distracted by sparkly things since 1969

A while back, one of my Flock members asked for help around the idea of being kind. She works in a field that tends towards the snarky, and the atmosphere of cynicism was wearing her down.

We live in a society where criticism is a major past time. We spend hours serving as armchair critics as we watch competitions on reality TV. A highly polarized political climate has us lobbing our opinions at each other like so many emotive grenades. And as we move further and further away from the “be a good girl” era of the 1950′s housewife, we continue to struggle with the idea of kindness — because we don’t know the difference between being kind and being “nice.”

That’s why we are looking at Kindness as our core value in Flock next month. What is genuine kindness? Is kindess ever a truly altruistic act (and does it matter if it isn’t?) What is the difference between obedient nice-ness and authentic kindness?

While I was researching Kindness for the video lesson I’ll teach on Monday, I got an email from my girl’s middle school. They are screening the indie film Finding Kind. The film asks women to acknowledge that we have all, at some point, been unkind and catty to one another. And it asks young women to let go of the snarky inhieritance they’ve been give and to create a Kind Way.

The film itself is pink and perky, with blonde California Pepperdine co-eds leading the way. Right away the asthetic brought out the catty girl in me. I had to do quick act of soul-wrangling to get back on the Kind wagon. (Sometimes your spiritual practice is also a spiritual discipline.) As I got past the pink and clicked “play, ” I was touched by the passion the filmakers have to create a culture of kindess within girl culture.

I’m curious. What response does this trailer bring out in you? What does it tell you about your realtionship to Kind? And how do you encourage kindess amongst the young people in your life?

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Want to nurture Kindness in your world? Join Flock and practice with a kind crew. Kindness practice begins Monday, February 6th. Click here to join us.

Posted in Find Your Flock, Magpie Girl
Tags: Find Your Flock, Flock, Kindness |

Oh,  friends. These are two of my very favorite teachers:

Meet Kathy and Phyllis. Don’t they just looks so kind and wise? And maybe you can’t tell from these smile-y photos, but these women are crystal clear on standing in their own power. Kathy continually inspires me to hold on to hope. And Phyllis taught me it was perfectly fine to be angry. (Jesus, she reminded me, sat down and wove a whip.)

But neither of these women stop at anger and hope. No, they move all the way to healing.

From the walking wounded website:

“Have you ever:

-Been asked to leave a church or told you’re not a “good fit”?
-Felt forced to conform or remain consistently overlooked?
-Been told that you are loved but not your sin?
-Questioned leadership or theology and found yourself on the outside?
-Felt sad, angry, afraid, lost, or disoriented after painful church experiences?
-Experienced a significant shift in your theology or faith perspective and find yourself feeling disoriented and unsure?

You are not lost, and you are not alone.

Walking Wounded: Hope for Those Hurt By Church is designed to help you move through the painful and confusing aftermath of a negative faith-based experience.

In this 4 week class you will:

• Connect with others who have similar experiences
• Identify your losses and reclaim your dreams
• Tell your story and receive support
• Work through your unfinished business
• Learn effective practices to restore a sense of sanity

Through interviews, conversation, journaling and storytelling, Kathy Escobar and Phyllis Mathis will guide you through the confusion and into a place of purpose and peace.”

Affordable ($49), accessible (online), doable (just 4 weeks).

Ready, set, heal up!

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Curated Care (formerly known as Tools of The Trade) features carefully selected courses, books, and other treasure that will feed your beautiful soul. I take pride in only reviewing only trustworthy, totally-worth-it products and services. I believe in this course with Kathy and Phyllis 100%. To see some evergreen products and service providers I enjoy, click here. To read all my review posts, click here. Thanks for being here today Magpie!

Posted in Magpie Girl, Tools of the Trade
Tags: Curated Care, Kathy Escobar, Phyllis Matthis, Relig-ish, Tools of the Trade, Walking Wounded |

You and I, we want to live real lives.

Lives that are rich with meaning, but easy on the angst.

Lives that serve others without burn-out.

Lives that nurture joy, yet are present to sorrow.

Lives that are kind to others, and gentle to our own tender souls.

In my online community, Flock, we are creating that kind of life, one simple value at a time.

Today, while I was preparing to get behind the pulpit in front of the webcam with the Flock, I read a story about a woman in NYC who bought a sandwich for a homeless man. The woman said she kept an eye out for ways to be kind. The author of the article pointed out that the woman wasn’t just hoping for the opportunity to perform some random act of kindness, “she was poised to be kind.”

This February in Flock we are poised to be kind. We are practicing kindness in doable, everyday ways. And we’re reaping  the scientifically proven benefits of kindness – like a double shot of encouragement for others, and increased happiness for ourselves. And really, who couldn’t  do with extra happiness during the grey, grey month of February? (*raises hand*)

Don’t let the grey midwinter push you around. Come with us and let kindness fill you up with joy.

Our Kind adventure begins Feb 6th. Click here to join us.

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February is Kindness Month in Flock. We’re re-visioning Valentine’s Day, spreading some authentic kindness, and having a cheerful good time. Click here for the full monty, or just join now.

Posted in Find Your Flock, Magpie Girl
Tags: Find Your Flock, Kindness |

Isn’t this a beautiful star, Magpies?

Flock member and in-real-life friend, Leanna Ramsey-Corrales of Which Way is Home Again, made it with my daughters and I around our kitchen table. I love how she’s allowing mystery to draw her into the wild unknown of a new year.

The Flock Year meditation (free) has brought so many insights — from big bright energetic words, to gentle prompts to fuller living. Several Magpie readers have told me the name of their guiding star and they said I could share these beauties with Y.O.U. Here are just a few samples. (I love them all!)

BOLDNESS is most definitely the name of the star that I see in my sky. I’m getting on my camel, ready to follow wherever it leads in 2012. Wish me luck!… My star is hanging right where I’m guaranteed to see it every morning as soon as my eyes are open enough to pay attention. I’ll definitely be seeing you in Flock.” -Karen Coverett, Recreating My World

BOWL. I loved your telling of the story and the yearning it opened in me. I could see that curving path through the desert so clearly. I almost cried when I reached out my hand for my star. Oh please, I thought, because my mind was so wordless this morning and I was suddenly afraid there would be nothing there for me. Oh please. The star landed and I pulled it to me and looked down into the cup of my hand and there it was: bowl. … This is what my star looks like: be the golden bowl, be a vessel of light, and hold it out to the world in offering. -Lisa King, Tell This

SELF says to me that I need to spend time thinking about who I am – authentically – not who I think I should be or who I think I want to be. It’s time for me to understand I understand that I am enough. -Karen B

SERENITY. Thank you so much for that beautiful epiphany reflection. It really spoke to me. My guiding star is Serenity. It’s something I desperately need in my life and it’s a pretty word. :) I’m really excited to join the Flock. And I want to thank you also for making The Flock group so affordable. -Sarah

What is your word? Please come and tell me at my new Magpie Girl Facebook Page. I’d love to hear your unique story.

***

Ready for year-round soulcare? We’re saving a seat for you in the Flock. Won’t you join us? Need more information first? Come over, let’s chat.

Posted in Find Your Flock, Magpie Girl
Tags: Epiphany, Find Your Flock, Flock, Guided Meditation |

Hello Magpie!

Are you familiar with *8Things Thursday? It’s kind of been a habit of mine these past few years.

Sometimes I just make a list of *8Things that are rattling around in my brain so my monkey mind will calm the heck down.

Other times I’ve spent a few minutes just noticing *8Things of beauty or curiosity around me.

Lately I’ve been using *8Things as a gratitude practice.

What *8Things will we observe today? Come on over to my new Magpie Girl page at Facebook find out.

(I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours.)

See you there!

-Rachelle
*your magpie girl

Posted in 8things, Magpie Girl
|

This week’s Curated Care recommendation comes from my soulsister Jenna McGuiggan founder of The Word Cellar. I think her new offering is brilliant — especially if you are longing to write more, but only have spare moments between changing nappies, or on your lunch break. Relax, the gentle do-able solution is at hand. Jennifer, step right up…

One-moment Memoirs
by Jenna McGuiggan

That moment when you’re washing dishes, and you see your own hand holding a little metal bouquet of silverware, and for a second you think it’s your mother’s hand.

That moment when your beloved touches your cheek, and you know in your bones that something fundamental has shifted.

That moment when you hear the loud summer buzz of cicadas, and a line of poetry floats into your mind, begging you to capture it for later.

That moment when the sun slants just so, or the clock ticks too loudly, or you get the phone call you’ve been waiting for. Those moments big and small, those moments that matter, those moments that you want to live inside of, or make sense of, or share with others.

Some experiences beg us to write about them, but we often feel overwhelmed when trying to capture the whole story at once. One-moment Memoirs helps you take a relaxed yet focused approach to telling life’s big and small stories in bite-sized pieces.

In this workshop we’ll explore the art of short-form storytelling, also known as “flash creative nonfiction” (which also happens to be the prefect size for blog posts). Using writing prompts and exercises designed to help you connect with the heart of your story, we’ll dig into the details of a single moment. You’ll use these to write your very own one-moment memoir in two to three pages.

I’ll be teaching One-moment Memoirs online as part of wishBIG ecampin February. I’ll also be teaching a full-day workshop version of it this May for The Midwest Be Present Retreatin Culver, Indiana.

* *

Curated Care (formerly known as Tools of The Trade) features carefully selected courses, books, and other treasure that will feed your beautiful soul. I take pride in only reviewing only trustworthy, totally-worth-it products and services. I believe in this product 100%. To see some evergreen products and service providers I enjoy, click here. To read all my review posts, click here. Thanks for being here today Magpie!

Posted in Magpie Girl, Tools of the Trade
Tags: Curated Care, Jenna McGuiggan, on writing, Tools of the Trade |

What if ten minutes with your eyes closed could flip on a light switch in your life?

What if stepping into a story lead you to an “ah-ha moment”?

What if you could start out your year with a strong guide?

Still with me? Watch this 3.5 minute video to hear how I accessed all of these things. Then click here to do it yourself!

Much Warmth,

Rachelle

P.s. Want this kind of soulcare all year long?  Your invitation awaits you here.

Posted in Find Your Flock, Magpie Girl, Magpie Moments
Tags: Epiphany, Flock, Guided Meditation, magpie moments, video |

I absolutely love the art of Nikki McClure. Every image is created by cutting away black paper with an exacto knife. And the way she combines a single resonate word with a stunning graphic image — well, it’s positively poetic.

Paul just gave me her most recent calendar as a Christmas gift. When Eden saw me peeking at the first page today she said, “Are you going to look at them all now Mom, or save them as surprise?” I was glad she asked, because I hadn’t really thought about it, but now I think I will save each one as a surprise. I’m even thinking about doing some collage work around each monthly word. (January’s is “Permit.” That seems ripe with promise!)

What will you inherit this year? Order Nikki McClure’s Inherit Calendar and find out.

***

Curated Care (formerly known as Tools of The Trade) features carefully selected courses, books, and other treasure that will feed your beautiful soul. I take pride in only reviewing only trustworthy, totally-worth-it products and services. I am an amazon assoicate for this product, because I believe in it 100%. To see some evergreen products and service providers I enjoy, click here. To read all my review posts, click here. Thanks for being here today Magpie!

Posted in Magpie Girl, Tools of the Trade
Tags: Curated Care, Nikki McClure |

Hello Magpie!

I so want to give you something sweet for the new year! One of my Flock members, Marie, says Flock emails “are like a piece of caramel. I …*sigh* {with} comfort.” So on Marie’s advice, I’m sending you one of my Flock email lessons as a special gift. Click here now to get your goodies right away, or read on to find out more!

Flock is my experimental relig-ish community. In the past it’s been open to women only. This year we are throwing the doors open wide so everyone we adore can discover their right-fit spiritual practices.

For 2012 we’ll be focusing on The Flock Year — a set of soulcare practices that reflect the changing seasons, and embody a set of core values. My goal is that by the end of this year you will have at least one soulcare practice each season that is 100% authentic to your unique belief system.

The first Monday of each month in The Flock Year you’ll receive:

• a video lesson explaining the history of that month’s practice, and how to engage in the practice.
• an invitation to email me for help adjusting the practice so it’s right-fit for y.o.u.
• space to exchange ideas about creative spirituality on our private Facebook page.
• the option to book individual spiritual direction sessions with me as needed. (This offer is only available to Flock members.)

In February, The Flock Year will begin it’s subscription price of $15 a month. The January lesson is my gift to you.

Find the name of your guiding star for 2012 with a free video lesson (8 min) and guided meditation (10 min). In less than 20 minutes, you’ll have a guide that will help you feel grounded and focused the whole year through. There’s no charge for this lesson, and you won’t get more than a handful of emails from this mailing list.

To receive Epiphany: follow your star please click here.
(This is an updated version of the meditation for 2012, along with a brand spanking new video lesson.)

Thank you so much for being here today. May your new year bring you fresh breezes, soft light, and many unexpected joys.

Much Warmth,

Rachelle Mee-Chapman
*your magpie girl

Posted in Find Your Flock
Tags: Epiphany, Flock, Guided Meditation |

Last week on twitter, Fiona Lynne of Far Far Away asked me how she could celebrate the winter solstice. (I’m happy to help!)

Winter Solstice occurs on December 21st this year in the northern hemisphere. It’s often called “the longest night” because it is the 24hour period with the shortest amount of daylight and the longest amount of darkness. To celebrate solstice means acknowledging darkness is a natural part of life, whilst simultaneously celebrating the return of the light. It’s an excellent post-modern practice as it requires you to hold two ideas — light and dark — in the same generous, open palm.

I’ve lived all of my adult life in climates that really feel the solstice. Seattle, Vancouver, Copenhagen — all of these cities live on the northern edges of our maps, which means our daylight hours are shockingly short this time of year. We can fight that reality and rage against the dark, or we can let our body’s circadian rhythms accept the hibernation-like tendencies of the winter, whilst looking forward to the lengthening light of spring

Here are some simple way to celebrate the winter solstice. Each of them is relatively simple and there is no “rule book,” so even though Solstice is only two days away, you can still craft a celebration to call your own.

Gather. The Winter Solstice traditionally involves gathering the clan. Invite your family or family-of-choice over for a celebration in your home.

Decorate. Pine tress, evergreen branches, and mistletoe are all traditional greens for the Solstice. You can also include winter berries, mosses, mushrooms, or pine cones. Gather some trimmings into a centerpiece or line your mantle with boughs.

Light: In the deep midwinter, we beckon the Light, imploring her return, inviting her home. Fill you home with candles and invoke the light.

Feast: A feast of seasonal foods is an important part of the Solstice celebration. Make a big pot of root-vegetable stew for your guests, or enjoy a cozy, reflective evening alone with a roasted squash and a nice mug of winter ale. A feast doesn’t have to be elaborate to convey gratitude, bounty, and celebration.

Offer Prayers: Prayers and blessing are a common part of the Winter Solstice across cultures. This one is a lovely Norse dinner grace to say over your guests. If you’d like to do a light-ritual, this one is particularly nice, and doesn’t require anything special other than candles.

What about you Magpie? How will you celebrate the Winter Solstice this year? What values are embodied in this seasonal celebration for you and your clan?

Posted in Magpie Girl, Magpie Moments
Tags: magpie moments, winter solstice |