I Found Your Purpose

As I sat in a tree overlooking the waves on the south side of Maui yesterday, a friend of mine shared with me that he sees every human's core purpose as "Expansion of Consciousness."

"Anytime we're engaging in expansion," he said, "we feel like we're on point. We receive releases of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, and the brain starts performing at an accelerated rate." Expansion makes us happy.

In the early days of human evolution, that played out as "Expansion of Territories," leading to conquest and domination of land and peoples. Problem is, now we've expanded to fill almost every little corner of our galactic floating stone, and STILL feel the need to expand...so we begin to explore what the sages have been sharing for centuries...expansion of the inner territories.

When we're truly present in a moment of play with our children, we're expanding into bliss.

When we're present with our sister on the phone, we're expanding into compassion.

When we're actively engaged in some piece of passionate action, we're expanding into purpose.

So as long as we keep learning, exploring epiphanies, sharing meaningful moments and opening our hearts, we are serving our core purpose. It looks a little different for everyone, but at root it's the same...and we don't have to bump one another off the rock to do it. :)

Of course with every expansion comes contraction...the exhale...and often-times that feels like painful limitation. But, if there's no opposition, nothing to flee or push into, then our expansion is invisible...completely without sensation, and without sensation we have no measure of success...without sensation, we have no pleasure.

Now, there's no need to be leveled by the opposing forces. The difference between surfing and drowning in the 40-foot faces of a north-shore winter swell is simple planning and preparation.

Understanding that contraction is GOING to happen, we can program it in...consciously stepping out of life's traffic...finding moments of silence and unavailability in order to more gracefully ride the wave.

Then we can meet our hurdles and limitations with compassion and understanding, thus raising the vibration of the encounter and initiating expansion once again.

Long story short: Don't worry about finding your purpose. Sit still, follow your bliss, and expand into it. Find the shiny, and get busy gettin' big.

Much Love

The Truth About Altruism

We are, all of us, selfish little creatures.

Have you ever done anything purely for the benefit of someone else? Have you ever engaged in any activity that uplifted another but didn't serve you at all?

Don't worry, I haven't either.

Once upon a time I wanted to go to Thailand. Because I was deeply steeped in the conversation of seva (selfless service) and I wanted to be a "good person," I started building walls of altruism around my trip. I was going to bring fresh water and clean latrines to the mountain village people. I was going to provide compassionate touch to orphan babies. I was going to study with the Wat Po monks and bring REAL Thai Massage back to the states and heal the pains of my community...

With these claims came self-entitled demands and efforts. I threw fund-raisers. I got a friend to let me live with him, rent-free for 3 months. I hit my family up for cash...all because I had the foresight and fortitude to make the world a better place, completely bereft of personal benefit.

Right.

Secretly, in the back room of my mind, I entertained visions of lazily writing a book in a beach bungalo, practicing yoga in the sand with 3 Thai girls while they massaged me, daily.

In those quiet synaptic corners, mentioned only in whispers, I was backpacking through exotic temples and riding motorcycles with gorgeous, mysterious European women.

In my dreams, I was basking in the spotlight as a great and profound teacher of eastern practices and philosophy, wooing my audience with sordid stories of my travels, melting hearts with tales of all the good I'd done.

In my head, I was a hero.

I never went to Thailand.

My fundraising efforts all went belly-up. Things went sour between my buddy and me, and I lost my free room. I failed hard, forced to face myself and all of my glaring inauthenticities.

Wah wah.

As much as we hold altruism and selfless service as ideals, none of us will ever reach them. No matter what we do, we do it for some semblance of self-service. We're aimin' for good karma. We're getting great publicity out of alignment with that super-sexy African charity. Or maybe it's just a case of heart-warming yummy fuzzies when we pay for that woman's groceries as she scrounges for quarters from the bottom of her purse.

In every case, there's a reward, and that reward is what we're really after.

There's no such thing as a selfless act.

Now, knowing that, why don't we go ahead and get really clear on what it is that we really want?

When you can stop pretending that the work you do in the world is all for the benefit of your others, you can start moving from a truly powerful place...the land of grounded reality.

In the land of grounded reality, there's no shame in our motives.

In the land of grounded reality, we understand that every human has needs, and that the best way to meet most of our own is to help others meet theirs.

In the land of grounded reality, you actually become a benefit to humanity, sans stickiness...sans ambiguity...sans bullsh*t.

So...ask yourself: WHAT DO I WANT?

When you have the answer (any answer), start moving in that direction. Along the way, you'll encounter other movers. Ask them what they want. If you can help them, do so. Don't forget your own journey, just team up for a few, learn a little bit, and behold the beauty of a dream coming to fruition.

If you don't know what you want, go ahead and ask someone else. Jump on a moving train. In helping them accomplish their goals, your desires will start to shine. When they do, move on 'em.

Had I known this years ago, I would have some great Thai stories to tell you today. I would have worked really hard to personally pull together the necessary resources, and probably still have done some great, heart-opening charity work, with pics to prove it up on my website.

But then I wouldn't have done a lot of the other cool stuff that brought me to this perfect seat on this perfect day.

Live and learn, right?

A wise man once said, "I know it's not all about me, but I'm the only one I think about all the time."

It's time to put that grey matter to good use, clearly and effectively, then watch the world bloom before you.

Tell me, my friend: WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Perfecting Posts

I've made a commitment to start blogging more...creating plenty of posts to get the words out, flesh out the thoughts for all to see...to be more specific, I committed to blogging every day.

I'd like to renegotiate that commitment. Blogging daily is one helluva commitment. I could do it, sure, and just post journal entry after journal entry...but I've found that that becomes REAL boring REAL fast. Creating a good blog post is like writing an essay back in the school days. You've gotta find a topic worth writing on, create a few drafts, walk away from it, come back and tweak it, change the title 17 times, then finally it's ready for review. Or, you drop some brilliance in an instant and done is done...but the spirit's gotta be there, and that spirit is a fickle bitch sometimes.

I've been sitting on one post in particular. You'll see it soon enough. I started writing about a parallel I discovered between the teachings of don Juan (as told by Carlos Castaneda) and the marketing formulas and strategies I've been studying. When I finished writing, I realized that though it sounded poetic and beautiful, it didn't really leave the reader with anything you could use...no strong takeaway other than the momentary journey. So I started crafting something modeled on some of the instructional blogs I've been perusing...and it became a project. Now, I stand behind this little project's merit, but at the moment I've been so busy meeting deadlines for a marketing campaign that I haven't had time to sculpt and shape and hone my offering into something tasty for your table.

So, my friend, this is my renegotiation. I'll have that blog completed by this coming Friday. In the meantime, I'll post some other thoughts and musings from the Isle of Maui. Honestly, it's been eating me up to not post anything...personal integrity. Sheesh.

For now, it's time for yoga.

Have a beautiful day.

How To Find Your Money

"When I had finished smoking, don Juan told me that we were there so I could find out the kind of game I was supposed to hunt. He carefully repeated three times that the most important aspect of my endeavor was to find some holes. He emphasized the word 'holes' and said that inside them a sorcerer could find all sorts of messages and directions...He repeated at various times that I should focus all my attention on listening to sounds and do my best to find the holes between the sounds."

~Carlos Castaneda, A Separate Reality

Many a master has said that it's the space between that holds the mystery...the magic of existence. Music is experienced between the notes, life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, and Spirit whispers when we stop to take a breath.

As we soften and peer into these "holes," a great deal is revealed. The womb of the Mother shares her secrets.

So what does this have to do with money and marketing?

In the masculine game of domination and conquest, we seek holes to fill. We listen closely to the sounds of those around us...those whom we wish to serve (usually those who can afford our services) to determine their interests. Then we expand our awareness to also listen closely to the business leaders already fulfilling many of the needs of our audience, and find the holes left in the cross-hatch...the areas of demand not currently met.

Those holes hold inspiration and invigoration. They also hold money.

In Castaneda's tale, once a hole was discovered, he and don Juan spent the rest of the day discerning the message, then weeks in preparation and travel to accumulate the resources needed to find the perfect platform from which they could form an alliance with a powerful spirit.

In the same way, once we, as businessmen and marketers, find that hole in the market, we've gotta figure out what it means, train and prepare through long hours and hard work, and dive in to create something worth offering to our perfect, powerful audience. We give them what they want, better than anyone else can, because we're willing to dive deeper than anyone else and burn to find the answers that most folks won't.

So listen close...your money is calling.

Dancing With Demons

"The way of love is not a subtle argument.

The door here is devastation.

Birds make great skycircles of their freedom.

How do they do it? They fall,

And in falling they're given wings." ~Rumi

I'm a lover. It's my nature, it's what I do. I fall hard, fast and DEEP, and all to often, it's a blissfully painful experience.

I awoke this morning with a pain in my shoulder and the memory of a recent lover playing in my brain. Immediately I checked my blackberry to see if she'd contacted me via fb, gmail or good ol' fashioned text message. She had, but the deeper aspects of conversations were left untouched. She played on the surface, keeping a foot in the door, but no more...

The steel turns.

On the other side of my dome dances another recent love who wants, perhaps, too much. She pulls for my affection in manners all too familiar, and I watch the love that engulfs her bring out the best of her beauty in manic expressions of poetic brilliance. Psychotic obsession leads to some of the best art mankind has ever known. Whether that obsession is a fire for God, a die-hard world-worn quest, or the all-consuming love of another human, it doesn't matter. It's the spark within that does the trick...but I'd be damned if I called it comfortable for anyone.

Conventional wisdom dictates that I shouldn't care. My primary focus is and should be my mission, my purpose, the work at hand...but still this soft heart of mine beats pink and vibrant, and is easily aroused by those with whom I choose to open. History shows that I'm willing to give it all, gamble everything and torch the ships in the name of love, branding me with a string of names too long to claim...terms of endearment...bile-ridden insults...all of 'em stick and none of 'em hold, just like life.

Yeah, I shouldn't care, but I do. This fuels me. Towards what, I'm not sure, but it feels like aliveness, and that can't be a bad thing. So many days I've spent in comfortable numbness, quietly longing for the flames of life to lick my skin and make me feel again. Here I am, in the fire...wanting what's just beyond my reach.

Stretching.

Growing.

Living this Love.

God help us all.

Dive Right In

This morning I woke up in Maui.

Immediately anxiety wrapped her rusty barbed-wire fingers around my spine. Crazy, I know. My first day in paradise, all my bills are paid, I'm surrounded by friends, but still I'm gripped with fear and sandy-souled discontent. I felt cagey, ungrounded, unsure of what to do.

My morning routine is usually something semblance of the following:

-lay in bed for 20 minutes, semi-coherently contemplating my dreams, or lack thereof.

-pee.

-meditate for 20-30 minutes.

-triple sh.

-brew a hot cup of earl grey.

-make up half a song on the six-string.

-forget to write it down.

-call some people.

-sit down and get to work.

But this morning I woke up IN MAUI.

Do you get the implications of the circumstances?

That initial breath of plumeria-scented sea air dictates a whole new set of plans. What do you do first in a houseful of friends on Paradise Island? Get coffee? Wake up everyone else? Twenty-seven Sun Sals? Harmonica solo? Eat a papaya? Shower naked in the back yard?

Then consider that I'm here on business, and the man who signs my paychecks and expects nothing short of my greatness was stirring upstairs.

What primary activity would set the right tone, reinforce my egg-shell positive personal self image, establish professional responsibility AND make me look really cool to my house-mates? Arghhhhh!!!

So I did what any self-respecting adventurer would do. I pulled on some pants and a t-shirt and went for a walk. I found a wrought-iron gate with a "No Trespassing" sign and jumped it. I shimmied down a pole and bouldered down the beach on black volcanic babies of Pele. I swam in the warm waters of Na Maka O Ka hai as Surya crested the far off mountains, filling the heavens with pink, orange and brilliant white.

I dove right the f**k in.

Afterwards, as I ambled back to the house, barefoot and skyclad from the waist up, giggling at the clouds and talking to the trees, the jazz of creation began to make sense to me. Once again I was reminded that when we don't know what to do, we just gotta do SOMETHING, and listen for the cues.

I rolled up on my compatriots engaging in sweet and simple morning activities...sipping ceylon, down-dogging in the driveway, reading a book...and with salt on my skin and sand in my hair, I looked mad cool. :)

Uncertainty and her sister, Miss Tension once again crept in, but I had begun my day in my own way, and moving forward was simply a matter of continuing the course.

I took a shower, made some tea, touched my guitar and got to work.

It's been a beautiful morning in Maui.

rainy days

I've spent the last two days holed up with my computer and a series of cups of piping hot tea, Earl Grey in the morning, peppermint, rooibos and chamomile as the day wears on. While I generally like to spend my time outside, enjoying the fresh oxygen from these surrounding trees and playing with my friends, I've enjoyed these quiet days of solitude. They give me the temporal presence (time and space :) I need to do the inner work...to step into the General's Tent. From this place, magic happens.

This morning I woke up late and rolled slow through the early day, taking my time taking my shower, eating, getting dressed, playing on facebook...all the while knowing full well that I had work to do and (softly) kickin' my own ass for knowingly procrastinating.
Finally, after a couple rounds of aimless pacing around my apartment, avoiding riding my bike in the rain to go get a cappuccino, I parked myself in my special spot and closed my eyes to meditate.
I was in for quite a while, feeling the anxious tug to come out and get active, but feeling an even stronger drive to sit still a little while longer and breathe a little deeper.
After about 45mins (easily double my morning dose), I omm'd home and threw in a hyper-oxygenating breath technique for good measure, bowed in appreciation for the day, prayed to have my obstacles removed, said amen and sat back up.

AT THAT MOMENT, there was a knock on my door. I figured it was the apartment crew coming to fix my garbage disposal, but when I opened my door, I found my friendly downstairs neighbor, Denise, standing there with a smile. She told me she was about to leave to run some errands, and wanted to know if I needed anything. "No-one," she said, "should have to ride their bike in the rain." :)

I caught a lift to Starbucks with her, and as I've sat here, waiting for it to stop raining, I've gotten caught up on all the internet-based computer work that I've been dodging for the last week or so. What a blessing.

When I was a kid, rainy days were my cue to bust out the coloring book and crayons, play-dough and plastic scissors, glue, construction paper and old magazines. They were some of my favorite days to play.

As I got older, rainy days triggered depression, isolation and introversion, sometimes lasting for weeks.

Now I think I'll blend the two. Bust out the colors and get hella introspective. Quiet the mind and go inside long enough to talk to God.

The rain just let up a little. I think it's time to go home.

Namaste, and God bless.

The General's Tent

I've been asked several times lately what I mean when I talk about "The General's Tent."

When I first heard of the concept, I was initially confused as well, then fascinated and intrigued as the term sunk in.

There's an old adage that states that "every war is won or lost in the General's tent," meaning that strategy and foresight are more important than mere gruntwork and bulletcatchin'. Most people are in reaction mode most of the time, out in the field gruntworkin' and bulletcatchin', but the truly powerful ones, the ones that shape the outcome spend time bein' a General, mapping out the battle and assessing situations.

Now while I don't tend to look at life as a war or series of battles, but rather a game made up of smaller games and plays, the simile fits, as war is just another one of the games that we play on this planet, and every game informs every other, to some degree.

So the General's Tent Laser Coaching Session is an invitation to step out of the fray and get laser-focused on goals and strategy.

While action is important, action without intention is wasted effort.

Take some time to align your mind with the most Divine, then step to the field and SHINE. :)

Much Love
Mateo

Clarity and Evolution (09/21/2009)

Greetings, Great One,

Last week I told you the story of my personal evolution to become
the Mateo you know and love today, then I unveiled my new program,
The Way of The Playful Warrior. The response I received was funny,
as people seemed intrigued, but a bit befuddled as to what exactly
was being offered. This is why it's so important to approach life (and
business) as a game, because knowing what you want to say, but
mumble-stumbling, unable to communicate clearly can be a frustrating
experience, and one we all face at some point.

So I did what any experienced gamer would do...I took a time out. I
sat in meditation, practiced some Qigong, talked to my trusted advisers,
researched my keywords, and came back with some clarity.

Here's the gig...we stand at a transition point in our global development
and collective evolution. We came into the information age with the fiery
mindset of accomplishment and performance, and that got us off the
ground. We needed left-brain skills like computer engineering and applied
sciences to get us goin' and spread our network like wildfire.

Now we're (as Americans) facing an interesting situation. Our economy is
suffering and we're unsure what exactly to do. Our tech jobs are being out-
sourced, and we can't just plant nose to the grindstone and plug in some
hours for the company, anymore. We've plagued ourselves with needless
diseases and ailments such as cancer, carpel tunnel, chronic fatigue, ad-
renal burn-out, peptic ulcers, heart conditions, migraines, and insomnia, then
succumb to surgery, or worse, take pills that perpetuate the dis-ease cycle
with ridiculous side effects.
The good news is that have the power to reverse the damage, and it lies in-
side. We are a nation of driven individuals, purposeful and proud, and we can
do anything we set our minds to. As we move forward, we're being asked
more and more to take personal responsibility for our livelihoods, and de-
velop those right-brained aspects of ourselves that we've ignored for the sake
of the status quo.

We're a tribe in need of visions, and those visions come from within. They
are called by cultivating stillness and softening into the process. As we move
forward, the traits most important are those associated with creative leader-
ship: empathy, intuition, effective communication, clarity and connection. Of
course we also need bold action, perseverance and determination, but we
can't count on someone else to tell us where to go or how to get there. It's
time to step up, my friend.

This is where I'm called in. I've created a simple, effective program to assist
you in this process. I'm looking for Austin area leaders who have proven
themselves in the realm of perseverance and finance, and face or have faced
fatigue, failure, and stress-related ailments. Together, we will move you from
your painful position of confusion and chaos to an empowered stance of
confidence and clarity.

This is The Way of The Playful Warrior.

I'm now accepting applications for this program, and I'm offering a FREE 30-
minute General's Tent laser-coaching call to the first 3 Austin-based indivi-
duals who apply in response to this email.
The application is an easy process.
Just tell me who you are, what you stand for, and why you're interested in ta-
king on this work.

Know that you are mighty, and that you have a place and a mission in this
New World.

It's time to shine. I look forward to hearing from you.

Much Love
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.facebook.com/mateoj
www.playfulwarrioryoga.com
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

The Way of The Playful Warrior (09/14/2009)

Hey SoulJah,

I have something VERY EXCITING to share with you, and it starts with a sto-
ry. Enjoy. :)

When I was a little kid, I was very practical and responsible. I often wondered
about this imagination stuff that everyone said children were supposed to
have in spades. My sister could create imaginary worlds at the drop of a hat,
which was a point of simultaneous fascination and frustration for me. She
learned song lyrics effortlessly, I took care of business. That's just how the
Most High made me.
When my parents split, I became the man of the house. I made sure that my
sister and mother and I were fed, that my sister and I were spiritually nourish-
ed, and I could save money like nobody's business.
Eventually, I realized that other people around me were having a lot more fun,
not worried nearly as much, and were reporting cool experiences I later came
to know as mystical, so...

I went to the other side.

I started practicing relaxation techniques, took up artistry (to avoid doing math),
and studied esoterics in depth. I became quite adept at the free-spirited hippie
life, lowering stress levels, and most times, I was the life of the party. I spent
my time discovering this whole other side of myself, and built my fun-filled imag-
ination, one new experience at at time.
It wasn't easy, but fortunately I was blessed with a lot of good teachers along
the way. I had my father reminding me not to take myself too seriously, Jakie
Cabe to start me on my improv path, Gil Sharp and Kenn Stilson, who pulled
greatness from me on the stage, and a grip of friends who pushed me into the
stuff my most interesting stories are made of.
I got really good at the healing arts, very in touch with my body-based instincts
and intuition, and found a new depth to my improvisational understanding of the
game of life. I took life lightly, and got right here, right now, as often as possible.

Then I hit my mid-twenties.

I left the safe haven of college and hit the city of Los Angeles like a babe still wet
from the womb...and realized the harsh truth of the world I'd been born into.
I realized that the primary game at play required business acumen, direction, skill
and willpower. It required tenacity and training. I got busy.
I studied niche marketing at AIA, massage and bodywork at CHAC, the top healing
arts academy in the nation, business and marketing with T. Harv Ecker and Max
Simon, and transformational leadership at Landmark Education. I produced a high-
end, Hollywood wellness event that sold out at 1500 heads, began serving celebrity
clientele in my massage business, became the lead educator for the selfcentered
meditation movement, taught yoga internationally, led a number of highly successful
adventure retreat experiences, and eventually facilitated transformational opportunit-
ies for over 3000 people.

Still, I felt something was missing. I had found various ways to accomplish and ach-
ieve, but I didn't feel that I was serving the world in the highest way I could. I knew
there had to be a way to tie all my training, education and experience together to
make accessible the the full richness of the human experience...some way to
bring back the genius of the Renaissance individual.

I found it. :)

Today I present to you...

THE WAY OF THE PLAYFUL WARRIOR

This is a brand-new, comprehensive program I've created to help you gain clarity in
your projects and relationships, feel amazing and focused, and communicate power-
fully and authentically. Everything we do is rooted in the truth that lies in YOU, utilizing
simple, effective, time-proven, ancient methods to pull that force forth.

This exclusive, initiatory program is guaranteed to improve your earning potential
and performance, give you greater peace of mind, and increase your magnetism. In
addition, it's only for those business-minded visionaries who are serious about creating
the lives of their dreams.

I'm only taking on 4 more clients this month, so email me RIGHT AWAY if you're ready to
play ball.
I look forward to serving your growth.

Much Love
Mateo

--

--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.facebook.com/mateoj
www.playfulwarrioryoga.com
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

The Game of Transformation (09/11/09)

Hey Fellow Warrior,

I've noticed something about my conversations lately. They seem to
center around personal growth and transformation, and specifically:

1. How much fun are you having/how can you have more fun?
2. What are you looking to create in your projects/career, and
   what's holding you back?
3. Male/Female dynamics...How authentic are your dealings in
   the realm of relationship, romantic or otherwise?

Really, what this all boils down to is relationships. How much fun
we're having is determined by our relationship with ourselves, our
success in business is determined by the quality of relationships we
share with those with whom we play the business game, and our ro-
mantic successes are determined by the authenticity of our relation-
ships with our kissy-face friends.

Authenticity...matching the outside to the inside.
Relationship...the bond between people relating.
Conversations...the communication (subtle and gross) be-
tween people in relationship.

Pretty profoundly simple stuff...but here's the hitch...
We get funked up so easily, with all of our internal self-criticism and in-
nate insecurity and the bare-bones conundrum of being right smack in
the middle of our assorted situations, and then we're suddenly stuck and
not having any fun, worried and head-heavy, isolated and alone, wishing
someone would reach into our world and tell us what comes next so we
can make the right step.

So here's my commitment to you. I'm gonna ramp up my writing, and de-
liver regular emails to your inbox, sharing my experience of living this life
of transformation, growth, and awareness at least once a week. My goal
in doing so is to offer you perspective by allowing you to look at mi vida and
simply see how someone else handles this bidness. Get outside your box,
so to speak.

I'll also be launching a new program on Monday that I promise will deliver
amazing results in your life, should you choose to participate. I'm VERY
excited about this, as it's the current culmination of all the work and play
I've undertaken in these last 30 years of l i v i n'. :)

So, my friend, keep your peepers peeled for regular conversations, and begin
to look for ways to let your internal beauty shine through so that you can offer
all those gorgeous gifts to the world around you.

Thank you for being in relationship with me. :)

Much Love
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.playfulwarrioryoga.com
www.facebook.com/mateoj
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Austin, Texas (07/14/09)

Hey There, Mi Amigo,

I haven't written in a while. My apologies. :) I've been sortin' out this
new life of mine in the beautiful city of Austin. It's hotter'n hell this
summer, record breaking temperatures and all, but the trees are big and
green, and EVERYWHERE, Barton Springs is cold and lovely, and the
women wear very little. My kind of town. :)

Still, with all this beauty, and the blessed support of my family, I've
found myself going through A LOT of ups and downs. It's lonely when
you're the new kid in town, and all this solitude serves to bring me face
to face with my fiercest critic...daily. I've had the opportunity to tear apart
my head on several occasions, and witness this sharp, sabre-toothed
longing to find fulfillment and freedom rip at me from the inside. It's been
at my back during the day, and kept me up nights writhing in discomfort.

I've looked everywhere for distraction from the madness, phoning old friends,
reading books, staying on facebook for far too long...even diving daily into
the maelstrom with mind-wrenching meditations, and I've learned a thing or
three.

1. Getting into my body is a beautiful thing. I've been rejuvenating
my yoga practice with a saint of a ball-breaking teacher at a
local studio. He's taken me under his wing to groom me for a
potential teaching position. Thank you, Chrispy.
When I'm moving my pulse with purpose, I think less of my short-
comings, and the beast takes a break.
Swimming has been a God-send as well. The feeling of the water
flowing over my skin as I fly through fluidity is pure bliss.
2. Sometimes you gotta break stuff to make stuff. Being ugly is
as big a part of the process as the pretty pieces, if not bigger. In
order to grow and bring dreams to fruition, one must go through
the physical and mental discomfort of self-doubt and the valley of
the shadow of tomorrow's promises. It ain't pretty...that's why so
many people give up and squander their days in the comfy swamp
of mediocrity.
3. Life goes on. We live in the realm of terra firma, once an idea in
the mind of the Divine, and that's the game at play. Turn the un-
manifest into the manifest. Self-discovery is what happens when
you actualize your potential by putting everything you got into
realizing a vision. In other words, devotion to making dreams con-
crete is the greatest guru one can have. Keep on L I V I N.

I'm working on a pretty big project that I'm not ready to unveil just yet, but
know that I really look forward to telling you all about it. Just gotta let the
sauce simmer for a bit before I take the lid off. ;)

So that's it: nothing to sell, no events to promote, just the musings of a mad-
man standing tip-toed at the edge, screaming into the abyss with fistfuls of
moist soil.

Give me a shout when you have the time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Much Love
Mateo

--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.playfulwarrioryoga.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

The Most Fun You've Had All Month (05/22/09)

Hey My Friend,

As you know, tomorrow is the day of EnlightenUpment. My brother, Adam

and I have spent countless hours crafting this event to make sure that you

have fun, reduce your stress levels, and learn to handle whatever life throws

at you with super-human degrees of grace and ease. Plus, we guarantee

that you'll learn how to tap into your genius-mind at will in any situation.

Studies have show that if you don't learn these skills, you'll die sooner, and

you won't enjoy the life you've got nearly as much. I'd say that makes this

playshop pretty important. :)

If you ever have bad days, don't make as much money as you'd like, get stuck

in repetitive patterns and relationships, or fantasize about punching penguins,

this event is for you.

These people liked it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLkIpDa2P_Y

Go buy your tickets now, and save yourself eleven bucks.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/14468

I look forward to seeing you in the classroom tomorrow, and witnessing your

brilliance at play.

Yes

and

Yes.

Love you

Mateo

--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends

1. www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Play to Win Within (05/20/09)

Hello Amigo,

Ya know...
The more I work into this EnlightenUpment project, the more I am able
to see the games of life and the ways to play them. It's so simple...just
as with any board game or outdoor team sport, life is a series of circum-
stances that we get to navigate, with varying degrees of grace and ease.
None of it is to be taken too seriously, but we should most definitely in-
vest enough energy to keep the stakes worth playing...while keeping in
mind that it IS still a game.

And as with any game, there are things we learn along the way that can
help us play more powerfully, and have more fun with the experience. It's
no fun to play high-stakes poker with a table full of sharks when you don't
know a straight from a flush and your mortgage is on the line.

So what do we do? We learn a thing or two. We step back long enough
to see the wisest ways to play, and we ask more experienced players
for tips along the way. We stand on the shoulders of giants and slam the
rock through the hoop.
And all the while, we keep playing.

This weekend, we have 2 awesome opportunities to do just that.

The first falls on Friday, when my dear brother, Max, hosts an amazing
marketing seminar in Santa Monica. Over the last year, I've watched this
guy go from earning $4G a month to $50G every 30 days. It's stupid crazy
the way this kid moves through the business game. He's focused his att-
ention there, and he's got some stuff to share. I'll be there. Hopefully you
will, too.
I'd love to see you earning what you're worth.

Max's Marketing Mind Intensive
A One-Day Event Where You Will Learn Cutting Edge
Marketing Strategies That Are Guaranteed To Help You Make
More Money, Reach More People, and Do More Good.

http://www.marketingmindintensive.com

When: Friday, May 22 from 9 am - 5 pm
Where: A secret spot in Santa Monica, CA

This event is limited to 25 people and he's had a very
positive response so grab a spot now if you want to learn
how to make more money, reach more people, and do
more good in your business.

Word.

The second is, of course, EnlightenUpment on Saturday. This 4 hour Play-
ful Intensive based in Improv, Movement, Music and Connection is your
chance to learn the inner-game approach to living on the stage of life. We've
blended the teachings of the sages with the principles of Improv to bring you
a half day of play and exploration of the self, experientially extracting you
from your analytical headspace and dropping you directly into the moment,
into your body, and into your highest state of genius. It's kinda like yoga and
transformation work and playtime and free expression and acting, only awe-
somer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLkIpDa2P_Y

Saturday May 23rd
10:45am-3pm
2309 Main St.
Santa Monica

This one's limited to 20 people, and spots are goin' fast.
Admission is $33 pre-sale and $44 at the door.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/14468

And between now and then, the sun's out and the weather's nice. Get out-
side, move your body, drink water and love yourself up proper. :)

Namaste
Mateo

--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Feels S'good (05/15/09)

Hey you,
Genius,

You ready to play? Are you ready to let go of the ledge and fly into
the mystery, untethered and free with the wind in your face and the
sweet metallic mix of adrenaline and bliss under your tongue, heart
cracking against your ribcage?

You were born for this brilliance, and all it take to live it is commit-
ment and practice. The rewards are potentially infinite, the cost is
nothing short of everything...not much, really. ;)

Are you ready to play?
Well c'mon then. :)

AcroYoga FUNdamentals
Come learn to support and be supported in this 3 hour Acro-
Intensive. Yoga, Acrobatics, Partnered work and Thai Massage...
uh, yeah.

Saturday May 16 (tomorrow)
10am-1pm
235 Hill St.
Santa Monica

Click the link above to RSVP and save $10.

EnlightenUpment
Learn to flow in the moment, and come back to yourself grace-
fully when life hands you surprises. We'll use a series of fun and
engaging games, dance, and various interpersonal interactions.
You get a great time.
YES. :)

Saturday May 16 (yes, tomorrow :)
5:45-7pm
2309 Main St.
Santa Monica

Click on the link to RSVP. This is an offering from me to you.

Now I'm gonna go engage some body-intelligence. A little Fela
Kuti and an open floor sounds about right.

Lovin You
Mateo

ps. if you have any questions about tomorrow's happenings, feel
free to hit my cell. 323 620 3239
dig


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Here We Go, IMPROV and ACRO (05/10/09)

Powerful One,

I invite you to come join me this Saturday for two very special events.
Both of these classes are a helluva lotta fun, and will expand your
understanding of who you think you are and what you think you're cap-
able of.
I think I just ended a sentence with a preposition. Hm.

EnlightenUpment
Improve your Life
Have you ever dropped into flow and ridden the wave of your day, deftly
navigating every little twist and turn, and gotten that rush, feeling every-
thing lining up in your favor, and that all is right in the world?
Imagine LIVING that way ALL THE TIME.
Invest one hour of your life on Saturday evening to developing the skills
necessary to living a full, rich, enjoyable existence, by learning to say
YES, and build a life you love, one agreement at a time.
Basically, come have fun and get better at everything.

EnlightenUpment
*FREE Intro*
Saturday, May 16th
6pm-7pm
Shiatsu Massage School
2309 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405

AcroYoga Fundamentals
with Yogi Hendlin
"Come fly with me, come fly, let's fly away..."
I just spent 4 hours down on the beach in Santa Monica, with the minimal
Acro knowledge that I hold, twisting, turning, flipping, base-ing and laughing
my face off with a crew of beautiful people. I'm BUZZING right now.
You can buzz too. :)
Learn how to support your partners, and surrender into the support that they
offer, through an awesome mix of Yoga, Acrobatics, Flying Sequences and
Thai Massage at the Church in Ocean Park.
My homie, Yogi is teaching this intensive from 10am-1pm on Saturday, and
I would love to fly you and experience your power. Come play with me. :)

Acro Intensive
Saturday, May 16, 2009
10am-1pm

CHURCH IN OCEAN PARK
235 Hill St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
$30 before 05/16/2009
$40 after 05/16/2009
Buy Tickets Online!!!

And there you have it, my friend. This Saturday. Block it out, because
there's plenty to do, as you can see. :)

Till then, get some sun, drink some water, and laugh as often as poss-
ible.
Oh, and tell 4 people you love them.

I love you.
:)
Mateo

...drumroll please... (05/08/09)

Aloha Sunshine!

A few days ago, I promised to share some exciting news with you.

There have been a lot of shifts in my life of late, and you know what
I've learned? When I continue to let go of everything I think I know,
surrendering into the flow of my life and...dare I say...the will of God,
everything works.
It's when I start trying to hold on to some glint of goodness, some
story of what's supposed to happen; force my hand and stay locked
in a concept...that's when things start to get sticky.
Now, this is nothing new...my elders have been sharing this with me
for years, but as Rumi once said, "Nothing is true until you experience
it."
Feel a loving desire, move in that direction, let go of what "should" or
"shouldn't" happen...it seems to be working.
So on that note...

I'm moving to Austin, Texas.
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I've booked my ticket, one way, flying out on May 27th, 2009.
I've been feeling this move coming for quite some time, and while I've
stepped in this direction, my steps have been trepidacious. It was only
when all of my Los Angeles securities began to crumble away that I
saw with absolute certainty that the time to go is NOW.
My steps must be bold, so here we go. :)

This means 3 things to us right now:

1. If you know anyone in the Austin area whom you respect and hold
in high regard, I would appreciate the introduction. I don't know anyone
but immediate family out there, and I'm kind of a communal creature. :)

2. I've got a lot of L.A. living to pack into these last (less than) 3 weeks,
and I'd like to do that with you. I'll keep you abreast of my activities so
we can grab classes and culture together. Keep your peepers peeled.
Already on the roster...Acroyoga, Ojai sweatlodge, Transformational
Improv Classes, Tantra Classes...ya know, livin.

3. If you've had any desire whatsoever to book me for some bodywork,
DO IT NOW. I would love to work with you as much as you'd love to get
some work done, so let's set it up. We only have about 2 and a half
weeks, then I'm taking these hands to the people of Central Texas. :)

I'll send you more information in the next couple of days. In the meantime,
pull out your calendar, pull out your phone, and let's get some facetime in.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love

Mateo
323 620 3239

ps. As we shift into summer and excitement inevitably builds, don't forget
to Sit Down, Shut Up, and Breathe.
It's good for you. :)


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

This Weekend in Venice (05/01/09)

Hey Beautiful Friend

Quick note about this weekend...

Tonight (Friday) is First Fridays on Abbott Kinney. What does that mean
to you? You can come down to Abbott Kinney and peruse the shops, drink
wine, listen to music and enjoy the company of new friends and familiars
from 6pm till 11.
What makes this extra special is that Urban Remedy Community Acupunc-
ture is opening their doors to offer treatments, fresh chai, hot chocolate,
wine, popcorn, music and ME at the massage chair. :)
Come out, get a little bodywork by donation, relax and enjoy the offerings.

Then Sunday, same place, we're gonna get communal again with the Sun-
set Yoga Potluck, featuring Psalm Isadora. Show up at 6, get your asana
on, then sit on the rooftop as the sun sets on the water and dine with a crew
of freshly opened yogis.

The address is 1509 B Abbott Kinney Blvd, right in the heart of Venice, CA.

And don't forget, you can still come in to receive bodywork by donation until
May 8th. If you haven't made your appointment yet, pick up your phone and
holla. It's time you take care of yourself, and it doesn't get much easier than
this.

I have more exciting news to share, but I'll save it for a few days.

Love you!
See you soon!

Mateo
323 620 3239

--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Donation Bodywork is BACK!!! (04/21/09)

Greetings, Amigo,

I sit in a sunny patch of carpet in my new apartment in Santa Monica (!!!).
The weather has finally blessed us with warmth and clarity, signs that sum-
mer's comin' on. The wind has switched up on us, bringing fresh fragrances
to our awaiting faces.
This is a good life.
I'm glad you're here to share it.

Speaking of new and exciting...
I've moved into a new clinic space, practicing yoga and bodywork at Urban
Remedy Community Acupuncture (www.urbanremedy.org) in Venice. This
beautiful studio was created to offer anyone interested and available the
opportunity to experience outstanding health care at a price that everyone
can afford.
Simply put, you can show up and receive treatments from highly qualified
acupuncturists, and pay what you can within the sliding scale.

As my offering to and through this gracious space, I'll be practicing body-
work by donation for two weeks, starting this Friday, April 24th. All you
have to do is call me to make an appointment, and show up. :)

Donation Bodywork
April 24-May 8, 2009
Urban Remedy
1509B Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
by appointment only
323 620 3239

On a seperate note...Indian Images!!!
I've been wrestling with this beast since I got back to town. Who knew
how much work can go into creating a simple online photo album? At
long last, I present to you...Some Pictures From India. :)
This is a collection of some of my favorite shots out of the close to a
thousand that I gathered.
I hope you enjoy the visual stories as much as I enjoyed living them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/warriorwork/SomePicturesFromIndia?authkey=Gv1sRgCP2K4auq247gCw&feat=directlink

Get outside and enjoy the sun while we've got it. And if the clouds roll in,
enjoy that as well.

Much Love
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

Storytime With Pictures (03/31/09)

Hey Family,

I have a new class!!!
When I was in Goa, I started working with students who came to the Shakti Bhakti house
on building the body to hold the shakti. We would practice drills to strengthen and stabil-
ize the corporal vessel so that when the juice starts flowin' through, the body's built to
weather the storm.
Now I wanna share that with you!!!
I'll be doing a 6 week Yoga Boot Camp series starting this Saturday at the end of Bay St.
in Santa Monica.
Class is in the morning, 8:30-10am, every Saturday starting April 4th.
If you're into having fun, strengthening your body, killin' hangovers and meeting awesome
new people, THIS IS YOUR CLASS. If you like being depressed, weak and sickly, then you
definitely don't wanna come. Choice is yours. ;)

YOGA BOOT CAMP
By Donation
Saturdays 8:30-10am
Colonade Park,
Bay St. and Ocean Walk
(south of Pico)
Santa Monica, CA

And now, STORY TIME...

Once upon a time a young man named Mateo traveled to a far-off land in search of new
knowledge, a lover like no other, adventure, and most of all, himself.
He found a house full of foreigners, and dusty roads that bore no name. He found cheap
whiskey in rupee-driven marketplaces and temples adorned with naked devis. He found
heartache and hope and soap on a rope in showers that only sold cold water.
And after a handful of trials and tribulations, broke and broken, he found himself. Stripped
of all concepts of right or wrong or the promises of lovesongs, he saw himself clearly, and
he cried. Lord, how he cried.
These tears washed away his illusions and left him illumined, and carried him home, to
rejoin the strange angels of Southern California, USA.
Ahhh, sweet surrenderous salvation. Here we go.

Come out on April 5th to hear the tales and see the images of an Indian journey of service
and sadhana. Sit in sangha with a crew of yogis and storytellers and relive the mystery
of several months abroad.
We'll practice asana first, then roll out the food (potluck, of course) and start the slideshow.
We'll be graced with live music from Pauline and Akadahmah, Yours Truly, and other special
guests.
Come play with the tribe.

YOGA POTLUCK
FREE
April 5th, 6:30 class, 8:pm party
Yoga Glo (www.yogaglo.com)
1800 Berkeley St
Santa Monica 90404
BYOMat
Bring a dish, as well!

That's it for now. More to come, so keep your peepers peeled.

Oh! Remember, if you don't dig this, don't do it. If you don't want me to tell you what's goin' on
in the marvelous world of Mateo, lemme know, and I'll end your playful email stream.

Happy Sacred Fool's Day!

Lovin' you!!!
Mateo


--
Love, Burn, Laugh and Learn...and above all else, Know Thyself.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
:::::::::
www.getselfcentered.com
www.myspace.com/teofriends
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com