Please read the document which outlines the reasons that Marie was chosen to receive this award.              To view click here.

Eight members of the Calgary CHNA Peer Support Group met on Monday April 19, 2010 to discuss the book The Unbroken Field: The Power of Intention in Healing by Michael Greenwood, published in 2004.  Michael Greenwood practiced Family Medicine in Victoria, British Columbia for many years. His interest in healing arose out of his own experience of chronic pain, after a motorcycle accident when he was a medical student. Dr. Greenwood’s explorations for pain relief led him to study Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and meditation.  He was one of the founding staff-members of the Canadian College of Chinese studies, where in addition to teaching, he initiated a research study into the use of acupuncture for post-motor-vehicle accident chronic pain.  That research evolved into the residential program at the Victoria Pain Clinic where he is the Medical Director.

This book describes Dr. Greenwood’s approach to chronic illness and pain at this residential pain clinic.  Dr. Greenwood’s approach involves moving toward symptoms rather than masking them with medications and other traditional medical interventions. Dr. Greenwood believes “that people who have lost connection to their Heart – to their intuition, to their emotional intelligence, to their spirit and to their compassion for themselves – become chronically ill.” (p. 29)  Illness first arises as an energetic distortion long before it appears on the physical level and symptoms are a direct result of the original energies that have become diverted or fragmented. Healing results when there is reintegration of psychic fragmentation including transformation (rediscovery of lost energies), and transcendence (integration of disparate energies).  In our group we discussed how transformation is necessary before transcendence can take place.  We need to embrace transformation energy to become well.  We need to be in our bodies to become aware of our repressed energies.  Dr. Greenwood feels that people with chronic illness/pain have difficulties at the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th chakras and by opening the heart can gain access to the transcendent energies of the upper three centres.

Dr. Greenwood practices Dynamic Interactive Acu-Bodywork (DIA). The purpose is to experientially explore symptoms, without expectations of any specific outcome. The principles of the exploration are to work with compassion, empathy and without judgement. The process is to enter the void, find the edge between pain and no pain, breathe deeply whenever there is discomfort to facilitate energy movement, allow for spontaneous physical, emotional, and mental expressions to facilitate the natural flow of energy, and allow for myoclonic shaking (a spontaneous energetic rebalancing) and spontaneous realignment.  Some of the people in the group had experienced myoclonic shaking during a body session and shared their experiences. His description of energy slivers was an aha for those in the group that have actually felt them and didn’t know what they were. He also talks about how daily meditation can set up the same conditions as DIA.  The principles of dynamic meditation include achieving a state of restful alertness, asking for help and opening the heart, moving awareness toward the symptom, breathing slowly and deeply, and welcoming the unexpected. I was personally interested in his description of downstream effect symptoms – when a quantity of energy has been released in one part of the body but becomes trapped or blocked again in another part of the body. At Easter I had pneumonia which was followed by acute lower back pain. Dr. Greenwood says that acute illness is really only illness we have not paid attention to as it develops.  When I read this I knew I needed to pay more attention to what my body was trying to tell me.  I believe everything happens for a reason and this was a good time for me to read this book. 

The book The Unbroken Field: The Power of Intention in Healing is a bit complex in spots when Dr. Greenwood describes Chinese Medicine and how it relates to his philosophy of helping people explore their symptoms.  However, this book is full of case studies/brief vignettes from his practice that help to illustrate his philosophy.

Our next Calgary CHNA Peer Support Group gathering will be at Barbara Dobbie’s house on Saturday, November 6, 2010.  We will be discussing the book Second Chance At Your Dream by Dorothea Hover-Kramer. If you would like to join us for this gathering, please contact Susan Morris by emailing her at sbmorrisis@shaw.ca. for more information.

Submitted by:

Daryl Fenty, on behalf of the Calgary CHNA Peer Support Group.

Some people find this scary to think about.  Just take it slowly.  We all do have wisdom.  No real need to call it inner wisdom.    Wisdom is always inner.  How do you find it?

Wisdom is hard to find when the mind is chatting away and we seem to be on a problem solving trip.  When we get caught up in our emotions, when we feel the turmoil of any situation, it is difficulty to find wisdom. 

 Here are 3 things that may help you find your wisdom in confusing moments:

1. Don’t feel you have to say or do anything right away.  Assuming you are not in an emergency situation, it is important to let the situation sit with you for a bit.  It may be as simple as not agreeing to sit on another committee until “sleeping on it”.  Usually the next day provides you with the wise answer you want to give. 
2. Learn to recognize your wisdom.  It is more intuitive than logical.  It comes quickly in short blurts of insights as opposed to lengthy dialogues in your head.
3. In fact don’t look for wisdom in your head.  It isn’t there.  Just be with a dilemma. Consciously open yourself to a solution rather than trying to find one.  It will come to you.

Take it slowly.  Allow it to happen.  Recognize and acknowledge it.  Your wisdom is there for you. 

 Enjoy your wisdom and learn to trust it.  I have found that helping clients understand this concept leads them to a new awareness of how to solve problems.  And it always serves me well to remember it myself.  In the midst of a dilemma, it is easy to forget.

Namaste

Marie Knapp

Karen Neufeld, President of the Canadian Nurses Association www.cna-aiic.ca  has invited all Registered Nurses in Canada to celebrate the life of Florence Nightingale on Wednesday May 12, 2010 – International Nurses Day.  May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

The American Holistic Nurses Association http://www.ahna.org/  invites Registered Nurses from around the world to celebrate “ The 11^th Nightingale Moment”.  The invitation indicates the following:

May 12, 2010 at Noon (local time) every nurse around the world is invited to pause, take a moment of silence or create a healing ceremony or ritual in celebration and dedication to the heart and spirit of nursing.  Further details may be found by going to http://www.ahna.org/Home/EventsCalendar/NightingaleMoment/tabid/2337/Default.aspx

 I learned this weekend that Dr. Martha Rogers shares the same birthday as Florence Nightingale. Many of us use Martha Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings to guide our nursing practice and I am sure it is no coincidence that Dr. Rogers was born on May 12, 1914 exactly 94 years after the birth of Florence Nightingale in 1820.  

So while you are celebrating International Nurses Day, and the contributions of Florence Nightingale, you may want to remember Dr. Martha Rogers as well. 

In Light

Susan Morris – President CHNA

The next meeting will be held May 8th 2010
10am till 3pm, at the

Kerry Wood Nature Center in Red Deer
6300-45 Ave, Red Deer

(403) 346-2010

There will be a Chapter business meeting from 10-12 noon,

     12 noon-1pm, bring a bag lunch

     1-3pm, Educational Session.

The Educational Session will be an introduction to and experience of the meditative process of iRest Yoga Nidra.

Bring a mat and/or blanket, eye pillow if you have one.

Contact: Cindi Reopell, CHNA Alberta Provincial Rep

email: creopell@telus.net

or phone: 403.374.2554

 This meeting is open to all members, so please make a space in your calendar for this event.

 In order to register attend this meeting, please contact Michele Bourgeois at : michelebo@shaw.ca  by June 8th

CHNA invites members, associations and sponsors to submit events related to CHNA and Energy Nursing.

The CHNA welcomes Debbie Zembal to the role of Chair of the Specialization Committee.  At a recent meeting of this committee Debbie agreed to accept this position and we would like to thank her for taking that initiative.

 Debbie has been a member of CHNA for several years and completed Level 2 of the Specialization Program in the past year. She brings strong organizational and communication skills to this position. 

 Debbie is very experienced in the practice of Nursing utilizing energy based modalities and has her own private practice, Holistic & Integrative Nursing Inc., in Calgary. 

Debbie will be a wonderful asset to our CHNA Board.

Welcome Debbie, we are very pleased to have you in this role!

Susan Morris

President CHNA

Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act, is now moving through the House of Commons this parliamentary session. It is expected to come before members of Parliament (MPs) for a vote on Wednesday afternoon. Please contact your MP on this issue by end of day Tuesday, April 12 to express your views.

CNA President, Kaaren Neufeld, wrote to MPs in support of the bill; you may use her letter (see modified version below in English and French) as the basis of an email to your MP. We ask that you copy Ms. Neufeld (president@cna-aiic.ca) and Liberal environment critic, David McGuinty (McGuinty.D@parl.gc.ca) on your email. You can find the name and email address of your MP by entering your postal code on this webpage: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E

In addition, the David Suzuki Foundation, with whom CNA has partnered on some environmental health issues, has issued its own action alert. You can find it here and sign on: http://www.kintera.org/c.5oIBJOPyGiIUF/b.5917535/k.B72A/Tell_the_government_and_Opposition_to_Take_Climate_Action/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?sid=279172763&auid=6186600

Please contact me at dfaulkner@cna-aiic.ca or 613-237-2159 ext. 230 if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Della Faulkner, Ph.D., RN

Nurse Consultant, Public Policy

Canadian Nurses Association

Association des infirmières et infirmiers du Canada

50 Driveway Ottawa, ON K2P 1E2

Modified version of Kaaren Neufeld’s email to MPs (fill in your name and address at bottom):

Subject line: Address climate change and support Bill C-311 / Se pencher sur les changements climatiques et appuyer le projet de loi C-311

Dear Member of Parliament:

As a registered nurse, I urge you to support Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. Bill C-311 will ensure that Canada commits to science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Canada’s registered nurses support the proposed legislation aimed at ensuring Canada meets its responsibilities toward protecting the world’s people from the disastrous consequences of climate change.

I endorse a broad approach to supporting health, which addresses factors both inside and outside the health system. Nurses have the skills to support mitigation measures by, for example, promoting behavioural changes by Canadians to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I believe that such encouragement must be coupled with supportive government policies and programs that enable Canadians to live healthier lives based on “green choices.”

I urge you to make climate change a top priority and vote in favour of Bill C-311.

Sincerely,

Your Name, RN

Your address

—————————————–

Monsieur, Madame,

À titre d’infirmière autorisée, je vous exhorte à appuyer le projet de loi C-311, Loi sur la responsabilité en matière de changements climatiques. Le projet de loi C-311 garantira que le Canada s’engage à viser des objectifs fondés sur des données scientifiques dans ses efforts de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre.

Les infirmières et infirmiers autorisés du Canada appuient la mesure législative proposée qui vise à garantir que le Canada s’acquitte de ses responsabilités relatives à la protection des populations du monde contre les conséquences désastreuses des changements climatiques.

J’appuie une stratégie générale de soutien de la santé qui tient compte de facteurs présents à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur du système de santé. Les infirmières et infirmiers ont les compétences nécessaires pour appuyer des mesures d’atténuation des problèmes, notamment en préconisant des changements de comportement au sein de la population canadienne afin de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Je crois qu’il faut conjuguer cet encouragement à des politiques et à des programmes gouvernementaux favorables qui permettent aux Canadiens et Canadiennes de vivre en meilleure santé en faisant des « choix écologiques ».

Je vous exhorte à attacher une grande priorité aux changements climatiques et à voter en faveur du projet de loi C-311.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur, Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments les meilleurs.

Votre Nom, RN, inf. Aut.

Votre Addresse

I am one of the coordinators for the Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research (IN-CAM). I am wondering if you could circulate our call for abstracts below to your members either through a list serv or on your website?  It may be of interest to your members that they may be eligible to receive a travel award if their research is selected to be presented at the symposium.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about the symposium, and thanks in advance for your help.

6th IN-CAM Research Symposium: Call for abstracts

Abstracts are now being accepted  for the 6th IN-CAM Research Symposium, “Complementary and Integrative Health Care: Theoretical, Methodological and Practical Issues.” The symposium, which will be held in conjunction with IN-CAM partners PedCAM (www.pedcam.ca) and HomeoNet (www.homeonetresearch.ca), will take place from Nov. 19th – 21st, 2010 at the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, BC. 

The deadline for abstract submission is Friday, July 30th, 2010.  Please note that practitioners and students may be eligible for a travel award if their research is chosen to be presented at the symposium.  For more information about the symposium, or to register and/or submit an abstract, please visit www.incamresearch.ca.  You may also contact the symposium Coordinator, Natasha Kachan, at n.kachan@utoronto.ca.

 Natasha Kachan, MEd

Research Coordinator

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and Symposium Coordinator

Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary and Alternative Research (IN-CAM)

University of Toronto

144 College St. Toronto, ON

M5S 3M2

Ph: (416)946-7840

Fax: (416)978-1833

n.kachan@utoronto.ca

Personally I find that often nature and the outdoors speak to me through metaphors.   Recently when skiing, I was finding myself on some trails that posed a bit of a challenge to me.  If I worried about landing off the trail and into a creek or trees, my body took me there and I would fall in advance to protect myself .  I watched myself and noticed how what I was doing resembled our travels on life’s path. 

Before long I realized that as long as I could be disciplined enough to keep my eyes focused on the trail ahead where I wanted to be, my body could brilliantly take me there.

Next time I faced a challenging hill, I made a point of looking at the trail where I wanted to go.  Oh I was so strongly tempted to let my eyes go to the object I feared and whenever I succumbed, my body took me to the very thing I feared. 

As long as I kept focused on the path I wanted to choose, I was able to competently follow my eyes.  I now use this metaphor when facing some challenges in life.  I acknowledge the things I fear but find that by focusing my attention on where I want to go, I get there.

If you have some examples of metaphors from nature and the outdoors, perhaps you will share them with me and I will post them on this site for others to read.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Marie Knapp

marieknapp@rogers.com