Is Your Life Filled With Passion And Purpose?

DISCOVER ANCIENT WISDOM FOR A PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE

Shattering the Illusion of Success & Happiness

"The world is full of millions of unhappy people who are disillusioned with life. People who merely go through the motions each day but who cant help wonder... Isnt there more to life than this?
-- Dr. Paul Dyer

Like many people in our modern world, you are lead to believe that a life of fullfillment will come from climbing the ladder of success, making a lot of money, staying on top of the latest fashion or technological trends, rejecting traditional and "primitive" ways of life. Whether or not you've "arrived" or are still trying to get there, you've found yourself stuck in a cycle of grief, guilt, anxiety, helplessness, uncertainty, confusion, addictions, shame or dis-ease. Is this the life of your dreams? If not, you're in the midst of an identity crisis.

You're trapped in a dream that's not yours.

It's the dream of a culture in which you're conditioned to believe that bigger is better; when you're down, go shopping; time is money; religion rules; spirituality is suspect, and feminism is a swear word.

SHIFT HAPPENS
You were born with gifts that were meant to be delivered to the world, gifts that were designed to fill you with inspiration, enthusiasm and passion.

Do you still believe in that You've simply forgotten. dream? The passage of time and an individualistic culture are unwitting conspirators to your forgetfullness. Making the shift to a life filled with meaning, Do you lay awake at night purpose and passion is an act wishing you could reframe the of remembering. dream? Wishing you could rewrite your life story to one Now, more than ever, you can grounded in simplicity, courageously challenge what authenticity, joy, soulful you've been told is real, connections and compassion? profoundly renew your passion How far are you willling to go for life to face each day with to reclaim the passion and meaning and purpose. purpose who once envisioned? Or is your life mostly reflecting the woundedness of the past, the remnants of broken promises?

WHAT DO YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT?

What is your vision for your life? ...describe a life well lived. What is your vision for your relationships? ...describe the sort of person you want to be. What is your vision for your work? ...describe the contribution you want to make. What do you value about relationships, work and life? your

I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is . . . 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!
from Alice in Wonderland

Excerpted from Authentic Success: Essential Lessons and Practices from the World's Leading Coaching Program on Success Intelligence by Robert Holden.

Gaining New Perspective

No one said it would be easy.
A person's purpose is energetically inscribed in their bones and its actual translation into work should agree with the message engraved in these bones. The question is - ' What happens when what you do does not align with who you are?' It means that you are betraying the very vitality that defines you and are thus inviting great pain into your life. You are likely to experience low self-worth, a lack of enthusiasm about what you are doing, and, above all, of a nagging sense of inner emptiness. In short, you will experience an identity crisis.
When you set out on the quest to remember your purpose, you embark on a challenging journey of self transformation. You have the choice to stop now and remain in a world of safety, familiarity and security. What you will find is that it is oftentimes a challenging, uncertain journey. You ask questions that are not easy to articulate, friends and family don't want to hear them. You feel ridiculed, unsupported, frustrated. Even if you have already begun the journey, unless you understand the true nature of the process, you will easily fall short of going the distance. Take heart, you are not alone! Remembering propels you into a new "wisdom culture", where millions of ordinary and extraordinary people are silently transforming the world by questioning the status quo. When you surround yourself with people of like mind and spirit, a community, the process of remembering is validated, encouraged and supported.

Malidoma Som

The Rite of Rememberance

The process of remembering is a significant rite of passage, an initiation into selfhood experienced fruitfully within the context of community. It follows the path of ancient wisdom practiced by many cultures around the world. It begins when you realize the stories you've held as truth no longer serve you.

Remembering Your Purpose

S TEPPING O UT
The desire for authenticity is often a launcing pad to remembering. When you are willing to reach above the superficiality of life, the journey has begun. What resonates as truth comes from within, a still, small voice, urging you to listen and respond with courage. Sometimes it comes when you are facing a personal crisis - death of a loved one, financial struggles, illness, generalized anxiety and uncertainty of the future. Perhaps you're moved by one of the many global issues plaguing the world AIDS, poverty, diminishing natural resources, abuse of women and children, terrorism. You feel powerless, not knowing how you can make a difference. No matter what moves you, you are now forced to reevalute what's meaningful in your life. It's time to step out, to take those first wavering steps unto the path. What begins is a symbollic dying to the old way of being, unravelling the layers to your authentic self.

W HAT M OVES Y OU ?
the civil rights movement the environmental movement the womens movement the jobs and social justice movements the anti-war movement the holistic movement the spirituality and personal growth movement the rights of indigenous people movement the gay rights movement
A d a p t e d f r o m , T h e C u l r t u a l C r e a t iv e s : How 50 Million People are Changing the World, by Paul H. Ray, Ph.d & S h e r r y R u t h A n d e r s o n , P h . d.

Growth itself makes one forget about who one is. So initiation is something that is designed to help one remember one's origin and the very purpose of one's occurrence on this side of reality -- that is to say, why one was born. This is why initiation is especially magical. So a person who is not initiated is considered a child, no matter how old that person is, because that person will not be able to recall his or her purpose. Without initiation, the bridge between youth and adulthood can never be crossed, and a person's heart is open to anything -- to being shot down by any kind of energy going around. In the village, to not be initiated is to be a non-person.
- - Malidoma Som, Ph.D., Author, Teacher, Dagara Elder

Diving In
As you open up to all your senses, you'll find yourself diving into unfamiliar territory, almost like landing in a foreign country. The sights, the sounds, the language, the people may all be different.

As with any meaningful journey, there are obstacles. You face the critics, those around you, family, friends, and even your own cultural conditioning. You find your mind is racing with questions that you suppress or deny. Resistance, doubt and uncertainty are constant companions.

Coming Home
The return journey is like no other. You return with clarity of mind and purpose. You've gained a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all life on the planet and your place within it.

You explore paths you've never taken before, other cultures, philosophies and ways of knowing. You're going to need a new map to navigate this unknown territory. The old, familiar landmarks and guideposts prove to be useless on this stay the course. journey.

You feel passion and zeal for authenticy, for the freedom to live life as you You read, watch and listen to s e e i t . T h e o l d s t o r i e s you've believed, no longer the countless stories of r i n g t r u e . others like you, and you You are ready to stand on realize you are not alone. solid ground, to lead a life filled with passion and It takes a village, a purpose. Your life will supportive community, to n e v e r b e t h e s a m e . Welcome home!

Unleash the Power of Nature, Ritual & Community

. . .

AT THE

EAST COAST VILLAGE

The East Coast Village in Cherry Plain, NY is a place in North America where Malidoma has committed himself to creating a physical and spiritual home for wisdom of the Dagara. It is a a place where others like you come to receive the support they need to find and fullfill their life purpose.

The search for a purposefilled life may have you longing for a deeper sense of connection to others, to spirit, and to a more earthcentered way of living. Inscribed in your bones, is a deep sense of knowing that indigenous practices can help you reconnect to the healing power of nature, ritual and community.

This guide is brought to you by the Ancestral Wisdom Bridge Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting public awareness of the living traditions of indigenous peoples and the relevance of such traditions to improving the spiritual and personal wellbeing of people throughout our society. CONTACT US Mail: P. O. Box 82 Cherry Plain, NY 12040 Phone:518.658.0122 Web: www.eastcoastvillage.org

THE EAST COAST VILLAGE WELCOMES YOU!

Many people consider Malidoma Som, Dagara Elder and author of The Healing Wisdom of Africa, to be the most important living interpreter of African indigenous wisdom in the West.

WHAT WE OFFER
Experience the healing power of nature, ritual and community following the Pathways to Wisdom program at the East Coast Village. Pathways engage body, mind and spirit in community-based settings to awaken the gifts you came to deliver to the world.