Fifty years ago, on this date, the first "Dear Abby" column appeared in newspapers. Psychology was taking on a more interactive approach as people asked questions about their issues and relationships, in a public venue. Awareness about human dysfunctionality was coming to light, as people shared their pain and suffering, realizing that that they were not alone. A few facts about Dear Abby:

Pauline Esther Phillips (born July 4, 1918 as Pauline Esther Friedman) founded Dear Abby in 1956. The current Dear Abby is her only daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who now writes under the pen name of Abigail Van Buren. She also has a son, Edward Jay Phillips. Pauline Esther Phillips was an identical twin; her sister, Esther Pauline Friedman Lederer, wrote the Ann Landers column until her death from multiple myeloma in 2002 at age 83. As children, the two grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, and went by the nicknames "Popo" and "Eppie", respectively. They were so close then that they even had a joint wedding in 1939 when both women were 21 years old. As competing columnists, the sisters occasionally clashed.

In 1956, Phillips offered her column to the Sioux City Journal at a reduced price provided the paper refused Lederer's column; Life Magazine reported on the offer in 1958. The sisters publicly reconciled in 1964, although some suggest the acrimony lasted. Phillips has suffered from Alzheimer's disease for a number of years, but according to her husband, Morton Phillips and her daughter, she did reconcile with her now-deceased sister before Lederer's death. Phillips, who resided in Beverly Hills, California, wrote in a straightforward style that contrasted with Lederer's quips and barbs. By 1985, when Phillips suffered from the onset of Alzheimer¹s disease, her daughter Jeanne assumed all the writing responsibilities of Dear Abby. After the Phillips family publicly announced that Pauline had Alzheimer¹s, Jeanne assumed the pen name of Abigail Van Buren.

Dear Abby continues as people ask their questions to find their truths ... about everything. Their voices grew louder and their desire to speak their minds increases. This has developed into the world of Self-help or Self-awareness where we find columns now called Blogs, call-in and talk radio and TV shows, books, tapes, etc. Jumping on the healing bandwagon are, workshops, conferences, the Internet, healers, psychic hotlines, coaches, channelers, energy workers, grid workers, light workers (did I leave anything out?), anyone with a healing modality and an audience who will listen. It's the part of our DNA programming that deals with healing and the desire to heal others to continue one's healing process.

Dear Abby,

This is just a note to thank you and your family, for your part in guiding humanity in the healing grid.

Ellie and Company,
Outside the Box

Welcome to Week 2 of 2006. This year is going to 'fly'. Do you fly? In your dreams?! As a pilot or for an airline? For business? For vacation?

If you suffer from Aviophobia, 'fear of flying' or 'flying anxiety', Dear Abby may be able to help you, but working with professionals who are trained to that end, is best. Psychiatrists and other Healers, have become specialized in all sorts of panic disorders enabling people to overcome fears as we fly out of the box.

Symptoms of Aviophobia may include: after boarding a plane, or even just think about flying, breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack.

Where does Aviphobia come from? Fears are generally part of mental illness, or develop through one's life for many reasons, heightened by experience and/or environment. Many people develop fears as they mature and life seems more precious, the Worrying Factor.

Are you a person who worries about ... most things? Watch your blood pressure, for in the end, fear will do-you-in by its frequency, not that which is feared. Perhaps deep breathing techniques, such as those used in meditation, will help. Meditation, Yoga, and the like, help create balance as you detach your consciousness, in part, from the 3D grid frequency, and hence from your fears.

Some people develop Aviophobia after having experienced a bad flight, seen too many movies about planes crashes, get caught up in the energies of terrorism, or something as extreme as having been told by a psychic that they will die in a plane crash.

Fear and panic disorders become elevated when one is stressed or highly influenced by external factors, which may include weather, turbulence, take offs, flying over water, claustrophobia, crowds, losing control (panic attacks), terrorists, hijackings, fear of falling, and fear of heights. Many times these worries are caused by a lack of understanding about what to expect during a flight. Many fearful flyers just need a little help in the form of education, reassurance, and guidance.

Metaphysically speaking, we are all psychic, our abilities heightened during times of stress, which raises our frequency and prepares our consciousness to move out of the box/body. If your 'inner voice', has warned you not to take a specific flight, and in general you are not afraid to fly, then change your flight. This is different than Aviophobia.

The program is shutting down. As it slows, time will appear to escalate. All things in our reality will be realized. At the end of the 'Day' 'Moment' 'Time' 'Program' 'Experiment' 'Dream' 'Illusion' we are all going to fly home.

Overcoming the annoyances of physical flight travel, with delays and inspections, is one reason not to fly, but allowing fears to dictate your journey is another. One of the happiest moments of my life was learning to fly an airplane, a bit primitive where I come from, but fun none the less.

Please fasten your seat belts for the remainder of the trip. Place your seatbacks and tray tables in the upright position and continue on to Sunday's column, below, as our flight continues. There will be turbulence ahead, but if you are reading this column, you will be a survivor! Thank you for flying Universal Airlines. Our destination is 2012. This is your captain speaking from the cockpit! (Is that a 'seeding' joke, Z?)

(Blogger's Note: This is Fear Factor Article #1 for Dear Ellie in 2006.)

Flight ... Rotation and Spin

Mandalas