April 1, 2011   Greetings! I do believe I am done waiting.  This last month - AKA the “mud-yuck” season - has been long, and waiting for spring difficult.  But, without consulting our local weather gurus, I am declaring:  Spring is Springing!  My waiting is done, and now I’m preparing for the bloom and blush of glorious spring!  It feels so good to be engaged in outdoor life again!  Don’t get me wrong.  I love the darkness of winter and the deep reflection it brings.  But my toes are a tappin’ and my fingers are a twitter with the thought of playing in the fresh, sweet earth! Spring is the best of best times to visit Soul of the Prairie.  Each day new life appears, and flowers seem to burst open before your eyes.  The prairie quickly resurrects into life after last year’s debris is burned away (see the sidebar for an invitation to our prairie burn!), and birds and beasties (and me!) wake with zeal and song.   I invite you to visit Soul of the Prairie during this season of greening - not just to “see” what is happening, but to “be” with the new life all around.  To feel it and to know it and to re-member it....  Our gardens are one of the few in the state that are registered with the international Quiet Garden Trust - an organization based in the United Kingdom whose members open their gardens to the public for contemplation and prayer.  We have many “nooks and crannies” just right for “being” and a treehouse that is a perfect refuge for writing and being with the setting sun.   With the greening of the earth comes more activity at Soul of the Prairie.  In addition to the many groups who call The Roost “home” for monthly gatherings - the two ongoing Soul Sisters groups, our new monthly “Circles of Conversation,” the many who come for personal or small group day or overnight retreats and/or spiritual direction or labyrinth walking, we are planning new events which foster spiritual growth and development for individuals and groups.   “Circles of Conversation” is a big hit!  Our first gathering found the walls of The Roost singing with the pure joy of give-and-take conversation.  The next “Circles” evening will be Sunday, April 10 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  We’ll draw a topic out of the old straw hat, and see where it takes us.  Bring munchies to share if you like, and email usto let us know you may be coming.  No preparation, no fuss, no muss!     Be sure to check the sidebar for brief descriptions of special events and our Save-the-Dates section for events that are yet to come.  Of special interest in April is Gail Pursell Elliot’s "Eye of the Hurricane": The Dignity and Respect Approach to Managing Stress workshop which will be Friday, April 8 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.   You may have met Gail at one of her many workshops, read one of her books on bullying, or heard of her as the Dignity and Respect Lady.   And now?  Enjoy the rising sun and growing warmth of this day and the brightening days to come!  Breathe a little deeper into the glorious, blooming days of SPRING!   As always, we hope that spreading the peace found at Soul of the Prairie may help the world grow a little softer and dance a little more… Blessings, mary Upcoming Events   Circles A comfortable time of guided conversation, sharing, and laughter for everyone.   Sunday, April 10 5:00-7:00pm $5 suggested donation Email to let us know you may be coming Prairie Burn We welcome helpers and watchers when we burn the prairie.  Please email us to be notified before we burn.  No guarantees you'll be notified, because burning is so weather dependent, but we'll try! "Eye of the Hurricane": The Dignity and Respect Approach to Managing Stress Learn specific techniques for staying in the calm "eye" of the hurricane of life. Check our website for more information! Friday, April 8 1:00-3:00pm Cost: $20 Register by email or by phoning Gail at 515-231-8828.    Save-the-Dates Saturday, June 11 Yoga Retreat with Ruthann Hadish from the Ames Yoga Center   Sunday, June 12 Open Labyrinths and Gardens! Sunday, June 19 Almost Full-Moon Labyrinth Walk and Summer Solstice Event Evening Monday, September 5 Dances of Universal Peace  Saturday,September 17 Iowa Religous Media Services Re: Image Conference 3 Labyrinth Workshops Soul of the Prairie LLC 30062 JJ Ave - Hubbard, Iowa 50122 641-864-3256 mary@SoulofThePrairie.com    www.SoulofThePrairie.com  ©2010 Soul of the Prairie, LLC. All rights reserved.

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March 1, 2011   Greetings! Conversation.  Good ‘ole telling stories and listening and responding and sharing and learning and laughing...how good it is!  And yet, how infrequently we get to participate in really great conversation.  Sometimes don’t you just crave being part of a group immersed in “smart talk?” Well......  Guess what is happening at Soul of the Prairie Sunday, March 6th from 5:00-7:00pm?  A brand new event called “Circles!”  “What is ‘Circles,’” you ask?  Conversation.  Smart Talk.  Women and Men.  A gathering of interesting people who want to participate in the dance of give and take sharing about a suggested topic.  The cool thing about “Circles” is that you don’t need to prepare.  You don’t need to read anything.  You don’t need to sign up for a gazillion sessions.  You don’t need to “do” anything except email us to let us know you might be coming and - get this!  Come!  We’ll have a donation jar out for those who’d like to contribute a little for the continuation of these evenings - and if you want to bring munchies to share, bring ‘em.  If you don’t, don’t.   No fuss.  No bother.  Depending on numbers, we may split into small circles - or not.  The topic?  It’s a surprise - so you won’t be tempted to “read up” or “prepare!”  I’ll have some starter questions and brief quotations to get the conversation rolling - and then we’ll talk!  If our first “Circles” evening seems to be a good thing, we’ll schedule more...and I hope we can! Be sure to check the upcoming events on the sidebar - and our new little area called “Save the Dates” for future events that are “in the works.” Our video has just been updated with some new photos - and you might be in them!  Click here to check it out! As always, we hope that spreading the peace found at Soul of the Prairie may help the world grow a little softer and dance a little more… Blessings, mary Upcoming Events   Circles A comfortable time of guided conversation, sharing, and laughter for everyone.  See main article for details. Sunday, March 6 5:00-7:00pm $5 suggested donation Come and Find  the Quiet Center  an Invitation to a Journey A day of Sabbath at Pilgrim Heights Retreat Center, Montour, Iowa.   Labyrinth walking, guided reflection, prayer, and glorious space. Facilitated by Mary Dreier  Thursday, March 17 10:00-4:00 Retreat Pilgrim Heights Retreat Center 3005 E Ave Montour, IA Cost:  $75 For more information,and to register, click here or call 641-492-6165 Please register by March 10.   Save-the-Dates Saturday, June 11 Yoga Retreat with Ruthann Hadish from the Ames Yoga Center   Sunday, June 12 Open Labyrinths and Gardens!   Saturday,September 17 Iowa Religous Media Services Re:Image Conference 3 Labyrinth Workshops Soul of the Prairie LLC 30062 JJ Ave - Hubbard, Iowa 50122 641-864-3256 mary@SoulofThePrairie.com    www.SoulofThePrairie.com  ©2010 Soul of the Prairie, LLC. All rights reserved.

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