The Eden Magazine April 2023

ANIMALS

by POLLY WIRUM

LIFE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM 7 PROTECT YOUR PEACE

by SUSIE SCHROADTER

gillesMARINI

LIVING HIS LIFE'S DREAMS

Photo by Jess Bailey

Discover the path to a peaceful life among other living beings. We are all made of vibration and light in the universe to manifest our energy around all livingness.

MEET OUR TEAM

PHYLLIS KING

SHERI DETERMAN

ZEE

JOE SANTOS, JR.

ISABELLE RUEN GREG DOHERTY

ARTIN MARDIROSIAN

EDWARD HAKOPIAN ALEXIA MELOCCHI

Maryam Morrison

GRETA PAZZAGLIA

SHERRI CORTLAND

DINA MORRONE

BEN ROLLINS

PHILIP SMITH

LISA JOY WALTON JOE MAGNANI & JARED SCHLACHET JSQUARED PHOTOGRAPHY

HEIDI CONNOLLY

BRAD WALLACE

Polly Wirum

Susie Schroadter

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PHYLLIS KING

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10 THE 95TH OSCARS® 2023

14 GILLES MARINI Interview by Dina Morrone

24

FINDING SANCTUARY ON A FARM INTERVIEW WITH KATH STEVENS by Alexia Melocchi

32

A NEW SCIENCE OF HEAVEN By Robert Temple

36

WHY EVERY CHILD SHOULD READ KORDAN THE WIZARD by Dinae Lilli

38

FORGIVING MOTHER by Lynne Renoir, MA,

42

ARE OXALATES IN "HEALTH FOOD" MAKING YOU SLEEPY? by Sally K. Norton, MPH

48

A POST-PANDEMIC SPIRITUAL LESSON ON HUMANISOM by Nikki Pattillo

54

WHAT IF? by Joe Santos Jr.

56

PROTECT YOUR PEACE by Susie Schroadter

60 LOST IN YOU by Zee

Cover photography by Sean Black

Edited by Artin M. (nexision)

Life is Essential, Feel it

64

FROM STUCK TO SHIFTED by Phyllis

King

68

7 LIFE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM ANIMALS by Polly Wirum

72

THE SECRET LIFE HIGHLY SENSITIVE OF THE PERSON by Heidi Connoly

76

LET'S MAKE THE PEACE SIGN COOL AGAIN! by Sherri Cortland

82

BONNIE WALLACE AUTHOR, PODCASTER & ENTREPRENEUR

86

3 TIPS EVERY WOMAN CAN USE TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF by Jill Charton

92

ITCHING FOR RELIEF FROM SEASONAL ALLERGY SYMPTOMS?

by Bryce Wylde, BSc, DHMHS

96

EMA IMPACT SUMMIT ENVIROMENTAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION WRAPS UP 2023

102

THE RACE TO UNDERSTAND HOW KELP FORESTS DAMPEN OCEAN NOSIE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE by Ainslie Cruickshank (Covering Clmate Now)

PRESENTS

FEATURING VINTNERS AND RESTAURANTS FROM ACROSS CALIFORNIA -

100% PROCEEDS SUPPORT GO CAMPAIGN'S WORK WITH YOUTH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAGOCAMPAIGN.ORG/VINTAGE-HOLLYWOOD

95TH OSCARS® 2023

Photo Curtesy by Kyusung Gong / ©A.M.P.A.S.| Blaine Ohigashi / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Harrison Ford presents the Oscar® for Best Picture

Eric Saindon, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett and Joe Letteri accept the Oscar® for Visual Effects | Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana present the Oscar® for Film Editing

g

lles MARINI i

By Dina Morrone

French-born international movie and television star with a natural gift for dancing and model good looks is also an animal lover and believes that rescuing an animal in need and fostering it is life-changing and can enrich one’s life. He is most proud of being a husband to his wife, Carole, and father to his two children, Georges and Juliana.

You were born in France to a Greek mother and an Italian father. What is one positive takeaway from each of these three cultures you feel best describes who you are? Without being too simplistic or making a general distinction, I believe the one positive takeaway from each would be:

The French try and bring sophistication, flair, and romanticism to every area of life.

The Italian side has a sly way of expressing themselves with a smile and quirkiness, and Italians are always there for the family.

The Greek side of my family was always strong and determined.

I think it's a great mix of things that are essential to a full life. So, I was fortunate to experience all that under the same roof.

Food is an important part of all three cultures. Your father was a baker, and you worked in his shop. Please name your favorite desserts from each of the three, Italian, Greek, and French. Absolutely. I was born and raised in a French bakery, I'm more inclined to know the French way of cooking.

Not that I think the French are better at cooking, but let me say I do believe the French are better at cooking.

My personal favorite is the Strawberry Shortcake. I was so good at doing that in my father's bakery. I also was in charge of making all of the pastry. So, I have plenty more to tell.

Regarding Italian pastry, I love creating a Tiramisu. I probably use a bit more alcohol than most recipes, but it will never be dry by any means and full of flavor without getting tipsy.

As for the Greek, Baklava. My mom was making it. So, while a favorite, I can't take credit for making that one.

I have always wanted to entertain. It was in my DNA. That's it. At the bakery, I was constantly recreating scenes from movies, standup comedians, and all.

If I had to do something again in my life, I would have been a survivalist teaching people how to be autonomous and understand the animal kingdom, to help embrace the synergistic nature of the world and be able to co-exist - stronger together versus trying to dominate and conquer - one versus the other.

Did you have a chance to spend time with your grandparents when you were a child? If so, what life lessons did they teach you that have served you well in life and your career?

I had a fantastic relationship with my grandparents. It was more on the tough side of things because both lived through and survived the 2nd World War and were pretty affected by it, which I have only come to realize more so now. When I was three years old, my grandfather sent me to the forest with a massive butcher knife with a cork at the tip, and a box of salt, and told me to go hunt for my own food. Of course, it was more of a trick/ metaphor to show me how hard it is to survive and how anything we may have in life should be acknowledged as a blessing.

My mom always reminds me about it. My grandpa was a rock wall builder. He was a very strong, humble man, who didn't have much, and the two of them lived in a small, little studio. My grandma was the pillar of the family and also very strong. Her real stories from WWII are quite harrowing. She was involved with the resistance and had done very difficult things during the war. She carried a lot of what we now recognize as PTSD (post-traumatic stress). She was always on the violent side of things and taught me to realize I can have that inside of medraw upon that strength - to be able to protect myself.

Her stories and ways were always about being on the defensive and telling us the

stories from her time. She was a war hero forgotten by the French government. So I have profound admiration, respect, and love for my grandma. In a nutshell, I learned how to work hard and be strong through them and by their example. They worked hard their whole lives and were true survivors. It was a different time. But it's still happening in too many areas and countries of the world - power and greed, by a few, to the suffering and destruction of many.

As a firefighter in the Paris Fire Brigade, what can you tell us about the time you spent doing this work and how it affected you?

The firefighters of Paris are part of the Elite Special Forces of France—very intense and challenging training. I was incredibly proud to have been accepted into the brigade. Not only did I learn how to do everything in my power to be able to save a human life, I learned how to be a man. To embrace and understand hierarchy with my head down, working countless days in a row, and of course, the ultimate satisfaction of knowing you are doing something extraordinary for your community. Truthfully, I had to use the skills I have learned there many times, and in later year for real-life moments. So, I was incredibly blessed to have been part of La BSPP.

Growing up, what did you aspire to be and do?

I have always wanted to entertain. It was in my DNA. That's it. At the bakery, I was constantly recreating scenes from movies, stand-up comedians, and all. I loved making my father laugh.

But when you come up the way I did, your goals and dreams must stay in your mind. The possibilities in life are super narrow. Well, that is what the world likes you to believe. But, in truth, it's not the way it works. If you want something, just go get it. I wanted to be an entertainer, so I went to the world's most challenging place without speaking the language and made it happen. So, if I can do this, you can too!

What did you tell yourself as a young boy back in France that helped guide you to where you are today?

I did not have to tell myself. I just had to listen to all the negative sounds coming from everyone (besides my mom) saying that I was crazy and there was no way I could do anything like that and make it happen.

I think my mentality was, "hold my beer," and I went forward. Look, it was no shortcut. I had no money or career. I had no connections, but I also had a newborn baby boy and my wife. That drove me to succeed, or perhaps, more accurately, not to fail, and to find a way.

Honestly, when I think about it now, I realize my family may have been right. I was crazy! But it worked out. And what guided me? Me. I owe lots of my success to myself and my perseverance, along with my wife, Carole, who is the heart and rock for our two children and me. She is insanely strong, positive, and incredibly supportive of me, our kids, our family, and our friends. She amazes me every day.

How did you make the leap from model to actor?

It came naturally through TV

commercials at first. I then got a manager who sent me out on auditions. Little by little, I learned how to be an actor by taking classes. I like to be ready, prepared, and blow away people with my readiness and hard work, from modeling to TV commercial acting to film and TV acting. So that was the path for me.

You are an animal lover. Please tell us about your relationship with your pets. What do your pets teach you?

Animals have a special place in my heart. The love that I have for all creatures was passed on to me by my mother. She is the queen of saving animals and still is to this day. Animals around you, wild or domesticated, clearly understand that food and shelter are crucial to their life. They don't take anything for granted. So many of my friends joke and call me Dr. Doolittle because I seem to get along with even the most fierce or obstinate animals, from horses, to dogs, cats, birds, the puma that visits our cabin outside of LA, to the squirrels that live in our backyard. I guess I sense their energy, or they sense mine, that I'm not there to hurt them, just to be chill and enjoy that they are there.

So perhaps the most vital aspect I have learned from animals is to take them for who they are, and not what anyone else thinks they should be. One excellent rule to carry into your interactions with people is to accept and appreciate. I observe animals all the time. It's insane. I would spend my day getting close to their mindset to see if I could improve myself. I appreciate everything more when my adventures involve animals.

I read that you recently rescued a squirrel. When did you first realize that nature, animals, and the environment were important issues for you?

Yes, I rescued Benny Ben and raised him from a tiny newborn when he was less than a week old. He's so cute. He acts like a human child at home and then goes out and becomes a terror. Wild versus domesticated. He adapted very well, and now he is able to live outside and comes to the house to get some cuddles from my wife and, of course, food. Squirrels are amazing.

If I had to do something again in my life, I would choose to be a survivalist teaching people how to be autonomous and understand the animal kingdom, to help embrace the synergistic nature of the world and be able to co-exist - stronger together versus trying to dominate and conquer - one versus the other.

There are so many things we can do to live in greater harmony with our Earth. Every day, start little, with small steps in your own life. Everything contributes to being a better, more responsible person. We have to become more the caretakers, or we won't be here.

Tell us something about Gilles Marini that most people don't know and that you want everyone to know.

I take the most pride in trying to be a good family man, a mentor, and a friend you can always count on.

What do you do to stay physically fit and spiritually grounded?

No secret there, I just get up and do it. I've worked with weights and recently, also jiu-jitsu. I've been training my daughter in the backyard. But, the mental

aspects of staying centered and grounded, are something else. I believe we cannot do it alone. That is why I feel so blessed to have my wife. We all have insecurities and demons that we fight at all times. For me, it is very important to have one person in your life you can speak to, and whom you trust above all else.

What are you currently working on as an actor? Are there any future projects you care to share with us?

Yes, I just finished a new series that will air on Amazon/FreeVee later this year. I'm afraid I can't say much more until it's officially announced, as I'm not allowed to talk about it. Also, I shot a few feature films that will be coming out, a thriller called Dangerous Game and Dark Feathers with Michael Madsen, and Blunt, with Amy Smart and Billy Zane. Both were super fun to shoot in Maine. I also had a blast working with Neil Patrick Harris on his series Uncoupled which started on Netflix and didn't get renewed. But now it's been picked up by Showtime, which is fabulous. So, I hope they'll bring my character back sometime in the new season. I'm also working on developing several TV shows, dramas, and unscripted both, as well as a movie or two for myself to act in and/or produce. It's a way to extend my creativity to the world with my input. Lots of creative things for me now. I'm super excited.

Special Thank you to:

Gilles Marini

Amy Lanier

Alexia Melocchi

Julien Dahl

Sean Black

Yvette Marie

Charlie Nunn

FINDING SANCTUARY

on a Farm

www.casanctuary.org

After turning down an offer to lead a new charter high school, Kathy Stevens co-founded Catskill Animal Sanctuary in 2001. Her love of teaching, her belief that education has the power to transform, and her love of animals come together here. One of the world's leading sanctuaries for farmed animals, Catskill has saved more than 5,000 non-human individuals through direct rescue — and exponentially more through programming that encourages humans to adopt veganism.

Kathy is the author of Where the Blind Horse Sings and Animal Camp, two critically and popularly acclaimed books about the work of Catskill Animal Sanctuary; she's also a contributor to numerous books on animal sentience, animal rights, and sanctuary life, including the just released The Good It Promises, The Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism

I choose to believe in humanity's goodness and in our capacity to be our best selves. It's the only way I can do this work. ,,

Kathy, tell me a little bit about your sanctuary. We're two hours north of Manhattan. We are a 150-acre sanctuary for farm animals: horses, cows, goats, sheep, ducks, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and even geese.

You must get a lot of calls. And you can only save so many. How does the process work?

You can only save as many as your resources allow- whether your resources are physical space, human capacity, or money. And any good sanctuary turns down many animals daily, particularly farm animals. Sadly there will never be a way to rescue our way out of this problem unless we deal with society's unquestioned assumption that eating animals is okay. As long as we have that as our model, you could open a million sanctuaries tomorrow and not make a dent. So we take in as many as we can, based on urgency. We just welcomed two Texas Longhorn cattle yesterday from an animal hoarding situation. We will get the calls when a turkey farm downsizes, or animals come when people die, and the children don't want animals. As we are in an economic downturn, our inbox fills up constantly with requests.

One of the things, and I don't know if people ever asked you this, they asked me that all the time when people say to me there is a law in nature, where the bigger animal and so forth are eating the smaller animal. Would you say to those who justify this as eating those animals as part of the universal order?

There is an extraordinary difference. Animals eat other animals out of necessity. Whereas

not only do we not need to eat animals in order to survive, but there's decades of science and medicine that say people who eat a plant-based diet are far healthier than people who eat a meat and dairy-based diet- it's one of the leading causes of all kinds of cancer and, and other health problems such as type two diabetes, heart disease, etc. Morally, there is a greater degree of suffering involved when you take a life when you grow it for the sole purpose of turning it into something consumable by humans. And that being, of course, wants their life as much as we want ours.

I would suggest that animals hunt other animals for necessity, whereas we have a choice. And as the ones on top, we have an ethical obligation to our fellow beings.

I agree with you. In fact, how is eating an animal part of a tradition?

Exactly. And if you don't have that, will that tradition go away? That makes absolutely no sense to me.

When did you have your Aha Moment to do this?

I had been a high school English teacher for 10 years and was invited to be the principal of a new high school. I turned down the job, to my own shock! And I realized in doing so, that I was finished with that chapter of my life, and began soul searching to use a cliché. The two things I most care about are, on the one hand, teaching and learning and, on the other hand, animals, and I just started noodling on how I could put those together into a single entity that would take me through the next 30 or so years of my life.

So is this why you started a teaching sanctuary?

Yes, especially farm sanctuaries. Because nobody was doing the education piece in a way that felt so vital to me. Human beings consider themselves animal lovers. But if you press a person, they really mean that they love dogs and cats, or dogs and cats and rabbits, animals who share our homes. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says; I can't wait to torture animals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's not intentional. We all have very rich emotional lives. We know that about our dogs and cats. It's just uncomfortable to think it could be true about a chicken if we just had one for dinner last night. So I knew when we started from this assumption that people are good and love animals.

To have an environment in which farmed animals–so resilient, so forgiving–lick people’s faces and follow them around just like their dogs do and fall asleep in their laps: these animals are game changers! That’s what we’ve been facilitating for 22 years–the connections between loving animals and folks who “love animals” but still eat them.

The work you're doing with the education, if people were in a sanctuary like yours, when the cow comes over and greets you and the turkeys sit on your lap, they ask themselves: can I really eat this creature? We have hundreds of stories of people changing on the spot. One man in his 30s had just finished a tour, and he ran up, grabbed my forearms, and burst into tears. And he said I get it now. Tell me what to do. Sanctuaries are extremely powerful in the way that they allow people to confront the truth and

the inconsistency in their behavior. You'd never eat a dog in this country. You'd never eat a cat.

How would you challenge someone asking: what's the difference between me eating a hamburger right now? The animal has already been killed. What am I going to do, throw all this food away?

The answer is simple. It's supply and demand. If we don't buy it, if there's no demand, there will be no supply. And wouldn't that be an incredible challenge to have?

It is the most significant social change movement in history. And I also call it the most urgent because this planet is doomed unless and until a vast percentage of us stop eating animals.

I know you're an author, and now you've written several books. Are you planning to continue to write books that could tell stories about going vegan or illustrate life in a sanctuary?

I hope to write more books. And I also have my podcast, "HERD AROUND THE BARN," so my voice is still out there.

It is the most significant social change movement in history. And I also call it the most urgent because this planet is doomed unless and until a vast percentage of us stop eating animals.

How can people visit your sanctuary? If they want to spend the night, can they stay in nearby places and make a day out of it?

Absolutely. We are in the Hudson Valley. We have a fully restored beautiful bed and breakfast on the property. So we're open that's open year round. And people can book that on our website. We also are open on weekends for tours. We're open year-round, seven days a week for, for private tours by appointment.

For more information on Kathy's work and her Sanctuary, visit: https://casanctuary.org/

An open letter from Catskill Animal Sanctuary: "We're Seeing climate change at home.

At Catskill Animal Sanctuary, we're deeply connected to the 150 acres that have been our home for the past 21 years: warm pastures where contented cows sunbathe, ponds where ducks swim for hours, fields for horses to run and roll in, and graceful willows dipping their branches low for goats to nibble on.

Our vanishing trees

The consequences of climate change are being felt globally, with climate refugees (often already vulnerable people) at the forefront of this emergency. While we are more geographically fortunate than many, we, too, are experiencing changes at our Hudson Valley refuge that can't be chalked up to the vicissitudes of "weather."

As the planet warms, microbursts, which can cause devastating damage, are frequently increasing— last year alone, the sanctuary lost 22 trees in a single microburst. In February 2022, we survived an "Armageddon-like" ice storm, which downed dozens of trees, tore off large limbs, and damaged fences, vehicles, and a small barn—many large branches dangled by a thread, threatening the safety of humans and animals.

Our trees' loss, root systems, and torrential rainfall have led to dramatic topsoil erosion. The erosion further imperils our trees as their roots are exposed, losing vital grazing in our pastures. Two of our more extensive fields are no longer

safe for our larger and more elderly animals due to the exposure of vast swaths of rock faces that were covered in soil and grass just a few years ago. Finally, as we lose more trees, we lose vital shade. Our soil health deteriorates further.

The most dangerous idea

One of the most dangerous ideas still touted by a tiny but vocal minority driven by a political agenda is that climate change is "fake." But rising sea levels, extreme weather events, water scarcity, wildlife habitat loss, and global food scarcity remain facts, irrespective of our beliefs, emotions, or political affiliations. And as the fate of the planet and our very existence upon it is at stake, our thoughts and hearts turn to what we can do—as an organization and as individuals—to build a livable future before it's too late.

Corporations and politicians have the will to take bold action: the former is too driven by the bottom line; the latter is too beholden to the former. So, as has been the case with every other social change movement throughout history, it is up to us—one person, one household, one community at a time—to make changes that will drive corporate and political power to act. And we must make those changes now. The most recent report from the United Nations issued a "Code Red" for the planet, laying out why bold and urgent action is imperative.

What, then, can we do?

A recent climate study showed that a global shift to a plant-based food system over the course of 15 years would "substantially alter the trajectory of global warming," With animal agriculture one of the leading contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, this shift could help balance out emissions from other sectors such as transportation. Allowing land to rewild, rather than using over a quarter of the Earth's surface for grazing "food animals," would create vital carbon sinks, tangibly reducing the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere. Since growing animals to feed humans is a massive contributor to greenhouse gas emissions—a root cause of the warming of our planet that causes climate change—this shift is vital. And it is urgent.

For example, among the greenhouse gasses emitted by "food animals" is methane, which causes a 25x greater impact on the climate than carbon dioxide. Methane is created from the natural digestive processes of cows, pigs, goats, and sheep and is found in large quantities in their manure. According to the EPA, the agriculture industry is the second largest source of methane in the United States. To help combat these emissions, rewilding - a progressive conservation practice that allows nature to "heal itself" after being

deforested and used for grazing or the growth of crops to feed animals - can create forests and other "carbon sinks" that absorb tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.

What can individuals who have no control over land use do? Each of us can make a tremendous difference by reducing or eliminating our consumption of animal products. While it may seem daunting, we can make this shift: We know because we've helped thousands of folks do it through our Compassionate Cuisine program, which has won awards for demonstrating how accessible and delicious vegan food can be. Our humane education program changes live by introducing farmed animals to visitors (both in-person and virtually) and sharing their heart-opening stories. Sometimes, the humans step back and allow the animals to work their magic on unsuspecting guests. Epiphanies happen at farmed animal sanctuaries.

Mend what is within your reach "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once," writes psychoanalyst and author Clarissa Pinkola Estés, "but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach." Today, tomorrow, and as long as possible, mend what is within your reach.

of

A New SCIENCE HEAVEN

By Robert Temple

It has been said that at the moment of death, a flash of light is emitted by the body. There are many reports of this. It applies to all living organisms, not only to people. The evidence concerning this flash of light is extensive, and the speculations concerning it have entered into works of fiction and film.

This is one of the most important details about the relationship between the physical body and any animating plasma body that may coexist with it. It is what has come to be known as the death flash.

In case there are misunderstandings, I should point out that, apart from the exceptions described below, the only spontaneously emitted light from our bodies consists of biophotons; the eye cannot see them because they are what is called ultraweak and low-intensity. It only became possible to detect them at all after the laboratory devices known as photomultipliers were invented in the 1950s.

Let us find out more about the ‘death flash,’ however, because although it cannot be seen by the

unaided eye either, apparently it is followed by a faint mist that is visible to the naked eye, but only for an instant, and you have to be looking intently at where it is about to happen just when it does.

The Polish biophoton researcher, the late Professor Janusz Sławinksi (1936–2016), published a summary of many of the occurrences of the ‘death flash,’ technically known as ‘necrotic [from nekros, the ancient Greek word for a dying person or human corpse] photon emission,’ with his extensive comments, in 1987.1 In it, he says: All living organisms emit lowintensity light; at the time of death, that radiation is ten to 10,000 times stronger than that emitted under normal conditions. This ‘death flash’ is independent of the cause of death and reflects in intensity and duration the rate of dying. The vision of intense light reported in neardeath experiences may be related to this death flash, which may hold an immense amount of information. The electromagnetic field produced by necrotic radiation, containing energy, internal structure, and information, may permit the continuation of consciousness beyond the death of the body.

This is clearly very important information. Considering how terrified most people are of dying, you would think that this information would be more widely circulated if only to assuage people’s anxieties. But strangely, few people have heard about it.

This is puzzling to me. I think it must be because we live in a world today where intellectuals, mainstream social opinionformers, and mass media all subscribe to a rigidly materialistic view of life and are intolerant of anyone who challenges this arid position in even the slightest way.

The first time I came across the idea of a ‘death flash’ was in a work of fiction. In his 1931 novella The Weigher of Souls, André Maurois adopts his own persona as the firstperson narrator. He says he has been a French liaison officer with the British and that the British officer with whom he shared a tent was a medic named Dr. H.B. James. That is how the strange adventure begins, for the narrator comes to London after seven years of not having seen Dr. James and decides to look him up.

The action was thus set in London in 1925, and the novella is consciously written in the style of an Edwardian mystery or science fiction story, heavily influenced by Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells – the reader half expects Sherlock Holmes to appear, or a time machine to be mentioned. But Maurois has a much more subtle tale to tell than at first appears. Dr. James is working at ‘Saint Barnaby’s Hospital,’, a very Victorian establishment on the South Bank of the Thames. London is described in

the best Conan Doyle tradition as covered with fog: Whilst we had been dining, a thick fog had come down over the streets. The gleaming headlights of invisible cars planted it with rings of red and white light. Ludgate Circus was a landscape of nightmare. James bade me take his arm and guided me towards a bus . .

. The bus crossed the river in the midst of a veritable bank of yellow cotton wool. Factory fires on that baleful shore gleamed vast and pale through the flocculent gloom . . . The lights of the hospital shone feebly in the enveloping cloud . . . My companion’s nervous state seemed to be one of violent overexcitement.

James has become such a haunted and distracted person, so different from the narrator’s jolly wartime friend because he is engaged in forbidden experiments, which he carries out in the morgue of the hospital at great risk of being discovered. He has discovered that something strange happens at death, and he wants to investigate it. He says he got the idea from experiments carried out by Sir William Crookes, one of Victorian Britain’s most distinguished scientists, who later in life developed an interest in spiritualism.

James explains:

‘I once read an account, in a medical paper during the War, of an experiment made by a certain Dr. Crooks. He described how he had weighed the corpses of animals and had observed that, after a period approximately regular in a given species, there was an abrupt drop in weight . . . In a man, he reckoned this fall as averaging seventeenhundredths of a milligram. From which he concluded that the soul does exist and that it weighs seventeenhundredths of a milligram . . .

Various investigations established the weight escaping at the moment of passing to between 60 and 70 grams, The quantity of spirit is without mass. Consequently, the weight of a spiritual being is almost negligible. Much better known than any experiments by Sir William Crookes were those carried out in America by Duncan MacDougall (1866–1920) in 1901. He weighed six dying human patients, five male and one female. He calculated the weight of the human soul at between six and eight ounces. He also tried to photograph the escaping human soul from dying persons. But as we now know, if one is looking for a light flash (a biophoton flash), it is too faint for the human eye or any normal camera to detect, even though it may be, as Sławinski discovered, as much as 10,000 times stronger than a biophoton is normally. But even that remains ‘ultraweak’, as all biophoton emissions are.

One presumes that the faintly visible mist follows the ultraweak ‘death flash’, and escapes the body by floating upwards. The ‘death flash’ presumably heralds the commencement of the process of death, and the ‘mist’ completes it. By 1907, MacDougall had refined his estimate of the weight of the soul to 21 grams (about 3⁄4 of an ounce), which is where that value originated.

This was the source of the title of a 2003 film starring Sean Penn, 21 Grams, which popularized the notion that the human soul has a tiny mass. I might mention in passing also that the ancient Egyptians depicted the weighing of the human soul in a balance against a feather (representing Truth),

and they maintained that if the soul were heavier than that feather, it would be annihilated. Presumably, at 21 grams, it would just squeak through.

Inevitably most descriptions of a faint mist leaving the body of a dying person come from relatives or friends who have been sitting near a dying person, often in a hospital. Here is a typical example of such a story, recounted by a woman who lay in one bed of a double bedroom in a hospital, of what she saw happen to the older woman in the other bed at about midnight; she related this to her daughter the next day, who wrote it down: Late one night, shortly after twelve o’clock, my mother lay awake. Suddenly, she told me, she felt her attention drawn to Mrs. Melberger’s bed. As she watched, she saw a white mist arise from her head. It hovered for a few seconds, then slowly began spiraling and floated away from the woman and out through the closed door of the room. The woman then fell asleep, and when she woke up in the morning, the bed opposite her was empty, and the nurse told her that Mrs. Melberger had died a little after midnight.

Obviously, it is impossible to carry out laboratory experiments on dying people in order to look for mists, so it is difficult to imagine how this phenomenon can ever be ‘scientifically proved’, no matter how many accounts exist. It is easy to debunk such accounts if one has fixed ideas that no such thing can happen. It is equally easy to believe everything if one has fixed ideas that anything of that kind is possible.

Professor Robert Temple is the author of a dozen challenging and provocative books, including his newest publication, A New Science of Heaven, which tells the story of the science of plasma and its revolutionary implications for the way we understand the universe and our place in it.

Temple is also the author of the international bestseller, The Sirius Mystery, and his books have been translated into 44 foreign languages. Combining solid academic scholarship with an ability to communicate with the mass public, Temple spent many years as a science writer for the Sunday Times and the Guardian, as a science reporter for Time­Life, as well as a frequent reviewer for Nature, and profile writer for The New Scientist. He has produced, written, and presented a documentary for Channel Four and National Geographic Channels on his archaeological discoveries in Greece and Italy, and was at one time an arts reviewer on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Kaleidoscope’ program.

Temple is Visiting Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and has been a member of the Egypt Exploration Society since the 1970s, as well as a member of numerous other academic societies. In 1993, his translation of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh was performed at the Royal National Theatre in London.

Why Every Child Should Read Kordan The Wizard

Tales of dragons, wizards, princesses is 1st book to offer kids instant digital access to original music

By Diane Lilli

Parents are forever complaining about their children being glued to their phones. But what if I told you that the next time your kids sit down to read a captivating, fantastical novel that they NEED their phone for something exceptional: original music? Enter the dragon!

Debut author David Nos is no stranger to the creative life. He’s been a successful musician and a business owner that designed original technology in his printing business for decades. But when the pandemic hit, David reached out to his writing partner Robert Agner, and told him that he was committed to fulfilling his most original lifetime dream yet: to write a fantasy book for children - and include original music that would, for the first time, be available with the click of a digital phone. Robert was thrilled.

Kordan The Wizard is a brilliant tale written for young children, with a fantastical plot filled with dragons, wizards, princesses, and romance.

The tale entertains children and parents alike and thoroughly elevates the printed word with something kids can’t resist. For the first time, with the click of their phone, via QR codes in print (or links in eBooks) they can listen to the original music David and Robert created uniquely about specific characters and plot lines in the story.

The ingenious addition of great original songs and music add excitement and surprise to the novel, and kids are scooping up books across the world. With only a month under its belt, Kordan The Wizard is at #6 in JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical, in the US for hardcover, fantasy fiction. The book is now selling in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Australia.

David Nos said he is so excited that he is now writing a sequel, including two more books.

“It was always my dream to write a book of fantasy that all children can treasure and that all parents can appreciate,” he said. “I’ve been a musician for most of my life, and it was natural for me and my music partner, Bob, to write the songs and music for Kordan The Wizard. It was something we’d never seen before, with the QR codes, but to us, it was our natural calling to include music. So we did!"

The numerous book reviews coming in daily are not just posted by kids, but also by their parents, who appreciate the songs that offer an Americana, folksy sound and not the typical annoying songs you hear in animated films.

“We wrote music for all ages, and we were never going to sing anything we wouldn’t want to hear ourselves,” said Robert Agner. “The idea of Kordan The Wizard is the exciting story, set in mythical lands with wizards, giants, dragons, princesses, battles and love. It’s exciting, so we made sure to include music that fits characters at specific times in the novel. Children love great music too.”

David and Bob happily shared a QR code for readers of Eden, for their song Edgewise.

Just use your phone or devise to scan the QR code here.

When the book debuted, David and Bob released an album of their original music, available on platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, MediaNet, Napster, NetEase Cloud Music, Pandora, Peloton, Qobuz, Resso, Saavn, Shazam, Slacker Radio, SoundExchange,SynchtankTencent Music Entertainment (TME), and Tidal.

Here is a free YouTube link for The Eden Magazine readers, so you can check out the music.

http://www.c-blast.com/Kordan/Edgewise-10-22-22.wav

When asked if Hollywood has contacted them yet, David laughed. “We welcome inquires at any time,” he said.

Kordan The Wizard is available in print paperback and hardcover in all bookstores and retailers, such as Barnes and Noble, Indie Book Stores, Target, Amazon, etc. plus online as an ebook. The stores often sell out fast but will happily order for you and ship to your home within a few days.

To contact the author, email editor@RebelBooksPress.com

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Kordan The Wizard Stelth Lorayne

Some

Wizard Characters Kordan The

Kordan versus Ohmthus

Kordan versus Ningthus

Kordan versus Stelth

Photos by AdobeStock

MOTHER FORGIVING

By Lynne Renoir, MA,

Lynne Renoir, the author of the memoir Leaving Faith and Finding Freedom, writes about her mother. A woman who stood by and did nothing while her husband, a religious zealot, viciously beat his daughter.

In this article, Lynne tries to reconcile her feelings for her mother with the reality of the situation she faced.

My mother was a mystery. She had married the wrong man but could never admit it, even to herself.

In her eyes, her husband was a man to be admired. He was successful in business and wanted to pass on his talents to the sons he hoped to produce. Unfortunately for him, he was given four daughters but no sons.

Each time my mother gave birth to a daughter, my father could barely conceal his disappointment. Being unaware that he was responsible for the gender of his offspring, his anger was directed toward my mother. My father had grown up with the view that his own father was a wonderful man. This was despite the fact that his father beat him severely. Nevertheless, my father believed that his wonderful upbringing had caused him to become such an amazing man. My devoted mother accepted his opinion of himself and never questioned his views or behavior.

Because of the way he had been raised, my father felt he had to discipline me through physical punishment. At first, he used his bare hands to smash me across the head and face. This treatment began at four when I had

forgotten to put my toys away. Soon after, I was hit on the bottom, bending over his bed. Nothing less than perfection would satisfy him. I was hit if I forgot to say goodnight or accidentally knocked over a glass of water on the table. Also, I was punished whenever I put forward a view that was contrary to an opinion my father had expressed.

Then when I was nine, my father went out into the bush to look for a small tree branch from which he could make a cane. He felt that by just using his hands, he was failing his duty as a father. My first experience of this form of punishment was when I tripped and fell into a hole in the street, breaking three eggs. I badly hurt my leg, but when I limped home, with blood pouring from the gash, my father beat me before attending to my injury. On this occasion, my mother made a weak attempt to get my father to treat my leg first, but to no avail.

A further problem I had was my absentmindedness. I had left a cardigan at school but could not think where it could be. My father grabbed me, and we walked a mile in silence to the school. When I eventually found it, he wasted no time telling me that when we arrived home, he would give me "a father of a thrashing."

My mother never attempted to protect me from my father's cruelty, but her rejection of me became even more evident when we discussed my future. I had done well at school and wanted to become a teacher. But in her eyes, I was too "aggressive." She felt that, as a female, I should have a gentle and quiet spirit. As she saw it, my ambition was a weakness in my character that would worsen if I followed my desired profession.

I equated my mother's failure to stand up for me with her inability to love me. I had rejected my father completely. Yet I desperately needed my mother's love, though I could never have it. Despite this reality, up until the time of her death, I was still seeking it. On many occasions, I would ask her, "Do you love me?" but the answer was always the same, "All mothers love their children."

Many years later, reflecting on her response, I formed the view that there are two kinds of love.

One is the kind of unconditional love that most parents have for their children, no matter how much they may disapprove of their behavior. The other is the delight parents have in the qualities and characteristics that make their children unique. My mother's inability to love me in this second way was no doubt due to the dominating influence of my father and her adoption of his belief that behavior less than perfection could not be tolerated.

One thing that puzzled me about my mother was that although she rejected my personality, she did everything she could do at a practical level to make life easy for me. She made all my clothes and even did my washing and ironing. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone outside the family how she had spoilt me. And despite her inability to love me the way I needed her to, she disci-

plined herself to be interested in what I was doing and to spend time talking to me. It even seemed that she had some compassion for me when I was upset. But how she truly felt about me, I could never fathom.

I wondered whether my mother's kindness to me was some compensation for what I had to endure at my father's hands or perhaps even a way of making up for her inability to love me. The beatings from my father continued right throughout my teenage years. My mother had previously told me that my father would beat me until I was twenty-one. But the saddest day of my life came when I was twenty-three. I had forgotten to be at the place and time I had agreed with my father to pick me up. When I arrived home, my father unleashed his fury with the cane.

I confronted my mother, reminding her of her previous promise that the beatings would stop when I came of age. Her response chilled me to my core. "The age of twenty-one", she said in the coldest voice imaginable, "is merely something recognized by the state. It has no relevance in this home. As long as you are under his roof, your father has the right to discipline you in any way he chooses".

It took me a long time before I could forgive my mother: for that episode and for her failure to protect me from my father's cruelty. What helped was a growing awareness of my mother's terrible upbringing. Her father died when she was a toddler, and her mother, a vicious woman, treated her with contempt.

Perhaps when we can empathize with what our mothers had to endure, we can be more acceptingof their failures, and love them despite their limitations and the pain they have caused us.

Australian author Lynne Renoir, MA, has lived a life of contemplative service to humanity. She is the author of two books. God Interrogated: Reinterpreting the Divine, and her memoir, Leaving Faith, Finding Meaning: A Preacher's Daughter's Search for God.

ARE OXALATES IN "HEALTH FOOD"

MAKING YOU SLEEPY?

By: Sally K. Norton, MPH Author of “Toxic Superfoods”

Suffering from brain fog, fatigue, or other sleep issues?

You may be eating too many oxalates! (Especially if you are an avid health food enthusiast!)

Despite receiving a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Cornell University and a master’s degree in public health leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I was never warned that a variety of vegetables, nuts, and fruits could actually cause sleep issues and other health problems.

If you’ve joined the ranks of conscientious eaters by loading up on almonds, spinach, turmeric, tea, or chocolate—you need to hear my story. If you know anyone with a diet featuring “wholesome” foods like blackberries and quinoa, which is not the picture of vitality and sturdiness, or if you’re suffering from gut problems, joint pain, inflammation, or other symptoms that are stumping your doctors, it is possible I can help point you toward relief.

What is the invisible culprit hiding within your favorite “superfoods”? Oxalates: chemical toxins that are produced by many plants.

What are oxalates, and why are they bad?

Oxalates are tiny organic salts that form when oxalic acid binds to mineral elements such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Oxalates ingested from plant foods are especially good at “locking-up” minerals in food. They grab and hold nutritionally valuable minerals such as calcium, zinc, and copper in the digestive tract, making it difficult for the body to absorb minerals in a useful form. Some ingested oxalic acid passes into the bloodstream, where it can also bind minerals already in the body. The twopronged mineral depletion can inhibit growth, bone development, and tissue repair.

Oxalic acid has a range of other toxic actions, including directly harming cells, blocking enzymes, and creating oxidative stress. Oxalate also builds up in joints, bones, glands, and even the eyes. The kidneys have to excrete oxalate—the major ingredient in kidney stones.

Even moderate, relatively common levels of oxalate in a habitual diet can fuel the customary aches and pains of life: digestive distress, inflamed joints, chronic skin issues, brain fog, or mood problems, as well as health declines associated with “normal” aging.

I had to learn about oxalates the hard way: through personal experience. My eventual enlightenment came after decades of striving for good health and painfully missing the mark. *Despite* my decades of enthusiastic devotion to healthy eating, I just didn’t feel right. I was beyond exhausted—unable to read with comprehension, unable to work. A high-tech sleep study showed that I was waking up 29 times every hour. Medications did nothing to improve the situation. I was stuck, and no one could help.

Once I consistently shunned my go-to high-oxalate foods (for me, mainly sweet potatoes and chard), multiple personal miracles unfolded.

Low-oxalate eating improved my sleep, energy, concentration, and mood! My debilitating sleep disorder vanished.

And I am not alone in the ability to recover from the mess that is oxalate poisoning. Many people have found some relief from—or even reversed—a surprisingly diverse variety of conditions simply by swapping their high-oxalate foods for low-oxalate alternatives. In the long term, avoiding oxalates can also potentially prevent kidney stones, injury, arthritis, and dementia.

New attention on oxalate toxicity is a breakthrough in nutrition that makes a real difference in human health. Most importantly, learning about oxalate toxicity is an opportunity for personal healing.

A high oxalate diet, one with spinach, potatoes, peanuts, almonds, and chocolate, slowly erodes the health you need and want. Thankfully, by limiting or completely removing high-oxalate foods, we can improve many aspects of our health, including our ability to sleep better.

What does a low-oxalate diet look like?

Many of our most popular foods, such as potatoes, peanuts, and even health food darlings like spinach, naturally contain tremendous amounts of oxalates. Love chocolate and spinach smoothies? Don’t freak out! Oxalate-aware eating is completely within your reach. “Low-oxalate” does not mean “no-oxalate.” The key is to know what you’re eating and how much and to choose your daily staples from nourishing foods with less potential to create chronic problems.

The basic approach to low-oxalate eating is to gradually reduce and then consistently minimize your oxalate consumption. Avoid the worst offenders. They are all optional, non-essential foods that are not in any way critical (or even helpful) to human health. Many are surprisingly new additions to the human diet. I would especially warn you to avoid chard, beet greens, spinach, bran, almonds, cashews, and peanuts.

If any of these are your “musthave foods,” learn to find and prepare new, safer ingredients from the safe-bets list. Try, for example, using romaine lettuce as a default green and occasional modest portions of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and chestnuts as alternatives to nuts.

Low-oxalate eating is not hard, even for people with food allergies and sensitivities or other reasons for avoiding certain low-oxalate foods. It does, however, require you to rethink your need for gluten-free brownies, keto cakes, and other fake “treats.” Imitation foods are not the best path to health. They are often just nutritionally empty, entertaining distractions. Promoters of these foods want you to think that you don’t need the discipline to eat healthily. Well, you do. Today’s world of food is loaded with toxic junk—you need to be a conscious choice-maker, now more than ever.

The foods you will be eating in place of your high-oxalate “frenemies” are widely available (though sometimes not as well known). It’s simple to select turnips and cauliflower in place of potatoes, to try pumpkin seeds or cheese in place of almonds and peanuts, or to use romaine lettuce or arugula instead of spinach or mixed

baby greens in your salads and smoothies.

Remember, it’s important to go slow with these dietary changes, and it’s absolutely paramount to get support from professionals if you have serious health concerns. Healthy diet changes almost always include cooking at home and the subtraction of many harmful ingredients. Home cooking reduces the use of soybean oil, fried foods, excessive sugar, processed grains, and other low-quality ingredients used by restaurants. Healthy home menus also limit convenience junk foods loaded with addictive artificial flavors and preservatives, and they may include substantial changes in the routine use of alcohol. Not only may we rightly feel proud of ourselves for wrestling free from the addictive pull of these foods, but our bodies will also likely thank us for relief from manmade toxins with better sleep, mood, and alertness.

With just a bit of information, you’ll find it simple and inexpensive to swap out high-oxalate foods for low-oxalate foods. Many people experience prompt relief. Just try it for a few months and see what it does for you. You might be surprised how much better you feel!

Sally K. Norton, MPH, holds a nutrition degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Public Health. Her path to becoming a leading expert on dietary oxalate includes a prior career working at major medical schools in medical education and public health research. Her book “Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload is Making You Sick-and How to Get Better” is available everywhere books are sold.

Low-oxalate eating improved my sleep, energy, concentration, and mood! My debilitating sleep disorder vanished.

Husband and wife duo Jeff and Christine created MyBevi for individuals who don't settle for undistinguished, off-the-shelf products. Their motto is "Drink Life to the Fullest."

The brand crafts exceptionally made products created to be as unique as you are and to go with you wherever your life takes you. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumblers are the way to go in eliminating the use of plastics and freeing our oceans of waste.

The Vacuum technology virtually eliminates changes in temperature by creating an airless vacuum space between two stainless steel walls. The result is an insulation layer that performs better than any other. A superior insulated container you can depend on to keep your beverages hotter, cooler, and fresher longer. Whether you prefer a robust Italian coffee, a refreshing fruit fusion, or good old H2O, MyBevi has a product companion to help you enjoy your favorite beverage in style and at the perfect temperature.

A POST-PANDEMIC SPIRITUAL LESSON ON

HUMANISM

By Nikki Pattillo

Photo by By LoloStockAdobeStock

The Angels are telling us that our world is constantly changing. Humanity has made unprecedented changes in technology, medicine, and infrastructure, and we have never been more technologically advanced than right now. However, with these incredible feats come great challenges. Even though the world has changed for the better through equality, compassion, and tolerance, we see more people become less satisfied with their lives due to our loss of interaction, which greatly affects our humanism.

Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the value and capacity of a human being to make choices and impose these choices on the world, both individually and collectively. It is the capacity of a person to act in a given environment that invests a moral component into a given situation. The circumstances that influence this capacity can be related to several social factors, such as social class, religion, gender, ethnicity, and customs.

Humanism can also be a philosophy of life that considers the welfare of humankind rather than the welfare of an individual or a higher power. Generally, humanism refers to a perspective that applies to the notion of human freedom and progress. This idea views “humans” as solely responsible for the promotion and development of each other and emphasizes a concern for people in relation to the world around them as a whole, as in the unity of oneness.

Humans thrive on interpersonal relationships and the humanism concept of oneness. These relationships have taken a battering during our two years of Covid isolation. The isolation continues even today as a majority of peo-

ple are still working from home. During this time of isolation, some people become the best versions of themselves when they are surrounded by people who love and support them, while others find difficult challenges during their isolation.

With so much turmoil and suffering in the world, from geographic conflict and clashing political agendas to global warming and pandemics, love and our humanism are what can rise above and stand strong against any challenge humanity has faced in the past, is currently facing, and will face in the future.

Our new millennium marks significant changes in the world that we once knew. Arguably, the most important development was about humanities and losing our humanism. We relied solely on our internet use during this time as it became a necessity not just for work and education but for how we connected on a minute-by-minute basis. Human touch and interaction have taken a back seat, and we have become heavily reliant on our technology and the internet to maintain and encourage new relationships. One could ask, “Is this the first step of losing our humanism?”

Along with these technological advancements and immediacy in our society, souls have also become inherently impatient. Whether it be a business meeting, a home delivery, a download, or a new TV show, everything can be accessed at your fingertips in seconds. However, by creating an expectation of instant delivery, we are also creating increased stress and pressure for instant gratification. We often feel we need more time to reply to messages within a limited time frame or fear being deemed inefficient, irrelevant, or complacent. Again, there is always less human interaction with all these scenarios.

The Angels are telling us that a new era will start in our new world, and it has already begun. A world of new high-tech resources and other items will play an important role in the world to come. We will be much closer to robotics and automatic machinery with a less human touch. More online ordering rather than running to the stores to shop as we sit in our Amazon next day, happiness and delight. The Angels added that this new world will be “Running with the bliss of light and machines.”

The Angels also talk about our development of kindness, altruism, and compassion that has manifested during our Covid global crisis. We have come together as a unit, rather than standing in division, but have done so electronically. There has been more love, peace, patience, and understanding since Covid swept our planet, but it has been through online statements.

It’s not surprising that energy portals such as Covid are coming along to get humanity back on track with the important things we have lost that actually make us human. The energy portals are important to us, even as devastating as they are, because we are in serious trouble if we don’t change now.

These energy portals help shift our consciousness and shift who we are as human beings. More energy shifts are coming for us on our planet. These shifts are not easy and will generate a fair amount of turbulence. Still, the portals will lead to a paradigm shift in relationships that will eventually help us reconnect more efficiently. New methods of spirituality will emerge

and help align our physical bodies, strengthen us, and manifest things we want in our lives – truly important things.

It has become overly clear that fostering relationships with those around us as well as building new bonds and harnessing positive energy, is a crucial component of humanity and the concept of humanism. Connecting enhances our prism of light of who we are and why we are here and helps us with our spiritual evolution.

With humanism, the main focus is on the inner spirituality and reflection made upon one’s commitment to expanding consciousness and benevolence toward others. As we expand our consciousness, we shift our perspectives to feel our interconnection with everything in life and become orientated to serve others, thus reflecting the real and honest inner truth of ourselves and everything surrounding us. When we experience this all-encompassing spiritual connection, we have a great desire to practice human kindness and to collaborate with developing higher and more spiritually advanced philosophies that place a great value on human beings and better universal systems that affect us as a whole, not individually.

Humanism is an important concept for humanity on our post-pandemic planet. Practicing this belief system about our own humanity is important in order to learn, achieve, grow, and develop spirituality, and by committing to reevaluate our own beliefs of expanded consciousness.

Nikki Pattillo graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and began her clinical and molecular biologist career. As a child, Nikki was psychic, regularly conversing with her angels and guides, and it wasn’t until she was in her 30s that she accepted her gift. She is now an international author with Ozark Mountain Publishing. She authored Children of the Stars: Advice for Parents and Star Children, A Spiritual Evolution, A Day in Spirit: A Spiritual Calendar for Teens, and A Golden Compass. She has been featured on BRAVO and The History Channel and writes numerous magazine and newspaper articles to help raise awareness and consciousness on environmental and spiritual issues.

With humanism, the main focus is on the inner spirituality and reflection made upon one’s commitment to expanding consciousness and benevolence toward others.

THE WAY I SEE IT

By Joey Santos, Jr.

WHATIF?

Photo by AdobeStock

ith so much going on in the world of late, do you find yourself asking what if? I do. Often. It’s a strange question for me to ponder because I am naturally a relatively positive person, and more often than not, I see life’s beauty and possibilities - people included. So Happy-go-lucky was I, never met a stranger, and I always managed to find the rainbow. It’s a pot of gold... well, that’s another story.

Not sure when I became less enamored by the everyday. So many blame the pandemic. I don’t. It’s not the first, and certainly won’t be the last. It definitely scared me a bit, but the fear didn’t cripple me. I did what came naturally. I protected my home, family, and close friends. I kept informed, created a safe space, trusted science and its’ scientists, prayed, meditated, and watched and learned from nature as it began to protect and heal itself from the mess we make of this planet. Let’s not forget the earth doesn’t need us. We need it. It has managed to sort out all its woes for billions of years. What’s our excuse?

I remember so vividly the first two weeks of lockdown. I’d sit on my deck every day. Not a sound from traffic or voices. No movement. Just the sound of still. What a lovely sound, still. A slight rustle of leaves on the trees and a gentle whisper of wind. Birds were singing all day long. It was amazing. My deck became my connection to the world and what it was to become. What if? I thought.

WHas the beauty we’ve lost found her way home? Or is this the end? Are the skies about to open and drop all the answers to our questions and fears onto our laps, along with penance to absolve our sins? Or a strike of lightning to wipe us all out, leaving us to perish without a clue of who, what, when, or why? Either way, it is a time to reflect. Whatever good is meant to be from this has to come from us. And it is not going to be easy. Lessons seldom are. But how we learn from them and teach others helps to ensure our blessings. It’s a kind of order. Do right. In spite. A ritual perhaps better served. And, for so many impossible to ingest. What if it wasn’t? What if the sky had opened up and dropped all the answers on us? Listening and living among the chaos and madness of these past few years, I wonder, WHAT IF we listened? What if we cared? What if we believed? What if we loved? What if we remembered what this amazing, beautiful gift of life is meant for? Think about it. Just, what if?

I’ve seen much ugly lately and heard even uglier. I witnessed behavior and idiocies in people I hoped were bigger and better. I shake my head in amazement. I am amazed not by what they lack but by what they don’t see. A sky so blue, a tree so green, an ocean so full - a face so beautiful. Nature is calling. Wake up. Appreciate what’s left. Rethink and rebuild what’s lost. Have a good look inside of yourself, then look outward. The view becomes so much clearer, brighter, and eternal. What if we see hope?

From Hollywood Podcast on iHeart Radio. A Columnist for The Eden Magazine since 2016.

Joey was raised in NYC, Malibu, and West Hollywood. He is the son of Film & Television Actor Joe Santos, and his Grandfather is World-Renowned Latin Singer Daniel Santos. To follow Joey on IG: @jojoboy13

To contact Joey; whynotjoe@gmail.com

Joey Santos is a Celebrity Chef, Life Stylist & Co-Host of The Two Guys

By Susie Schroadter

Life moves fast. Most of the time, we are white-knuckling through our days, allowing the simple moments of beauty to pass unnoticed. Yet, what I have learned, and must remind myself, is that not only is it acceptable to slow down, it is absolutely necessary.

We must take the time to ease our souls back into alignment with our light. It is only then that we may shine as brightly as we once did before the external world took precedence over our internal peace. The question becomes, how do we do this? How do we protect our Peace and walk our way home to our hearts? My answer is to remember to breathe, pray, set boundaries, practice gratitude, and intentionally choose peace and love.

Below are some exercises I use with myself and my clients to create a sense of grounding and ease when it’s time to slow down.

Breathe

“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.”

~Nhat

Hanh

We all have tasks to complete. We race around trying to get everything done, to check items off of our lists. Yet, as we do this, we take ourselves out of the present moment and activate our sympathetic nervous system, causing our muscles to tense, our heart to beat faster, our breathing to be more shallow, and our body to tighten.

When you feel this anxiety or stress, I invite you to take 5 minutes to sit. Circle out your jaw. Lick and part your lips. Roll your shoulders up to your ears and then wrap them down your back to lift your heart. Gently tuck your chin, so there is

a long line of energy up your spine, allowing the breath to cycle without obstacle, allowing it to flow smoothly. Take a moment and scan your body. Become the observer. What happens when you become aware of a point of stress? Does it lessen? Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths in through the nose and sigh them out through your mouth. Start to inhale through your nose for a count of four and exhale gently through your mouth as if blowing a kiss or a candle. Allow your sitz bones to go heavy. Know you are supported by the chair upon which you sit. You are safe. Continue to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Settle a little more with each exhale. Releasing all that no longer serves you, allowing yourself to create space for the peace and love that will meet you throughout your day.

Prayer

“Loving Kindness is a profound recognition that our lives have something to do with one another, that everyone counts, and everyone matters.

~ Sharon Salzberg

Prayer is a way to speak to the Divine in a sacred manner. One way to open our hearts and expand our compassion for ourselves and others is through Loving-Kindness Meditation and Prayer. There are four lines that we repeat silently to ourselves. They can then be repeated in honor of someone we love and for all Beings Everywhere. This will calm the heart and invite peace into the day. The prayer is as follows:

May I be filled with Loving-Kindness

May I be Healthy in Mind and Body

May I Be Safe

May I Be at Peace

Boundaries

“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.”

~ Brene Brown

As we journey on the path of awakening, we begin to understand the way others trust us is not a reflection of our own worth but rather of their pain. However, there comes the point when excusing their actions because of their wounds and trauma actually creates new wounds and trauma within ourselves. We must learn to find a balance where we can show another love and compassion and yet show ourselves the very same love and compassion.

To do so, we release the other and send them love, yet simultaneously create a boundary for ourselves where we will not accept nor excuse their behavior. Simply because one is in pain does not mean they can treat you poorly.

We all have a past and a story, but this does not give us a pass to hurt others. In excusing their behavior, we actually enable them to continue with it instead of loving them enough to let them heal and grow.

Remember the light that is within you and let it shine.

For today, ask yourself in each moment whether or not the conversation you are having feels good. If it does, continue it; if it does not, step away. Begin to say no when you are not feeling supported. Set a boundary in your life and see what happens next.

Gratitude

“Take a deep breath and think of the three things you are grateful for right in this moment.”

~M.J. Ryan

The practice of gratitude is not simply an abstract “good for you” fad; there is scientific proof of the benefits to our physical and emotional systems when we live in a more thankful state.

By constantly thinking in a negative manner, our neural pathways associated with the emotion become reinforced, and eventually, the thinking becomes an automatic reaction. By leaning into gratitude, science has proven that we are able to rewire our brain away from negative emotions to a more automatic response of love and appreciation.

Today and every day, write down three things that you are grateful for each morning and night and feel how your life begins to change.

Choose Peace. Choose Love. “Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.”

~Buddha

Every moment we have a choice. We can choose love or fear, abundance or scarcity, hope or despair. The circumstances of our individual lives may not always be ideal, but how we react to them is within our control. We can see the lesson through the tears of heartache. We can grow even as our hearts break, and we can find companionship even in our isolation.

As we continue to breathe into the next moment, we find peace through the cracks that allow the light in, the love to heal, and our trust to grow. Trust that there is more than what our eyes see. Trust that there is beauty even in sorrow. Trust that we will find our peace.

So for today, I invite you to choose love. Choose love in the hard moments and the easy ones. Choose love in the moments you want to cry and the ones you want to smile. Make the conscious choice to choose love.

With the use of these different tools or ones you create for yourself, my wish for you is to surrender your past, release your expectations, and greet the world with an open heart as you embark on a journey to the unknown.

Susie Schroadter, once a practicing attorney and mediator, has has turned her focus to creating Sage, a safe sanctuary to allow others to heal. She offers consulting and strategy for those going into mediation or dealing with life altering events so that they may be empowered and advocate for themselves. Once those events have occurred, she also offers different modalities for healing such as life and spiritual guidance and energy work.

www.sanctuaryforpeace.co

LOST IN YOU

The world turns as we access life through our own personal private ID and password right here today, and if you have forgotten your password, do not worry; we will send you a new one instantly! Wow, that’s amazing; no delays, now thankfully, you are back in the game! Being connected makes one feel worthy, would you agree? It defines our sense of being; our identity now has meaning to all we hope to accomplish, be seen as, and be accepted.

So it’s not surprising there are times in one’s life when one may reach the idea, “is this my life? Is that all there is”. Don’t be alarmed or hard on yourself, as this is a natural state of being human. The reason being one’s expected life commitments that the world and self have dumped on us can bind us down, and in time our experiences may move us to examine our lot in life. Know this; it’s all ok, no matter how successful one may be; for some of us, this just means we may have settled for a life less than we are/were capable of experiencing.

Ah, the ecstasy of beinga lounge lizard.

Those few amongst us have a driving force within to set sail into the great ocean of possibility, armed with faith, hope, and past dreams of adventure. It’s a chance to live a life guided by instinct, mentors, and especially the thrill of how

one will choose to handle the oncoming experiences that we have already unknowingly placed before us.

For others, it may appear to be an endless reoccurring process of dogging one’s unclaimed self between what one is supposed to accomplish and what we would like to achieve within our heart’s desire. On the other extreme end of the scale, one has been educated to believe life is but a fairy tale come true, and all have been given and granted. This is also ok and be acknowledged by us; for them, life is forever coming up roses. Never, never ever make a comparison between your life and another’s; it’s a waste of your time, it will not serve you well and only cause forever discomfort and then some.

Great thinkers of our time have formulated and calculated the logical and theoretical ideas as to why these differences occur throughout the world within the human species. Are their answers ever relevant? The one thing that is certain, when one applies acceptance to the here, and now, life will allow space for awareness to show the next upward step. Unfortunately, we humans tend to settle and find reasons to assume our chosen lot is one’s lot in life. While others will find the necessary courage, take their chances, and venture out into the modern wilderness and pursue that solo path, come what may.

Some of you may have chosen to go and see a recent movie that has created a bit of a stir between dark and brilliance. TAR is a movie about humanity today and how one identifies with self and challenges the so-called corrected way of being. It is more than brilliant, and if you are not ready, humans are about to come out of their closets by the millions. Life on this planet will never look the same again, furry and all.

Awareness is not a choice of mind.

One’s belief in their identity may not be true within one’s reality, yet only appear real in how one perceives in any given moment. The levels of human perception of self are many. Here are a few to refresh and contemplate: Inertia, Energetic, Peaceful, Classy, Refined, Sophisticated, Mature, and Innocent. Have you decided which fits your perception? We all know the negatives, so there was no need to repeat them here. What you may not know or realize is?

Everyone has the choice of three options:

(1) To remain neutral while contemplating one’s navel within one’s chosen comfort zone.

(2) One has chosen to remain connected and follow the narrative given and self-accepted, including that which has been accepted by the masses, hala lu ya.

(3) Or one can choose to remain true to the self in one’s continued exploration of one’s ever-evolving self-directed purpose, thus completing in obtaining pure satisfaction (one’s happiness).

The discovery of self is the TREASURE.

Solidifying one’s identity in “who am I” and “this is me” is one of the greatest tragedies humans have been educated and accepted since our human time began. Ego has to survive; there is no question about it. Our beliefs are the power source that supplies the energy the ego needs and draws upon for its absolute existence. Belief is not just an idea; it’s an energy source created by the human mind (conscious mind) to maintain its own sustainability.

Our internal/external driving force

to realize what is referred to as “one’s true nature” may seem inactive, no. It is always there, alive and kicking, waiting for you to acknowledge its existence so that it can, with you, ride the Light of Emergence.

Wake up to self.

What are the implications of acceptance?

Firstly let’s consider the word “trust .”We know it like the back of our hand, and yet when we apply trust, it mostly comes with a different experience than was expected. Why would anyone be disappointed when expectations are merely assumptions, an idea of possibility, and nothing more? Recessions occur when there is no trust in a system that may or may not deliver, so why invest? The exact same principle applies to friends and relationships. The divorce rate isn’t going up because there is an increase in the price of petrol. It’s time to lift the awareness out of the head and face reality face-on.

Acceptance is no different. Do we ever really know what it is we have so blindly accepted, never, until the consequence raises its ugly head and spits back in our faces? Now, this is when it starts to get interesting; we find the blame elsewhere, shift responsibility as far away as possible and continue to self-masturbate our future into a hit-and-miss state of being.

Yesterday a human expressed, “ignorance is bliss .”Can you believe, in this day and age, that this idea even exists?

The tides of human existence have turned forever. Those in the catch–up group will only function in little like-minded pockets away from the evolving masses. Is this where seeking humans find peace and tranquility, only under a rock? Take notice; the newly chosen are already here and at the forefront, CEO of the coming times.

You think you know, yet thinking is defined as uncertainty. Like the word trust, it comes with its own relationship/marriage with fear. The power in a word is definitely not its definition. Now that you have defined your identity, you, my friend, Are Lost in Yourself!

By Phyllis King

From Stuck to Shifted

The law of attraction is remarkable, but it is not magic. It is a consistent and uniform energetic response to other vibrations in the universe. We attract who we are, not what we do or want. Our state of being dictates when abundance will materialize. As multi-dimensional beings, it is a full-time job to balance our inner world, which is everything as it pertains to the law of attraction. Whatever our lowest frequency is will determine the extent of our fulfillment. What does this mean? Mostly it means if we dislike ourselves, suffer from inadequacy, or engage in any manifestation of self-loathing, those vibrations weigh down our superior vibrations.

They do not nullify our high vibrations.

They bring a 10 to a 7. They create near misses rather than hitting the target. What is the answer?

There are two primary answers.

1. Develop the ability to focus. What we put our attention on is what we get more of. In the book “You Are What You Love” by Vaishali, she talks about our attention being our love energy. As we are all part of divine love, we have love in our DNA. If we wallow in self-pity, we are loving self-pity. If we think and feel there is not enough in our life, we are loving “not enough” with our energy. The more we learn to focus and refuse to allow our mind or ego to lead us into negative polar-

ities, the more we can influence our outcomes. Absent focus and concentration, abundance can be elusive.

2. Love yourself. At all costs, please yourself. Make sure you feel happy, content, and joyful about your life as much as possible. Do whatever it takes. Too often, we think deprivation is the path to success. That is the opposite of how success comes to us. I advise many of my clients that when given a choice to please themselves or please someone else, please themselves. We are creating our life 24/7. If we are happy and enthusiastic about life, our state of being in the conscious moment will fuel creations that result in happy feelings and experiences.

Our inability to trust life pairs with incorrect focus and poor self-care.

We are hijacked by our minds and our ego. We lose awareness of our organic connection to life. In that, it is like driving a car blindfolded and insisting we can see the way. We hit guard rails and walls repeatedly, but we do not change our focus.

We cannot have this discussion without addressing the human condition and its impact on us. We form attachments. We experience losses and health considerations. From time-totime events occur we do not plan for, but they require our attention and response. Even in these moments, we have a choice of how to see them. Are you being tortured? Punished?

Are you cursed? Of course not! These experiences are FOR us. They are not done to us. Experiences are for whom we become because of them, not the experience itself.

The problem arises when we live our life untethered to divine consciousness. When the ego and the mind rule our choices, we silence our higher wisdom and lessen our ability to experience true joy. We do not see the signs. We do not recognize the people who will help us or love us.

We reinforce doubt and distrust in life itself. We rinse and repeat this sad cycle, creating a habit and a self-fulfilling prophecy that good will never come.

What follows are words and phrases I often hear that create a self-imposed prison. These kinds of phrases preclude us from connecting to higher wisdom and making ourselves happy. They limit our ability to receive. They define the course of our future.

I have to -- I should -- If I don’t then XYZ bad thing will happen -- I want to be a good person--I can’t let XYZ person down they won’t like me –I have to do this for my children

Any statement we make that removes our power to choose a course in our life is not of God. If we choose to do something with or for another, it should be done for the sake of doing it, not because we feel guilty

or want to buy approval. Rather than say, “I have to,” say, “I choose to.” Rather than say, “if I don’t do this, they won’t like me,” say, “I am not for sale and do not buy relationships. Participation is based upon love.” Walk the walk and talk the talk. We must be mindful of the reasons and the energy we use to make our decisions.

Often in my coaching sessions, I tell clients to think of a life situation like they are making soup. With each ingredient we add to the soup, it either becomes more or less tasty. If we want a life that tastes good, we must put good things into our life. Good energy. High vibration energy. Inspired energy. Enthusiastic energy. In that life, itself can respond to us like the mirror it is and provide to us.

As we master appreciation for all of life’s experiences, we become part of a flow of energy that we can relax into joyfully. It will carry us from one destination to another without fail.

It will whisper in our ears exactly what we need to hear when we need to hear it. It will direct us to the people who can best support our agendas in life.

If we feel stuck and need a shift, we need only to practice focus and self-love without pause for 30 days, and our lives will change dramatically. It will become clear even in that small amount of time how the exchange works. Try it.

Known as the Common Sense Psychic (tm), Phyllis King has worked with tens of thousands of peoplein 25 countries. She is known for her practical and down to earth approach. She has been featured on, ABC, CBS and NBC TV, radio programs across the country, and has been published in over 70 print and online publications. She has four books, including Bouncing Back, Thriving in Changing Times, with Dr. Wayne Dyer. Her latest book The Energy of Abundance is available in bookstores now. Phyllis holds a B.A. in Sociology. www.phyllisking.com

We are hijacked by our minds and our ego. We lose awareness of our organic connection to life. In that, it is like driving a car blindfolded and insisting we can see the way. We hit guard rails and walls repeatedly, but we do not change our focus.

HOW YOU CAN PLAY THE ENERGY GAME TO INVITE MORE HAPPINESS, LOVE AND ABUNDANCE INTO YOUR LIFE.

Known as the Common Sense Psychic (tm), has worked with tens of thousands of peoplein 25 countries. She is known for her practical and down to earth approach. She has been featured on, ABC, CBS and NBC TV, radio programs across the country, and has been published in over 70 print and online publications. She has four books, including Bouncing Back, Thriving in Changing Times, with Dr. Wayne Dyer. Her latest book The Energy of Abundance is available in bookstores now.

www.phyllisking.com

By Polly Wirum

7 From Animlas Life Lessons I Have Learned

Photo by FreeStock

Most people agree that animals have an important role in their life. For some of us, they provide great love and companionship. Other people see them as a food source. This has created a complicated belief system that allows some animals to offer friendship while others are food. Wherever you are on the spectrum of enjoying animals, keep reading and discover seven life lessons animals can teach us.

Most of my childhood memories are rooted in the seventies when organic food and wool sweaters were a popular way of life. My family lived on a small farm in Northern California. We hand-milked our cows and provided fresh, raw milk to the neighbors. We also grew and prepared almost the entirety of our family's food.

I was raised knowing the seasons and how they affected our gardens. I understood that our cows needed to give birth to produce milk. I knew most of those calves would not make it to a year old. It was the cycle; Spring offered a new life, and death mostly occurred in the cold Winter.

I also knew that the Earth rested during the Winter while a new life was growing unseen in our goats and cows. Most of our animals had a good life. They had names and received loads of attention, except the ones we planned to eat. They were treated differently. We did not form a bond with them or spend time playing with them.

Even with the awareness that eventually, all the animals would head to the auction and slaughter, they were my friends, companions, and confidants. Their behavior made sense. I felt grounded and calm with them.

My most treasured childhood memories include time with cows, horses, and goats. This is where I learned about strong, loving bonds and unconditional love, peace, and compassion. I was most at home outside in the sun with my animal friends.

My relationship with the farm animals

planted a seed in my consciousness, guiding what I eat and how I live my life today. It took years of nurturing and self-reflection before my life and food choices bloomed into something that feels balanced and aligned with my heart.

Trusting

Oddly I developed a stronger bond with our cows, goats, and horses than with our dogs and cats. I felt calm around the cows and goats, especially when they were lying down chewing their cud. It was like they were great generators of peace, humming a different vibration. When I sat down next to their big bodies, they helped me connect to something bigger than my small world.

I also felt strangely safe with them, even as a small, scraggly child. The cows were much bigger, but we understood how to move together. I remember taking them to a different pasture during early Spring. They would follow me down the hill, across the creek. I led them on the path just by talking with them. They trusted me as much as I trusted them.

The animals of my childhood truly shaped who I am today. My spiritual belief system sees animals as sentient beings. I am forever grateful for what they shared with me.

Photo by AdobeStock

LESSONS I LEARNED FROM ANIMALS

I learned compassion in the most primal form by spending time with our animals. It was like something opened in my heart that allowed me to feel everything. The connection I formed with these animals helped me notice everything that is unsaid and unseen. This compassion and awareness still guide me today.

I learned that my belief or perception is mirrored back to me. If I believe a person or animal is different or undeserving, it will show up that way to me. Years ago, the animals we were planning to eat were no different from the ones we didn't eat. Yet we told ourselves a story to justify our intention. Somehow this was supposed to make it easier for all involved.

Sitting on the ground, next to the cows, helped me develop a very strong connection with the cows but also with Earth. I learned how to ground myself and connect to the energies beyond.

I learned about unconditional love. I witnessed the great love the cows had for their babies. We let the calves nurse on their moms even though we milked them. There was more than enough milk to go around. When the calves were finally taken away, the cows bawled for days and days. I still remember the pain and longing in their calls.

All animals have the will to live. I could share many stories of how they expressed their desire to live but decided to omit the heartbreak. I can promise you; no animal willingly walks to their demise. In that respect, they are no different than you or I.

power you can't help but laugh and feel joy.

Animals helped me find my path. They live in the moment and move through life without thinking about how others view them. They follow their truest instincts and adapt to the changes in their community. When left alone, animals find balance in their world.

Evolution

I no longer grow any of my food except some citrus fruits. It is easy to remember the commitment and long days required when caring for gardens and animals. This awareness helps me stay truly grateful for the farmers that produce the fruits, grains, and vegetables that I eat.

Our mindset and awareness evolve through life. We can change habits and beliefs at any time. This is a gift. Peace is found in creating a life where your heart and mind are aligned.

I honor the spirits of animals from long ago as they continue to guide me through life. I have eaten very little dairy, eggs, or meat in my 57 years. I do not necessarily share this with my coaching clients, but it is a big part of my high-vibrational lifestyle. I also know that my connection with animals long ago helped me shift my mindset and opened up a doorway to the unseen.

I learned what

unbridled

joy and gratitude look and feel like. When animals are happy, they express it fully and boldly. They run, jump, and move with such playful

If you are ready to enter a portal of awareness to healing and unconditional love, check out some animal sanctuaries. One of my favorites is Gentle Barn. You can follow them on Instagram and learn about their rescues and the stories of survival and transformation. These places of healing show how our perception of an animal or even a person can change when we pause and feel. Learning to be courageously compassionate will bring peace to Earth. All else falls away.

Polly Wirum is a psychic, life coach, and writer. Years ago, she experienced a health crisis that led to a complete spiritual and life transformation. When she thought her life was crumbling, the universe was easing her grip on everything, distracting her from the truth. The healing helped her discover the beauty of a joyful and uncomplicated life. It is here that she connects with wisdom and magic. She shares this with her clients through life's coaching psychic readings and spiritual retreats. I0 discover more, visit Pollywirum.com

By Heidi Connolly

HighlyPersonSensitive The Secret Life of the

When you’re an HSP:

• You feel as if you were born on an entirely different planet from “everyone else.”

• You spend all your energy trying to be normal.

• You spend all your energy pretending to be normal.

• You give up and decide you’ll never be normal, and that fact will always be a burden.

• You don’t trust the world—worse yet, you don’t trust yourself.

• You develop aches, pains, and allergies of all kinds in direct proportion to how much of a misfit you feel and how much you hate that feeling.

• You’re afraid if everyone knew what you were really experiencing (thinking, feeling, seeing, knowing, doubting, pretending, sensing, etc.), they’d turn and run away faster than the Roadrunner on speed.

• You base your worldview on, “If only I were different, everything would be different. I’d be able to cope. I’d be able to adapt. I’d succeed.”

When you’re anywhere from slightly to massively sensitive on the Scale of HPSness, these things comprise your life. You may be less convinced you come from another planet than someone else; you might have a lot more social anxiety or depression. But, wherever you land on the spectrum, whichever level you reach on the scale, the sure sign of HSP-ness is feeling more than you are willing to admit to the world.

Living a secret life may be something you’ve gotten used to, even convinced yourself you’re comfortable with, in the sense that you can’t imagine living any other way. Yet, ultimately, living the secret life of an HSP leads either to: (1) Turning all the fear and insecurity inward, creating emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental malfunctioning or (2) Turning all the fear and insecurity outward… creating the same malfunctioning,which is NOT to say that you are broken. All this says about you—about us—is that we have learned to blame ourselves or the world for the discomfort and unhappiness we feel. And because neither approach works very well, we can end up trapped in an endless cycle of defeat.

How can we turn this paradigm on its head? By learning to use our innate Intuitive Logic.

1. Intuitive Logic is what HSPs have in spades. It’s our natural ability to think from that place of knowing—the one most of us have spent years learning to deny, ignore, and even despise. It’s the place where the Highly Sensitive Person’s processing naturally occurs. There are a number of ways that undercutting our processing mode affects our lives based on the way intuition and logic appear so oxymoronic. We believe:

2. “Intuition” and “logic” are directly opposite source elements.

“Intuition” and “logic” have directly opposite results, outcomes, and effects.

3. Using our “intuition” cancels out any tendency, ability, or attempt at using “logic” or reasoning to move through life, make choices, and take action.

I have a friend whose version of the processing could not

be more divergent from mine. He was here for a visit the other day and picked up my new book on Elevating Your HSPness, and a conversation ensued where he asked me lots of questions—which I was willing and pleased to answer, given his interest and openness. The first thing that struck me as we talked, however, was that, despite his openness, my friend had no idea what I was talking about. I could have been talking Greek, calling it in from Mars, and looking like some undefined yet disturbing sci-fi character. Here I was, revved up to share all my great HSP tools to live life differently and to have to watch him try ever so hard to understand, but fail. When I expressed how HSPness is a matter of tuning in energetically, of aligning somatically, of translating energy into emotional states, he was utterly, abjectly lost. For him, as for so many other people, it’s about researching and applying technical, mechanical, “objective” reasoning. Which, I’m happy to say, has always worked for him.

Photo by Darius Bashar

Because I really wanted him to understand, I went so far as to describe one way I recently gave my Intuitive Logic a test drive based on my evolving certainty of what true energetic alignment feels like. (Again, I call this being in my UES my Unique Energetic Signature, but that’s another article.) My husband used to use financial astrology (planetary cycles) to trade the financial markets. I’d watched him for years but never felt in the least bit capable of even dabbling. Looking at spreadsheets of any kind has been known to throw me into heart-pounding panic, so no, putting money in the markets was not a risk I myself was willing or could consider taking.

Yet, lately, as I’ve practiced being in alignment during financial transactions—whether it’s doing my taxes, paying my bills, or receiving payments for services—I find my terror slipping into freedom. So I decided to open a brokerage account with a small amount of money. My premise was this: I would not trade any stock base on technical information of any kind; I would not do any research on the stock; I would not look at any charts or graphs nor listen to any financial “advice” on the stock or any other market matters; I would simply wait until I “got” a ticker symbol that felt right to me, then take it from there.

I looked up the three letters that came to my mind one day to see if the stock was publicly traded in the U.S. When it was, I began watching it. At the end of the day, I used my “Intuitive Logic” to project and note whether I felt the stock had gone up or down, then looked the stock up to see if I was correct, always carefully avoiding looking at its chart, projections, and so on. After about a month of correct

“intuitions,” I was guided to buy some of the stock. Over a threemonth period, I bought shares when I felt guided to do it— then and only then, regardless of price (or directional trend). One day I knew unequivocally that it was time to sell my shares… so I did and was fairly shocked to learn I had made 48% on my investment.

While I was slightly disappointed that the next day the stock went up another $2.00 (darn it!), I could not have been more pleased that I had entered a world previously foreign, scary, and completely off limits and had had a positive experience, validation that I am absolutely a hundo P able to trust my sense of alignment, my Intuitive Logic.

My friend heard my story and congratulated me, but I could tell he wasn’t really into it, which was verified by his first question, “48% over how long?” and comment, “Well, good for you.” In other words, his focus remained on the financial result based on market considerations.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand his perspective. Yet, for me, it was a big moment. I was truly using my high-sensitive abilities and elevating them to benefit me and my life! I had stepped into unknown territory based ONLY on my Intuitive Logic (my IGS, my Intuitive Guidance System) and come out ahead in every way.

I had stepped up and into a way of being that would bolster me, validate me, credit me, and inspire me, and would be with me for the rest of my life.

Which stock is next? I’ll let you know when inspiration strikes again.

Heidi Connolly, The Celestial Professor, is a purveyor of down-to-earth s pirituality. She has authored a number of books, including Crossing the Rubicon and The Gateway Café, as well as her upcoming, Elevate Your HSP­ness: How to Live a High­Frequency Life that Amplifies Your Vibration, Celebrates Your Sensitivities, & Uplifts the World! Heidi is an intuitive coach and medium who works with those who wish to communicate with loved ones on the other side as well as Highly Sensitive People to develop their sensitivities and intuition. A spirit-guided musician, Heidi’s flute recordings are renowned for the healing power of their encoded frequencies.

Heidiconnolly.com hspness.com

harvardgirledits.com

theobitwriter.net

By Sherri Cortland, ND

Let’s Make THE PEACE SIGN Cool Again!

Even though I understand that we come to planet Earth to have experiences that will expedite our Spiritual growth and that not all of the experiences we create for ourselves are aligned with peace, my soul longs for it. I long for peace. To live on a planet where there is peace on every continent, in every city and town, and in everyone's heart and soul... that's my dream, and as John Lennon wrote, "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one…"

I guess that's why the peace sign is, hands down, my favorite symbol. I was born in 1957, just a little too late to be part of the Woodstock generation truly, but I was 12 during the Summer of Love and old enough that peace and love became my mantra--body and soul. When I blow out the candles and make a wish, I wish for peace. In fact, I'm 65 now and still flashing the peace sign, although, to be completely honest, sometimes I flash the Vulcan live long and prosper sign. I'm a geek, and hey, it's similar!

I didn't realize the peace sign was a spiritual sign until I met Cinnamon Crow while we were both authors at Ozark Mountain Publishing. Between my own research and what Cinnamon shared with me, here's what I learned…

• A version of the peace symbol was used as far back as 700 AD when it was placed on shields by Saracen warriors and used by magicians to cast spells.

• In 1958, Gerald Holtom created the current peace sign for the British nuclear disarmament movement, using a combination of the letters N and D (Nuclear Disarmament) to make his symbol.

• It's a symbol of hope and serenity that helps inspire tranquility within.

· Until the 1900s, the majority of Christ's energy was anchored to Gaia through masters of various faiths, often isolated in monasteries and sacred sites located at strategic sites around the world. In preparation for the shifting of Mass Consciousness, many souls volunteered to incarnate as what was later to be called the 'Flower Children.'

· These souls successfully accomplished their Divine Group Mission (whether conscious of it or not) to activate the Christ Consciousness Grid and spread the peace message. This activation opened the tides of Christ's Consciousness, or Peace, Love, and Oneness energies. Flower Children worldwide adopted the peace sign as a beacon of harmony and unity.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

· As the mark of a generation, this symbol is infused with the energies and Highest Intent of this Divine Soul Group. This means the peace sign is charged with Christ's Conscious energies. By meditating on the peace symbol, you can reconnect and realign with Christ's Consciousness.

Wearing a peace symbol as jewelry and/or flashing the peace sign is a statement about the desire for world peace.

Special insight I received from Cinnamon: We are One. When any individual vibrates at the frequency of peace, a portion of the Mass Consciousness is at peace too.

To see a peace sign is a signal to find a place of quiet to rest and restore the soul. Remember, peace comes from within. Fill your inner well so peace, love, and oneness may flow freely.

It's clear that the peace sign is a high-energy symbol and one that is worth our time and energy to focus on and explore during meditation. Shaking hands and bumping fists are great ways to greet people, but why not start flashing the peace sign again— what better way to say hello and goodbye than to wish another human being peace through this iconic image?

Yes, dear readers, I'm advocating the peace sign as a way of putting our intention for peace out into the universe. And speaking of intention, here's a channeled message from my Guide, Jeremy…

"…when you declare that you WILL do something, you have set an INTENTION. Setting an intention is step one; steps two and three are creating an action plan and persevering.

Our point is that wishing for something doesn't make it so. You must also take action. And it is your intention, effort, and perseverance that move you forward. If you set an intention and find yourself faltering, remember this: You are the offspring of Source/Creator/God/ Goddess, and therefore, you have the power to create whatever it is that you intend for yourself. Do not let challenges and obstacles alter your intent, for those challenges may well be important windows of opportunity for you to learn and grow.

And just in case you find yourself wanting to flash those two fingers as I do, but you're afraid of what people might say, here's a little something from my Guide, Olexeoporath, to help you move past fear and be the next trendsetter…

"We have chosen to speak abut fear today because it is something that prevents many bright lights from truly shining. Fear is an illusion manufactured by your ego to keep you from making changes it feels will adversely affect it. When you incarnate on Earth, you take the form of a human being, but you are still very much part of the Source. You assume a specific role and play it out in order to learn and grow, but you are not the role you play. Do not let your ego keep you from moving forward. Your importance to this planet is unprecedented, and you are powerful."

In closing, imagine me flashing you the peace sign right now as I say to you, "Go in peace."

Namaste.

Sherri Cortland has been communicating with her Guide Group, the “GG,” since 1987 via automatic writing. Much of the information she has received is included in her four books, which were originally published by Ozark Mountain Publishing and are currently available on her website and on Amazon.

On Sherri’s website, you will find several free classes and meditations, along with more articles and workshops on video. https://www.facebook.com/SherriCortlandAuthor

www.Sherri-Cortland.com

Photo by By pornpunStockPhoto

Animals don't belong in cages They deserve to be free

As a woman who spent several years on Hollywood sets, she knows a thing or two about parenting in the spotlight; she even wrote a book about it. Now that her daughters are successful and grown, Bonnie is pursuing her passions and is determined to live life to its fullest. With that, she's also committed to helping children's literacy by introducing a technique her father used on her own two girls when they were learning how to read.

This special method is now available for all children in the form of We Can Books, which is an app-based, custom-made phonics book program. We spoke to Bonnie about her incredible journey, lessons, and why We Can Books makes reading more fun and efficient for kids.

You're a bit of an "expert" when it comes to parenting in Hollywood. What was your experience like? It was a series of surprises. Kind of like parenting itself! I went into it with very few expectations, which probably helped me. It helped me stay present with what was happening at the moment rather than experiencing the ride through a lens of expectations. Parenting a young actor growing up in the spotlight brings some special issues. I think it can amplify a lot of what's difficult about growing up. For example, most teens are self-conscious. Imagine having millions of people feeling entitled to weigh in on what you look like as your body changes and you're growing and evolving and finding yourself. You're experimenting with who you are and want to be.

Bonnie Wallace

The pressure is immense. So, parenting through that means you need to develop and model the discipline not to take things personally and to hold compassion for the people who say hurtful things because happy people don't do that. You also can't get invested in your kid's fame or success because that objectifies them. Ultimately, the best thing a parent can do is to make sure their child knows they are deeply loved for who they are as a human, regardless of what they do for a living.

How have you remained grounded amidst an industry known for its glitz and glamour?

I've never been the kind of person to get starstruck. When you see your child treated differently after they become famous, you understand how weird that is. They're exactly who they've always been, and suddenly people are tongue-tied around them. Or projecting all kinds of stuff. If you have a solid sense of self-esteem, it's easy to stay clear about what's important and what isn't and not be swayed by the crazy glamour. From what I've seen, the people who lose their way around it tend to look outside of themselves for validation, which can lead to all kinds of trouble. If you're clear about who you are, it's just an interesting experience. And it's certainly been interesting!

As a parent, what were some of your most proud moments watching your daughters succeed in their careers? These kinds of careers look very glamorous—and they can be—but underneath that is a massive amount of gruelingly hard work.

Multi-hyphenate Bonnie Wallace is an accomplished author, podcaster, and entrepreneur—not to mention supermom to celebrity Singer/Actress Dove Cameron and celebrity Voice Coach Claire Hosterman.

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Very few people see the intense, unglitzy effort it takes behind the scenes to make it all possible. I'm incredibly proud of their stellar work ethic. They've earned all the success that's come their way. Claire has built up one of LA's most successful vocal studios from scratch and is now sought-after globally for her powerful voice coaching. And it's fun when they get recognized for their achievements… for example, when Dove won the Emmy for her work on Liv and Maddie or the Best New Artist awards this past year at the American Music Awards and MTV Awards. But I think I'm most proud when they listen to and trust their inner voices. When they can cut through the noise around them and do what they know is right, sometimes that looks like making unconventional choices, which takes courage.

While parenting in the spotlight, how did you make time for yourself? What were your hobbies to destress?

Hmmm… I'm still learning how to do that! I'm a reader, so sitting quietly with a book will always be a good way to relax. And since we moved from our hometown of Bainbridge Island to Los Angeles to make that acting dream possible, a phone call with an old friend is a great way to destress and remember who I am outside the whirlwind of the Hollywood scene. These days, simply spending time with my husband or our three daughters is my favorite thing.

While parenting in the spotlight, how did you make time for yourself? What were your hobbies to destress?

Hmmm… I'm still learning how to do that! I'm a reader, so sitting quietly with a book will always be a good way to relax. And since we moved from our hometown of Bainbridge Island to Los Angeles to make that acting dream possible, a phone call with an old friend is a great way to destress and remember who I am outside the whirlwind of the Hollywood scene. These days, simply spending time with my husband or our three daughters is my favorite thing.

Tell us a little about how you transitioned into being an entrepreneur with We Can Books?

I've always been entrepreneurial. I had an import company for 25 years, which took me to India regularly to work with artisans.

For the past eight years, I have helped parents of other young actors through my business, Hometown to Hollywood, writing three books, producing a podcast, and consulting one-on-one. We Can Books was born when my husband pointed out to me that my father's brilliant idea—combining family photos with progressive phonics word sets—could be brought to the world through the magic of app technology and print-on-demand.

This beautiful idea, with which my children learned to read, could be shared. The original versions were made with photocopies, cut-and-paste, and three-ring binders! Today's We Can Books are full-color, hardback, heirloom quality books. I'm so excited that my dad's breakthrough method of teaching reading, which is intuitive, fun, and really works—is now available for everyone.

What were some of the obstacles you had to face and overcome to get We Can Books off the ground?

Like most startups, it's taken longer and cost more to get going than projected. Of course! But the biggest hurdle still is explaining what it is. You build the books in an app, but the actual books are real, paper-based, hardback books, like Shutterfly-meets-Phonics. The books are built with digital technology but are ultimately tactile and analog. Something a child can hold in their hands, in a loved one's lap, sounding out the words and turning the pages.

The whole magic is with the very personal association of the child. For example, on the first page of the first book (there are 3 in the series), we have the words cat, hat, bat, mat, pat, sat, fat, rat, and at. In the app, you can either upload a photo from your phone that makes sense with one of the words or make a game of taking one on the spot. Say, the family cat.

Or the child in a hat. Then you drag and drop the relevant word onto the image and move to the next page. You end up with a highly personalized phonics book where the child is emotionally connected to the images, which keeps them engaged as they learn to sound out the words. Because one of the words is associated with an image they recognize and is phonetically similar to the other words on the page, it's like a key that helps unlock the other words. It's incredibly effective, and kids love it.

What goals would you like to see accomplished through We Can Books?

I'd love to know that we are really making a difference in helping more children learn how to read well and to love reading. Learning to read is one of the most critical things in a child's life… it creates the possibility of success in school and the world.

The trouble with reading can lead to risk in so much of the rest of life. Getting a solid foundation in reading and associating it with love and fun can change a child's life trajectory. I know it's made a critical difference for my daughters and for me. Additionally, We Can Books donates 10% of our profits to several literacy nonprofits, so we hope to help more kids that way.

Do you have any other passion projects you're working on or would like to start up?

We Can Books is my life's work, and it's exciting enough to keep me occupied for a long time. Once we have the primary piece rolled out, we have some other ideas, which include expanding into schools. But just to keep things extra interesting, I may be about to move to Portugal, so I'll keep you posted!

3 TIPS EVERY WOMAN CAN USE TO KEEP

THE WEIGHT OFF

By Jill Charton

When it comes to choosing a specific workout plan for weight loss, many women are quick to jump on the latest fads or pick up a strict regimen that was created without their unique needs or circumstances in mind, whether it be something they found online or elsewhere.

5 am joggers, desk treadmill walkers, yoga enthusiasts, boxing gyms, barre fanatics — there are a million sources that all boast real results. To some extent, they likely all do. However, to lose weight in a safe, healthy way and be able to keep that weight off, instead of asking which exercise burns the fattest, the better question is, "Which workout program can I be the most consistent with for the amount of time I have available?"

As a wife, a mother, the founder of iFour.life, a personal trainer, and a celebrity trainer, I know this problem all too well, and it's one of the top problems I see with my clients. Life gets busy, and in our busy lives, we all have different needs. To build a workout plan that will promote a lifestyle change, lose weight and keep it off, I recommend focusing on small, daily goals of getting movement in any way that feels good and then practicing turning that into a sustainable habit.

One of my favorite movements to build a plan around is focused on Dynamic Strength Training Exercises. You'll often see "dynamic" in front of strength or stretching exercises. It refers to a specific category of workouts that focus on ranges of motion that recruit more muscle groups for you to be able to stabilize and generate power. Dynamic Strength Training Exercises are about creating connectivity within the body and maintaining a versatile enough routine to not only keep the workout engaging but see full-body results.

Examples of Dynamic Strength Training Exercises include a weighted curtsey lunge, lateral medicine ball throw, goblet squat, or a bird dog. A lot of Dynamic Strength Training Exercises are easy to build into a wide variety of schedules and routines.

I love Dynamic Strength Training Exercises because they help my clients learn more about movement within their bodies in an empow-

ering way. It also helps them to learn how to work out more efficiently while gaining strength, speed, agility, coordination, stability, and confidence!

Considerations for selecting a workout plan The health and fitness industry is constantly changing. Having been a personal trainer for 12 years, I've seen how many often need clarification about which program to follow to get the results they want long term. When advising someone struggling with this issue, I have 3 main factors to consider before selecting a workout plan.

First, find a program that you truly enjoy! Different types of training fit different personalities, both in the types of physical workouts and the structures around them. If you show up every day (whether at the gym, with a trainer, working out from home following a fitness app program, or performing another type of physical activity or sport), think about your mindset leading into that workout.

Are you looking forward to it, or do you wish it was over before you've even started? Does the plan provide enough social support, motivation, and reward? Do you have a way of measuring your progress outside of the scale that feels encouraging? Is this type of activity something you're able to build into your schedule and lifestyle long-term? Think about, and perhaps take time to explore, which types of movement feel best for you.

Second is not regarding your workout but focusing on your nutrition. Nutrition is 80% of reaching your results from a physique standpoint. You cannot outtrain a bad diet, so when you train from 30 minutes to 1 hour a day, think about what you eat for the rest of the 7 - 8 hours daily.

Nutrition is powerful when it comes to our training, hormones, mental health, and sleep quality, as well as inflammation and joint health. In order to get the most out of your workout, you need to properly fuel your body (often in the case of weight loss), which means eating in a caloric deficit.

The last and most important factor when choosing a program involves reflection once you've dipped your toes into a workout. Once settled in a new routine, tune into your body to see if the plan gives you what you need.

Have you been able to be consistent with it? Overall, is this routine energizing you or leaving you exhausted? Do you have any lasting aches that may be from incorrect form, and if so, do you have the resources you need to identify and fix the issue before an injury? Can you focus on the feel-good endorphins and dopamine

released by hitting workout goals, or are you still dreading the obligation?

Remember, we're all different with different needs. Checking in with your emotions and your body's feelings is vital to finding a plan that will give real results.

3 tips for sticking with the program

A lot of times, we focus on pushing too hard on the front end but then get burnt out two weeks into a new program because of unrealistic expectations or neglect in other areas of self-care that drastically impact our ability to lose weight. If you seem to be struggling to lose weight, focus on these tips:

• Get proper sleep. This affects your hormones, muscle recovery, brain function, and a thousand other things that can either help you or prevent you from reaching your goals.

• Focus on your nutrition. Give your body what it needs, adjust your diet to find what feels best for you, and ensure you consume enough water.

• Shift your mindset. Move away from thinking you need to adopt "all-out" workouts that aren't sustainable. Instead, work on consistent body movement every day in whatever way feels best for you.

Jill Charton is a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Celebrity Trainer, and Owner of iFour.Life.

Jill consults for Marvel, DC, Warner Bros, Apple, and Netflix, having trained cast members from The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, Guardians of the Galaxy, Enola Holmes, She­Hulk, and the Apple series

The Big Cigar. Some of her notable clients include Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers, Tionne Watkins (T-Boz), Latrice Pace, Tatiana Maslany, Jameela Jamil, Ginger Gonzoga, Jon Bass, Andre Holland, and Tiffany Boone.

You can find more about Jill and fitness program on iFourLife.com

Dynamic Strength Training Exercises are about creating connectivity within the body and maintaining a versatile enough routine to not only keep the workout engaging but see full-body results.

DPA Hollywood awards gift suite honored the 2023 Oscar nominees at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel, was featured unique and unforgettable international a total of 31 worldwide brands.

For the first time in Hollywood, DPA Japan (the DPA Japanese office) brought two surprising brands, Magician Facialist and Sakai Clinic 62 Magician Facialist Saori Yoshimura provided a magical treatment to condition your face firm and tight in an instant. Sakai Clinic 62 is Japan's first forefront collaborative research clinic specializing in regenerative medicine and the only clinic in Japan to collaborate with a team of medical and dental doctors. They offered gift JAPAN quality, safe, and effective eye drops. More beauty products also were provided by the Australian (Goop's find) Ere Perez, Hawaiian Ele Kauai, American SkinMedica, Dion Michaels skincare, and American Fitness (the company of NFL Superbowl champion Kyle Arrington).

Parisian Petrusse will present a new collection of super chic scarves and wraps, all designed in its Bordeaux Castle, Swiss DeMarquet, the most unique of its exquisite clutches, Kenyan The

Label Saba with a wide range of colorful wristlets and traveling bags, and Spanish Coolook with numerous pieces of gorgeous custom jewelry, only a few high luxury brands attended.

Some of the surprises of the suite were the return of eco-friendly and luxury-scented laundry sheets by Scent Si Bon (and its new line of cleaning products), a perfume bar by Escentuelle, and finally, Lane1and Gernie, a new brand of sneakers designed by Amira Dior a 14-yearold Brooklyn native.

Along with Topochico, Carvery Kitchen, Fallen Stars, Truth in hand, LA Grind coffee, Something Major, Steven Joseph, Virginia Fox, Black Chateau Enterprises, Geek Eyewear, Calm Moment, Hypnomagnetism by Dr. Richard Garnier, Historically Modern Designs, Kings of Prohibition by Calabria Family Wines., La Gardeenia, and Mezcal Campante .Selected nominees also visited Le Taha'a by Pearl Resorts in French Polynesia, The Greenhouse in Iceland, and Pimalai Resort and Spa in Thailand. Finally, DPA promoted the Wolf Connection, a wolf rescue and human empowerment organization. The Howl that opens your heart awakens your mind and transforms your life.

About Nathalie Dubois and DPA:

A veteran in the production of starstudded events, Nathalie Dubois, CEO of DPA, has proven herself to be exceptionally innovative and successful in the realm of celebrity gift suites. Originally from France, Nathalie Dubois partly attributes her success to her world travels and the exotic cultural influences ofthe products she picks for her unique gift suites. DPA runs luxurious and spectacular gifting suites in LA, the weeks of various award shows, but can be seen in the most significant film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, or Toronto. DPA also opened its first Asian office in Tokyo, Japan, in 2017.

DPA will be celebrating its 2023 20th anniversary, and it is the 18th year of producing gift suites worldwide.

You can find details on DPA at www.dpagroup.org

To contact: nathab@mac.com or 3108047249

*This event is not affiliated or official with the OSCARS® Awards,

itchingfor relief from seasonal symptomsallergy ?

By Bryce Wylde, BSc, DHMHS

There are so many things to love about spring. The warmer weather and longer days beckon us outdoors. But if you're one of the millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring may cause your allergy symptoms to be in full bloom. Some people continue to experience allergy symptoms well into summer!

Airborne allergens such as pollen cause our immune cells to release histamines, which can trigger sneezing, a tickle at the back of the throat, a runny nose, and itchy, burning, watery eyes. You may also feel run down and energy deprived. The trick is taking action early while your symptoms are more easily managed.

What's making you miserable?

Most folks know they have allergies because they get them year after year. You may even be familiar with skin testing for allergies. There are also blood tests for allergies and related food sensitivities.

While knowing your triggers is helpful, 100 percent avoidance may not be possible. Being in clinical practice for more than 20 years, I've had a lot of success using safe, natural solutions that include reducing your exposure to allergens and managing those annoying symptoms.

For example, if you suffer from seasonal eye allergies, you may be tired of the stinging medications that take control of your life because of their rebound effect.

Antihistamine eye drops or artificial tears may provide temporary relief, but they don't address the problem, as well as homeopathic preparations that gently stimulate the body's natural ability to relieve symptoms.

Homeopathic preparations that contain natural active ingredients such as eyebright flower and sabadilla lily and

don't contain dyes, chemical vasoconstrictors, decongestants, or steroids. Drops such as Similasan Allergy Eye Relief can be used regularly without that annoying rebound effect. Moreover, they help to activate your body's own defense mechanisms to address the underlying problem.

You can't just hide indoors

It's a common misconception that allergens are seasonal and only encountered outdoors. The air inside your home, car, and office is often more polluted. Plus, even if you don't see yellow dust, microscopic outdoor allergens can cling to your hair and clothing. Pollen can get locked into your body. It sticks to your sinuses and nasal passages and onto your skin and hair. You may be carrying them with you throughout your day.

Minimize your exposure by changing your clothes as soon as you come home. Shower off the pollen. Wash your hair. Put your pillow and pillowcase in the dryer to remove dust and pollen.

Cleanse your nasal passages: Neti pots have become very popular right now – and with good reason. Most people know that they are a safe and natural way to help your body's natural mechanism for clearing your sinuses of bacteria and allergens.

Use an air purifier to remove allergens from your home. Change your home's filter every three months, and always use a HEPA filter. If you miss being able to open your windows to let in the fresh air, replace your traditional filters with ones that filter as much as 50% more pollen.

Keep your immune system in balance

In my clinical practice, I take a particular focus on immune modulation or immune balancing. That's the key when we are talking about allergies. Allergies are an over-response of a confused immune system.

By focusing on good nutrition and taking steps to support your immune system, you may be able to say goodbye to itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and other allergy symptoms.

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By focusing on good nutrition and taking steps to support your immune system, you may be able to say goodbye to itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and other allergy symptoms. The great thing about natural and/or homeopathic remedies, such as Similasan, is that there are also kids' formulas available, so the whole family benefits.

More strategies for supporting your immune system include:

• Eat more brightly colored foods. Colorful fruits and vegetables play important roles in balancing the immune system. Eat a half cup of every color of the rainbow every single day: red, orange, blue, green, and purple. No science supports the old adage: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples contain quercetin, an antioxidant that has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Peppers, onions, and garlic contain compounds that help thin and reduce mucus.

• Avoid refined foods. Pasta, cookies, cakes, and other things made with white flour and sugar (the other white evil) make it hard to keep your body in balance. So does drinking too much alcohol. You may also want to avoid eating too many foods made with refined, processed oils such as vegetable oil and seed oils.

• Avoid foods that may cause oral allergy syndrome, also called cross-reactivity: A lot of folks don't know that some fruits, nuts, and seeds are a no-go for allergy sufferers, no matter how healthy they may be. This is because the proteins in pollen are similar to the proteins found in these particular foods.

Tree nuts also demonstrate cross-reactivity. This causes tingling and unpleasant itching in the mouth, throat, and lips, as well as an irritated GI. Although not life-threatening, it's

actually more common than peanut, milk, egg, and fish allergy, occurring in about 10% of the population.

Trees are among the first to burst open in the spring. If you have an allergy to tree pollen (especially Birch), then you likely have cross-reactivity to apples, plums, kiwis, carrots, walnuts, cashews, celery, potatoes, hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and even spices such as oregano, basil, and dill. Many of these things grow on trees, and if you have tree pollen allergies, they need to be avoided.

If your allergy stems from grass pollen, you need to avoid melons, oranges, kiwis, tomatoes, and peanuts, among others. Those who suffer in the fall from ragweed allergy (mainly in the northeast of the continent) can get itchy mouths and an upset GI from bananas, melons, zucchini, and cucumbers.

• Make exercise part of your routine. Regularly getting moderate-intensity exercise will help reduce your stress while boosting your immune system. It's a winwin! Be sure to move your exercise indoors on days when allergens or smog are heavy.

• Make sleep a priority. The body does much of its repair at night, so sleep is essential to keep your immune system on full alert. That applies to your body's defenses against allergens. Aim for at least seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

• Live healthfully every single day. Compliance is critical. If you are taking supplements or essential medications, take them as recommended to get the most benefits.

If you know you have seasonal allergies, start taking better care of yourself before you're full-blown symptomatic. Making a few simple changes can help ensure you are feeling great and are able to enjoy all of the good things that spring has to offer.

Homeopath Bryce Wylde, BSc (Hons), DHMHS, is a leading health expert in functional medicine specializing in clinical nutrition and supplementation. Practicing at VennMed in Toronto, he blends the latest science and technology with traditional and ancient remedies. Wylde is co-founder of The DNA Company and founder of Communitya startup dedicated to optimizing immune health through personalized nutrition. Wylde is the author of four national best-seller books, the previous host of CTV's Wylde on Health, and a frequent guest health expert on U.S. and Canadian TV.

The Environmental Media Association Wraps

Up the 2023 EMA

IMPACT SUMMIT

The annual Environmental Media Association IMPACT Summit took place in Los Angeles on March 15 -16 with fabulous speakers and panels.

Environmental champions gathered to discuss sustainability across fashion, entertainment, and business.

This year, EMA partnered with Apple TV+ for the opening day of IMPACT with two panels featuring the cast and creators of the upcoming series Extrapolations and Five Days at Memorial. Maya Penn previewed her directorial debut ani-

mated short, Asali: Power of the Pollinators, with Whoopi Goldberg and Ronen Rubenstein. Guests learned about the vast capabilities of virtual stages and cameras in TV and film. Canadian activist, Captain Paul Watson, closed the day with a moving account of his first-hand experience battling the illegal whaling industry.

The two-day event featured keynote speeches, one-on-one conversations, and panel discussions with some of the most influential environmental leaders across entertainment, business, and more.

Among the other guests and speakers was Phil Rosenthal’s podcast, Naked Lunch, featuring actor and EMA board member Ed Begley Jr. The longtime environmentalist discussed memories of being one of Hollywood’s first eco-warriors and his composed, consistent approach to a green lifestyle. Amid California’s cold-

est winter since 1978, EMA hosted several climate-focused panels with young activist Nalleli Cobo who shut down a toxic oil-drilling site in Los Angeles, Sienna Miller, actor Emmanuelle Chriquiactor, Activist, EMA Board Member author Zahra Biabani, and many more.

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

Interview by Phyllis King

Dr. Tracy Marks is a general and forensic psychiatrist whose mission is to increase mental health awareness and understanding by educating people on psychiatric disorders, mental well-being, and self-improvement. She has formulated over 1000 opinions through Independent Medical Evaluations, criminal assessments, or civil litigation consultations. She has been qualified as an expert in multiple federal and state courts and military court-martial. She also maintains a general psychiatry clinical practice focusing on mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and burnout. Dr. Marks has been sought after by CNN and HLN for forensic and general psychiatric commentary. – her YouTube channel DrTracyMarks has over a million subscribers

Today we are going to take a deep dive into anxiety and anxiousness. We all have it or know or love someone who has it. My guest is board-certified forensic psychiatrist Dr. Tracy Marks. We are going

to dive into her recent book, Why Am I So Anxious? Is there more anxiety now than there used to be, or are we just more aware of it? There is a confluence of factors making us more anxious. The instability of the world, but then also there is an increase in awareness and an increased comfort level in talking about this. Things like Tik Tok and other social media outlets have helped younger generations become more comfortable talking about this, making them more introspective to recognize their symptoms.

Are we crossing a line to where we make things up in our minds, or are we starting to get our arms around the subject?

It is a double-edged sword. Information can be problematic or can be used constructively. On the one hand, I am thrilled people have a better understanding and are recognizing their symptoms. But self-diagnosis is not the best thing either. Some people will avoid going to a doctor altogether.

Tracy

Dr.

I am curious about you and why you chose psychiatry and anxiety. Why? What made you think this was a good path for you? That is a great question because it was different from my original path. My original path was going to be electrical engineering. That was my major in college. I realized I wanted to work more with people. I was going to do internal medicine, and that was what I was slated to do up until my fourth year of medical school. I even matched in medicine. The matching process is where you get assigned to a hospital where you will train. I was going into internal medicine. It was not until I did my psychiatry rotation in my fourth year as a student I realized, whoa, this vibes with me a whole lot more as far as helping people with mental pain instead of tweaking their blood pressure medicines and things like that. Those things are important. But I fell in love with psychiatry in medical school.

What are our biggest misconceptions about anxiety? Do we all have it? Is it a disorder?

There is a camp of people who have a lot of anxiety but do not recognize that is what the problem is. We think of anxiety as fearfulness or worry. But sometimes, it can look like anger, irritability, and excessive insecurity. You become very withdrawn and cannot make decisions, things like that. One group of people say I am not anxious but are. The other group is similar to the people who do not recognize it as anxiety. They become fearful and wonder if I am going crazy. They think that they are broken because of it.

Can we know when we have a disorder versus momentary anxiousness?

Our brains are wired to sense and look for threats so that we can take notes and run or fight whatever we decide to do. But reactionary anxiety is an emotion or an experience you have that is temporary and manageable. It is in relation to something that happened. Say you have a big test coming up, and you get anxious. You may have trouble sleeping the night before a presentation. Once the stressor has passed, you come back to your usual state. It is when it becomes more pathological and causes more functional problems, and you have trouble managing it and coping. Or the coping mechanisms you use have adverse outcomes like drinking too much to deal with your anxiety or smoking or even overeating.

Some of the things we would look at as dysfunction from anxiety would be how your anxiety affects major areas of your life. Are you having lots of fights with people you care about? Are you withdrawing from them and not interacting with them because you are so anxious? Is it getting in the way of your work or schooling because you are not sleeping, you cannot think? Some people can wake up every morning throwing up things like that. When it gets to the point where it starts interfering with your normal life functions, and it is persistent, it is not just one night because you have a test; that is when you start looking at this is a disorder.

When it gets to the point where it starts interfering with your normal life functions, and it is persistent, it is not just one night because you have a test; that is when you start looking at this is a disorder.

Is medication always a solution?

There is over-the-counter stuff, and I talk about natural remedies in my book. But medication is a double-edged sword. The medication turns down the dial on anxiety, and that is what is needed. People come to me in their mid-thirties or mid-forties, and they ask why I waited so long. I could have been feeling this good years ago.

On the other hand, medications also have many side effects. Some people cannot tolerate them. In this case, more natural solutions are a better fit for that kind of person. It depends on the person.

All right, so the forensic piece, which brings in your engineering mind where you can be specific about details. You hit the nail on the head with the connection to engineering, and that is exactly what that is about. Forensics is an application of psychiatry. You take your basic understanding of psychiatric disorders and how the mind works and behavior and apply it to a legal situation. That is one aspect of engineering. It is taking formulas and then applying them to something. Medicine and psychiatry are very problem-solving and analytical.

What can readers expect from the book?

The book's first half goes through various reasons you could be anxious. I talk about disorders, the difference between normal anxiety versus the disorder, and different disorders. I address different temperaments and personalities that can cause anxiety, including overparenting, which can make children anxious.

I talk about all those things

as reasons, existential anxiety. Then, in the book's second half, I give you tools for coping with anxiety. I divide them up into mind tools like meditation or effective labeling, which is one of the things where you assign words to your emotions. There are body tools that are things like yoga and breathing. I even talk about laughter yoga.

What do the readers or viewers need to know that we have not covered?

I say this in the book similarly, that anxiety is like a wave that ebbs and flows. It comes and goes. And I give the same speech to my patients who are getting treatment. Let us say even with medication and treatment for anxiety; you will never have zero anxiety. No one will because it also responds to life or external stressors. The best we can hope for is that whatever anxiety we experience is manageable and passes. Even an anxiety disorder, it can come and go in waves. You can go through a phase of your life when it is not that bad. You have days where it is unmanageable and very unpleasant. Those times they may need more medication or pull in more tools. The ideal scenario for someone who has a disorder is to take medication to turn down their anxiety and then work with behavioral tools to manage the anxiety.

And only some things work for everyone in every scenario, too. In the appendix of my book, I give different scenarios that show which tools that are good for this, this is what is good for that.

That is beautiful. I love that. That gives me a lot of hope. Dr. Tracy Marks. Thank you so much for being here today. It has been fascinating.

Some of the things we would look at as dysfunction from anxiety would be how your anxiety affects major areas of your life. Are you having lots of fights with people you care about? Are you withdrawing from them and not interacting with them because you are so anxious?

THE RACE TO UNDERSTAND HOW KELP FORESTS

DAMPEN OCEAN NOISE

before it's too late

As kelp forests decline, scientists worry sensitive sea creatures are losing a sanctuary from sonic overload

By Ainslie Cruickshank

Photo by kgrifAdobeStock

The sea is calm and, for the moment, relatively quiet. But marine ecologist Kieran Cox is about to change that. He hits play and suddenly the deep hum of a large ship surging through ocean swells emanates from a waterproof speaker. Sound waves ripple toward a lush underwater forest off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Cox, a postdoctoral fellow at Simon Fraser University, has a theory that kelp forests may offer sea creatures a quiet refuge from a growing barrage of ocean noise. As they disappear, destroyed by hungry urchins and thinned out by warming seas, he and other scientists are racing to understand what could soon be lost. “We’re losing kelp forests at a pretty alarming rate in some places,” Cox said.

It’s early September and nearing the end of Cox’s field season in Barkley Sound. Today is a demonstration of the noise experiments he’s been running all summer, usually with underwater recorders to measure any shifts in volume as the sound travels through the stand of giant algae. Suddenly, a seal pops its head above water, and Cox, wanting to protect it from the noise, halts the experiment. “Oh no, let’s pull that up,” he says, and the speaker is lifted from the water.

Seals, like whales and other mammals, are particularly sensitive to sound, but all kinds of sea creatures hear. They rely on sound to find

mates or alert them to danger. But a cacophony of human made noise is drowning out the sounds of nature — and it’s only getting louder.

If Cox’s hypothesis proves true, it could further underscore the need to protect and restore an ecosystem that serves as a nursery for herring and other forage fish. Herring are food for salmon, which are in turn eaten by endangered southern resident killer whales. The research is timely for another reason too. Canada is currently developing a strategy to reduce the harm from ocean noise. Maybe kelp could be part of the solution.

Sea creatures’ sounds are being drowned out by human noise Drenched in dew, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre glimmers under the pastel skies of a late summer morning. Recreational fishing boats are already on the move, puttering out through the inlet by the time Cox wanders into the kitchen of his shared cabin.

He starts each day with a quad shot americano and has another coffee in hand as he heads out the door with his colleagues, past the seaweed drying on the porch railing. It’s a short trek downhill to the dive shed. Here, the team readies their dry suits, oxygen tanks, life jackets and totes of various scientific equipment. Then a black bear ambles onto the scene — and sound erupts. There’s clapping, yelling and the sharp blasts of a whistle.

Not all noise humans create is meant to affect wildlife, but a lot of it does. Zebra finch chicks, for instance, struggle to learn their melodies against the constant drone of traffic, which can also make bats less effective hunters. For humans, noise is a known stressor. It can make it impossible to sleep, damage our hearing and is even linked to high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease. Underwater, the impacts of noise can be even more intense — sound waves travel faster and farther through water than they do through air.

In the dim underwater world, marine animals rely heavily on sound to communicate, find food and protect themselves from predators. The ocean reverberates with their clicks, squeaks, whistles, wails, grunts and groans. The sounds dolphins, sea lions and whales make are familiar by now, but fish make noises too. “They’re bubbling at each other, they’re singing to each other, they’re humming to attract their mates,” said Cox, whose research is supported through a Liber Ero Fellowship and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Fish don’t need external ears to hear because their bodies are roughly the same density as water. “The sound wave literally just … goes right into the side of their head,” Cox explained. And as it passes through their bodies, it strikes the otolith, a small bone that helps fish hear.

Ocean noise impacts marine life in different ways, depending on the pitch, volume and hearing capacity of affected species among other factors, Cox said. A fish startled by noise may use up vital energy trying to escape or miss the chance to feed. Its stress levels are likely to rise. The roar of ocean tankers might mask fish sounds, impeding

communication, or cause temporary hearing loss, leaving fish more vulnerable to predators. Some of this may seem a bit trivial, Cox said, but he warned it can take a toll on a population when 10,000 fish are rendered even temporarily deaf.

Noise can also impede reproduction. One study found male shore crabs are less likely to mate against a backdrop of ship noise.

And, as the intensity of noise ramps up, so can the consequences. In a 2012 study, some fish exposed to the explosive sound of steel pillars being pounded into the sea floor suffered ruptured swim bladders and internal bleeding in worst-case scenario laboratory experiments.

Without new measures to address it, the impact of noise from massive ships crisscrossing the oceans or construction of everything from port expansions to oil platforms and ocean wind farms, could get worse. A recent study in the journal Earth’s Future found sound may travel even faster in warmer waters — and the ocean is heating up.

Photo by The Oceon Agency/AdobeStock

Kelp forests: ‘conserving the soundscape’

Cox steers the boat out toward Barkley Sound. He picks up speed as we clear the inlet and the boat heaves with each peak and valley of the ocean swell. His colleagues, Claire Attridge and Em Lim, both graduate students in Simon Fraser University’s department of biological sciences, and Bridget Maher, field technician and manager of the Juanes lab at the University of Victoria, lean against the gunwale, smiling and chatting easily under sunny blue skies. We pass a flock of nesting seabirds and a beach known locally as necropsy bay for the whale autopsies that happen there. Cox cuts the motor just offshore from Edward King Island and the anchor is tossed overboard.

It was here that Cox first tested his hypothesis with a trial noise experiment. When the results came in he was “really excited.” They indicated kelp forests can dampen ocean noise pollution, blocking sound waves in much the same way they impede waves of water. “So we know it’s somewhat a thing,” he said.

More than that, it could be significant for fish and other species that may struggle to be heard above the din of shipping traffic, according to Francis Juanes, the Liber Ero Chair for Fisheries Research at the University of Victoria and one of Cox’s collaborators.

If these habitats are able to some-

how provide refuge from [noise], that could be really, really important,” he said. Think of rockfish. “Almost all of them, as far as we know, are soniferous, meaning they produce sounds, but their sounds are not very loud,” Juanes said. In other words, they’re easily lost in a sea of noise.

That noise could also be a problem for federal scientists working to develop new ways of monitoring fish populations by sound. That’s still a ways away, according to Dana Haggarty, the groundfish section head in the stock assessment and research division at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. But even if scientists can establish a clear relationship between fish sounds and fish abundance — how do you measure what you can’t hear?

At this point, Cox is hesitant to put numbers to a kelp forest’s ability to block noise. He’s still analyzing the data he collected last summer, and planning additional field work this year, but so far, his trial results are holding true. By quieting noise, kelp forests are “conserving the soundscape” for the species that inhabit them, Cox said. He still has plenty of data left to parse. Is kelp better, for instance, at blocking noise at certain pitches? And, how does it change with density — as forests thin, do they still offer sanctuary? Cox and other scientists are asking similar questions about coral reefs and seagrass meadows in the Caribbean Sea.

Warming waters and spiky sea urchins threaten coastal kelp forests

Even in late summer, the Pacific at this latitude can be chilly — for humans anyway — so Cox and Attridge are using dry suits. Cox pulls his over shorts and a t-shirt; Attridge, who tends to get cold, layers a fleece onesie under hers. With oxygen tanks strapped to their backs, the pair roll off the sides of the boat into the water. They swim toward a rocky outcrop, the tips of the kelps, held up by gas filled bulbs called pneumatocysts, barely visible at surface.

Underwater, it’s magical. Specks of sediment sparkle in beams of sunlight, as brown kelps and vibrant green eelgrass sway this way and that with the surf. The forest is dense and varied. There are kelps that look like feather boas, others more like abstract sculptures of people, lush hair flowing from their tiny, bulbous heads.

ox was sitting in a kelp forest off the coast of Victoria, bubbles rising from his regulator, when he first noticed the stillness amid the towering stalks. His mind wandered to the forests on land, the way urban noise melts away among the trees. That’s when he started to wonder if forests could shelter sensitive creatures from sonic overload underwater too.

There’s growing urgency to this question. Climate change is killing kelp even as it’s turning up the volume underwater. In some ways, Barkley Sound, where waters in the inner coastal areas tend to be warmer than the outer coast, offers researchers a glimpse into the future. The 2014 to 2016 marine heatwave, colloquially known as the blob, decimated many kelp forests in the inner reaches of Barkley Sound,

according to a 2022 study published in the journal Ecological Applications. While some kelps found refuge in deeper waters, for others, this escape from the heat was blocked by a surge of sea urchins — spiny red and purple globes with an insatiable appetite for kelp.

At one time, urchins were kept in check by otters and sunflower sea stars. But otters were wiped out by the fur trade in the 1800s and they’ve been largely missing from Barkley Sound since then, the study said. More recently, sunflower sea stars have succumbed to a wasting disease that rots their bodies until they fall apart and die. As the blob hastened the disease’s spread, urchins flourished.

As kelp forests thin, they may also be falling victim to a negative feedback loop. Lim is investigating the importance of sea creatures’ pee as a source of nutrients for kelp using water samples pulled from some of the same forests Cox is studying. The rich, deep waters drawn upwards when wind pushes the surface layers of the ocean away from shore are a major source of nourishment for kelp forests. But the nutrients in urine are easier for kelp to absorb, making pee an “important helper,” Lim said. In the lab, they mix each sample with a chemical that fluoresces when it reacts with ammonium, a key component of pee that acts as a fertilizer. They use a fluorometer, which measures how much of the sample is aglow, to determine the ammonium concentration. While their results are preliminary, with more field work planned for this summer, it seems kelp forests whittled away by climate change and urchins retain less of that nutritious pee further limiting their growth. It’s yet another blow.

Seals, like whales and other mammals, are particularly sensitive to sound, but all kinds of sea creatures hear. They rely on sound to find mates or alert them to danger. But a cacophony of human made noise is drowning out the sounds of nature — and it’s only getting louder.

Photo by The Oceon Agency/AdobeStock

Kelp forest study a ‘rinse and repeat’ sort of process

Underwater, Cox and Attridge roll 50 metres of bright yellow measuring tape across the forest floor. They wait a few moments for the water to settle then slowly swim above the tape, using pencil and waterproof paper to note every fish — from tubesnouts and rockfish to striped surfperch and kelp greenling — they spot. At the end, they sink lower, and return along the same route, this time keeping a watchful eye for invertebrates like sea cucumbers, kelp crabs and, of course, urchins.

As part of her graduate research Attridge is studying how the community of species that inhabit the kelp forests of Barkley Sound change as those forests decline. Those insights will help Cox make sense of his own findings. If kelp forests dampen the noisy ocean, which sea creatures are reaping the benefits?

Underwater, the researchers count each kelp in a handful of five metre by one metre grids to measure the density of the forest. They’re interested in the height of the canopy too, but their air supply is limited so they take samples back to shore. At the dock in Bamfield, Maher and Attridge pull a kelp from a yellow mesh bag and lay it alongside a measuring tape. One comes in at 293 centimetres, another slightly longer at 315. Each sample is then weighed to estimate the biomass of a forest — a proxy for its overall condition — and then returned to the sea.

“Some forests were very, very tattered, they had few blades left, and there were some really skinny kelps. Other forests had really healthy, robust, large blades,” Attridge said. By weighing kelp

samples from each site she’s able to describe those differences not only with words, but with numbers too. Attridge is still working to parse the data she collected last summer, but so far she can say the 22 kelp forests she’s studying break down into four perceptible groups, ranging from the very lush to the thin and barely there. Now, she’s starting to dig into the data about the different fishes and invertebrates that inhabit these sites and how those communities shift and morph with the state of the forest.

Each day before climbing the short, steep hill back to the cabins, the team thoroughly rinses their gear in freshwater. As Attridge warns, “that salt water, it corrodes.” As their suits drip dry, they settle in for lunch and several hours of computer work.

This is the “rinse and repeat” (Cox’s catchphrase for the summer) stage of data collection. And so, the team is back on the water the next morning, headed to Danger Rock. But instead of speakers and hydrophones, the researchers carry cameras. It’s one of those rare days they get to focus on enjoying — and photographing — rather than studying the ecosystems they are working to understand.

The Danger Rock kelp forest isn’t the densest of their study sites, but it teems with fish, starfish and brightly coloured sea slugs. Back on the boat, they’re excited to share photos of the creatures they saw. A shimmering school of herring, a carpet of strawberry anemones and what Lim called the “most photogenic” clown nudibranch. But the kelps are also surrounded by a field of sea urchins — an inescapable reminder that these forests are in danger.

Photo by vlad61_61/AdobeStock

For the love of Shadow:

By Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society

Saying goodbye to our dog Shadow was one of the most heartbreaking decisions my husband, Gregory, and I ever made. He was the center of our home since we adopted him from Best Friends Mission Hills Adoption Center in 2012, shortly after his arrival from one of the Los Angeles city shelters.

As I write this in absolute grief on a snowy winter day, I can still hear his deep Chewbacca bark and feel his enormous paws on my lap. I keep believing this isn't real and that at any moment, he'll come running around the corner looking for a belly rub. But I’m learning, with each passing moment, that he won’t.

Shadow, 14, was a daunting creature in both sizes — weighing in at 120 pounds — and personality. When he stood on his hind legs, his front paws rested on 6-foot-2 Gregory’s shoulders, and he’d give a toothy grin with his alligator-sized mouth. And wow, was he beautiful. His glossy black coat shone in the sunlight, and his very distinctive, deep baritone bark, combined with his size, commanded attention wherever he went.

While Shadow did enjoy making friends, Gregory and I were the focal point of his life. If you've experienced shepherds, you'll understand that they have one job: you. They want to know your schedule,

approve who's on it, and go along with you if they feel like you need security. And that’s how Shadow was. If Shadow already knew you, however, he’d flop on over and welcome you as his friend.

At heart, he was just a goofball.

He was also a sweet protector of our health-compromised small dogs with whom he lived over the course of his life with us. He doted upon ancient, arthritic Ester, a near toothless Chihuahua; blind Ray-Ray, another Chi, and Stanley, a bossy King Charles mix with a ridiculous underbite who would stand on him while he rested, bark in his face, and lick him from head to toe. When we adopted Sunny, she rejuvenated Shadow, helping to bring out that young, spirited side again.

Shadow loved getting outside and joining us on hikes through beautiful Southern Utah. Around the house, he had a big, dopey personality and was always up for chasing a toy or a tennis ball if Stanley or Sunny didn’t get to them first. But he was just as content to curl up on the couch with us, soaking up all of our love and attention.

Even in his final hours, when he knew his time was near, Shadow remained focused on Gregory and me.

He saw our tears and could sense our pain

and distress, and he attempted to comfort us. It was a testament to how deep his love was. I truly believe he would have walked through fire for us. I knew him more deeply than I know most humans, and I'm eternally grateful for a love of that depth.

Our pets are family. They accompany us through our highs and lows, celebrating with us and consoling us. Shadow’s passing leaves a canyon of sorrow that today feels as though it can never be filled. I know that Stanley, Ray-Ray, and Ester were waiting on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge for him. And once he saw them, he probably let out his big, bellowing bark and galloped toward them.

I came across this Irving Townsend quote recently, and it just about sums things up. " We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would have it no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan."

Our house is too quiet already. Rest in peace, Shadow. You were a good, good boy, and we will love you forever.

A tribute to a big dog with a big personality

Remembering Shy Wolf Sanctuary's Beloved Residents Who Left Their Paw Prints in Our Hearts

Shy Wolf Sanctuary, Education and Experience Center, has served as a home to hundreds of rescued animals since it was established in 1993 while rescuing hundreds of others that never stepped foot on the property. With its years of experience, Shy Wolf Sanctuary has continuously shown its tenacity to adapt and rise through any struggles in order to provide the necessary care for all animals in need. Despite these experiences, one thing that the sanctuary will always find difficult is saying goodbye to its beloved residents.

"No matter how many years it has been, it really never got easier," said Deanna Deppen, Executive Director of Shy Wolf Sanctuary. "The friends that we lost will always be remembered for touching the hearts of the people around them, both volunteers and our sanctuary visitors."

Yuki, the sanctuary's most famous resident wolfdog, took the internet by storm for the second time in 2019. Still fondly remembered to this day, Yuki went viral when volunteer Brittany Allen posted a photo of her cuddling Yuki on Reddit and her Instagram account. Another volunteer, Christa Fagliarone, had initially introduced him to Reddit to a lesser degree. People who saw the photo were shocked to see Yuki's ginormous (and very huggable) size as compared to Brittany, to the point where some even accused her of photoshopping. The wolfdog did appear much larger than he was in real life because of the photograph's perspective. Later, Yuki gained internet buzz again when he was called a real-life 'Direwolf' from the popular HBO Max series Game of Thrones

Yuki's sudden rise to stardom paved the way for sharing Shy Wolf Sanctuary's mission of raising awareness about wolfdogs and other captive-bred exotic animals on a much larger scale.

Yuki's sudden rise to stardom paved the way for sharing Shy Wolf Sanctuary's mission of raising awareness about wolfdogs and other captive-bred exotic animals on a much larger scale.

Yuki was rescued by Shy Wolf Sanctuary in 2008. He was surrendered to an animal shelter at 8 months old when the sanctuary stepped forward to take him in. His story of survival, thriving and learning to trust again reached and inspired many people. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2017 and was put on an immune supplement for 3 years until he left peacefully in his sleep. He lived an incredible and happy 13 years of life.

Another resident animal we commemorate is Tien, one of the sanctuary's sweetest and most friendly wolves. He served as Shy Wolf Sanctuary's ambassador for many years, greeting and interacting with new visitors and making them feel loved by giving his well-known 'wolf kisses.' He loved going out to meet new people, accompanied by volunteers on many educational outreaches, and touched the lives of thousands of people during his lifetime. When Tien was alive, he was also granted a wish by a cancer-stricken woman named Gladys. When asked by her daughter what she wanted for her bucket list, Gladys said she wanted to hug a real-life wolf before her disease overwhelmed her. Shy Wolf fulfilled this wish by introducing her to Tien, allowing her to see and hug him for a very special and memorable moment.

Tien was one of three pups seized by the Fish & Wildlife Commission at three weeks of age. FWC had been called to a private licensee's property to investigate a complaint of dead and dying animals. They did find a deceased wolf in an enclosure and instructed the woman to remove the body and clean up the property. Thirty days later, they returned to check out the situation, only to find three pups in a den in neglectful conditions. The pups were turned over to FWC and brought to Shy Wolf Sanctuary. Tien was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and underwent chemotherapy. The following year, his cancer became too much for his body to handle, and he left to be in a better place, surrounded by his beloved volunteers.

Yuki

Tien

Last but not least was one of the sanctuary's most recent losses, BobLeo the Bobcat. BobLeo was not the friendliest of Shy Wolf's residents, but this made the moments when he warmed up to seek head scratches extra special. He was frequently seen snuggling with his best friend Boomer, a domesticated cat when the weather became a little colder. These two were known for having one of the tightest bonds and friendships in the sanctuary after living together for almost 10 years. BobLeo was secure enough in who he was to pose for the Curious Critters children's books with a white background and was featured as the model bobcat in several of the state-specific books by David FitzSimmons.

Shy Wolf Sanctuary first met "Leo" in 2011 when contacted by his owners, who were no longer able to care for him. At 9 years old, he had lived in a house with other domestic cats. The initial transition to Shy Wolf was difficult for a cat who had never been around other larger animals nor had stepped foot outside. In their efforts to help Leo adjust, volunteers changed his name slightly and adopted a friend for him from the Humane Society of Naples named Boomer. On December 11, 2022, the staff discovered BobLeo to be experiencing a seizure after a distressed call from his wolfdog neighbor Anna. Staff immediately took him to the emergency room vet, However, the seizure didn't decrease, and his fever spiked. The Shy Wolf Sanctuary team had to make a difficult decision to say goodbye and end BobLeo's suffering. BobLeo had lived a long and complete 20 years of life.

There are many other animals from Shy Wolf Sanctuary that we remember fondly. They have taught us patience, love, and understanding, as animals have unique personalities and set boundaries. Their memories will forever remain in our hearts.

BobLeo

CLIMATE CHANGE INVESTMENT FORUM

Saturday, 11th March, was the teaser of the upcoming 9th edition of Climate Change Investment Forum (CC Forum) - the VIP Green Carpet event set at Peninsula Beverly Hills Luxury Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The Oscars' curtain-raiser teaser gathered 130+ influencers, including UHNW individuals, thought leaders, investors, startups, royalty, and celebrities aligned with the forum's mission of making the world a better place through sustainable investment.

The event included a few brainstorming sessions on stage interspersed with keynotes, fireside chats, and screenings of Oscar-winning Oscar-nominated documentaries focusing on Climate change action and social impact. The topics covered Conscious Capitalism, the Role of Film and Entertainment Industries in Resolving Sustainability Issues, Racial, and Gender Diversity, Investment in Preserving Biodiversity as well as Tech for Good. It was followed by a

five-star networking buffet and an entertainment program featuring Alan Landry, the Voice of Monaco and Forbes Magazine Entertainer of the Year, who flew from Cote-d-Azure, especially for the occasion.

The participants featured Max Studennikoff, Chairman and Founder of CC Forum, Oscar-nominated producers Lady Monika Bacardi, Co-Founder of Iervolino Group, Award Winning Producer of several Oscar-nominated Films Valentina Castellani Quinn, BK Fulton, Chairman of Solidify Productions, and Adam Leipzig, CEO of Entertainment Media Partners.

Vince Riotta, the British BAFTA award-winning actor, and Hugo Mozie, the well-known Hollywood fashion designer working, among others, with Beyonce, Justin Bieber, and Celine Dion, joined the opening discussion on stage chaired by Valentina Castellani, Chairman of Quinn Studios Entertainment.

Other distinguished guests included the Honourable John Mirish of the City of Beverly Hills, HRH Queen Diambi Kabatusouila of Congo, David Casselman, Founder of Ecoflix, Kerry Gordy, CEO of Kerry Gordy Intellect Property, His Eminence Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche, Paul Rubio Co-Founder of California Economic Club and CEO of Trillion Air Aviation and Fernando Green Chairman of Green Global Funding.

es Network supported by Ecoverse and Beyond the Awards.

The Green Carpet Event has paved the way for the fully fledged edition of CC Forum "Investment in Sustainable Development" to be held in Los Angeles, scheduled for late June this year. The 9th edition, the first in the Western hemisphere, aims at positioning California as a global hub of investment in sustainability and a spearhead of fighting against climate change. As a string of VIP networking events, it will include two days of keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and round tables across the primary and expert stages. It will culminate in CC Forum's traditional black-tie investors' Gala Dinner & Awards Giving Ceremony featuring classical music stars.

https://usa.cc-forum.com

The event was supported by CC Forum's Strategic Partner, London-based Opes Investment Group, and LA-based Ecoflix, XLA, Oya, and Global Doctors and Nurs-

All the photos by Micah Ray

Max Studennikoff Chairman & Founder