Staying Heart-Centered in an Unpredictable World

Of course most of us have known for years that the only thing we can control in our lives is ourselves, and how we respond to outside circumstances and events.  But, geez, who knew we’d get so many opportunities to challenge our abilities in this arena!  Life throws us enough curveballs without adding a global pandemic to the game, and just managing our day to day lives (like finding the time to get this newsletter out!) can feel overwhelming and anxiety producing.  Let’s gather together this Sunday, September 6th at 10:30 a.m. in the Paths of Heart backyard (117 Evans Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80524) and explore the strategies and activities we’re employing to stay even-keeled and heart-centered in these unprecedented times.
Love and Light to all, Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

THIS Sunday, September 6th, 10:30 a.m. -Our next Paths of Heart Gathering in our backyard at 117 Evans Dr. in Fort Collins. We will be limiting the number of people at our gatherings, so reservations (and masks) will be required.  Once everyone is seated and our meeting begins, we’ll have the opportunity to remove our masks if everyone present is comfortable with that. We will be seated at least 6 ft. apart. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600 to RSVP. How often we continue to meet outdoors remains fluid. It will most likely be once or twice a month, as we continue to monitor state and local guidelines for gatherings, and the changing weather.

“Paths of Heart Labyrinth” Service Opportunity! – We are looking for volunteers who might want to drop by occasionally (or on a regular basis) and help with clearing the labyrinth of debris and weeds. With our frequent high winds, there is a constant need to pick up twigs and limbs that fall from the trees onto the path, and we are finding that even though we put down professional grade weed barrier, our persistent bindweed is finding its way through!  You can be as meticulous as you’d like (Colleen has a different word for her particular fastidiousness!), and any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk the Paths of Heart labyrinth – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to come on a dry day!

Gratitudes

We are so incredibly grateful for the overwhelming response we had for our family house concerts this past weekend!  We ended up doing 3 consecutive nights with around 40 people each night.  What a gift to lift our spirits!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

What are you grateful for today?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Anthony Robbins

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart

This Week’s Inspiration

As we continue to experience cancellations of plans and events (with their subsequent disappointments), not from the pandemic this time, but from our raging wildfires across Colorado, we’ve been contemplating “The Bigger Picture”.  Even though we can’t know what the future holds, we take comfort in trusting that everything happens for a reason in the “grand scheme” of things.  It’s tempting to want to know how it’s all going to pan out in any number of situations, but if we did know all those details, chances are we’d be overwhelmed by it all and would lose the ability to act in the moment. And that present moment is where all the magic is!  It’s where we learn and grow and face the challenges that make us ultimately stronger and wiser, and hopefully more kind and loving human beings.  Stay safe and well out there, do what you can to help others, and we’ll see you in a few weeks (details below).
Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Friday, Aug. 28th and Sunday, Aug. 30th, 6-8 p.m. – Crosson/Sloniker Family House Concert in the backyard!  Please join Mark, Colleen, Myles, and Emma for a special send-off concert before Myles returns to NYC after his 3 month stay in CO.  Details here: https://mailchi.mp/86f6ca60c8fc/crossonsloniker-family-house-concert?fbclid=IwAR07tROlzlWfZbn7NmJaJnxGugAleYZN_5rnUGmz2P2WyfKw1oy0yu-bq3U
RSVP and pre-payment required – tickets are already going fast! UPDATE – while writing this newsletter, rsvps were flying in so fast that Sunday sold out, so we added the Friday date. It is close to selling out as well!  We will be creating a waiting list if both end up full. We are capping attendance at 35 people each night. Rest assured that we will be spacing seating at least 6 feet apart and masks will be required till everyone is seated and the concert begins. Masks will again be required at intermission when folks are milling about. We care about your safety!

Sunday, September 6th, 10:30 a.m. – Our next Paths of Heart Gathering in our backyard at 117 Evans Dr. in Fort Collins. We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required.  We will probably allow a greater number of folks this time (20-25?) and will change the seating arrangement back to rows, as our circle was getting a little too big to space the chairs efficiently, and it was harder to hear folks as they were speaking. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600 to RSVP. How often we continue to meet outdoors remains fluid. It will most likely be once or twice a month, as we continue to monitor state and local guidelines for gatherings.

“Paths of Heart Labyrinth” Service Opportunity! – We are looking for volunteers who might want to drop by occasionally (or on a regular basis) and help with clearing the labyrinth of debris and weeds. With our frequent high winds, there is a constant need to pick up twigs and limbs that fall from the trees onto the path, and we are finding that even though we put down professional grade weed barrier, our persistent bindweed is finding its way through!  You can be as meticulous as you’d like (Colleen has a different word for her particular fastidiousness!), and any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk the Paths of Heart labyrinth – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to come on a dry day!

Gratitudes

We are grateful for everyone who sends us unique and lovely pictures of hearts in Nature!  Here’s one from Colleen’s sister!

What are you grateful for today?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Anthony Robbins

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart

Hello Dear Ones!  As noted in last week’s newsletter, we’ll meet again in the backyard for an in-person Paths of Heart Gathering THIS Sunday, August 9th at 10:30 a.m.  Our topic is Spiritual Alchemy.  As the effects of the Corona Virus pandemic continue to influence us, we can also continue to find ways to spread joy, gratitude, and positivity in our lives and the lives of those in our spheres. We can transmute our old, ingrained, leaden thoughts and ideas into golden treasures of body, mind, and spirit!
We’ll have chairs appropriately distanced, and masks will be required upon entering. Please RSVP as we will continue with a small number (no more than 15 participants) for the foreseeable future. There are still a few seats available!

“So many people turn to spiritual thinking only when they experience difficulties, hoping that the sorrow or pain will just miraculously disappear. Usually, they find that the place of suffering — the place where we are broken in spirit, when accepted and embraced, is also a place of peace and possibility. Our sufferings do not magically end; instead we are able to wisely alchemically recycle them. They become the abundant waste that we use to make new growth possible.” ~ bell hooks

“The secrets of alchemy exist to transform mortals from a state of suffering and ignorance to a state of enlightenment and bliss.” ~ Deepak Chopra

We so look forward to seeing you again! Much love and gratitude, Colleen and Mark
117 Evans Dr., FC, CO 80524
970-484-9600

Sunday, August 9th
(our next in-person gathering)

Spiritual Alchemy

This week we came across an article about BJ Fogg’s concept of “Pearl Habits”, involving prompts that start out as an irritant, but end up creating something beautiful. It reminded us of the concept we call spiritual alchemy, where a perceived “negative” emotion or circumstance can be transmuted or transformed into positive, flowing energy.  This will be our topic for NEXT Sunday’s in-person gathering of Paths of Heart on August 9th. As the effects of the Corona Virus pandemic continue to influence us, we can also continue to find ways to spread joy, gratitude, and positivity in our lives and the lives of those in our spheres. We can transmute our old, ingrained, leaden thoughts and ideas into golden treasures of body, mind, and spirit!
We’ll again be in the backyard, appropriately distanced, and masks will be required upon entering. Please RSVP, as we will continue with a small number (no more than 15 participants) for the foreseeable future. 

We so look forward to seeing you again!  Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

August 9th -Our next Paths of Heart Gathering in our backyard at 117 Evans Dr. in Fort Collins. We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600 to RSVP. How often we will meet remains fluid. It will most likely be once or twice a month, as we continue to monitor state and local guidelines for gatherings.

Know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk the Paths of Heart labyrinth – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to come on a dry day!

Gratitudes

We are grateful for family and friends, helping us weather the storm in fun and unique ways!

What are you grateful for today?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Anthony Robbins

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart

Hello Dear Ones! Just a short check-in to let you know we love you and miss you! We had a lovely gathering in the backyard last week ~ thanks to all who attended and shared their wisdom. We still think it is wisest to gather just every 3-4 weeks as we assess how our county is faring during these challenging times. We are so grateful for your continued support through it all! We affirm good health and wellness for everyone and know we can get through this together with continued loving cooperation, kindness, compassion, patience, and empathy for others. We hope you find time for quiet contemplation and for time outside in the fresh air – maybe you will even spy Comet Neowise this week! We will be in touch again soon but may take next week off from sending the newsletter. We’ll let you know when we have a definite date for our next gathering. Much love and gratitude, Colleen and Mark

Distance Does Not Matter

The stars in the sky are my eyes that each tonight shine upon you,
So distance does not matter.
The sun is my heart that each day warms you,
So distance does not matter.
The earth we walk on connects our every step,
So distance does not matter.
Knowing this brings us constantly together,
So distance does not matter.
~ Cynthia Cregger (1997)

Sunday, July 12th

Our Greater Good

It’s an interesting world out there, eh? The storylines are extremely diverse and sometimes divisive, and we are doing our best to stay grounded in our intuitive Truth. One thing we are firmly committed to is thinking beyond our own small spheres and acting responsibly and ethically for a better, inclusive society and world.  What are your thoughts on this concept of a “greater good”?  It’ll be our topic for this Sunday’s in-person gathering of Paths of Heart.
We’ll again be in the backyard, appropriately distanced, and masks will be required upon entering.  Please RSVP, as we will continue with a small number (no more than 15 participants) for the foreseeable future. As of this writing, there are only a few seats left!

Looking forward to seeing you again!  Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

July 12th -Our next Paths of Heart Gathering in our backyard at 117 Evans Dr. in Fort Collins. We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600 to RSVP. We are still deciding how often we will meet.  It will most likely be once or twice a month, as we continue to monitor state and local guidelines for gatherings.

Know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk the Paths of Heart labyrinth – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to come on a dry day!

Gratitudes

We are grateful for…everything!

What are you grateful for today?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Anthony Robbins

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart

Sunday, June 28th

The Path of Gratitude

We talk about gratitude a lot here at Paths of Heart (and individually, in our day to day lives!). There is no better place to be than in a state of gratitude.  It makes the challenges, big and small, seem somehow more bearable and most of us know that the more we express gratitude in our lives, the more we’ll see (and have) to be grateful for!
We are so grateful for all who came to our first Paths of Heart Gathering since March last Sunday!  We gathered in a beautiful circle in the backyard and mostly just “checked in” with one another and celebrated our lives.  We also took a “tour” of the labyrinth and celebrated its awesomeness!!
We thought our next gathering might be in two weeks from that Sunday, but when we realized that is 4th of July weekend, we all agreed that July 12th would be a better choice.
We’ll again be in the backyard, appropriately distanced, and masks will be required upon entering.  Please RSVP, as we will continue with a small number (10 -15 participants) for the foreseeable future.
We will also be taking a week off from the newsletter next week, so your next reminder for our gathering will be around the 8th or 9th of July.  Have a wonderful couple of weeks and a safe Independence Day celebration!

Looking forward to seeing you again!  Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

July 12th -Our next Paths of Heart Gathering in our backyard. We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600 to RSVP. We are still deciding how often we will meet.  It will most likely be once or twice a month, as we continue to monitor state and local guidelines for gatherings.

Know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk the labyrinth – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to come on a dry day!

Gratitudes

We are grateful for…everything!

What are you grateful for today?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Anthony Robbins

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ~ Meister Eckhart

Sunday, June 21st

The Importance of Celebration

There are so many reasons for celebration, even amid the turmoil we may be experiencing in our personal lives, our communities, our country, and our world at this point in time.  It is always our responsibility to “be the change”, and shine our individual lights brightly, as we do our part to “right the wrongs” of larger society. Today (Friday) is Juneteenth, such an important day for us ALL to celebrate as the day that slaves on the last frontier of slavery (Texas) in the U.S. were freed. As we celebrate, let it also be a day of remembrance, reconciliation, and action, as there is still so much to be accomplished before we see true equality and justice in our world. This weekend we’ll also be celebrating the Summer Solstice (along with a new moon and a “ring of fire” solar eclipse!), Father’s Day, and our first Paths of Heart Gathering since early March! We’ll be in the back yard, well-distanced, and face masks will be required. You will also need to RSVP if you haven’t already, as we will start out small, with just 10 -15 participants. The labyrinth will be ready to walk, before and after our gathering (one at a time, please). We’ll see how this goes; we have heard from several folks that are not quite ready to attend public gatherings, while others are eager to do so. This may turn out to be an every other week event at first or…something else – more is always being revealed! If we have inclement weather, we may need to postpone and will let all that have signed up know that morning. As of today, we still have a few spots left, so RSVP soon if you want to join us!
  
Can’t wait to be with you, Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Father’s Day, June 21st -We will return to in-person Paths of Heart Gatherings in our backyard! We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600 to RSVP. We are still deciding how often we will meet.  It will most likely be once or twice a month, as we continue to monitor state and local guidelines for gatherings.

Gratitudes

We are grateful for every little bit of moisture we are experiencing from recent rains after SO many 90+ degree days!  Transplanting so many “salvaged and saved” plants (mentioned in last week’s newsletter) has been hard on the plants AND the planters!  🙂

What are you grateful for today?

“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ~ Alphonse Karr

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous

Sunday, June 14th

Anticipation!

We are getting excited for next Sunday, June 21, when we’ll be celebrating the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, and as many other things as we please with our first Paths of Heart Gathering since early March!  We’ll be in the back yard, well-distanced, and face masks will be required. You will also need to RSVP if you haven’t already, as we will start out small, with just 10 -15 participants. The labyrinth will be ready to walk, before and after our gathering (one at a time, please). We’ll see how this goes; we have heard from several folks that are not quite ready to attend public gatherings, while others are eager to do so. This may turn out to be an every other week event at first or something else – more is always being revealed! If we have inclement weather, we may need to postpone and will let all that have signed up know that morning.
  
Can’t wait to be with you, Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Father’s Day, June 21st -We plan on returning to in-person Paths of Heart Gatherings in our backyard. We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600.

We have been enjoying our individual visits with folks on Sunday mornings!  It gives us some semblance of normalcy, and it feels great to feel connected in this way.  Mark and Colleen will continue to be available this Sunday on Facetime (or FB Messenger or Zoom if you prefer!) from 10:30 a.m. – noon (when we’d normally be hanging out with you at Paths of Heart), in  ~15 minute increments to simply chat or maybe share a poem or a tune with you that you love. Let us know (you can reply to this newsletter) what time (and platform) is best for you and we’ll confirm with that time or the closest available. June 14th will be the last day for these chats.

Gratitudes

This week our friend Luis came through again, notifying us of a whole yard of flowering plants that were going to be demolished and thrown in the landfill. Colleen dropped everything and made several trips to rescue so many beautiful and diverse plants and has been busy most of this week finding homes for them here and at friends’ houses.  We are grateful that we could add more beauty to our landscape and bring others joy as well!

“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ~ Alphonse Karr

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous

Sunday, June 7th

Synchronicity!

We seem to be in a weird time warp…It’s Saturday night (again!) and the newsletter still isn’t done. It’s strange being on such a different (non)schedule and we’ve been tending to so many different things other than our music gigs, including joining the conversation and protests for #BlackLivesMatter. We have a better understanding now of the concept that all lives cannot matter until black lives matter. It’s important to take a stand to end the pervasive systemic racism in our country.
This week was also exciting, watching the labyrinth take shape and come nearer to completion, and then…we ran out of bricks! These are older bricks that we gathered from a job site a couple of years ago, saving them from going into the landfill. But after stacking 6 pallets full and not knowing at the time what the heck we were going to use them for, we let the rest go. They are apparently not your standard brick, and we spent most of this past week searching for a match. THEN, I went to the home of some friends whom I had not seen for many months and they had these beautiful glass blocks lined up across their front porch. “Need any glass blocks?” Terry asked, and an idea was born. They were the perfect size and now the outer ring of the labyrinth glistens in the sun like a halo, in shades of aquamarine (Colleen’s birthstone) and patterned clear glass. We were going to post a picture, but there’s still some work to be done and we just want you to meet it in person and walk it when we have our first (outdoor) Paths of Heart gathering since early March on Father’s Day, June 21st. Since we’re figuring we can only have 10 -15 participants at first, you’ll need to let us know if you plan to be here, and when the appropriate number is reached (maybe it’ll be more by then?), you’ll be added to the waiting list or be the first on the list for the following week.  We’re all in new territory and we’ll just see how this goes.
Also, if anyone would like to make a tax-deductible contribution specifically to the labyrinth project, we would be most grateful. It has been quite an undertaking!!  Our Paths of Heart family and friends will always be welcome to visit and walk the labyrinth at their leisure.

Be well and be kind,  Colleen and Mark

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Father’s Day, June 21st -We plan on returning to in-person Paths of Heart Gatherings in our backyard. We will be limiting the number of people on any one Sunday, so reservations (and masks) will be required. Reply to this email or call 970-484-9600.

We have been enjoying our individual visits with folks on Sunday mornings!  It gives us some semblance of normalcy, and it feels great to feel connected in this way.  Mark and Colleen will continue to be available for the next 2 Sundays on Facetime (or FB Messenger or Zoom if you prefer!) from 10:30 a.m. – noon (when we’d normally be hanging out with you at Paths of Heart), in  ~15 minute increments to simply chat or maybe share a poem or a tune with you that you love. Let us know (you can reply to this newsletter) what time (and platform) is best for you and we’ll confirm with that time or the closest available. Depending on demand, if all the slots fill up for this week, you’ll be first in line next week!   

Gratitudes

Thank you to Matthew Robinson for the long hours and creative skills he has poured into the labyrinth project!  Thanks to Luis Luna for the heads up on the bricks up for grabs 2 years ago that have now been woven into this beautiful structure, and for clearing the space with his big machine!  And thank you to Terry and Skip Polzin for inviting me to dinner that serendipitous evening where the glass blocks presented themselves.  We love synchronicity!

“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ~ Alphonse Karr

“Today I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.” ~  Anonymous