ARTICLES
Nov.
2003 Member Events And Coming Attractions
Who
Would You Be Without Your Story?
Harmonic
Concordance 2003
Meditations:
Soapbox of the President
Remembering
Aztlán
Health
in the Stars
Gary
Duncan/ Smart Shelter Network ...
All
About Herbs: Demystifying Earth’s Gifts
Homeopathic
Help For Companion Animals
A
Thank You Note …
Peaceful
Contributions for the Soul
What
on Earth can we do?
Don’t
Be Shy!
Aquarian
Age ~ Sat Yug, the Age of Truth
Nov. 2003 Member Events And Coming Attractions
Annual Meeting Friday, Nov. 14, 6 pm
Whole Life Network members! It's time for our 15th Annual
Membership Meeting and pot luck (hot dishes arrive hot).
Friday, Nov. 14, 6 pm at 307 E. Main St., Montrose, upstairs.
Call 240-9315 or 240-0234 for more info.
Food For Thought Relocated for Winter
Patty Painter of Food for Thought has moved the shop next
door to 566 Sherman St in Ridgway for the winter. Come by to
see the new space and all the books, supplements, herbs and
more, phone (970) 626-5660
DreamSource Ready to Serve
Maggie Remington wishes to inform all of her Whole Life
Network friends and all of the Western Slope that there’s a
change in the name of her business. Maggie is the Branch
Manager in Ridgway for DreamSource Financial. (formerly
SpiritMoney Mortgage Services) - she’s doing the same work,
only the name has changed. Maggie is a seasoned professional
who finds ways to facilitate even difficult loan and financing
solutions. With access to a broad array of comprehensive
funding programs, featuring the Healthy Home Program™,
DreamSource specializes in what they term sustainable
solutions to financial situations. Maggie can assess your
situation and find the best financial package available;
solutions are customized to meet your needs. They care about
the health of present and future generations, and want to help
save money on energy bills, make the home a healthy place,
encourage wise/efficient use of natural resources and promote
sustainable building practices. Maggie can assist you in
accessing a network of green building professionals and
resources to achieve energy efficient improvements, healthy
home design and commercial development. Stop by soon at 609
Clinton St. in Ridgway.
“How To” in Life
Edith Johnston, PhD LPC, is presenting ABILITY - Take the
DIS out of Disability classes Wednesdays 1:30-3:30 pm in
November in Delta at Bill Heddles Rec Center, Call Edith for
details, 874-4193
LSI Presents “An Evening with John Mayo”
Joshua Hayward and Esther Lail of the Light Source
Institute will host an evening with international healer John
Mayo at LSI, 600 Main, No. 4, Ouray (upstairs above the bank),
Monday, Nov. 10 from 7-9 pm. Guests are asked to donate $6 and
arrangements can be made for individual sessions with John.
Please call Josh or Esther at (970) 325-0545 or visit
www.LightSourceInstitute.com
Wilderness Of The Soul Program Continues
Kathy Gates of Women’s Spirit Retreat is conducting the
Wilderness of the Soul Program, dedicated lovingly to you, for
your courage and willingness to explore the wilderness of your
own soul; there is magical wisdom inside you Saturdays. The
cost for the program is $10 per week, you can go at your own
pace, which allows you to experience your own truth. Call
(970) 856-7665
Sherbino Theater Notes
The Fun Lady Store is now open with lots of fun stuff! A
must see! Sherbino Theater available to rent for private
parties, weddings, or special affairs. For more information on
the Fun Lady Store, or to book an event at the Sherbino
Theater, call Shannon McCarthy at (970) 626-4414
Back
to Top
Who Would You Be Without Your Story?
Whole Life Network Release
My Boss expects too much. I wish I could lose a few pounds.
He (she) treats me badly. Big corporations are ruled by greed.
Things used to be better. The government is taking away our
freedoms. Does any of this sound familiar. Most of us spend
much of our waking hours trying to get reality to match our
stories of how we believe it "should " be. And when something
goes wrong, it causes concern, worry, envy, and fear. But
we'll never be able to live in the present moment when we want
everything to be different than it is. It is possible to
arrive at the realization, that without any story about how
life is supposed to be, we can experience peace and
contentment. This is the basic concept of The Work of Byron
Katie. You can learn this penetrating inquiry process that
uses four questions and a "turnaround". You are invited to
attend a weekend intensive workshop on The Work of Byron
Katie. It will start at 7:00 PM on Friday November 7th and
continues at 9:00 AM on Saturday November 8th at The Holiday
Inn Express, Apex Room, in Montrose. The Whole Life Network is
honored to have Tricia McKenzie and Adam Lewis as
co-presenters of The Work. Tricia and Adam are graduates of
the School for The Work and have presented and facilitated The
Work for eight years for individuals and groups in public
sessions, private gatherings, radio, TV and press. The Western
Slope community is fortunate to have these two devoted,
generous and committed beings coming to be with us. Both Adam
and Tricia have agreed to be available for private individual
sessions on Sunday November 9th.
For many years David and Tamara Hauze have provided the
perfect musical introductions and interludes for events
sponsored by The Whole Life Network. They have again
volunteered to appear at The Work of Byron Katie. We are
grateful for the contributions of these talented and dedicated
musicians. As a fitting wrap up to the Saturday session, we
will recognize the Harmonic Concordance of 2003 through prayer
and meditation. To learn of the significance of this total
lunar eclipse, please read the details in the article in this
issue of Connections. You are urged once again to slip out of
that easy chair and do something good for yourself. And as we
improve ourselves individually, we improve our collective
world. Join The Whole Life Network and your neighbors in The
Work of Byron Katie.
Back
to Top
Harmonic Concordance 2003
Whole Life Network Release
On November 8, between 4-5:30 pm mdt, there will be a total
lunar eclipse. What makes this particular eclipse special is
that the astrological chart of that moment has a distinctive
pattern, or "signature," visible even to untrained eyes.
Six planets will be in conjunction with the Sun forming a
perfect six-pointed star, during the eclipse. Without going
into too much astrology, one spiritual astrologer is quoted,
“This is the most exciting configuration of my lifetime!”
The two triangles of this six-pointed star form an ancient
geometric pattern - one triangle representing the physical
world and the other representing Spirit. These two energies
coming together in this configuration provide an opportunity
unique to any other formation.
Like its spiritual ancestor, the Harmonic Convergence of
1987, The Harmonic Concordance of 2003 also is a call to the
Spirit of Humankind to awaken to the idea that we are, in
fact, Spiritual Beings sharing a human physical
experience.
Ceremonies, celebrations and meditations for the purpose of
awakening human consciousness to this truth are being
scheduled at a multitude of places throughout the world.
With so many people world wide coming together with the
intention of raising human consciousness, we have the
opportunity to do something that has never happened in the
annals of recorded history. We can facilitate a massive shift
of consciousness into a higher state of spiritual awareness.
By meeting in quiet meditation and holding the consciousness
of unconditional love and harmony for our world, we can make a
real difference in human spiritual awareness.
The ultimate purpose and opportunity of the Harmonic
Concordance is the uplifting of all people everywhere to the
realization of their oneness with all of creation and the
ending of wars, hunger and hatred throughout our planet.
Back
to Top
Meditations: Soapbox of the President
By Larry Lemser
What a glorious season it is in Colorado! The effect on the
senses is such that it overwhelms all of the negative stuff
going on in so many places on our planet. The nip in the air,
the cloudless blue skies, the changing foliage, the Fall
decorations, and the thankfulness for a good harvest really
create an energy boost that helps in accepting things as they
are without regret for the past or concern for the future. A
sure sign of the season is that my friend, Don Bailey,
co-founder and past president of The Whole Life Network, has
called to invite us to the first sweat lodge of the Fall.
Normally Don and wife Ellen hold this event on Halloween, but
they just completed work on a new lodge and were anxious to
christen the new structure. Did you ever participate in a
sweat lodge? It's my opinion that sweat lodge sets the stage
for a perfect prayer meeting. Our native American ancestors
understood a thing or two about cleansing both the body and
the soul through ceremony.
Speaking of seasons, as all of you Christmas shoppers know,
the Holiday Season is upon us. As practiced by many
organizations, the Board of Directors of The Whole Life
Network is declaring a Holiday suspension of our Friday Night
Forum speaking series. On Friday November 7th, we will be
sponsoring The Work of Byron Katie at the Holiday Inn Express
in Montrose. On Friday November 14th, we will be celebrating
the 15th Anniversary of The Whole Life Network at our office,
307 East Main Street in Montrose. Thus, there will be no
Friday Night Forum on the first two weeks in November. The
Holiday suspension, therfore, will be in effect for November
and December. Watch for resumption announcements in your copy
of Connections. Do you have any ideas for Friday Night Forum
programs for next year or any suggestions to improve the
format? Your input is valuable and will be seriously
considered. Send a note to P.O. Box 85 or pick up the phone
and call anyone on the Board.
Back
to Top
Remembering Aztlán
A Column of Poetry, Culture & Spirit
by Art Goodtimes
WRITERS IN THE SKY … Michelle Curry Wright pulled together
the most amazing gathering of top-flight writers one could
imagine Oct. 4th at the Wilkinson Library in Telluride. It was
quite stunning … Of course, I was delighted that my mentor
Dolores LaChapelle was there from her Way of the Mountain
Center in Silverton, speaking about her new book on tai chi,
as well as the concept of reciprocal appropriation. A
self-avowed “information freak,” she dazzled the audience with
her breadth of knowledge and her ability pulling insights from
dozens of disparate disciplines to see a coherent big picture
… And it was great to catch Jim Davidson and his lovely Tracy
back in town. Jim was the editor who taught me the newspaper
business, and together back in the mid-‘80s we founded the old
San Miguel Journal, along with Mort Rosenbaum. Davidson
introduced Kent Haruf from over near Salida, whose
award-winning best-seller Plainsong (Random House, New York,
1999) had us clearly in its Hemingway grip -- tight dialogue
carrying the plot instead of some omniscient narrator …
Russell Martin is a master of non-fiction that reads like
fiction - full of drama, suspense and magic. A former writer
for Steve Sulloway’s Telluride Examiner (long defunct), Martin
and his wife Lydia Nibley live in Denver these days and run
their arts & media website: www.sayyesquickly.net. His
coffee table Cowboy: the Enduring Myth of the Wild West
(Tabori & Chang, 1983) I loaned out years ago, and it
never got returned. Out of Silence: An Autistic Boy’s Journey
into Language and Communication (Penguin, New York, 1996) gave
a face to the cage of autism and chronicled a young boy’s
successes and failures coming up against the bars. Martin read
a section from his prize-winning A Story That Stands Like A
Dam: Glen Canyon and the Struggle for the Soul of the West
(University of Utah Press, 2000) about the pre-town dam
construction encampment at Page. I got a copy of his
best-selling Beethoven’s Hair: An Extraordinary Historical
Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved (Broadway Books, New
York, 2000). And his latest is Picasso’s War: The Destruction
of Guernica, and the Masterpiece That Changed the World
(Dutton, New York, 2003). Prolific and masterful, Martin’s
perhaps the best writer ever associated with Telluride … A new
find was Debra Magpie Earling, whose prize-winning first
novel, Perma Red (Putnam, New York, 2002) had us spellbound -
her reading a haunting narrative of finding the bodies of an
entire family of seven frozen in a car in the ice of a
reservation river months after the original accident that sent
them plunging to their icy deaths. Currently a creative
writing professor at the University of Montana in Missoula,
she also told us the story of the 20 years it took to bring
the book to fruition, miraculous tales of her aunt who is the
subject of the novel, and then brought us all close to tears
remembering her Salish youth and its tragedies. Her book sold
out before noon at the gathering, or I would most certainly
have bought one … And perhaps the most impressive of all,
Arizona-born Craig Childs - who makes his home these days at
Crawford over in the North Fork. Daringly, he passed out four
of his own journals, for the audience to mull over, with their
raw and yet eloquent entries written in a tiny cribbed hand.
And then he would call one or another back for a moment to
read from them - from the wild crazy madness of swimming naked
in a flash flood to the wildness of Central Park and the kind
of memorial that ought to go in at Ground Zero (one lone
redwood). His descriptions are impeccable, his reflections
brilliant, and his language a pure essence lovingly distilled.
You can forgive Abbey his Cadillac bravado and six-pack
addictions, but Childs is the real thing - a desert rat
philsopher with a deep love for and an intimate knowledge of
water. Count him among the rising masters of literature …
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer did an inspired job (as always) as
moderator, and Elle Metrick finished off the afternoon with
her fierce and yet luminous poetry (have you met your Muse,
yet?) … Again, kudos to the Wilkinson, Writers in the Sky
founder Ann Kennedy, and this year’s gifted director (and
writer in her own right) Michelle Curry Wright. A fabulous
program … My only gripe? I can’t believe it wasn’t audio or
videotaped. An unfortunate loss as I’d classify it as one of
the top ten literary events ever in Telluride.
CLOUD ACRE SPUDS … It was a horrible year for crops over in
Norwood. What with the drought, the hoppers and then, in my
case, the bindweed that grew under the burlap I used to
protect my 500+ mounds of heirloom spud seed (36 varieties)
from both hoppers and the sun, which it did, but which also
ended up strangling my plants in their burlap safety thanks to
innumerable bindweed runners like tiny green boa constrictors,
I’m in the process of harvesting less potatoes than I planted
… Which conjured up a story in that Wrights Mesa master of
local lore, Howard Greager, who was calling to see if 40J Road
off of the Cone Road was going to be open for hunting season
this year (it isn’t).. He recalled how when he was a kid, old
Nelson Warren lived up at the end of County Road 42ZS, which
most folks now call the “Vet Road”. And Warren grew Irish
Cobblers. Howard said he could remember some specimens of
premium Wrights Mesa cobbler spuds that could have fed a whole
family. Four or five pounds, flat as cobblers are, and big as
a dinner plate. Now them were potatoes … This year, at Cloud
Acre, my largest (an All Red again) was 6 ounces.
SAGE GROUSE SUMMIT… Congrats to Josh Sale of the San Miguel
County Open Space Commission and both Mallory Dimmitt and Liz
Hatzenbuhler of the Nature Conservancy for personally putting
so much effort into hosting a wonderful Summit Sept. 24-25 in
Norwood and Telluride -- bringing together all the regional
efforts underway to save the Gunnison Sage Grouse from rapidly
declining populations (even San Juan County, Utah, was
represented) … The Telluride Foundation should be highly
commending for funding the event, bringing the members of the
Audubon Society and the San Miguel Livestock Association to
the same table as state and federal regulators and
researchers. That is a critical piece of resolving thorny
issues like endangered species preservation - bringing all
sides together … And kudos to the State Division of Wildlife
under the leadership of Russell George and the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service led regionally by Al Pfister in partnering to
put this meeting on … Of course, no Gunnison Sage Grouse
effort could forget the invaluable advocacy of Clait Braun,
who has been a leader of the effort to identify and preserve
this unique species. And I can’t tell you how proud I was when
he came over and personally thanked me for San Miguel County’s
leadership in helping preserve grouse habitat - an effort for
which Commissioner Vern Ebert has also been a consistent and
strong advocate … At the Summit, we learned of current
research efforts underway, the level of collaboration between
affected areas and the kind of questions that still need
answering.Gunnison Sage Grouse populations have declined 70%
over the last few decades, and are reaching dangerously low
levels. If state and local efforts don’t succeed in turning
that decline around, the Fed will step in. In fact, this
species of grouse has already been declared a candidate
species for federal protection under the ESA … That’s the bad
news. The good news is that the center of the San Miguel Basin
population of the Gunnison Sage Grouse is the Miramonte
Reservoir/Goshorn Flats area just south of Norwood. Could
recovery of the species there be associated with wildlife
viewing opportunities that could provide a new economic boost
for that part of our county? Absolutely. And that’s one of
several exciting benefits that could easily come about through
doing the right thing in saving this species … This is one of
the most interesting environmental issues that the region will
be facing in the next few years. Will we continue to see the
florid displays of strutting males at the Lone Cone leks, or
will these birds be lost to our children forever?
© 2003 Art Goodtimes
Back
to Top
Health in the Stars
FUTURE ASTROLOGICAL HEALTH PROJECTIONS
By Laurel Ann
The essence of the healing process is the balance or
integration of the subconscious (Moon), conscious (Sun), and
the higher self (Neptune) while working simultaneously with
spiritual, psychological and physical therapies. Helping
individuals achieve this balance has been the aim of the
Holistic Health movement in this country for over 40 years.
The seeds were sown in the 60’s with the Uranus-Pluto
conjunction in Virgo, natural sixth house of the zodiac and
considered the health house. Presently Uranus in Pisces
(spiritual) conjuncts Mars in Pisces (action) which is the
lower energy of Pluto. This will trigger a like reaction by
the masses of health consciousness and self-improvement. Even
though Pisces (holistic) is being activated with awakening,
(Uranus) and change, its Virgo opposite demands more attention
to the individual needs. They want more humanitarian and
compassionate (Pisces) energy from their care givers. They
want more dependable, precise prescriptions, rather than a
catch-all, ‘let’s try this’ approach. Virgo is methodical and
precise. Uranus opposes Jupiter (benefic/liver) in Virgo
beginning under the new Moon in Virgo on August 28, 2003,
again energizing health consciousness. Mercury turns
Retrograde on August 28th indicating a repeat of history. The
Flower Child may be upon us again. The Mars/Uranus conjunction
could very well activate corporate medicine. Will Medicare and
HMO’s finally accept alternative health therapies? The Western
world is slowly beginning to uncover and rediscover these
ancient truths. Perhaps the bridging of the gap of our
“dis-ease” will be by using ‘holistic logic’, 1934
Rudhyar.
MEDICAL ASTROLOGICAL MED-SCAN REPORT
Every body has its own weak spots that tend to dysfunction
under mental, physical or emotional stress or through poor
diet. The Med-Scan Technique Report helps determine potential
weaknesses within the body. It relies on medical astrology to
find out what diseases a person may be susceptible to or what
vitamin or mineral deficiencies might occur. Each Natal Chart
is individual and the Med-Scan simply provides clues.
In Medical Astrology nothing is assumed: all findings are
cross-checked with the present symptoms and past medical
history of the patient comparing the astrological findings
with that history. In addition to looking at the sign and
house placements of the planets and the hard aspects, a
medical astrologer determines which cross is activated. We
also look closely at critical degrees, evaluates a progressed
chart to look at the current transits and eclipses. From all
this information a medical astrologer can then suggest the
best nutritional supplements, diet and therapy for the patient
that he or she’s body will respond to speed healing. After the
astrological conclusions have been verified by a physician,
the client can ask their doctors for specific tests suggested
by the medical astrological findings. This can be a valuable
tool in evaluating one’s own health analysis and taking
responsibility for it.
For more information on obtaining the Med-Scan Technique
Report contact me at (970) 240-3627.
Back
to Top
Gary Duncan/ Smart Shelter Network ...
are seeking a new research facility site in the North Fork
area. Smart Shelter is an 8 year old regional network for
native lifestyle and natural building research, advocacy,
education and career development. It also networks and
supports the Western Colorado population suffering from
environmental illness (EI), chemical sensitivities and
resultant diseases. Smart Shelter has a strong track record in
all these areas. The current research site (Montrose) is
outgrown. It hosts prototype systems in artificial tree
technology, passive heating and cooling, EI-safe 'Micro'
housing, permascaping, edible/herbal native species, gravity
feed surge site irrigation, non-toxic invasive species
eradication, value-added end uses for invasive species,
exterior low-cost winter-sun and summer-cooling facilities,
negative emissions site design, cullet recycled glass gravel
production, feng shui interfaces with solar design (estimated
186 research projects in progress). Smart Shelter is partially
grant funded, partially self-sustaining. A trade-for services
lease agreement would be ideal, resources are limited. An
ideal site would be possibly degraded or damaged land (a
target for restoration) in need of invasive eradication
(non-toxic), isolated from view and traffic, amenable to
constant development and change of non-permanent structures
and prototypes. Grid infrastructure may be optional as most of
the research is for off-grid development. Current site is
available for inspection on confirmation of serious intent.
Ideally a land owner or group who wanted to develop an
educational institution around the research and facility would
be ideal...it’s time to move and grow.
Visit http://www.smartshelter.com/,
email: gd@smartshelter.com or phone 249-2396, leave message if
no response.
Back
to Top
All About Herbs: Demystifying Earth’s Gifts
Warming Herbs for Winter
By Alan Joel
Brrrrrhhh! As the coolness of fall turns into the chill of
winter, it can be hard to stay warm! Here are some warming
herbs that you can drink as a tea to keep you toasty this
season:
? Siberian Ginseng Root (eleuthero root): This warming herb
is also a great immune system stimulant and can give you an
extra boost of energy on cold mornings.
? Cinnamon: This spice has long been added to mulling
spices and hot cider. No wonder! It was incredible warming
properties and also helps you resist disease and
infection.
? Ginger Root: Known as the “Herb of the Gods” to some
Native American tribes, Ginger is a warming herb that also has
been shown to kill the influenza virus.
? Chicory: This herb, which grows abundantly in this area,
warms the body as well as well as helping with digestive
problems, skin eruptions and constipation.
? Cardamom: This herb has been used since ancient times in
coffee, as a digestive aid and as a teeth whitener. It’s also
a great warming herb!
? Cloves: In addition to warming, this herb fights
intestinal parasites, fungi and bacteria. Ancient Chinese
emperors held cloves in their mouth to mask bad breath!
Sound like a lot to gather for tea? Luckily for you,
Celestial Seasonings has two great decaffeinated teas which
have all of these ingredients: Tension Tamer and Mountain
Chai. Drink a couple of cups a day to stay warm this
winter!
[Alan Joel may be contacted at 323-8631 or email
ravenwindstar@earthlink.net]
Back
to Top
Homeopathic Help For Companion Animals
Old age is not a disease! Part 3 of a series on
ARTHRITIS
MVC Release
Do CATS get arthritis?
Twenty years ago, your veterinarian would probably have
told you that cats don’t suffer from arthritis. Now we know
otherwise. Radiographs of slow-moving, older cats do show
arthritic changes. At home, you may notice your cat just seems
quieter; the feline that used to leap onto the back of the
couch may use her front legs to haul herself up, or simply
stay on the ground. (Don’t think she’s finally learned manners
after all these years!) We find that pain in cats often goes
unnoticed by their human companions, yet these subtle changes
in habit and "grace" are often the first indicators of painful
joint changes. Some cats respond well to chiropractic
adjustments or a series of acupuncture treatments. There are
also some patients who respond well to homeopathic remedies
individually selected to fit the patient's arthritic
symptoms.
Few anti-inflammatory drugs are safe for cats: NEVER give
aspirin unless directed to do so by a veterinarian.
Fortunately the arsenal of healthful alternative products is
proliferating. If your stiff feline companion is a food-driven
character, a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement called Sea
Jerky for Cats can be both convenient and effective.
Fish-lovers may relish a strong-smelling
glucosamine-manganese-MSM tablet called Glycoflex II, while
connoisseurs of chicken and tuna may prefer Cosequin for Cats.
The geriatric form of Comfort, a combination of particular
vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and bovine liver extract,
can help with pain relief and actually stimulate new growth in
damaged cartilage, as well as supplementing the vitamins and
minerals that your older feline companion may no longer be
able to absorb from her meals.
One of the newest "natural" anti-arthritis supplements is
Arthrimaxx, a liquid formula containing glucosamine,
chondroitin sulfate, MSM, Vitamin C & manganese. Only MSM
has true pain-relieving properties, although we often see
patients seemingly pain free after using any of these
supplements for a month or more. We believe this is due to the
cartilage-healing properties of all of these supplements.
Glucosamine/chondroitin products also act as anti-oxidants,
clearing the damaging by-products of inflammation before they
settle into the injured area. Omega fatty acids, which have
wonderful anti-inflammatory properties, protect not only the
musculoskeletal system, but also the heart and other organs,
as well as the skin, and the Grizzly Salmon Oil people have
developed a spray for cats. When spritzed directly onto food,
this product eliminates the pill-pushing pandemonium so many
cat lovers dread.
Contact your vet if your companion refuses or doesn’t do
well on one form of medication-- each cat is unique in what he
needs and (as anyone who shares their home with felines can
attest) what he will tolerate
(Morningstar Veterinary Clinic , 717 N. Cascade Ave.,
Montrose. Call 249-8022 or email morningstar@montrose.net Dr.
Bettye Hooley and Dr. Diane Clark)
Back
to Top
A Thank You Note …
10.6.03
Dear Editor:
I want to send thanks to all who attended the Unity and
Harmony Retreat on October 4-5th. We had a lovely turnout and
there was certainly some positive energy and beautiful healing
done for ourselves, our planet and our world. Unity and
Harmony go hand in hand. Thank you.
/s/Kathy Gates,
Women's Spirit Retreat
------------------
(We love hearing from readers and members! Write to The
Whole Life Network, PO Box 85, Montrose, CO 81402 ATTN:
Letters to the Editor OR by email at WLNConnections@yahoo.com
- Thanks! Eds)
Back
to Top
Peaceful Contributions for the Soul
By Kathy Gates
Life is meant for only one thing: To Love and be Loved.
It is through our personal experiences beliefs and choices
that we are who we are. We cannot spend out whole lives
blaming others for our reality. Holding on to past hurts or
wrong doings from others can take away the beautiful person
that is truly within each one of us. We all have our own song.
Are you singing yours?
This is a wonderful meditation for healing your Inner
Child. You can record this meditation and then listen. Find a
quiet place. Don't listen while driving.
Take a few deep breaths, and as you breathe in and out,
imagine that you are in a beautiful field with wild flowers
blooming everywhere. Feel the air as you breathe. It is a
beautiful spring day. Smell the freshness of the air and the
softness of the wind upon your face. Breathe deeply and begin
to relax your face, starting with your eyebrows, nose, cheeks,
mouth and jaw. Take some more breaths as you continue to relax
your neck and shoulders just let go. Until you become
relaxed........Continue to relax your arms, legs and feet. Let
go.
You see before you a beautiful log cabin nestled in the
woods with a white log fence. As you move closer you approach
a gate, you hear soft flutes playing from a distance and
Angels voices calling your name lovingly. You open the gate
and make your way up the steps. Noticing as you closed the
gate behind you, all your worries were left behind on the
other side. The door swings open for you, and you notice a
stairway leading up. It is a spiral stairway and you start to
climb the stairs as if someone were calling you. It's someone
who loves you and you haven't seen them in a very long time.
As you climb, you see a being a child that is you at that age,
in your life, when you were hurt. Smiling at you, you walk up
the stairs, meeting half way. You look at the child (YOU) and
notice everything, eyes, hair. Both of you sit down on the
stairs and embrace. It has been a long time since the two of
you have been together. Put your arms around that little child
that was you and talk. You are friends and you have shared
many events in life together. Talk and tell this child how
much you love that part of you and wish that you would have
come back sooner. Go over the situations that surrounded the
hurt. Both of you realize that in no way were either of you
responsible for the event that caused your abuse. You and your
inner child can now view your life events as part of a larger
plan. Forgive your inner child for whatever pain you feel you
have caused. The child smiles and says there is nothing to
forgive. Remember you are in this life together. Give your
inner child a big hug and start down the staircase. Turn
around and wave at your inner child and your inner child waves
back. As you leave, you close the gate and start walking
through the field. Now you notice that the air is filled with
a fresh scent of pine and the flowers are vivid, standing up
more beautiful than before. You are at peace and take your
time. Return to your awakened state. YOU DESERVE GOODNESS:
LOVE YOURSELF.
Peace and Blessings.
More on meditation to come ..
(Kathy Gates may be contacted at Women's Spirit Retreat,
856-7665)
Back
to Top
What on Earth can we do?
By Kathy Gates, Women’s Spirit Retreat
I received this from a friend on the internet, I found it
to be very interesting.
Water
This is really an eye opener:
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
2. In
37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is
often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even mild dehydration will
slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
4. One glass of
water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of
the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
5.
Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a
day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80%
of sufferers.
7.A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger
fuzz short term memory, trouble with basic math, and
difficulty focusing on the computer screen or a printed
page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the
risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of
breast cancer by 79% and one is 50% less likely to develop a
bladder cancer.
I think this is a message that we all need
to drink a lot more water to maintain a healthier
lifestyle.
Back
to Top
Don’t Be Shy!
There’s a lot of things you can do to help your Whole Life
Network:
*Action: Ask about the CARES program at your City Market
service counter , and then register your City Market Value
Card as a supporter of The Whole Life Network Result: Every
time you make a purchase with your Value Card at City Market,
a contribution is made to The Whole Life Network
*Action: Support and attend Whole Life Network programs
such as Friday Night Forum, The Whole Life and Learning Expo,
and the upcoming intensive The Work of Byron Katie Result:
More special programs and visiting teachers
*Action: Tell a friend to visit www.WholeLifeNet.org
Result: There’s a lot about our network
*Action: Attend monthly Whole Life Network Board of
Directors Meetings the first Monday of each month Result:
Become more informed on the purposes and help in the direction
of the network.
*Action: Put the networking in our network - submit an
article or Letter to the Editor of Whole Life Network
Connections at WLNConnections@yahoo.com Result: Fellow network
members will be aware of your activities and you, theirs.
*Action: Contact the Whole Life Network office at (970)
240-9315 or network president Larry Lemser at (970) 240.0234
Result: Learn more about how you can help your network
grow
Back
to Top
Aquarian Age ~ Sat Yug, the Age of Truth
A Guest Column by M. Akal Kaur Wieting
Throughout the world are different calendars or time
references acknowledged by cultures and religions. Some say
this world has entered the Aquarian Age, and those who believe
it actually ‘sets in’ in 2013. There are those who strive to
align with the Mayan Calendar (Natural Time), based on the
year of 13 moons, 28 days each, (Example: July 26, 1998 to
July 25, 1999). Most of the world is presently on the
Gregorian calendar, which was the correction of an error in
the Julian calendar in 1582.
There are choices of how we relate, communicate, alienate,
aggravate and cogitate about ‘time’. Perhaps we need to
meditate on the reality of Timelessness. In ancient Indian
teachings, we are entering ‘Sat Yug’- the Age of Truth - each
Age occurring for several thousand years at a time. In Hopi
teachings, we are in ‘End Time’ and are moving into ‘New Time’
where One Spirituality-One Language prevails.
Anything new requires releasing the ‘old’ and educating the
‘new’. When applying this understanding to relationships,
jobs, religion, health, prejudices, natural or man-made
disasters, or other aspects of living, we may all experience
periods of chaos. Many find difficulty in adjusting,
especially when change was ‘not in the plan’. However, we
humans have the capacity to allow higher aspects of ourselves
to shine through and learn from our experiences.
Whether in the Aquarian Age, Sat Yug or still in
transition, the consciousness of the planet is rapidly
changing towards a manifestation of higher awareness. Here is
understanding from Yogi Bhajan, Master of Kundalini Yoga. May
we check the following chart, to see where our consciousness
is and how we are teaching our children.
Knowledge: Piscean: Material, physical science, intellect,
physical senses; find out. Aquarian / Sat Yug: Science of
soul; intuitive self, soul & heart; be still;
acknowledgment.
Perception of issues; problem solving: Piscean: Problem,
causes, solutions, what went wrong, how to fix. Aquarian / Sat
Yug: Discovery, accept divine flow, cosmic order;
opportunities.
Personal orientation: Piscean: God found outside, material
satisfaction, reliant on others for happiness. Aquarian / Sat
Yug: Inward peace, security; God is within; non-material
goals; you are your best friend.
Inner psychology: Piscean: Guilt, pain, negativity, sin,
feeling inferior. Aquarian / Sat Yug: Forgiveness, light,
peace, love, wisdom, responsibility, relax, purity, honor,
self-esteem.
Way of living: Piscean: Scarcity, limits, ego, greed,
struggle to succeed, destruction of enemy, fear, mistrust,
control; duality, inner turmoil, earthbound realities, outside
techniques, doctors to make us better; competition. Aquarian /
Sat Yug: Abundance, prosperity, heart-centered consciousness,
unconditional love, relax & attract, we are one, trust,
creative purpose, how can I contribute, personal power,
purpose, who am I, what am I here for, inner peace, joy,
self-sensory human, heal yourself & others,
cooperation.
Relationships: Piscean: Going in circles, need to work
things out, romance, need own space. Aquarian / Sat Yug:
Merging of two souls, dis-covery, commitment.
Relationship of individual to society and others: Piscean:
Isolation, what is best for me. Aquarian / Sat Yug: Come out
of ‘cave’, you are not alone, trust, surrender what cannot
control to Infinite, what is best for the ‘whole’.
Where we are in this chart? May we work together for the
good of all. Blessings!
Biography:
Akal Kaur Khalsa Wieting is an Internationally Certified
Kundalini Yoga teacher and recently retired
Massage~Polarity~Trad. Thai~Reiki, Sound/Color Health
Practitioner, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Hot Lava Stone
Therapy and a Holistic Health Educator. She has taught in
California and Colorado since 1973. She attended SMU and
continued her education in music, business, child development,
yoga, spiritual paths and various health sciences through
universities in California, New Mexico, the 3HO Foundation,
Masters’ Touch with Yogi Bhajan, Polarity Health Institute,
WA, Colorado School of Healing Arts, Traditional Medicine
Hospital of Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Tama-do Healing with
Sound, Color & Movement near Nice, France. She furthered
her studies in the Punjab, India, in 1997, spending time at
the Sikh Dharma’s Golden Temple in Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib
and other sacred sites.
Akal Kaur 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, part
of the Cirle of Health Clinic. Akal Kaur has instructed
Kundalini Yoga, Polarity and Holistic Health classes at CMC,
the Community Center, and other locations in Glenwood Springs,
for all ages. Akal moved to Grand Junction in February, 2003,
where she is relaxing and pursuing an inner pilgrimage for a
while. She may be reached at (970) 948-6548.
Back
to
Top |
