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"The appearances are that our bodies and our circumstances control our thoughts, but the opposite is true. Our thoughts control our bodies and our circumstances."
Lessons In Truth, H. Emilie Cady, 1896

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Louella, Jenni, Laura, Diane, Julie, Celia, Gerry, Ross, Lenny, Kath, Dave, Jim, Roberto, Colin, Dave, Bob, Sue, Terry, Micky, Bob and Mike welcomed Victoria, Time and Ivy to their first meeting.

Following a brief round of introductions, Mike announced the Crossroads Center of Old St. Pat's Church will be closed on weekends this coming June, July and August, and thus be unavailable to host our Saturday meetings. The Center is glad to accommodate VS Chicago any weeknight during the summer, and definitely welcomes us back in September. After some discussion, group thoughts were to move the 2nd Saturday meetings either outdoors or to another location. Laura volunteered to check with the Chicago Public Library on Division for use as an alternative site. We'll keep you posted...

Energy: How to get it and give it (Dave)...
Dave shared some very recent experiences with Reiki Message and Kundalini Yoga. It began with books by Millman, then Reiki Message where Dave experienced intense increase in bodily energy. To balance his energies out, Dave began taking Kundalini Yoga. The group discussed various individual experiences with yoga and message, and concluded with addresses and phone numbers for yoga/message centers:

Temple of Kriya Yoga
2414 N. Kedzie, 773-342-4600
Sundays - 10:00 yoga, 11:45 chanting, 12:00 services

Healing Center
Evanston (corner of Lee and Ridge)

Lakeside Yoga Studio

Verbal Book Exchange (Jim)...?
The Book Exchange is a listing of books related both directly and tangentially to the VS enthusiast, that have impacted our lives. Presented in no particular order:

Choosing Simplicity: Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World
by Linda Breen Pierce

Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich
by Duane Elgin

Getting a Life: Strategies for Simple Living, Based on the Revolutionary Program for Financial
Freedom, Your Money or Your Life
by Jacqueline Blix, David Heitmiller

The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift As a Viable Alternative Lifestyle
by Amy Dacyczyn

Living the Good Life: How to Live Sanely & Simply in a Troubled World
by Helen Nearing, Scott Nearing

Simple Loving: A Path to Deeper, More Sustainable Relationships
by Janet Luhrs

Cold Mountain: A Novel
by Charles Frazier

Beyond just the simpleminded:

Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit
by Daniel Quinn

Culture Jam: How to Reverse America's Suicidal Consumer Binge-And Why We Must
by Kalle Lasn

The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability
by Paul Hawken

The Culture of Make Believe
by Derrick Jensen

Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure
by Daniel Quinn

The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World
by Sherry Ruth Anderson Ph.D., Paul H. Ray Ph.D.

Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
by John De Graaf

Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies & Sustainable Living
By John Schaeffer, Doug Pratt (Real Goods editors)

Finding My Balance: A Memoir
by Mariel Hemingway

How Can I Justify Spending!!?!! (Julie)...
"Is it ok to spend some money on a vacation when I'm trying to build an nest egg?" That's the question Julie posed to the group to seek their experience and guidance. Jenni talked about balance. She likes to take trips so while traveling may seem like it doesn't fit a "simple life style" definition, she feels it's balanced out by making other choices, like driving a car with 190,000 miles. The money saved by keeping her car, gets used for something she really enjoys. Laura uses a variation of the Ben Franklin decision tree -- "3 pluses - 3 minuses". She writes them down, then sits back and makes an evaluation. Living simply doesn't mean a life of deprivation -- it includes the items of basic survival, along with various comfort and luxury items. These items are different for everybody, and are something best known to the individual. One of the purposes of VS Chicago is to offer judgment free space for everyone to determine what is right for them.

"After Life", Movie about what your most important memory would be (Lenny)...
What would be your most important memory - one (and only one) that would you take into the afterlife? This is the premise of the Japanese Movie, "After Life". After folks have died, they go to a "holding area" where they greeted and helped by "staffers". The movie explored what folks thought their one, most important memory would be. Many had difficulties choosing just one, but in almost all instances, the memories they did choose were simple, and non-materialistic (ie, a moment in the woods, meeting someone for the first time, a time with one/both parents...). If folks could not choose one memory to take with them, they stayed in the holding area, becoming staffers themselves. Once they were able to find one memory, they "moved on". The basic message that emerged from the movie is you don't have to wait until death to enjoy life.

Lenny engaged the convening group into thinking about what their one memory would be, and if so inclined, to discuss what it would be and why it was their choice. Much like the movie, all memories shared were simple and non-materialistic.

Party Games (Laura)...
Looking for something different to do at parties, Laura hosted this topic and received several ideas including playing Charades, having a Theme Party or Murder Mystery, and Dance Lessons.

Free Entertainment in Chicago (Louella)...
Volunteer ushering through Saints Chicago – see almost all theater, dance (at Athenium and Auditorium theaters), classical music (Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other venue concerts, Chicago Opera Theater, Performing Arts Chicago, Music of the Baroque, other) that Chicago has to offer both in the city and suburbs. Requirements for Saints Chicago membership (www.saintschicago.org): $50 annual membership fee, arrive 1 hour or so before performances, stuff programs, take tickets, hand out programs, and clean up programs, etc. from floor at end of show. Complimentary tickets often available to Saints for Chicago League of Theaters Industry nights and such.

Volunteer ushering for individual theaters: Call box office for Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Chicago Shakespeare, and some of the smaller venues. Duties similar to Saints duties. Most universities use volunteer ushers for their programs at well. Contact the music departments directly for info.

The Reader newspaper has announcements for many free entertainments – poetry readings, plays, concerts, etc.

Grant Park concerts, full screen movies, ethnic festivals and music weekends (Blues, Jazz, Gospel, etc.) are free and not to be missed.

Chicago Culture Center on Randolph and Michigan: Plays, concerts, readings, movies, music – of all kinds. See program listings in Reader or on www.877chicago.com

Visitor Centers at the Chicago Water Tower or Chicago Cultural Center have coupon books, announcements, programs, etc.

College and High School Sporting events are available at very low costs – especially women’s sports. Those in the burbs might try the Kendall Country Cougars and other AAA baseball teams. Quite reasonable alternatives to high priced major leagues.

Ravinia Festival – in Highland Park – has a summer long program of classical, jazz, musical theater, and dance concerts in an open pavilion. Lawn admission is generally $10. Those in the know can get free tickets from the Chicago and suburban public libraries for lawn admission. You must have a library card. High School and College students can also get free lawn admission tickets with ID at the box office. At www.ravinia.org you can see the tentative schedule. Get on their email list to get the full schedule when available and to hear about special deals throughout the summer.

Ravinia Festival Young Artists Programs for Jazz, Chamber Music, Vocal, and Musical Theater. Master classes are offered throughout the summer generally one day a week and are open to the public for free. Many of the past participants have made it big! See www.ravinia.org to get on the email list. The schedule is not yet available. Each program has young artist concerts – also free. These programs are often scheduled before a Ravinia performance and lawn admission required. However, they really want an audience for the students and will allow folks to attend for free if you ask in advance. Again there is an email list for weekly programs and such.

Museums. All Chicago museums have free days. See listing in www.877chicago.com. However, the Chicago Public Libraries have museum passes available for free for a week at a time. Passes admit up to four individuals. Some passes cover multiple museums. You must have a library card.

Also look for the September World Music Festival. Free concerts are held all around Chicago. Also very low cost ($5-10) concerts are available. Great music!

The Humanities Festival held in early November has lectures, plays, readings, concerts, and discussions. This year’s program is titled. "Spending and Saving" or such. Tickets are available for $5-10. Several sessions are free to the public.

Iraq -- what are you thinking (Ross)...
Many different ideas and possibilities were discussed. Interesting how many folks have already equated Iraq with war.

We adjourned and closed the meeting space at noon.
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(Recorded by Mike Lenich)