Author: SynchronicityPublishing

by Patricia Rose Upczak

         Welcome to Synchronicity Publishing LLC’s blog. We are starting a new series exploring archetypes in the midst of a pandemic. For those of you who are not familiar with the word “archetype” let me tell you a bit about its history. Archetype came from ancient Greek. The root words are archein, which means “original or old” and typos means “patterns, model or type.” Combining these means “original pattern” of all similar persons, objects, or concepts that are copied or modeled in some form.

         One of my heroes is Carl Jung. He used the concept of archetype in his theory of the human psyche. He believed that universal, mythic characters, archetypes live within the collective unconscious of people all over the world.

         Carl Jung defined twelve primary types that symbolize basic human motivation. Each type has its own set of values, meaning and personality traits. Jung tells us that people usually have several archetypes at play in the construct of their personalities. But he is very clear that one archetype tends to dominate the personality in general.

         In this part of the series we are going to explore the type that is known as the Warrior or Hero or Crusader or Rescuer or Superhero or Dragon Slayer type. They are competent and courageous. They believe where there is a will, there is a way. They usually strive to become a master of something that improves the world. They usually navigate life in a way to be as strong and competent as they can.

         The other interesting archetype we will look at in this first part of the series  in this Pandemic time is known as the Saint, or the Caregiver, or Helper, or Patriot. They want to protect and care for others. They have a basic goal that runs through all of their actions — to help others. They are generous and compassionate.

         As you probably already guessed the heroes and caregivers in this Pandemic seem to be overlapping at every turn. People from all walks of life around the world are helping each other. Restaurants are giving away food to people in need. John Krasinski hosts a news show to help people called the SGN (Some Good News) where he shows people helping people everywhere and he gets other celebrities to help projects that help people.

         Throughout history archetypes show up to not only guide us, but to also help us make sense of the story as it unfolds. The story of the Pandemic we are all living through has all the parts of an amazing novel or movie. The villain or challenge is the virus. The heroes and care-takes are everywhere in every profession and walk of life. The nurses and doctors around the world stand out as Heroes. But teachers and professors try to continue teaching the children in school of all ages online. School districts send buses to areas without wifi so the kids can connect with their teachers. Teachers use Zoom or Google classroom to connect and work tirelessly while everything is in chaos. Artists, writers and entertainers go online to help the masses calm their fears and let go of the deep panic that circles the planet. Businesses shut down. Planes fly almost empty. Airports are like ghost towns. Countries are locked down. Families are told to stay home. UPS, FedEx and the postal workers work tirelessly to get things to the people with little or no recognition. Spiritual leaders like the Dali Lama, the Pope, Deepak Chopra, Denise Linn give talks and videos online for all to hear and see. Parents stay home from work either because their employment place is shut down, or they are working from home while trying to help their children with their online classes. Politicians are scrambling to figure out what is really happening and what to do in a powerful pandemic, and a spiraling economy with masses looking for help and calm leadership.

         It seems like the archetypes not only are overlapping but many unlikely people are taking on the roles of heroes and caregivers filling in any gaps without asking many questions. Many of the people and places that are feeding people who need food are not asking for any money. They all seem to be giving from their hearts. So I started this first part of the series thinking I knew who the heroes and caregivers were — now I am not so sure.

Stay safe until next time.

Blessings,
Patricia

Welcome to our 2nd blog in our power of Nature series. I meant to thank Anne Garcia for her wonderful photograph of the three children on the Northern California beach near the Redwoods. It is one of my favorite pictures. She is an amazing photographer.

A Walk In The Woods written by well known travel writer Bill Bryson is a wonderful book about his journey with a friend hiking the Appalachian Trail in his later years against everybody’s advice and powerful natural elements that tested him deeply.

What made this extraordinary story famous is that eventually Robert Redford, Emma Thompson and Nick Nolte starred in a movie based on the book called A Walk In The Woods. This movie shows amazing and powerful landscape, trees and rivers that help us realize the power of Nature for all of us. It is there for children, adults, animals and a variety of insects and plant life.

As human beings we need space and time no matter what age to reconnect to ourselves. Nature gives us time to figure things out. It helps us disconnect from the bustle and busy ness of society. Patients who get a natural view from their hospital bed recover sooner than those in rooms without Nature connected to it. Frank Lloyd Wright loved Nature and got much of his inspiration while being in the natural world.. He said “Study Nature, Love Nature, Stay close to Nature. It will never fail you”.

The sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the rocks, the wind blowing through the trees, the bubbling sound of the creek or river rushing through the canyons relaxes and soothes us. The blue sky, the golden aspen trees, the smell of pine needles or the hawk’s call or the bird’s sweet song early every morning connects us to the reality of our true nature. Working and living in concrete boxes without connection to the natural world is hard on us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Our nature is part of the rhythms of Nature, Scientists are continuing to find how important our well being is tied to consistent interaction with the natural world.

There are scientific reasons why being in Nature is relaxing and good for you. It reduces stress levels, helps you find clarity and rejuvenate your mind and body. Natural light normalizes your sleep schedule, Being in Nature helps all of us get off the digital grid. Scientists have also found that a natural environment helps you center your mind and get grounded.This relaxes us at all levels.

Our brains need time to organize and develop our creativity and multiple aspects of our minds for a healthy life.Many of the anxiety or stress related illness we have in our modern world would be completely alleviated by consistent time (no matter how short) in Nature.

Blessings to you all ,

Patricia

In the blog post we are going to explore the many benefits of Laughter Yoga. When you start laughing, your chemistry changes, even your your physical being changes and believe it or not your chances to experience happiness are much greater. Dr. Kataria once said “Laughter Yoga is nothing more than prepping the body and mind for happiness.”

         Children laugh hundreds of times during the day, the average adult doesn’t laugh more than 25 times a day. Learn to laugh. Learn to lighten up. Learn not to take life so seriously. How do you laugh when nothing is funny? Just open your mouth into a wide smile and force the breath out. You probably will feel silly at first, but when you are in a group of people committed to laughing the make-believe version transform into the real thing. Most Laughter Yoga classes involve clapping and chanting (Ho, Ho, HA, HA, Ha), some deep breaths and 15-20 minutes of laughter exercises (my Laughter Yoga Teacher was great and we had fun with fake talking on the phone, opening up a bill, riding a pretend motorcycle and so much more). Then there is about 15 minutes of laughter meditation. Dr. Kataria has many brief 10-15 minute sessions on YouTube. He says 10-11 minutes of Laughter is all you need to do in a session for all the health benefits to start taking effect.

         I would love to hear from any of you who have tried this, even on YouTube. Have a wonderful beginning of Spring and Laugh more everywhere you go.

Blessings, Patricia

Welcome to another blog series! This blog is about one of my passions – Laughter Yoga.

I meant to write this blog last May, but then as my life goes I finally found the perfect Laughter Yoga teacher for me. She has two small children and did Laughter Yoga classes for seven years in a park near her home. Life took some twists and turns and she stopped teaching the course. Then in May, 2018 I found her. We communicated and much to my surprise she agreed to meet and talk. We got along wonderfully and she agreed to do the class for the summer.

Karena was a perfect match to what I was looking for. her energy was exactly what I thought a Laughter Yoga teacher should be. So I contacted the trainer of Laughter Yoga teachers in Denver and told her I finally found someone who would do the class in Boulder because if I hadn’t found anyone she was willing to drive up once a week and I wanted her to know she didn’t have to do that. When I talked to her she wanted to know who I had found. I told her Karena and she said :Oh! Karena is probably the best Laughter yoga teacher in the state!”

So  through the summer we did Laughter Yoga outside in Boulder once a week and it was absolutely amazing. Everything I had discovered (including on YouTube and Udemy and in Yoga Journal) are true. Now Karena is looking for a inside venue for us in the winter and possibly stay with year round.

On the surface Laughter Yoga is too simple to be a breakthrough technology that it really is and has become. Dr. Madan Kataria started a social Laughter Club in Mumbai, India in 1995 with 5 people. Today there are thousands of Laughter Clubs in over 72 countries. It has become a rapidly growing global phenomenon. Laughter yoga is practiced in companies, homes for the elderly, schools, colleges, fitness centers, community centers, prisons, hospitals, homes for the developmentally disabled and healing self-help groups. There are many that rank Laughter Yoga as one of the best alternative health therapies for complete body – mind wellness.

Our world has become high pressured and competitive.  Many seem to be robbed of their ability to laugh. Experts report that more than 70- 80 % of illnesses are related to stress. The world is full of seriousness. People are bombarded by negative news or reporting on either disasters or impending doom daily. It has become a challenge to combat stress and maintain good health. Laughter is the simplest therapy and yet is one of the best.

Laughter has been scientifically established as having a profound impact on the body and mind. It appears to help prevent the onset of sickness by way of strengthening the immune system. One dose of laughter is the one solution that has the power to unwind stress and help people find joy in their lives daily. It has the power to slow down a racing heart and strengthen the mind and help people raise their spirits. All of this is in an instant.

Clinical research is being conducted around the world and it seems to prove that laughter lowers the level of stress hormones in the blood. Research has also shown that people who participate in Laughter Yoga groups are experiencing long lasting health effects from laughter.

For hundreds of years , laughter was referred to as the best medicine for the body and mind. Laughter Yoga has taken laughter to a new level. It is a complete delivery system allowing laughter to actually be prescribed as part of a daily routine in order to realize all of the health benefits. It helps everyone laugh, even those who are serious people.

There is so much more to talk about, including an interview with Karena my Laughter Yoga Teacher which I will continue with in the next blog in early February. If you would like to experience a short laughter yoga session (about 10 minutes) there are many youtube videos you could watch and get a feel for this amazing and healing technique for all of us!

Blessing, Patricia

Storytellers have woven their tales throughout time. Minstrels used to sing stories as they played their instruments and danced down the cobblestone streets of their town. Cervantes is famous for writing the first “modern novel” in the 1600’s and he created Don Quixote. He was a man who lived in tumultuous times in Spain. His main characters criticized the government, the Church, the Inquisition and others through story. Authors and storytellers have done that for thousands of years.

Samuel Clemens known by his pen name as Mark Twain was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, lecturer and above all a major storyteller. He wrote short stories, and novels. His most famous novel are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in 1875 and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1885. He loved humor and satire. He wrote The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.

His wit and satire especially when he lectured became famous throughout the world. He was a friend to presidents, artists and European royalty. Having said that, Mark Twain slipped his deep criticism of the many injustices in the society he lived in through his humor and writing. Creative storytellers learn how to weave their tales in such a way that they can include their opinions through their characters and stories.

Not all writers are political but myths and stories are the foundation of our human experience. A modern storyteller of the Percy Jackson and Olympians series, The Kane Chronicles and more Rick Riordian is prolific as a storyteller.

Some of the major themes in Rick Riordian’s novels are transformation, perseverance, friendship, family, loyalty and deceit.  Interestingly enough Rick Riordian was a Middle School Teachers and is a father who understands the workings of young adults minds and things they have to deal with in their daily lives. His popularity stems from his powerful storytelling style. His themes are important to his audience. His readers connect to his characters and care about his stories. I really like the way he connects his characters to Greek, Norse, Roman and Egyptian mythology.

So in summary myths and storytelling is alive and well in our modern world. I asked my 14 year old grandson, who has read all of Rick Riordian’s books, why he liked him? His response was “The books are fun, interesting and entertaining, plus I learned I have a passion for mythology.” I believe this is the goal of any story teller to have their readers enjoy the books and walks away with something of value.

I believe that myths, legends and all our amazing storytellers have created (and continue to create) the very fabric of human experience. This second blog in our series will explore the timeless legends and stories of Robin Hood and Rudyard Kipling.

History gives us clues to the possibility of a Robin Hood existing in the 13th Century possibly originating from Scotland. The first literary reference to Robin Hood appear in a series of 14th and 15th Century ballads about a yeoman who lived in Sherwood Forest with his men and frequently clashed with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Little John and Will Scarlet are part of Robin’s “merry crew” in these ballads. Medieval chroniclers took it for granted that a historical Robin Hood lived during the 12th and 13th Century. John Major’s “History of Greater Britain ” written in 1521 depicts Robin as a follower of King Richard, one of his characteristics in modern times.

As in all myths and legends Robin Hood and his tales have a universal appeal. The notion of a brave rebel who lives on the outskirts of society, fighting injustice and oppression with his band of companions is a heroic archetype that fits the Hero’s Journey through most stories.

The legend of Robin Hood grew especially after The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood written by Howard Pyle, an American author and illustrator. His book was for children. It was written in 1883 and became very popular. His version is what inspired all the Robin Hood tales, books and movies since then.

Rudyard Kipling was born on December 30, 1865 in Bombay, India. He was very happy until he started school at six years old. At six years old his parents sent him to Southsea, England to receive a formal British education. He lived with a foster family. He was beaten and bullied by his foster parents. They took all of his books away and he had to hide and read in secret or he would be beaten. When he was eleven years old a family friend visited and saw what condition he was in and told his mother. She rushed to England and rescued her son from the Holloways. Alice his mother took him on a long extended holiday and put him in a new school where he flourished and discovered his joy of writing. He also became the editor of the school newspaper.

At sixteen years old Rudyard Kipling returned to India. He worked for a newspaper. He wrote thousands of words of journalism before his creative style as a storyteller emerged.

The Jungle Book published in 1894 is a collection of Rudyard Kipling’s stories. Most of the characters are animals such as Share Khan the tiger, and Baloo the bear.

His main character is a young orphaned boy Mowgli who had been raised by wolves. The setting is a beautiful forest in India. He does seem to include archetypal characters along with the Hero’s Journey in his storytelling.

The Jungle Book has stood the test of time as has its storyteller. Myths and Storytelling make up the fabric of societies. Many of them are oral stories or myths passed on through generations before a writer sets them to pen and paper or in this day and age computer or digital form. Allowing our minds to open up to the creative possibilities is the best way to allow these stories to form. This series will have six parts and I would love to have your thoughts and opinions.

Blessings, Patricia