Blue Moon

While the months in our calendar were designed to fit a solar year, with 28-31 days in each month, the Moon keeps her own schedule, with a lunar month being about 28.5 days.  That means we generally have one Full Moon a month, but every 2-3 years we have two Full Moons in one month (the first at the beginning of the month, and the second at the end).  The second Full Moon is called a Blue Moon.  For those of us in the United States, we have a Blue Moon on Thursday, 31 May (at 6:04 pm PST).  It really is location specific, because when it is 6:04 pm on the West Coast of the U. S., it will be 1:04 am, 1 June in England.  That means people in Europe will have their Blue Moon 30 June.  Confused?  :-)  I found a site online that explains it much better than I do, answers FAQs, and even gives you a calendar for figuring out when there will be Blue Moons:  You will find it at www.obliquity.com/astro/bluemoon.html . Meanwhile, I can tell you that the last Blue Moon was in July 2004, and the next Blue Moon in the U.S. will be in December 2009 for the East Coast, and in January 2010 for the U.S. west of Eastern Standard Time.

Now, why should this matter to you?  No good reason, I suppose.  :-)  I’ve heard this little fact is the basis for the saying, “once in a Blue Moon,” which means “not very often.”  However, some people also consider the Blue Moon a good time for putting out affirmations about protection, purification, and healing.  The idea I find most interesting is to use it for working with goals — review accomplishments and failures since the last Blue Moon, and setting specific long-term goals.  Since this Blue Moon is in Sagittarius (with the Sun in Gemini), it might be interesting to set goals regarding expanding your knowledge, and the way in which you communicate.  Get creative, and consider what you would like to be doing, or what you want to accomplish by December 2009/January 2010.  These would be the sort of long-term goals you could use as a guiding star, with shorter-term goals as stepping stones.  For those of you who are into tarot, it might be interesting to get out the Star card and look at it while setting your Blue Moon goals, and perhaps the Moon card as a way of accessing that which you most deeply desire, the goals that often remain unconscious. Don’t just think about your goals — write them down.  Put them someplace where you will see them often.  It is amazing how something like that keeps the goals in our mind, and we will find ourselves working toward them, even if on an unconscious level.

Now, if you are reading this and it is after the Blue Moon, I’ve been told you can successfully work with Full Moon energies three days before and three days after the Full Moon.  What goals will you set?  Where do you want to be in two years and seven months?

Memorial Day

Lately awareness about war and the military has tapped into my emotions even more than before.  (Well, probably about as much as when my son was in Iraq.)  I go to the movies, and in the previews they always have those ads about joining the Army, Marines, or National Guard, and tears well up in my eyes.  Apparently this is something I’m supposed to deal with at this point in my life, and I keep asking Spirit to help me learn whatever I’m supposed to learn . . . or heal whatever it is I’m supposed to heal. 

Today I read a wonderful tribute on a blog by a friend ( http://shadowmeteresa.wordpress.com ).  She wrote about her dad, but she finished with a line that made the tribute so much more inclusive: “…for all those whose lives and families have become irrevocably altered by their time in the services, in ways that no-one ever talks about.”  It so moved me that I could not deal with it directly at first, so I went out and cut berry bushes.  [Some day I'll write an entry about cutting berry bushes.] 

After a while, I was able to talk quietly to myself about the thoughts running through my head — to listen, and talk, and debate with myself.  I thought about how military service triggered problems for a very dear friend, and how that changed my life “irrevocably.”  I thought about the people who are damaged on some or all levels (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) — not only those who serve, but their families, and friends, and the people who live in the area of war, or even just near military bases in some cases.  I thought about how I have the privilege of quietly cutting berry bushes in my backyard because people were willing to die for freedom and safety for others.  Which lead to thoughts of why people fight in wars or military actions — for the grand ideas?  For their buddy next to them?  To protect their homes?  Because they will be punished if they don’t fight (back when we had the draft)?  Am sure there are plenty of reasons I didn’t even think of.  Then I thought about German soldiers during World War II, the U.S. Cavalry sweeping across the Native American Nations, the army that swept out of Mongolia many hundreds of years ago . . . you get the idea.  Any time there is a “them” and “us,” someone gets labeled the enemy, and it really depends on your point of view.  Whose motives are pure?  And it’s never just the fighters who suffer.

In case I haven’t made it clear, I am thankful for the military, and proud of my son for serving, and I am thankful for all the sacrifices that have been made.  But there are no clear right and wrongs here.  I honor the memory of those who have served, even while I rail against the powers that ask them to serve for stupid reasons. 

Still don’t know what I’m supposed to learn from all these thoughts, these emotions, but I did come to one understanding today.  I am a healer — it is who I am deep inside, and I’m working toward manifesting that in my actions.  So it makes sense that war, or any sort of harm done to another person (rape, child abuse, armed robbery, et cetera), would make me angry and sad.

This Memorial Day I give honor to ALL those whose lives have become irrevocably altered by the military (in service or not), in ways that no-one ever talks about.

Bill Maher on Bush

A friend has posted on her blog today something Bill Maher wrote about George W. Bush.  It is priceless!  She has given me permission to link to her blog, and I encourage you to go there and read it:  http://chelsearoad.livejournal.com/144194.html  .  Maher amazes me the way he can zing in on truths AND make you laugh. 

“Stranger than Fiction”

The premise of this movie is wonderful — the protagonist, Harold Crick, begins hearing a woman’s voice narrating his life, “but with a better vocabulary.”  As he listens to her narration, he begins examining his life, and realizes changes are possible.  Will Ferrell plays the part of Harold Crick, and though I am not generally a Will Ferrell fan, he does an outstanding job in this role (for which he got a Golden Globe award).  He is very believable, and his humor is understated.  Emma Thompson is the author whose voice he is hearing; she is so quirky and cynical, she makes you shake your head in disbelief even while laughing.  Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah shine in their smaller, supporting roles, their understated humor making you smile and chuckle.  And Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the rebellious baker, whose non-payment of taxes leads to an audit and a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies (fresh from the oven).  Warning: You must have baked goods (preferably fresh cookies) on hand while watching this movie, or you will regret it.  Gyllenhall’s description of treats for her study group is so sensual, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

It is possible one of the reasons I love this movie so much is that I can identify with Harold Crick.  He has some obsessive-compulsive tendencies (a well-organized closet, counting brush strokes as he brushes his teeth, keeps to a precise time schedule, etc.), and I have a few tendencies in that area.  While Harold is an agent for the Internal Revenue Service, I was an account clerk — both occupations where a certain amount of such tendencies is beneficial.  And there was a time when I wanted more LIFE in my life. 

One word of caution: This movie is about death.  Yes, I know I just wrote about having more LIFE in life, but isn’t an awareness of death just the thing to make a person more aware of life?  You see, the tension in the movie is there because the author is writing a book, and she’s trying to find a way to kill her main character, who happens to be Harold.  So there is a certain amount of black humor about death, and a rather no-nonsense look at it.  This movie will probably be best enjoyed by young people who figure death will never happen to them, and people who have thought about their own mortality and come to grips with it.  It really is a celebration of all those little things in life that make it worth living.

[This DVD is rated PG-13, defies categorization, has a great soundtrack, and on a scale of 1-5, I'd give it a 5.]

Feeding the wild birds

   Seven years ago we put up a bird feeder in our backyard.  It’s on a post, in the middle of our yard, with a fence covered in blackberry bushes directly behind it.  At the time we had four cats, all about seven years old and quite active, so at times it seemed like we’d set up a buffet for them.  However, the birds got a lot more seed than the cats got birds, so it was still a good idea.  Eventually the neighborhood cats also discovered the feeder, and several figured out how to climb the post (even with the berry bushes wrapped around it) and sit in the center of the feeder, waiting hopefully for birds.  That’s when we put the wire at the front of the feeder, to make it more difficult to get into and hold down the lid.  Amazingly, one small cat still managed to squeeze in there on a regular basis, until it got too big.  Have to admit, it was funny seeing a cat’s rump and tail sticking out of the feeder — did they think the birds wouldn’t notice them?     Hope springs eternal.

We get a lot of birds at the feeder, especially in the Spring, when they are nesting and feeding babies.  In March there was a lot of happy noise, as the birds were courting and singing their songs.  It reminded me of the movie “Bambi,” where the owl complained of everyone being “twitterpated.”  :-)  Then it became obvious they were nesting, and when the eggs hatched, things got REALLY busy at the feeder.  Not much noise now — both parents were busy gathering food for their young.  At this point in the year it is normal for me to have to fill the feeder twice a day, with them eating up to ten pounds of seed a day.  About ten days ago it got noisy at the feeder again — now the parents are teaching their babies about getting their own food.  You can tell the now-flying babes are out there by the shrill “feed me” sounds of their voices.  Last year I watched some very frustrated parents trying to teach their young about the feeder.  The hatchlings would sit on top of the feeder with their shrill cries, and the parents would hop down onto the feeder, gather seed, and then hop on top to feed the babes.  Had to laugh, because some of the hatchlings were awfully slow about making the connection for themselves.  :-)   This year’s hatchlings seem to be a bit brighter — if you look at the photo, there is one sitting in the center of the feeder.

We have a bird book, but have not made the effort to identify all the birds at our feeder.  The ones in the photo are red-winged blackbirds.  We also get Steller’s Jays, mourning doves, swallows, chickadees, wrens, thrushes, robins, orioles, grosbeaks, finches, and sparrows.  This year the wild pigeons also showed up, which has been a bit of a problem.  I didn’t mind when there were just two or three of them, but forty to fifty can clean out a feeder in a very short time.  After talking with the local agricultural department and various friends, I learned they were attracted by all the waste seed that had accumulated under the feeder.  One suggested putting a hogwire cage around the feeder, allowing the smaller birds in and keeping the pigeons out; unfortunately, this would also keep the Steller’s Jays out, and I’m fond of them.  Another suggested cleaning out the seed under the feeder; since the ground is four to five inches higher under the feeder because of waste seed, I’d have to cover that area with soil and start over.  One reluctant suggestion was shooting at the pigeons (he suggested using a paint gun), but I’m not that determined.  After all, they just want to eat, and it’s me who keeps putting food out.  Currently I’m trying two tactics: I’ve switched to a better quality seed mix, so there is less waste seed on the ground, and whenever I see the pigeon flock out there I walk onto the back deck and wave a stick in their general direction.  They get the idea, and fly away.  Last weekend I saw a seed mix in the store that calls itself “no-waste,” and it did look like a very good mix.  Unfortunately, 100 pounds would cost me about $120, and I’m not that wealthy.   (The mix I’m now using is about $35 for 100 pounds.)  I also add black oil sunflower seed to the mix (though it already contains some) and cracked corn.  Oh — and I forgot to mention that the neighbor’s black chicken comes over on a regular basis.  :-)  She flys over in the morning, and back at night.  

We also have a bird bath, which the birds love.  I get a kick out of watching them wade in and flutter about.  The robins especially enjoy it, and will come for their bath even if they don’t stay long at the feeder.  I watched one bathing there for about five minutes one day. 

We only have one cat now, and he’s almost fourteen years old, so he mostly sits on the deck and watches the birds.  They don’t worry about him, unless he is on patrol in the vicinity of the feeder.  Occasionally he follows the chicken around. 

I began feeding the birds as a way of tithing, rather like saying thank you to nature for all the beauty.  My son teases that I’ve altered the ecology of the neighborhood, and I probably have.  However, there is one result I hadn’t counted on when I first put the feeder out, and that is the joy and relaxation of just watching the birds.  Feeding the birds is less expensive than a therapist, and grounds and connects me with the natural world, helping me grasp what is essential, and reminding me there is hope.  Even the pigeons have taught me about letting go of doing things my way, and of letting balance find itself.  So if you’ve ever considered putting out a bird feeder, I heartily recommend it.  It will benefit you and the birds. 

Gasoline and the War in Iraq

I have strong views about the war in Iraq, but I don’t talk about them much.  I was raised with the idea that you don’t talk about politics and religion, because people can get so irritated and irrational about both subjects.  My experience has been this is true.  So I usually wait until I get to know a person before I talk about either, and then only if I feel the person might agree with me or at least won’t immediately attack.  I’m not very good at debate, and though I do have rational ideas to support my beliefs, am not always good at remembering where I got the information. 

This week a friend sent a photo of a gasoline sign (which she believes she got from www.grist.org  , but now we cannot find it; my apologies for not being able to give credit for it).  The sign was obviously created for the photo, and with gas prices being what they are, I laughed when I saw it.  (The gas prices here in Crescent City, CA are $3.55/$3.65/$3.75).  Was going to write to my first born and say something like, “Sorry to tell you this, but . . . . “   Suddenly I stopped, and made a connection my friend did not intend.  See, my first born has served in Iraq.  And I don’t think the war in Iraq is being fought for freedom for the Iraqis, or to wipe out terrorist groups, or for most of the reasons we are being told by our government.  I think the war in Iraq is continuing because of oil.

Much of the U.S. economy is built on oil — transportation, plastics, the parts in your computer, beauty products, medical products, etc.  The oil industry is very powerful, perhaps the most powerful of all Big Business, and government listens to them.  They make LOTS of donations to both major political parties (and possibly some of the smaller ones for all I know) and wield a lot of power.  According to The Hightower Report (vol. 9, number 5, May 2007), the oil companies are very interested in all that oil in Iraq.  So much so, that they’ve already gotten together to carve out spheres of influence in the Iraqi oil market.  In 2004 Bush and company created secret legislation to allow Iraqi oil to be privatized so that foreign oil companies could gain control — that legislation was introduced to the Iraqi parliament in February.  It would create the Federal Oil and Gas Council, taking control of the oil out of Iraqi hands and putting it into the hands of the oil companies.  (The Hightower Report offers a trial offer free online, so you can read more about it there.  Or, you may read an excerpt of the report at http://coppermoon.livejournal.com  , Saturday, May 5, “How much time do you need?”)

I won’t debate why we began the war in Iraq, but I believe it is continuing now because of oil.  In talking with military people who have returned from Iraq during the past year, those people have all said we don’t belong over there anymore.  It is an Iraqi war — let them fight each other and decide how THEY want their government to run.  Heck, let them have three separate nations if that is what they want!  Problem is, that would make it difficult for Big Oil.  They want one nation, and an end to fighting, because that makes for safer oil fields and safer American-based businesses. 

So every day the U.S. military fights in Iraq, they are risking arms, legs, lives for Big Oil. (Not to mention the thousands of Iraqi people who have died or been maimed.)  And that is not acceptable.  But taking it farther, as long as the U.S. economy is oil-based, our standards of living are based on inexpensive access to oil.  I live in a remote area, so not only are the products we use dependent on oil for their manufacture, but everything has to be trucked in.  This is not just about the War in Iraq, it is about developing environmentally sound, sustainable living. 

There are no easy answers.  But let’s at least be honest about why people are dying in Iraq.  And no, I am not willing to sacrifice anyone’s arms, legs, or lives for a tank of gas.

New Moon/Dark Moon

The New Moon was today.  That means the Moon was between us and the Sun, so we could not see it.  It’s also known as the Dark Moon.  Some authors (such as Gail Wood) make a distinction between the Dark Moon (when we can’t see the Moon) and the New Moon, preferring to call it the New Moon when we can first see that tiny sliver of Moon again, low in the western sky immediately after sunset.  Whichever you choose to call it, this Moon is thought to symbolize immense possibilities and is a good time to make plans for the month ahead.

So on the New Moon I ask my Higher Self for advice about my focus for the month ahead, and deal a card of advice from the Herbal Tarot deck (created by Michael Tierra and Candis Cantin, U.S. Games, 1993).   I don’t plan my whole life around it, but I keep the card in the back of my mind as a way of looking at things.  Today I dealt the Five of Wands (upright).  When using this deck, I think of upright as signifying outer actions, and reversed as dealing with inner work.  Tierra and Cantin’s keywords for this card are . . . difficult, such as opposition, strife, suppression, disagreement, and conflict.  Doesn’t sound like very good advice for dealing with the world  , so I gave it some thought.  Fives are about change and being out of balance, which can cause opposition, etc.  But they can also bring on creativity and looking at things in new ways.  I think of Wands as the suit of Fire, which is also about creativity and getting things done.  I just finished two years of graduate classes, and the temptation is strong to take things easy for a while.  But that won’t get me going on my thesis, and there ARE things I want to get done this Summer.  So am thinking the advice is to push myself, to not get too comfortable, to DO THINGS even if they are not perfect and make me feel out balance. 

There are several things I like about the Herbal Tarot, and one is that each card is paired with an herb.  I discovered when I began using this deck, that sometimes the message was also for me to include the herb somehow in my life.  That is a turmeric plant on the card (curcuma longa), known for its warm, stimulating effects on the digestion and the circulation.  Last year a nutritional educator suggested I include turmeric in my diet — perhaps it is time to do that again for a while.  Tierra and Cantin also assign astrological associations to each card, and this card is paired with Saturn in Leo.  This is not an easy combination (Earth and Fire), which also suggests the idea of conflict or being out of balance.  It was in thinking about this combination that I came up with the affirmation I will use for this month.  (Tierra and Cantin also supply an affirmation with each card, but this time it didn’t seem to fit.)  The affirmation I created is: Change is the fire, and responsibility is the hearth. 

Looks like it will be an interesting month. 

“Hot Fuzz” and “Spiderman 3″

First off, I don’t consider myself a movie critic –  I’ve had no training in the subject.   However, I’ve been watching movies for a very long time (don’t ask how long) and it is one of the things I list when asked about hobbies.  Our video collection has been gradually replaced by a DVD collection, and we often have marathons where we play one movie after another, using some tenuous connection (music by Danny Elfman, or directed by Shawn Levy, or with a part played by Fiona Shaw, that sort of thing).  So it was inevitable I would write about movies here.  Yet I should warn you . . . my taste in movies tends to be a bit different from most people.  I don’t know why . . . it makes perfect sense to me.  There was a movie critic in “Time” magazine (can’t remember his name), who always hated the movies we loved and loved the movies we disliked.  It got to where we would read his reviews so we could do the opposite of whatever he suggested.  It’s okay that people like different movies — that is what keeps the industry going, and a lot of people working.  The world would be boring otherwise. 

What I’m suggesting is, if you see a couple movies I’ve raved about, and liked them yourself, then that gives you some idea about how to react to my suggestions in the future.  And if you see a couple movies I’ve raved about, and disliked them, then that also gives you valuable ideas about my future suggestions.  See — it’s a win/win proposition! 

Should probably also warn you about my movie preferences.  I have a soft spot for romantic comedies.  As one of the characters in “Still Breathing” said, there is altogether too much reality in the world these days.  Romantic comedies are my escapist fare — when I’m under pressure to get unrealistic amounts of stuff done in too little time, I pop “Kate & Leopold” in the DVD player and soothe my soul.  However, I am also surprisingly fond of cyber punk movies:  “Johnny Mnemonic,” “The Matrix” trilogy, “Aeonflux,” and “The Fifth Element” are some of my favorites.    I guess character development is the one thing I look for in all movies, no matter what the genre.  Special effects are cool, but no substitute for a good plot and “real” people.  Which is why I wasn’t wowed by “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” the first time around (though I loved Tia Dalma!).  

Thanks to grad school, I haven’t seen many movies in the theatre for several months.  (I’ve missed the buttered popcorn, though I know it has no milk products in it, and is probably bad for me.)  Now that classes are done, we celebrated by seeing the two movies that title this entry.  “Hot Fuzz” came first, because my husband is in law enforcement, and we enjoy English movies.  This is a very English movie, a spoof of all those U.S. law enforcement movies.  It stars Simon Pegg (”Mission: Impossible 3″) and Nick Frost (”Kinky Boots”), with Jim Broadbent (”The Avengers”), Timothy Dalton (a former James Bond), Bill Nighy (”Love Actually”), and Martin Freeman (”Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”).  A perfectionist London cop is sent to work in a small, English village, and discovers a lot of strange stuff going on.  (Hint: There is the English equivalent of a homeowner’s association.)  It’s rated “R” because of the gore, but in spite of that, it is funny and rather fun.  If you are into law enforcement, you are apt to get a big laugh from it.  Otherwise, I’d say it is “Okay,” and you could wait to rent it on DVD.   On a scale from 1-5, I’d give this one 2.5.

This afternoon we saw “Spiderman 3.”  It stars the usual actors from the first two movies, and though it had plenty of special effects, there was a lot of character development as well.  There seemed to be two primary ideas that were explored — the power of choice, and forgiveness.  There was lots of angst, and it was the sort of movie that left a person thinking.  I’d probably give this one a 3.5.  

Not much to rave about this time,  but that’s the way it goes.  The ones I’m REALLY waiting for are the new Harry Potter movie and the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. 

The dark side of Mother’s Day

The title should have warned you, but just in case it did not, this is not a sweetness-and-light entry about Mother’s Day.  I must also say that it does not necessarily reflect my experience of childhood or the day.  Yet I feel it is something not often addressed, and should be. 

Mother’s Day is so loaded emotionally, probably right up there with Winter holidays.  Weeks ahead of time we are bombarded by radio, TV, newspapers, and the Internet, telling us how wonderful our mothers are and how we should buy them cards, candy, flowers, etc. etc.  The catch is, not all mothers are wonderful.  Some mothers have done harm.  There are the mothers who looked the other way, or who stood by their child-molesting partners and refused to believe their children.  Or their grandchildren.  There are the mothers who were so wasted on alcohol or drugs that they couldn’t take care of their children.  Yes, I know they were “sick” and may have loved their children dearly, but that doesn’t mean much when a child is hungry, or afraid to fall asleep, or  . . . well, you get the picture.  There are the mothers who actively abused their children, on a physical, emotional, and/or mental level.  There are the mothers who neglected their children, sometimes out of ignorance, and sometimes because they just didn’t care.  There are the mothers who did everything they were “supposed” to do for their kids — food, clothing, trips to the dentist, etc. — but who never gave them a hug, or praised them for a job well done. 

Some people have scars when it comes to their mother — sometimes, very deep scars.  And every year, at Mother’s Day, these scars are ripped open.  See, kids are vulnerable.  No matter how badly a mother mistreats them, she is still Mom.  And kids keep hoping it will be different.  If they just keep their room clean . . . if they just remember to lock their door at night . . . if they could just keep their younger sibling from crying so much . . . if, if, if.   By the time these people reach adulthood, they have found ways of coping with the pain, with the memories (sometimes).  Some coping mechanisms are “good” (such as becoming an over-achiever) and some are less helpful (becoming an alcoholic or addict, etc.).  Some go through therapy and work out their issues and feel they can forgive or ignore what happened.  Yet those early experiences are hard-wired, and every Mother’s Day, they get reminded.  And it HURTS!

There are no magic answers.  Being a therapist-in-training, I do think therapy helps, but it’s not an instant cure-all.  This Mother’s Day, I have a suggestion, though it may be simplistic.  For those who hate Mother’s Day, who still have conflicted feelings about your mother, who get angry just thinking about it . . .         Do something nice for yourself.  Is there something you always wanted as a kid, but never got enough of?  Something you wanted to do?  The list of possibilities is endless:

• Sleep late.
• Go to an amusement park.
• Eat a banana split.
• Listen to music you like (loud, if you want).
• Buy yourself flowers.
• Buy yourself new clothes.
• Buy yourself jewelry.
• Eat your favorite pastry (and don’t share with anyone else).
• Sit and read a book all day.
• Adopt a kitten or puppy at the local animal shelter.
• Go ahead and TELL her how you feel, but in a letter; then, burn the letter.
• Sit outside in your backyard or in a park, and don’t do one useful thing all day.
• Write a list of 100 things you like about yourself.

You get the idea.  Do something just for yourself.  Value yourself.  Because you have made it this far, and you are worthy of having good things happen to you.   It won’t cure anything, but it might make the day more enjoyable. 

If you get nothing else from this entry, please remember:  You are worthy of having good things happen to you.

My Cohort

Back in April 2005 a group of about 30 people met at Humboldt State University for the interviews and weeding process for faculty to choose who would attend the Masters in Counseling program the following Fall.  We had all submitted transcripts, letters of recommendation, given a resume of interests and experience, and given written answers about why we wanted to be therapists, so some of the weeding process had already occurred.  (I understand there were about 50 applicants.)  For most of the interviews that day, they broke us up into two groups.  The group format created some pressure (”Wow! He gave a great answer!  Now what will I say when they ask me?”), but also allowed the staff to view how we would work in groups.  That day gave us a hint of how those who made it into the program would survive the next two years — as a group.

Eleven people were invited to participate in the program — ten accepted.  Turned out we had all attended HSU in the past, so we had some idea of what the professors were like, and some of us had shared classes.  There were three men and seven women, ranging in age from 22 to 53.  We are all able-bodied (mostly), English speaking, Euro-Americans, but we represent different SESs, gender orientations, political orientations, spiritual standpoints, hometown backgrounds, educational experience, work experience, relationship experience, and probably other categories I haven’t thought of.  During that first semester we were trying to handle the pressures of grad school, AND learning about each other.  One woman dropped out because of home relationship problems.  By the end of Fall 2005, we had experience working together as a group.  We discovered we could disagree agreeably, and laugh, and keep each other’s secrets, and learn a lot from each other.  We had respect for each other, and knew we could turn to each other for help, or for an understanding ear.

We began Spring 2006 with nine people.  An experience in one class, where some ethical issues were at stake, brought us together in a way that left no doubt as to our cohesion (which we had learned was the most important aspect of any group).  People were choosing or honing their choice of thesis topics, and we had great discussions about a variety of topics in psychology.  We sat outside the South Campus Marketplace and discussed life experiences and how they related to psychology.  The first year had been rough (LOTS of reading, and our first clients), so it was with a sense of relief and a certain amount of missing people that we spent the Summer apart.

Fall 2006 we were down to eight people — one woman temporarily (I hope) dropped out because of her child’s illness.  I still miss her voice in discussions.  We learned about and discussed psychomeds, and couples therapy, and how our thesis work was coming along (or not).  Most of us now had 3-5 clients at Davis House, which was both rewarding and challenging.  We rejoiced in each other’s victories, and commiserated with difficulties.  Now it felt like family — people who know us, and we can talk with, and who care. 

During Spring 2007 we dropped down to seven, at least in class.  One of the men has a serious health issue, but he says he’s come too far in the program to give up now.  :-)  So we are still a cohort of eight.  Again, there were difficulties that drew us together, and as the semester became more stressful we listened to each other and provided that necessary safety valve. 

Tomorrow is graduation at HSU.  Five (or six?) of our cohort will be walking the walk out there under (probably) overcast skies, while two of us cheer wildly from the stands.  (We are not quite as far along on our theses as they are.)  Three of those walking are actually done with their theses (HOORAY!), and will be going on to additional education and/or work.  The other two or three will finish their theses and graduation requirements this Fall.  This Summer many of our cohort are traveling, but we have all agreed we want to get together again in the Fall.  We want to continue this peer group of people to share ideas and advice with.  We have already begun to miss each other.

To my cohort, my sincere thanks and affection.  I have learned from all of you, and will continue to hear your voices in my head twenty years from now.  (No, I’m not talking schizophrenia here.  :-)  )  You have enriched my life and my learning experience exponentially.  I appreciate each of you.