The energy of retreat is certainly building. I have had new registrations everyday this past week so I am guessing the special $150 rate is good for everyone. It sure is making me be very frugal however those that know me well know that I can be frugal and a haggler for a good deal.

We are going to be more environmental this time around. Those that have attended in the past are asked to bring their red bag back with them to carry home all of their Gratitudes. Our Knowledge Boxes will

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Retreat is a spiritual experience however part of being spiritual is also living in that moment in whatever we do on a minute by minute basis. Many of us have a hobby or a business that others enjoy. With the current economic times is important to many to be able to make the most of every moment as well.

I would like to open a discussion about individuals coming to retreat and bringing their wares. Would this detour you from your experience at retreat or would it be a welcome addition?

Off the top of my head I know that we have the following among us:

Jewelry in every way shape Bamboo items made from the bamboo at the center such as incense holders, flutes and wind chimes to name a few Athena Womanly Products CD's and Workbooks Feng Shui Kits Crazy Quilts Pendulums

I welcome your input if you would like to have this included. Perhaps as you arrive on Friday waiting for us to get started, Saturday afternoon prior to dinner and then on Sunday after we close are times that I think it would work for this retreat. I do not want to take away your Zen Moments (FOG/quiet times) as they are very important to the overall experience of "Finding Your Zen".

Word History: It is hard to believe that a word as Asian as Zen is ultimately an Indo-European word. Zen, which has been in English since 1727, is the Japanese pronunciation of Chinese chán, "quietude." Chán comes from Pali jh?na?, from Sanskrit dhy?nam, "meditation," from the Sanskrit root dhy?-, dh?-, "to see, observe." The Indo-European root behind the Sanskrit is *dhei?-, *dhy?-, "to see, look at." This root also shows up in Greek, where *dhy?- developed into s?-, as in Common Greek *s?ma, "sign, distinguishing mark." This became s?ma in Attic Greek, the source of English semantic.

With the above it does play into Zen by "to see, look at" and "sign, distinguishing mark" as all products are a glimpse of the woman behind them.

After much review of the budget and discussions with my husband on the financial side it has been decided that we are keeping the retreat scheduled for September 19-21, 2008 at the Margaret Austin Center in Chappell Hill, TX.

In addition to keeping to the plans we are also putting a Fortnight Promotion into effect. With the economic times we are currently in; we feel that since we have been fortunate enough to not be hit as hard as some then we will be giving back.

Fortnight Promotion
now through August 8
Special rate of $150 per person

We hope to help those who are struggling to be able to afford to go to retreat because we pride ourselves on finances not being an issue for a woman to feel spiritually renewed. Please let me know if you need any further information or assistance.

Sometimes we sit back and look at others' lives in awe thinking boy that is the life...however if we ever really had been in the other shoes then we might know that each life has its trials and tribulations.

Take a moment to think about your trials and tribulations and then take a step back and look with the eyes of hindsight for a moment on those same things in your past. What did you learn from them all? I am sure you are who you are today because of your lessons learned throughout your life. Just think if you had grown to this point in your life and not had any "issues" to work through. Boy, would you even be able to live life like that?

In a garden we have to constantly weed the garden and fertilize it to make the flowers or veggies grow and mature. The flowers that let themselves get tangled up in the weeds then either die or become stronger for the duration.

Think of yourself as that beautiful sunflower. The sunflower was so named because of the characteristic of the flower "looking up to the sun". Smile, if you really think about it a sunflower is always "looking for the bright side of things" and "keeping their chin up". Is it a flower? Is it a weed? We do know it many times grows in the wild in the most harsh environments so it has a strong backbone.

You each have a strong back bone and have learned to cope and handle so much in life. Appreciate the journey and next time you have a little "issue" then think of how much stronger you are becoming...

Many believe I have a gift for words however it is not me that does the speaking. I just close my eyes and let it flow and trust that spirit is working through me to say what needs to be said. I feel it is a great gift to be a vessel for spirit to speak.

We are in some troubling times recently. It seems that everyone is struggling in one way or another. Perhaps it is financial but not everyone is in the same place. Many are struggling emotionally, physically and spirituality right now.

I was recently contacted by a very dear friend who I don't think I have spoken to in ten years. It is wonderful that spirit has found a way for us to meet again. We both learned so much from one another during our pregancies with our boys which were born just a few weeks apart. She was the first one I had that kindred with who first shared in a way the first formations of community. I remember helping one another out all the time. After all these years I can go back and believe she is my first one to have been "chosen family".

Chosen family are those in your life whom you regard as family even though there is no blood relation. For some who might not have any family then chosen family is there family. For those who do have family by blood perhaps those are some of the hardest relationships to nurture however chosen family can sometimes be closer then even your own blood family. We all have a support network whether it be family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. the common factor is that network which is much like a spider web. It is all interconnected to make the whole.

That web of life has a delicate balance much life the spider web in the trees. Each connection makes the whole. I challenge you to find your connections and nurture them with the highest light tomorrow and see what happens....

Well ladies I just don't know what to say but this economic crisis seems to be hitting very close to home at the moment. As of today I only have two people fully signed up to go to retreat and they are both new sisters to join us for the first time. I have six people that have put deposits down however some have not followed up after an email last week. I even extended out the early registration deadline.

I know it is more this time however I have just redone the numbers to see if there is anyway that I might be able to come down and honestly unless I cut down so much that it is not like the last one in the slightest then I could not come down. I would appreciate your comments on downscaling what is offered. Most of you know me to be very frugal and try very hard to give you the most value possible.

I am growing very concerned that we will not have enough to be able to make the cost of the center work out. I must cancel at least 60 days out in order not to be responsible for further payment. That 60 days is coming up next week so I must make a decision.

I welcome your input on where we go from here. I know many of you have said you are coming so I hate to cancel if you do indeed want to come. I am realistic so I see all the issues people are having due to everything being more expensive at the moment so I do understand if financial times just must prevent us from having at the MAC this time.

I have a couple of other options for a location that I could explore. Perhaps we could have it at Meg's grandmother's beach house however that will be limited to about twelve of us max. We could go back to Sam Houston State Park again...remember the little crawlers every time we raised the energy? Perhaps at Jylybean's camp however all of those will require a bit of a drive so would make up for the difference in costs in gas alone to get there.

I would like to open a dialog on the subject with all of you ladies.....

We are making a lot of progress on retreat as our early bird registration comes to a close next week. Please let me know if you are a past retreat participant and need to make payment arrangements so that everyone has a place that would like to join us.

Due to three requests last week about a Girlfriend option like we had last time. You spoke and we listened....a new two registrations for the price of $360 is now available which reflects a $40 discount. We also have a top bunk option available at a $25 discount however these are limited due to space constraints within the individual rooms. Click here to register

We are considering leaving the bedding to first come first serve unless there is a health reason for one to be near a plug, restroom, etc. I welcome your comments on this aspect of the weekend.

I met with the Buddhist Monk today and have her blessings on my Fridy night program "Finding Your Zen". You are in for a treat however a follow up to Pxz's "Embracing Your Divine" last time is quite some shoes to fill!

The Red Tent Experience Retreat details are still being finalized which is schedule for March 13-15, 2009 to be held once again at the Margaret Austin Center in Chappell Hill, TX.

If you might like to take part in the planning stages then please subscribe to this blog thread as a place to talk about what you might like to participate in.

Well today is Mother's Day. What makes you a mother? Is it that you had a child or raised a child? I really don't think so because in everyday life we tend to be women and women just care deeply about others so in turn naturally have a way of being a mother to someone. That someone could be a friend, a co-worker or extended family member but I assure you there is someone out there that thinks of each woman as a mother form in some regard.

To me Mother's Day is also an extension of an Earth Day. Our mother is Mother Nature so a day to honor her again is always a good thing. She takes care of us, teaches us lessons and everything else that goes along with being a mother so today is her day too.

I urge you to take a moment today to walk outside and just soak up the sun, the wind, the earth and even the rain if it happens to be raining today in your area. It is a wonderful feeling to be at one with Mother Nature!

Happy Mother's (Mother Nature) Day! May it be all that you dream it to be because we really do manifest our own reality. Dream big!

Well I thought I would take the opportunity to put together the menu online this time so that way you might all have the opportunity to comment on it. Smile, this blog might be a cool thing afterall!

Friday Arrival Snacks
Edamame, Sushi,

Friday Dinner
Eggrolls, Fire Within Soup (beets and carrots), Vegetable Stir Fry, Hoisen Chicken and Pineapple, Vegetarian Stir-fried Rice, Brown Rice, Vegetable Lo Mein, Coconut Sweet Rice with Mango

Friday Evening Snacks
Fairy Jasmine Tea, Green Tea, Something sweet, Something Else

Saturday Breakfast
Baked French Toast, Overnight Oatmeal, Zuchinni Frittatas, Cheeses, Assorted Fresh Fruit, Smoothies, Assorted Grains

Saturday Lunch
Minestrone Soup, Salad, Sandwich Bar (lots more choices)

Saturday afternoon Snack
Fruit Tart Bar - Small tart shells with assorted custards and fresh fruit.

Saturday Dinner
Salad, Chilled Cucumber and Yogurt Soup, Braised Beef Ribs, Miso Corny, String Breans, Bread item, Dessert Eggroll Bar

Saturday Night Snack
Whitney Bread, Fire Water, Sweet Item

Sunday Brunch
Individual Omelettes, Milann's Potatoes, Assorted Fresh Fruits, One other vegetable dish?, Rosemary Biscuits, Canadian Bacon

And so it begins...this is the way it always starts and it always starts big however as the time grows nearer some will be cut and others added so I welcome your input.