On the road.....

Annie ( faithful canine companion) and I have been traveling to Long Island and upstate New York to do Reiki work with persons either terminally ill or struggling in some other fashion.   The work is on a donation basis so clients are asked to visit the site www.mountainreiki.org for their support of service.

I have traveled a few thousand miles already and have established clients in Saratoga, New York and Long Island, New York.  My next destination is Florida to stay with a woman diagnosed with leukemia.

During the visit I will help her design a  diet that is pleasant to the palette and helpful to her body.
It is unfortunate that a common side affect of chemotherapy is the altering or loss of taste.  The lack of pleasure in eating promotes a carelessness about the fuel  put into an already strained body making the work needed for white blood cell production among many other critically needed functions difficult.


I have also observed a common theme among some of the family members to treat the ill member as if nothing is wrong.  This seemed odd at first until I remembered that denial is a family disease and a common mechanism for coping.  The unfortunate result is the negligence of  a much needed proactive change in diet and habits.  The person undergoing chemo or radiation is often depleted of the energy required for "up spirits" motivation or energy to research, shop or cook, no less clean and deal with what feels like mundane day to day drama.  However, whether due to guilt, fear or their own denial the cancer patient falls in line with the role the family creates regardless of the impact on their recovery.

Shockingly I have seen family members encourage a drink, a cigarette and a meal at a fast food restaurant to the chemo patient.  The absurdity of these acts in light of the circumstances might make you think the family is thoughtless and unloving and in a sense you would be right however, the culprit is denial yet again.
In my visits to the patient I also work with the family and the purpose is to discuss the spiritual, emotional and psychological aspects of what's going on within each person.   No healing work can have any lasting benefit if patterns of dysfunction reign, not for the patient or the family

I chose terminally ill diagnosed persons and 12 step recovery people for one simple reason,   the potential willingness to make life altering changes needed to heal the soul, body and mind requires a force of great magnitude.  I believed diagnosis with a terminal illness is one such condition needed for a spiritual awakening.   I am witnessing however that our western medical approach puts little if any value on the condition of the mind and spirit.  Those in the medical profession that I have met with that proclaim their belief in the body mind spirit paradigm seem only to carry a prescription pad in their lab coat pocket and not a comprehensive list of professionals in the holistic healing, counseling or spiritual fields.

Healing Space

The Healing space is awaiting painting, a shower floor and shower doors, yahoo!

The septic issue has been looked at by a plumber and it seems the work needed to bring the natural spring water house back into operation is financially feasible.   The work will commence after the summer season when I return from the road.

The Healing Space is almost done!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first slow and painful steps.


Construction of the healing center where Reiki, Counseling and Massage for our guest is almost complete!
This has been a long and costly process, a thousand thanks to our valued benefactors Allison Boyd for her generous heart, deep compassion.
There is still so much to do and much time, effort and money needed to do it.

This Saturday at the Morgan Retreat House will be a dinner for those and with those interested and able in contributing to the creation, development and pursuit of this healing place if you are interested please join us. You can email me at info@morganhillretreats.com for details.

Next items on the “to do” list is another visit from the County Health Department to evaluate our alternative water source as a solution to digging a new septic, next week (keep your fingers crossed)

On July 29, I will be attending a class at Omega Institute entitled Developing a Holistic Learning Center or Wellness-Related Business

For more information visit www.eomega.org

The C- Word

Cloud Cottage and CarePartners Hospice fundraiser this coming Sunday April 11 at Jubilee! at 47 Wall Street in Asheville, beginning with a silent auction with some awesome items at 2:00, a one-woman show by Barbara Bates Smith, The C-Word, a Life Meets Art Cancer Experience at 3:00, and the four-person expert panel for Q&A to follow. Barbara says the C-Word turns out to be Compassion. If you are coming to help set up, please arrive at 1:00.

Follow the link above to schedule and scroll down to description of this Sundays event.

The Health Department

Well, the Health Department came to inspect the house all is well except for the septic tank which needs to be moved 15 feet further form the water pump.
Work to get the funds needed is underway this is a costly endeavor, my resolve is strong.

Many have come forward with great enthusiasm and support for this undertaking.

Out of darkness and into the light

This is the beginning of an inspiration that came to me while visiting my mother at her winter home in Saint Martin’s.

The changes happening in the economy have been like an earthquake, changing the landscape and boundaries of my world and so many other peoples.
It was during this period of forced deconstruction that I began to re-evaluate what and where I wanted to put my efforts for the future.

It has been a shocking awakening to realize that financial achievement though enjoyable is not necessarily fulfilling. My time over the last many years has been focused as many red blooded capitalist American in the direction of the acquisition of wealth and security. I was not always so driven but in the absence of faith in my spiritual interests providing a living or even being a legitimate form of self sufficiency I pursued the world of finance. A world built on sand.

After the collapse of the economy I found myself owning a company on a collision course for disaster. All my efforts to re assert myself into finance and the real estate industry where met with opposition from a voice deep within “It is time for something new, something more in line with my nature”.

So it was that I sat with my mother of 76 discussing what I would like to do, what I would like with all authentic sincerity to pursue.
I have begun the process of converting my beautiful home in Asheville North Carolina into a Family Retreat for those living with cancer and a healing bed and Breakfast for those seeking respite and tools for a more fulfilling life.

I am using this blog as a way to track my progress in research of cancer causes, prevention and treatment, both traditional and nontraditional (holistic) eastern and western.

This is day 10

March 4, 2010 - Politics and Nutrition

In the hours following the first post I have been overwhelmed with support, suggestions and referrals, thank you!


Today’s task are varied and range from searching for a septic tank survey for the Health Department to preparing a menu that provides the nutritional ingredients recommended while not tasting like cardboard. Difficult tasks since most Americans are accustomed to processed food and consider French fries and the sliced tomato and lettuce on a Big Mac as a nutritious meal.

The first culinary goal is to include ingredients that increase immunity since those receiving traditional treatments are stripping their body of its ability to fight infection

I will keep you posted