"I was frozen inside..."

"I have been involved with the LLP-project-work since 2000. In that time we called it "Murphy-training", because we didn't have a name for it yet. During these nine years I came together with many groups and I have SEEN wonders happen doing Michael Murphy's work. As a witness and a guide I have seen TRANSFORMATIONS happen in other people...I have experienced the power of "listening without judging", the power of " looking in the mirror," and these taught me (as a general practitioner and a human being) that there is always hope ... for everyone... even when we go through very bad things or very difficult times.

I also learned I cannot do this when I'm alone with a patient. We need TRIOS-- the story-teller needs a witness AND a guide. So now during my work, when I met people that I as a GP can't help alone, I know there is hope for them if we can practice in the trio's of the LLF Project. And then came 2009... and a crisis for me. My body didn't allow me to do what I wanted it to do. Tired and exhausted… (How was that possible?), I felt I had lost a part of myself, but I did not know what to do, where to go, or why this was happening to me.

I went to Ireland this September to the Love, Loss and Forgiveness Project workshop of Michael Murphy .... and there I felt the WONDER of transformation happen IN ME. It took only 36 hours....and I was "my whole self" again... I could cry again... I could really laugh from inside, again... and I felt, and I still feel the warmth of LOVE deep within me. I was frozen inside and was becoming a hard women…

My difficult time is not over yet, but I'm sure I will become better, and I know that it will take time and as Michael always says, “it is VERY SIMPLE, BUT NOT EASY.”

I'm so grateful that I know the Project, and that I can help to spread it a little bit in my region in the future".

Krista from Belgium

Michael's Musings- The Grand Canyon

"The Mortal needs to be aware of and Gaze at his own Soul and Spirit in order to have meaning in his life, for the Mortal without Soul and Spirit is loveless. In the same way, the Soul and the Spirit of the Grand Canyon need a Mortal to Gaze at them if the Canyon is to be loved and have meaning, for if there is nobody there to Gaze, the nature is loveless.

Our inner life is like the Colorado streaming through the unimaginable depths and heights of our being, with the ever-changing light at dawn and dusk inspiring Soul and Spirit, and the moments of illumination in between cause Mortals to gasp with wonder at the ebb and flow of life. At night, everything vanishes into the darkness that is both prelude to a new day, and a reminder to Gazing Mortals that time is running out. (Visited with Sandra and John on November 20-21 2008)"


This post is excerpted from a book by Michael, of Love, Loss, and Forgiveness essays, to be published in 2010.

The Welcome Book is here!

The Project's Welcome Book is now available and can be downloaded here, and soon from the website.

This eight-page booklet is a summary of the Project and Practices. Please share it freely with associates, colleagues, friends and family members; introducing them to the project and answering questions they may have before becoming involved.

The lighthouse is the Project’s symbol, may it also light the way for others.

This booklet is the group effort of Michael, Sandra Murphy, and me; along with help from the US Board, friends in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Romania. It features the lovely design work of graphic artist, Paul Miyamoto, a former Board member and a good friend of the Project.

The Love, Loss, and Forgiveness Project wishes to thank all those gave generously of their time and energy to make this publication a reality.

Welcome!

Spring Blessings

(Photo: © 2008 John Carlson )

Spring is in the air, and I feel like I should be on a plane to Ireland again ! ( we have been the last 2 springs! )

I just returned from New Mexico and spent 2 weeks with my Son, Rob. He is in the Air Force, and will be deployed to Qatar the end of May. It was wonderful to spend this time with him and be in some warmer weather.

I attended Michael's weekend workshop in Dec. at Dr. John's home in Traverse City. It was wonderful, even though it was a lot shorter than the others, there is always more learning in a great project.

I would like to share a blessing from John O' Donohue's book " To Bless the Space Between us". It is a wonderful book... if you get the chance, pick it up, it is great & uplifting with many beautiful blessings.

This blessing reminds me so of learning to love oneself..."

For Solitude

May you recognize in your life the presence, power and

light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,

that your soul in its brightness and belonging

connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.

May you have respect for your individuality and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,

that you have a special destiny here,

that behind the facade of you life

there is something beautiful and eternal happening.

May you learn to see you self

with the same delight,

pride and expectation

with which God sees you in every moment.

I love this blessing, that last verse reminds me of the mirror practice.I remember the first time I did it, and how hard it was, and I could not do it. I have learned so much from this project, and the wonderful people I met in it. It helped me though the hardest time in my life. I cherish each friendship of the people I met, and learned something from each and every one.

I hope to do more in the future, and look forward to the project growing and passing on to others.

Hope to see you again sometime.

Much Love,

Suzie.

“Solitude” from: TO BLESS THE SPACE BETWEEN US (Doubleday 2008)

© John O'Donohue. All rights reserved. Used by permission of John’s estate. http://johnodonohue.com/books/

Sharings

"Sharings" is a new thread made up of postings written by participants of the love, loss, and forgiveness practices all over the world. Share with us your experiences, insights, joys, challenges etc. And use the comment section to communicate with with others on your journey towards living more loving lives!

Send your sharings to me, John Carlson at emailjdc@gmail.com


"One of the practices last weekend transformed my relationship with my brother. He and I had more (and better) times together in the last three days then, it seems, years and years. And we have great plans for the coming weekend... and plans to sail together this summer.

I fixed a mirror close to my computer monitor so I can turn my head and easily take gaze-breaks while I am here. I like it. I am very happy. "

John O.

Starting up in America!

This past weekend, I had the privilege of facilitating a "start-up" workshop in Troy, NY. This was a "sampler" workshop that gives people some experiences of the Practices with which they will become involved when they join a 9-person Love, Loss, and Forgiveness group. We have organized similar "start-up" workshops in Michigan, and also in Belgium, the Netherlands and Romania. It was an amazing experience for all of us, and I wrote the following to the participants:

Dear Storytellers Who Are Also Beautiful Witnesses and Guides!

I am personally very grateful for your participation in the start-up workshop this past weekend. Your involvement gives me much hope for the Project, nudging us all to continue the Practices we all need in order to lead more loving lives. These practices for living have never been part of any curriculum in schools, or many homes, for that matter.

It is not easy to Gaze at ourselves in the mirror, even though it is so very simple! Much easier to Gaze and give to others. Yet how can we love others, unconditionally, if we have so little time and love for ourselves?

It is not easy, and may seem disloyal to speak about our family when all was not well for us when growing up. Yet if we don't speak, we betray ourselves by continuing to carry burdens of resentment and self-neglect, and nothing will change. If we are to make life-saving changes at the global and national levels, we must start with ourselves.

As you may remember me saying, I was not able to speak to my mother before she died. I was too terrified, and I didn't have the words. Fifteen years after she died, I was able to have a ten-minute conversation with her in a session like we experienced together last weekend, and I was able to forgive and be forgiven and express unconditional love like I never had before, letting go of shame, guilt, rage, and more. The good news is that we can learn to say what needed to be said, even if important people in our lives are no longer with us, but why wait so long?

Many realized through the workshop, that if we are to become loving storytellers, witnesses, and guides with others, we must first become more loving towards ourselves; and we discovered, for most of us, how difficult that is!

You made a great start, and I will be with you in Soul and in Spirit along the way as you continue the Practices in your Community-based groups.

With love to you all, Michael

P.S. In order to give others some idea about what happens in Love, Loss, and Forgiveness groups, we would love to have you post your experiences of this weekend start-up workshop, including any artworks you would like to share, on this blog.

Send posts to John at emailjdc@gmail.com Please put the words "LLFP Blog Post" in the subject line. Thanks.

Let's keep the practices alive and movement towards more loving lives growing!

Michael on Radio Show from Bennington Vermont (UPDATED)

I will be joining Michael tomorrow to do a radio program from 10:00-11:00am about our efforts over the past two years to develop the Love, Loss, and Forgiveness Project as an international community of groups of nine who work independently on the practices of love, loss, and forgiveness. Dr. Carol Tunney, the shows hostess, spent a week in April of 2008 at a Love, Loss and Forgiveness workshop lead by Michael at Dzogchen Beara in Ireland. The Station is WBTN, 1370 AM, in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The show is "Natural Instincts: Health, Healing, and Conscious Living." So, if you are local, tune in. If not, I will try and post the audio here for you to enjoy.

(UPDATE) Here is an audio stream of the show. Enjoy, and thank you, Dr. Carol Tunney, for giving us the opportunty to get the word out!