June Happenings!

Happy Father's Day!

With Memorial Day weekend just past and Father's Day ahead I have been thinking a lot about my father. I had always been a difficult daughter; too independent and an Aquarian at that. I argued about everything and kept trying to convince him of something or other. I grew up in a working class family where women were not valued for being intelligent or talented, but more for making the life of men run smoothly, caring for the house and children and being available when needed. I spent my life trying to prove to my dad that I had value even though I didn't follow the traditional path.

I remember deciding to get a doctorate AT my dad. That would show him! As it happened when I got my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology at Gonzaga University and my father came to my graduation, he called me Dr. I then understood he didn't even understand the educational system and my push was lost on him. I did go on though and finish my doctorate last year. I can see my dad looking at me with his "shitty" grin and calling me Dr.

My father was my main nurturer and we had a warm, loving relationship. We spent a lot of time together and although it may have been more useful for me to learn to play an instrument or to learn math, my dad taught me to read a racing form, pump gas before other 10 years old knew how, play a mean game of poker and shoot pool better than most men I knew. More than anything, my father taught me how to feel loved and to receive and give love.

Because of my relationship with my dad, having grown up in the garage around men, I have been comfortable with men in my life. This has been helpful especially when working in a federal prison for five years and working as a therapist for over 20 years. I tend to feel safe around men and that helps them to feel safe and comfortable as well.

In this newsletter I am including an article I wrote about EMDR as a treatment for PTSD. The article is not directly related to war, but rather to all of us who have suffered from trauma. Having said that, many of the men (and women) who have served in the wars, whether it be World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War or more recent wars, suffer from symptoms related to trauma. Some are aware of it and some are not. My father would not have been open to getting into counseling and healing the remnants of the past, but maybe your father will be.

Here is a poem I wrote in my journal in September, 2002 after my father died.

Loss

Gazing from the balcony
again this summer
once blessed
by this Spokane River view.
Goldfinch aren't as bright this year,
hawks just taunt me with their red tails
circling around my grief.
Blue heron, once majestic,
now indifferent to my pain.
Magpies chide sharply
shaming me at my loss.
Even the river,
once a source of vitality
deep wisdom
forgets to white water wave
as she rolls by.
The fifth summer
once blessed
by this Spokane River view
This is the year I lost
the year I lost
my dad to cancer
and all the colors
turned to gray.

Bless your heart,

Candess

All Healing is Self-Healing:
Experiencing EMDR to Heal Trauma

In 1997, Peter Levine and Ann Frederick wrote a book called Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences. You may be surprised to hear it, but the authors affirm that "trauma has become so commonplace that most people don't even recognize its presence."

Although most of us think about trauma in terms of combat situations or seeing someone being murdered on the street, nearly all people have had some kind of trauma. Whether you remember the original trauma or not, you still have the symptoms. Different people respond differently to situations, so one person can become traumatized by a specific instance while another is not.

In my private practice clients present a variety of traumatic events such as the loss of a pet as a child, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship with a friend, divorce, date rape, physical or sexual abuse, the experience of war or the death of a loved one. When I interview the client I have them begin by listing 10 traumas. ..

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Surrender and Discover Your Life Purpose

by Steffie Genevieve, MSW, LICSW, CDP

In my first article I introduced fate, destiny and discovering Divine purpose. Awakening to our Divine potential requires that we accept the challenge and see the challenge as an opportunity to expand our understanding of repeated patterns. Fated by these old patterns we become disempowered and lose the power to move into transcendence and to champion destiny. Examining the patterns in our lives through the symbolism of archetypes not only allows us to develop inner knowing prompting us to interact with the world differently, but it changes our view of destiny. It brings meaning to our lives so we can embrace it as a carefully designed plan.

In this writing I will be speaking to the process of discovering our Divine potential. When we embrace the archetypes as companions and allow them to guide us in managing our personal power, transcendence occurs. In a future article I will examine the unique attributes of the archetypes when placed in the wheel which reveals Divine wisdom.

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Lemon Essential Oil

LEMON has antiseptic-like properties and contains compounds that have been studied for their effect on immune function. It may serve as an insect repellant and may be beneficial for the skin. CAUTION: Citrus oils should not be applied skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight or UV light within 72 hours.

• Use 6 drops of Lemon & 6 drops of Purification in a squirt bottle mixed with distilled water to use in the bathroom as an air freshener.
• Rub a drop on a corn, callous, or bunion mornings & evenings.
• Use 1-2 drops of Lemon oil to remove gum, oil. Grease spots or crayon.
• Use one drop to add flavor to baked goods or beverages.
• To clean & increase the shelf life of fruits & vegetables fill a bowl with 2-3 drops of lemon oil & water. Allow to fruit to soak for a few minutes. This also helps to eliminate petrochemicals.
• Add a drop of Lemon oil to your dishwasher before the wash cycle.
• Rub a drop of Lemon oil on cold sores, herpes or other mouth ulcers to lessen pain and aid healing.
• Rub on oily skin or acne to balance sebaceous glands (oil glands).
• Rub two drops of lemon oil topically to clear athlete's foot.
• Rub on a wart morning & night until it disappears.

How to Use
Diffuse or add a few drops to a spray bottle to deodorize and sterilize the air. Add two drops to soy or rice milk for purification or combine with peppermint (Mentha piperita) to provide a refreshing lift. Use for removing gum, oil, or grease spots. Add to food or soy or rice milk as a dietary supplement or flavoring. CAUTION: Citrus oils should NOT be applied to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light within 72 hours.

Ingredients
Essential oil of Lemon (Citrus limon)

Customer Price: $12.83 USD
Preferred Customer Price: $11.29 USD
Wholesale Price: $9.75 USD

Local Spokane Happenings

Fairs

Spokane Holistic Chamber of Commerce Kids & Families Fair: Saturday June 19th Unity Church (29th & Bernard)
10 am until 4:30pm.
There are speakers and many diverse vendors (everything from Artists to Health- practitioners) will participate. Admission and parking are free. www.Spokaneholisticchamberofcommerce.com

Music

The Brick & Mortar Show: Thursday, June 3rd, 7 to 9 pm. The Brick & Mortar Show is sponsored by the Spokane Songwriters Organization featuring Mike Skalstad (visiting songwriter from the Tri-Cities), Steve Schennum, plus an open mic., Coffee Social, 113 W. Indiana.

Art Walk night: Friday, June 4th, 5 to 7 pm.

Brad Keeler at the French Quarter, 1311 W. Sprague Ave, Spokane.

Photography from the Brick Wall Gallery including works by Bill and Kathy, Joe Nuess, and others. Vintage Hill Cellars 319 W. 2nd.

Steve Schennum: Saturday June 5th, 7 to 9 pmat the Ionic Burrito. 1415 N. Hamilton

Laddie Ray Melvin: June 11th, 7 to 10 pm. Left Bank Winery108 N. Washington #105.

John Watson on KYRS: June 27th Crossroads Live Radio Program 92.3 & 89.9 fm. www.myspace.com/johnwatson2

The Blue Ribbon Tea Company: June 29th 7:00 pm at the Rocket Bakery. www.myspace.com/theblueribbonteacompany