May 2010
Dear STAR Friends,
We completed our latest STAR workshop earlier in May. As usual it was an inspiration and reinforced my faith in people’s ability to confront their problems when they are in a safe supportive environment. Every group brings together a diverse collection of individuals each with their own unique histories. This is true for both participants and staff. It is a challenge for us to stay on the cutting edge and create practical processes to enhance the healing power of STAR. No two groups are the same as anyone who has attended more than one workshop quickly discovers.
The makeup of staff changes too, many of whom have been involved in STAR for years and have worked in many, many groups. United by our common purpose, staff play together, cry and laugh together, agree and disagree, and work together as a team. We keep learning and uncovering ways to reveal the healing Spirit within each individual.
Here is a quote from a recent grad which speaks to that power: “You all validated who I was and because of that I was able to trust and express myself like never before. I have found inner peace for my wounded child so I can live again.”
Our unusually high ratio of staff to participants is an essential ingredient in our workshops. We are aware that a common defense learned as children is to become invisible, to not really show up and hope not to be noticed. That may be easy in a classroom with one or two teachers, but it is not so easy in STAR. We do notice! Our intention is to give as much respectful care and support as possible to each person.
I am deeply grateful to STAR grads who support our work, often as members of the staff of facilitators. Like the group, they come from cities and towns across the US, Canada, Asia, Europe and Australia. They come because they care and want to share what they themselves have experienced. It is a matter of the heart. No membership dues, just a heart connection. We keep in touch.
I recently received emails from an Australian STAR staff member, who is in Thailand on a sabbatical. He is learning to speak Thai. I want to share part of an email he sent to me which gave me pause to reflect on the heart connection:
The Thais have some wonderful expressions—for instance, if you say you understand, you are saying it has entered your heart. It’s a wonderful image…Similarly if someone is impatient they are literally heart hot or hot hearted.
I can relate to that! When I am impatient my stress level is high and I am on edge and agitated. My heart closes down and I become a critical parent to myself and others. My heart is hot. When I understand in the Thai meaning, my heart is open to hear and empathize—to relate from a loving place. I feel much better.
May we all learn better ways of lowering our stress levels and finding more peace and patience with ourselves and others. It is a possibility!
Our next STAR group is July 24 to August 1st. Send your friends, relatives, and enemies too. We will give them our patience and understanding hearts.
Blessings,
If you would like to see more issues of the STAR Foundation Newsletter: SUBSCRIBE
(If you are already receiving our e-mails regarding the Newsletter, you do not need to "subscribe")
