Connecting with Family: Tools and Tips from the Workshop

A colleague told me he felt bad for me that I would be spending the holiday with my family.  I felt bad for him that he felt that way.  I love spending time with my family; we have a great time together. This apparently was not the case for him. Unfortunately, there are many people who find family time a chore, a pain, a burden or a disaster waiting to happen. I’ve been working on several projects lately to educate families and couples on how to break down their walls, open up new doors, and create a new dynamic that brings them closer.  Getting to know each other–I mean really know each other– is an important step in that process. How well do you really know the people closest to you? How well have you let them get to know you? And if you’ve gone for years without ever really talking or connecting with your family the way you want to, how do you begin to change that now?  With the right tools and techniques, it’s easier and less daunting than you might think. I have a few of these to share with you both online and in person: [Read more]

Communication Tips for Breaking Down Your Family Wall

For any number of reasons, it can be difficult to break down or break through the walls that have come to exist in your family. This is especially the case if there have  been decades–or even  generations–of distance or silence, or if there is a sensitive issue that family members are not  sure how to broach. Discussing difficult topics, talking about the elephant in the room, or having more meaningful conversations can help to resolve family issues and bring the family closer together if you approach things the right way.  Here are some basic Healing Man Healing Woman (HMHW) communication tips to keep in mind when trying break down your family’s wall.

• Before tackling “the wall”, take time get to know and understand each other a little, independent of the perceived problem.
• Clearly define your wall and the  goal, and make the process a collaborative effort.
• Get a handle on the needs of the family as a whole as well as the needs of individual family members.
• Tackle one wall or key issue at a time, and make it a group project as much as possible.
• Support, don’t judge, each other during the process.
• Stick with it until you achieve the desired outcome.

Easier said than done? You just need the right tool to take you and your family through the steps of breaking down the family wall. The  Healing Man Healing Woman communication game does a great job of that. And it helps to relieve a lot of the tension that goes into those family walls and to relax the personal guards that people often put up when it comes to talking about family issues.  This of course can make a HUGE difference in resolving differences, communicating, and getting reconnected. If you already have the game, here are some special game instructions to help you get started with breaking down the walls in your family.

1. Identify the wall that the family wants to break down.
2. Choose one player to serve as official scorekeeper who will record all the players’ score on one  sheet and share it with everyone after the game.
3. Put all the players’  names in a “hat”.
4. Scorekeeper (or Player 1)  picks one name from the hat at random.
5. The person whose name was picked (Player 2) chooses a card from the deck at random and reads it aloud to Player 1.
6. Player 1 “answers” the card and gives his/her scores.
7. Player 2 shares why they think they ended up getting picked and/or why they ended up picking the card that was selected (i.e. What,  if any,  is the connection between Player 1, Player 2, and the theme of card?).
8. When Player 1’s turn is over, Player 2 then picks a name  out of the hat (Player 3)  and repeats the  same process as  Player 1.  This process continues until all players have had a turn.
9. Game concludes with  players collectively choosing a next step toward the family goal, based on the outcome and insights generated by the game. Additionally, each player may also set a next step toward a related personal goal that the family will support them in.  (The Next Step Deck is a great tool for personal and group goal achievement).
10. In 14 – 30 days, get the players together again in person, by phone, or via video to follow up with everyone’s progress.

Hints and Recommendations

• If your family  is  spread out  over  large distances, have each group get a Healing Man Healing Woman game for their household to make it easy to play by phone or Skype.
• To break the ice and get to know each other a little better before starting the game,  randomly pick a single card from the  deck and have everyone play the same card. It’s a great way to see different perspectives on the same thing, and let  people “warm up.”
• To work on the family wall during the game, agree on a common theme and goal before the game.  Ensure that each player thinks about how their personal answers and scores during the game relate to family wall and goal.
• If  playing with a large number of family members, consider putting members in teams of 3 to 5 people to make things more manageable.
• Teams and team members should follow up with each other on a regular basis until the family goal is achieved.
• Consider using a private/closed blog or Facebook group to keep everyone up to date and in touch.
• Encourage players to keep a journal.

PeruQuest 2012: an amazing shaman-led adventure

JUNE 3 – JUNE 17, 2012 PeruQuest 2012: an amazing shaman-led adventure through the Ancient Wonders of Peru and Bolivia! Make your deposit by Dec. 31, 2011 and receive a discount The most magnificent, awe-inspiring and powerful aspects of ourselves sometimes lay hidden like ancient ruins. In times of great change, it is more important than ever to reconnect with your sacred nature and nurture yourself as a seed of the New Humanity. Are you ready to make a powerful journey of discovery that will connect you to something extraordinary within you? Our amazing spiritual adventure through the mountains and jungles of Peru and Bolivia with indigenous master shaman, Don Victor Estrada, will be like nothing you have ever experienced before. As we explore ancient healing practices, spiritual teachings, culture, and history of the Inca and pre-Inca ancestors, you will experience a more conscious connection with the mysterious powers of your soul…and develop new ability to empower your everyday life. [Read more]

New Movie Explores the Science of Spiritual Evolution

Looking for The Ultimate Answer? Your Search Is Over! The Ultimate Answer is inside™ is a scientific and spiritual exploration of transformation and personal evolution, presented in a way that’s easy to understand, yet goes deeper than any movie of its kind has ever gone before. Experience the most effective tools available to help you live your life more fully and authentically with 16 experts in the field, including Antonia “Dr. M” Martinez, PhD, author of the of the Meditation Studies program at City College (coming in Spring 2012), the Healing Man Healing Woman Game, and the Inner Power Workbook. Journey through this inspirational and compelling story about a woman named Tua, as we unveil how to Transform and Evolve yourself instantly. As you experience our powerful guides, you will easily relate to your own evolution and self-healing process. Discover Quantum Physics, Energy Medicine and “Quantum” in brand new ways. Watch the Trailer: [Read more]

Workshop: Breaking Down the Walls in Your Family (Dec. 2)

• Heal Old Wounds and Unhealthy Family Patterns • Build Deep Trust, Communication & Respect • Nurture a New Family Karma Friday, Dec. 2, 2011 Breaking Down the Walls in Your Family Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research & Enlightenment (A.R.E.) 241 W. 30th St. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm $35 REGISTER for the WORKSHOP NOW [Read more]