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The New Times simply would not be here today if founding publisher Krysta Gibson hadn’t had the vision, the courage, and the energy to manifest her vision back in 1985. (Scroll down to read Krysta's recollections of the early days.) It was a time when spirituality was much more in the closet than it is today. I credit today’s comparative acceptance of the flow of this kind of information to the groundwork that Krysta and others like her laid over the years. There are many places on this planet that do not enjoy the freedom of expression that we in the Northwest now enjoy. Sometimes it’s easy to be drawn to the list of woes in our world, but knowing about the adversarial environment of those times, and the progress that has been made, allows me to move into gratitude for the blessings I enjoy today. I must express my profound appreciation for everyone who co-creates The New Times with me: readers who patronize our advertisers; advertisers who make it possible to give away papers to 50,000 readers; subscribers who pay their own way, making it possible to give yet another copy away; writers whose inspiration and practical advice fill these pages; and my hard-working staff. The January 1997 issue was the first issue that I was responsible for producing, so as I prepare this issue I have completed five years at the helm of The New Times. In 1996, I made a huge career change when Krysta and I decided that The New Times and I would have a special future together. It was a humbling experience for me. From the outside looking in, publishing The New Times looked far easier than it actually turned out to be, particularly from a financial perspective, but nothing that lots of time and energy could not overcome. I have gained a whole new level of respect for small business owners, and especially publishers! When my time comes to turn over The New Times to a new steward, I know that when I look back, I’ll long remember the many loving, supportive relationships that I was privileged to experience because of my role here. I have never been in a work environment where I felt so supported. I always seemed to attract the right person or persons whenever I needed something. My heartfelt thanks go to those who have worked alongside me during the past five years, especially to my partner and editor, David Young, who, in spite of long hours and low pay, has been steadfast in his dedication to our work (throughout what has sometimes seemed like a revolving door for staffing). I am not complaining about the staff turnover; much of what is now incorporated into the energy of The New Times is the result of the unique talents and gifts that someone freely shared in our work. Many of the close bonds that were built in our work together still exist. As a result, I often feel like I have other sets of eyes and ears in different parts of the world today. By the time many of you read this, Sheila Dahlstrom will be living in northern California after working here for two and a half years. Sheila was kind enough to give me a one-year notice of her departure. Her hard work to increase our advertiser support helped tremendously to offset sharply increased printing costs without having to make corresponding increases in ad rates. Most of all, I will miss her humor, which lightened our load, and her caring, thoughtful ways. May God bless you in all that you do, dear Sheila! I am trained and licensed as a transportation engineer and spent a quarter century in that profession. In that capacity, I spent much time envisioning what the world would be like in twenty or more years and what kind of changes would be required to meet future demands. I still hold on to that futuristic perspective: what would I like the world to be like in coming years, and what is required to get there? When I first started at The New Times, I had to get to the business of getting from one deadline to the next, so my vision for the future of The New Times and its role unveiled itself much more slowly than I was used to. It was my time to learn — to learn about publishing and the unique aspects of our clients, and to learn that The New Times’ energy is a feminine energy that often reveals itself one step at a time, slowly yet steadfastly. My vision for the future form of The New Times is manifest in this issue: 60-64 pages total, with a heavier cover stock. I would like to build synergistic relationships with my peer publishers. I will continue working to find new ways to energize the community from which our advertisers are drawn, a community of those who have chosen to devote their life energy to bringing love and healing to our planet. I leave the timing for these and other changes to the unique energy of The New Times. In the coming months and years, new relationships, facilitated by this paper, will blossom; new ideas will become part of the mainstream press after debuting on these pages; and new leaders will be published here first. In our 200th issue and beyond, please join me in co-creating a brighter tomorrow for all of us. I am happy to share with you below some of the comments I received for this special edition:
For the first time in recorded history, we have at our fingertips the power to preserve, or destroy, all that we value, love, and hold dear. In addition to creating such technologies, we must now understand our role in creation to know how our newfound powers may be applied in life-affirming ways. As science strives to unlock the secrets of our lives, we look to mass media and responsible journalism for comfort, meaning, and insight into the mysteries of our time. It is within such a context that The New Times, the Pacific Northwest’s premier journal of New Thought, has become a model for holistic, scientific, and spiritual publications throughout the country. Because it is a cornerstone of information in the Seattle area, the local community has come to rely on The New Times as a reliable source of alternative, leading-edge information in a world that appears to be changing at a record pace. My producers and I count on The New Times to communicate the specifics of our appearances in a timely fashion, and I attribute the quality of our interviews to the professionalism, and genuine interest, of the New Times staff. In January of 2002, The New Times celebrates its 200th consecutive monthly publication and offers a special commemorative issue to mark the occasion. Congratulations, New Times, for your vision, courage, and pioneering spirit in creating such a powerful forum for alternative media. I look forward to exploring the great mysteries of health, relationships, and the well-being of our families and communities, together, in our 21st-century lives! — Gregg Braden, author
of The Isaiah Effect (Crown
Publishing, 2000);
The New Times was there back then, with the consciousness of a small family community. They cared, and they showed it. They featured articles about us and even attended the meetings. I can't think of many organizations that have been able to keep that kind of close-knit community feeling within a booming metropolis that continues to grow and grow. Take a look at their Web site (www.newtimes.org). It's still a small group of people — a family — who are very dedicated to bringing a personal, winning message of empowerment to anyone who wishes to hear it. Thank you, New Times, for being there and being there and being there. We travel the world, and have seen numbers of publications like yours fail. It's only when they are gone that they are missed greatly. Readers, advertisers, and New Times staff: take a moment to celebrate something that is still here and that blesses us all. I am. — Lee Carroll (for Jan Tober and the staff at The Kryon Writings, Inc.)
The first few years were very difficult. Although there were people who held "New Age" beliefs, the community did not exist as it does today. There were two bookstores: Zenith Supplies and Quest Bookshop. Unity of Seattle and the Church of Religious Science at Northgate were well established, but shied away from using the term "New Age." The climate was very different from today. After the first issue, I received an anonymous phone call telling me I was the Antichrist and that I was doing the work of the devil. Fundamentalist Christian groups felt very threatened, and would leaflet cars during psychic fairs and leave threatening notes at my office and on the answering machine. Public debates were held as "New Agers" were challenged to defend their beliefs. I was invited to be on a noon television talk show with a Christian minister, on which he proceeded to call my work the work of the devil. I asked why people were so threatened by the idea of loving one another. It was an exciting time in many ways. Within the pages of The New Times, people began to share their thoughts and feelings. We had some factions in the community, people who did not agree with one another and who would avoid being with each other. I was thrilled to be able to see these folks meeting within the pages of the newspaper. I used to say, "These two people would never agree to sit down and talk, but here they are side by side in the newspaper talking." The community grew and it matured. As the public came to know more about these ideas, they relaxed and stopped viewing us as a threat to the fabric of our nation. Today I chuckle to myself when I drive down Lake City Way and see a carpet store advertising Feng Shui classes or find myself in a mainstream bookstore that sells crystals. They would have been picketed in the late 1980s! Of course, as people like to say, none of these ideas is "new"; they are all actually very old. What is new is people's willingness to be open to considering the spiritual side of life as "real," and the willingness to embrace these concepts as compatible with everyday living. It has been an exciting ride since 1985, and I am honored that following my inner voice and vision could be a part of this evolution of consciousness. Krysta Gibson sold The New Times in 1996. She is now involved in working with the elderly. She is general manager of Merrill Gardens, a retirement, assisted living, and dementia community in Monroe, Washington; publishes a quarterly newspaper called Wisdom of the Ages, in which all the articles are written by people fifty and over; serves on the advisory council to the Snohomish County Ombudsman program; is on the board of directors to the Sky Valley food bank; and has recently been named a member of the Snohomish County Council on Aging. She can be contacted at P.O. Box 1236, Gold Bar, WA 98251.
— Deborah Koff-Chapin,
creator of SoulCards 1 and
2
When David needed assistance following his heart operation in May 2000, I was asked to edit articles for one issue. That opportunity, and several casual conversations with Deverick over the years, allowed me to hear what his mission and goals are for the paper. The New Times has served our region as a premier metaphysical resource, but Deverick’s future vision includes coverage of right investing, conscious living, and ecological sustainability. His background in urban planning and my background as an environmental planner fueled lively conversations in which we saw the paper providing community services presently under-served in our region. Deverick’s intense regard for human welfare drove him to upgrade and modernize the technological systems used to produce the paper so he could make good on the ideas he shared during our talks. He didn’t want to be left behind the publishing growth curve, and now finds himself instead well ahead of it, to the point that he is now offering his vision and expertise to other metaphysical papers in the United States. Like Reuters or United Press International, Deverick foresees the development of a news service and editorial network supporting the alternative and social justice arenas. What The New Times needs from us as readers and advertisers in the community it serves is: 1) Resources/contacts in the areas mentioned above 2) Direction about what we want covered 3) Subscriptions/ownership The New Times, more than any other publication in the Seattle area, is prepared to lead in the areas I have discussed. David and Deverick know our community. They understand and excel in the publishing industry. We are the loyal readers, advertisers, and contributors. Our ownership of the paper’s evolution means involvement and contribution. We can offer our talents, give subscriptions as presents (including to ourselves!), and most importantly, support The New Times with feedback, input, and ideas. — Collen Marquist [Publisher’s note: Your comments are always welcome. I plan to conduct a reader survey in the first half of 2002; please take the time to let me know what you think!]
— Drunvalo Melchizedek,
editor in chief, Spirit
of Ma'at;
— Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D.,
Apollo 14 astronaut
It is very difficult for new authors to get their work out to the public. The New Times was generous and articulate when it came to getting my work out in the Northwest. For that I will always be grateful. When my second book, Intuitive Healing, came out in 2001, they also did a wonderful article about it. I feel very close to the people of Seattle and the Northwest. I feel privileged to have given many workshops in that area. In addition, I must say that they did a spectacular article on my sweetheart, Coleman Barks, a poet and translator of Rumi, when he gave a conference in Victoria. They showcased his newest book, The Soul of Rumi, in a thoughtful way. The New Times is getting critically important information out about extraordinary forms of consciousness that will transform the world. Mainstream media usually doesn't touch these subjects, but The New Times courageously persists in educating its audience and keeping it up to date about progress in the field of consciousness. As an intuitive, I deeply sense the imminent need for collective change to happen on our planet. The New Times is facilitating that by being a consistently dependable and knowledgeable resource. I thank The New Times from the bottom of my heart for being there for us all, and I enthusiastically celebrate their 200th consecutive monthly publication. — Judith Orloff, M.D,
Los Angeles psychiatrist and intuitive and
Usually when I write an article, I am absolutely driven. I cannot sleep until I get the words down. It touches me deeply when what I have written is remembered, since I am compelled to share my stories. This is one of the ways Spirit teaches me, and I have grown to trust that my stories serve a purpose for others as well. I've had articles published such as "Playing Indian," "Coffee: The Last Addiction" (in a Seattle-based paper!), "Pray Like a Woman," "The Space Needle: A Healing Tool," "In Honor of Trees," and one of my favorites, "One Last Time to Bleed." I have written about my questing experiences on Medicine Shield Retreat (as in my most recent piece, "Synchronicity on the Beach," published in November 2001). This is the core of my spiritual practice. The New Times has given me safe, sacred ground upon which to place my words. There is another way that The New Times has impacted my life. When I moved to the Seattle area in 1989, I had left a place where I had lived for 15 years. Friends and family were all 3,000 miles away. I found an issue of the paper somewhere and felt instant relief to know that there was hope of finding like-minded people. I placed an ad calling for a circle of women to come together in my home. My first gathering was held in January 1990, and that ad continues to run to this day. For almost 12 years I have sat in circle with hundreds of women. I now experience what I call "deep sisterhood," in part because of this newspaper's ability to reach spiritually connected women. The beauty that this has added to my life is immeasurable. We are creating community. Creating community. Yes, this is what The New Times has been doing all these years too: helping to create a community. That really is the bottom line. This paper links our voices together and has given us a forum for expression. More than "New Age," we are a diverse bunch of spiritual beings having one heck of an adventure, as so well documented in The New Times. We are explorers, and this paper has made it clear to us all that we are not doing this alone. We are connected. I believe that The New Times is serving, and will continue to serve, this community that it has helped to create. Spirit has guided its owners, past and present. As we grow stronger, this is reflected in the beauty of this newspaper. I am honored to be part of that legacy. The New Times, Deverick, David, and staff: blessings and thank you! — Starfeather
— Marion Woodman, Jungian
analyst and |
Life
is an adventure, a journey punctuated with laughter and tears,
sorrows and joys, disappointments and achievements. We take time
this month to reflect on our past and look to our future. I dedicate
this issue to the countless contributions over the past 200 issues
that energized this publication and the important work of the
community that it serves. I know of many important relationships
that exist today because of a connection that was facilitated
by The New Times (including some of my own). Many important
leaders of our day took their first public steps to success on
the pages of The New Times. Ideas that were once the exclusive
purview of publications like The New Times now find themselves
in the most mainstream publications.
While creation has
revealed many of her secrets, at the dawn of the 21st century,
science still searches for meaning in the sudden appearance of
new, life-threatening diseases; unprecedented extremes in global
weather patterns; increasing numbers of failed relationships;
and our recently acquired power to replicate the very building
blocks of life.
It all began here,
you know. The precursor to worldwide Kryon meetings with thousands
of attendees started in Seattle with a very modest beginning.
We were in the dark as to what to do and who to talk to. How
could we get the word out? Who would care? Would there be anyone
interested in our new work?
In March of 1985,
I quit my job as editor of the Ocean Star newspaper in
Point Roberts, Washington, moved to Seattle, and started The
New Times. I had no capital, no rich relatives to help me,
and knew only two people in Seattle. This foolishness was based
on an inner voice that had prompted me to "move to Seattle
and start a monthly New Age newspaper." I did not consider
myself to be a "New Age" person, having my recent roots
in the New Thought movement.
The
New Times provides a shining pillar of information, resources,
and inspiration for our region and beyond. Congratulations on
200 issues! I look forward to your continued presence in the
coming years.
My seven-year
role as a columnist for The New Times began with its founding
publisher, Krysta Gibson. Happily, when Deverick and David took
over the helm, they enthusiastically encouraged me to continue
the monthly "Messages in Stone" column!
For over
16 years, The New Times has given to us all. Bless you
and your readers.
My heartiest
congratulations on the celebration of your 200th edition. Particularly
in these difficult times when we must discover a new global model
that de-legitimizes violence, terrorism, and war for conflict
resolution, holistic thinking becomes paramount. Gaia and her
civilizations cannot long endure if conflict can result in sudden
escalation to the use of our most destructive weaponry. Keep
up the good work of helping us find the new way.
The New Times
is a groundbreaking journal on holism, spirituality, and metaphysics.
When I published my first book, Second Sight, about my
coming out as a psychiatrist and intuitive — a very scary
but exciting move to find a public voice for me — The
New Times published a wonderful article on my work.
Just the
other day, a woman approached me: "Hey, I know you. I have
seen your picture and read your articles in The New Times
for at least ten years!" I know you, she said. That
was the sweetest part, because I have been given the opportunity
to write about my personal spiritual experiences in this paper.
My articles are stories of a woman's life as she bumps along
in an amazing world. It is my life. I am so grateful for the
freedom of expression that has been given me by The New
Times. Repeatedly, this work of mine has been welcomed and
printed.
As The New Times
publishes its 200th consecutive monthly publication, we find
ourselves in "new times" indeed. The events of September
11 have swept out the tourists, the excess baggage, the junk
from the attics, cellars, and cupboards of our minds. We find
ourselves on a new shoreline. With its traditional vigor, The
New Times will surely address the emerging consciousness.
Congratulations on your work and insight. I wish you the very
best for the future.