I found this board a few years ago when I first became interested in energy medicine. I quickly developed some friendships and this kind of became my online spiritual home. The original bonds I had developed became even stronger as the wonderful people here helped me through my divorce last year. I gained even more friends than I had before and this place really did become a home for me. I have met several of you in real life and that only enhances the feeling of home that I feel here.

When I first started coming here, the posts were primarily about Quantum Touch and other more general topics related to practical use of energy medicine. Over the past year or so, things have really started to change. The topics have branched out as people have explored new territory. We've had an influx of new people that have brought a lot of new insight into energy medicine and spirituality.

Unfortunately for me, many of you have gone off into territory that I cannot follow. While I am extremely interested in spiritual things like energy medicine, psychic development, etc., I have always tried to keep one foot in the "real" world. I favor a more grounded approach that is open-minded yet discerning. As has become obvious to anyone in the chat room or reading the off-topic boards, that approach is becoming less and less popular here. Some of you are living in a world where fantasy and imagination become reality. Even worse, you look down on those like me who aren't willing to participate in group fantasy. I just can't take it anymore.

This isn't a farewell. I'm sure I'll be lurking around because of the number of friendships I've developed. This past year of my life would have been far harder to deal with if it hadn't been for the help of Sonja, Ashley, Ali, Zeneagle, Trane, Luvs, Quantumjedi, QTDude, Angyl-healer, Kimberly (where has she gone off to??), herbal, Doug Purcell, and all the others that I'm forgetting. I honestly wouldn't have made it through without you.

This isn't a goodbye, but just a realization that what used to be my home no longer seems to have a place for me. In the same way that I am the black sheep in my real family, I also seem to be one of the black sheep here.

I apologize to those who I seem to have conflicted with the most. You know who you are. I'm sorry if I have offended. If the path you are on is working for you then you should continue along it. Perhaps someday our paths will converge again.

John

Hi, John.

There's nothing wrong with being selective about the forums and threads in which you participate. Stick to those that deal with the approach to QT you feel aligned with and you acknowledge yourself in a very good way.

Peace,

Being selective is not being a black sheep. Just take what you can use and leave the rest.

John,
We're all each on our own path. If something someone else posts doesn't fit in with where you are on your path, or even flies right in the face of everything you believe - the beauty of this "home" is that we can all accept & love one another unconditionally, no matter what the "barriers" may seem to be. The Off Topic boards are specifically for 'off the QT topic' topics, and many of us found QT through other avenues, or it's broadened our perceptions in other areas we weren't aware of, or even fond of. It gives some of us a place to link up with others here whom have the same experiences, background, or are looking to think outside the box a bit. Nothing more, nothing less.
Everyone has a different level/type/way of discernment. In an area like energy therapy, there can't be "black and white." There's got to be room for the gray to get sorted out. People like you provide good roots inside the box, and that's good to have...it keeps things 'real' between people.
I'd hope sincerely that you'd not choose to discontinue coming here, and posting your thoughts, poetry, QT insights, and bringing your presence to chat in such a humanistic, open, and loving way...just because there are certain views being expressed in that section of the forums that you don't feel apply to you, or even appeal to you.
You know we all love you, and are here for you at any time.

Blessings, Love, and Hugs~
one of the "wierd" ones...lol!
Ash

I have no problem avoiding threads that don't appeal to me. I'm speaking more generally. The tone of the forum and chat room has changed. And that's totally natural. Internet forums are organic things and change as the participants come and go. The QT forums (not just the OT forums) are changing in such a way that it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to relate to them.

The chat room is another story. The tone of that room has changed wildly over the past year, but I suppose that's not surprising since many participants that I used to know rarely show up and there are lots of new people. Again, that's a totally natural occurrence, but the tone and subject matter tend to appeal less and less to me, especially when it devolves into lovingly bashing me because I'm too left-brained.

I have a lot of questions, some more difficult than others. It has become clear over the past two weeks that this is just not the place to discuss some of those questions. Just about any viewpoint is welcome here except for a rational, questioning approach that demands adequate answers to real questions.

Someone from this forum shared with me a quote from the Buddha just the other night. I will share it with you:

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

Who knows if Buddha actually said that, but I agree with its sentiment. Unfortunately, when dealing with certain subjects (and people) here, common sense is not allowed. It seems as if anyone caught applying common sense and logic to an event or situation is castigated. Having been on the receiving end of that for several days now, I've pretty much had all I can take for the time being. That really saddens me because I like to use the chat room to stay in touch with those I've come to count as friends.

I'm sure I'm being overly dramatic and I'll probably calm down in a while. I just felt that it was important to express how I've been feeling about things lately. I'm sure that was more from a place of selfishness than anything else, but it felt good to get it off my chest.

Dear Neiby,
It saddens me that you don't feel as welcome at this forum anymore. There HAS to be room made for skeptics and those who believe in some of the alternative healing disciplines but are wary of or dismissive of others. Quantum Touch doesn't require belief in any paradigm, and I appreciate how the site is not set up to favor anyone's belief. But I understand that if the shoe doesn't fit anymore (re off topic and chat rooms), then its best not to wear it. I hope you will still drop in, though!

I wish that you felt a happier medium or dynamic creative tension could have been reached that would be helpful to your journey. I can only guess how many people have read and agreed with your posts, and felt attacked or sleighted when you drew negative commentary for your views (or sometimes insensitive comments directed at beliefs that seem silly to you).

I do agree that Quantum Touch is often not at the heart of forum discussions, but that has been true for the three years I've been visiting. I do sense there are stronger opinions expressed and that differing views are less tolerated than a couple years ago. I hope this will shift back towards a less emotive and more tolerant community.

I don't think any forum is immune to the occasional food fight, but it is important to feel welcome to express ones views, as long as all parties are respectful one of the other.

I hope this becomes that kind of forum for you again.

Blessings,
Alfred

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Alfred,

John my dear...

Could it be that you are mistaking genuine suggestions to your questions for something that they aren't?

One thing I've noticed to be quite consistent over the past year is the unbelievably generous and caring spirit shown in chat. The second someone needs help or support, or if they're in pain, the group always swiftly responds.

I might suggest that instead of letting the clash of beliefs some might have with you build an impenetrable wall, that you simply live and let live. No-one's forcing you to believe what they are saying. But if you ask a question, people generally answer to the best of their ability or personal truth.

When you approach a room as culturally varied as our chat room, with people coming in from all over the world from wildly differing backgrounds, life experiences, philosophies, intuitive abilities etc., one really must keep and open and tolerant mind and spirit, taking any advice sought or received with a good grain of salt.

Maybe it's time to point out to everyone following this thread that there are 2 more chat rooms open and available if the topic at hand in general chat is not to their tastes.

*hugs* John. I hope you find what you're looking for.

It's sad that you feel the way you do John. You can't help how you feel, I guess. One thing that hasn't changed here since you've been gone is love. We still have it, we still give it and we still receive it. Subjects change from time to time, as they always have in the three years that I've been here. New people come, long timers go too and sometimes we just get caught up in our own lives with the struggles and successes.... but we're always here in spirit..... and when the seas ebb, we come back home. We're always willing to reach out a hand for others to hold, to offer comfort and hand if you want it, to keep you in balance when you wabble, so you don't fall. That doesn't change John. That is love whether it is in "real life," or here where we gather from all parts of the world to share with each other, because we all have one thing in common. LOVE.

Hi, John -

Although I haven't been on the message board as much for a while (belonging now to a TAT forum and a marketing forum I participate in as well), it still makes me sad you're more or less leaving!

I remember at least one discussion I participated in with you a while ago which I really enjoyed, although we disagreed - hope you don't include me with people who aren't willing to engage with people with differing viewpoints except patronizingly! Whether you do or don't, though, I like a spirited clash of views sometimes where all parties are really trying to understand what the other is saying and also trying to clarify their own view.

I've very seldom participated in the chat room (when I first tried, there were still a lot of bugs, so I never got in the habit), so I don't know what the atmosphere is like there.

Believe it or not, I am a believer in having at least one foot solidly planted in the earth myself!

Maybe just avoid the chat rooms for a while, and start a thread or two about something that interests you and see how it goes.

Hope to see you around...

quote:

Originally posted by Sonja:
John my dear...

Could it be that you are mistaking genuine suggestions to your questions for something that they aren't?

One thing I've noticed to be quite consistent over the past year is the unbelievably generous and caring spirit shown in chat. The second someone needs help or support, or if they're in pain, the group always swiftly responds.

I might suggest that instead of letting the clash of beliefs some might have with you build an impenetrable wall, that you simply live and let live. No-one's forcing you to believe what they are saying. But if you ask a question, people generally answer to the best of their ability or personal truth.

When you approach a room as culturally varied as our chat room, with people coming in from all over the world from wildly differing backgrounds, life experiences, philosophies, intuitive abilities etc., one really must keep and open and tolerant mind and spirit, taking any advice sought or received with a good grain of salt.

Maybe it's time to point out to everyone following this thread that there are 2 more chat rooms open and available if the topic at hand in general chat is not to their tastes.

*hugs* John. I hope you find what you're looking for.

You're absolutely right about the group's willingness to rally around someone who needs their help. That seems to always be the case and I'm unceasingly grateful for the help I've received.

I agree that some people I disagree with were just offering suggestions. That's not the problem. I think I've had a bad couple of weeks that culminated in a really bad couple of days that have made me particularly sensitive to certain things. I'm especially sensitive to suggestions that I'm less spiritual or enlightened than others simply because I don't turn off my common sense in favor of a more experiential spirituality. I'm all in favor of being open-minded and simply experiencing things, but I stand by my commitment to (try to) maintain a balance between the rational and the experiential.

Heck, even Huggie called me a depraved soul. You know you're in trouble when Huggie starts saying stuff like that!

John,

I for one am glad you expressed your thoughts and opinions especially in this post. Its about tolerance, compassion and understanding. Something I feel we all need to stay in check and revisit periodically. Its o.k. to be different, to view the world in a critical eye. It's what helps us continue to grow. Challenging ideas and opinions stretches us to view the world in a totally different way. Heck, even Einstein felt criticized for his ideas.

So John, I for one am glad you're here and thank you for stretching and challenging my thinking.

Many Blessings

quote:

Heck, even Huggie called me a depraved soul. You know you're in trouble when Huggie starts saying stuff like that!

That's a point! (Though I think Huggie would probably agree that he does get more than a tad irrascible at times...)

Hi John,
When you have a chace and are in the neighborhood, please drop by for a cup of absolutely lousy coffee. Keep the light on for you.
No lecturing, guaranteed, just dont want to lose contact with you and your mind.

Lovingly and healingly,
Lynn (you know where I am.)

I don't partake of the more intellectual threads/topics but I sure do read them and find them exhilerating and well, I down-right look forward to them.
Sure gonna miss you John.
Blessings great and small to you.
Christina

Well, I doubt I'm leaving, exactly. That's a bit dramatic. I just really felt the need to vent my frustrations. In hindsight, I kind of wish I hadn't because it seems a bit self-serving and self-centered. I'm probably just going to drop back into lurk mode for a while. I have too many friends here to disappear for too long.