White Lotus Magazine

by Beth Brown-Rinella

I am genuinely enraptured by the shifting of energies that is happening all around us. Many of us feel these huge shifts and have to adjust constantly to stay afloat — emotionally and mentally. Some of us are experiencing physical symptoms as energies long held by the body are finally releasing. While these shifting energies seem to have become the norm in the last few years, there are so many blessings to still learn in this.

Going with the flow has never been so necessary: ride these waves of shifting energies like a Spiritual Surfer, going up and down with the pull of energies. See them move, and move with them. Make this a practice in your meditations. Feel the energy moving and flow with it: this way and that way – as if you were dancing in the stream of energies.

Trust that all is well, that everything you are feeling is legitimate. A truth once held by you is now being moved out of your energy field. Let it go. There is no need to ponder, question, worry about, or obsess over. Just go with the flow. These old beliefs or patterns are like the cookies in your computer, they hold information that was tapped into, but now they can be deleted. Let the deletion of old energies happen with ease and grace.  Fluidly and succinctly let the shifts flow. This may feel uncomfortable at first, but by staying grounded and rooted into the Earth, you will become the willow – bending but not breaking in the gale force winds all around you.

Truly, these shifting energies are for the highest good of humanity. We asked for this! We wished for less war, less strife, less pain – it may not seem like it now, but we are on our way! We asked for the Garden of Eden, and that is where we are headed. We asked for a deeper connection to the Higher Powers, and it is happening. We can connect to the Divine so much easier than ever before. We can tap into and use our intuitive powers so much faster and more effortlessly. We are embodying our Spirit-selves more and more. This is because of the shifting energies.

When we go with the flow, we open ourselves to the healing that is being offered to us by these new energies. When we recognize that the shifting energies bring us higher and closer to Spirit, they will become easier to accept as part of our divine healing in the matrix of life.
Namaste,
Beth

by Andrea Beloff

I invite you to learn how I have come to paint the angels around me. These hosts of heaven became an integral part of a new direction that my artistic career took starting in the fall of 2014. My history involves having been a dedicated papermaker in the Traditional Japanese method for 25 years in a highly detailed and textured tropical context. Next came a preservation period through an 8-year life-induced Sabbatical. During this time I learned about spiritual and emotional healing through art. The next step in my path was the best one yet: tackling my love for abstract art and trying my hand at it. In doing this, I have found heavenly bliss. I enthusiastically share that I have stepped into the most beautiful kaleidoscopic world of spiritual richness and renewal, filled with Biblical foundation. (John 1:1-18)

A few years ago, the angels comforted me as they witnessed my lonely struggle and daily longing to look at the way Christ’s great salvation found expression in my life. In my 11 x 12-foot cubicle on the second floor of an old eight-story building, with a window to a downtown Miami freeway overpass, I would break down crying and pleading for new direction in my life and my art. I began to feel the presence of something that I couldn’t wrap my head around. As I wrestled with my pain, I also prayed. As I painted, I practiced the songs that I would sing at Church when I got invited to sing with the team. And what an honor that was! As I found relief in this daily practice, first and foremost, I cultivated spiritual dependence and an intimate relationship with my Creator. I went from deep pain to extreme exhilaration. Secondly, it generated my breakthrough into contemporary art.

I explored this rich, layered look of rhythmic palette knife painting techniques using oil painting as my medium. I played and played with this repeatedly. I placed the paint onto these acid-free disposable palette sheets and mixed the colors, lifted the silky, luscious paints and applied them to my canvases. In the end, I couldn’t figure out what excited me more, the painting or the leftover paint on the palette. The palettes became treasures filled with angelic imagery of the unseen world! One by one, an angel would emerge. They reflected the themes I painted: surrender, joy, faith, hope, gratitude, forgiveness,  compassion, guidance,  the battle between good and evil, the light and the dark, just to name a few.

A completely new body of work emerged — the angel art. The angels as a byproduct of my paintings became proof to me that there is interaction between the visible and the invisible realms. The artwork erupted with a passion and strength unparallel to anything I had ever experienced. The revelation of these angels was indeed purposeful.

I am currently showing the painted angels, compiling the information, writing the stories and hoping to publish a book about the angels — who they are, information on their creation, their activities and purpose as stated in the Bible, their power, the differences compared to us human beings, their need for obedience as they do exercise moral judgment, their ability to sin and fall from their positions (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6), and also that not all of them are angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

From this perspective, I share my personal stories and visual declarations of this invisible world. I believe that it is part of my purpose to bring awareness of the existence and ministry of angels in the world today. I welcome you to experience them through the Painting Angel Collection at my Studio/Gallery, or at the ART Gallery Collective, and also through my website: www.andreabeloff.com and support me in the process of writing my first book.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Andrea Beloff is an American-born artist with a unique background of Argentinean, Brazilian, Russian and Italian influences. She spent 28 years in California, graduated from UCSB, and attended L’Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, Italy. She fully developed her career as a Papermaker during this time specializing in a very creative collaging process in a tropical genre. Before moving to Miami in 2012, she began a Sabbatical which set her off exploring and combining other mediums along with her handmade papers and this led to the beautiful LOVE and Abundance Series which can be seen in her Gallery. This was an artistic as well as a spiritual rebirth that then took her onto her new path and here to Naples, painting abstract expressionism using palette knives with spiritual undertones.

Andrea Beloff FINE ART
5760 Shirley St. #20 Naples, FL 34109
(305)773-0358
Gallery Night at Andrea Beloff FINE ART is every 1st Wednesday of the month, 5-8pm
and every 3rd Saturday of the month, 10-4pm.

ART GALLERY Collective At the Shoppes at Vanderbilt
2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road #144 Naples, FL
Gallery Night at ART GALLERY Collective is every 2nd Wednesday of the month, 5-8pm

1. trust
Trust that all will work out. Trust that everything is as it is supposed to be – no matter how impossible that may feel at the moment.

2. accept
Acceptance is the key to letting go. Accept your life exactly as it is, accept yourself as you are with your imperfections, and accept others just as they are.

3. surrender
You don’t have to be right always! It is okay to let someone else voice his or her opinion. It is okay to bite your tongue in order to preserve peace. You can choose not to feed your ego’s need to feel superior. Surrender to your higher self and intuition – you will know what to say or do and what not to say or do.

4. count to three
If you feel that you are being provoked, blamed, or put on the spot and know that your reaction might bring forth an argument or negative emotions, count to three before you utter any words. Better yet, count to 10! Collect your thoughts and decide what your response will be. Remember, the goal here is to learn to let go and to grow – not to feed the ego! At the same time, it is important not to continuously subjugate and repress your feelings. This is just to suggest, that counting to three might give you a little time to cool down and reassess the facts – engage or walk away.

5. mimic nature
Spend time in nature. See how beautifully and effortlessly the plants and the animals adapt to their surroundings and to change – without questioning, judging, or fighting it. See how nature renews after winter and how everything comes back to life after a storm or a drought. Watch the trees bend in the wind and the fish swimming with the flow of the river.

6. live in the NOW
See your life as a multitude of moments in the now. The present moment is only what ever exists. Life is always now. Without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, just focus on this very moment – for that is all that really matters. When you live in the now, you can more easily let go of what was and what will be.

7. view the challenges as lessons
Our demanding jobs, relationships, and responsibilities could all provide valuable lessons. Most often, the obnoxious bosses, annoying neighbors, high-maintenance partners, and difficult situations are showing up in our lives to help us learn and grow. The closer the person or situation is to us, the more we can learn from the challenges they bring about. As soon as we can accept them as our teachers, we no longer need to fight or resent them.

8. avoid drama
There are some people who love drama – they tend to provoke, blame, and push buttons, just to draw you into reaction and ultimately feed on the drama. Try to avoid or at least limit your exposure to these toxic people. If you find yourself unable to avoid their presence, just watch out for the triggers, remain present, and don’t engage.

9. draw the line
The closer we are to a person or a situation, the easier it is to allow them to hurt us. As humans we have a need to let others into our lives but we shouldn’t lose the ability to ‘draw emotional lines’ and to be able to say:  “I love you, but I don’t always love WHAT you do.”  There’s a fine line between the kind of behavior we walk away from because it is merely stressful to us, and that which can be deemed toxic. The challenge might be in cooling off enough to make a rational choice before dealing with it and taking the correct action.

10. eliminate stress
Have you ever been trapped in a seemingly never-ending traffic jam on I-75 just when you were already late for an appointment? Then you know that fighting it, resenting it, or stressing over it will not make the problem go away. It will just make you sick. Stress is the cause of many health problems: it can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, obesity, anxiety, or depression. You may not be able to stop stressful situations from happening, but you can decide not to let them affect you. You can choose not to invite the stress in!

 11. forgive
Resentment and holding a grudge is just as toxic to your body and mind as stress is! Be forgiving of yourself and others always. Forgiveness is a choice. You don’t have to forget – but you can choose to forgive!

12. be filled with Love
When your words, thoughts, and actions are filled with love, your life in turn becomes filled with love! It may not be easy to resist the ego’s addiction to pain, fear, drama, resentment, complaining, and anger. But if you can disidentify yourself from all these negative emotions, let go of them and replace them with love, the results could be astonishing.

The truth is, these suggestions seem simple enough on paper, but when we find ourselves trapped in a stressful situation, we may not immediately recognize the potential for spiritual growth. We might retreat to repeating what we’ve done, known, and experienced our whole lives. However, we must not become discouraged – we just have to trust that this also is part of our learning experience we call life.

by Peter Geresdi

In the previous issue we introduced a new series of articles about conscious eating, based on my personal experience of exploring the plant-based diet. I’d like to continue with what actually triggered me into changing my diet and my whole lifestyle.

To be honest, I was getting concerned about aging – not necessarily about growing old, but more so about the health problems that seem to come with it.

When I looked at my life, I realized that for many years I ate whatever I wanted, I didn’t exercise much, and I was stressed. I also gained some unwanted weight which started to affect all areas of my life. Being in my early 40s, I was beginning to worry about my health and the future of my health.

I could see people struggling with health problems all around me, even in my own family. My grandma spent the last twenty years of her life in bed – sick. She passed away around the same age that my parents are now. My other grandmother had a stroke, while my grandfather recently died after fighting cancer for years. My father has high blood pressure. My mother and my uncle both struggle with high cholesterol and with a multitude of lipomas (non-cancerous growths of fat cells encapsulated by thin, fibrous pods usually just below the skin). And the list goes on.

So I wondered: “Is disease in my genes?”

I didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of the elderly members of my family if I could help it, so I started researching, reading books, and watching YouTube videos. I wanted to learn as much as possible about improving and preserving my health. It’s amazing how much knowledge one can gain from the right source! The more I learned, the more I realized that all these health issues in my family appeared to be related more to lifestyle, including what we eat and what we do, than to aging.

Although older  people bear the highest risk of chronic disease, such as cancer, they could significantly lower their risk if they changed their lifestyles. According to a report published in February 2011 by The American Institute for Cancer Research, “Any cancers can be delayed or even prevented through a balance of regular physical activity and a plant-based diet.” [1]

I knew I was on the right track: I needed a lifestyle change!

I came across an article online called Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes. The study suggested that genes are not the main cause of most chronic illnesses. Their findings showed that the source of cancer is rooted in the environment and in our lifestyle, including diet (fried foods, red meat), cigarette smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity. [2]

I kept on researching, reading, and learning. One of the books that had the largest impact on me was The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Douglas N. Graham. This book opened my eyes to the truth that people are fatter and sicker than ever! When I was reading the facts that we as a nation have become the fattest people on earth, I was socked. Many people don’t realize it because obesity is so common nowadays. As a matter of fact, statistics show that two-thirds of Americans are overweight. Sadly, obesity is rapidly moving up in the ranks of causes of preventable health problems and sometimes death. [3]

In the Standard American Diet (or SAD diet), our consumption of junk food, animal products, chemical additives, toxic pesticides, and GMO products has increased in the past years, and at the same time our health has worsened rapidly. [3]  These alarming discoveries led me to the exploration of a strictly plant-based diet as a possible solution to improving and preserving my health.

I learned that plant-based foods are usually rich in antioxidants which are able to terminate free radicals that damage cells and cause chronic inflammation. Whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes contain no cholesterol and are low in fat, especially saturated fats. They are also high in fiber and other nutrients. There are several plant-based foods that are also good sources of protein, such as beans, peanuts, and soy.

Numerous studies conducted over the last few decades have shown that people whose diets include a large intake of plant foods tend to have a lower risk of chronic disease, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. As Christian Nordqvist explains in an article published in October 2012, “plants have bioactive compounds that play an important role in controlling genetic and other biological factors that contribute towards the development of chronic disease.” [4]

HEART DISEASE
The first recorded heart attack is said to have appeared in British literature just over a hundred years ago (1878). Approximately one in five Americans now suffers from some form of cardiovascular disease, and more than 2,500 Americans die from it each day! In 2001 just under 700,000 Americans died of heart disease. [5] With a plant-based diet and lifestyle changes, some of these deaths could have been prevented!

CANCER
Just a generation or two ago cancer was a ‘grandparents’ disease’. Today we have cancer hospitals for children! Millions of new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed each year, and sadly nearly half of those are predicted to die. [3] With a plant-based diet and lifestyle changes, some of these deaths could be prevented!

DIABETES
More than 18 million Americans have diabetes, the sixth most frequent cause of death in North America. The number of adults in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes has increased 61% since 1991 and is projected to more than double by 2050. Today, diabetes claims more than 200,000 lives each year. [6] With a plant-based diet and lifestyle changes, some of these deaths could be prevented!

The bottom line is that we can’t expect a different outcome if we do exactly the same as the two-thirds of the country! If we truly want results, we have to start making better choices and living more healthfully.

In my research I gathered that when it comes to our health, we have to understand the difference between creating health and treating symptoms. Dr. Graham points out, “it is always better to correct a problem – to remove its cause – than it is to supplement or suppress it.” When we use drugs, remedies, and therapies to eliminate symptoms, we do nothing to address their original cause, hence nothing to improve health. We must educate ourselves about the causes of health (not disease) and include these in our daily routine. [3]

So that is what I did. I gradually implemented healthier choices in my diet and daily routine. I tried a 30-day juice fast that detoxified my body and kick-started my healing process. I started drinking delicious smoothies I made with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables daily. Little by little, I replaced animal products and high-fat, processed foods with fresh, wholesome plant foods in my diet. As a result, I lost 30 pounds and I regained my energy.

Soon after, I became aware that keeping off the weight and improving my health will require constant work and dedication. I continue to eat mostly fruits and nuts throughout the day, drink fresh-pressed juices and smoothies, and consume light, meatless dinners at night. However, I realize that well-being is not only about what we eat. Diet is just one of the many fundamental elements – but it is a good start!

I invite you to follow me as I continue my journey to finding a healthier way to eat and live. Stay tuned for tips and more in-depth information on how the plant-based diet can improve your health, too.

REFERENCES:
[1] Evidence Shows Activity And Plant-Based Diet Lowers Cancer Risk, Even Later In Life. Published in February 2011. www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/217465.php
[2] Plant-Based Diets May Prevent Chronic Diseases by Christian Nordqvist
Published online in October 2012. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251689.php
[3] The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Douglas N. Graham
[4] Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes. Published online in July 2018. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515569/
[5] Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2011 by Elisabeth Arais and Betty L. Smith. National Viatal Statistics Report, Vol 51. No 5. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr51/nvsr51_05.pdf
[6] Americans Eat Themselves to Death by Lindsey Tanner. March 2004. www.cbsnews.com/news/americans-eat-themselves-to-death/

“Know that everything is in perfect order whether you understand it or not.” – GUY FINLEY

by Annamaria Geresdi

Being a hot-headed, quick-tempered Hungaria­­­­­n, I often struggle with mastering the many lessons life may present. I am aware that I tend to overreact at times and I’m usually quick to respond, knowing that my reaction just might start an avalanche of back-and-forth responses – which eventually lead to an unnecessary argument. In addition, I’ve been known to be impatient and stubborn. And occasionally I might obsess a little over things.

Therefore, one of my biggest lessons in life has been letting go. I am learning to resist the desire of my ego to be right, to be heard, to be noticed, and to be appreciated. I am learning to accept humbly all as is and to see my life perfect just as it is.

I realize that naturally we all have the urge to control our lives, we crave to be right, and we wish to have things go our way. But no matter how much we try to control our circumstances and perhaps even others, at some point we must consider that we are not in control: it appears that the Universe has its own plan for us!

I notice that once we learn to let go, to go with the flow, and surrender ourselves to a higher power, life all of a sudden seems to be going more smoothly, things start to fall in place, and we begin to find ourselves in spite of the turmoil around us. When we release our fears, worries, and insecurities, and recognize that the only things we do have control over in life are the words we utter, the thoughts we have and the things we do, we open ourselves to a higher consciousness and we step onto the path of enlightenment.

Having a pretty eventful year behind me, to say the least, and a demanding, fast-paced season in front of me, I must remind myself every so often to slow down, take a deep breath and just let go. For many of us, it may not be the easiest task, but with a little effort and some practice, we can learn to go with the flow and experience life becoming more and more peaceful, harmonious, and stress-free!

by Angela Passimodo Trafford

Watching the creamy-grey waves sail into the shore in the winter sunlight, I see shivering clouds of sea foam wash up near my feet. I watch the sparkling, bubbly foam shake like jello, then breathe in the salty air and break free in small, puffy, airborne clouds buffeted by the wind.

I used to think that sea foam was the souls of mermaids who were desperately seeking the human experience of being loved by just one man and risked it all for true love. Every time I see those waves roll onto shore and the fluffy ribbons of sea foam cast upon the sand, and hear a seagull cry, I imagine that I hear the sweet feminine voices of the mermaids, too.

I like to imagine things in today’s world which is now sadly lacking in creativity and vision. Einstein said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge” and I can see why.

When we imagine, we become co-creators with God and sail beyond the intellectual and conventional parameters – into the realm of vision and dreaming. This is the realm of shamans and mystics, and it is here I belong and feel most comfortable.

When my children were little I would spin them outrageous stories based on creatures of the earth and the natural world. My stories involved bubbles of sea foam which became the souls of mermaids, a sunny mirage on the ocean that magically transformed into a floating castle with an imprisoned Thumbelina princess, and a wooly bear caterpillar that found the meaning of life through an arduous quest of love, faith, and devotion and thus freed all caterpillars into wooly bear moths. In one of my stories a freshly washed floral quilt hanging to dry on our fencepost in the Canadian woods led to all the rebellious flowers breaking free and running wildly into the fragrant, loamy soil of the forest.

Creatures of the earth and the natural world have always held fascination for me and have been my greatest teachers.

Today I asked the ocean’s rolling surf: “What have you to tell me?”

“Go with the flow,” was the answer. “Trust.”

Easier said than done for most of us whose hearts have been so torn asunder by life and love. However, I believe that the waves can teach us how. If we watch the waves, they will teach us about breaking free and joyously rising and falling together in rushing rivulets that flow smoothly to the shore, ironing out their difficulties. The waves can show us how to break down hardened points of view of what we think our life should be, and let go to the extraordinary flow of what is. If we surrender to the vitality of life itself and the ultimate resolution of love, the miracles follow.

The winter sun, a pale cool white light in a grey sky, speaks of pulling back, receding, and of acceptance.

“I am not warm today,” it says honestly. “I am gathering my energies for a new season, when my renewed enthusiasm will generate the spring and summer heat that kisses your skin with summer glow. But not yet. Not now. Don’t ask much of me now. I am going within, to the heart of myself to restore my soul.”

Observing the sandpipers, I see harmony and play. You can count on them to run on their spindly legs towards the tide, and then back again. Their dance brings comfort and peace.

“Imagine all the people living for today,” sang John Lennon. When we imagine, we let go of the cares and woes of the rational mind and enter the world of children who live in the here and now.

We adults can only give to others when we reach within and nurture ourselves. This is a time when the ebb tide recedes and we must practice acceptance.

Simply observing our natural world through the eyes of love turns a wave into a spiritual master, and the round, feathery head and pointed beak of a sandpiper into a heart’s leap of hope and celebration.

We, who have been given so much, need to return to the spirit of life and learn to receive the messages of the elemental world.

“Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger. A brotherhood of man.”  When we imagine, we dream. When we dream, we are angels at play in the fields of the Lord – the unconscious, where all answers are found.

With the heart of a child, inventions are born. Fairy tales and myths bear legendary wisdom from speakers of truth from generation to generation.

With imagination we can visualize healing our bodies and improving our world.

“I have a dream,” said Martin Luther King;  millions aspired and were freed.

The healing journey begins with just one step – a burning need, a hope, an idea.

Stop for a moment. Slow down and tap into the light within. Cherish this moment of life. Heed the music of a different drummer; find your inner self. Create the life you dreamed of when all was bright-shiny-new and untarnished by experience. Be inspired to new levels of growth, love, and insight. You can become that person you imagined yourself to be.

A seagull cries out – it’s the sound of flight and freedom. It could be your voice. Take your power back. Just imagine.

With imagination we create our world. A cloud of sea foam becomes the soul of a mermaid; flowers escape from quilts and forage in the secret woods with the wild lady’s slippers; a poetic wooly bear caterpillar, blessed by a fairy with faith and endurance saves the world; and one woman sitting at the water’s edge dips into the heart of creation and restores herself.

by Barbara Cook

It is not the events on our life’s journey that make the difference between us being a victim or a hero. It is how we respond to them. The tunnel of fear is no more real than the light of hope.

It is how we choose to see it.  Choice is our greatest power. Most of us minimize our choice by someone else’s definitions of what is possible. As a result, other people’s probabilities become our only possibilities.

When contemporary medicine of drugs and surgeries says that is all that they can do, please be informed that, it does not mean that is all anyone can do. There are many healing modalities out there that are available and effective. The Science of Nature heals and I have witnessed this in my experience many times. The mind is the healer; and the body will follow.

I had a client who came to me for assistance with pre-diagnosed cancer at the far end of her illness. She was not doing very well but in just a few hours of Light Medicine, her body began to heal. By cleaning the toxins out of the body, purifying the blood, and nourishing the cells, her body became stable and she regained vitality. She started going for walks again and began eating normally. She regained her strength and vigor each day. She visited me often and was full of hope and gratitude for having another chance.

A few weeks passed and she went back to her home town in another state. The hospital called her in to see how bad she had become while she was away, as they had warned her it would not be good for her to leave their care. She was an absolutely different patient on her return than she had been when she left. They found her condition unbelievable and ordered new tests. Although this woman was a walking miracle and had not been sick or tired or ailing in any way for weeks, the reports came back and said that nothing had changed. She was told she would have only 3 weeks left to live and to get her things in order.

So, rather than making her own choice to survive, as she was already living happily and pain free, she became instantly ill again. She went to bed and passed exactly as her hospital team ‘instructed’.

The choice, even when there appears to be no choice, is how we wish to see the possibilities.

by Carol Glassman

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again when we are expected to open our arms, our hearts,  and our homes to those folks who live in colder climes, yet manage to find their way south at the first white flakes of winter.  If you are lucky they’ll pass by your house and keep on driving!

Now it may be that some quite enjoy playing hostess of the year to these people, and if they do, they  can stop reading now.  This is a guide for the perplexed and unwilling who are sick and tired of being treated like an oasis for never-ending people who know how to take advantage of their generosity and hospitality. Far too many of their friends and relatives seem to recognize some kind of flashing neon lights on their rooftops that read “Vacancy” and “Free Food”.  They arrive with little notice, a smile, and a five-dollar bottle of wine and no departure date in mind.

Being  well-brought up and gracious people the hosts show them to the guest quarters while grinding their teeth to a pulp. What else can they do?  These people are somehow related to them  — perhaps cousins  on their mother’s side, 17 times removed.  Add a little water to the soup and keep smiling.

Since wife and husband/mate still work for a living, it may be impossible to entertain these visitors on a daily basis, so they hand them a key to the castle, encourage them to make themselves at home — something which seems to come naturally to them — prepare  a light breakfast and after leaving them with enough maps and ideas to keep them busy in the Florida sunshine, they go to work.

Day after day they return home to an empty refrigerator and signs that their home has become a combination hotel, laundromat, and restaurant with no sign of the supplies that have been used ever being replaced.  In fact, they occasionally do find little notes and hints about which brand of detergent or tea bags would be appreciated in their next round of grocery shopping.  The driveway is blocked by their gas-guzzling van, and the entranceway full of their beach toys and damp towels. The washer and dryer are never available for use as they are always full of their clothing.

They try to suggest meeting the interlopers for dinner nightly to avoid the constant drain on their energy and food budget, but that always ends up with a Texas stand-off over the check and these people are pros at never opening a wallet or feeling gratitude and the need to somehow recompense for all they take. Now the hosts have a mounting credit card bill as well for dining out which they can barely afford on a limited income.

After a week of this, the situation is becoming critical:  don’t these people know, that live-in company is like fresh fish – frankly, after three days it begins to stink?  Wife and  husband are barely speaking and it’s becoming difficult to maintain an air of civility let alone hospitality.

One of our ‘ugliest’ memories of house guests involved a couple whose hobbies were unending Scrabble and dining at great restaurants while they stayed.  Just as we thought we were well rid of them, they found another unusual restaurant that they simply had to try but since they could not get a reservation until the following week, without asking us if it would be all right, they simply announced they were extending their stay. I was frantic and had long given up the Scrabble marathons and extravagant dinners using recovery from surgery as an excuse.  Someone ‘up there’ must have been watching over me — the next day the woman tripped and hurt her hand, did not trust the local diagnosis and they returned home for treatment. Now I did not wish her any harm — I just wanted her out of my house!

Aside from changing the locks doing the day, turning out the lights, serving a notice of eviction  and pretending to have left town, is there a solution for unwanted guests? What can be done about freeloaders who annually make the trek to Florida, using the home of one acquaintance after another going south on I-75 without ever paying for accommodation?  Why should you be he one to furnish hot and cold running sheets?

Well, the solution borders on evil thought, but it just might work. When dealing with people like this, one must fight fire with a conflagration equal to Armageddon.  No holds are barred and I have it on good authority that when it coms to self-preservation in the face of users and abusers, all will be forgiven and your slate wiped clean.

Bare-faced lying is good. Here are some suggestions:

• As these people show up at the door, you simply grab your key and a dummy suitcase you leave in the hall closet for such occasions and announce you are on your way to the airport and have no idea when you will return from your trip.  Bye-bye.

• You wouldn’t dream of allowing anyone to stay in your home, as the plumbing broke down a week ago and repairmen are on strike.  Sorry, no running water or conveniences.  You can barely stand the stench yourself.

• Oh, you just must have missed the exterminator — he’ll be back in a minute with the tent/traps/poison to treat the infestation of ants/roaches/rats/bats  or all of the aforementioned pests – the house is just full of them!  But that’s Florida!

• My, my —  I thought you were Uncle Charlie and Aunt Edna – they just called from the airport and they are on their way to stay for the season!  So sorry – no room at the inn!

You can become as creative as you like with excuses, if you simply cannot bring yourself to deliver a resounding “NO” and stick to your resolve. You are in charge and to maintain your happiness and peace of mind, the solutions rest in your hands. Keep in mind:  your home is your castle and it’s up to you  to dig the moat around it.  I understand there is a local company, Rent-A-Croc that will keep it well stocked for you!

Happy Season!

by Peter Geresdi

PART 1 – Introduction

As a kid, I was always active and never overweight. Growing up in a small town in Hungary definitely had its advantages. We had a vineyard with long rows of grapevines and many fruit trees, and we grew our own vegetables. So my sister and I had the ability to pick a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to munch on whenever they were in season. In addition to our chores and helping our parents with the gardens, we also played, walked, and rode our bikes a lot. Looking back, I can say that we had a healthy and joyful childhood.

Since traditional Hungarian cuisine usually contains some sort of meat, in my youth I regularly ate beef, pork, poultry, and fish. Even though our meals also consisted of a healthy amount of vegetables as sides, garnish, fermented additions, or salads, they would most often involve lots of meat, eggs, dairy, pasta, bread, and unhealthy fats. My mom was an excellent cook and we enjoyed every dish she prepared and every desert she baked.

Back then, we didn’t have to be concerned about hormone-treated meats and dairy, or genetically modified plants. We didn’t have health food stores, vegetarian/vegan restaurants, fancy weight-loss plans, and wide access to information about how food might affect our health. We ate what mom or the school cafeteria served us — and we loved it!

As an adult, living in the States, I continued indulging in my favorite foods and for many years I ate whatever I desired. I didn’t have time to exercise as much as I used to and I found myself caught up in the everyday stresses of my demanding life. As a result, I gained some unwanted weight which in turn had an effect on my general well-being. I knew I needed a complete lifestyle change.

Throughout the years that followed, I had become more conscious about my eating habits and noticed how my diet affected my health, my mood, and my energy. Gradually, I started making changes. I trained myself to make better dietary choices little by little. I cut back or completely gave up many foods I once loved. I have researched and tried many approaches and regimens to lose weight and eat healthier.

I also started exercising more, spending more time outdoors, and limiting stress in my life. I committed myself to finding a healthier way to eat and live. Currently I’m in the process of exploring a strictly plant-based diet. I’m fascinated by its simplicity and its effectiveness. It already has made a positive impact on my health and on my life!

A plant-based diet includes lots of plant foods in their whole, unprocessed form, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, and small amounts of healthy fats. It does not include processed foods, sweets, and animal products, such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, or animal fats.

In addition to supporting animal rights* and considering possible environmental factors**, going with a strictly plant-based diet can offer many health benefits. Studies show that it may lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar; it could lead to a prolonged life and a healthier weight; it can improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis; and it may slow the progression of certain types of cancer.[1] An article published in Food Technology in October 2012 explains that plant-based diets can either minimize or completely eliminate people’s genetic propensity to developing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.[2]

Besides its positive impact on my health, I found that the best part about this diet for me is that I can still enjoy many of my favorite foods while loosing weight — I just simply replace the unhealthy ingredients with low-fat, whole food, plant-based substitutes!

I invite you to explore this plant-based eating plan with me through a series of articles following my journey to finding a healthier way to live and eat. Stay tuned for tips and more in-depth information on how the plant-based diet can improve your health, too.

NOTES:
*Supporting animal rights: believing in the absolute right of animals to exist freely without human interference (more in Part 2)
**Environmental factors: livestock farming can have a devastating effect on the planet (more in Part 2)

REFERENCES:
[1] The Plant-Based Diet. E-Book, Kaiser Permanente, 2013.
[2] The Chronic Food Remedy by Toni Tarver, published in Food Technology, October 2012.

ATTRIBUTES: Mental Clarity, Cleansing, Purification

ELEMENT: Wind

CHAKRAS: All (some color specific)

MINED: U.S., Britain, Australia, Germany, Peru, Mexico, Barzil, China

PROPERTIES:

• Cleanses and stabilizes the aura
• Assists balance and coordination
• Gently opens the door to the subconscious
• Helps dissolve illusions and reveal the truth
• Heightens intuitive powers and psychic abilities
• Cleanses and aligns all the chakras
• Grounds and integrates spiritual energies
• Has a purifying and stabilizing effect.
• Enhances the intellect and increases concentration
• Effective against computer and electromagnetic stress

Fluorite is a highly protective and stabilizing stone, useful for grounding and harmonizing spiritual energy. It is believed to increase intuitive abilities, link the human mind to universal consciousness, and develop a connection to Spirit. Fluorite can anchor intuitive insights into the physical plane, allowing mental and physical coordination.

Fluorite heightens mental abilities, assisting in rapid organization and processing of information and can bring mental clarity and stability to an otherwise chaotic situation.  Fluorite absorbs negative energies from the environment and is effective at aura and chakra cleansing. Fluorite can also shield the user from psychic manipulation.

NOTE: Due to its powerful ability to absorb negative energies, Fluorite should be cleansed often.

HEALING
Fluorite is a powerful healing tool. Physically, Fluorite is known to strengthen bones and teeth, and ease the pain associated with arthritis. It is said to regenerate the skin and speed up the healing of ulcers and wounds. It can be used for colds, flu, and sinusitis. Fluorite is believed to enhance mental functions by balancing the chemistry in the brain.

POSITION
Hold or wear as appropriate. For pain relief, stroke a wand or smooth piece of Fluorite across affected area towards the heart. Place a specimen of Fluorite in a room to remove stagnant energy and/or block geopathic stress*. Place in front of computer to block electromagnetic smog*.

A FEW VARIETIES OF FLUORITE:

CLEAR FLUORITE
Clear Fluorite aligns all the chakras, energizes the aura, and helps you see what is holding you back in your spiritual evolution. In meditation, it stimulates the Crown Chakra and allows universal energy to enter into the physical body. Clear Fluorite can assist in harmonizing the intellect with the Spirit.

PURPLE FLUORITE
Purple Fluorite stimulates the Third Eye Chakra and brings a common sense understanding to intuitions and psychic communication. It is an excellent meditation stone. Use Purple Fluorite when you want to focus on the expression of Spirit, and communicate precisely its messages.

BLUE FLUORITE
The calm, serene energy of Blue Fluorite brings inner peace. When used with the Third Eye Chakra, Blue Fluorite can bring spiritual awaking and clear communication between the physical and spiritual planes. Used with the Throat Chakra, it enhances clear communication of intuitive insights.

GREEN FLUORITE
Green Fluorite grounds and absorbs excess energy, including environmental energies. Green Fluorite aids in accessing the subconscious mind and helps dissipate emotional trauma.

YELLOW FLUORITE
Yellow Fluorite supports intellectual activities. It can bring understanding and manifestation to intuitions. A stone of unity, Yellow Fluorite harmonizes group energy and enhances creativity. It is an excellent detox stone!
SOURCE:
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

There has been some confusion about two different establishments in Naples offering the same alternative therapy. This natural health modality, called Salt Therapy or Halotherapy is based on recreating the healing microclimate of ancient salt caves. Therefore, the name “salt cave” has become a popular umbrella term to describe the wellness facilities that provide salt therapy.

The confusion about these two places could exist because one of the establishments is actually called the Salt Cave, while the other one is calling its therapy rooms “salt caves” and is offering “salt cave therapy”.

Even though the term “salt cave” (and also salt room, salt grotto, and salt chamber) can be used to refer to different places that provide salt therapy, not all salt caves are the same. Some of them are built to resemble the actual salt caverns and old salt mines, while others look more like contemporary spas or pristine hospital rooms. Some of them provide a real cave-like ambiance granting a wonderfully relaxing experience, some may even bring spiritual encounters, and others might feel like sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. But they all offer the same concept: recreating the unique and therapeutic environment of naturally occurring salt caves with the use of dry salt vapor to combat respiratory ailments, skin irritations, allergies, stress, fatigue, and many other health concerns.

For years, there has been only one salt cave in Naples, called the Salt Cave, located right on US-41. Since a salt grotto has recently opened its doors nearby on Pine Ridge Road and has been massively advertising its “salt cave therapy” at discounted prices, many customers have mistakenly believed that the two places were the same. Andrea Geresdi, the owner of the original Salt Cave said that she had received numerous phone calls in the past months from her customers trying to book appointments based on specials that the salt grotto was running with Groupon. Although it may have created some confusion in town, Andrea welcomes the increase in business the situation brought to the Salt Cave.

One may think that people would recognize the different addresses and different names of the two companies, but apparently the advertisements for the “salt cave sessions” have been confusing some of the locals. Fortunately, the new salt grotto is conveniently located less than four miles from the original Salt Cave, so if someone is not in the right place, he or she can probably make it to the appointment at the other one just in time.

The original Salt Cave of Naples opened over seven years ago and has grown into an extensive and versatile healing facility, offering many alternative health modalities, including Halotherapy, Far Infrared Sauna, Biofeedback, VIP Light Therapy, Ionic Detox Footbath, Compression Therapy, Electrotherapy, Crystal Bed Therapy, Cupping, and Spiritual Healing. In addition to its health benefits, the beautifully constructed and welcoming Salt Cave also provides a peaceful and spiritual experience for those who are open to it. Being surrounded by tons of Himalayan crystal salt, soothing music and dim lighting, people are invited to drift into a state of absolute relaxation and blissful healing.

On the other hand, for those who prefer a spa-like setting, more lighting during therapy, low prices, smaller spaces, and more relaxed scheduling, they should give Salt Therapy a try at the new salt grotto in town. In addition to the adult salt cave, they have a children’s salt cave which offers more playful and cozy comfort for kids and their guardians. Their therapy rooms are colorfully decorated and covered in a variety of natural salt, providing a relaxing and healing environment. Customers can also enjoy the many health benefits of the Infrared Sauna, including detoxification, immune system boost, pain relief, enhanced metabolism, improved circulation, skin purification, weight loss and more.

Even if these two places may have a different feel and energy, what they do have in common is that they both provide natural, safe, and drug-free solutions to many health concerns. Furthermore, they both have exquisite décor, a variety of Himalayan salt products, and equally passionate and dedicated owners. Your experience at either of these locales will depend on your individual needs and personal preferences. If you are looking for a more spiritual place and a wide selection of different therapies, you may enjoy visiting the original Salt Cave. If you prefer discounted services to improve your health and a laidback atmosphere, you might want to check out the salt caves at the new salt grotto.

Should you decide to visit either or both of these local businesses, remember to keep an open mind, a positive attitude, and just breathe — your health could most certainly benefit from it!

Salt Cave
4962 Tamiami Trl N, Naples, FL 34103
Ph: (239) 403-9170
www.saltcavenaples.com

Salt Therapy Grotto
3443 Pine Ridge Road, Unit 102, Naples, FL 34109
Ph: (239) 598-0990
salttherapygrotto.com

by Carol Glassman

Haines, Alaska – Photography by Carol Glassman

In the past few years my vacations have taken me to some interesting places in the world — perhaps not terribly unique or out-of-the-way to seasoned wanderers,  but for a not-so young single woman traveling alone I found them pretty exciting.  I also discovered that although I had always thought I preferred big, busy cities, I am actually more at home surrounded by silence and the beauty of nature.

These days there are many reality TV shows that can introduce you to Alaska, “The Last Frontier”.  Alaska can be just as wild and remote as it looks, but it also offers grand and majestic scenery in more accessible areas with running water, inside plumbing and deodorant if you’re not quite ready to strap on the hiking boots, shoulder a rifle and take off with a backpack full of dried pemmican for weeks of unwashed outdoor living.

My late husband and I took our first cruise to Alaska nine years ago. Since it was his first cruise experience and we had never met anyone who didn’t like Alaska, we figured it was a safe bet.  We enjoyed it tremendously.  Since then, I have visited places such as Milford Sound in New Zealand and the Chilean Fjords in South America, and lovely as they were, I came away a little disappointed.  What were they lacking?  I finally decided they simply didn’t affect me the way I recalled Alaska.

Now you know we all carry memories with us of Mom’s apple pie and huge homes where we grew up, and when we finally revisit these events we find Mom’s pie is very good but not really unique, and either the old homestead has shrunk or we simply got bigger;  romance and nostalgia for the past can play tricks on us! So it was with a little hesitation that I planned a return cruise to Alaska on my own.

Let me say at the outset that I am a big fan of cruising as I enjoy the freedom of traveling alone on a medium size ship (under 900 passengers) where I can take advantage of all the amenities, great dining, and have as much or as little company and entertainment as I choose. I don’t believe in roughing it when I am on vacation and clearly understand that not everyone will share my views. I also don’t enjoy sharing a cabin or feeling obligated to eat, sleep or live by another’s  idea of fun when all I may want to do is relax and read all day on the deck. However, I do like to assure mature women who may be nervous about solo travel, that a cruise is a great choice where you can eat alone and read a book, or share a table with others and possibly enjoy a lively conversation with new friends.

Seattle skyline – Photography by Carol Glassman

This time I chose to spend a few days sightseeing in Seattle before boarding the cruise which took me north along the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Haines, the Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point and Hoonah, Sitka, Victoria and Vancouver , British Columbia (Canada) and back to Seattle.  One can also begin the trip in Vancouver, as both Seattle and Vancouver offer a variety of different-priced cruises and itineraries.

Vancouver, BC – Photography by Carol Glassman

One of the best things about cruising on a medium size ship, is that most of the time you find yourself docked at the pier which is usually right in the center of the town. If you don’t want to pay extra for an excursion, you can walk off the ship and sightsee on your own.

While sailing, binoculars might enable you to see diving whales, sea otters, and a wide variety of birds. The Inside Passage is pretty smooth sailing for a novice and if there is any rougher weather at all, it will be on the return south as the ship heads outside for Victoria and Vancouver. It’s an experience to have lunch in Victoria, Canada one day and Vancouver the next.

Icy Strait Point, Hoonah – Photography by Carol Glassman

First Settlers, Statue in Ketchikan Harbour – Photography by Carol Glassman

Rather than give a travelogue of each and every location, I suggest an Internet search before you go to  discover what each town offers, and your ship will provide a lot of information about land excursions that are available at each port. These vary widely from guided historical and cultural walks through the town to helicopter rides, salmon fishing,whale watching and zip lines for the adventurous.

When we visited the first time, almost every town was full of souvenir stores where everything one picked up was ‘Made  in China’.  Recently Alaska seems to have attracted a lot of excellent artisans and these days many items are proudly handcrafted in Alaska, from pottery to ulu knives, jewelry, cosmetics, fine art, and handwoven fabrics. Of course you can also purchase and ship Alaska smoked salmon.

For me, the highlight of the trip and worth every dollar, was the day spent at the Hubbard Glacier. Most cruises spend hours either here or in Glacier National Park.  Hubbard Glacier is about seven miles wide where it ends at Disenchantment Bay, and the bluish ice you will see there is about 400 years old as that’s how long it takes for it to travel from its source.  Every so often there is a thunderous roar and crackle as pieces of ice the size of a ten-storey building calve – break off and fall into the water, while visiting ships carefully keep their distance. A photo cannot possibly communicate the awesome majesty and grandeur of one of the largest glaciers in the world. The sun may shine but you would be wise to pack a down jacket, as even in June and July the weather, just standing on the ship’s deck, can be quite frosty. Most ships anchor offshore and turn slowly for hours so that everyone gets a 360º view of the glacier. The glacier and the breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains are what I came for and I was not disappointed.

Hubbard Glacier – Photography by Carol Glassman

I have not experienced that kind of peace and silence since I skied — the moment  when the  ski lift drops you at the top of the hill and you are alone in the ice cold air and sunshine — it’s a moment you would like to freeze in time and revisit at will.

This is just the tip of the Alaskan iceberg in more ways than one. I would encourage you to go and experience the rest – by land, rail, or sea. It may be the last frontier but it offers a first-class experience.

ATTRIBUTES: Inner Vision, Truthful Communication

ELEMENT: Wind

CHAKRA: Throat, Third Eye Chakra

MINED IN: Chile, Italy, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, USA

Lapis Lazuli is believed to connect the physical and celestial realms. A deeply peaceful stone, it provides divine wisdom and a connection with spiritual guardians. Lapis Lazuli harmonizes the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. It is said to protect against psychic attack, shielding negative energy and returning any negative vibrations to their source. Lapis Lazuli can enhance dream work and spiritual journeying.

Lapis Lazuli is believed to alleviate pain, especially migraine headaches. It may benefit the throat, larynx, and thyroid, as well as the respiratory and nervous systems. Lapis can also help overcome depression and boost the immune system. It helps relieve stress and it brings a sense of inner peace. It is said to be beneficial for insomnia and vertigo.

POSITION
Carry Lapis in your pocket or wear as jewelry for protection against negative energies. Place at the throat or third eye.

MEDITATION
Placing Lapis on the Third Eye Chakra during meditation can help reveal one’s inner truth, encourage self-awareness, and provide mental clarity. Placed on the Throat Chakra, it can help speak one’s truth and express suppressed emotions.

GEM ESSENCE
A Gem Elixir made with Lapis is said to dissolve emotional bondages.

SOURCE:
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

The Armadillo Spirit Animal teaches us boundaries, protection, and empathy. According to the Manataka American Indian traditions, Brother Armadillo can show us when to let our defenses down and when to let others into our personal space; it can teach us to be always prepared to protect ourselves from potential threats; and it also reminds us to open up and expose our inner selves time to time. Armadillo’s medicine includes understanding our personal boundaries, respecting the boundaries of others, understanding our vulnerabilities, and the importance of being grounded and protected.

When Armadillo comes into your life:

• You might be reminded to learn to guard your personal space.
• It may be time to examine your boundaries or artificial limits placed on your abilities, time, or space.
• You may be negligent of a persistent problem or avoiding issues.
• Perhaps you are too paranoid, ‘hard-shelled’ or could be covering your feelings.
• You may need to work harder at finding sustenance in your life to bring more spiritual awareness.

If Armadillo is your Spirit Guide:

• You have clear boundaries and you allow entry into your personal space only when you want to.
• You always sense what is safe and what is not.
• You enjoy solitude but know when to open up to people and join others in social activities.

Ask Armadillo’s help when you feel that:

• You have difficulty saying ‘no’ or are being taken for granted.
• Someone is invading your personal space.
• You need assistance to define your emotional and physical boundaries.

Did you know?

The armadillo (Spanish for “little armored one”) rolls into a tight ball when threatened to cover its vulnerable underside. Its leathery armored shell is made up by cartilage and bone, providing excellent protection. The armadillo is a territorial creature that regularly patrols its boundaries to sniff out intruders and potential threats. It is slow but persistent in its daily tasks and ignores most non-threatening activities around it. The armadillo makes burrows to sleep and have its young. As many of us may be painfully aware, the armadillo digs for its food, often tearing up lawns and gardens in its path. It has very poor eyesight, and uses its keen sense of smell to search for insects, grubs, etc underground. Cute as it may seem, the armadillo is a solitary dweller and does not have many friends.

by John McMullin and Leigh Randolph

Are you aware of what you need at work, in relationships, in life? Many of us are so busy making sure everyone else is OK that we not only don’t know if we’re OK, we don’t know how to ask for what we need for life to feel fulfilling. Or perhaps we don’t feel worthy of asking to have our needs met.

One way to look at this matter is whether or not we can receive a compliment. Is it easier to give a compliment than receive one? Most of us feel embarrassed or hide when someone gives us a compliment. Part of our ego attaches shame or fear to the expression because we feel unworthy of receiving acknowledgment. Compliments can also create future expectations that parts of our ego want to avoid. So the interesting paradox is: what we crave, part of us rejects. Many partnerships are dissolved because one partner feels unworthy of someone else’s affection. We can also feel the obligation of returning something greater than what was given to us. Since all humans have emotional needs, is it possible we wall off accepting the adulation of another? Then we feel empty and lonely because we don’t believe we deserve to have our needs met. How do we move beyond starving for attention that we wall off?

Let’s begin with the heart. If we open our heart we can feel the emotional needs of others and begin to find our own. Acknowledging another with a compliment based on our perceptions is a way to make connection with someone else. The connection with others is a need. Those who isolate themselves from others to avoid connection may have a trauma or wound around being vulnerable with others. Their basic human need for connection is not being met and deep within they will feel emptiness and a yearning to be seen. We have to find the connection and intimacy with ourselves before we can truly connect with another. How do we find that?

One way is to slow down the usual, reactive patterns that separate us from our other ego parts and learn to sense what we are really feeling. The concept of really liking ourselves without being self-absorbed allows us to begin to have compassion for our own humanity as well as other people in our life. When we find that, we begin to feel our needs and learn to ask for our needs to be met. We don’t need to pretend that people like us, nor are we seeking approval. It is important to learn to ask for what we need in a relationship and in life, and also know that another may not be able to fill that need. The alternative is to learn to integrate our ego parts to fulfill our needs, or from a Higher Source. Accepting what can be offered to us at the time is just as important as learning to ask for our needs.

We can move beyond using compliments as flattery or seduction (seeking approval) and take ownership of heartfelt feelings. We learn to begin compliments with, “What’s true for me” or “My opinion is” or, “In my experience” as opposed to statements projected onto other people. Once we learn to experience the gratification of delivering a compliment from our perception, then compliments can flow without necessarily being acknowledged by the recipient. We begin to notice the excellence of other people and reflect that as our experience while inviting recipients to accept or reject.

Do you know how to identify your heartfelt needs? Can you slow down and separate wants from needs and notice the feelings attached to both? Can you identify your authentic needs beyond attachment to expectations and plans? Can you identify the unmet need that lies beneath your sense of dissatisfaction? Have you learned to share your needs without attaching shame or fear? Can you make space for your partner to do the same? Have you become sensitive to noticing how your requests have been answered?

We often confuse what we need with expectations. When we expect someone else to be the only source of making us happy or complete we have placed an unrealistic burden upon them. If we can find the deep and profound longing for what we need and share that with our partner without expecting them to be responsible, then we can invite them into our life rather than need them in our life. What is given may appear to miss the mark, however it may also answer our need in an unanticipated way. For example, you may ask for a painful relationship to heal but a deeper answer is found in closing that relationship to open the door to a more blissful one. Asking for what we need and accepting what is given is a process of surrendering the need for control. As we develop the vulnerability from within to ask, we become more grateful for what is given.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

John A. McMullin Sr is the founder of Journeys of Wisdom, Inner Achievement Methods and Director of Holistic Coaching Institute. He sees clients and teaches nationally and internationally. He also publishes SelfGrowthWisdom.com. John can be reached at (614) 975-5433.

Leigh Randolph is retired from a career in dentistry and has been fascinated by the world beyond the five senses for decades. That has led her to working with clients and their dreams through Holistic Integrative Dreamwork, as well as scanning the biofield for stress patterns. She is available both locally and globally. You can reach Leigh at (614) 581-8703.

Exploring Mathematical Mantra — 108: The Product of Two Sacred Numbers
by Susanna Tocco LMT, CYT

When I look back, I can say that while I did my best, math and I did not get along very well when I was a kid. Math felt like a labyrinth of twists and turns that left my mind boggled, rather than leaving me with a feeling that I had achieved something. It came as no surprise that after graduation I chose a career path that was not dependent upon math – or so I thought.

Flash forward a little over a decade later and I found myself, both in business and in my personal life, immersed in a deep love and dedication to Mantra. I read books, took seminars, and listened to CD’s. I wanted to learn all that I could. Sanskrit felt so good on my tongue, in my ears, and on my breath. Then the universe had a little chuckle at me because the more I learned about Mantra, the more I realized how math played a part.

Mantra is the repetition of a word, sound, prayer, or energy — over and over again to create a wave of enlightenment. Sometimes we catch this wave and ride it all the way to shore, and sometimes we fall off the wave but still feel the high of the ride.

Mantra is used in many customs to help reach and even achieve Samadhi, a state of intense concentration, the height of Divine Consciousness. But what does math have to do with Samadhi?

My journey into Mantra taught me that traditionally, mantras are chanted 108 times. There are many theories surrounding why 108 was chosen. Essentially it all comes down to math. One of the many theories is that 1 represents one thing, 0 represents nothing, and 8 represents everything/infinity. To me this makes sense and I find it beautiful to meditate upon – but let us go deeper.

1+0+8=9. Nine is the first Sacred Number that represents universal love, eternity, and spiritual awakening. Nine is a rather magical number, even mathematically speaking. 9×2=18 and if the product 18 is added (1+8=9) we are again brought back to 9. Take the multiplication of 9 by any number and you can always break down the product back to nine. Go ahead, try it. What is the second sacred number? It is 12. When we take 108÷9 it equals 12. There it is. The second sacred number is the number of our Zodiac that represents a completed cycle of experience.

9 times 12 equals 108. Thus, 108 is the product of the sacred number nine (the Eternal Number) and twelve (the number of Cosmic Order). Born of these two sacred numbers, 108 embodies the eternity and wholeness of our existence. This, I believe, could be the authentic reason why we chant 108 times in order to achieve enlightenment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SUSANNA TOCCO, LMT, FS, CYT has a long and varied history with the healing arts. From the commencement of her journey in 1994 to the present day, she has long sought to understand the world around her through spiritualism. Susanna currently teaches at Open Mind Zen, located at 1250 Tamiami Tr. N. #205, Naples, FL 34102. For more information, visit www.Mystical13.com.

by Janet Weisberg

Our collective journey to rediscover the wholeness of our nature requires an intimate direct sensory connection with nature. It’s the single most important cooperative action we are asked to engage in at this moment to reestablish appropriate optimism for the future. Our role as a species is to remember, connect, and reclaim our biological gift of 54 senses, making possible conscious connections and deep experiences of feeling wholly alive with and on Earth.

Opportunities were and continue to be offered that let Earth teach what has been temporarily forgotten: WE (an inclusive term referring to all lifeforms) are connected and dependent on the balance inherent in our natural systems. Without this, life is constantly trying to reboot  to its original intention: systemic equilibrium.

Several past participants have shared their personal NatureConnect experiences as follows.

Growing up on a farm and living my life mostly in nature, I thought I was pretty savvy about my nature-centered relationships. That was until I took the NatureConnect course. The experiential exercises deepened my understanding of being an equal with all life. Knowing we’re destroying our eco-systems but not sure how to change the old patterns of thinking and being, I learned to listen deeply and learn from nature —and as part of nature I have the power to change my ways and influence others. I now see nature as a Source and not a resource to use without being in a mutually supportive consensus process with all life. The course jolted me into a new realm of consciousness that makes me constantly mindful and grateful. It has helped me to find a greater sense of inner and outer peace and healing. My hope is that people of all ages will be able to experience these exercises and learn from Mother Earth. Namaste!!!

Ann Smith – Circle Connection Founder

Two years ago, I was searching for a sense of belonging and reconnection. I crossed paths with Janet Weisberg, who lovingly said she could teach me valuable lessons for reconnecting with Mother Nature, and therefore, myself. I was intrigued, and said ‘YES PLEASE!’ We met weekly by a lake and natural preserve, where I was guided through various nature connection activities, while having the space and time I needed in order to truly and deeply feel my way through them. Janet is truly a gifted teacher who guides with gentle strength! Awakening my 54 senses through this process was profoundly life changing! I felt more deeply connected to my family, friends and strangers alike. I felt a true sense of belonging and reconnection! Not only did I begin to feel whole, as I did as a young child, I am also inspired to bring this type of experiential learning to children.

With Love and Gratitude,

Shelly Cariot – Mother and “ReWild the Child” Entrepreneur

There is something very special about doing NatureConnect activities in a group. For me, the processing part was KEY — after all, we are all in this together. The activities always seemed so simple upon first glance, but then there was something so profound that sprang from the simplicity of it that always astonished me. Like tapping into an inner wisdom that had been dormant. Like communicating with nature and trusting its wisdom. Like actually taking the moment to connect with what was around me instead of walking through it like it was simply some beauty to be observed. Janet’s guidance and connection made the experience even that much more valuable, because she is so deeply rooted in this way of living, and it shows by the way she walks this Earth. Moving forward, I am going to work with tuning into the 54 senses one by one. If there is any further study I can do, I would love to continue!!! Thank you SO much for offering this incredible experience to me at such a pivotal time!

Renee Walsh – LMT

When I first read about the opportunity for a class to connect/reconnect with nature in Natural Awakenings, I knew it was something that I wanted to attend and the moment I first met Janet, I knew it was going to be a great experience. The level at which it became possible to commune with nature seemed to be a reawakening of an ability that had always been there but had become dormant. It just made sense. The web that connects us is pervasive. When I say ‘us’ I mean the totality of nature, plant, animal, air, water, earth, everything. The different exercises brought back our ability to ‘see’ the world around us in a participatory way. Nature became more directly a part of us instead of something that was ‘over there’. A natural experience could be as simple as sitting in my house with a potted plant. To this day I look at all things in nature a different way. Everyone and everything is connected and we all play a part in this ride we call life. That annoying guy down the block is a part of our lives. It’s not up to us to find out what that part is but the awareness that we are connected will always be there.

Kevin Pio – Engineer

Following and practicing twelve years of Permaculture Principles, my walk was altered each week by what I like to call Project Home with Janet. Initially I wasn’t sure what I would learn as I already knew each plant by name, why I planted them, where they would flourish, and I could give them what they needed to thrive. Little did I know what was to come. Each week the exercises took us on a journey into a world of empowerment, truth, reconciliation, gratefulness, appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness. Then a very strange thing happened when initiating the nature connect activities. The small farm vegetables, fruit trees and yes even the spearmint in the herb coil shared they knew when I was on my way. Spearmint got my attention and I sat down and listened. “Today has come to have you sit with us! It’s our turn to care for and talk with you. We hear your songs and yes we are overjoyed when the weekday schedule includes weeding around our necks or making room for adding new arrivals that are welcomed. We are all so refreshed by the shower you give us at the end of the day. Thank you for loving us the way you do and introducing/teaching others how to observe and obtain a yield authentically. We are particularly overjoyed at the vision and purpose we have together; fresh crisp local food for all according to needs.”

Jan Etzel – Certified PDC, Fermentor, Farm to Table Events Coordinator

Being a person of science, I know that everything is made of molecules which produce energy or vibrations. Rocks included! In Janet’s Nature Connect classes I went out to feel the vibrations. We normally ignore these subtle vibrations of less obvious beings, instead paying attention to moving objects: ants, birds, fish etc. Following the guidance suggested, I sat by a plant, asking if I could be there and share the shade of the tree then asked the tree if I was welcome to join the community of plant and tree. The vibrations were subtle and this time welcoming. Participating in Janet’s class allowed me to tap into senses that I do not usually use to feel the earth around me.

 Thank you,

Dianne Powell – R.D. American Board Anti-Aging Health Practitioner, Public Speaker: Health, Wellness & Mindfulness

The process inherent in Nature Connect activities has deeply and profoundly influenced the way I view nature and my place in it. Reading about nature’s benefits alone could not give the depth of understanding that I gained through the interactive experiences and discussions. I now know that I am a part of this web string, I am interconnected and incorporated in nature. I am more in tune to its beauty, peace, and natural attractions. Each of the activities helped show me how to trust nature’s intelligence as my own. Most importantly, I have a deeper sense of respect for nature and a sense of responsibility that I respond to in ways that strengthen my consciousness and hopefully that of the people around me. I realized that nature knows something special about life, so that collectively, the web of life is an intercommunicating super intelligence, attraction or love, a global brain.

Nora Morris – Educator, RYT Yoga Professional and Nature Activist

NatureConnect activities are community experiences, offered in a communal setting for collective support and integration. At the first gathering I felt welcomed by all the other participants and was excited to come back for more! There are many NatureConnect lessons that I utilize (both professionally and personally). I’m a yoga instructor for both children and adults with special needs. We talk about connection in every class and practice connection through several sensory activities related to nature. (Internal connection, community connection, environmental connection.) Personally, during times of anxiety, trauma, and stress, I take my shoes off and stand outside in the grass. I plug myself in and connect. These activities offer everyone the opportunity for personal healing, environmental awareness, and has allowed me to build healthier relationships with those around me.

Salima Silverman – Assistant Director House of Gaia Non-Profit

NatureConnect activities are experienced by activating two things: a non-verbal way of knowing and the felt sense which stimulated emotions helping me remember. We are ONE with nature and whatever we do to nature we do to ourselves. Nature becomes a mirror of life. It was quite revealing to experience a silent, sincere connection allowing non-verbal communication with trees, plants, bodies of water, animal and insect life around me. Activating senses in nature created a bridge to my essential being, bypassing the ego self. The resulting emotions were of a higher vibration because of the shutting down of the usual logical, rational mind-works. Everything that came into my awareness was registered in a way that united or created integration. It created a sense of loving connection to all that IS.

Respectfully,

Ivette M. Gómez, LMHC, Holistic Counselor, Hypnotherapist and Yoga Instructor

What is life but a dance, a co-mingling, an act of making love as to articulate music. The instrumentals of nature are all around and can be seen if one were to simply lift the veil, if one were to simply sit in a quiet place atop mother earth and listen for the extent of a moment. In that moment one learns of eternity, one loses sense of self to gain sense of truth, to gain lucidity of self-worth. Not to worry, you shall return, but, fortunately not as you left. You will return with extrasensory acuity as to your relationship with thou, whether thou be an old craning oak gathering the sun up high or the blue beyond those woody limbs and blooms and biological communities of life traversing the intricate crevices of bark and the green veins of porous breathing leaves. Wherever thou may reside or if thou was perceived as all encompassing or even the seemingly inert paved road, one will return with an incurable smile, a sense of wonder and of profundity via union and, if one continues down this path, the only path there is, one will realize aloneness to be an impossibility thus attaining wisdom. With this wisdom the others will come as they will be invited and with this, communities of earth revering children will prosper. Janet Weisberg and others are the few who possess this knowledge though possession to the extent of forming communities to live while alive with their teachings to enable development, communion, and understanding. Join us and become yourself, we give thy consent, may thou be empowered to live and love awakened.

Jonah Ciccarelli– Founder of “The Outcaste Project”

ABOUT JANET WEISBERG
My life’s path and purpose are to speak the truths we’ve forgotten – the truths of who we are, why we are here now, and how we need to accomplish real change together – and to offer opportunities that let Earth teach and bring communities together to learn and share.

For more information, please visit www.53senses.com or contact Janet Weisberg at janet@53senses.com or at (239) 280-8229.

by Barbara Cook

For centuries, much attention has been given to the influence of the mental and emotional processes on health and disease. Today, we believe with certainty that the mind (the consciousness) can affect our physical health.

Emotions are what unite the mind and body. In a study, published online in Psychological Science, researchers suggest that positive emotions bring us better health — and good health generates more positive emotions. “Recurrent momentary experiences of positive emotions appear to serve as nutrients for the human body,” they write, “increasing feelings of social belonging and giving a needed boost to parasympathetic health, which in turn opens people up to more rewarding positive emotional and social experiences.”[1]

Aristotle was among the first philosophers to suggest a connection between mood and health — a link between the soul and the body. For Aristotle, the soul is to the body as form is to matter; they are inseparable. “Soul and body, I suggest, react sympathetically upon each other,” he is credited with saying. Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine taught that good health depends on a balance of mind, body, and environment.

Many ancient healing systems emphasize the interconnection between mind and body in healing. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine have a long history of focusing on the mind–body–spirit connections and the effects of emotional/energetic imbalances on health.

Since the early twentieth century, numerous scientific studies and experiments were conducted to show the correlation between physical health and the conditioning of the brain.

In the 1920’s and 30’s pioneering Russian scientists conducted studies showing that the classical Pavlovian conditioning* could both suppress and enhance the immune system.  They performed repeated trials with small animals trained to activate their immune systems without stimulus. First they gave the guinea pigs and rabbits an injection that stimulated the immune system every time they honked a horn. Eventually the animals became so conditioned, that they could activate their own immune system without the injection as the horn was honked.

American scientists continued the research on the communication links between the brain and the immune system. Psychologist Robert Ader of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and his colleague Nicholas Cohen did a series of groundbreaking experiments in the 1970’s. They trained rats to associate certain stimulus with an event. In the studies rats were given an immune-suppressing drug flavored with sweet tasting saccharin. Eventually the rats became so conditioned to this drug that the saccharin taste alone, seperated from the drug, caused a suppression of the immune system – demonstrating that mental cues can alter physiology.

While the study showed that the immune system could be conditioned at the autonomic level, or subconscious level, Howard Hall in 1990 demonstrated that the immune system could be consciously controlled. In his research, he instructed his human subjects to use several self-regulatory techniques (self-hypnosis, guided imagery, relaxation training) to consciously increase the stickiness of their white blood cells, which then was measured by saliva and blood tests. Hall was the first to show that psychological factors (conscious intervention) could directly affect cellular function in the immune system.

In the 1940’s Wilhelm Reich proposed the unorthodox idea that cancer is the result of failure to express emotions, especially sexual emotions. Reich was not only ridiculed by the medical and scientific establishment, he was actually persecuted. The United States government held an official book burning, calling for all available copies of Reich’s work to be rounded up by the FDA and incinerated.

In the 80’s Lydia Temoshok, a psychologist at UCSF showed that cancer patients who kept their emotions such as anger under the surface, remaining ignorant of their existence had slower recovery rates than those who expressed emotions. Temoshok found that another trait common to cancer patients was self-denial, stemming from an unawareness of their own basic emotional needs. Her study showed that the immune system was stronger and the cancerous tumors smaller for those in touch with their emotions.

Can suppressed anger and other negative emotions cause cancer?

It is a fact that every one of us has a number of tiny cancerous tumors in our bodies growing every moment. Candace Pert PH.D., author of Molecules of Emotion explains that the part of the immune system that is responsible for the destruction of the errant cells consists of natural killer cells whose job it is to attack these tumors, destroy them, and rid the body of any cancerous growth. In most of us most of the time, these natural killer cells do a good job, a job coordinated by various brain and body peptides and their receptors, therefore these tiny tumors never grow large enough to cause us to be ill. [2]

Is it possible that we could learn to consciously intervene to make sure our natural killer cells keep doing their jobs? Is emotional health essential to physical health?

All honest emotions are healthy emotions. Anger, fear, and sadness can be as healthy as peacefulness, courage, and joy – as long as they are expressed. According to Pert, repressing these negative emotions and not letting them flow freely “is a set up to dis-integrity in the system, causing it to act at cross-purposes rather than as a unified whole.” The stress caused by holding in negative emotions takes on the form of blockages and insufficient flow of peptide signals that maintain function at the cellular level. [2]

Health is not just a matter of thinking happy thoughts. Pert suggests that sometimes the biggest impetus to healing could come from jumpstarting the immune system with a bust of long suppressed anger. How you do it is up to you. Scream into the pillow or in a room by yourself. Let it out in group therapy. Or have a heartfelt, spontaneous exchange with a family member or friend for venting and expressing how you feel. The key is to express it, so it can stop poisoning you and your cells.

*Pavlov trained his dog to associate the sound of a bell ringing with the approach of food.

REFERENCES:
[1] How Positive Emotions Build Physical Health, Psychological Science, May 6, 2013
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/05/06/0956797612470827.abstract
[2] Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert PH.D.

by Beth Brown-Rinella

In our busy lives, it is essential to take some steps that can help us stay on our path of Mindfulness and Self-Awareness. Ideally, we would carve precious time in our day to sit, be still, let the world fall away, and re-center. But for many of us, our intentions, while positive, are moved over for the demands of our lives (kids, work, school, etc.). So how can we keep up with these obligations and stay mindful? One of the many tools and techniques I use myself and recommend to other is the use of crystals.

You can utilize crystals to help hold the energy that you wish to work with. Decide on a focus in your life that you would like to improve, then select the appropriate crystals(s). Your focus might be loving yourself fully or accepting your body as your temple. For this type of intention I would suggest Rose Quartz as a reminder to love and accept yourself. Rose Quartz has a wonderful vibration of bringing in Love and opening you to accepting Love. If you feel you are burned out and lacking creativity, Carnelian could be a beneficial crystal. It works with the Sacral Chakra to open and clear any blocks you may be experiencing. If you feel you need mental clarity, choose Hematite as it eases that scatterbrained feeling. It is grounding and protective as well. If you are opening to your intuition, Amethyst or Fluorite would be an excellent choice.

Once you have decided on a focus and have selected the appropriate crystals to help you, consider picking different versions of these crystals. For example, a small tumbled stone to carry in your pocket or bra and perhaps a larger chunk of raw crystal for your home. One will be an energy reminder, and the other will be a focus reminder — both will hold the energy of your intentions, but used in different ways. Jewelry is another great way to keep the crystal close.

NOTE: I always add a Clear Quartz crystal to my grouping of stones as it is an energy amplifier and a power booster for all the other stones that are near it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beth is the owner of Goddess I AM Healing & Art Center in Naples, Fl. She is available for appointments by calling 239-228-6949. Long distance and in-person readings are available. Visit www.GoddessIAM.com

by Annamaria Geresdi

According to Buddhist traditions and enlightened spiritual teachings, compassion is the profound understanding that love is the core of every being and that we all are created equally. Fundamentally, compassion is the recognition that we all are the same. It is the awareness of a deep bond between us and all other beings. Compassion is more than just a sense of sympathy or showing concern for others. It’s not merely the capacity to be attentive to others, to wish the best for them, or to show that we care. Compassion is a strong determination coming from the heart to do whatever is necessary and possible to alleviate the suffering of others, to sense what will truly serve them, and to understand their needs and pain. Compassion is a deep-seeded kindness towards all there is; essentially it is being filled with boundless love.

But it may not always come easy to feel compassion, especially when there is so much suffering, saddening turmoil and violence in the world. When we feel overwhelmed with personal challenges and struggles in our own lives, we may not feel “enough love” and strength to help others. But these are the times when we need to be filled with compassion more than ever. Based on the wisdom of Buddhist practices and some energy healing techniques, there are ways to help unblock the heart and awaken love and compassion.

Evoke loving kindness
Go back to a time in your mind when you felt truly, deeply loved by someone. Recreate that moment, remember the particular instance and how you felt. Let that feeling arise again, let love fill you and infuse you with gratitude towards that person. Let the love flow from your heart to that person. Let the love become more and more boundless and extend it to all beings. Begin with those close to you, then to friends, neighbors, co-workers, to strangers, then to those you don’t even like, and finally to the universe.

See yourself the same as others
When you consider others just the same as yourself, it helps you understand them more clearly, giving your relationships a richer meaning. Thinking of a person as “another you” will allow you to open your heart to them and give you insight into how you may be of help to them.

Exchange yourself for others
When you encounter someone going through pain and suffering, put yourself in their shoes. Imagine as vividly as possible what you would experience if you were suffering the same pain. Ask yourself: “How would I feel? How would I want others to treat me?” When you exchange yourself for others, you turn your attention and love away from yourself and direct it to the other person: you experience selflessness and compassion.

Direct your compassion
Go deep in your heart and meditate. Evoke your compassion, focus on it, enhance, and deepen it. Now direct it to all beings. Let you heart go out to all living creatures, everywhere, in immeasurable love and compassion. Pray that you bring happiness to all of those you meet, help them end their suffering and transform their lives.

Embrace the primal instinct to protect and nurture
Have you ever noticed that when you watch or hold puppies, kittens, and babies, you naturally begin to smile and your heart fills with genuine, nurturing love and a natural instinct to protect? Whenever you find it hard to evoke compassion, remember this deep, unconditional, and primal feeling of love. When you feel compassion emerging, embrace it and extend it to all beings.

Observe nature
When you take the time to step outside of your busy life and go out into nature, you may find that the calming beauty surrounding you will not only relax you, but also fill your heart with love, compassion, and a sense of oneness with all creatures. You may see how animals take care of each other and show affection, concern, and loyalty. Let this experience fill your heart and your whole being.

Unblock the heart chakra
Often an unhealthy, blocked Heart Chakra could be responsible for the lack of love, peace, and compassion in one’s life. Clearing and balancing the Heart Chakra could return the flow of energy in this area, restoring unconditional love and bringing forth compassion. Many therapies and tools can be used to return and maintain balance in this chakra. Some of these practices include: Meditation, Color Therapy, Sound Therapy, Crystal Therapy, Aromatherapy, Yoga, and Energywork/Reiki.

Use the energies of crystals
Many crystals are believed to help awaken compassion. Some of these are: Aventurine, Angelite, Beryl, Chrysoprase, Garnet, Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Moldavite, Obsidian, Rose Quartz, Petalite, Rhodochrosite, Serpentine, and Tourmaline. You may carry, meditate or sleep with the crystal(s) you are drawn to. Be open and receptive to the gentle yet powerful energies of the crystals.  Let them guide you and inspire the rise of compassion in your heart.

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION:
Practicing the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle; The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rimpoche; The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall