Month: August 2017

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The Path of Resilience

This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful; in a word, more alive. ~ Alice Waters

Welcome to “Paths of Heart“- a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together in music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! Our gatherings are most every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 117 Evans Drive in north Fort Collins. Childcare is available (please let us know ahead of time so we can make arrangements).

We hope our paths cross soon!

Sunday,
September 3rd

Resilience is this week’s topic.  We see it all around us, perhaps the latest example being the many brave souls affected by Hurricane Harvey.  How is it that we can sometimes more easily recover from adversity, while other times we struggle?  What are your “coping mechanisms” when you’re in the thick of it?  How do you “bounce back”?

“If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces” ~ Shane Koyczan

“Natural disasters bring out the worst of Mother Nature but the best of humanity.” ~ Erin Canty, Upworthy

“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” ~ Jodi Picoult

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”~  Helen Keller

“Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.”~ Yasmin Mogahed

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Sunday, September 17th – Myles Sloniker and Eva Bacmeister will be our featured music guests, in from NYC!

Saturday, September 23rd – “Paths of Heart Presents” Megan Bee as part of our ongoing house concert series.  http://www.meganbeemusic.com/

Sunday, September 24th – Megan Bee will be our featured music guest at Paths of Heart, and we’ll also have our monthly potluck!

“Paths of Heart” Website– Stop by for a visit! www.pathsofheart.org
There you’ll find past newsletters, a newsletter sign-up form, more about our organization, and a photo gallery.  For folks who like to make their donations by credit card, there is a link for your convenience on the website.

‘Gratitudes’

Many thanks to Pat Kendall for presenting and leading our discussion last Sunday!  This thing we do just keeps getting better and better…

We are so grateful for your ongoing financial support which allows our “Paths of Heart” gatherings to continue and thrive.  As always, at least 10% of your offerings are passed on to other non-profits and organizations that resonate with our vision and mission to serve with compassion, kindness, joy, and love. Our most recent recipients are:
Peace Circles, LLC
Amnesty International
Children International
ShelterBox USA

If you have a suggestion for an organization to donate to, please let us know!

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” — Ralph H. Blum

What are you grateful for today?

Other Details….

If this has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to join us, we encourage you to add your name to our newsletter list, as schedules do occasionally change,and we like to keep you informed of topics and special events as well. Just visit our website www.pathsofheart.org and click the newsletter sign-up link. If you know of other interested and kind-hearted souls, please refer them to our website, or they may also contact us by email: info@pathsofheart.org or by phone: 970-484-9600, to learn more about our organization. Thanks! 

* CAR-EOGRAPHY *  You may park in the driveway, as well as diagonally along the north side of our property.  Should those areas become full, please park out on Hwy 1, which has plenty of space and a nice wide shoulder.  Please watch for cars as you are exiting and entering your vehicle, though! The carport area is reserved for folks with special parking needs. Out of respect for our neighbors, we ask that you kindly refrain from parking on Evans Drive beyond our property line. Car pooling is encouraged.  We also have a bike rack for cyclists!

Yoga with Heart!

We do yoga here in our “community space” on Mondays and Wednesdays (we are taking a break on Saturdays through the summer).  All levels are welcome to participate.  Let us know if you’re interested in joining this heart centered practice!

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi

Please note, we are a “remove your shoes upon entering” household (what better way to bare our “souls”…!).  Feel free to bring slippers or thick socks for your comfort (and we always have extras!) 
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Aging with Grace and Ease

This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful; in a word, more alive. ~ Alice Waters

Welcome to “Paths of Heart“- a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together in music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! Our gatherings are most every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 117 Evans Drive in north Fort Collins. Childcare is available (please let us know ahead of time so we can make arrangements).

We hope our paths cross soon!

Sunday,
August 27th

Pat Kendall will lead a discussion on “Aging Gracefully”.  She notes that it isn’t just the “seniors” who might consider this: we are all aging.
“Every one of us woke up this morning a day older.  In our youth-worshiping culture, the question seldom seems to get asked:  Did we also wake up a day wiser?  A day more flexible, more compassionate, more conscious, more patient, more joyfully human and divine — just from having lived another day?  And if not, would we like to do that tomorrow?  What would it take to age gracefully all the days of our life?”  Join us for what promises to be a lively (and ageless!) conversation!

“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

“Youth.  I don’t seek it through another because I have it within; it’s a state of mind, a spirit that is free, and a mind that is playful. The shell of my being is altered by the effects of time, but nothing will tarnish a soul that will never forget what its like to experience creation with endless wonder and appreciation. Each time I see the first snowfall of the season I feel it’s the first time I’ve seen it at all.”
~ Donna Lynn Hope

“The older I get, the less I know. It’s wonderful–it makes the world so spacious.” ~ Swami Chetanananda

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Monday, August 28th – Our “movie night” will feature a “Tour of Italy” photo show presentation by Terry Bieritz, highlighting the Italy trip that he and Serena recently enjoyed.  Details on time and place are available at our Sunday gathering.

Sunday, September 17th – Myles Sloniker and Eva Bacmeister will be our featured music guests, in from NYC!

Saturday, September 23rd – “Paths of Heart Presents”Megan Bee as part of our ongoing house concert series.  http://www.meganbeemusic.com/

Sunday, September 24th – Megan Bee will be our featured music guest at Paths of Heart.

“Paths of Heart” Website– Stop by for a visit! www.pathsofheart.org
There you’ll find past newsletters, a newsletter sign-up form, more about our organization, and a photo gallery.  For folks who like to make their donations by credit card, there is a link for your convenience on the website.

‘Gratitudes’

Another wonderful potluck!  Grateful for this awesome community of loving spirits!

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” — Ralph H. Blum

What are you grateful for today?

Other Details….

If this has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to join us, we encourage you to add your name to our newsletter list, as schedules do occasionally change,and we like to keep you informed of topics and special events as well. Just visit our website www.pathsofheart.org and click the newsletter sign-up link. If you know of other interested and kind-hearted souls, please refer them to our website, or they may also contact us by email: info@pathsofheart.org or by phone: 970-484-9600, to learn more about our organization. Thanks! 

* CAR-EOGRAPHY *  You may park in the driveway, as well as diagonally along the north side of our property.  Should those areas become full, please park out on Hwy 1, which has plenty of space and a nice wide shoulder.  Please watch for cars as you are exiting and entering your vehicle, though! The carport area is reserved for folks with special parking needs. Out of respect for our neighbors, we ask that you kindly refrain from parking on Evans Drive beyond our property line. Car pooling is encouraged.  We also have a bike rack for cyclists!

Yoga with Heart!

We do yoga here in our “community space” on Mondays and Wednesdays (we are taking a break on Saturdays through the summer).  All levels are welcome to participate.  Let us know if you’re interested in joining this heart centered practice!

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi

Please note, we are a “remove your shoes upon entering” household (what better way to bare our “souls”…!).  Feel free to bring slippers or thick socks for your comfort (and we always have extras!) 
Posted on

Potluck this Sunday!

This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful; in a word, more alive. ~ Alice Waters

Welcome to “Paths of Heart“- a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together in music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! Our gatherings are most every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 117 Evans Drive in north Fort Collins. Childcare is available (please let us know ahead of time so we can make arrangements).

We hope our paths cross soon!

Sunday,
August 20th

We’ve had numerous conversations this week about the different ways people handle challenging situations and emotions in their lives. There is certainly lots of anger and frustration milling about in response to national and world events; the unease is palpable.  How do we respond to violence and hate?  Colleen has had several lively discussions of late about being “for” something as opposed to “against” its opposite.  Is it merely semantics?  Or is there something to the “law of attraction”?  We know you have ideas!  Let’s help one another navigate the darkness…

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.” ~ Mother Teresa

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Loving people live in a loving world.  Hostile people live in a hostile world.  But it’s the same world.” ~ Wayne Dyer

“If you intend to be of assistance, your eye is not upon the trouble but upon the assistance, and that is quite different. When you are looking for a solution, you are feeling positive emotion, but when you are looking at a problem, you are feeling negative emotion.” ~ Abraham-Hicks

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Sunday, August 20th – Today is our monthly potluck. Community sure feels more and more important these days in this uncertain world.  Please come hang with us in the backyard after our gathering for good food and conversation (good medicine!).  Bring a dish to share as well as your own washable plates and utensils.  We’ll have cups, napkins, and a variety of beverages.

Sunday, August 27th –
Pat Kendall will lead a discussion on“Aging Gracefully”. She notes that it isn’t just the “seniors” who might consider this: we are all ageing.
“Every one of us woke up this morning a day older.  In our youth-worshiping culture, the question seldom seems to get asked:  Did we also wake up a day wiser?  A day more flexible, more compassionate, more conscious, more patient, more joyfully human and divine — just from having lived another day?  And if not, would we like to do thattomorrow?  What would it take to age gracefully all the days of our life?”  Join us for what promises to be a lively (and ageless!) conversation!

Monday, August 28th – Our “movie night” will feature a “Tour of Italy” photo show presentation by Terry Bieritz, highlighting the Italy trip that he and Serena recently enjoyed.  Details on time and place are available at our Sunday gathering.

Sunday, September 17th – Myles Sloniker and Eva Bacmeister will be our featured music guests, in from NYC!

Saturday, September 23rd – “Paths of Heart Presents”Megan Bee as part of our ongoing house concert series.  http://www.meganbeemusic.com/

Sunday, September 24th – Megan Bee will be our featured music guest at Paths of Heart.

“Paths of Heart” Website– Stop by for a visit! www.pathsofheart.org
There you’ll find past newsletters, a newsletter sign-up form, more about our organization, and a photo gallery.  For folks who like to make their donations by credit card, there is a link for your convenience on the website.

‘Gratitudes’

It was wonderful to have Judi Lucero back with us, playing her flute!  Thank you, Judi, for the music that you are!

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” — Ralph H. Blum

What are you grateful for today?

Other Details….

If this has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to join us, we encourage you to add your name to our newsletter list, as schedules do occasionally change,and we like to keep you informed of topics and special events as well. Just visit our website www.pathsofheart.org and click the newsletter sign-up link. If you know of other interested and kind-hearted souls, please refer them to our website, or they may also contact us by email: info@pathsofheart.org or by phone: 970-484-9600, to learn more about our organization. Thanks! 

* CAR-EOGRAPHY *  You may park in the driveway, as well as diagonally along the north side of our property.  Should those areas become full, please park out on Hwy 1, which has plenty of space and a nice wide shoulder.  Please watch for cars as you are exiting and entering your vehicle, though! The carport area is reserved for folks with special parking needs. Out of respect for our neighbors, we ask that you kindly refrain from parking on Evans Drive beyond our property line. Car pooling is encouraged.  We also have a bike rack for cyclists!

Yoga with Heart!

We do yoga here in our “community space” on Mondays and Wednesdays (we are taking a break on Saturdays through the summer).  All levels are welcome to participate.  Let us know if you’re interested in joining this heart centered practice!

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi

Please note, we are a “remove your shoes upon entering” household (what better way to bare our “souls”…!).  Feel free to bring slippers or thick socks for your comfort (and we always have extras!) 
Posted on

Bodhichitta

This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful; in a word, more alive. ~ Alice Waters

Welcome to “Paths of Heart“- a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together in music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! Our gatherings are most every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 117 Evans Drive in north Fort Collins. Childcare is available (please let us know ahead of time so we can make arrangements).

We hope our paths cross soon!

Sunday,
August 13th

Mark shared a book with us last week that he’s been reading lately, called “The Places That Scare You” by Pema Chödrön.  In it, she shares a concept called Bodhichitta, which she admits is not so easy to translate, but can be understood and observed in various ways and felt through actions and emotions such as compassion, open-heartedness, tenderness, sadness, empathy, and love.  It is our “soft spot, a place as vulnerable and tender as an open wound.”This Sunday we’ll explore how we can awaken our own bodhichitta, to “inspire and support us in good times and bad.”

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~ Antoine de Saint Exupéry

“Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed.  This is ancient and eternal law.” ~ The Buddha

“In other traditions, demons are expelled externally.  But in my tradition demons are accepted with compassion.” ~ Machik Labdrön

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Sunday, August 20th –Our next monthly potluck!

Sunday, August 27th – Pat Kendall will lead a discussion on “Aging Gracefully”. She notes that it isn’t just the “seniors” who might consider this: we are all ageing!
“Every one of us woke up this morning a day older.  In our youth-worshiping culture, the question seldom seems to get asked:  Did we also wake up a day wiser?  A day more flexible, more compassionate, more conscious, more patient, more joyfully human and divine — just from having lived another day?  And if not, would we like to do thattomorrow?  What would it take to age gracefully all the days of our life?”  Join us for what promises to be a lively (and ageless!) conversation!

Monday, August 28th – Our “movie night” will feature a “Tour of Italy” photo show presentation by Terry Bieritz, highlighting the Italy trip that he and Serena recently enjoyed.  Details on time and place are available at ourSunday gathering.  We’ll also send out a separate invite to all newsletter subscribers.

Sunday, September 17th – Myles Sloniker and Eva Bacmeister will be our featured music guests, in from NYC!

Saturday, September 23rd – “Paths of Heart Presents”Megan Bee as part of our ongoing house concert series.  http://www.meganbeemusic.com/

Sunday, September 24th – Megan Bee will be our featured music guest at Paths of Heart.

“Paths of Heart” Website– Stop by for a visit! www.pathsofheart.org
There you’ll find past newsletters, a newsletter sign-up form, more about our organization, and a photo gallery.  For folks who like to make their donations by credit card, there is a link for your convenience on the website.

‘Gratitudes’

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy

What are you grateful for today?

Other Details….

If this has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to join us, we encourage you to add your name to our newsletter list, as schedules do occasionally change,and we like to keep you informed of topics and special events as well. Just visit our website www.pathsofheart.org and click the newsletter sign-up link. If you know of other interested and kind-hearted souls, please refer them to our website, or they may also contact us by email: info@pathsofheart.org or by phone: 970-484-9600, to learn more about our organization. Thanks! 

* CAR-EOGRAPHY *  You may park in the driveway, as well as diagonally along the north side of our property.  Should those areas become full, please park out on Hwy 1, which has plenty of space and a nice wide shoulder.  Please watch for cars as you are exiting and entering your vehicle, though! The carport area is reserved for folks with special parking needs. Out of respect for our neighbors, we ask that you kindly refrain from parking on Evans Drive beyond our property line. Car pooling is encouraged.  We also have a bike rack for cyclists!

Yoga with Heart!

We do yoga here in our “community space” on Mondays and Wednesdays (we are taking a break on Saturdays through the summer).  All levels are welcome to participate.  Let us know if you’re interested in joining this heart centered practice!

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi

Please note, we are a “remove your shoes upon entering” household (what better way to bare our “souls”…!).  Feel free to bring slippers or thick socks for your comfort (and we always have extras!) 
Posted on

The Tapestry of Life

This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful; in a word, more alive. ~ Alice Waters

Welcome to “Paths of Heart“- a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together in music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! Our gatherings are most every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 117 Evans Drive in north Fort Collins. Childcare is available (please let us know ahead of time so we can make arrangements).

We hope our paths cross soon!

Sunday,
August 6th

This Sunday, we consider the tapestry of our lives – how we are woven together in a seemingly random (but is it, really?), yet beautifully (sometimes agonizingly) diverse and colorful array of circumstances, events, people, choices, consequences….
We welcome your stories and insights!

“As I look back at the entire tapestry of my life, I can see from the perspective of the present moment that every aspect of my life was necessary and perfect.  Each step eventually led to a higher place, even though these steps often felt like obstacles or painful experiences.” ~ Wayne Dyer

“Destiny itself is like a wonderful wide tapestry in which every thread
is guided by an unspeakably tender hand, placed beside another
thread and held and carried by a hundred others.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

“Each of us has a purpose for living beyond our own survival and
pleasure.  Every individual is like a thread in a beautiful tapestry
with a vital contribution to make, not only to the sustenance of
life as we know it, but in the creation and development of more
beneficial expressions of life.” ~ John Marks Templeton

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Monday, August 28th – Our “movie night” will feature a slide show presentation by Terry Bieritz of the Italy trip that he and Serena recently enjoyed.  Details on time and place will be available at our Sunday gathering.

“Paths of Heart” Website– Stop by for a visit! www.pathsofheart.org
There you’ll find past newsletters (with a place for comments), a newsletter sign-up form, more about our organization, and a photo gallery.  For folks who like to make their donations by credit card, there is a link for your convenience on the website.

‘Gratitudes’

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy

What are you grateful for today?

Other Details….

If this has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like to join us, we encourage you to add your name to our newsletter list, as schedules do occasionally change,and we like to keep you informed of topics and special events as well. Just visit our website www.pathsofheart.org and click the newsletter sign-up link. If you know of other interested and kind-hearted souls, please refer them to our website, or they may also contact us by email: info@pathsofheart.org or by phone: 970-484-9600, to learn more about our organization. Thanks! 

* CAR-EOGRAPHY *  You may park in the driveway, as well as diagonally along the north side of our property.  Should those areas become full, please park out on Hwy 1, which has plenty of space and a nice wide shoulder.  Please watch for cars as you are exiting and entering your vehicle, though! The carport area is reserved for folks with special parking needs. Out of respect for our neighbors, we ask that you kindly refrain from parking on Evans Drive beyond our property line. Car pooling is encouraged.  We also have a bike rack for cyclists!

Yoga with Heart!

We do yoga here in our “community space” on Mondays and Wednesdays (we are taking a break on Saturdays through the summer).  All levels are welcome to participate.  Let us know if you’re interested in joining this heart centered practice!

“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ― Rumi

Please note, we are a “remove your shoes upon entering” household (what better way to bare our “souls”…!).  Feel free to bring slippers or thick socks for your comfort (and we always have extras!)