Wellness on Your Plate

The View from my row in the HTPA garden-

            By Dawn Warnaca, HTCP/I

Winter is a slow time in the garden, a wonderful time to settle from the hustle of harvest, and begin to plan the changes for the next season. When I looked up the meaning of 'change' I was surprised by the many definitions offered. The two that stood out for me are:

• To make radically different
• To pass gradually into

Healing Touch Professional Association (HTPA) finds itself undergoing both of these seemingly paradox actions simultaneously. The death of Sharon Robbins in August of this year requires the radical transformation in leadership of this part of the HTP organization, but it will also take time and evolution.

I worked for and with Sharon for the past few years. As a team, Sharon, Christina Burgman, and I developed the outline for Community Connections. Sharon's vision was for Opportunity and Need to meet in one place.

To date we have a volunteer bank of 77 registered HT students and practitioner that have specified their talents and interest. HTPA will use this list of volunteers to notify members when a volunteer opportunity for HT services comes up. We would love to have you on this list. To join go to: Volunteer Application

We are looking for events that students and practitioners can volunteer doing Healing Touch. Events can include HTPA chapter events, conferences- HT booths, Stand Downs, clinics, health fairs, nurse's day(s), fun runs, blood drives, flower club events, networking groups, sweat lodges and healing circles. If you want to do Healing Touch in your community - but don't want to do it alone, ask for help!

To list an event go to: Event Listing Request Form

I'd love to see Sharon's vision acted upon. JOIN Community Connections; let us know if you have need for a volunteer! Let's open the lines of communication that she set in place.

HTPA is your organization. We would love to hear from you on how HTPA can provide what you are interested in - to the calls, chats and community support available. Write to HTPA  [email protected] to share your thoughts and inspirations.

While some parts of our planet are moving deeper into winter, others are shifting into their spring.  I welcome the paradox that life offers.  

It is a joy to congratulate these outstanding individuals 

who have achieved certification! 

All of our HTCP Practitioners have met the requirements and qualifications and are 

officially awarded Board Certified Credential HTCP which is accredited by the  

National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

2014 Nepal conference attendees.

Penny Burdick, MD, HTCP a Healing Touch Instructor in training, recently had the amazing chance to share Healing Touch with the people of Nepal!  On November 8th, 2014, the 1st Annual Nepal Healing Touch Conference was held in a Kathmandu suburb at the healing studio of her friend and colleague  Aparna Bhatta HTCP/I.  It was a great success, with 40 people attending, some taking a bus from as far as 6 hours away. Penny taught self-mind clearing & the diamond technique, at the conference, both of which were received with much enthusiasm. The group is already eagerly planning for the 2nd HT conference next November 2015. 

Nov 9-10, 2014 HT Level 1 class in Nepal.

Penny also had the chance to meet with the director of the oldest & largest Ayurvedic College in the Kathmandu valley, who was very enthusiastic about offering Healing Touch, at least Level 1, as part of the curriculum to their students.  He is hoping to start this within 3-4 more months.  Penny was also able to co-teach a HT Level 1 and well do a solo HT Level 1 class while she was in Nepal. Penny completed her trip by spending some time soaking in her surroundings and experiencing their beautiful culture.

The southern hospitality welcome wagon in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina rolled out a hearty "Howdy Ya'll! 

It was the reunion of the Vietnam Veterans of the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines (a.k.a. "2/1") and their families. This reunion is held in various locations across America, and it was time for it to come to the birthplace of the Marines, in the Low Country of South Carolina. This was the first time some of the participants had attended a reunion. For others it was the first time they had seen their buddies in 50 years.

A 3-day Healing Touch medical clinic was arranged by Nanette Sagastume, HTCP, RN (retired) of San Diego, CA. This was the 6th year that Healing Touch has been offered at the reunions.

To quote Nanette, "Many of the attendees and their families have become familiar with Healing Touch. Some are 'regulars' who seek us out each time; still there are some who see this modality as new and a mystery. At least one member is a Korean and Vietnam Vet. Many are Purple Heart recipients and have residual disabilities and pain. Of course, many suffer post-traumatic stress, but this reality has never negatively impacted the healing sessions. To the contrary... Healing Touch seems to offer positive benefits to these men and women".

The culmination of the reunion was the banquet which celebrated the Marine Corps birthday (established November 10, 1775). The reunion marks this in the traditional way with posting of the colors (done by  local Marine groups), the Missing Man observance (place set at a table for Marines who have passed on), reading of a birthday message from  John A Lejeune (Commandant of the Marine Corps who ordered in 1921 that his message be read every birthday to Marines all over the world), cake cut with a ceremonial sword, the first piece of which is offered to the oldest Marine present and the second piece to the youngest Marine. This is a dearly anticipated part of each year's reunion. The website for this group is: www.firstmarines.com.

Healing Touch Practitioner-Apprentices and Certified Practitioner volunteers from as far away as Charlotte, North Carolina, came to lend a "Hand" of support.

It didn't take long for our small Healing room to fill up with Veterans and their spouses.  Others had enjoyed a treatment on the previous day and came back for more energy. On Saturday afternoon after the parade, it was all "Hands on Deck" for a full house of Healing.

I want to thank Nannette for extending an opportunity for a newly formed Healing Touch Professional Association Chapter of the Low Country to participate in this great event during Veterans Day weekend. Big Hugs goes out to all HTP-A's and HTCP's who helped make this a memorable event.

The Low Country is home to a large population of retired military. With Beaufort the home of the Marines and Charleston and Savannah the homes of two Army bases and so close together, our next focus is to have a "Stand Down" in South Carolina for the homeless and forgotten men and women of our armed forces. We want to be the change we want to see and support our Veterans.

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