Professional Documents
Culture Documents
♥ ♥
♥ Heartcentre ♥
♥ ‘Peace Rose’ ♥
♥ ♥
♥ ♥
On a path of Love
♥ ♥
♥ Everyone is welcome ♥
♥ ♥
♥ Everyone is progressing ♥
♥ ♥
Everyone is teaching
♥ ♥
♥ and everyone is learning ♥
♥ ♥
♥ ♥
♥ ♥
All photos in this issue by Georgia
♥ ♥
♥
♥
In this issue ~ Winter / Spring ♥
♥
♥ ♥
♥ Page 2-3
Keeping in Touch ♥
♥ ♥
Page 4
Mid-Year Retreat
♥ ♥
♥ Page 5
Heartcentre Program details: ♥
♥
August - December 2008 ♥
♥ ♥
♥ Page 6-7
Themes for Contemplation & Meditation ♥
♥ ♥
Page 8-12
Teaching from Heartcentre:
♥ ♥
‘Finding the Gift in the Present’
♥ ♥
♥ Page 13-14
Photos from around Heartcentre ♥
♥ ♥
♥ Page 15
Blessing from Heartcentre ♥
‘Heartcentre’ 128 Waratah Road, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782 Telephone: (02) 4757 3066. ABN 15 003 995 195
Winter/Spring
Issue no 2: 2008
‘Heartcentre’ 128 Waratah Road, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782 Telephone: (02) 4757 3066. ABN 15 003 995 195
is also powerfully effective with rescue dogs. Many
NEWS of the rescue centres are now using Jan’s
K9 Heart to Heart groundbreaking techniques to help calm and ease
dogs who are traumatised, and help them settle into
their new homes with security and confidence.
Her best selling book ‘The Dog Listener’ has
received world wide recognition. It is absolutely
fantastic to be able to finally understand how your
dog thinks, and how to communicate effectively
with them in a language they understand.
You can see why we were so drawn to Jan
Fennell’s wonderful work because it brings harmony
into the home. We are very inspired to be able to
bring more peace into this world through helping
dog owners understand their canine companions,
and how to implement this simple and effective
method. We would appreciate you letting people
know about this new branch to our work.
‘Heartcentre’ 128 Waratah Road, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782 Telephone: (02) 4757 3066.
MID-YEAR EXTENDED RETREAT ~ JULY 2008
Spiritual sustenance is essential to help us flow with more ease through the ups and downs of
daily life. There is a tremendous resource available to us when we are able to connect to the
inner realm. This mid-year Retreat is an opportunity to replenish your inner reserves.
During this extended Retreat we will be creating an environment of love through movement,
songs, Sufi Poetry, and spiritual practice to help experience the sweetness that is possible
when spiritual practice is done as an act of love.
Our Friend in Spirit will help us to make love our focus and inspiration, and we will be
practicing a variety of ways which assist us in sustaining our inner life – just for the love of it.
We encourage you to join us for this very special annual gathering. You can stay at
Heartcentre and do this Retreat as a residential or you can participate non-residentially.
August Friday 1 You can stay the night before or after Day of Renewal
Saturday 2 DAY OF RENEWAL ★10.15 am - 5.00 pm
Cost: $100 Includes lunch Deposit: $45 non-refundable / transferable
Theme: The Reality of Abundance
‘The more generous you are with the flow of Divine Love the deeper your sense of abundance will be.’ As you know whether you see
the cup as half empty or half full will influence your experience of life and your place in it. As Rumi says: Stop! There is a Divine
Generosity coming towards you. We will explore this life changing theme and how to both give and receive in abundance, and learn
how to stay oriented to the abundance of spirit - no matter how life appears. Our Friend will bless us with her abundant heart.
September Friday 5 You can stay the night before or after Day of Renewal
Saturday 6 DAY OF RENEWAL ★10.15 am - 5.00 pm
Cost: $100 Includes lunch Deposit: $45 non-refundable / transferable
Theme: Staying Positive and Calm Amidst the Drama of Life
‘It is quite an art to have a tender heart and, simultaneously, have a heart which is strong and protected by the power of love and
loving detachment.’ It is all too easy to lose one’s balance and become over involved emotionally with the drama of life. There is an
art to having an open feeling heart in response to life, and at the same time allowing the compassion within to soothe and calm
oneself and others. Our Friend will share her infinite wisdom on this most practical teaching.
October Friday 3 You can stay the night before or after Day of Renewal
Saturday 4 DAY OF RENEWAL ★10.15 am - 5.00 pm
Cost: $100 Includes lunch Deposit: $45 non-refundable / transferable
Theme: Maintaining a Multidimensional Perspective
‘Full commitment is when your mind and your physical being your heart and your soul are all working harmoniously and at one,
together for the fulfilment of your ideal.’ We are well practised in listening to our bodies, minds and feelings - relatively. We are
much less willing to really listen from the place of wholeness, connected to the source of wisdom and guidance within. Our Friend
will offer guidance in how to maintain the multi-dimensional perspective on life which helps to liberate our being.
November Friday 31 Oct You can stay the night before or after Day of Renewal
Saturday 1 DAY OF RENEWAL ★10.15 am - 5.00 pm
Cost: $100 Includes lunch Deposit: $45 non-refundable / non-transferrable
Theme: How to Make your Mind your Ally
‘Instead of your mind turning to your brain as its reservoir for thought, your mind needs to turn its receptivity to the impressions of
the One. Then, like a clear mirror, it reflects those impressions from the Divine Mind out into this world.’ When the mind is
unattended by the influence of your loving heart, it runs in circles and is hard edged. However, when the mind and heart are held in
alignment the wisdom and intelligence of your inner being transforms the mind into your ally. Our Friend will illuminate this theme.
December Saturday 13 END OF YEAR CELEBRATION (Returning Tuesday 13th Jan 2009)
For those who have participated in Heartcentre events this year
Time: ★10.15 am - 4.00 pm
Free: Bring vegetarian food to share
Theme: Celebrating the year shared
Dec / Jan Tuesday 30 2008 - Friday 2 2009 NEW YEAR EXTENDED RETREAT
Time: ★2.00 pm Tuesday - 4.00 pm Friday
Cost: $490 residential. $370 non-residential. Deposit $100
Theme: Reflecting, Gathering In, Magnetising
This is a powerful time of the year to gather in all you want to keep from 2008; release what is finished; and to settle into the peace
and truth within as you attune yourself for 2009. During these precious few days we will stay in communion with our finest self,
receive inspiration from Our Friend, be inspired by the beauty of song and Sufi poetry, and deepen our attunement to Love. As well
as times of silence there will be time for creative expression and heartcentering movement.
Winter/Spring ♥ Themes for Contemplation
Issue no 2: 2008
Spiritual practice
is an act of love
in an
environment
of love
generating
an atmosphere
of love
Our Friend
Photo by Georgia
‘Heartcentre’ 128 Waratah Road, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782 Telephone: (02) 4757 3066
Winter/Spring
Issue no 2: 2008 ♥ Themes for Contemplation
In everyday life it is spiritually nourishing Take time when you are not weighed down
to open to the beauty of this world, by the responsibilities and roles
and to the beauty of the human heart – of your day to day life.
both within yourself and within others. Sit in the spaciousness
of your own spiritual presence
allowing your consciousness to expand
It is spiritually nourishing
into the Divine Presence
to lift the veil between you and The Divine,
that is within you and all around you.
to allow the vibration of Universal Love
and Universal Light
to fill your being of light You can use the quality of loving detachment
and your being of love. in relationship to even your physical self.
It is a sacred manifestation of spirit,
and yet, to experience total spiritual liberation,
It is spiritually nourishing to take some time
your consciousness can also transcend the physical
♥
out of your busy schedule
and move into the vast realms of light.
and to let yourself concentrate
on the peace of your inner being.
When you connect to that inner peace A key to true liberation
it sustains you comes from learning how to let go with love.
even when you are involved You can free yourself
in the activity of the world, from all sorts of relationship entanglements,
because you have a place to live from reactiveness, obsessive thinking,
which is strengthened even the need to win an argument –
through your spiritual awareness. when you are willing to let go.
Letting go with love not only creates peace
but liberates your heart and spirit.
It is spiritually nourishing
to remember who you truly are,
because that helps you release One of the ways of moving
the source of stress in everyday life beyond the duality of spiritual and worldly life
which comes from the personality self is to let the place of stillness be within you,
and its worries and woes. even when you are being busy
This remembrance allows you to relax doing what needs to be done in your life.
into the spaciousness of being –
of being who you truly are. ‘Being in the present’ – what does it really mean?
There is no stress in Spirit, It is one thing to bring yourself
there is only the expansiveness of love physically and energetically into the present,
and the boundlessness of light. and it is quite another
to bring the consciousness of your mind
In order to experience surrender into Love into a circle of presence.
one needs to practice Instead of your mind looking at the past
surrendering one’s identification or into the future,
with who you mostly think you are. your mind is being tuned into or conscious of
That process of surrender just this simple moment,
is the expansion of consciousness, or just this particular action you may be doing.
and also the application Or you may be sitting quietly,
of the principle of loving detachment. but your mind is with you in that stillness
So the practical way to experience or with you in that activity.
spiritual liberation
is through loving detachment Your consciousness and awareness
from the whirlwind of thoughts, of the vibration and wisdom of your true self
beliefs and judgements. is enhanced by being present to it
without distraction – simply being in meditation,
Life is not about reaching permanent stillness. or in the stillness, or in the silence
It is about bringing stillness into every activity where your inner being is able to expand
so the atmosphere you create into oneness with the Divine.
holds balance within the movement.
These beautiful teachings are from Our dear Friend in Spirit - Heartcentre © 2008
PAGE 8
Teaching from Our Friend in Spirit – Finding the Gift in the Present– Heartcentre © 2006
PAGE 9
relaxed with there being a simple focus, your mind present. What thought is recurring? What feeling is
settles into that simplicity. recurring in the present?
Then, centering in that, you open yourself to a
YOUR MIND NEEDS RETRAINING deeper awareness of the source of that. It may be
The mind needs to be retrained because in this through talking with somebody else. You may write
frantically, mentally-oriented culture it is applauded it in a journal. In a way, you bring what was into
to have the capacity to hold ten things in your mind what is and there, in your atmosphere of love, you
at once. Or, to be able to always come up with can explore it in a way which allows you to release it.
something as if you should be thinking ahead of If you move your awareness and your consciousness
every possibility. That is applauded. It is a helpful from the present and go on a journey, a reverie into
skill to have, however, when you are wanting to the past, all you will do is revisit, leave it, and come
focus in the present, putting your mind ahead is a back into the present. If you haven't made the
distraction from present consciousness. connection of love – which is the link to the present
I hear you saying 'but you still need to plan – then nothing changes. You just leave yourself, go
your life'. That is true, there are decisions that need and have a look at it, go and feel bad about it or
to be made that have complex implications for the about yourself, feel that nothing ever changes, feel
future. How do you look at the future and still stay the despair, feel the pointlessness of looking at
focused in the present? You do that by holding your anything and then come back to yourself. That pain
awareness still, in the present, centred in the is not released, it is reinforced. The only bridge to
vibration of your being. Not just being aware healing in the present is love.
of your head and what your brain is doing
but by being aware of your whole presence, THE METAPHOR OF AN OASIS
and then from that centred place you observe, Before I said that the present is like a sliver in
you think about what you need to do, you time and mostly people live in the territory of
think about what the options are. When you the past or the future. The picture I have of
have thought that through, you make your this is that the present is an oasis, it is
commitment to follow through on whatever magnificent. In the middle of this oasis there
decision it may be, and then release it. You trust is this sublime citadel and that is your inner being
your capacity to think something through. You trust which you want to inhabit. You want to know how
your capacity to make a loving and responsible to get there and you want to know how to stay
choice. You trust your capacity to follow through on there.
that at the appropriate time. You don't have to Around this citadel are all the faces of you – all
harass yourself and bully yourself to make sure you the ones who you think you are, or you think you
don't waver. Because of that trust in yourself you will be, or you think you should be, or you think you
can let it go, you can return to being conscious of could be, or you think people think you are or think
the vibration of love that you are, the being of light you aren't, or how you see yourself – 'That is how I
that you are. really am. Oh dear! If only I were like so and so.'
You may then say: How can I work through Each one of those faces is calling you to attend
things from the past? This is an intrinsic part of the to it. You can do that in two ways. You can leave
healing process, to hold an awareness of the past this citadel of love, go outside the oasis and have a
unresolved difficulties or areas where there has been talk with whoever that is. Or, you can say: 'You, the
a lack of healing, a lack of forgiveness. These things unloved part of me; you the part that is hurt or has
from the past do intrude into the present if they hurt others; you the person with the big ambition,
haven't been resolved. That is one of the gifts – that the dreams and so on - come in here! I am not
is how you know it is an area you need to work with: leaving this space. I am expanding this space – this
because it has intruded from the past into the space of love, in order to embrace all of who I am, all
present. You don't leave the present to go into the of who I have been, all of who I could be, will be,
past to find it. You notice what is coming into the won't be – so that we all live in this one vibration of
reality, in this one holy space.'
Teaching from Our Friend in Spirit – Finding the Gift in the Present– Heartcentre © 2006
PAGE 10
You may say 'Yes, that sounds wonderful but fleeting glimpse to being a state of being that you
how can I take this citadel, this oasis into my can settle in, and then take with you. I want it to be
workplace?' This is the beauty of a daily spiritual more than a moment you glimpse in your
practice, because every morning and preferably more meditation. I want you to receive the gift of
than once during the day you remember who you presence. By having a picture of that, by having a
really are. That remembrance is your path, not only direct experience of that, it will inspire you to keep
to recognising your inner truth, but also to holding dealing with the distractions and the detours, and it
it. will keep inspiring you to bring your awareness into
Then when you are in your work situation, if your heart, into the light of the present; into who
you gently bring your awareness back to your you really are. That is why the present is a gift
presence, the vibration of your heart, the rhythm of because it is presenting you with your own inner
your breath, that will directly assist you to bring presence. From there you can make the most
light to this moment. As you do that you will sublime heart contact with others because you have
recognise the citadel because that is what it is made surrendered into your heart reality. That is the place
of. It is not a stone castle, it is a vibration of light. to meet others.
That vibration of light can move within you and There are times when you will notice an
around you and into every corner of the world. inspiration to be more in the present when you are
losing your identification with your personality self,
BEING INSPIRED BY THE GREAT ONES when you are in landscapes or seascapes that
When you admire the work and the lives of are expansive, that reflect back to you your
the great ones, that is what they did. They own infinite nature. So you think it is the
held that light in their consciousness, and horizon, the valley; but it is an echo of your
held their consciousness in the light to such a true self, your true self that is awakened in
degree of focus and intensity that it was that moment to actually recognise the
visible. It made them visibly enlightened. infinite. It can only do that from that place
That is an incredible gift they have given of infinity within.
because in their example is the reminder to you of One of the keys to being in the present is the
not just your potential but your own capacity as a capacity to forgive and let go. Otherwise, in the
sacred being. We are not talking about angels, we are basement of the citadel you have the well-chewed
talking about human beings. Human beings who bones of old arguments, old hurts, and you need to
held such a commitment to a life of love and service, regularly flush them out. This is the beauty of having
of surrender and trust, that it was all of their being. a spiritual education. It teaches you the importance
They were still eating and going to the toilet, and of all the spiritual qualities and of the necessity to
talking to people, and having responsibilities and take responsibility for one's inner being.
making decisions about the future, and taking Spiritual education teaches you about the
themselves to task for their own weaknesses; they preciousness of the qualities of forgiveness and trust.
were still committed to their inner growth and Until you forgive, firstly yourself – for storing all
within that, they held the connection to the One. those things down there in the cellar – and secondly,
So don't separate yourself. This is what the the person with whom that pain or difficulty was,
mind does. It says 'those people over there can be then a part of you will be running up and down
spiritual but I cannot be'. That is actually not the those stairs, having another little look and then
truth. You have the same capacity as the wise ones running back up. It is a waste of energy. That is one
and as every other human being no matter how out way of looking at it. You see the choice that you
of touch with their own hearts and light they might have. Firstly, you need to know that is what you
be. There is that essential oneness, the same are doing. Secondly, that you have a choice. And
ingredient of being. thirdly, you need to know that you have the capacity
I used the image of the oasis and of the citadel within yourself to heal from those things which you
because I want you to expand your sense of being in have carried, and to release them into the past where
the present. I want you to expand it from being a they belong, or into the future where they belong.
Teaching from Our Friend in Spirit – Finding the Gift in the Present– Heartcentre © 2006
PAGE 11
Then you can have a crystal clear foundation to your be staying conscious of the presence of the Divine
being. around you. It may be an affirmation like 'I have all
I need'. Say that out aloud once you sit up and go
THE HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS about your day because as your mind hears what
Forgiveness is absolutely spectacular in its capacity you say, it will have two effects. One is that it will
to purify and liberate you from past hurts, angers, remind your mind to say it again. The other is that
resentment and so on. The vibration of peace and it will help your mind to have enough to do so you
acceptance and surrender and trust has a wonderful can hold with you some of that beautiful vibration
capacity to cleanse and purify and make clear the of light that you have accumulated, or been
path of the future. conscious of, in your meditation.
As a spiritual practice regularly attend to your Keeping it simple is a good way to maintain
mind and sort out what actually belongs in the more clarity. You may want to write down some of
future, what actually belongs in the past, and keep the fruits of your meditation. It may just be a word
widening the territory of the present. At the or a phrase which is alive and fresh for you that
moment, the inner terrain is mostly desert with all morning – then say it aloud. If you are in a situation
its demanding faces, and an occasional, momentary where it is not possible for you to be speaking out
foray into the inner being, into the light, into your loud, then it is equally helpful to either murmur it
true self. Your spiritual practice is to reverse that very quietly if there are people nearby, or if people
ratio, to gradually expand the inner terrain. Not are actually in your space then you can just repeat
through pushing out and away those parts of things in your mind quietly.
yourself that are in the desert, or those parts There is an art to repeating things in your
of others that you reject, but through mind. The way you turn a mental repetition
softening the meeting place, through opening into a spiritually centering phrase is by
your heart. Then that place of peace that you repeating it in your heart. So that the
hold, that place of awareness, of truth, of reverberation of the phrase that you either
being centred in the present moment, speak out loud or think, is actually being
strengthens. It will not happen automatically – experienced directly in the heart. That needs
I can guarantee it. You can assist the inner awakening to be tangible, palpable, real. We are not talking
through your contemplation, through allowing theory here, we are talking about vibration. We are
yourself to come into situations like this where you talking about a direct experience of the vibration of
receive the inspiration of others. what you are saying. You may be saying a holy word
Mostly you meet with others in either your or a name. So you are not saying 'Jesus' up in your
desert or theirs. The times when you make contact mind; you are holding it in your heart. Whether it is
with others which has flow or meaning to it is when 'Jesus' or 'Divine Mother' or 'Spirit of Love', in your
you are meeting from your place of love, your open meditation you practice saying those things until
hearted place of presence. Sometimes you may be in you can feel it. Then it is being repeated in your
the presence of someone else who is holding that heart. In your heart you are holding the
consciousness, that open-hearted place of presence, remembrance and your mind is just basking in that
and you see it and it reminds you of that truth glory.
within you. Of course you will need repetition and
tolerance, because you will only remember deeply for
Q: After meditation, my mind starts up again. I thirty seconds – if you are lucky. Then you will keep
coming back to it. Don't worry about the drop ‘out’
cannot sustain that simple, clear space. of consciousness, just come into the next thirty
Given that you have the opportunity (as you live by seconds and enjoy that. Over time, the thirty
yourself) after you come out of meditation, take seconds will flow into a minute.
something that you have been focusing on in your
meditation. Take that awareness into your next
activity. It may be staying loving to yourself. It may
Teaching from Our Friend in Spirit – Finding the Gift in the Present– Heartcentre © 2006
PAGE 12
BRINGING YOUR LOVING CONSCIOUSNESS TO healing intention. Particularly there needs to be the
EVERYTHING intention to let it go. It is not enough just to look at
Mostly the mind is a steamroller. It needs to be it and to feel it. That is only a preliminary step. That
taught that there is an accelerator and a brake, and is just identifying it. The capacity to let go completely
you are slowing down the acceleration, and every is something you really need to believe that you are
now and again you are actually going to stop and be. capable of doing. Be conscious of the issues that
Then, another way of doing it, of staying present is have been big for you that you have completely
to say: 'I am bringing love to the preparation of my released, and notice what it was that you did that
breakfast'. 'I am bringing love as I brush my teeth.' 'I allowed you that freedom.
am bringing love as I say good morning to myself in This will help you as you sift through the
the mirror’. ‘I am making this home that I live in an things which need the light of love to be brought to
outward expression of this inner citadel of love.' 'I them, and the light of release that comes when you
am bringing love to cleaning the house.’ ‘I am farewell some of those things into love, so they are
bringing love as I dust this area.' 'I am bringing love completely absorbed or dissolved into your heart.
as I freshen these flowers.' 'I am bringing love to the
preparation of this food, whether it is for myself or Q: In the past I used to be emotionally and mentally
for others, because I want these people around me to reactive to everything in my life which meant that
recognise this vibration of love. I want to feed them there was so much to deal with, continuously, because I
love.' was reactive. I have needed to learn how to
Another thing that helps you in that turn the sensitivity and reactiveness volume
situation is to move a little bit more slowly down so I have more freedom to be in the
than you would normally. Instead of leaping present and enjoy the gift of the present. It is
up from meditation and going straight into not discounting what I think or feel, it is
full gear, give yourself some space to walk a learning how to turn the volume down so there
little more slowly. The pace helps the is more space for me to be present and at peace.
mindfulness. It is much harder to be mindful
when you are moving quickly. When you move That is very true, and the more you hold a vibration
more slowly it is easier to be mindful. of gentleness, understanding, compassion and love
for yourself and for others, and tolerance
Q: Something I have difficulty with is working out particularly, the less reactive you are, so then you are
when is the right time to put attention to a problem. not accumulating things.
My mind feels overcrowded and overwhelmed that I For example, if someone says something mean
have so many things to deal with. to you, you just see that someone is saying
something mean. You don't say: 'What is wrong with
Two responses to your question. One is that time me or them?' You observe it. There may be
itself does have an active healing ingredient. You feel something you need to look at in yourself that has
that you are accumulating things, that you are not inspired the meanness. Then you change it, in the
dealing with everything but there are some things present, and release it into love, in the present. Trust
that, just through time and sending love and yourself. Trust in your own good intention.
understanding and forgiveness, those things dissolve
into the past. There is some of this that you need to
do. I pray that you will all be strengthened
The other is the prioritising of your day, or in your familiarity with your inner being
your week, and establishing what it is from the past and in your capacity to enjoy
or the future that is actually intruding in the present the beauty of this gift you are given,
in such a way that it is interfering with your capacity in every moment,
to be in the present. These are the issues which need to experience the true presence of your being
to be worked through with consciousness and a and the love and light within the whole of creation.
Teaching from Our Friend in Spirit – Finding the Gift in the Present– Heartcentre © 2006
Winter/Spring Photos around Heartcentre
Issue no 2: 2008
Winter/Spring Photos around Heartcentre
Issue no 2: 2008
Winter/Spring
Issue no 2: 2008