The Phoenix Process |
Using Life’s Challenges to Rekindle Your Heart |
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The ancient myth of the Phoenix contains useful wisdom for our lives today. The Phoenix bird sensed that his life had reached an impasse. So he built a pyre, sat in the flames, and burned to death. Then he rose from the ashes a new being, yet ever more authentic, vibrant, and at peace with himself and the world.
Each one of us is the Phoenix. Our lives ask us to die and to be reborn every time we feel stuck or resist change, whether that change is a dramatic life-quake, or merely the daily questions of being human: Is my job, my town, my relationship fulfilling my real purpose? How do I embrace loss, or aging, or death, and use them for awakening and even joy? How do I transform myself instead of expecting the world around me to change?
Our egos do not like the subject of change and death; they want to be in control. Our souls, on the other hand, know that every ending makes way for a new beginning, and that the key to happiness is found beyond our tightly controlled idea of life.
In this workshop, we use meditation and prayer from a variety of traditions, musical medicine, writing, humor, conversation, and readings to come home to our souls. We help each other name what wants to burn, listen for the messages in the flames, and dig for the treasure in the ashes. We leave with more courage to say yes to our own Phoenix process.
Elizabeth Lesser is the cofounder of Omega Institute, a workshop leader, and the author of The Seeker’s Guide and Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow.
Nance Pettit’s work spans body-centered psychotherapy, spiritual healing, acupuncture, and songwriting. With her husband, David Wilcox, she recently released Out Beyond Ideas, a collection of duet songs written to sacred poetry from many traditions. outbeyondideas.org
David Wilcox has been touching the hearts of American audiences for 20 years with his songwriting, skillful guitar playing, and inspired improvisational performance style. His unique musical medicine technique helps people unlock stories, healing, and wisdom from the deep well of the heart. davidwilcox.com
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