Dr. Patrick Flanagan 

A regionally local genius has really effected and influenced many at Prescott College. Dr. Patrick Flanagan is one of the world's best known scientists, one of the top scientists of our time. His life work is most definitely changing our world for the better. Flanagan has written books focused on Egyptian sacred geometry and pyramid power as well as holding several patents as an inventor. His inventions include many holistic health products like megahydrate(one of the most powerful antioxidants in the world that flushes radiation and toxins from the body), crystal energy(that reconstructs the tension in water, allowing the cells in the body to take in 64% more nutrients), the Sensor V(a treasured metals medallion proven to aid in healing processes), and the neurophone, which has many properties still undiscovered but allows deaf people to hear music when they wear it as one of its few properties.

Patrick and his wife Stephanie travel all over the world teaching. Patrick has often been said to be Nikolai Tesla reincarnate, as he has continued research of Tesla's and been able to reproduce and expand upon many of his experiments in highly effective ways. I was first introduced to this man's work when a fellow student at Prescott College told me about reading his book, Pyramid Power. Since then, two of my good friends have gone to work for him in Sedona, and I have been so impressed by the things they have learned. 

My introduction to Patrick's work has been amazing, and it is telling that the students at Prescott College are drawn to his research. He is proving scientifically, along with many other scientists who work within the field of quantum physics, things of a metaphysical or mystical nature. It is wonderful to see students who are so young be so taken in by the extraordinary work Patrick is doing, and inspiring to think about what he may do yet to affect the students in this community. - Brittany Davis

Thoughts From A Room

In two days I am going to graduate from Prescott College with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Family Systems Theory. When I started college many years ago I wasn’t sure that this day would come. Now that it has, I’m not even sure if I believe that it’s happening. It’s a surreal experience and one that is unmatched by anything else in life. Twenty years ago I began my educational journey at an elementary school in Germany. I have also been to schools in Alaska, Tennessee, and Oregon, then finally ending up in Arizona at Prescott College. When I came to school here I was a bright-eyed, ambitious student eager to learn the ways of relationship. Since childhood I have been fascinated with ecology, noticing at a young age that creatures of the forest are dependent on the trees and the rain and the sun. I had become enthralled with how things are in a constant state of relationship to one another. It wasn’t until post-high school that I had come across the field of ecology, which is a discipline of natural sciences that observes how plants, animals, and processes of geology and meteorology are all interdependent and interconnected. Taken a step further, I found myself curious about how these same principles play themselves out in human relationships. Humans are innately social creatures; we are in a constant state of relationship with family, friends, colleagues, coworkers, and the general public as we move about our daily lives. This dynamic process necessitates some level of order, an agreement of how to be in this world with one another. I wanted to know how this phenomenon works.

                The ethos of self-directed learning at Prescott College allowed me to explore this question with great depth and humility. I can’t say that I have any brilliant answers just yet, but I can say that I have even more questions and a method of approaching curiosity that allows for a sense of understanding to shine through the muddled backdrop of human functioning. Two-and-a-half years ago I began my quest of looking at the processes of relationship. I wanted to study the human link to ecology, wilderness, social justice, and art. My ideas of grandeur were to stretch myself across disciplines and pull vast connections across program areas because, like I said, it’s all interconnected and interdependent. I believe that an older generation than mine referred to this kind of person as a Renaissance man. I would suggest that this truly embodies a scholar in the liberal arts tradition. How was I supposed to accomplish such a lofty goal spanning the width of the college? At the time, I had no idea. It seemed impossible.

                During my first semester at Prescott College I was introduced to Murray Bowen’s family systems theory. Bowen theory is a psychological theory based on principles of evolutionary biology that observes the continuum of human functioning and attempts to uncover how this process is regulated in congruence with natural phenomenon. From this lens I have come to a greater understanding of how human emotional processes work. I was able to truly explore what it means to be educated in the liberal arts. My studies have taken me from psychology to history and from art to activism. In addition, my curiosity of relationship has been satisfied….at least for the moment. I believe this curiosity will never quite be quelled.

                That being said, my days at Prescott College are nearing an end. I have accomplished my goals that I initially set forth. I welcome all prospective students to follow the footsteps of many great thinkers and activists that have spent time at Prescott College. This is a unique place with an unparalleled breadth of opportunity waiting ahead. It is a challenging road, academically and emotionally. Those who choose to travel this path emerge with a greater aptitude to create the change they want to see in the world.

-Auguie Henry

Summer began in Anchorage...Part III

           

Matt Seats

In part II, the Prescott College (PC) summer Wilderness Leadership class had finished an epic 35-mile traverse of the Eklutna Glacier and was heading for North Cascades National Park near Marblemount, Washington. Half of the class headed for Eldorado Peak and the other half hiked toward Boston Basin. Each group had the mission of scouting the region around their camp and determining climbing routes and curriculum to teach students who would join us later.                                                                                                                     



Following our weeks of logistical preparation, snow climbing and mountaineering, lesson planning and location scouting, crevasse rescue practice, risk management discussions and planning, we were ready to welcome our practicum students. The marmots were out in full force, whistling their greetings to the                   newcomers.

The next two weeks were filled with early morning alpine-starts, lessons on snow travel, crevasse travel, and glaciology, rock climbing with boots (and crampons) on, and generally loving our classroom - the mountains of Washington state. Climbing such ominous sounding peaks as the shark’s fin and Forbidden Peak, we led our groups across glaciers and snow bridges, up snow and rock to Sahale, Eldorado (below), and Tepeh Towers.

Weather was generally very kind to us throughout the course. The last two days threw us a little extra rain though. Our final descents off Sahale and the Shark’s fin were accompanied by torrential rain and Volkswagen-sized boulders crashing down the slopes around us. Running and glissading down the rock and snow slopes brought us all down safely, and after changing into dry clothes we all had some great stories to share. The next day, both of our groups hiked back down to the trailhead – where we discovered that we had become part of a group being talked about on the nightly news. It seems that the deluge of rain the day before had flooded Boston Creek. The main bridge into North Cascades National Park (NCNP) had vanished the night before as boulders, trees and high water levels erased the concrete and steel structure from the landscape.

            The official report read, “Thunderstorms moved through the western part of NCNP during the afternoon and early evening of Saturday, August 11^th, dumping heavy rain within a short period of time. This caused the Cascade River Road to wash out at its junction with Boston Creek, stranding approximately 25-35 vehicles parked at the Cascades Pass Trailhead 1½ miles above the washout. Sixty-five stranded people stayed the night in their vehicles.”

            Our party of ten, part of that 65, had actually spent the night warm and safe in our tents on the mountain. We awoke enveloped by a beautiful cloud, dressed and had breakfast, broke camp and hiked back to the parking lot…where we learned that we were considered storm refugees. The National Park Service was completely on top of their game though. Food was heli-dropped to all of stranded in the parking lot, and within hours a temporary earth bridge had been built to allow us to leave.

Reluctantly we ended our adventure-filled months of glaciers and mountains and faced south to Arizona. It was time to end the summer and return to school. Some flew back from Seattle, while the rest of us piled into the Prescott College van for a two day road trip. People ask me how my summer was and I smile. It was: fun, cold, hot, hungry, wet, dry, a feast, tiring, educational, thrilling, scary, and AMAZING! 

I will always remember the challenges and rewards of PC Wilderness Leadership.

A Great Show For This Small Town

BB King

Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No. 6 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time (previously ranked No. 3 in the 2003 edition of the same list), and he was ranked No. 17 in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". According to Edward M. Komara, King "introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that would influence virtually every electric blues guitarist that followed." King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of Blues", and one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King) King is also known for performing tirelessly throughout his musical career appearing at 250-300 concerts per year until his seventies. In 1956 it was noted that he appeared at 342 shows. King continues to appear at 100 shows a year...

...and this year he came to Prescott Arizona for one of them! I was amazed and surprised how many young Prescott College students were excitingly telling me about buying their tickets to his show. Something that I am always refreshingly surprised by at Prescott College is the students' general old-soul feeling. Students here are connected in to a kind of groove that speaks of agelessness, often showing a maturity way beyond their years. An appreciation for good music, too, that was before their time in ways but happily interwoven into their experience. Wow, what a cool crowd we have around here. 

How awesome, also, that BB King chose to come to Prescott, Arizona of all places to tour. Prescott is blessed with a lot of shows like this: big names that come to this little town because they heard the vibes here were so good. What a fantastic thing to experience, music that is on the same level as many bigger towns and cities. Whoohoo!

So here is a shout out to this amazing performer and the amazing students welcoming him in. Jam on, soul swingers! - Brittany Davis