Helping the People of Ukraine-Shared Heart Newsletter
Dear Shared Heart Friends,
Next Retreat for Individuals and Couples …
Living from the Heart:
April 7-10- (3-day retreat here at our Home-Center near Santa Cruz, CA) For individuals and couples wanting to open their hearts to more love. Limited to the first 12 people to sign up.
Next Retreat for Couples …
Summer Couples’ Retreat:
June 23-26 (3-day retreat here at our Home-Center near Santa Cruz, CA) For couples wanting even more love and connection in their relationship. Limited to the first 6 couples to sign up.
We are excited to offer our FREE album of sacred songs and chants, “I Stand for Love,” our first musical recording. You can download the whole album for free, or listen to it on YouTube. Wait till you hear the exquisite harmonies added by our son, John-Nuri.
Free Album Download
Listen on YouTube
Excerpt from this month’s article:
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light from a single candle.” – Saint Francis of Assisi
Our latest book:
Heartfullness: 52 Ways to Open to More Love:
Heartfullness: 52 Ways to Open to More Love, available only on Amazon.com as a Kindle e-book for only $5.99 (or paperback for $15.95). Read what one reviewer says:
“I love love love this book!! For me it is like a thought for the day … I read — then carry that nugget of love, joy or peace to ponder and bathe in throughout the day, –or even take into my meditations!! such a treasure !! priceless!” –Trish Turpel
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To Really Love a Woman and To Really Love a Man (each regular price $15.95) now $15 for both with free shipping; and if you buy both, as a bonus, just $3 each (and free shipping) for as many as you want of the following books: The Shared Heart, Models of Love, Risk To Be Healed, Rami’s Book, Light in the Mirror, and A Mother’s Final Gift. Please call Paris at 831-684-2130 to order.
Shared Heart ColumnHeartfulness March 2022with Joyce and Barry Vissell
“Helping the People of Ukraine”
I am quite sure that you, along with millions of humans on the planet now, are heartsick over the invasion of Ukraine. It is horrifying to see the innocent Ukrainian citizens (some of whom are children), being killed in this conflict. We are all wishing that we could do something to help. Yes, we could send money and that is good, but not all people have the means to send money. But there is a powerful way in which each one of us can help on a daily basis, and we need to help.
In 1986, Barry and I attended a ten-day retreat at the White Eagle Lodge outside of London, England. We had been studying the White Eagle teachings for years, and it was a thrill for us to actually be at their center and study under the two women who helped found the White Eagle Lodge along with their mother.
Partway through the week, we were introduced to a group of older members of the lodge. These elders had survived World War 2 while living in London. At that time, the Lodge was located in London. They told us about their experiences during the war. First of all, London was in a state of crisis with bombs going off at all hours, and everyone needed to rush to a bomb shelter when the siren warned them. These members decided that they would meet each Monday evening and sit together sending out light for peace. Each and every Monday they would come together under great personal sacrifice because it was dangerous. They did this as they knew that sending out the light was powerful and would help.
The elders described an evening in which there were bombs going off all around them. They continued to sit in their circle silently and concentrate on sending out light, rather than evacuate to the nearest bomb shelter. They felt that there was no more important thing that they could be doing. There was much destruction, including neighboring buildings being hit by bombs, creating shock waves that shook their building, but they were all safe in the lodge, and the lodge was never harmed throughout the war. Each of these dear sweet English elders told us that the work of sending out the light is so important and powerful and has a very positive effect. They have continued every Monday since. They pick out troubled spots in the world and direct the light there.
What does it mean to send out the light? How does one do that? Sending out light is a very simple practice and it is not religious in any manner. A person of any religion, as well as a person who has no affiliation to any spiritual path or religion, would feel comfortable doing this. It is simply necessary to recognize that light is a powerful energy. With eyes closed, imagine that there is a bright light above your head, and with your breath imagine inhaling that light into the top of your head and allowing it to go down into the area of your heart. Then as you exhale you are imagining the light shining out from your heart.
In the current case of the trouble in Ukraine, visualize the country and its people surrounded in the protection of this light. And then continue this for as long as you are able. Even just a few minutes of doing this practice can be so powerful. If you have trouble doing this visualization, just keep trying. Remind yourself that this is one of the most powerful things you can be doing for the people of Ukraine. If you want, you can end this time of sending out the light with a prayer of protection for them.
Doing this practice is a lot better than being glued to the news and watching all of the events of the invasion. It is a lot better than going on social media and reading all of the stories of Ukraine. Doing this practice is such a positive thing to do. Imagine if millions of people were doing it all over the world. You could sit with your children and teach them this simple practice and share as a family. You could ask to begin a business meeting with a few moments of silence for Ukraine. Remember, everyone is concerned about this crisis. Everyone wants to help in some way. This practice just takes a few minutes. If you are at home trying to place a call and are put on hold, you could do this practice as you sit and wait. The opportunities are numerous and the benefit is very profound. The light is powerful and can overcome the darkness. Please take time every single day to send out the light. Together we can all help these dear people of Ukraine.
Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors near Santa Cruz, CA, who are passionate about conscious relationships and personal spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Call 831-684-2130 for further information on counseling sessions by phone, online, or in person, their books, recordings, or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their website at SharedHeart.org for their free monthly e-heartletter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationships and living from the heart.
Our schedule at a glance (details below — All events are now in-person):
- April 7-10: Living from the Heart
- April 20-24: The Greatest Journey
- June 23-26: Summer Couples’ Retreat
Quote of the Month:
“If we’re running away from love because of a feeling of unworthiness, then we need to stop and remember who we are: children of the Creator, sons, and daughters of the light, rightful heirs to all the love and power of the universe.” –Risk To Be Healed, p. 121.
Please join Joyce and me in holding a vision of a world where women, men, and children of all nations, races, and religions can see and feel the divine in themselves and one another. Here is our current 2022 workshop schedule. Joyce and I would love to see you at one of these events. Please remember how important this spiritual-emotional growth work is. Together let’s take another step on this journey into the heart of love and deeper awareness, where real-world healing begins. Peace be with you all.
April 7-10
Living from the Heart (3-day retreat here at our Home-Center near Santa Cruz, CA) For individuals and couples wanting to open their hearts to more love. Limited to the first 12 people to sign up.
April 20-24
The Greatest Journey Our 6-month mentorship program from November to April. Doing the deeper work on yourself.
June 23-26
Summer Couples’ Retreat (3-day retreat here at our Home-Center near Santa Cruz, CA) For couples wanting even more love and connection in their relationship. Limited to the first 6 couples to sign up.
Volunteers Needed. The Shared Heart Foundation needs volunteers. If you would like to support our vision and work, no matter where you live, email vissell@sharedheart.org
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Counseling with the Vissells. For individuals or couples who need help, you can choose from one hour to a two-day intensive with either one or both of us. http://sharedheart.org/counseling/
For children, teens, or young adults, our daughter, Rami, can be reached at ramivissellphd@hotmail.com.
Do you ever shop on Amazon.com?Now you can support The Shared Heart Foundation just by shopping online? Just go to smile.amazon.com, sign in like you normally do, specify The Shared Heart Foundation (you only have to do this once), and 0.5% of every order supports us. Thank you for this support.
Our love and blessings to you all,
Barry and Joyce Vissell
Please click on SharedHeart.org for inspiring articles about relationships and consciousness, as well as our updated schedule.