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This is the print-friendly version of the April 2007 Newsletter -
Online Issue # 15
April 2007 Newsletter
Online Issue # 15
In this Issue:
See also, the print-friendly version of this newsletter (all the articles are on one web page).
Look for the next issue in August.
The Front Page
Let The Magic Come
At the bottom of each page on my web site you'll find the line “Bless the time spent here... seeking, listening, dreaming. Let the magic come.” I offer these words as an invitation to my web site and my work. The words articulate a powerful, collaborative process that takes place between my clients / students, myself and a magic for which there is no name: it happens in the time set aside to focus on an emerging inner knowing that is ready to be made real.
I'm using the words “made real” in the way a morning glory flower is the seed made real. It's not that the seed itself isn't already a real thing, it is; but the seed's potential is made real in the climbing twisting vine with heavenly blue flowers. Beyond that, the potential within each morning glory blossom is made real as the flower withers and returns to seed. The cycle has come full circle. For us, this work, this making real, is an ongoing circle, a process of possibility, remembering, longing, risk, ending, beginning, transformation and manifestation. In one word, it is magic.
We are a seeking people, always in search of something: safety, freedom, respect, belonging, love, romance, confidence, change, satisfaction, security, peace, meaning, recognition, comfort, challenge, health; the list is long. At first it may seem to us that the things we lack or desire, and therefore seek, need to be found outside of ourselves. Yet the heart of magic lies in discovering the potential and power already within us to make real what we seek.
Until we uncover within ourselves the very seed of what we desire, we are powerless to make it real and authentic in our lives. I cannot, for example, duplicate the joy I imagine in your life and transplant it into my own life to satisfy my longing for joy. However, in noticing and resonating with the joy in your life, I can awaken to my own potential for joy; and ultimately discover for myself how I can cultivate my own variety of joy with my very own life.
This process of inviting and welcoming the “magic of you” more fully into your own life requires you to practice conscious allowing, as in allowing the process to transform you as much as, or more than, it transforms your outer circumstances. Fortunately or not, depending upon how you look at it, you will not be in complete control of deciding precisely how to bring about change in your life. That doesn't mean you aren't responsible for making decisions and acting on them. It simply means that there is more to the process than you or anyone can fathom. You need to do what you know to do and allow the results, even when they are not what you hoped for or expected, especially then.
In allowing, you are opening your life to magic. Your decision to enter this process is an act of faith because you can never truly know in advance all that you are allowing. You know your longing is true and there seems to be no other way to make it real, so you choose to trust the “magic of you.”
The WHAT may or may not be clear; the HOW probably remains a mystery. Still, you commit with “yes.” In that moment and the hours and days that follow, you might feel anything from elation to terror and cycle through them repeatedly like a predictable sine wave. In these moments all you need to do is allow: allow the moment to be what it is, allow the process to unfold as it will, allow yourself to breathe in and out.
A perfect question to ask during times of allowing is: “Will I allow more magic to flow into my life?” Not, How will I? But, Will I? You don't have to know how; you only need to say yes. The question has many forms and all may be worth asking. Listen for one that leaps for your attention.
“Will I allow more possibility to flow into my life?”
“Will I allow more energy to flow into my life?”
“Will I allow more passion (or compassion) to flow into my life?”
“Will I allow more money to flow into my life?”
“Will I allow more knowing to flow into my life?”
“Will I allow more help to flow into my life?”
“Will I allow more (you fill in the blank) to flow into my life?”
Regardless of your question, this flowing in and out and through process is vital. It is not a stagnant process, nor an emptying process, nor an overfilling process. What you need will be there at the needed time, as if by magic.
As you allow more of your own magic to flourish in your life, change happens. It happens within you and in your outer circumstances. What you are seeking is being found and it's been with you all along. The magic of the seed—is the magic of you—is the magic of the universe.
“It is said that all that you are seeking is also seeking you, that if you be still, sit still, it will find you. It has been waiting for you a long time.”
-Clarissa Pinkola Estes
With gratitude,
Laurie Mattila
Good Books
The Soul of Money:
Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources
by Lynne Twist
Norton, 2006
paperback, $18.95
Although Lynne Twist lives in San Francisco, she seems a true citizen of this world, finding herself at home wherever her work takes her. As an activist and fundraiser she spent twenty years working to end world hunger as part of The Hunger Project. More recently she has been invited to work with remote indigenous groups living in the Amazon rain forest, helping them to prepare for contact with the modern world and the inevitable change that will follow.
The Soul of Money introduces three myths of scarcity. Myth 1: There's not enough. Myth 2: More is better. Myth 3: That's just the way it is. These myths are followed by three truths of sufficiency. Truth 1: Money is like water [“a current, a carrier, a conduit for our intentions”]. Truth 2: What you appreciate appreciates. Truth 3: Collaboration creates prosperity.
Twist is a master storyteller who draws from her professional and personal experience to introduce new possibilities for our world, ourselves and our money. She seeks ways that are sustainable, ways of having enough and using what we have for our own fulfillment as well as the benefit of others. She demonstrates the power in conversation, collaboration, dreams and creativity to change what needs changing. Time and again she demonstrates how money alone is not enough.
This is an inspiring, thought provoking book that would be wonderful to read and discuss in a book group, simple living group, investment group, or community building group.
“We each have the power to arrange life so that the stand we take with our money and our life with money is a right-now, every-day, every-week expression of our core values, not a some-day, next-year, or when-I-retire or when-I-have-enough expression of our core values. Every moment of every day there are chances to participate in expressing your individuality and creativity, in contributing to your vision for yourself, your family, your community, city, or world. When we bring this consciousness to our choices about money and use our resources—money, time, or talents—to take a stand for what we believe in, we come alive. We are flooded with a sense of purpose even in the smallest action, and a feeling of power and energy opens up in our life.”
-Lynne Twist
Women & Money:
Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny
by Suze Orman
Spiegel & Grau, 2007
hardcover, $24.95
Who hasn't heard of Suze Orman, best-selling author and personal finance guru, or seen her award winning PBS specials? Reading Women & Money, her eighth book, I was surprised to discover this is the first book she has written especially for women. It's also the first of her books that I've read and I recommend it highly.
Women & Money focuses on developing a healthy relationship with money, at the beliefs level and at the behavioral level. The information ranges from very basic to intermediate, but it's genuine, accessible, interesting, lively, and motivating. Orman presents her Save Yourself Plan, a five month agenda covering checking and savings accounts, credit cards and FICO credit scores, retirement investing, must-have documents, and insurance. Although Orman divides the plan into five months of assignments, nothing prevents readers from working at their own pace while tending to everything Orman suggests. For women who are more experienced managers of their money, the book might still be an excellent review as well as a quick checklist to make certain things are taken care of properly.
Throughout the book Orman endorses a no shame, no blame approach. She is passionate about passing along what she knows about money so that women can be in control of their own lives and their own money. This is definitely a resource to turn to if you are seeking a healthier more confident relationship with your money or the inspiration to start doing the things you know you need to do.
“That's what controlling your financial destiny comes down to: knowing what to do and what not to do—and having the conviction and confidence to go out and do it. Not just think about it. Or intend to do it next week or next month. To actually do it.”
-Suze Orman
The Secret (DVD)
produced by Rhonda Byrne
TS Production LLC, 2006
Extended Edition DVD, $34.95
91 minutes
The Secret is a fast-paced documentary in which Rhonda Byrne brings together nearly two dozen authors, philosophers, scientists and teachers who introduce viewers to the secret power of the Law of Attraction: what we think about we bring about. This includes the things we think about because we want them in our lives, e.g., friends, as well as the things we think about because we don't want them, e.g., debt. The law of attraction is always working and applies to every area of our lives: finances, relationships, health, work, home, possessions and opportunities.
After revealing the secret, the presenters talk about how to use it to be, do or have anything you want. The focus is definitely on having wealth and things. That said, the DVD is engaging and does an excellent job of introducing the basics of the law of attraction. Unfortunately, many of the speakers are featured for no more than a thought or two at a time. Since I was unacquainted with most of them and genuinely interested in what they had to say, I would have liked the opportunity to listen to them in more depth.
If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to watch The Secret, maybe even more than once. Whatever your reactions to the content and presentation, you will probably have a lot to think and talk about afterward. This would be a great DVD to view and discuss within a small group.
“The good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. You do that through your own thinking.”
-Bob Proctor in The Secret
NOTE: After producing the DVD, Rhonda Byrne wrote the book The Secret (Beyond Words Publishing, $23.95, hardcover) which covers the same material as the DVD but in more depth. While I was working on this newsletter, the book was out of stock everywhere so I haven't read it yet; but I definitely will.
Practice Page
Here are some ideas for you to think about, write about, talk about, wonder about—on your own or with a friendly companion.
MONEY MAGIC
I'm weaving together two themes from this newsletter: magic and money. You'll need paper and a pen to get started.
Comfortable Allowing Out
To begin, decide on an actual amount of money you are totally comfortable allowing out of your life. Write this amount on a piece of paper under the heading “Comfortable Allowing Out.” For example, you might decide the amount is $3.00 or $15.00 or $250.00. There are no right or wrong amounts; only an amount you are comfortable letting go.
Comfortable Allowing In
Next, decide on an amount of money you are totally comfortable allowing into your life. Write this amount on another piece of paper under the new heading “Comfortable Allowing In.” Once again there are no right or wrong amounts, only an amount you find comfortable.
Comparing Amounts
Now compare the two amounts with curiosity but without judgment.
What do notice about the net direction of flow?
Is there more flowing out or in?
What might this reveal about your comfort level with money?
... about the flow of money into and out of your life?
List of Possibilities
Return to the first amount of money, the amount you are comfortable allowing out of your life. Begin to list possibilities for how you might like to allow this money to flow out of your life. Write down as many ideas as you can think of including possibilities that focus on someone else, only yourself, or on sharing the amount. Try to list at least several dozen ideas that fall within the amount you specified. Here are a few examples to get you started. The things on your list will depend upon you and the amount you are comfortable letting go.
Examples:
schedule a massage for myself
make a donation to a fundraising walk
treat a friend and myself to a movie
buy personal care items to donate to a shelter
pay for a tree to be planted in a park
Pick a time to review your list and from it select how you will use the money you are letting go. Then do it.
What was it like for you to allow this money to flow out of your life?
Did you actually do it?
What did you discover about yourself? ... about money?
What was the best part of the experiment?
Would you now be comfortable increasing the amount?
What could you do with a larger amount?
Beliefs
Return to the second amount of money, the amount you are comfortable allowing into your life.
What is your honest reaction to the likelihood of this happening?
Do you believe it is possible?
Could you be comfortable if you doubled, tripled or quadrupled the amount?
Why? Or why not?
What if it was multiplied by 10 or 100?
Would you need to change any beliefs in order for this to happen?
Are you more comfortable believing it won't happen?
If any of the above questions prompt you to further explore your relationship with money, I encourage you to read the books reviewed in the Good Books section of this newsletter:
The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist
Women and Money by Suze Orman
Affirmation
I am in the flow of life.
I receive the money that flows into my life, with gratitude.
I release the money that flows out of my life, with joy.
In receiving and in giving, I become magic flowing through the world.
Laurie Mattila
© April 2007
Upcoming Calendar:
Discovery Writing: Creating A FutureSM
For NEW Students:
Discovery Writing: Creating A Future
This six-session class uses “listening-writing” as a way to explore what you truly desire; it is also a process and a path to follow in creating your future.
Summer 2007
No classes will begin this summer.
Fall Schedule 2007
Thursday evenings ( 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. )
September 20 October 4, 18 November 1, 15, 29
Saturday mornings ( 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. )
September 22 October 6, 20 November 3, 17 December 1
View the online flyer to learn more about Discovery Writing: Creating A Future
For FORMER Students:
2007 Discovery Writing Weekend Retreat for Women
The fall retreat for Discovery Writing students is scheduled for the weekend of October 12-14. Please pencil in the dates on your calendar if you plan to join us. Detailed information will be available on the Upcoming Calendar page of the August Newsletter on this web site.
Intentional Living-Meaningful Work SM
For ALL who are Interested:
September 2007 to May 2008 Group
Intentional Living—Meaningful Work is a four-session class that I offer each winter through the Compleat Scholar program at the University of Minnesota. Beginning in September, I'll begin an ongoing group that will meet monthly through next May. This group is open to anyone who is interested in the topic of living with intention and working with meaning. We will meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at my office in St. Paul. The cost is $100 per quarter, payable in any month of the quarter. Limit of 8 students.
Meeting dates (by quarter):
September 11, October 9, November 13
December 11, January 8, February 12
March 11, April 8, May 13
To register: call my office at 651-644-7766 and leave a message, or send an e-mail to me at LaurieMattila@aol.com
About the Newsletter
This newsletter is created several times a year for my clients
and students, and anyone else interested in listening to and trusting
their own deep knowing. It is designed to support your process of
discovery and growth, and to bring you up-to-date about my practice.
It offers encouragement, guidance and resources for you.
You will find new issues posted on my website in the months of
April, August and December. I hope you add my website to your favorite
places and check back when the next issues are scheduled.
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