Posts about community organizations, inspiring individuals, leadership and mentorship, as well as new ideas in education.
Awakening Cafe Full Moon Nature Walk (Feb 7th, 2012 - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) We will be going outdoors and into nature to witness the beauty of a full moon on a mid-winter's evening
Tapping into your body’s inner intelligence: Ayurveda, using natural ways to enhance the body’s ability to maintain balance & address underlying factors of the disease process.
Join the leading-edge discussion! We are continuing the amazing connections and discussions that were initiated at the Awakening Festival held this past June. With this aim, we are hosting a monthly gathering to bring together like-minded individuals on the awakening journey. This Month's Topic: Ayurveda – Tapping into your body’s inner intelligence The talk will be lead by Alison Logee. Alison is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and has worked in the health care sector for over 25 years. In her presentation there will be a brief introduction to the history, philosophy and principles of Ayurveda. She will touch on natural ways to enhance the body’s ability to maintain balance and address underlying factors of the disease process. You will be introduced to daily practices of awareness that support vitality and longevity. Learn More About Alison In addition to her consulting practice, Alison provides several preventative Ayurvedic therapies aimed at helping to purify and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit by eliminating toxins and nourishing the body’s tissues. These treatments facilitate deep relaxation, increased energy, pain relief and clarity of [...]
Join the leading-edge discussion! We are continuing the amazing connections and discussions that were initiated at the Awakening Festival held this past June. With this aim, we are hosting a monthly event called the Awakening Cafe. This monthly gathering will bring together like-minded individuals on the awakening journey. […]
On October 20th, dozens of people joined together at the first Awakening Cafe gathering which was hosted at Mlle Clifford English Tea Room and Florist. Thanks to Linda's gracious hospitality and the enthusiasm and positive energy of the people who attended, the evening was a great success. Two main topics were discussed: What does Awakening mean to you? and What would you like to see / experience at future gatherings? Next Gathering: November 17, 2011 Learn More
Hands on Eco-learning, school-wide collaboration and creative expression all wrapped into one fun project! This past month, the children of Mount Pleasant Elementary School participated in a unique and interactive learning project lead by Christopher Buddle, a professor at McGill University, who works in the field of Biodiversity Science and is a parent of three children at the school. This “Backyard Biodiversity” project was part of the school’s Earth Day celebrations and its Green Team program, which promotes environmental literacy and leadership. According to Buddle, “The project’s aim was to help define the concept in an accessible manner, and illustrate why biodiversity is important to all of us, and to the well-being of the planet”. The project started with a presentation from Buddle, which included a beautiful and gripping photographic journey about biodiversity, from the rainforests of Panama to the high Arctic tundra. The students marveled as they watched the diversity of life presented on the screen. Buddle explained to the kids why biodiversity is so important. “It gives us food. It helps [...]
By: Judy Nagy No person feels more alone than when they are hit full-force with a sudden crisis: illness, death of a loved one, a divorce, or financial ruin can cause unbearable suffering. A generation or two ago, when families were faced with difficulties, they could turn to the extended family for support. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters were often comfortingly close and could provide support for their own. But the world has changed. Families are spread across the globe; not down the street. Communication is digital; not around a kitchen table. Neighbors wave to each other as they head out to work; but they often don’t know each others’ names. We have become busy, fast-paced, independent of our community. But, when a crisis drops a brick wall smack in front of our face, we have no choice but to come to a dead halt. We have no choice but to admit that we need help to climb that wall. Judy will be hosting a workshop at the international Awakening Festival, June 18, 2011: [...]
Musings on Life by Roselle Kovitz If we can shift our thoughts and actions toward kindness, toward compassion, I believe that it can become a habit. Each small gesture—a smile, a kind word, a helping hand—can and often does make a difference. It certainly has for me. I remember the time a friend started calling me every week when I was diagnosed with cancer or another who spontaneously invited me to stay with her family when I was going through a divorce. The kindness of those gestures, and so many others, remains with me years later. Right now, there’s a great opportunity to join with others around the world who are bringing compassion to the center of their lives. The Charter for Compassion, an international movement initiated by author Karen Armstrong, is encouraging individuals, grassroots and national organizations, cities, and countries to make compassion part of the fabric of personal, professional, and civic life. Karen Armstrong is the prolific author of numerous books on religious affairs—including A History of God, The Great Transformation, The Gospel According to Women, A Time to Keep [...]
Dover helps students understand what winter was like for our ancestors Last week, the children at Mount Pleasant Elementary School were treated to an extraordinary outdoor classroom experience, guided by two of our local experts in natural history and biodiversity, Gary Dover and Professor Christopher Buddle. The walk was part of the school’s Green Team program, which promotes environmental literacy and leadership. Helping kids connect to nature, along with reducing waste and conserving energy at the school are the main tenets of the program. Dover lead the kids on a guided tour and imaginary journey to follow the steps of our ancestors. He started by asking the kids to pretend they were living a hundred years ago building a log cabin. The kids eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “Our ancestors used the winter time very productively. It was a period of the year when they weren’t busy farming. They could dedicate their energy to other tasks, like building and repairing their homes,” Dover explained. He guided the children to look for the appropriate [...]
They walk among us. Through their loving work, they help to heal the world. Jean Houston calls them “Social Artists”, referring to those who bring focus, passion, skill, tireless dedication and fresh vision to the social arena. Christian Gagne is a social artist, but he is better known in his own circles as a medical doctor. I am privileged to call him a friend. I personally witnessed the compassion and kindness that he infuses into his practice when he sat next to me, providing comfort as my husband (and his friend) passed away. I watched his healing hands gently touch my husband and tend to his comfort in his remaining hours of life. Those same hands have healed thousands and have welcomed countless newborns into the world. It seemed appropriate to me that he would volunteer to work with an organization called, Team Canada Healing Hands (tchh.org). […]