Statement by Claudia Senatore, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

As to lies about family and "mind-control": I first learned of Aesthetic Realism 17 years ago, while living in Tempe, Arizona, and I have been happily studying it ever since. At the time I had a Masters in Nursing, a good job, and many friends, but still I felt that there was more that I wanted out of life. No, I was not "recruited," nor do I study out of "fear"! I made an educated, well thought-out choice to study it!

One thing I wanted was a closer relationship with my father, and it means so much to me that I was able to have a better relationship with him these past years, before he died, through what I learned from Aesthetic Realism. (He himself did not study Aesthetic Realism.) There came to be so much greater understanding and communication between us. Our conversations were warmer, deeper, more meaningful and interesting.

I'll give an example of how this came about: At an Aesthetic Realism consultation in which I spoke about my father complainingly, it was pointed out that though I might have criticisms of him, I was not speaking about him with respect and kindness. When asked if I could say something about my father that would have a person respect him, I spoke about his care for gardening, his desire to fight for his country in World War II, and other instances. As a result, I myself had new feeling and respect for him.

As to the lies about higher education and achievement: While studying Aesthetic Realism I earned an advanced degree-as a Nurse Practitioner, working with children-and my career has flourished. One of the reasons for my success is that I have studied how the opposites are made one in the human body and in the very technique of nursing care. I have seen that central opposites which nurses are hoping to put together are exactitude and compassion, or careful thought and feeling; affecting others and being affected by them; and pride and humility.

Through my study of Aesthetic Realism I saw that I had had a desire to be unaffected by the very people I was caring for.This was why I could be kind sometimes, yet feel at other times that I wasn't having enough patience or compassion, and it was why I had felt "burnt out." Because I was able to criticize that in myself which wanted to be aloof, and my desire to have a good effect on people was strengthened, I began to have more of the steady feeling and compassion for people that I wanted to have.

I have learned through questions like these, which I heard in consultations: "Do you see the feelings of your patients and their families as being as real as your own?"; "Do you think every person, sick or well, is some relation of strength and weakness? Are you?"; "In helping a person who is ill, do you hope to respect him or her? And is this a chance to respect humanity more?" Trying to honestly answer these questions has made me a better nurse.

During the course of my career, things that I was learning from Aesthetic Realism were noticed and valued by my colleagues, and I was invited to give the keynote address at the pinning ceremony of a New York City nursing school. I am very proud that I could inspire new nurses through what I have learned from Aesthetic Realism and my experience as a nurse. I am a member of several organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians for a National Health Program.

Aesthetic Realism is a wide study encompassing the arts and sciences. At first I studied it through reading, and had telephone consultations, and when I came to New York I began to attend public presentations and take classes. This broadened my education tremendously. I am thrilled to be learning through great literature, poetry, art, music, and drama, about human nature, myself, and the world. I feel more alive, and possibilities that I didn't even know I had have been encouraged in me. This is living! I feel more connected to people around me and to people throughout time.

As to the lies about residence, vacations, and relationships: I live in Brooklyn, NY, with my husband and our young daughter. We frequently visit family and friends (who don't study Aesthetic Realism) nearby and across the country. In the last few years alone, we have traveled to Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Chicago, and abroad to England, Scotland and Russia. I remain friends with two of my closest girlfriends from Arizona, whom I knew before I began studying Aesthetic Realism. In fact, one of them was a bridesmaid at my wedding eight years ago, and came with her husband to visit us in November.

I hope the preceding paragraphs, along with countering lies about Aesthetic Realism, show some of why I have found this philosophy invaluable to me as a person and in my work as a nurse practitioner.