Hi Everyone,

I am proud to share with you an article I had the privilege to write for New York Resident magazine:

“Tranquility in Midtown Manhattan”

Ariel & Shya advertise in this magazine and asked me to write an article in the June issue!  I wrote it the weekend of the last course, Transformational Time and Project Management. When I sat down and saw all the things I wanted to say, it was so easy – and really fun – to write (much easier than I had thought it would be).

The article is about my experience of taking Ariel & Shya’s workshops and the wonderful results I’ve experienced (and continue to experience) in my life.

Thanks to Ariel & Shya and everyone for your support in making this happen. Enjoy!!

Love,
Val

Lately, my days are full of events. It feels like a day has more parts than it once had. Every time I see a clock, I’m amazed how early it is, and how many things I can do with my time.

Also, everything looks beautiful, and full of DETAIL and light and color! The tropical-ness of Costa Rica seems to have followed me to New York, and everything is looking exotic, and full of life.

Things have been easy, and I’m finding I am willing to do the things that need to be done, without even wondering if I want to do them.

I feel so loose and creative, and the things that are happening around me are ORIGINAL.

(more…)

Dear friends,

I want to share some exciting news with you.

After working over 13 years mostly as an actor, I got a new job in Europe’s biggest and most beautiful Spa and Treatment Center near Cologne. The name is Mediterana. For the opening of a new Indian section at the end of August they are building a new team called ‘The Buddha team’ that I am part of. I will be responsible for reception desk, looking after guests, special happenings in the saunas and meditation.

I am also still working on stage; I am playing a very nice part in Pippi Longstocking in a beautiful outside area in the countryside. I auditioned a lot this year for theater jobs and got the most brilliant feedback ever since.
(more…)

Hello you lovely People all over the world!

I must say, I’m speechless!!!  Amazing things happened this week.  I just follow them and everything turns out fantastic!!

My good friend Christian and I were listening to Ariel & Shya’s radio show Being Here today. We were sitting in my kitchen and had a lot of fun!!  I absolutely loved the title (Tell It Like It Is: The Power Of Being Clear And Direct) and thought, “Cool let’s try that”.  After the radio show I had a rehearsal with my lovely violin player. It was that kind of rehearsal in which you think, “Why the hell can’t we concentrate on what we’re playing?” come on, let’s stop.  The cool thing about it was this: Usually when I don’t feel good or I’m not concentrating I judge myself and think it has to do with me.  But today I suddenly realized that sometimes its just NOT about me. Silvana (the violin player) was in a very bad mood, I almost saw the fog in her apartment.  She was fighting with her boyfriend that day, who was also in the apartment and it just didn’t feel good to be there.  I also saw that I absolutely don’t play as good as I can when we’re at her place. Sometimes we play at my place and it feels much more free.  She said she feels the same way with her playing.
(more…)

I went to my first Costa Rican Adventure in January 2009 with the Kanes. What a week! It was emotional, cathartic and overall just a great week of my life that I will not soon forget. I must admit, I have an “automatic no” which comes from the “don’t tell me what to do” part of my brain. So, when Costa Rica was first suggested as an option I made the excuse that it was too much money to spend and it was too long of a trip to take, blah blah blah. In the back of my mind I knew I was going to sign up anyway. My beautiful and talented girlfriend Grasie took the initiative and put a Costa Rica 2009 form in my hand and I just filled it out without “thinking” too much about it. It actually felt REALLY GOOD to take the plunge. I had a few moments of “what am I getting myself into?” along the way before the big trip, but those feelings vanished once the wheels were in motion. (more…)

Here’s another great article written by Ariel & Shya .  I find it very refreshing to see that enlightenment doesn’t have to happen on a mountain top in a meditition pose, but can happen right here, right now, at home, at work or anywhere.

Enjoy,
David H

——————————————————-

Let’s talk about being in the moment. Let’s talk about enlightenment or Self Realization or transformation. Most people see these things as esoteric endeavors that require thought, intentionality and work that is arduous and difficult. The prevalent idea is that Self Realization can only be approached at special times under special circumstances and in special environments, such as in meditation centers, workshops or retreats. However, there is the possibility that these esoteric pursuits can not only be engaged in, but also achieved in the ordinary course of our lives, during every day activities. Since most of our days are occupied by our professional careers or work, it is possible to use this time to discover how to be in the moment and live one’s life in a transformed, Self Realized way. It has been said that it is easy to become enlightened on a mountain top but difficult in the marketplace. In today’s world, the office can be equated to the modern day marketplace. We are of the opinion that Self Realization need not be difficult and that it is possible to become aware doing the ordinary activities of our lives. Many people approach this moment as if it is not “it”. They see this moment only as a stepping stone to something else. This moment is “not what God intended”. People don’t realize that this moment of now is the only way their life can be and that whatever is happening in this moment is all that can actually be.

(more…)

Something became very clear to me at a weekend workshop I recently attended called, The Art of Listening. A significant portion of the participants in the course, more than I’ve seen in a long time, were new people who came in from all over the country. The workshop was vibrant, alive and fresh in a way that was very new and exciting to me!

I had heard it said many times before at other workshops I’ve attended, that the new people attending are the “lifeblood” of Transformation. This time, it became a very real experience for me to hear that. Like all of us at one time, they never knew this possibility existed for them and are intrigued and excited by it. They remind us of how rare it is to discover living in the moment and how we each make a huge difference. Those of us who regularly attend Monday night seminars and workshops “live” transformation as a lifestyle. The new people we invite are the fresh air, spark and fire that keeps it going and reignites the excitement of discovery.

(more…)

Hi Everyone,

Today Christina, Haydee, Susan Finch, Fernanda, Jodi, Madhu, Mike, David and Val put brochures and postcards (for either Monday Night Alive, Starting the New Year Right, Being Here Radio Show) in almost every shop and apartment building on 2nd Avenue from 42nd Street to about 30th Street and in neighboring areas as well. We had such a great time speaking with people about Transformation and the Kanes. Just our presence was enough to engage people, which made inviting them to workshops easy and fun!

The time flew and we met some lovely people and we intimately got to know the neighborhood where Monday Night Alive! happens each week. One restaurant-owner even took menus out of the menu holder to put our postcards in so they would be more prominently displayed (for next time we will bring our own!).

We are excited about the possibility of what we shared today, what’s possible for the people we met, and we invite you to be take part in sharing Transformation, too!  We will be sending a follow up email soon with simple, easy ideas about how each of us can do this.

Love,
The Postcard Crew

I feel soooo self-expressive and have to share with you what happened to me since the wonderful workshop “The Art of Listening” in Hamburg, Germany in October! I had been really looking forward to it because as a Psychologist, I spend my life listening to other people. Ironically, during the workshop something funny happened; I suddenly saw that it was time to stop hiding by only listening to what other people had to say. It was time to listen to myself!

So I had one of my intimate talks with life and said: “Look, I know that I can be of help to people and would love to do it, so if you see a way of supporting me, now would be a good time.”

I have a strong interest in using a communication method called “Marte Me”, meaning ‘on one’s strength’. It is something not traditionally used by Psychologists, yet aligns perfectly with the Kanes’ Workshops on ‘Living in the Moment’. I’ts something that can be used by parents or anyone working with children. In my “plan”, I sat down and decided to contact all the Pediatricians in Hamburg and introduce myself so they can refer people to me…

(more…)