Beloved Jean Houston —

A mother to the world.

All they were meant to be.

May You Rest in Peace, שלום and سلام.

Penny S. Tee, author of “BLASTED from COMPLACENCY: A Journey from Terror to Transformation in Israel,” speaker, video podcaster, writer, and Peace Advocate.

I wrote this through tears, in honor of our dearest Jean Houston, for a Legacy website coming in 2027.

Why write a Times of Israel blog for her? Surely Israel could use her help — as could the entire world.

The Possible Human The Search for the Beloved A Mythic Life (memoir) The Wizard of Us

The Possible Human The Search for the Beloved A Mythic Life (memoir) The Wizard of Us

The Search for the Beloved

A Mythic Life (memoir)

Jean Houston was a key figure in modern human development and consciousness studies. She co‑founded the Foundation for Mind Research, focusing on the development of creativity, mind expansion, and social transformation.

She also worked on social change and global leadership, advising leaders, including the Dalai Lama and the United Nations.

She knew in her heart that each individual was capable of far more than they gave themselves credit for. It was her life’s work to help them see it — so they would have the courage to use their innate qualities for the good of humanity. She delighted in watching people grow into their best selves.

I ask you: what might you have the audacity to become if you truly allowed yourself?

One of the greatest honors of my life was that Jean wrote a testimonial for my book, “BLASTED from COMPLACENCY: A Journey from Terror to Transformation in Israel.” She wrote: “… a testament to the endurance of our species and the hopes we all have of creating a world that works for all.”

She had the ability to see into your soul and shine a mirror upon it so you could see it for yourself.

As Jean explored in “The Wizard of Us: Transformational Lessons from Oz,” Dorothy realizes at the end, “There is no place like home.” I’ve always loved the visualization of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. It speaks to me of the ability to accomplish our dreams as we cherry-pick the colors that speak to us. Jean provided lessons as a springboard for self-exploration.  She described “home” as a return to what we truly are — “our code, our seeding, our potential destiny.” Jean offered a map to help you find it. And at the end of the story, as Glinda the Good Witch says, “You’ve always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself.” May Jean enjoy her new life amidst the rainbows.

Applying Jean’s lens — to subjects dear to my heart, including the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict, the Israel‑Hamas War, and the 2026 Iran War, what can we discover?

I acknowledge that I am, in many ways, an observer. I do not live the tragic realities of either side, though as a Jew, I carry our shared historical traumas within me. If you feel I have no right to an opinion, I understand — the risks you face may seem far more immediate and perilous at first glance.

Antisemitism eventually escapes the bowels of hate, each time we feel that we finally are accepted — no matter how much we long to be just like our neighbors. Yes, it stinks, but this is our reality.

It is not surprising—it simply hurts when the blinders are ripped away.

As a Jew living in the diaspora, please recognize that the world most often sees us as one — whether through sidelocks and modest dress, or even when we feel unaffiliated, secular, or dressed in the latest fashions. Hitler didn’t ask for your temple membership card as they dragged off our brethren to be exterminated.

And as we’ve seen once again at the Islamic Center of San Diego,........

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