seem to take, EACH and EVERY desire that is birthed in you is a desire for soul connection. No matter what desires that contrast has birthed in you, there is only ever one desire at the root of it all – to become more of who you really are. Thus, when you experience contrast, you create a new version of YOU that simply must be experienced as a part of the greater expansion of life itself. As soon as it has been conjured, your soul begins to stir. Suddenly that potential is ripe and ready in you, and nothing less will do.

How can I “use” the Law of Attraction?

It is a bit of a misnomer, for the Law of Attraction is always at work in your life. In fact, IT is using YOU in the greater expansiveness of life. What you can do, however, is understand how it is working. You have all the guidance you need, built right in!

YOUR EMOTIONS – YOUR ENERGETIC GPS SYSTEM
You are hard-wired for expansion. You can very easily learn how to use the feedback of your emotions to understand where your vibration is at any given moment. If we use our earlier definition of energy, we are reminded that as an energy is contemplated over time, it becomes more and more dense. Until eventually, it will evidence itself in our physical reality.

Thought >>>> E M O T I O N >>>> Form

Therefore, emotion is the intermediary between thought and form. It gives us immediate and undiluted feedback about how we are vibrating.

The soulular LoA invites us to take this even further. Remember, upon desiring something it has become a vibrational reality for you. Not only that, YOU have become a match for that (on a soulular level) and nothing less will do. Thus, how you feel becomes an absolute indicator of how close or how far away you are from that NEW YOU that has become. When you feel “good” you are right on track, in vibrational alignment. When you feel “bad” you are holding yourself apart from your potential in some way.

In summary, the LoA (material perspective) says... think/feel/act in accordance with what you want. There is wisdom there. Sure. Yet people get what they want all the time, and then later wonder why it didn’t yield happiness.

I invite you to evolve in your understanding of this force of life. The LoA (soulular perspective) says... think/feel/act your way into vibrational alignment with who you have BECOME. Allow the perpetual expansion of self to guide you towards true happiness. You can still enjoy the ever-changing means through which ultimate happiness comes. Yet, you experience the joy of authenticity and soul alignment when you understand that the physical pleasures of life - enjoy them! - are wonderful containers through which expansion can occur.

Key Understandings in order to work WITH the LoA:


You Attract – The Universe Creates
It’s called the Law of Attraction for good reason. Let yourself off the hook when in comes to “creation.” You attract a possibility through your desire and subsequent ability to align yourself with it. Reality is subjective, and you experience what you are available for. Many different possibilities already exist. It is really up to YOU which of these realities you align with.

You Live In An Interdependent Universe
You are not the only show in town. Your thoughts are not the only ones out there, and your energy effects more than just you. The possibility of something is sometimes collectively determined... the probability (in your reality) is personally determined by your match to it. Likewise, trust in the unfolding. Your good is a part of the greater good. The perfect outcome is determined by a vantage point that far exceeds your own, benefiting all involved in the perfect way and timing.

Feeling Matters More Than Thought
You can affirm until you are blue in the face, but feeling is seeing. Therefore, it is MUCH more efficient to monitor your emotions over thoughts. Use how you feel to determine your vibrational alignment to your desires... then use thought to re-direct towards better feeling sensations (alignment). Here is a great tool for changing your primary vibration on any given topic. Click Here to learn about the Focus Wheel Process.

Energy Matters More Than Content
The energy of alignment is the only thing that matters, It matters far more than the content of your desire. Because the world is a marketplace, we are fed story after story of people manifesting exactly what they wanted. And you may just do that! However, the only manifestation that is ever occurring is alignment with true power (the soul) and how it can be best expressed in any given moment. When you get too caught up in the content, you MISS the point (and the power is lost). You distract yourself from obvious goodness.

Action is Essential on the Big Stuff
Action can help to shift a vibrational pattern. We have learned that action without alignment can be futile. Yet on the big stuff, alignment without action is a tall order! Action can be the missing ingredient to truly place you in vibrational proximity to your desires. Thus, action is not creating the perfect outcome... it is placing you within the vibrational vicinity of it. Likewise, if you don’t tend to your vibration, action can be the one thing that is making you a mismatch to the vibration that is at the root of your desire. Therefore, action when in alignment is the most powerful combination there is!

There are No Absolutes in an Expansive Perspective
What you don’t know can’t hurt you unless you pretend to know it all. This perspective is not meant to be all-encompassing. We are continually growing in our understanding of this force in our lives. Be willing to test it out and be willing to expand and grow in your perspective. Take what works for you, and leave the rest behind.

At the core of this message is this: follow your soulular compass to the life that expresses the continual you that is unfolding!


Do you want the nutshell version?
Your dreams are drawn to you, if you allow them to flow you in their direction. Embrace the moments of discomfort for the clarity they bring, and then release them by focusing on what they are birthing in you. Feel good, relax, accept, and enjoy the expansion of life. We all benefit from your willingness to smile.
Happy

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Desire: Friend or Foe?

theMsngrGLOW
August 2009

WantingLIT

It is never the idol that you want,
but what you think it offers you.
A Course in Miracles

Desire. Friend or Foe?
Let's face it:  desire has gotten a bad rap for centuries. With roots in both eastern and western religious traditions, renunciation of desire has penetrated the collective psyche as a noble aim in an ever-expanding material world. We are taught - through an onslaught of psychological, sociological, and spiritual influences - that desire is selfish and fleeting...and that the ego (desire's vehicle) must be defeated in order to experience true happiness. Yet despite our best intentions, desire remains a human epidemic we have yet to overcome as a species. Some might wonder, if we are truly evolving, why are we still yearning?
 
Humans are a species mesmerized by dichotomies. We continually do the dance of extremes in order to propel ourselves forth. Desire is a force hard to deny; thus, when renunciation of the material world wages a war within, we turn to consumption. After feeding impulse after impulse, we find we are still left empty. We pretend our hunger means nothing...we pretend it means everything...and now we are ready to stop pretending.
 
Every human longing points to a potential within. Our minds are magicians, continually whipping up potions that we think promise us the end we are seeking. We spend time and resources casting spell after spell in hopes to manifest the IT that will deliver us the sensation we so long for. Time and time again, the end-result is short-lived. Thus, we blame desire itself for leading us astray.
 
Yet, what if we are simply missing the point? What if desire is not the problem. Perhaps it is our approach to it that needs to be re-evaluated. I have come to understand that each and every desire (without exception) point us in the direction of a universally-desired sensation. Thus, at the heart of our desire is alignment with a potential that is seeking to be born through our life experience.
 
What You Really Want is YOU
The object of your desire is not the problem; the fact that you want IT is not the source of your mood swings. It is in the misunderstanding of these impulses that you find cause to suffer. Put simply, desire is an indicator that something more is calling to you. Life's struggles aren't a result of the cycle of incessant wanting. Suffering may be due to attachments to the many forms that your physical creation has taken, or may take in the future. Or, perhaps more commonly in our western culture,
suffering is ignoring oneself and never fulfilling the potential buried beneath surface longing.
 
What you really want is to E X P A N D - to express more of your evolving essence. The objects of your desire are simply things that you believe will deliver the goods - the goodness that it your birthright. Desire is the eager whimper of a more expansive YOU that is currently hidden from view. To deny it is to deny your innate tendency for growth and expansion.
 
Paradoxically, it is the denial of our deepest desires that causes the ego run amok. Anyone who has ever stayed the course of a circumstance (or way of being) long-outgrown knows the blessed tantrums of the ego. Interestingly, when we finally let go and yield to what would feel better - in thought, word, or action - the tempest fades. Alas, could the ego be an ally on this journey?! Oh yes, indeed!! An
ego-soul alliance is pulsing at the core of this message.

Metaphorically speaking, your soul is in a state of perpetual rebirth. (I mean,
in this life, you are meant to evolve continually). Your ego and the world of form offer vessels of gestation through which you are meant to grow in and out of. And, it is the contractions of desire that deliver you forth. They ensure your expansion by pushing you towards greater degrees of love, joy, freedom, and well-being.

Expansion through Form
Some spiritual teachers have told us to seek the medicine from within. They say that if we sit still long enough...if we dive deep enough...and if we resist the dream of the physical world around us, we will be rewarded with limitless joy. Yet, is the point of this physical dimension simply to deny it? Or, can we have both? - the boundless joy of expansion and the pleasures of human existence? Rather than enlightenment
in spite of the physical world, could this planet of ours become the container through which we express our collective enlightenment?
 
Every aspect of the living world is in a state of perpetual expansion. Growth and evolution of form is the way of the physical domain. At the root of this propulsion forth is - you guessed it - desire. The longing for something better. Desire is the catalyst for change. Change is a means for personal expansion. And personal expansion is the key ingredient in collective evolution
. Accept and embrace your desires as reflections of latent potential within all of us.

Join the Dialogue

Those of you in the Portland area, join me this
Thursday, August 13th at New Renaissance Bookshop. I am honored to be leading a coaching forum that will shed a new light on desire, the ego, and the metaphysics of creation. We will explore and evolve the Law of Attraction through the lens of the soul. Questions, comments, and contributions are welcome. Hope to see you there! Click here to sign up.

Note: CLICK HERE for a follow-up post on the Soul Vibes event.




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Inspired Action

theMsngrGLOW
June/July 2009

ActionLIT
Action may not always bring happiness,
but there is no happiness without action.
- Benjamin Disraeli
 

What should I do?
It's a common question. I come face-to-face with it often - in sessions with clients, and in my own personal life.
 
At the heart of the question is disempowerment. It begs for a prescribed to-do list that will help to sooth the feeling of disconnection. However, acting from such a desperate space rarely feels good. Rather than approaching the situation with immediate action, I find it to be far more efficient to focus on clarifying desires. When we do this, we address the feeling space directly, and then let the to-do list emerge from the space of inspiration.
Inspiration is alignment with the best of you.
 
For the most part, I tend to follow my bliss where it takes me - which means shedding old skin (ie. labels and livelihoods) often. I have been told I am being 'impulsive' and 'unreasonable' more than once. If following my impulsive whims makes me appear flighty and without rational direction. So be it! The compass that I follow is Happiness Itself...and it always points toward my greater good. I can honestly say that I get happier and happier as the years pass. There is nothing more fulfilling to me that riding the waves of inspiration. I do what I love; I love what I do. When that statement no longer applies - and I have learned this the hard way - it is time to make a change. And when I do, I feel a surge of inspiration and opportunity that defies description. In short, letting go of what no longer serves me makes me available to what does. Thus, in response to what should I do?, the primary and immediate action that is required is to stop doing that which I feel I am no longer a match with.
      
Having said that, living an inspired existence is not a lazy affair! On the contrary. It takes dynamism, energy, and stamina to ride the waves of inspiration as they come. Taking inspired action lends itself to a life of courageous self-discovery. And while it may mean taking a scary leap or two (or twenty-two!), the payoff is bigger than any other. When you are feeding life with what sends your heart soaring, it rewards you with life force energy and opportunity beyond measure!
 
How does it feel?
How do you know what constitutes an inspired action?  Use the compass within to direct your sails.
  
You see, at its best, action is fueled by inspiration and passionate self-discovery. At its worst, action holds us in stagnant defiance of who we are longing to become. When you are reaching for something in your life, action is futile without right alignment. Actions that disallow your continual expansion create dis-ease in your world. Simply put, they are inefficient, energetic leaks that need addressing. You recognize them for the strain and discomfort they bring about. On the contrary, ease can be found through inspiration. Sometimes it is found in pushing edges that propel you forward. The sensation is one of freedom and exhilaration (sometimes confused with fear). Yet, the cliff-diving leaps of creation become easier over time as you learn that what moves you to jump has the power to send you soaring.
    
Look at your to-do list for the week. What do you see? Responsibilities? Inspired Ideas? For most people, responsibility takes the cake. Indeed, our daily comings and goings are important. Many of your daily tasks make you available to the peace of mind that invites inspiration. Yet responsibilities become liabilities when they keep us apart from ourselves. Action is inefficient when it holds in fearful stagnancy. The way of humanity (and all of life) is one of continual expansion and transformation. Inspired action means taking a risk...and moving towards what moves you in the moment.

Therefore, consider taking less action...and
allow inspired actions to take you (further).


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VulnerAbility

Soul Dialogue ~ a personal exercise in self-coaching
A sample dialogue for finding the light in the dark.
Your soul voice is available to you, always.

to learn more about soul dialogues, click here
writer


It Starts with Me:
I ask that you talk through me, here and now.
I feel like shit. I am too tired to fight the fight to feel good. Today is a down day, and I am allowing it to be.

Good.

So that’s it? That’s your divine wisdom?

You have to allow me in order to hear me. Are you open to guidance? Truly? Or are you so adamant about feeling as you feel that you will block my wisdom as it pours in?

I am willing, yes. There is space for light here.

Okay, then. Let’s talk. Forget the medium of the medium... get your hands dirty with me.

Okay.
Where do I start?

With the truth. There is no greater light than the truth. Especially when you are poking around in the dark, as you are now.

Alright. Well, the truth is, I feel like crying. I feel a familiar frustration and powerlessness that comes and goes. It’s been a long time since I have felt it, but it is here now.

What does it say?

It says, that I am so blessed and yet I...

Stop making it pretty. What does it say?

It says that I am afraid. It says that I am lost again. What if all the spiritual mumbo-jumbo is bullshit? How is it that I could be flying so high for months, and then fall with such force?

Ah, well... the impact of a fall is always relative to the height from which you came. You felt higher than ever, so that much more painful is the fall.

Okay. Well that sucks.

Perhaps. Or perhaps the pain is there to paradoxically remind you how far you have ascended in your journey. And let me remind you that you never fall as far as you think. Remember the Spiral Model? {more on this soon}

I guess. But I am angry that I am still working on this piece around my livelihood. I have invited everything I have ever wanted into being. I have so much of what I want. And today, I am angry. What the hell does life want from me?

There is only one way to find out... What do you want from life?

I just want to be me. Isn’t that enough?

If it were, then wouldn’t you just do that?

It’s harder than it sounds. I suppose I really just want to feel good, to be happy.

Okay, that feels closer to the truth. And what feels good to you?

Being creative, being real to the moment, uninhibited self-expression, loving and being loved, laughing, play, adding value, smiling and dancing. So much feels good to me!

Yes, there you go. Shift your focus there.
These are the actions that you must take. Anything that aligns you with these. Let go of worry, doubt, and frustration. Become obsessed instead with joy, possibility, and fascination. You are good at this. You were born knowing how to do this. Reignite the soul through choices that align you with the sensation listed above.


But isn’t it naive to behave in such a way... when there are clearly things that aren’t working.

And so what are you proposing? That somehow focusing your attention on what is not working will help somehow? Do tell... how will worry help to mend what is tattered in your thinking, and thus in your experience?

It won’t.

Right. The only thing that will free you from the hamster wheel of self-defeating thoughts is shifting your attention in another direction. One that feels good.

So...?

So it’s just like they taught you in grade school. Should you catch fire... stop, drop, and roll. In this case... STOP by pausing and witnessing yourself, DROP the story that feels defeating (just let it go!), and ROLL into alignment with what brings you joy by no longer resisting it.

It’s that easy, huh?

Indeed. It can be. If you are willing to let go to the joy that is flowing all around you.

Thanks for the chat. I feel very loved.

Oh, and you are!!
Happy

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Soul Light

theMsngrGLOW
April/May 2009

LighthouseSHiNE
The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us...the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
 

As a coach, I am privy to the themes of human experience. While the stories of our lives take on different shapes and characters, certain sensations are common. Feeling stuck - either energetically or circumstantially - is a common sensation that we all face at one time or another.
 
Upon closer examination, "I feel stuck" is describing a sensation of powerlessness. To feel powerless is to lose connection to the voice of your soul and the more of you that is longing to become. As a life coach with a soulular approach, my job is to poke around in the dark to help realign you with the light source beckoning to you from within - reflecting itself through your life experience.
 
Neale Donald Walsch cleverly describes the SOUL as a Singular Output of Universal Life. So let's imagine your soul is a light source through which a larger intelligence speaks to you. Your soul light shines on the fluid landscape of your life in order to guide your way. Like a compass, it directs you to move this way and that in order to connect you with the larger Light of Source. When you yield to the trajectory of your soul, you feel the bliss of Source shining upon you. You feel powerful as you move towards more of you as an outpicturing of this Larger Light. Your soul is unfolding you through your experiences, and its job is to take you in the direction of more of you becoming. Yet, when you turn from your loving soul light - often towards the directional light of what you think others might want of you - you feel lost and disconnected from joy. The light seems to elude you. Why? Your soul has shifted its energetic focus in the direction of who you have become, and you are not following along. You are stuck being who you once were. Your discomfort is your soul calling out your name in the dark, inviting you to turn towards your future. Thus, the feeling of being lost (or stuck) is good news! It lets you know that you have developed into the new you, and that now is a time to shift your vantage point and direction.
 
Living authentically is an internal gauge that can only be read from within. When you are in alignment with your soul light - your values, passions, purpose, who you are becoming - you know it by how good you feel. Authenticity is an continuous dance of keeping your vibration (way of being) level with the next evolution of your soul's unfolding.
 
When your soul light turns you in an unpopular direction; you must go in order to realign. Approval is fluid and co-creative - others reflect how much you are able to accept your right to become. They give your will something to push against in order to develop strength and confidence in who you are. Yet, this discomfort too shall pass. In the end, living authentically is never about rebellion - fighting against what others think of you only strengthens your fixation on them as your gauge. Nor is authentic living about isolation - to live in alignment with who you are does not require abandoning the desires of (and your commitment to) those you love. On the contrary, you are more present and true in every relationship when you are confident, secure, and walking in the world as who you really are. You no longer confuse the way you feel with outside causes; nor do you expect others to be as you are. You understand that YOU are the first cause of your greatest joys and sorrows, not those around you. Because your joy depends on you alone, the people in your life approach you eagerly. Your feeling good is up to you...they are off the hook! This leaves you both present for authentic connection.
 
As a final thought: when you are feeling powerless, it is important to note that your soul light only gets stronger and stronger in your search for it. It is there; always it is there calling out to you. In fact, without this light from behind, you would not even be able to see your shadow. Isn't that a grand design!

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Flow~NW Hoop Gathering

image3361
There is no right or wrong. There is only flow or not flow.
Anah (aka: Hoopalicious)

I recently returned from a long weekend in Bend, Oregon where I attended the first annual NW Hoop Gathering. It was a transformational weekend, filled with workshops led by hoop pioneers from all over the country. Presentations ranged from free-form explorations to technical skill-building, as each of the facilitators shared their unique approach to hooping with over 100 attendees. (See a full page article in the Bend Bulletin).

When I first picked up a hoop in 2006, I never imagined where it would take me. The most powerful aspect of my path in the hoop has been the way it has taught me to surrender to the unknown. By allowing myself to be carried on the current of the hoop, my life has orbited to new heights. To me, the hoop is
contemplative playtime. It is a vehicle that allows two parts of me to unite in a harmonic convergence. My free spirit is nurtured by the joy of dance and exploration through movement and radiance. And the spiritual seeker and metaphysician in me is taught volumes about how the flow of energy moves in and around my body and mind. The hoop is a metaphor for the ways in which life speaks to (and through) me. Joyful. Powerful. Active. Yielding.

BendSHiNESeatedLIT

The SHiNE Workshop - What Moves You Matters
Saturday, April 11, 2009

My workshop presentation was at the end of the day on Saturday. After many hours of hooping, attendees were in need of a breather. In the spirit of flow, I surrendered my workshop plan to the tides of the moment. The majority of our time was spent in seated discussion. I introduced attendees to my ever-evolving experience of flow as a harmonic balance between Who We Are and Who We Have Become. Upon opening the floor for questions, we discussed the perceived barriers to living with authenticity. Topics of discussion included: the opinion of others, family dynamics, how ‘should’ can disempower our choices, and getting to the core of what it is we really want. In short, we applied the energy dynamics that the hoop is helping us to master to our everyday lives. How can we flow more deliberately towards our most joyous experience of life?

After a lively discussion, I was eager to move and vessel the understanding through movement. We had very little time, so I picked two exercises to end with. First, we moved into a circle formation and surrendered our hoops - “you are not what you do.” We co-created our own harmonic flow of energy - two concentric circles weaving in and out of one another - as attendees connected with their community face-to-face, hand-to-hand in a perpetually moving circle dance. From there, I felt the space was hungry for release. A Nia experience followed through a powerful dance of rhythm and sounding. The power of over 100 voices wildly basking in unison is still reverberating in my heart.

BendSHiNEStandingGroupLIT


I am ever-so grateful to
Mollie Hogan of HoopDazzle - friend, student, and event organizer - who wouldn’t take no for an answer. When she encouraged me to present at the event many months ago, I voiced my concern about teaching hoop technique as my energy is so much more drawn to coaching these days. She encouraged me to create a workshop that I would be eager to teach, and reassured me in my ability to deliver. I faced my demons of doubt, and I did just that. Thank you, Mollie, for your unconditional love and support.

And I was so delighted and appreciative to see so many friendly Portland faces in the crowd! Your presence made me feel at home and at ease. Special thanks to
Lacye Lee for her assistance and support during my workshop!

A Shout Out to the Presenters

I am continually amazed and inspired by the people that I meet through the hoopdance community. The focus of this year’s event was The Evolution of Flow. In the world of flow arts (ie: poi, staff, flags, etc), hoopdance has arrived and is rock-solid! Presentations focused on experiential understandings of flow understanding, specific to the hoop. These few paragraphs could hardly do justice to all the brilliance shared in the presentations... nevertheless, a shout out feels warranted. I express my gratitude to:

Baxter of The Hoop Path for his shamanic teaching style that reminds us all to “go blind” and dive deep into what moves us at our very core.

Ann of The Hoop Path for her poise, grace, and willingness to look closer. Her teaching presence ignites a powerful fusion of femininity and strength.

Spiral of Spiral Hoop Dance for her beauty and presence as she led us through a variety of technical applications inspired by her inspirational circus-style studies. I appreciate so much getting to know her... her smile, her curiosity, and her wonder.

Rich of Isopop for a diagrammatical workshop on isolations and break-style hooping that was awe-inspiring and effective.

Christabel of HoopGirl for her continual courageous pushing of limits! Her workshop on floor hooping and micro-hoop meditations took each attendee into previous uncharted territories in and out of the hoop. Go, soul sister, go!

Khan for his wisdom and insight as he expressed an understanding of flow that pushed our boundaries into quantum physics and beyond. I was especially affected by his presentation, as I saw so clearly how the hoop is really a vehicle for the energetic teachings that come through us all.

Philo of Hooping.org for his playful and approachable teaching style that emphasized legwork and so much more. I am so grateful to Philo and the way in which he owns who he is and connects us all to one another, one click at a time.

Anah (aka Hoopalicious) of Hoop Revolution for her expertise and willingness to share it. I felt so much alignment with her teaching, in philosophy and technique, and I appreciate the ways she pushed me into so many areas of exploration in my hoop I had yet experienced. I am renewed with inspiration!

Thank you to all of the presenters for your wisdom and sharing. The best part about sharing a platform with you all was truly feeling complete authenticity in our sharing with one another and the community at large.

And as a final thought... a very heartfelt thank you to the radiant women in my life who support me every step of the way. I am blessed in friendship withe amazing women who inspire me endlessly! The best part of my weekend was the sharing of laughter, insight, and delight with ladies dear to my heart:
Jasmine, Christabel, Holly, Keri, Jennaluna, and Mollie... you rock my world! Cara and Sylvia... you were both there with me in spirit. Thank you for your invisible support. I love you all!

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Basking in Appreciation


CandiceS 4.15.06 088
Life Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
Candice’s Gratitude Journal
Wednesday, March 18, 2009


Basking in Today’s Vibrations

I am so grateful for this day. The sun is shining high in the sky and Portland is aglow with joyful faces. I love making eye contacting and sharing a smile with a stranger.

I appreciate the conversation that I had with my mom on the phone today. It was brief but full of love. We connected heart-to-heart, and I told her how happy I was that she was my mom. It was another special moment when we talked about her dad, my grandpa. We both smiled in awe of his spirit. I am grateful that he is my family... grateful that I share genes with a man who is healthy and happy at 93 years of life. He is a humble man who leads by example - through simple service and a peaceful disposition. He is a testament to the power of a simple existence and how it begets health and wholeness. I love him dearly.

I feel blessed with amazing friendships. Tonight I will have dinner with two of the most wonderful women that I know - Jasmine and Sylvia. I am grateful that we have the abundance to share a delicious meal together. I love that we talk to one another with such unconditional love and acceptance. I look forward to many magic moments between us.

I love my job! I am so happy to be doing work that allows me total freedom and flexibility. I spent the day writing about things that inspire me and bring me joy. It is easy for me to make money doing what I love! The greatest gift in my professional life in this moment is collaboration! I appreciate Christabel Zamor (I call her my co-creative soul mate) and the work that we are doing together. I am looking forward to the many successful co-creations before us. I know that I will make loads of money while helping millions to reconnect to who they really are... so that they can experience abundance of creativity and resources, too! I love my job!

Today a little girl (about 7 years old) said she liked my computer. It was so nice to receive her smile.

I walked through the park near my home today. I love the sound of children playing. I took a minute to soak it all in. It felt good to soak up the sounds and sensations of freedom and fun.

I am grateful for all of this and so much more!


Basking in my Vibrational Escrow

I know that my life is getting better and better each day. New opportunities continue to pleasantly surprise me.

I expect the unexpected... through the best possible outcomes for me in all areas of my life. I know that there is a Source of perpetual bliss that is guiding my life. When I feel good, I am connected to it. So I look for reasons to feel good, all day everyday.

Freedom is a sensation that I know well. It comes to me with ease and in many forms. Money flows freely into my life in more and more ways, reminding me that when I feel good, I attract goodness in all its forms. I am also blessed with opportunities to travel and connect with like-minded souls. I meet so many amazing and inspiring people!

I love that my work feels like play. I love that I make money being myself. My work is a montage of my many passions... dancing, playing, and sharing things that come naturally to me.

My business is growing so fast, and it is easy to keep up with and manage. I have aligned with the perfect people to assist me in the follow-through on a variety of projects simultaneously. I am surrounded by talented and resourceful SHiNE Agents who have helped to grow and share this message internationally. The work is touching lives beyond my wildest dreams.

I appreciate the relationships in my life, and how they continue to deepen and expand. I am now able to visit my family whenever I please, and spend time connecting, learning, and growing. My friendships are glorious and transformational environments of fun and sharing. I especially love the retreats I take often with my closest girlfriends. I fly us all to far off places for playtime. It is a blast!

And my new home by the water is dreamy! I even have a boat. Of course, my beloved partner is the captain... and that’s fine by me! I trust this beautiful and honorable man with my heart. We share such a wonderful life together... and we look forward to a family. I appreciate the way that he makes me laugh and grow each and every day.

Life is really magnificent. Thank you for all these blessings and more.


My practice of basking in gratitude is inspired by the teachings of Abraham-Hicks. (www.abraham-hicks.com)

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Rose-Colored Glasses

theMsngrGLOW
March 2009

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There is no excuse not to feel good
knowing what you know.

Abraham-Hicks, 2-8-09

You may have noticed that the February issue of theMessenger never made it out into cyberspace. I was on a personal retreat - a Abraham-Hicks Well-Being Adventure Cruise to the Mexican Riviera with a dear friend and nearly 600 like-minded souls. It was truly a pivotal and inspiring journey for me. I feel certain that I was forever changed by the inspired teachings I was exposed to, the individuals whom I met, and the hours spent steeping in hot tubs and transformative discussions.

Something was revived in me...something that I have known since my first dawn in this world...something that shapes everything that I choose as I walk through the world.
Life was meant to feel good.

I so enjoyed being on the receiving end of a message that clarifies with such simplicity the essence of that which I share in every SHiNE offering. My commitment to our inherent right to feel good is the source behind each and every SHiNE creation. When we are in alignment with who it is we are becoming, we radiate contagious enthusiasm and creative inspiration. When we allow the natural expression of our truth and magnificence to shine, we feel fabulous and connected to all of life. However, when we dilute the fullness of our gifts or disallow our most honest self from evolving forth, we suffer from disharmony or dis-ease. My life has been - and continues to be - a navigation of this most basic principle of life. The path of my bliss dares me to step into alignment with more of my potential with each passing moment.

So what are common stumbling blocks for so many of us? Why don't we feel good more of the time?

Learning to Trust Yourself
In some cases, we navigate our course based on the opinions of those around us. We turn our attention away from our internal guidance and we fixate on how we are being received by our environment. Dis-empowerment is self-inflicted as we stray from our path in order to become what we perceive is expected of us or become stuck in being who we once were. This tendency often shows up subtly through our self-talk; we use words and phrases like:
should and have to. The honesty of what is real for us is denied for the sake of what we think is right, rather that what we know is right for us in the moment.

Finding the joy that is in our very nature hinges on our ability to differentiate our desires from the desires of those around us. What turns you on is personal and unique to you. Let us all be reminded that the need to please others - and/or to fit into a way of being that is contrary to the essence of who we are - leads to suffering. It is a Loving Universe that guides us in this way. Through energetic imbalances - negative emotion and/or physical dis-ease - we are being guided to return to ourselves once more. It is nature's way of saying:
Deny who it is you have become and I will remind you to make a shift. Realign with what brings you great joy and you will feel relief. It is always reminding us...in order to feel good, you must be true to the essence of who you really are - and who you are continually becoming. I can't think of a message more loving than that.

Relief As An Indicator
It is in the moments of disconnection from Who We Really Are that we feel fear and discouragement. It is only when we miss the point of such moments that we get stuck in the rut of despair. These 'low moments' are simply letting us know that we are not aligned with our deepest desires. Our inner guidance is providing us with feedback - in this case, negative emotion - that let's us know we are out of alignment with direction in which we are evolving. The more we feed this self-created reality of disempowerment (with self-defeating criticism or habituated actions) the worse we feel.

However, if we turn away from the discomfort and consciously seek a feel-good experience, we immediately feel relief. And relief is feedback that lets us know we are moving closer to Who We Really Are. Relief can come from shifting your attention from a topic that "brings you down" to a topic that is neutral and/or of a higher frequency for you. At other times, it is a matter of re-framing your experience so that you see the gift - the opportunity to develop into more of who you have become - through each and every choice you make.

As we move into spring, set the intention to make FEELING GOOD your practice. When you come face-to-face with a perceived source of discomfort, either shift your attention or shift your perspective. Allow yourself the freedom to choose how you want to feel in relationship to the world around you. Whatever you do, find a way to feel good. And yes...you can. You came into the world knowing how to do this. You are hard-wired to follow your emotions (internal vibrations) as indicators...you get better and better at it with time and practice. Life is supposed to be a process of continual improvement as you become a master of choosing more consciously over time.

Since returning from my travels, I have re-committed to this practice. And I have been exuding more enthusiasm and positivity than ever! So much so, in fact, that I was recently accused of seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. To this I responded, "Thank you! And if you'd like, I'd be happy to fashion you a pair!"

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Seeing Pink Everywhere,
Candice



This month's feature was greatly influenced by the teachings of Abraham-Hicks. For more information, visit them online at www.abraham-hicks.com.

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HoopGirl Training - Baltimore, MD

3337149378_b2cd549ca3
HoopGirl Level One
Baltimore, Maryland

I am settling in at home in Portland, Oregon relaxing after three glorious days in Baltimore, Maryland! I was there co-facilitating a HoopGirl Level One Teacher Training. Although I had taught the course material alongside Christabel on numerous occasions over the past 3 years (and even helped co-author many of the concepts), it was a new dawn for me and for HoopGirl. This was the first training in which the material would be presented without Christabel as a facilitator. My intention going into the weekend:  to trust that I would be able to channel her wisdom - along with my own - and deliver 100% on the promise. And I am so pleased to announce that we did just that! 

I certainly didn't do it alone! My co-trainer was 
Jennaluna. Ripe from her Level 3 training, she was superbly present as she courageously stepped right into the role of Trainer! Jenna is a natural facilitator, and it was such a joy to witness her holding the frequency of a leader and guide. She was especially potent when she fully embraced her power and yielded as her teaching worked through her. I look forward to more opportunities to teach alongside her... and share in more late night laughter! I am so grateful to work alongside colleagues that so soon become friends. 

A group of 13 fabulous women arrived on Day One, fully present and eager to learn about HoopGirl philosophy and education. I was immediately struck by the presence of each trainee. As the days unfolded, the attendees initiated lively discussions that led us into many expansive explorations of the material. It was so easy to witness and identify the unique brilliance of each in attendance: 

Noelle
is the local hooper who made the training possible, providing us with the perfect space and constant support. She is a grounded, vibrant woman who has an impeccable warmth about her. Noelle offers observations, questions, and conscious facilitation that weave richness and depth to the teaching experience. 

Elena
and Tara came from upstate New York, and I was immediately struck by their shared commitment and focus. Their community is in for a treat as they offer a combined synergy that is sure to delight. Elena wooed us all with her warm and expansive teaching style that reminded me the power of eye contact and poise. Tara guided us with an effortless wisdom and a sassy smile that melted our hearts and brought joy out in our dance.

Carolann
joined us from New Jersey. She was our diva-goddess guide who demonstrated how coaching and empowerment can so effortlessly be woven into teaching hoopdance. I am personally inspired by her commitment to learn and grow in the direction of her bliss. Our lunchtime chat was a highlight of my weekend.

Pam
came to the training with a dream to bring Ohio to life via the hoop. She blew us all away by her skill level - after only 6 months hooping, she was teaching all of us a thing or two! She is a testament of the power of online study. Not to mention, a natural teacher and model of how youthfulness is an ageless embodiment.

Chantiel
came from Boise, Idaho... and is also a student of many via her online studies. She brought a inspiring and penetrating teaching style that held a powerful space for instruction. I appreciate her inquisitive and willing presence to learn and grow. 

Katie (aka:
Surprise) joined us from the DC area. She brought so much creativity to her teaching via her remarkable attention to detail. I especially loved her immediate integration of conscious languaging and ability to reflect back to each of us. Her success will be no surprise to me. Winking

Tina B
(Virginia) brought her vast teaching experience into the hoop in such a personal way. She has a sensual and joyous style that is perfectly suited for the hoop - a mixture of bellydance and fitness offering a powerful fusion. She made us all smile and rest into the confidence of her instruction.

Becca
 was also from Virginia, and I can't say enough about the integrity she possesses. Each time I witnessed her - as trainee and as teacher - she was in full alignment with who she is. As a result, her teaching delivered a yoga-warrior-hoop journey unlike any other. 

Leda
 came to us all the way from Florida and the performance troupe known as the Hoola Monsters. She carries the natural poise and radiance of a performer and it translates perfectly into her teaching. I celebrate her smile and the power of her natural abilities as teacher.

Allison
 blew us away with her beautiful circus-style contortions during the photo shoot! And as a teacher, she is a self-possessed bundle of joy that you can't help but want to connect with and learn from. She will surely magnetize many joyous bodies into her classes.

I was always mesmerized when I would witness 
Kara hoop during breaks. A yoga teacher from North Carolina, she has a fluid and majestic style that may be partially inspired by the little guy she is expecting from within - she did the training while 4.5 months pregnant! She certainly brought the power and radiance of yin alive through her teaching as she masterfully demonstrated and "committed" to the task at hand. What an inspiration for all the mothers out there!

I can't possibly leave out
Candice C. who was from a Maryland mountain community nearby. She is a warm and delightful woman who brought a lovely energy into the group. I was inspired by her choice - one of self-love - to step out on the second day, choosing to complete the training at another time. Sometimes the path of least resistance requires that we yield to an unexpected direction. I commend her for honoring her inner guidance. 

And a very special shout out to 
Kelly Jo... a previous graduate of the training was the ultimate assistant to Jenna and I. She went above and beyond the call of duty, catering to our every need and making a distant training location feel like home. Thank you so much for your presence, Kelly Jo! You are a star, for sure. We missed you on Day 3 and are hoping that you are feeling much better!

I couldn't possibly fully express the experience of the past weekend in these few paragraphs. I will simply share my gratitude to each and every one of the trainees for bringing their brilliance into the space; the synergy was inspiring to us all. And thank you, Jennaluna, for your exquisite partnership and presence. 

A very, very special acknowledgment to Christabel... my dear friend and creative soulmate. Thank you for trusting me to deliver the product of your brilliance to these women. I am the better for it. I hope you know how you inspire greatness in us all. 

Joyous & Grateful!
Candice

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Body Alliance

theMsngrGLOW
January 2009
fullbodyproject
Photo from The Full Body Project

*[Wo]man is the sole animal whose nudity offends her own companions, and the only one who, in her natural actions, withdraws and hides herself from her own kind.
- Montaigne


Tis' the season of new year's resolutions. Did you expect to see a different kind of picture? Take a minute to really look at the photo above. What comes to mind as you view these full-figured women in all their glory?
 
When I was in college studying for my BA in Psychology and Human Development, one class that rocked my world was entitled: Prejudice and Stigma. My dynamic professor,
Chris Crandall, is still at it. He has been studying prejudice for decades. Specifically, he is an expert on the topic of weight-related prejudice. I vividly remember the day when he revealed to us what I considered staggering statistical findings. He and his colleagues found that:  The parents of obese children were significantly less likely to pay to send them to college. The familial weight-dependent prejudice displayed towards female children was much higher than that of boys. And that perhaps the most painful aspect of the stigma of "fat" in all age groups - what set this stigma apart from other demographics - was that even people of the same size and shape were reportedly prejudiced toward one another. In essence, antipathy towards fat people is pervasive and culturally reinforced, even within the family and social circles.

The picture gallery referenced above intrigues me for the way in which it challenges me to think. Did you notice any culturally inherited prejudices in your perception of these ladies? These are women who dance in naked defiance of the cultural spell many of us are under. First, they bask in the glow of self-acceptance without sucking it in or reliance on airbrushing. That is inspiration enough. Yet they take it a step further. They blatantly dare you to face your judgments, your assumptions, and your willingness to accept beauty in all its variations. They dare to flaunt their abundant curves, usually kept hidden. They reach to one another for the courage it takes to be seen...a collective band of body-blazing pioneers. They are heros in their own right.

Over fifteen years after Dr. Crandall's initial findings, I can honestly say that I don't know one woman - of any shape or size - who is immune from the terrifying stigma of "fat" on some level. Again and again, I am surprised to learn that even the most slender, dynamic, and powerful women are fighting against their bodies. It's the same story in variant forms...25-year old women "feeling fat" while wearing everything from size two to size twenty, 35-45 year old women confused that they are no longer shaped like a teen model, and women 50+ years young who quite literally ban themselves from the pleasure of a bathing suit for life due to the pain of body-loathing. It's our best kept secret - this emotional sickness among women. We only allude to the symptoms of it, as our helplessness keeps us from diving too deep.

On my own journey, I have certainly braved the seas of change from adolecence into womanhood. Even my youth and interest in movement didn't keep me immune. I look back on photos of me athletic, thin, and in my “physical prime.” I feel a mixture of awe and utter sadness that I feared and "felt fat" even then! Now as I step into another transformative season of life, I peel back the layers on more negative beliefs and self-judgments as my body is changing. When will I truly feel total body acceptance?

If, like me, you have an intention for greater health and self-care in 2009, I fully support your mission. Yet I have discovered time and time again that intentions driven by the desperation of body-loathing are not a healthy prescription for change. True motivation comes from a heartfelt desire for a more fulfilling life, not a smaller dress size. And fitness is about so much more than a number on a scale.

In 2008, I took a break from dancing and most forms of fitness. This time-out was prompted by my body's cries for a hiatus from over seven years of pretty much continual dynamic movement. During that time the prescription for my wellness was stillness. Over the course of my time off, I gained nearly 20 lbs along with the weight of some new leisurely habits. Nevertheless, I was inventing new ways to be healthy and whole. And, I was invited to love my body anew - an ever-developing woman existing amidst a more curvaceous landscape.

I recently started dancing again...as the integration completed its cycle, my spirit began to stir once again. I thought it would surely take a few months to feel the power of fitness and movement as I once had. What I discovered after only 1 week of movement was glorious! No, not that I had lost a bunch of weight or that I had rock-hard abs. I discovered that I immediately felt alive again...that sweat is an elixir of bliss when delivering the spirit within...and that to move is to breathe life forward. All of these are indicators of true fitness. To express my spirit through the flesh, at any age and cycle of life, that is wellness realized.

Lightness can be felt at any size. Beauty can be activated in a deep cleansing breath or in a simple movement of the hips. And fitness is an aliveness that can only be measured from within.

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Ladies, I know I am not alone in my journey to change the way I think about my body and fitness. Yet, instead of turning to one another for support, we turn to our mirrors in shame. We turn to fad diets...we turn to deprivation and isolation...we turn to creams to hide our cellulite...and unfortunately, we turn on one another through subtle energetics that feed our pain and disconnection.

As with all mentalities we outgrow as a species, this cultural madness must be brought to light and shed. In 2009, like the women pictured above, let's create an alliance to accept one another in the ways in which we would like to be accepted. I propose that we band together to step out of the darkness and into the light and brilliance that comes from navigating our fears. Let's stop turning our back on one another and let's find fitness, pleasure, and self-acceptance somewhere other than in our reflections and dress sizes.

If you feel so inspired, I invite you to join me in the following New Year's Resolution:

• I will do my best to accept and find beauty in my body, as it is - giving myself at least one physical complement per day.

• I will send a message of body-based appreciation and admiration to at least one woman per day (via a heartfelt complement, through thought or word).

• I will readjust my thinking in order to incorporate a new definition of fitness - one where feeling radiant and powerful is more important than feeling thin. I will seek opportunities to express my radiance through my body in 2009!

SIGN THE CONTRACT
Body Alliance 2009

Print and Sign a Declaration to activate YOUR resolution.
FREE DOWNLOAD

And by the way, Body Appreciation is just one of the many topics we will focus on in the upcoming Radiance Coaching Class Series (new dates tba). If you feel moved to join us, click here for more information. Hope to see you there!

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Looking Forward to Celebrating Your Beauty,
Candice

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2007 SHiNE - Live Your Brilliance, LLC