My dear friend Susan, and fellow GAIA friend as well, is seeking mentors in her sustainable community development studies. I know there are lots of you out there that might be able to help her out, so I offered to spread the word a bit. She's a very amazing, passionate and intelligent womyn...if you chose to mentor her I am positive you would receive many benefits as well. One of the characteristics of  Whole Health, as I see it, is environment, meaning the physical environment we find ourselves in most often. Sustainable community is the most viable way to create a healthy environment from this perspective, that I can see. Susan's studies, and future work that will be born from that, is important and valuable.

This is her "seeking mentors" statement.

I am an environmental studies student in the distance learning program of Prescott College looking for course mentors.  My area of focus is sustainable community development, and community organizing.  I specifically need mentors for courses based on ecology, environmental ethics, eco-psychology, eco-economics, and sustainability.  Also of interest is anyone with a background in community development, assessing the needs of a community in regards to sustainability, and environmental policy making.

    Basically, the program I am in involves designing my own coursework with a mentor and is a very experiential based learning model.   A mentor would be required to meet with me via phone or in person at least once per week for 3 or 4 months per course, would evaluate the work I do, and help in advising me throughout my course with feedback and support.

    Why be a mentor?  If you are passionate about your area of expertise and enjoy sharing knowledge, this is an ideal situation for you.  If you are involved in community projects that are connected to my coursework, I can help you as part of my study contract. This is an opportunity for you to serve your local and intellectual communities.  Mentors are also considered adjunct faculty to Prescott College, and are paid an honorarium for their time.

    Mentor requirements:  Teaching experience and knowledge of academic resources in the course subject area.  A graduate degree is helpful, or some depth of expertise in your field.  You have a small amount of time to commit to up to 4 months of once per week meetings.  You know how to apply knowledge to action and real life situations.

    If you are interested in being a mentor, please contact me. For more information about the mentor program, or if you are interested in becoming a mentor in general for Prescott College, go to www.prescott.edu, click on “current students”, then click on the ADP link  (adult degree program)  and you will find links about both mentoring and the program.

    If you don't have the requirements, but do have knowledge to share, I am also interviewing people with backgrounds in environmental studies, community organizing, sustainability and sustainable development.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.

I wish Susan the best of luck in her studies and future. She continuously inspires me with her passion and  insights. She's a great friend to have.

                                                                  The big day is quickly approaching. Unless you are dead, or simply not paying any attention what so ever, you are aware of the energy building as we approach this monumental time. Since I don't watch any TV, or pay much mind to main stream news, I'm not caught up in the hype factor. For me the energy has more to do with the big questions we are facing as a nation, what's really going to happen (vs what they are hyping us up for), and what will be the result of what happens? My belief is that this is the most important election I will possibly see in my life time.

Living a life of Whole Health incorporates our contribution to the community around us, and places a positive value on the sense of purpose gathered from that contribution. Acting on our given right to vote is a powerful way to contribute to the health of the world around us. I hope each of you will be taking the time to place your vote this coming Tues, Nov 4th and thereby making your contribution, a contribution I might add, that does matter. Get informed. Learn about the propositions and political candidates in your area and know that you are making a difference.

In the meantime here is a poem I recently came across in the We'Moon calender, by Diane Bergstrom, that really speaks to me right now.

Remind Me
Darkness always births the light.There is no insanity without surfacing reason, Apathy can give way to conviction and action.

Remind me.
There is no suppression with eventual uprising. Public silence unleashes individual voices. Where there is death there must be life.

Remind me.
Where there is waste, growth will be forged. Narcissistic leaders incense empowered communities. Censorship spurs collective voices.

Remind me.
Senseless occupations cause people to question. Unjustified spending arouses investigations. The pendulum always swings.

Remind me.
Hopelessness, despair, intolerance and fear can debilitate. belief, anger, purpose, education, and faith can facilitate. What can I do?

Remind me.

Recently I spent a very wonderful day on The San Pedro River with a dear friend of mine. We haven't hung out together in a long time, for various reasons to detailed to go into here, and it was so wonderful to reconnect.  A perfect desert fall day-not to hot, with clear skies and a soft breeze-gave us a perfect backdrop. And, of course, it is always sweet on the river.

We bushwhacked through some weeds, after walking along an old railroad track for awhile, to find ourselves at a delicious bend in the river. The water was still burbling along clean and clear and there was a grand sand bar just inviting us to sink in, to rest our hearts here, in this spot together. We did. Pulling out snacks, taking off shoes and socks, we began the process of rediscovering a magic that is only ours together.

Six hours later we said goodbye. Our conversation, and the meeting of our hearts, had flowed like the river we sat next to-meandering, gentle, and singing a soft little tune of nourishment to our souls. The leaves in the cottonwood that shaded our little picnic fluttered in the breeze, and there was such a sense of peace that it was very hard to leave.

As I drove away from our meeting spot, leaving a trail of dust behind me, a sense of bittersweet rolled over me. I realized I live in a world where it is not acceptable to share a deep heart connection with someone who is not your "partner", or whatever you want to label that role of your primary intimate, and that in some peoples eyes our beautiful experience together on the banks of the river, on a gorgeous desert day, was "wrong". This leaves me with a heavy heart.

Being a womyn of integrity and responsibility, I know with a fierce pride and deep understanding, that I have the ability to honor necessary boundaries, and I will, as I always have in this case. But I struggle against the yearning to be authentic and honest with my desire to know this person more. He struggles with the same, which is why we haven't seen each other in a long time. It just got to hard to not be in our truth, to be imprisoned by the rules of our culture.

In my culture, in the world I want to create with those that I love, we would be encouraged and supported in our connection, and it would be honored and celebrated, not feared and condemned. Not everyone is there however, although there is quite a movement afoot to change this. This stark reality washes over me like the dust on the road behind me, leaving a dry taste in my mouth and an ache in my heart.

We made a commitment to no longer let our truth have us hide from one another, and to be authentic in our expressions with one another "out there in the world". The truth is though, that due to the rules of society and the circumstances of what is, the fullness and depth of our connection will never be realized. This is not to say that our relationship will not be deep and meaningful, for it already is. It is just to acknowledge that our hearts will be restricted, unless we are able to navigate new levels of understanding and acceptance in the world around us.

This is a tall order, and it is an item that is constantly on my agenda in various ways in my life. I believe the universe is really calling upon us at this time to seriously evaluate how we are in relationship with one another, what roles and boxes we find ourselves in that just don't fit anymore, what the rules of intimacy and connection are, and how we can evolve to a higher level of love.

For myself, I just know that I want to love with out restriction, without anyone telling me who I can love and how much. I want to celebrate those I love loving others, without us getting caught in the traps of jealousy, ownership and possession. I want to experience intimacy and connection in authentic ways, without being bound by rules of what is supposedly appropriate. I want to hug those I love long and hard, and often. And I want to follow my hearts yearnings for exploration without having to hold back.

I want to walk on the river with a dear friend hand in hand and know it is absolutely and completely OK. And when we say goodbye for the moment, I want to leave awash with joy and celebration, not bittersweet sadness.

I recently became inspired to consider what core fundamentals were operating in my life these days, and if they were appropriate for these times we currently find ourselves living in. I discovered that I needed to adjust my thinking in some areas to accommodate for the changes and to make way for continued success in my life and business. I realized that I had indeed been sucked into the fear of "things to come" and that this completely took me out of the present moment, and my ability to enjoy each moment for the wonderous gifts they are.

While there are a lot of things out there to be concerned about, and it is important to stay informed, we do not need to let any of it determine how we show up each day, nor do we need to let any of it ruin our individual bliss. We can lose material possessions, jobs and bank rolls, but we don't have to lose our spirit, our passion, our compassion, our connections with others or our spiritual path.

Knowing the core fundamentals that keep us inspired, hopeful, on track and present to each moment are touchstones to which we can return.

Take a moment to jot down 3-4 items, small catch phrases or affirmations, that provide a foundation for you. You may find, as I did, that you will re-access certain ideas or ways of being so that you can navigate more easily-this is the idea! Allow for these fundamental elements to flow forth from your authentic center-there are no should's or have to's here, only a desire to be more connected to the essence of your "Living Bliss", whatever that is for you.

Here are my 4 core fundamentals that I am currently working with:

* Live with passion and joy
* Trust the process
* Be authentic
* Put yourself out there

What are some of your core fundamentals that can keep you happy and a float these days? I would love to hear what's working for you.

In addition, check out the "Harvesting Hope" teleclass coming up this week...it's a place to go to ignite hope and possibilities in these challenging times.

This is my friend Beth, who has been dealing with enormous adversity, which is completely out of her control, for over a year now. She has consistently maintained a positive attitude, utilizing humor and self growth as a way to get through it all. She is a continual source of inspiration to me.

The adversity of life is one of the richest area for deep learning and positive growth. Of course, how we deal with that adversity is the biggest cause and effect to what we get out of it all.

There are several possibilities for how we can respond. Denial, acceptance, anger, or curiosity are all options and will lead us in a certain direction.

Sometimes just sitting down and having a good cry before we do anything is what we need the most! I use this one often as it seems to be the release valve that I need to get to the more real stuff, to the bottom of what is really going on.

Tip #1-Feel the feelings, then deal with the dealings!

Once the emotion is released, it then becomes easier to think things through and decide what's next. Ask yourself, what is the opportunity here for me? How can this adversity help me to grow, to move me forward, to make me stronger?

Taking it to a deeper level, what is your soul asking of you? How can you utilize this challenge in your life to motivate a necessary transformation in your life?

Tip #2-Take responsibility for all that is yours and do what needs to be done to move on. Learn from your lessons so you don't have to do it again!

Resistance is futile. When we deny the truth of what is really going on we are only harming ourselves. Chaos and challenges are a perfect indicator that it is time to get still and listen to what is asking to be called forth. Is the chaos caused by your resistance to change, accept, embrace, and be real? Or even to just listen to your souls calling?

Adversity, challenges, chaos, change...all of these are the sign posts for transformation, growth and self development. So, go ahead, take a deep breath, be still, feel your feelings and open yourself up to all it has to show you!

  I hope this finds everyone well and in good spirits. There is an event coming up that I want to share with you, and invite you to join. It is a special event for me in that it is born out of my own life experiences and I share it with you in hopes that you may have an easier journey if you find yourself in troubling times.

Life is not always easy, and when those moments arrive that turn our world upside down having resources available and skills already in place to help get us through can be our only saving grace.

"Harvesting Hope", a special tele-class event (meaning anyone, anywhere can attend!), is my offering to you during the Fall Harvest season. If you're finding yourself in need of a little boost, or if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by changes happening, consider joining me on Wed, Oct 15th, for "Harvesting Hope".

What do you do when it seems nothing is going right, and your world is crumbling down around you?

How do you hold on to all that you know is true with out tumbling into despair?

This one hour program will explore the many possibilities in choosing hopefulness and trust, vs fear and depression, and will provide concrete steps to staying strong in the midst of turmoil, chaos or sudden change.

Learn valuable tips for maintaining balance, staying healthy and positive, and how not to let the big stuff bring you all the way down.

Great for those in the midst of transition, suffering a new loss, or challenged by the curve balls life is throwing them.

Oct 15th, 2008
10AM-PST

Go here for more information
Hope to see you there!!

Relationships. You can't live with them, and you can't live without them! Whether it is a lover, a friend, a parent, a sibling, or a co-worker, relationships often challenge us in the practices of compassion, patience and non-judgement.

I've been thinking a lot about what I call the "Dance of Relationships" this past week, and I've been dancing hard! How about you? Would you consider your relationship dances something along the line of the sultry and seductive salsa, or more like a two step that has you tripping over your own feet, or perhaps a sweet waltz?

Within the realm of Whole Health, relationships are a primary category of consideration. They are often where we get stretched and pulled the most, where we bump up against our deepest issues, and where the mirrors get held up for us to be able to look honestly at ourselves. They can be frustrating, infuriating, challenging and maddening. They can also be beautiful, profound, hopeful and wonderfully loving. Either way we have the opportunity to learn great lessons and grow ourselves exponentially.

There are times when I have fantasies of being a hermit in a cabin in the woods somewhere, with no need to interact or engage with others. This is usually when I am feeling pain, anger, or sadness due to a relationship issue with a loved one. Other times I experience my complete connection with others in a way that finds it hard for me to even remember that I have ever felt pain, and completely willing to open up my heart in vulnerable ways.

The truth is, relationships can't exist in a vacuum. We need one another to grow, develop, evolve, remember, and feel. We need one another to tap into that incredible source that feeds all relationships-love, and the desire to love and be loved in return. Even relationships such as with co-workers, or less intimate acquaintances, rely on this element to survive. Love is fed by respect, trust, honesty, truthfulness, caring, compassion and patience.

Take a look at the relationships surrounding you. Are they feeding you? Are they helping you to grow and evolve? Do they validate the beauty that is all of you? Are they supporting your dreams and believing in you? Are they working in collaboration with you, or creating resistance and sucking your energy?

The Dance of Relationships is not an easy one. But when we put our attention to the caring of them, have a clear vision of what we want from them, and are willing to put a little work into them, the rewards can be amazing.

Perhaps it is time to do some inventory of how the relationships in your life either support or sabotage your desire for Whole Health and Happiness. The Fall season, typically known for harvesting, abundance,and letting go, offers an inspiring metaphor.  Choose the tune you want to dance to, and get dancin' with a few good dance partners.  Those that can't hear your tune? Let them go....

This morning I was all ready for a great day of work, and was diligently working on a newsletter that I provide on a weekly basis for my coaching clients. Somewhere along the line I managed to leave the page I was on, and when I returned, all my hard work was gone.

Ya know the straw that broke the camels back?? This was one of those moments. I lost all my work, and then...., I lost it. I kicked and screamed and let the fury of the moment course through my body. Good thing a neighbor was running a very loud weed-wacker, otherwise neighbors would have been very worried about what was going inside my house!

Somehow, this little techno snafu sent me into emotional oblivion. Were my stars not lined up correctly, or is Mar's in retrograde? Maybe menopausal hormones are to blame. Whatever the case, it was quite a visit to the emotional realms of a day gone seriously wrong.

Later in the day, after tears that wouldn't stop and a heart that couldn't be soothed, I had to pull it together for a client's visit. I took a few moments to clear away the negative, heavy energy that swirled around me, knowing that no matter what was going on for me, it was important to be totally present for my client. Luckily, it was a client I love working with-a young womyn who is strongly stepping into her power. Her journey is a gift to witness. During the session we laughed a lot as she excitedly shared with me all of the past weeks wins.

Sometimes life is like that. We get the juice we need to carry on in the most unexpected places. Celebrating her wins helped me to reconnect to the joy of life and realize that things could be a lot worse than losing a bunch of words. Maybe they weren't the right words that my clients needed to receive. Maybe whatever does come out next will be the real healing balm, or point of inspiration, that they really do need. I don't know. I just know that somehow I was beginning to feel better.

In the midst of her session a huge thunderstorm came roaring through, bringing torrents of rain, loud thunder and cracks of lightening. Talk about shifting and cleansing the energy !! The funny thing? I was writing about the healing virtues of nature when I initially "lost" it all earlier in the day!! Just goes to show you that even coaches are human and sometimes reach the end of their ropes. I'm grateful that I am able to experience my feelings, feel them and eventually release them. What a journey it is, eh?

It's raining again and somehow I am ready to re-tackle that project that sent me over the edge this morning. I think I will go stand in the rain first and let it completely wash away all my sorrows of this day just to make sure!!

The other morning I was pondering happiness-what defines it, do we create it or does it just happen?, and the pursuit of it. I decided to check out of what most might consider the primo pursuit-my work, my "job", that which brings me money-and spend some time outdoors, where I tend to gain, if not happiness, at least a sense of grounding and connection to a higher source.

It was a beautiful day, and the normally dry hills behind my house were lush with verdant green life from the abundance of monsoon rains we have gotten this year. The whole high desert seemed to be smiling with happiness. Ocotillo are fat, fresh green leaves shading the normally visible sharp thorns. Prickly Pear is hosting plump fruit ready for harvesting. A plethora of vines crawl across the gravel trail way and several varieties of grasses were swaying in the breeze. Wildflowers dot the landscape with contrasting colors of purple, yellow, pink and white.

The critters were quite prolific as well. Crickets and cicada's of extraordinary color combinations were everywhere, all seeking the next plant to nibble on to satisfy their momentary pursuit of happiness. An unidentified, and rather fat, snake slithered away as I approached a wash, still moist from yesterdays rain. A Horny Toad basked in the sunlight, oblivious to my presence. As a sat under a tree hummingbirds danced above me.

Not everyone who passes through here is able to relish in the natural beauty, for they are on a different pursuit of happiness. I live 3 miles from the Mexico border, and these hills are the passing grounds of UDA's -otherwise known as Undocumented Aliens, as if they were from Mars or something. One area is strewn with clothes, backpacks, toothbrushes, deodorant sticks, kids shoes and various other personal items-left behind to presumably lighten their load, or perhaps the Coyote's require they not carry anything for the next leg of their journey. These journey's they embark on are dangerous, physically challenging, and often life threatening. All in the pursuit of a new happiness. Each time I come upon one of these area's my heart fills with compassion for the people who pass through here and I feel immensely grateful for the abundant life I live, where I am able to freely pursue that which I choose to determine my happiness.

As I sat under the tree, I looked out upon the tailing remains of copper mining in this area. This huge mountain in and of itself obscenely exemplifies how one man's pursuit can severely impact the lives of others. The miners received little pay for their hard work, while the mining company made away with a pretty bundle, leaving the earth raped and destroyed. I wondered how my own pursuits might effect others.

As the day got warmer, and the afternoon thunderheads began to build I wandered slowly back home (and to my work). As I pondered serious questions about my own happiness at this time in my life, it occurred to me how vast is the definition of happiness, and that we all set about our pursuits in a kaleidoscope of possibilities. My happiness might raise someone else's eyebrows, while someone else's pursuits raise compassion and wonder in me, as the many critters, plant beings, and humans that pass through this landscape do.

What brings you happiness? How do you pursue it? Are you living a life of Whole Health by understanding what brings you happiness and actively pursuing it? What happens when you don't? These questions are excellent for long walks in the hills-feel free to leave your computer now and get out there to find out for yourself!

Sometimes it takes longer to get grounded and back on track than expected. After 5 weeks on the road, I was fully ready to be back home, and excited about getting back to the work I love. I anticipated jumping right back into everything with ease and flow. HA! Consequently, it's taken me awhile to get all those little ducks in a row-probably because they are to busy playing in all the rain puddles around here!

Getting off track is easy. Getting back on track can be challenging. It includes a process of re-commitment and desire.



First we need to remember why we are committed in the first place. This re-connects us to our original vision and helps fuel the fires of change.

Next, set some goals. Make them simple. What is one small step you can take that will push you forward?

Start slowly. Don't try to do to much to fast. You will only get overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged. That's not a Winning Game.

Have fun! After all, this is your commitment, you feel passionate about it, it means something to you! Find ways to keep yourself joyfully engaged in the process and you are bound to have success.

Put it on paper. Better yet, tell someone else (like a coach, your friend, or a co-worker). Writing it down, and putting it out there helps the universe to respond in a way that supports your efforts.

Have a way to evaluate your progress. Know where you want to be in a certain amount of time, know what success looks and feels like, and keep track of it!

Reward yourself. You deserve it. You're working hard. Make it worthwhile and celebrate your "wins".

As I get back in the flow of my life and work, it feels good to know that I can re-align to my commitments and jump back into what's important to me, despite a slow start.
If you need a little jump start and support getting back on track yourself, check out the "1-2-3, Let's Get Healthy" program. It just might help your ducks come out of those puddles and line up in a neat little row!