The eden magazine july issue

EDEN T h e

Magazine

Giving is receiving

MARA BELTRAMI NEW HOW

TO REDUCE BLOATING NATURALLY

By Jessica Ann

4

A STEPS PROCESS TO LOVING YOUR DECISIONS

By Anne Tucker

Table of Contents 8

MARA BELTRAMI NEW

18

EXAMINING MISDIRECTED ENERGY

By Tara-jenelle Walsch

22

26

BECOMING AWARE OF YOUR RESISTANCE

By Lynn Andrews

30

LIVE LIKE YOU HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE

By Nancy Yearout

34

A FOUR STEPS PROCESS TO LOVING YOUR DECISIONS

By Anne Tucker

34

36

VISION QUESTING FOR SOUL PURPOSE

By Mark Thurston

52

REMEMBERING THE SWEETNESS

By Jan Diana

56

WEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

48

By Nancy Stremmel

58

WHAT IS MY PROFESSION? I AM A DREAM WORKER

By Yuval Abramovitz

66

FINDING YOUR WAY IN THE DARK

By Uma Girish

68

SAMATE MEDITATION...

52

By Swami Durgananda

Cover by MICHAELHELMS.COM

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EDEN

Photo by Artin Mardirosian

T H E

MAGAZINE

Spreading compassion to all Sentient Beings and Lliving in healing and peaceful world

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARYAM MORRISON

Maryam Morrison

Contributing Editor DINA MORRONE PUBLIC RELATIONS MARIA ELENA INFANTINO SOCIALITE DIRECTOR GLORIA KISEL-HOLLIS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JAN DIANA TARA-JENELLE WALSCH MICHAEL WHITE RYAN ANGELA DUNNING ROXANA JONES & ARNAUD SAINT-PAUL GRAPHICS ARTIPHICS PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDA SAINT HILAIRE PHOTOGRAPHY EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY SHERI DETERMAN CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS + MAKEUP ARTIST EDWARD HAKOPIAN WEBSITE www.theedenmagazine.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/TheEdenMagazine To have a copy visit us in www.magcloud.com

Eden Magazine is an independent monthly online magazine.

Our aim is to create a better environment where we live among other living being in peace and harmony. We support artists that their work match our criteria. If you would like to submit your artwork, article or/and your Photography For our future issues please contact Maryam Morrison at; maryammorrison@theedenmagazine.com

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m MARA Beltrami

New Giving is receiving

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M

ara likes to say she has a lot to be grateful for, and that she considers every day a blessing.

Born in Milan, Italy, Mara hails from the Beltrami House of Fashion, which was launched in the 1900’s. Mara’s family began as tailors and shoemakers and evolved into clothing designers and manufacturers in the 1920’s. To date, the House of Beltrami is still active in Italy.

The world of fashion has always been a part of Mara’s life. It was only natural that as a young woman with a slender build, towering height, and stunning looks, that she stepped seamlessly into the world of fashion. However, this is where Mara’s life takes a momentous and life changing turn.

At 17, Mara was a top competitor for a modeling layout in Vogue magazine, but her world came crashing down when during a celebratory dinner prior to the shoot, while cooking for friends and family, she lifted a pot of boiling water and in doing so, the pot flipped in the air and the scalding water spilled everywhere. Mara raised an arm to cover her face but it was too late. The skin on her face and arms suffered third-degree burns. When Mara awoke several days later in a hospital bed, she had no recollection of the event or of the severity of her injuries. She was wrapped in gauze with slits for eyes and was basically blind.

In that precarious and painful state, every breath Mara took was excruciating. She had to use the power of her mind to switch the focus away from the pain and onto her breathing. She began using her breath as a calming agent. With that relaxation technique, she could feel herself leaving her body. This would help the pain to subside and at times completely go away. She used the power of her imagination to heal and continued to imagine going on with her life as if nothing had happened. She imagined the photo-shoot and created a "world" that was magical, full and gratifying.

After several skin grafts and eye surgeries, Mara’s face was scar-free and miraculously she was able to see.

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She claims that by creating this bond with her own breath she was given internal sight. This was a turning point in her life. Mara decided from that moment on, she was going to live an inspiring and positive life. She did choose to leave one piece of scarred skin, under her arm, without any surgical grafts. She wanted it to serve as a reminder that she would be forever grateful for what she has.

To this day, Mara continues to live each and every day by focusing on her breath.

This puts her in a constant state of oneness and healing. Her ongoing gratitude for the gifts she has, have led her to give back by supporting the arts, humane issues, and causes, and by giving one on one to help those in need.

Although the fashion shoot was halted, and her career was put off for some time, it didn’t stop Mara once she did recover, from pursuing work as a model, actress, dancer, and host. She has gone on to grace magazine covers, strut down runways, and work internationally as an actress both on stage and on screen.

Her work has taken her from Italy to France, on to Australia, where she graduated in Architecture and studied Acting at “Karnack Playhouse,” then up to Canada to join a dance group and host her own Radio show, and then down to Los Angeles, where she currently lives with her husband Ronald New whom she met through Liberace… yes the one and only Liberace...while she was working for the late musical legend. But the thing Mara is most proud of is her commitment and passion for “giving back.” She understands the importance of giving and of donating one's time to help those less fortunate. Mara shared a very endearing story that really exemplifies who she is and has always been. When she was a little girl growing up in Italy, she recalls the countless times she wouldn’t eat her own lunch so that she could feed other children in the classroom who didn’t have food to eat. She knew that at home she had an abundance of food but that many other children weren’t so lucky. Sometimes, she would even feed her lunch to stray dogs. Mara has always been an animal lover. She has three dogs (all rescues) and she has been vegan for years.

Mara is very committed to several charities. Here are just some of the ones she supports: The Jeffrey Foundation (after school programs for children 1 to 18), The Thalians at Cedar Sinai (Mental Health), City of Hope (Cancer Research), ABC (Breast and Prostate Cancer Research), The American Musical Academy (supporting the preservation of Musical movies), Foundation for a Smoke Free America (Patrick Reynolds of Reynolds Tobacco is an activist), The Actors Fund (for entertainers who need assistance). The animal charities with whom she is actively involved include: ARGNC – Animal Rescue Group Information www.argnc.com, Safe Haven Equine Rescue & Retirement - sherrnc.com, Classy Sassy Paws – classysassypaws (dog and horse rescue), Hope for Paws, (hopeforpaws.org), The Amanda Foundation (animal adoptions and animal care) amandafoundation.org.

Besides all of the above-mentioned well-established charities, Mara strongly believes in individual more personalized charities such as helping people on a one to one basis. When Mara sees an individual in need, struggling to make ends meet, or is down on hard times, she does not waste any time stepping in to help.

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Mara has received numerous awards including, “One of the most influential women in Los Angeles" (along with Doris Roberts, Carol Connors, Alma Bloomberg, Rhonda Fleming, Barbara Fodor, and Margaret Kott), "Y.E.S. Awards" (Young Educated Singers) with Dionne Warwick and Chief Bernard Parks at the LA Blues Festival, “Ange Award” from Reef Check honoring Jean Michel Custeau, with Cheryl Holdridge-Post and Suzan Hughes, “Golden Star Halo Award” for her per formance in the role of “Wife” in the play by A.R. Gurney “The Problem,” to name just a few.

One of Mara’s artistic passions is her love of music. Her husband Ron is a classically trained pianist among other things, and he is known to serenade Mara or their guests with magnificently performed pieces from (Mozart, to Chopin, to Beethoven… etc.) I had the pleasure of witnessing his talent and was moved by his virtuosity. Their shared love of music over the years has seen them engaged in several musical endeavors. They were involved in producing CD’s for Jazz/ Blues Artist Barbara Morrison, they promoted the “LA Blues Festival” with great success and, they have also produced work with the great international recording star Asha Puthli. Mara sits on the advisory board for the American Musical Academy.

Mara is also an accomplished painter and has won several European competitions.

She was privileged to have met Pablo Picasso, along with Huala Dio (Anna Huala) during the Pro Loco painting competition in Sanremo, Italy, where Mara took home the Silver Medal.

Through all of Mara’s adventures, travels, artistic endeavors, achievements, accomplishments, awards, life experiences, charities, and her generosity, Mara has always remained very connected to where it all began for her, the world of fashion. In fact, it was her love affair with fashion and her desire to provide a platform to showcase emerging talent, that Mara founded The Golden Needle Awards. This organization gives emerging designers an opportunity to be seen and judged by a panel of celebrity and industry experts. With the creation of The GNA Awards, Mara has fulfilled her own dream of helping designers achieve their goals and reach another level in their professional careers. Her long-term vision for The GNA is that of a growing an annual event that has the support, sponsorship, and recognition of its industry leaders. In keeping with the mantra of “May the thread of love sew the fabric of life together,” and being true to who Mara is at the core, The Golden Needle is committed to donating partial proceeds to two favorite charities each year, and in believing always that “Giving is Receiving.”

In the book, Bounce Off the Walls, Land on Your Feet: how to morph havoc and hassles into harmony and happiness, written by Merrie Lynn Ross, a section in chapter thirteen is dedicated to Mara’s incredible story. This spiritual book is a transformative and enlightening roadmap for how to live a happy, harmonious life, filled with practical techniques on how to handle grief, stress, financial woes, and parenting. Marie Lynn Ross’ comedic flair informs us how to live life as improv’ from the inside out.

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Mara chooses to live her life on this precious planet to the fullest each and every day. She loves her adoring husband Ron, their three tender dogs, her dear friends, and of course her cherished family near and far. For Mara, every day is a chance to learn, to seek out new adventures and experiences, grow spiritually, show kindness, generosity, gratitude, and of course‌ focus on her breath.

Photography: Brenda Saint Hilaire Photography Dresses: Melissa Kritsotakis Makeup & Hair: Tanya Tello Shoes Irregular Choice (Vegan) Melissa (Vegan) Aruna Seth Satin Short Dress: Nimco Adam of Qaal Designs (Organic fabrics hand made in Africa) Sports outfit: Stella McCartney styled by Monika Kovacs

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Soul Courage

with Tara-jenelle Walsch

Examining Misdirected Energy

By Tara-jenelle Walsch

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I snapped… and it wasn't pretty scene.

This isn’t normal behavior for me, though. In fact, my day had been going pretty well, thanks to a dear friend of mine who came over and fixed the year-long drip in my kitchen faucet. That put me in such a good mood all day that I decided to celebrate with tacos for dinner, then had the last minute idea to enhance my dining experience with a movie.

As I approached the science of connecting my computer to the TV monitor…that’s when it happened. Or should I say, that’s when “nothing” happened.

I plugged everything in accordingly, but nothing was connecting. Four wires felt like twenty wires—just snakes, all over the place. I’d done this many times before, but suddenly the system was failing.

I glanced over at my taco delight, now forming hard edges, and decided the quickest fix would be the ever-suggested unplug/replug solution. As expected, the main plug was in a small, squeeze-in location. The kind of oddly confined area that you need to pull a yoga move just to reach.

So I shimmied in, made the connection, and - “Ouch!” (head bump on TV), then trip (foot snag on cord), then fall (rug burn on knee), then yell, “Can't you just do your #$@&%*! job!”

(Did I say “yell”? Ok, edit that to “shout-slash-cry.”)

I can laugh about it now that I’ve relaxed and pulled back from the scene. And I see how ridiculous my behavior was, let alone how ridiculous I must have looked if someone (spirits?) were actually watching me.

But mostly, as I leaned back against the futon and gazed down at my now rubber tacos, I saw what was behind my energy in that moment. I realized that my uncontrollable outburst, “Can't you just do your #$@&%*! job!!” was not really directed at the electronic dysfunction in front of me, but rather a subconscious and indirect broadcast of disappointment in myself, to myself.

Classic case of misdirected energy: Emotions that have been ignored or suppressed which are then projected onto something or someone completely irrelevant to the situation.

A lot of times we don’t even realize that we’re suppressing emotions. We just navigate through life, pushing certain feelings to the side so that we can direct the bulk of our strength where we think it needs to be.

But the way to true inner strength is to acknowledge all aspects of ourselves through the feeling of our feelings. Feelings don’t like to be bottled up, or told to Talk to the Hand.

That just pushes them down and cages their energy, which ultimately gets bigger and bigger in attempt to escape, eventually leaking out through our behavior.

I’m sure you’ve had similar experiences where your reaction to something was much larger than what the moment called for. Maybe you’ve also had the awareness afterwards that the underlying energy of your reaction had nothing to do with the situation at hand. But that’s usually the point when reflection on the matter ends.

Right here, in this snippet of time, sits a treasure trove. The split second that bridges your realization of misdirected energy, to your next thought. Right here is a little gift gully that often gets skimmed over; either out of sheer oblivion or to avoid feeling into what was originally behind the misdirected energy.

The mind moves so fast that the second it identifies what it perceives to be a mistake, it tries to repair it. It thinks that by anxiously moving onto something else, it’s saving you from feeling any guilt, shame or embarrassment around lashing out, and also protecting you from feeling deeper into the real reason you did so.

With Soul Courage, we can stop our mind in its tracks and, instead, intentionally direct our awareness to self-examination by pausing and breathing into the vulnerability that it takes for genuine self-reflection. This is the “dipping” into a gift gully, because it almost always awakens our consciousness to profound clarity.

Luckily, in my particular situation, there was no one in the room, so my outburst wasn’t projected onto someone else (oddly, though, I had an impulse to apologize to the room).

After I sensed that the energy was misdirected, I took the dip and looked honestly inside to see what was really going on with me. I was initially met with a sense of shame and witnessed a self-reprimand; ”You should know better than to suppress your emotions like this, Tara, you teach this stuff, geez!”

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This was clearly my ego talking, so I lovingly hushed it and took a deep breath into vulnerability. Slowing down allowed me to discover that I was upset at myself for not working as diligently as I should be. My dog is dying and I’ve become a full-time caretaker. I’ve gotten so absorbed in my love for him and consumed with his deathing that my work has taken a back seat.

As I began to comprehend all of this I felt a wave of compassion for myself. I even gave myself a little inner hug.

Then I became empowered to create a realistic schedule that honors both my work and Sascha’s transition.

I process my behavior like this a lot, but never really visualized it as a little dip in our thoughts or detour in our consciousness, giving us the option to hop over and skip deeper understanding altogether, or slow down and go within.

These gift gullies can be found in every experience, not just around misdirected energy. And the more we courageously feel into them, the more comfortable and familiar we become with them and, gradually, they begin to not even feel like dips at all.

They lose their dip-age and rise up to ground level, becoming part of our path. Then, suddenly, our walk turns to stroll. Ahhh…

Roadmap to Examine Misdirected Energy 1 - Pause immediately upon awareness of misdirected energy 2 - Apologize if inappropriate energy was directed towards another 3 - Courageously feel into the dip, allowing yourself to be vulnerable 4 - Take an honest look within and identify what’s really bothering you 5 - Be gentle and compassionate with yourself around what it is you uncover 6 - Empower yourself to resolve the real source of upset

Fun Share Tara’s Taco Delight Recipe (all organic ingredients, if possible) Lime-Cilantro Tofu or Mahi fish (or chicken/meat, if you prefer) White corn tortillas (soft) Black beans, freshly cooked (way easier than it sounds) Avocado (go for the big one!)

Tomato (red & ripe) Veda Kraut, by Pickled Planet (cumin marinated raw 20 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

sauerkraut) Mango salsa (Trader Joes) Arugula (nice & peppery) Fresh Cilantro (1 bunch) Pepper Jack Cheese (optional) Fresh Limes (3) Marinate Squeeze in two limes. Really wring those babies out! Add a big douse of coconut or olive oil and blend for a few seconds.

Rinse bunch of fresh cilantro and pat dry. Put 3/4 of it in blender (with stems) and save the rest for taco topping.

Add a pinch of pink salt. Blend all until forming a pourable paste.

Massage sauce into your main ingredient with a fork, flipping each piece over a few times. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Grill or cook as desired. Top with all of the goodies above. *Important: Eat immediately or you may be subject to “rubber” taco delight—still edible, btw, but nowhere near as good!

Are you in a soul quandary?

Feel free to ask Tara-jenelle for courageous insight.

Submit your question to https://www.facebook.com/tarajenellewalsch

p Tara-jenelle Walsch is a monthly columnist for the Eden Magazine. She is the author of the book, Soul Courage, and the founder and spirit behind the Soulebrate greeting card company. You will also find her speaking publicly about emotional and energetic awareness, and a sacred formula which she believes has the ability to enrich the world at large. Tara-jenelle was raised in Annapolis, Maryland and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Towson University in Baltimore. She currently lives in the beautiful hills of Ashland, Oregon with her pug, Sascha. www.soulcourage.com

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Reclaming Your True Self

with Angela Dunning

The Burden of Being "The Feeling Bearer�

By Angela Dunning

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n The “feeling bearer” is usually more sensitive than their other family members, as well as more empathetic and more intuitive.

pression, but never seek help or even acknowledge they are depressed, the "feeling bearer" can end up carrying their parent's depression on top of their own, which usually appears in response to carrying these burdens. The depression is thus felt doubly and further bewilders the individual as they try to make sense of where it originates from. It can take years to realize that some of this may actually belong to their parent/s.

It seems that this individual can sense the truth of everyone’s feelings, regardless of whether they are acknowledged and spoken about. If they are not aired and made congruent then this person still feels the entirety of these feelings, regardless.

Further still, each family also carries the burden of pain and trauma of their ancestors, and so these unconscious feelings are also felt by the more sensitive “feeling bearer”, as again, most of the family members wish to remain unconscious of these, due to their fear of emotions and pain.

Therefore, they often carry an immense burden, often alone and often in silence. Frequently suffering from the enormity of the pain, depression, traumas and family secrets that remain buried.

In addition, the projections and thwarted ambitions and dreams of a parent can also be placed as a burden onto the child, often also accompanied by inappropriate or hurtful emotions such as envy or anger. As Carl Jung famously said: “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of its parents.”

During my training to become an Equine Facilitated Learning practitioner, I was introduced to the idea of the “feeling bearer” in each family by one of my trainers, Kathleen Barry Ingram.

To the sensitive child this is utterly bewildering: not only do they have to deal with their own individual feelings, thoughts and experiences, but they also have to carry everyone else’s. Further, the remaining family members feel, unconsciously and non-verbally, that they are being relieved of their burden and so happily continue with their patterns of burial and denial of feelings and pain. And so the cycle continues.

If, for example, a parent or both parents suffer from de-

The “feeling bearer” then plays a significant role in enabling their family to continue to function, no matter how dysfunctional it may actually be. But they pay an enormous price for doing so. Whilst in childhood they do whatever they can to survive, it is not long before extreme coping mechanisms take over as the burden becomes increasingly intolerable while the years tick away.

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Symptoms and behaviors start to dominate their life, these can include any of the following: Depression Anxiety Social anxiety/phobias Trauma or PTSD symptoms Co-dependency in relationships Low self-esteem and confidence Severe loss of sense of self Borderline personality disorders Psychotic disorders or breakdowns Difficulty to continue with studies or jobs Alcohol or drug dependency, or other addictions (sex, work, eating disorders, etc.)

Difficult behaviors, such as anti-social, rebellious at school, etc.

Inability to cope with “normal” everyday life Severe introversion Physical illness or disease - recurring migraines, ME/ Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, skin, stomach or digestive disorders, to name a few.

To recognize yourself as having played this role in your family can bring a huge sense of relief and is the start of unburdening yourself.

By bringing your conscious awareness to where your boundaries ought to be and working on re-establishing these, plus getting professional support, which is often vital, you can begin to reclaim yourself and let go of what does not belong to you.

Returning these feelings to others and to where they rightfully belong, whether literally or symbolically, can bring much needed healing over time.

Learning to develop strong, clear boundaries and emotional intelligence skills is vital to regaining a clearer sense of who you are and preventing yourself from continuing to undertake this role, perhaps now in your own family or in your profession. Many “feeling bearers inevitably end up in the caring and supporting professions as their innate qualities, and empathy in particular, makes them inclined to want to help others.

However, to continue doing so unconsciously runs the risk or high levels of stress over time and real burn-out.

In my experience of being a high sensitive, empath and intuitive, and most definitely the “feeling bearer” in my

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own family of origin, wherever I am, there is the risk of me playing this role once more, and of others happily expecting me to. I have worked in organizations where emotions and congruency are absent and it becomes unbearable for me after a while, as I often end up in conflict with others when I try to establish boundaries and behave authentically. This dynamic can of course also be created in our intimate relationships where we are likely to choose a partner who has difficulty feeling and so again we undertake that function for them.

If after reading this you think you may have played this role, and perhaps still are doing so, then contact a professional who can give you support and help to work through this habit. I also recommend reading up on the trait of being highly sensitivity (HSP) and being an empath, and learning how to set boundaries.

p Angela Dunning has been a certified Eponaquest Instructor since 2007.

Based in Herefordshire, England, she also practices elsewhere in the UK and abroad on invitation. She delivers gentle yet powerful personal development and training programs in Equine Facilitated Learning to individuals, groups and organizations. She specializes in helping people reconnect to their body, emotions and personal power. She particularly works with women with depression, low levels of confidence and relationship issues, using ground-breaking techniques that make a real difference to your life, your inner healing work and your relationships. In addition, she offers consultancy, supervision and training in equine facilitated practice. Angela is also a passionate writer of books, articles and poetry on related topics.

Learn more about Angela and her EFL work and read her Blog here: www.equinereflections.co.uk You can also connect with Angela on Facebook also: www.facebook.com/equinereflections

Be Mindful, Be Heartful, Be Empowered

Roxana Jones Arnaud Saint-Paul

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Becoming Aware of Your Resistance: The Key to Surfing and Surviving the Chaos of Today's Uncertain World

By Lynn Andrews

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Did you know that you are fearless, generous beyond thought, gracious, creative, able to shape shift your des­tiny?

You are! So what is keeping you from celebrating yourself, from living the bountiful life you deserve and can create?

In looking at the events of the past several years, I found a thread, a luminous thread that led me through the maze of chal­lenges we face today. How did the events of our time form into the chaos of the world today, as well as the turmoil in our own personal lives? As you hold up your star shield to the Great Spir­it, you see that there is a dangerous imbalance of the male and female energies on this earth.

We must balance the intellect and mind of the male with the intuition and emotion of the female in order to understand how we came here from nature and what we are made of. If not, then maybe we are lost. Maybe our evolution as a species will actually cease.

But there is a choice we can make to prevent that and achieve a critical balance. I believe it comes down to the one lesson that the Sisterhood of the Shields taught me over and over: how to give up resistance and pick up the shield of empowerment.

The events of this past year, in particular, demonstrated the turmoil of uncertainty. We have always lived with a sense of in­security, and until lately, most of us have spent our energy trying to ignore it or pretend it doesn't bother us.

So how do we--as sha­mans--learn to make uncertainty our ally? How do we let go of our resistance to change, our fear of what is different? This has become a focus within my Shamanic Mystery School.

If I could teach you only one thing, I would choose for you to learn how to ride uncertainty like a wave. If you can learn to ride within the power of the wave, to allow its energy to pro­pel you forward, you can tap into a source of personal power.

Using energy in a focused, conscious way will reduce the sense or experience of chaotic energy for yourself and oth-

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ers around you. Chaos is a part of creation, and instead of resisting or responding in fear, we want to shift how we respond to it by directing our awareness to the beauty and opportunities it manifests.

Dynamic ener­gy is given off by an act of creation, and the energy that comes from the chaotic side of creation is powerful. It is uneven and somewhat like being in an earth­ quake. This dynamic energy is un­certainty. But it is an amazing en­ergy once we tap into it and ride it like a wave.

The Sisterhood taught me to not stand and fight the wave, but to throw myself into it. Like the dolphins riding the surf line, when you relax and move with the current, you rise to the surface and maintain your sense of direction.

Uncertainty in life is like that and we choose how to face it.

As shamans, we learn to see the energy between all living things - the energy of true power. I want you to be aware of the truth that energy is just energy. It is not good or bad, not dark or light, until someone or something focuses it. Energy itself is pure and unaffected in its original state and is incredibly powerful. By understanding and refocusing these frequencies, you can move into their flow and achieve the male/female energy balance. You can learn to surf!

It is your awareness of energy that al­lows you to begin to use it, to tap into its power to create the life you desire, to bring healing to yourself, your loved ones, the planet.

Within that awareness, you make a shift of consciousness.

However, the chaos you experience today is the result of your resistance to this shift.

Furthermore, through­ out much of the world now, the economic field of energy is very stressed. This stress spills over into almost every aspect of your life, as you worry about how to support your family, as our countries move ever deep­ er into debt, creating an instability that will become the legacy your grandchildren inherit. This all results in fear. Your inability to create mean­ingful changes in response causes you to put up walls of resistance, to separate from others, to fear and distrust those with whom you disagree on ways to improve our world.

So it is essential, now more than ever, that you look at the choices you make and why you hold resistance in your body - which, in turn, creates a block, literally, within your life force. That resistance depletes your energy, sep­ arates you from Great Spirit, creating more chaos in your life and thereby in the world.

If you have gone around the circle once and you have not yet released most of the resistance, do it one more time.

This is like peeling an onion...with each turn, a layer of resistance will peel away. The chaos will subside andeventually--you'll make friends with it. This is where balance is restored.

How do you shift away from resistance into riding the wave of uncertainty?

It is also where you begin to experience the freedom of letting resistance go, feeling the flow of energy moving through you again, and allowing creativity to bring new choices and new opportunities. That unencumbered creativity is the great healer that enhances your personal power, and is your portal into the energy field of a truly fearless, generous, purposeful, and bountiful life.

Let me offer a practice using the Sacred Wheel of shamanic tradition.

Find a place where you can be comfortable and at peace... whether that is outdoors or in your living room. Grab a piece of paper or journal and a writing implement.

Draw a circle around you and sit inside of that circle, with your journal at hand.

• First face South, which represents the physical part of spirit and the physical aspect of the energy. Begin asking the following questions, recording your answers in your journal: Where do I experience resistance in my bodyAm I closing my mind to change? Am I experiencing illness or physical pain? Where do I feel stress? And finally, what would I experience if I let that go or opened my mind?

• Then face West, which represents the emotional aspect.

Ask: How am I responding, am I reacting? What do I feel? What emotions am I experiencing? And then: what emotion would allow me to flow with this change?

• Next face North...this is the direction of Spirit, the place of inspiration and creation. The questions to ask here are: Am I listening to God? What am I resisting in my spirit and why? What is God trying to tell me? Finally, if I was working in concert with God, how would my spirit respond to this challenge or change?

• Lastly, turn to the East, the direction that rules your mind.

Propose these questions: Without emotions interfering, what is the rational response? What does common sense say to do? And then ask: If I was facing this choice with a calm and unattached mind, how could I best embrace this change?

, Lynn Andrews is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of over 20 books and workbooks beginning with her Medicine Woman series.

Today, she is recognized worldwide as Western society's leading female shaman and mystic. Lynn is an initiated member of the Sisterhood of the Shields, 44 women who are healers from cultures as diverse as Panama, Guatemala, Australia, Nepal, Egypt, North America and the Yucatan.

A leader in the fields of spiritual healing and personal empowerment, her Lynn Andrews Mystery School, offers a 4-year course of study and training in the Sacred Healing Arts. Learn how to enter the sacred Dreamtime to discover the mysteries and wisdom of life, how to create and use tools of perception and awareness that help you See, understand and choreograph energy and develop your own inner power and vision.

Register and receive free gifts from Lynn! Click here for details: http://lynnandrews.com/mys­tery-school/mystery-school-early-registration

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Live Like You Have an Expiration Date

By Nancy Yearout

We live every day not knowing what our expiration date is. We probably don’t attach enough importance to this fact, but we all have one. I find it quite interesting that people seem to go through life with the mindset that they will live forever in this body. We go about our days doing things and saying things off the cuff. Would you do or say things differently if you knew that it was your last day here on earth?

You might change your attitude or think more carefully when speaking to others if you knew that your number was up. If it were your last days on earth, what would you do?

Would it change how you live today? Maybe you would wake up earlier and be a bit more cheerful. You might even stay up later. You would definitely tell your family and friends how much you love them.

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I recently saw a movie, A Beginner’s Guide to Endings, in which three brothers believe that they are all going to die of the same terrible disease. They had taken an experimental drug in their youth, only to discover later that it was lethal. They believe that their expiration day is almost up.

They immediately change how they live: They take more chances in all aspects of their lives, both business and personal. They do all the things that they have always wanted to do but never took the time to. They figure out what is most important to them in life.

I know that all of us say that one day we’re going to do this or that. Somehow life seems to get in the way of our dreams; somehow that “to do” list just never happens. My feeling is that you have to make it happen. If you have not seen the movie The Bucket List, with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, you should take the time to watch it. If I have not inspired you to write your bucket list today and start living it now, they will!

We all, at times, take our lives for granted, not realizing what a gift it is to be here in the flesh, to be able to experience life as we do. How fortunate we are to have the ability to smell the aroma of fresh bread baking or to feel warm sand between our toes! All of us get caught up in our daily life with work, school, and relationships. We are all focused on our lives and forget to live for today. This could be your last day here on earth, so live every day like it’s your last, and keep in mind that we ll have an expiration date.

I am not suggesting that you dwell on that fact, but at least come to the realization that we are only visiting here.

Last year I attended a friend’s funeral. It was a small service with a fiery minister. He preached about remembering what is important in life. He reminded us to always have faith and to love each other while we are here. He spoke of how important it is to be kind to people, to have integrity, and to be honest human beings. He told us that we will all eventually die and that we should try to make a difference in another person’s life while we have the opportunity. He reminded us that making a difference in someone else’s life is what you will be rewarded for in heaven.

He emphasized that it is not important how much money you have when your life comes to an end or how much stuff you have accumulated along the way; it’s what you have done to help your fellow man. The lesson here is not to get caught up in all your worldly possessions accumulated while on planet earth.

I want to share the following poem with you. My sister Judy wrote this while she was in the hospital with leukemia.

When I read the poem, I am reminded of what is important in life.

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Judy’s Song I thank God every day for every day I’m here, When sickness attacks your life sometimes, it makes it very clear That every day does matter, and every day is good, And small things are important, and doing everything you should To make someone happy; and pray to the LORD above That your life will get better, and you will do all things with love, That you will never take for granted the gifts God has given you.

Be grateful for the small things—wind, sunshine, roses, clouds and skies of blue.

Never forget who made them, and let you enjoy them all.

When you look at life with great faith, at creatures great and small, Remember where they came from, and how you came to be, And then you will be humble and thankful just like me.

—Judy Ann Gibson February 15, 1950–October 15, 2011 To learn more about Universal energy, Read my new book; Wake Up! The Universe Is Speaking to You. You can also visit my website www.theenergyprophet.com.

n Nancy E. Yearout is an author, a spiritual life coach, and a motivational speaker. Nancy has enjoyed an extensive corporate career as a sales coordinator with one of the Big Three automakers in Detroit. Her sales, management, and marketing skills have grown with each step of her business. Her success has blessed her with the real life experience, knowledge, and common sense that is required to help others through life’s challenges.

Nancy has been fortunate to acquire hands-on energy healing skills from an Aztec healer from Mexico, and she has helped many balance their energy fields. She has received guidance from religious and spiritual teachers along the way, resulting in the development of her skills as an intuitive, a tarot card reader, and a life coach.

She utilizes these tools to guide her clients to joyful and successful lives. Nancy is the author of Wake Up! The Universe Is Speaking To You. www.TheEnergyProphet.com

A four-steps process to loving your decisions

By Anne Tucker

Wish you could feel great about the decisions you make? With a few small changes to HOW you choose something, you can save yourself a lot of the regret and dissatisfaction that you might have felt in the past. These four simple steps to decision making will help you to fall in love with your choices!

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1. Limit the number of options you consider. The more options you consider, the harder it gets to figure out what you like best. Each option will have good and bad things about it, and when you’re looking at a dozen things, they all start to blur together. One option isn’t enough, but ten is way too many. Ideally, choose from among 3-5 good options.

2. Take the leap. If you find that you have a hard time pulling the trigger, let yourself off the hook. We tend to beat ourselves up by thinking that there is only one right choice and we worry about picking the wrong one. The truth is, if you are debating among a few good options, any of them have an equal chance of making you happy. There most likely isn’t one that is better than all the others in every way. What determines whether or not you are happy with your choice has less to do with what you choose and a lot more to do with how you choose it.

Getting out of that early comparison stage and moving on to commitment is a critical part of loving your decision.

Do whatever you need to do to push yourself to take the leap, knowing that a timely leap is what will impact your satisfaction in the end.

3. Give up your alternatives. If making the leap was hard, take a moment to catch your breath because we’re not done yet. You may have picked something, but you haven’t committed to it yet. In order get the benefits of that leap you made, you need to really mean it, and that means giving up all of your alternatives. Throw away any other brochures, delete their phone number from your contacts – you need to completely let go of anything you didn’t chose.

4. Burn your bridges. This is the last hard step, I promise.

You need to make it impossible to turn back. Take the tags off. Throw away your fat pants. Announce your commitment. Whatever it takes to eliminate your plan B or your fallback position.

Now you’ve made a complete decision, and here’s where we should que the beautiful music, because you are about to fall in love with what you chose. Once you’ve truly committed to your choice, given up your alternatives and burnt your bridges, it flips a switch in your head and you will start to think about your choice in a new way.

Rather than constantly comparing and feeling dissatisfied like you might have in other decisions, now you will start to focus in on and appreciate the benefits of the thing that you chose. You will naturally gravitate to information that confirms and supports your choice, and you’ll find that you overlook or minimize any of its faults. This helps your good feelings to grow, so that you actually like what you chose more and more after choosing it.

Since you really committed to your choice and you can’t return it, you’ll start to get emotionally invested in what you chose, so that it’s no longer just a coffee mug that you bought, but it’s your mug. It says something about you and reflects some part of your identity. It starts to become special to you in a way that other mugs can’t compete with, in the same way that your dog is cuter or better or smarter than all the other dogs you meet. And you’ll feel certain, without a doubt, that whatever choice you made was the very best one.

You can learn more about loving your decisions according to your own personal soul type in my new book, Undoubtedly Awesome. Discover your soul type for free with a 30-second soul-type quiz at www.undoubtedlyawesome.com

y Anne Tucker is an effective and recognized speaker who has addressed audiences around the world on the topics of leadership, personal transformation, decision making, and the psychology of doubt. She is the founder of Wisdom Soup, an online social learning community that speeds up serendipity by connecting people with similar interests in spirituality and personal growth.

Decision making has been the ongoing focus of Anne's 20-year career, during which she has worked with some of the most influential business leaders of our time.

She developed her methodology for understanding decision making by soul type during her years as the co-founder of Grey Matter Partners, a leadership development firm based in Seattle, Washington, where she worked with senior executives and others, teaching a coaching process that one client referred to as his "awakening." Anne’s clients are able to reduce ambiguity for themselves and their organizations, see their strengths and opportunities with more clarity, and move forward on an ever clearer path to achieving their goals.

Anne is the author of Undoubtedly Awesome. Anne’s new website community is launching very soon. www.wisdomsoup.com 35 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

Vision Questing for Soul Purpose

By Mark Thurston

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How do you gain insight about your calling in life – your soul’s purpose? There are many self-reflection exercises and discovery tools that you can use to gain insights. But I believe that vision questing is an especially valuable approach. In many ancient cultures there were time-tested practices to stimulate such a transformational revelation about life-direction. But in our modern society those purposeful rituals have largely been lost. We need to re-invent practices of vision-questing.

Over the last eight years I have been working with this practice each semester with a new group of about 28 undergraduate university students in a course entitled “Consciousness, Meaning, and Life-Purpose.” Over fifteen weeks we explore the academic side of consciousness studies, how to find meaning in life, and the science of wellbeing and happiness. But most important to the course is experiential learning around life-purpose, culminating in a two-week personally-designed vision quest experiment.

You could do this, too; and, you don’t have to be in a university course like mine. Let’s consider what my students have put into their experiments. Here are six elements to consider including in a vision quest of your own.

Formulate a question about soul-purpose. Make your inquiry very intentional. What are you hoping to discover through your vision quest? Examples include “What talent or gift do I need to fully claim in order to see my soulpurpose?” or “What is the next step in living what I was born to do? or “Who are my people and my audience for living my soul-purpose?”

Commit adequate time. When will you do your vision quest and for how long? Although some people may have the opportunity to set aside everything and focus exclusively on this inner discovery process for a long weekend or a week, most of us have too many duties and responsibility to be solely focused on the vision quest. That’s certainly the situation for my college students, and it may very well be for you, too. But setting aside an hour a day for ten days can work just fine – perhaps with one day in that span when you spend half the day or all day on special activities in your vision quest plan.

Create attentiveness to synchronicity. Most all of us have experienced the way in which “meaningful coincidences” can be a source of life-direction. We can use a divination tool such as the I Ching or we can just be attentive to life events. We cannot cause synchronicity because, by its very definition, it’s not the product of cause-and-effect. But we can create conditions in which we invite ourselves to be open and alert to meaningful “signs.” In a vision quest that might mean a daily practice of opening a book of

spiritual wisdom to some random page and exploring how the teachings on that page prove to be relevant. Or, it can mean walks in nature during which you are alert to signs or events that remind you of principles and truths that need to be prominent in your life now.

Incubate a dream. Dreams happen every night to all of us, but usually we don’t prepare ourselves before going to bed. The dreaming mind is connected to that soulful level from which a calling and life purpose arises. Dedicating one or more nights during your vision quest to dream guidance can be a powerful element of your personal exploration. Fall asleep with the central question for your vision quest clearly in your mind. And make sure you have put on your bed stand what you’ll need to record your dream just after awakening.

Meditative exercises. Some kind of contemplative practice is vital to a vision quest. If you already have a meditation practice, then here’s a time to deepen your commitment.

Or if you are new to meditation, get started with even five or ten minutes daily during your vision quest.

Creative expression. Intuitive insight can often be awakened in the midst of creative endeavors. As part of your vision quest plan, you might include sketching a picture of your dream, using a musical instrument daily to create some music (not just listen to it), or drawing a mandala several times during the span of your vision quest.

By completing a personal vision quest, just like my university students do, I think you are sure to get greater clarity about your life purpose. Just making “dedicated space” in your busy life for something like this can be transformational. And there's also a chance you will gain a self-insight that will propel you into the next phase of your journey in living your soul-purpose.

j Mark Thurston, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, and director of educational programs at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.

His university courses focus on positive psychology, mindfulness, and the science of consciousness. His most recent book is a second edition of Discovering Your Soul’s Purpose, published this year by Tarcher/Random House.

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38 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

Dating and Vibration

By Becky Chambers

Could whole body vibration improve your love life?

Sounds like a pick-up line . . . but maybe so.

Attraction is a combination of many factors: physical appeal, emotional openness, and sexual energy, to name a few. And whole body vibration (WBV), a revolutionary exercise and therapy system, effects all of those areas through a variety of mechanisms.

WBV is an intense workout, which we all know is good for both our health and our looks. Ten minutes of exercising on a powerful WBV platform gives you the benefits of one hour of conventional weight lifting. This intense workout effect is hard to believe until you try a session yourself—then you understand as your muscles begin to burn after just one minute. For a quick visual think of a jackhammer operator and the muscles they develop in their arms and shoulders. WBV is gentler and much

more pleasant (many people say it feels like a massage), but if you do ten one minute exercises, each one targeting different muscle groups, in ten minutes you will have done a full body workout.

Just as important though are the effects on your brain and your electromagnetic energy system. When you are on a vibrating plate every neuron in your body will be firing signals into your brain at the same rate the plate is vibrating—twenty to fifty times per second. This intense stimulation of your brain raises serotonin levels rapidly— and serotonin has a major anti-depressant effect. It is, in fact, the molecule that most Western medicine antidepressant drugs target. So, suddenly you are in a better mood. You are more cheerful, optimistic, self-confident, and motivated—all very helpful for romance and social interactions of all kinds.

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Add to this that testosterone levels rise with WBV1 and you might be on your way to creating a dating phenom!

Susan Rako, MD, a psychiatrist, wrote a groundbreaking book in 1996 (still considered an authoritative resource) called The Hormone of Desire: The Truth about Testosterone, Sexuality, and Menopause. In it she describes her experience, and the research, that has shown that testosterone levels affect libido (meaning one’s “life force,” not just sexual drive) for both men and women. In Dr. Rako’s words, testosterone is “essential . . . to the healthy functioning of virtually all tissues in [a woman’s] body, and to her experience of vital energy and sexual libido.”2 Typical high-testosterone effects include focused motivation, assertiveness, a sense of power, and enhanced sex drive. Healthy levels of testosterone help women take risks and live their lives with exuberance.

And then there is the effect of WBV on your chakras and energy meridians. On the physical level, WBV stimulates electromagnetic energy through a physical property of crystals called piezoelectricity—the ability of crystals to turn mechanical vibration into electrical vibration.

Our bodies are living liquid crystals in the sense that we are highly organized molecular structures and, as such, we have the property of piezoelectricity. Dr. Norm Shealy, MD, PhD, and a world famous neurosurgeon, describes our “bodies, souls, minds, and emotional realm” as a “living matrix” with the property of piezoelectricity.3 “Waves of mechanical vibration moving through the living matrix produce electrical fields and vice versa . . . .

Connective tissue is a liquid crystalline semiconductor.

Piezoelectric signals from the cells can travel throughout the body in this medium.”4 The result is that “energetic treatment of one part of this living matrix always affects the whole.”5 Thus, every time you are on a vibration plate, your neurons fire, shooting electromagnetic energy through your body and brain, as your body turns the mechanical vibration into the electrical energy vibrations you need to heal, balance, and unblock your energy systems.

Energy will flow into and through your energy meridians and chakra energy centers, increasing their proper spinning and energy flow. This energy flows from the plate upwards through your chakras, and all that energy flows through your Kundalini chakra first—the seat of your sexual energy—giving you a blast of sexual energy every time you vibrate. This may account for some of the more immediate and remarkable effects anecdotally reported.

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In my fifteen years of using and promoting WBV I have heard many stories of success in this particular area. My favorite involves a middle-aged woman who came to me twice a week for three weeks. She was primarily interested in losing weight and increasing bone density. WBV was originally developed for Olympic athletes, and so the workout effect is what WBV is most famous for. Her husband was skeptical however; “You think you are going to lose weight and increase bone density just by standing on that machine!” Three weeks later, my client came to me, “I think those hormonal affects you were talking about might be kicking in, she said, now my husband says, ‘Buy one.’”

1 C. Bosco, et al., “Hormonal Responses to WholeBody Vibration in Men,” European Journal of Applied Physiology 81 (2000): 449–454.

2 Susan Rako, MD. The Hormone of Desire: The Truth about Testosterone, Sexuality, and Menopause, (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1996), 25.

3 Norman Shealy, MD, PhD. Soul Medicine (Santa Rosa, CA: Elite Books, 2006), 212.

4 Ibid, 213.

5 Ibid, 212.

y Becky Chambers, B.S., M.Ed., is a natural health practitioner, teacher, author, and the president and owner of Vibrant Health. She specializes in homeopathy and the revolutionary body, mind, and energy therapy of whole body vibration. Becky is one of the most experienced independent experts in whole body vibration in the United States. Her book, Whole Body Vibration: The Future of Good Health, has been the best-selling book in the USA about this revolutionary technology since it was published in 2013. Becky second book, Homeopathy Plus Whole BodyVibration, explores the synergy between energy medicine and whole body vibration. www.BCVibrantHealth.com

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7 WAYS TO MAKE THE BEST

OF THINGS IN A ON

WORLD

EDGE

By Annie Kagan

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Because I am the author of The Afterlife of Billy Fingers, a book in which my bad-boy brother shares wisdom from the other side of the veil of death, people imagine Billy answers all my questions, like a heavenly crystal ball.

But Billy doesn’t give me the answers. Just like you, I search for them. And I do a lot of searching these days when violence fills the news.

What Billy does do, though, is give me ideas about how to make the best of things. I am surprised at how practical he is. The more difficult the situation, the more practical he becomes. In fact, lately he sounds more like some kind of Cosmic Mom than a bad-boy brother.

These are his suggestions.

1. Breathe consciously. Long slow deep breathing fills you with life force and grounds you in your body. Breath is energy and energy helps you feel strong. Take several deep breaths a few times a day. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Even though the breaths are deep, inhale and exhale in a relaxed manner, keeping your body soft.

2. Eat your fruits and veggies. Well, don’t just eat them, eat them consciously. Those little gems were created from sun and earth and rain. They harbor minerals and vitamins and secret ingredients straight from the Source. The power of nature is right there in them. As you eat, be conscious of their magical ingredients becoming part of you.

3. Create order. The higher realms are very orderly.

That order happens with no effort at all. But on earth you’ve got a force called entropy. Entropy is a physical law. Simply put, entropy means that matter tends to disorganize. It means that things just naturally fall apart.

Take your desktop, real or virtual. If you don’t tidy it up, it gets more and more disheveled. And whether you realize it or not, when you look at something messy, your inner self is thinking how much energy it will take to straighten it up, and that can make you tired. When you create order, even the process of straightening up will make you feel more powerful. And you will be more powerful.

Try it and see.

4. Be kinder. Be kinder to the people close to you, to strangers and to yourself. Do at least one thoughtful thing every day. I say thoughtful because we usually run

on automatic, but if you think about being kind your genius self will come up with some interesting ways to do it. You might like doing this so much you up it to two or three things a day. Before you know it, you’ll be nicer over all without much effort.

5. Keep your thoughts upbeat. Don’t waste time thinking about a lot of negative stuff that you can’t do anything about. It will drag you down. Don’t analyze, figure out, or try to understand it. Keep your mind away from the things that tangle you up inside. Imagine a fork in the road. When you start going down the path to darkness, turn around and take the other pathway.

6. Create a repertoire. Pick a few songs that you like a lot, learn the words and sing them. Sing them in the shower, in the car, hum them when you’re online. Shout them to the sun. Whisper them to the moon. I’m not going to explain the effect this will have. Try it and see.

7. Identify with the Source. Okay, probably your mother wouldn’t tell you this but identify with the Source within that will never die. I am immortal and so are you. Your inner Source is aware of the true nature of things. It will guide you to find your own truth in the labyrinth of life, to escape the hypnosis of common beliefs, to break the spell, break the spell, break the spell.

y Annie Kagan left her career as a chiropractor and her hectic New York City life in search of serenity in a small house on the tip of Long Island. When her brother Billy died unexpectedly and began speaking to her from the a fterlife, her future took a surprising turn.

She recorded her conversations with Billy from the other side and published them in her debut book The Afterlife of Billy Fingers: How My Bad-Boy Brother Proved To Me There’s Life After Death (Hampton Roads, 2013) www.anniekagan.com www.facebook.com/AfterlifeBillyFingers

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LANGUAGE OF SPACE

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with Michael White Ryan

WHAT IS THIS LIVING BREATHING THING DEFINED AS SUCCESS…?

GIVE IT TO ME BABY…SUCKCESS… SUCKCESS…SUCKCESS

By Michael White Ryan

It’s the wholly grail of the modern world. A must have puzzle, with a must have all the pieces in the correct order, viewed from the perception of the masses, viewed through a mindset of must have in order to meet“ the need to succeed.” We have been educated to believe there exists in one’s self-perception there are missing pieces in one’s archetypal vibration which requires a strategy to follow in another’s footsteps. Or (is one ever allowed to start a sentence with the word, or) so much for diversity, or being in some other form of selfdoubt that one’s frequency is so out of alignment within one’s social ladder society, you definitely need a helping hand. It’s like subprime has more than nine cat lives, it can never die???

Or as John Wooden explains “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." And now, these past story quotes continue forever into our future without change, hello!

The difficulty within these yesterday moments, when a person absolutely knows they have given it their all and the prize “suckcess” is nowhere to be seen, then all these great statements have little or no impact whatsoever. How could they possibility, when anyone having to console doubt, fear and failure within themselves via all these mindset ideas/techniques in reality time, is feeling like a chock with its head cut off, running amuck in emotional circles!!!

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Ok, so where’s the antidote… Life is an experience at its core. Therefore, like solving any situation, it would be good to look at the number of relative components to grasp the sequence of unfolding the self. If in reality, all is connected, then we can surmise that all patterns and habits follow the same order, otherwise there is no order, therefore no connection. If you are thinking what I am think, this also includes chaos, as Mandelbrot proved back in the eighties, everything is also connected within all that is, thankfully.

We grow, everything around us grows in sequence, why would we think that there exists something different within any form of evolution? If success or greater success is avoiding us, then the first primary is, go to the source, and for some that may be on our knees. All decisions, be they from self, sourced from counsel, advice, consultation, the synchronicity book fell open at the right page and the bandwagon preverbal download, never ever moves forward without your consent. You are the source, accountable, responsible, excuse, reason and whatever else you feed yourself. Therefore, changing lanes, new haircut, avoidance, whatever…does not, will not, ever cut it, whether agreed upon or coerced.

“Who is this source? where is this source? when is this source? what is this source?” Fortunate or unfortunate, this source is made up of a number of received, deceived, emotions and mindset patterns within every breath since the beginning. Yep, sounds like a biggie, but no problem, lets skip all that logical thinking, get creative and put the diaper back on and start all over, form right now! New foundation, new system, new thinking, new beginning, new me me me! Ok, yes, I know, easy to say but some past garbage came along for the ride. Where oh where can this garbage be hiding…Crunch time, it’s me. It’s hiding in unaware acceptance, the saboteur is in the known defined accepted behavior, character, identity, and once accepted, we think it’s who we are, our natural state of I am, which we now have taken complete ownership of “the that I am”.

Other definitions of suckcess are...lack of something required...requirement for the well-being of an organism... obligation...and… a necessary duty…wrap your head around that one and come out sane!!!

We observe what is missing in our lives according to blah blah blah. We spend time, money, emotions, energy trying/following someone else’s (don’t start me) and give up all ideas about incorporating collaborating with our innate existing talents and skills. If you haven’t ever 46 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

considered this before…is this action not the perfect definition of “disrespect of self.” Then to top it off, we think our way is to build on this unaware negative foundation of self, which we have absolutely no foggiest notion of, and expect miracles to come raining down on us from the heavens above. Oh, my lord show me the law of attraction and I will be good and spiritual forever.

Define, who you are, follow the standard acceptable existing processes and hope for the “get out of prison card to turn up in your community chest’ hallelujah save me.

Our challenges have arrived on the wind, gifts, gifted freely from the, “We Are All Connected Divine Universal Grace” blessings blessings blessings and a thousand more blessings to you and you and you and all of you……forever.

Find the wholeness of self in the adventure of discovering “who what where when” you are…..never gonna happen by following in the path of another, never never never, it’s arrived now…the time to grow up.

t Michael White Ryan is a co-founder with his wife Pamela Edwards of Language of Space.

They are leaders in sustainable business growth via Performance Design and Performance Code. Sustainable design encompasses both Western and Eastern philosophies including advanced Feng Shui principles, Environmental Design, Buildings, Alternative Health, Business Advisory Consultants and 20 plus years as entrepreneurs.

Recognized in the top 100 globally and are Americas Leading Feng Shui Business Consultants.

They are on faculty at CEO Space International one of the oldest business organizations in America today, currently operate in 7 countries and reside in Henderson NV. www.languageofspace.com

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Artwork by Anyes Galleani anyes@galleani.com Galleani-Art.com 48 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e June 2017

The Mind and Body Connection The Mind Body Difference

By Steven Paglierani

Why can't you define physical versus non-physical? Because the distinction is not physical versus non-physical but rather physical versus experiential. Thus, while we are indeed physically one being, we also have two physiological brains, each with its own way of experiencing life.

What this means is, we collect (physically sense) and store (remember) sensation itself in one place; in the physical body. But we process and feedback these sensations from two other places; from our two physiological brains, as two different experiences of life.

My way of referring to this idea is to say we are a "two that are one." Moreover, were you to have sat in on my last Emergence Master Teachers group, you would have heard four hours of how this concept is the master fractal for the patterns beneath everything in our world. Including that you can find two that are one symbols in the symbols' of every major religion and philosophy from Taoism and Christianity to ancient Persian astrology and Greek philosophy.

Digressions aside, without knowing we have two physiological brains, none of this makes sense. This is why the great philosophers could never put this together.

They were missing a major piece of the puzzle; that we have a second brain in the gut.

What happens when you add this piece to the puzzle?

As soon as you combine this idea (that we have two inner experiences of life, not just one) with that the physical body is the storage vessel and collection point for all that we can be conscious of and remember, you realize that we have two, not one, circulating senses of self; [1] the physically sensed body to mind to physically sensed body circuit, and [2] the physically sensed body to gut to physically sensed body circuit. Moreover while both circuits revolve around what we physically sense, they both include two sources of physical sensation, one gathered externally and one internally.

What do I mean by two sources of physical sensation, an external source and an internal source?

Here, I'm referring to Fechner's way of dividing the two ways we can experience life. Fechner divided what others can see, including us, from what only we can see. In other words, to Fechner, there is an external world and an internal world, and they differ only in that what is experienced by the internal one, the mind, can never be seen by others, while what can be what can be seen and experienced by is the external one.

Add to this then that we gather physical sensations from both these sources, from what we sense of the external world and from what we sense only in our minds. Thus, while we obviously can focus, for instance, on the sensations we feel from sitting in a seat, we can also, through imagining, create alternate physical sensations which simultaneously get added to what we externally sense.

For instance, if you notice what your body is physically feeling right now with regard to that you are sitting on a seat, you will feel sensations. And if I suggest you imagine this seat has suddenly become quite hot (and if you can imagine this being true), then you will potentially add sensations from your two internal sources. Both internally generated mental sources.

Now realize both our physiological brains engage in this additive process; in other words, that we gather sensation from both the external world and from both of our internal worlds. Moreover, that the primary function of each of these two circuits is to combine what we physiologically sense from all three sources into one cohesive experience.

Does this sound like a complicated process? It is. Fortunately we each have a natural preference for noticing only one of these two potential internal experiences.

Either we default to the experiences of the mind-inthe-head or to the experiences of the mind-in-the-gut.

Moreover the nature of this preference is determined entirely by time, in that the rate at which we process the body's physical sensations determines which inner mind we prefer.

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In other words, the faster we gather and process physical sensations, the more thought-like our experiences become, whereas the slower we gather and process physical sensations, the more we experience our physical sensations as emotion-like experiences.

Of course, there are also times wherein we experience leakage from our less noticed internal brain. And in extreme cases, the ambivalence which results from our trying to reconcile what these two brains tell us causes what we commonly call, ADD. Then there is the idea that because we have two potential default internal lives, we have two potential kinds of ADD. The one therapists normally refer to as ADD is the one I call ADD of the mind. Whereas the one the opposite group of folks have is the one I call ADD of the body.

Said in other words, because we are designed to process life by defaulting to the experiences of only one of our two brains, we normally bypass much of the potential conflict. Moreover the nature of this conflict is simply that because we have two internal minds, whenever both brains send noticeable data, we experience confusion. And an inner conflict of sorts, the essence of which becomes the root cause of all struggles within human existence. What we commonly refer to as the battles between head and heart.

Now let's bring all this back to your initial question; how can you define the differences between the body and the mind? How? By adopting Fechner's idea that we have an internal world and an external world, and that the division between these two lies entirely in the idea of whether others can or cannot see the thing we are experiencing. Now add to this the idea that these two things are both the experiences of the mind and as such, are not the experiences of the body. Which this then amounts to that we actually have two minds and one body, and that we normally experience only the body and one of these minds, but sometimes we experience fragments of the second mind.

Can you now see where the confusion has been coming from? It's been coming from that we have been mixing up the experiences of the physical body with what we experiences of the mind in the gut. We've also been referring to the "mind" as what we experience in our heads, never realizing we also have a second mind; the mind in the gut.

As for why physical laws alone cannot explain things like 50 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

consciousness or free will, to be honest, I believe this is just not possible. In other words, even with all we've recently discovered about the mind and body, we can't even describe in concrete words the beauty in a rose.

How could we ever hope to put into words the beauty of being human.

What you might do though is realize that what we call consciousness might be roughly referred to as the sum of what we notice with our two physiological / psychological circuit. Noticed sensations in other words. Thus we might begin to define consciousness itself by dividing the sum total of the physical sensations we gather and store from those we notice. Then add to this all we internally think and feel about this noticed sensation and you have a rough starting point with which to define consciousness.

Finally, as to how all this applies to free will and personal responsibility, here I must defer to those more wise than I. That we have these two things; free will and personal responsibility I'd readily agree. But as to where they come from, here again, I'd say this is akin to putting into words the beauty in a rose. Or the innocence you see in a puppy rolling on a lawn in summer. Or the wonder in a baby's lit up eyes when he or she is learning to laugh with you.

I'd say then that attempts to technically describe this stuff are forever doomed to fail. And as such are best left to those specialists more qualified by art itself. Which is after all why some of the greatest minds of the last four hundred years have struggled with this very idea.

Thanks to modern science and especially to fractal geometry, we now have a way.

y Steven Paglierani is a writer, teacher, personality theorist, and therapist whose work on learning and human consciousness is read weekly by thousands all over the world.

He is the author of Emergence Personality Theory, and his mission is to make the world better for children by restoring and deepening their love of learning.

He can be read or reached at his site, http://theEmergenceSite.com

CATS AT THE STUDIOS, INC http://catsatthestudios.com/

Cat & Kitten for adoption

Cats At The Studios, Inc is a non profit rescue organization comprised entirely of volunteers.

We are dedicated to nurturing, neutering/spaying, and finding a good homes for abononed cats and Kitten.

We are looking for volunteers and help please contact us at CatsAtTheStudios@yahoo.com

Photography by Katerina Plotnikova Photography 52 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

Message from the Goddess Mother

with JAN DIANA

i Remembering the Sweetness

By Jan Diana

My Beloved Children of Heart, “It is a time of great celebration. Can you hear the bells ringing in recognition of the wonderment that is unfolding?

Listen with your heart, allowing the sweetness of the joyful notes to fill you with serenity.

The time is nearing for a great shift in the consciousness of humankind. You have been preparing for these moments throughout your life.

To begin to recognize divine truth in a more consciously aware state is a desire you have longed for your whole life, whether you have been fully aware of this desire or not.

It has been a driving force for all beings since the beginning of time.

Today as we continue to move forward through a series of steps together, you will begin to feel a deep stirring within your heart. As you go into a space of quietness and allow yourself to be in the present moment, you will be able to notice this more fully. It is the awareness of the realization of the dream you have held within your heart, dancing in joy as it knows its time has come.

Yes My Beloveds, the time is at hand. You might ask, “How may I prepare to receive the greater understanding and awareness of this dream as it begins to unfold?”

Within your heart is the way to connect to all authentic truth. The greatest key to opening doorways of remembering that truth is to focus on being centered in your heart.

Being in your heart means to be centered in love, peace and joy. Divine truth has a frequency that is recognized through the heart communion.

To strengthen your heart connection, you can begin to spend some time daily with this intention.

Here is a simple exercise that will assist you to center in your heart. Place your hand on your heart chakra. Take a deep slow relaxed breath with the focus on your heart.

Now breathe out slow and relaxed. As you feel yourself taking in the air filling your lungs with the breath of life, feel it also moving into your heart center. As you breathe out, see that breath of life go out to bless the world you live within.

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Imagine and sense that with each breath you are filling your heart center with an abundance of love and as you breathe out you are sending love to the world. Centering in this way, allows you to feel the connection to your heart and to the oneness of all that is.

As you do this simple practice daily, you will begin to notice a sense of peace come over you. This peace will begin to ignite an aware state of being that will feel very familiar to you.

This truly is a wonderful practice, which will lift your spirit and bring you to a conscious awareness of your divine nature. Joyfulness will permeate your life experience as you continue to deepen your heart connection.

Think of your heart as a crystalline temple of light. Within your sacred temple are the pillars of truth. Each pillar is radiating out the sweetness that glorifies the truth of all that is.

As you become more acquainted with your sacred temple, you will feel a greater connection to your true self.

Oh the joy that awaits your deepest discovery of your true essence for it is of the purest love and lightness. Peace a bides within your temple of light for that is the nature of your divine essence, your sacred soul.

heart and allow the love to flow in and out, blessing you and all of our family of heart.

Indeed My Beloveds, we are one family of heart. You are remembering the joy. This will fill you up with such a sweetness and peace flowing throughout you. Feel the resonance as it carries you higher and higher.

Remember, My Darlings you are love. Love is our source.

Love is our nature. We are all love. All divine attributes are within the nature of love.

Open your minds and hearts to receive. Hear the bells as they ring the song of joy. Celebrate the greater awareness that blossoms and leads all onto the path of sweet love.

Shamon.”

With great love, Your Beloved Mother

j

Remembering truth is a glorious journey, filled with the discovery of much that has lain hidden on so many levels.

Layer after layer will lift to reveal hidden jewels that lead to even greater discoveries, like breadcrumbs on a pathway to the great treasures of truth.

Jan Diana is an intuitive healer, spiritual teacher, and master practitioner.

Her mission is to assist clients & students in creating harmony, balance, heightened levels of clarity, develop innate gifts & abilities, empowering them on their personal evolution to create the dreams of their heart. She utilizes several modalities including SVH L3M, Animal healing, GHM, Language of love, Reiki Master, and more.

Sessions and Classes by phone.

There is no greater joy than the discovery and witnessing of divine truth. Each element of recognition opens the heart to experience even greater joy, leading to a sense of restoring to the fullness of conscious awareness of the divine, a remembering of home.

You can reach her at website www.sunshineinyourheart.com or by email sunsinyourheart@aol.com .

Free meditation journeys, articles, & classes. www.sunshineinyourheart.com/free_telecasts.html

As we make this journey together during this time of great celebration, may your feet walk upon the pathways of discovery with a great sense of surety. Know that you are being guided in every moment.

FREE CLASS- “The Gift of the Golden Rose”.

Experience the Golden Rose Ray on a journey to the Sacred Gardens of Light, learning how this gift can bless your life.

Class information & Registration at: www.sunshineinyourheart.com

Remembering the sweetness of self is the dream of all living beings whether they are aware or still deeply held in the dreams of forgetting. The time will come when each will remember for it is the destiny of all.

Let the veils of forgetting slip away and embrace the greater light as it radiates upon you even now. Breathe into your 54 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

55 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e April 2017

Wealth Consciousness and the Law of Attraction

By Nancy Stremmel

What is Consciousness?

Consciousness is being awake to something. We have talked about fractals which create the possibility of a repeating experience.

If we become un-conscious of an old fractal, it won't repeat.

For example, we can let go of any belief in lack or shortage, and we will not have to experience that again in our lives.

At the same time, we can awaken to wealth consciousness, and be able to let that into our lives where we weren't able to do that before.

Remember, according to Quantum Physics, all possibilities are present at any given moment. So we can choose between lack consciousness or wealth consciousness. It does not matter to the Universe.

The Three Parts of Your Mind Eric Amidi and Dr. Hew Len both do a very nice job of explaining the 3 parts of your mind and how they each work together.

1. Your Conscious mind, or ego, does most of the interpersonal activities and keeps track of dates and places. It keeps track of your mind-map which is a compilation of beliefs about reality that you've built up since childhood.

2. Your Subconscious mind is the heavy lifter. This keeps your life record, remembering everything that has ever happened to you. With this record it builds your mind-map.

It is below consciousness, and does not have any sense of time, space or negatives. You can only speak to your subconscious in pictures. You use words, but if you say, "No red car" it will see a red car. Your subconscious supervises every automatic system in your body. It knows how fast your heart is beating, and it knows your blood pressure, and it processes the food that you eat by releasing or witholding enzymes and nutrients. It determines whether you send resources to the front of your brain or to the back of your brain, to your muscles or to your immune system.

This is where you have to go to change your health. Your conscious mind has nothing to do with your health. It can raise your hand, but not your heart rate.

3. Your Higher Mind or Superconscious Mind is constantly connected to Source/Divinity/God/One. You can access this through a prayer set up in your Subconscious mind or through deep meditation. Practicing staying in the Now, rather than entertaining random thoughts from old data, will help you connect while awake to Superconscious.

How to Access and Control Your Three Minds Meditation is the best way to get them operating in a synchronized fashion once they are out of sync. I recommend binaural beats for this, because it takes you quickly to low Alpha or Theta for access to your subconscious. At Delta, you can access your Superconscious directly, but it takes practice to learn to stay awake at this level.

Subliminal messages can also be helpful when you have access to your Subconscious. Using subliminal messages while your mind is in high Alpha or Beta is a waste of time which is why most people don't have success with affirmations. If your Conscious mind is saying, "I am wealthy" but your Subconscious mind has the mind map of "Busted" or "Poor" you aren't going to achieve anything. The two lead dogs are pulling in opposite directions. The best you can hope for in this case is that you won't go anywhere. Again,

binaural beats are useful for putting your Conscious mind to rest while you talk directly to your Subconscious mind.

Another way to talk to your Subconscious is to use kinesiology. Psych-K teaches you how to get agreement for change from your Subconscious. This is both quick and very effective.

Setting Your Mind to Wealth Consciousness Keep in mind that there are no limits. Any profession and any interest can make abundant money. Abundance comes more often from ideas than from natural resources. There is no shortage of ideas.

Once you can believe those ideas above, you are ready.

Now, your work is to let go of lack-consciousness and to embrace joy.

Lack consciousness is evident whenever you are aware of your own judgments or competitiveness. To be competitive with yourself, to run faster or farther, or to write more or better is fine. But, let go of any idea that you need to change your position with regard to someone else. No one can hold you back. Let go of all competition with others.

There can be way more than one winner. Everyone can win!

Finally, nothing else can boost your success more than happiness. Work for your own happiness and your vibrational frequency will get stronger every day.

Nancy J. Stremmel is the coowner and developer of: www.Mindbridge-LOA.com the compendium of information on the Law of Attraction. She is a writer, licensed Social Worker, educator, artist and therapist. She believes that everyone can make the Law of Attraction work for them.

We mentioned Kinesiology, and not everyone knows what this is. If you're interested, get the whole story and ways to use it for the Law of Attraction at www.mindbridge-loa.com/law-of-attraction-hypnosis. html

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What is my profession?

I am a Dream Worker

By Yuval Abramovitz

Most people I’ve met need definitions and categories in order to file the information in their brain, so I’m often asked questions like: “So what are you, anyway? What’s your profession?” and “How do you make a living?”

I used to mumble a response that was most likely related to whatever significant project I was working on at the time.

Time and again I felt uncomfortable in that my work was so diversified and didn’t necessarily have one connecting through-line. I was tempted to believe all kinds of advisors, agents, managers, and friends who suggested that the diversity of my professional interests attested to my lack of focus and commitment. I was warned I’d have professional identity and branding problems, that people would find it hard to identify and connect with me.

It didn’t really matter how many examples I pulled out; journalists who were also authors, authors who were also businessmen, businessmen who turned to the entertainment business or entertainers who turned to politics. The same worn-out, depleting sentences kept coming up: “They were lucky,” “You can do whatever you want when you have a financial backing,” and so on and so forth.

Nowadays, when asked what I do for a living, I answer with a tinge of humor: “My job is to realize my dreams.”

Today I finally understand that my diverse, frenetic line of work has enriched me as a person and as an artist.

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Thanks to the work I do, I have developed an extensive professional network that helps me move things along quicker than ever, and a large community of supporters that are my tailwind, who enable me to spread my wings and fly.

When reminded of the pitiful look in my teacher’s eyes when I read her my list of dreams, I smile. I smile because I overcame my disability and made my dreams come true, in spite of the lack of faith of so many around me.

When I was very young I had no idea what I was going to do when I grew up. I wanted to become an actor or a journalist, but all I heard was that I couldn’t make a living in either of these fields and that I’d better find a more serious profession to pursue. To get me started all I had was one small plan: run a weekly calendar. Focus on that week. Look at it every night to see what I needed to do the next day to achieve my goals. That’s how I live today; that’s how I’ve always lived.

These are not grocery or to-do lists, but a collection of goals I would like to achieve and dreams I wish to realize. They are a bit like a company’s quarterly plans, only these are for my personal life.

What do these lists look like? Can they be read clearly or are they completely unintelligible?

Are they filled with deletions and indecision? I must admit the answers are all yes. These lists are a living, breathing organism. They respond to everything that happens to me and around me.

My dreams are not set in concrete. They are something I continuously mold and change, based on my accomplishments as well as setbacks I encounter along the way.

Sometimes I just feel like it’s time to set new goals and dreams, maybe even raise the bar for myself.

I live a rich, diverse lifestyle, exactly as I imagined for myself. Thanks are due to this simple technique: writing lists. It only requires pen and paper, an open mind, will, faith, and then some audacity. Today i utilize the power of social networks to help me spread my dreams all over the world.

Thanks to the lists that have become a way of life for me, i have been rewarded with the greatest experiences i could have asked for.

I am no coach, nor am I a psychologist. I do not have a degree in behavioral sciences (truth be told, I don’t even have a high school diploma). I didn’t grow up in a particularly wealthy family. I also don’t have super powers or magic dust that help me realize my dreams.

I was born to what you would call a normal family. My parents divorced when I was seven and I lived with my mother, while my father remarried and then divorced again. I wasn’t the most popular kid in class, nor was I particularly good looking. Far from it. I never got the highest grades, but I always enjoyed great support from my mother and grandparents.

What I also have is an impressive stack of dreams, and piles of papers filled with my lists.

I continue to write lists incessantly. My desk is covered with notes, scribble-filled notebooks, and colorful PostIt notes. If you looked in my pockets you would most likely find a note in each one.

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Yuval Abramovitz, 40, is the author of The List: Shout Your Dreams Out Loud To Make Them Come True (Skyhorse Publishing, 2017 http://skyhorsepublishing. com/titles/12188-9781510718456-list) and a journalist for Israel Today, one of Israel’s leading newspapers, where he interviews celebrities and personalities from around the world including Leonardo DeCaprio, Bruce Willis, Woody Allen and many more.

He is the author of eight best-selling books (three fiction and five from The List series, of which two are children’s). He is also an actor appearing in theater and on several successful television series in more than 600 episodes. He hosts a radio show, owns a gift shop, and has delivered more than 450 lectures internationally, including TEDx, as a motivational speaker on the topic of making dreams come true. He tours the U.S. every three months, speaking to business, community and cultural groups. He has two daughters and lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Help to Rebuild Fire Ravaged Restaurant

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SIR BRUNO SERATO

CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DINNER GALA AT CHRIST

CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER

Photography by Thierry Brouard @ Prémium Paris & Eimi Mitchell

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A celebration of Sir Bruno Serato’s 30th anniversary as owner of the Anaheim White House was held at Christ Cathedral Cultural Center in Garden Grove on Sunday, June 4. Those who were unable to attend ed were encouraged to contribute to the GoFundMe page, which can be found at AnaheimWhite Housewebsite.

Bruno Seato Thanks all the friends and loyal guests who had supported him through the years, While this milestone is bittersweet since we can’t hold the gala at my beloved restaurant, he can’t wait until the doors of the rebuilt Anaheim White House are opened again.

For his humanitarian work, Serato has earned international publicity including profiles in People Magazine, “CBS Evening News” and newspapers and magazines the world over. Among his many honors is being named a CNN Hero, being knighted by the Italian government, receiving a papal blessing from Pope Francis, getting a humanitarian award on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and receiving numerous proclamations, Man of the Year awards and other forms of recognition -- all of which he accepts to generate public awareness of the needs of our most vulnerable population – our children.

For more information, visit www.caterinasclub.org

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65 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e June 2017

FINDING YOUR WAY IN THE DARK

By Uma Girish

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I began life in the darkness of the womb.

My heart and ears and nose and toes took shape in that darkness.

And through the half century that I’ve been here, I found myself back in that dark space many, many times. So much so that the latest dark night of the soul experience transformed my relationship with darkness.

Eight months after my husband, teenage daughter and I moved to the States in 2008, my 68-year-old mother died in Chennai, India. I was plunged into a darkness like no other. A brand-new immigrant, I was still finding my way around a country and culture when I was shoved into the wilderness of grief. It brought me down to my knees. I writhed in the dark agony of my pain. I was terrified, alone, and an ocean away from everything and everyone familiar.

But this time, I opened to the lessons of the dark. Being in the dark was necessary to finding the light. But I had to surrender to the unknown, embrace it, make the darkness my friend. When I did that, the occasional ray of light sneaked into my consciousness. I held on to it and inched my way forward.

Here’s what I know today. You have to stop fighting the dark, resisting it, pushing it away. Instead you must sit in that lonely space and allow it to fold over you. To terrify and embrace you. For the dark contains a wealth of hidden secrets which it will reveal to you…if you give it time. It takes time for the layers of darkness to peel away.

With every layer that comes off, you get closer to the light.

You inch your way back home. Not the home you once called home. But home to your true self, your soul, your inner center of being.

So when my mother died, I dove into the delicious darkness of death. I studied it. I asked questions about it. I got curious about it as I became a hospice volunteer, held hands with the dying, and became present to their soul’s journey.

I worked with masters and teachers. I devoured books and took courses. I trained and got my certification so I could befriend those who found themselves trapped in the dark with no way out.

I was born again when my beloved mother died. The light I radiate today would not be possible if I’d preferred to live in the doom and gloom of my loss, fought the dark and cursed it, run away from it, or even tried to rush out into the light without having allowed the darkness to take hold of me and serve me.

These are some of the truths the dark taught me:

The dark is where the soul thrives. We can’t think our way out of a problem using our mind. Not when the problem has to do with the mysteries of loss and death. The soul, on the other hand, simply seeks to grow; it doesn’t care about your or my comfort. Growth as we know always happens outside the comfort zone. It happens in the darkness of the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a dream, or an aging parent’s dementia.

All growth happens in the dark. It seems to me that darkness is a necessary condition for growth. Consider everything that grows in the dark. The seed that sleeps deep inside the earth. The moon in the night sky. The fetus in a womb. It is almost a prerequisite that we must learn to live in the dark before we’re ready to be born and able to bring beauty, joy, and love to the world.

The deeper the darkness, the brighter your light. Some people wonder why they’re dealt a brutal deck of cards in life. There are no definite answers to the mystery. But if I were to hazard a guess, these souls shine a light much brighter than most—if they are patient in the dark and allow their growth to unfold for the greater good of all.

The harder the hurdles in life, the greater your invitation to shine. Unfortunately many people shut down from the pain and never reemerge to discover what life can be on the other side of the challenge.

If you find yourself in a dark space, know that there is light on the other side. But the darkness asks for your trust in it. It must do its work with you before you’re ready to find the light. Every dark night of the soul happens before the break of dawn.

n Uma Girish is a Grief Guide who helps women who are grieving a loss whether they’re dealing with a death, the end of a relationship, the loss of a dream or watching a parent die.

She’s the author of two books: Understanding Death: 10 Ways to Inner Peace for the Grieving and a transformational memoir Losing Amma, Finding Home: A Memoir About Love, Loss and Life’s Detours published by Hay House. Uma hosts a podcast The Grammar of Grief and is co-founder of the International Grief Council.

Visit www.umagirish.com to learn more.

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Samata Meditation A Journey of Altered States of Consciousness

By Swami Durgananda

Samata meditation is a journey within the discipline of meditation. It enables the meditator to journey into different states of consciousness resulting in refining the physical, mental and spiritual bodies to such a high vibration that they are able to fast track the ultimate goal of Self Realization.

Did I say fast track? Maybe a little effort is required.

The idea is that as you penetrate deeper into your consciousness you must recognize any imbalance. The imbalance on all levels must be corrected and brought into harmony in each state.

Mainly that is done in an aware physical state of consciousness. Meaning you must bring what you have learnt and 'personify it in your everyday life'.

Knowledge is important so let me begin to explain these altered states of consciousness and their impact on you as a seeker of the Ultimate Truth.

The first state is the physical, the Conscious Mind otherwise known as wakeful consciousness.

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It is vital that your physical life is orderly and as pure as you can possibly project. Your body must be clean and healthy, it is said that a good yogi always bathes before meditation. You must also cleanse the lower mind, by thinking good thoughts and doing good actions, this includes no alcohol or drugs.

this then becomes a habit and the mind immediately calms down and the initial ritual of meditation is easier.

Make sure you have a small cushion and place it under your coccyx; this enables the spine to be perfectly straight, which is important for the movement of energy along the spinal column.

Now you are asking why? The answer is that the mind as you will discover is a powerful enemy.

As you move deeper within the memory bank of your mind, although not yet in the state of meditation you will pass through the Sub Conscious Mind, which is the mind of impressions. The state you are in is what Patanjali referred to as contemplation, an altered state of mind beneath the physical mind.

But it can be a good friend and you need a good friend for this transcendental journey, not a deceptive mind.

You do not need to be a vegetarian but perhaps meat and processed food can be lessened or omitted from your diet. And seek the company of true like-minded people.

You must always sit in the same place to meditate as

This is a vast forest of desires, memories and temptations and you must pass safely through. Unfortunately you will be lead astray, tempted by the subtle tricks of the mind and immature ego.

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Your back will begin to ache, your legs will twitch and the time appears to drag, it will try to bring you back to the physical state. Fear begins to rise within you until you begin to think you are no longer breathing.

Remember that this is the source of all physiological processes and they will also come into play, you must take no notice but continue as the next state is a great challenge.

The next level you will enter once you have gained a right of passage through the previous states is the Sub Sub- Conscious Mind. This is a part of your mind that lies deep within the sub conscious mind and it is The Mind of Subliminal Traits.

In yoga we believe that this area consists of the combined vibrations that have entered your sub conscious mind, good or bad. If a vibration enters the mind from a physical experience word or deed at the same intensity three times is remains in this mind of subliminal traits and becomes part of your nature and belief system.

For example if you put your hand in the fire and it burns, and you make sure by putting your hand again in the fire you will instinctually never put your hand in the fire again because you will be afraid, your nature becomes so that you would not go near a flame or even heat.

The same happens if for example someone calls you "stupid", and they keep it up maybe when you were a child, you will believe that you are stupid. You have been conditioned and your nature has changed, your physical reaction will be altered and you will act, verbalize and continue to believe you are stupid.

Remember that this part of the mind causes the physical mind to react in a positive, negative or mixed reaction. You must be strong and determined to erase these negative traits as they flare up and try to stop you from going deeper, for now you have begun meditation, you are almost there.

If you return to the physical state at this point you will feel that you have experienced altered states of consciousness. When you next come out of meditation linger for awhile and be aware of how you feel mentally and physically.

Take note of your dreams, write them down, be aware of your actions and reactions daily and you will be amazed as to the change in you, your skin will glow, you will be more alert, centered, energized and refreshed.

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Remember that along the way these states have many planes, many layers and may take time and effort to transcend, but it is worth it. And we are not finished yet.

The next state is the Super Conscious state of the soul; here the intelligence of the soul comes into its own, now you no longer exist with an immature ego, but a mature ego operating with the highest intelligence you possess.

You are within the mind of light. You have reached and bathe in deep meditation beyond the wakeful, dream and deep sleep state. This vibration of the fourth state will now react through the lower states of your reality, your soul is awakened and you will experience the bliss of Sat-Chit-Ananda, the bliss that passes all understanding.

You are Self Realized. No longer do you have duality of consciousness but non duality a spiritual consciousness.

But it is not the end of the journey there is one more, another level.

In yoga we know that there is another state of mind to transcend it is the fifth and final level called the Sub Super Conscious State. In attaining this level we are able to bring clarity, intuition and insight into the other states of our consciousness including our own everyday life, a life that has changed dramatically since we began our journey of altered states of consciousness.

You will loose many friends along the way, even your way of life and thinking will change as you will have succeeded in refining your vibration and walk along the path of The Masters who went before.

e Swami Durgananda - Spiritual leader of Samata Yoga and gifted healer has been teaching yoga, meditation and philosophy around the world for over 40yrs. Swami has a profound understanding of the universe and the human condition through her articles and books she shares her knowledge with compassion and humor teaching us how to bring balance and harmony into our lives. Visit www.samatayoga.com for more about Swami Durgananda and Samata Yoga.

71 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e June 2017

How To Reduce Bloating Naturally

By Jessica Ann

72 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017

We've all dealt with belly bloating at some point or another, and for a majority -- bloating is a symptom that you deal with regularly. Finding the cause of the constant bloating is most certainly of high priority, so that you may stop the bloating for good, but in the meantime, here are a few of my favourite natural ways to kick the belly bloat.

• Lemon Water. Drinking water with fresh lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper is my favourite de-bloating tonic. To add some extra de-bloating properties, adding some fresh ginger to your tonic would improve your efforts. Ginger is one of the best things you can use for this. Ginger eases nausea and has anti-spasmodic properties. Enjoying this tonic each morning is a great way to start your day and jumpstart your digestion. You could also be experiencing belly bloat due to indigestion or gastrointestinal distress.

The cayenne pepper in your tonic stimulates digestion, eases gas, and can relieve pressure and cramping.

• Chew Your Food. A key cause of bloating is poor digestion, which can be a result of not chewing your food thoroughly. When you chew your food well, it assists your body in digesting the food you're consuming more easily.

Aim to chew each bite 15-20 times to allow your body to receive properly broken down food to make digestion easier on your body.

• Don't Chug Water With Meals (if you have a sensitive stomach). There is a lot of conflicting information out there about drinking water right before you eat and that it's beneficial. But drinking large amounts of water with a meal can dilute digestive juices and lead to indigestion and bloating. It's ideal to have a drink about 20-30 minutes prior to eating to prepare the stomach and then stick with only small sips of water throughout the meal if needed. You may need to experiment with this one and see what works for you. You may find that drinking lots of water during a meal doesn't affect you, so continue to search for another possible culprit for the bloating.

• Include Bitter Foods. Adding more bitter foods to your diet will help stimulate bile and enzyme flow to aid in the break down of food and the absorption of nutrients.

Some great bitter foods to add are: mustard greens, aru-

gula, dandelion greens, collard greens, kale, nettles and watercress.

• Reduce Stress. When we are stressed we are in the fight or flight mode as it's called. This mode has no time for digestion and reduces our ability to digest food properly which can lead to indigestion and bloating. Make sure you are sitting and relaxed while eating and not rushing.

What's on your plate is always of top priority when it comes to healthy digestion. Eating fresh, whole foods helps your body run optimally and keeps the digestive system running as it should. Bloating is something we can't eradicate entirely, but using healthy habits on a daily basis will help you combat bloating and feel more healthy overall. In addition to your food choices and eating habits, exercising on a regular basis helps maintain a healthy digestive system that reduces bloating.

m Jessica Ann is a fitness expert, Holistic Nutritionist, and Homeopathic Practitioner.

Her mission is to make fitness fun, health simple and nutrition flexible for longterm results. She loves helping others transform their lives on all levels. She has personally struggled with digestive issues, anxiety and a severe eating disorder for many years. Jessica has come out on the other side of these issues and is now in her happiest and healthiest form.

She says she must teach others how to do this as well so they can achieve amazing health! As a holistic practitioner she truly believes in getting to the root cause of any problem in order to heal and transform from the ground up. She loves to share information on anything that s fitness, nutrition and holistic health related. www.jessica-ann.ca.

73 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2017