October 2025 Newsletter from Shared Heart-Barry and Joyce
Dear Shared Heart Friends,
Welcome to our October 2025 Newsletter from Shared Heart. Thank you for reading.
Excerpt from this month’s article: There are moments in our lives that call us to be deeply aware, fully present, and the highest version of ourselves.
“A Couple of Miracles is an amazing book by two amazing humans. I was brought to tears many times. I don’t want you to miss a word of this outstanding book.”—Susan Campbell, PhD, author of Getting Real
A Couple of Miracles: One Couple, More Than a Few Miracles, available only on Amazon.com as a Kindle e-book for only $6.95 (or paperback for $18.95). Here’s the link: A Couple of Miracles
“I would add to Joyce and Barry’s number of miracles … this book! When two health professionals, despite our training, can open their minds and consciousness to the truth of life, miracles can happen. Read this book!”—Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Love, Medicine & Miracles
“A truly inspirational story that can open our hearts to appreciate the many miracles that can come through love, compassion and wisdom. A real page turner!”
—John Gray, PhD, author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
“The Vissells’ latest book, A Couple of Miracles, will bring tears to the eyes of readers: tears of joy, tears of compassion, tears of heartache, and tears of laughter. It’s got everything! Readers who are skeptical about miracles should be warned that this book could turn you into a believer! Read this book if you’re looking for a jolt of pure inspiration!”
—Linda Bloom, LCSW and Charlie Bloom, MSW, authors of 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married
Shared Heart Column-October 2025 Newsletter
Heartfulness October 2025 with Joyce and Barry Vissell
Moments of Reckoning
There are moments in our lives that call us to be deeply aware, fully present, and the highest version of ourselves.
For the last years of their lives, my parents lived next door to our family, in an apartment above our garage. One Easter Sunday afternoon, my mother rushed over for help. Barry and I ran back to the apartment with her. We quickly realized the seriousness of the situation. My 82-year-old father, who had always been extremely active and independent, was suddenly close to death. His color was ashen gray, his breathing extremely labored. Barry did all that he could medically while my mother called 911. I sat holding my dad’s hand. Without any warning, the moment of death seemed to be upon him. He knew it and I knew it. I looked into his eyes for what I thought would be the last time.
“I love you dad.” Unable to speak, he winked back. It was just a moment, a few seconds in time. Yet those few seconds tested me to the very core. I needed to instantly access all the work I had done on forgiving, letting go and opening. In that moment I felt how much I loved my father, and I felt a deep gratitude that I had been able to express that over the years. Though totally shocked at the unexpectedness of the moment, I was grateful for the power of love that surged through me for my father. If I never saw him again, I knew that love had flowed between us at this moment. The mistakes, the misunderstandings, the failures to communicate, were all forgiven. There was only love now.
The paramedics arrived in record time and administered oxygen. Pulmonary embolism (a large blood clot in his lungs) had possibly come within minutes of taking my father’s life. They rushed him to the hospital. His condition was very serious, but he was going to make it.
I have long reflected on that moment of near death. It was totally unexpected and yet it entered our lives with so much power. When a moment like that comes, it cannot be ignored and requires the most of us. How often do we live our everyday lives ignoring the possibility of these moments. A harsh word is spoken to a loved one. Anger is left unresolved. The inner prompting to reach out is ignored. Due to discomfort, neglect or hurry, love is not expressed. And yet the moment of death of a loved one can come so quickly and catch us unaware. We simply cannot take the risk to let anger go unresolved or ignore the prompting to love. The time is now. Experts in grief share that the memory of expressed love brings comfort, while the memory of unresolved or unexpressed feelings brings sorrow. Now is the time to reach out and express your caring and love. None of us can take the chance and wait.
Is there a call you need to make today? A message of simple caring you need to send? Is there a hug or an appreciation that needs to be given? Do it now! You will never regret the outpouring of love.
Order our new book HERE
Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors near Santa Cruz, CA, who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 10 books and a free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Visit SharedHeart.org for their free weekly inspirational video and monthly e-heartletter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationship and living from the heart.
Our schedule at a glance (details below — All events are now in-person): October 2025 Newsletter
October 5: Free Inspiring Evening
November 6-9: Autumn Couple’s Retreat
November 12-16: The Greatest Journey (Mentorship Program)
January 9-11: Esalen Couple’s Retreat
February 11-15: The Couple’s Journey
March 20-22, 2026: Men Living from the Heart
Quote of the Month from the October 2025 Newsletter:
“Appreciate now! Don’t put it off. Don’t wait until you are ‘more together’ or even in a better state of mind and emotions. Do it now!” – Risk To Be Healed, p. 146
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 2025-2026 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.
October 2025 Newsletter
October 5: Free Inspiring Evening
We are inviting you to our living room on Sunday, October 5 at 7pm.
90 minutes of inspiration, singing, chanting, and opening your hearts to the divine. Join Barry and Joyce and talented guest musicians, Ken and Justin Sundermeyer.
November 6-9: Autumn Couple’s Retreat
Would you like your relationship to reach a new level of love, healing, intimacy and commitment?
Couples describe these weekends as a safe and loving place to learn and practice new skills for their relating.
November 12-16: The Greatest Journey (Mentorship Program)
Find and live your dream, your passion, and your purpose! Individually and together with a small, carefully chosen group of 8-14 participants, these 6 months will help you transform your life.
January 9-11: Esalen Couple’s Retreat
The Shared Heart New Year’s Couples Retreat. Learn skills to dramatically improve your relationship, while luxuriating at one of the most uniquely beautiful retreat centers we have ever visited. Work-trades or alternative lodging available. Phone: 831-667-3005.
February 11-15: The Couple’s Journey
A 4-day retreat just for couples that will transform your relationship. During this retreat, you will not only open to more love and connection you thought possible, but you will have enough time to integrate these positive changes into your lives back home.
March 20-22, 2026: Men Living from the Heart
Before we as men can really know intimate love, we need to more deeply connect with our own hearts and with other men. Come to this retreat to learn how this process works, to establish meaningful friendships, and to learn how and why men distract themselves from their true happiness.
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
Volunteers Needed. The Shared Heart Foundation needs volunteers. If you would like to support our vision and work, no matter where you live, email info@sharedheart.org
Counseling with the Vissells. For individuals or couples who want help, you can choose from one hour to a two-day intensive with either one or both of us. http://sharedheart.org/counseling/
Our love and blessings to you all and Thank you for reading our October 2025 Newsletter,
Barry and Joyce Vissell
Please click on SharedHeart.org for inspiring articles about relationship and consciousness, as well as our updated schedule.
