There is a fresh light beckoning,
breaking,
brimming with integrity.
It stands there.
I stand here.
Steadfastly still.
Burning at the foot of my solitary gill
I sing sweet songs of empathy.
And she knows where to turn when the lights dim,
Down and in
To tap the nectar from urchin fin.
This kind of…
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This week has been one of manifesting intentions.
Yesterday morning began as any other here on the compound. The mountain summits rose majestically unabashed by gathering clouds. The dogs scurried to my door and I exited my casa to make my morning coffee. The Women of Maras began to arrive shortly before nine…
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It’s been raining. I am wet up to my knees. Cold and overcast. I am already primed with fear because I saw a black bear on the side of the road on my way here. Sure enough, a few minutes into the bush and there is fresh bear spore... less than a day old, I’d say. I retrace my steps…
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Life purpose and vocation; I sometimes wonder how they are related.
Sometimes I hear life purpose described simply and clearly, like this quote from notetoselfphilosophy.com:
Note to Self:
“What is my purpose in life?” I asked the void.
“What if I told you that you fulfilled it when you took an extra hour to talk…
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In the spring of 2014, I took "Archetypal Psychology" with Heather Wulfers at Southwestern College. I was a bit intimidated about taking this class. Of all the classes I'd taken at Southwestern, this was the subject I'd had the least experience with, and I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I had a feeling this…
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A simple question. What is astrology?
I would say astrology is a way to live in connection with natural cycles of time. It is also the correlation, “as above, so below.” We are a part of a connected universe and it’s cycles. For thousands of years, people have been making correlations to the happenings…
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by Amy Hautman Bates
We talk a lot about language at SWC. What are you saying? What do you really mean? This careful attention to words is part of the school’s mission of “Transforming Consciousness Through Education.” And in a way, transforming education through consciousness.
A huge step in gaining self-awareness is hearing what is…
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By Ruth Dennis
Years ago, I saw a line that art can save your life. At the time, I just thought it was another artist being arrogant. The art world seemed disappointing and trivial when looking at the problems that I saw everyday in the neighborhood I was living in at the time, homelessness, addiction,…
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This year for Winter Capstone 2023, we had nineteen students and five new murals; there was the opportunity to participate via distance as well as on ground in unique and ingenious ways. Students were asked to consider how they would like to participate and ways in which they would like to integrate the ideas of…
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For Halloween, you will likely dress up. You will show the community a side of yourself they rarely, if ever, see. You will express your inner dimensionality with such verocity. You will adorn yourself, enticing the community to see something so very true about you and yet usually hidden from view. Ok, how many times…
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Food and Consciousness
Ah, October, one of my favorite seasons in Santa Fe, time to make my first apple pie of the season, and look forward to homemade muffins and breads, and the upcoming holidays. But this fall is different. I recently received a diagnosis of diabetes, which runs in our family. Actually, I was…
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Graduation Year - 2009
Rachel Zavarella, MA
Starting in July 2010, I am moving to the bay area in California to work at The Creekside School. I will be working toward hours for LPCC and ATR licensure in addition to being trained as a DIR/Floortime therapist. The Creekside School is a private school for children…
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Adjusting to Southwestern College and New Mexico
It’s challenging to express what my experience adjusting to Southwestern College and Santa Fe has been like. Finding ways to describe how magical, fulfilling, and painful it has been almost seems impossible. I arrived in Santa Fe from Oregon in August and I had almost two months…
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The office of Financial Aid would like to thank all veteran for their service and welcomes you and your eligible dependents and spouses to Southwestern College.
Applying for VA Benefits
Choosing a Program
You may qualify for more than one type of VA education benefit. Since applying for a certain education benefit could affect your…
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What is Delinquency?
A loan is delinquent when loan payments are not received by the due dates. A loan remains delinquent until the borrower makes up the missed payment(s) through payment, or by requesting to have their loans moved to a deferment or forbearance status.
Timeline of Federal Student Loan Delinquency:
15 to 30 Days Past…
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by Deb Schroder
If car designers only knew what art therapists truly need (not that we’re a big enough group to be listened to by the auto industry). We turn our mediocre, ordinary car trunks into Mobile Metaphor Containment Units – we drive around with art pieces stashed in the only container that exists in…
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Technology, particularly device and computer apps, is a wiz-bang fabulous time saver to help you get your grad school life sorted and into maintenance mode. Plus, the entire campus is wired, which means you have access to your SWC email, and the world wide web, from any device while at school.
Being an über organized…
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Reflection Option #3: A Letter to My Teacher--By Colleen Dougherty
Dr. Carol Parker, Ph.D, LPCC
Southwestern College, Santa Fe, NM
Dec. 3, 2012
Dear Carol,
I am writing to tell you about my experiences so far in the AmeriCorps program called OARS-Opportunities in AmeriCorps for Re-entry Success. This program exists in four of New…
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By Amy Hautman Bates
I just reread Tolle's The Power of Now for Katherine Ninos' Consciousness I class. It has been ten years since I first picked up Tolle's book and I was struck by how much clearer it seemed this time around. I think I used to be trying too hard to "get it." …
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<-- 2010 2012 -->
Alex (Pschorr) Calhoun , LMHC I completed my internship in Albuquerque, NM as part of the Southwest Family Guidance Center and Institute’s Suicide Assessment Team. I must say that 2011 was a big year for me! In 2012, I find myself graduated and happily married. Currently, I am…
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A Blog on Grief and Loss, from Ted Wiard
Dear Ted,
What is the difference between grief and trauma? Sincerely, Just Interested
Dear Interested:
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, grief and trauma are common topics in our world today. Grief is the natural emotional process of healing after a loss that allows the intensity…
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by Megan Sturges, © 2012
My practice in the studio is about giving life to the unconscious image in specific form through my hands and eyes – bringing it into this world of color and form through the embodied sense of yes or no, here or there, connecting, separating, line, shape, object, pattern. Like dreams,…
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As soon as I hit Maras pavement, I emailed Puma of Chinchero. He was the Shaman that my professor, Carol Parker, had recommended. His email response was immediate. He had time for me on Thursday, November 21, just four days back from my pilgrimage to Pomacanchi.
The owl visitations from the citing of…
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Southwestern College Santa Fe, NM