Chilean Words of Wisdom

Last night my friend, Dorothy, took me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant I chose is one of my favorites; a Chilean place named Pomaire. I had discovered this place over a decade ago, when my then-boyfriend from Chile brought me there. I recently rediscovered it and had forgotten how incredibly delicious the food is and how nice the people are. Perfect for celebrating my birthday.

My last visit there I had spent some time talking with the owner; a real gem of a soul. Last night we picked up the conversation right where we left off. I told him that it was my birthday, he told me that his just passed. "A Libra?" I rhetorically ask him. He goes on to tell me that Libras are bridges--connectors--"we connect people." How true I think, knowing how magical many situations there have been in my life. I then remember a song that Derek often plays in his workshops.

It goes:
"I would whisper love so loudly, every heart could understand
That love and only love can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire, so that you might see
The first step is to realize that it all begins with you and me.

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time."

We talked about the President of Chile coming to NYC a couple of weeks ago and the meeting that took place between him and the President. The restaurant owner had recently set up a non-profit organization to help the children of Chile and many Chilean politicians and ex-pats were joining together to get this foundation started. "I connected all these people." Yes, a bridge he was.

I tell him about Derek & the House of the Children and what the organization is doing for children in India and El Salvador. We talk about changing the world, sharing what you have and the redistribution of wealth. I remember and share what an old friend once said to me: "If Jesus couldn't save the world, what makes you think you can?" True. But I don't have to. Recently I was sitting with Derek asking him about changing the consciousness of a group. "You can't. All you can do is change your own thinking. When each person changes their own thinking, then the group changes."

Just focus on cleaning up my own consciousness...I can do that.

The restaurant owner goes on to tell me that all you ever need to do is to affect the life of ONE person. Even better if that person is a child.

Two people from two very different walks of life working toward the same goal. Beautiful. And now I am the bridge between them.

Another tidbit of insight from my Chilean friend...

I start talking to him about making asado, a beef roast that I have tried to perfect for years to no avail. He tells me the secret of making a good asado. You dip a handful of parsley in beer and go like this; motioning like a priest with Holy Water on Good Friday. "Oh, like you are blessing it?" I ask. "Exactly. But you want to know what really makes the food taste so good? When you make it with love. Because it is energy."

Now where have I heard that before? Derek, is that you?

I also talk to him about one of my favorite Chilean phrases,"en pelota" which literally means naked. He tells me that in Chile people say, "Vamos a hablar en pelota." which means "Let's talk honestly...transparently." I thank him for clarifying that phrase for me. Because if someone had said that to me, I may well be the first to take my shirt off.

Go visit the Buddha yourself and have an INCREDIBLE meal made with love.

POMAIRE
371 West 46th St
b/w 8th & 9th Ave
212 956 3055

And tell him Linda sent you.

Derek back in New York!

Finally and to everyone's utter surprise, Derek O'Neill (my spiritual teacher) came to NYC this past weekend. He has not been here in close to a year, and his students have been able to see him only in Ireland. Having him in the Big Apple was an absolute delight!

Almost a thousand people came to his workshop on Sunday and the line for admittance spanned an entire City block. The intensity of the energy was like being at the week-long workshop in Ireland. I personally was happy that friends & family of mine were able to attend and see Derek in action. They hear so much about him from me, but to truly understand what he is all about you have to see him. One of these people was my mother, who was curious & slightly skeptical of Derek. We sat separately so that we could each have our own experience independent of the other person. Derek walked up to my mom at one point to do a healing on her back. "How did I know you had back pain?" Derek asks my Mom. "They tell me everything." I sit there smiling, knowing that my mom's socks were not only blown off, but were now probably hanging from the church rafters.

The day was beautiful, amazing and loving beyond belief. He reintroduced the Rising Star energy, which was in the form of a Rising Star healing for all in the room. He did hands-on healings right next to me, so to watch him work that close was an absolute blessing. Time stood still, yet 8 hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Just about everyone I talked to napped on Monday, taking down time to integrate the energy from the workshop. I spoke to my Mom in more detail about her back and her overall impressions of Derek. She told me right after the workshop was over, "Now I understand why you are always going to Ireland." After expressing a desire to go to his week-long class she tells me, "but I am still not giving you money to go. Because now I might need it for myself."

So, let me get this straight...before you wouldn't give me money because you 'didn't believe in it.' Now you won't give me money because you do. Hmmm. Mom logic. Don't try to understand it. But it makes sense to them apparently.

PS: Guess who threw out their back this morning and was unable to walk while their back was in a full spasm. Nope, not Mom...guess again...yup...that would be me. Maybe I should stop and listen to all of these great teachings more carefully. And see if Derek can sort me out too.

For more info about Derek, you can go to his website: http://www.moretruthwillsetyoufree.com/ and for more information on the healing center he opened in the south of Ireland go to: http://www.creaconpremaagni.com/.
He is truly a Master, so any chance you have to see him you should take it.

Pilobolus and Abundance

This evening I saw an amazing performance of Pilobolus--a modern dance troupe whose bodies do things that mine now can only dream of. I see them perform every July/Aug at the Joyce Theater in NYC. It is something I look forward to doing every summer. Not only do I watch them for the sheer awe of their dancing, but having danced from childhood through college, I watch them and nostalgically remember the feeling of being a dancer myself.

Watching them tonight I especially took notice of their bodies and the muscle definition that resembles Greek gods/goddesses. I recalled how dancing was indeed a great form of exercise and how many dancers I knew did nothing else to build muscle--only dance. During that time in my life, I never worried about my body. I never danced to stay fit. I never danced for a good workout. I only danced because I loved it. Having a great body was just a by-product of a great love.

So it is with abundance I realized. Many of us, including myself, work to pay the bills. I have spent the last 15 years in the fashion industry, progressively getting more and more frustrated. I got to the point where I was working in fashion primarily because it was what I had my degree in, it was what I was trained to do, and it was the job that I could make the best salary at. Now I am at a point where I want to spend more and more time in JOY. For me, that means allowing myself creative outlets and taking a step toward being a full-time healer & teacher. If for work, we do something we really love, then it is not really work for us. Therefore, we put in the extra effort it takes. We become naturally successful at what we enjoy doing. We excel at what we love. And when we excel, people take notice. How can we expect to do well at something we dislike doing? How long can YOU fake it for?

I understand FULLY what it means to have to provide financially for yourself without any real form of a safety net. I know what it means to be responsible and that my thoughts may come across as idealistic and not very realistic. And I do realize that I may still need to take another job in fashion before I can fully support myself doing something else. I just want to get to the point where I am doing something because I love to do it. I refuse to waste my life being unhappy or settling because I thought I couldn't do any better.

My new motto:

1. Focus on what you love

2. Do the best you can

3. Let go of the outcome

And because I can't end this posting without cracking a joke...

4. Don't try to imitate that college dance performance video you showed to Mike. Like when he said, "Can you still do that?" And I said, "Sure..." and gave myself a charley horse.