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Inspired Momentum Newsletter
December 2004
In this issue:
The Gems from the Global New Thought
Conference.
Greetings,
Well, now that the stress of Christmas preparation is all over, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on this year and set your intentions for the next. Having recently returned from the Quest for Global Healing Conference in Bali, I am finding my year-end reflections filled with gratitude, inspiration and confirmation about the course I am on with my life.
With carved wood and stone abounding, multiple temples, lush vegetation and smiling faces, the village of Ubud in Bali offered much to delight the eyes and touch the soul. I really enjoyed the people of Bali, their warmth, generosity and authenticity. The conference was spread over 5 days providing the participants with a choice of workshops and exquisite cultural events during the afternoons and evenings. Here’s a brief summary of the words that caught my attention from some of the main speakers that I found most inspiring:
Desmond Tutu, spoke eloquently about forgiveness and restorative justice. He told us that forgiveness is not for the “little people”, it is for  the morally strong people who are able to be honest and who are not afraid to look at the root cause of conflict. Forgiveness is not about letting the offending person off the hook but to open for this person, new possibilities for making amends and restoration. Desmond Tutu stressed that perpetrators can be redeemed and supported to develop the sense of belonging that is key to their successful re-ntegration into community.
James O’Dea, president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and former director of Amnesty International’s Washington office talked about healing and consciousness at a very personal level. He spoke about the importance of speaking our truth as we are pushed by pain, pulled by vision and are descending in the state of oneness. When people have the audacity to speak their truth and embrace their own quest for healing, that is what will be the heart of social healing of the whole.
Arn Chorn-Pond was a young boy in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge took over the country and killed his family along with millions of others. At the conference, he spoke of the horror of having been turned into a soldier from about 10 years old until 12. He currently speaks in high schools to help teens develop a sense of meaning, awareness and purpose beyond the current preoccupation with appearances and spending endless hours at the local mall.
Lynne Twist is a global activist fundraiser, author and teacher. She spoke of the process of letting our hearts being broken open as we listen to the very moving experiences of the speakers. When our hearts break open, the love can then be poured out which is needed for global healing. She also said that we are about to hospice the death of the society that was build on the paradigm of competition and mindless consumption to then midwife the birth of a new society build on the paradigm of sustainability, co-operation and a better distribution of resources and opportunities.
There were many more inspiring speakers over the 5 days of the conference. I trust that the most meaningful and important messages I have heard have been integrated into my consciousness and will manifest in various aspects of my work.
I wish you the most loving, soulful and prosperous year ahead!!!
Until next time, be well, be whole and be true to yourself.
Wholeheartedly,
Isabelle
St Jean
A Poetic Image: My first moments in Bali.
As the pathway meets my footsteps in the center of the night, I sense the presence of carved stone beings in the fleeting shadows.
With the new light of dawn, I open the carved golden doors of my room to greet the day. On the balcony overlooking luscious trees and the stunning Balinese architecture of a nearby cottage, my eyes are drenched with delight. Here I feel as if sacredness is in the air. Here, it seems that one could really embrace the art of being. There I sit, for a joyful, lingering moment, with the spirit of gratitude and reverence as my companions.
Fundraising Project for Bali in Development:
Along with spending time with people from the conference, I also made sure I had time to get to know some of the local people. I really enjoyed talking with a young man named Sang Tu who worked near my hotel. As we conversed, I realized that he has great potential and talents but few opportunities to get the education required to use his  full potential. He is one of 10 children in his family and, although his father had some savings for education in the past, a long stay in the hospital used up most of the savings and now it is no longer possible for Sang Tu to afford more education beyond his high school years. Student loans do not exist in Bali.
As I was sadly getting ready to leave Bali, I decided that a way for me to give back some of the richness I received there would be to look into the possibility of creating a “Friends of Bali Education Fund” to help Sang Tu and other young people to have more possibilities for a brighter future. I will provide more info when I am able to develop a tax-deductible structure for this worthy project.
Links and Recommended Resources:
While at the conference, I re-connected with Lili Fournier. She has produced and directed the Quest series: a total of 10 wonderfully inspirational videos. I personally own all 10 videos which are beautifully assembled excerpts of interviews of people such as Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Caroline Myss, Lynne Twist, and many more. The videos offer tremendous value because they are so rich in content that I have enjoyed watching them over many times. I also lend them to my coaching clients to further support their growth. I highly recommend you look up the website to find out more and consider getting some of the series: www.questforlife.com
I also recommend you consider a basic membership ($55.00/year) with the Institute of Noetic Sciences. This organization was a sponsor of the conference Quest for Global Healing. The name “Noetic” comes from the Greek word nous which means intuitive mind or ways of knowing. Noetic sciences further the exploration of conventional sciences by rigorous inquiry into aspects of reality – such as mind, consciousness, spirit – that go beyond physical phenomena. This U.S based organization community group meetings around the world (including Vancouver) and issues a quarterly magazine called Shifts – At the Frontiers of Consciousness. The current issue is filled with incredible articles on the leading edge of inquiry into energetic fields, heart field, healing, morphic fields (Rupert Sheldrake) etc.
The website is : www.noetic.org
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