Join the Dream
STAR Foundation Newsletter
Dear STAR Friends,
Since September 11, Americans have stepped back to evaluate their lives. Along with the steady diet of media fear, there have been many thoughtful interviews and much consideration of issues that are similar to many issues that come up in STAR. People are questioning what really matters to them. A large company in New York City asked for counseling—not for grief, but to help employees who were questioning their long working hours away from their children. A young woman, who lost her boyfriend and her brother, spoke of living her life in a context of love and not fear. Even Barbara Walters confessed to being “much more sentimental toward everybody.” Priorities are shifting. We are seeing more heart, more expression of feelings. In spite of all the bombing and all the deaths, or maybe because of them, there is more sensitivity to each other, more overt signs of caring.
Parallel to the horror, killings, fear, and grief is the emergence of the spirit and of heart energy.
On personal levels, in STAR we confront our internal terrors and demons. We mourn our individual losses, not the least of which is the loss of our authenticity; for some, the loss of their light, their P-l (Essence) spirit. Often it takes a personal crisis to push someone to seek help. When the challenge to change is embraced, hearts do open, and tragedies become bridges to more wholeness, to more light. People discover inner strength; they grow in wisdom and emerge out of their personal tragedies—just like New York City will.
Whether it is spoken of much, the essence of the STAR process is to open hearts and heal minds. The staff sometimes speak of it as “sacred” work. On that first opening night with introductions, readers tell the nervous participants that it is an honor for them to be at STAR. We know that the newly arrived, tired, and stressed group members are probably thinking things like, “Oh yeah, I’ll bet!” They do not yet know that we mean it. Our commitment to helping people one at a time is more needed now than before September 11. When there is a national crisis, earlier traumas may be triggered. Providing a safe environment and individual support to heal earlier pains and fears helps us to cope with present-time difficulties. STAR does this. Being able to breathe deeply and find an inner sanctuary where there is peace and guidance helps us to live more fully today. STAR provides time to find our sense of wholeness. Learning healthy ways to express our feelings frees us to laugh and love more, as well as grieve and find our genuine voices for speaking our truth and living in present time. STAR does that too. Not everyone who comes to STAR is ready, but for the courageous ones who are, participating gives them greater freedom to be all they can be.
It has been a difficult year economically and emotionally for all of us. More than ever, STAR is committed to reaching out to as many as we can. We will continue to quietly do our work of empowering people to let go of the restricting past in order to live their dreams. We know that transformation is possible; in fact, it is natural. We recognize that changing can mean taking some risks. We also know that to not grow and change means to be stuck, and to become emotionally and spiritually dead. Those of us who have worked in STAR for many years have learned to believe in miracles—they do happen! They happen in STAR.
In order for STAR to continue to grow and change, we also take some risks. We are constantly seeking more effective ways of helping our participants. We value our relationships with referring therapists, and are developing better ways of strengthening our communication links with them. We appreciate and welcome their feedback. In order for STAR to continue to expand, we are currently training a leadership team. We want to increase the number of groups we have and create supportive aftercare programs. We want to be able to respond more effectively to the needs of the larger community. Many STAR graduates see STAR as part of their community. We hold no meetings, have no dues, nothing to join. Membership is a matter of the heart; after all, that is what we are about.
“To see what is real, one must look with the heart”—wise words from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. He also said, “Grown-ups never understand anything great.”
John Lennon said, “They say I’m a dreamer...perhaps one day you’ll join me...” You all know the rest of the words (lyrics)—we hope you’ll join us.
Many blessings in 2002.
Love,
Barbara
