Hello Breathers! I am writing to you from Sevastapol. It’s in the Crimea on the Black Sea. I’ll be spending the next three weeks here in the Ukraine, before heading on to Kazakhstan. My recent visits to Moscow and Ufa (Bashkortostan) were so wonderful. I am still feeling the pleasure of my week on the on The Hill That Breathes in Italy, but already looking forward to August 2007 when I’ll go back again! My first stop on this trip was Vilnius. It was “Graduation Week” and we celebrated the first group of Certified Lithuanian Breathworkers! Congratulations to: Algita, Nijole, Andrius, Dalia, Sigute, Valdas, Ruslanas, Skirmante, Jurate, Viktoras, Renata, Marija, Dijana, Vida, Daiva, Vidmantas, Sabina, Ausra, Snieguole, Janina, Romualdas, Daiva and Rita. In the past 15 months these 23 committed and devoted healers and teachers, coaches and guides have facilitated over 1000 breathing sessions! During the certification ceremony, we heard from each of these people, and we heard from others in the community, those who lovingly attested to their knowledge and skills. The following are quotes and notes I took during their presentations. It gives a wonderful view of the power and potential of Breath Awareness and Conscious Breathing. Breathwork is a way to listen with the heart Breathwork allows us to reflect and express the greatness within. Breathwork is an opportunity to practice the “power of presence” Breathwork is conscious loving action toward the ultimate goal and purpose of life Breathwork helps us to master non-attachment Breathwork gives us the experience of oneness and wholeness Breathwork makes us a creative partner in the game of life Breathwork is a natural alternative to therapy for pain, guilt, and all forms of suffering Breathwork gives us the power to do what we could not do before Breathwork turns limitations into points of power Breathwork awakens in us the source and destiny of human life Breathwork beaches us to breathe with our whole body, our whole being Breathwork offers a safe way out of darkness Breathwork helps us to change our direction in life, and to manage the changes in life Breathwork awakens the inner healer Breathwork gives us the strength to take a leap—the courage to fly Breathwork allows us to release old memories and to transform the past Breathwork gives us back our lives Breathwork causes miracles Breathwork opens the heart Breathwork awakens, deepens and expands our consciousness Breathwork allows us to consciously merge with the energy of life Breathwork provides fuel for transformation Breathwork is a way to enter the “eternal stream” Breathwork helps us to understand ourselves and to work with this understanding Breathwork supports conscious birthing of the divine inner child Breathwork is a way to actualize our spiritual (divine) potential Breathwork allows us to find our “voice,” to sing from the soul Breathwork bridges the gap between student and teacher, teacher and student Breathwork allows us to touch and be guided by the soul Breathwork is a way to share love and happiness Breathwork shows us that illness is a spiritual gift of awakening, learning and growth Breathwork brings unity of body mind and soul Breathwork is the most powerful tool for self-healing Breathwork causes us to trust in our potential Breathwork allows us to express our natural healing, leading, and teaching abilities Breathwork is a way to enjoy and play your way forward through life Breathwork is a way to explore our inner-most sky Breathwork is away to go safely into the storms of life and to find our greatest treasures Breathwork helps us to trust in life, regardless of the fears and pains Breathwork gives us a way out of the past and into the future Breathwork is being fully present in each moment Breathwork is a way of knowing truth, reality, and the right path of development Breathwork returns us to the original silence Breathwork helps us to not reject what we don’t understand Breathwork removes karmic imprints Breathwork allows us to fully experience life energy Breathwork awakens and strengthens our connection to light, life, our ancestors, nature Breathwork gives us a way out of fear and darkness into love and light This month has brought many insights and realizations. Not all of us are accomplished yogis who can sit in the full lotus position, but all of us can breathe! We forget how healing the simple feeling of happiness can be. It is such a positive state from which problems can be solved and growth can occur. But it’s a chicken or egg thing. We don’t seem able to feel happy until our problems are resolved or the pain goes away. Yet the real truth is this: nothing has to change in order for us to be happy! We can master the art of enjoying ourselves and life regardless of situations and circumstances in or around us. We’ve all had the experience of trying to remember someone’s name, or where we put our keys. And the more we struggle to remember, the further away we get. Yet when we relax and let go, the answer simply pops up by itself. So my advice this month is this: go directly for comfort and pleasure—of love and peace and joy—in each moment. Be patient, and see what inspirations, insights and answers arise by themselves! In November, I’ll be going back to Sedona and Santa Barbara again, and in December, I’ll be visiting Lafayette, Louisiana for the first time. Check the website for details. Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for transcribers. I had no idea that so many people would be willing to help! I am so grateful! I am so blessed! May every breath bring you peace and power, happiness and healing. Yours in the Spirit of Breath, Dan PS: Are you feeling the pull to India in January? There’s still time to join our little group of pilgrims and adventurers! And don’t forget to plan for our 10-day Estonian nature tour in June.