An Excerpt from Tuning the Student Mind: A Journey in Consciousness-Centered Education by Molly Beauregard: The Walk We Take Matters On the day of President Obama’s first inauguration, I wanted to do something special. I had spent the year volunteering for his campaign and had a few invitations to revel in “our” success with my fellow suburban volunteers. I had noticed on the Obama campaign site that they were calling for inauguration day to be a day of service. The site listed local shelters, soup kitchens, and social service centers as places to bring donations or make financial donations. While I perused the site, I stumbled on one listing that piqued my interest: a Baptist church in Detroit hosting a celebratory community luncheon. The day of the inauguration, I went…
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Trusting Your Own Voice
“In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Years ago, I had the opportunity to teach a philosophy class. While my tenure as a philosophy professor only ran one semester, to date, the class remains amongst my favorite teaching memories. I had taken a few philosophy courses during a short stint as a graduate student in political science. The truth is my knowledge base was admittedly shy of expert. I spent the summer reading a big, fat introduction to philosophy book, digging out old class notes and outlining my lectures. Nervous to face my audience, I fervently hoped I could talk long enough to limit time for discussion or questions. Week after long…
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On Fear
According to Jung, every culture lives by myth. The myths that affect culture most are usually the myths that blend empirical truth with fiction. The truth is, fear is a pretty good short term motivator. Nothing like a shark fin to clear a beach. That said, over time fear can change the way our brain processes emotions and non-verbal cues. Long term exposure to fear produces anxiety and impacts our thinking and decision making in negative ways. Fear leaves us susceptible to intense emotions, impulsive reactions and stress. Living under constant threat weakens our immune system and can cause long term health problems. Despite all these facts, fear as a motivating force remains a convincing myth. That kernel of truth – that we run when scared – maintains the power…
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Words from a Wanderer
March 2017 Book of the Month Words from a Wanderer, version two, is a timeless and beautiful collection of #anote2self affirmations. This book of gems was first published in 2013 as a collection of notes and love poems. For the three year anniversary, WFAW has been redesigned, re-edited and rereleased. It is now a book of 62 #anote2self daily affirmations that readers can carry with them easily. This edition can serve as a resource for daily meditation, mantra guidance, and encouragement to its reader. Author, Alexandra Elle, created this book to shed light on the fact that indeed not all who wander are lost; some are simply still finding their way. www.alexelle.com
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Be the Light
The truth is always deep beneath the surface level of the words. It is the silent, peaceful knowing that is infectious. This feeling of peace is beyond measure, beyond reason and certainly beyond words. Many years ago the communication scholar, Marshall McLuhan, famously coined the phrase “the medium is the message.” In other words, McLuhan understood “medium” in the broadest sense. He used the example of the light bulb to describe his theory. A light bulb does not have content in the way that a newspaper has articles or a television has programs, yet it is a medium that has a profound effect on the environment. A light bulb creates an environment by its mere presence. Similar to the light bulb, the life of every individual in their every thought,…
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The Glass Castle
February 2017 Book of the Month Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn’t stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an “excitement addict.” Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever. Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life…
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Guided Meditation
Rather than offer a book club pick this month, we thought we’d suggest students check out a new website: www.bigwavesstrongboat.com. Social worker and TTSM friend, Mary Waldon, has put together an outstanding resource for individuals looking for a “taste” of meditation. One of the quandaries of integrating meditation into daily routine is finding the time to sit. This collection of guided meditation allows for an active mindful practice. And, seriously, why not use your shower time to develop mindful awareness? Besides it’s FREE, it’s ONLINE, it’s FRIENDLY and EASY to use. Honestly, Mary may have eradicated all valid excuses for putting off the exploration of self. Enjoy!
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On Creativity
In sixth grade, my daughter, Camille, made a papier-mâché “Ellacambit”. For those of you who are wondering, an “Ellacambit” is an elephant/rabbit combo forged together with the help of a little bit of Cami ingenuity. I gotta admit, he was a pretty fabulous creature. He joyfully graced our kitchen table for quite a while. We eventually “lost” him to an encroaching mold infection. We mourn him still. The job of the artist is making tangible the inner workings of the imagination. The Greeks refer to this process of bringing something into existence as aition. Creation is not just about making something happen, it is a matter of letting something come forth and setting it free. Acts of creativity capitalize on the process of making the invisible visible. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi wrote about normal human…
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Greatest Strength is Love, Strongest Power is Magic
It’s interesting how the world works, isn’t it? When I was younger, I remember being mesmerized by magicians. Trying to figure out how I was being fooled right before my eyes was a game to me. I wanted to master this art of “tricking” people. Magic felt make-believe. Now that I am older, I realize magic does not only lay in the hands of a magician but also in the perspective you chose to identify with. The soft breeze in the air outside that makes the branches dance, the old man laughing at the comics in the newspaper alone in the diner, the happiness that fills the air with the sound of children’s laughter are all emotions that we as humans resonate with. Magic is real. Magic is simply your fears…
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Our Movie is LIVE
We’re thrilled to announce that the Tuning the Student Mind movie is now available for free online. Click here to view the 27 minute movie as well as our 13 minute deleted scenes. Enjoy!
