Gateways

Elizabeth Anne Jones began her journey with plants and a desire to use them in essential oil healing when she was a teen. Today she is a pioneer, leading educator, healer, formulator, and advocate in the field of using therapeutic essential oils in integrative medicine. She has completed extensive coursework in aromatherapy and botanicals, is a graduate of the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville, California, and has studied with top aromatherapists around the world.

Written for lay audience, health practitioners, and plant lovers, Awaken to Healing Fragrance delves into the past, present, and future of essential oil therapy. Elizabeth Jones immediately draws in the reader with her fascinating profiles of eleven prominent female historical figures —–from Cleopatra to Queen Elizabeth I–known to have used oils for personal empowerment and spiritual health.  The author explains the value of aromatherapy today for relieving stress–massage, facials and body wrap–and for treating common health conditions–PMS, irritated eyes, painful joints, and flue symptoms. Featured are engaging case studies from her private practice, research on the chemistry of essential oils and their immune-building qualities, and an intriguing look at how oils restore the mind-body-spirit connection and create balance.

Awaken to Healing Fragrance concludes by looking at the future of essential oil therapy and exploring how the oils can be integrated into traditional Western medicine. She proposes establishing integrative medical clinics where physicians collaborate with alternative therapists –acupuncturists, nutritionists, herbalists, hypnotherapies, and aromatherapists—to bring a new consciousness and sense of well-being to health care.

Elizabeth Anne Jones lives in Santa Cruz, California, and is the founder of The College of Botanical Healing Arts which offers a comprehensive certification program in Essential Oil Therapy. She is a trailblazer in the medical aromatherapy movement and an advocate for the use of therapeutic grade essential oils in integrative medicine.

Please join Tulku Orgyen Zangpo Rinpcoche for a special teaching on

The Sacred Journey of Life and Death: An Introduction to the Tibetan Views of Dying, Clear Light and Rebirth: The Vajrayana Way

Please join Tulku Orygen Zangpo Rinpoche for a practical discussion on living and dying according to the Tibetan Buddhist path of Vajrayana Buddhism.   The subject of death and dying has been a curiosity for Westerners since Buddhist philosophy has spread from Tibet.  Books such as The Tibetan Book of The Dead have become best sellers.  But, how do we embrace the inevitability of dying in this life and use it to enhance our life while living?  The teaching may go into detail about how to accept death graciously, enhance compassionate care for the dying, and in turn help friends, family members, and all beings transition through the cessation of this life. Topics may also include experiences after death, reincarnation and how to incorporate these stages as the gateway to further spiritual growth and to help everybody realize the true compassionate nature of mind to ultimately experience The Great Liberation.

Rinpoche will be available to answer some questions at the end of the teaching and will also be available for special blessings. If you would like receive a blessing, please walk up to Rinpoche respectfully after the talk.

Tulku Orgyen Zangpo Rinpoche was recognized at the age of six as the reincarnation of a previously enlightened master.  For over 17 years, Tulku Orgyen Zangpo Rinpoche was a close student of His Holiness Jigmed Phuntsok, himself a primary teacher of His Holiness, the 14^th Dalai Lama. We are fortunate to have Rinpcohe residing in the Bay Area.   Voluntary donations to Compassion Fellowship are encouraged.

For more information on Rinpoche, please visit: www.compassionfellowship.org

Radhanath Swami was born in Chicago in 1950. In his teens he set out to wander the world on a spiritual quest where he eventually discovered the yoga path of devotion. He presently travels in Asia, Europe, and America teaching devotional wisdom but can often be found with his community in Mumbai.  People who know Radhanath Swami speak of his dedication to bringing others closer to God. Almost in the same breath they speak of his lightness, simplicity, and sense of humor. Visitors and friends are inspired by his unassuming nature and natural unwillingness to take credit for the works he inspires—developing communities, massive food distribution to indigent children, missionary hospitals, eco-friendly farms, schools, ashrams, and emergency  relief programs. “He seems to see life as a continuous blessing of God’s grace,” one admirer said, “and yet he never loses his humanness. His accessibility leaves people feeling that with a little sincere effort, they too will find the path to inner peace and God realization.”

Radhanath Swami’s focus this evening will be on:
Yoga and Ecology

Referencing the Vedic Tradition, the source of modern yoga

Radhanath Swami brings us practical wisdom and a new and refreshing perspective that addresses some of our world’s most challenging problems: The Gulf oil spill, global warming, extreme poverty, the collapse of our ecosystems, and more. He clarifies the need for spiritual ecology on a personal and global level and the immense power and impact that can have on our world.

Book Reviews:

The Journey Home is a great summer read, authentically shared, moving and deeply inspiring ….Event’s Coordinator..Bhavananda Lodkey

“A stunning story worth reading.  Radhanath Swami’s journey from the external to the internal world is awe-inspiring.  His determination as an ardent seeker of truth is clear, for at least he savored seeing the soul face to face.  The Journey Home is the story of a seeker who became a seer.  May many be inspired to experience what he has experienced.”…B.K.S. Iyengar, Author

On April 22, 2010 the world celebrated the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. With global warming and other rising environmental ills, the Earth is in greater risk than ever, but there is also an extraordinary opportunity to turn the tide. According to Catriona MacGregor, author of the book Partnering with Nature: The Wild Path to Reconnecting with the Earth we have the ability to bring about unprecedented advances in healing our planet. Yet we need to begin not just in taking outer actions like changing to energy friendly light bulbs and gas efficient cars, but by going deeper to changing the very way in which we view our relationship to the Earth and other living things.

Partnering with Nature is an engaging book with a powerful message that illuminates the fact that our connection to nature, animals, and the earth is a vital part of our existence. This book speaks to anyone who senses a void in their life, and to anyone who wishes to make a difference in transforming our environment.  It also offers simple practices that people can do to reclaim their connection to nature and the Earth.

Join Catriona MacGregor for an engaging and inspiring presentation and book signing on August 19^th at 7 pm to learn about some of the newest discoveries about humankinds relationship to nature and why we need a new paradigm of “partnering with” nature to solve global and individual challenges that face us.

For many years, Mackie Ramsay, Ph.D.  has dreamed of providing the clearest, simplest, most fun and creative program for teaching all children to read, that supports self-esteem, self-empowerment and full potential. This evening Mackie will share key ideas of her method from her recently published book “Discover the Secrets of Reading with Creative Phonics,” as well as play some of the music from the magical CD “Alphabet Adventures” included in her program.  Her method is great for all children, and is especially helpful for children who are dyslexic.