Quoting Gary Holthaus

I am still busy working on the curriculum guide- the sample lesson will be ready for me to email out soon (waiting on some illustrations).

I am intrigued by Gary Holthaus's book, Learning Native Wisdom: What Traditional Cultures Teach Us about Subsistence, Sustainability, and Spirituality. It is delightful. One of my favorite quotes so far shows our so-called modern schooling methods in comparison to those education methods used successfully for 15,000 years...

"Their [American Indian Peoples] methods [of education] apparently leaned toward observation of elders, cooperation, mentoring and coaching, letting a child try something, more or less privately, until he was ready to reveal his skill. Beyond those essentials there was the use of stories, songs, and dances. In nonnative American culture, especially since the movement toward consolidation, which took away older students' opportunity to mentor younger ones, methods have leaned toward individual effort, rote, competition , frequent testing, and display of knowledge, all in a system where songs, dances, and stories are often viewed as add-ons or frills."

Hmmm....

Terrific Insight

"When you open yourself to the wisdom of nature, you will find healing and renewal in the midst of a crazy world. Through deep listening, you will find your own soul". from Clea Danaan's book Voices of the Earth: The Path of Green Spirituality

Sacred Schooling didn't make it to Round 2

Well, we're not in the top 250. The contest continues, so please check out the other authors who made it to round 2 and show your support....
http://www.nexttopauthor.com/round2.cfm

This isn't the end for Sacred Schooling. I'll continue on and will bring this message forth. Thanks again for all the love and support.

Last Day to vote for Sacred Schooling is MONDAY

Round One for the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest ends tomorrow. If you haven't voted and still would like to, please do! Thanks so much for all the support!

Enjoyable quote

"Cleaning the house before your kids are done growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." Phyllis Diller

Assessment for the contest

Part of the Next Top Spiritual Author is assessment of another contestant. I enjoyed the book pitch by the author selected for me. Her name is Rev. Cindy Paulos. Here's a link to her book....
http://putalittlelightinyourlife.com/

I am feeling the love!

I was feeling a bit low and "down and out". But recently my vibration is much higher! I am full of gratitude for all the kind words I see daily in emails and for the support of those around me. Thanks so much! I am happy to say that my 14 year old Daughter is my biggest fan. She is an amazing child! I couldn't do this without her encouragement. It fills me with motivation that this guide is so necessary and wanted. Love and hugs to all!

Keep spreading the word!

The latest numbers came up yesterday on votes for the Next Top Spiritual Author contest. Sacred Schooling is no longer in the top 150. Sigh. Let's get the momentum rolling again. If you find time to just send this blog link to someone, I will be so grateful! Sacred Schooling must be in the top 250 to move to round 2. Thanks again for all the lovely emails and thoughts.

These words hit home today

from Neale Donald Walsch...

On this day of your life I believe God wants you to know...

..that a new world is upon you and all peoples of the earth. A different tomorrow awaits.

Nothing is going to be the way it was before. Not your finances, not your politics, not your work life, not your relationships, not the way you experience your spirituality -- all of it is changing...and going to continue to change.

The only question remaining: Will you be part author of those continuing changes, or merely one who is impacted by them?

This video is so lovely... These are the children of the new humanity!

"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"

Isn't that from "Star Search"? I found myself thinking these words a lot lately. Entering a contest is a very emotional experience. Being "judged" is not a welcome event with me. But I suppose I'm not really judged- it's more that support is being directed my way. I feel the support coming. It feels good.

On a different note, I've been thinking about that above quote because of some words I read from Brenda Davies,M.D. book The Seven Healing Chakras....
"So many people who embark on spiritual work forget this [to remain rooted] and come so cut off from their lower chakras that they have an airy fairy feeling around them that not only robs them of the security of their root chakra, leaving them open and vulnerable, but also does untold harm to the whole healing and complementary medicine movement. Beware of those who seem to be floating around on some higher plane. Those who are really in touch spiritually are very human and ordinary, albeit in an extraordinary way."

These words ring true for me because I for a long while I stayed away from jumping in with my idea for this book with both feet because I had a thought that I'd be judged as "airy fairy". Perhaps there are some out there who believe I'm off my rocker. Perhaps there are those who want to endorse my book but are afraid they will be judged as "airy fairy". I believe being a messenger for our new humanity is to finally bring Sacred Schooling and personal spirituality in to the main stream. Just as buying "organic" used to be for the "hippies" and "crunchies", so too will meditation and unlocking energy centers labeled "new age nonsense" also pass.

I highly recommend we all "Keep your feet on the ground [keep a secure root chakra] and keep reaching for the stars [your higher self]".

Sacred Schooling makes the top 150!!!

I received an update email last night from the Next Top Spiritual Author that we are in the top 150! We need to continue to stay in the top 250 to move on to round 2 on May 3. Thanks so much for all the support! Let's keep the momentum going!

Home-churched

I have found in my homeschooling path that there are many church- associated homeschooled groups. I am a true believer that everyone is drawn to their own way of expressing and finding spirituality- no matter what religion. Our family's spirituality is expressed without a brick and mortar church. I have come up with a response to the "what church do you belong to" question that answers that in one hyphenated word: HOME-CHURCHED. Works for us!

My Inspirations

Today I put out some pins and a doll for my children to learn about and practice acupuncture. My 20 month old loved the idea though she really didn't copy the meridian points from the book. Soon enough all 4 of my youngest children were taking turns putting the pins in to the points shown in the pictures of a Traditional Chinese Medicine guidebook. They were correcting each other- "no not there, over further". I didn't realize how interesting it would be to them. I have another lesson idea for my Curriculum Guide!

Describe your Children of the New Humanity

Parents, grandparents, teachers and all who love children, you have noticed that your child is indeed unique and part of our new humanity. Here is a place to share your stories or to just read about other children who are described "just like" your child. My goal is to have a way for all of us to connect and share and help each other bring forth the talents, skills and interests of our new humanity without fear and surrounded by support and love. Feel free to describe how your child is a part of the new humanity. As more parents read about other children and how similar they are to their own, perhaps the labels and fears of ADHD, Autistic, Troubled, etc. will begin to disappear.

Slide Show Presentation

Book Description

Sacred Schooling is a week by week spiritual curriculum guide and handbook for homeschoolers or as a supplement for those in formal schools. Sacred Schooling is based on soul level learning. Our children need to become connected to themselves on a soul level before they can work as a collective to bring forth an enlightened society. There will be a year's worth of captivating lessons that can easily be adapted for all ages and levels. The handbook gives simple descriptions of topics such as "Understanding Chakras" for those new in their spiritual journey. Sacred Schooling is not connected with any religion. The religions of the world have had great masters, leaders and followers; the reoccurring theme among them is to have introspection in order to create love among ourselves and humanity. Sacred Schooling is the Curriculum Guide the world and our new humanity has been waiting for.

Text of the pitch for my book, Sacred Schooling

Hi, I am Amy DeArmas and I invite you to create your bridge. What is a bridge? A bridge is your connection between your physical self and your spiritual self, and with my guide, Sacred Schooling, you and your child will learn how to create your own bridges and far more. The purpose of writing this guide is to create a source full of activities, games and routines useful for absorbing individual spirituality into our daily lives.
Sacred Schooling: A Curriculum Guide for our New Humanity is for all ages, and lessons can be easily adapted to your child’s maturity level and needs. The parent/mentor will use the activities, games and routines to be the inspiration and example our children crave. Children are our new humanity- and our current public school, private school, and many homeschooling practices are not enough for our special children.
As a former secondary public school teacher who also wrote county curriculum, I am qualified for writing lessons. However it is my passion for spiritual growth through constant reading of our exceptional new age authors and openness to the inspirations that surround me daily by simply observing my five homeschooled children that bring forth my true credentials.
Sacred Schooling is a unique supplement for any student to use and re-use yearly. As a well worn nature guide shows you what is in the wilderness or forest you are exploring, Sacred Schooling will be filled with ways to search inward toward exploring oneself. The simple step by step projects and lessons within the guide will allow even those new on their spiritual journey to follow along and fulfill the suggestions. The use of photos or drawings will help bring topics to life and allow the imagination to prosper.
This one of a kind guide will take the reader on a journey through our human senses to remind us how to be spiritual. Insight into our spirituality as human beings is peppered throughout the world with cultures and societies that were and remain spiritual today. It’s time to bring these bridges back to connect our physical to our spiritual selves.
The methods of connection to our spirit in this guide have been field tested for thousands of years. The reader will be able to have these references all compiled and at his or her fingertips to mentor their children the way spiritual cultures of the past have done and continue to do with ease.

Many children are born with special gifts. While to some seeing auras, feeling chakras, being telepathic and other abilities seem impossible, to others it second nature. With this guide, adults as well as children can learn to become more spiritual while learning about these topics and perhaps awaken gifts that would otherwise remain dormant. How wonderful will it be for our children to understand the importance of mediation, and other practices and apply these methods daily and improve yearly.
We have much to learn about ourselves by looking inward. There are great voices and masters; and the reoccurring theme among their message is introspection in order to create love among ourselves and humanity. This guide brings this message of love; building our connection-our bridge- to our higher and spiritual selves to encourage this introspection and realize we are all from the same source.
Our children and all readers will come alive as we quench the thirst of our souls with Sacred Schooling. Time will be well spent reconnecting to our lost spiritualities. The effortless activity of sitting quietly bonding with the sounds around you to find the stillness within will be not only a personal benefit but one for all of our society.
The word about Sacred Schooling will be shouted as our humanity craves this personal spiritual knowledge. The appeal to parents, teachers, children and anyone who wants to revive this relationship with one’s spiritual self will encourage our new humanity worldwide to read and assimilate the personal knowledge guided from this book and take up their torch and light the path for those who eagerly await their leadership. The benefits of spiritual growth will be felt and experienced daily with the activities, games and routines and is a must in today’s society.
I believe we are on the verge of a more spiritual and sacred world. There is no doubt that the children of today are a new humanity. Our current schooling methods are falling short for these children. Sacred Schooling is the missing piece of the puzzle. The children need things to change- for the better of our entire planet. These children are here for a reason. We will not fail them or their purpose. Therefore, Sacred Schooling must and will be published.
I am committed to my book and will spread the message of Sacred Schooling and convey my passion for this essential guide. I believe Sacred Schooling will spread throughout the community. Groups will embrace this new approach to ancient ideology and incorporate it into their lives. There are many ways to link with these communities and as a 15 year homeschooling veteran; I will be able to exhaust all my familiar avenues to spread the word. I will also create a Sacred Schooling Website to allow those who are looking for such a curriculum to find it through an internet search and interact and share with others around the world. The word about Sacred Schooling will expand quickly and with such passion it will indeed create continual enthusiasm. I hope the first eager word comes from you.
Thank you for listening to my vision for Sacred Schooling. I ask you to help me bring Sacred Schooling to the world by voting for me and I share my appreciation with you.