| Contents
/ July - Issue #24 |
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Event
Spotlight |
3rd
Annual International Conference on "Engaging the Other:"
The Power of Compassion
September 4-7, 2008
San Mateo, California
with Marianne Williamson, Dennis
Kucinich, Don Beck, Corinne McLaughlin, James O'Dea, Stanley
Krippner, Sharif Abdullah, and more
IONS is proud to co-sponsor this international, multi-cultural,
multi-disciplinary conference. Over 55 presenters will
explore concepts of "The Other" from a universal,
cross-cultural perspective to promote wider public dialogue
about concepts of "Us and Them."
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IONS
Campus and Retreat Center Events
Petaluma, California |
Nine
Gates Youth Mystery School
July 14-19,
2008
Designed to open doorways into a deeper connection
with your inner strength, your inner wisdom, your
authentic self, this program will give you an opportunity
to step outside limitations and projections. For
four and one-half days, participants dive deeply
into explorations of their authentic self, create
friendships that bind, and walk away feeling connected
to a supportive community.
Teaching
Hope: The Nonviolent Classroom
July 18-19,
2008
with Marilyn Schlitz
& Azim Khamisa
This 9-day retreat is a discovery of our own magnificent
power to generate illusions so brilliantly designed
that we believe they are reality. This is one of
two retreats that act as a foundation for the Living
in Truth Training.
Lee
Lipsenthal - Finding Balance Teacher Training Program
July 19-23,
2008
This 5 day teaching program will cover core areas
of research on physician health, personality structure
and inter-personal function. It is designed to train
the participant to be a facilitator teacher in the
area of physician and medical trainee health. The
program will train the participant to teach small
and large group classes in the area of physician
health and lead seminars in this area.
Monroe
Institute Gateway Voyage
July 19-25,
2008
November 1-7, 2008
The heart of The Monroe Institute programs is the
Gateway Voyage®. This six-day intensive learning
adventure is designed to provide the participant
with tools that can enable: development and exploration
of human consciousness; deeper levels of self-discovery;
expansion of one's awareness; willful control of
that awareness; communication with and visits to
other energy systems and realities.
Lifting
the Veils Retreat
July 19-27,
2008
This 9-day retreat is a discovery of our own magnificent
power to generate illusions so brilliantly designed
that we believe they are reality. This is one of
two retreats that act as a foundation for the Living
in Truth Training.
Andrew
Harvey - Spiritual Activism: Compassion in Action
July
25-27, 2008
September 26-28, 2008
December 12-14, 2008
February 6-8, 2009
This four-weekend program, led by Andrew Harvey,
explores the concept of Spiritual Activism and trains
participants in key aspects of becoming and being
a Sacred Activist.
Phillip
Krapf - Meetings with Paul: An Atheist Discovers
His Guardian Angel
July 25, 2008
Potluck dinner followed by a personal account on
meeting his own angel by Pulitzer Prize winner and
professed unbeliever Phil Krapf. A Friendly Favors
event - registration required.
New
Equations - The Physical Expression of the Soul
Training Program
August 9-16,
2008
November 11-18, 2008
February 25, 2009
June 13, 2009
New Equations directly addresses human spirituality
and how it is physically expressed in the world
today. Participants in this multi-session training
program learn how to connect and communicate with
people in such a way that those with whom they engage
discover the physical expression of their own spiritual
nature.
Rejuvenate
Your Practice Intensive
August 21-24, 2008
November
13-16, 2008
Learn how to build your successful Holistic or Coaching
Practice using heart-based strategies so you can
help more people and make more money than you ever
thought was possible.
Skan-Reichian
Therapy - Exploring the Body of Emotions
September 5-7,
2008
Skan Therapy is based on the work of Wilhelm Reich.
Skan can be defined as a process of re-establishing
the unobstructed flow of the body's own life-energy.
This can be felt whole bodily as a sensation of
"streaming" and pleasure, and emotionally as love,
enjoyment and happiness.
Regression
Therapy Intensive Training, Level I
September 15-20,
2008
Barbara Kauffman is a prominent board certified
regression therapist, educator, lecturer, and researcher
with over fifteen years of experience in the field
of past-life regression.
Creative
Memories Scrapbooking Weekend with Felicia Schonborn-Young
September 19-21,
2008
March 20-22, 2009
Celebrate and preserve your memories into treasured
keepsakes - your life, your story, your way. Felicia
will show you how with top quality photo albums
& organizing products.
Metzner
Alchemical Divination Training, with Ralph Metzner
September 21-26, 2008
February 1-6, 2009
The Metzner Alchemical Divination® training is offered
in three 5-day modular workshops that can be taken
in any sequence. In these workshops, participants
will experience the divinations for themselves as
well as light-fire purifying energy meditations
(Agni Yoga); and they will practice guiding them
for others in dyads and small groups.
Making
Money Make Change
October 2-5, 2008
A national gathering for young progressive people
with wealth, creating space to support and challenge
each other to use our financial and other resources
to contribute to social change and join fully in
movements of social justice.
Meditation
Specialist™ Certification
October 18–20, 2008
March 11-14, 2009
June 4-7, 2009
October 19-22, 2009
This four-part course for healthcare professionals
provides in-depth training in the theory, science,
and practice of meditation therapy with a focus
on the use of meditation as a true healing science.
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Special
Events |
An
Evening of Native American Indian Poetry and Music
July 14, 2008
Seattle, Washington
A programme of music and poetry featuring lauded Native American poet Sharmagne Leland-St. John; Paul Nyenhuis, creator of beautiful Native American flutes and player of gentle, soulful, spiritual flute music; Silversong Belcourt, founder of Honor Day; and Patricia Anne Davis, The Navajo Beauty Way.
Teaching
Hope: The Nonviolent Classroom
July 18-19,
2008
Oakland, California
with Marilyn Schlitz &
Azim Khamisa
3rd Annual Summer Conference and Teacher Training presented by Educators for Nonviolence.
Integral
Education Seminar
August 1-6, 2008
Whidbey Island, Washington
Integral education stands out as one of the most
pertinent and practical means to create positive
change in yourself and the world. This 5-day seminar
will bring educators together from around the globe,
educators who are seeking the necessary vision,
skills, and processes to fully serve students and
the world that we inhabit.
Three
Modern Mystics: A Celebration of Living Consciously
August 9, 2008
San Rafael, California
with Neale Donald Walsch, Dr. Jean
Houston & Joan Borysenko, PhD
Join these three visionary authors for a full day
discussion of their leading edge perspectives on
the transformation of individual and collective
consciousness, and how we can apply them to our
most pressing personal and social issues.
Integral
Life For Generation Next Seminar
August 10-15, 2008
Santa Cruz, California
Are you between 18 and 35 years old? Come and explore:
- Community
and relationships
- Livelihood
and spirituality
- Integral
Life Practice and leadership
- Perspective
taking and stages of development
- Experience
BIG MIND and shadow work
And
have the time of your life networking with peers
in the Redwoods of California!
Academy
for Guided Imagery 20th Annual Conference: Imagery,
Suggestion, Mind/Body Medicine
Webcast available
through August 15, 2008
with Jeanne Achterberg, Stanley Krippner,
Dean Ornish, Andrew Weil, and more
Members and friends of the Institute of Noetic Sciences
are eligible for a 10% discount off conference registration
fees when they enter the IONS Co-Sponsor Discount
Code INS 0508 on the Webcast Registration
Form at www.acadgi.com
Native
American Indian Honor Day
August 16, 2008
Seattle, Washington
The Great Circle Ceremony of 2008 features the 'Hoop
of Spiritual Leaders.' It will be awakened August
16th at 11:30 am when all faiths will walk the circle
with the people. Native American Indian Honor Day,
since 2000, provides for all tribes and cultures
to express what it is they honor in a good way that
benefits the whole.
Living
Deeply: Transformation and Healing in Everyday Life
October 3-5, 2008
Big Sur, California
with Marilyn Schlitz &
Cassandra Vieten
Opportunities to actively engage in your own transformation
and that of our world are woven into the fabric
of everyday life. Learning more about the terrain
of consciousness transformation at this special
workshop.
Living
Deeply Signature Education Workshop
October 29-30, 2008
Vancouver, British Columbia
with Marilyn Schlitz &
Cassandra Vieten
On Oct. 29, Dr. Marilyn Schlitz offers an interactive
presentation based on the book, Living Deeply,
followed by a book signing. On Oct. 30 both presenters
facilitate the Living Deeply workshop through dialogue
and direct experiences.
IONS
Community "Consciousness Cruise"
November 15-20, 2008
San Diego, California
Travel the Mexican Riviera from San Diego,
Cabo San Lucas, to Ensenada & back. Enjoy five
delightful days of relaxation, stimulation, sea,
fun, meeting kindred spirits, building life long
friendships, great food, and spectacular beauty...all
for only $79 a day!
The
Institute of Noetic Sciences' 13th International
Conference
Toward
a Global Shift: Seeding the Field of Collective
Change
June 17-21, 2009
Tucson, Arizona
Save the date!
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Products
Spotlight |
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VISIT
THE BLEEPSTORE Information • Community •
Networking
At
Bleepstore.com
you can find inspiring, enlightening, and intriguing
books, music, videos and more. PLUS there are monthly
articles online about the latest in
Consciousness
studies • Science • Green living •
Alternative health • Conscious parenting
There
are also articles and book and movie reviews from The
Bleeping Herald as well as The
Global Intelligencer.
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Media
Spotlight |
The
2008 Shift Report: Changing the Story of Our Future
You
can get a PDF
or hard
copy of this year's Shift Report
at the Bleepstore.
About
the Report
Over the past several decades, new scientific discoveries
along with a surge in grassroots initiatives addressing
social and economic injustices have begun calling into
question the view of the universe--and essentially of
ourselves--as ultimately cold and mechanistic. Revealing
both the mysterious directionality of the evolving cosmos
and the irrepressible humanity within our own natures,
new evidence is emerging that we are innately capable
of far more than we realize. Yes, the evidence is compelling
that the arc of the human species is on a self-destructive
decline, and yet once the pieces are put together, there
is no denying that another reality is fighting through
the cracks of the dominant narrative. We are just beginning
to tap into our potential as human beings despite, or
perhaps because of, the multiple crises that we are
facing.
For
a more than 10 copy discount, contact Tiffany at tmitchell@noetic.org.
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| From the Editor |
|   Cassandra
Vieten /
As
we move into the height of summer, traditionally the
time of year for stepping out into the world, making
your thoughts known, and moving creative ventures into
full swing, take a moment to reflect on how this forward
and outward moving principle is showing up in your life.
In Angeles Arrien's Fourfold Way training (www.angelesarrien.com)
based on indigenous wisdom from around the world, summer
is the season of the Way of the Visionary. Arrien says
"we express the Way of the Visionary through personal
creativity, goals, plans, and our ability to bring our
life dreams and visions into the world.... The work
is to come forward fully with our gifts, talents and
resources and to powerfully meet our tests and challenges."
In this time of economic challenge, shifting political
landscapes, and the world seeming to move ahead at freight-train
speed, what grounds your vision? What sustains your
dream? What inspires you?
For
over a decade, our team at IONS has been studying how
transformation happens - in other words, how we become
more open, loving, embracing of what life has to offer,
become people who creatively engage with our environments,
become dedicated toward the creation of a sustainable
collective future, how we become our most authentic,
powerful, and compassionate selves. What catalyzes this
kind of shift? What attitudes, settings, and activities
provide the ideal conditions for it to happen? What
factors make an experience of upheaval or disorientation
transformative (leading to growth, healing, and wholeness)
rather than traumatic (leading to constriction and fear),
and what kinds of things help one to integrate a transformative
experience into real-life benefits in their everyday
lives? We found that while each person's journey is
unique, several common elements foster the kind of deep,
profound and lasting transformation that shows up in
our real-world everyday life - in the way we treat people,
in our capacities for gratitude and forgiveness, in
our whole orientation to life and priorities. Some of
these elements are:
- being
part of a like-minded, inspiring, and challenging
community
- continuing
to access teachings through multiple ways of knowing
- experiential, intellectual, kinesthetic, visual,
auditory
- having
daily reminders in your environment - because it's
easy to forget who you are and where you are headed
when the larger society can be unsupportive, and you've
got your own old habits and conditioning to wrangle
with
- a
daily mind-body practice
- making
time for silence, solitude, and engagement with the
natural world
One
thing I love about IONS is that between it's cutting-edge
research, Shift in Action program, noetic.org
website, Shift magazine, iShift e-zine,
educational products and programs, big conference, and
retreat center - it offers many of these elements that
support individual and collective transformation.
As
part of its Living Deeply campaign,
IONS continues to offer a $1 trial membership in our
dynamic Shift in Action program. Upon joining,
you'll receive the book, Living Deeply: The Art
and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life
written by IONS researchers Marilyn Schlitz, Cassandra
Vieten, and Tina Amorok; a Living Deeply practice CD
with audio from 11 transformational leaders from wisdom
traditions from around the world; the 2008 Shift
Report; and all the offerings Shift in Action
members enjoy including weekly live teleseminars and
one of the largest archives of downloadable audio content
on the web. To join, or to invite a friend to join,
click
here.
We
also encourage you to invite friends to subscribe to
iShift (the e-zine you are reading right now!)
free, at www.noetic.org.
Save
the date for the Institute of Noetic Sciences' 13th
International Conference! Toward a Global
Shift: Seeding the Field of Collective Change,
June 17-21, 2009 in Tucson, Arizona. |
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| The
Edge |
| UK
astronomers, as part of an international team, have
reached a milestone in the construction of one of the
largest ever cameras to detect the mysterious dark energy
component of the Universe. Observations suggest
that roughly 4% of the Universe is made up from ordinary
matter and 22% from Dark matter; this leaves 74% unaccounted
for - the so-called dark energy. Prof. Ofer Lahav, head
of the UCL Astrophysics Group, who also leads the UK
Dark Energy Survey (DES) Consortium, commented 'Dark
energy is one of the biggest puzzles in the whole of
Physics, going back to a concept proposed by Einstein
90 years ago. The DES observations will tell us if Einstein
was right or if we need a major shift in our understanding
of the universe.' 
Hate
to be a downer but...
Exactly 20 years after warning America about global
warming, a top NASA scientist said the situation has
gotten so bad that the world's only hope is drastic
action. James Hansen told Congress on Monday that the
world has long passed the "dangerous level" for greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere and needs to get back to 1988
levels. He said Earth's atmosphere can only stay this
loaded with man-made carbon dioxide for a couple more
decades without changes such as mass extinction, ecosystem
collapse and dramatic sea level rises. "We're toast
if we don't get on a very different path," Hansen, director
of the Goddard Institute of Space Sciences who is sometimes
called the godfather of global warming science, told
The Associated Press. "This is the last chance."
His
Holiness the Dalai Lama spreads compassion with 50,000
people in Seattle
Taking the stage to resounding applause from the audience,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama began his address with self-deprecating
humor, delivering the message that he is but one man
and encouraging everyone in attendance to realize the
impact that one person can have. He continued encouraging
each person to be empowered to address and eliminate
the problems we face as individuals, so that we will
be well-equipped to address the problems we face as
a community and/or nation. Touching on the broader concept
of compassion, His Holiness reinforced the idea that
we cannot purchase compassion; we must manufacture it
within ourselves, within our homes and within our communities.
Streaming video of the entire five-day "Compassion Arrives"
event is available at www.seedsofcompassion.org.
EEG
Correlates of the Ayahuasca Shamanic Journey Experience
by Frank Echenhofer, PhD (California Institute of Integral
Studies)
A
new research project by Frank Echenhofer and team will
take them into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon to study
brain correlates of shamanic journey experiences catalyzed
by ingestion of the plant-based psychedelic substance
ayhuasca. The team's research (Echenhofer, Wynia, Joffe,
Luna, Benitz, Sudberg, McKenna, 2007) attempts to correlate
the subjective phenomenology of shamanic journey experiences
with EEG neural network pattern changes. One primary
research focus is to use EEG recording during ayahuasca
sessions to determine precise neural network patterns
associated with specific experiential states.
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Media
/ Noteworthy Releases |
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Film
 The
Fall - In a hospital on the outskirts
of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman (Pace)
begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl
with a broken arm (Untaru), a fantastical story
about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured
state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line
between fiction and reality starts to blur as
the tale advances. (more)
 Mongol
- Based on leading scholarly accounts,
this film by award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei
Bodrov (Prisoner of the Mountains) delves
into the dramatic and harrowing early years of
the ruler who was born as Temudgin in 1162. As
it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood
to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film
paints a multidimensional portrait of the future
conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute
of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless
and visionary leader. (more)
Books
 The
Tactics of Hope: How Social Entrepenuers are Changing
Our World by Wilford Welch (Author) and David
G. Hopkins (Contributing Editor) (2008, Earth
Aware Editions) - In this inspiring
book, the author argues that a fundamental shift
in values and corresponding actions is now taking
place to address two critical challenges of our
era: the restoration of a sustainable planet and
extreme poverty. He shines a bright light on the
work of twenty-seven social entrepreneurs from
all over the world who are creating initiatives
that are cause for hope. He challenges us all
to step forward and he provides tools to do so,
including a very innovative website, www.TacticsofHope.org.
(buy)
 Beyond
Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct
by Michael McCullough - Why is revenge
such a pervasive and destructive problem? Why
is the desire for revenge so tempting? Why is
forgiveness so difficult? These perennial questions
have never been more relevant than they are today.
Psychologist Michael McCullough tackles them by
challenging centuries-old misconceptions about
revenge and forgiveness. He shows that the key
to a more forgiving, less vengeful world is to
understand the evolutionary forces that gave rise
to these intimately human traits, the social forces
that activate them in human minds today, and the
changes that are necessary to make our relationships
and social institutions better at activating the
forgiveness instinct. (website)
(buy)
 Dancing
with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning
and Joy in the Face of Suffering by Phillip
Moffitt - Dancing with Life
is a teaching of the wisdom that is to be found
in being consciously and fully present with your
suffering. It points to the opportunity you have
to make a radical inner shift in how you view
your existence. Whatever the source of your suffering
may be, this inner shift will provide a new, deeper
context for interpreting your experiences that
brings clarity and equanimity to your mind. (website)
(buy)
Video
February saw the release on DVD of the documentary
In the Shadow of the Moon,
featuring our own Edgar Mitchell,
Apollo 14 astronaut and founder of IONS. (more)
Check
out the Ironweed Film Club. The
Ironweed Film Club scours the world's best film
festivals and critics' circles to promote the
issue-oriented films that audiences love but the
major Hollywood studios avoid. The New York Times
calls it a "monthly progressive film festival
on DVD." (more)
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WebWatch |
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Global-mindshift.org
- Check out this website for a fun and simple
animation describing what happens when our sense
of self shifts.
Ted.com
- Brought to our attention by a fascinating and
awe-inspiring talk by Jill Bolte Taylor, the neuroscientist
who had a stroke and was transformed by her experience,
further exploration of www.ted.com
provides a wealth of "inspired talks by the
world's greatest thinkers and doers." Check
out in particular Paul Stamets on "Six Ways
Mushrooms Can Save the World" and Malcolm
Gladwell's "What We Can Learn From Spaghetti
Sauce." And if you haven't checked out Jill
Bolte Taylor's talk "My Stroke of Insight,"
it's well worth it.
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Top
Ten |
The
Top Ten Tenets for Creative Living (full
version)
1. Take responsibility for your internal experience
2.
Follow your Internal Guidance and express your
personal brilliance
3. Manifest your world consciously and with intent
4.
Create your personal vision of paradise and spread
it among those you love
5.
Create community and hold it as a necessary foundation
of our future
6.
Be grateful for all your experiences and all that
is
7.
Release attachment including being attached to
non-attachment
8.
See simplicity as the core of sacred living
9.
Express unconditional love
10. Look for the universal Oneness in your life
Contributor,
Zen DeBrucke, teaching the Principles of The Internal
Guidance System and founder of the Ahuma Institute.
More information can be found at www.ahumainstitute.com
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Shift
in Action / Live Teleseminars |
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Our
weekly LIVE teleseminar series, now on both Tuesdays
and Wednesdays. All Tuesday teleseminars are in
the Living Deeply series, which features spiritual
leaders and practical visionaries who share their
practices for living a deeper, more fulfilling
life.
This
month's schedule of live calls:
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Tuesday,
July 1st at 11am Pacific - Marilyn
Schlitz with Stuart Kauffman
on "Reinventing the Sacred"
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Wednesday,
July 2nd at 5pm Pacific - Angela
Murphy with Jay Shafer on
"Radical Simplicity: Beyond Green Architecture"
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Tuesday,
July 8th at 11am Pacific
- Cassandra Vieten with Solomon
Katz on "The Science of Spiritual
Transformation"
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Wednesday,
July
9th at
5pm Pacific - James O'Dea with Steven
McIntosh on "The Rise of the
Integral Worldview"
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Tuesday,
July 15th at 11am Pacific
- Tina Amorok with Genpo
Roshi on "How to Live a More
Peaceful & Liberated Life"
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Wednesday,
July
16th at
5pm Pacific - Marilyn Schlitz with
Howard Martin on "The
Power of the Energetic Heart and Global Coherence"
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Tuesday,
July
22nd at
11am Pacific - Angela Murphy with Patricia
Ryan Madson on "Improvising
Our Lives"
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Wednesday,
July
23rd at
5pm Pacific - Belvie Rooks with Roberto
Vargas on "Family Activism:
Creating a Better World Beginning with Family
and Friends"
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Tuesday,
July
29th at
11am Pacific - Community dialogue with
IONS President James O'Dea
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Wednesday,
July
30th at
5pm Pacific - Matthew Gilbert with
Rinaldo Brutoco on "The
Economy Through a Consciousness Lens"
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Join
Shift in Action today to participate
in these calls! |
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Shift
in Action / Recent Releases |
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 Free
samples from the Shift in Action program
Great
Shift Dialogues recently released
- David
Abram and Bill Plotkin
- Nina
Utne and Matthew Sanford
- Many
more when you join
Join
Shift in Action today! |
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Shift
Magazine |
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Each
of the first two titles published under IONS'
new Noetic Books imprint have won prestigious
Nautilus
Book Awards! The bestselling The
Untethered Soul was a Silver
Award winner in the Spirituality category; Living
Deeply was the Grand Winner
in the Personal Growth/Psychology category. By
purchasing and reading these books, you support
our work while furthering your own process of
personal transformation.
 Shift
19 - The Living Deeply Issue - now available!
(Join
now to receive)
Table
of Contents
The Wild Human
Bill Plotkin
In his new book, Nature and the Human Soul,
depth psychologist Bill Plotkin introduces a visionary
ecopsychology of human development that reveals
how fully and creatively we can mature when soul
and nature guide us. The goal is to evolve from
an egocentric view of ourselves and the planet
to a soulcentric one.
Welcoming
Soul to Our Schools
Rachael Kessler
Does a child's inner life have a place in the
classroom? The answer is obvious, according to
educational visionary Rachael Kessler. Her "Seven
Gateways" map a set of yearnings that all young
people have as they try to make sense of their
universe.
Wisdom's
Way: Growing into Spiritual Maturity
Angeles Arrien
Preparing ourselves for the second half of life
may be the most important work we can do. And
yet our culture has little interest in what happens
in our later years. It's time to shift that perspective,
says Arrien, and there are rituals of passage
that can help.
Healing
Ourselves, Healing the World
Rabbi Michael Lerner
The founder of Tikkun magazine wants
to strengthen the connection between our hearts
and how we engage with a world in need. His answer
lies in cultivating a consciousness of compassion
and generosity and recognizing that our own well-being
depends on the well-being of everyone else on
the planet.
From
"Me" to "We": A Community
Group's Transformative Experience
Shirley Freriks
An IONS community group applies some of the principles
of the book Living Deeply to their own
transformational potential. Sharing, storytelling,
and celebration anchored this process of individual
and collective deepening.
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GreenShifting |
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 The
recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal, Richard Louv
identified a phenomenon we all knew existed but
couldn't quite articulate: nature-deficit
disorder. Since its initial publication,
his book Last
Child in the Woods has created a national
conversation about the disconnection between children
and nature, and his message has galvanized an
international movement. Now, three years later,
we have reached a tipping point, with the book
inspiring Leave No Child Inside initiatives throughout
the country. Richard Louv is the co-founder and
chairman of the Children
& Nature Network, which was created to
encourage and support the people and organizations
working to reconnect children with nature.
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Living
Deeply |
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 Living
Deeply is the 2008 Nautilus Gold
Medal Award Winner in the category of
Personal Growth/Psychology!
Go to the Living
Deeply website for updates on upcoming events,
links to recently recorded interviews, and our
Living Deeply eLearning program. If you have not
yet checked out the Living Deeply DVD, it is a
great complement to the book. Whereas the book
is based on commonalities among transformative
traditions, mapping the process of transformation
across traditions and individual experiences,
the DVD provides an opportunity for a window into
nine specific guided transformative practices.
The
Living Deeply Signature Education Workshops
blend the rigors of science with the deep wisdom
of the world's spiritual traditions. Join IONS
research staff Marilyn Mandala Schlitz, PhD and
Cassandra Vieten, PhD as they offer key insights
from the decade-long qualitative and quantitative
research study, of how people transform their
lives. You will learn through the pathways of
rigorous inquiry, group dialogue, and direct experience
about the kinds of transformations in consciousness
that dramatically and permanently change a person's
worldview to one that is more loving, kind, compassionate,
and connected to others.
Workshop
Dates and Locations (details)
- September
13, 2008 - CIIS, San Francisco, CA
- September
19-2, 2008- Ashland, OR
- October
3-5, 2008 - Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
- October
29-30, 2008 - Vancouver, BC
- May
1-2, 2009 - River's Edge, Clevland, OH
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Donor
Spotlight |
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 Donor
Spotlight: Brenda Sanders
"It
started suddenly with an uncontrollable jerk as
I sat on a straight backed chair in a small rustic
cottage in Rio Caliente Resort. Then came a loud
inner roar like the sound of water rushing, followed
by the searing image in my mind's eye of hot white
light shooting up my spine, through my brain and
out the top of my head. The force was so strong
that my head flew backward as my arms flung upward,
fingers splayed and palms raised to the heavens.
Accompanied by a strong, hot dry wind the light
drew me up and out of my body to an expanded universe
where everything was vividly alive, conscious
and interconnected," writes IONS Circle member
Brenda Sanders in "What is Really Real,"
a chapter in Peak Vitality, an anthology
recently released by Elite Books.
If
you would like to learn more about IONS Circle
membership, contact Deborah Breitbach at 707-779-8216.
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Comedy
Corner |
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DEAR
SWAMI
by Swami Beyondananda
"Where
Swami Answers Your Questions - and You Will Question
His Answers" 
Dear
Swami:
I keep hearing that everywhere in America, people are calling for change. My question is, how do we help that change come about, and how do we make sure it is healthy change?
Christy Hannity, Althol, Massachusetts
Dear
Christy:
You're right about people wanting change.
Just today, three guys stopped me on the street
asking for change. I told them swamis don't
carry change, and besides change must come
from within. One of them replied, "That's
ridiculous. If I had any change, I wouldn't
be asking you!"
"Ah,"
I said, "you are experiencing changelessness.
That is the first step." Yes, in order
to have the change we all seek--and change
to spare--we must get in touch with that which
never changes, and that is the love that exists
inside each one of us. For underneath all
the stress and distress and sadness in life
is a deep well of love. And when we allow
this love to flow into our consciousness,
we experience deep wellness.
And
then we have to keep the flow going, by circulating
this love. It's the law of supply-side spirituality:
We're not here to earn God's love, we are
here to spend it! And the more love we spend
freely, the less we will hear cries for small
change and the more we will experience the
big change we have always dreamed of.
©
Copyright 2008 by Steve Bhaerman. All rights
reserved. Swami Beyondananda -- and his hilarious
books and CDs -- can be found online at http://www.wakeuplaughing.com/
Ask
Swami your own question. Send it here.
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Monthly
Intention |
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July
Intention:
At
the beginning of each month, we encourage you
to take a quiet moment to link your intention
with people around the world.
This
month our intention is to develop our ability
to hold fast to our core essence in the midst
of change.
July
Action:
This month, we encourage you to
get in touch with the core essence of who you
are, both to bring your unique set of gifts, talents,
and resources to all the activities you engage
in toward manifesting your vision for your life
and our collective lives, and to help you ride
various unsettling changes in life. Like the eye
of the center of the storm, your core essence
is calm and at peace. When you can access this
place of inner calm and experience its sweetness,
you will find that external events have less influence
on your inner state. Find ways this month to connect
with your core essence as both a refuge, and the
center of your authority and strength.
This
month's intentions were contributed by Lisa
Vanderboom.
If
you would like to offer an intention for next
month, please send it here.
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