Message from a supporter

“Welcome back! Glad you have Re - -Turned!”

This message came to me in an email today from one of New Horizons supporters. Short as it was, it prompted me to respond with the following comments. I liked what came of it. My response might be of general interest here and/or useful to Possible Human, Possible Society Study participants.

My response is as follows.

Dear “Anonymous”

Please feel free to forward this message.

Thank you for your email message. I am grateful that you chose to offer me your perspectives on my present "Great Turning."

My response to your message follows.

I invite you to continue the dialogue that connects us and your view from outside and mine from the inner. I do, also, have some perceptions of the outer as well as input from others. Continuing to converse in meaningful, growth producing ways such as in Possible Human, Possible Society Study interviews, our Think Tank, storytelling and New Horizons Small “Zones of Peace” Project group presentations and programs are keys to this unfolding dialogue in the thinking paradigm of New Horizons.

“Turning,” as I am meaning it in my “Tis A Gift To Be Simple” article, is a spiritual discipline, luv. So I have not re-turned to anything, physically from anywhere. I am where I always am, physically, and, yet, still I am “turning” spiritually. On the physical plane, one need only reach out to me, personally, to get a personal response as you are receiving here.

Please re-read the “Tis A Gift To Be Simple” article and postings from both blog sites to pull forth additional conversation points.

As I live my life as a shaman, journeying endlessly from earth plane to the ethers, this does not always allow me to write for public presentation. Meditation and contemplation are timely pursuits. However, I am delighted to have been missed and will always do my best to respond to individual requests to the best of my ability and as quickly as I can.

Absence of my blog postings is not a sign of my leaving. Should this be otherwise, such as in the case of medical emergencies etc., Sue or Lisa, my board members, would no doubt, if appropriate, let people know.

I am regretful if it seems I have gone away, please let me know what else you might need from me and I will do what I can to accommodate, if I am able.

In terms of the study, we are now requesting college interns to assist us and the formation of an advisory board to assess study findings. Volunteers from our base of study participants have also been requested, but so far have no takers. Much is to be studied and assessed as this study and our various Small "Zones Of Peace" Project are enormous undertakings, needing as much support as possible at this time.

Please do use the blogs for your information gathering, though daily or even consistent weekly postings are not possible at this time without the assistance of volunteers. We are in the midst of a very revealing study and data gathering with our Possible Human, Possible Society Study.

The study in now beginning Round 2 of its mission. Approximately 70 people have so far been interviewed; some only briefly, others in-depth. Round 1 means the first year cycle of the study process. Round 1 with addendums for various phases completes August 30. Round One with its various additions included:

• Serene Survivor Inventory
• Lifestyle and History Inventory
• Peace Buddy Inventory
• Community Unity Building Inventory
• Addendum, Labor Day, 2012

There is still much research to do ahead with both new participants and those already onboard. However, we are pleased to announce that all present participants will soon be eligible to receive a draft copy of our submission, if permitted, to Murat's new forthcoming book, Ahmsta Kebzeh: The Science of Universal Awe, Volume II, due out, likely, before the end of the year.

We will await permission from Murat's administrative office for this before we proceed, however. So please be patient and plan to buy your early copy of the entire book as soon as it goes on sale.

An obligation will accompany receipt of this manuscript by present study participants. The obligation will be that the submission entitled "Doing Our Love" is read, contemplated and discussed as a teaching tool, one on one or in coming Think Tank meetings or other Small "Zones of Peace" Project programs (i.e. the Bus Ride Story Adventure series etc.). This will allow current participants to continue their active participation in the study, if they choose and go deeper and deeper, higher and higher with us as possible humans building a possible society.

Current plans suggest, of course, that all study participants to date are appreciated for their contribution. However, only a select 20% in each of the four categories will be included for ongoing data collection. If you, or any of the people you introduced me to, wish to be included in the 20% from the to date participants, please let me know.

Anastasia

Tis A Gift To Be Simple

I am turning. And, whatever that means, it feels quite awesome! Of this I am certain. The dictionary defines “turning” as the act of altering one’s position, changing or rotating. But how am I changing, I wonder.

This Great Turning of mine began as I stood, face-to-face, presenting my piece to our audience/guests at the Abkhazian Dinner. If I asked them to tell me what they saw then and perhaps before and after, could they tell me what they witnessed? Could those who bore witness help me now to know? Was there some kind of magic afoot such as the goddess or Merlin could create or a Houdini-like act taking place? Who can tell me? I wish I knew.

From "Turning..
The Great Whirtling Dance"

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim

Whatever it is and was is truly momentous, nothing I will ever easily forget. So here I am, now, five months and one day past that event that was far more than the simple occasion billed, knowing full well that I have significantly changed my position – whatever it was -- if I stay true to the definition. But from what to where I cannot tell. Clarity eludes me.

Ever my traveling companion on my ongoing hike up the Mountain of Awe, Sue offers me the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts," as an image. (I/we often reach the peak of our mountain ascent. And soon after another trek seems to take us to a new starting point and a fresh climb begins once more.

The song was originally written “by Elder Joseph.” The lyrics are below: Soon after finding the words to the song on the internet, the gentle lyrics and tune began turning round and round in my heart and my head. They haven’t yet stopped. Perhaps they are my simple gift for today, elegant as simplicity can often be.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.”

I cannot quite see the path ahead of me on this turning. Yet I find myself “in the place just right.” From what I can see, I envision myself turning from face-to-face with our Abkhazian Dinner audience/guests to about half way round now, heading to wherever it is that I will stop when this cycle completes.

Of major importance to what is presently occurring is Murat’s new forthcoming book, Ahmsta Kebzeh: The Universal Science of Awe, Volume II. So please stay tuned to what will happen next in this regard. Whatever is ahead must surely be in the realm of “awe.”

Sue and I have just submitted an article for the book. We look forward to its publication some time before year’s end. This can be no accident. Our Abkhazian Dinner was about honoring Murat. Now this book publication is not far off and we are included in it! Surely, on our horizon as we, once again, scale our Mountain of Awe (which we are blessed to have a definitive map for climbing, as it happens, from Murat), magic is afoot.

One must certainly take note of this bit of wonderment. Wouldn’t you say?

That’s where my writing time has been for most of the past month; authoring our article for the book (Topic: “New Horizons Bus Ride Story Adventure,” written by Murat Yagan.) I hope I was missed here. I certainly missed being here. .I was absent, as well, from the New Horizons Small “Zones of Peace” Project blog.

But I am back now, hoping to be welcomed, with every anticipation of offering interesting updates that will soon come forth from New Horizons present behind the scenes activities; reports on the Possible Human, Possible Society Study, our Bus Ride Story Adventure plans and what our being included in this book means for us and more.

The Basement Stairs

Anastasia’s Story

I am five years old, sitting on the basement steps, wondering. My mommy and daddy are right before me arguing while I sit there—on the basement stairs, second or third from the bottom. I don’t recall ever having seen arguing before, upset, conflict, division, chaos, upheaval.

Mine is a world of order, unity, practical day-to-day doings, comings and goings; family, community, participation in life, mostly lively and happy. A few tears now and then, nothing very big as I think back on it now.

But now in this moment, something different, bringing confusion to my child mind, just as I am entering an age and stage where I am beginning to wonder, am called to consider, as I sit here on the basement stairs, the meaning of things. So I ask myself, “What am I to do with what I am watching here?”

After all, we had only come down here to the basement to work on mommy’s canning closet. A brief family time of seeing the pears and the peaches on the shelves daddy built. And, of course, the pickles, bread and butter pickles, and always lots of kosher ones with dill.

I watch now – mommy and daddy – upset, arguing, angry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anger before. Certainly not between mommy and daddy, maybe once or twice at me but I forget. This I will remember.

Who am I that is sitting here watching this upset?

Who are they? Still mommy and daddy?

And, of course, almost biggest for me – what am I supposed to do here?

Later I will know. And what I know will become New Horizons’ Small Zones of Peace” Project and the Possible Human, Possible Society Study.

At least as far as I can figure it out for now.