Welcome to this week's 3-minute video. I'm taking great delight in this newseries, "Portable Peace." I hope you are finding the videos helpful.
I'm as passionate about peace today as when I dove headlong into this journey in 1994. I believe peace is possible for any us--if we know and USE the practices that will bring us feelings of peace.
Feelings, in time, turn into habits. Habits become lifestyle. Choice by choice, we create an inner life for ourselves that flows with peace.
This week's practice is titled,"Oh, Sacred Breath," and it offers you a new way to create inner peace through your breath.
(Watch the video now or scroll down to view after reading.)
Please feel free to share this VLOG with friends who'd like a dose of Portable Peace too!
On March 24 OR 25 (you choose your date) I am offering a Metta Retreat--online! Come, learn, practice Metta with me: how to be unconditionally friendly to yourself and all beings through a profound and centuries old blessing practice.
Metta is often called "Loving-kindness practice."
If you're interesting in reading an article I wrote on Metta (loving-kindness practice), you can read the article here.
This is my primary form of meditation and it has brought me the greatest peace I have ever known.
I guarantee Metta (and the retreat) will open your heart wider than it has ever been opened before! Learn more here.
"But women need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves."
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh: Gift from the Sea
Priceless Friend,
You are a gem, do you know that? But if you're anything like me, you forget to treat yourself as the jewel you are sometimes, right?
I certainly do. I can be prone to over-busyness, pushing to get things done, and maxing myself out in the process.
Do I know better? Of course!
There is a forgetting that happens in the commotion of everyday life. We forget to take it slow. We forget how important it is to rest, to take time in beauty, in solitude and silence. We forget how much we need that to be well--to feel sane in what feels like a crazy world.
And when we do step away from the busyness of life, even for a day, we feel like an entirely new woman, don't we?
We remember who we really are: we are a jewel who needs and deserves care, love and attention.
The very best way I know how to "deliver me back to my Self" in this way is to get away. To retreat.
I am a huge fan of retreat and of Anne Morrow Lindbergh who wrote her book, Gift from the Sea, while on her yearly retreat on Captiva Island. For two weeks, Anne walked the beaches of the Gulf alone, gathered shells, and allowed them to speak to her. At her rustic wooden kitchen table, she wrote about what the shells told her; about how to live once she returned to her busy life in New England. On retreat, she created "island time:" time to rest and restored herself, to be an island unto herself ...
Anne wrote:
"What is the answer? There is no easy answer, no complete answer. I have only clues, shells from the sea. The bare beauty of the channeled whelk tells me that one answer, and perhaps a first step, is in simplification of life, in cutting out some distractions. But how? Total retirement is not possible, I cannot shed my responsibilities. I cannot permanently inhabit a desert island. I cannot be a nun in the midst of family life. I would not want to be. The solution for me, surely, is neither in total renunciation of the world, nor in total acceptance of it. I must find a balance somewhere, or an alternating rhythm between these two extremes; a swinging of the pendulum between solitude and communion, between retreat and return."
I re-read Gift from the Sea every year about this time. Why? It's brings me back to center. I've had a very busy Fall season of teaching, and then the holidays, then the launch of a Winter teaching schedule, and, truthfully, I start to feel a little weary. Reading it helps me remember what I must do to be well and happy.
It also reminds me to create "island time." Time away from the world, my family, obligations. Time to be with me--all alone; to reconnect with my spirit, my essence.
This year I can't go to Captiva and walk in Anne's footsteps, but I can set aside one day (or two!) to retreat with and for myself in the comfort of my own home.
And you can too. In fact, we can do this together. Ahhhhh ... Retreating with friends, how lovely. I am sure Anne will be here in spirit with us as we do.
I've chosen my Annual Online Retreat Weekend and I hope you will join me.
Together, with women from all over the globe, we'll be engaging in "Metta--Lovingkindness Practice." We'll rest, eat mindfully, walk leisurely, have short periods of meditation and reflection, and "re-member ourselves" with gentleness and kindness. We'll do this in our own homes with the help of the internet.
We'll be like Anne and create special island time for ourselves. I can hardly wait!
I look forward to strolling the island of your true self with you. Let's find some treasures shall we?
And please share news of this retreat with someone you love. It's always fun to retreat with a friend!
"Solitude, says the moon shell. Center-down say the Quaker saints. To the possession of the self the way is inward, says Plotinus. The cell of self-knowledge is the stall in which the pilgrim must be born, says St. Catherine of Sienna."
Note:If you are unable to join us on March 24 or 25 for the retreat, register anyway!
You will receive a complete "Retreat Kit" with all of the materials and mp3s for "Cultivating a Heart of Compassion" to do at your convenience. Easy!
" ... I must try to be alone for part of each year, even a week or a few days; and for part of each day, even for an hour or a few minutes in order to keep my core, my center, my island-quality."
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
Are you in need of rest and rejuvenation?
Are you in need of "me time" to reconnect with your sacred center?
If so, I invite to you consider my Annual Online Retreat. This year's theme is:
"Cultivating a Heart of Compassion"
It is a guided day "in" with women from around the globe ...
March 24 OR 25
You pick your day!
This one-of-a-kind at-home retreat is a time to step away from your busy life and spend precious time with you—to stop, rest, and restore yourself.
This is a guided "day in" —a gently paced day based on a theme with guided activities to support it. You will be informed how to prepare for it and provided with all the materials you need to create the perfect retreat for yourself. It is a day that will allow you to rest, yet also to learn and grow.
It is a special time for "Cultivating YOUR Heart of Compassion."
We will be retreating at the same time together—in the privacy of our homes around the world—around this wonderful theme.
Women from all over the globe sending blessings of lovingkindness— all at the same time!
Just imagine!
What will we do on this retreat?
This "day in" will involve exercises of ease-filled meditation—we will be learning “Metta,” or Lovingkindness Meditation— and practicing in very short increments. No long, uncomfortable sittings!
The retreat is designed for those who are new to Metta practice, as well as seasoned meditators.
There will be an opening ritual, video, guided meditations and exercises (mp3s), articles to read, and a complete Schedule with suggested times for: rest, reading, reflecting, mindful walking and mindful eating, all around the theme of cultivating compassion—compassion for yourself, first and foremost—then for others.
The retreat is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You choose your day, Saturday OR Sunday. I will be retreating both days and holding sacred space for you.
In the morning, you will be guided through how to create a "Metta Map,"courtesy (and with permission) of my Metta teacher, Sylvia Boorstein. I teach Lovingkindness Meditation in the Vipassana style with her blessing and guidance.
We will learn to direct compassion toward and accept compassion from ourselves. We will also explore the roadblocks women often encounter in doing this practice. We will soften and open our hearts. We will refill our personal reservoirs of love so that we can effortlessly offer compassion to others.
In the traditional style of Metta, you will also earn and practice how to offer phrases of well-wishing (blessing, unconditional friendliness) to 6 categories of people:
Yourself Benefactors Loved Ones and Friends Neutral People (Strangers) Difficult People All Beings
Please know, however, that because this is a retreat—a special time to re-treat yourself—there are no shoulds or have to’s in terms of activities. I will make suggestions about how you can use your day kindly and wisely, but only do what feels right to you in that moment. Listen to your wise heart.
Group Call
On Sunday evening, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. EST, we will have a Group Conference Call with a Closing Ritual.I'll answer your questions and we'll share our retreat experiences. Fun!
Participation in the call is optional. If you wish to participate but can't, an mp3 recording of the call will be sent to you the next day. No worries!
Common Questions About an Online Retreat
Do I prepare for my retreat?
Yes! Everything you need to prepare for and engage in your retreat will be sent to you once you register, including my article, "How to Prepare for Your Retreat."
How will I know what to do on my retreat?
Your retreat “Schedule,” including readings and audio recordings, will be included in your "Retreat Kit," which will be sent to you 2-3 days before the retreat.
Registerby making payment below. The cost for the retreat is $18.00
You'll receive a confirmation email with pre-retreat materials.
Your Retreat Kit with Schedule, handouts, and audio recordings (mp3s) will be sent to you 2-3 days before the Retreat so you will be fully prepared.
I am honored you have chosen to spend this retreat time in spirit with all of the women around the world who have chosen to do the same.
In a sacred community of the heart, we will find ease and joy.
Blessings upon our retreat. May true compassion be ours!
With metta (loving-kindness), Jan Lundy
Praise from previous participants:
It was brilliant! I could write volumes (I actually wrote about 10 journal pages) about the day. The retreat got me to re-realize that this is who I am. I want to do a retreat now on a regular basis as it's so important to me. I'm delighted that you offered this one and look forward to more in the future.
~Sheryl
Thank you for so much for having this at home retreat. It couldn't have come at a better time. I feel so much at peace now and loved. Throughout the day I journaled, drew, meditated, walked, and surprised. I learned to let go, even though it is not easy. Sending blessings out was another release and I felt love wrap her arms around me. This is an experience I will treasure and may take a day to relive it again.
~Ellen
I am new to all this and I learned more in ONE day about my essence as a woman than I have in my entire life. I have chronic illnesses and I have learned that I have to love MYSELF and show myself self-kindness.
~Mona
I retreated both days and I am blessed by your wisdom and the way you wove the material together was beautiful. I feel my divine Spirit within and will treasure this day forever. Thank you for your creativity and wisdom to bring this retreat to me and other woman.
~Cindy
Love, Love, Loved my retreat day!
~Brigitte
I kept telling myself I didn't deserve a retreat because I didn't get enough housework done yesterday, but I did it anyway. I am so glad I did. Thank you so much for your generosity in creating this retreat. I think it got me back on track again. It was an empowering feeling knowing that other women were doing the retreat at the same time.
~Gayle
My sister participated in the retreat (one state away) and we talked about it for an hour and a half afterwards. We each had a different intention going into the experience, explored it in our own way, and benefited greatly from it. What a wonderful way to "share" the day.
~Diane
Thank you for coordinating the retreat and sharing the day with us in such a special way. I thoroughly enjoyed the mp3 recordings and intend to listen to them throughout the coming weeks. I am excited to report that I had a great and productive day TODAY because of the retreat yesterday.
~Anonymous
What sweet rest for body, mind and spirit. An inestimable gift for which I am so very grateful. This was a very worthwhile and enlightening way to spend my day. Thanks again for providing the resource materials and encouragement.
I am committed to a vow I took many years ago. It’s a self-made promise to live more gently with myself; to be as kind to myself as I try to be to others; to befriend myself.
In her wonderfully supportive book,The Courage to Be Yourself, my dear friend and mentor, Sue Patton Thoele, writes of “befriending” in this way. “I believe it is essential,” she says, “that you become a loving and tolerant friend to yourself. Do you act as a sheltering tree in your own life? Take a moment to think about how you treat your friends. Do you express the same kindness and consideration toward yourself? Many of us hold a deep-rooted belief that we don’t deserve to be loved. “They” deserve friendship, but for some unfathomable reason, we don’t. This is a false belief. We are worthy of love. We do deserve our own support and friendship.”
(Sue, by the way is the "Holy Woman" who represents this Truth in my book, Your Truest Self.)
I admit, for most of my adult life I have been generally unkind to myself. I’ve pushed myself beyond healthful limits to be the perfect wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, employee, volunteer, community leader, and more. All roles I thought I should play in life to be a “good person,” to be liked and accepted by others, especially by my family, peers, and coworkers; to be perceived as successful, of service to others, and a contributor to the greater good of humanity. It appears that the majority of women get trapped in this pattern of behavior, too.
We can begin to be more kind to ourselves by making a decision to start befriending ourselves. Let’s make a vow, together, to be more gentle with ourselves. Let’s commit to treat ourselves as lovingly as we would our own best friend.
I’ve created a “Be Kind to Yourself” list of practices that can be hung on your refrigerator, the bathroom mirror, or your computer screen to remind you to treat yourself more lovingly, more gently, every single day. They’re practices that can nurture and balance you.
Honor your inner rhythm: Work when you feel like it, play or rest when you don’t.
Get out in nature: Allow its beauty and naturally calming effect to soothe you.
Nurture your body: Pamper it with massage, leisurely baths, aromatherapy, loving touch.
Eat healthfully: Consume as low on the food chain as possibly, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.
Move: Stretch, walk, exercise, dance, hike, do anything that rids your body of tension.
Soothe your mind: Turn off the TV, meditate, read inspirational literature, listen to music, engage in a hobby.
Laugh: Mingle with friends who inspire, relax, or rejuvenate you.
Breathe: Take time alone spent in quiet, breathe deeply and regularly, allowing your body’s inner reservoirs to be filled with calm.
Rest: A nap can be a sacred time, nourishing body, mind, and spirit simultaneously.
Connect: Plug in to the Divine as you understand it through meaningful spiritual practices of your own creation.
I hope that you’ll join me in renewed commitment to acts of personal lovingkindness. When we do, we’ll undoubtedly find ourselves being kinder to others, for self-compassion naturally breeds compassion for others. Self-love spawns love for our fellow human beings. Being kind to ourselves may just be the most loving thing we can do for everyone ...
Right now, in fact, I am headed off to a hot steaming tub for a good soak. I'll read for a bit, perhaps even take a nap. I've been "on the road" for a few days and will be heading out again soon, so I am renewing my vow by being extra kind to myself this weekend. How about you?
What can you do today, tomorrow, this weekend to renew YOUR vow to be kinder to yourself?
I'd love to hear ...
Leave your vow here as a comment on this post and you' ll be entered into the next drawing for a copy of Your Truest Self. It's still her birthday!
And Congratulations to Nadia, Happy Lotus, for being the winner of last weekend's book giveaway! Hooray!
(Images courtesy of http://www.telegraafhotel.com and http://itztours.com)
