on my way to the hospital

Dear Friends,

I've had cramping for 2 weeks and it was bizzare but not painful...now I have pain and nausea ...I just talked to my doctor and it's most likely a blocked bowel...they say I'll be admitted...not sure how long...I have my blackberry with me...Wow...

I can't seem to write on my blog from my blackberry...so...I'll be in touch when I can...

Summer

Newsletter

Dear Friends,

With a wonderful change of seasons... we are now moving into Fall...my favorite season. The coolness of the air...the crisp and sunny days. The beautiful clouds and rainbows that have been more than amazing lately! I am grateful for each moment I can experience all the textures that life presents to us!

As you all know...I just completed my last chemotherapy for recurrence of Ovarian Cancer. I have just had a few tests to check on my status and all of them show cancer free. I have
learned to accept what comes my way. Cancer has a way of pressing your face up to the glass forcing the view of impermanence to be felt at a level and depth I would not have understood before! I am left navigating my emotions of fear...
anger and sadness with happiness... joy and peace. It feels like being in a row boat at rough seas and not knowing if you'll ever return to shore. Facing death...the ultimate impermanence ...the mysteries of the unknown that make us so uncomfortable...and yet it's still happening. It requires a surrender like none other...
not giving in to ...just not resisting everything that feels dark and difficult. I have cried the deepest cries and have also felt the most peaceful and happiest moments of my life.

Much has happened in the past few months!

July 31st was the last chemo...I moved my entire house ...two businesses and a storage unit in mid August! We have moved into a wonderful house only two miles up the hill from where we were living in San Elijo Hills. I have completed Two Levels of Reiki Training...I have integrated more Qigong back into my life with both energetic and physical practices. I have been hiking the wonderful trails in my neighborhood. Almost daily I hike 75min- 3 hours while listening to my books on tape. Usually it's the wisdom of Pema Chodron who joins me on my hikes. I also have enjoyed Dr. Wayne Dyer...Dr. Bruce Lipton ...Qigong Mantras and more!

Two weeks ago my friend Teri took me to see The Dali Lama in Long Beach. She planned this trip for me to receive the Medicine Buddha Blessing. In fact, the tickets were requested in April when I started chemotherapy again. At the end of the therapy I received the blessing from Dali Lama. It was an experience I will never
forget. I received love and healing that transcends a human experience. He is an amazing humanitarian full of love and humbleness all wrapped up in child like humor!

I also became a reverend...non-denominational and yes..I can marry you if you so desire and I can offer Reiki sessions in my new beautiful space. The treatment room is complete and offers a peaceful place to rejuvenate from the normal to extreme stresses of life.

My yoga and pilates space is also complete and beautiful. I have been back to work full time since the end of my treatment. Even with the treatment I was able to work 2 weeks per month. If you have been thinking about learning about yoga ... pilates ... qigong
or meditation...now is the time!

Many thanks and appreciation for so many who cooked for me...who gave me rides to appointments...who held fund raisers for me...who organized food and financial assistance for me..who lent me a healing Teddy Bear ...who blessed me with special gifts of healing love...the emails...phone calls...visits and support that I can't put into words...prayers...meditations... I will never forget your love. The generosity and support from the Teachers and Owners of Yoga Vista and Soul of Yoga and the ongoing deep love sent from Bliss Yoga. The generosity and healing juice from Fountain of Youth Juice and the ongoing donations that provided financial support for me to have great nutrition! I can't begin to thank all of you by name for there are too many who made a difference in my healing and my energy!

May we all connect to love for ourselves ...our loved ones...strangers on the street and for those who challenge us. May this love give us strength when life presents challenges that bring us to our knees with confusion and groundless fear. May we find our stability through our own personal inspiration of whatever connects us deep to our source. The Dali Lama says that kindness is his religion. May all of our spiritual inspirations be fueled by love and compassion!

Come and visit me for Yoga ... Blend in a group class or view the many options from what my menu now provides! I look forward to sharing with you!

Much love to all
Namaste,
Summer

Yoga Schedule Mondays 6:00 pm Yoga Vista Vista, California Thursdays 5:30 pm Soul of Yoga Encinitas, California Website schedule page/directions

Blend Schedule Blend is a group class that combines pilates mat with yoga asana...qigong ... meditation ... breathing techniques and more! This class uses small weighted balls, resistance bands , tubing and other accessories to enhance your inner and outer fitness! Currently this class is held at a private residence in Encinitas providing a private intimate setting nestled by the sounds of water, nature and wonderful music! Tuesday/Thursday 9:15 am Per Month/pre-paid $135-150 (depends on how many classes in a month) $15 per class Once per week tuesday or thursday/pre-paid $65-85 (depends on how many tuesdays or how many thursdays per month) $17 per class Drop in $20 must reserve each time /space permitting 760-707-7610 October registration is full Please contact me to be placed on a wait list for future classes You may also create your own private group for any class format

NEW!!! Treatment Room for Reiki Sessions Reiki sessions now available at your location or private studio Energy work for stress reduction and relaxation Studio for Pilates, Yoga, Qigong Creating your own private group class in your home or office...many options to choose from: yoga...pilates...blending both with a class called Blend...Qigong...Reiki....meditation ...pranayama etc. Custom blend your own preferences or choose one format

Reiki Sessions now offered What is Reiki? Reiki is a gentle, yet a powerfully heart centered energy healing method that is similar to healing hands. The hands can be placed at a distance over the body in a sequence unique to Reiki or/and a gentle touch during that sequence may occur. This is not a massage. Reiki is defined as "Universal Life Force" originating from Japan as an ancient Tibetan healing technique. " Ki " "Chi" "Qi" " Prana" " Light" are all examples of names used to describe the non-physical energy that animates all things. Ki flows through everything that is alive...plants, animals and humans. Energy medicine practitioners believe that the human energy field contains and reflects each individual's energy. This energy is created by our internal and external experiences. The Chinese place great importance on "Chi". "The Yellow Emperor's Internal Medicine" lists over 32 kinds of Chi which is over 4000 years old. Ki is used in many different ways...by martial artists...pranayama meditation practices...shamans and healers of all cultures. Qigong practices also embrace this awareness of energy to organize the ki field and promote healing by directing the mind and more. Ki is simply our life force. Healing can occur on many levels: Providing relaxation and a sense of well being for all that creates stress in our lives. Healing a life threatening illness may or may not show up in the person as a cure of the disease. Healing may show up as a way of surrendering with more peace and love. All healers use Ki but not all healers use Reiki. A Reiki practitioner must be attuned to it by a Reiki Master . The Reiki practitioner does not do the healing. A higher intelligent consciousness is channeled to the person or self. This consciousness is sometimes referred to God/Consciousness or enlightened being. There are many to choose from: Jesus...Mother Mary...Christian Archangels...Moses...Mohammed... Krishna...Vishnu...Shiva...Buddha... Bodhisattvas...St. Germain and many others. As the Dali Lama suggested in his recent visit to Long Beach...it is important to connect to what is helpful for you. Although, Reiki is not a religion, if you are a religious person...it is most helpful to connect deeply to your religion during a session. If you are not religious or spiritual then set an intention for the Reiki energy to be with you and relax and let love deepen your intention. Connect to love with all intentions and inspirations! Reiki Energy: is pure , loving guided energy from a divine source may relieve stress and pain may relax muscle tension and spasms may release emotional blockages may accelerate natural healing while stimulating the immune system may balance the chakras and flow of Qi through the body can be used in conjunction with any other therapeutic modalities may be effective on chronic or acute illnesses or injuries can be learned by anyone is compassionate and comes deeply from love is completely safe and benign protects the practitioner and the receiver Our Price: SPECIALS $150 3 session package ($50 per session) Great for holiday gifts ...unlimited purchases $65 per single session (introductory rate for 2009) general prices for reiki have a wide range from $65 to thousands of dollars...I have seen a normal average of $85-100 per session

Zhineng Medical Qigong I have been practicing Zhineng Qigong for over 3 years and other forms of Qigong longer. I have and continue to integrate Qigong in all of my classes and personal practices. By January 2010, I will be teaching Qigong classes in addition to yoga and the other offerings currently provided by The InnerHouse. Please support my teachers and learn how to integrate Qigong into your life for you and your loved ones! Fay McGrew Fay's website Martha Blane Martha's website Jane Jin Jane's Website Mingtong Gu Mingtong's website

The InnerHouse provides services to inspire your inner and outer fitness through yoga...qigong...reiki...pilates...meditation...pranayama and more!
Please visit...
website: www.theinnerhouse.us
email: theinnerhouse@gmail.com
blog: www.theinnerhouse.blogspot.com

Namaste,

Summer Autio

My nephew graduated from Marine Boot Camp on Friday

Friday, October 2, 2009...my nephew Brian Smull....graduated from Marine Boot Camp. I was able to attend the graduation downtown and to see some of my family members whom I rarely get to see!! My sister and her husband and my nephew flew out from Oklahoma...my niece...her husband and her new baby Liam drove down from Sacramento/Lincoln area ...other family members attended and it was fantastic.

I was able to hold Liam for hours...My new nephew!

Love to you Brian!!!!

peeling layers

The more I peel away the layers...the rawness just oozes out...sitting with that ...deeply feeling that ....oh my...such a vulnerable place...such a powerful place!

surgery delayed

I was supposed to have the belly port removed tomorrow or next Friday and now it's delayed to November due to Dr. Bahador's schedule.

Oh well...patience.

In the meantime, I'll continue to get stronger and it will happen at the right time!

I'm looking forward to feeling the full yoga asana practice again in my body without worrying about the port. The port in the chest will remain for a while.

Have a wonderful day ...if you're around tonight and can join me for yoga at the Soul of yoga...I teach at 5:30 pm Thursday nights ongoing..

Namaste,
Summer

Please send love or more!!!!

Blood Letter From Monastics of Lam Dong Province

Ven.Thich Quang Duc's immolation during the '63 Uprising

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Independence – Freedom – Happiness

BLOOD LETTER

Namo Sakyamuni Buddhaya
With respect to all our patriarchs and ancestors,

We come before you on behalf of hundreds of young monks and nuns who are studying and practicing Buddhism in the province of Lam Dong. We also represent thousands of lay Buddhist practitioners who are ready to follow our deep call for help. This letter is written with our own blood.

Over many months, the young monks and nuns residing in Bat Nha Monastery have been continually harassed by powerful groups from outside. Meanwhile, inside the temple, the monks and nuns have been forced to live without electricity and without running water. The situation has become even more stressful as they have had to face psychological and physical violence every day. We, from outside, didn’t know the true source of the problem, and that is why we remained silent until now. We are young monks and nuns from Lam Dong Province; we have good education, we have right understanding, and we have solidarity, compassion and love for all of our brothers and sisters in the spirit of our Buddhist monastic code. We are not gullible, impulsive, or easily carried away by any situation. We also do not want to interfere with the politics nor the national security nor matters of sensitivity to the government. However, facing all the incidents that happened at Bat Nha monastery on the 26, 27, and 28 of September 2009, we learned that the young monastics there have been attacked by violent mobs seeking to evict them out of the monastery. These young innocent monastics have been forced out of their home in heavy rain and storms without raincoats, food or shelter. They have been insulted and beaten, and subjected to the most terribly obscene acts. All these things happened right before the very eyes of the policemen and local authorities. Therefore, this is not just the “internal problem” of Bat Nha monastery; these acts clearly have been orchestrated by the government. Having seen our Dharma brothers and sisters violently terrorized, attacked, and brutally dragged out of their temple, we cannot just pretend that nothing is happening. The bond between us as monastic brothers and sisters is sacred and indestructible. We cannot just sit here witnessing our monastic brothers and sisters being oppressed like that, so we write this letter with our own blood to request that all levels of government do the following:

1. If this is an internal issue of the Buddhist organization, then please let the Buddhist organization resolve the matter.
2. Bring a complete stop to all forms of aggression and hostility against the monks and nuns practicing in the Plum Village tradition (who are now taking refuge in Phuoc Hue temple).
3. Let the 400 monks and nuns continue to practice their monastic code of precepts, within the protection of the Venerable monks and nuns in the province.
4. Stop all acts of force, threat, obstruction and pressure against the monastics from outside forces.

This letter is written with our own blood, uniquely motivated by the love we share as fellow monastics on the same path. We are nonpartisan; we have absolutely no political agenda. If this request is ignored, it will be a great shame before all our spiritual ancestors. Therefore, if the government continues any of these kinds of pressure as it has been doing, we inform you in advance that we are ready to give our lives for the sake of our monastic brotherhood and sisterhood; and the outcome will be unpredictable.

May all the Great Bodhisattvas be our witness.

Lam Dong, September, 30.2009

In the name of all the young monks and nuns of Lam Dong province,

Together signed,

http://helpbatnha.org/how-can-i-help/

Pet Scan Clear and so blessed by his Holiness

I went to see the Dali Lama these past two days...while I was in seeing the Dali Lama at about noon...Dr. Bahador called and texted me the news of my PET Scan...
CLEAR and free of disEASE...
I truly cried with JOY!!!

I received several blessings this weekend and I'm not able to share quite yet as I'm full of EMOTION and just sitting with the feelings that FILLED me up Friday and Saturday...

I went there with little expectations and I came home with more than I could have imagined!!!

I will be scheduling surgery for the belly port to be removed very soon...I'll keep in touch!


Much love to all!!!
summer