Unknown Speaker 0:04 [musical interlude] Jessica Stover 0:05 This recording is an offering of Networks for Training and Development's Online University. Rosa McAllister 0:21 So this is Rosa McAllister, and I'm calling you from Hawaii - from Maui, Hawaii. And this is part of Network's Healing Circle Calls. We typically do these once per month. We've been doing this for many years actually, I've been doing this for probably about 10 years or more, with a close circle of friends. And I don't know, maybe four years ago, three years ago, something like that, we had networks decided to expand this and do this a little bit more publicly. So we're glad you're joining us. Rosa McAllister 0:52 Typically we do these Healing Circle Calls on the first Monday of the month at 8 pm Eastern time, but with everything going on in the world right now, Coronavirus / COVID-19, people in isolation or lockdown or self quarantine whatever you want to call it, we decided within Networks just a few hours ago that we wanted to reach out and we wanted to do a little bit more, whatever we might be able to do to help spread a little peace and calm and diminish the fear if we can - if that's possible. Rosa McAllister 1:27 So we decided to add another one of these Healing Circle Calls on the third Monday of the month for the next couple of months we'll be doing this at 8pm Eastern time as well. So this is our first of our second Healing Circle Calls of the month and we're so glad that you joined us. This is being recorded so others can listen in at a later time. And if you'd like to catch up any of our other Healing Circle Calls from the past several years, we have them recorded on our website, Networks for Training and Development's website. It's www.networksfortraining.org and under our Online University and our Wholistic Practices, you'll find many, many different things, including these Healing Circle Calls. Rosa McAllister 2:14 So, just to get us started - this idea of self-quarantine, isolation, etc, all that's happening around us is unfortunately creating a lot of fear, a lot of fear and suspicion, a lot of circulating of information, and we're not sure what's real and what's not necessarily real. So, for tonight, I just wanted us to have a time to breathe together. That was the original and initial plan with these Healing Circle C-alls, that we would find a time where we could come together, where we might just remember that we're not alone. Maybe it's meditation, maybe it's a poem. Maybe it's something else we offer together, or maybe it's just a hand that we can hold virtually on the other end of the line. These calls are anonymous and so it's my voice that you're hearing - whoever is leading the Healing Circle Call. And otherwise, we're not sure exactly who is out there. I know there's at least one of you. And so I'm talking to you, whoever you are, that's on this call now, as well as might be listening in at another time. And part of my belief, is that by doing this kind of work, and by intentionally sending out love and light into the universe, it's being received by whomever is open to that reception, whoever is in need, and whoever wants that information. Rosa McAllister 3:48 So, for today, I have five different things that I want to just read to you - some things that I've been self-selecting, and saving and printing out and keeping near me to help me not be so fearful, and to help me breathe a little deeper, breathe a little easier in these trying times. So the first one, it was just recently circulated from the Love Serve Community, which is those who follow Ram Dass, who was one of my Babas, one of my teachers, for many decades. And I'm going to read this to you. The Choice for Love reading 4:25 "What does the voice of fear whisper to you? Fear speaks to you in logic and reason. It assumes the language of love itself. Fear says, I want to make you safe. But love says you are safe. Fear says give me symbols, give me frozen images, give me something that I can rely on. But loving truth says, only give me this moment. Fear would walk you on a narrow path, promising to take you where you want to go. But love says, open your arms and fly with me. Every moment of your life, you are offered the opportunity to choose love or fear, to tread the earth, or to soar the heavens. What is your choice today?" Rosa McAllister 5:23 I'm going to take a moment and suggest that we all just breathe together, as deeply as we can, Rosa McAllister 5:32 as silently as we can. Rosa McAllister 5:35 And as we breathe in, we try to breathe in hope. Rosa McAllister 5:42 And as we breathe out together, we breathe out love to one another, and peace. Rosa McAllister 5:55 Another one of my readings that I've saved from things being circulated right now - it's called A Prayer During Times of a Pandemic. Fr. Michael Graham, S.J. read by Rosa McAllister 6:06 "May we who are merely inconvenienced, remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors, remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home, remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close, remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips, remember those who have no place to go. May we who are losing our marginal income in the tumult of the economic market, remember those who have no margin at all. May we settle in for quarantine at home, remember those who have no home. During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen." [Prayer for Uncertain Times] Rosa McAllister 7:16 And I suggest again, that we breathe together. Rosa McAllister 7:24 Breathe in hope Rosa McAllister 7:28 and breathe out love. Rosa McAllister 7:35 The third reading that I have was sent from a very dear friend on the mainland who was concerned for me and for our friends in Hawaii being kind of a vulnerable little speck in the big drink of the ocean. She sent this to me with much love. Rosa McAllister 7:58 She said, "Rosa If you're feeling fear, try this perspective shift." Rosa reading quote from Dr. Lindsay Jernigan 8:05 "Instead of seeing social distancing, and travel bans and all that comes of this as panic, try seeing them as acts of mass cooperation intended to protect the collective whole. This plan is not about individuals going into hiding. It's a global deep breath and agreement between humans around the planet to be still. Be still in the hopes that the biggest wave can pass without engulfing too many of the vulnerable amongst us. Be still to let the world breathe and refind balance. Let's be still together." [Dr. Lindsay Jernigan] Rosa McAllister 8:50 And so I suggest again, that we breathe together. Those of us on this call and breathing with and for those who we love. Breathe in hope Rosa McAllister 9:06 and breathe out love. Rosa McAllister 9:13 And the fourth reading from another friend of mine, who's over in Indonesia right now studying and working and far away from her own home. She writes, Rosa McAllister 9:28 "Dear ones, here are some simple things to do. When you are feeling anxious. When you are feeling fear. When you are feeling you're not sure what to do next. Repeat to yourself, 'all is well in my world. I am safe.' Even if maybe you're not sure you are. Repeat to yourself, 'all as well in my world. I am safe.' Even if you're not sure you are. Hum. Humming calms the central nervous system. And it's fun! You can do it loud. You can do it soft. It can be a catchy tune, it can just be any tune, but hum, often. Smile for 20 seconds every hour. That's right. Smile for 20 seconds every hour and I hope like me, you're just smiling thinking about this. And if you need to, set a timer to remind yourself to do this. Splash your face with cold water. This helps turn the vagus nerve which is part of our fight and flight mechanism within our bodies. Practice slow, deep belly breathing. And if you're not sure what this is, put your hands on your belly and try to breathe into your hands. You're not going to do it wrong. You're going to be fine. And just thinking about this and slowing down our breath and trying to focus where our breath goes, in itself helps to calm us." Rosa McAllister 11:11 Inhale through the nose for a count of three. Let's do it. inhale through your nose for a count of three. Rosa McAllister 11:21 Hold it for a count of five. Rosa McAllister 11:28 And exhale it slowly through your nose for a count of seven. Rosa McAllister 11:31 "Do this often and do it several times each time you do it. Chant Om or I am loving awareness or I love myself or any loving phrase that easily comes to your mind. Chant quietly to yourself in a certain rhythm that you find comforting. Chant it out loud. And if you're staying home and there are others near you, try chanting it with others. Again, do this often. Take a walk outside, even if only for a few minutes, and regardless of the weather. Look up, look down. Look to your left, look to your right. And notice what you notice, what you see. Do this often. Sit under a tree ,and if you can, put your back against the tree. It's amazing how grounding this is for all of us, no matter how old we are. And if you can't comfortably sit under the tree, just lean against it. Let that tree support you. Let that tree take any fears or worries that you have. Take a few minutes just to watch your thoughts. And if this is new for you, don't worry about it and don't try too hard. Try to imagine the thoughts that come in and out of your head are kind of like passing clouds. Just kind of notice them. Don't try to analyze them. Just try to watch them. Take a few minutes. Do this often. You might have some interesting insights. Thank three people each day for anything or for nothing in particular. Offer help to three people in some way. Tell three people you love them. Do this every day. Not even in just times of worry. And blessings everyone. Blessings everywhere." Rosa McAllister 14:00 Let's all breathe together again. Rosa McAllister 14:15 Breathe in hope Rosa McAllister 14:18 and breathe out love. Rosa McAllister 14:23 And the last of the five things that I have printed out and posted kind of by me here in my home - in my own little inclusion / self-exclusion area is a quote, a beautiful quote. Rosa McAllister 14:38 It says "when you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. That's where your power lies." [Unknown] Rosa McAllister 14:49 I'm going to repeat that again. Because this is one that I need to keep remembering. And it's not necessarily easy to do. But my hope is, the more I practice all of these things, most of all my slow breathing, the more I'm going to be able to control things. So "when you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what happened, what's happening around you. That's where your power lies." Rosa McAllister 15:18 So my hope for you and for all of us is that this time of worry, this time of fear, this time of challenge is a short one. But my hope is that we get through it in a way that it teaches us something that is lasting, and that is important. And that's a better way for all of us to live with one another. So reach out to others in ways that you can. Breathe deeply and slowly. Get outside. Watch movies, smile, sing, chant, call or write others that you know also are sequestered away and maybe are fearful. Visit museums and other things online, read, and share the love. Rosa McAllister 16:15 Thank you so much for joining us today. I look forward to joining with you again on the first Monday of the month at 8 pm Eastern Time, and again the third Monday of the month eastern time at the same number. Aloha and mahalo, sending much love to you. Jessicas Stover 16:35 Thank you for listening. We hope the information provided was helpful. Don't forget to stop by our website and take advantage of all we have to offer. Transcribed by https://otter.ai