Issue 25 | Face the Current by Face the Current

Issue 25

September/October 2019

fAce the current TRAVEL

CULTURE

MUSIC

SPORTS & FITNESS

HEALTH

Nature’s Calling For Collective Sustainability:

Jackson Hole’s ‘Keep it Wild’ and Beyond Dr. Za c h Bu sh

on Regenerative Agriculture & Global Impact of “Convenience Lifestyle”

Dr. Mi chae l Gervais Master Your Mind to BE More & Unlock Your potential

Tou rin g Majestic

Lands of Turkey WITH

Murat DaGaslan

Fuel for an inspired life.

Brazil & Africa’s Top Music Duos

Cat Dealers + Goldfish

fAce the current

Editorial

Issue 25 · September/October 2019

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT Face the Current is creating a ripple effect, inspiring positive change in the world and enhancing lives by encouraging one another to relentlessly discover, explore, question and learn from current and emerging information and perspectives. Driven by a deep-rooted love of learning, creative minds and a great appreciation for connection with other individuals who are passionate about what they do, Face the Current has quickly developed into a growing team and global community of incredible people who believe in living life to the fullest and discovering their true potential. AWARDED #1 BEST PRINT MAGAZINE AND #1 IN MAGAZINE INSERTS IN A 7 STATE REGION OF THE US WEST COAST! Cover Image Credits: • Front cover: Kevin Eassa • Back cover: Murat Dagaslan

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DISCLAIMER The information provided in this magazine is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Opinions and other statements expressed by the kind souls sharing their viewpoint, users and third parties are theirs alone, not opinions of Face the Current. Content created by third parties is the sole responsibility of the third parties and its accuracy and completeness are not endorsed or guaranteed. Face the Current Website and third parties may provide links to web pages, web sites, and various resources or locations on the web. Face the Current has no control over the information you access via such links, does not endorse that information, and shall not be responsible for it or for the consequences of your use of that information. All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Face the Current may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this magazine.

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Letter from the editor In today’s world, global environmental concerns are at the forefront of many people’s hearts and minds. From the seemingly endless cycle of raging forest fires, to impending and destructive hurricanes, to growing concerns over food sustainability, we can’t escape the realities that face us every day. But there is hope for our environment! In this issue, FtC showcases Farmer’s Footprint and their regenerative agriculture movement, and digs deep into Dr. Zach Bush’s experience with the global impact of our “convenience lifestyle” and its effects on the environment and our health. While the world needs our help, it is still a breathtaking place and Kirsten Alexis reminds us that getting outside and exploring nature can achieve life-altering effects. And if you need any assistance reaching your adventuring milestones, Dr. Michael Gervais—high-performance psychologist for the Seattle Seahawks—is sure to help you find the power of the present moment to achieve results. To help our beautiful planet, we challenge you to find ways to be gentler on our natural resources by living your daily lives a little less conveniently. Swap out your coffee pods, carpool when possible, finally utilize your community’s green-bin collection services, buy or make your own reusable sandwich bags, or dust off that drying rack and give your dryer a well-deserved break. Whatever it is, we encourage and empower you to be your potential and to be the change.

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FtC TEAM

Sasha Frate Founder & Editor-in-Chief Sasha is a perspective seeker, adventurer, and explorer. She received her Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts and continues to study a variety of subjects within and outside of the academic setting. Sasha brings her personal moonshot approach to life to FtC, aiming to provide an experience for our global community where we inspire one another to stay curious, never stop exploring, and to live with purpose and to our potential.

sasha@facethecurrent.com

Ainsley Schoppel Co-Editor-in-Chief Ainsley is a classical pianist, former figure skater, and loves summers at the lake in northern Ontario. She holds an honors BA in Psychology and Arts & Business, and also earned a graduate degree in Hospitality and Business Management while working at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. After working in Toronto on published women-focused research, she moved outside the city to raise her family. While home with her son, she indulges her love of the written word with freelance editing.

ainsley@facethecurrent.com

Sema Garay

Jawn Angus

Executive Designer Sema is the graphic designer behind the development of the image and magazine of Face the Current. He has developed a multitude of projects, including his previous job leading the Creative Department of BG Life Magazine, in Marbella, Spain. Sema graduated with a Masters Degree in Architecture at ETSA of Sevilla and is proficient in a wide range of design software. He is passionate about all kinds of artistic expressions, and when not active behind the scenes of Face the Current design, you’re likely to find him playing music for Beach Grooves Global Radio or local venues along the Costa del Sol.

Sports Editor Jawn is a runner who has competed in 44 marathons in 38 US states, Canada and Australia. He is also an Ironman triathlete and owner of Marathawn Jawn Coaching based out of Seattle, WA and Scottsdale, AZ. Jawn is an RRCA Level II run coach, USA Triathlon Level I coach, and ISSA Strength & Conditioning certified trainer who offers running, triathlon and strength coaching online. He holds a degree in Healthy Lifestyles Coaching from Arizona State and studied Sports Nutrition and Exercise Immunology in Australia. When he’s not running, Jawn likes to soak up the Arizona sunshine.

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September/ October 2019 CONTRIBUTORS

Kevin Eassa

is a photographer and videographer who is passionate about the outdoors, nature, and shooting landscapes across the world’s craziest locations. He has traveled most his life, even long before buying his first camera. Once his first professional camera was in his hands, Kevin was filled with a newfound passion for photography. Before he knew it, he had dropped out of college to pursue his profound interest. Kevin worked four jobs for six months, putting in 100-120 hours a week until he was able to quit everything, and take his first one-way trip to Europe. From there the rest was history and he has been living his dream, turning his travels into a full time career and lifestyle. www.kevineassa.com

Zach Bush, MD is a triple board-certified physician and internationally-recognized educator on the intersection of the microbiome with human health/disease and our food production systems. His work is giving new insights into root-cause solutions in the sectors of farming, big pharma, and Western Medicine at large. Zach’s work in both for-profit and nonprofit arenas alike is creating avenues to foster collaborative action for all stakeholders in the global community, promoting a regenerative future of health for the planet and our children. Learn more at www.zachbushmd.com

We are a growing team of Up-Standers whose intention is to create positive change in the world through networking, connecting, supporting, and developing our global thought-community at both an individual and a collective level. We are passionate about building our crew of experts and industry leaders to deliver cutting-edge information that is created “by our global community, for our global community.” This issue’s FtC team and contributing crew are based in the U.S, Spain, and Canada.

Parashakti’s

shamanic healing work is born of more than two decades of experience facilitating workshops, trainings, and retreats around the world. Parashakti has developed the Seven Foundations and the Dance of Liberation™, as maps for her spiritual practice, living and breathing these foundations in daily ritual. Working on both an individual and a group basis, Parashakti has successfully adapted the teachings of the DOL as a modality for recovery from addiction and has developed Spiritual programs at inpatient and outpatient treatment centers. Her award-winning documentary, the Dance of Liberation, produced by the Wolper Organization recently acquired by FMTV, Itunes, Amazon & Google. www.parashakti.org

Woody Woodrow

is an internationally touring musician, yoga instructor, and a daily meditator. He helped found his heavy rock band “Our Last Night” over a decade ago and now travels around the globe sharing Yoga and Meditation before his shows. He loves connecting and suppor ting others to live their dreams and become the rockstars of their own life. You can find him on his blog each week at www.woodywoodrow.com

Erin Kann Singer and sound healer living in France, Erin Kann has long been exploring the benefits of sound and vocal vibration. Her “soulsearching” temperament and her creative sensitivity led her to gradually develop an original approach based on sound, vocal vibration, breath and water, and through distance sessions, workshops, guided meditations, and inspired singing concerts. It was not until June 2018, returning from a trip to Japan, that the idea of creating a range of Sound Balms® became obvious and : the TNSO brand was born. In parallel, Erin regularly lends her voice for special orders projects such as customized balms and inspired songs, as well as for original and authentic musical bands. She also performs on demand with her shamanic drum , at inspired singing concerts, which are another opportunity for her to offer the the world the benefits of vocal vibration to the world.. www.tnso.me

Lisa Guy

is a well-respected Australian naturopath, author and passionate foodie, with over 18 years clinical experience. Lisa runs a naturopathic clinic called ‘Art of Healing’ and is an avid health writer and recipe developer for leading publications. Lisa is also the founder of Bodhi Organic Tea, an award winning herbal tea company who makes beautiful unique tea blends all naturopathically blended to enhance health and wellbeing. artofhealing.com.au

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER CONTENT

20 Nature’s Calling For Collective Sustainability: Jackson Hole’s ‘Keep it Wild’ and Beyond

travel 08. Touring the Majestic Lands of Turkey with Resident Photographer Murat Dağaslan 14. FtC Travel Connection: Savin Scherer 20. Natures Call For Collective Sustainability: Jackson Hole And Beyond

culture

08 Touring the Majestic Lands of Turkey with Resident Photographer Murat Dağaslan 6

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28. Farmer’s Footprint And The Regenerative Agriculture Movement 32. A Path Of Native And Ancient Wisdom: Kai Karrel On Mediumship, Spirituality, And Self Love

FtC Issue 25

Brazil and South Africa’s Top Music Duos: Cat Dealers + Goldfish

56 Dr. Michael Gervais

on Mastering Your Mind To Be More And Unlock Your Potential

music 44. Brazil And South Africa’s Top Music Duos Unite Bringing ‘Colours & Lights’ To The World 50. Tnso And Sound Balms®: The Healing Power Of Sound

sports & fitness 56. Mastering Your Mind To Be More And Unlock Your Potential 66. Embracing The Elements And Life Of Adventure With Kirsten Alexis

health 78. The Global Impact Of The “Convenience Lifestyle” On Our Environment And Health With Dr. Zach Bush 86. Green Cleaning And Health Hacks With Eucalyptus

The Global Impact of the “Convenience Lifestyle” on Our Environment and Health With

Dr. Zach Bush

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FtC travel

Touring the Majestic Lands of Turkey

with Resident Photographer Murat Dağaslan By Sasha Frate

Turkey occupies a truly unique geographic position as a transcontinental country that lies partly in Asia and partly in Europe, and boasts coastal shores of the Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea to the south, Greek Peninsula to the west, and Anatolia and part of Thrace to the east. It is also connected to the Sea of Marmara by the Dardanelles Strait to the northeast. Ancient ruins are scattered throughout the country and a variety of natural landscapes offer a seemingly endless array of alluring places to discover among Turkey’s approximate 783,562 square kilometers (roughly twice the size of Germany). While Turkey may be more commonly renowned for its popular cities like Istanbul and tourist hot spot Cappadocia, following the cross-country travels of local photographer Murat Dağaslan reveals Turkey to be a compelling country to explore far beyond its “main attractions”. Born in 1993 in Turkey’s capital city of Ankara, Dağaslan lived there for twenty years before moving to Bolu to attend İzzet Baysal University. He enjoyed the city life during his school years, but not long after graduating, his discovery of photography would beckon him out of the city to travel the country. After he began traveling, Dağaslan became inspired by nature and wanted to capture it with his camera; this further fueled the desire to expand his exploration. As 2017 wound to a close, Dağaslan decided to chase his dreams; he quit his job and committed to fully exploring natural phenomena in a unique way. He has traveled all over Turkey discovering historical ruins of ancient past, quaint and quiet rural villages, and stunning coastal regions and landscapes. In this majestic tour of Turkey, Dağaslan shares the joy and beauty of landscape photography and sheds light on many alluring places to experience for yourself!

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Patara Plajı Antalya

Burdur Yarisli Lake Sasha Frate: Seeing your photography of Turkey and its natural landscapes opened my eyes to a beautiful part of the world I never knew existed. What have been some of your favorite locations to unveil to the world that otherwise tend to go virtually unseen and untouched? Murat Dagaslan: I don’t think there is necessarily an undiscovered

side, although there are still some places that I don’t even know. Once place I have just discovered is Burdur Yarisli lake.Yarisli lake is located on the borders of Yeşilova district in Burdur. It is a lake with a width of sixteen square kilometers and a depth of four meters between the villages of Harmanli,Yarisli, Sazak, Kocapinar, and Düğer. There is a small island in the lake and because the lake is rich in sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, and sodium sulfate,

the waters are bitter. It is also one of the most important wetlands for migratory birds including flamingos. It’s visually stunning to see flamingos in the lake which is fed by seasonal flowing streams. The water level is reduced in the summer months and is a perfect feeding ground for flamingos and other birds. The lake is home to 262 bird species including cuckoo, Warbler, owl, woodpecker, egret, and many more varieties. www.facethecurrent.com

Galata Kulesi Istanbul SF: Turkey is renowned for its striking Ottoman, Byzantine, and Seljuk influenced architecture with famous structures like the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet), Süleymaniye Mosque, and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. While you’re known to leave the city life behind to take to the lesser-known, yet impressive naturescapes around the country, what do you love that the cities have to offer? Which cities or villages would you most recommend visiting in Turkey? MD: In terms of cities, I much prefer to read about them and learn about historical ruins of the past. General photography does not bring me happiness in the same

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way as landscape photography, so I tend to avoid the cities. There are some village locations that I can recommend such as Old DoğanBey village in Aydın’s Söke district, and Ortan Village in Rize city in the Black Sea region, which are the two villages that have impressed me the most. Both of them have not deteriorated in historical texture and you can truly feel the past in their ruins. The residents of Doğanbey village are such humble, simple, and natural people. What makes this place utopian is that it can live as an unpretentious, self-sufficient, and ecological village even in today’s world. The intention, effort, will, and resistance of civilized and idealistic peasants and intellectuals wanting to protect the calm and tranquility of

Artuklu Mardin this place is admirable. The village in the Black Sea region is surrounded by lush forests, and wooden buildings were built on a high plateau at the end of the 1700s. Since then, it is known as a village that is preserved and can still survive. If you visit Ortan Village, you must eat “mihlama” and “laz” pastry. SF: If you were to tell me why someone needs to visit Turkey, what would your reasons be? MD: Yes, there are many countries with magnificent natural beauty such as Switzerland, Italy, and many others. These places have been discovered and visited by countless tourists, but there are many natural beauties that are unknown in my country. If you want to explore a place and get lost, I recommend that you visit Turkey.

Pamukkale Denizli Apart from that, the regions of Cappadocia, Mardin, and Pamukkale are very popular. SF: Pamukkale, otherwise known as “Cotton Castle” in western Turkey is home to stunning mineral-rich thermal waters that flow down white travertine terraces. Making this area even more intriguing, it neighbors the ancient Roman spa city Hierapolis, founded around 190 B.C. where ruins include a well-preserved theater and a necropolis with sarcophagi that stretch for two kilometers. What can you tell us about these thermal waters that sets it apart from other well-known sites around the world? MD: Pamukkale travertines were

formed by a series of earthquakes 400 thousand years ago. It is a visual feast of thermal waters in the Big Menderes basin located in Denizli. Pamukkale is famous for its snowwhite travertines that are visited by millions of people every year, including the charming Cleopatra Pool and the ancient city of Hierapolis. The terraces of this natural masterpiece, which has been serving as a spa for 1000 years, consist of carbonate minerals precipitated from the spa water. It is one of the twentynine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world because of its natural and cultural features. SF: Cappadocia has become one of the most tantalizing destinations to photograph,

Cappadocia Nevşehir heavily popularized through social media and travel bloggers. Aside from showing up to capture one’s own magical, picture-perfect scene, what would you recommend seeing and doing to experience this unique location more like a local? MD: My mother and father were born here and I visit it often. It’s a region that welcomes many tourists because of its visual history, culture, and wonder. Although it’s not like the Black Sea region, the cuisine is very good! SF: While much of the ancient city remains buried under sand, Patara is valued today as an important archeological site www.facethecurrent.com

Kral Koyu Antalya of Turkey. Can you share what Patara is like and the best way to experience this city? MD: This region has recently become one of the most popular locations thanks to its unspoiled natural structure and windy environment.You can explore Patara Ancient City, Athena Temple, and Xanthos in the area beyond the beach, which provides a very suitable environment for surfing.You can have a pleasant day by participating in horse safari tours on the desert dunes also known as the Patara sand dunes. The beach is a popular photospot on social media!

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SF: Once a powerful fortress on the river Euphrates, Rumkale has been home to various civilizations throughout history including Gaziantep’s Roman Castle.The whole area is remarkable! Where can people go to experience this site from a distance and up close? MD: Gaziantep Rumkale is located on a hill covered with high rocks where the Euphrates River and Merzimen Stream meet. The architectural ruins of Rumkale, have been called many names such as Şitamrat, Kal-a Rhomayta, Hromklay, Ranculat, Kal-at el Rum, Kal-at el

Rum Kale Gaziantep Muslim, and Kale-i Zerrin (Golden Castle) bears. Among the structures that can be seen in the castle today are Saint Nerses Church, Barşavma Monastery, numerous building remains, water cisterns, wells, and ditches. During the Roman period Hz, this settlement played an important role in the history of Christianity since Yohannes, one of Jesus’ apostles, came to Rumkale and settled there to spread the word of Christianity. It is told that Yohannes kept a copy of the Bible in a cave in Rumkale and then copies were taken to Beirut. You can reach the area by boat which is a beautiful way to travel because

Sultan Sazlıgı Kayseri you can see not only the Rumkale region, but also the Urfa Halfeti region. SF: Far from the crowds of the city, rural Turkey has lots to see and offer. What are some of the best countryside areas you recommend that offer a variety of interesting things to see and places to visit? MD: If you visit the Sultan Reeds, Hörtmetçi Reeds, and Kapuzbaşı waterfalls in Kayseri Region, you will closely see village life and have a sincere journey. SF: Turkey borders with the

Suluada Antalya

Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, and the Sea of Marmara, offering quite the variety of beautiful beach destinations. What do you recommend as one of the best destinations and what is it known for? MD: One incredible site among the coastal regions of Turkey is Faselis (Phaselis) in Antalya. Phaselis is an ancient city dating back to 700 BC. Right next to this ancient city is Paradise Bay.You can visit the historical ruins while enjoying the sea in this bay, with mountain and forest views. Phaselis meets the clear blue Mediterranean as the pine trees

reach the sea—it’s a spectacular landscape. In the bays where green meets blue, the beaches are fine pebbles. Intertwined with history, swimming in these ancient harbors, bays, and beaches offers a uniquely enjoyable experience.

ymore info: www.muratdagaslan.com Instagram: @muratdagaslan Facebook: @murat.dagaslan www.facethecurrent.com

FtC travel

ftc travel connection

Savin Scherer

PLACE I Call Home: Landes region of France, but living in Paris Instagram: @savinscherer

When you started to shoot with a drone, did anything change for you as you began to see a new perspective on this place we call home? Yes, drones open up so many new opportunities for photography. With drones, the photographer finds new compositions, new angles, and new colors.

FtC Travel Connection wanderlust & adventure stories

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You captured a unique bird’s-eye view look at the immensity of one of earth’s massive “beauty marks”— a red-toned Icelandic volcano crater. What did you take away from capturing this

scene that looks like something out of this world? When I discovered this volcano, I already had in mind a possible shot from the sky. The composition from the sky makes the volcano much

bigger and increases the contrast of the black volcanic stones with the black sand. It’s really a perfect textural contrast! This perspective makes me feel so small and so vulnerable in front of nature. www.facethecurrent.com

BBC recently aired a short thought experiment that looked at the apocalyptic scenario of what would happen if all our oceans vanished in an instant. It was a fascinating breakdown that explains the extreme series of events that would follow, ultimately making the planet uninhabitable.The video resolves that “although we know our oceans won’t disappear anytime

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soon, as our impact upon them becomes more apparent, understanding the complex cycles they support is vital.” What are some of your most impressionable ocean scenes that you have showcased, and how do see your potential as a photographer to inspire people to have a greater connection with one of our planet’s most vital life support systems?

Global warming is indeed a serious topic, and through photography we can be the witness of the ways in which the earth changes. I think that the photographer has the ability to make people aware of our planet’s evolution and can send out positive messages. We have only One Home; we must take care of the planet and preserve nature.

The Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie, China is a protected zone that encompasses thousands of jagged quartzite sandstone columns, many rising over 200 meters. It is a region replete with caves of stalactites and stalagmites and is also home to many endangered plant and animal species. Can you share what you experienced at this place including your

recommendations for the best things for visitors to see and do? Is there anything you’d love to go back and do that you missed the first time? ZhangJiaJie is one of my favorite places in China. These mountains are completely unique, and I can feel such a mysterious atmosphere there. It’s a must-do for travelers and backpackers. If you like wild forests, I

recommend the south of China such as Guilin. If you are more into desert, I recommend the west and the XinJiang province.

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travel connection

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From Turpan Zhan to The Great Wall of China, you’ve shared some fresh perspectives on many of China’s beautiful sites. Can you share a bit about your travel story through China, and what you were seeking to experience on this journey? My journey in China started in 2016. I was always attracted to the Chinese culture and dynasties, including The Great Wall in Hebei, the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian—they are impressive places to visit. I would like to go back to the south of China and visit the Hunan and Sichuan provinces, famous for their sacred mountains and mysterious forests.

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travel connection

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As you are based in France, what would you recommend as the top three places to visit in the country from your “local’s perspective”? France is an interesting country to visit and all the regions have a strong and unique culture. The most photographed and visited places are probably Etretat and Mont Saint Michel in Normandy (East of France). However, I’m from the south of France and I love this region. I recommend the Basque Country at the border with Spain to experience the wilderness of the Atlantic Ocean and the beauty of Pyrenees Mountains.

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FtC travel

Nature’s call for collective sustainability Jackson Hole and Beyond By Kevin Eassa Has there ever been a special place that you’ve visited, held in your heart, and fondly remembered long after you left? A safe haven and a place above all others that will always be special to you, that feels true to your heart, being, and soul? For some, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is that place; a place above all others boasting a selection of the tallest and most magnificent peaks in the country. For many decades, Jackson Hole has been a popular retreat, an adventurer’s haven, and a vacation destination for thousands of families. It is known for its surreal mountain peaks, abundance of wildlife, breathtaking active geysers, and its exquisite beauty that runs from the town to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and everywhere in between.

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Recently, photographer and filmmaker Kevin Eassa went on a mission to highlight this beautiful area from a unique perspective. He was welcomed by Jackson Hole locals and taken out on two scenic flights one summer morning to capture this stunning region from above. The first flight showcased the beauty of the Grand Tetons mountain range in the early hours of the morning, with the peaks lit up by the rich orange glow of the sunrise. This journey started on the east end of the range, followed its way around Snake

River, curved around the northern park boundaries, and ventured back down the west side of the range— all the while getting up close and personal with the peaks! Even with the circuitous nature of the flight, the pilot respected national park boundaries designed to preserve the lands and respect those exploring in the park. The first flight was bound to continue on to Yellowstone, but from a distance, it was obvious that the entire park was covered in fog. Because of this, the pilot

suggested heading back to the airport and returning later in the day for another flight. He mentioned that Yellowstone’s biggest attraction, Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, was best viewed from above during the middle of the day, and it didn’t disappoint Kevin. The midday sun beamed directly on Grand Prismatic, enhancing the already rich colors of the geysers and making it one of the most spectacular landmarks in the country. Kevin even heard many folks refer to it as “the beating heart of Mother Earth”.

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The community of Jackson Hole came together to create an online movement with the aim of protecting wildlife, the environment, and the rich culture of their community. The initiative is called ‘Keep Jackson Hole Wild.’

“

Afterward, while ruminating on the flight, a few concerning issues became apparent. Jackson Hole’s undoubted beauty, upon later reflection, highlighted some scary and important concerns during the tour . First and foremost, Kevin observed formed glacial lakes that he learned were new to the landscape. While beautiful, the photograph of the mountain with an aqua blue pool at its base is actually highlighting snow melt-off as a result of the warming climate. This is a stark reminder of the magnitude of our environmental problems. As Kevin witnessed from above, it was yet one of many glacial locations around the world melting at an unprecedented pace, hurting our planet more than the naked eye can perceive. According to National Geographic, arctic permafrost isn’t gradually thawing, as was once the commonly accepted presumption. Thaw is happening almost overnight, releasing troves of ancient life and large quantities of carbon that have been trapped for millennia in the frozen dirt. Today, the arctic landscape is much greener than any of us are probably comfortable imagining, with fewer caribou and reindeer, warmer summers, and more mosquitoes. Even summer sea ice that covers much of the Arctic Ocean during the region’s brief seasonal thaw has been quickly disappearing.

Certain global locations are directly impacted by tourism and social media, and Jackson Hole is exemplary of this. As of recently, the community of Jackson Hole came together to create an online movement with the aim of

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protecting wildlife, the environment, and the rich culture of their community. The initiative is called “Keep Jackson Hole Wild” and its key elements for residents and visitors are as follows: use public transit, give

wildlife space, road to zero waste— reduce and recycle, stay on the trails, go forth and educate, and responsibly tag locations. Jackson Hole’s initiative is one that can—and should—set an example for the rest of the world.

“

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Having a destination dubbed “Instagrammable” has become a far bigger problem than anyone could have ever predicted, and its side effects are prolific. Jackson Hole deeply cares about sustainability and our environment, but when geo locations are tagged on social media, it launches a massive surge in tourism and excess traffic. This in turn has proven to be extremely destructive to local ecosystems and wildlife. A recent United Nations report confirmed that as many as one million animal and plant species are in danger of extinction in the coming decades as a result of climate change and our reckless use of resources. For example, the butterflies of the world are under intense pressure from habitat destruction, with many populations rapidly diminishing before our eyes. A recent study found butterflies in Ohio had declined by thirty-three percent from 1996-2016. This rate is unfortunately consistent with worldwide patterns and has devastating effects on crop pollination and our food supply-chain.

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“

With great influence comes great responsibility! There needs to be a level of consciousness that is greater than life. When quiet places are found for the first time, we need to hold a moral duty in our hearts to keep those places quiet and to keep them as wild as we found them.

When popular influencers geo-tag their exact location, their millions of followers are heavily influenced to replicate that travel experience before it becomes redundant. In reality, to find a new “hot spot” that has yet to be exploited on social media takes a lot more work than most people realize. It can take hours on Google Earth, days and weeks of research and planning, and a healthy

dose of money and stress. When a photographer or influencer posts a photo online of a never-beforeseen location, their follower count goes through the roof and the image is shared on dozens of big feature pages. While this may seem awesome and like an easy way to explode your following, it has detrimental effects on our planet that we need to start recognizing. With great influence

comes great responsibility! There needs to be a level of consciousness that is greater than life. When quiet places are found for the first time, we need to hold a moral duty in our hearts to keep those places quiet and to keep them as wild as we found them. If it took you weeks to find a wondrous location, let others discover it for themselves and enjoy the fun of true exploration! www.facethecurrent.com

Sustainability is one of the most critical missions in the world right now. Our carbon footprint is the biggest it has ever been and Mother Earth is truly on the brink of disaster. Catastrophe abounds daily, from natural disasters, to our dying oceans, to political unrest. As reported by TIME magazine last year, India, among other places in the world, is now in a “sustained water crisis” as the result of climate change, increases in demand, and mismanaged water resources.

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However, it is all of our duties and responsibilities to make a conscious effort to practice sustainability in our daily lives. We can take simple actions such as: take shorter showers, use reusable bottles, take your own shopping bags to the store, be more aware of your food’s environmental impact—these are everyday things that add up to a world of difference to our planet. Think of this: according to the World Resources Institute, for every can of garbage you place at the curb, there are eighty-seven cans worth of materials that come from the extraction industries that turn natural resources into the finished products we buy. Remember, what you buy is what you support! If everyone stopped buying products that have a negative effect on the environment, those products would stop being made! It is possible, and it is not too late to save our planet. This is our collective home, after all. The sustainability of our planet is bigger than all of us, and it is so much bigger than Jackson Hole. However, with daily consciousness and practice, we can stop ruining beautiful places with geo-tagging and we can make daily changes that will compound to save our planet. Do your part, educate yourself, and live a conscious lifestyle with minimal impact. We must all come together and follow Jackson Hole’s example. If we succeed, its worldwide impact will be amplified for the better. —Tag Locations Responsibly, Keep Jackson Hole Wild.

ymore info: https://kevineassa.com IG: @kevineassa www.visitjacksonhole.com/ sustainability www.facethecurrent.com

FtC culture

Farmer’s Footprint and the

Regenerative Agriculture Movement By Ainsley Schoppel | PHOTOgraphy by Nicol Ragland While we think of farming in terms of rolling fields, highly automated farming equipment, and vast harvest quantities, modern-day mega-farming is a relatively young industry. The beginning of Western Civilization coincided with the industrial revolution and the innovation of the plow. Large swaths of soil could suddenly be turned over by a single farmer, allowing an individual to produce more food than their family could possibly consume. The era of division of labor and specialization had begun.

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That was 1100 years ago. Over the last hundred years, we have seen this development lead to two catastrophic events for the fertile soils of the United States, both times with direct and rapid consequences on human health. The dust bowl of the 1930s was the result of overtilled soil in the Midwest, as well as a lack of soil care. As the root systems of ancient grasses were destroyed throughout the Midwest, the soil lost its ecosystem and anchor, eventually becoming dust. This dust became airborne and choked the west in massive dust storms that further decimated ecosystems of microbial life. The United States was starving, our grandparents stood in soup lines, and the economy dried up just as the soil did.

During World War II, we witnessed the end of starvation through the “Victory Garden” movement—an advertising campaign implemented throughout the Allied nations that highlighted the patriotism of the backyard garden. By the end of the War, Americans were growing fortyfive percent of their food in their own backyards. Crop yields remained low in the commercial agriculture setting as soil science was still not broadly available. This opened the door for chemical companies that turned their attention to the dust-bowl damaged soils. This redirected the revved-up petroleum industry that had surged to meet the demands of the global mechanized war machine to instead

create petroleum based chemical fertilizers—the most infamous being NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium). This fertilizer delivery system reduced the thousands of mineral and soil nutrients present in healthy soil to just three that would produce green, fast-growing plants without the need for good soil care practices. The result of the popularity of NPK was the Green Revolution. Rather than scaling farms to good soil and plant health, farms suddenly scaled to massive proportions that would continue to expand to the mega-farms of today in which a few people are employed to manage thousands of acres of monocrop fueled by an ever-increasing amount of chemical life-support. www.facethecurrent.com

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Over the last forty years these trends in farming practices have produced—for the first time in history—a nutrient-deprived, calorie-rich food system that has been scaled to feed the majority of the developed world. Staple crops are being produced that lack the fundamental building-blocks of biologic life and are devoid of the medicinal components that have been the basis of traditional animal and human consumers.

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Over the last forty years these trends in farming practices have produced— for the first time in history—a nutrient-deprived, calorie-rich food system that has been scaled to feed the majority of the developed world. Staple crops are being produced that lack the fundamental building-blocks of biologic life and are devoid of the medicinal components that have been the basis of traditional animal and human consumers. Predictably, as the health of the soils and the plants that grow in them has diminished, chronic disease has epidemically ballooned. In the 1960s the entire US population

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had a chronic disease burden of four percent. Today, forty-six percent of our children carry a chronic disease diagnosis. Life expectancy is also twenty years shorter in areas of high agricultural activity within our country. Devastatingly, our children’s generation is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents for the first time in American history. Rather than addressing the root cause of this collapse in the health of our soils, plants, food chain, and humanity at large, we have again deferred to chemical companies for convenient solutions. And,

unsurprisingly, they have stepped up. Our pharmaceutical companies are owning the chemicals and the seeds themselves that produce over eighty-five percent of the corn and over ninety-five percent of the soy bean grown in America. Our farmers are seeing a collapse in soil health and the livestock that feed on the GMO seeds. Over the same time period, the US and other developed nations with widespread GMO crop production have seen a collapse in public health, with the highest burdens of chronic disease in history emerging in just fifteen years’ time.

Food is no longer our medicine; pharmaceutical chemicals and drugs are now the main ingredient in our foods. It is time for the American consumer to empower our farmers to take back our food and our right to the health that food should bring us and our children. This is where Farmer’s Footprint and regenerative agriculture comes in. Regenerative agriculture is exactly what it sounds like; it focuses on rebuilding organic matter and the living biodiversity in soil. This then produces increasingly nutrient-dense food harvest after harvest, year after year. As if that wasn’t good enough, atmospheric carbon is rapidly sequestered underground in the process, doing its part to reverse climate change.

ymore info:

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Regenerative agriculture is exactly what it sounds like; it focuses on rebuilding organic matter and the living biodiversity in soil. This then produces increasingly nutrient-dense food harvest after harvest, year after year. As if that wasn’t good enough, atmospheric carbon is rapidly sequestered underground in the process, doing its part to reverse climate change.

Farmer’s Footprint is a non-profit organization comprised of a coalition of farmers, educators, doctors, scientists, and business leaders that aim to expose the detrimental impacts that chemical farming has had on humans and our precious environment. Through a documentary film series that explores the stories of farm families on the vanguard of regenerative agriculture transitions, Farmer’s Footprint takes a close look at the health of our nation and the environmental impacts that are so critically at stake. In doing so, Farmer’s Footprint offers a hopeful path forward through its regenerative agricultural practices, offering holistic approaches to support farmers, rebuild our vital soil, and preserve our food independence.

https://farmersfootprint.us

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FtC culture

A Path of Native and Ancient Wisdom: Kai Karrel On Mediumship, Spirituality, and Self Love By Sasha Frate and Parashakti Few are the life paths that take one deep into the study of the world’s greatest wisdom, immersing in the practice of a vast number of teachings and cultural practices that have endured for centuries around the globe. From tribes that carry on the wisdom of the forest to gurus and leaders, there is much traveling that can be done among the native traditions and ancient cultures. For years Kai Karrel has been traveling this path, and through patience and purpose he has cultivated a true talent in teaching and sharing this wisdom with others as a spiritual teacher, writer, mystic, and a practicing medium. In recent years, Kai has narrowed his focus and dedicated his attention to the AfroBrazilian Shamanic teachings and the wisdom of the forest. He is a mystical traveler devoted to the exploration of consciousness, traveling amongst native traditions and ancient cultures. Most recently, Kai has been devoting his time to the shamanic modalities of healing and awakening, studying with master teachers in Peru and Brazil to hone his skills as a medium and healer. He has been facilitating hundreds of worldwide workshops and retreats, including the Goddess Puja, a classic white tantra event which has been his staple offering for many years. Today, Kai’s main focus is writing and guiding others through the mystical journey of awakening. A dear colleague for over a decade and in recent years as an apprentice Parashakti considers Kai as one of her most profound dearest teachers. Parashakti sparked this insightful and wisdom-filled connection, and like circling around a summer campfire together they sat for hours to learn more about Kai’s unique path and purpose. In this interview for Face the Current, Kai apprises on how we can all live our lightest, most enlightened spiritual lives, while having an amazingly fulfilling relationship with ourselves.

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Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis

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Essentially, I train extra-ordinary people (I use the hyphen intentionally). Extraordinary in the sense of realizing that in our reality today, everyone is trying to be special. But to be yourself, just yourself, is the most challenging thing there is. So, for you to just be you is the most justified thing that you can do for yourself. To just be yourself is probably not special, but it’s the most unique thing that you have left.

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Sasha Frate: Can you tell us about the variety of training and studies you have been doing over the past several years and what this path has looked like for you? Kai Karrel: For the past ten years I’ve been studying the mysteries of plant medicine and the esoteric teachings of the shamanic traditions of South America. Training with the indigenous tribes, with the different healing modalities and the different plants that lead to entheogenic growth and expansion of consciousness. In my twenties and early thirties I devoted most of my time to living in an ashram and studying the philosophies of the east. Those years lead to a journey of facilitation of workshops and events which support others

in their own journey of self-love and empowerment. For years, I’ve facilitated a white Tantra event called the Art of Adoration, or the Goddess Puja, which helped bridge the gap between the masculine and feminine and bring participants closer to their hearts and understanding each other.

emotional, social, and mental process of what it means to be a human spirit in a human body—with all the limitations and challenges that might bring. Helping others to understand the influence within their perispirit and its effect on our personal journey of evolution.

Throughout these studies, I’ve become involved in understanding and studying spiritism, Kardecism and mediumship. Leading to a process of receiving prayers, and working with people in a more integral, holistic way. My focus is and always has been - helping us fall in love with ourselves. I’m learning to fall in love with myself in the process of standing in my weakness with radical honesty for myself and others, with integrity, with a deep understanding of the

Essentially, I train extra-ordinary people (I use the hyphen intentionally). Extra-ordinary in the sense of realizing that in our reality today, everyone is trying to be special. But to be yourself, just yourself, is the most challenging thing there is. So, for you to just be you is the most justified thing that you can do for yourself. To just be yourself is probably not special, but it’s the most unique thing that you have left. www.facethecurrent.com

Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis

Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis Parashakti: Can you tell us more about the perispirit? KK: The term perispirit comes from spiritism which was discovered by Allan Kardec in the 1830s. Kardec is the person who discovered the phenomenon of seances, mediumship and what’s called “table turning”. Kardec started noticing these phenomena and as a scientist begun to investigate. He explains to us that in the center of your being - is your soul, described with the element of Fire. The soul, is all spirit - there’s nothing material about it. Encompassing your soul is your physical body, which is all matter, described with the element of Earth. Since the physical body is all matter, and the soul is all spirit, the way these two bodies communicate is with a third layer which is called the peri-

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spirit – half-spirit. The perispirit is half matter, half spirit. The element here is Water.

Parashakti: What does this influence from external sources looks like?

The body is like a vehicle, your soul, is the driver.Your soul keeps the imprint of all of your life’s experiences, your karmic blueprint is found within your perispirit. Thoughts, feelings, and sensations all operate within your perispirit.

KK: Imagine an inkblot in water. Spirit influence isn’t a straight line, it’s like a spreading tentacle. The affect is subtle at first, moods, negative thinking, depression. With time these grow into a deeper layer of patterning and shift your behaviour towards yourself and others. In this moment, if you want to or not, you have in your gut positive and negative bacteria. They are not aware there is a Sasha around them… in a way, you are their universe. They struggle for their lives. Craving that precious sugar you enjoy providing them with. Their influence on you, when the “bad guys” win, is a stomach ache. When we observe the spirit world, it’s exactly the same phenomena just

Understanding the perispirit and its influence on our body, mind and spirit allows us to understand, deeply, how more often than not we are affected by external sources, whether other spirits, other people and our own negative patterns. This structure leads to a deeper understanding of our internal dialog, and with different tools we learn how to shift our moods, our physical illnesses and so on.

acting from an energetical point of view. Meaning, that you won’t have a stomach ache but their influence will lead to impatience, sadness, anger, jealousy – spiritual “pain”. It’s not that any of our negative patterns are a result of spirits, but more often than not they definitely play a role.

situations. Understanding that some environments are more “dangerous” and will require a good cleaning and proper “spiritual nutrition” to follow. Whether that would be meditation, prayer or other centering practices. To understand the types of spirits and this overall process, I invite you

to watch a movie called Astral City by Chico Xavier—it will change your life. SF: When you have challenging ceremonies, how do you not absorb the darkness? How is it that everyone else in the room does not absorb it?

Spirits might act without permission; those are like viruses in the air. Let’s say you go to a restaurant, eat something spoiled and come back with a parasite. In the exact same way, you ride the subway in New York and come out depleted or agitated. What just happened? You picked up an unintelligent spirit. They don’t know you or look for a specific person. It’s like bacteria needing sugar—they seek it out. With these spirits, they see “light,” they need it and begin their abusive relationship with you. SF: So how do you protect from that? For example, I walked into a crystal shop in Arizona and a man from Columbia saw my daughter. He said she was reacting to the incense and he told me that I need to watch her because she has so much light. He said I really needed to protect her because spirits will easily come after her, even though she’s seven. KK: In the same way we understand that we protect ourselves from disease by keeping hygiene and living a healthy life style. Similarly, we learn how to observe our minds and act carefully with what we choose to expose ourselves to. What kind of movies, materials, people and www.facethecurrent.com

Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis

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Ground yourself – literally… have your bare feet on the earth. In other words – begin a journey of self-exploration. This hyper-sensitivity is a blessing and not a curse, you just need to learn how to drive in high speeds.

KK: You ask because you understand the gravity of holding the type of space that I do. When we open to shamanic practices and invite spirit to walk beside us, though we might call angels and light beings, we know and experience that their counterpart of “un-friendlies” are soon to follow as well. There are so many protection and cleaning techniques, when I travel to South America, the study of these methodologies is my main focus and field of exploration. This is another reason why I focus so much on prayer and utilize powerful instruments which are charged for this process. Parashakti: How do you prevent yourself from becoming the darkness? KK: By turning on the light. To prevent darkness from enveloping us, all we have to do is remain centered

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in our innocence and prayerful hearts.You do that by continuous study of the spirit realms and with the endless journey of developing ourselves. Understanding our hidden motives, questioning our patterns and pains. Standing in our weakness and embracing our light. SF: What about highly empathetic people? Some people don’t even realize that they are so empathetic and they’re just going around absorbing so much. KK: Start by being aware of this taking place. Understanding that your moods, your energy levels and your process of thinking might be, more often than not, affected by external sources. Take your time to respond and not react. Ask yourself, is this mine?! Ground yourself – literally… have your bare feet on the earth. In

other words – begin a journey of self-exploration. This hyper-sensitivity is a blessing and not a curse, you just need to learn how to drive in high speeds. SF: How would you describe people who are kind of in a constant state of elevated energy? KK: Usually these people are those who have chosen to face their darkness and embrace their light. They stand in their weakness and stopped wasting energy on defensiveness and comparison. Their energy keeps moving, keeps flowing. In other words, they are in service to others They live their lives as co-creators, they co-pilot their own journey, they are not victims of it. They are pro-active, choosing with awareness

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To call Kai Karrel a rare and unique individual would be an understatement. Besides easily being the most generous human being I have ever met, he is also the most gifted teacher I have ever had the joy to learn from. His seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge is only matched by his gigantic celestial heart. He is more than a Shaman, he is a gift, a blessing…

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- Roody Bonnaig

whom they interact with, what they consume and how they utilize their time and resources. They are aware of the constant battle going on within and without. They are open to the relationship between self and other, between the me and the we. Parashakti: Speaking of relationships, you also do a lot of work that focuses on relating. What are the most common reasons that you see relationships fail? KK: One of the main reasons is compromise which is a result of our fear of remaining single… because single implies being singled-out, left out, alone... We are taught to aspire for the prince or princess to rescue us from our tower of solitude. This pattern of seeking love from an external source is so deeply rooted in our social conditioning

and it leads us to often relate with an undercurrent of codependency. We lose our sovereign center and do anything in our power or in other words, compromise, to remain coupled or better yet – not single. Any form of relationship that is based on lack, fear or codependency is more likely to fail than to inspire growth and connection. SF: Compromise is common in relationships, with business, with career, with kids, with space. KK: Yes, for the exact same reason. Compromise follows a conditioning around lack and the fear of I’m better off with than without. Any form of relationship, whether to a romantic partner, your kids or your job will ultimately fail without a sense of centered, sovereign self. The energy of attraction follows the interaction between two separate, polar beings.

Two entities full of themselves, perhaps complimenting, but centered and defined. Dependency leads to the dissipation of attraction. That’s why learning to relate, is first and foremost a personal journey of healing. SF:There are expectations and then once you start creating scripts, you have these recipes for disappointment if it doesn’t fit the script just right. KK: These expectations come, again, as a result of codependency and lack. We expect the other person to fulfill our needs and make us happy. We come to them as our “solution” -- I am lonely, that’s why I came into this relationship – it’s your job to fix it! -sounds funny when we say it out loud doesn’t it?

37 Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis www.facethecurrent.com

Relating is an ongoing process, you have to be alert, invest energy and treat it as a spiritual path. Without a joint interest of growing together, our relationships will only be a reflection of dependency and attachment.

KK: There is no recipe… It’s actually an “un-methodic” method. Love is craziness. Love is not scripted, especially self-love. It does not have a set of rules. However, it is methodic in the sense that it requires certain attention and a certain approach.

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Parashakti: What’s real to you now in your life that makes you vulnerable? Can you give an example? KK: I’m a workaholic… I miss having a social life. I can’t experience more in my personal life if all I do is work. I also want to teach, I want to travel, I want to do other things. This year, I’m going to Thailand at Christmas and it’s the first time I’ve taken a

vacation in seven years. And… my impatience… lots to shift there. Parashakti: What would you say is your biggest weakness? KK: My biggest weakness is setting healthy boundaries. I’ve been really studying codependency in the last few years. Pleasing my family, peoplepleasing, wanting people to like me…it took me many, many years to get to a place where I now really love myself. I can’t say I’m free from codependency, but I’m not so focused on needing other people’s approval or appreciation. I love myself. I believe in myself. I live my message. I’m centered in that, but I would still definitely say that one of my challenges all of these years has been healthy boundaries. Remembering

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SF: One of the things that I love that you say in the opening of all your workshops is that we’re here to fall in love with ourselves.You awaken people to that. For our readers, what can you give as a recipe for this?

The approach for self-love starts with radical honesty, radical selfacceptance. Most of the energy that causes you not to love yourself comes from trying to portray someone you are not. To start to shift the gears toward self-love, you need to practice being vulnerable with your truth.

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Goddess Puja Ceremony

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Kai’s approach to teaching is one of empowerment, kindness and joy. His love for sharing this knowledge is so apparent in everything he does. He also has a hunger and drive to continuing his own learning and he is consistently bringing new information and teachings to our work.

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- Kyle Wilensky Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis that if it’s a maybe… it’s a no. SF: One of the things that you teach is the masculine-feminine dynamic.You do a ceremony for women to have the opportunity to experience being adored as a queen or goddess. When you teach that, what do you witness? KK: A gradual understanding of needing to learn how to receive and how to remain sovereign. We are taught receiving as a conditioned response. If a man compliments on a woman’s eyes, the conditioned response is that he wants her phone number. We’re conditioned to receive cautiously, with lots of barriers. I see it as the difference between the princess and the queen, the prince and the king. Parashakti: How do you describe this difference?

KK: A princess needs to prove her royalty in order to ensure that she will one day sit on the throne. The queen already sits there. She needs nothing; she sets the tone. She creates the rules by her mere presence. The princess will ask if she’s enough and the queen already knows that she is plenty. The queen is not guarded because she is her own emotional safety. She doesn’t have resentments because she is safe within her defined boundaries. The prince is on his journey of conquest - he has to prove his worth. The king has already arrived. The king has nothing to prove and lives in his fullness. The prince is in a state of constantly seeking, attempting to fight the dragons and win his bride. The king fights no more, he is situated in the knowing of who he is. SF: Another really big aspect of

your teaching is all the prayers that you’ve written and received. So many people use positive affirmations and don’t really subconsciously believe that they will work. And so, they don’t. Can you speak to that? KK: You cannot empower yourself if you aren’t willing to look at where you are at this moment.You’ll never know how to get to the next step. Talking about the law of attraction, it’s the same thing. If you have a vision board with a Porsche and a big house, and you imagine yourself with those things, why doesn’t it happen? Because you don’t understand that everything happening to you is happening according to plan and is already perfect. Invest in “why” you want something, not “how” you’re going to get there. That “why” will give you a sense of purpose. www.facethecurrent.com

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Kai has one of the purest hearts I’ve ever encountered in a human being. He speaks directly to your soul, sees your potential. His vision is not only to support people seeking their own individual healing, he also has a profound way of empowering you to believe in your own greatness, so you can be best of service to this planet and all of humanity. A rare quality of selflessness… - Natascha Berg

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Photo Credit: Alessandra Migueis My prayers are a map, from here… to here. Acknowledging the dark as bridge to embracing the light. They help us center in a strong why. This empowered why leads to magic. Parashakti: Can you share and explain the importance of facing our darkness? KK: If you don’t face the dark, the healing will never start. When you face your darkness you stand for your light. When you choose to see yourself as you are you stop leaking energy in self defense and start the journey back to your heart. SF: Our bodies are just naturally, inherently trained to avoid pain. Pain brings suffering into our lives in many ways, so it’s common to want to avoid it, suppress it, and not face it. Many people become trapped by it or

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they just cope and/or avoid it forever. KK: I believe that self-love is based on standing in your weakness and facing your truth. At first, it can be a rush of very uncomfortable emotions. It might scare us just because we’re not used to doing so, however that confidence to stand in your truth will develop and strengthen. The first step is to understand the mechanism of pain and what it means, and how it signals different things. As a society, we’ve been trained that any expression of anguish equals pain and avoidance. That is the foundation of codependency. Come with me to the jungle and you’ll see the exact opposite approach. Parents and children are like autonomous roommates. Kids there are taught to walk alone in the jungle from age two. They are completely self-sufficient;

they know they will be taken care of by the forest, they are taught to face fear and not escape it. Parashakti:Their connection to nature has got to be so much stronger if they’re just able to rely on intuition. KK: When I ask tribes about that and about why we’re so messed up in the west, they always say that we don’t have our feet on the ground. Ninety percent of the time we’re in shoes, on asphalt. Their explanation is that we’re simply disconnected from nature. I’ll go further and say we’re disconnected from discharging the electrical magnetic static in our perispirits. We’re just collecting pain. SF:You stated that for our present to take place, our past has to come to completion. Can you speak to that as it relates to

facing the darkness?

into understanding the effect.

KK: Not completion; it needs to come to a place of understanding. But when I said that I was talking about karmic debts. This also relates to the perispirit because those store impressions and impact from your past lives. For instance, if three lifetimes ago you were choked to death, perhaps in this life time your liberation will come in choosing to be a reporter or a singer, using your voice as your divine mission.You’re looking for completion, for liberation. Everything is happening according to the divine plan.

In order for past issues to stop repeating themselves, you have to close the door and bring it to completion. The lesson will continue to haunt you until you stop and question why something keeps on happening to you. Growth only happens when you confront those limiting beliefs that always come from your past.

Think about this in terms of the people you’re close to, the people you work with, and your soul family. It’s a calculated timeline if you look at the bigger picture. When we understand the causality, we can relax

Parashakti: Why do you think that some people just continue the pattern and other people have that desire to seek and connect with spirit? KK: There are two factors. One is the evolutionary process of illumination and liberation. Every person is walking to a different pace. Some souls might be 8,000 years old, others are much younger—

there is a lot more that they need to go through. Secondly, there is an element of randomness that’s called providence and grace. God works in mysterious ways; she is doing something in her calculations that is unknown to us. We can’t understand; it is beyond our comprehension. SF: Why would you say that the work is never done? There’s no shortcut or quick fix to having an unending, blissful happiness— there’s always work to be done. KK: You are in a constant, everflowing process of evolution that is never ending because you’re an infinite being. There will always be more levels of growth, and more levels of bliss. I believe that’s the nature of life, constant evolution. That’s how the expansion of the universe is—it’s never ending. So, in www.facethecurrent.com

that sense, our work is never done, and if you’re smart, you’ll always ask for more. If you’re not smart, you’ll just settle for a compromise. But it really is a positive thing that the work is never done. It’s about constantly processing and evolving. Parashakti: Can you share about the role of music and movement in healing and shamanic work? KK: Oh, happily. Music is the fabric of the universe and it’s not just about the notes. Music is also silence, music is a poem, music is a painting, and music is an expression of unity. Music teaches us togetherness, harmony, silence, and appreciation. Music is metaphysical because music is energy; it’s not matter. Music is the universal language. We may all speak different languages, but if we sit together at a concert, we’ll feel united, experiencing the same kind of emotions. Music is a tool

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to go beyond the barriers of the frontal cortex. It’s a place of primal connection. It’s a place of primal understanding. Music moves us, inspires us and helps us heal. Dancing can do the same thing. Though it is a little different in the sense of being the experience of togetherness in singularity. One dancer can be the whole symphony, but when we add another dancer, the symphony becomes intensified. If I have one candle, it lights a room. If I add another candle, does it disturb the first one? No, it just adds more light. In that way, dancing is the togetherness and also the singularity. Your light and your dance does not take from my light and my dance, and of course, I don’t take away from yours. It teaches us harmony and connection. Metaphysically, dance is the language of the unspoken. When there’s nothing left to say, sing, or pray, just a single gesture will express

all there is to say. When words fail to act as a bridge between people, a gesture will. In terms of medicine and somatic experiences in the body—because we are energy bodies moving energy through movement—dance lubricates our joints and connective tissues, allowing the body to expand or contract. It always helps to drop the script of what you think dance should look or feel like in a situation, and just let your body flow. Dancing is life—it’s random and uncalculated. Let yourself be taken by the divine dancer—you will no longer be a dancer, you will be danced. You will find yourself as the dance itself. SF: How do you envision the collective transformation shifting from a lot of focus on segregation towards more of a sense of unity that recognizes and values diversity, while

connecting us in more of a centered, unified space? KK: There are two things that could happen: inspiration or desperation. We might get to a critical mass of desperation—no more water, no more food, high unemployment, exploding governments, corruption, etc. It’ll be so bad that people will have to fight the governments and the governments will have to change. Another different option is extraterrestrial influence; something external to us that will either be a threat or a positive influence that will unify everyone. Though, In terms of inspiration I would say that we will rise deeper into the understanding of spiritism. Why? Because we’ll see things from a higher perspective. When we start to raise our vibration a little bit to understand that we’re all just vessels for spirit, we’ll be less identified with form, less identified with shape, and less identified with

color. It’s not about tolerating differences, it’s about valuing them. We need to empower each other and encourage our uniqueness. Our current state of reality is not quite there but hopefully each and every day we’re getting closer. SF: Can you speak to one of the greatest lessons that you’ve learned from your time in Brazil that’s really impacted your teaching? KK: Hmm… so hard to narrow it down to a single moment. But one day, in the jungle, seeing a two year old walking by herself to the river to take a bath, singing, with no fear of snakes or harm. Her parents are not there to protect her, because she needs no protection. Life is her guardian, the river is her ally, the forest is her friend. I was reminded to trust in life and its mysteries, to seek my original innocence and the place

within me that is always childlike and always trusting. Parashakti: What brings you the most joy? KK: The circles I lead and the work I do; I have nothing that compares to this. What brings me the most joy in doing this work is seeing the depth of transformation, and the happiness that people experience. Knowing that perhaps my life and my own journey had something to do in helping someone else fall in love with themselves. Parashakti & SF: So powerful. Thank you so much for this. KK: My pleasure – thank you!

ymore info: www.kaikarrel.com www.facethecurrent.com

FtC music

Brazil and South Africa’s Top Music Duos Unite

Bringing ‘Colours & Lights’ to the World By Woody Woodrow What happens when Cat Dealers, Brazil’s biggest electronic dance music duo, teams up with Cape Town, South Africa’s GoldFish to combine their formidable musical strengths? “Colours & Lights” are shone on the world as the new sound of summer with over 225,000 listens on YouTube! Cat Dealers bring their Brazilian bass, and MTV Africa Music Awards’ 2014 winner of Best Pop Group, GoldFish, weave in their jazz background to fuse the sound into a fresh track worthy of chart-topping status.

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After a whirlwind two-year rise to fame, Cat Dealers now sit among the Top Three biggest dance music exports in Brazil and boast an impressive three million monthly Spotify listeners. They were additionally selected for Forbes Brazil’s “Thirty Under Thirty” and claimed forty-eighth place in last year’s DJ Mag Top 100. Face the Current enjoyed a fun and revealing chat with both groups about their stances on life passions and their ultimate wishes for humanity, and to discover what it’s like to create such a unique and international collaboration.

Woody Woodrow:You just released an epic new single called “Colours & Lights” that sees you joining forces from across the globe. How did you two connect? Dave, GoldFish: We met the Cat Dealers at an incredible venue in Brazil called LaRoc when they played after us and smashed it out of the park. A year or so later we were reunited online by mutual friends and the collaboration was born. Cat Dealers: We already followed each other on social media, so we then got their number and started to talk in a Whatsapp group about the idea of making something together. Then Caelu, one of the writers and

the singer of the track, sent us the first lyric idea with his voice and we thought it would be perfect for our collaboration with Goldfish. So, we sent them the audio and they loved it, and in about two hours they sent us new lyrics with the sax idea. Everything happened super-fast in this track. Then we sent the new lyrics to Caelu, he recorded it and we produced the track! It’s amazing how easy it was to work with these guys! WW: GoldFish bring the Jazz while Cat Dealers bring the Bass. What was the writing process like while fusing your two specialties? Dom, GoldFish: It was exactly that—we both definitely have our

specialties and so while we focused on the sax melody, the lyrics, and vocals, the Cat Dealers brought the smashing drop ideas and we mashed it all together. That said, I think we and the Cat Dealers have strong instincts in all areas and so there was a lot of cross-pollination and ideas from both groups in all parts of the track. We all seemed to be in agreement on ninety-nine percent of the ideas for the song—that isn’t always the case! Dave, GF: Most of this track was done on FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Dropbox. It was a real 2019 collaboration! On our first call, we pretty much locked in all the melodies and the structure. Cat www.facethecurrent.com

Dealers had a rough vocal which we massaged into its current lyrical and melodic state. There are some hilarious voice notes of Dom and me singing all the parts together with some beats in a hotel room in Johannesburg. I was singing the sax parts. From there, the Cat Dealers really got stuck into the drop and came back with some killer Brazilian bass vibes. CD: We and Goldfish wanted our identities as producers to be featured in the song, so everyone who listens to it can identify our work in it. Since the beginning, we talked about it and decided that the drop would be with our bass line and their signature sax and we really like what came of it.

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WW: What was the biggest challenge you faced in working together? Dave, GF: Time zones for sure; it’s always inconvenient for someone! CD: Probably the distance since we’re continents apart! But it actually wasn’t that big of a challenge. We got along really well and were all on the same page with the production, which was the main thing. WW: What was your intention when you combined forces? Dom, GF: We’ve really been digging the process of opening up GoldFish to new influences and ideas after five albums together, and also injecting

new energies into our sound. The collaboration is the perfect way to do that. Also, we have been fans of the Cat Dealers’ music for a long time and with twenty tours of Brazil under our belts, it was high time we did something together! CD: We’ve been admirers of GoldFish’s work for a long time, so when the opportunity to produce together came about, we got really excited. Our intention was definitely to make the most of it, expand our knowledge and see what the two of us could create together. Luckily, it all went great. Above and beyond all of our expectations, we’re all really happy with the result of this collaboration.

Dave, GF: Music transcends all nationalities, languages, and cultures. Our hope with every song we make is that it crosses all these boundaries that humans have set up to keep us apart. CD: We wanted the music to capture the fun we had while producing it and the passion we have towards it. We believe this song is full of spirit; it captivates you and passes

you this light feeling. We tried to bring this positive energy so people could create good memories while listening to it—that is really relatable all around the world. We just came back from our Europe Tour where we played at some awesome summer festivals, and seeing the response to the song when we played it was amazing! We definitely achieved what we were looking for.

the easiest thing in the world to live with every day, no matter how hard it might get.

WW: What’s the best advice you would give to someone who wants to live their passion and be of service to the world?

WW: If you had one wish for your country and one wish for humanity what would they be?

Dom, GF: When you make the life decision to live your passion, it is

CD: We believe it’s got to come from your heart. Everything you put yourself into that comes from a place of passion is good. Even if it’s tough, it will be worth it. And of course, keep working hard. It depends 100 percent on your efforts.

Dave, GF: They would be the same thing: for everyone to be kinder to their fellow man or woman than they feel like being at the time.

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Music transcends all nationalities, languages, and cultures. Our hope with every song we make is that it crosses all these boundaries that humans have set up to keep us apart. -Dave of Goldfish www.facethecurrent.com

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WW: For many of us in the northern hemisphere “Colours & Lights” is a perfect summer anthem. How would you describe this song’s ability to bring people together from all over the globe?

WW: We’re going to bring it to the heart center: Name one thing you love about each person that took part in creating “Colours & Lights”? Dom, GF: (Laughing) It was honestly the most fun collaboration experience working together. Pedrao and Lugui are awesome guys and I think the thing Dave and I love most is their sense of humour! I think we have a similar outlook on life and not to take things too seriously. The end

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result was a killer track and some lifelong friends. CD: Dave and Dominic are super funny, happy, and easygoing people. They’re amazing musicians and we love to learn with great musicians! Caelu is the best at writing lyrics and singing. WW: GoldFish, how have your South African roots helped inspire meaning in your music? Dave, GF: South Africa is such a culturally diverse place that it definitely inspired us to think out of the box when creating music. Once people heard our music in South Africa, they really stood behind us and pushed us to greater heights. This was also a huge inspiration to make the best music we can possibly make

every time we create something. WW: Cat Dealers, how do you feel your collaboration helps to lift multi-cultural consciousness across the globe? CD: We think people shouldn’t limit themselves to what they’re used to. There’s so much to learn; so many amazing cultures all around the world! That’s why touring is so important for our work. It’s a way to get closer to other cultures, to learn from different people, and to expand our minds. This collaboration captures our sounds and identities, all formed in different countries and on different continents, and it worked so well together. We couldn’t be happier with the result and what it represents.

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CD: We wish the same thing for both which is opportunity and equality. This would create more possibilities in life and as a result, more chances to find out who they really are and what they want to do. That way they wouldn’t have to limit themselves to the life imposed on them.

We think people shouldn’t limit themselves to what they’re used to. There’s so much to learn; so many amazing cultures all around the world! That’s why touring is so important for our work. It’s a way to get closer to other cultures, to learn from different people, and to expand our minds.

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WW: Cat Dealers, you’ve been creating music since you were super young. What would you say to aspiring DJs and music lovers who want to change the world with their sound? CD: If you love it and if that makes you happy, go for it! You’ll always have to believe in yourself, even when things get difficult. We all go through moments of doubt and insecurity, so you have to stay strong. Surround yourself with people that you love and trust; that’s very important because they’ll give you strength. At the beginning of our career, many people said we would never make it and that this market is too hard. All of the positivity that surrounded us really helped. Stay focused on your objectives and fully dedicate yourself to it. WW: GoldFish, what’s one secret you’ve always wanted to tell your fans but haven’t felt like you could? Dom, GF: (Laughing) We fly economy a lot more than you think!

ymore info: Cat Dealers: Spotify facebook.com/CatDealers/ GoldFish: Spotify facebook.com/GoldFishLive/ youtube.com/watch?v=V_U2VaxOPFE www.facethecurrent.com

FtC music

TNSO and Sound Balms®

the healing power of sound by Erin Kann

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” In one sentence, Nikola Tesla, the brilliant inventor who never received a university degree but patented more than 300 inventions, brilliantly summarized the fundamental nature of the universe. One of his contemporaries, Max Planck, a German physicist and the father of quantum physics, hit the proverbial nail on the head in a revolutionary discourse in 1944. He claimed that matter as such does not exist and that it is actually related to the consciousness of the observer. This completely upended the paradigm of the times, shaking the classic and purely objective approach of the physical world. The vision of matter as an inert and apparently solid state was abandoned as a new reality unfolded: atomic particles vibrating at high speeds, maintained in an energy field and “vacuum“. Eight decades later, this understanding has continued to open new avenues in people’s minds, pushing the strictly scientific framework to expand into the depths of consciousness.

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Sound frequencies have a direct influence on our fundamental vibratory nature.

“In the depths of cosmic space, a universal symphony is playing: the music of the spheres, described by Pythagoras.” ___________________________ Whether they explore the universe of the infinitely small or the infinitely large, these scientific advances have a considerable impact. By sweeping away old patterns of thought that have become obsolete, they are revolutionizing the way we look not only at the world around us, but at ourselves. Faced with this new

consciousness of matter in which everything is vibrating, what about our relationship to this material entity that we call “body”? After all, if we accept that we are not separate from the universe, Tesla’s statement transposed to the scale of humanity could look like this: “If you want to find the secrets of man, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. “ In this perspective, a human being as a whole can be considered in a completely different way: we are no longer just this prodigious and extraordinarily complex “machine” composed of flesh and blood, but rather, we’re a vibratory unit interacting with our environment (which is also vibrating!). By this thinking, we can better understand the impact of sound frequencies on humans as the body naturally recognizes the vibratory language. Following the principle of resonance, the contact of sound frequencies is immediate and the catch is direct. ___________________________ “Sound frequencies have a direct influence on our fundamental vibratory nature.” ___________________________

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Contemporary science has since largely confirmed the vibratory nature of the universe. String theory, being explored by quantum physicists, proposes a model in which all the particles and fundamental forces of nature could be tiny strings or strands of energy in vibration. For its part, astrophysics has revealed a background noise in the universe, vibrating silently through cosmic space, while NASA has captured and recorded the sound frequencies emitted by the planets. According to the Hungarian philosopher and theorist Ervin Lazlo, whole stars and galaxies vibrate in unison at the scale of the cosmos. ___________________________

If sound produces varied impressions and effects on people, they are nevertheless objective because sound is still subject to fundamental laws. Musically, this means that regardless of our personal preferences, a hard rock song does not impact the body in the same way as Mozart’s work. Significant experiments have demonstrated the effects of sound on matter, such as the famous Chladni Figures. German physicist and founder of modern acoustics, Ernst Chladni, deposited sand on a metal plate whose edge was then vertically rubbed with a bow. Under the effect of the bow’s vibration, and according to the frequencies produced, the grains of sand moved to form regular—and almost perfect—geometric figures. The same conclusion was reached for Masaru Emoto, a Japanese researcher who observed distilled water ice crystals under the microscope. These crystals were exposed to various styles of music and once again, the crystals revealed extraordinary geometric shapes that were harmonious with the music. It is here that we can relate elements of what we call “sacred geometry”. Since our bodies are comprised of seventy percent water, it is easy to imagine the impact of sound frequencies on our physical existence. www.facethecurrent.com

___________________________ “If sound impacts matter, it is above all the architect who models and organizes it.” ___________________________ We realize that these multiple discoveries, in their desire to enlighten our understanding of the world around us, actually only verified and confirmed what the great spiritual traditions have always known: sound creates. In Hinduism as in Buddhism, the AUM, Sanskrit syllable also called “pranava mantra” (the word prāṇa means “vital vibration”) known as the primordial mantra, represents the original sound from which the Universe would have been structured. In India, the Brahman is the one who, through the practice of the Holy Sound, allows communication between the manifested world—that of men—and the invisible world of the Absolute. The Hebrew language also refers to this science of the Sacred Word. For its part, Christian tradition tells us: “In the beginning was the Word.” Whether sacred word or primordial sound, everything seems to be born of vibration. ___________________________ “If this powerful vibration of the origins carries with it the genesis of the world, it is also the thread that weaves the web of the fundamental essence of being.” ___________________________

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If sound is creator, as we have just seen, then it is also a healer. Indeed, the use of sound in a therapeutic manner is an ancient practice. Since the dawn of time, it has been used by many peoples and traditions, including shamanic, to relieve, appease, release, and heal. In the practice of Mantra Yoga, the vibration produced by the repetition of sounds (mantras) is used to directly act on the chakras and nadis. These energy centers and channels govern the circulation of vital energies in the body in order to harmonize the being and to foster spiritual awakening. It is also interesting to note that the Sanskrit term “nadis” means movement; vibration. The action of sound on these subtle centers causes a change in their vibrational frequency, thus activating their energy potential. Because it is the very essence of all magical practices, the sound associated with the power of intention can also turn into a formidable weapon in the hands of wizards and malicious magicians. One sound can thus lead man to the heights of enlightenment or to the hell of the ego. The intention of the one who emits it is the only thing that makes the difference. ___________________________ “The power lies in the sounds, not in the words. This explains why, in some tantric yoga schools, the adept is asked to express the mantras taught with the right intonation, without necessarily understanding the meaning. “ ___________________________ A question now arises: how can this science of sound fit into our contemporary lives? How can we reconnect with this tremendous transformational power of sound to accelerate our physical, emotional, and spiritual development? What tools do we need? This is where sound healers and their mastery of

the science of sound come in. With the help of their instruments or their voice, they project the vibrations into our energetic field in order to trigger the subtle harmonization processes that raise our frequency, open our consciousness, and, if necessary, effect healing. However, alternative methods exist that do not require the physical presence of a sound healer. The TNSO brand and Sound Balms® in particular, provides an innovative and relevant answer to all those who wish to undertake this journey at the heart of the power of sound. This first range of vibratory care was born in France in 2018 with the intention of disseminating this transformative force. Adapted to the modern way of life, Sound Balms® are available online and allow everyone to experience unique and profound vibratory care that promotes harmony and the opening of consciousness. Sound Balms® are audio sequences of varying duration, composed solely of vocal vibrations and breath. In this manner, the voice is pure, omnipresent, and without any instrumentation. This type of sound is produced closed-mouth and unfolds around a fundamental note and a harmonic palette, which is modulated using tongue movements. The silence that follows the sound— because it bears the vibratory trace—is an essential component of the balm. Experiencing this inner silence automatically puts us in touch with our deep nature. Over the course of listening for a period of a week or more, harmonization processes are set in motion that promote the change in frequency. ___________________________ “Sound Balms® change your vibratory frequency, operating where necessary and even beyond, with almost surgical precision.” ___________________________

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Sound Balms® change your vibratory frequency, operating where necessary and even beyond, with almost surgical precision.

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For the moment, the range consists of five Sound Balms® numbered from 01 to 05: balm 01 (tailbone), balm 02 (abdomen), balm 03 (lungs), balm 04 (pineal gland), and balm 05 (a combination of 01-04). Above all, the therapeutic dimension of the balms is based on the fact that the sound always follows the intention, which precedes it. The sound is projected in a specified area of the body via an entry point perceived by visualization (the navel for example, for the abdomen). The vibrations emitted will then have an effect on each layer of the body, moving from the densest plane (structural tissue) to the most subtle plane (cellular memory).Vibrations will also affect body fluids and body water, dissolving that which is dense, lightening that which is heavy, opening that which is closed, relaxing that which is contracted, connecting that which is disconnected, unifying that which is fragmented, setting in motion that which is fixed, cleaning that which is dirty, and purifying that which is soiled. Even if a specific area is targeted, the Sound Balms® effect may extend to other areas of the body as well, operating physically, psychically, emotionally, and spiritually in a concurrent manner. Sound Balms® can thus be designed for each area of the body such as a specific organ, endocrine gland, or chakra, and also for DNA, blood, and both cerebral hemispheres. When it comes to the benefits of vibrational frequencies, the field of investigation is infinite. Testimonials of the first users are positive and conclusive, and TNSO wishes to extend its offerings with new balms dedicated to the thyroid, thymus, throat, and sacrum. The creation of customized balms that are designed to meet a user’s specific needs is also in development.

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Science has demonstrated the vibratory nature of the universe and spiritual traditions teach us how to reach enlightenment through the use of vibration.

___________________________ “Sound Balms® is an open window into a new world of care based on vocal vibration at the service of consciousness and enlightenment.” ___________________________ Sound Balms® thus puts the extraordinary power of sound and voice at the service of the positive transformation of human beings. This is a transformation in which everyone is master of their own evolution and will progress at their own pace in complete autonomy. Easy to use and highly effective, Sound Balms® operate like a tuning fork, tuning the instrument—the body—according to universal principles. When the body is tuned and adjusted, it vibrates to a whole new level. As our fundamental frequency, or essence (our Being) plays its score flawlessly, it can radiate and take its place within the Great Universal Orchestra. In this way, the entire concert can change (I find that the meaning is too different. What do you think of this new proposal?). ___________________________

The term vibrate is most commonly used to describe the feeling experienced when we shudder with pleasure. It’s a delightful state achieved by listening to music that touches us, and through meditation, creation, love, experiencing sacredness, or when we feel deeply connected with certain people or places. At these precise moments, our heart opens and our “vibratory matter” comes to life in full expansion. It’s as if our cells themselves start to sparkle with joy and begin an inner dance. Whether it’s intense or subtle in nature, we vibrate. In other words, we experience the fundamental vibratory nature that is ours, in its highest frequency. Sound transcends the boundaries of language, cultures, beliefs, and time. It awakens in each of us this part of universality to connect us to something that is greater than our individuality and that reveals our original perfection.

ymore info: Singer and sound healer living in France, Erin Kann has long been exploring the benefits of sound and vocal vibration. Her “soul-searching” temperament and creative sensitivity led her to gradually develop an original approach based on sound, vocal vibration, breath and water, and through distance sessions, workshops, guided meditations, and inspired singing concerts. It was not until June 2018, returning from a trip to Japan, that the idea of creating a range of Sound Balms® became obvious and the TNSO brand was born. In parallel, Erin regularly lends her voice for special projects such as customized balms and inspired songs, as well as for original and authentic musical bands. She also performs on demand with her shamanic drum at inspired singing concerts, which are another opportunity for her to offer the benefits of vocal vibration to the world.

www.tnso.me www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JusOHVHBPk

www.instagram.com/tnso.soundbalms/

“At the crossroads of scientific concepts and spiritual traditions, vibrating is a term that makes sense in the field of human experience.” ___________________________ In Hinduism as in Buddhism, the AUM represents the original sound from which the Universe would have been structured.

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Sound Balms® is an open window into a new world of care based on vocal vibration at the service of consciousness and enlightenment.

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FtC sports

Mastering Your Mind to BE More and Unlock Your Potential With High-Performance Psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais Interview by Jawn Angus Dr. Gervais is a high-performance psychologist who currently works with the Seattle Seahawks. His clients include MVPs from all major sports, Olympians, internationally acclaimed artists and musicians, corporate leaders, and military personnel. He is the co-founder of Compete to Create, a high-performance mindset training platform that provides corporations with the skills to become their best, and it is now available online to the public through their digital platform. He was an integral member of the Red Bull Stratos mission, where Felix Baumgartner ascended 128,000 feet in a stratospheric balloon to become the first human without a capsule to travel at the speed of sound. Dr. Gervais is also the host of Finding Mastery, a podcast that explores the psychological framework and practices. Dr. Gervais believes that every human benefits from having their own unique guiding philosophy. This philosophy should be in alignment with their thoughts, words, and actions. Once a personal philosophy is identified and one is very clear about the vision they have for their future—including how they want to experience it—then, at this point, the beginning framework of becoming one’s best self has been achieved. I took Dr. Gervais and Coach Carroll’s “Finding Your Best” high-performance mindset class earlier this year. We sat down and discussed the value that psychology has in the world today, the ways in which we can live with purpose through awareness and being present, the ways in which professional athletes prepare for big moments, and what it was that drove him to paddle solo over thirty miles in the Pacific Ocean.

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Photo “Courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks”. Credit: Alex Wood. Jawn Angus: How has the perception of psychology changed from decades ago to the way society views it today? Dr. Michael Gervais: The history and tradition of psychology was born out of the Western medical model that focuses on what’s broken. So the natural examination has been to study what isn’t working in terms of the mind. In elite sport and performance psychology there has been a shift towards a different way of thinking in the past 20 years, focusing attention on how people excel and how to improve upon those positive attributes. JA: When did psychology begin to play a prominent role in sports? MG: Sixty years ago, coaches did everything. They played the role

of psychologist, strength coach, technician, and even the parents in some respects. They did it all. Then specialization moved in. Some of the avant-garde coaches said, “You know what? There’s this new thing called strength and conditioning. What if we could get our athletes bigger, faster, stronger, and they could last longer?” So, they brought in strength coaches and they offloaded the expertise of strength and conditioning so that they could think more about other aspects of their job. That started working so well that athletes started to unfortunately break down. They were bigger, faster, and stronger, but not properly recovering. The next wave came in about twenty years later in the form of athletic training and physical therapy, focusing on the recovery modules to help athletes recover from deep strains.

Then came nutrition, and now the last of the training sciences is about psychology. Psychology in sport first mapped towards traditional psychology in the sense that psychologists were recruited to help with challenging athletes. That’s not how it works anymore. Right now, we’re in a very exciting time wherein psychology is well-recognized and it’s understood that there are only three things that we can train as humans. We can train our craft—the technical skills of our job—we can train our body to be more dynamic, stronger, and more flexible, and we can train our mind. It’s not about repairing the damaged, the broken, or the dysfunctional; at this point, it really is about, “How do we frontload and get ahead of the way that our mind might naturally respond to high-stress or high-consequence environments?” www.facethecurrent.com

Frontloading is analogous to training, and so we can train our mind to be able to respond more gracefully, more eloquently, and more sturdily in moments of stress and pressure. What’s happening right now across world-class organizations in sport and otherwise, is thatpsychology is not just reserved for those that are struggling. It is something that is celebrated in the DNA of organizations because they understand that the human experience is complicated, it’s nuanced, it’s textured, and we should provide all the resources we possibly can from good science to help people flourish in life. It’s about celebrating the practices we have to be able to strengthen and condition one’s mind to further pursue potential. JA: With those three things that we can train as humans (our mind, body, and craft), are there different techniques used to train in these areas? Is

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it different for a professional athlete versus a corporate manager?

that syntax, or vibe—it’s a unique way that these principles are explained to a particular performer or athlete.

MG: Same approach. The mental skills for humans are the same and that’s what’s wonderful about psychology. Wherever you go, you take your mind with you. The principles are universal to industry, race, gender, and culture. There are some sensitivities to values that are culturally unique, but the principles tend to be the same. Ultimately, all the principles are really designed to help humans live in the present moment more often.

JA: Regarding living in the present moment, I’ve heard you say, “Don’t make any moment bigger than any other moment.” How does an Olympic athlete treat his or her training the same as an Olympic performance?

Whether it’s mindfulness, confidence training, mental imagery, or arousal regulation, all are designed to help a human live in the present moment more often. The principles and practices are the same. If they’re evidence-based, there’s some variation and there’s also the innovation that takes place inside unique and varied cultures. Let’s call

MG: That’s a great question. It requires training. There are two basic approaches to go into large games, whether it’s world championships, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, a pitch meeting in business, or an artistic onstage performance. The first approach is to deem that moment more important than any that comes before or after. If that’s your thinking, honor it in training for the incredible stress and pressure that it will be. The other strategy is to think about that moment like it

You know how to speak to yourself. You know how to prepare the week before, the night before, and the morning of, and you’re going to trust your systems. If other people are watching, that’s great, but you can’t control how many are people watching. What you can control is yourself and that’s what you’re going to do. It’s about picking one approach or the other, and there’s not a right and wrong. I’m much more a fan of the latter because I get to practice all the time, every moment, every day of my life, how best to be present and how to be my very best in this moment. If that is my practice, then when the Olympics are here, great—I’ve already practiced! But if I go to the first model, which is the Olympics are the biggest and most stressful event and so I should train as such, it gives me the opportunity to feel small and it doesn’t give me the chance to practice in realistically

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similar environments because I have to seek out another big environment. For me, that’s how I think about it. As a trained psychologist, my job is to not just impose my approach, but to understand what will be the best fit for the people I work with. If they like the first approach, that’s great! I will share my point of view, but if they’re strong on theirs, no worries. Success can happen both ways. It’s the story that you make about the Olympics that really dictates your experience in it, and if you go way upstream to this thought that, “There’s no such thing as a big moment; it’s just this moment and my job is to practice, train, and condition myself to be in this moment right here, right now,” then you are wellequipped to deal with moments when people are watching. JA: As the Performance Psychologist for the Seattle Seahawks, and Co-Founder of Compete to Create with

I approach it as there’s no such thing as a big moment, there’s only this moment, and his approach is that every moment’s big so let’s be in it right now. We get to the same place.

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is no more or less important than any other moment. In the sense that the rules are the same—there are no extra consequences if you don’t make it or you fail and make a mistake. There’s no sniper in the seventh row if you drop a ball or trip out of the starting gates. Because of that, it really is just like every other competition. (The only difference is that more people are watching.) Framing it that way begs the question, “Am I going to change my entire psychology because there are more people watching? Am I going to change everything in the way I think about how I am at my best because other people are watching?” If that’s the case, you have to switch over to the first model. But if you make the decision that you know how to find your best regardless of the audience, then you know you’ll be calm, focused, present, and able to have a high level of trust that you’ll be able to figure it out as you go.

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Ultimately, all the principles are really designed to help humans live in the present moment more often. Whether it’s mindfulness, confidence training, mental imagery, or arousal regulation, all are designed to help a human live in the present moment more often.

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Seahawks’ head coach Pete Carroll, how does your thinking differ from his theory that every practice is a championship practice, and every game is a championship game? Your model is to bring every moment down so that one moment isn’t superior to the next, whereas Coach Carroll’s theory is to elevate every single moment so that every moment is huge. Is that fair to say? MG: Exactly right. He and I get to the exact same place, which is: this is the only moment so make it the most amazing you possibly can! I approach it as there’s no such thing as a big moment, there’s only this moment, and his approach is that every moment’s big so let’s be in it right now. We get to the same place. I love when he says this: “This is a championship game, this is a championship opportunity.” What he’s really talking about is it’s an

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opportunity to bring your very best today. Let’s practice that today and not wait for somebody else to tell us that it’s important. It’s important right now because if I were to take away this moment, what are the consequences? If we can’t live in this moment, it’s essentially like a physical death. That’s a really cool way to think about it. JA: What is your day-to-day role with the Seahawks? How is psychology used in their organization? MG: For the Seattle Seahawks, psychology is one of the core pillars, and understanding and appreciating the value and condition of one’s mind is very important. The whole psychological culture begins with Coach Carroll; he is the cultural curator. The custodians of culture are everybody else in the organization. In essence, culture is the artifact of relationships—it’s the texture of the relationships we have, first with

ourselves, then with others, and also with the challenges that lie ahead. Psychology is infused in the DNA of the Seahawks’ organization because that’s how Coach Carroll has created his culture. It’s not a psychologist sitting in a dark room with a comfortable couch, cross-legged, trying to understand and examine the dysfunctions of another human. Ultimately, all the principles are really designed to help humans live in the present moment more often Whether it’s mindfulness, confidence training, mental imagery, or arousal regulation, all are designed to help a human live in the present moment more often. That is talked about every day through many hallway conversations and sideline chats. There are more intense conversations that do happen in a more private setting, but it is not what, at first pass, you might imagine. Coach Carroll has done an extraordinary job of amplifying the

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Nobody can do anything extraordinary alone, even individual athletes or contributors in business. We need each other, and it’s those relationships with ourselves and others that pay dividends.

Photo “Courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks”. Credit: Alex Wood. importance of psychology while also being very clear about ways that we can train it together. I was the first support psychologist on the field or on the sidelines in the NFL, and that was because of Coach Carroll’s vision. As of two months ago, there were nine teams with psychologists and as of two weeks ago, thirty-two teams have a licensed psychologist on staff. It’s awesome. JA:You have also worked with the U.S. women’s volleyball team in past Olympics. What are some of the differences and/ or similarities between working with explosive, alpha males who play an aggressive contact sport, versus a team of female volleyball players? MG: Independent of gender or sport, the similarities are that the best in the world are more like each other than not. For these athletes, there is a relentless approach to organize their

lives to get to the truth of their skills and the ways in which they match up against other highly skilled people. There’s a deep drive to get to that truth when you’re talking about the best of the best. The best value the truth and there are lots of ways to get at it. There is always a clarity of the principles that drive thinking patterns, emotional responses, and movement patterns. In both athletic scenarios, there is also a natural genetic ability and a relentless work ethic. It would be a mistake for us to just herald the performance of strong men and women that got them to the podium, but it would serve us better to understand how they organize their lives to flourish and pursue mastery. One thing that is common amongst those that are at the tip of the arrow is that they organize their inner life to match the mission in their life. There’s great clarity of their mission, the guiding principles

that support that mission, and a relentless dayin-and-day-out approach to refine and build the mental, psychological, and emotional skills that allow them to adjust to the great challenges that they need to face in order to understand their potential. If we can collectively do it, therein lies the opportunity to have this incredible experience. Nobody can do it alone. Nobody can do anything extraordinary alone, even individual athletes or contributors in business. We need each other, and it’s those relationships with ourselves and others that pay dividends. JA:You say that you believe greatness is available to everybody. What do you mean by that and what is holding people back? MG: We were all born with this unique genetic predisposition; a genetic coding. Greatness is not being the best at your skill, but rather it’s the animation of your www.facethecurrent.com

JA:You coined the term, “FOPO” (fear of people’s opinions). What exactly does this mean?

MG: Fear of people’s opinions has become an irrational and unproductive obsession in the modern world. It is one of the great constrictors of expression; it’s one of the great chokeholds on human potential. FOPO, and the power that it has over us, is an inheritance from our tribal ancestors. The brain is this amazing inner-networked chemical and neuro-exchange that is so complicated that we don’t really understand how it works, but we do know that there’s no redundancies in the brain. Long ago, our ancient brain figured out how to keep us alive and it’s the fight-flight-freeze mechanisms that accomplish that. There’s a network in the brain called the limbic system and at the moment a threat is experienced (real or perceived), that part of the brain lights up to prepare us for an appropriate response to the danger. This response was first designed many millions of years ago. As we’ve become the species that we are now,

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there are no longer the same threats in our environment that we once had. The most modern threat we have is evidenced by what we experience most often—anxiety. It can come in the form of that clammed-up feeling we get in a social setting when we’re not quite sure how to act or be. It can happen when we walk up three steps onto a small stage in a business platform to execute a keynote address or have a conversation in front of our peers. Perhaps it happens when we’re in a boardroom and we raise our hand with all eyes turning to gaze upon us.We’ve all experienced the feeling of that response: your heart rate increases, breathing rate changes, and perspiration begins. Cottonmouth is also a normal reaction and we can become so hyperaware of our experience that our mind gets hijacked by the sensations of survival and we lose track of our thinking.These are all triggers that exist now in modern times because of what people think of us.

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genetic coding—the animation of an expression of the potential of your mind—in your body and your craft, that’s available to everybody. The easier, lazy way to think about greatness is that someone was the best of all time at a given sport/ instrument etc. While there is something special in that, what I am suggesting is that what is great about the human experience is pushing to the edges of your capacity to really see your capabilities, and that includes love, talent, relationships, and being a custodian of the planet—that requires a rare effort. It requires a rare commitment and when people do that, it’s incredible. They have the capability to change their family structure, their neighborhood, an industry, or potentially the planet.

Fear of people’s opinions is one of the great constrictors of expression; it’s one of the great chokeholds on human potential.

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Psychology is infused in the DNA of the Seahawks’ organization because that’s how Coach Carroll has created his culture. It’s not a psychologist sitting in a dark room with a comfortable couch, cross-legged, trying to understand and examine the dysfunctions of another human. It’s nothing close to that.

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Photo “Courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks”. Credit: Alex Wood. One of the most dangerous and threatening experiences that humans have today is not the tiger in the bush, but rather it’s the opinions of other people. There’s a physiological, psychological, and emotional experience that happens when people feel as though they’re being judged and critiqued. It is so internally hostile that we can often end up doing it to ourselves first. That’s one of the reasons we are so hyper-critical of ourselves—it’s to try to prepare ourselves to be “perfect” so that when we’re in front of other people, we can be perfect. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. When we self-critique and become judgmental of ourselves, we actually start chipping away at our core. We start chipping away at the stuff that is brilliant and wonderful about ourselves in the hopes that one day people will be able to appreciate us. It’s a really flawed model wherein we’re damaging

ourselves so that somebody else can see the “perfect” remnants. JA:You stay so busy helping professionals reach their greatest potential, but you recently trained and completed quite the accomplishment of your own last summer. You paddled on a stand-up paddleboard from Catalina Island to Redondo Beach, California for charity, correct? How long was that and what types of challenges did you face? MG: Yes! It was just under thirty one miles. We raised money for The Ocean Cleanup project, a company that’s scraping the ocean for plastic. The project was designed to get us all reconnected with Mother Nature and to do some good for the planet. There have been just around twenty-five folks that have made that crossing via stand-up paddleboard. The main challenge is basically that

you’re alone. (There’s a support boat that’s part of it.) You have to get through a shipping lane, a shark alley, and other natural conditions of the Pacific Ocean such as tide shift and waves. The essence of the project was to raise awareness and to deepen my understanding of what it’s like to really push the edges of my capacity. I’m not built for endurance. It was the first long-distance thing I’ve ever done. JA:That’s an ultra-event! How long did it take you? MG: It was eight and a half hours, and somewhere between eighty-five and ninety-nine percent effort most of the time. At mile twenty-one, I got caught in a current that lasted forty-seven minutes. That felt like the ultimate joke. I was going at ninety-eight percent of my maximum exertion in full delirium.

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MG: Yeah; mild hallucinations and not moving. JA: At that point, with all the training that you’ve had and from all the work you’ve invested in helping other people, you probably had to make a decision to either keep going or to pack it in. MG: Yeah, it was definitely one paddle at a time; one stroke at a time. One of the big insights and takeaways is that, when pain is bigger than

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purpose, pain wins. Flipped around, when purpose is bigger than pain, purpose wins. When something really matters to you, you’ll do whatever it takes. If you think about parents and the love that they have for their family and their children, they will literally step in front of a bus and do whatever it takes to do the right thing. It’s all out of love, and that’s purpose. Clarity of purpose matters. [Editor’s note: Gervais raised more than $13,000 through a GoFundMe page and the company he shares with Carroll, Compete to Create, matched the donation.]

JA: For young kids, is there an age you would say is too young for mindfulness training? MG: Good question. No. I’m not going to be able to point to any research on that, but the assumption is that we all have the capacity to train focus, and mindfulness is really focus training above all things. The gold dust is that you end up finding yourself being a little bit more relaxed if you’re focusing on relaxing breaths, but it’s concentration and focus training more than anything. I was practicing mindfulness with my son when he was three years

We were all born with this unique genetic predisposition; a genetic coding. Greatness is not like being the best at your skill, but rather it’s the animation of your genetic coding—the animation of an expression of the potential of your mind—in your body and your craft, that’s available to everybody.

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JA: So you were just paddling away and not going anywhere?

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When purpose is bigger than pain, purpose wins.

old and it’s as simple as putting a little stuffed animal on his belly; we would just count our breathing. Then I’d see if he could slow down his inhale and slow down his exhale, and we’d watch the stuffed animal go up and down, counting together. That was early training and then it turned into something that was more traditional. It became about our cadence of breathing and some autogenic relaxation techniques, and now he’s doing some more advanced mindfulness training. JA: What’s your vision for Compete to Create? Where do you want to take it? MG: The mission of the company is to help every person on the planet train and condition their mind to

live in the present moment more often. That’s where everything is that’s true and beautiful and good; that’s where high performance is expressed and wisdom is revealed— in the present moment. That’s not just reserved for the two of us; that’s hopefully available to every person in every community in which we’re included. We’re making great efforts to distill those best practices from a scienceinformed way, as well as to innovate based on what we’ve learned in high-stress, highpressure, rugged and even hostile environments. That’s the essence of it.

ymore info: https://findingmastery.net https://competetocreate.net www.facethecurrent.com

FtC sports

Embracing The Elements and Life of Adventure With Kirsten Alexis By Sasha Frate

What would it take for you to defy and aspire beyond the conviction that your body has physical limitations, to set out and embrace the elements of the skies, many of earth’s greatest mountain peaks, beautiful waters and snow covered landscapes as your infinite adventure grounds? Meet Kirsten Alexis, a high-altitude mountain explorer, licensed skydiver, and outdoor adventure content creator who has done just that. At age twelve, Kirsten had spinal fusion surgery to correct the effects of scoliosis. As a result of living with this physical disorder, she endured bullying in middle school, which contributed to her low self-esteem. Kirsten was ultimately diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder and was pulled into a party lifestyle during her late high school and early college years that resulted in substance abuse. After almost failing out of college, Kirsten realized that she desperately needed to get her life together. Kirsten found her restorative passions in art, content creation, and travel, and graduated in 2010. After a celebratory European backpacking trip, Kirsten realized that she wanted travel and adventure to be a huge part of her life.

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Photo Credit: Nick Keith

As is often the case, however, Kirsten still experienced the lingering effects of poor self-esteem and the allure of the party lifestyle.Yet, when a close friend died, Kirsten firmly decided to dedicate her life to sobriety with the intention of living every day to its fullest. With the realization of the fragility of life, Kirsten never wanted to waste another day. As each year passed, Kirsten traveled and adventured more, pushing herself further out of her comfort zone and closer to her dreams. Kirsten began high-altitude mountain trekking, obtained her skydiving license, took up paddle boarding, and recorded her epic adventures to share her journeys on social media. Today, Kirsten is confident, full of selflove, and aims to inspire others to fully and fearlessly live fully through their passion-driven adventures. Kirsten believes that a shift in mindset and lifestyle can alter the course of one’s life and that we have the power to change our own paths with positivity, determination, hard work, the embracement of failure, and a good sense of humor. Among her many dreams, Kirsten is striving to reach the Seven Summits and started achieving her checklist with Kilimanjaro last fall. Next summer she hopes to summit her second peak, Mount Elbrus—the highest mountain in Europe. Kirsten has also climbed and trekked to many locations around the globe, including Everest Base Camp, the Inca Trail, the Canadian Rockies, and multiple peaks in the California Sierras. Nowadays, Kirsten has aspired beyond her own personal journey in creating This Adventure Life that aims to inspire others to get outside, find epic adventures, and fearlessly live their dream life. To her, laughter and adventure truly are the best medicine. Face the Current spoke with Kirsten to learn more about her inspiring journey and share her “adventure medicine” with you! www.facethecurrent.com

Photo Credit: Pez Trosper

Sasha Frate:You’ve embraced virtually all of the elements for your multi-sports adventures, from earth, to water, and the skies. Do you have a favorite element in which to play? Kirsten Alexis: I think it depends on my mindset and location! Each one holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. For me, skydiving is probably my favorite in this moment. It’s just so unlike any other sport out there and it comes with a lot of challenges and amazing memories. It also allows you to see the world from a completely different perspective. I have a lot of goals in the sport and since it’s summer, I try to get out every sunny day that I can. I’m also quite an avid hiker. I love the mountains; there is just something that draws me there. There is no better feeling than celebrating on a summit after a grueling hiking objective. I love the sense of accomplishment and confidence

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each trip gives me. Just like skydiving, I have so many mountain goals and objectives, and I try to get out as much as possible. Any day spent in the outdoors is a good day! SF: How might you describe the difference between being in the air, on/in the water and snow, and trekking through high and low trails? Why might you recommend mixing it up to get in touch with it all? KA: Each one has such a unique experience. Being in the air is definitely the least natural and for that reason, it’s sometimes the most magical. It’s so fast-paced; you only have around sixty seconds during each freefall, so every moment matters.You can move your body and truly “fly” by making deliberate movements and modifications. It looks a lot easier than it is, though! The body positions require a lot of control, muscle memory, and strength. But more than anything, it’s

definitely a sport that requires a lot of mental fortitude, confidence, and focus. Out of all the elements, I’m probably the worst at snow sports! I always say that’s because I’m from sunny California and never had enough time to truly get better, but that’s a poor excuse. As a kid, I was introduced to skiing and was actually quite decent, but it was really hard for me to get the perfect timing for the “french fries” and “pizza” positions”, so I got more injured than I like to admit. I then took up snowboarding and have been doing that ever since. When I started traveling a lot to the Canadian Rockies, I got into snowshoeing, too. It’s super awkward at first, but it became a favorite winter activity. Getting to a snowy summit and seeing the snow-covered landscape is nothing short of magical. However, it can be very dangerous as there is always avalanche risk, so I had to learn how to identify potential hazards and to be prepared in case of emergency.

I grew up in a family that loved everything to do with the water. I was a longtime swimmer and anything in the water felt natural to me. I loved surfing, snorkeling, and just being beachside. As much fun as it was, I never got to be that great of a surfer; my timing and balance was pretty poor. The water sport I’m most drawn to now is paddle boarding, because there is nothing like paddling on calm, open water. I have an inflatable board, which is great to take to the ocean and I can even hike it to a lake. It’s a great fullbody workout! As for hiking and trekking in the mountains, I definitely have the most experience here. I’m of the mindset that if you can walk, you can hike. And as long as you keep pushing yourself and are consistent in your fitness regimen, you can get to the point where you are climbing higher

altitude mountains and have the endurance to go on multi-day treks. Not only is hiking a great workout, but it also offers a very welcoming and positive community of people from all walks of life. Everyone I have met has a reason they hike, as well as inspiring goals in their journey. I also love hiking because it’s easy to pack my camera or drone, and I can be creative by documenting the landscape and capturing action shots. I’m quite comfortable in the mountains and I hike a few times a week to train for more difficult and higher-altitude objectives. At this point, more vertical and exposed climbing and difficult scrambling scares me! But that’s a good thing—it adds some more goals to my evergrowing list! I am all about trying and experiencing everything! Well, almost everything! I think I’m just more of a “jackass of

all trades, master of nothing” kind of girl because I could never just focus on one without seriously missing the others. SF: Let’s talk about your adventures in the skies: you’ve been skydiving for a few years now and still do it often. What inspired you to start skydiving and then to continue training to be a licensed skydiver? Do you have further goals in the sport? KA: I’ve always been really intrigued by and drawn to extreme sports, and skydiving just really stood out to me as something I wanted to be involved in. I actually first heard of skydiving as I was recovering from spinal fusion surgery twenty years ago. Watching skydivers appear so happy and free just appealed to me. It was something I just knew I wanted to do.

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When I was in college, I had my first tandem jump and I knew someday I would be back in the sport. I really had no idea that I could fly on my own until a few tandem jumps later, I decided I wanted to take it to the next level. So, I enrolled in a local Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course, got my solo license, and then my A license. I fell in love with the sport and the community, and have been involved in it ever since. One of the things I love about the sport is that it’s a constant learning process. It truly humbles you. I’m still a super low-level jumper, so I’m very focused on progression and learning everything I can about the sport. One of my goals is to become a coach so I can inspire new jumpers and help them on their journey. I’d also love to progress in the freefly discipline.

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One of my goals this year is to finally nail that pesky sit fly (freefalling in a seated position)!

coaches, I’m very focused on how I’m moving my body and making progress in the sport.

SF: How would you describe the feeling of soaring through the air from incredible heights with skydiving? How has this feeling changed the way you live your life?

My mindset has changed so much since I started the sport. I’ve become way more confident and less afraid to jump in and take risks in life. I’ve definitely gotten a lot better at laughing at myself. I’ve learned to live in the moment and make every second count and to be less competitive, embracing where I am in the journey. Everyone starts somewhere, and I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

KA: In skydiving, I think the only way for other people to truly understand it is to try it themselves! But, I will try to explain it the best I can. The first few jumps are definitely a rush; there is so much excitement, fear, and adrenaline going on! After a while, the rush goes away, and each jump becomes more natural. Depending on the jump, it can vary. I’ve had a lot of funny jumps with friends, and a lot of jumps that I do solo that feel quite meditative. When I jump with

SF:You talk a lot about getting out of your comfort zones and facing your fears to find self-love and to live your dream life. What did you find out or learn about yourself by stepping through to the other side of fear?

KA: I think I was just at a point in my life where I knew I needed to change or else I was never going to get to where I wanted to be. I decided I was done wasting time and that I was just going to do everything I wanted to do. I just went for it and gained a new positive outlook on life… and ultimately, a new life. So far, I’ve learned so much about myself and life in general. Getting out of my comfort zones gave me so much confidence by teaching me that I was capable of more than I ever thought possible. It also taught me about fear and that everything really was all in my head. It taught me to get out of my head and just go for it, because life is too short and waits for no one. Today, things that once seemed like a big deal now seem trivial. I found true

passions in life and a purpose to be here. SF: Why did you decide to not only share your adventures with a larger community, but to feature other prominent stories and the content of others in the industry on your blog, This Adventure Life? KA: This Adventure Life actually started as my own personal blog. I wanted a way to share my adventures with my friends and family while I was away. When I was working on the blog, I honestly got bored just writing about my own adventures. When I got laid off from my job at a start-up, I was looking for ways to create my own business as well as to inspire people to get outside and pursue their passions. I decided to make the blog into a community

and digital publication. I wanted to create a platform for adventurers and companies to share their stories, feature their products, and announce local meetups to give creators and brands a chance to connect and network. It’s such an honor to feature and share the stories of all these amazing and inspiring people. Not only that, their stories make me want to be better and push my own limits in all aspects of life. SF: When you were younger, you experienced a devastating “blow” to your lifestyle and have stated that you became very self-conscious.You withdrew from living your authentic life after your back surgery, so what was it that finally got you back out the door to explore and adventure again? It seems this www.facethecurrent.com

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To be honest, I just got tired of not truly living the life I knew I was meant to live. I was tired of wasting time. I was tired of being selfconscious and afraid of failure. I was done feeling like I wasn’t ‘good enough’.

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was a whole new way of “leveling up”. KA: Yeah, I had spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis when I was twelve. Afterwards, I was put in a back brace and given a lot of limitations. I couldn’t compete in sports anymore and my social life suffered. There were a few years where I truly had no friends. This may be hard to believe, but having a back brace, a rolling backpack, baggy clothes, and braces was not the definition of “cool” in middle school! Over the years, I was lucky to have a group of amazing and supportive friends in my life, and I seemed to be happy and back to “normal”. Underneath the surface, however, I was miserable. I had horrible selfesteem and self-worth. I was afraid to show who I really was for fear that I wouldn’t be accepted. I was afraid to succeed for fear that I would be a failure. I felt ugly, useless, unhappy, and unworthy. I wanted to be someone

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else. I lived an inauthentic life as a party girl from the end of high school through a big portion of college. One thing that ignited a spark of passion back into me was a photography class at UCLA. I felt myself switching priorities. I went from wanting to be at the next big event to spending my time exploring the outdoors and trying to get the perfect shot. It made me feel alive again and it made me feel like myself again. I knew that I had to pursue these passions and move towards my authentic life and self. To be honest, I just got tired of not truly living the life I knew I was meant to live. I was tired of wasting time. I was tired of being self-conscious and afraid of failure. I was done feeling like I wasn’t “good enough”. I stopped drinking and embraced a sober, productive life with the decision to pursue my adventures and passions. As scary as they can be, it gave me back my confidence and ultimately

my life. SF: In your blogs and social media, you’ve described your back-to-back Kilimanjaro summit and Everest Base Camp trek as being “transformative”. Can you elaborate more on these experiences and the ways in which these kinds of journeys can be so transformative for people? KA: Each trek is a big undertaking in and of itself and doing them backto-back just added to the challenge. I dealt with a lot of mind games before: Could I make the summit? What if I got altitude sickness and had to turn around? Is that a failure? As we discussed, I come from a history of self-esteem issues. Although they had gotten better, some still lingered and they really showed up months before the treks! To add insult to injury, I found out that I had been in an unfaithful

relationship right before the trip. I was devastated and it ignited more thoughts of not being “good enough”. Standing on the summit of Kilimanjaro—something I never expected to do—somehow set me free. I realized in that moment that I hadn’t given myself enough credit for the strength and capability I possessed. In that moment, I realized that everything that had happened to me led me there. I realized that it was time to move forward, live for today, and dream of tomorrow. And at that point, I let everything go. I think a lot of people are driven to set out and attempt these treks to not only challenge themselves but to transform themselves. When you ask the average person what their ideal vacation is, these treks just don’t come up. It takes a certain kind of crazy to put yourself through this. I’ve met a lot of people on the trail who are going through something and want these treks to be the catalyst

for change in their lives. Others are doing it to celebrate milestones, and some just to tick it off the good ol’ “bucketlist”. Whatever the reason, these treks change you. They present challenges and place you in situations where you have to rely on yourself to get to your goals.You will be mentally and physically tested as you push the limit. Whether you make the summit or not, you learn so much about yourself from the journey. For better or worse, you will come out changed. SF: What sparked your idea and goal of reaching the Seven Summits, and how do you plan to achieve this? KA: It’s a big dream and at the moment it definitely scares the crap out of me! And I like that. It all started a few years ago when I decided that I was going to go through with my Kilimanjaro trek. It had always appealed to me and at the time it was a lofty goal that just didn’t seem real. I told myself, almost

jokingly, that if I made the summit of Kilimanjaro I would go for the rest. Challenge accepted! I don’t have a specific time frame for this goal. I want to make this undertaking as safe and reasonable as possible. Next year I will be attempting Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe. After that I am thinking either Aconcagua (Argentina) or Denali (Alaska). I plan on training a lot—even more than I did for Kilimanjaro. Now that I kind of know what to expect, I feel like I have a better understanding of higheraltitude mountains and the process. To train for Everest—the ultimate mountain goal—I want to first attempt Cho Oyu (Nepal) first. A lot of guides in the Everest region advised me to embark on this expedition before even thinking of Everest. Cho Oyu is often used as a “training” mountain for Everest hopefuls. It’s considered the easiest of the 8,000-meter peaks and will give www.facethecurrent.com

me an idea of how my body reacts in such extreme environments. SF: What type of training do you do for these high-altitude mountain expeditions? KA: There’s a lot of physical, emotional, and mental preparation that goes into each expedition on which I embark. I try to go to the gym every day that I am not in the mountains. I typically get around sixty to ninety minutes of intense cardio, and I alternate weight days. I work on my core strength every day because you need that for the trail as you carry a good portion of your own gear. I also swim and attend yoga and kickboxing classes. The best way to truly train for high altitude is to go to altitude. For

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Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp, I trained in the Canadian Rockies and the fourteen-ers in Colorado. I really made sure to vary up my hikes. One day I would choose a hike that had a lot of elevation gain, and the next I would go for endurance. Towards the end of my training (about a month before I left) I made sure to “hike high, sleep low”. I stayed in Winter Park, Colorado, which sits around 9,000 feet. Every day that weather permitted, I hiked up a 14,000-foot mountain. I wanted to get as much high-altitude exposure as I could since Kilimanjaro is just over 19,000 feet and Everest base Camp is around 18,000 feet. Those were the highest I had ever accomplished and I was determined to succeed in both. As for the mental preparation, I

really try to just stay positive and in the moment. I try not to dwell on the negative thoughts or “what if” situations in my head. It’s hard, trying to stay realistic while also being prepared for injury and the possibility of turning around while training for your goals. I always tell myself: “The mountain will always be there; what matters is that you tried.” SF: Do you have any particular stand-out and unforgettable stories from your adventures so far that you can share? KA: I have so many! I’m known in the communities for generating “FML moments”—things that seemingly only happen to me. I think one of the funniest scenarios was during my AFF course. It was jump number five and

Photo Credit: Royce Sihlis

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Getting out of my comfort zones gave me so much confidence by teaching me that I was capable of more than I ever thought possible. It also taught me about fear and that everything really was all in my head. It taught me to get out of my head and just go for it, because life is too short and waits for no one.

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the first time I would be jumping out of the plane without an instructor gripping me. I mentally prepared myself for this and honestly felt super confident the whole ride up. The light turned green and soon enough it was our turn to jump. I positioned myself out of the airplane and for some reason, I just froze. I wanted to jump and knew there was only one way down, but I just couldn’t. I let go after a few seconds and actually had a great jump. (Spoiler: I actually hit all of the objectives and passed—much to my surprise!) However, because I

had hesitated, I was forced to land off the drop zone. I ended up landing in a farmer’s field! I stepped and stumbled in deep manure the entire walk out of the field. It got all over my shoes and jumpsuit! Lesson learned: don’t hesitate! One of my first introductory highaltitude treks was the Inca Trail in Peru. I had been an avid hiker for a while leading up to this and was quite frankly overly confident. I also totally underestimated this trek. I had done well the first day and felt really good—too good. As luck would have

it, the second day hit me like a ton of bricks. If anyone has been on this trek, they know all too well that it’s like a never-ending Stairmaster for 14,000 feet. I was hurting from the get-go; I was tired, my legs wouldn’t stop shaking, and I’ve never been so thirsty. I kept taking breaks by saying, “Wow, look at this view,” or, “I’m going to take some more photos.” I think everyone saw through the bogus excuses. I eventually made it, but I was hurting. Lesson learned: be humble! About eight years ago, I once again www.facethecurrent.com

got an urge to just pack up and travel. I had seen photos of these magical turquoise mountain lakes in the Canadian Rockies and became eager to explore the region. I asked around and couldn’t find any friends to join, so I went alone. I had traveled a bit before around the USA and Europe, but nothing compared to this. I decided to take the trip day-to-day with an open mind and open heart. I ended

up meeting some incredible friends (some I still talk to) and explored some of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. I hiked, canoed, went white-water rafting, hit the mountain bike park, and even bungee jumped. It was an action-packed trip and I knew at that point I wanted adventure and travel to be a big part of my life. I also learned more about my capabilities and independence! This trip kicked off a series of solo travels and adventures, and even brought me back to the region years later. Lesson learned: just go for it! SF: Juggling life, adventure, and

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work is a common theme for many these days. Adventure seems to take the hit more often than not, yet people are finding ways to fit it into their schedules. As you’re involved in a lot of traveling and various outdoor activities, how might you advise people with tips or tricks that will help them “fit it in” and how do you manage to successfully juggle them all while avoiding the burn out? KA: With social media being so prominent in our lives these days, I feel like the “fear of missing out” is very real. We live in a world where we have so much knowledge and opportunity, and almost feel guilty if we don’t do it all.

I try to fit in as much as I can without getting burnt out. I never want to lose my sense of wonder in these travels and activities, which means taking the time to recharge so I can enjoy the next adventure. I’ve definitely had burn out and it took away the enjoyment of the adventures and my content creation. I really had to sit out, relax, and get my priorities right. I decided to devote a few days in a typical week to adventure and content creation, and a few days around home to get my “me time.” It’s all about balance. Make sure that you do what you actually want and that you’re not just doing it because you think you might miss out. Take time to relax and get rest.Yes, life is short and there is so much to see, but it can’t be at the cost of our health or well-being. SF: If you could leave people with one thought or word of advice for ways to make a big change in their lives that could start actualizing their dream life, what would it be? KA: “Live Fearlessly.” This is my tagline for This Adventure Life, and it’s been the way I live my life over the past few years. I apply it not only to my adventures, but to my creative endeavors, relationships, and work as well. Be fearless. Be bold. Be unapologetically you. You have to love yourself first before you can truly enjoy the beauty this life has to offer. Never forget your dreams. Count your blessings. Let the past go. Sometimes it’s easier to just exist in life; it sure is safer! But is it what you want? If not, you might want to change directions. Life is too short to simply exist and feel mediocre. And don’t just practice self-love, promote it! It’s important to spread the love and positivity amongst those around us. Lift others up, encourage them to live their passions and make each day count!

ymore info: IG : @kirstenalexisadventures FB: @kirstenalexisadventures Website (coming soon): kirstenalexis.com www.thisadventurelife.com Photo Credit: @cheeze.staxx

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FtC health

The Global Impact of the “Convenience Lifestyle” on Our Environment and Health With Dr. Zach Bush By Ainsley Schoppel Dr. Zach Bush is one of a small number of triple board-certified MDs in the United States whose expertise encompasses endocrinology, metabolism, internal medicine, and hospice and palliative care. To date, Dr. Bush has enjoyed a wellearned and prestigious career in cancer research in addition to his conventional medical practice.

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About a decade ago, Dr. Bush realized that his pharmaceutically-based treatment protocols were not healing his patients as they should be, and he even felt they were serving to actively harm them. It was at this point that he decided to walk away from his research and his practice. He moved to rural Virginia in the middle of a food desert and established a

clinic that focused on the medicinal properties of plants. Today, he runs an innovative and integrative medical clinic in Charlottesville and also heads an outstanding team of researchers who are at the forefront of epigenetics and microbiome research.

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We live just as the plant does on our body’s ‘organic soil.’ Our soil happens to be that of our gut and the nutrient delivery of our microbiome,” he relates. “As we kill the ecosystem in our gardening soil, the plants are damaged, and the soil is further weakened. As we take antibiotics in our food, in our water systems, and in our prescription medications, we are decimating the very fabric of the way in which our life springs out of our ‘soil.’

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As Dr. Bush explains, “The microbiome is an ecosystem that lives in and around the human being. It is composed of not only bacteria, but also fungi, parasites, viruses, and the like. This ecosystem is massive in comparison to the biology that we hold as humans.” In terms of bacteria in our ecosystems, our understanding of its proliferation has only grown. “It’s not understood that bacteria dwell in the breast, prostate, or in our solid organs,” Dr. Bush clarifies, “and it’s in our gut lining, on our skin, in every pore, in our nasal sinuses, and in our mouths.” The proper balance of bacteria is critical for the healthy functioning of our independent systems and overall

health. “The interesting thing about the microbiome is it has the capacity to balance. It can balance tens of thousands of species of bacteria with millions of species of fungi and hundreds of thousands of species of parasites,” notes Dr. Bush. However, Dr. Bush has noticed within his own practice and experience with patients that the over-use of antibiotics has damaged the microbiome’s ability to self-regulate and balance. “So, we have this massive ecosystem that’s all working in a very coherent and coordinate fashion.You then throw in an antibiotic and you can see the incredible disruption that we cause in the fabric of the biology in which we live.” Dr. Bush offers the example of

a poorly tended garden. If a gardener hasn’t nurtured and cared for the soil in a balanced way—providing enough moisture content, nutrients, and compost—then their plants will most likely die. “We live just as the plant does on our body’s ‘organic soil.’ Our soil happens to be that of our gut and the nutrient delivery of our microbiome,” he relates. “As we kill the ecosystem in our gardening soil, the plants are damaged, and the soil is further weakened. As we take antibiotics in our food, in our water systems, and in our prescription medications, we are decimating the very fabric of the way in which our life springs out of our ‘soil.’” www.facethecurrent.com

In furthering the discussion on the repercussions of ingesting compounds that are harmful to our gut and microbiome, Dr. Bush heavily focuses on the dangers of glyphosate. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup; a weed-killing product manufactured by Monsanto. “This is a molecule that is made from the backbone of an amino acid which is a naturally occurring building block for the proteins that our bodies are built from,” Dr. Bush notes. “That glycine backbone is then tagged with a phosphate group and a carboxyl group to create an amine on the other end. We end up with a molecular family called an organophosphate.” In 1959, this

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very organophosphate chemical was patented in Japan as a chelating agent (a chemical compound that reacts with metal ions to form a stable, water-soluble complex). The toxicity of this agent was well known and so the chemical was not distributed in the marketplace. In the mid-1970s, Monsanto began developing chemicals to be used for cleaning industrial piping and sewer systems. Because of glyphosate’s proven chelating ability, Monsanto purchased its patent. They began using it as a pipe cleaner to effectively tear mineral buildup off the lining of pipes to clear clogs and increase flow efficiency.

“However, they found that as soon as that pipe emptied on the other side of the water system, it killed all the plant life and organisms in the streams,” reveals Dr. Bush. “They suddenly realized that they had something that was damaging ecological life.” It’s now recognized to be the same process that occurred in the 1970s with Agent Orange. Agent Orange was the chemical that was transported to Vietnam and used to defoliate the jungles.Vast amounts of this organophosphate were aerially sprayed to kill jungle plant life in order to expose the Vietcong army and more effectively coordinate attacks against them.

In a similar vein of thinking, “Monsanto realized that if they couldn’t market glyphosate as a pipe cleaner, then maybe they could go ahead and market it as a weed killer. Unsurprisingly, they got permission to do that,” Dr. Bush says. Beginning in the late 1970s, glyphosate was marketed and sold as a product called Roundup. By the mid 1980s it was a household name and found in the garages and sheds of millions of Americans. However, it’s not only the glyphosate in Roundup that makes it a particularly damaging product to use. “It has surfactants and other chemicals, too. There are sixteen other compounds that are toxic in the final product of Roundup,” Dr. Bush points out. Dr. Bush works with a team of farmers to understand the practical implications of Roundup in the farming industry. As the farmers explained to him, “As single spraying

of Roundup in a field can kill fifty percent of the worms normally found in that acreage.” Dr. Bush points out that, “Earthworms are obviously one of the most important parts of that soil’s ecosystem. [Glyphosate] is an extremely toxic chemical to all of life at every level. It impacts the plants, the microorganisms, and the macroorganisms. They are all dying very quickly under a single application of Roundup.” It doesn’t take much to extrapolate and imagine the collective impact of the entire farming industry’s use of this chemical. As previously mentioned, glyphosate is water soluble which means it won’t remain on any surface or subject for long. As soon as rain falls or farm irrigation is initiated, the chemical washes through the soil, into the water table, and out into larger waterways.

spray in the United States (from an agricultural standpoint) is the Mississippi River,” declares Dr. Bush. The Mississippi River collects all of the water from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Missouri. All of the water in these states ends up in one water system which concentrates the Roundup and extraneous fertilizers used by countless farms. “It’s not surprising that it’s now the most horrible zone for life to exist in,” Dr. Bush sadly extolls. “As the Mississippi empties out into the Gulf of Mexico, we kill all the microorganisms, fish life, and everything else living in the water.” Unfortunately, there is also a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Mississippi that is the size of Rhode Island. It is expanding daily from chemical dumping that is killing algae and microorganisms and bleaching the life out of the coral.

“The water system that collects the vast majority of the Roundup

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Photo Credit: Nicol Ragland

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Australia went crazy with glyphosate around 2007 and have been more steeped in it over the last decade than even the United States. They’re killing the coral reefs there, too. We’ve got this massive decimation of life on Earth, all from our chemical farming.

From a global perspective, “The same thing is happening in the Great Barrier Reef,” Dr. Bush describes. “Australia went crazy with glyphosate around 2007 and have been more steeped in it over the last decade than even the United States. They’re killing the coral reefs there, too. We’ve got this massive decimation of life on Earth, all from our chemical farming.” Asked whether laws should be enacted to prevent further damage, Dr. Bush responds, “It absolutely should be illegal. I think that the rise of consciousness is happening, and I fully anticipate that it will be illegal in the next decade.” Outside of the environmental impacts of glyphosate, Dr. Bush is connecting the dots to explain spikes in chronic illness that are being documented amongst American children. “Forty-

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six percent of children in the United States now have a chronic disease diagnosis. There are plenty more that have yet to be diagnosed, suffering in silence.” Dr. Bush is even examining the prevalence of life-threatening allergies that are extremely common in this generation of children. “If you ask any school nurse how many EpiPens they had on the shelf in 1985, they’d say, ‘Maybe one.’ Now you go to a school and they’ve developed these fancy boards that all the EpiPens click into with each student’s name and their specific allergy. There are now so many kids that are allergic to something in the natural environment because they have no barrier,” he says. “They’ve destroyed the barrier system and everything they eat goes zipping right into their immune system and causes a reaction.”

In yet another connected trend, Dr. Bush also examines the overuse of pharmaceuticals in society. His concerns fall with the heavy use of stimulants on millions of children, and the ways in which very narrow diagnostic labels separate us as humans from the root cause of suffering or illness. “Polypharmacy [the practice of taking multiple medications] is really just chasing after the wind. It’s not getting anywhere near the root cause of the situation. Back in the 1990s, with the big debut of Prozac and the SSRI [serotonin reuptake inhibitor] class of antidepressants, it was an amazing time where we thought we had found a magic bullet for depression,” he recalls.

Dr. Bush carefully explains that such medications increase the amount of serotonin available in the synapse (the space between neurons). The amount of serotonin is not increased, however; the body isn’t making more. The medication simply blocks the uptake of serotonin so more of it is left in the synapse to keep interacting with surface receptors on the brain’s neurons. In this way, there is simply more serotonin available even though there is no more serotonin in your body than there was before taking the medication. “It’s the highest science out there around these pharmaceutical agents, which are all chemicals. They are pharmaceutically derived, which means they’ve been changed or perturbed from their natural state,” Dr. Bush says. “This means they’re going to have side effects and negative impacts on the human body when taken, and so, we’re just missing the whole root cause of health. We’re certainly missing the pursuit of health

and healing through the belief that the pharmaceutical industry should be any part of that, let alone the foundation of it.” In specifically looking at children with autism, Dr. Bush has his own theories: “Any parent who has struggled to help their child with autism knows their child’s gut is so messed up. ‘Why can’t I get it right? Why can’t I find the right diet? Why can’t I get them to do it?’ These are all common questions I hear.” In Dr. Bush’s opinion, the gaps in diet realized by parents and the early efforts of their clinicians, led to the realization that nutrition is a fundamental part of the treatment process. “It’s not discussed by neurologists or family doctors that diagnose autism. It doesn’t get presented as a frontline treatment method.You’ve got to change the microbiome; you’ve got to change the nutrients going into the child, and this is just not taught.” Dr. Bush’s experience is that the education of physicians is directed

into the pharmaceutical belief system that leaves the understanding of the underpinnings of disease sorely lacking. He even finds that, as a collective, physicians’ knowledge about nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyles isn’t detailed enough. In a holistic view, we’re not simply a product of our genome. In fact, for many of us, our genome plays a limited role in the expressions of our health. Our microbiome coupled with the planetary health that surrounds us on a daily basis is what enables us to live happily or unhealthily. What steps can we as individuals take to build ourselves a better brain or a better body? What can we do to help our loved ones? Dr. Bush has some thoughts.

83 Photo Credit: Nicol Ragland

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If you haven’t caught it yet, you can build yourself a new body and brain. That is such an important story for you and your suffering children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.,” he exclaims. “It’s so exciting because we have so much human potential that is untapped. We have never really lived life in a sense of wonderment; of connection to nature as a society.

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“It’s so important; I want to infuse hope into all of you! If you haven’t caught it yet, you can build yourself a new body and brain. That is such an important story for you and your suffering children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.,” he exclaims. “It’s so exciting because we have so much human potential that is untapped. We have never really lived life in a sense of wonderment; of connection to nature as a society.” Dr. Bush is quick to point out that many individuals have come to this conclusion and have found a true nurturing synergy with Mother Nature. “This can happen through a meditation process or some other experience—near-death experiences are very common in this scenario— where people will spend time on the ‘other side of the veil’ and suddenly come back into the body. They completely change their whole

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perspective on their connection with nature.” According to Dr. Bush, this is a critical step to find a connection to who we are as individuals and to discover what we are here to do on this planet. “That process looks a lot like getting nature back in your life,” he said. “It’s first about getting the silence in your life. Turn off the TVs, turn off your computer, turn off your wi-fi, and get some silence in the house. If you can’t get it in the house, then just leave, get in your car, and drive as far away from civilization as you can. Get out of the car—I don’t care if it’s in the middle of a field or by a waterfall—and stare at a leaf for a while. Stare into nature for just a few minutes and find reconnection there.” We are not separate from the natural world around us, and sometimes it takes a

concerted effort to remind ourselves of this fact. “Have you recently felt that incredible sensation of grass on your toes?” Dr. Bush asks. “Bare feet in grass—especially when you’re in a field of wild flowers—where you’re able to feel the crumbliness of the soil beneath your feet, the tickle and pressure of the grass, and the flower leaves pushing against your ankles and toes is magical. It’s a real life, fourdimensional massage happening from Mother Nature and it goes into all of your neurologic systems. The bottom of your foot is the reflexology map; every single organ in your body can be nourished, nurtured, encouraged, and inspired by the touch of grass on the bottom of your feet.” In Dr. Bush’s mind, that should be the starting point for all of us if we’re feeling less than well, unbalanced, or unhappy. “If you feel sick, then stop

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Do something to get yourself and your children back into nature. You’ll have scratches, you’ll have bug bites, and you’ll have bumps and bruises because you will be intimately interacting with nature. There will be an exchange of blood, microbes, and RNA, and that will happen just by sitting outside and breathing and experience nature. Let nature touch you.

As a society, we’ve been conditioned

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whatever you’re doing. If you need to pull your kids out of school for two weeks or take a sick-leave, then do whatever you need to do to create a few days of nature for your children and for yourself,” he advises. “Get out there! Go on a canoe trip, do something to get yourself and your children back into nature.” Although it won’t necessarily be as comfortable and convenient as the lives to which we’ve become accustomed, Dr. Bush insists the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks. “You’ll have scratches, you’ll have bug bites, and you’ll have bumps and bruises because you will be intimately interacting with nature. There will be an exchange of blood, microbes, and RNA, and that will happen just by sitting outside and breathing and experience nature. Let nature touch you.”

to prepare ourselves before we step out the door and into the outside world. From all manner of sunscreens, bug sprays, and SPF clothing, we are fully armed with protective products to keep natural dangers at bay. However, Dr. Bush cautions against such drastic measures becoming an obsession. “Don’t go out there and spray yourself down with bug spray and cover yourself with sunscreen,” he advises. “At least give yourself a few minutes of real, uninhibited, unfiltered nature.” While Dr. Bush’s view on overall health is multi-faceted, it most definitely isn’t complicated. We must broaden our understanding of our biologic ecosystem to minimize our vulnerabilities to injury as the result of antibiotic over-dependence. We also must educate ourselves on the unfortunate prevalence of

chemicals in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the medications we take. Dr. Bush concludes that, “Our vulnerability is as much from our convenience lifestyle as it is from the drugs in our environment.” So, make your life a little less convenient. Research any and all geographical concerns in terms of chemical dangers, grow your own food whenever possible, inject more silence into your life, and sit in nature on a regular basis. Reset your microbiome and calm your mind— your body will thank you!

ymore info: www.zachbushmd.com www.farmersfootprint.us www.facethecurrent.com

FtC health

GREEN CLEANING AND HEALTH HACKS

WITH EUCALYPTUS By Lisa Guy, naturopath and founder of Bodhi Organic Tea

The eucalyptus tree has gained significant attention around the globe for its impressive health benefits and effectiveness around the home as a green alternative to chemical laden cleaning products. The eucalyptus tree with its distinct oily leaves is a native to Australia and has been used for thousands of years by Aboriginal people for its antiseptic properties as a remedy to heal wounds and infections. Of the over 400 different varieties, the Blue Gum or eucalyptus globulus is the most commonly used eucalyptus oil around the world. Eucalyptus leaves are distilled to produce a unique essential oil that has powerful medicinal benefits. Eucalyptus oil contains an active compound called eucalyptol, which has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. (1)

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NATURAL COLD AND FLU RELIEF Eucalyptus is a common ingredient in inhalers, cough lozenges and chest rubs. Eucalyptus has anti-bacterial, decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties that makes it an excellent natural remedy for clearing stuffy noses and easing cold and flu symptoms. It’s also a good bronchial dilator that helps open up the lungs to improve airflow. Inhaling steam with eucalyptus oil is beneficial for people with asthma and sinusitis. Eucalyptus is an expectorant that can help loosen chest congestion, so it can be coughed up easily. Eucalyptus is also soothing for sore throats. Try adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a hot bath or combine 1-5 drops with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil for a natural vapour chest rub. EASE MUSCLE & JOINT PAIN Eucalyptus has analgesic properties that can help alleviate muscle and joint pain. According to a study published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a preparation made with eucalyptus oil and menthol was beneficial for treating muscle and joint pain associated with sprains, strains, backaches and arthritis.

HAIR CARE This versatile botanical is also useful for improving the health of your hair and scalp. Eucalyptus is thought to enhance hair growth through stimulating the hair follicles and by improving itchy and inflamed scalps. Eucalyptus is also effective for treating dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis due to its anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. Always dilute eucalyptus oil before putting it on your scalp. Applying essential oils directly to the skin can cause skin irritations and burning.

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HEAD LICE: Eucalyptus is a safe natural alternative for treating head lice. A 2017 Australian study showed that a solution of eucalyptus oil and lemon-scented tea tree was 100% effective in killing lice and eggs. It was found to be more effective and safer than traditional head lice treatments that contain harmful neurotoxic chemicals. (2)

HEAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS Eucalyptus has an anti-fungal action that is useful for treating fungal infections like athlete’s foot, jock itch and toenail fungus. Eucalyptus oil has been found to be a more effective treatment for fungal infected toenails than prescription anti-fungal products. (3)

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Always remember to dilute essential oils in a carrier oil like coconut, olive or graeseed oil before applying it to the skin. As a rule of thumb use around 1-5 drops of eucalyptus oil to 2 tablespoons of oil. For a double antifungal effect use coconut oil.

NATURAL INSECT REPELLANT Researchers have found lemon eucalyptus to be the best natural mosquito repellent. This essential oil is often used in natural insect sprays along with other essential oils that have been found to deter mosquitoes such as lavender, lemongrass, citronella, tea tree, geranium and rosemary.

TOP 10 GREEN CLEANING LIFE HACKS USING EUCALYPTUS Eucalyptus oil is an excellent natural cleaner that can be used in a variety of ways around the home. Eucalyptus will keep your home sparkling clean, smelling fresh, and free from harmful toxins. 1. Keep your dishcloths fresh by soaking them in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of eucalyptus oil. 2. Remove glue leftover from stickers and tape on appliances, kitchenware, floor boards and furniture by rubbing it with some undiluted eucalyptus oil. Be careful using eucalyptus on varnished furniture and floor boards though as it can strip the varnish. 3. Keep your bathroom and toilet smelling fresh by putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil in an infuser in the bathroom or put a few drops inside the toilet roll.You can also hang a fresh bunch of eucalyptus leaves from your shower head. 4. Next time you’re mobbing the floor add a teaspoon of eucalyptus oil to the bucket of water. It will make your house smell great and floors sparkle. Be careful using it on varnished floors though. 5. Use eucalyptus oil in water to disinfect kitchen benches and bathrooms. It’s great for removing grease and grime around cooktops, and for removing marks on walls too. Add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to a wash cloth and wipe down your fridge, dishwasher and other appliances for a no streak clean. 6. Add eucalyptus oil and water to a spray bottle (1:4) and use it to freshen up your bedroom, pillows and mattress. 7. Add 4 drops of eucalyptus oil to your next laundry wash. It will not only clean and freshen your clothes but it will leave your linen closet smelling fabulous. 8. Freshen up stinky sneakers by putting 6 drops of eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball and place it in your smelly shoes overnight. 9. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the inside of your trash can. 10. Eucalyptus oil is also a great natural flea repellent for pets. Add a few drops to your pets shampoo next wash.

REFERENCES: 1. Zhou LJ, Li FR, et al. Antifungal Activity of Eucalyptus Oil against Rice Blast Fungi and the Possible Mechanism of Gene Expression Pattern. Molecules. 2016 May 12;21(5). 2. Kerryn A Greive, Tanya M Barnes. The efficacy of Australian essential oils for the treatment of head lice infestation in children: A randomised controlled trial. Australas J Dermatol. 2018 May; 59(2): e99–e105. 3. Cassandra Bramston, Caroline Robinson. Is eucalyptus oil an effective antifungal treatment for onychomycosis with and without nail matrix infection? J Foot Ankle Res. 2015; 8 (Suppl 2): P1. Published online 2015 Sep 22.

ymore info: www.artofhealing.com.au www.bodhiorganictea.com

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