Community Group Happenings
Following are brief synopses of activities submitted by Community Group Coordinators. These can inspire us with new ideas or practices to enliven our own groups. If you want more information on any of these, please contact the coordinator directly through the link provided. If you have comments about the format or other aspects of this section, please contact John Ogden at blueheron2@twcny.rr.com. If you want to submit an item, please send it to John too.
“New Options Community Group Calendar”
Every two months our group develops a calendar of activities so members know what to expect and can plan accordingly. The December-January calendar for the New Options CG is accessible here. To get a better feel for our group, I suggest that you read my SIA post titled "A Transformational Ten-Sphere Path to Integral Noetic Consciousness”. Our whole transformational and developmental process involves the ten transformational spheres of consciousness with the end of reaching realization of our oneness with our timeless Source. Each of our meetings focuses on one of those spheres or aspect of one of the spheres. Over the past ten years we have processed transformational experiences with each sphere.
Contact: Bob Johnson, Amherst, MA (omnimind@admin.umass.edu)
“Creating a New Cultural Story”
We decided to “rescript” our culture’s underlying values and beliefs to create the blueprint for a society that works for all. We were fed up with our culture’s self-destructive behaviors and inspired by our viewing of The Secret and discussions of the power of intention. We chose to redesign the bases of family, spirituality, government and society, business and economics, and education. We devoted six meetings (we meet biweekly) to the entire process, which consisted of initiating fairly free-wheeling discussions in each area and then summarizing them. Different people then volunteered to reword each new vision into affirmative statements (present tense, positive and personal) to give them maximum force. The result is five pages that describe the society we envision living in. The final step was to select several statements that captured the essence of the vision and form them into an affirmation that we use to open each meeting.
Contact: John Ogden, Central New York CG, Cortland, NY (blueheron2@twcny.rr.com)
“Tapping in to Our Collective Genius”
I have created a website where anyone with an issue, interest, curiosity, stuckness, goals or intentions can tap into what I am calling our collective genius. We can into tap this consciousness and intelligence with questions. My experience is the universe is very particular about how it answers depending on precisely how it is asked. The way to get unstuck is by asking the same question in a different way or asking a different question.
The website offers a place where people can come read questions and also add questions. It becomes a living human internet. The more people who join in, the more "computing" power we all get. It is important to ask questions and release ourselves from needing or expecting answers. I experience this as a spacious in my consciousness. Things come to me that I never considered before because I am no longer looking at things in the same way. Please pass the website (www.awakeningourcollectivegenius.com) along to others. The more human computing power we gather the better.
John and Susan Arnold (john1289@earthlink.net), The Alliance For A New Humanity For Global Transformation, Orlando, FL
“Contributions from Community Group Conference Call, Dec. 2”
The following abbreviated notices came from the IONS Community Group conference call on Dec. 2. Sixteen participants gathered via phone to share what is taking place in their respective IONS Groups, happenings in groups in their area and some future group topics. JOIN US ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 5PM PST. NOTICES ARE SENT TO EACH CGC LISTED IN THE CG DIRECTORY FROM SIA ONE WEEK BEFORE THE CALL WITH THE NUMBER AND PASSCODE. (Summary courtesy of Jo An Gaines in Honolulu, jgaines519@aol.com.)
Jane Gignoux (janehg4@verizon.net) in NYC spoke of a high school in Queens being engaged in 'consciousness studies' in relation to science. She was able to add IONS materials, DVDs and CDs to the students’ discussions. She also said that John Ogden (blueheron2@twcny.rr.com) , Central NY Group, reported that a NE regional gathering held in October was a big success. Eight people came for the weekend. The people had not met in person and enjoyed the added dimension of physical presence.
Shirley Freriks (sfreriks@mcn.org) in Mendocino, Northern California, said that her group delved into the book, Mysteries of 2012, at their last two meetings and had super juicy, fascinating discussions on all aspects of it. She also mentioned the IONS Video Library which has a page in the green MEET section of the Shift in Action web site. CGCs can take out on loan many great videos and DVDs. Donations of noetic videos and DVDs are gratefully accepted as well. She reminded all of us of the IONS conference to be held in Tucson next June 17-21. There will be a pre-conference day for Community Groups. We expect that day to be dynamic, enliven the network and further create the SHIFT.
Jo An Gaines (JGaines519@aol.com) and Don Child (Don_Child@datahouse.com) of Honolulu had a booth at the Honolulu Wellness Event, attended by 300 people. Literature about IONS was available, including Shift in Action. People were invited to join a community group or become a community group leader. Twenty people were added to the local IONS e-mail list.
Jun Akutsu (info@indrasrainbow.org) from Seattle reported that he is very active in many groups in his area, including SCALOPS Sustainable Community. Jun referred us to Shift in Action's web site with its amazing array of offerings and Angela's availability to help us learn to access its gifts with the monthly tutorials on third Mondays at 6 pm PST. Janet concurred that if it had not been for Angela's tutorials she would not have accessed all of Shift in Action's offerings.
Baker Stocking (baker.stocking@comcast.net) of the Seattle area says their group continues to wait until they arrive at the gathering to decide what to do next. Sometimes they watch a DVD and sometimes they listen to Abraham. Arnie of Seattle reports new faces and ideas at every meeting.
Joan Bird (joanruthbird@gmail.com) in Montana says her group enjoys DVDs from the 2007 IONS conference. The Hazel Henderson and Riane Eisler DVD discusses the money issue and is very pertinent in today's money crisis. Montana is anticipating bringing Pachamama's “Awakening the Dreamer” to their area. Joan will be featured on local television this week, inviting people to local IONS gatherings! Another emphasis for Joan is forming partnerships in the community, including human rights and sustainable agriculture. She emphasized being aware and inclusive of people with physical and mental challenges.
Lynn Montei (lmontei@att.net) in Chicago relayed that their group was meeting two days before Obama's Inauguration to discuss how they can be participants in creating a more sustainable world. A February experience will be Christopher Bache’s Living Classroom concept from his new book which teaches and experiences collective consciousness.
William Welch (welch_william@att.net) from the L.A. area will lead his IONS group in a 13 week new exploration of A Course in Miracles.
Listen to recordings of
past Community Group Coordinator Calls
