more to burn

The Mother is wiping me clean.

I have been asked to let go. I have asked to release. So much of my life is a house that's no longer comfortable to live in, a construct, or series of constructs that I have built for protection and preservation. All my life I've been a packrat, saving cool looking whatevers from the trash bin in hopes of using them for something, holding on tight to anyone who ever once paid me a kind word, cherishing accomplishments and awards as marks of achievement...steps toward an elusive concept of success. All of these things have built a protective shell around my existence that keep me from too much wounding, movement, groove...

And now I've asked to take it all off. To rid myself of anything that stands between me and Me. Anything that mars my understanding and love of the Most High.

And she always gives you what you request with a pure heart. Dammit.

Now I laugh when things go "awry." The Mother is working.
My favorite jeans snag on a license plate and rip a hole in the leg...I laugh.
A woman I love won't call me back...I laugh.
I don't have the funds to go home for the holy days...you got it. :)

I just synced my ipod to my computer for the first time ever. I found a way to upload all my music to one spot, and manage it in a simple and time-efficient manner. Perfect for my upcoming travels to India. Quick, easy, copyable, managable.
I didn't take playlists into account.
I have created playlists for every possible situation in which I might need music.
Massage playlists, yoga playlists, waking up, making love, cooking, heartbreak, recovery...you name it. AND, I have created specific playlists for every woman I've fallen in love with in the last 3 years. All named, of course, after said loves. I carry these particular ones as reminders of the rollercoaster of short-lived romance. Chronicles of the time we spent together...something to laugh and cry to. Personal soundtracks, if you will.
I just accidentally wiped every one of these playlists from the face of existence. None of them ever made it to disc, none uploaded to others' hard drives...GONE.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

I freaked out for half a second, long enough to mutter words better not heard by the ears of children...then the incredible lightness set in.
I'm no longer bound by those memories!
I don't have to carry the past!
I can create something totally new and fresh and relevant to right now!!!

God bless the workings of God. Lord knows I do.
Give thanks.
Give thanks.
Give thanks.

Time is Drawing Nigh (Dec 16, 2008)

Greetings, Rajan,

I love this life.
I mean, I'm really diggin' this existence. A friend told me today that
the Universe is a woman...if you touch her just right, she opens like a lotus
and gives you everything you could ever want. Yes.
Malleable. Impermanent. Impressionable.

Yet consciousness is unchanging. Unwavering. The love of the Most High is
ever-steady, watching, laughing silently as we fumble around in fleshy form
numbly trying to figure it all out.

Feel, and through sensation, connect with everything. Movement and stillness,
experience and observation, Shiva and Shakti...

My friend, ups and downs are inevitable. The market, amorous love, exuber-
ance, it all changes. All the time, it changes...sometimes slowly, other times
with a rapidity known only to particles of light. What can we hold onto? Where
can we rest our love?
Breathe, be still...You know.

Forgive my ramblings...I've been writing all day. :) I've been setting up all the
behind the scenes necessaries for a life lived excellently (by my standards)
while I'm away. As I journey out, I'll be diving in, finding the strength to serve
through self-nourishment...calling upon the gifts my Creator has given me...
writing, music, intuitive understanding and creative expression. By day, I'm a
do-gooder, helping those who break their backs to make the world go 'round.
By night, mystic and poet. Lover and Beloved.
Not a bad way to roll, huh?

You can peruse my pennings in two other places.

www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com

This is a a collection of previous emails and timely updates from the
frontlines of this seva mission.

www.pickaxeglint.blogspot.com
This one is for those who wanna dive a little deeper. I can't guarantee
that all content will be suitable for all ages, so consider yourself cau-
tioned.

I've also created a paypal account for anyone who cares to donate to the
cause. These donations aren't tax-deductible, unfortunately, but they will
count as karma points. :) All funds coming to this account will be utilized to
do more service work while I'm out east. They'll cover things like travel expen-
ses, economic assistance to small-business owners, food for the community
house I'll be staying at, and whatever emergencies may arise.
You may click here to donate, or follow the link at the bottom of this email.

Last Yoga Class
Before I bail, I have one more Wednesday at the Shiatsu Massage School in
Santa Monica. This is going to be a really good one. It's the last in this series
on grounding and moving with purpose. If you haven't had a chance to make it
yet, here ya go. Jump in. :)

Bodywork, Private Yoga and Meditation
I only have a few more spaces available in the next week and a half to see
patients and students. If you want to give someone an amazing Christmas or
Hanukkah gift, it doesn't get much better than the experience of empowerment
and tranquility. If you wanna give yourself this gift that you may better bring your
inner gifts to the outer world, even better.
Call for an appointment, and call soon.
323 620 3239

Sit still, my friend. It's all happening, right now, right before you, and your full
participation is essential. Be quiet, and listen for the whispers.

I 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
www.playfulwarrior.blogspot.com
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1932693

Funding Brilliance

If you would like to donate to the service work I'm doing in India, you can click on the link below. Financial love is appreciated to cover travel expenses, miscellaneous medical happenstances, telecommunication, and whatever else might come up.
If you're feeling generous this holiday season and beyond, please don't hesitate to click and donate.
Thank you!

Every dollar makes a difference.

14 days till liftoff

Dec. 14
Only 2 weeks left to go before I board a plane to Mama India.
So much left to do.
I need to get a smaller computer. I have this big heavy phat laptop, but I don't think it's a good idea to lug it around India...it's kinda frail at this point, anyhow. What I'd love is a small, lightweight aluminum macbook.
Puttin' it out there, Universe!
I also need to go get new glasses, as mine have been broken for a long cool minute now...and some shoes...
Tyin' up loose ends, seeing patients...these fill my days. Finding places to give my stuff away. Doing my best to get enough sleep. Meditating. Slippin' in asana series ten minutes at a time.
Divine.
Anxiety grabs me by the gut for a few minutes every day now. I release and trust that I'm in flow...this twisting is just my resistance to letting go, I know.
So much learned.
So much left to learn.
Man, this life is BIG, and here I've been foolish enough to take on livin'. :) And livin' little don't work no more. Arms outstretched, heart open and vulnerable is the only way that I can play these days, love spreading across the planet, even bathing those I don't enjoy, people, places, situations, everything filled with this all pervading acceptance. Appreciation.
And the ride gets sweeter.
Like honey...

This Weekend (Dec 12, 2008)

Hey Homie

Danced my A$$ off last night...sweet rhythms played wicked twisties through these hips.
I love Afrofunke.

So check it:
This weekend is full of madness and blissful insanity in the form of social interaction. I hope
I get to see you for some or all of it.
Here's the quick breakdown...

Friday
Selfcentered party at Modern Om. It's the one-year anniversary of sc's inception, and this
is gonna be one helluva party. Music, Food, Yoga, Meditation, Poetry, Dancing, and I'll be
rockin' the mic all night as your gracious host.
Come play with me. :)
http://www.getselfcentered.com/events/view-event.aspx?event=86


Saturday
Eco-Gift Expo during the day, Family Affair party at night. Eco-Gift is a great place to score
some great deals on conscious products. It's held at the Santa Monica Convention Center.
Lots of live music, samples, and yummy food in addition to the aforementioned shopping.
www.ecogift.com
Then the Family Affair party comes screamin' to raise awareness about the perils of plastics.
These parties with a purpose are ALWAYS dope, as Miss Debi Mae West is a f'n rockstar,
and knows how to get down.
Again, come play.
www.family-affair.org

Sunday
Screening of the second "One Giant Leap" film, entitled "What About Me?"
If you never saw the first one, GO RENT IT. It's amazing. These cats made a 13 track visual
album of world music, topped with philosophy from around the globe. It's more than a movie.
It's an experience.
And now the experience has been expanded, with the release of the second movie featuring
Eckhart Tolle and Michael Franti, Ram Das and Noam Chomsky.
The screening has been paired with dancing to DJ Dragonfly and loads of raw chocolate to get
you good and natura-high. AAAAAND, the whole shindig benefits the powerful yoga-charity,
Off the Mat and Into the World.
Yes.
http://www.offthematintotheworld.org/whataboutme

In other news:
Correction to my last email. In order to take advantage of the donation adjustments at The Life
Center Chiropractic, you must first visit Dr. Brook for a consultation. He's cut the price of that
visit (including thermo-spinal-analysis, x-rays and some other stuff) by 75% to make it easy on
you. Get at that man, if you haven't already.
http://www.thelifecenterchiropractic.com/

Okay, I gotta run. I have 2 yoga privates to teach this morning before a day full of sessions.
Hope to see you this weekend.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Mateo

ps. Next Thursday is the last Afrofunke of the year. BIG holiday party. Come sweat with me.
Word.
M

--
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

A Week In the Life (Dec 9, 2008)

Hey My Friend,

The crazy train is screaming down the tracks, as I'm leaving for India in less than
3 weeks (!!!) and I'll be gone for 2 months. There is SO MUCH to wrap up in this
detachment from my "life." I'm in such an intense process of shedding right now,
my primary mission being constant service in the highest ways possible. I realize
that this means letting go of a lot of what I've identified myself by so that I'm free
to fly wherever I need to go. I'm taking carload after carload of personal posses-
sions to Goodwill, tying up loose ends with individuals and institutions, letting go
of relationships, and in general, creating space for whatever's next.

Deep breath...

Ahhhhhhhh...

Fortunately, I'm in cahoots with a crew of do-gooders who are supportive and at
times, collaborative. We've got some cool stuff coming up, so grab your calendar
and get ready to write.

Wellness Collab:
My friend and master chiropractor, Jeremy Brook, will be offering Donation-Based
Adjustments from December 22-24th.
I'll be in the office on the 23rd giving free chair massage from 9am-1pm. We want
to make sure that you stay healthy through the holidays, so come getcha immunity-
boost on!

All proceeds will be donated to Global Green in their attempt to rebuild New Orleans,
combat climate change, create sustainable communities, eliminate weapons of
mass destruction, and promote access to clean water as a global human right. Talk
about a worthy organization!!!

Take care of yourself while you help take care of others. That's the gig, right? Right.

Life Center Chiropractic

11666 Gateway Blvd.

Los Angeles 90064

Powerful Community:
Selfcentered just turned one (as in age), and we're throwing a birthday party! Come
celebrate our Oneness this Friday, December 12th from 7pm till we drop at Modern
Om in Marina del Rey.

Join us for Yoga, Meditation, Live Music, Live Painting, Poetry, Food and more.
Tickets are only $20, and it will sell out.

RSVP to info@getselfcentered.com.
Peep this for details: http://www.getselfcentered.com/events/view-event.aspx?event=86

Modern Om

13452 Washington Blvd.

Marina del Rey, 90292

Playful Warrior Tantric Hatha Yoga:
I've only got two more yoga classes left this month, as I won't be teaching on Christmas
Eve or Christmas Day, for obvious reasons. :)

This month's focus is grounding and stability. In these shaky times, it's essential to tap
into your core and drop your root deep into the earth. These 90 minute sessions are
expertly designed to do just that.

Come play with us on Wednesday at 4:30 and learn something profound about yourself
while deepening your practice.
All classes are by donation, so bring your friends and rock your body.

Shiatsu Massage School

2309 Main St (entrance on Strand)

Santa Monica, 90405

In Other News:
Zen Den No More.
I'm letting go of my private massage studio in Venice at the end of this month when I
leave the country. It has served me well for the last year and a half, and now it's time
for me to step away. I have many fond memories of many great sessions in there, with
singing bowls and hot stones, warm towels and didgeridoo embellishments to some
amazing bodywork, yoga and meditation treatments.

I only have 3 more Fridays in there, so if you'd like to experience the greatness of the
Den, give me a shout so we can sort it out.

323 620 3239
Mateo's Appointment Line

I'm volunteering at a continuation school in Santa Monica on Mondays and Wednesdays
till about 11am, teaching yoga to kids. That means that I'm usually hungry and available
around 11:30 on those days. If you'd like to grab lunch near the water in the next couple
of weeks, just gimme a shout.

Thank you for continuing to play with this warrior of the heart. It's not about winning
every battle, it's about showing up.
Thanks for showing up.

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

More Goodness For Ya (Dec 2, 2008)

Beloved One,

Take a big deep breath RIGHT NOW.
Let it roll in and out, moving your ribcage and softening your belly.

Now get another. Notice the shifts that are subtly taking place now within your body.

Now take the biggest breath you've had all day and hold it at the top. As you hold, allow
your shoulders to soften, your face to melt, and your pelvic floor to drop, releasing all tension.
HOLD IT...

Now release SLOWLY...4...3...2...1...

Doesn't that feel awesome? Did you get a little headrush? I love those. :)

That's my practice, several times a day. This crazy train is screamin' down the tracks right now...
so much to do before I depart for India, to live in service for 2 months straight. Going where God
calls me and doing whatever is to be done. I know that I'll be starting the journey by offering ther-
apeutic yoga and adjustments for free through a charity school and clinic in Goa, but after that, I
don't exactly know. I'm just going with the intention to be in service, and we'll see what happens.
EXCITING, HUH?!?!

It can also be a little overwhelming sometimes when I look at the whole picture: what's to be
done to prepare, the reality of unplugging from my life in Los Angeles for 60 days, all the inter-per-
sonal dynamics at play, not to mention the fact that the Holiday season is upon us, and I have a
full-time business to manage in the midst of all this...all so big, ya know?
So I breathe. Relax. Soften. Get myself supple so as to navigate these waters with grace. Soak it
all in and channel it through.

Fortunately, I have tools to keep me sane. I turn within, I turn to books, I turn to bodywork, and I
turn to movement. And in the theme of opening these floodgates and sharing my gifts, I'd like to
pass some gifts to you.

On the literary tip:
My friend, Brian Johnson, has started a company called PhilosophersNotes. He breaks down all
the major "big idea" books and presents them in a simple and easy to digest form. They're similar
to Cliff's Notes, only more profound and entertaining.
Brian is giving away subscriptions for the Holidays, and he invited me to offer one to you. Go to
http://philosophersnotes.com/freebies/mygoddesslife and sign up to start reading right away.
Free (for a limited time).

On self knowledge:
I've moved my Thursday yoga class to Wednesdays for the next few weeks until I make my way to
Mumbai. These 4 classes will be a series in grounding, as we all need a bit of stability during these
crazy times. Come to the Shiatsu School on Main Street in Santa Monica from 4:30-6 for the next
4 Wednesdays to root down and rise up. Bring your friends. These classes are, as always, by donation.

On the bodywork front:
I'm still offering all my services by donation for the next 4 days. I only have a couple spaces on Thursday
and Friday available, so if you haven't called me, CALL ME.
After Friday, I'll still be available, but no longer by donation. Don't let that stop you from tending to yourself,
though. If you have any interest in managing your stress whatsoever, call me and we'll sort all necessary
details.

Ahh, to move...:
I need to dance. SERIOUSLY need to dance. I'm gonna go hit Afro-Funke at Zanzibar on Thursday night. I'll
get there around 9:30pm, so if you wanna sweat out all your joys, frustrations, elations and prayers, come
join me on the dancefloor. Ain't no better way to talk to God than through the body...supercharged. :)
Cover is a mere $7.

Remember to take time for yourself DAILY. As we move into the madness of family time and disruption of
routine matched with inclement weather and heightened expectation, there's nothing more important than
tending to the vessel and tapping into personal truth. Stand in the center and you'll always know where you
stand.
Be sure to drink LOTS of water, brush your teeth, and get plenty of rest.

I love you, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Bless,

Mateo
Stress Management Specialist
323 620 3230


--
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