The Invitation: It Takes Two (Week One)

Lesson One: It takes two to make a book study.

I have this dream of being a major player in the peaceful transformation of the world. I want to alleviate massive amounts of suffering with my time here on Planet Earth. I truly do. I used to be coy about it, worrying that it was narcissistic to declare myself capable of something so important... so life-changing. I've come to understand that my insecurity was quite simply ego-driven, fear-filed, screwing around... and I don't have time for that anymore. Frankly, I'm not sure that any of us do.

I've been trying to write this update about last week's book study since last Monday night... yes, an entire week. I wrote and wrote and wrote, but still didn't get to the part where I tell about the call I hosted to discuss Chapter One of Oriah Mountain Dreamer's "The Invitation". Instead I wrote a rough draft of a series of blog posts called "Marketing Madness" that address what I've seen and learned about marketing a business like mine. It's good, but it is not about the book study.

All of that stuff is coming up because this virtual book study is the first thing that I've attempted to launch in the last year and a half, since I found myself on the brink of madness from trying (and failing) to market Seeds and Weeds Coaching. Here's the short version: Prior to the marketing freeze, I created and promoted several classes and programs - both in person and virtual - at a variety of price ranges. Not one person showed up... ever. My free meetup group, once with a dozen or so at each meeting, even crumbled.

So, I just stopped everything. I decided to focus all of my energy on my one on one coaching and let go of the rest until I felt compelled (as opposed to driven by the fear of financial devastation and homelessness) to add something else. Eventually, I started blogging again. Some time after that, I started sending my newsletter again. People kept saying that I should offer a class, I should offer a free call, I should... but I refused. I wasn't hearing from my community that they had a need for me to do that. I said, "I'm not coming out until someone else comes and asks me to teach. That is the only way I will know when it's time." It was a stubborn line, but I'd drawn in out of desperation. Staying sane was critical to my survival. 

Then, a little yoga studio in Sparta, Tennessee, asked me to do a series of workshops on how to change your life and I agreed. It was a small group, but their enthusiasm and openness inspired me and touched my heart. This went on for some time, but eventually attendance started to dwindle. I didn't take it personally (which by itself is quite empowering, I've discovered). I simply assumed there was no longer a need and returned to an idle mode, again waiting for further instructions.

 In January, I recognized a desire (an intuitive urging) to host a virtual book study. A few weeks later, during a coaching call, a client brought up Oriah's books and I knew that "the Invitation" was the right book to begin with. Books are a powerful way to change your life and I was thrilled to share some of them with the world. I started promoting the book study and the response was small, but solid... 22 people committed. I was so excited. That was a bit of a a false start, but I got myself back in alignment and launched again last Monday evening with a conversation about Chapter One. 

One person showed up. 

It turns out... one person is the difference between me reading a book and me hosting a book study. One person is all it takes to go from failure to success. One person! It helps that the one person was completely freaking awesome. She was totally awake and into  personal evolution, and she loves the book. We had a wonderful conversation about Chapter One and I can't wait for tonight's conversation! 

Here's what we discussed:

1.) What is going on in your life that compelled you to say yes to "The Invitation"?

2.) What did you find in Chapter One that resonated deeply for you?

3.) In Chapter One, Oriah offers us three promises that are also warnings. For each one, how do you feel about that? Which one alarms you the most?

4.) Oriah ends the first chapter by telling us about the experience that she had that prompted her to write "The Invitation"... Is that experience familiar to you? 

5.) I find that it is helpful to set an intention at the beginning of a process like this. What would you like to find/get out of/cultivate through the experience of this book study?  At the end of this, how would you like to be different? What would you like to have learned about yourself or changed or let go of? 

Lastly, these experiences are more effective if you can find a way to live them daily as opposed to one call a week. I offered my intention to do the meditation at the end of the chapter every evening throughout the week. "One Who Makes It A Book Study" agreed to do the same. That would be 100% participation, which is remarkable, I think! 

If you'd like to join the conversation tonight, here are the details:

Current Book:

• "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer (Click here to order it from Amazon.com)

Weekly Live Conversation:

• Monday, March 14th with Chapter Two at 6:00 PM Central (7:00 Eastern, 5:00 Mountain, 4:00 Pacific)
• Dial-in Number: 605-477-3000, access code 259603#
•  Back-up Number: 559-546-1400 (you will then be prompted to enter the info above)

Facebook Conversation:

• Visit and "like" the Facebook Page for the Wildflower Evolution to participate. Topics will be posted there and your participation in that dialogue will be celebrated!

Other Information:

• More People = More Change. Please share this invitation.
• Participate in whatever way feels true for you (just the calls, or just Facebook).  
• If you can't make a call, no worries, read anyway and come back the next week.