Om-times Magazine October Edition

Humanity Healing Holistic Directory

Make your presence Visible to the World

The Holistic Directory is designed to reflect the Community of Humanity Healing. Humanity Healing is built around Twelve Houses that we believe define the areas where individuals can find their own Path to Healing and through them, Humanity as a whole.  Individuals can be listed in up to five categories with one subscription  Individuals have the ability to customize their entry to add personal touches to a description of what they do.  Individuals can upload a personal photo or company logo. This image will show both in the entry and scrolling at the top of the Directory.  Linking to your Home Website  Advanced Search features to allow worldwide searches for Category and Location  Special features include: 

mapping to your location

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allowing clients to write testimonials and comments

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allowing clients to rate you

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allowing individuals to subscribe to your listing

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receive emails on comments to your listing This Directory is located within a fast-growing Community of individuals with an interest in these areas.

Om-Times Our Team Dr.Judith Orloff M.D

Om-Times online magazine is a Virtual periodic published 12 times a year. Om Times is a Multi- media outreach of Humanity Healing Network.

www.drjudithorloff.com/

Marsha Cook www.marshagcook.com www.mychoicestoday.com

Brenda Braden

http://www.brendabraden.com www.worldpuja.org

Kimberli Ridgeway

Editor: Gloria Henry Editor for Poetry: Nichespur Co-Director &Editor: Liane Legey Publisher: Christopher Buck Associate Sales Manager: Andy Buck Graphic design & Art: Beatrice Caffé Gloria Henry Production Liane Legey Photography Image after www.imageafter.com Webmasters: Jodi Littlewood Cover Design: Beatrice Caffé October Cover: Jennifer Sky

http://peacemeds.com

Gina Alzate www.worldtoursandcruises.com

Maylin twitter.com/MayLin_GoVegan

Ether Eagle

twitter.com/Ma ethereagle.blogspot.com/ yLin_GoVegan Rev .Judi Lynch http://www.judilynch.com

Mary Cook

Please see Humanity Healing Network For Subscription inquiries: Advertising Inquiries Writers’ guidelines Reprint Policy Terms of Use Please refer to our websites

www.humanityhealing.ning.com www.om-times.ning.com

Om-Times™ is a Trademark of Humanity Healing Network, HHN, LLC. Humanity Healing Network 9947 Hull Street Road, Suite 117 Richmond, VA 23236 (804)-859-3395 ©2009 Humanity Healing

All Rights Reserved MMIX

WWW.MARYCOOKMA.COM

Rene Wadlow www.transnational-perspectives.org/

http://www.transnatio

nal-perspectives.org/

OM-Times is a publication from Humanity Healing Network. All editorial material including comments, articles, opinions and statements of fact appearing in this publication, represents the views of the respective authors and does not necessarily carries the endorsement of Humanity Healing and its Officers. All the information gathered from the sources is considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed. "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -~ Albert Camus

Om-Times Magazine October 2009

From the Publisher’s Desk

This past month has been a very busy and very exciting time for the Humanity Healing Family. The Humanity Healing Network was asked to participate with the Open Mind Resource Center – a project put together by Ronald Alexander to help individuals who are struggling with today’s challenging times. The OMRC website links many of today’s innovative leaders in areas of Business, Personal Growth, Relationships, Physical and Emotional Health, plus many other topics which can offer you the tools and guidance you need. Several of HHN’s Community Network Support Groups are featured, including:  Emotional Recovery o Group Facilitator Gary Eby  Journeying to the Light  Broken Hearts United o Group Facilitator Rea de Miranda  Distant Healing Meditations  Suicide Prevention  HHUG Brigade  Prayer Warriors I would like to thank the dedicated Group Facilitators and the incredibly compassionate members of these Groups for sharing themselves to help others’ Heal. If you are not already a member of one of these Groups, please join us and “help heal the heart of humanity, one soul at a time”.

Humanity Healing Foundation has also had a very eventful month.

Thanks to the generous support of our extended community, HHF succeeded with the Global Giving Challenge. We will now have a permanent presence on their website and in their community of corporate and individual donors. This will help us achieve our goals with projects such as the Uganda Outreach. Speaking of which, HHF will be taking its next steps in providing both Hope and solutions in Uganda. In October, 2 hectares of land will be undergoing development in the Model Farm phase of the project, providing immediate jobs for 100 with a minimum estimated number of beneficiaries of 500. The farm is located in Bugaya Zone, Nakatalage Village; Bugabula County, Kamuli District, in Eastern Uganda.

I would also like to thank Ronald Alexander, Rhonda Bryant and the rest of the OMRC Team for the opportunity to be of service to others.

We have started two new sections of OM-Times Magazine: The Lighthouse Calling and The Path of Service. The Lighthouse Calling will honor individuals who turn their personal struggles into a source of inspiration for others. The Path of Service will recognize organizations whose actions are making a real difference in raising Humanity to a new level. We hope you will find inspiration in these two new sections as well as enjoyment of the increased number of multimedia enhancements.

Please see the Open Mind Resource Center page after Ronald Alexander’s article.

Much Metta, Christopher Buck & Liane Legey

In addition, several videos from Humanity Healing are featured in the Words of Inspiration section.

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

editorial Mind over matter shatters Mayhem, which likes to think "It is..." the dream. I like to think that poetry is the art of putting your mind in motion whilst you let your own "Intellect” just sit back for a while, and watch your own emotions dance over matters you may not have ever really explored before. Indeed, the best of poems can invite your mind to wander, like some sort of exotic dancer perhaps (of any gender you like), through veils of the most acceptable social memories, and out into a world of hard cold realities that you may not have even "wanted" to see before, whilst still more beauty is about to be...revealed within the deeper recesses of your owned mind. Deeper, not necessarily meaning darker, if in indeed you are compelled to continue to reach for things of light. This can oddly entirely mental event can occur to both the writer and the reader, as many poems seem to have this need to be read and thus perhaps just be heard, sometimes even by the hand that supposedly write them down. That is...part of the compulsion to write them I do believe, being someone who is himself quite often so compelled. We poets tend to call this being taunted by our guides or Muses to use the more Ancient vernacular. And to be honest this is sometime a quite

embarrassing compulsion to have especially when you are surrounded by some of our more rational friends. And yet, as we all now know "Now" is a very good time to start listening to all our muses, because we are all living through a time of great interpersonal and even tumultuous social change, which occasionally screams for some one or something else's help -or what we all now call guides. The poet then, like all artists, may in fact be just another form of channeler. Just another part of this "New Age". As a matter of fact, as both a writer and reader and now editor of this Om-Times Poetry column, I have sincerely begun to understand, that these people are another form of spiritual cook whose words often swirl though my mind, sometimes even rhyming their way through all my other reasoning's, like some sort of verbal seasoning which insist on being stirred into the Streams of this human consciousness, which we all can then just share. And they may therefore even be a quite necessary ingredient to all our understanding of this our "whirled." I personally think they are...indeed they may even be the very breath of change. So here's to hoping...you like this month’s brew too! And happy Autumn to you all! Nichespur Editor

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

Contents 8 COVER STORY: The Sky

Multi-faceted Jennifer

11 Art and Poetry 12 Water 13 Human Being 14 Sweet Flower of Comprehension 15 Breaking Free

58 True Happiness: outside-in or insideout? 60 Responses to Harm 62 Wing-Nuts 63 The Decree of the Golden Circle of Love 64 Miracles 65 Experiencing My Own World Without End 66 Frog Medicine 68 Short Stories 68 Perceptions of the Fall 70 The Story of Jack-o-Lantern

16 Health & Healing 16 Reiki: A Healing Touch An Interview with Pamela Miles 20 10 Basic Things for a Healer to Remember 22 The Power of Expectation and How it Effects Your Health 26 Foot Detox 28 Nine Imagination Techniques to Help Children Cope 30 Food for Life

74 Movies that Inspire: The Winged Migration

32 Healing Cuisine 33 Tofu Miso Soup 34 Vegetarian Paella 35 Grasshopper Pie 36 Healthy Snack Ideas

88 The Path of Service 89 stopglobalwarming.org 90 GlobalGiving

37 The Lighthouse Calling 38 Meet Alexa Dectis 41 Just Spiritual 41 Karmic Footprints 46 The Art of Javier Ramon Brito 47 The Spiritual Significance of Music 48 Drumming Through the Loss 51 The Rhythm Method 54 Finding Compassion 56 Do You Know What the Biggest Yes in Your Life Is?

76 Digital Media: The Power of Gratitude 77 Relationships 77 The Emotional Vampire Survival Guide 80 7 Steps to Successful Attraction 83 Is Your Intuition Real Gold or Fool’s Gold? 84 Relationships in Sickness and Health 86 Being

93 The Shift 94 The Voice of the Matrix 96 Toxic Programming 98 World Vision 98 New Energy for a Nuclear WeaponFree World 101 Message about Peace 102 Gaza Development Authority 104 Spiritual Destinations: The Holy Land 111 Book Review 112 Recommended Reading

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

People The Multi-faceted

Jennifer Sky Celebrity Ambassador Humanity Healing Foundation In her thirty-two years of life, Jennifer Sky has had an extraordinary set of experiences, as a model, actor, philanthropist, illness survivor and now writer. As an model, Jennifer appeared in top fashion magazines, including Seventeen, YM, Allure, Elle and Vogue Bambini, was featured on several covers, including Sassy, and represented California Tan, Pepe Jeans, Dannon, Baby Ruth and Ford in extensive advertising campaigns. Jennifer retired from modeling at eighteen and returned to Florida to study acting. She was immediately cast as a series regular in The New Mickey Mouse Club: Emerald Cove. After a season of working steadily in Florida, she returned to New York to study under several acclaimed acting coaches, and co-starred in her first movie, Deadline, which debuted at Slamdance Film Festival. At twenty she moved to Los Angeles, where her acting career continued to flourish. She spent her first year in LA in a contract role on the popular daytime soap opera, General Hospital. She guest starred on such television shows as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, CSI, Boomtown, LA Dragnet, Charmed, Sins of the City, Pacific Blue, SeaQuest: DSV, starred in TV Movies, Colombo likes the Nightlife and Our Son, the Matchmaker, and had reoccurring roles on McG’s Fastlane, CSI: Miami and Xena: Warrior Princess. This last role led to the title role as Cleopatra in the cult

classic, sci-fi show Cleopatra 2525. Jennifer also appeared in feature films, including the comedy, Meet Market (which co-starred Julian McMahon), Shallow Hal, internationally successful horror film, My Little Eye and Never Die Alone with DMX. As a popular actress, Jen has been interviewed and photographed for numerous publications: from online sci-fi fan blogs, to TV Guide, to posing for edgy magazines such as Stuff, Loaded, FHM UK (photo’s by James White) and the cover of Maxim. In 2003, Jennifer was diagnosed with giant hemangiomas of the liver and underwent successful liver resection in 2006. Through her illness, Jen and Alex Band (lead singer of The Calling and her ex-husband), became passionate supporters of Donate Life America, the nonprofit charity branch of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Their involvement has brought in more contributions and interest to Donate Life than any other

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

individual, and they now co-chair the spin off organization, Alex Band’s Donate Life Rocks. Jen started studying writing in 2001, and graduated in 2008 from UCLA’s master class in memoir taught by PEN nominee Samantha Dunn, where she completed her first book titled A Model Life. A Model Life is a young adult memoir about Jennifer’s transformation from dyslexic-chubby-outcast to teenage model, and the five years she spent in the fashion business traveling the globe alone: a hideously beautiful world she just managed to survive. She is also honored to have post-modern fairytale queen Francesca Lia Block as her ongoing mentor. Additionally, she writes a bi-monthly opinion column for a The Stuart News, a Florida newspaper. Jennifer is also an accomplished poet, as you can see from her poetry following this article. Jen currently lives in Los Angeles, California with her two mutant fairy cats Pargie and Sixers.

Towards the other side God is great

Jennifer’s first project with Humanity Healing Foundation is the Uganda Outreach Project whose mission is to help displaced children in Uganda. Jen’s healing energy and compassion is what keeps hope in the hearts of the people we are trying to help.

i say

To read more about Jennifer and her projects, visit her website.

to come again, a tide

To learn more about or donate to Donate Life America, visit:

over, over in my head it makes room for the pain that grows steady, then retreats a moon pattern inevitable… no escape. I hide under the covers of this forgotten den ignoring the chest wound clinging, to knowing God has something planned on the other side.

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

The Path sometimes I wish I knew god/ goddess/ higher power's plan ahead of time so I could prepare for the fight, pack my bag accordingly... candles and sage, to light and purify a soft blanket for the winter nights, both kinds fruits; cherries and nectarines, to feed and re-grow little jars of how my lost love smelled, and how my future love will, so I will always remember, and know him when he appears. a place for my friends, my family the hope, support they have given unconditionally; like the baby grass of spring that shows up, no matter what… but I guess they are here, always with me, inside my cut open, stapled back, chest I wish I knew and understood that all would be okay, has a reason, is part of the path... but in the end, I kinda do

~ Jennifer Sky OM-Times October 2009 Edition

Art & Poetry

Everything one invents is true, You may be perfectly sure of that. Poetry is as precise as geometry. ~Gustave Flaubert

Om-Times Magazine October 2009

WATER by Robert Strzalko

Water nourishes The hungriest of soil Fills the sap Of tallest trees Water released Through the clouds Pours energy into me Water comprises Most of my body Water covers Most of the earth For what is life without water A desert? What is my soul without rain Barren? Water cleanses me No matter how dirty I am Water quenches my thirst No matter how thirsty Water heals me No matter how wounded

The largest of mammals Is carried by you The smallest of creatures Crawled out of you When I was conceived I was held in your arms When I die Your rains Will return me to soil Water cools The hottest of fires Water carries life Through my blood Without water There is only dust There is no connection To hold energy Together Is water love The essence That binds us all? Can we sustain ourselves our planet with polluted water?

Water freezes Water flows Water is mist The mist of life itself Without water I cease to exist As do Trees, plants, and animals

Water never dies It only changes forms We are like water Though we can only see Our reflection When it is pure Submerged in water I find myself Blue water Deep water Pure water Pure soul

Om-Times Magazine October 2009

Human Being By One Light

why do we choose to be human? with bodies that hurt with eyes that often cry with voices often unheard or unspoken? just look between your sighs listen to your heart sing the love theme of your life. just listen to Spirit who speaks in all your languages, knows all your longings and fears, and most important of all, your dreams why do we choose to be human? perhaps to have hands and hearts that can reach for luminous bodies in a dream lit sky and for the lessons taught from gaining inner wisdom growing greater each day.

be still, dear Soul and know that you ARE -and that is all

you ever need -to (BE).

Om-Times Magazine October 2009

Sweet Flower of Comprehension By Nichespur

Sitting upon a pool of dancing lights Lofted, lifted by the waters might So far above the organic sludge That gives it life The green green leaves unfurl. Through darkness, daylight, and global strife While good folks die and hard men thrive Through bullets, and bottles, and other Poisonous affairs of life This plant it grows In swamp lands where naught but the lowly beggar Might Ever stop to see and share it’s sight. And oh how the wind and rain might rip around it then In storms and commotions, which never ever seem to end Until of course they do. As thus the lotus blooms. On the end of a long and lofty stalk Still tethered to the earth below As thus the lotus blooms.

Om-Times Magazine October 2009

~Breaking Free~ by GypsyJewel

Moment by moment as we face the demons of our past we become stronger, healthier, and more present. We begin to play life differently by seeing our patterns, our hidden addictions, and the blocks that keep us from living fully. As we see these vices, we begin to choose whether we want to suffer any longer, or decide to co-create a fuller, richer, more centered existence with our higher power.

In the existential struggle of leaving our past behind, we break free from the bondage of our cocoon.

We are weak and vulnerable, yet magnificent. As our wings emerge, we begin to explore life from an entirely different vantage point. We are free to fly gracefully and unencumbered through the winds of change. As we transform individually, our metamorphosis expands collectively. Now moving forward on this everchanging journey of life, we continue to support each other with loving energy. Knowing that when one forgives, we all forgive.

We are reborn moment by moment and choice by choice. Re-emerging into a new relationship with ourselves and with each other. Our journey is like that of a butterfly. At first satisfied in the comfort of our cocoon. Then as we grow, the pain of confinement and limitation becomes unbearable.

And as one heals, we all heal.

~

Reiki: A Healing Touch An Interview with Pamela Miles

Pamela Miles is an internationally known Reiki Master and pioneer of the use of Reiki in conventional medicine. Pamela is the author of the popular book: Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide

http://www.reikiinmedicine.org

10 Basic Things a for Healer to Remember by Alison Kain 1. A healer should never forget that they are a vessel/channel and nothing else; the healer does not determine the outcome of a healing, the client and Spirit do. If a body is not willing to accept the healing, no healing shall occur. If a body does heal, then you can sincerely reassure the person receiving the treatment that it is their own desire to heal in conjunction with Spirit’s energy and the cellular reactivation of their “internal healer” which has been initiated which does the main portion of the healing process. ***This keeps you (the healer) at once both humble and grateful in the face of what transpires, while also providing you with the freedom and honor to witness miracles at work, whether that be the miracle of the body or any other context you wish to ascribe by your own definition of “miracle”. 2. All people and all bodies are different therefore what technique or position works best on one may not be the most effective for another. 3. Energy, arguably, while having a “mind of its own” does not always most efficiently redirect itself to the root or core of an issue. Energy will merely go where the body is most needful, therefore the practitioner should have knowledge and an intuitive understanding of how to redirect energy and why. If you do not get to the root or cause of an illness with energetic sessions this may be because you are not being shown the whole picture and thus may require several sessions in order to wholly address the client’s complaint. 4. You are being allowed a sacred position by a person who agrees to let you be the

channel for their energy work; this means that everything which transpires in each session with each individual should receive the utmost respect and privacy is honored as if the client were opting for a western medical treatment. 5. Every single body possesses a wisdom which therefore can tell you a tale if you know how to “listen”; ask questions when appropriate and work to develop both your knowledge and your intuition to build your skills as a “channel” for the energy which passes through you. An open mind can be as imperative as an open heart to strengthen your channel for healing energies. 6. Some people are more naturally sensitive to energy than others. This is not a determining factor on whether the client will receive healing or not. Some will report a great success in terms of relief of symptoms or a lessening of their issues after a span of time has passed. 7. Many people have allergies and sensitivities. Please be thoughtful and inquire as to whether any specific scents tend to create an issue for someone. (e.g. Often individuals receiving chemotherapy become very easily nauseated by scent so unscented products are usually your best bet for the first session until the recipient can assure you they are not experiencing any atypical sensitivity to any odors.) 8. Judge not any who have emotional releases while receiving a treatment. Receiving intense energetic sessions may trigger deep unforeseen and unanticipated releases which are imperative to the rebalancing process. Please be kind enough to allay any concern or embarrassment which a client experiences by helping them to understand what is happening to them and why. 9. Proper intake procedures are as important in an energy session as they are in any other healing practice; if someone reports

an issue to you, you can be sure you are meant to heed it. (e.g. Some souls cannot endure touch either because of physical pain or because they are uncomfortable with touch of strangers. Please honor this even while you open yourself to intuit ways in which to help the client to overcome this potential challenge.) 10. “After Care” is as important as the treatment. Clearly defined “rules” are best provided to the client prior to a session already on paper so that they can refer back to the sheet in case of question. If some may experience a toxin release but you have not explained it thoroughly, or completed the follow-up too soon following a treatment where the person may not be fully mentally “present” yet (back in their body wholly), then you may accidentally create needless worry, upset, fear and confusion for them should they experience toxin releases. Please create a document which clearly outlines the after care instructions to help ease your client’s mind and processing as well as helping to avoid any possible issues which generate the need of the participant to follow-up with you via phone calls or to make unwarranted accusations against you later. (e.g. Upon completion of some energetic sessions a client may experience a brief bout of diarrhea which is simply a blocked chakras way of removing the toxic build up if dealing with either the sacral or the solar plexus blockages. An explanation well-made in advance can allay worries that this person is suffering unduly since this period generally lasts only 24 hours or less, though there are exceptions to this rule.) Lastly, though not a “rule” per se, it is important to recognize that no one modality of practice (regardless of how wildly successful) is the “one answer” to healing. We are not a “one size fits all” society and therefore cannot deign to make holistic and complementary medicine the same. If a client has cancer you may work with them, but complementary medicine by title itself represents the core element of being an augment to an existing practice which is usually western in nature. Despite whatever beliefs you

may hold, you are not the one who is doing the actual healing, the client is. You, therefore, have no right to dismiss, disparage or work to change another’s beliefs or regimens as they pertain to additional methods of treatments; this is a highly irresponsible and ill-afforded practice which actually narrows the potential successful treatment and/or cure for a client. An energy healer cannot say for certain that what modality being opted to practice by them is “the” answer to all issues and illnesses or dis-eases any more than can a gynecologist effectively treat a sore throat, liver cancer or brain tumors.

Daniel Kobialka, Timeless Motion Purchase the Timeless Motion CD

The Power of Expectation and How it Effects Your Health Summary: Can your beliefs physically hurt you? If you merely expect to get better when you are ill will you? Studies confirm that the power of the placebo affect has a profound impact on how we heal. Take care to foster positive beliefs that benefit your health and well-being by being aware of how you program your mind in various situations. We Accept Positive and Negative Suggestions without Conscious Thought Once, when I was nine years old, I came down with a horrible case of tonsillitis. I remember going to the doctor, (something that was rare in my family; you only went if you were really sick) feeling miserable and scared, but also knowing that this man would somehow fix me. As he declared his verdict regarding my illness, and took out his prescription pad, he asked my mother “Is your daughter allergic to any medications?” My mom hesitated for a moment, and I looked at her questioningly. Was I allergic to anything? This seemed really important. What if I was? What would happen to me? My mother said no, the prescription was written and we were sent home. That evening after taking my antibiotic, I

began to shake uncontrollably. I complained of an immense headache and continued shaking as my mother held me. She didn’t seem very concerned, yet I KNEW I was allergic to this pill that I had taken. Before I fell asleep that night, I told my mom that the medicine had made me sick and I wouldn’t take it anymore. The next morning, my mother had me drink a tall glass of iced tea that tasted funny. Later that afternoon, my mom asked me how I felt. I told her I was doing much better, and that’s when she dropped the bomb on me. She had laced my ice tea that morning with my medication. Guess what, no allergic reaction. I was never allergic to the pills, but my powerful subconscious mind, accepted a mere suggestion by the doctor that I might be, and my body acted accordingly. Your Mind Runs Your Body Most of us have no idea how powerfully awesome our minds are, and how incoming information continually reshapes our experience. When I took that antibiotic, it had a nocebo effect on me. A nocebo is the exact opposite of a placebo. A placebo offers health benefits without any medical reason to do so, while a nocebo harms your health without

any medical explanation. Researchers are finding more and more evidence that what we believe, or expect to happen medically, has a profound effect on what actually does happen. Currently, pharmaceutical companies are flummoxed by this placebo effect when they test new drugs. As much as 75% of relief from pain or depression, in some trials, can be attributed to the placebo effect. In essence, the person never took any medication, only a sugar pill, and their condition improved anyway. They simply believed that they would get better. Studies also find that people receive more ‘relief’ from red placebos than from any other color, and the higher priced the placebo is, the more the patients report a reduction in symptoms. On the other side of the coin, people who believe they are going to die in surgery have a higher mortality rate while under the knife than people who do not. What the heck is going on here? Again, we have to go back to the power of belief. The subconscious mind, which not only controls the autonomic nervous system, (breathing, heartbeat, blinking-things we do without thinking) also stores our beliefs. We program beliefs into our subconscious mind in five ways: 1. Through repetition 2. Through listening to authority figures 3. Through listening to our peers 4. During times of high emotion 5. During altered states of mind If you believe, or have been programmed to believe, that a doctor or a medication can

harm or hurt you, your powerful subconscious mind tweaks the automatic processes of your body to make it so. Your Mind Can Create Symptoms of Disease or Heal You Based Solely on Suggestion Advertisers use the power of repetition to program beliefs into your subconscious mind. Take for instance the great Dristan campaign. In the early 60’s, Dristan was simply a modest selling cold and headache medicine. Then one day, a New York City advertiser invented the sinus headache and named a series of symptoms to go along with it. After a fantastic advertising campaign that let people all over America know about this new disease, people began experiencing this sinus headache and sales of Dristan went through the roof. What we expect often tends to realized. Consider how for many of us, going to the doctor brings about a heightened emotional state, and how we often see them as authority figures. If you believe that a pill, given to you by a doctor when you are in a highly emotional state will cure you, it often does, even if it is only made of sugar. This is the power of subconscious beliefs at work. This placebo effect is not limited to just medication. Trials in the 1950’s and 1990’s show that ‘fake’ surgeries are just as effective as real ones. What??? Yes, Dr.’s performed fake operations on half of their patients in both heart and knee surgeries (they simply made incisions and stitched the patients back up without any actual surgery taking place) and the patients with the ‘fake’ surgeries reported just as much relief as the people

who actually had the procedure done.

In this guided meditation, Mitch helps you to unlock the power of your mind to control pain.

The power of your mind to heal your body is absolutely fantastic. We are only beginning to tap into the vast healing knowledge that comes from within and understand this mind/body connection. Take care in what information you choose to believe about your health and well-being. Think positively about your outcome in medical situations and allow your power of belief to help you heal.

In this video, Brandelyn and Mitch welcome you to Mind over Matter and discuss how Creative Mind Power can help you realize your goals. For more information and an MP3 download for helping your mind heal your body, please visit our website at: http://shop.itsyourmindthatmatters.com

About the Authors: Brandelyn Jokiel and Mitch Friedman, are Directors of Mind Over Matter, a Santa Fe-based company that helps people utilize creative mind power to overcome obstacles and lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives. As Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists and authorities in the area of NLP, Mitch and Brandelyn teach people useful tools to enhance their lives through their show, Mind Over Matter TV. You can view past episodes of Mind Over Matter TV by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/brjokiel Connect with us on OM-Times! Brandelyn Jokiel

Foot Detox By Kimberli Ridgeway

A foot detox is an avant-garde therapy based on the research of the medical scientist Dr. Royal Rife. It Uses electricity and water to pull toxins out of the body. The stated goal of the unit is to improve liver and kidney function through an electro-magnetic detoxification process. After I had two treatments, I knew I had to breakdown and purchase a unit not only for myself, but for my clients as well. Way back when, the units were kinda pricey running about 3000 USD a unit. Well worth every penny! Now, you can get no name brands on ebay for as little as 250 USD a unit. Why detox the feet? Think of it this way, if you have a jar of “stuff” the heavier stuff settles at the bottom. Same with the body, accumulations of certain minerals (some minerals good, too much bad), heavy metals, and other toxins accumulate ate the bottom, in our feet. It is believed that it is difficult for the blood to move these toxins around once they settle in the feet. The unit uses controlled low frequency direct electrical currents to assist in the healing of the body. It balances the bio-electrical field of the body. Your cells bio-energy can also be unbalanced by: • • • • •

Poor diets – food additives, processed foods etc A lack of fresh fruit and vegetables Little or no regular exercise Drugs and anesthetics Illness and disease

•

Stress and worry

• • • • • •

Smoking Alcohol Joints problems: i.e. arthritis Insomnia Poor circulation Liver and kidney dysfunction

I have used the foot detox with many people with various conditions. I have seen the unit do many wonderful things for people to create wellness and balance in their body. My recommendations for TI’s are to get a unit if you can and do a detox every other day for at least 3 weeks. Be sure to drink something like poweraid, because it will deplete your electrolytes. Also, if you have blood sugar issues, keep something to eat handy, it can drastically lower your blood sugar levels. If you have a pacemaker or any other electrical device in your body it is recommended that you not use the unit because it could cause the devise to stop functioning. Also, if you are taking any medications, take them after your session, because the unit will pull the meds out of your system, therefore upsetting the dosage. Any questions feel free to contact me. Technical Definition The Footbath Detox system works on the theory of electrolysis. By a process called "ionisation", the apparatus breaks the water molecules down into thousands of ions. After the ions are broken down there is a vigorous chemical reaction between Anions and Cations. Through the process of osmosis, the Anions move in to the body in large quantities, which then activate and strengthen the cells in the body. In addition they activate various kinds of enzymes and balance the flow rate of the metabolism. In this way the toxins that are stored in the body in the muscles, fat, tissues and various organs are extracted through the feet and

deposited into the water through the process called osmosis. Thus the system improves the function of the elimination organs and speeds the function of waste removal, particularly in the liver. When a nuclear achieves a saturated status, it sets up a magnetic field under the process of electrolysis, and either it losses or gains electrons, the magnetic field helps to generate neutral particles (i.e. Anions). Through the osmosis process around the body, the movement of these particles runs through a membrane from a lower concentration to a higher concentration (i.e. large amount of Anions) in the water through the electrodes. By putting the electrodes, in the water, together the feet the control panel on the display board transmits the electricity to the electrodes, to stimulate chemical reaction between the alloy, water and salt. In this way a lot of ions are produced. Because of the neutralization in the ion itself, this process induces the Anions to easily enter our bodies and may remove the excessive bacteria and toxins out from the body until the body is regulated to the equilibrium.

The Meaning of Positive and Negative For the purpose of the Footbath Detox discussions, positive and negative relate to electrical rather than chemical phenomena. When the Footbath Detox is set to positive, the current is directed to the positive pole, which results in the production of more negative ions in the water. Therefore, a positive polarity generates a negative ion flow which, we believe, may raise blood pH from acidic toward alkaline. When the Footbath Detox is set to negative, the current is directed to the negative pole, which results in the production of more positive ions in the water. Therefore, negative polarity generates a positive ion flow which, we believe, may lower blood pH from alkaline toward acidic. Approximately 95% of people in this culture experience a state of acidity; that is, their bodies contain an excess of hydrogen ions, and their blood pH is lower than 7.45. These people may greatly benefit from exposure to high concentrations of negatively charged ions. However, we have found through muscle testing that most people prefer a mixture of positive and negative ions in each Footbath Detox session. For more information on this and other subjects, visit: www.peacemeds.com

Nine Imagination Tools to Help Children Cope by Charlotte Reznick PhD

As a parent, you may not realize that your child possesses many of the answers to life's challenges—right in her own imagination. Through learning and practicing visualization, kids can develop emotional self-care skills to help themselves with a variety of everyday, practical concerns. These imagination tools can help your child: • Love, accept, and appreciate himself. • Reduce pain and heal other physical ailments. • Overcome fears, such as fear of the unknown, abandonment, doctors, disasters, and dying. • Deal with bedtime issues such as insomnia and bedwetting. • Cope with death, divorce, and other losses. • Handle anger, hurt, and frustration. • Achieve success at school and in sports. • Live peacefully with siblings and parents. Here are nine imagination tools you can teach a child to help her deal with stressful times and navigate the challenge of growing up.

TOOL #1: USE THE BALLOON BREATH. With her hands around her navel, have her breathe slowly and deeply into her lower belly so it presses into her hands like an inflating balloon. The balloon breath has calming effects and facilitates a waking state of focused concentration and receptivity to positive suggestions. Kids can use it to calm down before musical performances, soothe anger or hurt feelings, or wind down at night, for example. TOOL # 2: DISCOVER A SPECIAL PLACE. This is a safe, special place within your child’s inner world where he can relax, regroup, or take mini-vacations from the stresses of life. It's a place to pose endless questions about life issues, and create numerous positive, possible solutions. Your child might visit his special place to find courage before taking a difficult test at school, or to get away from a bully's harsh words. Tool # 3: CONSULT AN ANIMAL GUIDE. This is an imaginary guide—a kind, loving, and protective creature—that helps children tap into their wisdom. It's often safer and easier for animal friends to offer solutions to problems in creative ways, than expecting logic and linear thinking to do the work. Your child's animal guide can help her fall asleep, or practice

patience at school in long, boring classes, or be brave before a trip to the doctor. TOOL # 4: CONJURE UP A PERSONAL WIZARD. Wizards come into play when animal friends "just won't do." His Personal Wizard is a mentor and magical teacher in human form who brings a different level of wisdom: human but extraordinary. A wizard can give advice, conjure up special powers such as math answers, and even cure troubling feelings like jealousy, anger, and grief. TOOL # 5: RECEIVE GIFTS. Gifts from imaginary helpers can be thoughts, objects, or ideas that symbolically provide children with exactly what she needs in the moment to help her. Gifts can be obvious or require further explanation by the animal friend or wizard. Sometimes gifts are hidden and need to be unwrapped or dug up. When a child goes to her special place and asks a wizard or animal friend for a gift containing the solution to her problem, she often finds the answer. TOOL # 6: CHECK IN WITH HEART AND BELLY. This tool is comparable to suggestions of "listen to your heart" and "pay attention to your gut feelings." Children are encouraged to take a few minutes to "check in" with their heart and their belly, and to notice what messages are there for them. The heart and belly often have two different, but equally important, messages to relate. TOOL # 7: TALKING TO TOES AND OTHER BODY PARTS. The body is a repository for lots of hidden information. With this tool, children discover where and how they stash different feelings in their body. Kids then find they can have a dialogue between emotions and/or symptoms to find answers to their concerns. For example, your child might discover that his stomach knows exactly why it hurts every day 30

minutes before school starts—it doesn't want Mom to leave, and it's afraid she won't come back. TOOL # 8: USE COLOR FOR HEALING. Color is especially helpful in healing pain. Feelings and symptoms often have different colors associated with them. They can be unique to each individual and change over time. You can teach children how to imagine a color, such as ice blue or deep forest green, cooling down his hot fever. When a child imagines color inside or surrounding her body, it can be a remarkable tool for transforming pain, shifting emotions, and accessing healing energy. TOOL #9: TAP INTO ENERGY. When words are insufficient, a loving touch from a parent can do wonders to restore calm and well-being. For example, you can help a child "pull the pain" out of his head by holding your hand about three inches from his forehead to give him a direction in which to send his pain—out and away. You're now armed with nine simple, efficient, and totally free options to mix and match— depending on the situation and your child's favorite. When we teach our kids effective imagery techniques to solve their own problems, it can transform their world.

Charlotte Reznick PhD, author of the LA Times bestseller The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee/Penguin, 2009), is a child educational psychologist, UCLA Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, and creator of several therapeutic relaxation CDs for children, teens, and parents. An international workshop leader on the healing power of children's imagination, she maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, California. Visit: www.ImageryForKids.com

remember that the human body evolved on the earth over billions of years in a totally natural environment; while eating processed, refined, preserved, engineered "food products" is a very recent experiment - one with mixed results. The price we pay for convenience and novelty in our mouths is dysfunction and disease in our bodies.

Food for Life© By Lonny J. Brown, HHC Now that the medical establishment is finally acknowledging that diet has something to do with health, hardly a day goes by without another announcement about the preventive or curative properties of some vegetable for some particular disease: "Broccoli prevents cancer." "Soy products reduce high blood pressure." It's as if the vegetable were a newly-discovered medicine for some previously incurable disease. This is a short-sighted view of the food/health dynamic. Actually, it was the elimination of these natural foods from our diet that caused the illnesses in the first place. Broccoli "prevents cancer" because the absence of natural anti-oxidants, enzymes, fiber, and other nutrients causes cancer. In the pendulum-like history of conventional medical wisdom, the experts are beginning to sound a lot like our grandmothers: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (no doubt due to the high Vitamin-C content of the fresh fruit.) Notwithstanding the deluge of advice about what food is "good" for which ailment, eating healthy is not complicated. We only have to

What to Eat When choosing what foods to put into your organic body, consider... * Did it come from the ground or from a test tube? (One good rule of thumb when reading labels: if you can't pronounce it, don't' eat it!) * How has it been altered? (Nutrients are stripped to increase shelf life.) * What non-food synthetics have been added, and why? Preservatives, emulsifiers and coloring agents are added to processed food products for business profit, not for the health of the consumer. Frequently, chemicals are added that are known carcinogens. * How old is it? How long is it "designed" to last? If put back in the ground, real whole foods will grow. Natural and organic compounds will rot. But man-made synthetic ingredients will remain, inert and unchanged, for years. They are also indigestible and cumulative in the body.

How to Eat

The other side of dietary quality is quantity. Too many of us with easy access to food eat for the wrong reasons: boredom, depression, sensation… anything but real nutritional requirements. The fact is, we humans survived and evolved over millions of years in harmony with the natural cycles of hunger, exercise, satiation, and rest. Today's "three square meals a day" plus snacks - combined with a sedentary lifestyle - is a perfect recipe for obesity and the systemic ailments we now commonly accept as inevitable, ranging from allergies, headaches and digestive disorders to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating too much food is just as damaging as eating unhealthy food. Studies show that systematic caloric restriction is a proven life-extender. I recommend eating one main meal per day, leaving the dinner table 2/3 full, and fasting one day per week.

One's state of mind while eating is also important. Stress acidifies the system and impairs digestion. Eating fast and not chewing sufficiently creates mal-absorption, blockages and diseases of toxicity. The antidote is a calm dining environment, a peaceful mind, and plenty of time to enjoy your meal. In general, when we treat our bodies as temples and our food as sacred offerings, our health tends to be optimized.

Holistic Health Counselor Lonny J. Brown is the author of "Self-Actuated Healing" (Naturegraph, Publ.), "Meditation - Beginners Questions & Answers" (www.WritersCloset.com), and "Enlightenment in Our Time," (BookLocker.com/LonnyBrown). His writings on holistic health have appeared on AOL's Alternative Medicine Forum and in Alternative Health Practitioner, Yoga Journal, and many other progressive publications. Brown teaches holistic health, mind/body healing, and stress reduction courses at hospitals, schools and businesses throughout the US. www.LonnyBrown.com

In this Section:

Healing Cuisine FOOD •

Healthy Meals * Healthy Tips * fall deserts

 Healthy snacks  Tofu Miso soup  Vegetarian Paella  Grasshopper pie

Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which is mixed softened miso paste.

味噌汁

Tofu Miso soup

By MayLin

Tofu Miso Soup

Serves 4 people

Ingredients * Water - 1 litter * Vegetable stock - 2 tablespoon * Miso paste - 4 heaped tablespoons * Tofu - 1 packet * Spring onions - Half a bunch (You may also add Mushrooms, Carrots and Ramen noodles. Boil the noodles separate and add once the soup is done, stir in noodles and serve).

Step 1 - Prepare In preparation, add the water and vegetable stock to a large saucepan, and bring gently to the boil.

Finely chop the spring onions, and chop the tofu into small cubes. Once the stock is boiling, return to a simmer.

Step 2 - Add ingredients add the miso paste to the saucepan. Slowly mix in the miso paste until it all disappears, and continue to simmer gently. Tip: It is important to keep to a simmer and not to boil the soup, as it will lose the rich flavor and it will taste more salty. Step 3 - Simmer and serve finally, slowly mix in the chopped tofu and spring onions and continue to simmer until all of the ingredients in the soup become warm. It is now ready to serve!

Enjoy!

Vegetarian Paella By RAk

• • •

2 cups (14 oz) artichoke hearts, tough outer leaves removed and quartered 1 lemon Lemon wedges, to garnish

Preparation Heat the olive oil in a paella pan and saute´the onion and garlic until the onion is tender and translucent. At the same time, heat the broth in a separate saucepan until simmering. Pour the rice into the paella pan and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add the bell peppers and tomatoes and cook for a further 3 minutes. Add the simmering vegetable broth and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until almost tender and almost all the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the peas. This vegetarian paella is so moist, full of flavor, and substantial, that you will scarcely notice it is meat-free. The green, red, and Paella is a rice dish that yellow bell Peppers add a originated in its modern form in vibrant splash of color to the pale rice, while the tangy the mid-19th century near lake artichoke hearts, delicate peas, Albufera, a lagoon near the and juicy tomatoes ensure that eastern coast of Spain's Valencian this vegetarian paella will satisfy region. even the most demanding tastes • • •

Serves: 6 Difficulty: Intermediate Preparation time: 60 minutes

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

1/4 cup (2 fl. oz) of Olive Oil 5 cloves minced garlic 1 large yellow Onion, chopped 4 cups (32 fl. oz) vegetable broth 2 cups (16 oz) Rice 4 medium tomatoes, skinned, seeded and chopped 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips 1 small yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips 1 cup (4 oz) green peas

Sprinkle the artichoke hearts with a few drops of lemon juice and arrange over the rice in an attractive pattern. Continue cooking until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Serve the paella straight from the pan, garnished with lemon wedges

If you like this Recipe, you will find some more paella recipes on one excellent book by Penelope Casas: Paella! Spectacular Rice Dishes from Spain

Grasshopper Pie By Pat Buck

By

Crust: 1 ¼ cups of Ice box cookie crumbs (1 package of cookies usually makes two crusts).

Grasshopper pie is usually so named because of its green color, though modern recipes may omit coloring the pie green. It was likely invented in the 1950s in the United States, and may have been inspired by a drink called the grasshopper developed at about the same time.

5. Tbs.Margarine melted

Filling

2. tbs. Sugar. Melt Margarine, add crumbs and sugar. Stir till all equally moistened. Press round 9”pie pan. Bake 350° over 8 minutes.

½ cup milk

Cool and Freeze: Filling can be made any time there is another spare moment!

5. Tbs.green crème de menthe

From the book”Please

don’t Paint the

Peas”, A Guide to a Decorative Painting and Cooking

By Pat Buck

35 large marshmallows

1. Tbs.creme de cacao 1/2pt.whipping cream Heat milk and marshmallows in top of double boiler until smooth. Set aside to cool. Add liqueur. Whip cream until stiff. Fold into liqueur mixture. Add drop or two of green food coloring if desired. Pour into pie shell and freeze. Remove from freezer 10 minutes, before serving

Healthy Snack

Ideas By MayLin

Try These Healthy Snack Ideas

What are snacks? Snacks are smallish portions of food eaten between meals to keep your energy up and keep your stomach from growling. For those with small appetites snacks provide a convenient way to provide much-needed nutrients. Pre-made snack foods are not always healthy or nutrientrich. Homemade snacks are more wholesome, less wasteful, less expensive, and more delicious. To resist the urge to snack on unhealthy foods, it is best to plan ahead and keep healthy snacks on hand.

* Apples *Watermelon Slices, Red Grapes, Kiwis *Cucumber and Bean Sprouts *Soy Yogurt and Fruit Slices * Whole grain Crackers with Vegan Cheese *Tomato salsa with Baked Chips *Whole grain low-sugar Cereal and Soy milk *Raw Fruits and Nut bars *Whole grain Pretzels and Peanuts *Guacamole, Hummus, and Veggie Chips *Soy Smoothies * Wheat Toast * Mix nuts, Orange wedges *Frozen Bananas, Strawberries *Organic dried Veggies with Vegan Ranch

Dip.

Namaste'

"Darkness reigns at the foot of the lighthouse" ~ Japanese Proverb

The Lighthouse Calling As Lightworkers, we are the Light in the Dark. The Lighthouse Call is the opportunity to overcome adversity and shine your Light for others. This Feature is dedicated to honoring those individuals whose personal examples serve as a beacon of inspiration for others.

If you know of an individual whose personal example is a Light for others and would like to see them featured here, please email: [email protected]

Alexa Dectis Four-term Pennsylvania State Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association Recording Artist and Actress Born an illusion of perfection, Alexa Dectis never wanted to be ordinary. Shortly after her first birthday, she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). As she grew older, her strong spirit made up for her weak muscles. At the age of five, Alexa had a series of realizations, in which she learned to embrace her disease. Alexa recalls, “I realized that having SMA was not something to mourn. It was a gift from God. I knew that I had SMA because I had something to learn, or something to teach. From that point forth, I knew my purpose in life was to inspire others.” Mission in mind, Alexa knew that the most effective way to do this would be by joining the performing industry. Once she arrived on the scene, Alexa was stunned to observe the resistance that the industry showed

towards disabled individuals. This merely enhanced Alexa’s already ardent determination. She relentlessly met with industry personal, auspiciously earning their trust. Alexa appeared in various commercials, TV shows, and print campaigns, no ordinary feat for a young actress. “I knew that if I could sit here in this chair, be on TV, sing, and write songs it would help people realize their potential. I want people to see all that I have accomplished and realize their potential. Your time is not as limited as that of other people, so why not do something with it?” Alexa says. Once she reached her teenage years, Alexa began co-writing the songs for her debut EP. Upbeat, heartwarming, and hopeful, the OM-Times October 2009 Edition

lyrics evoke a purposeful sense within the listener. “As cliché as it sounds, I write what I know. I know what it is like to live life in a chair. I know what it is like to roll your eyes at the popular schoolgirl. I write to connect with others.” Alexa explains. Unable to afford the cost of recording, Alexa used her creativity and zeal to make her dream a reality. She began singing on the streets of Manhattan, putting every dollar she earned towards recording her EP. Ignoring those who thought she was being unrealistic, Alexa would sing for hours each day. “When I sang on the streets, every person that walked by was a constant reminder of why I perform; so I can inspire others.”

Interview Questions By Sri David

Alexa, you mention that at age 5 you had a series of revelations about your disease and that you mission on earth was to help inspire others. Will you tell us more about that? When I was very young I was able to walk if I was holding on to something. As I got older, I got weaker. Around the age of five I began practicing meditation, which really helped me. I was able to become more accepting of my condition. I also started to wonder what my purpose in life was. I knew that there had to be a reason I couldn't play on the swing set with all of my friends in kindergarten. I finally came to the conclusion that I was in a wheelchair because I had something to learn or something to teach. I began to view everything in life as a gift, even having SMA. It is something I became grateful for. I am able to inspire people because of it. To be completely honest, inspiring others means much more to me than walking. What is the message/lesson you believe you are here to teach?

With her EP, Fairy Tale, now released, Alexa is anxious to soar through her future. “Since I was five years old, my biggest goal in life has been to be on Oprah. I know that by being on her show I can inspire millions of people in just one hour. That would be the greatest gift I could ever ask for.”

I believe that I am here to help others realize their potential. If I can sit here in this chair, be on TV, sing, and write songs, imagine what you can do. I also want to help people embrace love. Love is the most powerful feeling in the world, imagine if it was the most abundant emotion people felt. Despite being born with SMA, despite the hardships you have faced, you show so

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

much gratitude. How do you keep such a positive outlook? I keep a positive outlook because I tell myself I am going to. I am still human though. While there are times that I do complain, I try to reprogram my thought process. Negativity will not lead me anywhere. However, positivity will lead me everywhere. If everybody told themselves that they were going to remain positive at all times, there would be a huge decrease in negative energy. I also view everything in life as a gift, even the things that others would consider "bad". For example, when I pray, I thank God for giving me SMA. I have it because I have something to learn or something to teach. The same holds true for every other situation you may be faced with. View it as a gift that you can only learn from.

to make their conditions better and enable them to maximize their full potential. I never want a child to feel unloved. If we could all open our hearts and homes to these children, the energy and success of the world will flourish. Is there any additional message you would like to share here? Always be accepting of your neighbor and embrace humility. Love everybody, regardless of their appearance, cultural beliefs, or wrongdoings. The day we love each other will be the day the world is at peace. To connect with Alexa or to purchase a copy of her EP, visit: http://www.alexadectis.com http://www.myspace.com/alexadectis

What have been your sources of inspiration and why? God is my main source of inspiration. To be pure love must be inexplicable. That is why those of us who will accept the love, feel it so vividly. I could sit here for hours trying to convince everybody to love each other and not get very far. However, God can do everything that I can't. Therefore, I am awed by such a light.

To donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, click on the picture below:

After Oprah (and we share your dream about sharing a message on Oprah) what are your goals? One day, I would love to be on Oprah. That has been my biggest goal since I was five years old. After fulfilling that mission, I would like to continue to spread messages of love and potential. I really want to help orphans. Those are children with no stability or love surrounding them. I want OM-Times October 2009 Edition

KarMIC Footprints

Reducing your Karmic footprint 4 ways to re-think and Recycle the Fruits of your actions

Posted by RAK What is Karmic Footprint? Karma is a Spiritual concept usually applied by Eastern religions; for some, Karma is the Law of Retribution in action. As a Law, it does not necessarily represent a bad thing, but the need for balance in nature. It allows us to learn and understand diverse points of view, through experiencing the different aspects and perspectives of life. But the truth is how can one balance one’s lives in such a chaotic world? If you share the common belief that we are all One and we are all related, we realize that the minimum actions and dealings can ripple in our lives, out to other’s lives and on to our entire Planet.

So, how can we grow as Individuals, help Mother Earth and reduce our Karmic footprint on our already overloaded planet? There are many different types of Karma, but the one type we are going to concentrate on here is the Kriyamana Karma, which corresponds to the result of the gathering of all our actions (good or bad) in this current life. We can say that our Karmic Footprint is the aggregation of our daily actions that can create a wave and influence and touch other’s lives. As a result, if we are able to change, transmute and reduce most of our impact, at least the bad aspects of it in our present situation, much can be done for the good of our Earthly community. There are no miraculous keys or definite solutions, but there are suggestions that may

OM Times Magazine October 2009

help you actively reduce your negative influence and consciously contribute to the clearing of the energy of the collective, not only spiritually but physically.

The Lavoisier’s Law If we understand clearly that everything around us is energy, including matter, we can use a little of the concept of Lavoisier Law of Conservation, where he states: “nothing is lost, everything transforms itself”. He proved this when he established that although matter can change its state in a chemical reaction, the total mass of matter is the same at the end as at the beginning of every chemical change. So our Goal is not to necessarily eliminate collective Karmic residues, but our main challenge would be recycling our collective Global Karma to another level of energy, releasing negativity through Alchemy of Intentions + Actions. Using Ethical Judgment as a Soul Compass. Treat the earth well: It was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children. Native American Wisdom

We all have needs, that is undeniable, but what is the true measure of our needs? Do you know how to define Necessity? Do you really need a convertible red car; is this going to be the guarantee that you are going to be fully satisfied and happy? What do you need to be happy?

Amazingly enough, joy does not come with the complete satisfaction of your material desires; because to find happiness, you should start to search from inside out. So, here are some personal tips in how to help consistently in the transmutation of the energies of Mother Earth: 1. Reduce the excess in your life: Simplify You need a give a hard look at the clutter in your home and life. Do you really need all those things you have? Aren’t you creating more work and stress for yourself and holding onto memories (not necessarily good ones) because you are afraid to let go? Here is how to deal with this: Ask yourself, did I use this item the last six months, or will I use this item in the next six months? If the answer is no for both questions, it is time to let go. Spiritual tip: Select all the items you intend to get rid of, clear them with blessings from your heart, and make an intention that these items will find someone that will benefit from and find joy with them. This is an intention that will ripple good vibes to whoever receives or acquires each item. As you clear the clutter in your life (and I mean life, not only home), you create space for the new to happen, opportunities to manifest; and if you are sending good vides, you are actually planting happiness.

2. Conserve Resources When we speak of conserving resources, we are not only speaking of nature resources, as we assume that you are already doing this like everyone with a holistic ecological vision, and can understand and practice this. We can do that by using alternative ways like the use of solar power, reducing carbon emissions by having carpools instead of driving alone, and reducing the amount of electricity you use on regular basis. Nevertheless, we can go further, and deepen our contribution to this planet. Have you ever considered Compacting as a spiritual practice? Compacting is a commitment, like a vow one can make in reducing buying new things that are not really necessary for a period of time, let’s say one whole year? Of course this practice does not include

OM Times Magazine October 2009

food or material items you need to replace others in your daily activities. But think, why not by a good used car, maybe more affordable, and that have everything you really want, instead of getting on the Merry-go-round of credit and debt? What about a used book instead of the same brand new one for almost 30-40% more? Why can you say Compacting is a spiritual practice? Compacting is a practice that will help to induce yourself to a point of balance, stability, selfsufficiency, and will tame your ego and prevent the “brilliance of glamour” to take over your Spiritual Path. It is one way to practice detachment to what is the standard philosophy of a commercially-geared society. As you do this, you are saving a lot in resources used in the making of new products. When you decelerate the rate of planned obsolesce of a good, when you “freecycle” items you no longer need; you are helping Mother Earth and empowering many little communities and business thriving to insert themselves into a new economic paradigm. Never throw away, instead “GIVE” it away! Think about it.

3. Alchemize and transmute what you no longer need Alchemy is both an ancient philosophy and practice which aimed for the achievement of ultimate wisdom as well as immortality. I prefer to think of alchemy as a spiritual way to deal with stagnated energies and transform them into something good. Of course, the concept of good cannot always be translated into monetary compensation, but it can be rewarding in joy, satisfaction and beauty.

From Trash to Treasure There are many things that may no longer serve you but would benefit other people. For instance, formal clothing, like a formal suite that you have outgrown, can be a key factor to facilitate someone in getting their first job; a heavy coat your kids do not use anymore can bring relief to a less fortunate Mother’s heart in knowing that their child will be comfortable and healthy during winter. There are things in life that are priceless, not only in the intention but also in the act. Always see if you can be the vehicle of a blessing to someone!

Plantings the Seeds of Goodness So you recycled all your cans and plastic and paper. What do you do with the residual money you gathered from it?

For many years, I lived in the countryside in California. I had an old Pumpkin jar (instead of a piggy bank) where I gathered all the money acquired with the recycling practices of my household. As an alchemy practice, I believed that it was possible to transform Trash into Treasure. I used that Energy (the money) to buy seeds: I bought seeds of wild flowers, vegetables (the easy ones to grow) and more trees to plant. The money generated by my trash was now used to give gifts back to Mother Earth. Our family grew vegetables and we feed all the neighbors, and there was always plenty to donate to our little town food bank. We spread seeds of wildflowers on the highway sides, so the next season they would make a pretty comforting landscape for those who would pass that point, they would enjoy them with happy eyes. You can also use the recycle jar to collect money that is no longer in your budget to donate to causes you support (like Humanity Healing Foundation). I

OM Times Magazine October 2009

remember breaking the recycle jar to send a donation to the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. It was a big decision for us because we had decided that year that all the collection of money would go to sponsor some wolfs in Canada on a sanctuary, but it was worth it.

4. Practice Emotional Recycling We sensitive people often feel the impact of others’ feelings in our collective lives: their sadness and their lack of hope, one way or another interferes in our lives. Knowing and being aware that all of us are under the auspices of the Law of One, we know that when one is helped, all are healed. But how can we help each other? If you bring the possibility of relief, or the beginning of resurgence of hope into someone’s life; you are also cooperating with the combined cleansing of our collective minds and souls. Dedicate every single random act of kindness you do as blessings, and purposely dedicate this energy for the general cleansing of humanity’s emotional wounds. As you place yourself as an active member of this Human Community, you realize that we are all responsible, directly or indirectly, for all the challenges we are facing as a Collective Race. Our shadow side (made by our collective projections of fear and rejections) must be healed, and we can mindfully practice this philosophy as we chose to be aware, act and live in the present moment. Here are some personal suggestions: 1. Refuse to be part of negative or less then positive activities; decline to be involved in gossip and any conversation that would demise someone. Practice the wisdom of the three monkeys: “See no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil”

2. Make a practice to include in your daily prayers, a prayer and/or a benediction for those that have no one to pray for them. Remember that we are a result of a collaboration of many actions, thoughts and cares of many different people. We are never alone. We can heal others with our goodness of heart and loving energy, even when they do not know. This is the real material that miracles are made off.

3. Create something beautiful as a gift to kindness. Plant a tree: create little oasis in your garden (no matter how small it may be) and dedicate it to the increase of goodness, healing, love or any other virtue you may chose. This is something I embrace as my personal gift to kindness and for the increase of hope, faith and integrity in the world: as a project I built a section in my yard where I hung a diversity of wind chimes of different formats, colors and materials. I cleared the space, consecrated the pieces and blessed every single one with a different prayer and wish. As the winds blow in all the different directions, they carry all the prayers for those in need. From time to time, I recharge them with new prayers, replace some crystals and meditate in gratitude to all the elementals that are joining me in this quest of diminishing our Karmic Footprint.  Last reminder: In order to actively reduce the impact of your actions and help create a new moment for all, you need to work not just with the intention, but always follow up your intention with ACTIONS.

http://www.freecycle.org/

OM Times Magazine October 2009

The Spiritual Significance Of Music by Javier Ramon Brito

The term “spiritual” means connecting to the source. Music that connects you to the source is spiritual music. Connecting to the source also means healing. Healing is making something whole, returning it to its natural harmonious state, in alignment with the

source. The source is energy. Energy is vibration. Vibration is sound. Harmonic sounds are music. Music speaks to the soul because it is the soul’s language. It transcends the limitations of the rational mind. Ludwig van Beethoven said that “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy”. To connect to the source you need to transcend and leave behind the rational mind and to unleash your intuition. Music without linguistically spoken words activates the intuitive side of the brain, facilitating this process. When Albert Einstein was asked about his theory of relativity, he said: “It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception”. For most people, healing music is synonymous with relaxation music. For others, it also involves uplifting music, when stimulation is needed. For some, it also means inspiring or inspirational music. But the spiritual, healing power of music goes far beyond that. There was a time when music and healing were one in the same, as documented in all ancient traditions. In our modern society, we are just rediscovering this truth, assisted by the current shift in universal consciousness.

The movements of the planets can be transposed into audible sounds and rhythms, as Hans Cousto has demonstrated. The Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and all our planets have specific musical tones and frequencies. As Barbara Hero’s research has demonstrated, not only the orbits and spins of our planets, but also the Chakra energy centers of our bodies and each of the different organs of our bodies have specific musical notes at specific

frequencies. Our vertebrae also responds to specific musical notes at specific frequencies, as June Leslie Wieder’s work has demonstrated. In the collective universal symphony of wellness, health, and prosperity, everyone has their own personal music scale, as part of their own individual uniqueness in the cosmos. Music and sound, used scientifically and intuitively, can align the frequencies in people’s bodies, minds and souls. As Dr. John Diamond states: “To me, as to Pythagoras, music is not merely entertainment or amusement… but therapy…for actuating… the healing power that exists within us all: Life Energy”. It is possible to identify and restore the missing musical tones in people’s systems. Tones relate to meridians and organs of the human body. And those meridians and organs relate also to very specific emotions. Harmony can be restored with the appropriate use of music and sound to produce healing. This is the beautiful holistic power of music reconnecting you to the source and returning you to your natural harmonious state, in alignment with the source. Alignment with the source is the essence of spiritual music, which is also your soul’s prayer. The prayer that aims at attaining the highest joy of all: spiritual joy.

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

The Art of Javier Ramon Brito Javier Ramon Brito is a Composer, Music Healer and Recording Artist of Spiritual Healing Meditation Music. He describes himself as an intuitive musician. A firm believer in the healing power of music, he wonders not why musicians are often compared to medical doctors. “I am like a psychologist, because I work with people’s emotions and dreams”, he jokes. “Or like a kinesiologist, because I believe music can balance the meridians of the human body”, he adds. He is a member of the Healing Music Organization and of the Sound Healers Association. Javier Ramon’s philosophy of life has been enriched through the years with the study of various spiritual disciplines. Visit his HEALING WEBSITE. He composes music with a clear intention to promote spirituality and joy. “Spiritual awareness and enjoyment are often considered as opposites, but I believe they go hand in hand, so both are important ingredients of my music”, he remarks. Being an intuitive artist, his main concern is not to closely follow traditional musical structures. “I like to create music for people who seek a spiritual connection as well as food for their souls…music to accompany their prayers… music to accompany their meditations or reflections”, he explains. “And as joy is of utmost importance in the current shift of universal consciousness, my music wants to foster joy, the emotional state that increases the energy of life, so I also compose happy songs”, he adds.

Javier Ramon’s personal style combines the sounds of piano and western classical instruments with oriental sounds. He also incorporates angelic choirs, oriental vocals and special effects as appropriate to maintain the warm, spiritual intended nature of his music. “I adore vocals, but normally choose to use wordless vocals, because scientific studies have demonstrated that music without words activates the brain’s right hemisphere (the intuitive one), which is the one I am more interested in”, he explains. His pieces are enriched by rhythms carefully selected to sooth and invigorate the main meridians of the human body, from swing and bossa nova to oriental drum beats. “I want people to feel well”, he remarks. His music is unconventional and unpredictable because it blends different musical styles -from baroque to pop- with spicy tunes and harmonics of a defined and colorful oriental taste. The following song is Peace from the album of the same name. To listen to more tracks or to purchase Javier’s music, visit: http://www.musicbrito.com

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

Drumming Through The Loss:

Creating Your Own Personal Drumming Ceremonies By Afia Walking Tree A few weeks ago, I lost a dear, beloved friend, Brindle, who spent over 30 years playing African Diasporic music, and was one of the most powerful women drummers I know. Brindle was the lead percussionist in Pele Juju. Shortly after her passing, she was honored at a drum and dance gathering. When I first arrived, I felt so overwhelmed with grief that I wasn’t sure I could even drum. For her sake, I found the courage to enter the building. As I began to play a traditional life celebration rhythm, Lamban, I felt its healing energy slowly creep up my arms, and into my body. My heart center was activated and my own inner rhythmic life-force brought me completely present with a deep gratitude that I was alive in that moment. A joy filled me for all the special moments Brindle and I shared over 12 years of friendship. And as I drummed, I heard my mentor and friend, Jules Stept’s words to me, "grief is only part of the truth of what is happening now. Stay true to your feelings, and remember to come back to what is going well, what is true in you right now, and what you are grateful for." As I reflected on these words, my experiences with Brindle, my activation on the land and conversations with beloveds, I realized that when we move through grief and loss through drumming ceremonies it bring us into aliveness and gratitude. As we know, drumming has always been a sustainable form of expression and vibration, and so we can use it a as vehicle to energetically aid us in the process of letting go—a job, loss of home, loss of relationships, death of a loved one, outmoded patterns or any significant loss that is accompanied by grief. In Indigenous African and Indian pantheons, specific rhythmic vibrations (based in foundational codes or beats), chants, colors, foods, costumery, and theatrics, invoke particular energies that respond directly to our bodies’ resonance, allowing both individual and collective release and upliftment. As we grieve losses, I believe it is important to be intentional, utilizing these primal elemental beats that can energetically re-align the body-spirit connection, and open our heart center, creating a renewed feeling of joy and appreciation of life. Om-Times October 2009 Edition

Ceremony to Release Grief As in all rituals, there is a process. 1. Become present of your surroundings, and carve out a space to have this sacred ceremony. You may bring in photos that symbolize the loss as well as what your intentions and offering at this time. Flowers, and other sacred totems displayed on a clean altar cloth will give you a feeling of specialness. 2. Bring your desired drum(s) be it a conga, djembe, dunun, ashiko, tambour, ngoma, a pot, a bucket (whatever you have really that can provide a percussive sound). 3. Light a candle to ignite the pathway into seeing what is here with us now that we are seeking and to the journey ahead. 4. Pour libations (purified water) in honor of the drumming ancestor lineages as well as our own and thank them for their divine presence, affirming the miracle of life, birth, and new beginnings in our lives now. 5. Invoke and call upon the spirit of the ancestors that you honored, acknowledge the loss and thank its presence, and then the intention that you wish to offer with your drumming in this ceremony. 6. Take a few deep breaths, then once you are connected to the breath, you are ready to begin.

Three Universal Drum Beats That Celebrate Life The following are three simple universal beats that we all know and I wish to I call foundational vibrations that have been used in ceremony at the core of indigenous rhythms from the beginning of time. These beats create waves of magic, miracles, or “spells” that enter into the spirit and body of the beings invoking the release of loss and transition to bring forth new seeds. When played in succession and repetition, the body receives the vibration and dances itself forward into awareness, release, and celebration. Drum notation key: Bass or tone sound = GN; Pause for one beat = ^ (Beats together means no space in between; the speed of the rhythm is up to you, however I recommend beginning slowly then moving the vibration in energy and speed.) 1. The first beat is one we hear most often in the indigenous first nation’s prayer songs, the Pow-wow and Sundance. It is the very simple yet captivating one-beat (GN ^ GN ^ GN ^ GN ^). Try repeating out-loud with a chant or affirmation. 2. Then there is the one-two beat (GNGN ^ GNGN ^ GNGN ^ GNGN ^) repeated to create a heart-beat that will bring you back into your body after reeling from loss, and help you to remember who you are. Om-Times October 2009 Edition

3. The 1-2-3 beat (GNGNGN without pauses) is the beat upon which much of African music is based, is also referred to as “six-eight” time signature. Without going into the technicalities, the beat feels like a running, horsey movement that is activating. As you come to a point of closure in the ceremony, go backwards and honor those who came to be with you, the gifts you received and gave, and breathe in silence for a few minutes to be present with this new-found energy. Also honor everyone in the circle in whatever ways you desire in that moment. You may opt to leave the candle until it goes out on its own, anoint yourself with the sacred water and a plant in your midst. Walk in your fullness of life, gratitude, joy and love… in the now! We are alive! We are beautiful! We are creative! We can do anything we put our love and heart into!

Afia Walking Tree, M.Ed is a world-class percussionist, spiritual activist, empowerment facilitator, leadership development advocate and educator. She serves as a visionary and director for her brainchild, Spirit Drumz, through which she has facilitated transformational and culturally relevant programs using the drums of the African Diaspora to activate empowerment and healing, nationally and internationally. Many express that Walking Tree is one of the most dynamic facilitator and activist for humanity that they have seen in action. www.SpiritDrumz.org

Five Women Drum Masters students and lead drummer, Afia Walking Tree drum and dance Yamama, a rhythm from Guinea, West Africa

Om-Times October 2009 Edition

The Rhythm Method By Joy

Rhythm. What a word! Close your eyes and spell it. Not that easy, is it? Rhythm is one of the deepest connections we have to everything. Truly, EVERYTHING.

Space has a pulse. Energy moves through and around us in waves. If we find a way to make a pleasing, moving rhythm within the world, things just seem to fall into place and feel better. Most of the winning moves in video games I used to play with my kids were related to finding the correct rhythm within the game. Rhythm was the key to getting past moving obstacles or lining up those green mushroom sections for the coveted '3 UP' bonus. Rhythm is important in communication. If you get out of rhythm during a conversation, you can talk over each other and bruise relationships as you step on each other's ideas. Writers can even make the reader more interested in what they've got to say by using rhythm. Biographer Douglas Brinkley reported that Hunter S. Thompson admitted to typing and retyping F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" over and over because he wanted to study the rhythm of the writing; capture the music of Fitzgerald's words. If anyone has ever heard Johnny Depp recite Hunter's work, you'll immediately be drawn in by the cadence of each compelling word. A message, delivered in an enticing way, can

capture a reader's imagination and pull them into the story. Again, it's all in the rhythm. "Rockin' with the Rhythm of the Rain" and "The Rhythm is Gonna Get'cha" are just two examples of how musical artists are drawn to its power. Rhythm is absolutely critical to music. All the beautiful swirling of melody and harmony can be dashed to shreds by the wrong rhythm and actually make a song unbearable. As a musician, I can recount the horrors of performing with a poor rhythm section or a drummer that is constantly speeding up and slowing down. Initially, we often find ourselves drawn to music by its rhythm, even more so than by its lyric or tone. All the uproar about early Rock and Roll centered on the rhythm. Remember, the rhythm is gonna get'cha. However, rhythm, I'm discovering, is not an easy thing to manage. It goes haywire at times and can rip through our lives like an earthquake. The earth out of sync with its own rhythm bumps and grinds clumsily, its destructive power building and swelling with each seismic wave. As in our lives, until the right rhythm is re-established, chaos and destruction rule.

Lately, I've noticed things happen to me in rhythms. There's this recurring pattern in my life that seems to have a rhythm gone

wrong: a seismic fault with erupting geysers and a monster to unleash upon my world. Sometimes, I even think I'm its willing captive. It's not that I want, or even ask, for the weirdness it brings to my life. Most of the time, I'm trying to do what I THINK will avoid it. Instead, though, I wake up one morning and there it is: stomping all over my own private Tokyo and spewing its radioactive fury. I wonder if I've become addicted to the guilt of being its victim...over and over and over. How do we get in a place like this? Every attempt I make to change the pattern seems to wrap or warp back to the old destructive rhythm. How do I re-establish the right one? Why do I keep stumbling back into the wrong one so easily? Egad...I'm like one of those drummer s I just bashed! Thinking back, I can't really remembe r when I had the right rhythm going. Was it when I was too young to know better? What led to the shift in my rhythm...the place where it went wrong? Does it get worse over time? It seems like it does. It is Bigger and deeper and progressively harder to recover from, afterward. Could it be that the wrong rhythm's ability to come back so readily is that there are just simply very few 'right' rhythms. So, I try to change something to get the rhythm back on the right track, but it just creates a variation to the 'wrong' rhythm track, instead. Is it, then, the work of our lives to constantly try out options until we get that right rhythm? What happens then? Will the chord resound in all its harmonic glory? Is that when we get to live happily

ever after? I heard someone say something that really seemed to hit a rhythm I needed to hear recently: "You can't love someone for what you think they can be; you have to love them for what they are right now." It was like a big "DUH" went off in my head. That's exactly what I had always done: fallen in love with the potential of what someone could be - once I helped them find it, of course; Dangerous stuff. But, thinking through the statement, I also realize it isn't really only true for "LOVE" relationships...husbands, wives, significant others, etc. We usually do have to love other things in our lives and other people for the potential we see in them. It is part of the human experience; changing things around us to make them better. What struck home with me, however, was that if you're going to commit to someone for the long haul...to have and to hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health...then you have got to love them for who they ARE RIGHT NOW. When we partner up with someone to take on life, there are too many other areas to address to spend time fussing about "fixing" each other. There's a whole world of fixing to do as we build your nest together. Perhaps when all the energy is wasted in fruitless efforts to 'change' our partners, the rest of everything else that actually needed that energy goes unchecked and damages our chances to avoid the wrong rhythms. Is that why our rhythm goes wrong? Maybe it's in loving each other for which we ARE that we finally find the right rhythm. God promises that if two of you shall agree, mountains can be moved into the sea. The right rhythm could be all in the dance. After all, it does take two to Tango.

brains in a way that we have learned to smile and agree to almost anything, as long as it makes us look good. With jobs on the line and people struggling to hang on to what little they may have, we also learn to "grin and bear it" to keep our hold on security. Allowing our morals and ethics to be sidelined by what it sometimes takes to be successful has to be a major contributor to a faltering rhythm. At least, I believe it was for mine.

But this isn't an article about relationships...or is it? It is about rhythm and how it relates to our lives. Our lives are basically a relationship with everything around us...right? The experiences we share make up our existence. So, then, how much of the rhythm of our lives is affected by our relationships? How much am I willing to blame on my dancing partners? How, in this big, wide, world do we NOT step on each others' toes? Maybe the problem is that I'm trying to dance with a rhythm I don't really feel. I never was much of a dancer, after all, and faking it to keep my dance card filled has not been very successful. A guru once warned that if we are not genuine, our efforts will be wasted. In anything we do, we must be genuine. That's a tall order in this world, especially in these times of instant gratification and robust materialism. Image and labels and corporate advertising have driven the ideal of happiness into our

From a young child, I learned to smile and say, "Yes, ma'am." It's what got me through my home life relatively uninjured and guaranteed good reports all through school. I lived with a lot of rules and learned to bluff my way through what needed to be said in order to get away unscathed. I learned to make the grown-ups happy by smiling and agreeing with them, yet cursing at them from behind closed doors. Old habits die hard and I think I'm just now, in my midlife, realizing the damage I've done to my own rhythm by holding on to my childhood defense mechanisms. We don't normally tap our feet unless we feel the music. I want to feel my life without pleasing the 'grown-ups' any longer. The 'Pleaser' in me cringes at the thought, but I am going to try being more genuine in my life. I can't bare the thought of my efforts continuing to be wasted. The current rhythm is so off, it has to change - somehow. Maybe I'll write a different story and sing a new song, as I go off marching to the beat of a different drum.

Author Bio Basically, I'm just a free spirit inhabiting this energy field for the duration of my assignment. I find myself on a continuing quest to define my purpose, follow its path and remain true to the intuition that guides me...but, way down deep

inside...

where having compassion would seem a requirement for the job. This is far from the case sometimes because of ego. If their ego has not reached the balance point, they can consider themselves far above those needing help. Irrationally thinking that the people they are helping deserve the situation they are in and need someone "better than they are" to save them from themselves.

Finding Compassion Rev. Judi A. Lynch

How many times have we found ourselves wondering "How did this happen?" after living through a certain event or witnessing a situation that has gone wrong. After all, we had the best of intentions when it started out. Maybe someone treated you with complete disrespect that was totally unwarranted or you see another soul having their heart broken by someone they love very much.

As enlightened beings it is hard for us to imagine how people can treat others with such disregard. Where is the compassion we are all supposed to have for each other? There are many people who work in professions

Some people are taking out their past hurts on those who get in their way. They don't always realize how their actions are the result of an unhealed trauma from their past. They may think it's quite humorous or somehow elevates them above the other person in a game only they want to (and know how) to play. They seem to have a paranoia that everyone is against them and they have to strike first.

Every time we experience lack of compassion in another, we have to remember that several things can be at the root cause. First, that this person has most likely been hurt by someone else and feels the need to lash out. Secondly, that this person has not yet found the balance point in their ego for true understanding of unconditional love. It is something they may not be able to learn in this lifetime and we have to learn not to let it harm our own soul's growth. A child comes into this world feeling compassion for other children, animals, and even objects that get broken. Growing up they learn and experience many things that can chip away at those feelings of caring about others with the love and respect they deserve.

“As enlightened beings it is hard for us to imagine how people can treat others with such disregard. Where is the compassion we are all supposed to have for each other?”

The hardest thing for us to feel sometimes is forgiveness for the person's actions and to remember that there is always another soul out there who has been through something much more challenging to forgive. Reaching out to others who need your unconditional love can help to heal and release the hurt you have experienced.

When we find the compassion in our hearts to forgive those who lack it, we set our souls free from the hurt and help others to do the same. Daniel Kobialka, Wild Mountain Air Purchase the Celtic Fantasy CD Author’s Biography Spiritual Advisor and Healing Light Energy Channel. President of the non-profit charity Crystal Healing Foundation, Inc.

"Do You Know What The Biggest Yes Is In Your Life?

By Marsha Cook What IS the biggest yes in your life? I heard these wise words at a Hospice volunteer training. And guess what? I have not been able to answer the query yet. I have a bazillion little yes’s that occupy the time and space of my everyday, but I do not have the slightest idea what the biggest one is!

To know the answer to this wondrous question, you must first understand that the question is actually an answer. Yes, is the answer – does this sound like double talk to you? Let me simplify – First you must find the question, because the answer is yes. Since I have yet to decide what my question is, I will definitely direct some time and energy toward figuring it out. In the meantime, I will share this conundrum with you! What I know for sure…I know that the greatest motivator in my life is Love. Love is the reason we exist. I know that staying in the moment is the best way to make a choice, and, all that we feel, do and experience in life is all about the choices we make. I know that the toughest hurdle we should work to soar over is judgment. Judging, though appearing to be a part of human nature is actually a learned behavior. One that if we lived without would benefit the world! I am also positive that whatever the question is; it is one for which there is absolutely a zero possibility that the answer would be a NO.

Ever notice how questions lead to more questions? We should pause and examine that for a moment. Suppose your question is in the realm of volunteering/helping. Would the help you provide fall into the family category; work or friends? Might your volunteering take place within the community of your religion; or, the population of your neighborhood? Could the assistance you want to offer involve your faith; is it health related? The list of ‘what’ may be infinite. In any of the above mentioned categories, the next set of questions would involve who, what, where and when. Just to tie up any loose ends, here is another question – Is it correct that a good question is one that is useful; one that takes you on a journey of discovery; one that teaches? And, let me add another top notch query…human beings are multifaceted creatures: With such a complex make-up, can there truly be a single yes answer in our lives? Ever wonder why we suffer from burnout? That answer is easy – we are on fire! We answer yes to so many questions, people and things that life gets away from us. You could compare us to

Om-Times October 2009

a rocket that’s fuel propelled emitting flames that burn brightly until they burn out; that is just what we do. The fuel tank empties, the flame dies and all because we do not take the time to establish ourselves within our lives. So many of us are unaware of what the Big ‘Yes’ is. So, we pour a bit of octane into a little yes, and then before we know it we are repeating the process ad finitum. We say yes, until there is nothing left inside. You would think there should be a better way to do things. According to the author of the above quote, there is. Just say No. Sounds like an anti-drug slogan from a public service television campaign. Unlike the Nike brand commercial that tells you to “Just do it!” With such sound bites no wonder we say yes all the time. Once upon a time there was an afternoon television show called, “Starting Over.” The story core revolved around regular folks like you and me who, due to less then stellar choices, needed a way to begin again. They also needed guidance and a plan to follow to take their new steps toward a successful life. The protagonists in the show were ‘life coaches.’ They conducted group meetings, as well as individual counseling sessions to provide their ‘students’ with the necessary tools. Of the many skills requiring mastery was the ability to know how and when to say no. Sounds simple, does it not? What are some of the reasons we cannot say no? We want to be liked; most of us are givers, not takers; as children we are trained if we see something broken, it must fixed; and lastly, it feels good to be needed. How do we remedy these rationales…by understanding them? The need to be liked is Universal; is it realistic?

There will always be someone that does not agree with our way of thinking. Keep in mind that ‘we can’t please everybody all the time, just some of the people some of the time.’ Then there’s the word selfish! Takers are selfish – right? Shame on us for wanting to take from others; giving is so much better. At least that is what we are taught. Giving is a good thing, if the reasons are based in right action, and not in fear of any kind. And, ponder on this for a moment; taking may simply be another form of giving. The third ‘understanding’ is easy – ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ And even if it is ‘broke’ must we be in charge of everything? And, last on the list but not least is the need to be needed. If you Love, honor and respect you, you will not need others to do it for you. Now all we have to do is figure out what our biggest Yes is. Then we will have a good grip on life and know when ‘No’ should the answer be! The only flame left to burn then will be from the light of joy that comes from the knowing! About the Author: Marsha G. Cook, MSNH, CPT, VPHB http://www.marshagcook.com contact: [email protected]

True Happiness: outside-in or insideout? Dirk Boehmer

“To BE or not to be? That is the question” asked already Shakespeare’s Hamlet in terms of existence. And I would like to add: “To feel INSIDE-out or outside-in?, that is the question” in terms of happiness…. Or in other words: Where do we actually take true pleasure and happiness from? From the outside or from our inside? Often we live in the socially and media triggered illusion-world that we gain true felicity ONLY via constant distractions from the outside and via altruistic (yet often selfish) help and devotion to others in order to receive in turn maximum appreciation and caress (of our ego) by others... But if we internalize this as our life-motto, we soon end up chained to a mental rollercoaster of fluctuating happiness, with (out of question) some real heights but also with many headfirst looping and steep descents into unhappiness or vales of tears when things or other people's reactions tend to not fall into the expectation-scheme as we internally anticipate them to do so... Hence, why not change our perspective a little bit and focus more on a state of emotional

Detachment and self-distance as to the ostensible myth of extrinsic status and selfactualization....? We will be astonished how much true intrinsic peace, self-esteem, flow; happiness and lightness of being we'd explore within our SELF.....thereby enlighten our own life and in turn implicitly the ones of others..... Because we only can truly love others, if we can accept and love our own SELF for what we really ARE (and not for what we are supposed to be, because in the latter mode of being do start most of our lifeentanglements via mutual (high) expectations, which can easily lead to unhappiness or senselessness when they are not properly fulfilled). Because LOVE and (also Self-Love) implies to

my logo therapeutic understanding (as to Prof. Viktor Frankl) to follow one's own quiet conscience (instead of the outer, often socially distorted, consciousness, which is not to be confused) in seeing and appreciating others and our Selves for their/our inborn inimitability and uniqueness.....

someone beloved (like I lost my mother just recently).... Of course, loss is an incisive experience accompanied by an excruciating suffering from a "breach" in our well-roundedness, but "everything needs a crack - that's how the light get's in" (Leonard Cohen). Hence, if we are stable in our inmost happiness and our own self-appreciation as to whom we really are, we will not only be our own safe haven, lighthouse and anchor in order to survive those dark and stormy times..... But we can also grow strong on those adverse events, because spiritually contemplated they implicitly bear the irrevocable chance for us to pause, to self-reflect and to sharpen our selfperspective for the 1001 opportunities of instant meaning that lie in front of our eyes in the here and now, but might have so far been overlooked in our targeted urge for reaching out farther, higher, faster and for more etc. This is sometimes the pivotal point of our life when we suddenly find out that LESS on the outside is truly outperformed by the MORE which resides inside of us...

And to help (for self-help!) others to become what they in mostly want to become (apart from all educational and social exigencies), themselves being lead by their own inmost spiritual free will and inborn sound and safe mind.... It is my personal experience that the more we love ourselves and each other in terms of positively "letting go" the more we do not only gain more true lightness-happiness but also can much better cope with the death / loss of

Which is often an essence-innate abundance of virtues and skills which we unfortunately often have unknowingly hidden behind our own immunity-veil of socially arrogated outer insistence and hence, forgotten to be seriously discovered, explored and hoisted by us precisely for our own (and airily shared with others) inmost contentment and happiness... ;-)) Hence, go for more inside-out! And others will gladly follow....;

RESPONSES TO HARM By Mary Cook When someone harms us or is hurtful in some way, we tend to absorb and retain these energies. We often obsess about the experience and tell everyone we know, letting the story and its feelings grow. Our response to harm may be selfrighteous indignation, or chronic pain and suffering. It may be retaliation. Or it may stimulate our own feelings of low self worth or self hate. We might invest time, thought and emotion in wondering why someone hurt us. We can reflect on their possible thoughts, feelings, upbringing, goals and motivation. We can spend copious amounts of time thinking of the ways they should change and mend the hurt that they cause. Our communication, body language, and actions are often attempts to manipulate or punish, those whom we feel have hurt us. Additionally, our responses to others who do or say anything that reminds us of a past hurt, generally elicit overly strong reactions. Even when our own behavior is harmfully wrong, we tend to focus negative responses onto those who confront or impose unwanted consequences on us. We thus add to our own unhealthy behaviors, the emotions of anger, bitterness and blame toward others. We

commonly become angry with our own body, or diseases that we contract through our unhealthy habits or neglect. Ironically we believe that maintaining vigilant attention to the components of past negative Experiences will alert us to prevent repeat episodes. Conversely this is the very force that precipitates continuing problems. These patterns of externalizing what is wrong, without taking responsibility for solutions, keeps us stuck in escalating negative patterns. The amount of painful energy that we absorb from the original problem multiplies from our defensive and offensive reactions to it, and repeated recounting either in our minds or to others. This is how the energy of harm expands, attracting similar experiences, preventing solutions, and blocking the flow of our own evolution. We are all imperfect human beings with healthy and unhealthy traits. We live on a planet where pristine paradise, natural disasters and constant change coexist. And yet we court false beliefs dictating that we should have all that we desire for as long as we wish, and none of what we fear. This denial of the duality and transformations of the earth and its inhabitants

puts us in constant conflict with life. Attempts to capture cling and control external circumstances are doomed to failure and misery. This focus causes us to forget what we have to give, and overlook the blessings that we do receive. No matter how, when and where harm began, responses that increase our negative energy diminish, and if severe, preclude the possibilities of natural joy, hope and appreciation in the rest of our life. The dark and light side of life is inextricably woven together. Just as ignorance precedes knowledge and healing follows illness, shadows are necessary to allow us to more clearly see and appreciate the light. Cultivating a mature adult relationship with ourselves means that we acknowledge the whole of who we are. This entails honesty, deep understanding, and responsibility for our well being, learning, growth and integrity. It includes setting healthy boundaries between aspects of ourselves, other people or situations that are destructive. It is wise to do this without anger or other negative emotions, because a mind full of complaints and criticisms isn’t capable of finding a solution. We can refuse to participate in or add to any harm that visits us. Our best response to harm or potential harm is to seek safety, assistance, healing, a better understanding of ourselves, and personal and spiritual growth. Instead of focusing on who hurt us or why, we can identify the consequences of harm that we carry inside of us and in our interactions with life. We can surrender all of the ways in which

we are hurtful to ourselves and others. We can shift our focus from harm to healing, from perpetrators to helpers, from past hurt to present safety, from victim to miracle, from anger to peace, from despair to grace. And we can do this work with the emotions of compassion, curiosity, faith, gratitude and humility. This puts us in the energy of the solution and in harmony with life, regardless of current conditions. When we no longer feed the fire of negativity, we can rise from the flames of harm and allow our hearts to tell a whole new story.

WWW.MARYCOOKMA.COM Mary Cook has a Master’s degree in psychology and is a registered addiction specialist, with 33 years of clinical practice and 29 years of University teaching experience. She is a writer, a national speaker, and has a private practice in San Pedro, CA. Mary is available for telephone and office counseling, consulting, guided meditation, and speaking engagements. Her book “Grace Lost and Found” will be published early spring 2010. Please see website for further information. Contact her at 310517-0825.

Shared by Marty’s partner and Human Ambassador to the Squirrel Nation Chris Anderson

Marty is my playful side coming to the surface. He is designed to be a relief-valve for a world that takes itself far too seriously. A lot of the ideas I plan to explore with him are gentle reminders that the material world is always swinging from left to right... duality is the nature of the journey here on earth. Marty questions beliefs and fears, is a bit self-serving, but at his core there exists a love supreme... the mask that, when removed, reminds us there is really only one life, and we all are it.

To see more of Marty’s videos and other video creations of Chris Anderson, click here:

www.songofsilvercrow.com

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

The Decree of the Golden Circle of LOVE In this living moment of the eternal now, I AM merging my 5D awareness with my 3D awareness. I am connected to MY I AM PRESENCE that completely guides my life. As I invocate and decree, I AM in full service to the Christed Light. I AM pledging to honor my Creator, my Self, all others, creatures, animals, all kingdoms, known and unknown, as I AM here to fulfill my sacred contract which is my purpose and mission for being here at this time as we begin to ascend into the New Earth frequencies. I AM requesting to be protected at all times on every level of my being by the Christed Light , to open myself to the golden gates of grand opportunities, expansion of my horizons, and to be blessed in every moment of my life. I AM surrounded by a beautiful world filled with an abundance of everything; prosperity, water, food, shelter, harmony of all beings , healthy animals, fertile soil, forests and trees and flowers, infinite natural resources and minerals, connection with all kingdoms great and small, happiness and joy radiating from WITHIN and every aspect and area on this planet. I have been called forth to join this Golden Circle of LOVE. As I AM giving LOVE, I AM receiving LOVE. As I AM receiving LOVE, I AM giving LOVE. It is simply a Golden Circle of LOVE. I AM now re-membering and re-cognizing that I AM a brilliant pillar of golden LOVE. I have always been LOVE. I was always LOVE and will always be LOVE for that is all there is….LOVE. I go forward through my journey knowing everyone and everything that surrounds me is LOVE, as I integrate the new crystalline frequencies for the Gates of Heaven have opened on Earth. I AM A GOLDEN ROYAL CHILD OF OMNICREATION. I AM HOLY, SACRED AND DIVINE. I AM AN OPEN, AWAKENED AND ENLIGHTENED ASCENDED MASTER OF CO-CREATION FOR I AM LOVE. I AM THAT, I AM. By Jacqui Johnson

www.goddessofdivinity.com To download Jacqui’s free e-book, click:

AFFIRMATIONS Of One-Ness E-Book

Miracles By Martin Rayne

What constitutes a Miracle? If this were asked as a "Question on the Street" many of the responses we hear would be expected; spontaneous healing of the body and mind (the lame to walk, the blind to see, etc.) as well as a person brought back to life, etc. Most of these are the Miracles that are easily recognized and focused upon. I ask what of the "little" Miracles? These are the ones that take place in and around us every day. The smell of a flower, the touch of a loved one, the smile of a child's eyes, the wonders of nature, the universe around us...the silent presence of a friend when you need one without one word being said. The "little" Miracles are in reality not little....they are what encompass the larger ones...that Matrix which binds them all together. A true Miracle, born anew each morning, is our physical body. Look at our skin upon it. Dead skin cells are replaced with live skin cells continually. There we are see life from death....the seed that is buried in the ground takes root and reaches up to grow into a vibrant flower, fruit, etc. We see examples of the cycle of life from death daily. There is one binding quality that all Miracles flow from: Love. True Unconditional Love is transformational; never dying, ever-evolving and manifesting in more ways that we can perceive throughout all the Sight that we have. I have heard the expression that God is Love....however we term Divine Source if only one word could be used to describe Spirit I feel Love fits this well. We see the

manifestations of Love, the Miracles, with every breath we take, at every moment of our existence. Let us not ignore those that manifest so large in our physical sight; yet, also, let us not forget to look beyond them to see the others that are always before us and that we have become shortsighted in remembering each day. As we embrace that Love, we are not only embracing Spirit; we are embracing our Self...and the Miracles that are there inside which we all share. We have heard it mentioned throughout many communities that we are Miracle Workers. Let us take the next step and embrace that We Ourselves are Miracles Birthing Miracles at Every Moment. Of course all in perspective and keeping this to heart as well...what we may take for granted on a day to day basis to another can be perceived and received as a Miracle for them. We Are Miracles for One Another. Perhaps if we hold this to our hearts, then the differences we experience become less magnified as we see so much that we share as ONE.

Experiencing My Own World Without End by Cindy Shelton

I was at a conference that was training people to be speakers. The program was held near the beach, I believe it was South Padre Island. While I was there, we did a lot of cool exercises including using one’s imagination in “entering” the body of another person (that is a story unto itself). Anyway while there, they showed a video on “If this was the first day or the last day of your life”. It was a concept that I began to play in my head. I woke up early the next morning and started walking along the beach as the sun started rising. It was a magical moment just being there at sunrise. As I thought about this being the first day or the last day of my life, everything around me began to shift and change. I felt a vibrancy inside me that was palatable. I became filled with awe. I began to dance and skip along the beach. I felt myself expanding. As I expanded, I became one with everything. I felt more alive and vibrant, as if a thousand fold. I felt intense and immense feelings of joy and ecstasy. I felt as if I could walk on water, even though I did not try it. The phrase “world without end” is echoing in my mind as I write this now. Everything felt infinite. Words are so inadequate in explaining the experience. I thought once having reached such an experience that I would live the rest of my life in it. Alas, this has not been so. I even go months and years without thinking about it. And once I remember it, I think, how could I forget this. It was so magical. It gave meaning to existence.

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Cynthia Lee Shelton, LCSW is an alternative psychotherapist with over 25 years experience. She combines her extensive counseling background with meditation, visualization, EFT, and vibrational techniques. Cindy’s goal is to teach others how to live an empowered, spiritually fulfilling life. www.cynthialeeshelton.com

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Frog Medicine

One of the perks of living in a rural area is the immediacy of nature and the astonishing unfolding of it all. The sacred Wheel of Life is more easily recognized and embraced when viewed from the perspective of being at the center of this unfolding miracle: Life. In many ways, we are all living expressions of the Great Mystery, each one of us personally being the hub of all of Creation... we are the place where Life (Father Creator) is expressing itself. Lakes, ponds, marshes, streams, creeks, rivers and seas are, in the material world, the place from where this pouring forth of all living “beingness” emanates... its’ origin point and the nucleus of the wheel.

This Injun Elder’s personal pouring forth is in the attendance of my humble pond, a small water-garden implemented in my back yard next to my patio. A place where I’m able to set in serenity and observe the sun’s passage toward the other side of the planet ~ a meditative niche I’ve created for ruminations and contemplations and meditations... my personal satori. To my delight, the 100 gallon water repository

by Chris Anderson

(complete with a small waterfall) has become an oasis for birds, squirrels and bunnies as well as a multitude of other form and fashion of wildlife, even occasionally inclusive of a neighbor’s straying critter. One of the more engaging families that have set up residency at the waterhole is a small and demure colony of frogs... gentle little creatures who busy themselves with sunning on the lily pads or occasionally having a nosh on the banks of the pond, snatched morsels made up of inattentive insects and newly emerging plant sprouts.

Frog Medicine is strongly associated with transformation. Beginning life as an egg, it becomes a polliwog, then a frog. It is thus a reminder that life for us here in the corporeal world is a miracle of change and transformation. Those of the Clan of the Frog who elect to operate from the higher octave of their element, water (Spirit), will spend their life in constant transformation and growth, ever seeking knowledge and wisdom... seeking enlightenment. Interestingly, frogs have a keen sense of hearing, unique to their species, so they hear octaves and pitch that other aquatic animals do not. The song of Frog often foretells of the imminence of rain... forgiveness: cleansing. Frog medicine can bring rains for every purpose ~ to cleanse, to heal, to help things grow. In my mind, Brother and Sister Frog are strong reminders that the only thing we need do is seek Atonement ~ the rest will work itself out in Divine order. . To the Chinese, the frog is a divine creature that protects against misfortune and brings wealth and good health to the family (Atonement). The Money Frog, Chan Chu, was the pet of Liu Hai, God of Wealth, the symbol of wealth and prosperity. In American Indian culture, Frog Medicine is a significant totem. It is said to teach insight and

Author Bio Part Native American and part Scandinavian/Celtic mix, the world of the white man knows him as Chris Anderson. His Native American name is N'got M'Kwan in the Algonquin language of his ancestors (Potawatomi)... or Onefeather, as his family and friends know him. Writer, artist and mystic, he now devotes the latter half of his life to the quest for spiritual truth. Having attained the age of Elder by the standards of the tribe, he shares his unique, gentle wisdom with all who seek him out.

http://www.songofsilvercrow.com/

depth of perception: sensitivity for the needs of others ~ the recognition that, as the Master said, “For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in”. The frog represents new life and spiritual cleansing, assisting people into their next stage of life and providing opportunity for transformation to unfold. Yet, truth be told, it is not in change or transformation of ourselves that a new life begins to unfold, but in changing our mind and remembering what is actually real... what the Oneness is that enfolds us all. Who we are as children of the Divine. A Course in Miracles states, “T-30.III.8. The Thoughts of God are far beyond all change, and shine forever. 2 They await not birth. 3 They wait for welcome and remembering. 4 The Thought God holds of you is like a star, unchangeable in an eternal sky. 5 So high in Heaven is it set that those outside of Heaven know not it is there. 6 Yet still and white and lovely will it shine through all eternity. 7 There was no time it was not there; no instant when its light grew dimmer or less perfect ever was.” This Injun’s suggestion for mindful living is to welcome Frog Medicine into your life and see what happens... see what you can remember about the Divine Creation that you actually are.

Editors Note: This article was incorrectly attributed to another in last month’s edition of OM-Times and is being reprinted in this edition with the correct attribution.

The Perception of Fall By Saskia Röell Since I moved to America eight years ago, I’ve discovered that there’s never been a season that fills my heart with more happiness and joy than fall. I’ve lived in six different countries and traveled all over the world, but nothing can compare with fall in New England. To me, it is truly magical here. I’m not the only one who loves fall. Apparently, no matter where people live, they find fall one of the most extraordinary seasons of the year. Why is that? Do we unconsciously know that we’re ready for a new phase, for change, and fall is the sometimes bittersweet season of letting go, which is a big part of change? By the end of August, when the sun turns from bright yellow to a deep golden honey color, I feel my body’s longing to come to rest after the intense heat and spell of the last months of summer. The rush eases for me a bit and I drift back to a slower pace. I don’t need to run to the beach anymore, but listen to the ocean’s lullaby from my front porch. In those sacred moments I allow myself to close my eyes and digest what’s happened over the past year. While I rock back and forth in my chair, I soothe my mind with the knowledge that I’m ready to face the challenges the new season will bring. After my eldest son left the nest last year to go to college in Amsterdam, I’ve barely had time to

recover because the next letting go is just around the corner. For me and for many others, this fall is not only nature’s change of season but a new season of motherhood, too. Although my heart will be wide open, the joy will be accompanied by a stream of tears and by challenging feelings I want to honor and allow. I wish I had another year to adjust to the changes the seasons bring. I’m certain in my knowledge that life is about expansion, that change is the only constant, and that change sustains life and ignites growth. But since I’m a deep feeler and a mother, this season’s letting go requires a strong double trust: I trust myself and I trust the Universe to help. As I wake up this morning, I can't believe it’s really happened. It almost feels surreal. The house feels empty and so do I. When I walk into the bathroom, the emptiness strikes me like an unexpected punch in the stomach. I don’t stumble over hairdryers, makeup, or piles of laundry. All signs of my daughter are gone. I turn around and go downstairs. In the fridge is her vegetable juice that from now on will never be touched. Yesterday, I took Systke, our 18-year-old daughter, to the airport and gave her the final push. She left the nest to spread her beautiful, strong wings to fly across the ocean and start her new life in Amsterdam. Hours before her departure, I drove to the shopping mall to buy her a pair of black suede boots. As my last gift to her before she left, these boots were symbolic. These specific boots will “fit” her into the new world of being a college student in Amsterdam. For days before she left I pondered about what to give her. I wanted to come up with something special that would help reduce culture shock and help her shift from being an “All American Girl” to a downto-earth Dutch girl. These boots would surely do the trick. The day before she left, I saw her go out of the house in a bikini. I wondered whether she was ever going to pack. We were getting pretty close to departure day, but when I asked her if it would be a good idea to start packing, she announced that today was a “Beach Day.” Of course, the sun shone brightly and the sky

was blue. What more could I have wished for her? I admire this brave, courageous girl who takes her first footsteps in Amsterdam today. At our final goodbye, I whispered in her ear that her wings are powerful and strong, and that the world would welcome her with arms wide open. She just stood there and looked at me. She must have been wondering what the future will bring for her. Upon arrival in Amsterdam she has no housing (in Holland you don’t live on a campus) and the arrangements for the school she’ll attend aren’t finalized because she still has to take a language exam. Getting into the sorority where she wants to become a member is a matter of a "lucky draw." In other words, I’m sending her off with uncertainty. I ask myself why our life isn't simple and easy, or maybe even less extraordinary. The answer is simple, because deep my heart I know I didn't sign up for “simple and easy.” This extraordinary choice of my daughter’s brings extraordinary challenges, and – as we trust – extraordinary results, not only for me, but for Systke, too.

Sometimes even I worried about why she didn't worry more herself, about all the things that were unsure. But I know why. In her mind, there’s no place for worry about anything, about how she’ll find housing on the day of her arrival in a city where the housing need is beyond telling, about how she'll become enrolled in school without the language exam, about whether or not she’ll be “lucky” in the sorority lottery. Her mind's not programmed with worry or fear, but with lots of faith and trust. She firmly believes that all will be well, that she’s safe no matter where she lands. Yesterday, she told me that her level of anxiety goes only as far as finding it annoying that nothing is finally arranged. The rest of the “how” she leaves to her parents and to the Universe.

In the last weeks before she left, I watched her having non-stop fun with her friends. Her life was One Big Party. I smiled a lot because I saw how she stayed in the NOW. It almost seemed that she was never going to leave. “This is how I cope, Mom. I can’t think of leaving all of you behind," she said one day. Then the day arrives. As I wave my final goodbye, tears stream down my face. I run to the car and drive away and it goes against every fiber in my being to leave her behind. I wonder how we mothers do it. But in my mind’s eye, I see my "little" girl standing in line with a suitcase full of faith. Not a small one, but a huge one. Next to her stands her dad, who has the honor of flying with her on the first leg of this amazing journey. I know everything will work out. It always does. But as a mother it’s a challenge to let a child go out into the world of the unknown. Back home, before I go to sleep, I climb the stairs to Systke’s pink room. I must admit that it takes some courage to face my pain. Her door is wide open and the room looks like a hurricane has paid a visit to our attic. Clothes are strewn everywhere, the bed is a mess – indeed, nothing has changed. It looks as though she’ll be coming home tonight. But in the doorway I find one black Cinderella mule from her prom – forlorn and forgotten in her hasty packing. How could it be more symbolic? Is this a sign that she hasn’t completely landed on the other side? Is one foot still here in this world she just left? I pick up the mule and put it on the mantel above the fireplace. My mind drifts back in time. Oh, how I loved her first footsteps in her golden sandals, and all her steps in all the different shoes that came after. I close my eyes and tell the Universe, "Now it’s your turn. You take care of her.” I promise myself I’ll make sure our son, Florian, who flies to Amsterdam next week, takes that mule to Systke so she’ll fully land, so she has the right shoes to dance in, until the morning comes. And as I watch the sunrise this morning, I surrender. About the Author: Saskia Röell Transformational Life Coach www.saskiadivinedesign.com www.weavingourdivinethread.com

T

he Story of Jack-O-Lantern by Tammarigan Tyrsdaughter

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a man named Jack. Jack was a handsome man, big and strong, equal in prowess both in battle and in bed. He had many friends, and many a young lass pined after him.

It so happened once, when Jack was in the midst of a battle, laying low the foes of his tribe, that he suddenly saw a wondrous vision. A woman, beautiful beyond his wildest dreams, dark of hair and eye, and with skin as pale as virgin snow, riding a flaming chariot, spear in hand, and a raven on each shoulder. As the chariot drew close, the woman spoke to Jack.

"Come with me," she said, "for I love Thee, and would have Thee with me for all time."

But Jack was frightened, for he recognized the woman for what she was. "I don’t want to go with Thee," he answered in a shaking voice, "I know Thee - Thou art the Morrighan, the Chooser of the Slain, and I am not ready to die." Bright sparked the eyes of the Goddess in pride and anger, and She wheeled her chariot and was gone from Jack's vision. But as he stood there, frozen in awe, an enemy warrior struck him a great sword blow across the face. Jack did not die from his wound, but his face was forever ruined, and the lasses that pined after him before, now ran from him in fear. And so Jack did not marry. Time passed. Jack learned the art of a Harper, and became known across the land for his beautiful melodies, for though he could not sing, his hands were skilled and gentle on the strings, and his lilting tunes brought both joy and sadness to the heart. It so happened once, that when Jack was travelling, he stopped at an Inn on the crossroads. He was served his dinner by a beautiful middle-aged woman, full of figure, with dark, all-knowing eyes, and raven tresses braided in a crown around her pale face.

Om times Magazine October edition 2009

When Jack got into his wagon, and was ready to travel on, this same woman, wearing a dark cloak, stepped from the shadow of a nearest tree.

"Do not travel further, Jack," she said in a husky voice, "Come with me instead, for I love Thee, and I would have Thee with me for all time." But Jack was frightened, for he recognized the woman for what She was. "I don't want to go with Thee," he answered in a shaking voice, "I know Thee - Thou art the Morrighan, the Phantom Queen, and I am not ready to die."

water. Then, when he looked up again, he noticed something strange. Where the bank he was on was still red and gold with autumn leaves, the other bank was white with snow, which lay in a thick blanket, as if it had been there for weeks. Amidst the snows, behind the dark shapes of old, gnarled trees, he saw a village, half-hidden in the mist. Warm, golden light shined from the windows of the houses that seemed familiar and welcoming to him. In front of one the houses he thought he saw his dead brother wave and fade into the gathering gloom. He also noticed an old woman on the other side, crouched by the water, and covered in dark, shapeless rags. She seemed to be washing something in the river, and her arms were red up to the elbows, and where she touched the water, the river ran red as blood. To his horror, Jack noticed that what she was washing looked very much like his own best embroidered tunic that he was wearing for his brother's funeral.

Bright sparked the eyes of the Goddess in pride and anger, and She whirled around, her dark cloak flaring around her like the wing of a raven, and disappeared into the shadow. Jack continued on, but not half a mile along the road his horses spooked and ran wild, his wagon overturned, and he was gravely wounded when he fell out and was caught under the wheel. He did not die, but he lost his arm, and could play his harp no more after that. Time passed. Though Jack was never again a warrior or a Harper, his family, his kin, cared kindly for him. But everyone grows old, and in time, his brothers got old, and his sisters got old, and the younger generation no longer cared for him as well as his own siblings. It so happened once, that right after his last brother's death, Jack was crossing a small river at a ford. It was late autumn, and he paused on the bank to take off his shoes and socks, and roll up his breaches before wading into the almost-freezing

The old woman looked up, and her face was as white as snow and deeply lined, with grey wisps of hair framing it like a halo, and deeply sunken black eyes that seemed like the pits of the night. "Cross the river, and come to me, Jack," she said in a harsh, raspy voice, "for I love Thee, and I would have Thee with me for all time."

Om times Magazine October edition 2009

But Jack was frightened, for he recognized the woman for what She was. "I don't want to go with Thee," he answered in a shaking voice, "I know Thee - Thou art the Morrigan, the Hag, the Washer at the Ford, and I am not ready to die." Suddenly, where before there was an old woman, The Great Queen stood in all Her Otherworldly majesty, the dark rags magically transforming into the dark wings of a raven.

"Thou art a fool, Jack!" She raged, as her black tresses flew wildly around Her face, and her eyes flamed like stars at midnight. "Thrice thy time came, and thrice I offered thee my love, for I had chosen thee as a wife would choose a husband. Thou could have been a young warrior at my side. Thou could have woven songs of splendor at my feast. Thou could have lived with me in peace and with thy family about thee. And thrice you rejected me out of fear. Now I reject thee. Never more shall I come to thee. Never more shall I call to thee. But by my curse thou shalt live for as long as this candle burns."

She reached across the river - it seemed easy now, for She was more then human - and placed a candle on the ground at Jack's feet. Then she was gone, snow and the misty village disappearing with Her, Leaving nothing but an Autumn forest behind.

At first, Jack was terrified. The candle was small surely it would burn down and die within minutes, and Jack along with it. But as minutes passed, he felt great relief, for not a drop of wax rolled down the side of the candle, and it did not seem to be burning down at all. Carefully guarding the flame of the candle, Jack went home. Time passed. Year after year, rolling in unending cycles. Everyone whom Jack had known as a young man had long since passed away. No one was left who even knew who he was, and in his small village he was just treated as a crazy old man, a burden on everyone, and a helper to none, for while he lived on and on, he also got older and older, and weaker and weaker, and even his mind started giving out after awhile. After a very long time, all he knew was that he had to keep his candle burning, lest he die. His house fell into ruin, his field went untended, and all that would grow there were some turnips that his neighbors planted for him out of kindness.

One night, a lightening bolt struck his house, and it burned down. Jack then took one of the turnips from his field, carved it into a lantern, and put his candle there, so that it would be protecte d from the rain. He left his village and started wonderin g about with his lantern, looking and calling to friends and

Om times Magazine October edition 2009

family long gone. His body grew older and older, until even his flesh disappeared, leaving only a spirit without physical substance. He hardly even noticed, for even as a spirit he still could not pass to the Other World, wondering this one with his lantern, a sad and lonely ghost, forever cursed from his fate by his fear. And that is why turnip lanterns - now pumpkin lanterns - are called Jack-o-lanterns, and that is why we light them on Samhain - to remember Jack and

his great fear, and to light the way for all the lost souls wondering about in the darkness looking for the passage to the Otherworld.

Credits: Photos/artwork from “The Corpse Bride by Tim Robbins” Music: Brandenburg Concert number 3 in G Major Adagio

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Om times Magazine October edition 2009

Movies that Inspire

The movie was shot over the course of four years on all seven continents. Shot using inflight cameras, most of the footage is aerial, and the viewer appears to be flying alongside birds of successive species, especially Canada geese. They traverse every kind of weather and landscape, covering vast distances in a flight for survival. Much of the aerial footage was taken of "tame" birds. The filmmakers raised birds of several species, including storks and pelicans, from birth. The newborn birds imprinted on staff members, and were trained to fly along with the film crews. Film was shot from ultralights, paragliders, and hot air balloons, as well as trucks, motorcycles, motorboats, remotecontrolled robots, and a French Navy warship. Many critics question if "Winged Migration" is really a documentary at all since there is so much manipulation of the birds and the footage that made it into the final film. The film states that no special effects were used. On the contrary, while no computer-generated imagery (CGI) was used in the filming of the birds; several entirely-CGI segments augment the real-life footage.

The Winged Migration Le Peuple Migrateur, also known as The Travelling Birds in some UK releases, or The Travelling Birds: An adventure in flight in Australia), is a 2001 documentary film directed by Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats and Jacques Perrin (who was also one of the writers and narrators) showcasing the immense journeys routinely made by birds during their migrations.

The musical score by Bruno Coulais, "Tambour Battant” was recorded by several Bulgarian vocal groups in Bulgarian, as well as Nick Cave in English and Robert Wyatt. The vocal effects include sequences in which panting is superimposed on wingbeats to give the effect that the viewer is a bird. The film is dedicated to the French ornithologist Jean Dorst. The film was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Om Times Magazine October 2009

Om Times Magazine October 2009

Digital Media The Power of Gratitude by Humanity Healing

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." ~ Henry Ward Beecher Gratitude is more than a feeling of thankfulness in response to receiving a tangible gift or a gesture of kindness. Gratitude is a way of life. Visit the Gratitude Groups in our Community Network: http://humanityhealing.ning.com/group/gratitude http://humanityhealing.ning.com/group/showinggratitude Music: Corciolli, "Willowman - Watcher of Waters"

To see more of Humanity Healing’s videos, click here:

The Emotional Vampire Survival Guide:

Emotional Freedom in Action To be emotionally free you can’t remain naïve about relationships. Some people are positive and mood elevating. Others can suck optimism and serenity right out of you. Vampires do more than drain your physical energy. The super-malignant ones can make you believe you’re an unworthy, unlovable wretch who doesn’t deserve better. The subtler species inflict damage by making smaller digs which can make you feel bad about yourself—for instance, “Dear, I see you’ve put on a few pounds” or “You’re overly sensitive!” Suddenly they’ve thrown you emotionally off-center you by prodding areas of shaky self-worth. To protect your sensitivity, it’s important to name and combat these vampires. The concept struck such a collective chord in my book Positive Energy that in Emotional Freedom I illustrate how it applies to protecting your emotions and not absorbing other people’s

By Judith Orloff, MD

negativity. In the book I discuss these vampires to watch for and ways to deal with them. SIGNS THAT YOU’VE ENCOUNTERD AN EMOTIONAL VAMPIRE (from “Emotional Freedom” by Judith Orloff MD) • Your eyelids are heavy—you’re ready for a nap • Your mood takes a nosedive • You want to binge on carbs or comfort foods • You feel anxious, depressed, or negative • You feel put down, sniped at, or slimed TYPES OF EMOTIONAL VAMPIRES Vampire #1: The Narcissist Their motto is “Me first.” Everything is all OM-Times October 2009 Edition

about them. They have a grandiose sense of self-importance and entitlement, hog attention, and crave admiration. They’re dangerous because they lack empathy and have a limited capacity for unconditional love. If you don’t do things their way, they become punishing, withholding, or cold. How to Protect Your Emotions: Keep your expectations realistic. These are emotionally limited people. Try not to fall in love with one or expect them to be selfless or love without strings attached. Never make your self-worth dependent on them or confide your deepest feelings to someone who won’t cherish them. To successfully communicate, the hard truth is that you must show how something will be to their benefit. Though it’s better not to have to contend with this tedious ego stroking, if the relationship is unavoidable use the above strategies to achieved desired results. Vampire #2: The Victim These vampires grate on you with their “poor-me’ attitude and are allergic to taking responsibility for their actions. The world is always against them, the reason for their unhappiness. When you offer a solution to their problems they always say, “Yes, but.” You might end up screening your calls or

purposely avoid them. As a friend, you may want to help but their tales of woe overwhelm you. How to Protect Your Emotions: Set kind but firm limits. Listen briefly and tell a friend or relative, “I love you but I can only listen for a few minutes unless you want to discuss solutions. Then I’d be thrilled to brainstorm with you.” With a coworker, listen briefly, sympathize by saying, “I’ll keep good thought for things to work out. Then say, I hope you understand, but I’m on deadline and must go back to work. Then use “this isn’t a good time” body language such as crossing your arms and breaking eye contact to help set these healthy limits. Vampire #3: The Controller These people obsessively try to control you and dictate what you’re supposed to be and feel. They have an opinion about everything. They’ll control you by invalidating your emotions if they don’t fit into their rulebook. They often start sentences with “You know what you need?” and then proceed to tell you. You end up feeling dominated, demeaned, or put down. How to Protect Your Emotions: The secret to success is never try and control a

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

controller. Be healthily assertive, but don’t tell them what to do. You can say, “I value your advice but really need to work through this myself.” Be confident but don’t play the victim or sweat the small stuff. Focus on high priority issues rather than on putting the cap on the toothpaste. Vampire #4: The Splitter or Borderline Personality Splitters see things as either good or bad and have love/hate relationships. One minute they idealize you, the next you’re the enemy if you upset them. They have a sixth sense for knowing how to pit people against each another and will retaliate if they feel you have wronged them. They are people who are fundamentally damaged— inwardly they feel as if they don’t exist and become alive when they get angry. They’ll keep you on an emotional rollercoaster and you may walk on eggshells to avoid their anger. How to Protect Your Emotions: Stay calm. Don’t react when your buttons get pushed. Splitters feed off of anger. They respond best to structure and limit setting. If one goes into a rage, tell the person, “I’m leaving until you get calmer. Then we can

talk.” Refuse to take sides when he or she tries to turn you against someone else. With family members, it’s best to show a united front and not let a splitter’s venomous opinions poison your relationships.

http://www.youtube.com/judithorloffmd

Judith Orloff MD is author of the new New York Times bestseller Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life (Harmony Books, 2009) upon which this article is based. Dr. Orloff synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition and energy medicine. An Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, she passionately believes that the future of medicine involves integrating all this wisdom to achieve emotional freedom and total wellness.

www.drjudithorloff.com OM-Times October 2009 Edition

7 Steps to Successful Be the Person Attraction You Want to Attract My true passion and emphasis for the future is about helping heal the rifts in love relationships. We are here to create union in love with another, it’s our Divine calling. Masculine and Feminine are opposite polarities that make a true whole and yet so much struggle and pain occurs in the world of love, ultimately I believe through lack of self awareness and education, truth, responsibility and authenticity. So many people have created their lives to try and get love and approval from others and have given up all rights to being who they really are in the process. The results can be hugely painful and difficult relationship patterns repeat over and again. When we fall in love, the feelings generated are among the strongest we will ever experience. The greatest elixir of life is love, without question. It’s a feeling from the heart that’s almost inexplicable to the mind. You have probably said more than once "I feel like I have known this person all my life". Then some months or years down the line when the power struggle starts, many of us end the relationship, believing that our once so perfect partner is now not meant for us at all. But what if these conflicts were essential for your healing and growth ? What if this person who appears to have grown horns over night, is in fact your perfect match ? What if you just needed to become aware of exactly what is going on in you and in your partner? Most of the time conflict is about projection of things that are not healed within you. Judgement is one of the most

By Gina Hardy

painful and damaging “miasms” of the human mind, but when we judge we judge ourselves first. Our love relationship is absolutely our truest mirror, but our struggles are ultimately with ourselves and not our partners. The “power struggle” is an essential and biological part of every relationship and we must recognise it, stop and gather the tools to manage it. Beyond this phase is the wonderful place of intimate communion and true love. Successful relationships function on fully conscious behaviour, based on complete truth, authenticity of the self and a desire to give love unconditionally. If humanity were filled with such an attitude, there would be no pain and suffering on this treasured Earth of ours.

Gina Hardy is a relationship educator, yoga teacher and therapist and will be speaking on the subject of love at the Starting Over Show, Hilton Metropole Hotel, in Brighton on 28th March. She runs workshops for singles and couples in the art of conscious behaviour and uses the very powerful work of partner yoga for people to learn how to re-connect through non-verbal dialogue. Gina Hardy Tel : 07771 977090 www.consciousunion.co.uk www.ginahardy.blogspot.com

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

7 Steps to Successful Attraction: 1) Self awareness - do you REALLY know what you give off to your partner ? Educate yourself. What if I asked you “Would you be in a relationship with you ?”. 2) Truth – It’s about inner truth. Look in the mirror and admit and accept where you are now. You are beautiful as the song says but you must believe it. 3) Forgiveness - The power of your intention to forgive is about making peace with yourself and releasing you and your partner from the emotional chains of the past.

5) Growth / Release - start clearing out those mental, emotional, spiritual closets and see how the power of personal change will declutter your life from all the people and things that don't serve you. 6) Becoming You - this will be the result, a happier healthier and authentic you, with a deeper sense of peace and love. 7) Attract - Which partner do you want in your life ? Whatever you want, BE it first. You want trust, be trust worthy. You want honesty, be honest. Its simple.....like attracts like it’s called The Law of Attraction.

4) Acceptance - Make peace and say yeah " I am who I am and that's OK!"

Daniel Kobialka, The Water is Wide Purchase the Going Home Again CD

“Become loving. When you are in the embrace, become the embrace. Become the kiss. Forget yourself so totally that you can say, "I am no more. Only love exists." Then the heart is not beating, but love is beating. Then the blood is not circulating, but love is circulating. Then eyes are not seeing, love is seeing. Then hands are not moving to touch, love is moving to touch. Become love and enter everlasting life. Love suddenly changes your dimension. You are thrown out of time and you are facing eternity. Love can become a deep meditation, the deepest possible. Lovers have known sometimes what saints have not known." OM-Times October 2009 Edition ~Osho

Are You or Someone You Know Going Through a Challenging Time? The state of economy, our environment and world politics are touching many of us on different levels. Some are dealing with the loss of a job, their home or a loved one. For others today’s stress is affecting their relationships, emotional and physical health and lifestyle. As a response to this situation many of today’s groundbreaking leaders, including myself have come together to help create the Open Mind Resource Center. Here you can find the tools and support you need to transform your challenges into greater awareness and clarity. PLUS you can access free downloadable gifts from our bank of experts with no purchase necessary. Change your life NOW at www.OpenMindResourceCenter.com! Also please forward this to family or friends who would find it beneficial.

The Open Mind Resource Center was inspired by Ronald Alexander, PhD (www.RonaldAlexander.com) a licensed psychotherapist and pioneer in Positive Psychology, Mindfulness and Creative Thinking. He has has been helping people for over thirty years transform their times of crisis into opportunities for greater personal awareness, clarity and creativity. In his new book, WISE MIND, OPEN MIND: Finding Purpose & Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss & Change (New Harbinger Publications) readers can learn how to transform any crisis through his unique three step process that combines mindfulness mediation, creative thinking and positive psychology to help them:  Let go of their past  Tune into the present and their core creativity  Move forward with passion and purpose Learn more about developing your ―wise mind,‖ mindfulness meditation and how you can transform your life! Wise Mind, Open Mind is available at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com plus fine bookstores everywhere. Words of Praise: We have the creativity in us that creates the universe – all we need do is be aware of it. This book provides a wise roadmap to the treasure within. … Ram Dass – Transpersonal Psychologist, noted author of ―Be Here Now‖ and ―Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing and Dying,‖ Wise Mind, Open Mind is an outstanding guidebook — Judith Orloff, MD, author of "Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions & Transform Your Life" I heartily recommend this book! … Lama Surya Das – Author of ―Awaking the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for Western World‖

Is Your Intuition Real Gold or Fool’s Gold? by Ronald Alexander

Intuition can be a powerful tool for making decisions, but how do you know that your gut feeling is coming from inner awareness and not inner resistance? Hidden fears can cloud your insights and steer you wrong. Your instincts may be like fool’s gold instead of the genuine article. To discover if you’ve mined true inner wisdom, use the following steps for mindful exploration.

4. List three reasons why might feel angry, scared, insecure, etc. Then ask yourself what you’re feeling right now. As you allow your hidden emotions to rise up into your awareness, know that any suffering they cause you will soon disappear and you’ll have cleared the way for your genuine intuition, the real gold of your inner wisdom, to reveal itself.

1. Think about your current situation and note the quality of the emotions and thoughts you’re experiencing. If what you’re feeling doesn’t support a sense of well-being, what seems to be intuition may actually be a reaction to your hidden emotions. 2. As you think about the decision you’re making and your instincts, notice any feelings of urgency and anxiousness and any rigid, heavy, contracted sensations in your body. Ask yourself, “Where is this feeling or sensation coming from?” Be still and listen to the answer. Be open to what you may discover. 3. Ask yourself, “If I were acting out of disempowering feelings and thoughts, such as fear, jealousy, unworthiness, or vindictiveness, what would I say and do? Is that how I’m behaving now? And how would I react if someone confronted me about my behavior?

Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. is the author of the just released book, Wise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss, and Change. He is the director of the OpenMind Training® Institute, practices mindfulness-based mind-body psychotherapy and leadership coaching in Santa Monica, CA, for individuals and corporate clients. He has taught personal and clinical training groups for professionals in Integral Psychotherapy, Ericksonian mind-body healing therapies, mindfulness meditation, and Buddhist psychology nationally and internationally since 1970.

www.openmindtraining.com OM-Times October 2009 Edition

Relationships in Sickness and Health By Mary Cook, M.A., R.A.S.

Our adult relationships contain energies of unhealed wounds from childhood. Sometimes we lack safe, trustworthy caretakers to adequately meet our physical and psychological needs in infancy and early childhood. These unhealed experiences make us vulnerable to express infantile needs, and chronic fear and anger in our adult intimate relationships. Furthermore in early childhood, our experiences with others are absorbed into our beginning concept of self. And our early caretakers represent a Godlike force that influences our later relationship with a Higher Power. Thus as adults with this history, we are likely to feel imprisoned in painful experiences with ourselves, our partner and our Higher Power. We do not experience ourselves as separate, whole, unique beings, and we do not consciously experience genuine closeness and connection with others or God, and yet we have desperate feelings of neediness. Domestic violence relationships typically reflect these dynamics. When middle to late childhood is fraught with difficulties in establishing a sense of autonomy and creativity, we can have adult

relationships that are enmeshed, distant and superficial, or ones in which there is chronic conflict between one partner asking for greater closeness and the other wanting more distance. The latter can be expressed in hurtful actions toward the partner, which result in distance, rather than honest dialog. These relationships lack spontaneous joy, playfulness, humor and imagination. There is concern about losing a part of oneself in the relationship, because autonomy is not stable. This means that our sense of self is fragmented or weak, and we are attempting to artificially strengthen it through defense mechanisms, or by aligning with someone who seems to be a stronger partner. Spiritual beliefs are also immature and characterized by ambiguity, or are superficially determined through affiliation with a person or group that has dogmatic beliefs. If we had significant problems in our teenage years, then we did not likely pursue an honest, soul-searching relationship with ourselves. Healthy adolescents undertake a deep, thorough self-examination process, and try out different beliefs and behaviors to determine what feels most right, healthy and comfortable to them. Values, priorities, goals, and core beliefs about philosophy, psychology, politics and spirituality ideally form in this period. If we are sufficiently healthy teens, we perceive our strengths, weaknesses, and talents, and begin to have a deeper understanding of emotions and their healthy expression. We learn to take responsibility for ourselves and our well-being, which prepares us for self-sufficiency and interdependence. We set internal and external boundaries between our own impulses and what we know is right for us, and between others who attempt to

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

pressure us to agree or act on what feels uncomfortable and unhealthy to us. If this period of development is disrupted, our immature teenage energies affect our adult relationships. This results in chronic power struggles with our partners, internal conflicts, and attempts to manipulate the God of our understanding. We want significant others to conform to our ideas of how they should be, and/or we allow friends to over-control us. Teenage rebellion, arrogance, willfulness, and vulnerability to peer pressure are precursors to the deep work of reflection. When this work is completed, the aforementioned character defects dissipate. Without this thorough period of reflection, identification and integration, spiritual principles are not generally well understood nor practiced with any consistency. What is required for healthy adult relationships begins with the ability to provide for our physical and psychological well-being, and personal growth. We must be honest, trustworthy and have good discernment regarding the trustworthiness of others. We need to know and deeply understand ourselves as whole, unique beings. We must accept responsibility to create health, happiness and fulfillment in our lives, meet challenges and resolve problems as they occur. Once we have these components, we can work productively and proactively on internal and relationship conflicts that interfere with personal growth and intimate relatedness. In relationships we make and follow through with commitments with integrity. We choose partners with whom we have sufficient mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and functional compatibility, especially regarding important values,

morals and priorities. We place our relationship with our Higher Power, our soul, and any dependent children above our relationship with an adult partner. We typically vacillate between human and divine will, as we develop our spiritual practice. Our abilities to demonstrate honesty, open-mindedness, respect, consideration, cooperation, humility, compassion, patience, forgiveness, gratitude, joy and laughter increase the depth of our love. Adult relationships reflect where we need healing. Allowing ourselves to therapeutically discuss and release past painful and negative energies and experience emotionally corrective experiences, paves the way to a healthy relationship with our Higher Power and principled living. This then means that all of our relationships will be healthy.

WWW.MARYCOOKMA.COM Mary Cook has an M.A. degree in psychology, and is a registered addiction specialist with 33 years of clinical practice and 29 years of University teaching experience. She has a private practice in San Pedro, CA and is available for phone and office counseling, consulting, guided meditation, speaking engagements and inservice training. She is a national speaker and a writer. Her first book “Grace Lost and Found” will be published early spring 2010. She is currently writing another book which is a parable for enlightenment. Visit her website for articles, free audio clips, a flash movie and additional information. Contact her at 310-517-0825.

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

Being By EtherEagle We know we are here but for a blink of an eye, and yet sometimes it seems to be an eternity. So goes the perception of time. Why is it I am always

go of many situations and relationships that I chose to remain stuck in, that were preventing me from being me.

in hurry up and wait mode? Time seems to fly by and yet it seems lifetimes ago when I was a child. Yesterday feels like ten years ago, and yesterday is when I was born.

We all are forced to make decisions in life. Some are easier then others. I suddenly woke up one day, and did not recognize my life, or many of the people in it. It was odd to say the least.

Back and forth, hurry up and wait. Time speeds up only to stand still, then wooosh, another decade goes by. So strange!!

Sometimes I truly think the very foundation of time is changing. The faster it moves, the slower I feel like going. I do not rush to do anything today. I have made a conscious effort to slow down. I am focusing on the moment. The more I do that the more I become aware of being. Being is an obvious state. Yet how many appreciate the finer side of being? I have found it to be a great comfort in the fact that, as I melt into my state of being, I release a lot of misconceptions about my self. This has only been possible as a result of letting

Most of the people in my life did not understand my situation. Most decided to leave my life as I was no longer interested in being who they thought I was. Within one year, I completely changed who I was being. As I stripped off the outer ego selves, many things happened. The most profound changes happened at a very deep, spiritual level. This had dramatic results as most of my family and friends just seemed very mad at me. They could not accept me for who I really was. All but a few are no longer in my life.

Om Times Magazine October 2009

As a result I learned that the quality of relationships is so much more important then the quantity. I am now with someone who truly understands how to let me be me. And I am more than happy to return the gift, as love really is about an effortless allowing, rather then a need to control each other. I am very at ease with who I am, and I have never been more relaxed and open. It is a joy. I am truly blessed to share time and space with such a strong, creative, spiritual individual who sees me as her equal in life. So on it travels. Life. Making leaps of faith whenever called upon. Sometimes right off the cliff. For how can one learn to fly unless we jump? So if you find yourself not knowing who you are or what to do maybe consider taking off a few of the hats you’re wearing. Simplify things. Perhaps just being is all you really need to do for awhile. You might be surprised at the results. Be well, and here's to being!

About the Author: I am an independent researcher of 25 yrs. My spiritual disciplines include 5 yrs. of study in Naive American spirituality, focusing on the healing Bear lodge. I am also an artist, poet, and writer of the blog, down in a Hole. Studies include, ancient civilizations, esoteric spiritual teachings, with a particular interest in uncovering the hidden agenda of the ruling elite.

Om Times Magazine October 2009

The Path of Service The ascension of humanity to a higher level starts in the hearts of each of us. When we raise another, we raise ourselves.

There is just One Planet. There is only One Humanity. We all bear the Earthmark. We recognize that there are many Paths to Heal the Heart of Humanity and you will find the one that calls to you. Volunteer your time with a Charity. Accept a Good Deed and Pay It Forward. Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty. Most importantly, give the very best of yourself. Participate! That is the real key to making the world a better place. This section of OM-Times is dedicated to highlighting organizations who are making a difference. You have our profound respect and deep Gratitude.

The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-political effort to declare that global warming is here now and it’s time to act. This is a movement about change, as individuals, as a country, and as a global community. We are all contributors to global warming and we all need to be part of the solution. www.stopglobalwarming.org

Because we can't blow people's minds with our show if all of the seats in our theatres are under water! Global Warming is a topic that crosses all boundaries: no matter where you live in the world, or what your political affiliation, global warming is a phenomenon that will affect you, your family, and your community. We are already bearing witness to its effects with things like extreme weather and ice cap reduction. We need to band together to try to do something about it!

Blue Man Group

We invite and encourage you to learn more about global warming and to join the march.

www.blueman.com

Sincerely, Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink Founders

Marching Since: January 5, 2006

GlobalGiving is a unique online marketplace that connects donors to high-impact projects all over the world, with a proven track record helping social entrepreneurs and grassroots organizations access new sources of funds. To date, GlobalGiving has raised over $22 million for 1,300 projects around the world. The Vision Unleash the potential of people around the world to make positive change happen. The Mission Build an efficient, open, thriving marketplace that connects people who have community and world-changing ideas with people who can support them. While working at the World Bank, Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle, cofounders of GlobalGiving, saw many obstacles to getting development aid where it was needed most: red tape and endless bureaucracy made it seem like a miracle to solve one problem let alone have an impact that could change many people’s lives. What also surprised and concerned them was how small a say regular people had in bringing about change in their own communities and around the world.

to be powered instead by individuals; Mari and Dennis left their high-powered executive positions at the World Bank to launch GlobalGiving, an easy-to-use online marketplace that connects people to the causes they care most about. The beauty of peer-to-peer philanthropy is that it’s based on a simple guiding principle: people have a tremendous capacity to help if they feel connected to the cause. Beyond a simple transaction between donors and

In 1997, frustrated by the slow pace of a large institution and convinced that real change needed

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

causes, donors are able make a direct connection to the efforts on the ground and the projects they support. Dennis and Mari believe that if donors know what their money is being used for and are informed every step of the way of its impact; they will be willing to support them in spite of economic uncertainty. For example, donors want to know up front how and where their money is being spent. GlobalGiving makes it clear: in their literature and on their website, they walk people through the donating process and guarantee that 85% of their donation will be on-theground within 60 days.

“Many non-profits are helping communities weather the economic storm but are in desperate need of funding. We created GlobalGiving to be a marketplace for good, and to make sure that the million little earth changing ideas that are swirling all around us have the opportunity to succeed. The success of GlobalGiving has showed us the great power that can come from connecting individuals to the causes they care most about; and we want to give every nonprofit in America this same chance.” ~ Mari Kuraishi, President and Co-Founder

Once the donation is made, GlobalGiving takes transparency to the next level, providing donors updates on the project, posting pictures from the project to their website, and even offering donors the opportunity to communicate directly with the project leaders to hear exactly how their money is being put to use. It's the next best thing to actually visiting the project site in person.

www.globalgiving.org

Publishers Note: Several times a year, GlobalGiving sponsors Challenges to vet charities for inclusion in their community of individual and corporate donors. Humanity Healing Foundation was recently selected to participate and successfully completed the Challenge through our sponsor’s generous support. We would like to offer our sincere respect to the team at GlobalGiving for their significant contribution to Humanity and our deep Gratitude for Humanity Healing Foundation’s inclusion into the family. OM-Times October 2009 Edition

To learn more about and participate with the Uganda Outreach Project, visit the Project page on our website: www.humanityhealing.org/uganda.htm or visit the Project’s GlobalGiving page by clicking on this widget

The Shift For those traveling the winding roads of Self-Knowledge, it is necessary to be aware of energy shifts and their consequences while not losing perspective. Without the explicit intention to be iconoclastic, we offer you actual examinations of the cosmic reality from different outlooks, the flow of energy and its influence in individual life journeys. The multiplicity of the phenomena of the Shift cannot be translated based solely from one’s own point of view. We invite you to experience others’ and share yours.

Music: The Space Clock by Javier Ramon Brito To listen to more of Javier’s work or to purchase his music, visit: http://www.musicbrito.com

Visual Art: The Birth Chamber by Gloria Gypsy To view more of Gloria’s work or to purchase a copy, visit: http://gloriagypsy.deviantart.com

The Voice of the Matrix By Beverly Stewart What is the voice of the Matrix? It is the voice that says, “You still need me”. We have become so dependent on the Matrix control system that we have forgotten that we are majestic and beautiful creatures. The Matrix tells us that we have to keep that job that barely pays us enough to survive on, keeps us away from our family for 50 or 60 hours a week or more, and steals our energy so that we are unable to ascend up and out of the nightmare. It tells us that we don’t have the time to write that book or that we don’t have the money to start the business that we have wanted to start for years. It tells us that we can’t survive outside of it…and it’s all lies. The voice of the Matrix is simply our false self/ego. Ego is simply the original sin that caused our separation from God when man fell from grace. We have to defeat our false self/ego…unplug from the Matrix and plug back into “The Creator”. We unplugged from “The Creator” (healthy consciousness) at the original fall of man and plugged into the Matrix (false self/ego/unconsciousness). We fell into a deep slumber and forgot that we have everything we need inside of us. That spark of “The Creator” (the magic) is still inside just waiting for you to awaken so that it can be rekindled. It’s time to awaken, return to God and remember who we are.

About The author: I am simply a small town girl whose martial arts training were instrumental in my awakening. Through my amazing journey to the truth I have learned much and now hope that by sharing my story many more lives may be changed for the better.

http://www.theserpentrevealed.com

Toxic Programming

by Beverly Stewart

During my Kundalini experiences I began to see things clearly. I could see how the foundation of my ego/false self had been projected onto me as a child. The reality that I had been living in for 40+ years was based on a foundation of lies. For 40+ years I had been unconsciously building on this toxic foundation. It was being created from the toxic programming that I had received as a child. For example, I was told things like you’re stupid, you're ugly, no one wants you, you’ll never amount to anything, etc. These lies were internalized, became truth to me and I began to build MY reality based on this toxic foundation that had been projected onto me. This became the foundation upon which I would build on for the next 40 years. These lies were of a low vibration and were constantly attracting more of the same via the “Law of Attraction”. This is precisely why I was caught up in a vicious cycle of bad decisions, along with destructive and abusive relationships. I always expected the worst from people and believed that if I got too close to someone they would abandon me. And guess what, I always got exactly what I expected via the “Law of Attraction”. As an adult I was still treated like a child by the toxic people in my life. I had intense emotional and physical reactions after spending time with

them, they controlled me with guilt, manipulated me with money and nothing I did was ever good enough. For more information on toxic relationships please refer to Dr. Susan Forward’s book on toxic parenting “Toxic Parents”. If you are in a toxic relationship get out, get away! You do not have to be around those people and

absorb their toxins any more. God will take care of you; He loves you and wants you to trust Him. I forced the toxic people out of my life and it was literal hell for awhile. They tried to have me committed and take my son away from me. I was arrested in front of my son, taken to a hospital for 10 hours of testing and observation.

Was found to be completely sane and everyone advised me to take my son and get as far away

As I could. For these 10 hours my son was left with them to endure their attacks of lies and toxins to convince him that I was crazy and that he needed to come live with them. My son, for the first time in his life, stood up for himself and set them straight on the truth. It was hell, but at least I got them out of my life and I have never been happier. God is taking care of me and my son in miraculous ways and we are very happy. He will do it for you too. Get out!

God will take care of you. He needs you to bring about the evolution of humanity. He is desperately searching for men and women to reconnect to him. He needs us to unplug from Ego/Carnal Mind Energy and plug into Higher Mind/Spiritual Energy. When you do this, you will be taken care of. It's promised: Matthew 6:33 (New International Version) 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Money, food, clothing) Matthew 6:34 (New International Version) 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Live in present time)

World Vision New Energy for a Nuclearweaponfree World

in relations between the Soviet Union and the United States led to the conclusion of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe in late 1990.

Rene Wadlow*

Peace is the only battle worth waging. - Albert Camus

Almost from the moment that the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico in July 1945, the menace of the nuclear age inspired visions of a world free of nuclear weapons. However, the efforts of Governments and popular anti-nuclear weapon movements have gone in cycles with some milestones such as the Russell-Einstein Manifesto in 1955, the 1970 ratification of the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the 1982 2nd UN General Assembly Special Session on Disarmament. There have also been long periods when attention focused only on USA-USSR nuclear issues, with short periods of attention given to India-Pakistan nuclear tensions or more recently the nuclear potential of North Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Even in non-nuclear arms control, there have been long barren periods. The Vienna conventional-forcesreduction talks continued for 16 years from 1973 without results until an improvement

For over a decade, the UN disarmament body, the Conference on Disarmament, has been inactive, starved of resources, attention and serious human capital. Since the end of the Cold War in 1990 and thus the end of the danger of a Soviet-American nuclear conflict, the arms control emphasis of Governments have been on non-proliferation and on the danger of nuclear arms in the hands of non-State enemies such as terrorists. However, on 29 May 2009, the Conference on Disarmament was able to adopt at least a programme of work for negotiations to ban fissile material production for nuclear weapons, security assurances for non-nuclearweapon States, and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. While negotiations will be difficult and easily blocked by using the “rule of consensus”, the programme is an important step forward. The programme shows a certain shift in the attitudes of Governments. This shift is

OM TIMES MAGAZINE October Edition

mandates. Many NGOs would meet at an annual world conference in August in Hiroshima, and many have participated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conferences starting in 1975.

also seen in the relatively favourable atmosphere in the most recent preparatory meeting for the 2010 Review Conference on the NonProliferation Treaty and the joint disarmament statements made by Russia and the For over a decade, the USA in July 2009. Taken together, UN disarmament body, these measures suggest that the Conference on Governments are slowly building Disarmament, has been momentum toward real progress in a multi-State framework. inactive, starved of

Nevertheless, there has been relatively little impact of NGOs on the over-all strategic doctrines of Governments. The NGO impact has been most felt in the lead up to the Treaty banning anti-personnel mines and the convention on cluster resources, attention and munitions. In both these efforts, serious human capital. humanitarian and human rights organizations, largely absent from earlier arms control efforts, played important roles. The same holds true for efforts to control the “small arms” conventional arms trade as conventional arms often assist in the perpetration of serious violations of human rights such as torture, the excessive use of force by security personnel, extrajudicial executions, and disappearances.

With these steps on the part of Governments, it is crucial that the broader civil society, as structured through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), devote new energies to the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world. There have always been NGOs which have had nuclear disarmament or general and complete disarmament as an important part of their

Now, it is an appropriate time to build a broad coalition of people and organizations to develop a world security framework and to review the strategic and arms policy of each State in the light of a world security framework. The renewed efforts of the Conference on Disarmament and the 2010 NPT Review can provide a focus for new civil society energies for a nuclear-weapon-free world.

* Rene Wadlow, Representative to the UN, Geneva, Association of World Citizens

OM TIMES MAGAZINE October Edition

“There is a difference, and the difference is Pat Buck.” Pat and her husband, Champ, work as a team with clients throughout Northern Virginia. In Pat’s 29-year career, she has been consistently recognized as an outstanding professional and exemplary individual. Pat is identified by her peers, customers and clients as one to admire and emulate. In receiving the 1992 Sales Associate of the year award, Pat was recognized as a REALTOR® whose quality of service sets new standards; she is tireless and resolute on behalf of her clients and profession. Pat is known for her grace, charm, and sense of humor; all are essential elements of her success. Pat is a graduate of the National Cathedral School and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College. In her spare time, Pat enjoys cross country skiing, water skiing, cooking and entertaining. She is author of the cookbook, Please Don’t Paint the Peas, and lifetime volunteer with the Red Cross, Episcopal Church, Boy Scouts, American Association of University Women, and other military, political and civic organizations. She just completed ten years on the Mason District (Fairfax County) Land Use and Transportation Committee.

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Message about Peace

By MayLin

Through Self Realization the world can become a better place. Awareness of our own personal individual weakness is essential, because only then may we grow to love ourselves and become stronger.

The ancient philosophy of yoga is what I have grown up with my whole life. That philosophy and the teachings of Bikram and Choudhury, I have learned that we must learn patience, determination, faith, concentration and will power in order to build self confidence, self love and self awareness. The practice of Bikram Hatha Yoga has encouraged all of these traits in me, in my students and my yoga friends. It teaches that for world peace we must first be able to see our own truth in order to appreciate and love others. Blind cannot lead the blind. To truly make this world a better place for us all to not only get along, but truly live out our purpose on Earth to love one another, we must first find our own inner peace, one that no one else can steal no matter what. Perhaps it seems easier said than done, but this is the only way for humanity to achieve success.

cultures and faiths can live in peace. Human spirit should be transformed and trained to a culture of non-violence. The inner change, the human revolution is the key to stimulate contributory action and compassion of people within their communities, workplaces and family. That's the way we can build peace, and the way is long maybe, but the unity of intentions and spirit and the common respect of everyone's life, non matter about any sort of difference, may be the big basic step to universal harmony. I believe that peace must first start within each of us. To love and accept yourself compared to

no one else is the beginning of ending the greatest war of all ...the war we create within ourselves. When we find our peace it overflows to our families, our friends, our community, our country and ultimately the world. Namaste, MayLin Alexander Vegan. Yoga Teacher. Reiki Master/Teacher. Find Maylin at

Individuals all over the world should take responsibility for their lives and contribute to building a world where people of different

Gaza Development Authority:

the face.” Just as the first steps of the European Common Market had to overcome the deep wounds of the Second World War, so in the situation of Gaza, there is a need to break strong psychological barriers with cooperative economic measures.

A New Deal Model for the Middle East

One possibility for socioeconomic recovery of Gaza would be a trans-national economic effort that would bring together energy, knowledge, and money from Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt, creating conditions which would facilitate the entry of other investors.

By Rene Wadlow

It is difficult to predict the political future of Gaza both in terms of relations between Hamas and Fatah as well as the future relations with Israel and Egypt. What is certain is the IsraelGaza conflict and the long embargos have crippled and in some cases destroyed the manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the Gaza Strip where some one and a half million people depend on imports for most basic goods and on exports for livelihood. The economic and social situation in Gaza distorts the lives of many with high unemployment, poor health facilities, and a lack of basic supplies. As the political situation is so uncertain, it is important not to rule out in advance political and economic proposals even if, at first sight, such proposals seem unlikely to be able to be put into practice. As Jean Monnet, one of the fathers of the European Common Market had said “Men take great decisions only when crisis stares them in

A possible model is the transstate efforts of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the US New Deal. The TVA was a path-making measure to overcome the deep economic depression of the 1930s in the USA. In May 1933, the Roosevelt administration and the Congress created the TVA. In his message to Congress, Roosevelt suggested that the Authority should be a “corporation clothed with the power of Government but possessed of the flexibility and initiative of a private enterprise. It should be charged with the broadest duty of planning for the proper use, conservation and development of the natural resources of the Tennessee River drainage basin and its adjoining territory for the general social and economic welfare of the Nation…This in a true sense is a return to the spirit and vision of the pioneer. If we are successful here, we can march

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

on, step by step, in the development of other great natural territorial units.” The central idea back of the TVA was that it should do many things, all connected with each other by the concrete realities of a damaged river full of damaged people. To do all these activities well, it had to be a public corporation: public, because it served the public interest and a corporation rather than a government department, so that it could initiate the flexible responsible management of a well-run private corporation. As Stringfellow Barr wrote in Citizens of the World “The great triumph of the TVA was not the building of the great dams. Great dams had been built before. Its greatest triumph was that it not only taught the Valley people but insisted on learning from them too. It placed its vast technical knowledge in the pot with the human wisdom, the local experience, the courage, and the hopes of the Valley people, and sought solutions which neither the Valley folk nor the TVA technicians could ever have found alone. It respected persons.” The Gaza strip is not one of the great natural territorial units of the world, and respect for persons has been in short supply. However, only a New Deal is likely to break the cycle of violence and counter-violence. A Gaza Development Authority, an independent socio-economic corporation devoted to multi-sector and trans-national planning and administration would be an

important start in a new deal of the cards. Such a Gaza Development Authority would obviously have Hamas members but also persons chosen for their expertise as well as persons from community organizations. Strong socio-economic structures are needed which can hold during periods of inevitable future tensions. A Gaza Development Authority can be a framework for such strong measures of cooperative effort.

Author’s Note This text was prepared for the conference on The Palestinian Future organized by the Center for Democracy and Community Development and Al-Quds University (Jerusalem) 30 September – 2 October, 2009.

About the Author Rene Wadlow, Representative to the United Nations, Geneva, Association of World Citizens and editor of the online journal of world politics: www.transnational-perspectives.org

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

Spiritual Destinations The Holy Land Let us say that you are a world traveler and you love ethnic cultures and that you are headed to explore the Middle East to include Israel. The following information is a compilation of what you must know while planning your trip to the Holy Lands.

neighbors. Exception to this are travels to Egypt and Jordan. According to Israeli law, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen and Iran are considered "Enemy countries" and an Israeli citizen may not visit them without a special permit issued by the Israeli minister of the interior. As of March 2009, there is still no conclusion made by the Israeli government whether or not Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, and the Gaza Strip will be approved to be added to the 'Enemy countries' list although a move was initiated on April 1, 2008. If you are of dual nationality having both US citizenship and Israeli citizenship, Israeli law applies to you.

Dome of the Rock and Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Israel [Photo: Annie Griffiths Belt, National Geographic]

If you have an Israeli stamp on your passport, you might be denied entry into Arab countries, and vice-versa. So, during your travel planning, it truly is in your best interest to be aware of the political issues between Israel and its

The following countries do not accept Israeli passports: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Djibouti, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

These Arab countries do allow entry for Israeli citizens: Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Morocco and Mauritania. These countries might not accept passports which contain Israeli stamps or visas: Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. These countries allow for a passport holder to have two valid passports to circumvent the restrictions concerning Israel if the applicant can satisfactorily explain why a second passport is needed when applying. Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Canada and United States. Recently, Israel began the practice of issuing Palestinian Authority Areas-Only Stamp which denies the affected passport holder access to Israel.

Palestinian Authority Areas - Only Stamp [Source: Toufic Haddad, The Faster Times]

To avoid expensive re-routing of travel plans to include changes in air itinerary, no-refund cancellations of lodging accommodations, and missed planned events, check with the US State Department in the early part of your planning stages for the latest details on the region and request instructions on how to best accommodate your plans. You would not want to arrive in the region only to be asked to take

the next flight back home. Moreover, consider purchasing travel insurance that would cover anything that could go wrong with your travel plans. Denied entry into Israel: The impact of Palestinian Authority (PA) areas-only stamp on Americans U.S. passport holders are occasionally denied entry into Israel or the West Bank at one of the border crossings. Entry into Israel and the West Bank is subject to the authority of the relevant border officials. The impact of Palestinian Authority (PA) AreasOnly Stamp has been felt by numerous travelers who have filed complaints of the practice to the US Consulate General of Jerusalem. The magnitude of the complaints and the ensuing international news written on the issue caught US journalists' attention and put US Department of State on the spot during the Daily Briefings conducted by Spokesperson Ian Kelly on 18-19 August 2009. What are the Entry/Exit issues related to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza? The Government of Israel considers American citizens who also hold Israeli citizenship or have a claim to such dual nationality to be Israeli citizens for immigration and other legal purposes. American citizens whom Israeli authorities suspect of being of Arab or Muslim origin are likely to face additional, often timeconsuming, and probing questioning by immigration and border authorities, or may even be denied entry into Israel. If they are determined by Israeli authorities to have a claim to residency status in the West Bank or Gaza, or to have a claim to a Palestinian identification number, such American citizens may be required by the Government of Israel to use a Palestinian Authority travel document to transit Israel to enter the West Bank or Gaza. The US Consulate General of Jerusalem strongly encourages anyone denied entry into Israel or the West Bank to complete the Denial of Entry

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

form and submit it via e-mail to [email protected]. Please note that Ben Gurion International Airport, the Jordan River-Sheikh Hussein border crossing in the north, and the Rabin-Arava border crossing in the south, fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and specific issues involving these crossings should be addressed there. What is the Palestinian Authority (PA) AreasOnly Stamp? Since the spring of 2009, Israeli border officials at the Allenby border crossing have begun using a new entry visa stamp that permits travel only in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas. Anyone indicating that they either have connections to the West Bank, or are planning to travel to the West Bank, may get this stamp, which does not permit them to enter into green-line Israel. Please note that only Israeli liaison offices in the West Bank can assist -- but they rarely will. Travelers should be alert, and pay attention to which stamp they receive upon entry. What does having the PA stamp on your passport mean? American citizens who hold a Palestinian Authority ID, as well as persons judged by the Israeli authorities to have claim to a Palestinian Authority ID, will be considered subject to Israeli law and to regulations that Israel applies to residents of the West Bank and Gaza, regardless of the fact that they hold U.S. citizenship. Upon arrival, such persons may wish to consider asking Israeli immigration authorities from where they will be required to depart. American citizens who have (or who are eligible to receive) a Palestinian Authority Identification Number are likely to be refused entry to Israel via Ben Gurion Airport and be told that they must enter Israel from Jordan via the Allenby (also known as King Hussein) Bridge. In June 2009, the Israeli government began selectively limiting certain travelers to either

the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, or to Israel and Jerusalem. To date, the Israeli government has not provided information about which categories of travelers can expect to be subject to these restrictions. Nonetheless, Israeli border officials at Ben Gurion Airport began requiring certain travelers to sign a form that states s/he is not allowed to enter territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority unless s/he obtains advance authorization from the Israeli "Territory Actions Coordinator," and that violating this restriction may result in the traveler being deported from Israel and barred from entry for up to 10 years. At the Allenby Bridge crossing, as well as at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli border officials also began using a new entry stamp for certain travelers that states "Palestinian Authority Only." Since travelers entering via the Allenby crossing must transit Israeli checkpoints and Israeli-controlled territory to reach Jerusalem or Gaza, this restriction effectively limits travelers who receive this stamp at Allenby to destinations in the West Bank only. This stamp has been known to be used even with travelers who have no Palestinian or other Arab ancestry, and who would not seem to have any claim to a Palestinian Authority ID. What is the US doing about the issue brought upon by the Palestinian Authority areas-only stamp affecting Palestinian Americans and other American citizens who are faced with having the stamp on their passport? The United States Government seeks equal treatment for all American citizens regardless of national origin or ethnicity. Americans in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are strongly encouraged to register with the Consular Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. U.S. citizens who require emergency services may telephone the Consulate General in Jerusalem at (972) (2) 628-7137, after hours (for emergencies): (972) (2) 622-7250, or the

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Embassy in Tel Aviv at (972) (3) 519-7575, after hours (for emergencies): (972) (3) 519-7551.

warning replaces the one issued on January 15, 2009.

The United States protests the implementation of the new Palestinian Authority (PA) AreasOnly Stamp and marks it unacceptable due to its unequal treatment of Americans traveling to Israel, West Bank or Gaza, to include journalists and humanitarian workers even if they are not of Palestinian or Arab descent. The United States further seeks to ensure PalestinianAmericans are allowed access to Israel. Having the PA stamp on US passports prohibits the passport holder from entering Israel. The US State Department advises all who are traveling to Israel to research updated information on their website to ensure they are well-informed of the current events regarding entry and exit issues.

The Gaza Strip and Southern Israel The US State Department urges US citizens to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip as the timely assistance of US consular staff to US citizens is extremely limited. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has sealed the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The security environment is unpredictable and dangerous. The IDF has also declared an exclusion zone along the border with Israel and has taken lethal measures against individuals who enter it. U.S. Government personnel travelling near the border, to include the city of Sderot, require approval from the Embassy's Regional Security Office. The West Bank The US State Department urges Americans to be alert of security measures and to exercise caution as vehicles are targets of rocks, Molotov cocktails and gunfire on West Bank roads. IDF operations can occur anytime to include raids to arrest terrorist suspects and Americans can get caught in dangerous situations. The Department of State also recommends that Americans not participate in demonstrations as such have involved confrontations with the IDF. Travelers should be aware that they might encounter delays and difficulties, might be denied passage through Israeli checkpoints, US consular staff has limited ability to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens in the West Bank.

Gaza Strip map (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Travel Warning: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza As of August 14, 2009, the US State Department issued a warning for all U.S. citizens on the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and about threats to themselves and to U.S. interests in those locations. This

US Consular Assistance Current information on travel and security in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or, from overseas, 1-202-5014444. For additional and more in-depth information about specific aspects of travel to these areas, U.S. citizens should consult: the Country Specific Information for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; and the Worldwide

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Caution. These along with other Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts and Country Specific Information are available on the Department's Internet website at http://travel.state.gov. Upto-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at http://usembassy-israel.org.il or http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov. Americans are also encouraged to sign up to receive security-related information from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv via email at the following link: http://telaviv.usembassy.gov/consular/acs/inde x.aspx. Related Resources: US Consulate General in Jerusalem: Procedures for entering Israel, the West Bank and Gaza

Article by Gina Alzate Author Biography I'm a Travel Consultant and Cruise Planner with World Tours and Cruises. I love helping people plan their romance at sea, destination weddings, reunions, corporate events, conferences and workshops at sea. I'm an Online Radio Talk Show Host on TalkShoe and the Broadcaster for World Radio 365. As the Metaphysical Therapy Educator and Holistic Health Practitioner with Holistic Life Designs, I lead workshops on land and at sea. To round up my 9th House fun times, I am the National Holistic Travel Examiner and the Philadelphia Romance Examiner for Examiner.com. http://www.worldtoursandcruises.com http://www.worldradio365.net

OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Hosted by

Brenda Braden on the World Puja Network

www.worldpuja.org

October 1, 2009

October 15, 2009

What would your world be like if you never experience fear or restriction and just followed your inner calling?

How many lifetimes have you shared with your family members or friends?

Take A Suitcase Full of Faith in hand and join me as I speak with Saskia Roëll about her life. She shares with me how following the pull of an indwelling voice has lead her to many different countries, warned her when she went into an undiscovered Egyptian tomb, pulled at her heartstrings until she listened and followed the path to her soul-mate and now husband, and called at her across the ocean until she and her family (including 5 children) left behind their well established and very serene life to discover a land they had never lived in before. This journey will inspire you to put your faith into action, give you the courage to take chances and achieve a remarkable life. It sounds so very simple and Saskia Roëll will take you on a breathtaking adventure! Saskia Roëll www.asuitcasefulloffaith.com email [email protected]

Join Sherri Defesche and I as we talk about her newly released book Reunion on the Rainbow

Bridge My parents past lives and the one they shared with me.

Sherri speaks about how unconditional love and support can get you through anything. She shares with me how healing was created with the discovery of her mother and father not only being soul mates in just this one lifetime; rather, they had shared lifetimes in over 200 incarnations. From Lemurians living in paradise to ancient Anasazi living in the Desert Southwest and from Greek servants studying philosophy to Celtic children dying under Hadrian’s rule, hearing about many of her parents’ past lives was like taking a magic carpet ride through history. Interestingly enough my authors from last month Linda Drake and Julia Hanson were catalysts in bringing healing and light to Sherri in her exploration of her parents deep commitment and connection for 46 years. Sherri Defesche www.rainbowjourneybooks.com email [email protected]

Coming 7 October 2009! Listen to Brenda Braden live on OM-Times Radio For more information, visit www.om-times.ning.com

Book Review By Chris Anderson

Who Told You That You Were Naked? By John Jacob Raub I have been thinking about diving into A Course in Miracles, but can’t bring yourself to make the commitment? Well, here’s a great way to get to the core concepts of the Course in a highly accessible, beautifully written book that you can pick up and read cover to cover in one afternoon.

First printed in 1992 and now in its sixth printing, this book by Trappist monk John Jacob Raub serves as a lucid and healing interpretation of both the old and new testaments as well as the “Bible for the New Age,” A Course in Miracles. Raub brings the message of the Christ consciousness into glowing life, guiding the reader to insights about the nature of guilt and shame, the truth about original sin, and the inescapable destiny we share as we move toward the next level of evolution In quoting from the book; “The kingdom of God can always be found in what is in front of our eyes, whether that situation is

fraught with evil or not. And in this kingdom, God does not ask why things are as they are, but ‘What is your response to the way things are?’ We can make a response to the way things are if we are continually thinking, ‘Why should this be?’ “Since the why of life is not central in the kingdom, the Buddhist saying of having a ‘don’tknow mind’ has sense to it — we are to respond with discernment that includes seeing God’s presence in every situation, and not to freeze ourselves in railing against reality.” Raub's book assists the reader to recognize that we have an unbreakable bond with God, that we can never fall outside the kingdom of Heaven, and urges and empowers us to move beyond guilt, fear, and confusion... to fully embrace our real nature — the complete and whole creation of an infinite, loving God.

Om Times Magazine October 2009

Recommended Reading These Selections Available In The OM-Times Bookstore EMOTIONAL FREEDOM: LIBERATE YOURSELF FROM NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE by Judith Orloff, M.D. This remarkable book presents emotions as a path to spiritual and intuitive awakening. UCLA Psychiatrist Dr. Orloff combines pearls from traditional medicine with energy medicine to offer you new tools to master emotions and manifest the life you desire. You'll learn to identify your emotional type, stop absorbing the negativity of others, and combat emotional vampires who suck you dry. http://drjudithorloff.com Wise Mind Open Mind by Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. Wise Mind Open Mind focuses on the building of mindstrength -- the ability to use mindfulness to master and refocus one's thoughts, beliefs and emotions in order to access their core creativity and become more empowered as a mindful leader. As the mind quiets, it opens into deeper states of awareness through a three-step process that resilient creative artists have mastered. http://www.ronaldalexander.com

QAC - The Smallest Personal Strategy Book You'll Ever Need by Marsha G. Cook QAC is a concise and practical, common-sense book for developing Life Strategies. Straight forward and easy to understand, this smart, entertaining guide is a perfect companion for anyone navigating a transition: from graduation to marriage, to the loss of a loved one, to the stress of finding a new job. http://marshagcook.com

If you are an Author and would like to have your book featured in OM-Times Recommended Reading and the OM-Times Bookstore, write to [email protected] OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Recommended Reading These Selections Available In The OM-Times Bookstore The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success by Charlotte Reznick PhD Charlotte Reznick PhD is a child educational psychologist, UCLA Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, and creator of several therapeutic relaxation CDs for children, teens, and parents. An international workshop leader on the healing power of children's imagination, she maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, California. www.ImageryForKids.com

Journal Bliss Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric by Violette Be inspired by pages and pages of artistic inspiration and prompts designed to embrace your inner eccentric. In Journal Bliss, join author Violette as she shares her illustrations, fonts, doodles, and soul-searching prompts - freeing you to start your own visual-journal journey. Express yourself openly in a style that is uplifting and fun! http://violette.ca

The Story: A Song of Silver Crow by Chris Anderson The Story: A Song of Silver Crow is the narrative of a descendent of Indian and White ancestors, a man raised and educated in the prevailing White Man’s society... yet schooled in the ways of the Red Man by his Native American grandfather. http://www.songofsilvercrow.com

If you are an Author and would like to have your book featured in OM-Times Recommended Reading and the OM-Times Bookstore, write to [email protected] OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Recommended Reading These Selections Available In The OM-Times Bookstore From OM to Orgasm by Chandi Devi Tantra has been denigrated as a yoga of sex, but it is a very high path that requires commitment, discipline and the attitude of a “warrior”. Sex is part of the formula, however, it is just a piece of the pie! Through the book "From Om to Orgasm: The Tantra Primer for Living in Bliss", Chandi transforms the popular notion that tantra is only about lust and pedestrian sex, to tantra as a sacred gateway to love and enlightenment. www.theworldoftantra.com

Voices of Survivors Anthology compiled by Vanilla Heart Publishing In this book you will find stories from men, women, mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters, someone you may even know. Rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse touches more lives than we even realize. In this book, you will find people of both genders, of all races and nationalities, and from all walks of life. Rape survivors come in all shapes and colors. Rape does not discriminate by race, gender, income, or any other factor. Rape affects PEOPLE. ALL people. You will find hope, strength, and inspiration in the amazing lives these survivors live! www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com

Tales of a Zany Mystic by L.B. White Talk Show Radio Host, healer, writer and mystic L.B. White is the Zany Mystic. This book is a wild roller coaster ride of substance abuse, jail, angelic encounters and decades of triumph over AIDS. With wit and humor, this spiritual journey entertains and inspires. www.zanymystic.blogspot.com

If you are an Author and would like to have your book featured in OM-Times Recommended Reading and the OM-Times Bookstore, write to [email protected] OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Recommended Reading These Selections Available In The OM-Times Bookstore A Suitcase Full of Faith by Saskia Roell Inside A Suitcase Full of Faith, you'll meet Saskia, a modern-day, spiritual adventurer who along with her husband and five young children - sold her home in Holland, gave up a thriving career and took a daring leap of faith to explore the possibility of a brand new life in the United States. Saskia takes you around the world to learn how trust and faith will carry you through the best and the worst of times and lead you to live the extraordinary life! http://www.suitcasefulloffaith.com

Surviving Cancer and Other Tough Stuff: An Illustrated Journal for a Healthy and Abundant Life by Kanta Bosniak Hypnotherapist and cancer survivor Kanta Bosniak shares her inspiring story and offers readers facing any life challenge a gentle process for transformation with excercises in the included workbook. It will help anyone who wants to emerge from a difficult experience better than before...happier, healthier and living a more abundant life. http://www.kantabosniak.com

Reiki Jin Kei Do: The Way of Compassion and Wisdom by Steve Gooch Reiki Jin Kei Do broadens the way we can view Reiki, seeing it, more than simply a healing system, as a way of living and a means to enlightenment. It is a path to self-perfection and liberation. It did not suddenly appear in the 19th century, but has an older lineage that runs back through Tibetan Buddhist monks. Reiki Jin Kei Do is set to reshape the way we think about Reiki. http://www.omahhum.org

If you are an Author and would like to have your book featured in OM-Times Recommended Reading and the OM-Times Bookstore, write to [email protected] OM-Times Magazine October 2009 Edition

Masterfully Crafted from the Heart of an Artist My name is David Weitzman, and I’m a cosmic jewelry artist. My biggest inspiration in designing sacred and symbolic jewelry comes in knowing I can impact people’s lives. My work harnesses the power of spiritual symbols and sacred geometry from around the world to bring those wearing my sacred jewelry happiness, vitality, excitement, and love. My jewels are painstakingly crafted to work on conscious and subconscious levels to inspire people’s lives. www.ka-gold-jewelry.com

OM-Times October 2009 Edition

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