 What was amazing about seeing China, my parents' homeland where I'd never visited, born in Taiwan and raised in Canada?
Everything. The cool, crisp air climbing the Great Wall. The beautiful Suzhou gardens. West Lake tea terraces and parks. My uncle and my cousin, their faces a mirror of mine and my brothers' and father's.
Dad was the young man at the far left of the cover photo. His baby brother is my uncle, whom my husband and I met on this visit.
 In India in 2016, every woman or girl I met felt like my spiritual mother or sister. But in China, everybody was family.
Everyone called me JieJie or MeiMei (older / younger sister.) My halting speech was welcomed. There was a strange, yet terribly sweet, sense of homecoming. Everyone, however it arrives, can welcome a sweet Homecoming, when it is graced. Sharing it with my husband on this trip was a gift.
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Thanksgiving Envisioning Prayers
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 Where to begin with your thanksgivings? The only place possible: Where you are.
In the Five Barley Loaves classic meal of abundance, all four gospels depict Jesus lifting to heaven five barley loaves and two small fish in thanksgiving, then feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children, with twelve baskets left over. Math challenged as I am, this is a math I can totally and joyfully embrace. This is the heavenly math of abundance.
What if we approached our life as a banquet or meal, lifting up toward heaven what we have and blessing it, not petitioning, but blessing: Wellness, Success, Friends, Family, Skills, Faith, Love, Joy, Peace... watching what God's math does with it?
 Angel coach Kyle Gray notes that "Thank You" prayers seem to be much more powerful than "Please" prayers. Jesus taught that way: "faith as small as a mustard seed." What if our willingness to allow God's generosity is why? Faith by another name? ... Whatever we desire, and whatever we have now, what if we lifted it up to thank and bless it? What would Heaven's math do with that?
 This month I am grateful for: the most superlative China journey with my wonderful husband; meeting sweet China relatives; having happy healthy family in North America, Australia, Sweden and China; having delightful teachers,students, colleagues, friends, the world over! Life adventures that challenge spirit, heart, and body.
One grateful prayer of mine that incorporates all I share this issue from Kyle Gray, Abraham, and Guy Finley: "I am so thankful for the learning adventure that is my Life!"
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reSOULutions retreat Jan 5-12
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 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, here I come! And not just me, but a troop of my playful, loving, diverse, yogi family of all ages and practices and styles of Yoga! SO psyched!
For one thing, I get to flow with Juan Gamboa and Esco Wilson every day! I can meditate with Catt Yiu, Vinyasa Flow with Loren Yandoc, Slow Flow with all! I can Restore and chant with Michael Clement, Thai and Fly with Lesley Kennedy, Journal with Bryan Winston! ... We are gleeful about our uber-talented Tribe Teachers!
And then, there's the world famed food at Xinalani ... the gorgeous yoga shalas, private beach ... rooms nestled like tree-houses between sea and mountain. Fengshui for sure, by China standards! Earth, Sea, Sun, Sky, Space! See video ...
 And there's the midday adventures, between yoga and food, that we may embark on! Oh, my cells are all grinning ear to ear. Did I mention sunshine? Weather? Supreme hospitality?
There are a few spots left ... email a deposit to grab one! This is my medicine for living in cold New York in January!
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Upcoming Workshops, Retreats, Trainings, Immersions:
12/8 ~ Restorative Holiday Treat ~ 3-5PM, Pure East, NYC
1/5-1/12 ~ reSOULutions retreat ~ tropical retreat with Juan,
Esco & Teacher Tribe, Xinalani, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
1/26-27 to 4/27-28: 100-Hours over 4 weekends, 4 Levels
Mother Mary Restorative Teacher Training ~ Pure Yoga NY
25-Hour Weekend Modules, L1-L4 Saturday-Sunday, 9-6
Level 1: January 26 & 27 Level 3: March 30 & 31
Level 2: February 23 & 24 Level 4: April 27 & 28
2/9 ~ Valentine Restorative ~ 3-5PM, Pure East, NYC
2/10 ~ ValenTHAI couples workshop ~ Om Factory, NYC
5/11 ~ Mother’s Day Restorative ~ 3-5PM, Pure East, NYC
5/24-27 ~ AcroYoga Lunar Immersion ~ Memorial Day Weekend
with Katie Capano: Partner Thai & Therapeutic Flying
6/7-9 ~ Wagging Tail Yoga Retreat ~ Bethel, NY, with Ora Ramat
6/22-23 ~ 25-Hour Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, Pure Yoga NY
Monday: 10:30-12:00 Slow Flow Meditation
Monday: 12:30-1:30 Yoga Nidra Meditation
Tuesday: 12:30-1:30 Restorative
Friday: 12:15-1:30 Flow & Restore Level 1
Om Factory Weekly AcroYoga:
Friday: 7:30-9:15PM AcroYoga Flow (Open Level)
- Fashion District, 265 W. 37 St. (8th Ave), 17th Fl, NY
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 Photo Thanks this Issue to:
Xinalani Retreats for all retreat photos and videos.
Raul Aranas, Lee family, tour mate Shea, plus yours truly, for assorted China photos.
"I am thankful for the learning adventure that is my Life!"
And, I am thankful for those of you who are in it with me!
Blessings in this Light Season to you and yours ~
OMMMMmary
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Abraham Hicks' perpetual calendar page Nov 22 read:
The Law of Attraction is so very powerful that when you hold a thought for as little as 17 seconds, another thought like it will join it; and as those two thoughts come together, there is a combustion that occurs that makes your thoughts even more powerful.
Consider this application to praying Thank You prayers.
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 Author Guy Finley suggests a perspective shift: That we embrace being the participant in all of our experiences, and let go of being the possessor of them.
The first is fact, the second is illusion. But our striving for the illusion creates stress and struggle. Resistance creates blockage, which in Yoga we call dukha, or dis-ease, versus sukha, ease.
Finley notes the fascination we have watching fountains, or kaleidoscopes. This, he says, is because we sense: "We are that we see."
Watching their flow, we know we are the same. Ever participating; ever changing. Not owning. Not crystallizing. We know we are like both.
How are you like a fountain? A kaleidoscope? A waterfall? A river?
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 This month I am sharing a releasing meditation from Gabrielle Bernstein's book Judgment Detox.
If there is someone you need to release or forgive, try this "Great Rays Meditation".
Sit and take several quiet breaths. When ready, say these silent words on 3 inhale/exhale cycles:
IN: I see you in Light.
OUT: I release Fear.
IN: I choose Love + Light.
OUT: I Accept you.
IN: I welcome in Great Rays of Healing Light.
OUT: All I see is Light.
Repeat as desired. See great rays of light emanating out from their center. See the light expand and envelope them, you, and outward.
 The change you'll notice is, first, in your heart. The energetic shift in the other may be a sloooower metamorphosis, at least to your eyes. But peace will bless you first; the shift will expand to them, to the situation, to the world, if you continue. Repeat as needed, on as many relationships as needed.
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I made 4 photo videos of our China trip. The two middle ones are linked, for your viewing pleasure: