Mary Woods is interviewed by talk radio host Karen Wright on her show Hearts on Fire on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

You can listen to the 45 minute program at www.blogtalkradio.com/Hearts-on-Fire

The Heart of the Matter is proud to be a benefactor to Swami Beyondananda’s (Steve Bhearman’s) new website; www.departmentofheartlandsecurity.org   The Heartland Security project and my book The Heart of the Matter share a common purpose;  with “opun” hearts and minds, “we the people” can be empowered by a great awakening of love from within our collective human hearts and participate in a shift in consciousness that is so needed on our planet.

With many truths said in jest, Swami Steve uses humor combined with insightful political commentary to present a new “precedent” in our government.  “Heartland Security”  is a love-based counterpoint to the fear-based context of “Homeland Security”.  Check out his blog for the latest good news to uplift your spirit and keep U.S. all together at heart.

With Love, Mary

The original collages from The Heart of the Matter are on display at The Eagle Rock Winery at The Artisans Guild in Williamsport, as I am the featured artist for the month of October!  At the reception given there on October’s First Friday event, I was delighted to give a poetry reading to a lovely group of people, who shared in the inspiration and joy of the heartfelt messages.  We all were uplifted through the process of sharing, like A Course in Miracles says, “Thoughts increase by being given away. The more who believe in them the stronger they become.”  The message of following your heart and trusting in Love is the idea that I am most grateful to share.

The collages look so beautiful on display!  One woman told me that of all the art she had seen there, that these really touched her heart the most.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, the collages communicate the true message of The Heart of the Matter.  The Winery will be hosting several wedding receptions and parties this month, so I feel grateful that the collages will be seen by many groups of people.  Posters of the prints are available for order and The Heart of the Matter books, mugs, and postcards are also available for sale.

The Eagle Rock Winery is located at 625 Rose St. in Williamsport and is open Tues.-Sat.-Noon to 5pm. www.eaglerockwinery.com  Meet the owner Anna Falat and enjoy a glass of wine in the artistic environment.  Here’s to celebrating life as your piece of art!

The Heart of the Matter is making its’ local debut with two book signings in Williamsport. The first is at Borders bookstore at the Lycoming Mall in Muncy on Saturday May 17th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Next at Otto’s Bookstore on Fourth street in downtown Williamsport for the First Friday event, June 6th from 6:00-9:00 PM. I hope you can make it to one of these events to receive your personalized copy. This is a big deal for me and I appreciate your support wholeheartedly.

With Love, Mary

David and I just returned from a miraculous, memorable, and multipurpose trip to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. We are still immersed in these “states” of grace from all the love and blessings we have received during these last three weeks.

We flew into San Diego, picked up our rent-a-car then drove to a great little beach motel in Encinitas. We were inspired by the beauty of the Self Realization Fellowship located by the ocean there, the variety of delicious natural foods restaurants, and a large spiritual book store called Soulscape. From there, we drove up to Temecula to attend a couple of workshops with Dr. Ken Wapnick at The Foundation For A Course In Miracles. To hear Ken’s clear and powerful teaching was so meaningful and experiential, we thought the whole trip was worth it with this alone. Yet it was just the beginning of our journey of the heart.

It was a beautiful drive to Sedona, Arizona where we spent a week, combining a visit to an old friend, a book signing and a five day workshop. We made real heart to heart connections with so many people there, beginning with a successful book signing at The Golden Word Bookstore, then at the Angel Valley Retreat Center to study about Living In The Heart with Drunvalo Melchezidek. His talks about the heart confirmed what I had written about in my book. It was well received by the staff and we were thrilled to hear that they want to feature it on their website, www.spiritofmaat.com in July. What great feedback from the website director who wrote, “We love your book and think everyone should read it!”

Fully in our hearts we drove on to the enchanted Taos, New Mexico. We stayed with old friends who gave us the tour of the Rio Grande Gorge, old town, and the Taos Pueblo. We were honored with a ceremonial gift from one of the Native American Elders there, and felt a heart connection that made Taos feel like our mother land. It seems so appropriate to really birth the book there, as I gave my first talk at the Noetic Sciences group the next day. It was a lively gathering of thirty-five people who enthusiastically responded to the message of The Heart of the Matter, which left me feeling ecstatic!

At the book signing at Sustaining Cultures, we met David Carson, the author of The Medicine Cards, who signed his new book, Crossing Into Medicine Country, for us. Then we were off to Santa Fe to take the book to The Ark bookstore and visit old friends there before flying home from Albuquerque. When asked if we were moving to the southwest, we said “No, that we would just bring the sublime energy of the southwest home with us.”

As we followed our hearts to the whole experience of this trip, we soon realized that “the heart” was truly the theme throughout it all. We learned that what we love is what makes life meaningful and that our hearts are quite literally the key to our happiness and our higher purpose. Living in the heart is not just a lofty ideal, but the practical means to survive these changing times with inner peace, love and gratitude. A friend ordained David as a minister of fun and me as a priestess of joy…so that is our purpose now. Love is the message…Pass it around!

Exciting news!  “The Heart of the Matter” has been printed and is now available in book form just in time for our three week book tour in the Southwest.  David and I are flying to San Diego, California, visiting book stores in the area, and attending a conference at the Foundation for A Course In Miracles.  Then, we’ll be driving to Sedona, AZ for a book signing at The Golden Word Book Center on April 29th.  We’ll also be attending a five day workshop in Sedona called “Living in the Heart.”  On May 5th we will drive to Santa Fe, New Mexico to visit friends and local book stores.  On May 7th we will be in Taos, New Mexico for two book signings; one at Sustaining Cultures book store and the other at the Noetic Sciences organization.  I am especially excited about the two hour talk to Noetic group that I have called, “The Great Awakening within the Human Heart.”

We will return home on Mother’s Day and prepare for my first local book signing at Borders at the mall in Muncy on Saturday May 17th from 1:00PM to 3:00PM.  This trip marks the beginning of taking the message of “The Heart of the Matter” outward after a year of introspection.  I am so grateful for the opportunity which just seemed to easily fall in place like an idea whose time has come.  Wish us luck and see you in May.

With Love, Mary

What is the real meaning behind the old adages, “listen to your heart” or “follow your heart”? The heart, in this sense, can be seen as a metaphor for the best that is within us, our highest good, and our deepest passion. It is the home of our Divinity, the connection to our Source, and the limitless love that is the truth of our being. Something so important must be understood by everyone, right?

Unfortunately in our complex world of confusion, the simple and obvious truths are often overlooked. Yet the significance of this heart of the matter cannot be overemphasized. However we choose to define “the heart,” the action we are asked to take in relation to it is “to follow It” and “to listen to It.” It maybe defined as our Higher Self, the Holy Spirit or Divine Love. It is our guide, for it will lead and direct us to our true best interests.

The heart has more wisdom than the head. We are taught to be discerning and have good judgment through our intellect, yet that does not have the deeper knowing capacity of the heart. Our intellect is limited while our heart is limitless. Learning how to be guided by the heart is the way to our highest potential as well as the highest potential of all life.

The heart is the essence of what we are in relationship to All That Is. In our individual perception we seem to be separate, yet at heart, in love, we have never left the Source of our oneness.

The heart, like love, has depth. Yet because I believe the greatest truths are the simplest, I understand the sublime concepts to be very practical in application. I offer a basic instruction manual for how to live in your heart;

1. Choose to be present - remember role call in school? When your name was called you would raise your hand and say, “here.” If you think of life as a classroom, just showing up for class is where to begin.
2. Have an attitude of gratitude - remember the Biblical Beatitudes? Well, of all the attitudes “to be”, to be grateful is a direct entry to opening your heart.
3. Be willing to listen to your heart - you need to be quiet so you can hear. Like tuning in a radio station, attune to the love within you and be inspired by your own heart song.
4. Be willing to follow your heart - with the intention of being helpful, do what you feel guided to do now. Put love into action. Express, extend, share, care, give, live wholeheartedly.

The question remains, how willing are we to humbly listen to the Divine wisdom of our heart and follow Its guidance? How often do we second guess It and think we know what is in our best interests? The deep humility that is required is so personally insulting to our intellects good judgment, that very few are genuinely willing to listen. It takes trust to follow the heart, yet it is the only journey worth while. To live wholeheartedly and to follow, as Carlos Castaneda called, “The Path with Heart.”

This book review is by Ellen Sue Spicer from www.menupause.info who describers herself on her website as “a freelance writer in the field of food and health. Words are my oxygen and natural foods are my fuel. Life is a balancing act that requires energy, love, and forgiveness.” She also posts a blog at http://www.blogger.com/profile/02026635586338332394

I’d like to express my wholehearted thanks for her interest in “The Heart of the Matter” and for giving it such a wonderful and heartfelt review.

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

The Heart of the Matter by Mary Margaret Woods is my first ebook review. As Mary explained in a Freshlife FreshMail (www.freshlife.com) on January 30th of this year:

As much as I loved my work there, I followed my heart to what felt like an exciting new chapter in my life. One week after I took this leap of faith, I began enthusiastically writing a book. It felt like an idea whose time had come, as the words flowed easily and effortlessly, I was inspired to write, “The Heart of the Matter.”

This is the key to Mary’s new book, hot off the Internet, fully illustrated with colorful collages and original poems by the author. Her inspiration is apparent on every page of this short, but powerful ebook.

Early on she asks us: “How can we become wholehearted?” I don’t think I have ever been asked that question. Mary develops this bold concept with the use of quotes, visuals, and text that challenges us to look at the state of the world with a whole heart in order to heal the planet.

Mary’s vision is clear and concise: “I have a vision of Love awakening with our whole hearts through a quickening of consciousness is so needed on our planet.”

The books chapter are like the cover of the book, hearts within hearts within hearts, until we get to the “heart of the matter.” The chapters reflect this deeper and deeper delving into our own hearts:
Chapter One: A Change of Heart (Shift Happens)
Chapter Two: Revolution of the Heart (Empowerment)
Chapter Three: The Spiritual Heart (Awakening the Heart)
Chapter Four: The Compassionate Heart (Love Heals)
Chapter Five: The Intelligent Heart
Chapter Six: The Biological Heart
Chapter Seven: Humor and the Heart
Chapter Eight: The Heart of the Matter

While the book delivers a powerful message, it is actually written “lightly,” that is, with positive overtones, humor, wonderful quotes from people from all walks of life, and original graphics and poetry, such as this excerpt from her poem called Renaissance:

We now have found within us
The meaning of our rebirth
To live in peace right here and now
And teach love upon the earth.

Some of you might think this book is what we used to call “pie in the sky,” (Not even sure what that means!) but if you met Mary Margaret Woods, as I have, you will know that her ebook truly reflects what is in her heart. When you are in her presence, you can easily understand how this book reflects her vision, her dreams, and her hope for love and peace on our planet.

Mary’s message is simplistic and heartfelt: “The heart is the key…the key to our hearts.” After reading it, I think you will be inspired to look within your own hearts to foster Love of self, Love of others, and Love of the planet. We all need this Love more than ever—Love with a capital L.

Mary, and her husband Dave, who helped Mary with her creation, invite you to preview the book and its “wholehearted” message. You can preview excerpts from each of the eight chapters in a four-minute, forty second flash presentation read by Mary herself, who has a wonderful voice.

Click onto: www.theheartofthematter.us to read and hear Mary’s excerpts. Since this is an ebook, there is no paper, no postage, and no waiting to read it. (This in itself is a new experience for me.) Mary’s book is a perfect Valentine’s Day gift and a message that is perfect for every day thereafter. The cost is $8 (plus $.48 tax in PA only), an amount that won’t lighten your pocketbook, but will definitely enlighten your heart.

Have you ever said, “Someday I’m going to write a book”? It was always one day in the future until it became an idea whose time had come. Perhaps something was activated in me by the surprise party for my fiftieth birthday. Seeing so many of my old friends gave me that “This Is Your Life” feeling. Suddenly I felt a calling from deep within my heart to get on with my life. What was I waiting for? If not now, when?

I was feeling burned out at my job, or maybe it was just the principle of working for someone else. I felt complete with the limitations of the 9-5 worker bee routine. I began to allow myself to visualize my ideal seen of how to live my day. How to live by the rhythms I wanted and control my own time schedule. I pictured a casual morning, easing into the day to support my own process and productivity. My epiphany was about engaging my creative inner child in looking at my life as play, having fun, and loving what I do.

I contemplated the question, “What does my own creative genius know?” I listened to my heart that was feeling so much well up within me that was ready to outflow. It was like all the beliefs, stories, and the big ideas that I ever was inspired by were all stored in some great file drawer in the computer of my mind and now was the time to let them come out.

I started to wake up each morning with enthusiasm and inspiration, instead of the old tired exhausted, I have to get up and go to work drudgery. I would get up and sit in my chair with my notebook and pen and begin to write. Sometimes I would just sit and listen. It was as if I was engaged with my true Self, and I was happy just to be in Its Presence.

One morning these words came as a complete thought, a stream of consciousness, a poem. It felt significant.

Trust the creative process
Be in the flow
Don’t wait to be happy
Stress free in the future
Be stress free and happy now.
What you are experiencing now
Is exactly what is necessary
To get you where you are going.
You are part of the group/one mind
Choose to be peaceful
Choose to trust
Choose to listen and be guided
It is happening now.