spirituality https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/ en ༄ Belonging ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/140 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Belonging ༄</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/22459438_10156708083837519_5433129071551872116_o.jpg?itok=yRLa8MNI" width="720" height="720" alt="Nature is our home, Kythera island, 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">Tue, 02/06/2020 - 14:34</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>It happens all the time in heaven,</p> <p>And someday</p> <p>It will begin to happen</p> <p>Again on earth -</p> <p>That men and women </p> <p>Often will get down on their knees</p> <p>With tears in their eyes,</p> <p>Will sincerely speak, saying,</p> <p>My dear,</p> <p>How can I be more loving to you;</p> <p>How can I be more kind?</p> <p><br /> Hafez ( excerpt)</p> <p> </p> <p>Beloved friends, June is here marking the beginning of sweet summer and the Moon is coming to full this Thursday. I am sure you are aware of what is happening around the world right now. I am in deep concern as you are, about where we stand as conscious human beings. </p> <p>The call for awareness and personal responsibility is urgent and very challenging. Identifying what it means to be "human" today is the clearest call I hear.</p> <p>All parts of me are craving to stop the inner war between me and my soul and asking me to take responsibility, as what is happening now on our planet is deeply affecting me.</p> <p>Just after the lockdown of Covid19 humanity proved collectively that can obey to authority control. Just after the death of George Floyd, riots all over the US claim for justice and human rights as racism has been a virus amongst humans for centuries now. A possible scenario of what's coming after this is more authority control so we can be "safe".</p> <p>At the same time,  in different countries, (Greece is one amongst them) crowds gather and protest against the new “Modernized Environmental Legislation” that gives easy permissions to private companies to develop businesses in protected Nature areas. </p> <p>How can we still believe that invading a planet like earth and turn the entire Nature into business, as usual, will lead to progress? How can we still support that consuming more goods and working harder (so we can have a "fake' safe future) will lead to our prosperity?</p> <p>None of the above is convincing our soul anymore as we feel it in all our parts of our selves. We feel more isolated than ever, more separated than ever.</p> <p><br /> WE ARE SUFFERING FROM DISCONNECTION WITH OUR TRUE NATURE.<br /> WE ARE SUFFERING FROM SEPARATION FROM MOTHER NATURE.</p> <p>Life itself is about belonging. Our Human DNA holds the remembrance that we are able to live in perfect harmony when we embody the divine love that created us, that created all life.</p> <p>The secret of interconnection between species lies in the self-love and self-respect first and above all, so fear and isolation don't control our existence.</p> <p>To reach a greater understanding of who we are and make conscious choices we need to repair our true belonging within and this can happen only by recognizing Nature as higher consciousness. </p> <p>What would happen if all the people all over the planet feel this disconnection and decide to leave the cities now, starting a new life, living in harmony with nature, working from their green home, forming supportive communities, connecting with the divine that is inside each one and all of us, recognizing each other's gifts, creating art, listening, giving, receiving, understanding our light and our shadow, together? </p> <p>Nature holds this immense power of helping us remember LOVE even in the form of thunder. Even in the form of an Earthquake. For we become humble for a millisecond, we step our of Ego and we remember in our cells, in our breath, in our senses, what the ancients knew:</p> <p>Nature is our home. Nature grounds our being and belonging.  Nature brings us home to ourselves. Peace, Presence, Belonging, Creativity, Community, Solidarity are values of our innate wisdom that can be ignited in our collective consciousness when each one of us invests in cultivating a reconnection with Nature.</p> <p>This is my dream, my dearest friends, to remember our sacredness of body, mind, and spirit, as a collective and to embody that being in Nature is already being in the divine presence. </p> <p>Oceans Love &amp; Rivers of Light<br /> Stay healthy, stay safe, stay kind</p> <p>Apostolia</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--spirituality"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9" hreflang="en">spirituality</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--embodied"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/105" hreflang="en">embodied</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--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--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</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> </div> Tue, 02 Jun 2020 11:34:12 +0000 Apostolia 140 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/140#comments ༄ Happy MOnth of May & Happy Full Moon ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/139 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Happy MOnth of May &amp; Happy Full Moon ༄</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_0.jpg?itok=4YU9TJ7w" width="720" height="720" alt="Full Moon May Circle The 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">Tue, 02/06/2020 - 07:54</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>Beloved friends! Happy month of May  &amp; Happy Full Moon!</p> <p>Thank you so much for being alive, for being part of my life's journey in so many ways!</p> <p>Greece is slowly stepping out of the quarantine but still, no one knows what this new reality will be like. What I hear from many is the struggle of the inner war between the mind and the heart.</p> <p>The mind is afraid, wants to act, to predict, to go back to the "normal" past or project in a "normal " future. The heart wants to open, to trust, to love.</p> <p>And the body is in between these two, confused, confined, restricted, frozen. Embodied practices are now more valuable than ever. Being present with our breath, meditating, dancing, singing, gardening, painting, are increasing hormones of joy and happiness in our body and raising our vibrations so we can attune with the frequency of Love.</p> <p>So we can step in our power and remember who we truly are, reaching our full potential, serving our soul’s purpose.</p> <p>Learning to embody the vibration of love is the reason we are here. It is our individual and collective purpose. It is the secret of life, the elixir for joy, and the antidote to fear, anger, pain. Love converts our limitations to our ability to rebirth anew.</p> <p>This historical time we live in is a wake-up call to know ourselves and become the embodiment of body-mind-spirit harmonization.</p> <p>So this is the most fundamental question I ask my self every day:</p> <p>Which vibration do you choose?</p> <p>Oceans &amp; Rivers of Love</p> <p>Apostolia      </p> <p> ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄</p> <p>P.S.</p> <p>May's Full moon is one of the most beautiful Full Moons of the Year, so potent with so much light coming down to the Earth.</p> <p>Its the birthday of Budha (Vesak) and allows us to enter the deep waters of our psyche individually and as a collective. So, I invite you to celebrate the Light - Vesak Day by joining our online circle or by creating a personal ritual, meditate, breathe, pray, and invite the full moonlight to ignite your soul1 </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--may"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/113" hreflang="en">may</a></span> </div><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--vibration"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/111" hreflang="en">vibration</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--frequency"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/114" hreflang="en">frequency</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--ritual"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/37" hreflang="en">ritual</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--consciousness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/106" hreflang="en">consciousness</a></span> </div></div> </div> Tue, 02 Jun 2020 04:54:25 +0000 Apostolia 139 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Mother's day Primordial Mantra ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/138 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Mother&#039;s day Primordial Mantra ༄</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/Motherhood%20Apostolia.jpg?itok=4sTfQdvj" width="720" height="720" alt="With my new born son" 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, 02/06/2020 - 07:40</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>Ma is the first word we say. Ma-Ma is recognized from almost every human being in the world as the name we give to our first shelter. Our mother.</p> <p>{Ma-Ma is a primordial mantra that I use in my teachings and connects us with Mother Love.}</p> <p>Becoming a mom, 17 years ago was and is the greatest gift of my life. No matter the difficulties, the struggles, the work it needs to be a mother I would never change it as it taught me first of all to love my own mother unconditionally and to give her only gratitude. For she gave me life. </p> <p>Motherhood connected me deeply with my wounds, helped me to face them, and heal them, helped me to recognize what unconditional love is.</p> <p>{Ma-Ma leads to MaM when we are babies calling for food calling for Love }</p> <p>Thank you to my mother, thank you to my son, thank you most of all to our Great Mother Earth for nurturing us humans with your abundant love.</p> <p>Close your eyes and hum so you connect with the unconditional love inside you, the highest frequency of all:<br /> Ma- Ma -Ma - Ma- Ma- Ma </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--mantra"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/107" hreflang="en">mantra</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--mother"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/108" hreflang="en">mother</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--unconditionallove"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/109" hreflang="en">unconditionallove</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--embodied"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/105" hreflang="en">embodied</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--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</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--consiousness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/110" hreflang="en">consiousness</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--vibration"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/111" hreflang="en">vibration</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--frequancy"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/112" hreflang="en">frequancy</a></span> </div></div> </div> Tue, 02 Jun 2020 04:40:25 +0000 Apostolia 138 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ Sacred Breath ༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/137 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄ Sacred Breath ༄</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/AED6610F-BC2A-40B7-A752-68E9A13F821C.JPG?itok=4gkkV0UV" width="720" height="720" alt="Temple of Artemis Vravronia, Apostolia Papadamaki" 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, 02/06/2020 - 07:32</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"><p>There is an ancient breath breathing inside you.</p> <p>She is longing to teach you how unique you are.</p> <p>She carries gifts that can heal your wounds so you can lift the veil of your limited thoughts and remember your authentic myth.</p> <p>It’s not about finding the meaning of life.<br /> It’s about experiencing life as a sacred being in every breath you take.</p> <p>Fully present. Fully loving. Fully forgiving. Fully grate-full.</p> <p>Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and tell me.</p> <p>Can you feel your life is sacred?</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--sacred"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/103" hreflang="en">sacred</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--breathwork"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/99" hreflang="en">breathwork</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--presence"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/104" hreflang="en">presence</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--embodied"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/105" hreflang="en">embodied</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--myth"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/22" hreflang="en">Myth</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--consciousness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/106" hreflang="en">consciousness</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--happiness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13" hreflang="en">Happiness</a></span> </div></div> </div> Tue, 02 Jun 2020 04:32:48 +0000 Apostolia 137 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr Home Courses and Support from Apostolia and the Happiness Retreat team https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/134 <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Home Courses and Support from Apostolia and the Happiness Retreat team</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/90195759_958473541214799_5462760305257873408_n.jpg?itok=cUkW2-6U" width="720" height="720" alt="Stay at Home " 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">Wed, 18/03/2020 - 13:32</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"><p>My beloved friends and soul family,<br /> I am safe with my son at home.<br /> I pray, trust and hope that you are safe too.<br /> Going straight to the point here.</p> <p>I am here to support in any way I can<br /> in this time of self-growth and radical collective changes.</p> <p>I am an artist, a teacher, and a healer and<br /> here is what I offer to you,<br />  with my deepest gratitude for our connection,<br /> so you can keep a healthy body a calm mind and an uplifted spirit</p> <p>All my group and private offerings are by donation<br /> or free to those that are in need.</p> <p>We will practice online.<br />  </p> <p><img alt="Online courses March 2020" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fcbd16-b756-4812-86dd-a781f5d8cc6d" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/online.jpg" width="800" height="839" loading="lazy" /><br />  </p> <p>You can choose one course or you can attend both.<br /> If you attend both you will have 10 days' everyday practice alternating Breathing exercises and Yoga each day.</p> <p>Both courses are for all levels, all ages, all genres. </p> <p>see all the info below</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="Breath Activation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7ccbccaa-29a1-476c-b164-eaef4dd3e8fd" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/breath.jpg" width="500" height="500" loading="lazy" /><br />  </p> <h2>Course I: Powerful Breath Activation </h2> <p>When<br /> ༄ March 20, 22, 24, 26, 28</p> <p>@4:00-4.45:00pm EET (Greece)</p> <p>15.00-16.00(UK) 10.00am -11.00am (New York + Canada)</p> <h3><br /><a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/online-sessions/breathwork">Learn more &amp; Book</a></h3> <p> </p> <p><img alt="Yoga online" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5b175cac-4253-4d61-a62d-b0b0bee0d3d0" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/yoga.jpg" width="500" height="500" loading="lazy" /></p> <h2> <br /> Course II: Yoga for Self Love and Harmony</h2> <p>When<br /> ༄  March 21, 23, 25, 27, 29</p> <p>@ 4:00-4.45 pm EET</p> <p>15.00-16.00(UK) 10.00am -11.00am (New York + Canada)<br />  </p> <h3><a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/online-sessions/yoga">Learn more &amp; Book </a></h3> <p><br /> No worries if you miss a session or if you want to repeat the practice,  the replay video will be provided to you right after each live session!<br />  </p> <p><img alt="Skype" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4ff38c71-41e4-4a47-9412-83d87d29439a" src="/sites/thehappinessretreat.gr/files/inline-images/skype.jpg" width="282" height="282" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><br /> I am also offering free skype, messenger or what's app sessions<br /> for those that need my humble support,</p> <p><br /> from March 20 - April 3rd,<br /> Weekdays only,</p> <p><br /> from 17.00 -18.00 EET (Greece )<br /> 15.00-16.00(UK) 10.00 am -11.00 am (New York + Canada)</p> <p><br /> It will be a 10-15min free online meeting and you can book by sending an email to <a href="info@thehappinessretreat.gr">info@thehappinessretreat.gr</a></p> <p><br /> I would love to serve all those in need in any way I can,<br /> if too many, these sessions will be served upon registration order. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄༄ ༄༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ </strong></p> <h3><br /><a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/online-sessions/individual-happiness-sessions">The Individual Online Sessions are available </a></h3> <h3><a href="http://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/online-sessions/individual-happiness-sessions">and you can find the information here </a></h3> <p> </p> <p><strong>༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄༄ ༄༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ ༄ </strong></p> <p> </p> <h3>Our Private Facebook Group</h3> <p>I keep on offering all the modalities I know in our private Facebook group which is comforting all of us and keeps us truly connected without bombarding us with too many posts.<br />  </p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHappinessRetreatCircle/">You can join here the  Happiness Circle group.</a></p> <p><br /> Recorded Videos of my recent live session on this group. You can practice by listening, not necessarily watching if you want to have less “screen” in your life.<br />  </p> <p>1.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thehappinessretreatgreece/videos/187993712626724/?utm_source=The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Circle&amp;utm_campaign=9d84b6992a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_21_06_04_COPY_07&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_16b2a2de8b-9d84b6992a-363877734">How to boost our immune system</a> with breathing exercises and respiratory system cleanse.</p> <p>2. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apostolia.papadamaki/videos/10159462612392519/?utm_source=The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Circle&amp;utm_campaign=9d84b6992a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_21_06_04_COPY_07&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_16b2a2de8b-9d84b6992a-363877734">How to Pulse, Move &amp; Shake</a> to Raise your Vibration!</p> <p>3.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/apostolia.papadamaki/videos/10159220845732519/?utm_source=The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Circle&amp;utm_campaign=9d84b6992a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_21_06_04_COPY_07&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_16b2a2de8b-9d84b6992a-363877734"> Guided Meditation on Love</a></p> <p>4. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apostolia.papadamaki/videos/10159159945702519/?utm_source=The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Circle&amp;utm_campaign=9d84b6992a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_21_06_04_COPY_07&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_16b2a2de8b-9d84b6992a-363877734">Guided Meditation on Forgiveness</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/apostolia.papadamaki/videos/10159163633877519/?utm_source=The%20Happiness%20Retreat%20Circle&amp;utm_campaign=9d84b6992a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_21_06_04_COPY_07&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_16b2a2de8b-9d84b6992a-363877734">5. Guided Meditation on Gratitude</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheHappinessRetreatCircle/permalink/596730917573634/">6. A song with my guitar</a></p> <p><br />  </p> <p>Finally, I thank my colleagues at the Happiness Retreat, Georgia, Areion and my beloved X that wants to stay anonymous for the moment, for helping me with their amazing work, enthusiasm, and creativity to put all these offerings online and to keep The Happiness Retreat concept a heartfelt space for all of us. <br />  </p> <p>Oceans &amp; Rivers of Love <br /> Stay Safe<br />  </p> <p>༄ Apostolia ༄</p> <p> </p> <p>VIP 1: At this moment you receive this email from my personal mail address, please save <a href="info@thehappinessretreat.gr">info@thehappinessretreat.gr</a> in your address book so it doesn't go to spam or promotions. This email is the one we will communicate normally.</p> <p>VIP 2: You can invite friends, colleagues, family to connect with our circle by subscribing here. </p> <p><br /> VIP 3: If you would like more online offerings/practices from me just let me know what kind of modality/content you would like!</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--yoga"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/35" hreflang="en">yoga</a></span> </div><div class="field__item field__item--breathwork"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/99" hreflang="en">breathwork</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--wellbeing"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/100" hreflang="en">wellbeing</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--apostolia"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10" hreflang="en">Apostolia</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--stay-home"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">stay home</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--selfgrowth"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">selfgrowth</a></span> </div></div> </div> Wed, 18 Mar 2020 11:32:49 +0000 Apostolia 134 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr ༄ 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 https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/node/130#comments ༄ 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 ༄Adaptation-How we create Happiness༄ https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/adaptation-how-we-create-happiness <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden"> ༄Adaptation-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%20apostolia%20papadamaki%20newletter%20blogpost%20dream%20%20catcher%20adaptation.jpeg?itok=GgqE1DGB" width="720" height="720" alt="dream catcher in our Dreaming Wide Awake Happiness Retreat Mykonos and Delos islands, May 2019" 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, 02/06/2019 - 15:22</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> </p> <p><em>My dear friends and happiness circle members!<br /><br /> Here we are welcoming the month of  June with a very positive New Moon on Gemini bringing magic and creativity and calling us for the quality of <br /> ADAPTATION<br /><br /> Adaptation is represented by the water element and its ability to flow continuously, to see no obstacles, to find another path, to go around them, over or under them.<br /><br /> Adaptation teaches is to step out of the trap of our ego and remember our higher purpose. Instead of staying fixed in our ideas or plans which means we expect a certain FORM of results, we can be fluid, ready to flow purposeful and motivated in staying connected with deeper feelings.  Curiosity and playfulness are great allies so we can achieve adaptation.<br /><br /> Let me give you an example. <br /><br /> Back at the beginning of May, I guided my Spring Happiness Retreat participants into a forest path to reach a beautiful waterfall and meditate. (Some of you were there!)<br /> But due to severe rains, all winter long, this path was full of obstacles. Trees had fallen down, streams were overflooded, misplaced stones were blocking the way.<br /><br /> Most of our tribe members were disappointed, they thought that we could never make it reach the Waterfall, but what I saw was an amazing opportunity to practice adaptation, to create a transformational experience that could change our mindset and teach us that we create our own reality.<br /><br /> I called the group to see other ways to overcome the obstacles by being inventive, uniting forces and helping each other. Amazing ideas came instantly, the "no way" feeling became a "wow we can make it" feeling and suddenly we all saw a playground of infinite possibilities instead of an impossible task. When we reached the waterfall we were all content, proud and happy.</em><br /><br /><br /><em>We all have the potential for more water qualities in our life, especially in the areas that we feel a bit "stagnant".  Maybe it's our relationships, certain emotions or our physical body.<br /><br /> Let's invite gracefully the water element into our lives this month by honoring the water wherever we find it even when we drink a glass of water, we expose our selves in the rain or we swim in the sea.<br /><br /> Let's nourish our magical organism, the body with emotional fluidity by saying Yes even for a day in whatever obstacle comes on our "way", by thanking the obstacle and just moving around it!<br /><br /> And if our "sea "today is too cold or too hot or too calm or too wild, forget about having the perfect conditions to jump in and allow your playfulness to teach you the gift of adaptation! </em><br /><br /><br /><em>June Blessings <br /> With Love and Light<br /> ༄ Apostolia ༄</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--adaptation"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/56" hreflang="en">adaptation</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--awareness"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/57" hreflang="en">awareness</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--thehappinessretreat"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/59" hreflang="en">thehappinessretreat</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--spirituality"> <span class="field__item-wrapper"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9" hreflang="en">spirituality</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> </div> Sun, 02 Jun 2019 12:22:00 +0000 Apostolia 100 at https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr https://www.thehappinessretreat.gr/articles/adaptation-how-we-create-happiness#comments ༄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