June 4

Elder Gideon (on Zoom)

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People of Breakthrough

” Elder Gideon has walked with Tau Malachi and The Fellowship since 1996. The teachings and practice of Christian Kabbalah have reoriented every aspect of his life, career, and creativity. He edited Tau Malachi’s Gnostic Path of St. Thomas for Llewellyn Publishers forthcoming this fall. Twice nominated for the 2023 Pushcart Prize, his third poetry collection Sophia’s Wisdom with EPS Press launches later this year. His sculpture show “Black Mirrors” will open in Sacramento early next year. He teaches high school creative writing, mythology, and African American literature.

At Morning Star, he will explore the mystical legends between the lines of a pivotal story in Genesis: Jacob wrestling with the angel. The message of this struggle is familiar to anyone in a transition in life. Accusations from the past, of lack, or anxiety all personify the shadow with which Jacob wrestles and ultimately pins to the earth. What he most feared was an angel in disguise, who blessed and renamed him Israel. We will explore mystical meanings of “Israel” and the promise that in our own wrestling with God, we’ll prevail. He lives to connect. Feel free to reach out: www.eldergideon.com

June 11

Andrea Foster (on Zoom)

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Express Yourself?

Andrea Foster is an editor and author who has been working in every aspect of the book business since 1977. She began as an Op Ed Writer and Editor for various newspapers and magazines in both New England and Houston, Texas. She eventually became a marketer and events-person for some of the biggest names in publishing and the music industry. Some of the authors with whom she has worked in the past include President Jimmy Carter, newsman David Brinkley, author John Grisham, Power of Prayer author Larry Dossey, and baseball star Mickey Mantle and his sons. She currently teaches Creative Writing online and how to Write, Publish & Market Your Book at the Canadian Valley Technology Center in El Reno.

At Morning Star, Andrea will share that everybody has a story to tell, whether childhood stories, war stories, made-up stories, poetry, or tall tales.  Some of us like to write them down and keep them in a notebook.  Others put them on Facebook or other online locations or computer files.  She will also tell us how she teaches people to take these literary dreams and put them into a hard copy they can hold in their hands.  Expressing oneself can be both invigorating and inspiring or full of woe.  One thing is certain: writing is healing, and publishing one’s stories can force a shy person out of their shell and give confidence even to the meekest. Andrea Foster’s passion is as follows: when you have spent time, sweat, and tears creating something, you should receive acknowledgement for it—and maybe some money, too!  She’ll tell us how.

June 18

Dana Carpenter

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“Surrendering into Grace”

Dana Carpenter, B.S, M.P.H., is a spiritual adventurer who began meditating at The Lotus Center in Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) in 1974 with Sat Guru Audle Allison (AKA Nirvananada). Since retiring from the medical profession in 2014 Dana devotes her time to exploration of the inner world through meditation, and implementation of the knowledge she has received into everyday life. Dana began teaching meditation in 2002 and directs the Teachings of the Masters School of Meditation (currently meeting on Zoom). She also helps conduct meditation retreats with the Friends of the Lotus meditation organization based in OKC.

Dana’s primary focus is to assist her students and workshop participants in connecting more deeply with their divine selves, spiritual guides and teachers; to guide them through their practice of various meditation techniques to enter into and become adept at navigating and energetically exploring their own inner world; to teach them how to clean, clear and heal energy blockages that may be preventing them from fully living and enjoying their lives; to recognize when their own energy field is out of balance and teach them what they can do to bring it back into balance; and to encourage them to learn to live each day consciously and deliberately, doing whatever is necessary to complete their soul growth and development this lifetime.

At Morning Star, Dana will introduce a simple spiritual energy process for letting go of any burdens we may be carrying and surrendering them into the powerful, transformative energy of the Christ Consciousness. She says, as we clear out space inside ourselves, we can receive the gifts of unconditional love, peace and calming, healing, harmony and balance, serenity, compassion, and forgiveness.

June 25

Byron Jackson

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Recognizing Possibilities

Over the past 40 years, Byron Jackson has created an impressive track record of community training on many subjects, including cultural diversity and team building. These experiences have led him to develop a “special sauce” of experiential learning, humor, music, and fun that creates a safe environment where people can deal with their differences and share who they truly are. His skills in working within diverse groups, along with his extensive community contacts, his humor, and his odd assortment of clothing, have touched the lives of many around the world.

In the late 1980s, Byron began making group presentations on the issues of substance abuse. His interest soon turned to the process of motivating groups of people to work together. Over the years, Byron’s interests have grown to include community development and teaching people how to become engaged in their communities. Byron believes humans are social beings, meaning we work best in interaction with one another. He helps humans connect and work toward common goals.  Byron has worked with groups as far away as Hawaii and Saipan and as diverse as people with disabilities, Native American tribes, and computer geeks. Byron’s work is always full of laughter, interaction, and many “aha!” moments (mostly on what style of clothing he’s going to wear!).  Byron holds a degree in social work from the University of Oklahoma. After graduation, Byron worked as a family and adolescent counselor at the Norman Alcohol Information Center and served as youth director at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Norman. He has trained in group process with Virginia Satir (People Making), Don Lowery (True Colors), and many other innovators of group work. He joined Possibilities, Inc., twenty years ago as a Training and Facilitation Specialist and was named Executive Director in April 2019.

At Morning Star, Byron will share his passion, his goal in life—how he helps groups create safe environments where people can find their own voices. He believes the more each of us allows ourselves to get out of the way of their own agenda and ideas, the more this allows others to create and express their own personal power.