Retreat https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/ en ༄ Harmonize ༄ March 2020 Soul Words https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/130 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Harmonize ༄ March 2020 Soul Words</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/IMG-4461.JPG?itok=sFbce1g5" width="720" height="720" alt="Apostolia teaching Spirit Contact Dance in Nature" class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Tue, 03/03/2020 - 12:36</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><h4>༄   Soul Words ༄</h4> <p><br /> Do you feel it or it's just me, </p> <p>The call to leave behind</p> <p>Anger <br /> Conflict<br /> Frustration<br /> I am not enough<br /> I will do it next year</p> <p>Do you feel it or it's just me<br /> The call  to </p> <p>Calibrate<br /> Silence the monkey mind<br /> Express emotions freely<br /> Create Create Create<br /> Love love Love<br /> Harmonize</p> <p><br /> So you can </p> <p><br /> RISE</p> <p><br /> Do you feel it or it is just me <br /> that 2020 is seriously calling us to</p> <p>Shed off our skin</p> <p>And take the leap of faith into the<br /> unknown </p> <p>or better the leap of faith into<br /> remembrance of how to put in order<br /> our<br /> innermost chaos.</p> <p><br /> Chaos - Order <br /> two opposing poles longing for harmony</p> <p>inside us and outside us </p> <p><br /> It is a time that calls us to stop wanting to </p> <p>Become more<br /> Have more<br /> Say  more<br /> Feel more</p> <p><br /> A time of subtraction<br /> A time of less is more</p> <p><br /> The soul sings when the night falls</p> <p>The heart dances on a silent day</p> <h5><br /> Written on the 24/2/2020 at 22.20</h5> <p>༄༄༄༄༄༄༄༄</p> <p><br /> Beloved friends from planet Earth, here in Greece,<br /> is almost time to say good buy to the Wintertime<br /> and celebrate the beginning of Spring.</p> <p><br /> But this year I feel the mystery of life<br /> unfolds a bit differently than the previous years<br /> as there is a very strong call<br /> to devote time and energy</p> <p>in the most sacred connection of all,<br /> the connection to the self<br /> not in terms of Ego<br /> but in terms of existence. </p> <p><br /> Why I am here on this earth?<br /> How I can make the most out of the gift of life?<br /> How can I be in service and create a better world?</p> <p><br /> In this stage of my spiritual path, I answer:</p> <p>To Harmonise Body, Mind, and Spirit.</p> <p>Wishing you all a wonderful Spring and looking forward<br /> to meeting you in person physically or virtually in any of the upcoming events!</p> <p>Oceans and Rivers of  Love.</p> <p>༄ Apostolia ༄<br />  </p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--harmonize"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/98" hreflang="en">Harmonize</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--spirituality"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9" hreflang="en">spirituality</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--life"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/62" hreflang="en">life</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--healing"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41" hreflang="en">healing</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--greece"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">greece</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--yoga"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/35" hreflang="en">yoga</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transformation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20" hreflang="en">Transformation</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--cyclades"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17" hreflang="en">Cyclades</a></span> </div></div> </div> Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:36:06 +0000 Apostolia 130 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Growing older ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/122 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Growing older ༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/Apostolia%20%2B%20Elder%20woman%20Koufonisi%20island%202018_1.JPG?itok=BaEoQ8dL" width="720" height="720" alt="Apostolia Papadamaki meeting a beautiful elder woman in Blue BLiss Happiness Retreat 2018" class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Tue, 04/02/2020 - 07:31</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>In every elder woman, I see my grandmother. Who’s the name I carry and it means mission.</p> <p>Who was an intuitive healer at a small Greek village and taught me how to heal body and soul. Who was an artist of life, creating all kinds of artifacts. Who was singing and dancing every day just because she was alive and she inherited this gift to me.</p> <p>Who was a true embodiment of Mother Earth feeding and nourishing her 9 children and 16 grandchildren. </p> <p>Who was in love with my grandfather since she was 15 years old and at her 70s she was telling me: Look at your grandfather, isn’t he the most beautiful man in the world?</p> <p><br /> In every elder woman, I see my grandmother.</p> <p>Who taught me that kindness to all living beings is the key to unlock your heart and spread happiness around you.</p> <p>When I meet an elder woman I honor her with a smile, a warm truthful hello, a gaze of gratitude for her wisdom as I see the miracle of life in her.</p> <p>No, it’s not elder women’s day or grandmother's day today...</p> <p>It’s my birthday coming up in a few days and I am full of gratitude that I am alive and that you are alive just because elder women took care of our mothers and fathers and us...</p> <p>If you read these words and you meet an elder woman today, be truly present. Maybe you can see your heart sparkling in her eyes.</p> <p>Love always prevails.</p> <p><br /> Apostolia</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> The photo was taken in Koufonisi island, Greece while facilitating the Blue Bliss Happiness Retreat 2018.<br />  </p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--ancestors"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/81" hreflang="en">ancestors</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--birthday"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/82" hreflang="en">birthday</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--inspiration"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/83" hreflang="en">inspiration</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--lineage"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/84" hreflang="en">lineage</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--lightworker"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/85" hreflang="en">lightworker</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--light"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/86" hreflang="en">light</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--awareness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">awareness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--mission"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">mission</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transformation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20" hreflang="en">Transformation</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--teacher"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/64" hreflang="en">teacher</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--awareness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">awareness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--mindfulness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/88" hreflang="en">mindfulness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--kindness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/89" hreflang="en">kindness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--love"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/31" hreflang="en">love</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--_8"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/90" hreflang="en">(68)</a></span> </div></div> </div> Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:31:48 +0000 Apostolia 122 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Let's Celebrate the New Decade ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/109 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">༄ Let&#039;s Celebrate the New Decade ༄ </span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/Happy%20New%20Year%202020%20copy.jpg?itok=nR5Cm6ID" width="720" height="720" alt="Happy New Year blessings " class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Fri, 03/01/2020 - 12:09</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><h4><br /><em>Dearest friends!   <strong>༄ Happy New Year ༄</strong></em></h4> <p><br /><em>Blessings for a new decade full of Forgiveness, Gratitude, Love,<br /> Health, Abundance in all levels and<br /> most of all<br /> Blessings for a deep remembrance of our oneness with Spirit.<br /><br /><br /> Looking back to this 10 years chapter,  2009 -2019,<br /> On one hand, I counted so many challenges, a divorce, single motherhood,<br /> financial problems, an accident, 3 surgeries, loss of beloved friends, fights,<br /> insecurities, frustrations, anger, mistreatment and so many more...<br /><br /> One the other hand is the personal growth, the expansion of the limited self<br /> that tunes in with the unconditional Love,<br /> the deep connection with Nature and the elements,<br /> the Circle of like-minded people like you, <br /> that honestly commit to continuously evolving and becoming the best humans<br /> we can be in this life.</em></p> <p><br /><br /><em>Yes, my heart was broken so many times this past decade but the big revelation<br /> for me was the understanding that this is a way to open more to Love. <br /><br /> I am fully trusting, that whatever life brings to me, is to help me grow,<br /> to guide me on how to open my heart more and connect with the great Mystery,<br /> the Spirit, the Creator, the Cosmos. <br /><br /><br /> Every year I create a ceremony for New Intentions for the New Year.<br /> This time it was so hard for me to speak out new intentions for my self<br /> as I deeply felt that everything I want is there inside me,<br /> everything I want to be happy is provided to me by Nature, by mother Earth. <br /><br /> I just need to embody more and more that I am a blessed human being,<br /> a seed of Love, Compassion, Creativity, Truth,<br /> and Kindness together with other unique human beings like you. <br /><br /> and so my goal for this new Decade is:<br /><br /> To have no goals <br /> but to <br /> Trust Life and be Love<br /><br /> Breath by Breath<br /> Song by Song<br /> Day by Day<br /><br /> We are here on this planet to celebrate and to honor the privilege of being alive.<br /> So let us embrace </em><em>our fragile, vulnerable human bodies.<br /> Let us heal our precious wounded hearts.<br /><br /> Let us simply and effortlessly be truly present to our selves and to each other<br /> without trying to fix anything in "us" or anybody else. <br /><br /> Let us embody our kindness, honor, respect, peace, love, and light.<br /><br /> May we sit in ceremony, may we enjoy singing and dancing in circles,<br /> may we help each other rise,<br /> leading by example of embracing all that we are,<br /> under Love and Oneness.<br /><br /> May we praise the Earth and all her abundant nourishment to us human beings.<br /><br /> So be it. So be it So be it.  <br /><br /><br /> Wishing you a happy new decade!<br /> Oceans and Rivers of  Love.<br /> ༄ Apostolia ༄</em><br /><br />  </p> <p><img alt="The Happiness Circle Private Facebook Group by Apostolia " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="337f3c59-3aa8-4fe2-ac39-58d908bf43fd" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20circle.jpg" width="667" height="667" loading="lazy" /><br /><br /><br /><em>You are welcome to join our (new) private Facebook Group <br /> The Happiness Retreat Circle<br /> To become a member<strong> <a href="https://thehappinessretreat.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bee253022dbb0de19a5f88431&amp;id=726cd807c1&amp;e=7a0cb43ee6">Click here </a></strong>or on the image below<br /> You are welcome to invite your friends too.<br /> The communication language will be English.<br /><br /><strong>༄</strong><br /><br /> I have offered 3 Free Online Meditation Ritual Sessions, that you can still practice as many times as you want until the Full Moon on January 10th.<br /> The links are below:<br /><br /> ༄ Friday 27<br /><a href="https://thehappinessretreat.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bee253022dbb0de19a5f88431&amp;id=848cb98636&amp;e=7a0cb43ee6">1st-day meditation -Forgiveness</a><br /><br /><strong>༄ </strong>Saturday 28<br /><a href="https://thehappinessretreat.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bee253022dbb0de19a5f88431&amp;id=b90240df0d&amp;e=7a0cb43ee6">2nd-day meditation -Gratitude</a><br /><br /><strong>༄ </strong>Sunday 29 December<br /><a href="https://thehappinessretreat.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bee253022dbb0de19a5f88431&amp;id=60f811545f&amp;e=7a0cb43ee6">3rd-day meditation - New Intentions</a></em><br /><br />  </p> <p><img alt="3 days meditation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d6cd9670-663d-43e5-a7fc-64e8311841a6" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/3%20Days%20Replays.jpg" width="3872" height="2581" loading="lazy" /><br /><br /><br />  </p> <p><br /><br />  </p> <p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />  </p> <h4><br /><br /><br /><em> </em></h4></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--blessings"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74" hreflang="en">blessings</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--new-year"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/75" hreflang="en">new year</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--new-decade"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">new decade</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--celebration"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/77" hreflang="en">celebration</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--spirituality"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9" hreflang="en">spirituality</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--_020"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/78" hreflang="en">2020</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transform"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/79" hreflang="en">transform</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transformation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20" hreflang="en">Transformation</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--unique"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/80" hreflang="en">unique</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--yoga"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/35" hreflang="en">yoga</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--dance"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">dance</a></span> </div></div> </div> Fri, 03 Jan 2020 10:09:26 +0000 Apostolia 109 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ November Blues - Truthfulness ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/november-blues-truthfulness <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ November Blues - Truthfulness ༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/MoonCloseUp-Noudar-net%20Miguel%20Claro.jpg?itok=TYldiWFU" width="720" height="720" alt="Truthfulness Selene Greece Happiness Retreat " class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Sun, 17/11/2019 - 11:32</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><h4><em><strong>༄ Truthfulness ༄</strong></em><br /><br /><strong><em>True Presence<br /> True Connection <br /> True Belonging</em></strong></h4> <h4><br /><strong><em>At the end of the day who am I? Who am I when nobody is watching?</em></strong><br /><br /><em>These are my deepest self journeys at this time of my life, my dear beautiful friends. When I decide to write to you my heart beats faster as I am preparing to share my true presence with you.<br /><br /> Working with so many people from around the world, giving my self fully to each and everyone in every retreat, performance or workshop, makes me realize that most of us face the same concern.</em><br /><br /><em>Who am I truly? Deep down at the core of my being what is my deepest truth?</em><br /><br /><em>When our defense system is down when we ask ourselves "what do I really need to be happy", we all long to be free from fear, to be accepted, to be respected, to be seen, and most of all to be loved.</em></h4> <p><em>༄༄༄༄༄</em></p> <p><em>Since my childhood, I have been "taught" to seek approval in others, to feel happy when I get a reward, to base my relations in co-dependence.  Nobody taught me how to have an honest, deep and loving relationship with myself.  Nobody told me that fulfillment is my responsibility and I am not a victim of any system if I don't consent. Sounds familiar?</em><br /><br /><em>Our human "evolution" has disconnected us from nature, has silenced our emotional voice, has buried our creativity as something useless.....We have become anxious, restless, isolated, separated from the one and only truth, the abundant love that exists inside each one of us, the interconnectedness, the true belonging within us and with all living beings.<br /><br /> The " superiority " of being a human being has been working against our souls.  In our collective consciousness, we have "wars" between parents and children, men and women, rich and poor, countries, nations....but the worse war, the most dangerous one happens inside our mind. <br /><br /> Our mind keeps on creating story after story about our traumas, the things we miss, the relationships we don't like, the job that takes our time away. We are not our mind patterns, we are not victims of our traumas, we are not our judgmental thoughts, we are not the ones that say yes to an unfulfilled meaningless life waiting for the days, months and years to pass.<br /><br /> We are creative, free,  loving beings and we can take responsibility for our actions, for our lives.<strong> </strong><br /><br /> Only by silencing this monkey -mind we can look deeply in our selves, love our selves unconditionally and forgive 'us" for what we are not, for what we have not. Only by loving our selves unconditionally we can see our truth. And if what we see is a bit scary, self-love is the only medicine that can hold space for any change we want to make without abusing ourselves.<br /><br /> How do we take action towards a more truthful and loving relationship with ourselves?<br /><br /> By doing less and breathing more. By dropping multitasking even for one hour per day, by taking a slow pace at work. Leave your mobile phone on the table and take an aimless walk. Cook an improvised meal without any recipe just using your intuition. Wash your dishes dancing your favorite song. See a friend and just listen to his voice and words without thinking about what you will reply to while he/she is talking. In other words,  we are responsible to create quality time and space so we can be in a loving relationship with our existence every single second.<br /> And most of all...<br /><br /><strong>We have this amazing gift to breathe, to sing, to dance, to flow...</strong><br /><br /> Take a deep breath and feel how precious this moment is. Sigh and let your voice be heard by you, you are the most precious human in this room.<br /> Dance and feel this miraculous body of yours no matter if you feel incompetent if your mind tells you you are not talented or if you had a divorce or an accident. This moment that you read my words you are still alive, I am still alive and that's a unique opportunity of this moment, to fall in love with the gift of life. Life is the greatest mystery that we humans can only feel and never explain. Life is the most spiritual concept I know.  </em></p> <p><em>November Blessings </em><br /><em>Remember you are born a creative being.<br /> Remember that you have infinite possibilities. <br /> Remember you are a beloved member of the soul family. <br /> Remember you are not alone. <br /> Remember to fall in love with you.<br /><br /><br /> Oceans and Rivers of  Love.<br /> ༄ Apostolia ༄</em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><img alt="How we crete Happiness - Poetry by Rumi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56da5694-2966-48fb-b716-192092b15fee" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/Oh%20Soul%20-Rumi%20-%20November%20Blues%20-%20Truthfulness.jpg" width="600" height="800" loading="lazy" /></em></p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--spirituality"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9" hreflang="en">spirituality</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--truthfulness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/47" hreflang="en">truthfulness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--happiness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13" hreflang="en">Happiness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--thehappinessretreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/59" hreflang="en">thehappinessretreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--apostoliapapadamaki"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/58" hreflang="en">apostoliapapadamaki</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--wellnes"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/67" hreflang="en">wellnes</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--awaereness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/68" hreflang="en">awaereness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--human"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/69" hreflang="en">human</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--humanity"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/70" hreflang="en">humanity</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--yogaretreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/71" hreflang="en">yogaretreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--uniqueretreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/72" hreflang="en">uniqueretreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--_0"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/73" hreflang="en">(10)</a></span> </div></div> </div> Sun, 17 Nov 2019 09:32:48 +0000 Apostolia 106 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Creativity - How we create Happiness༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/creativity-how-we-create-happiness <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">༄ Creativity - How we create Happiness༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/Creativity%20and%20Obstacles%20The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20How%20we%20create%20happiness%20Apostolia%20Papadamaki%20copy_0.jpg?itok=lutfUpeO" width="720" height="720" alt="Stone Altar Creativity Obstacles How We Create Happiness " class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Mon, 29/07/2019 - 21:07</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><h4><br /><em>My dear beautiful friends, blessings for this exciting July 31st New Moon that also</em> marks the end of Mercury Retrograde!  The intense pressure of the past month will be lifted and the rest of the summer will be more peaceful and enjoyable! Time for celebration and new intentions!  <br /><br /><em>I am writing these words as I am on vacation on the beautiful Greek island of Kythera, Greece, enjoying quality time with my family and friends. Yesterday we visited a beautiful beach full of umbrellas and a beach bar  (full of people) on the sandy part and stunning caves and stones on the other side. (nobody was there)<br /><br /> As we wanted to find a natural shade and some peaceful time to swim in the emerald waters we headed for the caves.  We found this stunning large cave with a small private beach in front, the perfect home to spend our day by the sea! <br /><br /> But, there was a big problem! We couldn't really lie down as under our spine there were these big stones ....so many of them, what an "obstacle" we faced in this perfect place! Everybody was irritated, started complaining that they couldn't stay, some wanted to go to the sandy beach bar and some wanted to go find another beach.<br /><br /> I looked at the stones and I saw so much beauty, I saw how many years it took them to be polished by the seawater, I saw some incredible shapes and forms. Very silently I started excavating the stones and putting them as statues around a little sea rock.<br /><br /> I didn't do it on purpose, it is just my "inner child" coming forth. When I see "obstacles" I play and create, create and play. In a few minutes, my son (16 years old) started putting stones on a line and my best friend followed ...to make the long story short, everybody engaged passionately in excavating the stones SILENTLY without any call or instructions, creating an amazing "zen " garden, a stone altar, a tiny museum, a proof that human beings can create their reality. It is a matter of choice of how we see and fe</em>el <em>when obstacles appear.</em><br /><br /><em>In 30minutes our little beach was clean of stones and we stayed until the sunset enjoying our beautiful nature "home". Most important is the way we felt. Happy, Fulfilled, Connected, United.</em></h4> <h3><br /><em>“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up”<br />  Pablo Picasso</em><br /><em><strong>༄</strong></em><br /><em>"The creative adult is the child who survived." <br /> Ursula LeGuin</em></h3> <p> </p> <h4><em>This story is a metaphor for our every day lives. In my teachings, I always say that there is no point to meditate, to practice yoga, to dance, to sing if you can not apply the principles of your practice in real life. </em><br /><br /><em>Creativity is an amazing tool to find happiness. It involves breaking out of expected patterns in order to look at things in a different way. The way we "see" obstacles creates our reality - can be stagnant or playful and creative. Sometimes, what appears to be an obstacle is an opportunity to build something beautiful and new. </em><br />  </h4> <h4><em><em>July Blessings </em></em></h4> <h4><em>Remember you are born a creative being.<br /> Remember that you have infinite possibilities. <br /> Remember you are a beloved member of the soul family. <br /> Remember you are not alone. </em><br /><br /><em><em>Oceans and Rivers of  Love.<br /> ༄ Apostolia ༄</em><br /><br /><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%23howwecreatehappiness+instagram&amp;tbm=isch&amp;source=univ&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwipgtH-3NrjAhWDKVAKHR3mBn4QsAR6BAgHEAE&amp;biw=1152&amp;bih=531">#howwecreatehappiness</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thehappinessretreatgreece/">#thehappinessretreatgreece</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/apostoliapapadamaki/">#apostoliapapadamaki</a></em></h4></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--creativity"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/60" hreflang="en">creativity</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--papadamaki"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11" hreflang="en">Papadamaki</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--happiness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13" hreflang="en">Happiness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--obstacles"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/61" hreflang="en">obstacles</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--life"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/62" hreflang="en">life</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--coaching"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">coaching</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--teacher"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/64" hreflang="en">teacher</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--master"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/65" hreflang="en">master</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--journey"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/21" hreflang="en">Journey</a></span> </div></div> </div> Mon, 29 Jul 2019 18:07:21 +0000 Apostolia 101 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄The Journey Home-How We Create Happiness༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/journey-home-how-we-create-happiness <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">༄The Journey Home-How We Create Happiness༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Spring%20Celebration%20Ritual%20Apostolia%20Papadamaki%20photo%20Sea%20Eyemere%20copy%202.jpg?itok=2EHcuWbT" width="720" height="720" alt="Spirit Contact Dance Apostolia Papadamaki in Neda River, Greece" class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Fri, 10/05/2019 - 12:06</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p><br /><br /><em><strong>My dear beautiful one!<br /><br /> What a winter journey t</strong>his was, what a gestation of a Spring that is coming and coming, trying to complete her flower lace dress as the clouds are playing hide and seek with the Sunlight!<br /><br /> Coming back from the Spring Celebration Ritual Retreat, where we worked on truthful presence, empowered ourselves with the courage to see who we truly are and who we truly want to be, with playfulness and in joy, I realized that playing hide and seek with our selves, not being as honest as we can be, not daring to tell the truth about our feelings, emotions, and dreams are just postponing our return "home".<br /><br /> It became clear to me that my life priority is to create ways in which we can grow and become stronger together as a tribe. I reaffirmed that our path towards happiness is revealed to us when we are sitting together in a circle, breathing together, dancing and singing together, sharing all our darkness and all our light, connecting with the cosmic forces of Nature.</em></p> <p><em>We can be free to love our selves unconditionally, only when we drop down our masks, show our vulnerability, accept our shadows and trust this amazing journey home that is life! What a beautiful Dream we can create from the gift of life that has been given to us!</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Keep evolving, keep seeing the dream you want to see of yourself and of all the web of life around you, keep embracing and softening your shadows and let the love and light come in more and more every day. Remember you are a beloved member of the soul family. Remember you are not alone. Remember you are love and only love.<br /><br /> May Blessings </em></p> <p dir="ltr"><br /><em>With Love and Light</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><br /><em>༄ Apostolia ༄</em></p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p>photo by Sea Eymere @sealua</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Sharing with you one of my favorite poems of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish</em></p> <h4><em>We journey towards a home not of our flesh.<br /> It's chestnut trees are not of our bones.<br /> Its rocks are not like goats in the mountain hymn.<br /> The pebbles' eyes are not lilies.<br /><br /> We journey towards a home that does not halo our heads with a special Sun.<br /> Mythical women applaud us.<br /> A sea for us, a sea against us.<br /> When water and wheat are not at hand,<br /> eat our love and drink our tears...<br /> There are mourning scarves for poets.<br /> A row of marble statues will lift our voice.<br /> And an urn to keep the dust of time away from our souls.<br /> Roses for us and against us.<br /> You have your glory, we have ours.<br /> Of our home, we see only the unseen: our mystery.<br /> Glory is ours: a throne carried on feet torn by roads that led to every home but our own! <br /><br /> The soul must recognize itself in its very soul, or die here. </em></h4> <p><em>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄༄</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--myth"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/22" hreflang="en">Myth</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--happiness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13" hreflang="en">Happiness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--selfgrowth"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">selfgrowth</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--self-love"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/45" hreflang="en">self love</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--greece"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">greece</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--yoga"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/35" hreflang="en">yoga</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transformation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20" hreflang="en">Transformation</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--spirituality"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9" hreflang="en">spirituality</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--honesty"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/46" hreflang="en">honesty</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--truthfulness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/47" hreflang="en">truthfulness</a></span> </div></div> </div> Fri, 10 May 2019 09:06:59 +0000 Apostolia 97 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Dreamer of Dreams ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/dreamer-dreams <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">༄ Dreamer of Dreams ༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/%20The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Apostolia%20Papadamaki%20rituals%2048962002_535356063614085_5001279456715735040_n.jpg?itok=TUq1iqIm" width="720" height="720" alt="Apostolia in Delos island at the House of Cleopatra October 2018" class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Thu, 24/01/2019 - 21:27</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p><em>Dear soulful friends, Happy new year full of love, full of beautiful journeys to the world (and to the self) and full of Dreams!</em><br /><em>Every great Dream begins with a Dreamer!<br /> When we silent the mind and we open the eyes of the soul, we become Dreamers of Dreams where creativity and intuition are in perfect balance and we can create our life as we dream it.</em></p> <p>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄<br /><em>A Dreamer of Dreams is a seeker<br /> of the unification of worlds.</em><br /> ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄<br />  <br /><em>Dreams are the ways that our soul communicates with us. Our soul wants to unify with us, she wants to free us from suffering, to guide us to be merciful, great full, loving, creative, happy. When we suppress our "dreams" to meet the expectations of our family, friends, and society, we are unhappy.  </em></p> <p><em> ༄ The first step is to HAVE dreams! Night and daydreams, that will allow us to remember that we are born to live as Dreamers of Dreams.</em></p> <p><em>༄ The second step is to listen mindfully to our Dreams and identify the "soul" messages.<br />  <br /> ༄ The third step is to work with strong intention before we sleep or before we meditate. To ask for the healing dream or the clarifying dream to come while we are in the hypnagogic state.<br /><br /> ༄ And the final step is to manifest our dreams in THIS life, finding the courage that only or soul can give us and the trust that she is our most intimate guide. </em></p> <p> </p> <p>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄<br /><em>A Dream is a journey,</em> <em>is traveling,</em></p> <p><em>is a wanderlust </em><em>to the realms of the Soul.</em><br /> ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄<br />  </p> <p><em>For many years I keep dream journals and I work with my dreams to evolve as a human, as an artist and teacher. </em><em>It was almost 2 years ago where this amazing dream was visiting me almost every night for 6 months.</em><br />  </p> <p><em>I had a full sensory experience of flying really high, like an Eagle balancing in the sky on the level of the Sun and could see the map of Greece from above very clearly. But on the Greek land, I could see only ancient temples, sanctuaries, altars, amphitheaters, shining brightly in their timeless beauty, no cities, no roads no people.....just sparkling marbles in sacred geometrical shapes full of light.</em></p> <p><em>As I have been creating performances and experiences in ancient <strong>Greek sacred places</strong> for many years I felt this consecutive dream was a strong invitation to create spiritual journeys in sacred destinations of my homeland and offer my teachings and </em><em>insights</em> <em>on <strong>DreamWork</strong> that is extremely enhanced when practiced in high energy places.</em><em> </em></p> <p><br /><em>Last summer, I created my first <a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/">Happiness Retreat </a>focused on Dreams and Dreamwork, in the Temple of Apollo Epicurius in the </em><em>Peloponnese</em><em> during the powerful week of the Full Moon and the Total Lunar Eclipse.</em><br />  </p> <p><em>This May, I have prepared for you the <a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/retreat/dreaming-wide-awake">Dreaming Wide Awake Happiness Retreat,</a> a magical journey to Delos, the birthplace of the light, the Greek island of miracles.</em><br /><br />  <br /><em>DELOS island is one of the top10 spiritual places of the world, it could be referred to as the Avalon of the South. Delos is the birthplace of Apollo the god of Sun and Artemis the goddess of the Moon, with profound healing energy that reaches you, long before you reach this Dream destination. A place where energy can literally change you, uplift our soul and heal you from inside. </em></p> <p><em>It is no coincidence, that the sunlight in Delos, is the most intense, compared to ANYWHERE around the globe. Scientists believe that this happens due to the ground’s texture which actually mirrors the light.<br /> Delos is a living ancient sanctuary full of incredible monuments and it is uninhabited, so our Happiness Retreat Home will be in Mykonos, one of the most cosmopolitan islands of the world.</em><br /><em>In Mykonos, I found the perfect secluded paradise of breathtaking scenery, a small complex of Eco-luxury villas located in the idyllic area of the Armenistis Cape with the mysterious Lighthouse.<strong> </strong></em><br /><br /><em><a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/toby-israel">Toby Israel,</a> an amazing storyteller and Dream Journalling teacher will join me and co-create magic, while <a href="https://escoessence.com/">Esco Essence,</a> our master chef and raw food artist will captivate our senses with his dreamy detoxifying recipes.</em></p> <p><br /> ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄<br /><em>If your dream is to know more about this transformative journey of conscious dreaming,<br /> I have prepared all the information for you</em><br /><em><a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/retreat/dreaming-wide-awake">here</a></em><br /><em>offering early bird prices until February 4th.</em><br /> ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄</p> <p><br /><em>Thank you for giving your time and energy to read my words. I am grateful to you.</em><br /><br /><em>Thank you for the beautiful human being you are. Thank you for your presence and for your presents.</em> <em>Remember you are a beloved member of the soul family. Remember you are never alone. Remember you are love and only love.</em><br /><br /><em>Blessings for a life full of Dreams.</em><br /><em>With Love and Light</em><br /><em>༄ Apostolia ༄</em></p> <p> </p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--papadamaki"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11" hreflang="en">Papadamaki</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--dreamwork"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12" hreflang="en">Dreamwork</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--happiness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13" hreflang="en">Happiness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--delos"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15" hreflang="en">Delos</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--mykonos"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/16" hreflang="en">Mykonos</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--cyclades"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17" hreflang="en">Cyclades</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--sacred-island"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18" hreflang="en">Sacred island</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--ancient"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19" hreflang="en">Ancient</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transformation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20" hreflang="en">Transformation</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--journey"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/21" hreflang="en">Journey</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--myth"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/22" hreflang="en">Myth</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--dream-incubation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23" hreflang="en">Dream Incubation</a></span> </div></div> </div> Thu, 24 Jan 2019 19:27:49 +0000 Apostolia 79 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Nature and Gratitude ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/nature-and-gratitude <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Nature and Gratitude ༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/Apostolia%20Papadamaki%20The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Nature%20and%20Gratitude%20Handpaint%20offer%20%20copy_1.jpg?itok=CzTOMdRe" width="720" height="720" alt="Hand painted wood offering to the trees by Apostolia" class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Fri, 07/09/2018 - 08:49</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p><em>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄</em><br /><em>I think that I shall never see <br /> A poem lovely as a tree. <br /> A tree that looks at God all day, <br /> And lifts her leafy arms to pray; <br /> Poems are made by fools like me, <br /> But only God can make a tree.</em></p> <p><em>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄</em><br /><br /><em>How do we make decisions?<br /><br /> I used to sit and think a lot using my mind -that is so capable of making all kinds of stories, possibilities, and assumptions - and I was never happy with my decisions. Or better saying I was never in peace with my decisions.<br /><br /> Life brought me some very difficult moments that became my most valuable lessons and led me in deep connection with my breath, my heart, unity, and universal love so my mind started interfering less and less with judgments that were completely unnecessary to live a meaningful everyday life.<br /><br /> I started practicing meditation in Nature every time I had to take an important decision, sitting still, breathing, connecting with the trees or the clouds, the sun, the moon, a little flower, a bird, emptying my mind and entering the frequency of Love.<br /><br /> I live in the city but thanks to the creator there are sources of comforting elements of nature everywhere. We just need to acknowledge them.<br /><br /> This practice not only comforted me but also gave me a whole new perspective on what are my true needs, what I really want to be a sweet loving and compassionate human being. <br /><br /> I threw away many mindsets (that were not mine anyway) and I became lighter, more creative and courageous on crucial decision making.<br /><br /> I felt gratitude coming like a powerful stream of light inside me and an inevitable need to express my gratitude in any way I can, to Nature. Gradually I started expressing gratitude to Humans and especially to Humans I have love relationships (that's the hardest one!)<br /><br /> So September's newsletter is devoted to a big Thank you to the Trees, these amazing beings that supported me in August and gave me precious insights.<br /><br /> Take some time this month to connect with a Tree in your neighborhood and make some new decisions on how you dream your self.  Sit next to it, listen, see, smell, breathe. It will speak to you in unseen, unheard ways that can bring happiness and peace to your soul. Thank your self for taking the time to be with your self. And thank the Tree for the unconditional coexistence or just leave a creative expression of your loving self!<br /><br /> Love &amp; Light to you all.<br /><br /> Apostolia </em></p> <p> </p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--trees"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/25" hreflang="en">trees</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--gratitude"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/26" hreflang="en">gratitude</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--nature"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">nature</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--papadamaki"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11" hreflang="en">Papadamaki</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--happiness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13" hreflang="en">Happiness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--practices"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">practices</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--selfgrowth"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">selfgrowth</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--meditation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">meditation</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--love"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/31" hreflang="en">love</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--transformation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20" hreflang="en">Transformation</a></span> </div></div> </div> Fri, 07 Sep 2018 05:49:00 +0000 Apostolia 93 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Inspired by Light ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/inspired-light <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">༄ Inspired by Light ༄</span> <div class="field field-node--field-image field-formatter-image field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden has-single"><figure class="field-type-image__figure image-count-1"><div class="field-type-image__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/styles/square_720x720/public/articles/Full%20Moon%20and%20Lunar%20Eclipse%20July%202018%20copy.jpg?itok=VAxmcnnQ" width="720" height="720" alt="Full Moon and total Lunar Eclipse 2018 visible form the Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Peloponnese, Greece" class="image-style-square-720x720" /> </div> </figure></div> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span>Apostolia</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Sun, 05/08/2018 - 09:27</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p><em>The Total Lunar Eclipse + Full Moon as seen from the Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Peloponnese, Greece.</em><br /><em>photo Maria Toultsa</em></p> <p><em>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄</em></p> <p><em>Dance into the light</em></p> <p><em>Embrace your shadows tenderly tight </em></p> <p><em>Day and Night will both unite </em></p> <p><em>Under the infinite Awe of Light </em></p> <p> </p> <p><em>For this is the most perfect day</em></p> <p><em>The time to rise up  and play </em></p> <p><em>With all there is and all it comes </em></p> <p><em>It’s  precious as the moon and stars </em></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Dance so perfectly aligned </em></p> <p><em>That you let go of Who am I </em></p> <p><em>Dance opening your heart </em></p> <p><em>And let your tears be your map </em></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Of this new dream of you </em></p> <p><em>That is infinitely old and new</em></p> <p><em>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄</em></p> <p><em>A warm blessing of light and love to all of you, my soulful friends and travelers of life!</em><br /><br /><em>"</em><em>Some of us may look for the savior, salvation, for mystic connection, for gods or the science behind, we may choose to be believers or not. No matter what and who you are and where you stand and where you go, the inner dance, this beautiful connection with the divine, woke up inside and danced within you at the Ancient Temple of Appolo, the Savior, with a heritage of more than 4000 years. You become a pilgrim of a sort. The pilgrim of Hope." </em><br /><br /><em>The words of Galia Koliada, an overnight spectator of the Dream and Sleep performance entitled From Darkness to Light, are opening up more and more possibilities to my perception of how much transformation can be achieved when people that are "strangers" unite their bodies, voices, and souls with Nature, the Elements and the Directions. </em></p> <p><em>Our <strong>Silent Minds Dreaming Souls Happiness Retreat</strong> on the mountains, rivers and ancient sites of the Peloponnese prepared us to dream for our selves and the collective and open new possibilities on how we dream our world into being.</em></p> <p><em>May we all become Dreamers of Dreams!</em></p> <p><em>Apostolia </em><br /><br />  </p></div></div> </div> <div class="field field-node-field-tags field-entity-reference-type-taxonomy-term field-formatter-entity-reference-label field-name-field-tags field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item field__item--full-moon"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/32" hreflang="en">full moon</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--wellness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8" hreflang="en">wellness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--retreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14" hreflang="en">Retreat</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--dream"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/33" hreflang="en">dream</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--lunar-eclipse"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/34" hreflang="en">lunar eclipse</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--yoga"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/35" hreflang="en">yoga</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--temple"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/36" hreflang="en">temple</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--ritual"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/37" hreflang="en">ritual</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--performance"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/38" hreflang="en">performance</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--apollo"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/39" hreflang="en">apollo</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--greece"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">greece</a></span> </div></div> </div> Sun, 05 Aug 2018 06:27:46 +0000 Apostolia 94 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr