I just think it’s so amusing and appropriate that A New Earth is receiving huge press and generating enormous sales since Oprah chose to use the book for her first webcast bookclub.

I wanted to post here my weekly newsletter from Dec. 19. I had just returned from the Chopra Center workshop in Colorado and for some reason decided to pull the New Earth CDs from the shelf. I had read the book about a year earlier, but didn’t really get it. When I began listening to the CDs I realized it was exactly what Deepak and David Simon had been teaching at the workshop. I couldn’t stop listening!

Obviously, there is some sort of cosmic consciousness at play. The Chopra website has put it up as a “book they are reading”, and, or course, the whole Oprah thing.It’s just kind of cool to watch these things happen. Cool and beautiful. Please read the book!

(Original email from Dec. 19, 2007)
Hi All,
So I’m listening to Eckhart Tolle’s CD of his book A New Earth. I read it when it came out a few years ago, but for some reason I decided to listen to it this week. I feel like I never read it – this is amazing stuff that maybe I wasn’t ready to hear… It’s all about the EGO. The tricks it plays on us, trying to take over, making us think something is there when it’s really not (love, hate, anger, anxiety, stress, etc.). I laughed out loud this morning while listening to him talk about the collective ego as it applies to the work place:

“A collective ego manifests the same characteristics as the personal ego, such as the need for conflict and enemies, the need for more, the need to be right against others who are wrong, and so on…It’s members will experience the suffering that inevitably comes in the wake of ego-motivated action. At that point they may wake up and realize that their collective has a strong element of insanity. It can be painful to wake up and realize that the collective you had identified with and worked for is actually insane.”

I really can’t comment on this as people I used to work for may be reading this. But isn’t it marvelous!?

I hit 40 pounds today. 40 pounds lost since I began to balance my life Ayurvedically in September ‘07. I’m just amazed by the process (and progress) because it’s been the easiest yet most life changing weight loss I’ve ever had. And the most final. I know this is it as far as being overweight. That part of my life is blessedly over and from the vantage point of 40 pounds less I can see how I lived so differently then. And how much healthier, stronger and balanced I am now.

At 44, almost 45 years old, I weigh what I weighed in high school, back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Funny to think that I was at my most “balanced” then – but go know! 44 has been one of the best years of my life. And I’m heading into the rest of my years with a new body, now thoughts, less fears and the knowledge that I can do anything.

I already thought I could accomplish anything, but I’ve held myself back in several areas. Creating breathe books has been the biggest thrill and a wonderful sense of accomplishment and joy. But there is always more to come.

When I went to the Chopra Center back in late August, I met with Dr. David Simon. We had the frankest discussion I’ve ever had with a doctor. Without judgment he examined many issues in my life and asked me how they served me. I had never really thought about like that before. How is this (fill in issue here!) serving me? And, of course, the answer to many things was that it’s not really serving me at all.

Later during my week there he took me aside and looked so deeply into my eyes and said “Susan, you can create anything at all that you want.” (He actually also told me that I was smart and beautiful and talented – this was very cool to hear while I was walking around there all greasy from head to toe with Ayurvedic oils, going through daily bastis -enemas – and feeling the deepest fatigue and toxic release I’ve ever felt. Oh – and of course, 40 pounds heavier! ) While I thought I knew this – I really didn’t. It was like he infused me with the belief that this was true. Like a transfer of power! As Ramtha would say, so be it.

So, five months later and 40 pounds less, I know what he said was true.

It’s not just the weight – although that’s the easiest thing to see and measure. Truly, the weight loss is just a by-product of creating a more balanced life. When I’m Ayruvedically most balanced and my doshas are in line, the weight will stabilize and that’s where I’m to live. I feel that’s another 20 pounds, but we’ll see what my body tells me. I’m listening.

It looks like this blogging is becoming a monthly thing. How much more do I really have to say anyway?:-)

Many people are asking about the trip we are planning to India. I’m currently working with two companies who are designing travel packages for us. One idea is to travel exclusively to the south of the country, to Kerala, which is the home of Ayurveda (the 5000 year old Indian Healing system). There we could partake in Ayurvedic spa treatments to cleanse our minds, body and soul, and take additional side trips to spiritual sites in the area. And I could finally visit a city I’ve been wanting to see for 20 years – Cochin – also known as Jew Town. Guess why I want to go?! Cochin, besides being India’s premiere Jewish city, is also home to artists and textile manufactures and a few synagogues. 

Ok – so in addition to the ayurvedic idea, I’m also exploring a trip to the Indian Himalayan region – the crown chakra of the planet. This trip is a bit more out-doorsy where we would actually be doing some light trekking while visiting amazing sacred sites. White water rafting and other outdoor adventures can be a part of this trip.So as soon as I have the details I will let you all know via my weekly newsletter.

If you read this and are interested in coming to India, let me know what you think of the two ideas. Unfortunately we can’t do both in one trip. Each journey would be about 2 weeks. I don’t know the cost yet – but I’ll keep you informed.

Just in case you are interested in my personal Ayurvedic progress, as of today I am so much closer to having my doshas balanced! I’ve lost 37 pounds since September. I’m down to my college weight – and I’m 44 years old! By eating Ayurvedically, meditating and exercising, I’ve changed my body’s way of living and holding on to things. The weight is literarily falling off of me. I keep looking for it! Where’d ya go?! Well, I’m not looking too hard. I’m thrilled. And I’d like to lose 23 more pounds.

Yesterday I bought a pair of Levi’s at one of my favorite shops in Baltimore – The Bead in Kenilworth Mall in Towson. I won’t tell you the size – but I will tell you I can’t even remember the last time I bought a pair of Levis! They feel amazing.

Everything is just shrinking -including crazy dramatic emotions, frustrations, sleeping hours, and appetite. Things that are growing are patience, happiness, acceptance, love and self-esteem. I’m also feeling things more deeply than I ever have before. Some of that can feel a little scary – but with a more consistent meditation practice I can more easily see the story behind the emotions, feel it in my body and let it go. Meditation is truly the key to all.

It’s so funny trying to tell people what I’m doing. So they say – wow Susan – you’ve lost so much weight – what are you doing? They want a quick answer – like Weight Watchers! Or I eat less and move more! But telling people that “I eat Ayurvedically to reduce my dosha” gets complicated. There’s so much to explain! But I’ll just keep explaining it to anyone who is really interested as it just doesn’t get any better than this. That’s all for now!

Love to you all,susan