Join Our Free Online SoulPlay Family Camp

 

 When is the last time you let your soul out to play?

We know that as human beings, we are a mix of Mind, Body and Spirit; each of these aspects of self can be activated through fun experiences. When we follow our heart, passion becomes activation in remembering more of who we are and why we are here. Play is one of the best teachers ever because it is experiential and activates our inner passions.

When small children play; they are immersed in the moment, in full focus passion. Children are experts at play! People of all ages seek fun but too often, not often enough! Fun is something to be squeezed into our busy schedules. Typically, as adults, we schedule play in the form of vacations, organized sports, or some other ‘destination’.

SoulPlay is an invitation to another way of living in the flow of what our souls know. From this happy place, we are free to be more fully expressed and fulfilled in all areas of our lives.

My friend, Laurie Story Vela, has successfully woven aspects of play and passion in her literacy work found at Creative Spirit Families. Her latest endeavor is an amazing online summer camp that mixes the arts with Spirit play.  SoulPlay is a groundbreaking, online experience that invites

all ages to flow their divine essence as Love expressed and PLAY! This 21 day event is chock full of inspirational, imaginational invitations from an awesome assortment of cultural and healing arts presented by an array of authors, artists, musicians, teachers, and soul reachers, aka Camp Counselors.

I am the camp heART counselor in the online SoulPlay TeleSummer  Camp airing next Saturday, beginning August 9^th, 2014. You will find me sprinkled throughout the 21 day Camp sharing my own passions with creativity, color, paint and inner treasure mapping. Find out more about the camp, meet the Camp Counselors, and register here for this free camp today.

http://creativespiritfamilies.com/SoulPlayCamp.html

Experience the joy & freedom that comes when you let your soul out to play!

Ringing in the New Year

Ringing In The New Year by Dr. Angi K. Orobko

Celebration! Commemoration! 

Joy-FULL-ness Activation!

Praises be made! Tonight and everyday!

We are the ones to PAVE the WAY!

Anchor the moment with festivities!  

Delight in ALL your PAST activities!

Honor the OLD, as you anticipate the NEW!

That is the very BEST thing to DO!

MORE importantly EMBRACE the moment at present!

Truly experience it; make it a GRAND EVENT!

Learn from it, enjoy it, give it your undivided attention.

It is those moments together that build our intention.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 ♥ I am off to celebrate…

more to come in 2014. ♥

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Hanukkah ~ Celebration of Light

Besides the U.S. Thanksgiving, people around the globe are celebrating the Jewish eight-day festival of light and purity, Chanukah (Hanukkah), which started sundown November 27, 2013 through December 5, 2013. This is a celebration of triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, and of spirituality over materialism. The history of Hanukkah begins more than twenty-one centuries ago. The Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.

When they sought to light the Temple’s menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.

On Chanukah the Jewish people also add the Hallel and Al HaNissim in their daily prayers to offer praise and thanksgiving to God for “delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few… the wicked into the hands of the righteous.”

Chanukah customs include eating foods fried in oil — latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (doughnuts); playing with the dreidel (a spinning top on which are inscribed the Hebrew letters nun, gimmel, hei and shin, an acronym for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, “a great miracle happened there”); and the giving of Chanukah gelt, gifts of money, to children. Click here for the complete story of Chanukah.

Happy Hanukkah!

(My gratitude to Chabad.org for the information posted.)

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A Thanksgiving Poem: Counting My Blessings!

Counting my Blessings!
a poem by Dr. Angi
(Angela Kowitz Orobko, Ed.D.)

I am blessed to be alive,
to have all ten fingers
and  to have all ten toes.

I am blessed to have
the gift of sight and
to smell wonderful fragrances
with my beautiful nose.

I am blessed to have
two sturdy, supporting limbs
that are attached
to my nearly perfect feet.

I am blessed to have
the gift of a caring heart
that is healthy and warm
and never skips a beat!

I am blessed to have
two strong arms
to hug and embrace
and carry a load.

I am blessed with
two wonderful hands
that allow me to wave,
to paint and to write this ode.

I am blessed with a great family:
supportive parents, a loving sister,
and an amazing husband.

I am blessed with all the people
in my life, from all over the world, the internet
and in my community whom I consider friends.

I can go on and on with an inexhaustible list.
But I know you get the idea that I FEEL so very, very blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Grateful for Hugs (TY-31)

I deeply appreciate hugs! A hug is like ice cream or candy for the heart and soul! It is that delicious, warm and loving embrace that displays the affections of another compassionate and caring being. I feel that hugs are best when they are unexpected. Incoming…..surprise hug! Those really make my day!

Hugs do not have to be reserved for other people. You can wrap those lovely arms around yourself as well as others and squeeze! Go ahead. Go on! Do it right now!!! (((BIG HUG!!!))) You have been virtually hugged by me! (Big grin) How did it feel? Virtual hugs feel almost as good as the real thing.

Have you ever spontaneously hugged someone you do not know? I have. Those are the best because there are no expectations attached and because it was unexpected. That is what I call a double blessing. I challenge anyone who reads this blog to hug at least one person they do not know before the New Year. I bet it will be appreciated. Go on and be a hugger (and not a bugger).  Hugs! 

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Grateful for Music (TY- 30)

I am extremely grateful for music. No matter what my mood is music will alter it, usually for the better. It never ceases to amaze me how music transcends all languages; furthermore, it has been said that “music has charms to soothe the savage breast. ” This phrase was coined by William Congreve, in The Mourning Bride, 1697. Here is the original verse from which it came:

Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I’ve read, that things inanimate have mov’d,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform’d,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
‘Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs.
Anselmo sleeps, and is at Peace; last Night
The silent Tomb receiv’d the good Old King;
He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg’d
Within its cold, but hospitable Bosom.
Why am not I at Peace?

Incidentally, William Congreve (1670-1729) was an English playwright and poet. He wrote some of the most popular English plays of the Restoration period of the late 17th century. By the age of thirty, he had written four comedies and one tragedy, The Mourning Bride (1697). (From: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7008439-the-mourning-bride )

Back to the topic of music…in my own experiences with music, I know that when I have been tired,  music re-energizes me. When I am anxious, music calms me. When I am sad, music makes me happy. When I am restless, music relaxes me.

Lullabies have been used to lull babies to sleep. Music has been used to set romantic moments. Music is magical. That being said, music can also stir negative emotions, like fear and sadness. Some music can simply get on your nerves. However, I am certain much of that has to do with preference, as well as, state of being at the moment.

I deeply appreciate music. As we approach the holidays, music plays a significant role in setting the tone of the season and illuminating many joyful memories of holidays of yore. What effect does music have for you? Do you have any favorite tunes for specific times in your life?

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Grateful for Forgiveness (TY-28)

 

Bad moments do not make you a bad person. ~ Dr. Angi

We all have our “moments”, but those moments do not make us bad people. Each of us have our own unique sensitivities and coping skills. Another’s actions may or may not evoke a reaction from me; but, it would evoke a reaction from someone else.  That reaction does not make that person bad. It is only when he or she is not sorry for the reaction or bad moment that would taint his or her character.

Empower your loved ones. Give them the opportunity to forgive you and to need them. People feel valued and appreciated when you consider their emotions, ask for forgiveness and/or help. Our vulnerabilities such as bad moments make us human; furthermore, love yourself enough to forgive yourself. We cannot go on forever holding onto the bad moments in our lives. Why relive them? It is better to move forward and do better next time. How we choose to act after our bad moments is what really counts.

I am deeply grateful for forgiveness. It empowers me to let go of hurts, fears and negativity, whether I am forgiving others, myself or giving others the opportunity to forgive me. A little compassion to ourselves and others goes a long we toward creating peace, harmony and joy. Lots of positive actions and feelings do come from letting go of the hurts and negativity. Forgiveness is key to happiness, which is a very good reason to appreciate it. Let go of the hurt and the shame. Forgive others and yourself.

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Grateful for Enthusiasm (TY-15)

I truly appreciate enthusiasm especially in others. It is fun to be enthusiastic and it is wonderful to see enthusiasm in others. It is contagious. Enthusiasm is one of my favorite words as it expresses joy in action; it is having a keen interest, excitement, fervor or zeal in a cause or subject. It is cheerful and exciting because it expresses a higher level of energy. It is being passionate with joy for those items in our life that we consider important. Enthusiasm is a word that has its origins in the Greek language for “inspired by God.”

Enthusiasm is tossed into a group of such delicious words  such as: ardor, avidity, conviction, craze, dash, devotion, eagerness, earnestness, ecstasy, élan, emotion, energy, exhilaration, fanaticism, feeling, fervor,  fire, flame, flare, frenzy, fury, gaiety, glow, gusto, heat, hilarity, hobby, impetuosity, intensity, interest, joy, keenness, life, mania, mirth, nerve, oomph, orgasm, passion, pep, rapture, relish, snap, spirit, transport, vehemence, verve, vim, vivacity, warmth, zeal, zealousness, and zest

Norman Vincent Peale stated, “If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.” 

I agree wholeheartedly with Norman Vincent Peale. I have yet to find people who are not affected by my enthusiasm. Case in point, as I was returning from a bittersweet trip to Rhode Island and I was standing among many tired co-travelers as we waited at the gate for our carry-on luggage that was too large for the overhead compartments. No one was smiling except me.

Taking notice of all the glum and weariness, I made a point to become enthusiastic about getting my luggage, having made a safe trip to our destination and being minutes away from a warm bed.  I soon had most of us equally enthusiastic, too. It was great to see others smile with me. I think there was only one older woman in her twilight years who hung onto her scowl. Given a little more time, I believe I would have gotten a hint of a smile from her, too. 

This leads me to a quote by Charles Schwab, “A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.”  And, Vince Lombardi said, “If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.” (He cracks me up!)  Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.”  

In the words of Henry Ford: Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.

In my words, enthusiasm is the twinkle in my toes and the wiggle in my nose; it is the swing in my hips and the smile upon my lips! Enthusiasm is the thumping of my heart to the beat of my ideas that drums out a rhythm of inspiration for all to see. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes wonderfully sums it up, “It’s FAITH IN something and  ENTHUSIASM FOR something that makes LIFE WORTH LIVING.” Are you embracing your ENTHUSIASM FOR something?

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Grateful to be Me (TY-18)

Today, I am grateful to be ME, because as you can see, it is ME that can set my CREATIVE heart and soul FREE! (Dr. Angi quote). I am grateful that I can rhyme from time to time, as well as all my qualities and attributes. I am even grateful for my faults and shortcomings. I am grateful that I have a positive outlook on life and that I find it easy to care about people.

I have the innate ability to see both sides of most situations, which allows me to be objective most of the time. I am grateful that I am able to profess confidently who I am even through my doubt due to my courageous  heart. I am grateful that I am able to write whatever comes to mind without worrying too much about what I have just said only to discover that it was indeed profound. I am grateful that I can laugh at myself and not take myself too seriously. Today, I deeply appreciate who I am and for what I believe…love, kindness, compassion, God and humanity…especially our ability to bounce back and adapt. Today, I am celebrating, ME! 

Grateful for Differences (TY-17)

A world without differences would not only be boring, but it would also be stagnant that is without growth and learning experiences. I am grateful for differences, whether it be difference of opinion or different styles and trends. Differences allow each of us to be unique and to stand out. Differences allow us to be imaginative and creative.

Without difference, everyone and everything would be the same, right? For example, everyday would be the same with the same weather, the time would not change, there would only be one species of the same gender speaking the same language thinking the same thing…it could get quite nonsensical. Right? I deeply appreciate having variety, contrasts and differences. These differences are in fact necessary. Viva la difference.

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