Soulful Features
Oct-Dec 2005

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Being Still.

Be Still and know that I am God.
–Psalm 46:10

In honor of the winter season and the opportunities it brings for quiet reflection and personal retreat, this quarter's Feature Articles, dedicated to personal and spiritual growth, are exploring the topic of "Being Still." Our contributing authors have provided us with a wonderful and varied collection of thought and insight on this subject, sharing personal stories of surrender and solitude, along with sage advice and guidance for quieting the mind and body, in the cultivation of calm serenity, silent awareness, and peaceful stillness.

May peace and joy be yours this season as you become still!

Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.
–Lao Tzu

FEATURE ARTICLES:

"Silence"
by Barbara Biziou, author of "The Joys of Everyday Ritual" and "The Joy of Family Rituals," is an internationally acclaimed teacher of meditation and a life-strategy coach. As one of America's foremost ritual experts, she teaches us how to restore ritual to its rightful place as food for the soul through practical, easy to use ritual recipes that are inspiring and fun. (www.joyofritual.com)

"A Sanctuary of Stillness"
by Genece Hamby, a gracious blend of poet, mystic, and advocate of stillness living in accordance to her essence and own natural rhythm. She facilitates others in living through their own sanctuary of stillness and is currently authoring her first book, “I Can Hear the Grapes Speak.” (www.sanctuaryofstillness.org)

"The Healing Power of Silence"
by Robert Rabbin, author, speaker, self-inquiry facilitator, and leadership consultant. He began practicing meditation and self-inquiry in 1969 and subsequently spent ten years studying with meditation master Swami Muktananda. He is the author of "Echoes of Silence: Awakening the Meditative Spirit."  (www.robrabbin.com)

"Presence, Impermanence and Botox"
by Lionel Fisher, a former journalist, corporate communicator and advertising creative director, Lionel Fisher is the author of "Celebrating Time Alone: Stories of Splendid Solitude" and two other self-help books on creative writing and working from home. He also writes a column on the art of being alone.

"Sacred Seclusion"
by Donna Henes, Urban Shaman and editor and publisher of the highly acclaimed quarterly, "Always In Season: Living In Sync with the Cycles." She is also author of "Moon Watcher's Companion," "Celestially Auspicious Occasions," and her newest, "The Queen of My Self: Women Stepping into Sovereignty in Midlife." She has offered lectures, workshops, circles, and celebrations worldwide for 30 years. (www.donnahenes.net)

"The Seven Highest Gifts"
by Robin L. Silverman, author of the forthcoming book, "Fullistic Living™." She is also the author of "The Ten Gifts" and "Something Wonderful is About to Happen."  She is a professional public speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant. Her website is www.robinsilverman.com

"Be Still: In the Eye of the Storm"
by Rev. Sandra Lee Schubert, interfaith minister, poet and founder of Wild Woman Ministries, a forum to explore and express creativity and spirituality. As a minister and coach, Rev. Schubert helps people discover and unlock their creative potential and is committed to assisting people in fulfilling their dreams. Her website is www.wildwomanministries.org

"Stillness"
by Tara Topper, a poet, writer, and dancer all her life, Tara has been a bodyworker since 2001 blending massage, deep tissue, core sequencing, craniosacral and visceral techniques with her knowledge of psychology, yoga, kundalini, emotional storage and release, and transpersonal experience. She is currently a student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.

"Serenity is an Unconditional Yes"
by David Richo, Ph.D., M.F.T., a psychotherapist, teacher, and writer, who emphasizes Jungian, transpersonal, and spiritual perspectives in his work. He is the author of: "How To Be An Adult," "When Love Meets Fear," "Unexpected Miracles," "Shadow Dance," and his newest book, "The Five Things We Cannot Change." (www.davericho.com)

"The Other Half of Life"
by Hubert Pryor, author of "Soul Talk: Positive Mind Treatments to Turn Your Life Around" and the forthcoming book, "SERENITY 101: Spiritual Wisdom, Ancient and Modern, for Peace of Mind Today."  Formerly, he was editor-in-chief of "Modern Maturity" magazine and of "Science Digest" and a senior editor of "Look" magazine.  He lives in South Palm Beach, Florida, where he is a free-lance writer and editor.

"Having, Being, and Stillness"
Read Father Paul's Quarterly Column, "As You Think," at SoulfulLiving.com
by Father Paul Keenan, popular speaker, author and radio co-host of WABC Radio’s "Religion on the Line." Widely experienced as a national and local television and radio news commentator, he is the author of "Good News for Bad Days," "Stages of the Soul" and his newest, "Heartstorming: The Way to a Purposeful Life." (www.fatherpaul.com)

"Pausing for Breath"
Read Karen's Quarterly Column, "Being Present," at SoulfulLiving.com
by KD Farris, Ph.D., a successful counselor, healer, and bodyworker, who, for more than fifteen years, has taught extensive self-discovery workshops. She is the author of, "MESHE, HESHE, MISON & ORBIT: What My Grandmother Taught Me About the Universe." Her website is www.MESHE.com.

"Honk If You Love Silence!"
Read Bret's Quarterly Column, "Seasoned Living," at SoulfulLiving.com
 by Bret S. Beall, MS, PhD (Cand), who applies his scientific training as an evolutionary paleontologist to help people easily live fantastic lives via consultations, demonstrations, lectures, articles and his free e-newsletter about Cooking, Entertaining, Décor, Budgeting, Simplification, Prioritization, Organization, and Travel via his company, Global Organic Designs Lifestyle Services. (www.god-dess.com)

"Be Still"
Read Laura's Quarterly Column, "Gifts of the Soul," at SoulfulLiving.com
by Laura Grace, co-founder of Infinite Wisdom, author, and national speaker. As a regular contributor for publications across the US and Canada, she writes about human awareness and spiritual growth. Laura is the author of the widely acclaimed book, "Gifts of the Soul" and is the creator and teacher of various personal growth programs. (www.laurahyde.com)

"Being Still and Still Moving the Pencil"
Read Nessa's Quarterly Column, "Writing Our Hearts Out," at SoulfulLiving.com
by Nessa McCasey, a former technical editor for NASA, street/performance poet in Denver, corporate writer, single mom, marketing communications specialist, and church music director. She is charting a new path for work and life in the profession of Poetry Therapy serving as a State Representative for the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT).

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