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It is done and official.   Self Connection will be closing the store on 19 St NW and opening a new, bigger store at 4611 Bowness Road NW which is at the corner of 45 St and Bowness Road in an area called Montgomery.

Note that the construction of the new building has not been as quick as we had hoped, so the current projection is that we will move to the new location in late January 2010.

Montgomery is an old area that is currently going through significant renovation and upgrading….the expectation is that it will become the next Kensington or Inglewood.     Montgomery has great access from anywhere in the city:   it is 10 minutes from downtown going out Memorial Drive, and 10 minutes from our current location on 19 St (go Crowchild to Memorial and west to 45 St, or go across 32nd Ave to Market Mall and then down the hill on Home Road, or go south on Shaganappi Trail to Memorial and turn right to go about 1 km).   You can therefore get to it from the north or from the west (#1 highway), from the east (Memorial Drive), or from the south (Crowchild or Sarcee Trail).  To see a map of the area, click on:
Google Map

Our new store will have 4200 sq ft (twice the 19 St NW store) and will include a room for readings (tarot, psychic, energy) and massage, plus will have conference/workshop room with capacity for 50 people.   The workshop room comes with a kitchen, two bathrooms, overhead video projection, large screen, very high-speed Internet access, built-in audio system, podium, computer, webcast ability, digital camera for recording workshops, and the ability to bring video transmissions into the facility.  This a very exciting development and a very needed one in this city.  The workshop room will be available to teachers, associations, practitioners etc wanting to provide education on topics related to health, spirituality, or self development (mind-body-spirit).

Oh…there is also going to be a restaurant on one side of the store, a coffee/deli on the other side, and FREE underground parking.
Here is a rendering of the new building:

It is a sad day or a happy day, depending on how you choose to look at it.    On Tuesday June 30th Self Connection received an eviction notice from the new onwers of the Triwood Plaza.   We have been instructed to vacate the premises that Self Connection has occupied for over 30 years because they require the space for new offices for their agency work.  No question that the store has been a landmark and institution in Calgary.    We continue to meet people that don’t recognize the address at first, but then when we explain the location, there’s a moment of recognition followed by “Oh, I’ve been in there”.

So, it is not only the end of an era but also a new beginning.    We prefer to think that this is an opportunity and that the universe is telling us that new and better things are to come.   The challenge will be to find a new, wonderful location and to build it and move into it within the next 3 months.   A challenge…yes, but not impossible.

Partly we are sad to leave behind the “eclectic-ness” and the wonderful energy of the store that has been part of  its character, but there’s no doubt that we are keen to find a retail space with air conditioning in the summer (rather than overhead fans that move hot air around but don’t cool the place down significantly),  and proper heating in the winter time (that doesn’t blow gale force winds into customer’s faces).   And no more water leaking through the ceilings or pigeons in the heating ducts (yes, we had one of those last year but we did manage to get it out).   Yes,  from this standpoint, all is well.  The opportunity to design something new and to open up a store with more space is fabulous.   We are energized.

Self Connection is a place to connect to  “self” and it’s a place to connect “self with community”.   We are part of the community.   We therefore are asking  for your participation.  Give us suggestions on a new location, along with any ideas or comments that come to mind.  We also would love to hear your memories and stories of the store.

Onward and upward.   We look forward to your contributions.

As I reflect back on the events with Deva Premal, Miten and Manose in September this year, a number of thoughts come to mind.

Firstly, the venue.   This year’s concerts were held in a small theatre as opposed to a large church (the Knox wasn’t available…they scheduled a wedding instead of Deva Premal….go figure).  In retrospect, each has their pluses and minuses.    The church wins hands-down in terms of ambience and mood.    The musicians are certainly skilled in creating their own, but the feeling of the church, the stained glass windows, and the pews, all just added an extra factor.    The theatre was smaller, more intimate, the seats more comfortable and the musicians liked the proximity to the audience due to the steepness of the row tiering.     So which was better?    I have had no clear consensus on this from the many people I have asked.    Many votes both ways.   That sure doesn’t help us decide what to book next time.    I’m torn.   Maybe a dice toss will decide it.

Despite the pros and cons of the venue, there was nothing lacking in this year’s concerts.    The energy in that room, the impact of those mantras, and the sheer presence of those musicians is simply magical.   Unless you have experienced them in person or maybe have attended other similar events, you can’t comprehend the feeling in that theatre those two nights.    Even if you had never heard their music before the concert, you got swept away into the moment of it.  For me, it is simply a glowing in my stomach and chest area that bubbles up into bliss.    I also can’t decide which was my favorite piece.    ‘The Gayatri Mantra’ is one I always enjoy and now sing along to because I can, after many many repeats, remember the words.  I’m still not able to prounounce them properly, but I think I fake it well enough.   Their new song  ‘In the Light of Love’ was beautiful.   ‘Illumine’ was harmonious and peaceful.   And then that whirling dirvish song that they learned in Jerusalem was exactly that…a building, rising, whiling dirvish that left you breathless at the end.  It was a very different piece from them that showed how they are maturing and diversifying.

BUT, and I emphasize the but,  it was the workshop that I will remember even more.   I love their music and I love them, but there was something even more special in the workshop than I got out of the concert.   The workshop also had the connection with the other people.    Voices joined together is such a powerful thing.    I wasn’t even really officially participating…I was spectating at the back,  and yet I was close to tears a couple of times.   OK…I take that back…I admit I was in tears – it was so moving.  But so were a bunch of other people!!!!    And it was interesting to see how some people came in not quite sure of what to expect, and the very first exercise where people had to look each other in the eyes and sing some mantras was tough for some…at first.   But then they started breaking down and got past their fears and let go.    It was neat to see.    And the tears were everywhere.    So, next time we host a Deva Premal / Miten workshop, please join us.  You’ll cry your eyes out.  It’s great.

Mike

Welcome to Self Connection’s blog site where we will be posting reviews, comment forums, pontifications, etc.     Links will be inserted into the www.selfconnection.ca website in places where we want to have a  blog connection, giving customers an opportunity to discuss, share and learn.    The Self Connection newsletter will also have links in it to make them easy to find.

More information will be forthcoming as topics are posted.

The best part?   This is so much fun.

Self Connection Books