Category: Newsletter

weekly newsletter

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Unarmed Truth and Unconditional Love

January 14th, 2024

We’ll be on ZOOM this Sunday and will be celebrating the legacy and wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We hope you can join us! Here’s the link:
Time: Jan 14, 2024 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83594043542?pwd=QVpmOHdkTjNuQmU5bzJBbGE3eDNtdz09
Meeting ID: 835 9404 3542
Passcode: 701089
Sticking with love, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”
~ Mother Teresa

“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. But it’s the same world.”
~ Wayne Dyer

“If you intend to be of assistance, your eye is not upon the trouble but upon the assistance, and that is quite different. When you are looking for a solution, you are feeling positive emotion, but when you are looking at a problem, you are feeling negative emotion.”
~ Abraham-Hicks

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, January 14th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 21st – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, January 28th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 4th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 11th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 18th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, February 25th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

Paths of Heart Song Circles have been discontinued due to lack of attendance. We’re sorry to see them go!

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

As we approach our 10 year anniversary (can you believe it?!), we are so grateful for your ongoing financial support that allows us to continue our Sunday gatherings and special events throughout the year. We are working on donation letters for tax purposes and will have them out to you in the next few weeks. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Beginner’s Mind

Januray 7th, 2024

Blessings to you in this New Year, ripe with bright possibility! It’s been a minute since we sent out a newsletter – we trust the last few weeks treated you to some comfort and joy and peaceful moments with friends and family. We sure enjoyed our family holiday time, and want to thank all that came out to our Christmas Eve concert – what a magical night! Now it’s time to contemplate this new year before us – perhaps reflecting upon the successes and challenges of 2023 and then setting intentions for 2024 – what we’d like to create and maybe change in our lives going forward. Some like to think of each new year as a “clean slate” or to approach the year with “Shoshin”, the Zen Buddhist concept meaning “beginner’s mind.” This will be the topic of our discussion on Sunday. We hope you’ll join us!
Love and Light, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“If your mind is empty… it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
~ Shunryu Suzuki

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.”
~ G.K. Chesterton

“So, I close my eyes to old ends, and open my heart to new beginnings.”
~ Mandy Hale

“Start over, my darling. Be brave enough to find the life you want and courageous enough to chase it. Then start over and love yourself the way you were always meant to.”
~ Madalyn Beck

“Many years ago I resolved never to bother with New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.”
~ Dave Beard

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, January 7th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 14th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 21st – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, January 28th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 4th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 11th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 18th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, February 25th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

Paths of Heart Song Circles have been discontinued due to lack of attendance. We’re sorry to see them go!

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful to have had some delightful “downtime” during the holidays, visiting with friends and family, sharing wonderful meals together, watching movies and “puzzling”. We’re renewed and ready for 2024!

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

More Light = More Love

December 17th, 2023

We continue with our theme of Light as we move towards the Winter Solstice and Christmas! The world needs your light more than ever these days – let it shine!
Continued light and peace to you, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.”
~ Desiderius Erasmus

“These are the darkest days of the year, and it’s no coincidence that the flickering flames of the menorah, the twinkling lights on the tree and the Kwanzaa candelabrum all harken to the human need for the comfort of light.”
~ Tracy Grant

“Remember to light the candle of joy daily and all the gloom will disappear from your life.”
~ Djwhal Khul

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
~ Albert Schweitzer

“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world.
All things break. And all things can be mended.
Not with time, as they say, but with intention.
So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.
The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.”
~ L.R. Knost

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, December 17th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – no morning gathering, but we WILL be celebrating the Season of Light and Peace at our Christmas Eve concert at 7 p.m.  (Doors open at 6:30). Myles and Emma Sloniker will join us in merry music making! Please RSVP as space is limited. Donations to Paths of Heart that night are most appreciated.  Some folks have asked us about bringing food to share – this is one night when we do the concert only and don’t have a potluck before or afterwards, since so many folks have other family commitments. Thanks for offering, though!

Sunday, December 31st – NO Paths of Heart. Happy New Year!!

Sunday, January 7th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 14th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 21st – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, January 28th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

Our last Song Circle of 2023 is December 19th (Songs of the Season). We hope you’ll join us for a holly, jolly time!

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful to be sharing the holidays with family this year! Myles arrives next week and we look forward to lots of music and family fun!

Colleen is grateful for another beautiful visit with her Dad in NJ. Myles also joined for a couple of days – even more fun!

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

The Season of Light

December 10th, 2023

As I sit down to write this newsletter, our Jewish friends are celebrating the start of Hanukkah, their festival of lights. The month of December with its lengthy, cold nights beckons the light as a central theme in most of our seasonal holidays and celebrations ~ The Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa. This Sunday on ZOOM, we’ll explore seeing the light in ourselves and others, and being the light to others! Here’s the link:
Paths of Heart ZOOM Gathering
Time: Dec 10, 2023 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86875243883?pwd=eDdGTXZHSWNqdGtmdllXMldjcnJ5QT09
Meeting ID: 868 7524 3883
Passcode: 340047
Wishing you light and peace, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
~ Desmond Tutu

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”
~ Maya Angelou

“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.”
~ Marianne Williamson

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~ Amanda Gorman

“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
~ Edith Wharton

“Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts.”
~ Leo Tolstoy

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, December 10th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 17th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – no morning gathering, but we WILL be celebrating the Season of Light and Peace at our Christmas Eve concert at 7 p.m.  Myles and Emma Sloniker will join us in merry music making! Please RSVP as space is limited. Donations to Paths of Heart that night are most appreciated. 

Sunday, December 31st – NO Paths of Heart. Happy New Year!!

Sunday, January 7th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 14th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 21st – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, January 28th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

Our last Song Circle of 2023 is December 19th (Songs of the Season). We hope you’ll join us for a holly, jolly time!

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful to all those who donated during our Facebook Giving Tuesday Campaign and those who remembered us on Colorado Gives Day! The Facebook Campaign will be up for another 5 days should you wish to support our non-profit. Thank you!

Colleen is grateful for another beautiful visit with her Dad in NJ. Myles also joined for a couple of days – even more fun!

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Living in Gratitude

November 26th, 2023

We trust you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving week, whether you are traveling to visit family and friends, preparing a festive “Gratitude Day” feast, or just enjoying some quiet time to reflect on the goodness of life that came your way during this past year. Living a joyous, satisfying life rests in gratitude. Yet having an ever present “attitude of gratitude” requires practice for sure! It’s easy to lose sight and feel hopeless by what’s happening on the world stage or in one’s own teeny tiny corner of the Universe – we know! But oh, doesn’t being in gratitude feel awesome – when we take the time to be in the present moment and notice and accept all the beauty and abundance that is ours? This Sunday, we’ll affirm this blissful state and discuss ways to keep it alive the whole year through. Hope you can join us if you’re in town!
Happy Thanksgiving! Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Being grateful does not mean that everything is necessarily good. It just means that you can accept it as a gift.”
~ Roy T. Bennett

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
~ Epicurus

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
~ Eckhart Tolle

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

November 1st – 30th – YOU MATTER Marathon. More info at https://youmattermarathon.org/

We hope you are enjoying sharing your YOU MATTER cards and have had some beautiful moments doing so!

Sunday, November 26th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, November 28th – GIVING TUESDAY! Please consider a donation to Paths of Heart on #Giving Tuesday, “a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” This continues to be one of our biggest fundraising efforts, especially through our Facebook Campaign. You may also donate on our website  https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/ Thank you!! We are a 501(c)(3), non-profit so all donations are tax deductible.

Sunday, December 3rd – NO Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 10th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 17th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – no morning gathering, but we WILL be celebrating the Season of Light and Peace at our Christmas Eve concert at 7 p.m.  Myles and Emma Sloniker will join us! Please RSVP as space is limited. Donations to Paths of Heart that night are most appreciated.

Sunday, December 31st – NO Paths of Heart. Happy New Year!!

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

Our last Song Circle of 2023 is December 19th (Songs of the Season). We hope you’ll join us for a holly, jolly time!

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

The “Holiday Season” is officially upon us and we’re grateful for a heightened sense of gratitude, good cheer, and fun family time ahead. We pray for those in complicated, difficult, and dangerous situations around the world, and that peace and love will prevail.

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Let That Stuff Go!

November 12th, 2023

We are definitely steeped in the “letting go” experience these days as we proceed slowly and steadily with emptying out our entire basement in order to mitigate water seepage issues. You may have noticed (how could you not?) the big “Pod” taking up most of the driveway…
I know it’ll actually feel good, in the end, to have purged many items we have not used in years and find the salvageable things new homes. But the decision making process can be hard! Some of us can be so sentimental about our “stuff”. And that’s just the physical side of things. Emotional release of possessions, feelings, past hurts, and more adds a whole ‘nother layer into the mix! As we watch the last of the autumn leaves drifting past our windows, we’ll explore this perpetual fall topic of Letting Go – another example of valuable lessons from nature!

Need a wok? Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.”
~ Daphne Rose Kingma

“To let go is to release the images and emotions, the grudges and fears, the clingings and disappointments of the past that bind our spirit.”
~ Jack Kornfield

“The day I understood everything, was the day I stopped trying to figure everything out. The day I knew peace was the day I let everything go.”
~ C. JoyBell C.

“I realise there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.”
~ Jeffrey McDaniel

“Let go of something old that no longer serves you in order to make room for something new.”
~ Roy T. Bennett

“There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally.”
~ Don Miguel Ruiz

“The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.”
~ Steve Maraboli

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

November 1st – 30th – YOU MATTER Marathon. More info at https://youmattermarathon.org/

Sunday, November 12th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 19th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, November 26th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 3rd – NO Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 10th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 17th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – no morning gathering, but we WILL be celebrating the Season of Light and Peace at our Christmas Eve concert! More information to come!

Sunday, December 31st – NO Paths of Heart. Happy New Year!!

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

We’ve restarted our Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

The following dates are on the calendar:
November 21st (singing songs of Gratitude!)
December 19th (Songs of the Season)

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful to envelope ourselves in gratitude this month of November, which we fondly call Gratitude month! Even in the midst of a number of challenges in our lives personally, there is SO MUCH to be grateful for! We just booked Myles’ flight home for the holidays and are so looking forward to us all being together during that special time. It also means he’ll be with us for our Christmas Eve concert – Yea!!

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

You Matter!

November 5th, 2023

For many years now, Paths of Heart has participated in the You Matter Marathon – a global initiative that creates positive connections within and between individuals and communities. The vision of this organization is beautiful: envisioning (creating!) a world where individuals naturally and regularly affirm the significance and value of one another. Believing that the world would be a more peaceful and joyful place if every person knew they mattered, we share small cards with the words YOU MATTER on them during the month of November, as we are moved to do so within our communities. It’s a simple yet powerful way to spread kindness, compassion, and gratitude with others. For us, this simple gesture has extended throughout the year – I carry the cards with me always! We’ll be on ZOOM this week (click on link below), and will talk about this, and other ways to share “random acts of kindness” that uplift others and make the world a kinder, gentler place. Please note, Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, so remember to set your clocks BACK one hour! 🙂
You matter! Colleen and Mark

Topic: Paths of Heart ZOOM Gathering
Time: Nov 5, 2023 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83784037627?pwd=SnMyeU1JcVVvUDhWOXFxM2lJMFZtZz09

Meeting ID: 837 8403 7627
Passcode: 833582

Quotes to ponder

“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.”
~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes

“Sharing You Matter cards reinforces how important it is to feel seen, to feel cared for, and to know that we belong.”
~ Bradley (participant)

“To kindness and love, the things we need most!”
~ The Grinch

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
~ Princess Diana.

“Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
~ Scott Adams

“That is what compassion does. It challenges our assumptions, our sense of self-limitation, worthlessness, of not having a place in the world, our feelings of loneliness and estrangement. These are narrow, constrictive states of mind. As we develop compassion, our hearts open.”
~ Sharon Salzberg

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

November 1st – 30th – YOU MATTER Marathon. More info at https://youmattermarathon.org/

Sunday, November 5th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m. Remember to set your clocks BACK one hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time

Sunday, November 12th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 19th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, November 26th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 3rd – NO Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 10th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 17th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – no morning gathering, but we WILL be celebrating the Season of Light and Peace at our Christmas Eve concert! More information to come!

Sunday, December 31st – NO Paths of Heart. Happy New Year!!

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

We’ve restarted our Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

The following dates are on the calendar:
November 21st (singing songs of Gratitude!)
December 19th (Songs of the Season)

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful to steep ourselves in gratitude this month of November, which we fondly call Gratitude month! Even in the midst of a number of challenges in our lives personally, there is SO MUCH to be grateful for! We also want to thank Judi and Rudy Lucero and their daughter-in-law Elizabeth for making the trip to join us for our Dia de los Muertos Celebration last Sunday! What a joyful time of music and memories!!

What are you grateful for today?

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.
~ Brene Brown

What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.
~ Deborah Norville

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”
~ Steve Maraboli

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Celebrating Dia de los Muertos

October 29th, 2023

We continue our annual tradition of celebrating The Day of the Dead with our Paths of Heart Community. Judi and Rudy Lucero will be us from Grand Junction, CO and Judi will offer her thoughts on Dia de los Muertos as well as share in our music celebration of this joyful, social holiday! You are encouraged to bring mementos of your loved ones to add to our altar, or ofrenda. Please join us as we welcome our departed family, friends, and pets back to the realm of the living and honor their loving presence in our lives.
Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”
~ Khalil Gibran

“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore

“Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.”
~ Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

“For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.”
~ William Penn

“Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.”
~ George Eliot

“God pours life into death and death into life without a drop being spilled.”
~ Author unknown

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering celebrating Dia de los Muertos with Judi Lucero! You are invited to bring mementos of loved ones to place on our altar as we celebrate these beautiful spirit beings.

November 1st – 30th – YOU MATTER Marathon. More info at https://youmattermarathon.org/

Sunday, November 5th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 12th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 19th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, November 26th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

We’ve restarted our Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

The following dates are on the calendar:
November 21st (singing songs of Gratitude!)
December 19th (Songs of the Season)

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful to the workers from many trades who have helped us “put our home back together” after discovering a damaging leak in our roof. There’s still much to do, but the path is clear!

What are you grateful for today?

“When gratitude becomes an essential foundation in our lives, miracles start to appear everywhere.”
~ Emmanuel Dagher

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Tony Robbins

“The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”
~ Robert Holden

“If you keep searching for everything beautiful in the world, you will eventually become it.”
~ Tyler Kent White

“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”
~ Eileen Caddy

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Embodying Peace

October 22th, 2023

There is a heaviness being felt around the world as this past week saw yet another round of senseless upheaval, heartless violence, and vast destruction in the Middle East. It can be a challenge not to be overcome by sadness, helplessness, anxiety, or fear. And yet we must strive to rise above the chaos of the world, to do whatever small thing we can, right where we are, to promote kindness, foster peace, spread love, and feel joy within our families and in our communities. We’ll be sharing some inspirational readings and songs from friends, writers, and musicians.  As Clarissa Pinkola Estes tells us, “We were made for these times…”
Please join us for this Sunday’s in-person gathering, followed by a potluck luncheon in the sunshine of the backyard. We’ve missed you!
Peace and love, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“I know that a song cannot stop a war. I know a poem cannot change a history of trauma and continuing violence. And yet, it is still possible to create something of beauty, to shape a space for empathy at the center of a song or poem, where we can still encounter what is shared and human, where we can still recognize one another as connected, even in disconnected times.”
~ Carrie Newcomer

“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully,, more devotedly than ever before.”
~ Leonard Bernstein

“Why must our solution always be bigger guns, bigger bombs, bigger prisons, bigger walls? Why are we so afraid?
~ Kate Dardine

“How can we evolve from war consciousness to peace consciousness? It comes down to us. We’re the peace. We’re the ones. We’re the peaceful world for which we long…We will know the blessings of peace when we learn and practice the ways of peace.”
~ Susan Skog, Peace in Our Lifetime

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, October 22nd, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering with potluck following

Sunday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering celebrating Dia de los Muertos with Judi Lucero! You are invited to bring mementos of loved ones to place on our altar as we celebrate these beautiful spirit beings.

Sunday, November 5th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 12th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 19th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, November 26th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

We’ve restarted our Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the third or last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

The following dates are on the calendar:

October 24th (instead of the 31st, which is Halloween)
November 21st (singing songs of Gratitude!)
December 19th (Songs of the Season)

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day. We DO love all this rain, but we hope the weather will be more labyrinth-friendly soon!

Gratitudes

We are grateful to have experienced exquisite fall foliage several times over in our recent travels to Sisters, OR, Idaho Springs, and Mesa Verde. Now we get to experience it right at home as Fort Collins is ablaze right now. How blessed are we?

What are you grateful for today?

“When gratitude becomes an essential foundation in our lives, miracles start to appear everywhere.”
~ Emmanuel Dagher

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Tony Robbins

“The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”
~ Robert Holden

“If you keep searching for everything beautiful in the world, you will eventually become it.”
~ Tyler Kent White

“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”
~ Eileen Caddy

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Autumn Gleanings

September 24th, 2023

It is wise (and fun!) to observe the lessons of nature and the particular themes of each coming season. Here we are approaching the Autumnal Equinox, a time of balance, equanimity, and harmony. We hope you’ll join us on our ZOOM gathering this Sunday as we discuss these themes and more, welcoming one of our favorite seasons! Here’s the LINK:
Paths of Heart Zoom Gathering
Time: Sep 24, 2023 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86774611625?pwd=aXJHVEI2NmpCNU1wOTduNEZXL3ErUT09

Meeting ID: 867 7461 1625
Passcode: 086104

Happy Fall Y’all! Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”
– Lauren DeStefano

“If I were a bird, I would fly about the Earth seeking the successive autumns.”
– George Eliot

“Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.”
– Shira Tamir

“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.”
– Elizabeth Lawrence

“There is something so special in the early leaves drifting from the trees – as if we are all to be allowed a chance to peel, to refresh, to start again.”
– Ruth Ahmed

“I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift.”
– Dodinsky

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

***Dates subject to change! Please always refer to latest newsletters for latest information and updates***

Sunday, September 24th, 10:30 a.m. – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering

Tuesday, September 26th, 7 p.m. – Paths of Heart Song Circle

Sunday, October 1st – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, October 8th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, October 15th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering (We had originally scheduled a gathering for this day; however we were offered an opportunity we couldn’t resist, so we’re seizing it!) Thanks for your understanding!

Sunday, October 22nd, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering with potluck following

Sunday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering celebrating Dia de los Muertos with Judi Lucero! (note change in date)

Sunday, November 5th – ZOOM POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 12th, 10:30 a.m. – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 19th – NO Paths of Heart Gathering

Sunday, November 26th – In person POH Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Please mark your calendars for the above scheduled dates!

Guest Presenters and Musicians Wanted!  Now that we’re meeting on a more regular basis we’d love to get back to having other folks present a topic on some Sundays and having other musicians sit in as well. Please get in touch if you’re interested! A small honorarium is available.

We’ve restarted our Paths of Heart Song Circles, usually the last Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 pm. Come join us for group singing in an informal and safe space. You are welcome to bring an instrument and song suggestions of love, life, and peace especially! $5.00-10.00 suggested donation. We will provide a variety of teas to drink. You are welcome to bring other beverages of choice. Please RSVP at least a day or two in advance! Since attendance has been rather inconsistent of late, we’d like the opportunity to make alternate plans if sign-up is light.

The following dates are on the calendar:

September 26th

October 24th (instead of the 31st, which is Halloween)

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned to be a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day. We DO love all this rain, but we hope the weather will be more labyrinth-friendly soon!

Gratitudes

We are grateful for all the kind words and cards surrounding the recent loss of our furry family member, Riley. She was with us for over 15 years and we miss her presence in our lives. Yet we are grateful for the love and good times we shared in the mountains and lakes. You were a good girl, Riley. <3

What are you grateful for today?

“When gratitude becomes an essential foundation in our lives, miracles start to appear everywhere.”
~ Emmanuel Dagher

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Tony Robbins

“The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”
~ Robert Holden

“If you keep searching for everything beautiful in the world, you will eventually become it.”
~ Tyler Kent White

“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”
~ Eileen Caddy

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl