BLEEP Study groups; organizers talk about their new adventure

Springboards and Reawakenings … the birth of the Dallas-Fort Worth Bleep study group

By Lara Hanson and Shannon Looper

It was a cold mid-December night in Dallas when Lara Hanson and Shannon Looper attended a Bleep-In. Pavel Mikoloski, the marketing director for the film, had come to the area to spark interest in the movie. To their surprise, there were 100 other people there, thirsting for new ideas and concepts too … there are Bleepers in the Bible Belt!

Singled out as a gifted child growing up, Lara felt a lot of isolation. Although not stating that she is an Indigo per se, she does admit to being “a little purplish” when compared to the other kids in her environment. Lara shares that “I felt like there was no one else that was thinking the kind of things I was thinking about and that was very hard for a child that wanted so desperately to fit in.” Although blessed with a very progressive spiritual background, Lara chose a scientific path for a professional career and entered the biomedical industry. Five years ago, she left the industry to pursue some more creative/holistic paths and that’s how she came to meet Shannon and see the movie.

Shannon described experiences early in life as being psychic. He remembers communicating with his younger sister before she could actually speak. “I could just feel what she wanted, so I translated for her.” As an adult he turned to science to explain his experiences, majoring in physics at college, but found science didn’t have the answer. His conservative Christian Church had no explanation either. During the eighties, Shannon made major changes in his life and spontaneously became aware of his power to create his reality. He also began to find some answers. “I found Illusions by Richard Bach. That perfect little book started me on a quest to learn all I could. I spent several years reading my way through the “New Age” section of the book store. Then, for some unknown reason, I began to concentrate on my career and my spiritual growth slowed down.”

When each saw the movie What the Bleep, they had different reactions. Lara found a wonderful springboard to meet other like-minded people that were thinking these same thoughts. Shannon found a reawakening of his spirituality and a new desire to explore the latest scientific research to see what new proof had been discovered about the apparent link between science and spirit. “I felt a rush of excitement about the ideas that fueled my studies two decades earlier. I couldn’t wait to start reading and exploring again.”

From the contact info that Pavel gathered at the Bleep-In, Shannon and Lara started the Dallas-Ft. Worth What the Bleep Group. And even though there were only four people at the first meeting in January, the instant connection and joy of spending time with like-minded people spurred them on. As of the end of July, there are more than 70 members in the group and they meet 3-4 times a month.

“The Bleep group has become my “sanctuary” because it is where I get my needs met and my thirsts quenched”, says Lara. “And I truly love these people and feel loved in return. I never have felt this from any other group of people ever.” Shannon shares, “I really like participating in a group that doesn’t look at me funny when I talk about some new study I found on intention or telepathy. I love to be able to discuss these ideas with people who are interested, and interesting.

This group feels like family, like we had been separated for a while and now we have found each other.”

“It is because we have found a group of people that is so unique, we actually look for opportunities to spend time together,” says Lara. “The group is discussing some unique events in the future - for instance, having Bleeper Sleepers since we stay out so late after our meetings anyway continuing the discussions. It would be safer for everyone if we just intended to stay the night in the first place!” There has also been talk of taking a vacation or cruise together.

It is with this new Bleepin’ attitude that both Lara and Shannon are making major life changes. Lara’s returning to the biomedical industry secure that she has more balance in life and can take her “spirit of connectedness” out into the world and not be run over by the corporate environment. Shannon has started a new business, and is pursuing the idea of creating a meeting center for spiritual study.

So perhaps what they say is true … it is darkest right before the dawn of a new day. For those of us that have seen and been changed by the movie, this is one day that we will be creating over and over again!

Disappearing “me” through intention

By Janet Rae

In May of 2004, I saw What the Bleep!? in Tucson, Arizona. For the next three weekends I went back, took a notebook and a pen and did the best I could at taking notes in the dark. I decided it would be wonderful to start a study group discussing the ideas in the movie. I was certain by now someone had already designed such a group. By this time, the movie had been held over for months in Portland and Phoenix, but alas no such group had been created. Then one of the directors, Will Arntz, encouraged me go for it myself.

Where do I start? What do I do? Who do I tell? Where do we meet? What do we talk about? What if no one is interested? My mind was whizzing with doubt, fear and uncertainty. The one thing I knew to do and knew I could do was create an intention. I knew that by creating an intention, my fears, concerns and doubts would disappear, because the intention would be bigger than “me” and my fear. This wasn’t about “me” anyway. This was something bigger … a way to serve, contribute and possibly fulfill a bigger purpose.

So with the help of three close friends, we met and created an intention for this group. Our intention is:

To be infusing the Quantum Field with created intention,

Playing in the Sacred Mystery, and

Experiencing being One with the source.

After creating the intention, we got out our calendars and scheduled 10 dates for the group to meet. I sent out an email to as many friends as I could, announcing the group, the intention and the dates, encouraging them to forward the information. Then I set up my living room for our first session … still not sure what we would “do.” But I knew that by announcing our intention and focusing on the intention, the answer would come. It wasn’t up to “me” to figure it out.

With ten people in my living room, we discussed what we wanted from the group and quickly it became evident that making the experience of the movie real in our lives was important. But how to do that? Suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind. Bring in speakers, people who knew more about this than any of us in the group. But who?