The lead article in this year's Fall 2001 issue of the Psi Symposium Annual Journal is by the Founding President of the U.U. Psi Symposium, the Rev. Robert S. Slater. His article, "The New Medicine", was originally given as a sermon from the pulpit of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn, in Swampscott, Mass., on June 25, 2000, and sparked great interest on the part of his listeners, who asked if he might put his sermon on line for others to read. The subtitle of his article—"the account of an attempt at the holistic or alternative healing of a person with an incurable disease"—tells us what his sermon was about, except for one thing, the person was his wife, Robin, who is ill with Alzheimer's disease. Bob has had a longtime interest in the psychic health readings of Edgar Cayce, which he decided to research for possible help with his wife's illness. Though she was not cured of her disease she did show signs of marked improvement. His sermon article is a fascinating account of his endeavor to help him and his wife come to terms with a difficult disease and the positive results of that endeavor.

Our second article, "The Practice of Spiritual Discipline in the Liberal Church" was given as an address for the Psi Symposium workshop at the UUA General Assembly in Cleveland, Ohio, last June, by the Rev. Dr. Michael A. Schuler, minister of the First Unitarian Society in Madison, Wisconsin, where he has served since 1988. Michael has been reading, writing and practicing in the filed of spiritual disciplines for many years. He has lectured and given numerous workshops on the topic. He talks about the practice and results of meditation, yoga, tai chi and other spiritual/physical practices and what they can mean for UU's in the liberal church.

The Rev. Frederick John Muir, author of our third article, is minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, in Maryland, where he has served since 1983. His article on "Faith Healing in the UU Church of the Philippines" is an excerpt from his latest book, Maglipay Universalist a History of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines. His book and article is based on his first-hand visit to the Philippines, meeting congregations and church leaders there, and pursing research for his fascinating account of Unitarian and Universalist history on the islands. Among other things he discovered that faith healing is an integral part of the religious and spiritual lives of ministers and laypeople in the UU Church of the Philippines. Those who would like to order his book, which sells for $20.00, may do so by writing him at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401-2123.

Shirley Pratt serves as Membership Secretary for the UU Psi Symposium Board of Directors. She is also a practicing trance medium who does rescue work for departed spirits who have not fully crossed over to the spiritual plane of existence following the death of the body. Her most recent book, REVELATION Dorothy's Story From Death to Rebirth, is an account by her friend, Dorothy Stoddart, who after she passed, continued to communicate to Shirley and others, when Shirley was in trance. Dorothy relates what has happened to her since she passed into spirit, what life is like on the other side, and the preparations for her rebirth onto the earth's physical plane, in a different race and culture. The selection for our Journal is Chapter XXX from the book. Those who would like to order a copy of the book may do so by writing: Shirley Pratt, 760 Highland Ave., #7, Needham, MA 02494. Cost is $11.50 plus $1.00 for postage.

The fifth article, "Cats and Animal Friends", comes from the life and experience of Susan Kippen, former member of the UU Psi Symposium Board of Directors, and a practicing psychic, Reiki Master healer, polarity therapist and hypnotist. Susan is also a follower of the Hindu sage and teacher, Sai Baba, and has made two journeys to India to visit his ashram. Susan is nearing completion of her autobiography, and her life as a psychic and healer, which she hopes to publish in the coming year. The article on "Cats and Animal Friends" was originally going to part of her autobiography, but she decided to publish it separately for the readers of the Psi Symposium Journal. Susan relates how cats and animals demonstrate psychic connections with humans. Those who would like to contact Susan about her book may write to her at her email address: livenow100@hotmail.com.

The final article comes from your editor, Richard Fewkes, and serves as an interesting companion piece to the previous article. "The Tao of Meow" was originally given as a sermon to the congregation of the First Parish Unitarian Church in Norwell, Mass., in March 1991.