Celebrating the Shift to Conscious Choice
Letter from the Editor: Issue 26
Jeanne Ohm, DC

For six years, it has been my privilege to meet and connect with numerous authors, heads of organizations and practitioners through Pathways magazine. Our authors are from all walks of life, each integrating his or her perspective and specialty of the family-wellness lifestyle into their writings. Aspects of parenting, health, holism, nutrition, pregnancy, birth, child care and newedge science, along with countless resources supporting these topics, have been explored and shared to contribute to the shift in consciousness our earth so desperately cries out for. Meeting these writers and learning from them has truly been a growing experience for me, and, I’m sure, for our readers.

What I see as a common thread tying our contributors all together has been the willingness to open their perspectives, challenge the status quo, embrace their inner wisdom and stand forward on their inner knowing. Pathways is filled with strong and courageous statements from these leaders whose intent is to challenge our readers to awaken their consciousness.

In every issue of Pathways, there is a synchronicity of articles, concepts, visions and goals. Where does this synchronicity come from? Having conversed with every author, I see another common thread: recognition of their source of knowing. Yes, their knowledge has come from years of experience. And the passion with which they share it has been fueled by their connection to a greater knowing, and a willingness to trust this inner wisdom and dedicate their lives to its expression.

We can all relate to hearing the voice of knowing from within. Sometimes called intuition or guidance, this voice will speak to us about decisions both trivial and life-changing. I have learned that the more we listen to this voice, the louder it speaks. The more we trust in its guidance, the further we grow and succeed.

When my husband and I were first exploring the field of chiropractic, we were exposed to many writings from its founder, D.D. Palmer, and its developer, his son B.J. Palmer. One of my favorite stories exemplifying listening to this voice was printed in B.J. Palmer’s book, the Bigness of the Fellow Within—a story titled, “That Something.” It reflects a time in the writer’s life before he “awakened,” as he terms it. It was a rough time in his life, filled with strife and discord. He was homeless, poverty-stricken, hungry and dissolute. He recounts a moment when he asked a stranger in the street for a meal, and the stranger’s reply.

“No,” he answered, a note of pity in his voice. “I cannot help you. No man can.” “But you could feed me,” I said, with some petulance in my voice. “It is not food you need!” “What then?” I asked. “That Something,” was his reply.

The author then recounts an experience of falling asleep, having a dream and hearing a voice.

“Who are you?” I asked. “I am ‘That Something’,” came the reply. “But where are you?” “I am hidden in your soul.” For some moments I thought over what was said. Then I stammered, “How—how did you get there?” “I
was born there.” “Why have I not known you were there before?” “No man knows it,” answered the voice, “until he awakes.” “Are you in other men’s souls, as well?”“There is ‘That Something’ in every man’s soul, which can move the mountains or dry the seas.” “Then you must be Faith!” “Yes,” came the answer, “I am Faith, but I am more—I am that which makes men face the fires of hell, and win.” “Then you must be Confidence, as well.” “Yes, I am more than Confidence—I am that which makes the babbling brooks lift worlds upon their wavelets.” “You are Power,” I cried. “Yes, I am more than Power,” answered the voice. “I am that which makes the wretched failure lift up himself and rule the world.” “You are Ambition—I know you now.” “Yes, I am all you say—Faith, Confidence, Power, Ambition, and more. For greater than all is ‘That Something.’ I am that which every man must find in his soul or else he will be but a clutter of the earth on which he lives.”

“But how can man find you?” “Even as you are finding me now. First you must awaken, then seek, and when you have found you must learn to control…” “Control what?” I asked, confused. “‘That Something’…borrow it from your soul and baptize your life with it. Anoint your eyes, that you may see; anoint your ears, that you may hear; anoint your heart, that you may be!”

“But tell me,” I cried frantically, for the voice was trailing off to almost nothing, “how can I do this? How? How?”

“This is the secret,” came the voice to me as the whisper of a gentle breeze, “these words—‘I will’.”

The story continues with how the author listened to the voice, and followed its moment-to-moment promptings. By doing so, within one year’s time, he not only had a job, but was approaching the highest level of management in the company. Opportunities and shifts in all areas of his life occurred.

I know that throughout my life, when I have listened to this voice, it has led me to creation, success and fulfillment on all levels of expression. I know all of our authors are propelled by this voice, and so the synchronicity of our message has become a movement.

To honor this movement, and to add to the dynamics of this synergy, we are holding our second Freedom for Family Wellness Summit on October 21–24 in Washington, D.C. Our subtitle is: Celebrating the Shift to Conscious Choice. Many of our favorite authors and leaders in this movement will be there, so we can all connect as vital participants in the momentum that has been created. Truly, this weekend will be a celebration for every attendee of who we are, what we’ve accomplished and where we need to go. I know each presenter is thrilled to participate, and the many registrants we have so far are as excited to attend. When they heard That Something, each one has said, “I will.”

I am sure this weekend will exceed all expectations. When hundreds of people of like mind, heart and vision come together, there is a shift in consciousness that ripples the earth.

Many Blessings,
Jeanne Ohm, DC

Read Dr. Ohm's bio here.

Dr. Jeanne Ohm is the Executive Editor of Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, a quarterly publication offering resources for parents to make informed health care choices. Find out more about Pathways to Family Wellness magazine.