In this issue you will find:
A Challenge about Letting Go
Exciting News about PWS
Book Reviews—Two Awesome books for summer reading

FROM THE EDITOR--
Dear friends,
The latest issue of our hard-copy magazine is on its way to a new printer in Michigan. It will arrive to your door, if you are a subscriber, by the end of July. So this e-zine is being sent out now to give you some inspiration in the interim and to share our exciting news. In this e-zine we share with you some great new books and some thoughts on truly living with Wholeness.

As I write this, I realize how challenging it is to find peace, and balance as a parent. This morning our three-year-old daughter stuck a bead up her nose. My husband, who always carries his cell phone forgot it today, so we didn’t have his steadying wisdom. The bead was up far enough in Brigit’s nose that I couldn’t get it to budge. So we headed for the emergency room. That turned out OK but then our out-of-town company, who we’ve been expecting for two days, STILL didn’t arrive and the children were restless. We made new plans and postponed work projects as daytime grew into night. Now the company is here and the work needs doing at the same time. How is it life gets so complicated? Fortunately, I live with a guru. Jurgen Haver has studied world religions carefully over the past fifty years. He has learned to control his emotions, to center himself and to find the flow of Oneness no matter what the circumstances. Today he went about singing cheerful songs in his off-key voice. He lets go of the “problems” –the negativity. He works in harmony with the Universe by not fighting the river.

So, I’m learning. I’m working to find that kind of balance. Meanwhile I meditate, read and watch the children. One day at a time I inch forward towards being able to do what Jurgen does.

Blessings to you dear readers. We are grateful you are out there—reading these words. Let us know what you think. We look forward to hearing from you.

Judith Costello

A LESSON about WHOLENESS
--recorded by Judith, PWS
Many of us puzzle over how to live in harmony with the Universe when daily life seems so complex and chaotic. How do we see the Big Picture when we are trapped by the pulls of children, a household and money issues? Raising children is the MOST complex job in the modern world. There is no other profession that asks you to become an instant expert on nutrition, medicine, education, spirituality—with all of the complexities each of these fields entails. But how else can we provide the best for our children? The information on Chinese medicine, herbs, mind/body connection, allopathic medicine, reiki and body work, a Waldorf education vs. Montessori or other alternatives…the list of questions and information is endless.

Jurgen Haver has studied and lived a lifetime of spiritual practice. In his later years he has forsaken “retirement” in order to challenge himself once again by becoming my partner/husband in raising two small children! It is the act of a madman or a saint. I know Jurgen to be a saint! With his support I am learning to slow down the voices which say, “What now? Decide. Why don’t you have an answer?” in order to listen for a deeper wisdom about what is essential for me, for the children and for the benefit of the Planet. I am still learning and listening.

Recently Jurgen shared with me this life lesson:

--Let’s talk about what it means to “Let go and Let God.”
To say “Let go and let God” is often an indication of separation. To let go of the ego self is certainly what we want to do, but most people repeating this phrase mean, “God, who is outside me, knows better than I know and I now want things fixed. So please God fix it.”

What we really need to do is tune in to God so that God can work through us. We “let go” of our ego and become one with God. We empty ourselves of the ego and of the chaos of the here and now. In the silence God enters. Then we do what needs to be done; we act in the world as God/ on behalf of God/ in harmony with God.

Anytime we try to tell God what to do by visualizing what we want God to send to us—we are living out our separation. Anytime we try to ask God for things—we are living out our separation. Anytime we look to the God” out there,” or we deny the God presence in others—we are living out our separation.

The hidden truth of the Universe is we are all One/ we are not separate from God. God can and will work through us and become an active force in the world only in as much as we “let go of the Ego and invite God to use us.” We open to the Oneness that is already there. We become one with God who is already one with us! --JH

PWS News!
Affiliate Chapters
We have become sending out “Start-up Kits” for those who want to find support in parenting with the philosophy of this magazine. The PWS Affiliate Chapter kit includes a 60-minute audio tape, a folder on “Getting Started,” a manual on “Group Process,” lots of inspirational articles and discussion questions and eight-months of follow-up material. Order today for $58.65. Write to: PWS, PO Box 1356, Taos, NM 87571.

Now available through Amazon.com
Parenting with Spirit can now be ordered through Amazon.com’s magazine listing. Just go to the Amazon site and type in our name—Parenting with Spirit. While you’re viewing us there please write a review and tell others how much you appreciate our work. And tell your friends—ordering PWS is getting easier and easier. Order through Amazon or through our website at
www.parentingwithspirit.com


Parenting with Spirit on the Radio
Parenting with Spirit editors can now be heard answering letters and discussing current parenting issues on the radio. KRZA, 88.7, a public radio station out of Alamosa, Colorado is now carrying this program. If your local public radio station would be interested in offering a program of thoughtful and challenging insights for today’s families, have them contact Parenting with Spirit at 505-751-4952.

Photo by John Costello

BOOK REVIEWS Summer is a time to read so here are two great recommendations…the first is a fantasy that can be enjoyed by anyone from age 10 up. The second is written by a therapist and is helpful for understanding life, communication with the inner self and relationships.

The Beejum Book by Alice O. Howell, For ages 10-Adult, a new release from Bell Pond Books ( to order toll free call 800-856-8664)
This is a playful, Alice-in-Wonderland kind of book about a girl who lives in two “Bubbles.” As she travels around the world with different nannies and occasionally with her parents she learns how to say “goodbye” more easily because a great Sufi teachers shows her a secret—the Light is the same in every person…every goodbye leads to new hellos while the light is ever present. The main character is a young girl named Teak who has a very real other Bubble and in this place she is playfully encouraged to look at her “Gimmie self” and to face her shadow. In this other world, Teak learns powerful spiritual lessons. Characters such as Sobkin the Supersensitive and the wise Gezeebius who rides around on the Cloud of Unknowing are just a few of her teachers.
The author of The Beejum Book is an eighty-year-old grandmother and retired Jungian therapist who developed this fantasy world as she herself traveled around the world as a lonely child. Alice draws on archetypal psychology and spiritual literature to guide, instruct, and entertain her listeners. The result is an intriguing, deeply meaningful story that both young and old will enjoy. The book has humor, great images and incredible depth.
Figg Newton is one of the books characters. He is a great scholar in the land of the Beejums, and tells Teak his life story…he craved all knowledge and read every book he could acquire. Yet the more he knew the less he saw of life. When he realizes he is missing something crucial about the experience of life he turns to religions. In that study Figg is aghast that all spiritual teachers say there is One Way to the One. The followers of these teachers fight to prove their way. Only after a long life does Figg learn that “All those Teachers were right in that there is only one way. But the key is that they had found it within themselves. Teak, all human being are alike in what they are given inside…the teachers meant there is only one way how. It’s the ‘wheres’ and ‘whats’ that are all different.”
This book offers to challenge readers to think in new ways. I suspect young readers will find it playful yet a challenge, while adult readers will relish the many twists and layers to this book.
“But just remember that nonsense is every bit as important as sense because sometimes it’s the last resort to help people come to their senses!” says Lonesome, the rabbit who is the Ambassador-without-portfolio of Beejumstan.

Zen Miracles: Finding Peace in an Insane World by Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.D., released in April.
In this book psychotherapist Brenda Shoshanna shares what she has learned about how a Zen practice both challenges and informs her work. Brenda offers gentle guidance in how to release stress, confusion, loneliness and anger by using mindfulness.
“Ultimately, it’s not the why that counts, (when challenging things happen in our lives) but how one is going to be with all that happens. When one stays fully in the middle of experience, the answers come all by themselves…Most of our lives consists of asking for a lot. Real joy and contentment comes, however, when we are not filled with craving. Instead of asking to be filled, we ask to be used.”
“Zen Miracles” includes stories, koans (Zen puzzles we are asked to consider deeply) and action steps to integrate the lessons of this book. Brenda challenges us to let go of fantasies, expectations, fears and anticipation so we can be fully present to life. This is a deeply thoughtful book, well worth reading.