SCREAMS of CONSCIOUSNESS is now being read by ... read more »]]> Lots of people have told me they are really enjoying the posts I’ve been writing.  They go to the home page and print off several copies at a time.  They forward them to family and friends or check in every morning, just to jump start their day. 

SCREAMS of CONSCIOUSNESS is now being read by thousands of people in more than 42 countries—-but there are some who say they are reading regularly but……they still won’t  subscribe. HUH?   

Question:  O.K., so what’s the deal?  I’ve asked for that 10 inch skillet of truth upside the head.

Answer:  They don’t like the idea of ……S C R E A M I N G.  They don’t consider themselves the “type of people” who would “fall into that category”.  Well, o.k.—-to each, his own.

But…..Hmmmm.  This got me to thinking.  About S C R E A M I N G.   Maybe an explanation for everyone is in order.  An orientation of sorts.

1.  Why the name? 

2.  What’s the point, anyway? 

3.  Who reads this stuff?

4.  Are you…….a SCREAMER?

These questions will be answered in two parts—–first, a little history—–in Part 1.  Then, in Part 2,  a little perspective.

 SCREAMS of CONSCIOUSNESS  has a history.  It began as a book club. 

A year or so ago, Oprah was doing the first-ever world-wide webcast to “read/study” a book.  The book:  A NEW EARTH, by Ekhart Tolle, was the subject matter.  What intrigued me most, was this idea of studying a book via a world-wide web hook-up.  What Oprah had in store was ground-breaking, history-in-the-works stuff, certainly not like any book club I had ever participated in.  WOWSERS—-this was something I wanted to be a part of. 

Oprah suggested going  to her website and signing up to host a group in your own city.  As someone, known for not getting her flashlight batteries in the right order—I felt confident that if Oprah was putting this call out to a massive audience then surely they had figured out how to make it easy enough for people, even like me, to get involved.  I was right.  It was easy.

Every club needs a name, right?    So, since our focus was literature, what literary term might reflect the kind of group I imagined our little club to be?  People, primarily women,  from every walk of life, who shared the common goal of  seeking some kind of  purpose or deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.  Bingo. The literary term?  STREAMS of CONSCIOUSNESS—-used to mean taking what appears to be random, all-over-the-map thoughts and eventually drawing them into some common theme or conclusion.  Perfecto!  Almost.

But, that terms was so serious.  So college Englishy.  It was about the development of words, coming to a certain conclusion. This club was about words AND people.  It also needed to be about serious things and fun, at the same time.  Enter the need for a good pun.

Oprah promised that A NEW EARTH would cause spontaneous “ah-ha’s” of recognition to bolt through us.  Sounds like scream time to me.  The pun was set. SCREAMS of CONSCIOUSNESS was born.  Let the book club begin. Although, I expected a handfull of participants, more than 100 signed up.  I had a good scream about that.  But the logistics worked out and we were on our way.

Weekly meetings via conference call also led to luncheon get togethers where the core group got to meet one another.  We had a grand time with plans to continue reading more books together going forward.  Screams of Consciousness was a living, breathing organization with diverse, bright, inquisitive members, intent on clarity of purpose and compassionate action.  Unfortunately, just as our study of A NEW EARTH was drawing to a close, our plans culminated in an abrupt hiatus when my house burned down (scream, here, too please).  But, the whole experience was too rich to leave on the shelf.

In early 2009, it was time to revive SCREAMS in a new way, with this blog.  Same idea for a diverse group dynamic.  Same desire for clarity.  For getting real.  For finding truth from every nook and cranny, every rock and rocker.  Back on board with the same goals—just a different format.  Here we are. 

Welcome. Join us.

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 It happened when the twentieth century ended and we witnessed the ... read more »]]> There are “marked moment” times in our lives when the whole world tunes in to the same thing.  In those moments, we realize we are closer to being “ONE HEART/ONE MIND” than  just the frenetically texting, stomped-on-ant-hill that we sometimes think ourselves to be.

 It happened when the twentieth century ended and we witnessed the glorious New Year’s Eve celebrations in cities around the world.   We became part of the same marathon moment—-handing off the global baton from one time zone to the next. 

Whether you voted for him or not, we were part of another univerally sweeping experience when Barack Obama was elected.  Watching him walk out on that stage, with his family, to accept the Presidency was a global, hold-your-breath moment. Something with a capital “S” was happening.

These times happen on a smaller scale as well. They also have that same capital “S” quality……..particularly, when we take the time to see them for what they are and especially, when we acknowledge our place within them.  Moments like that happen when like-minded hearts and souls have a chance to catch their collective breath and think about  the same things at almost the same time. 

The power of one message rippling through a universe of people, who may then turn around and share the message at lunch later, or in reading and thinking about the message—they may see an old situation, differently—or it might inspire someone to laugh out loud  or to pick up the phone and apologize, or hit the SEND button to propel the message to a new network altogether. It’s so much easier now. But, these are “marked moments” just the same and no less important. When the masses focus on the same thing and decide to take action…….. just imagine the implications.  If we can agree and collectively—act on—-daylight savings time and collectively melt over Susan Boyle—–what COULD we really do?

So,are you ready?   Try this one on.

Right now, and each day you open a post, you are up to your eyeballs in a GLOBAL MOMENT.  No kidding.  After only 4 months, SCREAMS OF CONSCIOUNSESS has readers, not only in nearly all fifty states but in 42 countries around the world.  42 countries.  I am stunned and amazed.  It’s a lump-in-the-throat-moment.

In a very short time, this little blog has done some rippling—–proving not only the power of the internet, and the power of pushing SEND and paying it forward, but also,  thanks to you—-the power of one heart,  connecting to another and another and another, saying “You need to read this”—”This made me think of YOU.” or “Thanks, I thought I was the only one who felt this way.”    We may be on to something. 

So, hang on.  I am researching and selecting resources and people you will want to know about, things and places you will want be a part of, ways in which you will be able to join in, learn new things, become more self-expresed, make money while making a difference, become a goddess, find more depth and happiness in your relationships, more confidence in yourself, more clarity and inner purpose.  I am looking for and finding out about the current Leaders in Goodness who can teach us the things we usually have had to learn by the seat of our pants.  Stay with me.  Share your ideas. Ask your friends to join in.  We are in the midst of creating something here.  Thank you for being part of this global collective  proving we are eager to hear what’s true for ourselves in a way that can make our lives and the world——smaller in our differences and larger in our hearts.

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One of the questions that came up after the post on TAN-AREXIA (See ... read more »]]> It is up to us to see the light.  Shine it in all the dark places to take away the fear.  Then take it into the world and shine it on the path for the next traveler. PPepperWilkinson

One of the questions that came up after the post on TAN-AREXIA (See Previous Posts) was:

“I can’t seem to get out of my own way.  I cripple myself by comparing myself with everyone else—but particularly with people I admire.  I always say, “I could never……..” about whatever it is they are doing.  How can I stop this?  What am I afraid of?”

The qualities you admire in another person are the same qualities you possess or you would not be able to recognize it in them, in the first place.  What makes us in awe of someone is that they have taken these qualities and developed them—-chances are, they are expressing what we are repressing. That realization can make us sad, if our deepest desire is to be fully expressed in similar ways.  It makes us realize we are marking time instead of making a life.  That’s the fear.  Marking time.

So, here are two things you can do, right now, to turn your inner critic into a catalyst—your mirror for motivation:

1.  Make it a point to be around as many self-expressed, successful people  who possess the qualities you most admire—-as you can.  Find out how they moved into their talent, how they moved past their fear, who taught them, trained them and coached them into who they are now.  If you don’t know how to find those people, get in touch with me—I will help you.

2.  Tell them what you admire about them.  Say it right to their faces—-or write them a personal note.  Be specific about the qualities  you see in them which you admire—and why.  Taking the action to acknowledge them, reinforces those same things in you—-the lights will come on in both of you.   Each of you is elevated with this simple, yet powerful, act.  Chances are, they will be happy to share #1 with you, too.

Works, every single time. Promise.

your body, your brain, your home, your career, your yard, your children, your dog, your wrinkles, your shoe size, your skiing ability, your knowledge of wine, your ability to remember dates, to do bird calls, to hunt, to fish, to swim, to tell jokes, to spackle the walls, ... read more »]]> Comparing yourself:  

your body, your brain, your home, your career, your yard, your children, your dog, your wrinkles, your shoe size, your skiing ability, your knowledge of wine, your ability to remember dates, to do bird calls, to hunt, to fish, to swim, to tell jokes, to spackle the walls, your hand-writing, your ability to read aloud, to “Martha Stewart” your dinner table, to spell, to speak French, to remember the score, to whistle “Dixie’, to braid your hair, to dress with flair….and on….and on…and on……..with anyone else…….

is the root of every unhappiness. Period.

I receive DAILY  inspirational posts from five ... read more »]]> My brain has been overloaded with MORE lately——I am afraid I have passed that on to you.   In my enthusiasm for getting Screams of Consciousness underway, I promised  “DAILY POSTS”.   But, then, “CLANG!!!” one of those 10 inch, cast-iron reality skillets bonked me right upside the head.

I receive DAILY  inspirational posts from five or six different places—-and do I read each one EVERY DAY??

 NO WAY.   With everything I have going on, it becomes MORE than I can handle. 

Sometimes just seeing MORE “inspired moments”  in my inbox–triggers my “good girls should ” button.  I chose to receive it, didn’t I?  It’s there for my benefit, isn’t it?  Then I start to feel  kinda mad and obligated all over. How inspired is that?  Some days I just want to get the weeds pulled and the laundry sorted.  Period.

And, I also know that when something strikes a chord in me, it might take several hours or even a few days, just to turn it over.   I need MORE time to process and LESS  intrusion from another, and another and another.

One of the central themes of Screams of  Consciousness is to honor yourself by taking the time to hear what’s really true, in your depest heart.   Thanks so much to those of you who have spoken to mine, from yours.  It is this kind of reciprocal caring that makes us friends even when we have never met. 

YOU ARE TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH!

That’s the message coming to me, these last few days.  Do you know anyone like that? 

I promise to post LESS.  That way, hopefuly, when you see a post in your inbox, you will shout “GOODY!” MORE.