This is a beautiful poem of his that I draw inspiration from:

When your chest is free of your limiting ego,
Then you will see the ageless Beloved.
You can not see yourself without a mirror;
Look at the Beloved, He is the brightest mirror.

I am very excited to be presenting brand new exercises at my June workshop in Omega that were inspired from reading Rumi’s poetry on this trip or from learning Sufi exercises from spiritual teachers.  These are beautiful methods to help unravel your ego and reveal your Authentic Soul.

If you haven’t signed up yet, make sure to reserve a spot at the Omega Institute’s website, here!

Especially in the wake of having a large black bear wandering around Los Angeles, it seems like nature is reminding us that we still share our concrete jungle with the wildlife around us.  That coyote leapt up into the fence with such grace!  No matter what kinds of barricades we try to erect, we will always be neighbors with nature’s creatures.

With the sudden rain and the coyote sighting both falling on Friday the 13th, it seemed too synchronistic to ignore.  Across cultures, coyotes and foxes are seen as trickster creatures that may shape shift and cause divilment and merriment wherever they go. (Sidenote: divilment is actually a word!  It means mild mischievousness or practical joking.)

In traditional Chinese stories, foxes would transform into beautiful women who would seduce young academics and students to distract them from their studies so that they would fail their exams!

ShamanicJourney.com also informs us that the coyote can also serve as a reminder to laugh!

“When we are being too serious about life, Coyote may appear to teach us to laugh at ourselves and life’s ironies. Be prepared for your sense of humour to arise in full force in line with what is happening around you and to you.”

So what made you life today?  Did you miss out on an opportunity to laugh?

One of my favorite meditations is a laughing meditation.

Laughing Meditation:

Sit by yourself or with a group of people.  Now, focus on your breathing, inhaling for five seconds, holding for seven, and then exhaling for eight.  Do that a couple of times, then from your gut, laugh!  Make sure it comes deep from your belly, and not from your throat.

We’re doing this right now at the Soul Blazing Sanctuary with the pouring rain as a backdrop!  You should join us!  Also, we’ll be doing more fun meditations like this at the Omega Workshop June 3-8, so be sure to join us in New York and register here!

Whatever your spiritual inclinations, it is worthwhile to note the rebirth of the world this spring. So get away from the paved sidewalks and asphalt garages and take a trip out to your local park. Spend some time noticing the changes that spring brings to the world.

As you walk around, and be on the lookout for your Nature Teacher. This may be a particularly impressive, gnarled tree, a ladybug or a stream. One of the Nature Teachers that I’ve found was a rock!Once you have found something in nature that particularly compels you, sit nearby and be open to learning the lessons that it has to teach you. If there is a particular question that you have been spending your energy attempting to answer, put up that question to your Nature Teacher and listen, observe. You may find the answer you’re looking for!

Take what you’ve learned and create an affirmation for yourself. You may borrow an affirmation from the stream, such as “I am constantly changing and constantly the same, with the capacity to change my route should I choose.” Nature holds wisdom for all of us.

For those of you in the midst of celebrating Easter, I wish you a great weekend with your families and communities. For all of you, I hope that you can find a moment to reconnect with our re-awakening world and find an answer from your own Nature Teacher!

It’s the kind of weather that furthers the disdain of those familiar with “real” winter.  You know, the people who laugh until they can’t breathe at the mention of Ugg boots as winter footwear.

I pulled a couple of books off of my shelves this morning, and while reading, found a few phrases that resonated with my Authentic Soul. The first one comes from the autobiography of Isadora Duncan.

In the scene just before, she described a beautiful, passionate night spent with a lover in Budapest. But, as the sun rises in the morning, her fears and self-criticism reappear as well, and she is no longer able to enjoy the moment.

“How I envy those natures which can give themselves entirely to the voluptuousness of the moment, without fear of the critic who sits aloft and separates and insists upon interjecting his view when least wanted, to the coupled sense beneath.”

An Impostor sighting! Isadora recognizes the voice inside of her that separates her from blissfulness, love, sacred connection. She envies those people who have effectively muzzled their Impostors. Those who are free to follow the path of their Authentic Soul’s choosing.

Her envy isn’t uncommon. We all suffer from being torn away from our Authentic Soul  when our Impostors interject their opinions, uninvited.  It is exhausting fighting off the Impostors in our lives!  Just getting through the day can feel like slogging through quicksand.

Rather than endlessly fighting with your Impostors, reframe your goal: strengthen your Authentic Soul.

We must re-learn how to play, be creative, and connect lovingly with ourselves and others! Our Impostors naturally lose their influence over us when we reach out and touch nature and generate kindness.

That’s why my upcoming “Spark” workshop focuses on rekindling creativity. But it won’t feel like work, so perhaps I should rename it, call it something other than a “workshop.” How about a “Salon”?  Here’s how Wikipedia describes it:

“A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and… increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace’s definition of the aims of poetry, “either to please or to educate” (“aut delectare aut prodesse est”).”

I love that phrase, “Either to please or to educate”! The “Spark” salon, held at the Soul Blazing Sanctuary in Sherman Oaks, will bring us together in conversation, joy and connection.  Open your heart to finding a supportive community and being surrounded by the positive energy of others!

Sign up now for the workshop, which takes place on March 31st and April 1st, at the event page on www.TheSoulBlazing.com .

I hope to see you here and remember – Shift Happens!

Lisa

As a filmmaker and philanthropist myself, these topics have provided me with a lot to reflect on. I came across this beautiful thought, from Stephanie Rudat on The Huffington Post:

“Whether rightly or wrongly, Invisible Children has made it cool to care about Uganda. Perhaps the organization and its work speak to you, perhaps it doesn’t. What is certain is that there is currently unprecedented enthusiasm among the people whom Kony 2012 spoke to – the young. This is a critical opportunity to engage them and to help channel their enthusiasm to learn more and be better global citizens. And they don’t deserve to be criticized for caring.”

Isn’t that true? This is a great teaching moment for us. We need to connect with our youth, not attack them. It’s incredible that this generation, who we frequently accuse of apathy, are actively engaging in some of the world’s toughest issues.

So how can we help guide the next generation of volunteers, philanthropists, movers and shakers?

1. Help youth check their “Inner Narcissist” when it comes to charity.
As it becomes cool to be an activist for a cause, kids begin to feel good about giving back. However, this can be an open door for their Narcissist Impostor to step through! It’s important to help youth combat the temptation to develop a superiority complex around charitable acts.

Here’s one exercise that you can share with young volunteers who may have the “Narcissist” Impostor: Volunteer for a few hours or create an act of kindness. . . and then don’t take credit for it. Journal about your experience and how you felt. Were you tempted to share the story of your good deed with someone else? Why? Was it different doing something that you knew would not be recognized by others?

2. Help Them Connect With Their Authentic Souls.
I have met a lot of people through my non-profit organization, Whispers From Children’s Hearts. One recurring theme that I’ve noticed is that people who are not necessarily interested in charity get involved because they want to please or be loved by a love interest, partner, parent, friend, etc. They claim to be interested then drop the cause after their relationship ends. These kinds of “fair weather” volunteers suffer from the “Wounded Inner Child.”

Here’s one exercise that you can share with volunteers who have the “Wounded Inner Child” Impostor:   Give them a journaling assignment where they write a script between themselves and someone they serve. For example, I had a volunteer write a script where their character spoke to a child living at an orphanage, explaining why he didn’t like volunteering. By writing down his own excuses, he was forced to hear how unconvincing they were and began to realize the harm he had unintentionally caused!

From March 31st to April 1st, Lisa Haisha will be hosting a weekend-long Soul Blazing Workshop, focusing on your inner “Impostors,” the masks that you adopt in situations of uncertainty, and how to overcome them. These Impostors seek to conceal your “Authentic Soul” – think of it as your positive, compassionate and creative self directing you towards your true purpose in life.

During her workshop, participants will be engaged in a number of activities and exercises based on spiritual modalities Lisa experienced during her travels in addition to games, creative self-expression such as through journaling, and group discussions.

To prepare for workshop, here’s a brief overview of how you can identify some of your Impostors as well as some food for thought. So get a note pad, brew a cup of coffee and pull up your favorite chair!

What are your dreams and goals? This may seem like a simple question, but many people find themselves uncertain about the answer.  It’s not uncommon or wrong to feel directionless, but when it starts stranding you in a state of inactivity and keeping you from exploring your passions and interests, it’s high time to do something about it!

List out some of your aspirations, and if you’re unsure, list out some of your interests. Once you have them written out, take some time to consider each.  When was the last time you invested some effort in pursuing them?  What steps must you take to make these a priority in your life and in your schedule?

And lastly, what’s stopping you?

Next, think of your relationships – with your significant other, your friends and family. These are the bonds that you carry, the support you provide and receive.  These are the people yon share your happiness and sorrows with.  Go ahead and list five names.

Afterwards, write down three things that you appreciate about each relationship and, most importantly, what you do to maintain those important ties. Once you’re done, on the opposite side of the page, list out five people who either frustrate you or cause you stress.  Then, copy  over the exact details from your first list to your second.

There is no reason why the people who irritate you can’t become the people you treasure.  To truly connect with your Authentic Soul, you have to examine how you treat others through your interactions.  With compassion and honesty, rediscover the kind of person you truly are and aim to be.

Writing is a great way of processing the daily occurrences and situations in your life. It’s also helpful in charting your life’s journey, clarifying certain patterns you find yourself repeating. Sometimes, the solutions to our dilemmas can be found in our life’s journey and personal histories. Keeping a journal  can help keep your Impostors at bay.

Remember to take the time to reflect and self-care!  We hope to see you at Lisa’s Spark workshop on the 31st. For more detailed information about the Soul Blazing workshop or to signup, please visit us here.

Join us for Lisa’s 2-Day Soul Blazing workshop in Sedona, Arizona this coming September, with the option to stay Monday and explore with Lisa.

In the supportive company of others seeking transformative change, you will learn how to identify your Impostors and learn where they originate from.  Lisa will coach you through Soul Blazing exercises that unmask these Impostors and connect you to your Authentic Soul’s purpose.  She will also be offering mini Soul Blazings at these sessions, so come prepared to be blazed!

Registration for this class is not yet open – please sign up for our Soul Blazing newsletters to stay updated or contact us at events@lisahaisha.com for more information.

They all scribbled, sketched and explored through keeping journals!

Journaling helped connect them with their creativity, and by pouring their souls out onto the page, emptying themselves, they were completely open to whatever the next day brought.  I was inspired this morning while reading Simone de Beauvoir’s Letters to Sartre. Letters are just another form of journaling, in a sense, as they allow us to express our intimate thoughts and reflections with a trusted friend or lover.

I journal because it keeps me in touch with my Authentic Soul and my Impostors at bay.  I can look back at a situation and identify who is present and who is not.  Journaling helps me reach “aha!” moments and get back to being productive, creative, and helping to serve the world.  Here I am journaling about my experience meditating in a teepee while on a ranch in Malibu -

So why should you journal?

One of the primary benefits of journaling is that it helps you “Release.” Journals are a place to safely release pent up emotions, thoughts, worries and desires without the fear of being judged or criticized by others. Journals are the confessionals of our souls, allowing us to unburden ourselves. It’s proven to help reduce stress and improve relaxation, among many other health benefits.

Journaling also serves as a “Record” of our life’s journey. Now, some people are very resistant to this idea, claiming that “My life isn’t interesting enough to record – I just do the same thing every day!” If you try journaling, you’ll realize that this isn’t so! There are so many subtle variations in each day. There are infinite textures and intensities of your emotions and experiences, which you discover the longer you journal.  How many things do you take for granted or disregard, when they’re really miraculous?

One of the projects that we are developing for my non-profit foundation, Whispers from Children’s Hearts, is a journal that helps orphans document their lives.  Usually parents act as the guardians of children’s earliest experiences, taking photographs, keeping letters or telling stories about when their child was little.  Orphans may not even have a reliable record of the places that they have lived throughout their lives.

The Whispers journal is a place for safekeeping childrens’ thoughts, art, photographs, and important information such as names of people who cared for them and addresses of places they’ve lived. If you’re interested in donating towards this project and helping children in orphanages document their lives, please visit the Whispers from Children’s Hearts website and click the “Donate” button.

Anais Nin said “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” This is so true!  Journaling helps guide us through the process of “Reflection,” helping us look back at our lives and discover new insights. Through writing, we can explore difficulties that we’ve faced, recognize patterns in our behaviors, and enhance our communication and critical thinking skills.

Now that you’re familiar with the benefits of journaling, it’s time to start! If you’re still having some trouble getting motivated, here’s an added incentive!

SOUL BLAZING JOURNAL CONTEST!

I am going to give away some FREE 30-day Soul Blazing journals. These are filled with writing prompts, quotes and inspirations to get you through that first month if getting into the rhythm of keeping a journal. Just be one of the first four people to email events@lisahaisha.com with answers to the following questions. All of the answers can be found on my websites!

1. What is the second question that I asked children for the Whispers From Children’s Hearts book?
2. What is the name of the workshop I will be holding at the end of March at the Soul Blazing Sanctuary?
3. How did I come up with the idea of the Impostors?

Good luck with your journaling and remember . . . Shift Happens!

Lisa