Welcome!

Gestalting YOUR Day

Christmas Holidays 2009

This may be a deceptive title for what I want to cover in this newsletter. My Holiday message is intended to be all- inclusive of those who celebrate this festive season of the year regardless of differences in the practice of your unique ethnic, religious or secular traditions, expressions, and wonder. In spirit, I would like to celebrate with you - your generosity of giving, enthusiasm for joy, and perseverance in spite of hardships, steadfast resilience during these very difficult times of the world-wide economic recessions and, above all, your never-ending belief in the goodness of all human beings. After all, we do proclaim this Holiday Season to be a celebration of Love, Peace, and Hope.

My prayerful thoughts are also with the thousands of soldiers world-wide whose dedication to preserve freedom for their respective countries takes them countless miles away from home and their loved ones. How they must miss not being able to physically be with each other and their families. They deserve our admiration, gratitude, physical, emotional and/or financial support to sustain their faith in their mission and love of each other. I fervently hope that war will come to an end soon and all will be reunited and live in peace with families and friends.

Christmas 2009 – Personal Reflections

Nature is doing its best to get me in the mood of reflecting on Christmas. A magnificent winter storm is still doing its best to cover everything with many inches of swirling, sparkling, fluffy snow. The stillness out there is almost deafening, then again thanks to the howling winds, it is unexpectedly reaching a crescendo as though nature wants me to wake up and admire its magnificent power before it settles down again to a soothing pianissimo. It feels as though this winter storm offers me a rhythmic metaphor for the experiences in my own life and allows me to recognize and savor its inherent beauty of living it all.

Memories of my childhood Christmases swirl within me, not willing to settle on anyone thread but rather to flood me in waves of snippets good and bad, happy and sad, enlivening and deadening.

The most wonderful German tradition and memory from my childhood, one that I am still recreating annually, is the lighting of the Christmas tree with real live candles. Yes, real live candles on a fresh pine tree – GASP – what if everything burns down - is the usual question.  My answer is a simple one: In all the years of my life, our house never burned down from lit candles on a Christmas tree but on Christmas Eve, in 1944, our house burned down from bombs. Yes, part of my city, Pforzheim, was bombed on Christmas Eve with explosives first, then with phosphor that seeped through every open crevice and burned down four of the five floors of my building (phosphor cannot be extinguished only smothered). I don’t recall the exact time of the air raid, how many people were wounded or died. I was pretty numb by then, huddling in a corner with I don’t remember whom. What seemed like an eternity later, I suddenly became aware of an unlikely sound - trumpet? In disbelief and joy I heard my father playing - Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht on his beloved instrument somewhere outside, transcending the horror of the chaos and devastation. I also recall an indefinable sense of shock by some who seemed not in the mood to appreciate my father’s intentions. They were understandably busy salvaging God knows what, smother phosphor, and care for each other. My father remained undisturbed and simply continued to play. Later, as he was holding me and my younger brother, he simply said that even in war, the Christ child still comes on Christmas Eve to bring love and peace for all people – is anything more important?  I didn’t really know then what the words meant; he sounded solemn and my mother’s eyes were filled with tears.

We didn’t have a lit Christmas tree that year; but in the midst of war, on Christmas Eve, a combination of history and my Father’s love and interpretation of what really matters, is a priceless gift of hope and faith in humanity that has sustained me throughout my whole life. How blessed can anyone be?

So how about you?

I believe that the above messages requires no further elaboration. Everyone has their own way of doing what feels right during this Holiday Season which is as it should be. I will encourage you to find joy in sharing your wonderful selves in creative ways that will give meaning and enrichment to you. How totally awesome to know that you can make a little difference in the lives of others.

My best wishes to all for a joyous Christmas and Holiday Season
and message of Hope for the year 2010.

UNICEF Song for Peace

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God our Father, brothers all are we;
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now. 

With ev’ry step I take let this be my solemn vow:
to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. 

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

For All Mental Health
Professionals and Coaches

Introducing SOUL – Ingredient for harmonizing
diverse theoretical applications and eliminate
haunting treatment issues.

Workshop January 23, 2010
9 AM – 5 PM (break between 12 noon – 2 PM)
Fee: $120.00
Location: Matunuck, RI

In this 6-hour totally experiential workshop you will explore your own unsynchronized personal issues and learn to:

• Differentiate between spiritual and secular meaning Soul
• Resiliency and its components
• Recognize language of the Soul
• Create harmony with past
• Harmonize uncommon symptoms with common ground
• Organize symptoms from perspective of soul
• Realize neglect of the soul in – physical/emotional symptoms
• Recognize need for inclusion of soul when in fear of relapse
• Honor yourself/soul for annoying reminders of unfinished business
• Enhance your and your clients’ daily life.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Want to learn more, click here.