A Community of Holistic Professionals Our Vision
To strengthen and support the community of holistic professionals.
Our Mission Statement
To create a unified community of compassionate holistic practitioners that will contribute to enhancing our profession and ourselves by providing a supportive space to share, learn, teach, grow, and lead.
Our Purpose
The Holistic Mentorship Network supports the Holistic Professional, as well as the Community by providing the space to network, build a referral base, mentor and support each other in business development and growth, promote community awareness and education of alternative services and products, and meet potential clients.
What is MARCI™?
MARCI™ is a holistic magazine that provokes awareness to how we show up in our practices and our daily lives. In a time when there is a lot of chaos and stress, MARCI™ reminds us of being present through “Mindful” actions and thoughts; to take responsibility for our choices and to change patterns that no longer fit. In the Holistic Field we busily take care of others, but how do we show up for ourselves? Are we taking care of ourselves and loving who we are? Trusting our own intuition and natural instinct, how often do we listen to that small voice within? MARCI™ is not only a Seasonal E-zine, but a metaphor for the garden we live in as we go through the human experience. The Holistic Field is a rapidly growing industry. These inspirational stories are written by Professional Providers in the Holistic Field and our Clients that will inspire and empower you!
Why should you advertise in MARCI™?
With advertisers like you, MARCI™ is available electronically and distributed wherever the internet reaches! The Holistic Mentorship Network’s next step is making MARCI™ available in printed form. With your support, your business will be exposed nationwide to HMN members, holistic minded practitioners and their customers.
What are our members saying about MARCI™?
MARCI™ provides so many great tips and interesting perspectives and they’re not just for healing practitioners! Anyone curious about alternative healing methods and important issues of today can benefit from the information shared in this magazine: parents with ADD/ADHD kids, people interested in global warming, breast cancer success stories, using intuition, growing your business, healthy foods, ancient healing traditions, nurturing… and so much more. I love this magazine with its positive outlook! -Sarah Collins, PhD candidate in Natural Health
Inside This Issue: Time... 5 Linda Mitchell.....................................................................5
Board Members
Donna Price, Chair Michelle Zanoni, Secretary Meira Findel, Treasurer Cecelia Inwentarz, Trustee Vivian Sartoretto, Trustee Linda Mitchell, Trustee
Anything is Possible! 7 Sue Waldman.....................................................................8 Cancer and German New Medicine 9 Carole Seaver....................................................................9 The Game of Flow 12 Christine Clifton..............................................................13 Is Cleanliness Really Next to Godliness? 14 Beth Lowell.......................................................................15 An Amazing Reiki Experience 17 Susannah Pitman...............................................................18 Rainbow Racers Relaying for Life 19 Bonnie Rosenthal.............................................................20 Who is Meira Findel? 21 Meira Findel.....................................................................23
Publishing Committee Sarah M. Collins, Chair Linda Mitchell Justin Buffer Erin Saxton Bjornson Joanna DeGroot
Staff
Linda Mitchell
Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief
Joanna DeGroot
Editor & Layout Designer
Letters to We would love to hear from you! Please write to us at: MARCI@MARCImagazine.com
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Step into the Secret 22 Lisa Nichols.....................................................................23
Column Creative Arts 28 Beth Ann Morrison...........................................................37 Feng Shui 29 Michelle Zanoni.................................................................3 Aromatherapy 30 Christina Santiago............................................................3 Natural Health 31 Sarah Collins....................................................................3 Nutrition Judith Gisser....................................................................33 Conscious Parenting 34 Beth Haessig & Jordan Brown.........................................3
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Inside This Issue cont’d:
Treasure Yourself: A Sure Pathway to Complete Healing 68 Janet StraightArrow...............................23
Column Everyday Spirituality Justin Buffer...........................................................37 36 The Whole Pet Susan Brody............................................................37 37 Personal Development Coaching Hueina Su...............................................................3 38 Business Coaching Donna Price.............................................................3 39
Faith 73 Sue Freeman...........................................60
Book Review......................................770 72 Announcements...............................60 74 Calendar of Events...................60
Money Coaching Tom Selkow...............................................................3 40 Q&A Cecelia Inwentarz...................................................3 42 Project Planet Ana Marie Presti....................................................344 Legislative Matters Maureen Drummond & Susannah Pitman.............3 47 What Great Leaders Know That You Don’t 52 Jack Canfield..........................................................7 You’re in the Driver’s Seat on the Road to Wellness 55 Donna Slane............................................................9 Hospice. Care when there is no cure. 57 LynAnn Edelman.....................................................13
Disclaimer “The views expressed within the various articles are not necessarily the views of the Holistic Mentorship Network, publisher of MARCI™. Copyright for all articles, poems, etc. are owned by the respective authors. Permission to copy or use in any manner is at the sole discretion of the writer.”
Oncology 59 Jo-Ann Stafford......................................................15 Canine Cancer on the Rise 60 Dee Broton..............................................................20 Fundamental Lessons in Duality 63 Richard Bartlett.......................................................23 When Pollution Gives You Lemons 65 Jefferson Harman....................................................60
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Contact Information 23 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871 Phone: 973.300.1184 Fax: 973.300.1189 www.HolisticMentorshipNetwork.com MARCI@MARCImagazine.com
Spring 2010
No where have I ever witnessed “the essence of time” since this past year. Since coming into the holistic field and finding my spiritual family have I come to realize the power of our thoughts, and how dis-ease can and does manifest itself within the very essence of our cells. On a cellular level, life is... Our cells do all of life’s requirements in order for that one little cell to survive till the next regeneration. They breathe, they reproduce, they digest and excrete, absorb, transport and keep a rhythmic beat that keeps in sync with all the other billions of cells, or not. Life is energy. We live in a world that is changing quickly. The good old days are stories that are gone and we are surrounded by technology that has been steadfast in producing and eliminating jobs. There can be good and bad found
how it shows up in the body, it has no boundaries. We question “Why?” a message by “This person does not deserve Linda Mitchell, it.” “They led a clean Christian HMN Founder life.” But in the world of in all things if we look hard holistic, we have come to enough. Finding the balance in understand that there are no what works well, and what does hidden barriers to cancer, and not is where we get caught in that at its core, cancer cells the web of time or patterns that thrive on an imbalance when get established when we forget we are out of sync within, they where we whence came. will show up in our outer world In this edition of as well. Unresolved issues that MARCI™ our theme on harbor memories on a cellular Oncology has given rise to many level fall ill to these stressors and of our members speaking out over a period of time wake up about their personal experiences and activate the disease process. as practitioners, and to those Our dietary system is on who have, and still are touched overload as it works harder to by those survivors, or who have keep up with all the synthetic lost their battle to this disease. foods we consume. Our life I have seen over the past year styles have quickened and sitting a rise in cancer from humans to down for a family meal together animals, to where it is located, to is almost unheard of in today’s standards. More and more we communicate by means of the internet. The younger generation Cancer has touched is growing up communicating the lives of many. through texting, through which For me it came at the emotional outlet is modified the age of 4 when or even lost, and we have learned my sister Mary Lou how to detach ourselves from was taken from us traditional human condition within a month of of communication such as her diagnosis of our vocal, facial, and bodily leukemia. She was expression. only 6 and a twin Seems like a grim picture, of my sister Betty. right? Yes, but no. The good Cancer leaves its thing is that more and more mark on the family people are waking up and that is left to try and choosing differently through make sense out of shifting their consciousness from such a loss. the way things are, to the way In the light that life is meant to be. Perhaps of cancer, catastrophic events like Katrina, Linda tsunamis, 9-11, Haiti, and now
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Time... cont’d Chili have given us all a wake up call, where we have stopped and come together as one, no matter where we are in the world. How soon though, do we go back to our old lives, and those patterns we have grown so accustomed to. As the speed of light returns, we are waking up to a world that has gone so out of control that there is only one way to return, or thus we destroy ourselves. The voice of the next generation is our children, and as we move into the future, we need to take responsibility and heart to what we envision for the next generation. In trusting this process, Project Planet Network™, a branch of the Holistic Mentorship Network, Chairperson Ana Marie Presti and Mentor/Social Activist Charlie Semeraro, have taken the initiative to get the children involved by finding out how they feel about how we fuel the planet in a way that holds our generation accountable for the future of the next generation. Right now nuclear power plants are what the country will be fueled on. This has raised a lot of concern from the environmentalists, and the word “nuclear” certainly gets my attention! Like everything, there are pros and cons. There are other alternatives to the use of resources that our planet can provide that are a more natural and perhaps safer way to go, such as wind and solar energy. Project Planet Network™ gives the children an outlet to be heard and express their voice through artwork (guidelines can be found on page 45). Judging of the posters will be based on the principals of MARCI™ (Mindfulness, Awareness, Responsibility, Compassion, and Intuition). The “MARCI™ Challenge” is to send a copy of their artwork to President Obama, one or more to other government official, and a copy or original to the Holistic Mentorship Network. Posting of the posters
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will be found on the Project Planet Network™ website. Deadline for submissions is April 26th, and in perfect timing with Earth Day on April 22nd. Project Planet Network™ is asking for parents, guardians, and educators to mentor our children by providing knowledge from their experiences, and research to help the children form an understanding to what might be the best and highest for the future of the planet, and the next generation. Winners will be posted in our Summer Edition of MARCI™, which is where the next contest will be publically announced by the International Winner of the “MARCI™ Challenge”, Project Planet Network Poster Contest (Complete details on page 45). This issue is so dedicated to the health of our planet, and the future generation. In the light of time, Linda
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At some point in our lives, we all suffer loss; some more than others. Yet few of us are prepared for the anguish, sadness, aloneness, and overwhelming devastation that follows. Loss of any kind can be a life-transforming experience in every person’s life that changes us, reclaiming who we are. Every day we experience some level of loss. When we lose something of material value, we may be briefly alarmed and annoyed. When our health suffers, our sense of who we could be is shattered. Depending on the severity of the illness, our lives may be changed forever. Somehow you have to start all over again. At this time, it is critical to remember, there is a reason and purpose to your loss. When we lose someone close to us, our whole life is turned upside down. We are never truly prepared for the heartbreak and overwhelming feeling of devastation that follows. When this occurs, it is a defining moment in a person’s life, changing how he or she relates to the world. One soon realizes what is really important in life: how critical it is to love one another, to forgive, and to enjoy the simple things in life. Working as a psychotherapist, I passionately speak of the importance of “selflove”. This happens when we cease to think about ourselves. It can happen when we stop thinking about whether we are good enough, whether we are accepted by others or how we have been wronged. It is not just about appreciating our
Anything is Possible! by Sue Waldman, MA, LPC, CEC
positive qualities. Rather it is a state of being. To love oneself is a certainty that all is in order and unfolding the way it is suppose to. The experience of the present moment supersedes all thought. We have confidence and a radiance that sparkles to the world around us. Imagine forgetting your own needs and imperfections. Selflove happens in moments of peace when we remember to put aside our own personal struggle. We soon discover we have come to like who we are. The personal crises we may experience are potentially some of the most tragic forms of “loss”: surgery complications, betrayal, addictions, child abuse and neglect, infidelity, romantic break-ups, divorce, unemployment, financial loss,
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violent crimes, natural disasters and war. The most challenging aspect in these situations is a disconnection with self and others. Everything we assumed or thought we knew was certain no longer applies. The most challenging aspect with the estrangement of our self is how we keep ourselves from truly knowing who we are – that our essential nature is divine love. We soon realize how we have prevented ourselves from living our truth; how we have compromised, given up, lied to ourselves and others. In addition, tragic, inexplicable loss tests our faith in a higher power. We feel so vulnerable, powerless and helpless. We regret missed opportunities. We can no longer touch, talk or hear that loved one again; no one can make us smile and laugh in the same manner. We ask ourselves, “Who will ever make me feel special again?” Whether the loss is a death, divorce or a painful estrangement from another person, ask yourself, “What do I wish had been different?” “What opportunities were taken away from me?” “What dreams were lost?” “What areas of my life are now lacking?” The answers will help you discover what is incomplete and what needs to be healed. Unresolved grief causes us to think too often, and holding onto “incomplete” emotions consumes enormous amounts of energy, resulting in fatigue and somatic ailments. This can lead to a loss of aliveness and spontaneity and a quiet desperation results; sometimes
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Anything is Possible! cont’d feeling good, sometimes feeling bad, but never being able to return to feeling happy. Healing from loss is a slow process. The first step is to make a decision to do so. A 30 year old client whose mother died states, “My mother dying is the most terrible loss I had ever felt. Counseling helped me stay true to myself throughout the grieving process. I feel I was able to find my strength and my inner little girl when she needed me the most. It still hurts unbelievably, but I know I am okay and can live a wonderful life.” When managing the uncontrollable feelings of grief, you must have a strong sense of self. To feel worthy and to have a healthy self esteem, you must feel lovable. Surround yourself with a strong support system in an atmosphere of safety, trust and openness. Be very gentle with yourself. Eliminate all the “shoulds” and replace your “To Do” list with “wants”. Spend meaningful time with yourself every day. Talk with good friends, exercise and eat nutritious meals. Meditation, yoga, prayer, journal writing or simply taking a walk in nature will nourish your soul. Do the things that come from your heart. By taking care of yourself, you will reconnect with the inherent love, peace and joy that lives at our core. There is an infinite amount of love within us. There may be times when you feel unhappy. Let
yourself cry. You may feel rage for no reason. It is important to acknowledge your anger so that you may move through it. Grieving is a natural part of the healing process. A client who managed a painful divorce asserts, “I allowed myself to grieve when I felt sad and I patted myself on the back when I felt good.” There may be times when you have difficulty getting in touch with your feelings. This is natural. Don’t judge yourself. Try to accept the healing process. If you are at the beginning process of your journey, you may feel terrible now. You may feel desperate and want the pain to go away. Soon the anguish will pass. Be gentle with yourself. Be patient. Set reasonable, attainable goals for yourself and slowly master the skills you need to live a full life again. It is extremely important to talk about your loss to someone who understands. Emotions will often overwhelm spiritual beliefs in the times immediately following loss, so it is imperative to talk with a professional as soon as possible to complete the relationship with the person who died. Someone who will listen and give you a hug maybe all you need. There is always hope. You’ll move on and feel like yourself again and find happiness you never thought you’d know again in this world. Grief will change your relationship with yourself and your life. You will emerge with a new understanding of who you really are. Your memories will enrich you and help you forge a new pathway to the world
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that lies beyond your grief. Ultimately, you will feel more connected to a higher power and the world around you. As the grief process unfolds, there lies a loving, unexpected peace. You will feel like anything is possible. Remember, each and every moment is a new beginning.
Sue Waldman is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach and Spiritual Teacher working privately in Verona, New Jersey. Her specialty encompasses griefn-loss, relationship issues, depression, anxiety and spirituality. She is available for counseling, training, teaching, public speaking, retreats and telephone sessions. Sue is currently conducting a weekly support group for Motherless Daughters on Wednesday evenings. Sue can be reached at (973) 857-9090 and at www.SueWaldman.com
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Spring 2010
Complimentary Phone Session
Cancer: a Mind-Body Perspective According to
German New Medicine by Carole Seaver, MA, NCC It has been quite apparent for some time now that we are losing the “war on Cancer”. Perhaps it is time for all of us to take another look and embrace a new view of this dreaded disease. The word Cancer itself carries such a negative connotation because of the dismal outcomes we have been able to achieve while relying on allopathic medicine to cure us. When viewing Cancer from the eyes of Dr. Hamer we don’t have to ask “what kind of Cancer do you have?”; we can say “what Program is your body running?” In other words, how is your body going into protect mode? That in itself is much less devastating and gives us a certain degree of power over our own destiny which can make all the difference in the world. This article will give the basis of Dr. Hamer’s findings which are biologically and histologically sound. Future articles will refine and expand upon this brief introduction. And, you will come to understand that nothing that your body does is without purpose and you will be able to trust that your body is always working on your behalf. As previously alluded to, disease is not a negative thing but a natural reaction of a living being to some type of conflict or trauma. When the conflict is initiated, the perception of the person undergoing the conflict is of utmost importance. That perception dictates the organ or part of the body that goes into what Dr. Hamer calls an SBS, a Significant Biological Special Program. This program is designed to bring the individual to a place of peace and conflict resolution. To better understand what is meant by ‘a Program your body is running’ it is necessary to go back to the foundations of German New Medicine which is Dr. Hamer’s discovery made over 30 years ago. Dr. Hamer was, at that time, an Oncologist in Germany prescribing chemo and radiation as is the norm with Oncologists in the Western world. Then something
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devastating happened to him and his life and perceptions of everything he believed in changed dramatically. This all started when his son, Dirk, was murdered at the age of seventeen having been shot by an Italian prince. Dirk was hospitalized for several months and then passed away. The following year Dr. Hamer was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. Having always been aware of the theories that cancer begins with a trauma, he now had a reason to delve into this aspect which he had never before taken quite so seriously. He knew deep within his soul that his cancer had to have something to do with Dirk’s murder and as he found out through his intensive research, it had everything to do with it. The following Laws are the basis of what Dr. Hamer discovered and proved scientifically while working with over 40,000 cancer patients. He documents his findings after he has proven them on 500 patients. These Laws show us that cancer is not to be feared as it is a natural reaction to a significant conflict which many of us, of course, have over the course of our lives. It has been proven that we all have cancer cells in our bodies at different times. These, according to Dr. Hamer, are natural occurrences that come about because of conflicts we are resolving every day. Here is what Dr. Hamer found: cont’d on next page
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The Five Biological Laws of German New Medicine Note that these rules are now being applied to all disease, not just cancer.
1. THE IRON RULE OF CANCER: Every cancer
or cancer-like disease is caused by a conflict shock that is a highly stressful event that catches the individual completely off-guard. This is not always a catastrophic event but to the individual it is a highly charged conflict. Dr. Hamer calls this a DHS, Dirk Hamer Syndrome. When a DHS occurs, it impacts the brain, organ, and psyche simultaneously.
2. EVERY DISEASE HAS TWO PHASES: That
is, if and only if, there is a resolution of the conflict: a Conflict Active Phase and a Healing Phase which is where symptoms are noticed. If there is no resolution, no healing occurs and the being continues on a downward path and eventually dies.
3. THE ONTOGENETIC SYSTEM OF CANCER AND CANCER EQUIVALENTS: This refers to
disease without tumors but with functional changes. This law ties the first two laws to the embryology and evolution of man. Dr. Hamer demonstrates with CT Scans the correlation between the organ and the brain from an evolutionary viewpoint and this is then connected to the psyche which determines the perception or attitude which in turn determines the location or physical manifestation of the conflict or symptom.
Here is an example for better understanding of the Laws of GNM, taken in part from the Scientific Chart of GNM: Small Intestine Cancer – Brainstem; Inner germ layer; Endoderm > Conflict content: Conflict of not being able to digest a morsel, indigestible anger, mostly in connection with being afraid of starvation in the broadest sense. For example, the owner of a hair salon had to close her salon, first temporarily, then for good, after she had lost her best staff to a competitor. Biological Meaning: to be better able to absorb or assimilate a morsel that has already been ingested. During the Conflict Active Phase a thin layer of intestinal cylindrical epithelium expands over a large area. This is a flat-growing Adeno Carcinoma of the resorptive type to help absorption. During the Healing Phase after Conflict Resolution: if TB mycobacteria are present they necrotize the tumor and there is, consequently, bloody elimination of plaques and mucus. This discharge is diagnosed as Crohn’s Disease and is, in
4. THE ONTOGENETIC SYSTEM OF MICROBES:
This addresses the role of microbes in our survival and existence on earth and explains how bacteria, fungi, etc. are not the enemy, but rather the “cleanup crew” appearing during the healing phase. This is an entirely different view of our immune system but it shows how certain microbes are assigned to certain germ layers from which our organs originate.
5. THE QUINTESSENCE:
Every so-called “disease” is part of an SBS comprehensible in the context of our evolution. Every cancer or cancer-like disease has a biological purpose. Nothing in nature is meaningless or “malignant” as we have been taught. Mother Nature is orderly and never makes a mistake. We have made the mistake by believing otherwise.
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reality, a healing phase. The conflict active phase in which the patient is asymptomatic and feels healthy is actually the period when the tumor grows. This example shows that the impact is simultaneous on the brain, organ, and psyche, and that the germ layer of the brain according to our evolution determines whether the microbes assigned to heal are bacteria, fungi, TB mycobacteria, etc., and that the tumors formed from this part of the brain begins with a tumor that is necrotized by the TB mycobacteria.
This has been a very brief intro to GNM and a small example of how an SBS begins or how this biologically purposeful program runs. Carole Seaver, MA, NCC www.soulfulenergetics.com www.holisticcancercoaching.com Toms River, NJ 908-278-2729
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photo courtesy of Jo-Ann Stafford
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Spring 2010
At Christmas, my boyfriend of almost 6 years and I ended our relationship. The way it happened was unexpected and surprising. It showed me my communication weak points and my fearful tender spots. I felt stunned to learn of his feelings and felt sad that he had been burdened with them for what seemed like a long time. Though I was dealing with my own emotions around our relationship talk, I was present every moment with him and the conversation. It was roller-coastery, with ups and downs, anger and silence, caring words with harsh. The whole experience was a menagerie of sights, sounds, smells, touches, and tastes. Those hearing of it were appalled to learn it happened on Christmas. I felt glad that it took place when it did because it enabled him to release what was going on with him and it enabled me to sense what was happening and make a decision that served me. Coming out the other side has not been easy, yet it has been simple. I came out of this relationship with a wide support network of friends around me – people to support me, sanity check with me, care for me, listen to me and cry with me. Little did I know at the time I collected these amazing people around me that I would need them at this moment. The simplicity of my healing process has come from my participation in the game of Flow. I’ve been a conscious player the past year or so, though I know I’ve been playing
how I prepared myself for this process of healing through the relationship’s ending. The friends I now have, the work I’ve chosen to do, the philosophies I’ve developed – have all been constructed around me and now by Christine Clifton serve as my supporting beams. Sensing each moment, in the moment – being present, fully present – is simply the best way to connect with the person or situation and be able to gauge what action, if any, I feel led to take. I call it my ‘body barometer’ because when I listen to it, it tells me which way to go. When I don’t listen to it, things feel a bit off kilter. I no longer question why I don’t want to do something because for me the ‘don’t want’ part means that isn’t the best action for me at that time. When I get the game for much longer. (The the internal drive and I’ve gotta word ‘game’ may not resonate do something, I know that is the with some of you, so I ask that best action for me at that time. you instead sense the greater My writing this article meaning in my sharing here.) is a result of me following my As my personal growth has leading and it wasn’t even ON a developed, so has my awareness sticky note! Yet I kept ‘getting’ of my “leadings”. For me, that I needed to write about my leadings are this internal drive experience with my relationship to act, often for reasons I’m not ending. What will people think? aware. That I’m loopy? Should I really I’m a recovering list-maker share something so personal? – or at least a recovering ‘staunch Is that smart? I let those nonstick-to-the-list’ person. I used serving, fearful thoughts move to make lists of things to do and through and instead respond to stick with it at all costs. Now, I my leading. make the lists (I use sticky notes!) Releasing the selfyet sense with my leadings which judgment around these leadings is important and act on those. has also been a huge part of It’s amazing how many of those my personal growth. When the sticky notes that hang around a relationship ended, my ‘muscle long time just go in the garbage! memory’ of what the typical As I look back on all the norms ‘should’ be attempted to leadings I acted upon, with creep in. I should be sobbing in reason or without, I can see cont’d on next page
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Spring 2010
The Game of Flow cont’d sorrow, right? What will I tell people is the ‘reason’ for the breakup? How will I explain it to others? We should have tried something, anything, to make it work, right? While I am moving through the grief cycle and not denying myself the emotional processing, I feel at peace with the outcome. I realized that, by being so intently present with him and the scenario as it was unfolding, that I was able to follow my leading around which direction to take. It may not have made sense, to me or others, yet my body barometer was directing me towards the decision that would serve me best. By being present and listening to my body barometer,
I’m playing in the universe’s game of Flow. The people that have received my story will use and/or pass on the parts that serve them or others. My former boyfriend and I will use and/or pass on the parts that serve us or others. The people that received his story will use and/or pass on the parts that serve them or others. Flow. We are all connected and we don’t always consciously know what our role is in each other’s lives. All we can do is our best in each and every moment and accept (as Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements, says) that we cannot impact another person’s dream state or reality. When I embrace that knowing and operate within my own leadings I best understand that some things aren’t to be and I can’t make ‘em ‘be’. When I release the muscle memory reaction to
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change their mind or influence their thinking, I release suffering. By doing my best in each moment I honor me and those around me and play the game of Flow towards everyone’s highest good. Christine Clifton is a Personal Growth Trainer and Owner of Health-e-Motion, Your Studio for Total Well-being in Denville, NJ. She can be reached at (973) 627-0287 or www.FitnessInDenvilleNJ.com.
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Spring 2010
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Is Cleanliness Really Next to Godliness? by Beth Lowell
Some facts: • The Organic Consumers Association reports that while some household products cause acute hazards like watery eyes or skin irritation, others cause more chronic conditions like cancer. • Fragrances added to detergents and cleaners can cause headaches, sneezing, and asthma in allergy sufferers. OSHA has found that one third of substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic. Because fragrance formulas are trade secrets, companies are not required to reveal what they contain and are allowed to label them simply as “fragrance.” • A 1999 study revealed that in homes where aerosol air fresheners were used, mothers suffered significantly more headaches and depression, and children had higher incidences of earaches and diarrhea. Potpourri including “fragrance” as an ingredient and deodorizers that repel moths also pose risks.
Or is it next to cancer? One third of households in the United States have dogs, and estimates predict that six million dogs now develop cancer annually. One major factor contributing to cancer is the environment, including the household environment, one that is often rife with toxic chemicals. You might be surprised to find that they are in the very products you keep under your kitchen sink or in your laundry room. Household cleaners including detergents and air fresheners contain hazardous ingredients that are inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested. In fact, you and your pet might be ingesting them every day through residue left behind after washing dishes depending on which detergent you use.
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• Studies show that health effects of chemicals called “hormone disruptors”, often found in laundry detergents, hinder the body’s hormone system from functioning normally, can result in male birth defects and cancer in males, and have caused estrogen sensitive breast cancer cells to multiply. • According to the World Health Organization, over use of antibacterial soaps contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. • Over the past 40 years, developmental, learning, attention, emotional and behavioral disabilities have reached unprecedented levels – and so has exposure to toxic chemicals – prompting a coalition of more than 120 groups, called Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families to launch a campaign pressing congress to pass federal policies to reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals. Scientists concur that the danger of chemical toxicity is very real to small children. • Chemical Sensitivity as a syndrome is on the rise and its sufferers experience among other symptoms, breathing problems, hives, and compromised immune systems.
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Cleanliness?
photo courtesy of Linda Mitchell, taken in Highland Lakes, NY
cont’d But you say you don’t have allergies and the cleaning products don’t bother you? An emerging field called Comparative Oncology is drawing some very interesting conclusions about the similarities between cancer in dogs and cancer in humans that may change your mind. Dogs have been found to be the only species other than humans to develop lethal prostrate cancers. Canine Breast Cancer spreads to the bones as it does in women, and the most common kind of cancer that strikes dogs, osteosarcoma, also strikes teenagers. This makes them greater candidates for cancer studies than other animals, like rodents. Because of the similarities between cancer occurring in dogs and humans, Veterinary oncologists, medical oncologists, pharmaceutical companies and academic research centers are teaming up to both prevent it and to reduce its devastating impact on both pets and people. Diseases manifest themselves in dogs, whose life spans are shorter, much faster than they do in humans. For instance, an adult human being exposed to asbestos may not show signs of mesothelioma for years, but a dog who lives with such a person will exhibit symptoms much sooner. Because the
dog is so important to human cancer research, canine cancer registries have been established in areas of the country where human cancer proliferates in an attempt to determine what environmental factors may be contributing to it.
For help with untangling the often confusing world of cleaning products, ingredients and labeling, and to find out which cleaning products are safe, visit the Organic Consumers website at www.organicconsumers.org/ articles/article_279.cfm.
Exposure to pesticides and household chemicals has been linked to certain kinds of cancer in dogs and other pets.
To learn more about Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, visit www.saferchemicals.org.
If chemicals pose dangers to pets, and specifically dogs, then what does that mean for us? Comparative Oncologists are working hard toward making cancer less devastating for both human and animal by observing cancer in dogs. But people who live with pets just might want to get a jump on halting cancer in their pets and themselves, (not to mention the trickle-down effect on the environment) by eliminating toxic chemicals from the home before disaster strikes in the first place.
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Inspired by dogs, Beth Lowell established her pet sitting company, Good Girl, in 2002. Her services have grown to include Reiki for animals, flower essence consultations and canine massage. She is a regular contributor to the Reiki Digest and an accomplished artist whose paintings grace the homes of dog lovers across the United States. The petsitter with the holistic touch! www.bethlowell.com 973.960.6464
Spring 2010
Aunt Barbara was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which had spread all over her body. When her brother, my uncle, asked the doctor what her chances of survival were, the doctor kindly said 5% knowing that saying 0% would not do anyone any good even if it was the truth. For the last 6 weeks of her life, Aunt Barbara rested at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. I was able to go down to visit Aunt Barbara three times before her death. The second time was the most special because she was not intubated and spent most of the time talking, something she was very good at. Aunt Barbara asked me if I knew what Reiki was, knowing that I was a massage therapist and in acupuncture school at the time. I said that not only did I know what Reiki was but that I had studied it in massage therapy school. She said that a team of volunteer Reiki students would come once a week to do Reiki on anyone in the ICU. She said it made her feel very relaxed, which was so important given her very stressful situation. I thought it was fantastic the hospital offered this to its patients and that Aunt Barbara had benefited from the treatments. I asked Aunt Barbara if she wanted me to do Reiki on her, which she immediately accepted. I took some time to get myself ready to do Reiki, which really meant that I washed my hands, stretched, walked around and breathed deeply for about 40 minutes in order to calm my nerves. The extent
with Reiki, the energy that I feel is a little like putting two north or south poles of a magnet together and they push against each other. All of the magnet’s by energy is building in order for Susannah Pitman, these two sides not to meet. During Reiki, that building of MS, LAc energy is what I feel in my hands. Once I felt that energy in my hands, I decided to move my hands over Aunt Barbara’s Hara, or torso, in order to get an idea as to what was happening energetically. The most interesting thing I found was that Aunt Barbara had a very distinct pattern of what I believe was the shape of her cancer. It started in her lower abdomen near her ovaries, crossed over and swirled around her navel area where her intestine are located and eventually led to her right hypochondriac liver area. This energy was probably the most well-defined energy pattern I have ever known. I knew that of my Reiki training was one her ovarian cancer had “spread elective weekend in massage all over” but I was not told therapy school five years prior. specifically what organs were I knew enough to be concerned affected. When I had access to a with mishandling Aunt Barbara’s computer, my research showed energy, but given her situation, that ovarian cancer tends to I wanted to do all that I could spread to the intestine first and to help her feel comfortable. In eventually to the liver, which addition, I had an audience of my was exactly the pattern I had felt mom and my uncle, two people on Aunt Barbara. that are supportive of whatever The Reiki session took I do, but even a supportive about 40 minutes. Afterwards, audience can be distracting. Aunt Barbara said she felt I took a deep breath, extremely relaxed and was so planted my feet in a strong touched that I was able to do stance, and hovered my hands that for her. I was extremely over Aunt Barbara’s abdomen. relieved that she felt so much I stayed there for quite a while better, especially given my lack until I felt some energy was of experience. My uncle, who resonating. In my experience
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Spring 2010
Amazing Reiki cont’d had very little experience with any alternative therapies, put his hand on my shoulder when I was done, a gesture that said to me that he was amazed at what had happened and at the same time gratified. That moment between the three of us, knowing that something huge had happened by what seemed like simply moving my hands over her body, was beyond special. Aunt Barbara could not stop talking about it. She died a week later surrounded by family. She developed a massive infection that had also “spread all over”. Years prior, my grandmother had referred to a friend as being “on the bridge”, meaning not doing so well and probably dying. My uncle didn’t understand at first what my grandmother was saying and Aunt Barbara had to clarify. In that moment, she said that when her time comes she wanted to be on the bridge in the fast lane with the high speed EZ Pass. She did not get her wish in how she wanted to pass on, but it was gratifying to know that the Reiki volunteers at George Washington University Hospital and I helped her in finding comfort during that journey.
MEMBERS CLUB OFFER: 10% off follow-up treatments
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photo courtesy of Jo-Ann Stafford
Susannah Pitman, MS, LAc graduated with honors from Tri-State College of Acupuncture and maintains a private acupuncture practice in Boonton, NJ. She has studied at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center as well as traveled throughout Japan to study with some of Japan’s finest acupuncture masters. She is also Secretary of The Nagano Project, a start-up non-profit aimed at facilitating healthcare through acupuncture and Oriental medicine for people in need while helping them to help themselves. To learn more about Susannah’s practice, please visit www.balanceacupuncturecenter.com or call 973-257-8924.
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Spring 2010
On May 22, 2010, I will embark on a journey like never before… I consider a person lucky if they do not know of someone whether friend or family member who has or had cancer, possibly having lost their life to it. It is that big “C” word that all persons dread hearing and while I have neither had cancer nor had a parent or sibling who has, I was unable to know my grandparents due to Cancer. Not having an immediate family member who has had cancer does not mean Cancer has not touched my life deeply. For the past two years, I have attended American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Parsippany, NJ in celebration of a family friend’s survival of cancer. Both years, I stood on the side lines as everyone around me celebrated a person’s life who was currently battling cancer, had survived cancer, and/or who had lost their battle to cancer. The opening ceremonies, which include survivors taking the first lap followed by survivors and caregivers taking the second lap, caused me to feel the heartache and the beauty in what was occurring around me as I stood there with tears running down my face. I later learned that the philosophy of the overnight is symbolic. “It begins at sundown with a survivor walk signifying the first diagnosis of cancer to a patient and the beginning of their cancer journey. The darkness of the night represents the treatment – the walk through surviving, and the rising sun in the morning and the victory lap represents the victory that a survivor has over
Rainbow Racers Relaying for Life by Bonnie Rosenthal
cancer.” For both years, it was one of the most powerful events I have ever had the opportunity to take part in and I did not want to leave after only an hour. Something changed for me this year. I have chosen to no longer be a bystander. Instead, I have decided to form a Relay for Life team, Rainbow Racers, not for me but for those people who I care about who currently are battling the disease, those who have survived, and those whom have been lost. Two very special people in my life over the past year have been instrumental in my taking this next step. One person is my special teacher, Carolyn, who has been battling pancreatic cancer for over three years. Carolyn, a case of proving that you can live with pancreatic cancer, has never given up
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despite the obstacles and not once did she think about herself. She was always working to help over 20 of her students not to mention others around her who she cared about; while she is no longer instructing, she knows she has a team rallying behind her any day, any time. The other person is someone I barely knew and who I now look up to – Lou. Lou, having been diagnosed with a brain tumor that caused his mother to die has not given up either. He has battled many surgeries and many forms of treatment and still fights the fight despite how the fight may cause him to feel. They should be honored for how brave they are to wake up each morning and take steps to better their lives and those persons around them. Besides Carolyn and Lou, I wish to honor my grandparents, Herbert and Bette, who I never knew. And I extend my team out to all of our family friends and their friends and loved ones who very much deserve to be honored in such a special way. Moving that circle out further, I wish to create a sense of community within the Rainbow Racers team. I want it to be a team that embraces anyone who wishes to celebrate the life of someone touched by cancer and I hope that my efforts in reaching out to the community will make that happen. So while I am thankful that I do not have Cancer within me or my immediate family, I feel that I am and should be working toward the cause to help those people who I care about and to honor those who have been lost.
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Rainbow Racers cont’d And what better way to do that than at a community event that allows a community to grieve for those lost to cancer and to celebrate the lives of those who have survived and are living with cancer. This is my first year taking part in such an event and while I have had various leadership capacities in my life, this is a big one of which I must be honest that I am nervous about. I am hoping that many people, including strangers to me although aren’t we all friends anyway, will want to join the Rainbow Racers on May 22 23rd, 2010 in Parsippany, NJ. And even if you don’t want to join the team, making a donation will go a long way toward helping
me meet my individual goal of raising $1,000.00. Through my efforts and the other efforts by persons Relaying for Life, we raise funds for the American Cancer Society, a society that supplies valuable resources to anyone, anytime, through a toll free information line (800) 227-2345 and web site, www.cancer.org. The American Cancer Society offers support and a network of other cancer survivors in the communities through programs like Man to Man and Reach for Recovery, provides tool and programs such as Look Good…Feel Better, provides transportation to persons living with cancer, free wigs to persons battling cancer, and billions of dollars in research to end Cancer one and for all. After reading my article, I hope you will consider teaming up with the Rainbow Racers.
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Becoming a team member costs $10.00 which is a registration fee providing you a t-shirt and more. Survivors register for free. Being a team member does not require you to attend the event and/or walk the track. In addition or alternatively, you may want to consider making a monetary donation to help me reach my goal. I can be contacted personally at bonnie@therosenthals.net or (973) 361-5456. Or you can find more information about Relay for Life or the Rainbow Racers at www.relayforlife.org/ parsippanynj. Any assistance – monetary, becoming a team member, and/or helping me to raise funds would make me eternally grateful as I continue to embark on this journey to honor my friends, loved ones, and those without someone to honor them.
Spring 2010
Who Is Meira Findel? An East Brunswick New Jersey professional services provider and former CFO of a large mortgage business, Meira Findel is now known as “The Holistic Accountant”, realized through her work with many diverse clients that “Financial Independence” is about much more than the proper handling of financial matters. Meira has a vision and is taking action to revolutionize the way we all think about abundance, prosperity and wealth so we can become liberated financially from the “old world” thinking. “We are talking about deep seated beliefs that people hold about wealth creation in their business lives and in their personal lives. In order for me to assist people to really attain the goals they desire, it inevitably comes down to how they think, feel and react to the energy and issues around money”. A graduate of Rutgers University, Meira Findel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Her professional experience has afforded her a diverse base of valuable experience that has
included private and corporate tax preparation as well as bookkeeping and financial services on behalf of nonprofit agencies and small businesses in a wide range of industries. Meira works with business owners and individuals across the country. For more information, go to the website: www.OneStepAccounting.net. In working with individuals and companies Meira noticed that there is a great need to address personal obstacles in order to pave the way to success. After almost 20 years of my journey to discover the core of who I really am, releasing and transforming everything that no longer serves me I have learned that how we show up in one area of our life is how we show up in all areas of our life. In order to live in true abundance and prosperity, in every way, we must be authentic to who we truly are.
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MEMBERS CLUB OFFER: 10% off to all new clients How can I help you? Hugs, Meira Findel, The Holistic Accountant www.OneStepAccounting.net Phone: 732.387.8919 Fax: 732.835.5918 My video: http://video.google. com/videoplay?docid=656222 3944516256181&hl=en#
Spring 2010
Welcome my dear friend! Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey to happiness and abundance in this great, big beautiful universe! I want to share with you practical ways to gain immediate results in creating the life you want using the Law of Attraction.
Step into the Secret
up until today, this very moment, has already been written upon.
Using the Law of Attraction to get immediate results
However, when you flip to tomorrow and to next week, next month, and next year, those pages are still blank. That’s what is so exciting about the Law of Attraction. You get to write whatever you want on those blank pages. You get to draw it. You get to create it. You get to expect it. You get to live it.
by Lisa Nichols
As you know, the three steps to the Law of Attraction, as revealed in the movie The Secret are: 1. Ask the universe for what you want. 2. Believe that it is already yours. 3. Be ready to receive. Ask and believe, and you shall receive. Seems almost magical, doesn’t it? But, yes, that is how the universe works! However, if it seems like it works better for some people than others, I’d like to let you in on another secret that will help you lay a strong foundation for allowing the Law of Attraction to move into your life on a deep and profound level. Finding Your Dot The key to get to where you’re going is to know where you’re starting from. You need to find the dot that says, “You are here,” just like the dot on the kiosk map in the shopping mall.
Before you can change anything— whether your focus is your career, relationships, or financial security—you need to change how you think and what you believe to be so at the very core of your being. To really understand yourself you have to get outrageously honest. It’s what I call being emotionally buck-naked.
This is a bold self-evaluation or self-assessment. You peel away the layers and take an honest look at yourself. You celebrate yourself— even when it feels uncomfortable. You tell the truth about where Many of us are like hamsters on you’re falling short—even when it a treadmill, moving and moving stings. and moving, just for the sake of movement. Yet we never really This is your opportunity to really get anywhere, because we stop for a moment and notice that every page in your autobiography haven’t shifted our mindset.
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The biggest mistake most people make is that they take the pages of past chapters of their autobiography, cut them out, and paste them in their next chapter. They make their past their future. Just because it’s always been that way, though, doesn’t mean it must be so tomorrow. The moment you are ready to own your past, the good and bad, the happy and sad, the highs and lows—and everything in between—is the moment you move into the driver’s seat of your life. How do you gain control of the steering wheel? The Four-Step Boot Camp One of the most effective ways to find your “dot” is to have an honest conversation with yourself—face to face. Do this four-step exercise in front a mirror every morning for just seven minutes and you’ll be amazed by what you learn about yourself and how quickly you gain control of where you’re going.
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Step into the Secret cont’d Look into your eyes in the mirror, and only your eyes—not at your hair, or your lips, or your skin, or your body. Breathe deeply for a minute to find your presence, and then complete the following steps, speaking out loud, if you can. Step 1 – Acknowledge yourself Begin by evaluating the four areas of your life: • Success – your career, financial health, community involvement • Health – your wellness, vitality, physical appearance
• Relationships – to yourself and with others • Spirituality – your relationship with a higher power, the universe, or god
boundaries for yourself with your family. I’m proud that you made a decision to ask for help…”
Speak directly to yourself in the mirror and acknowledge yourself. In so doing, you lift yourself up and celebrate your very being. Here’s how I do it:
Next, release your past. We hold ourselves hostage to so many old thoughts and old regrets, so many shouldhaves, could-haves, and if onlys. Sometimes it’s at a steady low volume in our heads, like background music; other times we turn the volume up so loud that we can’t hear anything great coming out of ourselves.
“Lisa, I’m proud of you. I’m proud that you are playing a little bigger today than you played yesterday and last week. I’m proud that you are stretching yourself. I’m proud that you spent the first hour of the morning with God. I’m proud that you are spending more time with your son. I’m proud that you have chosen to eat healthier. I’m proud that you’ve drawn
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Step 2 – Forgive yourself
People want the Law of Attraction to work in spite of all that negative chatter going on in their heads. But the Law of Attraction
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Step into the Secret cont’d is not magic. We all have to go through the process and do the work. There is no shortcut. There is no magic wand to remove our negative experiences. Those experiences are part of you. It’s your job to learn how to love yourself and expect the best for yourself, regardless of what’s happened. The Law of Attraction is about shifting from all those places of negativity to possibility. I’ve lived in those dark places. Do I slip up? You bet! I often feel myself lacing up the old boxing gloves and beating myself up. But as soon as I feel the first blow, I immediately take the gloves off, embrace myself, and apologize. In the mirror I tell myself, “I love you. I forgive you.” Then I move on.
And, no, it isn’t easy, especially when you’re dealing with deepseated hurts and abuses from the past. For example, for years I turned to a lot of men for sex while looking for a little love, but I didn’t find any love because I was not loving myself. I had let the abuses of my past define me. I had to work through my forgiveness every day until one day it didn’t come up anymore. You’ll know when you’ve worked through something, because it will no longer be an issue when you look in the mirror. The best thing you can do is process it out. Once addressed, it will simply be a part of your history, not part of you. It doesn’t make you who you are anymore. You clean it out to make more space for all the goodness and
the greatness that’s on is way to you. This allows the Law of Attraction to move into your life on a more profound level. Step 3 – Determine where you need improvement Next, take an honest assessment of the improvements you need to make in yourself to attract what you want. This can be sobering as well. You don’t get something because of luck. You get something because you’ve shown up and you are ready for it to come. For me, every morning goes something like this: “I need improvement in prioritizing my schedule to invest more in my physical health by working out. I need improvement in drawing better boundary lines inside my family. I need improvement in spending more quality time with my mother and grandmother…” Be honest with yourself, because you’re laying important groundwork here. Step 4 – Make a commitment In this step you’re really designing the next chapter of your life. You’re telling the universe, this is what I’m committed to doing. For example, “I’m committed to riding my bike at least three days a week; I’m committed to keeping my boundaries. I’m committed to finishing my book by June…” This is your bridge to the Law of Attraction. You begin to speak the possibility inside your commitment. You’re finding the dot that says, “You are here.” You’ve gone through your own personal boot camp.
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You’ve achieved a deep level of intimacy—“into me I see.” You’ve filled your own tank with love. You’ve built yourself up physically, mentally, and spiritually. Now, you ask the universe to make your commitment happen. But don’t think your work is over. Breaking the Myth The biggest myth people have about the Law of Attraction is that you simply ask for something, make yourself a cup of tea, sit back, cross your legs, and just wait for the genie to appear, but this is not a passive process. There is no part about the Law of Attraction that says be still. You have to be in action about what you want. You’ve committed to creating something, and the universe gives you the creative ideas and the resources to act and make it happen. When you bump into the right person at the right time, it’s up to you to follow up and call them back. When the universe sends you an idea for a new book, it’s up to you to begin writing. You are an active participant in your life, an active participant with the universe. In fact, you will probably become even more active because the Law of Attraction will bring you more opportunities than you ever dreamed. Mini Boot Camps I strongly recommend you consistently do the mirror exercise every morning to pave the way for the Law of Attraction to work more profoundly in your life. However, you can also do mini
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Step into the Secret cont’d boot camps throughout your day. For instance, when you’re driving home from work and waiting for a red light to change, take a moment to look in the rear view mirror and quickly congratulate yourself for a positive action you took at the office or forgive yourself for a negative comment you made during a meeting. At home remind yourself in the hallway mirror what you’re committed to. Give yourself quick snippets of support throughout your day to keep your tank full of love. Design Your Destiny Remember, the Law of Attraction is obedient to your thoughts. It is always working in your favor. Your job is to get ready, to be whole and complete in you so that when the universe responds you get absolutely everything you desire. You get to write your next chapter. You get to write it will full expression, with full acceptance, and with full expectation. People have asked me, “Can you believe you’re on the Oprah show?” With all humility I say, Why not? Why not me?! Why not that little girl from south-central L.A., who grew up in the midst of gangs, who didn’t look like any beauty queen, who couldn’t find any beauty in herself. Why not that little girl who was considered academically challenged? Why
not that young woman who was so desperate for love that she picked wrong and almost lost her life? Why not the single mother who craves for the best possible outcome for her son, an African American male child with no father around? The question is not “Why you?” The question is “Why not you?!” You have been given the most perfect life with the most perfect experiences. God didn’t say everything in your life is going to be served with warm cookies and milk. But he did say that you have a right to come out of everything you go through. You have a birthright to abundance and prosperity. The universe knows it, and it’s up to you to know it. -Lisa Nichols, Best selling Author of No Matter What! www.Lisa-Nichols.com Lisa Nichols is one of the most enchanting speakers and seminar leaders of our era in the personal growth market. Celebrated for her signature voice and dynamic style, Lisa has inspired millions around the world with her insightful message about how to brave hardships, find your authentic self, and cultivate the best life. She is the founder of Motivating the Masses and CEO of Motivating the Teen Spirit, LLC, is the bestselling coauthor of Chicken Soup for the African American Soul and Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul, and best-selling author of her latest book No Matter What!
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Spring 2010
Column Creative Arts with Beth Ann Morrison
Playing in the Infinite Unknown II am a big proponent of stream-of-consciousness artmaking. There is a lot to be learned, and cleared, about your inner life when you allow it to pour out of you into manifest creation. Of course, to really do this, that big inner critic and perfectionist must step aside. You need to let it all hang out, however it looks, sounds, or tastes when it’s done!
already know, into uncharted territory. You have allowed yourself to sail for a bit along the stream of your development, and now you have a chance to reflect and re-integrate at this new location. What did you uncover? What did you learn about yourself? Great! Now, do it again... I’d love to hear your experiences with stream-ofconsciousness artmaking and what it has taught you. If you’d like to share your stories, I’d be honored if you write to me at beth@bethmorrison.com. With your permission, I will compile these examples for discussion here in this column! Good luck and have fun playing in the infinite unknown. Beth Ann Morrison lives and works in Jersey city, NJ, and has shown her art extensively over the last ten years. Her first large-scale solo exhibition, One Breath was presented by Seton Hall University’s Walsh Gallery in Summer 2008; other recent venues have included Saks Fifth Ave, Governor’s Island and the Newark Museum. Ms. Morrison has received a grant, residency and several awards for her work; she is also professional grantwriter and an active board member of the Sculptors Guild.
There are a lot of categories that we have divided this crucial play into: automatic writing/drawing, expressionist painting, non-objective sculpture, improvisational music, scat singing... you can find it in any form of expression. But the gist is that you allow yourself to get lost in the moment, taken by inspiration, moved by spirit and energy. You can take note of the words, feelings and associations that come up as you go along, but try not to allow that to stop you! Keep going... in the end you will at least feel exhilaration and relief. Most likely, you will also find yourself pondering a memory or feeling that has risen from your subconscious – whether it is now in the front of your mind or literally found in the form or image you have created. These products of fancy or extended moments of creativity offer big opportunities for growth. They take you beyond your intentions, which come from what you
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Spring 2010
Column about new possibilities, and new opportunities? The Element of Wood represents new beginnings.
Feng Shui
with Michelle Zanoni
The Art of Arrangement Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome the Year of the Tiger!!! Chinese New Year fell on February 14th this lunar year. The Tiger is an aggressive animal full of passion. They are known to be deep thinkers and tend to be sensitive and sympathetic as well. Beware of the Tiger’s short temper. They can blow up at a moment’s notice and are notorious for being argumentative, especially with people in authority. Tigers seek attention and power and they have a great deal of courage. People who are born in the Year of the Tiger are charismatic, kind, and are natural born leaders. The Tiger is compatible with the Horse, Dragon and Dog.
An easy way to capture the Element of Wood and to get things moving is by adding the color green. Beautiful brighter greens embody the true character of Wood. Use green as an accent by hanging green curtains. Bring in plants representing nature and Wood. Plants carry active chi for an uplifting feeling and are also great at maintaining the air quality in your home. You may want to become more Wood like by wearing the color green or by joining a gym to get more active. Let the energy of Spring inspire us to move forward on this exciting journey of life! Michelle Zanoni has been practicing and teaching Feng Shui for several years, creating change for her clients. She uses her intuitive abilities along with her creativity to enhance her clients’ surroundings. Michelle brings years of experience to this refined art and science in a warm, compassionate way. Contact Michelle at mzanoni@optonline .net.
The Tiger represents the season of Spring. How appropriate as we are just beginning to feel the Spring energy. Spring is a vital time of year. It is a time when everything begins to wake up from a deep wintry sleep. The earth begins to make way for new life. Nature is starting to burst with vitality and life force. We can see around us the potential for all things new. Spring gives birth to the Element of Wood. This Element is about doing and change, growth and movement. It is a great time for starting new projects and being active. Wood is the energy of early morning, and of small children running and shouting. This Element has endless energy. Imagine what it takes for a tree to sprout through the earth and grow tall, pushing and reaching its way up into the sky. Are you feeling vital? Have you awakened from the winter wanting to get things moving? Are you thinking
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Spring 2010
Column
Aromatherapy with Christina Santiago
Transforming Oncology Patient Healthcare Most physicians don’t know much about aromatherapy. The word conjures up images of scented candles without consideration for medicinal effects. True aromatherapy uses therapeutic-grade essential oils; it is a holistic tool now used in Integrative Medicine and Complementary & Alternative Medicine. Through the Urban Zen Initiative, founded by designer Donna Karan, there is a mind, body, spirit approach in the Oncology Unit. Woodsen Merrell, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, NY discusses how nurses are trained in aromatherapy to assist oncology patients to calm them and soothe anxiety. The training curriculum is available through a partnership with Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ (YLTG) Essential Oils, the world leader in aromatherapy. This company holds the highest industry standards for purity and quality. Essential Oils and Cancer Frankincense essential oil has been used in experiments to shrink tumors in humans and animals. In a recent BBC World News article (February 2010), “Frankincense: Could it be a Cure for Cancer? by Jeremy Howell”, scientists have observed properties in frankincense which stop cancer from spreading. Immunologist Mahmoud Suhail finds “...Frankincense has a re-set function. It can tell the cell what the right DNA code should be...it separates the ‘brain’ of the cancerous cell – the nucleus, from the ‘body’ – the cytoplasm, and closes down the nucleus to stop it reproducing corrupted DNA codes.” Essential oils attack destructive cells while leaving healthy cells intact. Dr. Suhail has partnered with University of Oklahoma
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medical scientists to study how frankincense can transform cancer treatment. Other essential oils studied by universities and hospitals worldwide for their anti-cancer properties include those rich in limonene and citrus. “Limonene has efficacy in preclinical models of breast cancer, causing greater than 80% of carcinomas to regress with less host toxicity” says Pamela Crowell, PhD, Purdue University. Peace & Calming™ is a blend which helps you stay centered while reducing stress. Grapefruit, Orange and Tangerine oils contain the richest concentrations of d-limonene. For best results, use YLTG™ essential oils. Communicate with your healthcare team of choice; use the Essential Oils Desk Reference, 3rd & 4th editions to educate yourself and others. Connect with me as a resource; I’d be happy to share stories and send you the brochure “Cancer Versus Essential Oils and Other Super Nutrients” by Terry Friedmann, MD. Visit http://youngliving.com/en_US/company/ partnerships/ for videos. © Santiago 2009
Christina M. Santiago, CHBC is a holistic health educator, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist (fall 2009) from the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy professional program, and keynote speaker with Sky Diva Oils, a division of Rising Above, LLC. Christina has been featured on CNBC On the Money and Cablevision For the Health of It, and is a contributing expert in Latina magazine and Garden State Woman magazine. For more information on Christina, please call 888.811.8883 or visit her websites: www.SkyDivaOils.com www.RisingAboveLLC.com
Spring 2010
Column
Natural Health with Sarah Collins
The Key to Good Health What are you building in your life? Health and wellness or sickness and disease? One way you create your life is through your thoughts. Thoughts are incredibly powerful tools of manifestation; it has even been said, “you are what you think.” The mental and physical forces are indeed interconnected, though most of us see these forces as separate and independent of one another. But in reality, the mental state has an effect on the physical, just as the spiritual has an effect on the other two levels of being. This interconnectedness occurs among all three levels of being – physical, mental, and spiritual. This interaction is continuous and has a very real effect on an individual’s health.
A good attitude is essential to creating and maintaining good health. Constructive thinking is key. Unfortunately, this solution is usually disregarded as a viable means to optimal health. Developing a positive mental attitude can and will direct the body’s innate healing mechanism. When negative attitudes are continually allowed to be the priority, often a negative expectancy results setting up a cycle of destructive forces within the body. As Edgar Cayce often said, “Mind is the builder.” Build a constructive attitude. Tell yourself you’re getting better instead of focusing on the symptoms and/ or new ailments that occur. Be so positive in your attitude that there is no room for
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doubt, worry or anxiety. Build confidence in yourself by only allowing and expressing a positive outlook. Push all negative thoughts aside. Through reinforcement of positive expressions, the body will respond in measure. “There are no incurable diseases, only incurable people,” according to Cayce. What do you think about? Take some time out of your day to investigate your thoughts. Examine them daily, and then take a look at brief periods of your life, for example, when you were ill or having difficult challenges. What was your state of mind like then? Override any negativity with positive reinforcements. Make introspection a habit. By nurturing the inner transformation of your thoughts, you can literally change your life through the creation of positive thoughts. Nothing you can think of is impossible. Good health is possible and it begins with just a thought. Build an unceasingly positive mental framework and watch your health transform. Focus on a positive outcome and watch your body respond! Someone once said, “Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?” The most amazing thing is that no one controls your thinking but yourself. You are the sole author of your life script. As such, you alone are responsible for your attitude and thoughts each and every moment; you alone are responsible for your health. The holistic health tips presented above are for informational and educational purposes only. They are intended to raise one’s awareness of the many options available outside traditional medicine. Remember to check with your doctor before beginning any new health regimen.
Sarah M. Collins is a prolific writer, poet and healer. She is a Natural Health consultant working on her PhD in Natural Health. Visit her website for more information www.WellnessCareToday.com. Her recently published first book, The Little Guide to Big Changes: 6 Steps to Creating Lasting, Positive Change in Your Life is available at www.Amazon.com and www.BarnesAndNoble.com.
Spring 2010
Column Eat Right… Feel Right with Judith Gisser Choose Health A diagnosis of cancer evokes a strong visceral fear in the gut of most people. Thankfully, diagnosed and treated early, cancers are often cured or controlled. Today much emphasis is put on testing and early detection, but not enough on true prevention through healthy food choices, regular exercise and daily destress practices. These 3 simple dietary strategies help prevent cancer or enhance survival in diagnosed cancers. 1. REDUCE CANCER INITIATORS/PROMOTORS • Cigarette smoke/chewing tobacco • All processed foods - food additives, MSG, carageenan, nitrates • Hydrogenated and transfats • Greater than 10% saturated fat in the diet • Fried foods, barbequed meats, blackened fish • High intake of sugar (cancer cells need sugar), • Excess alcohol (>2 drinks/day for men, >1 drink/day for woman) • Foods grown with herbicides and pesticides • Animals fed grains, hormones, antibiotics • Excess omega 6 oils (vegetable oils) vs, omega 3 fats • Fluoride, chlorine 2. EAT AN AKALINIZING DIET that creates an environment unfriendly to cancer growth – 8 -12 servings of fruits and veggies, reduced red meats, coffee, sugar, soda.
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3. CHOOSE FOODS DAILY THAT REDUCE INFLAMMATION & SUPPORT IMMUNE FUNCTION (partial list) • Cruciferous veggies: broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale • Artichokes, celery, collards, mustard and turnip greens, parsley, spinach • Turmeric, cumin, ginger, onions, garlic • Apples, blueberries, plums, pomegranate • Wild salmon, sardines, herring, trout, walnuts, flax or chia seeds • Maitake mushrooms • Green and white tea, Chaga Consider a Spring Detox and supplements individualized to you and your circumstances by a knowledgeable professional to optimize your health. You know the side effects of cancer surgery and treatment. Side effects of healthy diet, exercise and mindset to handle stress with ease include increased energy, focus, rejuvenating sleep, resilience and joy in living. What’s your preference? Consider me your “Nutrition Maven.” Send all your emails peppering me with questions about food and diet to nutritioncoach1@verizon.net. Look for answers to your questions in my next column this Summer. Incorporating your unique constitution and metabolism, Judith Gisser, M.S., C.N.S., C.W.C. excels at developing nutrition and lifestyle programs that raise your level of vitality, resilience and life satisfaction, while helping your reach your wellness goals in a way and at a speed that is comfortable for you. Judith is a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Wellness Coach and a member of the American College of Nutrition. She is Co-founder of Lifestyles of the Healthy Heart, LLC, an author, corporate wellness trainer, key-note speaker and developer of a 30 day Detox with a Difference program available in person, via teleconference and on CDs. 973.625.3169 www.judithgisser.com
Spring 2010
Column Conscious Parenting
Age 13 & Under with Beth Haessig
Your Children Already Know Things aren’t going well; your children already know. You are mad at your spouse; your children already know. The doctor calls with uncertain news; your children already know.
watch or go play.” If you say this with confidence, resolve, and conviction, they will be more interested in playing than watching. As they feel you taking care of yourself, they begin to know that everything’s going to be okay. They will see that having feelings doesn’t mean an incapacitated parent, or that bad things happen to them. Since you are not putting energy into avoiding, hiding, or deflecting your feelings, you become more present and more real. And finally, since you are bringing consciousness into the room, they will be less apt to think it was they who caused everything. Since your children already know, affirming this knowing, without communicating the adult details, will help them feel confident, secure, and trustful of your words, in their knowing, and in their very being.
Children are master ENERGY READERS. They know what you are feeling by sensing your biorhythms, your voice tone, and the slight downturn between your eyes. Since they don’t have the language skills to conceptualize the energy they read, they are unable to communicate their knowing. So they will look to you, to affirm what they are sensing. But when you discount their sense with “oh what a fine day it is today” instead of “Mommy is feeling _____,” they begin to feel wrong, to distrust their very selves. Also, they will blame their behavior for your mood, i.e. “it’s because of me that she/he is like this…” Why are children so good at reading energy? Because their life depends upon it; they are hardwired to know the energy of those whose survival they depend. They have less cognitive input, less frontal lobe noise, to interfere with their perceptual signals. Like dogs, their senses pick up everything. Does this mean you share the story behind your feelings? Usually not. They need to hear that you are allowing the painful feelings they sense to pass through. For example, you hang up the phone from the doctor. “Mommy is feeling angry right now, for an adult reason. This has nothing to do with you. I’m going to sit here and breathe so that the feelings can run through my body. I may jump up and down to ground. Then I’ll have some tea and maybe cry. Feel free to
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Beth L. Haessig, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist and a Core Energetics practitioner (body-centered psychotherapy). As a holistic psychologist, she works experientially through movement, breath and mindfulness, to help children and families cope with the 21st century challenges we face in our mind/body/behavior. For more information, see www.BethHaessig.com or sign up for her newsletter at BethLH@optonline.net.
Spring 2010
Column Conscious Parenting Age 13 - 19
with Jordan Brown
Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of explaining cancer to my children and then the untimely and heartbreaking death of my mother, Barbara who had battled ovarian cancer. In many ways, talking with your teenager about a cancer diagnosis or death is very difficult. It is important to know that adolescents respond differently than children or adults. They may need more information or more time to sort through all of their feelings. Even though adolescents may want more independence, they will look to you for support and reassurance. My mother, “Ama’ as my children called her was a unique, strong, and amazing mother and grandmother. Growing up, I was a difficult, disrespectful, and angry teenager. My mother remained steadfast in her discipline and maintained boundaries to ensure that my acting out had its limits. We often talked about this while watching my own daughter Catherine evolve into a teenager. Relieved that Catherine was not like me, my mother sighed, “You have it easy, woman, remember me and what I went through”. Now, that same daughter, age 13, is mourning the loss of a woman who co-parented her since birth and was her true best friend.
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If you are going through any issue of illness or impending death of a loved one, it is imperative that your teenage children be told the facts about cancer (in small doses). Ignoring or hiding the truth from them can undermine their trust in you. It is important your children trust you during this time to tell the truth. It is also important that adolescents have permission to ask questions. Try to answer any questions gently, yet honestly. Talk about anticipated changes in the family routine. For us, my mother was here 7 days a week. As she got sicker, it was less frequent and my children were confused why their Grandmother wasn’t here every day. It’s important to acknowledge some things will be different.
Ask about your children’s feelings. Simple dialogue such as, ‘how are you feeling today?” is crucial in allowing teens to talk about what comes up for them. Encourage them to share both positive and negative feelings. Some kids may be angry and state they hate someone for dying or getting sick. Be attentive and listen. There are no fixes. Listen, learn, love… They will love you for it in the long run. Jordan Brown is a Psychotherapist, Empowerment Coach, and owner of Full Circle Counseling in Lincoln Park, NJ. Jordan is the Director of an In-Home Intensive Therapy Program for families in crisis throughout Passaic and Essex County. Jordan is the founder/facilitator of a women’s empowerment meet-up on www.meetup.com. Jordan can be reached at Jordan@fullcirclecounseling.net.
Spring 2010
Column scarcity thinking that are keeping you rooted in a fearful perspective.
Everyday Spirituality
with Justin Buffer
7 Powerful Words for Inside-Out Life Transformation A Course In Miracles, the great spiritual text that I have been a teacher and student of for a long time, states that every situation that brings us any sort of discomfort, annoyance, fear, or pain is a chance for us to up-level and transform our lives from the inside out. The Course states that all we have to declare to the Universe, God, or whatever we call the Divine Intelligence that resides in all of us, is that we want to see the situation that confronts us differently: through the eyes of strength, increased freedom, and love, instead of fear.
As you go through the process of inside-out transformation, and release your limiting thoughts about the situation, you might attract a person who tells you of a better opportunity, you might get a fresh insight on a new direction to take, or you might even have a realization or receive feedback about something you could do better on your next interview that you might have had a blind spot to before. However the inner and outer shift looks will be very different for each of us, but stating these 7 words more frequently will change your perspective on life from a series of ups and downs to a transformation classroom. And this makes life so much more interesting and exciting!
And so my tip for spiritual integration to all of my readers for this issue is this: if you wish to start the train of transformation rolling in your own life declare these 7 powerful words often when confronted with any disconcerting situation: “I am willing to see this differently.” Stating this powerful affirmation regularly can be a major ingredient in manifesting the life of your dreams from the inside-out. Saying these words does not magically make the spiritual and transformational process happen instantly, but a spiritual warrior knows that changing who we are and thus our lives, is anything but easy. By saying them, we are giving our willingness to the Universe to have our thoughts changed about the situation. And this shift in thinking is what the Course calls a miracle. So, how would this look in the practical terms of everyday life? Let’s say you got turned down for a job you really wanted, and you find yourself feeling sad and also fearful about your future. By stating that you are willing to see your situation differently you are inviting fresh perspectives to be downloaded from your highest consciousness. It will also help access hidden and limiting thoughts, usually rooted in past ingrained and learned
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Justin Buffer is a Certified Professional & Transformational Life Coach, and the owner of Pure Truth Life Coaching, LLC, a personal life coaching and consulting company. Justin is the author of the forthcoming book titled “Any Day Inspiration” about ways to inject spiritual principles into everyday living. You can learn more about his upcoming workshops based on the ideas in the book, and sign up for his inspirational newsletter at his website www.justinbuffer.com. He has an office in Raritan, NJ and also does phone consultations. He can be reached at Justin@justinbuffer.com.
Spring 2010
Column The Whole Pet with Susan Brody
Pet Food (cont’d from last issue) Since the 1970’s, veterinarians have seen a change in the illnesses they treat. Once, infectious disease was their primary concern. Now, chronic degenerative diseases such as allergies, arthritis, dermatitis, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, tumors and cancer occupy more of their attention.
The nutrient most susceptible to spoilage in pet food is fat. As fat becomes rancid, as it oxidizes, it decreases the nutritional value of the food, makes the food less palatable and even unsafe to eat. Pet food contains high fat and fat-soluble ingredients, and is susceptible to oxidation, and therefore needs preservatives. Two safe, natural preservatives to look for are Tocopherols (Vitamin E) and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). Avoid all “chemical preservatives” particularly Ethoxyquin. Originally created by Monsanto as a rubber preservative, it is a preservative used in pet food and animal feed, as a pesticide on fruit trees, and a color preservative in spices for humans. Even when it isn’t listed as an ingredient, the likelihood of your pet food containing ethoxyquin is high. That’s because the grain fed to the farm animals that become pet food contains ethoxyquin.
Like with humans, a good quality diet that’s easily digested and free of ingredients that might cause intolerance or allergies is important to maintaining health. But, how do we know which is best?
Stay tuned – more to come in future columns!
A quality food is based around one or two (maximum) protein and cereal sources. The first ingredients should be one or more specifically named (chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) meat sources. “Meat” or “animal” sources should be avoided. These are unknown types of animals. Some believe that unscrupulous manufacturer’s, particularly in low-end foods, might include diseased farm animals, road kill, and even euthanized dog or cat. Yes, it is an alarmist perspective, but without proof otherwise, it’s best to avoid generic “meat.” By-products are another category to avoid. This is not meat but the leftover parts which includes organs, blood, and bone. It is not supposed to include hair, hooves, feathers, beaks, etc., except for a small amount that occurs in processing. This has little nutritional value, yet some foods rely on this as a primary source. Corn, wheat, and soy are fillers in pet food and should be avoided. Dogs do need some carbohydrates. Cats do not. But as in humans, these grains can create intolerances that lead to poor digestion, allergies, skin problems, and more. Rice, oats, and barley are better choices.
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photo courtesy of Jo-Ann Stafford
Susan Brody is a holistic petsitter, pet bereavement worker, and facilitator of the Warren County HMN chapter. She is also a flower essence and energy practitioner, trained in IonCleanse Foot Detox, and is studying towards an MA in Psychology & Counseling. theholisticpet@entermail.net 908.319.3022
Spring 2010
Column Personal Development Coaching with Hueina Su Practice Detached Involvement
This is not an excuse to blame others for failed relationships and projects. You are 100% responsible for your own actions, feelings, choices you make and the results. However, you are not responsible for someone else’s thoughts, feelings, actions, and the choices they make. Set an intention to make peace with whatever outcome you receive. Have faith that everything happens for a reason, and there is a lesson or opportunity to grow in every situation. Look for blessings in disguise. Take the lesson, make peace, and move on.
There are defining moments in life that you’ll never forget. Years ago, my grandpa was diagnosed with liver cancer. The doctor said it was inoperable and he was given 3-6 months to live. The irony is, he was a medical doctor specializing in gastrointestinal diseases, including liver disease, and his two sons and one son-in-law are all medical doctors. Grandpa survived 21 months, during which time he came to accept his cancer and faced his death with such grace. On the contrary, my dad was the one in anguish. I saw firsthand the frustration, pain, guilt, regret, powerlessness, and defeat that my dad went through. That year, I was 13 years old. Partially because of my grandpa, when I became a RN, I chose the same specialty and got the opportunity to care for many liver, gastric, and pancreatic cancer patients. At first, I was easily affected by my patients progress (or lack thereof), and often came home exhausted or depressed. I realized if I were to be a good nurse for my patients, I needed to take care of myself and learn to manage my emotions. Gradually, I learned to remain compassionate but being detached to my patients’ outcome. This is detached involvement.
Hueina Su, MS, BSN, CEC is a renowned expert in helping women find the missing peace and joy in their stressful lives. She works with health care professionals, healers, coaches, caregivers and other women nurturers who are stressed because they are running on empty caring for everyone, and never feels good enough regardless of their credentials or achievements. She is an author, keynote speaker, certified life coach, creator of The Venus Evolution and founder of Beyond Horizon Coaching. This article is an excerpt from her book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others. Visit www.HueinaSu.com for FREE stress-relief video e-course and Intensive Self-Care Kit.
There’s a fine line to being emotionally involved with someone while being detached to their outcome. This is a critical skill for health care providers, healers, caregivers, parents, and anyone caring for others. When you think about it, this principle applies to practically all relationships and projects. It is critical for your own well-being to understand what you can and cannot control, to let go the need to control the outcome, and to stop beating yourself up if things didn’t work out despite your best efforts. As the Chinese proverb goes, “Man proposes but God disposes.”
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Spring 2010
Column
Business Coaching with Donna Price
Now that you have written down each of these numbers it is time to play. Take each number and increase it by 10%, then 20%, and then 50%. This is exactly HOW you build your business, by knowing your numbers and then strategically looking at HOW you can increase each.
Are You Using the 5 Step Profit System to Build Your Business? The 5 Step Profit System is a proven process for improving your business. Each business is dependent upon each of these steps and by making slight improvements in each you can see tremendous growth in your company’s bottom line. First step is your lead generation. You need new leads coming into your business all the time. Second is your conversion rate. How many leads do you convert into clients or customers? Conversion can happen in several different ways depending upon your business. Take a moment right now to start evaluating where you are. Write down your numbers. How many new leads do you get in your business each month? How many do you convert into clients? The third step is the number of transactions each client brings to you. Is it a one-time sale? Or do your clients repeat? If you have ten clients and they each buy from you twice then that is 20 sales. Write down your sales per client.
To read the complete article visit: www.entrepreneursmarketingmentor.com/blog Business Success Coach, educator, writer, speaker, cyclist, kayaker, climber, dream maker and leader, Donna Price gets business owners and leaders moving their companies in the directions they want. Participants not only produce transformational shift in their business thinking and real performance results; but they also create great businesses for themselves and their employees. Donna is instrumental in helping business owners get out of their own way, create powerful strategies, and implement them accelerated success. Donna Price, President of Compass Rose Consulting, LLC, provides business coaching to small business owners, business leaders, and work teams; using her experience as a senior level manager for 18+ years and extensive background working with people to achieve their goals. Donna is a certified program leader of the innovative and successful Best Year Yet program and is the author of “Launching Your Dream”; “Bizology.Biz: The Science of Building Business Success” and contributing author to 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life www.compassroseconsulting.com 973.948.7673
The fourth step in our 5 Step Profit formula is the average dollars per sale. What do your clients on average spend with you? If you have a wide range in sales from $1 to $100, then estimate what the average would be. The fifth and final step in the system is your profit margin. How much of each sale is your profit?
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Spring 2010
Column
Money Coaching with Tom Selkow
Being diagnosed with cancer is an immediate elevation in to high stress. The unfortunate byproduct of high states of stress is the emergence of the dark or shadow characteristics embodied in these archetypes. It’s safe to suppose that one or more of the innocent, victim, martyr, fool or warrior will come to the forefront in this elevated state of stress and lead you into unusually poor money choices and decisions.
One of the best courses of action for any family experiencing a cancer diagnosis is to look for a neutral party such as a financial advisor, estate attorney, or accountant to discuss financial decisions before any actions are taken. Know your options, consult with an insurance professional, and draw on the Human Resources professionals in your company. You should also look for support organizations that can help you by providing Archetypes are collections of characteristics that tend options and advice derived from others’ experiences. Ask to show up together given a set of circumstances or questions of everyone – it is you and your family’s right to stimuli. They do not define a person, are not labels, and have as much information as you can gather. can best be described as two-dimensional descriptions of a multi-dimensional being. In Money Coaching of various origins there are anywhere from 7 to 9. I like the ones used by Debra Price in her book Money Magic so I’ll use them here. In her book there are 8 archetypes described as they pertain to money, which are described below. How does being diagnosed with a serious, life threatening or terminal disease affect your behavior around money? It will certainly introduce fear and high levels of stress into your life. Based on that, I can accurately predict what money archetypes will usually surface for you and your loved ones.
Some of the shadow or darker characteristics of each are briefly listed here for reference. • Innocent is just that – unusually lacking in experience or knowledge; think of an ostrich putting its head in the sand. • Victim is easily taken advantage of and usually has endless excuses for their money situation. • Martyr is someone who often overextends themselves in the name of helping others at the expense of their own health and financial condition. • Warrior is the fighter or person that makes things happen, sometimes unable to distinguish between adversary and worthy opponent. • Fool is the gambler willing to take high risks and bet all on one roll of the dice. • Artist-creator is an artistic person who finds it difficult to stay connected to the lower frequency material world. • Tyrant is someone who uses money and power to control and manipulate people. • Magician is the center or optimum state where all of these shadow characteristics have been worked through and balanced.
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In summary, be aware of the potential for the shadow or dark aspects of these archetypes surfacing in the time of great stress and fear. Remember to ask for help and do your best to talk openly about financial decisions with your loved ones. Understanding money archetypes helps make sense of money and spending habits – you can contact me to learn more. Tom Selkow, Consciousness Technology Practitioner, is the owner of Zero Point Transformation, LLC, in Sparta, NJ. He is certified as a Matrix Energetics Master Practitioner, Money Coach and has a wide range of tools available to help his clients transform their relationship to abundance, life, career, relationships and more. tselkow@zeropointtrans.com 862.268.4443
Spring 2010
Column
Q&A:
Profiles of Pioneers in Integrative Medicine with Cecelia Inwentarz
CeCe
Q: What is Reiki?
As a Reiki Master Teacher since 2006, Cecelia H. Inwentarz personally answers your unasked questions about the Practice of Reiki. This month, she honors Dr. Mehmet Oz, vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. As a medical educator, he has authored more than 400 original publications, book chapters and medical books.
Universal Life Force, Nature, Source, Divine or God. In a nutshell, Reiki is an energetic win-win! I became a Reiki Master in 2006, basically because my closest friend Janet became a Reiki Master. (I’m so glad she didn’t choose to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge because I would have followed her anywhere!) But seriously, this may sound like a shallow reason; but it was not. I had lost my faith in organized religion. A member of Sunday school since the age of 8, I grew to serve first as an Ordained Deacon and later by leading the Board of Elders as the first woman elected as President of my historic Presbyterian Church. But when I felt I needed their comfort the most, I felt my fellow Church doers and Church goers all let me down. And so empty inside, I lived through a long, dry spell with no further communion with my Presbyterian Church God.
Perhaps more widely known as the host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” he has earned the distinction as a Pioneer of Integrative Medicine. For those who may have missed his Alternatives Program which aired January 6, 2010, Dr. Oz believes: “Ultimately, the most important Alternative Medicine treatment of all… is the area of Energy Medicine. P.M. has been to the operating room with me as a Reiki Master. My wife, Lisa, is a Reiki Master. Try Reiki… it can cure what ails you.” CeCe
A: Reiki is Universal Life Force Energy.
As a Reiki Master Teacher, I thank Dr. Oz for his education and usage of the Practice of Reiki. Reiki is offered within many Integrative Centers within Hospital Programs for cancer, cardiovascular disease, orthopedic rehabilitation, and more.
Janet trusted me enough to one day share the news of her natural, intuitive knowing and connection to Source. My reaction was to admit that I didn’t know what I believed anymore, but that I knew deep inside that I believed her. And so when Catholic-schooled Janet studied Reiki, I studied Reiki, especially because Reiki is not a religion. Current estimates count the Reiki Practitioner population at 4 million worldwide, growing only because 1 million Reiki Masters agree to teach and attune willing new students.
Like Dr. Oz, I deliver Reiki’s benefits in each of my CHi Energy Therapy Sessions. My focus is on the Universal I love Reiki. For the first time, I practiced a connection Life Force of Peace and Love and the role they play in your to the Universe that took me entirely out of my head. life. Call Peaceful Energy whatever name you prefer… Unlike Presbyterian Prayer, I was finally out of my talking
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cont’d on next page
Spring 2010
Column Chi Energy clients are guided through specific Pure Awareness techniques to release negativity they carry Q&A: Profiles of Pioneers within. As a Reiki Master, I channel or direct Reiki with cont’d my hands, providing the extra or exact energetic power needed when my Client is incapable of delivering full mind. Reiki is so experiential and so peaceful in both releases or self-healing unassisted. mind/body sensations. My clients get the exact energy needed; and as a The Practice of Reiki represents a powerful way, or Reiki Practitioner, I energetically benefit during each methodology, for anyone to personally experience a session, too. connection with the unseen energies for your benefit. Receivers of Reiki become energetically balanced and Reiki is an energetic win-win. But don’t believe me… centered with the peaceful connection to the Universal take advice from Dr. Oz, “Try Reiki… it can cure what Life Force, instead of using only their own resources. ails you.” In this way, Reiki facilitates and restores your natural self-healing abilities. Holistic Brand & Life Mentor and Founder of CHi Not only for self-care-like meditation, through the Practice of Reiki, you can direct this energy to protect and aid your family members and friends who are in fear or in pain, and who are most likely energetically depleted or blocked. Reiki is of tremendous value to my CHi Energy clients. Reiki shields us from negatives during energetic sessions and can do no harm. Coaches often speak of personal energy in sessions, but rarely do they provide a very real demonstration of feeling it and connecting with it at its highest vibration level. On a feeling level, my clients come to know that the unseen is as real as the seen. It cannot be denied. They feel something always described as pleasant - a vibration, a tingling, comfort and warmth, their internal organs moving forward, as if reaching out in response. Benefits are immediately peaceful and continue, as if time-released.
Consultancy LLC, Cecelia H. Inwentarz, MBA, is a 20+ year former Brand Executive who created belief by marketing food brands for Corporate America and IBM Business Intelligence. Today, her CHi Energy Therapy creates even stronger “Positive Belief in Record Time” about YOU as a Certified Reiki Master Teacher, Guided Kinesiologist and Bio-Resonance Energy Therapist. Author of Prisoners of Their Past, Cecelia coaches you to “Be Free From Failure Energy.” www.BrandandBelieve.com She builds Prosperity Resonance and Business Revenues exclusive to Health Practitioners as a Certified nutraMetrix Consultant. www.nutraMetrix.com/LoriHIrn Office: 973.285.7590 Cell: 973.879.2402
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US... “Well worth the read! Powerful and inspiring HMNetwork of Holistic Practitioners share their years of Health and Wellness wisdom in MARCI Magazine... and they are waiting to help you too.”
Erin Saxton
Former Television Producer for Barbara Walters, “The View” CEO and President, Newswire, Inc. Representing Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, and many more fantastic people and companies
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Spring 2010
Column Project Planet Network™“The Future Generation”
with Ana Marie Presti
What Will Our Evolution Look Like in 20 Years? “The climate change bill that is in the senate will have a major impact on how our nation will power its future. We, as a global community, have to come to the realization that oil supplies have peaked and we must transition to other energy sources. Nuclear power, clean oil, solar electric, wind, off shore drilling in Alaska... are all part of the climate change bill.” -Charles Semeraro, Social Activist Charles Semeraro has been a mentor, a guide, and an inspiration. He is involved in many social and environmental issues that have gone to press in today’s society. Project Planet Network™ is fortunate to be led by such an individual, a force of energy that foresees a bright future.
come as part of an energy bill that emphasizes the development of new green technologies. In February, Yvo de Boer, who led the UN organization through the Copenhagen talks, resigned. This offers an opportunity for a fresh start. Let’s tell our generation to come – our grandchildren and their grandchildren, that we care about the air they breathe and the waters they consume; that we will do whatever it takes to awaken minds and shift the mass mentality so they can have an Earth worth living in. Project Planet Network™ is excited to announce the MARCI™ Challenge, a poster contest that aims to encourage people all over the country to educate community and government leaders so we can come together to establish a national energy policy that will lead to a safe, clean, and sustainable future. Time is of the essence. We need to come together as a community and be heard so that our leaders will make the right choices to lead us down the path to sustainability. This is our role, our responsibility to the Earth, our children, and their children. cont’d on next page
According to an article on climate controversy in the March issue of Newsweek magazine, the battle between “Alarmists” and “Deniers” has threatened efforts to engineer a global reduction to greenhouse gas emissions. It also states the loss of credibility in scientists, climate science, and their data. President Obama’s $8 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear power plants! What happened to the dream – the dream of a sustainable future? According to the White House aides, any new initiatives on climate are going to have to
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Spring 2010
Column Project Planet
Submission Guidelines for MARCI™ Challenge
cont’d
The purpose of this contest is to address the President and government officials by means of artwork and optional essay, to the future solutions and the effects on our planet’s ecosystem.
Imagine… What is your best solution for humanity? • What will the government do with nuclear waste? • How much uranium is there to support the future if we go to nuclear power plants? • What about our water? Will there be sufficient amount to cool off the power plants? • What about contamination? How will this affect the people who live near these locations? • What are we doing to our ecosystem? • What if there was an accident? What would the plan of action be? • What is our energy future going to look like? 20 years from now, what will our energy look like based on our decision today? • What happened to the dream… the dream the President originally supported – “solar power/sustainability”? • What is your vision for our Earth? Hopefully, these questions will ignite creative minds and encourage people to address and bring awareness to our government and to those who are choosing to be silent. In this inspiration, Project Planet Network™ is assembling a committee to put together a package to distribute to raise awareness of the nuclear power plants being built in the US, which will include a copy of the winning MARCI™ Challenge poster. The winning poster will be displayed for public awareness and published in the next edition of MARCI™.
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1. Poster contest is open to the public ages 7 to 19 in all school districts, environmental groups, community groups, and religious education groups. 2. Submit 3 copies of artwork/poster to: • President Barack Obama -An accompanying essay, limited to 100 words, is optional. • Local or state government official • MARCI™ magazine – for judging and public display -Please note that original artwork sent to MARCI™ will not be returned. -Artwork may be also be uploaded onto Project Planet Network™’s website (www.projectplanet.us) for additional exposure (optional). 3. Poster/artwork must address the questions addressed earlier regarding nuclear power plants being built in the US. How are we affecting our ecosystem with the decisions being made today? 4. Any suggestions of discrimination toward sex, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, age, physical, or mental disability will be automatically disqualified from entering the contest. 5. Deadline for submission is April 26, 2010. Send submissions to: MARCI™/ HMN 23 Main St Sparta, NJ 07871 Attn: MARCI™ Challenge 6. Judging will be based on the effectiveness of the message for persuasion to make the right decision for our environment now. Winners will be published in the next (Summer 2010) edition of MARCI™ magazine. The most effective poster will be named as “national poster” to announce the “YouTube Video Contest”, coming in Fall 2010. cont’d on next page
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Column Visit us on the web at www.projectplanet.us.
Project Planet cont’d
Project Planet Network™- Together we can heal the planet. Our decisions today are tomorrow’s reality. Let’s create a world that heals our bodies, our oceans, our animals, and our Earth. Ana Marie Presti is a Reiki Master /Teacher, and a member of HMN Northwest Sussex County chapter. She works as a phlebotomist in Sussex County and is an independent consultant for Rutgers’ University Continuing Education. She is Chair of Project Planet Network™, an environmental group that focuses on mentoring and supporting schools in achieving sustainability by developing an environmental board.
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Column Legislative Issues
with Maureen Drummond & Susannah Pitman
district. The local district legislators include two General Assembly representatives and one district Senator. Once the bill is introduced it is assigned a number.
Vaccine Safety and Vaccination Choice by Maureen Drummond
Our bill “Providing for a conscientious exemption to mandatory immunizations,” has been reintroduced and assigned a new bill number in the Assembly which, for this legislative session, will be A243. (There is not The Heart of a Champion yet a Senate companion bill so the bill number for the Senate version is forthcoming). Legislative Surely, we can recall the name of at least one sponsors who have previously signed on as sponsors famous champion (the noun) of our time. Remember Muhammad Ali, Willie Mays, Michael Jordon, and little Nadia Comaneci? Then, of course, there are the champions who have nothing to do with sports – Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela – but who “championed” (the verb) for the rights of their fellow humans. Still, there are the private champions, those who have never received public accolades, known only to each of us for their individual contributions to our lives – a favorite aunt or uncle, a teacher, a coach, a mentor. In any case, it is no small undertaking to rise to the level of a champion and at the risk of sounding cliché, “Rome was not built in a day.” Despite the valiant efforts of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice to secure a conscientious exemption from the 44 statemandated vaccines in NJ, Assembly Bill A260 and Senate Bill S1071 languished for a year in their respective health committees, never to be heard for a vote. Needless to say, we still do not have a conscientious exemption from mandated vaccines in NJ – yet.
of the bill remain on the bill for this session. Currently, there are 39. (We recently gained Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, (D), District 35, Appropriations Chair, but we lost Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez, (D) District 5, who did not run for re-election.)
After the bill is assigned a number, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President, respectively, make recommendations to introduce the bill into a relative committee. In the case of the conscientious Politics 101 dictates the process. A bill is first exemption bills, they have been referred to their introduced into the Assembly with a Senate respective health committees. At this point, the companion bill. A bill is introduced by a legislator(s) Committee Chair holds all the power (wrongly so, elected by the people of their own residential
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Column Legislative Issues cont’d the Assembly or the Senate) where it will then be voted on by the entire legislature. A majority vote cont’d there, once again, forwards the bill, this time to the Governor’s desk for signing. If the Governor signs, I might add, but true, nonetheless.) The Chair the bill is adopted. Our bills have been stuck in the decides whether a bill will be heard in committee committee chair stage. or not. Evidence suggests that something other than legislative and public support for a bill So far, in 2010, the NJCVC has brought on another influences the process. If the Chair doesn’t want sponsor (as mentioned above) and orchestrated to hear a bill, it won’t be heard, despite legislative two call-in campaigns to Governor Christie’s office, and public support for it. This has been the case asking him to make good on a statement he released with Assemblyman, Dr. Herb Conaway, (D), District last October when he was running for the office. In 7, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee. We his statement, Christie wrote: hope to diminish some of his influence, and having a “I have met with families affected by autism new administration may help. from across the state and have been struck by their incredible grace and courage. Many of these Once the Chair posts the bill for a hearing, the public families have expressed their concern over New can make comment at committee hearings. The bill Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation vaccine mandates. is then posted for a vote. A majority vote in favor I stand with them now and will stand with them as will forward the bill to the floor of its house (either their governor in their fight for greater parental involvement in vaccination decisions that affect their children.”
Vaccine Safety and Vaccination Choice
NJCVC’s call-in campaigns were staged as a reminder to the Governor, that we are taking a pro-active measure to have him walk his talk. We have asked him to suspend the current mandated vaccination schedule until the vaccines can be proven to be safe and effective. NJCVC has also asked him to openly support our legislation for the conscientious exemption and thirdly, we have asked him to disband the Public Health Council which is currently responsible for adding more mandates to the schedule. Alternatively, NJCVC would like the legislature to vote on any future mandates as is the correct process for adopting laws and regulations in the state. “Never underestimate the heart of a Champion” graces the back of the team t-shirts my daughter’s HS
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Column Legislative Issues cont’d individual choice. Easy? NO. Worthy? YES! Who will you champion for in support of the vaccination cont’d choice issue in New Jersey? Please visit our website at www.njvaccinationchoice. volleyball team wears. Incidentally, they won the org and sign on to get our e-blasts notifying our county, conference, and state championships this members of the call-in campaigns and other NJCVC year – a perfect trifecta! I don’t know who coined the events. phrase, originally, but there certainly is something to it!
Vaccine Safety and Vaccination Choice
NJCVC may be bent, but we are not broken. And a little heart will straighten all of that right out. Every day we look into the eyes of the children we champion for. We know it isn’t easy to be a champion. We know this in caring for our vaccine-injured children and we Maureen Drummond, Co-founder/ Co-director, New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice is a long-time activist for vaccination choice. She considers the full disclosure of vaccine ingredients and side affects to be tantamount to informed consent and has provided free educational lectures and materials to thousands of people over the last two decades. She is a founding member of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice and currently co-directs the organization’s initiatives throughout the state.
know this is standing up to a system that oversteps its boundaries by imposing medical interventions with inherent risks that more and more of us are not willing to take.
Check out NJCVC’s website at www.njvaccinationchoice.org E-mail questions and comments to md1stnoharm@aol.com
So, before we can be champions (the noun), having won the passage of our bill, we have to be champions (the verb), activating, to keep pressing the importance of vaccination safety and parental/
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with Maureen Drummond & Susannah Pitman to Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), CAM therapies may have a strong place in healthcare reform. Senator Harkin is the cosponsor of an amendment that says healthcare plans will not be allowed to National Healthcare “discriminate” against any healthcare provider who by Susannah Pitman has a license issued by a state. If this amendment passes, then any licensed health care provider, including licensed acupuncturists and other licensed CAM practitioners, can provide services covered by “Complementary and Alternative Therapies May insurance. Senator Harkin purposely worded the amendment in this manner to allow CAM therapies a Soon Be Covered” place in health care reform. If this amendment passes, It has been over a year since the government started more people will have access to CAM therapies than reforming our health care system. The focus was on ever before. keeping costs down for patients while maintaining high quality. The primary means for achieving this What can we do while the politicians work on finding reform turned towards reforming health insurance, a compromise? an industry many have testified on Capitol Hill as 1. Write your federal representatives and being one which rewards its workers with making tell them you support Senator Tom Harkin’s profitable decisions regarding care at the expense amendment regarding health care plans no longer of the patients’ needs. Compound this with the high being allowed to discriminate against any state cost of care, prescription medications, and insurance licensed health care provider. premiums and our health care industry has become 2. Continue to educate the public about the so expensive that tens of millions of Americans can benefits of CAM therapies. The more supporters, not afford health insurance. the better. 3. Stay informed by visiting www.govtrack.us. Healthcare reform bills have been passed in both Susannah Pitman, MS, CA, graduated with the House and the Senate. While members from honors from Tri-State College of Acupuncture both bodies of representation were negotiating and maintains a private acupuncture practice in a compromise bill for a final vote, Senator Ted Boonton, NJ. She has studied at the China Beijing Kennedy’s seat was vacated upon his passing and a International Acupuncture Training Center as well new representative, who jeopardizes the passing of as traveled throughout Japan to study with some this negotiated bill in the Senate, was elected to fill of Japan’s finest acupuncture masters. She is his seat. Proponents of the bill have been scrambling also Secretary of The Nagano Project, a start-up to find ways to pass any health care reform now that non-profit aimed at facilitating healthcare through the process no longer appears to be guaranteed. acupuncture and Oriental medicine for people in need while helping them to help themselves. To House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that the learn more about Susannah’s practice, please visit bill may be piecemealed and passed in parts. There www.balanceacupuncturecenter.com or call is one part that the Complementary and Alternative 973.257.8924. Medicine community should keep its eyes on. Thanks
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Spring 2010
In these troubled economic times, when everywhere you look there’s a rumbling of great uncertainty, great leadership becomes even more critical. For years I’ve been teaching top leaders in our world – from Fortune 500 CEOs to even stay-at-home moms – a simple formula that helps guide their decision-making and pathway to success. Every successful leader I know keeps this formula on the mind daily, and for both big and small things that happen in life whether you control them or not. It’s a highly useful recipe regardless of the role you play at work or at home, and it can make getting what you want to achieve all the more easier. Here it is:
What Great Leaders Know that You Don’t by Jack Canfield
Choice #2: You can instead simply change your responses (R) to the events (E) until you get the outcomes (O) you want.
E+R=O
(Events + Responses = Outcome) The basic idea is that every outcome you experience in life (whether it’s success or failure, wealth or poverty, wellness or illness, intimacy or estrangement, joy or frustration) is the result of how you have responded to an earlier event (or events) in your life. Great leaders don’t just know this instinctively, but they make it a habit to respond in ways that generate the outcomes they want, even during extremely tough experiences or events seemingly beyond their control. If you don’t like the outcomes you are currently experiencing, there are two basic choices you can make: Choice #1: You can blame the event (E) for your lack of results (O). In other words, you can blame the economy, the weather, the lack of money, lack of education,
We ignore useful feedback, fail to continuously educate ourselves and learn new skills, waste time on the trivial aspects of our lives, engage in idle gossip, eat too much unhealthy food, fail to exercise enough, spend more than we make, fail to tell the truth, don’t ask for what we want, and then wonder why our lives aren’t working. We wonder why we have trouble leading not only others, but ourselves, to success.
racism, gender bias, the current administration in Washington, your wife or husband, your boss’ attitude, your employees or colleagues, the lack of support, and so on. No doubt all these factors exist, but if they were the deciding factor, nobody would ever succeed. And we’d have leaders without direction, focus, and solutions. For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and have succeeded. It’s not the external conditions and circumstances that stop us – it’s us! We think limiting thoughts and engage in self-defeating behaviors. We defend our self-destructive habits (such as drinking, smoking, and overeating) with indefensible logic.
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You can change your thinking, change your communication, change the pictures you hold in your head (your images of the world) and you can change your behavior (the things you do.) That’s all you really have any control over anyway. Unfortunately, most of us are so engrained in our habits that we never change our behavior. We get stuck in our conditioned responses – to our spouses and children, to our colleagues or employees at work, to our customers and our clients, to our students, and to the world at large. You have to gain control of your thoughts, your images, your dreams and daydreams, and your behavior. Then you will realize measurable results that you want. Everything you think, say, and do needs to become intentional and aligned with your purpose, your values, and your goals. If you don’t like your outcomes, change your responses!
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Great Leaders cont’d Here’s an example of how this works... Back in 1994 I lived through the Northridge earthquake in the Los Angeles area. Two days later I watched as CNN interviewed people commuting to work. The earthquake had damaged one of the main freeways leading into the city. Traffic was at a standstill, and what was normally a 1-hour drive had become a 2-3 hour drive. The CNN reporter knocked on the window of one of the cars stuck in traffic and asked the driver how he was doing. He responded, angrily, “I hate California. First there were fires, then floods, and now an earthquake! No matter what time I leave in the morning, I’m late for work. I can’t believe it!” Then the Reporter knocked on the window of the car behind him and asked the driver the same question. This driver was all smiles. He replied “It’s no problem. I left my house at five am. I don’t think under the circumstances my boss can ask for more than that. I have lots of music and Spanish-language tapes with me. I’ve got my cell phone. Coffee in a thermos, my lunch-I even have a book to read. I’m fine.”
It was their individual response to the traffic that gave them their particular outcome. It was thinking negative thoughts or positive thoughts, leaving the house prepared or leaving the house unprepared that made the difference. It was all a matter of attitude and behavior that created their completely different experiences. If we all experience the same EVENT, the OUTCOME you get will be totally dependent upon your RESPONSE to the situation. If you want to take control of how you respond to life, you’ll start noticing that your outcomes will be more along the lines of what you have always hoped. Another, more recent example that helps put his into perspective relates with the economic crises of the past year. In October of 2008, the US government bailed out a sector in the financial markets and the complaints and roar from all corners of the US were palpable. People were angry and confused. They sought to point fingers and find blame in someone or something. Here’s another way to look at it: the economy is the same for everyone, but how you respond to it determines how you feel about it. And how well you survive through a rough patch is determined not on the economy itself, but on how you choose to navigate through it. Each one of us has the power
Now, if the earthquake or the traffic were really the deciding variables, then everyone should have been angry. But everyone wasn’t.
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to respond however we want to the state of our environment. We can sit and complain all we want, or we can take charge and lead ourselves as well as others. Even in tough economic times, you get to decide how to respond to certain conditions, opportunities, and outcomes – both good and bad. Those who are left standing afterward are the real leaders. They are the role models, and the ones who, other look up to for solutions and guidance. Make It a Habit to Ask for Feedback Leaders cannot work in a vacuum. They may take on larger, seemingly more important roles in an organization but this does not exclude them from asking for and using feedback. In fact, a leader arguably needs feedback more so than anyone else. It’s what helps a leader make the right decisions. Feedback comes in many forms and is very helpful in moving you toward your successes, if you choose to respond to it. Think of feedback as your goals talking back to you. When your actions are not in line with your goals, you will see results that are not in line with your goals. Your goals are telling you that you have fallen off course. If you want to have a wonderful supportive relationship with your team at work, but they are angry with you for neglecting their needs as loyal employees, what do you do? Get mad at them for being upset? You can either see it as an opportunity to improve yourself and correct your behavior, or you can see it as the world ganging up on you and insulting you. Your goal cont’d on next page
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Great Leaders cont’d of having a supportive relationship is telling you that you may have gone off course. To get back on course you listen and take the appropriate action. Open up those communication lines and act like a true leader. It’s important to note that there really is no such thing as “negative” feedback. Feedback is simply information about your process, your course of action, your abilities and attitudes. It is up to you to interpret this information
to help you improve yourself and your leadership. Successful leaders learn to use feedback to their advantage. They put their awareness on what kind of results they get with certain actions. If the response is good, they continue. If the response is not what they want, they make adjustments. Feedback is that simple, and learning to listen to and respond to feedback will keep you on track to achieve your success. So how can you become successful in dealing with feedback? The answer is to ask for it and to
create a safe space for people to tell you what they are seeing. Don’t be vague about what kind of information you want. Ask for it in specific terms. Ask how you are limiting yourself, how you can improve, and what it will take to get back on course. Don’t be afraid of what you will hear. Learn to recognize feedback for what it is. Trust your gut feeling about things, listen to what others are saying, and look at the results of your actions. Once you know the truth, you can set about taking action to improve. Everyone will be better for it. © 2009 Jack Canfield
Jack Canfield is America’s #1 Success Coach, co-founder of the billion-dollar Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you’re ready to be more accomplished and have more fun in all that you do, learn more and access a library of resources at:
www.JackCanfield.com
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Spring 2010
Dina hung up the phone. Her heart was racing. Her mind was spinning with thoughts in every direction. She felt scared and abandoned. Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can be all pervasive, affecting not only the body, but the mind, emotions, and spirit. Modern medicine has come up with many lifesaving treatments, but these treatments typically focus on curing the cancer of the body while ignoring the other needs. Luckily, our society is now realizing that all the needs must be met on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels for healing to occur. Centers for integrative medicine and healing arts are now becoming more mainstream.
You’re in the Driver’s Seat on the Road to Wellness by Donna Slane
The mind-body techniques are designed to help individuals feel calmer before surgery, have less pain after surgery, and reduce side effects of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. However, the workshop is not limited to surgery or chemo/radiation therapy. It can also be used for medical procedures, non-surgical healing, and for many other challenges such as stress, chronic pain, insomnia, and many more. The Five Steps to Prepare
(1) The first step is to get relaxed and calm. The program has a relaxation CD that helps to calm preoperative jitters or it can be used prior to chemo/ radiation therapy sessions to Even though complimentary lessen anxiety. Feeling peaceful modalities are more widely strengthens the immune system accepted and available, the and creates the biochemistry responsibility lies within each that fosters healing. In our individual to seek out their own fast-pace, high-stress society, best treatment. After receiving a physical balance, emotional most of us don’t know what it diagnosis of cancer, each person stability, mental clarity and/or feels like to be calm. Many of must realize that it is their spiritual alignment. us are in a high-stress mode. own responsibility to establish In this case, the Sympathetic self care routines to support One very useful tool for the Nervous System releases a their own personal journey of challenging time leading up to cascade of stress hormones and growth and healing. All healing surgery and through chemo neurotransmitters. These cause is self healing, so having active or radiation therapy is Peggy the heart to pound, the breath participation and dialogue Huddleston’s Prepare for to be fast and shallow, sweating, with the physicians and holistic Surgery, Heal Faster Workshop. muscular tension, sleep practitioners is so very important. The workshop consists of specific disturbance, as well as digestive As Christiane Northrup, MD says, mind-body techniques and the and elimination problems. This “When we combine the healing use of a book and CD set as a is not the desired state to be in. power of the human spirit with guide. Huddleston has not only It is very counterproductive for the curing technology of surgery, taught workshops in self healing healing to take place. On the we not only have the best of to thousands of individuals, but flip side, a state of calm activates both worlds – we are also setting she also teaches and certifies the Parasympathetic Nervous the stage for the miraculous to other healthcare professionals System to release hormones that become commonplace.” Many so that the workshops can be relax you. The heart beats at a find that holistic modalities are more readily available to anyone normal rate, breathing is regular very empowering for individuals in need. The five steps that she and the muscles are relaxed. when their goals are not only for developed for her program are Sleep is enhanced and digestion being cured, but also to maintain all backed up by research studies.
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surgery can reduce the use of medication by 23-50%. We Road to Wellness pain find that most anesthesiologists cont’d or nurses in the operating room are glad to say the healing is normal. The Parasympathetic statements. As you are going Nervous System is meant to be under the anesthesia, you are dominant at all times. Research highly suggestible as in hypnosis. shows that being in a calm state According to Huddleston, “The strengthens the immune system. implications of the research A strong healthy immune system are remarkable: having your aides in healing and prevents doctor say specific healing secondary infections. Listening statements to you during your to the CD twice a day trains operation, can directly affect the body how to relax and feel your health, comfort, time spent peaceful. Since the CD never recovering and the cost of your mentions the word surgery or hospitalization.” any other procedure, it can be used for any situation. (5) And the last step guides in establishing supportive doctor(2) Step 2 demonstrates how patient relationships. It is so to turn worries or fears into important to have all your healing images. Visualization questions answered. Establishing is a very powerful tool can that a dialogue with the physician be used in many situations in makes the client part a vital part every day life. Many athletes of the decision making process. use visualization during their Clients sleep better at night when training and competitions. It is a they realize that they are active matter of picturing in your mind participants and not having the best case scenario. In this something “done to them”. case, it is used to visualize the ideal surgical or chemo/radiation The Prepare for Surgery, Heal therapy outcome. Your beliefs Faster Program can be started about chemotherapy or radiation immediately upon receiving a treatments are also very diagnosis. The book and CD can important. Do you see it as being be purchased at any bookstore. harmful or as a 100% healing For a more personalized agent? approach tailored to your specific needs, a healthcare professional (3) Surrounding yourself in the certified by Peggy Huddleston love of family and friends can can provide personal or small help with emotional support. group workshops for you to get This step is so very important. the most benefits out of the Emotional support from family program. This can be done in and friends also strengthens person or over the phone. the immune system leading to a faster recovery time. Many people describe their cancer experience as a wakeup (4) “Healing statements” or call and a chance to heal specific words spoken during unresolved issues or emotions.
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When we can release the stress or energy blocks that are not serving us, we open up space for something new to happen. We open up a new area for healing to occur. Once Dina had the tools, she began her healing process. She practiced her relaxation and made this a priority twice a day. She relished the support, love, and prayers from her family and friends. She monitored her thoughts and feelings and changed them to positive statements when the fears and worries crept into her mind. Dina also realized that she had a voice in her care. She felt comfortable knowing she had control and a plan. She was able to move on and be the driver, not a passenger, on her road to wellness. Donna Slane enjoys helping her clients to deeply relax and to see their situation in a focused positive light allowing for their own natural energy resources to guide their healing (physical, mental, emotional or spiritual). She does this using the energy therapies of Healing Touch (hands on energy technique), Aromatherapy (energy from the essential oils of plants) and Feng Shui (looking at the energy in the environment). She also provides Peggy Huddleston’s Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster Workshops. Donna can be reached at mdslane@aol.com 973.618.9910 www.BalancedEnergyWork.com
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Hospice, according to Webster’s dictionary, refers to a facility or program designed to provide a caring environment for meeting the physical and emotional needs of the terminally ill.
Hospice. Care when there is no cure. by LynAnn Edelman
There are many misconceptions of hospice by care providers, patients, and families. Some think hospice “hastens” death; some think it is only a modality used in the last days of life. Neither of these is true. I considered writing an article and try to describe different aspects of hospice that may be important to patients and families, but felt it was also necessary to address issues that may arise from care providers like massage therapists, Reiki providers, etc. With that in mind, I felt that the Q & A method would cover most of the important topics in the most effective way possible. I hope this helps all my readers have a better understanding of hospice and how we, as complimentary care providers, can play an integral role in enhancing a patient’s life during this process. Where is hospice provided? Hospice can be provided either in the home or inpatient setting (nursing home, hospice facility, assisted living facility, etc.) If provided in the home, the hospice team makes frequent visits to the patient’s home. In the nursing home or other facility, the day to day care is provided by the staff on hand with additional support and care suggestions from hospice team that visit the facilities.
no. The nurses usually have a visit frequency of several times a week. The home health aides generally visit 3-5 times a week for several hours a day, and social services and spiritual care call as needed. When does hospice care start? Hospice care can start anytime after it has been decided by the patient and/or family and doctors that there is no further acceptable treatment for the patient’s condition.
Who makes up the hospice team? The team is made up of nurses, usually both RNs and LPNs, home health aides, social workers, and spiritual coordinators/providers. Who pays for hospice? Hospice can be paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or private funds. What care does a patient receive on hospice? This varies greatly from patient to patient. However, care provided on hospice is usually directed towards symptom management, pain relief, emotional support and comfort and personal care assistance. A patient’s care may also include wound care, physical therapy, feeding assistance, Foley catheter care, etc. Does the staff stay at the home with the patient? Generally,
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When does hospice care stop? Care stops when the patient passes away, the family, patient, or doctor requests hospice to stop (not usual), and at times when the patient has not shown significant decline in more than 3 months. What do the nurses do for the patient and families? The nurses assess patients during their visits and make recommendations to physicians for changes needed in medications for symptom relief. Those symptoms include pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, poor appetite, etc. They act as liaisons between physician and patient. What can I do as a complimentary care provider for a patient on hospice? Frequently we overlook that our services can be of great value to a patient on hospice. Symptom relief is very important to patients and many look for other ways to resolve pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, etc., other than by taking pills. Providing massage, Reiki, nutritional guidance, pet therapy, music therapy,
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independent contractor basis. Other agencies provide referrals to such care providers and the patient pays out of pocket for services.
Hospice cont’d aromatherapy, etc. can add huge value to these patients’ lives.
Hospice agencies, patients, and doctors need to be educated on the tremendous benefit complimentary therapies can provide to patients during this time. We as care providers have the obligation to assist in that education. Make this a topic of discussion at your next care providers “meet-up”. Contact your local hospice agency and offer to speak to the staff and provide written information regarding the therapies you are able to offer patients.
What if the patient has no physical symptoms? There are many patients that are on hospice as a result of illnesses that have no physical symptom needing relief. These patients can still benefit from the emotional comfort our services provide even when they think they feel fine. Teach the staff and patients that those who receive our services often experience relaxation, reduction of pain symptoms and psychological distress, better sleep habits, and an overall sense of emotional wellness. Consider how massage and/or reflexology can benefit someone suffering from muscle/joint pain or insomnia, headaches, stress, and tension. Meditation, Reiki, music therapy, aromatherapy, and pet therapy can be used to help relieve anxiety and restlessness.
LynAnn Edelman, RN, has been a RN for 15 years with varied experience in areas such as open heart transplant, cardiac critical care, GI/endoscopy, OR, ER, and most recently home care/home infusion and hospice (8 years). LynAnn incorporates holistic medicine into the everyday care she provides for her patients. One of LynAnn’s main goals is to finish her BSN and then her MSN, so she can teach others interested in nursing what she has learned. She is also studying Reiki and plans on obtaining certifications in nutrition, herbal master, meditation, aromatherapy, and hypnotism. Her plans are to open a holistic practice within the next 6 years.
Can all hospice patients experience complementary therapies? Most times these therapies can be provided without consequence, but it is recommended that bodywork therapies be approved by the patient’s physician first. Who will pay for these therapies when provided to a hospice patient? Some hospices employ complementary care providers directly and others offer fees to providers on a per diem or as an
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I am fortunate, as I have never been an Oncology patient. I have, however, witnessed a dear friend’s full process, which took just under two years from diagnosis to my dear friend’s untimely death at 56. It all started as a mysterious gagging and choking on food. Initially, I did not know the extent of the reaction to anything she swallowed, other than liquid. We had theatre tickets and she had a little something to eat before we went. The gagging and coughing could not be stopped. We never left the house and I don’t remember the name of the play we were supposed to see. Shortly thereafter, my friend was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her lung that pressed into her esophagus, thus preventing food from continuing on its journey. It was inoperable. She had radiation and chemotherapy treatments to reduce the tumor’s size, to eliminate the cancer and keep it from spreading. She also had two operations that were prescribed, in order to open the esophagus. All of the above treatments failed my dear friend. Joann was a runner, a swimmer, and one who exercised daily. She owned her own very profitable executive search business. To the trade, she was known as a head-hunter. She was a true Renaissance woman, with a broad-base of knowledge. At fifty-four, she was at the top of her game. I watched as Joann’s quality of life dwindled and her hospital stays increased. She lost her hair, her energy,
Oncology by Jo-Ann Stafford
and ability to run her business, ultimately giving it to one of her employees. We grieved the loss of her life together, while she was still able to live at home. During this period of time, she made frequent day-visits to the hospital for chemotherapy treatments. We had a healing prayer service for her performed at our church. It was just the two of us and a kind and gentle minister who articulated lovingly and gave her a very healing message. I cried the entire time that the minister prayed and spoke to us. I was filled with hope, as she seemed to be doing well. Shortly thereafter, while visiting the hospital during one of the chemo sessions, she told me that the cancer had metastasized to her brain. And a short while after that, the cancer was in her bones. Hope dwindled. She told her doctor that she did not want
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to experience any pain. She went to live with her brother, as she could not take care of herself any more. Her sister-in-law was the primary caregiver, but she ultimately needed nursing care around the clock. She became unable to ingest any food and was fed and hydrated through a tube that went directly into her stomach. Eventually my prayers changed from “Dear God, please heal my friend” to “please take away her suffering… take her”. On one of my visits, we went for a ride to the beach. It was the last time that I saw her out of bed. She went from being in a wheel chair to totally incapacitated, almost over night. She was drugged with morphine and on some days was quite incoherent, merging totally unrelated concepts together in the same sentence or just babbling. She would recognize me when I arrived and then forget I was there. Her hair started to come back, but she lost weight as well as her fight with this dreaded disease. Before she became very sick, I had promised her that I would be with her if [when] she died. I could see that that day was not too far into the future. I asked her sister-in-law to call me when it was time, and I made arrangements at work to take a week off when I got that call. The call did not come for a while; it was painful to see the shell of a vital human being lying in bed, drugged, delirious, and being fed with a tube. My prayers continued to be for her peaceful transition, while acknowledging that God does things in God’s
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Oncology cont’d time and not mine or hers. I thought that I would ask anyway. Yes, I received the call and yes, I got in my car and drove to her brother’s house. It took a few more hours and the nurse came in to say, “It is time”. She took some labored, panting breaths, and all became silent… very silent, for a truly great woman was silenced. I left the next morning, filled with sadness and a great gaping emptiness. I knew that as her closest friend, I had to speak at her memorial service, although it was the last thing that I wanted to do. Before the service, I went to Shelter Island for a few days to write her eulogy. Shelter Island is a picturesque island that is about 5 miles wide and lies between the two forks of Long Island, NY. It is a quiet, peaceful vacation retreat and for the most part, there is very little to do. We had been there several times together to decompress from our fast-paced world. Now it was the perfect place to gather my thoughts. The first people I saw were two nuns. We gave one another a friendly greeting. I told them why I was there and felt comforted, as they were women of God. I saw them a few more times and knew why they were put in my path. I walked around the island with a notebook and pen and when I saw or remembered something that made me cry, I wrote it down. I rewrote my disjointed notes, composing them into a
few brief paragraphs and spoke them at the service in a thin, tight voice. I know she rests peacefully and I know her spirit lives on. I have healed; I have grown. And at my saddest, I was the closest to God than I have ever felt before or since. God brought people into my life to be with me during that difficult time and God led me to those I needed to be with to help me heal. Those friends simply eased out of my life, as I healed. Other, more permanent relationships filled me up, as I moved on. It is now twenty years later and I am blessed with excellent health. My oldest and best friend since childhood was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment… “Dear Father-Mother God, Thank you for blessing my friend with perfect health; I pray for her healing, health and wholeness… I am filled with great hope.
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I was born and raised in New York City, where I studied fine arts. As a young adult I moved to New Jersey, which I now call home. In the process, I traded my paint brushes for a pen and lens which enhanced my passion for nature with photography and my spiritual journey with poetry and prose. I love the dramatic flora and fauna of Northwestern New Jersey, which shows in my nature photographs and ‘word-pictures’. I am a true romantic, and often merge Haiku and poetry with my photographs. Contact Jo-Ann Stafford: 973.948.2373 jasspirit@hotmail.com
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photo courtesy of Jo-Ann Stafford
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Have you wondered lately why it seems that cancer is on the rise among our canine counterparts? I had no idea how prevalent cancer was in dogs until my Rottweiler, Guinness was diagnosed at 6 years old. I first noticed Guinness was limping after we returned from a long hike in the woods, so I thought maybe she had pulled a muscle or simply overdid it. I kept an eye on her symptoms for almost two weeks before I called the vet to get an x-ray. We waited and waited for the vet to bring Guinness back out to us in the waiting room and then we were escorted to a private exam room where we received the devastating news that Guinness had Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and it had already metastasized to her lungs. The vet estimated she had 4 to 6 months and advised against amputation and chemo. We were told to make the best of the upcoming months and manage the pain. And pain there was... Guinness did her best to hide the pain she was feeling. That was evident given she was obviously suffering for a number of months prior to diagnosis before showing any symptoms at all, but towards the end the pain began to be too much for any of us to handle. We explored many holistic avenues including acupuncture which she loved and boosted her immune system, chiropractic to help her stay in alignment due to shifting her weight to compensate for
35 times more likely to develop skin cancer 4 times more likely to develop breast tumors 8 times more likely to develop bone cancer by Dee Broton 2 times more likely to develop leukemia Giant breeds such as Rottweilers, Boxers, Great Danes, and Mastiffs are prone to Osteosarcoma, while dogs with white fur are more susceptible to carcinomas on the skin. Unspayed females are 7 times more likely to develop mammary tumors, which is one good reason to spay your female dog before she has her first heat. On the other hand, studies show that the chance of developing Osteosarcoma in a male Rottweiler who is neutered younger than one year quadruples and her limp, herbs to manage the the chance of a female Rottweiler pain, high protein/low carb raw who is spayed younger than one diet, massages in the evenings, year triples. and lots of TLC. According to the Guinness was diagnosed University of Illinois College of on September 20th and passed Veterinary Medicine, dogs have on January 15th. She fought like a much higher rate of developing a champion and left this world nasal cancer than humans do. with dignity. It’s no surprise given they explore Did you know that 1 in 4 their world through their nose. dogs will die of cancer? That’s Think of all the toxic pesticides an outrageous number! The and herbicides they come in Golden Retriever is the breed contact with outside and the most likely to develop cancer. synthetic chemicals in carpets, According to Texas A&M College paint, and furniture inside. of Veterinary Medicine, dogs are To get back to my original susceptible to most of the same question... I believe that cancer cancers we are and in some in dogs is on the rise for many cases dogs are many times more reasons. Dogs all too often likely than we are to develop the eat poor diets, very different following:
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Canine Cancer cont’d from what their ancestors ate in the wild and are seriously lacking the necessary nutrients to keep their bodies healthy. Many commercial dog foods consist of corn, wheat, meat byproducts, and all kinds of nasty fillers and preservatives. Grains cause inflammation in these natural carnivores which leads to disease. I truly believe that all the vaccines that are pumped into our dogs throughout their lifetimes dramatically reduce their immune system and therefore open the doors for disease. There are the environmental factors, some more obvious than others. Just think about all the fragrances you use in your home. The average household has air fresheners, candles, perfumes, carpet fresheners, fabric softeners, etc. These all contain chemicals of which I guarantee you would not use if you knew where they came from or what else they are used for. And finally to my above point on spaying and neutering too young. Most responsible animal shelters and rescue groups will not adopt a dog out unless it is neutered first and I have always supported that based on population control, yet think of all the dogs under a year old that are being altered without regard for their health down the road. I don’t know what the right answer is... but it sure is making me reconsider having our Rottie pup neutered before he turns one year.
What can you do to prevent your dog from getting cancer? • Feed a diet as natural as possible to that of a true carnivore • Exercise your dog properly • Reduce or eliminate the amount of toxins in your home and yard • Learn how to boost your dog’s immune system • Limit the amount of vaccines your dog is given • Lots of love!
Dee Broton steps outside the traditional training box and uses Young Living Essential Oils, flower essences, a natural diet and exercise to assist in her behavior modification regime when it comes to dogs plagued with fear and anxiety, as well as aggression. Dee’s philosophy is to heal the dog’s mind, body, and spirit, and to strengthen the bond with their family by creating harmony in the pack. Holistic Behavior Solutions, LLC 973.713.0175 10% discount holisticbehaviorsolutions@gmail.com http://holisticbehaviorsolutions.blogspot.com
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You are consciousness. That is what you are. You have chosen to manifest the patterns of information that appear in your personal reality in the form of conditions, structures, families, or finances. At some level, you have chosen everything in your life. Sometimes we choose by not choosing. All too often, some of us choose by being in polarity with what we do not want. If we do not want to develop a state of disease, what do we do? We eat right for our health. There is a hidden bomb in that concept, isn’t there? If you eat right for your health, what might you be doing? At one level, you are eating to stave off disease. If you are eating healthy foods in order to prevent disease, you are in an unconscious relationship with what you fear. If you are trying to prevent your cholesterol numbers from going up, you are in a struggle with cholesterol. If you are taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack or a stroke, you are in an unconscious and uncomfortable relationship with all of those things. You are in a paired spin with what you don’t want. In such a configuration, if your fears spin up, your health can spiral down. When did “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” become “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away?” Don’t buy into all of the medical statistics so completely that you become one!
Fundamental Lessons in Duality by Richard Bartlett, DC, ND
planet might consume only raw sunlight and be full of light and energy! However you decide to eat should be congruent with your personal and cultural references for what is healthy for you. Why Eating Right Can Sometimes Be Wrong
adapted from The Physics of Miracles: Tapping Into the Field of Consciousness Potential, ©2009, Atria Books/Beyond Words
It is one thing to eat in a way that benefits you because you feel good when you do it. And eating in this manner might coexist with certain principles of eating right for your health. Your personal needs and your energy, coupled with your beliefs, define what being healthy means for you. This is why diet is such an individual thing. A person can eat only bacon, lose weight, have a healthy heart, and have their insulin levels go down. That diet might actually represent good biochemistry for them. Another person could eat only raw salads and do just as well without any other kinds of food. A person from a different
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Health and disease as mandated structures and norms are a bad idea. As I’ve already suggested, when you are “eating right for your health,” you might, unconsciously, be in a relationship to, and a polarity with, disease. Bacon could be really great for your arteries. “All right Doctor, if you say so!” No, only if you say so! You can say, “I love you bacon,” and it could be just fine to eat it. I am being semi-serious. As a physician I strongly suspect that much of the nutritional research out there is questionable at best. Much of the so-called health research is actually sponsored and paid for by huge corporate conglomerates, including the pharmaceutical giants. When the research generates data other than what is desired by these companies, it can sometimes become buried. If a study conflicts with the financial bottom line of the corporate entity, a new study will quickly be undertaken to shift the outcome in favor of the product to be marketed. As the villain in the Indiana Jones movie The Last Crusade stated, “I said
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Duality cont’d to trust no one, Dr. Jones, not even me.” The problem is that if enough people believe a stated conclusion, it then becomes a reality for those ideas that fall into that particular box. That is why I say there is a surprise in each box. What particular box of beliefs have you built around yourself, or allowed others to construct for you?
moment it feels right and supports your physiology. Do it if it supports your need or belief system as it is showing up in the moment. Do you hear the flexibility in that?
Do not do something just because the experts tell you to do it. Do it because in the
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Richard Bartlett, DC, ND, is founder of Matrix Energetics, which C. Norman Shealy calls, “the essence of energy medicine.” A chiropractor and naturopath, Bartlett travels extensively to teach this groundbreaking consciousness technology each year. He is the author of Matrix Energetics, The Matrix Energetics Experience, and the newly published The Physics of Miracles. For more information about Matrix Energetics, visit the website: www.matrixenergetics.com
Spring 2010
My purpose in writing this article is to help raise awareness around the issues of pollution and its toll on the environment and on people’s health. We as individuals who believe in holistic remedies can make a difference both for our environment and in the lives of those we counsel. When I was informed that the subject of this issue of MARCI™ Magazine was oncology, I did not have to look any further for a topic than my own backyard. Literally. I live in an idyllic town in northern New Jersey called Pompton Lakes. My father’s family came over from Italy and settled here in the early part of the last century. Dad owned a restaurant on the main street called Risden’s Tea Room, where he met my mother. They married and raised five boys here. I have lived here most of my life. In decades past, our town was a peaceful vacation spot with such renowned residents as Cecil B. DeMille and Albert Payson Terhune. The famous boxer, Joe Louis trained here. People moved here because it is a wonderful place to live. I know my neighbors on all sides and they are all kind and generous people. We all look out for each other. I could not ask for a better neighborhood. But now our community is severely challenged by the ravages of a corporate polluter. This company provided many jobs for the town, going as far back as 1902. But at the same
groundwater, and the land beneath our homes, the polluter informed us in June 2008 that toxic fumes may be rising up through our basements and sub-slabs endangering our health. In December of 2009, by Jefferson Harman the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services released a study stating that there was a cancer cluster in the section of our town labeled “the plume” by the polluter. We are by no means alone in this scenario. There are over 20,000 polluted sites in New Jersey. And the NJ Department of Environmental Protection simply does not have the manpower to address all of the contaminated sites. On top of that, Governor Chrisite now proposes a plan to downsize the NJDEP and turn remediation efforts over time the company left the town to the private sector. If this with a legacy of underground happens, we could be in even toxins and depleted property more serious trouble. values that will continue Sounds nightmarish? far into the foreseeable It is. But it is not hopeless. I future. To add insult to have joined the residents’ injury, the company ceased watch group that my neighbors manufacturing operations here formed in response to this and took hundreds of jobs with situation. The Citizens for a them. They still pay a portion Clean Pompton Lakes is a nonof property taxes for the site of profit grass roots organization their former facility, but nothing whose purpose is to protect near what they would pay if our environment and inform they were still operational here. The additional financial burden our neighbors as to their falls to the residents, whose choices, as well as working to provide better ones. Together, health is now in question. We have not been we have enlisted the help of able to swim in our beautiful environmental groups like The lake in forty years because Sierra Club, Edison Wetlands and Public it is contaminated. After Association, Employees for Environmental decades of poisoning our soil,
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When Pollution Gives You Lemons…
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community we are speaking against its unfair practices, insisting on freedom of choice cont’d and the right to live our lives healthfully and in peace. Responsibility (PEER). We have We made history in our published a website (www. town last month, by getting theccpl.org) and a Facebook the Environmental Protection page to inform our residents Agency to become involved and to provide information for in our town’s dilemma in an other towns facing a similar unprecedented way. We also plight. negotiated with the EPA to force As a symbolic intuitive, the polluter to provide and it is my job to see things in pay for a choice of contractors ways other people might miss. working on residents’ homes I could see this situation as to remediate toxic vapors. defeating, but instead I see it This allows residents to have as an opportunity for healing. a better choice than having At the same time that many the company who caused people are struggling with the problem be the one who serious illnesses, there is also enters their homes to fix it. great healing happening here. That took a year and a half to People who were complacent do, and it essentially amounted for over two decades are now to getting State and Federal speaking their minds. Like our agencies and a multi-billion Founding Fathers, we are rising dollar international corporation up to a super power and, as a to simply change their minds.
Polution
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And we did it. There is always hope. There are always ways to change our current circumstances, whether those conditions are external or internal. Each moment brings with it a new choice, and I have always been one who challenges people who tell me (to quote Bruce Hornsby) “that’s just the way it is.” No, it is not. It’s really not. People believe that lie because it has been repeated so often. I come from the Deepak Chopra school of thought that believes it is possible for people with stage-four cancer to heal. The truth is that we create “the way it is” with every new choice. And we can recreate it in the next moment by making a different one. A better one. Author’s Additional Note: One resident of our town, of his own accord and not in
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Polution cont’d association with our citizens’ group, has created an online petition calling for an independent federal investigation into the ongoing situation in Pompton Lakes. You can help our town by signing the petition online at the following link: www.petitiononline.com/PLinvsgt/ You do not need to be a resident of our town to help out. Many thanks. Copyright © 2010 by Jefferson Harman. All rights reserved. Printed by permission of the author. Photo Credit – “Pompton Lake, June 2009” Copyright © 2010 by Jefferson Harman. Used by permission.
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As a symbolic intuitive, Jefferson Harman reads the symbols present in your dreams and everyday life. By interpreting this invisible language, he identifies your blocks and challenges and ways to overcome them. He has been actively studying the relationships among metaphysics, psychology, and anatomy for over 20 years. Jefferson offers workshops and private readings on Dream Interpretation and Overcoming Phobias. Jefferson is also a singer/ songwriter currently performing live in the NY/ NJ Metro Area. He is a member of the Holistic Mentorship Network, a practitioner at Peaceful Paths in Butler, NJ and a regular contributor to MARCI™ Magazine. Contact Jefferson at 973.839.9317 or jharman11@mindspring.com
Spring 2010
To awaken our beauty, love, and truth is to awaken our true selves. Living in a world focused on doing instead of being, we move through life in the mind instead of the heart. Not having enough time is an illusion that keeps us on the wheel of going nowhere fast. Slowing down to pay attention and really live takes practice in our modern world. Pausing to breathe more fully takes us out of the fog of busy life and so called responsibilities. True responsibility is not a to-do list; it is the ability to respond authentically in the moment. Looking out for sunrise or sunset, listening to the birds or wildlife reminds us of the world outside of our busy heads full of expectations and limitations. When I meditate twice a day for 30 minutes, each day expands into a week. I have facilitated and attended vision quests in the wilderness. When sitting in the woods for three days and nights with nothing but some water and myself, I realized just how long each minute, hour, and twenty-four hours is and how much all are wasted in my real life with distraction, deadlines, and “stuff”. As I write ‘deadlines’ it has new meaning… Slowing down and paying attention is a good way to begin. Who am I, where am I? Appreciating self and others is so important. Nothing has to be the way it is, we can awaken and change and become content and loving and present.
Treasure Yourself: A Sure Pathway to Complete Healing by Janet StraightArrow
The only thing we have is time. Enjoy it, appreciate it, live it! When we face a disease or experience that brings us nose to nose with death we are suddenly brought to either wake up from the sleep of our lives, or go deeper into fear. You are worth taking the time to slow down and notice yourself and the world. Why are we here? After enough near-deaths and traumas the only thing I could come up with is this – to experience joy! As I continue to heal the judge and the jury in my head, and the fear, pain, and sorrow in my body, mind, and heart, my true self emerges in all of its glory. I learned to live zero tolerance for acting and speaking against myself – no matter what others said or did – and work on this practice every day. Giving up the ghosts of our upbringing and lives is to allow innocence and newness to become our way again, or
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for the first time. Instead of seeking outward approval or fitting in, we find our security and safety is in our own self. When we treasure ourselves we honor the life we were given – each breath, touch, feeling, expression of ourselves, and people in our lives is precious. To smell the rain, taste the snow, and feel the sun on our skin is worth taking the time to experience. All of this is our gift of being human. Human nature is glorious. Health is normal when you live in alignment with you. Disease is the result of dis-ease, not being at ease in your self. In my healing and Medical Intuitive practice I find that all illness has a cause of living out of alignment with our truth in a myriad of ways. As StraightArrow I am guided to locate those places within others and myself to see where we have been caught up in an event, trauma, pattern, belief, or fear that has kept us open for problems and pain. Healing this is my honor, gift and joy of being me – living my life purpose. Only by treasuring and accepting this, can I bring it to you and the world. Not feeling worthy or good enough is often the entrance point for the disease to take hold. Learning to love our selves enough to heal is the greatest adventure. When we heal ourselves we heal our families, environment and the world.
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Treasure Yourself cont’d To treasure yourself is the least selfish thing you do, and the way to awaken and heal disease in the world. As each one of us becomes fully human and present, the world becomes a better, safer place to live. Join us in retreats, sessions and workshops to awaken the true precious you – the healer within – and live fully now. Janet StraightArrow, Author, Medicine Woman, Medical Intuitive Energy Healer, Teacher, and a Mother Goddess, carries a light and love and abundant teachings and experience to assist others to Be The Medicine, Living the Power of You! Located in Morristown, NJ and on the phone, web, and traveling with and to groups. www.bethemedicine.com 973.647.2500 www.facebook.com/ janet.straightarrow
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Book Review patterns and feelings about one’s life. The end result is the reader living a happier, positive, healthy and productive life. Sexual and physical abuse all led her to live a life of low self esteem and left her with feelings of not being deserving of anything. Louise turned her life around with many of the exercises in this book. This is proof that anyone can turn their life around and be worthy and abundant.
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay, Founder of Hay House, Inc. reviewed by Monica Wortman This book would be an asset to any bookshelf for those ready to heal their own life holistically. This book is loaded with information for anyone to heal any ailment. This book is ideal for anyone looking to heal themselves of unwanted disease and thought patterns. Louise believes that we make ourselves sick by having thoughts of selfhatred and negativity. She provides the reader how to gain abundance, self-love, good health, and spirituality. Louise’s motivation for writing this book is to give guidance on how to “re-wire” thought MARCI™
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Louise developed vaginal cancer which she believes was attributed to being raped when she was very young. Louise knew that mental healing worked effectively from her own practice of lecturing others about these new thought patterns. She did not let her diagnoses get the best of her. She said “cancer was a disease of deep resentment that has been held for a long time until it literally eats away at the body”. She believes that if we do not correct our thought patterns, no matter what doctors do, cancer would remain. Louise feels that if cancer or any other illness returns, it is because the mental patterns have not been exercised and the disease would show up in another part of the body. Louise used the new thought patterns along with several other methods, all of which are too numerous to be listed here, and she is now cancer-free and was able to avoid undergoing a surgical procedure. Review by Monica Wortman, Reiki Master/ Teacher, sole proprietor of Angels Are At Our Side, Empath, Clairvoyant Angel Card Reader, Crystal Healer, Crystal Chakra Balancing, and Angel Therapy Guidance. Vernon, NJ 973.479.3468 moonandangellover@yahoo.com Spring 2010
My Father loved to garden, and Clematis, such as these, was one of his favorites. Two years ago this Spring, my Father’s life was prematurely seized by cancer of the bladder, a cancer which in 99% of cases is caused by benzene, a major carcinogen found in tobacco. My dear Father would still be here today if he had quit smoking. If you or someone you know smokes, please make it your highest priority to seek out the proper help to quit. -Joanna DeGroot, editor & layout designer for MARCI™
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Announcements
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Sue Freeman is a Certified Empowerment Coach, Reiki Master Teacher,and Ordained Minister from Chester, NJ. Sue empowers people through inspirational collages such as this one on “Faith”. Visit her website: www.theartoftheheart-chester.com
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Introducing… ‘s own
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Coming to our next issue!
Let MARCI™ help fill the seats at your next event! RATE: $5 for members and $8 for non-members per event listing, which includes two lines: one for the title of your event, and the other for your link/contact info. BONUS: Place a ½-page ad in MARCI™ and receive a FREE event listing. Place a 1-page ad and get 2 FREE event listings. Submissions for MARCI™ Summer edition need to be in by May 10, 2010. Email your submissions to: marci@marcimagazine.com
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