When one endeavors to make major life changes, it is not unusual to experience periods of fear, disorientation, self-doubt and pain. In fact, those feelings are actually quite normal and a sign that one is doing very significant work. We are all creatures of habit and making changes in our patterns can be incredibly difficult. As if to make matters worse, many of us tend to cast judgments on ourselves in the middle of the struggle. I have heard it from clients many times, “What is my problem?!” This should be so easy but I’m really struggling with this.” “I really don’t have any problems, so what is wrong with me?! Why am I feeling this way?” Read the full article.

An "Enlightened Collective"
by Barbara Mader (inspired by "A New Earth" by E. Tolle)

As I was reading Eckhart Tolle’s book “A New Earth” I came to the part about enlightened consciousness and enlightened collectives, it was then I realized that is the direction we are moving toward here at High Mesa Healing Center. And it is an exciting time and place to be , here on planet earth as she moves from the third dimension to the fifth dimension.

Tolle says “As new consciousness emerges, some people will feel called upon to form groups that reflect the enlightened consciousness. These groups will not be collective egos. The individuals who make up these groups will have no need to define their identity through them. They no longer look to any form to define who they are. Even if the members that make up those groups are not totally free of ego yet, there will be enough awareness in them to recognize the ego in themselves or in others as soon as it appears. However, constant alertness is required since the ego will try to take over and reassert itself in any way it can. Dissolving the human ego by bringing it into the light of awareness -----this will be the main purposes of these groups…….Enlightened collectives will fulfill an important function in the arising of the new consciousness. Just as egoic collectives pull you into unconsciousness and suffering, the enlightened collective can be a vortex for consciousness that will accelerate the planetary shift.”

For me this seems to describe the people and the groups that are a part of HMHC.

That is what makes this a strong yet flexible spiritual community in the process of becoming what we came here to be and to do . These are strong individuals who know who they are and what they want out of life. They seem to come to HMHC to meet and work with like minded individuals and to learn and grow on all levels. These strong individuals have created some very strong groups i.e.; the Course of Miracles study group, the wisdom circle, Science of Mind study group, the meditation group, the ITP group and the folks who follow the Native American tradition of the sweat lodge. In these endeavors not only are they enlightened but the community is also enlightened. Being aware of this gives me fresh enthusiasm for this work we are all doing together.

This new awareness gives me the opportunity to look back and see just where I came from since I started this work some twenty years ago. At that time my by line was wholeness, personal and planetary wholeness. I was working out of my suburban home in El Paso, Tx. Having retired from my career in public health nursing I created a business that sponsored seminars and workshops. I also networked the American Holistic Nurses Association and sponsored Healing Touch classes. Then, when I moved to the mountains of Lincoln County my work expanded until I needed to create a healing center, HMHC. A place where I could see my private clients, teach classes and sponsor workshops and seminars. This has all been a process of growth and expansion on all levels. It went from wholeness to oneness to an enlightened collective. I look forward to what the next step might bring, in the meantime I am just enjoying what I am doing and where I am.

Living a Magical Life
by Patti Wigington

People find themselves drawn to Paganism and Wicca for a variety of reasons. Some may be trying to escape some other religion. Others may be looking for a sense of personal empowerment. Still others may realize that the beliefs they've held all along are in tune with those of a Pagan path. Regardless, once you've found your new path, there comes a time when you may ask yourself "How can I make this spiritual system part of my daily life?" Read the full article.

An NPR program from March, 2007 reports:

"Meditation a Hit for Pain Management"

Back in 1979, a biologist at the University of Massachusetts named Jon Kabat-Zinn had an idea. He was trained in the Vipassana tradition of Buddhist meditation, and he had a hunch that if he pared-down the technique, it could help patients at the university's medical center.

"The idea was to actually... train these medical patients in Buddhist meditative practices, but without the Buddhism," says Kabat-Zinn.

"The heart of Buddhist meditation is actually called mindfulness, and our operational definition of it is really paying attention in the only moment we're ever alive — which is the present moment," Kabat-Zinn says.

This can be tough for people living with pain. After all, who wants to be "in the moment" when your joints are aching, your head's throbbing, or you're living with a scary diagnosis? No wonder our first impulse is to run away. Read the full article.