As they have done on the first Friday of each month for nearly seven years, a group of holistic health practitioners and friends met on May 1 at Charlie’s Restaurant in Vernon to share information and connect with other practitioners .

Seated around the table were many people with one thing in common : a shared interest in health and wellness , specifically holistic health . The networking group began when Jon Roe and Debby Hannah Bailey wanted to have a place to gather to share information about their area of wellness practice .

Roe , founder of Conscious CT , an online resource for anyone with an interest in spirituality , metaphysics , holistic health and the environment , said the group is open to anyone wishing to attend and get to know fellow practitioners . “ It’s a chance to tap into the wisdom and experience of the group , ” Roe said . “ Part of being holistic is the philosophy that there is enough for everyone ; we don’t need to compete , and by helping others , we help ourselves . ”

The gatherings – part networking , part social – draw practitioners from all over the north central part of Connecticut . The format is informal , leaving plenty of time to talk and catch up . After about an hour , the group comes together and listens as each person introduces themselves and briefly describes their work and anything of interest that is going on . Business cards and flyers are passed around .

One long-time member is Marie Menut , a registered nurse from East Hartford who specializes in vibrational healing using Tibetan bowls . Her work was experienced firsthand by fellow member Beverly Titus , of South Windsor . Titus recalled , “ After a routine check-up X-ray showed some suspicious spots on my lungs , my doctor was concerned and ordered a follow-up Xray in two months . ” Titus discussed the situation with Menut at the networking breakfast and set up an appointment . She had four treatments where she lay on a BioMat while Menut positioned various bowls around her body . Menut activated the vibrations of the bowls while Titus lay under warm blankets and relaxed . “ The follow-up X-rays showed no evidence of what was seen previously , ” Menut said .

With the Internet dominating the way people communicate , the need to connect face-to-face has increased “ It is constructive and supportive , and we have fun , ” said Charlie Edgarton , a Vernon resident , master carpenter and intuitive astrologer . “ We are simply a group of people with like minds and hearts . As a network , we can refer to each other if there is a modality which some client feels is more appropriate for whatever issue is presenting . ”

In addition to meeting new people and making friends , the meetings are a place to spread the word of new interesting finds . Jyll Kashmann , a writer and artist from West Hartford , brought a book that can change the way we think – because according to the author , Jack Pransky , “ our thinking is our life . ” The book , entitled “ Somebody Should Have Told Us , ” is not telling anyone what to do , but simply pointing the reader in the right direction and that everything we are looking for is already inside . “ The concept [ of the book ] is so simple , basic and yetmostly unrealized because we were never taught it , ” Kashmann said .

According to Roe , “ We get a psychological boost from spending time together and breaking bread . Tapping into the community at least once a month is nourishing and reassuring . ” The nature of holistic healing is just knowing that there are options other than surgery or prescriptions . “ Treating the whole person , mind , body and spirit , is critical if we are to bring people into balance and health , ” said Catherine Ewing-Rinker of Spirit Matters in Ellington . Ewing-Rinker described the approach holistic practitioners take as not treating a set of symptoms , but as treating the whole person .

Although most people knew each other , Janine Baryza-Ly , a psychic medium and energy healer from West Hartford , came for the first time to learn about service work in the community . Baryza-Ly explained that once yourealize the limitless options for experiencing life , the first thing youwant to do is share it with others .

There are many ways to take care of yourbody , and , in Jocelyne Colombe’s words , one motto for the network could be , “ The help from brain-focused society to a heart-centered living . ”

Over the years, ideas discussed over breakfast have given birth to such projects as the Greater Vernon Holistic Healthfest , The Alliance For Holistic Living and the Conscious CT Web site , as well as nurturing and encouraging many fledgling holistic businesses .

To find out more about holistic living and to subscribe to an e-mail newsletter , visit the Web site www . consciousct . org .