Highlights
My Move to Mexico
What is the Tao Inspired Living Community?
Job Opportunities in Paradise
Facebook Community
Next Book Project
A few Lessons from the Tropics
--------------------------------------------------------------------My Move to Mexico
Well, after my 3000+ mile drive with my father-in-law, from Tucson to Tulum - we met Monica and Narayan and began our new life the Riviera Maya on the Carribean Sea in Mexico. We now live in a VERY small beach town called Akumal, about 30 minutes south of world famous Playa Del Carmen. Fortunately NONE of the fears or concerns people have shared with us about Mexico have been true in any way.
This is possibly the safest region in Mexico, and the people have all been so kind and helpful, the food is amazing everywhere, and the landscape is nothing short of paradise. White sand beaches, turquoise warm ocean waters, magical birds and other creatures in the lush green ever-present jungle... we love the weather, the culture, the cost of living... and there is an attitude here that places a great emphasis on relationships and quality of life which we love.... we are health and happy and look forward to your visit!
Thank you all for your interest and notes of support!
What is the Tao Inspired Living Community?
Ok, the big question is why the heck did Jonathan give up everything he had to go to Mexico? Well, first of all, the number one motive was quality of life. The second was inspiration! I have become completely inspired by a new project called the Tao Inspired Living Community! I am honored to be the new CEO of a development that blends a residential community with a retreat center, health food cafes, eco chic boutique and a world class wellness center, with an overall focus on inspired health - wellbeing that comes from a deeper sense of connection to self, nature, spirit, family and friends. Our residents aren't just buying a home or an investment; they are joining a global community of life-long learners and people committed to embracing the fullness of life.
Opportunities & Jobs in Paradise!
So my new world is full of opportunity for others. Obviously we'd love to see you a home (we are one third sold out already and haven't even opened yet!), but there is much more...
If you are a group leader, speaker, consultant, yoga teacher, author, or even coordinate retreats of any kind, we are offering a revenue sharing program with all partners who bring people to our retreat hotel. In addition to discounts on our boutique 24 room Retreat Hotel, group leaders share in the room revenue and a commission from any sales that may result from your group's visit!
We are also looking for sales leaders and to add to our already amazing team of sales people... on our team everything begins with the mission, so if you believe in a life in balance and want to share that with the world through your talents in sales or in any field, please drop me a line at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Facebook Community
My Facebook community remains strong and active and people seem to really like the new posts about life between the jungle and the sea. Since I don't do newsletters much anymore, it’s the best way to get my updates. See you there!
Next Book Project
Stay tuned - the end of summer we expect to release my digital book project called "GOD WORKS,” which is a multimedia application exploring the nature of God and Spirit.
A Few Lessons form the Tropics
Before I close, let me share a few things that I have changed since moving here to the Riviera Maya
- More time in nature - walking or swimming everyday!
- More play time with family and friends. Not always an event or obligation, or lesson or class... just good old fashion picnics, seeing new things, and exploring our world together.
- Less time on email and phones.... much less.
- No more TV in my life! Just the movies we choose.
- Getting our news through print, radio and Internet.
- Eating smaller portions.
- Setting firm boundaries between work and home time.
Try a few and let me know how it goes!
With blessings,
Jonathan
Highlights:
- New career for me!
- Free teleseminar February 1st
- New spiritual awakening course in February!
- Help someone live their dreams
- A wonderful new release by Colette Baron-Reed
Massive Change in 2011!
In the final weeks of 2010, I was reconsidering my role at Canyon Ranch Health resorts and was searching my heart and the landscape of possibilities to see what the right fit would truly be. Amazingly difficult as it was, January 9th I made the clear decision to resign from Canyon Ranch Health resorts and to make room for new exploration and change.
Monday the 10th of January in a mutually warm and supportive meeting, I submitted my resignation to the CEO of Canyon Ranch and immediately let my inner circle of contacts and prospective job opportunities know that was now “available for work - immediately.”
Would you believe I had four of the most amazing offers show up within days – in some cases, hours. Some were surprising and some were extensions of things I had been exploring… but there was one opportunity, a chance to consult on a project that I was so very excited about and so very hopeful for. Except they didn’t offer me the job as consultant to their project.
Instead they offered me the position of CEO!!
As of Monday January 23, 2011 I will be the new CEO of the Tao Center for Inspired Living in the Riviera Maya – Mexico. This is one of the most beautiful, safe and culturally rich areas in Mexico. From the massive and astonishing Mayan empire to the modern Caribbean and European influences, the Riviera Maya is an extraordinary place to raise a family, work, retire, or own a second home. If you have interest in being a part of an intentional community of people commited to wellness of body, mind and spirit, then check the Tao Center site.
In fact, if you know anyone who works from home, has retired, or seeks an affordable second home, and dreams of an ideal life living close to nature, fitness, clean living, soulful neighbors, and a warm romantic setting… send them my way. I can actually offer you a percent of any home-sale you refer! Or come visit!!! The property is a beautiful jungle setting, 5 minutes or less from the ocean, 15 minutes from Mayan ruins, 30 minutes from the city of Playa Del Carmen, and is adjacent to a world class Trent Jones 36 hole golf-course (for those of you who golf).
My wife will direct and manage the boutique – a dream come true for her, and our son will be exposed to an international community, the Spanish language and all the sun, jungle, surf and local culture we can manage…
It's come very quickly, and in a more wonderful way than we could imagine. We know and love the developer behind the project and hope that some of you will join us!
FREE TELESEMINARS
Don’t forget! The FREE teleseminar on Mastering Connection takes place February 1st! Visit the site for details topics covered and sign up now!.
AWAKENING SPIRIT Courses
There are a few spots left in the online and in person Awakening Spirit courses which begin February 16th! You can learn more here.
Help Someone Live their Dreams
Don’t forget anyone whom you refer to me who ends up purchasing a home in the new development I will be running will generate a commission for you. Please contact me for more details and feel free to spread the word!
A Wonderful new Release
From the amazing Collette Baron-Reed, a gifted teacher, author and friend, I highly recommend this new book of hers, The Map!Today I have joined with my colleague Colette Baron-Reid to offer you an astonishing treasure chest of gifts and prizes worth over $20,000.
The gifts and prizes are from some of the biggest names in the field of personal growth… spiritual growth… relationship building… mind body healing… Life Coaching and Meditation… ALL FOR F*R*E*E
Colette herself is offering a prize to Spend a Day with Colette (worth $4250), and several prizes to attend a One Day Workshop in the beautiful coastal town of Portsmouth, NH. And, there's a list of author gifts that's just too long for this email, including an iPad up for grabs.
Go see for yourself!
WHY are she and her colleagues being so generous?
Colette has just launched her new book, The MAP: Finding The Magic And Meaning in The Story Of Your Life.
And to celebrate the launch of this incredibly revolutionary book, we’ve rallied around her to give her book the recognition it deserves and to encourage YOU to discover this brilliant new process. It's but once in a few years that a book comes along like this that really captures the attention of so many people, and I highly recommend you check out The Map now!
Highlights:
- Confessions and New Directions
- Two New “Spiritual Study, Mentoring Mysticism” Groups Announced!
- Updates: New Website, New Podcast, New iBook development and more!!
- Recommendations for 2011
A Confession, A New Direction, and A New Year!
When you look at the Unchanging Existence from the outside,
you call it God;
When you look at from the inside
you call it “self.”
It is but one.
Swami Vivekananda
In 2010 I was blessed to have another book release, Inspiration Deficit Disorder, and I am thrilled at its success and the clear interest that continues. The world is hungry for balance, wholeness and a sense of restored inspiration. People want to put end to stress and reactive behaviors. As I traveled, spoke to groups, and appeared on TV and radio, a recurring set of popular questions followed me – “how do I find myself?,” “how do I know my calling,” and “what if my calling is not going to be liked or accepted by those I surround myself with?”
To each question I provide simple, (hopefully) clear, practical answers. Yet with each time I answered the questions for others, an echo grew in my own mind. “Am I being true to myself?,” “Has my calling evolved or changed?,” “Am I passionate about what I teach,” and “If approval and income weren’t issues, what would I be teaching and writing about?”
Like a seed slowly watered and fed by the light of teaching what I most needed to learn, I discovered that I too was drifting away from what is core to me. I realized that in the pace of work and responding to the requests of the world, I was slipping from a deeper request that was growing within me: Return to the Sacred!
My own message of how I understand healing, peace and transformation was missing a key ingredient. It is an ingredient I have written into both Return to the Sacred and Inspiration Deficit Disorder, and yet it is typically minimized or omitted from my day to day work – though it remains core to my day to day identity. That missing ingredient is GOD.
There, I said it!
GOD. G-o-d. No not “a God”, not “my God,” not the God of one group or another. But GOD – the Ultimate Source, Force and Substance Before, Within, and Beyond All Things. God. You may call it a Higher Power, or Spirit, Universal Energy, Consciousness, Great Spirit, Holy Spirit, Christ, Allah, Shiva, or any of the infinite names for that which is ultimately un-namable. The simple truth is that an awakening to the ultimate reality and direct experience of God was what started my path as a child, it’s what has fueled my journey, and it’s what keeps me in balance, connected and inspired. My understanding and experience of God is quite literally the foundation of who I am and all I do. Yet, my clients, audience members and coworkers rarely ask me to speak directly to the topic.
All research and surveys about God show that most people in the world believe in some form of God or higher power and most people pray. Even many atheists who reject the idea of a personal God, believe in governing forces, laws of nature, and the poetry of the natural world. Nevertheless, the topic remains almost taboo in social settings and is generally kept out of “credible” mainstream spirituality and personal growth, unless it falls under a clear religious framework. As far as television and mainstream print media, saying God is worse than saying a curse word, and there is more time and money for reality shows about conflict, materialism and vanity than there is space for discussing our ultimate origin.
So, I am going to make a change. I will begin 2011 with a commitment to promote, renew, and challenge the conversation about and with God. The majority of my personal work and teaching will address what some would call “God-Realization,” mysticism and the awakening of consciousness. This is a topic well covered and studied by many special interest groups, but not in our mainstream mind…
If this is not for you, then it is with much love and gratitude that I thank you for joining me this far, and wish you only blessings. Remember, the door is always open, and Only God Is Real. Of course my work in the areas of spirituality and its relationship to stress, health and achieving life balance at Canyon Ranch will continue as is, and my external consulting and speaking work will remain driven by the work that shows up.
For those who wish to continue to join me in 2011, I look forward to engaging you on topics like God and Science, God and healing, God and religion, Peacemaking, religious war, God and ecology, and whatever else you want to talk about.
Thank you for joining me this far, and may you all have a wonderful, healthy and enlightening 2011!!!
God is a metaphor for that which transcends all levels of intellectual thought. It's as simple as that.
Joseph Campbell
You Asked For It: Two New Study Groups!
Many of you have asked for more intimate ways to study with me, and there are a lot of people who are looking for mentorship, spiritual study and a sense of spiritual community. Starting in February 2011 I’ll be offering an in-person Tucson based spiritual study/mentoring mysticism group and an online program as well. These short programs will be entirely focused on the exploration of God-realization, non-dual awareness in daily living, oneness consciousness, and the experience of Spiritual Enlightenment. The online program will happen by Skype so you can be on the line in audio only (via phone) or with video via Skype! Please follow this link to let us know of your interest and we’ll include you on the study group updates and details.
Also, don't forget that we are offering two free teleseminars on mastering energy and connection at the end of this month!
What’s Next?
New Website – stay tuned for a brand new look and feel to my website!
New Podcast – I’ll soon be starting a new podcast, focusing on interviews with thought leaders from diverse fields and we’ll be discussing and debating the existence and nature of God and Spiritual Enlightenment.
New iBook! Yes, by spring of 2011 I will be releasing an incredible multimedia book experience that will include audio, video and imagery. The working title: ONLY GOD IS REAL: HOW SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY GOT IT WRONG.
Facebook and Twitter will continue to a big part of my daily and weekly outreach.
New Vlogs – Video blogs with short commentaries, inspiring thoughts and challenging questions will become a more central part of my work and commitment to connect with the world.
I’ll still be a part of my greater community of wellness, spirituality and personal growth authors and teachers and I’ll continue to inform people of great new events and products through my webpage, Facebook, Twitter and seasonal newsletters.
New Year Recommendations
Three great new releases I am excited about right now are:
Soulmate Secret
by Arielle Ford
Have you ever wondered what it takes to find the love of your life?
Is it your dream to find a life-partner who will love, cherish and adore you?
Learn how in The Soulmate Secret: Manifest the Love of Your Life With the Law of Attraction by Arielle Ford
Finding true love is possible for anyone at any age if you’re willing to prepare yourself to become a magnet for
love. Arielle Ford knows this from experience. She used the techniques in this book to bring her soulmate into
her life at age forty-four. They were engaged three weeks later and have been happily married for over ten years.
The techniques, rituals, and projects found within The Soulmate Secret will allow you to prepare your home, body, mind, and spirit for the soulmate your heart truly desires.
The Soulmate Secret works for men and women of all ages. It even worked for Arielle’s 80 year old mother-in-law, Peggy.
Earth Magic Oracle Cards
by Steven D. Farmer
Dr. Steven D. Farmer is the author of the bestselling Animal Spirit Guides, Power Animal Oracle Cards, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards, Power Animals, Sacred Ceremony, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides guided meditation CD, Earth Magic: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for Healing Yourself, Others, and the Planet, and the newly releasedEarth Magic Oracle Cards. He's also host of his own radio show, Earth Magic Radio on ContactTalkRadio.com. Dr. Farmer is a Soul Healer, shamanic practitioner, ordained minister, and former psychotherapist, offering workshops on Soul Healing, various shamanic topics and private consultations. He makes his home in Laguna Beach, California with his wife, Jesseca and her two children, Serena and Ariannna.
Fried
by Joan Borysenco
Hope the new year brings you many good things.
Blessings,
Jonathan Ellerby
HIGHLIGHTS From This Issue:
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Jonathan offers free weekly coaching sessions on Facebook!
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Inspiration Deficit: The first two interviews!
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Toronto Hay House
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A great new telesummit
- Transformational Travel: Learn about our trip to Africa and an amazing journey to Peru
- Want more from Jonathan Ellerby? Check out his blogs! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join Jonathan’s new free coaching and community Q and A sessions on Facebook
Jonathan is merging his personal FB page with his Return to the Sacred group in a fun, helpful, new interactive fanpage. Throughout the weeks Jonathan will be online and answering questions about life, the universe and everything… Regular times to interface live will soon be posted. This week's topics include the mind versus heart in spiritual traditions, working with the nature of expectation, new ways of looking at time management, and more! What would YOU like to talk about?
You can also join the conversation with Jonathan on Twitter.
Inspiration Deficit: The first two interviews
Jonathan returned to his home town Winnipeg, Canada in May to be the keynote at a wonderful spirituality and health event. Read the excellent article about Inspiration Deficit: Feel Like Something's Missing in Your Life? Author offers stressed-out folks a way to fill deficit with desire.
Jonathan recently did the following interview about IDD with a wonderful independent writer/reporter Alexis Tirado:
1) What does ”Inspiration Deficit Disorder” mean? And do most people have it?
An inspiration deficit occurs whenever we feel unfulfilled or somehow unexpressed in an important aspect of life – something is missing. A job we don’t like, a struggle with self image, a relationship we aren’t satisfied with, or a lifestyle that makes room for everyone else’s needs but ours, are all examples of where we may feel an inspiration deficit. When we let these deficits persist they translate into bad habits, poor health, and high stress – that’s the disorder, and yes, sadly, most people have it to some degree and it impacts their health and happiness more than they know.
2) Your book offers a lot of practical information about IDD but can you give us some quick tips right now on how to curb it?
The core goal in ending IDD is learning how to know and honor yourself.
- Find a weekly hobby or spiritual practice that you find restoring and balancing. Do it every week without exception.
- Make decisions based on your values and with a long term perspective in mind – can you live with this choice with pride and for the rest of your life?
- Learn to express your needs in your important relationships.
- Put an end to fear. These three simple above practices can change your life quickly, but be aware that it’s typically fear that has stopped you until this point. So you may need to start paying more attention to how you are letting fear run your life. The book has a lot of advice on this topic – it’s a big one.
3) What inspired you to write a book about lacking inspiration?
In my work with people one on one and in large groups I hear about a lot of problems from divorce, to depression and from addition to people feeling stuck. They sound like very different challenges, but I have discovered that in the end, most of these things are symptoms of a lack of inspiration and integrity. I think it’s one of the biggest problems facing people today. Amazingly, when people learn to correct their inspiration deficit most of their life changes for the better, they become more empowered and feel a greater sense of balance and meaning.
Although Inspiration Deficit Disorder is not officially released until August 15, amazon.com has it on sale now at a discount and it looks like people who order now will receive their copy before the release date.
Toronto Hay House Thank You
I just wanted to personally thank all the amazing people that came my session at Hay House, I Can Do It, Toronto. I was overwhelmed by your turn out and amazing feedback. It was my honor and I am grateful you took the time to join me! Of course, a great thank you to Hay House as well.
A Telesummit Not to Miss!
Well, they have done it again. Join the Wellness Revolution Summit for this extraordinary collections of authors, healers and teachers in a summit that will make a lasting impact on your life… check it out, it is going on this month!
Transformational Travel
Shamanic Journey to Machu Picchu, Peru
Join amazing healer and spiritual teacher Mark Naseck on an incredible journey to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This is a once in a lifetime chance to visit one of the most spiritual places on earth, travel on the same stones laid down by the Incas, and do so in the company of a masterful spiritual guide. This will be an extraordinary journey of culture, energy work and spiritual awaking. For many, it will be a dream come true.
Awakening Inspiration Safari, South Africa
And yes, we are going to run another trip to Africa. Monica, my amazing wife, our son Narayan, and I will be running a 14 day trip in September of 2011 to South Africa. We will spend five unforgettable days in Cape Town and eight profound days at a safari lodge in Madekwe. From extensive safari to traditional healing, regular sessions with Jonathan and optional meditation, yoga, and Deeksha, you will experience yourself as you never have before.
To receive occasional updates through our travel only mailings, please fill out this form or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Emails will never be shared, sold, or used for any other purpose.
What’s the astrological forecast?
Have you noticed that often the patterns of your life seem to fit in a larger shift in your friends, family or even the world? Join my friend and Evolutionary Astrologer Deborah Sipple every month as she offers insights into the current cosmic weather.
June 2010
The big news this month is the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in the sign of Capricorn on June 26th. This lunar event is going to bring a level of heightened emotional intensity to the Cardinal T-square created from Pluto in Capricorn, and the Saturn in Virgo, Uranus in Aries opposition. Think of power, structure, and freedom, all wanting their own way, pulling in different directions. This is incredibly compelling. With the emotional energy of this eclipse it promises some fertile ground for significant changes down the road individually and collectively. If you’d like to explore this a bit further, please visit Talking Sky Astrology.
Blogging Like Crazy
Yes, I am now blogging like crazy and you can find my posts all over the place! Three of my more popular locations are:
Join me if you can. I’ll put links to new posts on my Facebook fanpage… let me know if you have topics or ideas you’d like me to write about. Please send your questions to my fanpage, I’ll be happy to help…
Greetings,
I am so glad you are still a part of our newsletter mailing and want you to know that we are making some immediate and important changes, both with this newsletter and on my website, based on your feedback. I want this to be valuable to you and something you will not only enjoy, but want to pass along.
These are the immediate changes we are making:
- The newsletter will now feature more content and less promotion.
- The value of being a member of my site will become more clear as you will not only receive this newsletter, but also access to material newly organized in the members section of my website.
- The newsletter page on my website will not only feature the full content of the Inspired Living newsletter, but additional content and blogs that I will update weekly. Again, more contentthat is easy to find and share.
- My Facebook Page is now the best place to access the most content and interaction. All live coaching sessions, blogs, interviews, and discussions will be linked there. We have a great community growing!
- Finally, in order to meet your needs and remain a part of your journey, it would be help if you take a minute to fill out this short survey and be a part of the community you are a part of. Your feedback is important to me!
Thank you for sharing your journey with me,
Jonathan Ellerby, PhD
July Astrological Forecast
by Deborah Sipple
Jupiter square Pluto: Hard Work Will Pay Off in Time
Later in the month on July 24th, the planit Jupiter (expansion, faith) in Aries (courage, action) moves into an exact square with teh planet Pluto (power, destiny, transformation) in Capricorn (authority, integrity). Where in your life is growth and opportunity calling? What part of life is compelling you to find more of your personal destiny through determination and disciplined work that you care about and that will make a difference in your world? This aspect can bring challenging situations, friction and the potential for difficult choices; not an easy experience, but the long term result can be well-earned growth. It is also important to be aware of over-extention (Jupiter), rage (Aries), and getting caught up in the misuse of power (Pluto) and authority (Saturn). these are intense times and that will continue for some time. Right now we are creating our future, individually and collectively.
Please follow this link for more July astro weather and your current chart
