Sea Change Design Institute Blog

What’s at risk? | Part 4: The Salt Doll

By Lauralee Alben | Published August 14, 2016 | Comments Off

What is it about water that transforms risk into rewarding experiences?

At the Blue Mind Summit, I heard the mesmerizing call of water in the inspiring talk by retired neurologist Dr. Andrew Stern, Founder of the Lost Bird Project and Smart Fin. He shared a story that embodies Flow, which we define in Sea Change Design as a dynamic convergence of desired outcomes that presence our evolutionary potential. Andrew began by pulling out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and reading the Buddhist parable of the curious Salt Doll, who asks of the sea, “Who are you?”

What’s at risk? | Part 3: In a new light

By Lauralee Alben | Published August 14, 2016 | Comments Off

What is it about water that transforms risk into rewarding experiences?

At the Blue Mind Summit, Ben Thwaits showed astonishing photographs taken by the at-risk youth who participate in his innovative art and nature-based therapeutic programs at Northwest Passage. This quote by Joanna Macy came to mind: “A heart that breaks open can hold the universe.”

What’s at risk? | Part 2: The mother wave

By Lauralee Alben | Published August 14, 2016 | Comments Off

What is it about water that transforms risk into rewarding experiences?

In her fast-paced, fun presentation at the Blue Mind Summit, Professor and Early Childhood Educator, Louise Zimanyi declared, “Playing with and in water is evolutionary.” She explained that according to research conducted across many countries by Norwegian Dr. Ellen Sandseter, “risky play” includes great heights; high speed; dangerous tools; dangerous elements (including deep and/or fast moving water); rough-and-tumble; and getting lost.

What’s at risk? | Part 1: A mythological feat

By Lauralee Alben | Published August 14, 2016 | Comments Off

What is it about water that transforms risk into rewarding experiences?

Risk is an essential component of any sea change. At the Sea Change Design Institute, we work with leaders and organizations who are committed to co-creating life-revering transformations. At the Blue Mind Summit, I searched for sea changes in the intriguing presentations by adventurers, educators, biologists, scientists, neurologists, artists, filmmakers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and athletes. An upwelling of high stakes surfaced from their stories.

What’s at risk?

By Lauralee Alben | Published June 7, 2016 | Comments Off

What is it about water that transforms risk into rewarding experiences?

Risk is an essential component of any sea change. At the Sea Change Design Institute, we work with leaders and organizations who are committed to co-creating life-revering transformations. At the sixth annual Blue Mind Summit, I searched for sea changes in the intriguing presentations by adventurers, educators, biologists, scientists, neurologists, artists, filmmakers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and athletes. An upwelling of high stakes surfaced from their stories.

Water blessings

By Lauralee Alben | Published February 19, 2016 | Comments Off

Ceremony is essential. It summons us into sacred space and offers us the time to design insightful beginnings and endings. This newborn year is just a few months old, but for many of us, its potential is compromised by days consumed with the driving force of our over-committed lives. Ceremony gives us a chance to pause, to reflect, and to honor what is meaningful to us. It brings us into relationship, often in unpredictable ways.

Invoking connection
Since 2009, we have been holding water ceremonies to open and close our Sea Change Design workshops. In these ceremonies, we presence the spiritual aspect of our being, the source of our ability to connect, create, care, and choose.

The search for love

By Lauralee Alben | Published December 10, 2015 | Comments Off

It’s a quicksilver time of year. As the life-giving winter rains finally fall upon Santa Cruz, the land cloaks itself in mist. Monterey Bay is an ever-changing mirage, with silver-shining waters and mysteriously emerging mountains standing sentinel near its shores. In this season of limited light, my thoughts turn toward the sacred. This is a time of soul-searching for all of us.

Our world is inflamed. We are crazed with grief and fear; held in the grip of conflict, war, and pain. This global scale of unspeakable suffering is reflected in the microcosm of our individual lives. Nearly every person I have coached in Sea Change Design over the past months has been wrestling with some degree of anger in their personal and professional lives.

Water’s intention

By Lauralee Alben | Published November 11, 2015 | Comments Off

Have you seen this comic: A big fish swims by some younger ones and asks, “How’s the water?” Perplexed, they respond, “What’s water?”

Water is the ground of being for fish, whether they are aware of its essential nature to their lives or not. Just like air is for birds and soil is for worms. In Sea Change Design we define intention as a ground of being.

Why intend?

By Lauralee Alben | Published October 29, 2015 | Comments Off

In this Great Transition, intention can be transformative. Especially because humans aren’t the only ones intending. In this time of immense and miraculous change, we need all the intention we can get.

Intention is universal. It’s not unique to humans. Although for many, an anthropomorphic mindset prevents us from seeing that a great striving to create, to connect, and to evolve is resident within all beings. As I observe more keenly, I perceive intention at work everywhere.

Reflections on Sea Changes

What’s at risk? | Part 4: The Salt Doll

What’s at risk? | Part 3: In a new light

What’s at risk? | Part 2: The mother wave

What’s at risk? | Part 1: A mythological feat

What’s at risk?

Water blessings

The search for love

Water’s intention

Why intend?

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Your Account

Recent Comments