Inner Tapestry "Reflection" Autumn 2015

INNER TAPESTRY

A Holistic Journal Celebrating & Supporting LIFE! AUTUMN 2015

REFLECTION 1

A Holistic Publication Dedicated to Conscious Living. We Celebrate Life!

Reflecting on the past and embracing change...

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www.innertapestry.com The HeartGlow Center is a 501c3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to conscious living and honoring the sacred Light which shines within us all. We provide holistic education, spiritual renewal, practical resources, and support to assist you in living your best life. We lovingly recognize and celebrate the journey of the human spirit through life’s unique circumstances and provide a sanctuary of love and understanding for all.

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INNER TAPESTRY JOURNAL Autumn 2015

Contents On The Cover

The Cosmic Dance

The Root of Health

21st Century Bohemian

The Next Step

Light and Sound are Within You Relatively Speaking

Spirit Walking

Taking Control of Your Life

Staying Healthy with the Seasons The Qabalah Experience

Tune In to Your Inner Push & Pull Pregnant Yogini Looks Inward Listening to Evolved Wisdom An Uncommon Joy

Traveling with Purpose

Rock Talk

Sealed with Love

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Inner Tapestry Staff Publisher: The HeartGlow Center Editorial: Deb Snyder The HeartGlow Center Founding Director

Contact Us: Editorial: editor@innertapestry.com

Deb Snyder David Nicholson

Artistic Director: Mark Storck

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Articles By: Lady Deane Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles Teresa Piccari Sue Yarmey James Bean Paul Coleman Evelyn Rysdyk Kristi Borst Mark Gerardi Valerie Irish Jennifer Crews Suzanne Silvermoon Kathryn Drage Mark Storck Jennie Krasse Dede Eaton Elizabeth Harper

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On The Cover The Art of Robert Webber Chipman Born in 1965 in Southern New England, Robert creates most of his paintings using simple cans of spray paint, crumpled newspaper, can lids and a palette knife. He also works with traditional media including charcoal, pen, pencil and watercolors.

His work has been published in several novels and magazines.

Robert, as Greywolf Moonsong, is also the host of “A Pagan Heart in Maine Podcast” and “Ramblings of a Pagan Heart Podcast”. He was also featured in the book “Out of the Broom Closet: 50 True Stories of Witches Who Found and Embraced the Craft”

by Arin Murphy Hiscock. Robert lives in Southern Maine with his wonderful wife Sandy, their roommate Alta and their cat Salem. All of his paintings are made with Love, Joy and Peace.

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Robert’s Thoughts about Art...

I believe that all Art is a deeply Spiritual process …

ALL of us have been given an incredible gift …

The ability to create just for the sake of creation …

Experiences, visions, imagination, life and Energy…

Transformed into the tangible …

Paint lovingly spread on canvas …

Clay under a sculptor’s hand …

A writer’s ink spreading stories across the page …

The resonance coached from a musician’s instrument …

THAT is the beauty of being an artist ... There are no rules...

The only limitations are the ones we put on ourselves.

I feel that Art, like Life, is a journey …

That every piece created is a part of the artist …

A part to be shared …

A shared Thought …

A shared Passion…

A shared Joy …

- Robert Webber Chipman

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The Cosmic Dance

By Lady Deane

Falderal Some “sky-talk” about the dance just above your head.

Well kids, it’s playtime. The “Fall-der-all” kicked off with a lot of silly nonsense featuring 2 eclipses in September (one on Sept 13th and one on Sept 28th). Did you feel the energy start to move again? Because eclipses will do that. So the fall will be a time for action—even when we’re just cheering on our favorite team from the sidelines. But dust your shoes off just in case you’re invited to the dance after the big game.

And if you’d like to read more about all of the eclipses for this year, please revisit my previous article: “The Dance of the Eclipse.”

Fall officially began with the Autumnal Equinox on September 23rd. This is when the Sun entered the sign of Libra the Scales.

Libra is the sign of balance. Everything must be weighed and measured and those found wanting will have to put some effort into rebalancing their lives and loves now. Libra is considered the sign of marriage and partnership and rules relationships of all kinds. So “relating” in all forms will be one of the major themes of the fall.

This is the time to get out there and connect with someone. We’re all on the move now (Did you meet a “Noah” recently? Because wherever we’re going, we’re going by twos).

Other planets are getting into the relationship zone as well. The personal planets are all direct now, which corresponds to our personal lives, and helps them operate more smoothly. Planets in direct motion generally move things forward, as opposed to having them stall, regress, or retreat. Mercury is direct now (went direct Oct 8th) in the sign of Libra, so many

will be improving communication and setting their relationship house to rights as the leafpeeping season gets under way. And Mercury will not retrograde again this year, so it’s clear sailing from now til New Year’s!

Saturn and Venus are also both direct now, making relationships—both at home and at work—run a bit smoother than they were a few months ago. Real estate matters should improve now as well; and if you’ve been thinking of moving, the fall’s planetary energies are available to assist you.

By late October/Halloween Venus and Mars will come together to do their own brief little dance in the sign of Virgo. Virgo is a sign of work and service and it likes to organize and keep track of the process level of things. You know when they say the “devil’s in the details?”

Well, it’s usually a Virgo that says so. But while you’re preoccupied with your important relationships, remember to ask yourself if you’d rather be right or happy. The way you answer that will tell you a lot about how your relationship is going. And, no, “rebalancing” is NOT the same thing as “reorganizing.” Don’t try to organize the people in your life, now. That will be a major turn off for them. People are not things and you can’t just move them about like chess pieces. If you must organize something, how about decluttering your office? Or maybe you could make over the bedroom (hopefully, with an eye towards romance).

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Luckily, Jupiter is also in Virgo during this time, where it will remain until September, 2016, and Jupiter will be reminding Venus and Mars just how much fun they can be when they want to. You know, Virgo gets a bad rap sometimes in popular astrology and is often depicted as nit-picky and fussy (which is true—hey, every sign has its shadow side). But I’m here to tell you that Virgo can also be quite lusty. It is an earth sign, after all. Just sayin’. So reflect on that one.

By mid-November, both Venus and Mars will enter the sign of Libra, so it’s back to relationships again, but this time balance—not organization—will be the goal. Partnerships and pairing up for all sorts of reasons should be on your agenda now. And, hopefully (if you’ve been paying attention), by Thanksgiving the thing we’ll all be most thankful for is one another. No one dances alone in the dark (ok, some of us do, but at least for right now you don’t have to).

Transiting Saturn finally left Scorpio for the sign of Sagittarius, where it will remain until December, 2017. I don’t know about you, but I for one am grateful for Saturn’s departure out of the sign of Scorpio. That dramatic tango just plumb wore me out!

Sagittarius will lead Saturn into a much more light-hearted and fun-loving dance (the Electric Slide might be a nice change of pace), so the energies may be easier to handle now. Or at least the steps will be easier to learn. Your

workplace should benefit from this and you should be enjoying the office more. But while Sag is a sign that loves a party, Saturn is a planet of self-discipline and it does like you to get the work done before you go to the ball.

These two are not generally the most compatible of partners, but they can be helpful to one another. For instance, Saturn can coax a full days work out of globe-trotting Sag, while Sag can lend some much-needed humor to sadsack Saturn’s approach to life (and work).

Sagittarius is also known for it’s broad vision and it can inspire Saturn to look up from it’s ledgers every now and again (where it has been working overtime balancing the books) and appreciate the beautiful expansiveness of the plan, or just take in that breathtaking view from the roof.

All in all, I’d say that our reflections this fall are focused on appreciating the ones you care for, bringing a sense of humor and playfulness into the mix, and balancing work and play. How about you? Is your dance card full yet? If not, just look around. Someone’s out there, just waiting for a partner.

As always, I say it’s still just a dance (and I say this a lot). Our balance is surely improved by learning a few new steps every now and again.

So play, laugh, be kind. Keep on dancing.

Then look up and thank your lucky stars.

Deane Driscoll is a professional astrologer, teacher and writer with over 33 years of experience in New York, California, Maine, and North Carolina; and holds elder clergy credentials as Lady Deane with CoG (Covenant of the Goddess). She offers natal chart readings as well as classes in astrology, card reading, and other metaphysical topics. She also creates custom meditations for clients, concentrating on specific areas of personal growth. For more information visit www.ourcosmicdance.com.

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The Root of Health By: Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, PhD.

Have you ever heard of leaky gut? Prior to this year, I had never heard of it. Nor did I know that having a leaky gut had such a profound impact on my overall health. Before I start to talk about leaky gut, I feel compelled to tell you a little bit about how I got here.

A couple of years ago I decided to make a commitment to myself. This commitment focused on a lot of things, but one of the key areas was weight loss. I have always struggled with food. I’ve struggled with sticking to eating properly and taking care of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Weight loss was temporary, only to come back with a vengeance- and the sugar beast would win again. Old habits would reemerge and the feelings of being an utter failure would be soothed with assorted snickers bars, bottle caps, and sandwiches. Fruits and Vegetables were a rarity and not a staple in my life. I never craved those foods- even when I was cleaning up my eating habits.

As I began to integrate regular exercise and proper nutrition into my lifestyle, it was a struggle. I lacked sustained energy to get through the day. Even with cleaning up my eating habits, I struggled with fatigue, colds, allergies, and headaches- not to mention stress induced eczema and other mysterious rashes. My ankles were nonexistent, and I would cover them up whenever possible with boots and socks. I always wondered why losing weight was so difficult. What I have learned is that it wasn’t in my head, it was in my gut.

What is Leaky Gut?

Leaky gut is a real syndrome. Basically, the root of all health is located in the small intestine.

This vital vessel transports nutrients from food to the bloodstream and to other areas of the body.

Typically, the small intestine will block undigested food particles and toxins. When the small intestine’s vessels of transporting nutrients are widened, which creates a perfect storm of undigested food and toxins to enter the bloodstream and other areas of the body.

What then happens is the immune system goes into fight mode and identifies these undigested food particles and toxins as invaders. What’s worse is tha the immune system kind of freaks out. It doesn’t just build up the antibodies to the food particles or toxins- your healthy cells are attacked.

According to Dr. Yuri Elkaim, this is one common way that food allergies and autoimmune disorders develop.

But that’s just one cause of leaky gut.

Another is based on the balance of good gut (intestinal) flora to bad bacteria In its optimum state, our intestines are yin and yang- perfectly balanced. When there is more bad bacteria to good, irritation and inflammation happen which causes the same freak-out of your immune system. This imbalance can cause a litany of health issues.

Another cause of leaky gut is inflammatory foods, with the main culprit being gluten. Today’s gluten is not your parent’s gluten and comes hybridized. The processing of grain to become everything resistant can lead to an inflammatory response for individuals after ingestion. Other suspected inflammatory foods are certain dairy products, the ingredient carragenan, and alcohol.

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Other causes can stem from an overgrowth of candida yeast, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and intestinal parasites. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Who knew there were so many causes of leaky gut? Who knew that this yin yang environment gets pretty nasty when it’s off-kilter.

Signs of Leaky Gut So, how do you know you have leaky gut? Dr. Amy Myers identifies the 9 signs you may have a leaky gut. They are: 1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. Seasonal allergies or asthma.

3. Hormonal imbalances such as PMS or PCOS. 4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease.

5. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.

6. Mood and mind issues such as depression, anxiety, ADD or ADHD. 7. Skin issues such as acne, rosacea, or eczema.

8. Diagnosis of candida overgrowth.

9. Food allergies or food intolerances.

(Source: MindBodyGreen)

How to heal a leaky gut I never knew that the root of my health issues lied in the lining of my small intestine, and could be what was causing my weight gain, mood issues, skin issues, and the inexplicable sugar cravings I was experiencing.

While I am certainly not a medical doctor, my experience and research have led me to some very cool places.

There are some ways that you can work to heal a leaky gut. You can start by cleaning up your diet-by staying away from or eliminating processed food, foods that contribute to the inflammatory response, and sticking to organic, whole foods. Falling in love with your kitchen is a term that Dr. Christine Kaczmar often refers to in her practice, and it’s something to really remember in today’s convenience food lifestyle. The most important investment in health care is the food we eat.

Many holistic practitioners also recommend adding a high quality probiotic and omega-3 supplement to control inflammation and repopulate the intestines with beneficial bacteria. When inflammation is controlled and the small intestine has an opportunity to return to that yin yang status, you may notice relief from your symptoms. You may even experience weight loss. For those that have sought out solutions from conventional methods with no success, or have taken prescription medications that have led to some negative side effects, it may be wise to consider holistic alternatives to health and wellness. It may be time to get back into balance.

Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, PhD in Education, is passionate about sharing her personal journey of health and wellness in order to educate others about the importance of balancing blood sugar, controlling inflammation, and improving intestinal health for an overall feeling of balance. Hillary is passionate about empowering others to live a balanced life spiritually, emotionally and physically as she continues to do in her own personal journey to improved health and healing. She currently resides in Saco, Maine with her extremely loving and supportive husband, teenage son, and pets.

Learn more at: Hillary’s Balanced Life

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Reflec8ng for Crea8vity, Growth, Change and Perspec8ve

by Teresa Piccari

When life becomes busy to the point when I am no longer able to make or take the 8me to reflect, a sense of being unmoored sets in. If I go too long without pu=ng pen to paper, a feeling of malaise actually sets in. I begin to feel involuntarily swept up in life, denied the chance to trim my sails, or correct and change course, according to my goals and desires. It begins to feel like I am living someone else's life and not my own.

Gratefully, an inner alarm of self-­‐preserva8on gets trip-­‐ wired and sweeps in to save the day, shaking me into ac8on -­‐ or more precisely, slows me down so that I can look at my life.

As a lifelong writer it is hard for me to know if reflec8on is as important and necessary to the rest of humanity as it for us -­‐ I just know for us it is like oxygen.

Reflec%ng for Crea%vity In Natalie Goldberg's landmark book on the craF Wri8ng Down the Bones, she explains: "Writers live twice. They go along with their regular life, are as fast as anyone in the grocery store, crossing the street, ge=ng dressed for work in the morning. But there's another part of them that they have been training. The one that lives everything a second 8me. That sits down and sees their life again and goes over it. Looks at the texture and detail."

Otherwise, how would we ever be able to come up with all those juicy plots, descrip8ve details and larger-­‐than-­‐life characters who say and do the crazy things they do and keep readers turning the pages.

How would we ever be able to look through the lens of our personal life and make sense of it -­‐ to forgive the human frail8es that have tripped us up, our own and those of others, and for the first 8me visibly see the capes that have made us all the heroes of our own sagas?

Making Magic Wri8ng requires a magician's sleight of hand in that we can be doing our craF in broad daylight, yet go unno8ced. First we must train ourselves to be keen observers. And then we must learn not to speak our observa8ons -­‐ this can lead to big trouble, or at least the moniker of being known as a gossip.

Instead, we take our observa8ons home, where we stare into space, reflect, consider and if we are deF enough, create. One just never knows when an everyday trip to the post office to mail a leUer becomes the seed for a bestseller.

Cul8va8ng a regular wri8ng prac8ce, or keeping a journal, is a good way to help us sort the wheat from the chaff. The problem is we can discard something too soon, thinking it is chaff when it proves more valuable, which is a good argument for throwing a wider net than we think is necessary.

Just try to be discreet while doing so. The new physics is proving that the mere act of observing something, changes it. More surprisingly, there is the idea that objects do not become reality un8l they are observed.

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Spirt Warrior as Detached Observer Many spiritual paths coax us to live in the present moment and strive to become the detached observer so that we are not only living in the moment but evolving with every breath.

The idea is that if we can get out of our own way, we can iden8fy paUerns and habits that trip us up, that we oFen adopted early on for protec8on.

Con8nuing to employ them is sort of like driving with the emergency brake on. If we can detach enough to not react to the words and ac8ons of others in the moment, we can live a happier life and perhaps help others see and break their own sabotaging habits.

Denied a Space of Her Own Recently, I went to a screening of Amy, a documentary of sorts on the brief, tortured and talented life of Bri8sh vocalist Amy Winehouse. As I sat watching this young woman's life unravel before me on the screen I was truly saddened for her. Her upbringing and personality denied her ability for self-­‐care. Add on the pressures of fame, combined with mind-­‐altering drug and alcohol abuse and she did not stand a chance to weather the storm of a big life that her talent was ou\iUed for. Perhaps she could have thrived had she chosen a small, quiet life.

Impossible to know.

What did get her through, to some extent, was her ability to reflect on and record the happenings of her life and document it in her art. Her raw, candid words and big Bluesy voice became her trademark.

And when she was able to briefly take the opportunity to step back and consider her life free of chemicals, as she did at least during one phase, you began to have hope that she could transcend her fate.

But it was not to be. She certainly had enough money, in fact she had too much money, but she never really made a room of her own, to shelter the ar8st and lock out trouble.

Striking a Balance When I read Ann PatcheU's commencement speech turned book What Now? I really got her assump8on that she would not marry. AFer all she wondered, who would marry someone whose profession necessitated si=ng on the couch and staring into space for hours at a 8me? But she did marry. She found her person who got that.

Those big reflectors among us can get mired in the muck. Some8mes we need to find the right person who pulls us up from the couch when we have lingered too long and takes us by the hand to go out in the world and get life all over us.

You know so we actually have something to write about.

Some8mes we need to be that person for ourselves.

If we were fully enlightened maybe we could live life totally in the moment 24/7 but for most of us, that would be exhaus8ng and feel like being stuck in the desert, our vehicle on empty with more than 100 miles to before the next service sta8on.

For us mere mortals it is only by looking at the road we have just traveled that we can make sense of our larger life journey by connec8ng the episodes of our experience into a cohesive tapestry that tells a human story. One we want to tell again and again and some8mes set to words that will be read again and again.

Teresa Piccari is a writer, teacher and creativity coach. A native Philadelphian, she makes her home in coastal Maine. Visit her blog at the21stcenturybohemian.wordpress.com or contact her at 21stBohemian@gmail.com

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THE NEXT STEP

By Sue Yarmey, Energy Translator

Is Body Memory Holding You Back?

With all the many changes that have been happening in all areas of life, I thought it was a good time to take a look at body memory. Although you may not remember past issues, or past lives in many cases, your body stores information. Your body never forgets. Like the proverbial elephant, anything that has ever happened to you is stored in your cellular memory. Some even claim that all past life memory can be found in your current body. If that is true, maybe it’s time you took at look at some of your “habits” to discover what they truly mean.

It’s time to take the next step and look at what you are holding onto and how it is effecting your life. It is time to pay attention to what your body is telling you.

You have to remember, everything you do, everything you believe, everything in your life is based on your own personal experience. This experience is stored in your body. Everything you have ever experienced is now a body memory. Science claims that if someone bursts a balloon in your face when you are a small infant, you will always have a bad reaction to loud, sudden noises. Some of you might be triggered by odors – you smell an apple pie baking and you think of your grandmother. That’s another kind of body memory.

Or what about when you’re used to driving a manual transmission car and you get in to drive a car with an automatic transmission? Have you ever found yourself stomping your left foot on the floor? So, what are you storing in your body memory?

If you are having difficulties in your life that you can’t quite seem to change, taking a look at your body memory may assist you. There is the change that you initiate. Most of you can handle that. There is the change that is thrust upon you. Most of you resist that type. And then there is the change that you want, but can’t quite figure out how to make work. What is it you

experienced that makes it difficult for you to change those things you really wish to change but can’t quite find a way to do it? It comes down to being aware of what is there. If you don’t know that it exits, then how can you go about changing it?

If you initiate the change, you feel more in control. It’s easier to adapt to finding a new job because you want to rather than because you were fired or laid off. It’s okay if you initiate the divorce rather than to have your partner initiate the divorce. Those obvious things that change include your jobs, your relationships and partnerships, the amount of money you have, or in some cases, don’t have, your living environment, how you dress or wear your hair. All of these things are subject to change. In most cases, they are changes you can make consciously, using your intellect. However, your intuitive self works with your emotions. Your emotions often are based on body memory or perhaps the other way around. So it is time to probe your emotions and see what you turn up.

Ever notice that you tend to make the same New Year’s resolutions year after year? This is the best example of resistance to change I can offer. It’s also a prime example of working with your feeling levels instead of your intellectual levels. Your resolutions are those thing that you have not chosen to face for what they are. They are part of your body memory and need to be looked at from a different prospective if you truly wish to be successful. If you are making a resolution, then you are saying that something needs to be resolved. So, if you’re always talking about dieting, getting into better shape, saving money, quitting smoking, being nicer to people, whatever the “usual” is to you, then you have your first clue as to a body memory that you wish to change.

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Let’s do a little more probing. What you resist, persists. That means that whatever you are always thinking about is what you will bring about. The person who is driving their car in a white knuckle sort of way since they are afraid of bad road conditions is the person who is more likely to cause and have an accident. The person who gets into their car and simply recognizes that the weather is lousy so they are going to take their time and not worry about punching a clock is the one who is more likely to be able to avoid an accident.

If you are always worried that it won’t work out, it won’t work out. If you think you can’t, then you’re right. Wouldn’t it be nice to be right about something other than being wrong? The intuitive, psychic world is the world of the real you. It really is more simple than you realize. You have incredible power on so many levels but you continually use those powers for things that make your life more difficult rather than more easy.

One absolute of the psychic world is that you create your own reality. Think about that for a moment.

You create. So, if the life you are living now isn’t working for you, you get to create it differently.

That is, if you understand how it works. It starts with your thoughts. If you can think it, you can do it. Now, I’m not talking instantly. There is still something called Divine timing that needs to be considered. There’s also that issue that no one person creates in a vacuum so you need to consider outside influences. However, your thoughts are very powerful.

I had someone tell me a wonderful yet scary story once. They worked in a company with one guy that no one liked, I’ll call him Bob. Bob was always pulling rank and making everyone else's jobs more difficult. So, as a group, they set out to see what they could change about him. Every time Bob entered the common office area, someone would mention how he didn’t look too good. Ask how he

was feeling. Then the next person would reinforce that comment with a “are you sure you’re okay?

Your color isn’t good.” In less than a month, everyone heard how Bob, who as far as anyone knew was in good health, made a doctors appointment because he was convinced there was something wrong with him. This makes me think about the chicken and the egg. Was he really sick and people, through comments, noticed it on another level? Or was he in okay health and the comments they made created something in his reality that resulted in illness. Do not underestimate your own power.

So you can see how everything works first with the thought. The coworkers in my story then took it to the next logical step and started speaking. You all know the old adage of “thought, word, deed”. That story I told is very representative of that adage.

They first thought it up, put it to work by talking about it and the “deed” part was this poor guys trip to the doctors because he was sure he was dying.

Besides all of those people feeling pretty crummy about this, since most of them blamed themselves for acting the way they did, they never really understood their personal power. They participated in something that created something else. Regardless of the outcome, it was still created through their group effort and belief system. This story is not meant to give you any ideas of how to get rid of those people you don’t like. If the guy they chose to pick on was in a right space to begin with, they would have never succeeded. So, if every time they made a comment about how bad he looked he responded with a “never felt better in my life” none of the doctor issues would have appeared. Bob could work on the same principles – thought, word and deed. His thought would be that he felt good.

He would respond to all those comments with the “never felt better” line and all of that would result in a deed that did NOT need to bring on medical care.

So lets turn this power into a positive tool to use for changing body memory.

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First you think it. Do you really believe you can succeed? This is the very first step. If you say “yes” while thinking “oh, that’s never going to happen” then you have created it not happening. With a contradiction between what you think and what you say, you will never get to the “deed” part of this equation.

And all of this takes us to your language. How many of you really pay attention to the things that you say?

Here’s an easy exercise. Spend one day, just one, checking out how often you say the word “should”. I should do that, go there, take care of that. Or the words “have to”. It’s just like should. I have to do that, go there, take care of that. And how about the word can’t? I can’t do that, go there or take care of that. Words are powerful. They sink into who we are and are a part of your body memory. If your entire childhood was spent being told you can’t do that, or you have to do this, or you should make sure of that, you may be doing things as if you are a frightened five year old instead of an adult. Your body memory has no shelf life.

Have you ever looked at the concept of “intention and attention”? Do you really know what each of these words mean? Do you actually state things like “I intend to make this happen”? Do you even have a clue where you attention is? Think of it this way. If you intend something, that’s the thing you want to happen in your life. If you pay attention, that’s the thing that you are actually working on in your life.

So, if your intention is to be exceptionally wealthy (every one of us has had that particular thought), you need to ask, where is your attention? Are you studying the stock market. . . learning to invest. . . playing the odds by gambling. . . getting an advanced education. . . The bottom line is are you putting your attention where you intention is? It’s like being in your car. If your intention is to drive forward, then you should not be looking behind you and the car needs to be in drive. If you say you want to change something, and that something is a body memory – let’s look at smoking – then your intention and attention have to be in alignment. What are you doing to stop smoking besides talking about it? And most of all, do you really wish to quit? Our habits become habits because they offer us something we don’t have. You are probing emotional stuff now.

There is often more than one reason you started something. If you can’t be honest with yourself and understand that, then you will have a tough time changing it.

How do you create the reality you say you want?

The first step would be to make sure you know what it is you wish to create (thought). Then, make statements in regard to that reality, remembering intention is important (word). Then, take some kind of action. Any step is a step toward what you say you desire. Working with thought, word and deed can help you get in touch with your body memory and, if you desire, change it.

Sue Yarmey – Energy Translator/Channel/Psychic Sue has been interpreting universal energy for more than 40 years. She offers guidance for the 3D world by accessing the various faceted levels of energy. Using all her sensory perceptions as well as occasional physical tools she counsels people in the now, offering insight into the current dynamics of a situation acting as a reflection of a persons lessons.

Sue is a 1975 graduate of the Institute of Psychorientology, and a shaktipat initiate of Anandi Ma. She was Portland, Maine’s original radio psychic with an educational call-in show and on-air readings. She developed a 3-hour call in show on metaphysical topics, did call in readings on WTHT and daily “Tarot of the Day” updates. FMI: Sue Yarmey, 207-284-9498, www.sueyarmey.com or sue@sueyarmey.com Photo of Sue taken in the Arkangel Chair INNER TAPESTRY JOURNAL

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Light & Sound Are Within You Meditation for Beginners "Blessed are the souls who in today's materialistic world have an inclination towards spirituality." ~Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj Those interested in the health benefits of the relaxation response are learning to use meditation to reduce stress.

Christians searching for a deeper spirituality are finding, through the meditative practice of centering prayer, a way to reconnect with their lost contemplative heritage. In recent decades, spiritual Masters from Asia have introduced techniques to Westerners who have been yearning to find spiritual fulfillment. Many are discovering the wonders of inner space.

"Lead Us From the Unreal To the Real, Lead Us From Darkness To Light, Lead Us From Death To Immortality, Let There Be Peace, Peace, Peace in the Sound (OM, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti)."

-- Hindu Upanishads "We speak without tongue, we see without eyes, we hear without ears, we walk without feet, and we work without hands."

— Guru Nanak, Sikh Scriptures

There is much more to meditation than stress reduction. It can also serve as a tool for inner exploration or enlightenment. For the mystically inclined, meditation can even be a "Portal" to the Divine, or, as Rumi would say: "a Window to God". This inward journey, the mystery of "the Kingdom of God within", has motivated millions to practice meditation for much of recorded history.

"I will give you what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no hand has touched, and what has never occurred to the human mind."

— Jesus, Gospel of Thomas

Meditate! It's Bigger on the Inside!

"May I see You with my eyes, hear Your Sound with my own ears.

Speak Your Name in my own words, O Lord; rest Your flower-like feet on my heart."

— Guru Kabir, Adi Granth

Quantum reality reveals that the inner space within each person is infinitely more vast than all of the billions of lightyears of the known universe on the outside. According to mystics and gnostics, East and West, the human body is the true temple of the Spirit, and looking within is going through the "Door" of this temple.

The poet-mystic Kabir: "Within this earthen vessel are bowers and groves, and within it is the Creator. Within this body are the seven oceans and the unnumbered stars....

Says Kabir: 'Listen to me, my Friend! My Beloved Lord is within.'...... For millions of years you have slept. This morning, will you not wake?" (Songs of Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore translation)

By James Bean

The Divine Eye According to the Buddha "With the Divine Eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds. Just as a man with good sight when he has ascended to the upper palace chamber, might survey a thousand wheel-rims, so too, with the Divine Eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds."

Awakening to Your Own Soul, the Higher Self The Divine Ear According to the Buddha It says in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Upanishads: "Who is the Self? The Master replied, 'The Self-luminous being who dwells within the lotus of the heart, surrounded by the senses and sense organs, and who is the light of the intellect, is that Self. Know the Self as lord of the chariot, the body as the chariot itself, the discriminating intellect as the charioteer, and the mind as reins. Seek the Self through meditation.'" (The Upanishads, Eknath Easwaran translation) The soul is the spark of life residing within this body -- this is our true identity. We are "spirits living in the material world." (Sting)

Prayers at the Beginning:

"I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the Divine Ear element, which is purified and surpasses the human, they hear both kinds of sounds, the divine and the human, those that are far as well as near. Just as a vigorous trumpeter might make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters; so too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the Divine Ear element….far as well as near. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and Perfection of Direct Knowledge." — The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, Translation of the “Majjhima Nikaya”, Teachings of the Buddha translated by Bhakkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi, Wisdom Publications

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Meditation Practice Eight Steps on the Journey of Ascension 1) Find a time and place when you will not be disturbed, that's quiet, perhaps even dimly lit.

2) Assume a pose which is comfortable, and that you can maintain for the entire duration of your meditation sit -- a period of time without having to move due to pain, becoming uncomfortable, circulation being cut off, etc... Meditation begins with making our body still, either sitting on a chair (both feet flat on the floor), or in a cross-legged position with spine erect (keeping spine, head and neck aligned naturally). It's important to gradually develop one's capacity of sitting with a relaxed attitude, without any bodily tension. To transcend the body is our goal.

3) Withdraw your attention from the outside world and the body and focus it at the Third Eye, your Inner Eye. This is how: Close your eyes gently.

You will at first see darkness.

Gaze into the darkness that is in front of you with eyes closed.

This is what mystics mean when they say, "Look within."

The eyes are closed, shutting out the external world, and returning the attention within one's Self. This is done by focusing the gaze in the middle of the "dark inner screen." By continuously looking into this "dark veil", the darkness will eventually fade to lighter and lighter shades, eventually opening into the Infinite Space. The mystics call this "entering into the Third Eye Center." No tension is placed on the eyes or the forehead, or crown of the head.

Gentle, loving, steady concentration is required.

Successful meditation is about focusing one's attention.

4) To help keep your attention at the Eye-focus and to still the thoughts of the mind, repeat any name of God with which you feel comfortable. For example: Raam, HU (pronounced "whoooooooo"), AUM (pronounced "oooooommmmm"), Allah, Yeshua, RadhaSwami (pronounced "raaaaa-dhaaaaswammmmm-eeeeeee"), or some other sacred name. Some­one of Sufi or Islamic heritage might choose Allah-HU-Akbar (God is Great). A person who has been drawn to Native American spirituality might pick Great Spirit. Christians might adopt Jesus

or Yeshua ("yessss-hoooooo-aaaaaa"). Whatever sacred name you select, chant it mentally, within yourself, in your mind. Make it your only thought during meditation. Repeat this sacred word mentally, very very slowly with the "tongue of thought" as you continue to gaze into the darkness.

5) As you repeat the sacred name you have chosen for this exercise, and continue gazing at the field of darkness lying in front of you with eyes closed, the quality of your concentration will continue to improve. You may eventually notice the appearance of Light, or different colors. You might see red, white, green, blue, purple, orange, or golden Light, clouds of Light, suns, moons, or stars. This Light could look something like "fireflies" or "sparks", shimmering Light, or other kinds of Light.

"At first, there will be only darkness but eventually Light shall appear in the form of either small flashes or small star-like points." (Yogani Mata Ji) 6) Allow yourself plenty of time to relax and reach the inner depths of concentration, which make it possible for the Inner Light to appear.

7) In addition to encountering Light beyond the darkness, you may also hear Sound coming from beyond the silence, what some Buddhists have called, "The Sound of Silence". For millennia, mystics have invented words in their own languages to describe this Inner Music: Tao, Nada, Isme-i-Azam, Logos, Music of the Spheres, Song of the Creator, Shabda, Kalma, Dhun, Saut-e-Sarmad, Nida-e-Asmani, Audible Life Stream, and the Sound Current. It is a kind of cosmic radio signal broadcasting everywhere in the universe. At first, when the soul ("our receiver") tunes in, it may hear a faint tone or melody, ringing, or hum. Eventually the soul that meditates on the Inner Sound will become magnetized to it, will become one with it, and travel upon this Current back to the Source.

8) Develop the habit. Return again and again. If you meditate on a daily basis you will make tangible progress, and the wonders of inner space will be revealed to you more and more with each passing day.

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If You are a Spiritual Seeker, What to do Next?

Only use this convenient method of introductory Inner Light Meditation described above for fifteen or thirty minutes at a time. Never practice it for much longer than this unless you are under the guidance of a living spiritual Teacher (Satguru). Remember, this is only an introduction to the beginning stages of meditation, not the full method learned at the time of Initiation (deeksha). This is only the beginning! There is much more to this inward journey of the soul.

The complete methods and secrets of meditation practice pertaining to Names, Lights, Sounds, and Inner Regions, are communicated at the time of Initiation by a living Master (Sant Satguru, Competent, Qualified Teacher) or a representative of a Master (not a past Saint or holy book).

Contact me using the contact info at the end of this article if you're interested in learning more about the full practice of inner Light and Sound Meditation. There are different options available, and various guru-lineages that operate in the West that teach this in most every city and state. I can describe what the requirements are for Initiation into the Path of the Masters, provide contact info, recommend books, websites, etc...

And remember, this Inner Seeing and Transcendental Hearing type of meditation practice is about gaining enlightenment and is always made available to sincere spiritual seekers at no cost. Spirituality, like air and sunlight, is available to all for free.

"Blessed are the souls who in today's materialistic world have an inclination towards spirituality." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj) "To explore the far reaches of the inner realms one must understand one's true nature. Perhaps it is not entirely the fault of modern man that he does not understand his own inner universe. He has achieved much, and if such concepts escape his own consciousness it is because he has no flaming falcon of the spirit on his fist to soar beyond the confining reaches of the intellect. Men have journeyed to the physical moon, but they know nothing of the regions of the Blissful Music within themselves -- regions which lie beyond the moon, beyond the sun, beyond the most distant stars and galaxies." (George Arnsby Jones, The Pilgrimage of James -- An Odyssey of Inner Space) James Bean explores the world of spirituality, comparative religion, the Path of the Masters (India), Inner Light & Sound Meditation, books — sacred texts of the East & West, and the vegan diet, via Spiritual Awakening Radio on HealthyLife.net , Positive Talk Radio, as well as satsangs (spiritual gatherings or retreats). He has been involved with podcasting, public radio, Radio For Peace International, the community radio movement, the Wisdom Channel on satellite radio, is an independent producer currently creating programs for various stations. Address questions or comments to: James@SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com Website: http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com

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Relatively Speaking

By Paul Coleman, Psy.D.

Five Common Attitudes That Will Handcuff Your Life “I have panic attacks every day!” the woman said to me as she sat down for her first appointment with me.

“How do I make them stop?”

An hour later a married couple came into my office and proceeded to tell me how all they ever do is argue. “Can you help us?”

An hour after that my third client of the day spoke of how he has problems managing his anger. My fourth client was traumatized from an abusive relationship. My fifth client was appalled that a coworker would unfriend her on Facebook simply because of a misunderstanding at work. And on and on throughout the day.

Some of the nicest and brightest people can struggle with anxiety or depression. Every relationship can have its share of ups and downs. And grief over loss happens to practically all of us. But over the course of thirty years in private practice I routinely detect beliefs and attitudes that are quite commonplace which nonetheless interfere with people’s inability to really make a positive transformation in their lives.

“It’s Not My Fault” People start to make improvements when they accept full responsibility for their choices and actions. No doubt some circumstances are quite challenging and we all can succumb to the pressures of some situations and blame others. But if time and again we find ourselves in situations that make us miserable it is never a good idea to believe that “someone else is at fault.” I see many couples who get into power struggles, each claiming the other is obstinate, uncooperative, unfair, or just plain wrong. For some, the only strategy may be to leave a toxic relationship INNER TAPESTRY JOURNAL

rather than continue to fight to get the other person to change. We must assume responsibility for our happiness. Despite chronic health problems, economic challenges, or whatever else may be dragging us down we may have to learn to accept the things we cannot change and change what we can.

“I Must Win the Approval of Others” Another version of this belief is “It would be awful if someone disliked me!” People who doubt their worth or competence often will allow themselves to be taken advantage of because they want to be viewed as a very good and kind person. They work hard to manage the impressions others have of them, like politicians do to win votes. Inwardly, they get easily hurt or disappointed when others are not there for them when needed. They would have “dropped everything” to help others and yet no one else seems to be willing to do the same for them. It may not be always true but I find that folks with panic disorder are often “people pleasers.” They are typically warm-hearted people and well-liked but somehow they feel a need to constantly prove their worth by winning people over. And they are sensitive to slights. Hurt, they feel angry or resentful but then fear their anger (“What if people don’t like me if I get mad?”) and go back to overfunctioning for others to make themselves feel worthwhile. They are at the mercy of the “WPT’s”— what-people-think. It is more rewarding to be yourself and let the chips fall where they may. Yes, if someone has taken advantage of you they might not like the new you who is capable of saying “No” instead of “yes.”

But they are not really the best people to have in your life anyway.

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“I Find That Offensive!”

There is a grievance mentality that is quite commonplace in society. The dynamic is that if someone is offended then the offender is automatically wrong or must somehow apologize or change his or her ways. Emotionally healthy people do not go out of their way to be offensive and are not easily offended. If they are ridiculed or treated unfairly they do not take it personally. Folks who are quick to get angry are basically living by the belief “I must not be inconvenienced or made to feel wrong or hurt in any way otherwise I have a right to protest.” It helps if we develop a thicker skin. There will always be people who judge us, reject us, dislike us, or ignore us. It can be rainy day on the beach and the driver in front of you may have his blinker on for ten miles. Accept it. Anytime you need someone else to change in order for you to feel better you give up power.

“If Someone Is Hurting I Am Responsible” Compassion is a wonderful thing and necessary. In fact, emotionally healthy people are quite compassionate. But compassion (“to suffer with”) does not necessarily mean you must seek to always fix another’s problem. You may not be responsible for why someone else is hurting and it may not be your job to stop their pain. You can be comforting and supportive, you can offer assistance, but many times it is important for the one in pain to find ways to manage the situation so that they develop competence. As a simple example, parents of young children getting on the school bus for the first time might want to protect their children from whatever fears the kids may have about going off to school.

But ultimately the children themselves must find a way to emotionally cope—to see themselves successfully navigate through the predictable

stressors of school life—because that will help them gain confidence and self-esteem. Facing fears enhances esteem. Escaping from them perpetuates low esteem.

We grow when we are greatly challenged by life circumstances—when we have to persevere, when we have to call forth strengths we did not know we had, when we have to let go of beliefs that no longer serve us. In other words, suffering is not always a bad thing although it is always a painful thing. We must sometimes step back and allow others to walk their own journey—we cannot walk it for them. We can care about them but we cannot always care for them.

“I Am Owed” When you see life as a gift and are grateful for what you have rather than resentful of what you lost or do not have, you don’t feel that anyone owes you anything. Yes, it would be nice if people treated you fairly but that doesn’t always happen. Taken too far, “I am owed” becomes a sense of entitlement where you feel so deserving of something you do not yet have that you go to war to get it. Sometimes the only way to deal with a grossly unfair situation is to leave the situation. If you cannot leave it—and you cannot get what you think you should—it is a time to practice acceptance and trust. Accept what you cannot change and nourish a greater trust that something good can from it. The good might be a lesson learned or a virtue strengthened. There are numerous other ways we sabotage our own happiness and impede our self-improvement. But the five I mentioned above I see almost on a daily basis.

Which ones resonate for you?

Are you willing to try to let go of those beliefs?

Dr. Paul Coleman is a psychologist, motivational speaker, and author of thirteen books including his newest “Finding Peace When Your Heart Is in Pieces” (www.findingpeaceinyourheart.com). He has appeared on numerous televisions shows such as Oprah, Today, and Geraldo and has been interviewed on hundreds of radio stations. He can be reached at www.paul-coleman.com

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Reflections on the ones who came before us.

I was recently asked why I believe that working with ancestral energies is so important. My answer is because they directly affect how we live our lives.

While our ancestors may no longer be alive in their own bodies, they continue to exist in ours. In every one of our cells, we carry the gift of many thousands of generations worth of genetic material that was provided to us by our ancestors. Not only are they alive in our bodies, their spirits are able to assist us with our daily lives.

cultures across our planet that venerate their ancestors, have had the right idea all along. Simply by keeping our ancestors close at heart and in our minds, we are far more able to solve the emotional, mental and physical puzzles that life presents us, with measurably more skill and grace.

Who of our human ancestors gave us the desire to create beauty or the desire to care for other beings?

Which one was the first heart to feel love? As spirit walkers, we can simply ask, because inside of us, all the myriad of beings that have contributed genetic A series of studies done in 2010, published in the material to us—all of our ancestors—are still alive.

European Journal of Social Psychology,2 compared When you step into the spirit world in your journeys, those who thought about their these predecessors may be ancestors with those who made no consulted for support and guidance.

“We honor our ancestors preparation before taking a series of who, in spite of the problem-solving and intelligence Our physical bodies reveal points of inexplicable vagaries of tests intended to measure how connection that our ancestors evolution and unimaginable effective an individual is at meeting believed were an intrinsic feature of hardships of famine, hunger, the challenges that may arise in life. Today, we know that the war, and pestilence; managed elemental raw materials that everyday life. to pass the sacred gift of compose our bodies, such as iron, The results of the tests proved calcium, oxygen, sodium, and all physical existence to us.” beyond a shadow of doubt that the rest, are the same materials that people who considered their make up the mountains, seas, ancestors before taking the tests received atmosphere, and soils of our planet. significantly higher scores. Reconnection with the ancestral energies imbued participants with better Within every one of our cells, we also carry DNA, intellectual performance and enhanced their ability to that remarkable double helix-shaped chain of find solutions. In other words, connecting with our chemical information that shapes our physical form. forbearers—even through memory and imagination And housed within the twisting steps of this amazing —enhances our ability to accomplish the challenges molecule is the story of our evolution as human of life with more ease and confidence. Interestingly, beings. What is truly astounding is that we share 90 the tests provided the same results whether or not the percent of our genetic material with other species. test subjects knew or even liked their ancestors! In Everything from the bear to the oak tree to the tiniest every situation, simply thinking about their ancestors bacteria has the same four nucleotides making up provided the participants with a clear advantage. It is their bodies. now possible for us to see that the “primitive” tribal

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Recent discoveries have documented the fact that inside of the 60,000 to 80,000 genes that constitute our human genome lie the information to create all other life forms on the planet. When molecular biologists examine the complex strands of our DNA, they also find housed within it more than a blueprint for a human being, but rather an extraordinary library of codes for all life on Earth. We carry the entire interlinked biosphere in every cell. We are part of all of Creation and all of Creation is held within us.2 Since the DNA we carry in every one of our cells is like a library of our biosphere, our bodies may be thought of as a kind of sacred bundle. Much in the way a shaman’s sacred bundle or a medicine bag holds a collection of objects through which a shaman feels a connection to power, the DNA in our cells can remind us of our connection to all beings and our complete integration into the body of the Earth. We are inseparably connected with our home. We live in her body and her body lives inside of us.

Our DNA carries many surprises, too. For instance, as much as 8 percent of our DNA is genetic material that came from viruses.

Our mitochondria—the cells’ power plants that convert nutrients into energy—were passed to us from bacteria that entered cells in the primordial sea approximately two billion years ago.

We are in relationship with every being on Earth and those that have been here before us. For instance, we share genes with every single creature on Earth that has a backbone—and even some that don’t.

The California purple sea urchin is a spiny creature about three inches across that lives its life eating algae and nibbling on the stems of kelp.2 As an echinoderm (Greek for spiny skin), it is a relative to the urchins found in Atlantic waters, as well as starfish, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. In

November 2006, a research team led by Erica Sodergren and George Weinstock at the Baylor College of Medicine-Human Genome Sequencing Center; announced that they had decoded the genome for this creature. What they found was quite remarkable. The urchin’s DNA revealed genetic connections far beyond all other spiny-skinned denizens of the deep. Human beings and the urchin share a common ancestor that lived over 540 million years ago. Lead researcher Sodergren stated in her report, “The sea urchin reminds us of the underlying unity of all life on earth.... It is a similar set of genes and proteins being reused in different ways, different numbers, and at different times in the life cycle to create the diversity of living forms.” 3 Science is finally proving the wisdom that shamans have always known—the understanding that all that is living is part of our family.

As to our human family, our archaic human ancestors roamed far and wide from their African homeland beginning well over 100,000 years ago. They roamed farther and wider than we ever imagined. Early humans populated the entirety of the Eurasia continent before subsequent waves of “modern” Homo sapiens sapiens, arrived on the scene. When these newcomers met their archaic forbearers, they made connections and interbred. Current DNA research (Stringer & Garrigan, et. al.) has shown beyond a shadow of doubt that not only are we all Africans at our core, every individual on the planet is a hybrid of modern and archaic human subspecies.

These stunning scientific truths have revealed that the ideas we might cling to of being a “pure bred” person of any sort must go out the window!

Outmoded ideas of racial or geopolitical tribalism are illusions and our stubborn desire to defend them is a tragically misinformed urge that interferes with our need to work together. It is the next step we must take in our transformation.

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Our ancestors can be an invaluable help in this evolution. Journeying to the beings who contributed to your sacred bundle can help you access information that has been lost, skills that have lain dormant, and wisdom that is timelessly important for today’s world. It is especially important if you haven’t had good connections with your immediate family. Looking further upstream in your genetic river, beyond any immediate familial struggles, you can feel a sense of connectedness and belonging that is so necessary in shamanic work. There are tens of thousands of generations who have gone before you, preparing the way, and each of them has contributed something that has made you uniquely who you are.

You are a living and vital reflection of all they learned, the struggles they fought and the power that they carried. When you tap into them, their wisdom and perspective can enrich your current life experience. Great crowds of open hearts are standing behind you. Having gone into the Light, they have shed the limitations of their personalities and are willing to participate in this time of remarkable evolution and change.

The ancestors even prepared us to meet with them in our journeys. A study published in 1973, found that altered states of consciousness are virtually universal

in their distribution across human societies. The study sampled 488 societies and found that fully 90% of those sampled groups exhibit institutionalized, culturally patterned forms of altered states of consciousness. The study also concluded that the capacity to experience an altered state of consciousness was so universal that it seems to be part of the psychobiological heritage of our species.2 We have been wired for altered consciousness experiences.

Shamanic journeying is a right-hemisphere; theta and low alpha brain wave state that, quite literally, changes our mind. During journeying, we experience enhanced creativity and imagination, better problemsolving ability, heightened intuition, enhanced abilities to synthesize new information and retain memories, and other astonishing mind skills that can provide us with new possibilities.

Using the expanded consciousness methods of the shaman, we can take the best of all of our ancestors’ collective wisdom and our own transformative capacities to dream new possibilities. We can use these gifts the ancestors gave to us to transform our destructive trajectory into one of personal and planetary renewal.

Notes 1P

.Fischer, A. Sauer, C. Vogrincic, and S. Weisweiler. “The Ancestor Effect: Thinking about our genetic origin enhances intellectual performance”. European Journal of Social Psychology. 41, number 1, 2010. 11—16.

2 Intimate

Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth, Tree of Life, originally broadcast on public television 1999 (A & E Home Video, 1999).

3 Monterey 4 As

Bay Aquarium, Online Field Guide: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/default.aspx?c=ln

reported by the National Science Foundation in a press release dated November 9, 2006.

5 Erika

Bourguignon. “Introduction: A Framework for the Comparative Study of Altered States of Consciousness”. In Religion, Altered States of Consciousness and Social Change. E. Bourguignon. ed. (Columbus, OH: Ohio State University, 1973). 3—33.

© 2015 Evelyn Rysdyk Nationally recognized shaman teacher/healer, speaker, and author of Spirit Walking a Course in Shamanic Power, A Spirit Walker’s Guide to Shamanic Tools, Modern Shamanic Living: New Explorations of an Ancient Path, and contributor to Spirited Medicine: Shamanism in Contemporary Healthcare; Evelyn Rysdyk delights in supporting people to remember their sacred place in All That Is. Whether through face-to-face contact with individual patients, workshop groups and conference participants, or through the printed word–Evelyn uses her loving humor and passion to open people’s hearts and inspire them to live more joyful, fulfilling and purposeful lives. In joint practice with Allie Knowlton as Spirit Passages, their web site is http://www.spiritpassages.com.

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Taking Control of Your Life Ques8oning What You THINK You Know About Yourself with love from Kris8 Borst This summer I had the pleasure of being with both of our young-­‐adult daughters. They suggested we go see the new Pixar movie “Inside Out”. The story line is about a girl whose emo?ons “Joy”, “Fear”, “Anger”, “Sadness” and “Disgust” basically are running the show inside a control room inside the girl. “Joy” is preGy much the leader un?l the family makes a cross-­‐country move. There’s a power struggle of the emo?ons with an eventual emo?onal shutdown. Along the way, insights are provided into core memories, forma?on of values, etc. AJer the movie, our elder daughter shared that her friend, a young mother, felt the movie had created a way for her and her children to discuss emo?ons. The characters were so cute and recognizable; the children could talk about their own versions of “Joy”, “Fear”, “Anger”, “Sadness” and “Disgust”.

I really enjoyed the movie and am glad that this type of acknowledgement of the power of our emo?ons has been created. I’m sure many will benefit from reading beyond the amusement of the anima?on. The movie failed to convey that we, the human being with the emo?ons, don’t have to be the vic?m of our emo?ons. We have the ability to shiJ control up one level … from the posi?on of the emo?ons controlling us to the posi?on of us controlling our emo?ons. When we are able to do this, we go from being mere actors to being the playwrights, directors, set managers AND actors within, of, and through our lives.

Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change.

Who’s Bullying You? The issue of bullying others is no longer underground. Our public schools, to a large degree, have confronted the issue of bullying point-­‐blank. There are also ongoing efforts to eliminate bullying online … cyber-­‐bullying.

Yet there is a much more insidious form of bullying that needs to stop! What I’m referring to is the incessant motor-­‐ mouth bully that resides within many of us. For different people, there are different tones to these bullies … self-­‐

doubt, fear, remorse, guilt, grief, jealousy, envy, unworthiness, etc.

Perhaps there is a part of you that feels you were never smart enough, preGy enough, muscular enough, thin enough, curvy enough, outgoing enough, clever enough, crea?ve enough … enough is enough! I want to invite you to try to look at things from a new perspec?ve. In each and every now moment, you can make the decision to change your perspec?ve … to see and feel that you ARE enough.

Truth is, you were actually born enough. I believe one of the reasons that people fawn over babies is that, perhaps on an unconscious level, we recognize the pure perfec?on and unlimited poten?al of the newborn soul … a soul which has not yet been shown, told, repressed to be less than he or she merely IS. One of the ways to move forward to health and wholeness is to reconnect with that pure perfec?on and unlimited poten?al. I promise you, it’s s?ll there! Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change.

Whose Voice is That?

Isn’t it ironic that many ?mes we, as parents, end up hur?ng and damaging our children when we’re really just focused on the virtuous path to “protec?ng them” from “the world”? For example, we tell our daughter something doesn’t look good on her because we don’t want one of her peers laughing at or ridiculing her. [Can you see how, in doing this, we are actually taking on the role of the ridiculer? We become the ones inflic?ng the hurt, rather than the hurt happening at some hypothe?cal future point by some “other”.]

Or perhaps our son goes rock climbing and comes home announcing he’s going to be a professional rock climber. How wonderful if dad could join him in that vision and see his son at the top of the world, realizing that son will probably find a new dream or vision for himself soon. Yet, without hesita?on dad announces, “You’ll never be able to support yourself doing that. Think again.” In one moment, son has gone from King of the Mountain to pushed off the mountain by none other than dad.

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Why can’t we just support our children fully and then be there for them IF others squelch them and/or their dreams? I think it’s because there’s someone else running the show. It’s the internal bully, jumping to center stage. When you consider how much we probably hated when squelching happened to us as children, how can we blindly con8nue the same abuse in the guise of love? Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change.

That “ Thing” May Actually Be A Strength!

We teach our children to blend in, hide their differences. Yet, I believe, it is our differences that are the reasons each of us are here. We each have something unique … a singular note to play in the symphony … a thread in the tapestry of life … that no other being can contribute!

Most of my life I have disliked my voice. To me it seems very monotone … not really high … not really low … just kinda blah. Since I’ve embraced all that I am and started working with people doing intui8ve energy healing, I’ve made a crazy discovery. My voice is actually part of my giF! Others are soothed by it. In fact, some people tell me they are healed to some degree just by listening to my mp3 or by coming to my workshops! [I have archives of my 14-­‐week radio show available as resources any 8me you want to go and take a listen.]

Finding the love of my voice has been part of my healing process back to SELF. I actually was in RI All State Chorus when I was in Jr. High. Yet I stopped singing … somehow I got to hate my voice. Was I dreaming of being a singer and someone “protected me” from a world in which I may not succeed as a singer? I honestly don’t remember. What I can tell you is that when I started going to Unity of the Seacoast (Dover, NH) in the summer of June, 2011, the music was just so good I couldn’t stay in my seat. They needed people in the choir and I couldn’t stay seated, so it seemed a logical fit. In the 4 years I have been there, my singing voice has totally transformed. Logically, I know I s8ll have the same voice, but my feelings about my voice have changed and so the expression of my voice is different. I oFen have people tell me I have a sweet voice or “the voice of an angel”. Imagine if I’d kept it cloaked in self-­‐ loathing?!?

Perhaps you have a similar love/hate rela8onship with something about yourself. What if that aspect of Self is actually at the core of something that makes you special, something that sparked a dream in you very long ago. One of the keys, I find, in moving forward in the posi8ve direc8on is to look back through your life and try to see when your a=tude about this aspect of yourself changed. See if there is some reframing and healing of that part of yourself you can achieve right now from a space of self-­‐acceptance and self-­‐love.

Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change.

Wait A Minute … This Inherited Story is NOT EVEN REAL! Then there are the self-­‐cri8cisms we are handed on a silver plaUer by “our gene8cs” which we blindly accept to be fact. To illustrate, I was born with “ The Pero Toe”.

On only my right foot, rather than the “big toe” being the longest, the adjacent one is the longest. Most of my life, my feet were a source of self consciousness.

Yet, as I came to love myself more and more uncondi8onally, choosing to see myself from a Higher Knowing of my Self, this hate-­‐affair unraveled. One day I was si=ng in my dining room, with my bare feet on the laminate flooring. My feet were posi8oned so that the plank seam of one board was just beyond my feet. I made an “Earth ShaUering Discovery”!

“The Pero Toe” I had spent much of my 50-­‐something years maligning was the same size as it’s mirror toe on my leF foot. However, my “big toe” and middle toe on my right foot were MUCH shorter than their counterparts on my leF foot. WHAT? How could I have missed that my whole life???

I missed it because I believed what I’d been told by genera8on aFer genera8on aFer genera8on. What I discovered when I actually looked on my own, with a neutral perspec8ve, was that this “Pero Toe” was more likely the unsung hero of the right foot … poten8ally working over8me to help me balance given that my “big toe” was truly a bit too small to pull his weight :) [Read my blog ar8cle on this topic.]

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Isn’t it ironic that one of the things I most disliked about myself, my voice, is actually one of the things that makes me special in this world? How could I have been so wrong about myself? And my toes … they’ve been on my feet my en?re life … how could I have never no?ced the TRUE rela?onship going on in right-­‐foot-­‐toe-­‐land? These ques?ons are somewhat baffling to me now, but I think it is about awareness, focus, and self love.

This self-­‐hatred was inherited. The past way to handle this may have been to have anger toward my rela?ves. Yet, that’s not the answer. Those who didn’t see the “Pero Toe” in its magnificence (or your own inherited story that YOU are going to debunk) deserve love and compassion and forgiveness. We can do that because we can be the ones to change the story. We can heal the feelings for the en?re bloodline in that instant we truly see the beauty of that thing that was maligned. Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change.

Who’s In the Control Booth?

Many ?mes when I am working one-­‐to-­‐one with a client doing intui?ve emo?onal healing for physical, mental and/or emo?onal concerns, the client’s child self of a specific age comes forward with a cornerstone to healing. OJen we can quickly see how that wounded child self is at that root of the problem in his/her current adult rela?onships with self and/ or others. Together, we reframe the role of that wounded child through my Perspec?ve Reboot® process. Once we see what we are doing and/or realize we have a choice to take control of our thoughts, feelings and emo?ons from our childself/childselves we have a choice and we become empowered.

Unfortunately, my dad passed on when I was only 36. Although his passing was unexpected and heartbreaking for me, it was not without its own miracles. But shortly aJer his death I realized that my wounded child self had been running my rela?onship with him for 30 years. If I had been able to see that sooner, I wonder what that changes that would have made in his and my lives. [For further details, read “You Know My Name … Not My Story” here.]

Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change.

Rekindle and Follow Your Dreams Perhaps you realize that the bullying voice can now be silenced.

Perhaps you realize it isn’t your voice, it’s one you just temporarily agreed to carry. Perhaps you were also told who you could and couldn’t be. Perhaps you had special things about you as a child that you were told to shut down so that you could blend with others. Perhaps you can see now that the things that make you different can be taken out, dusted off and celebrated.

Perhaps you see that it’s ?me for your adult self to take full control of your life … past, present and future … right here, right now.

Awareness = The Power of Choice, The Power to Change. Please take a few minutes and observe your life from each of the subheads within this ar?cle. See what comes to your awareness. You can change yourself just by changing the way you see yourself. Look through the eyes of love. Be the best YOU, you can be! That is ul?mately why you are here.

Kristi Borst has been sharing her healing gift through international radio broadcasts, written messages, public speaking, love-based healing “Energy-in-Form” fractal artwork, and private/ group healing sessions. Kristi is able to transform the meta-physical … enabling others to release energetic blocks manifesting as physical pain, emotional trauma, karmic debts and/or ancestral burdens. Kristi named her unique intuitive energy healing modality Perspective Reboot® because of the ease and grace with which her audience and clients experience shifts toward better wellness or wholeness. You can contact Kristi via her web site www.PerspectiveReboot.Us

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Staying Healthy with the Seasons: Autumn Insights

By Mark Gerardi One of the most beautiful aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine is its harmony with the natural cycle of the seasons, and their relation to 5-­‐ Element theory. To stay healthy one must harmonize their own energy with that of their environment. With the arrival of the Autumn Equinox (September 23rd), we welcome the ofJicial Jirst day of Fall. It is a transitional time from the Yang energies and heat of summer and late summer to the Yin energy and crisp temps of Autumn, the traditional time of Harvest represented symbolically by the cornucopia of Abundance related to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Fall is a time that ushers in harvesting apples, pumpkin and squash, preserving food, enjoyment of the colors of the changing leaves and beginning to prepare oneself both physically and mentally for the upcoming colder months. The season “Autumn” is represented by the element of Metal, the color White, the emotion of Grief, and the taste is Spicy or Pungent. It’s related organs are the Large Intestine and the Lungs. The Qi energy in the meridians of these organs is at its peak from 3am to 7am. The related sensory organ is the Nose. Its direction is the West.

Be aware of your Emotions Fall is the turning point when the Yang, or active energy turns into its opposite, the Yin, or passive energy. Just as the weather in Autumn turns cooler, so do the emotions. The emotion associated with Autumn is Grief. This makes it important to stay calm and peaceful, avoiding depression so that our transition into the Winter months ahead is a smooth one. It is the time to focus on strengthening our spirit, accomplished by stimulating the Qi through breathing exercises such as meditation, and Qigong. The same dry winds that strip the deciduous trees of their leaves can affect our skin as dryness, itchiness or can get into our lungs and cause dry cough. A conscious breathing practice not only enhances lung Qi but has the added beneJit of keeping the lung energy free full, clean, and quiet which is INNER TAPESTRY JOURNAL

vital to remaining healthy in the Fall. Since the sensory organ for Autumn is the Nose focus on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Eat Right to Keep Your Balance with the Season Food is medicine and in TCM foods are used for their healing properties. One important aspect for staying healthy this Autumn is eating right for the Lungs. It is recommended that your foods should moisten and clear the Lungs, get rid of wind and support the digestive system.

Foods that moisten the Lungs, include apples, pears and persimmons that contain a lot of water.

Lima and navy beans are also good for the Lungs.

To stimulate and clear the Lungs you can use spicy/pungent foods and herbs such as horseradish, white pepper, onions, garlic, sage, raw onion and hot chili peppers. More gentle pungents would include basil, coriander, bay leaves, cabbage, chives, cinnamon, cloves, dill, fennel, ginger, oregano, nutmeg, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, turnip and wheat germ.

Autumn is also associated with the Large intestine and it is a time when the digestive system can become deJicient. For health it is advised to eat dark green and orange vegetables that assist in harmonizing digestion.

Soups rather than salads are good Autumn food for various reasons, including the fact that longer cooking times at low temperatures mean the ingredients are easier to digest, and the wateriness nurtures Yin. Thick stews and soups help build energy reserves for the colder months ahead. Salt helps moisten dryness so use small amounts of salt in Autumn cooking. Because steaming also nurtures Yin it is a good technique for Fall.

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Take a Hike There is really nothing better for your health than connecting with Nature and Autumn during peak foliage season is perhaps the most beautiful time of year to do so. Admiring the brilliant colors of the trees is good for your emotional health and taking long deep breaths of cool clean air is one of the best things you can do to strengthen the lungs.

However the Fall is also associated with Wind thought to be the cause of a hundred different diseases in TCM. So while you our out enjoying your walk in Nature wear a scarf that can keep you warm and protect your neck an easy access point for cold.

Clearing the Meridians In TCM being healthy is about staying balanced, so avoiding extremes. But it is also about having a, free Jlowing, unobstructed Jlow of Qi energy through your meridians. Try these simple Qigong movements designed to clear the Lung and Large Intestine meridians and nourish the Metal element.

Place your right palm over your left cheek beside your nose. With your spine straight, take a deep breath. As you inhale visualize sending bright white light in to Jill your belly. As you exhale make the “Ssssss” sound like a tire that has sprung a leak while brushing your palm down your face, along the side of your neck, over your shoulder, down the outside of your arm, along the top of the forearm, the back of your hand and pull the energy off the end of the index Jinger. This brushing moves the Qi clearing the Large Intestine meridian. Repeat on the other side of the body.

Now place your right palm over the ball joint of your left shoulder. Take a deep breath. As you inhale visualize Jilling your Lungs with pure white light. As you exhale make the “Ssssss” sound while brushing your palm down over the head of the bicep of your left arm, along the inside of the forearm, and pulling the energy off the end of your thumb. This brushing moves the Qi clearing the Lung meridian. Repeat on the other side of the body. Repeat the process 3 – 5 times on each side of the body or as much as you feel intuitively guided to do so.

Mark Gerardi is the founder of the Cornerstone Energy Healers certiJication program. A gifted teacher and powerful energy healer, Mark specializes in pain relief and distance healing. Over the last 25 years Mark has practiced and taught martial arts, meditation & qigong. His formal education in healing has included Shiatsu Acupressure, Herbalism, Kinetic Chain Release (KCR) and master certiJications in multiple styles of Reiki. Mark has also been gifted with channeling the Archangel Michael healing system. To learn more about the many classes and services Mark offers Jind him on FaceBook or his website: www.luminousandhealthy.com

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How can the Qabalah experience help you live a more authentic life?

By Valerie Irish When was the last time you felt alive and vibrant? If the answer is not "today" or "right now" then maybe you are not living with authenticity. What is keeping you from living a better life? We are all living life and engaging in relationships to the level we feel we deserve.

That may be a hard truth to accept especially if your life circumstances are not all that desirable.

We live according to our beliefs. Are you overwhelmed with debt? Are your personal and professional relationships less than satisfying?

What is the root cause of of the level of satisfaction you are experiencing in your life right now? The answer could be rooted self-love and understanding of who you really are, a Spark of the Divine.

Subconscious beliefs sabotage success. This is not a new idea. So what do you do about it?

Therapy? Meditation? Yoga? Answering these questions requires reflection on previous choices, beliefs, and your inner voice. To be authentic is to let go of the things that are holding us back, the things that we are not.

These are conditioned belief systems we are ‘programmed’ with in childhood and through life experiences. It requires a lot of reflection which in turn raises awareness of your thought patterns and beliefs that trigger your subconscious behavior and inner self-talk. Think of your inner voice as a real person sitting beside you and talking to you the same way you

talk to yourself. Would you want to hang around with this person? Probably not.

How about the teachings of Qabalah? These sacred teachings help you to better organize your thoughts, beliefs, and your everyday life. It includes the ancient teachings about ourselves, our Universe, and creation. When I am asked to describe how Qabalah is used in self transformation I say it is “a process of unbecoming.” It's unlearning all the things you were taught growing up as a child. These are things that the adults around you would show you about the world and tell you about yourself.

As a child you have no reference point and think the adults have it all figured out and must know you or see something in you. Sometimes they are wrong. Often what they show us and tell us about ourselves are just reflections of themselves and where they are at in their lives.

As a child you don't know any better so you believe what you are told. This is especially powerful when it comes to messages we receive about our self worth and our lovability.

Qabalah explores all aspects of our lives and ourselves, especially the subconscious and how we repeat the same patterns and sabotage our dreams, financial success, and relationships.

This includes letting go of the expectations that others have put on us external forces that create pressure on us to behave and act a certain way. Have you ever felt that?

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Qabalah is not just about studying information and facts.

The Hermetic, or Universal, way of Qabalah is about experiencing the energy for yourself and having it change you in positive ways. Thirty days gives plenty of opportunity to assess and experience the energy and how it impacts our lives.

Let’s discuss Malkuth/Kingdom, the bottom sphere on the tree as an example of transforming your physical world.

Malkuth is the sphere of the physical, the 4 elements of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. It represents the physical world in which we live. It is your physical body, home, and environment. It represents the perfected word the creator had in mind which is reflected in our actual physical world.

As above, so below. How is your living space? How is your health, are you exercising and taking vitamins? Are you eating live, vibrant foods or junk food? Our outer world is a reflection of our internal state and vice versa. Changing your outer environment greatly impacts your internal state as well.

As a personal example, I have recently begun to actively discard all the things in my home that no longer serve me or give me joy. I keep the things that inspire me. My first week I discarded 44 bags of trash, 3 bags and 3 boxes of books donated, and 8 bags of clothes donated as well. I am embarrassed to admit that I still have much more! This is after reading, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. You can also look up “KonMari Method” on the internet if you want more information.

At first it was difficult to sleep in my room after discarding so much oppressive clutter and excess clothing. Now I find it so relaxing to sit in all that open space and look at things that inspire me and make me happy. Feeling more energetic, I have started to make green smoothies and cook at home more instead of fast food which in turn is saving money. Fewer things means less time moving and managing “stuff” and more time doing things that feed your soul; things that are fulfilling and inspiring.

What do you think would happen if you tried this for yourself? There is another aspect to your physical body and that is your unique energy imprint. This is give to you at the time of you birth and is reflected in you Human Design chart. You can look up Human Design for more information or contact me with your birth information for a free chart.There is much more to learn about this sphere. This article provides simple examples for the everyday person to relate to and think about.

Valerie is an intuitive life coach, esoteric teacher, and Qabalist. As an international channel, she provides guidance to clients through healing sessions, workshops, and readings. Valerie has over 18 years experience as a registered nurse with her Bachelor’s in Nursing and is also a graduate of the Ancient Ways Modern Powers Program by the 7th Ray Mystery School.

Valerie has been teaching and coaching since 1997, helping people understand the complex human body, disease process, and how to make lifestyle changes impacting their health in a simple, easy to understand format so they can be successful in managing their mental, emotional, and physical health. Valerie seeks to educate, empower, heal, and coach others as they grow into a more authentic lifestyle. Are you ready to make a positive change? www.alokahac.com and www.valerieirishwellness.com

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TUNE IN TO YOUR INNER PUSH & PULL

By Jennifer Crews At one of the most exotic chocolate shops on Beverly Drive, in Beverly Hills, California my own inner self reflection revealed herself in the most unusual way. Through the sensual combination of chocolate and spices my “inner push and pull” came forth and seemed to take over my entire being. This “inner push and pull” I am referring to is that of your inner intuitive muscle that lives inside of you. The invisible muscle who is able to discern the impulse to pull closer to you more of what you like and desire versus pushing away anything that does not feel good. My chocolate shop experience was at a boutique shop that has spices from all over the world. These spices were sitting on shelves in small dishes covered in gorgeous riveted glass domes. What makes the store so much fun is you can lift the domes and smell into the glass to discover the aroma of every spice. The spices are from countries all over the globe and are used to make their unique blends in their chocolates.

I was in awe watching myself, along with many others, taking the time to inhale the individual scents. I watched myself naturally respond to which spices triggered feelings of "goodness and desiring more" and which spices created feelings of "withdrawal and contraction". I observed both children and adults playing with this same “pleasurable response versus adverse response”

dichotomy. It was as if each spice revealed the energy of “contraction or expansion” inside every individual person. What was beautiful to explore was that it was different for everyone. Which was a valuable observation within itself. Every person responded differently to each spice. Some spices evoked an expansive joyful feeling while others created a more contractive instinctual repulsive feeling. Meanwhile, there were a few spices that appeared to just leave a residual feeling of “indifference”. Where the “push and pull” response was not evident. Leaving behind a feeling of not necessarily desiring more or needing to drastically push the spice away.

I recently was reading the incredible book Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver. She referred in her book about how her first metaphysical teacher gave her the following advice “Pay attention to how you feel when your around someone. And also how you feel when you leave them. Pay attention. Don’t question your response. If you feel bad, simply move away.”

I witnessed this very concept at the gourmet chocolate shop. Of all places! I watched myself and others around me immediately move away from whatever spice did not smell good or did not evoke a positive feeling within.

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The willingness, energy, and time each person took to discover this for themselves was admirable. There were two long shelves each lined with about eight spices. I watched as each person, one by one, lifted the dome to EVERY spice. They did not skip over a spice or ignore one of the shelves. They did not want to miss out. People were drawn to try each and every one - even after they may have had several adverse reactions in a row. I could see in their eyes they were trusting that a pleasurable scent was soon on its way. I also noticed that nobody ended their spice inhaling experience with a spice that was unpleasant. If their response to the last spice on the shelf was negative then they went to a spice filled glass dome that they remembered felt yummy and good. They lifted up the glass dome, inhaled, and a big smile took over their face. Now they were done. Now they could walk away from the sensual shelves. How incredible.

It was as if our inner truth is to naturally lean towards pleasure and positive inner feelings. So much so that a person will not walk away from a shelf lined with exotic spices unless the last spice they smelled felt good. So why don’t we do this in our personal lives?

Though this push and pull was evident in my chocolate experience I realized that this is an inner muscle that can use strengthening in all of us in EVERY area of our life. Every event and every choice gives us the opportunity to have this same experience. Why don’t we initially walk away from a not so good feeling to a more enjoyable experience? Why do we second guess ourselves or stay in conversations or relationships that do not feel good?

Do you want to breathe in more of a certain spice you enjoy that has landed in front of your nose or are you repelled by a certain spice that has crossed your path?

The willingness to pay attention to this subtle truth inside of yourself is an incredible self reflective tool and an important element to strengthening your intuitive muscle and mastering self love. If you can view different choices, conversations, people, and situations in your life as the spices hidden under the fragile glass domes in the chocolate shop of life, you can begin to use your own discernment in choosing good feeling expansive experiences versus contractive experiences.

I encourage you to observe the spices of life that are in front of you and carefully observe your response to them. Take the time to strengthen this “inner push and pull” muscle and you will soon discover an inner power that may have been dormant inside of you. Meanwhile enjoy the spices of life that come your way, tune in to your intuitive responses, become your own spice of life connoisseur, and walk away from experiences that do not evoke a feeling of pleasure, joy, and overall inner goodness!

Jennifer Crews M.A. has over 20 years experience as a communications expert.

Her passion for the written and spoken word led her to careers as a pediatric speech language pathologist, published author, live talk radio show host at KRXA in California, a performance speaker, and an intuitive leader. She has dedicated her life to creative expression in everything she does and in educating others on the mastery of spirit beauty, intuition, and personal power. “The highest form of beauty is the essence self.” Jennifer currently leads groups and mentors individuals around the globe. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Learn more about her programs and services at www.jennifercrews.com.

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Pregnant Yogini Looks Inward Witnessing Divinity

By Suzanne Silvermoon Pregnancy is one of the most holy times in a woman’s life. At the level of the causal body, a sacred soul contract is agreed upon between the players of this most amazing creation: mom, dad, baby and the forces of Purusha and Prakriti (Divine Masculine and Feminine). At the moment of conception, glorious powers of creation set in motion the most wondrous events. The sacred elements of life: Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth begin to dance their cosmic love dance. As they dance, where there was once only potential, the human form begins to take shape in the womb of the mother. A magnificent, spiritually charged, bio-energetic form begins to emerge. A whole new mobile, holy temple grows for this soul, who said yes to the contract, to begin acting in the world of forms.

A pregnant woman shares her souls her holy temple, her body, with the soul of her growing baby. As cells divide and take form and structure, the pregnant woman gives of her essence to build a temple perfectly suited for the karma of this baby’s journey. This is profound work at hand. To build a temple that is strong and resilient, the materials must be of the best quality. If the mortar used to hold the granite stones of the temple is compromised, the walls of that temple will crumble. Every morsel of food mom eats, drop of drink she swallows, interaction she has with nature and it’s forms, every emotion that plays across her heart influences the quality and the outcome of her baby's temple being built. As a practicing yogini (female yogi), clarity is drawn from a deep inner knowing that has been polished through her dedication to practice and self-reflection. This clarity guides her into the beauty of devoted service to the creation she is nourishing while carrying her child within. It helps her with her convictions and choices of actions in each moment. She makes conscious choices, such as rising early with gratitude for not only her life, but also the growing life in her womb. She practices devotion to the dance of Shiva and Shakti (powers of masculine and feminine creation) so that she nourishes her divine union with Source. Through practice, the yogini quiets the busy-ness of her mind so that the whispers from her body temple guide her choices of food, exercise, rest, and with whom she chooses to spend her precious time. Conscious living derived from a well grounded yogic lifestyle cultivates strength and suppleness of her body and mind, as well as clarity of her actions deeds and words. The pregnant yogini hones her discernment by observing herself and her responses to life, therefore clearly understanding her environment and the players within it. From a centered, peaceful and self-assured place, she freely shares her love with her companion, family, friends and community. She expresses enduring self-love that is unapologetic when she declares healthy boundaries to care for herself and her growing baby. She is the SelfActualized Tantrica with her roots reaching deep into mother Gaia for sustenance, her crown open and united with the wisdom of the cosmos, and her heart open to the human drama unfolding between the two. She is creation itself.

The 8 limbed Astanga Yoga path provides the wisdom of the ages to a woman who has agreed to the sacred contract of pregnancy and the journey toward motherhood as a yogini.

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The rich guidance of the Yamas and Niyamas: Non Violence, Truthfulness, Non-Grasping, Restraint, Desirelessness, Purity, Contentment, Commitment to Practice, Self Study, and Devotion to God provide her with an internal compass that will continually steer her toward the highest and most clear actions. These moral and ethical codes create her foundation providing the stability to balance selfcare with the work of mothering.

Prenatal Asana (Yoga Postures) practice gives her strength, suppleness, balance, endurance and sustaining peace. These rewards create ease in her body temple thus availing her to energies that can be directed toward loftier pursuits of realizing her Dharma (life’s mission). The strength and endurance gained from regular practice translates into a resource she can draw upon in times of challenge.

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Pratyahara (Sense Control) practice cultivates objectivity with the senses so that even the most challenging of experiences will not cause her to waiver in her state of balance. She can better remain neutral in the face of desire or aversion so that both she and her growing baby reside in a state of peace.

Practicing pratyahara through her pregnancy makes this tool of sense control easily accessible during labor and birth when inward focus becomes paramount. As she cares for this child once born, a well honed pratyhara practice will give the mother yogini steadiness in her emotions and objectivity in her mind during the many weeks, months and years of parenting.

Dharana (Concentration/Contemplation) practice places her mind at her masterful command in a quiet, reflective, observant state that absorbs and fully digests life’s unfolding drama. An undistracted mind is able to be present for the beauty of the temple being built within. The yogini growing in ever-greater brilliance, as she remains awake in that all pervasive presence.

Dhyana (Meditation) practice holds her body, mind, and spirit into expansive stillness and awareness of Sat Aham Prema (Divine Love is my true nature). Through sustaining this state of union she is able to witness the divinity of the soul connection between herself, her companion, the growing baby and the dance of Purusha and Prakriti (Consciousness and Form). She is able to hold the space for her own dharma (life mission) as well as the space for her child’s dharma.

The final outcome of this 8-limbed path is Samadhi, or Spiritual Liberation. The pregnant yogini has an amazing opportunity for dwelling in Samadhi as she holds within her a twin flame. Two sparks of the One Source occupying her holy temple, burning with all the love of the universe. All she has to do is turn inward toward this brilliant light and put the tools of the master handbook of life, yoga, into conscious action. Through this action, she dwells in the infinite peace and joy of Samadhi.

The awakened yogini knows the infinite power of the creative forces at play when she spends time each day aligning her body, mind and spirit through the chanting of the Gaytri Mantra insuring a steadiness in Bhakti (devotion).

Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Deemahi Deeyo Yo Naha Prachodayaat Translation: We meditate on that most adorable, desirable and enchanting luster and brilliance of our Supreme Being, our Source Energy, our Collective Consciousness….who is our creator, inspirer and source of eternal Joy. May this warm and loving Light inspire and guide our mind and open our hearts.

One of the most widely used terms to describe yoga today is hatha. Hatha yoga refers to the balance of “ha” meaning sun, and “tha” meaning moon or expressed another way divine masculine and divine feminine. The pregnant yogini embodies this hatha or balance as she embraces the spark of creation or divine masculine. She reflects that light within her own form and the form of her baby growing with just as the moon reflects the light of the sun. Her awareness through reflection upon this dance of divine forces in constant dynamic movement is expressed as her radiant glow.

Suzanne Silvermoon, Pediatric Nurse, Cert. Yoga Therapy Practitioner, teacher and speaker. Suzanne’s centered, skillful, compassionate and nurturing teaching style draws from her 35 years of personal yoga practice and study. She fosters peace, safety and ease with personal exploration in her yoga classes, private yoga therapy sessions, and workshops. She expertly weaves proper alignment, physical anatomy and the energetic flow of prana to guide her students in the multidimensional aspects of the human experience through yoga. Suzanne is a faculty teacher for YOGAspirit Studios and Kerala Ayurveda Academy. FMI: www.indigolotusyoga.com

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By Kathryn Drage

Mornings are an amazing time. The world just comes to life in a whole new way. Our potential is renewed.

It is a sunny morning… mid-August in Maine. Crickets, bees and cicadas are holding a lovely, background toning sound as the birds chime in with their own contribution of melodies -none louder this morning than the blue jays. I should not fail to mention the violin-like concerto of the fly, the every-oncein-awhile thud of a ripe peach falling off of the fruit laden tree and the osprey pitching in tunes and then moving away.

This is always a bittersweet time. I want to hold on to this season and it also brings me back to magical summer days of my youth. Everything was possible as I was free to dream beyond our logical everyday life. Because of that time, I was very open to animals’ and nature’s communication language.

I got to engage in it daily and without inhibitions.

As I sit here mesmerized by the sounds, colors and smells of this promisingly sultry summer day, I think…what can I say? What can I write to those of you who have gone through a huge life change of having a beloved cross through to the spirit world? There are so many of you that have experienced this. When this article comes out it will be a time of harvest and reflection and my goal is to find the words to touch some of you to help bring some peace, hope and a glimpse of understanding.

I would like to go back to my last article with Inner Tapestry Journal. My beautiful felines had sat me down to tell me to slow down… and then a deluge of events occurred which caused me to slow down. Well, I have never doubted their wisdom… and now I see that the extent to which they helped prepare me for what was to come is astounding.

What has happened is that the biggest vortex of “crossing through” has opened and is actually still open. To help make this clear for those of you new to this knowledge, there is a vortex that opens that makes it easier for beings to cross over

(or “cross through,” as the animals call it.) I have found that it opens about twice a year…. I know this when the calls I receive for sessions are about ill or missing animal companions. In my experience, it usually occurs in the Springtime as well as late Summer and Autumn… Autumn being the biggest one. There is a sacred contract that happens and illnesses show up quickly. Animal companions go missing and are not to be found. I am told by the ones who have crossed through that the passage is loving and fulfilling.

They are in a state of knowing and peace. They either want to start fresh and continue with what they were doing or just “be” for awhile. (I also understand that time is a human thing and that is why I say for awhile… because most of us can’t understand the experience of no time.)

What my feline mentors were getting me prepared for was, as I said, the biggest vortex of this kind that I have ever experienced. I had to be ready for the amount of calls I would get about beloveds being ill or crossing through. It was daily and many. The technology that I was used to using on a daily basis had been cut back drastically by what seemed like unfortunate incidences. (I knew better.) But because of it, I was in balance and prepared on many levels to offer my best assistance, as it was requested, without draining my energy.

The animal kingdom is telling me that it is harder on us than it is on them. They understand and accept the bigger picture.

When they cross through, they have many opportunities to evolve and grow spiritually. They are then able to assist in guiding us and others, helping us to evolve. Some choose to come back in a physical form. Whatever form they choose is to allow them to experience from a different perspective. You may have also noticed at this time that many new babies have come along or are on the way… of every species. That is all part of this amazing Vortex.

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Some animals have shown me that when they crossed through, it was a time for them to go back to their original state… and that is a state where they and their human companion are actually one Soul (not originally separate beings.) One amazing horse stated that he was with his human companion to allow her to be able to see herself… in all her beauty and magnificence. The egoless world of animals can easily see this and we humans usually cannot. I recognize that it is a lot for our human minds to wrap around this concept. I was amazed with this information, but it feels so authentic to every fiber of my being that I experience it as a “knowing” rather than something I try to make sense of with my logical mind. So the beauty and love this woman saw in her beloved horse was actually teaching her a way to love and cherish herself.

It is one of the most beautiful things that I have learned this year. I am in awe and humbled by what happens around us.

Eartha’s Wisdom Corner “My name is Eartha Song of The Heart and I am very happy to be sharing with all of you. I would like to speak to you about the Song of Your Heart. The theme of this edition of our Journal is about reflection. My question to you is…as you reflect on your life, year etc…are you singing the Song of Your Heart? You may or may not know the answer in your logical mind. You may also ask yourselves the questions of... what is the Song of My Heart or do I have one?

I assure you that you do. We all do and we find it and gauge it through our feeling /emotional senses.

It is as simple as … if you do not feel a sense of ease in your life, that feeling is telling you to change your navigation. Sometimes that may just mean your perspective. Comparing yourself to someone else or thinking you are behind or ahead of where you are meant to be is also telling you that you are due to change the course of navigation in your perspective. Singing the Song of Your Heart can be done from where you are right this moment or from clear across the World. The key will be in your perspective. Keep turning that navigational perspective until you feel that sense of ease in your being…then you are there. ♡ We are all brilliant lights and can shine if we choose to. It is your decision and yours alone. What do you choose to do? I will be fine with whatever you choose because I choose to shine my light. I understand that I am responsible for the energy I put out. When we take responsibility for the energy we put out we are creating peace and co-creating a more unified peace with others that choose to shine their light. I send you blessings. ~ Eartha

For some of you who experienced a loss, there was an unexpected suddenness. To us, there seems no rational explanation, but I am assured by these beautiful animals in spirit that this is truly part of a beautiful plan… that they truly have peace and had the exact experience they came here to have. They are grateful to those of you who feel like you have been left without, and left with a deep sadness.

They say that you have taken the hardest part of the sacred contract that you have made together for this lifetime.

“Blessed be… you are not alone and you are divine.” I hope you take heart in the story and message from the animal kingdom to help find peace if needed… whether you have experienced someone crossing through to the Spirit World or not.

The next part of this column is in the paws of the lovely and wise Eartha “Song of the Heart.” She has requested some space that she would like to call “Eartha’s Wisdom Corner.“ Eartha is a beautiful tortoiseshell feline, with amazing double front paws, which I have the privilege of living with. When Eartha and her siblings were born, their names came to me in a meditation. Their full names symbolize the wisdom they have come here to share. Here is wisdom from Eartha.

I reflect upon an extraordinary time of awakening and learning. Every experience that I have with the animal kingdom leaves me humbled -- with new information for myself and to share with others. I, as always, thank them for their openness and honesty as well as love. Namaste Kathryn Drage is an Animal Communicator who resides in Gardiner, Maine.

She has been communicating with animals and nature since early childhood.

For the last 20 years Kathryn has also worked in the holistic health field, which enhances the information she shares from the heart. During a session, Kathryn infuses her wisdom, many healing modalities as well as past experiences to help assist with the well being of the receiver. She truly enjoys teaching workshops on a variety of topics. She believes Animal Communication is everyone’s original language and the more that it’s shared the closer it brings all beings into harmony and balance. She can be contacted at earthtalking@aol.com and www.earthtalking.org

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An Uncommon Joy A day in the life of a special needs parent

By Mark Storck It begins first thing in the morning, you hear your child call out. This isn’t a normal yell; it’s a guttural croak, yelp or groan. Your eyes snap open with a start. It’s not like you were in a very deep sleep, anyway. You hurriedly make your way to your little one’s bedside, more calm about this occurrence than you EVER thought you would be, only to find their gaze fixed, eyes wide open in the dim light and tiny body wracked in rhythmic motions of yet another seizure. You immediately break out the support equipment: oximeter, BP cuff, suction, thermometer, oxygen…and get to work. Like a college-trained nurse, you methodically and studiously, go through the requisite triage, making sure all vitals are within, ‘survivable’ range. However, you are not a trained medical professional, you are not even a first responder, in the legal sense, but in a literal one you are not only a first responder, you are the ONLY responder…you are the Mom or Dad, of a medically fragile child with a seizure disorder.

You set up the oxygen tank and mask, go to the medicine cabinet, the one specifically set up for your atrisk child, and meter out a dose of rescue medication.

You administer it with the same calm reasoning any emergency room doctor would, under the same dire circumstances. Tenderly taking your child’s tightly clenched fist, you impatiently wait for the rescue meds to take effect. Looking at the clock for more than just for a time reference, you are counting respirations and pulse. It’s 2:36a.m., and the meds have finally taken effect. Deep, easy breaths have finally replaced the choking gasps for air. Going about tidying the room full of medical instruments will hopefully ease you back into a restful state. You head back to bed, exhausted, and just lay there. It’s too quiet…I can’t hear my child breathing!

You launch out of bed once more, frantically rushing to your child’s bedside. You watch their chest for movement, but it’s too dark to make out subtle, shallow respirations. You bend down, really close to your little one’s face, and trying not to wake them, listen for signs of life. You feel their warm breath on your cheek, and smiling, swallow hard. Not this time. Not. This. Time.

You feel a bit foolish and chastise yourself in the dark,

for being so reactionary. The little voice in the back of your mind, however, reassures you; it’s the right thing to do.

Now it’s YOU who’s heart is still racing with respirations much too quick for this time of night. You are wide-awake and it’s only 3:02a.m. Maybe it would be a good idea to just stay up and get ahead of the laundry. Three loads later, washed, dried and folded, you decide a cup of coffee is in order. It’s now 6:00a.m., and the morning routine will start soon. Meds, tube feeding, a diaper change…all before your precious little one opens their eyes.

You never thought you could get used to the idea of a feeding tube and Mickey button. Not only have you accustomed to the idea, you now look at it with newfound respect. You can feed your child, administer meds, and check the status of their stomach contents, all without waking them…if you are VERY careful.

The other kids are now up and jumping about, and you ask them to please hush, as their sibling has had another rough night. They all look at you with great understanding and wisdom, well beyond their tender years. Nodding their heads in apology, they tiptoe out of the house, solemnly on their way to school.

You sit for a moment to contemplate the look you just witnessed on your ‘able-bodied’ children’s faces. How do they understand? How have they come to cope so well with this new and trying situation? I mean, seriously…HOW? When I go to the market to do some shopping with my special needs child, not only do I get strange looks, but many times, rude comments. How can adults be SO callous and judgmental of a disabled child?

How can they NOT know their rude stares and cutting comments are setting their own children up for the same bad behavior? Still, I think about my children’s knowing looks, kind words and tender strokes for their sibling, and breathe a sigh of relief.

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Thoughts wander and are brought back into keen focus when a joyous squeal emanates from the other room. It’s time to begin the day, and you are glad to have gotten a head start on the daily chores.

Morning meds consist of crushing half-a-dozen pills of multiple compounds, together, and mixing them with yogurt so they will pass easily through the g-tube. You oh-so carefully scoop them into a large, catheter syringe, and set it aside. Grabbing three more syringes of various capacities, you draw up the liquid meds for the a.m. dosing. By now, the yells from the bedroom are of an impatient nature, and you know, you better get a move on.

There is a diaper to change, as well as all of the linen, but the soiled sheets can wait, while my precious one, won’t. A bit of fun, stepping into the living room, and the gym mat that takes the majority space, kindly accepts its burden from my arms. More squeals of delight fill the air with a new day’s joy.

The extension tube is deftly clicked into place, and the morning med sequence begins. Each syringe will be emptied directly into the stomach, via a Mickey button placed in a surgical hole, or stoma, in the abdomen. This will be followed by liquid nourishment from a can, to be chased with a water flush. Placing the necessary medicinal administration devices aside, you begin the most important procedure of the day …snuggle time!

Kisses and hugs, cooing and making funny character noises are among the prescriptions for every medically fragile child, of any age. This bonding time is easily as important as any of the doses of seizure medications.

This is face-to-face…heart to heart, time. This is where the subtle communication skills between child and parent are meticulously honed. Only in this case, you must bump it up more than a few notches.

Next, we have bath time, cartoon and reading time, right up to the noon hour. Now imagine, if you will, each one

of these daily rituals being accompanied by multiple, violent seizures, breaking the flow of whatever is going on, to stop for the moment, and put the nurse cap on. If you are lucky, it is a relatively brief one, and you continue with the daily routine. If not: machines, meds and more maddening seizures. You curse the ‘seizure monster’ every time it rears its ugly head. You know the alternative is much, much worse. So, you pray that this one will be brief and not do as much damage to the brain, as you know they all do.

As the parent of a special needs child, what you DON’T do is wish for another life. You don’t wish for a different, healthier child, one that will rise in the morning and run, skip and play. You are exceedingly grounded and realistic. You live with the visceral knowledge; tomorrow may not come for my child.

Consequently, you stop wishing for the life you planned, and start living the life you know…this one. Your wishes are replaced with something far more satisfying and powerful. Hope and Faith. These are the two most powerful prescriptions in the medicine cabinet, for a special needs parent. Take two and call me in the morning…and the next…and the next.

It’s just ‘one day at a time’, in which special needs parents and their children live. Many parents of at-risk children go through the entire day, holding their breath.

It isn’t something that is consciously done, but circumstances sometimes dictate such actions. The frustration of parents who are valiantly leading the fight for their child’s very survival, is painfully obvious…and so is the joy…yes, joy.

If you, as friend, family or stranger should occasion to witness this, set aside your personal discomfort and reach out to them. Let this parent know you share the same hope and faith they do. There will never be a better time to show your humanity, than at that very moment.

You may begin sharing a joy…you never knew existed.

Mark Storck is a writer, photographer, and philosopher. He is a founding director of The HeartGlow Center and lives in the lakes region of Maine with his wife, Deb, and daughter, Raegan. An avid freedom fighter, Mark is known to speak passionately about issues important to improving our world. You can find Mark on the internet at My Divine Source.

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Traveling with Purpose

By Jennie Krasse

Reflections at St Brigid’s Well One of the best sacred sites travel adventures I have ever experienced, was the one I took in September 2011 with my lovely niece, Dr. Kerry Bowman (nee Roarke). Kerry’s father is about as Irish as they come, and Ireland was always the one place that Kerry wanted to see. My niece is near and dear to my heart, and so I was delighted to be able to experience Ireland with her. One of the reasons we decided to travel when we did, was that my niece was newly married and she wanted to prepare herself for the future possibility of motherhood.

She also wanted to connect with some of her ancestry. And who beUer to travel with than her favorite, smart and oFen comical Aun8e?!

Something to no8ce about Ireland? Pictures really do not do this country jus8ce!

There is no way to capture all of its beauty and color; it must be seen to be truly appreciated. Imagine a world where the only color in the crayon box is green—every imaginable shade, tone and hue all playing nicely together. That is what Ireland looks like—every shade of lush green you can think of. And the energy! Several 8mes throughout our trip, Kerry and I simply threw off sock and boots and ran around barefoot; both of us wan8ng to touch as much of the soil and ground as possible. The energy there is ever-­‐flowing and omnipresent, and you can feel it coursing right through your feet up into your body! It’s like being held in an endless hug of

delicous warmth and love. And of course, we also delighted in the wonderful, friendly people and excep8onal music we encountered all along the way.

This trip to Ireland was, for me, a coming to terms with my own recently discovered issues of infer8lity.

While, at the same 8me, my niece was processing impending motherhood. Two very different journeys, and yet having a connec8ng theme. Kerry’s original plan was for her and her husband to begin trying to start their family right aFer our trip; however, as “the luck of the Irish” would have it, serendipity intervened. We found out that she was pregnant at the start of the trip!

As we hiked through the hills of Tara, New Grange, several stone circles and several scared wells, we came upon Saint Brigid’s well in Liscannor, County Clare. Considered a holy well, many people visited this well (and others throughout Ireland) to walk around it, saying a prayer on their rosary beads. At most sacred places, it is a common prac8ce for people to leave small tokens of thanks, rememberance, and offerings. Although now a small, well-­‐maintained park, the site is a sacred and honored place and has a palpable aura of ancient wisdom. The well is fed by a spring that then flows underground before appearing again under a stone archway. The stones below the archway are known as St Brigid's Slippers. The stream then flows passed a modern bronze statue of Saint Brigid.

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In Irish mythology, Brigid was the Cel?c goddess of fire, poetry, unity, childbirth and healing. She was the daughter of Dagda, a High King of the Tua Dé Danann. Sacred wells were always places of pilgrimage to the Celts. They would dip a cloo?e (piece of rag) in the well, wash their wound and then ?e the cloo?e to a tree (usually a Whitethorn or Ash tree), as an offering to the spirit of the well for aid in healing their wounds.

According to modern tradi?on, Saint Brigid was born in Faughart, County Louth, where there is a shrine and another holy well dedicated to her. The Saint founded a convent in Kildare in 470 that has now grown into a cathedral city. There are the remains of a small oratory known as Saint Brigid's Fire Temple, where a small eternal flame was kept alight for centuries in remembrance of her. She is one of Ireland’s patron Saints and known as Mother of the Gael. She is said to be buried along with Saint Colmcille and Saint Patrick in Downpatrick. Through-­‐out Ireland there are many, many wells dedicated to Saint Brigid. According to the Brigidine Sisters, they believe that both Cel?c Goddess Brigit and Saint Brigit were a reflec?on of each other. They believe the “Pagan” Brigid and the Catholic Saint Brigit could not exist without each other. To them, they are one and the same.

One of the rituals typically performed at the well is the tying of rags to the rag tree. The rags are placed there by people who believe that if a piece of clothing from someone who is ill, or has a problem of any kind, is hung from the tree, the problem or illness will disappear as the rag disintegrates. The offerings are leJ in gra?tude to Saint Brigid for curing a loved one. My niece, wan?ng to honor her heritage but also wan?ng to put a modern spin on the whole experience, had purchased a bag of green glass pieces that she leJ as giJs every place we visited. At ?mes, she focused her sorrow or worry into the glass, and then asked the land to simply transform the energy and receive what was leJ (the glass stone) as a thank you. And I am quite sure that the abundant

Irish Fairies just loved finding her trinkets, too! At one point, she took one of the stones, dipped it into the water, rubbed it on her belly and asked for Saint Brigid to watch over her growing baby. And then she placed the glass bead on the hand of the statue.

I should add here that we had just come to the Solas Bhride Spirituality Centre, where the Brigidine sisters had made her a Saint Brigid’s Cross to display over the baby crib; and we were s?ll reeling from the lovely blessing and prayer ?me that they performed, all while embracing my niece.

Up un?l this point, I had chosen not to share much of my own personal infer?tliy issues with my niece, or so I had thought. It is a magical place, aJer all. Not everything needs to be spoken aloud. AJer Kerry had placed her stone, she came back to me and laid her head on my shoulder and wept. When I asked her what was wrong.

She simply placed her hand on my stomach and whispered “ I am so sorry Aunt Jen” So for a few minutes we both wept— for the new life that was coming, for my grief and acceptance, and—for the grace of Brigid. As with so many places in Ireland and sacred sites in general, the experience there can be emo?onally intense on many levels. The Holy sacred wells especially, seem to intensify the traveler’s experience. Perhaps it’s the deep symbolism of the water itself, or maybe it’s simply that, in a place that special, you can literally feel the energy of the old and the new dancing together in harmony.

So, for those traveler’s amoung you who are seeking a very peaceful and sacred place, I highly recommend a visit to Ireland and St. Brigid’s well.

As I reflect upon my travels, I realize how much it has taught me. Reflec?on allows us to see exactly what part of our past we have allowed to define us; but it also provides us the opportunity to see well beyond that. To gaze into the waters of our soul and see its true beauty and light, and to let that be our defining guide.

Jennie Krasse has an extensive background in group ritual and energy work. She is of Romany-Gypsy, Czech and Scottish descent. Currently she lives in Maine, lectures, teaches and conducts consultation for clients and businesses throughout the United States. She has traveled on several sacred sites tours specializing in group energy work and earth connections. Sacred Travel Tour Information – www.nualacenter.com

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Stones of Reflection As summer seamlessly transforms to autumn and many return to a more structured schedule, it feels like a time to take a quiet break to contemplate and regroup. The energy of early autumn often brings me into in a reflective mood; the crisp air, magickal turning of the colors and comforting scents of the season inspire me to slow down, recall fond memories of summer, enjoy the fine weather and begin preparations for the colder months as the ancestors did for eons. In addition to continuing to meditate outdoors at a beach, lake, river or wooded area, I find that a slow ‘walking meditation’ amongst the dry, crunching leaves is exhilarating and enriching for my spirit.

Spending time in self-reflection can be emotionally and spiritually powerful and empowering. Conversely, it may also “bring up” many feelings, possibly disquieting and troublesome. Always provide yourself with a safe, comfortable environment to begin a process of going within and self-examination. We are beings of limitless possibility; we must only tap into our potential. Going within, seeking answers, analyzing our motivations, being truthful but kind to ourselves is key to awakening the dormant gifts and wisdom waiting deep inside to be discovered. Consider keeping a journal of your experiences and thoughts when embarking on a path to selfdiscovery. Re-reading your writing and insights assists in discovering what areas have had progress and where improvement is still needed.

A few stones I have found to be beneficial supporters for times of deep reflection are Fluorite, Lapis Lazuli and Labradorite: Each of these stones has many beneficial qualities.

Fluorite: to assist in clearing away psychic debris in my physical environment and energy field, both important to access inner knowing.

Lapis Lazuli: to gently uncover my truth, provide clarity and objectivity.

Labradorite: to facilitate the illumination of highest wisdom and knowledge and for protection during the process.

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Fluorite: Also known as fluorspar, Fluorite’s name derives from the Latin “fluo” meaning to flow. Fluorite forms in many colors, most commonly purple and green. Often, several shades and/or colors will appear in one specimen. Some Fluorites exhibit the phenomenon of fluorescence when placed under ultraviolet light, hence the origination of the word.

Fluorite is an excellent stone to activate and nourish the body’s energy system. It provides purification and cleansing while eliminating disorder on all levels of mind and body. Fluorite is known as “the stone of discernment and aptitude” (Love Is In The Earth by Melody) encouraging one to align and focus one’s mind, clearing confusion or chaos to provide direction and reach goals.

Greatest Hits: Clearing Chaos, Unification, Focus, Purification, Spiritual Awakening.

Genre: Classic Rock Light Show: Yellow, White/Colorless, Blue, Black, Grey, Red, Pink, Purple, Green.

World Tour: U.S., Canada, U.K., Peru, Mexico, Brazil, China and Argentina.

Chakra: All Element: Wind

Lapis Lazuli: Lapis Lazuli is a combination of minerals, mainly Lazurite, Calcite and Pyrite. Once called Sapphirus by the Romans and Greeks, then later becoming known as Lapis Lazuli, originating from lazhuward , Latin for blue. Throughout time Lapis Lazuli has been connected to Kings and Queens, believed to contain the mysteries of the Divine and said to have existed “before time was born”. Lapis was commonly used in carvings, adornments, crowns, temples and palaces of the royal. Likened to the night sky, Lapis has been used in ritual and ceremony of magicians for healing, fidelity charms, increased intuition, Divine understanding, scrying and protection.

Enlist Lapis to aid in deeper understanding of self, to activate the Throat and Third Eye Chakras. Through meditative practice Lapis will assist in providing clarity, objectivity, mental expansion and intuitive awareness.

With its soothing energy Lapis relieves depression, promotes gentleness, self-acceptance and healthy relationships.

Greatest Hits: Access to the “unknown”, Truth, Serenity, Self-acceptance, Communication, Psychism.

Genre: Heavy Metal Light Show: Blue World Tour: Chile, Russia, Afghanistan.

Chakra: Throat, Third Eye Element: Wind

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Labradorite: A type of Feldspar, Labradorite brilliantly displays luminescence, or “labradorescence”; unnoticed at first glance but once seen adds to its mystery and allure. When caught by the light, flashes of coppery-red, blue and gold will catch the eye, thus attributing to its mystical characteristic of allowing one to see the ‘unseen”.

Labradorite assists in understanding and uniting oneself in regard to destiny; dispensing insecurity and instilling faith in the Universe. It eliminates unclear thoughts while promoting discernment on the path to understanding and alignment. Labradorite is an extremely protective stone; forming a barrier around the aura deflecting unwanted energy while providing strength, inner sight and illumination. Labradorite is said to be a representative of “The Temple of The Stars”, bringing the Light of evolved galactic energies to Earth. Labradorite facilitates times of great transformation and openness to the gifts that are about to be revealed.

Greatest Hits: Inner Sight, Protection, Magick, Mystery, Illumination, Ascension.

Genre: Glam Rock Light Show: Green; Grey, Black, White, Yellow, Red, Blue, Gold Inclusions.

World Tour: Canada, Finland, Russia, Italy, Greenland.

Chakra: Third Eye Element: Wind Notes: The use of crystals and stones should not replace the advice of your medical or mental health care provider.

This column is meant to be an introduction from the perspective of one crystal enthusiast. Further study is encouraged.

Greatest Hits, Genre , Light Show, World Tour Categories are based on the soon to be released reference guide Rock Talk: An Aging Rock Chick’s Guide to Crystals & Stones by Dede Eaton. All Rights Reserved.

Elemental correspondences based on the work of Naisha Ahsian.

The Crystal Ally Cards; The Crystal Path to Self Knowledge 1995. www.crystalisinstitute.com Light Ray correspondences based on/inspired by William C. Stuber.

Gems of the Seven Color Rays; A Comprehensive Guide to Healing with Gems 2001

Dede Eaton: Specializing in the Primus Activation Healing

Technique since 2007, Dede incorporates her twenty-five plus years of metaphysical study, experience and teaching to offer her clients a safe, non-judgmental space to begin or enhance their journey to healing; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Dede offers a variety of on-going classes and meditation groups as well as private one to one sessions and spiritual events. She has owned and operated The Magick Closet, Purveyor of Spiritual Goods since 2003, now an on-line shop, Magick Heart Healing, her private healing and teaching practice since 2007, is the creator of The Enlightenment Expo, held each Spring and Fall since 2011, is the founder of United Light Workers of Greater Portland and was co-director of Magick Bridges Spiritual Enrichment and Healing Arts Center from November 2011-April 2013. Dede is honored to be on the board of directors of The HeartGlow Center and columnist for Inner Tapestry Journal. She joy-fully resides in Portland ME with her husband, daughter and felines. Please visit her website at: www.themagickcloset.com

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By Elizabeth Harper For as long as I can remember I have seen auras – beautiful emanations of color emerging from, around and within a living or none living being or object. I believe we all have this ability in varying degrees. Some of us see the energy, while others feel it. I was fortunate to have a mother who was a yogi and a psychic. She taught me about the chakra system. This helped my understanding of the “coat of many colors” we all wear. I’ve learned to ask my soul for help interpreting the meaning of the personal rainbows of others. This knowledge is key in much of my artwork.

My path as an artist and jewelry designer began in my teens when my mother handed me a bag of Rudraksha seed beads. She brought them back from one of her yoga retreats and duly taught me how to make a mala – a sacred prayer necklace. I still have it hanging in my ofJice. Over the years I’ve extended my jewelry-­‐ making repertoire to include a wide range of offerings. In everything I do, my intention is to bring color and healing energy into people’s lives. We are energy beings made of color. When a speciJic color is worn or encountered on a regular basis then its qualities impact our energy bodies and this in turn touches our lives in a positive or negative way. Therefore, if you understand the power of color then you can use it to your advantage, to affect the change your heart most desires. This is where I come in.

When I design a piece of jewelry, paint a picture or infuse a silk scarf with the color of someone’s soul rainbow, I am always in every instance guided by spirit. My knowledge takes a back seat to the wisdom of my spirit guides. One of my favorite bracelets is called Shake It Off! I was thrilled when singer Taylor Swift made a hit single with the same name. Her words and actions aptly describe the energy of the bracelet. When I made it my guides directed me to use black, white and grey. Each color represents the energy we pick up, process and release, but sometimes we don’t let go and that’s the problem. When the name came to me I didn’t think it was very spiritual. That’s when my guides shared their reason for the name. If you’re a healer you’ll understand this. I was shown the image of a healer “shaking off” the energy picked up immediately after a healing session. The bracelet is a reminder to Shake It Off!

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Crystals and gemstones appeal to my psychic senses. As well as their visual and sensory beauty I “hear” their energy. As a child I was fascinated with stones and had a couple of drawers full of various rocks, stones, crystals and minerals collected on trips with my parents. I picked up a piece of jet from a Scarborough beach, Blue John Jluorite from the Caverns in Derbyshire, and a piece of quartz from a vacation in the Lake District. Crystal vibrations resonate with my soul. I have crystals dotted around my ofJice, studio and home, even in my car. My husband says my ofJice is a little girl’s dream. It is a grotto Jilled with sparkly crystals and gemstones, protected by fairies, angels, mermaids, and witches, sprinkled with magical pieces of artwork and stuffed to the brim with oracle cards. Crystals travel with me wherever I go. I incorporate them into my jewelry, artwork and into my personal and global readings. It gives me great pleasure to Jind beautiful crystals to put into my online store. What a wonderful way to embrace the power of color through the matrix of the earth’s treasure. The crystals I offer bask in a special place in my ofJice preparing them for the next step in their journey. I like to think of myself as a messenger for the earth through the language of crystals. I feel they have a consciousness that is connected one to another, so when I work with a crystal I work with all crystals through an unseen pattern of cosmic consciousness.

Wearing crystals or having them around you is a fabulous way to Jill in the missing spaces in your life. For instance, if love is missing think pink! Surround yourself with Rose Quartz, Mangano Calcite or Morganite. If peace and calm are absent then wear a blue stone such as Sodalite or Sapphire. If you’ve lost your connection to spirit purple Amethyst can help. It cleanses energy, raises vibration, and encourages deeper connection with the Divine.

Gemstone and crystals make a wonderful addition to my artwork. Placing Amethyst in the heart of the I AM Pure Light icon gives the piece an additional boost of energy. The painting has afJirmations on three sides and a little slot at the back for written wishes and intentions. Violet is the color of the crown chakra. Paired with turquoise it stimulates a conversation with our creator.

My desire to combine afJirmations with color, as wearable art, sparked an interest in silk painting. I use a Batik technique to write afJirmations through the center of the Chakra Af5irmation Silk. The writing meanders and is a reJlection of the Kundalini energy. These silks are handcrafted one at a time so can infuse each one with healing energy. Lie down on this silk and you not only Jill your energy Jield with color, you also saturate it with positive words and vibrations. I often Jind that my desire to expand on what I offer leads me on a new adventure, one that I hadn’t considered. I believe that when a seed, a desire, is planted within the soul we draw to us opportunities for that seed to grow and be realized.

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I realized at age 16 that I wanted to be an artist, but my life went a different route and eventually returned to art by way of my work as a psychic. The opportunity to create came up when I wanted to share with my clients what I saw in their auras and the best way to do this was by drawing it. This opened up a new doorway of possibility. Drawing led to painting, and painting colors and symbols led to form and features.

Before long I was painting angels, fairies, mermaids, goddesses, and guides. One of my biggest achievements is the Goddess of Transformation painting I did for the spring 2015 cover of Inner Tapestry Magazine. The aura paintings took me in two different directions. One was on paper the other was on silk.

I’m not sure how it happened. One day I was inspired to tune into a clients soul, to go deeper than the layers of the aura and tap into the core of their being. I could see the energy swirling, the beautiful vibrant colors of the soul, but instead of painting what I saw I was guided to dowse the colors and trust my guides when it came to painting the silk. The result is what I call a Soul Rainbows silk.

Your Soul Rainbow is your unique color thumbprint. No one else on the planet has the same exact proportion of colors in their soul as you. You are unique. Reconnecting with your soul rainbow colors can align you with your purpose, support the emergence of new gifts and talents, and offer healing, especially when you go though a period of deep change. I don’t just paint the silk though, I also write about the colors, energies, symbols and intuitive impressions I receive during the process. I am thrilled to offer this service it is well received, makes a unique and beautiful gift, and is to date the most popular item in my store.

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I took a roundabout path to arrive at my current career as an artist, jewelry designer and color expert, but my desire for fulJillment has manifest in a thriving business that I love. Everything I do and offer is touched by my passion for color including the twice-­‐weekly video oracles. I invite the audience to pick a color and then share inspiration, guidance, and support based on their choice. I have been making the ColorScope Show video for almost 8 years and from the comments I receive it has helped thousands of people Jind their way, sometimes through their darkest moments. I am eternally grateful to have this opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.

As a child I read the Silver Birch books. Silver Birch was a spirit guide channeled by Maurice Barbanell, the editor of The Psychic News. This is something he said and it has always stayed with me.

"If you help only one soul to 5ind itself, if you comfort only one mourner, if you heal only one sick person, then the whole of your earthly life is justi5ied. How privileged you are to be aware of the tremendous power that is around and about you, that enfolds you, guards you, directs you and ensures that you will continue to unfold your latent divinity and the gifts which are your cherished possession."

All that I offer is in service to spirit and everything that I am is sealed with the energy of love. I hope that my work, my words and the colors I share bring healing and hope into your life today.

Sponsor Showcase Elizabeth Harper is a generous supporter of The HeartGlow Center and Inner Tapestry, she has donated money, time, and her talents in support of our charitable mission and programs. We greatly appreciate her devotion and love her dearly!

Elizabeth Harper is an internationally acclaimed mystical artist, color clairvoyant, and author. Through her psychic vision she infuses the rainbow colors of your soul into pieces of jewelry, art and silks to empower and guide you to access your most authentic self. She has been featured in popular national magazines including Woman’s World, Redbook, and Health, and is a magazine columnist and regular contributor to radio and television in the US, Australia and the UK. She is the award-winning author of Wishing: How to Fulfill Your Heart’s Desires, co-author and co-publisher of the best selling book 365 Days of Angel Prayers, and contributing author to Women Will Save the World. Elizabeth has helped thousands of people access their psychic and color awareness through her playful approach to learning. She regularly facilitates workshops at some of the nation’s most renowned organizations including the Omega Institute for Holistic studies, Leaning Annex, Open Center, and Lily Dale. She is founder of Sealed With Love LLC and cofounder of Spiritual Living LLC. Connect with Elizabeth at http://www.sealedwithlove.com INNER TAPESTRY JOURNAL

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A Holistic Publication Dedicated to Conscious Living. We Celebrate Life!

Inner Tapestry is expanding into a NEW web magazine platform which features continuous article postings and a large archive at easy access for our readers! This not only allows us to bring you MORE quality articles but also gives readers greater access to our experts. Join the community by asking questions, leaving comments, and sharing the things you find important across social media channels. Do you have wisdom to share with our readers? Become an Inner Tapestry writer!

We are always FREE to read thanks to the generous donations from kind people like you! Together we are Inner Tapestry.

Please join us online at:

www.innertapestry.com The HeartGlow Center is a 501c3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to conscious living and honoring the sacred Light which shines within us all. We provide holistic education, spiritual renewal, practical resources, and support to assist you in living your best life. We lovingly recognize and celebrate the journey of the human spirit through life’s unique circumstances and provide a sanctuary of love and understanding for all.

Our numerous programs focus on individual and family health and wellbeing, as well as recognition and support for family caregivers and those affected by chronic illness or disability.

The HeartGlow Center’s programs are designed to assist from a holistic perspective…body, mind and spirit. In addition to our focus on holistic wellness, we understand the unique burdens and responsibilities of families with special needs and believe by educating, supporting, recognizing, and honoring the caregiver, we are reducing stress, promoting health and well-being, thus improving life for the entire family.

We are a 501c3 Nonprofit Charitable Organization Registered and Incorporated in the State of Maine. All donations to our public charity are deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code

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The HeartGlow Center is a 501c3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to conscious living and honoring the sacred Light which shines within us all. We provide holistic education, spiritual renewal, practical resources, and support to assist you in living your best life. We lovingly recognize and celebrate the journey of the human spirit through life’s unique circumstances and provide a sanctuary of love and understanding for all. Our numerous programs focus on individual and family health and wellbeing, as well as recognition and support for family caregivers and those affected by chronic illness or disability.

celebrate integrate rejuvenate mind, body & soul We are a 501c3 Nonprofit Charitable Organization Registered and Incorporated in the State of Maine. All donations to our public charity are deductible 49 under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal EIN 45-4991077 DLN:17053136353032