Winter 2013 + 2014 New Year

Shamanic Ritual for the Winter Solstice
With Jon Rasmussen
Friday, December 20th at 7:30 pm
Local shaman Jon Rasmussen will lead a ritual in the tradition of a shamanic journey. The winter solstice is traditionally a time for honoring the rebirth of the light. Christmas and the winter festivals at the time of the solstice represent the
awakening of light in our life. The sun's emergence from the darkness symbolizes
the quickening of the soul in its journey to light, love and healing. Tonight Jon will talk on the theme of “expanding the inner light.” By connecting with the spark of spirit, we can multiply light in our lives and bring renewed energy and enthusiasm to all our efforts. Jon will lead us in a solstice ceremony employing traditional shamanic ritual tools for drawing down blessings.  As each of us one by one steps more fully into this role of co-creator, free and powerful in every moment, the whole world evolves into greater balance, illumination and joy.

Jon Rasmussen is a well-known local shaman and author of Dreaming Your World into Being. His shamanic studies
include apprenticeship with world famous shaman Alberto Villoldo, and tutelage in the Andes with the mysterious Q’ero Indians of Peru. Jon has a growing national reputation as a carrier of the authentic shamanic tradition of the

Love offerings accepted.
Event Cost: FREE

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Talk and Book Signing with Stuart Perrin
Friday, January 24th, 7:30  pm
Stuart Perrin is a well known teacher of meditation. He has lived extensively in India and the United States, and was a close personal student of the renowned American spiritual teacher Swami Rudrananda, known affectionately by his students as Rudi. In his first book, Rudi: the Final Moments, Suart Perrin chronicles his close relationship with his teacher and mentor, the life-transforming spiritual instruction he received, and the fascinating details of the private life of a well-known American spiritual teacher. The narrative leads up to the final days of Rudi's life before he died tragically in a plane crash in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

Stuart Perrin's latest book, featured in tonight's talk and book signing, is the multicultural suspense novel Little Sisters. Don't miss this chance to meet the author and hear him speak on the subject of his books.

Event Cost: FREE

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How to Be an Adult in Love: Letting Love in Safely and Showing It
Recklessly
Talk and Book Signing with David Richo
Friday, January 10th, 7:30 pm

Luminata is pleased to feature a book signing this month with popular author and seminar leader David Richo. His latest book is on the subject of human loving. We are designed by nature and the universe to love and be loved; it is imprinted into our biological circuitry and hardwired into our nervous system and DNA. Yet we often find loving difficult and challenging. David Richo provides the tools here for learning how to love in evolved adult  ways—beginning with getting past the barriers that keep us from loving ourselves, then showing how we can learn to open to love others.

The first challenge is that we have a hard time letting love in: recognizing it and accepting it from others.
Additionally, we're often unable to share love with those around us—and love that isn't shared isn't actualized love. The first step to learning to love and be loved, according to Richo's model, is to identify the different levels of
love so that you can express each one separately. Richo identifies three distinct levels and shows us how to incorporate the varieties of love into our lives. He also provides exercises and guided meditations for identifying and
getting through the things that keep you from getting and giving love at each of these three levels.

DAVID RICHO, PhD, is a psychotherapist, teacher, writer, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the
benefits of mindfulness and loving-kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling "How to Be an Adult in Relationships" and "The Five Things We
Cannot Change."

Event Cost: FREE

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"Say This, Not That"
Talk and Book Signing with Carl Alasko
Friday, February 28th, 7:30 pm

Dr. Alasko is the author of two previous books on relationships and communication, the popular Emotional B.S. and Beyond Blame. In his third book, Carl hones in on communication skills and techniques that anyone can learn and apply to become more effective in harmonious interchanges and to deepen listening skills that enrich one's life and relationships. Carl Alasko has found that with the right guidance, anyone can learn effective communication skills. In Say This, Not That, Alasko presents readers with simple instructions for what to say . . . and what not to say. 
 
In Say This, Not That, Dr. Alasko provides simple instructions for what to say and what not to say, in the moments when it really counts. Accompanying each set of statements is a brief discussion about what makes one
statement positive and effective, and the other self-defeating. This is a perfect resource for anyone who longs to say the right thing at the right time. A practical guide to enrich and deepen your relationships.

Carl Alasko has been a psychotherapist specializing in couples and families for thirty years. In addition to his books, he writes the weekly advice column "On Relationships" for the Monterey County Herald.  Don't miss the chance to meet the author and hear him speak on the subject of his latest book.

Event Cost: FREE

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Growing the Inner Light"
Shamanic Ritual for the Spring Equinox
With Jon Rasmussen
Friday, March 21st at 7:30 pm

Local shaman Jon Rasmussen will lead a ritual in the tradition of a shamanic journey. The spring equinox is traditionally a time for acknowledging the light within us, and expanding that light. Springtime  is characterized by the acceleration of solar forces and the growth of the outer light. This symbolizes the expansion of our inner light of mind, heart and soul as we align with the spiritual impulses flowing from our deepest self.  Tonight Jon will talk on the theme of “growing our inner reserves.” He will explore how we can increase our inner reserve of life force to be able to deal with any circumstance or issue that may arise, not out of fear, but with equanimity and wisdom. By aligning with spirit, we can bring insight and energy to all life's demands. Jon will lead us in an equinox ceremony employing traditional shamanic ritual tools for drawing down blessings. As each of us one by one steps more fully into this role of co-creator, free and  powerful in every moment, the entire world benefits from our expanded awareness and the planet evolves into greater balance, serenity and peace. 

Event Cost: FREE

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