A Shining Star

Your life ought to be as one long prayer that God's Spirit may work through all your thinking and acting to bless your neighbor.

Peter Reisch
trans. from German by Br. David Steindl-Rast

 

 

JoAnn Nalbandian Koobatian was that person

and we were indeed blessed to know her

 

Diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer eight years ago, she underwent dozens of procedures, treatments and surgeries without an ounce of self-pity or a dimming of her prodigious faith. 

 

Through it all, she continued her work as

Foothill High School Director of Choirs. 

Even when she could no longer use 

her own beautiful singing voice, she made sure she was there

to help her students find and develop theirs.   

 

She gave her little girl, Amanda, her husband, Richard, her parents and family and friends eight precious bonus years of love and devotion.

 

We often hear of people ferociously battling cancer.  JoAnn did so from an inner strength that sometimes helped sustain those around her,

instead of the other way around.

 

The traditional Armenian blessing when someone dies is:  May his/her spirit be illuminated in its journey.  In JoAnn's case, there is no doubt in my mind that she's making her journey under a celestial spotlight,

surrounded by applause and cheers.

 

The Magic of Life

As I wrote in my October AHP newsletter, my trust muscle has been getting quite a workout lately.  I don't remember signing up for the Trust Olympics, but there it is.  

This trust thing really challenges me to walk my talk.  The "All is moving toward the Good" mantra I should have tattooed on my forehead sounds more like magical thinking than Truth sometimes.  After all, there are no guarantees that it's not.  Just like everyone else on the planet, I have to trust that trust is the right response in just about every situation popping up in my life these days.

I'm always reminding my clients that when any of us sets the intention to heal, to move forward in our lives -- emotionally, physically or spiritually -- it's a sacred intention.  Enter a whole Greek chorus of Guides and Angels cheering us toward the finish line.

Well, what other explanation can I give for the Sacred Spiral that showed up in a pan in my kitchen over the weekend?

Is all really moving toward the Good?  Evidently I am to trust that it is.

Healthful Snacking? What a Concept!

Weight management is always on people's minds.  Wouldn't it be great to have a snack that decreases appetite without increasing body weight? 
Apparently almonds are the rock stars in this scenario.
Make sure the almonds are organic, raw and unsalted or all bets are off.  Thanks to hypnotherapist and teacher extraordinaire, Michael Ellner, for this link:

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/608672?print-article

Musings on 35 Years of Marriage

On October 14th of this year, my husband and I will mark our 35th wedding anniversary. 

It's funny how people react when we share that news.  "Oh, wow, that's amazing!"  "35 years?  Wow, that's a long time!"

Yes, in some respects it is a long time.  Especially in a state like California where seven years is considered a long-term marriage.  "The next best thing" is quite a lure in this place and time. 

But marriage is not smartphone technology. 

My friend, Norma Berg, sent me a piece of writing that really hit home with me.  It's called The Burned Biscuit and even though I did an internet search to find the author, I was unsuccessful.  Over the years, Chris and I have not laid our problems at God's feet, as the article suggests, but have worked through them from a place of value and respect for each other.  I think that's kept the door open for God's grace to enter when it's most needed.

I also have to say that my husband is the most patient, supportive man I know.  What he's put up with from me over the years would fill volumes.  He could have run when I first started dowsing, or talking about my past lives, or scanned his notes for open-bottomed Bb's.  Instead, he just keeps loving me.  There's no upgrading from that for me.

Here is the forward as she sent it:

Pass Me a Biscuit

When I was a kid, my Grandma liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day. On that evening so long ago, she had placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely  burned biscuits in front of my Granddad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my Granddad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Grandma and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night but I do remember watching him smear butter and  jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Grandma apologize to my Granddad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and  then."

 Later that night, I went to kiss Grandaddy good night and I asked  him if he really liked his biscuits burned.  He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Grandma put in a hard day of work today and she's real  tired. And besides -a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.  But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults, and choosing to  celebrate each other's differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today...  that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.  And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

L'homme propose, Dieu dispose

Man proposes, God disposes.

I have been quiet in this space for a few weeks because so much has been going on.  I will catch you up little by little, but first things first.

About six weeks ago, I became captive to the thought that I need to spend time in Peru with my longtime friend and healer, Lilo Ccoyllor.  Of equal weight and value was the thought of gathering a group together to join me there.

Lilo and I spent hours putting together our Shamanic Soul Journey to Peru and very excitedly spread the word far and wide.

The initial response I received was very strong.  Lots of people were ready to drop everything and head to Cusco and environs just before Thanksgiving on such relatively short notice.  What fun!

Then, just as it seemed that everything was falling into place, the energy around this Journey shifted into reverse.  What had initially garnered an enthusiastic "YES!" in my periodic dowsing check-ins slowed to a sluggish "MAYBE" and then within a few days to an emphatic "NO!"

If there's one thing I've learned over the past 20+ years of being on this crazy "Woo Path," it's that ignoring guidance asked for and received is not a good idea.

So, with some lingering confusion, I am taking the Shamanic Soul Journey to Peru off the calendar.  Thanks to all of you who expressed your enthusiasm and good wishes.  All is moving toward the Good!

Still in the Moment but Looking Ahead

The Sacred Valley, Peru

 

The Shamanic Soul Journey to Peru (November 10-22, 2013), has really hit the spot for many people.

I'm hearing wonderful comments from those interested in participating.  Lilo Ccoyllor (www.shamanspirit.net) and I put a lot of thought into the Itinerary and we're thrilled that our vision is speaking to so many hearts. 

Remember that the group is limited to 8.  As of right now, there are three couples and 3 individuals showing strong interest.  The payment to secure your place must be submitted to Lilo by October 1st.  For a complete Itinerary, please email me at lucy@ahigherperspective.com or respond to this posting.

The Woos are Everywhere

When my husband and I were on Kauai many years ago, we learned that metaphysically-inclined people are called "Woos" there.  Perhaps it was derived from "all that woo-woo stuff." 

Here is an article from The Wall  Street Journal that really got my attention.

LOS ANGELES—Kenneth Klee's longtime law partner had spent weeks in the summer of 2010 typing up a voluminous report on the Tribune Co. TRBAA -0.41% bankruptcy, and his hands ached.

The 64-year-old Mr. Klee, who is described by peers as one of the most respected bankruptcy lawyers in the U.S., closed his eyes, peered through his "third eye" and waved his "energy hand" above his colleague's outstretched arms. Almost immediately, the hurt was gone.

"All I know is that I was in pain and he did his thing and I felt better," said Lee Bogdanoff, the lawyer treated by Mr. Klee.

By day, Mr. Klee inhabits the world of high-stakes bankruptcy cases, charging clients such as Jefferson County, Ala., about $1,000 an hour for legal advice. At night, Mr. Klee holds energy healings in a small room of his elegant, one-story home in the leafy Brentwood section of Los Angeles.

Mr. Klee said he can talk to spirits, mend broken bodies and wounded souls and, if necessary, perform exorcisms. The suggested donation for a two-hour session is $300.

Alternative medicine and other New Age practices and philosophies have many followers in the corporate world, particularly in Southern California. But it is unusual to find a white-shoe lawyer like Mr. Klee who so publicly embraces his connections to the metaphysical.

"I am just a vessel," said Mr. Klee, sitting in his office on the top floor of a 39-story skyscraper with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. "I just bring through this energy.''

Mr. Klee said he heals some people by removing bad energy and infusing them with better vibrations. To do this, he uses a combination of oils, crystals, a tuning fork and other objects, such as a fish fossil. He infused his law partner, who was the principal author of the bankruptcy examiner's report on Tribune in 2010, with "liquid living crystal."

At a recent healing, Mr. Klee told an electrical contractor that the man's sorrow came from his past life as a woman who had lost a baby in childbirth. Mr. Klee placed a tray of crystals on the floor to cut off the dark energy flowing up through the man's bare feet and then hurried them out to his backyard so as to not contaminate the room.

Healing clients said Mr. Klee has helped them overcome the direst of illnesses. But medical professionals say while these kinds of alternative procedures might make people feel better temporarily, there is no proof that they provide cures.

"There is a difference between anecdotes and evidence,'' said Richard Sloan, a professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "The real issue is whether there is any evidence of therapeutic efficacy. As far as I can tell the answer to that is no."

A principal draftsman of the U.S. bankruptcy code in the 1970s, who is described as a "dean of the bar" in a recent international ranking of restructuring lawyers, Mr. Klee said he tries to separate his healing and law practices. But sometimes his metaphysical and legal skills overlap. During Texaco Inc.'s bankruptcy case in the late-1980s, Mr. Klee said he had the ability to predict what was going to happen.

His client, Pennzoil Co., agreed to a $3 billion settlement. As a show of gratitude, his legal colleagues gave him a letter opener engraved with the words "The Oracle."

In the corner of a conference room at his law firm, Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern LLP, sits a white crystal that is meant to help harmonize opposing sides in a negotiation.

Another large crystal on a window sill of a young lawyer assigned to the Jefferson County case protects the office from bad vibes. Mr. Klee believes they emanate from a nearby condominium building. He declined to elaborate.

"How are you feeling today, Marisela?" asked Mr. Klee, as he passed the firm's office services manager one recent morning.

Marisela Atrian mentioned how her shoulder still hurt after a fall from her bike. Mr. Klee waved his hand above her shoulder and then flicked his fingers toward the floor as if he were shaking off water.

"I know her energy,'' said Mr. Klee, who has worked on Ms. Atrian before, mostly over the phone. "I can do it remotely."

Mr. Klee became interested in healing in 1997 when he signed up for a massage at a law-firm retreat and experienced the "radiance technique," in which he said a therapist "activated" energy within him. Since then, he has studied various forms of alternative healing from teachers in the Philippines and St. Petersburg, Fla.

Even his wife, Doreen, used to be skeptical at times about whether his healings had any real effect.

But he overcame her doubts when, he said, she was "possessed by an earthbound spirit and I did an exorcism to get it out of her."

After a bad car accident in late 2004, Mrs. Klee developed a rash. She agreed to lie on Mr. Klee's table in his healing room, while he placed discs called "pulsors" on her. After a while, she went limp and had to be helped into bed. The next day, she said, the rash was gone. The spirit was gone, too, Mr. Klee said.

"There are these spirits, and they look for warm bodies,'' Mr. Klee explained over dinner with his wife. "Some of them want to go to the light…This one went to the Astral plane. It was a really lowlife type of spirit."

"It still freaks me out,'' said Mrs. Klee.

Mr. Klee doesn't attempt to hide his healing work from legal clients. In Jefferson County, which filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2011, a local newspaper and a blogger picked up on Mr. Klee's healing hobby, but the writers praised Mr. Klee's legal work as Tribune bankruptcy examiner and the county's lead bankruptcy lawyer. Earlier this year, Mr. Klee helped strike a deal with creditors that could help the county exit bankruptcy.

"Say what you will. This guy has his finger on the pulse—or waving somewhere above the pulse—of what ails this county,'' wrote Birmingham News columnist John Archibald.

Still, some clients tell Mr. Klee that rival lawyers vying for business have tried to use his healing work against him.

"I've never had a client turn us down,'' because of the healing work, said Mr. Klee, whose firm vied unsuccessfully to represent the city of Detroit in its bankruptcy case.

When he retires from his legal practice, Mr. Klee says, he wants to help develop an apparatus that could measure the energy contained in people and objects. That device, he says, would convince skeptics that the energy he feels through his hands is real. "It would change the world,'' he said.

Taimie Bryant doesn't need to be won over. A law professor at University of California, Los Angeles, Ms. Bryant recalls losing her patience at some students for arriving late to class. Mr. Klee, who also teaches at the law school, agreed to harmonize the class and their professor.
"The next day, there was so much ease in the classroom,'' said Ms. Bryant. "It was eerie."