The Gathering

The Gathering in August, 2011

2011-08-06T14:02:00.000-04:00

Topic: Plant Spirit Medicine

The Wellness Center 69 Elm Street Camden, Maine 6:30-8:00 pm

Why do we love our gardens so? Of course they provide beauty, definition in landscape design, and a sense of natural order as they go through the seasonal changes. However, each plant has its own unique vibration that communicates itself to us in many ways.

This month we will focus on flower essences, exploring how this vibrational network can convey a more cooperative way to heal ourselves and the planet we live on. Cheryl Evangelos will lead a discussion of what they are, how they work, and how they are made. She will also offer a guided visualization on what particular flower may be calling to you at this time.

For those interested in learning more, she suggests Bach Flower Therapy, Theory and Practice, by Mechthild Scheffer. All are invited to join us and bring a flower blossom to add to our altar .

The Gathering in July, 2011

2011-08-06T13:59:00.000-04:00

Topic: Working with Animal Spirit Guides

The Wellness Center 69 Elm Street Camden

You spot an owl as you drive down the road or catch a glimpse of a fox darting across your lawn. There is a cardinal pair that come to your feeder every evening. Animal encounters are viewed by many as synchronistic messages from Spirit. Our interactions with the animal realm can be used as a tool for co-creation between the spiritual and physical realms. Join Cheryl Evangelos as we explore interpreting their messages, the difference between Animal Spirit Guides and Power Animals and journey to learn how to better communicate with our animal partners. We invite you to bring your personal animal sightings and stories as we have fun with the creatures.

The Gathering in June, 2011

2011-08-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

Topic: I Hold the Power of Peace

Carol Daigneault’s Book Launch!!!!!!!

The Wellness Center 69 Elm Street Camden, Maine

After well over a year and a half of writing and editing, I have just self-published a book -- I Hold the Power of Peace. This Gathering will be my first public appearance with the new book. Please come and be a part of this evening of completion and new beginnings.

I Hold the Power of Peace is a petite, 4” x 6” booklet explaining the title message which I received shortly after 9/11. Thought, imagination, feeling and both the individual and group potential to impact a shift in global peace are concepts shared. I will offer a brief overview and would love to hear your thoughts as we explore ways to make the world a better, more peaceful place together.

I have committed to pay it forward and will be giving out the first 500 copies free. Copies will be available for you to take home this evening.

Many of you who have attended past Gatherings have seen my I Hold the Power of Peace bumper stickers or participated in our December peace guided visualizations. Please join us as we continue to share and spread this message .

Carol Daigneault

The Gathering in May, 2011

2011-05-08T08:47:00.000-04:00

Topic: Spring Tonic for the Heart

Time:   May 12        6:30 - 8:00 pm
Place: The Wellness Center      69 Elm St. Camden Maine

This month we will focus on the Heart Chakra. What we hold in our hearts in the form of conflict, hurt or unresolved issues can feel like heaviness or density. Cheryl Evangelos will lead a discussion on transforming that density into light. During the guided visualization, we will utilize the symbolism of the orb for this rejuvenation. Please join us for an evening of peaceful resolution.

FMI: Carol Daigneault     207-594-7081

Follow-up to April's Gathering: Group Consciousness

2011-05-08T08:41:00.000-04:00

After the earthquake in Japan, Masaru Emoto arranged, through e-mail, a time for people worldwide to join together and send prayers to the water in Japan. He named the ceremony:

“Let’s send our thought of love and gratitude to all water in the nuclear plants in Fukushima”
He also provided a specific phrase for people to repeat.

We know that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When a group of like-minded individuals joins together and focuses on a common intention, energy grows exponentially. Participants of The Gathering joined together and focused on the people, land and nuclear power plants in Japan. Intense love, gratitude and healing were directed to them. I wholeheartedly thank everyone who participated.

As our announcement shares, we have an opportunity to create a new paradigm for how groups may impact the world for the better. The Gathering offers a powerful possibility for us to join together and, through our focused intention and higher consciousness, impact the world for the better. What an amazing way to make the world a better place!

Love and light to all,
Carol

=============================================
To investigate this topic more fully, check out the following:
Lynne McTaggert, in her groundbreaking research on intention, has been documenting the effects group consciousness has on our planet. Lynne’s work is shared at
http://www.theintentionexperiment.com/

You may practice focusing your own energy and join with others as well by utilizing healing portals. These two, posted on the web, are used by people around the globe.

Denise Linn’s Mystic Healing Portal
http://www.deniselinn.com/Mystic-Healing-Portal.html

Reiki Healing Portal by Soul Coach Tracy Houchins
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reiki-Healing-Portal/140871055981225?sk=app_190322544333196

The Gathering in April, 2011

2011-05-08T07:52:00.000-04:00

Topic: Group Consciousness

Place: Wellness Center 69 Elm Street Camden, Maine
During the past two months we have experienced Opening our Hearts and Loving. This evening we will combine both of these skills to explore the concept of Group Consciousness. Only hours after our last Gathering the people of Japan experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami. During our guided visualization this month we will open our hearts further and join together to send a collective blessing to Japan and others around the globe. Join us as we experiment with a new paradigm for how groups may impact the world for the better.

The Gathering in February, 2011

2011-03-15T07:05:00.000-04:00

February 10, 2011
The Wellness Center - Camden, Maine

The topic is Opening the Heart

Oftentimes when we encounter difficult situations or painful emotions, our tendency is to resist and either shut down or find some way to escape. Quite 'logically', we do not wish to suffer! Yet is it by facing these challenges directly and fully acknowledging our suffering that we can uncover our compassionate natures and open our hearts to ourselves and others. Rose Willson will guide us through the Buddhist practice of Tonglen and the HeartMath 'FreezeFrame' technique to aid us in moving out of our heads and living more fully and compassionately from our intuitive hearts.

The Gathering in March, 2011

2011-03-15T06:59:00.000-04:00

March 10, 2011
Wellness Center - Camden, Maine

The topic is: Feeling Loving

Skye Hirst will explore with us how Feeling Loving and sound vibrations can work together and do, but we don't know it consciously. Experience creating loving sound vibrations. ¬ Discover how they open communication and how we can get that loving feeling any time, any place, ¬ if we choose. We'll be having fun making sounds as a group and feeling the sounds of loving in our bodies. Discover your loving feeling and how we are connected to one another through it.

The Gathering in August

2010-08-02T22:31:00.000-04:00

The Gathering will not meet in August, 2010. Cheryl and I will be away on a retreat that evening and hope you will join us on September 9, same place, same time.

The Gathering for 2010

2009-12-27T12:42:00.001-05:00

In 2010 we plan to continue The Gathering on the second Thursday of each month. We will meet at the same location. Please join us.

The Gathering
2nd Thursday of each month
Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10,
July 8, August 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9

The Wellness Center
69 Elm Street
Camden, Maine
6:30 - 8:00pm

No RSVP required
All are welcome

For more information contact:

Carol Daigneault
594-7081
caroldaigneault@gmail.com

The Gathering for October, 2009

2009-11-07T18:03:00.000-05:00

Topic: Sharing Your Creative Expression
Guides: Cheryl Evangelos and Carol Daigneault

Wow!!! What a wealth of creativity, insight and life experience was presented by our many pariticipants as we shared our creative expression. Japanese papermaking, quilting, guitar playing, writing, hair styling, painting, stained glass and baking (yes, we had treats!) were just a few of the topics we enjoyed. What a lovely group of people and a deep, enriching time together.

The overriding realization from our sharing was that we are all creatively expressing ourselves in so many ways ALL THE TIME. The presentation of each person's "finished product" would often meander into a story about how the decisions around completing the project supported a personal relationship, helped to fortify an idea or was part of a larger vision or plan. Our everyday expression, in all of the various forms it takes, is our creation. We can do whatever we want with that realization, and power and the folks in the room that evening had really let their own lights shine!
In light of our September visioning and a desire to broaden our format to allow for more participation, we joined together and constructed this beautiful altar. At the end, one participant offered a brilliant synopsis of all of the features in the altar that so aptly echoed the experience we'd had that evening: connectedness, flow, community, light, balance, groundedness, symetry, and harmony. It was again, a great example of the heights to which our creative expression, and higher consciousness, can grow when we join together.

Thank you all.

The next Gathering is November 12

2009-09-30T11:43:00.004-04:00

The next Gathering is:

Thursday, November 12 = 6:30 – 8:00 pm
The Wellness Center
69 Elm Street Camden

This month’s topic is:

Grab Bag

There are so many great topics and such a wealth of informtaion to share between all of our wonderful participants, we are allowing the topic of this evening's meeting to be a surprise . Everyone is encouraged to contribute a few topics to our grab bag. One will be picked randomly and off we go!!! How exciting it will be to hear our various experiences and perspectives.

As usual, we will have a silent meditation, journey and healing circle. Please bring an item, if you wish, to add to the altar as we will again collectively build an altar to start our time together.

We are so grateful and encouraged to join with all of you each month. It is remarkable to form the spiritual link that we do. Bring a friend if you wish. All are encouraged to attend.

All are welcome. (men and women!)
No RSVP needed
Donations accepted

Future Gatherings:
Dec.10, Jan. 14 = 6:30 – 8:00

http://www.the-gatherings.blogspot.com/

FMI: Carol Daigneault 594-7081
caroldaigneault@gmail.com

Cheryl Evangelos 273-2490
cevangel@tds.net

The Gathering for September, 2009 -- Happy Anniversary!!!!

2009-09-30T11:32:00.001-04:00

What a great time we had visiting, laughing, eating, and all of the other fun exchanges that occurred during our First Anniversary potluck. After a bit of socializing, enjoying a full spread of all kinds of divine food and then indulging in 3 different desserts from Moody’s Diner we sat down for our meeting.

Cheryl shared that both she and Carol were very proud of The Gathering’s first year. It was developed from an idea born in March of 2008 when both of us discovered that we each independently had a longing to be part of a greater spiritual (non-religion based) community in the Mid-coast. Reviewing our meetings, many agreed that the format of activities seemed to work well and were embraced by many participants. All of the wonderful guest speakers were very much appreciated in addition to the topics and journeys shared by Cheryl and Carol. In turn, we are grateful for all who attended.

With our inaugural year behind us, we asked the attendees to not necessarily look back but to join us in an exercise which could assist us in collectively defining our path for the future. To do so, Cheryl lead everyone through the Visioning Process. We were all asked to set aside ego and align with the deepest part of ourselves. In this place the vision can be revealed through us, and we can begin to understand the path that Spirit has already created for us.

After going into meditation, we were asked to seek answers to four specific questions:

1. What is Spirit’s highest idea for this spiritual community called The Gathering?
2. What must I be willing to become for this to manifest?
3. What must I be willing to let go of or release?
4. Is there anything else I need to know?

People jotted down their answers, and we were able to have a rousing discussion afterwards. From the various responses to the questions, which did happen to revolve around a few similar subjects once we looked back on our notes, we were able to formulate a new Vision and Mission for The Gathering. They are as follows:

Vision for The Gathering (The highest ideal of what we are)

A unified spiritual community based on growth, centered in love.

Mission of The Gathering (How we grow toward our Vision)

Acknowledging the spiritual connection of all, we lovingly join together to raise both our personal and collective consciousness, accepting the value and expression of all involved.

We acknowledge and appreciate the wealth of thought and sharing everyone contributed to this process. Further defining the intention of our group through our Vision and Mission Statements feels like a wonderful step forward for The Gathering. We look forward to growing consciousness, spiritual connection and loving times together.

In peace,
Carol

The Gathering for July, 2009

2009-07-23T22:14:00.006-04:00

Topic: Living the Dream
Guest Guides: Adam Daigneault & Vidya Gopal

Tonight our special guests were former Midcoast native Adam Daigneault and his wife, Vidya Gopal. Born and raised in Bangalore, India, Vidya led us through a beautiful entrainment where she chanted a sacred Hindu blessing in Sanskrit.

They shared their story of intention and manifestation and gave us all a real life example of how being clear on our hearts' desires and working with that energy can bring wonderful results. Some of the tools they utilized included setting and focussing intention, visualization, enhancing their Feng Shui career area, clutter cleaing, keeping their vibration high through positive thinking and meditation.

Vidya and Adam refined their collective ideas about an adventure abroad and were able to realize that vision when they were hired recently to work at the Desponde Foundation in Hubli, a city in the south central region of India. They have committed to a year at this location with the potential to continue if they wish. Their backgrounds in the economic and environmental field will be put to good use assisting local non-profits in economic development ventures that support the environment.

We wish them both well and thank them for sharing their story.

The Gathering for June, 2009

2009-07-08T14:58:00.005-04:00

Topic: Thought: How It Got You Where You Are Today
Guide: Carol Daigneault

Carol's main focus was on the energy of thought being available to us on many different vibrational levels. We can change the circumstances in our lives by changing how we view things. When we change this view we plug into the thought, or the interpretation of the thought, at a different vibration. The happier or more satisfying emotion the thought creates, the higher its vibration.

Books that were referenced included:

Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn

The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent
by Esther and Jerry Hicks

Lynn Grabhorn writes:

What comes to us...has only to do with how we are vibrating! Which means feeling. Which means attracting. Period!

Cheryl led us in a wonderful journey, and we closed with our usual healing circle. Love and light were shared by all.

Many blessings,
Carol

The Gathering for May, 2009

2009-05-27T11:17:00.002-04:00

Topic: The Power of Storytelling
Guest Guide: Cali Veilleux

What an enchanting evening! We were all energized by a lovely altar made by our guide, Cali. It featured a host of interesting treasures from semi-precious stone carved creatures to handmade dolls to Native American baskets.

We enjoyed and joined with the modern chants of Karen Drucker from her Songs of the Spirit II CD for the entrainment, silent meditation and closing.

Cali, a trained storyteller, presented an expanded view of storytelling as a way to teach larger concepts and reach people on a more inner level. She wove her own personal story with that of her formal rendition of The Lost Mother Moon. A dramatic portraial of a myriad of spiritual concepts, this story touched us all deeply.

Cheryl then led us through a journey which invited each participant to extract the 3-4 concepts or gifts the story had given them. A gentle and lovely sharing followed where many people offered an array of specific jewels they had pulled from the material.

Our thanks go out to Cali for sharing with us and we all asked her to join us again.

The Gathering for April, 2009

2009-05-14T12:25:00.001-04:00

Topic: Iona – Sacred Place and the Importance of Place
Guest Guide: Diana Baillie

Diana Baillie, our lovely winter visitor from the UK, talked about how she got to Iona, which is an island off of the coast of Scotland that attracts many spiritual seekers. Her journey there was purely intuition led, and expanded into a stay of many years. She shared an array of Iona stones, which are very special, and everyone chose one. All got to sit quietly with a stone, tune in to it and then share what they got from their choice.

What a lovely gift it has been to have Diana with us this winter. We wish her all the best as she returns to her homeland and continues her adventure of life.

Carol Daigneault

The Gathering for March, 2009

2009-05-14T12:20:00.002-04:00

Topic: Energy Awareness through Feng Shui

Energy Awareness is a vast, almost endless topic. Carol Daigneault, our guide, steered the discussion to an area in which she is very comfortable, Feng Shui, and the connection between environment and consciousness. The three foundation principles of Essential Feng Shui were presented:

Everything is alive with vital energy or Ch’i
Everything is connected
Everything is always changing

An easy way to key into the energy in a space is to look for areas that may have an imbalance of Ch’i. Participants drew a quick floor plan of their homes and were led through a process of identifying places that might be out of balance due to stuck or depleted Ch’i as well as situations that might show rushing or overactive Ch’i. It was an eye-opening exercise for many!

Carol then led us through a journey in which we connected with the energy of our homes and participants were invited to receive a message from their homes. Many did share that they were able to receive some valuable information.

As always, we closed with a healing meditation.

Carol Daigneault

The Gathering for February, 2009

2009-05-14T11:49:00.002-04:00

Topic: The Power Contained in the Spoken, Written and Thought Word
Guest Guide: Mia Mantello

We were absolutely delighted to have our first guest guide, fellow-participant Mia Mantello, share her expertise and experience in a discussion about The Power Contained in the Spoken, Written and Thought Word.

The understanding of the power of the word is ancient, sacred and has been taught, studied and written about since the time language has been used. Observing and consciously changing your words over time changes your thoughts. Changing your thoughts changes your mind and thus your expectations and outward experiences.

Affirmations are intentional, deliberate, repetitive choices of words and phrases. They may be lines from scripture, poems, songs, books, highly personal and individually created, or a mixture of any and all these things. Affirmations can heal past hurts and pave the way for your highest and best desires to manifest.

Mia lead us through several revealing word exercises that allowed participants to unearth additional awareness of how the language they embrace is intertwined with their thoughts and actions. Lively discussion and deep realizations were shared by many.

Thank you Mia for a fabulous evening!

Carol Daigneault

The Gathering for January, 2009

2009-05-14T11:45:00.001-04:00

Topic: Rhythm and Internal Timing

Starting our meeting with a focus on the steady beat of Cheryl’s drum, we easily transitioned into our discussion of Rhythm and Internal Timing. At a time when many are feeling scattered and unsure, Cheryl reminded us of the power and stability we can draw from consciously connecting with the wisdom of the Earth. Her lovely journey led us to a place where we could connect with the heartbeat of the Earth and more strongly align ourselves with the rhythm of the Earth.

The Gathering for December, 2008

2009-05-14T11:41:00.001-04:00

December 10, 2008: Being Centered in a Global Village

After the historic election of Barak Obama the month before, we extended our discussion of Being Centered to include a look at our place in the global landscape and how we could individually and collectively contribute to a more positive outlook. Thanks to a participant’s suggestion, we expanded our topic to focus our individual attention to radiate a collective energy of peace and goodwill. One suggested recipient of this energy included the President Elect and his new administration.

Our journey, led by Carol, started by offering direction to personally center ourselves. We then joined our individual energies to create a cohesive group energy, expanding from there to send this strong, clear vibration further and further out from our Circle to eventually encompass the globe. Love energy was projected to all worldwide.

Discussion following the meditation expressed an overwhelming sentiment of feeling connected to each other in our Circle as well as to people everywhere. One person shared the observation, and many agreed, that we could all tap into this feeling of our group energy throughout the month, regardless of where we were. This is one way that our work together can continue to support one another even when we aren’t meeting.

2009-05-14T11:36:00.000-04:00

November 12, 2008: Being Centered

Carol Daigneault began our discussion of Being Centered by defining how people perceive what it feels like to be centered. Grounded, focused, balanced and connected are a few of the phrases used. How can we tell we’re centered? Emotions are key. The gift of emotions is that they give us a clear gauge that points to where we are on the balanced scale. Happy, peaceful emotions inform us that we are centered, anything less signals a call to make adjustments.

What can we do when we’re not feeling centered?

Carol shared the Institute of Heart Math’s Heart Lock In method. It is a simple five step technique:
1. With eyes closed, release tension by tuning into the breath
2. Gently turn your attention to your heart area
3. Bring to mind a memory of feeling extremely loved, of loving someone else,
of deeply appreciating yourself or another. Make up an imaginary story
if you wish, as long as it gives you this deep feeling
4. Connect your breath with these feelings of love or appreciation
5. Imagine the energy of this feeling flowing out through your heart area.
Try to keep this feeling as long as you can, returning to it if you lose your
focus.

Participants also shared a wealth of very simple yet profound techniques that they use for centering themselves. Some mentioned were:

Imagine a beautiful green light coming to you to surround you with love
The Huna method of gently repeating a five phrase blessing that returns you to center

Cheryl led us through a journey where we connected with the seven directions and used them to balance ourselves.

We closed with our healing circle. Thanks to all for attending.

Carol Daigneault

Inaugural Gathering: September 10, 2008

2008-09-18T20:07:00.003-04:00

What a fabulous night! Twenty-three of us came together in the conference room at the Wellness Center in Camden. There were people who were complementary medicine practitioners, experienced in energy work, meditation and other intuitive skills. There were also people who had never meditated before. Of course, there were others from several different kinds of backgrounds in between the experienced and newcomers to this type of work. People were so willing to share and make suggestions.

Our primary intention -- to create a group energy that would support all present in seeking higher consciousness -- was, for me, definately achieved. We began by calling ourselves into the meeting by focussing on the ringing of a handcasted Balinese space clearing bell. The silent meditation that followed provided additional time for people to step into a more relaxed state and further develop the group energy.

We had a topic for discussion and this month's was synchronicity and grace. Very exciting and interesting personal experiences were shared by many participants.

Cheryl Evangelos lead us into a journey where everyone was encouraged to seek a personal message. Several people expressed that they had received and understood very strong, pertinent messages for themselves and others.

The closing included a focussed time to send healing to specific people we wished to name. We all ended with a prayer of gratitude and a lively session afterwards allowed people to introduce themselves and acknowledge their peers.

Many people remarked that they were excited to return in future months.

Thank you to all who attended. We hope to see you again soon. For all who were unable to be here this month, the next Gathering is October 8.

Carol Daigneault

The Gatherings

2008-09-06T13:18:00.001-04:00

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