A Note From Anne

Dear ,

It seems our bats have moved on and the cats disappeared as well. No bats;no cats; no rats. In 1981 I attended EST (Erhard Seminar Training). It was trendy, controversial, and, for me, it was spiritual candy. The purpose of EST was "to transform one's ability to experience living so that the situations one had been trying to change or put up with, cleared up, just in the process of life itself." It seems as if the EST purpose came alive for me in letting life take its course with each situation. People asked me what I was going to do about the bats. "Wait a while" was my standard reply, and, for now, it was a good choice.

Last week I rallied with Texas women at the Capitol, road in the local 4th of July parade, and learned how to play "42." A little activism and a little fun made it a great week.

I am slowly rereading The Autobiography of a Yogi. The small print was no problem when I was in my 20's, but now, it is a challenge. I have the Internet to research all the arcane references. This really makes the reading slow because I've gotten off on so many tangents. The most fascinating reference so far is to an Indian scientist, Jagadish Chandra Bose, who invented radio signals and a host of other things. He didn't receive credit because he did not believe in patents. He also invented the crescograph, a device to measure the reactions of plants. Plants, metal, and rocks react to danger, attack, and some even react to human emotions. This guy was born in 1858. He also worked with microwaves. If you have interests in plants, look him up. See this link.

I hope you have an EZ week, have some fun, and let go of the need to fix the world. It’s a burden to hold on and rule the world. When we look past our personal agendas, we find a powerful flow that lifts us into EZ.

Anne

  Power

I remember when I first contemplated the word "power." I thought power was synonymous with corruption. I wanted nothing to do with power. I began to examine the word and my resistance to it. “What is the opposite of power? Powerless, helpless." These are not desirable characteristics either. Maybe I did need power, but not power over others; I needed the power to act and the power to choose.

One evening I attended a workshop by Rev. Edwene Gaines. I heard her speak on previous occasions, but this time was different. She exploded onto the stage announcing, "My name is Edwene Gaines. I am a woman of power." I'd never heard a person say they were powerful, especially a woman. Her pronouncement sent chills through me. I began to embrace the idea of power. In 1989 I even walked into a large group of 800 people and introduced myself in the same way, "I am Anne Sermons Gillis. I am a woman of power." Several women commented later how it touched them. We all are hungry for the truth, and the truth is that we need to be powerful people. We don't want be weak, indecisive, powerless people.

In 1992 I attended a woman's convocation while attending the United Nations Conference on The Environment in Rio de Janeiro. The gathering included Bella Abzug and many of the most powerful women in the world. Woman after woman took the stage giving compelling speeches on the state of the environment and what we could do to turn things around.

During one of the speeches, an African woman limped in. The speaker stopped mid-speech and said, "We welcome Wangari Maathai.” The crowd roared. She was an earth activist and had just been released from a Kenyan prison. When one fights for the earth in Kenya, they put their life at risk. Wangari had people power and the government was afraid of her.

She took the stage and gave an engaging speech. "I am not a powerful person," she belted, "but I do have power and I have the power to do what is right, and so do you, and so you, and so do you, and so do you." She turned and pointed her finger in different directions into the crowd. This went on for a while as she made direct eye contact with woman after woman. The air was electrified as she called thousands of women to consciousness and action.

We are all powerful people. We hold great power in the way we influence our children, our friends, and our family members. Yet the greatest power we hold is the power in our minds that directs our personal lives. Personal power comes in spurts and the following is a generalization of our steps to power. Even though personal power is a step above powerlessness, in the end, we discover that personal power is the beginning of embodying power, not the end point.

Stage 1. The lack of power. We grow up and listen to our elders and mind our parents. We have yet to take up our power.

Stage 2. We grow in our personal power. We separate from our parents. We exert ourselves and find out our personal likes and preferences and find an image that defines who we think we are.

Stage 3. Limiting Ourselves; Managing our Aliveness. We start to limit our power because we find that autonomy gets us in trouble. It makes us stand out, and we want to fit in and get approval from our parents and peers.

Stage 4. Breaking Free. Limiting ourselves to cultural norms and parental expectations is like caging a wild animal. At some point we hit our wall and start breaking out of the cage.

Stage 5. The Power of Choice. We discover the power of choice. We find that we can direct our lives in what seems like a meaningful direction. We feel happy and free because we can direct our lives.

Stage 6. “This isn’t working like it used to.” We start feeling antsy because even though we know we have the power of choice, we find that the power of choice is misplaced and misery still haunts us. The honeymoon phase is over. We have enjoyed our power to chose, but we haven't figured out what to chose.

Stage 7. “Surrender.” Realizing we can’t control everything in our lives through the power of choice and learning how to let go. The idea of letting go is elusive to many, but it just means to stop ruminating over something. Simply put, it means to stop thinking about a situation. Surrender is the opposite of control, and control is a burden.

You would think ultimate power would be staying on top of something, but most of us realize, at some point in our life, that the greatest power we experience is when we let go, join the flow, and watch life with keen awareness.

There is a time for humility and for meekness, but the time for power is always present. Put on your mantle of power. Use your power to be who you are and to expand. Use your power to take care of yourself and to maintain your life. You are a person of power and you have the power to do what’s right. I am a woman of power and I approve of this message.

Take it EZ.

Anne

  Health Tip: Jump to a Healthier Life

Over the years I've been a jumping fool. Yes, I've been a slave to my mini trampoline, but three years ago I broke my foot and had to stop. But I was clever: I started bouncing on an exercise ball. Then last year, I broke my butt. Well, I actually strained something and could no longer bounce my butt.

But now I'm back and I can bounce and jump. Why in the world would a 64 year old want to do this? Because it makes me feel fabulous. It takes away the stress and gets my lymph system going. Traditional medicine barely addresses the lymph system, but I've got to say, "Lymph, lymph, hurrah."

Rebounding not only de-stresses me, it helps prevent and treat osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and helps maintain a good insulin balance. Bouncing has the same benefits and it is easier on your joints. I shouldn't show you this, but a few years ago I made this silly video. I have this thing for videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNX7at8rB4k Happy hopping.

  Anne's Books

Standing in The Dark

EZosophy Book

Offbeat Prayers

Click here to see all three of Anne's books

What people are saying about Standing in the Dark:

"If as you said, it is not a positive thinking book, then, however, it is a positive being book, because positive has its own rewards. You wrote very eloquently, and gracefully about very hard to cover topics. More than that, your shadow is a light unto us, Anne, and your night is like a day. I thank you."
  – Veronica Nannee, Houston, Texas

"Someone asked me how you could be spiritual and live in the world. Your book spells it out perfectly."
  – Helen Hutchison, Nacogdoches, Texas

  Quotes

"Recognition of the unique value of every living being expresses itself in reverence for life, compassion for all, sympathy with the need of all individuals to find truth for themselves, and respect for all religious traditions."
  – The Theosophical World View

"As long as we operate with the subconscious belief that something is wrong, we carry a burden into every thought and action."
  – Anne Sermons Gillis

"It’s not the world that sucks. It’s your thoughts."
  – Unknown

  Video Bits of Wisdom

A while back I recorded a series of 21 short inspirational videos on a wide range of topics. Most of them are under two minutes. I'll be spotlighting a different Video Bit each week in this space, with a link to it below this message. When you go to that page, you'll need to click the Play button to see and start the video.

This Week: "The Voice In Our Head"
Click Here for This Week's Video Bit

Click the graphic above to see all of the Video Bits.

  What is EZosophy?

What is EZosophy? Click the graphic above to find out.

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  Anne's Schedule

September 11 & 13, 2013
Wed. & Fri., 10:00-11:50 AM CDT
"EZosophy"
Lone Star College
Montgomery Campus
Conroe, TX 77384
936-273-7000
Offered as an ALL Class

October 1, 8, & 15, 2013
Tuesdays, 1:00-2:50 PM CDT
"Alive, Awake, Aware"
Lone Star College
Montgomery Campus
3200 College Park Drive
Conroe, TX 77384
936-273-7000
Offered as an ALL Class

Recorded Interviews:

Click here to hear a recording of Keith Anthony Blanchard interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis on June 3, 2013.

Click here to hear a recording of Dennis Tardan interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis on May 30, 2013.

Click here to listen to a recording of Rick Archer interviewing Anne Sermons Gillis on April 27, 2013.

  Ask Annie G

Dear Annie G,

I just read a newsletter that listed the 12 best organic grocery stores. Not a single choice from Texas! Where do you buy most of your groceries, and how do you make sure they are organic/healthy?

Carol Stromatt, The Woodlands, TX

Dear Carol,

I shop in regular grocery stores. My favorites are Trader Joe's, HEB, and Costco. I have, from time to time, been a member of Community Supported Agriculture. In the CSA you pay a farmer to provide you with weekly organic food. I buy my organic peas and beans from a small local co-op.

I do not buy everything organic. Some foods are okay if they are conventionally grown. You can find a list of the 12 foods you should buy organic at The Dirty Dozen. The list changes from year to year, so be sure to look it up annually. You want to buy these foods grown organically because they have so many pesticides that they are particularly unhealthy.

Personally, I usually buy organic lettuce, greens, apples, tomatoes, corn, strawberries, blackberries, cherries, white potatoes, sprouted bread, and sweet potatoes. After researching this article, it looks like I'm going to have to buy organic squash too.

I do not buy organic foods grown in China. Who knows what they do to their food? I do buy some organics that say "Grown in Mexico." I read labels to find the country of origin. I admit I have organic cherries from Chile in my fridge, so I am not a purest. The front label might say "Fresh California Broccoli" or certified organic by the California something or other, but if you look on the fine print on the back, it says, "Grown in China." You have to read those labels.

Know which foods are typically GMO foods and avoid them. I either buy organic or make sure they have the "Non GMO" label. If you buy corn or corn chips, and it doesn't say "Non GMO," you can bet it's been genetically modified – both the corn and the oil. All the science is not in on GMO's, but early studies indicate that GMO's not only harm the earth and the bees, they change human DNA structure.

The 12 foods that are genetically modified are salmon, animal feed, oils (canola and more), soybeans, golden rice, squash, tomatoes, white potatoes, and sugar beets. Here's a list of prepared foods that have GMOs.

I try to stick to a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, some beans. I eat organic bread and local fresh eggs from time to time. I am a vegetarian, but just a reminder that all animals, including turkeys and chickens, are feed with GMO food unless labeled as Non GMO or organic.

I often go off my food plan when I dine out or eat with others. I believe if the majority of my food is fresh and organic and without GMO's, I'm okay on my diet. Unfortunately, we can no longer have a super clean healthy diet due to agribusiness and the decline of small farms, but we still have choices. You asked how I can be sure the foods I buy are organic. "I really can't know. I just do my best."

Thanks for asking.

Annie G

NOTE: Send your questions on life, health, food, spirituality, and relationships to Annie G.

  Anne Art

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