Archive for the ‘Holistic Living’ Category
23/02/2010
By D.R. Richards,
Learning to live with an Open Heart, Part I
Martha and Don Rosenthal
I first met Don and Martha Rosenthal about 10 years ago when I enrolled in a monthly meeting of “Awakening Together” sessions here in New Hampshire, where couples meet to witness, listen, talk and learn vital life skills in relating to one’s partner. The group was started 18 years ago and a few of the original couples are still continuing today. Other couples have naturally come and gone. Indeed, the gathering is more about becoming a more fully realized human being, about living in the present, than how to only relate better to one’s partner. It’s about learning to love unconditionally with all who come across one’s path. At least this has been my experience of the meetings and the work.
Amanda and I just completed the Rosenthal’s Awakening Together couples retreat” at their country farmhouse in central Vermont, as a proactive approach to building a good foundation for our marriage. We’re so glad we committed to going to the Rosenthal’s for the weekend. We are also enrolled in the once monthly group mentioned above, but the weekend was a “full on” laboratory for personal disarmament.
The Rosenthal's "Learning to Love"
Six couples of various ages and socio-economic backgrounds attended the weekend retreat. Amanda and I were blown away not only with the wonderful format and top quality information covered, but with how both Don and Martha walk their talk, not to mention their well versed articulation and perceptions of participant’s situations. In fact, if you haven’t heard of Don Rosenthal, I expect you will as his reputation will most likely grow . His book and his way of being in the world is direct and heart felt. In short, he walks his talk.
We suggest this as one of the best, if not the best, couples workshops a couple can attend. It is mostly advertised by word of mouth, so I thought I’d post this today. I will write more about our weekend in Part II.
From their website:
Don and Martha began their 31-year journey together in Alaska, where they lived in a remote cabin and explored the quiet life together. Emerging after some years, they moved to the coast of California where they began what has now been more than two decades of counseling couples and individuals. Don received training in psychotherapy and began a career as a counselor. Martha studied mind/body/spirit connection with various teachers and developed a private healing practice. They have a son, now grown, whom they home-schooled.
Don's Second Book
In 1989 Don and Martha moved to rural northern Vermont, and shortly thereafter began offering weekend workshops for couples. Through word-of-mouth these soon expanded to a wide circle, becoming the core of their work. In addition, Martha leads meditation retreats for women and works with couples and individuals privately; Don offers consulting to individuals and couples, fundamentally as a form of spiritual guidance. Don and Martha view their own relationship, with all its trials and wonders, as the testing ground and measure of their teaching. They are co-authors of Learning to Love: From Conflict to Lasting Harmony.
For more information on their work, or the weekend workshops see their website.
Editor’s Note: Another book “The Unquiet Journey” is a book of reflections, written by Rosenthal that provides the philosophical and spiritual context for his later publications. Many readers have found it valuable.
To Be Continued in Part II
Tags:Amanda Richards, Awakening Together, Corinth, Counseling, couples workshop, Dexter R. Richards, Don and Martha Rosenthal, Inner Work, Learning to Love, Open Hearted Listening, Randy Richards, The Uncharted Journey, Vermont, Weekend for Couples
Posted in Experiential Education, Focus on MSI People, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, MSI News | 2 Comments »
28/01/2010
Media Violence and the Cultivation of Fear
A new film based on the late George Gerbner’s groundbreaking analysis of media influence and media violence
MEA's Mean World Syndrome
In A New Heaven New Earth, Eckart Tolle says that violence for violence sake is the pain body‘s way of seeking food. Violent films are made by pain bodies for pain bodies to view. He also wrote, however, that if a film, such as a documentary or drama about the Vietnam war or World War II for example, use violence to illustrate the madness of the human mind, to wake us up to the insanity of the egoic mind, then violent depictions can have a role in showing us a way to becoming more fully conscious. I’m still on the fence about Tolle’s comments. Meanwhile, the highly respected Media Education Foundation has just produced a new DVD called Mean World Syndrome.
“In an era dominated by simplified assumptions about the impact of television violence, Gerbner insisted on a broader perspective and a sharper analysis, arguing that the primary impact of the media was to reinforce, not to challenge, the structure of power.”
– Larry Gross, Director, USC Annenberg School of Communication
For years, debates have raged among scholars, politicians, and concerned parents about the effects (more…)
Tags:Cultivation of Fear, Eckhart Tolle, George Gerbener, Larry Gross, Mean World Syndrome, Media Education Foundation, New World, Pain Body, USC Annenberg School of Communication
Posted in Books, Film/DVD, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work | Leave a Comment »
28/01/2010
U.S. FDA’s Curious Statement on Carton of Milk
Perplexing labeling re: BGH
We were pulling a small carton of light cream from the fridge tonight and noticed a perplexing statement on Oakhurst’s container. On the one hand, there’s a banner under the logo stating “America’s 1st Farmers’ Pledge, No Artificial Growth Hormones Used”
And then in small print, at the lower left hand corner of the same panel reads, “FDA states No significant difference in milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormone.”
Who are they trying to kid? You can’t fool all the people all the time.
If it’s so safe, why are Americans looking bloated that drink BGH milk. Also why do so many other countries prohibit the sale of BGH milk?
At first we thought it was some sort of trick on Oakhurst’s part. But, on second thought, we concluded it’s another strong-arm tactic of big pharma. I’ll send an email to Oakhurst in the morning and query them as to why there are two apparently contradictory statements on one carton of milk.
Tags:Big Pharma, Bovine Growth Hormone, FDA, Federal Drug Administration, Milk, Oakhurst Dairy, Safe food
Posted in Health, Holistic Living, Room For Improvement | Leave a Comment »
21/01/2010
Another Study Proves It – Live Music: Definitely good for the soul.
By Randall Richards
Images: Mike Heffernan
Fat Hands, creating good vibes, L to R: Walt Kutylowski, Gerry Putnam, Dana Flewelling, and Nic Kutylowski
OK . It wasn’t an official *scientific study, but ask anyone who was there, at Gerry Putnam’s CedarHouse Sound & Mastering recording studio when he hosted his annual music get-together, and they’ll tell you – Their souls felt better after having been there – both musicians and listeners alike. This year, I had the good fortune of being a listener. We had missed most of the day’s party which had started mid-morning, but we certainly weren’t short-changed for music.
The party has been the brainchild of Gerry and recording artist Kathy Lowe as a vehicle to showcase Gerry’s studio for potential recording artists, and to thank past artists who had already done an album (or two, or three) at this heavenly studio, complete with a concert grand Steinway piano, and Gerry’s masterful abilities to engineer top quality albums.
As the night wore on, and most of the day’s musicians had headed home, brothers Walt and Nick Kutylowski, also known as “Fat Hands” sat down and started to do a few numbers unplugged. (The day is usually fully “plugged in”). Then, Putnam pulled up a chair and started picking his classical guitar. Gerry not only recorded and mastered Fat Hands’ two albums at Cedarhouse, but ended up playing lead guitar on them as well. Enter drummer extraordinaire Dana Flewelling, (from Night Kitchen) who usually has a whole “trap set” in front of him. He sat down with a djembe and a set of brushes.
Small but appreciative audience
My wife Amanda and I, Walt Kutylowski’s partner Christy, Mike Heffernan and Kathy Lowe were all that remained of the audience. The rest of the party-goers had all headed home in the cold night air.
The music and energy that happened was nothing short of way cool. They must have played for an hour or more, and we, the privileged few, just sat there taking it in.
Fathands has a few upcoming **gigs but we’re threatening to kidnap them and take them to New Zealand the next time we head down under, and from the sound of it, they might be willing go. Meanwhile, we (at Mountain Spirit Institute) will most likely be offering to put on a house concert or local venue concert for these guys if they’re up for it. They deserve to be heard. Check out Fathands, and Gerry Putnam’s Cedarhouse Sound and Mastering through the links above.
* This is a scientific study about the healing power or music, by the BBC.
** Deerfield CoffeeHouse, NH, April 10 2010, with Gerry Putnam & Kent Allyn
Musterfield Farm, New London, NH USA June 19th, 2010
Thanks to Mike Heffernan for getting his camera out to capture the moment.
Tags:CedarHouse Sound and Mastering, Dana Flewelling, Djembe, Fat Hands Music, Gerry Putnam, House Concerts, Mountain Spirit, Music, Music Healing, Music Therapy, New Hampshire, New London, Nic Kutylowski, Night Kitchen, Sunapee New Hampshire, Walt Kutylowski
Posted in Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, MSI News, Music | 2 Comments »
04/01/2010
Putting World Hunger Into Perspective
From: The Huffington Post
By Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein
Hunger now scars the lives of over 1 billion people — a new record. Today, Monday the 16th, world leaders will gather at a UN food summit in Rome to debate what to do about it. As a former Goodwill Ambassador for the World Food Program, I sense how the meeting may go.
Per capita calorie consumption, nation by nation. By: World Food Program
There will be more media attention on the politicians than on the issues, an abundance of speeches, and a series of oddly fancy luncheons — with more speeches. At a similar luncheon, I remember wondering: Read the rest of this article
Tags:Huffington Post, Mountain Spirit, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, World Food Program, World Hunger
Posted in Conservation, Health, Holistic Living, Room For Improvement, Sustainable Living/Communities | Leave a Comment »
04/01/2010
The Real Story
Too many bottles, The new faux pas
I recently received a flyer in the mail from Food and Water Watch, with the title: “America’s water should belong to each of us, not the companies that bottle and sell it. Not the corporations that want to privatize is. Take the pledge to protect your right to clean safe drinking water. Here’s what I’ve learned.
American consumers drink more bottled water every year, in part because they think it is somehow safer or better than tap water. They collectively spend hundreds or thousands of dollars more per gallon for water in a plastic bottle than they would for the H20 flowing from their taps.
Rather than buying into this myth of purity in a bottle, consumers should drink from the tap. Bottled water generally is no cleaner, or safer, or healthier than tap water. In fact, the federal government requires far more rigorous and frequent safety testing and monitoring of municipal drinking water. Read more
Bottled Water: Illusions of Purity :
Not safer than tap water
Bottled water manufacturers are good at implying things. With glossy ads and labels depicting quiet mountain streams, a consumer is led to believe what they’re drinking is healthier than what comes from the tap. But chances are it’s not. In fact, municipal water is more tightly regulated than bottled water.
(more…)
Tags:bottled water, Environment, Food and Water Watch, Mountain Spirit, take back the tap
Posted in Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, Health, Holistic Living, Sustainable Living/Communities | 1 Comment »
24/12/2009
Shop at Local Brick & Mortar Stores
By R. Richards
I was doing a little shopping at a local store called Artisan’s Workshop in my hometown today. It’s been a long-time fixture of our community and provider of good gifts for many years. Fellow co-founder of Friends of Mount Sunapee, Catherine Bushueff started the store and sold it some years ago. It’s much better than any large chain store could be. While checking paying for my purchase, I saw this flier on the countertop about shopping locally.
The facts about how one can really make a difference by shopping locally caught my eye, and thought I’d pass this along. You can find out more at www.the350project.net
Tags:Artisan's Workshop, buying local, Catherine Bushueff, Friends of Mount Sunapee, Mountain Spirit, New London, Sustainable Communities, the350project.net
Posted in Holistic Living, Sustainable Living/Communities | Leave a Comment »
16/12/2009
Mt. Everest, Dramas and Ticklists..And, Another Way
By R. Richards
Drama in the Mountains
I probably would have had the opportunity when mountain guiding for Alpine Ascents International, to eventually guide on Mt. Everest. Had I the interest to do so, or stayed with the company, that opportunity might have arisen. But I moved away from the classical “guiding life” to return back to my experiential education roots, and started Mountain Spirit Institute.
There seem to be a few **main types of characters in the mountains. The tribe with which I’m most comfortable is the Outward Bound experiential group of students and instructors, who are willing to step out of their comfort zones, “stretch” and allow the place and experience to change them.
Then there’s the N.O.L.S. (National Outdoor Leadership School) student or graduate who tends to be more pragmatic in wanting an experience in just the mountain skills with a touch of “expedition behavior” mixed in and important “leave no trace”.
Then there’s a third group, usually professionals, but not always, who want to tick off another peak, whether it’s one of the seven summits, or Mt. Rainier. They want to say they’ve done it. They’re more interested in the trophy than the experience. (more…)
Tags:Alpine Ascents International, best practices, Communication, Ethics and Guiding, Expedition behavior, Expeditions, Experiential Education, Health in the mountains, High Crimes, Kurt Hahn, Michael Kodas, mountain crimes, Mountain Spirit, Mt. Everest, NOLS, Outward Bound, Willie Prittie
Posted in Books, Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Environment, Experiential Education, Focus on MSI People, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Leadership, Peru, Power of Place, Room For Improvement, Spiritual, Traveling | 2 Comments »
10/12/2009
by Bob Stremba, PhD
MSI Board Member
TV- Not all it's cracked up to be
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled onto the Simple Living Network and was reminded about what’s important in life. I don’t think it’s Thanksgiving day football games on a bazillion inch widescreen flatscreen high def LCD 1080p 120 megahertz TiVo Wifi iPod-enabled TV. What’s important, I’m convinced, is authentic connections to self, others and the environment, and that happens to be what Mountain Spirit Institute (MSI) is all about.
The Simple Living Network has its roots in a movement, which began in the 1970’s with publication of the book, Voluntary Simplicity, by Duane Elgin and Arnold Mitchell. Simple living, according to their website, is about living an examined life—one in which you have determined what is important, or “enough,” for you, discarding or minimizing the rest. Living in a way that is outwardly simple and inwardly rich. So I recently cleaned out some closets, donated more clothes to the local thrift shop, and got rid of more clutter. More stuff brings more stress.
Weaving in Willoc, Peru
It struck me that Mountain Spirit Institute is doing today what voluntary simplicity launched over 30 years ago. The values at the heart of a simpler way of life are…
1. Material simplicity: Owning and buying things that promote activity, self-reliance, and involvement, rather than items that induce passivity and dependence.
2. Human scale: A preference for human-sized living and working environments, rather than institutions and living environments that are anonymous, incomprehensible, and artificial.
3. Self-Determination: Less dependence upon large, complex institutions whether in the private sector (the economy) or public sector (the political processes); a desire to assume greater control over one’s personal destiny and not lead a life so tied to installment payments, maintenance costs and the expectations of others.
Field/Lake near Chinchero, Peru
4. Ecological Awareness: The interconnectedness and interdependence of people and resources. This awareness often seems to extend beyond a concern for purely physical resources to include other human beings as well. A preference for living where there is ready access to nature.
5. Personal Growth: For many persons taking up a materially simple way of life, the primary reason is to clear away external clutter so as to be freer to explore the “inner life.” (more…)
Tags:Bob Stremba, Chinchero, Duane Elgin and Arnold Mitchell, Experiential Education, Fort Lewis College, Huaraz Peru, Mountain Spirit, Peru, Simple Living Network, Voluntary Simplicity
Posted in Books, Experiential Education, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Power of Place, South America, Spiritual, Sustainable Travel, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
30/11/2009
The Ripple Effect of One Couple’s Decision
By Randall Richards
Salatin Family Farm
Because William and Lucille Salatin decided to moved their young family to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and purchase a worn-out farm, they had the choice of how they were going to manage the farm.
Because they decided to “use nature as a pattern” in their farming practices, they established a way of farming that worked for them, the land, and the animals they raised.
Because they began using innovative ideas on how to farm sustainably in the early sixties, they knew what worked for them. (more…)
Tags:Food Inc, Fresh, Joel Salatin, Mountain Spirit, Polyface Farm, Sustainability, Sustainable Farming, Sustainable Living/Communities, William and Lucille Salatin
Posted in Animals, Conservation, Environment, Film/DVD, Health, Holistic Living, Leadership, Sustainable Living/Communities | 1 Comment »
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