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 6 Jul 2015 @ 13:57
Our Gestalt Approach for Maintaining Continuum of Awareness by Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT, Emeritus Professor
As awareness grows, our thought patterns can become our partners and our friends. When we experience pain or discomfort, we can consult with our own intelligence to find a way to release ourselves from the pain. If we find ourselves holding on stubbornly to frustration and dissatisfaction, we can question ourselves more closely. Where can the holding on to itself take place, if not in our thoughts?" Tarthang Tulku, Knowledge of Freedom-Time to Change.
I am participating in “My Continuum of Awareness” on this beautiful morning sitting outside my Health Studio. I feel the wind brushing my arms and feel the coolness in my hands as I type…birds are chirping and singing all around us…Alley and Jack are basking in the sun in a space they carved out for themselves…seems they also enjoy chasing the birds out of their territory and the birds know they are in this together….our pecan tree is one of their feeding areas so they return often and several are born in her secure and protected areas.
Now I notice that I am expressing whatever comes to my mind without planning or editing….space is behind every sentence….continuing to fill this space with these letters forming words and sentences. And, I remind my brothers and sisters to maintain an awareness of our Breath...remind them of a great quotation by Tarthang, "Let Your Breathing Chart Your Rhythms." Gesture of Balance
Now the birds are interacting with everyone and everything…so many different voices….many very high pitched sounds vibrating my Pineal Gland and nervous system. Feeling the red fire in my feet and palms of my hands as I remind my mind that we are going to leave her and join our Being in Nature as a Unified Whole….All is in Interaction and Relationship whether we are aware or not….
Now I (this observer) is moving on to my belly where my Center of Equilibrium lives as when we leave her, we lose our connection to Mother….what the Mind wants the Body doesn’t…so this Point of reference and balance with our Whole Being is essential….not a good feeling lost in Time and Space without any source of connection to feel “safe and secure” (Self Preservation Instinct) with our feet shoulder width apart in the Strength and Courage Position as in the Mudras. (see Ichazo)
Now I am leaving the mind following this introduction or conversation about Being Present while experiencing Life’s and Nature’s Presentation…we are all in this Play together, however, we tend to live in a shell and keep ourselves so very occupied we lose “sight” and all of our senses of our goals and of our Mission. May take many life times to discover what our Mission is as we could be in the Beginning, Middle or Completion Phase of our Destiny…if there is such a place to end our Journey and say, “Way to Go, Jerry.” You did the best you knew how and took lots of challenges physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially throughout your life.
Being is filled with love, compassion and hope for Humanity while working to express myself with Courage, Understanding, Respect and Loving everything and everyone….working to learn to balance my passion of protecting humanity from Psychiatry and learning that Western Psychology is lost in Time and Space with the labeling and naming everything that does not fit their linear tests and thinking. You know, must not have enough brain power and strength so must be separated from other beings and given a Disorder Shadow, with a Code # sticks with everyone for their life (like a prison, a dark Shadow or jail sentence), and psychotropic chemicals mixed together to cover over the stress, anxiety and depression caused by War Trauma, with Being threatened 24-7 for much of the Warrior’s lives…forever and ever….perhaps why so many won’t own up to their multiple injuries that affect every system of the body, mind, spirit, emotions and social relations….to the Maximum Capacity…to the cellular level that requires lots of Breathing and Health Exercises daily for several years to strengthen and restore our immune system, relations and find Meaningful Work….like school or special training programs for certification and licensing practices.
Now I am observing my breath and its patterns…very slow and full, breathing into my belly the red flame of strength and courage to stay here and now--allow my mind to settle into itself and just Be relaxed, at ease with self, feeling the blood move through my channels, my back is tightening up and needs movement will close this for Now….
Note: Picture is son Patrick: Director, Manager and Actor, Shakespeare by the Sea, LA, CA
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior Practitioner--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005 More >
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 25 May 2015 @ 14:06
Courage to Be and to Free Ourselves by Gerald W. Vest, LISW, LMT, SNM Injured Warrior Alliance
On this Memorial Day, I am writing and dedicating this meditation and message of “Courage to Be Ourselves” with our great service members. Courage to Be Ourselves – Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually and Socially with our families who gallantly and courageously served and many lost their lives in the Line of Duty and many more returning from the Wars injured to the core….seems no end to this ‘line’.
I am entering the 80’s decade and can’t remember a time when we were not in a war or ‘police action’… am sorry for our losses that may continue for many life times with the passing of our brothers and sisters. Seems an endless misuse of our human and natural resources to continue such endless pain and suffering without examining – For what Purpose will mass aggression and killing serve and what are the possible long term and potential consequences?
Calming our Passions and Inhabitants, as is the function of our ”Self Preservation and Relation’s Instincts” (am I safe and secure with myself, inside and outside? O. Ichazo) and, having no real self-defense as compared with our animal kingdom -- anger, fear, loss, jealousy, envy, greed, loneliness, shape and reduce our relationships, strength, coordination, balance and flexibility with our whole being—all stress induced mechanisms or inhabitants produce or initiate our Fight-Flight-Freeze protective and adaptive modes, especially when experiencing Stress and Trauma with our entire organism. Our lives, health and relations are all threatened and we have to ‘literally’ be on guard ‘all’ the time. The military expectation is that we must perform at our Peak, 24-7 regardless of the condition--physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, respectfully, responsibly with no end in sight with the pain, stress and suffering.
As one healing, protection, recovery and prevention of further Stress, Anxiety and Depression, I have been practicing and teaching the Mudras that our mind accepts without interfering with the meditation as these physical body-hand postures offer us a confident, encouraging message that provides security, safety, equilibrium and balance of our whole being.
No More Agitation!
Our traditional Tibetan medicine and health practices have these visualization exercises that offer us a direct connection with our emotions, our relationships and give us strength and courage. Also, Mudras answer our unspoken question that we are now, safe and secure. For example, with “Courage to Be Ourselves.” See my bibliography for the resources I am calling on to present this picture of freedom from stress, anxiety and depression with integrative and holistic health practices and services. [link]
Method: Sit in a comfortable position on the floor or chair and ground your energy by observing the breath as it rises and falls in the lungs while maintaining awareness of the Kath or tan Tien (center of equilibrium), located about 3 fingers below the ‘belly button.’ Lightly close your fists and cross your arms in front of your chest. Imagine holding Broad Swords in your hands knowing you are now safe and secure. Sit for several minutes with this posture for several days to recover and restore our Courage and transcend our ‘inhabitants.'
Also, make the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, and belly, bright Red as Fire arriving from Mother’s core and center of our Earth. Our Being knows now it is safe and secure with this Image of Power, Strength, Trust and Partnership we now have opened up with our true source of energy.
Outcome is Fearless--open, honest, accepting and allowing our ‘being’ to be ‘free at last’ while experiencing our essential energies uniting us with All that Is--as this is our True Nature to become--Equal. “All is One!”
With mindful awareness and without a doubt, fear, judgment, belief and ignorance, we will discover happiness and self-realization as human beings according to this equation:
“Freedom=NoEffect=Interaction=Relationship’s=Empathy=Love=Compassion=Understanding=Joy=Happiness=Fulfillment=Realization as Human Beings.”
Notes:
Another representation of the 2 Swords Mudra is described by Bonny that tells an interesting overview of this Tarot image of a blind-folded being holding them as introduced. [link]
Picture is Elija, John and Jerry having lunch together following our weekly massage and acupuncture treatments with our Returning Warriors and Families. We have been working together with Injured Warriors at Ft Bliss and WSMR for several years and continue to serve them as a team organization modeled after our Ft Bliss R & R Center where Lizard and I worked with the entire family and warriors....what affects-effects One affects-effects All... Our SNM Alliance Website...please visit and join with us.
We Salute you Vets and families. We are grateful for your Service to our Nation, always at War!!! We are here to support your Recovery, Health and Wellbeing<
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 19 May 2015 @ 18:41
Develop and Administer Daily Care Plan--Holistic and Integrative Health Practices and Health Services
by Gerald W. Vest, LISW, LMT
Our “Background brings out our Foreground.” I don’t recall where I picked up this thought or quotation, but does make sense when we examine what is “behind us, in the background” and what we have in store for us in the “Foreground.”
I discovered this concept of our ‘Past’ collecting itself as unfinished and incomplete life experiences with its storage of pain and suffering in our Backs. Everything is happening with us and to us every moment, asleep or awake, makes no difference. I recall reading a statistic about back pain with adults representing over 70% of our population. So it’s just not athletes beating their brains and bodies to oblivion, also those sitting at desks or working on assembly lines or in offices who are suffering as well. Our Service Members carry over 110#’s in their back pack with additional weapon(s) and ammo on top of a vertical vertebrae. Humans are not designed or created for heavy weight or we would be equipped with four appendices, much like elephants, camels and horses.
It is for this reason that our SNM Alliance introduces deep tissue back massage with Michael Wick, LMT, followed with an acupuncture treatment, Acupuncture --Free Acupuncture for our Returning Vets and FamiliesCrossroads Acupuncture--crossroadsacu@gmail.com (just around the corner on Farmer’s Market), every Saturday morning or during the week. Offering this opportunity and experience is a treat beyond words.
Visit our Website and learn about the many integrative and holistic health services that are available for recovery, restoration and resilience following this decade of wars. (Please let us know if these or other health services are offered as an alternative to the Killer Cocktails and the Psychic Tattoos (disorder labels) for life.
Psychiatry, Western Psychology and Big Pharma are in the business to get everyone they visit with for a few minutes, on several chemical cocktails so that they can become dependent and addicted to them and their “Medicine.” I have worked with the military and behavioral health system for many years and what I observe is the creation of the “VA Shuffle” that many of you know has cost the lives our warriors and their families returning from the wars. Hey, wake up and smell the toxic behavior of our sick care system in America, often referred to as Professional Health Care (not)….seems there may be a relationship with our private prisons, private hospitals, private schools and other sick care systems coding, labeling and drugging everyone they can--our military, incarcerated youth and adults, students, elders, foster children, adolescents, toddlers, etc. Who is assuming responsibility for the pain, injury, suffering of these psychiatric protocols….drugging patients, children and elders until they slobber or drool.
I recommend that my clients research every drug given them and examine the warning and side effects identified on the container. Add them all together and ask your local pharmacist and physician or psychologist if they would take them? Do they know what will happen to your body, mind, emotions, spirit and social relationships with a steady diet of these dangerous chemicals? Furthermore, investigate all other substances you intake throughout the day such as tobacco, alcohol, sugar. Don’t you also wonder why you are unmotivated, tired, lack inspiration, happiness, joy, creativity, love, compassion, and other virtues such as courage, dignity, self-respect and mindfulness.
Not going to end on such a painful note, so let’s get our music instruments, our art supplies out and begin jamming and creating. Enjoy some Yoga, dance, biking, swimming, walking, acupuncture, massage, lots of meditation to open us up to our natural and true health opportunities allowing our immune system, our breath, our exercise, our nutrition, our friendships, our family and our whole being get engaged and involved with intensive and extensive health services. SNM Injured Warrior Alliance
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005
575.524.2379 More >
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 11 May 2015 @ 23:39
Consider Life without limited Borders and Boundaries for Humanity One by Gerald Vest, LISW/LMT
How do I start a new relationship while still having feelings about my life partner? Change is where I LIVE as this is our Nature and our source for Nurture….am awakening my consciousness to the Natural Laws that we must observe and follow or we suffer. Big Laws like gravity, love, healthy touch, peace, compassion, understanding, whole health, self-preservation, essential relationships, parenting, mothering, fathering and just Being our True Selves and being human.
In other words, our Basic Human Need Requirements must be met and secured for us to fully experience and be Mindful of our interactions and relationships. Freedom from Fear, Pain and Suffering is my goal.
Montagu, A. (1981). Growing young. NY: McGraw-Hill. (My favorite resource for staying young & learning about our basic human need requirements for living a healthy and complete life)
Montagu, A. (1986). Touching - The human significance of the skin. NY: Harper & Row. (Touch is essential and most of our helping professionals are cowards and charlatans as they won't touch their clients and are fearful of liability.) See our guidelines for healthy and safe use of touch.)
Humanity is One body, mind, spirit and social creature, totally dependent and interdependent upon All that Is, especially the air we breathe, food we eat and water we drink and one another….everything on our planet and Earth herself are All Created…unique, with meaning and purpose for being and living together as ONE on our “Space Ship Earth” (B. Fuller).
Too bad we have guarded borders designed to separate, exclude and deny opportunities for everyone to share God’s and Nature’s needed and required resources for living healthy and complete lives.
Let’s live our lives together beyond borders and boundaries with our brothers and sisters from our country and all others. It is very obvious that undeveloped beings in leadership positions only care about themselves and interest in protecting their corporate sponsors and campaign funding-- greed, prejudice, fear, competition, ignorance and pride are some major inhabitants.
Where do we go from Here? Now? What is our purpose for being here? Is it enough to maintain an awareness of our “being” so we can continue moving through Space and Time with our curiosity, enthusiasm, interests, thoughts and imagination-creativity—let’s become open, honest, accepting and allowing of our limiting Borders and Boundaries?
Picture is our SNM Alliance Team introducing integrative and holistic health practices to support ourselves as we return from wars, injured to the Core-Corp.
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005
575.524.2379
Website: [link] More >
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 26 Apr 2015 @ 19:07
Viewing freedom as intrinsic to our being, we discover that our lives are what we make of them. All options are open, our choices unlimited. When we have knowledge, space grants us unbounded opportunity, and time presents us with infinite possibilities for change. Tarthang Tulku, Knowledge of Freedom - Time to Change,(Dharma Publishing,(1984),
I am introducing "My Continuum of Awareness" on this beautiful morning sitting outside my Health Studio. I feel the wind brushing my arms and feel the coolness in my hands as I type…birds are chirping and singing all around us… my dog partners, Alley and Jack are basking in the sun in a space they carved out for themselves…seems they also enjoy chasing the birds out of our territory and the birds know they are in this together….our pecan tree is one of their feeding areas so they return often and several are born in her secure and protected areas and in our surrounding area are enormous trees that offer nests with safety and security for everyone wishing to join her.
Now I notice that I am expressing whatever comes to my mind without planning or editing….space is behind every sentence….continuing to fill this space with these letters forming words and sentences.
Now the birds are interacting with everyone and everything…so many different voices….many very high pitched sounds vibrating my Pineal Gland and nervous system. Feeling the red fire in my feet and palms of my hands as I remind my mind that we are going to leave her and join our Being in Nature as a unified Whole….All is in Interaction and Relationship whether we are aware or not….
Now "I" (this observer) is moving on to my belly where my Center of Equilibrium lives as when we leave her, we lose our connection to Mother….what the Mind wants the Body doesn’t…so this Point of reference and balance with our Whole Being is essential….not a good feeling lost in Time and Space without any source of connection to feel “safe and secure” (Self Preservation Instinct) with our feet shoulder width apart in the Strength and Courage Position as in the Mudras. (see Ichazo. [link]
Now I am leaving the mind following this introduction or conversation about "Being Present" while experiencing Life’s and Nature’s Presentation…we are all in this performance together, however, we tend to live in a shell and keep ourselves so very occupied we lose “sight” of our goals and of our Mission. May take many life times to discover what our Mission is as we could be in the Beginning, middle or completion phase of our destiny…if there is such a place to complete our physical journey and say, “Way to Go, Jerry.” You did the best you knew how and took on lots of challenges in life physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.
My Being is filled with love, compassion and hope for humanity while working to express myself with Courage, Understanding, Respect and Loving everything and everyone….working to learn to balance my passion for serving humanity and learning that Western Psychology is lost in Time and Space with the labeling and naming everything that does not fit their linear tests, beliefs, theories and thinking.
You know, must not have enough brain power and strength so must be separated from the "mentally well" and given a Disorder Shadow, a Code# that sticks with everyone for their life (like a prison or jail sentence), and psychotropic chemicals mixed together to cover up the War Trauma. The Being is threatened 24-7 for much of their lives…forever and ever….perhaps why so many won’t own up to their multiple injuries that affect every system of the body, mind, spirit, emotions and social relations….to the Max…to the cellular level. Restoration, recovery and resilience requires lots of Breathing and Health Exercises daily for several years to strengthen and restore our immune system, relations and find Meaningful Work….like school or special training programs for certification and licensing practices.
[link]
Now I am observing my breath and its pattern…very slow and full, breathing into by belly the red flame of strength and courage to stay here and allow my mind to settle into itself and just Be relaxed, at ease with self, feeling the blood move through their channels, my back needs movement will close this for Now…. More >
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 5 Apr 2015 @ 13:51
We Practice and Offer an Intensive and Extensive Holistic Health Approach-
Thank you for visiting our Injured Warrior Alliance and please come back often and share how you are serving our Returning Warriors and Families as they recover from over a decade of Wars and attempt to recover from the enormous Stress, Anxiety and Depression affecting every physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social system produced by War Trauma...the 3 Killers of Humanity One. Let's organize and interact and make certain that every vet and their family returning to our Community receive our Services...this is our SNM Alliance Design modeled after the World Priemier Ft Bliss Restoration and Resilience Center, providing intensive and extensive health services, full time, 40 hrs. a week for Recovery, Restoration and Resilience. You are welcome to join our workshops and weekly workouts.
Our Mind, in the Now, is opening up and accepting everything that follows along, often with ‘long cloud like trails’ of unfinished business, memories, plans and concerns about living, dying, feelings and being safe and secure—http://www.jerryvestinjuredwarrior.com/id7.html and outside. Know, we are never alone in this World or we wouldn’t be here Now.
Several of us are aware of our injured-wounded warriors and families returning to our communities, they need us Now!!!
Message for our vets: We fall early in life learning to move around our environment, we get back up and keep working ‘til we get ‘it’, moving toward greater freedom, life, health and relationships. Perhaps, "falling" again develops our courage to be ourselves. Falling is our most vital learning experience…our family, friends, brothers and sisters are here to help you 'stand up,' recover from your horrendous injuries affecting every cell and system 24-7 for more than a decade of wars and trauma--many ‘fall(s)’. Remember how good the hugging and attention, with encouragement, tenderness and love proved to be the best way to recover from our early ‘falls’…then and NOW. We now can brush ourselves off, give everyone a big hug, and continue breathing, moving, exploring and learning.
Picture is my Poster of the 3 Instincts and the 3 Killers, Stress, Anxiety and Depression. All systems injured with War Trauma. (Oscar Ichazo, Between Metaphysics and Protoanalysis) See bibliography: [link]
[link] More >
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 3 Mar 2015 @ 20:32
Pic by Robin Woolley, LISW Master Teacher
SOCIAL WORK-A PSYCHOSOMATIC ENGAGEMENT WITH INTEGRATIVE AND HOLISTIC HEALTH SERVICES
Master Class-1:30-5:00pm, Eagle Rooms
NASW New Mexico Annual Conference, Feb. 25, 2015
Team Member Introduction:
•Jerry Vest, ACSW, LISW, LMT, Emeritus Professor and SNM Injured Warrior Alliance, Organization Leader, Holistic-Integrative Health Practitioner [link]
•Robin Woolley, LISW, School Social Worker and Private Holistic-Integrative Health Practitioner, SNM Injured Warrior Alliance
•Amanda Wiles, LISW, School Social Worker and Private Holistic-Integrative Health Practitioner, SNM Injured Warrior Alliance
•Jessica White, LISW, Emergency Crisis Worker and Private Holistic-Integrative Health Practitioner, SNM Injured Warrior Alliance
Master Level Workshop
Mindfulness, Grounding our Energies, Maintaining a Continuum of Awareness while observing Breath and Breathing. Robin’s Nest-Shake Out!!! Allow your ‘breath to chart your rhythms’ and calm the body, mind and emotions with meditation, massage, acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, Reiki, Kum Nye, Therapeutic Touch and other services identified on our Website. [link]
1.Introduction to the Engagement Process of Injured Warriors and Families and the use of Safe, Skillful, Healthy and Nourishing Touch.The Empathic Relationship (See Guidelines for Safe use of Touch –“Melting, Giving and Receiving the vitality of breath with the power of Touch.” (Jerry)
2.Six Core Skills for Trauma Therapists to Practice. (See Screen) The West Coast Trauma Project Core Skills. Stabilization Stage. New Trauma Therapists
[link]
3.Professional Self-Care Plan with Commitment, Right Intention and Integrity of all physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social systems. Maintaining a daily holistic health routine is essential for recovery, restoration and resilience. (Partner up and design Daily Health Program. (Jessness) [link]
4.Body-Mind-Spirit-Emotion – P-Cal exercises…Integration Breath, Shoulder Rolls, Udyama and Head Series. (Team Presents) [link]
5.Basic Values and Principles for improving the quality of our Lives, Health and Relationship. Alliance Services, Engagement Processes and Requirements (Amanda)
Guidelines for Empathic Therapy by Dr. Peter Breggin
[link]As empathic therapists and Holistic-Integrative Health Practitioners:[link]
(1) We treasure those who seek our help and we view therapy as a sacred and inviolable trust. With humility and gratitude, we honor the privilege of being therapists.
(2) We rely upon relationships built on trust, honesty, caring, genuine engagement and mutual respect.
(3) We bring out the best in ourselves in order to bring out the best in others
(4) We create a safe space for self-exploration and honest communication by holding ourselves to the highest ethical standards, including honesty, informed consent, confidentiality, professional boundaries and respect for personal freedom, autonomy and individuality.
(5) We encourage overcoming psychological helplessness and taking responsibility for emotions, thoughts and actions — and ultimately, for living a self-determined life.
(6) We offer empathic understanding and, when useful, we build on that understanding to offer new perspectives and guidance for the further fulfillment of personal goals and freely chosen values.
(7) When useful, we help to identify self-defeating patterns learned in childhood and adulthood in order to promote the development of more effective choice-making and conduct.
(8) We do not treat people against their will or in any way use coercion, threats, manipulation or authoritarianism.
(9) We do not reduce others to diagnostic categories or labels — a process that diminishes personal identity, over-simplifies life, instills dependency on authority and impedes post-traumatic growth. Instead, we encourage people to understand and to embrace the depth, richness and complexity of their unique emotional and intellectual lives.
(10) We do not falsely attribute emotional suffering and personal difficulties to biochemistry and genetics. Instead, we focus on each person’s capacity to take responsibility and to determine the course of his or her own life.
(11) We recognize that a drug-free mind is best suited to personal growth and to facing critical life issues. Psychiatric drugs cloud the mind, impair judgment and insight, suppress emotions and spirituality, inhibit relationships and love and reduce willpower and autonomy. They are anti-therapeutic.
(12) We apply the guidelines for empathic therapy to all therapeutic relationships, including persons who suffer from brain injuries or from the most profound emotional disturbances. Individuals who are mentally, emotionally and physically fragile are especially vulnerable to injury from psychiatric drugs and authoritarian therapies, and are in need of the best we have to offer as empathic therapists.
(13) Because children are among our most vulnerable and treasured citizens, we especially need to protect them from psychiatric diagnoses and drugs. We need to offer them the family life, education and moral and spiritual guidance that will help them to fulfill their potential as children and adults.
(14) Because personal failure and suffering cannot be separated from the ethics and values that guide our conduct, we promote basic human values including personal responsibility, freedom, gratitude, love and the courage to honestly self-evaluate and to grow.
(15) Because human beings thrive when living by their highest ideals, individuals may wish to explore their most important personal values, including spiritual beliefs or religious faith, and to integrate them into their therapy and their personal growth.
Program Closing Experience
1.Closing Experience balancing body, mind and emotions—Earth as a Living Consciousness – Integrative Mindfulness Exercises—“Be the Action that makes the Change Happen.” Personal Growth Work—centering activity becoming less scattered and grounded. (Robin)
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Recommended Bibliography for Integrative and Holistic Health Resources, Research, Practice, Human Development, Community Organization and learning about our MIND:
[link]
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2.Open Discussion, Concerns, Questions.....
Questions, Comments, Evaluation and Join our coalition of Integrative and Holistic Health Social Workers. Thank you for participating in our Workshop!!!
This is the Form to Report these Violations by a profession that has no Empathy or Appreciation for the Child's life with these Disorder Labels (psychic tattoos) and Mass Drugging Protocol [link]
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005
575.524.2379
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 24 Feb 2015 @ 16:08
Gerald W. Vest
Las Cruces, NM ·
Our team is selected to present a workshop for the NASW New Mexico State Conference on our work with Injured Warriors and families, Wed., Feb. 25, 2015, 1-5:30pm,Sandia Resort. Special thanks to Febna for presenting our Workshop as Integrative and Holistic Health Practitioners....SOCIAL WORK-A PSYCHOSOMATIC ENGAGEMENT WITH INTEGRATIVE AND HOLISTIC HEALTH
This session engages with social work as a praxis of facilitating embodied, emplaced integrative health.
Social work evolved as an integrative praxis in response to the pressing needs of the societies it was embedded in, borrowing paradigms and practice models from associated disciplines. In the current era of globalization, social media and increased disembodiment, social workers face the challenge of engaging with diversity, fragmentation and fluidity of identities.
The dominant clinical paradigm of social work that standardizes intervention, labels and medicates often impede the empowerment and evolution of the client and sometimes even greatly harm them. The clinical approach that embed a “psychic tattoo”, a hopeless shadow, in the client greatly curtails the evolution of the individual/community in its full creative potential and impedes the social worker from holistically perceiving, engaging and empowering his/her client without judgments.
The panel will explore through presentation and exercises, alternatives to such clinical practice that facilitate holistic engagements that allows clients and communities to embody their differences with a sense of dignity and self-worth. Praxes adopted from best practices from different healing systems and countries will be presented to demonstrate the great depth and breadth of practice social work rightfully claims. The session will also include a discussion on ethics, values and standards relevant for a holistic praxis model of social work practice.
Our team: Amanda Wiles, Yésica Blanco, Robin RhA-yuun Woolley and
Gerald W. Vest are the presenting panel of Integrative and Holisitc Health Social Workers. Our dear friend and colleague, former program coordinator for the Oak Street Homeless Vets, Febna, became ill and had to return to India....wishing you the best healing possible our friend and colleague More >
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 2 Jan 2015 @ 01:14
1935-2015 Thank you God for bringing me-us on this exciting Adventure—Beyond the Beyond and Beyond…No End in Sight...
By
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW, LISW, LMT Team Leader, SNM Alliance with Injured Warriors and Families
Note: Pic is my friend and colleague Febna, Program Director for our Homeless Warriors, for this Season.
I am celebrating my Life with friends and family, always in my heart and Mind. These creatures, truly Human, are Stars with vital energies expressing themselves in our Universe and Beyond the Beyond, as they light up everyone they meet, greet and relate with. Oscar Ichazo is a great teacher about unity and has served as wise guide for humanity offering us this beautiful mantra for this New Season and Forever and Ever:
“God is Eternal,
Is in All of Us,
Is in Everything,
Is One without Second.” (O. Ichazo, Arica Institute)
I am eternally grateful for the many spiritual gifts that I have received from Oscar’s Wisdom. I know that I wouldn’t be able to do Pcal [link] at 79yrs, had I not accepted this comprehensive and holistic health program for my whole Being, for Life…every day. Pcal--Master Level Exercises produce and maintain our entire being throughout our Life with, Strength, Coordination, Balance and Flexibility of mind, body, spirit, emotions and relations. Being Healthy and experiencing the best possibilities and opportunities given us, opportunities with No End in Sight. J
Thank you Oscar, Thank you God, Thank you my friends who put up with me and all of my idiosyncrasies, expectations and excessive perfectionism…can’t be perfect enough…you know, we must do more, work harder and secure our future….our future is beyond the beyond the beyond….so less doing and more giving of ourselves with others is more human and less stressful.
Note: To show you care about someone and want to express your love while Being Human, hold everyone close to our Heart—Big Hugs, kissing, holding your friends close to you and sharing what it feels like, being Alive, Here and Now…A New Season in Front and only pleasant memories of our Past need be presented (don’t set up Targets) while we Present our Being that is Alive, Energized, Enthusiastic, Playful, Enjoying Every Moment, Accepting Everything that Happens, All is Perfection—Being in Balance and Equilibrium is Our Nature as well….
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005
575.524.2379 More >
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 26 Dec 2014 @ 21:59
Our Hands and Our Feet connect us with our True Nature by Gerald W. Vest, ACSW, LISW, LMT, Integrative and Holistic Health Practitioner
We are curious beings or we couldn’t be discussing our interest in our relationship with Mother Earth and her Inhabitants. Human Beings can or may live out their lives and not connect and interact with her as our Source of Life, Health and Relationships—totally dependent upon Her for bringing us along as we use her, abuse her, neglect her, injure her and take from her without awareness—Mother Earth takes care of us and allows us to have life, yet we do everything possible to take her resources and use them with an indifference about her and our inhabitants.
Feel the soles of your Feet, Palm of your Hands, lower belly and give them a 'bright' Color Red – Fire…..connect to her Core-Center of Earth and experience the heat she gives us to heal, recover, become One with Her…experience the Earth with Empathy-Melting, in our Belly as Red-Fire-Courage; Sun and Compassion in our Heart as Green Loving Energy--'From My Heart to Your Heart'; and, Moon is Blue-Water, in the Head, Free, Open, Accepting and Allowing Mind.
Breathe deeply into these sources of nourishment, interaction and relationship with our awareness--senses and energies now in equilibrium and harmony. With daily practice, we can awaken, experience and Join our Consciousness with Mother Nature as she is our True Source for loving and caring for our Created home--perhaps our -true 'Home away from Home' as our Being learns to reconnect after being absent for many years. Now is our Time to "Ground Us," and rediscover our lost Mother and our balance, harmony and equilibrium.
Just like our Pecan Tree, animals and everything, however, we humans are often ‘out of touch’, ‘out of relationship,’ self-serving, greedy, lonely, angry, blaming, deceiving ourselves and ready to attack others and/or defend our belief systems. Wars for Profit and for Power-Control, allow our officials, medical systems and corporations to treat us as though we are a commodity. With their predatory control over communication, our government representatives elected to serve and protect corporations, not our people.
Our Justice and Military Systems are equally taking us into serious and dangerous territories without appreciating our Natural Resources that include every human, animal, plant, vegetable, mineral and other inhabitants that are all created unique and necessary. Earth and All Humans are One Body….so give up fear, ignorance, prejudices and religious dogma…Be One with All that Is. Connect with Mother Earth, Here and Now, with your Breath of Fire--Inhale Strength and Power of One and Exhale all blocked energy—fear, pain, suffering, beliefs of any kind and thoughts.
“The Natural State of Our Mind is Void.” Between Metaphysics and Protoanalysis,” Arica Institute, (1982) and "The Chi-Generating Movements of the Kath State, The energy of Inner Fire, Oscar Ichazo Foundation (2011). More >
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 12 Dec 2014 @ 15:18
Dreaming in the Day, Dreaming at Night--What is the difference or distinction? By Gerald W. Vest, LISW, LMT, Community Health Practitioner with Injured Warriors and their Families
As we take an Open Path of Freedom of, with and, for our Mind, our adventures take us on a Journey that never Ends just as, No Beginning…we are reminded that (Spirit-Essence-Being)—‘what is never born cannot die’. Developing and maintaining Awareness--curiosity, integrity and a commitment with right intention to become our True Nature-Being, is our Mission.
‘I’ remember Tarthang Tulku Rimpoche reminding us in his Great Books, we have an opportunity to live 24-7 in a life fulfilling experience, day and night, (beyond words). Therefore, let’s open our Consciousness so our Whole Being joins “All that Is,” throughout our day and night experience, as one breath follows another….and, we soon become aware that there is an ‘internal breath’ that is so quiet and calm, not often recognizable (is present with Creativity and Happiness)…the experience is like we are ‘Being Breathed’. Awareness is a direct experience, interaction and relationship with everyone and everything. An experience of Being One, often referred to as “Making the Equal.” (Oscar Ichazo)
Thank you my friends, colleagues and partners in our Alliance. I am especially grateful for Master, Tarthang Tulku and Master Oscar Ichazo for their guidance and wisdom. I am enjoying my life, health and relationships enormously as I ‘join Nature’ and become whole and balanced. This is such a great adventure and I have learned that Wisdom often comes with the experience of Loss, Separation, Death, Despair, Disillusionment and Hopelessness. The Ego has no place to Go and is no longer our identity that has been in contradiction, opposition, and un- developed.
This act of Self-Ego Destruction is only an illusion of the Mind. What has “never been born, can never die.” We are Eternal Beings, created unique, with our own finger print and our own ‘Will and Courage to Be Ourselves.’ “All is our Own Dream, Day and Night.” However, together with integrity and with our natural energies, there are No Limitations–no longer Fear, Pain and Suffering.
We salute our Veterans of all Wars as they understand fully what Being is like, while standing in front of their Mirror and witnessing and observing their Courageous Spirit behind their Injured Body. Thank you my friends, brothers, sisters and families for being together with me and with our Team on this Journey to Freedom, Fulfillment, Happiness and Equilibrium. [link]
Note: Picture by Robin Woolley, LISW, SNM Alliance with Injured Warriors
Love You.
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005 More >
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 5 Nov 2014 @ 16:39
We are not our Body or our Mind…they are in contradiction until we unite--join them together—What the Mind Wants the Body Doesn’t and goes Both Ways—always in contradiction. Awaken consciousness and we can see them playing both sides of the continuum of contradiction with one another. We have happiness, joy, fulfilment, satisfaction and self-realization while working in Cooperation, Interaction, Teamwork and Partnership with family, friends, colleagues, partners and others. Our Ego’s are never in agreement as they always play their opposite ‘sides’ perfectly in their logic and as an equation . “Laws of Form.”
We are not our bodies so I’m learning to love self, get to know him and exercise him and all the parts every day, Being will respond with vitality and with energies beyond the medicines prescribed for behavioral and mental disorders.
Sick care is not Health Care and these crazy professionals who identify their patients with disorders, not knowing our-their Mind, when out of balance and equilibrium, Mind manifests contradictions often referred to as a Disorder--
Bi-polar”. Everyone is Bipolar…our egos and our mind participate in these endless, eternal mental games or activities as this is their Function. Our Mind is Perfect, capable of opening up and allowing us to Be, our True Self, with total honesty, openness, acceptance and allowing all and everything to Be, as “it” is, as we are—unique Beings and developing Minds. Our Thoughts become our experience. (Tarthang Tulku)
It is not respectful, kind or responsible for Psychiatry and Western Psychology to be the profession given the authority to Label and plant a life-long illness on another Human Being, with little to no evidence to support their diagnosis or treatment plans. In fact, there is greater evidence that the placebo would be saving many lives and dependency on chemicals and their therapists or doctors for life. The Disorder Label is like pinning a (psychic tattoo) on a human’s chest, with a (dark shadow) in the Mind, for life.
Personally, I see the psychiatry-psychology-clinical social work-clinical nursing, et al.; sick care protocol as Dangerous and Disgusting behavior by professions that is now clearly and perfectly identified as The Hidden Enemy of our Society and of our Military. Order your free copy of this documentary that will hopefully land with every one of our returning warriors and their families. [link]
This historical documentary was a year in the making and Sgt. Joel Korte and I had the privilege of being invited to be part of this presentation as the Swiss Documentary Crew , representing the Commission on Civil and Human Rights (CCHR), interviewed us in my US Army Health Studio. Joel is truly a Star in our Universe and Spirit of this history making War experience.
Sgt. Korte is a wise, skillful, courageous and experienced professional Medic, serving 5 years as a Marine and 10 years, US Army. He separated from Marines to enter college, and later re-enlisted in the Army. Joel is a seasoned 15 year Warrior and a Combat Medic sharing his experience and story about the psychiatric, psychological treatments received following several deployments. He learned that the med cocktails do the exact opposite of their promises. Other vets in the documentary reported similar experiences with the meds.
No one ever recovers from a Disorder that does not exist….our Vets have been INJURED to the Core-Corp, the cellular level….every system requiring intensive and extensive Integrative and Holistic Health Services and Resources for recovery, restoration and resilience of the whole being—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.
Joel Korte, our SNM Alliance sends our Love and eternal friendship--you are a remarkable and courageous Warrior and human being. Know God’s Blessing is with our Returning Warriors returning from over 12 years of war, with no End in Sight. Joel, your boot prints have left us with a lasting impression of hope for others needing health services and resources, not drug and labels. God Bless You!!!
We Salute You, Joel!!! [link]
Note: Picture by my friend Robin Woolley, LISW, SNM Alliance More >
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 1 Nov 2014 @ 13:24
Seekers with the Truth
By
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW, LISW, LMT Professor Emeritus, NMSU
Ask ourselves, “What is Truth?” The TAROT introduces us to our Game of Life as we develop our Knowledge, Wisdom, Love and Truth. “I” may take many life times to become what we are created to Be.
Swords represent our Truth and Laws of Nature while guiding us through a life experience of learning about ourselves. Lots of hurdles in our Path, however, we learn as we develop the courage to face every obstacle in our Path to achieve Freedom. After all is said and done, we are taken on this journey and adventure to complete, enjoy, love and realize ourselves as human beings.
Our Fool in the Second Position becomes our Spirit–Magician as our guide as we develop as a whole Being—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially—including our relationships and team spirt. I thank everyone I ever teamed up with to help us develop our community organizations to serve humanity.
As professional social workers, our “work” is to help, support, advocate, teach, introduce resources—encourage and empower others to become the best they can. Improving the quality of lives, health and relationships of all systems is our approach. Our holistic approach recognizes all body-mind-emotion systems are in total interaction and what affects/effects one system affect all systems. What affects the body, affects the Mind and Emotions—team work.
Living and practicing our craft by example, with Knowledge, Wisdom, Love and Truth (Tarot) is the goal and mission for our Integrative and Holistic Health social workers. Primary Prevention means we exercise all of our systems regularly and maintain a balance and equilibrium in our lives….’practicing and encouraging others is what we Teach.’
On a personal note, while being a Great Depression baby *March 20, 1935,” like my 3 brothers and sister, our family joined together as a Spirit of Divine Work. So, when I use this “Work” concept, it means something valuable for me, deeply imbedded in my psyche-Spirit. We are One Body, Mind and Spirit human family, lost in Time and Space while “living and relating” unconsciously while often unable to open our Minds and experience Being or Being in the Experience. (Awareness)
Meaningful Work, perhaps, refers to our Spirit-Being as naturally united with all that is “…forever and ever.”
Unfortunately, our Country, like many others have adopted a “work-economic-predatory culture or ethic” designed to make the “buyer beware” of those who wish to sell their product(s) using media to propagandize—Religions and Politicians have become the best ‘barkers’ or predators for encouraging fear, guilt, pain and suffering, knowing every human being is very vulnerable at birth as we know we have no body armor-self- defense--sharp teeth, claws, to protect us, unable to disguise our ego-selves (totally dependent for much of our life), although we try at times-historically to hide and bury our painful experiences without learning from them.
Thus, Mind associations continue to present themselves until we ‘learn our lesson(s)” and stop being a victim, helpless, fearful, hateful, angry, disgusting and Projecting Ego’s onto others, also suffering. *Perhaps this is the Time to make Space for our Past and when we “Clean our Lives”—we naturally are honest, open, accepting and allowing beings with deep respect, compassion, understanding, empathy and Love for ourselves and All that Is.
When we fear, our Consciousness is aware and we will Now have our Swords in Hand, with Open Arms (Queen of Swords), knowing all is for Learning, Transcending and Transforming everything into the Present…past and future is Our Dream, and our Illusion. Be Here Now.
“Be Here Now” is a great Mantra…..and, “for every step I take, (I recognize), “I Come from Thee and Return to Thee.” (Sufi Exercise) “Toh Ham Kum Rah (God is Eternal; Is in All of Us; Is in Everything is “One without Second.”) Thank you Oscar Ichazo, founder, Arica Institute, Inc. Now, following most of my 79 years experiencing, introducing, practicing, Arica Psychocalisthenics-Master Level Exercises and Kath States for several decades. I am now very able to continue my Teamwork and Meaningful Work.
Many of our soldiers going off and returning from wars learn to balance their body, mind, emotions and spirit knowing the Vitality of breath, coordinates every movement and produces Power-Energy--strength, coordination, balance with flexibility for our whole being. And, recovery from the extreme and excessive stress, anxiety and depression on all systems offers relaxation which moves, encourages and inspires--our life, health and relationships.
We have come together as Whole, Healthy, Happy and Successful, Social Being(s) and Professional Integrative and Holistic Health Social Worker(s). Thank you my friends and colleagues for joining with us on this life Journey to Free ourselves of ignorance, pain, prejudice and suffering. Time to Awaken our Consciousness, don’t you agree?
Pic by my friend Robin Woolley, LISW SNM Alliance with Injured Warriors and Families
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005
575.524.2379 More >
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 17 Oct 2014 @ 21:57
By
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW, LISW, LMT, Professor Emeritus and Community Organizer-Holistic and Integrative Health Practitioner
What is on our Mind? My Mind is bossy and, yet, understanding if I go along with her occasionally and do exactly what she determines. Who would have known that our Mind is our Master and we are her Companion-Slave. She is our "Fool" in the First Position.
We are happy when we express our creativity and when preoccupied with thoughts, fears, beliefs, expectations, future and past, we become stressed, anxious and depressed. Mind can be our Mother, our Father, our Friend, our judgmental and fearful enemy and partner all at the same “Time”. Now is our ‘time’ to accept that our Body is Time and our Mind is Space--Our Being is Witness and Present and is the Experience of Life, Health and Relationships. As Tarthang describes "...the setting is our Witness." (T. Tulku Rinpoche, ("Time-Space-Knowledge Series")
Now is the Time for us to become aware and conscious of our breath and breathing…is our calmness barometer as we move from one breath to another throughout our physical life…bringing into our cardio-vascular-respiratory system all our nutrition for our body cells-mind-spirit-emotions while our Being expresses her creativity with our Out Breath of Loving Kindness. All that exists and our Essence is in perfect harmony-conscious, while knowing exactly how to Be and Live in Nature. Our Tarot introduces us to the the “Fool’s” Path of (Knowledge-Wisdom-Love-Truth) as is our human nature. In the Minor Arcana we take our Ego Life experiences systematically through the 4 Trumps-Suites while the Major Arcana, introduce our Fool in the second position-"The Magician" as she experiences her True Nature and has all the Tools for transformation and for our Spiritual Path.
Spirituality is filled with stress, anxiety and depression produced by Fear, Ignorance and Prejudice as manifested by an undeveloped humanity. As we leave the human-social Realm and enter our World as innocent, perfect, loving, and curious….honest, open, accepting and allowing, loving creatures, beings…El’ Perfecto!!!
Our society, especially our behavioral health, education, justice, military and welfare systems are managed by psychological and other measurement-labeling groups determining whether our children are advancing their knowledge, skills and learning. However, the psychological testing services are not able to measure our created, unique human being’s learning clock or phase of development. Western Psychology identifies human development in “Stages of Life” (linear thinking) rather than in unique phases. (See Ashley Montagu and my Bibliography for our Country’s Greatest Social Anthropologist introducing numerous contributions to Human Development, Touch, Social Values, Child Rearing, Health and Learning about life, health and relationships as human beings.) [link]
Note: Bold print is used as I temporarily lost my vision following Cataract Surgery. Now I can view the screen with glasses and am very happy that my sight is returning. These cataracts may well develop over our life span representing our prejudices induced by fear and ignorance—humans are in opposition to our True Nature and we are “Blinded by the Light.”
Pic by Dr. Cherie Black, Certified Stress-Out Practitioner and Therapist, LC, NM
Gerald W. Vest, ACSW/LISW/LMT
Injured Warrior, TRICARE Provider--Individual, Couple, Family & Group
Holistic & Integrative Health Practitioner & Professor Emeritus NMSU
Las Cruces, NM 88005
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In these articles, I introduce the basic need for human touch. While there is strong evidence that our society and human family are becoming an endangered species, many governments, such as the USA, pay little, if any attention, to global warming, nuclear stock piles, environment, natural and economic disasters, poverty, abuse, neglect, pandemic health diseases, and growing military-industrial monopolies.
While many of us are aware of these pending and current disasters, organizations such as New Civilization, are hoping to awaken humanity through mindfulness, virtual interaction on the Internet, and forming healthy, respectful alliances to make a difference and change the direction we are heading.
Our health promotion team is a small effort, but hopefully an expanding opportunity, to awaken individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and commuities to an awareness that touch, respect and love are basic human needs for survival and wellbeing.
Obviously, there are serious considerations for being circumspect and skillful in offering touch as a conscious intervention in the workplace or in a family environment. Guidelines for the safe use of touch include:
- providing the option for participants to self-administer our program;
- receiving permission to touch and reminding participants that contact is always in safe areas;
- having witnesses or partners present;
- teaching the activity to others so that they can be the givers of the stressout program;
- encouraging participants to use the teaching video and study guide (Vest,1995)if the worker chooses not to make physical contact.
Join with us in advancing the use of healthy, respectful and loving touch throughout the world. We are One. |
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