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Our wounding and rebirth begin. ebirth begin.

A New Understanding of Finding Your Footing of our wounds have been exposed and we cannot heal without peeling back A New Understanding

by April Guilbault Mental Health Mental Health every false layer of resolution we have built up over the centuries.

Author this we were made is how we feel at E.P.I.C.™ whynot we could not For this we For were made is how we feel at E.P.I.C.™ and why weand could

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Engage in Art for a Healthier, Engage in Art for a Healthier,

by Bill Correll more conscious in our approach to ourselves, each other and the planet. more conscious in our approach to ourselves, each other and the planet.

Longer Life

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Longer Life As the world continues to open up during these months of July and August,

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9 12 online also on our popular EPIC “inner”-views Facebook online and also on and our popular EPIC “inner”-views on FacebookonLive.

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at the top of the word document I realized it is By George, For George. If we What We Practice start with the one we can heal the many.

What We Practice

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It is certainly going to be a summer to remember.

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Elisabeth’s painting over the last forty years Elisabeth’s captured painting over the years in time as last the forty sun was rising to illuminate has evolved as a path for making the sacred has evolvedthe as a path for making the sacred world for a brief moment. To feel the power of visible.

Water-based paint combined with is aa visible. Water-based paintofcombined with a light in a world darkness.

Bette Anne Wygant collage technique, each piece emerges through collage technique, each piece emerges through painter and sculptor who explores the bond between withworlds the Unseen. the “conversations” with the With the the“conversations” physical andUnseen. spiritual throughWith the power intention to reflect dimensions of unity and intention toofreflect dimensions of unity and light. Much of her work incorporates oil paint on harmony, theThrough two that Elisabeth harmony, athe two elements thatelements Elisabeth sculptural base. this medium she can give atthe the coreand ofspirit. the human believes isthe at believes the core human power ofisof light depth drama.

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Finding the Courage

By Robin Clare

to Write Your Story

At the end of a beautiful spiritual retreat on the sacred Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, I received a message from the spiritual realm to stay one more day. I extended my stay one more night and woke up at dawn to a beautiful sunrise and walked to the end of the expansive beach. There, in the wall of rocks that overlooks the famous Salt Island just offshore, I found a small indentation with a built-in seat. I have probably walked and meditated on this beach a hundred times, and I never saw this indentation before that day. In awe, I stepped in and sat down to watch the beautiful waves and the majestic island. Once settled in my seat, I asked the Divine, “What’s next?”

and complicated experiences. It could be time to pause seeking on your spiritual journey and start serving others from your wealth of wisdom and life experiences. Perhaps you may not want to write a book, but you are assuredly here to teach others what you know.

They replied, “Do you think that individuals on the spiritual path who have lived crazy, magical, and often complicated lives have lived them for their entertainment only?”

Once you have revealed your trauma pattern, you will undoubtedly realize that you have a lot of healing to do. Healing your past and present life traumas is never easy, but so very worth it. It is like lifting a veil that has been obscuring almost everything as you walk through your life.

For me, I had to heal my pattern of humiliation and disappointment, which contributed to a 40-year addiction to obsessive-compulsive food disorder and bulimia.

I laughed aloud and said, “They might think so. For sure, the experiences make such great stories to tell others.”

“Our request,” said the Divine, “is for you to teach them how to find the courage to tell their stories to a greater audience. In essence, to become the spiritual teacher that they came into this life to be.”

“How will I do that?” I asked.

The Divine replied, “Since you dared to tell your story, start there.

Become a writing coach for those who wish to tell their story in the written word.”

“Got it, thank you!” I replied. I stood up and walked back to the Blue Shutters Inn to begin planning how to teach others to write from the heart.

WAS THE DIVINE TALKING ABOUT YOU? The best way to know if you “have a book in you” is to ask your Soul.

Your Soul has been leading the way through all your crazy, magical, 2 | EpicTricountyCT.com

The most common way to access your Soul is through meditation. Learning to listen for guidance and trusting the advice is the hard part. Another way to discover your Soul’s direction is to review your life experiences and see the patterns that emerge. Your pattern-experiences are the backstory to your book.

HEALING YOUR PAST TRAUMAS

Healing your past traumas takes a team of professionals who honor an integrative approach (mind, body, spirit, and emotion) to healing your past. This approach helps you to see the all-encompassing impact your past has had on your life. When you surrender your pain, you receive the gift of grace. A natural outcome of this approach is to write from a place of wholeness and not from a place of unresolved emotions.

If you have not healed your past wounds, you spend most of your time in regret of the past. I guide others to live in the present and not in regret of the past or fear of the future; yet, sharing about your wounds is very juicy content for a writer; it helps your reader to relate to you as someone who can help them. The question now becomes, are you courageous enough to share your life stories?

BECOMING AN AUTHOR The process of writing a book starts with the desire to be fully committed to this project. Honestly, once you commit to writing the book, your life becomes about the book. It does not mean you have to leave your day job or your family; it just means writing becomes one of your highest priorities for two reasons. The first reason is that you will awaken to receiving grace in the form of knowing what to include in the book. The second reason is that not finishing the book will create frustration in your life – and you will want to avoid that.

I see the writing process in four phases: •

Phase I Share your backstory, your unique life experiences from your past that make you the ideal person to write about this, the topic of your self-help book.

•

Phase 2 Describe your current life struggles and victories on the self-help topic in a way that will encourage your readers to say, “She gets me!”

•

Phase 3 Reveal what integrative solutions you discovered on your healing journey that brought you out of struggle and into the ease of grace-filled healing.

•

Phase 4 Design your practical advice and processes for your self-help topic to be relatable to others to help them to have a more positive present and future life.

FINDING COURAGE Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the ability to do something anyway even when you are afraid. Yes, even courageous

people feel fear and, perhaps, for some of them, it is the fuel for achievement. Does writing about your life take a different kind of courage? I believe that it does. You must be willing to reveal your deepest wounds, your deepest regrets, and your deepest desires.

Even if you do not want to do this, revealing your wounds may give others the courage to heal.

In my most recent book, there was no place for me to hide from my past. I chose to share my 40-year addiction, my relationship with my parents, and my intimate relationship with the Divine.

The premise of the book is that we are first addicted to suffering, then we choose a substance or vice as a secondary addiction to perpetuate the misery. Until we surrender our need to suffer and heal our trauma, we cannot welcome the grace of recovery into our lives. Even the book’s premise challenges the accepted conversation on the source of addiction.

Was writing Feast & Famine easy? Absolutely not. Was it worth it? Yes! If I can help even one person to live a more loving, joyful, peaceful, and abundant life, then finding the courage to write my story will have been a gift to both the reader and myself. If you have ever had anyone say to you, “Wow, you have lived an interesting life, you should write a book!” then now is the time to write your book.

Robin Clare is living her Soul Mission as an author, speaker, life coach and writing coach. She documented her extraordinary spiritual journey in her book, Messiah Within and the books, The Divine Keys and Feast & Famine. Robin was named 10Best Life/Business Coaches and 10Best Energy Healers in the Natural Nutmeg 2017-2019 Readers Polls. Schedule a free 20-minute conversation with Robin at www.clare-ity.com.

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Finding Your Footing

By April Guilbault As we immerse ourselves into these usually blissful summer months, our world is still caught in a global crisis that, unfortunately, has not revealed its end. Moving through our everyday life is not what it once was, and for many of us, feelings of anxiety can easily color our perspective. It is challenging to feel grounded when we do not know what is to come and how to go about achieving a modicum of comfort when the evening news paints such grim pictures. It is tricky for sure, but thankfully not impossible with some small adjustments. In our little corners of the world, our homes, focusing on grounding can help buoy us. As someone who believes wholeheartedly in small things making a difference, my hope is that these ideas will add some positive notes to your days.

Grounding, used in such phrases as “well-grounded,” “feel grounded,” or “have both feet on the ground,” denotes a balance; being present as well as comfortable and peaceful. It denotes a foundation and a sense of being down-to-earth. Grounding is also a term for the physical act of walking on the ground itself: being one with the actual, physical planet that sits beneath our feet.

Here are a variety of ways you can begin to ground yourself:

Explore Your Yard If you have the luxury of a backyard, no matter how small, wander outside in the fresh air. Walk barefoot in the grass. Feel the sensations between your toes. Notice the texture and how your feet find the contours of the ground under that grass. This process is still being studied, but early studies seem to point to our bodies reacting positively in conjunction with the energy of the Earth: reducing inflammation, calming our nervous systems and even helping with circulation and immunity.

When we walk on the earth without shoes, we are placing ourselves right up against this powerful source of natural energy. Walking on soil, lying in the grass, wading into the water or walking on sand, even walking on concrete (but not asphalt), allows us to connect.

Are there flowers or plants nearby? Take a few moments to really look at them. Have you ever noticed how they are configured or the variety of colorations? Often, we quickly scan a scene but seldom take time to 4 | EpicTricountyCT.com

focus on each individual component. If your living space does not have a yard, enjoying the sun, breeze and sounds of nature, perhaps from a balcony or window, will have beneficial effects on your mood as well.

Soak it up, be a sponge!

Exercises for Grounding When you feel anxious or overwhelmed, breathing deeply for a few short minutes is highly beneficial for resetting your system. It sounds so elementary, doesn’t it? Breathing is our life source and often, without realizing it, our breaths are shallow and halted. Quiet yourself for a few moments; turn off the TV. Quiet yourself just before you nod off to sleep at night, or even first thing in the morning as an energizing, yet calming action. Breathe in slowly and feel your stomach expand as if it is a balloon filling with air; then exhale in a controlled fashion, and slowly, slowly, slowly let the air out of that balloon. You will feel the top of your torso expand.

You can also ground yourself by focusing inwardly and doing a full body scan as a way of setting your foundation. How is your body feeling today? Are some areas tense and others relaxed? Until you are cued into your inner superhero scanning, you won’t know. Take this time to loosen them up as you discover which areas need attention and care.

In Your Home Creating a home that makes us feel safe and secure works its magic in profound ways. It is, after all, where we begin and end each day. Small things add up quickly in our homes:  A simple bouquet of real flowers on a table or new houseplants (try a large one to really bring that outdoor feeling inside) add that natural element, add beauty, and can even contribute to improving the air quality. Simple, easy and inexpensive.  Use scents to bring the outdoors in by using a diffuser, diffuser reeds, or dabbing your favorite aromatherapy oils on yourself.

Again, elemental yet profoundly healing. Rosemary fosters feelings of contentment, lavender is stress relieving, and peppermint and citrus scents perk you up, to name a few.

I dab a bit of vanilla extract on my wrists when I am baking, which puts my mind in a happy place while I create. Experiment: you never know what scent will work wonders to raise you up when you need it. Maybe you love the smell of spruce because it reminds you of your favorite woodsy vacation spot, which might well be your happy scent that brings you a feeling of ultimate calm. ďƒť Create a nook in your home for total relaxation. It can even be a single chair near a window with your favorite view of the outdoors.

Make it someplace where you can rest for a few minutes, recharge and feel comforted. Outfit it with a blanket in your favorite fabric, a pillow that, in the words of Goldilocks, is “just right.� Place a stack of favorite books or magazines nearby, and maybe add a little step stool or poof to elevate your feet. We all need to get off of our feet periodically to recharge. This will be a spot where you can sink into, that swaddles you like a big comforting hug. Again, a simple solution created from things you already have in your home.

In the Kitchen One of the most fundamental ways to ground and nurture ourselves and our loved ones is by feeding ourselves well and gathering around the table together. Food is communal and a beautiful way to connect with each other. Now is a perfect time to teach your children how to cook or try some dishes that you don’t usually have time to make. Mix love and care into it and just watch the beautiful and delicious things you will create.

As summer starts to roll in, gardens and farms will quickly start offering up beautiful bounty. Experiment with new foods; let children pick out a new item from the farm stand that appeals to them. Helpful foods to eat at this time are:

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o Mood-boosting foods that add beneficial nutrients to our systems and/or balance sugar levels, such as eggs, yogurt, oats, and leafy greens. o Cooling foods to regulate our systems as the temperatures rise, such as cucumbers, cilantro, avocado, zucchini. o And even comfort foods using seasonal produce, such as vegetable lasagna, tasty gazpacho or fruit soups for instance.

In Attitude Consider beginning a gratitude journal. Feelings of chaos and the great unknown leave us feeling vulnerable, and being isolated from friends and family adds to our uneasiness. However, counting our blessings and focusing on what we do have presently, helps tip the scales in our perceptions of the world around us. Any day can be a starting point to helping yourself feel truly present and thankful for what you have in your life at this moment.

I have found that starting my day by recounting 5 small (or large) things that happened the prior day can set my day off of a gracious foot.

I’ve noted items as sweeping as “my family is safe� to a small note of witnessing the first bloom appear in our garden. Large, small, it all adds up to being present in the moment and creating a sturdy footing.

April Guilbault is a food and wellness writer/editor, and a certified health coach based in Norwalk, CT. She holds a BFA in Communication Design from Syracuse University and has served on various wellness committees at the state and local level. She finds deep satisfaction working with private clients to help them achieve their wellness goals through a holistic approach and her interests of organic gardening, cooking, and herbalism keep her learning new things every day. Visit her at www.rootblossom.com and on Instagram @rootblossom.

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Listening forthe Unseen

By Bill Correll “Why do I know things?” my six-year-old daughter Heidi asked.

just another transmissible communication medium?

“Because you are a good listener,” I answered.

It’s interesting how many different ways the Law of Attraction is described:

At that young age, she recognized she had thoughts that had actually come true.

It was brilliant of her to notice and ask me about it. As a child, I had frequent instances of feeling something, sensing it, and experiencing it mentally; then seeing it actually come true. So I knew what Heidi was asking. She, like me, had the ability to hear the unseen.

“The world without is created first in the world within.”

Although I experienced it, I didn’t actually know the Law of Attraction by name until I was in my late 20s. To me it just seemed natural; it came to me effortlessly and occurred whether or not I tried. If I wanted something, I paid close attention to that desire; and over time that something would appear.

I just called it “Remembering the future” and “Being a good listener” and it seemed to be a natural sense, like sight, taste or smell. Is it possible that energy itself is 6 | EpicTricountyCT.com

“What goes around comes around.”

“Prayers are answered every day.”

“If you want something, just ask and it is given.”

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

“What you think about, you will bring about.”

“Much gathers more.”

explain how your life occurs and offers an opportunity to take responsibility for your own life’s journey. What if it requires being awake and being a good listener of the unseen?

Life can create noise and become a struggle, disconnecting you from living your true path. Over the years, I have found that three things help put me back in the zone.  First, being quiet and allowing the noise in my head to subside: not go away, but just not be the focus.  Second, I listen to myself listen. That is to say, hear my thoughts as if listening to someone else; listening critically for what is there and what is missing.

Sentences such as these empowered me to create my own life.

 Third, listening for the invisible in this state. It sometimes comes in the morning before I am completely awake.

These phrases are just some of the ways great self-help writers language the basic meaning of the Law, which simply states: like things attract. Simple, right? But knowing the law doesn’t necessarily make accessing the benefits easy. It does however,

I have always loved the idea “What you think about, you will bring about.” In this way, what I truly want and am passionate about can show up in the opening and remind me what my life is truly for.

Somehow, it just gets better and better.

Some say that knowing the law allows one to tune into frequencies of energy vibration like a radio tuner. We are bombarded with millions of energy messages every second so we have to dial it in. The law provides for resonance in great and small experiences… all experiences really.

Small resonances can be manifesting a parking space near the door of my destination. I would say “There’s always a parking space for me.” I played this game alone, with friends and with wife and family in the car for years. I got really good!

Sometimes I would envision the exact space before arriving, and as I drove up someone would be backing out just in time for me.

A friend later told me the folks in the know call this “Parking Karma.”

Other examples of small resonances: ever notice when you buy a car how many of that particular make and model you see on the road that you had never noticed before?

What about having an idea and then hearing it spoken aloud by other people?

Or answering the phone and it is someone you had just been thinking of. Throughout my early years there was a recurring sensing of things going on with relatives who lived in other states. I’d often answer the phone and say hello to the person I had just been thinking of. This still happens.

The tuner isn’t only about receiving; you can emit resonances too. Have you ever driven around and smiled at every single person that you pass? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. I don’t mean halfheartedly smile at people, I mean smile with every ounce of your being so that what is being transmitted can actually be received. I would be interested in your experience trying this one action.

And then there is the resonance in greater experiences. When I was 12 years old I had a dream about the woman I would marry.

I awoke in the morning and excitedly told my mother about my dream. I described this beautiful blonde woman that was walking her bicycle down the road and she glowed. I recognized her, sure enough for how she looked, but more so how she made me feel! Not a lot more was said about it for many years.

One Thursday evening when I was 19, I went to the Dialtone in Waterford for the first time ever. I ran into two friends from

Mohegan Community College. As we were leaving, they invited me to a dorm party at UCONN on Saturday evening. I had a wedding to go to on Saturday, so I arranged to meet them later on. The wedding was wonderful; when it came time for the pictures of the garter toss to a rowdy group of guys, I caught the garter.

After the wedding, I met my friends and went to UCONN. When we got there we took the stairs up to the party and when I walked through the door the first two people I saw were two amazingly beautiful women; I was struck by the blonde, named Janet, and walked over immediately to introduce myself. The evening went on really well and my new friend Janet and I stayed up talking until 5 o'clock in the morning. We talked as if we’ve known each other all of our lives and I finally told her, “I’ve been looking for you. I’m going to marry you.”

We kissed goodbye after sun up and I drove home to find my parents having breakfast.

“Mom,” I said, “do you remember my dream about the woman I’m going to marry?”

Have you ever driven around and smiled at every single person that you pass? I mean smile with every ounce of your being so that what is being transmitted can actually be received.

“Yes you were pretty young, probably 12 years old.”

“I finally met her last evening and we stayed up talking all night and there’s no doubt in my mind. It’s her.” There is more to the story and what came next, however there are experts out there that can explain better than I can, all of the twists and turns and happenstance that had to be perfectly executed in order for that meeting to take place when it did.

Having a vision and keeping it in the back of my mind for nearly 7 years naturally gave me the outcome I knew would happen all that time. Not a happy accident.

What if paying attention to what you want, and being responsible, sets up a sequence of events that moves you toward the life you want? And what if things that you struggle with are not happening to you, rather you are creating them? Remember that the law rewards proper thinking and proper listening: with all seven senses.

Expand your spiritual journey and healing practice. Bradford is the first and only certified Universal White Time teacher in New England.

Universal White Time Energy Healing Level 1 Aug. 21st –23rd or Sept. 18th -20th Friday, 6:00pm-9:00pm; Sat–Sun 9:00am–6:00pm The Red Barn in Durham, 352 Main St. Durham, CT Introduction to Crystal Healing Sunday Sept. 13th 2:00-5:00pm Starr Mill Yoga, 91 Beverley Hights Middletown, CT 06457 Visit www.StarrMillYoga.com to register.

Bill Correll is an experienced student of life, always interested in hearing more from people with similar interests. He is a serial entrepreneur, owning and operating several different businesses over the past 30 years and currently enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, his wife Janet, and his cat, TJ. E.P.I.C. | 7

E.P.I.C.

www.clare‐ity.com CD Recommendations Do you secretly struggle with addiction? Do you know the so Famine is a story of both addiction and recovery. As a gifted this book is Sophia, the Divine Universal Mother. Sophia's p RECOMMENDS Book Recommendations: July/August TricountyCT addiction problem on the planet is an addiction to suffering Divine Healing path as outlined in Clare's book, one can mov

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The Wisdom of Not Knowing

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by Estelle Knowing, psychotherapist EstelleH. Frankel shows us Frankel that our that our purpose to be fulfilled and for us to share our callin psychological, emotional, and spiritual health is radically www.estellefrankel.com influenced by how comfortable we are at navigating the encouragement, is the better part of it served when we’re s unknown and uncertain dimensions of our lives.

from day day.

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by Angelique Kidjo addiction problem on the planet is an addiction to suffering and that by following psychotherapist Estelle Frankel shows us that ourSophia's psycholog www.mattmahermusic.com www.kidjo.com Divine Healing path as outlined in Clare's book, one can move from addiction to recovery. is radically influenced by how weCruz are at naviga Alive and Breathing is the "Ascomfortable a child I saw Celia Herd by Stefan Morel current radio single from singing in Benin and her dimensions of our lives.

Matt Maher and is the energy and joy changed www.herdfilm.com first track on the 14 song my life. It was the first I was compilation collection. It is seeing a powerful woman The Film follows an 8 day ‘Equinisity’ retreat with animals a reminder of the fact that performer on a stage. Many sacred land of old growth forests, meadows, we still have a purpose and years later, I learned shelakes was and hill work to do if we are still singing the Yoruba songsand creative and fauna, all reflect the miraculous diversity alive and breathing. Every that were carried out of Celia by Angelique Kidjo in all400 life.years Thebefore. animals that divine force the ALL. They li moment on earth is a gift weAlive oughtand to treasure, and that Benin Like call me, she experienced exile from Breathing byour Matt Maher www.kidjo.com purpose to be fulfilled and for us to share our calling with abeing dictatorship and she was always proud of her roots, her is we have discovered by human science.

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by Emmanuel call that divine force the ALL. They live and teach truths that are who are destroying her homeland Vaughan‐Lee in the Canadian Tar Sands.

Herd by Stefan Morel just being discovered by human science. The secret is we have Australian inventor, Jay Harman, is attempting to halve the world's www.elementalthefilm.com www.herdfilm.com to ask for and allow their input. To view videos and find out more energy consumption by mimicking natural systems. Separated about retreats please visit www.equinisityretreats.com. by continents, each character is part of a global story about water Elemental three outsiders who are obsessed by na The Film follows an 8 day ‘Equinisity’ retreat with animals and nature.and Living onchange afollows 320that acre climate goes beyond the issues to reveal the triumphs and emotional of life on the front change the status quo. scars Rajendra Singh, anline.

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crusade to save the Ganges River. Activist Eriel De www.kidjo.com and fauna, all reflect the miraculous diversity and creative expressionnational of the one consciousness 8 | EpicTricountyCT.com fight against in all life. The animals call that divine force the ALL. They live and teach truths that the are oil justgiants who are destroying her homelan "As a The childsecret I saw isCelia Cruz singing in Benin and their her energy and joy changed my life. It to was the the Australian inventor, is attempting halve being discovered by human science. we have to ask for and allow input.Jay To Harman,

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Welcome back. We missed you.

E.P.I.C. | 9

Therapeutic Recreation:

Creative Arts and Movement

By Janice Messino

Therapeutic Recreation is used to improve health and wellness and the creative arts are part of therapeutic recreation. The capacity of the arts to enhance health has been known since antiquity.

Studies on healing through the creative arts have been motivated by advances in neuroscience, the simultaneous growth of mindbody medicine, and increasing interest in physics, including the science of energy.

The empowering effects of the arts include freedom, self-esteem, pleasure, communication, growth, love, and connectedness to our Qi, or universal life force. Therapeutic recreational activities, such as music, sculpture and poetry, are life affirming, life enhancing and have been proven to offer health-giving properties. There are many recreational outlets we have available to us. The shifting trends toward holism and the empowerment of people are reflected in the myriad choices we have when it comes to selecting the type of activities we engage in. There 10 | EpicTricountyCT.com

is therapeutic movement such as Qigong, Tai Chi, dance, or mindful walking, for example. Drawing, painting, sensory gardens, and even daydreaming! All have their therapeutic benefits.

Moving our bodies is crucial to the living state. Creative therapies involving movement reaffirm life force (Qi). Movement releases excess Qi and allows the discharge of suppressed emotions and trapped energy. How many of us have felt the need to go for a walk after a perceived stressful situation? Many studies have shown the antidepressant effect of movement. Movement impulse may be expressed in smaller physical ways as well: by writing, drawing, drama or poetry as examples. Whether done passively or actively, movement can create the relaxation response. At times, stressrelieving techniques will promote laughter or tears to create emotional relief.

There are times we may get stuck in a rut and forget about wonderful, often simple, opportunities we have to engage in stress-reducing activities. Fortunately, there is an increasing awareness in our modern world that pleasure is a good thing.

On an intuitive basis, the ability of creative therapies to induce pleasure is well known. It is especially important to allow ourselves more pleasure when life is chaotic. An example that demonstrates these benefits is building a cairn, which is essentially the art of balancing rocks on top of each other. This activity, through the deep level of concentration that is needed, this brings a peaceful state.

Many time-tested traditions have in common, to a greater or less extent, aspects of mind-body medicine. When doing creative activities, we tap into our bodies’ own energy, which is uniquely individual to each of us. Qigong and Tai Chi, which are known as meditation in movement, are also very much energy therapies. Qigong and Tai Chi are thought to help repattern a person’s energy field and accelerate healing of the body, mind and spirit. We all have bioenergy; physical movement enhances and strengthens it.

Ecstatic dance expression is a newer take on traditional dance expression. According to wikipedia.org “Ecstatic is a form of dance in which the dancers, sometimes without the need to follow specific steps, abandon themselves to the rhythm and move freely as the music takes them, leading to dance or feelings of ecstasy...

Dancers are described as connected to others or their own emotions.”

Ecstatic dance can result in physical or emotional catharsis which lowers stress and anxiety levels.

in the right place. Then you build on the shape by drawing repetitive shapes around the original symbols. It is easy to find drawing books on mandalas if you are not ready to create your own. Color Zen by Valentina Harper explains color concepts and ideas along with many mandala choices.

A sensory garden is one that is designed to stimulate the senses.

Sensory gardens or traditional gardening help to put us in a Zen state where we feel we are part of the flow of nature.

You can plant a garden with herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and lemongrass to stimulate or relax the senses. You can also explore taste by planting edible herbs, even edible flowers like nasturtiums, pansies and hibiscus. Gardening is a good choice for physical exercise and creating a state of oneness with nature, which in turn can heighten our creativity.

Daydreaming seems to have gotten a bad name, but there are scientific studies proving cognitive and psychological benefits of daydreaming. Studies suggests wandering minds correlates with higher degrees of what is referred to as working memory.

Findings suggest that the occasional daydream, especially the ones that allow you to focus and unfocus, can be one of the best ways to become better at what you are doing.

The associated feelings of being refreshed and ready to tackle your next task can become just the antidote you need to lower stress and boost your feelings of everyday fulfillment. The mini break, which the daydream gives, provides relief from fatigue and strain during the day, because it allows a person to conceptually and affectively disengage from work demands. You don’t have to wait until the weekend or vacation to get the emotional benefits of time off; to get the mental health benefits of a break, take a minute to look out the window at the wonders of the clouds. Using your daydreams to enhance wellbeing can be an exceptionally mindfulness experience.

An example that demonstrates these benefits is building a cairn, which is essentially the art of balancing rocks on top of each other. This activity, through the deep level of concentration that is needed, this brings a peaceful state.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and peace activist from Vietnam, has said; “Walk slowly. Don’t rush. Each step brings you to the best moment of your life.” When walking in natural spaces, we may choose to be thinking of all the things we need to do after our walk. The mind-body approach to recreation teaches us to be conscious of each step and hear the crunch of the earth under our feet. To see the true beauty of yourself as part of the universe: the air, water, sun and rain. Stop and just listen. This is mindful walking or walking meditation.

Mandala Art is another meditative recreational activity originating in the East. Mandala means circles. Ancient Hindu scripture depict mandalas as a period of creativity, and a symbol of deeper connection with the self and universe at large. Most simply, you may start with a circle. When creating your own Mandala, the key is to take it slowly, drawing one shape at a time and going around the whole circle drawing that shape

There are many recreational activities that assist us in becoming more whole. And the benefits go beyond the mental and emotional to encompass the physical as well. Such as: lowering blood pressure and cortisol, protecting against falls by improving balance, increasing blood flow, lowering sensation of pain, strengthening bones and muscles and our overall quality of life.

Janice Messino TRD, is the owner of ZenPora. She is an inspirational speaker, writer, channel and medical intuitive. She has a certification in Integrative Health and Healing and is a Qigong Energy Healer. She offers group and individual sessions. Contact her at www.zenpora.com, Facebook.com/ZenPoraCT or 860.970.7383.

E.P.I.C. | 11

EVENTS JULY EVENTS

Tuesday’s, July 7th – Aug. 25th Online Trauma Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Violence 11-11:45AM Join Heather Labbe for gentle guidance and healing through movement. Videos may be turned off for comfort. Organization: Sexual Assault Crisis Service-YWCA New Britain.

Contact Sunny 860.225.4681 ext. 301 email: sswearsky@ywcanewbritain.org or register at https://tinyurl.com/y76u5k8g Wednesday’s, July 8th & 22nd & Aug. 5th & 19th Online Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Violence 12-1PM From trauma informed exercises to heartfelt conversation, we safely explore ways to reframe the experience and enhance coping skills. Organization: Sexual Assault Crisis Service-YWCA New Britain. Contact Sunny 860.225.4681 ext. 301 email: sswearsky@ywcanewbritain.org or register at https://tinyurl.com/y76u5k8g Saturday and Sunday July 11th and 12th Zoom Advanced Metaphysical Healing with Walter Luebeck.

Saturday & Sunday, July 11th & 12th Metaphysical Healing with Walter Luebeck via Zoom 9AM-6PM -Advanced Metaphysical Healing uses the power of Rainbow Reiki, spiritual NLP and unique techniques of spiritual energy work with ancient Indian mantras. In addition to a manual and certificate, participants receive access to the webinar "Spine and Health" and "The Healing Power of Forgiveness"

by Walter Luebeck. Prerequisite: The second level of traditional Usui Reiki or Second Degree Rainbow Reiki®. For further information and to register, go to reikimarie@gmail.com Price: $450 Saturday, July 11th Bonfire, Singalong, Dance with Miranda Chapman 7:30-9:30PM at Copper Beech, 303 Tunxis Rd, W. Hartford, CT. Celebrate the generosity of the earth while plants and flowers and vegetables are in full sunshine swing. Feel into the buoyant qualities of life through song, movement and dancing at the bonfire. Bring drums, rattles, tambourines or any instruments. No dancing or singing required! Celebrate life, summer and community! For details: www. copperbeechinstitute.org Tuesday’s, July 14th & 28th & Aug. 11th & 25th Online Secondary Survivor Support Group 6-7PM You may not be the survivor, but are feeling angry, confused, and unsure of how 12 | EpicTricountyCT.com

to support your loved one. A safe space to heal. Organization: Sexual Assault Crisis Service-YWCA New Britain. Contact Sunny 860.225.4681 ext. 301 email: sswearsky@ ywcanewbritain.org or register at https:// tinyurl.com/y76u5k8g Wednesday, July 15th Avon Holistic Chamber of Commerce Meeting via zoom, 6:30- 8PM contact Cheryl Case for info: 860-936-0012 Saturday, July 18th Learn how to give a Baby’s First Massage with Suli at 3PM at Sharing the Light Wholistic Center, 395 W. Avon Street, Avon, CT. Infant massage has been proven to provide many benefits to the entire family.

One of Suli’s skills is as a certified and insured Baby’s First Massage® instructor.

She is available for individual and family appointments to teach you how to give a massage to an infant in your care. Call to register. Limit to 4 masked participants.

860.936.0012 $55 Sunday, July 19th Leading in Times of Extraordinary Change: Mindfulness and Exemplary Leadership Practices Online Day Retreat, Copper Beech Institute with Norman B. Anderson 10AM-4PM. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to reflect on where they stand concerning each of The Five Practices Exemplary Leadership and how to apply the practices to their real-life challenges and goals. For details: www. copperbeechinstitute.org Thursday, July 25th Wellness Way Fair 6- 8:30PM at Sharing the Light Wholistic Center - outside if the weather is nice, indoors if not. Social distancing, masks required to pick up leaflet and get it stamped by those in attendance.

Saturday, July 25th Sonic Alchemy Concert with Bradford Tilden 7-8:30PM Avant Garde Holistic Center 358 E. Main St. Branford, CT. Celebrate moving forward with this popular live sound healing meditation featuring the original piano music and powerful blend of crystal bowls and channeled vocals. $15 RSVP recommended. Seating is limited to 18 people. Contact: 203-481-8443 or AvantGardeCT13@yahoo.com Sunday, July 26th 2:30-3:15pm Free Healing with Walter Luebeck via Zoom. World renown spiritual teacher, healer, author, and musician. Walter will choose a topic he will talk about and send

healing energies for. Previous topics have included You and your Karma, Consistent Self Love, How to Develop Spiritual Awareness, and Benefits of Illness and Suffering, to name a few. This session will last 45 minutes. For more details email: reikimarie@gmail.com Wednesday, July 1:30-2PM Free Healing with Walter Luebeck via Zoom. Walter will send a half hour whole body healing treatment to every participant.

You will experience deep relaxation and healing. Open to every member of your household. For further information and how to register, email reikimarie@gmail.com

AUGUST EVENTS

Friday, August 7th Messages from Heaven™ with Rebecca Anne LoCicero 7-9PM at Unicorn Meadow Farm, 1349 Spruce St., Suffield CT. Enjoy an evening of accurate spirit communication through a certified medium with 24+ years’ experience. Rebecca is visiting Unicorn Meadow Farm once again for a wonderful event! Registration is required – sorry no walk ins. $30 cash at the door. Contact: k9koral@yahoo.com 860.668.6424 Wednesday - Sunday August 12th 7AM thru August 17th 9PM Online Silent Retreat at Copper Beech Institute with Kate Mitcheom-Sink into stillness through meditation, gentle guided movement, and the practices of mindfulness, meditation and compassion.

This retreat will be structured the same as an in person retreat and we would have a schedule similar to the in-person retreat: walking, movement, sitting and meals and work time along with an evening dharma talk and individual and group interviews. For details visit: www. copperbeechinstitute.org Saturday, August 15th Inner Bounty: Creative Movement & Spontaneous Art Day Retreat with Karen Sevenoff & Natalie Goff at Copper Beech Institute, 303 Tunxis Rd., West Hartford, CT. 10AM-5PM-This summertime full day program invites our awareness inward through the tender, guided, self-care practices of walking and seated meditation, as well as restorative yoga and yoga nidra. We will engage with written contemplation and the opportunity to contemplate our experience within small groups. For details visit: www. copperbeechinstitute.org Friday - Sunday, August 21st – 23rd Fri. 6-9PM, Sat. & Sun. 9AM – 6PM Universal White Time Energy Healing

EVENTS Level 1 with Bradford Tilden at The Red Barn, 352 Main St., Durham, CT. Do you want to be a healer? Perhaps you are looking to expand your healing practice.

Become part of this growing global community of practitioners working with the forces of light and love to raise consciousness with Universal White Time.

Study with the first and only certified UWT Teacher in New England. Contact Bradford at 860.830.5841 info@crystalmusichealing. com Visit: www.crystalmusichealing.com

ONGOING EVENTS

10AM-3PM. There are many places to sit, relax and enjoy the energy and peace of the Farm.

Or perhaps take a stroll through the woods.

Or walk the labyrinth. Only four "rules": 1.

Close gates securely behind you, 2. Absolutely no smoking, 3. No feeding the animals and 4. Respect social distancing.

Unicorn Meadow Farm, 1349 Spruce St., Suffield CT.

Daily Magickal Labyrinth at Unicorn Meadow Farm, 1349 Spruce St., Suffield CT. Open daily for your enjoyment, this labyrinth has a North/ South orientation. North is the direction of Magick. South is the direction of personal power. The intention is to bring your Magick to Your Power, combining and strengthening both. Please park on the side of the road.

Please be respectful of the space. Suggestions for walking the labyrinth are posted.

Sundays Unicorn Meadow Farm Wellness Center grounds are currently open to the public

Mondays Free Live Stream Meditation Group with Copper Beech Institute 12:30PM To sign up to receive the Zoom link and join the group, please visit: www.copperbeechinstitute.org/ livestream

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursdays, Sept. 10th–Nov. 19th The Writing Process Series via Zoom 7PM Are you being prompted to write poetry, write articles or a book – but you don’t know how to get started or finish? Becoming a writer requires a fear-less, organized, disciplined, and in-ward looking process. Join Amazon best-selling spiritual author, Robin Clare, for an 11-week series designed to show you how to navigate your writing journey. $299. Register at www.clare-ity.com.

Sunday, Sept. 13th Introduction to Crystal Healing with Bradford Tilden 2- 5PM at Starr Mill Yoga, 91 Beverley Heights, Middletown, CT. Discover the healing powers of crystals and gemstones and how you can benefit from them. Learn how to choose the right stones for everyday use and meditation, relaxation and stress reduction. Whether to deepen your healing practice, or to enrich your personal life, crystal healing is accessible to everyone! Visit www.StarrMillYoga.com to register.

Friday - Sunday, Sept. 18th-20th Fri. 6-9PM, Sat. & Sun. 9AM-6PM Universal White Time Energy Healing Level 1 with Bradford Tilden at The Red Barn 352 Main St., Durham, CT. Do you want to be a healer? Perhaps you are looking to expand your healing practice.

Become part of this growing global community of practitioners working with the forces of light and love to raise consciousness with Universal White Time.

Study with the first and only certified UWT Teacher in New England. Contact Bradford at 860.830.5841 info@crystalmusichealing. com Visit: www.crystalmusichealing.com

Unicorn Meadow Farm Wellness Center 1349 Spruce St Suffield, CT

860-668-6424 www.unicornmeadowfarm.com

Kelvin Young Sound Healer

Calm your mind, relax your body, feel your emotions and nourish your soul.

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860.951.6921 www.kelvinbyoung.com E.P.I.C. | 13

GOOD KARMA · Community SOULutions A Reason to Survive (ARTS) Arts Escape,Southbury 203.586.1474 bbutler@artsescape.org www.artsescape.org Inspiring adults to explore, learn, participate and grow through the art. Celebrating 6 years and growing.

Ball and Socket Arts, Inc. 203.699.6420 info@ballandsocket.org ballandsocket.org A citizen-led development project to convert a polluted and abandoned factory into a community centered arts complex. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Children’s Community Programs of CT 203.901.7447 Patricia A Nicolari, MS-Dir. of Mentoring pnicolari@ccp-ct.org www.ccp-ct.org The One on One Mentoring Program matches youth, ages 10-17, court involved with a volunteer mentor.

The goal is to keep youth engaged in meaningful activities and offer support.

Connecticut Community Foundation 203.753.1315 info@conncf.org www.conncf.org The Foundation provides leadership in addressing critical issues, strengthens nonprofits through grants, and works with donors to steward charitable and scholarship funds.

Dog Star Rescue contactus@dogstarrescue.org Dog Star Rescue is a foster based all breed dog rescue located in Connecticut. As of 5/31/19 we have placed over 2,300 dogs in forever homes.

Eat the Sunlight (ETS Health Inc.) Dr. Kevin Reese support@eatthesunlight.com www.eatthesunlight.com The mission of ETS is to prevent future generations of heart disease, obesity, and chronic illnesses by teaching children to be healthy using the children’s health hero, Sunlight Sonny as a character in books, music, and programs.

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust 203.263.3711 Nancy Robinson Probin@aol.com flandersnaturecenter.org Stewards 2,300 acres of conserved land with hiking trails at their major nature preserves open yearround to the public, a full schedule of environmental programs for all ages, several annual events and a summer camp for kids.

Healing Meals Community Project 860.264.5864 SarahLeathers@healingmealsproject.org healingmealsproject.org We prepare & deliver nutrient-rich dinners for families in a health crisis, while engaging youth in leadership activities including creating meals with love.

IRIS-Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services 203.562.2095 Ann O’Brien, Director of Community Engagement aobrien@irisct.org www.irisct.org IRIS is a nonprofit that serves refugees and other types of immigrants. IRIS partners with community groups to resettle refugee families throughout Connecticut.

Sexual Assault Crisis Service-YWCA New Britain 860.225.4681 ext. 301 sswearsky@ywcanewbritain.org http://www.ywcanb.org 24-Hour Hotlines: English: 1-888-999-5545 Español: 1-888-568-8332 United Congregational Church 860.482.8685 torringtonunited.org A member of the United Church of Christ all are welcome to the Sunday 9:30AM service Unity in the Foothills 860.921.4297 Rev. Carolyn Swift Jones peacecenter@unityinthefoothillsct.org www.unityinthefoothillsct.org Unity in the Foothills is delighted to be an open and affirming center for the celebration of the Unifying Principle of Oneness.

Unity of Greater Hartford 860.289.8963 revchris@unityhartford.org www.unityhartford.org Unity is a positive path for spiritual living offering affirmative prayer support. As a New Thought church, Unity welcomes and values all.

Whitneyville Cultural Commons 203.780.8890 Robert Sheiman wcc@whitneyvilleculturalcommons.org www.whitneyvilleculturalcommons.org Preserving and enhancing places of communal and historic value by providing public spaces, tools, and knowledge as shared resources to support a thriving community… socially, culturally and economically.

E.P.I.C. ARTISAN Lori Barker’s mixed media work and inspirational card decks blend nature and spirituality into an exploration of the rhythms of life. Angels, in particular, inspire her and are Lori’s trusted muse. The work is about the poetry that lives beneath the surface of things where layers of paper, paint, wood, fabric, metal and images come alive creating an altered world.

“This work is a reflection of me. When I am creating, I often feel frustrated until the materials begin to speak to me. At that time, it is like I’m flying and lose track of time. I work with a collection of materials creating a unique conversation within each composition. Creativity allows me to crystallize my experience and tone the muscles of imagination.”

The artist’s life isn’t about taking it easy and making art whenever you want to. Hard work is required, and for that you must be devoted. Lori has devoted 50 years developing, learning and teaching techniques.

“I’m truly doing the work I was meant to do and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Lori can be reached via email at: lbarker2@ optonline.net or visit her website to find out more. http://www.spiritcollage.com 14 | EpicTricountyCT.com

EMPOWERMENT & INSPIRATION

To Precipitate a Paradise To precipitate a paradise Requires more than a love of home, More than the sun that sets along with hate.

Let the moon and the stars and the planets light our way, So that even at night we recall The birth of the coming day.

Let the mist blanket us, so that To sleep out in the grasses is as safe And at home as in the castle; A shoulder be our pillow, And we break fast and be full on the Fruits of the fallow; there be waters To free us from idle thirst, and the Music of the meadow always coming first.

Let the dreams of our waking Precipitate a paradise, so that All intentions and deliberations be pure.

Let our demons remain demons That we may cast them out to sea, The light in the harbor all the more clearly Resounding in meadows, on hilltops, in creeks.

And even in foul weather, let our demons be Resilient, crouching in the wilderness, not surrendering but free.

Let us first love ourselves without much need for reason.

Let our bayside paradise embody each personal haven.

Let us reflect What all this is for When the harbor light needs fixing and The ghosts come ashore.

Kristian Droste Kristian Droste is an emerging literary artist who has taught English and ethics at the secondary and post-secondary levels. He is a native of New England who has lived throughout the United States, experiencing the country and its inhabitants from the interior wildernesses to its most volatile borderlands. For contact information and news of forthcoming works, please visit E.P.I.C. | 15

RECIPES

RED, BLACK & GREENS From the KITCHEN of Stella’s and Mazie’s in Hartford CT

INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons olive or corn oil 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons plant-based bacon, crumbles 2 cups red kidney beans, cooked 2 cups black beans, cooked 4 cups collards or kale, chopped ½ cup vegetable broth Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Heat bacon crumbles and garlic in oil; when garlic and bacon begins to sizzle, add beans and kale, broth, salt and pepper. When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes; stir and serve.

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Stella's and Mazie's is a Hartford-based African eatery that offers a fusion of West African, Afro-Caribbean and African-American cuisine. The eatery is located at 461 Capitol Ave. in Hartford, CT. and is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11a.m. to 2p.m. Shopping fresh daily allows for a different menu daily that includes a combination of meat, poultry, seafood and vegan entrées. Each Friday, there will be a fish/seafood dish available.

Chefs Stella and Mazie both grew up in Hartford went to culinary schools in Hartford and Italy and opened an eatery and catering business to honor the women in their families who enjoyed preparing the very dishes served. The menu is primarily takeout, though patio seating is available.

AN ANGELIC EXPERIENCE SOUL TO SOLE EMPOWERMENT SERVICES

Angelic Guidance | Spiritual Counseling | Reflexology | Reiki | Playshops | Classes Samantha Dennison 860-309-5315

Serving CT and Beyond angelicexperience@gmail.com

All with ease, elegance and harm to none!

Janice Messino

Certified in Integrative health and healing.

Intuitive spiritual guidance through channeling for individuals and groups.

Also offered, selected holistic therapies to further promote peace and healing.

www.zenpora.com 413.758.0163

Deborah Lyons, RMT Owner/Operator of The Lotus Petal, LLC

Reiki Master Teacher, Psychic/Medium, Spiritual Counselor, Medical Intuitive lotuspetalreiki@gmail.com |

| 860.335.4060 E.P.I.C. | 17

SAGE WISDOM

Hello Readers, Now that the world is opening up again, we asked Master Kuthumi how we get back into a mindset of prosperity.

Kuthumi is an Ascended Master, Master of the ray of Love and Wisdom, a Lord of Karma, and has had multiple lifetimes on Earth including as Pythagoras and St. Francis of Assisi.

Kuthumi: We recognize this question is on the minds of many people at this time; a desire for the return of normalcy, to that which you are familiar. The question becomes, what is a mindset of prosperity to begin with?

In the deepest sense, it is being in congruence with Spirit, recognizing that you are a spiritual being having a physical experience. With such a mindset, the obstacles of worry, doubt, and lack are replaced by: •

An awareness of the blessings that already exist in your life.

•

A letting go of fear and worry as you recognize that they not only do not draw to you that which you desire, but rather repels it. In effect, worry applies your energy to manifesting what you do not want.

•

An awareness that you are an eternal being with purpose in this life and the certainty that, even when not evident in the moment, there is divine order in the world.

•

And an awareness that you are, in your essence, unconditional love made physical.

Q: That is an exalted perspective for sure, but many are in financial crisis right now. Their concerns are real!

Kuthumi: We understand. Especially when the current situation is compared to perceived better times of the past and your expectations of the future seem dire, the disparity becomes overwhelming. It is easy to fall into a mindset of despair and calamity.

It is natural to want good things for yourself and your loved ones and, of course, you will do what you can to provide for your physical needs, but this may also be a good time 18 | EpicTricountyCT.com

to evaluate what is truly needed and where your highest priorities lie.

Consider releasing emotional ties to possessions and allow instead a true sense of balance and peace to flourish. The accumulation of material possessions does not guarantee happiness and, in fact, materialism may overshadow what is truly important in life.

Know that these times may create an opening of awareness that so much more is possible for you; you may have felt that you that you deserved little and perhaps have lived in constant worry of becoming destitute. Paradoxically, letting go of the need for possessions may itself open the way to prosperity.

You must distinguish between mindset—a story of the mind — and truth. You are meant to express Spirit through the physical as unconditional love, compassion/nonjudgment, and joyfulness. This is who you are; it is not a mindset or belief.

Without this awareness, there lingers the fear that what has been accumulated can be taken away. With it, you may experience a rich prosperity consciousness that does not rely on external possessions.

Releasing worry allows opportunities to be perceived. It provides a blueprint for you to fulfill your mission in this life and magnetizes to you what is necessary. Again, being in this awareness, this flow, promotes peace, balance, and happiness. What greater outcome can a mindset of prosperity bring?

We bless you. We bid you peace.

Patrice motivates people to discover how amazing they are. Inspiring empowerment through spiritual mindfulness, she has channeled Ascended Masters and Archangels for over 30 years. She is a frequent guest speaker at events, offers private sessions, and conducts channeled spiritual realization classes. Learn more about Patrice at www.readingsbypatrice.com.

E.P.I.C. SUSTAINABILITY

The beast which passeth all others in wit and mind.

ARISTOTLE

S

pring is in full force, and with it, spring cleaning. We’re throwing the windows open, dusting off dressers, and revisiting seemingly endless piles of “stuff” stowed away for winter. Sometimes this can feel insurmountable, too.

Elephants have long inspired and fascinated us. Now their populations are on the decline from a number of threats including poaching, habitat loss and climate change.

Elephants are critically endangered. Their numbers have decreased significantly; in a little over half a century the African elephant population has gone from 5 to 10 million to under 500,000. Similarly, Asian elephants have undergone a dramatic population decline from 200,000 to just 40,000.

The Sumatran elephant population has now plummeted to less than 2500.

Elephants play an integral part in maintaining ecosystem biodiversity. African elephants dig for water with their tusks, which, during the dry season, benefits other species in the ecosystem who also need a water source. They are important to maintaining new plant growth by spreading seeds through their dung. They create gaps in plant growth where they feed, which allows room for new vegetation. As they move in search of food they also flatten dense grasslands, creating paths for smaller animals.

As important as they are to ecosystems they inhabit, our fascination is likely because of the intelligence level they display. Elephants are among the most intelligent creatures on earth. An elephant’s brain weighs almost 5 kilograms, with a highly convoluted neocortex, similar to humans, and

a sophisticated hippocampus as well. Elephants possess complex consciousness and are able to express emotions.

Their range of emotions includes joy, playfulness, grief and mourning. Their ability to mourn their dead is legendary, with burial ceremonies and even respect paid to skeletons in passing. Their well-developed hippocampi allow them to have emotional flashbacks, suggesting they can experience PostTraumatic Stress Disorder.

Elephants are able to learn new facts and behaviors, exhibiting complex problem solving skills. They can selfmedicate: pregnant mothers know what leaves to chew on to induce labor. Elephants can mimic sounds that they hear, play with a sense of humor, perform artistic activities, use tools and display compassion. They are self-aware; they are one of the few creatures in the animal kingdom, aside from humans, that can recognize themselves in the mirror.

What part can we play in protecting these most intelligent of beasts? Support efforts to stop the ivory trade, speak out against trophy hunting, protest the use of elephants as human entertainment (including zoos and circuses), and if you are lucky enough to travel where elephants live in the wild, only travel with companies that are certified as sustainable. Support conservation efforts (there are many to choose from) and consider one of the adopt-an-elephant programs!

Sources: www.ScientificAmerican.com/article/are-elephant-populations-stable www.SaveTheElephants.org/about-elephants-2-3-2/importance-of-elephants www.ElephantsForever.co.za/elephant-intelligence.html?

E.P.I.C. | 19

DIRECTORY ARTISAN

Lori Barker lbarker2@optonline.net www.spiritcollage.com

ATTORNEY

Kevin Ferry, Personal Injury Law -p.5 77 Lexington Street New Britain, CT / 860.827.088 www.ferrylaw.com

BUSINESS NETWORK

Holistic Chamber of Commerce Avon – p.5 395 West Avon Road Avon, CT / 860.620.7709 avon@holisticchamberofcommerce.com

CHIROPRACTOR

Anderson Chiropractic – p.13 Dr. Lynne Anderson 15 Woodbine St Torrington, CT / 860.626.0080

CONSCIOUS MUSIC/DRUMS Fast Eddie Drums – p.5 Ed Hare / 860.936.0012 www.sharingthelightwc.com

ENERGY THERAPIES

Angelic Experience – p.17 Torrington, CT / 860.309.5315 www.experiencehealingblog.wordpress.com Eagle Flight Healing – p.5 Cathy Stubbs 203.535.8849 www.eagleflighthealing.com Lotus Petal Reiki – p.17 Deb Lyons / 860.335.4060 lotuspetalreiki@gmail.com www.TheLotusPetalReiki.com

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Reiki-Do Institut International – p.7 Walter Lubeck Germany/+49.5151/290.7551 www.walterlubeck.com ZenPora - p.17 Janice Messino/413.758.0163 www.zenpora.com

ESSENTIAL OILS

Mindful Self-Health – p.5 Linda Pountney 860.471.6164 www.mindfulselfhealth.com

EXPOS, CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS Gathering of the Creatives – IFC www.gatheringofthecreatives.com

Act for Impact w/Lisa Nichols – BC E.P.I.C. ™ www.EpicWatchParty.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Design2Pro Michael Kurov www.design2pro.com

HOLISTIC HEALING CENTERS Bridge Healing Arts Center – IBC 304 Main St., Farmington, CT 860.404.5278 bridgehac.com Sharing the Light– p.5 395 West Avon Road Avon, CT / 860.936.0012 www.sharingthelightwc.com

MEDIUM/PSYCHIC

Denise A. Atkinson – p.13 860.930.9515 www.deniseatkinsonmedium.com deniseatkinson17@yahoo.com

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS

NorcomCT – p.17 7 Great Hill Rd, Naugatuck, CT 800.223.9008 www.norcomct.com

REALTOR

Turning Point Realty – p.5 Cindy Sherwood / 203.885.9716 www.cindysherwoodconnecticutrealtor.com

RETREAT CENTER

Copper Beech Institute – p.3 303 Tunxis Rd. West Hartford, CT / 860.760.9750 www.copperbeechinstitute.org

SOUND HEALER

Kelvin Young – p.13 The Bridge Healing Arts Center 304 Main St., Farmington CT 860.951.6921 Kyoung06457@gmail.com www.kelvinbyoung.com

SPA

Botanical Day Spa – p.5 7 Waterville Road.

Avon, CT / 860.677.1103 www.botanicalsdayspa.com

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Universal White Time Healing – p.7 Bradford Tilden / 860.830.5841 info@crystalmusichealing.com www.crystalmusichealing.com

VISIONARY & FINE ART Bette Ann Wygant www.bawygant.com/

WELLNESS CENTER

Unicorn Meadow Farms – p.13 1349 Spruce St., Suffield, CT 860.668.6424 www.unicornmeadowfarm.com

®