EDEN T h e
April 2019
©
Magazine
Making Your Life, All Right, Now
TRACEY EDMONDS
INNER BeDazzler By Tara-jenelle Walsch Empowered Women ! By Sasha Gary Her Name isSACRED TOKITAE ORCA Child of the LUMMI Nation
By Elizabeth Adair
Birthing the FEMININE in the 21st Century By Angela Dunning
Table of Contents 8
TRACEY EDMONDS
22
22
HER NAME IS TOKITAE By Elizabeth Adair
28
DIVINATION WITH CRYSTAL By Liz Dean
38
AWAKENING TO SWAN MEDICINE By Nita Bauer
52
40
CONVERSATION WITH A WEED
By Marco Nunzio Alati & "Lavandaia"
52
BIRTHING THE FEMININE IN THE 21TH CENTURY By Angela Dunning
54
EMPOWERED WOMEN! By Sasha Gary
60 8 82
60
IT IS THE HORSE I GOT ON DISCOVERY
By Michael White Ryan
64
HOW PEN RELEASES THE PAIN
By Jayita Bhattacharjee
78
INNER BEDAZZLER
By Tara-jenelle Walsch
82
YOUR HEART SONG
By Jan Diana
Cover Photo by KATE YOUNGER.COM
3 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2016
DINA MORRONE
Maryam Morrison
GLORIA KISEL-HOLLIS
MARIA ELENA INFANTINO
EDWARD HAKOPIAN
MICHAEL WHITE RYAN
TARA-JENELLE WALSCH
ISABELLE RUEN
KATE YOUNGER
SHERI DETERMAN
SASHA GARY
ANGELA DUNNING
MIRIAM BERTKE
ALEXIA MELOCCHI
JOE SANTOS, JR.
MARCO NUNZIO ALATI
JAN DIANA
BRENDA SAINT HILAIRE
MARGARET TOMASZEWIC
JAYITA BHATTACHARJEE
MEET OUR TEAM
Photo by Artin Mardirosian
Spreading Compassion to all Sentient Beings and Living in healing and peaceful world
EDEN T
H
E
MAGAZINE
Since 2010 The Eden Magazine is a free Online magazine focuses on spreading compassion to all sentient beings Living in a healing and peaceful world FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARYAM MORRISON CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DINA MORRONE BRAND AMBASSADOR MARIA ELENA INFANTINO SOCIALITE DIRECTOR GLORIA KISEL-HOLLIS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JAN DIANA SASHA GARY JOE SANTOS, JR. ALEXIA MELOCCHI
MIRIAM BERTKE ANGELA DUNNING MARCO NUNZIO ALATI MICHAEL WHITE RYAN JAYITA BHATTACHARJEE TARA-JENELLE WALSCH MARGARET TOMASZEWIC CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS + MAKEUP ARTIST EDWARD HAKOPIAN GRAPHICS & PHOTOGRAPHY KATE YOUNGER ISABELLE RUEN SHERI DETERMAN BRENDA SAINT HILAIRE WEBSITE
www.theedenmagazine.com 325 N. Maple Dr. Po Box 5132 Beverly Hills, CA 90209 To read this issue online www.issuupublishing.com To purchase a copy visit us in www.magcloud.com Eden Magazine is an non-profit & independent monthly online magazine. Our aim is to create a better environment where we live among other living being in peace and harmony. We support artists that their work match our criteria. If you would like to submit your artwork, article or/and your Photography For our future issues please contact Maryam Morrison at; maryammorrison@theedenmagazine.com 5 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
HAPPY EARTH DAY Let's Make Every Day Earth Day In Honor and Respect To Mother Earth, please turn your light off for 1 minute on April, 22nd
6 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e March 2019
Tracey
Edmonds A Hollywood Producer with a "soul" approach to life, love, and health.
By Alexia Melocchi Tracey Edmonds, the CEO of Edmonds Entertainment and Our Stories Films, is a prolific movie and television producer behind the hit romantic comedy movies like SOUL FOOD and JUMPING THE BROOM, and she was also a Host on the Television Show EXTRA. She was married to Grammy producer, music legend, Kenneth Baby Face Edmonds, and recently became engaged to two time Super Bowl champion Deion Sanders. A proud mother of two, she is one of the very few women of color in executive positions in Hollywood. She is the epitome of femininity and strength and has managed to balance her professional, family, and spiritual life, but it did not happen overnight. While visiting the set of her upcoming series GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, which premieres on BET April 23, I had the chance to sit down and talk, like girlfriends, about what makes her life “all right, now�.
8 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Photography& Jewerly by Kate Younger.com Makeup by Jamallie Bradley Hair by Edward Hokopian Dress by Melissa Kritsotakis
Though we interacted before, I never knew you were a Stanford Graduate. I am so impressed. Tell me more about your Alma mater and how it contributed, and led you to your journey of health and wellness? Well, I won’t tell you what year I graduated but I got accepted into Stanford at the age of 16, on a scholarship, and my original plan was to become a doctor, specifically a psychiatrist. After I graduated at 20, I decided to take a gap year before graduate school to figure out if I was going to go to medical school or onto a masters Ph.D program in psychobiology. While I was deciding, I got my real estate broker license and started dabbling in real estate. I became an entrepreneur broker and opened a real estate sales office and mortgage company where I sold homes and financed mortgages. Did your studies on human behavior become a great tool for your business endeavors? Yes. All the psychology classes I took at Stanford came in handy. Looking back at my time there, I was also a volunteer at campus peer counseling center where I counseled students on their challenges and problems, and now here I am diplomatically dealing with actors, actresses, and crew, on a daily basis with whatever issues they may have. We live in a time in Hollywood where women do not fill as many positions of power as men. Things are, however, changing slowly but steadily. Can you tell me more about your challenges as a woman producer? I have been helped by women in positions of power. In fact, it was a woman executive in the Studio, Laura Ziskin, at Fox, who said yes to my first movie SOUL FOOD. In front of the cameras, there is more and more diversity, but I feel there is more work to be done to allow for more diversity in the executive side of Hollywood so that the stories being pitched by different races and cultures are more easily understood. I agree. Going back to your education, do you feel this knowledge of psychobiology contributed to your being an advocate for natural health and healthy living?? Absolutely. My pre-med background laid the foundation for my curiosity about the body, and the older I got the more I got into natural medicine and using things from the earth that were put on the earth for healing purposes as opposed to using pharmaceuticals. Another event that furthered my health/wellness journey was when I was 25 years old and my father had quadruple bypass surgery due to clogged arteries. Prior to that crisis, I had no restrictions on the kinds of food I ate. I was slim and I had a super-fast metabolism, and I was eating whatever I wanted, including a lot of fast food and sweets, but I didn’t realize that there is more to diet than only weight issues. I come from an African American family, and like my father, our entire family consumed a lot of “soul food” which is very high in fat and cholesterol. Consuming soul food, fast food, and junk food had resulted in four blocked arteries, which led to his heart attack. I had an “aha moment” when I realized that my father was fighting for his life because of his poor diet. I took a vow that day that I would become a healthier eater, and I began to evaluate everything that went into my body to make sure it was providing nourishment instead of empty calories. Nourishing my body then led me to practice regular exercise. I practiced Pilates for 15 years, and as I got older I also learned about meditation to work on my spiritual side. A huge part of health and wellness is keeping your energy positive and keeping negative energy away from you. It is so important to learn how to maintain daily peace and calm, which led me to Yoga. Yoga is so good for your mind, body, and spirit. For example, holding a warrior pose in yoga teaches you the inner strength you can tap into when you face outside challenges. I have been practicing yoga now for the past five years. In my most recent health journey chapter, I had another wake-up call when my mother was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal Cancer caused by asbestos exposure that has no cure. During her 2-year Cancer journey, I was her health advocate. I stayed by her side, spoke to doctors all over the world, and did extensive research on Cancer and it’s causes. I learned a lot about what causes Cancer, what causes Cancer to spread, and how you can help prevent it. In my research, I discovered what we call “super foods” which are foods, which have antioxidant properties that can help prevent Cancer and other diseases. I began implementing Superfoods into my daily diet and have been amazed at how much more energy I have and how I don’t get sick. I begin every morning by drinking lukewarm lemon water which cleanses the system, builds the immune system, aids in digestion, and much more. 10 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Photography by Mikel Healey
I also consume a morning health smoothie, which includes Superfoods such as blueberries, turmeric, chlorella, coconut water, chia and hemp seeds, and a few others. With all that I learned about Cancer prevention during my mother’s health journey, after she passed, I made it my mission to share everything I know about preventative healthcare with the world, so I launched my website ALRIGHTNOW because I want everyone to be at their best and healthiest. I love your web site. It’s very accessible for everybody, not preachy, of course, you have experts but you also put yourself out there and taking a picture of yourself doing the Yoga Poses. That prompted me to be more consistent with it and now I feel it energetically, I see myself being more centered and aware of my body. Yes. I love yoga. Being a mother and a professional woman I am always multi-tasking. Yoga is a great way to center myself, and my breathing, so I can remain calm in the midst of all the craziness that goes on at work, especially out here in Hollywood. It helps me handle every day with peace. I know you are very connected to your Faith, how can we communicate to the Readers about making the meditation and yoga process part of our spiritual practice as sometimes it’s associated with being New Age stuff? I have a very strong connection to God and communicate with God every day through meditation and prayer. Meditation and prayer go hand in hand because meditation allows you to block out the external world and go inside of yourself so that you can access your spirituality and connect with God or your Higher Being. For me, meditation is also my prayer time.
Photography by Mikel Healey 12 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Why did you choose the name AlrightNow for your website? I believe that everything in your life can be all right if you make the right lifestyle choices. Through the Alrightnow site, we are providing tools to make sure that every aspect of your life: your mind, body, spirit, family, relationships, career, etc. can be “all right” and thrive. We want you to live your best life and we are sharing tools that can help you achieve that goal. As far as the actual name, Alrightnow, All Right Now is my alma mater, Stanford University’s theme song, but I changed the spelling a little to clear the name. The message of AlrightNow is “let’s not procrastinate, let’s act right now, in the moment, to get our lives together! Let’s not wait until tomorrow to start eating healthy, exercising, having a fulfilling relationship or career path. Let’s focus on being all right in every aspect of your life, and let’s do so right now!” It seems that a lot of your movies explore family and relationship dynamics, and I have a feeling that in each there may be some connection to your own life, is that true? There is always a bit of me in my projects. In JUMPING THE BROOM, I explored the family dynamics of a wedding where two families clashed behind the scenes of nuptials and it was loosely based on something I went through. In SOUL FOOD, the older sister is a lot like me. She is the grounded one, expected to keep her family on track and bail family members out of problems,. The TV show that I am working on now, GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, explores the theme, “all that glitters is not gold.” It is about what goes on behind the scenes and inside the households of high profile people in the world of professional basketball. We show what it’s like being a couple perceived to be living the perfect life while dealing with infidelity and other issues behind the scenes. We uncover the difficulties of keeping up appearances.
Photography by Mikel Healey
Photography by Mikel Healey 13 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Photography by Kate Younger.com
Photography& Jewerly by Kate Younger.com Makeup by Jamallie Bradley Hair by Edward Hokopian
Photography& Jewerly by Kate Younger.com Makeup by Jamallie Bradley Hair by Edward Hokopian Dress by Melissa Kritsotakis
I know you have just become engaged to Deion Sanders, your boyfriend of 7 years. What makes you guy’s work? I always say that every woman has beauty. Beauty comes from within, I believe men are attracted to women are beautiful from the inside So a woman who has a beautiful spirit who smiles says to the world you are happy, that you are at peace and confident. A smile goes a long way, even for me with men and that’s what I first noticed and loved about Deion. I encourage women to practice less is more. I don’t like a lot of makeup, I keep it clean and natural and I think that is sexy to a man. What is your daily self- care routine? Well, we have both gone through many chapters in our lives, and have already been through the ups and downs of previous relationships. We are grown, mature, and know what is important in a relationship. We have both evolved beyond living the fast life and being out at night. We’ve gotten it all out of our system and both realize that in a partner it’s about good character, honesty, trust, communication, and someone you can count on. I don’t have to look any further now. I have all those qualities with Deion. I am truly blessed to have him. We laugh all the time and can even tease each other about our pasts, while holding hands. I remember one of my favorite movies where the Colin Firth character tells Bridget Jones that he loves her just as she is. As women, we all obsess about beauty, having the perfect body to find the perfect man, etc. What makes a woman beautiful? Beauty comes from within. I believe people are attracted to those who smile because smiling tells the world you are happy, that you are at peace, and have confidence. A smile goes a long way, and that’s what I first noticed and loved about Deion. I encourage women to practice less is more. I don’t like a lot of makeup. I keep it clean and natural and I think natural is also beautiful. What is your daily self-care routine? I work out on a vibration fitness machine every morning, the ones with the metal plates. They are amazing. I do 30 minutes a day, 10 minutes of the cardio setting, 10 minutes of the weight training setting, and 10 minutes of the detox setting. These machines tone your body, build muscle density, get your energy flowing, and put you on a higher vibration to start your day. When I finish my vibration workout, I am charged and ready to go. I also take a lot of supplements including, omega 3 fish oil, biotin for hair, Chlorella, and consume a morning health shake with blueberries, chlorella, apple cider vinegar, and more. I also only use botanical products for my skin. I don’t put any chemicals on my skin. I am developing an all organic/ botanical anti-aging skin-care line that will be for sale soon. I also love essential oils like eucalyptus and lavender to clear my sinuses, and keep my personal space peaceful. I also have a sauna that I use a few times a week to sweat out the toxins and re-energize. I love to meditate inside there. It’s a great space to be completely quiet and isolated from the rest of the world. What would you say to your younger self if you met her today? 18 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
I would not change a thing about my life to date because I have learned from my crazy life and experiences. I see my experiences as chapters. Some chapters had challenges like my divorce, but they are just chapters, not the entire book. I think everything that happened in my life was meant to happen, for me, because I’ve become more highly evolved. What is your go-to spiritual book? I don’t have a spiritual book that I go back and read but I can tell you two that impacted my life at a young age. One was CONVERSATIONS With GOD by Neale Donald Walsch. (who is also a contributor of Eden Magazine). It helped me shape my philosophy about life, as it talks about shaping your own reality, declaring and believing to bring about manifestation. I do my declarations every day of things I want to see happen. Very similar in theme, I also loved the Seth Books. They speak about the power of positive thinking and creating your own reality and surrounding yourself with positive people. Those are the themes I take out into my life practices and I teach my kids that. What you put out you attract. Speaking of keeping your energy high, is that why you created ALRIGHT Radio? Yes. If you come into my bedroom I listen to music all the time. I like Classic Rock and R&B. I listen to Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire. I launched ALRIGHT RADIO for feel-good music because I believe the high vibrations of great music can positively influence your spirit and your attitude. Beyond your work with ALRIGHT NOW, which is a labor of love, are there any charities you support? Yes. I work a lot with CARE. That’s the organization the world first heard about because of their international care packages that were sent to Countries in need. I’ve been a Maternal Health ambassador for them. Being a mother of two, maternal issues are very important. For example, I have been to Sierra Leone where we are dealing with very sad health issues for women there. A lot of young mothers are not getting the proper care and unwanted pregnancies and complications. I also work with GIRLS INC to mentor young girls. We all know that a picture tells a thousand stories. During the photo shoot for the cover, Tracey glowed. The love energy exchanged between her and Deion was tangible, and she truly embodied her “vibe”. And yes, we all did dance to Chaka Kahn and to Chic while Kate was taking the photos. Basking in the California sun, there was nothing better to do than getting jiggy with it. Special Thanks to Tracey Edmonds Deion Sanders Alexia Melocchi (Interview) Kate Younger (Photography, Stylist & Jewerly) Edward Hokopian (Hair Stylist) Jamallie Bradley (Makeup) Melissa Kritsotakis (Clothing Desinger)
Photography& Jewerly by Kate Younger.com Makeup by Jamallie Bradley Hair by Edward Hokopian Dress by Melissa Kritsotakis 17 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Photography& Jewerly by Kate Younger.com Makeup by Jamallie Bradley Hair by Edward Hokopian Dress by Melissa Kritsotakis
Her Name is
TOKITAE
Probable daughter of Ocean Sun member of the L-POD Whale Family of PUGET Sound & SACRED ORCA Child of the LUMMI Nation
By Elizabeth Adair Photo by Monika Wieland Shields
She is a magnificent creature of God, created for the cool and misty waters of the Pacific Northwest. To swim her whole life with her mother and her pod family, perhaps traveling a hundred miles a day and diving up to 500 feet, to sing the whale songs of her heart with her family in their unique dialect. Yet she is confined at Miami Seaquarium, in the tiniest, concrete, chlorinated tank in the US. She is 20 ft long, her tiny tank is only 35 ft wide and 20 ft deep. She has been in this tiny tank for over 48 years, being made to do circus tricks for her food. 22 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
She has no shade and she is constantly painted black to stop her skin burning from the scorching Florida sun. For decades people of the Pacific Northwest have campaigned for their orca to be returned to them and in recent times have been joined by hundreds of thousands of people across the US and around the globe. These heartfelt requests have fallen on deaf ears as whales have been big business and could bring in millions of dollars a year from mostly quick “entertainment�.
Between 1965 and 1976 the whale pods of the Pacific Northwest were decimated as baby orcas were rounded up for sale to aquariums around the world. The most violent methods were used for this pursuit. Spotter planes, speedboats and explosives were all used in a coordinated effort to drive the orca pods into Penn Cove so the babies could be separated from the adults, captured and sent to a life of captivity. August 8th, 1970 seven baby orcas were rounded up from the Southern Resident Orca pods as residents of the area stood helplessly by as witnesses to this heartbreaking event as this activity had not been outlawed at that time. The babies were violently ripped from their families and cried out as the adult whales called back and tried to rescue them without success from the whale hunters. (excerpted from the book ‘A Puget Sound Orca In Captivity – The Fight To Bring Lolita Home’ by marine naturalist Sandra Pollard, published by Arcadia Publishing)…”After encasement in a canvas sling, Lolita was once again hoisted by crane…and lowered onto a flatbed truck for transportation to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From there, she would be transferred to an aircraft for the 2,724mile flight to Miami International Airport. The days of traveling with her pod exploring the ancient waterways of her cultural heritage were over. Soon the cooling currents of the Pacific Ocean would be replaced by filtered water from the Bay of Biscayne. Every day, she would suffer the humidity and scorching heat of the relentless Miami sun. There would be no more joyous breaching against the backdrop of the glacial peaks and snow-capped mountain ranges that form the Pacific Northwest’s magnificent landscape. Instead, she would learn to jump on cue for a meal of dead fish, with a fleeting glimpse of the galaxy beyond flaking concrete bleachers and a corrugated metal roof. The scream of jets flying directly overhead to and from Miami International Airport and the constant rumble of traffic would assail her senses. Although the ocean – and freedom – beckoned nearby, she could no longer see the place she knew as home. Now her future lay in serving her masters, Wometco Enterprises. In just a few short weeks like many other members of her extended family, she had become just another commodity”.
Lolita has been the star attraction at Miami Seaquarium for over four decades. Since 1978 the owners of Miami Seaquarium have promised to enlarge her tiny, tiny tank and although they have spent millions upon millions of dollars on renovations they have never done this. There are many firsthand accounts from those who have attended the Seaquarium and taken a close and personal look at the tiny tank. For them the size of the tiny tank is even more staggeringly small viewed in person. 3,000 miles away from Miami on August 8th every year the people of Penn Cove, Washington state gather for a ceremony on the water to remember the baby orcas who were so ruthlessly stolen and to pray for Lolita’s return. Orca Network has worked tirelessly for two decades to bring her home and orca experts from the Center for Whale Research created a comprehensive transportation and rehabilitation plan that was further vetted by independent orca experts. She would be brought to a seapen sanctuary, allowed to heal in the ocean water, after years of drugs and antibiotics, fed live salmon as she regains her hunting skills, and attended daily by those who have loved her and campaigned for her return for decades. The plan was created with Lolita/Tokitae’s welfare in mind.
Between 1965 and 1976 the violent raids by orca hunters resulted in dozens of baby orca’s like Lolita being sent to aquariums around the globe. A decade later none was still alive with the exception of Lolita/ Tokitae. photo by Ingrid N. Visser, Orca Research Trust
Tokitae’s seapen sanctuary is close to the ocean waters traveled by her pod, including her probable mother Ocean Sun, the matriach of Tokitae’s L-pod family and now around 90 years old. Tokitae may even be able to speak to them in their distinct dialogue and sing to them the whale songs of her heart. Any efforts to bring Miami Seaquarium into collaboration have been heartlessly batted back. During the years Miami Seaquarium changed ownership, however this never affected Lolita’s conditions. I n 2015 she was declared an endangered species as part of the same designation as her family, the Resident Orca Whales of the Puget Sound. This never affected Lolita’s conditions, as Miami Seaquarium continues to behave as if nothing has changed. At this time Miami Seaquarium is owned and operated by Palace Entertainment out of Newport Beach, CA who in turn is owned by Parques Reunidos in Spain. They pride themselves on being a global presence in the business of “fun” and have many captive animal facilities around the world. Parques Reunidos has refused to communicate to anyone, including Philip Levine, then Mayor of Miami Beach who sent a letter in the fall of 2017 to ask for Lolita’s retirement after he and his city council, the Broward Board of Commissioners, and Mayor Stoddard of South Miami and his city council voted unanimously to retire Lolita after Miami Seaquarium abandoned Lolita during Hurricane Irma. Despite all the resistance of power and money the movement to bring Lolita home just continues to grow. Around the globe an annual event is held every June by the grassroots movement ‘Until Lolita Is Home’ and more people worldwide begin to voice their outrage at this cruel enslavement of one of God’s magnificent creatures, while a real sanctuary awaits in her ancestral waters. The hope for the future and that the love for Lolita/Tokitae will bring her home does not diminish, it just grows. Tokitae is Lolita’s real Salish name, it means ‘Nice day, pretty colors’ The Lummi Nation of the Puget Sound are her family by heritage and cosmology, being one of the biggest and strongest federally recognized ocean-based Coast Salish tribes of Washington State. (excerpted from the book “A Puget Sound Orca In Captivity – The Fight To Bring Lolita Home’ by marine naturalist Sandra Pollard, published by Arcadia Publishing)…”The Lummi people first heard about Lolita’s story after a young woman from upstate New York contacted them. She kept dreaming that Tokitae was trying to communicate and heard her calling, , “Can anybody hear me, can anybody help me go home?” The dreams were so vivid that she contacted Douglas James, an elder of the Lummi Nation. He took her claims seriously and talked to others on the tribal council, who undertook their own research. After members of the tribal council completed their study and a group of transient orcas swam past his grandmother’s house in Bellingham Bay, council 24 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Photo by Ingrid N. Visser, Orca Research Trust
so the journey would be as safe and comfortable as possible for her. The happy ending is still being pursued by those across the country and around the globe who want Lolita to be given a chance at some of the life that has been so cruelly stolen from her.
member Nickolaus Dee Lewis contacted Garrett and asked “How can we help? “On August 1, 2017, The Lummi Nation passed a motion supporting the campaign to bring Lolita home. In a letter addressed to Garrett (Orca Network) dated August 7, the Lummi Indian Business Council announced, The Lummi Nation honors our connection to the Killer Whale (qw.e lh ‘ol me chen) as a culturally significant species and supports the work of the Lummi Nation’s Sovereignty and Treaty Protection Office in its efforts to bring the Killer Whale Tokitae home to her family as soon as possible.”
December 2018 representatives of the Lummi Nation once again crossed the US with their Tokitae Totem Pole to the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl, where they are hosting an educational exhibit “Whale People – Protectors of the Sea”. This exhibit will be there until the end of May 2019 and can be viewed on line at: http://thenaturalhistorymuseum.org/events/whale-peopleprotectors-of-the-sea/ At the beginning of June 2019 representatives of the Lummi Nation will once again travel with the Tokitae Totem Pole to Miami Seaquarium to bring attention to their request for their Sacred Orca Child to be returned to them. They will then traverse the US back to the West Coast to Los Angeles and Newport Beach, CA in mid-June to ask Palace Entertainment to join them in their ‘sacred obligation’ to bring Lolita/Tokitae home.And finally they will travel north to Lummi in Puget Sound.
May 2018 The House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation traversed the United States, accompanied by members of The Sierra Club, with their Tokitae Totem Pole from Puget Sound to Miami to ask for their sacred orca child back. asking for Lolita to retire was reckless and irresponsible.
Back home in Washington State artists paint pictures of Lolita/ Tokitae coming home and many write postcards, pray and do their part as best they can, as other plans are put in place in this overall movement of love, wish a request for healing. Much data can be obtained from the Orca Network website: www.orcanetwork.org.
Miami Seaquarium officials refused to speak with them, gave derisive comments to the press and turned their backs. Shortly following this they ran a PR campaign saying anyone asking for Lolita to retire was reckless and irresponsible.
And from the Lummi Nation website: www.sacredsea.org This compelling video gives her story: https://vimeo.com/266726774 A must read, the book “A Puget Sound Orca In Captivity The Fight To Bring Lolita Home” by marine naturalist Sandra Pollard is the full story from that fateful day August 8, 1970 when Tokitae was so violently stolen to present day. It gives the full scope of the driving forces that wish to keep such institutions as Miami Seaquarium in place by sheer will and power, confinement and domination. And it gives hope for a happy ending even at this date and validation of the courage and persistence of the loving forces within the human race. (available at www.orcanetwork.org, amazon and Arcadia Publishing)
Again nothing could be further from the truth. The plan to bring Lolita/Tokitae home was developed by orca experts and further vetted by independent orca experts, written with only her safety and care in mind. The trainers and veterinarians at Miami Seaquarium have been asked to accompany her home 26 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Our planet is more ocean than it is land. The magical creatures put in those oceans by the Creator have a special place and a special song to sing in the orchestra of the cosmos. The enslavement of these magnificent, sentient and highly intelligent creatures, who have everything natural to them stripped away is not only an assault and fracturing of their energies it is an assault and a fracturing of all of us energetically, of our oceans, of our planet, of our cosmos and of our individual souls.
From The Divination Handbook
Divination with Crystals
By Liz Dean In a crystal reading, we interpret a group of crystals that fall randomly or are placed in a layout. Interpreting the random fall of crystals is known as stone-casting.You will need a selection of crystals and a reading mat. Collect crystals that you feel a connection with. Store your crystals wrapped in fabric, such as silk, in a soft bag or purse to protect them.You can make a mat on which to cast, or gently throw, your crystals by folding a cloth or scarf into a square. Make sure that it is thick enough to protect the crystals when they fall, and release them gently, not too high over the mat, to ensure that any more fragile pieces do not become damaged. The mat is animportant part of the reading, because we interpret the positions of the stones on (and off) it, so it is worth while to create one that reflects the special ritual of casting stones. For example, you might choose material of a color that helps you feel calm and self-connected, such as blue or purple, rather than a color that shouts for attention.
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Crystal Cleansing Cleansing crystals removes any energies they may have picked up on their journey to you. Use one of the following methods: • Water. Soak your crystals in a bowl of spring water for twenty-four hours for deep cleansing or hold them under a running tap for a few minutes, setting the intention that any negative imprints on them will be washed away. Don’t use this method on crystals affected by water, such as selenite, halite malachite, gypsum, pyrite, optical calcite, or turquoise. • Sunlight or moonlight. Place your crystals outside in sunlight for a few hours, or under moonlight for a few hours or overnight. Don’t use sunlight on photosensitive crystals such as amethyst, fluorite, rose quartz, or some calcites. And don’t use sunlight for crystal balls, as this is a fire hazard. • Incense or smudging. Waft the smoke from a smudge stick or incense stick over your crystals. •Singing bowls orbells. Place your crystals in a singing bowl and ring the edge with the bowl’s mallet to build up the sound, gradually increasing the speed. Or ring a bell by your crystals; the sound waves will shift any stagnation in the crystals. • Breath. Set your intention for the crystal and gently breathe on its surfaces. • White-light visualization. Visualize the crystal being purified by white light that comes first through you, then into the crystal. See any old, negative energy leave the crystal and disappear. Attuning to Your Crystals Hold each crystal in turn. Close your eyes and tune in to its vibration. You will find that you get a warmth and/or tingly feeling as you and your crystal connect. Some people find that their crystal feels freezing cold. If you do not sense a physical change, which indicates a connection with the crystal, or an inner knowing that you are bonding, it’s likely that the crystal is not right for you. It may need further cleansing, or to be passed on to someone with whom it connects. Setting Your Intention Hold each crystal in turn and say, “I work with this crystal for my highest good and that of others.” This intention-setting programs your crystals for the positive work ahead. Casting the Stones: Techniques Here’s how to cast the stones for a reading: •Choose a selection of crystals, or if you are reading for another person, ask her to choose the stones from your collection. Place them in the bowl, and tip it onto the mat, as you or she focuses on what you would like to know. •Rather than use a bowl, shake—or have the querent shake—the crystals with both hands and release them onto the mat, asking a question or for insight into a situation. •For a past, present, future reading, place your crystals in a purse or bag. Put your hand in the bag and, without looking, withdraw three at once, or one at a time. A Simple Yes-No Reading: Three Crystals If you have a question that needs a straight answer, choose a black stone, a white stone, and another stone from your 30 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
collection. Designate the black and white stones as yes and no, or vice versa. The other stone you choose will be the deciding stone—its position in relation to the yes and no stones gives you your answer.Palm the three stones and then cup both hands together and shake them, thinking of your question.When you are ready, release the stones onto the mat. Where is the deciding stone? If it is closer to your yes stone, the answer to your question is yes. If it’s closer to the no stone, the answer is no. If it is equidistant between yes and no, start again, casting the stones a maximum of three times. If after three tries you cannot obtain an answer, try again another day; the answer is not yet known. Past, Present, Future This simple reading helps you frame an event in the past, see what is happening in the present, and look at future influences. Put all your crystals in a bag or purse and draw three, one at a time. Place the first stone on the left, the second stone in the center, and the third stone on the right, in a row.Interpret all three crystals together, but this time, you have the advantage of a timeline. For example, you might have bloodstone, smoky quartz, and citrine. Bloodstone means resilience, smoky quartz patience and resources, and citrine money and manifesting. In response to the question, “Can my new business idea grow?” one interpretation would be:“Your business has been hard work (the past); now, you may need to see results, but you need to be patient—you have the resources to hold your position (the present); the successful business you want will come. Keep manifesting this through dedication, and have confidence (future).”This is based on the traditional meanings of the stones, but you may also use meanings that intuitively arise at the time of your reading. Go with what feels right.
Liz Dean is a professional tarot reader and Angelic Reiki™ Healer at Psychic Sisters in Selfridges, London. A best-selling tarot author, Liz had studied divination for over 20 years. Liz is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Divination, The Ultimate Guide to Tarot, The Ultimate Guide to Tarot Spreads, The Tarot Companion, and Tarot Made Simple. Liz is also one of the “Tarot Masters” included in Kim Arnold's eponymous collection of 38 essays. She is also a former co-editor of the UK's leading spiritual magazine, Kindred Spirit(2011–2013), and an awardwinning poet. Learn how to usecrystals, tarot, palmistry, and more to part the veils between the realms,understand the deeper meaning of ordinary events, and reveal what your future may holdwith The Divination Handbook, available now from Fair Winds Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group. Learn more at QuartoKnows.com.
Have you seen Gretchen?! Missing since 11/11/2016 Please contact us
info@theedenmagazine.com
An Educational Portal for kids in partnership with WildAid
Watch, play and learn with exclusive content created to help introduce kids to animal conservation.
Lupita Nyong'o - Lead in Black Panther, WildAid Ambassador
Haibu is a full franchise property with a children’s book series, video games, educational videos and more original content designed to inspire the next generation of animal conservationists. Haibu is a Mom's Choice Award-winning provider of family entertainment products. The first of three books in the series, Haibu, Lost in New York is available now on Amazon, and be available in stores nationwide.
WildAid is a non-profit organization with a mission to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes. While most
wildlife conservation groups focus on protecting animals from poaching, WildAid primarily works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products such as elephant ivory, rhino horn and shark fin soup. With an unrivaled portfolio of celebrity ambassadors and a global network of media partners, WildAid leverages nearly $230 million in annual pro-bono media support with a simple message: When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too. 34 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Blake Freeman: Creator, Author & CEO of Haibu, LLC
Introducing Haibu's World:
Tara Price: VP, Co-Author, Voice of Haibu
In partnership with global conservation organization WildAid, we’re excited to announce the launch of Haibu’s World, an online portal for kids that aims to make wildlife conservation fun and accessible to children across the globe. Haibu’s World features a collection of educational videos, games and more exclusive content to teach children about wildlife conservation in a kid-friendly way, and to instill important values like kindness and respect.
Jackie Chan - WildAid Ambassador
Haibu’s World is an online extension of author Blake Freeman’s children’s entertainment franchise that follows Haibu, an independent 10-year-old girl with special talents whose mission is to save wild animals. Our new partner WildAid shares a similar mission, focusing on saving endangered species through cross-cultural education and reducing the demand for illegal animal products. The partnership aims to introduce children from all backgrounds to animal conservation and instill a passion for protecting nature. “We’re thrilled to partner with Haibu to inspire the next
Haibu: Lost in New York, the first major installment of Haibu’s story, is available now on Amazon, with more books coming soon. As the franchise expands to new mediums, so does her journey. With the lofty goal of inspiring a generation of conservationists, Haibu is much more than just a children’s story – it’s a call to action to change how humans coexist with the animal Using the online portal, kids can play along with Haibu world. For more information, visit www.haibu.love. to learn about different animals, explore their habitats and develop their skills in geography, all while fostering love and understanding for animal-kind. Haibu’s World will continue to expand with kid-friendly content that’s inspired by the real-world work WildAid is doing today. generation of conservationists and encourage wildlife preservation. Compassionate and courageous, Haibu is role model for youth and adults as she reminds us that we can all make a difference.” said Peter Knights, co-founder and CEO of WildAid.
“Haibu’s adventures will encourage readers of all ages to think about their relationship with animals and nature,” said Freeman. “My hope is that Haibu’s compassion and determination will foster a real connection between kids and the natural world around them. Even the smallest acts can have a big impact on how we care for our world.” Blake Freeman: Creator, Author, CEO of Haibu Daniel Ravine: CMO Tara Price: VP, Co-Author, Voice of Haibu Marvin Willson: Animation Danielle Crane: Business Development Eric Golowski: Media 35 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
Dr. Jacqueline Nguyen
A Trailblazer in the Health & Wellness Space
By Nicole Muj Dr. Jacqueline Thao Nguyen, fondly known as Dr. J, is the founder and president of wellness and supplement company Dr. J’s Natural. She is a distinguished clinical pharmacist and graduate of the School of Pharmacy of University of Southern California. From working as a pharmacist for over a decade, she has learned that a successful clinical pharmacist needs to have certain essential attributes. These include paying attention to detail, possessing a genuine care for patients, having the ability to understand a patient’s desires, continuing education to care for each patient’s overall health, and demonstrating an uncompromising commitment to stay abreast of cutting-edge and alternative natural medical treatments. The dedicated health and wellness expert incorporates all of these elements into her daily practice and businesses. She recently retired after working 21 years as a clinical pharmacist in order to focus on educating people on her findings in the areas of healing and wellness. She has developed a strong TV following among the Vietnamese community, appearing four times a week on Saigon TV. Dr. J comments, “I have been a clinical pharmacist for the past two decades and I made the decision to retire at the beginning of 2019. I wanted to focus my expertise and time on speaking the truth about health and wellness, since I recognized that drugs are not always the answer for my patients’ improved conditions. I have encountered many people in the pharmacy setting for over two decades who are becoming more ill with the drugs they are prescribed. I realized that drugs are not always the answer to one’s ailments.” These days, in addition to her high quality supplement business, Dr. J is passionate about her brand Ensohara, her company that focuses on developing CBD oil products. She conducted extensive research and trials to come up with the purest, and highest quality CBD oils, gummies and capsules and recently unveiled a CBD and melatonin combination for better sleep, a line of cookies and roasted coffee beans, and now, has set her sights on the beauty industry.
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She says, “I believe that the beauty industry will soon explode with such CBD based products as facial creams and serums, body salves, etc. This is going to be big with many big players coming into the picture to compete for the space. I’m certain that many drugs will receive FDA approvals quicker, since we now know that the plant is effective in a human body with many receptors from the cannabinoid system.” Dr. J’s tips for good health and mental balance are: 1. Work out each and every day. After an hour of exercise, one will achieve mental clarity and good health, as there is a scientific correlation between good hormonal balance and working out. 2. Praying, meditating or practicing yoga every morning will allow you to start your day in the right direction and not allow any negative thinking to enter your day. 3. Practice “the circle of life” by giving thanks and giving back on everything you do and receive. 4. Surrounding yourself with positive minded people is the key to being successful. 5. Always try to have a positive attitude. One’s mental clarity will be at its peak if you have a positive mindset. Dr. J also serves as COO of Qyksonic, a California-based health and beauty technology company that she runs with her entrepreneur husband Rakesh Tammabattula. Recently named ‘one of the best places to work’ by the OC Register, QYKSonic creates simple, yet revolutionary top-of-the line skincare devices, including the ZOE™ facial beauty device collection that includes the original ZOE, ZOE Plus, ZOE Bliss and ZOE Luxx. ZOE was recently named one of 2019’s best products by the prestigious Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa Magazine. The device was nominated from thousands of products on the market to readers who selected 44 product award winners recognized for their quality, results and innovation. The couple were married six years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history. The dynamic pairing recently showcased their products at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to A-listers, influencers and media who visited the Salesforce Music Lodge and Associated Press festival headquarters' activation. Over the three day event, Dr. J and Rakesh presented the beauty device, as well as Dr. J’s Natural supplements, Ensohara CBD oils and products and the GX-Life Radiance skincare line. Some of the top names who stopped by the activation included Amy Ryan, Awkwafina, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, Milla Jovovich, Jeff Goldblum, Mindy Kaling, Malin Akerman, Mckenna Grace, Riley Keough, plus many others. Serial entrepreneur Rakesh has always been innovative and highly interested in creating all things tech and electronic. After moving from India to the US in 2008, Rakesh hit the ground running. In 2009, he launched his first official venture Innovity, an ultra light and slim outdoor price displays for gasoline stations and in 2015, he founded Easii, a tech and solutions startup aimed at simplifying mailing and shipping processes through the use of smart self-service kiosks and apps. In 2016, he founded Theo Pharmacy, a mail order and semi-retail pharmacy that offers fulfillment services for online prescriptions, and finally in 2017, he launched QYKSonic with Dr. J. Recently, the power couple opened their new expansive headquarters in Garden Grove, California, expanding from a 3,000 square foot space to a 13,000 square foot building that will house all of the pair’s business entities. The new space will also feature a showroom for Vakanza jewelry, a company in which Dr. J is a co-owner, Savee Clothing by Tracy Ng, a CBD Juice Bar and Wellness Center, The Zoe Institute to teach estheticians how to use the latest skincare devices by QYKSonic, and much more. Looking forward to seeing what’s next on the horizon.
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Swan Medicine: The Medicine Cards (by Jamie Sams*) were the inspiration for my novel. One day, I pulled 4 cards: Swan, Fox, Hummingbird, and Badger, and then I let my imagination take over. It was a fun toy to play with, weaving their natures into the plot and personality of my characters. Of course, the swan was the star of the show. Swan is said to teach us to be one will all planes of consciousness and to trust in Great Spirit’s protection. She tells us to use altered states of awareness and develop our intuitive abilities, to accept our ability to know what lies ahead. Stop denying that you know who is calling when the phone rings. Pay attention to your hunches and your gut knowledge and honor your female intuitive side. Grandma Ruby was on the front porch, sewing a small piece of red fabric by hand. When Katie found her, she blew a layer of dust off the rose and passed the bouquet to her grandmother with a beaming smile. “Here. Is this what you wanted?” “Oh yeah.” Grandma laid her sewing aside and held the bundle of flowers to her nose. “This one brings you home every time. You’ll see.” Her eyes glistened. “You bring the feather now, yeah?”
Awakening
to Swan Medicine By Nita Bauer
Katie found the feather in the kitchen, where she’d left it. It felt almost mystical in her hands. She delivered it to her grandmother and held it out with two hands. Grandma Ruby received it with the same reverence. Grandma motioned for Katie to sit on the cedar stump while she crumbled the dried sage leaves into a dish and lit them with a matchstick. “Swan gave you this token to bring you safely to the dream time,” Grandma said. “Now we prepare you to receive her medicine.” As the thin line of smoke rose from the ashes, she fanned the smoke toward Katie with the feather. “This smoke makes your spirit clean, yeah?” Katie had heard of smudging rituals before, but she’d never experienced one. The smoke curled around her legs and hung in the air around her body. It smelled sweet—like incense at that weird store in the mall. It didn’t hurt, and she didn’t have to drink anything, but the witch doctor notion was gaining a little more credibility. When Grandma had finished, she wrapped the tapered end of the feather with a red ribbon. “This is the symbol of our peoples.” She held a length of ribbon prominently.
Nita Bauer is a member of the San Antonio Writers’ Guild, the Writers’ League of Texas, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Nita has a dual MA in Management and Information Systems Management from Webster University and a BA in Social Work and a BA in Business Management from Wayland Baptist University. She is a retired US Air Force veteran with 20 years of service. She currently works in Information Technology for a Texas law firm. For more information about the author, please visit www.nitabauer.com.
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CONVERSATION WITH A WEED By Marco Nunzio Alati & “Lavandaia”
Lavandaia.org
There is small garden, outside an average flat in Spain, where one woman interacts with all living beings: plants, animals and minerals. And today, in the very early hours of the morning, there is a deep chill, and one’s breath can be seen. She is bundled up in a down jacket and wrapped in heavy wool blanket, in silence, she drinks her coffee. Today, the conversation begins with the plants, a tiny weed to be exact. You might think this is not possible, or at least very select, and it can only happen to those with hidden gifts. However, this is not unusual, this can happen anywhere and with anyone: between a child and a Lavender plant in a Brooklyn garden window box, between a mother and a Daisy, pushing its way through a crack along the waterways in Amsterdam, between a father and a Bamboo suckling in the great forests of Kyoto, between a hiker and an ancient Spruce Tree in Baden-Baden and a
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grandfather and a Eucalyptus in Victoria. Human beings have the capability to speak and hear “all” where ever we are called, if we just listen, if we truly hear. This woman listens, speaks and hears what the all beings have to say, and this tiny weed has a message we all might want to hear. Furthermore, now more than ever, the old saying, “take time to stop and smell the Roses”, really takes on an even more profound meaning. Take time to stop, listen and hear the Roses. One final note, this little Weed may come across as firm in his sentiment, and his message may be a bit hard swallow, but remember, it is the perception of this Weed. It is the world through its eyes. It speaks to us with firmness and love, and it sees things we may or may not want to see. But if we are willing to open our eyes to see, and our hearts to feel - if we are open to its truth, then we are open to being open, the first step in being one with humanity.
“Together, we all need to feel united and all you human beings need to reconnect to Mother Earth. You have forgotten how to belong to Earth and you have forgotten that Earth is alive. You have forgotten that there are invisible forces, but just because they are invisible, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist, and they can work and they do work with us within our environment. We plant, and our allies the animals, are always willing to send you signals, as well as experience certain ailments, in order to become the mirror of your inner struggles. We often express through our discomfort, the emotion that you transmitted. Even if we don’t speak, animals and all of us have the capability of knowing, feeling and observing. We truly listen to the depth of what you experience daily, such as your emotions and your intimate feelings. There are no secrets for us, secrets, in a way that your human world defines this term. Our doors are constantly open because we embrace the concept of unity. You human beings, when you get sick, you look for every possible solution outside yourselves, you go through the chemicals or maybe the homeopathic therapy or holistic treatments, you may even come to a place where you remove an organ or a limb. Sometimes it seems, you may not fully understand the substance called love, which creates everything and regenerates everything. There is not a thing that is not connected to the concept of love. Love includes art, beauty, the esthetics, unity and compassion; it also encompasses hatred, anger and sadness. Even when you experience something you label as negative, the outcome of that experience is shaped by the lens of your own perception. When the perceptions of humans are projected toward light, everything turns into light and even the negativity finds its own light inside itself. We plant, don’t perceive ourselves as separated from the Other, even if we are aware of our apparently limited physicality. We may have a trunk, branches, leaves or fruit. These are just our physical assets. However, by digging deeper into this essence, we know that we are all connected. We are all one and the only thing that keeps us alive is this substance called love. This is our way of expressing ourselves through the love that we constantly dedicate to humanity, such as our fruits, our flowers and the beauty of our branches. If you really want to connect to Mother Earth, to all species that live on earth - animals, plants, minerals, humans – then you need to take a step further. Step into the awareness and the humility of letting go limiting beliefs and emotional baggage. Abandon the notion that your humanoid rules and collective laws define your lives. These rules and laws are not applicable in our kingdoms. Our only law is the law of love. And in order for you, as humans, to connect to this essence, you need to embrace humility and allow yourself
to open up to endless possibilities, both in your heart and in your mind. You really are called upon to become this. It’s a precise duty. Each one of us has the duty to find his own path in this world to manifest the one message: being hope, love and peace. The reason we incarnated into this planet is to reconnect you human beings to Mother Earth. We are here to express the purity of love in the only way that we are able. Your animals, for example, even when they are sad, come to you, call you, and invite you to play, to move and connect with them so that you can return into the flow of love. Very often, we sacrifice our lives by shielding you humans from anger and violence that otherwise you would inflict on each other. A great example of our selfless sacrifice is when we surrender our lives to you in the many deforestations around the planet, Thus, a collective agreement exists, one which is based on universal love between the “tree-cuter” and the tree that gives up its life. So, if this is the best way for you to comprehend love, then our sacrifice becomes sacred. “ Conversation with a Weed is a co-creation between Marco Alati, “Lavandaia” and the amazing Weed. Please feel free to reach out for other beautiful life occurrences at Lavandaia.org
After graduation in Industrial Biotechnology, Marco played a key role in international research projects in Canada, Austria and Spain. He stumbled upon the Reconnection by mere chance and it enlightened him in ways he hadn't realized he needed. Three months after that unique experience, he left his job in biotechnology and embarked on his journey to become a full time Reconnective Healing Practitioner, and one of the two Italian Mentors and Teaching Assistants of Eric Pearl’s direct Team. He is currently living in Los Angeles and collaborating with a number of independent scientific studies that are exploring Reconnective Healing and its extraordinary benefits. For info contact marco.alati@gmail.com 323-617-2289
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Natural Living Family PodCast & Streaming Video Series With Dr. Eric Zielinski & Sabrina Ann Zielinski
On February 4th, 2019, bestselling author Dr. Eric Zielinski and his wife, natural health guru Sabrina Ann Zielinski (Dr. Z and Mama Z) launched their new weekly podcast and streaming video series Natural Living Family With Dr. Z And Mama Z with 3 episodes on iTunes and Spotify and multiple mobile services and apps! Certified “Clean”, the family-friendly show will feature many of the easy-to-follow tips, DIY recipes, and expertise visitors can find online at NaturalLivingFamily.com. The author of the National Bestseller, The Healing Power of Essential Oils, Dr. Eric Zielinski has pioneered natural living and Biblical health education since 2003. His wife Sabrina Ann Zielinski is a home birth mom of four, a certified group fitness instructor, health coach, and beauty pageant trainer, with a vast background in natural living that has helped empower thousands of women to reach their true potential. Fun, witty and always inspirational, Dr. Z and Mama Z have built a global following where they educate millions of people each year about simple, easy-to-follow ways to regain control of their health at NaturalLivingFamily.com. Specializing in toxic-free living and using natural remedies like essential oils, Dr. Z and Mama Z are on a mission to helping people experience an abundant life.
The author of the National Bestseller, The Healing Power of Essential Oils, Dr. Eric Zielinski has pioneered natural living and Biblical health education since 2003. Knowing what it's like to be sick from a young age and having recovered from several chronic diseases in his early 20s, he has been on a mission to share the evidence-based approach to natural living that empowered him to regain control of his health with the world. Trained as an aromatherapist, public health researcher, and chiropractor, Dr. Z is an accomplished researcher with several publications and conference proceedings. Sabrina Ann Zielinski is a home birth mom of four and a natural health guru. The mastermind behind the allergy-friendly food recipes & DIY remedies featured on their website, she's known as “Mama Z” to many mamas who are looking for natural ways to take care of their families. As a certified group fitness instructor, health coach, and beauty pageant trainer, Sabrina's vast background in natural living has helped her empower thousands of women to reach their true potential in Christ.
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THE WAY I SEE IT By Joe Santos, Jr.
he T “Dash” It was a beautiful crisp, clear, cool winter day - winter in LA - and I decided to visit my Mother’s mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery. It’s not something I do often. My Mother "moved on" over 30 years ago. Our relationship was completely reflective. We saw ourselves in each other. We liked, loved and respected one another. I don’t look at, or mourn, death like most people do. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never felt greater pain at the loss, I just process it differently. I try and rationalize the fact that there is no alternative to it. And however good, bad, or indifferent we are, it’s going to happen. No amount of money, beauty, joy, luck or faith, is going to change it. Perhaps, someday, someway we will reunite and sort through the rhyme and reason or lack thereof. I’ve often said, with as powerful as this Universe is, how is it that whoever, whatever, however, made the plan, never considered the brilliant concept of us all just aging physically to be about 30, where we would continue to mature mentally, grow spiritually for 300 years or so before ascending to the stars to realign with the planets… ok, just a thought… I decided on my way to the cemetery, to stop at a local florist. I took my time in assembling flowers that bore the colors she loved. Pink Peonies, Camellia, Allium, Pale Green Hydrangea, and of course her all-time favorite, fragrant White Gardenias. It was important for me to be present while there. No phone or distractions, just quiet, private moments. I took time and thought in creating the arrangements myself. I wanted them to be lovely and personal. The same way I would choose flowers for a dinner party or her Birthday or just because. 44 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COMe April 2019
I walked over, placed them gently and neatly at her grave, and then sat quietly. It’s interesting the thoughts that come into your mind… and the ones that don’t. It was more of a feeling than thoughts, a quiet, calm, safe feeling, and strangely familiar. Not as in déjà vu but in a sense that I can’t articulate. A feeling that she isn’t there. Maybe that cold marble slab is just that with nothing or no one behind it. I probably spent a couple of hours sitting there, just thinking, wondering, and remembering. Staring at all these other names and dates on this big marble wall, on various stones and crypts. As I looked at each name and date I thought, I wonder what he/she did, looked like, lived like, who they loved, how they died. I became fascinated by the thought, almost morbidly curious. Until, it occurred to me that what I was doing there was not simply honoring the dead and gone but realizing the here and now and what their lives - all our lives in fact represent. Life. The “dash.” That little line separating the date we are born from the date we die. Maybe, that’s what felt oddly familiar to me as I sat there “thoughtless.” Why it felt safe is because I wasn’t surrounded by death at all. Every name and date, every single flower placed, told a story about someone’s life. Who they were, whom they loved and who still loves them. Whatever is beyond this tangible place, known as earth, that most of us live in, one thing is for certain, it will not be anything like we know this life to be. It may be better, it may not, but one thing it will never be is gone. Live the “Dash” –
Joe Santos, Jr. is a Celebrity Chef and Life-Stylist. He joins The Eden Magazine as a writer sharing his unique view on life, death, love, and the avoidance of mediocrity. Follow Joey on Instagram @jojoboy13
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This story will change your thoughts regarding family thoughts on family values and encourage us to remember to have some old-fashioned respect for others, as there has been a lack of respect around the world as of late.
RES PEC T
By Nancy E. Yearout
Respect for the Elderly It was early morning on a crisp fall day when my husband and I drove to the train station. We had come to take a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec train. Established in the year 1880, this heritage railway is in Chama, New Mexico. Back in the day the line was primarily supported by the mining operations in the San Juan Mountains. Today it is known as the “#1 Scenic Ride” in New Mexico and Colorado. The train departs early in the morning on its sixty-four-mile trip down the tracks to Antonito, Colorado. I could only imagine what life must have been like for the folks who rode the line in the 1800s. After reading the history on their website, I realized that this was going to be a journey that would take us back in time. Driving along that fall morning, we were enchanted by the site of the aspen trees dressed up in their fall colors. There were blotches of bright orange and red perfectly intermingled in the late summer greens of the countryside. To capitalize on the authenticity of this steam engine, the Cumbres & Toltec train has maintained a Victorian parlor car available to travel in (for an extra fee). As we pulled into the parking lot on that crisp October
morning, we were surprised to see how many people were riding the train. The parking lot was filling up fast with cars, trucks, motorhomes, buses, and a fabulous blue convertible. We both jumped out of our truck rather quickly and hurried along to the ticket office. After we secured our seats on the train, we sat down on a wooden bench to await the train’s departure. We people watched and chatted with other train goers until we were ready to board. As we were waiting, I noticed an older red-haired lady who was dressed very well; she appeared to be arguing with the girls who were accompanying her. These were the people who had arrived in that fabulous blue convertible. The girls were probably in their mid-twenties. They joked and talked loudly as the elderly lady attempted to keep up with them. The red-haired lady seemed to have a difficult time getting around. It was obvious that she was the one who held the purse strings as she paid for the train fare. The older red-haired lady was at the ticket window when I realized the girls were speaking disrespectfully to her, telling her what seats they wanted and that she needed to listen to them. I knew that some of the seats were pricey; if you wanted to sit in the parlor car, the fare was one hundred and eighty dollars a person. She’s the only one with a wallet out, I thought to myself. I lost track of them as it was time for us to board the rails. 47 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
We were as excited as two kids might be that chilly fall morning. We could see the old-style windows of the train and the assortment of rail cars connected to its steam engine. There was an area between the train cars that was openaired where many folks gathered to take in the views of the county side. There were families with little children, couples like us, and some older folks with their grandkids. I saw the elderly lady with the red hair sitting by herself. You could still see a glimpse of how beautiful she must have been when she was younger. She looked rather sad as she watched the world go by her. As her companions approached her, I could hear them giggling and behaving in what seemed quite juvenile for their age. I could hear them speaking harshly to the lady with the red hair and saw that they were making fun of her again. I felt badly for the elderly lady. I wondered if she had fond memories of the train and was here to revisit it. It was obvious that she had paid for the trip and the young ladies were using her for the ticket. Life can often be cruel to the meek. The coal-burning engine spouted black soot out and up into the air as the train continued along its route. The coal-fired steam engine carried us through the high desert deep into the mountains and through the lush meadows to Osier. The history books describe Osier as an old railroad settlement that was established to serve lunch and to buy goods halfway between the Cumbres & Toltec scenic route. This is where both ends of the line meet, making it possible for passengers to continue into the state of Colorado or return to New Mexico. When the train pulled into the train station in Osier, Colorado, we could smell the aroma of fresh-baked bread in the air. As we entered the enormous dining hall for lunch, we could hear the sound of people chatting, silverware clanking, plates echoing throughout the cafeteria. There was excitement in the room; it was a festive atmosphere. Off to the side of the cafeteria tucked away in the far corner was a gift shop. We wandered through the store that was filled with train memorabilia and picked up a couple coffee mugs as souvenirs. My husband paid for our treasures, and I hurried off to the lady’s room before we boarded again. I stepped into the large restroom and immediately saw the older red-haired lady. She was standing in front of the mirror applying her makeup as the girls were laughing at her. They questioned her as to why she was applying makeup as it did not make a difference anyway. She must have become nervous because she dropped her lipstick on the floor. I could hear the metal as it hit the hard bathroom flooring, which only made the situation worse. I heard them teasing her about the lipstick color and her application of it. I came out of the stall as they were departing with shopping bags in hand. She had obviously taken them to the gift shop, and this is how they were treating her? I have to say I was embarrassed and shocked all at the same time. I thought, if only she would stand up for herself and put those young ladies in their place! Unfortunately, she was an older person 48 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
whose spirit seemed to be broken, for she walked out of the restroom with her head down. I thought to myself, she must be accustomed to this treatment. I was not quite sure if they were her granddaughters or her nieces—all I knew was that these girls were completely disrespectful of this elderly person. When I caught up with my husband I told him what had happened in the lady’s room as I could not believe it! He shook his head in disbelief as we headed to the door. We stepped out of the building and headed for the train. I could see the red-haired lady and her companions ahead of us in line. The red-haired lady must have lost her balance as she as she stepped up and onto the ramp. She stumbled to one knee but was able to regain her balance. Her companions began to laugh and joke. Instead of helping her to stand, they made fun of her. She managed to get up with the help of the railing. Nobody did anything to help her! The other passengers stood there and stared. I thought, what if that were their grandmother or aunt; would they have stepped up to help then? The whole situation was disgraceful as we watched in disbelieve. People turned their heads as if the disrespect wasn’t happening. There were too many people in front of us for my husband or me to assist her in any way. We both looked at each other in disbelief. Why was there no respect for the red-haired lady? She obviously provided transportation, train fare, lunch, and gifts for these ungrateful young ladies. With all she could give them, she had not taught them manners or to respect their elders. What a sad sight this was to witness. This display of disrespect was so blatant that neither one of us has ever forgotten it. We have both brought up this incident over the years when we see other cases of disrespect occur. I won’t ever forget the red-haired lady dropping her lipstick in the bathroom, and the two girls making fun of her trying to retrieve it is etched in my memory forever. Growing up, having good manners was a given. Respect for your elders was at the top of the list. Your grandparents were honored and appreciated as the head of the family. The redhaired lady was allowing the disrespect. She was reinforcing that their disrespect for her was acceptable by rewarding the girls for their bad behavior. This attitude that it is acceptable to treat another human being in such a disrespectful manner is horrible. This dysfunctional behavior will continue to the next generation until someone puts a stop to it! A pattern continues until someone has the strength and good sense to declare that this is unacceptable behavior. My hope is that more people will step up and make these changes. If not, who will take care of us when we’re old? You hold the power to influence your loved ones to be kinder, more generous, and more loving human beings. ~Nancy E. Yearout
My husband and I watched the movie Monster Ball the other night, starring Billy Bob Thornton as the son. In the movie, his father speaks poorly to his son’s new girlfriend, played by Halle Berry. The son decides that this disrespect from his father is the final straw. He puts his Pop, as he called him, in a retirement home. Although his Pop was of sound mind, he had a difficult time getting around. The son cooked for him, tended to his needs, and maintained the family home, but when Pop’s attitude became nasty, off to the retirement home he went. Was the son out of line not to tolerate this type of behavior? Although this was a movie, often in real life the mind changes as we grow older. Our personalities will often change too; sometimes this is not recognized by those closest to us. The son had not recognized this occurring in his father. Please make note to be aware of any changes in your own parents and grandparents and to be considerate. None of us like ageing, but we all would hope for kindness if our mind fails a bit. Many older folks are moved into retirement homes because they are a burden on their children. This may sound harsh, but our society looks at the elderly as a bother, not as an asset. When you have never focused on helping others, why would you help your parents when they grow old? Were you taught to respect the elderly? If not, it is important that you change your mind-set as all of us will grow old someday. Will you be respected when you’re old? If you have kids, will they step up for you? Who will take care of you when you are old? It is a well-known fact that the eldest people in a family hold the most valuable knowledge. They hold knowledge about you, your family, and invaluable life lessons that created your clan. These lessons are meant to be passed down from one generation to the next. This is how our creator set this up. We care for our young when they are born and when we are old they in turn care for us. But what if we have not taught our children to care for others? What if we taught them that they are the most important person, that they are number one! What if society has portrayed the elderly as not having any value? We have created a critical situation in the United States and in many other countries around the world by disrespecting our senior citizens. We have created a younger generation who does not value its elderly. The focus has become on our looks, staying young. This may be a wake-up call for you, but we all age. You are aging right now, and there is nothing you can do to stop it! In many countries, elderly people are treated with great respect—as they should be—for having lived through life’s many trials and tribulations. They have learned invaluable life lessons along the way. Our elders are the anchor of our communities and hold the secrets to our pasts.
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Mother Teresa reminds us that we should do for others without expecting anything in return. There has been much written expressing how important it is to love your fellow man and to take care of each other. My fear is that today’s entitlement mind-set and the karma associated with this entitlement behavior may be irreversible. A New Mind-Set: respect the elderly. We all will grow old someday, there is no getting around it. You will want to be respected when you grow old. Not just for your age but for the valuable knowledge that you possess. For the experiences that you have had in your lifetime that you can share with others. Share your wisdom with others. When we give of ourselves to the charity of our choice one week a year, we create more peace, joy, and happiness in the world. ~Nancy Yearout
Nancy E. Yearout is an author, a spiritual life coach, and a motivational speaker. Nancy hasenjoyed an extensive corporate career as a sales coordinator with one of the Big Three automakers in Detroit. Her sales, management, and marketing skills have grown with each step of her business. Her success has blessed her with the real life experience, knowledge, and common sense that is required to help others through life’s challenges. Nancy has been fortunate to acquire hands-on energy healing skills from an Aztec healer from Mexico, and she has helped many balance their energy fields. She has received guidance from religious and spiritualteachers along the way, resulting in the development of her skills as an intuitive, a tarot card reader, and a life coach. She utilizes these tools to guide her clients to joyful and successful lives. Nancy is the author of Wake Up! The Universe Is Speaking To You. www.Nancyyearout.com Also check Nancy's Podcast called High Road to Humanity on iTunes www.HighRoadtoHumanity.com
A Cat Cafe Experience
www.crumbsandwhiskers.com
Adopted: 800 | Saved from euthanasia: 1,710 | Amount donated to charity: $24.5K
WE HELP RESCUE & FIND HOMES FOR HOMELESS CATS
Birthing
The Feminine
Reclaming Your True Self
in the 21st Century
By Angela Dunning
shutterstock.com
“Feminine power is about loving, relating, holding presence for one another." ~ Marion Woodman
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All of us, men and women, have a unique opportunity right now to consciously birth The Feminine. Never in human history has there been a time when this has been so. As the pendulum of nature swings to rebalance itself, The Feminine is now pushing herself through each and every one us. This is both an honor and a responsibility to be taken seriously. Women today are finding that they need to consciously focus on rediscovering their own innate feminine wisdom, ways and values. They are steadily casting-off wounded masculine and Patriarchal ways of behaving and thinking, and instead, are reinserting feelings, empathy and above all, love into their everyday lives; both at home and at work. They are learning to cherish their body, not as an object for the outside world, but as their own beloved vessel, so long neglected but faithfully still there, just waiting for us to pay her attention and love. They are also starting to value their deep intuitive ways. Equally, because men also have an inner-feminine side they too are being called to this path. They are starting to listen to their own feminine soul’s voice; her needs and ways; to stop projecting her out onto women outside of themselves, and rather, to allow her to steer him towards his own true feelings and capacity to love. When men can relate to their inner-feminine then relations between the sexes will also begin to improve. This is by no means going to be a smooth process. The term ‘birthing’ in the title of this article speaks to the necessary pain and labor involved for each individual. As well as the wider society, which has to also grapple with deeply entrenched cultural and religious beliefs and traditions, some of which are going to vigorously oppose such a birthing. We are already seeing backlashes from certain political groups, fringe elements and religions who are not going to accept such enormous change without serious opposition. Yet, we must all hold steady. And, we must also accept that we are in this for the long haul, this is not going to happen in one generation as after all, we’re talking about changing CENTURIES of history and one-sidedness; not mere decades. Still, change is indeed happening on the personal level and on the social and political levels. We only have to look at the number of women’s groups, circles and organizations which have sprung up in the past few years alone. As well as some of the key women who have emerged as leaders in recent years such as Malala Yousafzai, who champions education for girls globally, and Greta Thunberg who is
leading the youth climate change movement, to name just two. Then, in January this year we had the utterly unprecedented privilege of seeing the largest number of women ever elected to the United States Congress. Their inauguration involved the again unprecedented and beautiful sight of grandmothers and grandchildren filling the chamber to celebrate this historic occasion and vital cultural shift. Some of these newly elected congresswomen are openly and fearlessly bringing feminine values to the table as they begin to reprioritize public services towards long neglected issues, such as care for the land we all walk on; the quality of the air we breathe, and advocating on behalf of those who are the most marginalized and vulnerable in society. These are Feminine principles in action. This is the way of The Feminine. If women can do the hard work of reclaiming their own feminine self and power, and if men can join them in learning about their own feminine-side, then more love will be brought to the table: The dining table, the boardroom and yes, the political leaders’ tables, now and in the years ahead. Then, the issues facing all of us, including our children and our beloved planet can be viewed radically differently as solutions can be creatively birthed through the loving yet fearless Feminine, just waiting to take her seat at ALL of our tables.
Angela Dunning is the author of The Horse Leads the Way: Honoring the True Role of the Horse in Equine Facilitated Practice. You can learn more about Angela; her work helping people and horses reclaim their wildness, and read more of her articles at: www.thehorsestruth.co.uk You can also connect with Angela on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehorsestruth or www.thehorsestruth.co.uk
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Empowered Woman! By Sasha Gary We are living in an amazing time of the rise of the Empowered Woman! Who is she? Just look around she is everywhere. She is Tracey Edmonds on the cover of Eden Magazine. She is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Congress. They are the 17 black women elected as Judges in Texas. After celebrating International Women’s Day last month and seeing how many women are empowering themselves in most recent years has been so inspiring! I work with amazing young women and I am learning from them all the time. They are smart, spiritual, they are entrepreneurs who love life and want to live a more inspired life! They love to travel, and make an impact on the world. We are in the NOW generation of the Feminist Movement! I believe in supporting one another in our businesses, with our families, especially the beautiful women who take care of our children while we are at work. I see these women daily in my neighborhood of Venice, taking the kids to the park each day, and loving them. We are not each other’s competition. The only competition you have, is the woman reflecting back at you in the mirror. Every flower will bloom at its own pace and we need to continue to help each other rise up and become a more empowered woman for this world. I see little girls wearing t-shirts of the Notorious RBG! Can you believe it? They’re mothers and fathers took them to the Skirball to see the Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibit. The film On the Basis of Sex has also helped educate young girls on what a difference you can make in the world just like she did. We’ve come a long way baby! These little girls have gone to Downtown LA to protest in their Pink pussy hats and they are witnessing and participating in this culture of solidarity and empowerment.
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As a Coach at Balanced Bella’s and an actress, the main thing I have learned throughout the years is mindset is everything! I have to have a strong mindset of who I am, being enough, and continuing to get up each day. I like to think back to the film Rocky with Sylvester Stallone. I grew up in South Jersey, not far from Philadelphia and the Rocky steps and his speech is honestly how I get back up! “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward” Rocky Balboa. To become a more Empowered Woman here are some Mindset strategies for you to utilize and adapt into your daily life. I have used Sports Psychology in my life for mental training. You have to have a strong mindset to become an Olympian. You work hard, visualize, feel the end result and when you show up for your event it flows out of you so naturally like you have been there a million times. It’s because you have been there in your mind. Your mind doesn’t know what is real or not. You just need to visualize the outcome and don’t worry about how you are going to get there. The journey is not up to you. Having a strong vision of what you want to accomplish is everything! You want to have a Growth Mindset! You are coachable and able to learn from other people. This maybe younger people too! Don’t think you are too old to learn something new. Staying on trend and staying in touch will help with a growth mindset. I amaze myself every time I learn a new lesson! Sometimes the lesson is about me, and sometimes it’s a tool I can use in my life. I love to write in my journal every day. I can get thoughts out of my head and onto the paper. I know what I need to work towards and strengthen. It gets the inner dialogue and doubt out of my mind. You need to have a clear mind. Be nice to yourself too! Just because the self-doubt comes up, don’t feel angry at yourself. Love yourself enough to work past it. Recognize this thought needs some attention so you can move past it. Create a mission and intention behind everything you do. When you set an intention, it is like planting a seed of what you want to grow. It puts forth energy and focus on what you want to accomplish. Living a well-intended life means you are conscious about how you are living your life! This seems so simple, but having belief in yourself. If you don’t have believe in yourself than who else will? An Empowered Woman believes in herself so much, when someone says your full of yourself, she say’s, yes I am! Without a shadow of a doubt you have so much belief in yourself that you can do anything and be whoever you want to be! A courageous woman who is strong enough to ask for help sometimes, delegate tasks so she is not overwhelmed, and shows up for herself every day. That is the new Empowered Woman! In the photos; McKinzie Jane, Chani Thompson (Creator of Babes In Business) Sasha Gary, McKinzie Jane, Chani Thompson (Creator of Babes In Business) Sasha Gary Sasha Gary & McKinzie Jane
Sasha Gary is an actress, writer, and Wellness Coach at www.balancedbellasonline.com a 16 week online health program for women that shows you how to implement small sustainable changes one by one to help you with whole food nutrition, self-love and a conscious movement. Sasha is a yogi of 25 years, a crystal healer, and an avid sound bowl meditation participant and lives in Venice California! 55 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
A
rchaeology for the Soul What Archaeology Teaches Us about the Journey Inward By Corina Luna Dea
It is said, “The longest journey is the journey inward”. Indeed the longest of all journeys. But it doesn’t have to be the hardest. It takes a second to go within with our eyes closed or opened. It is always available to us. It is never hidden from us, yet we seldom chose to journey within, until something happens. Until our lives becomes too painful. And the only way to heal is to re-enter our story, learn the lessons and free ourselves of the negative emotions we carry around. And so the journey begins, born from the need to mend what hurts inside. Unfortunately, none of us have been given a map or instructions about how to journey inwardly. It is not part of any school curriculum. And most often, our parents do not have the tools needed to help us take this journey. Not to mention that often our parents are among those that have injured us somehow. Often, they are the reason we must take this inner healing journey. 56 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
If we attempt to draw a map of our inner world, we will conclude that our inner world is simultaneously a place of wonder and a deep void where dragons can hide. It is a landscape like no other. Not made of mountains and rivers, but of memories, feelings and emotions. All sorts of emotions that impact our everyday lives, our relationships, our work and even our health. Because all answers are within, I looked for a metaphor that can describe the inner journey. Digging through my childhood memories, I remembered my love for archaeology. In my contemplation, I began to understand that there are similarities between archaeology and the inner journey. It is my belief that archaeology can help us broaden the window of our perception and help us remove the fear of beginning the unearthing process.
Becoming Your Own Archaeologist So, I invite you to enter with me this holy experience and become your own archaeologist. The excavation process is sacred work. Be ready to soil your hands with remains of your stories, pieces of truth tucked away, denied emotions, aspects of yourself you cut off long ago… Respect, Kindness and Compassion I remember watching a program about the excavation of Treblinka, one of the Nazi camps in Poland. Unlike other concentration camps, there was no evidence left of Treblinka. The site was bulldozed before it was abandoned. To cover their tracks, the Germans went so far as to plant crops and build a farmhouse on the leveled ground. Later, the site was turned into a memorial and no one was allowed to dig, until 2008 when a team of archaeologists had permission to make excavations. What called my attention is that after excavating the old bones, the archaeologists buried them again where they were found. This excavation was different: The archaeologists' prime directive was to disturb the remains as little as possible in respect for the victims. I feel that we can learn from this particular excavation. We must enter our on archaeological site with respect and reverence for what we endured in our lives. We should disturb a certain wound as little as possible. Or, perhaps we can gently take the old bones in our hands, clean them up and let them be. We can place them back where we found them, honoring the suffering they experienced. Perhaps this is a time of forgiveness. Perhaps this is a time to be kind and compassionate to all the aspects of ourselves that we abandoned long ago. We can use this example to help ourselves re-enter our story and excavate only what matters. We don’t have to dig at every corner of our heart all at once. Better to wait until we are ready to work with our findings. Because healing is organic…It cannot be rushed. Some bones are better left undisturbed… The need to know the truth Archaeologists are driven by the desire to know the truth. They want to know the truth because they believe that our past gives us clues into what made us who we are today. They know that history does not always provide happy discoveries. For example, the discovery of human sacrifice or the cannibalistic tendencies of some cultures are hard truths to accept. Digging up sites of sacrificed children must be a difficult task. I can only imagine what it takes to be kneeled down with a brush in hand and slowly remove the debris covering old bones of our ancestors who lived long ago. Just like the archaeologists, the truth to know our own truth is driving us to begin the quest. Just like them, we kneel with respect at our sacred archaeological site and begin removing the debris covering old bones, old stories and memories.
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Sifting through emotional sediment is difficult work. The fear of being re-injured when we recall certain events is present. Though the excavation process, you will unearth aspects of yourself that perhaps you were forced to disown, to cut off in order to feel safe. You might remember events that you are not proud of. You might meet the memories you wish to forget. But you might also meet the longing to know the truth. The truth that you are whole as you are. The truth that you can forgive. The truth that you are unique, kind, compassionate and worthy of all the love and goodness the Universe has to offer. As brave as they are Archaeologists have the courage to endure the heat of the deserts or the freezing temperatures of the arctic in pursuit of truth. In her article “Let’s talk About the Mental and Physical Challenges”, archaeologist Eleanor Scott writes: “The relentless heat at Shiqmim enfolded us day and night, until just before the dawn when the temperature plunged and it suddenly became too cold to be of any relief. From the start it was like a horror film, with the diggers being picked off one by one. On the second day, a young German woman was heard sobbing…her face eaten alive by mosquitos. That same night, the screaming started, as giant cockroaches flew into the communal awning and landed on people's backs and heads. I wasn't too bothered by that, or the scorpions, but plenty of people were.” Just like the archaeologists, we can be brave too. We can gather the courage to confront no matter what we encounter. We can withstand the memory of painful past, the abuse we survived, the rape, the tears, loss of love and grief, because at the end of the journey we come out with a renewed understanding of the past, with more love, more compassion, more wisdom and more so, a sense of inner freedom from the burdens of past wounds. Enthusiasm and Curiosity Watching programs about archaeological excavations, I learned that archaeologists are curious and genuinely enthusiastic about the discovery process. They enjoy the process as much as the object of their excavation, no matter the hardships the digger endure. We can also embrace curiosity and enthusiasm as we embark on our own inner archaeological excavation. Learning to enjoy the process makes the journey so much more enjoyable. In my mining process, replacing the anger I had towards my mother with the desire to understand her, helped me to understand that she was abusive because she was also a victim of her own abusive past. Unlike me, she never had the tools to help herself heal. Through my own unearthing process, I have learned what it means to have compassion and forgive my mother.
Can you allow curiosity to lead you into the archaeological excavation of your past? Can you replace the fear of going back into your stories with a sense of curiosity and the desire to understand from a spiritual and psychological the lessons you could learn from these experiences? Desire for adventure and community How about if we, just like the archaeologists, begin our inner excavation work with a sense of adventure. I truly enjoyed watching the adventures of “Indiana Jones”. Driven by the desire for truth and adventure, archaeologists are able to come up with solutions to most challenges they encounter. Isn’t life an adventure after all? Aren’t we here as travelers? Is this our eternal home? It is said that the journey within is the longest journey we will ever take. Can we make it fun? Before we even begin, we can decide that this journey will be adventurous and enjoyable. It is a matter of mind-set. Let the desire for truth guide you. Let curiosity replace any fearful thoughts you might encounter. Community is also important to archaeologists. There is always a team that works on the archaeological sites. Diggers don’t dig alone. Likewise, make sure that you have your supporting team ready. Be part of a community. Make sure that you feel safe. Journal your discoveries. Write poetry. Paint. Dance. Walk in nature. Don’t seclude yourself. Ask for help if you need it.
sediment we have gathered for so long. It takes time to find peace with the past, forgive, let go and integrate the new found meaning into who we are. You are the treasure Archaeologists are treasure hunters. And so are we. Taking the journey within, just like the archaeologists, we discover our inner treasure, waiting for us to be ready to bring it to light. You will never know what is lying dormant until you gather the courage to begin excavating at your holy site. This holy site is your life. Mysterious. Unpredictable. A landscape like no other. Deeper than the deepest ocean. Grander than the Universe. It took me about ten years to sift through memories and painful experiences. I didn’t know about being patient, having an aerial view, or about taking this inner journey as an adventure. But now I do and I wish you, the reader, to take to heart the lessons that archaeology teaches us. I have learned from the poet Rumi that where there is ruin, treasures are always to be found. If you think that your life is in ruin, then begin the excavation process. Be patient, be kind and compassionate with yourself. This is the longest journey you will ever take. But it doesn’t have to be the hardest.
Aerial Archaeology Archaeologists love technology. When the aerial approach in archaeology was introduced, some archaeologists became specialists in using this method of discovery. Searching for a site from high up in the air, new sites invisible by walking were discovered. This approach opened a whole new field of archaeology, allowing new clues to be unveiled. Can we look at our lives from a broader perspective? What do you see when you reflect on a certain life event when you are next to it? Now imagine that you are in an air balloon and you look at the same event from 10 feet off the ground. What do you see? Imagine now that you are 50 feet off the ground? Does your view change? Now imagine that you are way above the ground. What do you see? How do you feel about the same event? Search your heart for answers. Sometimes just changing the way we look at things, changes the whole event, thus changing the way we feel about ourselves and those that hurt us. Be Patient with your Wounds Archaeologists had to cultivate and practice patience. The artifacts they unearth are often very fragile, just as humans are. With a small brush in their hands, they remove the dust that settled for so many eras over their precious treasure. Can we be patient with ourselves as we do our own inner excavation? It takes time to sift through the emotional
Corina Luna Dea is a passionate Gypsy Soul, poet, writer and visionary of a new world, born and raised in Communist Romania, now residing in the US for over 33 years. Her unique and highly praised poetry book, “Archaeology for the Woman’s Soul” is Corina’s personal story written in poetic verse. Part art, part therapy, Corina’s words guide women to heal what hurts inside, remember who they are and find their Voice. Those that read her poetry call it “profound, exquisite, a masterpiece of the soul.” To find out more about Corina and her work, visit www.archaeologyforthesoul.com or her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ArchaeologyForTheWomansSoul
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LANGUAGE OF SPACE By Michael White Ryan
I
t is the Horse I Got on Discovery
Think for a moment, just how interesting each and every one of our stories has different cover versions, and yet each filled with amazing similarities in different stages of our growths functionality. When looking deeper, the one thing we now know for certain, the majority of us got on the cultural horse we were born into. For others due to dislocated interrupts, it was what they grew-up into. With that said we learned about what was different and those differences grew into, how to choose between what was good or bad, what is right and what is wrong and so on? We were also told and given the “power to choose”, that’s how difference became the many flavors of, how we sustain our survival roles in life. Keeping it simple, in reality there are only ever two choices when relating, communicating, responding internally or externally. And that is choosing between like - dislike, yes - no and the granddaddy of them all, what we think to be Positive and what we choose to separate ourselves from, the opposite, the Negatives. What screams hilariously monstrous, is, in relationships, that which is a natural opposite, we marry or partner up, only to breed another into this new-past updated cultural cul-de-sac. While thinking that our growth and insights make it different, BAM! There is a third choice, standing on the fence unable to decide, I don’t know, can’t choose, plus the one’s we personally know so well.
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Photo by dreami.deviantart.com
So what is working for us? There is a definite shift in what may appear as greater-awareness, when in fact, it’s possibility an increased noticing of what we are being confronted by, in our day to day experiences. Some of you may find yourselves asking, where do I fit in this picture and what is it I need to do to elevate myself, my relationship, my finances, my business. Ask the question, but is it the right question, if not, then we are already on the wrong track searching for a right answer that inevitably leads to a pretend answer-action-result.
Who has the power to drive this animal vessel? You are the …, you are like the sun that shines to illuminate all that exists, here and now. You are a multi universe functioning from, dazed and confused, love and light, yesterday today. In each living moment, we as actor-actress, deliver a role according to our collective characters developed from experiences during our growth stages.
Apple’s fame and fortune was built not on the success of a Mac or I Phone not by what Steve did it was built on who he was as a human being
Be they good or bad, has no meaning in the real actual world. A repetitive mindset, behavior, action, emotion may have meaning for you, which you!!! For if you are “the great one”, then who is this you, that keeps following its tail around and around forever in circles??? Responsibility, accountability, ownership, authentic, please take me by the hand, is the self-task standing forever waiting in visions reflections.
Therefore, ask, who are you today, what character role are you playing while standing in line, supposedly awake? Whatever the answer, it will be correct for you. Will it serve you, absolutely yes? The question to ask is, think, which you does it benefit, the emotional you, the animal you, the ego you, the spiritual you?
It’s the cultural horse I got on, who sits still in the saddle, only you can answer. Discovery opens the doors of the unknown, which unknown, you decide, yes-no, or stand on yesterday’s fence peering in the now. Strange as it may seem, “life is your guru”. When it is all said and done, the unknown is the safest place on earth.
Some of you may have noticed the changes in behavioral-thinking during the recession. All of a sudden, for good reason, people began operating from a mindset survival mode. The recession moved on, did we? When confronted, humans operate from survival modes of behaviors, we can’t be wronged. Hence, we may function like a dog backed into a corner “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”, we defend at all costs. How clever are we, having developed real reasons, beliefs, to back up any and all our actions, behaviors. The best part, so as not to appear indifferent, if “our need” is to believe in a person, we automatically believe there stuff without question, so sad!
Blessings to you dear-one.
The circumstantial facts seen through our minds eye interrupts our natural flow, we defend our actions via regurgitated beliefs, by choice give life once again, to a adapted repetitive regulated patterned experience. If experience was designed to give emergence to “our life’s lessons” what are we looking at, how do we discover the jewel so often referred to as “the key to the answers”? How does one perceive, ever evolve, when blinded by interruptions wearing a false face we previously designed to keep us in safety, stagnant, to forever remain!!! Do answers to questionings come in books, a guru, a mentor, an experience, FB, absolutely…will it be your answer? Searching far and wide, in time spaces of then and now, we find those delivering answers, still searching, and that’s fine.
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Michael White Ryan is a co-founder with his wife Pamela Edwards of Language of Space. They are leaders in sustainable business growth via Performance Design and Performance Code. Sustainable design encompasses both Western and Eastern philosophies including advanced Feng Shui principles, Environmental Design, Buildings, Alternative Health, Business Advisory Consultants and 20 plus years as entrepreneurs. Recognized in the top 100 globally and are Americas Leading Feng Shui Business Consultants. They are on faculty at CEO Space International one of the oldest business organizations in America today, currently operate in 7 countries and reside in Carlsbad CA.. www.languageofspace.com
How Pen Releases the Pain
By Jayita Bhattacharjee How the undiscovered, the unknitted beauties of life are revealed through the soulful weaving of words and suddenly the light of strength seems to shine. You know now, those words are your sheltering companion. There is memory, your past, the episodes, all intermingled together as you weave the words, and somehow you grab them—as they find their roots within you. You further into the ground. Rich will be your life as you begin to anchor within yourself. Your search for it elsewhere ceases. As you set your pen to the sacred craft, some of
the breathtaking verses see their birth through the tip of your pen. The beauties that bloom through the papers can make just any heart smile. You connect your inner voice and a variety of cadence and sequences. You read out your poetry, your story loud. And it weaves the characters of your life so very intricately. This craft then becomes an immortal craft. When you transform pieces of life into an impressive grandeur of art, it becomes your legacy that you leave behind.
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When thoughtful and understanding do meet one another, you craft a world of togetherness. The pen that flows the ink of heart through the nib and sketches the characters in the story of your life with such a detailed precision, making the world feel the intense emotions, throbbing in the daily lives. This spinning of you in the unleashing of emotions will set you in a trance. It will set a chaos within you, yet through that chaos will you feel the peace. As through your story, you tell the untold wonders, the delights and the agony, that make the wild fire burning in your heart. From there writing emerges as the authentic craft of your heart. It is not the learning craft. It becomes the living craft of your life. Writing that is good and powerful evokes the tender yet the fierce feelings in you—the most authentic emotions of a soul. Through these rising feeling, you cut the sadness of your heart and let it out in the open to heal, in the refreshing light of a rising sun. such a creation from chaos turns to something extraordinary. It is the most elegant writing of your heart filtered through the dried leaves, so it gifts a new light to every reader’s soul. It becomes a heart whisperer. The creative in you arose from the innocent child that never ceased to die. You book is worth a million memories of the days, the years that you lived with the smiles and falling tears. Out of all that, something arose. It saw the genesis of creativity. And that was a story of your heart that you wrote on every rock, on every leaf, on every pebble lying on the sandy shores of life. Your deepest yearning, your innate desires arose to shape your longings on every page and it all began through the nib of your hand-held pen. We gather up some pictures from the spaces among the broken pieces, shake the dust off, we find the words rising from all those yesterdays buried beneath those crumbled pieces. And with the wisdom of our hearts, we learn how to fit them together on every page, how to drag the pen so it fills every paper with the vivid imagery of the days we left in the past. And together, they make some of the beautiful chapters of our lives. If you can’t stand the bits and pieces left, then your pen can always keep the flow of ink which can shape them into a beautiful work of art. In between living and dying, they are the living works of heart, that will live and relive for all the years to come, all the years left behind. While time comes, and time goes, this is a beautiful creation of timelessness. Your passionate curiosity, your search for way to frame those years, your heartfelt photography, all blended to form the beautiful story, where you wrote your heart out. With the passionate art, you shared your heart. You may have been hesitant of what the world might think, reading your heart, but sometimes the very thing that you hesitate to do might be the only thing that can set you free. While you craft with the pen in your hands, the words fall one by one and you breathless crafting leaves a light, so your writing glitters like a galaxy in a night sky. The intensity in
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your life burns in your pen as you write. And in this process, it becomes the secret of your healing. As you stop letting your tears flow, and hold the pen, you begin to write your pain that kills you inside. You begin to shape your grief that consumes you secretly. And with every wording, your words radiate a light from every syllable. You heal as the words gently slide out of your heart and land on every page. You are no longer a prisoner of your sadness, your anger rather you become a wild soul set free by the pen, as you reveal your soul through every syllable that makes an impression on the blank pages. The fear ends, the anger recedes, and the gentle waves begin to flow. And grace begins to glide in every word, in every page as your softening makes you into someone so humble. Instead of running away from life’s invading fears, you walk into them, and wrap them in the beauty of words. As the world reads your every word, your story travels from the pages to their hearts, and the hearts feel a seamless connection. Such is the way, bridges are burnt within the passage of time, and from the ashes does something beautiful rise--- the wounded healers.
Jayita Bhattacharjee was born n Calcutta, India and later on pursued education from University of Houston in Economics, she had chosen her career as a trustee and teacher. Her Indian residence is in the vicinity of the famous Belurmath. Currently, she is settled in Tampa, Florida. Her love for writing on a journey of heart and soul was hidden all within. Looking at the moments captured in love and pain, joy and grief, the hidden tragedies of life...it was a calling of her soul to write with the ink that kept flowing from her heart. This is what gave her the fulfillment, the richness in her soul. Her books "The Ecstatic Dance of Life', " Sacred Sanctuary", " Light of Consciousness", "Dewdrops of Compassion" are meant to shed light on what guides a person to respond to the mystical voice hidden inside, to soar in a boundless expansion with the limitless freedom of spirit. "It is in the deepest joy that I write with every breath of mine."
The Mindful Tax and Money Guide By Miriam Bertke
Investing
is Like Constructing a Building The investment world has its own jargon and technical terms. For those who are involved in investing, the language of investment is no barrier to understand. Many other people get lost in the sometimes confusing variety of investment technology. Many people work very hard to build substantial net worth without a great deal of knowledge about investing and investments. People like this spend their time and energy making money in a number of businesses and professions. They either do not invest or leave the investing in the hands of professionals whom they may or may not know well. There comes a time, usually when clients starting to think about retirement, education for their children or some other expensive event, that they take an interest in investing. They realize that they may have to live on their asset base for the rest of their lives. It is then that they face the reality of the investment world. At this time both spouses get involved in the financial process. Although in many marriages, one spouse has been in charge of the family finances. While this spouse may have some financial sophistication, it is likely that the other spouse does not. 68 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
It is important that each spouse learns and can understand the family finances and what they mean for the future of all family members. Understanding theory is one thing; applying it effectively in the real world is quite another. We work with clients by providing assistance on how investing should take place and how the different investment vehicles and techniques actually apply to them. Investing is like constructing a building. The more time and thought (planning) that is put in at the beginning, the better the end product will be. Both construction and investing are process requiring knowledge, expertise and patience. To continue our metaphor, the owner of a building has begun with a vision of the end of product and hire an architect to design and draw up the plan that will achieve the owner’s vision. In investing, the end product is the investor’s goals and objectives. Once the goals and objectives are understood, it is the job of the investor’s advisors to design the plan necessary to reach those objectives.
The financial advisor is the architect. After the architectural drawings are complete, the financial advisor becomes the structural engineer and the contractor. The investor should be as much a part of the process as is the owner of a building. The outcome of each phase of the process is dependent upon the collaboration between the investor (owner) and the financial advisor (architect, contractor). The difference in the two processes is that a building is eventually constructed, and the architect and contractor move on. A financial plan is never finished, it is always a work in process. People change, families change, lifestyle change, economic conditions change, and goals and objectives change. The face of financial services changed dramatically over the last three decades. Financial planning is not a luxury, as it might have been in the past, but is now a necessity. Finding and working with a financial advisor is important. What advisors do I need on my team? With the aid of an accountant, a financial planner, an investment advisor, an insurance agent, and an attorney, you can design a plan that accomplishes your financial and estate planning objectives. It’s your money. It’s your life. Take control.
I look forward to meeting you in person someday soon. Until then, keep moving forward.
Miriam Bertke is a Financial Services representative. She is a part of The Advisor Consulting Group (ACG), a firm designed to provide financial and estate planning assistance to individuals and businesses. She has many years of experience, specializes in strategic and comprehensive financial planning focusing on the areas of tax, retirement and asset protection, helping people gain clarity with their financial goals and objectives. She also works closely with attorneys, CPAs, as well as with other financial advisors, creating financial planning teams. You can also connect with Miriam via email or on LinkedIn: Email: miriam@advcg.com http://linkedin.com/in/miriam-bertke Website: www.advisorconsultinggroup.com 69 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
LOOKING GOOD & FEELING GREAT
with Margaret Tomaszewicz
Knowing How To Treat
Rosacea Naturally When skin is affected by rosacea, it is incredibly sensitive. It needs special care to keep it calm, hydrated and healthy. In fact, preventing rosacea flare-ups is critical for anyone who suffers from this disorder. With this condition in check, it is possible to live a more active and productive life while also feeling greater self-confidence. Most people who are diagnosed with this disorder are wondering how to get rid of rosacea. The bad news is that there is no cure for this condition. On the other hand, it is possible to minimize the disease's symptoms with special rosacea skin care. Natural remedies for rosacea are out there. At Woda Skin Care, we understand the special needs of skin that is prone to rosacea. That is why we produce numerous products that are designed to calm and soothe sensitive skin. These products provide the rich, nourishing hydration that rosacea-affected 72 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
skin requires. The result is fewer flare-ups and calmer, clearer, more beautiful skin. What Is Rosacea? Rosacea is an extraordinarily common skin disorder. For most people, it begins as a simple tendency to flush or blush more easily than others. The nose and cheeks are most frequently affected by the condition, but it can spread to other areas, especially if it is not treated. While rosacea commonly spreads to the chin and forehead, it also may show up on the chest, back and ears. Redness is the most frequently seen symptom. However, people who suffer from the disorder may have additional symptoms like swelling and breakouts that look a lot like acne. In extreme cases, the skin may become thicker and develop a bumpy texture. Some people even may develop ocular rosacea, a condition that causes the eyes and eyelids to become red and swollen.
People who have rosacea on face, ears, and neck undergo suffering that is well beyond just the physical. The National Rosacea Society conducted a survey that concluded that 41 percent of rosacea sufferers canceled social plans or avoided contact with the public during a flare-up. In the same survey, the Society discovered that nearly 70 percent of respondents reported feelings of lower self-confidence and self-esteem as a result of the condition. Additionally, 30 percent of participants said that they had missed days at work because of the disorder. Rosacea further is a cause for worry. Patients experience anxiety over whether or not their condition will get worse or cause scarring. Overall, feelings of anxiety and depression tend to be a bit higher for people who have rosacea than they are for other people. Finding the best rosacea treatment may be the key to improving quality of life. The more you understand about rosacea, the easier it will be to find the best rosacea treatment for you. When you learn how to how to treat rosacea naturally, you will have further assurance of knowing that you are not introducing any potentially harmful ingredients into your daily routine. What Is the Main Cause of Rosacea? It is natural to wonder how to get rid of rosacea, but it is perhaps just as valuable to understand what causes rosacea. It also may be comforting to know that you are not alone. The U.S. government has estimated that there are approximately 14 million people who have rosacea in America. The majority of people who are diagnosed with rosacea symptoms are between the ages of 30 and 50. Individuals of Celtic or Scandinavian descent appear to be more susceptible to the disease, and that is especially true when they have fair skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair. Overall, women are more prone to rosacea, though it is men who tend to get more severe forms of the condition. Despite all of these tendencies, it also is possible for children, the elderly and people of color to be diagnosed with rosacea. Researchers have yet to pinpoint the precise cause of rosacea, which also may help to explain why there is no cure. Scientists have noted that the condition tends to run in families. Moreover, there seems to be a consensus that an overreaction in the immune system may be responsible for flare-ups. Researchers are even testing a theory that a bug known as H pylori, which may be found in the intestines, may be behind occurrences of rosacea. Other possible causes include a skin mite known as Demodex and the skin protein cathelicidin. With further study, researchers may someday pinpoint what causes rosacea and formulate a cure. Until then, it is essential for sufferers to figure out how
to treat rosacea. While the exact cause of the disease remains a mystery, scientists do agree that each person who has rosacea has certain triggers that will cause a flare up. Identifying these triggers and working to limit or eradicate them can make it possible to experience rosacea symptoms only rarely. Triggers may be simple things like cold wind blowing in your face or getting overheated. Some people find that spicy food causes an adverse reaction in their skin. Another common trigger is sun exposure. Usually, people with this condition have skin that is extraordinarily sensitive to the sun's rays. This makes it imperative to never go outdoors without wearing sunscreen, and to wear a hat when outside. What Are the Symptoms of Rosacea? Dermatologists agree that there are four main sub-types of rosacea. The rosacea symptoms that the patient displays determine which sub-type they have. Some patients may exhibit symptoms from more than one sub-type of the condition. The first sub-type features symptoms like redness in the middle of the face and blood vessels that are visible and broken. Patients with this sub-type of rosacea may suffer from swollen skin, and they may have dealt with a lifetime of super-sensitive skin. Dryness and rough spots are common. Many people complain that their skin frequently burns or stings with this type of rosacea. The second sub-type looks a great deal like an acne breakout. In fact, many people initially mistake their rosacea symptoms for an acne flare-up, and they treat it accordingly. This usually means using a lot of products that dry out the skin. Unfortunately, this only makes the condition worse. With the third sub-type of rosacea, patients suffer from bumpy, thickened skin. This subtype tends to be rare when compared with the first two sub-types. Its symptoms may include thickened skin, especially on the nose, though it also may appear on the chin, cheeks, forehead, and ears. Men are far more likely to be diagnosed with this sub-type of rosacea than women are. Ocular rosacea is the fourth sub-type. It affects the eyes, making them bloodshot and watery. The eyes itch and are sensitive to light. Many people experience blurry vision during a flareup. A visit to an ophthalmologist may be necessary when this condition makes an appearance. What Is the Best Treatment for Rosacea? When it comes to rosacea natural treatment is preferred. This is mainly because rosacea skin tends to be incredibly sensitive. Introducing a number of manmade chemicals and toxins can have a seriously detrimental effect. Instead, a rosacea skin care routine is recommended.
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Dermatologists recommend against doing a great deal of scrubbing on skin that is prone to rosacea as this may cause a flare-up. Instead, it is wise to choose a gentle routine that uses mild skin care products. Among Woda's products, you'll find several natural remedies for rosacea. These may help to soothe a flare up or prevent one from occurring. Of course, the benefits of using any of Woda's products go well beyond keeping rosacea in check. All of Woda's products are completely natural and organic so you can feel good about putting them on your skin and having them in your home. Moreover, nothing from Woda is ever tested on animals, and that's something else you can feel good about. Let's take a closer look at some of Woda's products that serve as a rosacea natural treatment Clear Skin Moisturizer Featuring all-natural ingredients like jojoba oil, Echinacea and lavender, this moisturizer is capable of totally transforming your skin. Jojoba oil is recognized for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an ideal ingredient for rosacea skin care. Lavender is similarly beneficial thanks to its ability to reduce redness on the skin and to soothe irritation. When used morning and evening, Woda's Clear Skin Moisturizer can help to make rosacea flare-ups a thing of the past.
When it comes to natural remedies for rosacea, few things can match the effectiveness of a powerful serum. This one is particularly beneficial for people who want to know how to get rid of rosacea. A host of beneficial ingredients enable this serum to soothe and hydrate even the most sensitive skin. On the label, you'll find components like aloe, hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, vitamin C and vitamin E. Each one is sourced with care to ensure an all-natural, totally organic experience for you that may mean that you see fewer rosacea flare-ups. Your skin care routine can make all of the difference when you are battling rosacea. Although a cure is not available, control is certainly possible. When you understand your triggers and follow a sensible rosacea skin care routine, you will discover that your overall quality of life improves. As the physical symptoms subside, your self-confidence will rise. To your Heath, Margaret
Clear Skin Anti-Blemish Mask A formulation that is designed to soothe acne-prone skin masks this the ideal treatment mask for someone suffering from rosacea. Among the main components in the Clear Skin Anti-Blemish Mask is bentonite clay. An organic substance that naturally absorbs negatively charged toxins, bentonite clay creates an effective barrier between your skin and environmental toxins. Since these toxins may be responsible for some rosacea flare-ups, it is only natural that you would want to make this ingredient part of your rosacea natural treatment. Like the moisturizer mentioned above, this product also contains jojoba oil, bringing essential anti-inflammatory properties to this ultra-soothing mask. Age Defy: Vitamin C & Stem Cell Serum 74 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Margaret Tomaszewicz is a licensed esthetician with over 25 years of experience. She is the owner of European Skin and Massage Studio in Santa Monica, California and has developed the Organic WODA European Natural Skin Care Line. Her products are available on wodaskincare.com and on Amazon.com For every product sold WODA Skin Care plants a tree. Margaret can be reached at 424-279-9771 or europeanskinandmassagestudio@gmail.com wodaskincare.com
Anyes Galleani
Marilyn the Goddess
As a pop artist, I am fascinated by all the methods by which our culture can be propagated, from social media to satellite imaging.
Mixed media art on wood panel, 36x36"
Satellite imaging has quickly become one of my favorites because it allows me to include aerial views of the world into my art. In the painting "Marilyn the Goddess� I used a picture of the Los Angeles downtown area, combined with pictures of planes on the ground at the airport, to create a portrait of Marilyn Monroe. The idea was to make her look like a modern goddess who looks after our city streets and airports. I chose Marilyn for this role because she is from LA and is an iconic beauty and quintessential feminine character, but also because of her own personal story encompassing a wide range of emotions. She represents both ends of the spectrum, from fame and glamour to despair and everything in between, something our city is very familiar with. When I make my artwork, I strive to capture a slice of our times, communicate feelings and create beautiful and interesting objects that people can enjoy looking at in their home or office for many years to come, art that enriches their decor, inspires thoughts and sparks conversation. 76 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
Anyes Galleani is a visual artist, former fashion photographer and video director who was born and raised in Italy and has lived in the Los Angeles Arts District since the 90’s. She uses photo montage and collage to create images and mixed media art that explore pop culture and reflect a multitude of influences, from fashion to street art. Anyes accepts commission to create custom art. For more information and to view her work please visit Galleani-Art.com
SOUL COURAGE By Tara-jenelle Walsch
Inner BeDazzler
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DO YOU REMEMBER something called the BeDazzler? It’s one of those, “As Seen on TV” gadgets invented in the 1970’s. The device essentially “jazzes up” ordinary or unattractive things by adhering rhinestones, assorted studs or patches onto them. I’m taking you down memory lane with this little craft toy because it came up while I was talking with a friend in a way that I think might interest you. She was debating on ending one of her friendships because there wasn't enough of a spiritual connection. I reminded her that each of our friends have different qualities to resonate with, and there’s rarely one singular person who’s in sync with every aspect of our life. Instead of feeling disappointed in her as a friend, I suggested, think about the things that are special about that particular friendship. She immediately agreed and felt completely turned around, re-appreciating the friendship she nearly dismissed. Then afterwards, she even acknowledged that she had existing spiritual connections with other friends in her life, for which she is very grateful. “Did you see what we just did?” I said with excitement. “We totally turned your discouragement around with just a few shiny reminders. We BeDazzled it!” The recognition was like comic relief; shifting disparity into joy, in seconds flat. We high-fived each other with selfgrowth pride and polished our invisible badges, singing, “Boom!” into new air. Defeating a downhill spiral like that was as enjoyable as it was intriguing. So much so that it gave me a great idea for a go-to tool that can support us all in keeping our thoughts from running amok. Imagine this: Just as the physical BeDazzler takes something that’s initially unappealing and makes it instantly lovable with a bit of sparkle, we can take our darker thoughts and make them light again by adorning them with shiny truths. For example, here’s what that would look like in the situation above:
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Darker Thoughts (Feelings of disappointment, disconnection and not getting enough from someone to the degree of wanting to run.) + Shiny Truths (Appreciating the ways in which you do relate with that person, and having gratitude for others that you share a spiritual connection.) = Light Think about it, if we viewed one of the gifts of our higher consciousness (the container that sees all aspects of everything at once; the part of us that knows the ultimate truth) as being an Inner BeDazzler, it would be like having a sparkly tool at the ready for any lower vibration that needed adjusting. Not that low vibrations need adjusting, of course. We can certainly stay in the experience of them if we’re getting something from it. But more often than not, sitting in them for substantial periods of time isn’t supportive of growth. The thing with lower vibrations is that they tend to spur on declining thoughts that then encourage disheartening feelings. It’s quite the sneaky operation because the low vibrations aren’t readily detectable and the declining thoughts, not easily identifiable. This is probably because many things don’t seem uncomfortable or painful at first glance, as most of us equate emotional pain with traumatic changes like death and loss. But when I refer to pain, I mean anything that causes emotional discomfort; fear, loss, grief, anger, failure, rejection, loneliness, unworthiness, sadness, anxiety, etc. Thoughts that pull our spirits down. When we’re really aware, we may even can catch ourselves in Pain Loops; repeating unhealthy thought patterns that tap us into feeling our pain, over and over. Once you identify these pain loops and notice that your feelings to have stemmed from a thought that was triggered by pain, the question then becomes: What do you do with your pain? Through my own personal experience and the witnessing of others, I’ve realized that many of us use highly developed and very sophisticated Resistance Techniques in order to avoid pain. The minute we feel emotional pain we make a bee-line to find whatever we can to make the discomfort go away and the moment easier. The usual distraction-suspects are drinking, exercise, work, eating, sex, gambling, even internet scrolling— but anything can be used as a distraction when done excessively enough to numb your original feeling. But back to the BeDazzler: What if instead of numbing out, 80 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019
we really felt into the pain and then expressed it in some way. Then we could pull out our handy Inner BeDazzler to refresh our mind with wonderful facts and truths that outshine our discomfort, and bring them front and center. By feeling our pain, we’re honoring ourselves with what is presently real for us, staying out of denial. By expressing it in some way, we’re releasing the energetic values of the pain out of our body and surrendering. And by using our Inner BeDazzler, we’re calling forth sparkly aspects of our lives to awareness, shifting our focus to healing. Stretching our perspective to a panoramic view, now seeing the sunset, mountains and birds, even though the clouds may hang gray. The next time that you detect low vibrations pulling your spirits down, think about how invested you are in your pain. Then ask yourself: How could I BeDazzle this moment? Pull your Inner BeDazzler out and realign yourself with the existing sparkly truths that are in your life.
RoadMap to your Inner BeDazzler 1- Keep awareness around emotional discomfort & pain 2- Never make your feelings wrong. Feel them fully. 3- Express your feelings in some way. 4- Bring out your Inner BeDazzler; recall the good things in that situation 5- Adorn those shiny facts onto your pain & watch your spirit harmonize
Tara-jenelle Walsch is a monthly columnist for the Eden Magazine. She is the author of the book, Soul Courage, and the founder and spirit behind the Soulebrate greeting card company. You will also find her speaking publicly about emotional and energetic awareness, and a sacred formula which she believes has the ability to enrich the world at large. Tara-jenelle was raised in Annapolis, Maryland and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Towson University in Baltimore. She currently lives in the beautiful hills of Ashland, Oregon. www.soulcourage.com
Message from the Goddess Mother With Jan Diana
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Everything is energy, frequency and vibration. Everything has a frequency resonance. When you are aligned and attuned to divine truth, you can feel and hear your heart song very easily, in great clarity. As you raise your light and vibration through entertaining higher conscious thoughts, you also elevate your frequency resonance. When you do this, you will feel the harmony on many levels. This experience feels like bliss for this is the nature of being in a unity resonance with your divine truth.
YOUR HEART SONG
Living on this beautiful planet has offered you the experience of an illusion of feeling separate from your heart song, your resonance with the divine. As Earth and all living here move into higher levels of consciousness, the opportunity to connect to your heart song becomes ever easier. When we look at life as an opportunity to have experiences, we can begin to remember why we came here to Earth. To participate in an opportunity to experience forgetting ourselves for a while, to have an adventure in remembering ourselves through discovery, offers opportunity to experience the self in new ways. This is why you chose to come here, for indeed you were excited for the opportunity to experience this evolving to remember self-project. Now with the lighter energies of Earth, it is easier to see and feel more clearly what truth is. It is also easier for you to begin to hear and feel your heart song. Imagine the joy of reuniting your consciousness with your heart, your divine truth! It is happening in a process based upon conscious choice, timing of readiness, and of acceptance.
My Beloved Children of Heart, “Greetings of joy! It is a time for us to celebrate new beginnings, new perspectives, new ways of seeing and experiencing our life journeys.
When you think of yourself and your life experiences from the perspective of frequency, you will begin to see and know possibilities leading to create greater harmony. You will begin to feel, sense and know what is discord and the source of it.
As I walk among the beautiful flowers in the garden of My Heart, I can feel the songs of the many hearts. I feel the sweetness of the vibrations as they dance upon the frequencies of lightness.
You will also know the nature of harmony. Harmony flows, is experienced as peace of mind, of joyfulness. It is a sense of surety and completeness.
Yes Beloveds, you each have a heart song. It plays as a constant singing to me, to you and to the all of us.
Peace can be felt in the present moment. Focusing on the now moment brings mind to a point of balance where harmony can be more easily felt and accessed. This offers opportunity for greater clarity and connection to your heart song.
Your song is unique to you. It is always in perfect harmony, perfect resonance with your true nature of self. This is truth. However, during your journey of life on Earth you have and are experiencing discordant energies. You can hear them. You can feel them. They can be uncomfortable at times. They can even be felt as pain. It is a way for you to know that you are experiencing being out of tune with your heart song. Your heart song is in perfect resonance with love, with the divine.
Whenever you feel distress of any nature, move your consciousness into the present moment and focus on your heart. Listen to the stillness. Feel into it. With practice you will be able to feel sense and know your heart song, the true frequency of yourself. This is the point of remembering truth, of self-recognition. The more you focus on this point the more deeply you will sense and feel your truth.
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It is a simple practice that you may choose to do often. The more you practice with focus, the more you will feel harmony in your life experiences.
Each one’s song is perfection in harmony. Each song comes together in unity to create a symphony of oneness of which we are all a part of.
It is as if you are fine tuning a beautiful instrument. You are consciously choosing to align and attune with your heart song.
Enjoy your journey of remembering Beloveds. Know that you are the songs of my heart. Dance in the joy of knowing our great love, the song of our divinity. Shamon.”
As you raise your light and vibration, this allows you to be able to access your heart song at even deeper levels. This elevates and inspires you even more to choose pathways that lead you to that destination of a conscious connection that your heart desires.
With great love, Your Beloved Mother
You might ask “how do I raise my light? How do I raise my vibration?” There are many ways, let me share a few.
FREE CLASS: As a Gift I am offering you a Free Tele- Class, “Remember Who you are”. -Restore pathways to remembering the truth of yourself using the tools of SVH, a prayer modality that can shift the old stories, old beliefs and perceptions that are not relevant to your truth. -Receive tools that you can utilize in your life to further free yourself from the veils of forgetting -Take a journey to meet your true self and receive a priceless gift you will leave this class filled a greater vision of yourself and what is now possible for you. This class is a great joy bringer!
Most important is to love yourself. To treat yourself with kindness and to make choices which support you in honoring ways. Make it a focus to bring more joy into your life experiences. Whatever brings you joy, makes your heart song even louder. Joy elevates you and those around you. Thoughts and acts of kindness to others elevate your light and vibration. Another way to elevate is to let go of judgments of yourself or others. Let go of old hurts, old stories from the past that are filled with discordant energy. Begin to allow yourself to see the beauty and wonder of you, of life and within all people. See beyond the definers holding lesser value held in the past or present of you and of others. Open up to the greater vision of yourself. Let this vision dance in your mind into the flavors of new possibilities and potentials of lighter experiences. Every choice you make to love, every choice you make to experience joy, every step you take to make a light choice, elevates and inspires you to become more. You become closer and closer into resonance with your heart song. It is a process, a journey of great wonder. The more you connect to your heart song, the more joy and peace you will experience. This is your time to choose a higher frequency, a higher resonance with your heart song. The opportunity is here. The choice is yours. Remember your song. Allow yourself to flow in the sweetness of silky harmony. Let yourself be uplifted into higher states of knowing truth and the bliss that comes with this. Your song is precious. Your song is most exquisite. It is unique with the flavors of your specialness.
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Note: Register by subscribing by email at: http://www.jandiana.com (if the time is not convenient, register to receive the recording when available)
n Jan Diana is an intuitive healer, spiritual teacher, and master practitioner.Her mission is to assist clients & students in creating harmony, balance, heightened levels of clarity, develop innate gifts & abilities, empowering them on their personal evolution to create the dreams of their heart. She utilizes several modalities including SVH L3M, Animal healing, GHM, Language of love, Reiki Master, and more. Free meditation journeys, articles, & classes. http://www.jandiana.com Sessions and Classes by phone. You can reach her at website http://www.jandiana.com or by email sunsinyourheart@aol.com.
Q&A
From Grief to Grace Pet Bereavement Counseling Monthly Column With Pina De Rosa The loss of a beloved pet can be the deepest heartbreak of our lives. Each month we will address and answer a key topic with Certified Pet Grief Counselor, Pina De Rosa (APLB / AAVSB). If you wish to send in questions for Pina, please submit them to Pina De Rosa through www.PetBereavementCounseling.com
In our March column on Pet Grief Counseling, we looked at the impact of the complexity of euthanasia and how to cope with the guilt that is so common after euthanizing a pet. For this month’s topic, we get to look at 7 things you want to do/say when your friend’s pet passes. Often times when a friend’s pet passes away, we do not know what to say. We seem to experience that nothing we say or do will make a difference, and sometimes we don’t say or do anything. Or when we do, the “traditional” Sorry For Your Loss never seems enough to comfort our distraught friend. We may even worry about them and we would love to help – but how? What to say? (as well as what not to do/say) 7 things you want to do/not do when your friend's pet passes: 1. Do not attempt to be encouraging by saying the traditional “Time Will Heal” – while it is well-meaning, that does not help your friend one iota, especially now that it hurts to even breathe because the physical bond with their beloved pet has been permanently severed. It is hard for them to fathom “How do I adjust?” Time feels like torture to them. During this deepest heartbreak, we often hear the “traditional” Sorry for your Loss, but that doesn’t really help does it? Along those same lines, do not say “You Will Get Another Dog” – it would seem common sense not to say that, but people do. Again, well-meaning, but not in the least helpful. It would be the equivalent of someone telling you, after your 10 years-old child passed away of cancer or hit by a car, that you can have other children. To that
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effect, if you are thinking “It was just a dog/cat/bunny/horse”, do not connect your voice box to that thought. That beloved animal was very likely a family member and a “fur baby” to your friend. Instead, what you can say is “What can I do to support you?”– and then listen. Often times, they may not know how to answer… That’s ok, just be present with them, listen, ask them their favorite qualities about their pet, their favorite part of their fur, ask them how they found them (even if you know the story). Get them to talk about their beloved animal companion: it will help their healing to talk about them as they can feel they are maintaining the connection. They are likely to be wrought with guilt and possibly even self-blame. Instead of saying “no, you didn’t do any of that”, simply listen. The guilt is the pain that’s trying to come out, and it needs to come out – so, listen. 2. Often times your friend will answer by saying they do not know where to begin about making arrangements for their pet’s after-care. If you do not already know of a trusted caring pet mortician, offer to do Yelp-research for your friend. You can narrow it down to 3 pet cemetery, and 3 pet cremation places, then call them to ask for details, pricing, times etc.. Once you have that information, share the salient results of your research with your friend so they can make an informed choice. It is quite likely the last thing choice they will want to make at such heartbreaking time, hence your help will be of even greater support. For those of you in the Los Angeles area, I could not recommend more strongly the truly wonderful Scott Summerville and his www.AtGardensEdge.com - I have personally used his services twice already and I have referred friends to him numerous times, each timing finding solace in knowing my friend’s pet was in his kind and respectful hands.
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The fact is as morbid as it sounds, it would be ideal if the cremation or burial details were already in place while the pet was alive. It’s the same for people. Plan ahead. When it happens, it’s not the time to start making plans – I remember I was so distraught when that happened the first time, especially as it was a sudden and traumatic experience without a peaceful goodbye, that it was the last thing I wanted to do. I was already in a deep state of shock. Plus I was reading all these bad Yelp reviews and nightmare stories of a cat’s ashes being returned in a coffee tin, or warnings to not enter the side door of a mortician’s place of business or you’d accidentally see dead pets wrapped in cellophane, stacked high with limbs protruding! I got even more distraught – what if I made the wrong final decision? That is why, with every beloved pet I adopted after my first dog passed, I set up all the aftercare arrangements the same week they were adopted. My second dog passed away 13 months after my first one and, while certainly heartbreaking, it was a much more peaceful experience as all the details had been taken care of while he was alive. Even when I called the vet to make the euthanasia appointment, and they offered I pay on the day of, I declined and gave them my credit card number over the phone and asked that I be charged that day but that I not be bogged down with extra logistics so that I could be fully present in accompanying my boy on his final journey. Last but not least, when they make cremation or burial arrangements, suggest that they write a letter to their dearly departed and ask the aftercare staff to cremate/bury a pet with that letter. It is allowed as long as it isn’t (plastic) material that could compromise the cremation/burial process. 3. Offer to do returns for your friend; returns of any unopened pet supplies they have at home, as well as offer donate any already-opened pet supplies to a charitable organization such as www.TreatsForPups.com to benefit homeless pets living out in the streets. Also offer to call their vet letting them now the pet passed away and to please remove them from the health check up yearly reminder list, that way they do not get thrown for an emotional loop unexpectedly in a few months. Offer to your friend that you will call their vet to set up a time for you to go to the vet’s office to donate the pet’s medications as a payit-forward to pet parents who could not afford them – the vet will then administer them to pets in need. In so doing, encourage your friend to see that, even now, their pet is helping other pets and pet parents. 4. Buy both these 2 books for them and have them delivered to them. Do not ask your friend if they want these 2 books – please trust me, and just do it. Your friend will read them when the time is right for them, especially during the phase of grief that pushes them towards isolation: both books will help them immensely. “The loss of a pet – a guide to coping with the grieving process when a pet dies” by Dr Wallace Sife https://smile.amazon.com/Loss-Pet-Coping-GrievingProcess/dp/1630260797/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=wallace+sife&qid=1552636632&s=gateway&sr=8-1 “Until we meet again: From grief to hope after losing a pet.” by Melissa Lyons https://smile.amazon.com/Until-We-Meet-Again-Losing/dp/0995949131/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=melissa+lyons&qid=1552636730&s=gateway&sr=8-2 I am not suggesting either book, I am suggesting both!
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5. Do not offer suggestions to “distract” them, but rather listen to their distressing heartbreak. It’s important to get them to talk. It’s also important to listen to their tears – tears are haling. Disenfranchised grief can cause the pain to deepen and you want to be able to help them alleviate the initial shock. They will go through the stage of grief, so it’s very important to ensure they receive the 2 books I just mentioned. 6. Connect them with a pet grief counselor. If they are drowning in vet bills offer to gift them the first session and as a payit-forward, and ask them to do the same when one of their friends’ pets dies . If you’re reading this, I’m happy to gift you the first session for a friend: you can go to www.PetBereavementCounseling.com and set it up for them. 7. A few days/weeks later, the return home of the pet’s ashes will be extremely surreal for them, so please ensure that they’re not alone when that deeply emotional moment happens. If you are with them when the ashes are returned home, I suggest that you offer to your friend, while they hold the urn, that you take a walk together in the house, the garden, everyplace the pet visited at home, and then lay the ashes to rest in the pet’s favorite spot in the house. It can be a temporary resting spot. They can find a final resting place in the house later on; that does not need to happen on the first day. It’ll feel extremely surreal for them because those earthly remains are their beloved pet, but at the same time it will feel like their companion is not there. They are going to vacillate back-and-forth between “my beloved pet is here, not he/she is not, he/she is here, no he/ she is not…” and your presence will help ground them in this most surreal experience.
Pina De Rosa is a two-time TEDxSpeaker and Certified Pet Grief Counselor, founder of www.PetBereavementCounseling.com. You may reach her directly for 1-1 Pet Grief Support (sliding scale available). Her passion project is #MissionWellington and his www.TreatsForPups.com, bringing “doggie bags” of pet food, blankets and supplies to the homeless pups living out in the streets. Follow her at www.Instagram.com/LifeAccordingToWellington 89 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2019