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September/October 2005 NW Newsmakers
Community News

The Khenpos Visit Portland

This September 24^th and 25^th, Portland plays host to two of Tibet’s most beloved lamas, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, affectionately known to their students worldwide as ‘The Khenpos.’ In their first visit to Portland in three years, the Khenpos will be giving teachings and empowerments on the nature of the enlightened mind. On Saturday, September 24^th they will be giving teachings and transmissions on what is called Dzogchen. In these Dzogchen teachings, the Khenpos, who are living Dzogchen masters, will point out and introduce us to the primordially pure state of enlightenment that has been our ever-present nature from the very beginning. This will be from 10am-4pm at the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association, 6225 NE Stanton, and costs $60. On Sunday, September 25^th at 2pm, they will be giving the empowerment (blessing ceremony) of PadmaSambhava (the Buddha of our Age) in his form as the Medicine (Healing) Buddha at the Unity Church at 4525 SE Stark (costs $20). It is a very rare and precious opportunity to receive teachings and blessings from great teachers like the Khenpos. Please call 503-230-4841 for further info.

Collaborative Series on Creating a Society That Works For All
With Sharif Abudullah

Spiritual City Forum has become impassioned with the work of Sharif Abudullah the author of "The Power of One: Authentic Leadership in Turbulent Times" and "Creating a World That Works for All." Sharif is the guiding light behind Commonway, an international program for change. The website is www.commonway.org

The purpose of Commonway is to teach and practice inclusivity which is the recognition that my life, my fate, my future is inextricably linked to yours. It is vital to our future to make the change from "I am Separate" to "We are One." It is only through this profound shift in consciousness that a new society will be born. The spirit of this work invites us into new ways of working together.

Spiritual City Forum, in the spirit of expanding its mission of healing the world, one conversation at a time, is producing a collaborative program with Commonway and New Thought Churches in the area. Abundant Life in Vancouver, New Thought Ministries in Beaverton and Portland Center for Spiritual Awareness in Portland, along with Spiritual City Forum, will be working together in a four part series facilitated by Sharif Abdullah. This series will begin on the first of November and culminate in a closing event to be held at the Convention Center on December 4th.

Creating a society that works for all is a sacred act. We cannot predict the future but we can invent it. Everything started with a thought. Every social system started out from the desire to make life better. This is the sacred work of spiritual people everywhere.

For more information, including links to each church, go to www.spiritualcityforum.org.

Rainbow Awareness Days - Healing Fair & Happening

Fund raiser for "Replete We Fly," a non-profit organization providing a space of solace and education in the alternative Healing Arts for the community at large. The Rainbow Awareness event will take place on 15 wooded acres in Mulino at 14951 S. Howards Mill Road, Mulino, OR 97042 (about 35 minutes SE of Portland; see map at: rainbow.healing.com) on Thursday, September 22^nd, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm and Saturday the 24th, 10 am to 7 pm, Car Pooling is suggested.

The Healing Fair will feature a Global Harmonization Ceremony, on the opening day, inspired by Daniel Brower with Circle of Sound from Vashon Island; Singing Crystal Bowls; Didgeridoos; a variety of percussion instruments and voices - ultimate toning instruments. There will be an array of Healing and Spiritual Arts Practitioners from such disciplines as: Energy and Body Workers, Sound Therapists, Hypnotherapists, Chiropractors and Naturopaths, Tarot Readers, Numerologists, Past Life Counselors and Coaches and representatives from the Environmental and Sustainability Communities.

Enjoy informative talks, entertainment, refreshments, prizes in random drawings, or just wander the grounds relaxing and communing with nature.

Donations for food and other gift articles for our drawings gratefully accepted. Cost is $11 per day, $18 for both days, and is tax deductible. The food and free prizes alone are worth the price. There will be a shuttle service from Clackamas Community College for folks who need to use public transportation and a schedule of shuttle pick-up times will be on our web site.

Tickets are available at New Renaissance Bookstore, Jambo World Crafts, Healing Waters & Sacred Spaces, Replete We Fly and at the gate. For more details about tickets, directions and event schedule, please check our web site at: rainbow.healing.com or contact Judie at: 503-288-8369 or by e-mail at: j_maron@msn.com.

Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light

Art Event:Sept. 9-Oct. 16. Works by members of the Hildegard Collective, a group of artists interested in the relationship between women and spirituality. The Collective formed to foster art that reflects the ideas and influences of Hildegard of Bingen, 12^th-century woman mystic, writer and composer. Opening for the Downtown Gallery Walk, 7-10 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 at the Hildegard Study Center, 215 W. Holly St., Suite G-2 in the historic Bellingham Hardware Building. Center open weekends 12-4 p.m. 360-676-0266.

Music Event: Hildegard of Bingen Celebration Sunday September 18, 2 p.m., Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham. Everyone is invited to hear readings and music of Hildegard of Bingen, an extraordinarily creative twelfth century woman who was a writer, composer, playwright, naturalist, and correspondent to rulers. Copies of Hildegard of Bingen: Woman of Vision, by Bellingham children’s author Carol Reed-Jones, will be available for sale afterwards at a table staffed by Village Books. Medieval-style refreshments afterward. Admission free. Whatcom Museum of History and Art, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, phone 360-676-6981.

Carol Reed-Jones, director, the Hildegard Singers, 360-676-0266 or e-mail carolrj@nas.com.

Earthquake Warnings - Animal Watch

Imagine being given a few days warning to prepare or evacuate safely prior to an earthquake or a volcanic eruption. The risk of earthquake and volcanic activity in the Seattle area is not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’. How can we best prepare for the next seismic event? To date seismic monitoring at the University of Washington and the USGS has not been able to predict the timing of the next earthquake. But animals can.

Amidst the rubble of the December 26, 2005 earthquake and resulting tsunami there were few animals, if any, found. They had fled to the hills and higher ground and survived. Cats in particular have been noted to act strangely or run away up to three days to a week before a large magnitude earthquake hits – as does my cat Shila whenever we have had an earthquake in Washington. Perhaps it’s time we paid attention to these animal messengers.

In order to make good use of these messengers I’ve set up an email: AnimalWatch5@yahoo.com to gather and track observations from local pet and wildlife watchers. (It is my desire to organize a group of pet owners/watchers that will submit information to a local website. Volunteers are hereby encouraged to email me.)

Contact: Brenda Roberts at brendaj33@yahoo.com or cell phone: 206-769-8935.