FROM THE FOUNDER:

After observing your process over the past four years of our Winter Feast for the Soul, I know that some of you are starting to get discouraged. Maybe you have missed a day ... or maybe you are finding this commitment to a daily spiritual practice is harder than you thought it would be.

Trust me, this is all part of the process. There is another inspirational poem that you should know about. Again it is by the 13th Century Persian mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi:

It was Rumi who invited us to this Feast 800 years ago with the poem that you see in the masthead of this newsletter. And here he offers you some encouragement.

For some of you, the commitment to daily spiritual practice may be new. Since my own practice is primarily one of meditation, I know from the inside out that this journey is all about "starting over".

To that end, I have recorded a pep talk for those of you who may be on the verge of considering dropping out because you think you have failed in some way.

The talk also includes a summary of Doug Bentley’s webcast from the Oneness University in India and a heart-centered meditation to help you to rededicate yourself to your practice. We had hoped to be able to post a recording of Doug’s webcast, but it was somehow lost at the recording studio. So I offer you the next best thing ... a summary of what I heard. May it serve you as you continue your Feast for Your Soul.

Click the link below to go to the talk:
http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com/index2.php?dest=2012_winter_feast_words_of_encouragement

METTA MOMENTS: Daily Acts of Kindness

I have taken some time over the past few days to listen in on some of the amazing meditations that are being offered to you this year. Two of our guides have ended their meditations with what they are calling Metta Moments. Here are some Metta Moments, suggestions on how to bring Acts of Kindness into your day.

• Walk or ride your bike today as an act of kindness to our planet
• See the Light within every person you encounter today, whether you pass them on an escalator or meet them for coffee or lunch.
• Know that you too carry that Light within you. Remind yourself that you hold infinite possibility in your being. Feel the Presence of that powerful aspect of your being throughout the day.

Do you have anything to share about your own experience with Acts of Kindness? Here is a link where you can blog about your experience:
http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com/index2.php?dest=2012_winter_feast_acts_of_kindness

TELL US HOW YOU ARE DOING:

The fact that tens of thousands of us are creating this amazing Feast for the Soul means that you are never alone. And our connection is beyond space and time.

It’s about this time that amazing observations are made about how life is changing because of your practice. I can easily recall a couple of emails that I received the first year we made the Feast a worldwide event in 2009:

I live in a valley of about 10,000 people near Sun Valley Idaho. I recall of friend of mine who is a long-time spiritual practitioner saying to me: "I can feel a palpable difference here in our valley during this Feast." That was during the first Winter Feast in 2008. At that time it was only a local event ... kind of a trial run, if you will. It easily became a worldwide event in 2009 and this year I can feel something very different that is happening, both locally and globally. There is a magnetism that I cannot explain. The Feast seems to have matured. Thank you for all that you have done to make that happen.

Please write and tell me your observations...whether you are having problems or feeling the positive effects of your practice. My reward for this work is to know that you are feeling the difference that you are making in your life and in the world. And it is also my work now to guide you when you feel lost or discourage. Either way I want to hear from you.
valerie@winterfeastforthesoul.com
Or blog your experience with Acts of Kindness here:
http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com/index2.php?dest=2012_winter_feast_acts_of_kindness

RECORDED MEDITATIONS AVAILABLE FOR YEARS:

I received a note recently asking how long the meditations will remain available on our website. I am told by our host (Talkshoe.com) that they will remain available as long as people keep downloading them.

2009 was the first year that we offered these recorded meditations on line. People still download that series of meditations daily. So I trust that you will be able to access this year’s series for quite a while.

You can access them through our website by clicking on the Meditation tab at the top of the home page. You can also go directly to Talkshoe.com and type winterfeast2012 in the search box in the upper right hand corner of the opening page.

HOW TO TELL IF YOU ARE "DOING IT RIGHT":

If you are wondering how to know if your are "getting it" or "doing it right, I offer this quote from Anam Thubten excerpted from his book: No self: No Problem

ANAM THUBTEN’s OPENING AND CLOSING CHANTS:

Anam Thubten opens and closes his meditations with two different chants. Here they are so that you can join him more easily.

Opening Mantra:

Buddham saranam gacchami
Dharmam saranam gacchami
Sangham saranam gaccami

This mantra is about taking refuge in the three jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (In the Buddha - one's true nature - I take refuge. In the Dharma - the path to realization of one's true nature - I take refuge. In the Sangha - the supportive community of others also walking the path - I take refuge).

Closing Mantra: Manta of Prajnaparamita:

Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha!

Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond!

This is the mantra of Prajnaparamita, the transcendent wisdom, the awakened mind, and the heart of Buddha's teachings. It invites us to go beyond all forms of bondage and realize the supreme truth that is already here. When the profound meaning of this mantra is embraced, the great emptiness reveals itself, and pure awareness shines within. Recite this mantra with an unflinching intention to call oneself to be awakened to the enlightened nature of all things in this very moment.

SOME INTERESTING LINKS:

There are lots of interesting things that come across my desk each day that I am inclined to share with you. Here are a couple of them.

This is the link to a song written by John Denver. He sang it once before his tragic and untimely death. He never recorded it. It is called "The Wandering Soul":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDK3XK_8lNQ

If you have trouble with the link, you can go to YouTube and search for the title. There are several versions there.

This link will take you to a very touching video of the evacuation of Manhattan Island on 9/11. The water was the only way off the island that day. In the video we see how those brave and loving boat captains volunteered to evacuate 500,000 people that day. As one of the boat captains said: "Its in every person to be kind...to be a hero." We just need to be reminded.
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/cities/moving-documentary-of-911-evacuation-by-boat-shows-resilience-of-cities/881?tag=nl.e660

If you have trouble with the link, just Google "Boatlift / video"

And lastly, here is the link to my words of encouragement and a heart-centered meditation to rededicate yourself to your practice.
http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com/index2.php?dest=2012_winter_feast_words_of_encouragement

We accept donatations through PayPal:

Or by sending a check to:

A Winter Feast for the Soul
421 Deer Trail Drive
Hailey, ID 83333

Sending You Love and Encouragement on Your Journey Back to Your Self.