“Tibet Today” A Montrose Original
W.C. Friends of Tibet Release
The WESTERN COLORADO
FRIENDS OF TIBET invites the entire community to a world-class event on August
13th at the Montrose Pavilion. Come and
learn about the people of Tibet, enjoy world-renowned leaders, meet local Tibetans,
see some of the audio, visual and print productions that are making a
difference to some of the most peaceful people on earth. Tibetans possess
uncommon wisdom about peaceful and sustainable living. Unfortunately, since Tibet is now occupied
by an foreign nation, that wisdom is endangered.
The program will feature
two world famous Tibetans:
Thubten (Sam) Samdup
is the founder of Tibet Canada, the nation-wide Tibet support group in
Montreal, Canada, and one of the original members of Tibetan Institute of
Performing Arts, initiated by the Dalai Lama to preserve the Tibetan
culture. Thubten has organized the
entire Canadian Tibetan exile representation and has formed one of the world's
singularly most cohesive organizations.
He worked nearly 20 years, ultimately convincing the Canadian Parliament
and the Canadian Prime Minister to acknowledge and meet with the Dalai Lama.
This was accomplished while Canada was being threatened by economic sanctions
by the People's Republic of China if they met with Tibetan representation.
Thubten was able to convince the Parliament to pass a binding resolution
directing the Canadian Prime Minister to go to China and demand the Chinese
government enter into negotiations with the Authorities of the Tibetan
government to resolve the problems of Tibet. This level of negotiation by
non-government personnel is unmatched and unheard of anywhere in the world.
Ven. Palden Gyatso is
a Tibetan monk who was imprisoned by the Chinese Government when they overran
and took control of Tibet. Palden was imprisoned, beaten and tortured in
Chinese prisons within Tibet for 33 years and was very seriously injured many
times during his imprisonment. He received nearly every kind of punishment
imaginable, yet managed to remain focused on his life and his role. He survived
and is alive only because of his strong centeredness to remain beyond the
ability of the Chinese to cause him to break.
Palden resides in India where he has written two famous books on his
imprisonment and his ability to withstand the torture and terrible treatment. His experience and perseverance is an
unbelievable testimony to human endurance and overcoming nearly impossible
odds. He shares his story in a profound manner with thorough description and
humor. Palden's story has captured the hearts of people the world over.
This program is at a
level normally only attainable by large and influential cities and we are very
fortunate to have the quality of participants and the level of world influence
this program presents. We encourage everyone with an interest of the world and
to participate in history in the making to attend this remarkable program.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Aug.
13th
8:30 - 9:00 Registration
9:00 -11:30 Ven. Palden
Gyatso:
Palden will describe his
memories of Tibet before the Chinese take over, his imprisonment by the
Chinese, the torture and the terror of the imprisonment, his ability to remain
focused, his release from imprisonment, his efforts since that time, and his
description of how each person can help Tibet and the world.
11:30 - 12:00 Book
signing (Palden Gyatso)
12:00 - 1:00 Nepali
& Tibetan Lunch
1:00 - 1:30 The Movie;
Red Tibet, Free Tibet
Produced locally by
filmmaker Keya Horiuchi and partly sponsored by the WCFOT. This movie shows the
all too common hardships that the people of Tibet endure, often unnoticed by
the rest of the world. This movie was shown in many film festivals across the
US.
1:30 - 4:00 Panel
discussion Dialogue with Tibetan and local leaders about Tibetan culture,
history, present situation, and future.
6:00 - 6:30 Evening
Registration
6:30 - 9:00 Thubten
"Sam" Samdup: Sam will sing and play Tibetan instruments and talk
about his experiences, Tibetan culture, philosophy, and about what WE can do to
help Tibet. Sam will have an interactive Q&A period with audience
involvement.
During the registration
and break periods our Tibetan leaders will be available, and we will have
tables with Tibetan merchandise, information about the WCFOT, its past and
present successes, and future goals as well as membership and sponsorship
opportunities. For information on
tickets and participation in this once-in-a-lifetime event, call Bill
Duckworth, 240-4197 or Fred Schmidt at 249-8000.
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“Yoga For Every Body” at T-N-T
Whole Life Network Release
"Yoga for Every
Body" is the catchy title of our Tuesday Noon Talk which is scheduled for
August 9th at, what else?, high noon. This free talk and demonstration by Lynda
Alfred will be held at the Uncompahgre Yoga Circle at 310 S. 9th
Street in Montrose. Lynda on this occasion will be acting in the dual role
as hostess of our event and as the presenter. Lynda practices hatha yoga in the
tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar, a living yoga master. Iyengar yoga builds strength
and stamina and increases flexibility. At the same time it relieves stress and
teaches us to relax deeply. Come and find out how you can learn these skills.
We have been asked if you can really attend on your lunch hour. All lectures
are scheduled for one hour and, if there is a run over, feel free to get up and
return to your job when necessary.
Do you have a subject on
which you wish to be heard? The Whole Life Network with Lynda Alfred of
Uncompahgre Yoga Circle as hostess plan to schedule a free-to-the-public
presentation every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at noon. To have
your T-N-T reserved for you, call Jennifer Halbach at 240-2846. Be a part of
the action: come to Tuesday Noon Talks.
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Affirming Your Child’s Voice: How and When to Encourage
Your Child to Speak Up
by Laurel Ann Browne
Quote
"Children have
never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed
to imitate them."
---James Baldwin
Bumper Sticker
Spotted on a white Buick
Rendezvous in Atlanta, GA:
My Kid Has ADD and Two F’s
*
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Stop interrupting
me when I'm talking."
"You have to learn
to speak up for yourself."
"You ask too many
questions."
"Tell me with
words. I don't understand whining."
"Why didn't you
tell me?"
"Don't bug me when
I'm on the phone."
"You should have
brought that concern to me."
These phrases and others
like them are sending mixed messages to our children. They are telling
them: Talk, but don't talk. I want to hear your opinion, but not all the
time. It's no wonder many of our children are confused about when and how
to access their own voice.
Children don't
automatically know when and how to speak up. They don't understand the
appropriate times to interrupt. Nor do they often demonstrate the skills that
will enable them to speak up effectively. They don't understand the power of
words and how to use them to create change in their lives.
The most effective way
for children to learn when and how to speak up is for you to teach them. If you
want children to learn to use their voice in appropriate ways at appropriate
times, you have to help them.
Below are suggestions
for when and how to encourage your child to create his or her own voice so he
or she can become an empowered, confident, self-responsible youngster.
Children need to speak
up when . . .
1.) They need help.
Children need help
stacking blocks, reaching toys on a high shelf, writing a thank-you letter,
understanding a math concept, handling a peer relationship, and in many other
situations as they move through each developmental stage. Some situations they
can handle themselves. Others they cannot. A key component to becoming
independent is knowing when and how to ask for help.
2.) They want something.
Yes, it's okay for
children to ask for what they want. Just because a child learns to speak up and
ask for what she wants doesn't mean she will get it. Sometimes what a child
wants is unhealthy or unsafe. It is our job as parents to deny those requests while
respecting the child's right to vocalize her desire to get what she wants.
For some children,
whining becomes the preferred way of asking for what they want. Our role is to
give our children useful words to say what they want instead of whining. By
helping them learn to say, "I want to stay up longer," "I want
to be held," or "I want to get down," you teach them that using
words is their best hope for getting what they want in your family. They also
come to understand that whining doesn't work with you.
Say, "Brandon, that
is whining. Whining doesn't work with me. Use your words to tell me what you
want. By using words, you sometimes get what you want. Sometimes you don't. And
it's your only hope."
3.) They prefer NOT to
have something.
Did you ever go on
vacation with a teenager who didn't want to be there, one who pouted for the
entire week you spent in a cabin in the woods? If so, you know the value of
teaching children to voice their opposition to something you want for them.
"I don't really like hooded sweatshirts" is important information to
have before you make a sixty-dollar purchase that your child will never wear.
"Lima beans are my least favorite vegetable" is valuable data to
accumulate before you head to the grocery store. Give them choices but do allow
the to express what they don’t want too.
4.) Their personal space
has been violated.
Children need to be
taught to find and access their voice whenever they experience inappropriate
touch. Being touched in the private areas is always inappropriate. A discussion
of appropriate and inappropriate touch needs to be held early and often in a
child's life. Role-play both kinds of touch. Teach your children to speak up
clearly if inappropriate touch occurs. Teach young children to say,
"That's not appropriate," or "Nobody gets to touch me
there." Teach them to use their voice to tell you if anyone touches them
in an inappropriate way. Practice that conversation. Teach them the words to
use. "Dad, Billy touched me," or "I got a wrong touch."
Help your teen learn to
say, "It's my body and I want you to respect it," and "The
answer is 'No' and I don't need a reason."
In addition to
inappropriate touch, children need to learn to speak up to defend their
personal space. Aunt Tilly doesn't get to plant a big wet kiss on a child
without his approval. Your child does not have to be hugged if he doesn't want
a hug. Even the gentlest touch in the most common of places is not okay if the
child doesn't feel like being touched. Help him or her to say, "I don't really
want a hug right now," and "I'm not comfortable being kissed."
5.) They are asked a
direct question.
Recently, we asked a
four-year-old how she was doing. The mother spoke for the child and replied,
"She's feeling kind of shy today." The child never looked up. There
was no need to. The mother was her voice.
When you speak for your
child, you teach her there is no need to activate her own voice. The message
you send her is "Your voice is not important. There is no need to use it.
I'll take care of your thinking and responding." When you speak for your
child, you encourage her to do less speaking for herself in the future.
6.) Someone is in
danger.
We wish someone had
spoken up before the massacre at Columbine High School a few years ago. We wish
someone had used his or her voice before the most recent teen suicide. Whenever
there is potential danger, we want and need children to speak up. And we want
them to do it quickly.
"I don't want to
hear any tattling" a parent recently told her son as he began to tell a story
about his older sister. But what if the older sister was stuck in a tree and
was hanging from her broken ankle? What if the sibling was playing with
matches? What if a schoolmate was urging her to sniff cleaning fluid?
Teach your child the
difference between getting someone IN trouble and getting them OUT of trouble.
If your son wants to tell you about how his sister took his ball to get her in
trouble, teach him to use his voice to communicate his desires and feelings to
his sister. Teach him to say, "I don't like it when you take my ball. I
want you to give it back." Be there with him when he speaks to his sister
to make sure his words are heard.
If your son witnesses a
dangerous situation, teach him to communicate it quickly and directly. Give him
some starter words that will tip you off that he is communicating potential
danger. "Mom, I see danger," "Shannon needs help," or
"Trouble-alert" work well as clues that danger is lurking.
7.) They feel afraid,
angry, sad, hurt, or frustrated.
Teach your children to
communicate their feelings. Use feeling words in their presence often so they
develop a broad-based feeling vocabulary. Say, "I'm feeling really
frustrated right now," "I get scared when I climb on the roof,"
or "I'm disappointed that the rain washed out my softball game." By
using feeling words yourself, you help your children learn about their own
feelings and the need to express them. You give them permission to have
feelings and teach them the names for those feelings so they are more likely to
articulate them in the future.
Tell your youngster,
"You seem really angry with your brother right now. Why not tell him how
angry you get when he marks on your paper?" Say to your teen, "Sounds
to me like you are deeply disappointed that your dad wasn't there on time. It
might be helpful to him and to you to communicate that to him."
Finding and learning how
to use their own voice is a lifelong process for children. By implementing the
above strategies with respect, patience, and understanding, we help our
children gain skill and confidence when speaking up for themselves.
Did You Know?
1. Every 40 seconds in
America a baby is born into poverty.
2 Every 15 seconds in the United States a
woman is beaten. Domestic violence is currently the leading cause of injury to
woman between the ages of 15 and 45. That male violence against women kills
more victims than cancer, malaria, accidents and war combined.
3 Wage Peace:
Transforming Aggression in Your Family is a new parent redirecting behavior
course every parent should know.
4. If your toddler is a
food thrower structure the amounts of food she gets. Limit her food, and add more when she finishes what she has. Children with a limited supply of food are
less likely to throw it.
Please understand that
all gender referrals are meant for both boys and girls.
CENTER FOR CREATIVE
CHANGE
For more information: 970-249-1345
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Remembering Aztlán
a column of poetry, culture & spirit by Art Goodtimes
SWADESHI
… That was the name for a wonderful little event down Durango way last month –
billed as an annual fundraiser and festival of local self-sufficiency for
Oakhaven Permaculture Center (4179 La Plata County road #124, near
Hesperus in La Plata Canyon, (www.oakhavenpc.org)… Low key ($5 donation).
Booths on alternative energy. Workshops on seed saving and mushrooms, weaving
and basketry. Bags of fresh organic cherries. Peach smoothies in recycled
plastic. Cars parked all up and down a narrow county road in La Plata Canyon,
outside Hesperus … … I loved the energy around local self-sufficiency, a term
that Mahatma Gandhi called “swadeshi”. As he defined it, it meant to “buy local, be proud of local, support
local, uphold and live local”. Pretty darn good advice, although hard to
achieve in this era of corporate agriculture and fast food marketing … Met some
amazing people there, like Darsi Olson, the rainbow lady who gifted me with
several wonderful songs; Jim Dyer, who is working to bring local produce and
meat products into Durango area schools (imagine healthy organic fare instead
of hamburgers and pizza in the cafeterias!) and his wife Pam, who shears wool
from her flock of sheep, spins it, dyes it and then weaves it. Plus, I hooked
up with several old friends down that way – Wally White, the llama
farmer-turned-pol elected to the La Plata County Board of Commissioners; the
amazing storyteller Sara Ransom; Katrina Blair, our regional live food guru;
and Jeff Berman, who’s trying to get a certified biodiesel processing facility
built in the Four Corners region. I gave several workshops, one on seed saving
with Rachel Turiel, the real expert on so many of the plants grown locally. My
piece of it was spuds, the one thing of use I love growing. I was dazzled by a
demonstration of felt-making by Raylene McCallum. Organic producer Kris
Holstrom from Hastings Mesa near Telluride led a well-attended workshop on
“Fungi on the Farm” … A great event. And maybe something that we should do in
every local community – putting on our own self-sufficiency fair.
MUSHROOMS
… Dea Jacobson of Cedaredge is one of my favorite regional folks. And she’s an
expert on several things, politics as well as cooking. I still owe her a meal
for correctly predicting that Grand Junction’s Daily Sentinel would
support John Salazar over hometown boy Greg Walcher for the state’s Third
Congressional seat. But as poet-in-residence for the annual Telluride Mushroom
Festival for some 25 years now, I must say her column last month had some old
information. So let me update a few things … This may be and may not be “the
year of the mushrooms”. While we’ve had great snows and good rains to date, the
mushrooms depend on the afternoon storms of our summer monsoon season in early
August. If it rains then, when the ground is warm enough and before it freezes
(a very short window in the mountains), then we may have a bumper crop of
‘shrooms. So, I hope Dea’s right about this year, because it comes on the heels
of two of the worst mushroom years in my memory, thanks to poor monsoon rains …
Her account of a giant puffball (Calvatia booniana) was heartening. That
early summer mushroom is out (I’ve heard several reports) and her tales of
cooking it up were inspiring. I haven’t been as lucky as she and Roy to find
one. But they’re out there. Carrying mushrooms in a paper bag is recommended,
although most seasoned “pot-hunters”, as mushroom forayers are sometime known,
use baskets and wax paper. Never use plastic. Mushrooms need to breathe, even
after they’re picked … I don’t know Rebecca Wood, and I need to learn more
about her work with mushrooms. But Paul Stamets, the Bioneer lecturer and
mushroom researcher who comes to Telluride’s mushfest every year, lists many
medicinal uses for specific mushrooms. Absorbing and eliminating toxins is one
effect, but not for all ‘shrooms. Paul has a great little book, Mycomedicinals
(Mycomedia, Olympia, WA, 2002) that gives the best overview of various fungi’s
medicinal effects … Dea is quite right. Mushrooms should never be eaten raw
(the one exception is the dessert mushroom, Clavariadelphus truncatus,
which is quite sweet and delicious raw). The reason though is because of the
many alkaloids that occur in mushrooms, even common store-bought ones, not that
they grow in the dark and live on doo-doo (which some do – the saprophytic
ones). In fact, you probably won’t hear this in most places, but mycologists
have repeated informed us at the Telluride event that the common button
mushrooms you buy in the stores (Agaricus bisporis or A. campestris
– including the Portobello, which is a bigger brown version of the mushroom)
have an alkaloid, Agaritine, which everyone used to think broke down with the
heat of cooking (or even digestion). But recent research suggests that is not
the case. Unfortunately, agaritine bio-accumulates in the body and it is
carcinogenic. So much so that it’s often used by lab researchers to induce
tumors in mice. Like anything else, it doesn’t seem that occasional ingestion
of Agaricus spp. is particularly harmful, from what we know today, but a
steady diet might be dangerous … Some mushrooms, like shitake, prevent cancer.
Others like agaricus promote it. So it’s hard to generalize about fungi. You
have to know all the special characteristics of whatever you’re eating or collecting
… David Arora’s book, that Dea talks about, Mushroom Demystified is a
good text, but it’s geared for West Coast mushrooms, which are very different
in many respects than many found in Colorado. Most ‘shroomers I know in
Colorado use Gary Lincoff’s Audubon Field Guide as the best general
text. Lincoff is another regular at the Telluride Mushroom Festival … And
finally, as if a ski rivalry isn’t enough, Crested Butte has started up a
mushroom festival on the same dates as the Telluride Mushroom Festival, which
is celebrating its 25th year Aug. 18-21. Check the website for
details, www.shroomfestival.com. One new feature in addition to classes, workshops, forays and the annual mushroom parade down main street will be a high end gourmet mushroom and wine benefit at the Telluride Convention Center in the Mountain Village the evening of Aug. 17th. Both Stamets and Lincoff will speak at the banquet. For more info, mail Kate Wadley at highlandskate@yahoo.com or call her at
970.729.1375 … And happy ‘shrooming!
©
2004 Art Goodtimes
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Dea's Kitchen: Think Global - Shop Local
by Dea Jacobson
Summer's here, in full
swing, and local produce is at it's finest at our local farmer's markets. In
this month's article I'll list the locations of those markets and give you a
recipe for Gazpacho to prepare from all those fresh veggies! As I advocate for
buying local produce, I hope that, as you shop in the grocery store, you will
remind the managers of the produce departments that, while it might be more
convenient to stock peaches and other produce that are grown elsewhere, the
most delicious and nutritious ones come from right here in our own valleys. As
the organization Food First says in their latest newsletter,
"producing and marketing more food locally can help alleviate both global
climate change and rural poverty".
Now for the list of
farmers' markets, held regularly in our region. Ridgway's is on Sundays
9am-1pm between the Subway and the Super 8. There are 2 in Montrose:
Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:30am-1pm on South 1st Street. Telluride's
market is on Fridays from noon-5pm on Oak Street. Paonia's market is
held on Mondays from 4-6:30pm at 3rd and Grand at the Paonia.com parking lot. Cedaredge
has a new market just starting on Saturdays at the Plant It Earth parking lot
on Highway 65. Delta's 2 markets are on Wednesdays from 5-8pm on 4th
Street, with a free concert, too, while the other market is held on both
Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9am-noon at 5th and Meeker west of the Fire
Station. Grand Junction also has 2 markets. One is at the Teller Arms
Shopping Center on North Avenue from 7am-noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays and
the other is on Main Street, from 4-8:30pm on Thursdays. Fruita's
farmers reach out to you at the Civic Center Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 5-8pm and on Saturdays from 8am to noon.
Shop often and these
markets, and, if you have kids, take them along. For that matter, take them
right to the farms, if you can. The Valley Organic Growers have a listing of
many of the organic farms in our area on their website, www.voga.org. Or call
them at 527-4541 for a directory. The sooner kids experience where food comes
from, the sooner they will learn to become responsible consumers! So, look for
those "U-Pick" fruit signs and make an outing out of it!
So, a now for that
gazpacho recipe! This serves 8, perhaps, and is adapted from the Colorado
Cache Cookbook.
Gazpacho
3 Large tomatoes
1 green bell pepper
1 cucumber
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green
onion
4 cups tomato juice
2 chopped avocados
5 tablespoons red wine
vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Finely chop all
vegetables by hand or in a food processor. Combine all ingredients in a
non-metallic bowl and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serve cold
with a dollop of sour cream and fresh croutons, for garnish!
Thanks to KVNF
for the listing of farmers' markets and to the farmers, who feed us all!
Dea Jacobson is the
director of Blue Heron Yoga and Fitness and is a registered Yoga teacher and
therapist, nutritional consultant and Religious Science Practitioner. She can
be reached at www.blueheronyoga.com, at 970 856 4905, or at Box 95 in
Cedaredge, Co. Her classes and private lessons are held in Delta, Cedaredge,
and Grand Junction.
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Do We Discriminate in Preschool Sports?
by Jill Burkey
Title IX, the landmark
legislation banning sex discrimination in schools in academics or athletics,
passed in 1972, the year I was born. I grew up in the luxury of Title IX's
protection without even being aware of its existence. Lately I wonder if some
people of my generation (including me at times) take our freedoms for granted
and are gravitating back towards pre-Title IX era values. It's subtle, but
recently I've noticed some interesting phenomenon's regarding sports and young
children.
My son was in a sports
camp this summer for four to six year olds that covered five sports - one each
a day. There were lots more boys at the camp than girls, and as I pondered the
group, I wondered what the girls would do on football day. As soon as I had the
thought, I scolded myself. After all, I loved football when I was in grade
school!
Last year when I worked
at a daycare in a local gym, I noticed that whenever we offered to take a group
outside or to play in a racquetball court, we made sure to ask all of the boys
if they wanted to go, because they were usually more rambunctious. We didn't
push the girls as hard to go because they were more content and didn't seem to
need to blow off steam as much as the boys did.
In my 22 month-old
daughter's gymnastics class, girls outnumber boys 3 to 1. When I had my son in
gymnastics around the same age, he was sometimes the only boy in his class, yet
gymnastics is an Olympic sport for both men and women.
I have two concerns
about the observations I made. One is that I'm afraid we're not giving young
girls the same opportunities in sports as we are young boys, and secondly, I'm
concerned we're splitting our children into traditional gender roles too early,
thus shrinking their opportunities. Title IX protects kids once they get to
school, but what about before that? What kinds of attitudes, thoughts and
feelings about sports do kids already have before they get to Kindergarten?
We've all heard stories of fathers who can't wait to get a ball and glove in
their son's hands, but who don't motivate their daughters in the same way. If girls do gravitate towards quieter
activities, is it because they actually prefer them, or is it because they
don't have the encouragement and confidence they need to be more active? If
they're never inspired to throw a ball, how will they ever develop their
eye-hand coordination and get good at it?
I was lucky to be raised
by parents who made me feel like I could do anything. I hope I'll be a careful
steward of that sentiment and give my children the same confidence and
opportunities.
Jill Burkey is a
freelance writer & stay-at-home mother of 2 children. She has a B.S. in
English, Business, and Secondary Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University
& provides professional writing services through Word Wise, Ink. Contact
Jill at 255-7348 or at burkey@frontier.net.
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Peaceful Contributions for the Soul
by
Kathy Gates
August a time of
harvesting the sweet corn beans and squash.
The Earth now giving us back the harvest of the seeds planted in the
spring. There is a story about the Three Sisters, I would like to share with
you. This is a story that Nimimosha of the Bear Tribe once told about the corn,
beans and squash and how the Three Sisters got their names.
In long ago times, the
people of the Eastern Woodlands lived in abundance and in harmony with Mother
Earth, and learned about life by watching and listening for her voices. There
were three girls who wanted to visit relatives in another village. It happened that they were sister, born to
the same mother. Nonetheless, the three
girls had not learned to get along.
They were always quarreling, disagreeing, arguing, and criticizing each
other. They had very few friends, but they did have relatives, and when they
began to wish for companionship and the warmth of other humans, they visited
their relatives. It was a morning’s walk
to the village where their relatives lived.
One day they started out
toward the other village, Inevitably, it was not long before the girls began
finding fault with each other. The girls walked and fought most of the
morning. An hour before they reached
the village of their relatives, they became so loud and angry that the people
of the village could already hear them “Oh , no,” they moaned. “It’s those girls. Why do they have to come here?
In the village, an old
woman came out of her lodge. She stood in front of her lodge waiting The girls were very involved in their
quarreling, and they didn’t notice the old woman until they were almost at her
house. The old woman’s stern look startled them.
The old grandmother took
the girls inside her lodge. “Look this
way,” she instructed, and she led them to an opening that served as a window.
“Tell me what you see in the garden.
Tell me how it is out there, “ urged the old woman.
“There’s tall corn,
Grandmother,”said one of the girls.
“Its roots are in the earth, but its tassels reach hick toward the sun
and wind, and it is growing good food for the people”. “And there are beans,” said the second
girl. “They are growing with the corn,
and their vines wind around the tall corn stalks. I cannot tell which plant is holding the other up, but the beans
are also growing good food for the people.” “And the squashes are growing there
too,” said the third girl. Their
beautiful big leaves shade the mo9ist earth to keep the water in, and it helps
the corn and beans to grow And these
vines are also growing good food for the people.”
“You are right,” the
grandmother said. “All three of you have told part of the truth, and only when
each of you had spoken was the whole story told. Like the three sisters growing in the garden, the corn, the beans
and the squash, each of you has a gift for the people. Your gifts will not ripen to their fullness,
though, unless you do as the plants do, and help each other, and grow together.
“And now,”she said, “I
have a gift for you. It is only one
gift for the three of you, so you must learn to share, and you must not quarrel
over this gift, for it is a reminder of the lesson you have learned today.”
Out of a birch bark
basket, the old woman drew a belt of wampum beads made of pure white shell.
“Take this belt with you now, whenever you are together, or whenever people
cannot find harmony with each other It
will give you strength to help them.
You will not bicker with each other any more, because every time you do,
one of these beads will turn black and spoil the belt. When people see that
even you three girls can learn to love and help each other, they will be
inspired by your example. “
Many peoples on this
continent of Turtle Island still grow the three sisters together in their
gardens, just as there ancestors did in ancient times .That is the story of
corn, beans and squash. Corns beans and
squash have tremendous culinary and nutritional value. They are the dietary staples of many
cultures worldwide. Not only do these plants complement each other when
they grow but they also provide a complete balanced meal when eaten together.
Remember to thank Great
Spirit for providing us with this beautiful earth and all she gives to us. Our food, clothing and shelter. All of our
needs are met, and we can give thanks to earth for continuously providing for
us. With gratitude and love for all life and the divine plan of Creator.
Blessings to all living
beings. Kathy Gates
wsretreat@aol.com or visit our website for upcoming retreats and programs
www.womensspiritretreats.com.
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Heart Healthy
© Anne Calzada Herbalist
With the energy of
Summer and the Sun to soon be in Leo, I think of the matters of the heart.
According to the five-element theory, Summer is the season that governs the
heart.
Interestingly enough the
astrological sign of Leo rules the heart, so voila!!
The cardiovascular
system consists of the heart, veins, blood vessels and blood.
The function is to
distribute oxygen, and nutrients to cells, .To exchange wastes out of the
cells, assisting to regulate body temperature and to form blood clots. The
heart pumps blood through the body. Approximately 3,000 gallons of blood per
day to the lungs which all blood must pass through to obtain oxygen. The blood
pressure is determined by the contraction of the heart muscle, the volume of
blood and blood vessels themselves. It changes with each beat of the heart. The
systolic (highest, is when the heart pumps and the diastolic(lowest) is when
the heart fills up. Normal blood pressure is 110-120/70-80mm.
There are different factors
that affect one's blood pressure such as age, weight, diet, activity and stress
on all levels…physical, emotional, mental…
There are factors in
high and low blood pressure. High blood pressure or hypertension isat 140/90 or
higher and can manifest as headaches, anxiety, asthma, dizziness etc. Low blood
pressure or hypo tension is defined as 100 mm systolic. This manifests as
dizziness upon rising or sitting, light headedness, fatigue and poor
circulation.
Factors contributing to
poor cardiovascular health in general are lack of exercise, poor diet high in
fats, smoking, alcohol, caffeine consumption, obesity, high salt and sugar and
of course these things can lead to increased plaque and cholesterol build up.
Emotional matters of the heart contribute to our well-being. Heartbreak,
loneliness and depression may contribute or be a cause of imbalance in the
cardio system. Exercise is a key to lowering blood pressure, reducing stress
and strengthening heart function. Meditation and prayer must not be overlooked
in a stressed out fast paced world.
Foods that are
beneficial for the cardiovascular system are garlic, onions, cayenne, peppers,
vegetables, fruits such as bananas, seaweeds, whole grains and fiber such as
oats, brown rice, millet, quinoa, flax and pure water.
Supplementation of
well-known antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B-Complex, lecithin,
spirulina, essential fatty acids and CoQ10 are supportive.
There are many plants
that are indicated for the heart, including Ginkgo, which is a circulatory
stimulant, however, Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) is "the" cardiac
tonic and can be used safely with heart medications. It is a member of the Rose
family, which has long been associated with matters of the heart!
Hawthorn has the ability
to dilate the veins and arteries for freer blood flow, thus reducing
constriction and blockages. It is both preventative and treatable in matters of
the cardio system. It is rich in bio-flavinoids and Vitamin C, helping to
balance high or low blood pressure, angina, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis
and palpitations.
I highly recommend Hanna
Kroeger's "Circu-flow". This blend contains hawthorn and is used for
30 days for cleaning out the veins and arteries. It is truly an amazing
product. Thank you Hanna!!
Hawthorn Conserve
Put the hawthorn berries
in a pan, cover with apple juice and simmer for 15 minutes. Cover and let steep
overnight. Sweeten to taste. Add cinnamon or ginger to taste. Store in the
refrigerator and it should last for a few weeks.
Anne Calzada is a
Certified Herbalist and founder of Healing Heart Herbs. Her products can be
found at Food For Thought in Ridgway and at other fine natural health outlets.
For consultations or classes she may be reached at 626-5663 or by email
annecalzada@aol.com).
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ReConnections: A Look Back
The heritage of The Whole Life Network from the pages of Connections.
One Year Ago**It
was announced that Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer would be the speaker at the
Wednesday Night Wisdom free lecture series on August 11th.
**Anne Calzada in her
monthly column on herbs: “Essential oils are great for the skin because they
absorb directly through the many layers of the skin, increasing cellular
regeneration and healing”.
Five Years Ago**”Roland
Holzworth’s invitation to the Dances of Universal Peace: “We will have this
dance event on August 12th and 13th beginning with a
potluck dinner at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday then dancing through the evening”.
**Rev. Arlyn Macdonal
had strong feelings about the contributions of elders: “Elders are
healers. Throughout all the phases of
human development, the skills we learn prepare us for this final phase, that of
healer”.
Ten Years Ago**”The
workshop with the Dosseys is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, from 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion.
It is entitled “Science & Spirituality: What does the Future
Hold?””.
**Christine Knight wrote
about her new home on the Western Slope: “On first meeting this land, all I
could see was its physical appearance.
Yet I find now that my eyes no longer seek out its coarse
packaging. The land has revealed its
soul to me and the view is breathtaking.
I realize I am home”.
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The Miracle of Memories
by Dr. Jerry Overton
Recently I led a
memorial service for Vonnie, the mother of a close friend. While I knew Vonnie
and had spent some time with her through the last several years, I didn’t know
her nearly as well as did most of those who attended the service. To set the
context for our gathering, I used that familiar passage from Paul’s letter to
the church at Rome in which he asks the rhetorical question: “Who shall
separate us from the love of God?”
In preparation for the
service, I was thinking about the rich life Vonnie had led, and the love she
had shared with those in her life. I was recalling my own memories of her, and
had decided to invite those who would gather to share some of their memories of
her. In my own remembering of Vonnie and of my time with her, I noticed that it
was as if she was still there with me. And then it dawned on me how important
memories of our loved ones are, and how we can go to them any time we want to
re-live the experiences we’ve had together. With our stored memories, we aren’t
dependent on the other being physically present with us. We can “visit” them
any time we want. And what’s more they don’t even have to still be alive for us
to be present together.
Think what a miracle
that is! For what if the only way we could be with another was to be physically
present with them What an inconvenience that would be. For oftentimes, they may
be half-way around the world, and then we might never have the chance to be
with them. Or, as with Vonnie, they may already have made their transition, and
then they would be gone forever.
The miracle of memories
is that we can be present to another anytime we choose, in the blink of an eye.
And that miracle allows us to do things we might never be able to do
otherwise—like finish some unfinished business with someone who has already
made their transition, or just bask in the “presence” of one we love so we
don’t feel alone. And as we share our memories with others, our pool of
memories grows and broadens, as does the depth and expanse of our relationship
with that person.
As those at Vonnie’s
service shared their various memories of time spent with her, I found that I
was beginning to know her much better, to have more appreciation for the life
she had lived, to feel her presence in many new and different ways, and to feel
closer to her than I ever had before. Perhaps that’s what Paul had in mind when
he went on to say to those in the church at Rome that “nothing shall ever
separate us from the love of God”. And now, with my increased memories of
Vonnie, I know that nothing can ever separate Vonnie from me. For we are bound
together by God’s love as evidenced in the memories, and the miracle is that I
can call up her presence at any time, in the blink of an eye, whenever I want
or need to experience her again in my life.
So, here’s what I
suggest. Get with those you love, and share your memories together. Build up
your memory banks. Prepare and equip yourself with a great storehouse of
memories so that you can draw on those memories whenever you want, whether the
other is physically present or not. Then, nothing can ever separate you from
those you love—ever—no mater what. you will never, ever be alone again!
Now, that’s a miracle!
Copyright
©2005 Dr. Jerry D. Overton
Jerry is a Master
Certified Coach and director of The Center for Personal and Spiritual Growth,
600 S. Park. He can be reached at 970-252-9311, and he welcomes your call!
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New Business Member Profile:
Center for Creative Change
by Laurel Ann Browne,
FAA, C.Ht., CAC II
As we begin to recognize
the new generation of exceptional children for the last decade more is being
done by Professionals, Teachers and Parents globally to introduce alternative
solutions to challenges of both child and adults. Laurel Ann has been our monthly columnist writer on this subject
and our community is now sharing in that recognition. These children have been coming in for over 20 years and are the
global pioneers of light to increase this planet’s dire need for evolved
consciousness. Unfortunately, many were
misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD/Bi-Polar which again is being addressed with more
awareness and community outreach participation. Laurel Ann began a New Children Support Group for Parents,
Teachers and Supportive Adults to help identify exceptional and troubled
children The introduction of new ways to encourage and nurture by learning
redirecting behavior for parents who are desperate, in need of a new
understanding of how to encourage their children in a different way. The old
ways just aren’t working.. When parents and teachers identify talents and
abilities of each child individually, self-esteem can be achieved through
better choices. There IS a win-win alternative, but we must change our own
thinking.
These new parenting
techniques work NOW. We have also
sponsored a New Youth Group for Exceptional Teens which is also growing with
enthusiasm. We welcome anyone wishing
to participate with these groups.
Laurel Ann has been a
previous and present Business Board Member of the WLN with Visionary Counseling
for the past three years and has incorporated the Center for Creative Change
for new self-empowerment classes, workshops and support groups. She has been an
integrative holistic counselor for over 30 years. A member of the International
Association of Counselors and Therapists and is a certified Hypnotherapist and
State of Colorado Certified Drug and
Alcohol Counselor. She is also
certified with the (AFA) and (NCGR) American Federation of Astrologers, and
specializes in the children’s behavior patterns through the use of the
Astrology Chart, which is the DNA blueprint
of your soul destiny. She has
noticed this generational change in many young people’s charts, helping to
identify their special purpose, talents, gifts, challenges and potential. She is a studied homeopathy/herbalist and
has compared an alternative solution to drugs. Her soul centered approach to
practical solutions stem from studies of Eastern and Western philosophies as
well as the American Indian tradition.
She uses and teaches Color Healing Therapy, Meditation, Stress
Management, Numerology (Name identification) the use of crystals and gemstones
and hypnotherapy The main focus of the
Center for Creative Change is self-empowerment, helping yourself so
that you can help your child. With
conscious parenting “World Peace” begins at home. She is now currently training
with International Network For Children & Families (INCAF) parenting course
on “Redirecting Children’s Behavior” and will be giving seminars all over the
State of Colorado. A CASA Court Appointed Advocate for “Voices for Children”
gives her the experience with at-risk youth and young adults.
Monthly Support Groups
(no fee) can be seen each month in our Calendar of Events Connections
Newsletter. For more information: 970-249-1345 - 970-596-6027
astronumerotherapy.net or laurelann@bresnan.net.
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