ARTICLES
Adams
and Davis Elected To Board
The
Work - A Look Back
Meditations:
Soapbox of the President
Remembering
Aztlán
Dea's
Kitchen: Harmonious Holiday Eating
Peaceful
Contributions for the Soul
Homeopathic
Help For Companion Animals
All
About Herbs: Demystifying Earth’s Gifts
On
Loan
Reach
out and touch …
Dolphins
as healers
Busy?
What's
Up on Planet Earth? FREEDOM!
Candle
Lighting In Memory of All Children Who Have Died
Adams and Davis Elected To Board
Whole Life Network Release
No, their first names aren't John Quincy and Jefferson.
Cheryl Adams and Kim Davis were elected to the Board of
Directors of The Whole Life Network at the Annual Membership
Meeting held on November 14th. Cheryl Adams has recently moved
from Crawford to Delta and has opened Sole and Soul Therapy at
307 East main in Montrose. She participated in the Expo last
year at Bill Heddles and made a memorable appearance last
summer at the Friday Night Forum. Kim Davis is the proprietor
of Wind Spirit Gifts in Montrose, and, she too, is a recent
arrival, having moved here from Denver. Kim has been
instrumental in organizing classes and events at her business
which is located at 612 East Main St. in Montrose.
The turnout for the Annual Membership Meeting was
extraordinary and included three or four prospective new
members who came to find out about The Whole Life Network. A
potluck dinner started the festivities off on the right foot.
The agenda that followed was a little long, but all
participants demonstrated great patience. Officers gave repots
on activities, financial and membership. A polling of member
opinion on the newsletter Connections and the Friday Night
Forum was conducted. Josh Hayward, who along with Polly Cady
are co-hosts of our radio show, Connections, gave us a preview
of potential shows for 2004. The prospects for Biopharming in
our valley were examined by Noaloni Terry, President of the
Uncompahgre Valley Association. The Western Colorado Friends
of Tibet was represented by Bill Duckworth, who made a
proposal to include a program on "Free Tibet" at the Expo next
March. Member, Elizabeth Roscoe, gave a short progress report
on her aid program for African women.
The Whole Life Network will be minus the valued services of
Directors, Bill Leyva, Anthony Sandoval, and Laurel Ann
dePontriband all of whom are moving from Montrose this month.
They will be greatly missed, and we wish them an easy and
prosperous move to their new homes. The new Board will elect
officers for 2004 at the Board meeting on December 1st and get
down to work on activities for the new year.
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The Work - A Look Back
By Larry Lemser
For those who were there at The Work of Byron Katie and the
celebration of the Harmonic Concordance, the weekend of
November 7th and 8th will be embedded vividly in our memories.
If there was anyone that was not impressed by the
effectiveness of the workshop and in the beauty of our
Harmonic Concordance observance, they didn't voice that
opinion. Typical of the reactions to The Work of Byron Katie
was that of Heidi Hotsenpiller. For the record, she stated,
"Friday night launched us directly into "The Work". We were
handed a card requesting we write out a grievance, something
we had been carrying around in our psyches that was about to
drive us nuts (well, those are my words, not the presenters).
We then immediately began the unraveling process. I thought
"piece of cake, I can do this..." Saturday made me realize
that, although Simple, this was NOT Easy. We went through a
variety of exercises to uncover the truth behind our beliefs.
It was hard work, emotional, inspiring, and, maybe a wee bit
embarrassing...as in "fill out these 20 lines with 20 separate
grievances you carry"...can I have another sheet...and
another?!?! Oh my gosh, have I got my work cut out for me! At
least now I have a system for dealing with it! If you get a
chance to attend a workshop in the future, go! "
Is there anyone that can remember an event sponsored by The
Whole Life Network that did not include musical entertainment
by David and Tamara Hauze? On November 7th and 8th, they were
at it again with class and flair. Our community is fortunate
to have these talented and blessed spirits in our midst. Three
graduates of the school for The Work of Byron Katie, Aspen
residents, journeyed to Montrose to lead the workshop.
Everyone who interacted with these three, Adam Lewis, Tricia
MacKenzie and Christie Interlante, were impressed by their
devotion to assisting fellow beings and in sharing there love.
Our own Adrianna Heiderman, also a graduate of the school of
Byron Katie, proved to be an able assistant.
About 5:00 PM on Saturday, we closed the Byron Katie
portion of the weekend with feedback to Adam and Tricia on our
experience of the past 24 hours. Then we readied ourselves for
the Harmonic Concordance ceremony. Backed by the inspirational
music and vocals of David and Tamara Hauze and Brenda Suiter,
Reverend Kay Spinden of The Center of Religious Science in
Delta led the group in prayer and meditation. Outside, the
total lunar eclipse was in process, ushering in a period of
increased human spiritual awareness. Our prayers for peace and
prosperity for all mingled with those of untold thousands of
others worldwide. Indeed, it was a weekend that we will all
recall as the world moves ever closer to harmony and love.
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Meditations: Soapbox of the President
By Larry Lemser
It's over, at least for now. This is the last Meditations
article because next year there will be a new President of The
Whole Life Network. This is a certainty because our by-laws
prohibit more than two successive terms for any elective
office on the Board of Directors. For that reason our two term
secretary, Polly Cady who served with great energy and
diligence, will also relinquish office. This all comes about
because of one of the noteworthy accomplishments of the past
two years. In March of 2002 during my first year as President
that over seventy-five percent of our membership voted to
adopt a new set of by-laws. Under Article 6, Section 3 of this
document, "Officers may be elected for two succeeding years
only."
Perhaps we should have entitled this article Reflections as
I now find myself thinking a lot about the past two years. One
of the other changes incorporated in the new By-laws is that
the term of office of the Directors will be three years.
Apparently this has already added a great element of
continuity to our Board and, thus, to our day-to-day
operations. I can say this because the turnover of Board
Members has been reduced dramatically. This year, for
instance, there have been no resignations of Board Members
during the year. And for 2004 we had only one opening on the
Board due to the fact that Bill Leyva is moving to Oregon.
This new stability makes it much easier for us to work with
organizations and individuals such as Smart Shelter. Gary
Duncan has often repeated his frustration with having to
"break-in" a new Board when he has approached the Whole Life
Network with a request to administer one of his grants. We are
proud to report to Gary and others that The Whole Life Network
has been here for over fourteen years, and we have the
foundation, heritage and stability to be here for many years
into the future. On December 3rd, too late for the news to be
include in this article, The Whole Life Network Board will
elect a new President. I commit my total energy and loyalty to
the new President. Who knows, perhaps, like President Clinton,
there will be an opportunity for me to serve again in the
years to come.
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Remembering Aztlán
A Column of Poetry, Culture & Spirit
by Art Goodtimes
LONELIEST HIGHWAY … Route 50 across Utah and Nevada is
touted as the nation’s loneliest, and for a crosscountry road,
it is quiet. No four-lane speedways. No passing semis
barreling by at 80 mph … But there are lots of blue highways
with less traffic. And the rustic Nevada towns of Austin and
Eureka have certainly spruced up in the last few years. Nice
cafes. Espresso shops. Bed & breakfasts … It’s still a
maze trying to find the Highway 50 thread through Utah. You go
south. You go north. And then south again before you ever make
it west, where you’re headed … Still U.S. Highway 50 really
qualifies as a wonderfully scenic route. Spencer Hot Springs
in the Big Smokey Valley below Hickison Summit has to be one
of the loveliest undeveloped rest stops in the nation. …
Although, I’d have to admit, some of the local color has
changed en route. The Salt Wells brothel had just closed down
by the state health department outside Fallon, when we steamed
through on our journey out to see my dad in the Bay Area. And
the only Forest Service access where we could find to camp
outside Carson City and heading into the Sierras was a
burnt-over big pine forest in the very first stages of
recovery. Not exactly pretty, but interesting. And once you
get near Reno/Sparks and into California, Highway 50 is hardly
lonely, or even scenic really. Everyone drives a mile a
minute, here are billboards and less than attractive tourist
attractions around every curve, and your companion vehicles
are all shiny, sleek and often very big (mega-Winnebago-esque)
… To tell you the truth, if you want lonely and scenic, I’d
take State Highway 141 in Colorado over U.S. 50 anytime. Fact
is, every time I leave this state, I realize the best thing
about a trip away from Colorado is coming home.
OUR MOTORIZED CULTURE… What is it about our motorized
dependency on oil and polluting combustion engines that so
polarizes us as a society, and puts us into such denial?
People drive hundreds of miles with bikes or kayaks or rafts
on their rooftops to recreate, and then get incensed at locals
hot-rodding around on four-wheelers in the woods … Our cities
grow more and more unlivable with smog and bad air, even as we
fight overseas wars to keep up artificially low gasoline
prices … Tellurider Patrick Ray warns us that every time we
put a key into an ignition, we’re committing a crime against
nature. And he’s right. And yet most of us living in the rural
West have no other way to get to work, shop, take our kids to
school … How do we turn around a culture that celebrates a
lifestyle that consumes more of the world’s resources than our
numbers would suggest is fair? By developing our grease into
fuel? By pushing for more public transportation? By outlawing
fourwheelers? … Honestly, the older I get the less I know the
right answers here. I’ve been wrestling with these questions
ever since my mom told me not to stand behind our ‘40s Mercury
coupe as my brothers and I lined up to go to church because
the exhaust coming out the tailpipe was poison
… So, here it is 50 years later, and my own family has
three vehicles - one dependable used car for me to get to
Telluride and to go on trips to support Green causes, one last
legs Subaru with nine lives for my wife to get into and out of
Norwood, and an almost antique truck to haul water and wood
and materials (for our fixer-upper that’s always on something
of a downer). Then there’s the two-decades-old rototiller I
keep patched together for my organic garden. The el cheapo
weed-whacker I just got to subdue the exploding populations of
noxious invasives without using pesticides. The stored but not
forgotten chain saw I’ve stopped using to cut my own wood … If
I dare reflect on it, there are many ironies in my own crazy
quilt life. I’m almost afraid to examine my own inconsistent,
compromised, self-indulgent, economically-driven motorized
use. Let alone lecture others. Jet planes. Hummers.
All-terrain toys … Still, it’s our collective job to work our
way through these issues. To face the real ecological
footprint we all leave behind in our collective wakes, and to
try to manage what we do to each other, and to the earth, with
both compassion and stewardship. Not demonizing the other’s
unwise use, without first addressing our own unwise use. And
trying to find a way to live with our neighbors, with their
different value systems, and still work towards a vision of a
New West where pollution and forward motion are not
synonymous.
ODI ET AMO … I love my polka-dotted red Amanitamobile
pickup even though it’s 30 some years old (and precisely
because it’s been my roadside companion for 24 of those
years). Even though it was made to run on lead-based gas. Even
though I now have to leave the windows open to not get
asphyxiated from carbon monoxide fumes. And even though it
currently gets pulled along ahead of the mushroom festival
with the engine turned off -- as no one likes the smell of its
exhaust at the head of the parade, least of all me … Yes, it’s
sick. This motorized addiction. Conflicted. Barely recognized.
Omnipresent. As inconsistent as Abbey’s Cadillacs. I admit it.
But, pretty or not, it’s also true.
© 2003 Art
Goodtimes
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Dea's Kitchen: Harmonious Holiday Eating
By Dea Jacobson
This time of year, with its abundance of harvests and
holiday celebrating gives us many opportunities to bring the
element of the sacred into mealtimes. Eating, and sharing a
meal is a wonderful act of sadhana, or ritual. Whether you
celebrate Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, or Hanakkah,
delicious ethnic and traditional recipes abound.
In coming months, this column will explore simplifying our
kitchens, preparing regional foods in season, being attentive
of the energies we bring into the kitchen (very important, so
stay tuned), seasonal choosing of spices, grains and the
cooking methods to compliment them, and other tidbits of
cooking magic.
For this issue we learn to prepare a staple of my kitchen,
Ghee, or clarified butter. Ghee enhances the flavor of any
dish, and aids digestion. If your cholesterol is high, use
Ghee, like all fats, in moderation or not at all. In
preparation, the milk solids are separated from the butterfat,
and since butterfat has no lactose, people who cannot
otherwise use dairy products can use Ghee. Use Organic Valley
brand as it is the only cultured, unsalted butter now
available. Butter that is uncultured or salted will not make
Ghee. The recipe is adapted from Rebecca Wood's Be Nourished
Workbook.
Using very clean utensils, simply place 1/2 pound of butter
in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and maintain a soft, rolling boil. The butter will
foam and crackle. Stir gently. After 10 - 15 minutes, it will
be ready when the crackling noise stops, the foaming ceases,
it begins to smell like popcorn and caramel, turns golden, and
the sediment sinks to the bottom and turns a light tan color.
If left too long, it will foam again and burn, so be mindful.
Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Strain through a piece
of cheesecloth or a fine strainer into a sterile glass jar.
Makes 3/4 cup. Ghee will keep for 4 months or so without
refrigeration, so always use a clean spoon or knife to dip
into it, and keep from introducing anything spoilable into the
jar.
Our holiday rituals bring us full circle to regain the
spirit of fraternity and community of our ancestors, says Maya
Tiwari in Ayurveda, A Life of Balance. Because "love is not an
emotion, it is our ultimate state of being, and when you
prepare a wholesome meal for yourself, family and friends, it
is love" in action. And what better time of the year to bring
tour loving selves into the kitchen? Enjoy, my friends.
(Dea Jacobson is the Director of Blue Heron Yoga, Fitness
and Wellness of Cedaredge, CO. A Member of the International
Association of Yoga Therapists and a licensed Religious
Science Practitioner, she is a graduate of Rebecca Wood's
Naturally Grand Cooking School and can be reached on the web
at http://www.blueheronyoga.com/,
P.O. Box 95, Cedaredge, CO 81413, or at 970-856-4905. She
offers cooking and yoga classes in Delta, Cedaredge, Grand
Junction, Fruita and private, at home yoga sessions throughout
Western Colorado)
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Peaceful Contributions for the Soul
By Kathy Gates
December is a beautiful time of year for Giving. And is it
also a beautiful time of year to be full of gratitude for all
that we have.
Going into a peaceful meditation within our beings, within
our hearts, within our Souls, and welling up with gratitude
for the gifts of sight, being able to see with our eyes our
life, and being able to perceive what we see. Also the gift of
smell, imagine what it would be like not to smell, enjoying
the aroma's of fresh pine, fresh flowers or fresh air. Being
able to hear all the sounds of nature, of each others voices,
a babies first cry. Tasting life’s treats, ice cream, candy,
Christmas cookies, and being able to speak, having a voice in
this life. And the gift of our hands, that work so hard for
us, create writing, and helping us every day to complete our
tasks. Bodies that function in so many ways automatically
without question
Being thankful for the gift of walking or riding a bike, or
even driving a car. All gifts that we all take for granted
every day.
We, each and every one of us, should be Thankful for all we
have been given, the Gift of Life.
Meditate on Gratitude for several minutes or longer. See
what comes through. I'll just bet you come up with more. Like
our families, friends and loved ones. All gifts. The air we
breathe the sunshine that warms us. Our food, our clothing.
Having a home or place to dwell, along with a warm bed to
sleep in. A telephone to talk on.
Make a list of all you have received in your meditation.
You will be overwhelmed with the amounts of gifts we receive
every day and take for granted.
By giving we receive. Find some wonderful ways that you can
give of yourself freely, with no strings attached, it will
bring you the gift of Joy, the great feeling of Holiday
Cheer.
Every year I give the gift of Love to the Children at St.
Luke’s, as well as St. Jude’s. These children who have cancer
and are so strong, and fighting to live. This year I will sell
Christmas Soaps, if you are interested in helping me on this
quest, call me. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Peace and Blessings. More on meditation to come ..
(Kathy Gates may be contacted at Women's Spirit Retreat,
856-7665)
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Homeopathic Help For Companion Animals
Daniel’s Story
MVC Release
Growing up, Daniel always had dogs-German Shepherd, Boston
Terriers… But he took them pretty much for granted until Mate
entered and transformed his life.
In 1989, Daniel lost his five-year-old son to a
degenerative kidney disease. “I was extremely angry and
confused, got heavily into drinking to try and ease the pain.”
He was dog-less at this point: “didn’t have time for a
dog.”
After a couple of miserable years, Daniel says, “I knew I
had a problem and needed help… I’d ruined all my
relationships… I was an empty hole and chased everybody out if
they tried to get close. I’d ask myself: how could I love
again after a situation like this?”
Daniel sought guidance from a wise monk who lived at the
Christ in the Desert Monastery. He suggested Daniel get a dog.
“And when you are capable of doing everything that dog does
for you-to love unconditionally-then you will have the
capacity to love another human being.”
So Daniel got an Australian Cattle Dog. Mate was an
eight-week-old blue merle puppy who taught his human companion
for seven years. “Then he was run over by a bus right in front
of me.”
Devastation. “I had a new wife, a new outlook, a great
career and clients… Mate had taught me about acceptance of a
power higher than myself. He was always asking ‘What can I do
to please you?’ and ‘What can we do to have fun?’ Mate was
truly a gift from above, and he taught me to accept myself.
Then he was snatched away from me, and all the old emotions
came up. But I realized it was a test of faith. I realized it
was okay-just barely okay-and I would survive.”
Daniel adopted another dog-a Rescue dog. “I had been saved
by a dog, so I thought I should save one.” Azul, was another
blue Cattle Dog, a real character who has endeared himself to
everyone at Morningstar. But not long ago Azul began to suffer
from disk degeneration, a painful condition he bears in stoic
silence. “And for the first time,” Daniel says, “I didn’t
think about how losing him would make me feel. I want to do
what’s best for the dog. When I crossed that bridge, I
realized I’d finally learned the lesson of life. I learned how
to be responsible. Dogs are living beings and need to be
treated that way.”
Daniel had become so fond of his blue dogs that he named
his company after them. Two Bostons have also joined the
household: Trick, another Rescue, and ‘Sammy the Psycho Dog.”
Happily, Azul is doing well now, yet Daniel knows someday he
will have to let him go. But he’ll always have the lessons
taught by the blue dogs-the lessons of unconditional love.
(Call 249-8022 or email morningstar@montrose.net
Dr. Bettye Hooley and Dr. Diane Clark)
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All About Herbs: Demystifying Earth’s Gifts
Holiday Emergency Kit (Final Column of the Series)
By Alan Joel
It’s that time of year again - turkey, stuffing, excessive
food and sugar, and the stress of visiting relatives! To help
your holiday season stay merry, try these quick remedies for
common ailments. Most are available at your health food store
or at http://www.prosperity-abounds.com/.
*Alpha Sun and Q10: Too much shopping? Too little energy?
Two Alpha Suns and two CoEnzyme Q10s will perk you up!
*Acidophilus: Feel a cold or flu coming on? Take 6-10 at
once, then 2 every 2 hours to stop the cold or flu before it
starts.
*Enzymes: Take 2 with and between meals to help with
overeating, stomach upset, sleepiness after meals or general
cleansing.
*Ume Plum Tar: Quickly gets rid of stomach viruses, flus
and other ailments. Restores natural ph balance in the
digestive tract. Be sure and use the tar formula, not the
pills.
*Chamomile: Homeopathic remedy that helps release tension
and normalize sleep patterns during times of stress. Take 30c
strength.
*Arnica: Homeopathic remedy that eases all forms of muscle
strain quickly. Take 30c strength.
*Rescue Remedy: Flower
essence that helps with any kind of trauma or stress - mental,
physical or spiritual.
*Glycothymelene: An old Edgar Cayce remedy that clears
blocked sinuses (snort it) or eases sore throats (gargle it).
Hundreds of other uses, too.
[Alan Joel may be contacted at 323-8631 or email ravenwindstar@earthlink.net]
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On Loan
By Judith Boice, N.D., L.Ac.
Today I stopped at the library to choose books and a new
video for my twin toddler boys. Once a member of a children’s
book-of-the-month-club, my wallet has grown too thin to
justify anything more than necessities: baby-sitters,
red-taped organic bananas, and malpractice insurance.
I think of my mom peddling us kids to the library. I
learned how to write my name when I was four years old so that
I could have my own library card. Mom knew how to stretch
$1000 over a year to support a family of five. The library was
part of that miracle.
Tonight I bring home another stack of books. I felt the
same excitement unwrapping the package from the children’s
book club. The only difference is that the books are free (as
long as I return them on time), a loan against all of us
taxpayers’ generosity. I marvel at the whole concept of
libraries. Some creative genius envisioned this resource: free
and open to the public, treasures of knowledge for all who
would avail themselves.
On loan, yet the boys’ excitement lasts about the same
length of time, whether the book is bought or borrowed. The
boys greet my arrival with excited squeals. I drop the books
in the front hallway and begin to prepare dinner. I catch
sight of Sebastian sitting in the corner carefully, even
lovingly, turning the pages.
On loan. I tell the boys to be more careful with these
books. "These are not our books," I explain. "We have to treat
them extra nicely because they’re borrowed."
On loan. I think of Kahlil Gibran and his great teaching
about children in The Prophet: “Your children are not your
children. They are the sons and the daughters of Life’s
longing for itself. They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”
On loan, my children are. Do I remember to treat them more
carefully, more kindly, than something that "belongs" to me?
How easily I fall into thinking I own my children. As a single
mom, aren’t I the breadwinner, primary comforter,
boundary-maker, head priestess, poopy diaper washer, "owie"
kisser, and punching bag? Don’t I have controlling interest in
this common stock known as "my sons"?
No. Like the generous library system that trusts me to
return common property, Creator has loaned me two souls to
nurture. In my best moments, I treat the boys with extra
deference. They belong to the public of souls, the
commonwealth of spirit. I need to return them in good
condition. I pray that any "wear" will be from pats and
snuggles and howling tickle fights. I pray that I will return
these boys well read (from careful listening), well worn (from
fond handling) and well loved.
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Reach out and touch …
By M. Akal Kaur Wieting
"Reach out and touch, Somebody’s hand, Make this world a
better place, If you can."
"Take a little time out of your busy day, to give
encouragement, to someone who’s lost the way, Or would I be
talking to a stone, if I asked you, to share a problem that’s
not your own. We can change things if we start giving. Reach
out and touch, somebody’s hand, Make this world a better place
if you can."
This song, popularized by Diana Ross and written by Ashford
and Simpson, was a hit in the 1960’s, a time of much political
and moral conflict in this country. The words, however, seem
poignant, especially as we move into the coldness of winter
and the holiday season. As people turn their minds towards
family, gift giving, good friends and food, let us also
remember those who live on the streets or in the shelters of
our very own communities. The number of homeless are rising
more every day, including some of our school children, and
families who very quietly suffer their circumstances, pray,
and humbly ask for help from various agencies who are
desperately trying to find an indoor place for them to be
overnight in the worst of our cold weather season. Most often,
as I’ve learned recently, the people have to leave the
shelters during the day and try to find food and warmth
through a soup kitchen, if one would happen to be
available.
My attention is particularly drawn to those who lose their
homes and/or families through fires, job loss, illness,
addictions, war...unexpected events we have heard of in recent
times. I know many people are just trying to feed their own
families; and, there are those who may think, "Well, it’s
their karma, not ours." The Law of Karma (what goes around,
comes around ~ as ye sow, so shall ye reap) is not ours to
decide. To stop cycles in our individual and planetary
circumstances, we must make a positive change within,
regardless of how we justify what is happening. "Passing the
buck" stops here.
One of my teachers, Yogi Bhajan, has taught this formula:
"Thought creates emotion; Emotion creates action; Action
creates re-action." When we need to change something in our
lives, we can first change the thought, which will effect the
end result. A change may not happen overnight, but sometimes
it may. The process is one of self-realization. The old
cliche, "We cannot change others, but we can change
ourselves", I find to be true. So, if we cannot individually
do something of a material nature for someone else, we can at
least create good thoughts for others, listen to people of all
ages, and offer words of encouragement. Look for the agencies
in your area. Volunteer, and be aware of those who quietly may
be suffering and need a "hand up" rather than a "hand out", as
one minister so aptly put it last Sunday in a memorial tree
and plaque dedication in Grand Junction, honoring "Those Who
Have Lost Their Lives With No Home". Regardless of seasons,
there is always someone in the world who can use a good
thought. Remember the children, and love. Blessings.
Biography:
Akal, a native of Texas, lived in California 21 years and
has been in Colorado since 1985. She was in Glenwood Springs
and the Roaring Fork Valley for twelve years with a holistic
health studio, Experiences in Awareness. She instructed
Kundalini Yoga and various Holistic Health classes at CMC and
other locations in Glenwood Springs, for various ages. Akal
moved to Grand Junction in February, 2003, where she is
pursuing other interests and inner pilgrimage adventures.
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Dolphins as healers
Guest Column By Debbie Wilson
Dolphins are magical creatures who have been on Earth for
some 25 million years, according to fossil evidence. The first
recorded studies of dolphins and dolphin behavior was
undertaken by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322
BC) in Historia Animalium, (The History of Animals). Aristotle
was the first to correctly claim that dolphins were mammals.
He observed that they bore their young alive and suckled them,
breathed air and communicated by underwater sounds.
Through the ages, people and dolphins have had a special
bond. There are many well-documented stories throughout
history of ancient mariners who were guided to safety by
dolphins. Dolphin insignias were commonly used on ancient
ships for protection.
The Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, tells the story of a
boy who rode on the back of a dolphin called Simo. Roman coins
dated at 74 BC depict this dolphin scene. There is a similar
story from Greece about a dolphin named Lassos, who fell in
love with a boy and took him far out to sea for dolphin rides.
As recently as October 2000, it was reported that a small boy
drowning off the coast of Italy was rescued and brought ashore
by a dolphin.
There are also many stories about dolphins and their
abilities as healers.
A Russian named Igor Charkovsky is well known for assisting
in underwater birthing. He has more than 20,000 underwater
births to his credit. He and his team had taken a woman to the
Black Sea for an underwater birth. They were preparing for the
birth, with the woman lying in about two feet of water. Three
dolphins approached, pushed everyone away and took over. The
dolphins appeared to scan up and down the woman’s body. The
woman gave birth with almost no pain or fear. This experience
with underwater birthing began a new practice of using
dolphins as midwives. This practice has now spread all over
the world.
Dr. John Upledger, D.O., O.M.M. is the founder of The
Upledger Institute which teaches CranioSacral Therapy and it’s
related modalities. He shares his experiences with dolphins in
his book, Your Inner Physician and You, CranioSacral Therapy
and SomatoEmotional Release.
He was a "medic" in the Coast Guard based out of Panama
City, Florida. His ship patrolled the Gulf of Mexico. During
the two years that he was with the Coast Guard, he and his
fellow crewmembers would occasionally jump off their ship into
the gulf to swim, when the ship was between 50 to 100 miles
from shore. He states that of the 75 to 100 times that he swam
in the gulf and the approximately 50 times that he
participated in row boat ventures between his ship and another
vessel, the dolphins were there every time. They would appear
as soon as the crew jumped into the water or got into their
boats and started rowing.
After leaving the Coast Guard Dr. Upledger opened his
medical practice in Clearwater Beach on the western coast of
Florida. He continued to have friendly dolphin encounters
during those years. He says that the dolphins were always
playful but very careful; seeming to know that he was fragile
and out of his natural element in the water and so took great
care to be very careful in their interactions with him. He
states, "I began to know, intuitively, that within the soul of
each dolphin I met was a very wise and powerful ability to
"heal" others and to understand our needs and pains. I also
understood that the dolphins care a great deal about us
humans, although we as a species have done precious little to
deserve this love and consideration."
As time went by, Dr. Upledger’s desire to create a working
relationship with one or more dolphins in the practice of
health care grew. In September of 1996 he opened a program at
the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida, where
patients were treated in the water along with the dolphins.
The dolphins were not in any way compelled to interact in the
healing sessions, but came to participate of their own free
will. Their participation consisted of circling the patient
and the therapists as they worked and at times touching the
patient or the therapists for short periods of time, thus
transferring their healing energy to the patient. Upledger and
his staff have experienced many remarkable therapeutic
results.2
Dr. Upledger also relates a story that happened some 30
years after his initial interactions with the dolphins in
1954.
While he was working at his dolphin-therapist program in
Grassy Keys, Florida. A dolphin named AJ initiated a close
relationship with him. On one occasion AJ exhibited a behavior
that was completely out of character for a dolphin according
to all previous observations. At the suggestion of the
trainer, Dr. Upledger extended his left palm face down on the
surface of the water. Within seconds, AJ was under his hand.
AJ began moving so that Dr. Upledger’s hand, which he was
holding still, began rubbing up and down his back. Then he put
his blowhole-his breathing apparatus-under Upledger’s hand so
that his palm covered it. The trainer became very upset,
stating that in her 18 years of experience she had never seen
this happen before. AJ kept his blowhole under Dr. Upledger’s
hand for a minute or so then began moving back and forth again
before he left.
Dr. Upledger states that during the interaction he felt the
dolphin’s energy go through him. He says, "I felt empowered,
and I had an innate sense that I would be able to tap into
this vibrational energy and use it in the future as it seemed
appropriate."
Shortly after this experience Upledger was in Edinburgh,
Scotland conducting a symposium. He was working on a patient
as a demonstration and as he worked he would explain what he
was doing and what was happening with the patient. He
encountered a strong resistance, energetically with the
patient and said aloud. "I’m going to use some "dolphin
energy" here." During the lunch break his audio technician
told him that when he had applied the "dolphin energy" the
static in his recording equipment also had increased
significantly. The technician later reported the same effect
each time Upledger applied this energy over the course of the
day.
After the symposium Upledger was approached by a women who
was participating in the event. She told him that she was in
her 60’s and was a professor of physical therapy at the
University of Edinburgh. She also told him that she didn’t
believe anything that wasn’t scientifically tested and she
didn’t believe in "dolphin energy". She told him that she had
experienced the static of the "dolphin energy" through her
hearing aid, which she had been wearing for 20 years. She said
that she had never experienced this static before and that the
static continued each time he used the "dolphin energy"
throughout the remainder of the symposium.
About a month after Upledger returned home form Scotland he
received a letter from this skeptical physical therapy
professor. She said that she still did not believe in "dolphin
energy", but she felt compelled to tell him that four days
after the symposium, she discovered that she no longer needed
her hearing aid. She said that she could now hear a watch
ticking with what was once her deaf ear.
Dr. Upledger says, "She wanted me to explain what had
happened. By then, I had learned that there are many useful
things you can rely on, but still can’t explain. Among these
are gravity, some electrical phenomena, and perhaps dolphin
energy."3
I have had the privilege and the honor to swim with the
dolphins in Hawaii many times. I also enjoy sharing this
joyous transformational experience with others.
1The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, Volume I By
Drunvalo Melchizedek, pp 193-194
2Your Inner Physician And
You,CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release By Dr.
John Upledger, D.O., O.M.M. pp 177 - 184; Working with
Dolphins
3My Dolphin Mentor Dr. John Upledger, D.O., O.M.M.
Article published in Massage Today November 2002 http://www.massagetoday.com/
(Debbie Wilson lives in Grand Junction, Colorado and can be
reached by telephone at (970) 263-4068. Or you can visit her
web site http://www.seek-erz.com/)
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Busy?
By Dr. Jerry Overton
"Busy-1. Full of activity, 2. In use, as a telephone , 3.
Too detailed."-Webster’s New World Dictionary
I don't know if it's just me or what. But it seems that the
word I'm hearing the most these days is "busy." My friends ask
me if I am. I ask them if they are. In fact, we begin many of
our interactions with the question as to just how much each of
us has been.
We don’t see each other much because one or the other of
is. And when we do manage to get together, we spend a great
deal of time talking about how much we are.
Because we are, we don't get enough rest, we don't play
enough, we don't commit to relationships, we don't make new
friends, and we rarely take a good long nap! And a real irony
is that we don't even get as much done as we'd like because we
are!
It's seen as the cause of a great deal of stress,
frustration, relational conflict, absenteeism, and
inattentiveness. It's blamed for poor parenting, lack of a
spiritual life, not getting exercise, and not taking the time
to cook ourselves a nurturing meal.
Like I said, I don't know if it's just me or what. But, we
all seem to be a busy people. And I'm concerned about
that.
And yet, we also seem to take a great deal of pride in the
fact that we are. We boast about it, and the more we are, the
louder we boast, to the point of, dare I say it, bragging!
We even look down on others who aren't-as if they’re some
sort of lazy derelict. And we say things like, "He/she just
needs to get a life!"
So, what is it about being "busy" that, well…makes us want
to be so busy? What do we get out of it?
Lest you think I'm just being a busybody, here are some of
my conclusions as to the payoffs, based on my own tendencies
as well as those I see in others.
1. Respect from our peers. If we're really busy, then we
must be important, and thus worthy of respect.
2. Good
reviews from our superiors. If we're busy every time they come
by our cubicle, then we're seen as a hard worker, and thus, by
extension, valuable to the company.
3. An increased measure
of self-esteem. We can remember being told how good we were by
our parents when we worked hard at cleaning our room, doing
homework, and taking out the trash. And now when we're busy,
we can still hear that voice in our heads saying, "Atta
boy/girl!"
4. An adrenaline rush. For many folks, caffeine
just doesn't do it any more, so they go for the next best drug
of choice. And adrenaline is both readily available and one of
the few legal drugs strong enough to do the trick!
5. A
great way to structure time. This way we don't have to
consider or examine our life, and see if we're really
happy.
6. An acceptable way to create time apart. If we're
busy, then we have a great excuse, and one that's usually
honored, for not spending time with others, doing volunteer
work, or doing things we don't want to do.
7. A great way
to excuse ourselves from doing the hard work of building
significant relationships. When we're busy, our life is just
too ''full" to make room for someone else.
8. A good way to
avoid lots of other hard stuff-like shedding that 20 pounds,
getting exercise, tending to the children, doing the
housework, living in the present moment, being attentive to
those we love, making sure our marriage doesn't fail, and
getting and staying on a spiritual path.
9. And of course,
it's a great way to avoid the hard work of expanding our minds
so that we might actually have something else to talk about
than how very busy we are!
Now don't get me wrong. There's nothing innately wrong
about being busy all the time.
Unless, of course, you don't mind missing out on much of
the richness that life has to offer!
© 2003 Dr. Jerry D. Overton All Rights Reserved
(Dr. Jerry D. Overton is a Master Certified Coach, Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist, and Director of The Center for
Personal and Spiritual Growth, Inc. He can be reached at
970-252-9311, by e-mail at jerry@jerryoverton.com,
or on the web at http://www.jerryoverton.com/)
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What's Up on Planet Earth? FREEDOM!
By Karen Bishop
The most exciting vision I have been receiving of soon to
transpire events is the FREEDOM vision, in regard to our
systems and society. As the dark agenda that has been rampant
for eons on this planet no longer has a foothold, and as our
frequency has been rapidly accelerating, "controls" will begin
to feel extremely uncomfortable and downright strange. For
some time, I have been receiving strong visions of Boston Tea
Party energy. The people will absolutely revolt. No ifs, ands
or buts. This vision has been very strong. We will no longer
tolerate less than our divine right to FREEDOM. The timing is
perfect.....an alignment and conjunction needed to be reached
with enough people being ready and summoning, along with the
vibration of the planet herself to support this state. With
the two combined, a manifestation will occur. The timing had
to be right, or a failure would result. There HAD TO be enough
souls summoning and ready (willing to accept and embrace the
New), along with the earth's vibration beneath to support this
incredible manifestation. This cannot not happen. All is in
perfect order. Everything is in place and will begin to unfold
this coming year. The soul of our president, George W. Bush,
has done a wonderful job in fulfilling its role as the "door
opener" and contrast to create the readiness and need for a
different way. Yes, we are all in this together at the highest
levels, and all going in the same direction of ushering in the
New World.
Another phenomenon that seems to be getting bigger and
bigger is worth mentioning. As most of us are aware, the new
little beings arriving now.....our beautiful children.....are
incredibly evolved. It is absolutely mind boggling! We have a
Crystal Child in our family (as are many if not most of the
new arriving humans), and she is quite amazing. These little
ones have an absolutely incredible degree of awareness. They
are tuned in and tapped on. They stand out like beacons of
light in severe contrast to the generations that precede them.
Highly intelligent, telepathic and sensitive, they are also
mature and wise well beyond their years (and ours!). Loving,
calm and cooperative (with an occasional tantrum!), they are
like something from another world. I just can't begin to
describe their presence and energy. I continually feel as
though I am interacting with another adult, and our Amayah
just turned three! She continually interjects comments into
our adult conversations as though she is absolutely in them
with us, and the comments make more sense than ours! When
things get rough, she sings.
We have another being due to arrive in our family in the
spring. We knew she would be coming some time ago, and have
been well aware of her special energy, gifts and talents.
These new ones are extremely evolved as well. They possess
very heightened sensitivities, extreme psychic ability, and
are highly connected to anything and everything. These unusual
beings will require an unusual learning environment. As we
know, are current systems are just not equipped to deal with
them. They run circles around their teachers, as they
basically are the teachers themselves. Watch for great and
exciting soon to come changes in our current systems. These
children, along with our heightened planetary vibration, will
create our new structures. This cannot not happen. Won't it be
wonderful when our society will soon be aware at all levels,
and know in advance the experience and desires of their
children before birth? What a loving way to support and raise
our little ones. It is so delightful to know where we are
headed and to experience these incredibly evolved human
beings. Proof of our future! Yes indeed.
Which world will you choose to be in? Which world will you
create?
(Karen Bishop may be contacted at PO Box 19612, Asheville,
NC 28815. Visit the What's Up On Planet Earth? web site http://www.whatsuponplanetearth.com/
or Email karen@whatsuponplanetearth.com)
Reprinted with permission
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Candle Lighting In Memory of All Children Who Have
Died
The Compassionate Friends 2003 Worldwide Candle
Lighting
The San Juan Compassionate Friends will participate in the
2003 Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of All Children on
Sunday, Dec. 14, at 7 pm in Altrusa Park in Montrose at
Hillcrest Dr & Devon St. around the Heartlight Tree.
The Candle Lighting is held every year on the second Sunday
in December at 7 pm in every time zone. As candles burn down
in one time zone, they are lighted in the next, creating a
24-hour wave of light that encircles the globe honoring all
children who have died.
Open to bereaved families and friends or anyone who would
like to honor a child who has died and touched their life.
Please bring a candle to the ceremony.
For more information Contact Chapter Leaders Vicky &
Gene Jolley at 323-6618 or Carla Blowey at 249-4436. Visit http://www.compassionatefriends.org/
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