The Great Untying

To prepare for our family move west, we held a garage sale every weekend in thesummer of 2010. Balloons were purchased and tied to the garage sale sign to attract customers. Often the balloons would tie together because of the wind or cars passing by causing the balloons to fall. When I noticed, patiently, I unwound the balloons. Happy seeing them floating upward once again, I walked away, only to turn around and see them tying together again, falling.  

 This morning my husband was watching old interviews with Steve Jobs. In the video I could see he was sick- skinny, pale, hallowed eyes. Here he is, a genius as many say of him. I type now on one of his amazing works of art- and yet- he is ill, and, as we know dies of cancer only just a few months ago. As I listened to him, two words came to me fatal disconnect.

 What was the fatal disconnect for Mr. Jobs? What is ours? When I kept returning to the tangled balloons, patiently, diligently untying them so they could be free, the work to do so reminded me of the work I do within my soul. Moment after moment, untying myself from what could turn into a fatal disconnect, a cutting off of energy, of life, of insight and intuition into what is obstructing my flow.

 This said, I have declared 2012 to be the year of our Great Untying. A time when we, I hope, get so sick of looking outside of ourselves and look within- to ask, to seek, to wonder, to know: what is troubling us; what is keeping us in the harbor; what is weighing us down; preventing our uprising, our freedom, our calling…?

 Inside the soul are many ruthless knots that have been formed over years, perhaps lifetimes. The task to untie seems daunting, but to untie, we must. We can work now or  we can work later. We can work consciously and assist in this untying or we can resist and deny and passively wait for life to give us what we need, in what might be a fatalistic turn of events. It turned out I needed a car accident. Not one that took the life of myself or my children and mother who were in the car with me, but one that was enough to wake me up to the next chapter of my life.

 Whatever way we decide to wake up this year, through a conscious connection to our own awakening or to an unconscious devotion to keeping life the same, let us know we are not alone. Within us is a cosmic support system. Assisting us is Mother Nature and all of her gifts and lessons of the cycles of death and rebirth. There, constantly is the Friend within. She loves you. Supports you. Guides you. Seek Her. She is there.

 In Toy Story is a song: you have a friend in me. You have a friend in me….I always change the words to: I have a friend in me. I have a friend in me….YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN YOU. Rumi calls it the Beloved. Others call it God or Christ Within or the Atman or The Buddha-Self or the Self. Whatever- it’s a Friend worth knowing and the only work worth doing here. “Know Thyself.” This is not some narcissistic pursuit. It is the pursuit of the Self, which sits within the Soul, and within that soul are layers begging for our attention, and that Friend assists along the way.

 Ultimate freedom is within as are many ruthless knots. Therefore, this year let us not neglect this opportunity to begin, or for others to continue, this Great Untying so that we may come more fully alive.

 Happy New Year to all of you.

Namaste,

Nikki Di Virgilio, The Soul Reporter

http://thesoulreporter.wordpress.com/

A Simple Smile

Hello Girlfriends – I have a twitter account @makegirlfriends and every day scheduled at 6 a.m. I state, “Morning make sure you smile to a total stranger today. You never know who you will touch?”

This statement is so very true in life.  I want you to go out, walk in a crowded area and look at people’s faces.  Do they wear a smile or are the majority wear a frown, a pensive look – anything but a smile?  I must share this story with you.  I was at a Starbucks in Chicago (same one I go to regularly) and I looked at a woman that was sitting there with a friend as I was waiting for my drink and I simple smiled at her.  She smiled back and that was it.  I returned a few days later and saw the same beautiful woman there – her name is La’Vena – I went over to her this time and she stated – thank you for smiling at me – I needed that smile.  A friendship has been formed all because of a simple smile.  We are now facebook friends but distance has taken us away but the memory of a smile keeps us connected.

How many lives have you touched with a simple smile?  If you have to think hard then it’s time to go touch a life with your beautiful smile!

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.  ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us all!

Nancy Shields

Website: http://makegirlfriends.com

Blog: http://blog.makegirlfriends.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/makegirlfriends

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fanpage.connectwithMGF

New Year? New you? What’s next?

Our world is consistently directing us to look forward– to look ahead in order to figure out what is next— and to stay ahead of the curve.  I must admit I do it myself.  And some of the work we do together here at TEF encourages you to look ahead and be conscious of next steps and new dreams. But I am learning that there’s a fine line and a fine balance that we need to create in the area of planning and  fulfilling our dreams as we enter this New Year—2012 and in responding and reacting to what we think the world needs from us.

Working diligently last year to create a company – the company of my dreams and to launch a book – the book of dreams –I learned a lot.  I learned that having goals and objectives (derived from within and created live… in the world) is essential.  I also learned that it can be very healthy to stretch ourselves to learn new things—things we may dread learning such as- in my case– technology –or for yourself … fill in the blank… (Name the area you are most stretched to learn that would actually benefit you J).I also learned that placing my heart and attention in a focused way to achieve a desired outcome is the way I get things get accomplished.

In 2012 I am committed to continue dreaming – and—creating. I am also committed to learn a whole new way to pace my day—to allow for spontaneity and structure to live side by side.  I am also committed to live each day and moment in the day and moment I am in not in the past or the future. This means I will be listening from with-in—being more spontaneous about time and allow for the interesting gifts that life presents us each day. I remember years back hearing the phrase “Be Here Now” and not fully understanding it. I believe I now truly understand.

As I said before-I believe that there’s a fine line and a fine balance in how we create and fulfill our dreams. My wish for you this New Year is that you will find the natural rhythm that allows to:

• Know what is yours to create or contribute your precious life force to
• Have the courage to live your dream
• Find the balance and rhythm to live harmoniously honoring your needs and natural rhythm
• And to live the life that you are here to live—fully and joyfully.

May 2012 be the year you truly shine!

Happy New Year!

Maureen

Founder   and Creative Director

The   Essential Feminine™ Company

Author   “Awakening The Essential Feminine: Claiming Your Influencial Power

www.theessentialfeminine.com

info@theessentialfeminine.com

 

December has arrived..….how has your year been? Thank you for being a part of ours!!!

This year has been probably my most fortunate year in many ways and in other ways my most challenging.  I have learned much and truly look forward to 2012 and to bringing the many lessons forward with me. During the holidays always take inventory of where I have been and where I intend to go …this year I will end the year with this contemplation and I encourage you to do the same. I truly believe that in contemplation and renewal —is born.

I have also this year been fortunate to speak meet and or work directly with 1000’s of women through launching the book and holding courses and Essential Feminine Living Rooms– year round. I have really had a chance to hear and most deeply understand what we as women need and desire most right now—and that is peace of mind—happiness from the inside out—success that we define based on what we most value – greater financial security and more time for ourselves– family and friends. I encourage us all to stop and build what you need more of into your life for this is the only way change can occur. Things are going at nana speed. Take time to listen and prioritize.

Many families are challenged and many are excited to move into 2012 bringing rich lessons and new ideas. I personally believe that we as a planet are at an important crossroads. I believe that significant conscious change is what is needed by each one of us to create the equilibrium among gender, race and economic status. Our planet is crying for us to wake up and to protect her environs as she is our life source. Opportunities abound for those ready to take the New Year and live it in a new far more conscious way.       

As we move into 2012 much of our focus will be on meeting specific needs that women have expressed through our new course –Live Your Calling ~ Express Your Power; A personal success Course for Women”.

We hope to see you even more in 2012.

May 2012 bring you cheer peace of mind and great happiness.

Warmly and with wishers for great cheer

Maureen

The Darkest Night By Nikki Di Virgilio

In Dicken’s, A Christmas Carol, there is a haunting scene: two children hiding in the cloak of the Spirit of Christmas Present. The spirit says, “Learn this lesson…..This boy is ignorace. This girl is want. Beware them both.”

Hiding in my cloak, I recently discovered: This boy is weak. This girl is incapable.

They arrived after a phone session I won with a consultant who helps women design/redesign their lives and businesses.  Do not think these children only just showed up, however. They have been hiding inside of me for a long time, but another layer of their existence was exposed after I felt what I can only describe as- my Core of Strength, which sits right in the center of me- an unshakable stability, as Maureen, the consultant asked me to visualize speaking to people about the message(s) I want to share.

In that moment, I felt strong and absolutely incapable of folding within myself in doubt and fear- completely self-assured and present. Leading. Listening. Sharing. Offering. And then, as my daughter observed as she listened to me speak, my voice changed. In the beginning of the call, my voice was strong and elated. At the end, my voice faded.

I touched my capablity. Reengaged with my vision, and naturally as the inner journey would have it, in order to reach that capability, I must face what is standing in its way.

This boy is weak. This girl is incapable.

Intellectually, I know this is not true. I know it is part of a story I carry with me, a rather influential story, which says: although you do have much to offer you are incapable and far too weak to carry it through. Look at how many times you have disappointed yourself. This story simmers, in what seems to be fact, based on past behaviors and experiences, and although I know my past does not have to determine my future, this story has the capablity to completely shut down someones potential. That someone right now, is me.

But- I am working through the layers of my boy, weak and my girl, incapable. Sometimes I still get up and play with them as if they are old, dear friends. I give them reason to stay. But mostly, as I have been exposed to them in a greater way, I look at the dynamics of our relationship and determine its health, and wonder how the relationship might be transformed.

The other night, I had a dream of a fly. It was buzzing, sitting on the baseboard beneath a window. In its buzzing, I was able to hear words. The fly was telling a story. A story of its childhood and how it felt abandoned. However, even though I was able to understand it, I wanted to kill it because it was annoying me. It flew off the baseboard and began flying around the room. As it flew, it got bigger and its buzzing got louder. I had a swatter and tried to kill it, but I was in conflict. I know why it suffers and yet I still swat. Missing each time, it landed in my hair- now a large sized locust, black as night.

I woke up.

I used to believe it was about fighting and killing parts of myself that I disliked and made me uncomfortable, especially once I find them and see the troubles they cause, but it is not about fighting or killing these parts of ourselves that hold the sad stories. It’s about looking at them curiously and through the eyes of compassion. If I fight and kill the part, which holds the story, I lose opportunity to be compassionate, and a part, which can perhaps assist in new and unexpected ways moving forward.

In my dream I wanted to kill that part of me, that girl with the sad story of abandonement- who does not feel liked or important or capable or strong. The girl who feels weak because of her vulnerabilty and innocence. The girl who couldn’t. The girl who can’t. The girl who doesn’t. But, that girl is kind. Sweet. Pure. And I will not abandon her.

In keeping her story does not mean I now have to live by it. I already have been. But, now that the story has seen the light of day and I was brave enough to look I am no longer controlled by it. I only understand yet another layer of what I carry inside, and that is a victory.

We have millions upon millions of stories alive inside of us- all of them creating a beautiful mosaic of the mystery of who we are and the story of our continuing evolution. All of them, singing and dancing, and yes many creating chaos and havoc, yet awaiting our courage and curiosity to look, and therefore awakening and liberating us closer to that great mystery.

This holiday season, as we go into the darkest night, ask: What am I hiding beneath my cloak? The light of awareness will guide you.

Guest blog post by ~ The Soul Reporter ~ Nikki Di Virgilio

The original article is located at The Soul Reporter ~ Investigating What The Soul Knows.

Connect with Nikki on Facebook.

Where the Light and Dark Live Side By Side- A true Life Story

With all of life there is joy and sadness- often living side by side. One of our main team members here at the Essential Feminine Company had this light and dark experience this week. Judie Fouchaux has been a pillar in our company  and she is experiencing a major hassle in the middle of  the holiday season.  (Read her poem below—it is wonderful!).

One thing I know about Judie is that she is a rock and a pillar and will always make full use of where light and dark meet. We should all do the same ….Read her poem –written in the midst of her home being flooded this week.

Happy Holidays and that you Judie for being you and for all you do.

Maureen Simon

*************

As we approach the Winter Solstice –a true time of winter reflection we have a chance to notice the light and dark in our lives.

The Week Before Christmas

‘Twas the week before Christmas with much to be done

There’s cooking and baking and oh so much fun.

There’s work as well so early I go

Out into the day but not into snow.

And then work comes to an end and I’m headed home

Where for an hour or so I’ll be alone.

Time to bake cookies just one little batch

So I rush to the door and turn open the latch.

But what do I hear as I open the door –

The sound of a loud “Plunk” followed by more.

I rush to the kitchen and look in the sink

But it’s not the faucet left on as I think

It comes from the ceiling and what’s more

There’s an inch of water all over the floor.

I rush to the stairs and up them I dash

Race through the bedroom to bath – splish, splash.

I turn off the faucet and pick up the rugs

Full of water they’re thrown in the tub.

Throw down more towels so sop up the mess

Get on the phone and call Dann in duress.

Down to the kitchen to open deck door,

Frantically sweeping the tide from the floor.

Dann arrives and asks what to do.

I tell him call Eliot to get us out of this stew.

Call him he does and then Eliot comes

Shortly thereafter the whole house hums.

Fire in the fireplace, heaters galore

Blowers and suckers all over the floor.

Four hours later the best has been done

When we dry out we’ll get back to the fun.

J C Fouchaux

Laser Solution Sessions With Maureen Simon

Laser Solution Sessions

Women are telling me that they need laser, concise, meaningful support right now.  Many are crying for greater clarity in shaping or redesigning their business and lives. Collectively we are at a major crossroads and what once was important– no longer is. This is one of the most challenging times on our planet.  Priorities are changing for those that are awake and brave enough to look closely at life. For this reason I am offering a short powerful course (with private sessions available) to provide you with the support you need right now to bravely and fully show up in your life in 2012.
1 session: $250, 2 sessions: $450, 3 sessions: $650

The Women who will benefit include:

*        are in transition,
*        women unsettled needing clarification,
*        women with challenges,
*        women with a next career move to make,
*        women wanting to take their life to a whole new level,
*        women desiring to take next steps and to set new priorities, and
*        women ready to make a difference – legacy.

 

Maureen’s Bio
Maureen is the founder of The Essential Feminine Company™ (TEF)—a lifestyle and business design company that supports women in creating successful, powerful lives that incorporate their feminine attributes and gifts. The company provides learning environments and products to help women claim, live and lead with their natural strengths and talents.  TEF believes that it is now time for women step forward and make a major contribution in the world. Maureen’s experience with women is based on over 25 years of successfully mentoring and guiding women leaders from around the world in creating successful lives and businesses that reflect their values.  As a social alchemist she addresses women’s pertinent issues of social change and transformation. For more information on TEF visit www.TheEssentialFeminine.com

The Spirit Of A Woman By: Nancy Shields

The Spirit of a Woman

Hello Girlfriends – Author Hugh Prather from the Quiet Answer states, “you need never fear your desires or run from your fantasies.”

A woman, gentle as a flower, graceful like a swan – a most beautiful elegant species.  Yes, WE hold those beautiful qualities and now to learn to embrace these amazing qualities in each one of us.  We are captivated by beautiful women as a society.  Movie stars that grace our screens – one graceful actress in my humble opinion is Angelina Jolie.  I watched her recently in the movie “The Tourist” with Johnny Depp; they opened the movie with her walking the streets of Paris.  She was adorned with a figure, elegant and truly sophisticated, exquisite clothing adorned her body and what made her even more beautiful was her delicate walk.  As the camera panned her from every angle – she floated across the pavement.  Watch someone’s walk – it will tell you a lot about that person.  I hope this blog allows us to think about the way we walk as women.  I believe we really need to embrace our femininity and accept the fact that we were made WOMEN.  Let’s really enjoy the fact of this.  We were created with so much beauty within, that it shines out of us.

Let’s pay attention to our walking – being mindful is a start.  Notice a woman that walks gracefully.  She looks taller, more confident and truly beautiful!

The title of this blog is the Spirit of a Woman.  The spirit lies deep within each of us and from that inner place it extends out to the world to see.  Values, morals, character are all connected to the spirit.  When we walk with conviction, with purpose we are telling the world you want to be respected, to be honored as the beautiful woman that you are!

I ask that we be aware and notice our walks, our feminine spirit and I join you in walking taller in confidence and in love for yourself!

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us all!

 

Nancy Shields                                      

Website: http://makegirlfriends.com        

Blog: http://blog.makegirlfriends.com          

Twitter: http://twitter.com/makegirlfriends 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fanpage.connectwithMGF

Hopes And Dreams Winners~Susan Spitzel And Nikki Di Virgilio

My Greatest “Hopes and Dreams” Contest Winners

Congratulations Susan, you have won a copy of Maureen’s book, Awakening The Essential Feminine Claiming Your Influential Power.

My greatest hopes and dreams are to be the best role model for my daughter (age 7).  I want my daughter to understand her inner beauty. I hope she will effortlessly engage herself in conscious compassion, loving, healing, forgiveness, self-respect, and become a powerful confident being.  She empowers me at my deepest level which makes me strive to grow and guide her. She is my greatest gift. I want her to have deep roots and wings of confidence to do the things in life which truly give her meaning and pleasure. I know to achieve that; I must be those things myself.  I aspire to be that confident role model. ~ Susan Spitzel

Congratulations Nikki, you have won a free business and life consulting package with Maureen Simon.

Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman. The woman in the photo is Nadine Gordimer. Andrew Zuckerman is also the photographer.

I came across this woman’s face in a book recently. The wisdom and knowing in her eyes, the soft and sure shape of her mouth, and the lines of experience in her face show she has paid attention to her life, and has lived fully. I knew when I saw her face, that this is why I pay attention and what propels me toward experiences, which bring greater awakening within myself. 

Nikki Di Virgilio, writer

Photo taken by Mark Navarro

Follow Nikki’s blog at:   http://www.nikkisacredspace.com/
Become a Fan at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Soul-Reporter/107136849213
Read my Soul Tweets at:  http://twitter.com/TheSoulReporter

Living Your calling~Expressing Your Power In 2012

Living Your calling~Expressing Your Power In 2012

The Essential Feminine Living Room

December 21, 2011 ~ 12 noon to 1:15 pm PST

Winter solstice

The power of the feminine and the cry for her to fully show up in 2012… Are you ready? What do you now… need to travel this road?

Join Maureen and Alyssa Aubrey for The Essential Feminine Live Living Room.

Explore -- Ways we find our strength from within

• Adjustment and alignment.
• Do you have faith in something that is bigger than yourself?
• Clarity and strength to step forward courageous conversation we all need to have…we are the emissaries…

A reflection—-

• Open up—can feel depression…lack of energy..Empowerment-what story do we live in.
• Look at nature
• Dark and light live side by side
• Seasons and rhythms
• We get what we practice
  What are you practicing to live your amazing life? How often?

 Call to inner reflection and movement—

• Go into nature – alignment…nature is the greatest teacher.
• Adjustment—you are driving your own bus……what adjustment is needed now?

All sessions will be held 12 noon PST and will run 1 ½ hours long.

Complimentary Monthly Teleseminars – 4th Wednesday of each month For women who want to look more closely at key issues that affect their day-to-day success, happiness and overall well-being in a highly supportive environment…The Essential Feminine Living Room is a global networking community that meets virtually on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

Maureen’s special guest in December is Alyssa Aubrey the Founder and Program Director of Medicine Horse Ranch, an experiential learning center incorporating horses in human self-development.

Alyssa Aubrey’s entrepreneurial spirit invites others to engage life ‘on purpose’ and inspires a deeply connected reach towards authentic expression and contribution. Alyssa considers her EGL program horses to be partners, healers, teachers and guides in this powerful, cutting edge process leading people to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Sign up now to reserve your spot. Begin your holiday season with intent and peace of mind.