Sue Ludwig is a poet. She was one of the wonderful women at the March Great Big Dreams retreat.

I perform a very casual intimate unplugged concert on the second night of the retreat, and then I open the “stage” for the women to read poems, share works of art, or perform songs. A few brave souls will step up each time. Sue read this poem of hers that night, and I asked her if I could reprint it on my blog.

Here’s to Spring and the wild celebration of new life out in the woods!

Sprout
by Sue Ludwig

I am in search of my life.
Not the one I was dealt,
but the one I want to have.

Not the one
repeatedly stomped into the ground
popping up
where I least expect it,

But the one where
I wake up each day
excited to be on a path
blooming with
maybe nothing I expected
but everything I wished for.

I have been tending to the hard work.
I have unearthed and tilled
and reseeded the dead areas.

I am beginning to see sprouts.
Little glowing green life
pushing against gravity,
weight of earth
to find light.

They are in search of their life.
They know more than I
how to shed the confines
of the seed,
thank it for its lesson,
and grow.

“As you look at, listen to, touch, or help your child with this or that, you are alert, still, completely present, not wanting anything other than that moment as it is. In this way, you make room for Being. In that moment, if you are present, you are not a father or mother. You are the alertness, the stillness, the Presence that is listening, looking, touching, even speaking. You are the Being behind the Doing.”

I’m reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth for the third time as I participate in Oprah’s on-line seminar. I read the above passage yesterday and was reminded of a sweet conversation I had with one of the participants at my retreat two weeks ago.

She talked about living her life in a state of presence. She said that in December, she focused not on her many goals, but on her present moment awareness. During the month, when she was with her husband and kids, she was “really with them.” Rather than worrying about what had to be done next, she just gave them her full attention. She was more in her body and less in her head.

As she told me about it, her lips slanted into a very cute smile. She added that, even though nothing particularly special “happened” that month, out of nowhere, her husband said, “Wow. This was a really good month, wasn’t it? We had a really good month together.” She knew without a doubt that his feeling came from the fact that she had fully been present to him.

We both marveled at how that works. True attention simply works magic.

For some reason, our conversation made me remember a moment a few years ago when my husband and I were visiting Fairfax, VA - where I grew up.

We were in a park, and I was on the swings. (I love swings.) Over at the sliding board, there was a mother and her two little girls. The girls - about 4 and 6 years old - were climbing in the area above the sliding board. Each time they wanted to slide down the slide, the mother would hold her arm out in front of them. She wouldn’t permit them to go down the slide until they had answered a series of math equations. “What’s 4 plus 6? What’s 8 plus 2?” Only when the child got the answers right was she allowed to go down the slide. Only when they “performed” were they allowed to have fun…

I think of that mom often.

I think of her when I’m with my nieces, and I feel my own urge to try to help them “improve” rather than just be with them and delight in their outrageousness and beauty.

I thought of her when my friend Beth called me as she was on her way to a massage and told me that she tries to make herself work extra hard before a massage so that she can feel like she “deserves” it.

I think of her when, on a cold weekend day, I can feel the drill sergeant in my head telling me all the things I need to do when I just want to read a fun book and go for a long hike with my dog.

She is like so many of us. In that moment, she forgot how to witness, how to appreciate, how to delight, and how to simply “be” with her daughters.

Start right now and see if you can bring a little more awareness and presence into this moment and into your whole day, not trying to change anyone or anything, just being present to your work or to the phone call, or to what you’re reading. Really listen when you’re listening. Really see when you’re looking. Really taste when you’re eating. It isn’t “hard work” to do this. It’s simply a state of awareness that’s easy to forget. See if you can remember it today.

tags: eckhart tolle, a new earth, christine kane

Step 1 - Read this blog post. (Buy hey, you’re already doing that. You’re on your way already!)

Step 2 - Think of some challenge you’re facing, some growth you’re wanting, some area of your life that could use a little energy, light, abundance, peace, or healing.

Step 3 - Write a comment below or send an email entitled, “Prayer List” to christine@christinekane.com. State your intention or your request.

Step 4 - Sit back, let go, and be grateful.

“Huh?”

Here’s the deal:

This coming weekend is the first of four 2008 Great Big Dreams Retreats.

At every retreat, I open the weekend with contemplation and intent. At that time I take the names of everyone who has emailed or commented to this post - along with all of their intentions and requests - and I include them in our circle and in our own prayers and affirmations.

I call it a “Prayer List.”

It’s a powerful part of the retreats - and I’ve had many emails from people saying that lots of things changed in their lives after they did this - and that they could actually feel themselves as part of the circle.

If you want to read some of the other posts I’ve written about this, click here, and here.

Believe it. Don’t believe it. You’ve got nothing to lose. So, why not? Get some good mojo this weekend!

For several months now, I’ve received many emails asking when the 2008 Great Big Dreams Retreat Dates will be announced.

Finally! Here they are!

(There are still three spaces open in the December retreat. (December 28, 29, 30, 2007.) It’s a strange time of the year for getting away from holiday bustle. But it’s a beautiful time to create an intent for the coming year. Please email me at christine@christinekane.com for more details.)

2008 Retreat Dates:

March 14 - 16, 2008

June 6 - 8, 2008

October 3 - 5, 2008

December 27 - 29, 2008

To read more details about the retreats, click here. Or, you can email me at christine@christinekane.com to get a full detailed informational email. OR, you can go ahead and hold your space in any of the 2008 Retreats by clicking here.

Several weeks ago, I was experiencing lots of old conditioned thoughts churning around in my head. Triggers and emotions and doubts were coming up. A friend of mine told me that she would be praying for me - “holding watch.” She said, “Now, any time those negative thoughts come up, I want you to remember that I’ve got it. Remember that I’m working on it for you.” I laughed and said, “I’m outsourcing my worries, huh?”

I was. And it worked!

So, here’s an opportunity for you - if you’re going through stuff or if you just want someone to hold intent for you for a Great Big Dream that you have for yourself…

This coming weekend is the next Great Big Dreams Retreat. A group of 25 women will be gathering in the beautiful autumn mountain world of Asheville, NC. At every retreat I facilitate, there is an altar. There’s no denomination or rigidity or woo-woo stuff about the altar. It’s just a practical space for all our intentions. The retreaters can put anything on the altar - pinecones, poetry, or prayers. Whatever.

On the altar, I also put a Prayer List. On this list are the intents of anyone who has written to me - either through email or comments - to state some intention of healing or expansion or release for themselves or someone they know. Since I started doing this, I’ve gotten emails and letters from people all over the world telling me that it was a shifting point for them - that they sensed the power of our circle.

So - here’s your chance to outsource your worries and intents. Leave a comment below. Or send me an email. (christine@christinekane.com) On Friday morning, I will print out the lists, and take them with me to the retreat. You don’t have to give your real name. Nor will I publicize any of this. You will be included in the circle of our retreat, and your intentions will be a part of all the rituals of our weekend. (If you want to read more about Prayer Lists, click here.)

p.s. One space has just opened up in this retreat. If you are a last-minute kind of person and you want to come to Asheville for a gorgeous fall weekend, please send me an email. I’ll fill you in on the details.

p.p.s. If you’re a new reader and you just want some more information, click here to read about the retreats.