Patrick Ryan

Today is stop number 3 on the Virtual Blog Tour for Patrick Ryan’s book Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance, which is coming to Amazon on Tuesday April 20. Yesterday, Patrick stopped at Schall Adam’s Girlfriend Mentors Site. For more awakened wisdom, be sure you check out Schall’s interview at http://www.mygirlfriendmentors.com/blog

“As students, we see our teachers come and go. After we leave, rarely do we get the chance to come back to tell them how they have impacted our lives. It is difficult to explain how the act of telling a teacher he changed your life can make you feel complete. What greater privilege can there be than to be able to tell someone, ‘You are the person who awakened my soul from its slumber; you were the vessel whence I found my voice.’”

This is a passage from my book The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self wherein I describe the feeling I had when I was reunited with a particularly influential teacher from my past after 33 years.  It is a wonderful thing to be able to glorify and give back something to our teachers and mentors, no matter how old we are. That is why, with great delight, I wish to share with you the highlights of a recent interview I conducted with one of my personal mentors, Patrick Ryan.

Patrick Ryan is an executive coach, leadership trainer, spiritual teacher and author. He was one of two leaders (the other is the wonderful Mary Butler) who trained, held and watched me evolve when I was on the 10-month Co-Active Leadership programme in 2007-2008 in Spain. Patrick and Mary’s expert training transformed my life in the most profound way and I can say without reservation that I seriously doubt I would be doing what I am doing today had I not crossed paths with them. After the course was over, I also had the great pleasure of talking Patrick’s workshop Awakened Wisdom when he delivered it in London (a rare treat). It was on that 3-day course that I stood up in front of a room of people and declared boldly that I was finally stepping into the (somewhat scary) call to become an internationally known author and spiritual teacher, no longer hiding from my own Essence. And the rest, as they say, is history… and the future is still unfolding, minute by minute.

So of course, when Patrick asked me to be the manager for the launch of his book Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance, which was the long awaited book version of the teaching he had been transmitting through his workshop for many years, it was a no-brainer. What an opportunity to be able to give something back to one of the people who shaped my life so profoundly. In a nutshell, I simply want other people to enjoy and bask in the simple wisdom of his teachings. I also want Patrick to enjoy what he deserves by seeing his book reach thousands—perhaps millions—of people.

As part of the promotion for his book release, I had the great pleasure to interview Patrick on my radio show Lynn Serafinn’s Garden of the Soul on March 24^th. It was a wonderful interview, and I thought as part of the Virtual Blog Tour, it would be perfect to share the highlights from that interview with you.

You can hear or download the complete interview in the player below:

If it does not appear correctly on your screen, you can grab it online at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lynn-serafinn/2010/03/24/ep-58-living-an-awakened-life

Here are some of the highlights of that interview:

Wisdom Gained From a Near-Death Experience

When Patrick was in his late teens, he “died”, his body being kept alive only from CPR. During that time, he “met the Divine,” which he describes as “that wisdom that is of this Universe and that this Universe is of”. He said this meeting, “Woke me up in a most profound way to the mystery and the ultimate nature of this world we are living in.”

He said, “That experience allowed me to see that there is a profound Wisdom holding this Universe. It enabled me to trust that that Wisdom ‘just is’, but at the same time it provided me no answers. So, I still had to go and figure it out. And that really is the journey all of us are on: ‘figuring it out’. And I think the thing we’re figuring out, at the core of it, is ‘who is the one that is walking the walk of this life?’ And, at the end of the path, when you keep dropping the veils, and move further and further into the Essence of that answer, you find there is no distinction between you and your neighbours, no distinction between you and the animals and the forest, or even the organisation you work for, and that we are just this one entity, this one Being that reflects back and forth who we are to each other.”

Reflections on Hearing and Answering Our “Call”

Patrick was leading a life on an entrepreneur, but was always interested in what makes people behave the way they do. He said he woke up one day curious about what else was “out there.” He felt “called”.

“But like with any call,” he says, “you usually cannot see the path ahead with much clarity. So it requires you to take a leap and just enter onto that path.”

I asked him, “What are some clues that people are hearing ‘a call’ in their life?”

He said, “For me, and also for a lot of people I was spoken with, some of the common factors include a ‘stirring within’, a sense of dissatisfaction with life as it is today, and a desire to touch into a deeper meaning or purpose. There’s a wanting to get more fulfilment or more congruency between our moving through every day and the higher levels of values we know exist, even if we don’t understand what they are.”

“I had always dreamed about going on a walkabout,” he continued. “That dream had never left me. And that’s something people should pay attention to. What’s the recurring, nagging, dream that won’t leave you alone? First it knocks gently, and then it shakes you harder, and at some point, if it’s important enough, it’s probably going to create something in your life much more dramatic until you ‘get it’.”

Experience as a Monk in Burma

Patrick told his story of how he became a monk in a monastery in Burma in the mid 90s, even though he had no such prior intention, nor did the monastery have a policy of taking on western disciples (he goes into this story in greater detail in his first book The Eagle’s Call).

He gave us a little taste about the essence of the teachings he received during his time as a monk, as well as a student of many shamans and other masters around the world. He said, “At the end of the day, I’m a very practical guy, and as much is it is easy to become seduced by the mysticism and big words around spirituality, it’s very important to me to be able to ground it to my daily life in such a way that makes sense. That’s why I created the ‘Eight States of an Awakened Life’ that my book Awakened Wisdom is based upon.”

Distorted Self, Divine Essence and the Observer

Patrick went on to explain the three-part aspects of our nature: the “Observer”, the “Distorted self” and our “Divine Essence”. He said it’s important to know “who’s in your shoes” at any particular moment in life.

He describes the “Distorted self” and the voice in us that “wants to take us out of the game” and “hold us in a zone of safety and comfort” and “whispers messages to us like ‘you’re not ready for that yet, if you do that people won’t like you, etc.” He said that it is interesting how the body will so often respond to this by getting ill on the very day you are meant to do something you fear, etc. He said, the more the “Distorted self” takes over the decision making in our lives, the more isolated we become and the more ‘self’ there is in us.

“On the other side, we have that part of us that is infinitely wise, that moves with the wisdom of what we acquired in this life, and also that goes beyond what can be explained by what we received in this life. This is the one in us that does not get caught in fear—the one that is about creating beauty in the world, about bringing life-giving energy into the world and transmitting it outward. It’s the one that can go into an organisation and sit in a meeting and speak the truth about what’s really going on, in a way that makes everyone go ‘Wow, you just nailed it. That’s exactly what we needed to hear.’ That aspect of us, I call the ‘Divine Essence’ because the more connect you get to this aspect, the less ‘self” there is in it.”

He said that our “Observer” is that other part of ourselves that is able to report the facts in life clearly and without judgment. Both Divine Essence and Distorted self are receiving the report from the Observer and “we get to choose who we’re going to put in charge.”

The Eight States of an Awakened Life

In the last part of our interview, Patrick named and described his “Eight States of an Awakened Life”.

1. A Good State of Intention
2. A Good State of Words
3. A Good State of Being
4. A Good State of Purpose
5. A Good State of Effort
6. A Good State of Practice
7. A Good State of Doing
8. A Good State of Understanding

He then offered a few REALLY simple and very profound practical example of how to apply the principles. If you wish to hear more, please listen to the audio.

Book coming to Amazon Tuesday April 20, 2010

I also strongly encourage you to buy Patrick’s book Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance. Dozens of leaders in the mind-body-spirit field have joined together to support Patrick in celebration of the coming of this book, and are offering over 40 free gifts to everyone who purchases it on the day of its Amazon launch on Tuesday April 20^th.

I myself am offering 4 audio meditations from my transformation workshop The Garden of the Soul, to cultivate the four spiritual principles of Giving, Receiving, Becoming and Being. To be sure you receive this gift, along with all the others, just go to http://www.awakenedwisdom.com/Public/Amazon/BookLaunch/index.cfm and sign up for launch reminder so you remember to buy the book on April 20th.

Tomorrow, Thursday April 8, Patrick stops at Caron Goode’s “Intuitive Parenting” site. It should be really interesting. Check it out at http://intuitiveparenting.wordpress.com

The grand prize is a book contract from Hampton Roads Publishing, one of the top Body-Mind-Spirit publishers in the world, along with a promotional package worth over $50,000.

There are 3 rounds of voting. The first round starts MONDAY March 29, 2010, and ends May 3, 2010. I could REALLY use your vote to help me advance to Round 2.

Here’s the video I made for my contest entry. I poured my heart and soul into it! If you cannot see it on your screen, view it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8P92UVYwCQ.

If you think The Garden of the Soul deserves to go to a wider audience, please help me by:

1) Watching this video to help you decide whether you think I deserve the prize AND THEN
2) Voting for me at http://tinyurl.com/TopAuthorLynn between March 29 – May 3rd.
3) Help yourself to a THANK YOU GIFT on that page (it’s a collection of audio excerpts from my book)
4) SHARE the page via Twitter or Facebook (you’ll see the buttons right there on the page).

And there is NO pressure to choose only one author to win this contest! There are hundreds of great authors for you to consider, and you can vote for as many authors as you like (but you can only vote ONCE for each author per round).

I you can help me advance to Round 2 of this exciting competition, I will be EXTREMELY grateful!

My motivation is fuelled by your encouragement and comments. I’d love to hear what you have to say about the video, my book and whatever else, in the comments box below (if you are reading this in your email inbox, click HERE to leave a comment).

Thank you everyone!

To honour the coming of the new decade, I decided to set some intentions. To keep me focussed and balanced, I decided to use the four principles of “Give, Receive, Become and Be” from my book The Garden of the Soul as a foundation for those intentions. I’d like to share them with you here.

My intention for the Principle of Giving

I have learned that true “Giving” means to listen deeply to people’s hearts and give them what they truly want, rather than imposing what my ego tells me what I think they need. This decade, I make the intention to give to everyone I meet, from my heart to theirs.

My intention for the Principle of Receiving

I have learned that true “Receiving” means to open my eyes and ears to become aware of the boundless gifts being sent to me at every moment of my life. This decade, I make the intention to allow myself to receive, with wonder, joy and gratitude, all the Universe offers me.

My intention for the Principle of Becoming

I have learned that we cannot “Become” or grow unless we let go of old ways of thinking that do not serve us and keep us stuck in a treadmill. This decade, I make the intention to let go of old stories I have about myself and the world, and to become extraordinary in ways I had never before imagined I could.

My intention for the Principle of Being

I have learned that “Being” means to know and love the Self regardless of the multitude of labels we use to describe ourselves, and to be aware of who we are no matter what challenges surround us. This decade, I make the intention to be me, and only me, and to see you as only you.

Thank you for allowing me to share my intentions with you. I had an ulterior motive for doing so. You see, I know that the true power of intentions comes when you share them with others. And I really, really want to be able to be mindful of these intentions, because I know they sometimes might not be so easy to remember. The fact that you have heard them means there is more power behind them, so thank you for reading.

Try it out for yourself. Make your intentions for the new decade, and then share them with special and supportive people in your life. Then see how much this action helps you to be mindful of your promises to yourself. And what’s even more interesting is that we don’t necessarily have to share our intentions with other people (although it’s always good to, because they can hold us accountable). If you prefer, you can go out into Nature and shout your intentions to the moon, the trees, the birds, the ocean or whatever has meaning and energy for you. Or, if you are the kind of person who likes to pray or meditate, state your intentions to Spirit, in whatever form is true for you. No matter how you state your intentions, when others bear witness to our sincere expression of them, it’s as if the Universe has etched our words into our cosmic diaries, and holds us firmly on our true course in life.

And of course, you are MOST welcome to share your intentions with me below in the comments! I’d love to be your “intention buddy.”

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Is one of your intentions in 2010 to start writing a spirit-based book? Maybe you’ve already written it and you are ready to find out how to publish and promote your book. Or maybe, you’ve just started your writing journey by keeping a diary, a blog or other journal of your thoughts, feelings or creative ideas. No matter where you are in your writing journey, I’d like to invite you to visit Spirit Authors, my brand new Virtual Coaching and Learning Experience just for mind-body-spirit writers.

We are having a fantastic Spirit Authors Grand Opening Webinar Week from Monday 22 February through Friday 26 February, where you can hear (for fr*ee) over a dozen top mind-body-spirit industry professionals, from authors, to publishers, to editors, to marketers and more, all talking about spirit-based books, from writing to publishing to promotion. You’ll also find out how you can join the new Spirit Authors membership site, bringing you bespoke courses, business resources, and great opportunities for both personal and professional networking, all aimed at writers in the mind-body-spirit genre.

To make sure you don’t miss our Grand Opening, be sure to come over to www.spiritauthors.com and sign up for our news updates, so you can receive a VIP invitation to this very special Grand Opening Webinar Week.

Meditation 28: Aesthetic Awareness
from “Lessons from the Iris: the Principle of Receiving”

Aesthetics are the subtle qualities of beauty, originality, ingenuity and artistry that surround us at every moment in the world. They are not things that can be defined or quantified with any kind of measurement. They speak to us at an intuitive level, and can be found both in nature, as well as in the creations of humankind. After all, humankind is also a vital part of the Natural World, even if we sometimes lose sight of our connection to it.

Aesthetics surround us at every moment. When we feel moved by a sunset or other natural wonder, cry when we hear a particular song, feel a lump in our throat over a work of art of any kind, or find ourselves affected in an inexplicable way by the poignancy, perfection, or uniqueness of anything we witness or experience, we are in touch with the subtle realm of Aesthetics. There is something undeniable about our experience that touches us at the deepest level, but to try to pinpoint what precisely makes it so powerful is as impossible as trying to capture the substance of a rainbow. The magic of an Aesthetic experience lies within its ephemeral nature, and the fact that we are experiencing a unique moment in time and space, and feel connected to it at the heart and soul level. And while many people enjoy the intellectual pursuit of analysing artistic merit, it is important to understand that if we attempt to connect to our aesthetic experiences purely from an intellectual platform, we are apt to lose the essence of their magic, and we deny ourselves the full experience of connection to them.

In The Garden of the Soul, the Iris is the mentor of Aesthetic Awareness. She teaches us how to be inwardly silent, and fill up completely with the moment. Together, we stand with her, appreciating fully the unlikelihood of a triple rainbow, and the fact that we have come together at that particular point in time and space to witness it together. She models for us how to become receptive to the Aesthetics that surround us at any given moment, and thus develop our Aesthetic Awareness, which is an attribute of the Principle of Receiving. In order to Receive, we must first empty ourselves of any intellectual or emotional obstructions. We must become like an empty pitcher ready and waiting to be filled with nectar, or a flower bud that simply allows the rays of the sun to bathe it before it can blossom. If we are full of our own mind-games, judgements or limiting beliefs, very little of the nectar or the sunlight is likely to fill us. When we become empty and ready to receive, we become able to see and taste fully all the subtle qualities of the world around us at any given moment. This is the essence of Aesthetic Awareness.

When we develop this Awareness, a sense of Awe, Gratitude and Appreciation became almost uncontainable inside of us. Aesthetic Awareness, therefore, is the doorway to many other Attributes of the Principle of Receiving. In other words, only when we become truly empty, do we become truly full. When we master the art of true emptiness, we finally become able to taste the nectarean pleasure of Divine Aesthetics.

Enquiries to cultivate this attribute

1. What kinds of things would I love to empty from my heart and mind?

2. What subtle beauty, wonder and uniqueness do I become aware of when I am empty?

3. What would be the best thing about life if I were truly Aesthetically Aware at every moment?

Many thanks to Andrew Mondia, a Canadian actor currently living in London, and a Facebook fan, for selecting the magic number 28 for this week’s meditation. This meditation was read on the air on “Lynn Serafinn’s Garden of the Soul Radio Show” on Wed 11 Nov 2009. If you would like to help me write my upcoming book “The Companion Guide to the Garden of the Soul” and possibly have your name listed in the acknowledgements of the book, and announced on my weekly radio broadcast, just select a number from 1-80 and post it in the comments below.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GIVEAWAY!

The above excerpt is from my upcoming book The Companion Guide to the Garden of the Soul. Have you picked up your copy of the original book The Garden of the Soul yet? It’s an Amazon bestseller in spirituality, mind-body-spirit and self-help. Check it out on Amazon or on the official book website.

AND…if you are reading this before the end of December 2009, I have something extra special for you.  In the spirit of giving and receiving this holiday season, I am giving away over 1 hour in audio book excerpts as a special holiday GIFTS to everyone who purchases the Garden of the Soul during the month of December 2009. So when you buy it as a gift for someone you love (even if that someone is you), YOU get 4 free gifts for yourself.

To check out my Garden of the Soul Holiday
Gift Giveaway CLICK HERE.

Warm wishes,
Lynn Serafinn
“Turning up the volume of the music in your heart!”
lynn [at] lynnserafinn [dot] com

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Meditation 4: Love
from “Lessons from the Rose: the Principle of Giving”

Love is the energy that enables us to connect to Self, other and the Universe. Like any energy, Love can propel both motion and action. And also like any energy, it creates heat. It is this heat of Love that attracts us; it is also what generates Life itself. But heat and energy alone do not create Love. For energy to be Love, it must be free-flowing, easy and without force. Consider this: when we release the energy of a deposit of oil and natural gas from the depths of the Earth, it results in a massive quantity heat and of energy. But because these deposits are under so much natural pressure, the process requires an enormous amount of force. The force results in an explosion of pressure so great, that it can easily go out of control and even become dangerous.

Many of us have experienced so-called “love” in much the same way. We might believe we have fallen in love with someone or some idea. But we soon find the object of our love to be difficult to capture, and we resort to some sort of force to acquire it by all means. That force could be as simple as silently wishing for the object of our affections to be something other than it is by nature. Just like the oil well that requires great pressure to release its energy in such an unnatural way, when we similarly try to force Love to come unnaturally, our relationships and personal endeavours can become volatile and even heartbreaking. Thus, the key to mastering the energy of Love is to understanding that it must, at all times, flow freely and unconditionally from the heat of one’s heart. And the secret to knowing how to allow love to flow unconditionally is this—that Love has nothing whatsoever to do with the object of your affections; it only has to do with you.

In The Garden of the Soul, the Rose is the mentor of Love. She teaches us that Love is an attribute of the Principle of Giving, and therefore it is not something that you can “find”, for you already possess it. True Love, she teaches us, is the uncensored expression of who we truly are. To look for Love is futile, for True Love is simply a matter of allowing your true Self to blossom fully, thorns and all. As long as we maintain some judgement about ourselves, and continue to try to force ourselves to be what we are not, we will also set these same kinds of conditions upon others. But when we fall fully and unconditionally in love with Self, we become able to Love the rest of the World, because we know that everything—both Self and other—is Divine. When we see all around us with Divine Eyes, we finally become able to harness the enormous energy of Divine Love, and create Love in all we meet.

Enquiries to cultivate this attribute

1. How have I tried to force Love in my life?
2. What about myself have I yet to learn to love?
3. What will my life be like when I feel Divine Love for everyone, including myself?

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The above excerpt is from my upcoming book The Companion Guide to the Garden of the Soul. Have you picked up your copy of the original book The Garden of the Soul yet? It’s an Amazon bestseller in spirituality, mind-body-spirit and self-help. Check it out on Amazon or on the official book website.

Warm wishes,
Lynn Serafinn
“Turning up the volume of the music in your heart!”

Meditation 65: Wisdom
from “Lessons from the Lily: the Principle of Being”

Wisdom is the natural energy that flows through us when we surrender our ego so we may establish our connection with the Divine. Wisdom does not come to us as the result of learning. It is not something can be increased by any type of effort. Wisdom is Eternal, Infinite and Absolute. It belongs to no one and to everyone, simultaneously and equally. When we imagine that we can capture Wisdom via our own efforts, we are operating from the platform of ego, wherein we imagine that there is a limited amount of Wisdom to be gained in the Universe, and that it can be controlled and conquered by our own efforts. If this were the case, then the Universe would be a merciless and poverty-stricken place, as only the strongest or most intellectually gifted would ever have access to Wisdom. But the Truth is the Universe is infinitely opulent and full of mercy. Wisdom is the birthright of all living entities, and no effort is required to manifest Wisdom other than to allow it to enter us, without ego blocking its way.

In The Garden of the Soul, the Lily is the bearer of Wisdom. She stands alone, allowing the light of the full Moon to bathe her with its illuminating rays, Without effort, she absorbs whatever Wisdom is shone upon her, and then creates a mesmerising diamond-like mandala of light and reflection around her so that others may be able to see and delight in what she knows intuitively. She does not block the rays via any kind of shade or cover. She allows all of them to shine upon her equally, without judgment or preference. Like this, when we allow ourselves simply to receive the illumination of Divine Wisdom, we shine like a lustrous diamond amidst the darkness of the rest of the world, and help others to see themselves within the light of that Divinity. Without the interference of our own self-judgments or the judgements of others, we allow all Wisdom to enter us and be seen by our Hearts and Souls. Thus, Wisdom is an attribute of the Principle of Being, for it is the force that allows us to know who we truly are. When we surrender all false attachments to who we think we might be, or who we think we should be, and simply allow our True Self to sing, we begin our eternal dance with Divine Wisdom.

Enquiries to cultivate this attribute

1. How do I resist my own Wisdom?

2. What are the messages I hear but do not trust?

3. What will change for me when I learn to dance with Divine Wisdom?

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If you would like to find out how to master the four Principles of “Give, Receive, Become and Be” from my book The Garden of the Soul, as well as many other skills for personal transformation, join me and my colleague Vicki Goodyear on the Transformation Trilogy Weekend Workshop Series. Two new UK series starting 17 October (Bedford), and 7 November (Totnes, Devon). Click HERE for complete information and to book your place.

AND… if you think money is an issue, be sure you read about our innovative “Gratitude System” that, we hope, will enable everyone to attend.

See you there!

Warm wishes,
Lynn Serafinn
“Turning up the volume of the music in your heart!”

Meditation 27:  Poise
from “Lessons from the Iris: the Principle of Receiving”

Poise is a state of being in which you move freely and effortlessly within your own energy.

We tend to think of Poise as a word used to describe the quality of someone who is physically graceful and calm. Many of us also believe Poise to be the ability to control our emotional expression. While these external symptoms might sometimes be indicators of Poise, there are not the key elements. In fact, they might even been a shield that is covering up a lack of genuine Poise. How many of us refrain from expressing our emotions because we have told ourselves that it is the more “poised” thing to do. But if such emotional restraint is coming from the desire to appear mature, professional or in control, it is unlikely to be genuine Poise. You can tell the difference between the two, because true Poise results in a feeling of ease, satisfaction and freedom, while false Poise results in a feeling of being stuck, frustrated or stifled.

Poise, therefore, is not the absence of emotions, but the strength of their authenticity. We can be poised even when our emotions appear to be very powerful. Some of the most poised people in history are those who have wielded their genuine anger, grief or passion with creativity, honesty and fearlessness. When we are poised, we are most able to express all the colours of our Heart and Soul.

In The Garden of the Soul, the attribute of Poise is listed under the Principle of Receiving because it creates the space within us to allow emotions, events and thoughts to come into us and flow through us. The Iris in The Garden of the Soul, is the embodiment of Poise because she stands beautifully in the darkness of the hidden cave, through dawn and dusk, through storm and sunshine, allowing all of life to fill her senses so she can feel and understand life to the fullest. She never runs from the darkness; she never loses an ounce of her beauty, no matter how much darkness surrounds her.

Like the Iris, when we find ourselves in a situation where the world around us is shifting and changing, the true test of our Poise is not that we can restrain our emotions, but that we can truly feel them, understand them, and express them effortlessly from the core of our Authentic Self. But it is important to remember that authenticity and awareness are the keys to that unlock our Poise. When we are cut off from our authenticity, and we throw our emotions around without self-awareness, it is like taking buckets of paint and tossing them around the room, only to create havoc. But when we use our emotions like the colours of an artist’s palette to paint an honest masterpiece of what we are genuinely seeing, thinking and feeling, we are poised. When we are able even to express the most shadowy of emotions with delight and joy, we know we have stepped into our Divine Poise.

Enquiries to cultivate this attribute

1. What emotions do I repress in order to appear poised?
2. What are the beliefs I have about how I express myself?
3. How will I move, speak and feel when I step fully into my truly poised Self?

If you would like to find out how to master the four Principles of “Give, Receive, Become and Be” from my book The Garden of the Soul, as well as many other skills for personal transformation, join me and my colleague Vicki Goodyear on the Transformation Trilogy Weekend Workshop Series. Two new UK series starting 17 October (Bedford), and 7 November (Totnes, Devon). Click HERE for complete information and to book your place.

AND… if you think money is an issue, be sure you read about our innovative “Gratitude System” that, we hope, will enable everyone to attend.

See you there!

Warm wishes,
Lynn Serafinn
“Turning up the volume of the music in your heart!”

Hi everyone,
Lynn Serafinn from Create-a-Life here. There is no denying that we live at a time in history where much of the world around us is changing. The changing economy is proving to be challenging for many. Climate change and the need to move away from fossil fuel dependency are becoming more and more apparent. At the same time, we are also seeing more and more people moving away from old ways of thinking, and shifting towards a more holistic and spiritual approach to life, embracing the values of personal growth and self-awareness.

Yes, we can see that society and the world at large is truly “in transition”. Transition brings change, and change brings regeneration– a chance for new beginnings. And while the prospect of change can be exciting, going through the process of change can also be daunting.

But what if the change were a beautiful journey? And what if at the other end of that journey, you found you were not only able to face your fears and stand powerfully amidst the changes, but you were also able to discover your life’s calling, see your personal impact in the world, and claim a lasting legacy that says “I was here”?

This is the journey of Transformation.
And I would like to invite you to join me on it.

ANNOUNCING…
THE TRANSFORMATION TRILOGY
WEEKEND WORKSHOPS

Bedford, Bedfordshire (Oct, Nov, Dec 2009)
Totnes, Devon (Nov, Dec 2009, Jan 2010)

What is the Transformation Trilogy?
The Transformation Trilogy is a set of 3 non-residential weekend courses that help enable you to be the change you want to see in the world, and find out how your own transformation can create a new, exciting and more harmonious way of living for yourself, and for those around you.

Using the metaphor of “the Garden” to represent the Self (as depicted in my book The Garden of the Soul), each weekend covers in depth the 3 stages of transformation:

• “Weeding”: Making Friends with the Monsters Under Your Bed. Understanding self-sabotage; recognising your own limiting beliefs; strategies to relign your old patterns; reconnecting to your authentic self; integrating your awareness into your personal and professional relationships.
• “Seeding”: Becoming the Hero of Your Own Life (co-led with Vicki Goodyear). Hearing the call; facing your own resistance; understanding the hero’s journey; claiming your life purpose; seeing your impact; visioning your legacy; telling your hero’s story; stepping into your Authentic Hero in your personal and professional relationships.
• “Feeding”: The Garden of the Soul. Four Principles to help you restore balance and sustain connection to your Authentic Self. The Principle of Giving (passion, self-expression, etc); the Principle of Receiving (sense awareness, refilling your energy, etc); the Principle of Becoming (letting go of old emotions, rebirth, lessons from childhood, etc); the Principle of Being (peeling the onion; meeting who you are); integrating these principles in your personal and professional relationships.

Who is the Transformation Trilogy for?

• Anyone who finds it challenging or uncomfortable to express themselves clearly and openly in their work, family or personal relationships
• Anyone who wishes to find their Life Purpose, connect to their Higher Self, and express themselves more authentically in their lives, career and relationships
• Groups, teams and communities who wish to improve their interpersonal communication and relationships, both with each other and with external organisations or groups
• Managers and HR who want to be able to inspire and motivate staff rather than dictate and dominate
• Teachers, healers, counsellors, community workers and anyone who serves the public, who would like to be able to empower both themselves and others to become more self-reliant, balanced and confident
• Special invitation to Transition Town teams and other social reform groups, who want to gain valuable skills in knowing why people stay “stuck” or resistant to change, and how to facilitate the “inner transition” in their communities with ease and compassion. We will explore how to maintain and replenish your own energetic and creative resources when working with group energies, how to see what is needed in a challenging situation, and how to retain and return to your “centre” so you don’t “lose yourself” when faced with the process of change.

When and where are the Transformation Trilogy Workshops taking place?

Series 1: Bedford, Bedfordshire:
17/18 Oct; 14/15 Nov; 12/13 Dec

• Venue: Function Room, George & Dragon, 39 Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3EU
• Travel: 15 min walk from Bedford train station; 5 min walk from Bedford bus station; car park within short walking distance
• Time: 9.30am – 5pm (Registration/coffee starts from 8.45 on Saturday)
• Food: Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day. Lunch can be purchased separately either at the George and Dragon, or at any of the numerous cafes within easy walking distance.

Series 2: Totnes, Devon:
7/8 Nov; 5/6 Dec; 9/10Jan

• Venue: Rudolf Steiner School South Devon, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6AB
• Travel: About 3 miles outside Totnes Town centre. More details to follow.
• Time: 9.30am – 5pm (Registration/coffee starts from 8.45 on Saturday)
• Food: Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day. You will have ample time to go into town for lunch, or you may join us in a group lunch where  everyone brings something to share.

About the workshop leaders…

Lynn Serafinn, MAED, CPCC is an award-winning transformation coach/teacher, best-selling author, public speaker, personal development trainer, radio host, Founder of the Global Wellness Circle and Chair of Transition Bedford. Originally from the US, but living in Bedford, Bedfordshire, Lynn is co-active leadership graduate and brings with her years of experience in both the educational field and the music industry. She is highly creative and creates a sense of fun and permission to play full-out in all around her.

* * * * *

Vicki Goodyear is a co-active coach, NLP practitioner, co-active leadership graduate and active workshop leader living in Totnes, Devon.  She brings with her years of experience as a dancer, nurse and holistic body therapist. She is also a licensed leader of the “Mastery of Self-Expression”, an acting-based workshop which uses performance to help others learn how to express their authentic selves. In all she does, Vicki uses her keen intuition and sense of play to help others learn how to surrender, let go of inner resistance, get centred, and connect with both self and others.

* * * * *

What do the workshops cost?
We are extremely sensitive to the current economic climate, and we would love to see you every single one of you (and your friends!) on these courses. To ensure that everyone who wants to attend is able to manage it financially, Vicki and I have decided to try an experiment we are calling the “Gratitude System”.

Normally these workshops would be £197-£247 per weekend, depending on the cost of the venue, but with the Gratitude System, we are asking that you pay a nominal non-refundable deposit of only £45 to cover some basic expenses. Then on Sunday after the course is over, you will be asked to give a cash gift of any amount to show your gratitude. This gift will be completely anonymous, and should be proportionate to YOUR financial ability, and to what you feel you gained from the course. This way, even those who are on low income should be able to attend.

We trust the integrity of our attendees. Any and all gifts, no matter how humble, will be accepted with love and gratitude.

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW

Select your workshop(s)

Bedford – Monsters workshop £45.00 Bedford – Hero workshop £45.00 Bedford – Garden workshop £45.00 Bedford – Complete Trilogy £120.00 Totnes – Monsters workshop £45.00 Totnes – Hero workshop £45.00 Totnes – Garden workshop £45.00 Totnes – Complete Trilogy £120.00

What have people said about the Transformation Trilogy workshops?

“Awesome and exquisite. A life-changing experience!”
-Tebogo Machethe, entrepreneur
Johannesburg, South Africa

* * * * *

“I highly recommend this course! I loved the format, the structure, the clarity, the focus. The workbooks, with their concrete steps and spaces to be filled in, work very well … the program was very informative and very experimental …. I really liked how you inspired people … to integrate it into their lives. Lynn, I acknowledge you for your presence, your devotion, your powerful questioning and your love for the truth! I admire you as a woman, a coach, a teacher, a leader, for being courageous, and for encouraging others to claim the voice to express in their unique powerful way so we all make a difference on this planet.”
-Sabrina Werkmeister – Co-Active Coach
Maui, Hawaii

* * * * *

‘… Lynn had so much energy, passion and enthusiasm … It exceeded my expectations … I will highly recommend it to others … I got lots of great tips and tools to use with my students … and can apply many aspects to my work by incorporating things I learned today with the young people at the college.”
-Annie Manning – College Lecturer
Carshalton College, UK

* * * * *

‘… I have now learned to quieten the negative voices and listen to the strong positive voice inside. I have learned that knowing that you can and acting like you can help in the belief that anything is possible. And the most poignant thing I learned is that I am worthy, capable, versatile, gorgeous and great at anything I put my mind to.’
-Angela Mitchell – Vocalist, Music Producer, Teacher
South London, UK

* * * * *

What people have said about Lynn…

“Lynn is a brilliant and creative out-of-the-box thinker. Her impact is powerful…”
-Patrick Ryan, CPCC
Co-Active Coach, Author of The Eagle’s Call
Founder, Awakened Wisdom Experience
Vancouver, Canada

* * * * *

“Lynn has a gift for getting straight to the heart of your problem and is then tenacious enough to make you stick with it, while letting you work out the answers for yourself. She is direct, kind and one of the most spiritual people I have met.”
-Catherine Rose – Coaching Client
Author of The Bone Cradle
Bedfordshire

* * * * *

FAQs
Do I need to take all 3 workshops?
No. There is certainly a progression to the trilogy, and I encourage you to take all three if you can, as you will gain the most if you do. However, each workshop can be taken on its own and you will still gain quite a lot.

What if I end up not being able to attend after registering?
As the deposit is being used to cover expeneses, it is non-refundable. However, if you do have to cancel due to illness or other emergency (especially with all this flu going around!), you can either offer it to a friend, or apply it to another workshop or workshop series we will run in 2010. Venues to be announced in late 2009.

I’m not sure if I can make it. Will you be running them again soon?
We will be running the Trilogy in various locations in the UK in 2010, but it is unlikely we will return to either Bedfordshire or Devon before 8-10 months. As our numbers are limited on each course, if you are pretty certain you would like to attend, we recommend booking now and coming to a later series if you are unable to make it.

Won’t You Join Us for This Journey of Transformation?

SPACES ARE LIMITED.
PLEASE BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Select your workshop(s)

Bedford – Monsters workshop £45.00 Bedford – Hero workshop £45.00 Bedford – Garden workshop £45.00 Bedford – Complete Trilogy £120.00 Totnes – Monsters workshop £45.00 Totnes – Hero workshop £45.00 Totnes – Garden workshop £45.00 Totnes – Complete Trilogy £120.00

For more information, please
contact Lynn Serafinn at:

Email: lynn [at] lynnserafinn [dot] com

Telephone: 0845 880 25 28

Website: http://www.lynnserafinn.com

Warm wishes,
Lynn Serafinn, MAED, CPCC
Author, Personal Transformation Coach, Trainer and Speaker
“Turning up the volume of the music in your heart!”

Lynn Serafinn’s Cosmic Universe (main site/blog)
www.lynnserafinn.com

Create-a-Life Coaching and Training
www.create-a-life.co.uk

Tel: 44+ (0)845 880 25 28

About the author
Lynn Serafinn, MAED, CPCC

(download pdf version of this page)

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955, and now residing in the United Kingdom, author Lynn Serafinn is a Personal Transformation Coach, teacher, motivational speaker and talk radio show host. Owing to her long and diverse professional history in the music industry– from symphony violinist, to opera singer, to east-west fusion artist, to a number-1 electronic dance artist in the 90’s– Lynn’s writing is lyrical, rhythmic, colourful, highly visual and undeniably metaphoric. She was the ghost writer and editor on several published books on Vedic spirituality and philosophy, and is the author of the eBook The Path of Least Resistance to the Self. The Garden of the Soul is her first full-length book.

Lynn was educated at New England Conservatory of Music, University of Texas at Austin and University of Phoenix, and holds a B.Mus. in music history and an MAED in adult education and distance learning. Awarded the National Defence Foreign Language Fellowship in 1980-81, Lynn journeyed to Calcutta where she began her long-term studies of Indian music and religion. A fully qualified teacher, she taught music and music technology for many years, and was the recipient of the Microsoft UK Innovative Teacher of the Year Award in 2005. She holds a CPCC through the Coaches Training Institute and is a graduate of the Co-Active Leadership Programme. Now living on her own in Bedford, England, Lynn is the Founder/Leader of the Global Wellness Circle, a thriving community-based holistic education project spread throughout the United Kingdom. She has a grown daughter, who is also a writer, and a young grandson. 

For book signings, live readings, speaking engagements, etc.

Contact our Events Dept at
Email: events@give-receive-become-be.com
Tel: 44+ (0)845 880 25 28

Official Websites

• Book Blogsite: www.give-receive-become-be.com
• Book Launch Countdown Page: www.give-receive-become-be.com/pages/bonus
• Social Network: http://gardenofthesoul.ning.com
• Talk Radio: www.blogtalkradio.com/Lynn-Serafinn
• Create-a-Life Coaching: www.create-a-life.co.uk
• Global Wellness Circle: www.global-wellness-circle.com

 ”Lynn beautifully weaves together fable and poetry with her personal journey of self-discovery. Through her lyrical style and brilliant imagination, she leads the reader on a magical adventure toward deeper understanding of the relationship between Self and the world.”

  –Alan Seale, Transformation Coach
Author of Soul Mission, Life Vision and
The Manifestation Wheel
Rochester, New York
http://www.alanseale.com/

“The Garden of the Soul’ is rich in teaching metaphors and will speak to each of us according to where we are on our own path… Lynn is a brilliant and creative out-of-the-box thinker. Her impact is powerful…and her magic comes through each page of this book. Lynn offers us a message that is both simple and profound. Open up and receive her words and they will affect you in a most positive way.”

–Patrick Ryan, Coach
Author of The Eagle’s Call
Founder www.AwakenedWisdom.com 
Vancouver, Canada

“While as spiritual as the works of Deepak Chopra, and as magical as the novels of Paolo Coelho, ‘The Garden of the Soul’ carries a unique identity within its genre. Reading this book took me on a journey through the entire gamut of human emotions, in all their lightness as well as all their intensity. Lynn is a master at beautifully and coherently weaving together prose and poetry, autobiography and fiction, fantasy and realism, drama and humour (and a lot more of the unexpected), all in service of sharing the wisdom of the Four Principles of the Garden of our Soul. With each amazing chapter of her life, Lynn brilliantly and ever so subtly allows for the blossoming and maturing of our own Soul and wisdom. This is a book I will be going back to again and again as a very powerful spiritual reference book, that is infinitely entertaining, moving and engaging all at the same time. I am certain that with each repeated reading, I will be discovering more gems in its nuances and within my own Soul. I absolutely love it!”

–Lina Nahhas, Social Researcher
Founder of “1 Urban Humanity” for the Middle East
Dubai, UAE

–Simon Ireland-Davies
Director, Executive Coach
ID Coaching Limited, Liverpool
http://www.id-coaching.co.uk

“…[when I read the prologue 'the Very Good King'], I was moved to tears (good ones) and put into a spiritual mood that lasted most of the day (not something that normally lasts that long for me)… Since reading this story, whenever I am aware of my inner wounded child feeling insecure, I remind myself I am commanded to live according to my nature… nurtured by the Earth, kissed by the Sun, cooled by the Moon, nourished by the Rains…It’s a story I would love to retell and share!… “The Garden of the Soul is a book that will help you discover your Soul has a voice that can help you… learn how to treasure and leverage your natural spirit, realize the value of your own painful and delightful life stories and be inspired to appreciate Mother Nature’s lessons and the power of honoring your own nature.”

“‘The Garden of the Soul’ helps you realise that you already have all the wisdom you need and the answers to your questions are found when you look inwards.”

–Fran Stockley
Nutritional Therapist
Herfordshire, UK
http://healthyfran.co.uk/

 “Lynn has the gift of unfolding truths through the power and poetry of deceptively simple stories that resonate long after they are read.”

 –Antony Parry
Writing Coach
Coach Words, London
http://www.coachwords.com/