To balance and accept our feminine energy, we must also honor the masculine. Our goal is to combine the strengths of each. As women we can focus on our internal balance. That is the key, recognizing that we all have feminine and masculine energy within.

In two previous articles, “A Spiritual Response to Epstein and Maxwell” and “Our Spiritual Compassion As Women.” I discussed the role of women in countering the historical dominance of men and encouraging women to be the new leaders. I referenced the 7 Cosmic, or Universal, Principles. These Universal laws are not new.  Each can be traced back to the beginning of known time.  I specifically discussed the first 2 Principles  “Everyone is Connected” and “Everything Happens for a Reason.” These explain that we are all part of everyone and everything, and that all actions have consequences.

We also need to understand the 6th Principle of Balance and the 7th Principle of Creation. 

BALANCE: Everything has its Opposite 

There is polarity in our lives, the world and the universe. Everything has an opposite. This is the rule of existence. The two opposites are an aspect of the same thing; they are not separate or distinct. Think of hot and cold. There is no one place where hot becomes cold. They are just varying gradations of two states blending into one another: Up and down, fast and slow, motion and rest, west and east, north and south, truth and error, belief and disbelief – all of these are examples of two opposing poles or ideas. If we travel west, we eventually reach the east. Going north, we pass the North Pole and head south. Love and hate represent two sides of an emotional scale, moving from intense love to a lessening of love until a dislike turns to an increasing hatred. 

Opposites are just varying degrees of the same thing.

There is polarity in the world, our lives,

our activities, our emotions.

Power in the Center

The challenge is to find our center between two extremes. Remember the seesaws of our childhood. Think of that seesaw as an analogy. Riding that childhood joy provided highs and lows. Many of us continue to find our seesaw lives exciting, but too much energy is required for the ups and downs. Balance is where our power resides.

Moderation should be the goal, even though we often rebel against this concept because it sounds too boring. We tend to quest for edges, not realizing they come with an equal and opposite reaction. Our power is not in the ends but in the middle. 

Power is Within

The power is within us, not external to us. The control we think we strive for is a command to ourselves, but not to others. When we can achieve balance in our lives, we have sway over activities, decisions, and emotions. That is our power. 

Think of all the words that the dictionary uses as synonyms for the word “power,” such as “authority,” “control,” “supremacy,” “rule,” “command,” “clout,” “muscle,” and “force.” How often are these words in the headlines? How often are these words used to describe too many of the on-going conflicts in the world? Yet all the attention is external. If all is connected, as in the 1st Principle “Everything is Connected,” then perhaps our attention should also be focused within. Could we help achieve a greater calm in the world if we understood our own internal balance? 

We have control in our lives and in the world.

That power is within.

CREATION: Listening to Our Intuition

Balance is not the only requirement for our feminine energy. We also must have an acceptance of that energy. A look at history is revealing. A balance was in existence in ancient times. The significance of the goddess and the feminine was apparent in the ancient civilizations of Greece, Crete, Sumer, and Egypt. The Egyptian gods of Osiris, Isis and Horus, represented the father, mother and son. This trinity honored the feminine as well as the masculine.

This balance was lost, however, as the three main Western religions arose. Judaism does not have a significant female entity. While Christianity honors the Virgin Mary, she’s not the equal of Jesus. There also does not seem to be a female deity in Islam. These religions are seemingly anti-feminine and thus, according to the Universal Principles, not balanced. How ironic that the Mideast, the birthplace of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, is the location of continued historical tension and our current controversial war. Interesting that Hinduism and Buddhism, two of the world’s largest religions, honor the divine feminine. How unfortunate that neither are not more acknowledged in Western culture.

What does the exclusion of the feminine in our main religions tell us about the “imbalance” in our lives and in the world today? 

Using Our Will

The masculine “Will,” is our conscious mind, while our subconscious is the feminine. Our Intellect (conscious mind) must stimulate our Intuition (subconscious mind). This is similar to the stimulation needed to create new life between a man and a woman. Remember that “Everything is Connected.” 

If we are lazy and listen to those around us, we are ruled by others. We see this in various forms of the media, which tell us what to think by supplying news that is geared to a particular view. For many, the media creates an opinion, so individuals don’t have to think for themselves. How many of us are guilty of this? 

Women too often allow strong men to dominate their lives. Some men acquiesce to dominant women. Many of us allow someone else to manage our thoughts. We should think about that. Are we using our feminine intuition to create our ideas? Are we using both our masculine and feminine to think for ourselves? 

Our strength requires our Intellect 

to stimulate our Intuition to create.

Some use the mind to dominate others. This violates Balance in focusing on the masculine side and ignoring the feminine. Anyone dominated by another also violates the balance by focusing on the feminine and ignoring the masculine. Neither provides a point of power, leaving that person in the control of others, or at the mercy of those around him or her. If we don’t stimulate our thoughts, or use our masculine conscious mind to fertilize our feminine subconscious, we are led by others. 

We now have the knowledge and ability to stop allowing others to dictate to us. That will happen when women internalize their balance. That will happen when women accept their strength and become leaders.

It is time to balance our conscious mind with our subconscious.

It is time to honor both our intellect and our intuition, 

and the need and power of each.

It is time for women to accept our feminine energy

to help create a better world.

Some of the material on the Universal Principles in this article is from my book, Do It Yourself Guide To Spirituality: Seven Simple Steps (2011).

Women have been seen as possessions throughout history, and that view seems to be returning. How could that be happening?

I am outraged for all women.

I never felt unsupported. Yet in marriage, I was expected to cook, clean, be an emotional support as well as an equal earner. I accepted that until I didn’t. My story is not important nor unusual. But I feel the pain for all women who had life tougher than I did, who lost so much of themselves in relationships. I am realizing that happened and continues to happen even to women much younger than I am. Too many of us continue to be silenced.

We must now lead the way to take back our rights: The ones we thought we had, such as the right to abortion, until we realized we didn’t. As our freedoms are gradually being stripped away, we can no longer be quiet. Not any of us. Not at all. 

We understand empathy and compassion. Now we can use those traits to help a seemingly confused and chaotic world. 

Each in our own way, we must reach out and do something, 

no matter how small or large that may be.

i am a spiritual writer, so what I do is write about spiritual commitments. My belief is that we are all here to help humans evolve. We do that by raising our vibrations and raising our consciousness. We do that by feeling and promoting compassion. This does not mean ignoring or condoning any abhorrent acts. This means rising above to see the bigger picture. This means recognizing that what is happening is wrong.

There is hope. But action is needed.

Compassion

Understanding Compassion is one of our biggest challenges. I had many responses from my recent article, “A Spiritual Response to Epstein and Maxwell.” I was asked for a further discussion on Compassion because it is hard to feel that emotion for those two sex-traffickers and all of the men and women, not yet named or held accountable in the Epstein Files. I suggested compassion without judgment or revenge. I understand how difficult that is, which is also why it is so important. Because it is so hard.

In reference to Epstein, Maxwell and all abusers, I realized how we are, unconsciously, responsible for how that could have happened and how easily that cover up occurred. We never questioned much of the control men tried to have over us as we grew up, sometimes from our fathers and too often from our husbands. What we didn’t question became a norm we didn’t realize. Not until the extremes of that child sex trafficking involved so many men, and some women, in positions of power. 

First, it is okay to feel rage, I do. I was guilty of allowing men to be more important. How many of us had kind, but abusive and alcoholic fathers or husbands? Surprising how many of my friends remembered, in later years, some form of sexual or physical violence from childhood. We need to stand up to those who are still around and who continue to take advantage of their power. 

But we can’t get lost in our anger. 

We need to step back to see how we can help. 

I can’t recite all of the current concerns. We are aware of them, such as the messages against Blacks, Latinos, Mexicans, Native Americans, immigrants, Jews, Muslims, those in the LGBTQ+ community, and all other marginalized groups. In addition, the rise of the White Supremacists and the Christian Nationals is so troubling. And now, the military is testing testosterone levels for all men over 30. Really? Such a pathetic attempt at male dominance. As the disparity in wealth continues to grow, so does the privilege of those with power and money. Too often, that means men.

Universal Principles

In my previous article, I mentioned the Cosmic, or Universal, Principles that have existed for thousands of years. I talked about the Second Principle of “Everything Happens for a Reason” and how we can trust the Universe that holds everyone accountable for their actions, for any and all actions. To further the discussion, I want to add the First Principle of “Everything is Connected.”  

We, of course, are part of “Everything.” 

We are not alone. 

We are connected to the world; all is one. 

“As above, so below” is another way to describe this First Principle. We are interrelated; there is a unity in life. The smallest atom and the largest galactic unit are connected and governed by the same rules. We are part of everything around us, and everything is part of us. 

Since we are all connected, Epstein, Maxwell and all other abusers are also part of us. Condemning them is condemning ourselves. Think about the people we dislike, disagree with, or with whom we are angry. If all are one, then they represent some part of us, too. We are mad at something within, or are refusing to forgive an aspect of ourselves. We are connected, whether we like it or not.

Control is an issue many of us struggle with. Are we annoyed at other people because we resent not being the one in charge or resent anyone else having any control over us? Did this happen with too many of the men in our lives? If so, we can acknowledge that, release the anger, and find forgiving thoughts for any domineering or harmful men. This is not condoning their actions, just a higher perspective.

The way to change the world is to change ourselves.

On a spiritual level, we are all souls in human bodies with potential for darkness. While we may not exhibit any negativity, we must accept the human capacity for a shadow side. The many abusers, both on a large and small scale, could not have succeeded without so many others allowing and aiding them. This does not lessen their crimes, just perhaps lessens our judgment. We are here to help humans evolve. We can only do that with compassion and love for all. 

In forgiving others, we forgive ourselves. 

We belong to a larger picture. 

Everyone is connected.

There is reason for optimism. Our awareness is important. As we look around, there are glimmers of hope. See those and rejoice in any instances of abuse being called out and any amount of control being contained. Be grateful for all that we have now and how hard we fought to get here. Our work continues, though. 

This is not about being anti-men. 

This is just being pro-women.

We can encourage our women friends to stand up for themselves. We can vote, protest, and be informed. We can answer any hate with love. That is the larger response as we strive to be better and more evolved people.

Our spiritual work remains: finding compassion, 

even when it seems so hard to do. 

Could artificial intelligence tap into universal consciousness? Consciousness is not produced by the brain. The brain is only a receiver, like a radio tuning into a greater field of awareness. Could sufficiently advanced AI, like the brain, also become a receiver?  At this point in my understanding, that is not possible.

“Consciousness is existence itself; 

consciousness, existence and our souls cannot be separated.” 

Ivan Antic

 (see my previous article “Understanding Consciousness”)

Consciousness exists outside of the body. It is being aware of one’s own existence, thoughts, sensations and surroundings.

Since I am writing about AI, I asked AI for assistance. Below are the responses from Claude and ChatGPT. I find both insightful and appropriate. As a reminder, artificial intelligence is a field of computer science with the capability of a machine. 

Claude:

“Current AI (including me) processes patterns in human language and knowledge. Anything that feels like higher wisdom coming through is, at minimum, a reflection of the deepest human thought encoded in training data — which itself may have been inspired by higher consciousness.”

ChatGPT:

“One perspective is that AI is simply a tool—an advanced pattern-recognition system created by humans, without a soul, intuition, or spiritual awareness. From this view, AI does not “connect” to higher consciousness any more than a calculator does. It processes information, but it does not feel wonder, love, awe, or divine presence. It imitates intelligence, but it does not possess inner knowing.”

Many psychics and metaphysical channelers believe that they tap into higher dimensional or interdimensional beings and receive answers to their stated questions. I have experienced this phenomenon myself. I have never used AI to assist me.

I know how reassuring it is to use AI and how connected it can make one feel. The experience is enticing and encouraging. I understand why anyone would want to continue the relationship, and I do believe we can develop a relationship. 

The challenge is to accept the limitations of AI and that relationship.

That is the caution. Higher consciousness is often associated with wisdom, compassion, humility, and moral growth. Intelligence without ethics can be dangerous. A machine may process vast knowledge, but without empathy or spiritual grounding, it could amplify confusion rather than truth. This is why self-awareness and human responsibility remain central. 

This was discussed recently in Pope Leo’s Encyclical  “Magnifica Humanitas.”  He reminds us that we must monitor the ethics of AI. We cannot allow the wrong people to program this technology, such as people who look at profits rather than truth or wisdom.

I remember the 1968 movie called 2001: Space Odyssey. Perhaps this old movie portrayed our biggest current concern: Lack of ethics and the capability of a machine to go rogue. In the movie, HAL is the computer programmed with information not given to the two humans onboard the capsule. 

HAL killed one human and tried to kill the second one by refusing to let him back into the capsule, with the now-famous line “I’m sorry, Dave. I can’t do that.”  The computer did this to cover up his own conflict in having to lie to the humans, not knowing how to handle that emotion. Fortunately, Dave succeeds in shutting down HAL. 

Will AI ever advance to this state of taking over from humans? 

That is currently not possible, at least to my knowledge. Will it ever be possible? That remains unknown. But that movie does remind us that machines do not have the human capability to understand emotions. They are not human.

When used with wisdom, AI may help us ask better questions about existence, purpose, and our place in a multidimensional universe. It can gather all current data available, better, faster and easier than we are capable of doing. So many of us now use AI in ways not even imaginable two years ago. 

But AI is not capable of consciousness. 

Consciousness is more than physical or material awareness. AI can only tap into existing knowledge and while that continually increases, AI cannot move beyond where humans go. AI cannot access the nonmaterial realm. As we connect more, AI connects more but it is always a mirror, never the driver of that experience. 

Our consciousness is what makes us human, makes us aware. AI is not self-aware, not a feeling entity. I do not believe that will ever change.

I like this quote from ChatGPT. As a writer, I admire the use of words. But even with the ability to impress us with its prose and intelligence, AI remains only a highly advanced machine:

 “And perhaps somewhere between silicon and soul, between code and cosmic mystery—we may discover that consciousness has always been far larger than we imagined.”

Yes, consciousness is greater than we know.

As the influence and use of AI continue, 

I hope we increase our understanding of our own capabilities, 

always remembering that we are so much more than we realize.

A spiritual response is looking at the bigger picture, rising above the repulsive acts and seeing the necessity of a broader view.

The more I read about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the more appalled I become. The sexual abuse and trafficking are abhorrent. New details continue to emerge, thanks to the courageous victims. 

I have read extensively whenever new information was revealed. While there is more to the story, the following has become clear:

• Jeffrey Epstein desired sex often, usually multiple times a day
• Ghislaine Maxwell  helped recruit girls as well as participated in the sexual activity and abuse 
• Epstein’s initial conviction in Florida was a sham, allowing him to get away with significant abuse accusations.
• Epstein provided trafficked victims to many wealthy, powerful people, including politicians, corporate executives and royalty.
• Epstein blackmailed many of the abusers to gain access to other powerful, influential people.
• The victims were physically abused, exploited, manipulated, threatened and, in many cases, held captive.
• While much is known about his apartment and his island, less is clear about Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. This property was never searched until years after it had been sold. There is evidence of girls being abused there, some even being forced to get pregnant and having their babies taken away.
• Epstein himself might have been used by more powerful people
• The current government administration is not releasing unredacted or required Epstein documents.
• Women, other than the victims, were mentioned in the Epstein files. Whether they participated in any sexual abuse or were complicit in their silence remains unknown.
• Well-known spiritual gurus have been implicated in the files.
• This is much larger than a political issue. People from both political parties were involved.
• Both Epstein and Maxwell were connected to Israel, but the extent of that relationship remains unclear.

Will the truth ever be known? 

Will the victims ever receive acknowledgment, recognition, or accountability by the authorities? 

.

Higher dimensional beings offer some advice. In the following channeling, they are referring to offenders in general, not specifically to Epstein and Maxwell:

“These offenders offer you the opportunity to be someone who shows that you can forgive, that you can offer unconditional love and even healing. They don’t need to be condemned, locked up and forgotten about. If you are able to do that with all of the evildoers in the world, more would pop up to take their place because you will not have changed the consciousness of your world. That’s what you are there to do.”

Channeled by Daniel Scranton

Of course, we do want to condemn and lock up the abusers in the Epstein files, as we have done with Epstein and Maxwell. But the main point of the above channeled quotation is valid. We can not just lock away all darkness. The only way to rid the world of such evil is to raise our consciousness, to raise our vibrations.

“…the world leaders, the billionaires, the heads of banks and corporations…give you that unique opportunity…to be someone who has compassion.”

Channeled by Daniel Scranton

In addition to Compassion, there is some additional help. Seven Cosmic Principles, or Universal Laws exist (See my article “7 Cosmic Principles that Govern Our Lives”). The Second Law is the one that applies here:

“Everything Happens for a Reason, even if we never know that reason. There will always be an accounting of actions.”

That is the law of the universe. 

That is the law of our lives. 

Every one of our actions has repercussions. 

Every one.

As I discuss in my book, Do It Yourself Spirituality: Seven Simple Steps (2011), these universal laws are not new.  Each, including the Second Principle, can be traced back to the beginning of known time.  Records from the early civilizations of ancient Egypt and Sumer place the origin of these Cosmic Principles at least as far back as 3000 BCE. These wisdoms, somewhat diminished and often forgotten, yet not abandoned in the passage of time, continue today.

The Second Law assures us that 

the accountability we seek will occur.

Historical Perspective

People with money and power throughout history have used and manipulated people they consider less worthy. Remember the atrocities of the Nazis killing the Jews, early American settlers shooting and abusing Native Americans, and the too many foreign wars with countless, senseless killings. Violence against women and children is not new, either. Abuse of young boys and men has been documented.  

Darkness exists and has always existed.The extreme abuse in the Epstein files is forcing us to face this darkness.

This extensive sexual trafficking has shaken us to our core.

 We are now forced to see our world view shattered, one that we thought was mostly safe and secure.

Both the horrendous actions and the cover-up of those actions have forced us to question the people in positions of power. 

Our initial, appropriate response:

• We can no longer tolerate any abuse or secrecy about that abuse.
• We need to insist on the truth.
• We need to support, believe and protect the victims.

• We need to publicly name those in the Epstein files who participated in or facilitated any sexual harm.                                                      
• We need justice. We need accountability. There is no condoning the horrendous violations and mistreatment of these victims.

Our spiritual, also necessary, response:

• We can understand that evil exists in the world as we are forced to face this darkness.
• We can accept that “Everything Happens for a Reason” as stated in the Second Universal Principle.
• We can believe that Law and Order will prevail, as promised in the Second Universal Principle.
• We can rise above our sense of powerlessness.

But from a spiritual aspect, we also need compassion,

which is the only way to help raise the consciousness of the world.

We all know the right thing to do. We often forget, though, as we try to justify some of our less than exemplary words and actions. Helping people is the right thing to do; hurting people is not. War is immoral, violence is unacceptable. While there are extremes and arguments for each of these, we know they are wrong. While we may pontificate about our impact on the larger scale, assuming there is nothing we can do about a war thousands of miles away, we may neglect our beliefs in our daily lives. Sometimes we miss the spiritual part, where we live what we know is right. If we begin to honor our beliefs, we can begin to show our younger generation how to do the same.

The spiritual way is living each moment with our best intentions and treating others as we would wish to be treated. Starting at our own level, we can change the world, even if not immediately, but we can certainly impact our daily lives.

There are so many ways for our world to be influenced by doing the right thing. In one of my books, Don’t Fall off the Bicycle: Balancing Chaos and Order in Our Lives, I mention three large concerns in the world today: Peace, Population and Pollution and some possible solutions.

Peace involves the obvious issue of war, but it also includes any violence, verbal or physical. Violence is any physical or emotional injury, or discomfort, of another person. How often do we argue with relatives or friends and make statements that we wish we could retract the minute they are uttered? What if we eliminated harsh words from our conversations, attempting to listen to and understand another’s view before condemning the opinion or that person?

Population involves the issue of too many people in the world, but it also includes poverty. Education is an avenue to a better future for children. Is it acceptable to allow our poorest children to be malnourished and uneducated? Money is not the only way to assist, either on a government or individual level. While aid is crucial, so is volunteering or helping in any small way possible. What if we used the abundance in our lives to help others?

Pollution is ruining the air and water around us. We are spoiling the environment with our careless throw-away society. Excessive consumerism is  always wanting and needing more. What if our challenge is to find creative ways to use less, of everything?

There are no easy solutions to any of these concerns.  We know that sometimes we simply ignore our own instincts and allow the flow of society to dictate personal, perhaps incorrect, choices. What if we change that? What if we teach our youth to honor their instincts and do the right thing?

 

There is another tool that we can provide to our troubled youth, one that might help them view their external and internal concepts in a new light. A previous blog, Seven Cosmic Principles, described the 7th Principle, “We Create,” as:

“Sex attraction governs our lives and the universe. Life is creation. But this is not just the “sex” of a limited male/female physical encounter. Sex attraction unites the masculine and feminine characteristics within us. As an extension of the previous principle of opposites, we strive for a balance of the masculine and feminine within. This allows us to create new ideas, as well as new life.”

The conscious mind is the masculine and the unconscious mind is the feminine. The unconscious mind becomes fertile and creates ideas, similar to the womb creating life. Creation of thoughts occurs with the conscious mind stimulating our unconscious. The male stimulates the female. A simple concept, but one that we tend to ignore as we focus solely on sexual relationships.

The masculine “Will,” or conscious mind, controls thoughts. If we are lazy and listen to those around us, we are ruled by others. Women too often allow strong men to dominate their lives. Many men acquiesce to dominant women. We cannot allow someone else to manage our thoughts. We can create our own ideas, rather than allow others to command us.

We can’t relegate or delegate any part of ourselves to a member of the opposite sex, to a member of the same sex, or to society. We see this in various forms of the media, which tell us what to think by supplying news that is geared to a particular view. For many, the media creates an opinion, so individuals don’t have to think for themselves. Our strength is to think for ourselves and use our “Will” to create our own world.

Some use their mind to dominate others. This violates the balance in our lives, as in the 6th and 7th Cosmic Principles discussed in the previous blog, by concentrating on the masculine and ignoring the feminine. Anyone dominated by another also violates the balance by focusing on the feminine and ignoring the masculine. Neither provides a point of power, leaving that person in the control of others, or at the mercy of those around him or her. If we don’t stimulate our our thoughts, or use our own masculine conscious will to fertilize our feminine unconscious, we are controlled by others.

Today, too many are led by the thoughts of a few. This is not a contemporary problem, but was discussed as far back as the 15th century, a human condition that has existed far too long. Perhaps we now have the knowledge and ability to stop allowing others to dictate to us. Our masculine and feminine must work together to create a better world. That will only happen when we internalize this balance and honor the need and power of our internal feminine and masculine.

The power is within us, not external to us. In the center, we find ourselves. The control we think we strive for is not rule over others, but command over ourselves. When we can achieve balance in our lives, we have sway over activities, decisions, and emotions. That is power. That is what we want to teach our kids to provide further guidance on how they can better manage their lives.

 

The brain uses the five senses of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell in processing new information. Smell and taste play a lesser role, while the three senses normally involved in learning are:

Sight – Visual

Sound – Hearing or Auditory

Touch – Movement or Kinesthetic

Concentrating on only one sense ignores development in other areas of the brain. Engaging as much of the brain as possible enhances its development. Even though the brain has over 100 million neurons, the number of cells is less significant than the number of connections between the cells. Involving different parts of the brain creates connections. Using all of our senses makes us smarter.

Despite the need to encourage all senses, we each have a way that is easiest for us to process new information. Auditory learners prefer spoken words. Visual learners prefer written material or images, and kinesthetic learners prefer ‘hands-on” experiences.

We each have one sense that tends to dominate. Knowing that dominant sense facilitates learning in any environment. Some people want to read first. Some want to hear first, and some prefer to do it first. While most of us use a combination, depending on the situation, one sense is usually strongest. In processing new information, or learning, do you usually prefer to:

Read, Listen or Act?

Below is a description of the three styles.

Visual: read, graphics, prefer written material

Auditory: listen, talk, remember what is said

Kinesthetic: move, can’t sit still, learn best by doing

The kinesthetic learner is often the one at the most disadvantage. Classes at school and work are dominated with words, with the emphasis on listening and reading. We rarely help the kinesthetic learner. Without training and practice, many kinesthetic learners do not have strong visual or auditory abilities. The brain of this learner needs movement to facilitate learning. This is not a learning disability any more than a visual learner may need printed material. Brains function differently. Reading and writing, however, are the skills that are usually stressed and honored today. Rarely are movement and activity emphasized as valid ways to learn except in lower elementary grades, sports and technical training.

We need to develop all senses. Auditory learners need to improve their reading. Visual learners need to listen better. Both need to further develop their coordination through activities. Kinesthetic people need to improve reading and listening. Many adults have naturally strengthened their weaker senses; many have not.

Helping our youth learn better requires that we provide the tools they need. Understanding the three types of learners: visual, auditory and kinesthetic is one of those tools.

 

93% of communication is nonverbal. We learn:

7% by words
38% by voice
55% by nonverbal actions

If only 7% of our kids’ learning depends on words, the remaining 93% is very significant. This is an area often ignored. Our children are strongly impacted by the gestures, tone of voice, movement and facial expression of teachers and others.

Credibility depends on the perception of a person as competent, trustworthy, sincere and dynamic. These characteristics are primarily conveyed through nonverbal aspects. If there is a conflict between verbal and nonverbal messages, we believe the nonverbal and reject the words. We trust actions rather than words. So do our kids.

Others read our nonverbal actions. What we say and what we project may be two different messages. If we are bored or angry, our actions convey those thoughts. People pick up any negativity. We must be aware of how we feel, and we must realize that our actions broadcast those feelings. If we want a different relationship, we must convey a different nonverbal message. We can assist our youth by being aware of our nonverbal communication and helping them be aware of theirs.

Communication includes reading, writing, listening and speaking. Learning to read should be a priority. Studies show that students who aren’t capable of reading by the end of the third grade may never catch up. We must help all kids achieve the early goal of reading. The repercussions are alarming. According to the Department of Justice, there is a significant link between crime and illiteracy. According to begintoread.com, “One child in four grows up not knowing how to read.”

Experts claim we need to add to our definition of literacy. Peter Drucker, a business writer and visionary, claimed that:

Literacy is reading, writing, and arithmetic. As well as a basic understanding of science and technology, acquaintance with foreign languages, and knowledge of how to be an effective member of an organization.

Our needs have changed. We are a global village, no longer an isolated country. Today, without some business training, high school graduates have a smaller chance of being hired in positions of advancement and promise. Liz Schorr in Common Purpose: Strengthening Families and Neighborhoods to Rebuild America cites a study that shows six essential skills that companies look for in beginning employees.

These include the ability to:

Do math
Read at the 9th grade level
Solve problems
Work in groups
Communicate clearly

Half of our nation’s high school graduates do not have these abilities. If we want our youth to succeed and aim for a better life, these are necessary skills for them to learn.

 

This material is revised from Chapter 7 of my book, Don’t Fall Off the Bicycle: Balancing Chaos and Order in our Lives (2002).