Author Archives: Andrea Hylen

See the Canvas of Your Life from the Hilltop of Desire by Monisha Mittal, Guest Blogger

Day 52 of 100 Days of Blogging           Guest Blogger Friday on Wednesday! 
(In the flow of the feminine energy…)



See the canvas of your life from the hilltop of desire:
By Monisha Mittal, 
Founder of Your Inner Ease
There is a roar going on inside each of us to consider. It’s a roar many of us learned to tamp down, as dangerous or perhaps futile. I know firsthand that desire, particularly acting on desire, is forbidden in some cultures, even seen as a weakness, at best a frailty of a fallible human heart. Krishna played a flute and like that, our desires are a song: a direct, juicy vocalization of our divine God selves.
Right now, I am aware of the sweet energy of desire growing in my surroundings. Women of many ages in my network are experiencing it—the sweet first blush of realizing another likes you; the downright rush and excitement of courtship and feeling wooed (the butterflies of receiving texts, being noticed and wanted) followed by the deepening intoxication of growing, mutual attraction. Mmm. 
There is a vital connection between our spirituality and our desires. Here, I pull a story from my background as an example. In Hinduism, most major deities show up as masculine and feminine pairs—so that the male god is always paired with his female consort. Krishna is the only one not married to his feminine pair. In their human lives, both Radha and Krishna were each married to other people. Though their union went against all norms of family, society and even religion in those ancient times, their desires were so total and true that their union is referred to as Raas Leela, their “ love play.”  It remains a cherished story, celebrated in countless music and dance performances today. Krishna in particular incarnated as someone so at one with his Divinity that he travelled his human journey as a lover, entrancing and loving many women completely. And he was so true to his journey as a lover that he didn’t look at societal rules and boundaries. I doubt, like Jesus, he saw them let alone consider them.
Yes, our desires seem entwined with our sexuality and sensuality, yet our true passions are our God selves all lit up. There is a sweetness to them. And, using the vocabulary of one of my teachers, its important we don’t ‘qualify’ that desire. That is, imagine a blue fire burning beneath the surface. We are that surface and it’s our role to create an opening so the fire can come out. In our human form, we can tend to add our own ‘qualifications’ to it – coming to and attaching to desire from ego. But somehow, that doesn’t allow us or the flame the experience we seek from this union.

There are some powerful implications here—not only do our true passions carry the sweet signature of our Divinity but they also represent a basis for us to act from our inner authority, whether or not that conforms with societal norms. So really, our desires are a powerful and important force from this universe for each of us to consider: a call seeking a response. We must take the time to taste our desires. To connect with desire, I channeled the following exercise:

1. Notice your desire. Ask yourself: What does it look like to stand in my field of desire? What scene comes to mind? Take the time to feel every sensory experience: on your skin, through your nose. 

What do you hear, see, taste?

2. Now, connect to that desire. Step into that center. 

How does it feel to live from this place, from your desire? And what does your life look like from this hilltop? 

What came through for me is that we take part in the cosmic creation when we step into living from our desire. Walk right into the center of my desire, this meditation said, because it is your aliveness speaking to you. It is that flame of cosmic creation that caresses your naked body and elicits sighs and shudders. Take part in it with me, won’t you, it asks…

Monisha Mittal lives in Fairfax, VA with her husband, Alan and two sweet cats. She is writing the rest of her story in an upcoming book which will be published in 2014. Monisha serves as a strong listener and advocate for the sacred in an individual’s or group’s journey, integrating the emotional, mental and spiritual. Using techniques such as role playing, channeling, writing and facilitation expertise, she helps bring out the pieces on your path that want to be heard right now, in support of your larger purpose. You can visit her at, www.YourInnerEase.com or get in touch at monisha@yourinnerease.com

Committing to a Relationship with Life

Day 51 of 100 days of blogging

“Anything you really get into relationship with will reveal its secrets to you”
 ~ Nicole Daedone
You…in…relationship. Connected to everything in your life in such a way that secrets are revealed to you.
Your relationship with cooking, surfing, yoga, walking, writing, reading, men, women, money, nature, and everything in your life. 
What do you think would happen if you really committed to being in relationship with everything in your life? 
And letting go of the things you didn’t want to fully commit to?

A Miracle Walk

Day 49 of 100 Days of Blogging

A “Miracle walk” is where you go out of your house or wherever you are, put your hands out, palms up and say; “Miracles, find me now.” And then walk until you see or find one- or more! Be aware that miracles may be disguised or in unlikely places. Use love to recognize them. A variation is to say; “Miraculous people, find me now.” Play from SARK

                                                                            **********

  

What are some of the miracles that have happened in your life recently?
Post in the comments and let’s shine a light of gratitude on them.  

What is a Turned On Woman?

Day 48 of 100 Days of Blogging

It is hard to believe that only four years ago talking about grief transformation was a radical, bold conversation to have in many circles. Sharing my grieving process and releasing most of my personal belongings, selling my house and moving across the country was embraced with love, caring, confusion, pity, annoyance and gratitude. Facebook was my first outlet of sharing real emotion that led to writing blogs, 70 articles and 44 radio shows.

One of the areas of confusion for people was, “How could a 52 year old leave her community and move from Maryland to California? How could she live in youth hostels, sleep on couches, live in uncertainty like a gypsy?”  On top of that I had just finished a summer of crisscrossing the United States and Canada going to 45 Jonas Brothers concerts with my teenage daughter. Was I losing my mind in grief or was I breaking free of limitations?

My earlier path:

Homeschooling my kids. Alternative medicine to heal an autoimmune condition in the 90’s. Leaving my 1st marriage. The choices I made sounded crazy to many people. Homeschooling my kids would make them social misfits. Alternative medicine would kill me. Divorce would ruin my kids lives.

None of those things came true.

Thank God I have reached a point in my life where I embrace the “crazy” because I know this IS my path. I am here to question the norm while at the same time living in it.  I see myself as an ordinary woman living an extraordinary life. Refusing to be quiet. Refusing to stay within the “normal” boundaries. Questioning, exploring, expanding to the full expression of me.

I am a Turned ON woman.

Last spring I had an opportunity to be part of a film shoot for OneTaste, a company that teaches about female orgasm. It had been three months since I took a class called, “How to OM.” I could feel the change that was happening in my life and in my body and I wanted to share the journey and give women and men the inside scoop of my experience.

Just so you know, this is vulnerable for me to talk about and I know, deep in my heart, that someone has to start and continue the conversation. And someone reading this right now wanted to hear what I had to say.

Some of the things I shared are included in this video that was just released last week.

Link to Video: http://youtu.be/anM27yRGN3w

Are you a Turned ON woman? Post more info in the comments.

 

Reclaiming our Sexuality

Day 47 of 100 Days of Blogging

I am on one of the most vulnerable explorations of my life. The exploration of sexuality. It is vulnerable because even using the word sexuality or orgasm in a blog or conversation brings up so many emotions and judgments.

It is one of the ways that women have been shut down. It is one of the ways that our voices have been silenced. The fear and the power connected to our sexuality.

I work with women who are healing a story, reclaiming personal power and at the core of many of our conversations is our power and our sexuality. (www.healmyvoice.org)

This is the year that I am opening the conversation, researching, exploring, talking with people and bringing the conversation about sexuality to the table.

This week in Los Angeles, Nicole Daedone, the author of Slow Sex is here to give a lecture and a live demo of Orgasmic Meditation. Located in Santa Monica.

Click Here for the Los Angeles Meetup Info 

Here is a link to a Ted Talk by Nicole Daedone.

Click Here

Quotes from the talk:

*Female orgasm is vital.

*It’s not so bad for the men either. (smile)

*…and for the first time in my life, I had access to that hunger that was underneath all of my other hungers which is a fundamental hunger to connect with another human being.

*For the DSM-5, they have defined it hypo active female sexuality desire disorder. Now, I don’t think it’s hypo active female sexuality desire disorder but, I do think we have a pleasure deficit disorder in this country. And I don’t think that it’s medical, I think it’s a cultural issue.

*I do think there is a cure and that the cure is orgasm. But, it’s going to be a very different definition of orgasm than we know.

*It’s going to be a definition of orgasm that actually works with a woman’s body… We have the definition work with what the woman’s body does.

*The Dalai Lama said that Western women will save the world…I think it will be TurnedOn Women around the world who will change the world.

Like Me and YOU!

Let the conversation continue to expand…

Leadership: Heal My Voice and Chrysalis House – A Pilot Project

Day 46 of 100 Days of Blogging

Pilot Project at Chrysalis House
Crownsville, Maryland

This is a fundraising request for an incredible year long pilot project. Weekly writing circles led by Beth Terrence, a holistic practitioner (http://www.bethterrence.com/). Monthly workshops led by a variety of Heal My Voice Authors including Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice. Supporting women to heal through writing a story and reclaiming personal power to step into greater leadership.

Chrysalis House is a substance abuse treatment center for women. A unique aspect of this program is the opportunity for women to keep their children with them while in recovery. An emphasis on recovery, healing and parenting.

We have a variety of people working on grants and corporate sponsorship and crowdfunding to fund the program and the development of a workbook and training program for Chrysalis House and other substance abuse treatment centers.

The request today is to help us raise $5,000 to get started.

Take a moment to close your eyes, listen to your heart and see if you are drawn to make a donation at this time and listen for the amount of money. Also, listen within to see who you can forward this email to.

If you feel inspired to support this project with a donation, click on the Payment Link today!

Click here to go to Donation Button,

THANK YOU!

http://www.chrysalishouses.org/

We believe that women are pivotal role models in their homes, communities, and institutions. Our purpose is to support them in reclaiming their individual power and awaken leadership potential by helping them heal and reclaim inner authority and step into greater leadership.

 In Gratitude

Alpha Chick: Andrea Hylen – Her Story of Transformation: Question 2

Day 45 of 100 Days of Blogging

Mal Duane, author of Alpha Chick interviewed 10 women for her telesummit: Awaken to the Alpha Chick: Positive Mental Shift: Living Life with Passion and Purpose.

This is an excerpt from the Blog where Mal interviewed me, asking me 5 questions. 

 (Telesummit FREE. Link to iTunes Podcast)

Question 2:

Describe the transformational moment or wake-up call when you realized that life change was necessary? For many, it’s a spiritual awakening, an emotional downfall, or a life-altering experience that shakes us awake. 

There were two pivotal moments that were wake-up calls. The first was late one night, sitting in the kitchen cross stitching ornaments for Christmas presents. Surviving on only three to four hours of sleep each night, I had a moment of paralysis. My legs and feet were frozen in place. I couldn’t move. I cried out for my husband to help me. With his assistance, I was slowly able to shuffle into the bedroom. Crying myself to sleep that night, I kept repeating inwardly to myself, tomorrow is Al-Anon. I just have to make it to the Al-Anon meeting. Pushing myself to be the perfect mother, wife, employee, including making handmade ornaments had driven me to the beginning of a nervous breakdown.

The second was seeing a look in my two year old daughters eyes, the daughter who was calling me to “get it together.” I was arguing with her father when I heard a voice in my head say, “This is not the role model I came to be for my children.” I made the decision that I would leave the marriage for the sake of my daughters.

To read the answers to all 5 questions, go to:

http://alphachick.com/guest-andrea-hylen

Andrea Hylen believes in the power of a woman’s voice to usher in a new world. She is the visionary and founder of Heal My Voice, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women to heal a story in their lives, reclaim personal power and step into greater leadership at the dinner table, in their communities and in the world. She is an author, inspirational speaker and workshop leader at retreats and conferences speaking on Women’s Empowerment, Collaboration as a Business Model and Women Healing Together.  Learn more at www.healmyvoice.org

Following Our Desires

Day 44 of 100 Days of Blogging

Desire:

v.

1. To wish or long for; want.
2. To express a wish for; request.
 
n.

1. A wish or longing.
2. A request or petition.
3. The object of longing.
4. Sexual appetite; passion.
 
I am exploring the word and experience of desire.  
 

My Daily Questions:

What do I want to experience today?
 
Time to write and to be by myself. 
To connect with my Housemates.
To participate in the women’s circle at our house tonight.
To spend time getting organized for the week.
 
What do I desire?
 
To recharge. To ignite. To connect. To feel.  To love. To touch.
What do you desire?
Post in the comments and share with us.

Week 2: Receiving from the Men

Day 43 of 100 Days of Blogging
RECEIVING
“Men love to do. Women love to be done for. A man rises to his highest self, the lust of being in his function when he is doing for a woman who is able to receive.”~Nicole Daedone, author of Slow Sex

I had an opportunity to stretch my receiving muscle again yesterday. All of the women in the house were either out of town or at work and I was at home with the men. The thought of being dependent on the men for the day put me in a state of internal discomfort. Feelings of old patterning around men not being capable of showing up for me. No place to lean in to. I’m too much. My requests are too demanding. But, these men have all agreed to support me in the practice of receiving. Three amazing, open-hearted, powerful, kind men.

First there was the issue of breakfast. Someone in the house has been making my breakfast every morning for the last eight days.With Laurel and Rachelle out of town, I wondered who I would ask. As I was sitting at the kitchen island thinking about how I would really like eggs and toast, Andreas called out to me from behind. He was standing by the refrigerator with eggs and bread, asking me if I would like to have him make me breakfast. Yes! My solar plexus did a flip flop. Being seen. He remembered that I needed someone to make breakfast and he took the initiative. He cooked for all of us and it was sexy and fun and connected! There was music in the background and conversation and fun. The food was great! He even buttered my toast.

Second, all of the men have agreed to support me in something every day that is a connection. They take the initiative and we work it into our schedule. Yesterday there was a preparation in the house for a community party. I found a few ways to participate by finding the tablecloth for the folding table and carrying chairs in from the garage. No housework allowed so I was just hanging out.

Jason was busy cooking and it looked like he was too busy to take time to connect with me. He said, “Are you ready?” I responded with a you don’t have time for this.

His response, “I am going to make time for you.” Boom! Right to my heart. Stop everything to keep a commitment to ME! We walked away and he helped me for 20 minutes while several of our guests and Allegra were left running the kitchen.

The stretch for today: I surrendered and asked someone to help with my laundry. This was huge. The vulnerability of someone, especially a man doing my laundry, seeing my old underwear, hanging my bra to dry is something I have never experienced. In my two marriages which totaled over 25 years of monogamy, there was never a man who did my laundry.

This experience is shifting something in me. I can feel my heart opening and my ability to connect and receive is increasing. Even when there is inconvenience or someone is rushed, if they are making an effort or making the commitment important, I am staying open to receive.

Letting go of controlling how the giving shows up. And most of the time, I am surprised at how it shows up with so much love and kindness and generosity.

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