By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Are the generations evolving?

Who are these young people who are changing paradigms?

I’m technically part of the Baby Boomer generation. As teens and young adults many of us were called hippies. Though I was aware of hippies during my teen years and wore a few hippie-type outfits (although a true hippie would have scoffed), I know I was not a hippie. But I did agree with many of our generation’s mottos, particularly: “Question authority”, and “Make love, not war”. We were very proud of ourselves for seeing the world differently, and not bowing to the establishment’s pre-conceived notions. We really believed things would be different and that we were the ones to make that happen.

Fast-forward to the subsequent generations. The Center for Generational Kinetics believes that “generations are not cute stories or catchy memes, but groupings of people who help us to see them and the world differently – and more clearly. They make their mark on society and history.” According to the Center:

• Baby Boomers were born 1946-1964
• Gen X was born 1965 to 1976
• Millenials (also called Gen Y) are currently the largest group of employees and consumers and were born 1977 to 1995
• Gen Z was born 1996 to the present.This group is recognized by the fact that 9/11 has always been a memory to them.

Unfortunately, Gen Z seems to have another tragedy in common as well. As I listen to today’s children and teens, one key component of their life is that they all have been affected by the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School. These students’ school experiences have not only included annual tornado and fire drills, but intruder drills as well.

WHEN CONVENTION MEETS METAPHYSICS

Since the Millenials are identified as the largest group born to the previously largest population – the Baby Boomers, it seems apparent to me now that many of those hippies of generations past were likely the early waves of Indigos (see box for additional information).

I have been referring to the amazing students who organized the March for Our Lives as Indigos. I now believe that this name is not sufficient for this amazing group of youth. This new group has the same compassion and empathy as the Crystals (see box), coupled with the fire of the Indigos, and the desire for societal change that was initiated by the hippies. This new group also has stamina, persistence, and of no minimal importance, a superb ability to connect with each other. They are the full package, and they are getting it done!

An example: I spoke with an 8th grader (from Connecticut) in Washington DC the day after the March For Our Lives. We were all in line to visit the Holocaust Museum in DC. We noticed in conversation that she demonstrated maturity far greater than her years (we assumed she was a high school senior or early college student). She was eloquent, articulate, and passionate. She told us: You think my generation just sits on our phones, but we use these phones to connect with each other and to communicate. This is why in only 40 days there were 800+sister marches across the US and the world, including the continents Canada, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Those numbers speak to the ability of social media and the power of these kids.

A further example is her explanation of why she was in line to enter the Holocaust Museum. Although only 14, she realizes that those with first hand memories and knowledge of the Holocaust are nearly gone. She has decided that she should experience the knowledge so that the lessons are not forgotten!

This was not the only type of communication that was happening. I felt it at the march, and I’ve talked to others who participated in various marches, or who watched them on TV. We could feel the palpable connections that were being made between each of us, and with the speakers. We were each connecting to each other around a common theme. We were experiencing Oneness – across a crowd, across the airwaves of television, across hundreds of thousands of people, and across vast distances.

EMBRACE CHANGE

The oneness that we experienced at the march is just one example of what these Star Children (see box) can offer us. There is no coincidence that many of these kids’ grandparents are the baby boomers, creating a generational bookend for these amazing children. We thought WE invented the word change. Seems that THEY are the change we have been waiting for.

And with this recognition comes the potential for a new way of looking at this amazing young generation. Many of the current paradigms and systems that we have may actually be inappropriate for them. For instance, I’ve noticed when working with the children who have Crystal characteristics that the trends of parenting and guidance seem different. The parents’ and teachers’ roles have traditionally been to teach the kids in the ways of the world, but things seem different with this new generation. They have a much stronger sense of self. They are not afraid to have a different opinion as if they know its importance in creating change. As I work with families I observe how the children and teens are frequently teaching the parents a new way of being, of understanding, and of relating.

Be cognizant that it might be time for teachers and parents to take on new roles. I often tell kids that they (the child) have very important information, and new methods of inter-relating. Yet their parents know best the ways of “this” world and “this” society. The kids are here to create and guide us through massive changes, while adults can mentor the youth to navigate the existing currents.

A new shift may be at hand. If the adults sitting in power positions aren’t going to adequately help our youth to navigate our society towards the changes that they are here to develop (peace, oneness, compassion, etc) then they will go around us. The kids seem to have the stamina to play the long game, though it needn’t take long. The process may feel harder for adults who traditionally practice resistance to change. So please, if you are a baby boomer (or member of any other generation) I encourage you to embrace the change that is upon us with the memory that THESE CHANGES ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED!

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Doreen Virtue, a teacher of metaphysics, has identified the following groups:

• Indigos, born 1975 to 1995, have a masculine energy, with warrior traits of willfulness and natural leadership. They are often sensitive to chemicals, including their own body chemistry. Because of their anger and angst, they need outlets for their great energy, and often result in an ADHD diagnosis. As a group they hope to rid the planet of corruption and greed, and usher in cooperation and integrity. I describe them this way: I know I’m here for a purpose. I know that the way we treat each other and our Earth is supposed to change. I’m tired of waiting. Let’s get on with it!
• Crystals, born 1995 to 2015, have a feminine energy – calm, sweet, and quiet. They are often so quiet that they are diagnosed with autism or Aspergers. Crystals prefer to communicate telepathically or through music to convey their deep and complex feelings. They are often even more sensitive to chemicals than Indigos.
• Rainbows, born 2012 and later, have a perfectly balanced male and female energy. They are wise and serene with a greater recognition of the collective consciousness. Like indigos and crystals, they are psychic and can read people’s feelings. Whatever loving thoughts, feelings, and actions are sent to them are magnified and returned a hundred-fold.
• The term Star Children can cumulatively describe all these types of children, and can also refer to those who sense a connection to other worlds. Star Children are seen as having the abilities to tackle issues in non-traditional and unconventional ways. Their skills often include: telepathy, pre-cognition, telekinesis, remote viewing, intuition, energy healing, and channeling.

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Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield, MI. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties, work or school related anxiety, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders, and those who wish to Remember and Become ‘Who You Really Are’. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www.SpiralWisdom.net for more information.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Understand Reiki and the other forms of energy healing

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Energy Healing is part of a larger field called Energy Medicine. It involves the conscious use of the healer’s energy field to affect the energy field of the healed. Energy healing includes Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Quantum Touch, Healing Touch, and Jin Shin Jyutsu. There are other types as well, including Eric Pearl’s The Reconnection and the Danis Bois Method. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive.

Energy, also known as chi, prana, or the universal life energy, flows within you along meridians (the pathways most commonly used by acupuncturists), and within the chakras (the energy centers of the body – which will be discussed in an article later this year). Energy can also be seen and felt in the energy field around your body (sometimes referred to as the aura).

When I taught a meditation and energy exploration class, I helped my students to better understand the concept of energy with this simple exercise:

Place your palms together. Now separate them just slightly enough so that they do not touch. Feel the sensation between your palms. You might sense heat, vibration or a buzzy sensation. Seek to feel what you sense. Now pull your palms slowly apart. Pay attention to the sensations between your palms. Does it change? When does the sensation stop? At that point, slowly move your palms once again toward one another, while focusing on the changing sensations. What you are experiencing is the sensation of energy.

When you can feel the energy between your palms, you might try the following:

Ask your friend to lie on a couch or floor while you slowly move your hand from their head down to their toes. The goal is to not touch the body, but rather to scan the body, very slowly, several inches above the person’s clothing. The goal is not to assess for normal or abnormal, but rather to experience the differences in energy sensations. Attend to differences in heat or other sensations as you scan the body. Then switch with your partner so that they can try. While they do so, you might lie quietly, or you can close your eyes and see if you can feel the heat or energy of your friend’s hand that is scanning you.

You can also play with energy with this more advanced exercise:

Use your breath and intention to build a ball of energy between your hands, and then grow it larger. Once it has expanded between your hands, have a friend palpate the edges. They can also place their hand through the center exploring the different sensations of perimeter and interior. You might also try passing the energy ball from one to the other, or even throwing it between you.

Energy healers sense the energy that these exercises are helping you to feel. Some healers are so sufficiently attuned, they can distinguish the internal layers of the body, distinguishing organs or systems in addition to the etheric layers that are located off the body. Additionally, the healer’s training allows them to move the chi (energy) and guide it to re-achieve balance. When the chi is locked or stagnant, its ease is disturbed, potentially creating dis-ease (disease).

Incidentally, using the hands is not always required and healings can be provided with the individual present or not. This latter is called distant or remote healing. To understand this concept, think of this paraphrased metaphor that Deepak Chopra used in an interview:

Understanding remote or distant healing is easier to understand with cell phone use. We don’t think twice of recognizing that a phone call can be placed in Detroit, instantly allowing communication with another wireless phone in New York, or even Europe. We accept that our voices, and even our pictures and images can travel through walls, buildings, and across thousands of miles, instantly. With this recognition, we can also accept that a trained individual can work with another’s energy, even over distances.

Energy healing is an important consideration when addressing resistance, trauma, or dis-ease in your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual bodies. It’s an effective way to release the subtle layers, or to support your body during more conventional treatments. There are many modalities and practitioners available to you. Energy healing can help you once again experience who you really are.

Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield, MI. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties; work or school related anxiety; ADHD; Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders; and those who wish to Remember and Become Who You Really Are. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www. SpiralWisdom.net for more information. 

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Help your child to worry less and feel relaxed.

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Kids today have full schedules: school, athletics, family time, and extra-curricular and other activities. Busy kids respond to their hectic lives the same way that adults do: sleep is impacted, proper nutrition ignored, and kids feel generally overwhelmed. Hectic schedules also minimize quiet times that are imperative for development and well-being.

I recently heard a police officer on the radio describing how he takes care of business: he avoids emotion so that he can respond effectively to crises, save people and keep himself protected. Is this the effect that busy schedules have on your child? Your child may move from crisis to crisis (appointments, homework, studying, keeping family and friends happy) and without even realizing, shut down feelings. You may need to guide your child to find the opportunities to open his or her heart, feel emotions and attain inner peace.

If your child also struggles with low self-esteem or perfectionist tendencies, there is an additional subconscious tendency to avoid inner feelings and thoughts. Taking care of business and busyness seem preferable to avoid focusing on the underlying emotions and negative internal messages.

It is important that your child not be constantly focused on activities outside of the self. When your child takes the time to be inwardly aware, then s/he can maintain an open heart, allow emotions, and recognize and develop the authentic self. Teach your children the following skills: 

Change Thought Patterns

The situation and its accompanying feelings are challenging enough; minimize suffering by responding only to what is.

Einstein said we can’t solve a problem with the same set of information that got us there. Encourage your child to share thoughts so s/he can be advised where they might be inaccurate. FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.

Sharing thoughts aloud brings them into perspective and reveals inaccuracies, giving them less power over your child.

Release the worry thoughts for a more appropriate time. If it’s time to learn, take a quiz/test, study or sleep then worrying is a hindrance. With imagination, place the worry thoughts in a hot air balloon, an elevator, a drawer, etc. For this to work, retrieve these worry thoughts at a later time: after school, the next day, in counseling, or with a trusted adult; limit the worry time to a specific time frame, i.e.: 15 minutes.

Stay in the Present

Focus on activities, like chores, as they occur rather than multi-tasking. When walking, be mindful of the footsteps rather than the thoughts.

Focus on the movement of the chest and abdomen with each inhalation and exhalation. The breath is always there; while focusing on breathing, worries are kept at bay.

Relax

Drop the shoulders away from the ears during some exhalations.

Beginning at the feet or head, progress slowly through each body part. “I relax my toes and feet, I relax my ankles and calves….” If your child gets distracted and realizes the mind is wandering again, have them acknowledge without judgment and draw the awareness back to the breath; then begin the relaxation again (even if the progression was nearly complete). Remind your child that this is not a contest or a race; the process is important.

Open the Energy Channels

When emotions are avoided or ineffectively expressed they can create blockages in the body and lead to dis-ease.

Move the body: walk, pace, change position; allow music to direct the body’s movement.

Participate in yoga, tai chi, cranial sacral therapy, acupuncture, Reiki, EFT, etc.

Where possible, remove the triggers and challenges in your child’s life to reduce stress and worry. Teach your child that when the outer world cannot be adjusted, s/he can alter the inner response. The tools listed above can assist in that process. Begin teaching these tools to your child at a young age if possible; yet, it is never too late to learn.

Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties; work or school related anxiety; ADHD; Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders; and those who wish to Remember and Become Who You Really Are. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www. SpiralWisdom.net for more information.