Past Lives: Ali and Heidi Interview November 4, 2011
Posted by heidi skarie in Writing.Tags: Ali Wylie, Astral Travel, Astral Wings, Heidi Skarie, novel, past lives, Red Willow's Quest, writing
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Recently Ali Wylie interviewed me on the theme of quests, past lives and about my book Red Willow’s Quest on her postcast program Into the Beyond. The interview includes such topics as how to remember your own past lives and what is the spiritual benefit is of remembering past lives. Enjoy this chat with Ali and me and be sure to leave your comments. Do you have a spiritual quest? Have you had a past life remembrance?
The following is a copy of a podcast from Ali Wylie podcast Into the Beyond. Ali’s website is astralwings.com where she give techniques to learn how to astral travel.
Conscious Women Conscious Relationships May 22, 2010
Posted by heidi skarie in Book Review, Writing.Tags: Arlene Montgomery, book review, Conscious Women, Heidi Skarie, Jo Leonard, Oprah Winfrey, past lives, Stories
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Darlene Montgomery has a new book in her conscious women series:
Conscious Women Conscious Relationships
True Stories of Wisdom and Awareness on the Path of Relationships.
Compiled by Darlene Montgomery
I have a story in the book called Three Gold Coins about my journey as a writer. In the story I talk about getting the story idea for my first book through a series of six dreams that were like watching an action/adventure movie. I also talk about the amazing experiences that happen when I listened to my inner guidance while promoting Red Willow’s Quest.
The following is a quote from my story.
“We each come into this life with unique gifts and talents. It’s up to us to discover what they are, to develop and believe in them, despite the obstacles. We are always being guided and aided in our mission, if we listen and stay tuned to the highest part of ourselves. When we follow our heart and serve our purpose it opens the door for great joy and brings a passion for living to our lives. Equally important, it inspires others to do the same.”
The book includes a story by Oprah Winfrey called On Success. Other stories are by Jo Leonard author of The Would Be Saint, Darlene Montogomery author of the Dream Yourself Awake, Ellie Braun-Haley author of A Little Door, A Little Light, and Monique Rider founder of Body Life Dynamics
Here is a quote from the introduction to the book by Darlene Montgomery.
‘”Nothing in our lives challenges us, sculpts us, nor moves us to grow or reflect the way our relationships do. Relationships of all kinds, from: spouses, parents, children, friends, relatives, workmates and more are the soil from which we harvest the qualities of patience, humility, harmony, detachment and most importantly, Divine Love. All of our relationships are for one thing: Ultimately they lead us to a greater relationship with our self and ultimately God.
All the stories in this book bear a lesson. Among them: forgiveness, letting go, humility and discipline. But above all these is the lesson of Divine Love. By using Divine Love in all life situations, we naturally learn its by-products of forgiveness, harmony and patience.”
Do you have a story about a lesson you learned from life and your relations? Please share it as a comment so others can learn benefit from what you learned?
What People Are Saying About
Conscious Women Conscious Relationships
“Conscious Women, Conscious Relationships combines wise journeys of women’s struggles and joys with transcendent poetic images. The spiritual truths in these stories shine divine light onto the murkiest paths. Let these women inspire you to create your own conscious life.”
~Linda Anderson, co-founder, Angel Animals Network, www.angelanimals.com
“This is a book I have waited for my whole life. The stories are our own. Dare to find yourself in these pages!”
~Maxine Hyndman, Author, The Naked Millionaire and The Organic Entrepreneur
“The Conscious Women series of books is like a hug during uncertain times. It’s healthy and helpful for us to look at other women’s lives, their struggles and their triumphs. It helps us realize that—to paraphrase someone wiser than I am—no matter what lies ahead of us, it can’t possibly measure up to what lies within us. Here’s to conscious living—and Conscious Women! ”
~Erin Davis, Radio Host, CHFI
Inspiring People May 22, 2010
Posted by heidi skarie in Book Review, Writing.Tags: Darling, inspiring people, Spirit of the Dancing Warriors
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I’m inspired by people who are wonderfully alive and still contributing to the world in their later years. It opens me the possibility that I, too, can be productive and giving to the world as I age. This winter when I was at an art gallery in Hawaii I saw on display clay figurines of animals created by a women in her eighties. They were charming sculptures and she has quite a following of people who collect her work. The woman still teaches art classes as well as selling her artwork. I left the art gallery thinking about how wonderful it was that she could still do what she loved and pass her skill along to others.
This week I had another experience with a person who is contributing to life. The man was Chungliang Al Huang. He is 73 years old and full of energy, love, and life. I attended one of his workshops on Tai Ji. Huang is the founder and president of the Living Tao Foundation and the author of numerous books. Accompanying Huang was Dave Darling who is an award-winning Cellist.
I came away from the workshop recharge and inspired. Huang talked about Tai Ji as an ever-constant ever-changing creative process. He teaches his students to be spontaneous and to dance with the movements.
In his book, Spirit of the Dancing Warrior, he says that “Your primary intention is to discover how to play, train, work and live in alignment with our heart.” He quoted the Buddha who said, “Your work is to discover your greatness and to give your self to it.” Huang went on to say, “When you function from a heart-space . . . you demonstrate integrity, affirm yourself and others, and seek the extraordinary in each day.”
In an article in Internal Arts Magazine July- August 1988 Huang told a story about a man who came to a Zen master. He said was a doctor and told all about himself, then said he wanted to learn from the master about Zen Buddhism. The master asked him to have some tea, and then poured the tea into a cup. He continued pouring even though the cup had overflowed. The doctor said, “The tea is spilling over.” The master said, “You come with a full cup. Your cup is already overflowing with knowledge. Unless you come with emptiness and openness, I can give you nothing.” Huang said, “We need that kind of innocence, that kind of ignorance, in learning and dealing with things every day.”
In the class Huang talked about the same idea. The Chinese phrase is Wu Wei. Doing by not getting in the way, or going with the flow. I think of it as letting go. Not getting in the way of life. So often we have to release something in order for something new to come. Be grateful for the wonderful things we experience and then let them go so new things can come in.
Darling led a part of the workshop as well. He taught us to let go of all limitations about our musical abilities whether singing, dancing, or playing a musical instrument. Forget any teacher that said you couldn’t carry a note or discouraged you in some way. Darling said that when he works with cello students he doesn’t say this is going to be a difficult piece, he said this is a beautiful piece and we will have fun learning it. We sang and danced to his beautiful cello music, letting ourselves be free and enjoy the energy of the other people in the room.
Spirit of the Dancing Warriors is by Huang and Dr. Jerry Lynch. The book uses a meditation program based on warrior virtues. It is a soulful path to motivation, inspiration, and wisdom for athletics, fitness, and life. Huang’s website is www.livingtao.org.
Have you read any books lately that inspired you? Please share the book and tell us why it inspired you.
