Draining The Swamp: How We Do It At New Horizons

Wondering how New Horizons is going to carry out its mission?

See this post for an update on this project.

(The magic of our approach is that it is multi-tiered, meaning that it is a bottom up rather than top down method that aims to impact all levels of systemic functioning. This means we pay attention to the “swamp” closest in to us as well that way beyond our capacity to affect it directly. How this systemic tactic can carry influence on all levels requires close examination. We will be taking this exploration on as we develop and expand our mission.)

Our basic formula is simple; commit to doing more and more of the good things to do and less and less of the not so good. How to apply it, in real time, is hard; so hard that only the truly committed and resilient person can even attempt it.

Here are a few of the personal character attributes needed -- 

1. Commitment to living by high-minded human principles;
2. Character traits of integrity, straightforwardness, being without hidden agendas, honesty, an unrelenting openness to learning and more;
3. A belief in the great potential for human advancement;

Here is a sample of what our formula entails.

1. Commitment to a “what to do” program (See this link. Also see this link for a whole, wide-range of articles on the "what to do" track.).  Each and every day, doing the best you can to develop these human attributes to their capacity that are typically undeveloped;
2. Commitment to a “what not to do” program (see this link) Each and every day, taking a daily inventory of how you have done that day for #1 and #2;
3. Meeting, preferably weekly, or at least monthly, with a group of similarly committed individuals in a group setting for the purposes of supporting one another. (This step includes giving honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback on each person’s progress while maintaining a caring, safe environment.);
4. Commitment to personally ascending as high as you are capable of doing. (See Murat’s Ahmsta Kebzeh: The Universal Science of Awe, Books I and II for an in depth discussion and guidance on this topic.)

Number three, immediately above, is almost going in the direction of New Horizons “Draining The Swamp GAME” which takes much preparation and practices to gain eligibility into. Will you be ready?

More on this later.

Since yesterday’s announcement of our GAME, we have already started taking applications for our "Draining The Swamp GAME" which you will, most likely, want to play. And we will tell you how and where as this new project unfolds and develops. Will you be ready?

Draining The Swamp – In Your Own Backyard: An Interactive GAME

Coming Soon!!

See this post for an update on this project.

Whatever is wrong in Washington, you/we don’t need to keep it going! 

“Draining The Swamp” Is One Of New Horizons Unique Interactive Games

Based on “old” New Horizons "signature" program --

The Truth or Dare GAME

(originally the “Discount Derby” as created by Martin G. Groder, M.D.)

“Draining The Swamp” is an interactive game based on more than fifty years of New Horizons evolving community development principles and practices to create the most up-to-date group dynamic  strategies.

Do you believe that our Congressional representatives ought to --

• Learn how to work cooperatively with one another, at least to some degree;
• Learn how to establish some degree of win-win intention on behalf of American citizens;
• Find elegant solutions to the collective challenges facing our nation?

If these ideals make sense to you, are you willing to develop the necessary skills, to practice, in your own life, what you preach?

If you believe as we do, that greater unity is a way to a healthier future -- then New Horizons “Draining The Swamp” interactive game is a great place for you to start taking some next steps!

The objective of New Horizons “Draining The Swamp” GAME is to help participants clear away personal cobwebs that obscure the clarity needed for people to solve small and large social problems. “Draining The Swamp” aids players in developing enhanced communication and conflict resolving skills to help move beyond power struggles and abuses. It also facilitates participant’s development of strengthened community bonds.  

Our “Draining The Swamp GAME” might even assist some folks in developing artfulness in helping to reweave the fabric of our society and politics?

Date: TBA Next Day Long Program 
(Also available, specially designed, for your group or organization.)

New Horizons Harpers Ferry Retreat Center

Bring snacks and a bag lunch. Stay for potluck dinner and campfire storytelling.

Space will be limited! 

Register early!

Fee: Donations encouraged. $100 suggested or --

Pledge time, talent or treasures to ---

New Horizons Coffee House Conversations Project

Contact: Anastasia 240.409.5347
Email: SuperSleuthDSW

On Why Presidents Lie And Some People Believe Them

Originally posted on Anastasia The Storyteller

Because I had just recently removed myself from the D.C. fast track; or the swamp as it is being called today. Because I still had friends in key places in Washington who were deeply connected to the center of Washington society and politics, including Watergate.

Because the Watergate break-in had occurred and Richard Nixon was being investigated by the Watergate Commission as he appeared culpable. Because the hearings were being televised and people, including me were drawn to watching. Because I was a captive audience lying in a hospital bed waiting for a cornea transplant and had nothing to do other than watch these trials. And, because I saw people around me seeming to believe Richard Nixon while my unsophisticated gut told me not to.

This is why I took on my very first super sleuthing adventure. Because I was in my first year of clinical training as a Transactional Analyst, I could analyze the transactions going on in this drama with my newly developing analytical skills. It was an intriguing exercise for a budding clinician. 

I needed to know how the president of the United States of America could lie to the American people – and -- how so many of his constituents could seem to believe him. 

(Many decades later I would discover that this pass timing activity of mine had much deeper roots in my own personal history. But that came later.)

So I dug in and I dug in further and further until I developed a passion for searching out truth and developed a great deal of understanding and expertise in handling these issues -- 

• How the president of the United States of America can lie to the American people;
• How so many of his constituents can seem to believe him;
• What to do when the Dark Side of society and politics gets really bad, beyond the Pale.

These days I feel a particular imperative to share what I learned and what I have come to know out of my decades of investigating the Dark Side of society and politics in the U.S.A.. I want you to hear the stories I have to tell about my adventures having to do with this and on the subject above itself. 

I want you to tell me back your stories of Dark Side encounters and how you may have transcended or transformed them to a higher good. We absolutely must do this kind of coming together. Storytelling is one of the best ways possible to pass forward the wisdom of the ages on such things!

Let us join together, now, in telling our stories!

When I saw Alec Baldwin last Saturday, again impersonating Donald Trump – and – his play-acting devotees on Saturday Night Live, depicting believers of what many of us see as the dangerous manipulations of innocent people by Trump and team, my heart hurt and my gut wrenched. The faces of those actors called up memories for me of the disbelief and confusion people felt when Nixon’s behavior negated the esteem and trust people had placed in him. I felt sick.

Today, this anguish comes out of me in the form of my wanting to urge you to use me now! 

More than ever, after my forty plus years of building my life’s work and my life’s passion for sorting out the ills of Watergate -- and -- doing my best to deter their being repeated, I have discovered how to move past such transgressions, or at least cope with them. 

Whether these ills have to do with the Dark Side of politics, corporate manipulations, street violence, domestic violence or child abuse, let us to talk to one another and learn from one another, NOW!

Right now, coping may be the best we can do. That and activism. Other than these there seems little else to do these days to set things right in our nation.

So please do use me! I am one of your national treasures.  Perhaps we are all that for one another.

You might be asking “What the hell is going on here?” and “What are we supposed to do with this?”

I don’t have all the answers. But I do have quite a few where these particular questions are concerned. 

At the top of my list of answers is that we must hang together, now, more than ever to pull ourselves together as one nation, looking out each for each other.

Storytelling can get us started!

With love for humanity in all its frailty,

Anastasia The Storyteller

“Coping With A Changing America:” Part 2

An ongoing series of monthly seminar/workshop/training programs, specially designed to help citizens of the U.S.A. overcome the polarization of our society and politics.

Do you feel out of sync and at “sixes and sevens” these days, even with close friends and family?  You are not alone, even if it feels that way sometimes. 

These are troubling times! 


Join us for our next Coffee House Conversations event that will–

• Help you begin to develop conversation skills to be a community bridge-builder (also with your family, friends and work associates);
• Teach you to speak truth to power in ways that have impact and a reliable success potential; 
• Provide you with a non-partisan, supportive environment within which to discuss and sort out some of the stress our current social and political climate may be causing you.

Coffee House Conversations Workshop

“Coping With A Changing America”

Saturday, April 8, 2017 

2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Frederick Friends Meeting House

723 N. Market Street

Reserve early, space is limited!

For Details and Reservations, Contact: Anastasia Rosen-Jones
Email: HarpersFerryNH@aol.com Cell: 240.409.5347

Donations are encouraged.

Be sure to read our many articles on “Overcoming Polarization”