The Eden Magazine April 2024

EDEN

THE EARTH AND THREE BLINKERED SCIENTISTS by Dr. Rob Moir

TONY Redhouse

Rhythms of Resilience through Music & Spirituality

The Eden Magazine

@The Eden Magazine

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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.

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Maryam Morrison

DINA MORRONE

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ZEE

JOE SANTOS, JR.

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ARTIN MARDIROSIAN

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DATING AND ROMANCE FROM THE METAPHYSCIAL POINT OF VIEW by Barbara Y. Martin and Dimitri Moraitis

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CONSCIOUSE RELATING: TRANSFORMING ATTACHMENT PATTERN, FOR DEEPER BONDS by Susanna Schroadter

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THE BULLY WINDOW by Sherri Cortland

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1-LIFE SINGLE LINE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH by Zee

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HOW TO EXPERIENCE PEACE IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOT LIFE TRANSFORMATION by Polly Wirum

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HONORING OUR MENTAL HEALTH SELF-CARE by Dulce Garcia-Morman

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DISCOVERING THE MAGIC OF SEDONA by Jan Wakefiled, M.A.

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CLIMATE CHANGE IS WEAKENING RIVER SEASONALITY IN THE NORTH by Grace Van Deelem Covering Climate Now

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Cover photo by Beth Forester

E A R

T H E A N D

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Three Blinkered Scientists

Photo by Annie Spratt

The blind men can comprehend an elephant only with much dialog, with open minds listening carefully to each other. To better understand and save the Earth, we must listen like blind men and talk with everyone, or you won't know what part you're missing.

In the parable of the blind men and the elephant, the identity of the beast must be determined by touch and conjecture. The first person touches the trunk and says, "This being is like a thick snake." Another person touches an ear, and it seems like a kind of fan. The leg reminds the toucher of a tree trunk. The side of the elephant feels like a wall, the tail a rope, and the tusk smooth like a spear.

Atmospheric scientists, terrestrial ecologists, and oceanographers went to the Arctic blinkered by their areas of expertise. Like the blind men, the scientists cannot see the whole.

The first group sees the atmosphere warming the ocean's surface. They measured rising air temperatures and summer sea ice retreat over the Arctic Ocean from mostly covering the ocean to less than a third coverage. Based on their data, they were surprised to see more than the calculated summer sea ice melt. With open water looking darker than sea ice, they said it's like the temperature difference between a black car seat and a white seat on a sunny day, known as the Albedo effect.

The terrestrial ecologists see sunlight passing through the snowpack to warm the ground

below. Insulated by snow, frost touching the earth melts away, leaving a few inches of air space. This subnivean space is occupied by breeding mice, voles, lemmings, and shrews, safe from foxes and owls. These scientists see plants regulating the climate. During the months of 24-hour light, there is a riot of plant growth, drawing down carbon dioxide, taking up water, and photosynthesizing carbohydrates stored in biomass and soil. Plants release bacteria and fungi into the air. Water vapor nucleates around organic particles to form cumulous clouds. When water converts from gas to liquid to solid (snow), atmospheric pressure is lowered. Moist air is drawn from higher-pressure areas over the ocean. More cumulous clouds cool the region.

Oceanographers see the ocean regulating the climate. The motion of the Earth turning to the East sets up a motion in the ocean where currents will always veer right in the Northern Hemisphere. The Gulf Stream veers right off New England to flow to Europe. Sea water temperatures are why palm trees grow on Scotland's Western Isles and icebergs frequent Newfoundland. Both places have the same latitude and the same amount of sunlight.

Oceanographers once worked from ships underway. They lowered into the ocean a yellow metal torpedo-shaped bathythermograph. Inside was a gold-plated glass slide attached to a bellow that contracted with increasing depth. A thermal coil contracts or expands with changing temperatures. The coil's end was sharpened to etch the gold on the slide. Pulled from the device, the slide shows a straight vertical line as the temperature stays constant with depth. Suddenly, the line goes horizontal at a specific depth and then vertical. This is the thermocline. It marks the boundary between two water bodies. Water bodies are known for their density as measured by salinity and temperature. The Gulf Stream is a warm 76 to 77 degrees F and has a salinity of 36.5 parts per thousand. The Labrador Current is less than 32 degrees F, and salinity is in the range of 30 to 34 ppm. Being lighter, the Gulf Stream moves easily over the south-bound cold Labrador Current.

When the Arctic Ocean changed from being mostly covered by sea ice to less than a third, in October, more open water froze to become sea ice. The ice is fresh water, and the salt is left behind in the cold water. This frigid, briny concoction is the densest water, and it sinks. More nutrient-rich

water flows out of the Arctic into the nutrient-poor Atlantic.

The Gulf Stream barrels north with a volume of 700 Amazon Rivers. It meanders to dissipate energy like a freight train in an accident. In 2011, the Gulf Stream demonstrated more power by wandering onto the continental shelf closer to Rhode Island. In 2007, the Gulf Stream surfaced in Svalbard, causing glaciers on the land to melt. More warm Gulf Stream water flows into the Arctic Ocean to warm the surface water and accelerate the melting of the sea ice.

Like the blind men touching the elephant, when scientists use their logic to explain what their clockwork models portend, they are unable to fathom the natural world's complexity, the interconnections becoming one, or the agency of life that make our planet inhabitable. Meanwhile, people are free to fortify their beliefs and draw battle lines between them and others.

The blind men can comprehend an elephant only with much dialog, with open minds listening carefully to each other. To better understand and save the Earth, we must listen like blind men and talk with everyone, or you won't know what part you're missing.

Dr. Rob Moir is a nationally-recognized and award-winning environmentalist. He is president & executive director of Cambridge, MA-based Ocean River Institute, a nonprofit providing expertise, services, resources, and information unavailable on a localized level to support the efforts of environmental organizations.

For more information. please visit www.oceanriver.org

EARTH DAY

DAY

Photo patrimonio designs

96TH OSCARS

The 96th Oscar® Night hosted by Jimmy Kimmel has captivated audiences worldwide by celebrating cinematic excellence and diversity.

The memorable moments included the historic wins and a celebration of diversity in storytelling. The ceremony honored outstanding achievements in filmmaking across various categories. Beyond the awards, the 96th Oscars® also served as a platform for meaningful social and cultural discussions.

Through memorable speeches and poignant moments, the Oscars® reaffirmed its role as a celebration of artistic achievement and as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and progress within the entertainment industry and beyond.

Best leading role EMMA STONE, CILLIAN MURPHY

BEST PICTURE OPPENHEIMER EMMA THOMAS, CHARLES ROVEN, CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

victories ranged from groundbreaking performances to What was I Made For? From Barbie; Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, The Fire Inside by Flamin' Hot; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren; performed by 96th Oscars, Academy Awards Becky G, I Am Ken from Barbie; Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, performed by Ryan Gosling, It Never Went Away from American Symphony; Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson, performed by Jon

In the Memoriam segment, Andre Bocelli's son, Matteo Bocelli, joined him onstage for a duet of Con te partirò. (Time to Say Goodbye.)

Notable

Batiste, Wahzhazhe (ASong For My People) from Killers of the Flower Moon; Music and Lyric by Scott George, performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers

BEST SUPPORTING ROLE

DA'VINE JOY RANDOLPH

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.

Photo courtesy to: Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S. Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S. Trae Patton ©A.M.P.A.S. Dana Pleasant ©A.M.P.A.S. Phil McCarten ©A.M.P.A.S.

ony edhouse T R

Aby Dina Morrone

world-renowned motivational speaker, sound healer, musician, professional hoop dancer, expert on Native Art, and five-time Native American Music Award-winning recording artist, he is also a Spiritual Coach. He works with those who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction.

His life lessons have brought him to where he is today, and with all that knowledge and experience, he feels the need to give back, teach, heal, comfort, and empower others. And so he offers to those in need, including the tiniest, most defenseless animals that are caged in shelters.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Monterey, California. My dad was in the U.S. Army and based mainly in California. We stayed in (Fort Ord, CA.) the Monterey Bay until I was 17. He then got transferred to Fort Huachuca in Arizona, so we moved to Tucson. My father was originally from the Navajo Reservation, where he was born and raised. He was the son of a medicine man.

Are both your parents Native American?

No. My mother is Filipino. During World War II, my father was in the Philippines, where he met her. My mom's family was large—12 kids— and they were suffering financially after the Japanese invasion, so their parents decided to open up a G.I. honky-tonk bar called Three Sisters. My mom was the piano player playing honky-tonk piano, entertaining the soldiers. He saw her and fell in love with her as soon as they met.

Because my father and his family were very traditional Navajo, after World War II, my father had to go back to the reservation to ask permission from my grandfather to see if he could marry outside the traditional religion and also to move and begin a family in California, where he was in the civil service.

My mother suffered the horrors of war and the Japanese invasion, and that included having her whole family split up. My dad got her out of that and brought her to the States, where they had six children. We are all musicians.

Do, you get your musical genes from your mother

Yes. She had us around the piano when we were children. She taught us to sing harmonies for Christmas carols. We had our little choir, and we performed. My dad had us dance the Native American dance. We were a family dance troupe and went to elementary schools where

we shared cultural awareness, parades, and other things. We began at a very young age in both song and dance.

I was placed on stage in Monterey, California, at an international children's pageant when I was five. Because of the racism and prejudice that my dad was experiencing in the civil service, he wanted me to represent Native American culture. My mom and dad made Native American regalia, dressed me in it, and put a drum in my hand. That was in the 1960s, before the Black Civil Rights Movement began. He was like a pioneer because Native Americans were not like that back then-- we didn't have a voice.

Is there a precious piece of advice one of your elders gave you that you use in life?

My elders taught me about the circle of life and looking at life as a circle. Not a square, triangle, or line, but as a circle. My dad raised me to be a hoop dancer, and I have been using those circles of life and interconnecting them. It's a very symbolic story of how all of our lives interconnect. The circle of life they taught me was to have the four directions or areas that make up the circle of life and create completeness and balance: the mind, the body, the soul, and relationships. That has stuck with me for my life.

I've been teaching that in drug addiction centers and use those teachings in everything I do. We must find that personal balance we need in this modern society. We need to have our minds clear and healthy, not stressed and not pulled in different directions, and our bodies healthy, taking care of ourselves, nourishing ourselves, getting rest, self-care, and our soul, and, of course, having some spiritual belief system. Then, our relationships, making peace, and resolving conflict with our relationships all create a circle.

Is there anyone in particular who has had influenced on you? I don't think there's been a particular person. There are people in different genres of music and art that have affected me. They have helped shape me. What I believe is that for Native Americans, all of our songs, dances, and music are a story. We're not just dancing for the heck of it when we dance. Everything has a meaning. Everything tells a story, from the dancing, the particular singing we do with our voices, and the use of the drum.

I've learned to tell my story through my dancing, voice, songs, and flute music, to reveal my experience on this earth, and to touch other people with that. There are Cuban conga drummers and percussionists from Cuba who came to the U.S. and to whom I've listened, and they have impacted my playing as a conga drummer. I'm a Latin percussionist. I play with salsa bands, funk, soul, and R&B.

There are Native American visual artists. My cousin was one. My older cousin stayed with us in California for a little while, and I was mesmerized by his artwork. That's what woke up my desire to be a painter. My dad was instrumental in teaching me his traditional ways and the simplicity of

how I wanted my life to be.

Getting back to whom that one particular person might be. I guess I have to say my dad probably helped shape my path the most. Just as he put me on stage when I was five years old, he was the one who pushed me into the spotlight.

That was a good thing and a bad thing. Good because I became a performer, but you don't have a reservoir when you're five and put on stage. You don't know what your worth is. You have not begun to create self-esteem. You don't know who you are. I found that it was very traumatic for me to be on stage. I was a very shy little boy and did not want to be on stage in front of all those people. My mom told me I tried to hide in the house mainly because I would be wearing very little clothinga loincloth and vest and Native American regalia - and I felt like I was going to be half naked.

I felt my family was not protecting me. I did not feel safe. I was being put into the public arena and didn't know how to deal with it. I understand how people like Michael Jackson and different artists are put on stage at a young age before they know who they are. It can be traumatic.

When I talk about the circle of life, that's the beginning. Our personal circle is finding that balance of mind, body, soul, and relationships. Healing each of those areas and then having that perfect balance.

How did you feel when you received the applause?

That's what happens. You begin to look for the applause. That's how you receive your validation. But I had to go backward on this. To make you fully understand what I mean, here is what I do now.

I teach about the eagle and how the baby eagle sits in the nest 90 feet high in a pine tree, safe and secure. It has a refuge and is safe from predators. Mom and Dad Eagle will feed that baby and make it comfortable in that nest, put down feathers, and make it home, and it won't have any fear. They will come to feed it and take care of it. All it needs to do is cry, and they'll attend to it, and it will feel at peace. When the young eagle becomes a teenager and its wings develop, the mom and dad eagle will fly by the nest, and they will try to encourage it to leave. It might be standing on the edge of the nest. They'll fly by with a rabbit in their mouth. They'll stop feeding it. Soon, it will become hungry, and finally, it will jump. It will make the leap because it's ready. Its wings and feathers are developed enough to begin to fly on its own.

And just like that, my dad pushed me out on stage when I was a young baby eagle. I was pushed out of the nest at five years old, 90 feet in the air, down onto the earth, and during that time on the earth, I lived in this jungle,

and my wings had to grow, learning to live in this world, before my wings had fully grown. I spent 40 years with addiction, drugs, and alcohol. That was my jungle. I had to create my wings. They had to grow and develop, and finally, I was able to fly from the earth. Not from a nest, from the earth and all the craziness down here in the darkness and fly up to the heavens and then find my own nest.

What is your relationship, and that of the Indigenous people, with animals?

When I talk about the circle of life, that's the beginning. Our personal circle is finding that balance of mind, body, soul, and relationships. Healing each of those areas and then having that perfect balance. The circle goes around in a balanced way and very smoothly. When you start thinking about the universe, and when you begin to find personal balance, then you connect with the birds, animals, trees, sun, moon, stars, earth, water, fire, and every other human being, every different culture, and then you all create and connect, and that's the story of the hoop dance.

When we all come together, it creates universal harmony. But it all begins with us. We are responsible for healing ourselves, finding that beautiful balance, and connecting to our children, loved ones, neighbors, the eagle, hawk, sparrow, robin, all life around us, the kitty cats, and the puppy dogs.

If you think about the birds of prey, the eagle is the old Cadillac that used to float down the freeway. The eagle is the Cadillac of the birds of prey. It goes slower, it takes off slower, it cannot maneuver very quickly, but it's able to soar, and it only flaps its wings five times an hour. The rest of the time, it simply floats in the air. We look to the eagle as the one that is wise and able to learn, to let go and learn to spread our wings, and then we're able to see everything from the heavens and look at life objectively.

The hawk is the sports car of birds of prey. It's swift and very accurate. It takes off quickly, lands quickly, and makes quick maneuvers and sharp turns. The hawk is the quicker sports car of the birds of prey. What I teach is that every animal has attributes. Everything has strengths and gifts. If we are all creating with all circles of life, then we are part of that energy. We can be like the eagle or the hawk and connect with all these energetic forces in the universe.

We use an eagle feather in our prayers. Everything is about symbolism. For Native Americans and all indigenous cultures, symbolism is a picture story. If you look at a hoop, if you look at a circle that says, "Oh, that is what I want my circle of life to be." It's looking at a picture story and saying, "Okay, that's what I want." When we look at these symbols, they have meaning. When you understand the meaning, it can apply to your daily life in contemporary society.

You visit animal shelters and play music for caged animals. How did this idea come about? And what impact has this musical initiative had on the well-being of the animals?

I was doing a concert by the first animal shelter in Pinal County in

Eloy, Arizona. I'd been out dancing, playing music, and doing interactive activities with the audience. When I was done, a friend, Lisa Benedito, who also took pictures, asked me if I would like to go to the animal shelter. I said, "Yes, I would." She told me an overflow of animals needed to be released because many of them would die.

I said, "Okay, I'm going to go, and I'm going to do a prayer and a blessing for all those dogs and cats to get released and find homes." The staff allowed me in. I went down to every kennel and knelt beside each of the dogs, and I used my heartbeat drum, which I use for meditation music and transition.

Initially, I used my heartbeat drum in hospice to help people to die because if someone needs peace in their life and to let go of everything that's a conflict in their life, then they want to make peace to be able to make the transition.

I thought, "This is another form of hospice. Everything is about transitions and life and death. We're all transitioning one way or another. I want to make a way for these dogs and cats to feel that beautiful peace because they can sense that they're on death row." I went to each kennel, used a heartbeat drum, and sang a chant, a hum-like lullaby, like the one I use in my spiritual sessions.

I had the drum so close to the chain link of the kennel gate of this one little chihuahua. He was licking my drum because he was so moved and comforted. We feel the heartbeat of love as young children. We're being held in those loving arms by someone who supports us, wants us, and cherishes us, and we feel that heartbeat in their chest. That is the safest place in the world for any human, dog, or other animal.

I'm going to do a prayer and a blessing for all those dogs and cats to get released and find homes.

What is the most sacred animal to the indigenous people?

For me, every animal is sacred. We often hear this cliche that everything's a reflection of you. Well, if I spread my arms and I have all of these circles of life interconnected, all the circles interlocked, and I raise them above my head and create this picture of the universe, then in reality, I am part of everything. I am not separate. The problem with modern contemporary society today is that we have fragmented the universe. We have separated everything. We have divided everything: this is heaven, this is earth, this is life, this is death, this is your conscious thinking. That's why we're in such a mess. We have divided everything when, in reality, everything is one. My dream life is one with my conscious thinking. What you're thinking during the day, what's on your mind, will come to you in a dream, in a vision. It will be a different way, a different perspective of seeing what you are struggling with or challenged with, and seeing it in a different perspective than the heavens are going to show you so that you can understand it. It may be symbolic. It may be in a different twist than your mind would conjure up.

When you're asleep, your mind is sleeping, and then the heavens can give you that dream and show you the necessary wisdom. Our conscious thinking and dream life are one. Heaven and earth are one. There is no

veil separating us from our loved ones. I talk to my grandfather, who is no longer here, and ask him for wisdom. They are there to help us. They are one with us. Their energy is still there.

When I play in the nightclubs with a band I have never played with before, and I don't know what their material is beforehand, whether it's R&B, funk, soul, or Latin Jazz when I hit the first beat on my conga drums or my percussion, I will ask the heavens "I need wisdom. I need to know what rhythm. I need to know what style. I need to know what to do." I open myself up to the heavens because, once again, heaven and earth are one.

Our ancestors in the heavens can speak to us and gift us whatever wisdom we need daily. I reach the heavens and say, "Okay, I need an answer for this situation right now." We have all of the infinite, unlimited resources of the heavens for everything on earth's practical, logical life. Everything is one.

I teach that the oneness of being is not the separation. I can be driving down the freeway, and I might be struggling with how to begin something. Then, as I drive past this tree, a hawk will fly right over my car. It'll wait for my car, not other cars, but mine. It'll fly over my car from the east and towards the west.

That right there is a reflection on me. Once again, everything is part of me. The hawk gave me an answer, saying, "Okay, the way you begin this, the east direction is the beginning." That's where the sun rises. The way the sun travels, the east direction is the sunrise. The south direction is the hottest point of noontime when the sun shines the hottest and brightest. The west direction is where the sun sets, and it becomes dark. That is the spiritual direction because in the darkness is where you see the true light.

When the hawk flies from the east, it's saying, "Okay, the way you begin this event is going to be very important that you go to the west, to the spiritual, and that you go into that section, and that you create that spiritual energy first."

Everything's a reflection. Even the way a bird flies over me and a coyote appears in front of me. For example, I'll drive down a dark road after work, and a coyote appears right before me. The coyote for Navajos is a trickster - a joker. That tells me that the person I was dealing with on a personal or business basis was a trickster. They're going to pull something. They're going to try to pull something that is not above board. They're not being honest. They're not who they say that they are. I've even been able to say that in relationships I've encountered.

Everything's a reflection. If I see four vultures flying in circles above me, and if I'm going to do a certain event or ceremony, I realize, "Okay, there are four people that have passed away in this person's life that they're having trouble releasing." The vulture is about death. I do spiritual sessions that help define direction. I use a lot of what I'm teaching, what I'm sharing with you now, and even the instruments of the heartbeat drum, the vibration against their body.

It has a way of speaking to every cell in the body, every muscle, every thought, every emotion, and every memory. It takes you back to your true place inside what you seek. It can unwind everything, remove the layers, and take you back to the true part of what you seek in this life. I use this for spiritual consults. I've done this all over the country and even online with people.

How can the traditional Native American teachings benefit non-indigenous people unfamiliar with the culture?

For over 17 years, I've worked with four drug addiction centers in Tucson. Both men and women in residential programs. People who are brand new in recovery from all demographics, all ages, and all cultures. I teach these teachings as a means of recovery. I guide them through the circle of life. I do interactive drumming with them. I guide them into a deep meditation using my meditation flute music and take them into a place of stillness. When you guide people back with a simple heartbeat, it symbolizes that love we're seeking, that safety, security, and peace, and when they feel that heartbeat, that vibration, it takes them back inside to what their heart is trying to say. When I use these teachings, they are so simple and so ancient. Our ancestors taught simplicity and symbolism, taking you to a simple place. They were teaching us to be still, pull away from all the craziness, and take time to find out what our hearts are trying to say.

In modern society, we listen to our minds more than our hearts. I'm trying to take people back to their hearts. The mind can teach us to follow expectations and what everybody else wants. Even what our parents want for us, what society wants for us, and what they feel will be best for us.

My wish is that we'll be able to embrace the beauty of who we are, return to making things with our hands, and heal our communities. A long time ago, we respected the elders, cared for them, and honored them because of their wisdom. It's time for us to return to that because they are a valuable resource for all of us.

We begin to follow expectations in our minds. We follow expectations, and it creates that space where we can start to be compared to other people, and then we can begin to receive judgment and shame.

This results in us living in fear of being judged, shamed, and made fun of. What I teach is to throw expectations out the window.

I remind people to go back to the heart. The heart is always going to be true. It is our conscience, our radar, our intuition. Our heart will always tell us and guide us in every decision. What's going to be beneficial for me? When we do that, it's also going to bless other people.

Your grandfather was a respected medicine man and First Nations healer. How did his practice impact your life?

I didn't know him that well. I used to go with my dad to visit him on the reservation, but only my father spent time with him. My siblings and I would play around on the rocks. He and my father spoke Navajo, but we weren't taught to speak their language, so when they spoke to each other, I never understood what they were saying. I recall seeing him as this tall man with a big hat on his head. He was a mystery.

However, I do realize that his being a medicine man and knowing what he did taught me to accept and receive gifts from our ancestors and reject curses because our generations, as Native Americans, have curses that were passed down. There has been generational trauma. Many of our ancestors have carried that in their hearts. They have been hurt and wounded and passed it on to their children.

Many of those people, including my dad, were put in boarding schools during my dad's era. When they came out of those schools, they shut down. They were mistreated and told and forced not to follow their cultural ways. Later in life, when they had their children, they didn't want to share their traditional ways because of the fear that was instilled in them that they would be punished if they sang their songs or spoke their language. A lot of the Native Americans from that era of boarding schools shut down and never talked about it.

Today, you're finding there is more of a resurgence of young people wanting to learn more about their past and culture. For example, going to powwows is very popular now. There has been a wake-up call. They are getting involved in their traditions and their dancing.

What challenges do the Native American communities face today that most are unaware of?

That's a big question because, unfortunately, this country was formed because the dominant society wanted the resources. They wanted the land, and everything valuable. They wanted to have power and control. Unfortunately, we are still feeling the repercussions of that. That has to be changed in the legislature. In the government, how things are done, because we're continuing to see in many ways, that that machine still wants to take control over whatever it can get.

We're still dealing with that as Native Americans. I think the challenge for young Native Americans today is to find their sense of worth and value and to be able to create whatever they dream of. That's something that separates the generational trauma but also allows us to feel that even though we are people of color, we are just as valuable and just as worthy.

What is your wish for the future of all indigenous people throughout North America?

My wish is that we'll be able to embrace the beauty of who we are, return to making things with our hands, and heal our communities. A long time ago, we respected the elders, cared for them, and honored them because of their wisdom. It's time for us to return to that because they are a valuable resource for all of us. We often put our elders and seniors into homes - we don't want to

look at them. We don't want to look at the reality of aging, of not being beautiful, of not being successful, of not being able.

We need to go back to helping those who are in need, those who are addicted, those who are hurting, and those who have been abused. For example, I shared my music at a Missing Murdered Indigenous Women's Meeting, and I shared my healing music with a group of women's legal voters. That's something I want to continue to be involved in and help bring awareness, resolution, and healing to the areas of our culture that have been lost.

Are there any projects you're working on that you want to share with our readers?

I want to write a book about my life and include some of my spiritual teachings. I want to create a curriculum for drug addiction and alcoholism centers of everything that I teach in every class, and I want to have that available worldwide, including the reservations. Eventually, I want to train others to do what I'm doing and return those teachings to the reservations. And I want to continue sharing my personal lifelong experience that I have lived.

Special thank you to;

Tony Redhouse

Photogrpahy by: Beth Forester

Bryan Thompson

Kris Davidson

S. Hurray, P. Tauzin, Diane Lopez Wilson, Alyssa Branscombe, Lisa Benedetto.

Taking Charge Of The Fundamental Life Force Pranayama

Intro: Prana, one’s vital energy, determines the function of one’s entire system. Sadhguru discusses the five manifestations of prana in the body, the pancha vayus, and their role in the kriya practices.

SG Tweet: If you close your eyes, the only things that should exist for you are your breath, your heartbeat, processes in your body, and the workings of your prana. Only what is happening inside is life. What is happening on the outside is just imagery.

Sadhguru: When I say pranayama, people tend to translate it into English as a breathing technique or a breathing exercise, which is not the case. “Prana” means “the vital energy,” and “Yama” means to gain control over that. So, it is a subtle process through which one can gain control over his inner energies. These processes are taught in depth because transforming inner energies is very important to stabilize the body and the mind.

Whatever you do in life, how your body, your mind, and your whole system function is ultimately determined by your prana. Prana is an intelligent energy. Since prana has the karmic memory of the individual imprinted on it, it functions in each person in a unique manner. By contrast, electricity does not have memory or intelligence. It can light up a light bulb, run a camera, and do a million other things, not because of its intelligence but because of the particular device that it powers. In the future, there may be smart electricity, too. If you manage to imprint energy with a certain memory, you can make it behave in a certain way.

5 Types of Prana

There are five basic manifestations of prana in the body. These pancha vayus – prana vayu, samana vayu, udana vayu, apana vayu, and vyana vayu – direct different aspects of the human mechanism. Through yogic practices like the Shakti Chalana Kriya, you can take charge of the pancha vayus. If you gain mastery over these five vayus, you will be free from most ailments, particularly psychological ones. This is something that the world needs today.

Unless we act now, in the next fifty years, the number of people who are psychologically imbalanced, disturbed, or deranged will increase many times over, due to various factors in our lifestyles. We are handling many aspects of our lives in a grossly negligent way, for which we are going to pay the price. If you take charge of your prana, whatever the external situation may be, you will remain psychologically balanced. Right now, a

whole lot of people are psychologically imbalanced, though not everyone may have a medical diagnosis.

Pranayama Benefits

Suppose your hand does its own thing and pokes you in the eye, scratches and beats you – that is a sickness. This is what most people’s mind is doing. Every day, it pokes them from inside, makes them cry, bawl, or worry – in so many ways, it creates suffering for them. That means it is sick, even if in a socially accepted manner. Every kind of suffering that human beings are going through day in and day out is created in the mind. This sickness has set in, and it will multiply because of the social structures, the technology around us, and various other influences.

One who takes charge of one’s prana can be one hundred percent assured of having an unshakable psychological balance. This should also prevent physiological ailments to a large extent, though an element of risk remains due to various reasons, including infections and all kinds of chemicals and poisons that we are exposed to on a daily basis. There is no absolute control over what we take in through the air, water, and food, no matter how careful we are about what we consume. How much impact it has on us depends upon each individual.

Physiological health cannot be guaranteed one hundred percent for external reasons. But psychological well-being can be one hundred percent guaranteed if you take charge of your prana. If you are psychologically in an extremely good place, a few physiological issues will not be a problem.

Only if you focus on the fundamental nature of life will you really getsomewhere. The life within you is the only real thing – the rest are just projections.

Infrastructures to Raise Human Consciousness

Experience Yoga in its classical form at Isha Yoga Center Los Angeles and Isha Institute of Inner-sciences. Established by Sadhguru, the centers serve as powerful spaces for inner transformation and raising human consciousness. Located in northern Los Angeles County and Tennessee respectively, the centers offer an array of Yoga and meditation programs within a vibrant and conducive ambience.

You are invited to Free Yoga Day, a monthly open-doors event at the center. On this day, we offer a variety of free sessions dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to take charge of their wellbeing through simple but powerful practices sourced from the Yogic tradition. Learn more at ishausa.org/la

Most of the time, minor bodily conditions are less of an issue than the reactions to them that happen in your mind. How the pranas function within you, how they transact with the rest of the universe, how they enter a newborn, and how they leave the dead all clearly show they have an intelligence of their own.

Shakti Chalana Kriya – Working with Your Prana

It takes a certain level of attention and awareness to know how the five pranas are functioning. The Shakti Chalana Kriya is a fabulous process, but you need to be attentive. It requires you to keep yourself focused for forty to sixty minutes. Most people can’t keep their minds on a full inhalation. Midway, their thoughts wander off, or they lose count or track. It takes months and years of practice to come to a point where you can keep your focus on the breath for the full set of cycles.

That is why Shakti Chalana is always taught in tandem with Shoonya. The Shoonya meditation is to bring yourself to a place where, if you close your eyes, the world is gone in your experience. This is a blessing all of you should earn at some point. Only if you make yourself like this are you capable of staying focused on something. Forceful concentration is not going to achieve anything.

If you close your eyes, the only things that should exist for you are your breath, your heartbeat, processes in your body, and the workings of your prana. Only what is happening inside is life. What is happening on the outside is just imagery.

Staying Focused Is Key

Shoonya and other sadhana are towards that. How far you go is a different question, especially in today’s world. I am not against what is happening today in terms of life around us. But unfortunately, to be flaky has become fashionable – profound is out. With such an attitude, there is no way you can move your attention to how life works within you. This does not mean that it is not possible for every human being – it is. It

all depends on what importance you ascribe to it. If you make it your number one priority, everything within you will organize itself accordingly.

If your priorities are in different directions, you will go all over the place, not getting anywhere in terms of life on a fundamental level. On a social level, you may be getting somewhere. On a physical level, your body is going straight towards the grave – at the most, you can extend the route a little. As far as your mind is concerned, it is going round and round. Only if you focus on the fundamental nature of life will you really get somewhere. The life within you is the only real thing – the rest are just projections. But right now, most of the attention is on projections, not the real thing.

With the Shakti Chalana Kriya, the transformation happens gradually. Taking charge of your prana and its different activities in your system is a fantastic process. The Shakti Chalana Kriya works on that level. If you practice it, you are strengthening the very foundations of your system.

Shambhavi Mahamudra – Beyond Prana

The Shambhavi Mahamudra has the potential to let you touch the dimension that is the basis of all that is. But you cannot actively make it happen. You can only set the ambiance. We always refer to Shambhavi as “she.” There has to be devotion for Shambhavi to yield. You can only come in touch with the source of creation – there is nothing for you to do with it. Shambhavi also has an element of pranayama in it, which brings many benefits.

The important thing about the Shambhavi Mahamudra is that it is a tool to touch the source of creation, which is beyond prana. This could happen on the first day, or you could be doing it for six months, and nothing happens. But if you keep it up, the day will come when you touch this dimension. If you touch it, suddenly, everything is transformed.

TECHNOLOGYANDTHEYOUNGCHILD

Sally Fryer Dietz, PT, DPT, CLC, CST-D

One of the most important aspects of early childhood development is an infant’s visual discovery of the variety and complexity of the world around him. If a baby seldom gets to move—and is always positioned on his back—then he doesn’t get to take big looks at everything surrounding him. Suppose he isn’t allowed to engage visually and have a variety of visual experiences. In that case, it’s very difficult for him to develop eyehand connections and an ability to attach to others. Yet, if he gets too much visual stimulation without the ability to move in response to it, this can be equally—if not even more—damaging to his overall nervous system.

I can’t help but observe a correlation between rising rates

of ADHD and autism and young children’s increasing use of tablets and smartphones. It is shocking how very young children today—even babies—are passively receiving major doses of visual stimulation in two dimensions instead of three. I encounter far too many youngsters who prefer to interact with a television, tablet, or computer screen instead of with their parents, siblings, or peers. Computer games and videos designed for infants and very young children easily overstimulate visual pathways in developing nervous systems. While it may seem like a good idea to keep them quiet or passively entertained for a while, it also keeps them from absorbing critical information from their environment and interacting with others.

I believe there is a direct correlation between this type of sensory input and kids who don’t pay attention to others and, as a result, develop poor social skills. The overstimulating visual input acts like a drug on their young nervous systems, and this excitation of their brains occurs without the critically important physical connection to their bodies that good development demands. This stimulation—disembodied in a very unnatural way—is a potent drug, and we are only just beginning to see the developmental ramifications it’s causing. I recently saw an advertisement for a potty-training seat that had an electronic tablet mounted on it. It was being marketed to busy parents who liked the idea of turning potty training over to a computer software application that purportedly would both instruct and entertain their child—a scary concept if you think about having an electronic device in lieu of a parent teaching their child. There is nothing better for a young child than direct interaction with a parent or another person, whether it is at the dinner table or over a potty chair. Person-to-person connections are critically important in every child’s development. I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that disorders in which children are fixated visually with limited interpersonal connections are increasing so rapidly in a world enthralled with technology. Many suffer unintentionally from their parents’ misguided idea that a computer game can make a child “smarter” in some way.

Movement and physical connections are vital in early life, especially for social development, emotional security, and learning. Without active participation in the world around the developing

child, the greatest opportunities for typical growth and development can be easily missed.

While technology is a great advantage to most of us, I strongly suspect that we are creating a dumber population because of it. Unfortunately, the interruption that COVID has had on all of our lives these past few years has made this even a larger problem, and life has become even more depersonalized. People text each other now instead of picking up the phone to call, and we are still dealing with masks in various situations, making it even harder to read facial cues. More and more people work from home, and “virtual learning” has become a household term. Every day, I see dozens of parents and babysitters pushing babies in strollers while talking on their phones as they make their way down the street, rather than pointing out the colors of different trees on the ground and airplanes in the sky. Do you know how many kids in restaurants are commonly handed their parents’ phones or tablets to keep them quiet at the table?

I know I’m a bit of a crusader regarding toning down our reliance on technology, but it’s because I know from lots of professional experience how much good early development—or its absence—can affect children throughout their school years and even for the rest of their lives. Forget baby videos and their ilk. Entertain your child with peek-a-boo and patty-cake instead of lights and sounds on a bright screen. Make funny faces with your infant child; play airplane games with him. Moving, playing, and discovering are essential elements of your child’s journey.

Sally Fryer Dietz, PT, DPT, CLC, CST-D, is a highly esteemed Doctor of Physical Therapy, developmental specialist, sensory integration expert, lactation counselor, and Upledger CranioSacral Therapy Diplomate and presenter. With unmatched dedication to therapeutic pediatrics and as a devoted mother to two boys with distinct learning styles, she has touched the lives of thousands of children and their families, helping them lead healthier, happier lives. Her innovative therapy methods have garnered international acclaim, making her a true pioneer. Residing in Dallas, Texas, Dietz continues to advocate for the potential within every child to succeed naturally.

Eastern Michigan University

LOSS FUELS THE PASSION professor's for creating COMPASSIONATE classroom with a grant

Iby Melissa Thrasher

n the wake of a personal tragedy, Eastern Michigan University Professor Ron Flowers is channeling his grief into a powerful initiative to foster compassion within the campus community. Backed by a $50,000 grant from the Flinn Foundation, Flowers is leading the charge to create an environment where students feel secure, supported, and understood.

"A year ago, we began to look at the growing need for mental health support services on campus and found students are experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, depression, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts," said Flowers. Viewing this as a crisis, Flowers has taken a public health approach, establishing a campus-wide task force called "Building a Community of Caring."

The task force is charged with developing and implementing a strategic mental health action plan to improve students' mental and behavioral health at EMU

The task force is charged with developing and implementing a strategic mental health action plan to improve students' mental and behavioral health at EMU. The task force will partner with groups like the JED Foundation, a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults, to develop and implement mental health educational opportunities across campus.

"Through a series of speaker events, we want to make the topic of wellness and mental health an ongoing conversation on campus," said Flowers. "It's okay to need support and help; we do that by discussing it."

According to Flowers, implementing compassion into the classroom is as simple as letting students know you care and are there to talk to them. He also believes providing resources for students to access and repeating these messages can help.

Emerson Storlie, an EMU graduate student who advocates for creating compassionate classrooms, said it's important students are also seen as individuals. "Education is not the only part of the college experience," said Storlie. "We also need the space to develop emotionally and mentally. Giving us that space outside and considering that while we may seem okay in the classroom, we may have some stuff happening outside that may affect us academically."

The compassionate classrooms initiative is highlighted in a recent episode of the University's podcast series, "Enlighten U."

About Enlighten U

"Enlighten U" is an Eastern Michigan University-produced podcast for college students as they experience unique stressors, including academic pressures, personal growth, social challenges, and more. EMU executive director of media relations and social media Melissa Thrasher and EMU public relations professor Lolita Cummings serve as co-hosts. Each episode is released each month and welcomes a student or alum and a subject-matter professional. Episodes of "Enlighten U" address mental health topics like imposter syndrome, financial strain, grading anxiety, adjustment to campus life, social media harms, social justice, and more.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public University in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral, and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences, and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors, and concentrations are delivered through the university's colleges of arts and sciences, business education, engineering and technology, health and human services, and graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University's rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities, and announcements, visit EMU Today

Vagus Nerve

by Dr. Navaz Habib

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

ALLOSTATIC LOAD

The reason why we assess all the different forms of stress and the effects that they have had on you throughout your life is to determine your relative allostatic load.

What if there were a cumulative scoreboard of wear and tear that your body had to endure over time? This concept has been discussed and theorized in many books with valid points, including The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and When the Body Says No by Dr. Gabor Maté. Let us briefly review the concept of allostatic load.

HOMEOSTASIS

Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment from moment to moment by regulating various physiological processes. This concept is focused on keeping key physiological variables such as body temperature, blood glucose, hydration, and pH at optimal levels within a narrow range.

The mechanism by which

homeostasis is achieved is through negative feedback loops. We have internal set points organized by central systems (mostly in the CNS), and any deviation from these set points is counteracted through physiological changes to bring the body back to equilibrium. The time frame of homeostasis is very short, concentrating on rapid moment-to-moment adjustments to return the body closer to the internal set points, resulting in stability.

A simple example of a homeostatic mechanism is when your body becomes warm, causing your internal body temperature to rise, and then your homeostatic mechanism of sweating will begin to attempt to cool you down and bring your body temperature back to the internal set point.

ALLOSTASIS

Allostasis is different from homeostasis in that it refers to the broader ability to achieve stability through adaptation to changing conditions over longer periods of time. This is a more nuanced and dynamic process of achieving stability in response to ongoing or anticipated challenges.

Allostatic mechanisms utilize activation of the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system to prepare the body to respond effectively to current or upcoming stressors. Allostatic mechanisms are more complex, involving multiple systems coordinating to manage the physiologic response to present and future stressors. With this, allostasis operates over a longer time frame than homeostasis and must consider the cumulative effects of stressors and adaptations. The focus of allostasis is stability over time, even if that requires temporary deviations from the internal set points.

ALLOSTATIC LOAD

The allostatic load refers to the cumulative effects of stressors and adaptations over time that have resulted in “wear and tear” in the body. The amount of wear specifically has an effect on the capacity of the vagus nerve to handle the stress.

In an acute circumstance, the role of the VN is to relay information to remain in homeostasis, near the set point, but over time and with accumulation of stressors, the VN can become less capable of handling stress as the “brakes wear down.” The idea of the body-keeping score is that the greater the allostatic load, the more stress the body has gone through, and the less

capable it will be of handling future stressors. As such, the accumulation of stressors over time will actually result in an unwanted but necessary new set point or new normal.

This is exactly why we need to train our bodies to be capable of handling stress. The ability to recover from stressors is the role of the VN, and as we go through time, it is inevitable that we will experience stressors. The effect that these stressors have on us and our ability to rebound and come back as close to the initial set point is what determines the size of the allostatic load.

The best way to train our bodies to handle stress is through a concept called “hormesis.”

Hormesis is a biological phenomenon in which we expose ourselves purposefully to a small or moderate amount of stress (emotional, biochemical, or physical, being sure not to enter overload) and learn to actively bounce back to the set point, thus building our adaptive capacity, aka resilience. Learning to upgrade our vagus nerve to handle different forms of stress is the key to decreasing the effect of stress over time and lowering our allostatic load.

The reason why we assess all the different forms of stress and the effects that they have had on you throughout your life is to determine your relative allostatic load. We also want to know what tools you have used in the past and are currently using to build your adaptive capacity and help you build your resilience so that you are well-positioned to handle future stressors.

Dr. Navaz Habib is the best-selling author of Activate Your Vagus Nerve and Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve.

He is the founder of Health Upgraded, an online functional health consulting clinic that supports optimal health by elevating the awareness and function of the vagus nerve, and he is the host of The Health Upgrade Podcast.

After graduating as class valedictorian from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2010, he continued practicing traditional chiropractic for years until he utilized the power of functional medicine to transform his health.

He resumed his lifelong journey to seek answers about everything vagus nerverelated at the Institute of Functional Medicine.

PHOTOGRAPHER

New National Geographic Series

An interview with Dan Winters by Alexia Melocchi

Photographer is a National Geographic six-part series premiered on March 18. It showcases the world's most extraordinary visual storytellers, pairing them with today's leading documentary filmmakers for an exhilarating and dynamic look at the world of unforgettable photography shots. Each hour-long episode follows the story of an iconic photographer — Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen, Dan Winters, Campbell Addy, Krystle Wright, Muhammed Muheisen, and Anand Varma. It is a thrilling journey into the artistry and minds of these iconic photographers and how they see and experience the world.

Dan Winters is one of the most celebrated photographers working today, and he is widely known for his unusual and iconic portraits of celebrities, scientific work, street photography, illustrations, and capturing the "hallowed grounds" of NASA. He won over one hundred national and international awards.

Your distinctive approach to photography often involves incorporating objects into your portraits, creating a narrative and depth. Could you elaborate on the significance of storytelling in your work and why you add specific objects to immerse your subjects in worlds you've created, moving away from neutral backgrounds?

Storytelling is at the heart of photography. If an object contributes to the narrative, I integrate it into the photograph. Building sets and creating environments for subjects, rather than using neutral backgrounds, allows me to place individuals within a context, providing layers to the visual storytelling.

Your interests, such as shipyards and space, often play a role in your work. Can you explain how these interests influence your subject selection and whether you plan your shots or prefer to go with the flow?

My interests stem from my experiences and childhood memories. When choosing subjects like shipyards, I find a connection that adds authenticity to the narrative. Planning is crucial, especially for story-based assignments, to make the most of trips and ensure comprehensive coverage. Whether conceptual or straightforward, I like to create environments, even for single or multi-image portraits, sparking curiosity in viewers.

Your affinity for black-andwhite photography is evident. Why do you prefer this medium, drawing from your early exposure to the darkroom, and how does it contribute to the essence of your storytelling?

Black-and-white photography has always fascinated me, dating back to my earliest exposure in the darkroom at nine years old. The process of working with chemistry and light to bring images to life is

magical. By removing scenes from reality, black-and-white allows me to focus on tone and value, capturing the essence of a photograph without the distraction of color.

In a landscape where technology has made photography accessible to everyone, you've emphasized the distinction between capturing an image and crafting a compelling photograph. Could you elaborate on the role of a professional photographer in today's technologically advanced era?

Technology has removed technical barriers, making it easier for everyone to capture images. However, photography is more than just capturing an image; it's about crafting a compelling, artistically driven photograph. The artist's artistry, sensibility, and voice cannot be replicated by technology alone. While everyone can capture an image, not everyone can create a photograph

Navigating bipolar disorder brought both immense creativity and significant challenges. While creativity flourished, it also posed physical and emotional obstacles. Finding stability became a priority, leading to a realization that life is not just about pursuing a career; it's about being present in the moment and finding triumphs in personal struggles.

Your journey has included navigating bipolar disorder, and you've spoken about both its productive and destructive phases. How has this personal journey influenced your perspective on life and your approach to your work?

Navigating bipolar disorder brought both immense creativity and significant challenges. While creativity flourished, it also posed physical and emotional obstacles. Finding stability became a priority, leading to a realization that life is not just about pursuing a career; it's about being present in the moment and finding triumphs in personal struggles.

Given photography's rich history, leaving a legacy is challenging. My approach involves understanding and studying the motivations and contributions of significant players. While I don't actively think about my legacy, I focus on determining where my work fits in the history of photography. If my images can contribute to the progression of the medium and find relevance in the broader context, that would be a fulfilling legacy.

Your work has received acknowledgment, including a National Geographic episode for this docuseries reflecting its impact on culture and society. What does this recognition mean to you, and how do you hope your work resonates for generations?

The acknowledgment, like having an episode on Nat Geo's "PHOTOGRAPHER," is a testament to my work's influence on culture and society. I hope my work resonates for generations, serving as a cultural and societal touchpoint. The episode reflects the societal and cultural significance of the images I've created, indicating their lasting impact.

In the Series Photographer, we see throughout your

episode that your wife has been your rock—it's been very moving to witness the testimony of her marriage to you, her support of you in your efforts to take compelling photographs, and also her role as the link between you and your son. What made you have a choice at the end of the show when you realize that life, real life, matters more?

For many years, I just focused on staying relevant, staying busy, supporting a family, and a lifestyle. But at the end of the day, we're all flawed beings, and we all have struggles, and our struggles can be our triumphs if we look at them the right way. And I'm grateful that we've been able to address that part of it in the Series.

Your photography, your body of work, was impactful enough to garner you a whole episode on the Nat Geo show. I think that's a testimony to the impact you've made in culture, in society, and hopefully, for many more generations to come.

Photographer Premieres on March 18 on National Geographic and is Available to Stream on March 19 onDisney+ & Hulu

Photos courtesy credit to Dan Winter and National Geographic - Three shipyard workers pose in front of a large vessel at the Dhaka ship

-Dan standing on the steps outside his studio, in black and white. (National Geographic/David Fausto)

-- President Barack Obama photographed at the White House, looking out the window of the Oval Office at the Washington Monument.

-Dan sitting at his desk with an old Rolleiflex camera. (National Geographic/David Fausto)

GO VEGAN

"Animals have souls

Don’t put them in your bowls"

DATING AND ROMANCE FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POINT OF VIEW

By Barbara Y. Martin and Dimitri Moraitis

The topics of dating and romance may seem more suited to the expertise of Dr. Laura, Dr. Ruth, or another romantic counselor rather than those in metaphysics. However, dating is an important part of our spiritual experiences here on Earth. In a romantic relationship, there is an exchange of spiritual energy between two people, which shows up in their auras. How we handle our interactions with others becomes one of the most important lessons we can learn and is a key component in our spiritual growth.

The dynamics of our relationships show up very clearly in the auric field. There is a constant exchange of energy when we are interacting with others. By looking at the color and quality of that energy exchange, one can tell very quickly if the relationship is moving in a productive way.

For example, when two people are romantically compatible,

there will be an orange energy exchange, revealing the enthusiasm and excitement they have for one another, as well as a violet energy exchange, showing that there is peace, serenity, and trust with the other soul. When two people are in love, and that love is genuine, there will be a wonderful exchange of pink light from one aura to the other, and the exchange will be mutually enhancing for both people involved.

What does an aura look like when there is a deep romance? In one case with a young woman who had fallen deeply in love with a young musician, there were active emanations of emerald green, royal blue, and gold radiating from her Hermetic center (heart chakra), showing steadfastness, determination, and strength of soul — this young woman was steadfast in her love for this man. Active emanations of pink radiated in starpoints of light from her emotional center, which showed the actual expression of her feelings of love.

When someone is genuinely, deeply in love, a dominant energy in the aura is a delightful bubbly-pink champagne energy around the entire aura moving in a circular motion, joyously expressing the perpetual state of love and revealing that such a love is being reciprocated. In these types of romantic exchanges, the feelings for one another go beyond sexual attraction — they're best friends, always looking to please the other, putting the other first before themselves.

On the other hand, if two people are dating, but there is little love, the energy will shift. Perhaps the attraction is only physical, or one is jealous or possessive of the other. In these cases, the colors seen can move to gray and dark brown, indicating disharmony, fear, and anger, with the physical lust showing as a dark maroon red and the jealousy revealing itself as dirty avocado green. These types of unenlightened energies will have the effect of depleting rather than strengthening the auric exchange, and most likely, the relationship will be short-lived or potentially abusive.

Love is the bond that draws souls together. It's the essential ingredient in finding romance or in deepening the romance you may be in. Most of us know how important love is, so why can it be so difficult to express at times? Our nemesis is our own human ego — the petty ego, the puffed-up little "i" that keeps getting in the way. Too often, our human nature likes to hold onto its jealousy, anger, and hatred, even though these are the very things that hold us back and make us suffer. Even though it's our nature to love, we get in the way of our own expression of that love when we allow the imperfections of our human ego to take control of our lives.

If you are looking for romance, make sure you are putting yourself out there. Don't just expect love to

fall in your lap. As the saying goes, "Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince (or princess!)." Equally important, rather than looking for that "perfect" person, look at how you are perfecting yourself in a relationship. Are you handling that relationship in the best possible way? Are you kind and giving? Or is your love overly selfish? Also, at the end of the day, dating and romance are about enjoyment, so be sure to enjoy the experience, the mystery, and the adventure of relating to others.

Meditation can help either look for a romantic partner or improve an established relationship. In meditation, envision yourself being showered in a flow of deep rose-pink light. This power is the ray of Divine Love. This power gives you the power to heal any type of friction or create the loving relationship you desire. See this spiritual power opening your heart so you give more of yourself in a relationship. If there is any anger or friction with your romantic partner, envision the pink light helping to heal that friction in love. All human fears, frustrations, loneliness, and worries can be dissolved by the deep rose pink love ray. It is pure unconditional love that gives without thought of return. It's the sacrificial love, the love of service to humanity. This high love leads to the ultimate universal love of God, who loves all of creation equally and unconditionally.

To build your own spiritual love flow in any type of relationship, see others as the spiritual beings that they are. See people in the best possible light and look to the highest in others regardless of what they are showing you. We are all meant to have healthy, harmonious interactions with others. In romance, look more at what you are giving rather than what you are getting. It is this loving exchange that helps carry our souls to greater spiritual heights.

In meditation, envision yourself being showered in a flow of deep rose-pink light. This power is the ray of Divine Love. This power gives you the power to heal any type of friction or create the loving relationship you desire.

Barbara Y. Martin and Dimitri Moraitis are cofounders of the renowned Spiritual Arts Institute. With over 50 years of clairvoyant experience, they have taught thousands to better themselves by working with the aura and spiritual energy. Their award-winning books include the international bestseller Change Your Aura, Change Your Life, Karma and Reincarnation, The Healing Power of Your Aura, Communing with the Divine, and their newest book, Heaven and Your Spiritual Evolution: A Mystic's Guide to the Afterlife and Reaching Your Highest Potential. www.spiritualarts.org.

Outstanding Asian American Women Who Dared event!

China Institute In America and Yue-Sai Kan One World Foundation held the gala on February 27th at Taglyan in Los Angeles for the first time. Over the past two years, the Women Who Dared ceremony has been held in New York City and San Fransisco, respectively, and honored 21 remarkable women who have impacted the world and inspired younger generations. The Third Annual 2024 Outstanding Asian American Women Who Dared charity event was a magnificent celebration of resilience and empowerment.

The Women Who Dared, founded by Yue Sai Kan, is dedicated to honoring and supporting the extraordinary achievement of Asian American Women who have overcome adversity and broken barriers in various fields. The event aims to inspire future generations and foster a community of strength, courage, and innovation among Asian American women.

On this night of glamour, philanthropy, and heartfelt recognition were made to 10 courageous accomplishments and the talented and successful incredible Asian American women, and 9 digital icon influencers who have contributed through their careers to make a difference in our world.

China Institute in America was founded in New York City in 1926 by American educators John Dewey Paul Monroe and Chinese scholars Hu Shi and Kuo Ping-Wen. China Institute is an internationally renowned U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to deepening the world’s understanding of China through art, business, cuisine, culture, and education programs. For more information, please visit Chinainstitute.org.

Yue-Sai Kan One World Foundation is Ms. Yue-Sai Kan’s personal charity and reflects her profound and longstanding passion for connecting people and bettering the planet. Foundation will use social media’s visual storytelling power to bridge cultures and promote a richer understanding between peoples. The multiyear video series, entitled ONE WORLD, starting in 2024, endeavors to span at least three cities each year. ONE WORLD’s goal is to communicate and interact on a deeply personal level, dispel misunderstandings, and promote respect and cultural inclusivity among individuals, societies, and cultures. For more

information, please visit YueSaiKanOneWorldFoundation.org.

Ten extraordinary honorees:

Judy Chu, Congresswoman, 28th District of California

Dr. J. Jean Cui, Co-founder, President and CEO, BlossomHill Therapeutics, Inc.

Lisa Lu, Actress, Film and Theater Producer, Philanthropist, Writer

Chanel Miller, Writer and Artist

Maya Rogers, CEO, Tetris and Partner, Blue Startups

Anne Shih, Chairwoman, Bowers Museum

Shirley Wang, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Plastpro Inc.

Sue Wong, Founder and Designer, Sue Wong

Janet Yang, President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Lu Zhang, Founder and Managing Partner, Fusion Fund

Welcome to our Contributor Writers ' neighborhood

Through the Lens of Love

By Susanna Schroadter

Photo by Klara

Kulikore

CONSCIOUS RELATING: Transforming Attachment Patterns for Deeper Bonds

In the vast continuum of human interaction, relationships form the very tapestry of social connectivity and are the driving force of a heart-centered life. Yet, the beauty of these interwoven connections comes with an array of complexities, often rooted in the very essence of human psychology—the styles in which we attach and interact with one another. Our way of connecting with others is dictated by the early experiences, traumas, hardships, and abuse of early life. Did we have a loving and stable home? Were we neglected or abused? Did we have a parent deep in addiction, who at times was loving and at times neglectful?

The good news is that we are not forever hardwired to suffer unhealthy relationship dynamics due to our upbringing. Once we learn to unpack the mechanisms of attachment, we can begin to see how healing these patterns becomes the precipice for fostering conscious, profound relationships. Healing our attachment style is a profound journey that often involves self-reflection, understanding your past, and fostering secure relationships. By beginning to explore our childhood dynamics, we can understand the roots of our attachment style and start the healing process.

Unveiling the Art of Attachment

Attachment theory, introduced by John Bowlby and later refined by Mary Ainsworth, suggests the bonds we form with caregivers in early childhood heavily influence our patterns of relating to others throughout our lives. Although there are four attachment styles, only one is universally considered healthy, while the others have layers of dysfunction and toxicity. The secure attachment style, characterized by trust, comfort with intimacy, and a sense of connection, is akin to a relational utopia. However, many of us did not survive childhood with a secure attachment style. Through trauma, neglect, or abuse, our ability to trust and connect with others and ourselves is severely hindered; without the awareness of the issues dictating our attachment style, we struggle to create a healthy relationship in our romantic lives.

The Four Paradigms of Attachment

Attachment styles manifest as one of four prototypes: secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized. Each is a portrait of the emotional climate in which we grew up, thereby dictating the future landscapes of our relationships. Those of us who have been raised in inconsistent or neglectful environments often develop an anxious, avoidant, or disorganized attachment style.

A conscious relationship is evidenced by each partner displaying presence, empathy, and an absence of judgment. When we securely attach to another and ourselves, we view relationships as a safe haven or sanctuary rather than a battleground.

Those of us with a secure attachment style seem to innately form balanced emotional bonds, feel comfortable with intimacy, trust our relationships for support, and maintain our independence and sense of self within our relationships. People with a secure attachment pattern generally have a positive view of themselves and their partners. We are capable of handling relationships and conflicts straight on with open communication and understanding. This attachment style develops from consistently responsive and sensitive caregiving, where emotional needs are understood and met in childhood, laying the groundwork for healthy relational dynamics in adulthood.

Anxious Attachment Styles are characterized by a persistent fear of being unloved or abandoned. Those of us who exhibit anxious attachment are often motivated by high levels of intimacy and approval from our partners, most likely due to our trauma from childhood, when we were forced to be hyper-aware of another’s energy for survival; we become very attuned to the needs and desires of our partner in order to handle any situation we feel may

lead to danger or anger. This leads us to act clingy and co-dependent. Originating from unpredictable parental responsiveness in childhood, when at times loved and at times neglected or abused, those of us with an anxious attachment may find ourselves constantly ungrounded and stressed, desperately seeking closeness yet never feeling secure and constantly fearing its loss.

Avoidant attachment styles are marked by discomfort with intimacy and difficulty or complete inability to trust others - that they love us, are loyal to us, or are truthful. With this style, we tend to be emotionally distant and may actively avoid, neglect, or dismiss our own needs for closeness or connection. We may appear aloof or detached, preferring independence and alone time over dependency or intimacy. This attachment pattern is often caused by neglectful or inconsistent caregiving in childhood, where we were taught we must soothe ourselves at all times and that relying upon another created emotional or physical danger. This childhood leads us to believe it is not safe and not possible to find the satisfaction of emotional needs in another.

Photo by Bjorn Pierre

Disorganized attachment styles, sometimes thought to be the most severely dysfunctional, are a mixture of Anxious and Avoidant behaviors, demonstrating a confusing array of responses to closeness and intimacy. When we adopt this attachment style, we may fluctuate between seeking connection and pushing it away. As soon as we find closeness, fears are triggered, and we push them away. Often, the faster we get close, the faster we run, thereby creating unpredictability and instability in. relationships. This pattern stems from experiences of fear or trauma in childhood, typically involving caregivers who were both sources of comfort and fear, with no consistency, such as an addicted parent who at times was loving and at times abusive. Consequently, with a disorganized attachment, we struggle to develop a consistent strategy for managing emotions and relationships, leading to a complex labyrinth of interactions where we can simultaneously desire closeness and distance, thereby creating trauma in our partner

Shadow Issues of Attachment Styles

Our attachment style, especially if it is one of the dysfunctional prototypes, causes issues not only within ourselves in a relationship but within the relationship itself as we are unable to relate in a safe and healthy manner with our partner, and our partner is unable to relate to us.

Recognizing the Shadow

Recognizing our attachment style can be a powerful step toward healing, as it provides insight into our behaviors and allows us to address specific areas of concern in our relationships. An anxious person may be able to recognize their need for acceptance and learn to accept themselves instead of looking outward. Simultaneously, an avoidant person may learn that safety does not come only through isolation

but also through intimacy.

The Art of Healing

The path to healing our attachment styles is one of awareness and inner work. For individuals demonstrating insecure attachments, therapy, and self-reflection are often useful tools for healing. By redefining our story, becoming aware of our trauma, and learning to love and parent ourselves, we create the ability to securely attach to another and form conscious connections. It is not merely the recognition of our attachment style but the actions we then take to heal that lead to transformation.

Secure Attachment and Conscious Relationships

A conscious relationship is evidenced by each partner displaying presence, empathy, and an absence of judgment. When we securely attach to another and ourselves, we view relationships as a safe haven or sanctuary rather than a battleground. Our ability to communicate, resolve conflicts, and maintain boundaries allows us to use the relationship to heal, grow, and evolve, thereby consciousness.

The New Relationship Paradigm

We are moving into an era of conscious relationships—a love where both parties are committed to growth, understanding, and shared experiences. Here, love flourishes not in spite of our vulnerabilities but because of them. We recognize and accept the areas in which we need healing and move through the healing with a belief in ourselves and support from our partners. As we transcend our habitual patterns, we welcome the conscious, compassionate relationship in which we live in the present moment, only using the past to heal. These relationships result in a connection in which individuals come together and unite into a force exponentially greater than just the two of them.

Susanna 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.com

BULLYWindow The

Photo by By nitoAdobeStock

t some point in time, we all wonder, “Why is this thing happening to me; what did I do to deserve this?” There is no doubt that unpleasant and even tragic things happen to good people, and the bottom line, according to my Guide Group, is that we plan the majority of these things. Why would we do that to ourselves? We do it because there’s a lesson that we want to learn, and our soul has chosen to have a specific experience serve as a window of opportunity to learn that lesson. In past columns, to expedite our spiritual growth, we’ve talked about windows of opportunity, relationship villains, and the fact that accidents are not accidents; we plan them. Today, we’re going to take a look at another type of experience that we plan for ourselves: The Bully Window.

I had a lot of experience with bullies in elementary and junior high school. I know the pain of being bullied, and I’ve allowed bullies to make me behave in ways I wish I hadn’t.

There were times I caved to peer pressure, and there were times I resisted it. In fact, if you were looking at a graph showing my popularity during my school years, you would clearly see where I resisted and where I gave in. The Bully window was opened for me so many times that there is no doubt in my mind that this was an important must-learn item on my spiritual “Do” list for this lifetime. As an adult, after spending a great deal of time reviewing my life, looking for life scripts, patterns, and windows of opportunity*, I realized that I learned a great deal from my bully windows. By working with my Guides and becoming aware of the nature of bullies, I’ve learned to recognize bully windows much more quickly than when I was a kid, and I can now take immediate action to put an end to them.

My Guide Group has been very clear in the information they’ve pro-

vided on this subject, and I think that one of the hardest things to come to terms with about a bully window is that we plan for the bullies in our lives. They are a type of relationship villain**, and the learning from this type of interaction is as important to the spiritual growth of the person being bullied as it is to the bully themselves.

Here’s some interesting information about bullies from my Guide Group (the “GG”) to help us gain a better perspective and understanding of this distinct type of relationship villain: “Bullies are an ugly thing, but they are very much a planned occurrence for any given lifetime. When someone bullies you, you feel bad about yourself. Bullies stab at one’s self-esteem and make one feel that they are not good enough or smart enough to fit in with the ‘in the crowd.’ When a soul decides to be bullied in a particular incarnation, it is usually because it wants to work on building confidence and self-esteem. We can tell you, too, that the ‘idea’ of being bullied when you are at the planning table is very different from the actual feeling of the experience during an incarnation. Many things that seem like they will be a breeze to go through when you’re on the planning side of the veil don’t turn out to be easy once you are back in your body.

Being the bully is not a job that souls cherish, and if you look at them, really look at them, you’ll see that they have issues they need to overcome, and the role of the bully gives them the opportunity to do so. The soul who bullies you is most likely a close universal friend because only someone who truly loves you would want to take on such a nasty role. Those that love us want to help us achieve our goals and our growth in the shortest amount of time possible.”

Looking back, there is no doubt that each of my bully experiences was a window of opportunity for learning—they were all pretty much the same and were based on ostracizing someone (think life script here), and they all pretty much went like this: the “in group” decided like didn’t like someone, and if you were friends with that person or continued to stay friends with that person, then you found yourself on the receiving end too. The first time I experienced this, I was in elementary school, and I’m sorry to say that I gave in. The next time I experienced it was in junior high school, and I didn’t give in. I had always felt extremely guilty for what I had done in elementary school, and I wanted to make up for it. For two years after not giving in, I was on the receiving end of a group of bullies, and I lost most of my friends. But I didn’t back down that time—I stuck with my friend, who was the original target of this little band of bullies, learned the lesson, and I never had to go through this particular scenario again. In fact, when I was in high school, I didn’t belong to any clique; instead, I had lots of friends from many different groups.

So, how did I deal with the pain during two years of constant bullying? During those difficult times, I tried my best to ignore them and continue on with my life—I never let them see that what they were saying had any impact on me whatsoever. After a while, I just wasn’t fun for them anymore because they got no reaction from me. I didn’t lose all my friends; I still had a few, and they were a great support group for me, although I had no idea what a support group was at the time.

I noticed that my particular bullies liked to strike when I was alone, so having other people around definitely helped. I continued with my

life and pursued the things that I liked best—I joined clubs, I took the classes that I was interested in, and I excelled at those classes. I developed a great deal of confidence and self-reliance during that time, and I met a lot of people from diverse groups with whom I eventually became friends. But to put a stop to the “bully window of opportunity” repeating for me, I had to take a stand for what I believed in. I had to learn not to cave into peer pressure—that was my big lesson to learn. The bully experience was the tool I used to learn about it.

Because I learned this lesson early in life, I knew how to deal with bullies at work and in my romantic and personal life.

And because I dealt with it early on, it’s a rare thing for a bully to try to push me around now. That’s the great thing about learning a lesson:

We’re done with it, and we get to move on to other lessons and experiences.

We all have different lessons that we want to learn, things that we plan to learn during this incarnation. The best way to figure out how to stop attracting the same unpleasant circumstance, be it a bullying situation or something else, is to do a mini-life review and look for life scripts and patterns. Once you spot them, examine how you acted or re-acted in each situation and make adjustments to your attitude/behavior. Changing the way we deal with a situation that keeps repeating itself is the best way to complete a lesson and go through a window of opportunity. And remember, we planned the bullies in our lives. Hard to accept, I know, but becoming aware of our part in planning unpleasant experiences will help us wake up faster, spot our windows, learn our lessons, and expedite our spiritual growth.

Namaste.

*Windows of Opportunity: Windows are opportunities for growth and learning that we personally designed and created for ourselves while we were on the other side of the veil, planning our present incarnation. Think of your life as a book with chapters, and in each chapter, we insert scenarios or situations constructed to help us learn a particular lesson or have a growth experience. Why look for Windows of Opportunity? Each time we learn a lesson or complete an experience on our “todo” list for this lifetime, we have more time to work on other items on our learning list. The more we accomplish, the more rapidly we mature spiritually. To ensure that we learn a particular lesson that we are intent on learning, we incorporate many possible windows of opportunity into our lives so that if we miss one, we will have another chance to acquire the learning or experience we need and want for our spiritual growth. As we miss one window and go on to another,

the windows become increasingly more dramatic—that is to help us wake up and learn our lesson. Spotting windows “on the ground floor instead of in the penthouse” means that we can learn our lessons with less drama and pain as we start to recognize windows earlier, which, in turn, will help us accelerate our growth so we can more quickly move on to other lessons and experiences.

**Relationship Villains: Relationship Villains are souls who are our closest universal friends when we are on the other side of the veil, but for this incarnation, they have volunteered to play the part of “the bad guy” to help us cross something important off of our spiritual “must learn” list for this incarnation. They might be people who simply annoy us or even those we consider to be our so-called enemies. They are catalysts for learning: They create (or co-create) unpleasant situations that open windows of opportunity for us to learn and grow, or they may take action that forces us to stay on our chosen path--either way, their purpose is to help us accomplish our learning/growth faster; and in what may ultimately be a less dramatic or painful way. Relationship Villains can be anyone, and you will find them everywhere. Look for them, especially in romantic relationships, family relationships, and work relationships. Still, they will also turn up at school, at the grocery store, at the airport, the DMV, and anywhere you happen to be! They can be someone you have an ongoing relationship with or someone you interact with just once or twice. When you learn the lesson, your relationship with your “relationship villain” will become much more palatable (this is usually the case when the “villain” is a family member), or your relationship will end because your mission together is over (as often happens with friends).

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/Sherri CortlandAuthor www.Sherri-Cortland.com

1-Life SINGLE Line Between Life and Death

For generations, living the good life and the challenges that come with it have always been represented culturally by some form of logo or symbol. The Flower of Life being one of the most wellknown within the global sphere. It has been said, and a significant number of books and articles have stated, that the risks, the challenges, and the struggles we face are the primary learning curves for all humans to evolve if we are to be successful in traversing the one-line that exists between birth and death.

There are so many words written on how to live a good life because if only we could wrap our heads around this vast subject, it would be our magnificence that the magician pulls out of his hat, not the rabbit.

Life is so good!

Is it just today, or has it always existed how humans have verbally over-emphasized the suffering and horrors that exist in the world? What if the grand illusion of living in paradise is actually a real thing? And when or if one acts and arrives at this conclusion, one's river begins to flow with absolute amazement. Sadly, even when the river does flow, we allow it

to go unnoticed, give our ego credit, look to the stars, or call it by a false, meaningless name; it's just "good luck."

We harm ourselves, by not acknowledging respect and gratitude.

For generations, living the good life and the challenges that come with it have always been represented culturally by some form of logo or symbol. The Flower of Life being one of the most well-known within the global sphere. It has been said, and a significant number of books and articles have stated, that the risks, the challenges, and the struggles we face are the primary learning curves for all humans to evolve if we are to be successful in traversing the one-line that exists between birth and death.

There are so many words written on how to live a good life because if only we could wrap our heads around this vast subject, it would be our magnificence that the magician pulls out of his hat, not the rabbit.

Life is so good!

If science states the universe is expanding, and humans are also part of this universe, do you think the obvious also applies to us? You are1-line, 1-life,1-source. Human, you are a powerful story!

Is it just today, or has it always existed how humans have verbally over-emphasized the suffering and horrors that exist in the world? What if the grand illusion of living in paradise is actually a real thing? And when or if one acts and arrives at this conclusion, one's river begins to flow with absolute amazement. Sadly, even when the river does flow, we allow it to go unnoticed, give our ego credit, look to the stars, or call it by a false, meaningless name; it's just "good luck."

We harm ourselves, by not acknowledging respect and gratitude.

Every written word on how to live a life is a crude explanation explained, expressed, and encased in one's limited language. It never quite delivers the baby or the real essence that brings one into self-generated wholeness, a true and accurate connection of one's state of being! Even the word connection delivers a false representation. It's the thinking mind game. How can there be any connection if we already exist with the 1-source?

Have you ever noticed how these traditional life symbols, which exist in all cultures, having been

handed down through the generations and survived, are also exact replicas of how we describe nature, the earth's natural world? How does one know this? All symbols are mathematically represented and attached to the language of numbers. For example, the Flower of Life, a Hexagram endowed with the number 6. The 8-sided Octagon represents the 8 directions, and the 5-star Pentagram has many meanings, and so on. I'm not sure if it's OUR natural world, considering how disrespectful we are towards nature.

A single line, represents the number 1.

One-life, one-love, one-source, one-earth, one-thought, onedeath. When we witness the essence within this, one realises, all number 1's are identical energetic quantum structures, all parading as a variety of shapes in a multitude of different forms. Definitions compel us to perceive each individual form as a separate entity, as do good and bad, black and white. What becomes painfully obvious is that one's view of everything is tiny compared to what we are missing. Intelligence overrides awareness, and at what cost to the 1-individual, the 1 country, the 1-earth, this 1 life?

Our greatly misguided, misunderstood and the mistaken identities in how we view this earths reality can be observed thanks to our "duality" state of thinking. All overemphasised, as the imperfections within our crude language tells us so. Also cemented in these labelled definitions are our beliefs, which continuously promote delusions within one's limited thinking mindset. The out of the box thinking concept didn't appear in business by mistake! It was born out of necessity. And then we sold it as a pattern!

When we look at the black, white, yin-yang symbol, are they not both representations of the one-single source of light? It's only through one's perception, that which is viewed, that we converse as comparisons via our language, and we always manage to communicate in some form of dualistic terms. Yet, in reality, they do not exist separately. It's merely an idea, an uneducated mind thinking and believing "thought" is actually, of itself, a real existence.

Nothing more,

Nothing less.

We know that length, width, and depth give us 3D, yet what is even more strange is that we only observe and perceive the world at face value, as length and breadth, in 2D. Here it comes, for example, taking a coin and observing just the edge. What one sees is just a line from the left side to the right side. A length and a height, due to thickness, is a 2D image. When we turn the coin to observe its face, we see a circle, also a 2D image, which was initially hidden behind the single edge as 1 line. What capacities, secrets, and untold beauty exist in life and are actually hidden from our limiting perception? Do not worry; a 1-microchip implanted in the head will overcome the issue.

Yes, it really doesn't mean anything until you say yes, it does. That discovery is waiting for you to catch up.

If we view the world, one's life, and all else from a single point of view (belief), as if they are a single line, unlike the turning of the coin, how much of life do you think you may have missed, will miss? If we live 1-life and see it as a single timeline from birth to death, what treasures, adventures, and insights did we unknowingly

bypass? Within our limited timeline, is it really worth chasing all our "thinks and wants" and imagining this is all one requires to create a life? Especially if we don't LOVE whatever it is that is keeping us busy, the job, our partner, and success, while running down this 1-line life to the very end.

While running down the line, let us investigate your 1-body. The average life expectancy is approximately from around 1900, with men 73, women 75, and 2024 men 73.2, and women 79. You may have heard the old saying, how far can you walk into a forest, halfway, the other half you are walking out? Keep this in mind when contemplating and then engaging in your strategies for maintaining good health to the end. It may appear that one's amount of time is endless, but unfortunately, one can easily place this vital asset on the back burner mistakenly! Now is an excellent time to review one's existing strategies. Are they in need of an update? Remember, none is a strategy.

1-LOVE

There are not enough words in any language to describe how important Love relates to how we journey down this single human 1-life path. Today, humans appear to be over-infatuated with becoming enlightened, extraordinary, and something or other while forgetting one already has a foundation to be discovered. Ask what sacrifices the self endures when running the show. After surviving the past, we still label life as those hard times.

Is it possible you are still able to recognize the beauty, the strength, the profound essence of one's exceptional 1-Quality? Regardless of one's thoughts, regardless of any form of power-thinking, written, spoken, or unspoken, and definitely regardless of one's past imperfections, recognize that 1-Quality still exists today, waiting for you to engage. Acknowledge that you are the magnificence that exists in this earthly domain! Start by doing this in silence; if necessary, tell no one. Continually acknowledge and maintain this belief via gratitude in one's existence as you live that 1-line 1-life.

Life is a symbol of infinity. Computer language is also written and contained in a 1-line, a repeated reflection of our 1-line life. Consisting of one straight line (number 1) and one straight line curved until the two ends reach one another (number zero). Zero also represents another symbol for infinity and the 1-source. The straight 1-line life we engage in begins between entering from the source and re-entering back into the source; The curved line represents all that exists outside this earthly dimension. Both are written via a code-symbolising a combination of mathematical numbers and symbols. This demonstrates we came from our source before birth and entered back into the source after death.

These are the exact same numbers and symbols every tradition has used to represent its culture. And yet again, it is the exact same language of numbers science uses to explain, recognise, and communicate how nature and the cosmos generate themselves in their repeating growth cycles.

Does difference really exist in reality, or does it only exist in humans'

misconceived mindsets? Will humans ever be able to think outside of their educated boxes?

Lets experiment. Science and the "3 guess it" process.

The process of how to live 1-life is the same as it has always been down through the ages. As was said by Richard Feineman sixty years ago. Science discovers by first guessing what something might be; for us mortals, the guess is called imagination. Next, science calculates the consequences; imagine if we, creatives, corporations, and you know who applied the same process. Finally, we compare the results and the experience with NATURE by observation. Is the experiment correct or a NO? Unfortunately, today, the enterprise has somehow added in-between a thousand grey areas to confuse and direct an outcome. Thinking will do that to a human.

If everything in nature is working, then so is your 1-life if you don't interfere with the process. You mess it over is when you "think" you know something via your educated mind. Better yet, it is through misunderstanding one's life experiences and classifying them as good or bad. Bad is holding onto stuff incorrectly observed and making it a belief that creates anchors to one's life, no forward motion. Good is real and evolving in forward motion. Wake up!

If science states the universe is expanding, and humans are also part of this universe, do you think the obvious also applies to us? You are1-line,1-life,1-source. Human, you are a powerful story!

CHOOSE

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HOW Experience Peace in The Midst of a Major Life Transformation

Have you ever found yourself living life, but not really, because great changes were underfoot and you had no idea what tomorrow would bring? There are countless possibilities of how being suspended in the unknown can change us. Keep reading and discover how you can stay empowered and find peace while standing in the middle of a major life transformation.

This feeling of waiting for the Universe to deliver the next chapter of your life can seemingly drag out beyond time. This change might be planned and happy, like starting a new job. It also might come in the form of medical test results, which will hopefully free you from worry.

However, a significant life alteration occurs, time will seemingly stand still. This experience can shift our reality and open our minds to higher vibrational thinking and experiences.

It is true; it happened to me. At one point, I remember my anger and fear echoing through all my thoughts. I was standing in the middle of huge waves of change, with no idea where to go, and then I found peace.

Photo by Olga Nevajno

What Comes with Change?

The shift in your reality will not stay as intense as it felt on the first impact of change; it will offer a lasting metamorphosis on the way you interact with the Universe.

Self-discovery is inevitable in times of change. As your world evolves you get to interact with new thoughts and experiences. This might come with a huge learning curve and growth experience.

Change always brings in new energy for us to connect with. It is a very powerful tool for healing lifelong patterns and even resolving karmic lessons.

My Story

I am about to share a very abridged version of what happened to me when my life changed unexpectedly. About fifteen years ago, I was living in Alaska, raising three children, volunteering a ton, and running marathons.

My life was not balanced, to say the least. As I continued this path, I began getting tired, slowing down, and noticing weird cardiac arrhythmias. I did not see a doctor until my running tanked, and then the wheels fell off the bus. I had lost my vitality.

I could not run anymore and became very familiar with the Anchorage medical system. I underwent very invasive cardiac catheters, treadmill tests, labs, and many more.

I was so exhausted by the physical breakdown and the waiting that sometimes I would slip into a semi-conscious state of awareness. It seemed like my life was unraveling.

At first, I resisted the seemingly forced change. I wanted answers and was very angry about my world being turned upside down.

Without warning something else be-

gan to emerge through the anger. It was beyond my control. Before long I started to connect with a sense of peace. It was like I was completely submerged and breathing in a completely different way of being. My stress was gone and I surrendered to the unknown. I must clarify that it was almost impossible for me to not surrender and experience this life altering reality shift. I believe the intense energy of change created this portal to other realms or ways of being.

I eventually went to the Cleveland Clinic. It took two trips, but I had most of my answers. My life was very slow and simple. I meditated for hours. This was part of my healing, but again, I surrendered to the process.

My journey included more than just a physical shift. It was deeply spiritual and felt on a cosmic and soul level. One of the first things I was able to do was channel messages from a higher collective. I obtained a completely different understanding of the Universe, energy, you, and I.

It took several years for me to recalibrate and move through the world that you and I share, while staying connected to a higher consciousness or understanding of life.

My deep transformation took place while I was waiting for my life to return to some semblance of normal. The powerful combination of standing still in the churning energy of change stripped me of many things that no longer served me. This process put me on my truest path.

It would take a book to write all the ways life evolved for me when I stopped waiting and surrendered to the process of an energetic transformation. My ability to let go and just experience opened the doorway to my psychic abilities.

My deep transformation took place while I was waiting for my life to return to some semblance of normal. The powerful combination of standing still in the churning energy of change stripped me of many things that no longer served me. This process put me on my truest path.

I also want to add I am still very much human and vulnerable to life’s challenges:)

How To Experience Peace in An Energetic Transformation

Implement a grounding practice. This can be meditating, sitting outside, walking, or spending time with animals.

Practice reminding yourself of what you know to be true. It might be as simple as recognizing the way you have been strong and navigated challenges in the past. It might be recognizing your support system. Remember your high vibrational truths.

Do not spiral into fearful thoughts during times of change. Come up with a way to stop yourself from drowning in fear. Reach out and call a friend, get a therapist or a life coach, and find ways to shift your energy.

Recognize what you are resisting in your life. Most likely, this is related to fear, and you are attempting to control an outcome. For example, at first my fear was that I would never run again. I was able to make peace with this when bigger things were at stake, like my vitality and even life.

Surrender to the process. Let go of the grip and expectations of what life needs to look like. There is a huge world out there that promises many opportunities. During energetic transformations, things are not meant for you to fall away.

During major energetic transformations, allowing things to change organically is key. Do not strategize! Move slowly, and do not make long-term plans or commitments. Simply wait for the way to appear.

Trust that your guardian angels and guides are working overtime

to get you on the right path. Use this mindset to help you surrender and connect to the higher vibrations of peace and love.

Meditation is very helpful in times of change. Even if you simply sit and say what you are grateful for. This will shift your energy.

Prayer is a huge part of moving through a transformation. Talk to your higher power about everything. This can be very helpful in the process of surrendering and experiencing peace.

Practice deep breathing when you are feeling overwhelmed. Close your eyes and pause between the exhale and the inhale. Notice the stillness. This is a great way to reset your energy.

Everybody’s story of transformation will look and feel different. Our spiritual evolution takes place on many levels. The key is staying open to the changes that come along and allowing them to take away what does not serve you. Have faith that your transformation will also bring what is aligned with your best life.

End of Story

I am currently under contract to sell my home. This is exciting and exactly what I wanted, but it is also stressful. After I move, the timing of it all will evaporate, and I will only be left with the finished product of successfully moving. I know there will be days that I need to talk myself off the ledge, but I have the tools to shift my mindset and energy.

If you are experiencing a big change in your life, try implementing some of the above practices. If one thing does not work, choose another. Little by little, your energy will shift, and you will be surprised by how your life finds a new way of flowing. Remember, you can always choose again, so have fun in the process.

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 Dulce García-Morman, Ph.D.

OUR MENTAL HEALTH SELF-CARE:

HLIFE COACHING HONORING

ere we are in April, quickly approaching May, which has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S. since 1949. I thought it would be appropriate to get an early start on this very critical topic, especially after the mental health challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, I'd like to introduce the reader to the benefits of life coaching, an industry that has been growing rapidly in the last decade and may offer people an interesting alternative to more traditional forms of mental health counseling.

When considering whether to seek out a life coach or a therapist, it is important to understand the difference between these two approaches. A mental health therapist is a licensed professional providing psychotherapy services, and while a life coach is not a licensed healthcare professional, they may have educational backgrounds in psychology, counseling, leadership training, and related areas. States do not require coaches to be licensed or certified, but many do choose to seek voluntary certification on their own from organizations that have established credentials and evidence-based standards of practice. It is also important to note that therapists, unlike coaches, can

diagnose mental health conditions and have the skill set to deal with disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, etc. Therapists employ mental health strategies such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), EMDR, brain spotting, and IFS (internal family systems), to name a few. The latest interventions in the treatment of trauma also include working with embodied/somatic practices that help to locate where the body is storing traumatic memory and then applying bodycentered practices that help to liberate the trauma. Most of this novel trauma work has been influenced by pioneers in the field of the body's role in trauma, such as Bessel Van der Kolk, Janina Fisher, Tara Brach, and Peter Levine., among others. This work has also increasingly integrated mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga.

Aside from licensing issues, the objectives of a life coach and a therapist are also different. In general, therapists work with clients on unpacking the past and understanding how their past experiences influence their current behaviors and emotional states. Unpacking the ways in which the past is driving the present generally requires a long-term relationship with a therapist. In contrast, life coaches do not encourage clients to explore the past.

Coaching is future-oriented in that clients are encouraged to figure out what they can do in the present to help them reach their goals.

"According to ICF (International Coaching Federation) statistics, "Life coaching is one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S., with more than 26,000 professional coaches working in North America in 2020."In the U.S. alone, the life coaching industry is forecasted to bring in US$ 2.1bn in revenue by 2023, with a growth rate of 4.85 2023-2030. According to ICF, "the need for coaches is on the rise in the United States as more people seek guidance and inspiration on a variety of topics, including personal development, finding a work-life balance, work performance, relationships, mental health, and other topics" (grandviewresearch.com).

In my opinion, and as a life coach myself, the rigid boundaries between coaching and therapy are probably more fluid in actual practice. Depending on the experience level of the coach, coaching interventions can have a deep therapeutic effect. Problems related to anxiety, depression, loss of motivation, personal and professional identity, mid-life conflicts, and other existential life issues often find resolution with a coaching approach. Coaches tend to focus on specific areas of expertise and are motivated to have their clients move forward relatively quickly. Many coaches stay within a 6-12 coaching session model and may refer the client to therapy if he/she is unable to make reasonable progress within that period. I personally offer a 5-session package, which seems to work exceptionally

well for most people who are experiencing the usual issues that life throws at us but are not dealing with significant trauma or mental health conditions

According to London-based coach Nick Hatter, there are other reasons why people seek out his services versus psychotherapy. One example he gives is that a coach is not as rigid as a therapist when it comes to sharing their own experiences and life stories. While this needs to be done very strategically, it can help a client feel a sense of "oh, I'm not alone in this dilemma," and it can strengthen the bonds of mentoring and sharing of life lessons between coach and client. This has a different flavor than the more "regulated" or "formal" patient-clinician relationship. Another aspect of coaching that Hatter mentions, and which I relate to in my own experience, is that coaches can be more challenging with their clients. While empathy and listening are essential for coaches, I also take advantage of opportunities to challenge or stretch my clients beyond their comfort zones. A coach must evaluate whether the client has the ego strength and the curiosity for those "mental and existential workouts," but I normally find that once a client gets through a couple of these "stints," they will request going to the edges in future sessions. Both coaches and therapists must learn to dance with the uniqueness of each person, which brings challenge and beauty into the process of "being with another" in the spirit of service.

Individuation is the process of becoming whole, integrating hidden aspects of self (our shadow aspects) into conscious awareness and thus embracing the whole individual.

Another reason why people may be increasingly drawn to coaching is that there are a variety of specializations available, with coaches whose life experiences and passions vibe with theirs. Areas of focus in coaching include entrepreneurship, mindfulness/ spirituality, weight management, mid-life transitions, professional/leadership development, and writing/artistic expression, among others. Within these areas of expertise, which usually come from the coach's professional and educational background, there are also specific coaching approaches or models. All coaching is generally designed around helping clients develop self-development skills that can assist in conquering obstacles that have gotten in the way of achieving goals. There are assessment tools that can be quite useful in coaching, such as personality tests like the MBTI and Enneagram, that can shed light on our personality structure and how we're psychologically wired -I call it our preferences for how we show up in the world.

And just like in the field of psychotherapy, there are coaching schools based on depth psychology and transpersonal psychology. These coaching interventions are framed around the exploration of the unconscious mind and the spiritual and transcendental aspects of the human experience. For example, I'm a Jungian-trained coach, meaning that I help clients explore solutions by emphasizing the process of individuation. Individuation is the process of becoming whole, integrating hidden aspects of self (our shadow aspects) into conscious awareness and thus embracing the whole individual. For this to happen, we must learn the important skill of holding the tension between opposite aspects of ourselves and not choosing

the "good" over the "bad" in us but integrating the dark and the light as a normal part of the human experience. This integration requires a good dose of self-compassion and self-love, which can only be offered to others when we have cultivated it in ourselves. The exploration of the unconscious mind and the work of integrating our fragmented selves into a co-existing whole, without judgment or shame, is deep and rewarding inner work. This exploration of the psyche, this "coming home to the self," can help in the resolution of issues related to depression, anxiety, and loss of identity, especially when they present as part of a mid-life crisis. According to Jung, the mid-life crisis is inevitable for most of us -it is the soul waking up and nudging us to honor those things that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. The mid-life conundrum is the soul's calling to wake up to the totality of being -the good, the bad, and the uglywhich allows us to show up for ourselves and for others authentically, in our original blueprint as it was meant to be from the day we took our first breath.

Regardless of what form of mental self-care we choose, it is important to find a therapist, a coach, or a mentor who understands the human need to be heard and to be seen. The stigma around mental health is slowly lifting, and awareness of this issue is louder than ever after the COVID crisis, a time of isolation, fear, and uncertainty when the rug was pulled from under our collective humanity. We will all need help from time to time in this difficult and beautiful human journey, and the road is easier when we can hold our heads high as we reach out to a helping hand.

Dulce García-Morman, Ph.D. is founder of Life-Is-Art Equine Assisted Learning & Coaching. She has facilitated learning and therapeutic experiences through the horse-human connection for the past 17 years. Dulce’s practice draws from different wisdom traditions and is strongly oriented toward a Jungian approach to the restoration of the authentic Self.For more information, visit https://life-is-art.us/

By Jan Wakefield, M.A.

DISCOVERING the Magic of Sedona

Of the states I have visited, the one that far surpasses the others for unique and wonderful places to explore is Arizona. I'll admit I may be biased because I lived there for thirty-three years and explored nearly every square mile of that gorgeous state. From the funky former copper mining town of Bisbee in the south to the stunning Lake Powell in the north, and from tiny Snowflake in the east to the London Bridge in the east, I visited nearly every monument, fabulous hiking trail, funky little town, and state park. None of them left a more indelible mark on my spirit than Sedona.

Driving up the mountain on Interstate 17 from the Valley of the Sun to Sedona, I remembered how my first trip to Sedona, over thirty years ago, was spontaneous and utterly surprising. A friend asked me to go for a motorcycle ride. Being young and adventurous, I tied my hair back and reached out for the helmet, not even knowing the destination. On our way

through the mountains from Prescott to Sedona, we passed the eerie town of Jerome. Once a thriving mining town, the population nearly dried up in the 1950s when the ore deposits dwindled. Today, Jerome is hip and attracts many visitors, but a few decades ago, it was a dilapidated jumble of dwellings threatening to fall off the mountainside should a strong wind pass through. My fascination was shortly replaced by a jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring view of Sedona.

As I stood atop Airport Mesa, the vibrant hues of the approaching sunset painted the sky in an array of oranges, pinks, and purples. The landscape below seemed to pulsate with an energy I had never felt before, and I instantly became a devotee of the red rock vibes. Little did I know that the spot where we stopped was one of the most powerful vortexes in Sedona, and I was on my way to revisit that first spot where I had that deep connection with the land.

Sedona isn't just a beautiful place for tourists passing through on the way to the Grand Canyon. It is a haven for spiritual seekers

Unlike my spontaneous first trip to Sedona, my recent journey began with a desire to reconnect with my inner self and explore the spiritual vortexes in the area. As I arrived in this enchanting town nestled amidst the red rock formations of the Arizona desert, I knew I had found the perfect sanctuary for my inward retreat. My first stop on the way to the resort was Airport Mesa. Recreating my first moment in Sedona all over again, I put my phone on a tripod, and my arms were wide enough to strike the same exact pose. After checking in and unpacking my suitcase, I sank into a comfy chair on the porch of my creekside villa and planned my long weekend, comforted by the sound of Oak Creek tumbling over the rocks.

Early the next morning, I visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a stunning architectural marvel built into the mountainside in Oak Creek Canyon. In addition to a weekly mass, the Roman Catholic church hosts visitors from around the world with the same reverence. As I stepped inside the chapel, I was overwhelmed by a sense

of peace and serenity. The sunlight filtering through the massive windows cast a beautiful glow on the modest benches and simple altar at the front of the church. Rows of candles lined the walls. I lit a candle for each member of my family and offered a silent prayer, feeling a profound connection to something greater than myself. I descended into the underground gift shop to make my ritual purchase of a handmade bracelet to add to my already unique collection. Emerging into the sunlight from the extremely narrow staircase crowded with visitors left me feeling reborn.

Sedona isn't just a beautiful place for tourists passing through on the way to the Grand Canyon. It is a haven for spiritual seekers, and I intended to visit the vortexes and experience all the things I couldn't afford on my previous trips. The next day, I embarked on a guided hike through Boynton Canyon, a sacred site revered by the indigenous people for its spiritual significance. Known as Che Ah Chi, Boynton Canyon is sacred to the Yavapai-Apache people. With a small group, I hiked to the

sacred vortex for the ceremony. We traversed the winding trail surrounded by towering cliffs and ancient juniper trees; I could feel the energy of the land pulsating beneath my feet. It was a powerful sense of grounding. We sat at the site of the vortex. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be enveloped by the natural beauty around me. Letting go of all worries, I surrendered to the drumming and a guided meditation that transported me into timelessness. Following the ceremony, I quietly walked toward the car in a blissful haze of contentment.

Vortex sites are places where the earth's energy is believed to be particularly strong and conducive to spiritual healing and transformation. My next vortex was Cathedral Rock, known for its towering spires and breathtaking views. As I hiked up the rocky terrain, I could feel the energy shift around me, a subtle but palpable sensation that seemed to awaken something deep within my soul. I found a quiet spot, blessedly devoid of others, overlooking the valley below and sat in silent meditation, allowing myself to be open to whatever experiences the vortex had to offer. In prayer, I asked for specific guidance. In those moments of stillness, I felt a profound sense of clarity and insight wash over me, and the answers to life's mysteries suddenly slipped through the veil between the worlds.

That night, not more than an hour after sunset, the stars in the vase Sedona sky sparkled down on me, blessing me with their magic. Imagining the Sinagua living amongst the incredible natural wonders, graced by the natural light show in the dark sky, and living without the noise of modern society left me feel-

ing a bit envious of what it must have been like to be a steward of that magnificent land prior to the veritable explosion of tourism and development.

Sedona offered more than just spiritual experiences; it was also a place of healing and rejuvenation for my body and mind. On my last day at the resort, I indulged in a spiritual massage, where the practitioner combined massage with Shamanic healing. Using long, fluid strokes along the length of my body, the massage therapist sang, chanted, and called in my spirit guides to clear my energy field. Immediately following, I had an invigorating crystal healing session, where precious gemstones were placed on my body to balance my energy centers and promote inner harmony. Feeling like every cell in my body was inspired by new information, I floated back to my villa for one of the best nights' sleep I'd ever had.

On my final morning in Sedona, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the experiences I had been blessed with during my journey. I visited this mystical desert town seeking rejuvenation, and I forged a deeper connection to myself and the world around me. It was amidst the majestic red rock formations that I truly felt the transformative power of Sedona. As I boarded the plane to return home, I carried with me the memories of my time in Sedona, the breathtaking vistas, the sacred sites, and the moments of quiet reflections under the stars. Thirty years ago, Sedona opened my eyes to the beauty and wonder of the universe, and I have always carried its magic with me, a guiding light on my journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

A lifelong traveler and educator, Jan Wakefield sees the world as a vast opportunity for expanding her understanding of the human condition.

For her, travel equals transformation. Jan’s passion for travel and decades of experience as a personal transformation coach are the foundation for her international retreats, where people release who they once were and embrace who they want to be through meditation, relaxation, and a gentle return to self.

In addition, Jan plans to visit all 195 countries in the world and share her experiences with readers and audiences worldwide.

For more about Jan’s transformational retreats and programs visit

http://jan-wakefield.com

By Joey Santos, Jr.

Do We Really Ever Say Goodbye?

Irecently celebrated the life of my Father, who transitioned eight years ago. For a relatively "still young" man, I've experienced my share of goodbyes. My Mother died young, at age 50, a brother at the age of 18, and a sister who we lost at 16. Tragic, heartbreaking, unimaginable, devastating. Pick an adjective to describe the pain and suffering we endured as a family when it comes to the loss of loved ones, and I'm sure they'd fit.

What doesn't fit for me is the noun, goodbye. Even at the age of 10, when I experienced the loss of my brother, did I utter the word goodbye? Something deep inside me, even with as little as I knew of life back then, I didn't feel it. I felt many emotions, from sadness to confusion to anger, but I never recognized the finality in front of me. To this day, decades later, I still don't. Call it faith or a sense of something bigger and more powerful waiting for us way above and beyond the tangible, bringing me a sense of calm and peace. Or a patience that allows me to respect, reflect, and appreciate the laws of nature. Maybe it's God's way of keeping us sane through the pain. Whatever it is, I've yet to give in saying goodbye. How can we?

Every memory, every reminder, is alive and thriving. As far back as I can remember. A song. A painting. A scene. A scent. A moment. A split second. They're back again. Teaching us, reminding us, laughing with us, loving us, listening to our every thought, understanding, and supporting us. Even embracing us again with the breeze's caress or the sun's warmth and yelling at us in the sound of a crashing wave or the roar of thunder, whistling at us from some bird on a branch or singing to us once again through the song of a distant loon skimming over a lake.

The way we say goodbye or not say goodbye is important to remember. For if we forget, did we ever say hello?

Whatever is meant to be learned from this life and death, there is, has been, and will continue to be plenty. Let's celebrate the win, the loss, the here, there, and in-between.

I choose to look around me, above me, and beyond me. There is still a whole bunch of amazing waiting for us somewhere. Why would we want to say goodbye to that?

Joey Santos is a Celebrity Chef, Life Stylist & Co-Host of The Two Guys From Hollywood Podcast on Spotify. 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

Photo by Klara Kulikov

DPA introduced Fashion Drug by Anahit Designs

In the heart of Beverly Hills, Nathalie Dubois, the founder of DPA, hosted the event that introduced Oscars nominees and DPA guests to the world of Anahit Ghazaryan.

Anahit Ghazaryan, Founder and Creative Director, is an Armenian designer who founded the Fashiondrug brand, which displays Armenian products and fabulous handmade couture designs for strong and confident women. The elegant event invited the guests to sip Perduret champagne while browsing the store. A special gift from Anahit was offered to all the guests who attended.

The brands represented in the DPA gift bags were;

Rule Cosmeceuticals, Oshri Hakak books, Kings of Prohibition wines, Vincenzo Spinnato, Hypnomagnetism, Élevé Water, Blumenes, Fly by Jing, Giovanissa De Luca Real Estate, Ere Perez cosmetics, Augustinus Bader, Edna’s Coffee, Beach Sandy, Jessica Cosmetics, Girlactik Beauty, Impo International shoes, Curifly, Apricoty, Nocco energy drink, and Barebells

Discover the epitome of luxury and refinement at the heart of Beverly Hills, where every corner exudes elegance and sophistication. From haute fashion to exclusive designer accessories, this store curates a meticulously curated selection that epitomizes luxury.

Immerse yourself in a world of timeless style and unparalleled craftsmanship, where each piece tells a story of exceptional taste.

Location:

9633 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills.

Designer stylist Anahit Ghazaryan founded the Fashion Drug brand in 2015. She started her creative career by making brooches when that trend was not widespread in Yerevan. Thanks to her innovative techniques and unique design models, she quickly gained recognition not only in Armenia but also abroad.

A Day With Don Miguel Ruiz

by Horace Williams, Jr.

Several years ago, I shared a rough draft of an inspirational film entitled The Birth Of Innocence with Sunset Pictures CEO Martin Guigui. Martin's family was close friends with Don Miguel Ruiz (author of The Four Agreements). One night after dinner, Martin showed Don Miguel the DVD I had sent of this film.

In the beautiful manner in which Don Miguel frames deeply spiritual concepts in simple, practical terms, the film reached him in much the same way. It was dreamlike and evocative but also spiritually down-to-earth and authentic. The film resonated so profoundly with Don Miguel that he offered to narrate part of it - something he had never done before.

Two personas take turns 'narrating' this film, not as actual narrators, but more accurately as disembodied presences. The parts can be described as The Voice Of Stillness and The Voice Of Human Experience. The Voice Of Stillness can be thought of as our core essence speaking directly to us, and The Voice Of Human Experience is the collective voice of humanity as expressed by one individual. Don Miguel was a perfect fit for the latter.

Once the resources were in place for a voiceover session, I flew to LA and began prep with Martin at his home. He's bilingual, so we eventually spent an evening constructing a Spanish version of Don Miguel's part to release the film in Spanish.

While working, Martin confided that Don Miguel had expressed nervousness about the role. We all see Don Miguel as an eminently accomplished public speaker, but this was something completely different - for him. He had never done a voiceover session or appeared in a film before, especially in English, which we all forget is not his first language. I asked Martin to call him, and I explained that I had already helped about a dozen other people with no experience to do test parts and would provide clear guidance. I told him I knew he would be fantastic and was perfect for the part.

I had stewarded several inexperienced candidates through successful recordings for this film, including an eight-year-old girl named Vanya Vermani, who ultimately won the part of The Voice Of Stillness. I had discovered her listening to an interview she did as the winner of a musical award on public radio and knew instantly she was the right voice and persona for the part: strong, yet humbleperfect enunciation - the sweet innocence that the part required. I contacted her parents through the station, and we all gave it a go.

The method I used with Vanya (and with all the others prior) was the following: I'd send the script in advance for their review.

I'd encourage them to read it occasionally and never 'practice' it. I assured everyone that they need not worry about how to do it "right" and that I would provide clear guidance.

At the recording session, I explained that we'd be following a procedure doing three takes, and I explained the reasoning behind each take to build confidence

The first take would be letting them take a crack at it with no direction whatsoever and no judgment or response from me. I did this because they might provide an inflection or approach to a phrase I would never have thought of myself.

In the second take, I would lead them lineby-line with the exact phrasing that I knew had been successful in previous takes with others. They would respond by literally copying my phrasing line-by-line.

I would then take a break and show them the film (with the previous rough dialogue) so they could intuitively understand the context of their part.

Then we would do the third take as another pass with no direction from me, in which they would likely intuitively integrate all they had learned in the first two takes and from actually watching the film.

Explaining this in advance took the edge off any nervousness because each voiceover artist would know that I would have three takes to choose from and three different approaches to every phrase. I explained that at least one of each three would be successful; I made them feel like success was a given.

The following day, Martin and I drove to Jeff Cloud's Cloud 9 Recording Studio in Long Beach on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We arrived just as Don Miguel got out of his car - perfect timing!

Inside, after the usual pleasantries, as Jeff set up a mic, I explained the three-take concept to Don Miguel and carefully asked him whether or not leading him in the second take line-by-line with exact phrasing would be OK with him. I knew some professionals might be uncomfortable or even offended by the idea. In Don Miguel's case, it put him at ease. He expressed relief to have such clear guidance.

We followed the protocol explained above three takes in English, followed by another two in Spanish. He was so 'in it'! His delivery on everything was exquisite. He is such a warm human being and understood the film so well that every take was brimming with love.

The entire process only took a couple of hours. Upon completion, we felt that we had grown closer together through the endeavor, and there were hugs all around. Don Miguel Ruiz is as warm and loving in person as he appears in public. His public and private personas are identical. What a treat!

I'm working with Karla Ruiz on recording a Spanish version of The Voice Of Stillness to complete the Spanish dialog. I recently sent her a studio-grade microphone and an audio interface so we could work long-distance remotely. Her husband has helped us with engineering, and they've created a wonderful version of the part with the warmth of Don Miguel and the sweetness of Karla's delivery.

I feel so fortunate and grateful to have been able to experience collaborating with both Don Miguel and Karla and to be bringing this excellent film to the world!

Climate Change Is Weakening River Seasonality

in the NORTH

Seasonal flow variability is decreasing as climate change alters Earth’s systems, creating challenges for water management.

By Grace van Deelen

Northern ecosystems are changing rapidly as permafrost thaws, glaciers retreat, and precipitation patterns change. As a result, the rhythms of river flow are shifting, too, according to a new analysis.

The research, published in Science, shows that climate change is weakening river seasonality in northern rivers, with consequences for human and ecological communities alike.

“If temperatures keep rising, this trend of river flow seasonality will not change, which has implications for the future,” said Hong Wang, the first author of the new study and a hydrologist at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

Wang and her colleagues used flow data from 10,120 gauging stations around the world, most of which had collected data for at least 35 years. They found that the seasonality, or difference in

flow between seasons, has weakened in many rivers above 50°N In northern North America, about 40% of gauge stations showed decreasing seasonality. In southern Siberia, the number was 32%, whereas in northern Europe, about 19% of gauge stations showed decreasing seasonality.

The researchers reconstructed the flow of rivers on the basis of data from the gauge stations. By excluding direct human interventions such as dams and water extraction, they showed that the changes in seasonality were primarily due to human-caused climate change.

Scientists know that climate change is raising temperatures globally. But for other Earth system variables, such as monsoon seasonality, water runoff dynamics, and river flow, it may be harder to detect human influence, Wang said. The new research “solved this problem for river flow seasonality,” she said.

“It’s hard to predict how species will adapt.”

Image by 12019 from Pixabay

Increased temperatures in the Arctic have led to earlier snowmelt, more rainfall, and less snowfall. That has raised river flow volumes in the winter, when streams had typically been slow because water had been locked up in mountain snowpack, and diminished the contributions of melting snow in the typically high flow spring months, Wang said. Earlier plant growth, spurred by warmer temperatures, also reduces runoff in the spring, the authors write.

The results confirm what other regional-scale studies have shown regarding changes in river seasonality, said LeRoy Poff, a hydroecologist at Colorado State University who was not involved in the new research.

In addition to more rainfall and earlier snowmelt, thawing permafrost may also contribute to the changes by allowing water to flow more freely through the ground, said Josh Koch, a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center who was not involved in the research. Koch said the new study is consistent with the changes seen in rivers in Alaska, too: In the spring and fall, Alaskan rivers have had increased flow.

Koch said he wonders how the results might differ in a similar analysis of smaller rivers. Stream gauges, he said, tend to be on larger, more important rivers, so it’s harder to get long-term data on smaller streams. Those waterways are also experiencing changes, he said. “These results show [only] one side of that story.”

Gauge stations south of 50°N showed mixed results. About 25% of gauge stations in Brazil

showed increasing seasonality, for example. That could be due to the increase in precipitation the country has seen during the rainy season, Poff said.

Dam Decisions

River seasonality is crucial for communities and ecosystems alike, as both are accustomed to the specific seasonal flow patterns of nearby rivers. “It’s hard to predict how species will adapt,” Koch said. For some species, increased flow could be beneficial, whereas others might suffer as a result, he said.

Awareness of changes in seasonality is important to optimize human use of water resources, Wang said. Knowing where earlier-than-normal river surges are happening can help water managers capture and store that water in time. In the Arctic, too, people rely on frozen rivers for transportation. As seasonality changes, those rivers can become unstable and unsafe, Koch said.

But as humans adapt to these changes, they should also consider the needs of wildlife, Poff said. One response to changing seasonality could be more dams and reservoirs, but dams can harm wildlife. Finding solutions that both prioritize healthy ecosystems and save water resources for people is important, he said. “We need to be smart about how we move forward.”

“We need to be smart about how we move forward.”

This story originally appeared in "EOS" It is republished here as part of The Eden Magazine partnership with Covering Climate Now, a global journalistic collaboration to strengthen coverage of the climate story.

Photo by AdobeStock

Art Show 2024

Frieze Los Angeles

Frieze LA 2024, held in March, showcased a vibrant convergence of contemporary art against the backdrop of Los Angeles's dynamic cultural landscape.

The art show, hosted at a prominent venue, featured an electrifying mix of established and emerging artists presenting a diverse range of mediums, from painting and sculpture to digital art and installations. Attendees were immersed in a sensory experience, navigating through thought-provoking exhibits that pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, fostering dialogue and engagement within the art community.

The curated selection of galleries and artists at Ferize LA provided a snapshot of the ever-evolving art scene, capturing the spirit of innovation and experimentation. With its finger on the pulse of contemporary trends, the event not only celebrated artistic talent but also served as a platform for critical discussion on the intersection of art, culture, and society. Frieze LA 2024 left an indelible mark, contributing to the city's reputation as a thriving hub for creativity and reinforcing its position as a must-attend event on the global art calendar.