The Heroic Journal
October 2013

Often it's the deepest pain which empowers you to grow into your highest self. (Karen Salmansohn)
In This Issue
 
Soul Whispers
 
 
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 When you have to choose and decide not to choose, you have already made the wrong choice. (Kenyan proverb)
 
 
 
The one who inherits a hill must climb it. (African proverb)
 
 
 
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. (unknown)
 
 
 
 

Hank and Sally are in a raft after the boat in which they were sailing sank.  The boat springs a leak on Sally's side.  Hank's responds with, "It isn't my problem, it is on your side of the raft."  Ask yourself, "Do I contribute in any way to this kind of thinking in my life?"

 If the boat doesn't stay afloat, we all suffer.  Start bailing. (MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An article from a previous Heroic Journal 2010:

  

 

The Gift of Our Mirror: The Threshold Guardian

 

 

  

The Threshold Guardian is always a mirror for us, a mirror which speaks to us our greatest fears, and therefore the thing for which we can hold the most hope. If your fear is of failure, the Guardian will speak to you of failure. If it is of success, the Guardian will speak to you of success. The Guardian is the Illusion in your life, the proverbial Satan in Christian terms, Mara in the Buddhist. If you trace the word "satan" back to the Greek, it literally translates not as "evil," but as "The Accuser." If you trace it back further to the Aramaic, the language of Jesus, the word literally translates as "crazy thoughts." I have seen other translations as "the one who whispers lies."  (To read more of the article, see front page of website:

www.theomnibuscenter.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Journeyer...

As some of you know, The Heroic Journey is a universal framework, or as Joseph Campbell indicated when he coined the phrase, a "monomyth."  Since the beginning of humankind, the heroic framework has been seen throughout every culture and spiritual tradition.

We all go through this framework hundreds of times in a lifetime and we do this as individuals and groups of people. Families, couples, organizations, communities, nations and even the world can go through the process collectively. When large groups of individuals enter into the "initiation" process at the same time, we can see the best and the worst of humanity.  

Initiations typically activate our greatest fears and doubts as well as our most ineffective and automatic coping strategies.  If we have trained ourselves to cope more effectively, to challenge the stress-induced beliefs, then we courageously enter the journey of transformation. During this time, WE EACH HAVE CHOICES.  What will rule our decisions during this time of challenge?

Since high stress can throw us into primal survival reactions, our pre-frontal cortex - or our "seat of reason" - can be in shutdown mode, or dimmed like a rheostat. 

In order for each of us to return to higher levels of effective functioning, we must get grounded. What is it that typically centers you? Is it meditation or prayer? Mindfulness? Full belly breathing? Or engaging in a calming activity such as gardening, painting or massage?  When we do, then the highest functioning part of our brain begins to return to work, enabling us to problem-solve, find creative solutions to very complex problems.

So, during this month of October (whether this newsletter comes during or - hopefully - after the government shutdown), we do not have to be a victim of our circum-stances. If each person found ways to center and to reach out positively to another person - even if we differ in our beliefs and consider entering respectful dialoguing and brainstorming on how we might take effective action, then we will learn and grow from this challenge.  Animosity in a supposedly civilized society only weakens us as a whole.

Being an effective advocate or activist or responsible citizen - whatever your role may be - is best done with focus rather obsession; empowerment rather than force; ability and willingness to understand views different than our own and working - preferably - from integrity, compassion and a centered strength.  We each have a voice, we each have a responsibility to study the issues (not simply believe the most provocative ratings-driven information) to the best of our abilities. It is part of the heroic journey of a society or group (i.e. - organization, family, couple or system). 

 Journey stories, movies & more

five stars

A movie launched in October, which creatively and viscerally depicts the "double initiation" of Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer, (played by Sandra Bullock) called, Gravity, George Clooney co-stars as her cohort, veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski in his last flight prior to retirement.  This film is already racking up International Film Awards.
 


Even for those who do not enjoy movies about space, 
Gravity clearly shows - through powerful metaphors - the "Dark Night of the Soul" (or "Belly of the Whale") time of life.  If you have not been an attendee of one of the seminars, this pivotal and painful time comes to most of us during times of loss or challenge which threatens to cause us to collapse, give up or shut down. Sometimes our lives may seem to spin out of control, where nothing seems to make any logical sense and we feel powerless to stop the spinning.  Even a state of utter helplessness has much to teach us about life, who we are and why we are here. Whether you practice a spiritual tradition or not, the deepest part of our journey typically has strong spiritual overtones about Life's Mysteries.
 
As the creator of the film, Cuar�n said, "More than anything else, we were just talking about the thematic element of the film, the possibility of rebirth after adversity." 

If you get a chance to see this movie, some time of reflection and journaling after the fact on

What parts of this movie touched me most deeply?

Have I ever related to what the characters were experiencing emotionally?

When facing those similar emotions, what did I choose? 

How did my choices serve others positively?

When the movie comes out on DVD, The Heroic Journal will be sponsoring a webinar discussion group.  If you are interested, please watch for future newsletters or our website for dates and times.


To see a trailer from IMDB:
Inside of us, there's a continual autumn. Our leaves fall and are blown out over the water. ~Rumi

Events coming to these cities soon!



October  8, 2013
Paramus 
(Saddle Brook), NJ


October 9, 2013
Edison, NJ


October 10, 2013
Atlantic City, NJ


October 11, 2013
Cherry Hill (Philadelphia), NJ


October 21, 2013
Long Island (Riverhead), NY


October 22, 2013
Garden City (Queens), NY


October 23, 2013
Manhattan, NY


November 4, 2013
Columbus, OH


November 5, 2013
Dayton, OH


November 6, 2013
Indianapolis, IN


November 19, 2013
Charleston, WV


November 20, 2013
Lexington, KY


November 21, 2013
Louisville, KY

December 3, 2013
Shreveport, LA

December 4, 2013
Tyler, TX

December 4, 2013
Dallas/Irving, TX


Did you find your city here? The seminar:

Restoring Life After Sexual Trauma: Treating Adolescents, Couples and Adults

is coming.
If you cannot make the live seminar, this seminar is available in self-study in two forms: 
Audio CD
On Demand webcast




WHAT IS THE SEMINAR ABOUT?


It is a continuing education seminar, about transforming your life after sexual assault will look at the primary issues which often delay in a person's healing.  From the physiological resilience reactions, to betrayal trauma and more, what is necessary to heal from the often described, "soul wound," that both females and males experience after an event of this kind.  

The seminar will also look at healthy sexuality and Military Sexual Trauma as well.  For more information on the seminar, please go to:




or







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The Omnibus Center | [email protected] 
Melissa M. Bradley-Ball, MS, NCC, BCETS, FAAETS 
The Omnibus Center
1616 Westgate Circle - Brentwood, TN 37027
In person sessions in Metropolitan Nashville, Huntsville & 
Anywhere by phone, Facetime, Skype or Go To Meeting.
 



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