Catholic Women's Network Non-Profit Org. 877 Spinosa Drive U.S. Postage PAID Sunnyvale CA 94087 Permit No. 553 (408) 245-8663 FAX 408/738-2767 Sunnyvale CA email: [email protected] Catholic Women's NETWORK Issue No. 54 A non-profit educational publication since 1988 September/October 1997 Energy comes to us from ^r A. a piece of bread § B. a light bulb C. the moon § D. our own activity E. our Creator | In earlier times Indo-Europeans held that energy was f *^f'M *• affected by a woman's stage of life. Virgins stored ;. energy, matrons bore children and transmuted energy | I to their husbands, while the energy of older women I! was spent; their batteries were run down. Jtjfie view holds that energy is the glue that keeps | mind, body, soul, and emotions together. In Eastern! : medicine, when one gets sick, it is a sign that the energy in the body is blocked, so solutions involve § dissolving the blocks so energy can continue I unimpeded along its intricate system of meridians | | (the inner roadmap). Western medicine, which doesn't write about | energy in its medical books, is more focused on | providing a simple pill or cure for a symptom of | I a disease. It is now, however, beginning to take | P notice of what energy-based medicine has to $ offer. In this issue we write about chi (energy)', aurasl :(the energy field that extends around our bodies which can be seen and even photographed); H chakras, (energy centers in our bodies); Reiki, a If system of channeling energy, Qi Gong, an exercise \ | of bringing energy into the body, and Feng Shui, the I art of balancing-ch*4n our homes. Inside you will find that all fwe answers to the opening statement are acceptable. You will probably | llfpbe exposed to many aspects of energy you were not Iff aware of, and you may be enlightened by the comparison | I between the seven Christian sacraments and the seven chakras in the body. Our articles in this issue offer some fascinating perspectives j that vital life force within us. Ultimately, it leads Coming CWN Programs - See page 16 for details Spiritual Fitness Exercises for an Active Prayer Life An active prayer life is important if you are considering going for spiritual direction. You need something to talk about. It also results in developed communication with God. CWN offers several sessions focusing on prayer. Sat., Nov. 8 Praying with Scripture, Eloise Rosenblatt, RSM, PhD Sat, Jan. 17 Praying with Guided Imagery and Music, Joan King, OP Sat, Feb. 28 Praying and Contemplation, Molly Neville, SNJM Sat, March 28 Prayer: God speaks through Dreams, Molly Neville, SNJM TBA Prayer according to your Personality Prayer and Meditation Other coming programs Sat. Sept. 27 The Cosmic Walk. Marilyn Wilson, BVM Sat. Nov. 22 Qigong for Health - Donna Shaffer Sat. Jan 10 Enneagram I (Introduction) - June Canoles, SND and . Harriet Dow, OSF (For Men and Women) Sat. Feb. 7 Enneagram II: Relationships and Centers - June Canoles, SND, and Harriet Dow, OSf (For men and women who know their number.) Registration form on page 16 Energy: Path to health or harm Spiritual Director lives in the light .. Composer Betsy Rose led the closing ritual during the CWN tlfith annual Fields of %ht suriwiid our bodies gathering, June 21 in San Jose. For a report and more photos, see page 3. "/Sey^ti chakras and se*e|i &cr%m&&fcf .Reiki^i^iW^^^;.:•; ._,gZX^O CWN mil not held a gathering in June $999 because we will hold pur tenth anniversary celebration in the Fall of 1998 instead JPfas columns *w$\.pk8?$s fe^Md* & energfckyenr mind, body *W$S$II& Page 2 Catholic Women's NETWORK, September/October 1997 Inside NETWORK 0utside NETWORK by Arlene Goetze Mary - Is she a co-redemptrix? conference is restructured. Persons other About eight years ago we sponsored a Reports from Rome, the Catholic press, than bishops may serve as advisors. morning program on the labyrinth. After and Time magazine suggest Pope John the 35 women participants left, a woman Paul II will end his career as Pope by Big Pay-offs rushed into the church hall where we were. infallibly declaring Mary Co-redemptrix The Churcrr "1 just want to feel the energy in the of Humanity. This would be the first time of England room," she said as she sat down. A few since 1950 when the Assumption of Mary officials say it minutes later, I asked what she felt. "It is For the past year I have been a Reiki was proclaimed that a pope has exercised will cost more than $35 million to compen­ very positive," she responded happily. practitioner where I channel universal life his charism of infallibility. The pope, at sate clergy leaving the church because they Feeling energy in a room was just a bit energy by laying my hands on people who age 77 in failing health, has strong devo­ oppose the ordination of women as priests. weird in my book! seek this healing experience. I can tell you tion to Mary. Before the Immaculate Con­ In a May 7 report, the church commission­ Two years ago at one of our programs if the energy in your seven chakras is ception was defined in 1854, Pius IX asked ers say payments may be $25.73 million by honoring our hands, the ritual leader asked moving or blocked and I can help it start for and received approval from his fellow the year 2006 when the agreement between us to hold our hands out in front of us with moving if it is stalled. bishops on the matter. Pius XII did the the dissenting clergy and church ends. pal ms facing each other, a few inches apart. I have watched a neighbor fall asleep same a century later on the Assumption. Laws in 1994 offered disgruntled clerics a "Curve your hands a little and feel die under my gentle touch during the several Popes have shunned co-redemptrix talk three-year stipend if they resign their min­ energy", she suggested. Reiki sessions I gave her following her for 50 years although the term has been istry as conscientious objectors to women I watched the others present They were extensive surgery. used freely in the past. Vatican II pretty clergy. excited about feeling energy between their I have heard two young people with much decided not to give Mary any more hands. stomach ailments tell me they felt their titles. To declare a Marian dogma now Women dismissed would not only introduce the controversial I moved my hands back and forth, in and insides balance out. An older woman had More than 10 years ago, Christine Swift issue of papal infallibility but raise ecu­ out trying to feel or see something between a headache disappear and a pregnant nau­ was hired as Catholic chaplain at menical difficulties. The new dogma sug­ my palms. Nothing. seous daughter seemed to feel better after I Georgetown University Medical Center. gests that Mary shares the front office in It also seemed somewhat strange. sent Reiki long distance. She was dismissed June 10 and her posi­ the redemptive role with Jesus when Mary But life (or publishing this paper) has a Weekly, 1 pray as I lay my hands on a tion as senior chaplain eliminated. Ofthe herself was redeemed by Jesus. way of opening my horizons. friend coping with paralysis after surgery. four chaplains at Georgetown, two are I now study books about arranging the I make no pretence of understanding women. Swift and a female ordained Meth­ energy (chi) in our home. If I said I was what I do. I lay my hands on a person's body odist minister were let go. Two priests, studying interior decorating, you would and my usually chilled hands become hired after Swift and with no chaplain not blink an eye. If I tell you I am following warm. Sometimes they tingle and I feel certification, were retained. Swift was Feng Shui, die Chinese art of geomancy sensations I cannot identify. dismissed without notice and told to leave (and illogical cures), your eyes might glaze When I do the symbols to nudge stalled the premises with a chance to say good-bye. over. I recently sent a daughter several energy, I am amazed to see the signs of Georgetown said it was not a gender issue bamboo flutes with red ribbons to hang on energy moving where previously there was but that the priests were retained to per­ the wood beams in her living room since only stillness. form sacraments. Swift sees it as another beams are not considered conducive to Skeptical? Yes, I still am. Knowledge­ gross injustice between clergy and non- good chi by the Chinese. Sounds a bit able? Well, not very. What 1 find in Reiki ordained. weird, doesn't it? and my doing it as a gift for those with serious needs is a time of prayer. Reflec­ Web site for inactive tion. Meditation. Communion with God, Women aid rivers Inactive Catholics who are dissatisfied the source and substance of all energy. Catholic Women's Councils in 70 par­ with the church are invited to contact Fr. I feel privileged to be a channel ofa life ishes in the New Elm, MN, diocese are William McKee on the Internet at http:// wSLW NETWORK force that can make people fall asleep or holding six regional assemblies to learn www.jcn 1 .com/william. The site is to help Published in January, March, May, July, feel warm and loved as if they were floating more about the human impact on river inactive Catholics spiritually and give them September and November by the Catholic in the arms of a heavenly spirit.