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HEALING THROUGH UNITY
February, 2001
A monthly newsletter dedicated to serving the principles of
physical and spiritual health envisioned in the Baha'i Teachings.
Volume 4, Issue #6
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Contents
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- Lessons from Geese
- Consultation - That First Condition
- Five Levels of Communication
- Communicating with Your Doctor
- Codependency, Detachment, and the True Self: Part 1 - The Problem
- How a Woman's Journal Made a Difference
- Fasting
- Health Habits
- Announcements
- Question of the Month
- Spreading the Word
- Website
- Purpose of the Newsletter
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LESSONS FROM GEESE
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Author Unknown, Submitted by Susan Gammage, Ontario, Canada
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we are going. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents and resources.
Fact 4: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart or core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
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CONSULTATION: THAT FIRST CONDITION
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By Kim Bowden-Kerby, Fiji
When Baha'is get together to study about consultation, my experience is that we usually end up spending a lot of time discussing the mechanics of the consultation process. This quotation is a favorite: “The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.” ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i Administration, p. 21) This is another: “They must then proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their views. They must in every matter search out the truth and not insist upon their own opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one's views will lead ultimately to discord and wrangling and the truth will remain hidden.” ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i Administration, p. 22) There is a world of practical advice about the process of consultation in the Baha'i Holy Writings.
But what we tend not to discuss very much is the FIRST CONDITION of consultation. 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote: “The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly. They must be wholly free from estrangement and must manifest in themselves the Unity of God.” Abdu'l-Bahá went on to warn: “Should harmony of thought and absolute unity be nonexistent, that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly be brought to naught.” (Baha'i Administration, pp. 22)
How much do we meditate about this “first condition”? How much do we consider its ramifications?
In May 2000, Dr. Payman Mohajer of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa, Israel came to our community and challenged the National Spiritual Assembly on that very point. What does it mean to have “absolute love and harmony” amongst the assembly members? What will it take to get there?
“Absolute love” implies, at the very least, that assembly members actually KNOW each other as fellow human beings, that we are aware of each other’s struggles and that we care about each other. We cannot absolutely love someone we only know as ‘a set of opinions who shows up for the meeting.’ To achieve absolute love, then, we have to have some social time together, just to get to know each other.
“Harmony” comes with unified vision. Dr. Mohajer said that the challenge is for the members of the assembly to develop a “corporate mind,” which can be achieved by developing a strong, accurate framework, found through study of the Holy Writings and the messages of the Guardian and House of Justice. He said that once this unified vision is achieved, then the whole assembly truly functions as a corporate body, and every member expresses confidently the view of the whole. Dr. Mohajer encouraged the spiritual assembly to take the necessary steps to have time for socializing and study together. He said that even if the community was left to itself for six months while the assembly worked on achieving this “absolute love and harmony” - that the Faith would see great progress. There is no step that is more vital.
Dr. Mohajer emphasized that only with absolute love and harmony can we raise the level of the consultation. When we have developed a genuine trust for each other, each person will feel confident to fully express his or her views. With love and trust, frankness becomes possible. Whereas, without love and trust, even silence can be taken badly.
Finally, with absolute love and harmony, we can lose some of our fear of mistakes. Dr. Mohajer said to remember that we are always in “learning mode". He added, "If no mistakes happen, something is wrong.” We can’t grow without a few mistakes. Isn't that a comforting idea!
As with many of the Baha'i teachings, the fact that the "first condition (for healthy consultation) is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly" sounds really nice. But it is only when we actually strive to put it into practice that we begin to learn the challenges and to reap the rewards.
(Editor's note: A National Spiritual Assembly is responsible for coordinating and directing the activities of the Baha'i communities in its country. Its nine members are elected once a year by delegates from every part of the country. Local Spiritual Assemblies, elected annually consists of nine Baha'is, twenty-one years of age and older, govern the affairs of each local Baha'i community.)
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FIVE LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION
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Editor's notes: These notes are taken from the book "Breaking The Chain of Low Self-Esteem." by Marilyn J. Sorensen, Ph.D., 145 - 147.
"Loneliness has little to do with whether a person is coupled or single. Many people who are married are still lonely, while many single people are not. Instead, people feel lonely when they lack emotional connections with others. For example, a single person may have one or more good friends whom she talks to and spends time with who are understanding and concerned, who like her and are interested in her well-bring....Another person may be in a committed relationship with a partner but not feel emotionally close, truly supported, or even respected by that partner. If this person does not have others in her life who provide for these needs, she experiences a sense of loneliness even though she is coupled. Thus it is not the coupled state of a person that guarantees the absence of loneliness, but rather the presence of a close, emotionally supportive, and trustworthy person in one's life.
There are five levels on which all people can communicate with others. They are: the surface level, the factual level, the thinking level, the feeling level, and the intimacy level. Learning first to like ourselves, learning secondly how to communicate on all of these levels, and learning to find trustworthy, caring people with whom to communicate are the steps to overcoming loneliness. All three of these elements are necessary; the key to feeling content rather than feeling lonely, however, lies in our ability to develop and maintain a relationship in which we can communicate at the two deepest levels of communication, the feeling and intimacy levels.
1) The Surface Level - At level one, the simplest form of communication occurs. We talk in cliche's or superficially about general topics, e.g., "How's it going?" "Nice day, isn't it." At this level we can talk without knowing anything about the other person and without revealing anything about ourselves. It is totally safe. We might make such comments to a neighbor, to our gas station attendant, or to our postal delivery person.
2) The Factual Level - More involvement occurs at the factual level as we share facts about situations or happenings we know about or have experienced. Such comments as "Aunt Hazel is in the hospital," or "I'm getting a promotion at work,"...are all examples of conversing at the factual level. This is also a form of safe communication because facts leave no room for debate or disagreements, we are merely sharing indisputable facts.
3) The Thinking Level - When communicating on this level, we share our opinions, ideas, and perceptions about the world, about ourselves and about our personal lives. This is a deeper level of interacting and one that is more threatening because such responses can be challenged. To talk freely at this level, we must have confidence in ourselves and our conclusions; lacking that confidence, we will be reluctant to share our thinking, knowing others might disagree or even take offense at our remarks. We must trust the other person - that they will respect our opinions, ideas, and perceptions whether or not they agree. Only when two people both feel comfortable sharing at this level with one another and actively do so, do they have a "level-three relationship." Developing such a trust level with another person takes time....
4) The Feeling Level - This type of communicating requires that we reveal who we really are, how we truly feel about ourselves, about our dreams and our disappointments; at this level, intimacy is developing as we experience increasing vulnerability by opening our inner selves up to be viewed by our listener. In order to truly communicate at this level, we must feel 'safe' with the person we are speaking to; we must feel accepted, respected, and free from threatening repercussions. Sharing at this level is the beginning, the key to developing true intimacy, while the inability to share at this level prevents intimacy from occurring.
5) The Intimacy Level - At this level, we are able to share our deepest feelings, concerns, most embarrassing moments, and our pain without any fear of reprisal; we feel fully accepted and loved by the other. We can talk about positive happenings without anticipation that we will be judged as boasting. We can share our shortcomings and our humiliation without fear that it will alter the other person's feelings about us. We are free to say whatever is on our minds, knowing we will continue to be loved and accepted. This level of communication can only be achieved through a growing and abiding trust that has developed over time between two mature individuals. A 'level-5-relationship' requires reciprocity, it is difficult to achieve and requires tender loving care to maintain."
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COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR DOCTOR
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From "Health Talk: How to Communicate with Your Doctor", by Mary Hawkins, Macmillan Canada.
(Editor's notes: Mary Hawkins realized that many of us have genuine difficulty communicating health concerns, as well as our feelings, to a doctor. She shares "the more clearly you can explain yourself, your preferences and your concerns, the better your chances of receiving appropriate and timely help with health problems and questions." The following are excerpts from her book, pages 66 - 78. It would be important to choose a doctor that you are comfortable with and can communicate with in a relaxed and natural way.)
"Communicating with your doctor involves exchanging information. In order for this exchange to be successful, both of you must understand what the other means. This means you must share a common language, which allows you and your doctor to clarify the information about your symptoms and arrive at a treatment plan.
Finding a Common Language
Finding the right words and images that describe how you feel physically, mentally, or emotionally is difficult for some people. We often have our own set of expressions for describing these feelings; for example, some people think in words and others think in pictures.
However, before you can express any pain, first you must know exactly where it is and how much it hurts. Is it in your side? Near your hip or your groin? Is it deeply uncomfortable, or is it mildly uncomfortable? What words or images describe the depth of your discomfort?
Using Metaphors
Using metaphors or visual images to remember and describe symptoms is a good technique for jogging your memory. It can be an effective way to communicate degrees of physical, mental, or emotional pain. Look at examples such as "it feels like my shoulder has been pierced by an arrow" or "my stomach feels bruised." Someone describing loneliness might say "My heart feels overwhelmed with grief." There are many words or images you can choose to describe your pain or ailment.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD KNOW
Communicating about Medical History
Often we don't let the doctor know of the upsets, stresses, and minor injuries in our personal lives, even though they might contribute to changes in our mental or physical health. Similarly, we often forget to inform the doctor of crucial family history that might affect diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and even short or long term treatment. A family's medical past might include many conditions with hereditary factors, such as heart disease, stroke, mental illness, or certain types of cancer. If you and your doctor know about these patterns, you can discuss what symptoms to watch for and what preventive medicine to take.
Communicating Discomfort
You should inform your doctor if you feel uncomfortable with any aspect of your routine annual checkup. For example, it's important to tell your doctor if you're uneasy with groin or rectal examinations or breast examinations. Your doctor will try to interact with you in a way that decreases your discomfort or nervousness. If you still do not feel comfortable, then you might consider finding another doctor. If you do, be sure to inform the new doctor of your concerns. The problem may not be the doctor, but your own aversion to invasive procedures.
Communicating About Physical Symptoms
It's important to tell your doctor about changes in your body, such as unusual lumps, rashes, or persistent pain. That gives your doctor the opportunity to discuss any worries or concerns you might have, and also for early detection of possibly serious conditions.
Communicating About Emotional Symptoms
Just as it's useful for the doctor to know about the family medical history, it's also helpful to let the doctor know about the family behavioral and emotional coping skills that might relate to family tensions. This kind of information is particularly important if you find yourself thinking about or re-enacting some kind of destructive behaviour as a response to life stresses.
Communicating About Lifestyle
You may want to discuss with your doctor any concerns associated with stressful living conditions, sleep disturbances, persistent emotional upsets, or just the frustrations you feel from dealing with life's challenges.
Effective communication with your doctor benefits you in many ways. You create an open atmosphere for exchanging information, and offer insights into the state of your well-being, so you help your doctor to meet your needs."
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CODEPENDENCY, DETACHMENT, AND THE TRUE SELF: PART I - THE PROBLEM
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By Carmen (Mathenge) Turner-Pluta, California, United States
"O My servants! Could ye apprehend with what wonders of My munificence and bounty I have willed to entrust your souls, ye would, of a truth, rid yourselves of attachment to all created things, and would gain a true knowledge of your own selves." --Baha'u'llah (1)
The condition known in contemporary jargon as "codependency" may be a form of what the Baha'i Writings refer to as "attachment." Baha'u'llah writes, "True loss is for him whose days are spent in utter ignorance of his self." (2) Codependency is a result of ignorance of the true self, and it occurs when he or she is so focused on trying to please or fix someone else that he or she is unable to develop or to maintain an appropriate sense of self. A better understanding of this condition, which hinders the development of spirituality, may help them learn how to obey Baha'u'llah's injunction to rid themselves of attachment.
According to current psychological theory codependency has its roots in our dysfunctional family systems. The term "dysfunctional" is most often used in reference to families in which there is alcoholism, chemical dependency, or physical or sexual abuse. However, it also applies to many other family situations, such as 1) serious illness or death of a parent or sibling; 2) destructive emotional effects associated with either divorce or continued fighting between parents; 3) less obvious forms of emotional and spiritual abuse, e.g., attempts to control children's behavior by using such destructive weapons as sarcasm, ridicule, silence, name-calling, and "guilting"; and 4) unavailability of parents due to workaholics, TV addiction, excessive social or even religious activities, or anything else which may create a situation in which children's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs are not met.
Any of the above types of abuse result in the child's feeling shame: not shame about a particular behavior that needs to be corrected; not an inner voice which says "Oh-oh! I have done something bad"; but an inner voice which says, "I AM bad, I was born bad, something is wrong with me and it can't be fixed." The result of such a loss of self-esteem can be that the child's entire life becomes focused on trying to please or take care of others--first parents or caregivers; later teachers, peers, spouse, children, friends, bosses, co-workers, etc. The important point is that these persons can only feel "ok" by getting approval from someone else, so they become outer-directed, constantly seeking to please someone and get validated. They learn not to acknowledge or take care of their own feelings and needs; instead, they "stuff" their feelings by developing compulsive behaviors.
How to Keep the Family Dysfunctional
Robert Stubby (3) identified a set of nine unwritten "rules" often followed in dysfunctional families which create and maintain a high level of codependency in the family system: 1) Don't talk about problems; 2) don't express feelings openly (the "big boys don't cry" syndrome and the "don't cry, have a cookie" syndrome); 3) don't address issues or relationships directly (e.g., Mom and Dad are not speaking, so they send messages to each other via the children); 4) the "always" rule ("Always be nice, always be perfect, always be happy"); 5) don't be selfish ("Always think of other people first"); 6) mixed messages ("Do as I say, not as I do); 7) it's not ok to play; 8) don't rock the boat; and 9) don't talk about sex.
These rules reflect a set of ways of interacting and solving problems--ways that don't work. All of them are inimical to the spirit of frank and loving consultation Baha'is hope and attempt to maintain in our families. However, for many of us they are rules we may never have recognized as rules, and thus, never thought to challenge. We need to learn new ways to permit discussion of problems at levels appropriate to the age and maturity of family members, ways to allow expression of real feelings while setting firm limits on destructive behaviors, and at the same time discouraging gossip and backbiting.
How Do Codependents Behave?
We all have patterns of relating learned in childhood. Co-dependents learned 'dysfunctional' patterns of relating, because in childhood, they worked; they were their means of survival. If they lived in a noisy, violent, or unpredictable environment, they became very quiet so nobody would notice them. If they found it difficult to get any attention at all, they learned to get their desperate need for acknowledgement met through tantrums, or depression, or illness. As adults, they keep repeating patterns of behavior that don't work. Why? Because those are the patterns they internalized and which are now repeated without their awareness.
Codependents have an impaired ability to maintain loving relationships. They tend to behave in two ways. Some are "people-pleasers," unable to say no, focused on trying to anticipate other people's needs and give them what they want (regardless of whether it is good for them). Some are manipulators, focused on trying to control others and get them to do what they want. And some jump from one extreme to the other as though controlled by a toggle-switch. All of these behaviors lead to frustration and unhappiness. The placatory find that no matter how hard someone tries to please people, it's never enough. The controllers can't understand why people always resist attempts to tell them how to arrange their lives. Some codependents keep moving from relationship to relationship, discarding one after another like last year's shoes; while others remain interminably stuck in an abusive or unhappy relationship and are unable either to let go of it or accept it.
Codependents have a lot of trouble with boundaries. If they have appropriate boundaries, they know what they are responsible for and what the other person is responsible for. They are able to practice detachment, which doesn't mean they stop caring about the other person--not at all! What it does mean is that their being "OK" does not depend on the other person's feelings or behavior, but on their own relationship with their Creator and with themselves.
Codependents are notorious for inappropriate care taking and rescuing. "But, someone might object, "I thought we were supposed to help people." True, even people who are not extremely codependent can fall into enabling behaviors. Before helping somebody, it is good to ask the following three questions: 1) am I doing something for her that it would be better for her to do for herself? 2) am I protecting him from the legitimate consequences of his own behavior? and 3) am I helping her because I really care about her, or because I want to get approval or validation--in other words, because I want to be liked, or admired, or because I am trying to "fix" myself? These behaviors are called "enabling." They may make it harder for the person who is being helped to learn the lesson God is trying to teach him. If so, he will end up experiencing even more pain, and the enabler will probably experience some pain too. These questions have to do with the issue of motive, and often require meditation and prayer to answer, because our motives may not be consciously recognized. We may need to take a look at past situations in which we have "helped" someone and see whether our "helping" has been based on our unhealthy codependency patterns or whether it has genuinely helped. It may help to ask yourself: "If a friend of mine came to me with this situation, what advice would I give him/her?"
(1) Baha'u'llah (1976). Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah (pp. 326-327). Wilmette, Ill: Baha'i Publishing Trust. 326-327.
(2) Baha'u'llah (1978). Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas (p. 34). Haifa, Israel: Baha'i World Centre.
(3) Stubby, R. (1987). Lost in the Shuffle: The Co-dependent Reality (p. 26). Pompano Beach, FL: Health Communications.
(Part 2 of this article will be included in the March/01 issue. This article is the "bare bones" of a longer paper and Carmen Turner-Pluto will be happy to e-mail the longer version to anyone who requests it. She will also be happy to correspond by e-mail with anyone who wants to discuss these issues. Email address is: cmatheng@sonnet.ucla.edu)
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HOW A WOMAN'S JOURNAL MADE A DIFFERENCE
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This story is being reprinted from the April, 1998 issue of the Healing Through Unity Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue #9
Anna Cameron tried something new. She always kept a journal which she reviewed periodically to review the growth and struggles of her life. This year she decided to try an experiment when she received a new journal from her niece. On pilgrimage (in Haifa, Israel where the Baha'i World centre is located) she learned from a member of the Universal House of Justice that we do not bring our negative qualities to the next world but only positive attributes. "The soul carries with it divine attributes and spiritual qualities to the next world, but cannot take with it bad qualities for badness has no existence of its own; it is only the lack of goodness." (Adib Tahirzadih, The Human Soul, p. 13) This person had always considered bringing herself to account was to reflect both the positive and negative aspects of the day. She felt that she was very good at seeing the negative aspects of herself and thought she would attempt to only write about the positive aspects of bringing herself to account each day. At first she felt very doubtful, and decided to give this experiment one year to try it out.
Two months later, she reflected that each time she reviewed the journal it uplifted her soul. She perceived how it simplified and purified her attitude when she looked back on past events and how encouraging it was to her spiritual journey. Focusing on her inner and outer accomplishments now serves as a basis to give her strength to do her service and to validate her own value. Anna is putting into practice the virtue of looking at the positive qualities of her true self which is making a difference in her life.
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FASTING
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During the Baha'i month of Loftiness which begins March 2nd, Baha'is over 15 years of age fast from sunrise to sunset for nineteen days. Exempted from the Fast are children under 15, those who are ill, over 70, travelling, pregnant or nursing women, women in their courses or those doing heavy labour. The Fast ends at sunset March 20, Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year).
'Abdu'l-Baha tells us that "prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests." ('Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 69-70)
Prayer and fasting "act as stimulants to the soul, strengthen, revive, and purify it, and thus insure its steady development." (Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Baha'i Administration, p.8)
The Guardian, Shoghi Effendi writes, "it (the fasting period) is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make necessary readjustments to his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires." (Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Baha'i Administration, p. 9)
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HEALTH HABITS
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Here are some essential elements for our spiritual and physical health provided by a physician who has practiced for more than 35 years under the guidance of the Baha'i teachings.
Trust in God
Consult a skilled physician and follow his instructions
Practice detachment from all save God
Practice moderation
Pray and meditate daily; read the Creative Word morning and evening
Be always happy
Simplify
Focus
Practice patience
Cleanliness
Eat simple, wholesome foods
Drink adequate pure water
Evaluate progress daily, summarize weekly
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Canadians flock to health-related web sites
"More than half (55%) of Canadians with web access have visited a health-related web site in the past year, and about 41% visit them on a monthly basis, according to a new survey from Ipsos-Reid. According to the findings of the survey, conducted in September/00, web sites that offer information about diseases, prevention and cures are the most popular types of sites, visited by 69% of regular Canadian Internet users. These sites are followed in popularity by those that offer information about nutrition (44%) and information about prescription drugs (31%). Less popular are health sites that offer exercise information (20%), and support group sites (16%)." From Charity Village NewsBytes for the week ending December 3, 2000 http://www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/news.asp
This is taken from Ontario Health Promotion E-Mail Bulletin #185.0. If you wish to subscribe to this newsletter email address is: ohpe@opc.on.ca
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Medicine Amendment Act - Bill 2
On December 21, 2000 history was quietly made in the Legislature of the Province of Ontario, Canada. A law was passed that is significant to us all, no matter where we live. It is "Bill 2, An Act to amend the Medicine Act, 1991."
Monte Kwinter, Liberal MPP, the bill's author, comments, "(it is) sublime in its wording but profound in its impact." Very true, health care will never be the same!
Mr. Kwinter explains, "(the bill has) only has 68 words, and it says: 'A member (of the College of Physicians and Surgeons) shall not be found guilty of professional misconduct or of incompetence under section 51 or 52 of the Health Professions Procedural Code solely on the basis that the member practices a therapy that is non-traditional or that departs from the prevailing medical practice unless there is evidence that proves that the therapy poses a greater risk to a patient's health than the traditional or prevailing practice.'
To view Bill 2, visit the website: http://www.ontla.on.ca/Documents/documentsindex.htm
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QUESTION OF THE MONTH
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What is the role of a massage therapist? How do the principles and treatments of massage assist us with our health?
We look forward to hearing from readers who are massage therapists as well as from individuals who have had massage treatments which assisted them with their well being.
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SPREADING THE WORD
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There are now over 1,800 subscribers from more than 110 countries, territories and islands. This includes a large number of friends who serve in the health professions. These include: physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, naturopaths, homeopaths, massage therapists, psychotherapists, counsellors and other healing specialists.
We would love to see "Healing Through Unity" continue to grow! We hope you, as readers, will continue to make a conscious effort to tell your friends, families, and communities who you think might enjoy and benefit from the publication. If you would like to place a small announcement to put in your local or national newsletters, here is one for your use:
"HEALING THROUGH UNITY" NEWSLETTER
This newsletter is published for the purpose of sharing thoughts, comments and
experiences on how the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are being applied to
physical and spiritual health. There are 10 issues/year and it is circulated to
more than 110 countries and territories. If you are interested, please
email: fmezei@sentex.net or visit
the website at: www.healingthroughunity.org
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WEB SITE
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You can visit the website, obtain back issues and the Healing Through Unity Course at: http://www.healingthroughunity.org.
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PURPOSE OF THE NEWSLETTER
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"Healing Through Unity" is published for the purpose of sharing thoughts, comments and experiences on how the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are being applied to physical and spiritual health. Other than the quoted Holy Writings, the material in this newsletter represents the thoughts and opinions of the writers and has no authority. You are free to copy articles, provided you indicate the source of the article. There are 10 issues per year; it is not published during July and August. The newsletter is produced in Ontario, Canada.
Please send your stories, comments, suggestions or "Question for the Month" ideas to Frances Mezei by e-mail: fmezei@sentex.net.
PLEASE NOTE:
Many thanks to all of you who sent such wonderful contributions for "Healing Through Unity" Newsletter. The decision to select and edit material submitted for publication is determined by the editor. If you have a change of e-mail address, please inform me with your old and new email address. To cancel the subscription, please send message to: fmezei@sentex.net