Ann Brandt moved to Mexico in 2002 and settled in the village of Chapala, where she had lived once before. In 1988 she had gone to Mexico to write for six months, but stayed for five years. That led to the publication by Harper Collins in 1999 of her novel, “Crowfoot Ridge.” She says that when she returned in 2002, she knew she was making the move permanently. She bought a house and “began putting down deep roots.” She felt that the one thing she would miss would be The Center for Creative Living in Ashville, North Carolina, where she had studied SOM for many years with Dr. John and Barbara Waterhouse. She said, “I talked to John about this and he told me I didn’t need to leave my spiritual development behind me. I could take it with me.”

Chapala has a large English speaking community of retired persons from many countries. She posted some signs on bulletin boards, inviting people to join a SOM group in her home. Two people came to the first meeting. After some time and more advertising in a local English language publication and the SOM magazine, the group has grown to twenty-five members. They have never missed a weekly meeting, even though they outgrew her house long ago. They moved from place to place until a local doctor offered his huge, beautiful, garden patio, where they have been meeting ever since.

They select books to read aloud and discuss. They have read “Basic Ideas of Science of Mind”, “How to Change Your Life”, Joel Goldsmith’s “The Infinite Way”, and “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Over the summer they read the first three parts of the Science of Mind text and are currently reading “ The Universe is Calling” by Eric Butterworth.

Their goal is to welcome new members, reach out into their community, continue their spiritual growth, and support each other in their new lives in Mexico. She says, “We are truly blessed.”