1. Without anyone watching you (as they might think you are a nutcase!)
And while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number ’6′ in the air with your right hand. Your foot will likely change direction.

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hand her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

“Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

~~~~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005 ~~~~~

-Nonviolent Communication, page 32

Through my formative years, I saw the advent of push button phones, home computers, answer machines, cable TV, microwaves, walk mans, disc mans, video games and yes, MTV. I can’t possibly imagine my life without these technologies and what they later birthed — thinking about an iPhone and the fact that I can carry around color video on my phone when in my youth having a color TV was a big deal is mind boggling when I consider it sometimes.

Along with all this technology, interpersonal relating has also changed — how could it not? We all carry interpersonal communication devices with us day in and day out. So many of us have multiple devices of some sort — a phone and a computer or two phones (land line at home or work and a cell phone) or multiple email addresses or being on multiple social media sites.

What I’m realizing is that all these ways of communicating have really changed what relating with other people is like. Friendships aren’t what they used to be. Being close to someone doesn’t mean what it might have years ago.

Think about it. 150 years ago the standard way that most of you would read this message was via US postal service. When was the last time you mailed a friend anything of importance about your personal life via US Mail?

Even if you think back to a mere 40 years ago and the climate of this world, we weren’t necessarily looking to connect as the cold war was in full force and the “evil” of the other side was so prevalent in people’s minds. So while people could use phones, 40 years ago it was pay by the phone call and wait in line if you had a big family.

Today, I have a group of “friends” on facebook that is simply more people than I could ever interact with using a phone — which, in it’s own right, is amazing technology. Through this tool especially (not to belittle other social media sites, but facebook is dialed in, integrated, and pretty kick ass in how it works) is that we have the unique opportunity to create relating as human kind has never known it before. In a minutes time I can have a personal interaction with several people by typing a message and posting it to someone wall. I can have an interaction with hundreds of my friends by simply changing my status and it will move through someone else’s feed.

And if you type quickly — a skill, these days, more valuable than good penmanship was 50 years ago — a regular person can interact with even more people in less time and more depth than you could possibly accomplish before in human history.

I got a message from an old (long-standing, not aged) friend this morning… someone who knew me before I founded Temple of Poi. She was reaching out and sending me love. It really touched me because while the message was short, it communicated a lot and had me remember that these social media tools allow us to show up in the world and impact people in ways we may not even be aware of.

I hear a lot about technology and the woes of it… but truly, I find it to be a gift… A gift that allows us all to redefine what friendship means by a standard that is appropriate for today’s means of interpersonal communication. A gift that allows us to still have those people we see on a regular basis while also allowing us to reach out to more people and stay in connection, in love, in the light together, and in a Flow of Being as one on this earth that has never before been available to us.

I feel a transformation upon us right now — not just because we elected the first black president in US history; not just because we celebrate the winter solstice today; but also because this time in human history is truly epic and it is right here and right now where we get to define what we create through these tools and what we choose to do with them.

I for one and grateful to take full advantage of being able to connect with hundreds of people in moments and I appreciate that connection for what it is… grateful to have every one of you in my life at whatever level we choose to create interaction.

So thank you for being, thank you for creating a possibility for interconnectedness that is unprecedented in human history and thank you so much for sharing this life with me.

Welcome back into the light. May it fill you with all the positive things you most truly desire.

4 years ago I was serendipitously granted the first of a series of opportunities to bring poi fire dancing to a credible stage, namely, Union Square. This was a donation of our time and money to be a part of the San Francisco Food Bank’s (SFFB) Canned Food Drive. Each year, the SFFB hosts an annual event to help raise awareness and increase donations for people who are less fortunate and unable to feed themselves. Throughout the day, they have artists perform — this year’s performances include our beloved Shamanic Cheerleaders who will be performing earlier in the day Monday.

Temple of Poi’s first performance in 2004 was such a success, they invited back. Again. And Again. And Again. This year, we are lucky enough to contribute once more as we present the finale of the day’s events with a 40 minute fire show performed by students, alumni and friends of the school (as well as the closing performance by me).

In these times where things seem darker, I invite you share your light and be part of the solution. Here’s how you can participate:

- Buy a holiday gift for yourself or friends: Temple of Poi is committed to raising funds for the food bank by offering 50% of our proceeds from sales of our Temple of Poi 2006 Fire Dancing Expo DVD to the food bank. Purchase a copy in person from us at Temple of Poi for $20 or buy your own copy to be shipped to you.

- Stop by on Monday and donate a canned good item

- Spread the word about the SFFB’s mission by sending this message far and wide

- And joining us for:

WHAT: The San Francisco Food Bank’s Canned Food Drive
WHEN: Monday, December 8, 2008
WHERE: Union Square, San Francisco
WHO: Temple of Poi Fire Dancers (4:40 pm), Shamanic Cheerleaders (3:05) and more

We are the manufacturers of SmartPower Smart Energy Drink – The best FEELING energy drink on the planet. SmartPower has special ingredients that change the way your brain processes caffeine, enhancing the positive effects (Energy, Good Feelings, Clarity) while virtually eliminating the negative ones (The Jitters and the Crash. Smart Power Drinks for videos that explain how it works.

We have decided to liquidate our stock of SmartPower and Nuclear Waste Antidote Smart Energy Drinks. Normally, a can of SmartPower sells for $2.49 in store, or $50 for a case of 24 16oz SmartPower Smart Energy Drinks with free shipping. Now, we want to move pallets, not cases. So, we are selling it at 90% off our normal retail. Buy more pallets to save more!

The deal is as follows. Bring a one ton truck that can handle a pallet of 70 cases (24 16oz cans per case, 40″x48″x48″) to our storage in Castro Valley in the East Bay (near Hayward/San Leandro).

pallets_________ 1 ________________ 2 ________________ 4 _________________ 8

cases_________ 70 _______________ 140 ______________ 280 _______________ 560

per case______ $5.50 ____________ $4.17 ____________ $3.50 ______________ $2.85

16oz cans_____ 1,680 ____________ 3,360 ____________ 6,720 ______________ 13,440

per can_______ $0.23 ____________ $0.17 ____________ $0.15 ______________ $0.13

**

drink price_____ $385 _____________ $584 ____________ $983 ______________ $1596

tax___________ $32 ______________ $48 _____________ $81 _______________ $132

CRV________ _ $84 _____________ $168 _____________ $336 ______________ $672

**

Total Price_____ $500 ____________ $800 _____________ $1400 ______________ $2400

savings________ 89% _____________ 92% ______________ 93% _______________ 94%

The official expiration date of these drinks is June 2009, but we expect them to be excellent tasting and safe through till mid 2010.

SEE-Inc. A Beautiful Future Now!

and to those who have yet to play, it starts with two basic ideas: tell the truth; hear the truth. i still believe a deep, life affirming commitment to these two precepts will save us all.

the game is based on Mark’s work in RelationDancing. I highly recommend the book, but only if you want to have more fulfilling, rewarding and deeply intimate relations with others…

when we played hardcore years ago it was 6 rules: i will do what i want to do and i will not ask permission; i will not do what i do not want to do and i will not ask forgiveness; i will be culpable for my actions and will make amends for my transgressions (if i do things i say i won’t or don’t do things i say i will); there is no hiding my truth — especially in those places when i want to withhold myself, i will open and share the truth because that’s what creates intimacy; i will presuppose positive relating — meaning i will assume your intention is positive toward me (if we have an explicit game); and finally, no shaming (subtle or otherwise) people for being who they are and where they are.