For those of you who missed this wonderful experience, there's another weekend event coming up! In late January, Donna will teach ‘Freeing the Spirit: Energy Medicine for Countering Stress, Trauma and Negative Habits and Thought Patterns’ in Sedona, Arizona. Full information is available on the Innersource web site (www.innersource.net). If you're thinking about going, register soon! The event is filling up quickly.

During last weekend's workshop, David announced that he and Donna are going to be cutting way back on their training in order to write another book. This might take as long as two years, so there is no Intermediate course in the foreseeable future. We remain the most highly trained group in Energy Medicine. What an exciting challenge we face to keep the energy fires burning and the word expanding while Donna pulls back for a while! She has carried her message almost single-handedly, with the burning desire to 'get the message out'. Now it's time for us to step up to the plate and keep this work growing.

How are we going to do that?

• By acknowledging with both humility and excitement that each one of us has plenty to offer. We each know a lot and together we know more than enough to pick up the baton and show Donna her work doesn't stop when she goes into a much-deserved Yin phase.

• By putting our heads together and brainstorming ideas for how we can move ahead, both independently and as a group. I'll address that more in my next email which will ask for submissions for next month's report.

• By making the shift from student to teacher, from receiver of information to giver, from learner to preacher, from passive to active. School's almost out and, once again, it's time to jump into the world where you put your knowledge to work. You can either put what you've learned from Donna into the safety deposit box and dust it off when you need it, or you can become that knowledge, and approach the world coming from that place. What a choice! And it's yours to make.

We are in a unique and exciting place right now. Our hallowed leader is stepping out of her active role for a while. How devastating for Donna if her work stops when she does! I don't think that's going to happen. We've got the knowledge, the excitement, and the spirit to pick up the baton. All we need is the organization.

So let's talk right here, using ECR as a way to bring us together across the miles. As we state in our purpose at the end of each issue, this publication is 'of, by, and for the energy practitioner. a place for peer collaboration among members.' Let's use this forum to talk, plan and dream about carrying the torch right up into the Olympic stadium!

The ECR publishes these member responses with several goals in mind:

1. We are able to catch up with each other and are stimulated by what others are doing.

2. Contributors benefit from hot-linked replies from other ECR members with suggestions, answers to questions, insights, etc.

3. As a group we step back with a gestalt eye to define what kind of 'energy professional' is emerging among us. A necessary step in the development of any profession.

To refresh your memory, members were asked to submit a description of how they bring energy practices into their life and work: working with their families or on themselves; offering services to clients; ideas being considering for which they'd like to have member feedback; strategies for working with public schools or health organizations; a synopsis of a curriculum they've created; an article recently published or scheduled for publication; a copy of their ad or brochure; the contents of the dust cover of their upcoming book, etc., etc. ANYTHING that shows that they're moving beyond being a simple consumer of energy ideas into actively creating things that work for themselves and others.

This is a new way of working in psychology but an ancient way of working to resolve physical and spiritual disease. The origins include Chinese Medicine's acupuncture meridian system, 5 elements & rhythms theory and India's yogic traditions of chakras and biofields. The intention is to balance these systems and maintain that balance through the ups and downs of life. Successful balancing means that your curiosity, compassion, creativity and courage in the midst of change reaches new levels. Your core beliefs become positive and your self esteem grows resilient. Working with more than 10 systems the goals are to:

We are electrical and magnetic beings. Our western science has documented this truth. The magnetic and electrical fields are subtle and the treatment of those fields can be subtle and yield significant results. We can influence and heal those systems via direct touch, without touch using hands above the body, use of essential oils through application and inhalation, or even with thought. Thought is energy too and it produces changes in many systems of the body simultaneously. I work from the belief that the energy systems are but another major system of the body as is the skeleton, nervous, endocrine systems etc. The energy system's interlocking sub-systems have been virtually ignored in psychology. When disturbed, the energy systems start a domino effect throughout the mind-body-spirit.

This means that psychological or physical problems can have their beginnings and solutions in the energy systems. It is the subtle energy systems that provide the basic nutrients of the whole mind-body-spirit continuum. be your own healer! I am committed to teaching you how to work with your own energy systems.

You can learn to evaluate and balance many of the subtle energy systems without my presence. Our bodies naturally heal themselves when they are provided with the assistance they need. I admit sometimes it is easier to accomplish that with an expert orchestrating the process but it may not be essential. In my work, I teach and provide healing therapy in the same session because the results grow and strengthen if you use the techniques between sessions. It is not unlike muscle building. It takes more than one weight lifting session to get strong. Also it is helpful to have a trainer with you until you are proficient at the exercises and then available on an as needed basis. This is the way I look at my role in subtle energy work. We will figure out how I can be the most helpful for you and design our relationship and work accordingly.

I introduced Energy Medicine to some teachers in the Detroit Michigan area who are in a Masters Program. They were fascinated especially with Wayne Cook and the Cross Crawl & some of the exercises to help children and teachers focus in the classroom. I was involved with a group who was writing a manual for teachers in the Detroit Public Schools and introduced some of the Energy Medicine techniques there.

Until now I have been doing only stand-alone drop-in classes. You don't have to know the meridians to learn chakras! Just last week I started my '5-week series' starting from the beginning again (since I have just finished the book, well almost). I like it much better because taking one group of people through it together is more focused and continuous--and they are serious people. However, I'm continuing the stand-alone classes. Some people just can't make a long-term commitment.

Lesson Plan for Stand-alone Drop-in Classes

• Lengths of Classes. Recently I've increased the time of the classes from two to three hours. I tell the students that the last half hour is just for practicing anything they want to practice. I had noticed that often people would do that anyway, especially if they got a partner who really needed something that wasn't from the current chapter. Two hours was always a bit rushed anyway.

• Experimenting with Practice Sessions. I've started 'Practice Sessions'. However, only two people have come to the sessions. So we'll see.

• Pacing Sessions so Students Can Gain Mastery. The main criticism I've received (I always ask for feedback) is that I try to cover too much in one class. I especially go too fast with the meridians. Now I'm tracing them slowly, teaching only two (one rhythm) in each class. After awhile they will know them all. People want to go away from a class having mastered something they can take home and use. I wanted to give them something for their time and money but sometimes all they got was overwhelmed!

I've found that I can't assume people have read the chapter beforehand, even though in my email announcements I always give the chapter and the location on the videos. Many learn by doing and hearing and just don't read the book very thoroughly.

• Handouts. I use the handouts which I handed out in Florida. By the way, please put this footnote on them: 'Adapted from the teachings of Donna Eden by Dorothy Lamb and presented with permission. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

For further information about the topic, see ENERGY MEDICINE by Donna Eden or visit www.innersource.net. Probably a good idea to put that on your handouts too. I will sell a packet of handouts at the Colorado weekend with additions and updates.

• Making Styrofoam Posters of Curriculum. I found a business that will enlarge my computer printouts and put it on a styrofoam backing, which is invaluable for teaching. So far I just have DER and Basic Exercises. But I'm planning to do neurolymphatics and neurovasculars and others. Have to check out the legality first.

• Video Presentations. I'm starting to play a bit of a video at each class (when there is a video available) and people seem to like this. In a 2 hour class though it was difficult to find the time.

• Group Management Skills. I'm working on my group management skills. The biggest hurdle is letting people add comments to what I'm saying and ask questions without my letting their talking get out of hand--one person taking up too much time especially with something that others are not interested in. Finding the balance is tricky.

I'm pretty strict about bringing in other practitioners though. I've got my approach down pat and sometime I say it to my students: 'I teach what Donna teaches. I'd be happy to talk to you about Carolyn Myss, Brain Gym, etc. after the class.' When I say something that is not strictly Donna's teaching, I identify it--'In Polarity Therapy, the right hand is yang, the left is yin.'

• Teaching Out of My Home. I've started teaching mostly out of my home, which I like. I can hold about 20 people in my living room. More outside in good weather. That way I don't have to load my massage table into the car. I can print something from my computer. One of the most successful things I've done is having a potluck after Esalen and invited people who attended that to share their experiences. In the classes there often isn't time to hang around and especially to let other people talk.

• Outside Presenters. Linda Christian on ADD and Debra Hurt on Energy Testing were very well attended. Both of them are coming back to do longer presentations and take appointments. I'm lucky living close to Ashland. I plan to continue having out-of-town presentations.

One little boy who gets easily inundated is now able to immediately put his finger pads up to his nervovasculars when he gets wigged out. He wildly calls for Jackie to have her acknowledge his moment of attempting to soothe himself as he struggles. Even though the kids think this is all strange they are fascinated and you can usually see them with great curiosity in their eyes attempting the movement whatever it is.

As you well know, Energy Medicine is an integral part of my daily living. It continues to feed and improve my energy level, providing me with the strength and well-being I need. This month I'd like to share the following experience.

I am having fun in my psychotherapy practice integrating Donna's work with the Energy Psychology that I had fairly well in place before I started studying Energy Medicine. These approaches are soulmates in my opinion. Often when one modality isn't working the other will loosen up something else, and it all begins to flow once again. Clients find it is so empowering to have something they can do at home that really helps.

I use it daily in my own life and find it immensely helpful. I find when I regularly treat the little irritations, anxieties, fears, etc. that life just goes more smoothly, and the BIG crises seem not to happen anymore. Hmmm. I have a morning energy routine that I do along with the chi machine that includes the basic 'keep your energies humming' routine, separating heaven and earth, and checking my chakras to make sure all is well there. I do some electrical points I got from Sandy Wand on a visit to Ashland where I had a treatment from her. I would strongly recommend that if anyone gets anywhere close to Ashland, that you make an appointment to see Sandy. WOW!

I was recently working on a client, doing a mental treatment--a la reiki--and I saw thick cords tying her to traumatic past life events which were surfacing and causing her a lot of pain in this lifetime. It seemed that I needed to cut the cords, which I did with white light, and when I did so I began to see gridlike sheets lying down one on another, along her spine.

I have used Tectonic magnets, sold by Magnetherapy Inc., for wrist pain from sitting at the computer and for other painful muscle problems. The relief is incredible! I think these are the kind of magnet (unipole) that Donna recommends. The brochure reads, 'They send forth a negative (unipole) field that counteracts the positive fields associated with pain. I would be curious to know if they are the kind Donna recommends. I have had very good results with them.