"Shine your Light" Wu Tao December 2011

Dear friends,

Blessings and warm wishes for the forthcoming festive season.  Here in Western Australia, the weather is heating up, the ground is drying and already it feels like summer!  Its been a busy and special few months for me.  I continue to move through the grief of my daughter Belle's recent transition but joy is present as well now, which is a welcome relief.  She is happy and very much alive.   My spiritual practice has become very important as I work to surrender myself to the place where all is well.  Wu Tao is part of my practice.

I spent the best part of October on an Australian Wu Tao tour ending with a powerful instructor training in Mornington Victoria.  I have felt so blessed and grateful for the love coming my way over the past months, especially from everyone in the Wu Tao community, that I simply had to make a trip and thank everyone.  If you dance Wu Tao at a class with one of our lovely instructors, you will know how gorgeous and amazing they are!  Instructors and students alike, the Wu Tao community is full of beautiful, sweet and precious human beings.  

Wu Tao Spring Ceremony

The Wu Tao ceremony for Spring was held in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, celebrating new life and dancing the renewed and healed world into being.  The energy at all ceremonies was powerful and vibrant.  

With a focused intention, we danced together, sending healing ripples into the world and creating positive change.  I am reminded of this song:  "From little things big things grow" and I firmly believe that good things will flow from the energies we generated. To all those who attended, thank you for your healing presence.  It was truly lovely to meet you and dance with you.

The next ceremony will be celebrating Summer and the Element of Fire and the time of transformation and purification.

Click here to find out where and when you can join a ceremony close to you.

Summer Ceremonies

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Instructor Enhancement Days

In Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne we also had our annual Instructor Enhancement Days. It is always a joy to be with the amazing beautiful people who teach Wu Tao, dancing and learning together.  I am grateful and blessed to be part of such a special community.  Thanks to all the wonderful instructors who lovingly support all our students not just in Australia, but also in New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Brazil and Austria! Next year we will also have instructors in the UK, US and South Africa! Yes, the Wu Tao tree is spreading its branches far and wide.

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Instructor Training

My trip culminated in the 7 day Instructor Training Intensive which was held at the first purposely built Wu Tao studio, in Mount Martha (close to Mornington Peninsula) and home to Diana Bonwick and her family.  What a perfect environment in which to study and learn Wu Tao!  We were surrounded by nature, birds, horses and trees, with perfect weather blessing us every day. Congratulations to Lisa, Maria, Bev, Shireen, Lisa and Jane on the successful completion of the course! Thanks to Diana for looking after us so well and organising the delicious Indian food we ate daily.  

"What an amazing week!  Dancing daily with six of our truly beautiful Wu Tao family, under Michelle's caring guidance, was blissful.  It hardly seemed like we were studying and preparing for examination!  The intensive was challenging, joyful and healing combined. What a great honour to be able to teach Wu Tao and share its great depth.  Thank you Life & Michelle!". (Jane Southwell)

In 2012, we will be holding the first Training intensive in Bali!  Start your course in 2012 and complete it on this beautiful tropical island!  For information about our Instructor Training Courses for 2012 click here.  

Christmas Training Specials

Enrol in any of our training programs in December or January and receive special bonus gifts from us.  Click here for details.

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Wu Tao Bali Retreats in 2012!

For some time now I have been fantasizing about taking people to Bali for Wu Tao.  I have always found Bali to be especially healing and relaxing. 
Bali is a deeply spiritual place. For a start, the Balinese people live their faith daily.  They live in constant respect and contact with Spirit through their Hindu ceremony and rituals and are very open, warm and friendly.  The whole island feels very feminine and heart oriented. 

I have been researching on the internet looking to find the perfect place to host Wu Tao retreats.  I was referred to one and on my enquiry, an email came back with the address, BelleButterfly!  What a synchronicity!  I took this to indicate that I was on the right path with my dreaming about Bali.

Things have been moving quickly with us being offered the opportunity to lease a retreat centre in Ubud for a year.  Nothing has been confirmed yet, but if all goes well, Steve and I could be in Bali very soon offering Wu Tao Dance training,  retreats, music retreats, workshops and classes!  It could well be the perfect next step for us and Wu Tao.  If we do get to Bali our place will be open to you and we hope you will join us for a relaxing and healing time at our new retreat centre.  I will keep posted with updates!

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Wu Tao Gifts for Christmas?

Its not too late to order Wu Tao DVD's, music and books for your family and friends for Christmas!  If you place an order this week, you should receive your order before Christmas day if you are in Australia, but don't delay!  The new Advanced DVD, Wu Tao Wisdom DVD and Wu Tao for Couples DVD are now available. Go to Our Shop page to place your Christmas order today.

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Sondra Ray in Perth December 2011
Our dear friends Sondra Ray and Mark Sullivan will be in Perth next week offering their very powerful Loving Relationships Training as well as private sessions.  I highly recommend their work to cut through the ego dross and lift yourself to new levels of consciousness.  

Click here for all the details or contact either myself 0417989397 or Steve 0429197710 email richsound1@gmail.com

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Coming home to Self - The True meaning of Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Christ energy into the world.  What does this mean for you? For most people the true meaning of Christmas has been lost in the consumerism of buying presents and eating alot of food.  The spiritual meaning has been reduced to the nativity story of the birth of Jesus. I like to think of Christmas as the time to celebrate the landing of Christ consciousness onto our earth, into this dimension.  It has arrived and is held within each of us.  We may not all know that we carry it, but it is this sacred spirt that is our True Nature. 

Here is a short meditation process (taken from our Course in Transformation)  to help you remember your true Self and in doing this, help others awaken to their true nature:

• First, find a quiet space for yourself where you can relax without interruption for 1/2 hour.
• Get some coloured pencils or textas and paper to draw/write on.
• Put on some of your favourite relaxing music.
• Sit comfortably and take some deep breaths, letting go of all tension in your body and mind as you exhale.

• Now ask yourself these questions:

• Who am I?

• Draw/write whatever comes to mind

• What are the burdens I carry?

• Draw/write whatever comes to mind

• What is the truth of who I am?

• Draw/write whatever comes to your mind

• Once you have answered these questions by drawing or writing, do the Wu Tao Fire Dance, brushing off the burdens you have discovered into the Fire.

• When you are finished the dance, sit quietly for a few minutes taking your breath into your heart. Feel how much easier it is to feel your Self and how natural it is to radiate love now your Heart is relieved of what it was carrying around.

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The Tree

By Miranda Brett
(Wu Tao Instructor Melbourne Australia)

I make no apology for who I AmI simply grow wherever I am planted
Spreading, exploring the Earth
Graciously receiving all that is given
 all the elements, nutrients and space that is needed for this vital life
Creating a strong, firm foundation, steadfast, brave and true
Following the natural rise of energy as I find myself moving outwards through the leaves and branches into the Light
Spreading, creating, Giving Fully
I am worthy to be here and I hide nothing
I shine beautifully and without reservation, allowing my magnificence to be witnessed with my ever-changing canopy of leaves, the fragility of new growth, tender buds, flexibility, movement, dancing in the wind, buffeted by storms, lashed by rain.
Some boughs straight and strong, other branches dead and withered
Embracing it all, denying nothing
See me with my perfect imperfections
You and I,
Yin and Yang
We dance, touch, create, merge
Experiencing ourselves Fully
For we are One.

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Summer Recipe for You 

Watermelon SaladThis recipe is cooling and cleansing. Summer is the ideal time to enjoy fruits such as juicy, sweet watermelon.  Rocket lettuce is bitter and stimulates the Liver. Lemon juice will keep your body alkaline.

Ingredients1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 cup minced shallots (1 large)
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 cups baby rocket leaves, washed and spun dry
1/8th seedless watermelon, rind removed, and cut in 1-inch cubes
200g good fetta cheese, 1/2-inch diced
1 cup whole fresh mint leaves, julienned

DirectionsWhisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, shallots, honey, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking constantly, to form an emulsion. If not using within an hour, store the vinaigrette covered in the refrigerator.

Place the rocket leaves, watermelon, feta, and mint in a large bowl. Drizzle with enough dressing to coat the greens lightly and toss well. Taste for seasonings and serve immediately.

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The picture below is of my beautiful girls and myself last Christmas.  Belle's last Christmas in her body. She was the happiest I have ever seen her and had the best day in absolute joy and bliss.

I wish for you a beautiful Christmas with your loved ones.  May your spirit shine bright and bring joy and peace to all around you. See you in 2012!

Lots of love  

Michelle 

Wu Tao Dance

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My darling Belle has Flown

 

Dearest Wu Tao Teachers, Students and Fellow Travellers,

Its exactly 3 weeks today that my darling girl Belle flew away into the skies leaving us behind.  At this time 3 weeks ago we were in intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, sitting by her, singing and reading her favourite stories to her while we waited anxiously for her sister Dakota to fly in from London to say goodbye.  What a long 20 hour flight that was for her and us!

Dakota made it in time to help her sister on her way and Belle held on to say good-bye.  This day was indeed the saddest day of my life.  It was also incredibly gentle and beautiful.  Belle left her body surrounded by love and support.  Though it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, we were there to let her go with love and gratitude.  

Her dad Rafael, her Auntie Simone, my darling man Steve and Dakota's sister Aurora were also there.  I write this consumed by grief.  How else can it be so, I miss my baby so much!  So hard to let her go....

But I do also wish to share the incredible amount of miracles and blessings surrounding our precious Belle's journey.  Many of you may know that since Belle first went to hospital in late 2009 that I felt things change and that Belle was preparing to leave then.  For no apparent reason other than a trip to hospital of which we had had many in the past, I felt a shift, a change in trajectory and I was overwhelmed with grief for many months.  Last year she had 2 severe pneumonias and visits to intensive care.  The last trip was especially stressful for me. I had a lot of resistance and fear.  I didn't want to be in the hospital and go through this ever again.  It was very hard for me and I am sure for Belle too.

One day when meditating on Belle at this time, she came and told me she was done here and was preparing to leave.  More grief, more unreality.  What to do with this information? Was I making this up?  

Since that time we have had the most fabulous time.  Almost a year with no illnesses, and heaps of joy, laugher, fun and happiness.  Belle enjoyed the best christmas with her family.  She went surfing for the first time and started high school with a great teacher and new communication device.  We had lots of fun every afternoon with her beautiful carers Amy and Kathrin.  They were her best friends and mine too.  The past year was truly a gift of joy that we will always remember and celebrate.

I went to India as I have done for the past few years and had a great time and a very special healing from a dear friend Richard.  The grief of the past 2 years was taken away with the flow of the divine Mother moving through me.  I knew I would be ok through the immense transition that lay ahead.

However, nothing prepared me for this incredible loss.  The disbelief and the anguish are real.  My mind cannot make sense of it.  I know Belle is doing fine and doesn't need me anymore, but my grief stops me being able to feel her as she is.  I know she is close by and free and happy somewhere. But where?  

What do I do with my empty hands? The hands that loved to feed her? The arms that willingly changed her and attended to her? The mind that tuned into hers and knew what she she needed and how to make her happy?  My mother body, my mother identity is struggling with these things.  

I know that in God's time I will transition through this period.  And I will be better for it.  I know that many good things will flow from this experience.  I will be free to be of service in other ways.  I am so glad I had the job to be Belle's mum.  Reflecting on what she brought to so many, I know she was a bringer of much light and love.  She lifted the vibration of many people in her orbit simply with her presence.  She didn't need to do anything except be.  She had me and her dad to take care of her body vehicle.  

Belle opened up many people's hearts.  She taught compassion, tolerance, patience, joy and love.  She opened people up to what lived within them.  She was a true healer.  I said to many people throughout her life that she was a master teacher.  I believe this to be so.  I don't think she was here to complete karma, though I do know she specifically came to remind her dad of his true nature.  I know I had a contract with her. I would be her mother, and she would hold the space to help me bring in Wu Tao.  Her spirit is way bigger than her body looked.  She is a tall and incredibly beautiful angelic being.

The perfection, the perfect timing, the impeccable guidance of spirit through all our lives is so clear to see right now.  For the first time in 10 years I have time to rest from work and can be fully present to face my grief.  That in itself is a miracle!  I feel surrounded by love and support from my darling family, friends and people everywhere.  On a subtler level, I feel completely taken care of, often bathed in a warm blanket of invisible love and tenderness.

I don't care to hold back my tears with anyone.  They are flowing as I write. Then they dry up only to flow again later. Its a time of firsts and lasts.  Belle's last meal was coco pops!  A special treat.  

I haven't got to my first Wu Tao class yet.  Next week I will start again.  I know Belle will be dancing with me when I do.  

Lyndall Parsons has organised a collective Wu Tao dance for Belle on the 7th August.  Everyone is welcome.  Check out the link on facebook or call your local teacher to find out where you can join in. https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=238413869513423

Belle watching the cricket game at Christmas!

Here is a beautiful link of my girl laughing.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLEDub-OCTE

Thank you all for your prayers, love and support through this difficult time.   I am very grateful for all the cards, flowers, phone calls and emails that you have sent to us.

Much love,

Michelle 

Wu Tao Dance

Celebrate your Self! - Wu Tao News Dec 2010

Hi {!firstname},

Today is the 1st December and we are heading into the last month of the year!  What a year its been! I hope you have been able to follow the flow of your spirit and all is well in your world. In the southern hemsiphere we are now in Summer which corresponds to the element of Fire in Chinese Medicine.  

(If you are reading this from the northern hemisphere, you will be in Winter and in the Water Element!  Follow this link to read more about how to Nourish yourself in Winter)

Fire is the transformer and purifier.  It can burn away anything that blocks the flow of love.  The organ that corresponds to the Fire element is the Heart (of course) and this season is the perfect time to open and share love, (which is what we really are), with others.  

Last week I heard a beautiful quote (from a Course In Miracles) that captured this.  "My only purpose is to extend love".  Beautiful hey?  When I reflected on it, I realised that whenever I was not extending love, my heart was closed at some level.  

Fear of being judged, prior hurts, anger at others.  All these 'burdens' hold me back from resting in my true nature and radiating love.  

This season is the perfect opportunity to shed the burdens of our hearts.  

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A Gift for You

My Christmas gift to you is a short meditation process to help you purify your heart from the things that stop you extending your love to others and yourself. (I've done it myself and it works).

So here it is:  

• First, find a quiet space for yourself where you can relax without interruption for 1/2 hour.
• Get some coloured pencils or textas and paper to draw/write on.
• Put on some of your favourite relaxing music.
• Sit comfortably and take some deep breaths, letting go of all tension in your body and mind as you exhale.

• Now ask yourself these questions:

• What burdens am I carrying around in my heart?

• Draw/write whatever comes to mind

• How does this stop me extending and radiating love?

• Draw/write whatever comes to mind

• What will happen to me if I release these burdens?

• Draw/write whatever comes to your mind

• Am I willing to let go of these burdens now?

• Draw/write whatever comes to mind

• Once you have answered these questions by drawing or writing, do the Wu Tao Fire Dance, brushing off the burdens you have discovered into the Fire.

• If you haven't yet learned the Fire Dance, put on some music that makes you feel joyful.  Imagine there is a big fire in front of you and spontaneously dance out your burdens, allowing the Fire to transform these for you.  

• When you are finished the dance, sit quietly for a few minutes taking your breath into your heart. Feel how much easier it is to feel your Self and how natural it is to radiate love now your Heart is relieved of what it was carrying around.

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Wu Tao Course Now available on DailyOm!

Recently I created a short Wu Tao course for the website DailyOm. Its now live on their site and I have to say its a very easy and cost effective way to learn Wu Tao. This is a great opportunity to learn the basics if you haven't been able to get to a class yet. Check it out here

http://tinyurl.com/wutaodailyom

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Free Class for Perth Peeps!

Another great opportunity for you to experience Wu Tao!  I am giving a free class on the Esplanade Park (right opp Esplanade Train Station Perth) as part of the 12 Days of Fitness Challenge (http://www.lululemon.com/perth/perthcity)

 on Wednesday December 15th

 at 6.00 -7.00pm.  

Come along, say hello!  I would love to meet you and dance with you!  It will be a lovely class learning the Fire Dance and celebrating the beginning of the Christmas season in real Joy! Everyone is welcome!

 

Are you looking to find a new career in health and wellness?  If you are AND you love to dance and work with people, Wu Tao may be the perfect new career for you.

Wu Tao Dance offers people the opportunity to nurture themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually, restoring health on every level.  Teaching Wu Tao is an incredibly enjoyable way to support people on their life journey and transform yourself at the same time. 

 

If you want to deepen into your own spiritual dance practice and be of service to the world, you won't want to miss out on our Wu Tao Instructor Training Program.  I have personally been given so many gifts from teaching Wu Tao.  It has become my spiritual path and the way for me to give back to the world.  I can highly recommend it as a career!

So, this month (it is Christmas after all!)  is the LAST chance to get the specials that I offered back in October. You can receive the Food as Medicine Ecourse for free ($600 value) OR get $300 off the the Full Instructor Course training.  

Click here for more details and email or call me if you want to take advantage of this offer.

http://www.wutaodance.com/dance-teacher-training

I would love to be sharing this healing path with you!

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Teacher Profile

The pictures below are of one of our lovely Wu Tao Instructors in Melbourne Miranda Brett.  Miranda teaches in Cheltenham. You can find all the details about Miranda's classes and workshops on her website http://www.path-to-stillness.com or call her on 0405 780 498.

 

Here, Miranda is doing the Makko Ho Stretches for the Fire Element and its corresponding meridian channels. 

Why not commit yourself to doing them everyday for a few weeks and feel the benefits for your Self?

 

Heart and Small Intestine

 

 

Heart Constrictor and Triple Heater

 

 

Have a fantastically joyful Christmas with your family and friends and I look forward to sharing more Wu Tao with you in 2011!

Blessings and much love from all at Wu Tao

Michelle Locke

Wu Tao Dance