Archive for the ‘Social Responsibility’ Category

News Flash! South of the Fraser, BC

West Coast Seeds and Burns Bog Conservation Society Join Forces

West Coast Seeds and the Burns Bog Conservation Society are celebrating International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day, May 1st.

Never heard of it? Well neither had Sharon Edelmeier of West Coast Seeds, and Eliza Olson of Burns Bog Conservation Society. That is, until they decided to do a fundraiser for the Society using seeds.

This last January, boxes and boxes of sunflower seeds arrived at the Burns Bog Conservation Society’s office. “I had no idea how I was going to do the fundraiser. I went on the internet and I discovered International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day!”

The Brussel’s Farmer, a group dedicated to transforming neglected public spaces, declared May 1st, International Sunflower Guerrilla Day in 2009. Now sunflowers are popping all over the world!

“I designed the invitation to “our first Annual International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day. West Coast Seeds designed the seed packets,” commented Eliza Olson.

A $25 donation comes with a promise to plant the seeds in your backyard. A $50 donation comes with the promise you will give the seeds to a friend. You can choose your own gift to the Society. In return you promise to help a child plant the Sunflower seeds. “I can hardly wait to see the sunflowers popping up in people’s yards. The seed heads make great bird feeders in the fall!”

International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day is taking off all around the world. West Coast Seeds and the Burns Bog Conservation Society are just the latest groups to join this movement.

“It is one of those unexpected moments,” said Eliza Olson. “I always wanted to do a fundraiser with seeds. Our volunteers loved working on this project. And I get to give back something to our wonderful supporters!”

If you want to get in on the fun, call the Burns Bog Conservation Society at 604.572.0373. Choose your gift and get your package of sunflower seeds while they last. This is a Guerrilla movement worth joining. Phone early. Our supply of sunflower seeds is limited.

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Contact: Eliza Olson, Burns Bog Conservation Society, 604.572.0373, cell
604.418.2314, or Sharon Edelmeier, West Coast Seeds, 604.952.8820 for more information.

Observe Earth Hour 2012 and help the Planet!

March 31, 2012

8:30 – 9:30 pm

In peace and mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

Topaz Lotus Life & Leadership Coaching for Women

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

 

 

This post is dedicated to all the amazing and empowered women around the world who are joining hands in sisterhood and having a positive impact on our planet and our people!  Deep bows to you!

 

The research on happiness, health and longevity continues to indicate that those most happy are those who feel that they are having a positive impact on others and/or on the planet.

 

Let’s use this time around International Women’s Day March 2012 to celebrate you, your passion and purpose!  Use the following questions to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul!  Feel free to share these questions widely and wildly with your soul-sisters.

 

1.  Gain clarity on those activities, people, issues that you are passionate about supporting.  Use a journal, or vision board, or do some art to tap into your unconscious for messages from your deeper self.

 

2.  Ask and answer the following … “What does my spiritual self need to feel nourished”?

 

3. Determine those daily actions & behaviors that make you feel ‘the most you’, those things that make you ‘feel good in your skin’.

 

4.  Ask and answer ‘ what am I passionate about’?  If you come up with a blank, that’s great too!  Then ask your self ‘how can I unlock my creativity’.  The answers may not come quickly…, give yourself time, over the days, you may get twinges of inspiration and whispers of messages from your soul!

 

5. Engage in random acts of kindness.

 

6.  Really get to know a woman from a culture different to you.

 

7. Every day, start the day with gratitude and by listing all the things that are good and great in your life!

 

To help with this process, you may wish to use the Topaz Lotus Life Crafter 2012!

 

 

May your day be filled with sacred delight and soul-sisterhood!

in peace & mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

Topaz Lotus Life & Leadership Coaching for Women

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan the flames.” ~ Rumi

 

 

International Women’s Day is coming and some of the things that connect us all are the ways we adorn ourselves and use art, jewelry, clothing and ink to give special meaning to our lives!

Some women use henna tattoos prior to marriage as symbolic adornment. Some women wear necklaces and earrings, some women have tattoos, some adorn themselves with third eye art; I have created my own ‘sacred stack’ bracelet and each one has a special and sacred meaning to me.

My personal sacred wrist stack includes a pearl & leather bracelet made by an artist in Sayulita and it reminds me of how much I love traveling in Mexico; a fragrant rosewood mala from Tiny Devotions which reminds me of all the different Spiritual traditions and how these traditions meet ‘in the middle’, 3 Satya bracelets, 2 crystals, one wood with a lotus, tree of life & Om which remind me of my own spirituality, the heart and soul and that we are all connected and also that there is a Soul-Sisterhood in the world as I have become connected with the women where I purchased these, 3 small beaded Love Pray bracelets which reminds me of the spirit of entrepreneurship and all my virtual friends & an individual twist of a beaded necklace that I added which reminds me that I am unique, creative and whole! The bracelet circles remind me of the circle of life and that we are all connected!

 

A huge acknowledgement to the women artists and women entrepreneurs who have created these amazing pieces of  sacred jewelry and who have connected with other women to market and sell their jewelry!  Women in small business support many families around the world!

And, a special thanks and shout out to the yoga studios who have carried some of this wonderful jewelry; Chantal and Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen and Semperviva Yoga Kitsilano Studio in Vancouver.

May your day be filled with sacred delight and soul-sisterhood!

in peace & mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

Topaz Lotus Life & Leadership Coaching for Women

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan the flames.” ~ Rumi

I have learned that there is a big difference between learning about coaching and leadership; skills, competencies, theories etc and ‘hitting the ground running‘ as a leader of a group, team or organization.

Prior to doing my coach and leadership training, I had held a significant number of  leadership positions, however, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I was formally hired in a management role.  As I imagine many women leaders find, my first few months were a ‘trial by fire’.  In the past three years I have been challenged to use every leadership & coaching skill I have learned and that’s not due to a crisis or emergency; its due to the reality of working  in an intense environment with limited resources and with people who are diverse, creative and amazing… and don’t always agree!

As a result of my life and work experience and my coaching and leadership training, I have designed the Topaz Lotus Leadership Matrix to meet the needs of Women Leaders. Many women leaders have told me that they feel they want to be a better leader, and while they feel competent, they want to broader and deepen their leadership skills.  With the Matrix, I talk about both the ‘being’ and ‘doing’ of leadership for women and over the next few weeks, I will be discussing this further.

The foundation of the ‘doing’ part of leadership in the Topaz Lotus Leadership Matrix is the Legacy Leadership(R) Model, developed by Drs Lee Smith and Jeannine Sandstrom, organizational development specialists.  I have found that this model truly leads to transformational leadership as it encompasses 5 outstanding Best Practices and comes complete with leadership competencies and behaviours!

When I found myself in the midst of my first chaotic crazy challenge at my new work, I came back to the 5 best practices as outlined in Legacy Leadership and found clarity and a solution!

The first ‘best practice’ of the Legacy Leadership model is:

~ ‘Holder of Vision and Values’ its about direction and commitment ~

I have experienced this  leadership ‘best practice’ as vital!  Knowing and holding a collective vision with a work group or organization, anchored by clear, strong and shared values provides a decision making strategy, a road map and a catalyst for forward movement and change.

Stay tuned for more leadership strategies and skills using the Topaz Lotus Leadership Matrix for Women Leaders and feel free to send me your leadership challenges!

in peace & mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

executive & leadership coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

 

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all
Even if they are a cloud of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each guest has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~~~

This is one of my favorite poems! I have found that the more I welcome every visitor, the lighter and airier my ‘house’ becomes, there is a freshness and newness with each day and it is easier to greet each visitor with laughter!  This is not to say that it has been easy!  I have found it really hard to ‘welcome’ emotional pain, or perceived wrong doings by someone close to me.  While ithasnotbeen easy, I have found a deepening sense of enrichment coming to my life.

Enjoy your day and as a guest to my blog, lets share a laugh together with this adorable child and camel! This picture I found on facebook, I don’t know who took it, however I would love to acknowledge the photographer.

in peace and mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

Don’t be a woman going crazy at work, learn sustainable marketing strategies with a hippie marketer and reduce your stress at work.

Check out Tad Hargraves workshops in Vancouver tonight and this weekend!

Tad specializes in helping values based business owners and hippie women entrepreneurs who wish to earn with integrity while being socially responsible.

In peace & mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire & soothe your soul

I offer you the following thoughts to deepen your mind body spirit connection…

After my meditation this morning, I was reading from “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” by Pema Chodron.

 

I enjoy all her writing and this am, a particular passage struck me, she’s talking about ‘maitri’ or ‘developing loving-kindness and an unconditional friendship with ourselves.’  She goes on the say ‘ It’s not that we pat ourselves on the back and say “You’re the greatest,” or “Don’t worry, sweetheart, everything is going to be fine.”  Rather, its a process by which self-deception becomes so skillfully and compassionately exposed that there’s no mask that can hide us anymore.’

 

A real life example of this is from my own life.  One of my long held patterns is that when I am hurt, or life becomes too full of conflict or pain, I ‘run away’!  I change jobs, end friendship or withdraw emotionally.  In my daily life, even without something sad going on, I catch myself thinking about vacations and wondering what life would be like where the grass is greener.

 

Recently, since ‘making friends with this pattern’ and deepening maitri, I have been able to lighten up abit and just ‘hang in there longer’.

What I have found with this process is that it feels very scary for me to ‘hang in’, I actually feel like I might die of shame, hurt, pain etc.  But if I stay, a deepening always happens!  By staying I deepen my connection to myself and to those around me.

So, if you wish, try a different pattern the next time you feel strong emotion and see what happens!

in peace & mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

Coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

My dad turned 90 today!

Yesterday, my brothers and I hosted a party for him at the church where he was both pastor and parishioner for many years.

There was laughter and some tears.

At the end, my Dad spoke and it was incredibly touching as it seemed like he was saying all the things he would like to say at his funeral if he could! He spoke words of wisdom and said he was excited about his next phase and for us not to be sad when he passes.

It is an honour to celebrate my Dad’s 90th with him!

Happy Birthday Carl Johnson!

 

Celebrate World Happy Day with a special screening of the movie “Happy” at the link below!

| World Happy Day.

 

 

namaste,

Zoey