Namaste Healers,

First, I just want to say that I am loving the new participation on the site. It's really opening up the world here and making a difference! You inspire. Keep it up!

And if you are new to the tribe, WELCOME!

Now I would like to address some questions that have arisen out of the increased participation, in particular how to approach our language so that we both HOLD A SPACE FOR THE MOST EMPOWERED, FREED UP AND ENABLED HEALING EXPRESSION and not jeopardize the listening or send the wrong message to people who may be visiting the site for the first time.

Below I have listed some guidelines for holding a sacred space for HEALING AND FULL SELF-EXPRESSION:

1) Healers do not cure people or themselves. Healers HEAL. Meaning they engage in a PROCESS that may or may not alleviate certain symptoms, and this is not the ultimate goal. A healer simply seeks to express him/herself—fully in life—and recognizes symptoms of disease as signs, given by the body, to point to the source of blockages to this full self-expression. In other words: EVERYONE IS A "HEALER" through this simple understanding.

2) When referring to a substance that is not recognized as legal in all regions of the world, please be responsible for the listening and use creative code words or nicknames. Please try to steer clear of the names that have a lot of stigma attached to them. Understand that this is not because we discourage self-medication here. A healer respects the practices of other healers, and understands that when dealing with substance abuse an abusive relationship needs to be addressed. No substance is inherently bad or good, it's how we use it. And on the other side of this conversation, let's BE REAL! Many plant substances are literally under attack! And we have a responsibility as healers to come forward and claim our right to our Mother's gifts.

3) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY YOU PROMOTE OR PRESCRIBE A SUBSTANCE FOR A PARTICULAR DISEASE. We are not doctors here. And even if you are an MD, this is not the space to give medical advice. Instead, we are here to empower one another to make our own informed choices. Share your experience, share what you have witnessed (being careful about the conclusions you draw between certain disease NAMES and remedies), and do not hesitate to promote what has made a difference for you, while adhering to the PTH guidelines.

4) Keep your expression rated PG-13. Members must be at least 14 years old to join the community, so keep in mind that there may be some youthful eyes and minds interpreting your posts. This means less in regard to what are you discussing (young people can handle more than we often give them credit for) and means more in terms of your delivery. BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING MIGHT LAND WITH THE AUDIENCE. Don't think of this in terms of censorship; instead, think of it in terms of being a role model. And this leads right into number 5...

5) Don't just leave people with something depressing or shocking. I'm not talking about faking a "smile" here. As a healer: YOU ARE A LEADER IN YOUR WORLD OF HEALTH. And as a leader, one of your roles is to UPLIFT THOSE AROUND YOU. As a leader you take it upon yourself to leave the listening a step above where it was when you entered the space. This is accomplished through moving and inspiring the audience with expression and empowered way of being.

Suggestions for what this looks like...

• SHARING A REAL AND AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION
• SHARING A COMMITMENT TO HEALING
• ACKNOWLEDGING THE HEALING EXPRESSION OF ANOTHER AND SHARING WHAT YOU GOT
• SHARING A NEXT ACTION STEP OR PLAN OF ACTION IN REALIZING A MEASURABLE OUTCOME
  
• SHARING A STORY THAT DEMONSTRATES A TRIUMPH AND/OR ACHIEVED OUTCOME
• MAKING A REQUEST OR CALL TO ACTION FROM THE COMMUNITY (WHEN APPROPRIATE, THIS SHOULD START WITH ONE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED TYPES OF EXPRESSIONS)
  
• ...You'll know... listen for it!

Thank you in advance for loving these guidelines and creatively engaging with them in ways that actually SUPPORT and ENABLE your healing expression EVEN MORE! Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions! We are here.

Constant Healing!

Victoria Moon