by Phyllis Kennemer
When we are wronged (and we all have been at some point), our first response is generally to feel hurt. The offender “should” apologize. There “should” be some retribution. Quite often, however, the offender feels no remorse and is merrily living life without a backward glance. If we hold on to our resentment and refuse to exercise forgiveness, we are ripe for residency in Victimland. We wallow in how we’ve been betrayed, taken advantage of, left to wither in sorrow. Woe is me!
Living in a state of Victimhood can be pretty miserable, so many of us will give traditional forgiveness a try. We say to ourselves, “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget.” Or we say, “I will both forgive and forget.” Either way, a residual need to condemn remains. What that other person did was despicable. That person is not suffering and I am. I know Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven, but I have put up with so much. Traditional forgiveness does work for some, but the process takes a long time and sometimes requires therapy. Unfortunately, many of those who try traditional forgiveness just move to a different street in Victimland. What would happen if we looked at these alleged “offenses” in our lives as opportunities for spiritual growth, and thought of the “offenders” as helpmates along our life’s journey. Wow! That calls for an entirely different level of consciousness. Is it even possible?
Suspend disbelief for a few moments and consider the implications. Think about the possibility that everything that happens in life has purpose. Perhaps you entered this plane of existence with a spiritual contract containing intentions to learn specific lessons. Your interactions with others are not random. People come into your life to help you fulfill your objectives. If you accept this possibility, then no one ever “does you wrong.” People who aggravate you, as well as those who nurture you, come into your life according to a spiritual plan. Everyone you come in contact with and every event in your life contributes to your spiritual growth. Colin Tipping coined the term “Radical Forgiveness” to describe the process of dealing with life’s challenges and experiences in sacred ways. He defines radical forgiveness as the ability to see the spiritual meaning in any situation, recognizing that life is divinely guided as it unfolds for our highest good. We, thus, surrender to the flow of life and accept that, ultimately, there is nothing to forgive.
Whenever something happens in our lives, we have the “facts” of the event (what actually happened) and the “story” of the incident (the feelings and emotions we create as we deal with the episode). Most of the time, it is our own stories that are causing the misery. If we can let go of the story, we can move into the healing process. Part of Tipping’s philosophy is that people can heal themselves through love. We need to begin with self-love; then we can move on to love for others.
Tipping developed a five-stage process designed to heal relationships, let go of anger and blame, and find peace in any situation. He outlines this process in his book, Radical Forgiveness (Sounds True, 2009).
Five Stages of Radical Forgiveness
Tipping has created a series of workshops and seminars which are available through his Radical Forgiveness Institute based in Atlanta, Georgia. Beginning courses can be completed online; advanced seminars take place in Georgia.
Rena Petty of Fort Collins, Colorado, had a life-changing experience while participating in one of Tipping’s sessions. She has since become a certified Radical Forgiveness Workshop Facilitator and Coach. Petty conducts healing sessions which help people release past grievances and learn to live more fully in present time. She also sponsors game nights using the Satori Board Game designed to help people release old beliefs and create new stories.
Petty assures participants in her sessions that they will not be sharing their personal stories of hurt or injury. She asks them to begin with open hearts. “Trust the process and see what happens,” she suggests. The workshops are designed to shift energy to a higher vibration, she explains. At the conclusion of the sessions, Petty encourages students to use resources that can be downloaded from Tipping’s website to sustain their enhanced energy levels. Based on her own experiences, she affirms, “The worksheets work.” Those who choose to practice radical forgiveness will find that it is an ongoing process. Life continues to happen. We can be prepared for whatever occurs if we maintain a high level of consciousness and if we accept the premise that everything we experience contributes to our ultimate good.
For more information, visit www.radicalforgiveness.com or www.RenaPetty.net.
Dr. Phyllis K. Kennemer is a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator. She is a life-long learner and educator with a specialty in children’s literature.
by Tuula Fai
Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author of Happy for No Reason and Love for No Reason likes to begin her talks with showing a picture of herself at age two. In the photo, she has one hand on her head and a worried look on her face. Shimoff says she was born with “existential angst” and a “deep pain in her heart,” which she tried to fill with food.
At age nineteen Shimoff asked her dad, “What is the secret to life? He said, “Honey, just be happy.” Shimoff asked, “How do I do that?” He thought for a moment and then replied, “Honey, I don’t know.” Her dad didn’t know because he was a naturally happy person. So Shimoff set out to find the answer for herself.
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by Donna Gates with Lyndi Schrecengost
Born in prosperity, harbingers of change, Baby Boomers have made a significant impact on the world. But what will be our final legacy?
It’s been nearly 40 years since the Baby Boomers arrived at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre alfalfa field to attend Woodstock, an outdoor festival that was as much a counterculture “happening” as it was a celebration of music. Area residents didn’t know what to make of these “hippies” in bohemian dress who abandoned their cars and walked for miles to stand before the concert stage. Woodstock’s political provocation, defiance of convention, and back-to-nature innocence would make it one of the defining moments of an entire generation. Now, 78 million strong and approaching retirement, we Baby Boomers are showing few signs of slowing down.
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by Linda M. Potter
I was just notified through my Angry Birds software that I have now accumulated several achievement awards for such notable accomplishments as: smashing 500,000 blocks, busting 1,500 clouds, breaking open 2,000 cages, shredding 300 chocolate boxes, and snow- plowing down 1,500 ice blocks. Wow, I’ve been busy! All in the pursuit of the total annihilation of over 2,000 chubby little cartoon pigs that taunt me with their annoying squeals and rapid-blink eyes. Of course, I’m not really destroying anything — I’m simply assisting the snarly, vengeful birds out to take down the pork industry one little piggy at a time.
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Brent Hunter
“We have the opportunity to build a Rainbow Bridge into the Golden Age. But to do this, we must do it together with all the colors of the rainbow, with all the peoples, all the beings of the world. We who are alive on Earth today are the Rainbow Warriors who face the challenge of building this bridge.” - Brooke Medicine Eagle Daughter of the Rainbow, Crow and Lakota Medicine Woman
During a time of great darkness, the Earth’s waters will be dirty, the air polluted, the land ravaged and filled with warring peoples. During this time of unrest and sadness, a great new wind from the land of the Eastern Sun will blow across the land worldwide.
People of all colors will come together in the spirit of love, compassion, peace, unity, reconciliation and understanding, with respect for the sanctity of all life, the sanctity of nature and the sanctity of the Earth herself.
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by Brent Hunter
All over the world, people are tired of waiting for their government leaders to make the necessary changes that are promised year after year. While we try to remain optimistic about our future, some of us are frustrated, some are understandably angry, and we all hunger for change. Change is at the heart of the Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party Movements in the U.S. and for the Occupy Movement in many other countries.
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by Danny Long An unemployment rate as stubborn as the politicians trying to fix it. Debt as deep as The Waste Land. A global economy as fragile as a geriatric Humpty Dumpty. Say it with me: we’ve got problems. Yet…
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by Katrina Pfannkuch
So, you’re starting off 2012 with a new Smart Phone, fully equipped with must-have applications (apps) like Google Maps, iTunes and Angry Birds. Apps can brighten your day and make life a little easier. Now they can also help you respect the environment!
With technology an ever-growing part of our daily routine, sometimes we forget how it can also simplify our lives by helping us meet important personal goals. If you’ve been meaning to transition to a greener lifestyle but aren’t sure how, try downloading some apps to your mobile phone or laptop for helpful resources on easy, greener ways to manage travel, make purchase decisions and connect to important environmental causes.
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It’s a new year and time for a new list of resolutions! If you’re tired of old “promises” you know you’re not going to keep past January 31, mix things up a bit in 2012 with a few resolutions that will not only make your life cleaner and greener, but give the environment an eco-friendly boost. We asked a few green living experts to help us put together a do-able list. Check out the list and “begin anywhere” for a new year you’ll be proud to call your own.
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by Linda M Potter
In 1952, 22 year old Barbara Marx, the daughter of Marx Toys founder, Louis Marx, accepted an invitation to the White House. There she famously asked President Eisenhower, “What is the meaning of our new power that is good?” It was a question that had weighed heavy on her heart for seven years – the seven years since the bombing of Hiroshima. He didn’t have an answer. She was determined to find one.
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by Beth Buczynski
How many times a week do you take out the trash?
If you recycle your trash or compost your organic waste, you will notice a dramatic decrease in the amount of discarded trash generated by your household.
But achieving zero waste is about more than just recycling and composting.
Zero waste is an eco-conscious concept that involves viewing waste not as useless trash, but as a resource that can create jobs through collection and recycling, open up new financial opportunities for resellers, and most importantly, act as a raw material for the creation of new products.
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© 2012 BellaSpark