From the Publisher
August 2011 – Birthing the New
Sometimes, as the ‘old’ door closes that light shining through the window is so bright we must completely shift our perception to appreciate the gifts….. K’WW’L
Welcome – It IS Time. Time to share my heart and vision with you as opportunity blazes a trail through uncharted territory. Each step of our journey can be a magical experience. New directions can hold blessings and gifts beyond what we may have come to believe possible. It is with joy in my heart and gratitude for each and every blessing Voice of Choices has created through the 124 issues printed monthly since 2001 that I send you bright blessings.
O ur world is changing. We can open ourselves to accepting, exploring and even appreciating those shifts – as we let go of our attachment to what ‘has been’. Served well by our experiences, we can move forward with the best of what we have learned . So much more is possible when we grow into all we can be.
This is exactly the plan for Voice of Choices. It has been a long time coming. Preparation for the level of expansion offered online has included my ability to release my grip on a need to produce printed copy – and distribute freely to thousands outside of the area supported by the life-giving ad revenue. My ‘Mid-wife’ Lorrie Jean Gow is an angel – as together we birth the new and improved Voice of Choices website – and open Voice of Choices more fully to the world.
This publication has never been about money. My life blessed beyond belief with literally 24/7 miracles – major and minor. From the very beginning it was the advertisers who called me. It was their desire to promote themselves while co-creating the financial foundation that covered the real world financial expenses of printing and distribution. I am grateful.
Over the years I have made decisions that more business minded ‘stewards’ might describe as unwise. Continuing to print when there was little compensation for the hours of work involved. Sometimes covering costs ‘on credit’ when ad revenue did not.
For further clarity – it was several years ago, as thankfully my most basic needs were being met by ad revenue, it was suggested by a dear friend, that ‘IF’ this was truly what I was ‘here’ to do, I would find other employment and continue publishing VoC without expectation of financial compensation. I have been doing that.
H ours and hours and years of doing that. My wonderful friend and client passed on in May. I have focused my energy on Voice of Choices’ online expansion – while knowing I will connect with the perfect employment and income that supports me. Coaching – Intuitive Guidance – Graphic Design – Reiki Mentoring – Ceremonial Tools and transformational treasures – Personal Assistant – Elder Care – and more – how can I assist you?
I have also made choices which honor the very concepts Voice of Choices holds as foundational. Our environment and its protection is important. Excess copies do not still sit unread in stacks at the end of the month to gain bigger ad revenue from the ‘old paradigm’ promoters caring only how many copies are printed. ‘Growing Green’ means honoring our environment. Period.
T here are Paypal gateways throughout this website. You can donate online- a dollar – or two – whatever feels right to you. If you have found VoC to be of value in your life a contribution of any size is much appreciated.
I cannot express to you the mixed emotion I feel as I implement such major changes in Voice of Choices. AND the internet allows unlimited ‘pages’ - we can share as many articles as are submitted – and you can read them at your convenience… on your phone if you desire. Linking information to author, and artwork to artist’s website. Space for you to comment and share your opinions, insights and ideas – not an option with printed copy.
M y intention is to continue printing monthly issues – with distribution within the area best serving our advertisers. The University District and east to Monroe and Snohomish, through Everett and possibly the Skagit Co-op. If you live outside of those areas subscriptions are available – both personal and business sponsorship. Please contact me for details. If for some reason this becomes the last print issue – please know that I have done absolutely everything I can to continue – and there is just no other option than to go exclusively online. For all that want to promote your business offerings – there are a variety of advertising opportunities as the VoC website continues to expand into serving our global, online audience.
Details below give you more information on your options to receive Voice of Choices online.
Thank you – each and every one of you. Your part in this amazing journey has been a blessing to me – as I trust Voice of Choices has been a blessing to you.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and Blessings in ALL Your Choices
– Kathy ‘Whyte Wynde’ Lowden
Seeing What You Believe – July 2011 Blessings From the Publisher
Hello and Welcome! Gratitude for summer’s appearance and the beauty of this great Pacific North West. Though you are reading this ‘now’ – I AM typing it on the day after Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year and at a time when sunshine lights our path with the warmth and grace of nature’s blessings. I am posting it online on the New Moon – July 1st – Moon in Cancer and just coming through a Solar Eclipse.
I’m feeling like it’s time to remind ourselves of the absolute perfection life presents – in every moment. Gifted with life-changing opportunities these last few months I have ‘gone’ where few dare to tread. Opening to experiences that make little sense in the logic of others, the learning and heart growth has been amazing. Much of what I’ve discovered illustrates the inspiration of many wise teachers. Remembering that ‘experiencing’ the manifestation of concepts can assist in anchoring ‘truth’ in our physical reality, I have been truly blessed.
We already know that we can see best what we believe. This includes what we believe to be possible and is often supported by what we comprehend as ‘reality’. When we open to listening as other people share ‘their story’ clarity becomes a vivid ‘given’ – and there is no longer room for doubt.
[/dropcap]A[/dropcap] few days ago I journeyed to one of my personal favorite places. As always, fully ‘armed’ with expectations and beliefs – I took in the details of what I ‘saw’. Intending for my early evening to include a specific set of circumstances, my awareness continued to create a ‘story’ to support each step of my journey. As I captured the beauty of the sunset on my camera, I discovered I also captured the illusionary interpretations of what I thought I saw… in my mind.
The waning of daylight and coming of that dusky time of shadows proved to bring light to my perceptions. Once again my mind had lovingly, and with brilliant creativity, entertained me with it’s ramblings. When dark came – the tale I had woven unraveled – allowing me once again to bless my imagination – and celebrate the moment for what was real.
How often do we act or react to life’s experiences by reaching for ‘a file folder’ of information that. though still taking up space in our head, has little if anything to do with the events of the ‘now’? If you answer ‘occasionally’…. maybe you could reconsider and open to the possibility that everything you see, feel and perceive has found a resonance with something already within you. If there was nothing to connect to – there woul be little reaction, if any.
[/dropcap]H[/dropcap] ave you ever been completely surprised as you share your perceptions with others and realize each of our realities is completely unique? On a first date years ago, the gentleman suggested I could call his ex-wife and she would fill me in on everything I ‘wanted’ to know about him. My response amazed even me – “what could she tell me about my interaction with you?” As you can guess there was never a second date. And the idea behind my statement has stuck with me for a very long time. – To clarify – While everyone has general personality traits – the interaction between any two individuals is theirs to create and may or may not mirror the exact specifics of previous relationships.
A s we explore life, and attempt to take off the ‘glasses of whatever color’ that have tinted our memories with varied emotion, can be a bit challenging. As our chronological age increases – the stack of ‘file folders’ holding our conditioned response and memories might benefit from a bit of reorganization.
I trust this month’s Voice of Choices will offer some inspiring words and helpful tools you can choose to experiment with as you chart your new path with each breath of clear and present intention.
A llowing what has completed it’s service to your highest and greatest good to gently and easily slip away – with gratitude for what it shared – may be the only way to fully open the exploration into what can be.
And by the way….. the new Voice of Choices website is up and growing. You’re invited to explore throughout the month at
VoiceOfChoices.com
Blessings in all your Choices
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
and Mahalo
Kathy Lowden
June 27th
Almost here! The July issue is at the printers. Distribution of the print copies throughout Western Washington will begin June 30.Sneak Peek….. The cover headline is”Seeing What You Believe”
featuring a beautiful winged creature against a rather fuzzy but bright background of plants. Is it a butterfly? Are they flowers? You will see what you believe! Blsssngs!
Welcome to June 9, 2011.
When you scroll down a bit you’ll find the June Blessings as published in the hard copy magazine.
I ‘m excited to be able to drop in and say ‘hi’… when ever I want, letting you know what’s up. As you can see I’m putting together a whole new website for Voice of Choices. With the awesome technical expertise of Lorrie Jean Gow to back up many hours of literally refusing to give up it’s coming together nicely. I am positioning our online presence to reach absolutely everyone – anywhere, on this amazing web of electronic light.
We have thousands of readers picking up the hard copy each month. Available, on a complimentary basis, throughout the Greater Puget Sound Area and Spokane, Wa, we also offer Voice of Choices by subscription. Mailed to your address monthly, you can purchase with a cc/debit card or with Paypal.
Adding an ever growing audience online is exciting. With the capability to like/tweet/buzz/ and only your favorite techie knows for sure what else….. Voice of Choices will even have a translator on site to be magykally transformed into whatever language you like.Be sure to let me know what you think.
This is all new to me (Front Page web design software is VERY different than this, I DO know it’s awesome to have everything come up perfect, and even readable ….. even on my phone. Much gratitude is in order. Doing my best in each now moment, I remind myself to breathe, take a break and get outside at least a few times a day.
June 2011 Blessings from the Publisher – A Rose is A Rose…. Bloom!
Hello and Welcome! I Am grateful you have chosen to pick up this June 2011 issue of Voice of Choices! Living my passion includes sharing a variety of inspiration and information you may choose to assist you in creating your best expression of the miracle that is you.
A s the world around us continues to offer major shifts and changes, many of us are being gifted with the opportunity for growth in our personal lives. I doubt there are many who could even comprehend the depth and extent of growth we are being called to step into.
BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER
U ploading and updating the Voice of Choices website has become a challenge I’d very much appreciate improving. I am excited that the June .pdf is almost ready to be posted and will continue to do my best to figure that have it online as soon as possible.
Thank You for your patience.
My apologies as things shift and change a bit. PLEASE and THANK YOU
I know someone ‘out there’ – Maybe YOU? Would love to design 2 or 3 web pages in exchange for promotion both on this website and in our monthly printed copies. We need an updated home page and one or two other pages I can use as templates -I’ll gladly do the maintenance if that works best for you.
***Update: Today is June 7th – with the assistance of Lorrie Jean Gow the new Voice of Choices website is ‘under construction’. What a wonderful world!!! New features will include featured videos, articles added throughout the month AND the opportunity for you to comment and discuss those article…. and now – back to your regularly schedulled (print copy) Blessings from the Publisher.
10 years ago I had a vision for a publication that would serve the community as we collectively and individually discover new expressions of who we are. Resourceful, intelligent and just a bit stubborn (as is necessary when one forges a new path where there previously has been none) I took on the tasks of publishing Voice of Choices. I taught myself Adobe Pagemaker, Photoshop and Microsoft Front Page to build the Voice of Choices website. I did my best to translate my creativity via computer programs – online and for professional printing and distribution.
This month’s articles discuss a variety of topics with a common thread of self-empowerment. You have always had ‘permission’ to be the best you. You CAN follow your joy to discover what works in your life. It is possible for Magic to be ‘common sense’.
W hile it is painful to admit, in the past I have held opinions about the possibility that someone else ‘outside’ of you could take responsibility for and/or be the source of – your ‘healing’. There are many mental disconnects with that statement as first and foremost if you are indeed the perfection of Spirit expressing through you – what would need to be healed? To go a step farther, the greatest teachers (often called Gurus) have embraced a common message. Gee, You are You. You can connect with the ‘teacher’, ‘source’, Spirit, by whatever name or label works in your belief system. Those are the inspirations Voice of Choices has done its best to share over the years.
Teachers can guide. ‘Healers’ can facilitate and assist. The ultimate responsibility for our evolution is our own. ‘Doing our homework’, opening to new attitudes, choosing new thought patterns, exercising our body/mind and spirit – those tasks are up to us as individuals and no one can do it for us. And yes – healers can help.
[/dropcap]I[/dropcap] t has been interesting that, as I venture out more often, and partake of events, workshops and gatherings, there is a vacant look in some eyes when I suggest I ‘do’ Voice of Choices…. ‘for YOU’. The original intent was to create a networking venue celebrating and promoting the diverse options available as we find our way on this path of life.
Without further ado – the following is a list of what it is going to take for Voice of Choices to continue serving at the level that you have grown to appreciate:
1 Technology has moved more quickly than my ability to learn complex web design programs. Voice of Choices needs a new internet presence. Reaching thousands each month, the vision for this new website includes easier to read content, interactive options to open conversation about articles and a more structured appearance viewable on the variety of internet capable electronics.
I am excited to know there is a designer whose passion would be ignited working on this new website. Maybe a student studying web design and this would be the perfect project? Maybe you would love to volunteer your time knowing how many people’s lives the information will touch. Whatever your motivation – please contact me. Your skills and programming expertise will be much appreciated.
2 Voice of Choices ‘grew’ with grass roots support from the community. Printing and distribution of a hard copy publication costs money. While there are those claiming our ‘new world’ is shifting to total electronic transmission of information – we humans are a tactile bunch and thousands of copies of Voice of Choices continue to be picked up at the many distribution locations throughout Western Washington.
I Am a writer – an artist – I work with energetic healing modalities, Reiki, Reconnections, Intuitive and Conscious coaching…. none of those qualify me as an advertising salesperson. Voice of Choices NEEDS a professional that can address the financial aspect and assist to ensure the monetary business needs are fulfilled.
While attending a ‘Wild Food’ meet-up that included a variety of Vegan, Raw Food, Vegetarian and Sustainable Future minded folks I found myself announcing new subject matter to be included as Voice of Choices expands to serve our changing world.
It is my intention to feature more topics which provide information for those of us looking to create that world we desire.
While VoC will continue to feature inspiration for personal empowerment and growth – it is time to embrace a more diverse foundation of subjects and open dialogue into practical application information that we can use to impact our environment, quality of life, physical health and mental well-being.
As a venue for inspiring growth and creating the sustainable tomorrow for ourselves, our children and our children’s children we’ll explore a broader range of topics. As this shift takes place – the doors open for co-creating prosperity with a larger variety of businesses.
New website, community and individual support, advertising assistant – all are part of the vision that will give continued sustenance to Voice of Choices. It has been my pleasure to steward these ten years. It is with your interest and input that VoC will continue printing.
I look forward to 10 more years of publishing Voice of Choices, the input and assistance from those with skills in areas I lack and the foundational prosperity that supports that goal.
Blessings in all your Choices – Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and Mahalo
Kathy ‘Whyte Wynde ’ Lowden
May 2011 What IS Finding Peace
May Day! May Day! May Day! It was many years ago on a 95 foot crab boat heading into Yakutat Alaska that my skipper put out the emergency call for assistance. The hull of the boat punctured ‘we’ were also taking on water over the decks. The ‘survival suit drill’ the week before came in handy, as we donned the heavy outer ‘skin’ and launched our well outfitted survival raft. I learned many things that early January morning. One major concept was if you ever have to abandon ship you jump as far out from the boat as you can. The vessel may list to one side, a vacuum created as it does – and going ‘down’ with what may end up being a sinking ship is what you’re trying to avoid.
Adventure – yes – my life has been filled with amazing opportunities to learn and grow. As my choices became less ‘wild’ the opportunities didn’t stop. Almost 30 years later I am reminded that, while I may not see it at the time, life is always pushing me to the next best expression of myself. It may not feel like a gift…. or even a blessing – at the time when reality shifts and you discover you must jump- or reap the unique set of circumstances not always defined as ‘rewards’ by staying a course that has fulfilled its value.
This month’s articles offer great ideas for bouying you up in stormy seas -and maybe a bit of a reality check to help decide whether ‘where’ you are is a situation you’d like to continue co-creating. Julie Hutslar opens our eyes to the ‘gifts’ of our closest relationships. If our lives are about personal growth, our families and ‘intimate’ friends could be here to help us shift into more honestly expressing ourelves and building respect filled interactions. Australian Healer Marisa Russo will be in the Seattle and Portland areas – don’t miss her article and free talks sharing healing techniques that have worked wonders in assisting many as they discover their own power. Kasara D’Elene shares on a topic very close to my own heart. Emotional and verbal abuse can be devastating. Her study of the subject may shed light on an issue rarely talked about – and in many ways more harmful to the psyche than physical abuse.
Voice of Choices exists to bring you inspiration and information. AND what if, with a shift of perception, we choose to look at the aspects of our life which seem to create fear, conflict and unease as tools we can use to enrich our lives and fine tune our personal vibration? Could it be we can best define our direction when we discover we are not where we want to be?
Everything in our world IS vibration. Sound, light, atoms, molecules, thoughts… everything, beginning with the tiniest particle is in motion. As for creating our reality by taking charge of our thinking, thoughts create attitude. Attitude attracts to us similar attitude and voila’ that fleeting idea crossing your consciousness which gives you a reason to smile. We attract a very different response from others when the choice is to interact with than a less positive attitude.
Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks – sharing channeled information featured in the movie ‘The Secret’ offer many videos online which explain the Power of Attraction we put in action as we decide consciously what we want to create in our lives.
It is human approach life with a hidden agenda. We can easily ‘connect’ with the reality/illusion of what we already believe to be true. Our ‘story’ - our beliefs combined with memories and emotion – set a tone for what we expect. When we get caught up in the thoughts running through our heads it can be difficult to see or create any other experience. And yet – our own version of reality never totally matches up with anyone else. Why not begin to shift our agenda? What would it be like to stop expecting more of the same? How could our lives change if we truly begin to step into our own power, direct our thoughts, choose our emotions and start the ball rolling to manifest what best serves us?
I’ve been working a lot lately with the Hawaiian Ho’Oponopono concepts. I Love YOU. I AM sorry. Please Forgive ME. Thank YOU. This process is used to untie the entangled connections created in our minds and hearts – which then play out as we interpret the world around us. Again – watch the Voice of Choices Magazine page on Facebook for videos, blogs and music that can explain, in depth and offer you more tools should you choose to try them.
So it is May – a month beginning with celebrating those who birthed us and coming to a close as we remember those who’ve passed on. Our relationships with others can seem to bloom out of synch with our needs. And what if the lessons shared don’t have an expiration date. What if it is always an option to ‘wake up’ and discover a new gift of love we may have overlooked?
So, as I call up my own memories of a cold dark morning in the early 1980’s – I still remember taking someone else’s word and following a course that ‘should’ have created smooth sailing. As my own inner knowing refused to be silent and in the face of fear that the directions I was given were definitely not creating the desired outcome – I attempted to avert what was to come. No one could hear the level of concern in my voice and action was too slow in coming to avoid the outcome. There was never any personal blame associated with an event beyond my control. Each participant in the story had a level of respons- ability which ultimately created a challenging situation no one wanted.
It is interesting that I can sometimes detect a similar theme playing out in my life today; somehow believing that ‘instructions’ meant to guide are set in stone, unchangeable and to be followed ultimately and without question….. right up to a point where my ‘buttons’ are pushed and I find myself having to change course, ask for help and open to letting go of an agenda which does nothing to serve the current situation.
So I choose to continue my Ho’Oponopono work. I love YOU. I AM sorry. Please Forgive ME. Thank YOU. I cannot know what life holds in store. If I continue to hold an opinion about myself or anyone else that claims ‘blame’ or suggests purposeful wrongdoing- the only one that feels the effects of those judgments is me.
What if the people and events in my life that seem to be ‘pushing my buttons’ are here to assist me in dropping an agenda that no longer serves?
Maybe I can begin to discover a new way to ‘Find Peace’ with What Is.
Blessings in all your Choices – Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and Mahalo
Kathy ‘Whyte Wynde ’ Lowden
