Welcome to The Seasoned Path

Welcome to The Seasoned Path. In each newsletter I will share some of my musings along the path as well as inspirations gained from those who have traveled this way before me. My hope is to tickle your curiosity, heighten your awareness, and encourage you to become an environmentalist for your heart.

In this Issue:

Quote of the Month
Spring Cleaning for the Soul
Going Green Tip of the Month
Readings for the Journey
Upcoming events: Extended weekend in Cape May & One Day Equestrian Retreat    

Quote of the Month

"Women tend to take adequate time away to respond to crises of physical health- particularly of others, but neglect to make maintenance time for their own relationship to their souls. They tend to not understand soul as the central generator of their animation and energy. Many women drive their relationship to their soul as if it were not a very important instrument. Like any instrument of value, it needs shelter, cleansing, oiling, and repair. Otherwise, like a car, the relationship sludges up, causes deceleration in a woman's daily life, causes her to use up enormous energy for the simplest task, and finally busts down, out on heartbreak ridge, away from town and telephone.
Then it is a long, long, walk back home."
-- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Women on retreat in the Virgin Islands!

Spring Cleaning for the Soul

Spring is finally here! New growth is showing its vivid green touch on the tips of branches; daffodils and crocuses are smiling in the sun. As we shed our winters coats and sweaters, it is also a good time to shed some of the layers that have crusted over our hearts.

So much clutter accumulates in our hearts without us even being consciously aware of it. Things get buried under and piled on top of one other, leaving us feeling heavy and lethargic. As you enter spring this year, set the conscious intention to unburden your self of all that unnecessary weight.

Can you think of a particular burden that you have been carrying around on your shoulders? Maybe it isn’t really your responsibility to solve, or maybe someone else is willing to help if asked, or maybe it just needs to be let go of and forgotten. Now is the time to remove that weight like a heavy old winter coat.
What about an old grudge you’ve been carrying in your heart? Does it still apply to present circumstances? Have you changed or allowed for the possibility that the other person might have changed? Do you really need to recycle the toxic waste of the past? Is it serving you in any way?

Are you shackled by the role of martyrdom or victimhood? Or have you handcuffed others with these believes? What if you were to unlock these self defeating attitudes and focused on the future you want to create? What if you gave of yourself and expected nothing in return? What if you forgave a wrong and in doing so no longer allowed that hurt or injustice to dictate your life?

And what about all those regrets piled up in your closeted heart. Think of all the energy you expend worrying about things that didn’t work out the way you wanted. What if instead, you focused on the lessons of growth and the unexpected possibilities that occurred because of each of those unplanned outcomes. What if, you trusted that everything happens for a reason and each event has brought you to this very moment in your life? Your job now is to determine where do you want to go from here.

You probably have some other thoughts and feelings that you would like to add to this list. Think of them each as a cluttered room in the house of your soul. Determine your order of priority and begin to clear your house one room at a time. Armed with the healing qualities of patience, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and trust, enter each room and wipe it clean. Take your time, rest when needed, and if the task becomes to daunting, enlist the help of professionals such as a therapist, life coach, or spiritual advisor.

This year let your spring cleaning occur from the inside out. Lighten your heart. And in the cleared, open space begin to plant new seeds of what you want to grow in your life.

Going Green Tip of the Month

In affiliation with the virtual career center www.GreenCareerCentral.com,  part of my coaching practice is devoted to helping people discover how and where their talents and skills fit into the new green economy. The "Finding Your Green Niche Program," developed by Carol McClelland PhD, is a fun and interactive way to find a new direction and revitalized purpose in your life.
Recently, I was quoted in Time Magazine, 
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1883702,00.html. 

"...green jobs - which include everything from solar panel installers to EPA administrtors - could be a rare bright spot for employment. "The jobs are really coming in this field," says Karin Marcus, a 'green niche coach' who was advising applicants at the Columbia [Ivy League Environmental and Sustainable Career] Fair. "We're finally mainstreaming the green career. We're on the cusp of opportunity."
Time Magazine, March 7, 2009

Readings for the Journey

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering, by Regina Leeds

Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow, by Karen Casey

Crones Don't Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women, by Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.

Upcoming Events

THE WISE WOMEN'S CAFÉ: (Ongoing,3rd Wednesday of each month, 7-8:30 pm EST) Inspiring evenings of discussion and personal exploration focusing on self awareness, intention, and growth. Where: At the home of Karin Marcus in Narberth, PA.  Your Investment: $80 for four evenings: includes all materials and café delights.

SEASIDE REFLECTIONS: A Self Care Retreat (2pm Sunday, April 26th –12pm Tuesday 28th) Take your self care off the back burner and put your self at the top of your priority list. Join me and Asian Body Therapist Linda Marrical for a springtime seaside gathering of wise women. Enjoy 2 nights and 3 days of quiet beach walks, inspiring workshops, and sharing with like-minded women. Location: The Marianist Family Retreat Center in quiet Cape May Point. Your Investment: $350 or $325 if you register by April 1st. Includes modest accommodations, continental breakfasts and boxed lunches, guided group programs and activities, all retreat materials.

HORSE SENSE (Thursday, April 16th, 9:30- 2:00pm) Time to shake off the winter blahs and try something new! The day will include an indoor beginner riding lesson, time to groom your horse, and personal visioning activities. Where: Thorncroft Equestrian Center, Malvern, Pa.  Investment: $80 if you register by March 13th, $90 after March 13th

WALKING WITH INENTION (Thursday, May 14, 10:00 to 3:00pm) Enjoy a 3.5 mile hike exploring the beautiful John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Our focus will be on reconnecting with your life purpose and living with intention.  Investment: $40 early registration by May 1st; $50 after May 1st

The Small Print

To schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching phone session, email me at Karin@SteppingOutCoaching.com or call 610-667-5247

Visit my website for more coaching info www.SteppingOutCoaching.com

A Note About My Recommendations
I provide links in this newsletter to products and services I am offering or I have personally found valuable. If you are ever disappointed with one of these recommendations, please let them and me know. If they don't make it right, I will.

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The Seasoned Path is published 12 times a year and distributed by e-mail to subscribers on or about the first Monday of each month. Comments, submissions and suggestions are welcome. Please forward any or all of this newsletter to those you know will appreciate it and encourage them to subscribe for themselves.

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Copyright © 2007 by Karin Marcus. All rights reserved.
33 Narbrook Park
Narberth, PA 19072