To begin today, the software fairies at Body & Soul Mentor chose for you a big quote from Alice Walker. Even if you aren’t an American, you’ll find inspiration and great mentoring here.
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Nov. 5, 2008
Dear Brother Obama,
You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.
I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax.
From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.
I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely.
However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.
A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker
---///---
Blessings,
William
P.S. You have my permission to share this story with widely.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Mind Altering Quotes
I have one space left for my class FLOW: THE MAGIC OF MAKIN ART. If you want to come, call me 206.328.2073. You can read more about it and get on the email notification list here
=> http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
I though you might enjoy these quotes that I will be handing out in class on Saturday.
What spaces do they open up for you?
What new perspective?
QUOTES FOR THE CLASS
One of the surest tests [of the superiority or inferiority of a poet] is the way in which a poet borrows. Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different than that from which it is torn; the bad poet throws it into something which has no cohesion. A good poet will usually borrow from authors remote in time, or alien in language, or diverse in interest. - T.S. Eliot,
Good artists copy; great artists steal. - Picasso
Painting isn't an aesthetic operation; it's a form of magic designed as mediator between this strange hostile world and us. - Picasso A long, long time is needed to be young. -- Picasso I like to live poor... but with a lot of money. -- Picasso It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child. -- Picasso
Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. - Picasso
There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who transform a yellow spot into the sun. - Picasso
We painted like children in the face of nature. - Henri Matisse
When I started to paint, I felt transported into a kind of paradise. - Henri Matisse
My advice is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate. -- Thornton Wilder.
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. - Buddha
In one of the spate of dance movies of a few years ago, the beautiful woman asks the gorgeous man, "Do you know how to dance?"
"I'm Cuban, of course, I know how to dance," he says.
This response reminds me of something I read about Bali.
They have no word for artist. And that is because, like the Cubans and dancing, they presume that if you are Balinese, of course, you are an artist. - Reflections from William
Blessings,
William
P.S. Speaking of great quotes here's a magic message from Uncle Mike --
If you ask me, Www, I'd say the main thing to keeping the main thing the main thing, is reminding yourself as often as you can of where the most joy will come from.
Ain't no thing -
The Universe
If you aren't getting these magic messages from Uncle Mike, read my review of Mike's goodies including this fabulous freebee.
Go for it = > http://tinyurl.com/3yu6yz
P.P.S. You have my permission to share this story with no more than three people.
=> http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
I though you might enjoy these quotes that I will be handing out in class on Saturday.
What spaces do they open up for you?
What new perspective?
QUOTES FOR THE CLASS
One of the surest tests [of the superiority or inferiority of a poet] is the way in which a poet borrows. Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different than that from which it is torn; the bad poet throws it into something which has no cohesion. A good poet will usually borrow from authors remote in time, or alien in language, or diverse in interest. - T.S. Eliot,
Good artists copy; great artists steal. - Picasso
Painting isn't an aesthetic operation; it's a form of magic designed as mediator between this strange hostile world and us. - Picasso A long, long time is needed to be young. -- Picasso I like to live poor... but with a lot of money. -- Picasso It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child. -- Picasso
Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. - Picasso
There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who transform a yellow spot into the sun. - Picasso
We painted like children in the face of nature. - Henri Matisse
When I started to paint, I felt transported into a kind of paradise. - Henri Matisse
My advice is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate. -- Thornton Wilder.
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. - Buddha
In one of the spate of dance movies of a few years ago, the beautiful woman asks the gorgeous man, "Do you know how to dance?"
"I'm Cuban, of course, I know how to dance," he says.
This response reminds me of something I read about Bali.
They have no word for artist. And that is because, like the Cubans and dancing, they presume that if you are Balinese, of course, you are an artist. - Reflections from William
Blessings,
William
P.S. Speaking of great quotes here's a magic message from Uncle Mike --
If you ask me, Www, I'd say the main thing to keeping the main thing the main thing, is reminding yourself as often as you can of where the most joy will come from.
Ain't no thing -
The Universe
If you aren't getting these magic messages from Uncle Mike, read my review of Mike's goodies including this fabulous freebee.
Go for it = > http://tinyurl.com/3yu6yz
P.P.S. You have my permission to share this story with no more than three people.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Here Is What Happened To Matisse…
Here is what happened to Matisse the first time he took up brush to paint –
“When I started to paint, I felt transported into a kind of paradise.”
He’s talking about flow. He’s talking about the right brain. He’s talking about the Buddha brain. He’s talking about conscious action. He’s talking about presence.
Art of any sort has the ability to put you into the graceful state of flow. When you are in flow, you enjoy what you’re doing. You lose self-consciousness. Your sense of time changes. It disappears completely. It stops dead in frozen, perfect moments. Or it flies.
If you’re in the Seattle area on Nov. 8th 2008, you can join us for FLOW AND THE MAGIC OF MAKING ART. Go here for details.
=> http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
And do sign up to be informed of future classes.
IF YOU’RE NOT going to be in Seattle, paint. Get books on making art. Visit the libraries of the universe. Go to art museums. Paint. Draw. Sketch. Doodle. Use your right brain. You could start with the amazing book -- DRAWING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0874774195/williamwittmannvA/
Do watch this video about the right brain done by Jill Bolte Taylor, a woman who had a brain breakdown and lost her left brain, thereby making her completely right brained. Fascinating. (Note: Oprah has some interviews with her on-line as well.)
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html
P.S. If you are not in the Seattle area on Nov. 8th, you can learn about flow in my Life Giving Manual - THE MAGIC FORMULA -- How to Magically Attract the Life You Most Want.
Go for it => http://tinyurl.com/28gmm2
Obviously, even if you are in Seattle you’ll benefit immensely when you get it.
Go for it => http://tinyurl.com/28gmm2
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Other Thing That Happens Is…
It’s 5:17 in the DARK morning, I am half way through my workout, but I want to put my artistic vision that blossomed in my heart during the night onto paper. I want to do it NOW.
I find the paper… Do some physical therapy… breathe hard while I get the crayon… do some more PT… breathe… Oh! Blue tape, that will be good. Tape it down… more PT…
…Enough, you get the idea… The Muse had grabbed me. Again.
The other thing that happens when you engage in life in general and in art in particularly is that passion or more exactly enthusiasm fills you with god spirit. The muse grabs you with a vision and pulls you forward into life. The project must be done. The vision must be fulfilled.
Eckhart Tolle talks about three things that fulfill the goal of staying present while DOING -- Acceptance, Enjoyment, or Enthusiasm. (Do you remember that ENTHUSIASM means to have God within. Cool, right?)
One of the indicators that you are in flow is – enjoy what you’re doing.
Flow is the antidote to fear. Obviously, you have noticed the fear mongers are at work in the world…
Stop listening to them. Stop it.
Be in flow more.
You can learn about flow in my class -- Flow and the Magic of Making Art.
Join us – Flow and the Magic of Making Art -- A One Day Class, Nov. 8, 2008
You can find details and register here => http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
+++ [] +++
If you are not in the Seattle area on Nov. 8th you can learn about flow in my Life Giving Manual – THE MAGIC FORMULA -- How to Magically Attract the Life You Most Want.
Go for it => http://tinyurl.com/28gmm2
+++ [] +++
You can also see some pretty art and a story about my father and art.
Even if you don’t want to take the class or live on another continent.
=> http://www.VitalArts.net/events/ click through to the class.
*** PLEASE ***
While you’re there, sign up for the no-obligation class notification list and I will let you know about classes I offer. If you don’t want to know about classes, don’t sign up. Fair enough?
You can join the list or the class here => http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
Antidote your fears – get into flow.
Blessings,
William
I find the paper… Do some physical therapy… breathe hard while I get the crayon… do some more PT… breathe… Oh! Blue tape, that will be good. Tape it down… more PT…
…Enough, you get the idea… The Muse had grabbed me. Again.
The other thing that happens when you engage in life in general and in art in particularly is that passion or more exactly enthusiasm fills you with god spirit. The muse grabs you with a vision and pulls you forward into life. The project must be done. The vision must be fulfilled.
Eckhart Tolle talks about three things that fulfill the goal of staying present while DOING -- Acceptance, Enjoyment, or Enthusiasm. (Do you remember that ENTHUSIASM means to have God within. Cool, right?)
One of the indicators that you are in flow is – enjoy what you’re doing.
Flow is the antidote to fear. Obviously, you have noticed the fear mongers are at work in the world…
Stop listening to them. Stop it.
Be in flow more.
You can learn about flow in my class -- Flow and the Magic of Making Art.
Join us – Flow and the Magic of Making Art -- A One Day Class, Nov. 8, 2008
You can find details and register here => http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
+++ [] +++
If you are not in the Seattle area on Nov. 8th you can learn about flow in my Life Giving Manual – THE MAGIC FORMULA -- How to Magically Attract the Life You Most Want.
Go for it => http://tinyurl.com/28gmm2
+++ [] +++
You can also see some pretty art and a story about my father and art.
Even if you don’t want to take the class or live on another continent.
=> http://www.VitalArts.net/events/ click through to the class.
*** PLEASE ***
While you’re there, sign up for the no-obligation class notification list and I will let you know about classes I offer. If you don’t want to know about classes, don’t sign up. Fair enough?
You can join the list or the class here => http://www.VitalArts.net/events/
Antidote your fears – get into flow.
Blessings,
William
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Sky Is Falling?
Do you remember the story? An acorn falls and bops Chicken Little on the head. She panics and dashes around shouting, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” She vows to tell the king and sets off on her journey.
One after the other, she convinces her friends that the sky is falling. She tells them she has evidence that she has heard with her own ears and seen with her own eyes and even a bit of sky hit her in the head. And off they go to see the king who will certainly help them. Along the way they meet Foxy Loxy who offered to show them the way to the king…
He showed them into his den and ate them all up.
In times of scary news reports, what do you do?
I rely on clear headed friends and mentors who show me the BIG picture. I want a perspective that lets me see a bigger, longer term picture clearly. In the financial crisis of 2008, when the news was screaming, “The sky is falling!” The CEO of Vanguard Funds did just that in a little video.
He showed a graph of the single day loss of 20% that occurred back in 1987 (I think). Can you imagine? It’s a terrifying downward spike. Then he pulls back and shows the BIG picture. You can hardly see a blip on the graph. The sky didn’t fall.
You can have a life you wholeheartedly love -- body and soul. Really.
I can help you.
Become a member of Body & Soul Mentor the next time I open the doors for $9.97/month. You can get on the no-obligation waiting list and get a cool podcast that will remind you of what’s truly important.
Go for it => http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/journeybegins.html
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
Go for it => http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/journeybegins.html
Blessings,
William
P.S. In times of fear mongering media I recommend my Life Giving Manual – Simply Serene -- Four Amazingly Powerful Ways to Be Instantly Alert and at Peace
Go for it = > http://tinyurl.com/mbd4x
One after the other, she convinces her friends that the sky is falling. She tells them she has evidence that she has heard with her own ears and seen with her own eyes and even a bit of sky hit her in the head. And off they go to see the king who will certainly help them. Along the way they meet Foxy Loxy who offered to show them the way to the king…
He showed them into his den and ate them all up.
In times of scary news reports, what do you do?
I rely on clear headed friends and mentors who show me the BIG picture. I want a perspective that lets me see a bigger, longer term picture clearly. In the financial crisis of 2008, when the news was screaming, “The sky is falling!” The CEO of Vanguard Funds did just that in a little video.
He showed a graph of the single day loss of 20% that occurred back in 1987 (I think). Can you imagine? It’s a terrifying downward spike. Then he pulls back and shows the BIG picture. You can hardly see a blip on the graph. The sky didn’t fall.
You can have a life you wholeheartedly love -- body and soul. Really.
I can help you.
Become a member of Body & Soul Mentor the next time I open the doors for $9.97/month. You can get on the no-obligation waiting list and get a cool podcast that will remind you of what’s truly important.
Go for it => http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/journeybegins.html
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
Go for it => http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/journeybegins.html
Blessings,
William
P.S. In times of fear mongering media I recommend my Life Giving Manual – Simply Serene -- Four Amazingly Powerful Ways to Be Instantly Alert and at Peace
Go for it = > http://tinyurl.com/mbd4x
Sunday, October 05, 2008
What Are You About, Dear One
Josh, a new reader, asked me such a challenging question I thought I’d pass it on to you.
Here’s his question, “In one great sentence tell me what you believe you are about?”
The form of the question raises other issues about believing, so for this exercise I abbreviated the question to:
In one great sentence, what are you about?
One of the questions I ask my patients is -- who is the you that you refer to. If you don’t think there are multiple versions of you, then you have not been paying attention.
So, who is the YOU in the question – what are YOU about. Give an answer for each of your voices.
Here are my responses from the different voices.
My first two responses – as a therapist/mentor.
· I am about helping people to live a life they wholeheartedly love.
· I am about helping people to love their journey through life.
Version three – my core?
· I am about living in Presence and Love and acting on what arises there.
Version four and five – from one of my wounded children
· I am about being right. Or more exactly, I am about not being wrong.
· I am about getting Mom and/or Dad’s approval, and your approval as a substitute.
Version six – as a healthy child
· I am about play. Playing with you. Playing outdoors. Playing alone.
Versions multiple non-verbal responses –
· I opine that all art is a self-portrait. You can look at my sacred landscapes and consider them as self-portraits. What can you tell from these?
=> http://www.vitalarts.net/art/sacredlandscapes.html
Your Turn -- Try the Exercise
In one great sentence, fill in the blank –
I am about ________________.
Listen to your internal voices then fill in the blank for each of them.
What have you learned? What is revealed? Was this hard to do?
Live long and prosper,
William
P.S. Catch the Launch of THE WHOLESOME ENTREPRENEUR --
You get - One Dozen Life-Giving Secrets on How the Wise Entrepreneur Sustains and Nourishes Body & Soul While Caring for a Business
And for a limited time, until October 9th 2008 you get two powerful options.
Go for it => http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/wholesome2options.html
P.P.S. You have my permission to share this story with no more than three people.
Here’s his question, “In one great sentence tell me what you believe you are about?”
The form of the question raises other issues about believing, so for this exercise I abbreviated the question to:
In one great sentence, what are you about?
One of the questions I ask my patients is -- who is the you that you refer to. If you don’t think there are multiple versions of you, then you have not been paying attention.
So, who is the YOU in the question – what are YOU about. Give an answer for each of your voices.
Here are my responses from the different voices.
My first two responses – as a therapist/mentor.
· I am about helping people to live a life they wholeheartedly love.
· I am about helping people to love their journey through life.
Version three – my core?
· I am about living in Presence and Love and acting on what arises there.
Version four and five – from one of my wounded children
· I am about being right. Or more exactly, I am about not being wrong.
· I am about getting Mom and/or Dad’s approval, and your approval as a substitute.
Version six – as a healthy child
· I am about play. Playing with you. Playing outdoors. Playing alone.
Versions multiple non-verbal responses –
· I opine that all art is a self-portrait. You can look at my sacred landscapes and consider them as self-portraits. What can you tell from these?
=> http://www.vitalarts.net/art/sacredlandscapes.html
Your Turn -- Try the Exercise
In one great sentence, fill in the blank –
I am about ________________.
Listen to your internal voices then fill in the blank for each of them.
What have you learned? What is revealed? Was this hard to do?
Live long and prosper,
William
P.S. Catch the Launch of THE WHOLESOME ENTREPRENEUR --
You get - One Dozen Life-Giving Secrets on How the Wise Entrepreneur Sustains and Nourishes Body & Soul While Caring for a Business
And for a limited time, until October 9th 2008 you get two powerful options.
Go for it => http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/wholesome2options.html
P.P.S. You have my permission to share this story with no more than three people.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
You’ll Love This Brain Storm
Before I tell you what my brainstorm is and how you can save money, get my focused attention, solid information, and heart filling inspiration to help you live a life you wholeheartedly love, I’ll give you a story.
I was thinking about -- The Are-You-Kidding-Me Great Option – For One Dollar More… Option Two I am giving you for THE WHOLESOME ENTREPRENEUR Launch.
You get One Dozen Life-Giving Secrets on How the Wise Entrepreneur Sustains and Nourishes Body & Soul While Caring for a Business. And for $1 Dollar more you get a membership that gives all my Laser Focused Reports and Life Giving Manuals as a member.
A value of at least $121 for a buck. Now that’s Cool. Right?
But I thought, “Hey! Why not just let people sign up for a membership at $9.97 as Option Two? They’d get all my manuals and reports – that I normally sell for $121-- for becoming a member.”
“Are you nuts, William?! You can’t give away the store,” my business voice said.
“Sure, I can. It’s my store,” my generous self said. “Obviously, I want people to get my focused attention, the best information, and heart filling inspiration I can give them so they can live a life they wholeheartedly love.”
So there you have it. My generous self won. Clearly, you win, too.
You get to choose –
Option One -- Get the INCREDIBLE Wholesome Entrepreneur - One Dozen Life-Giving Secrets on How the Wise Entrepreneur Sustains and Nourishes Body & Soul While Caring for a Business at $27. Without the membership.
Option Two -- The Are-You-Kidding-Me Great Option – Become a member of Body & Soul Mentor for $9.97. (Automatically, renews every 30 days at $9.97.)
You get my focused attention, information, and inspiration to help you live a life you wholeheartedly love for $9.97/mo. Obviously, I priced this so it would be easy for you to continue being a member.
Be sure you read all the details before you decide which option works best for you
=> http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/wholesome2options.html
Go for it
=> http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/wholesome2options.html
If you want more brainstorm-news-flashes about becoming a member be sure get on this no-obligation waiting list – The Journey Begins. I will keep you posted on ways you can join.
=> http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/journeybegins.html
Blessings,
William
P.S. HEADS UP: The two options launch Oct 2nd at 6:00 AM PDT. Option Two ends Oct 9, 2008 at 7:00 PM PDT or when 200 new members have joined whichever happens first.
I was thinking about -- The Are-You-Kidding-Me Great Option – For One Dollar More… Option Two I am giving you for THE WHOLESOME ENTREPRENEUR Launch.
You get One Dozen Life-Giving Secrets on How the Wise Entrepreneur Sustains and Nourishes Body & Soul While Caring for a Business. And for $1 Dollar more you get a membership that gives all my Laser Focused Reports and Life Giving Manuals as a member.
A value of at least $121 for a buck. Now that’s Cool. Right?
But I thought, “Hey! Why not just let people sign up for a membership at $9.97 as Option Two? They’d get all my manuals and reports – that I normally sell for $121-- for becoming a member.”
“Are you nuts, William?! You can’t give away the store,” my business voice said.
“Sure, I can. It’s my store,” my generous self said. “Obviously, I want people to get my focused attention, the best information, and heart filling inspiration I can give them so they can live a life they wholeheartedly love.”
So there you have it. My generous self won. Clearly, you win, too.
You get to choose –
Option One -- Get the INCREDIBLE Wholesome Entrepreneur - One Dozen Life-Giving Secrets on How the Wise Entrepreneur Sustains and Nourishes Body & Soul While Caring for a Business at $27. Without the membership.
Option Two -- The Are-You-Kidding-Me Great Option – Become a member of Body & Soul Mentor for $9.97. (Automatically, renews every 30 days at $9.97.)
You get my focused attention, information, and inspiration to help you live a life you wholeheartedly love for $9.97/mo. Obviously, I priced this so it would be easy for you to continue being a member.
Be sure you read all the details before you decide which option works best for you
=> http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/wholesome2options.html
Go for it
=> http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/wholesome2options.html
If you want more brainstorm-news-flashes about becoming a member be sure get on this no-obligation waiting list – The Journey Begins. I will keep you posted on ways you can join.
=> http://www.bodyandsoulmentor.net/journeybegins.html
Blessings,
William
P.S. HEADS UP: The two options launch Oct 2nd at 6:00 AM PDT. Option Two ends Oct 9, 2008 at 7:00 PM PDT or when 200 new members have joined whichever happens first.
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