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 7 Apr 2005 @ 01:40
Peter Jennings announced that he was joining with 10 million other lung cancer victims and beat this thing. My wife had her left lung removed 3 years ago along with some nodes and went through the chemo and radiation therapy for several months. She was fortunate that a small tumor was discovered in her lung while undergoing gallbladder surgery, so catching these cells early is important.
Everything in her body looked so good, for about 3 years, with positive reports from all of the body scans, but my partner suggested to her oncologist that she should also receive a brain scan. Sure enough, the body scan showed a small tumor, just under her skull. So, she chose to have the tumor surgically removed. It was a successful operation and she came home, feeling pretty good, following a couple of days in intensive care.
On April 1, my partner received the Gammaknife radiation treatment. This is very high tech radiation treatment that focuses on the surgical spot and/or if other cancer cells are detected, they shoot gamma rays for several minutes into these areas. The team consists of a physicist who sets the parameters, the oncologist and surgeon. The nursing staff were well trained and stayed with us throughout the experience. The real downside for us was having my partner wear this head brace, screwed into her skull in 4 places. She wasn't given any real pain medication for this procedure. Perhaps the worst part of this treatment was arriving in the hospital at 5:00am. We left home at 4:00am to make the trip from Las Cruces, NM to El Paso, TX.
We had to wait 4 hours for the surgeon to arrive and push the button on the radiation machine.
I can tell you for certain that the "Laying-on-of-Hands" exercise worked perfectly during this time. Lou was most comfortable sitting in a chair so I rested my hands on her shoulders for much of the time while we observed and experienced the unity of our breath and of our being. The Power of Touch andLearning to breathe
After the treatment, Lou was unscrewed and freed of this contraption. There was some blood on the bandage that she held on her head, so the treatment obviously penetrated her skin. We were given a room and after about an hour, we headed for home.
I learned that my partner is determined to beat this cancer thing. She has been through more medical interventions than a human should ever have to endure in a life time. She just gets stronger following each challenge and intrusion. We are having a great life right now and every moment with Lou is very precious.
Pain Management and Pain Advocacy More >
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 17 Mar 2005 @ 14:42
Christiane, my daughter, wrote this poem many years ago. I don't have the date, perhaps a fifth grader, but she was obviously aware of what was happening in our world then. As a professional social worker, Christy works with teens, at risk, in Colorado's "I have a Dream" program. Obviously, I am very proud of her work and devotion in helping our next generations preserve their dreams and help them bring their aspirations to realization. I have a dream foundation
Our Tomorrow by Christy Vest
As I look out this window
I can imagine our World tomorrow.
A chill runs up my spine
And my heart fills with sorrow.
Whatever happened to love?
Where is all of the cheer?
I think about this,
As I wipe away a tear.
Tomorrow is upon us
Fear is in my heart.
As the war we have, love and hate,
Quickly begins to start.
Bring love to our World
Even if for just one day.
Fight for our World of Tomorrow
Fight for love today.
Thank you Christy for keeping your dreams alive and for working with others to help them improve the quality of their lives, health and relationships. I love you. Dad
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 27 Feb 2005 @ 19:02
In my earlier articles, I describe the "use of Safe, Skillful and Appropriate touch" as a means for improving the quality of life health and relationships with individuals, families, communities and with others on our planet.
On Friday, I again introduced our touch program to soldiers and spouses at our monthly stress management/health promotion program at Ft. Bliss, TX. It is always delightful and amazing for me to see the relief on the faces of our blessed soldiers during this three-hour program.
I am hopeful that I can recruit more allies or partners to use our 15-Minute StressOut Program. Recently, one of our NewCiv members from India indicated an interest in our process for certification. However, anyone can give and receive this method or intervention without completing additional requirements as a free public service.
Our protocol or step-by-step instructions are available on my webpage so just record them on your tape deck, put some cool music on and enjoy the experience with your partner.
[link]
As you proceed through the experience of healthy touch, it is important for both the giver and receiver to be aware of their breath. One of my favorite teachers,Tarthang Tulku, describes a very sensible and practical approach to finding balance in our life and relationships while being observant of our breathing and our touch.
Our breath and heartbeat are natural monitors of tension: their rates tend to increase when we feel agitated and tense, and slow down as we relax. Because of this interconnection, we can use the rise and fall of the breath and rhythm of our heartbeat to penetrate tension and anxiety. By simply focusing gently on breathing, we can slow the breath and allow it to find its own natural movement. Knowledge of Freedom - Time to Change More >
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 16 Feb 2005 @ 14:23
During a recent visit with my grandkids, I introduced them to the Tarot. Beau (5) and Ariana (7) were fascinated with the colors, symbols and images that these cards(Waite version)represent.
During my early studies and search for meaning of the Tarot, I learned that the Minor Arcanas represented our ego's process or personality development, while the Major Arcanas show us the parallel journey of our spirit or essence. We begin and continue our journey as the Fool. We can see how we, as humans, evolve and mature and hopefully, at the conclusion of our trip, we have knowledge, wisdom, love and truth integrated into our lives and relationships.
I initially introduced this game as representing our life experience as it unfolds in the 4 suits--Wands(learning), Pentacles(wisdom), Cups(love), and Swords(truth). The kids took the lead by drawing a card from the deck and describing the meaning it had for them. I fully accepted whatever their perception allowed so that they freely expressed their point of view.
It was particularly interesting to me that they could identify experiences with their cards and also report some of their beliefs stimulated by them. For example, I drew both the Death and Devil cards early on and both Ari and Beau indicated that they did not like them and asked me to pull them from the deck so that we could deal with them later. In fact, Beau bent the corners on them so that he wouldn't draw them ever. We laughed about these fears as the game progressed over the week.
I was able to let them know that I am still processing some of my experiences represented by the cards so they are free to openly share what comes to their minds. We held four sessions which lasted about two hours each. It was also amazing to me that they could sustain such an interest in the cards. Daeja(3)was not interested at all in what we were doing and her brother and sister seemed to understand that she was too young to understand or appreciate this game.
During our final session, we lay the Minor Arcanas out on the floor by each suit, starting with the King, Queen, Knight and Page followed by the X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II and Ace. I invited them to select the cards that they most identified with. Ari chose all of the A's and decribed what she experienced with each. Beau had a mixed selection of Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
I recognize that there are many and varied interpretations and use of the Tarot. I believe that this is a good tool that can be used in learning and in understanding how we evolve as human beings. Also, the kids seemed to appreciate that we also learn from the problems we face and beliefs that we have while growing and maturing.
Tarthang Tulku, author, Knowledge of Freedom - Time to Change, describes healthy changes for our being:
To rid ourselves of pretense, we would need to integrate the face we present to the world with our real feelings; we would need to learn how to resolve inner conflicts between what we are and what we feel we should be. We would also need to understand how the ego manifests, the origin and nature of desires and emotions, and how all of these factors influence our judgment. We would need to understand the nature of relaxation and concentration and learn to protect ourselves from negativity. Ideally, we would gain a sound foundation for self-understanding as part of our early education, before negative patterns were deeply entrenched. (p. 165)
As we discuss consciousness, I often observe how I touch others throughout the day. I listen to my voice, inside and out, so that I can see where my tensions are located. I frequently remind myself to observe my breathing and notice its fullness or lack there of. When I experience a pain in various parts of my body, I invision a color representing the system and breathe deeply into 'it'. Then I invite my massage partner to spend some extra time massaging this area. I would like to hear from others who 'awaken divine consciousness.' Integrative Health Forum
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 1 Feb 2005 @ 19:57
As I grow older I begin to "see" that I have been stuck in my serious nature for far too long. I allow too many things to bother me and prevent me from being happy, joyful and creative. During these past two elections, while observing the Bush administration's policies and their enormous greed, I have watched with disbelief their war on Iraq, the subsequent loss and injury of our service men and women, and the killing and wounding of thousands of innocent civilians, all which add up to an incredible burden that is nearly impossible to manage.
However, I learned early on, during my meditation practices, that having such negative energies running around in my head only blocked creativity, health, and well being. Like many or most of you here in the NewCiv Network, I joined social action and justice groups, demonstrated and spent much energy appealing to our 'leaders' to find new solutions for peace, justice, prosperity for all, and equality. I don't know how much influence these actions have had on this current group and am beginning to feel that it is more frustrating than productive.
On another note, I have learned to enjoy and play again as my grand children won't have it or me any other way. We drum, dance, sing, tell and read stories, create art forms, and give up my adult power and control mechanisms. It is so refreshing to be with innocent children who are filled with love, joy, and happiness.
I say to our leaders--stop being so rigid and give up the ideas you have about yourselves and the world around you. Play with your children and grandchildren and allow them to teach you to have an "open mind" -- experience balance and freedom from pain and suffering, power and control.
A child does not doubt. He has implicit faith in his parents. He has implicit faith in everyone he comes across. We also can play the same role in our day to day life. Let us play with God, the Divine Child. There can be no shadow of doubt in our life when we speak, when we eat, when we move around, if we feel that we have a Divine Child within us, sporting with us. We are not alone. There is someone playing with us at every moment. If we know and feel this, then doubt can never eclipse our mind.
Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy Article
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 28 Jan 2005 @ 01:05
Touch News - We value safe, skillful and appropriate touch
by
Jerry Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
I invite you to respond to this discussion on the use of touch as a means for maintaining our health and wellbeing as individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and nations.
"Touch" or physical interaction is an essential subject for discussion; however, parents, teachers, and professionals rarely mention touch and are fearful and perhaps uninformed about Dr. Ashley Montagu, the power of touch, and his description of "The Human Significance of the Skin." In his chapter on 'growth and development' Dr. Montagu makes a convincing argument about touch - Touching, (1986), Harper & Row, p. 283).
...in every branch of the practice of medicine, touching should be considered an indispensable part of the doctor's art. As a member of a family, the doctor should know what the human touch is capable of achieving in soothing ruffled feelings, in assuaging pain, in relieving distress, in giving reassurance, in making,in short, all the difference in the world. The world of humanity is the family writ large, and on a smaller scale the relationship seen in the family holds true between patient and doctor.
[Love, Montagu says earlier, is the ability to communicate to others your profound involvement in their welfare, is that you will never commit the supreme treason of letting them down whenever they most stand in need of you, and that you will minister to and encourage the growth and development of their potentialities. That's love.] (Ashley Montagu, Touching - The Human Significance of the Skin)
[link]
Of course this applys to social workers, parents, and teachers as well. In a recent article in our university student newspaper, an educational student, stated that he and others should receive a tuition refund as their classes are so boring. In other words, 'stop torturing us with your dull lectures!'
Let's not Lose Touch with our Touch
There are many ways of touching our students mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually--touch from a holistic perspective. I introduce 'mindfulness' in the classroom and ask students to design a 'health care-plan' during their semester so that they can sustain a high level of interest and enthusiasm for learning. Our graduate and undergrad students are introduced to our 'stressout ' in the introduction to practice course and in special topics. Breathing exercises to balance the body, mind, and emotions are practiced in class so students can have tools for maintaining their whole being and developing vitality. See Oscar Ichazo, Master Level Exercise -Psychocalisthenics for a complete description of this dynamic program. We won't be bored if we learn how to be conscious and in the present moment. We can learn from everything and everyone when we see that We are One.
I am interested in how others use touch in their life and practice or even may disagree with the premise that touch must be incorporated in professional and family education to develop and support the whole being. The fact is, humans need healthy, respectful, and loving touch.
We offer the "stressout program" as one approach to support the need for touch and to reduce stress, anxiety and depression that are prevalent in our society and with our human family.
Does Research Guide our Practice?
Research, for example, informs us that premature infants who are touched and lightly massaged by care givers during their stay in the hospital nursery gain weight faster and leave the hospitals sooner than those not regularly touched. There is no better stress or pain reliever for the birth mother than the use of touch as well.
There are numerous studies and examples of the use of touch that have led me to appreciate and encourage the use of safe, skillful, and appropriate touch in every social system in our society, starting with the family. Our Code of Ethics offers us guidance on the use of touch that includes cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Our program includes clearly designed boundaries and the "Ethical Guidelines" for the Safe Use of Touch that protects givers, receivers, and agencies. All of our participants complete an evaluation of their experience and we have never had a complaint about any of our partners. This is remarkable considering that these team members have given over 20,000 "stressouts" during the past 20 years.
TRI is an Amazing Research Center
Every professional, student, and parent interested in learning about human development and behavior should visit the Touch Research Institute (TRI), University of Florida, Pediatric Center. Dr. Stephanie Field has organized, administered, and published numerous research articles and books on just about every illness that you can imagine. Her reason for developing this institute is to make our medical 'care' system, especially physicians, aware of the value and power of touch for healing and for primary prevention.
Soldiers and their Partners Love our Stressout Program
For the past 20 years I have been developing and administering programs and studies with numerous health, education, military, welfare, elder care, and other systems to inform and invite them to experience the 'power of touch united with the vitality of the breath' for improving their quality of life, health, and relationships.
Every human being needs touch in a healthy, loving, and respectful way. We will never forget the changes that are taking place in our society as a result of 911. Violence, hatred, and greed have changed the fabric of our society. We may well be the 'land of the free' and 'home of the brave', but we are experiencing a new era of terror and fear. How will our children and families survive and respond to these stressful times?-- hopefully with healthy, loving, and respectful touch and with our 15-Minute StressOut Program.
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<< Newer entries Page: 1 2 3 4 |
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In these articles, I introduce the basic need for human touch. While there is strong evidence that our society and human family are becoming an endangered species, many governments, such as the USA, pay little, if any attention, to global warming, nuclear stock piles, environment, natural and economic disasters, poverty, abuse, neglect, pandemic health diseases, and growing military-industrial monopolies.
While many of us are aware of these pending and current disasters, organizations such as New Civilization, are hoping to awaken humanity through mindfulness, virtual interaction on the Internet, and forming healthy, respectful alliances to make a difference and change the direction we are heading.
Our health promotion team is a small effort, but hopefully an expanding opportunity, to awaken individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and commuities to an awareness that touch, respect and love are basic human needs for survival and wellbeing.
Obviously, there are serious considerations for being circumspect and skillful in offering touch as a conscious intervention in the workplace or in a family environment. Guidelines for the safe use of touch include:
- providing the option for participants to self-administer our program;
- receiving permission to touch and reminding participants that contact is always in safe areas;
- having witnesses or partners present;
- teaching the activity to others so that they can be the givers of the stressout program;
- encouraging participants to use the teaching video and study guide (Vest,1995)if the worker chooses not to make physical contact.
Join with us in advancing the use of healthy, respectful and loving touch throughout the world. We are One. |
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