common ground nov 2014 - bob weir interview
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Common Ground Nov 2014 IssueAll content is property of Common Ground magazine, a Bay Area freely distributed magazine. In this issue is an amazing interview with Bob Weir about the Grateful Dead.TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 2014 | FREECOMMONGROUNDMAG.COM
THE BAY AREA’S MAGAZINE FOR CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY SINCE 1974
YEARSOF GRATITUDE
1974–2014
BAY AREA TRANSFORMATIONHonoring the Pioneers
GIVING THANKSPath to Health and Happiness
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORYOur Covers Through the Decades
THE COMMON GROUND INTERVIEWBob Weir, Gratefully
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laura Burkhart
Deborah Burkman
annie Carpenter
seane Corn
Jason Crandell
Tiffany Cruikshank
DJ Drez
Maty ezraty
Bo Forbes
amanda Giacomini
kathleen holm
Gopi kallayil
eric kipp
Gary kraftsow
Chris loebsack
Giselle Mari
Vinnie Marino
Richard Miller
Dharma Mittra
eva Monova
sadie Nardini
Jason Nemer
eric Paskel
shiva Rea
katie silcox
laurie sleep
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»
contents52
INEVERYISSUE FromthePublisher 16
GreenScene 30
PeopleinYourNeighborhood 34 Common Ground founder Andy Alpine
Happenings =70
ProfessionalServicesDirectory5572 LastWords 82
42
46
DEPARTMENTS
onourradar18 OnBeatniksandBe-Ins Musings on the Hippie Era By Wes Nisker
20 HeroesoftheSexualRevolution By Chas August
22 The40-YearAdvanceforLGBTEquality Reasons to Be Grateful (“Kiss Cam” Not Included) By Tom Ammiano
24 TheSocialandEcologicalCrisis Root Causes By Randy Hayes
26 BayAreaBuddhism How the Golden Gate Rises from the Mist By Lama Surya Das
28 PeterCoyote Profile of a Bay Area Renaissance Man By Terry Bisson
healthyliving38 AHealingRevolution 1974 to 2014 By Dana Ullman
40 TheWholeFoodMovement A 40-Year Review By Ed Bauman
42 PsychologyandtheContemporaryWesternSpiritualTradition
By Mariana Caplan
44 TheNeuroscienceofGratitude Why Thankfulness Makes Us Healthier By Ocean Robbins
46 TheSaintsofIndiaandtheTsunamiofYoga
By Jeffrey Armstrong and Kavindra Rishi
art&soul50 Reviews The Grateful Life The Physics of Angels The Sacred Seed The Science and Practice of Humility Watershed: Music Inspired by the Place That Connects Us
FEATURES 40 Years of Gratitude 1974–2014
52 The Common GroundInterview:BobWeir,Gratefully
By Rob Sidon
60 40YearsofCommon GroundCovers A Pictorial Retrospective
NOVEMBER 2014
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14 NOVEMBER 2014
We like to think of Common Ground as a Bay Area beacon of positivity, and this since 1974. As of the May 2009 issue, the publication is under independent ownership, reflecting an increased focus on local trends in green living, social change, health and wellness, spirituality, and personal growth. It is our ongoing intent to make a lasting, substantive, positive change — around the block and around the world. The distribution of our magazine is free and supported solely by our dear advertisers. We thank them for making this possible, though the publication assumes no liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. Please notify us in the event you have a compliment, complaint, or comment. Advertisers of products and services are fully and solely responsible for providing same as advertised. All contents © Common Ground Publishing Inc.
The Bay Area’s Magazine for Conscious Community since 1974775 East Blithesdale Ave. #222, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: 415-459-4900 or 415-505-1410www.commongroundmag.com
Common Ground is published by Common Ground Publishing Inc.
Contributing Writers Tom Ammiano, Jeffrey Armstrong, Chas August, Ed Bauman, Terry Bisson,
Mariana Caplan, Paige Churchman, Sarah Cirillo, Lama Surya Das, Randy Hayes, Wes Nisker, Anna Padaka, Kavindra Rishi, Colin Rolfe, Ocean Robbins, Dana Ullman
Contributing Artists
Drew Altizer, Jay Blakesberg, Martin Cohen, Emily Goodman, Ron Henggeler, Mark Kuroda, Rosie Mcgee, Susana Millman, Scott Strezzante
Suggest a story or artwork
Consult our website for guidelines. Email submissions to [email protected].
Submit a letter to the editor
Email [email protected] with the subject line “letter to the editor.”
Suggest an event for the calender Email [email protected]
with the subject line “calendar event.”
Publisher/Editor-in-ChiefRob Sidon
Art Director
Tom Lorphanpaibul
Senior EditorCarrie Grossman
Music EditorLloyd Barde
Copy Editor/ProofreaderJohn Vias
DistributionAlice Tokars, Reliable Distribution
[email protected], 415-637-4280
Display and Directory AdvertisingRob Sidon 415-505-1410
Ganshet Nandoskar 415-251-7651
This hopeful book integrates spirituality andactivism, and sounds awake up call to a culture incrisis. It explores wakingup – what it is, and how itcan happen – individuallyand in culture.
By consciously evolvingand waking up, we engagemore in the world and helpsolve the immense challenges of our time.
Waking UP is available atAmazon.com and some BayArea bookstores.
Taylor Hawke, a Bay Arearesident, serves on theSteering Committees of350 Bay Area and 350Marin.
Bill McKibben: “A fascinating account of how our biggest global crisis mayrelate to some of our smallest internal battles. Provocative!”Rabbi Michael Lerner: “Waking UP reminds us that the consciousness thatcan save this world is not solely what we do inside ourselves, but also whatwe can do together to save the life-support-system of the planet.”
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16 NOVEMBER 2014
40 Years of Gratitude
It has been a roller coaster assembling this commemorative issue, akin to October baseball. Gratefully, the Giants prevailed with Madison Bumgarner (the ace pitcher, who wears the number 40) and so have
we. Our goal was to gather essays from experts who witnessed the trans-formation within the various sectors representing Common Ground’s bailiwick. We sought to honor the trailblazers whose efforts have made the world a better place.
Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead is my esteemed interviewee. Bob tells the story of the night he met band mate Jerry Gar-cia on New Year’s Eve in 1964 and never had to interview for another job again. He candidly recounts being at the hot center of the psychedelic movement, the transformative ’70s, the lucrative ’80s, and the loss of Jerry, his wingman, in 1995. A self-described “professional kid,” Bob ex-perienced every nuance of the sex and drugs and rock ’n’ roll culture, but never lost his ardent spiritual flame. Throughout, he envisioned spend-ing his golden years in a monastery. Read the interview to find out more.
I caught up with Andy Alpine, my mentor who founded Common Ground. Andy discussed his gratitude for California (he came from New York) and how the magazine put him at the hot center of the human potential movement.
Jeffrey Armstrong offers a masterful essay on the spiritual yoga cul-ture we’ve inherited from India, while Lama Surya Das outlines the rel-evance of Buddhism to the Bay Area. Dana Ullman and Ed Bauman have respectively written about advances in health care and the food industry.
Charles August shares how the sex positive movement has blossomed, while Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who worked side by side with Har-vey Milk, chronicles the giant steps toward equalization of the LGBT contingent.
Mariana Caplan’s essay delineates the emergence of spirituality in contemporary psychology, while Randy Hayes, who founded Rainfor-est Action Network, examines the root causes of our environmental cri-sis. Wes “Scoop” Nisker, another who was also “there” shares anecdotes about ’60s idealism and how that set the groundwork for the Common Ground era. Terry Bisson profiles his famous college classmate, Peter Coyote, the quintessential Bay Area Renaissance man.
Finally, we take a walk down memory lane to expose the legacy of four decades of sometimes stunning magazine covers. To some readers these will be reminders—to others a first.
To our staff: Carrie Grossman, my so-called partner in editorial crime, thank you for your sensibility and for your part of a productive dialec-tic. Tom Lorphapaibul, my graphics pro, thank you for kicking ass. Your layouts are sober yet breathtaking and you get it done. John Vias, my copy editor, you’ve no idea how much I honor your skills. You make everyone’s writing better; you are cherished. Ganshet Nandoskar, thank you for helping keep the wheels turning. To our readers—and advertis-ers, thank you. To anyone connected to keeping this magazine alive—I simply cup my hands in gratitude. I’ve no words but “thank you, thank you, thank you.”
To the next 40!
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18 NOVEMBER 2014
On Beatnicks and Be-InsMusings on the Hippie Era
BY WES NISKER
Brothers and sisters, lovers and friends, are you hip yet? Can you dig it? If not, just put some flowers in your hair and
some flowers in your pipe, and suddenly we are in San Francisco during one of those dreamy summers of love. You have started the day with a toke or two, and now you’re heading toward the park to see what’s happening, and you’re groovin’ on the scene as a Volkswagen van full of laughing hippies drives by with “Ser-geant Pepper” blasting away on the radio, and suddenly you can’t decide whether to spend the day trying to save the world or just savor the world . . . and so you have another toke.
I’m just trying to explore some of the history behind the fact that you are now reading the 40th anniversary issue of Common Ground. It’s a matter of honoring the ancestors and giving a nod and a bow to those who gave birth to what is now known as the “new age.”
Our magical mystery tour begins just after World War II, when the baby boom was born and America became a superpower, taking over the former European colonies with tele-vision and Coca Cola and dreams too rich to ever be fulfilled. It was an America where the cars had started to grow fins, and the terror-ists were called communists, and the Ameri-can dream was just starting to put everyone to sleep.
And in the heart of the new empire, a bunch of young rogues and visionaries began to ar-ticulate a different sensibility—a countercul-ture—a movement that drew on the ideas of European dada and existentialism; a move-ment that turned toward the East, to the Tao, the Buddha, and the Jai Jai Ram; a movement fueled by the drumbeats of essential Africa and that found its American voice in the mu-sical forms of jazz and rock ’n’ roll and in the writings of the beatniks.
It was the gang of Jack Kerouac, mad to live and to dig every note in the great riff of life,
on our radar NOVEMBER 2014
bodywork and breath-based therapies. I was part of that grand conspiracy of young
people who—at least for a few years—refused to join the “straights” and their consumer economy, known to us as “the system.” We re-jected the old-world mentality of our parents, with their Depression-era fears of scarcity and war, and their uptight puritan morality. In-stead, we sought a new ethos and mythology, one that would celebrate life and sexuality and nature…. One that would embrace the world as one.
Okay, so maybe we were a little naïve. Or maybe we just had it too good. As the psychol-ogist Paul Goodman wrote in his famous book Growing Up Absurd, “It was destined that the children of affluence, who grew up without toilet training, and freely masturbating, would turn out to be daring, disobedient, and simple-minded.”
So maybe that’s why we started chanting, “We want the world, and we want it now!” We were poorly potty trained and prone to tan-trums!
But we were just trying to create a better world, and especially trying to stop our gov-ernment from conducting a criminal, horrific war. But at heart, the hippies weren’t very po-
driven along the road by the crazy looping so-los of Charlie Parker and the offbeat chords of Thelonious Monk. The beatniks were ro-mantics and mystics at heart. As Ginsberg said, they were “beatifically beat,” searching for what Kerouac called “the golden eternity.” And in their travels they saw the light come shining down from the East, and before long they were introducing strange new words into the hipster’s jive lexicon—words like “karma” and “dharma” and “mantra” and “Tantra.” And it all sounded so exotic that I finally decided to come to San Francisco to become a beat-nik. But I was too late to make the scene, so I got assigned to the hippies instead. And I am proud to say I was a hippie! Can I get a wit-ness?
The hippies were idealistic and optimistic and became known as “flower children.” That’s because we dragged Bohemia out of the dark bars and coffeehouses for a few brief years of colorful frolicking in the sun, celebrating the Age of Aquarius, always accompanied by the ecstatic wail of electric guitars. And we spent a lot of our abundant free time experimenting with consciousness—yes, by ingesting illegal substances—but also through meditation and yoga and the new psychologies of gestalt and
CG_Mag_1114_v2.indd 18 10/31/14 11:07 AM
COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 19
litical. We had no analysis or five-year plan. Instead, our revolution was expressed in gath-erings known as “be-ins,” communal celebra-tions of just being. Here’s the San Francisco Oracle—once a Haight-Ashbury journal—an-nouncing that the first “human be-in” would take place in Golden Gate Park: “The spiritual revolution will be manifest and proven. We will shower the nation with waves of ecstasy and purification. Fear will be washed away. Ig-norance exposed to sunlight. Profits and Em-pire will lie drying on deserted beaches.”
Yes, it was a spiritual revolution! And if the hippies have a legacy, it’s in this journal you are reading and in the yoga and meditation centers now in every town in America. And it’s also in the modern environmental movement that got its start in the late ’60s with back-to-the-land visions of “eco-topia,” plus a Whole Earth Catalog of appropriate technologies, now becoming a testament to our vision and prophecies and also necessary for our survival.
The hippies were right, and still right on! It’s time to scale down and simplify. It is time to re-create community, and celebrate existence and make a whole new world full of peace, love, and good vibes.
So, in honor of the hippie legacy, I propose that somewhere—maybe on the mall in Wash-ington, DC—there should be a statue erected to “the unknown hippie.” People could visit and leave old buttons, beads, flowers.
And maybe in honor of all the offbeat ances-tors who seeded the so-called “new age,” we could hold an annual day of remembrance and tribute, a day when we turn off all our isolat-ing computers and just go out into the streets and start talking to people about life, or about how to end all the disgusting wars or deal with climate change. Or else we could go to the park and just sit down and feel the earth, and maybe even give her a big hug like the hippies used to, and then vow to do everything we can to see that this little biosphere project con-tinues—this awesome experiment in life and consciousness. And then, brothers and sisters, even if it’s just for a few hours, let’s banish our sorrow over what is happening to the world, let go of the fear and the greed, and then have ourselves a good old-fashioned be-in. Let’s cel-ebrate life and the mystery of it all!
And remember, as always, if you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.
Wes “Scoop” Nisker is a Buddhist meditation teacher, author, radio commentator, and per-former. Wes’s famous tagline is: “If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.” WesNisker.com
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20 NOVEMBER 2014
on our radar » sex
Heroes of The Sexual RevolutionBY CHAS AUGUST
In honor of Common Ground’s 40th an-niversary, here is a brief list of some of the Bay Area’s heroes of the past 40 years. I am
a relationship and intimacy coach, as well as a sex, love, and intimacy workshop leader, so my heroes are the brave men and women who risked everything to bring sex out of the closet, out of the gutter, out of the darkness, and into the light.
I think of these men and women as the he-roes of the revolution. I’m talking about the so-called sexual revolution that the media talked about in the 1960s. You see, we “won“ the sex-ual revolution—sex norms actually changed, and there was a dramatic shift in values related to sex and sexuality. Sex became more socially acceptable, both inside and outside the strict boundaries of heterosexual marriage.
We won the war, but we lost the aftermath. By the mid-1970s we all knew we were sup-posed to have somehow shaken off the narrow attitudes and roles of the 1950s, but most of us had no tools or training for this brave new sexually awakened world. Thank goodness it all began to change, right around the time this magazine was first published. Teachers, coach-es, workshops, and trainings started showing up to help lead all of us out of the chaos and into fulfilling, shame-free sexuality and rela-tionships.
The Bay Area has been particularly blessed with a rich and varied collection of teachers and coaches working in and around human sexuality. A few that come readily to mind are Lori Grace and her Celebrations of Love relationship skills training center; clinical sex-ologist and psychosexual expert Claudia Six; Reichian therapist Michele Newmark and her Center for Healing and Expression; Nicole Daedone and her Orgasmic Meditation teach-ing at One Taste/SF; all the resident and visit-ing teachers, workshop leaders, and therapists at Harbin Hot Springs clothing-optional spa, retreat, and workshop center; Steve and Lokita Carter and their EcstaticLiving Institute and
Tantra trainings and classes; alternative healer and “channel” Evalina Rose; Celeste and Dani-elle, creators of the Somatica Method of Sex Therapy and Relationship Coaching; Dossie Easton and her groundbreaking book The Ethi-cal Slut; sex-positive feminist Susie Bright; and sex columnist Isadora Alman (“Ask Isadora”).
Let me introduce you to a cross-section of my personal Bay Area heroes—teachers and leaders who made a real and lasting difference for everyone reading this.
Maggi Rubenstein Maggi Rubenstein has been called San Fran-cisco’s “godmother of sex ed.” In 1972 she began working at the National Sex Forum at Glide Memorial Church, offering workshops and courses about everyday human sexual-ity—masturbation, pornography, men’s sexu-ality, women’s sexuality, sex and disability, and much more. In 1976 these trainings became the basis for an accredited program that be-came the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. In 1973 she also cofounded the Bisexual Center and the San Francisco Sex Information Hotline (SFSI). Graduates of the SFSI training program include Isadora Alman, Susie Bright, Patrick Califia, Carol Queen, Midori, and Violet Blue. The organization an-
swers about 3,000 phone calls and about twice as many emails every year.
Starhawk Starhawk is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction—The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing—that explores and celebrates what she calls feminist neo-paganism, ecofeminism, and the use and abuse of power. She believes our patriarchal society has confused eroticism with violence and domination, and she pas-sionately advocates sexuality as “sacred be-cause through it we make a connection with another self—but it is misused and perverted when it becomes an arena of ‘power over,’ a means of treating another—or oneself—as an object.”
Marty Klein Dr. Marty Klein is a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist as well as an author, speaker, and advocate for understanding and accepting sexuality. His self-stated goal is to tell the truth about sexual-ity, helping people feel sexually adequate and powerful, and supporting the healthy sexual expression and exploration of women and men. In his own words, “I’ve continually called attention to the social and political conditions
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 21
that keep so many of us feeling guilty, con-fused, scared, and hopeless about our sexual feelings, experiences, and relationships.”
Joanie BlankJoanie Blank is a writer, publisher, sex thera-pist, and family-planning counselor. In 1975 she wrote and published her first book, The Playbook for Women About Sex. Leading sup-port groups for women who wanted help to be orgasmic, or more orgasmic, Joanie often suggested trying sex toys, including vibrators. Sadly, the only places such things could be purchased were through mail order or at lo-cal adult bookstores. The mail order info was mostly found only in men’s sex magazines, and the local stores did not feel safe or inviting to most women.
In 1977 Joanie opened Good Vibrations, the first women-oriented sex toy shop in the Bay Area (and only the second such shop in the country). Good Vibrations offered sex in-formation and education, featured erotica and books about sexual health and pleasure, and pioneered the concept of, in Joanie’s words, “a sex-positive, clean, well-lighted place” to buy sex toys.
“Del” MartinThe late “Del” Martin was the first openly gay woman to be appointed to the SF Commis-sion on the Status of Women (SFCOSW) by then mayor George Moscone in 1977. Martin joined forces with other minority SFCOSW commissioners, such as Kathleen Hardiman Arnold and Ella Hill Hutch, to focus on the nexus of gay women’s rights and racial and ethnic discrimination. Martin was ahead of her time in understanding the cultural aspects of gay health.
Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt Mama is a leader in the leather, BDSM, and LGBT communities and is very active in the fundraising arena for her annual Breast Cancer Dinners; LeatherWalk (for the AIDS Emergency Fund and the Breast Can-cer Emergency Fund), which kicks off Leather Pride Week leading up to the Folsom Street Fair; and Toy Drive for Camp Sunburst, a program for children and families living with HIV/AIDS. She has devoted her life to help-ing others by networking and organizing com-munity activists for short-term and ongoing campaigns.
Joseph KramerJoseph Kramer, PhD, is one of the foremost teachers of erotic massage in the world. In
1984 he founded the Body Electric School in Oakland, where he trained thousands of professional massage therapists, erotic body workers, and educators. The Body Electric is the world’s largest community network of-fering safe sex education today—and for the last 25 years. Body Electric is committed to expanding people’s understanding of the role that sexuality can play in their personal and spiritual lives.
Joseph has also created and distributed one of the finest collections of videos about our bodies and our sexuality. Videos like Fire on the Mountain and Fire in the Valley offer shame-free, easy-to-understand instructions for genital massage and play that have delight-ed, educated, and transformed thousands of adults’ sex lives (including my own).
Stan Dale No list of my heroes could be complete with-out including my friend and mentor, the late Dr. Stan Dale. In 1972, after being pushed out of his psychotherapeutic call-in radio show in Chicago after 19 years for being too support-ive of the anti-war movement, Stan moved to Santa Rosa and restarted his show. And he be-gan looking for a home for the “Stan Dale Sex Workshops,” which later became the Human Awareness Institute.
Stan was the only person I’ve known well who truly loved everyone. He believed and taught that everything we humans do could be seen as acts of love or cries for love. Stan liked to say that “every second we get a second chance” to move toward love and loving con-nections. His workshops were, and are (they’re still going strong seven years after his pass-ing), powerful, heart-opening experiences that are juicy and fun, risky and completely safe, shameless and innocent.
So, let’s raise a glass and offer a toast to our Bay Area sex heroes. These past 40 years they’ve helped make all of us more tolerant, more loving, more sexually liberated, more edu-cated, more alive, and spicier than we might otherwise have been. And a toast to Common Ground and 40 years of promoting workshops and events that transform us all.
Chas August is a workshop leader, hypno-therapist, and marketing director for Human Awareness Institute Global (HAI.org). He is also a Life, Relationship & Intimacy Coach, and his offerings include the Healing Anger Workshop, Techniques for Listening, Conflict Transformation, and Couples Communication. ChasAugust.com
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22 NOVEMBER 2014
on our radar » equality
The 40-Year Advance for LGBT Equality Reasons to Be Grateful
(“Kiss Cam” Not Included)
BY TOM AMMIANO
If I think about 40 years of gratitude, it has to be gratitude for the changes we’ve won. But we still have more to do. Today we have
a president who refers to gay men and lesbians as “our brothers and sisters.” That’s not what we had for most of the past four decades. Those were decades of silence in the face of a disease killing our people and decades in which we were told that “don’t ask, don’t tell” was a policy we should like. We are grateful for how far we’ve come from that.
The focus of my gratitude, however, is on the activists—gay and lesbian and transgender and bisexual activists and our allies—who have worked for this change. It hasn’t been handed to us. Ours is not a passive gratitude. We came out and went out to get what we deserved. I’m thankful for that.
Look at all the positives we’ve seen: official acknowledgement of the rights of transgender people, positive images and support in popu-lar culture from Modern Family to the Harvey Milk postage stamp, the emerging voice of LGBT athletes, and yes, the growth of mar-riage equality. If Rip van Winkle fell asleep in the Castro in the 1970s and woke up today, his head would be spinning.
Giddy gratitude, however, is balanced by so-ber sadness. I don’t want to be Debbie Downer, but you have to recognize that in the depths of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, we lost beloved friends every week. Even as we fought for at-tention to the epidemic and fought against homophobic bias, some of us could not even count on living until 2014. The odds were against us, it seemed, and yet here I am.
I am here, and I’ve been here since Har-vey Milk was a leader. That’s why I often find myself reminding people of Harvey’s advice that gratitude for progress has to be accom-panied by vigilance. We must stand sentinel, or what we have built can be eroded away in a flash. History has shown this over and over. Closely connected to that is Harvey’s message that the LGBT struggle has to be allied with other struggles. We have to connect the dots to other communities. We have worked with labor, with the disabled community, with those concerned about housing, with those seeking funding for mental health services.
In part, it’s because those struggles are our struggles. It’s also about having friends when you need them. Without the support of a union, the struggle I faced as a teacher com-ing out 40 years ago would have been harder. Housing? Homelessness rates are highest in the LGBT community, especially among youth. Every issue is our issue. LGBT is truly everywhere.
That doesn’t mean I think assimilation is the answer. I have a more gay liberation perspec-tive. We are different; we aren’t cookie-cutter people. Our community contributes in its own unique ways, and we don’t want to apologize.
Not apologizing is something we learned from having to battle AIDS. I’m grateful that we learned it, but I wish we didn’t have to. We had to push for the recognition that this dis-ease was affecting people and needed to be ad-dressed, and it took political will to make that happen.
We can be grateful that we’ve reached a time when the medical community doesn’t just con-sider it a gay disease. So many things about the LGBT community used to be reduced to how we had sex. When you said “gay,” peo-ple thought everything was about sex. Now,
there’s way more recognition that there is a gay culture. We are not just in a few neighbor-hoods—Castro, Polk, Valencia—but all over the city. You can do that when you’re not wor-ried about being beaten up, when you’re not worried about being evicted because you’re gay. These are big things that we should be very grateful for.
There are still a few frontiers for the LGBT community, and we can at least be happy that they are discussed. One area is the realm of gay and lesbian athletes. That they can come out at all is a step, but many are still closeted or punished (losing endorsements, for example) for speaking out about who they are. And you would think we’re still back in high school with the limits on public displays of affection. It’s rare to see a same-sex couple holding hands, let alone kissing in public, outside the “safe” neighborhoods.
And as a baseball fan, I’m disappoint-ed that the Giants’ “Kiss Cam” doesn’t seem to find any gay or lesbian fans. In San Francisco! If one of the baseball play-ers wants to volunteer for same-sex “Kiss Cam,” I’m willing. The team had a slo-gan around the early 1990s, “We’ve got a Gi-ant attitude.” If they can bring about Kiss Cam equality, then we’d have a Giant gratitude.
Tom Ammiano has served San Francisco for four decades as a teacher, civil rights leader, educator, supervisor, and assembly member. In 1975, he became the first public school teacher in San Francisco to make his sexual orientation public. He was elected to the School Board in 1990, to the Board of Supervisors in 1994, and to the California Assembly in 2008. His bills have protected domestic workers, transgender students, domestic partners, victims of bully-ing, LGBT foster youth, and tenants.
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SF Bay Area | 2014
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 23
Come meet Mata Amritanandamayi, renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader.AMMA
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24 NOVEMBER 2014
on our radar » issues
The Social and Ecological CrisisRoot Causes
BY RANDY HAYES
Since its inception, Common Ground has shined a light on the social and ecologi-cal issues facing our planet. Over the last
40 years, these concerns have become ever more pressing, and we can no longer turn a blind eye to the challenges. We must heal the root causes of our planetary crisis.
As founder of the Rainforest Action Net-work, my influences have come from rubbing shoulders mostly in the southwest deserts near the Grand Canyon and in Northern California. This was with many Hopi elders and other fine people such as the nature poet Gary Snyder, David Brower, Hazel Henderson, Fritjof Cap-ra, and Donella Meadows. The learning curve continued more recently with people such as Public Media Center’s Herb Gunther and Jerry Mander. Here is a little bit of what I’ve learned. While others in this special issue of the maga-zine will discuss specific gains, you might look
at those articles in light of this analysis of the root causes. I believe the house is on fire.
This and the next few decades will be tu-multuous. A deeper analysis of the core prob-lems is a key step to get from false solutions to the real deal. There are various valid ways to conceptualize the root causes of our social and ecological crisis. I adapted this list from a Foundation for Deep Ecology document, add-ing four or so points. The list evolves as I learn. How do you see it? My suggestion is to take what you agree with and add items to your own list.
Patriarchy/Anthropocentrism The as-sumption of human superiority over other life forms, as if we were dominant over na-ture’s laws, ecological principles, or the web of life. Natural carrying capacity is not har-monized with equitable and dignified life-styles, sensible technologies, the size of our population, and the needs of other creatures. Patriarchy is a manifestation of this sense of superiority.
Irresponsible Economic Growth The prevailing ethic of Western society that unlim-ited economic growth—the market economy with billions committed to commodity ac-cumulation, consumption, and waste—is de-sirable and possible on a finite planet. This “cheater economy” externalizes pollution costs and ignores carrying-capacity issues. The “true-cost economy” is the alternative.
Technology Worship The prevailing par-adigm that technological evolution (especially industrial technology) is invariably good and that problems caused by technology can be solved by more technology.
Technological Lock-In Given our reliance on fossil fuels, individuals have little choice to opt out. People have the feeling that they are unable to change their lifestyle (e.g., they have to drive to work, as there is no public transpor-tation). To solve our environmental problems, we are asking people to change almost all their behaviors—housing, transportation, eating, shopping, vacationing, and more—when as we know from dieting and smoking that single-behavior changes are extremely hard.
Modern Chemistry The invention of sub-stances for which the planet does not have or-ganic counterparts capable of biologically de-grading or productively integrating in natural cycles.
Mass Media The domination and advance-
ment of viewpoints that serve the interests of the industrial world and suppress alternative views, keeping them from the public con-sciousness. What was once called the “free press” is now called the “mass media.”
Concentration of Power The loss of public governance due to the concentration of power within a small number of corporate ex-ecutives and business owners is detrimental to nature and to society’s future.
Lack of Holistic Thinking Insufficient education in whole-systems thinking in coun-tries planet-wide. This leads to ecological il-literacy, lack of appreciation for wild nature, and lack of ecological design. Indigenous com-munities, more exposed to nature’s ways, have much to offer to better understand a holistic worldview or perspective.
Lack of a Geologic or Long-Term Perspective Actions based on the desire for short-term gratification (such as quar-terly profits) can degrade the conditions for life and reduce the options for subsequent generations. The industrial economy seems unable to deal with complex, long-term prob-lems. We are capable of both good and evil, yet when the chips are down, industrial so-ciety tends to be more motivated by fear and greed than by altruism.
Insufficient Leadership and Institu-tional Mandate Locally, nationally, and globally, there has been a failure of leadership. Despite the best efforts of many, there is no institution powerful enough to challenge busi-ness as usual and make the sweeping changes essential for survival. Current messages and techniques have failed to raise planetary con-cerns to the top of the list. Issues such as the economy/jobs, terrorism/defense, health, edu-cation, crime, and religion dominate the politi-cal agenda in almost every country.
Remember that there is no economic devel-opment on a dead planet. There is no social equity to be found there, either. Perhaps the rising number of extreme weather events and economic downturns will create the context for change at a scale commensurate with the problems we face. Use those windows of op-portunity to your advantage and jam through the deeper solutions. Your work can lead us to a better world.
Randy Hayes founded Rainforest Action Net-work (RAN.org). He is executive director of Foundation Earth. EarthFDNEarth.org
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26 NOVEMBER 2014
Bay Area BuddhismHow the Golden Gate
Rises from the Mist
BY LAMA SURYA DAS
In the early seventies, my own late Lama Kalu Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama’s yoga teacher, looked out over the twinkling Bay Area lights
and said, “It looks like thousands of butter lamp offerings laid out on an altar.” This was how he saw the great bay, via BuddhaVision.
As Bay Area Buddhism goes, so goes Bud-dhism in the West. San Francisco and its surrounding environs have long been a hotbed and vi-tal breeding ground for dharma practice and study, along with sangha community. Early Ameri-can Buddhas and bodhisattvas doubtless abounded at Saint Francis’s beautiful bay. John Muir was certainly one among them, in contemplative reverie deep in his beloved redwood groves on Mount Tamalpais.
Buddhism in California spe-cifically begins with mid-eigh-teenth-century Chinese immi-gration to the “Gold Mountain” (America), hoping for less-impoverished and freer lives. Americans would come to Bud-dhism later, after World War I, then in earnest in the fifties and countercultural sixties, and since.
Just visit the Japanese tea gar-den or de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, and you will get the picture, if not enlight-ened. I often meet people there. San Francisco’s Chinatown has long been the most fascinating in the entire Western world. More fascinating yet is this infinite spiritual journey, from Berkeley to Buddhahood and back, and becoming American Buddhas.
For we are all Buddhas by nature; we only have to recognize and awaken to who and what we truly are.
City Lights, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s hip paperback bookstore on North Hill in San Francisco, was a beacon for artists, intellec-tuals, Buddhists, and bodhisattvas, including Jack Kerouac, Gary Snyder, Diane Di Prima, and Allen Ginsberg. Then came the exemplary pioneers among the first wave of Asian master teachers to come ashore, such as Suzuki Ro-shi, Tarthang Tulku, Kobun Chino Sensai, and the female Burmese teacher Rina Sircar. Mike Murphy’s groundbreaking Esalen Institute in Big Sur welcomed innumerable erudite spiri-tual luminaries. Even Lama Govinda left India to rest in the shade near Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Muir Beach, and eventually passed away nearby. In 1969 the San Francisco Zen Center acquired a building on Page Street, where Governor Jerry Brown often showed up. Frank Ostaseki would later start its pioneering
Zen Hospice Project, now the country’s larg-est Buddhist hospice center. The next wave brought in American teachers trained in both Asia and the West by Eastern masters: Rich-ard Baker-Roshi and Bill Kwong Sensei, and then Reb Anderson, Mel Weisman, Baba Ram Dass (spiritual pioneer), and others. Three of the foremost longtime Buddhist publishers, Shambhala Publications, Parallax Press, and the Nyingma Dharma Press, began in Berke-ley, as did the Wind Bell, Inquiring Mind (Vi-passana community) journal, and The Turning Wheel (of Engaged Buddhism).
In the late seventies, Jack Kornfield pio-neered west from the seminal Insight Medita-tion Society he’d founded with Joseph Gold-stein and Sharon Salzberg in Massachusetts, and other friends who trained under the great gurus in Asia, to build what would become Spirit Rock Meditation Center on sacred Na-tive American land in Woodacre—perhaps the most prominent center in the Bay Area today.
Besides their intensive insight meditation (Vipassana) and lov-ing-kindness (metta) retreats and programs, Jack and his associates established the first authentic multiyear Buddhist teacher train-ing in the Western world, still un-equalled today, and are helping further the mindfulness move-ment.
The most recent wave of Bay Area dharma teachers includes Americans trained mostly by Americans: Mel Weitzman, Paul Haller, Blanche Hartman, and James Baraz. Noteworthy among today’s youthful local Bud-dhas are Adyashanti and Anam Thubten Rinpoche, Ari Gold-field, Rose Taylor, Norman Fish-er-Sensei, Shaila Catherine, and Will Kabat-Zinn, each and all of whom I happily recommend to anyone interested.What would a Bay Area–yana be without Silicon Valley, including heavy-weights Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Mitch Kapor, and Dustin Mos-cowitz—all heavily influenced by Buddhist thought, practice, and ethics—and many others? Chade-Meng Tan’s 60-day SIY (search inside yourself ) course at Google is worth mentioning, as well as the burgeoning world of online courses, teacher train-
on our radar » religion
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 27
ings, virtual retreats, mindfulness apps, and other upcoming, ever more envelope-pushing, immersive, virtual reality techniques for entraining positive mental states, including concentration and creative visualiza-tion, compassion and altruism, mindfulness and equanimity. Meng’s SIY specifically aims to help secular practitioners develop attention training, self-knowledge, and self-mastery, intent upon contributing to cocreating a more peaceful and sustainable world.
We’ve been almost painfully devoted to preserving our precious trea-sury of ancient traditions and timeless lineages, yet adaptation-inno-vation also remains an important touchstone in the New World. Bud-dhadharma is currently experiencing a resurgence in today’s mindfulness movement. Moreover, Buddhism has had a terrific impact on several significant aspects of American life, from healing and neuroscience to psychotherapy, poetry, architecture and the arts, nonviolent social activ-ism, higher education, vegetarianism and whole foods, animal rights, in-terconnectedness, and the environment. Three thousand research papers on the power of compassion and mindfulness training alone have been published in the last two decades, fomenting an entirely new discussion about the global impact of inculcating these values and practices in mod-ern people and societies. Today, there are over 5,000 Buddhist centers in North America, and fully half of all Western Buddhist teachers are wom-en, unlike in the Old World.
But who’s thinking about Buddhism for the future? Where will tomor-row’s enlightened leaders arise from, and who are the Future Buddha-Farmers of America? Contemporary Buddhist systems thinkers like Jo-anna Macy and analysts like David Loy and Ken Green write well about the interdependence of worldly and spiritual dharmas, but almost no one is discussing Dharma Large and the future of timeless wisdom de-velopment on this endangered globe. Those of us concerned with pass-ing on our accumulated wisdom and transformative lineage traditions to future generations are keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities involved. If Lord Buddha himself walked among us, who would recognize him? Would he be arrested, in his faded, patched robes?
Jewish-Buddhist grandmother Sylvia Boorstein, a psychotherapist by trade, writes that Buddhism is an inside job. We are the bridge between heaven and earth; let’s join hands, heads, and hearts, and act to make our survival on this endangered planet sustainable by turning the base metal of human nature into Buddha nature. Equanimous acceptance is its own transformative, alchemical magic. One moment of total aware-ness is one moment of freedom and enlightenment. For the sake of our children and all generations, let’s co-meditate and “Occupy Spirituality,” awaken together, further the We-volution, keep lobbying for enlighten-ment through our compassion in action, and make this dreamlike reality a good dream rather than a nightmare—for the peace, happiness, and ultimate benefit of one and all.
For me, the Middle Way is Buddha’s greatest teaching. Time is co-emergent and almost simultaneous, so what does the future hold? It be-gins right now. If you want to know what your future life will be, look at your Being and Doing now—the great Middle Way between past and future. It’s now or never, as always. Carpe diem.
Lama Surya Das, whom the Dalai Lama affectionately calls “the American Lama,” is an authorized lama in the Tibetan Bud-dhist order and founder of the Dzogchen Center (Dzogchen.org). He is the author of the bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within and 12 other books, including his latest release, Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now. Surya.org • AskTheLama.com 800.457.6213 www.lovesticks.com
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28 NOVEMBER 2014
on our radar » profile
He came from the East and never looked back. Well, maybe once or twice. But California rang him like a bell.
Growing up in Jersey, in the arms of a big Jewish family, he learned the art of disputa-tion from old commie uncles. On Martha’s Vineyard, folk songs from Tom Rush. In New York, the fierce discipline of modern jazz from Buddy Jones, Charlie Parker’s roommate.
At Grinnell, a small college in the Midwest, it was history, literature, theatre, the humani-ties. He liked the heft and hope of that last word.
He wanted to be a writer.He came to San Francisco to study poetry
with Robert Duncan and was soon seduced into the Mime Troupe, which took on the task of waking up America.
There was a war on. There was work to do.Peter had several gifts—movie star looks, a
Henry Fonda voice, and a ready laugh. Plus the ability to laugh at himself.
Fame was fun, even by the spoonful. (Those who say it isn’t, lie.)
Bill Graham was a familiar soul. So was Janis Joplin. The Sixties were a soul-opening time. Some burst into blossom, some into flame. Some just burst.
Emmett Grogan was a familiar soul. The Diggers took theater straight to the people. Liberation was the play. The audience mem-bers were now the actors. The streets were the stage.
Between the acts the Diggers fed the flower children. Break a leg.
Enlightenment came in bits and pieces, like sunlight through tall trees. Drugs, music, lov-ers, teachers. Teachers, always teachers. Sa-vants and shamans from more-ancient tribes (the Modoc, the Ohlone, the Beats) shared a potlatch of the spirit.
The times, they were a-changing.He changed his name from Cohon to Coy-
ote, in honor of the trickster god he met the first time he ate peyote. Trust your luck. Save the planet.
Caravans of hippies crisscrossed the coun-try, from Olema in Marin, to Black Bear in the Sasquatch country, to Libre in the Colorado Sangres. They called themselves the Free Fam-ily.
But California always called him back. The Bay Area for him was where world met Spirit, like the cliffs shaped by the sea. As everlasting as clouds.
The Haight was a garden at first, then a zoo.Drugs lofted you into the arms of the angels,
then dropped you into the maw of Hell. Fall-ing can feel a lot like flying, at first. The trick is to land on your feet. Then raise your arms to catch your friends and lovers.
Jerry Brown was just weird enough to ap-point him to the California Arts Council. There, he gathered bouquets of wildflower art-ists who had never been picked before, but the experience changed him as well. He learned to turn adversaries into colleagues and then into friends. They elected him chairman but never bought him a car.
Peter learned to keep the old VW running.When a few lucky breaks led to Hollywood,
he grabbed the brass ring but held it at arm’s length. He worked with the stars, but always went home to Mill Valley and the stern in-struction of the redwoods.
He rewrote the ending of E.T.Zen was a door into a quieter room, more
spacious still. Compassion changes everything: diets as well as hearts, understandings as well
Peter CoyoteProfile of a Bay Area
Renaissance Man
BY TERRY BISSON
as ambitions; you learn to shut up and listen. Meditation is work. Still-ness is learning.
There was always work to do.Motorcycles to fix, protest songs
needing new verses, lame trucks cared for like lame friends, a wrench to polish like a chalice. A Buddhist robe to sew, but still with a secular Jew inside, always forgiving but nev-er accepting the half-truths and easy lies of the American dream.
Free Leonard Peltier. Stop the Key-stone pipeline. Save the family farm.
Imagine, if you will, a Zen lay priest with a love for long guns, for
soft chants and loud engines, for bluegrass and bebop, for chamomile tea and Cuban ci-gars, who numbers Hells Angels in hospital and Weathermen in prison among his dearly beloveds.
We met at that same small college 50 years ago. I went east, Peter went west, but we were both riding on the same wild, sweet wind, so we never lost touch. Change was in the air. There was work to do.
Still is.So Coyote’s busy writing books, wrenching
on his old Dodge, sitting zazen, making films and narrating documentaries, and speaking out on things that matter like wildlife, old growth, political prisoners, healthy food, hu-man rights (not just equal but abundant) for all. He’s still learning new guitar licks, tight-ening up his poems, fitting world and Spirit together as best he can. Reminding people of the beautiful creature that’s within them, and listening to others. Always listening.
Peter does good work.
Terry Bisson is the author of Any Day Now and an editor with PM Press in Oakland. Peter Coy-ote’s newest book, The Rainman’s Third Cure, will be published by Counterpoint next year.
Peter Coyote
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green scene
Yoga Tree 15th anniversary
Nick Morgan, David Shearer, Ana Roth. Helen Arrick, Russ Eddy at RAN fundraiser, SF
Giants win the Series!
Rachel Maddow and Willie Brown at his Breakfast Club in SF
Sarah Drew, Fort Mason
Lindsey Allen (Rainforest Action Network) and Atossa Soltani (Amazon Watch) at RAN fundraiser
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Kenji Williams, Bella Gaia, San Rafael
Dennis Darring and Miche Sirgent (Bio K-Plus)
at Venus, Berkeley
William Keepin, Satyana Institute, honoring Stan Grof
Tim and Tara Dale (Yoga Tree)
celebrate 15 years, in GG Park
Nora Clifford, Jennifer Wills, Danielle Hirsch, Mike and Tara Schon, Corte Madera
Ralph Metzner, Rob Sidon, Stanislov
Grof at CIIS Grof commemoration, SF
Nick Day, Steve Raspa, Lee Menichella at Burning Man Decompression, SF
Jack Kornfield honoring Stan Grof, Hotel Whitcomb in SF
Sara Laine, Mymuna Damone, Valerie Grossman at Terrapin Crossroads
Matt Segall and Becca Tarnas at Stan Grof commemoration, SF
Marissa LaMagna and Dana Frasz, Earth Island Institute fundraiser
Tim Dale, Janet Stone, Yvonne Schellerup, Tara Dale, GG Park
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Vandana Shiva, speaking at Bioneers Conference, San Rafael
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Joshua Fouts and Kenny Ausabel (Bioneers)
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34 NOVEMBER 2014
people in your neighborhood
Forty years ago you launched Common Ground with the idea of federating the then nascent conscious communities. Did you ever imagine that the magazine would survive so long?Not at all. I was a dropout lawyer getting into the California lifestyle and just going moment to moment, but it took off. It was the social network of the time. In certain ways it went viral. We started to put out 5,000 copies, then 10,000 copies, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, up to over 100,000. It filled a specific need of the time. But not thinking 40 years in advance.
I remember vividly the first time we met. Do you?I remember you coming into the office, sure.
I have a confession. I never told you this, but the day before meeting we talked on the phone, and I remember thinking, He’s got a New York accent; I am prob-ably not going to like this guy. Of course my prejudice disappeared immediately when I saw those soft blue eyes of yours. You looked like Gandalf the White. Then I agreed to sell some ads, figuring I’d stick around for about three weeks.Make some money and move on. But we had an initial heart connection. I respected your business sense as well as your own spiritual bent. You reminded me of me. I was a New York lawyer, but within me was someone who had studied Zen Buddhism and Chinese language and those sorts of things and had come to California to let that bloom. Common Ground was the vehicle.
One thing I’ve noticed in the job is that so many ideologies, causes, activist movements come to my attention. It’s a challenge not to get drawn to all of them. Was that your experience?Actually, I didn’t because at that time there really was a separation between the spiritual folk—the so-called me generation—in contrast to the political movements of the time. There
was even some animosity between these dif-ferent camps.
The great divide between the march-ers and meditators. That’s a big ambi-tion of mine—to further bridge that gap. Increasingly, I see activists embracing spiritual pursuits while yogis under-stand the dharma of eco-activism, for instance. I see that when I read Common Ground now; we need to learn to share the planet. I was sad to learn that the Bay Guardian stopped print-ing, as did Open Exchange. I was always grate-ful to [Open Exchange publisher] Bart Brodsky for the healthy competition. We kept each oth-er honest, kept each other moving.
A number of related publications have come and gone: Share Guide, Bay Area Naturally, Yogi Times, Vision, Psychic Reader, Eucalyptus. I might be forgetting some. Thankfully, we’re going strong. The issues seem to vanish at the distribution points. The Bay Area is a tough crowd. I call it the “been there, done that” crowd. So we have to be sharp and offer a diver-sity of expression.
Andy AlpineCommon Ground founder
BY ROB SIDON
You’re doing a terrific job. You are the right person to take over. You have that spiritual depth combined with journalistic curiosity and the right business skills.
Barely a day goes by where I am not grateful for what you started 40 years ago. Common Ground is the granddad-dy of them all, setting a precedent for similar magazines around the world, showcasing the alternative. Any other gratitude you want to share?I’m grateful to Common Ground for trans-planting me from New York City and giving me a right livelihood here, in a transforma-tional capacity. I was trekking in the moun-tains of Vietnam about 15 years ago when I met a farmer there who spoke some English. He reminded me how fortunate I am to have been born an American during this period of time. “The opportunities are endless for you,” he said. “Here I am, what can I do? Maybe get a little extra plot to plant some more tobacco.” He was intelligent. I saw myself in his eyes, and it really touched me. He could’ve been me; I could’ve been him.
I’m grateful for the staffers that have come through. Sherman Chickering—my original
Rob Sidon, Common Ground’s current publisher, and its founder and original publisher, Andy Alpine
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36 NOVEMBER 2014
people in your neighborhood
partner—and Sharon Skolnick designed the listings. David Ackerman-Gray, who brought me into the digital age when he came as pro-duction manager. Diane Hilton kept the ship on even keel. We had one person, Barbara Bell, who brought national attention because she channeled Barbie Doll. It was very funny, but people wanted to interview her. Karin Kinsey for her layouts. Virginia Lee did our interviews. Lisa Kristine contributed so many amazing covers. And all the people I am for-getting.
What sorts of things have you been in-volved with since Common Ground?I have published a special interest and adven-ture travel magazine and website for travel agents. The idea had come during meditation, the idea of doing a directory listing–style trade publication. I’ve a number of passions, notably scuba and travel. With my wife, Daya, we’ve been to many exotic places such as Burma, Laos, Vietnam, India, the Maldives, and Fiji.
In publishing you mostly used your spiri-tual name Baha’uddin. What does that mean, and how did you discover Sufism?It means “glory of the faith.” It was given to me by my teacher, Wali Ali, a disciple of Murshid Sam Lewis. I discovered Sufism as an EST vol-unteer at a Kahutec comet celebration. There was singing and moving and dancing and people chanting “Allah, Allah.” Growing up a Jewish guy from New York and hearing about the problems in Israel—the Six Day War, etc.—Allah was considered the bad guys’ God, but I didn’t let that get in the way. After a year of Sufi dancing, Allah became just another word for “God.” Later, I was initiated into the Mev-levi order of the whirling dervishes.
Yes, I remember seeing you whirl at a performance at the Palace of Fine Arts. Had you already started the magazine when you discovered Sufism?It was only a year or so after starting Common Ground that I got involved. But the magazine helped me to develop that avenue. I had a spir-itual bent and caught my love of God through my father in synagogues, but it was covered over. I didn’t practice a lot of Judaism; how-ever, through Sufism I was able to touch and develop that relationship with God.
Common Ground has a long track re-cord of connecting people—students to teachers and vice versa. I’ve heard many stories of people who found their path
with the help of the magazine. We’ve been a clearinghouse for all the “isms.” What can you say about the ’70s and ’80s, when the human potential move-ment was blooming?It was a vibrant time, a time of experimenta-tion on every level. For me it started with the alternative lifestyle. We created the Briarpatch, which was a community network of about 200 small businesses helping one another. It was the time of E. F. Schumacher, who wrote Small Is Beautiful, advocating simple living and the fact that people weren’t fundamentally inter-ested in driving around in fancy cars and such. They just wanted to find out about
themselves. The Briarpatch was created as a way to find out about ourselves through a humanistic approach to business. That morphed into learning about “resources for personal transformation,” which was the magazine’s original tagline. For me it was a time to learn about my personal transfor-mation. We used to joke because part of me is the Jewish lawyer from New York, Andy AIpine, who wanted to handle business as a businessman. Then there was Baha’uddin, who wanted to handle it more broadly, from the heart. So there’s always that balancing act.
I can relate. I always liked that phrase I learned from you: “Operate a business with heart.” I am curious how you’ve observed your fellow classmates of your generation, so to speak, and how they’ve grown up along the path. The people around me have stayed with it each in our own way; it wasn’t just a fad. We might not do as much of the practice we did, but at least we know the importance. It’s not just a small part of life but a continuing part. It’s what keeps us healthy.
You volunteer extensively with cancer support groups. My volunteer work is part of the Center for Attitudinal Healing. Originally, I was visiting cancer patients in hospitals who couldn’t come to groups. Currently, I co-facilitate a support group of individuals with life-threatening ill-nesses, caregivers to people with life-threaten-ing illnesses, as well as couples where one or both of the participants has a life-threatening illness. I’ve been doing it for over 20 years.
How has your inner work affected your approach?When someone is hit with an illness, we al-ways try to find out if they have a practice—something they can turn to each day—a place where they can tap in to get beyond the physi-cal pain and fear. We don’t give advice, as one of our tenets is that each of us has our own best answers. My own personal life has been a spiritual test. I’ve learned so much from listen-ing to people and drawing on the information gleaned over all these years.
What else makes your heart leap?When I see people hug one another, when I see people develop and heal themselves. My heart leaps when I see my dog running up and down the hills in the sunset, in the beauty that surrounds us. So much of my life is involved with the woman I love, so my heart leaps when we are together. We love the Giants and the Warriors and watch just about every game to-gether.
Back in 2002, when the Giants were in the World Series, your infectious enthu-siasm carried over to me. But you start-ed as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan as a kid, right?I was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan until Walter O’Malley left and took the Brooklyn Dodgers with him. Now we’re beyond avid Giants fans. Even our dog wears the colors.
Since 2010, it’s just been sumptuous. I never thought I’d see a day when my moods would be predicated, at least in part, by the outcome of sports contests. You just get enraptured with it, riding the wave, like surfing.
We’ll check in for the 50th anniversary issue. In the meantime, let’s get home and watch some World Series baseball. Go Giants! Don’t stop believin’.
Rob Sidon is publisher and editor-in-chief of Common Ground.
One of the early Common Ground covers. To see more, turn to page xx.
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 37
yoga teacher Ali Owens photographed by Jasper Johal
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therapeutics that nourish and nurture our own self-healing propensities.
Those of us who live in the San Francisco Bay Area can and should be proud that so many of these revolutions were started or strongly influenced by key players and organi-zations here.
Each of these revolutions and evolutions fed each other, helping to make each stronger, more sophisticated, and more integrated into our lives and culture. The organics move-ment grew with the gar-dening and the “grow your own” efforts. It also changed the world of nutritional supple-ments away from the simple A, B, and C vita-mins, as well as various minerals, to the incor-poration of powerful herbal remedies and superfoods. The organ-ics movement also col-laborated with the en-vironmental movement that sought to minimize pesticides and chemi-cal fertilizers, and later, sought to insist upon proper labeling of GMOs.
The women’s consciousness-raising groups of the ’70s helped to revolutionize our male-based culture and spiritual practices to help us all to learn to respect the mother and the sister in each of us so that we can live our lives in greater balance. Women had suffered from the over-medicalization of their bodies, and female and male feminists have actively sought to explore safer, more gentle, and more ecolog-ically sound treatments rather than militaris-tic surgical interventions that invade women’s bodies.
The human potential movement not only helped to spawn various consciousness-rais-ing practices to “know thyself,” but also led to growth of various bodywork disciplines that sought to understand and treat people’s emo-tional and physical ailments through touch and alignment. Diverse spiritual practices also emanated from and were popularized by the human potential movement, helping to create a real rainbow of sacred ceremonies and prac-tices, including those like meditation and yoga that have profound benefits for mind, body, and spirt.
The environmental movement helped to plant important seeds to a paradigm shift that took us from living in a human-centered
1974 is not just 40 years ago; it is also many revolutions and evolutions ago.
At that time, alternatives to conventional medical care were exceedingly rare, and peo-ple who sought them were usually considered fringe, weird, or just hippies. And yet, history repeatedly shows us that much of today’s med-icines may be tomorrow’s quackery, and some of today’s quackery may be tomorrow’s medi-cines. These past 40 years have verified this historical pattern, and we are all better for it.
In 1974, doctors were taught that vitamin C prevents scurvy but had no other significant health benefits. In fact, food was not consid-ered to have any real impact on physical or psychological health. Milk was considered for “every body” (despite large numbers of adults being allergic or hypersensitive to it), wheat was the “staff of life” (problems from gluten were not even considered), and “TV dinners” were a relatively new invention.
In 1974, the mind and the body were seem-ingly two separate things. The concept of the mind influencing the body was denied, and psychosomatic symptoms were the catchall diagnosis for anyone with symptoms that doc-tors could not understand.
The Health Revolution ComethA convergence of many revolutions occurred in the early ’70s. The “back to the earth” move-ment led to appreciation for organic foods. The women’s movement led to increased self-care and mutual care. The human potential movement led to acceptance of the dynamic interactions between the mind and the body. The environmental movement led to the real-ization that polluting our planet leads to our polluting our bodies. And the emergence of a natural health movement led to respecting that “inner doctor” inside all of us and to the recognition of the importance of using gentle
healthy living » alternatives world with a “man dominating nature” men-tality to co-living on a planet Gaia with plant, mineral, and animal kingdoms in a mutually sustainable way.
The natural health movement incorporated all of the above revolutions and developed strategies and practices that helped people treat themselves and their families with healthy foods, healing botanicals, and immune-en-
hancing homeopathic medicines. While some chronic diseases require the attention of medi-cal or health professionals who are trained and skilled in specific natural therapies, today an increasing number of medical doctors practice “integrative medicine” and utilize many natu-ral therapeutics before resorting to more risky conventional medical interventions. Further, the emergence of licensed naturopathic physi-cians, acupuncturists, and chiropractors make access to natural treatments accessible and of-ten reimbursable.
We all stand on the shoulders and walk in arms with those before us who helped to lead one or more of these revolutions. Although this world is very far from perfect, we can and should be grateful for the contributions from previous generations that have brought us here. And it is now the responsibility of each of us to take us further toward a healthier planet and healthier inhabitants of it.
Dana Ullman, MPH, CCH, is the author of nine books, including the popular guidebook Every-body’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines and his latest, The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy. He practices in Berkeley, see-ing patients from all over the world via Skype. Homeopathic.com
A Healing Revolution1974 to 2014
BY DANA ULLMAN
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 39
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40 NOVEMBER 2014
healthy living » eating well
The Whole Food MovementA 40-Year Review
BY ED BAUMAN
Forty years ago, mainstream Americans were eating meat and potatoes, macaroni and cheese, Wonder Bread, bologna and
mayonnaise sandwiches, Big Macs, Cokes, and Kool Aid—a chemical feast of manufactured food products. Thankfully, a new message en-tered the food conversation: a return to fresh, whole, natural foods. Healthy-food enthusiasts suggested we eat more out of the box, such as brown rice, miso, and seaweed; hummus and greens; yogurt and granola; whole wheat bread, avocado, and sprouts.
In 1974, the whole food movement was a quaint counterculture alternative. It was of-ten dismissed and marginalized by the press and big food producers. Whole food enthu-siasts were called health nuts. I was one, as were many of you. Today, although backlash still persists, there is greater acceptance of the movement. Consumers, farmers, manufactur-ers, researchers, and even doctors are riding the whole food bandwagon.
Let’s look at the process, people, and trends that have contributed to this movement, and at what lies ahead on the food frontier.
Whole Food PioneersNearly 40 years ago, I moved to Berkeley from an organic farm outside of Amherst, Mas-sachusetts, to teach holistic health and nutri-tion at the Berkeley Holistic Health Center. Once in the East Bay, I became a fan of Chez Panisse restaurant, the epicenter of the farm-to-table movement. Alice Waters brought in a new style (California cuisine), taste, and eco-literacy. Other traditional fine dining chefs—Jacques Pepin, Thomas Keller, and John Ash—like Alice Waters, loved European elegance and insisted on flavor, freshness, and top-qual-ity ingredients. Gourmet international food blew open the bland American palate set to
salt, sugar, and fat instead of savory spice and nuanced flavor. Nutritional foodies appeared in the ’70s with a dizzying variety of whole food approaches. Ann Wigmore touted a raw food diet with sprouts and wheatgrass. Michio Kushi popularized Japanese-based macrobiot-ics. Paul Bragg advocated radical healing with raw apple cider vinegar and water fasting. John Robbins made the case for an earth-friendly vegan diet. Ayurveda brought traditional East Indian food to the West with savory curries, ghee (clarified butter), and chai tea. Italian
food became the Mediterranean diet. Many of us tried all of these approaches, seeking to find our way.
Co-Ops and Health Food Stores The food co-op movement burst onto the scene in the 1970s, reflecting the spirit of com-munity, sharing, and leveraging group buying power. Co-ops were locally owned, and staffed with a mix of employees and volunteers. The food was fresh and healthy. Health food stores soon followed, offering a wide array of supple-
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ments, packaged foods, and a stable of refrig-erated and frozen food items. In 1978, John Mackey, a vegetarian, worked in a food co-op in Austin, Texas. Borrowing money, he and his girlfriend started a small health food store. In 1980, they merged with another local health food store and changed the name to Whole Foods Market. Now there are 399 stores and counting in the US, UK, and Canada.
Farmers MarketsSince 1976, the number of active US farmers markets has grown from about 350 to well over 3,500, or an average of 75 per state. Buy-ing food outdoors, in the midst of a market-place with growers standing proudly behind the fruits of their labor, brings the message of people, food, culture, and community together in a vibrant way that is fun, healthy, and so-cially uplifting.
Organic FoodRachel Carson’s apocryphal 1962 book, Silent Spring, was so titled as a lament for the loss of songbirds and harm to all life from the overuse of DDT. The European biodynamic farming methods of Rudolph Steiner inspired Ameri-
can small farmers to focus on conservation, natural soil cultivation, and pest control. The Green movement emerged in the 1970s and has steadily grown, with organic food as its centerpiece. Naturally (pun intended), the gi-ant food conglomerates have relentlessly chal-lenged the nutritional and health benefits of organic food, despite published research from a highly reputable 2010 study by Newcastle University in England. Genetically modified foods—found in soy, corn, canola oil, and cot-tonseed—are the latest toxic threat from the manmade alteration of nature. Jeffrey Smith, of the Institute for Responsible Technology, has spelled out the documented health risks of GM foods and advocacy for GMO labeling. Many countries have total or partial bans on GM foods. Why not the US?
What’s AheadWhole, fresh food and nutritional bars, pow-ders, and supplements are making inroads into the mainstream and are exceeding the growth of mainstream food products. Public schools in California and across the country were mandated to implement nutrition and physical activity programs by 2010. Diet sodas and can-
dy are being removed from a growing number of schools. The garden-to-school movement is taking off, with farmers contracting to grow organic food for schools, and children seeing once again that their food comes from a gar-den or pasture, not a supermarket or feedlot. Michael Pollan’s battle cry—“eat food, mostly plants, and not too much”—is a great food mantra.
Media are still influencing consumers to buy more fast foods, sodas, and diet products than salmon, quinoa, and kale. We have a growing global ecology, food distribution, and health challenge. Individually, let’s hold the whole food movement accountable for staying in in-tegrity and be grateful for the flavors of health we are so blessed to enjoy.
Ed Bauman, MEd, PhD, founder of Bauman College: Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, has been at the forefront of the holistic health and nutrition renaissance for the past 40 years. He is the author of the best-selling Holistic Health Handbook, Flavors of Health Cookbook, and Whole Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors. BaumanCollege.org
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42 NOVEMBER 2014
healthy living » spirituality
Psychology and the Contemporary Western Spiritual TraditionBY MARIANA CAPLAN
I would give an arm and a leg to have been at Esalen naked in the hot tubs in 1967 with Michael Murphy and George Leonard, pro-
cessing and recovering from an encounter group led by Fritz Perls; or to have sat around a table in the lower Haight with Alan Watts and Haridaus Chaurduri, dreaming up what would eventually become The California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS); or to have studied alongside Claudio Naranjo and Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) as they were learning a new tool called the Enneagram from their teacher, Oscar Ichazo; or to have been in Golden Gate Park tripping with Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, and Ralph Metzner in an attempt to discern whether LSD and MDMA (ecstasy) could re-ally replace years of therapy and meditation . . . or not.
Even though I may have needed several years of subsequent psychotherapy to recover from such intense and at times psychologically risky explorations, it would have been worth it. Each of these individuals—a few who continue to teach locally and can still be accessed—pos-sessed extraordinary intelligence, passion, and vision, combined with a courageous willing-ness to delve into the deep psyche. They were trailblazing the still-new field of psychology, which is just 135 years old, compared to 2,500 years of Buddhist psychology and the 4,000- to 5,000-year-old yogic model of transformation.
Most of the great leaps forward in the past 40 years in psychology, and its increasing in-tersection with spirituality, have emerged in the Bay Area. Even the great pioneers who did not live here always came through town, and still do. One of the things I love most about living here is the ceaseless flow of opportunity to study with the world’s greatest teachers of psychology and spirituality, and to participate in the developments in these fields as they emerge. After the publication of my book The Guru Question in 2011, a man called to ask for a recommendation for a teacher of integ-rity whom he could access without having to cross a bridge. “Is he for real?” I thought. What
a blessing we are given to have access to the great developments in Western psychology and spirituality a stone’s throw away, even if we have to cross a bridge to get there!
Innovations have emerged from every psy-chological angle you can imagine, including some you have to stretch your imagination to get your mind around. John Gray, and John and Jennifer Welwood, brought to public at-tention the path of “conscious relationship.” In another part of Mill Valley, their neighbors Stanislav and the late Christina Grof were cre-ating the first Spiritual Emergence Network so that those having spiritual crises would have access to trained psychologists experienced in these areas instead of a psychiatric diagnosis and medication. And Roger Walsh forged the still-emerging field of Transpersonal Psychia-try, so that medication, meditation, and psy-chotherapy could be approached as comple-mentary modalities to treatment.
A. H. Almaas formed The Diamond Ap-proach, while Claudio Naranjo and his proté-gés brought the Enneagram to a much wider audience. Joanna Macy and others linked Deep Ecology and Ecopsychology to the field of psychology, and the beloved Angeles Arrien taught people to age consciously, and provided an important bridge between cross-cultural and indigenous wisdom and psychology.
The new psychologies proliferated in the
alternative universities that sprung up, includ-ing The California Institute of Integral Studies, John F. Kennedy University, and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, now Sofia Uni-versity. Transpersonal Psychology became an accredited field of study, initially supported by Ken Wilber, who later denounced the field in favor of his Integral Theory. There is a buzz around Nondual Psychology these days, and many scholars in the alternative universities are legitimizing a psychological exploration into shamanic “plant medicines.”
In the 1970s, Thomas Hanna introduced the term “somatics,” and the field greatly ac-celerated. Many excellent new approaches and schools of Somatic Psychology have sub-sequently emerged, including Somatic Experi-encing, Hakomi, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Feldenkrais, Core Energetics, and iRest. Strong momentum continues in the emergence of body-centered psychotherapies due to their effectiveness in treatment.
In the past two decades, Western Buddhism as a whole has embraced the value of psycho-therapy as a support to spiritual practice, and most recently has begun to include neurosci-entific insights as taught by Rick Hanson, Kelly McGonigal, and others. Still newer is Western yoga’s embrace of innovations in psychology, with an increasing number of academic psy-chology programs integrating yoga studies into their curricula, and yoga trainings that teach somatics and psychology.
When I hear young psychologists criticizing pioneers like Sigmund Freud, or the experi-ments of the Bay Area’s early “psychonauts,” I think how lucky we are to have had such dar-ing forefathers and foremothers who provided the foundation upon which we can continue to build the extraordinary tradition of psy-chology, which many people consider to be an emerging spiritual tradition in the West. Any of us whose lives have been touched by psy-chology have benefitted from the passionate explorations of those who have come before us. Let us aspire to draw upon the best of what they learned and continue to evolve the field with integrity and discernment.
Mariana Caplan, PhD, MFT, is a Bay Area psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and author of six books on psychology and spirituality, including Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path and the forthcoming Yoga and Psyche. Besides teaching on the relation-ship between yoga and Western psychology, she specializes in somatic approaches to support spiritual practitioners, teachers, and commu-nities of all traditions to heal from complex spiritual trauma. RealSpirituality.com
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44 NOVEMBER 2014
healthy living » studies
The Neuroscience of GratitudeWhy Thankfulness Makes Us Healthier
BY OCEAN ROBBINS
Our world is pretty messed up. With all the violence, pollution, and crazy things people do, it would be easy to
turn into a grouchy old man without being either elderly or male. There’s certainly no shortage of justification for disappointment and cynicism.
But consider this: negative attitudes are bad for you. And gratitude, it turns out, makes you happier and healthier. If you invest in a way of seeing the world that is mean and frustrated, you’re going to get a world that is, well, more mean and frustrating. But if you can find any authentic reason to give thanks, anything that is going right with the world or your life, and put your attention there, then research says you’re going to be better off.
Does this mean to live in a state of con-stant denial and to put your head in the sand? Of course not. Gratitude works when you’re grateful for something real. Feeling euphoric and spending money like you just won the lot-tery when you didn’t is probably going to make you real poor, real quick. But what are you
actually grateful for? It’s a question that could change your life.
Recent studies have concluded that the ex-pression of gratitude can have profound and positive effects on our health, our moods, and even the survival of our marriages.
As Drs. Blaire and Rita Justice reported, “a growing body of research shows that gratitude is truly amazing in its physical and psychoso-cial benefits.”
In one study on gratitude, conducted by Robert A. Emmons and his colleague Mike McCullough, randomly assigned participants were given one of three tasks. Each week, participants kept a short journal. One group briefly described five things they were grateful for that had occurred in the past week, anoth-er five recorded daily hassles from the previ-ous week, and the neutral group was asked to list five events or circumstances that affected them, but they were not told whether to focus on the positive or on the negative. Ten weeks
later, participants in the gratitude group felt bet-ter about their lives and were a full 25% happier than the hassled group. They reported fewer health complaints and exercised an average of 1.5 hours more.
In a later study by Em-mons, people were asked to write every day about things for which they were grateful. Not sur-
prisingly, this daily practice led to greater in-creases in gratitude than did the weekly journ-aling in the first study. But the results showed another benefit: participants in the gratitude group also reported offering others more emo-tional support or help with a personal prob-lem, indicating that the gratitude exercise in-creased their goodwill toward others.
Another study on gratitude was conducted with adults having congenital and adult-onset neuromuscular disorders, with the major-ity having post-polio syndrome. Compared to those who were not jotting down their blessings nightly, participants in the gratitude group reported more hours of sleep each night and feeling more refreshed upon waking. The gratitude group also reported more satisfac-tion with their lives, felt more optimism about the upcoming week, and felt considerably more connected with others than those in the control group.
Perhaps most tellingly, the positive changes were noticeable to others. According to the re-searchers, “Spouses of the participants in the
gratitude [group] reported that the partici-pants appeared to have higher subjective well-being than did the spouses of the participants in the control [group].”
There’s an old saying that if you’ve forgot-ten the language of gratitude, you’ll never be on speaking terms with happiness. It turns out this isn’t just a fluffy idea. Several studies have shown depression to be inversely correlated to gratitude. It seems that the more grateful a person is, the less depressed they are. Philip Watkins, a clinical psychologist, found that clinically depressed individuals showed signif-icantly lower gratitude (nearly 50% less) than non-depressed controls.
Dr. John Gottman has been researching marriages for two decades. The conclusion of all that research, he states, is that unless a couple is able to maintain a high ratio of posi-tive to negative encounters (5:1 or greater), it is likely the marriage will end.
With 90% accuracy, Gottman says he can predict, often after only three minutes of ob-servation, which marriages are likely to flour-ish and which are likely to founder. The for-mula is that for every negative expression (a complaint, frown, put-down, expression of an-ger) there needs to be about five positive ones (smiles, compliments, laughter, expressions of appreciation and gratitude).
Apparently, positive vibes aren’t just for hippies. If you want in on the fun, here are some simple things you can do to build posi-tive momentum toward a more happy and fulfilling life:
» Keep a daily journal of three things you are thankful for. This works well first thing in the morning, or just before you go to bed.
» Make it a practice to tell a spouse, partner, or friend something you appreciate about them every day.
» Look in the mirror when you are brushing your teeth, and think about something you have done well recently or something you like about yourself.
Sure, this world gives us plenty of reasons to despair. But when we get off the fast track to morbidity and cultivate instead an attitude of gratitude, things don’t just look better—they actually get better. Thankfulness feels good, it’s good for you, and it’s a blessing for the people around you too. It’s such a win-win-win that I’d say we have cause for gratitude.
Ocean Robbins is an author, speaker, father, and CEO of the 150,000-member Food Revo-lution Network. To learn more about his work, visit FoodRevolution.org.
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 45
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46 NOVEMBER 2014
healthy living » yogapedia
In 1974, tsunamis were flooding our planet. But these were not waves that drown you and wash
your home away. These waves started out in India, spreading east and west until they encompassed the whole planet. What washed ashore, first in New York and San Francisco, and then everywhere else, were the healing waters of ancient yogic wisdom that had sus-tained and fed the Orient for over 10,000 years.
In 1600, India was the wealthiest country in the world. By 1900, bled of its wealth by British colonializa-tion, India appeared to be a broken and subdued giant. But the giant was only sleeping. Under the cov-er of the social change and trans-formation that was the 1960s, an unexpected group of immigrants from India were quietly invad-ing North America, the citadel of material power. The soft-spoken, well-mannered invaders had no money, did not know each other, and were not here to promote a religion or political agenda. They were neither Marxist nor capitalist—they were mantra-preneurs! Spiritual teachers, mystics, and professors—unfunded, long-haired or bald, nondenominational, univer-sal, peace-loving, profound, loving, and equal opportunity.
With a common source of knowledge—the ancient Vedic library—each master carried their own unique flavor, lineage, and mojo.
They brought spiritual secrets that had been passed down for thousands of years, and there was no angry God, hell, or coercive proselytiz-ing. If the British conquered the world for 300 years with violence, India conquered it in 50 years with wisdom, and today there are over 100 million non-Indian yogis throughout the world.
Along with yoga and enlightenment, an-other surprising force migrated from India. One might wonder how the country famous for meditation and cows could go from primi-tive to taking over computer technology in just a few years. The answer is that India is not only the oldest mystic culture but also the oldest scientific culture. Scientists use Latin to name new discoveries, but Sanskrit is the parent lan-guage of Latin and Greek. Sanskrit is almost as precise as a programming language. There is a huge library of mystic and scientific know-ledge in Sanskrit called the Vedas. For many years, Germany has had the largest Sanskrit
library in the world outside of India. Quantum physics, rocket science, medicine, surgery, and many other scientific disciplines were bor-rowed from this ancient Sanskrit library by the Germans.
Remarkably, this process of India sharing its wisdom with the world has occurred be-fore. Roman records state that during the time of Jesus, 150 ships a year left Rome to import luxury items from India. The most famous seaport of the time was Alexandria, Egypt.
Those ships returned carrying Indian gurus with their Vedic books of wisdom and science, which they subsequently taught at the library of Alexandria. From that transfer of know-ledge, Greek, Roman, and eventually European culture developed roots directly connected to the India of 2,000 years ago.
During the last 50 years, we have witnessed another historic sharing of Vedic culture at the port of San Francisco, in the midst of a psyche-delic transformation, a musical renaissance, and a cultural revolution ignited at the mod-ern Alexandria—Berkeley. We went from “Be there then” to “Be here now.” On our 40th an-niversary, Common Ground is honoring the many gurus and mantra-preneurs of India who have been and are still reshaping our lives, and who were always nudging us gently toward sustainability, biodiversity, and univer-sal respect for all life. What all these modern pundits of mystic or scientific thought have been spreading worldwide is based upon the
desire for all beings to be free while cooperating with the laws of nature and each other. Join in as we offer “Namaste” and pranams to a few of the game-changing spiritual teach-ers who have shared the wisdom jewels of their ancient culture.
The Dawn of Eastern Wisdom in the WestThe early signal that Vedic waves were about to arrive came in 1841 in Boston through Emerson, Thor-eau, W. H. Channing, Parker, and others who, from the Unitarian far left of Christianity, began to study translations of the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and Puranas. It was too soon to publicly call themselves yogis, so they came to be known as the American transcendentalists, but behind closed doors they really were the “Boston Brahmins.”
Then in 1893, a dashing young spiritual genius called Swami Vivekananda took a steamship from India to speak in Chicago at
the Parliament of World’s Religions. In seven minutes, his articulate and compelling mes-sage of universal brotherhood electrified the audience. He then toured the US, attracting thousands of students and publishing books on Vedic philosophy in English.
During the Roaring Twenties, more under-ground yoga practice blossomed. By the end of World War I, yoga and the push to modern-ity went into high gear. In 1920, Paramahansa Yogananda set up a permanent camp in Los
The Saints of India and the Tsunami of YogaBY JEFFREY ARMSTRONG AND KAVINDRA RISHI
CG_Mag_1114_v2.indd 46 10/31/14 11:21 AM
COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 47
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48 NOVEMBER 2014
Angeles and founded the Self-Realization Fellowship, whose yoga teachings included an altar with a picture of Christ and a picture of Krishna. Twenty-five years later, thousands of hippies would read his Autobiography of a Yogi and become yogis themselves. Until the ’60s, yoga gradually gained momentum. Jid-du Krishnamurti, an eloquent yoga philoso-pher, arrived in California in the 1930s and touched thousands with his profound lectures on self-realization. Indra Devi, known as the “first lady of yoga,” opened her pioneering yoga studio in 1947. Swami Vishnudevananda, dis-ciple of Swami Sivananda, immigrated in 1958 and soon thereafter founded the first yoga ash-ram in the West, thus extending the Sivananda branch of the modern yoga movement.
As the 1960s counterculture began to take hold, the Veda flood began in earnest. The Ken-nedy assassinations, war in Vietnam, psyche-delics, rock music, sexual revolution, racial integration, nuclear weapons, women’s liber-ation—the whole fabric of Western civilization ripped open in a historic moment that changed everything. Now, an entire generation of disen-franchised youth were looking for new alterna-tives and directions. With psychedelics as the amplifier and rock ’n’ roll as the carrier, the rip-ples of Vedic culture became a wave and then a flood. Every entrepreneur needs a historic mo-ment, and the mantra-preneurs now found that by divine design, this moment was theirs.
A global rock concert of new thought and emotion, of universal love, inner visions, outer freedom, a breaking of sectarian boundaries, and opposition to military solutions began to emerge. Leading this new vibration was a mas-ter sitar player named Ravi Shankar, whose mystic concerts and enchanting vibrations reached everyone. Along with the exotic vi-bration of Indian music came gurus chanting mantras, the magic portals of mystic vibra-tions connected to realms beyond.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi carried the secrets of Transcendental Meditation to millions and opened the doors to Ayurvedic medicine, Vedic astrology, and many Vedic sciences. Deepak Chopra was one of his influential stu-dents. Swami Satchidananda, creator of In-tegral Yoga, with his long hair and beard, be-came both a symbol of and the grand elder for the Woodstock generation. A. C. Bhaktivedan-ta Swami brought us Krishna. His street-wise and ecstatic presentation of the “Hare Krish-na” mantra echoed through urban centers and finally over the radio from the lips of George Harrisson’s “My Sweet Lord.”
In the ashtanga yoga world, several disciples
of the great teacher Krishnamacharya (includ-ing Indra Devi) soon made yoga a household word: T. K. V. Desikachar, whose approach is called Viniyoga and emphasizes yoga therapy and individualized instruction; Pattabhi Jois developed his physical style of Ashtanga Yoga, while B. K. S. Iyengar, whose books Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayama are widely used along with his style, which is associated with meticulous postural alignment and precise methods of teaching.
Bikram Choudhur y, a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda’s younger brother, Charan Ghosh, became famous for his 26-pos-ture asana sequence, taught in a heated room. Yogi Bhajan, whose disciples were vivid in their white clothing and turbans and who called his group 3HO (healthy, happy, and holy), taught Kundalini Yoga, a unique blend of mystic yoga and the Sikh tradition. The silent yoga mas-ter, Baba Hari Das, shared his pure yogic vi-sion in the mountains of Santa Cruz for many years and is also known for producing the first full-stage productions of the Ramayana to be performed outside of India. Yogi Amrit De-sai founded Kripalu Yoga on the East Coast, teaching a spontaneous flow of yoga postures. Swami Rama founded the Himalayan Institute, promoting raja yoga, with its philosophical and deeply meditative approach. Sri Chin-moy, a spiritual master, poet, musician, and athlete, taught and inspired the likes of John McLaughlin from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, as well as local musical heroes such as Carlos Santana and Michael Narada Walden.
Ramana Maharshi, who left his body in 1950, transmitted the grace of Advaita Ve-danta to his disciple, Papaji—and he, in turn, transmitted the nondual teachings to several Western students who now share the wisdom of awakening as teachers in their own right.
Rajneesh, or Osho, failed in his attempt to create a commune in Oregon, but that did not diminish the profundity of his many writings and his insistence upon freedom as the ultim-ate goal of life. Swami Muktananda, a disciple of the great Bhagavan Nityananda, passed the ancient “siddha yoga” initiation on to thou-sands in a tradition that is carried forward by siblings Swami Chidvilasandanda (Gurumayi) and her brother, Nityananda. Satya Sai Baba never left India, but his mystic powers attracted millions and had airliners full of amazed dis-ciples flying to India from around the world. Likewise, from a humble abode in Northern India, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji) extended his enlightenment to the West through devo-tees like Ram Dass (whose epic book Be Here Now, published in 1971, influenced millions), Krishna Das and Jai Uttal (whose kirtan music
is ubiquitous in yoga studios), and Larry Bril-liant, who founded the Seva Foundation.
Though less represented (until recently) than their male counterparts, there has been a wave of female teachers, embodi-
ments of the Divine Mother, sharing their feminine grace in the form of darshan (bless-ings). Anandamayi Ma, who never left India and passed in 1982, was known as the guru to the gurus. Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) attracts thousands who come to receive her transformative hug blessings and participate in humanitarian service at the MA Center in San Ramon. Conversely, Shree Ma’s ashram in the Napa County is very discreet. Mother Meera, based in Germany, travels periodically to the West, as does Karunamayi, who offers blessings and Vedic fire rituals for world peace. The Wisdom of IndiaThese teachers and many more have acted as carriers of the vast Vedic library and its streams of ancient wisdom. At least 10,000 years of wisdom has flowed down the Himalayas to become the wisdom waves of this most recent cultural exchange between “Mother India” and the greater world. Our planet is poised at an unprecedented tipping point. Our ability to alter matter through technology is both amaz-ing and a threat to all life. We are redefining life on earth with scientific powers, but their use is currently distorted by greed and abuse of power. If we are to use the powers we have unleashed for the good of all, we will need all the wisdom we can get—ancient and modern.
While the yogic knowledge, preventive medicine, vegetarian diet, and global vision of a cooperative society have emerged from India, some interesting trends are also ap-pearing. One of these is that 70% of yoga practitioners are female. Other trends include many subjects that our technological culture has overlooked or ignored, including right ex-ercise, preventive medicine, wholesome diet, organic farming, healing use of herbs and mas-sage, natural childbirth, education in universal knowledge, correct breathing, meditative life skills, male and female intimacy skills for re-lationship, peaceful methods of overcoming differences, knowledge of keeping water pure, regrowth of wilderness animal populations, and protection of all creatures that share the planet. Our consumption of meat, alcohol, and GMO foods are increasingly excessive and toxic. Our addiction to nonrenewable energy must be overcome quickly.
In addition, yogic philosophy teaches medi-tation upon a Divine both male and female, something missing in modern culture. The
healthy living » yogapedia
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result has been a distortion of our social rela-tionship with the feminine and an exploitive attitude toward Mother Earth and all female beings. What may not be immediately obvious is that all of these are related subjects and val-ues that are necessary for perfection in yoga. Could it be that the female yogis of our world are actually the immune cells in the body of Mother Earth? Are they the heart and thought leaders asking us, through yoga, to learn to live sustainably? It may appear that the majority of gurus and mantra-preneurs were men, but what if all of them consciously believed in and were serving the vision of a male and female Divine and were espousing the same views that our many female yogis around the world are now embracing?
Could it be that India and yoga are not a re-ligion but rather a set of universal cooperative values and ways of living that allow us to live
in harmonious yoga—connection or union with the Divine, nature, and all beings? What if the tsunami of ancient wisdom flowing from India is, like water, something that belongs to everyone? What if what appears to be many contradictory philosophical views is actually ideological biodiversity? What if we are divine beings growing and learning over thousands of lives in a grand curriculum where the universe is a university and our planet is a campus?
We are not only honoring the mantra-pre-neurs and gurus of India, but truth tellers, seekers, and wisdom carriers of all types and from all cultures who also rode the waves of this flood of culture. That is the universal spir-it of yoga, the healing waters of the Ganges of universal truth flowing to water our arid hearts so that a beautiful garden may grow there. Too idealistic, you reply—but in a dan-gerous world, is there such a thing as too much
love, forgiveness, or hope? From Common Ground to everyone, we
hope the waters of divine joy and enlighten-ment are always flowing in your hearts. And as the yogis teach, go within and find your blissful connection to the Divine, look without in or-der to live in harmony and peace with the laws of nature, and look around to become friends with all entities living on this sacred earth. Namaste—we bow to the Divine within your heart.
Jeffrey Armstrong (Kavindra Rishi) is a yoga philosopher, inspirational speaker, relation-ship expert, Vedic astrologer, and teacher of the Vedas for over 40 years. An award-win-ning poet and best-selling author of numer-ous books including Spiritual Teachings of the Avatar and Ancient Wisdom for a New World. JeffreyArmstrong.com
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BOOKS
The Science and Practice of HumilityBy Jason Gregory
In this fascinating book, comparative re-ligion and East/West philosophy scholar Jason Gregory moves beyond our basic un-derstanding of humil-ity as an attribute to strive for. He provides a step-by-step process outlining how being humble can lead us to
life as a jivanmukta, one who is fully liberated.The book breaks down our preconceived
notions about the “why” of our being, leading us through a three-step progression of under-standing the great work of eternity, allowing our perception of reality to evolve, and dis-covering truth through the science of humil-ity. Along the way we learn that our warrior mentality of trying to change the world—even when trying to change it for the better—is just an expression of our ego, which ends up creat-ing more harm than good. Instead, we should undertake refining our consciousness, the work of the sage.
This practice does not ask us to renounce our lives as householders but urges us to rec-ognize that nirvana and samsara are inextri-cably linked: we can only reach enlightenment through the “wheel of life.” Perfect for any yogi, meditator, or spiritual seeker, The Science and Practice of Humility provides a great opportu-nity to take your spiritual practice to the next level, allowing you not only to become mindful of the ego but to transcend it in favor of the simple path of the sage.
� —SARAH�CIRILLO
The Physics of AngelsExploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit MeetBy Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake
“It may seem unlikely,” reads the beginning of
art+soul » reviews
the preface to The Physics of Angels, “that a sci-entist and a theologian would discuss angels in the twenty-first century. Both disciplines at the end of the modern era appear equally em-barrassed by this subject.” Yet for the next 219 pages, internationally acclaimed spiritual theo-logian Matthew Fox and biologist and award-winning author Rupert Sheldrake breathe new life into a sacred concept lost to the “machine cosmology” brought about by the seventeenth century’s scientific revolution.
The Physics of Angels doesn’t discredit ei-ther science or theology, approaching each subject as having awe for the other. Analyzing and structuring the book around the writings of theological heavyweights Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Hilde-gard of Bingen, and utilizing contemporary scientific and astronomical knowledge, Fox
and Sheldrake pro-vide a perspective on angels that may be different than we’ve thought about them (powerful, not “bare-bottomed cherubs”) and explain their role in the present day. When talking about St. Thomas Aquinas’s views on angels as the govern-
ing body of the universe, the authors take into account how our knowledge of the universe is expanding every day, as is the universe itself, pointing out how interconnected science and religion can be.
—COLIN�ROLFE
The Grateful LifeThe Secret to Happiness and the Science of ContentmentBy Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons
Did you know that there were two words that have the power to transform your life? That us-ing those words can improve your health, out-look, relationships, job performance, and even help you sleep better at night? It isn’t magic, doesn’t cost anything, and you don’t have to join an organization. All you have to do is em-
brace the power behind saying “thank you” each and every day, and you will see an improvement in your life. And guess what? There are numerous re-search studies that support this idea.
A new book, The Grateful Life: The Secret to Hap-
piness and the Science of Contentment, reveals the science behind gratitude’s many benefits. Although it sounds easy to say thanks, it takes training. That’s where this book comes in with its inspirational stories, tips, and practices. It will help readers change the way they perceive situations and experience higher levels of sat-isfaction in their lives.
� —ANNA�PADAKA
Sacred SeedVarious authors
Sacred Seed is a cry from 37 spiritual leaders about what’s happening to the world’s seeds (in case you’ve missed it: monoculture, ge-netic modification, intellectual property rights on ancient wild plants). Vandana Shiva, who writes the introduction, has been working for years to wake us up to what the commercial-
ization of agricul-ture really means. This powerful little book joins some deeply au-thoritative voices with hers. Some have esteemed titles—the Patri-arch of the Or-
thodox Church, respected swamis, a Tibetan Buddhist Karmapa, an evangelical, a famous kick-ass Benedictine nun, a Greek scholar, rabbis. Others (an indigenous herbal healer, a “spiritual agitator” of the Lakota nation, a vi-sionary with the wonderful name of Chief Ta-male Bwoya,) write from the authority of their
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hearts. These 31 essays are mixed together like a patch of wildflowers discovered in a glen. SpiritualEcology.org
—PAIGE CHURCHMAN
MUSIC
Various ArtistsWatershedMusic Inspired by the Place That Connects Us
Over the past few decades, the Bay Area has spawned a wealth of musicians. When cou-pled with a worthy cause, music magic tends to happen. This Watershed CD will not only inspire and delight you with its water- and watershed-themed music, all proceeds sup-port the Gallinas Watershed Council’s efforts
to protect the Gal-linas Creek wa-tershed and other Marin County wa-tersheds.
This collection of mostly original songs by local folk, pop, and bluegrass musicians convey
the movement and energy of a stream in the music itself and address the impacts of human activity on our often threatened waterways and wetlands.
Noted singer-songwriter Laurie Lewis, along with Tom Rozum, performers on A Prai-rie Home Companion, and the acclaimed fiddle player Darol Anger and his Republic of Strings provide big-name appeal and the two stron-gest tunes. Amber Cross performs her original song “San Joaquin,” a cautionary Dust Bowl ballad sung in a haunting voice that seems to come from out of the past. On “Lazy Tide,” singer-guitarist Simon Linsteadt and Steep Ra-vine conjure a breezy, carefree acoustic drive on Highway 1. The CD also features Marin’s Kurt Huget, singer-guitarists Alice DiMicele and Jeff Norman, and other fine musicians. Local interest, local musicians, and a local cause of great importance invite the next logi-cal step: “buy local.” GallinasWatershed.org
—LLOYD BARDE
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52 NOVEMBER 2014
Bob Weir, Saint of Circumstance
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T H E C O M M O N G R O U N D I N T E R V I E W
ob Weir was born out of wedlock in San Fran-cisco in 1947. His adoptive family first lived on upper Broadway and eventually moved near Palo Alto, where as a 17-year-old he met Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and cofounded the War-
locks in 1964. The band was renamed the Grateful Dead in 1965. We caught up with Bob at his home in Marin County for a candid discussion commemorating Common Ground’s 40th anniversary issue.
Common Ground: The theme of this issue being “40 Years of Gratitude,” I thought you could tell the story of how the Grateful Dead got that name.Bob Weir: It was a dark, stormy November night at Phil’s house in Palo Alto, with Jerry and I and Phil. The band’s name at the time was the Warlocks, but we found that another band had trademarked that name. We’d been a couple weeks trying to come up with a new name with limited success. In a fit of frustration, Jerry sprung off the couch and ran over to the biggest book he could see on Phil’s shelf, which was a dic-tionary of musical terms. He just ran through the pages and stuck his finger in, and that’s the name he landed on. It is an ethnomusicological term having to do with a genre of ballads from Northern Ireland and Scotland as catalogued by Francis Child, I think from the sixteenth or seventeenth century.
It’s a thoughtful name for a band. What has been the effect of carrying that name?I hated it at first but was outvoted, so we stuck with it. What’s been the effect of carrying that name? I have no idea. It prob-ably held us back in some regards.
You met Jerry in ’64. Can you tell the story?I was with a couple of friends walking the back streets of Palo Alto on New Year’s Eve at about 7:30, headed to a cof-feehouse to get some music and celebrate. We heard banjo music coming out of the back of a local music store and just knocked on the door and got invited in. We knew who it was; we knew it was Jerry. He was waiting for his banjo students, and I said, “Jerry, listen, it’s 7:30 on New Year’s Eve, and I don’t think you’re going to be seeing your students tonight.” He agreed and asked if we played instruments. We all eagerly nodded yes and broke into the front of the store to grab some instruments. We played all night and had a wonderful time. We decided at that point we had enough amateur talent to start a jug band, which were popular at the time. We started practicing that week and got a gig shortly thereafter. Off it went from there.
You never had to interview for another job again?No, not really, no.
Having no idea what you were about to get into.Neither of us did. But we were game for anything.
Were you drawn to spirituality at a young age?I was. My folks had me going to [Episcopal] church, and as soon as I found out about God, I wanted to meet this dude.
How did the path unfold?It’s been a long and winding path, for sure. When I was a kid I paid attention in Sunday school as best I could, but there were lots of diversions. I ended up being an altar boy in church. Like I said, I wanted to meet God, so I thought,
{ B Y R O B S I D O N }
PHOTO: JAY BLAKESBERG
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Road and figured prominently in Jack Ker-ouac’s books and was a most remarkable man. We spent a lot of time together, on the bus. Neal taught me how to drive, for instance. Ev-ery now and again I find myself pulling a “Cap-tain Neal behind the wheel.” But he was like no other human that I had ever heard of, much less met. I think the guy’s mind transferred through time and space at will.
He was tapped into something—a wiz-ard in his own way?I’ll make an illustration. He was a guy, the only guy I ever met, who could drive through rush-hour traffic in San Francisco at 55–60 miles an hour, never stopping for a red light or for traffic or stop signs. He was on the sidewalk, he was on the other side of the street. It didn’t matter. He never hit anything. At the same time, he had one hand on the steering wheel and one hand feeling up his girlfriend in the middle seat, while I sat shotgun. He would play the buttons on the radio that would come up with some dialogue with my own inner voice, and it was his—I won’t say it was his voice, but it was coming through, I guess as his fingers were hitting the buttons on the radio. It was pretty amazing to watch and be a part of.
Not just some gonzo but a Zen master, in your book?Yeah, of some sort. He wasn’t just your average cookie-cutter yahoo, by any means.
You were smack-dab in the middle of the psychedelic movement. What can you say about that era?
Well, all I’ll say about that era is I hope it’s not dead.It’s funny you answer that way because
yesterday, I was talking to an old-timer at the gym, who was telling me about the idealism of ’60s. He used the phrase “keeping the dream alive,” which sparked my curiosity.I’m still quite idealistic; I was born that way. Kids by nature are idealistic, and I never out-grew that and hope my brethren in that move-ment haven’t outgrown that, and maybe when we get to be older and revered, we will help to bring that worldview back around to greater prominence, like it was back then.
With that phrase, this old-timer de-scribed sharing art for art’s sake, as op-posed to commercialism. There were two or three years that we were starving artists and lived a great life. Then we became increasingly successful, and we still had great lives, but we moved on to another mode of existence—we were relatively suc-cessful artists. I think almost necessarily the cream of the crop in any artistic endeavor is going to go through that transformation.
What is the effect of success?It took a number of us out. Too much success too soon is something that you have to be fast on your feet to live through.
The band was known for ingesting hero-ic doses of acid. My long-held curiosity has me asking how you kept it together to even stand up on stage, let alone re-member lyrics and play instruments. There were times during the acid tests when we would go onstage and try to start playing in such a profound state of—what’s the word I’m looking for?—bewilderment, disorienta-tion—that we would just bail and come back when done peaking. That was when we started developing our style of performance and band improvisation, of taking a simple riff and work-ing it pretty endlessly and then moving on to something else. It was leaderless; the leader was the song.
Where did the discipline and grounding come from despite being so far out on the astral plane?We had spent enough time living on top of each other in a communal style that we learned to listen to each other, to make room for each other and appreciate each other to the point where we could accept each other’s leadership at any minute regarding any given idea that was presented. We spent all our time together, whether we were practicing music or just rav-ing, just kicking things around. There was very little that was straightforward. We specialized
“Okay, well, this is one way to do it.” In the act of being an altar boy, I spent a lot of time fucking around because we really couldn’t hear what the preacher was saying up in front. There were the girls in the choir we were flirt-ing with. I didn’t get serious about spirituality because the Christian experience for me was pretty much a pro forma, by-the-letters thing, and after a while I became aware that it wasn’t lighting me up.
In my early to mid-teens, Zen Buddhism became a popular subject in the press. Alan Watts wrote a famous book, which caught the fancy of the forward-thinking American pub-lic. He ended up being one of my neighbors when I first moved to Mill Valley.
What was the effect of Zen Buddhism on you?I liked it. I figured okay, there was no mention of God in this “religion”—which was good be-cause I had been frustrated in my attempts to meet God by praying and stuff. I didn’t get a particularly satisfactory return on my invest-ment. All I wanted to do, like I said, was just meet the Divine if there was such a thing.
What you were expecting from the meeting?I had no expectations. I didn’t know if some-thing was going to talk to me or move through me or any of that kind of stuff. I was open and available, but nothing happened. But the Zen approach, with the poems, the haikus, the ex-pressions of the great mysteries through mis-eries—that was attractive to me and accessible for some reason.
In my late teens I met a guy named Neal Cassady, about whom books are written. He was the Dean Moriarty character in On the
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1968, Golden Gate Park
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in taking what someone was saying out of con-text and redirecting the conversation in what-ever direction. Just for fun we would make sure that nothing ever made sense—except in the greater sense. The conversation was, in a sense, poetry. We rapped a lot. I don’t know how to more clearly describe that, but it’s evi-dent in our music.
Like echoes, musically speaking. If Jerry would uncork a phrase that led somewhere, then I would take something maybe about three-quarters of the way through that would suggest something different, perhaps in a harmonically contrasting direction—and that would become an overlay. There would necessarily be a conflict in Jerry’s harmonic development on top of which I suggested something he hadn’t intended. The resolu-tion of that conflict would be to morph that kind of stuff. All art is tension and release, conflict and resolve—that is where art is born. Our entire lives were art, not just what we did on stage but what we did in conversa-tion and everything. There was very little we could say that we didn’t already know about each other. In a conversation with any of the guys, there was little they could say that we didn’t know was already coming. We were pretty intimate, so where do you go from there? We found a place to go; it’s most evi-dent in the music. What we found were sur-prises, endless surprises, coaxed out of our ensemble’s efforts.
A beautiful insight into being one of “the boys.” And the effect of psychedel-ics on the dialectic?Because of our profound disorientation being high on acid, I might play something, but one of my bandmates would probably hear and re-act differently from how I would expect. Like if you just turn on the radio but don’t know where the phrase began. We used to do that as an exercise. We’d turn on the radio and pick something off, and somebody would hum what they had just heard. Insofar as no one knew where it began, it was out of context, and we’d riff off of that. We would do that in the car going to rehearsal and in normal conversation. We just got adept while we were taking acid at hearing things differently from how they were originally intended, so that any idea, any phrase presented had surprises in it. It’s a very difficult concept to get across. Basically, we’d learned to listen to each other intently in a situation that was close to pandemonium and make our own sense of it—and re-present it.
It sounds fantastically fun.Yeah, it was.
All human needs for community, conver-sation, creative camaraderie were an-swered. You would want everyone in the world to have that experience, right?Right. I sure would. The world would be a differ-ent place if people could have that experience.
To my understanding, there were two fundamental approaches in the psyche-delic era. One was that of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters—balls out, on the bus, extraverted, and in the world. The other was the scholarly, introverted Timothy Leary approach—in controlled environments, a studied trip into the psyche.That was the East Coast approach as we saw it, and ours was West Coast. No, we never went there. I met Tim Leary and particularly Rich-ard Alpert—now Ram Dass—early on, but we were never exposed to that scholarly approach, and we were kind of bemused by it. For us LSD was an active exploration but also an act of rebellion. Our whole thrust was rebellious in
nature. That fueled what was happening out here on the West Coast, and it spread to some degree worldwide.
Richard Alpert migrated to India and met his guru. It’s a beautiful story and a beautiful path. Did you ever connect with a spiritual master, per se?No. Everybody was everybody’s guru in our view. I wish I had met and maybe someday I will walk into a guru, but at this point it hasn’t happened.
Here in the Bay Area, Common Ground came together as a magazine during the post-hippie era, as part of the human potential movement. Isn’t that about the time you kicked into high gear as a songwriter?Yeah. In the early ’70s I was in full stride as a songwriter.
What’s your recollection of the zeitgeist of that time? »
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Clockwise from top: 1971, with Jerry Garcia, Eiffel Tower, Paris; 1969 “Live Dead” outtakes
(left to right): Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Tom Constanten, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh,
Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart; 1973 with Jerry
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We were trying to organize ourselves and make sense of the explosion that happened in the ’60s and grab the forward-leaning shards that we could pull together to engineer a new direction, musically. I think we found some success there and put out some good albums and discovered an approach that was going to bring us to new places.
It seemed like the beautiful songs for ages and harmonies came to-gether in the ’70s.Yeah. We were listening to every-thing except popular music and learned from each other. Jerry was deep into country and string band music and all that kind of stuff from his bluegrass days. We also listened to blues and jazz idioms. From early on Phil brought the modern classi-cal. We just listened to everything, tried to assimilate it and bring it to some sort of fruition.
Can you summarize the ’80s?We were basically the same kids playing in a very different sandbox where the trappings had changed. Now there were drugs that weren’t available in the ’60s, particularly co-caine and heroin. I guess the heroin was available in the ’60s and early ’70s, but I never saw much of it. By the time the ’80s came around, it was fairly abundant. Herpes and AIDS came along. That put a dif-ferent complexion on the free-love aesthetic of the ’60s.
We had become fairly enormous-ly popular, at least with Grateful Dead heads, playing stadiums. That changed things for us. It wasn’t as easy for us to go out and mingle, so we were forced to group together more tightly.
Is there a period that you con-sider a creative zenith?I loved what we were up to in the late ’80s. Jer-ry was in great shape, having slipped the bonds of his drug existence for a few years. We had come together and become strong singers. We had a good sense of dynamics and were a good band. If we had been able to maintain that plateau as a band, some monumental music might have resulted. We lost Brent [Mydland], then Jerry also receded back into the drugs.
Drugs cast their long shadow. Can you talk about their un-beautiful facet?
Christ, drugs took the lives of a lot of people in my life. I was good friends with Janis Jop-lin, Jimi Hendrix, and needless to say, Jerry. Drugs took them out. Beyond that, it very much diminished the capacity of a number of other folks that are still alive. They had an ef-fect on my life. I had to take painkillers for a shoulder issue for a number of years, and that’s something I’m still dealing with. You have to differentiate between the drugs we took dur-
ing the acid tests, the LSD. There was a shadow to that experience too, but it was just a situa-tion where we had to pick up the pieces of our existence after it had been completely blown up and rearranged by the insights that we had during the experience.
What can you say about heroin?I can’t find much good to say about heroin. I tried it a time or two. For instance, I used to carry Jerry’s dope around on tour; I used to be his bagman. At the beginning of the tour, he would tell me, “Okay, no matter what
I say, no matter what I do, just give me this amount.” That was a tough job. I gave him a daily allotment. He’d trust me. Every now and again he would invite me to join him, and I would. But I never got into it. It was fun to go into his world on a given evening after a show, but it’s not a place I found I wanted to stay—or at least that part of his world. It was fun going into that little corner of his world where he didn’t let other folks in. A place to
visit but you wouldn’t want to live there. He did. I’m not sure.
Any caution to youth?Bottom line: you’re better off straight. Stay the hell away from heroin; it’ll take you out. It’ll ruin your life. Meth, the same thing. Cocaine—stay away from cocaine and any of the addictive drugs. Try not to take sleeping pills in your life. If you have a chronic pain is-sue, better to figure out how to deal with it other than with pain medication.
Have you had that conversa-tion with your own daughters yet?Not so far. I think they’ve got the good sense. They’ve seen the el-ephant. I’ve had pain issues and dealt with them unsuccessfully, and they’ve witnessed that; they can see where that goes.
The ’90s were the most com-mercially successful, no? It seemed the Gen-X crowd had found you. The ’90s were very much an exten-sion of what happened in the late ’80s. I think in ’87 we had a single [“Touch of Grey”] accompanied by a video, and it escalated our popu-larity to the point where we were sort of over the top. We just stayed
that way from then on.Since the beginning, it seemed that about
every four or five years we’d get a new sea of young faces in the front rows of our shows. Their older siblings would turn them onto us. Our music is a little complicated for younger teens, with the rough edges being a little more than they could take. The ones that were up to a little adventure in life were the ones who related, and we’d have a new freshman class with big numbers starting in the mid-’80s and through the ’90s, until 1995, when we had to call it quits.
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but certainly have my share of blessings.I don’t know about angels. If so, they provide
misdirection from time to time. I find my way forward by triangulation, going off my path and then from those missteps I manage to tri-angulate to where I am headed.
You’ve been famous since you were a teenager. What’s the effect of that?There are good parts and bad parts. Good
parts, you can spread a little light every now and again where other people wouldn’t have as much opportunity. A smile from someone who’s famous goes a little further than a smile from regular folk. Wish it weren’t that way, but it seems to be.
You have to watch what you do because peo-ple are watching. If you’re not setting a good example, there are people who are apt to fol-low in that example, which is not a good thing for anyone to do.
Aside from that, there are times when it’s tough to be in crowds, especially if everyone
What are you willing to share about los-ing Jerry?It was time to become reflective and reinvent myself. With the Dead, the way Jerry and I left it off, he was supporting me when I was sing-ing, and I was supporting him when he was singing. I would direct the band when he was singing, and he would direct the band when I was singing. We focused on each other in-tently and tried to supply what the song called for. Because the role of the singer, whether it be me or Jerry or who-ever, was to step out of the mix and just not even be there—to get out of the way and let the character tell the story.
With the singer having incapaci-tated himself, so to speak, it’s im-portant for his wingman to supply the nuts and bolts, the foundational materials, for that song to build itself around. Jerry and I, doing the bulk of the singing, were deepest into those principles. After Jerry’s departure, if I was going to get out of the way, I wasn’t going to have that wingman. I had to figure out how to be that wingman and get myself out of the way at the same time. I’m still trying to refine that skill, but I’m getting better at it.
You never recaptured that kind of collaboration?You’re not going to develop that kind of collaboration very quickly with anyone. Worthy of mention is the fact that when he died, he was in the act of trying to shed the drugs again. He was in a rehab facil-ity when he had his heart attack.
What are you most grateful for?Well, number one is the gift of hav-ing been able to live a life where I was able to stay a kid. To never have to grow up—to live with the wonder that a kid finds and stick with that.
A long time ago your sister Wendy de-scribed you to me as someone who has two good angels on his shoulders, while most of us have a good one and a devil-ish one. I’ve been lucky. I was fortunate. Hell, to begin with I was born out of wedlock and at a time when that wasn’t a great thing. Right off the bat, I got adopted into a wonderful family. Things picked up from there. I have my temptations
knows who you are and you don’t know any-one. On the other hand, I get to play and sing for a living, which is all I’ve ever wanted to do. So back and forth, back and forth.
It seems the rich and famous build walls around themselves.In some regards, if you’re famous you have to, because that notoriety is something of a hin-drance. I carry a lot of associations for a lot
of people. Last night I was at a big party that the San Francisco Giants threw, and since I’m kind of associ-ated with that outfit and that com-munity, it’s sort of incumbent on me to show up and hobnob a bit, which I did. There were a couple thousand people there, and I didn’t know many who came up to me. Being famous, you just have to sort of take it on the chin that you’re go-ing to be having conversations with people who have had a number of drinks and want to talk about their past revelries.
Hey, you got it good com-pared to pop stars like Michael Jackson or Madonna.Right, or Jerry Garcia, for instance. Jerry’s fame was such a burden to him he finally just hid from it with drugs. That’s what it was all about. It was painful to him to not be able to get out into the world without being battered by people’s notions of what he amounted to. It was dif-ferent from who he really was.
You once said to me that peo-ple’s projections of him, as a guru, is what killed him.Yeah, basically, because he wasn’t. He was just a guy on a quest, and a lot of folks figured he had found something that they needed to ac-cess. He hadn’t found anything
other than his direction in life, which was to play and sing and make music and be who he was. He didn’t have some sort of gem to offer people. Popularly, that was what a lot of people thought. He was not a guru. He wasn’t there to dispense some sort of divine method of attain-ing enlightenment, other than by his example.
He did seem to embody the old-soul ar-chetype of a shaman.Something like that. In the moment when we were working together, we could let some light shine through. We found a way to open
PHOTOS ON THIS SPREAD: JAY BLAKESBERG
2009
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up some heavenly windows, I guess. But it was momentary. We knew it. We knew that if we worked together we could oftentimes tap into that, but that was as far as it went.
You know the lyric: “Once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.” Dead-heads spend a lot of time peeling back and interpreting lyrics.If they are looking for divinity, they’re prob-ably looking for a divinity within themselves rather than in what we were doing.
Bob Dylan, someone you knew well, fa-mously has that problem of people in-terpreting his lyrics. You saw how fame affected him.Right. He’s done a remarkable job of overcom-ing the shackles of his fame. He’s had to just insulate himself from a great deal of the world, but he’s a master of disguises. He can go out in the world and not be recognized; I’ve seen him do it. That wasn’t something Jerry was able to do. Jerry was born with a physical look about him that you couldn’t disguise.
Bottom line: fame—is it worth it?Excellent question. Ask me later.
Ha! When later?When I’m lying on my death bed.
We’ve talked about drugs and rock ’n’ roll but not about sex. What was it like to be a young man and have countless women willing to have sex with you?It was fun, though a bit distracting. I’d prob-ably be further advanced as a musician had it not been for the availability of the sexual and romantic encounters. I’m romantic by nature, as most men tend to be. The combination of my nature and my situation made it difficult,
if not impossible, for me to settle down until I was about 50, though I tried numerous times in my life. Each time it seemed to blow up in my face. At least that situation offered me the opportunity to shop around. A lot of guys I know have been married a number of times, whereas I am married once. I was wondering to myself if it was possible to maintain the rock ’n’ roll tomcat lifestyle with anything resem-bling grace. I looked around, and from what I could see—I was looking at Mick Jagger, for instance—that prospect looked pretty dismal to me.
What do you mean about Mick Jagger?All I can say is I’m looking at a guy who was in his 50s and still sporting about, and it just didn’t look that graceful to me. At the same time, I’ve always loved kids, and I met a girl who was a teacher who was real good with kids as well as making me laugh, which not a lot of girls could do. We had a wonderful romantic relationship, so I finally settled down.
Yeah, you got the great girl from the North Country. What are your apprecia-tions about married life?It’s given me a family and another focus in my life, a fuller measure of fulfillment. Curiously, I had always harbored the notion that I might spend my golden years in a monastery, but I’m a family guy so it’s put that notion off for a while.
Seriously? You’d envisioned the end-game in a monastery?Yeah. If I had stayed single, I eventually would’ve ended in a monastery. It was a short step from a single existence to a monastery. It’s a longer step from a family existence to a monastery.
Given your active single lifestyle, didn’t
your friends tease you when both your children turned out to be daughters?“Karma, karma, karma. How does it feel to be a dad?” I got that from a lot of people.
If you could talk to your younger self, what advice would you give?Stick with it. Have faith in your footsteps. I wouldn’t have done things differently. I would have advised myself to make the mistakes that I made—too numerous to mention here—but be humble enough to admit that they were mistakes. And to learn from them.
I would tell myself to relax and not fret so much. God’s got this one. Right. Though I’m not sure that I put this on God or any higher self. My higher self is here—my flesh. My higher self is me working my way through all this stuff. It’s tough for me to find words for it, but it’s all one big continuum: the mistakes, the learning, the revelations and the closing of that loop, the fulfillment of that rev-elation and the growth it provides.
Some people call it God—the whole thing, the mistakes, the whole thing.I’m God. As Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heav-en is within.” That implies to me that one is di-vine right now if one just has the ability to real-ize it. That ability is there to be found.
That ability, if it comes at all, tends to come later in life. What do you make of the phrase “youth is wasted on the young”?No, I don’t believe that because I’ve been a pro-fessional kid all my life. I solidified into what I am and what I’m doing somewhere around the age of 14 or 15. I met Jerry, and that just crys-tallized and formalized. I’m a musician and an adventurer of sorts. I realized that before I met Jerry, but after that meeting we were off into the world, in our little joint endeavor.
Do you have hang-ups about aging?Hell no. It’s going to hurt a little bit, but pain and suffering is part of life—part of the lesson that you learn and how you deal with it. There’s pain early in life in terms of the frustration of what you can’t do, that you learn. But then as you get older, a new set of limitations arise. That’s always going to be part of existence.
I just received a batch of photos of you as a young longhair—all that youthful vi-tality. Do you ever look at those photos and think “those were the days”?I find that youthful vitality in the characters of many of the songs I sing. I live there again. My
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Wedding photo with longtime lyricist John Perry Barlow and bride Natasha Muenter-Weir
Natasha with daughter
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quest to manifest some sort of fulfillment in my existence takes youthful vitality. I find that in the morning every day. It’s a matter of em-bracing that and bringing it to focus and good use. Like I say, I’m a professional kid. There’s an openness that I try to embrace, and on a good day I do bring it to my life.
What connections do you make be-tween gratitude and humility, gratitude and charity?A phrase that I heard when I was in my early teens that more or less formalized an approach for me in life was this: “There but for fortune go you or I.” In other words, I really do try to put myself in other people’s shoes.
You’ve long been focused on environ-mental charities.I got involved in the environmental move-ment because it just doesn’t look right to me when I see what we’re doing to the planet, the disrespect that humanity brings to our planet, our life-support system, the planet’s life-support system. Now, by having kids the issue is compounded because that disrespect is going to affect them. Something’s got to be done; I’ve got to do what I can. We support-ed Greenpeace as soon as we learned about them, which was right when they were start-ing. We did benefits and stuff like that to get them rolling.
Other shit that pisses you off?Too much and too deep to get into here. Let’s just say the enemy here is massive willful igno-rance; it somehow must be overcome.
Besides our sports teams, any special appreciations about the Bay Area?I am a pathological 49ers fan, but sports is the cherry on the sundae. The Bay Area is a huge wellspring of creativity and to some degree, enlightenment. We have a couple of major uni-versities here, Berkeley and Stanford—hotbeds of learning. From learning comes creativity. Television was invented here, the Internet. The nonprofit culture, the yoga culture is important here. There was a time when the Bay Area was a hotbed of music, and I think gradually over the
next few years with the ascendancy of digital music, which right now is in infant form, music will re-ascend to cultural prominence.
You’re on a winning streak. Every time you sing the national anthem before a Giants game, the team wins. [Knocks his own head] Knock on wood.
Will you sing for the World Series? Because there are no more superstitious peo-ple on earth than baseball players, the Giants would love to have us sing. To my understand-ing that request is in. In the playoffs they have their say, but when it gets to the Series, not so much. Major League Baseball and Fox Sports are looking for something considerably gloss-ier than yours truly.
The suits take over.Let’s say when it comes to the World Series, the suits take over.
For our 40th anniversary issue, any final remarks to our readership, which is one of the groovy thought leaders by the bay?I definitely like the worldview that’s promot-ed by Common Ground. It’s been one hell of a ride. I imagine it will continue to be that. It will continue to be, period. I’m grateful to have been born into this time, into this place. Very grateful.
Rob Sidon is publisher and editor-in-chief of Common Ground magazine.
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Soul Survivors: Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir
Bob Dylan and the Dead, 1987
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1970sCommon Ground pioneered the eco-health-wellness premise 40 years ago and helped advance a higher vision for our planet. Starting with black-and-white newsprint that eventually led to colorful recycled stock, the magazine’s covers have traced the eras with bold panache and alternative style. We’ve compiled a retrospective we hope you will appreciate. Some images you may have missed—and some you may re-member. We sincerely thank the photographers and illustrators along the way—too many to name—whose impressive art speaks volumes.
Four Decades of Common Ground
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1980s
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1990s
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2000s
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Power To The PeacefulSpearhead’s Michael Franti tells a truth you can dance to
rock The Bike Carbon-free musicians pedal a new sound
free music for your playlist Think The Ditty Bops, Cheb i Sabbah and more
SuMMer MuSiC FeST GuiDeGreen iS The new neuroTiCwe hearT BreTT Dennen
May 2008 | SF | Free
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Final Countdown Leo’s new film asks: How many celebrities does it take to change a culture?
the Good($) liFeEscape from Affluenza
last Fish in the sea How to stop eating our oceans to extinction (Safe Seafood Pocket Guide included)
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The Opposite of Blood DiamondsUgandan Coffee
“Delicious Peace” Comes To NorCal
RootsThe new restaurant in SF’s first green hotel
PlasticsPermeating Our Membranes
WordsWendell Berry Daniel Pinchbeck Andrew Cohen
Eco-fashion Goes Beyond Organic Tees, Tie-dyes
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march 2007 | SF | FrEE
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may 2009 | FREE
LEonaRd CohEn
GREEn SCEnE at nEw LivinG Expo
doinG LESS CREatES moRE
Go Towards The LiGhT
The Remaking of Common Ground
The road Less TraveLedDon’t Let the Downturn Keep You Down
CouChsurfin’ usaGoing Native, One Couch at a Time
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BIRTHDAY BASH AT GREEN FEST
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WHY I MEDITATE
LOOKING BACK WITH GRATITUDEInterview with Andy Alpine, How Common Ground Began
VINTAGE ’74 Recycled, Sustainable Fashion
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WOODSTOCKWhere East Met West commongroundmag.com
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JEDI NATION GAY PRIDE IS BAY PRIDE IS
HUMAN PRIDEIMPRESSIVE
DE YOUNGSOMETHING
ABOUT HARBINGOOGLE: GREENER GENTLER
GIANTYOGA MECCA
WE CALL HOMEBERKELEY’S
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The Bay
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GREEN DAY ON BROADWAY
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Floating Plastic continent
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(COLLEGE) SEX IN THE CITY
MESSY AFFAIR IN “HOPENHAGEN”
CHAKRA #2
NAKED YOGA REVISITED
CUPID’S CALL
The Sex IssueIN PRAISE OF SEX:SLOW, SACRED &TRANSCENDENTWhen Lovemaking Opens the Veil
FOREPLAYExalting the Appetizer
INITIATING SEXIf you ask, I’ll say Yes
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PRACTICAL VEGETARIANISM
TEACHING YOGA TO KIDS
JOURNEY TO RAW
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PASSPORT TO PRANA
The Food IssueGMO’S EXPOSEDConsumers, Stop the Madness!
MINDFUL EATING IN A MINDLESS WORLD Diet: Choosing Your Religion
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YOGA OF MONEY2012 TRANS-FORMATIONAL FESTIVALSWISDOM OF BUYING HANDMADEGREEN THANKSGIVING RECIPES
DAY IN THE WORLDA Pictorial Expression
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WORDS CAN CHANGE YOUR BRAIN
The Neuroscience of Communication
AWAKENING IN THE CHARNEL GROUND
Embracing Discomfort With Curiosity and Compassion
Healthy, Wealthy,
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COMMON GROUND INTERVIEWFoster Gamble, Blue-Blooded Whistle-Blower
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GREAT LOVE CARESSES THE UNKNOWNHEART INTELLIGENCEWHAT IS SEX?DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONSSELF LOVE, KEEPING LOVEHEARTBREAK YOGASACRED KINK VS. 50 SHADES OF GREY
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Form of BeautyThe Radha-Krishna Art of B. G. Sharma
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The Green IssueOUR SACRED EARTHWonder in a Wounded World
BAY AREA ACTIVISMGuarding the Amazon
YOGA IN NATUREStep Outside
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The Common Ground InterviewTHE CREATIVE SOUL OF ANNE LAMOTT
The Creativity Issue
18 THINGS CREATIVES DO DIFFERENTLYPOETIC MEDICINEFAILURE AND CONFIDENCECALLIGRAPHYCREATIVITY IN THE CURRICULUM
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The Common Ground Interview22-YEAR-OLD ERIN SCHRODE’S GREEN
MILLENNIAL GENERATION
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KARMA OF PLASTIC
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GMOS DEPLETE MONARCH
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BAY AREA PUMAMountain Lions Among Us
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ApocAlypse…Whenever
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The Summer IssueBLACK ROCK CITYThe Ephemeral Architecture of Burning Man
FERTILITY 2.0Playa Art Preview
THE POWER OF HUMORNew Age Spoofapedia
IMPROVE YOUR SUMMER RELATIONSHIPTHE YOGA OF
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HAPPINESSTHE DIGNITY OF BEING DUMPED
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happenings NOVEMBER 2014
11/14–16 Green Festival at SF Fort Mason Center The Herbst and Festival pavilions at Fort Mason replace the beloved Concourse Exhibition Center as
home to the 13th iteration of the popular Green Festival. With more than 300 sponsors and vendors,
the festival features products and services from a wide selection of categories like food, health and
wellness, nutrition, body care, fashion to energy, transportation, home construction, gardening, and
design.
Bring the family to visit the unique stages and pavilions, including the Sustainable Beer and Wine
Garden; Yoga Pavilion, featuring free yoga instruction and classes; Family Fun stage with interactive
and educational activities for young eco-warriors; Vegan/Vegetarian Food Court, featuring local arti-
sanal cuisine; and Lifestyle Stage, featuring experts on the green business and technology sector, and
a special section focusing on how SF neighborhoods promote green living. Ford and BMW will be pro-
viding neighborhood test drives of the latest eco-friendly models. In cooperation with Global Exchange
and Green America. Come visit our booth. See you there, at 2 Marina Boulevard. GreenFestivals.org
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11/6–9 O+ Festival, Petaluma—Art in Exchange for HealthcareDiscover the O+ Festival, a three-day, communi-
ty-run celebration of music and the arts where-
by participating artists exchange their contri-
butions in return for healthcare services from
art-loving doctors, dentists, and other wellness
providers at the O+ Clinic. This grassroots so-
lution aims to offer healthcare for the creative
community. By programming the festival’s art
and music events in various venues, O+ sup-
ports and unites local businesses and residents,
artists, musicians, and doctors, strengthening
the fabric of a community to make it more sus-
tainable and vibrant. Founded in Kingston, New
York, in 2010, the second branch of national
expansion begins on Petaluma’s Putnam Plaza.
Learn how you can attend and participate at
OPositiveFestival.org.
11/7 World Vasectomy DayIn 2013, Jonathan Stack and Dr. Doug Stein
launched World Vasectomy Day with the hope
of informing people about vasectomies and
bringing these services to those furthest afield,
and to inspire men to engage in the conversa-
tion about family planning. A hundred doctors
in 25 countries conducted 1,000 vasectomies
in a 24-hour period, to the intrigue of journal-
ists and bloggers worldwide. Learn more from
a doctor near you. WorldVasectomyDay.com
11/9 Whistleblowers and Independent Media: A Check on Government PowerJoin a public forum with renowned speak-
ers Daniel Ellsberg, Norman Solomon, Trevor
Timm, Marjorie Cohn, and Ahmed Ghappour
to discuss the public’s need for greater trans-
parency and constitutional protection from
government intrusion and abuse. Learn why
independent media and whistleblowers have
emerged as a powerful check on the corporate
lobbyists’ hold on Congress. At 7:30 p.m., St.
John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave.,
Berkeley. BrownPaperTickets.com
11/13 Women of Burning Man: Fueling Creativity and Community at CIISWomen hold pivotal roles in creating commu-
nity around the world. Burning Man culture ad-
vances the role of women in creating communi-
ty through playa art and through organizations
such as the Flux Foundation, where volunteers
learn skills such as welding and creating art
projects. Join Burning Man cofounder Harley
Dubois and Flux Foundation cofounder Re-
becca Anders for a conversation about female
leadership as a catalyst for creative expression
and community building. At CIIS Main Building,
7–9 p.m. CIIS.edu/publicprograms
11/15 Lila & Love: Bhakti Night at Yoga Tree Corte MaderaJoin a luscious evening of yoga at 7 p.m., fol-
lowed by soulful kirtan led by Adam Bauer, Ben
Leinbach, David Estes, Lakshmi Devi, Christine
and Friends. DJ Eric Monkhouse takes over at
10 p.m. 67 Tamal Vista Boulevard.
11/20–23 Meet Swami VidyadhishanandaHailing from the ancient nath lineage in the
Himalayas, KriyaYoga meditation adept Swa-
mi Vidyadhishananda offers a free lecture
series on Vedic spiritual philosophy. San-
skrit peace chants, guided meditation, and
a close-up greeting with the swami are part
of the fellowships on 9/20 in Santa Rosa,
9/22 in San Rafael, and 9/23 in Santa Clara.
Swamahiman.org/events
11/22 Black Rock Arts Foundation ARTumnal GatheringEnter an enchanted world of interactive art ex-
periences, stunning live performances, an array
of local and national DJ talent, and a sumptuous
pre-event dinner with live and silent auctions,
absinthe tasting, and special gifts. Considered
one of SF’s grooviest gatherings at the Bently
Reserve, 400 Sansome St. BlackRockArts.org
11/27 Thanksgiving Workshops at Yogaworks in MarinConsider spending Thanksgiving morning with
James Higgins (Larkspur) or Christy Brown (Mill
Valley), setting the tone by cultivating gratitude
through the quieting, calming, centering effect
of yoga, practiced mindfully. A two-hour grati-
tude workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. as a pre-
cursor to a soulful holiday. Yogaworks.com
Amma
Swami Vidyadhishananda
11/19–22 Amma, the “Hugging Saint,” in Castro ValleyRenowned humanitarian and spiritual figure
Mata Amritanandamayi makes only two ap-
pearances in the US in the fall, at the MA Cen-
ter in Castro Valley and in Michigan. Free public
darshan program Nov. 19, followed by a retreat
Nov. 20–22, and a final public program on the
evening of Nov. 22. MA Center, 10200 Crow
Canyon Road, Castro Valley. Carpooling some-
times required. Amma.org
11/20 Annual Pachamama Alliance Luncheon Fundraiser Join friends and Pachamama Alliance leaders
to learn about their work to protect one of the
most biodiverse places on earth. One of the
largest nonprofit fundraisers in the Bay Area
takes place at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Ma-
son Center, and you can be part of it. Donations
raised aim to transform the systems and struc-
tures standing in the way of our shared dream
of a thriving, sustainable human presence on
this planet. Pachamama.org
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Business & Professional Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Certification & Degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Conferences, Workshops & Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Healing & Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Intuitive Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Massage & Bodywork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Spas, Retreats & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Special Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Spiritual Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Resources for a Well-Balanced LifestyleWelcome to our thriving village of skilled healers and active doers — a community of progressive, heart-centered individuals and companies commited to the pursuit of physical health, mental bliss, social justice, and a sustainable world .
professional services directory
Business & Professional ServicesBusiness & Professional Services Accounting
MAKE MORE MONEY, MINIMIZE TAXES & HAVE MORE FUN.
Financial prosperity and spirituality used to be looked at as opposite ends of the spectrum. After more than thirty years as a C.P.A., I discovered that being a whole person includes financial maturity as well as personal growth. After establishing a suc-cessful practice in N.Y.C., I began to look for
more meaningful ways in which to relate to life. While exploring the metaphysical, my family and I found our way to Marin in 1977. I spent the next 10 years leading trans-
formational trainings, human potential workshops and seminars throughout the USA and internationally. I reached a nurturing balance in my own life, and now through the blending of Financial Principles with Transformational work, I am able to support people’s Financial Well-being in a unique way.
I enjoy productive and nurturing relationships with my clients. What we do together is: set up low-cost efficient accounting systems; establish simple yet essential money management, tax planning and business practices; reduce worry and stress; establish real priorities; clean up old messes; make more money, minimize taxes and have more fun.
It may be a perfect fit.Call IRVING WILLIAM BERNSTEIN, C.P.A.415.389.8500
Business & Professional Services Acting to Solve Debt
ADVOCATES IN BANKRUPTCY
Move Forward with a Financial Fresh Start!
When you find yourself struggling each month to balance bills that seem overwhelm-ing, when you find yourself financially swim-ming furiously just to stay afloat, you’re clos-ing yourself off from the opportunity to move on and up to success.
Get a second chance!I am a lawyer specializing in the field of bankruptcy, a legitimate legal tool we can use
to remove your draining burden of debt.I love my work because bankruptcy is one of the few areas of the law where quick,
dramatic results are obtained. Over the past 19 years, I have helped over 10,000 people move forward in their financial lives.
I can help with:• Credit Card Harassment • IRS • Stopping Car Repossessions & Lowering Payments •
Preventing Home Foreclosures • Student LoansImagine a Fresh Start Within a Single Day:I typically get a federal court order preventing any kind of bill collection within 24
hours. I once saved a home in 38 minutes — from the time a client came into my office
to the time the foreclosure sale was stopped.Imagine Lowering Your Car Payments While Keeping Your Vehicle and Other As-
sets:I restructure your financial picture so that you can move forward while maintaining
what you already have. I ensure the safety of your car, your home, your business.Imagine Reenergizing Your Business:The number one reason businesses fail is poor cash flow. I immediately and dramati-
cally improve your bottom line, allowing you to focus on making your business a suc-cess.
Imagine an Attorney Who Offers Personal, Creative Service:I pride myself on the individualized attention I give. For example, I’ve lowered mort-
gage payments for contractors during the rainy season, and for teachers during the summer months.
What I Offer:• Free Consultations • Evening & Weekend Hours • Payment Plans • Money-Back Guar-
antee • Offices in San Francisco & Pacifica • Small Business Turnarounds • Member Better Business Bureau
If you want to reenergize your business or your personal financial life, call me.415.351.2265www.ebankruptcycenter.comBANKRUPTCY CENTER OF JOHN D. RAYMONDA Creative Debt Relief Agency
Business & Professional Services Professional DJ
DJ HEARTBEAT MESMERIZING, MAGICAL MUSICAL MIXES
Lloyd Barde has an instinctive gift for provid-ing music for creative movement, dance & heal-ing. As DJ Heartbeat, Lloyd brings an exquisite depth of knowledge and presence to his work as Movement Wizard, playing music that in-vites the body to move and inspires the heart to soar. Besides his vast music collection, span-
ning six decades in all styles, is his innate sense of “reading the room” and tuning into his audience. His music is at once playful, unexpected, and lends a special “live magic”.
Dances, weddings, private parties, fund-raisers, birthdays, and whatever else might suit your musical fancies—all are fair game for DJ Heartbeat. Let him co-design the mu-sic you really want to include at your events! Since 1985, DJ Heartbeat has brought his magic mixes to Barefoot Boogie, Rudramandir, Groove Garden, Spirit Rock, Inverness Yacht Club, World Dance & Fitness, Larkspur Café Theater, and Rosie the Riveter as well as countless private events.
“Of all the many DJs I enjoy in the Bay Area, DJ Heartbeat is the most inventive and spontaneous and fun, with his ability to respond to the dancer’s energies around him. He’s the best alternative DJ I have ever heard!” —W. Lewis
Call or email Lloyd aka DJ Heartbeat: [email protected], www.lloydbarde.com/dj-heartbeat.html
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Certification & DegreesCertification & Degrees Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
BECOME A LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST
If you are seeking a new and meaning-ful career in healthcare, you may wish to research becoming a Licensed Acupunctur-ist and Herbalist, two of the fastest growing healthcare professions in the U.S.
With campuses in San Jose and Santa Cruz, Five Branches offers Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The college is nationally accredited and offers Federal financial aid. Minimum entrance requirements are 2 years of college.
Since 1984, Five Branches has trained exceptional medical professionals in Acupunc-ture, Herbology, Dietary Medicine, Qigong and Tuina massage, the five major branches of Chinese Medicine. We are proud to have the highest passing rate in the Califor-nia Licensing exam. Our faculty are practicing physicians, most with over 20 years medical experience in leading hospitals in China and the U.S. Our clinic sees over 100 patients a day.
We invite you to visit our campuses, or request a free catalog at: (toll free) 877.838.6789 email: [email protected] Tisch Way, San Jose, CA 95128200 7th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062www.fivebranches.edu
Certification & Degrees Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine is more than just needles and formulas. TCM is the art of acupuncture, acupressure, herbal pre-scription, Taiji Quan, and meditation, based on the foundation theories of yin and yang, the five elements and eight principles. The Academy explores the methodologies of proper healing while preserving the cultural
and spiritual aspects of the inner self. Before you can heal others, you must know how to heal yourself.
The Program The Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine is an accredited, professional degree curriculum designed to prepare graduates to become effective, competent, and caring members of the Chinese medicine profession. The Tui Na Mas-sage Therapy Certificate is a California BPPVE approved 180 or 300-hour program in specialized Chinese, acupressure (massage) therapy.
Location and Facilities The Academy is located in vibrant Oakland, California, just across the bay from San Francisco. The Academy campus is near Oakland’s City Center
and Elihu Harris Plaza, and easily accessed by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) public transportation system.
Admissions Admission is open to all qualified applicants. Equal educational oppor-tunities will be provided to all persons, regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, marital status, sexual preference, age, or physical handicap.
Academics The program emphasizes the cultivation of the intellect and an under-standing of human nature. The ability to analyze, evaluate, and effectively translate Chinese medical information into practical clinical use is essential.
The Clinic The teaching clinic is a clinical program of TCM that is open to the public. The clinic provides high-quality care at low cost, offering complete alternative medical services to the community.
Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences1601 Clay St.Oakland, CA. 94612Phone: 510.763.7787Fax: 510.834.8646Website: www.acchs.eduE-mail: [email protected]
Certification & Degrees Ayurvedic Certification
THE AYURVEDIC INSTITUTE
The Ayurvedic Institute offers authentic comprehensive introductory and advanced Ayurvedic education. Founded in 1984 by internationally recognized Ayurvedic expert, Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Physician, B.A.M.&S, M.A.Sc., and licensed by the state of New Mexico since 1994, its programs include:
Ayurvedic Studies Program - Level 130-week residential program, 730 hours: Students learn to live an Ayurvedic lifestyle
and offer lifestyle counseling and education to help clients improve their health and wellness by practicing an Ayurvedic lifestyle. M-1 visas available.
Ayurvedic Studies Program - Level 230-week residential program, 735 hours: offers continued training in Ayurvedic
theory and practice for students planning a clinical career as an Ayurvedic practi-
tioner including lifestyle management, Ayurvedic herbology, and Ayuryoga® recom-mendations.
Ayurvedic Studies Program - Level 3 Pune, IndiaStudents study with Dr. Lad for 120 hours to learn the healing application of Ayurve-
da to patients in a clinical setting.Weekend Seminars and 7-Day Intensives - offer in-depth Ayurvedic topics. Con-
tinuing Education Units are available. Panchakarma Therapy – authentic, classical Ayurvedic 5-Day program for healing,
cleansing, and rejuvenation.Located in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico, facilities include classrooms, yoga
studio, correspondence course, retail store, and herb department.
Free catalog. 505-291-9698PO Box 23445, Albuquerque, NM 87192-1445 [email protected]
Certification & Degrees Herbalism
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES
Founded in 1978 by Rosemary Gladstar, CSHS is one of America’s oldest centers for herbal education. Our goal is to empower in-dividuals with the skills, spirit and experience needed to be capable community herbalists. CSHS is located on 80 acres in Forestville, CA, including a medicinal garden with over 250
species of medicinal plants. Classes from one day to our 8-month intensive.What is growing in the garden will guide each class as we focus on the medicinal
plants that are ready to harvest and utilize this season. Our exploration will span from the medicinal to the magical, and the cultural to the culinary. Each session is a blend of lecture and hands-on time in the garden and lab.
Upcoming classes* Mushroom Walk: November 15 * Medicinal Mushrooms: November 22* Herbal Holiday Gift Making: December 6
See our website for class details. For information call (707) 887-7457CSHS P.O. Box 39, Forestville, CA 95436E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.cshs.com
Certification & Degrees
BAUMAN COLLEGE: NATURAL CHEF & NUTRITION CONSULTANT CERTIFICATION
Change the world through nutrition.NATURAL CHEF Master a healthful holistic
approach to culinary arts. Certify in 7 months.NUTRITION CONSULTANT Learn a thera-
peutic approach to the promotion of optimal health and wellness. Certify in 18 months.
Study at one of our four locations, or complete our Nutrition Consultant Program from home with our structured yet flexible, Distance Learning Program.
We also offer a comprehensive 8-week personal growth course, Nutrition Essentials for Everyone, which teaches the core concepts of holistic nutrition and healthy lifestyle.
• Berkeley, CA • Sonoma County, CA • Santa Cruz, CA • Boulder, CO • Distance Learning
Schedule an appointment with an Admissions Advisor or contact us to find out more.baumancollege.org • 800-987-7530
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Certification & Degrees Ayurvedic Training
STUDY AUTHENTIC AYURVEDA IN THE EAST BAY
Vedika Global fulfills its mission to ignite a community healing and wellness move-ment via Ayurvedic Medical Education (Gu-rukula), Community Workshops (Satsangha) and Ayurvedic Charitable Clinics (Seva).
Make a Difference - Harness the power of Vedika Global’s signature education pro-
grams complete with personalized and spiritualized training, practical hands-on learning, excellent clinical training and customized graduate support.
Give your personal health and wellbeing a Jumpstart! Join Vedika’s popular two-month self-care course which includes:• Hands-on teaching and seasonal care instruction • In-class demos of nutrition rules
and recipes • Step-by-step guidance in self-care rituals to heal the bodyBecome an Ayurveda Community Educator: 1 year Certificate Course in the Science,
Philosophy & Spirituality of AyurvedaBecome a Certified Ayurveda Health Counselor: 2.5 Year Specialist Diploma in
Ayurveda Preventative Medicine & Community Health
Vedika [email protected] 510-601-8334 • www.vedikaglobal.org
Certification & Degrees Massage and Aquatic Bodywork Training
HARBIN SCHOOL OF HEALING ARTS
At Harbin Hot SpringsFor over 30 years, the massage and aquatic
bodywork school at Harbin Hot Springs has been teaching classes. Formerly known as the School of Shiatsu and Massage, Harbin is now the owner and operator of the school.
We offer 258 hour Massage Practitioner, 558 hour Massage Therapist and many more
training programs. Courses include Massage, Anatomy, Kinesiology, Pathology, Shiat-su, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, Trigger Point Therapy and our renowned aquatic body-work classes in Watsu®, Waterdance® and Healing Dance®.
Our Training Programs can get you started in a new career in massage therapy. But our classes can also be taken individually for personal growth or to add skills for estab-lished bodyworkers. Taking classes here at beautiful Harbin Hot Springs, located just north of the Napa Valley in Middletown CA, is a wonderful way to connect with body, mind and spirit.
707-987-3801, registrar@harbinschoolofhealingarts.orgwww.harbinschoolofhealingarts.org
Certification & Degrees Massage School on Maui
MAUI SCHOOL OF THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Become a Licensed Massage Therapist while enjoying the sun and sea of Hawaii! Our 650-hour professional program is one of the most comprehensive and prepares you for a richly rewarding career. $5,500 tuition makes our school one of the most affordable anywhere. The school is located on the beautiful island
of Maui where the warm ocean, gentle climate and lush tropical beauty encourage inner harmony, deep relaxation and support of one’s healing process. Curriculum includes: Anatomy & Kinesiology, Swedish, Hawaiian Lomilomi, Hydrotherapy & Spa
Treatments, Deep Tissue & Neuromuscular Therapy, Assessment & Clinical Treatments, Shiatsu, Sports Massage & Therapeutic Exercise, Reflexology, and Body/Mind Integra-tion. Our popular student clinic is supervised by MSTM’s exceptional and experienced faculty. 12-month part-time programs and 7-month full-time programs begin every September and March. Maui School of Therapeutic Massage is licensed by the HI Department of Education and is approved for VA benefits. Graduates are eligible for licensure in most states and countries. Student visas are available. We also offer pro-grams for transfer students to receive their Hawaii license. For more information and catalogue:
MAUI SCHOOL OF THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE P.O. Box 1891, Makawao, HI 96768808-572-1888www.massagemaui.com, [email protected]
Pursue a Rewarding Career in Massage Therapy!
Certification & Degrees HAVE A CAREER YOU LOVE AS
A MASSAGE THERAPIST!
Since 1979, National Holistic Institute’s mis-sion has been “Helping People Have Work They Love!” It’s never too late to start an ex-citing career in massage therapy. NHI is one of the largest and most respected massage therapy schools in the nation because of the dedicated staff, exclusive massage thera-py focus, and real-world experience.
• 7 California Campus Locations: Emeryville, San Francisco, San Jose, Petaluma, Sac-ramento, Studio City (Los Angeles) & Santa Ana (Orange County) • Nationally Accred-ited • Lifetime Career Placement Assistance • Financial Aid available for those who qualify • Daytime, Evening or Weekend Schedule
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage jobs are expected to increase more than 20% from 2006 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.
NHI provides flexible schedules to meet your busy lifestyle and we have trained staff that can provide a variety of financial options to assist you in getting the training you need.
Contact National Holistic Institute today at 888.771.7008NHIMassage.com • NHI.edu/disclosure
Conferences, Workshops & ClassesConferences, Workshops & Classes Breathwork
GROF HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK
“Stanislav Grof is one of the most impor-tant pioneers in the scientific understanding of consciousness. He and his wife, Christina, have contributed both to its intellectual and experiential understanding through their work with Holotropic Breathwork.”
—Deepak Chopra Join Stanislav Grof, M.D., for the experi-
ential weekend workshop, The Adventure of Self-Discovery, or his Friday evening lecture, The Healing Potential of Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness. Stan Grof
is the co-originator (with Christina Grof ) of Holotropic Breathwork and one of the founders of transpersonal psychology
Through effective breathing, powerful music and a safe and honoring space, Ho-lotropic Breathwork allows you access to your own inner healing wisdom. Each in-dividual goes on a personal inner journey that can include aspects of your personal biography, psychological death/rebirth, and all types of transpersonal states and ex-periences.
There will be time for questions and discussion with Stan Grof. Emphasis is placed on integration of the breathwork experience in a supportive environment.
January 16 (evening) through 18 (12:30pm), San Francisco (near airport), CA.Or join one of our 6-day retreats in Taos, NM, Pennsylvania & Joshua Tree, [email protected], 415 383-8779
Consider Placing Your Ad in Common Ground.Connecting People for 40 Years. Call 415-505-1410.
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Healing & Wellness
BE ALLERGY
FREE
Healing & Wellness Allergies
BE ALLERGY FREE
Adults and children are often free of aller-gies in 3 or 4 sessions.
Noninvasive • Painless • Drug-Free • No Nee-dles • No Rotation Diet
Common allergies that can be cleared:Hayfever • Grass • Dust • Animals • Chemicals
• Food • Bees • Other allergic reactionsAllergies often stem from old feelings of
fear, confusion, loneliness or sadness. These emotions, held in acupuncture meridians, unconsciously exert their influence over our current thoughts and body functions. Our work together accesses these emotions and memories — releasing them, allowing the
body to return to health. People who have been plagued all their lives with allergies experience great relief, sometimes after just one session. The allergies do not return.
I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work and have been trained by the originators of Option Therapy and Bio-Energy Balancing. I developed this effective and versatile method using a synthesis of my education and clinical experiences. I have over 20 years’ experience working with adults, children and animals.
For the past eighteen years, I have been working with the connection between body and mind with exciting results. I am committed to creating a safe place where issues can be worked through with respect and gentleness.
Don’t let your allergies limit your life any longer! Lynn Corwin415.456.2648
Healing & Wellness
MASTER SHA’S LOVE PEACE HARMONY CENTER
“Heal the soul first; then healing and trans-formation of every aspect of life will follow.” —Master Zhi Gang
Soul Healing focuses on the soul—your soul, the soul of your organs, your house, your relationships, your business, your finances, etc.
Soul Healing brings divine love and light to transform the energy and spiritual block-ages that are often the root cause of challenges for any aspect of your life, e.g., health, relationships, business, finance, spirituality.
Experience the power of Soul Healing: • Soul Healing sessions • Karma Cleansing for life or specific conditions• Soul Readings • Soul Wisdom classesPeggy Werner and Ximena Gavino are Worldwide Representatives of Master Sha.
They are advanced Soul Healers, Soul Teachers and Soul Communicators with a pow-erful Third Eye and the authority to read all levels of the Akashic records, past, present and future, and to offer Divine Karma Cleansing for a condition or life.
Visit website for intro events and classes. Call for an appointment!Master Sha’s Love Peace Harmony Center1549 California St., San Francisco, CA 94109415.971.7373www.LovePeaceHarmonyCenterSF.cominfo@LovePeaceHarmonyCenterSF.com
Healing & Wellness Healing Music
MEDITATIONS TO SUPPORT SOBRIETY & RECOVERY by JOHN BRADSHAW & STEVEN HALPERN
Addiction is often about an inner emptiness, a spiritual vacuum. Let John Bradshaw guide you in two meditations to support spiritual well-being. Program includes information on stress, addiction and spirituality, plus bonus album: “Lullabies for your Inner Child.” MP3
available now; CDs 11/11/14. Healing music is a meaningful gift that lasts all year long.John Bradshaw is an iconic figure in the self-help movement, a # 1 New York Times
bestselling author, PBS series host and counselor.Steven Halpern is Grammy® nominated recording artist, composer and sound heal-
er whose music has helped millions experience the inner silence in meditation to fill the spiritual vacuum. His music provides the soundtrack for Bradshaw’s Inner Child workshops, PBS series and recordings.
Hear samples at: StevenHalpern.com/BradshawFacebook.com/StevenHalpernFanPage
Healing & Wellness Nutrition
THE AWARE BODY: MARY SERPHOS, CERTIFIED HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH, LICENSED PSYCHOTHERAPIST, INTEGRATED NUTRITION COUNSELING
As a certified nutrition consultant, licensed psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher, focused on results, I work with individuals and families to help them eat and feel better. After creating a personalized, goal- focused
plan I team with clients to tackle obstacles, expand self-awareness and address chronic health concerns. I have helped clients recover from Lyme disease, Chron’s disease and other digestive disorders, migraines, depression, chronic fatigue, and dia-betes. I have helped children, teens, men and women improve body image and lose weight. Comprehensive programs that are either one, three or six months long are
suggested based upon client’s personal needs. These programs include:• Science based nutrition education • A balanced menu plan designed around nutri-
tional preferences (gluten-free, flexitarian, locavore, nourishing traditions, vegetarian) • Cooking support • 3-7 day mindful whole body cleanse • Grocery store tour • Medi-tation and mindfulness coaching • Emotional health support • An integrated stress reduction plan
The overall mission of The Aware Body is to provide clients with restored balance, revitalized health, improved relationships, increased energy, and personal transforma-tion.
Graduate training and degrees: Smith College School for Social Work and The Insti-tute for Integrative Nutrition. Call for a consultation and begin your results-focused, fully supported program for improved health.
Mary Serphos, LCSW, CHHC [email protected] • www.theawarebody.com
Cleansing ConsciouslyWoods Gravity Method Colon
HygieneAnjali Krystofiak
Healing & Wellness Internal Cleansing
GENTLE, INTUITIVE DETOX SUPPORT IN MARIN
Woods Gravity Method Colon Hygiene (also known as colonics) is now available to the Bay Area community! This is the original method used by Dr. Robert Woods and Dr. Norman Walker, and allows for a simultaneous in/out flow—meaning water enters and exits at the same time.
Unlike other modalities, no machines, motors, or pumps are used. I will be admin-istering treatments at Project Detox, a body cleansing studio in San Anselmo that offers customized cleansing programs reflecting each person’s unique physiology.
I am present throughout the session, intuitively supporting you in your treatment, and utilize Do Terra essential oils and abdominal massage. With this sought-out technique, we gently awaken the bowels with triple filtered UV water to do what they are meant to do—release. Please visit my website to find out more about colon hygiene and other offerings. It would be my pleasure to be of service!
Anjali Krystofiak Email: Anjali@cleansingconsciously.comCleansingConsciously.com641-919-7929
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Healing & Wellness Hormone / Allergy / Thyroid / Nutrition
DISCOVER A WAY TO END YOUR HORMONAL IMBALANCES
Tired of being told “It’s all in your head” and that you need to “learn to live with it?”
Experiencing: • Fatigue • Anxiety • Panic Attacks • Cold Hands / Feet • Cold Sensitive • Headaches • Cramping • Sugar / Bread Cravings • Low Libido
• Hair Loss / Thinning • Constipation • Muscle Aches • Sinus Congestion • Bloating • Belly Fat • Brain Fog
Call now to schedule a consult to learn more about natural hormone balancing. The first 33 people to call receive our initial examination for only $47 ($240 value).
Triad Of Health Family Healing and Hormone Balancing Center4340 Redwood Highway, Suite D318San Rafael, CA 94903(415) 459-4313 Officewww.triadofhealth.net
Healing & Wellness Hypnotherapy, Dharma Coaching
SHAMANIC HYPNOTHERAPY & DHARMA LIFE COACHING
Is emotional, mental or spiritual pain getting in the way of you experiencing a joyous expanded self?
If so, there’s an antidote… As your guide, I offer tools that guide
you back to your joyous authentic self. My expertise focuses on transforming mental,
emotional and spiritual pain through integrating Shamanic Hypnotherapy and Personal Development Coaching with Eastern Spiritual Practices to offer you the most cutting-edge coaching system available today. Let Shamanic Hypnotherapy,
and Dharma Life Coaching support you healing:• Anxiety & Depression, • Emotional & Sexual Pain, Addictions• Loss of Life Direction, Confidence & Purpose • Relationship Problems• Emotional Disconnection & Energy BlockagesJoin me today, as you awaken your joyous wisdom within, allowing your creative pur-
pose & spiritual gifts to shine.
Maitri Joy, MS CHT CLCWings of Bliss Coaching(415) 990-8977• www.wingsofbliss.com • [email protected] & Couples Sessions Available. 2 office Locations; Marin/SF & Sonoma
Healing & Wellness
BEYOND SOMATIC THERAPY CREATING DEEP & LASTING CHANGE
Decades ago, I created 5 simple direct steps to transform problems simply and directly—once and for all. TRANSFORMING EMBODIMENT® changes the very underpinnings of short & long-term struggles, transforming the essence from pain into healing. You will find that recurring
issues, mysterious physical symptoms, unwanted emotions and the beliefs that construct your experience are finally transformed.
Working at somatic, energetic, cognitive and karmic levels, transforms your past andpresent. What sets me apart is that I survived a near death twice and a 3 yr long kundalini awakening that connected me directly to Source.
“Elizabeth has an incredible gift to see the unknown, understand the complicated, and make sense of life events. She is able to put together pieces that are often unclear, seeing the whole and healing deep wounds, as a result.” Clients have benefited from this groundbreaking work that blends Buddhist, Taoist and Hawaiian traditions with psychic insights since 1983. Let me help you find answers and understanding.
ELIZABETH BURKE MA 415 925-1509 In person or by phone. For details =>www.healingorigins.com Call in Nov and receive 10 % off.
Healing & Wellness Facial Skin Health
DISCOVER MICROCURRENT FACE REJUVENATION Microcurrent skin rejuvenation is a holistic
approach to aging at your own pace, using color and microcurrent light. Sessions are non-invasive, without side effects, pain, or healing down time. In addition, I use the Bemer microcirculation body pad that improves capillary microcirculation by
allowing increased oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin and body cells.
The sessions are successful to:* Encourage Collagen Production * Smooth Fine Lines and Wrinkles * Firm Skin Tone * Improve Skin Texture * Diminish Blemishes * Minimize Puffiness * Lift Eyebrows Therapy benefits are felt after the first session. Noticeable results generally occur
after three sessions. Dramatic results are seen after ten sessions. Depending on your age and skin condition, microcurrent therapy requires 10-20 sessions followed by maintenance once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Call Renita Zies for a free consultation. Package deals are available. (408) 348-8302
Intuitive ArtsIntuitive Arts Vedic Astrology
VEDIC ASTROLOGY
Vedic Astrology (Jyotisha) was developed by the illumined seers of ancient India to help individuals attain the fourfold goals of human existence: Dharma (Life Purpose), Artha (Prosperity), Kama (Pleasure), and Mok-sha (Spiritual Liberation). It is renowned for its spiritual depth, predictive accuracy, and practical applications.
Since 1972, Stephen Quong (Umananda) has travelled extensively throughout India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, meeting and studying with many of the greatest masters of Vedic Astrology and Palmistry. In addition, he has been closely associated with Shree Anan-damayi Ma and other highly respected spiritual teachers, whose guidance, blessings and personal example have been a major influence in his life and work.
Stephen is one of a very few Americans honored by the Indian Council on Astrologi-cal Sciences with the titles of Jyotisha Kovida, Jyotisha Vachaspati, and Life Fellow, and is respected by astrologers and clients around the world for his expertise in Vedic
Astrology. Upon meeting him in 1993, K.N. Rao, then director of the largest astrology school in India, told a client, “Go see Stephen Quong. He is the best Vedic Astrologer in America.”
A personal consultation with Stephen will include helpful, practical advice offered with loving-kindness, as well as in-depth astrological analysis and predictions for the future. Business, legal and financial issues can be discussed. All consultations are pri-vate, confidential, and tape-recorded for your convenience.
Stephen’s international clientele includes prominent spiritual teachers, healers, po-litical leaders, business executives, portfolio managers, attorneys, scientists, doctors, psychologists, musicians, artists, and writers. People from all walks of life are welcome as clients.
To receive a free brochure and a sampling of unsolicited client testimonials, or to schedule a personal consultation, please call:
STEPHEN QUONGPO Box 4524, Antioch, CA 94531(925) 754-8858, Fax: (925) 754-8575E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.jyotisha.com
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 77
End Hormone Imbalance
Now!
Healing & Wellness Hormone / Allergy / Thyroid / Nutrition
DISCOVER A WAY TO END YOUR HORMONAL IMBALANCES
Tired of being told “It’s all in your head” and that you need to “learn to live with it?”
Experiencing: • Fatigue • Anxiety • Panic Attacks • Cold Hands / Feet • Cold Sensitive • Headaches • Cramping • Sugar / Bread Cravings • Low Libido
• Hair Loss / Thinning • Constipation • Muscle Aches • Sinus Congestion • Bloating • Belly Fat • Brain Fog
Call now to schedule a consult to learn more about natural hormone balancing. The first 33 people to call receive our initial examination for only $47 ($240 value).
Triad Of Health Family Healing and Hormone Balancing Center4340 Redwood Highway, Suite D318San Rafael, CA 94903(415) 459-4313 Officewww.triadofhealth.net
Healing & Wellness Hypnotherapy, Dharma Coaching
SHAMANIC HYPNOTHERAPY & DHARMA LIFE COACHING
Is emotional, mental or spiritual pain getting in the way of you experiencing a joyous expanded self?
If so, there’s an antidote… As your guide, I offer tools that guide
you back to your joyous authentic self. My expertise focuses on transforming mental,
emotional and spiritual pain through integrating Shamanic Hypnotherapy and Personal Development Coaching with Eastern Spiritual Practices to offer you the most cutting-edge coaching system available today. Let Shamanic Hypnotherapy,
and Dharma Life Coaching support you healing:• Anxiety & Depression, • Emotional & Sexual Pain, Addictions• Loss of Life Direction, Confidence & Purpose • Relationship Problems• Emotional Disconnection & Energy BlockagesJoin me today, as you awaken your joyous wisdom within, allowing your creative pur-
pose & spiritual gifts to shine.
Maitri Joy, MS CHT CLCWings of Bliss Coaching(415) 990-8977• www.wingsofbliss.com • [email protected] & Couples Sessions Available. 2 office Locations; Marin/SF & Sonoma
Healing & Wellness
BEYOND SOMATIC THERAPY CREATING DEEP & LASTING CHANGE
Decades ago, I created 5 simple direct steps to transform problems simply and directly—once and for all. TRANSFORMING EMBODIMENT® changes the very underpinnings of short & long-term struggles, transforming the essence from pain into healing. You will find that recurring
issues, mysterious physical symptoms, unwanted emotions and the beliefs that construct your experience are finally transformed.
Working at somatic, energetic, cognitive and karmic levels, transforms your past andpresent. What sets me apart is that I survived a near death twice and a 3 yr long kundalini awakening that connected me directly to Source.
“Elizabeth has an incredible gift to see the unknown, understand the complicated, and make sense of life events. She is able to put together pieces that are often unclear, seeing the whole and healing deep wounds, as a result.” Clients have benefited from this groundbreaking work that blends Buddhist, Taoist and Hawaiian traditions with psychic insights since 1983. Let me help you find answers and understanding.
ELIZABETH BURKE MA 415 925-1509 In person or by phone. For details =>www.healingorigins.com Call in Nov and receive 10 % off.
Microcurrent Face Rejuvenation Therapy
Renita Zies
Healing & Wellness Facial Skin Health
DISCOVER MICROCURRENT FACE REJUVENATION Microcurrent skin rejuvenation is a holistic
approach to aging at your own pace, using color and microcurrent light. Sessions are non-invasive, without side effects, pain, or healing down time. In addition, I use the Bemer microcirculation body pad that improves capillary microcirculation by
allowing increased oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin and body cells.
The sessions are successful to:* Encourage Collagen Production * Smooth Fine Lines and Wrinkles * Firm Skin Tone * Improve Skin Texture * Diminish Blemishes * Minimize Puffiness * Lift Eyebrows Therapy benefits are felt after the first session. Noticeable results generally occur
after three sessions. Dramatic results are seen after ten sessions. Depending on your age and skin condition, microcurrent therapy requires 10-20 sessions followed by maintenance once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Call Renita Zies for a free consultation. Package deals are available. (408) 348-8302
Intuitive ArtsIntuitive Arts Vedic Astrology
VEDIC ASTROLOGY
Vedic Astrology (Jyotisha) was developed by the illumined seers of ancient India to help individuals attain the fourfold goals of human existence: Dharma (Life Purpose), Artha (Prosperity), Kama (Pleasure), and Mok-sha (Spiritual Liberation). It is renowned for its spiritual depth, predictive accuracy, and practical applications.
Since 1972, Stephen Quong (Umananda) has travelled extensively throughout India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, meeting and studying with many of the greatest masters of Vedic Astrology and Palmistry. In addition, he has been closely associated with Shree Anan-damayi Ma and other highly respected spiritual teachers, whose guidance, blessings and personal example have been a major influence in his life and work.
Stephen is one of a very few Americans honored by the Indian Council on Astrologi-cal Sciences with the titles of Jyotisha Kovida, Jyotisha Vachaspati, and Life Fellow, and is respected by astrologers and clients around the world for his expertise in Vedic
Astrology. Upon meeting him in 1993, K.N. Rao, then director of the largest astrology school in India, told a client, “Go see Stephen Quong. He is the best Vedic Astrologer in America.”
A personal consultation with Stephen will include helpful, practical advice offered with loving-kindness, as well as in-depth astrological analysis and predictions for the future. Business, legal and financial issues can be discussed. All consultations are pri-vate, confidential, and tape-recorded for your convenience.
Stephen’s international clientele includes prominent spiritual teachers, healers, po-litical leaders, business executives, portfolio managers, attorneys, scientists, doctors, psychologists, musicians, artists, and writers. People from all walks of life are welcome as clients.
To receive a free brochure and a sampling of unsolicited client testimonials, or to schedule a personal consultation, please call:
STEPHEN QUONGPO Box 4524, Antioch, CA 94531(925) 754-8858, Fax: (925) 754-8575E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.jyotisha.com
Massage & Bodywork
Advanced Structural Integration with Eugene Sage35 Years Experience
Massage & Bodywork Advanced Structural Integration
PROVEN METHOD OF ELIMINATING CHRONIC & ACUTE PAIN AND RESTORING BALANCE & STABILITY TO THE BODY
During my 35 years practicing Certified Advanced Structural Integration, Revi-talizing and Improving Body Structure, I developed a unique approach; now making this work much easier to receive, as well as, providing 90% longer permanence than
traditional “Ten Series.” I work deeply within the connective tissue layers—molding, stretching and repositioning them, but using slow, melting, sensitive movement
rather than a “bulldozer” approach which characterized much of the current struc-tural body work approaches.
This very slow movement directing the tissue repositioning discourages triggering the pain receptors, thus changing the entire dynamics of body restructuring. In the course of my 35 year career I’ve performed restructuring programs on clients demanding the highest levels of achievable performance including professional athletic champions.
Non-series work is also available for short-term problems such as:• Repetitive Stress • Carpal Tunnel • Whiplash • Tennis Elbow • Sciatic Nerve Injuries •
TMJ & Cranial Problems (which can often be corrected in several sessions.)
Eugene Sage, Advanced Structural Integration 510-506-6085 for information or to set-up appointment. 40% off first session.
Massage & Bodywork Rolfing
ROLFING® with KATE INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS & CLASSES
Rolfing is a manual therapy that frees restrictions in the connective tissue, which allows for new movement and pain-free postures.
Over time, old injuries and postural patterns cause strain and movement restrictions. The body needs assistance to release these pat-
terns to return to a more natural state of structural alignment.
Rolfing need not be painful; more gentle methods may bring better results. Results are permanent.
BENEFITS:• Release from chronic tension and pain • Balances your body• Better athletic performance • Feel better than before the pain began• Learn new posture and movement habits • Reduce injuries• Release from emotional ruts • Helps your entire body move better Kate Spaulding, MSc.(510) 919-0153Shattuck near Cedar ½ mile from Berkeley BARTwww.RolfingWithKate.comEmail: [email protected]
Massage & Bodywork On Site Massage
EXPERIENCE ON-SITE THERAPEUTIC BLISS WITH GIANNA AND WILLOW
Allow your body, mind and spirit to settle into the serenity of Sonoma Valley with a therapeutic massage delivered to you on-site. We are Gianna and Willow—a deeply experienced duo of professional therapists, specialized in customizing our expertise to meet individual needs. We
blend techniques, adjust touch to your preferred pressure and respond to the unique rhythm of breath—permitting you to surrender into a state of blissful tranquility.
Our Wine County On-Site Massage is unique, combining: Acupressure, Aroma-therapy, Deep Tissue, Swedish, and Lymphatic techniques through 60, 75, or 90 minute sessions. We will travel so individuals, couples, and groups can enjoy healing and relaxation delivered to your home, vacation rental, hotel room, or retreat. Con-sider the gift of massage as an offering to enhance a party, wedding, wine event, seminar or business retreat.
Contact Gianna or Willow at 707-363-5630 Email: [email protected] Schedule an appointment to let the healing begin.
Massage & Bodywork Hellerwork™
ROY STRASSMAN - DEEP TISSUE HELLERWORK™
FLEXIBILITY, FLUIDITY & FREEDOM FROM PAIN
Hellerwork™ is a powerful system consist-ing of a series of eleven 90-minute, deep-tissue structural bodywork and movement education sessions designed to re-align your body’s muscles and joints, and re-educate
their movement. The sessions provide long-lasting relief from tension, stress, aches and pains.
Properly aligning your body helps you regain your natural well-being and grace in
movement. Hellerwork™ can also be experienced in non-series tune-up sessions. Relaxing deep-tissue massage, based upon Hellerwork principles, is also avail-
able at a reduced rate.House calls availableRoy Strassman, M.S. has been practicing Hellerwork™ for 28 years and is one
of founder Joseph Heller’s original students. He currently practices in the Bay Area (including at Absolute Chiropractic in Alamo) and Sacramento.
Roy works with his hands, but feels with his heart. When he works on you he weaves decades of experience, a lifetime on the spiritual path, and years of direct study with his teacher into a tapestry of healing that has to be experienced to be believed. Just give him one chance and you’ll see what I mean. -Stanley Young, Climate Change Communica-tions Professional
Learn more and have a PAYMENT OPTIONAL SESSION by contacting Roy at (510) 232-5700 or [email protected], roystrassman.com
Psychology, Counseling & TherapyPsychology, Counseling & Therapy Breathwork
REICHIAN THERAPY
Come alive to your sexuality and joy of life ...
Reichian Therapy is a non-verbal “breath-ing” therapy. Whereas “talk” is a great way to avoid what you’re feeling, there is no way to avoid your feelings while lying there breathing in a Reichian session. Over time, chronically stiff and hard muscles blocking
sensation and energy flow will soften. Eventually, the rage we hold in our muscles will surface, giving way to more feelings of pleasure, freeing blocked energy and sexual dysfunction.
We spend an enormous part of our energy holding back basic needs and feelings which we’ve learned were not OK. An effective way to free these blocked energies, release anger and reawaken to your natural vitality and pleasure is through the breathing, movement and sounds of Reichian sessions.
Michele T. Newmark, M.S., D.D., has been involved in the study of human sexual-ity for over 30 years. The basis for her work is grounded in Reichian Therapy. Michele has an ongoing private practice in Santa Rosa and in San Francisco at the Center for Healing and Expression. She also holds classes on “Tantra, Yoga and Breath, an Exploration of Sexual Energy” and “The Tantric Art of Self-Pleasuring” for women.
San Francisco: 415.775.6145Santa Rosa: 707.538.3778www.thecenter-sf.org
Consider Placing Your Ad in Common Ground.Connecting People for 40 Years. Call 415-505-1410.
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78 NOVEMBER 2014
Aninha Livingstone, Ph.D.
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy
SUPPORTING WOMEN RESPOND TO THE CALL OF THEIR SOUL
Walking the path of the Soul’s call asks much of us. As women, we must learn to trust our inner guidance, to break patterns in our female lineages, to honor difficult emotions but not let them stop us, and to stand tall in the wisdom we carry. We are not meant to do this alone.
NEW THIS FALL: Clarity Process on-line: A seven week process for gaining clarity of calling. We will dive into non-linear processes such as expressive arts, somatic awareness, and land-based practices to unearth your unique genius. (Open to both men and women)CONTINUED OFFERINGS: A Woman’s Clarity Process: A deep & rich process for women seeking clarity of calling. Rituals for Change: A potent shamanic approach to meeting and creating change.
Aninha Esperanza Livingstone, Ph.D.Ancestral Wisdom for Purposeful Livingwww.aninhalivingstone.com, (415) 458-8321I invite you to call me for a free 20-minute consultation
Deeply HealingTherapySuzanne Berens, MFT
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy EMDR Counseling
NOURISHING YOUR TRUE SELF
What is your deepest desire? I can help you discover how you hold yourself back from what you most want. Often what holds us back are unacknowledged competing val-ues. Through deep inquiry, body awareness and present-moment attention, I help honor where you are now, as well as open up to the richness that lies dormant within you.
Humanistic-existential, somatic and transpersonal modalities inform my work. I also
am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing). When we have sustained trauma—be it physical, sexual or emotional—our traumatized parts lag behind what our adult selves know intellectually about the present moment. EMDR is an evidence-based modality that is highly effective for integrating our scared and limited parts with our wisest and most grounded selves.
With warmth, compassion and sensitivity, I help you let go of old patterns that no longer serve you and embrace your strengths and inner wisdom—so you can live in a more soulful and authentic way.
Suzanne Berens, MFT3179 College Ave. 3C, Berkeley, CA 94705 and1600 S. Main St., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596(510) 541-8868 • www.TherapistBayArea.com
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy Relationship, Sexuality & Erotic Integrity®
CLAUDIA SIX, PHD
KNOW YOURSELF, BE YOURSELFErotic Integrity is about knowing who
you truly are as a sexual being, and living that authentically. My style is direct and compassionate. Your difficulties make perfect sense. I work with individuals and couples. My work is very similar to marriage and couples therapy and has an added focus on
sexuality. As a Clinical Sexologist, I am inherently sex-positive.Create a relationship that works? I can help.Single: - Why can’t I find a mate?- Why he won’t call (it’s not personal)- Why it’s not personal (really)
- Commitment phobic (it’s not just the guys)- Newly dating again? You can feel prepared.Coupled: - Not feeling appreciated?- Feel like you never do it right? - How to make your woman happy- Why he doesn’t read your mind- Birds do it, bees do it…Are you?- Avoiding sex to not get turned down? -Learn how to change that.Ambivalent? Humans are ambivalent creatures. I will help you understand how your
choices serve you, thus empowering you to make choices that support what you re-ally want.
Claudia Six, MA, PhD is a Board Certified Clinical Sexologist, and a Relationship Coach, practicing in San Rafael. (415)453-6218
www.drsix.net • drsix.net/erotic-integrity/ I invite you to call for a free 15 minute consultation.
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy
ACTIVATE YOUR SON’S NATURAL MASCULINE WISDOM
What’s Happening To Our Sons? Young men are at alarmingly high risk for irrespon-sibility, laziness, feeling entitled, struggling in school, legal issues, immature social behav-iors and emotional problems--as well as drug, alcohol and digital addiction.
The Purpose of My Work: To show parents and their sons how to develop more caring and cooperative relationships by respect-fully responding to each others’ needs. As a result, young men are better prepared for
a life of happiness and independence.How I Help Parents By integrating ageless family wisdom with the sciences of ado-
lescent brain development, parent bonding, personal growth and stress manage-ment, I teach parents how to restore caring and mutually beneficial relationships with their difficult or defiant sons.
Dr. Mark Schillinger, DC is a pioneer in the field of family dynamics and adolescent young men.
ChallengingTeenageSons.com1050 Northgate Dr. San Rafael, CA.(415) 785 – [email protected]
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy A Joyful Loving Therapy
RE-MOTHERING UNDERMOTHERED WOMEN
Many of us undermothered women have a deep vision of who we could be, an un-deniable longing for the life we are meant to live. Yet we are afraid to act on the dreams and aspirations embedded in our “soul’s code,” for fear of not being loved. The pain of not living out our truths manifests in many
symptoms: depression, anxiety, loneliness, eating disorders, etc. I have 34 years of experience guiding undermothered women of all life styles to feel
loved and cared for. It can be such a wonderful, nourishing experience to have your emotionality, sensitivity, and spirituality embraced by an attuned moth-ering figure. When you learn to re-connect with your deep feminine wisdom, you can soulfully manifest your life’s work and create loving relationships that your heart and body are hungering for.
You are very welcome to call me for a free phone interview.Soonja Kim, LCSW (License # : 10157) 510.558.0410www.motheringwomen.com
Show Your Support for Common Ground by Supporting our Advertisers.
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COMMONGROUNDMAG.COM 79
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy Somatic Healing
Wisdom of The Body provides multidi-mensional therapy for helping profession-als, and others on a path of personal growth and transformation. Clients who have ex-hausted other modalities often report that WoB sparks healing on a level they hadn’t known was possible.
Benefits of multiple sessions include:-Deeper, longer, sounder sleep
-Abatement of chronic physical symptoms
-Enhanced calm, connectedness, vitality and well-being-Shifting of thought and behavior patterns-Awakened emotional intelligence, particularly self-awarenessDuring your time, we unearth and answer your deepest longings for healing and
transformation with intuitive and multifaceted offerings. Your session may include touch, movement, dialogue, cognitive insight and psychospiritual attunement. With synergistic intuition, we co-create your experience.
“[L]ike Family Constellation meets Hakomi meets Gestalt meets psychic energy work…This is cutting edge somatic healing.” —Ilya Yacobson, L.Ac
Jill Nagle (415) 509-6430, [email protected] (live in July)
Psychology, Counseling & Therapy Healing Workshop
RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS? CAREER BLOCKS? PARENTING CHALLENGES? ANGER? DEPRESSION? FEAR?
The Process for Personal Change is an effective, short term, intensive therapy for relief from your emotional pain. In nine weeks, you will discover emotional healing and personal transformation. The Process helps you to decode and come to terms with
the messages you received in childhood. These messages tell us who we are, how we behave, and most importantly, how we judge ourselves. But they are not necessarily relevant for us as adults.
The Process is presented in steps which combine the best aspects of group and individual therapy. It skillfully utilizes understanding and techniques similar to modern depth, humanistic, gestalt, cognitive, and transpersonal psychologies. Your Process therapist helps you maximize your growth in a safe and nurturing environment. While other forms of therapy can take years, the Process can achieve even better results in only two months.
Institute for Personal ChangeTheProcessWorks.org 650-737-1368 Licensed
Spas, Retreats & TravelSpas, Retreats & Travel Guest Houses
COMMONWEAL
Commonweal, a nonprofit institute with service and research programs in environ-mental health, is located on a beautiful 60-acre site overlooking the Pacific in the Point Reyes National Seashore, near the small town of Bolinas, about one hour’s drive from San Francisco.
Our three furnished guest houses are available to small groups for retreats, workshops, conferences, and similar uses which are compatible with Commonweal’s nonprofit purposes and with the peaceful, iso-
lated rural environment.Pacific House is a historic, 12-bedroom building with a stone fireplace in the large
living room and a fully equipped kitchen. Bothin House and Kohler House are smaller guest houses nearby, with two and three bedrooms, respectively, and with fireplaces.
Because the houses are often booked well in advance, early reservations are recom-mended.
For additional information, please visit our website:www.commonweal.orgCOMMONWEAL, P.O. Box 316,Bolinas, CA 94924415.868.0970
Spas, Retreats & Travel Hawaii Retreat
KALANI OCEANSIDE RETREAT
Revel in the spirit of aloha in our seclud-ed retreat on the lush southeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kalani celebrates nature, culture and well-ness on our 120 coastal acres of botanical splendor along black sand beaches, near the world’s most active volcano, where we invite you to meditate, sunbathe, play with dol-
phins, practice in our daily yoga classes, dance, discover hidden waterfalls, and more. Enjoy our comfortable accommodations, delicious healthful cuisine, massage thera-pies; relax by our Olympic-size pool; or just lay back in Hawaii!
Kalani is one of the most potent and nurturing retreat centers in the world… –Shiva ReaCome to vacation, to attend a workshop, or bring your own group to this corner
of paradise called Kalani...
[email protected] or 808.965.7828
Spas, Retreats & Travel Retreat & Workshop Center
HARBIN HOT SPRINGS
Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning after many years, now is a great time to experience Harbin Hot Springs, our non-profit retreat center located in the wine region north of Calistoga.
Hike 1700 acres of wilderness… soak in natural hot, warm and cold spring pools... warm yourself in the sauna or on one of the
clothing-optional sun decks... then schedule a nurturing massage, Watsu® or pamper-ing spa treatment. Our restaurant serves breakfast and dinner daily, or prepare your
own vegetarian meals in the guest kitchen. Be sure to visit our garden, market, book store and cafés.
Free guest events include daily yoga and weekly dances. Weekend workshops and massage classes are held throughout the year. Secluded conference facilities for groups up to 300 are available. We also have openings for residential employment. Call or visit our web site for more details on any of these offerings.
Stop by for a day visit, or choose camping, dorms, private rooms or cottages for over-night stays. Room reservations are recommended. Ask about reduced weekday rates.
Reservations:(707) 987-2477 (10am to 5pm) CA toll-free 1-800-622-2477Middletown, CA 95461www.harbin.org/cg
Consider Placing Your Ad in Common Ground.Connecting People for 40 Years. Call 415-505-1410.
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Spas, Retreats & Travel
IONS EARTHRISE For Your Workshops, Retreats, and Events
IONS EarthRise, the transformative learning center of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, is the perfect location for your events—multiple meeting rooms, exceptional meals, and lodging for 100+ guests on 194 beautiful acres.
We invite you to hold your event here. We also invite you to join us as a participant in an incredible line up of transformative workshops and events.
To hold your event here, contact:Lisa Koester, CMP, Sales Director: 707.779.8202 or [email protected] take a workshop: www.IONSEarthRise.org or 707.781.7401
IONS EarthRise, 101 San Antonio Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952
30 Years of Paradise in Downtown San Anselmo
Spas, Retreats & Travel Day Spa
SHIBUI GARDENS SPA
Pronounced: ‘Shi - boo - ee’—“an unpre-tentious sense of tastefulness or virtue; hu-mility”)
Nestled in a quaint and serene San Anselmo garden setting, Shibui has been happily serving its community for over 30 years. Employee-owned, Shibui offers various professional massage therapy modalities
including Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, NeuroMuscular Therapy, Cranial Sacral, Visceral, Prenatal, Sports Massage and more. These modalities can be combined for an even deeper lasting effect with certified therapists —many of whom have 20 or 30 years of professional training and experience.
Or just come with the heavenly goal of relaxing and restoring after a hectic day in the hot tubs or cedar wood sauna. Sit in the garden before or after your session to soak in the serenity before venturing into whatever’s next. Discounts for wellness, seniors and children. You deserve a break; come make an appointment for paradise today.
Shibui Gardens Outdoor Spa 19 Tamalpais Ave., San Anselmo, CA(415) 457-0283; www.shibuigardens.com
Special ProductsSpecial Products Dietary Mineral Supplements
TRUE COLLOIDAL SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM, ZINC, SILICA
MesoSilver® is one of the only True Colloidal Silver products being produced in the world today. MesoSilver has the smallest silver par-ticles (not ions) ever produced (.65 nm). The Particle Surface Area (which determines ef-fectiveness) is many times higher than any other product on the market.
Contrary to older and incorrect scientific assertions, a true silver colloid is NOT clear. Compared to true colloidal silver, all home generators, as well as most silver prod-ucts being sold are ionic silver, which IS clear and colorless. The problem with ionic silver is that, by definition, it has a (positive) charge, which immediately reacts with the chloride ions (negative charge) in the stomach acid or bloodstream to form silver chloride. Silver chloride has not been shown to have the same antimicrobial effects as nanoparticle (true colloidal) silver. Therefore, while ionic silver is a fine antimicrobial agent externally, when ingested, ionic silver is of little use. A true colloid (especially with sub-nanometer particles) is much more effective.
Learn more about MesoSilver® Silver at www.purestcolloids.comCall: 609-267-2112
Special Products Healthy Juicer: Manual Wheatgrass Juicer
GET HEALTHY AND DETOX WITH THE HEALTHY JUICER!
The Healthy Juicer is by far the best manual leafy green and wheatgrass juicer on the market! The best part? It is only $49.99! Super easy to clean (only four main parts) makes it a quick 3-minute cleanup with only a quick rinse needed. So what’s the trick with the easy clean-up? No internal screen to clog,
scrub or cleanup! Juicing leafy greens is by far the best way to detox, clean your system and give yourself natural energy. Wheatgrass has more protein per ounce than beef! The Healthy Juicer has a 1-Year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.
Visit www.HealthyJuicer.com for more information, product demonstration videos and store locations!
Spiritual PracticesSpiritual Practices Shamanic Studies
DANCE OF THE DEER
The Dance of the Deer Foundation spon-sors seminars, pilgrimages and ongoing study groups throughout the world, particu-larly in the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
These programs are led by Brant Secunda, a recognized shaman in the tradition of the Huichol Indians of Mexico, and are usually held at beautiful and sacred places of power.
They emphasize the importance of ceremony for personal well-being and for the con-tinued survival of the environment and Mother Earth, and they provide a rare oppor-tunity to experience Huichol Indian Shamanism.
Participants in these programs take part in Huichol ceremonies, the sacred Dance of the Deer, vision quests and pilgrimages to places of power. They learn practices of shamanic health and healing, and how to approach sacred places of power and bring that power into their hearts to help them live more balanced lives.
Special Upcoming Programs and Retreats:-Menla Mountain: Weekend Shamanic Retreat • Phoenicia, NY • Nov 14-16, 2014-Pacific Ocean: West Coast OnGoing Meeting • Santa Cruz, CA • Dec 3-7, 2014-New Year Retreat: Initiate Your Intentions • Nevada City, CA • Dec 30-Jan 3, 2015
DANCE OF THE DEER FOUNDATION CENTER FOR SHAMANIC STUDIESP.O. Box 699, Soquel, CA 95073831.475.9560 • E-mail: [email protected]: www.shamanism.com or www.danceofthedeer.com
PARAMAHANSA
YOGANANDAFounder(1893-1952)
Spiritual Practices Meditation
SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP: BAY AREA TEMPLE & MEDITATION CENTERS
“The more you feel peace in meditation, the closer you are to God.”
—Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Auto-biography of A Yogi
The timeless, scientific methods of Kriya Yoga meditation taught by Paramahansa Yo-
gananda help dissolve the inner barriers between you and the infinite Peace that is
your divine essence. WEEKLY SERVICES: Each week our centers in the Bay Area hold inspirational services that focus on meditation and spiritual ideals for everyday living. By applying these principles, you can create a life of lasting happiness and harmony in body, mind, and soul. We would love to have you join us for silent meditation and read-ings from the writings of Yogananda! To learn more, please visit the SRF home page at www.yogananda-srf.org or contact one of the locations below for details.
SRF Berkeley Temple–510.984.0084 SRF Sacramento Center–916.483.9644SRF Los Gatos Center–408.252.5299SRF San Francisco Meditation Group–415.584.8270
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