Category Archives: Retreats

An invitation…

If you live near me (Pittsfield, Maine) and have time this week at 8:00AM on Monday or Wednesday morning – – this message is for you This is the meditation room in my home. I promised myself that I will spend time here each day, and ….most mornings… I keep that promise And when I do the day consistently goes much better. Even if I come face-to-face with something unpleasant, I am better equipped to respond with ease, or at least with peace-of-mind and more compassionate words.

I am not a Buddhist, though I do incorporate some Buddhist practices into mine. My typical morning-time in my sanctuary is a 10 minute “Sit” or “Zazen” (“seated meditation”) and I generally focus on gratitude. It is not fancy and there are no elaborate words spoken. I usually place one or both my hands on my heart, listen to my heartbeat and follow my breath. I set my chimes on my phone to gently alert me when the 10 minutes is up. Usually the time flies by and sometimes I reset it for another 10 minutes, and sometimes another 10 after that. But I promise you even sitting still for 10 minutes, shifts the way the day goes. There is something about sitting in this place, (a place that is not where I occupy my sitting the rest of the day) with the sole intention of gathering myself towards gratitude. It is special and I invite you to experience it with me. Hopefully it can help ease the aches in our hearts as we begin to find our way forward post-election

If you have time Monday or Wednesday morning, come sit with me for 10 minutes.
Then we can share some coffee, tea and breakfast together.
Sending love,
 Twinkle Marie 🌸🎶🌸

 

Love Will Prevail

 

Emma’s Revolution in Concert – – BANGOR October 21st + Workshop October 22nd

sandy-o-and-pat-emma

Join Emma’s Revolution for a pop-up concert in Bangor!

Friday, October 21 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

They will also be doing their “Finding Harmony” workshop on Saturday, October 22nd in the morning at 10:30am.

Tickets are $18 for the concert and $18 for the workshop.

Combo tickets (to attend both the concert and the workshop) are $30.

Follow THIS LINK for the Facebook event page

and click THIS LINK to purchase tickets to the concert and/or the workshop!

 

Zen Retreat – April 3rd

Sunday, April 3, 2016  1:00-4:00pm

Myozen Joan Amaral, Guiding Dharma Teacher of Marblehead Zen Center, will be presenting an Introductory to Zen Workshop at Twinkle’s Place!

Joan Amaral headshot

During this workshop Joan will review an intro to Zazen meditation.

Participants will enjoy:

– short sit

– walking meditation (outside – weather permitting)

– Guided meditation

– Zazen

– Tea and Dharma Conversation

There is no charge for this event – love offerings welcome.

RSVP: TwinkleManning@gmail.com

kevin intern w kalimba

Joan will be joined by Marblehead Zen Center’s intern: Kevin Peng, who will share

music!

zen circle

Joan is also leading services at First Universalist Church of Pittsfield Sunday Morning at 9:45AM – – – ALL ARE WELCOME.   Visit Church FACEBOOK Page

 And, for more information about UU Buddhist Paths, visit here.

Halloween Celebration and Samhain Ritual

Halloween TwinklesPlace 2015

🎃 As many of you, our family and friends, already know:
We are having a Halloween Party on October 31st.

Join us!!

🎃 Arrive at Twinkle’s Place place anytime after 3pm!!
Theme: favorite Goddesses and Gods
(several Deities have RSVPd already – along with a few super heroes!)


🎃 There will be dancing…trick-or-treating….ghost stories…magick....and…for those so inclined………
…….Samhain celebration to follow…

thin veil

For those wishing to celebrate Samhain with us. We will wrap up our “Halloween” portion of the evening around 9:30 and begin our sacred ritual at 10:00pm Saturday night October 31st after the children have gone to bed.

Our ritual will go no later than 11:00pm saying our goodnights then as many of us have church in the morning and our All Saints Day and Dia de los Muertos services.

Join us as we explore our UU 7th Principle and Pagan Path in connection with the sixth source we draw our Unitarian Universalist faith from.

Please bring photos or symbols of your dead loved ones to place on our altar. And a list of names you wish to call into our circle from through the Veil.

Everything else is prepared for our Circle. You need not bring any readings or songs or chants. I have everything ready.

Love & Blessed Be.

((Inbox Twinkle &/or Steafan if you are going to RSVP))

thin veil photo credit

Goddess Covenant Circle Reunion 2015

Sunday night I gathered with a large group of women in Concord, MA.  It was a reunion for a group that had been in existence for 25 years.  While based in the nearby Unitarian church, most of the women do not identify as UU, yet find enlightenment in paths provided by UU Women and Religion authors, teachers and curriculum such as Cakes for the Queen of Heaven and Liz Fisher’s Rise Up and Call Her Name. (The latter, a courses that Bozena and Twinkle have taught…Liz being a friend of Twinkle’s) What a delight to gather with these women from all walks of life, whom at one time or the present have been part of Concord’s Women’s Goddess Covenant Circle! Several had either moved away or gone a separate path early on, and me, having joined a mere six years ago, had not met many of such “elders” til Sunday night.  Likewise new members joined since I left for my sabbatical a year ago.  Strangers in life.  Yet we shared many of the same favorite memories this group offered each of us.  Ritual, ceremonies, seasons, and circles.  Creating clay Goddesses, wands, sacred cloths and altars.  Dancing.  Poetry.  Chanting.  While the entire group had never gathered as one, one we were indeed as we stepped into the ancient rhythms of this covenant.  

Margaret Stewart, the “Mother” and “Weaver” of the circle had gathered several readings, one the Mother handed to me to read.  Surprised I was to discover it was a poem (“Autumn Moon”) I had written in 2011 for a New Moon Circle I had led.  What an honor to know that housed in the Circle’s Treasure Chest is my work and gifts to be passed on to future generations.  In gratitude and grace I share this poem with you now.

Autumn Moon

Even as the wheel turns

from this season

to the next

She remains steadfast

in her wisdom

Vibrant colors in the trees

Our storehouse brimming

with Summer’s harvest

Gathered round our Circle

Fire warming our

hearths & hearts

Welcoming the darkness

of the new moon

As it allows the truth

of our Soul’s desire

to shine from within

We offer up our

fears & sadness

to be taken by

the Autumn wind

Our intentions clear

& for the highest good

We beseech her support

& guidance

As we enter this time of inner

reflection & solitude

We accept the Divine

fulfillment of our desires

Embracing Life Fully

Thank you Goddess

Maiden, Mother, Crone

Thank you Circle

of my own

Autumn Moon we thank you too

For the comfort of your season.

https://www.pinterest.com/WellnesswithK/concord-salem-ma-autumn-2012/

New Moon in Leo 2015

The New Moon in Leo is an expansive time.  Here at Twinkle’s Place our home feels open in ways it has not in many many months.  Perhaps because we have one less resident temporarily at this time and the energy is moving with more ease.  Perhaps too because new and better things are on the horizon.

Mystic Mamma contributors tell us it is a time of sparkling creativity!

And to that we can certainly claim true, for this summer itself has been filled with such creativity and the closer we come to the new moon, the more powerful and vibrant the feeling is. Transitional times are upon us all.

Gather with us on August 14th to welcome the New Moon phases of creativity in its fullest manifestation.  With the clear energy of our home, allow yourself to embrace your divinity and call in your deepest desires.

new moon leo 2015

 

 

By special request – Twinkle offers Workshop: Multi-Media Vision Board

Join “Twinkle” Marie Manning September 23rd, 2015 for this special workshop at Twinkle’s Place to create a beautiful multi-media representation of your deepest desires and foremost goals!  

Early registrations by August 23: $125

After August 23: $150


✫ Create your personalized vision board!

✫ Clear and release limitations!

✫ Energetically balance and align to your Soul’s Purpose and Heart’s Desire!

✫ Learn special manifesting techniques!

✫ Enhance your life!

IMG_0329 vision board full

“Creating a vision board is probably one of the most valuable visualization tools available to you. This powerful tool serves as your image of the future – a tangible representation of where you are going. It represents your dreams, your goals, and your ideal life.”                                 Jack Canfield

“An affirmation board is a self-portrait. It’s a presentation of everything your entire being says yes to.”                                                                                                                                                                  – Louise Hay & Robert Holden, Ph.D.

live multi wood crop

Throughout her years in television interviewing renown individuals who achieved success beyond their wildest dreams, Twinkle discovered that they all utilized envisioning techniques to achieve their goals!  From Nobel Peace Laureates, to Pro Surfers, NBA Allstars to Rock ’n Roll Legends, each had a clear vision of what they wanted to accomplish and used visual tools to do just so.

This Workshop takes Vision Board creation to the level of Art. Not mere paper and glue, but a full on multi-media masterpiece reflection of your goals and dreams! 

Each participant receives in advance a booklet of worksheets to complete in preparation for the workshop.  You will arrive with clearer purpose of your dreams and gain understanding of any limitations that have been holding you back from manifesting that which you most want.

We cover the practical how-to of vision board creation, as well as offer special techniques to help you energetically balance, align your purpose and manifest into reality. 

she is blessed art crop

Overview of the Workshop:

8:30am

✫ Meet & Greet participants

9:00am

✫ Discuss Worksheet revelations

10:00am

✫ Guided Meditation

✫ First Coat on Vision Boards

✫ Dive into cutting out pictures and sharing what we’ve each brought with us

11:30pm

✫ Everyone is welcome to bring a bagged lunch, and we will also serve some vegetarian and vegan sandwiches.

12:30pm

✫ Review Manifestation Styles and Added Techniques

✫ Vision Board Creation

2:30pm

✫ Share Masterpieces and with Mantra Energy

3:30pm – 4:30pm

✫ Snacks and Mingling

Join Us!

Twinkle’s Place

September 23rd

TwinkleManning@gmail.com

(207) 536-8554

RSVP:

Payments are non-refundable, but are transferable to another workshop offered by the same workshop leader


September 23rd

Early registrations by September 2nd: $125

After September 2nd: $150

 Photo credits

New Moon in July

new moon cleo july crop

 

Cleo is eagerly anticipating our monthly New Moon ritual.

July’s New Moon is in Cancer.   A perfect time for accessing our inner most desires, communicating our feelings, and honoring our emotions.  

Dive deep as you plant seeds of creation for your highest good, cultivating self-love and compassion. 

With several of our regular participants leaving town for vacations later this week and others in our community have various conflicting plans, we have decided to have this month’s New Moon gathering a day early:

Join us Wednesday July 15th, 7pm at Twinkle’s Place.

Twinkle will lead the ritual as we honor this sacred time of the month and prepare for what is next on our journeys.

Welcome to Twinkle’s Place

Welcome to Twinkle s Place

Welcome to Twinkle’s Place!  My new home is located in Pittsfield, Maine.

For many years, where ever I live, I have  made my home available for friends and colleagues to gather together for dinners, workshops, retreats, concerts.  My life and my work is grounded in the Unitarian Universalist values of creating an inner harmony that will lead to ethical action. I welcome all who should wish to host gatherings in my home that are in alignment with such purpose and function.

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