The New Visionaries....Evolutionary Leadership for a Vibrant World

An outstanding contribution to material about today's incredible kids is "The New Visionaries....Evolutionary Leadership for a Vibrant World." This book consists of a chorus of different voices - some of the finest intuitive trainers, educators, and therapists in the world - each one offering exciting ways to embrace our newest generation. The book is published in London, England; available in both print and e-book versions with English Pounds. Conversions can be made for U.S. dollars and other currencies. Access: www.newvisionaries.net/NewVisionaries/

BRAIN BUILDING GENE MUTATIONS

BRAIN BUILDING GENE MUTATIONS

It doesn't take someone like me to point out that there's something remarkably different about the children in today's world. Parents and grandparents, school teachers, counselors and therapists, anyone who knows a child – all of them – say the same thing: our kids know more than we do. And they're right. The kids do.

"Two key brain-building genes, which underwent dramatic changes in the past that coincided with huge leaps in human intellectual development, are still undergoing rapid mutations, evolution's way of selecting for new beneficial traits," so said Bruce Lahn and his University of Chicago colleagues in a study published in the journal "Science," dated 9-9-05. Not everyone has both of these genes, yet reports of mutation are increasing at an unprecedented rate: 70% of the world's population now evidences one of them, 30% both. "Just as major environmental changes, such as dramatic shifts in the climate, food supply, or geography, favored the selection of genetic traits that increased survival skills," continued Lahn, "the pressures on gene selection today come from an increasingly complex and technologically oriented society." Numerous genes are involved in brain building, not just the two mutations, still, there is enough scientific evidence now to back up the claim that our youngest citizens represent a new type of human – evolution in our time.

HOLD EVERYTHING . . . there's more!

Read again what you've just read. The science gives us numbers: 70% of the world's children are the new children (what I describe at length in Beyond the Indigo Children); 30% are the more advanced (also in the book). The 30% matches almost exactly what educators are finding with scores from Standard IQ tests. In those countries where the test is administered, there is a reported rise in scores from 24 to 26 points with about one-third who take the test. For this third, scores now range between 150 to 160 – an unprecedented leap in intelligence – with no genetic markers to account for it (wasn't heredity), only slight improvement in rote learning (wasn't education), nothing particularly to peg it to (nutrition, parenting styles, etc.). To confuse our educators even more, the biggest part of the rise comes from non-verbal intelligence, which is creative problem solving. Some educators say genius begins with scores between 134 and 136. Other educators say no, it begins at 140. One-third of today's children are now scoring between 150 to 160 . . . smarter than the geniuses of yesteryear!!!!!!!!!!!!

YUP, THERE'S EVEN MORE . . .

In my research of children who had near-death experiences (refer to my book, The New Children and Near-Death Experiences), with a base of 277 child experiencers between the ages of birth and 15 years, 48% scored between 150-160 when old enough to be tested. I had two clusters (more cases): with little ones from birth to 15 months, and from 3 year-olds to those almost but not quite 6. If I just look at those children from not quite 6 on down to birth (yes, a child of any age can have a near-death experience and talk about it or draw pictures of it when old enough to do so), with this younger group the percentage scoring between 150-160 jumps to 81%. If I just look at babes, from birth to 15 months, especially those who had a dark or black light experiences instead of a bright light experience (get over that nonsense that dark or black light is negative — far from it), almost all of them score in the genius range, beginning at between 181 and 184, on up into the 200s. The younger the child, the greater the leap in intelligence as an aftereffect of the near-death phenomenon. Proof to me that it is intensity of the experience, not how complicated or classical, that determines the spread of aftereffects. My research on this is preliminary, however. I challenge others to launch their own study. Let's see what they find (my protocol is outlined in the above book).

OOPS, ONE MORE. . .

Professor Vladimir Mikhalev from Bryansk State University told the British newspaper, "Sun" (September, 2005), that children exposed to radiation following the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine – are testing out with higher IQs and faster reaction time that those from unaffected areas. I do not have details yet on this finding, but the implications are quite amazing and makes me wonder if what Professor Mikhalev found dovetails in some manner with what I found in cases of near-death . . . that intense interruptions of brain and nerve development in the very young can on occasion jumpstart the evolutionary process . . . and perhaps more often than we think.

REMEMBER, THE HARMONICS OF OUR PLANET (EARTH'S PULSEBEAT) ARE INCREASING FROM 7 CYCLES PER SECOND TO 12, SOME SAY. I SUSPECT IT'S EVEN HIGHER, DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND THE MEASUREMENT YOU GET.

Brain Development

* * * * * * * * * * * * SPECIAL ALERT * * * * * * * * * * *

I had the privilege of attending a special workshop with Joseph Chilton Pearce, the premier authority on children's brain development and what it takes to raise a healthy child, just days after he turned 80 on January 12, 2006. Although frail of body, the man is as vital and snappy as ever with an encyclopedic memory recall. Although the topic was neurocardiology (the new science of the heart), he covered a broad range of subjects. Here are some tidbits from my notes:

Read "Darwin's Lost Theory of Love" by David Loye.

We know about Darwin's work on the origin of species but who has heard of his book "The Descent of Man"? Toward the end of his life, Darwin became convinced that his theories on the origin of species did not explain humankind. This last book of his sets the record straight – he believed that love and altruism, and those traits alone, explained the origin and evolution of the human being.

Science now tells us that DNA produces a light wave, which is sensitive to environmental

signals. Hypercommunication occurs between DNA strands via this light – they talk to each other. A single DNA strand, by the way, if unwound is six feet long. The strongest force that can affect DNA is emotion.

The brain develops in stages. Each stage is dependent on those which precede it in

order to ensure a mature brain. Takes about 25 years to achieve this, not 21 as previously thought. Stage from birth to age one . . . . . . . the survival or reptilian brain Stage from one to age four . . . . . . . . the emotional or limbic brain Stage from four to age seven . . . . . . the new brain -- right hemisphere Stage from seven to age eleven . . . the new brain -- left hemisphere Stage from eleven to age fifteen . . . the cerebellum Stage from fifteen to twenty-one . . . the pre-frontal lobes Stage from twenty-one to twenty-five . brain development complete

Besides the womb and the first year of life, the most important years for brain growth

and development are between the ages of six and seven (from 500 to 600% greater neural mass in brain, oversaturates so concrete operational thinking/reason can begin); and between eleven and twelve (mind emerges from the brain that gives rise to it -- neural cells pruned so specialization in formal logic can take place, beginnings of abstract thought). In my research of the new kids, I found that the number one trait that sets them apart from previous generations is their ability to abstract, almost from the time they become verbal. Many of today's pre-schoolers possess the ability to plan their class curriculums and direct their teachers in how those curriculums should be taught. What I have been finding is that four-year-olds display the brain development, not only of twelve year-old, but in many cases of a youngster of fifteen. Although they are not emotionally ready to negotiate the demands of an older child, they often possess the basic knowledge of one. According to Pearce, scientists are now finding that our new children, by the time they reach the teen years (some even earlier) – 50% of them have lost the ability to abstract! And the culprit is . . . . . virtual realities! Because of sensory overload with virtual realities – all too many children can no longer handle peaceful or natural environments. The average five-year-old today has watched 6,000 hours of television. Virtual realities of any type -- cell phones, gameboys, video games, television - directly interfere with the normal stages of brain development. Kids grow up smart and know a lot, but that incredible ability they once had to abstract, to think outside the box, to indulge in creative, intuitive leaps of imagination and promise, are either gone or nearly so. Kids must get physically involved in life, think their way through complex puzzles and challenges, have periods of doing "nothing" but staring into space or watching clouds drift by or daydreaming. In other words, they must -- they absolutely MUST -- have recess, playtimes, chores, and multiple projects to challenge their mind. If an electronic gadget substitutes for this activity, kids become as if intelligent "idiots." You can "catch up," make up for lost time, heal the brain in a myriad of ways, and you begin by . . . . . limiting the use of electronic gadgets!

What Joseph Chilton Pearce alerted us to has been confirmed by yet another source. In an article from the United Kingdom (refer to "Falling to Teach Them How to Handle Real Life," ), there appears the following quote:

"Far from getting cleverer, our 11-year-olds are, in fact, less "intelligent" than their counterparts of 30 years ago. Or so say a team who are among Britain's most respected education researchers. After studying 25,000 children across both state and private schools, Philip Adey, a professor of education at King's College London, confidently declares: 'The intelligence of 11-year-olds has fallen by three years' worth in the past two decades.'" I warned about this in my book, "Beyond the Indigo Children," in the chapter on new ways to educate. The new children are spatial learners. School curriculums are set up for verbal learners. Between excessive exposure at too young of ages to virtual realities, and school curriculums that utterly bore them, our new kids are either opting out of career paths or cutting classes, or somehow removing themselves from the culture at large. Volunteerism, projects development, and entrepreneurship can bring them back in.

Can you believe it? The Associated Press, in an article dated 5-25-06, revealed that, despite repeated warnings from the American Academy of Pediatrics, eight out of ten children under the age of 6, watch TV, play video games, or use the computer on a typical day - and for around two hours. A generation of parents raised on TV is largely encouraging the early use of TV, so says the Kaiser Family Foundation. Parents use as their reasoning for this, that their children are so intelligent that they want them to become even more intelligent. Apparently they are unaware or not mindful of the latest study from England, showing that excessive exposure to virtual realities before puberty interferes with brain development. Children in large numbers (over 50% in the study) have already lost the ability to abstract because of this (abstracting is the skill that enables the kids to be creative problem solvers).

A wonderful book that is proving a godsend to the parents of today's new children is: Buddha Never Raised Kids & Jesus Didn't Drive Carpool: Seven Principles for Parenting with Soul. This treasure was written by Vickie Holland-Falcone, and published by Jodere Group, San Diego, CA, 2003.

Suicide in Children

* * * * * * * * * * ANOTHER SPECIAL ALERT * * * * * * * * *

The topic here is suicide. I mentioned in my book "Beyond the Indigo Children" that today's young people do not regard life and death as did children in past generations. Some do not expect to live full lives, and use this "sense" of theirs as an excuse to avoid college or long-term preparations for professional employment. Instead, they are quite content to experiment within a broad range of job possibilities, lifestyles, and pleasures that seem disconnected or a waste of time by their parents. The ease many have with the issue of death makes them a prime target for the glorification of suicide pacts currently the rage on the Internet. This is a serious problem in Japan (already with one of the highest suicide rates in the world), also in the United States, England, and in many other countries. The idea of group suicide appeals to the young. Remember, the new kids are groupies.)

Just when you think this couldn't possibly happen in your family, it does. Even some of the

brightest, most well-adjusted and loving children are killing themselves, either on purpose or accidentally. Because this has become so widespread, I am offering the following book as a form of therapy and as a source of real hope. Let your kids read it, too. Suicide: What Really Happens in the Afterlife? by Pamela Rae Heath and Jon Klimo (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA 2006. Available this summer. Pre-order now.) Review: There is no other book anywhere that approaches the subject of suicide from 360 degrees as does this book, nor as thoroughly, nor with such a high standard of integrity - and - in readable, easy-to-understand fashion. Heath (www.pamelaheath.com), an M.D., and Klimo (www.argosyu.edu), a Ph.D., are both well-experienced and well-able to combine research from medical and psychological corners with deathbed encounters, near-death reports, and a broad spectrum of psychic readings (whether from channelers or mediums) where the dead could speak for themselves. Their range of young boys who die "accidentally" while trying to achieve exotic orgasms, to those in a pact who opt out on a lark, to the depressed, the angry, those who are ill or in great pain, avengers, assisted suicides, different views from history and in other countries; with a large section devoted to murder suicides, suicide bombers, and the cultural mentality which supports this. How they were able to weave into the material voices from those who survived a suicide along with "voices" of those who didn't, is nothing short of phenomenal. Considering the new rage of pre-teen and teenage suicides, the young egged on by Internet sites that glorify death, this book is a must read. Heath and Klimo are to be congratulated for the dedication it took to produce "Suicide: What Really Happens in the Afterlife?" I cannot begin to emphasize how important this book is - for everyone! -- PMH

The Fifth World

THE FIFTH WORLD – AN EXPLOSION OF FIVES

There can be no doubt that the Fifth World, predicted by revelators and prophets for thousands of years, is now here, and, accelerating – moving in to what is termed "ascension." Repeating "fives" are extraordinary. Most are discussed at length in the book, but another, very important one was missed. I include it here – the fifth wave in communications – along with a brief overview. Here are the major fives. Be certain to read the book for in-depth descriptions:

Fifth World: polarities shift Fifth Root Race: blue Fifth Element: ether Fifth Chakra: will power Fifth Brain: the heart Fifth Dimension: free from time/space states; intention rules Fifth Ray: Venus (associated with mercy and Goddess Kuan Yin) Fifth Communication Wave: personal computers Five Senses: shift to higher modes, expand, enlarge Five Types of Intelligence: kids excel in those that cannot be tested Five: the number of the human family/the human species Five: the number of change and progress 14th Generation: Five, Millennials, the Shift Generation in the age of Shift

The five waves of communication in the human family:

1st wave: verbal communication, sign language 2nd wave: use of stele: inscriptions on markers, stones, pillars, flat surfaces/walls 3rd wave: the invention of papyrus: a paper-like material for writing on, scrolls, ancient documents 4th wave: printing from movable type: first book, the Gutenberg Bible 5th wave: personal computers: introduced in 1982, the very year the new children began to enter the earthplane en masse (the start of the Millennial Generation)

FIFTH BRAIN-WAVE FREQUENCY

Science showed us some time ago that there were four major frequencies of brain-wave function – beta, alpha, theta, delta. Recently, however, we learn that there are five. Thanks to a paper on Schumann Resonances (earth pulse) authored by Richard Alan Miller (DrRam@magick.net) and Iona Miller (iona_m@yahoo.com), we have this description of all five rhythms. For a more thorough and detailed version of the brain waves and for the article itself entitled "Planetary Rhythms and Human Health," which is excellent, by the way, contact Dr. Miller directly.

Gamma Waves (25-60 Hertz)

– appear to relate to simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas, e.g., involving memory, learning abilities, integrated thoughts, or information-rich task processing. Gamma rhythms modulate perception and consciousness.

Beta Waves (12-25 Hertz)

– dominate our normal waking state of consciousness when attention is directed towards cognitive tasks and the outside world. Beta is a "fast" activity, present when we are alert or even anxious, or when engaged in problem solving, judgment, decision making, information processing, mental activity, and focus.

Alpha Waves (7-12 Hertz)

– are present during dreaming and light meditation when the eyes are closed. In Alpha, we begin to access the wealth of creativity that lies just below conscious awareness. It is the gateway to deeper states of consciousness. Aids overall mental coordination, calmness, alertness, inner awareness, mind/body integration and learning.

Theta Waves (4-7 Hertz)

– occur most often in sleep but are also dominant in the deepest states of meditation (body asleep/mind awake) and thought (gateway to learning, memory). Senses withdrawn from external world and focused on the mindscape. Theta is associated with mystery, an elusive and extraordinary realm we can explore (like a waking dream).

Delta Waves (0-4 Hertz)

– are the slowest but highest in amplitude. These waves are generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Suspends external existence and provides the most profound feelings of peace. Certain frequencies within Delta trigger the release of a growth hormone beneficial for healing and regeneration.

Those people engaged in dowsing who are also multi-sensory often register both high Beta (Gamma) and Delta rhythms simultaneously as if using their brain in a new way. I have noticed this "across the board" with the new children, which probably accounts for why it is so difficult to measure their intelligence using standard test procedures.

NOTE OF INTEREST: The ability to understand technical explanations decreases with formal education.

WHAT IF YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD?

This is the title of a surprising book by Linda Iribarren (Radiant Star, Carlton, WA 2005). I say surprising because, at first glance, it appears to be little more than a lot of white space decorated here and there with a few words – until you stop to consider "what if." Then it hits you, right here, in this one book, are ideas that really can help anyone change the world. No kidding!

BE ONE OF THE 4%

Tom Hanks, the remarkable actor, in his speech at Vassar College's graduation ceremony in New York (5-22-05), spoke of the four-percent solution. The study he referred to dealt with the question: how many cars would you have to remove to get rid of gridlock on crowded roads? Computer simulation gave the answer: four out of every 100, or 4%. When applied to any and every situation possible to imagine (from boycotting a product to swinging an election), the "Power of Four" tipped the scales from helplessness to clout. Since we're moving into the Fifth World, why not up the percentage to five? If 4% is the tipping point, what would 5% do? Imagine!

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO THE NEW KIDS ARE?

The new kids move consciousness from "I" to "We."

hey're the girls of the Northwestern University Women's Lacrosse Team who visited the White House in July of 2005 to celebrate Championship Day with the President – wearing flip-flops for shoes and tops that showed too much skin. Their appearance sparked a dress-code controversy that continues. Today's young people are irreverent. They have their own ideas about fashion and about everything else you can think of. Don't expect them to follow "tradition." They are groupies who follow their own intuitive knowing.

hey're many of the bombers who created mayhem and killed innocent people in London, England, July 2005. In fact, the majority of Muslim suicide bombers throughout the world are the new children, easily misled by angry clerics and what they see as a gross violation of Islamic law by the secular West.

The new kids are powerful and powerfully charged to change the world; but in what way? An old adage may help them in their decisions: "Chose your enemies carefully. The more time you spend thinking about them, the more like them you will become." Let me introduce you to a new word/concept that best describes how the Fifth World can move into Ascension in a positive way: HOLON A holon is created when opposing forces agree to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all. You are not going to change the people of the world. By forming holons to accomplish things, people will see for themselves that certain behaviors are better than others, that certain ideas work and others don't, that respect leads to tolerance, that caring about each other's needs leads to forgiveness. Most of the new kids are born knowing this. Help them remember what they already know. The new kids are the most spiritual, intuitive, intelligent, creative, inventive children in all history. And they are globally present. But they are an impatient bunch with little respect for what inspired their parents. They don't like to be lied to or cheated, and they're easily angered by anything inauthentic or exaggerated. This trait can be a great strength, but all too often it becomes their greatest weakness. That's why so many fail at school or turn to crime or hatred. Be honest with them, keep your word, participate in their lives. That's love made manifest. If you're willing to do this, you won't have to worry about the new children, yours or others. These kids are miracle makers – if given a chance. They are programmed at birth to be active and actively involved. THEY WILL CHANGE THE WORLD! Count on it.

People

... Ah, that, too, is the name of a book – this one written and illustrated by Peter Spier (Doubleday, New York City, 1980). It may seem ancient, seeing as how it was published in 1980, yet it is the best book I've yet seen for teaching children about all the wonderful people on this earth, how they are different yet the same and how various groups appear through the other's eyes. Really great. PEACE BOOK FOR CHILDREN This is so good I want you to know about it. The small book's title is "A Coloring Storybook for Children on the Life and Teachings of Peace Pilgrim." For grade schools levels, consider even first graders and on up through sixth grade. Suggested donation for each book is $3.00. Order from: Friends of Peace Pilgrim, 7350 Dorado Canyon Road, Somerset, CA 95684. Buy it by the case and hand them out - everywhere. A truly remarkable treasure for kids!

SOME IDEAS ABOUT FOOD, ADDITIVES, MERCURY

A home reference book from America's leading natural health authority:

Prescription for Natural Cures, James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D. John Wiley & Sons; Indianapolis, IN 2004. This is a comprehensive reference of natural remedies for common ailments, including: acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, depression, fibromyalgia, heart disease, hypothyroidism, influenza, irritable bowel syndrome, menopause, osteoporosis, stroke, Syndrome X, varicose veins, and more—almost 200 health problems and conditions in all.

Schools must wake up to the fact that the sale of sugary sodas and fatty snacks are hurting

our children and complicating their natural active nature. Soft drinks are literally liquid candy. So far, legislation to restrict such sales in schools has been defeated because of powerful snack-food lobbies. Two dozen states, though, are gearing up to pass necessary laws. Is your state? Check it out.

Research on several fronts now show that reducing the sugar and fat intake in our daily diets

leads to higher IQs and better grades in school.

Bleached white flour contains alloxan, a substance that spins up enormous amounts of free

radicals in pancreatic cells. It is a diabetes-causing contaminant. Avoid its use if you can. Switch to unbleached flour or flours from other grains which do not contain alloxan.

There are so many chemicals used in food today that it is hard to keep up with what's what.

Even milk is so full of undesirables (regardless of the milk industry's assurances to the contrary), that thinking parents are turning more and more to organic milk. A hallmark of the new children is their desire for the natural order. Keep this in mind with food – the more natural the better.

Aspartame, the sugar replacement that causes so much trouble with sensitive people, is now a

major component of some medicines. Where its concentration in most soft drinks varies between 30 to 50 percent of volume, within a number of antibiotics, cough and cold medicines, it constitutes 80 percent of whatever is stated on the package. Check labels carefully. If not declared on the label, check with pharmacist or doctor.

Children MUST be vaccinated against the diseases of childhood that cripple. Slowly, over the

decades, increasing amounts of thimerosal have been used as a preservative in the manufacture of necessary vaccines. In 1997 it was discovered that no one was keeping score – totaling the amount of thimerosal used. Also by then, multiple doses given as a single shot - for children and adults – were blamed for damaging side effects. The main ingredient in thimerosal is mercury; not the mercury released in the air or groundwater from pollutants. The type of mercury in thimerosal is 1,000 times more toxic than lead. With the rise of its use has come the rise of various learning disorders and autism. In studies of excessive thimerosal use, the symptoms of autism emerged as a side effect. Now that thimerosal has been removed from most vaccines, the incidence of autism is dropping. However, it is still used in flu vaccines; older stock has not been destroyed and continues in regular usage. What began as a misjudgment on the part of pharmaceutical companies back in the thirties led to a disregard for the type of retesting necessary to ensure the continued safety of thimerosal. The result: the largest debacle in medical history that has devastated countless families and put at risk an entire generation! Pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to protect themselves by lobbying for congressional legislation that would hold them blameless. Evidence stacks up daily on how this debacle occurred. Should this evidence survive court scrutiny, it could wipe out the pharmaceutical giants. Think this over carefully. Yes, resolution is absolutely necessary. But, do we really want to wipe out an entire industry? Do we really want to end all childhood vaccinations, flu and military vaccinations, etc.? This problem is so huge it is beyond the restitution courts can provide. One source to contact about this: www.dadsagainstmercury.org.

A HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY FOR CHILDREN'S ANGER

The negative aspect to the energy signature of the new children, especially the Millennial

Generation, is anger, a peculiar type of anger. They are easily frustrated by anything inauthentic, overly exaggerated, or untrue. Things like this tend to "unhinge" them, plus, they are by nature impatient. I devoted a whole chapter to this type of anger in my book "Beyond the Indigo Children," and offer many suggestions that may be helpful to parents. Dr. Charles Woodfield, a chiropractor/pharmacist/homeopath, has developed a remedy composed of natural ingredients that appears to be an effective treatment for many of the new kids as concerns their difficulty in handling feelings of anger and frustration. An inexpensive oil, it is composed of organic tangerine, orange, mandarin, lime, ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli, roman chamomile, tuberose, cinnamon. He calls it No Mo'. Instructions – 1. Rub a drop of No Mo' oil between your palms and inhale deeply to help release feelings of anger and frustration, and to help you be more creative. 2. Rub No Mo' oil on the feet, especially the soles, to help sustain a longer lasting feeling of peace and creativity. Please note – this is a new product, use at your own risk. Contact: Dr. Charles Woodfield, (360) 510-7910, website www.drchuckwoodfield.com.

A new type of psychology that has to do with "tapping" procedures is proving to be incredibly effective in dealing with children's anger, as well as a whole host of other challenges children and adults have. It has been found that troubling memories or events lead to an energy disturbance that causes a self-defeating emotional response. Thanks to MRI research (magnetic resonance imaging), we can now actually interrupt the biochemical cause-and-effect process of fight/flight/freeze by simply tapping or massaging energy points on the body. To explore this, read The Promise of Energy Psychology: Revolutionary Tools for Dramatic Personal Change by David Feinstein, Donna Eden, and Gary Craig (Tarcher/Penguin, 2005).

Autism and the God Connection

Cases of autism and its full spectrum of variants are now so pervasive in the United States and

other countries that it is considered an epidemic. If you don't know a child who has some form of autism, you soon will. These children are not confined as "forever wards" of their parents or necessarily institutionalized. They grow up. Many are high-functioning. Thus, in some capacity, you will be dealing with them or already are, perhaps as a student in a class they teach, perhaps as an employee in one of their businesses, perhaps at a party, in the bank, at the post office, or in a studio admiring one of their paintings. Because they can and do spread throughout society in numerous ways, it behooves all of us to learn something about what makes them different and how we can better support the talents they offer. There are many excellent books out now about autism and its full spectrum of variants. None of them, though, are as deep or as revealing as this one: Autism and the God Connection: Redefining the Autistic Experience through Extraordinary Accounts of Spiritual Giftedness, William Stillman (Sourcebooks, Naperville, IL 2006). Stillman himself is autistic; he has Asperger's Syndrome, fluent verbally, a high-functioning professional. Autistic kids are "wired" differently. Many cannot speak, are easily frustrated and angered by change, and are challenged by emotional expressiveness. Most relate better to animals than to people. This is evident. What isn't evident in how intelligent the majority are and how exquisitely sensitive, intuitive, creative, and spiritual they are as well. Stillman carefully and with immense focus dissolves away the walls of prejudice and abusive behavior so common with and to autistics, to unveil a rich depth of personality and awareness that lies just behind the jarring facades of involuntary movements and/or odd stares. With new ways to communicate, new forms of speaker boards and computers, new types of counseling, the true inner realities of autism spectrum are rushing to the surface: an inner world of vivid dreams, uncanny psychic and intuitive abilities, fluid and advanced mental abstractions and concepts, incredibly accurate memories of past lives and the soul and God and spirituality - and - in many cases, knowledge of why they are here in this life and what they are to do, their mission. Stillman advises to always assume intelligence when relating to those who have autism. Look them straight in the eyes when communicating with them. Be alert for symbolic gestures and languaging, telepathic connections, and exceptional knowing and wisdom. Although autistics are predominately visual, not verbal, they can readily communicate if given a chance and with the proper equipment. They are extremely sensitive by nature and easily confused by loud, sudden noises. If you remember that and adjust environments accordingly, satisfying, even deeply meaningful relationships, can result. I believe the world owes William Stillman (www.williamstillman.com) a debt of gratitude for the courage it took him to research and write this book. It is filled with rare wisdom and amazing stories - that will totally surprise you!

NEW SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNICATIONS, OUR SENSE OF PLACE

Engineers, at least in Australia, have caught on to the power of intuition.

Bruce Field, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Monash University said: "Conventional engineering programs only educate half the engineer – the left hemispheric part associated with technical knowledge and mathematical skill. Intuition, or the ability to reach a correct solution without formal analysis, is an extremely useful skill for engineers." This recognition of intuition's important role, even in the professional and technical world, has resulted in the world's first program aimed at developing intuitive skills in undergraduate mechanical engineering students at both Monash University and the University of Melbourne. The greatest breakthroughs in science have always come from hunches, dreams, a sudden flash of inspiration. Now, finally, this fact is not only being recognized, but initiated via classes in intuitive development at the university level. May all universities everywhere be as smart as the ones in Australia!

"Designing the Future" is the name of an article that appeared in the May 16, 2005 issue of

Newsweek Magazine. The article focused on William McDonough, architect, industrial designer, and founder of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is not your traditional environmentalist. He wants to completely overhaul the Industrial Revolution and he has the ideas and practical know-how to do just that. Forget reduce, reuse, recycle. McDonough's vision, as quoted from the article, covers "factories so safe they need no regulation, and novel safe materials that can be totally reprocessed into new goods, so there's no reason to scale back consumption or lose jobs... I want five-year cars. Then you can always be getting the newest car - more solar-powered, cleaner, with the newest air bags and safety features. The old car get upcycled into new cars so there are still plenty of jobs … Being less bad is not being good. Our idea is to make production so clean, there's nothing bad left to regulate." His mantra is "Growth is good, if you use nature as a model and mentor." Read this article if you can, then contact him or his staff for more information: McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, 700 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902; (434) 295-1111 or 245-0057.

Investigate Heifer International, 1202 Main Street, P. O. Box 727, Little Rock, AR 72203;

1-888-422-1161; foundation@heifer.org. This charitable organization started a Global Village in 1991 with a small house patterned after those typically found in Guatemala, and for the purpose of giving people an opportunity to live as those in extreme poverty do, to see what it is really like. They now have facilities in Perryville, Arkansas; Ceres, California; Rutland, Massachusetts; and Howell, Michigan. Mainly for teens, each global village camp provides experiences where students are forced to ration provisions, barter for essentials such as water and vegetables, and sleep in tiny African huts or similar places found in Thailand or Tibet. Some students get college credit for the experience. One church leader who accompanied 16 youngsters from Boulder, Colorado, said: "Here's a bunch of affluent Caucasian kids. They talk the talk but I wanted to see if they could walk the walk" (Heather McDuffee, quoted in "Thousands of Teens See Third World Life" distributed by Associated Press, 7-28-05). The unique learning experience offered by Heifer International is like a game of trust where kids find out a lot about themselves while participating in real life struggles. Heifer spokeswoman Michelle Izaguirre commented on the students who came to camp: "You can see it in their eyes. You can hear it in their voices. They walk away with empathy as opposed to pity. It's a mindset change."

We in the West cannot retreat to a past without modern technology, but we can learn

many things from native peoples (and experiences like those from Heifer International). French researcher Eric Julien lived in Colombia with the Kogis, who are descendants of the Mayas, and learned 10 basics for a better world. They are: all action is rooted in memory, social relations are vital and essential, balance is necessary in all things, time is a circle (cyclical), there is power in knowing your place, the living world sets the laws, true harmony is in opposites in good relationship with each other, problems come from leaders who don't understand leadership, talking to each other is important and so is listening, a spiritual force is what brings us to life. The story of the Kogis and their way of knowledge as told by Eric Julien is in the June 2005 issue of Ode Magazine.

Ode Magazine, by the way, has outstanding articles, especially those that would interest the

new children. In the same issue (June 2005) is an piece called "Understanding the Universe on Its Own Terms" by Satish Kumar. Kumar has led a remarkable life as a monk, activist, teacher, and magazine editor. He addresses how the universe transcends its own divisions to exist as a glorious whole – one song, one poem, one verse. Some of what he shared: "The word 'religion' comes from the Latin root religio which means to 'bind together with the string of certain beliefs.' A group of people come together, share a belief system, stick together and support each other. Thus, religion binds you, whereas the root meaning of spirit is associated with breath, with air. We can all be free spirits and breathe freely. Spirituality transcends beliefs. The spirit moves, inspires, touches our hearts and refreshes our souls … We can be our own prophets, unlock our own hearts and minds and allow the fresh air of compassion, of generosity, of divinity, of sacredness to blow through our lives … Religious denominations act as nurseries for seeking souls. But in the end, we each have to establish our own roots and find divinity in our own way … The rivalry among religions would cease if they realized that religious faiths are like rivers flowing into the same great ocean of spirituality. Even though the various rivers with their different names give nourishment to different regions and different peoples, they all provide the same quality of refreshment. There is no conflict among the rivers. Why then should there be conflict among the religions? Respect for a diversity of beliefs is a spiritual imperative."

The new children are natural-born entrepreneurs, so please note this offering from

Pamela Hartigan, director of Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in Geneva, Switzerland (found in the same issue of Ode as above). She discovered that the ten most highly effective habits of world entrepreneurs are (and you kids are going to love this): impatience, awareness, innovation, pragmatism, expertise, persuasiveness, flexibility, stubbornness, joy, and infectiousness (people around you believe that the example you set is worth following). Doesn't this list sound like the typical characteristics of the new children? Yeah!

In praise of streets, parks, squares, coffee shops, and other beloved hang-outs, there is a

new movement afoot to reinvigorate public life and public places where folks can sit, talk, walk around, play, and just enjoy each other's company (with an opportunity to meet new folks). Worldwide, it involves localities placing a premium on such places and providing protection from traffic and from crime and violence, and bad weather. Survey the area where you live. Where are your hang-outs? Do they have good aesthetics - trees, plants, fountains? Can carnivals and festivals be held there? How about food vendors, exercise and sports venues, performances of various types? Public places are the starting point for all commerce and community, hence democracy. Studies have shown that nothing grabs people's attention more than other people. We are social beings and we need each other. Get this: there is not a single example of a city that rebuilt its public places with quality that has not seen a renaissance. "Our Place in the World" is a brilliant article by Jay Walljasper in, you guessed it, the June 2005 issue of Ode Magazine. If you haven't discovered Ode yet, please do. It is a European magazine written for the world's people.

I highly recommend signing up to receive the free e-zine entitled "Reality Shifters" from

Cynthia Sue Larson. I mention Cynthia in my book "Beyond the Indigo Children." If ever there was an example of a more mature version of the new children it is her. She is the author of several books (you'll find out about them on her e-zine), as well as "Reality Shifters" – a well-crafted piece that explores how, what we think of as reality, can shift and sometimes in the most peculiar ways. Cynthia is both highly intelligent and intuitive, as most of the new kids are, plus she has a joyful yet clear way of helping people develop their own intuition while finding a comfort level with unexplainable phenomenon. Her email is cynthia@realityshifters.com; her website address is www.realityshifters.com.

Two books that illuminate where we're headed as a people:

"A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age," Daniel Pink. Riverhead Books, New York City, 2005. The information age is ending. Success in school and business will now depend upon right-brain specialties such as artistry, imagination, "big picture" thinking, and the transcendent.

"The Translucent Revolution," Arjuna Ardagh. New World Library, Novato, CA, 2005. A worldwide advance in human consciousness is occurring by what Ardagh calls "translucents" – individuals who have undergone a spiritual awakening deeply enough that it has permanently transformed their relationship to themselves and to reality, while allowing them to remain involved in ordinary life.

HISTORY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

With new scientists, new tools, new thinking, many of the previous findings that established

who, what, where, when, and why throughout our world and in every country, are not only being challenged but in many cases proven false. Here's one that some may find unsettling: Columbus was not the first to discover America – Zheng He was – in 1421. With more than 300 ships and a crew of nearly 30,000 men, Zheng He transformed China into a superpower in the 15th century. One of his giant junks have been found; DNA evidence traces he and his crew throughout the Americas, including the Yucatan (Mayan), Peru (Incan), and in Mexico (with the Aztec). Refer to the book, 1421: The Year China Discovered America, by Gavin Menzies (Morrow/Avon, New York City, 2003).

LIFESTYLE CHOICES ARE CHANGING US

In June of 2006 a raft of mainstream magazines recognized the "Lohasian" movement. This term derives from an acronym created by marketers on the West Coast - LOHAS - meaning Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. Because of the popularity of movies like "The Celestine Prophecy," "Way of the Peaceful Warrior," and "An Inconvenient Truth," not to mention "What the Bleep Do We know?," the alternative-spirituality set has spread to 17% of the U.S. population. Marketers are paying close attention to this as the buying habits of Lohasians amount to million of dollars spent on natural or organic personal care products, recycled paper goods, full-efficient cars, pesticide-free foods, and so forth. Check it out on http://www.Beliefnet.com.

Interfaith youth camps that seek to mend the
differences between Muslims and Christians, and
those of other faith traditions as well, are not
having the intended result. Steve Worchel, a
psychologist at the University of Hawaii,
cautions that once the hugging is over and the
kids go home, the effect fades. "Kids who attend
interfaith camps tend to think of themselves as
part of the solution, but they need the long-term
support of their community and political leaders
to keep their minds open." Interfaith dialogue
is not a magic bullet. We all need to remember
that after the inspiration comes the perspiration.

NEW EDUCATION, HOW AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN

Too many of us were told when we were children that there was something wrong with us or

that we were too sensitive. Today we know differently. And we know that because millions and millions of kids are entering the earthplane who are not only sensitive but profoundly so, with nervous systems "wired" in ways that make them doubly susceptible to overstimulation and violent or excessively rough behavior. Here's a book that might help – The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide: Essential Skills for Living Well in an Overstimulating World, by Ted Zeff, Ph.D. (New Harbinger, Oakland, CA 2004).

CAUTION: Headphone use damages young ears. Hearing loss in young people today is rampant. Experts say the popularity of portable music players is the main culprit. Walkmans and iPods are wonderful, but they're also harmful. Same goes for cell phones that operate from headphones/ear buds. Our new conveniences, as it is turning out, can be and very often are dangerous.

The introduction of HeartMath's "Heart Brain Learning" program in the classroom has

produced spectacular results at every school where it has been used. It enables children to relax, release stress, and learn more easily. Not only do boisterous children calm down, the exercises help the quieter kids to loosen up a bit. In short, children feel better about themselves. Contact HeartMath for more information: HeartMath Institute, P. O. Box 1463, Boulder Creek, CA 95006; (408) 338-8700 or 1-800-450-9111; website is www.heartmath.org.

P.S. HeartMath has also done some leading-edge research with heart rhythms - and what they found is that people are intuitively aware of future negative events. The human heart appears to have access to an information field. Rollin McCraty, who heads the research team at HeartMath said: "We have been conditioned to dismiss our intuitive insights, but the body is designed to provide the 'hardware' for just such a process." This recent study at HeartMath is one of the most striking pieces of evidence for the existence of a "zero-point" field that connects humans and matter.

The introduction of HeartMath's "Heart Brain Learning" program in the classroom has

produced spectacular results at every school where it has been used. It enables children to relax, release stress, and learn more easily. Not only do boisterous children calm down, the exercises help the quieter kids to loosen up a bit. In short, children feel better about themselves. Contact HeartMath for more information: HeartMath Institute, P. O. Box 1463, Boulder Creek, CA 95006; (408) 338-8700 or 1-800-450-9111; website is www.heartmath.org.

"Little Big Minds: Sharing Philosophy with Kids" by Marietta McCarty (Tarcher, New York City, 2006)

is one of the most important books about the new children, today's children, yet written. Please, buy two copies: one for you and the other to take to your nearest school administrator. I've been following Marietta's work for years. She's been outspoken in her insistence that philosophy needs to be taught in grade school. I proposed the same thing in my book "Beyond the Indigo Children." It is a must - now I know why. Philosophy is the art of clear thinking. The ability to think critically and examine one's life is essential to healthy living and the continuance of democratic societies. Our new children are the smartest in history. Most of them know more than their parents do, not to mention their educators. I don't care if they're flunking in school and can't spell - they're smart, and they're clever, inventive, intuitive, and quite incredibly amazing. Forget labels like "indigo," and "crystal," and "starseed." None of them adequately describe the range of mind and abilities our new children possess. They're greatest talent, though, and research bears this out, is their ability to abstract: think outside the box. And this great ability is lost with far too many of them by the ages of 13 to 15. Why? Studies tell us the culprit is virtual realities/synthetic worlds. Not that any of these are bad, because they are not. But the kids are using too many of these electronic wonders at all too young an age and for too many hours each day and it's interfering with brain development. What better way to correct this than teaching philosophy in classrooms, in homes, each one teach one: the kids can do it. Marietta's book has all the tools, examples, and instruction needed for anyone, I repeat anyone, to take philosophy into kindergarten and grades up to the eighth. The best years are the first three grades in school. PHILOSOPHY BELONGS IN GRADE SCHOOL!!! The more open your mind, the better able you are to listen to others. As your mind expands, so does your heart! Our new children are ready for philosophy. It will help them to refine what they already know! Please, buy two books: one for you and the other for your nearest school administrator. Learning the art of clear thinking is more important than you can imagine.

The Gift of ADHD

As concerns ADHD, there's another way to look at the "disorder." Lara Honos-Webb is advancing the notion that distractibility,

poor impulse control, and emotional sensitivity have a flip side – namely creativity, energy, and intuition. Although ADHD shows up in a large segment of the criminal population, it is also rampant amongst artists, CEOs, inventors, and highly curious folk of every stripe. How it's managed seems to determine gift or curse. In my book Beyond the Indigo Children, I talk a lot about ADHD and pass along some surprising DNA evidence about its presence and possible purpose in the human family. For a more practical, "in-your-lap" version of ADHDs unusual characteristics, read The Gift of ADHD, by Lara Honos-Webb (New Harbinger, Oakland, CA 2004).

ADD is now being looked at differently. Professionals like DR. Teeya Scholten, a psychologist from Canada are coming up with new ways to work with children and adults who exhibit this condition. I'd like to acquaint you with her program, "Empowerment Plus." She and her team focus on the person, not just the condition, and begin with diet. That's because a whooping 85% of the people who have gone through Empowerment Plus, reported improvement once certain foods were eliminated from their diet. For 15% of these, the improvement was dramatic as they no longer met the diagnostic criteria for AD/HD. It's rather sobering to realize how many people today have food allergies (to common foods such as milk, wheat, corn and sugar are the usual culprits, but there are other reasons, as well). Then they focus on languaging and behavior using models like those developed by Dr. Linda Silverman and Dr. Thom Hartmann (two people I recommended in my book). Dr. Scholten's group underscores that many new kids are indeed spatial learners. They have created new and better ways to teach utilizing imagery that have been very successful. Should you want to take advantage of what the program offers (become a client), or enroll in learning more about how you could participate yourself (become a practitioner), contact: Dr. Teeya Scholten, 105-150 Crowfoot Cres. NW, Suite 923, Calgary, Alberta, T3G 3T2, Canada; (403) 239-8597; http://www.empowermentplus.org.

Ritalin is literally synthetic cocaine. Clinical psychologist David B. Stein, Ph.D. can back that statement up with all the facts you need. His research and writings center on the diagnosis and treatment of attentional, behavioral, and motivational problems with children. For over 25 years he has conducted workshops providing realistic, practical, and effective alternatives to Ritalin. He teaches at Longwood College in Farmville, VA, and is referenced on millions of websites throughout the world. His four books are: Controlling the Difficult Adolescent - the REST Program (University Press of America, 1990); Ritalin is Not the Answer (Jossey-Bass, San Franciso, CA, 1999); Unraveling the ADD/ADHD Fiasco (Andrews McMeel Universal Publishing, Kansas City, MO, 2001); and Ritalin is Not the Answer - Action Guide (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 2002).

Utne Reader Magazine, page 88, November/December 2004 issue, gives some excellent

ideas for educational options (authored by Chris Dodge):

Human Scale Education, www.hse.org.uk, is a grassroots English organization devoted to restructuring large schools into smaller ones, gaining funds for small alternative schools, and encouraging parental participation. Inquire about their newsletter, "Human Scale Education News."

Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO), www.edrev.org, is U.S. based and offers resources to support self-determination in learning and the natural genius in everyone. Inquire about their magazine, "Education Revolution."

Unschooling.com, www.unschooling.com, through their magazine, "Home Education," promotes networking tools for those interested in self-determined education, encouraging children's independent and critical thinking, but not at the expense of following others' agendas.

Some additional sources to consider:

Presidio World College, www.presidioworldcollege.org, (415) 561-6590. Their goal is to reinvent business. To that end, they offer an MBA in Sustainable Management (they are an affiliate of Alliant International University).

Goddard College at 1-800-906-8312 offers self-designed B.A., M.A., and M.F.A. degree programs. Website is: www.goddard.edu.

RSF Community Investment Fund (a program of the Rudolf Steiner Foundation) is a values-based investment vehicle – that turns intention into action by making loans to socially-constructive projects. Contact: Mark Herrera, Client Relations, (415) 561-3900 or mark.herrera@rsfoundation.org. Web address is www.rsfoundation.org.

KaosPilots, founded by Uffe Elbaek in Denmark's second-largest city of Aarhus, is considered

to be the most unusual college in the world. It is a business school for young people (starting at age 21) who are willing to learn how to set up and carry out projects, sell their ideas, put together a business plan, stimulate creativity, work cooperatively, inspire others and themselves, take advantage of unexpected events, remain open to new ideas, bring mind and body into balance, and keep their heads cool and their hearts warm. Literally, the students learn how to realize their dreams – with hands-on training. Contact: KaosPilots, Mejlgade 35, 8000 Aarhus C., Denmark; phone +45 8612 9522; kaos@kaospilot.dk ; www.kaospilot.dk. KaosPilot A-Z, an English-language collection of thoughts, anecdotes, and essays about the school edited by Uffe Elbaek, is available for purchase on the website.

Humber College, Toronto, Canada, www.business.humberc.on.ca., (416) 675-6622,

ext. 3032. Offers a one-year post-graduate certificate in International Development (International Project Management) for those who want to make a positive difference in the world.

Libraries are the "people's university." They are a haven from stress where anyone can enjoy

the gift of learning, research, and the arts. And they are closing their doors in record numbers because of lack of funding. Chris Dodge (this guy has a great eye for truth) wrote a exceptional article about this in the July/August 2005 issue of Utne Reader Magazine, entitled "Knowledge for Sale" (pages 73-77). The upshot is –

Libraries are increasingly modeled on big business and directed not by librarians but by executives who are apt to have read more management books than literature." Administrators have begun to outsource every chore from cataloging to book selection. As in the private sector, local autonomy is becoming a thing of the past. With tax revenues dwindling, the economic pressure is real, but eventually a library run like a big-box store will carry big-box inventory on it shelves." Too frequently, the trend toward standardization leads to similarly bland collections across the continent."

Some libraries are considering "pay-per-view" models; others are only carrying mainstream fare, locals and alternative sources are left out. Library schools are now producing new librarians who are technically savvy but have no cultural memory or creative drive. Please contact your elected officials about library funding and policies. For ideas visit the American Library Association's "Issues & Advocacy" area at www.ala.org.

BIONEERS, NEW ARCHITECTURE, SUSTAINABILITY

Okay, folks, here it is – everything the new children are about – radical change in positive,

creative ways. Let's face it, people everywhere across our globe, if given the right to choose, prefer a free market. Ditto for the new kids. Read the paper, "Virtual Worlds: A First-Hand Account of Market and Society on the Cyberian Frontier" by Edward Castronova and published by Social Science Research Network, www.ssrn.com. He makes a point for free markets like no one else.

"The Rise of the Creative Class, and How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community, and Everyday Life" by Richard Florida (Basic Books, New York City 2004) takes the free market into the realm of the new children – they are the new class, they are the creative wonders of the world, and they are engaged in transforming every aspect of society. . . already!

"The Flight of the Creative Class" by Richard Florida (Harper-Business, New York City, 2005) goes one more step in showing how the United States no longer has an advantage in the production of creative people, new ideas, or start-up companies. "The mobility of people is perhaps the single greatest fact of the modern global economy – more important than the rise of new technology or the mobility of capital," he explains.

THE NEW CHILDREN ARE NATURAL ENTREPRENEURS

Go to: www.bkfk.com

"By Kids, For Kids"

where kids help other kids

turn their ideas into reality

it is invention heaven

An imperative of the new children is a return to the natural order. They are technologically savvy and brilliant innovators, still, their preference is for balanced outcomes. With this in mind, here are a few resources that may prove beneficial:

Solar-powered community, www.earthloving.com, (845) 744-5527. Intentional communities worldwide, www.ic.org. Alternative farming systems, www.nal.usda.gov/afsic. Food co-ops, farmers' markets, community-supported agricultural arrangements, www.greenpeople.org. Vedic architecture, www.maharishivediccity.net and/or www.sthapatyaveda.com New Society Publishers, www.newsociety.com, 1-800-567-6772, publishes some of the best books available on construction, renewable energy, and sustainable living. Check these out if interested: Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials, Mark Piepkorn, Editor. Real Goods Solar Living Source Book: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living, (12th Edition) John Schaeffer, Editor. Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time, David Johnston and Kim Master.

Now, let's talk about "Bioneers." This is a new term to describe those "who seek visionary and practical solutions for restoring the earth and people." Still a rather loose consortium of professionals and leading-edge thinkers, the idea of bioneers (biological engineers) has morphed into an organization that sponsors national conferences and has become an important source of the latest in creative innovation. Contacts for more information: 1-877-BIONEER, info@bioneers.org; their website www.bioneers.org.

The idea of biomimicry, that humans can learn a lot from nature's 4.5 billion years of design experiences, is explored in Janine Benyus' book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature (William Morrow, New York City 1997). The path of the bioneer utilizing biomimicry at every turn is the path of the new children. It is their passion, their destiny, their imprint since birth. If you are a parent of one of these kids, or a young adult assessing your future, please explore this alternative path to a brighter tomorrow – for all of us.

A TRUE LEADER

Effective leadership begins with attention to the quality of one's relationships. Even in the poorest places on earth, when people have each other, that is enough. The way out is together. "Integrity comes from the word to integrate, and the CEO who wants to bring his spiritual values into the workplace can do so by simply being his values." Meg Wheatley's commonsense spirituality that really works on the job and in the Board Room is best summed up in her book, Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Berrett-Koehler, San Franciso, CA, 2005). Highly recommended.

RESPONSIBILITY: WHEN GOVERNMENTS FAIL

Make no mistake about it, the people of any given country are just as guilty for the failure of their government, as are the power-driven or despotic leaders they tolerate.

The disasters throughout Africa demand self-criticism and reconciliation. Global aid, even on a massive scale, will not solve Africa's problems, nor will canceling their debts. As we move further into ascension (accelerating energy), reevaluation will become a necessity everywhere. You can not divorce victims from their oppressors until the people themselves strike back in numbers large enough and with the support of free societies, to force change. What happened in South Africa can happen throughout the continent. A book that reveals the "economy of despair" that is being used to destroy Africa, is: The Shackled Continent: Power, Corruption, and African Lives, Robert Guest (Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C. 2004).

For an eye-opening look at how radical Islam became entrenched in Europe and is now actively involved in supporting and financing terrorism, read the article, "How a Mosque for Ex-Nazis Became Center of Radical Islam." Written by Ian Johnson (and with extensive fact-checking), this lengthy shocker was published by The Wall Street Journal, 7-12-05, and begins as a front-page feature.

There is no cause that can justify terrorism. There is no scandal that cannot be broken by an electorate that refuses to be silent. The new children say the responsibility is ours. The wisdom we need … lies within. "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightment," Eckhart Tolle (New World Library, Novato, CA 2004). If you don't understand what is meant by the "wisdom within," try this book. It may help to inform you.

A healing mantra to say several times each day:

Peace to my thoughts Peace to my feelings Peace to my emotions Peace to my body Peace in my soul.