Gary Irwin-Kenyon
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Gary's New Book—Backstory and Beginnings

5/12/2020

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In this episode, our guest host Don Hemmings speaks with me about the backstory and beginnings of my book, Pathways to Stillness. My book invites you to discover your own pathways to peace and stillness in these very turbulent times.
 

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Tools for Exploring Your Pathways

5/1/2020

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In this episode Dr. Bill Randall and I discuss  practical guidelines for practicing narrative care, and helping both yourself and others explore unique pathways to stillness. Exercises such as signature stories and the ABC's of autobiographical memory are particularly effective, very accessible, and enjoyable.
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Tai Chi: Calm Fear and Invite Stillness

4/19/2020

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Tai Chi is a great help in these times. The moving meditation—breathing and slow movements bring you to the present moment— which helps to calm the monkey mind that constantly wants to go to fearful future thoughts. Practice whatever you can often.
The Tai Chi Wisdom section of my book Pathways to Stillness will give you helpful guidelines. I highly recommend you check out Wu’s Tai Chi Chuan Academy in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
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Career Change and Meaningful Aging

4/7/2020

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In this special episode we hear the story of my wife's career change from government to operating a bed and breakfast, and how it has brought her meaning, happiness and a new  pathway to stillness. It is also a story of how older adults can age meaningfully.
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Thomas Moore: Healing From Listening

2/25/2020

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In this episode Thomas Moore and Dr. Bill Randall speak about the importance of teachers in our lives and how we can be teachers to each other by listening to each others' .stories. In this way we help each other find our own Pathways to Stillness.
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Thomas Moore: The Planet's Soul

2/5/2020

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A fascinating conversation with Thomas and Bill Randall discussing what life is all about on this planet.
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Thomas Moore: Understanding Death

1/19/2020

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The wonderful conversation with Thomas Moore and Dr. Bill Randall continues. In this episode we hear their wisdom about our finite and meaningful journey. 
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Thomas Moore—Caring for the Soul Today

1/5/2020

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The conversation continues with Thomas Moore and Bill Randall. In this episode they share their wisdom about how to care for the soul and find optimism in this time of turmoil and rapid change.
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Episode 3—Thomas Moore and Being Shaped by Life

12/22/2019

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In this episode Thomas Moore and Dr. Bill Randall speak about Fate and our unique ordinary wisdom that we can discover if we are willing to look and explore. Also how we are shaped by life—we do not create our journey on our own.
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Podcast Series: Episode 2—Thomas Moore Interview

12/9/2019

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 In this episode I continue my interview with Thomas Moore and Dr. Bill Randall about the difference between meaningful and successful aging as well as brain and soul fitness. 
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New Podcast Series: Pathways to Stillness

11/25/2019

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I am really pleased to be able to share this new series with you. I hope you enjoy it. I will be posting new episodes every second Sunday.
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Tai Chi Wisdom - Body, Brain and Spirit Fitness

10/22/2019

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The art of Tai Chi is the canvas for your body, mind, and spirit. You learn a set of movements, so you are moving your body—but Tai Chi is not only a physical activity. There is a cognitive - brain/mind - part to it as well, since you are invited to pay attention as you perform the movements. Besides these two benefits, it is also a wonderful pathway to stillness. You learn to breathe and to meditate in motion. With practice, you are brought more and more to the present moment - and you experience more peace, serenity, and balance in your life. Tai Chi is a form of whole self-care. I invite you to read more in my book found here. 

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Existential Pathways: Finding Love and Meaning in the Face of Death

9/18/2019

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The German existentialist philosopher, Martin Heidegger, says that we human beings are “thrown into the world”. We “find” ourselves here without really knowing why. There is no step by step guide book to follow on our journey. In addition, we are aware that we are only here for a limited time - we know that we will die.

At first glance, this appears to be a recipe for depression and despair. However, this is not the only potential destination for your journey. In the near future, I will be launching a podcast series based on my book, Pathways to Stillness. We will explore how it is possible for you to find your own pathway to love and meaning on this existential ride that is human life. In the first episode of the series, Thomas Moore will share his wisdom on this topic.

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The Adventure of Going Nowhere - Pico Iyer

8/16/2019

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​Stillness can be found anywhere and at anytime - it is our home base. It is the quiet place in the centre of the storm. However, it is an inside job. In the beginning, finding your own pathway to stillness requires that you stop, let go, and listen.

​We overlook stillness because it is what Pico Iyer and Leonard Cohen call - an adventure in going nowhere. The experience of stillness and peace emerge in the magic of the present moment. 
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Once discovered,  you may find that this going nowhere adventure gives meaning to all other destinations. Speaking for myself, this is not easy. Even when you learn to let go a little, the ego slips back in - ok now let’s do something - but on this adventure there is nothing next! 

Read more in Pathways to Stillness.
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Stillness in Movement - Pico Iyer

7/21/2019

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In my previous post, I described how stillness is not only found in “cross-legged” immobility - I have never quite managed to attain the lotus posture - let alone find it comfortable. Fortunately, stillness is also present in the midst of movement, such as in Tai Chi practice. 

In his insightful book, The Art of Stillness, the writer Pico Iyer gives us another non-stationary pathway to stillness. He explains that he had never been drawn to meditate - even with such an inspirational teacher as Leonard Cohen - he found his delight in movement. He even became a travel writer in order to blend work and pleasure. Stillness has more to do with what is going on inside than what is happening outside. With some openness, curiosity - or meandering as Thomas Moore would say - you can find your own pathways to stillness.

"I'm inspired and grateful to hear that you're working so hard to ​promote a sense of stillness." 
​
Pico Iyer 

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Tai Chi Wisdom - Movement in Stillness - Stillness in Movement

7/1/2019

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Sometimes when I am asked the title of my book, Pathways to Stillness, the response is “oh, I cannot sit still for a moment. What do you mean by stillness”?
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 My answer is that stillness is not found only in “cross-legged immobility”. Stillness is about finding a situation or place that brings you to the present moment. In that space, anxiety and fear— which are located in the past and future— simply disappear.
​Your pathway could be intense mountain-biking, swimming, playing a musical instrument, or many other activities. 
Whether you are sitting still in nature or moving fast, the idea is remain in your quiet centre. In Tai Chi they say—move fast but do not rush!   Click to read more in my book.
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Thomas Moore Wisdom (Part 3)-All Who Meander Are Not Lost

6/6/2019

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“Soul respects another’s failure to find perfection, resistance to enlightenment, sheer ignorance of absolute truth, misguided attachments, and unrelenting meandering”.
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Visit Thomas Moore's website here 
The human journey is about meandering and wandering. Sometimes we are lost, confused, and fearful. We do things that are not good for us—we do know how to mess things up. Nevertheless, the hopeful part of this resistance to enlightenment is that we are indeed on a path to stillness—because we are soul. Thus, meandering also brings us to joy, happiness, and love—to a new lifestory after loss— to new pathways to stillness, and to ordinary wisdom.
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Thomas Moore Wisdom (Part 2) The Meandering Soul

5/7/2019

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“Soul respects another’s failure to find perfection, resistance to enlightenment, sheer ignorance of absolute truth, misguided attachments, and ​unrelenting meandering”.
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Thomas Moore’s words remind us that the human journey is full of paradox. On the one hand, we are a soul— we are already at our destination of wholeness, peace, and timelessness. Yet, at the same time, we are a mind-body that is born, grows and ages, and eventually dies. Our Pathway to ultimate stillness is characterized by opaqueness, frailty, and unknowing. 
In this situation, a great degree of compassion and forgiveness — self and other --
​is appropriate.

​Read more in my book Pathways to Stillness

Visit Thomas Moore's website 
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Thomas Moore Wisdom: Our Journey is Human  - All Too Human

4/23/2019

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“Soul respects another’s failure to find perfection, resistance to enlightenment, sheer ignorance of absolute truth, misguided attachments, and unrelenting meandering”.
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This is one of my favorite quotes from Thomas Moore. I find it grounding and comforting when I start to put too many expectations on myself about where I should be on my Pathway to Stillness—how I should be feeling in my life.
​To be continued......



Thomas Moore's review of my latest book  Pathway to Stillness 

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We are already in Stillness - But We Need to be Reminded

3/18/2019

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I am grateful to the Fredericton, New Brunswick Public Library for recently hosting a reading for my book Pathways To Stillness. It was a lovely evening of sharing and soul-talk.
One of the main themes we shared was that stillness is ever-present. It is not something to add on to our lives - it is already and always there. But we need many, many reminders - to come Home to Stillness. Reminders can be in the form of a formal practice like meditation or Tai Chi, but also in the form of personal pathways or refuges.
Read more in my book.
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     ​My Blog is about how you can discover your own Pathways to Stillness, and why that is so valuable to your life. We will explore what it means to lose and regain our sense of “our story” in the midst and aftermath of loss—negative beliefs about aging and how we can make them more positive, and the many benefits reaped by creating a refuge of stillness within. 



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