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• Our Malibu

Happy official new century! It seems like an ideal time to clarify intent with questions such as, “What qualities in my personality do I want to enhance?” “What changes do I want to make in my life?” “What new goals am I ready to take on?” “How can I be more caring and compassionate?” “How can I bring more joy into my life?”

Are you ready to make some New Year’s resolutions -- New Century’s resolutions? The questions above are some I’ve been asking myself. Although we shouldn’t need a new year to focus our intent, it does serve as a symbolic starting place and ideal time for self-examination.

I'm writing this column between Christmas and New Years. Richard and I are hiding away in Lake Arrowhead, taking a week off to rest, read, research, exercise, and learn to give each other Shiatsu massages. Each massage takes about 90 minutes, and although a bit clumsy at first, by the end of the week we're becoming fairly smooth. And what a delightful gift for one person to give to another.

Richard, Tara, Jim Hagopian, and Richard Christian Matheson. December 2000.

After attending a large New Year's party last year, we decided to spend this year's eve, just the two of us, in the mountains, painting -- a favorite activity, we seldom find enough time to enjoy. (I probably shouldn't mention we do this nude.) Years ago, Richard won best of show awards for his paintings in art shows ranging from the Minneapolis Art Institute to New York City competitions. And I regularly encourage him to break out his brushes. Then when midnight rolled around, we did a meditation and candle ritual, which ended with burning our written 2001 wishes and resolutions in the fireplace. For us, this helps clarify intent and direct our energy positively.

We had a warm, wonderful traditional Christmas in Malibu with the children, extended family and close friends gathered. Our son William has returned home from Boston to go to art school in Los Angeles. As I previously reported, Richard staunchly predicted he'd be back by late summer. Even when that didn't happen, he'd say, "Soon, soon." It ended up being late fall. And we're delighted to have him home. 

As the Web continues to expand, I am receiving far more letters from readers in remote parts of the world. Among recent letters my spirit guide Abenda responded to in my new “Cause & Effect” column, one is from Turkey and another from Germany.

Over the last few months we’ve also experienced many more foreign orders for our tapes/CDs. Some are from locations so remote we have to check the atlas to see if they exist.

While on the subject of the web; Richard has been doing a lot more over-the-phone, on-the-air radio interviews lately. With people like Teddy Bart and Karlin Evans in Nashville, the shows have been like a party with old friends while mixing in a bit of serious spirituality. And now with the addition of live radio webcasts, shows can be heard by anyone in the world who owns a computer. A 90-minute December 13th show with Meria Heller is now archived at www.netradiolive.com/meria.html  With the Web ability to archive broadcasts, shows remain available for listening at your leisure.

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“Personal Notebook -- Jan. ‘01”