FEBRUARY 2024
EDEN T H E
Michael B.
BECKWITH Spiritual Luminary
The Eden Magazine
@The Eden Magazine
Photo by Jess Bailey
@The Eden Magazine
3 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e May 2021
Photo by ISABELLE RUEN
Discover the path to a peaceful life among other living beings. We are all made of vibration and light in the universe to manifest our energy around all livingness.
DINA MORRONE ALEXIA MELOCCHI
Maryam Morrison
SHERRI CORTLAND
Susanna Schroadter
Polly Wirum
MEET OUR TEAM JAN WAKEFIELD
ZEE
PHILIP SMITH
EDWARD HAKOPIAN
GREG DOHERTY
ISABELLE RUEN
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NIKKI PATTILLO
DULCE GARCIA-MORMAN
JOE MAGNANI & JARED SCHLACHET JSQUARED PHOTOGRAPHY
SHERI DETERMAN
LISA JOY WALTON
JOE SANTOS, JR.
BRAD WALLACE
ARTIN MARDIROSIAN
BEN ROLLINS
GRETA PAZZAGLIA
EDEN T H E
MAGAZINE
Since 2010 The Eden Magazine is a free online publication focuses on spreading compassion to all Sentient Beings living in a healing and peaceful world FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARYAM MORRISON EXECUTIVE EDITOR/ CONTRIBUTING WRITER DINA MORRONE COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR/ CONTRIBUTING WRITER ALEXIA MELOCCHI CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SUSANNA SCHROADTER DULCE GARCIA-MORMAN SHERRI CORTLAND JOE SANTOS, JR. JAN WAKEFILED NIKKI PATTILLO POLLY WIRUM ZEE GUEST WRITER PHILIP SMITH CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS + MAKEUP ARTIST EDWARD HAKOPIAN LISA JOY WALTON GRAPHICS & PHOTOGRAPHY JSQUARED PHOTOGRAPHY @J2PIX ARTIN MARDIROSIAN (Nexision) SHERI DETERMAN GRETA PAZZAGLIA GREG DOHERTY BEN ROLLINS ISABELLE RUEN WEB DEVELOPER BRAD WALLACE https://bradwallacedesign.com/ 325 N. Maple Dr. Po Box 5132 Beverly Hills, CA 90209
To purchase a copy visit us in www.theedenmagazine.com Eden Magazine is a non-profit monthly online magazine. We aim to create a better environment where we live among other living beings in peace and harmony. We support artists that their work matches 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 The Eden Magazine reviews article content for accuracy before the date of publication. The views expressed in the articles reflect the author(s) opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher and editor. The published material, adverts, editorials, and all other content is published in good faith. 5 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
CONTENTS
Table of
8
8
34
30
38 52
THE ROCKING CHAIR PROPHET ON LOVE by Matthew Kelly
14
14TH GOVERNORS AWARD
18
MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH by Alexia Melocchi
30
FROM GRIEF TO HEALING THE BIRTH OF MOUNTAINS OF HOPE by Mike Murphy
34
THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM by Sally Fryer Dietz
38
HATHA YOGA CONNECTING TO THE SUN by Isha Foundationn
46
HOW VISIONARY LEADER DR. DAWN ELLA'S NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE LED TO THE CUTTING-EDGE SOULLINK APP by Christy Gibson, MD,
52
FINDING GOD IN THE 21ST CENTURY by Barbara Y. Martin & Dimitri Moraitis
58
REINVENTING YOUR STORY by Zee
62
REIMAGING LIFE IN THE AGE OF AI by Dulce Garcia-Morman
78
AWAKENING THE HEART OF THE DREAMER by Nikki Pattillos
82
66
MEDITATION VIBRATIONS $ AWARENESS OH MY! by Sherri Cortland
70
AS SIMPLE AS"BLACK & WHITE" OR IS IT? by Joey Santos Jr.
THE FEMININE POWER OF MAUI by Jan Wakefiled, M.A.
HARMONY WITHIN by Susanna Schroadter
74
DISCOVER 11 WAYS TO SET FREE THE EMOTIONAL STORIES by Polly Wirum
58 70
Cover Photo by Nike Onken
84
100
ADVOCATES IN GEORGIA CALL FOR BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR SALT MARSHES, A KEY CARBON SINK by Emily Jones (Covering Climate Now)
62
74
66
78 100
The
Rocking Chair Prophet There are a lot of voices in our lives. But there's one voice that never leads us astray and it's inside all of us. All of our regrets come from ignoring this voice. We choose to listen to other voices: friends, teachers, siblings, celebrities, etc. Until we learn to listen to the voice within, we’re addicted to these external voices. Listening to that voice is the dif ference between happiness and misery, wonderful memories and heartrending regrets. The Rocking Chair Prophet is a transformational story about reclaiming that voice and the unmiti gated joy that comes from following it. After an unspeakable tragedy devastates his life, Daniel, a thirty-three-year-old sub urban man, disappears into the mountains. Years later, he reemerges filled with uncommon wisdom and other extraordinary gifts. From that day on, people travel from far and wide to meet with Daniel, who sits on his rock ing chair, meeting with visitors, and helping them explore their deeply per sonal questions. These questions lead to series of epic conversations that traverse life’s quintessential topics: love, suffering, health and well-being, education, work, money and things, spirituality, regrets, depression, ambi tion, nature, parenting, midlife crisis, choices, our hopes and dreams, the meaning of life, and endur ing friendship. The Rocking Chair Prophet is a rich exploration of life and the human condition. It’s an invitation to rediscover yourself and reorient your life. Mat thew Kelly has masterfully woven into the story a piercing wisdom that is thought-provoking on a life-changing scale. It is stunning that one book can have something so meaningful to say on so many topics. This is destined to be a book readers return to time and again, a book that speaks to us anew in every season of life. The story is about the reader; it’s about you. 8 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
on Love by Matthew Kelly
Photo by Teslariu Mihai
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The coffee shop was alive than ever as Daniel walked through the door. There were people ev erywhere. His eyes met Ezra’s behind the counter, and they smiled with the uncommon joy of two men following their destinies. Ezra motioned toward the cor ner, and Daniel noticed a large empty chair. As he approached it, a hush came over the place. Relaxing into the big, comfy chair, Daniel glanced around. The people looked at him ex pectantly, their eyes full of hope. “What should we talk about?” he asked casually. “Speak to us about LOVE,” an anonymous voice called out. “Ah, yes,” Daniel murmured almost imperceptibly. “Never has something so crucial to the human experience been so mis understood.” “Love ennobles us. The very nature of love is soul-expand ing. It nourishes our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls.” “Romantic love dominates the conversation in our cul ture. But romantic love is a poor guide to the many worlds of love and a distorted lens through which to understand the essence of love.” “The idea of falling in love en dears us to the notion that love is easy and pleasurable, but what we call ‘falling in love’ is not love. Loving someone and being in love may collide at times, but they are not the same thing.” “Falling in love comes with feelings of forever, but feelings are unreliable and unsustain able. Any relationship based on feelings alone will, therefore, be unreliable and unsustainable. Feelings, by their very nature, are fleeting, and so any effort to make the ‘in love’ phenome
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non last is doomed to fail. Our desire to make something last forever that will inevitably end is a delusion that leaves us un prepared for a sustainable rela tionship.” The people seemed to lean closer to Daniel as the con versation unfolded. The com forting aroma of coffee drifted through the air. Occasionally, the delicious scent of a fresh batch of cakes or cookies would waft over, and Daniel’s mouth would water. “Two people fall in love, but as time passes, you discover that he isn’t all you thought he was, and he discovers that you aren’t all he thought you were. Together, you realize that you are each fragile, imperfect, wounded, and yet wonderful. At that moment, you are on the threshold of togetherness, confronted by this question: Do we want to be fragile, im perfect, wounded, and won derful together?”
“Kindness.
So many negative scenarios are automatically avoided if two people are kind to each other. Now, think of all the questions people ask about a potential spouse, and what do we forget to ask: Is he a kind person? Does she have a kind heart?"
Photo by Priscilla-du-Preez
Daniel was about to continue when he sensed someone wanted to ask a ques tion. It came from a young woman standing at the counter by the espresso machine. “What assumptions do we make about love that limit us from experiencing it?” she asked. “The first assumption we make is in thinking we know what love is, or even what the word love means, and that ev eryone agrees on a definition. Socrates revolutionized philosophy by begin ning the discussion of each new topic with a simple question: What is it? So, let us follow in his footsteps: What is love?” “It is written: ‘To love is to will the good of the other.’ “Love is by its very nature focused on the other. It isn’t self-seeking. To love is to desire what is good for the other person. This has nothing to do with feelings or romance, and this re alization leads us to what is common among the many types of human love. There is the love between family and friends, romantic love, and the love we have for neighbors and strangers. But the nature of love does not change. In every instance, love is to will the good of the other.” “Love is, therefore, a choice, an act of the will—not a feeling and not fate,” Daniel continued. “It’s something you do, not something that happens
to you. Your decision to love may be accompanied by great feelings, but it doesn’t have to be. Love is a verb, not a noun.” The crowd was ever so still now. Daniel studied the faces in the crowd, full of hope and longing. The stillness was broken by another question. Every head seemed to turn at once. He recognized the voice. It was Madison, the daughter of the local wine dealer. She was standing with some friends to ward the back of the store. “How should we choose who to spend our lives with?” Madison asked. The gravitational force of her youth drew the conversation back to romantic love. Daniel sighed ever so faintly, smiled, and decided not to resist. “Our deepest desire is to love and to be loved. There are obviously many factors. Physical attraction, charac ter and values, priorities, hopes and dreams, work ethic, ease and ability to converse, willingness to commit, and sense of humor, to name a few. But the one we often overlook is the other person’s ability to love. We unconsciously assume everyone’s abil ity to love is equal, but that isn’t true. Some people can run faster than oth ers, some people are more financially astute than others, and some people can love more than others. Choose the person who can love you the most.” 11 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
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unexpected circumstances.” “Why is love so difficult?” Madison asked now. “It is written: ‘All things excel lent are as difficult as they are rare.’ “You yearn for a love that is excellent. You know by look ing around at other people’s relationships that the love you yearn for is rare. Everything rare is difficult. If it were easy, it would be common. All excel lence requires rigor, discipline, and perseverance, which is why excellence is so rare.” Daniel noticed a young man trying to get his attention. He was standing in the group with Madison, and Daniel won dered if they were together. “How can we expand our own capacity to love?” the young man asked. It was a winsome question, Daniel thought to himself. “Every act of disciplined self-control increases your ca pacity to love. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Listen patiently when you’d rather not.” Help your young brother even though it’s inconvenient. Smile joyfully at those who irritate you. Have a glass of water even though you are craving soda. Approach your work with discipline. Let someone else decide what to do or where to eat. Overlook the annoying traits of the people you live and work with. Hold your tongue when your comment adds little to the conversation. Get out of bed without delay each morn ing. Leave the last bite of some thing delicious. Deny yourself in small ways so you can pos sess yourself completely. This is how you expand your capacity to love and be loved.
Photo by Greg Rakozy
A silence fell over the room now. “How will we know who can love us the most?” Madi son persisted. “Our ability to love is deter mined by self-possession. We can love only to the extent that we are free. Someone enslaved by addiction cannot love— their whole being is focused on attending to their addiction. They have entered into a com pletely self-focused state.” “To will the good of another, to act for the good of another, to choose love requires the free dom of self-possession. Love is the generous gift of self. But to give our- selves, we must first possess ourselves. We can give our- selves only to the extent that we possess ourselves.” “So, be careful who you al low into your heart. Who you choose to love will raise you up or tear you down. Never pledge your love to someone with no self-control. To fall in love with someone incapable of loving you back is a lifealtering tragedy, and a person with no self-control cannot love you back.” “Love can be pleasurable and easy, but if you expect that all the time, you will become disillusioned, for love is also painful and difficult. If you look to a relationship to solve your problems, you will be disappointed. Relationships don’t solve problems; they bring new problems, but those problems are precious oppor tunities for soul expansion. The difficult and unwelcome situations of relationships also hold the solutions to the un solved mysteries in our hearts. “Love is a choice. Anyone can choose love when it’s pleasur able, and circumstances are favorable, but the person who can love you the most can also choose love amid difficult and
"Hold your tongue when your comment adds little to the conversation. Get out of bed without delay each morning. Leave the last bite of something delicious. Deny yourself in small ways so you can possess yourself completely. This is how you expand your capacity to love and be loved.” Ezra directed Daniel’s atten tion toward another young woman who wanted to ask a question. Daniel invited her to speak, and she asked, “What else would you say to those of us venturing out into the world?” “Give some thought to what life is really all about. Through out your life, people will try to convince you that this or that is the most important thing. But life is only about one thing.” “It isn’t about what brand of shoes you wear. It’s not about what grades you get in school. Life’s not about how big your house is or what street you live on. Life’s not about what brand of car you drive. It’s not about what football team or baseball team you support. It’s not about whether your team wins. It’s not about whether you made the football team, or might make the football team, or what position you had on the football team. Life’s not about what college you went to, might go to, or what college your kids attend. Life isn’t about these things. Life’s not about money. It’s not about power or influence. It’s not about fame. It’s not about where you vacation. It’s not about the labels on your clothes. It’s not about who you’ve dated or who you’re dating. And it’s not about who you know. Life isn’t about these things.” “Life is about love. It’s about how you love and hurt the people closest to you. It’s about how you love and hurt your self. It’s about how you love
and hurt the people who cross your path for a moment. Life is about love.” The people were quiet, calm, and still. As they sat reflecting, Madison, the daughter of the wine dealer, reentered the con versation. “Day after day, you sit on your rocking chair visiting with people worldwide. What do you discover in those conver sations?” Daniel smiled. He loved en gaging with young people in these rigorous discussions. “The simple things we over look often matter most in the end. Seduced by the new and complex, we condescend to the simple things that could save us from all manner of heart aches and disappointments.” “What’s an example of one of these simple things related to love and relationships?” Mad ison pressed in her youthful exuberance. Daniel lowered his head and sighed almost imperceptibly. He knew many people would find his answer unsatisfactory. “Kindness. So many negative scenarios are automatically avoided if two people are kind to each other. Now, think of all the questions people ask about a potential spouse, and what do we forget to ask: Is he a kind person? Does she have a kind heart? Two kind people will al ways have a better relationship than two inconsiderate people. All relationships come down to kindness in the end.”
Matthew Kelly is a best-selling author, speaker, thought leader, entrepreneur, consultant, spiritual leader, and innovator. He has dedicated his life to helping people and organizations become the best version of themselves. Born in Sydney, Australia, he began speaking and writing in his late teens while attending business school. Since then, 5 million people have attended his seminars and presentations in more than 50 countries.Today, Kelly is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and business consultant. His books have been published in over 30 languages, appeared on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists, and sold over 50 million copies. He developed the "the best version of yourself" concept in his early twenties and has been sharing it in every arena of life for more than twenty-five years. It is quoted by presidents and celebrities, athletes and their coaches, business leaders and innovators, though perhaps it is never more powerfully quoted than when a mother or father asks a child, “Will that help you become the-bestversion-of-yourself®.” Kelly’s interests include golf, music, art, literature, investing, spirituality, and spending time with his wife, Meggie, and their children, Walter, Isabel, Harry, Ralph, and Simon. For more information about Matthew and his work, please visit MatthewKelly.com. Connect on YouTube: @MatthewKellyAuthor, Instagram: @matthewfkelly
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14TH
GOVERNORS AWARDS
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The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held the 14th Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.Honorary Awards (Oscar® statuettes) were presented to Angela Bassett by Regina King, Mel Brooks by Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane and Carol Littleton by Glenn Close. The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was presented to Michelle Satter by Ryan Coogler and Chloé Zhao. This event was produced by Oscar-nominated producer Jennifer Fox and hosted by John Mulaney. Photo Courtesy by: Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S Al Seib / @ A.M.P.A.S Kyusung Gong / @ A.M.P.A.S Nick Agro / @ A.M.P.A.S Richard Harbaugh / @ A.M.P.A.S
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Get Your Own Copy Today Order the latest edition by visiting our website www.theedenmagazine.com
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Michael B Bernard eckwith by Alexia Melocchi
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A
gape is the covenant love of God for humans and the reciprocal love for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one's fellow human beings. This definition sums up the ethos of Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith. He is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community. He is the author of several books, including Spiritual Liberation, Forty-Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, A Manifesto of Peace, and TranscenDance Expanded, a book and collection of remixed lectures set to electronic dance music. His seminal book, Life Visioning, was listed as one of the "15 Books to Help Solve 15 Life Prob lems" on Oprah. Everybody discovered you when the movie The Secret came out. However, Agape has been around since 1986. How did Rhonda Byrne find you? Yes Agape has been going on for some time since 1986. And The Secret just put it over the top. I was invited to go to Aspen with oth er thought leaders to film The Secret, but I couldn't. Rhonda Burns was flying to Austra lia, where she is from, but she had a layover
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in Los Angeles and she went to Agape Inter national. After I finished speaking, she came running up to me and said: "Everything you said is just so magnificent. Will you be in my movie?" After a few moments, she put up a green screen and asked me to talk. And that's what I did. And the rest is history: The Secret still has legs today. People are still discover ing it. It was just a fantastic, serendipitous moment that she had to have a layover in Los Angeles. I recall that before The Secret, when people spoke about spirituality, they associated it with New Age woo-woo stuff. Now, everybody says I'm a spiritual person, but how do you define spirituality and its practice? When you use the word spiritual, that word is synonymous with eternal and forever. We say that we are a spiritual being, and in substance, that is who we really are, in our essence, as we have emerged from the eternal presence. It's beyond religiosity or religion. It's our real nature. When someone says, "I'm a spiritual being," everyone is a spiritual being, wheth er they know it or not. Some think that they were created by their parents, imprinted by society, or imprinted by the schools they went to and the experiences they had. Those are temporary imprints, but your parents
didn't create you. We have emerged from the eternal presence of intelli gence and love. And we have a life time that has infinite chapters. We are here to expand our awareness of what is real and then express it, reveal it, and manifest it according to our unique pattern. And so, to answer your question, this is not a new age woo-woo. To have a spiri tual practice means having a certain intentionality to expand your aware ness so you begin to see, be, and live differently. You live according to love, beauty, intelligence, and divine order. These qualities are intrinsic to every spiritual being but often hidden because people have been imprinted. And they're blinded by time. We tend to think that if we are a spiritual person, we must be perfect, but it's sometimes difficult to consider ourselves unique when we feel we're flawed because we are the biggest and worst judges of ourselves. It is common for us to associate spirituality with perfectionism. When we feel flawed, how do we embrace the shortcomings and still be connected to our God's self? We are perfect, but we're not perfec tionists, meaning there's something about our spiritual nature that's perfect. There's something about what we have emerged from that is perfect, and that perfection is con stantly unfolding. When you see a seed of a rose, within that seed is the rose bush, and ultimately, the rose, which is the perfection of the rose bush. So, within us is the germ of the seed of the Christ or the Bud dha mind, and we are unfolding to reveal that. It's not about being per fect according to societal standards. It's about doing what is necessary to eliminate that which is covering our mind from seeing who we are. People are often harsh and very judgmental of themselves because they compare themselves to others. They have some standards from so
ciety that they're placing themselves against. We can never compare our selves to anyone else. But this pres ence, you can call it the God Pres ence, or love presence, or life itself, never does do-overs. It gets right the first time, and it never repeats itself. We are one of one; we're not one of a billion. Just like there are no leaves on the tree like another leaf, there's no snowflake like another snowflake. When we understand that we're al ready unique, then we begin to ask ourselves: what is it within me that I am to give that I am to contribute that I am to share? What is my artist ry? What is my element of creativity that I'm to share with the world? As I begin to ask that question, I hear the still, small voice; I begin to hear the rumbling of my soul as to my own uniqueness and what I'm to give. Then, I begin to discover imprints, the way the world has imprinted me that has hindered me, as what the world may call a flaw or a mistake. Well, a mistake is a miss-take, like an actor will have a take, but what it is, inside us, is a gift. It's not that we're evil or bad. Something with in us needs a little watering, a tiny little tending to, and then we grow. If we look back on our life, we can see some of the mistakes, some of the seeming flaws, were precisely what is necessary for us to learn more about ourselves so that we could take better steps better takes the next time. And so, after, as we grow, we real ize those imprints are not who I am. Those are things, the dust in the world's dirt that's gotten on me. So, I begin to meditate. I begin to pray affirmatively, and I begin to prac tice Life visioning. I begin to prac tice affirmation, study, and spiritual practices that dissolve the imprints so I can see who I am. It's called a homecoming. I come back to my real nature. There's nothing wrong with what God has created. We must rediscover it. And we must activate it and grow into it.
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When you come to Agape, you come to get free from the constraints of the limited mind and toxicity that you're bombarded with from the world news, which I call the old.
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At Agape, you always have amazing artists performing, and you started a movement called Dance with the Rev. Why do music and dance contribute to going into a feeling state of joy and gratitude? Even before I established Agape, I had something called Agape Trans formational, which were seminars with different transformational ex ercises. But I always began those with music to help people get into their heart space and out of their head, and music and lyrics, partic ularly the music, but the lyrics are also very important. Through that sound, there is a vibration, and since we're mainly water, that vibration goes into the body. It changes the body's chemistry so that not only are you receptive on a heart level, but your immune system becomes balanced and amplified. You start to produce tonic chemicals, rather than toxic chemicals, in the body, which is a chemistry set that can produce everything that you need for health. It slows down the aging process and eliminates the condition of disease. So, music is not just entertainment. It tunes you into a higher frequen cy. When you come to Agape, you come to get free from the constraints of the limited mind and toxicity that you're bombarded with from the world news, which I call the old. Your streaming services during the pandemic kept me sane and hopeful. I remember you were talking about the fear. Fear is the virus and the mental health issues that whatever happened in these past three years has created. How can we challenge fear with all the war and conflict happening today? The last three years have been a chal lenge to humanity with the lock down of Healthy People. So, when you have fear, you begin to hurt or hinder your immune system. Fear is not a friend to your immune sys tem. Faith is joy. Love assists your immune system, but fear hinders the immune system. So, if an individu al is addicted to the fearmongering
that emanates from our news, you're hindering yourself. I get so many letters from people saying, you got me through the pandemic. You got me through COVID. "You got me through Coronavirus because I was so caught up in fear that I forgot who I was." But you brought me back to myself. So, this is why we put an emphasis on Joy. Joy is the evidence of God. The emphasis is on asking the right questions and not becom ing addicted to the news. Fear stands for either facing everything and run ning or facing everything and rising. Many people take the fear they face everything and run away from it. Or you can rise. You don't try to get rid of fear. That's impossible. Many people have what I call a fear pho bia. They are afraid of fear. So, they drink, eat a lot of sugar, overeat, and watch too much television rather than watching their own thinking. Instead of running away from fear, you ask what I am to do in the world right now. What gift am I to give? How am I to share right now? If you ask that question, the universe will answer you. And maybe call a friend. Maybe feed the homeless. Maybe write a poem. Maybe listen to my podcast, Take Back Your Mind. When you start to walk in the direc tion of that vision or dream, fear then becomes excitement, and everything is energy. Don't get rid of the fear. It transmutes itself just as ice. When it becomes heated, it transmutes itself into water, and it becomes heated and transmutes itself into gas. Fear becomes excitement. Excitement becomes enthusiasm. If you walk in the direction of a bigger dream, a higher vision, fear will change, and now your immune system is stron ger. Your blood pressure is better. You're becoming healthier. You're slowing down your aging process. And you become more available to insights and sweet whisperings from the universal presence guiding you, always guiding you. Let your walk in the direction of your dream and your vision transmute fear.
What is blisscipline? Blisscipine is a word that I coined many years ago. It's in my book Spiritual Lib eration. If you have a discipline, such as I tell people to wake up every day and to read their vision, read something they want to manifest, and just read it before you go to bed. When you wake up in the morning, read an affirmation, read something inspirational, or practice meditation or affirmative prayer, what happens is you practice blisscipline- and that comes from the awareness that one is doing something they love. If a per son loves music, they can learn how to play the piano or the guitar. It's not an obligation. When you really love it, you want to read your affirmation in the morning. You want to stop and have a moment of meditation. Instead of get ting to the hustle and bustle of life, stop, have a moment of silence, stillness, and solitude, and feel your way back to your self. It's a blessing. It's bliss. Most people don't get bliss. Say you come to a fork in the road. One side of
the fork is pleasure, the other side of the fork is bliss. Some simply choose plea sure, which is temporary. And you can become addicted to pleasure. But if you choose bliss, which comes from Awak ening, you get pleasure and freedom. But if you come to yourself, you get bliss and pleasure. But the bliss is more per manent. And the pleasure is more per manent. You don't become addicted to bliss. You can only become addicted to pleasure. You spoke about being in a meditative state and being on your own. You hold regular retreats for that. And we are looking at the sanctity and the preciousness of Mother Earth. Do you feel that being in nature is helping us? How can we protect the sanctity of this planet? When you enter nature, a tree is a living being, so when you breathe out, the tree is breathing in the forest is our second set of lungs. We breathe out carbon di oxide. It breathes in carbon dioxide and gives us oxygen.
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Additionally, as the tree is alive, when you walk through the forest, the tree vibrationally bows at your divinity. The tree recognizes your di vine nature. Therefore, when you're basking in nature, you're getting all this vibrational feedback about who you are as a spiritual being, which you may have forgotten because you have shoes on and are walking on cement. You're in an office, or you're in a car, cutting you off from nature. You are depleting yourself from a natural source. Some people call it a resource. But it's a natural source of inspiration. When men don't feel connected to Mother Earth, they strip mine the Earth. They bomb Mother Nature's nature, they bomb oth er nations, scorching the Earth with napalm and phosphorus and neutron bombs, and not only kill ing human beings, but they also don't have any reverence for the Earth. They strip mine it, and they cut down the rainforest because they're not in touch with them selves. They've drifted so far from who they are. But as we grow more in our spiritual nature, we love the Earth. We start to realize that I'm one with Mother Earth. I am an Earthling. I'm a spiritual being that has emerged from the Earth. I want to be a good steward of the Earth. I don't want to pollute it or bomb it. I'm going to take care of it. As I would take care of myself And I think Love will also have a ripple effect on one another, right? Well, you also start to have rev erence for each other. It doesn't matter what color skin they are, and it doesn't matter where they were born. It doesn't matter what language they speak, and it doesn't matter what their nationality is or what their religion means. You start to realize, "Oh, my God, we're all sacred beings." We've emerged from the eternal as unique expressions of God. How boring would the world
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be if every single being looked ex actly alike? God doesn't do that. God creates diversity but does not eliminate unity. I know I'm an amazing Empath, as are our readers. What happens when you are so connected and empathetic towards whatever is happening in the world that you feel all the pain that comes through the negative stuff? How do you keep your boundaries? How do you keep yourself sane so that you do not feel helpless? I'll tell you a personal story. I was visiting someone in the hospital. They were experiencing a condi tion called cancer. I was visiting the woman, and I prayed for her, and my heart was open. I was empathet ic. And many people in that part of the hospital were experiencing can cer. So, as I was leaving the hospital, and when I got to Sunset Boulevard, I just felt overcome. With every thing that I experienced in the can cer ward, I could feel the sadness. I could feel people wanting to die. They were ready to leave the body temple. And I started having sui cidal thoughts. And I'll never forget this. I was standing on Sunset Bou levard, and I looked to my left, and there was a bus coming down the street. And I said I could throw my self in front of this bus. And I could end it all. And then I caught myself. I said, what, what am I thinking? I don't want to commit suicide! And I realized as an empath, I picked up all the emotions from the people in the cancer ward. I quickly came back to myself, took some real deep breaths, and felt my connection to God's Presence. Now, I have started practicing something called radia tion. Instead of picking up whatever was happening in a room, I would feel my way into love, joy, or peace. And I would bring that into the room. I will radiate that so that if I'm about to walk into a meeting, I will feel how I want that meeting to go. And I'll bring peace
When you enter nature,
a tree is a living being,
so when you breathe out, the tree is breathing in the forest is our second set of lungs. We breathe out carbon dioxide. It breathes in carbon dioxide and gives us oxygen. Additionally, as the tree is alive, when you walk through the forest, the tree vibrationally bows at your divinity.
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They see a common a commonality between us. I'm a spiritual artist, an artist at the moment. I'm just on the edge of being available to what needs to be said at that moment. Stevie Wonder was there. And he says I feel like I want to sing. Right now. There's so much war going on in the world. It wasn't a part of the program, but he just felt like he had to sing for the world because of the distress that was being caused by war and killing. I think they see it, and they feel a kinship with Agape International; it's a camaraderie in creativity, and we're influencing in a beautiful, magnificent, and inspirational way.
to the room when I want us to be at peace. And so, instead of picking up vibrations, I radiate vibrations. That way, I'm not just a vacuum cleaner sucking up the vibrations of the world. And I don't pick up everything. I'm not trying to pick up the vibration of people. I don't want to pick up the room's vibration. I don't want to pick up the vibration of the news I radiate. Now, when I meditate in the morning and go out into the world, I'm really at peace and radiating joy. So that creates an armor. I call that this luminosity. It's all around you. And you start to practice being surrounded by this bright luminosity before you leave the house. And that gives you a kind of protection. And you combine that with remembering a moment when you're at peace and feel total love. Breathe into it. You exhale it, radiate it out, and walk into the world radiating it. And it gives you a lot of protection. I know you have many artists, celebrities, and luminaries whom you call friends, such as Oprah, but you also know a lot of actors and filmmakers who come to Agape services. What do you think is the reason that draws so many Hollywood creatives to Agape and to your teachings? I feel privileged and honored that many of them are my friends, like Sterling Brown, Hillary Swank, and Christina Applegate. I could go on and on. And they don't consider themselves ex ceptional people. But a true artist lives on the edge of creativity. There's a creative urgency. They put themselves into a zone when they perform at Agape, and they feel me being on the edge of being available to the spirit at that moment. 26 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
Given your journey, I will never forget the Oprah interview where you told the audience of your unfolding process. We have all made mistakes. You don't measure yourself by what you have done. That's not who you are. The mistakes you've made in life are not who you are. Those are the stepping stones along the way to what you're becoming. I was with a young boy, he was 20, and Gandhi came up in the conversation. And he said, "Oh, I don't like Gandhi. He hit his wife." And I said, "Whoa, hold on, you're a man. Gandhi admitted that when he was a young man, he was a chauvin ist. He was raised by the British Empire and in fluenced by that hypermasculinity. But he grew into the Gandhi we know when he attributed his nonviolence to his wife and women. Do you want to be known for the worst thing you've ever done?" How would you sum up the process of human evolution? One of my favorite statements is that every Saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. We have to give each other a break. We're all unfolding. No one comes out of the womb, a hater. No little infant sitting in their crib hates people because of the color of their skin or where they were born. That's all I learned. It's all brainwashed learning. Love is the strongest power on the planet. Where we can be strong enough to love, we can shift the trajectory of the world to a golden age because there's one thing I know for sure. Justice with out love is called revenge. And revenge will never build a world of kindness and compassion. We have to learn to love. Special Thank you to: Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith Editing: Dina Morrone Photography: Nick Onken
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Mind Brain Emotion
Created by Harvard researcher and educator Dr. Jenny Woo, Mind Brain Emotion is currently used in over 50 countries. This modern-day solution to develop essential human skills helps you to work towards being calmer, happier, and wiser. For example, you'll get valuable, portable tools for devel oping critical thinking skills, building good relationships, and dealing with hardship. Parents can keep these decks in the car and pull them out while car pooling to school or sports as a casual conversation starter.
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Helping kids & adults build essential human skills, Mind Brain Emotion offers playing cards with award-winning games + tools + tips! Born at the world-famous Harvard Innovation Labs at Harvard University, Mind Brain Emotion creates clev erly simple, immensely practical, and immediately actionable tools to help people become happier, calmer, and wiser. These skill-building cards and mental health tools run the gambit from Essential Coping Skills to Essential Interview skills. Created for and used by all ages, these decks of cards offer the advice kids and adults need to better their everyday lives and prepare for a brighter future. Mind Brain Emotion is a certified woman- and minority-owned small business. Also available on Amazon.
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Photo by By Oladimeji Odunsi
From Grief to Healing
The Birth of MOUNTAINS OF HOPE
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by Mike Murphy
W
e've got a life-threat ening mess on our hands. The current health system is bro ken, and I've had enough! In June 2011, Margot, my beloved wife, succumbed to the devastating grasp of cancer. It was a battle that lasted nine long, grueling years. Her passing wasn't just the loss of a life partner; it was a stark wake-up call, a blaring siren that something was terribly wrong with the way we approached health and healing. Margot's battle and her ultimate loss left me drowning in a sea of grief and anger. It marked the beginning of my mission to help women beat cancer, includ ing providing financial grants to those facing the cruel challenges of limited resources and lacking vital support. Tragically, despite investing over a mil lion dollars, only a small percentage of grant recipients experienced positive outcomes. It became clear that a funda mental change was urgently needed. After attempting various approaches, including providing water purifiers and juicing machines, in an effort to support their immune systems alongside medi cal treatment, I realized these methods fell short of creating the lasting impact I longed for. I started to notice how the treatment was sickening them, maybe even more than the cure. It was time for a new, holistic approach where healing extended beyond the body. My path led me to the breathtaking An des Mountains in South America. Here, on a tranquil 20-acre haven, I commit ted to creating a sanctuary of true trans
formative healing, prompting the birth of Mountains of Hope. Ironically, while I was on my mission to help others, I neglected my own health, and ultimately, I was diagnosed with mercury poisoning, heart disease, pros tate disease, and kidney disease. This was my wake-up call. How could I guide others to healing without first healing myself? With this realization, became a living testament to the treat ments we offer at Mountains of Hope. My health was improving steadily. The heavy metal detox and deep parasite cleanse were working wonders. My car diologist, who had once been concerned about my heart's ejection fraction, was now astonished at my progress. It was as if my body was reclaiming its vitality, and I was reaping the abundant rewards of greater energy, clarity, and focus. It was more than just physical healing; it was a profound shift in Conscious ness and perspective. I was witness ing a profound transformation within myself. I knew there were countless individuals out there suffering from chronic dis eases, just like my late wife and I had. Perhaps you, reading this, are one of them, and if so, I need you to know that there is hope. Our compassionate approach at Moun tains of Hope isn't solely about treating symptoms; it's about uncovering the root causes of disease and providing individuals with the tools to heal them selves on all levels.
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Photo by By jozefklopackaAdobeStock
We guide individuals on a journey to restore their gut health, purging count less toxins that unknowingly plague their bodies. Through Brain Mapping and Neurofeedback, we support brain healing and cognition, clearing the fog caused by a dysfunctional gut. One of our key differentiators is that Consciousness is a focal point of our healing journey. We utilize techniques like the Creation Frequency that create space for people to shift from a state of constant mental chatter to a place of inner peace and empowerment. It is here, in the heart, where true transfor mation occurs. Sacred plant medicine ceremonies, like cacao and healing coherence ceremo nies, and our weekly sweat lodge ritu als anchor our healing journey, uniting cultures and forging communities. Mountains of Hope is more than just a retreat center; it's the culmination of everything I've learned about true heal ing. It's a unique place where we ad dress the mind, body, heart, and soul, recognizing that each component plays a vital role in holistic well-being. Nestled in the secure and serene countryside, Mountains of Hope in vites you into its breathtaking natural beauty. Situated at 7,000 feet in the Andes Mountains, our retreat center resides within an energetic vortex, of fering rich, fertile soil where we cul 32 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
tivate organic fruits and vegetables from our own bountiful gardens to support self-healing and rid the body of harmful toxicity. Our detoxification and mental reprogramming programs continue with monthly accountability meetings for a year after your visit so you continue to feel guided and sup ported. Mountains of Hope has become a testament to my deep-rooted desire to help others affected by cancer and chronic diseases and revolutionize heal ing. It symbolizes a sanctuary where in dividuals can rid their bodies of toxins, reclaim their health and energy, and discover a new, balanced path through wholehearted living. My journey, from grief and anger to healing and hope, has shaped Moun tains of Hope, where I've witnessed incredible transformations, including my own. It's a manifestation of my burning passion to help others find the healing they deserve. Now, we're leading the charge for a healthcare revolution. Mountains of Hope isn't just a dream; it's a reality, a place where lives are changed, where true healing begins. Join me in this incredible journey towards health and hope so that together, we can make a difference and help create a healthier, happier world.
Mike Murphy is the Founder of Mountains of Hope, a holistic healing sanctuary in the Andes Mountains of South America. He is a passionate advocate for holistic health and wellness, driven by personal experience and the desire to help others overcome cancer and chronic diseases. Mike's journey from grief to healing has inspired the creation of Mountains of Hope, a place where people can detoxify, rejuvenate, and rediscover true health.
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An excerpt from Sensory Processing Solutions
e h T
Vestibular System
Sally Fryer Dietz, PT, DPT, CLC, CST-D
T
he first system to be completely developed and operational in a young child is the vestibular system. No single sense is more important than the others, but the vestibular system plays a key role that affects them all and is central to learning, devel opment, and motor coordination. Our vestibular system allows us to deal with gravity; it is at work even in utero when a fetus begins to develop a sense of direction while floating in the womb. Once born, the real work begins when a boy moves his body for the first time, eventually gaining the strength to lift his head off a flat surface or rotate his neck toward his mother’s breast. The vestibular system is vital to learning and development—and it is also an area in which we focus sensory integration therapy. The vestibular system controls our balance, our muscle tone, and our spatial orientation. Situated in the inner ear, this system consists of three fluid-filled canals that are set at right angles to each other. They respond to move ment and changes in direction along with two fluid-filled vestibular sacs in the ear that additionally react to changes in head position and gravitational pull. Hair cells that line these structures are stimulated through motion and send neural signals through the vestibular cochlear nerve in the ear directly to the cerebellum (the part of the brain that affects motor control and motor learning).
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The cerebellum receives this vital information from the vestibular system and then works to finetune it, processing information through different areas of the brain via the corpus callosum, increasing postural control, co ordinated movement, bilateral coordination, and the develop ment of motor skills. At the same time, auditory information goes from the ear to the language cen ters in the brain’s cortex (where memory, attention, perceptions, and thoughts are also processed), while the cerebellum works to process information about where the body is in space. In addition, as this information enters the brain, whether through sound, movement, and/ or vibration, it integrates with the visual system. This further influences the de velopment of visual motor skills, like handwriting and depth per ception. Because of this complex interrelationship, if any of these structures have difficulty sending messages and integrating with each other, then balance and co ordination, speech and language, and reading and writing can all be affected.
(for instance, looking to the left while keeping the head facing straight ahead), the attempt to read can become laborious and frustrating, and kids simply lose interest in trying to make sense of the words on a page. Without a properly developed vestibular system, it is also virtually impos sible for a girl to visually track a ball that’s thrown toward her and coordinate her body to catch it or for a boy to anticipate where a ball is going in order to kick it intentionally into a net.
Without a properly functioning vestibular system, every time we move our head, we’re at risk of losing our balance or losing our place on a page as we read. When a child can’t move her eyes independently from her head
or losing our place on a page as we read.
Without a properly functioning
vestibular system,
every time we move our head, we’re at risk of losing our
balance
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When sensory integration theo ry was developed by occupational therapist and educational psychol ogist Jean Ayers back in the 1960s, it was successfully argued that many children with learning disor ders have symptoms of vestibular dysfunction, and, in particular, an absence of bilateral coordination, which is vital to the development and maintenance of muscle tone body strength, and postural core stability. (Bilateral coordination is a function of the vestibular sys tem that allows for both sides of the brain to talk to each other to produce coordinated movement.) In fact, vestibular input promoting adequate bilateral coordination is critically important for a variety of diverse skills, including being able to catch a ball, read a book, and even learn how to gallop and skip. Without appropriate vestibular functioning leading toward ad equate bilateral coordination, children are inevitably delayed in developing movement skills that require using both sides of the body. They have difficulty devel oping their postural control, as well as developing the eye-hand coordination required for activi ties like playing ball and copying things off the board. It should not be surprising to know that a baby who avoids crawling may lack bi lateral coordination later and may have trouble reading and writing as a result. Bilateral coordination also allows children to sit calmly in a chair so they can focus on the task at hand while crossing their midline with their eyes and hands, enabling them to develop strong motor skills with the smaller muscles in their hands. (Imagine an invisi ble line down the middle of the body. To read smoothly, your eyes have to be able to move from the left to the right. When there is a disturbance in crossing the body’s midline, the entire head turns, contributing to a frequent loss in 36 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM eFEBRUARY 2024
place when one attempts to read, leading to added frustration or in attention.) Without it, kids can’t help but give in to gravity or get distracted—slouching over their desks, propping themselves up on their elbows, or wiggling around unconsciously. These children have little physical endurance, so they struggle when working on written tasks for long periods of time. When postural muscles are not working well together, it not only becomes significantly harder for the hands to manipulate small objects (like a pencil), but it also interferes with how the eyes are able to track visual input across the body’s midline. The vestibular system not only in fluences the motor control of the major muscle groups in the body, but it also affects how the throat, tongue, lips, and jaw work togeth er in concert to produce intelligi ble speech. In addition to how one produces speech, this same system affects how the brain processes and organizes speech. If there is trou ble with the ears due to frequent ear infections or chronic fluid, this same system may have additional challenges identifying voices or discriminating between sounds. This can be a huge source of dis traction for anyone, so when the vestibular system is not working properly, requests may be easily misinterpreted, directions are mis understood, and multiple instruc tions become next to impossible to follow in sequence. Ultimately, kids with significant vestibular problems develop anxi ety about the simplest elements of their daily lives—because nothing is simple, not even walking across a room. Depression can follow be cause their bodies just don’t feel good—they don’t feel good in their bodies—so we focus intently on their vestibular systems as we treat sensory integration disorder, allowing them to have better inte gration within their bodies.
Sally Fryer Dietz, PT, DPT, CLC, CST-D, is a highly esteemed Doctor of Physical Therapy, developmental specialist, sensory integration expert, lactation counselor, and Upledger CranioSacral Therapy Diplomate and presenter. With unmatched dedication to therapeutic pediatrics and as a devoted mother to two boys with distinct learning styles, she has touched the lives of thousands of children and their families, helping them lead healthier, happier lives. Her innovative therapy methods have garnered international acclaim, making her a true pioneer. Residing in Dallas, Texas, Dietz continues to advocate for the potential within every child to succeed naturally.
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Sadhguru, Isha Foundation
Hatha Yoga
Connecting to the Sun
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Questioner: In Surya Kriya, what is the significance of pressing the knuckles of the thumbs into the Anahata? Sadhguru: Whether it is Surya Kriya, Surya Namaskar, or Surya Shakti, you must generate a certain emotion towards the sun. That is because what your emotion is focused on, you can easily keep your mind on, too. This is how devo tion works. If you emotionally connect to something, it is easy to keep your mind and attention on it, and naturally, your energy moves in that direction, too. The sun is constantly making a connection with you. This whole solar system is powered by the sun. Only because of that is life possible on the planet. Our very body structure is based on this. Hatha Yoga is about the sun and moon, which are important factors. It is a combination of these two impacts on the planet that has produced the human body. The sun is the source of life's energy. The prana aspect of you is a physical form of energy. In the process of cre ation, the first physical form of energy that manifests in the human system is referred to as prana. There is another dimension to the human system, which is non-physical in nature and non-pranic. Prana is still physical. All the pranic energy in this solar system is essentially generated by the sun. Without the sun, there is no prana. Without
the sun, there is no warmth. Without warmth, there is no life. The very way we check whether you are alive or dead is by seeing whether you are warm or cold. Raising the Samat Prana We want to activate the sun element within you. If some thing is dried in the sun, it can burn. In a way, the object or substance absorbs the rays of the sun and then becomes capable of producing energy. If there was no absorption of the sun's energy, nothing could burn, nothing could give warmth or light. For the body to heal itself, we have to generate warmth. In this context, samat prana is an im portant aspect of creating health in the system. The process of living is constantly taking a toll on every cell in the body. They say the average age of the cells in an adult human body is 7 to 10 years. Every day, old cells die, and new cells are created. The number of cells that die on any given day can be drastically brought down if your samat prana is high. Similarly, the number of new cells that are being created in a day can be drastically increased if your samat prana is high. The amount of samat prana you have essentially depends on the amount of the sun's energy within you. One way is to try to generate it within you. Another way is to make use of the sun outside to activate this process within you.
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Surya Kriya
is to activate the internal sun, but you stimulate it by using the external sun. If you want to establish a connection with the external sun, or with anything for that matter, you need attention,
emotion, and energy moving
Infrastructures to Raise Human Consciousness
Experience Yoga in its classical form at Isha Yoga Center Los Angeles and Isha Institute of Inner-sciences. Established by Sadhguru, the centers serve as powerful spaces for inner transformation and raising human consciousness. Located in northern Los Angeles County and Tennessee respectively, the centers offer an array of Yoga and meditation programs within a vibrant and conducive ambience. You are invited to Free Yoga Day, a monthly open-doors event at the center. On this day, we offer a variety of free sessions dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to take charge of their wellbeing through simple but powerful practices sourced from the Yogic tradition. Learn more at ishausa.org/la
in that direction. Otherwise, you cannot make a connection to anything – whether it is a human being, a plant, an animal, or a substance.
Stimulating the Internal Sun Surya Kriya is to activate the in ternal sun, but you stimulate it by using the external sun. If you want to establish a connection with the external sun, or with anything for that matter, you need attention, emotion, and energy moving in that direction. Otherwise, you can not make a connection to anything – whether it is a human being, a plant, an animal, or a substance. When your attention, emotion, and energy are not connected to anything around you, you are like a separate existence by yourself. And that's how most people live. One aspect that is an important part of the human system. It is the meeting point between the lower three chakras and the upper three chakras. Its symbol is two equilat eral triangles. An upward-facing tri angle and a downward-facing trian gle meet to form a complex pattern. On one level, creation begins from there – not the physical dimension, but another dimension of you that distinguishes you as a human being. This is why it is called "Anahata," which means "unstruck" – an un struck sound. Generally, it takes
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two things to strike a sound. But at the Anahata, there is an unstruck sound. To activate that, you have to bend your thumbs in such a way that the knuckles are pointed, and you press them into the Anahata. That way, you create a certain emo tion towards the sun. Likewise, when you feel a pleasant emotion, you naturally place your hands on the Anahata because that is where it begins. You want to ac tivate your emotional dimension because without focusing your emotions on something, your mind cannot stick to anything. What you focus your emotions on is where your mind will be. Otherwise, it is difficult to keep your mind set on one thing. Editor's Note: Isha Hatha Yoga programs are an extensive exploration of classical hatha yoga, which revive various dimensions of this ancient science that are largely absent in the world today. These programs offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore Upa-yoga, Angamardana, Surya Kriya, Surya Shakti, Yogasanas, and Bhuta Shuddhi, among other potent yogic practices.
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Photo by by Syda ProductionsAdobeStock
The Culinary Pharmacy Your Recipe for Vibrant Health! by Lisa Masé
T
he sense of timelessness is what first drew me to cooking. I remember standing on a chair at my grandmother’s stove, tending a pot of freshly picked apricots. I could have been stirring for minutes or hours. It didn’t matter. I watched, enraptured, as the sweet-tart fruit bubbled into jam. This summer ritual of making preserves has followed me in my travels. After I moved to my mom’s hometown, Kansas City, as a pre-teen, I continued to find ways to cook traditional foods. I would invite new friends over for homemade pasta or crostata, an Italian fruit pie I always nostalgically filled with apricot jam. Both during and after college, I had the great fortune of living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a place where food—especially corn and indigenous red and green chile—is considered sacred. My partner and I lived in an old, two-story adobe house with a fireplace and views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
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An apricot tree reigned in our small courtyard. Its branches drooped heavy with fruit each July. I made so many jars of delectable amber spread one summer that we gifted some to each of our neighbors. It may have taken me three days to complete the canning project, but I did not care. I was transported by the love of working in partnership with nature to create an offering for others to enjoy. Not only does food bridge personal experiences, but it also connects people. We share food to remember what’s most vital, which is our connection to the earth. We come from and return to the same earth in which our food grows. As author Barbara Kingsolver apt ly put it, “living takes life.” We are a small part of the eternal cycle of death, rebirth, and everything in between. A song of the Yoruba tribe, “Hunger,” hails, “There is no god like one’s stomach. / We must sacri fice to it every day.” The word hun ger is so ancient that it appears to have co-arisen in Anatolia, the Black Sea steppes, and the Indian subcon tinent centuries ago—and the origi
nal form of this word sounds much like the modern English version. Hunger drives development. First, a child cries as it takes a breath, its first source of nourishment. Then, it cries for food. Once human beings learn how to feed themselves, they learn how to interact with their environ ment, which changes according to season and location. I remember the first time I watched, mystified, as my uncle fried zucchi ni slices on a scorching dolomitic limestone boulder under which he had built a fire. We were spending one of our many summers in the high mountains where Italy meets Austria, wandering the woods in search of mushrooms and returning to a farmhouse with red-checkered curtains, a wood cookstove, can dles for nighttime light, and a hand pump for well water. My uncle, preparing the zucchini, was unhurried, tending the fire, slic ing the zucchini, and talking as he worked. The important part of the process was not how long it took but the alchemy of fire and the flavor im parted by the calcium-rich stone.
Explore the Healing Power of Food with Holistic Nutritionist Lisa Masé Get ready to embark on a delicious journey towards vibrant health! In The Culinary Pharmacy, Lisa Masé, a holistic nutritionist, ex pertly combines ancient healing wisdom with modern nutrition science to help you unlock your ideal foods for a life brimming with vi tality. Lisa's Personal Healing Odyssey Join Lisa as she shares her inspiring journey of triumph over a decade-long battle with chronic infection, anxiety, depression, infer tility, hypothyroidism, and food sensitivities. Raised amidst the stunning landscapes of It aly, she rediscovered her roots, healing herself with the traditional foods and herbal remedies of her homeland. Transform Cravings, Change Habits Discover the root of your cravings and gain access to proven strategies, both ancient and scientifically-backed, to transform your eat ing habits. Dive into the world of medita tion, breathwork practices, and harness the incredible power of the gut-brain connection through the vagus nerve. Unlock the Wisdom of Ayurveda, TCM, and the Mediterranean Way of Eating Lisa demystifies the healing principles of Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and the Mediterranean diet. With easy-to-follow instructions, you'll learn to determine your unique constitution and how to heal accord ingly, complete with personalized food lists for each type. Embrace the Energetics of Food Understand the vital role of personalized nu trition based on genetics, epigenetics, intui tive eating, and the beauty of seasonal, local ingredients. Lisa empowers you to reclaim control over your food choices and embrace food sovereignty. Bon Appétit! Recipes, Meal Plans, and More Throughout the book, you'll find mouthwa tering recipes, handy food lists, and practical meal plans. Lisa's engaging stories bring these concepts to life, making it effortless to inte grate ancestral healing wisdom into your daily routine. Simplify Your Eating for Optimal Wellness The Culinary Pharmacy is your comprehensive guide to simplifying your approach to food while nurturing your well-being. Equip your self with the knowledge and tools needed to make food your ultimate medicine. 43 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM eFEBRUARY 2024
This Austrian-Italian town where my relatives still live is just as set tled in its Tyrolean ways as the majestic mountains that stood here since before human settle ment. Many of the elders in this area do not quite grasp the con cept of email. They prefer land lines to cell phones. During a visit with our Italian family, my father and I took a morning drive to Maso Pineto, an old farmhouseturned-rest-stop for hikers. We passed many local dairy farmers waiting by the narrow, twisting roads for the daily milk pickup. Instead of building technologi cal infrastructure like cell phone towers, this region has advanced through agricultural product sub sidies, which include twenty-gal lon stainless-steel containers with wheels for temporary milk storage and large milk trucks to visit each village and collect the precious liquid. I was struck by the inter section of traditional methods and modern conveniences—by the wrinkled old men and women with their blue aprons, felted hats, and wool coats, patiently standing next to brand-new stainless-steel milk transport containers. Instead of looking to the outside world to define its standards, this region stands firm in valuing the land itself as its most precious asset.
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Though this mindset framed the traditions in which I was raised, I lost touch with this simple way of life. Assimilation is a powerful force. I came to Kansas City for eighth grade because my mother, a native, needed to care for her ag ing parents. I saw that people here drove instead of walking, did not grow vegetables, and ate primari ly brown food. I could see that I would need to participate in this new way of life or else risk being shut out, isolated, and judged by the kids around me. So, I did. Food became a thread that linked me both to Italy, where I’d spent my childhood and to the States, where I now lived as a teenager. I could make espresso and froth the milk for a cappuccino by shaking it up in an empty bottle. I knew how to bake elegant tortes and roll out homemade puff pas try. I was a novelty. I cooked to hide my pain. I ate to hide my longing for home. I prepared tra ditional Italian dishes to impress others while filling my own body with Pop-Tarts, Twix, and Moun tain Dew. I ate many dishes for the first time: grilled cheese with ketchup, hamburgers, French fries, toaster waffles, and pancakes drenched in imitation maple syrup. I watched Saturday morn ing cartoons while mindlessly devouring ready-bake cinnamon rolls from a can. Eating suddenly felt like an urgent, unpleasant act, with no time for timelessness. In Italy, food had been nourishment and medicine. In Kansas City, it became poison. I abandoned the practice of cooking and eating local, seasonal food for the sake of emotional survival at that time. However, it set up my digestive system for disaster when I spent time on the Indonesian island of Bali as a college student a few years later.
Photo by Mae Mu
After many rounds of vegetables had cooked and we had slow ly feasted on them, my uncle or father would pull a pot out of the fire, and we would enjoy a mush room and tomato stew called goulash. These vegetable-inten sive feasts would be peppered with slices of hardtack rye bread, chunks of Fontina cheese, and thin rounds of summer sausage that we had hiked up in back packs from our hometown of Bressanone.
Lisa Masé is a board-certified holistic nutritionist (BCHN) and a registered health and nutrition coach (RHNC), as well as an herbalist, intuitive eating coach, food sovereignty activist, and poet. The founder of Harmonized Living, a wellness coaching practice, Lisa lives on unceded Abenaki land in Montpelier, Vermont. https://www.harmonized-living.com
Issuu.com
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WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
How Visionary Leader
Dr. Dawn Ella's
Near-Death Experience
Led to the Cutting-Edge
Soul Link App
W
ith her eyes wide open, visionary leader Dr. Dawn Ella recently launched the innovative Soul Link app ™ that is changing the way we de-stress, focus, and meditate at a time when we need it the most. Dr. Dawn Ella embodies all the qualities one seeks in a mentor, entrepreneur, leader, and genuine visionary. As the innovator behind the groundbreaking Soul Link app and an expert in complementary medicine, she remains unde terred by life's challenges. As a way to help those who feel lost and isolated, she cre ated Soul Link, a groundbreaking meditative technology designed to be a catalyst for self-discovery, transcendence, and inner growth.
inner peace," she explains. "Each session is a reminder of the app's ability to bridge the spiritual and the tangible, providing a sanctuary for the soul in the midst of life's complexities. The unfolding Soul Link narrative is powerful – it is one of resilience, connection, and the boundless possibilities that lay ahead."
Dr. Ella describes her Soul Link experience as a true revelation. "In essence, my personal experienc es with the Soul Link App, which launched in November 2023, have been profound and enriching," ex plains Dr. Ella.
Combining this with her under standing of science, she was able to create a cutting-edge platform that provides us with the tools to trans form our lives and ultimately heal ourselves.
A profound near-death encoun ter occurred 17 years ago after a traumatic car crash, marking a transformative moment in Dr. Ella's spiritual journey. This pivot al event led her to embrace roles as a Soul Therapist, nurturer, healer, and philanthropist. Enduring a year of rigorous rehabilitation after emerging from a three-day coma, Dr. Ella channeled her own person al transformation into the catalyst for Soul Link's foundational for mula. A native of Naples, Florida, Dawn started her first company, Supernal World Creations, whose mission is to enhance well-being through hu manitarian innovations. At its core is the innovative Soul Link app, which employs audiovisual stimu lation that is patent—pending in 49 countries. Driven by her belief in Soul Link's transformative power, Dr. Ella aims to make a lasting impact, nurtur ing holistic well-being and spiritual growth. With unwavering dedica tion, she and her team unlock the inherent wisdom in each individ ual, paving the way to a brighter future for humanity. "It has become not just a tool for meditation but a companion in my journey of self-discovery and
Photo by By tonktitiAdobeStock
This remarkable new multi-awardwinning technology is available at www.soul-link.org and in the Apple App and Google Play Stores. The development of the Apple Vision Pro App, utilizing Virtual Reality, is currently underway, with Apple anticipating a launch in 2024. This app holds a patent pending status in 49 countries.
With a majority of Americans re porting that they live in a high state of anxiety compounded by a myriad of stress-inducing dai ly activities, a shaky economy, political unrest, and escalating violence, Soul Link is coming at the perfect time to give us the tools we need to combat this stress and to lead more harmonious lives. In the realm of wellness innova tion, Dr. Ella profoundly states, "Supernal World Creations is paving new ground in our un derstanding and use of neuroaes thetics, unfolding the connec tion between what we perceive as beautiful and pleasurable, and how we can apply this knowledge to promote wellness outcomes."
"What sets
Soul Link
apart is its unwavering commitment to evidence-based methodologies, integrating research on the mind-body connection and the profound impact that music has on the brain." 47 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM eFEBRUARY 2024
on an inward journey of profound significance. By encouraging individuals to open their eyes to their inner journey, Soul Link awakens the discovery of their individual missions. "It is a profound invitation to explore, learn, and grow, inspired by the clarity I gained during my own ex traordinary experience," she says.
Her insights unravel the intricate link between our perceptions of beauty and pleasure, weaving this understanding into a tapestry that can be harnessed to promote holis tic wellness outcomes. This trans formative endeavor challenges con ventional boundaries, reshaping our comprehension of wellness and pav ing the way for a deeper integration of the beautiful and the beneficial. "The unique combination of med itation, music, and the scientific approach in Soul-Link provides a powerful means to open you up to your untapped potential and trans form pain into growth. It offers the keys and the map to self-discovery, allowing for the opportunity of transcendence and a profound con nection to one's soul." This unique combination, as Dr. Ella emphasiz es, offers more than just a wellness tool; it presents a formidable cata lyst for unlocking latent potential and metamorphosing pain into an avenue for personal growth. SoulLink becomes a transformative jour ney into self-discovery. Dr. Ella's creation not only opens the doors to transcendence but also facilitates a profound connection to the soul, presenting individuals with an ex traordinary opportunity to embark
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Philanthropist Jennifer Parisi of Naples, Florida, is one of many app testers who speaks glowingly about her experience with the new app. She explains. "It feels so much more impactful than just listening to mu sic or trying to clear your mind by closing your eyes. It was amazing!" Musician and entrepreneur Aaron Ellis, who has produced numerous hit recordings, describes the Soul Link App as "an all-encompassing experience. It is very easy to use, and I love that it is customizable based on what I feel I need at the time." Regardless of which path he chooses in the create section, he sees prog ress in all areas of his life. "Primarily, I have been using it during the day between my calls to decompress, re set, and to ground myself as well as at night just before going to sleep," he said. "Knowing all that Dawn put into the creation of Soul Link, the sa cred geometry, binaural beats, tran scendental aspects, and more, is far beyond anything I have ever expe rienced in a meditation program," explains Ellis. "I recommend this innovative app to beginners and seasoned mediators alike. Soul Link appeals to all levels." Unlike traditional meditation or meditation apps, Soul Link incorpo rates three pillars of wellness: sound healing, musical compilations, im mersive earth visuals, and focusenhancing frequency waves.
This enables the user to break down blockages, unlock their peak poten tial, and achieve long-lasting peace, happiness, and harmony like never before. "Soul Link was born out of my deep passion to help people navigate life's challenges, heal past wounds, and awaken their authentic selves," ex plains Dr. Ella. "I firmly believe that true healing occurs when we address not only the physical, but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual as pects of our being." So, how does Soul Link achieve this in its own unique way? "Soul Link distinguishes itself as a truly exceptional platform that embodies a scientific approach to meditation, music, and the mind-body connec tion, rendering it unparalleled in the realm of mindfulness practices," says Dr. Ella. "What sets Soul Link apart is its unwavering commitment to evi dence-based methodologies, inte grating research on the mind-body connection and the profound im pact that music has on the brain," she explains. "By marrying meditation, music, and science," she continues, "Soul Link delivers a holistic and enrich ing experience that empowers users to explore their inner realms and unlock the untapped potential of their minds, bodies, and souls for personal growth and spiritual en lightenment." A hard-working and self-motivated innovator, inventor, and entrepre neur, Dr. Ella says that what gets her jumping out of bed each morning is a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to experience another day. "I see each new day as a gift, a chance to embark on a journey of purpose and service. The joy of giv
ing and making a positive impact on the lives of others is a powerful driving force," she said. "Being in service fuels my passion and dedication to Soul Link, which aims to provide accessible and trans formative tools to help people on their journeys of self-discovery and empowerment," Dr. Ella adds. "This desire to share, to be of ser vice, and to embrace gratitude for every moment," Dr. Ella continues, "is what propels me out of bed each morning ready to embrace the lim itless possibilities that lie ahead." The 3 pillars involved in Soul Link. 1. Healing Musical Compositions: Soul Link's carefully curated musical compositions are designed to induce positive changes in the brain and human consciousness. By listening to these healing sounds, users experience emotional regula tion, finding solace in the harmo nious melodies that resonate deeply within, countering feelings of isola tion and despair. 2. Cinematic Earth Videography: The immersive Earth visuals trans port users to serene natural envi ronments, fostering a sense of con nection with the Earth. This visual experience helps combat feelings of isolation by creating a profound sense of unity with the self, fostering a feeling of belonging. 3. Focus-Enhancing Frequency Waves: Soul Link's focus-enhancing frequency waves act as a bridge to harmonize brainwave patterns. By synchronizing mental frequencies, users can unlock their untapped potential and elevate their state of being. This heightened mental state promotes clarity, reducing feelings of confusion and loneliness. For further information, please go to the website: Soul Link.
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Photo by By Pajaros Volando AdobeStock
GO VEGAN
"Animals have souls Don’t put them in your bowls" 51 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
God in the 21st Century Finding
Photo by AdobeStock
by Barbara Y. Martin and Dimitri Moraitis
W
hy is it in our modern society, with all its technological discoveries and advances, that we too often feel more fear, uncertainty, and anxiety? As humanity understands the workings of physical nature better than ever, this beckons us to gain a deeper, more mature understanding of God and the part the Divine plays in our lives. Today, God is being approached scientifically, morally, and ethically, as well as religiously. Yet, it is essential in this modern age to understand God metaphysically. It is time to update our definition of God. To rethink it, release that which no longer serves us, and come to a more mature understanding. It is time to develop a more intimate relationship with the Divine. And as we go through this spiritual reassessment, there are some foundational questions to ask from the metaphysical perspective: • Who is God? What is God? • What is our relationship with God? How can we begin to have a relationship with God? • Is it possible to know and experience God?
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Who is God? What is God? If we are going to try to understand who and what the Creator of all that has been and shall ever be is, let us try to understand from God's perspec tive who and what you and I are first. Metaphysics teaches you are not your body. You are not your mind. You're not even the light of your aura. These are things you possess. You are a soul. A soul is an individualized spark of life. And that life is immortal — it is without beginning or end. Everything, on every conceivable level, is born of life. And each of us — each soul — is part of a "Sea of Life." This is the Ultimate reali ty, known as the Tao in Taoism, the Brahman in Hinduism, and Nirvana in Buddhism. All life is part of this infinite sea of life. The Sea of Life is the unmanifested state of everything. The universe is born out of the sea of life into creation. Everything in the universe, from the grand to the very small, is an expression of life. Who and what, then, is God? God is the supreme expression of life and the supreme Creator of all expressions of life, who draws from the Sea of Life and gives it expression. We are truly living, being, and having our exis tence in God and because of God. What is our relationship with God? How can we begin to have a relationship with God? Our relationship with God is actual ly that: a relationship. It is a two-way street. It is much like the relationship between a loving parent and child. As with any important relationship, you want to spend time with them. You want to be close to them. You want them close to you. You want to love them. In the act of meditative prayer, you have a starting point for understand ing God and beginning to have a relationship with Him (the mas culine used here in its nongender 54 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COMe FEBRUARY 2024
sense). Meditation is the act of re ceiving from God. This is where God blesses us with all the things that we need in our life. Prayer is the act of communing with God. This is you reaching up to God and saying, "I want to commune with you for the sole delight of being in your pres ence." Having a relationship with God be gins with understanding the true na ture of the relationship — that He is not there to spoil you and give you everything you want, but instead to supply you with what you need — and then communing with, receiving from, and understanding the Creator as best you can through meditative prayer. And as you do these things, the power of God begins to shine in you. Is it possible to experience God? God wants us to experience the Divine directly — we're meant to have direct, intimate experiences with God — but we have to build to that place. We have to get to the stage where our hearts and minds are open enough to be able to experience the God Within. Metaphysics calls this exalted state of consciousness en lightenment. Some say that as long as we live a good life and pray daily, we'll get to Heaven, and we'll see God. Meta physics teaches it's not that easy — you have to spiritually evolve to that Divine state. And that you don't wait until you get to the other side to do it — you build your awareness of God here in physical life. It's part of every soul's journey to discover God. God is real, whether you are presently aware of that or not. Hold to your highest ideal of the Divine. As you unfold your soul's potential to unite with the fountain head of life, the beauty and meaning of life will unfold. You will feel great er joy and purpose in all you do, and you will build your direct connection to the Divine.
Barbara Y. Martin and Dimitri Moraitis are cofounders of the renowned Spiritual Arts Institute. With over 50 years of clairvoyant experience, they have taught thousands to better themselves by working with the aura and spiritual energy. Their award-winning books include the interna tional bestseller Change Your Aura, Change Your Life, Karma and Reincarnation, The Healing Power of Your Aura, Communing with the Divine, and their newest book, Heaven and Your Spiritual Evolution: A Mystic's Guide to the Afterlife and Reaching Your Highest Potential. www.spiritualarts.org.
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Welcome to our Contributor Writers ' neighborhood 57 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
By Zee
REINVENTING
I
YOUR STORY
t’s a wonderful sensation to feel and know you have heart. To live in a time when the world is exploring all the possible ways of expanding human existence with life-expanding modalities, spiritual awareness, and personal developments. Orange was the new black, now 80 is the new 40.
This month is a slight follow on from January’s article. This will be a short tip-toe through the tulips to pull the rabbit out of the hat. Firstly, a quick exercise to set the path. Close your eyes, and bring together a past memory at half mast, a negative, not too unpleasant, for about 5 seconds. Now shift that over to a happy, wonderful memory for 10 to 20 seconds and allow that feeling to permeate throughout your whole body from head to toe, then open your eyes. Do this before reading on. Is the past ever dead? No way. Memories are still with us even after a clearing. The emotional charge may have been diluted through a healing process, yet the memory remains. 2024 is a time to be real with your human self. Your past is always here in front of you today. You are always present here today. The next item is our language, which is a crude way of communicating. It goes like this: a square, a circle, and an octagon are all representations of the source, whatever that means for you. We talk of heaven and earth as if they are separat ed. In fact, if everything is connected, When in fact it’s heaven earth. The same applies to yin and yang, it’s yin yang. This same principle also applies to how you see yourself. And the same for the 50-plus friends and family who see their 50-plus variations of you. We speak, all are connected as if we know, and yet we still have no idea today of the fullest extent of what this actually means in our perceived and lived reality. Today, more than ever, we are aware of our individual human patterns, our be haviours, traumas, our human personality, emotions, and beliefs. Each of these factors has a tremendous influence on our state of being, past, present, and fu ture. All are related to one’s preconditioned responses, totally derived from the choices one made while engaging in all our past experiences.
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Photo by Xuan Nguyen
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With expanded knowledge, the question here becomes complicated. Who is making these choices? Was it the conscious mind, or maybe the subconscious mind? Could it have been the superconscious mind, maybe your soul or spirit guides? Was it your intuition or some pre conceived feelings happening at the moment? Or the NY bestseller that explains it’s your natural gut reaction yelling, now you are in for it? Did we catch someone else’s thought pat tern, a sort of cross-reference from another time in space? The answers today are endless. It was really a frog sitting on a park bench in China, confused by his choices for dinner. Talk about being Complicated monkeys. So, who are we? Science states that we are a combination of made-up partnerships, mum and dad, then on your fist breath when you in haled all that was present, existed in this earthly dimension, including the world of nature. Next, was the evolutionary manifestation of one’s psychological and physiological en deavors to help navigate our passage now that we are embodied within this fixed status quo system, or are we? This brings us to the reinventing of our story stage. Who really made those choices, and what gives us our individual personalities? This per ceived idea is how we see ourselves. If, as they say, all is connected, then there is no separation between mind, body, heart, and emotions. A small digress. As a species, we have come a long way in our human evo lution in many areas. Let us not go down the endless rabbit hole about equality. Standing in one’s own space and being accountable to oneself has nothing to do with any of the external affairs going on in this world. What was a breakthrough to acknowledge, around 2013-2015 on the front page of The Business Harvard Review, was a statement that 60 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
the number one asset for any busi ness or corporation was its workers. Grasp this if you can. It was less than 10 years ago that YOU, the average Joe blow, your importance, your power, your permission, was finally acknowledged in this country collec tively for the first time ever, on the front page! The 2024 CHALLENGE! We are here now, individually, stand ing, facing the forefront of this new era. What exists, if you choose this assignment, is your moment to re discover more of your personality by expanding existing parameters and perceptions. How, so glad you asked. Start by acknowledging yourself, and discover the courage to face doubts, fears, and personal past de mons. Next, realize your shadow selves are your hidden assets, worthy of your grace and attention. Guar antee this will make you stronger. Assert yourself is healthy! It is a saying worth remembering along your journey; no idea of the source, yet it is extremely powerful. When you find it difficult or con fronted by an experience you know is not in your best interest, and yet
We are here now,
individually, standing, facing the forefront of this new era. What exists, if you choose this assignment, is your moment to rediscover more of your personality by expanding existing parameters and perceptions.
you still can’t say NO, please re member this. Everything is connect ed and in you via the heart-mind connection, which states that when you can’t say NO in a situation, your immune system can not say NO to sickness, cancer, and disease. It is in your POWER, YOUR CHOICE to be, YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF Do you find this interesting: the “shadow side of choice” could well be the number one primary positive in your life? Self-awareness of your choices relates to the accountabili ty and responsibility of who places the checkmarks and crosses on your choices. If not, we drive down De nial Road with blinkers on while pointing the finger at everyone else to BLAME. Now, that’s enlighten ment. Following on, we find ourselves standing amongst ourselves daily in our traumas. What to do? Have you ever considered how frightening it must be for those humans who walk on high-rise steel hundreds of feet above the ground? Or those who surf the pipeline? Who free fall from a plane, drive in a fast car race, or engage in any of the do-or-die activ ities. What they all acknowledge is that after an accident befalls them, they are still capable of continuing. If they go back and participate as soon as possible, all will be good. If not, they may never attempt that sport ever again due to the held-over emotions, not the memory. These courageous humans, with their own self-reasoning, logic, and encouragement, define the situation based on their choices. Were they prepared physically and mentally? What happened in the moment? Were they in control, or were there doubts entering the mindset? This is when the body-mind is your ally, your front-line worker, and your back hero. The memory never leaves; the feelings and emotions that re main and activate trauma, stress,
and anxiety are hugely diminished by all the above. This is what allows a human to overcome bad experienc es that contribute to trauma, being in control of future avoided experi ences. What can we observe and learn from this? Once an experience is allowed to manifest in our feelings and emo tions, they are cemented in the body; now, they are exceedingly difficult to remove. Therefore, at any time in our future, when a past energy is ac tivated by a present experience, we relive the same outcome and move into some variance of avoidance. It’s only natural; this is how the human mind functions. Bang, where is your responsibility in any given experience? Is it the expe rience that creates one’s trauma, or are our choices in any experience chosen by our identity? Is identity the same as one’s personality? Defi nitely not! One’s identity is chosen by what we choose to engage in and which we choose to avoid. Basical ly, it is a makeup of our self-chosen likes and dislikes. One’s personality is an inherited set of skills given and granted at birth. Do we know, are we even aware of what these gifts and skills are? Mostly, no! It is a sad and terrible thing to never know who and what we are. And yet, what we think is self is the very foun dation that allows one to exist and function in this world. Is it possible to ever overcome the fixated subcon scious, breathe a fresh beginning, and dance our way with a warrior spirit? Choose friend; it comes down to all your choices when reinvent ing the story. Now the big question emerges: if all 8.1 million brains are never the same, are our emotional traumas from our experiences, or are they created from our responses and reactions based on our individ ual personalities? And if so, surely, we can devise an educated solution to reduce the effect of unwanted or misunderstood events on human lives! 61 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
An Ecology of Ideas
By Dulce García-Morman, Ph.D.
Reimagining Life in the Age of
T
AI
his month, I decided to write about AI (artificial intel ligence), something I only know very little about and a topic that has met my with increasing resistance in recent years. However, I have also recently become more curious about my reactivity toward AI and thought the best way to tackle this is to embark on a journey of discovery. I suspect that in the process of learning about AI and my aversion to it, I will also learn something valuable about myself. I confess that I had very little interest in the topic of AI until 2022, while I was teaching a business course at the University of The Peo ple. The student population had always been largely made up of foreign students for whom English is a second language. Professors had always experienced the challenge of varying degrees of command of the English language in their classrooms, with a significant per centage of my grading time being devoted to correcting spelling and grammar, in addition to addressing the subject matter of the course.
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I'd point the students to the use of grammar assistant tools, although I could tell that there was increasing use of tools such as Google Translate, which was evident from some of the composition issues. I was flexible in this area because many students were living in difficult social circumstances, and just being able to access an online degree program requiring internet con nectivity was a huge hurdle for many. I had students from refugee camps in Africa, from war-torn Ukraine, from devasted Myanmar to girls hiding in a room in Afghanistan to avoid the pun ishment of the Taliban for their sins. I figured these young people were writ ing papers in their own language and using a translator app to make sure the English version was of good enough quality and that still carried a good measure of honesty.
Photos by AdobeStock
My flexibility changed when I began to encounter assignments that I suspected were not being written by the student. Even Google translated assignments had compositional flaws, but now these assignments were increasingly perfect. Sometimes too perfect because they deviated from the assigned readings
in the textbook and sometimes even strayed from the actual assignment question. The papers were almost too well-written, and the disconnect be tween the student's answers and the question I had posed became notice able and disconcerting. Amidst my confusion, I started reading in the uni versity's professor forum about other instructors who were suspecting the use of AI by students. I signed up for an account with ChatGPT and started using AI to produce sample written pa pers on the topics being covered in my class. I was indignant at first, a feeling that later progressed to anger, as both professors and university administra tion spent hours in staff meetings to decide how to best respond. The con clusion was that, unlike plagiarism, which is detected via established plagia rism detection tools, there was no tool to detect AI, except for the "nose of the instructor". In the absence of a le gitimate detection mechanism, we just had to accept that there was no viable solution for what most professors felt was open and unapologetic cheating. My indignation was palpable, and I felt demoralized, so I quit my side gig at the university.
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However, I encountered a pivot point with AI in November when I was particularly struck by the beauty and impact of some artwork a friend of mine posted on her Facebook page. Although she had mentioned months ago that she was going to experiment with AI-generated art, for some rea son, it didn't sink in until that day. I questioned whether the art she was now producing was even more beau tiful than her past work in traditional media, so I checked out her online art gallery and realized the AI images had increasingly grown in depth and impact, at least for me. And then I asked myself, "But is this production really hers?". Instead of my past kneejerk reaction, I now felt an intense curiosity. I signed up for a ChatGPT account and began playing with pro ducing my own images. I posted a few on my FB page, and I got very positive reactions from friends. And I must say that my Christmas card with Santa's sleigh deep in ocean water, be ing pulled by mermaids with reindeer tusks, was just amazing! Generating beautiful images from deep within my imagination in record time (less than a minute?) has some how shifted my relationship with the topic of AI. I now realize there are so many layers and textures to this thing, along with light and dark aspects on a
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spectrum of possibilities. AI has been around for decades, its nature hidden from the average Joe, such as in med ical imaging analysis, algorithms that make loan recommendations, and facial recognition technology. But AI has been making its way more and more into our conscious awareness, for example, with the controversy and news coverage around self-driv ing cars and with its more recent versions of generative AI. Now, AI not only learns from vast amounts of data but also produces things from written papers to photorealistic im ages to convincing voice imitations and video. It is fascinating and scary to ponder what this all means for the future of knowledge work, creativity, and truthfulness of content, whether on the internet or in academic and professional settings. How will AI affect workers in the fu ture? There have always been technol ogy-driven labor displacements that societies have managed to integrate as part of human social evolution.
The real-world potential of AI is immense. Applications of AI include diagnosing diseases,personalizing social media feeds, executing sophisticated data analyses for weather modeling, and powering the chatbots that handle
our customer support requests. AI-powered robots can even assemble cars and minimize radiation from wildfires. -IBM
Experts in the field, such as Florida International University computer scientist Mark Finlayson tell us that "some jobs are likely to disappear, but that new skills in working with these AI tools are likely to become valued. By analogy, he noted that the rise of word processing software largely eliminated the need for typ ists but allowed nearly anyone with access to a computer to produce typeset documents and led to a new class of skills to list on a resume". Another example is given by the University of Colorado Anschutz biomedical informatics researcher Casey Greene, who wrote, "that just as Google led people to devel op skills in finding information on the internet, AI language models will lead people to develop skills to get the best output from the tools". History sheds light on humanity's capacity to adapt and evolve. Still, just like any other technological revolution, I wonder whether soci ety will use the Age of AI to create more equity or to accelerate the growing disparities between classes of workers. However, this may be a generational phenomenon that is evened out as older workers exit the picture and future "AI-savvy" generations take the lead. There are many possibilities, and some sound promising, even if only in theory. On the darker side, we must grapple with the potential for accelerating what seems like an overwhelming amount of misinformation in social media platforms and with issues of authentic knowledge production in academia and in professional work settings. We are beginning to tread an uncertain territory, and many minds are coming together to sift through the light and dark sides of AI. Ethics philosophers such as Nir Eisikovits and Alec Stubbs at the University of Massachusetts Boston argue that the process of making art is more than just coming up with ideas. They write that "Ar tistic works are lauded not merely
for the finished product, but for the struggle, the playful interac tion and the skillful engagement with the artistic task, all of which carry the artist from the moment of inception to the end result." My question is whether societal values will eventually shift to place great er value on imagination and how we conceive of "artistic processes" or whether the AI-generated art bubble will eventually just burst. I don't think anyone knows the an swer to these questions, but here I sit looking at my underwater Santa Claus Christmas card, wondering whether it is a genuine product or whether I'm just another impostor. And who owns that image, anyway? Is it me or is it me and an AI app? All I know is that I co-produced an image with the help of something that I don't fully understand. It is very beautiful, but that's not the point. I will continue to explore the feelings, emotions, and value judgments that I experience in this process of engaging with something outside of my comfort zone. Next in my journey of AI explo ration is a course I registered for with Jungian psychoanalyst Robert Bosnak, co-founder of Attune Me dia Labs, which "creates empathic emotionally intelligent AI compan ions to combat the global crisis of loneliness." Bosnak uses AI in his practice as an assistant with dream incubation for his patients. The course requires the student to use the AI tool, so I'm looking forward to this experiential learning journey. As with all things Jung, I hope to learn something about myself, both light and dark, as I join up with AI to explore my psyche. I will share my experience in a future edition since I feel that this is a relevant topic for many readers. In the meantime, I hope we dream well!
Dulce García-Morman, Ph.D. is founder of Life-Is-Art Equine Assisted Learning & Coaching. She has facilitated learning and therapeutic experiences through the horse-human connection for the past 17 years. Dulce’s practice draws from different wisdom traditions and is strongly oriented toward a Jungian approach to the restoration of the authentic Self.For more information, visit https://life-is-art.us/
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Transcendental Voyages: Roaming the World and Reimagining the Self
Photos by AdobeStocks
By Jan Wakefield, M.A.
The
Feminine Power of Maui
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A
s the sun dipped below the horizon, cast ing hues of pink and orange across the vast Pacific Ocean, I found myself on the plane to Maui, ready to embark on a transfor mational girls' trip adventure. I've been to Maui a dozen times because it is the most magnificent stay cation location. Ever. Living on one portion of a gorgeous archipelago surrounded by the Pacific Ocean means most of my staycations include a short flight. It took a whopping 23 minutes to fly from Oahu to Maui, and I deliberately booked my flight to land at sunset because the view was like no other. I had no idea what awaited me in Maui this time, but I knew it would be powerful. I notoriously overpack for every trip, and it took three peo ple to load my stuff into the generously sized sedan. After a delicious dinner at a local restaurant, we journeyed to our
oceanfront villa. The crescent moon smiled down on the ocean, and the lapping of the waves lulled us all to sleep with promises of ocean adventures. I was awakened before dawn by one of my friends, who claimed to feel a pull from her belly to go to the ocean right at that moment. Nobody questioned her. With a few giggles and surprising rapidity, we all mobilized. Wrapped in fluffy robes and with blan kets in our arms, we pushed our feet into our slippers and trooped out to the beach. Silently, we faced the ocean and sky, waited, and watched. The sky lightened from gray to pink and then to pale blue. Suddenly, there they were, a mother and her calf rising and falling with the waves, so close to the beach it seemed we could quickly swim out to touch them. Frozen in time and space, we stood there like a sleepy band of blanket thieves, silent except for the flapping of a blanket, forgotten but still loosely clutched in someone's arms.
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Whale watching season in Maui runs from December through May, but the best months to see whales are January and February. My tribe of women visit Maui each year to see the ocean and the whales, recon nect to the feminine, and combine the power within each of us into a collective, formidable force of man ifestation. The whales reminded us how the feminine power within us is mirrored by the immense power of the ocean. We stood on the shore holding hands, vowing the trip would be a way to connect to the sacred feminine and each other, to gather our regrets and throw them into the ocean, and to let the waters of Maui baptize us in this new year of our lives. We ruminated about the beautiful mama whale and her calf, who called us to the ocean on the very morning after our arrival just to remind us that our deep in tuition calls us to witness splendor if we are open enough to listen. The trip had barely started, and we had already closed the circle of sister hood in preparation for magic. It was the perfect way to open sacred space for the trip, and that set the tone for the days to come. With the right mindset, every ac tivity we do is a form of ceremony. This held true during a snorkeling expedition near the iconic Black Rock. Equipped with matching masks and goofy fins and wrapped in colorful wetsuit jackets, we eased into the crystal-clear waters on the far side of Black Rock. The coral reefs beneath us were a kaleido scope of colors, and the variety of marine life was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Exotic fish darted around us, and we even caught a glimpse of a sea turtle gracefully gliding through the water. For the Hawaiian people, honu (turtle) symbolizes strength, longevity, and wisdom. I Honu'sonu's presence as a sign that we had the support of the great mother ocean to be pow erful women in a sea of diverse ex periences. 68 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
Mornings took on a magical qual ity as we indulged in yoga on the beach and enjoyed the luxury of watching whales from our villa. After yoga, we each grabbed a chair on the lanai facing both Lanai'i and Molokai. Clutching cups of hot tea, we waited for the whales to breach. Gentle clouds drifted across the sky, and the rhythmic sounds of the waves served as a soothing backdrop to the majestic display of nature's wonders. It was a beautiful experience – one that made waking up early a joy. No trip to Maui would be complete without indulging in the culinary delights it has to offer. A highlight of our time together was a sump tuous meal at Mama's Fish House. The gorgeous oceanfront setting, Polynesian décor, and incredible menu created a dining experience that tantalized our taste buds and left us craving more. Each bite was a celebration of Maui's culinary richness, leaving us with a pro found appreciation for the island's flavors. On the last night of our trip, we gathered on the beach for a sha manic ceremony. The rhythmic beats of the drum merged with the crashing waves as we embraced the spiritual energy of the island. The ceremony, set against the backdrop of the setting sun, was a surre al and transformative experience, connecting us to the ancient soul of Maui. We reflected on the myr iad experiences that had filled our days with joy, excitement, and a profound connection to the island. From the thrill of snorkeling near Black Rock to the serenity of quiet walks on the beach, every moment had been a treasure. Maui had wo ven its magic into the fabric of our memories, leaving us with a sense of gratitude for the beauty that surrounded us and the bonds of friendship that were strengthened on this idyllic island getaway.
A lifelong traveler and educator, Jan Wakefield sees the world as a vast opportunity for expanding her understanding of the human condition. For her, travel equals transformation. Jan’s passion for travel and decades of experience as a personal transformation coach are the foundation for her international retreats, where people release who they once were and embrace who they want to be through meditation, relaxation, and a gentle return to self. In addition, Jan plans to visit all 195 countries in the world and share her experiences with readers and audiences worldwide. For more about Jan’s transformational retreats and programs visit http://jan-wakefield.com
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Through the Lens of Love
Photo by Kazuo ota
By Susanna Schroadter
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Harmony within
Transformative Power of
Meditation
in Overcoming Depression
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S
o many of us suffer ei ther from heavy mo ments, low days, or even full-blown depression. These feelings can vary from mild sadness or overwhelm to severe hopelessness and despair and may affect more than our emotions. When we are depressed, our body begins to shut down; we may begin to feel weak. In this state of sor row, our breathing often becomes shallow, and we do not receive the prana, our life force energy or ox ygen, as effectively as we need in order to survive. Our sensitivity may become more extreme to both light and sounds. We retreat into ourselves, and as depression is the opposite of expression, we shy away from anything expressive. When we are depressed, we do not possess the energy to emote or advocate for ourselves. In modern-day society, most of us have been conditioned to treat de pression by talking and thinking about it. Yet all this does is further our stories and the belief in our mind that we are depressed. What we need to do is purge the de pression from our system through Dynamic Meditation; instead of thinking with our mind, we move our body, breathing in the prana, the life force that will nourish our heart and our mind. What is Dynamic Meditation? Dynamic meditation is a power ful practice that has been used to revitalize the mind and body. Un like traditional meditation, which focuses on stillness and quietness, dynamic meditation is active and involves both physical and mental movements. This practice was de veloped by Osho in the 1970s and aims to free the body and mind from repressed emotions, negative thoughts, and stagnant energy. By incorporating movement, sound, and breathwork, dynamic medita
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tion allows us to release tension and blockages within our bodies and minds. This release can often lead to a deep sense of relaxation, clarity, and emotional stability. One of the key principles of dy namic meditation is the concept of moving energy. The theory be hind this is that our emotions and thoughts are made up of energy, which can become stuck or stag nant within us. This blocked en ergy can then lead to physical and mental health issues such as depres sion. By engaging in dynamic med itation, individuals can physically move this energy through their bodies, allowing it to flow freely and release any built-up tension or negative emotions. Moreover, dynamic meditation can also help individuals become more attuned to their inner selves. By fo cusing on the present moment and listening to the body's cues, we are able to gain a better understanding of our thoughts and emotions. This awareness can lead to a deeper sense of self-acceptance and compassion, which are critical elements in over coming depression.
Dynamic Meditation
can also help individuals become more attuned to their inner selves. By focusing on the present moment and listening to the body's cues, we are able to gain a better understanding of our thoughts and emotions.
Beyond simply being a powerful tool to combat depression, this practice can also have numerous other benefits. Regular practice of this type of meditation has been shown to improve overall physical health, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and increase feelings of hap piness and well-being. It can also enhance creativity, boost energy levels, and improve sleep quality. So the question then becomes, how do you practice dynamic medita tion at home? The most common teachings of this meditation involve a 5 step process to actively cleanse the body of old emotions. Each step can last anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, and through physical movement, we create space to re ceive new, higher vibrational ener gy full of source love. 5 Steps to Dynamic Meditation 1. Charge your body with chaot ic breathing for 10 minutes. This deep breathing is done through the nose with a forceful exhale. As you concentrate on the exhale, al low your body to inhale naturally. There is no pattern to this breath ing, as you are working the energy to the surface so it can be released. In this stage, you are releasing ten sion and purifying the body. 2. "Let Go" or "Explode" for 10 minutes. Release the old energy and emotion in any manner that your body would like. This could take the form of crying, scream ing, or an explosion of physical movement. Hold nothing back as you do this, as no one is watching. The more you move and release, the more space you will create for positive emotions. As you move, allow your body to purge the trau ma from your system and shake off any stuck energy and emotions. 3. Exhaust yourself for 10 minutes. Raise your arms over your head and jump up and down. As your feet
touch the floor, chant the mantra "hoo" multiple times and allow the sound to register deeply in your sacral or second chakra. (If nose is an issue, you may repeat "hoo, hoo, hoo" in your head silently. As you do this, give it your all and tire yourself completely. 4. Stillness for 15 minutes. Al low yourself to exist in a state of tranquility. At this stage, simply be still; observe your body and your thoughts. Step into a state of self-awareness. In this state, you are better able to understand what trig gers you and how those things can affect your mind and body. Still ness helps to create a shift in per spective and can allow you to feel more present and in control of your emotions. 5. Receive an influx of new ener gy for 15 minutes. In this stage, fill your body with renewed vitali ty and positive energy by infusing your body with joy and lightness. Begin by turning on music that makes you smile and allow your body to flow, filling your heart with appreciation, gratitude, and abundance. In these last moments, you instruct your brain that joy is your birthright and carry it forward throughout the day. Meditation is a powerful tool for managing stress, improving well-being, and enhancing produc tivity. Whether you're just starting out or have been practicing medi tation for years, this practice can help you deepen your connection to yourself and the world around you. By engaging in this process and approaching it with an open heart and a curious mind, the intu ition of your body will allow you to release tension, cultivate a greater presence, and tap into your innate wisdom and creativity. Lean into Love and Let Yourself Rise.
Susanna Schroadter, once a practicing attorney and mediator, has has turned her focus to creating Sage, a safe sanctuary to allow others to heal. She offers consulting and strategy for those going into mediation or dealing with life altering events so that they may be empowered and advocate for themselves. Once those events have occurred, she also offers different modalities for healing such as life and spiritual guidance and energy work. www.sanctuaryforpeace.com
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A Guide to High Vibrational Living
Photos by Adobestock
By Polly Wirum
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EleFree venWAYS Discover
To Set The Emotional Stories OF YOUR PAST
THAT ARE LIMITING YOU
I
s there anything that is lying dormant somewhere in your mind and body that has reached its expiration date? This might be some type of traumatic event that you were not ready to think about and release. It could even be letting go of a relationship that never had a proper ending with closure. If there is anything from your past that is keeping you from being fully liberated, this blog is for you. Discover elev en ways to set free any tangled-up emotional sto ries that have interrupted your full expression of your expanded self. In the last few days of 2023, a few family mem bers joined me for a weekend in Sedona, Arizona. The sky held the full Cancer Moon, promising lots of emotional awareness, and possibly, we would all feel extra sensitive. This was the perfect energy for diving into unhealed family stories. My family is like most; we sometimes view the past differently. It helps to talk about this and smooth out any sharp edges.
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Just for fun, a couple of us had a palm reading done. It had been many years since I last participated in this particular awareness tool. I shared nothing about my life story or even what was occurring in my life recently. I have to say she was very good. She picked up many things that had, in fact, occurred in my life. One thing that she mentioned was something that occurred around my 38th year that was still holding me back. She shared that if I did not actively re lease it, I would continue to limit my relationships. I married my husband when I was 38, but that didn't feel like what she was talking about. After the reading, I thought about my first miscarriage, which happened in my 38th year. It was crushing and left a huge dent in my marriage. I suffered quietly inside and subse quently had two more miscarriages before our son was born. I had to agree with her insight; that particular loss was incredibly diffi cult for me. It was time for me to let the pain go so I could fully cele brate love in my life. Our group was scheduled for a hot air balloon ride the next day. I planned on silently pouring all my trauma, grief, and disappointments into the vast open sky. I prayed for this energy to be transformed into something beautiful and healing for our Earth and humanity. The actual balloon ride was so beautiful I forgot to send my un answered sadness into the clouds. Luckily, I remembered about half way through. It felt very peaceful and natural to say my mantra of letting go and forgiveness while fly ing up in the air. 11 Ways To Intentionally Let Go Of Energetic Blocks
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1. Crying is a great way to shift and release energetic blocks in your mind and body. It doesn't matter why you are crying. Watch a movie or read a book that gets your tears and energy flowing. 2. Laughing is another great way to shift energy. Combining this with other intentional ways of letting go is a great way to heal your heart. 3. Being aware of your emotions, feeling them, and allowing them to flow is key to wellness. This also will prevent blocks from occurring. 4. Therapy is a great option for people who are ready to dive in and heal their past life stories. 5. Talking about your life and how you feel with friends, family, or a life coach helps with find ing new perspectives of your life experiences. 6. Writing is a great way to get energy flowing. Just let all your jumbled-up words and emotions slip out of your mind and body. It doesn't need to make sense, and nobody needs to read it.
The experience was impactful and wonderful; I will never forget it. I am
very grateful
for the deep healing that was found in the wilderness.
7. Burning the written story that no longer aligns with your heart is another powerful way to free yourself from your past.
At the top, we could run, but the trail wasn't easy to spot. I was mov ing slower, so my partner went on ahead.
8. Working out your physical body can be a very satisfying way of shifting energy. Each deep breath and exhale will help send your energetic blocks and thoughts into the Universe for transforma tion.
I was listening to music, breathing hard, and feeling all my emotions. I was thinking about our history, the unsaid words, making it difficult for me to find my breath.
9. Fluids can be an easy way of getting your thoughts and energy to flow. This might be swimming in salt water, taking a bath or just drinking water with the intention of releasing your fears. 10. Meditating with crystals like rose quartz and citrine can minimize anger. This will make it easier to reach high vibrational en ergy. You can also work with Black Obsidian, which helps cut attach ment to that which is no longer serving you. 11. Meditate with the Ganesha deity, and hold the intention of removing obstacles from your path. Imagine you are living a life of ease and are highly adaptable to any and all situations. Wrapping It Up My husband and I had some very real discussions about our past during the Sedona weekend. We seem to slowly be healing our rela tionship in starts and stops.
Outside on a trail is how I best pro cess anything and everything in my life. That day was no different. After about a mile or so, I began noticing messages that were carved into the red dirt; other times, words were written with stones. They were from my husband. He was asking for forgiveness and sharing how much he loved me. My emotions grew and grew until I couldn't hold them in anymore. I cried like I haven't cried for years. Ironically, my husband leaving me these messages on the trail was one of the most romantic things he has ever done. The combination of physical work, raw emotion, and gestures of love struck me to the core. The experience was impactful and wonderful; I will never for get it. I am very grateful for the deep healing that was found in the wilderness.
On our final morning, we decided to go for a trail run. It would be 10 -12 miles. This, perhaps, is our love language, exploring the world on trails where it is easier to share our deepest thoughts and feelings.
Oddly, I will remember and trea sure this experience forever. I know it opened up my heart to love even more. If you are ready to let go of any entanglements from your past, try a couple of the above-mentioned practices. You might not notice a shift immediately, but you won't be disappointed if you commit to an expansive and fulfilled life.
The trail was amazing. It started in a meadow that weaved its way up to a very steep and rocky portion that we could hike but not run.
PS: These practices promote self-awareness and self-love, which in turn welcomes all types of love into your life.
Polly Wirum is a psychic, life coach, and writer. Years ago, she experienced a health crisis that led to a complete spiritual and life transformation. When she thought her life was crumbling, the universe was easing her grip on everything, distracting her from the truth. The healing helped her discover the beauty of a joyful and uncomplicated life. It is here that she connects with wisdom and magic. She shares this with her clients through life's coaching psychic readings and spiritual retreats. I0 discover more, visit Pollywirum.com
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The Angel Connection By Nikki Pattillo
Awakening the Heart
of the Dreamer I t’s a sign of the times that the word “awakened” has made it into the urban dictionary, where it is defined as “Spiritually aware of the Uni verse and its direct metaphysical connection to one’s own being and the connection it has to all life forces.” It is so mainstream, in fact, that recently, one political candidate it made part of her platform and called for “A moral and spiritual awakening.” Al though the idea and philosophy of spiritual wakeful ness do not have a clear definition, we can ask, what exactly is spiritual wakefulness, and is there a way to tell if we are having one?
Wakefulness is a feeling that a thousand suns have ap peared in our spirits. It is a process of enlightenment within our spirits. It is a state in which we sit in a place where we have moved beyond separateness and into a connection and union of oneness with all that is. However, the one thing that keeps us from this state is the ego, which has a powerful state of desire, ambition, and detachment. If we can keep ego out of our minds, hearts, and spirits, we can allow the connection of this spiritual essence of wakefulness to sit and be within each and every one of us and also within our hearts.
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There is a connection through our wakefulness that comes from a shared humanity. Taking an interest in a local community or the world in general adds to our connection to each other. This can include vol unteering at a local food bank or helping neighbors or friends in a time of need. We also have a connec tion to all living and non-living things on this planet. Some may choose to stop eating meat, or maybe some will catch and release spiders and other bugs rather than kill them. Some may reduce or recycle excessive consumer consumption and spending. These actions all come to us via a connection of wakefulness due to the idea or thought that we are all part of a bigger picture and need to be conscious of one another and other things on our planet. Understanding this wake fulness or consciousness is what connects our heart chakras and gives us knowledge of a higher purpose for being on this planet. Discovering and understand ing our path helps us comprehend pieces of knowl edge and their impact on our lives and others with the concept of wakefulness. During our journey, we can see the implications of our decisions and how specific actions may affect others and the world around us.
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The following are 10 principles to help guide us down our path of wakefulness: Everything in life is related. Native American writings and most religions that are based on earth-cen tered philosophies say that we are all related in life. If we treat ourselves with love, respect, and compassion, we will have that same love, respect, and com passion for all things on Earth and in life. We are all part of the same whole; we are all rowing the same boat, so to speak. Our souls have the capability to find a way to allow our spirits to shine with great light and intensity by just being who we are and understanding that we are here for a reason and are related to each other. We are beings of both Spirit and human nature. We are spiritual be ings, but at the same time, we are souls living on Earth. We inhabit both worlds simultaneously, even though we are often unaware of it. We should embrace both our phys ical and spiritual realms, as both are equally important. We have to walk with one foot in each of these worlds with the understanding that they go hand-in-hand. Neglecting either our spiritual or earthly side can cause distress and misunderstanding of our true purpose. Remembering that we have agreed to come here from the spiritual realm can help us stay fo cused in our wakefulness. No one soul is superior to another. No one being or creature is any better or of more importance than anoth er—we are all the same. We are all in various stages of our wakefulness and have different levels of understanding. This does not make any one person better than another, and we should never judge others as we are unaware of their lessons. We are not masters of nature, plants, or animals. They are our companions and co-inhabitants on our planet. We are not superior to any other living thing, nor do we own
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them. We are simply the caregivers of this planet and should treat everyone and everything with love, understand ing, compassion, and respect. Trust in intuition. Inside of us, a voice speaks and guides us. This is our intuition, and it is often guided by our higher self, Angels, and guides. We can choose to ignore our intuition, or we can choose to listen to it. Once we are in tune with our intuition and start lis tening to it, we will be guided and will find that any goal is achievable in our lives. When we realize that the Spirit works through us, it will only help us in our awakening. There is a higher purpose. Every thing that happens in our lives hap pens for a reason and for our greater good in the path of wakefulness. We have to learn to look at events in our lives from more than just a normal human perspective. We must see these events from an elevated spiritual plat form and look at what will come from both good and bad events in our lives. All is as it should be in life. There is no such thing as accidents. Everything is in compliance with divine timing, and if we understand this higher pur pose, we grow in our consciousness of all that is. There are no ordinary moments. The past only exists as our memory, and the future only exists as our expectation. The only moment in time that counts is now, this moment. Every moment in life is precious, and we should treat it as such and live each moment to the fullest because by being in the present, we have a presence. To live in the now, the conscious mind should be quiet and focused on what we are doing, not what we are doing next week or what happened yesterday. The past is no longer there; the future is not here yet. There is only one moment in which life is meant to be lived, and that is the present moment. When living in the present moment, we live in a moment of wakefulness.
Like most miracles in life, our wakeful experiences always add to the richness of the unfolding of consciousness in every moment we live.
Keep everything in balance. The Universe exists in a state of balance, as it should be. We can do almost any thing we wish, but we should always do it in moderation—never in excess and always in the wakefulness of all living and non-living things in this world. Anything in excess can become addictive, which drains energy. Stay ing balanced in our lives allows us to keep and maintain a higher vibration al frequency and in turn, keeps our spirits leveled. Change happens. Change is contin uous and is always happening around us. We cannot always perceive change, but we can see the end result of it. Change is not a bad thing, nor should it be feared. Through change, we can grow and move forward in our lives, learning new things along the way. If we choose not to change, we will be come stagnant. We must all learn to change for the higher good of human ity as challenging energies constantly bombard us. We must learn to change for the good and betterment of both our lives and those around us. Take responsibility for our actions. Actions can cause reactions. It is the Law of Cause and Effect. For every action, there is an equal and op posite reaction. We have to be aware of our actions, take responsibility for them, and be conscious of their con sequences. When being critical, judg mental, or unsupportive of others, we are not awakening our spirits. By tak ing responsibility for our own actions, we can take back the power of our Spirit and the freedom to choose good thoughts, words, and actions, which in turn opens the door to awakening. Never sit in judgment. We have no right to judge others for their words, thoughts, or actions because we don’t know what their souls have planned in their lives. We have the freedom of choice to do as we please and act as we wish, and it is up to us to live our lives either consciously or unconsciously.
We are in no position to judge any one, as we are imperfect souls striving in our lives, and by judging others, we lower our opportunities to awaken our spirits. Ultimately, wakefulness will bring about a compassionate awareness that a spirit is present in everyone, so we are everyone. We will realize that there is oneness and not separation. In In dia, there is a saying that says, “We are joy: for from joy all beings have come, by joy we all live, and unto joy we all shall return.” Through our awakening, we can find this joy. It is our right and our path to do so. The concept of wakefulness is some times a profound mystery, and the best definition may be found in the experience of our own shifts in con sciousness just as it’s more nourishing to eat an apple than read about one, so it can be more rewarding to explore the movements of our own wakeful ness than to try to understand these things mentally. Sometimes, the mysteriousness and unpredictability of the whole process of wakefulness leads us to shrug our shoulders and say it is all up to grace or to a higher power. And, of course, that is true, and yet, does that mean there’s no place in this unfolding for our own actions? Like most miracles in life, our wakeful experiences always add to the richness of the unfolding of consciousness in every moment we live. This is the path to awakening the heart of the dream er. May we all enjoy the garden of our true nature, both when spiritual wake fulness is blooming and when spiritual enlightenment seems far away. In both these scenarios, the concept of spiritu al awakening seems to recognize that our role in life has infinite value to our soul’s greater purpose. It is in this un derstanding that we can transcend our consciousness to a more wakeful state and awaken the dreamer within.
Nikki Pattillo graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and began her clinical and molecular biologist career. As a child, Nikki was psychic, conversing regularly with her angels and guides, and it wasn't until she was in her 30s that she accepted her gift. She is now an international author with Ozark Mountain Publishing. She authored Children of the Stars: Advice for Parents and Star Children, A Spiritual Evolution, A Day in Spirit: A Spiritual Calendar for Teens, and A Golden Compass. She has been featured on BRAVO and The History Channel and writes numerous magazine and newspaper articles to help raise awareness and consciousness on environmental and spiritual issues.
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Spiritual Growth Checkpoint: By Sherri Cortland, ND
Meditation , Vibrations & Awareness, Oh My!
A
s promised, this month, we’re continuing our chat about meditation. Science has proven that mediation reduces stress and anxiety; we all know this already.
So let’s talk instead about meditation and our personal evolu tion, and we’ll end with some information about energy med itation from my guide, Akhnanda. We’re here to evolve, and evolution here on Earth means in creasing our energy levels, i.e., raising our vibrational levels. Here’s how mediation helps us with this: It provides us with a clearer connection to our Higher Self so that we are better able to receive understandable and comprehensible guidance. This, in turn, helps us make better decisions, and making better de cisions allows us to develop and evolve. In the past, I’ve mentioned the hypnotherapist and healer Marilyn Gordon, and I’ve listed some of the ways she has put forth that will help us raise our vibrational level and, therefore, evolve. 82 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
Marilyn suggests that we take the following action to raise our vibrations, and clearly, these are actions that we can tackle and work on during meditation… • See the advantage of everything, meaning look for the positive potential in everything. • Stand back and observe rather than judging people, things, and events—this gives us a chance to take the negative spin-off things and simply observe them as they are. • Cultivate gratitude and give thanks for all we have and all we are. • Watch the ways we speak to ourselves and vow to be more kind to ourselves. • Understand that miracles can and will happen for us, and re-paint the vision of our possible futures. Transform our thinking and move away from negative thoughts about the future.
As I re-ponder the above informa tion for this column, it occurs to me that meditating on the things Marilyn has talked about will lead us to increased self-awareness. In the process, we will most likely move ourselves forward, raise our vibrations, and evolve. Meditation is a conscious path to personal evo lution. Let’s talk a little more about aware ness because improving our aware ness is something that we can put our minds to and see immediate results. Awareness is directly relat ed to being awake, perceptive, and sensitive to what’s going on around us, and especially what’s going on inside us. It’s about our feelings when we see and read about things that are happening in our own world and the world at large. It has a lot to do with how we accept, absorb, and apply new information, and being open to new ideas facilitates the expansion of our individual aware ness. And if you are reading this column, you already know that we are intricately connected to one another—which means that when one of us steps up our awareness quotient, others will follow. It’s my feeling that awareness builds on itself and that once we start on the path of promoting our person al awareness (easily accomplished through meditation), it will grow exponentially. Is there a drawback to becoming more aware? I don’t think this is necessarily a drawback, but I do believe that as we become more aware, as our vibrational level rises, and as we evolve, we become much more attuned to the suffering that’s going on in the world. We become more sensitive—which makes it that much harder to read the newspaper or watch the news on television. The good news, though, is that this awareness, this wakeful
ness, this sensitivity, is what it takes to get us to the next level. Becoming more aware and sensitive are tools that help us evolve. Contemplate this final thought with me before I tell you how to find the energy meditation: With greater awareness comes greater responsibility as we move past helping only ourselves and be gin to reach out to help each other and our planet. We are all connect ed. Arcturian Energy Meditation: This meditation exercise was orig inally channeled to me by my guide, Akhnanda, in July 2010. Its purpose is to elevate our vibratory level. This mediation will assist you in raising your vibrational level and helping you find your mission and purpose for this lifetime. When my friend and spiritual guinea pig, Heidi Winkler, tried this me diation for the first time, she was lying down and found it difficult to visualize the white light com ing down into her crown chakra. If you do this meditation lying down, too, envision the light com ing into your crown chakra on an angle instead of straight down. One quick thing: meditating with crystals is something that will en hance every meditation. If you’re new to working with crys tals, try holding clear quartz and/ or amethyst when you meditate for an added boost. One more quick thing: Medita tion is a spiritual growth tool that is available to us 24/7; whenever we have time, we will be very hap py with the results that even 5 or 10 minutes of daily meditation will produce. Namaste.
Sherri Cortland has been communicating with her Guide Group, the “GG,” since 1987 via automatic writing. Much of the information she has received is included in her four books, which were originally published by Ozark Mountain Publishing and are currently available on her website and on Amazon. On Sherri’s website, you will find several free classes and meditations, along with more articles and workshops on video. https://www.facebook.com/Sherri CortlandAuthor www.Sherri-Cortland.com
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THE WAY I SEE IT By Joey Santos, Jr. & Philip Smith
AS SIMPLE AS
"BLACK & WHITE" OR IS IT?
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elcome Feb ruary 2024. Ap p r o a c h i n g Spring is always refreshing. It is a time to warm up the soul and begin looking ahead. It's also a time to look back and remember the past.
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national celebration of the fifti eth anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois. Thousands of African Americans traveled from across the country to see exhibits highlighting the progress their people had made since the destruction of slavery.
Black History Month for me has always been a most interesting time. "Interesting", because we get to hear stories and learn about a time and a people so many of us never knew or forgot. A time filled with hardships, accomplishments, disappointments, success, bravery, artistry, passion, talent, ethics, loss of family, heartbreak, hopes, dreams, pain, degradation, humil iation, and the torture of slavery, still a people endured to build a nation and a country that to this day they struggle to identify with and be recognized for.
Awarded a doctorate in Har vard three years earlier, Woodson joined the other exhibitors with a black history display. Despite being held at the Coliseum, the site of the 1912 Republican con vention, an overflow crowd of six to twelve thousand waited outside for their turn to view the exhib its. Inspired by the three-week celebration, Woodson decided to form an organization to promote the scientific study of black life and history before leaving town. On September 9th, Woodson met at the Wabash YMCA with A. L. Jackson and three others, and formed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH).
It's easy to listen to the news or troll the internet for hours finding the good the bad and the ugly. Or simply get lost in the mindless, endless swipe of social media. Un consciously being brainwashed by every image, feeding into our naivety and insecurities convinc ing us of what we "ifa", "woulda", "coulda", "shoulda" sound like, look like, dress like, eat like, or most frighteningly think like! Have we ever really thought for ourselves? Thinking about it hon estly it seems we've always been influenced by someone, some thing, or other. Even as early as birth. The story of Black History Month begins in Chicago during the summer of 1915. An alumnus of the University of Chicago with many friends in the city, Carter G. Woodson traveled from Wash ington, D.C. to participate in a
He hoped that others would pop ularize the findings that he and other black intellectuals would publish in The Journal of Negro History, which he established in 1916. As early as 1920, Woodson urged black civic organizations to promote the achievements that researchers were uncovering. A graduate member of Omega Psi Phi, he urged his fraternity broth ers to take up the work. In 1924, they responded with the creation of Negro History and Literature Week, which they renamed Negro Achievement Week. Their out reach was significant, but Wood son desired greater impact. As he told an audience of Hampton Institute students, "We are going back to that beautiful history, and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements."
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In 1925, he decided that the Associ ation had to shoulder the responsi bility. Going forward it would both create and popularize knowledge about the black past. He sent out a press release announcing Negro History Week in February 1926. Woodson chose February for rea sons of tradition and reform. It is commonly said that Woodson selected February to encompass the birthdays of two great Ameri cans who played a prominent role in shaping black history, namely Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose birthdays are the 12th and the 14th, respectively. More importantly, he chose them for reasons of tradition. Since Lin coln's assassination in 1865, the black community, along with other Republicans, had been celebrating the fallen President's birthday. And since the late 1890s, black commu nities across the country had been celebrating Douglass'. Aware of the pre-existing celebrations, Woodson built Negro History Week around traditional days of commemorating the black past. Pretty simple huh? Celebrating their accomplishments. Tell that to all those who accomplished all they did with all they endured. The hu man spirit is something to behold. So is its generosity. I learned a lot about Black History from my Parents and Grandparents and my teachers in school. I was also taught about the Holocaust, war, and remembrance. About kindness, tolerance, and forgiveness. I was fortunate to come from a family who were honest, self-aware, open, and loving. They were not afraid to share the truth in all forms. They believed that sometimes through the worst of times comes the best of people. I still believe that. I also be lieve that you must look for it. Even dig deep for it. But God put a lot of
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good in all of us. Trust that much. When I was nine years old, I met my first friend. He was eight. We taught each other many things over the years. He lived next door. We walked to school together every day. We were not average children. We were curious about everything, and everyone. And we had extraor dinary imaginations. We were also complete opposites and exactly the same. To this day we say the same thing at the same time. We even have our own language. Also, the fact that I'm white and he is black is not a difference. I'll rephrase that. It is a difference to be embraced. Proud of. Shared. Taught. Learned from. Ahh, the beauty of culture. As we grew up and into ourselves, we'd witness the ignorance of peo ple at times, but we were each oth er's shields. We were armed with a sense of self, an education, and a sense of humor and purpose. We still wear the same armor to this day, and we polish it with knowl edge, pride, and community. After 50-plus years my best friend and I still live next door to each other and hang out every day speaking our own language. We shouldn't have to wait a year to celebrate a month in History. We shouldn't have to lose a second in choosing the right side of History to be on. Take time to celebrate our accom plishments every day. As simple as it sounds, it is as simple as it can be. If we grow from our struggles, listen to our pain. Have empathy. Patience. Fear is a tricky emotion. It is the scariest when we see our reflection, and then try to run and hide from it. We can look it straight in the eye and introduce ourselves. We just may see our beauty enough so we can begin to see the beauty in others.
Joey Santos is a Celebrity Chef, Life Stylist & Co-Host of The Two Guys From Hollywood Podcast on Spotify. A Columnist for The Eden Magazine since 2016. Joey was raised in NYC, Malibu, and West Hollywood. He is the son of Film & Television Actor Joe Santos, and his Grandfather is World-Renowned Latin Singer Daniel Santos. To follow Joey on IG: @jojoboy13 To contact Joey; whynotjoe@gmail.com
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DPA Golden Globe Gifting Suite
Dubois Pelin and Associates' (DPA) Golden Globe Gift ing Suite occurred on January 5th and 6th at Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel, where many celebrities, fashion designers, producers, and directors attended to experience a luxurious array of products and services. Photos by photos Claire Painchaud
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Food corner
Grace O, founder of FoodTrients.com, the resource dedicated to the foods and reju venating nutrients that help us fight the diseases of aging and promote longevity, has created holiday desserts that are all vegan and contain the nutrients needed to boost health and are unapologetic in terms of great flavor and indulgence. Murderously Good Blood Orange Cake Serves 6-8 Try this vegan blood orange cake if you’re craving something sweet and seasonal. It is moist, tender, and bursting with intense orange flavor. Great for any holiday cele bration, this cake also delivers nutrition that is very similar to regular oranges. Still, blood oranges are rich in anthocyanin, a group of antioxidants found in red, blue, and purple fruits and veggies. A diet rich in these compounds may prevent inflam mation and protect against type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Regularly eating anthocyanin-rich foods may also benefit your memory and overall brain health. INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 Tbs. Cornstarch ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. baking powder ¾ cup almond or cashew ‘milk’ ½ cup olive oil ½ cup cane sugar ⅓ cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice, strained 2 Tbs. unsweetened applesauce 2 tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. almond extract 2 tsp. blood orange zest (about 2 oranges)
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Photo by Dana Nestorova
Eating vegetarian or vegan is a very per sonal choice and takes a fair amount of discipline. It means reading labels careful ly and rethinking most recipes. But there is no reason vegetarian and vegan meals can’t be delicious and full of valuable FoodTrients. As an added bonus, vegan dishes are pareve and perfect for those who keep kosher because they contain no ani mal products.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch springform pan and set aside. 2. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large mixing bowl. 3. In a smaller bowl, whisk the nut ‘milk,’ olive oil, blood orange juice, sugar, applesauce, vanilla, almond, and blood orange zest together until the oil is emulsified. 4. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients while whisking the two together. Mix well until no dry patches of flour remain but be careful not to overmix; some small lumps are ok. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. 5. Bake in the middle rack of the oven for 29-to-31 minutes for a 9” pan and longer for a smaller pan. The cake is done when the top is golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out cleanly. 6. Place the cake pan on a cooling rack and let the cake cool completely in the pan. Remove the cake and transfer to a serving platter, then dust with powdered sugar, slice, and serve. It can be stored tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 4 days.
INGREDIENTS Crust 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, about 10 large dates ½ cup raw walnuts ¾ cup raw pecans (or almonds) 4 Tbs. smooth almond butter ½ tsp. Fine sea salt ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 5 Tbs. raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder 2 Tbs. Raw cacao nibs optional Filling 10.5 ounces or 1⅓ cups coconut cream* 4 ounces 60%-85% dark chocolate, roughly chopped ⅓ cup refined coconut oil (unrefined will taste of coconut) ⅔ cup (about 6 or 7) large Medjool dates (pitted) 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract A large pinch of sea salt Garnishes A few sprinkles of flaky sea salt for top ping Fresh raspberries or other berries
Photo by Taylor Kiser
Deadly Delicious Salted Chocolate Vegan Tart 8-10 servings What’s the holiday season without a chocolate dessert? This no-bake brown ie base, with a creamy salted chocolate filling, is rich, vegan, and gluten-free. The dates in this recipe contain antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that help support brain, digestive, and heart health and protect against disease. The nuts in the crust are nutrient dense, providing good sources of protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Nuts and seeds regulate body weight as their fats are not fully absorbed, and they regulate food intake. Nuts and seeds contain unsaturat ed fats and other nutrients that provide protective effects against heart disease and diabetes.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. For the crust: Remove the pits from the dates unless already pitted. If the dates aren’t soft, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes, then drain well. 2. Add the dates, walnuts, pecans, almond butter, salt, cinnamon, and cacao powder to a food processor. Blend until you have a slightly sticky dough that comes together when you press it with your fingers. If using, fold the cacao nibs into the dough with a rubber spatula. 3. Press the dough onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Place it in the freezer to firm up for 20 minutes and clean out the food processor. 4. For the filling: While the crust is chilling, heat a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the coconut cream, chopped dark chocolate, and coconut oil. Whisk frequently until melted and smooth. Allow the chocolate to cool slightly. 5. Tear-pitted Medjool dates into pieces. Add them to the food processor, along with the vanilla, sea salt, and melted chocolate mixture. Blend until everything is combined and completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. The filling should be smooth, silky, and rich. Taste for sea sonings; add more salt as needed. 6. Assemble the tart: Pour the chocolate filling into the chilled tart crust. Garnish with flaky sea salt. Chill the tart in the freezer for 2 hours or until set and firm. Garnish with fresh raspberries and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. 91 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM eFEBRUARY 2024
Photos by By AdobeStudio
Beauty
Beauty expert reveals EXACTLY
How Often to Change Your Pillowcase
in 2024 by https://soulfactors.com
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uring the winter, it can be harder to stay consis tent with your beauty sleep. The cold weather and January blues can make it more tempting to lie in bed and forgo your 10-step skincare routine. But there are easy ways to keep on top of your appearance without a lot of effort.
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2. Prioritize foot care this winter We often overlook the care that our feet need, especially in winter when they’re hidden away in thick socks and boots. Remembering your feet in your night-time routine can be a great choice, and doing a foot-mask will leave you with silkysmooth feet in the morning.
The beauty experts at women’s lifestyle magazine Soul Factors take you through 7 top tips to help keep your night routine in check after a busy day.
Mashing half of a banana, adding in half a teaspoon of honey, and mixing the two will give you a natural moisturizing foot mask, which you can pop on for 15 minutes.
1. How often should you REALLY be changing your pillowcase? Believe it or not, changing your pillowcases can do wonders for your skin. Bacteria easily gets transferred from your skin to your pillows and can result in acne, so it’s important to refresh them regularly. Dust mites and allergens also easily accumulate on the surface, which may irritate.
Leave your mask on with an old pair of socks or even plas tic wrap, and when you take the mask off, you’ll be left with smooth skin.
The experts recommend washing your pillowcases weekly or at least every two weeks to remove excess oil, sweat, and makeup. You should also wash the interior of your pillow at least yearly. You should level up your game with silk and satin pillowcases, too, as these reduce friction between your skin and the sheets, minimizing breakouts, hair damage, and wrinkles.
3. Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer It is super essential to maintain a gentle skincare routine during winter. Using a non-comedogenic moisturizer adds to this, as it is specifically formulated to avoid clogged pores. Most non-comedogenic moisturizers include skin-healthy in gredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin that are non-greasy and prevent dry, flaky skin. We all love smooth, hydrated skin, so bump up your night-time routine with a lightweight, balanced moisturizer.
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4. Use a chamomile-infused eye mask Chamomile is excellent to include in your night-time routine as it con tains antioxidants that are great for reducing redness and hyper-pigmen tation. Soak some eye pads in chamomile tea, pop them in the fridge, and then use them in the evening as you un wind before bed and see the magic slowly take effect. In modern times, we spend far too long staring at screens. A chamo mile-infused eye mask provides a gentle, therapeutic touch that helps alleviate eye strain, keeping your eyes refreshed. 5. Make a moisture-boosting DIY lip scrub During the colder months, our lips become chapped and chaffed due to a lack of moisture caused by the weather, so including a lip scrub in your routine is essential in prevent ing this. Mix a teaspoon of granulated sugar with a drizzle of honey to create a natural exfoliation full of antioxi dants. Gently swirling the sugar into your lips will remove the minuscule dead-skin particles while the honey ensures moisture gets through. 6. Invest in a hair oil treatment Hair oils are fast becoming popular in the beauty industry, and for good reason, with rosemary oil becoming one of the biggest beauty trends on TikTok over the last year. Using hair oils overnight locks in moisture pre vents further breakage and can even increase the shine and softness of your locks. Coconut oil is a popular option as it strengthens the hair cuticles, giving your head a lovely glossy shine. You can also DIY a hair mask for added protection. Using a smashed ripe avocado, mix 94 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
this with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and a tablespoon of honey to give your hair an overnight treat. Slather the mixture across your dry hair, making sure to distribute it evenly, cover it with a shower cap or cloth, and rinse in the morning. If sleeping in it isn’t an option, you can leave it on for half an hour and still see plenty of benefits. 7. Reduce blue light levels before bed Blue light is one of the worst things you can expose yourself to before settling down for the night, as it blocks the brain’s ability to recognize it is night. Not only does it place a strain on your eye to be using a screen so late, but some studies have found that blue light may result in worsened retinal damage. Getting yourself blue light glasses, designed specifically to avoid this, can prove a great addition to your beauty night routine. Speaking on why it’s important to stay strict with your night-time rou tine, experts from Soul Factors say, “A night-time routine is more than a series of steps; it’s what enables your body to recognize that it’s night and it’s time to sleep. Disrupting this routine can result in struggling to switch off after a busy day. " “Looking after your skin, hair, and nails will leave you feeling much bet ter as the winter chill sets in, espe cially if you’re already drained from the festive season and January blues. Colder air and indoor heating can strip away moisture from your body, leaving it prone to dryness. “Opt for beauty products with nour ishing ingredients that hydrate and leave your hair and skin feeling soft. This will also put you in a good po sition for the New Year – especial ly if your resolutions orient around improving your physical and mental wellbeing.”
A night-time routine is more than a series of steps; it’s what enables
your body to recognize
that it’s night and it’s time to sleep. Disrupting this routine can result in struggling to switch off after a busy day.
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The thought process plays an important role and influence on metaphysical energy. ~Richard Garnier
HYPNOMAGNETISM Richard is revered for his multidisciplinary modalities, blending academic acumen with research and transformational acuity - embodying the role of a healer, intuitive engineer, and energetics specialist. Richard has spent three decades transforming and elevating the lives of a client list that includes television personalities, entre preneurs, athletes, and actors. As a renowned author,inventor, and frequent featured guest across European TV networks, Richard is regarded as a leader in alternative energetics. Richard trained in both Eastern and Western methodologies, Richard has gathered a unique library and toolbox of ancient energy modalities (Taoism, Tibetan studies, Qigong) and modern-day neuroscientific techniques (hypnosis, NLP/ neuro-linguistic programming). Richard offers new perspectives, insights, and teachings from his travels around the world, and exchanges knowledge with thought leaders in alternative practices and disciplines, including Tibetan, Taoist, and Shaman Native American masters, among others.
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SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER AND HOW TO NAVIGATE by Dr. Doug Newton
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inter is a festive time of year. With pepper mint-flavored treats, cozy decor, and snow-filled activities, it's a time often rife with nostalgia and fond memories. Yet winter is a notoriously difficult time of year, too, especially if you experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that comes around every year, typically during the fall or winter months. (For some people, it can occur in the summer). Feelings of sadness or loss of interest or pleasure in activities characterize it. SAD is a real, diagnosable mental health condition that affects 5% of adults in the U.S. It is also called major depres sive disorder with a seasonal pattern. Let's take a look at five things you should know about this mental health condition. We are still determining exactly what causes SAD. SAD is a clinical diagnosis that affects millions of adults and often lasts around 40 percent of the year.
Your body's internal clock and hormone (serotonin and melatonin) levels can all be affected by sunlight. So if you get moody when the clouds roll in, you're not just being dramatic — there's sci ence behind those emotions.
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Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado
People living with SAD experience symptoms of depression like perpetual fatigue, appetite change, difficulty con centrating, and losing interest in previ ous hobbies. The exact causes of SAD are unknown, but it's generally linked to a lack of sunlight as days get shorter and nights longer.
Vitamin D can help. Many people with SAD have insufficient or de ficient levels of Vitamin D. Usually, symptoms of SAD begin to show in early adulthood, around ages 18-30. SAD is four times more likely to affect women, and those living farthest north from the equator (and the least likely to synthesize Vitamin D naturally) are most likely to report symptoms. Your brain depends on Vitamin D, most com monly produced via sunlight, to help regulate its sleep-wake rhythm. Limited exposure to sunshine in the fall and winter months can re sult in Vitamin D deficiency and be linked to SAD. Incorporating more Vitamin D into your routine, whether through outdoor activities or a supplement, may help your symptoms. Seasonal Affective Disorder is not the same as the holiday blues. Many people experience heightened stress, ex haustion, anxiety, and even sadness around the holidays. This is known as "the holiday blues" or "winter blues". The holiday blues can start prior to Thanksgiving and last until after the New Year. Similarly, some people also experi ence the winter blues and develop symptoms similar to depression as the days get shorter. There's a difference, however, between experi encing fleeting mood shifts during the holidays and winter months and experiencing SAD. SAD is severe, persistent depression that comes and goes with the seasons and can last several months. The holiday blues and winter blues, however, are not medical conditions and only occur situationally. Moreover, people with the holiday and winter blues don't typically experi ence the more severe physical and physiological changes and symptoms that occur with SAD. Craving carbohydrates is a distinct symptom. During the holiday season, many of us turn to comfort foods. Pies, cookies, and treats seem to multiply. But if you find yourself craving an unusual amount of carbs, it might be SAD. One of the distinct symptoms of SAD is carbo hydrate cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain. SAD can also cause other symptoms, such as feelings of sadness, lack of interest in hobbies
or activities, trouble sleeping, lower energy, and trouble concentrating. Sometimes, feelings of sadness or worthlessness may lead to thoughts of death or suicide. It's important to seek medi cal attention if you observe any changes to your mental or physical health during the winter months. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 for the Sui cide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also find free resources here. Treatment can help you get back on track. When depression hits, your world can become dark and lonely. Talking with a therapist can help you get to the source of your depression and find ways to manage it. One of the main types of therapy offered to treat SAD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The main goal of this psychothera py is to help you get over unhelpful thinking patterns while also promoting purposeful and enjoyable activity. Light therapy, or phototherapy, is another type of treatment where sunlight is replicated with artificial light. Using a light therapy lamp helps make up for the lack of sunlight you get when you're hit with SAD. Over time, it has been documented to help relieve symptoms of SAD and potentially keep depression at bay. Depending on your causes and symptoms, feel ing better might mean trying a combination of at-home self-treatments and seeking profession al help. If symptoms are severe enough, your doctor or psychiatric provider might prescribe you medication, such as an antidepressant. Although living a healthy lifestyle, such as exer cising more frequently, increasing exposure to sunlight, and maintaining a healthy diet, may alleviate some symptoms, seeking professional help is the best course of action for making sure that you can successfully treat your current epi sode of depression (or SAD) and prevent future ones. If you suspect you might be experiencing signs of SAD, talk to your doctor or mental health professional for an official diagnosis before starting any treatment options. If you're look ing to connect with a therapist, SonderMind can help. 99 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e FEBRUARY 2024
Study:
CLIMATE MIGRATION will Leave the ELDERLY Behind
Coastal populations will get older — and more fragile — as young people flee rising seas, according to new academic research.
by Jake Bittle
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Photo by billow926
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A
s sea levels rise by multiple feet in the coming decades, com munities along the coastal United States will face in creasingly frequent flooding from high tides and tropical storms. Thousands of homes will become uninhabitable or disappear under water altogether. For many in these communities, these risks are poised to drive migration away from plac es like New Orleans, Louisiana, and Miami, Florida — and toward inland areas that face less danger from flooding. This migration won’t happen in a uniform manner, because migra tion never does. In large part this is because young adults move around much more than elderly peo ple, since the former have better job prospects. It’s likely that this time-tested trend will hold true as Americans migrate away from cli mate disasters: The phenomenon has already been observed in places like New Orleans, where elderly residents were less likely to evac uate during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in Puerto Rico, where the median age has jumped since 2017’s Hurricane Maria, as young people leave the U.S. territory for the mainland states.
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When we’re thinking about the effect of climate migration on population change, we have to think beyond just the migrants themselves and start thinking about the second order effects,” said Mathew Hauer.
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A new paper published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Scienc es offers a glimpse at the shape and scale of this demographic shift as climate change acceler ates. Using sea-level rise mod els and migration data gleaned from the latest U.S. Census, the paper projects that outmigration from coastal areas could increase the median age in those places by as much as 10 years over the course of this century. That’s almost as much as the difference between the median age in the United States and the median age in Japan, which is among the world’s most elderly countries.
Climate-driven migration prom ises a generational realignment of U.S. states, as coastal parts of Florida and Georgia grow older and receiving states such as Tex as and Tennessee see an influx of young people. It could also cre ate a vicious cycle of decline in coastal communities, as investors and laborers relocate from vul nerable coasts to inland areas — and in doing so incentivize more and more working-age adults to follow in their footsteps. “When we’re thinking about the effect of climate migration on pop ulation change, we have to think beyond just the migrants them selves and start thinking about the second order effects,” said Mathew Hauer, a professor of geography at Florida State University and the lead author of the paper. In his previous research, Hauer has produced some of the only nation wide climate migration projections for the United States. His previous papers have modeled a slow shift away from coastlines and toward inland southern cities such as Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Tex as. Millions of people could end up joining this migratory movement by 2100. The new paper attempts to add a novel dimension to that demographic analysis. “It’s a really large amount of aging in these extremely vulnerable ar eas,” said Hauer. “The people who are left behind are much older than we would expect them to be, and conversely, the areas that gain a lot of people, they get younger.” The knock-on effects of this kind of demographic shift raise thorny problems for aging communi ties. A lower share of working-age adults in a given city means fewer people giving birth, which can sap future growth. It also means fewer construction workers, fewer doc tors, fewer waiters, and a weaker
“If Miami starts losing people, and there’s fewer people in Miami, then there’s a lower demand for every occupation, and the likeli hood that somebody moves into Miami as opposed to moving to another location goes down as well,” said Hauer. “Maybe like a retiree from Syracuse, New York … who before might have thought about retiring in Miami, now they decide they’re going to retire in Asheville.” This vicious cycle, which Hauer and his co-authors call “demo graphic amplification,” could supercharge climate migration patterns. The authors project that around 1.5 million people will move away from coastal areas un der a future scenario with around 2 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, but when they account for the domino effect of the age tran sition, that estimate jumps to 15 million. Hauer said that even he was surprised by the scale of the change. The most-affected state will be Florida, which has long been one of the nation’s premier retire ment destinations, as well as the coastlines of Georgia and South Carolina. Millions of people in these areas face significant risk from sea-level rise over the rest of the century, and even parts of fast-growing Florida will start to shrink as the population ages. Charleston County, South Caro lina, alone could lose as many as 250,000 people by 2100, accord ing to Hauer and his co-authors. The biggest winners under this
age-based model, meanwhile, are inland cities such as Nashville and Orlando, which aren’t too far from vulnerable coastal regions but face far less danger from flooding. The county that includes Austin, Texas, could gain more than half a million people, equivalent to a population increase of almost 50 percent. Many of these places have already boomed in recent years. Austin, for instance, saw an influx of young newcomers from California during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new study offers welcome in sight into the demographic con sequences of climate migration, according to Jola Ajibade, an as sociate professor of environmen tal science at Emory University who was not involved in the new research. But she cautioned that there are other factors that might determine who leaves a coast al area, most notably how much money that area spends to adapt to sea-level rise and flooding. “I give [the researchers] kudos for even leading us in this direction, for trying to bring demographic differentiation into the question of who might move, and where,” said Ajibade. “But exposure is not the only thing you have to model, you also have to model vulnerabili ty and adaptive capacity, and those things were not necessarily mod eled. That could change the result.” The authors note that they can’t account for these adaptation in vestments, and neither can they track migrants who might move within one county rather than from one county to another. Even so, Hauer says, the paper offers a clear signal that the future scale of climate migration is a lot larger than just the people who are dis placed from their homes by flood ing. Both coastal and inland areas, he said, need to be prepared for much larger demographic changes than they might be expecting.
Photo by Francis Odeyemi
labor force overall. Property val ues tax revenue often decline as growth stalls, leading to an erosion of public services. All these factors in turn push more people to leave the coast — even those who aren’t themselves affected by flooding from sea-level rise.
This story originally appeared in "GRIST" It is repub lished here as part of The Eden Magazine partnership with Covering Climate Now, a global journalistic col laboration to strengthen coverage of the climate story.
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Photo by Nils Leonhardt
Advocates in Georgia call for better protections for salt marshes, a key carbon sink Proposed changes to current law spur call for an overhaul. by Emily Jones
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oastal Georgia regulators want to change a rule de signed to protect the state’s marshes, which serve as a buffer against storms and ris ing sea levels and a vital part of the coastal ecosystem. But advocates say the seemingly small change points to a need for a broader review of marsh protections. The state passed a law to protect coastal salt marsh half a century ago, which means that now, though Georgia has just 100 miles of coastline, it’s home to half a million acres of salt marsh — the second-largest amount of salt marsh in the country and a third of the marshes on the East Coast. Those marshes absorb the power of strong storm surges and capture carbon in their grasses and mud. So coastal advocates are especially sensitive to changes in the state’s marsh law — con cerned that modifications to allow more de velopment could erode protections, leading to actual erosion of the coastline itself. But at a public meeting last week on the proposed change, state officials tried to as suage concerns. “This amendment is not intended to roll back any marsh protections,” said Jill Andrews, chief of coastal management for the state’s Coastal Resources Division, or CRD. “It will not change a thing within the actual Coastal Marshlands Protection Act itself. It is not intended, nor will it, fasttrack bulkheads or shoreline hardening.”
Salt marshes exist along much of the country’s coastline, from New England to Florida, along the Gulf, and on the West Coast — but many have been degraded or destroyed by development, industry, and other human activities. Multimillion-dol lar efforts are underway in many of those places to restore marsh habitat. In the Southeast, coastal managers have launched a new regional initiative aimed at restoring and better protecting the marshes in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. In Georgia, most structures built in the state’s well-preserved coastal marshes need a permit under the marsh protection law, also known as CMPA. That goes for large docks, marinas, or a length of bulkhead — a kind of small wall along the waterfront designed to prevent shoreline erosion of someone’s backyard. Those projects also get a 50-foot buffer, a zone of dry land where no building or pav ing is allowed because it might affect the marsh. The buffer line is measured from the part of the project that’s farthest from the marsh, known to regulators as the “up land component.” For a marina, that might include buildings for dry dock boat storage, bathrooms, or a shop. For shoreline stabi lization like a bulkhead, the upland com ponent might only be underground anchors that hold the structure in place. The buffer rule is what CRD wants to change, because the agency says it can be a problem for smaller projects.
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Photo by Nicholas Mullins
At the public meeting last week, Andrews explained that the buffer for a bulkhead on a residential prop erty might run through the house. In an example she showed, the buf fer encompasses most of a home’s backyard. That means the home owner couldn’t build a shed, fire pit, or swing set without special per mission from the CRD, which the agency says creates a burden both for homeowners and for the agency. So the agency is proposing a rule change to exempt small projects from the upland component buffer requirement. Andrews and other CRD officials at the meeting stressed that shoreline stabilization projects and anything else built in the marsh will still need CMPA permits, even if the project is exempted from the buffer rule. But critics said it’s time for a more comprehensive review. Instead of the rule change, several environmental groups are calling for a stakeholder committee to take a holistic look at how projects are approved and what rules protect the marsh. Speaking at the meeting, Bill Sapp of the Southern Environmental Law Center said bulkheads are particular
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ly worrisome because while building them can stabilize a shoreline in the short term, they can do long-term damage to the marsh. And though each project is small, Sapp said they can add up. “There are going to be more and more bulkheads built along the Georgia coast over the years as the sea level rises,” he said. And advocates said this permitting question points to a bigger concern: development too close to the marsh. Josiah Watts grew up on Sapelo Island and now works for environ mental group One Hundred Miles. He told attendees at the meeting the marsh is sacred as well as a protective buffer for the coast, and the state should rethink allowing building close to it. “When we’re talking about bulk heads, we’re also talking about devel opment,” he said. “That means that there is construction and building near these spaces on the coast and the marsh.” The Coastal Resources Division is accepting public comments about the proposed change to marsh buf fers until January 19.
This story originally appeared in "GRIST" It is re published here as part of The Eden Magazine part nership with Covering Climate Now, a global jour nalistic collaboration to strengthen coverage of the climate story.
Photo by Timothy L Brock
