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July/August 2007 NW Newsmakers
NW Newsmakers

Conscious Theater on Oregon Coast

"When all is said and done, it comes down to love," says Gina Citoli, who has combined her passion for music and her enthusiasm for the evolution of consciousness into a one-woman musical called A Cabaret of Consciousness. The cabaret is about the emergence of a new human potential, told through an inspirational journey of music, stories and humor.

The show is based on the works of many great teachers and leaders in the consciousness, environmental and peace movements, as well as from universal laws of attraction, and cause and effect. The main character, Mother Earth, sets out to show the audience how they affect the world around them and presents her plan to create a more conscious, sustainable and peaceful planet.

Catch a special presentation of A Cabaret of Consciousness at the Pathways to Transformation: Holistic Health, Psychic and Crafts Fair on Aug. 4-5 on the Oregon coast.

Details: Yachats Commons Building at 441 N. Hwy. 101 and 4th Street in Yachats, Oregon. Saturday, 10 am-7 pm and Sunday, 9 am-5 pm. Weekend admission: $3 (children 12 and under free). For a vendor application, call 541-547-4664. For details on Citoli, visit www.ginacitoli.net.

Animal Massage Bill Passes in Washington

Animal supporters celebrated a victory two years in the making as both the Washington state Senate and House approved a bill supporting animal massage practitioners. The new law allows an individual to practice as a certified animal massage practitioner by obtaining 300 hours of instruction in animal massage training.

Until current legislation was passed, individuals wanting to practice animal massage in the state of Washington were required to either be a licensed human massage practitioner with a 100 hour endorsement in animal massage or a licensed veterinarian technician. The law now provides another option for individuals who only want to be certified in animal massage.

"Washington state has always been one of the most progressive states when it comes to legislation regarding massage and similar therapies for people. It was one of the first states to raise the training requirements to 500 hours for people," says Lola Michelin, director of education and owner of Northwest School of Animal Massage. "Animal massage has become an increasingly popular therapy for pet owners, but today it requires a more sophisticated practitioner than ever before in its history."

Northwest School of Animal Massage is an innovative school that offers certification courses to learn animal massage and related therapies. Its certification courses meet Washington state requirements for training and instruction in animal massage techniques.

According to Cheryl Gordon, director of marketing at Northwest School of Animal Massage, individuals who have taken animal massage training outside of Washington state will now be able to apply this training toward Washington state standards for certification.

"Animal Massage Bill 5403 will not only set new standards in Washington state but also nationally for both the consumer and the industry," says Gordon.

Visit www.nwsam.com.

Divine Mother Visits Pacific Northwest

Sri Karunamayi visits Seattle on July 8-10 and Portland on July 12-15, offering special programs, including spiritual discourses, devotional chanting, individual blessings and a meditation retreat.

Sri Karunamayi, also known as Amma, is seen as the living embodiment of the infinite wisdom and compassion of the Divine Mother. Through her mission, she seeks universal peace and the spiritual elevation of humanity.

Amma's work addresses both physical and spiritual suffering. During her time in the Penusila forest, which is in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Amma became familiar with the special problems faced by local villagers, including a lack of access to adequate health care and education. Amma's humanitarian mission grew out of this direct exposure to the problems faced by rural villagers in South India.

During Amma's travels in the U.S., she has talked with thousands of people as they shared their problems as well as their hopes with her. This has given Amma a unique perspective on the spiritual and emotional needs of Westerners, which has helped her to develop her teaching mission.

On a spiritual level, Sri Karunamayi believes that all paths lead to the same goal of spiritual liberation. For those who are interested in the Vedic teachings of ancient India, Amma provides instruction and guidance in meditation, mantra japa, Sanskrit chanting and sacred worship.

For program details and locations, visit www.karunamayi.org.

Earth Temple at Summer Festivals

It is time to dream a new dream. This is the inspiration behind the Temple of the Sacred Mother, a visionary earth temple traveling to festivals across the Pacific Northwest this summer.

The temple takes shape as an ancient tree of life built from thousands of prayer flags, carrying hopes and visions for a new Earth, plus individual pledges to set this vision in motion.

According to Violet McBride, a shamanic healer and artist who created the project, the temple seeks to create a space "where divinity is re-envisioned as flowing through each of us, through all life on the planet, and through to the Earth and universe as a sacred whole."

The vision for the temple came to McBride during a shamanic journey to the spirit of the Earth, when she asked how the Earth could be honored through the creation of an intentional sacred space.

The temple is "where we consciously create the world we wish to share with the rest of humanity and all creatures, plants, and spirits of the Earth, through the visioning and manifestation of a world in harmony and balance," says McBride.

To learn more or get involved, visit http://tribes.tribe.net/sacredmother.