What does a professional hypnotherapist and female writer do when she has an unusual inner time clock, wants to work independently at home, to be near her family when needed, and when it's tougher than nails to break into the traditional publishing business, and she has a book to sell and important articles to share with the public? She learns how to get on the Internet, do html, and she creates her own web site.

Thanks to the help of one brilliant and computer-savvy man (who taught me the basics as he encouraged me to put my writing on the Internet, because he felt so many people would be helped by what I had to share), I reluctantly began my apprenticeship. I was insecure, naive, and frightened by all of it. Although I was raised in a family-run technology business, and I love technology, this was an entirely new arena for me. My articles had been published in hard-cover magazines, but what could I expect from the WWW? I had known other women writers on the net, but they didn't know html code or how to perform ftp (file transfer protocals) into their own web sites. They were dependent upon others to get anything they needed on the WWW, and if their web master took off, they were left helpless. I did not want to be like those women. I confronted my fears with the determination that I would be in charge of my own, and complete, creative process.

Within less than a year I went from being a complete computer illiterate, who barely knew how to operate my own pc and manage the simplest of basic programs, to being a web designer, program tester, and master of my own pc. Today I can fix any computer crash, install and tweak programs, find bugs in a program and sometimes fix them, and offer assistance to others experiencing problems with their computers. This experience came through my own trial and error, reading documentation, and with the support of friends I'd met on the Internet. I don't consider myself to be a pro - yet (I'm always learning new things) - but I'm getting there.

For the past five years I have been on the World Wide Web with my site, Lightning Bolt Press' "Vibrani's One Source," and it opened up an entirely new world for me. I've met amazing people from around the world, and because of the Internet we know we are all connected, that none of us are alone, that help is right here if we need$it. The internet has truly united the planet. I discovered a new excitement in creating graphics and designs for my pages, learning where to go on the Internet for all of my computer needs, how to search for just about anything I need to find.

My web site, which may be considered controversial by some, consists of hundreds of pages and focuses on personal transformation, healing, our intergalactic heritage and earth history, Israel and the Middle East peace process, education, how to's, religion and spirituality, channeling, human (honor killings) and animal rights, Native American topics (including my book, American Indian Women Poets: Women Between the Worlds offered for sale), plus links to fabulous sites around the WWW. Most of the articles are written by myself (and those I channel), and I have many professional individuals whose contributed articles to my site seem to be growing each day.

Today my site receives visitors from over sixty countries around the world. On the average, 150-200 people a day read articles on my web site, and more than half of those each day are return visitors. People from universities, government agencies, private corporations, curious teenagers, homemakers, professionals from all walks of life come to my site. I receive emails from people grateful to have been helped through the information on my site. Some people wish to share what they know or do, and desire to share links with my site. Some write me for personal consultations. Once in a very great while I receive a hostile email from someone who is angry at life, in general, and takes it out on me. Sometimes religious fanatics who cannot accept any other viewpoint write to me to criticize what I do. Even though I have warnings and disclaimers clearly visible on my site, it seems a few people prefer not to notice that I say, "take whatever works for you and disgard the rest." I feel that if what is on my site doesn't resonate for you, then go somewhere else. I'm not in a battle with anyone or looking to control anyone else. I believe in personal empowerment --- that means being discerning and taking self-responsibility for the choices we make.

I often come up against the issues of the freedom of speech, copyright laws, and the use of energy through the Internet, and this has sparked many articles I later wrote about Internet protocol, warnings, and solutions for those new to the WWW. For instance, people feel that they can take graphics from anyone's site, or repost copyright articles without permission. Many people don't take Internet copyright seriously.

Through participation in a chat room (a microcosm of the macrocosm), I observed how honest people remain honest, while others hide behind any alias they can in order to abuse those they meet online. There is so much separation, disrespect, fear and pain in the world and it really gets played out on the Internet. Somehow, some people have the notion that they can say anything while they're online. They feel they can't be found, or held accountable for what they say, or say they will do.

We are electromagnetic, multidimensional beings. I feel our computers and the Internet also have consciousnesses, and are energetic, spiritual, extensions of ourselves. We are creators, so we have to give serious consideration about how we use the Internet both as individuals and as a world-wide community in order to create the world we want to have. I am not for censorship, but I am in favor of all of us defining what we feel freedom of speech is. Does it give one the freedom to abuse, impersonate, threaten, and slandarize another? Do we tolerate this behavior off of the Internet? Should the Internet be any different from life off the Internet?

As far as being a woman on the Internet goes, I find that there is still a gap between men and women being taken seriously as professionals on the WWW --- probably just a fallback on how society still functions. I hope this changes, and soon. I know many people presently working on making these changes, but the problem seems to be from more resistence from the older generations, where men were the only "bosses," than from the younger ones, and I say this from an American perspective.

One major drawback of the Internet is that it is still is not financially lucrative or supportive of those, who like me, are educators and supporters of humanitarian causes. This is a real challenge for us, because we have to find a balance between giving tools to help the public; while respecting ourselves and finding a way to be self-sufficient in the process. I am fortunate in that I do not have to rely on Internet sales in order to survive, but what about people who do? And even if I don't rely on its income, it would be helpful to receive something in exchange for what I share. Shouldn't we all benefit from what we do on the Internet? Some people feel that everything on the Net should be free --- especially when it comes to spiritual web sites. We know some businesses do very well through Internet sales, but many have also folded. I think this is one of the most important things we have to examine and solve for the independent, as well as for corporative business person(s).

Even with its pitfalls, I am grateful to have the opportunities the Internet has afforded me: To express myself and reach out to others, and others to me. I've become involved in projects started through online connections. Wonderful friendships began online, too. I've met a tremendous variety of people --- some for just a short time, and others who have been cyberpals for years, and some cyberpals I've later met in person. The Internet has been especially dynamic in terms of offering aid to women in nations who do not support them. I also learned that I am being seen as a role model and inspiration for other women, many who work at dissatisfying jobs, or desire to do their creative work in their homes, or those who are just opening up to their own spirituality and needed a push to get it going. I do feel that the Internet is only going to grow and that our future will be more reliant upon it. We are at the beginning of this new way of life and we have the opportunity to design it per our wishes. I hope that our future with the Internet will be one of equality, responsibility, respect, and educationally and financially beneficial to all.