Conscious Media: The Revolution for Your Mind

Conscious media is alive and thriving in the Pacific Northwest. Through book sales, radio and television, these conscious visionaries are giving people something to think about.

New Renaissance Bookshop

New Renaissance Bookshop celebrates 20 years as a fixture in the Portland spiritual community. It all started in December 1987 when Jamey and Darlene Potter, Margaux Rooney and Muffy Weaver opened in one Victorian house on the corner of NW 23rd and Pettygrove. The store now has three linked houses with an event center in a fourth house. Local astrologer Connie Hill spoke with the Potters about their magical journey.

Q. How did New Renaissance Bookshop get started?

Jamey: It was a transition period for us. I'd just sold a business and we had gone on a four-month trip to Asia and we were planning to move to Ananda Village, a spiritual community in Northern California, when we returned. We didn't know what our next step would be, but during the trip we kept getting spiritual guidance to go back to Portland. After the trip we found a house in Portland and I went to California to pick up our car. The car wouldn't start so I found myself with a week on my hands waiting for parts.

The first evening I settled into meditation in a cabin at Ananda Village in the foothills of the Sierras. I asked the question very forcefully, "What am I to do next?" Within 20 minutes, boom, the whole idea of starting a metaphysical book store appeared, just like a movie in my mind. And there was lots of joy and inspiration associated with the idea. So, I came back to Oregon and told Darlene.

Darlene: When meditating in Thailand, the words "Go back to Portland," appeared like a sign in blazing, full color. We knew it was our mission. So when Jamey brought the book store idea back it was an immediate yes.

Q. How has it been for the two of you to work so closely together?

Jamey: We meditate daily, have staff meditations at the store and take a moment of silence before any important meeting. The decisions for the business come out of meditation. We take tough situations into our meditations until the solution comes.

Darlene: That's an important part of why we've had the store for 20 years. The spiritual part of our lives is enhanced by the store.

Q. What trends or changes have you seen over the years?

Darlene: When we started the store in 1987 there were 11 crystal shops in Portland, which was a major trend. Next healing the inner child emerged as a trend. People had to heal that part of themselves before they could move on. Then there was interest in men's spirituality and Native American spirituality. Next was alternative healing: Bernie Siegel and Deepak Chopra began talking about their spirituality and how they were working with it in their practices.

Jamey: Most recent is the interest in spiritual DVDs, like What the Bleep, The Secret and the works of Esther Hicks. People are visualizing what they want, feeling it and expecting it to help shape their lives.

Over these 20 years, it has been our mission to offer the best spiritual and conscious living books to help each customer take their next spiritual step, whatever that may be. It was put out at our dedication in 1987: New Renaissance was to be a spiritual oasis in the city. We have tried to follow that in the years since.

Darlene: We were both ready for different work. We sent that out to the universe. We didn't expect it come in this form. It takes courage to ask "Am I on the right track?" Always ask "How can I live my spiritual work and what work will help the world?" It's amazing what happens.

Visit www.newrenbooks.com.

Contact Talk Radio

They laugh, they inspire, they're Cameron and Davindia Steele, hosts of the popular live radio show in Seattle and creators of Contact Talk Radio. Editor Vicky Thompson spoke with Cameron and Davindia about the need for conscious media.

Q. How important is it to have conscious media?

Cameron: Conscious media has a positive effect on people's lives. We see it every day with our listeners. I got an email from a listener, saying that she was on her way to kill herself. She said she was driving down the highway, and she was going to jump off a bridge. She was listening to our show, and we were laughing and making fun of ourselves. The woman started laughing and realized, "What am I doing to myself?" She turned her car around, went home and kicked her husband out of house.

It turns out she'd been physically abused, and she just said, "I'm not taking this anymore. I'm not buying into your fears." And that's what we were talking about - buying into fears. When you get a letter like that, it's quite clear to me what we have to do. Our byline is "consciousness in action" and that's what's taking place. It's a consciousness of taking action now and saying, "I'm not putting up with this anymore."

Q. Where do you think conscious media is headed?

Cameron: I see that this type of exposure will help everyone step out of this arena into the mainstream. My neighbors are not into what we do, but we talk about it freely now. That's a growing thing. We've been on air since 2001 and we were only one of two radio shows broadcasting in the Seattle area, and now sponsors of our shows are doing their own shows so there's certainly been a growth pattern taking place. In the next 10 years, you're going to see more stations pop up.

Q. As a conscious media co-creator, what would you like to see in the world?

Davindia: I think that people have that basic ideal of a world where others help each other. For the most part, people really want to live toward that higher ideal, so when I see a future with spirituality, what I see is a world with more opportunities for people to assist one another.

Cameron: I want to see happy people. Happy people are conscious people. We can make a difference on this planet. But it's going to take a person to walk the talk, and not just agree with everything that everyone is saying. You have to go out and make a difference, whatever your job is.

I asked the garbage man how he enjoyed his job. And he said, "I love my job. Who else could go around and pick up the garbage of others, and make people feel happy that their garbage is gone." To me that's one of the most conscious things that a person can say.

Live with Cameron and Davindia airs every Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. on KKNW 1150 in Seattle and the Internet. Visit www.contacttalkradio.com.

The Wise Woman Way

For nearly 20 years, Rita and Sutton Sandler have brought a positive message about creating your reality to a diverse group of television viewers first in New York and now in Portland. The Portland public access TV version of their long-running show, "The Wise Woman Way," features affirmations, guided meditations and a live call-in segment. Writer David Freeland spoke with Rita about conscious media's new opportunities for spiritual growth.

Q. How would you describe conscious media?

Rita: The word conscious means that you're present, that you're aware of everything that's going on, not just your own particular agenda. Conscious media gives you something to think about.

Q. What role does public access television play in relation to conscious media?

Rita: It's a very important thing to advocate for because it's about freedom of speech. It's the only place that's totally uncensored. That's why I work with public access, to keep it alive. It's like standing on a soapbox in Central Park.

Q. How have you and "The Wise Woman Way" evolved through the years?

Rita: I've become more of an activist in putting out my understanding of creating reality. I'm here to be your wake-up call. Every week, I help you stay awake. There's no room anymore for negative thought. We need to act now, and we need to be radical in reminding each other that we create it all, so that we have power. We can have peace on this planet in our lifetime.

Our show relaxes viewers. Somebody is telling them that they're loved, that they deserve to be happy. And it gives them tools. By saying the affirmations four times, they're pulling in this positive energy and constantly being reminded that they're powerful. And then they do a meditation that does the work for them within their subconscious mind.

"The Wise Woman Way" airs every Friday at 6 p.m. on Comcast Channel 11 in Portland. Visit www.ritaandsutton.com.

Pathways

Tom Park

Pathways, hosted by Tom Park and Paul O'Brien, has been a spiritual favorite on KBOO in Portland for 28 years. From Deepak Chopra to Caroline Myss, all of the spiritual heavyweights stop by to gift listeners with a mini spiritual workshop. Editor Vicky Thompson spoke with Tom Park about his long-running show.

Q. What makes Pathways unique?

Tom: It serves the conscious awakening and self-discovery needs of people. When guests sit down in my studio, I tell them, "I don't have an agenda for today. What I want is to have you bring my audience the jewels that you've got, a solid gift from you to my audience." And they always do. I'm just here to facilitate it.

Q. You're usually behind the microphone, allowing guests to share their wisdom. What spiritual nuggets would you like to share?

Tom: If people would even consider - even just have a conditional willingness - to investigate who they really are, they would be shocked at the magic and the miraculous quality of what a human being is. I've had many internal, conscious experiences. In my spiritual studies over the years, I've experienced other people that were definitely transcendent human beings who have achieved a level of humanity that is brilliant beyond the normal humanity, especially in India. It's really possible that our abilities and our greatness are of the same stature that we absolutely admire and even worship in other beings. It is one of the joys of my life to contribute to this.

Listen to Pathways at 8:30 to 9 a.m. every Sunday on KBOO 90.7 FM or online at www.kboo.fm.