Doesn’t sound like the most holy of aspirations, especially when we talk about Silence for the purpose of connecting to the Divine, does it? Here’s what I mean…

When I had this conversation with my sister-in-law, I realized that I had not shared the power of silence is terms of clarity. And I don’t just mean spiritual clarity, I mean ALL clarity. And how clarity can 1. save you money, and 2. make you money. And most importantly when you make decisions from a place of clarity, you are happier.

We were hanging out at the beach, and I shared with her the Sacred Chalice Silent Retreat (which by the way, I am renaming as Shakti Silent Retreat!), her response was basically, That’s nice, Asha. I chucked it off to the misalignment in our priorities, and kept enjoying her company, my book and the beach. (And yes, kudos to my husband for facilitating this rare occasion of me relaxing on a sunny August day).

Somehow the conversation moved into the Sales & Strategy consulting that I do for a select group of people. And she said, “Now that’s something people would pay for!” My suspicion of her judgment now confirmed. The truth is that Silence has WAY more implications than just feeling good or seeking spiritual enlightenment for a weekend. There is more to this that affects our every day life.

As I continued my explanation of how I literally MADE money while in silence for 5 days, she started coming half way to meet me in this Silence thing. “Your right, there are studies showing how we are all too distracted and can’t focus or can’t stop for long enough to come up with a solution to a problem, ” she conceded.

In my 5 days of silence, I got a clear vision for my personal work and my joint husband-wife photography business. One of the many examples: I had wanted to expand our reach of clients, and so I started exploring this venture, and it was not exactly taking off, and it was obvious we really did not want to put the effort into it (and yes, it was starting to feel like a We should do this.)  We’d have to hire out other photographers, and it would just become another company to manage with very unpredictable, if not menial, revenues. But, it took for me to be in  Silence  to look at my previous efforts, my feelings around this, and my We should do this push that was dominating the vibe of the project.

In the Silence, I let go of it, and released it as the way to reach the next level in our business. There, released. Saved me money in the time  I would have spent directing the creation of all the marketing collateral (from website, marketing strategy, brochures, etc.) And I freed myself up so that I could do what  I really wanted to do: bring spiritual concepts to business or to people’s lives. That’s Money- I mean this in the most hip version of this word- Like, that’s Money. Haha, ok, maybe it’s time to give up the hip stuff and start realizing that I am almost 40, and possibly not so hip anymore!

I also sat in silence contemplating an issue I had in my business. I had racked my brain trying to come up with an answer as to how to solve this, brought others to brainstorm,  and could not come up with something that worked.. As I sat really listening to the Voice Within, the answer came practically dictated. And it felt right. I came home, implemented it, and like magic, problem solved. Money. (yeah, I know, I’m still trying. Next will be another tattoo)

And finally, the biggie for me… I heard “It is time.” Time for me to pick up where I left off 2 years ago. I had played with the Shakti (Sacred Chalice) Principles for two years, and had space to digest them. I had also brought a part time business to a full time income in two years, and it was time to begin to assist others in creating the same kind of life I have. More like their own version of a fulfilled life.

It is not just about Sales & Marketing strategies, it is about the person that shows up to put these strategies in place. It has to be someone who has released fears, and who is clear on what they truly want to create in their life. And this is where the Silent Retreat comes in.

In order for us to live a life that is connected and truly  happy (not one where you acquire  shinny object after shinny object without satisfaction), we have to release what is no longer working. We’ll do that at the retreat. . And you’ll have tools to continue this process even after the retreat. Because crap comes up, and you have to learn how to handle it. From a place of being truly connected, you will also get clear on what your Soul wants for you.

And then, after all that, we will sit with the Shakti Principles to see how we can embody them in a way that honors who we are as entrepreneurs, business owners, teachers, workers, people, women, girlfriends,  wives, moms, daughters, sisters.

I am committed to creating space so that this group of women can honor who they want to be. The fun part is when they bring themselves to the place where they see that they already are that, they just need to give themselves permission to seeing that.

And so,  my sister-in-law’s comment allowed for this realization that I have been very secretive & mysterious as to what you will get in the Silent Retreat. The rewards go beyond a weekend. It is an initiation into a more intimate relationship with yourself and the Goddess within. Can I say it? Money.

And perhaps this helps you to see the importance in spending your precious money- you will get out of this exactly what you put into it. So, if you want to get a lot out of it, you will.

Because of vacations and since I have heard from a couple of  people about not meeting Early Bird deadline, I am extending it until Sept. 9. There, that should give you time!

Blessings,

Asha

p.s. if you have questions email me at info@reclaimingyourpower (dot) com.

Want to listen to the Sacred Chalice Principles?

I know it’s a lot of information in just a few days, but I wanted to make sure to address some of the questions that were coming in about the Principles and about the Sacred Chalice Silent Retreat.

So, listen… and if it feels right for you, remember that there is a Early Bird Special if you sign up by Sunday 11:59pm. I want to make sure I tailor the retreat for those who come, and so I want to know who you are as soon as possible!

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God

This verse in the Bible comes to mind when I think about the Silent Retreat that we will create. It is created already, really. Your soul has already responded. You are curious and you know you need something. You didn’t quite know what it is you needed, until this moment. And yet, you want to keep reading to really see if this is for you.

RESISTANCE:
I realize that this is coming up very soon, and some of you feel like you can’t pull it off- schedule wise or financially. And yet, I ask you to put that resistance aside. Focus first on whether this is right for you, and know that all the details will unfold if you say YES.

(Yes, payment plans are of course an option- I want to make it work for anyone who feels the YES!)

It happened to me. I said YES to hosting it, and I tried to push it to look a certain way, in a certain location, and the organic nature of God (or The Divine) unfolded in it’s own way because I exercised my FREE WILL to say… I step aside and allow you to create this. This retreat is not for me (the small me that is- my soul is jumping up and down with joy because are doing this!), it is for YOU and for the Divine Nature within you.

So, if this is what you know you need, step aside, say YES if it feels right, and allow for the miracles to unfold to make this happen.

Ok, now that we have addressed the resistance, let’s talk about the retreat.

NUTS & BOLTS
It will take place in a very simple, rustic, BEAUTIFUL, expansive space. This retreat center has been dedicated to spiritual work for the past 40 or so years. There’s even a lake to swim in ! (Yay!)

The place: Temenos, in Shutesbury, MA (~2.5hrs from Boston and NYC)

The name Temenos is taken from a Greek word meaning the sacred space surrounding a temple or an altar. Carl Jung used this same word to refer to the inner space deep within us where soul-making takes place.
Check out the webpage: http://www.massretreats.com/temenos.html

Why this space? because I am being guided to invite you into a state of communion with Nature. To practice what it would be like to live as close as humanly possible to pristine lands and to remember the ancestry of being in community with women. Don’t you at some deep level long for that deep soul searching space created in women’s circles? Sure, we all have our girlfriends, and without them we’d be lost, and this opportunity may provide new friendships, but this goes beyond that. Sacred communion is well, exquisite and divine!

This is about creating sacred space to find our Soul Voice. In silence? I know, ironic, but it is exactly what happens! Trust me on this one.

The group: 5 women

To apply or for questions: call or email me. 617-869-5000 or ashastories@gmail (DOT) com

What exactly happens at the retreat: We will contemplate each of the Sacred Chalice Principles and see where they lead us in our consciousness. Basically, we will meditate, dance or do some exercise for each Principle, and then see the revelations YOUR soul brings up for you.

This is all done with the intention to bring you closer to your Divine Essence or closer to God.

You will be supported with Healing Energy that connects you to the Divine.

You will enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds us and rest.

Dates: October 1 – 3 (notice date change)

Cost: $599 includes retreat, lodging, food.

To reserve your spot: $100 deposit

After the Retreat:
As a special Thank you for those who sign up to this First Silent Sacred Chalice Retreat, I will also be gifting 3 months of support calls. Where we can gather on the phone after the retreat so that you are not lost in your momentum into Peace. We all know what happens when we get home from a retreat and feel like we loose the energy of what we started creating, so there’s the antidote to that! You will be supported.

Special Bonus:
If you sign up by Sept.11,  you will save $100, so the retreat will only be $499. I paid over $1700 to receive the energetic training I will be sharing with each of you, so this is an amazing deal. And yes, you will walk about being able to give yourself this healing energy called Grace Blessings.

Please note that this retreat is an introductory rate and next retreat will be $999. So, if you are feeling the YES from within, and a higher rate would not be financially doable, I invite you to take action.

SACRED CHALICE PRINCIPLES:

#1. You are a seasonal being; accept it.

#2. De-construct & Construct; it is your nature.

#3. You are here to be and express the highest form of who you are and nothing else. Love that.

#4. Compare yourself to no other.

#5. Connect to a Sisterhood; it will strengthen you.

#6. “Permission” is no longer needed. You are here to create with free will. Expand this awareness.

#7. Your needs and soul wants are provided even before you know you need or want them. Embody this intention.

If you are feeling the YES from within, awesome, please contact me right away.

I look forward to witnessing your transformation. I am fully committed to holding space for you to worry about nothing and just focus on enjoying your own presence. Yes, it’s possible. You are amazing. It’s time for you to know it.

Blessings,

Asha

p.s. Because of my training & background, PREGNANT MOMMAS are super encouraged to attend. Perfect for them!

p.s.s. and if you don’t feel the YES! but you think someone you know will, I would be so appreciative if you would share with that person this information. Thanks!

As I think about what happened to me in the middle of a shower two years ago, I am a little bit in awe, I have to say. I mean, I know it happened to me, and I know I’m not making it up, but still… it’s kinda amazing.

Here’s the story… I was in the thick of teaching my Reclaiming Your Power Teleclass, and was beginning to write a book based on women’s stories. I started noticing that while I was teaching this incredible wisdom started flowing through me, as if I could really hear and feel what people were saying, and the messages I was giving hit each participant’s core. They were telling me how transformed they felt, and I was completely humbled.

At the time, I figured I was allowing my Soul’s Voice, from it’s wise perspective, to speak through me. And then, the shower incident happened…

I heard, “Hold these Principles to be Truth and to live by”. Man, I barely got a towel around me and rushed into my bedroom where I had my journal and pen. As I dripped water unto my notebook, I paused awaiting for the Principles to be dictated.

And here is what I heard:

Sacred Chalice Principles

#1. You are a seasonal being; accept it.

#2. De-construct & Construct; it is your nature.

#3. You are here to be and express the highest form of who you are and nothing else. Love that.

#4. Compare yourself to no other.

#5. Connect to a Sisterhood; it will strengthen you.

#6. “Permission” is no longer needed. You are here to create with free will. Expand this awareness.

#7. Your needs and soul wants are provided even before you know you need or want them. Embody this intention.

And so there it is. I don’t live by everyone of them, but I feel their Truth every time I say them. I invite you to sit and contemplate  them, and see if you want to live with these Sacred Chalice Principles.

My soul’s song to me: It’s been several hours and fifteen days, nothing compares to you…. (haha!) In all honesty, it’s more like my melancholy when I walked closely with my Soul Voice, and so because I have missed being the Spiritual Midwife, I’m coming back this fall…

I will share more in September. Hint: Oral transmission of this information via radio show is coming and a Silent Retreat to explore this gentle, Feminine way of living.

Blessings,

Asha

We are always so concerned about this detail, that detail, are we recycling enough, is my pantry stocked with enough gluten-free goods, are the bills organized enough, am I disciplining correctly, did the kids have too much sugar or no sugar (a win for sure!), did I teach them the value of money, did I forget to put on the sunscreen (not on them, me! yes, I tend to come last), did I actually send out that proposal I worked on all night, and sometimes it all just about one thing… did I show up. With love and compassion.

I was recently shocked by the news that a man in a leadership position, who cared deeply about sustainability, growth, education, was dealing with a very very dark secret, a secret that propagated a horrible industry and how his secret energetically affected his constituency and destroyed their hearts as the secret came into the light.

The Truth is. Many think they won’t get caught, and many don’t. But in this era of Authenticity and Truth, we are not surprised at the fall of leaders. Clean house, my friends.

So, I got to thinking about how we can be concerned about peripheral things and sometimes forget (or escape) from going to our core and asking the questions. Is the fruit inside green, ripe or rotten. Big breath. What we do on the outside world is a true gift, but when our internal fruit is not ready to be savored, it’s time to pay attention to the garden within.

We all have our dark side- it’s part of being human. May you take a moment to look within and see if your fruit needs attention.

Just a quick note from Asha:

A few people emailed me really connecting to the last post- about having a tough time right now. No problem. Remember, this is temporary, and to maximize the productivity of the challenges (always trying to work smart around here!), I have a suggestion.

Take the next 9 days to let go of what is no longer working for you. Or if you want something, a new job, career, life, or like many spiritual people, trying to follow your Life Purpose (loaded word, I know, but we all get what it implies- that we live a connected life), then make this 9 day commitment.

Every day, maybe only for 5-10 minutes, create a sacred space, where you breathe in and out mindfully, and then write (or do whatever your soul calls you to do) with the intention that for the next 9 days you are kicking this habit of not living fully to the curb. Each day, see what comes up.

I want to do my Spiritual Midwifery work and so I am consciously opening up to what wants to be healed (not really HEALED, but more like it wants to be HEARD within me). Like there’s parts of me that does not want me to do this.

So, in hearing this morning, I was ready to confront ANGER- and yet, I was taken somewhere else… I was taken to a time in my childhood when I decided being a tomboy was better. I was only 9! I had been somehow been sexualized by my older 12 year old neighbor, and his little brother (10) was heart broken because he had a crush on me. Oh, boy, love triangles really do happen early! Anywho, that little girl just wanted to be heard for this moment, and I cleared ancestral sexualization of women.

Weird stuff. I get it, and I am trying to type this fast, so you have something to work with during these crazy days.

This over-emphasis on feeling attractive to others has stopped me from my Spiritual Midwifery work. In more ways than I can comprehend. And truth be told, a huge part of me, does not get why this would stop a person from assisting other people in coming into their True Self, but I just go with the flow and trust that this was what I was supposed to focus on hearing today.

In some ways, I feel as an observer right now. I don’t think there is truly anything to heal, just parts that want to be heard (have I mentioned that?!)

Could you do 9 days of hearing parts of yourself? And after you listen, you can visualize what you truly desire from this place of being totally connected.

Hope this helps. And if you feel you need assistance- let me know!

Blessings,

Asha

I am finally a U.S. citizen and so this day has a little more meaning than years past.

I’m the first person to scoff at made up holidays, but this one, aside from the pretty colors, fire works, parties, beach, has something for me this time around. It’s all about FREEDOM. Freedom to be who I am. Not because I live in this country, but just because.

I’m beginning to think that Happiness and Peace are possible when we feel free. Like that song, Free To Be You and Me. I tear up every time my daughters sing this song.

And so YOU and me are free to be… you and me. I celebrate that today and this weekend.

Blessings,

Asha

Last summer, I had sitters and camps all lined up so that I could work, and then each sitter fell through, and yes, my kids refused to go to camp.

I was pissed! And then I settled into how amazing it is that I have a choice to slow down if that is what my family and my own sanity need. And so, I had a blast. Yes, the kids watched more movies than they did all year long (in my attempt to hear less fighting and do a little paper work), but we had fun.

Beginning the planning for this summer, I was shooting for another working summer for me (with the glorious month of August off- life is tough, I know!), and then I tuned in to ME (the big me, the Soul me). It turns out she wants to slow down. Ugh! Really? Slow down? But the company needs me, the kids can be plopped into camps, and I got LOTS of projects in the works… slow down?… do I have to? (wining here- yeah, you know the sound)

So, I compromised with my soul (no, it’s not like a pact with the devil or anything!) I have figured out a way to slow down, get writing time, work time, and still spend tons of time with the kids. Ok, that sounds so busy, I’m scaring myself here. Yes, all this figuring out was happening in my head only- in an attempt to hold on the the reigns of my life. Who is this SOUL lady think she is anyway!

But then there is the moment to moment living. THAT is what my soul is asking more of… listen to the moment it whispers (yes, I hear voices, put me in the nut house- that ought to slow ya down.)

My own internal guidance system wants to savor summer and being present without being pushed. (Yes, I’m pushy, even with myself, just ask the photographers that work with us!)

I’m not a Bible quoter- rehabbed from my boarding school days actually, but this seems so appropriate…

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God
–

In the stillness and quiet of the moment, answers come, or more importantly, we can allow to see the Divine within. The idea of stillness and quiet seem so foreign to most of us as parents, but the truth is that just by BEING with the children,  pockets of quiet & stillness bring the most unexpected gifts. Notice  those pockets.

No matter what kind of summer you have with them. My life is just one way, you have yours, just stop & pay attention to those unforgettable little moments that make you feel alive and connected.

Hugs,

Asha

When your Momma calls after giving you the space you needed to grow, you answer. Or at least I did. You can call it crazy talk, but I heard her. Loud and clear. She took the chance as I burried my iPhone into silence for 5 days, and She instructed me. I’m not kidding you. After two days of writing like a mad woman, I got the instructions.

I wasn’t sure I’d last in silence for 5 days. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I’d come out of there sane at all. Well, the jury is still out on that one, but one thing is true, I heard Divine Mother, especially as I offered my Yes to do her work. What was surprising was how much I enjoyed silence. I ended up staying at a hotel, and I was so relieved not to have to talk to anyone; I would just pass my little note saying “I’m in silence. Can I have 2 eggs over easy, hash browns, no bread, no meat, OJ… to go.  Thank you. ” Delicious. I loved silence and silence loved me.

Coming home was not easy, my friends. Not easy at all. My ears could not believe how much noise one man and two small children make, or how fast emails pile after 5 days, or the overwhelm of phone calls to return, and most importantly how confusing it is to integrate the experience and bring it to my life.

Well, it’s now been 5 days, and I am settled. I’m not in bliss every moment, but I am firm in the knowing that it is all in how I react to the life I have. So, I’m chanting a little bit, to bring my mind to a place of peace. Not surprisingly, big changes are in motion- some by me, some by members in my family, and some by my big Momma within.

I’d like to offer this gift of silence to other women. And so part of saying this Yes is bringing my Coaching and Spiritual Midwifery dormant selves to the surface again. It’s like riding a bicycle, I’m sure,  especially since I really have not stopped providing this service, I just call it being a friend these days.

Hugs,

Asha

We just came back from a cruise from Bermuda, and though I did not expect it (especially after I saw all the hoohas drinking- ok, sorry, that was pure judgment, I meant to say, all the people enjoying/ escaping through alcohol ) I met the most wondrous woman. Why was she wondrous? She had 8 children, 4 of her own and 4 foster children she adopted. And honestly, she looked like she was enjoying every minute of servitude required.

Then by contrast, I related to the pretty, Iranian queen who avoided any contact with her children, and the husband was left to do all the heavy lifting, picking up, fetching food, and to top it off making sure she was happy. Ok, so I’m somewhere in between these two ladies.

I’ve been quiet since I got home. After everything I experience (especially vacations that take me out of my comfort zone) I need time to integrate and synthesize what just happened. So, what happened? I’m grateful for the couple who took us with them to photograph their wedding, the kids got a REAL vacation (as opposed to being dragged through another third world country and asked to eat food they hate and use purrell every 5 seconds), and I got to meet the mother of eight.

I woke up this morning with all these thoughts of people I met along the way and realized coming back to my life is a bit frustrating. Frustrating because I want to do so much- I want to be a good mom, have a loving marriage, a thriving business, and continue to write and finally publish the books I have been working on for a few years now. Yes, I have the “I want it all” syndrome.

Some would say that I just need to chill and do what I can, and that having it all is a myth. And as I remind myself of how the veil of reality lifts and the higher dimensions become more accessible to us, I wonder if as a collective having it all is more than a possibility but a reality…

I once heard someone say that we can have it all but just not at once. I wonder. Not in a “yeah, they are so wrong”, but in a “I wonder” kind of way.

Wonder.