Personal Development Spring

In short...

A short story on Spiritual Manhattan by Environmental Economist Pamela Peeters, who just released her book URBAN ECOLOGY.

“With our two ceremonies tonight, we shall eliminate our inner and outer obstacles. We call Ganesha, the god of unity and success. to open the barriers to our creative flows. Saraswati, goddess of the creative arts, song, dance, and creative writing, will join us in this ritual. Now let us start in chanting Ohm . . . .”

And here I thought I was going to attend a simple yoga session. Boy, was I wrong. I leave my stretch pants in my bag, flex my body into a lotus pose, and take a deep breath: this program is going to last for at least two hours!

Marc and Jessica are seated facing each other. They ring bells and recite pujas – their Sanskrit prayers. We are invited to throw rice over Ganesha as we sing along and wave to ourselves with offers of light.

The moments fly by. From time to time I open my eyes, to assist my third eye with another vision. An altar has been decorated with my favorite flowers: coincidence or not? The room is painted in virgin white, and strips of white lights hang from every wall. The scenery functions as a catalyst in the creation of a feeling of purity. The receptivity of the people around me does the rest. We are nine in all, seated in a half circle around our Brahman teachers.

My spiritual “being” is aligning itself with my body and my mind. The end of the ceremony closes with a Q&A, when Marc tells me that he met me before, at a party in Queens. I have to admit that I did attend a party on the other side of the river just that once. It was at the residence of a lady who wanted to showcase her latest photo collection.

For some reason, however, I couldn’t quite remember having met this charming young man. A painful admission, but it was not in his personality to hold it against me. Quite the contrary, he invited me to start our acquaintance all over again. You can never tell what new beginnings an honest yoga session can lead you to.

More people introduced themselves to me. After hearing more about me, another yoga fan recommends that I get to know a certain Allan. I smile internally. Was that the Allan I know? It is.

I happen to know Allan very well indeed, as he did special effects for my short movie Seven Seasons. It took us a full seven days to facelift my rough cut into completion. This wonderful personality participates in many spiritual projects, including his television show, New Realities. We met “accidentally” at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, where I was submitting the next episode of my own show, Our Planet. A spiritual friendship developed that very day.

Just last week, Alex took me to the Peruvian shaman Regis Lierena. This was during an “inter-spiritual dialog,” at which people discuss the Universal Spirituality and exchange their personal experiences. Our goal in these encounters is to speak only from the heart, through meetings between kabalists, Buddhists, monks, and others who share in their spirit. New York is indeed the place where the spiritual leaders of the world take time to reflect on the state of the world, as they contribute to the vast spiritual energy of this city.

More on My Urban Ecology

How to...

How to open up to enhanced well being and more vitality. Here are some tips given by Jacques Caluwe, from JeeCee, who just released a book on vitality :

•Conscious Breathing ( breathe in LIGHT, exhale negativity)
•Drinking H2O ( lot’s of it, start your day wit a glass of luke water )
•Exercise daily ( our body is our temple )
•Healthy Food ( try to eat only fruits in the morning for a week!)
•Positive thoughts ( you’ll become a magnet to more positive thoughts)

Where to...

As the world’s economic order changes, the pressure on countries to provide a skilled workforce becomes more acute. What is the best way of providing students with the skills needed for the 21st century workplace? Continuous education of course, so here is a quick pick on a couple of institutions we particularly like.

1. USA

The Go Green Initiative is a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation. Founded in 2002, the Go Green Initiative unites parents, students, teachers and school administrators in an effort to make real and lasting changes in their campus communities that will protect children and the environment for years to come.

2. USA

Global Sustainability Education programs that educate young people through "Tourism as a Vital Force for Peace"

3. GERMANY

The WFS is closing a Missing Link between pacemaking representatives of the sustainability movement, youth, formal schooling and informal learning environments. It opens access to authentic resources and organisations, and provides youth, learners and teachers with a universe of best practices for sustainability learning in the class-room, self-guided learning and higher education. The ultimate goal is to effectively qualify and empower youth for active democratic participation in advancing societies towards sustainability

4. USA and CANADA

AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, is a member organization of colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada working to create a sustainable future. Our mission is to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education - from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach - through education, communication, research and professional development. We work in partnership with businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies that support our mission.

5. USA

Green schools are healthy for students, teachers and the environment. Built right, green schools are productive learning environments with ample natural light, high-quality acoustics and air that is safe to breathe. US green building Council

Interview...

There is a saying that tells you that the teacher will come when the student is ready. So one day, I met KAMI, while I was working on my bi-weekly “our planet” tv show at the MNN TV station. I smelled a herbal cloud of perfume come my way and there he was, an extremely charismatic person surrounded by a lot of positive energy, wearing a gazillion of necklaces.

One week later I attended a full moon meditation while stretching out on a woolen blanket. My head was turned towards a gigantic singing bowl, preparing for some internal bliss moments. I also attended a THE POWER OF THE NOW workshop and a raindrop massage, as I wanted to experience the full body - mind – soul trinity and discover in what way a healthier inner being would exercise ( if any ) a reflection on my outer environment

PP: Tell me a little bit more about yourself.

KF: I believe in the KHAYAM principle, that says that a true master is never done learning. Form the moment of birth, through the moment of death we all seek knowledge. I can assist people on that journey and operate as a lighthouse ( hence the name of his company ), where I share the light that I have gathered on my path of evolution.

PP. What technique did you learn first

KF: I foremost teach mindfulness to be present in love and give services for the body, the mind and the soul.

PP: When did your transformation happen;

KF: In 1999 I got divorced, was on 5-6 different medications, had a diet that was absolutely wrong. I drank alcohol on casual occasions and I smoked, so physically, I was not in good shape and socially I was unhappy as well.

I then started my education in herbalogy, where I allowed myself to get acquainted with the 5 different levels of herbs. I became a Reiki Master and went to Jerusalem, became a priest and started to give aromatherapy lessons in Connecticut.

PP. You believe in “no medication”?

KF: God has given each one of us so much more power than we can imagine. If you can help people to heal in a natural manner, than that level is preferred. If no treatment is available, than it is ok to take a recourse in chemical salvage, although the natural way is preferred.

PP: How do you describe a day in your life ?

KF: I wake up at sunrise and pray for harmony, peace and forgiveness on earth. I send REIKI to my family for higher evolvement and close with some other exercises such as yoga, martial arts, stretching and some strengthening exercises as well.

I then proceed to eat my breakfast composed of feta cheese, pitta bread and oatmeal with raisins and cranberries. Other things can pass my daily occupation such as writing some poetry. Around 7.00 am I read my e-mails, and listen to some music. I am usually in the city around 10.00 am as to cater to my clients. I also attend to private appointments.

PP: Why did you pick New York as your destination?

KF: When I finished my education I had a wonderful job opening in Arizona with a great guru. I declined this opportunity as my mission was to bring good energy to New York.

PP: you give a full range of treatments: yoga, full moon and other meditations, Reiki master classes, shamanic work, massages. Tell me more about the raindrop massage.

KF: The Raindrop Technique is a powerful, non-invasive tool for assisting the body in correcting defects in the curvature of the spine. The Raindrop technique integrates various essential oils and massage, utilizing the power of these oils in bringing the body into a structural and electrical alignment. When the essential oils are properly applied to the neck, back, and feet, this technique can bring about electrical alignment and help relieve a variety of discomforts caused by imbalances in the body, especially those found in the spine.

PP: What is an ideal student for you .

KF: The best student is the one who wont let go and is always present to what is and not what was.

PP: The future of healing

KF : We have become work oriented rather than life oriented. We are not living to live, we are surviving one day at a time, waiting for life to happen. Healing will happen to people who slow down and live a little.

PP: What is your wish for the future of our planet

KF: I wish that we, as a society, a city and as a group can evolve towards a higher love of the Self. Each participant of society should do their best in both mind and action.

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