November 24, 2021

The Institute for Spiritual Development
Oneonta Chapter
A Metaphysical Church and School for Spiritual Development
Wishing all of you and your families and loved ones the happiest of Thanksgiving celebrations!
“May your stuffing be tasty. May your turkey be plump. May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!” —Anonymous.
Our next
Metaphysical Service
will be on Sunday December 5th at 10am on Zoom.
Our magical interfaith services take place on Zoom on the first and third Sundays of the month. There is also a portion simulcast on Facebook Live.
Mark your calendars and plan on joining us! Full details coming next newsletter

AND in the meantime.....

If you are looking for some inspiration, check out some of our previous homilies on our YouTube channel:
What's Happening at ISD Oneonta?

  • Coming up on Saturday December 5 from 12pm-4pm is Dowsing for Health with Tom Meade. Full details below in our Adult Education section
  • This class is a required class for our Healing Certification Program. Find details on the Healing Certification Program Here
  • No Dream Message Circle this week on Thursday. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Celebration and make sure that you write down your dreams for next week!

  • Stay tuned to the newsletter for an exciting announcement about our 2022 Intuitive Practitioner Program....coming soon!


Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Instagram and don't forget to check out our channel on Youtube
From the ISD Membership Committee
ISD Oneonta members and friends, keep an eye on your inbox and save the date!
December 11 from 4-7pm will be our holiday potluck get together.
Details will be making their way to your email soon.....so dust off your ugly Christmas sweater, bake up your best batch of Christmas goodies, and tune up your 'Fa-La-La' !
Are you looking for ways to help out in the Oneonta area this Thanksgiving season?

The Oneonta Thanksgiving Community Dinner will be preparing 800 meals to feed our neighbors on Thanksgiving Day, and is now seeking volunteers and monetary donations. Click on this flyer for details.


The Hunger Coalition is sponsoring a Warming Station Project at Main St. in Oneonta. They are open 7 days a week between 5:30 pm and 7:30 am- people can stop in and get shelter from the cold, get something to eat, and even stay overnight. More info about giving donations, volunteering, and further info about the Warming Station can be found in this flyer or on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/oneontawarmingstation
Please help us to keep offering quality classes, beautiful metaphysical services, and engaging development circles by clicking on the donate button below to make a donation to ISD Oneonta.
No amount is too small! If you are a member making a pledge, please mention that in the comments
Adult Education

Saturday December 4th, 11am-4pm
Dowsing for Health w/Tom Meade
This is an in-person class
Learn to incorporate use of a Pendulum, and dowsing rods, as invaluable tools in your Spiritual Healing Kit, with dowsing expert Tom Meade, from Endicott, NY. In this Workshop, learn to connect with your higher self for energetic/spiritual protection. Find the best solution to lifepath dilemmas & achieve your goals by asking the pendulum!
Join us during the week for our open Online Development circles for anyone looking to further their spiritual and intuitive growth!
Join one/two/or join them all!
Take your pick. We have meditation and messaging or 'dream weaving'....please join us and tap into your own spiritual connection

Suggested Donation for these circles is $10 Please click below to make a donation to ISD and note what circle the donation is for
Weekly Circles:

Monday
7-8:30pm EST

Oracle Circle

With Story Ducey. These experimental circles will focus on deep meditation for healing and renewal and seeking guidance, teachings and home work from Spirit.
Click below for additional information:
email interest and to get the Zoom link:storyducey@gmail.com
---------------------------------------------Tuesday
2:30pm-4pm EST

Learning & Psychic Development Circle

With Renee Ranke. These experiential intuitive development circles are designed to be a place to step away from the weight of the everyday world.
Click below for additional information and the Zoom link
email interest or questions:mysticalmomentsremembered@gmail.com
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Wednesday
5:30-6:30 pm EST

Wise Wednesday Meditation and Intuitive Development Circle

Facebook Live meditation and Zoom intuitive development circle with our own pastor and co-director, Rev. Diana Friedell
Click below for additional information:
RSVP to Diana info@dianafriedell.com
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Thursday
10-11:30am EST

Dream Message Circle

With Rev. Story Lucile Ducey. This circle is dedicated to receiving, recording and discussing the messages many of us are receiving in our ‘night school journeys.’
Click below for additional details
RSVP to Story storyducey@gmail.com
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Monthly Circles:

3rd Thursdays
7-8 pm EST
Next circle is Thursday November 18th
Path of the Magdalene Meditation Sessions
Path of the Magdalene Meditation sessions are an opportunity to join together monthly to activate the healing frequencies of Mary Magdalene in your own life.
Click below for additional information
RSVP to Dale to receive the Zoom Link dalecapristo@gmail.com
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Check out our November 2021 events calendar on ISDOneonta.org for upcoming events and remember to like and follow us on Facebook to see our events posted there.
Thanksgiving
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

We walk on starry fields of white
  And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
  We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
  To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
  Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way
  Upon our thought and feeling.
They hand about us all the day,
  Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
  We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives,
  And conquers if we let it.

There’s not a day in all the year
  But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
  To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
  Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
  While living hearts can hear us.

Full many a blessing wears the guise
  Of worry or of trouble;
Far-seeing is the soul, and wise,
  Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
  To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
  To gladden every morrow.

We ought to make the moments notes
  Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
  Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
  As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
  A grand Thanksgiving chorus




Our Weekly Astrological Forecast

Connie’s Celestial Conversations
ASTROLOGY FORCAST (Nov 24 - 30)

I hope you were able to see last week's Lunar Eclipse in our early morning sky. Beautiful red Aldeberon (The Bull's eye in Taurus) blinking off to the left, being tracked by Orion, followed by Sirius. The Pleiades was also right there, but not visible in the Moonglow. To have all of this in our visual field at once is lovely. To have a visible Eclipse so near some of our most easily recognized, and most loved, constellations is a rare treat.

There is another Eclipse coming on Dec 4th, a Partial Solar, which we will discuss next week. I bring it up now because I think we will do well to prepare for some of the December alignments now.

We have a bit of quiet time to draw our breath. The energies of 2021 have been intense. There is more to come in December before we have some relief in 2022. Rest and calm are available for a while this week.

The Sun has passed into Sagittarius. This sign is spiritual and idealistic. It is a mutable - fire sign. The qualities are hopeful and freedom loving. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansive good luck. Mercury has also entered Sagittarius which lends an optimistic, generous flair to our communications.

That is a wonderful combination for this year's Thanksgiving. Our day of giving thanks has traditionally focused on gratitude. I would like to suggest that you consider a slight adjustment to that of APPRECIATION. There are subtle differences between the two qualities. While both are good and appropriate, Gratitude subtly implies a condition of debt. Appreciation shows recognition of thankfulness while expecting growth. To appreciate is to expand, to have more to appreciate. It frees the paths to allow even more good things to come your way. The Sun and Mercury entering Sagittarius supports expansion.

Relax this week if you are able. The alignments in December will stress our nervous systems a bit more than usual. It is a chance to put all the growth and realizations you have achieved in 2021 into an effective framework for the next phase.

We are at the culminating weeks of the 9th year since the December 2012 Earth/Great Central Sun Total Eclipse. This was also the end of the Mayan Long Count. We are at the completion number of 9 years since that momentous event for all of humanity. Sagittarius is the 9th Zodiac sign.. I suggest that you take this week to acknowledge to yourself how much Soul Growth you have accomplished in these 9 years, how much you have to take with you into the next phase. Allow the completion energy of 9 to fill you up!

In 2022 we begin the second decade of our new era. The very challenging 2021 year-long square of Saturn and Uranus will begin to ease in the early months of 2022.

This is a great week for SELF CARE and SELF LOVE. While you appreciate your blessings and those around you, be sure to include yourself.

those around you, be sure to include yourself.

And the Good News Is!!!!!

  • The ‘Jingle Dress Project’ brings healing through indigenous dance. This In the Know article tells the story about an Ojibwe medicine man who dreamt of the jingle dress and a healing dance, during the 1918 pandemic. And this vision was brought into being again in 2020, when Eugene Tapahe launched the Jingle Dress Project traveling across the US bringing healing and awareness of issues affecting Indigenous people. 

  • The miracle of self-healing. Read This Newsvot article about a woman in Argentina whose immune system cured her of HIV with no other treatment. Named, the ‘Esperanza’ patient, after the town that she is from, she was diagnosed in 2013 and now appears to be fully recovered with no medical treatment. And, interestingly, ‘Esperanza’ in Spanish means ‘Hope’. 

  • Once declared ‘biologically dead’, the river Thames in London has rebounded and seals, seahorses, and birds abound. A story to be thankful for as we slowly help the earth to heal! Check out the Good News Network article Here




Do you or someone you know need some assistance with mental health issues or coping. Here is a link to the US Department of Health & Human Services that will provide you with resources and tools to help deal with the stress.

Did you know that there are other ISD chapters?
It all began with ISD Sparta NJ!
Now there are also chapters in Madison NJ, Washington DC, Sarasota Fla, Treasure Cost Fla, and of course....right here in Oneonta NY.

We would ALL like to welcome you to our new Institute for Spiritual Development Facebook group:

Like and Follow on Facebook
Together we shine love and light to souls around the country and around the world with education, metaphysical services, healing and community.
We support YOU in your quest to explore, build, and develop your own spiritual connection
Just a reminder that we are continuing our Prayer Warriors group, every day at 5pm we pause to pray and send our healing energies where they are most needed right now

Each day at 5 PM EST, we will pause for about 10 minutes and meditate and pray with the intention of sending healing energy to all.
You do not have to be present each day. Requests for healing or suggestions should be submitted to our Healing Program director, Jo Ann Wormuth at the below ISD website link:


Looking for some easy ways to donate to ISD Oneonta?
You can donate your cans and bottles or set up a donation when you shop with Amazon





Got Bottles & Cans to return?

ISD has a CLYNK account at Hannaford in Oneonta. 
How can I help? 
Email Tom Landon at tlfandon51@gmail.com and he will give you a time to pick up stickers at our new ISD headquarters.
Take one to put on each bag that you are bringing to Hannaford- Ask someone there where the bags go. With that correct tag on it, the bottle deposit money goes directly into the ISD Oneonta Account.
Shopping through Amazon this holiday? Use AmazonSmile and choose Institute for Spiritual Development, Oneonta NY as your charity and we will get a donation from Amazon each time you shop.

How to use AmazonSmile on a web browser:
  • Visit smile.amazon.com
  • Sign in with the same account you use for Amazon.com
  • Select Institute for Spiritual Development Oneonta, NY as your charity
  • Start shopping! Remember to checkout at smile.amazon.com to generate a donation for ISD
How to use AmazonSmile using the Amazon app on your mobile phone:
  • Open the Amazon Shopping app
  • Navigate to the main menu (=)
  • Tap on Settings and then select “AmazonSmile”
  • Select Institute for Spiritual Development Oneonta, NY as your charity and then follow the on-screen instructions to turn ON AmazonSmile in the mobile app
  • Once AmazonSmile has been activated in your app, future eligible app purchases will generate a donation for ISD
What is the Institute for Spiritual Development?
It's both a metaphysical church and an educational center originally founded 40 yrs ago in Sparta, NJ. With the belief that all paths lead us Home, ISD is dedicated to helping each spirit walk their path with courage and joy.
We stand for each individual’s right to seek their own personal Truth, as they respect the same right for others. We honor the sacred texts of all traditions of the Light.

The Oneonta NY chapter of ISD was Lovingly created by Rev. Diana Friedell & her sister Rev. Sue Landon. We are now led by a powerful leadership team, and executive board.

ISD is a spiritual community that focuses on healing and intuitive connection, and the joy of finding the spirit connection within rather than being told how it should or could be experienced.
We welcome those who want to belong to a spiritual group of like-minded people, in which you can explore and find your own path in a community of love and support.

There are classes, services, events, and a sense of community and fellowship. Energy healing and intuitive messages are delivered as a regular part of the worship service. Classes offer many tools which will help you on your life path, and the community we are creating together is one of openness and acceptance, and the ability to adapt with change and growth.
Welcome Home!!!
We could use your help. If you would like to volunteer to help with our Metaphysical Library, event planning, service planning, website, office tasks, or anything else- Just call or email! Diana!
ISD Oneonta Board of Directors
Shown left to right, Kimberly Winsor, Rev. Amanda Hoover
Kimberly Winsor - President
Sali Dellysse - Treasurer
Susan Owens - Secretary
Tom Landon - Trustee
Maggie Kilbride - Trustee
Story Ducey - Trustee
Melissa Stagnaro - Trustee
Renee Ranke -ex officio
Amanda Hoover - ex officio
Diana Friedell - ex officio

Our ISD Leadership
Shown left to right, Rev. Diana Friedell, Rev. Story Ducey
Diana Friedell - Pastor
Amanda Hoover - Co-Director
Story Lucile Ducey,
Adult Education/Programming Chair
Ministry Training Program
Renee Ranke – Co-Director, Adult Education/Programming Co-Chair
& Newsletter Editor
JoAnn Wormuth Director of Healing









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