Dematerializing Christmas
Whole
Life Network Release
“And he
puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas, he thought, “doesn’t come
from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps
means a little bit more!” - from How
The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess
The Hoag
family of Montrose is one of the growing numbers of households that is taking
positive steps to protect their six-year-old son, Jasper, from the
commercialization of the Holiday season.
For introductions, Amanda Hoag has been employed by the BLM in Montrose
for the past 12 years. Tony Hoag, on
leave from Alpine Archeology, has been building a new family home on Beaver
Hill, and finds time to coach his son’s soccer team. Foremost in their disciplined approach to raising Jasper is to
limit the TV viewing time to a couple of cartoons on Saturday morning. Many experts feel, and Amanda and Tony
concur, that marketers are exploiting children in ways that harm them psychologically. Amanda and Tony avoid commercial TV and
practice simplification in their lives.
Parents who resist consumerism themselves are the ones who teach their
children to resist it. Tony explained
to us how he and Jasper periodically review Jasper’s toys with the
understanding that his toys will be limited to a predetermined quantity. Any toys in excess of the standard will be
given to other children or to charities.
The rule of shopping in the Hoag family is: “we don’t buy things we
didn’t plan for”. They shun the
catalogs and buy locally whenever possible.
We can
become better consumers for the Holidays.
We can resist getting swept up in all of the commercialism and take it
easy on the credit cards. It has never
been more true that every purchase, every choice, is a vote with your pocket
book. Are you voting for a better
future? Learn to look for earth
friendly labels such as: Green Seal, Energy Star and USDA Certified
Organic. Avoid products made in the
sweatshops of our planet. Celebrate Buy
Nothing Day with family and friends.
In the December issue of Prevention, Joan Borysenko wrote, “Over
the years, my extended and blended Jewish/Christain family has gradually made
the holidays more meaningful. We still
give presents to the children, but we quit exchanging gifts among adults. Instead, each of us chooses a charity and
gives money in the names of family and friends.” She further suggested that we have our children makes two
Christmas gift lists, one for themselves and one for the things that they
wanted to give to less fortunate children.
The Whole Life Network wishes a grand Holiday full of happiness and
world peace for all and remind one and all that happiness and peace don’t come
in a gift wrapped box. For more ideas
on how to celebrate the holidays in non-consumerist ways, check out
www.simplyfytheholidays.org.
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She Told Me Not To Vote
by Jill
Burkey
Now that
the election is over and the holiday season has arrived, it's time to relax,
take a deep breath, and stop thinking about politics every single day. On the other hand, maybe we all need to keep
our guard up and lend ourselves to the effort of keeping our politicians
accountable. At any rate, as I prepare
to celebrate the holiday season and all that is good in the world, I'm still
bothered by a conversation I had a few months before the election.
In
September, some friends of my parents visited and we went to see them one
evening. When they found out my
presidential candidate preference, we began a discussion that turned into them
lecturing me. As we wrapped up, the
wife said, "If you're only using your vote to vote against X and
not for Y, you shouldn't vote."
At first I
disregarded her comment, but as the election got closer, the more it bothered
me. What right did she have to tell me
not to vote? I can vote for whoever I
want for whatever reasons I have. I am
not an uneducated voter. With as much
of an open mind as I could muster, I watched the conventions and debates. I read news articles about the candidates
and issues. I weighed my decisions
carefully, and then voted my conscience.
Maybe her comment bothered me because this year for the first time, I
voted the way I wanted to vote, not the way I thought someone else wanted me
to.
Her comment
made me wonder how many other women were told that, and how many women over the
years have been bullied to either not vote, or to vote a certain way, despite
the secret ballot. In October, I saw an
Oprah show about voting. It claimed 40
million eligible women voters didn't vote in the last presidential
election. They interviewed middle-aged
women who had never voted and never planned to. It's embarrassing to think of how hard minority groups have fought
for the right to vote, and how many people, especially women, don't participate
in the process! It's disrespectful to
those who came before us, to our children, to our servicemen and women, and
worst of all, to ourselves.
No, don't
tell me to be silent. Tell me to
reconsider my decision, to become more educated, to consider a new point of
view, but do not tell me not to vote.
We can not lose our voice; we cannot be silenced.
Jill
Burkey is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mother of 2 young children She has a B.S. in English, Business, and
Secondary Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University and provides professional
writing services through Work Wise, Ink.
She can be reached at 255-7348 or at
burkey@frontier.net
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Sheep Mountain Alliance
SMA Release
Dear Friend
of SMA,
Have you
had the feeling lately that you want to participate more in your community? Or
like you want to help direct the change you'd like to see in the country and
the planet? If so, Sheep Mountain Alliance encourages you to attend our annual
meeting on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, starting at 5:00 at the Elks Club in
Telluride for a meeting and dinner and moving to the Sheridan Opera House at
8:00 for a great slide show.
Here's the
schedule, Tuesday December 7:
5:00 at the
Elk's— Business meeting, with a report of SMA's projects over the past
year, discussion of issues, input from
members and election of board and committee members.
6:30 at the
Elk's—a repeat of last year's fun and successful community lasagna dinner: an
inexpensive meal for locals and a chance to chat with your neighbors.
At 8:00 at
the Sheridan Opera House— a slide show by renowned and inspiring Colorado
photographer, John Fielder, who will share beautiful images including some from
his latest book, "Mountain Ranges of Colorado."
For SMA
members, dinner will be $10 and the slide show $10, or $17 for both events. For
non-members, dinner is $12.50 and the slide show is $12.50. Discounted SMA
memberships will also be available that evening.
The
business meeting at 5:00 at the Elk's is free and open to all members and those
who want to know more about SMA.
Copies of
John Fielder's books and calendars will be available, with part of the proceeds
benefitting SMA.
Tickets
will be available at the door at the Elk's and at the Opera House or contact
SMA ahead of time to reserve.
For
information, please call SMA at 728-3729 or send an e-mail to sma@rmi.net
We hope to
see you there!
Joan May
Executive Director
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Inipi Ceremony
(Native American Sweat Lodge)
The Elders teach us that, “to pray purify and
heal” are the reasons for Inipi. Each time I crawl out of the lodge after a
good sweat, I feel brand new, re-energized and more able to maintain clear
focus. For me the real gifts are the
people. We gather together, share our
prayers, our hearts, and hugs and bring a little joy into each other’s
lives. In my life and the lives of my
loved ones, Inipi has brought multi-layered benefits.
Twice a month, between Ridgway and Montrose, we
are gathering for a Sweat Lodge. Lakota
ceremonial teachings and protocols passed on to us from our Elders are
followed. This being mostly an oral and experiential tradition, the teachings
we know are shared at every ceremony.
We gather at 9:00 am every 2nd and 4th
Saturday to; set the fire, pray with the stones, make prayer ties, set the
alter, sweat, sing, pray, heal and more. When coming to Inipi it is nice to
bring a few pouches of tobacco to gift as a thank you to the fire keepers,
singers, water pourer and anyone who touches your heart. We are looking forward to seeing you there.
We are planning to have Hanblecha Ceremony in
the spring. It will be a Vision Quest
the way it was passed down to us by our Spiritual Teachers and Elders. If you
are interested please come see us at the Lodge.
For more information and directions, contact:
Maggie
Remington: 970-626-9763
Kate Lee: 970-626-5220 katmarlee@yahoo.com
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Remembering
Aztlán:
a column of poetry, culture & spirit
ELECTIONS … Instead of bemoaning the results of an election where
some moral values triumphed (anti-abortion, no gay marriages) and others were
glossed over (the killings implicit in war, lying), I thought we’d focus on
some of the great meetings going on around the Western Slope these last couple
months … Sure, we can expect that the Federal Government won’t be our friend
for the next four years. So, what else is new? Those of us in the West rarely
can look to the Feds for leadership anyway … It just means that we’re going to
have to work harder locally and regionally to make good things happen. And just
hope that our military establishment prevents us from getting too mired in
foreign wars … But, alas – it could have been so much more.
NNFP … That’s the initials for the National Network of Forest
Practitioners, a country-wide alliance of rural people working on the ground to
build a forest economy that is ecologically sound and socially just. Based in
Rhode Island, they serve as a clearinghouse for information and technical
assistance, and a place for people to meet, learn, and make their voices heard
… I attended the annual meeting last year in South Carolina, thanks to a Ford
Foundation grant given to the Public Land Partnership, an Uncompahgre
Plateau-based collaborative to which I am the San Miguel County rep … As one of
the leading community forestry organizations in the United States, NNFP helps
people solve problems, experiment with new approaches, work with unconventional
partners, and compete in the marketplace. Its members advocate for a
fundamental change in forestry and forest conservation -- toward placing
greater value on the long-term well-being of the environment, communities, and
workers … I was very impressed with NNFP, and its wide diversity of gender,
age, ethnicity and geographic distribution. So much so that I’ve spent the last
year on a teleconferencing committee, along with ex-Western Colorado Congress
president Stu Krebs, working to bring the annual NNFP meet to the PLP’s four
county region (Delta, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel) – as it turned out, to
the City of Ouray … And I had the good fortune, as part of that work, to lead
three bus tours into our mountains – one to Silverton (Oct. 13), one to
Telluride (Oct. 14), and one to Norwood (Oct. 15) – as well as to serve as a
presenter in a breakout panel discussion on forest policy tools … Former Ouray
County Commissioner Alan Staehle co-led the tour to Silverton with me. Climbing
the Million Dollar Highway, the first stop was Crystal Lake, where Bob Riche
told the Cinderella tale of the Red Mountain Project – where Land and Water
Conservation Funds (also thanks to outgoing Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell) have
purchased millions of dollars worth of San Juan mining claim acres as public
lands and scenic byway … And then we drove to Silverton’s Avon Hotel where
legendary skier, mountaineer and Way of the Mountain elder Dolores LaChapelle
spoke briefly of Norwegian philosophers Sigmund Kvaloy and Arne Naess, tracing
the mycelial genesis of Deep Ecology … Finally, Ellen Stein, executive director
of the Mountain Studies Institute, who is attempting to purchase the historic
Avon as MSI’s center of operations and visiting researcher lodgings, briefed
the group on the institute’s commitment to science in the San Juans … Telluride
Town Councilperson and Nature Conservancy staffer Mallory Dimmitt co-led the
Telluride trip, although scheduling snafus made us miss all the folks lined up
to meet with us. Still, Mallory and I explained about Sheep Mountain Alliance’s
efforts to preserve the valley floor and the work of The Nature Conservancy and
the San Miguel Watershed Coalition up and down the river. We spoke of the San
Juan Fens Partnership at Telski headquarters, and then let the NNFP folks ride
the gondola down into Telluride. Then we took them to Pandora to view
Bridalveil and hear about the Land and Water Conservation Funds high country
preservation efforts and the County’s High Country Zone District regulations
limiting development. And, of course, we gave them a chance to walk Colorado
Avenue and shop a bit … The trip to Norwood was particularly brutal, beginning
at 6 a.m. in Ouray. At the Norwood bridge we turned off on the road past the
Cascabel Club and up to Sanborn Park, where we met with wonderful Everett and
Ella Marolf. They led us on a tour of the destruction wreaked by the Horsefly
Fire of 14 years ago, which nearly burned through the park, except for the
quick work of county fire fighters. Hard feelings about past Forest Service
treatment surfaced, and visitors got a vivid reminder of what happens in a
forest environment without collaboration or good communication … At the Forest
Service office in Norwood, District Ranger Judy Schutza led her staff in
explaining the Burn Canyon fire, and the subsequent community monitoring
program that was jointly established with PLP … Then we took the bus up to a
salvage timber sale in the Burn Canyon area, south of Redvale (within San
Miguel County). As chair of the Burn Canyon Monitoring Task Force, I and my
co-leader Steve Schrock of Delta explained the genesis of the project and the
lessons learned to date, as well as showed off a new sign erected on the
salvage site with the help of the Norwood High School … And those were just the
tours … I expect that the friendships, contacts and information leads garnered
there will continue to reap benefits for several years to come. Such as
connections with Richard Hart of the Collaborative Learning Circle in Southern
Oregon. Roland McCook of the Northern Utes in Utah. Katie Lynch and Eric Jones
of Portland’s Institute for Culture and Ecology. Walter Dunn of the
Collaborative Forest Restoration Program in New Mexico. Gary Paul Nabhan of the
Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern Arizona University. Renee
Stuffer of California’s Karuk Tribe. Sherlette Colegrove and Warrior from
California’s Hoopa. Reservation. And many, many more.
AWARD? … The Bush Administration has not been exactly great
environmental stewards, but they have encouraged innovative local efforts to
decentralize federal decision-making on public lands. And to that end, Interior
Secretary Gale Norton has taken to recognizing one or two outstanding
collaborative groups a year with an award for what she called the four C’s –
Consultation, Cooperation and Communication all in the service of Conservation
… It’s a bit clumsy as a title, and a bit dubious, given this administration’s
eco-record, but since we’re faced with four more years of this kind of federal
presence, it was good to get the award (given to the 20 or 30 key folks in the
Public Land Partnership) and to be known as one of the most innovative
collaborations in the country.
ZERI … Gunter Pauli flew to the Animas Valley directly from consulting
with the government of South Africa, thanks to Katherine Holt and Carol Stone
of the Peakinsight consulting group in Durango (www.peakinsight.com). He gave a
dazzling all-day workshop at the Strater Hotel on his worldwide systems design
movement, Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (www.zeri.org)
… The Mayor of Durango and myself were the only politicos present. I was
delighted to be able to attend. Especially as local governments have verbally
committed to jointly funding a Sustainability Coordinator for the Telluride
region. And indeed, Telluride sustainability activists Kris Holstrom, M’lissa
Story and Hilary Katz attended the sustainability conference as well. Let me
touch a few of the highlights for me … Case studies. Fairy tales. Motivational
seminar. Science working hand-in-hand with vigorous operators using
outside-the-box thinking … Case studies like Las Gaviotas in the Colombian
savannah (once lush rainforest turned to barren ecological desert -- all the
water infected with parasites), where an integrated system of pine tree
reforestation using fungal inoculants has led to the restoration of some 300
species of native flora and fauna, as well as the creation increased
freshwater, which the inhabitants of this ecological miracle filter and produce
for national consumption as a business that creates local jobs – a very
successful one … Fairy tales used by Pauli as a graspable pedagogic technique
to communicate some 200 scientific principles, based on biomimickry – imitating
natural systems, which are often orders of magnitude more efficient than human
engineered systems. Like the story of the butterfly and the trout. Teaching the
importance of “going against the flow”. The butterfly not really flying, but
using microburst gusts to windsurf through the air over sometimes amazing
distances. And the egg-headed ability of trout to use the slight movement of
their fins to create disturbance flows that hold its body motionless against
the strong force of a current … Pauli was a wonderful motivational speaker, and
I was able to make connections with several dedicated folks in the Durango and
Cortez regions. We want to create a regional sustainability group, and share
some of the insights and things we learn in each of our communities. And maybe
even bring Pauli back to the region to help get more folks excited about the
possibilities for change using ZERI design principles … See the county website
for more notes from that workshop (www.sanmiguelcounty.org -- go to Art Goodtimes and click on the Meeting Notes).
© 2004 Art Goodtimes
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ReConnections: A Look Back
The
heritage of The Whole Life Network from the pages of Connections.
One Year Ago
**"Adams and Davis Elected to Board. 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 on November 14th."
**Dr. Judith Boice has twin sons and comments on the relationship,
"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 prey that I will return these boys
well read (from careful listening), well worn (from fond handling) and well
loved."
Five Years Ago **"The Whole
Life Network invites people of all faith paths to share a 1999 New Year's Eve
spiritual celebration of Life, a worldwide sharing of labyrinth walks, at the
Montrose Pavilion on December 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m."
**Sally Dubats welcomes the Holidays, "Christmas, Yule, Chanakuh, and
Kwanzaa each offer a variation on a theme: December is a time of year to bring
light into our hearts and throughout the our world. Perhaps as we move
into the new millennium, we can make it stick a little longer than December
31!"
Ten Years Ago **"There's
still booth space available for the Whole Life Network Health and Fitness Fair,
to be held Saturday, January 28, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at
Friendship Hall at the Montrose County Fairgrounds in Montrose."
**Joseph Loguidice observed, "We place high importance on circumstances
which arise in our life because our salvation rests upon it. It takes a
great deal of learning to arrive at the realization that we do not abide
beneath the illusion of time constraints, and that seemingly important events
and experiences are, in the end, not really designed to be taken all that
seriously."
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Dea's Kitchen: The Gift of Food
by
Dea Jacobson
There’s a
ton of fudge, cookie, pie and sweet potato recipes in magazines this time of
year, so let’s be different. The recipe
“gift” I offer this month is perfect for a cold, wintry day, when you need
rest, and to charge your batteries.
It’s the Chinese version of Mom’s chicken soup- Congee. In India it is called “kitchari” and can
be adapted in dozens of ways to support specific health needs. Congee is a hearty soup or porridge, usually
made with rice and other ingredients, depending on whether it is for breakfast
or dinner, or the specific condition one wants to treat. My favorite is a dinner congee made with
chicken (Red Bird or free-range), and brown and wild rice as the base. It soothes the soul and warms the body. Here goes!
Dinner Congee
½ lb. Chicken breast, cubed
2 Tbsp. ghee or olive oil
½ teaspoon cumin seed
½ onion, diced
½ cup brown and wild rice
3 medium carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks with leaves, chopped
1 stick kombu (sea vegetable)
Chopped greens
salt and pepper to taste
1 QT. Organic chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups water
In a heavy
bottomed pot, sauté the onion and cumin in the ghee or oil. Add rice, carrot and chicken and sauté until
chicken changes color. Add chicken
broth to cover all, then 2 cups of water.
As the congee cooks, you may need more liquid to keep the consistency
hearty, but not “gloppy”. Add celery,
kombu and ginger slices. Bring to a
boil, then turn flame down very low, or put in a crock-pot or on the wood
stove. Cover and cook for 4 – 6
hours. A few minutes before eating,
remove the kombu and cut into small pieces.
Chop the greens (collards, kale, bok choi, or Chinese cabbage do
nicely), put in the pot and turn up the heat for 5 minutes. Serve with fresh bread, tortillas or
chipatis. Savor the flavors!
The longer
you cook congee, the more powerful it becomes. This is because it is easily digested and assimilated, so it
nourishes well when one is weak. Paul
Pitchford offers 33 congee variations in Healing With Whole Foods. In China, congee is commonly served for
breakfast, after being cooked all night.
My version of a breakfast congee cooks in the crock-pot all night and
uses steel cut oats browned with nuts, cinnamon and a little salt, and 4 times
the usual amount of water (1 cup oats, 4 cups water). A harmonious way to start the day!
As 2004
comes to a close, I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to contribute to
this newsletter and the WLN. I hope to
have encouraged some thoughts on shopping, eating and on food as medicine. I welcome emails and letters to help guide
future columns. May the gift of good
food nourish you and your loved ones through the holidays, and may the sacred
sharing of love bring you deep peace.
Dea
Jacobson, RYT, is a licensed Religious Science Practitioner yoga therapist and teacher, and the owner of Blue Heron Yoga. She can be reached on her website www.blueheronyoga.com, at Box 95, in Cedaredge, CO 81413 and by phone at 970 856 4905.
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Peaceful Contributions for the Soul
by
Kathy Gates
A
time of returning to that Sacred Place within, like the Earth, we to must take
some time to get connected with the Spirit within ourselves. Your Spirit is the
doorway to your Soul, an energy that will connect you with the Love that you
are.
To
keep your Spirit healthy take time to go within. There is a Sacred quiet place
within each of us that brings us to knowing Spirit and truly Spirit wants to
know each of us. It is that peaceful quiet place within that knows nothing of
illness or loss. It guides us to free ourselves of confusion, and helps us to make
good choices for ourselves. It allows us to forgive, and bring positive action
into our lives.
Good
thoughts, good deeds towards others, is right action. Oneness with Spirit leads
us to a place of honoring ourselves, respecting ourselves and this flows through
to all around us.
Prayer
is also important in staying connected with Spirit, prayer for guidance and
wisdom. Prayers for right action, and forgiveness can heal the soul. Forgive
and be freed from bad memories or unacceptable behavior from others towards
you. By forgiving you can move yourself away from the chains that hold you to
the past and be set free. Let go of anger and blame in your life.
Without
Spirit we are lost and confused, empty and trapped, a choice that is ours to
make, but also a choice that can bring everything we don't want into our lives.
Stay
connected to Source, Creator, God, Great Spirit keep your Soul filled with
Peace and Beauty.
As
you keep this connection with Spirit your Soul will stay healthy, full of
abundance and Love.
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Oh, God when I have food
help me to remember the hungry
When I have work, help
me
to remember the jobless
When I have a warm home
help me to remember the homeless
When I am without pain
help me to remember those who suffer
And remembering, help me
to destroy my complacency
and bestir my compassion
Make me concerned enough
to help, by word and deed
those who cry out
for what we take for granted.
Samuel F. Pugh wrote
this prayer
Getting
to know ourselves is a great first step to making the changes to better our
lives. If you prefer a personal session or are interested in a workshop feel
free to contact us.
Women's
Spirit Retreat offers workshops, programs and retreats to help you on your path
to freedom, to forgiveness and self-love.
Call Kathy Gates 970-234-2454 to be added to our friends of peace
mailings.
Wishing
everyone a very peaceful, blessed Holiday Season. Kathy Gates
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The Art of the Holistic Bath
© Anne Calzada Herbalist
Taking
a bath can be more than an average mundane endeavor, it can healing,
luxuriating, cleansing and stimulating. Water is the giver of life. Water
covers more than ¾ of the Earth. Our bodies are made up of over 60% water.
Without water we are incapable of survival, as it is the basis for all
existence. Since the beginning of origin, mankind has used water not only for
survival, but also for healing. The Ocean is known for it's mineral rich
healing properties around the world. Egyptians bathed
in
aromatic oils and flowers. The Greeks housed public baths. The Roman warriors
used baths to strengthen their physical performance and retain good health. The
Japanese public baths are a staple of their culture and they are known as
"sentos".
English
doctors began prescribing the water of hot springs to their patients that they
not only soak in them, but drink some as well. Native Americans have used the
hot springs across this country for healing for centuries. Hot springs offer
minerals as well as cleansing and healing. We are fortunate to have them right
here in western Colorado!
Your
bathroom can become a healing center for you and your family. Baths can be
enjoyed year round, but are especially soothing in the cold winter months.
Health food stores offer an array of chemical free bath blends to choose from.
To make the most of your bathing experience, choose soothing music, light a
candle and be sure to have a beverage. Herbal tea will enhance the experience.
Maybe a relaxing cup of chamomile for the end of the day. How about a
stimulating cup of peppermint if you need a lift. If you are not feeling well
in the cold and flu season, maybe an elderflower blend. You can also add your
herb tea to the bath! The most important thing to do is to drink plenty of
water to help your lymphatic system flush it's self out. Be sure to have Epsom
salts on hand! You may purchase muslin bags at health food stores or use a sock
to hold the herbs in and tie with a rubber band. Common household ingredients
like milk, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and even lemon juice make
great baths too! So in this busy holiday season, treat yourself to a gift of
relaxation and rejuvenation! Happy Holidays everyone!
Muscle Soak
1 c Epsom salts
Relaxing Bath pellets
12 drops of Lavender essential oil
Homeopathic Bath
7 Arnica pellets
7 St. John's Wort
*For physical trauma.
Ginger Bath
1/8 c Ginger powder Jasmine,
*For sore muscles, colds and flu.
Lover's Bath
One part each of Roses,
Cardamom and a rose quartz crystal.
Rescue Remedy Bath
12 drops of Rescue Remedy extract.
*For shock, trauma and emotional upset.
Oat Bath
Fill a muslin bag or sock with oats.
*Soothes dry, itchy skin.
Vanilla Bath
Add 3 tbsp. or more of Vanilla
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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Silverton: Center of Old and New Neurosis: Sunday, June 6, 2004
Part
Five of a Series by Earl Sires
I have been in Silverton these last twenty four hours,
drinking in a climate of human making that is anything but boring and
altogether frightening. For here I find a mix of the old western notion
that the land is here to be used as I wish, and everything and everybody is to
be dominated by the strongest and most powerful bull on the block. It is
America's founding principle and ego at its ultimate expression. What I
mean is that I sit in an RV park surrounded by other people who have brought in
their great gas guzzling behemoths called trucks, RVs and worst of all ORV,
monsters of power and energy that crawl across the countryside oblivious to the
fact they are grinding the earth to powder. In addition, every motel and
RV camp and gas station have for rent jeeps that RVers and just plain tourists
can rent to crawl through the pristine mountains. To do what? To see the
scenery? To catch a breath of mountain air? To get away from the
noise of the city? For some that is the reason they are here, why they
want to rent a jeep and go into the depths of the San Juans or other mountain
ranges. For here is the wilderness. Here is the fresh air.
Here is the quiet. Ah, but there is the rub. The monsters of the mountains
these days, spew smoke and fumes, roar louder than any elephant or gorilla, or
dragon. The dust rises and settles, the mud holes grow larger, the camp
sites are filled with vehicles of every description, bikes, motor cycles, and
such. Pity the poor horseman or the lone hiker or the person who has come
to the wilds to imbibe the purity of wilderness. The only wild thing
you'll see here is the wild people, drunk on power vehicles, intoxicated with
speed and the ability to conquer this ditch, that rise and go where no man has
ever been before, even if it is nothing more than the shear, straight up wall
of rock and even it will scar the earth and kill the fool who attempts the
feat.
But here in Silverton is another side of things, beautiful old buildings
in a town that still exudes the past and another way of life, which, by the
way, was just as destructive to the land. Yet here are the mountains, and
when you look at them and the trees that grow upon them and the lakes that
nestle in their folds, and the occasional animal you may see, you get the
feeling that nothing can destroy it, until you look again at these gargantuan
engines on wheels driven by girls and boys and men and women drunk with a brew
they hardly know they have consumed. About the most generous thing I can
say about them and all of us in America is that we are all implicated and
complicit. We are all imbedded in the life of our time, bonded together
in the culture that is ours, and we can no more escape than fly to the
moon. The best we can do is live in it and with it even as we try to
change and transform it and ourselves.
Silverton sets me to thinking there is still much to commend itself: the
setting in a lovely valley surrounded by the hills that display the green of
the conifer, the yellow and red of the sulfured and clay earth, the blue of sky
accented by the white of snow on the peaks. In the little city that boasts 350
year round residents, a figure that swells to 3,000 or so during the summer
months we see beautiful old 19th century buildings now restored and filled with
shops for tourists in the summer, and a railroad that sometimes sees as many as
four trains a day disgorging hundreds of tourists from all parts of the world
by way of Durango. In addition it hosts festivals and other cultural activities,
plus introduces visitors to a rich cultural history centered around the mining
of the latter 19th and early 20th century, coupled with the Ouray Indian
history and ranching and farming. It virtually shuts down in the winter,
but is poppingly alive in the summer. Its better features are as I have
described, but it suffers from and contributes to the ugliness of America, not
to mention America's criminal treatment of the earth.
(Editor's Note: These are excerpts from the journaling of
Earl Sires, former Board Member of The Whole Life Network. Earl Sires has
removed himself from our valley as a permanent resident, but he continues his
influence in our community with frequent visits. Please refer to the March 2004
issue of Connections and the article, Earl Sires Marks His 75th, for
more detail on his life and travels.)
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In Search of a Healing
by Dr. Jerry Overton
Over the last thirty
years, I’ve spent significant time with many folks who have been diagnosed with
life-threatening diseases, and I’ve witnessed two things. First, if they don’t want
to get well, they probably won’t. And secondly, there is often a
determinative, causative dis-ease in their mind, body, and/or spirit
that precedes their disease.
Upon reflection, both of
these observations are rather logical and obvious. And yet, they seem to be too
often overlooked by both the patient (as well as their family and friends) and
the ones called upon to heal them.
With regards to the
first observation, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a physician actually ask a
patient, “Do you want to get well?” Most simply assume that they do, and
proceed as if they did, ordering test after test, procedure upon procedure,
while all stand by, often wondering why nothing is really “working.” And the
physician’s approach is understandable, for in our society it’s generally not
acceptable to actually want to die (and so we don’t share that desire
easily), and besides, it’s their job to do all within their power to heal. And
yet, I think most would agree that the mind is a powerful force in the healing
process, and if we’ve decided to die, then we probably will, regardless of the
treatment. So, wouldn’t it be fruitful to first ask the question, and then
support and honor their decision, and when it’s “No” to then celebrate with
them their transition? And although they didn’t “get well”, it could be a very healing
experience for all concerned.
With regards to the
second observation, we’ve only begun to acknowledge and explore the causative
relationship of dis-ease to disease. What we’re slowly learning (yet again,
because the ancients knew this well, hence the word “disease”) is that if we
dis-ease ourselves enough, it can cause disease in our bodies. Dis-ease can
take many forms, such as false or negative self-perceptions, losing our sense
of purpose, being unwilling to make a claim for ourselves, being out of
integrity with our values, guilt over some misdeed, fear of the future,
significant personal loss, rejection, or failure, and numerous other thoughts
and experiences. And unless we acknowledge and address the particular form of
dis-ease as cause of the disease, we can’t properly address and treat
the disease.
While this may not
always be the case (as with disease in young children, etc.), I’ve witnessed it
enough to believe in this direct cause and effect relationship. And, to repeat,
unless we more actively address the cause of disease (which may be
dis-ease in mind, body, and spirit), we won’t be as successful in treating the effects
(the diseases themselves). For cause determines effects. And the effects
(the disease) may be simply a warning sign that there is some significant
dis-ease that needs to be addressed—and that if we do, then not only will the
disease be healed, we will also have a much more joyful and satisfying life
than we did before we acknowledged and
addressed the dis-ease.
So, if you or someone
you love is suffering a disease, do two things. First, ask the question, “Do
I/you want to get well?” In answering this question, honesty should be allowed
and encouraged, for truth is essential here. If the answer is “No”, then accept
and honor that decision, and let the celebration of transition begin! And do
everything possible to make it as complete, joyful, and healing as can be.
If you or they do want
to get well, then seek out the particular, causative dis-ease (there may be
more than one), and acknowledge and address that to the point that you can
change it. If you need help, get a therapist, counselor, coach, or spiritual
guide, and then share what you discover with your care-givers, for it may help
you decide what other treatment you choose to pursue.
From my observations and
experience working with others over the years, I believe that as you address
these two concerns, your chances of a real healing (either through
joyful transition or continued and more joyful life here on earth) will
be greatly increased!
Copyright 2004 Dr. Jerry
D. Overton
Jerry is
a therapist, teacher, life coach, and Director of The Center for Personal and
Spiritual Growth, 600 S. Park. He can be reached at 252-9311, and welcomes your
call!
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Whole
Life Network - Welcomes New Business Members
Whole Life Network Release
Uncompahgre Yoga Circle
Lynda
Alfred
310 S. 9th
Street
Montrose
970
275-0109 or lynda@montrose.net
- Only the most knowledgeable and rigorously trained teachers earn the Lyengar Yoga Certification mark. Call for class
information.
Better Bodyworks
Tria
Eshelbrenner
635 E. Main
Montrose
970
596-8247
- Tria's
interests are structural integration, Chinese Herbology and muscle energy
technique. Make an appointment now and pamper yourself.
Word
Wise, Ink.
Jill Burkey
Grand
Junction
255-7348 or
burkey@frontier.net
- Jill
Burkey is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mother of 2 young children from
Nebraska Wesleyan University and provides professional writing services through
Work Wise, Ink.
and
Welcomes renewed Business Members
Morningstar Veterinary Clinic
Bettye
Hooley, DVM
970
249-8022
Whole Life Indexing & Energy Works
Noaloni
Terry, Polarity Practioner
970
240-3620
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