The Dance of the Petal

Namaste Beloveds,
Happy Spring! I am surrounded by beautiful blooming trees that are singing of spring. And I am reminded to celebrate the dance of each petal ... Depending on the flower, there are a number of petals that make up the blossom and when their time comes, each petal leaves on it's own. It's flight downward to the waiting ground is a small blip in time but a transition none the less and one worth honoring. Some years ago, I started this awareness and honoring process with fall leaves ... I would consciously join with a leaf and proclaim, I celebrate you!" as it made it's dance downward. Some are graceful, long flights and others more of a gentle plop like the petals from the colorful camellias currently gracing our yard. With the blossoming trees, the wind sometimes carries so many at once, it looks like a flurry of snow. In one or in mass, I celebrate them! For each petal contributes to the beauty of the blossom and the bounty of the tree. As I have been simultaneously surrendering and reemerging from the darkness of winter and germination of life seeds, I have let the honoring cry of "I celebrate you!" connect me with the beauty of the blossoms that surround me and surely abound within me ... even when I can't see my own petals, much less celebrate them. I have been feeling much of the butterfly's struggle ... the necessary struggle of preparation in leaving the chrysalis in preparation for flight. The story of the purpose of the butterfly's struggle is on the new site.
On February 7, 2007, the new web site launched and I had to let go of all that wasn't done. In retrospect, I think my vision was more like a tree or that whole garden or whole bowl of soup and I just had to be o.k. with petals, sprouts and broth!! In the wake of technical glitches and other life demands, I am still letting go ... focusing on the beauty of each petal ("I celebrate you!") and just trusting that each blossom and the whole tree is unfolding. I will get to all the wonderful pages and plans in process and unfolding. And I surrender to Spirit timing, healing, and other souls contributing as they are called. Meanwhile, new, exciting opportunities for nurturing New Thought families and community abound inside and outside of cyberspace...
read on and join us! YES! I celebrate YOU and I celebrate US!

The Purpose of Butterfly's Struggle

Celebrating Petals

There are so many beautiful petals in this world ... each doing what calls to them! I want to celebrate Jeff Bibel for his new book and the inspiration it is for so many. "Rewind, Replay, Repeat: A Memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" is a testimony to love and provided me more compassionate acceptance of my own doubt & fear monsters. Spirit triumphs when we meet adversity with creativity, courage and voice. Thank you Jeff!  And thank you to the African Children's Choir coming to Christ Unity in Sacramento in April (see calendar section).  The African Children's Choir™ features delightful African children ages 7 through 11. Many have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease. Their voices sing out on behalf of Africa's 12 million AIDS orphans. They represent the future of the entire continent, demonstrating the potential to become strong leaders for a better future in their homeland.That's taken from their website: http://www.africanchildrenschoir.com/ 
Visit them and be inspired!
On our own website, we have some inspirational voices too! The "Kidspeak" feature mixes different children's comments; hear what they say about Love! And hear what our lovely (Spiritual Life Center chaplain & volunteer) reved up minister Anamaria has to say. We also heartily invite you to spend time with 8 year old Sara Gardner on our site. You can hear her speak and sing and read up on her many volunteer projects ... through service, she shines! Sara will be speaking on her annual Club Mud service project in Mexico at Christ Unity Church on March 25th and at our Community Celebration Circle at LifeWorks on May 19th. Thanks for the inspiration, shining Sara! Thank you to all the awesome blossoms on our New Thought Family Tree ... indeed on this incredible Tree Of Life we all share.

Visit our Love page & Celebrate Sara Online!

New Thought Family Retreat!

Join Us For Fun & Faith Renewal in the Sacred Sierras!
Refresh, Renew, Rejoice! Join other New Thought families at Silver Lake in the high Sierras August 30-September 02, 2007 Register online! Connect as a family & as conscious, caring community.

Feathers Of Faith Family Fun Retreat!

Circle Up Your Calendar!

Be sure to circle up your calendar with lots of fun, song, and soul satisfying events! The power of the circle itself is evident in all nature so we invite you to look for ways within and all around you to circle up! For those in the Sacramento area, we offer more community opportunities to circle up together. On April 21st, we will celebrate each other and Mama Earth with an afternoon circle including singing, crafts, snacks, alter building. Join us from 2:00-5:00 at Joyous LifeWorks, 3009 F St., Sacramento. On Earth Day, April 22, from 5:00-6:00, Jeremiah and I are giving a concert at East West Books, 2216 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento and April 11, at 7:00 is when the African Children's Choir sings at Christ Unity, 9249 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento

Community Celebration Circles!

Site & Newsletter Update

If you haven't had a chance yet, visit the new site! And tell us what you think. There is a lot planned in the way of organization and content flow and you are always welcome to participate. Send us your inspirational stories, pictures, artwork. Send us your voice! At our Community Circles, we can record actual voices and take digital pictures so those are great places to connect with us and the site!
Thank you again to all of the newsletter recipients who just "landed" on the list! I'm having a hard time removing you even though I said I would after the site launched!! Sometime in the coming weeks, we'll send a confirmation request which is a way that you can say yes to being on the list. Pass it on to your friends to subscribe! And, as always, feel free to unsubscribe at the bottom of the newsletter The new intention for the New Thought Families Newsletter is to send it on the 2nd and possibly 5th Sundays every month.

Visit our New Thought Families Website!

In Joy We Bloom

The petals on a flower always form a circle so surround yourself with pretty petals, beautiful blossoms and don't forget to say, "I celebrate you!" And as we breathe in the beauty of these blooms, may we continue to surrender to the necessary darkness and germination that feeds all seeds. In this Spirit of life's cycles and circles, I truly do celebrate YOU!
In "Earth Prayers: From Around The World":
"Again, again we come and go, changed, changing. Hands join, unjoin in love and fear, grief and joy. The circles turn, each giving into each, into all."
Wendell Berry
"To be of the earth is to know the restlessness of being a seed/ the darkness of being planted/ the struggle toward the light/ the pain of growth into the light/ the joy of bursting and bearing fruit/ the love of being food for someone/ the scattering of your seeds/ the decay of the seasons/ the mystery of death/ and the miracle of birth." John Soos
"Over cherry blossoms/white clouds/over clouds/the deep sky.../I can climb on forever/once in spring/I with god/had a guiet talk." Shuntaro Tanikawa