Crystal Connections A HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Premier Issue
Get Inspired: Can peace be SEXY? Essential Health: OILS! 6 Ways to Move Forward Igniting your Inner Spark
May/June 2016
Crystal Connections Table of contents editor, creatrix: sarah jacobs Assitant editor: heidi tungesvick
MIND
6 igniniting your inner spark 8 current crushes 10 peace is sexy
10 6
BODY 13 all is fair in love and 15 essential healths:oils!
fitness
15
SOUL 16 shakti evolution 18 wtf(fifty)?! 19 moving forward
18
16
19
The information in this magazine is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Holistic health and spiritual healing should not be used for a substitute for treatment by a health care professional, but to be used as a supplemental and complementary treatment. There is no statement herein as to therapeutic efficacy. Crystal Connections magazine shall bear no liability whatsoever for direct or indirect, special or consequential damages relating in any way to the use of information provided in this magazine, or resulting from any defects or failure of this information. Consumers are urged to evaluate practitioners and modalities thoroughly and make wellinformed decisions regarding their physical, emotional and psychological health. The opinions expressed by the contributors and writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine and it's Editor and Assistant Editor.
Crystal Connections Contributors This magazine was made possible because these women allowed me to stand on their shoulders while I built it! I'd like to give a big shout out to these amazing, empowered, sexy women. I am forever grateful that they took a chance on me, and contributed their words of wisdom, to this publication. Thank you!- Sarah
Heidi Tungsevick YOU!
Writer, Assistant Editor, kinda Crunchy-Goddess:
Your Face Here
Can PEACE be SEXY? Are you buying into the media?
PAGE 10
Writer? Bloggess? Mover and Shaker? We want to publish you! Contact us and let's make it happen.
Judy LaJesse
jESSICA zDENEK
Model, Runner, Fitness
Apprentice Priestess,
Addict, Bloggess: Judy
Creative Healer, and all
wants you to to embrace
things haute Yoga: Jessica
your body and just get
shares her beautiful and
moving, already!
difficult metamorphosis.
PAGE 13
PAGE 16
Saree Reveling
Julie Kramer
Coach, Speaker, Insurance Diva,
Designer, Dreamer,
and the best damn cheerleader I
Inventor, Free Spirit.
know. Read her story and spark
Follow your dreams, no
your inner power.
matter what your age is!
PAGE 6
PAGE 18
If you are interested in being a contributor or would like to be featured in this magazine, please email me at: crystalconnectionsmag@gmail.com
Sarah
r the Edito m o r f g in n A war
"I have no idea what I'm doing, but I"m gonna do it anyway." Welcome to my corner of the world, that I have affectionately named "Crystal Connections". This magazine is a project of love and fear. It's my love of design, teaching, spirituality, metaphysics,and collaboration. It's also a tool for you, dear reader. I want it to be an inspiration for you. I want you to learn that you can start where you're at, and just go for it. You don't have to know what your are doing. You just need to start. Is this magazine perfect, by industry standards? I have no idea, and I've had to let go of my fears of judgment, and just go for it. My hope is that you will read between the lines, and judge for yourself, if this magazine is going to be a tool for you to start living in love, and not in fear. I hope that this magazine teaches people that you can weave spirituality into your everyday life, in a fun and funky and sassy way. So grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and flip through this magazine, and take note of anything you think a girlfriend needs to hear. ;)
Find your strength- Understand your challenges Move forward $50 off a coaching package with Core Passion® coach Saree Reveling *when you mention this ad*
Saree Reveling www.SareeReveling.com sareerev@yahoo.com
Feeling held back, but can't put your finger on why? Settle in for some homespun advice, served with a side of sauce, from THAT GIRL, Core Passion® coach, Saree Reveling.
A
re there things you have always wanted to do but there is something holding you back, and you can’t quite seem to shake it…..or even put your finger on exactly what IT is? Well, let me tell you this…YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This blocked feeling is very common! Unfortunately, this isn’t a regular topic brought up at happy hour or office luncheons. Can’t you just hear it: "How have things been going?” (as you and your girlfriend both sip your happy hour Captain Morgan Cokes) “Well, it’s funny you should ask because I’ve been feeling a little lost inside lately, and I’m not even sure what it is that would make me feel complete. I know it sounds silly, but it’s like I don’t even know what I’m good at or even enjoy anymore. Every day feels the same, and I’m not sure where my joy for life went. I know I’m blocking myself, but I don’t even know what it is that is blocking me!”
Hmmmmm ya…I didn’t think so. We simply don’t discuss this! We hold it inside or brush it away with a nice bottle of Merlot and a marathon session of Netflix’s House of Cards and hope the feeling will disappear by Monday. Especially in the good ‘ol Midwest where the last thing we want to do is express how we “really feel.” Talking about our deep feelings might make other people uncomfortable, and that would go against our representation of “Minnesota Nice” and “Fargo Friendly!”
(continued on next page)
You are not alone. I “get you”. I am THAT girl. I have spent the last several years of my life searching for someone and that someone was ME. I thought I was the only one out there who felt like I was lost to myself. I was searching for myself in books, jobs, friends…and especially in all things “sugar”. Funny enough, I wasn’t in any of those things. When I DID begin to find myself was when I started looking at my gifts. I share this with you because I was a victim of my life and now I am a creator of my life. I have fully experienced the pain that comes from not valuing who I am, and I know there is a way out! I have changed professions, made lifestyle changes and now share the Core Passion tools through public speaking, private coaching, and workshops. All because I decided to look at myself instead of continuing to stifle that nagging feeling away. If you are feeling stuck, you don’t have to feel stuck for long. There is a big world out there full of experiences waiting for you to jump into! And there are tools to help you discover yourself and people who are passionate about helping you do it! If you are interested in learning about YOUR amazing gifts, I will encourage you to reach out to me. Your uniqueness is your greatness, and I want to show you HOW amazing you are!
Life works in funny ways because just about the time where I felt like I didn’t know where else to search, I found Core Passion. Core Passion is a program that measures the frequency of your inner spirit and the forces that drive you to do what you do. What I found through Core Passion was…well…myself! This program was able to measure that unspoken energy within me, the personality gifts which I am naturally blessed with and the things that I am challenged with and resisting as part of myself. What I discovered was that I bring some pretty amazing things to this world and what I was simply doing was focusing on my challenges rather than my gifts. Living in this fashion is nonproductive and unflattering, to say the least. The other thing I discovered was that our challenges are natural occurrences based upon the gifts that we hold within our personalities. Wow, so other people who have these gifts also struggle with the same challenges? It was all so amazing to discover, and it has completely changed my life.
Saree Reveling has devoted much of the last 10 years to personal development and growth and is an Authorized Core Passion® Facilitator. She is inspired and passionate about the dynamics of personalities and the role they play in the home and workplace. Currently, Saree balances her time between the Marketing Director for Integrity 1st Insurance in Fargo, ND and speaking engagements, workshops and one-on-one coaching through her Career Coaching business, Inner Spark. Saree is highly devoted to inspiring and empowering individuals to reach their true potential and to live their best lives. Website: www.sareereveling.com Email: sareerev@yahoo.com
Current Crushes.... For the mind: The Healing Power of the Sacred Woman
Dr. Page weaves her medical wisdom with her historic and hands on knowledge of the archetypes of the Goddess and teaches how these myths are based in fact.
Health, Creativity, and Fertility for the Soul
Available at: Amazon.com and www.ChristinePage.com Image source: christinepage.com
For the body: Wild harvested. Hand crafted. Vital Herbals is an organic and holistic company that your body will thank you for! From bath products to make-up to home, you will LOVE what Noelle has to offer!
Image source: Instgram.com/vitalherbals
www.etsy.com/shop/vitalherbals
For the soul: Matt Kahn's YouTube channel:" True Divine Nature" is FULL of spiritual enlightenment and a few laughs! With 5 million views, you can't go wrong!
Image source: YouTube
www.youtube.com/user/juliemuse
For your entertainment:
Fun and sassy oracle cards! Deck of 35 cards includes instructions on how to use them to provide spiritual clarity on a situation.
Image source: Printerstudio.com
www.printerstudio.com/sell/SaltyGoddess
Crisis, branded
"Peace is Sexy!" -Jean Houston
Can peace be sexy? Writer Heidi Tungsevick wants you to decide for yourself. What is Peace? A delicious, juicy state of existence that occurs within each of us as well as without. A ripe, verdant reality full of pure potentiality. Peace is inspiring, exciting, expanding, titillating, and unexpected like the shiver induced by a cool mountain stream flowing between your toes. Peace is the freedom to pursue the open creative state that occurs by being fully present in your authentic self. This comprehension of unlimited possibility can happen anytime, anywhere. Nothing is sexier than waking up every morning with the full knowledge that my life is what I decide it is. Is it getting hot in here? Many of us ask ourselves the question; How can I bring about change and make this world a more peaceful and loving place? I vote, I try to be the best parent, daughter/son, husband/wife, employee, and friend that I can be, and yet the world seems to be more violent and scary than ever! All I hear about is terrorism, war, pollution, economic instability, and the lurid circus of our presidential campaigners.
Nothing is less sexy than waking up every morning feeling powerless and hopeless. If this sounds like you, don't despair. You can feel the seduction of peace and change the world!
I recently watched the movie Our Brand Is Crisis with Sandra Bullock. *Spoiler Alert* It’s about a politician that hires a campaign manager (Sandra Bullock) to resurrect his campaign. The campaign manager comes up with the brand of Crisis. Tell the people that they and their country are in a crisis. Get them afraid and angry. Then convince them that the only one that can fix this crisis is this particular politician. The campaign is a big success and as soon and the politician is elected he goes against his promises to the people and does whatever serves his monetary interests. This movie is fiction. But make no mistake, selling fear is exactly what the mainstream media and our current politicians have done and are doing in the United States. Generating fear and hatred distracts and divides the populace and weakens the power of the people at a grassroots level. What an epic mood killer. I am not advocating for either side in this article as both major parties are utilizing this tool. According to them, we should either be afraid of their opponent, the current administration, other countries, other people or all of the above! When we get angry and afraid, our heart rate goes up, and we feel a rush of energy that can be addicting. It is built into our DNA and was important because it kept our ancestors alive when being charged by hippopotamuses. Being constantly outraged and indignant does not help us live longer anymore. It causes stress, depression, bitterness and a victim mentality. -Hippos are still dangerous, though.
Shift your focus In the present day, there are two main problems with the fear-mongering media. 
The first one is that it is a Big Fat Lie. Here is the truth that the mainstream media doesn’t tell you: There is much, much MORE beautiful, kind, loving people and actions existing and happening in this world than there are negative. Yes, bad things happen but not nearly as often as the good things. (continued on next page)
The second main problem is that it puts us in a state that creates more crisis, more fear, and more hatred. We then perpetuate the story over and over in our minds, lives, and then at a global scale. We are easily manipulated into following what we often perceive as the lesser of two evils when we are in a state of fear.
Yes, we want to be informed of what's going on. When reading or watching the news keeping these three things in mind.
They are mostly selling you the negative stories and suppressing of the inspirational truths.
Consider alternative news outlets that independent of huge corporations, instead of the mainstream media, which only sensationalize what is in the best interest of said companies.
You are empowered We have the power to reject the ultimatum of others limited perspectives and choose not to be manipulated through fear. If we want to get rid of war, poverty, hatred, pollution, etc., then we need to be focusing, celebrating, and therefore, perpetuating the opposite of that. We can then physically, mentally, and spiritually take part in the proliferation of all things good. Instead of despairing about how out-of-control the major polluting corporations are, focus on the 15-year-old inventor that has the plan to clean up litter in the world's oceans by 2020 and donate to his Kickstarter campaign. Google how to reduce your carbon footprint. Only purchase products made by ethical companies. Instead of feeling discouraged by the superficiality of popular culture, look to the celebrities that are buying land and making them bee sanctuaries. Subscribe to the magazines that empower young women instead of objectifying them. (Like this one!) Instead of feeling apathetic and horrified by the alarmingly increasing cancer and autism rates, research the alternative doctors that are doing amazing things. They are out there! These are the types of things that deserve our attention. Instead, we marginalize these stories as fluff. These elevating and game-changing stories should be front page news! As much as sensationalized and outrageous fear draws us in and touches a primal part of us so does the infinite and delicious possibilities of peace!
Peace is not an insipid white dove with a twig in its beak. Peace is a sexy, juicy, exciting, and bursting with evocative possibility! We are creative creatures and peace creates space for inventors, artists, passionate philosophers, entrepreneurs, and innovative businesses. Peace is happening all around us! It's a peace orgy!
It starts with you Ask yourself, "What are some awesomely good things going on right now and who are the people doing them? How do they inspire me? How can I celebrate these inspirational individuals or events?" Even if you don't have the answers to these questions right away just asking them will shift your perspective, and you will start to notice the peace possibilities that already exist. If you ask yourself these questions on a daily basis, your life will begin to change. Your health may improve. You will attract other inspirational people into your life. Your actions will take on a purposeful, passionate tone. You will turn into the very thing you are celebrating! You will look back at the angry, depressed, dispassionate, apathetic person you used to be, and your heart will fill with gratitude for the new person you have become and the wondrous world you occupy. You could get your sexy back! You will see yourself and others with compassion because you have been in their shoes and you know it can be better. You will extend your compassion and lift others up into the light. You will be spreading peace to the whole world like the ripples from a drop in the ocean of humanity. The collective consciousness is growing and evolving into an empowered, peaceful, fruitful vibration.
Feel the love. Need a starting point? Here are some of my favorite websites to get you inspired. There are lots of great things happening! http://www.peaceissexy.net/ www.heartmath.org http://wildsister.com/ http://www.destinationimagination.org/ http://www.gaia.com/ www.emergingprairie.com http://www.1millioncups.com/ http://www.ubuntuusa.com/ http://wanderlust.com/ http://www.hayhouseradio.com/#!/ Join a Facebook group that encourages and uplifts with like-minded souls. www.facebook.com/accidentalgoddess/ www.facebook.com/UTWnow/?fref=ts
Heidi Tungesvick is a Reiki Master, Certified Life Force Energy Practitioner, Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, Herbalist and Aromatherapist. Heidi is the owner of Wild Velvet Wellness and CoCreator at Accidental Goddess. She is also a fermented foodie, a Jane Austin fanatic and thinks that peace is sexy. Email: wildvelvetwellness@gmail.com Website: www.wildvelvetwellness.com Facebook : Wild Velvet Wellness
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Massage and Energy Healing with Sarah Hrichena Relax and pamper yourself with a massage Renew and rejuvenate your soul with Reiki Empower yourself and release old patterns with Integrated Energy Therapy®.
Contact Sarah to start your healing journey, today! Sarah Hrichena, LMT, IET, & Reiki 1675 Hwy 10 W, Suite B Dilworth, MN 56529 Call 701-367-7466 or 218-236-1187 to schedule an appointment.
All is Fair in Love and Fitness
Photography by Yyonne Denault
"Fitness Girl" and model Judy LaJesse talks about how loving your life starts with loving yourself.
because there isn’t room for anything else in the room (except for what you swept under the rug). My mirror… When I realized I was changing everything in my life to fit neatly around my lumpy rug, I made the decision that I wanted to make room for better people/things/life. Making that room required me to look under the rug and toss the things that were no longer serving me. To be honest, the hardest thing was admitting to myself that I had swept things under the rug. I thought up until now I did a pretty good job hiding that (and mostly from myself). So, that moment when I looked in the mirror and said OUTLOUD “I Love You,” it was my game changer! I think about the love I have for my daughter (for example), why wouldn’t I want the same for myself? How could I expect her to love herself so much, and tell her how important it is to take care of what’s inside but not do the same for me? I felt like a fake. Of course, as Mother you just put your Mom pants on, and take care of everyone else around you and save what time/energy you have left for yourself.
Before this, the picture wasn’t always clear, and I knew it. I tried everything I could to see who I was, find out who this lady is staring back.
“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence,” sound a little cliché? Although it is, it’s 100% true. Think for just a moment, and dig deep. When you go about your day, do you spend time worried about how someone else looks, what they eat, what they’re going to do? I’m going to guess not. Like most people, you get up and have your routine. Maybe you have a household to get ready for school, work, and then a busy day, groceries, running kids to activities or whatever. AND, even if you don’t (I’m the later) I still get up, have my routine work a full day, and then my evening is just as busy with meal planning, grocery shopping, and running errands. When do I have time to sit and think what ‘Nancy’ is doing next door, or what ‘Suzie’ is thinking about me? Who cares! As writer and mentor, Jodee Bock, always says, “It’s none of my business what others think of me”, and it truly isn’t. When you give someone the satisfaction of any worrisome thoughts in your mind, it’s just free rent space.
I consider myself a running addict. I was (ok probably still am to some degree) addicted to running. What did running do for me so much that I still think about it multiple times daily? It was my meditation. It was my way of (yes in a way run from my problems) keeping my head on straight. Running was my way to cope with everything around me that I could NOT control.
Throughout the last 7-10 years, I have been blessed to meet some pretty amazing women, who have opened their hearts and shown me the real possibilities of who I am. I feel pretty blessed to have this opportunity to share those stories with you, and more! My emotional breakthroughs and ah-ha moments which I hope will help you find the courage to love yourself!
W
hen you look in the mirror, and love what’s staring back at you… That’s a game changer!
I can’t even begin to explain every method of fitness/diet I have tried. Some successful, and some not. What I’d like to do, is roll up my sleeves and share what I’ve experienced. Welcome to my story. It was only 3-6 months ago when my picture came in clear. That picture was my reflection in the mirror. I made a conscious decision to love myself, truly love me! I chose to love who I was, who I am, and where I’m headed.
Another way to visualize this is every time you have a feeling you’re afraid of or something happens you don’t want to deal with simply brush it under the carpet and watch it disappear (yeah right). As many emotions/feelings/problems, as I was sweeping under that rug, I should have had a much larger house. Eventually, the lump under the rug gets to big. You start to see it, then you have to rearrange things to make room for it, and when that doesn’t work you have to clear the room
Judy LaJesse: "I am a fitness enthusiast, daughter, sister, mom, lover...I LOVE change! I enjoy learning new things, and most of all spending time on making myself stronger. Whether that's with love, fitness, family, friends, or reading a good book. I feel the most complete when my day starts with telling myself "I love you".
Facebook: Fargo Fitness Girl
Twitter:@FargoFitnessGirl
ALL HANDS ON DECK Energy Healing is becoming more and more mainstream. Reiki is being used in hospitals, which was almost unheard of just a few years ago. Energy Healing can assist with emotional hurts, diet battles, and physical healing, if that is what you believe. We've compiled a few healing modalities to show the diverse network that is available as alternative and complimentary medicine.
Reiki
Integrated Energy Therapy速
"Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress
Also known as IET速, it is sometimes affectionately
reduction and relaxation that also promotes
described as healing with the angels, because that's
healing. It is administered by 'laying on hands'
exactly what it is! Utilizing nine angels, a certified
and is based on the idea that an unseen "life
and attuned practitioner uses Divine energy to clear
force energy" flows through us and is what
"the issues out of your tissues" as well as blocks
causes us to be alive." A certified and attuned
from the chakra system. Empower your present by
practitioner uses their hands to send this "life
releasing your limiting energy patterns of your past.
force energy" to the client, and the subtle body
www.integratedenergytherapy.net
is flooded with positive, healing energy. www.reiki.org
Emotional Freedom Technique
Jin Shin Jyutsu速
Also known as EFT or "Tapping", this
"Jin Shin Jyutsu速 physio-philosophy is an
method of healing combines tapping on
art of harmonizing the life energy in the
meridian points of Chinese acupressure and a
body."A simple form of acupressure, a
bit of psychology. It's easy to learn, and you
certified practitioner releases energy blocks
can do it on yourself, without the aid of a
in the meridian system, and harmonizes the
practitioner, if you choose.
subtle energy field.
www.eft.mercola.com
www.jsjinc.net
Clary Sage Essential oils are fast becoming a popular alternative medicine, in today's culture. This month, we will focus on Clary Sage and it's multitude of uses for mind, body, and spirit. Clary Sage has been shown to raise naturally estrogen and progesterone levels which makes it perfect for women going through hormonal changes such as menopause.
Fragrance
Application
Clary Sage essential oil is a middle note fragrance.
Dilute 1:1 with a carrier oil and apply to
It is warming, bright, earthy, herbaceous and has a
feet, ankles, and wrists. Apply 6-8 drops
subtle fruity note. Clary Sage blends well with bay,
neat to lower back or chakras for PMS or
bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, cedarwood,
stress relief. Inhale directly or diffuse.
chamomile, coriander, cypress, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemon balm, lime, mandarin, and patchouli.
Recipe for Relief
Magic
Hot Flash Relief Blend:
It enhances one’s ability to dream and is very
In a 50ml mist bottle add 25 drops of oil
calming and stress-relieving. Clary Sage invokes the wisdom of the Divine Feminine Collective and
and then fill the rest up with distilled water. After filling hold the bottle between your
helps connect ones energies with the angelic realms.
hands and say aloud a prayer of intention
It encourages self-love, calm, contentment and goddess energy. It may even bring out your inner sex goddess.
for the spray to relieve hot flashes. You can repeat the prayer every time you use it for maximum effectiveness. 10 drops Clary Sage
Health
5 drops Fennel 10 drops Palmarosa
Its medical properties include; anticoagulant, antioxidant, antidiabetic, estrogen-like, antifungal, antispasmodic, relaxant, cholesterol-reducing, antitumoral, and anesthetic. It can be used for many
Purchase
conditions including Leukemia, menstrual discomforts/PMS, hormonal imbalance, insomnia, circulatory problems and high cholesterol.
I recommend Young Living Essential Oils as they are therapeutic-grade. I trust the quality and enjoy working with a great
Spirit
company. You can purchase oils on the
Clary Sage corresponds with the 6th
Young Living website at retail price or
Chakra or third eye. During the Middle
create an account (use YL distributer
Ages for its famous ability to clear tired
#1418430) and purchase a starter kit for
or strained eyes and blurred vision.
wholesale pricing. www.youngliving.com ~Heidi Tungesvick~
PRECAUTIONS Oil Specific: Avoid while pregnant
General: As with all essential oils, never use them undiluted, in eyes or mucus membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children. If applying an essential oil to your skin always perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body (after you have properly diluted the oil in an appropriate carrier. For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
care for that part of myself as it held all of my shame and darkness I kept trying to whip into shape. At some level, my body remembered being forced into submission during a rape I experienced as a young girl. Unconsciously, I was continuing to play out that pattern of domination upon a part of myself that I feared most: that part of me that knew the truth and the gap between the truth and my disconnected life.
Shakti Evolution If you don't bend, you will eventually break. Creative Healer and Yoga instructor Jessica Zdenek shares her story of emotional evolution, through Yoga (with the help of a man in a Speedo?). I used to be a runner. I’d run until my legs wobbled out from under me. Sometimes I puked after a race. Running was a great place to put my aggression, and as a teen, I loved to run as hard as I could until I couldn’t walk anymore. But as I got older my knees and my hips didn’t like the aggression so much, or the grueling push I would force upon my body in order to feel as if I had accomplished something great. Often my exercise felt like I was dividing myself into one part slave and one part grueling taskmaster. The slave part of me didn’t so much like this configuration, in fact, it started to get all pesky, asking for equality and respect and stuff. But I didn’t much
I discovered yoga when I was in seminary, as my academic studies turned me into a walking head, my body was like, “What about me? What about all the stories and experiences that we know in here? What about this wisdom that comes from within?” I began my yoga practice with a 20 minute VHS of Rodney Yee (in Speedos—that way at least the looking was enjoyable). I have to tell you: I hated practicing yoga. I would grumble at my teachers in my head or under my breath and roll my eyes at their cheesy talk. Being in my body was a really big challenge! There was so much anger and pain in my body that I had been trying to ignore or dominate but in yoga, I wasn’t allowed to escape or punish myself anymore. Yoga invited me to reconnect with my body, this time in a way that honored it rather than dominated it. Yoga teaches me to stay with the uncomfortable and to cultivate compassion towards the things that strike me as bad and wrong. I kept up the practice because I loved how I felt afterward. I could tell I had changed. My problems were not so bad with a new perspective. Here I could access deep peace and compassion. I wanted to keep accessing it for my benefit and for everyone else who interacted with me. I love the image in the Bible of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit to dwell. It took me years to understand that the Holy Spirit doesn’t just come in and dominate and subjugate all my ‘bad’ parts. Instead, what I am discovering is that when my ‘bad’ parts are gently loved with compassion, they transform and reveal their light side. Christ is truly born in
the mangers of our lives, bringing light to the outcasts and love to the very depths of our pain.
For me, yoga is a practice of transformation. It’s a practice of communion, sharing love and light with all parts of self, the beautiful and the strange. All parts of self are needed to hold the sacred symmetry of the soul. Through mindful movements, we can become conscious of where we are holding tension in the body and over time our energy channels open up to receive more of the life force flowing through us. Our bodies become optimized for holding the light, for healing, for bringing healing to others as we discover new ways of making community and living on the earth together. When we put aside the power-over paradigm with ourselves, others and the earth, we create sacred relationships based on balance, respect, and equality. I used to be a runner. Now I enjoy walking slowly upon the earth and savoring the beauty of the present moment from which I no longer want to escape. Jessica Zdenek, MAT, RYT, Apprentice Priestess & Creative Healer. Jessica is a graduate of St. Olaf College and Fuller Theological Seminary. She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. Jessica offers yoga videos, private instruction, creative healing therapies, Reiki services and much more at TARALOMA Earth Temple Email: jessica@taraloma.com Website: www.taraloma.com Facebook: Taraloma Yoga by Jessica
Crystal Connection: Connecting to the power of
Amythest
Using crystals in your everyday life is not only beneficial to your spiritual well being, but they can also assist your emotional and physical well being. Not only are pretty to look at, they each hold their very own "energy signature", or "vibe".
Attributes: *Connected to the Crown Chakra: Used to provided mental and spiritual clarity *Be more in tune with your feelings, know yourself on a deeper level. *Physically calming, when you feel anxious. *Cleanse the air and energy in the home.
The word amethyst is from the Greek meaning "without drunkenness". In ancient times, some people would drink from amethyst cups to protect them from alcoholism. They would also pulverize it and put it in their drinks, to protect them from poisoning.
You are invited to
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Accidental Goddess is a gathering place for women that are looking for inspiration, spiritual awareness, and a little fun! Join us on Facebook for daily wisdom, laughs, intuitive messages, and weekly energetic readings. Visit our YouTube channel for guided meditations that are short enough to keep up with a busy schedule, and perfect for the beginner or someone who is looking for a fresh perspective on an age old practice.
the beauty in cooking. The colors of vegetables are really amazing!! Yes, I am eating the vegetables too! Inventing Self-Confidence I have also become an inventor! I have about three other products swimming in my head ready to be actualized. Right now, I am working on a product that will help empower girls. Throughout this process, I have faced fears, done things that I have never done before and finally found my self-confidence! I really don’t know the last time I had self-confidence. However, I do remember the lack of self-confidence always being a topic of discussion on my elementary school report cards. So, maybe I never had self-confidence. My self-confidence came from making the changes in my life. I am doing things that I have never done before. I took a leap! I got out of my comfort zone. I took a risk…a really big risk. I have made mistakes and blunders and have had failures. Had I not experienced these risks, mistakes and blunders, I would have never experienced my “Charge of Life”, nor would I have discovered my self-confidence.
WTF(ifty)?! Do we come into our true selves after the age of fifty, with deepened wisdom and confidence? Could our second 50 years be even better than the first 50? Designer and Dreamer Julie Kramer tells her story and drops the F-bomb (fifty)! When trying to decide what to write about, I thought that the recent changes in my life might be interesting. Since I am 51, mainstreamers might call it a mid-life crisis. I wouldn’t. I want to call it something clever, so I looked up synonyms to a midlife crisis and found menopause (really? A little sexist there!), climacteric (wtf??) and change of life. I like change of life, but it isn’t really clever. Maybe I’ll call mine “Charge of Life,” since I am now truly, truly in charge of my life, my destiny and my happiness! Finish Lines I turned 50 in 2014. Since then, I have worked at transforming my life. One milestone at 50 was that I ran and completed my first 26.1-mile marathon. The marathon was just for me to prove to myself that I could do it and that I could take a goal and build slowly to accomplish it. A marathon is basically just that, not a sprint but a long run to a goal, right? The other major milestone for me was that I opted to go for a severance package, instead of staying at a job (that I had been at for 22 years) that no longer served me. What not to Wear Eat At 51, I worked at changing my eating habits. They were very bad eating habits, so bad that I am embarrassed to admit that I ate like a child, not an adult. I now cook! Since I am a creative at heart and consider myself an artist, I actually see
” I call out to all of you standing on the edge to JUMP! Take that leap!" Because You're Worth It So, as I am standing on top of the mountain looking out at this vast world (really standing on my 17th-floor balcony looking out at other tall buildings of Chicago), I call out to all of you standing on the edge to JUMP! Take that leap! Free fall! It will be the ride of your life! Life is for discovery and experience. Taking the risk is SO WORTH IT!
Julie Kramer is an inventor, fashion designer, artist and dreamer. Her background includes over 20 years in the retail industry. She founded her clothing company, Shift Clothier, Inc., in 2010 with the intention of giving mature women a clothing line that is ageless, comfortable and fun to wear. Being an active dreamer, Julie has dabbled in art and creating entire live. In 2015, she founded Picture Pillow Productions, a business that will market her new products. She is in her element when she is creating. Email: Julie@juliekramershift.com Website: www.juliekramershift.com Facebook: Shift Clothier, Inc.
Moving forward by moving out of your comfort zone "To truly grow, change, and live life as you intend, it sometimes requires us to step outside of our comfort zone. This can be intimidating and frightening at first, however, pushing through your feat and getting out of your comfort zone can be highly rewarding for personal and spiritual growth. Blessings, Lynne"
Start with you * Take a baby step: Consider a big dream you have that is out of your comfort zone and break it down. Start by setting smaller daily goals that you can do, and "chip away" at the big goal, one small step (or steps) every day. * Unplug: Practice weekly of taking one day (or start with half a day then work your way up). Turn off your cell phone or electronic devices and have your family do the same. Engage in activities and conversations with one another during this time. This strengthens the bonds between family members, or within yourself by being more fully "present".
* Say "I love you": Let friends and family know how much you appreciate them, even the "littles" they may have done for you. This could be verbally, in a letter, or over the phone. Especially if you're not in the habit of doing so, this raises the vibration (energy, spirit) for all concerned.
Expand your circle * Take a baby step: Consider a big dream you have that is out of your comfort zone and break it down. Start by setting smaller daily goals that you can do, and "chip away" at the big goal, one small step (or steps) every day. * Compliment a stranger: Pay a stranger or acquaintance you never talk to a compliment or similar ice breaking way to start a conversation. Everyone loves a compliment, and you may brighten someone's day simply by paying them a compliment.
www.lynnehartwell.com
* Do something different: Check out workshops, events or other public activities that are happening locally and join in on what sounds interesting to you. Or just go and do something by yourself. This introduces you to new people, situations, and energies that can be very beneficial.
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