May 2016- Conscious Community by Conscious Community

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Appreciating The Gift of Simplicity HOW TO NATURALLY DETOXIFY THE KIDNEY

MINI-GARDEN MAGIC MAY 2016 Volume 37, No. 9

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WALTER PERSCHKE, Publisher of Conscious Community Magazine and Founder of The Spiritual Learning Center

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Columns 8 10

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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS May 2016

ALL ABOUT TOWN

Appreciating The Gift of Simplicity BY THERESA PUSKAR

FROM THE HEART The Pharaoh Chewed Juicy Fruit BY ALAN COHEN

THE SHARED HEART: HEARTFULNESS To Really Trust a Woman BY JOYCE AND BARRY VISSELL

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF NUMBERS

HEALING WITH HORSES

CAREGIVING WITH HEART 20 10 40

May…Number Five…Taking Off Nature’s Spandex! BY ELIZABETH SUMMERS

Turn of the White Horse BY BLAIR MCKISSOCK

SOUND MATTERS Mindfulness and Music: Fact-Checking the Field BY STEVEN HALPERN

CYBERWEAVE: SPIRITUALITY AND THE INTERNET Loving Kindness is Good for You! BY MARY MONTGOMERY

46 APPRECIATING THE GIFT OF SIMPLICITY

4 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

COSMIC DAILY WEATHER: DEPTH ASTROLOGY PERSPECTIVES

May 2016 BY KAYE BERJOT

America’s Oldest Spiritual and Metaphysical Magazine

Contributors 19

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May 2016 Volume 37, No.9 Publisher WALTER PERSCHKE

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THE PULSE CALENDAR MAY Events, Happenings, and Announcements of Interest

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Reviews 52

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

You have all probably heard of or seen one of the versions of the movie, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Now, at long last, we have a sequel; “The Day the Earth Wobbled.” Let me repeat that phrase: “The Day the Earth Wobbled.” The wobble is real because we, humanity, have created it with global warming, and science has established that the wobble is real. Jonathan Overpeck, professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona, said, “this highlights how real and profoundly large an impact humans are having on the planet.” “Since 2003, Greenland has lost on average more than 600 trillion pounds of ice a year and that affects the way the Earth wobbles,” said NASA scientist Erik Ivins. (NASA: Global Warming is now changing how Earth wobbles by Seth Borenstein 4/8/16) Ice, as in a glacier, moves very slowly, perhaps inches a year. When ice liquefies it becomes very mobile, and is subject to sudden movements in its new position, resulting from global warming. Most of us know from high school or college science classes that water will seek its own (lowest) level while ice stands still.

With the average melting of 600 trillion pounds per year since 2003 that’s an awful lot of immobile ice now sloshing around as very mobile water! As I have stated previously in this column, global warming is here to stay, and its consequences are raising ocean levels by feet, not just inches. Global warming’s effects are manifesting higher and higher ocean levels, despite whatever the blindfolded members of Congress may think or say. Six hundred trillion pounds of newly created water will find its own level, to the detriment of East Coast dwellers, and that is each and every year for the foreseeable future. The process has begun, and will not end until the huge ice masses we call glaciers are gone. Will the glaciers ever return? Only Mother Earth can answer that question, and the last time I checked she wasn’t talking. Even if she was, who would be listening besides you and me? The biblical story of the great flood is real. Not every aspect of the story is rock solid in our reality, yet the flood itself was. The ark is a metaphor for saving some of the earth’s inhabitants so we could re-populate this land. It is what science today calls an “ELE,” an acronym for an Extinction Level Event. There have been five “ELEs” in human history, and that story is for another time. Until next time,

Walter

6 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

COMMUNITY Intro to Intensive Advanced Intuition Workshop SATURDAY, MAY 7 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Intuition is one of the most profound ways we have of tapping into our higher selves. Learning how to perceive the energetic balance of others and communicate that perception with compassion and love is the first step to becoming a true healer. Course is suitable for both beginners and advanced students. Cost is $45.00. Please call 630-554-7713 to register. You may also register via email by sending your info to amy@wishdreamsparkle.com. Please include your email, and we will send you the class materials. The workshop will discuss: • Exploration of Self as a tool to unblocking intuition, including chakras, body language, and an overview of intuitive tools •

Exercises designed to utilize and enhance intuition

• Ancient esoteric information that will greatly enhance your intuition •

How to communicate intuitive findings.

•

Making intuition your life’s work.

For more information about the class, please visit the website at: www.theintuitiveangel.com, or call 630-554-7713. 8 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Gong Meditation WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 7:30-8:30 PM $25• BURR RIDGE THURSDAY, MAY 12 7:30-8:30 PM $25• SOUTH ELGIN

Gong meditations are one of the most deeply healing and restorative meditations possible, particularly because of the deep state of relaxation that is attained in response to the sound vibration. The gong works on many levels, from the physical to the emotional and spiritual, in order to heal and transform. As the sound of the gong creates deep relaxation and clears the mind, it also aids in the reorganization of emotional energy. Gong meditation participants typically lie face up on a yoga mat or blanket in resting pose, (Savasana), or sit in a chair to experience the tremendous healing sounds and vibrations. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com. www. SpiritualLearningCenter.com. Free Parking. Crystal River Gifts address is 310 N LaFox St # 1, South Elgin, IL 60177. Register in advance to hold your place by calling 224-535-8708, or by sending an email to: crystalrivergifts@gmail.com. Free Parking.

HAPPENINGS Care and Maintenance of your Crystals SATURDAY, MAY 14 2:00-4:00 PM $25

Introduction to Massage

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 7:00-9:00 PM

Did you know that some crystals really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like water, some will fracture if placed in salt, and others will fade in the sun? Find out in our latest class offering the care and maintenance of crystals. We will explore topics such as: crystal id, distinguishing characteristics of common crystals, cleansing, maintenance, and uses. We will also discuss programming Quartz crystals, and why you would want to. Participants are encouraged to bring in crystals for programming and/or identification.

This introductory session is geared to show you how a massage is performed, and answer your questions about becoming a massage therapist. After attending this session, you may choose to register for the 9 month FAST TRACK course, which will be offered starting Monday, June 27, 2016. Day and Evening classes available.

Presenter: Jody Evans

Location: School of Holistic Massage & Reflexology (SOHMAR) 515 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515.

Location: 310 N LaFox St #1, South Elgin, IL 60177. Phone number: 224-535-8708. Free Parking.

Please RSVP at: info@sohmar.com, or call 630-968-7827. Free seminar. www.sohmar.com.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 9

Appreciating The Gift of Simplicity ALL ABOUT TOWN

By: Theresa Puskar

“My three months of quiet simplicity has come and gone. Now it is time to move on, keeping my commitment to self-care.” I have been in hibernation for three months, committed to slowing down and taking better care of myself. It has been a glorious time, and I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learned. As sister Spring stretched her blossoms out from deep within the cool, quiet, earth, there were two events that marked my burgeoning from self-imposed hibernation. The first was the Phenomenon and the Gift workshop that I attended in Orlando, Florida, and the second was a trip that I took with my family to Costa Rica. While I kept my promise to myself throughout most of my three-month hiatus, I attended one event near its end. Having had the most profound spiritual experience of my life at Oneness University in India three years ago, I could not help but register for their Phenomenon and the Gift workshop in Orlando. As it turns out, I was in the area on business when the program was being offered, and everything effortlessly fell into place. I felt that the ease with which it transpired was a sign that I was meant to attend. I had a very strong feeling that the seminar was going to be offered again here in the Chicago area, yet I still felt a strong impulse to go. Sure enough, my intuition was right on track, as it is being offered here the weekend of May 20th to the 22nd. I was so moved by the experience that I have registered for it again, here in May! This workshop was extraordinary. While I often struggle with technology and where it is taking us, I was grateful for it in Florida, as I was able to reconnect with my favorite Indian monks through video conferencing. As they instructed us, their humor, joyfulness, wisdom, and grace took me right back to Oneness University. I was filled with gratitude and sadness, laughter and tears, as I worked through many of the blocks that have kept me from experiencing my life’s abundance. I was able to clear issues

10 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

that had remained stagnant within me for years, some that I was unaware of, welling up from my subconscious. By clearing these obstacles, I could then be a stronger channel of divine light when facilitating the Deeksha heart blessing. Several “simple” messages arose from the Phenomenon weekend. Perhaps the most profound was the one-word mantra, “Yes” that came to me as I did my emotional work. It now resonates in my heart and mind as I go through my day. Saying “Yes” to myself, and to all that life has to offer is a delight (it sure beats the mile-long mantras my busy mind frequently tries to inflict upon my psyche!). I encourage you to try it. When you are anxious, fearful, feeling lack, or note that your heart is closed, simply repeat the mantra, “Yes.” See the universe supporting you, and trust that you are provided for, and that all will work out. As I’ve mentioned in recent columns, I’ve been having a crisis of faith, and bit by bit I am finding my way out of the darkness and into the light! I am also realizing that my greatest joy often comes from witnessing connection in others. My dear friend, Jessica McNamara has been my “partner in crime” in this “Yes” movement. We joke that we are twin souls, as we share so much of the same gifts and challenges, thoughts and feelings. Often when we sit on the train together on our way home from work, I can feel my heart fill with joy as she shares stories of her success. She recently started a new business as an integrative nutrition health coach, and I know she is destined to become a huge success. She loaned me a book for my trip to Costa Rica, Tosha Silver’s Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead. It was just what my divine ordered - a powerful reminder that life is a delightful journey of one miracle after another, when I let go of trying to control everything.

Luis from Riu Palace and Theresa

Caterpillar completing its cocoon

I started reading the book on the plane, and was engrossed in it as we touched down in Costa Rica. I finally pulled myself away from it as our shuttle drove from the nearby airport to my hotel. I was struck with sadness at the poverty I saw. We traveled through many small towns. The homes were tiny, and it appeared that many were filled with large families. There were small shops and restaurants dotting the dry, brown landscape. As we drove through the massive gates of the Hotel Riu Palace, the brown, dehydrated grass turned into lush greenery. The hotel looked like a massive Middle Eastern castle, with pristine white circular spires, resembling the tops of the soft, decadent, vanilla ice cream cones I occasionally order at the local Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop. The contrast between the dry, burnt, brown landscape and the towering opulence of the hotel was overwhelming. As I continued to reflect on the contrast, there was a shift in my perception. I asked myself, “Wait a second. Is the poverty in the external that I am viewing, or is it ruminating in my brain?” Who was I to declare that the natives of Costa Rica were impoverished and suffering? Perhaps in the simplicity of their lives, they had room to experience much more joy than I have, as I strive for a bigger, better, house, or the job that makes me more income. Perhaps in my pining for security, I was the one who was suffering. Perhaps they lived more abundantly than I in their simple lives. One of my first encounters with a Costa Rican native was with my dear friend, Luis. He was part of the recreation team at the hotel. I met him on the second morning of my vacation. I decided to take a Spanish course and there sat Luis – wide-eyed and ready for action! He was playful, warm, and welcoming. I loved his sense of fun and his terrific humor. I later engaged with him on several occasions – dancing lessons, toweldecorating lessons, and pre-show stage games. We got to the point where he would spot me in the audience, and, knowing that I was a willing participant, he’d drag me up on the stage. While the glamor of the hotel was palpable, the greatest joy I experienced there was in my interactions with Luis. Whether donning costumes as a superhero, or a Grease musical character, or dancing in the late show finales, Luis brought me and many others great joy. His love of life was inspiring, and truly one of the highlights of my visit. My second magical connection came when I met our guide at the rainforest. This young man had recently graduated from a University in San Jose, and the moment I laid eyes on him, I could feel how pure and open his heart was. He was responsible for guiding us through the butterfly and reptile conservatories. The highlight of my tour happened within about 10 minutes of the butterfly conservatory tour. A caterpillar had almost finished

Feeding hummingbirds at the rainforest sanctuary

building its cocoon. The guide literally jumped for joy. He started dancing, ecstatic that the caterpillar was almost finished building his hibernation bundle. He was so excited, because, as he shared, only 30 minutes before the caterpillar was just starting to build the cocoon. Here, so soon after, it was almost finished. His simple joy in his love of nature made my day. Yes, I loved seeing the massive rainforest in all its splendor, and in bearing witness to his full heart - his simple joy of nature’s ways, my heart opened wide, and remained there for the duration of the tour. My visit to the rainforest ended in a great crescendo of delight. The final stop was a hummingbird feeding sanctuary. I absolutely love hummingbirds. They are the caretakers of the north in the Andean shamanic tradition, and are exquisite science-defying beings. As we placed our hands on the feeders, the birds swooped down, landed on top of them and drank. Only once before have I ever had a hummingbird land on my hand. Perhaps the combination of the sheer delight of the moment, along with my previous experience with a hummingbird, triggered my great joy at the sanctuary. Several years ago, a hummingbird flew into my neighbor’s garage. His son ran to my house, asking me to help. I quickly grabbed a bowl of sugar water, and headed to his garage. I climbed up a ladder and in my mind, I asked the bird to land on my hand. I was desperate in my attempt as the year before, despite leaving the garage doors open, a hummingbird died trying to escape. Much to my delight, the bird landed on my hand, and let me carry him out of the garage to safety. It didn’t even attempt to drink from the water bowl I created. Slowing down enough to appreciate life’s simple pleasures was a key in the shift I experienced. One of the most profound lessons I learned from my hibernation period was the joy that I found in life’s simple pleasures. When I was not busying myself to exhaustion each day, I could focus on the little things that filled my heart. Whether taking time to prepare a wonderful dinner for my daughter and her friends, gathering the dancing dust bunnies from under the beds, and introducing them to my under-used broom, or heading for an early night’s sleep after getting a scrub at the nearby spa, I slowed down enough to really relish life’s simple experiences. For this, I am truly grateful. Theresa Puskar, our All About Town contributor, is a writer, trainer, speaker, and inspirational audiobook producer. She has recently authored The Terri Series – seven books that focus on bullying, honoring diversity, celebrating creativity, non-judgment of emotions, finding alternatives to technology-based entertainment, discovering a nonjudgmental God, and overcoming fears. She has also recorded a powerful experiential audio program, How to De-Clutter Your Mind and live a Heart-Centered Life. To place an order or learn more, you can log onto her website, theresapuskar.com.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 11

THE PHARAOH CHEWED JUICY FRUIT

FROM THE HEART

While visiting Egypt, a member of our tour group named Gloria found an unusual stone at the base of a sacred pyramid. The pink, round stone glowed with a mystical light, and as she held it in her hand she could feel a special energy about it. She wondered if it had been used by ancient priests for healing, or perhaps had even adorned the headdress of a pharaoh. Immediately Gloria stole off to a private place and began to meditate, stone in hand. Psychically, she asked for images of the sacred ceremonies the stone may have once been used for. After a few minutes she was amazed to feel the stone getting softer. Visions of alchemy flooded her consciousness; perhaps this stone was magic, a shape-shifter, transforming with prayer. As Gloria continued to meditate, the stone became even softer, to the point of being slightly gooey. Gloria could wait no longer; she looked down to see what the stone had become, only to find long pink strands stretching across her hand. The stone was a wad of chewing gum. Our minds are powerful indeed, powerful enough to connect with God through a wad of chewing gum. What, then, is sacred, but that which we use to focalize our sacred thoughts? Everything is potentially sacred or profane, depending on how we think about it. As Shakespeare said, (in Hamlet) “thinking makes it so.” True alchemy takes place in our minds. We transform lead into gold, devils into gods, and fear into triumph, by choosing vision that matches our intentions. A mystic finds God in the strangest places: As William Blake penned, “To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, And Eternity in an hour.” You and I might be in heaven right now and not even know it,

12 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

By: Alan Cohen

because we are paying attention to hell. We may be in the midst of great love, caring, and healing light. God may be in the person sitting next to us on the bus, or the presidential candidate we didn’t vote for, or even the security guard who tickets cars at the airport. God might even be in you just as you are. The mind is capable of creating vast yet contradictory realities, demonstrable by our experience. A woman with multiple personalities was severely allergic to citrus in one personality (she would break out in profuse hives), yet utterly unaffected by citrus in another personality. A man had diabetes in one personality, requiring him to take insulin supplements; in another personality he was perfectly healthy; if he took insulin in that personality, it would have killed him. Perhaps this man is symbolic of all of us, who are healthy by nature, yet via societal training, have taken on belief systems that make us feel and act smaller than we are. The game of life is won by finding beauty and good wherever we go, no matter what opinion or appearances would indicate. Free will means that we may choose our viewing point on the universe, and live in the world our view has generated. God has decided to explore creation through billions of different vantage points (called you and me), for the fun of infinite self-discovery. One poet said that “God is a flower that grew a nose to smell itself.” The story is told about a man who went to India to find a certain saint he had heard about. The man traveled far and wide, putting together bits and pieces of information. He finally found his way to an obscure village, where a shopkeeper told him that indeed the saint lived in that town, where he sat by a certain tree. The pilgrim eagerly rushed to the tree and found a man who fit the description. When he tried to converse with the man,

however, the “saint” was disheveled and drunk. Put off by the erroneous information he had been given, the pilgrim returned to the shopkeeper and complained.

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“But the man was drunk!” the pilgrim protested. “Yes, he does drink a lot. But if you had stayed with him for a while, you would have heard great wisdom. You see, he is an enlightened soul who had but one more lesson to learn, compassion for those who drink. So he took that experience on to complete all of his earthly lessons. Aside from that one habit, he is an utter genius. If you could see beyond that one trait, you would have found your saint.” And so it is with all of us. As we set out on our new year, we recognize that everyone’s garden has both weeds and flowers. We all have things about us that could be used for condemnation or redemption. Nothing is any one way, and everything is a matter of viewing point. We make or break our lives with our thoughts. Yet God is in everything, and we find God if we look. Who knows, maybe the Pharaoh chewed Juicy Fruit?

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Rumi said, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” Alan Cohen is the author of the new bestseller A Course in Miracles Made Easy: Mastering the Journey from Fear to Love. Join Alan in Hawaii for a life-changing retreat, Destiny Calls, June 10-15. For more information about this program, his free daily inspirational quotes, online courses, and weekly radio show, visit alancohen.com.

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May Events Sat. 5/7- Double Lecture Day with Kara Rojek! 1-2pm: Building a Deeper Relationship with Pets 3-4pm: 5 Keys to Having More Fun! Sat. 5/14- Intro to Spirits with Magical Matthew 2-4pm Sat. 5/21- Full Flower Moon Intuitive Mixer: Tarot, Medium, Astrology, Numerology, Reiki, Runes and more! 12-5pm $1 a minute Visit our Facebook Page for More Information about our Events!

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TO REALLY TRUST A WOMAN THE SHARED HEART: HEARTFULNESS To really love a woman is to give her your complete trust. I love the line in Bryan Adams’s song, “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman,” “… and when you find yourself lying helpless in her arms, you know you really love a woman.” To lie helpless in her arms, you need to give up control and be vulnerable. You need to trust that she will not intentionally hurt you; that she is looking out for your well-being, fully on your side, and watching your back. Even more importantly, you can trust in a higher power expressing through your beloved, an abundance of love and caring that can come through her. Becoming vulnerable with a woman teaches you all about trust. I often hear, “I’ll be more vulnerable with her when I trust her more.” This attitude doesn’t work. Your vulnerability opens the door to trust, and trust opens the door to love. “Lying helpless in her arms” proves that you can trust her. If you don’t ask her for help, how can you learn to really trust her? Let me share an important lesson from my own life; a time when I really needed Joyce’s help, and needed to fully trust her wisdom. My father, although often a loving man, was prone to noisy outbursts of anger. As a child, these “temper tantrums” affected me deeply. To cope, I learned to tune out the abrasive yelling, to not even hear it on a conscious level. It was my way of protecting my sensitive feelings. This coping skill got me through my childhood, yet no longer served me as an adult. In my relationship with Joyce, if something I did upset her and she expressed her feelings to me, my lifelong skill of tuning out and thus not hearing her was anything but skillful. So, trusting Joyce as my teacher, I asked her to help me stay present with her in all my feelings. I have been learning to overcome my fear of strong emotions, and to healthily express my own emotions, thanks to my wife. I didn’t always have this complete trust of Joyce. When we used to have heated arguments in our early years together, it sometimes felt like she was out to get me, that we were on different sides, even that our very relationship was threatened. We still get angry, even heatedly, yet I now trust Joyce. I trust that no matter

14 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

By: Joyce and Barry Vissell

how angry she is at me; she is still committed to getting back to love. This is no little thing. I trust that she will do whatever it takes to open her heart to me, and this helps me to be more accountable for my own anger, and it gives me permission to find ways to open my heart to her as well. I used to have difficulty trusting Joyce with co-leading groups. When we were both 27, she joined me in doing group process work. I had more training and experience. I knew more than she did, and she agreed. She often sat meekly beside me, while I did most of the leading. Then she realized it didn’t matter that I knew more. She started listening to her intuition, and loving each person completely. I may have been the therapist, but she was the lover. It didn’t take me long to see the light. When group participants felt loved by Joyce, they felt safer and opened up more. I started to see the wisdom of the goddess coming through her. I learned to trust that wisdom, to depend on it. However, old habits die slowly. Perhaps our greatest challenge in working together has been my old habit of being the therapist, of interrupting Joyce to make a point. Coming more from the heart, Joyce is quieter and slower to speak, sometimes with long pauses between her words. Additionally, she grew up in a family where people actually listened to one another, where one person stopped talking, and then another began. I, on the other hand, grew up in a family where everyone talked at the same time, and whoever talked louder might be the one heard. There was no such thing as a pause between words, let alone sentences. Even the slightest pause was simply an invitation for someone to butt in. So Joyce would be speaking to the group, and there would be a pause while she felt deeply for the right words. I would feel uncomfortable with this thing called silence between words, a gap that must be filled with sound, and would jump in to save the day. This would, of course, hurt Joyce. To her it was an act of disrespect. She felt not trusted, not needed, even not wanted. At times she has even wanted to give up working together leading groups.

I love Joyce by trusting her completely in front of a group. I love her by creating room for her to share her wisdom, by making space for the goddess, by sitting back and drinking in her loveinfused words. I love her by trusting that she can say things I can’t, that her perspective balances mine, that the two of us united are much more effective than either one of us as individuals. Sometimes Joyce perceives things that I don’t. In one of our early groups, there was a single woman who needed my love in a way that crossed over a very subtle line, a line that Joyce saw and felt. In just one moment, while saying goodbye to her, with just a few words, I allowed myself to be the one to fill her need. Energetically, I crossed that same subtle line from professional to personal. Joyce whispered, “Now you’re in trouble, Barry. Just wait and see.” I looked at her incredulously, “What are you talking about?” “You gave something to her that wasn’t yours to give. Just watch. Now she’ll want a whole lot more.” Joyce was right. This woman started stalking me, and it required much time and energy to stop her. I trust that Joyce has much to teach me in so many areas. I trust her instincts. I listen when she gets an inner yes or no. I trust her sensitivity. I trust that she feels things that I haven’t learned to feel yet. I trust her wisdom. She has a way of seeing things in a way I don’t. She has a perspective I don’t have. Most of all, I trust her love for me. It’s unfailing. Even when she’s mad at me, she still loves me. She often tells me how good it feels that I trust her so deeply. Trust Practice: Write down all the ways you trust your woman. It may surprise you how many ways you do trust her. Show her the list, and, even better, tell her in your own words. Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors near Santa Cruz, CA, who are widely regarded as among the world’s top experts on conscious relationship and personal growth. They are the authors of The Shared Heart, Models of Love, Risk to Be Healed, The Heart’s Wisdom, Meant to Be, and A Mother’s Final Gift.

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www.metaphysicallyfitfest.com ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 15

MAY... NUMBER FIVE... taking off Nature’s spandex! THE MAGICAL WORLD OF NUMBERS By: Elizabeth Summers

As we move into the fifth month of our calendar year, all of Nature seems to be taking off its “spandex” and bursting into the joy of freedom. The Number Five exudes this very energy. To hold life loosely, to patiently allow life to unfold, and to live in moderation are the key lessons of the energy of Number Five. Mother Nature, as she slowly unfolds her beauty is teaching this to all of us; “don’t rush things…I have it all handled! All of life has its seasons so just be patient as I do my work!” A person’s birthday Number, meaning the actual day one chose to be born, is a huge indicator of one’s temperament and personality. Perhaps many reading this article are too young to have experienced the erratic energy of the toy called a “Mexican Jumping Bean.” This fun capsule jumps around in the warm palm of one’s hand in response to the “heat of the moment.” Never staying in one position too long, this capsule-shaped toy impulsively moves in all directions. Those born on the fifth, fourteenth, or twenty-third of any month enjoy this same quick, resourceful and versatile reputation. Unique, unconventional, and a seeker of the latest and greatest, Number Five individuals could easily wander off to faraway lands both mentally and physically, just to answer the philosophical quandaries of life. Not one to take advice from others, this “jump off a cliff without a bungee cord” temperament would do well to learn its lessons in life through observation of others, so going through dramas in life become unnecessary. Life is never dull for those that are the companions of the Number Five. The marriage mate of a Five needs to understand their mate’s need for an unrestricted lifestyle, and their dislike of handling responsibility. The Number Five has difficulty committing to anything, because it basically does not trust itself. The subconscious knows that its motto is “don’t fence me in,” and the structures of a married life seem like a big “fence.” Paradoxically, the very thing the Number Five needs is structure. It isn’t uncommon to see a young Number Five enlist in the military, marry early, or even have children that require them to stay focused and settle down within a framework. Number Five people are verbal and mentally high-strung, choosing to live on their nerves, and creating adventures that satisfy their craving for excitement. A good metaphor for Number Five energy is a NASCAR vehicle racing full speed around the track on Memori-

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al Day weekend at the Indianapolis speedway. Patience in thought, word, and deed is not Number Five’s strong point! This is not to say that Number Five would be a “couch potato.” As long as the experience has excitement, challenge, or adventure, patient perseverance will be exercised to accomplish the deed. With a genuine dislike for hard manual labor, occupations that utilize quick-paced and mental dexterity suit these characters just fine. The five energies of the senses vibrate to the Number Five personality. Therefore, sports, exercise, and sex play a big part in their lives. This spirited experimenter and thrill seeker must be on guard against over-indulgence in drugs, sexual escapades, and gambling of all types. Gambling plays to their love of risk-taking. When the Number Five appears in a chart for a transit reading it always means major changes abound. Changes in location, lifestyle, career, even partners must be taken into consideration. Some modifications in lifestyle can be experienced involuntarily, presenting uncertainty as to what to do next! Represented by the Hierophant card in Tarot, the inner teacher will guide the Number Five, if it will only listen and follow through. Mercury, the planet of communication, rules over this rather loquacious energy. Talking, selling, teaching, traveling, exploring, and bubbling over with excitement allows everyone and everything to remain totally energized. This mercurial Number Five, with its disdain for the monotonous, thrives under stress, and in crisis conditions. It adapts to sudden changes, while remaining centered in the moment. The lucky days for this “jumping bean” energy certainly can be on Wednesdays and Fridays when they should decide to make their next leaps! Staying in the NOW, doing the work in front of them, and trusting that they will have what they need when they need it is a major lesson for all souls regardless of temperament. The Number Five needs to work choosing patience with its life to learn this very issue. Perhaps Denis Waitley put it best “life is a movie you see through your own eyes. It makes little difference what’s happening out there. It’s how you take it that counts.” Spiritually guiding clients since 1988, Elizabeth Summers provides practical information by combining Numerology, Astrology, and Tarot interpretations in her personal readings. For a private Numerology reading with Elizabeth Summers, please go here to review your choices: http://elizabethsummers. com/numerologyreadings.html. Website: www.elizabethsummers.com.

& Health Fair: Saturday, May 21, 2016 10am-5pm

Come and get a reading with the best readers in the C-U area.

Next Fairs:

a n AWA K E N I N G S P I R I T U A L C O M M U N I T Y of acceptance, safety and inclusion

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June 25, Sept. 10, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 • Energy Art Readings & Stone Readings • Palm • Psychic • Tarot • Numerology • Clairvoyant •Spiritual Mediumship • Reiki • Chakra Balancing

Beads N Botanicals 117 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana 217-365-9355

Art, beads, books, candles, crystals, incense, jewelry, oils, soap, www.facebook.com/beadsnbotanicals/ and classes Tues: By appt, Wed-Fri: 11am-6pm, Saturdays: 10am-5pm

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SE R O H HITE

W E H T N OF

TUR

HEALING WITH HORSES

Horses are a large piece of what makes up legend, mythology, and history. At the beginning of the year in the time of winter, we confront the darker aspects of our inner self, sometimes referred to as dancing with your dark horse. During this time, we retreat inward, staying warm and secure literally living in darkness, with the longer nights and shorter days. As we turn the corner in spring, and look toward summer, we emerge from the darkness into the light half of the year, bringing with us the lessons we have learned from the shadow. Days are longer, we feel more joy, we are outside sharing in the warmth and renewal of this time of year in the presence of the white horse. Spring brings rebirth, hope, and an opportunity to continue growing as we transfer the learning we gleaned from the dark horse. In Shamanic traditions, the white horse symbolizes spiritual transformation, and the potentiality of the attainment of a higher state of consciousness. They also might represent a deepening of our intuition and self-awareness. In some cultures, they represented fertility returning to the earth, in line with the same themes of springtime. However, in other myths and legends, the white horse represented a warning. Another archetype to consider for this time of year is the white horse that carries the rider or pulls the chariot. The white horse for some might represent the support or champion as the human tries to apply the newfound inner strength into the battle of everyday life. The Tjängvide stone is thought to depict Odin riding his white horse Sleipnir into Valhalla. This image feels full of strength and victory having emerged from the metaphorical battle with the self. This gives them an almost divine quality. In many stories, they pull the chariots of the Gods, and are even depicted as Gods. If you look at the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, the white horse appears in both the major and minor arcanas, perhaps symbolizing the purity of the transformation. White horses can also represent the purity of destruction. In the Christian religion, Revelations describes the four horsemen of the apocalypse that bring with them the end of the world. Conquest, War, Famine, and Death each ride a different horse, with Conquest or the anti-Christ, riding the white horse. Further into the chapter, Christ rides the white horse, leading God’s armies out of Heaven. Though these images may feel dark and scary, the purpose of destruction is to bring about rebirth. In the Avalonian tradition this time is called the Station of Emergence, and coincides with the May 1st observance of

18 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

By: Blair McKissock, MSEd, RYT

Calan Mai or Beltane. In her book Avalon Within, Jhenah Telyndru describes our next step: “With this liberated energy at our disposal, we seek the vision of our Higher Self, made manifest, and plant the seeds of wholeness in the receptive and fertile soil of our souls.” When we emerge from the darkness into the light we have a job to do and a choice. The job is to apply the newfound wisdom, and plant it so that it may grow and fuel our transformation to what can be. We must make the choice to act, or the choice to continue repeating the same patterns of our life. Just as the white horse can bring peace and light, they also warn us of the consequences of our choices, and our karma. There is light and dark in everything. It is a continuous cycle affording us the opportunity to fulfill our purpose, to live in the light, and not to fear the dark but embrace it and understand its purpose in balance. She goes on to say: “Through the marriage of what is within to what is without as we straddle the worlds of Dark and Light, we work to make Unconscious, conscious, and seek an external manifestation of the true Self that was revealed in the darkness.” It is time to hear our call to action, and commit to our transformation and making a plan to plant, cultivate, then harvest the seeds of growth with the white horse at our side. As you reflect back on your time in darkness, and process the aspects of the shadow confronted while dancing with your dark horse, what are three actions you can take in your life to move you forward towards your goals? The white horse can be a great gift on this part of our journey bringing us back into the light. Transformation and growth is hard work; the white horse will also offer support to us during this time. They can pull the chariot we ride into battle making us feel powerful, and that we have something we can call upon for strength. They can carry us forward in our life, like the hero riding the white horse carrying a banner of peace into a difficult situation. They can walk beside us freely and unrestrained, representing unconditional love and support. They live in our heart as a reminder of our own divinity and connection with all things. Blair McKissock, MSEd, RYT is a speaker and author on experiential and nature-based learning. She loves sharing the amazing world of equine-assisted learning and therapies through her work at Strides to Success in Plainfield, Indiana, and through the HorseWork EquineAssisted Learning and Therapy Facilitator training program. You can learn more about coaching, OmHorse mounted yoga sessions, and upcoming equine-assisted trainings at stridestosuccess.org.

Anna J Anthony(AA): Diane, you have a very interesting background before starting your artisan candle business. Tell us about it! Diane Martino(DM): I was a police officer in Chicago for 25 years. I like to serve and help people. I always knew from very early on as a little girl watching “Cagney & Lacey” on tv that this is what I was going to do. There was no doubt in my mind. I was very lucky; I attended the University of Chicago for social work, and later transitioned into law enforcement. AA: You have recently transitioned from your law enforcement career into another very different way of serving others with your new business. How did all this come about?

Candles that De-Stress your Life! Interview with Diane Martino from Relax by Scent

DM: I was kind of forced to do it. I broke my back. I was angry at first that this was happening to me. It wasn’t my choice. Every day I would come home from work, and light a candle to de-stress. Once my time at work was up I needed something to fill my time. I am a very hands-on person, so I ordered a kit, and I started making my own soy candles. Once I started learning about all of the benefits of soy, and where paraffin wax came from it turned my stomach. So then it turned into me making the soy candles, putting them out there for people to buy, and then educating them about the benefits of soy. My website is not just a place to shop; it is a place to get an education. AA: Making candles is an art and a science. Was it smooth sailing from day one? DM: No, it was not smooth sailing! It was day in and day out of working to get the formulas right. There is a science behind it. You have to get the right temperatures. You have to add the correct amount of essential oils and coloring. This is all to ensure that the candles will not frost, curdle or mess up in any way. They are very sensitive, so you must get it right. AA: What scent or product are you most proud of? DM: The one that everybody likes is the Oatmeal, Milk & Honey. It’s the go to, and one of my mildest scents. AA: Your product recently received some very cool exposure! How did this happen? DM: In November I received an email from a company called “Celebrity Connected” in Hollywood, and they said that they had scouted my website, and invited me to give the celebrities at the Academy Awards my product. I thought it was a joke, so I did a little research on the company. I found out it was true! They have scouts that look for up-and-coming companies that have to meet their criteria for the clientele. They selected 45 companies from all over the world. I was the only one from the Chicagoland area. I was flattered! We flew out there and had a wonderful time! We met around 200 celebrities, as well as people in the industry. We gave away the Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Candles, and the soy soap and lotion. We received a great response, as well as re-orders from celebrities. My product was also one of 15 chosen to be listed in the Hollywood news publication “Vanity.”

By Anna J. Anthony

AA: That’s amazing! I originally learned about your product at the Body Mind Spirit Expo. Your booth was so busy I could never even get to the candles during the open hours! Did you expect this type of reaction? DM: Once people approached the booth we started talking about aromatherapy. I have carefully researched the benefits of each scent, and have applied them to my candles. I think people were interested in gaining an education on the benefits of soy. They appreciated it. AA: What inspired you to show your product at Body Mind Spirit Expo? DM: It all just comes together. Candles are calming. We have been burning them since the beginning of time. They are great for meditation. They help us take care of our body, mind, and spirit! I thought it was a great fit, and I was right! I think I will have to do it again. AA: The candle business is a competitive market. What sets your product apart from the competition? DM: I use all recycled packaging. It is important to me that I use the highest quality products. I use 100% American grown soy. No blends. I use premium essential oils. All coloring is vegetable dye. It has to be top notch! AA: What is currently in store for the future of “Relax by Scent?” DM: I would really like to get my product into more stores. If anyone is interested in carrying my product they should reach out to me, and we can see if it is a good fit. Diane offers an exclusive scent each month, as well as a discounted scent of the month. You can purchase products at relaxbyscent.com. All upcoming events are listed on Facebook and Twitter. Contact Diane Martino at relaxbyscent@comcast.net. Anna J. Anthony is the Advertising Coordinator for Conscious Community Magazine. She is passionate about collaborating with and promoting local artisans, Lightworkers, and conscious business owners. In her free time, Anna studies the art of tarot, the paranormal, and is curious about various forms of consciousness, and spreading light and magic to others.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 19

Mindfulness and Music: Fact-Checking the Field SOUND MATTERS

By: Steven Halpern

With the presidential primary in full swing now, I find the Fact Checking websites and program segments some of the most valuable. Over the years, I’ve provided quite a bit of truth telling with respect to the sound healing and New Age music field. One of my favorite principles is, “You’re allowed to have your own opinions. You’re not allowed to make up your own facts.” It’s amazing how often this principle is violated, sometimes out of ignorance, other times out of disingenuousness. Disclaimer: I’ve been an active participant and leader in these fields since their onset in the 1970s. As Dr. Phil is fond of saying, “I have a dog in this fight.” As you may know, I was chosen to write the introduction to the two definitive books on New Age Music, including The International Guide to New Age Music, published by Billboard Books, and authored by Henk Werkhoven. Prior to that, I was honored to add an insider’s perspective to The New Age Music Guide by Patti Jean Birosik, a leading reviewer in the field. My own book Sound Health, published in 1985 by Harper & Row, was the first book to focus on sound, health, music and healing, and introduce the concept to mainstream audiences and integrative health practitioners worldwide. Most of what I have written and will continue to write relates to preserving the positive aspects of these fields, rather than undermine, politically or economically. I’m also passionate about not having fraudsters or rookies set listeners up for failure.

20 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

The Truth about “The Mozart Effect” I wonder how many of you remember the initial news coverage of what became known as “The Mozart Effect” when it first splashed across newspaper headlines in 1993? I read about it in USA Today at the Chicago O’Hare airport. The lead scientist, Dr. Gordon Shaw, made no claims, only that their initial ‘pilot study’ (which had no placebo control or double blind factors in the experimental design) was suggestive of a need for serious research. Then in 1997, a book of the same name was published, with Don Campbell credited as the author. What casual readers of the book, or media coverage of the book, took away was that only Mozart’s music was capable of providing a wide range of benefits, including “making you smarter.” Dr. Shaw was so personally and professionally upset that his research had been appropriated and exploited by Campbell (who made millions from the book and related recordings) that he launched a lawsuit to defend his own branding and professional standing. Dr. Shaw’s essential critique: “We never made the claim that “Mozart makes you smarter. That trivializes and distorts our work.” Since I had spoken out publicly in 1993 about the manufacturing of a ‘fact’ based on unsubstantiated research, I was deposed by his lawyer. I viewed the process as being analogous to planting a rumor, then acting as if it were true. It was, in effect, a marvelous misuse of the ‘hundredth monkey’ phenomenon. Alas, Dr. Shaw passed away before the lawsuit could proceed further. Many of the benefits proclaimed in the book have subsequently been proven false.

And I bet that you didn’t know that many college professors who bought into the ruse lost their tenure due to its shoddy scholarship. Apparently, I was one of the few who asked what I felt was an obvious question: “Smarter than what?” and “Compared to what?” According to one of the music therapists who looked into the matter, Mozart was compared to rap music. She quipped, “Maybe Mozart doesn’t make you smarter, but rap makes you dumber.” The other obvious consideration that most everyone in the media never considered was: Which Mozart? Which recording? I really did have folks say to me during radio interviews and during workshops, “I used Mozart’s ‘Marriage of Figaro,’ and it sure didn’t make me any smarter.” Well, that was not the composition that Dr. Shaw tested. Yet people tried to use it. That’s like drinking coffee and trying to fall asleep. (I’m also one of the very few who visited Dr. Shaw in his office and ‘laboratory’, but that’s another story.) Mindful Music and (Un)Mindful Music Mindfulness has been the cover story on TIME magazine and that helped millions of people become aware of the concept. Mindfulness involves being present, tuning in to the present moment, rather than thinking about the past or future. Mindfulness has been described as ‘meditation without the dogma; or related rituals and philosophies of many spiritual traditions. Being present, as in ‘Human being...rather than human doing.’ That’s always the state of mind I’m in when I’m composing and recording. I tune in to “the gap between thoughts,” as Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer described it, and listen to the space between the notes. The over 100 albums that I’ve produced over the last 41 years help listeners tune in to their own experience of mindfulness. As I discovered during my research studies as a graduate student and thereafter, my music has a characteristic ability to orchestrate a virtually instant ‘relaxation response’ for most listeners. Furthermore, brainwave biofeedback studies at the leading lab in the UK in 1977 demonstrated the music’s unique ability to balance both hemispheres of the brain. Why is this so unusual? Because most music is processed mostly by the more analytical left hemisphere, which creates hemispheric unbalance. The “Scalus Interruptus Syndrome” vs. Mindfulness I discovered this effect simply by observing my own breathing, or rather, how I would often find myself breathing shallowly, or even holding my breath during certain musical passages.

I developed what turned out to be a highly effective demonstration that has helped my workshop participants, and now readers and video viewers prove it to themselves. If you can imagine me singing a simple scale...observe what happens if I don’t sing the final note in the predictable sequence. Most people found themselves holding their breath, waiting for... that note. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. By the way, if you can’t imagine this, check out my video at https://youtu.be/Ml8KiWH_1E. “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma” Mindfulness is a very simple concept. It’s why my latest album, which was recorded in a deep state of meditation, came with the title, MINDFUL PIANO . As I played each note, I was totally in the moment. The feedback I get directly in presentations at various conferences is that it does the same for the vast majority of listeners. So, imagine my chagrin when, shortly after I released the album and wrote about it in this column, several knock-off versions appeared on the market. That wasn’t the worst of it. I bought and listened to all that I could find. To my astonishment--and somewhat perverse delight--they were terrible! They were the exact opposite of mindfulness! The classical and original compositions they included were perfect examples of the non-mindful “scalus interruptus syndrome” in full force. I wondered how many people were suckered in by this. How many would be turned off from trying any other music for meditation, due to these shysters? Then I found yet another scam: “A Tribute to Steven Halpern” by Steven Snow. Not one of his compositions was anything like mine. And I should know; I am, after all, unquestionably, the world’s leading authority on the music of Steven Halpern. I could hear both Ray Charles and Billy Preston singing in my head, “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma.” My concern was relieved a bit when Amazon let me know I might also be interested in “A Tribute to Deepak Chopra” by the same Snow job. It was such an obvious scam. I don’t know if Deepak’s people got to Amazon before my reps did, but the album was pulled down shortly thereafter. If you see it showing up in your search, please let me know. Yours for mindfulness through music, Steven Halpern Read more at StevenHalpern.com, and watch his videos at YouTube.com/ StevenHalpernMusic.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 21

ON THE ROCKS

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Earthsong Books & Gifts Community Festival July 16 & 17

10-5

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Taking booth applications - Bodyworkers, Jewelry & Crafts, Stones & Crystals, Health Products etc. Apps. at www.earthsongbooksandgifts.com

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www.earthsongbooksandgifts.com 608-754-3933 2214 Kennedy Rd., Janesville WI 53545

22 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Crystal River Gifts May Schedule WELL-BEING SYNCHRONY Wed. May 4th - 6:00 – 8:00 pm $15 Discover simple facts and techniques to reach vibrant physical health, enhance the power of your thoughts, and enjoy conscious relaxation. What is Functional Wellness? How do thoughts become things? Learn this and more during Well-Being Synchrony . Includes 10-minute conscious breathing technique which will have a profound effect on your life. Price: $15 at the door. $10 pre-registration.

REIKI 1 Sat. May 7th & Sun. 8th – 10:00am to 2:00pm $200 Pre-registration $100 Learn how to heal yourself, your family and friends with reiki energy. After completing level one reiki you will know how to: heal yourself, help your family and friends, manifest goals, and use reiki as a preventative tool. Pre-registration is required. Contact Crystal River Gifts Presenter: Bharat, Reiki Master and Instructor

GRIDDING Sat. May 7th – 1:00pm – 3:00pm $25 Ever wonder what a crystal grid is and why you would want to create one? From the basic grid for manifesting love to the more intricate medicine wheel. Join us for our latest class where we will explore the various techniques when gridding with crystals. Presenter: Jody Evans

Intuitive Gala Saturday May 21 – 10:00am – 5:00pm Sunday May 22 – 12:00pm – 5:00pm All healings and readings are $50 for 25 minutes and $90 for 50 min.

REIKI SHARE Tue. May 10th – 6:00pm – 7:30pm FREE We welcome all to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity if you have ever had any questions about healing Energy, or if you have Level 1 or Level 2 and you want to share your gift with others. This is a great time and place for just those very things. We open the doors to all for this amazing experience. Open Group

GONG MEDITATION Thur. May 12th – 7:30pm $25 Gong meditations are one of the most deeply healing and restorative meditations possible, particularly because of the deep state of relaxation that is attained in response to the sound vibration. Gong meditation participants typically lie face up on a yoga mat or blanket in resting pose, or sit in a chair to experience the tremendous healing sounds and vibrations. Presenter: Andre Peraza

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR CRYSTALS Sat. May 14 – 2:00pm – 4:00pm $25

Did you know that some crystals really don’t like water, some will fracture if placed in salt others will fade in the sun? Find out in our latest class offering the care and maintenance of crystals. We will explore topics such as: crystal id, distinguishing characteristics of common crystals, cleansing, maintenance and uses. We will also discuss programming Quartz crystals and why you would want to. Participants are encouraged to bring in crystals for programming and or identification. Presenter: Jody Evans

CRYSTALRIVERGIFTS.COM

By: Deborah Zagorski

CAREGIVING WITH HEART Back in mid-2014, I was given a wonderful opportunity. I was asked to provide caregiving services for a lovely woman in my neighborhood. This lady and I had been acquaintances for some time and now our relationship was entering a new era. I was going to become my friend’s caregiver, a personal assistant, if you will. My friend, who was given a diagnosis of dementia, was in need of a bit extra support. Little did we know how much this relationship would enhance both our lives. Like any new relationship, we had to get to know one another better. I would come to her home after lunch and we would begin our day. It was summertime and one of the things we enjoyed doing was taking a walk in our neighborhood. “Did you grab your hat?” I asked. “Please remember your sunglasses.” We walk carefully around taking note of people and dogs and mailboxes that looked as though they were going to topple over. We walk cautiously along the sidewalk noting the unevenness. We venture to our park. The park was redone in 2015 and we had been carefully monitoring its progress during the year. We look at the playground equipment, sit on a bench and take note of the newly planted tree that we believe is planted too close to the gazebo. We soon continue our walk and visit with a friend or two along the way. We go back to her home and have a snack.

24 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

My friend teaches me about cooking and also her Chinese culture. We prepare the vegetable that will go with her family’s dinner tonight. What have I learned you wonder? I learned that the stem of broccoli can be shaved and cut and prepared just as the flowerets. Wow! I will no longer throw out those fibrous stems! I know about vegetables, such as gai lan, and how to prepare them. My friend taught me how to use a rice cooker. She knows I get nervous when she uses a knife to chop vegetables and tells me I worry way too much. Another tip she shared with me: add a bit of baking soda to a bowl of water with green beans to “rinse” them before cooking. Awesome tip! My friend and I are regular indoor track walkers at The Lemont Park District. Three days a week we show our I.D. cards, check in and ride the elevator to the second floor. We see which direction the walkers are moving today. We peek out the door and step out on to the track. We walk at a beautiful pace. We talk and listen to the music playing in the background. Each day we walk one half mile which is five laps. My friend keeps track of our laps using her fingers. One finger down for each lap completed. We have friends at the part district that bring a smile to our faces. A place that we discovered in 2015 is the public library. We enjoy spending time at The White Oak Library District in Lockport and

also The Lemont Public Library. We like the fact that the library is a wonderfully quiet place that is warm and has comfy seating. Each time we visit the library, we use a mental checklist of the items we need. “Do you have your reading glasses? What about a snack?” The two of us are avid readers and my dear friend is a huge fan of Danielle Steel. I feel her excitement when she selects a new novel. I see her emotion as she journeys through her book. I hear laughter and I see tears. Our time together involves routine but is not exclusively rigid. I get the mail daily. We take care of the garbage and recycling bins weekly. We take trips to the post office, Walgreens, Office Max, etc. Sometimes we watch T.V., Steve Harvey or Ellen, but not as much now since we rediscovered the intrigue of our neighborhood library. My friend shares stories of her life. Some I hear often, some are new. I listen attentively and really appreciate the beauty that is her life and experience. I’m thinking of writing some of these stories down. I wonder if her family members receive the same information. If not, this would be a wonderful gift to them and this is indeed the legacy of a most wonderful woman. Please note, my position as caregiver requires me keeping my friend safe and providing for her. I, however, have experienced her caregiving for me and it was amazing. I experienced an unusual numbness and discoloration in one of my fingers. It came on suddenly. I was obviously troubled, so was she. We made a plan to see my doctor and my friend accompanied me on my visit. After an adjustment by my chiropractor, things were looking up. My dear friend kept me calm and cool and was a terrific companion. Thank you! I couldn’t have done it without her. We share some of those ‘laugh so hard that you cry’ laughing spells. They are so healing. We share tears as she speaks of her gentle-spirited husband and his patient ways and how much she misses him. When we are together, I am present to her and any and all of her needs. Some days are confusing. I reassure her. Some days are tiring for my friend so that means we take it slow. I am always very aware of moods and mood changes and situations that make her feel uncomfortable. One of the best things I can do is be a good listener. She is wise in her knowledge and life experiences and is so witty and charming. Each day teaches me more and more about unconditional love. Saying that brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. This week is my friend’s birthday. At first she did not want to acknowledge it, but

soon decided we should see a movie together. Great! I have a birthday card in the mail complete with a “Happy Birthday” postage stamp and I have a few choice birthday presents I can hardly wait to give her. As much as I may make a difference in my friend’s life, she has forever etched her love and beauty and friendship in my heart. Thank you to my dear friend and her family! I have been blessed. Deborah Zagorski is an Independent Distributor with Young Living Essential Oils and host of A Night of Grace, a monthly prayer group. Her interests include energy healing, crystals, Tai Chi and Feng Shui. If you have comments or questions on this article, feel free to e-mail Deborah at deborahzagorski11@gmail.com .

Panache Desai

Living a Limitless Life Be Empowered to Awaken Fully Daylong Workshop: Saturday, May 14

19th Annual Gala Practitioners Fair with Free Mini-Demos Elegant Dinner, Silent Auction Keynote speaker Panache Desai Friday, May 13. Register by May 1st. Limited Space, Register Today: InfinityFoundation.org 847.831.8828 org 847 831 8828 Free course c guide with 50+ courses, events & more. CEUs av available. ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 25

Mini-Garden MAGIC By: Sue Odland

Spring is finally here! A season of new beginnings, new opportunities, and new cravings for fresh greens. A store-bought salad is not the only option. Consider planting a mini-vegetable garden to delight your body, mind, and senses! Miniature varieties of vegetables are easy to plant, maintain, and harvest. They are perfect alternatives for those with limited growing space, or for those who favor container gardens. Mini-gardens can be grown on a sunny windowsill, balcony, deck, or on the ground. Even though these vegetables may look small, they offer big flavor with little effort. Here are some simple steps to create your own mini-garden magic. The Space: Look at your living space to find a sunny location that is close to a watering source. Try to locate the mini-garden as close to the kitchen as possible for quick access to fast, fresh ingredients. Measure your space, then choose your containers, large or small. Think traditional planting pots or boxes, crocks, bowls, or even large mugs. Since miniature vegetables require little space and depth for planting, they can be grown in anything that can hold soil. If the containers do not have drainage holes, add 2-3 inches of small rocks, or pieces from a small broken terra cotta pot into the bottom of the container to provide extra drainage. The Taste: Mini-tasting gardens are all about big taste in a small space. Choose what you love to eat. This can be challenging, as the choices are endless. To find ideas on what to plant, check the ingredient list of favorite salad combinations from grocery stores or restaurants. Locate seeds or plants at your local garden stores, home improvement stores, or online. For greens, many seed companies offer pre-mixed seed combinations like mesclun mix, which can contain up to 10 varieties of tender, young greens, including red and green lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard, mache, and frisee. Simple to grow - delicious to eat. Other compact gardening favorites to grow from seed include the pink and white striped Chioggia beet, the Early Scarlet Globe radish, and a personal favorite, the Thumbelina Carrot. Charming, round, crisp, and delicious! For tomatoes, peppers, or herbs, begin with starter plants for best results. Choose a dwarf variety of tomato that will grow

26 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

in a small to medium size container or hanging basket. Proven varieties include; Patio, Window Box Roma, or Tiny Tim. Place one next to a colorful Bolivian Rainbow Chili Pepper, and you have an artistic masterpiece. The Fill: Fill your containers with an organic potting mix, which can be found at local garden centers or home improvement stores. Moisten the soil before planting. Vegetables, herbs, and even flowers can be planted together in one container or individually. Your choice, your vision. If growing from seed, sow seeds close together, and not more than Â˝ inch deep. As new seedlings grow, they become crowded. Create more growing space by removing smaller seedlings. If growing vegetables such as carrots, radishes, or beets, plant new seeds every two weeks to enjoy a continuous harvest. For mini-greens, plant in cool weather, either spring or fall. Tender greens grow best in cooler weather. Greens require soil that is evenly moist; avoid letting the soil dry out. When salad greens grow to 5â&#x20AC;? high, cut them with scissors just above the soil line; new growth will sprout from the same plant in a few weeks after the cutting. As the heat of summer approaches, move your greens from direct sunlight into a partially shaded location, to keep the tender leaves from drying out, or simply harvest them fully, and replant in fall. If growing from starter plants, place the plants closer together to make the best use of the space. Check the mini-garden every day or two. Keep the soil moist, but not saturated. Harvest minivegetables or herbs as needed. One year, I created a mini-French vegetable and herb garden on a multi-tiered, wrought iron, wheeled flower cart. I placed found mugs and bowls in varying hues of blue and green on each shelf, then filled each with favorites like adorable round carrots, baby spinach, mesclun salad mix, radishes, nasturtiums, lavender, basil, and rosemary. As the summer sun intensified, and the greens required less heat, I rolled the cart to a location with more shade and cooler temperatures. It was beautiful and delicious. A mini-garden may not be as abundant as a traditional in-ground garden, yet the beauty of the blooming plants will add a sweet, decorative accent to any space. Why not plant some homegrown garden magic of your own this season?

Recipes

Spring Salad Serenade serves 2-4 • 4 cups of mixed greens (Loose leaf lettuce, frisee, watercress, spinach, etc) • ¼ - ½ cup golden raisins • ¼ - ½ cup pistachios • ¼ - ½ cup mandarin oranges • toasted coconut shreds or flakes to taste (optional) • balsamic vinaigrette Mix the first four ingredients together. Then top with desired amount of balsamic vinaigrette and toasted coconut to taste. Note: To add extra depth to the salad, consider adding pineapple, mango, or a honey ginger flavored vinaigrette. Recipe courtesy of author D.A. Wils.

Quick Springtime Salad – serves 2 • • • • • •

2 cups spinach or mesclun mix lettuce 4 oz log of goat cheese sliced ½- inch-thick bread crumbs (gluten free or regular) 1/8 cup cranberries or other dried fruit 1/8 cup nuts - almonds, walnuts or pecans. balsamic vinaigrette

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Dip both sides of sliced goat cheese into bread crumbs. Place coated goat cheese in oiled baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes. Option two – microwave goat cheese for 1 minute until warm, but not melted. Mix remaining ingredients. Add a splash of balsamic vinaigrette to taste. Top salad with warm goat cheese. Serve with hot, crusty, bread and butter. Sue Odland is a freelance writer and avid gardener, who delights in the first tastes of spring.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 27

CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY

MIDWEST PULSE CALENDAR

MAY 2016 Month YEAR

Subscribe NOW

CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY And Get 12 issues for $36 by 1st class mail

Call: 847-966-1110

On The Cover GEODE CRYSTAL

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESD

25 26

• AN AFTERNOON WITH HEATHER HUFFMAN - Batavia

8 9 10 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

• MEDITATION S MICHAEL VOLP • REIKI SHARE -

• REIKI 1 - South Elgin

15 16 17 • ENLIGHTENED BALANCE CHAKRA SPA - Crystal Lake

• EFT SPEAKER & POST CONFERENCE WORKSHOP Daytona Beach, FL

• MEDITATION S MICHAEL VOLP

22 23 24 • INTUITIVE GALA - South Elgin • THE PHENOMENON AND GIFT WEEKEND COURSE • VOYAGER TAROT INTRO AND WORKSHOP - Oswego

• MEDITATION S MICHAEL VOLP

29 30 31 • THE WORLD TEACHER IS ALREADY HERE - Willowbrook

FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTIO

DAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

27 28 29 30

• CURVY YOGA WALKING SERIES - Batavia • WISH DREAM SPARKLE • WELL-BEING SYNCHRONY South Elgin

• GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Burr Ridge • THE WORLD TEACHER IS ALREADY HERE - Chicago

• BACK CARE BASICS - Batavia • HEALING THE HEART MEDITATION - Batavia • GRIDDING - South Elgin • INTRO TO INTENSIVE ADVANCED INTUITION WORKSHOP WITH AMY BIANK Oswego

11 12 13 14

SERIES WITH PE - Batavia - South Elgin

• WISH DREAM SPARKLE • GONG MEDITATION - Burr Ridge • REFLEXOLOGY-SEDATION HOLDS-SOOTHING TECHNIQUES - Downers Grove

• CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR CRYSTALS - South Elgin • CHICAGO IANDS - Evanston • INTRODUCTION TO QI GONG - Burr Ridge • PSYCHIC HOLISTIC FAIR Crystal Lake

• GONG MEDITATION - South Elgin • GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Burr Ridge

18 19 20 21

SERIES WITH PE - Batavia

• INTRODUCTION TO MASSAGE - Downers Grove • WISH DREAM SPARKLE

• GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Burr Ridge

• THE PHENOMENON AND GIFT WEEKEND COURSE • VOYAGER TAROT INTRO AND WORKSHOP - Oswego

• SPIRITUAL COMMUNICATION THRU DREAMS - Chicago • INTUITIVE GALA - South Elgin • THE PHENOMENON AND GIFT WEEKEND COURSE • VOYAGER TAROT INTRO AND WORKSHOP - Oswego

25 26 27 28

SERIES WITH PE - Batavia

• WISH DREAM SPARKLE

• GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Burr Ridge • RELEASING GRIEF WORKSHOP

1 2 3 4 • DREAM INTERPRETATION CLASS - Tinley Park

N OF EVENTS SEE NEXT PAGE

Midwest Pulse Calendar Sunday, May 1 AN AFTERNOON WITH HEATHER HUFFMAN 3:00p-4:00p Family Yoga ($20 up to 3 family members, $5 for each additional member) 5:00p-6:00p Community Yoga $5. Both classes are dropin FocusOm Batavia www.focus-om.com

Wednesday, May 4

CURVY YOGA WALKING SERIES - Wednesdays 7:00-8:15p with Mishelle O’Regan $85 for six-weeks FocusOm Batavia www.focusom.com WELL-BEING SYNCHRONY 6:00 – 8:00 pm $15 Discover simple facts and techniques to reach vibrant physical health, enhance the power of your thoughts, and enjoy conscious relaxation. What is Functional Wellness? How do thoughts become things? Learn this and more during Well-Being Synchrony. Includes 10-minute conscious breathing technique which will have a profound effect on your life. Price: $15 at the door. $10 pre-registration. Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.CrystalRiverGifts.com WISH DREAM SPARKLE, Internet Radio Show – 7 pm CST – www.247thestream.com

Thursday, May 5

GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Thursdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26 7-8pm Suggested Love Offering $5 “Now is the time to build bridges. When the flood comes, and it will come, you need to be ready. It will be too late to prepare.” Walter Perschke.

Learn to prepare for the changes our world is experiencing now and the changes to come. Learn how to center yourself and enter the inward journey we are all on. Join the peaceful future rather than the chaotic present. The answers are there for us to find. Let us help you to find them. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com www.SpiritualLearningCenter. com FREE PARKING. THE WORLD TEACHER IS ALREADY HERE - UFO’s, Crop Circles, Prophecy = last pope, Jesus, Maitreya, Save our Planet. All related? Slide presentation, Literature. Nothing to join. Interesting discussion. Garrett Wellness, 3020 N. Kimball, Chicago. 6:30-8:30 pm, 708-955-3634. FREE.

Saturday, May 7

BACK CARE BASICS with Kristina Reyes 1:00-3:30p $35 online, $40 at door FocusOm Batavia www.focus-om.com HEALING THE HEART MEDITATION with Debbie Leoni 9:30a-10:30a $16 drop-in FocusOm Batavia www.focus-om.com GRIDDING– 1:0 0 pm – 3:00pm $25 Ever wonder what a crystal grid is and why you would want to create one? From the basic grid for manifesting love to the more intricate medicine wheel. Join us for our latest class where we will explore the various techniques when gridding with crystals. Presenter: Jody Evans Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.CrystalRiverGifts.com

Attention Advertisers Did you know that the Midwest Pulse Calendar section is one of the most read parts of Conscious Community? The Midwest Pulse Calendar listings are $1.00 per word with 20 words minimum. Copy is due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Copy submitted after the deadline is not guaranteed to be included in the next issue. Check or credit card must accompany calendar listings.

For questions, please email: Kasia@ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com or call 847-966-1110. 30 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

INTRO TO INTENSIVE ADVANCED INTUITION WORKSHOP WITH AMY BIANK, from 10:00 am until 4:00 PM, Cost: $45.00, 83 Century Dr., Oswego, IL – Call 630-554-7713 for information and to register. www.theintuitveangel.com

Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8

REIKI 1 - Sat. May 7th & Sun. 8th – 10:00 am to 2:00pm. $200 Pre-registration $100 Learn how to heal yourself, your family and friends with reiki energy. After completing level one reiki you will know how to: heal yourself, help your family and friends, manifest goals, and use reiki as a preventative tool. Pre-registration is required. Contact Crystal River Gifts Presenter: Bharat, Reiki Master and Instructor Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.CrystalRiverGifts.com

Tuesday, May 10

MEDITATION SERIES WITH MICHAEL VOLPE Tuesdays 7:00p-8:00p May 10, 17, 24 $16 drop-in FocusOm Batavia www.focus-om.com REIKI SHARE – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. FREE. We welcome all to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity if you have ever had any questions about healing Energy, or if you have Level 1 or Level 2 and you want to share your gift with others. This is a great time and place for just those very things. We open the doors to all for this amazing experience. Open Group Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.CrystalRiverGifts.com

Wednesday, May 11

GONG MEDITATION - 7-8pm $25 Gong meditations are one of the most deeply healing and restorative meditations possible, particularly because of the deep state of relaxation that is attained in response to the sound vibration. The gong works on many levels from the physical to emotional and spiritual in order to heal and transform. As the sound of the gong creates deep relaxation and clears the mind, it also aids in the reorganization of emotional energy. Gong meditation participants typically lie face up on a yoga mat or blanket in resting pose, (Shivasana), or sit in a chair to experience the tremendous healing sounds and vibrations. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@ gmail.com www.SpiritualLearningCenter.com FREE PARKING. REFLEXOLOGY-SEDATION HOLDS-SOOTHING TECHNIQUES - A hands-on seminar to incorporate hand and foot reflexology techniques, sedation holds and aromatherapy focused on calming the mind and body tension, as well as pain, anxiety, and discomfort. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Practical techniques for Nurses, OT, PT and other healthcare practitioners as well as any caregiver for an aging family member. Teacher: Joy Klein, MS School of Holistic Massage & Reflexology, Downers Grove. Cost: $149 6 CE hours Register: 630-200-2554. joy@pathtojoywellness.com WISH DREAM SPARKLE, Internet Radio Show – 7 pm CST – www.247thestream.com

Thursday, May 12

GONG MEDITATION -7:30 pm. $25. Gong meditations are one of the most deeply healing and restorative meditations possible, particularly because of the deep state of relaxation that is attained in response to the sound vibration. Gong meditation participants typically lie face up on a yoga mat or blanket in resting pose, or sit in a chair to experience the tremendous healing sounds and vibrations. Presenter: Andre Peraza Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www. CrystalRiverGifts.com GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Thursdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26. See listing from Thursday, May 5th for full details.

Saturday, May 14

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR CRYSTALS. Did you know that some crystals really don’t like water, some will fracture if placed in salt others, and will fade in the sun? Find out in our latest class offering the care and maintenance of crystals. We will explore topics such as: crystal id, distinguishing characteristics of common crystals, cleansing, maintenance and uses. We will also discuss programming Quartz crystals and why you would want to. Participants are encouraged to bring in crystals for programming and or identification. 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm $25 Presenter: Jody Evans Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.CrystalRiverGifts.com CHICAGO IANDS, support/study/resource forum for near-death, out-of-body, & spiritual experiences, losses. 2016: Guest Speaker: ANN ELLIS, PhD; NDEr, Author of Profound Love: New Insights into the Power of Love From Near-Death Experiences. Don’t miss it! Frank Auditorium in Evanston Hospital. 2-5 pm. Free covered parking. Suggested donation - $20. For more info: 847.251.5758 or http:www.chicagoiands.org INTRODUCTION TO QI GONG with Jim Kaminecki - 2-4pm $25 Join Qi Gong practitioner, Jim Kaminecki, for this introductory class to Qi Gong. During our 2 hours, you will be introduced to a level one Qi Gong form and we will practice it three to five times depending on our progress as a group. We will start the session with a brief warm up, which includes stretching exercises, then provide instruction on foundational techniques you will be using before we begin. All skill levels are welcome. $25/person offering with a maximum number of participants held to 15. Please bring active wear with you to participate: gym shoes, comfortable exercise clothes – sweatpants/short; sweatshirt/tee shirt. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com www.SpiritualLearningCenter.com FREE PARKING. PSYCHIC HOLISTIC FAIR @ Enlightened Balance Chakra Spa 11 am until 6 pm. Doors open at 9 am for Retail Shoppers, Classes and Waitlist. Event is run on a first come, first served basis. Each day of the event has different offerings. Enlightened Balance Chakra Spa 30 North Williams, Brink Street Market Suite F, Crystal Lake. www. EnlightenedBalance.com 815-307-1180.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 31

Sunday, May 15

ENLIGHTENED BALANCE CHAKRA SPA-11am until 4pm. Doors open at 9am for Retail Shoppers, Classes and Waitlist. Event is run on a first come, first served basis. Each day of the event has different offerings. Enlightened Balance Chakra Spa 30 North Williams, Brink Street Market Suite F, Crystal Lake. www. EnlightenedBalance.com 815-307-1180

Monday, May 16

EFT SPEAKER & POST CONFERENCE WORKSHOP, IMDHA-IACT CONFERENCE, Daytona Beach, FL. 7 CE’s for MT, LCSW, LCPC, FAMILY THERAPISTS, etc. 7hr workshop, Tom Masbaum, www. IACT.org www.EFT-Tom.com

Tuesday, May 17

MEDITATION SERIES WITH MICHAEL VOLPE Tuesdays 7:00p-8:00p May 10, 17, 24 $16 drop-in FocusOm Batavia www. focus-om.com

Wednesday, May 18 INTRODUCTION TO MASSAGE -7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. This intro session is geared to show you how a massage is performed and answer your questions about becoming a massage therapist. After attending this session, you may choose to register for the 9 month FAST TRACK course which will be offered starting June 27, 2016, Day and Evening classes available. Please RSVP at: info@sohmar. com or call 630-968-7827. Free seminar. www.sohmar.com Location: School of Holistic Massage & Reflexology 515 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515. WISH DREAM SPARKLE, Internet Radio Show – 7 pm CST – www.247thestream.com

Thursday, May 19

GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Thursdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26. See listing from Thursday, May 5th for full details.

Friday-Sunday, May 20-22

THE PHENOMENON AND THE GIFT WEEKEND COURSE May 20-22, western suburbs of Chicago. The Next Evolution for Awakening from Oneness University. More info: www.facebook. com/thephenomenonthegift VOYAGER TAROT INTRO AND WORKSHOP - Voyager Tarot Certification with James Wanless with Intro to Voyage Tarot on Friday, May 20th, 7-9 p.m. Workshop on Saturday May 21st and Sunday May 22nd from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 83 Century Dr., Oswego, IL – Call 630-554-7713 for information, pricing and to register. www.theintuitveangel.com

32 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Saturday, May 21 JOIN US FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH DREAMS - 1-3 pm at Church of the Spirit, 2651 N. Central Park, Chicago. Donation $30 at the door (no registration required). Presented by Dr. Ken James, a Jungian analyst in private practice at the Soulwork Center in the South Loop. Info: 772-489-5422.

Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22

INTUITIVE GALA - Saturday May 21 – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday May 22 – 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Featured Reader – Pearl Tabbert is a Spiritual Teacher, Coach, Professional Intuitive, Speaker and Akashic Record Consultant. Pearl has spent over 25 years helping people own their spiritual growth and development. The Akasha holds the record of each soul’s journey through time and space and reveals the soul’s history along with spiritual wisdom to help you achieve health, wholeness and your potential during this lifetime. Other speakers: ROSEWOLF – Psychic and Physical Medium Roxanne Bjorklund – Tarot Card Reader and Reiki Practitioner (Saturday Only) Fran Verzosa – Psychic Palm Reader (Saturday Only) Daved Beck – Psychic Medium Ken Bentley – Intuitive Psychic Reader Stacy Chandler – Psychic Medium Crystal River Gifts 310 N LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.CrystalRiverGifts.com

Tuesday, May 24

MEDITATION SERIES WITH MICHAEL VOLPE Tuesdays 7:00p-8:00p May 10, 17, 24 $16 drop-in FocusOm Batavia www. focus-om.com

Wednesday, May 25

WISH DREAM SPARKLE, Internet Radio Show – 7 pm CST – www.247thestream.com

Thursday, May 26

GUIDED MEDITATION WITH WALTER PERSCHKE - Thursdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26. See listing from Thursday, May 5th for full details. RELEASING GRIEF WORKSHOP. See testimonials on www.EFTTom.com Expect relief. Success or no charge. 4 CE’s for LCSW, LCPC, MT, etc. 6-1 0 pm, $125, RUAH Center, Tom Masbaum, 708-955-3634, www.EFT-Tom.com EFTwithTom@gmail.com

Sunday, May 29

THE WORLD TEACHER IS ALREADY HERE - UFO’s, Crop Circles, Prophecy = Last Pope, Jesus, Maitreya, Save our Planet. All related? SoderWorld Wellness, 9500 S. Rte. 83, Willowbrook, IL, 60527. FREE. 9:30 am. 630-455-5885.

Saturday, June 4

BODY MIND SPIRIT EXPO. June 4TH AND 5TH. Location: Tinley Park. www.BMSE.net.

DREAM INTERPRETATION CLASS. Time: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. Room 1. Free lecture. Learn the importance of your dreams and how to interpret them. Learn to utilize your own dreams to improve your life. You will also learn techniques to remember your dreams. Dreams are the primary method of communication from the subconscious mind for most people. The various types of dreams their function in your life, and their symbolic nature will be discussed. Bring your dreams questions and leave with answers. Presented by the Emmy-nominated, Award Winning publisher of The Conscious Community, formerly The Monthly Aspectarian and Founder of The Spiritual Learning Center, Walter Perschke. Location: Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477. Free Parking. SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com www.SpiritualLearningCenter. com

WISE WOMEN GATHERING strengthening intuitive wisdom, authentic greatness, self-esteem by sharing our life’s journey in supporting, inspiring atmosphere. Not a therapy group but therapeutic in nature for the feminine spirit. Tuesdays 7:00p-8:30p wwwomenswisdom@aol.com Des Plaines (847) 258 7225 website: www.womenswisdom.org

CRYSTAL RIVER GIFTS offers an eclectic assortment of books, meditation CD’s, essential oils, jewelry, crystals and much more. The services that we provide include astrology sessions, tarot readings, psychic readings, pet readings, reiki, and reflexology. Address: 310 N. La Fox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.crystalrivergifts.com

Sunday, June 5 BODY MIND SPIRIT EXPO. June 4TH AND 5TH. Location: Tinley Park. www.BMSE.net. SECRETS OF SUCCESS. 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. Room 2. Free lecture. Learn the secrets of how self-made millionaires think differently. Successful people really are different. Learn the secrets of how to manifest your heart’s desire and how to consciously realize your dreams in your daily life, whether that be relationships, career or money. Learn the 4 easy actions you can take to achieve your goals, from someone who has done it, and how to start today! Also learn 7 reasons why it doesn’t seem to work for you, even though it actually is. Presented by the Emmy-nominated, Award Winning publisher of The Monthly Aspectarian and Founder of The Spiritual Learning Center, Walter Perschke. Location: Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Dr., Tinley Park, IL 60477. Free Parking. SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com www. SpiritualLearningCenter.com

Diana Kushenbach Police Intuitive

Psychic Medium Author Advanced Mediumship and Psychic Development Intuitive Energy Healing Biofeedback Specialist (LIFE System) Demonologist and Ordained Minister Apprenticeship

email: info@policeintuitive.com 475 River Bend Suite 200b Naperville,IL 60540 (630) 269-0115 www.policeintuitive.com

Saturday-Sunday, June 11-12

EFT WITH A GUARANTEE WITH TOM MUSBAUM - Intensive Certification workshop with Tom Masbaum, 2-day workshop on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12, 10 am to 5 pm, 83 Century Dr., Oswego, IL, Cost: $175.00, 14 CEs are available for Massage Therapists, Yoga Teachers & Reflexologists – MUST pre-register by calling 630-554-7713 or email wishdreamsparkle@gmail.com

Saturday-Sunday, July 23-24

CERTIFICATION COURSE IN PREGNANCY MASSAGE, labor massage and support, postpartum massage and newborn/infant massage. The workshop will have pregnant volunteers to enhance your learning. 16 CEU’S located in LaGrange IL. Cost $325. Contact Karry Wolf Anderson heartoftouch1@gmail.com

ONGOING INTERNET RESOURCES WWW.CONSCIOUSCOMMUNITYMAGAZINE.COM Conscious Community online includes our print edition plus links to past issues.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 33

Lightworkers Classified Directory

ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR

BOOKS & METAPHYSICAL STORES

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PET! Through me your pet will answer all your questions regarding health, behavior, attitudes and more. Psychic readings for people too! 773-499-4909. www. ChristineGoldman.com

STYX AND STONZ, 1758 W. Algonquin Rd. Hoffman Estates, IL 60195. 847-358-9975. www. styxstonz.com

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS BOOKS & METAPHYSICAL STORES CRYSTAL EARTH ROCK SHOP 1125J S. Main St., Lombard, IL. 60148 630-785-3308. www. CrystalEarth-Wheaton.com

CRYSTAL RIVER GIFTS offers an eclectic assortment of books, meditation CD’s, essential oils, jewelry, crystals and much more. The services that we provide include astrology sessions, tarot readings, psychic readings, pet readings, Reiki, and reflexology. Address: 310 N. La Fox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 224-535-8708. www.crystalrivergifts.com.

JOURNEY TO WHOLENESS CENTER offers Yoga, Dance, Workshops, Massage, Life Coaches, Counselors, Intuitive Readers and a Bookstore. Call or visit us: 9501 S. New England Ave, Oak Lawn IL 60453. 708-6343664. www.journeytowholeness.org

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS TAI CHI AND QIGONG. Realize the many health benefits. Easy to learn exercises. Non-ambulatory/ special needs my specialty. Be calm. Serene. Peace. Spiritual. Feel Better. Way Better. Call Dr. Dave. 773-769-3588. Leave Message.

THE SPIRITUAL LEARNING CENTER (SLC) ) is here to offer you the opportunity to study with like-minded people in an emotionally safe environment. SLC strives to provide learning opportunities based on expansive concepts that challenge and amplify mainstream knowledge and experience. We offer the chance to learn about things that you may have always been curious about, but haven’t known where to go for answers. To check our classes, please go to our website at www. SpiritualLearningCenter.com or call 312786-0077. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-7860077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@ gmail.com.

LIGHTWORKERS CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY

The Lightworkers Classified Directory provides listings of a wide variety of practitioners, products, and services available to our readers. Lightworkers listings are $1.00 per word with 20 words minimum. Copy may be submitted by email or regular mail. Check or credit card information must accompany your insertion unless you are submitting it by email. In that case, please call with your credit card information to finalize your listing.

Please call: 847-966-1110 or send your listings to: Kasia@ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com by the 10th of the month prior to publication. 34 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

ENERGY HEALING

EXPOS AND FAIRS

INTUITIVE COACHING

ADVANCED SPIRITUAL ENERGY HEALING Sessions are Divinely guided for the most clarity, direction and healing. We work from your unique Divine plan to assist you on your evolutionary path. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. 20 years’ experience. Call Susan for more information/appointment 312-335-0053. I would love to help you.

BODY MIND SPIRIT EXPO in Tinley Park. June 4-5, 2016. Eight shows in six different states! For more information about upcoming expos, please visit website www.bmse.net.

ROBERT NOVAK IS A MASTER INTUITIVE, inspiring teacher, author, speaker, and Yuen Method master. His divinely inspired transformational work with clients is the catalyst, which provides them with the empowerment and improvements in their lives to become their own self-experts, to know their purposes in life, and to live them. Robert has the unique ability to pinpoint exactly the answer to improve the progress one’s life. www. BeWillingToBeAmazed.com

NAN ACTIPES, Certified Master Practitioner of Yuen Method, Balances Body, Mind and Spirit on 6 levels. For Information Call: 312-802-6244.

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ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 35

MEDICAL INTUITIVE READINGS

PSYCHIC TAROT

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THE SPIRITUAL LEARNING CENTER (SLC) is here to offer you the opportunity to study with like-minded people in an emotionally safe environment. SLC strives to provide learning opportunities based on expansive concepts that challenge and amplify mainstream knowledge and experience. We offer the chance to learn about things that you may have always been curious about, but haven’t known where to go for answers. To check our classes, please go to our website at www.SpiritualLearning Center.com or call 312-786-0077. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com.

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HELP WANTED – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! ARE YOU A MOVER AND A SHAKER? Are you an organized self-starter? Do you have a desire to help out, but you are not sure where your skills will be best suited? The Conscious Community family is looking for assistance in the following areas: Administration, Social Media, Event Scheduling, Event Sponsorship, National Calendar Coordinator, IT Expertise, Conference Coordinator, or Copy editor. Whether you can give 1 hour a month or 10 hours a month, we would love to have you join our team. Please contact Kasia at Kasia@ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com or call us at 847-966-1110.

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“See When you’re holding onto all that you can’t Be Know that all there is to gain lies Within arm’s reach For the flaw lies in your head not in your heart See How the darkest night will soon Bring light again” *

Heading UP Higher By Jim Kaminecki For some, it was 2014; For others, it was 2015; For others still, it is 2016 that is presenting some significant challenges, whether it be family, career, relationships, health, finances… or possibly all of the above. There is a song that has been played quite often recently, sometimes heard randomly, and other times chosen purposefully. My attention was directed to it originally due to the beat of the music. The lyrics became more pronounced the more often it was heard. The music and beat still strike a chord, and now the message and its meaning are on full display, engaging and uplifting. Many people are going through these changing times, and the path has been less than a smooth one. Your experience is not unlike hundreds or thousands of others reading this message. The specifics of the journey may differ, yet we are all facing challenges and decisions that will lead us towards tomorrow, either down the same path we had planned, or in some new direction. You always have choices, even if other options do not seem clear. Once you invest the time in finding them you will be faced with a decision. The choice you ultimately make leads to an outcome, different from any of the other choices. Change for change’s sake does not always lead to fulfillment, so be careful not to confuse movement with improvement. Fulfillment should be the goal when facing these decisions. If there is something you are ready to change, today is the day to change it, and when you do: Take the time to evaluate all your options, which helps you make better decisions. Rely on friends who can be objective, if you choose to involve others in the process. Trust your inner voice and intuition, as there are things going on and events taking place which your mind has no knowledge of. Choose to look forward to tomorrow, and… “See When you’re holding on to all but You can’t breathe Know the dawn lies in your hands Just let your heart speak And the darkest light will soon Burn bright again” * *Lyrics in italics from the song “Heading Up High,” by Armin van Buuren featuring Kensington. Jim Kaminecki is a holistic wellness advocate, a lifelong learner, a volleyball, swimming, and skiing enthusiast, a career investment and business consultant, a music aficionado, a Shaolin Kung Fu, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi practitioner, and occasional teacher.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 37

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38 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

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Runes Stones Reading The runes will help to fully activate the inner and outer senses, in order to dissolve the enslaving programs of belief systems. The 7 sets of runes are eﬀective in clearing programs that control the mind and emotions, and caused disruption in the proper functioning of the chakra system. Location: Burr Ridge details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send us an email requesting the Burr Ridge address: SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com. FREE PARKING. SpiritualLearningCenter.com Email: SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com 312-786-0077

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 39

LOVING KINDNESS IS GOOD FOR YOU!

CYBERWEAVE SPIRITUALITY AND THE INTERNET

By: Mary Montgomery

Last month’s column paid tribute to a local Chicago hero, the late James “Major” Adams, whose loving and kind ways made him a legend on the west side. I also shared my experiences with the Abraham-Hicks techniques (abraham-hicks.com), and how they are not only helping me become a more masterful manifester, they are also helping me be more loving and kind. I touched on the fact that there are many techniques that can help us become more loving and kind. I also promised to share some of those techniques, as well as some of the science that supports the benefits of love and kindness.

When you google “Loving Kindness,” or “Love and Kindness,” the technique that comes up first and foremost is the Loving-Kindness Meditation (a nice version is available at liveanddare.com/typesof-meditation/#Loving_Kindness_Meditation_Metta_Meditation). There is a lot of research that supports the value of the Loving-Kindness Meditation. As I explored other love and kindness links, I came upon a wealth of scientific research that supports the benefits of loving kindness in general.

40 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Here is the Loving-Kindness Meditation in a nutshell: Sit down in a meditation position, with closed eyes, and generate in your mind and heart feelings of kindness and benevolence. Start by developing loving-kindness towards yourself, then progressively towards others and all beings. Here is the recommended progression: oneself; a good friend; a “neutral” person; a difficult person; all four of the above equally; and then gradually the entire universe. The idea is to develop a feeling of wishing happiness and wellbeing for all. Of course, practice makes perfect. The benefits? There are at least 18 of them, according to a blog in HuffPost Healthy Living, by Emma Seppälä, Associate Director, Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (huffingtonpost.com/emmaseppala-Ph.D./18-sciencebased-reasons-t_b_5823952.html) or at (mindful.org/18-science-based-reasons-to-try-lovingkindness-meditation/). Here are just a few them:

Increases Positive Emotions & Decreases Negative Emotions In a landmark study, Barbara Frederickson and her colleagues, (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18954193) found that practicing seven weeks of loving-kindness meditation increased love, joy, contentment, gratitude, pride, hope, interest, amusement, and awe. These positive emotions then produced increases in a wide range of personal resources (e.g., increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, decreased illness symptoms), which, in turn, predicted increased life satisfaction, and reduced depressive symptoms.

Emotional Intelligence in the Brain Regularly practicing the Loving-Kindness Meditation can help activate and strengthen areas of the brain responsible for empathy & emotional intelligence. Seppälä cites two research studies that demonstrate that this meditation activates empathy and emotional processing in the brain. Another study shows that the Loving-Kindness Meditation increases gray matter volume in areas of the brain related to emotion regulation. Wow! I don’t know about you, but this sure convinces me that cultivating love and kindness is beneficial. I don’t think the Loving-Kindness Meditation is the only technique that can be used. For example, I am finding my own loving-kindness quotient on the rise since I’ve started using those AbrahamHicks techniques. A really interesting facet of my research was the realization that up until recently both love and kindness were ignored by most scientists. This was brought home to me through an article on mindful.org. In “The Science of Love,” Barry Boyce points out the impact of the 1961 experiment by Yale social psychologist Stanley Milgram. You’re probably heard of this one. It was right after the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, and Milgram wanted to find out how much pain test subjects would be willing to inflict on other people at the behest of an authority figure. The participants acted as “teachers” who were instructed to administer increasingly severe electric shocks to “learners” if they gave a wrong answer. The shocks produced screams from the learner (really a tape recording). If the “teacher” resisted applying more shocks, the experimenter verbally prodded them to do so, issuing increasingly stern commands.

Hmmm… Very interesting. One of the key Abraham-Hicks techniques is to focus on positive emotions. By golly, in some ways, the Loving-Kindness Meditation can be favorably compared to those Rampages of Appreciation that I wrote about last month.

Healing Recent research indicates that the Loving-Kindness Meditation helps severe physical or mental illness. Seppälä’s blog cites four research studies that demonstrate that this meditation technique decreases migraines, chronic pain, PTSD, and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 41

The results: 65% of participants overcame their reluctance and administered the maximum voltage. Milgram’s conclusion:” …relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority.” This experiment was part of the prevailing psychological and neuroscientific view, which researched moral fiber and conscience with a focus on dysfunction, pathology, and neurosis. Today, however, more and more scientists are bucking the traditional negative trend, and conducting experiments that look at what makes us more positive, good, loving, and kind. Some of these pioneers have been profiled in previous CyberWeave columns including the work of Richard Davidson, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of WisconsinMadison (centerhealthyminds.org), and the work of Dr. Stephen Post, author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People (whygoodthingshappen.com). Here are three others that I came across while doing this Internet research: The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (centerformsc.org): Established in 2012 by Kristin Neff, Ph.D., and Christopher K Germer, Ph.D., the center investigates both the effects of selfcompassion, and possible methods for training people, especially children, to be self-compassionate. According to Dr. Neff, self-compassion involves having the same compassion for yourself as you would have for others. Selfcompassion, therefore, involves behaving in a compassionate way toward one’s self when you are having a difficult time. For example, instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings. The Center’s website is filled with resources that can help us practice self-compassion. In addition, each of the founders have their own resource-filled websites. Dr. Neff’s is self-compassion. org, and Dr. Germer’s is mindfulselfcompassion.org. In addition, each has written a book on the subject. Dr. Germer’s is the Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions. Dr. Neff’s is Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.

Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkeley (greatergood.berkeley.edu): The center aims to report on groundbreaking scientific research into the roots of compassion and altruism, and to share inspiring stories of compassion in action on their website. The lead article at the website when I visited it was, “How to Cultivate Global Compassion,” an interview with Paul Ekman, Professor Emeritus in Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco, and an expert on emotion recognition. The focus of the interview was Dr. Ekman’s explanation of how we can extend compassion beyond our circle of family and friends. One of the interesting personalities connected with the center is its founding faculty director, Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., author of Born to Be Good: the

42 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Science of a Meaningful Life. You can check out his work by doing a search on YouTube. One interesting Dacher video is of a 2009 Google Tech Talk. In it, Dacher responds to several Google Techs who obviously are still steeped in the “Human is Basically Bad” scientific view. The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University (ccare.stanford.edu): Their mission is two-fold: research and education designed to cultivate compassion and promote altruism within individuals and society. The website has a whole section filled with peerreviewed research papers with titles like “Social connection and compassion: Important predictors of health and well-being.” The video section offers selections like “His Holiness 17th Karmapa on Caring Connections: Compassion, Technology and the Environment.” In addition, the center offers an 8-week Compassion Cultivation Training course, as well as a Teacher Certification Program. Remember that 1960’s Milgram experiment that I wrote about earlier in this column? Well, a colleague of Milgram, the renowned social psychologist Philip Zimbardo, and his colleague, Piero Bocchiaro recently updated that 1961 study using assessment tools to measure people’s empathy. Zimbardo’s and Bocchiaro’s research was funded by CCARE, and their peerreviewed article, “Defying Unjust Authority: An Exploratory Study,” can be viewed on the CCARE site. The results: Although 30% of the sample followed commands to insult the other participant (confederate), the majority did refuse to do so at some point in the escalating hostility sequence. Well, that’s good news, and a step in the right direction—the direction toward greater love and kindness that we all should be taking. My Advice: I’m going to continue using those Abraham-Hicks techniques, like Rampages of Appreciation, because they sure are helping me be a more loving and kind person. I invite you to find the techniques that work for you. Explore the websites that I mentioned in this column. Maybe something in that exploration will inspire you to find steps you can use to become even more loving and kind. Mary Montgomery’s company, Montgomery Media Enterprises, specializes in public relations, writing projects, and social media development, especially in the non-profit sector. Ms. Montgomery has a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). She has completed the coursework in doctoral studies with a focus on Altruism and Unconditional Love. Contact her via email at MMontgomery@SpiritualTravelerGuides.com. Please use Cyberweave in the subject line. You can also visit her at her new blog, SpiritualTravelerGuides.com.

How to Naturally Detoxify the Kidney

By: Staci Culbreath

Do you often feel tired or fatigued? Do your kidneys hurt after eating certain foods? Do you have skin problems such as eczema, rashes, or acne? Do you have frequent urinary tract infections? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, it is time to start thinking about detoxifying your kidneys. Your kidneys work hard 24/7 to produce important hormones as well as filter the blood to eliminate toxins, sodium, and excess water from the body. Kidney cleanses have been used throughout history to help keep the kidneys working as they should. When you’re feeling fatigued or moody, it is likely that your kidneys are suffering from toxic buildups, troublesome calcium deposits, and/or kidney stones. Thankfully there are several ways to keep your kidneys healthy and toxin free.

7 Reasons to Try a Kidney Cleanse

What Not to Eat

1. You feel chronically fatigued or more tired than usual. 2. You have skin problems such as acne, rashes, or eczema. 3. You are bloated and have gained weight. 4. You have suffered from calcium deposits or kidney stones in the past. 5. You feel moody or irritable. 6. You have frequent urinary tract infections. 7. You feel pain in your kidneys after eating certain foods.

The only type of food that has been proven to be detrimental to kidney health is high-protein foods, because their digestion produces a high amount of by-product waste in the body called creatinine. Having high creatinine levels is one of the main ways that a doctor can diagnose filtering and elimination problems with the kidneys. Besides staying away from excessive amounts of protein, it is important to stay away from substances such as alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods, because they cause your kidneys to have to work harder than normal.

Water, Water, and More Water The most important part of detoxifying the kidneys is committing to drinking lots and lots of water. It is recommended that you drink at least 10-12 large glasses of water every day to help flush out accumulated toxins from the kidneys. A good indication that you’ve been drinking enough water is passing clear urine. Fluids in the form of coffee, soda, and sugary drinks are not a substitute for water. However, if you’re craving a little flavor with your water, try adding some fresh lemon juice.

What to Eat Eating the right foods and staying away from certain foods and drinks are the next part of the kidney detoxification process. Cranberries are one of the best foods for kidney health. Cranberries contain a nutrient called quinine which converts into hippuric acid inside the liver. Hippuric acid then clears the excess buildup of uric acid in the kidneys. Just one cupful of fresh or dried cranberries is enough to cleanse the kidney every day. You can also drink cranberry juice to help flush out the kidneys. Fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium are great for cleansing the kidneys. These foods include bananas, kiwis, apricots, prunes, oranges, grapes, grape juice, cantaloupes, potatoes, beans, dark leafy greens, squash, fish, avocados, mushrooms, and yogurt. While potassium-rich foods do help cleanse the kidneys, one must have a balanced intake of these foods. Excessive intake of potassium can lead to a condition known as hyperkalemia. For a healthy adult, it is recommended to consume 4.7 grams of potassium per day.

Herbs and Oils While water, fruits, and vegetables are the best way to detoxify your kidneys, there are additional things that you can do to optimize the health of your kidneys. Natural medicine practitioners recommend taking dandelion oil tincture because it is rich in potassium, and has a diuretic-like function to clear excess water from the body, thus helping to eliminate toxins from the kidneys. Another excellent natural herbal supplement is uva ursi, which helps to repair inflammation and injury caused to the kidneys as a result of stones, or an infection. Uva ursi contains an anti-microbial known as arbutin, so it is great for treating urinary tract infections. Note: It is generally safe to have this supplement, however a word of caution for patients who are on anti-psychotic drugs like lithium. Uva ursi can interfere with the way the body gets rid of lithium, and this could lead to a high level of lithium in the blood, which can be toxic or fatal. Hence, people with any other co-morbidities must be careful before employing Uva ursi in detoxing their kidneys.

Consult Your Doctor Always talk to a health professional before trying new diets and natural supplements. Certain medications for blood pressure or diabetes could interfere with the diets or supplements, and cause problems with your kidneys. Staci Culbreath is a nature lover from the Chicagoland area who manages UniquePlantsAndTrees.com, a website that features unique plants and trees that can be shipped through the mail.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 43

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May 2016 COSMIC DAILY WEATHER YOU SHOULD FIND YOURSELF CONQUERING SOME OLD FEARS, AND THROWING AWAY SOME LONG HELD ANTIQUATED IDEOLOGIES.

Overview May is going to be a wonderful month. The skies are delivering up a good dose of grand energy in the form of multiple kites. Kites are astrological events that occur when a triangular aspect (grand trine) interacts with a fourth planet and causes an opposition. The fourth planet acts as a grounding influence, and allows you to channel your energy into that fourth planet. The fourth planet is usually a motivating aspect, and gives you a way out of difficult scenarios. So be thankful when they occur, because they are usually very beneficial. During May, Jupiter will go direct around the 10th of the month, and Mercury will go direct in the latter part of the month. You should find yourself conquering some old fears, and throwing away some long held antiquated ideologies. At the same time, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a new meaning of life by overcoming challenges, and pushing past your previously established boundaries. There will be a lot of letting go this month, yet it will feel mildly liberating. You will learn many lessons this month, and you will see how timing plays a part in everything. The timing is right for you to pursue that which you deem valuable. You are following your goals, and following your heart so that you can be the best you. Enjoy! **Please see the end of the month for information about the Moon Void of Course (VoC). **

46 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Sunday, May 1, 2016 Today has us seeing an astrological kite in the sky. This aspect provides us with an extra added dose of motivation. Retrograde Jupiter, retrograde Pluto, the Sun, and Neptune are all playing major roles in this configuration. You have two options available to you, one of action, and one of inaction. Make sure to choose wisely. A retrograde Mercury is also having an interesting conversation with Jupiter and Pluto, could you be rethinking some of your previous goals? If so, then now is the perfect time to reassess and reevaluate. Moon VoC ends at 9:33 AM in Pisces.

Monday, May 2, 2016 Today’s energy is very similar to yesterday’s. Things just seem to go right, or as right as they can. The Moon is siding with Neptune, and wants you to make space for good things to happen. Although there are some tense aspects in the sky, it’s not enough to discourage you from making progress. You might not have all of the answers just yet, but you sure are arming yourself with some valuable tools.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016 The Moon is cuddling up against Chiron, and provides much needed emotional healing. You could very well have an “aha” moment at some point during the day. This allows you to face some deeply buried fears so that they can be removed. The key here is to not be afraid of the answers. Make sure to ask the right questions, even if you’ve previously asked the question. You never know what the new response will be. Moon VoC 12:08 AM to 12:04 PM in Aries.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016 The Moon is making a positive aspect to a retrograde Mars and retrograde Saturn. Together these two planets are trying to understand what’s been standing in the way. A positively aspected Uranus is working with Saturn to change the way we view ourselves, and is asking us to set new boundaries that aren’t so restrictive. VoC 11:17 PM until tomorrow afternoon.

Thursday, May 5, 2016 The Moon and Neptune are quite cozy nestled against each other today. This allows us to dream our biggest dreams out loud. With so many planets retrograde things could seem a little surreal. In reality these retrograding planets are providing an opportunity to go back in time, and to pull something from the past that seemed impossible. Remember, timing is everything. What didn’t work in the past could very well work now so don’t discard it. VoC ends at 12:10 PM in Taurus.

fulfill and sustain you, and that is a glorious feeling. VOC 9:10 PM until tomorrow night.

Saturday, May 7, 2016 We have another kite today starring Jupiter, Pluto, the Moon, Mercury, the Sun, and Venus. It’s like we are being gifted with multiple blessings. Neptune is positively aspected to Pluto and the Sun, and is feeling quite happy about the fact that he didn’t have to pull a magician’s trick to get you to see the beauty of being grounded in your own truth, rather than in the truths of others. When you bask in your own light, there can be no darkness. VoC ends at 11:34 PM in Gemini.

Sunday, May 8, 2016 Today we have a cardinal Grand Cross in the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. This energy allows us to be more flexible with our thoughts, communications, learnings, and our unconscious ambitions. It lends at itself very well to the energy of the astrological kite, making unconscious desires more conscious and clear. On this day, every planet is doing due diligence and playing together. It’s a grand day indeed. VoC starts at 11:15 PM until tomorrow afternoon.

Monday, May 9, 2016 Today there is a great deal of emphasis on communication, and in particular communication of your values, with the Sun and Mercury retrograde conjunct in Taurus. When you hold true to your word, you are able to see with more clarity. So be tenacious in your pursuit. Dig deep, because now is not the time to hold back. Don’t let retrograding planets fool you, the cosmic galaxy is giving you the thumbs up. VoC ends at 12:24 PM in Cancer.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 Today the Moon trines Neptune, so with a little additional focus on your part, you could come across something that makes you nostalgic. Leverage this nostalgia to your advantage by making room in your life for something marvelous and emotionally suitable to where you are in your current life.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 As the Moon enters Leo it leaves an opposition to Pluto on its way out of Cancer. This is nothing to be frightened of, but is something that should be taken into consideration. Pluto wants you to make sure that whatever it is that you are planning is rooted in the right place within your heart. If you’re doing things for a good reason, then all will go swimmingly. Anything other than the right reason is not in your best interest. VoC 2:34 am to 4:32 PM in Leo.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Today’s New Moon at 2:31 PM could seem like an astrological jackpot. The energy is very much grounded in the appropriate values so much so that Mercury, the Moon, the Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Pluto, and Neptune all went in on a lottery ticket together. This should be a really great day to just be happy about where you find yourself in life. You’re making progress towards those goals that

Today the Moon in Leo sextiles a retrograde Mars in Leo, making this a spicy conversation. It doesn’t have to be intense, however it can be exciting. You’ll get a chance to experience something from a much different perspective, and you might possibly see things with a brand new set of eyes. This could also have you letting go of some old misguided illusions from past years.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 47

Friday, May 13, 2016

Thursday, May 19, 2016

With Uranus making a positive aspect to Saturn and the Moon, you are feeling a little innovative. You’re pushing yourself to climb mountains so that you can gain a broader perspective. Going outside of your element could be the medicinal remedy that you’ve needed. VoC 12:02 PM until tomorrow morning.

Mars makes a loose opposition to a loosely conjunct Sun and Venus, which could cause a little bit of turbulence by pointing out repercussions of inaction, and the benefits of forward movement and timing. Some people might want to move faster than they are able to, while others would prefer to stick their heads in the sand, and ignore the writings on the wall. You can’t make people see what they can’t or don’t want to see. Maybe it’s just not their time to rally behind something that they don’t quite understand, yet it is your responsibility to help them get a better sense of what’s ahead.

Saturday, May 14, 2016 The Moon enters Virgo, and is heading towards a retrograde Jupiter and the North Node. You could have a sense of accomplishment today, because you removed limits from your mental vocabulary. It’s been a long time coming, and this newfound can-do attitude will take you far, so remember this feeling, because it’s one that you’ll want to carry forward in the days and months to come. VoC ends at 12:52 AM in Virgo.

Sunday, May 15, 2016 The Moon conjuncts Jupiter and the North Node today, yet squares a retrograde Mars and retrograde Saturn, while simultaneously opposing Neptune. This could have you going over old scenarios so that you could fill in the gaps of why you created such strict barriers to your learnings. What held true previously no longer carries the same power that it once did. When you understand that part of the equation you become one step closer to personal freedom. So be free.

Monday, May 16, 2016 Today a retrograding Mars opposes a conjunct retrograde Mercury, Venus, and the Sun, making this a day when you just want to take it all in. You want to hold on to what you’ve just accomplished, by making it an integral part of your newfound perspective. Allowing yourself to relive certain experiences can be very therapeutic, so if you feel as though you’ve been healed, or that you are on the verge of being healed then it’s because you are. VoC 4:20 am until 12:33 PM in Libra.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 The Moon is in Libra, and you’re feeling emotionally balanced. You’re not overly anxious to get on to the next best thing. You’re perfectly content with the space that you are living in, and all is right in your mind, body, and spirit. It’s wonderful when you have peace, clarity, and a sense of understanding in your life. It makes the journey more exciting and less stressful.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Today the Moon in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries. You might have to choose creative innovation over a balanced emotional state today. You’re going to have to put on a show and be inspirational for those that are counting on you to deliver change. VoC 10:23 AM until 1:30 AM in Scorpio.

48 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Friday, May 20, 2016 The Moon is hanging out in Scorpio today, and is helping to form the second of two astrological kites. When the Moon is in Scorpio it can be a sobering effect, because something could be coming to an end. On the flipside of that, something new is set to begin, and as soon as Mercury goes direct you’ll get a better glimpse at what that new thing is.

Saturday, May 21, 2016 The Full Moon at 4:16 PM in Sagittarius opposes the Sun at one degree Gemini. Normally Full Moons are ones of closure, yet this one has the appearance of newness. Perhaps it’s because Gemini and Sagittarius are mutable signs, therefore providing us with a glass half-full effect. Enjoy this energy, because it is one that is shared with you to encourage you as you move through the retrograde moments. VoC 6:40 AM until 1:48 PM.

Sunday, May 22, 2016 The Moon is in Sagittarius, and is sharing energy with retrograde planets Saturn and Mars. From this vantage point Saturn and Mars are getting a “download” of what happens when you’re not running away from your teachings. Sometimes it’s necessary to slow down enough to let the learnings sink in and take root. When you resist the urge to move on to the next thing prematurely you might find that you’ve learned an important lesson.

Monday, May 23, 2016 The Moon positively aspects Uranus in Aries today. You’re feeling motivated to nurture this new you. You’re ambitious, you’re focused, and you’re determined to be more authentic and less sporadic. You’re moving with precision, while allowing yourself the flexibility to be nimble. When Saturn is retrograde it’s the prime opportunity to reset your expectations so that you can give yourself enough opportunity to achieve success. VoC 10:37 AM until tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 Today is a relatively calm day. This could have something to do with Mercury turning direct yesterday. After all of the excitement of last week, it’s nice to have things settle down a little bit so that you can catch up. There were so many wonderful occurrences, yet it’s nice for things to return to a normal pace. So ease into this day and relax. VoC ends at 12:34 AM in Capricorn.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Are you glad that you took some time to relax yesterday, because today is full of energy with retrograde Mars opposing Venus in Gemini. Today is one of those days when you’ll have to talk about what you value most. It could prove difficult, because the ego could be taking a time out due to the retrograde Mars. It’s ok for the ego to take a time out sometimes, as long as you don’t need it to get through a difficult moment. VoC 8:11 PM until tomorrow morning.

Thursday, May 26, 2016 Yesterday something changed, and it could have you emotionally anxious. Whatever changed was necessary, and is a necessary part of life’s evolution. You have no illusions about the outcome of certain things in your life, because you just got a glimpse of how things are going to be going from here on out. VoC ends at 9:27 AM in Aquarius.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 The Moon finishes the month in Aries, and makes a positive alignment to a retrograde Mars in Scorpio. The interesting thing about Mars retrograde in Scorpio is that Mars feels pretty good in this sign, because it’s a sign focusing on change and moving up levels. Therefore, it’s the first time in weeks that you actually experience forward progress, and that’s always a good feeling. The Moon Void of Course (VoC) is the time period from when the Moon makes its last aspect in one sign before moving into the next sign. The Moon is the fastest-moving planet and transitions from one sign into the next every 1-3 days. What that means is that the Moon is constantly in motion, it’s never retrograde, so it’s inevitable that she will connect with “something,” i.e. another planet or transit, until the moment that she doesn’t. During the moments when she doesn’t connect, we call it the Moon Void of Course. When these events occur, the best thing to do is to meditate, sit still, and listen to your higher guidance. Sitting still does not mean to physically sit still, although it can be beneficial. Kaye Berjot is a transformational astrologer who focuses on Chiron, the wounded healer. Read more articles, weekly astrology insights, and request readings at askkaye.com.

The Moon in Aquarius is sextile Venus and the Sun in Gemini. The tone of this energy is to motivate you to be honest with others. There are other factors that have influenced your recent movements, and it is time to share those aspects with those that are near and dear to you.

Saturday, May 28, 2016 There is a Grand Cross occurring in mutable signs today, which could have you pulled in multiple directions. As long as you go in the direction that is the healthiest for you, you’ll have no problems getting through the day. You can’t be all things to all people so don’t even try. Be the right thing for the right people which includes you. VoC 3:19 PM until 4:06 PM in Pisces.

Sunday, May 29, 2016 Another tense day, yet nothing that you can’t handle. Everyone wants your attention and focus, yet some things just aren’t possible. You have a lot of important matters to deal with, if you want to be present in your own life. Take care of your things, and let others take care of theirs.

Monday, May 30, 2016 The Moon is hanging out in Pisces for the majority of the day. While in the sign of faith it’s having a conversation with Neptune and Chiron. The question of the day focuses on your happiness meter. So don’t be surprised if all of a sudden, you want to start singing the children’s song, “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands.” VoC 6:10 PM until 8:09 PM in Aries.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 49

Crystal River Gifts May Intuitive Gala

May Intuitive Gala

Saturday, May 21 10:00 am- 5:00 pm Sunday, May 22 12:00 pm- 5:00 pm All readings and healing for the weekend Intuitive Gala 25 minutes for $40 or 50 minutes for $75 Call Crystal River Gifts at (224) 5358708 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Featured Reader: Pearl Tabbert

As a Spiritual Teacher, Coach, Professional Intuitive, Speaker and Akashic Record Consultant, Pearl has spent over 25 years helping people own their spiritual growth and development. The Akasha holds the record of each soul's journey through time and space and reveals the soul's history along with spiritual wisdom to help you achieve health, wholeness and your potential during this lifetime. Walkins are always welcome but please call to schedule your sessions in advance to assure you receive the time and reader/healer you desire.

PEARL TABBERT

Readers & Healers

Rosewolf ~ Psychic and Physical Medium Roxanne Bjorklund ~ Tarot Card Reader and Reiki Practitioner (Saturday Only) Fran Verzosa ~ Psychic Palm Reader (Saturday Only) Daved Beck ~ Psychic Medium Ken Bentley ~ Intuitive Psychic Reader Stacy Chandler ~ Psychic Medium

ROSEWOLF

ROXANNE BJORKLUND

CRYSTALRIVERGIFTS.COM May Intuitive Gala

STACY STACYCHANDLER CHANDLER

KEN BENTLEY

DAVED BECK

FRAN VERZOSA

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 51

In Print BOOK REVIEWS

By: Kayla Hancock

The Art and Science of Hand Reading: Classical Methods for Self-Discovery through Palmistry, by Ellen Goldberg and Dorian Bergen (Destiny Books, $35.00, Hardcover) Based on Ellen Goldberg’s 40 years of teaching palmistry, this book provides extensive guidance on how to learn about a person’s personality traits through examining their hands. Goldberg and Bergen explain the seven archetypes associated with the mounts of the palm, which reveal the lifestyle, love, marriage preferences, best career choices, strengths, and more about an individual. Also provided in a very user-friendly fashion are the meanings behind each major and minor line in the palm, and explanations about how hand flexibility and skin texture can also relate to a person’s character traits.

Spiritual Balancing: A Guidebook for Living in the Light, by Diana Burney (North Atlantic Books, $17.95, Paperback) In this book, Diana Burney provides useful insight for those seeking spiritual growth as they seek to gain and maintain equilibrium in the body, mind, and spirit. Burney shares timeless techniques for psychic protection and spiritual cleansing, and also addresses topics such as spirit interference, possession, and spiritual attachment. She teaches readers helpful healing tools, and tips for self-empowerment that will help them accelerate their spiritual journey.

52 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Belly Dance for Health, Happiness and Empowerment by Christine Hobin (Ayni Books, $27.95, Paperback) Not only is belly dancing a fun pastime and great exercise, it also helps individuals to increase selfawareness, improve their general well-being, and overcome common health issues. Christine Hobin shares with readers the root causes of illness, and how belly dancing can jump-start the body’s healing processes, and help us live longer lives. She pioneered the belly dance in the UK, and is affectionately described as Mother of the Belly Dance.

Truth and Consequences by Ralph E. Carlson (iUniverse, $12.95, Paperback) Feeling challenged to dig deeper into the topics of creationism, intelligent design, and evolution, Ralph Carlson decided to create propositions regarding the existence of God. He restates questions such as: “does God exist?” and, “what is the source of life on earth?” into propositions, showing readers how this helps with analyzing the contents of what these possible truths could mean. Carlson also encourages readers to face difficult questions while he challenges the theory of evolution.

present moment.

Eat Sleep Sit: My Year at Japan’s Most Rigorous Zen Temple by Kaoru Nonomura (Kodansha USA, $16.95, Paperback)

A Princess Story: The Real-Life Fairy Tale Found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Jaci Wightman (Cedar Fort, Inc., $14.99, Paperback)

Disillusioned with society at the age of 30, Kaoru Nonomura decided to leave his life in Tokyo to attend a year of training at the strictest monastery in Japan, also known as Eiheiji. In this book, he reveals an eye-opening account of his stay, including his struggle to endure beatings, hunger, fear, and loneliness. Nonomura shares his experiences with warmth, humor, and gratitude, and tells readers how he discovered within him the courage to live joyfully in the

According to Jaci Wightman, we are each living our own fairy tale. In this women’s read, she teaches readers how to discover their divine potential, and connect with their inner princess. Wightman also guides readers to build a closer relationship with the Prince, and return to the King, so that we can find our own happily ever after.

On the Verge: Wake Up, Show Up, and Shine by Cara Bradley (New World Library, $15.95, Paperback) In this guidebook, Cara Bradley shows readers how to experience “high-definition, high-voltage living” by slowing down the mind, and connecting with the body. She provides four simple techniques that allow oneself to stop overthinking, and become more present in each moment. Bradley also offers encouraging words and positivity to help readers stay consistent in their daily transformative practices.

A God That Could be Real: Spirituality, Science, and the Future of Our Planet by Nancy Ellen Abrams (Beacon Press, $18.00, Paperback)

overcome our pained planet.

Once disenchanted by religion, Nancy Ellen Abrams now finds that imagining a higher power gives her freedom. Abrams, a lawyer and scientific philosopher, began exploring the possibility that god is not supernatural, but actually exists in the scientific universe. This god unites all of humanity, and creates a sense of meaning that we will need for our future. She explains how it provides wisdom about the meaning of our existence and can help us to

The Light of Grace: Journeys of an Angel by Kasey Claytor (BalboaPress, $20.99, Paperback) In this fantasy, Kasey Claytor takes readers on an epic spiritual adventure. Grace, a newly assigned angel, is given four humans to guide—each from different time periods, and with very different personalities. Leaping through time and space, she guides her humans through events such as war, space travel, lost loves, and other times of despair.

I am Pat by Patricia Kampmeier (InspiringVoices, $8.99, Paperback) This poetry book is full of simple poems that are focused on the wholeness of life. Channeling her journey of spiritual growth, Patricia Kampmeier touches on moving through things like illness, aging, loving relationships, and lastly: the spirituality inside of everything.

Kayla Hancock is 22 years old, and is humbled to be able to work for Conscious Community Magazine. She is a certified Deeksha blessing giver and Reiki practitioner. She loves to write, and is interested in astrology, holistic health, and dream work.

ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com 53

Spiritual Learning Center May Calendar of Events

Guided Meditation with Walter Perschke

Thursdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26 • 7pm-8pm • Suggested Love Offering $5

"Now is the time to build bridges. Because when the flood comes, and it will come, you need to be ready. It will be too late to prepare." Walter Perschke Learn to prepare for the changes our world is experiencing now and the changes to come. Learn how to center yourself and enter the inward journey we are all on. Join the peaceful future rather than the chaotic present. The answers are there for us to find. Let us help you to find them. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com. www.SpiritualLearningCenter.com. FREE PARKING.

Introduction to Qi Gong with Jim Kaminecki Saturday, May 14 • 2pm-4pm $25

Join Qi Gong practitioner, Jim Kaminecki, for this introductory class to Qi Gong. During our 2 hours, you will be introduced to a level one Qi Gong form and we will practice it three to five times depending on our progress as a group. We will start the session with a brief warm up, which includes stretching exercises, then provide instruction on foundational techniques you will be using before we begin. All skill levels are welcome. $25/person offering with a maximum number of participants held to 15. Please bring active wear with you to participate: gym shoes, comfortable exercise clothes – sweatpants/short; sweatshirt/tee shirt. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com. www.SpiritualLearningCenter.com. FREE PARKING.

Gong Meditation

Wednesday, May 11 • 7pm-8pm $25

Gong meditations are one of the most deeply healing and restorative meditations possible, particularly because of the deep state of relaxation that is attained in response to the sound vibration. The gong works on many levels from the physical to emotional and spiritual in order to heal and transform. As the sound of the gong creates deep relaxation and clears the mind, it also aids in the reorganization of emotional energy. Gong meditation participants typically lie face up on a yoga mat or blanket in resting pose, (Shivasana), or sit in a chair to experience the tremendous healing sounds and vibrations. Location information: Spiritual Learning Center, Burr Ridge. Details available when registering. Call 312-786-0077, or send an email requesting the Burr Ridge address to SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com. www.SpiritualLearningCenter.com. FREE PARKING.

SpiritualLearningCenter.com

Email: SpiritualLearningCenter@gmail.com 312-786-0077 54 Conscious Community - MAY 2016

Advertising Index Astrology & Psychic Readings by Sarah Beads N Botanicals Be Willing to Be Amazed Body Mind Spirit Expo Body Mind Spirit Expo- Walter Perschke Candice Wu Chakra Zulu Clariceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Happenings Crystal Earth Rock Shop Crystal Life Technology Crystal River Gifts Crystal River Gifts- Intuitive Gala Distributors Wanted Earthsong Books & Gifts Flowering Heart Center Global Pyramid Conference Hair Healing Harmonics Holistic Happenings Holistic Harmony Massage & Wellness Infinity Foundation Integrative Rainbow Healing Center Integrity Research Institute Larrabee Herbs Light Unlimited Metaphysically Fit Fest Naturally by Darla On The Rocks Pathways to Light Police Intuitive Professional Hair Stylist Relax by Scent Sales People Wanted Spiritual Learning Center Spiritual Learning Center intuive Gala Subscription Form The Body/Mind/Soul Connection The Nest YouTube Channel/ Conscious Community Magazine Conscious Community Magazine Facebook

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