Thanksgiving Evening

We have just returned from Thanksgiving at my mother's house.

It was a really wonderful day. My mother (Paulina) is a great cook and the turkey was so tender it melted in my mouth. My sister Paula made some great pies.

My dad (Bill) has not had a good week. A week ago, his brother Vernon passed away and the funeral was just this past Saturday.

My dad is 85 years old and not in great shape.

His brother was probably the person in the world that he was closest to; their father died when my dad was 12 and Vernon was 9. They grew up looking out for each other and then worked together at my dad's lumber business. Uncle Vernon was the sawyer. He was responsible for cutting the logs into boards, blocking or railroad ties. I used to just watch him work; he made it look easy.

So my dad's health is really rocky: bad heart, diabetes, not to mention that he has had his back broken, his elbow shattered, his skull split open (you could see the brain) and been hit by lightening.

And that's just a small sampling.

So I'm feeling very sad for my dad, he's never been very open with his emotions and now he's grieving his brother's death.

As Lisa and I were getting ready to go, I said, "It's been a rough week huh dad?"

He said that it had been a rough week and started to cry.

I hope to get back and see him before Christmas.

But I'm lucky to still have him in my life. He and my mother both.

That's what I'm thankful for...

Blessings

Workshop Cancelled

The Jill Matson / Paul Meidinger workshop sceduled for Saturday, November 22nd has been cancelled.

Superstrong Space Magnets Are Just as Weird as We Thought

Superstrong Space Magnets Are Just as Weird as We Thought. That's the title of an article I just finished reading. It's a great title isn't it? It's almost a song lyric...mmm...

Well, it's been such a slow day at the Open Mind Bookstore and, well, it's gettin' kind of scary. Bidnez is so slow and the future of retail just doesn't look real good right now. (2009 will be the 15th year anniversary for the Open Mind.)

Some people say, "Phil, you're just attracting negativity when you think that way".

But, unfortunately, there are certain realities that we must negotiate as sentient beings. We can't just live in a fantasy world thinking that everything is going to work out. That's how I got in trouble in the first place! (And ironically how I ended up at the Open Mind.)

(pause)

See, I just had a customer. She said that someone stole her sacred sage. She suspects the babysitter who probably thought it was pot! Pretty funny.

So, I've always been a little skeptical about EVERYTHING. It's a terrible way to be in the world. I've learned to live with it by realizing that nothing really matters that much anyway. Only love matters. It's true. Jesus said it. The Beatles said it. I believe it. Don't dare call me a hippie or I'll slug ya, pallie.

But there's this whole law of attraction thing that's been going on with the release of "The Secret". There is nothing new in "The Secret" that hasn't been around for a hundred years. It's just been repackaged in a way that appealed to Middle America. It became about manifesting 'stuff'.

That was the genius of aboriginal author Rhonda Byrne's take on the law of attraction was to rename it. Now she pretty much owns 'The Secret'. That's pretty powerful stuff. And, part of the allure of a secret is that once you know what the secret is, you are in with the 'in' crowd and all your dreams will come true.

But The Law of Attraction stuff that The Secret crap is based on comes out of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and early 20th century writings like 'Think And Grow Rich'. And, it's just about being positive in ones thoughts.

If you've ever been involved with Multi Level Marketing, then you've have experienced this school of thought. And, Esther and Jerry Hicks of Abraham and Law of Attraction fame are former Amway agents. So, are we just being snowed and sold more soap?

So there was no secret to the Secret. The truth is, Rhonda Byrnnne made a lot of money for repackaging stuff that was already out there and selling it to the great unwashed.

We sold a lot of copies of the Secret to people here at the Open Mind.

I just wish I could sell super strong space magnets instead.

>Super Strong Magnets

< >More on Rhondy Brynnnnne<

November / December Message from Debbie Donoghue

Hi Everyone,

Life has been so full of "change" these past few months that staying connected and balanced is not an easy thing to do! As the world economy spiraled out of control and our presidential election polarized the nation, life as we have known it was changing so rapidly that our minds could hardly grasp the events that were taking place. Staying in the moment was next to impossible as we watched the financial market plummet. Emotions were high and volatile. I feel that a shift has taken place that is allowing us an opportunity to continue the understanding that we can create our own world and that through our thoughts, we will shift our reality. All of this takes place through our emotions and that means staying "heart centered". I found that when I would listen to the news or read the paper, I felt a great deal of fear in my chest that created an even greater feeling of confusion and being scattered in my head! Now, when I returned to my heart, feeling and trusting that all is in Divine order, I was clear and calm. This was not easy, but as I held this space of balance and flow through my feelings, life unfolded in amazing ways. Being outside in nature helped me to reconnect with my feelings. So, go for a walk, stand under the stars, take a deep breath in and be grateful for what you have. Through our emotional body we can begin to reconnect with who we are and begin to take the steps necessary to bring change to our own life as well as our nation and the world. These are grand times we are living in and each and every one of us is part of a beautiful tapestry that we are weaving, so start living life as the Creator you truly as we begin living heaven on earth......

In love and service,
Deborah

Dolphin Retreat in Bimini April 26 - May 2 2009
Swimming with the wild Spotted dolphins in Bimini this past August was truly life changing for all who came. When you look into the eye of a dolphin there is such a deep soul connection that you feel such joy and gratitude. Each one of us felt a closer bond with not only the dolphins but with each other as well. Our experience was full of laughter, tears, words, hugs, clear waters, blues sky's, great food, many friendly dolphins and service. The day before we left, we returned to the Bimini Road (Atlantean Stones) to hold a ceremony in the water to help start a recalibration of a vortex in this very special part of the earth.

I am grateful to be returning to Bimini in the spring of 2009. I will once again be offering workshops for Reiki so you can attend either Reiki 1, 2 or Advanced/Master class to receive a teaching and attunement at no additional cost. In the evenings we will get together as a group (if you choose to) outside under the stars for a guided meditation that will bring us into deeper alignment with the energies of Atlantis, the dolphins and our higher selves. This is a time of joy, growth and clearing as we spend five days swimming in the crystal blue waters with the friendly Spotted dolphins.

If you would like to learn more about how you can be a part of this Dolphin Retreat, please visit my website: www.rainbowstarproductions.com To hold your space, please call WildQuest Reservations at 1-800-326-1618 by the end of December. I am going to Atlanta GA in January to present a workshop on "Wild Dolphins and Their Power to Heal" so the Retreat will fill quickly!! I hope you can join me!

Mr. Retail

Years ago I worked in a shop on Pittsburgh's South Side called Pittsburgh Guitars. They sold (and still do) all manner of musical stringed things. This was in the early 1990s when the South Side, fired by the Rusted Root tribe, was evolving into a never ending Grateful Dead environment.

We used to talk about, what else, the girls that came into the shop. The often lovely, always earthy, sirens wearing tattered clothes and smelling of patchouli wandered in to get strings for their acoustic guitars. And, being earth mamas, they really didn't shave their armpits or their legs (which never really bothered me all that much) which Mark found a little bit distressing.

So, as I was want to do in those days, I wrote a song about hanging out at Pittsburgh Guitars called Mr. Retail. I've never recorded it but Hipster Dufus used to perform it. It's a good song based on Bowie's Gene Genie (or is it Jean Jeanie?).

Now, of course, the irony is that I'm Mr. Retail. I'm sitting here at the shop writing on my blog,
but at least I'm writing.

But I am Mr. Retail...

You gotta watch what you put out into the universe!

Philip Harris

http://www.pittsburghguitars.com/