The Eden Magazine March 2023

Shohreh AGHDASHLOO

Photo by Jess Bailey

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

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10 GET YOUR MIND & BODY IN SHAPE THIS SPRING By Cyndi Dale

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SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO Interview by Dina Morrone

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CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR BELOVED MOUNTAIN LION P-22

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DREAM YOUR FUTURE INTO LIFE By Carol Day

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ALIGNING YOUR DIVORCE WITH YOUR CORE VALUES By Nanci Smith

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MAKE AMERICA SANE AGAIN An interview with Michael Adamse by Phyllis King

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WOMEN AND AGEWHY ARE WE TRAPPED BY OUR NUMBER? By Phyllis King

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THE ENERGETIC IMPOSTER SYNDROME By Heidi Connolly

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THE 2023 STORY RANTS IDEAS WITH MEANING By Zee

Cover photography by Meera Fox Designed by ARTIN

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

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

www.phyllisking.com

Get Your

SPRING MIND & BODY in SHAPE this

By Cyndi Dale

We don’t tend to think that getting in shape is a sport, but for those of us who don’t want to fit into yesterday’s outfit—or the newest look—it sure is.

And I’m not talking about garb for a couch potato. You might not be aware of the fact, but energy medicine has a lot to offer the recliner competitor who wants to turn into an athletic contender. It can help you get your mind in shape to get your body in shape.

I’m going to explain how all things energy can improve your form—at all levels.

Let’s start with the basic premise, which Albert Einstein and other geniuses established as true eons ago. Everything is composed of energy, which is “information that moves.” For instance, the data in your coffee differentiates a café au lait from a straight-up black. The vibration of the molecules in your mug makes the java cold or hot brewed.

When we focus on goals like lifting weights, toning muscle, and slimming down, we usually focus on the physical attributes of energy. A good part of all energy is physical or measurable and concrete. However, there are two types of energy, and less than one percent is physical.

That’s right. The other type of energy, which constitutes nearly 100 percent of all energy, is subtle. Subtle energies aren’t weak, although the name implies it. In truth, subtle energies organize physical energies. That means that most of what appears in 3-D reality—including whatever muffin top lies around your middle—is there because of the programming contained in subtle energy.

Subtle energy is mainly managed by consciousness or focused awareness. The more popular term for this action is intended. It seems rather lame to think that you can change your body and change your life by being intentional, but it’s quite true. First, let me explain how physical reality can be altered with mental effort, which is a form of consciousness.

Subtle energy is best explained by quantum physics. Quanta are the smallest known wave particles in the universe, and they are super tiny. As I explore in relation to the body and sportiness in my book, Energy Work for every day to Elite Athlete, which is the source of the data in this article,

these subtle mighty-morphins are regulated by very strange rules, including these:

n They only become concrete when observed. The winter-you in the mirror? That’s a product of quanta made real by factors including your self-image. If you alter your selfimage, you can steadily transform the mirror self.

n They can jump from one state to another, therefore altering reality. This means that no matter how stuck a situation seems, it can be shifted.

n They obey something called the Uncertainty Principle. It’s super complicated, but it basically says that we can’t know everything about something all at once. Your thoughts can give you a complete picture of reality—but you can use a tool like positivity to keep increasing what you desire. In simple terms, positivity counts.

Consider that way back in 1995, in the non-sporty world, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, called Guruji, could alter physical reality with simple blessings. For a few minutes, he’d focus on a situation, and it would improve. He even bolstered yields in a chickpea plot by 350 percent over control yields.

In line with this result, several scientific studies are moving us closer to the 50-yard line and the power of intentionality, in which consciousness could be seen to direct subtle energies, which in turn, help organize physical energies. Included in the body of evidence is a study at the Cleveland Clinic which discovered that participants could strengthen muscles just by visualizing a physical movement.

The bottom line, know that what you focus on will expand. Stream those subtle energies toward a svelte and shapely you, and that is what will emerge.

While gym rats increased their muscle strength by 30 percent, individuals who merely visualized their workouts bettered their muscular strength by 13.5 percent.

It pays to combine the mental and physical. By joining physical action with a mental focus, you can cut your actual practice hours in half. That conclusion applies to performance, not only practice.

You can use an upbeat focus to enable better food choices too.

We know that food influences mood, but the opposite is also true; individuals making food choices while embracing attributes such as optimism and gratitude make healthier food choices. That’s how the placebo effect work. By believing a positive outcome will occur, you’re far more likely to experience that result— even if you don’t believe in the placebo effect. The nocebo effect has also been proven. If you think something will have a negative impact, it most likely will.

In what ways would I suggest you start steering your subtle energies so you can better spring into spring—and the summer? Here are a few ideas.

1. Tell yourself that your everyday movements are exercise. Yup, when you’re lifting a fork, imagine that it is as heavy as a forklift! One particularly interesting study that I read years ago found that by simply telling hotel maids that their everyday work was “exercise,” in just one week, they reported decreased blood pressure, body fat, and body mass within just one week.

2. Hold spiritual qualities in your heart. That’s right. Self-love will automate your choices. Get in shape with mantras like hope, love, and gratitude. There is truly

a subtle science to this idea. Every time pressure is produced in the body, such as when your heart beats, phonons are produced. These are tiny quantum energies that arise from atoms oscillating or moving in a crystal. If you are focused on positive qualities, the resulting phonons will bring positive messages throughout your body and greatly improve your health.

3. Visualize. That’s right. Three times a day, look in the mirror. See yourself as you desire to be, even while you love yourself as you are. Then get busy visualizing an activity. Running, lifting, flexing…if you move a little while exercising in your imagination, you’ll get in shape even faster!

The bottom line, know that what you focus on will expand. Stream those subtle energies toward a svelte and shapely you, and that is what will emerge.

1- Ali Sundermier, 99.9999999% of Your Body is Empty Space, September 23, 2016, Science Alert, www.sciencealert.com/99-9999999-ofyour-body-is-empty-space.

2- Cyndi Dale, Energy Work for the Everyday to Elite Athlete (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications), 2023.

3- Ibid, 16.

4- Michael Miller, "Envisioning Your Way to Success," January 15, 2018, six seconds, 6seconds.org/2018/01/15/envisioning-way-success-incredible-power-mental-practice/.

5- Alba Carrillo et al., "The role of positive psychological constructs in diet and eating behavior among people with metabolic syndrome," January 5, 2022, Sage Journals, journals.sagepub. com/doi/full/10.1177/20551029211055264.

6- Maj-Britt Niemi, Placebo Effect: A Cure in the Mind," February 1, 2009, Scientific American, www.scientificamerican.com/article/placebo-effect-a-cure-in-the-mind/.

7- Danny Minkow, "The Nocebo Effect," August 26, 2014, Students 4 Best Evidence, s4be. cochrane.org/blog/2015/08/26/the-nocebo-effect/.

8- Christopher Shea, "Mindful Exercise," December 9, 2007, The New York Times Magazine, nytimes.com/2007/12/09/magazine/09mindfulexercise.html.

9- Peter H. Fraser and Harry Massey, Decoding the Human Body-Field: The New Science of Information as Medicine, New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008.206–214.

Cyndi Dale is the author of over 30 internationally renowned energy medicine books, including Energy Work for the Everyday to Elite Athlete. www.cyndidale.com

Aghdashloo Shohreh

By Dina Morrone

Academy Award® Nominated Actress, international movie star, and human rights activist, speaks from the heart about her career, the ongoing human rights crisis in Iran, her brand new hair care line, and so much more.

You started your artistic career in Iran. Are you currently involved in any theatrical stage projects? If not, do you wish to return to the stage in the future?

Shohreh: I would love to return to the stage. My last theatrical involvement goes back to 2012 when I portrayed Bernarda Alba in Federico Garcia Lorca's play The House of Bernarda Alba. This is of the most incredible plays ever written. I had a great time performing Bernarda Alba at the Almeida Theatre in London.

It was a wonderful experience, but it took six months out of my life. That's why actors my age would rather work on films or TV series. A play can take two to three months just for the rehearsals, and add to that the many weeks of the run. Although theater is my first love when it comes to acting, I haven’t been able to dedicate that much time to another play since The House of Bernarda Alba.

If you hadn't become an actress, what other line of work would you have considered pursuing?

Shohreh: Teaching. I would have loved to become a teacher for underprivileged youth who do not have access to proper education.

I always wanted five children, but I couldn't afford five children. I only have one. My ideal life, if I hadn't become an actor, and didn't have to travel all the time, and if I didn't have to stop after giving birth to only one child, would have been to become a mother of five, raise my children, and work as a school teacher.

What do you feel has been

your greatest accomplishment?

Shohreh: My greatest accomplishment in life was when I decided to leave my birth country of Iran, in 1978, right after the turmoil. I jumped into my car at 4:00 AM and drove to Europe. I wanted to go to the UK to pursue higher education, so I drove for 12 days to get there. I sold my car and jewelry, went to university, studied political science and international relations, and got my BA in 1984.That is my greatest accomplishment because not only did I get educated, but I got myself politically educated and informed. My education has come in handy in my work every time I portray a political role, such as my character Chrisjen Avasarala, in the TV series, The Expanse

What do the ongoing protests in Iran indicate to you, both for Iran and for women's rights worldwide?

Shohreh: Protests started with the women of Iran six months ago over the death of a 22-yearold Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the so-called "Morality Police" for not wearing her headscarf correctly. Her murder ignited the constant struggle against the regime of the Islamic Republic, although protests have been going on since this current regime took over. During the Green Movement in 2009, women were also a massive part of that movement. But in this one, they have stayed at the center, right up front, and haven't left.

It is indeed a spontaneous movement that has now turned into a revolution. Their slogan is "Woman Life Freedom," and they aim to change the regime at any cost.

I'm so proud of these products. They are being made in the US. My haircare contains essential ingredients, including biotin and proteins, to strengthen the roots..

What do you want people to know about the women of Iran that people don't know? And how can one get involved and support this ongoing fight?

Shohreh: I would love for everyone to know the truth about the women of Iran because their portrayal in the news and the diaspora has not been justifiable. The women of Iran are far more educated, stronger, brave, and active than we have seen in the news coming out of Iran. The brave Iranians have decided they will no longer bear this religious tyranny. They're asking for a regime change. They don't even care if the government apologizes or tries to start negotiations with them because they're not willing to do any negotiations with this present regime. That is why they keep shouting that they want a regime change!

They won’t give up until there is a referendum in a free Iran after this regime is toppled. Politically speaking, we know we cannot have boots on the ground in Iran and cannot send soldiers from other countries. Furthermore, we know that interfering with Iran’s internal affairs is against international law. But we can have people around the world support the movement of these brave people and accept this spontaneous movement as a revolution. To echo their voices around the globe and let the world know that Iran cannot have political or economic stability in the near future unless there is a regime change. Any deals with the current regime would no longer be accepted or seen as a legitimate deals in a new Iran.

It is essential to bring to everyone's attention that the present regime is killing young people and children! Protesters are shouting

that they cannot put up with a regime that kills children! We desperately need to inform the world that this regime is unacceptable.

You've spent a great deal of time filming abroad. How do you stay grounded, fit, and mentally focused while away?

Shohreh: When I'm at home in Los Angeles, I try to swim nearly every day, if not every other day. When I'm on location for work, I turn the place into my own place. I put up some pictures of my daughter and husband and then scatter some of my personal items around to make myself feel at home.

When I'm not on the set, I spend my time outside, walking for hours. I like to learn about the cities I visit on foot, and sometimes I even try to get lost in the city. I always make sure to have the hotel address in my purse, but I take narrow alleys and streets without looking at their names and immerse myself in the place and vibe. Sometimes I'm successful at finding my way back. Sometimes I am not.

One night in Prague, I was lost. I approached some people who had no idea where my hotel was, which was a bit scary because it was after 11:00 PM, and it was my first time in Prague. But I finally found my hotel and went back to my room.

I love walking because it's a great sport and gives me time to explore ideas and think thoroughly about whatever is on my mind. And whenever I do get a chance, I swim. I believe in exercising. I think all actors should do that. It produces endorphins, and it's beneficial to stay alert and active.

Take us back to the day you were nominated for an Academy Award® for House of Sand and Fog when the phone rang, and your life changed forever.

Shohreh: My friend Zaza, and my husband, suggested we stay up until 5:00 AM to hear the nominations being announced on television at 5:30 AM. I told them, "Are you out of your mind? I was told a car would be at my door at 6:00 AM to take me to a hotel if I'm nominated. They will put me up in a hotel suite, and then the media will come into the room and interview me one by one. I want to look good and fresh. Therefore, I need my sleep. I'm not going to stay up."

And so, I went to bed. But my husband and Zaza did stay up and watch the nominations as they were being announced. I was in a deep sleep when my husband came to my bedside and started saying, "Shomai, Shomai, Shomai." Which is Farsi means, "you are". Because I was sleeping so soundly when I heard that voice, I thought it was my favorite character, Gollum, calling me. But then I snapped out of it, woke up, and said, "What are you talking about?" He said, "You've been nominated for an Oscar?" I was speechless. And then I heard all the phones in the house ringing. All I wanted to do was to call my parents in Iran and tell them the news. But as soon as I picked up the phone to dial out, the BBC was on the other end asking me how I was feeling. I said, "It's an outof-body experience. Allow me first to call my parents, and I promise I will call you right after I talk to them."

It was pretty emotional. It's as though your soul is out of your body, watching you from a corner of the room. I felt like a 12-year-old girl jumping from one place to the other. It was an incredible feeling.

What food puts a smile on your face when you think about it?

Shohreh: Lasagna! Its name alone makes me feel hungry when I'm not even hungry. It's delicious. It's easy to eat. I can have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tell me about your hair care line. Shohreh: I dreamed of creating my shampoo and conditioner ten years ago. So, I started meeting with different people who could create the products. I really wanted to do this because I felt that all the shampoos I'd been using were missing the ingredients I had in my shampoos back in Iran. Ingredients like rosemary, aloe vera, and olive oil. But while meeting with the various people, I learned they couldn't create the shampoo specifically for me. The shampoos were already created, but they would just slap my label and name on the packaging.

My generation called them the "love alleys" We used to walk in those tiny crooked alleys and recite poetry to one another. In the spring, the alleys are filled with yellow jasmine. The scent of it is such that when it gets into your nostrils, you will never forget its scent, and you will always long for it.

That did not work for me. I wanted my shampoo to be created from scratch. Since I couldn't find anybody to do this, I forgot about my dream, stuck to acting, and kept working. Finally, two years ago, I met with the founders of Aniise and told them about my dream of creating my own shampoo and conditioner.

Aniise said they could and would create it for me. I gave them the ingredients I wanted in the products, and they made two samples for me. I tried them both. I fell in love with one of them that had more rosemary in it. So, we decided to start this line and see how people would like it. The first thing I did, was to give it to my sister-in-law, whom I always trust to provide me with the right feedback because she's honest and meticulous.

A week later, she called and said she loved the products. She said she went to work, and her colleagues asked her what she had done to her hair. She told them she was using this new shampoo/conditioner and serum, which made her hair shiny. I was so happy when I got this positive feedback and knew I was on the right track. I'm so proud of these products. They are being made in the US. My haircare contains essential ingredients, including biotin and proteins, to strengthen the roots. They are cruelty-free.

Is there something you long for a place, person, or smell?

Shohreh: Yellow jasmines. I wrote my memoir in 2014 and named it The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines

In ancient countries like Iran, Egypt, and Italy, there are plenty of crooked, tiny, narrow alleys where only two people, shoulder to shoulder, can barely walk through simultaneously. In Iran, the generation before mine called these alleys the truce alleys. They said if two people are in a fight, send them to the truce alley. They will have to walk through it and be forced to resolve their problems.

My generation called them the "love alleys" We used to walk in those tiny crooked alleys and recite poetry to one another. In the spring, the alleys are filled with yellow jasmines. The scent of it is such that when it gets into your nostrils, you will never forget its scent, and you will always long for it. So, every time I want to comfort myself, I close my eyes and try to remember the scent of the yellow jasmines, not only on the walls of these alleys of love but also on my grandmother’s prayer rug.

When she opened the rug and started praying, the whole room filled with the scent of yellow jasmines. My grandmother taught me a lot, so whenever I feel lonely, I close my eyes and try to envision those days I spent with her, watching her pray with yellow jasmine at the center of her prayer rug. She also used yellow jasmine as a perfume by putting some in her bra every time we went out!

Your new film Renfield is set to be released in April, but tell me about your character Ella and what you love about her.

Shohreh: Ella is one of the strongest women I have ever portrayed. She is fierce, brave, and doesn't take no for an answer.

What's up next for you professionally?

Shohreh: A huge TV series spinoff of The Batman movie. It's called The Penguin

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Shohreh: would like to urge all the Iranians abroad to participate in the solidarity of all parties abroad and vote as soon as possible.

Special Thank you to:

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Tamara Trione

Dennis Quast

Photography by Meera Fox

On February 4, 2023, Greek Theather remembered Los Angeles's beloved Mountain Lion P-22, who was euthanized on December 2022.

P-22 was more than just a tracking number. He was a famous Mountain Lion who showed Los Angeles residents that we have to show care and respect to the wildlife and taught us that we could live among each other us and the wildlife.

During the celebration of P-22 life, students of the Esperanza Elementary School shared their love for P-22 and how his life journey inspired them to become an architect or scientists and, most importantly, to love wildlife.

P-22 roamed around for his entire of his life. He crossed the busy 101 and 405 freeways and ended up in Griffen park.

Sadly P-22 had a Lonely life as he never could find his matte female. But he surprised the neighborhood of Griffen park often.

He survived Menge, rat poisoning; he indeed used his 9 lives. The famous P-22 lost his battle after he got hit by a car. And when he went to the care of the vet. Due to many other underlying illnesses, they discovered that the most humane thing is to euthanize him. He left a giant paw print in many of Angelina's hearts.

Rep. Adam Schiff, along with three members of Congress, asked U.S Postal Services for a stamp to honor "Hollywood Cat" P-22. "It would be impossible to squeeze everything about the renowned P-22 mountain lion onto a two-inch square postage stamp," said Daily News, but to remember P-22 and how he impacted many of Angele's life is just a small token. Your voice is to make a difference by signing a petition.

9 mountain lions in the past 6 months and 35 in the past decade died to car fatality, said Rep. Ted Lieu

P-22 was a messenger and brought awareness that caring for wildlife is the most crucial matter of our natural world, bringing beauty to our environment and ecosystem.

Rest in peace, P-22. Your memory will always be with us, and we remember your courage and opening a new chapter in the history of crossing wildlife to ensure others are safe and live among us in peace.

For Beloved Mountain Lion,

P-22 Celebration Of Life

Beth Pratt (California Regional Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation speaks onstage during Celebration Of Life For Beloved Mountain Lion, P-22.

Photo by Steve Winter/National Georgraphy

Photo by Steve Winter/National Georgraphy

The National Wildlife Federation's #SaveLACougars campaign hosted an unprecedented and inspiring "Celebration of Life for P-22" at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Close to six thousand people of all ages and from all over Los Angeles were there to see emotional tributes for the beloved P-22 mountain lion by indigenous voices, students, City of Los Angeles leaders, a virtual appearance from Governor Gavin Newsom, a live musical performance by The Tokens and special appearances by actor Rain Wilson, actor Julia Butters, and Diplo.

It was P-22's miraculous journey across two of Los Angeles' busiest freeways. His incredible story of survival against all odds captured the imagination of Angelenos—and people from all over the world—and gave life to the #SaveLACougars campaign that is now building the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. The crossing is slated for completion in 2025.

The project responds to two decades of National Park Service research and the need to create a vital connection for the endangered mountain lion population and other wildlife that make their home in the Santa Monica Mountains. In addition to saving the mountain lions from likely extinction, the crossing will reconnect a long-fragmented ecosystem for all wildlife in an area recognized as part of one of only thirty-six biodiversity hotspots worldwide.

To learn more about the Wildlife Crossing Fund, visit https:// p22legacy.org/

Reflecting the legacy of P-22 also launched, The Wildlife Crossing Fund. Led by the National Wildlife Federation's #SaveLACougars leader Beth Pratt, the fund aims to raise half a billion dollars from private philanthropy, leverage public dollars and accelerate the building of wildlife crossings worldwide. The idea for the Wildlife Crossing Fund and one of the founding partners for the effort is the visionary Wallis Annenberg, who today pledged the first 10 million for the fund. Other founding partners include the National Wildlife Federation, the California Natural Resources Agency, and Animal Road Crossings.

You can learn more about the #SaveLACougars campaign and its efforts in communities all over the Los Angeles area, and to follow progress on construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, visit https://savelacougars.org/ and https://101wildlifecrossing.org/

The National Wildlife Federation is America's largest conservation organization, with over 6 million supporters nationwide, uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrives in a rapidly changing world.

Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for the National Wildlife Federation)

Photo by The National Wildlife Federation

DREAM YOUR FUTURE INTO LIFE

By Carol Day

Presence and the Three Pillars

Presence is the central pole of the entire visionary practice. It is what runs through everything. It is the act of being present and not running away or rushing. Presence is when we can unconditionally, while holding awareness and compassion, be present with what is. Presence can be a place of power and courage. It is a stance that takes us out of dialogue and duality and into a space of observation. It allows a meeting with the heart of any matter. Presence is where the visionary hangs out in a land free of judgment, advice, or overlay. For me, it's like the air conditioning comes on. It feels cool, disentangled, kind, and loving. Presence is the central pole with three pillars.

THE THREE PILLARS

Pillar "Nature"

Nature is like an essence— a thing's inherent qualities or character. It is the first pillar of the visionary model. I use the term "innate nature" to suggest that we have an intrinsic way of being akin to nature. Nothing in nature pretends to be anything else (unless it is camouflage for survival). The members of the nature world who do change form do so for a specially programmed and consistent reason. Humans, on the other hand, are shape-shifters extraordinaire. We can merge, absorb, project, take on and consume power and identity. We have such a gift, but sadly we need to remember to set a way to use this gift wisely. Those who use it do so—unconsciously—for power-mongering means. Our innate nature can be covered up. The skills in shape-shifting are truthfully the tools of visionary practice. We will be working through becoming more conscious of these skills and releasing what has been taken on or acted out as

cover-ups to reveal our true or innate natures. This will happen through visiting and immersing ourselves in the concepts.

Pillar "Knowing"

Knowing is connected with having knowledge or awareness about something. It is a word used when something known is hidden from many. One of the skills of the visionary is having this rare knowing. (I believe it can be developed in anyone given the right circumstances). This is the second pillar.

Pillar "Trust"

Trust is a firm belief in reliability or truth. It is the third pillar. Developing discernment from this place of trust is key to the visionary's ability to operate.

MEETING THE PILLARS Nature

Where did nature begin? One of the most mind-opening things is to remember that I have been here since the beginning of time. If I hadn't been then, I wouldn't be able to feature as I am now. I own my place at the beginning of life and the great darkness, light, formation of atoms, and everything. Read this Big Bang theory as one of the versions of the beginnings of creation:

The "cosmos" begins expanding in the split of a second and, this time, turns "nothing" into something the size of an orange. In three minutes, the universe has heated into being—a hot soup of electrons, quarks, and other molecules. Then follows a long cooling period, and with this cooling down, quarks can turn into protons and neutrons. The universe becomes a very hot fog.

Three hundred thousand years later, electrons will combine with protons and neutrons and form atoms (mostly hydrogen and helium). Light can shine. After a billion years from the source, things really cool down, and hydrogen and helium gases coalesce to become galaxies. Smaller clumps of gas coalesce to become the first stars. After fifteen billion years of galaxies gathering together, the first stars die and throw heavy elements into space. These eventually form new stars and planets.

The universe is fifteen to twenty billion years old. The Earth is five to six billion years of age.

How beautiful is all that! Our heritage is a deep foundation of spaciousness, temperature, birthing, and discovery. Our history as the elements is a long, passionate, powerful, patient, devoted, alchemical, and mysterious affair!

Being Concept Nature

Let's meet Nature as the first of the three pillars.

See if you can find a special place in nature with a tree where you can regularly sit through the next months. It might be your garden or a tree on a walk close to you. Attune to where this place will be and resolve to dedicatedly visit this place for the duration of working with this book.

Take about twenty minutes or more for this Being Nature task.

Go to your chosen place in nature. Sit with your back to the special tree that you will visit regularly. Take some time to become present. Focus on your breath and become mindful of what chatter might be happening inside your head. You don't need to push it out. Presence is about allowing awareness to arise and come from a different place to the mind chatter.

Let yourself move into your senses. Touch—feel the air on your skin, touch the ground with your fingers and the sur-

face of the tree, grass, and nature around you. Smell—breathe in the scents. Taste—taste the air, lick the grass, tree bark, a flower. Hearing—let your ears take in the sounds. Sight—let your eyes light on everything as if seeing for the first time. Let nature join you through your senses.

In this space, be aware of being present and in the moment. You are looking to become present with nature both within and without. Now imagine this presence as being able to exist throughout all times. Take yourself to the beginnings of everything. Feel the origins. Feel the today. Allow a conversation to happen, moving with presence with your senses and nature through these two stations of presence.

Bring yourself back. How do you feel about nature now? How do you feel about your true nature and nature around you? Make some notes on how you found this experience.

Knowing

When we think of someone who sees or has "the sight," we connect with their ability to "know" beyond how the eyes see to an inner vision. This knowing, this development of inner vision, and the ability to see to the heart of something are the second of the three pillars in the visionary model.

The drum, and other instruments that make repetitive noises and have a wealth of symbolism and meaning attached to them to connect us with the communication realms, can take us out of the everyday chatter and into a place of knowing.

Particular things happen to our brain waves when we listen to the sounds of a drum or rattle: in the trance state of drumming, brain waves move out of the beta range (between 14 and 21 cycles per second), in which we are attentive and focused on everyday external activities, and into the alpha, theta and sometimes delta ranges.

Photo by LEONARDO BORGES ADFAdobe Stock

Alpha waves vibrate at 7 to 14 waves per second and happen when we are in a relaxed, internal-focused state of well-being. Theta waves vibrate at four to seven cycles per second and are the threshold of the sleep dream state.

Delta waves are one to four cycles per second. They are in a deep sleep. The brains of fetuses emit delta waves.

Animals and the electromagnetic waves of the Earth operate in the alpha range. Yogis see the alpha state as the rhythm of nature. Coming out of the beta state enhances our connection to nature.

Being Concept Knowing

You will need a drum or rattle for this Being Knowing task.

Pick up your drum or rattle. Visualize a bubble of light around you that holds a presence. Set the intention that you are only available here to connect with your knowing. Choose a colour to coat the bubble around you that sets the boundary that this is a clear space for you. You can extend a second bubble to go all around your home and the boundaries of the land around your home, small garden, balcony, or terrace and set the same intention. Sit and connect with being present again. You will become more familiar with this feeling as you practice these concepts of being.

Now focus on your knowing. Think of a time when you have known something. Begin to tap your drum or rattle. Try to do this for about fifteen minutes. Connect with your knowing and let all your attention and the attention of the drumbeat flow to hold awareness for this knowing. Ask yourself, "Where does this knowing come from?" Feel the origins and authenticity of your knowing. Let it strengthen and take its place. Observe what happens to you.

NOTE: If you don't have a drum, you can also do this by playing a drum-

ming track instead, but I highly recommend developing your relationship with presence through drumming and having your own drum. Come back and thank your drum or rattle and the space that held you. Take some notes.

Trust

Trusting ourselves and developing the ability to discern is the third pillar of the visionary model. Often we learn from not having accurate discernment. Lots of people and situations can be our teachers for this. We will be holding a presence to develop this trust while working with the material in this book.

Being Concept Trust

Go back to your place in nature. Move into a place of presence again. Be in your senses. Take some time to land and be with the Earth and the weather. Feel yourself as a part of this wider system. Now open up to feeling the interconnectedness of everything. Become aware of the different systems within the outer nature operating right now. Feel how they work together and the plan they are a part of. Feel into your trust for this plan.

Now feel all the systems within you and your body, mind, emotions, and passions. Feel your organs and your blood flow, the beating of your heart, your lungs breathing, your eyes, and the way your thoughts respond to your eyes working. Feel how you connect with the outer world through your lungs and your sight and thoughts, your sense of smell, and your emotions.

Move back to your awareness of the systems in nature outside of you and the plan everything, including you, is a part of. Feel into your trust for this plan.

Spend about fifteen minutes in this being with trust. Come out of the task and then make notes on how you found this and any insight you had.

Carol Day is a visionary teacher, psychotherapist, artist, and director of The Centre for Creative Vision in Scotland.

She has trained with well-known visionaries, including shamanic teachers

Sandra Ingerman, Franco Santoro, and Stephen Mulhearn, and psychologist

Marshall Rosenberg.

She runs a private practice in systemic story therapy and is involved in projects centered on creating community and connecting people back to the land.

Carol lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

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ALIGNING YOUR DIVORCE WITH YOUR CORE VALUES

By Nanci Smith

If you're having trouble reading the headlines these days, I understand how you feel. The last few years have been challenging.

Despite its decline, COVID-19 continues to have us reeling. On top of that, it's tough to take in all the news about the consequences of climate change, gun violence, the campaign against reproductive rights, or the systematic dismantling of our democratic system without feeling a little hopeless. The result, for many of us, is to disengage. We disconnect from the world around us, refusing to take in information that makes us uncomfortable or challenges our worldview. Social scientists have a term for it: absencing.

Being Absent vs. Being Present

Otto Scharmer, a senior lecturer at MIT's

Sloane School of Management, describes absencing as having a closed mind (not being open to new ideas), a closed heart (lacking empathy for others), and a closed will (refusing to change). He connects this thinking to all of the major problems facing the world.

Yet, against all odds, Scharmer seems optimistic about the future. And that's because, as he explains in his bestselling book, Theory U: Leading from the Future as it Emerges, the opposite of absencing is presencing. And he's pretty sure that it's the path forward.

What is presencing? Scharmer explains it as the ability to "sense and actualize the highest future possibility in the now." Put more simply; it's imagining the future and figuring out how to get there.

What Does Your Future Hold?

Despite our time's turmoil, uncertainty, and complexity, we are being presented with a valuable opportunity for personal growth and transformational change. While Scharmer is mostly interested in how complex systems and communities can change, I have found myself wondering how his theories might apply to us as individuals and to divorcing couples.

Many people have reported that they feel closer to their partner after going through these difficult COVID times together. But for others, it has reopened old wounds or exposed problems that were simmering just under the surface. In a survey of 2,704 married people in September 2021, 21% believed that the pandemic had negatively impacted their marriage. That percentage was almost double that of a similar survey conducted in 2020.

Now that the pandemic has receded, the number of people filing for separations and divorces has started to climb. Legal experts are suddenly seeing more clients come through the door, and projections are for a notable increase in divorce filings in 2022, estimating that for every 6.1 people who get married, 2.7 will be divorced.

Is it Time for Change?

As a divorce lawyer who works with people in a high state of existential angst, divorce being one of the most profound changes a person can experience, I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to ease the suffering.

Scharmer uses the terms "architecture of separation" and the "architecture of connection." These macro ideas about how individuals relate to each other have a profound impact on communities, and it can also be applied to individuals who are looking to change their own lives.

Breaking Up Isn't Always Hard to Do

The term "collaborative divorce" may sound counterintuitive, but if we use Scharmer's framework, employing an "architecture of separation" for divorce, then, indeed, the process will be fraught with pain and suffering. In this frame, the "architecture of separation" means we separate from ourselves, from others, and from the world. It's easy to see how this happens in a traditional, shame and blame, adversarial divorce process. People often perceive their only option is to shrink away from this painful period, withdraw, and isolate. This attitude can be destructive to the individual, their partner, their family, and their community.

There is structure, support, and an expectation that you and your spouse will emerge healthy and wholehearted, not bitter and resentful.

,,

Photo by engin akyurt

On the other hand, the "architecture of connection" is a framework that could strengthen relationships, even as a divorce is underway. It fosters insight and understanding about how you are feeling and encourages empathy about the feelings of others. It involves deep listening to understand, not to counterattack or defend. It involves reframing old, destructive thoughts and behaviors that have held us back in the past and adopting new ones that can help us to reimagine and reshape our future, as separate, confident, and divorced people.

The Collaborative Divorce Process

Collaborative divorce is a process and a mindset. It refuses to opt into a system designed to break things apart and leave people feeling shattered. It is about embracing your core values instead of buying into a damaging process that involves battles over the distribution of assets, custody of children, and who did what to whom. Collaborative divorce encourages you and your spouse to come together to separate amicably and respectfully. It is the new paradigm for divorce.

How does it work? First of all, you and your spouse each retain collaboratively trained attorneys, and an interdisciplinary team is created. Agendas are set in advance of meetings, and you retain more control over the pace of your divorce process. There is a team of professionals to support you when you need them most. There is your collaboratively trained lawyer to provide you with legal counsel without becoming adversarial; you have a mental health coach to normalize all of the intense emotions; and you have a financial neutral who gathers information to help

generate win-win solutions for maximizing financial security for both you and your spouse. It is an out-of-court settlement process. There is structure, support, and an expectation that you and your spouse will emerge healthy and wholehearted, not bitter and resentful. You will address all of the issues in your divorce without going to court and without threatening to go to court.

Taking a Step into the Future of Tomorrow

What I see in almost all of my Collaborative Divorce clients is that they are willing to consider becoming the architects of connection for what their lives will look like after their marriage is over. They have some insight into their own contribution to the end of the marriage, and they want to be involved in understanding their options about how they can be effective co-parents, and possibly even friends with their spouse, during and after the divorce is over. They need support to see the path forward to their emergent future, which starts now.

Nothing about divorce is easy. At the beginning of a divorce, it is hard to see a collaborative or amicable path forward. Collaborative professionals are here to help, and Collaborative Divorce is practiced in every state. The path you choose for your divorce matters. It will lead you into the future of your choice or a future by default. Since our thoughts and actions today create the future of our tomorrow, isn't it time to choose our divorce processes wisely? It is certainly one concrete step we can take to reaffirm our core values and walk our walk, despite the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of the world around us.

Nanci A. Smith, Esq., is an attorney licensed to practice in Vermont and New York.

She is the chair of the Collaborative Divorce section of the Vermont Bar Association, a leader in her collaborative divorce practice group, and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She frequently writes and talks about divorce, family law, ethics, and collaborative divorce practices. She believes that a good divorce is possible when you show up for it with humility, compassion, and the correct support.

Smith is the author of Untangling Your Marriage: A Guide to Collaborative Divorce.

Learn more at nancismithlaw.com

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An interview with Dr. Michael Adamse

SaneMakeAmerica Again

By Phyllis King

Photo by Brodie from Burst

Michael Adamse received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami after completing a pre-doctoral fellowship at Yale University. He was appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at both the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University, where he lectured worldwide. He also served as a Medical Corps, U.S. Army Reserve Captain.

Dr. Adamse specializes in relationship issues and has practiced for over forty years. He is an expert psychological commentator on many issues and has participated in over 300 radio, print, and TV interviews. Make America Sane Again is a ground-breaking, out-of-the-box exploration of major issues facing Americans today. Using a common-sense approach that emphasizes personal responsibility, the book focuses on solutions utilizing a conversational writing style. His first book, Affairs of the Net, published by HCI Books in 1996, represented a cutting-edge online relationship study. In addition, Dr. Adamse has appeared on multiple national media outlets in recognition of his expertise in this area.

Dr. Adamse's first novel, Anniversary, published in 1998, is an inspirational story and represents HCI Books' first fiction-based book in over twenty-five years of publishing. The book was translated and released in Japan, Poland, and Hungary.

His novel, God's Shrink, was published by HCI Books in 2007 and was met with critical acclaim. The book was translated and released in Japan, where it achieved best-seller status. It was also released in Poland, Portugal, and Brazil. In addition, he co-authored the screenplay, which is in development. Dr. Adamse also hosted a weekly National Public Radio Show, On the Couch, which featured interviews with various nationally recognized leaders in literature, the arts, entertainment, politics, and the media.

Today I am speaking with Dr. Michael Adams. He has a doctorate in clinical psychology and specializes in relationship issues. He has practiced for over 40 years. We're going to talk about his book Make America Sane Again

I enjoyed the book, quite common sense. How did you come to do this work?

My family came to the United States as an immigrant family in 1954. The last day Ellis Island was open was in November 1954. They had endured World War II and all the suffering that involved occupation and more. I grew up in a large European family in Long Island, New York, on a farm. I worked hard and went to school. I ended up as an undergraduate at Stony Brook State University. I became a philosophy major. I realized at one point philosophy is great, but can I make a living with it. I became a double major, got my degree in psychology, went on to graduate school, and completed my Ph.D. at the University of Miami, went up to Yale in Connecticut, came back to Florida, and started a private practice. I have done about 90,000 hours of therapy. I've seen people go through all kinds of challenges in life. I have been very blessed to help them.

I was curious, too, that you said after 911, you enlisted in the army. Yes, at the age of forty-nine. 911 was on a Tuesday. By that Friday, I knew the troops were going to need a lot of help. I joined the Medical Corps. I was forty-nine. I was a couple of years past the age limit for the Medical Corps. I petitioned the Surgeon General of the army at the Pentagon with a letter. I said, I'm a couple of years older than the limit, but I'll work out and get in shape. I'll do what needs to be done." The Surgeon General granted me a waiver. I went into the reserves for a few years and was honored to work with veterans and talk about their experiences and what they have been through. These are probably the richest years of my career.

A remarkable story. All right, so make America sane again. Are we insane? I'm going to answer the question by saying we were saner before. This country has always had challenges in various forms. In contemporary America, we are in a great divide right now. That puts us at risk in our country. Are we an insane country? Of course not. We have massive challenges. We were standing together before because we were more tolerant. That is what's missing.

In the book, you talk about the influence of media and social media. The opening chapter of the book is Stop Feeding the Elephant. I make a case that the more negative media you watch, the more propaganda you're exposed to the more you reinforce negative imaging and thought processes. My thesis is it makes people depressed, anxious, and more likely to engage in addictions. Here is a metric nobody can wrap their heads around. That is the suppression of the immune system. The more exposure to negativity, the more your immune system gets exhausted.

It leaves you susceptible to both physical and emotional illness. I make a strong case that it is not in your interest to watch negative news.

We don't think that the media influences us physiologically. No, we do not think about that. There is something called general Adaptation Syndrome. Once we are exposed to repeated stress over and over again, we get into what's called the exhaustion phase. First, we are trying to cope with it. Over time we have difficulty coping. Then we become physically and emotionally exhausted. That leads to a position where they are susceptible to emotional and physical problems.

Our immune system can't handle it. Watch the news, and pay attention, but stay away from a lot of it, too, because it's making us sick.

Suppose we understand that the basis of aggression is always frustration. In other words, if somebody's acting aggressively, they have to be frustrated first. Frustration leads to aggression. You have to get to the root of what that is.

How do we cultivate self-awareness? It feels like people have gone to sleep and are numb to the noise.

I think that's very accurate. We have something in psychology called the observing ego, which is the ability to step back and look at how we are in the world and how we interact with others. That only comes with self-reflection. It's critically important to take a few minutes every day, whether it's the beginning of the day or the end of your day. Think how I am in the world. How did I behave today? What were my thought processes? Most importantly, am I spreading positive energy to other people or contributing negative energy?

I'm curious if people know the difference as we seem to be very attached to our points of view and become self-righteous. In my work, especially with couples, I hear one side of the story from one person until the other person comes in. If I wasn't trained, I might have a very eschewed idea and say, this person coming in sounds like a complete jerk. But guess what? They come in, they sit down, I hear their narrative, and start thinking, not so much. It's important to expose ourselves to a 360-degree view of every problem because there's more than one side.

How can the average person connect to their neighbor who is opposed politically?

It starts with an invitation. Would you be willing to discuss this with me and have a conversation with me? A lot of people are not capable of a conversation. As you know, listening is a skill,

and it takes energy. It comes from a willingness to dialogue and to learn from each other. Listening may not change your mind or the other person's mind, but at least there'll be a sense you're willing to listen. If you are understood, then you won a really big battle.

I would love to hear you speak on our use of devices. What impact are they having on us? If our interface is constant with technology, we're losing human interaction. Seventy percent of communication is nonverbal. If we segue into a world of just internet relationships based on texting, emails, and that kind of thing, we're losing the nuances of dealing with another human being.

This is particularly important for young kids and young adults because they are susceptible to technology. I am a victim of it, too. I'm on text and email, but I don't play 30 to 40 hours of video games a week. We have an epidemic of video game insanity in this country. I have many kids I work with who play 30, 40, and 50 hours a week. That's like a full-time job, with overtime and nothing to show but a high score. Those kids aren't going outside and playing. They are not interacting with each other.

It's very difficult to put the genie back in the bottle. The solution is you have to tell kids at the youngest age that they can use the phone, the iPad, whatever, but you're going to be on a diet. This has to start early because it's very hard later on to pull it back.

My parents did not know where I was when I was a kid. They assumed I was somewhere in the neighborhood. Are we less safe now?

I think it is fair to say that we're less safe, but we're not catastrophically less safe. It's not as though I can't reach my kid right now; he's been abducted. Of course, these horrible things happen. Suppose the predominant response is fear, which makes the world a scary place, especially for young children. There's an uptick in concern about violent acts and abductions. Personally and professionally, I think we're overreacting.

How can we, as individuals, address violence in America?

Suppose we understand that the basis of aggression is always frustration. In other words, if somebody's acting aggressively, they have to be frustrated first. Frustration leads to aggression. You have to get to the root of what that is. The vast majority are young males. We have to take a look at that straight on.

It has been studied for a long time. If you're exposed to violent acts through the media, video games, movies, etc., you become desensitized. Let's say a young man is watching 34 hours a week, he is destroying images that look like people, and they're pretty graphic at times. That desensitizes him.

That kind of exposure to violence makes that person a little more likely, especially if they're unhinged, to be desensitized to where a mass shooting is a mass video game. In the mind of some of these psychopaths, I'm going for the high score. Some of this is a direct result of violence in the media and violence in video games. There is no question about it.

How do we raise awareness about this?

It starts with our parents, our grandparents, and hopefully, some good role models. They teach us how to behave properly. It also starts at school, where schools sensitize kids to other points of view - to disseminate information properly and to be kind. I have a colleague, Dr. Michelle Sukenik. I talk about her in the book. She has produced about 25 or 30 videos, "Mindful Minutes," targeted at elementary school kids. She talks about kindness, gratitude, emotional intelligence, tolerance, and bullying. These are all things kids need to learn at a young age to become more sensitive human beings.

Can we make a difference? Is there any reason to be hopeful? I am optimistic by nature. We have a real challenge ahead of us. I have an exercise in the book. I want you to imagine yourself as a cell in a body, and the body is the United States.

The United States has 338,000,000 people. You are one of those cells. Are you going to be an inflammatory cell or a T cell? T cells are killer cells that help to control inflammation. What are you going to be? Are you going to be somebody who adds to the problem or tries to improve the situation? We do not have the kind of influence to scale people on a massive government basis. We can do this on an individual basis with people that we touch. We can be positive, optimistic people, and that will spread good energy.

The book is Make America Sane Again. Dr. Michael Adamse, thank you so much for being here. I appreciate all that you do.

By Phyllis King

WOMEN AND AGE –

Photos by AdobeStock

WHY ARE WE TRAPPED BY OUR NUMBER?

Ibegan to consider this topic after I spoke to four female clients in one day, all in different decades of life. I found it fascinating that it didn’t matter how young or old the woman was; each shared anxiety about her age. The women’s ages were 26, 37, 44, and 52. At some point during our conversation, every single one of these women referred to “getting older” or “not getting any younger.” “They’d better get on with it.”

Each woman was putting enormous pressure on herself to make decisions she wasn’t ready to make simply because of her number. Measuring her decisions by external stimulus. Each was viewing herself as having a limited amount of time to get happy, find love, or reach her goals. Ultimately they were all feeling bad about themselves.

Below are three thoughts to consider to help re-shape our perspective on aging

Embrace Each Cycle for What it is! Consider first the big picture. We are born. We leave a womb confined in a mother’s body. We can do nothing for ourselves. As we age, we gain independence and mastery over our choices and our body. We feel powerful. As we mature, we acquire wisdom and patience, and perspective.

As we become elderly, our bodies weaken.

Yet we become keepers of the truth and learn to value moments over accomplishments. Then we transition to pure essence energy where we came from. We integrate the experience of living that human lifetime. When we feel ready, many of us will do it all over again in a new human experience. When we know that death is simply a marker on the continuum of eternal life, we can relax and enjoy the ride.

Cindy Joseph tells a story about the courage she found to stop coloring her hair and let it turn grey. She was very nervous about doing it. She thought about it long and hard. Almost immediately after she let her hair go grey, she was scouted on the street by a modeling agency for a worldwide fashion campaign. They wanted her silver hair. Had she not changed her hair, she would not have received that offer.

We want to stop looking at changes that are natural for our lives as a problem or a loss. Perhaps current culture cultivates these biases. All the more reason not to participate. It’s damaging and perpetuates false ideas about who we are.

We should rather appreciate the new opportunities and state of being that await us. They are equally as delicious as the cycles we are leaving, if not more so. There is meaning and value in each cycle.

We should enjoy our humanness – the good, the bad, and the ugly, but not allow it to define us. Refuse false identifications. You are not your number. ,,

Bias Exists - Surround Yourself with People Whose Eyes Light Up When They See You Coming

We all will encounter bias, judgment, discrimination, and prejudice. It’s inevitable as human beings at different points of spiritual awakening.

Each of us has the power to choose which consciousness we want to align with. A limited consciousness or an abundant consciousness. Surround yourself with like-minded souls who mirror back the nature of your true essence as you navigate the human experience.

Make that a priority rather than seeking approval from those who have limited awareness or trying to maintain yourself to external standards.

There is No Such Thing as Time

When you speak to people who are eighty and older, they will often remark that they still feel the same inside as they did when they were 21.

This is because the soul is timeless.

The human experience does not change our inner age or inner state of being. We can grow in wisdom and compassion but not in the inner age. We are timeless. We came to the human experience to experience ourselves in form. The form is finite. We are not.

Often when I am working with people in a coaching role, they want timelines to hold themselves accountable.

They want to get somewhere fast. In truth, slowly is the fastest way to get where we want to be. All of us inch along until we shift. Change rarely comes fast. Change is much more complex than what an emotional intelligence wants to believe.

Rather than timelines, what is more useful, is to pay close and careful attention to how we feel and strive for inner balance. Once balanced, take action.

When we allow that awareness to guide our choices, we will always feel vital and young, and life will feel more effortless.

This is why most enlightened masters refer to the concept of the Eternal Now. No matter what time it is- past, present, or future, it is always NOW. There is no other time than now. The body tells a different story. For the inner being, everything is happening in the moment we are in.

We should enjoy our humanness – the good, the bad, and the ugly, but not allow it to define us. Refuse false identifications. You are not your number. You will always be timeless, beautiful, resilient, and valuable to the whole, even when others can’t see it. Others don’t have to see it or validate it for it to be true. We only have to see it for ourselves. Refuse to align with limitation as something meaningful. Celebrate your numbers- all of them. Live your life as the infinite, loving timeless being that you are.

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

Photos by AdobeStock

By Heidi Connolly

THE ENERGETIC IMPOSTER SYNDROME

What Looks Like a Duck and Quacks Like a Duck Isn’t Always a Duck.

There’s been a disturbing buzz in the spiritual healing community lately. Disturbing because so many of us appear to be experiencing sensations that have one thing in common: High levels of discomfort. While one friend has interpreted it as the effect of Mars retrograde (which, thank goodness, has shifted), an energy that tends to increase the likelihood of controversy, intellectual skirmishes, and rude arguments, another has been interpreting her over-thetop feels as a personal affront: Her very own Imposter Syndrome. “Am I good enough? Who am I to say I can help others? What do I know that’s any different? How much ego is involved in my work?” The voice that undermines her efforts even as you tell yourself how important it is to step forward into vulnerability to level up.

Together, my friend and I took a closer look.

Photo by Claudia Ramírez

It turns out that when we put the energy of her Imposter Syndrome “on the couch” for some good old-fashioned Couch Talk, all it was really feeling was the frustration of not having reached its goal yet of working in an office outside the home where she’d be free to spread out, grow her business, and reach more souls in need of healing. This was no imposter! This energy was not one of fear and lack of self-esteem but of my friend’s Future Self, reminding her of her strength, power, and readiness masquerading as the energy of “not good enough.

”Misinterpreting energy is one of the most common traits of being human. In other words, what looks like a duck and quacks like a duck is often not a duck at all, even if it has practiced and loudly proclaims that quack to convincing perfection. It’s a case of what we don’t know that can keep us stuck—stuck in a place where we keep using the same words to describe the conditions in which we find ourselves, even though they aren’t helping to guide us out of the muck.

When I talk about “down-toearth” spirituality as the foundation for a Celestial Life, I’m making a statement about what I feel is the importance of being able to apply new ways of thinking to old beliefs and new ways of being and feeling too old ways of navigating through the world. This includes using words differently to describe what happens as energetic experiences rather than ones that use the tried-and-true labels we’re used to.

It’s an approach that opens the door for a different kind of self-exploration, one that asks you to hit the pause button and refresh each page of your life.

Recently I joined a guided meditation that focused on the way waves of the ocean ebb and flow. We were asked to be the wave and focus our attention on the pause that occurs at the moment the wave shifts direction...in essence, to feel the pause, be the pause, and reside in the pause. It’s the space between the physical in and the physical out-breath, the space where your mind takes a breath that frees it to expand through thoughtless awareness.

By the end of that mediation, all I wanted to do was live in that pause, in that deeply peaceful nothingness.

“Hitting the pause button” invites us to open to new sensations, which invites us to see the world through different eyes and consider new ways to express and describe that world. While calling something good or bad— passing judgment on it—can be expedient, once we choose to experience our experiences energetically, we no longer feel the need to label them as good or bad.

Our experiences are only as good as the descriptors we give them. If I say that someone annoyed me at the market, in one fell swoop, I have named, qualified, and designated an emotional response to that experience. The very use of the word “annoyed” takes me to a place that assures my reaction, which can be anything from minor frustration to a major triggering.

Returning for a moment the discussion I had with my friend about how, as healers, we are collectively experiencing similar energies, let’s see how we can apply such an approach for a potentially different outcome.

While it’s perfectly natural to look for reasons that we feel a certain way, attributing emotions to occurrences in our external world can be dangerous because it leads us around by an emotional leash without a way to disengage. Can a dog remove its own leash? We are like that dog, tied forever by our emotional necks, waiting for someone or something to come along and remove the ties that bind us. We say we want to be in control of our lives, but really all we really want is to find reasons for feeling the way we feel. Finding reasons ultimately translates into rationalizing, which ultimately translates into victimization. Find enough reasons to feel the way you feel, and it’s easy to stay exactly where you are.

I am not saying that emotions are not valid, valuable, or important to self-awareness, growth, and introspection because they are. What I am saying is that emotions are only the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s say you are waiting for a phone call that doesn’t come. Do you feel frustration, anger, or annoyance? Any of those emotions would certainly be reasonable. Yet what we can choose to do instead is take it up a level into a higher vibration to look at not only the frequency of the energy of the “missed” phone call but also the frequency of our response. If I were to put the energy of that missed call on the coach for a chat, here’s what I might come up with.

ENERGY OF THE MISSED

CALL (MC): “I am your missed call, Heidi. I’m sitting here feeling like I one-upped you because you’ve been sitting around waiting for me, and I didn’t pick

up the phone. I get a kick out of watching you get all revved up, being all emo and thirsty while you try to act as if you don’t care. Did you forget I have nothing to do with your emotional state? That all you need to do is stay in your own alignment?”

ME: “I didn’t forget, but I’m still peeved. Why would you want to ‘one-up’ me, anyway?”

MC: “Because I want to put you in your place, remind you that you are not in charge.”

ME: “Oh, so this is a reminder that I am not in control?”

MC: “Exactly. But also that you don’t need to be. How could you possibly be in control of whether or not someone calls you? You can’t. In the end, the only thing you need to pay attention to is feeling good—whatever is happening. Creating drama around the fact that I did not call is unnecessary…unless that’s what you want.”

ME: “I guess I was kind of looking for a little drama…maybe because I was feeling bored at the moment. Um, I guess the frustration and anger had nothing to do with you after all.”

MC: “Duh.”

So you see, in this fictitious example, I had absolutely no idea what my supposed Missed Call could possibly have to say to me or that it would remind me that boredom can lead to the production of drama. What I can tell you is that the next time I find myself reacting, I’m definitely going to take a step back into a pause and then forward into the present to unveil the true nature of the energetic components.

Now THAT’S what I call a light bulb moment in Down-to-Earth Spirituality.

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

Heidiconnolly.com

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theobitwriter.net

By Zee

STORY RANTS 2023 THE IDEAS WITH MEANING

Photo by AdobeStock

It's a sustainable world. When you read the books and listen to the increasingly expanding number of updated podcasts, this is where we, the lesser uninformed, learn our lingo and then sprout it into the world as some form of factual knowledge. How good are we? It's a confusing time to be alive; at least, that's what we have been told. And, of course, it begs the question, what do we know? And the second question is, La-DiDa, can I ever live without my 3 x 6-inch living screen?

Seeing as the mood is good, and one's dreams have become incredibly detailed. Like all great stories, a big apology if this doesn't fit your agenda; business is great when profitable; this is agreeable, yes. Let's talk entrepreneurial. You have an idea of how to remain sus-

tainable within today's market. The goals are set, the exit strategy is fixed in place, and keeping secret the real agenda from all partners.

Imagine and Create

Create a business name; pull the old gang together as the players you know already have access to everyone needed all the way down the line to the cleaners. We build our own building and set up multiple businesses inside, as the economy is ripe for expansion. You work the conventions; the sales pitch is professional rhetoric at its best. Funds now come from a number of sources; of course, the actual amount is played down. Twelve months pass, and all is in place. One detail is left out, how enterprising of you; you already own the land under a different company name where the building is to be built.

The process now begins, and the best mate architect draws up a number of proposed designs for the prospective venture's easy targets. A year went by; the idea grew, extra finance was needed, the project was completed, and now we are standing on the big opening day. The right people are invited, the press is all over it, the community is involved, and it is all go from here on in.

Business schools teach Build Sell Exit Money Money Money

Within a couple of years, businesses move out; profits are down, the economy has turned, lenders are owed big time, and a great idea with bad management all goes to the toilet. The building closes, remains vacant for a year, liquidators sell off everything, and finally, it goes up for auction. A buyer acquires a relatively new building at a fifth of the initial cost. Who doesn't like a bargain? In the beginning, there was a second secret strategy. Has your awareness put it together yet? By now, you have worked out who the new buyer is under another different company name. The idea would make a good movie; sounds ripe for Hollywood?

Now that's, true sustainability.

Are you up for another? A new art enterprise just

opened in a country town by a person with longview foresight. The town is basically a drive-through and mainly viewed by its past thinking, but an undertow has begun, and its growth is soon to explode. The new enterprise has all the hullabaloo openings, and the town is all excited about the new venture in town. Meanwhile, this clever young entrepreneur is buying up buildings left, right, and center. A king in the making.

History, believe it or otherwise, plays an important role in buildings the next adventure. As a matter of fact, did you know history plays a major role in everything humans create and do? In the case of the art enterprise, the last two businesses failed badly. It's a year in now, and three businesses have already left the building, with another leaving as soon as it acquires a location. If you are a business owner, here is a question to consider. Who is capable of choosing a location, the agent, the owner, an already vacant position, the cost, and the market survey? Next comes the attraction; how do we get them online or in the door?

As the story unfolds, we are already aware things are not as one would have hoped they would be, or is it? It's a small old town with limited buildings; when the area increases, those buildings our friend is collecting will end up hundreds of percent of what he paid. And the town has made him a king for what he is supposedly doing for the community. Having a second strategy is the name of the game!

Photo by Julien Moreau

What makes a business successful? Do we really know, or have we just chosen the recommended makeup that is currently being thrown out to the unaware? With all the past twenty years' latest knowledge, why are so many businesses still failing? Each year a new success process informs us of the way forward. Basically, telling us the last process was only a great marketing strategy; obviously, the latest will prove to be no different. Someone makes money; someone gives up their earnings!

In order to understand the relationship we humans have with our surrounding natural environment, have you ever considered relating to everything the same way as you talk and respect your best friend? Once this occurs, objects no longer remain as objects, one begins to treat them and experience them as you do with your pet or favorite child. For some of you, this will be a life-changing experience in how you function within this world and how this world functions with and for you. Try this experiment, and you may be pleasantly surprised. Who doesn't like surprises?

Take a holiday, and it can be fun, fun, fun. Take time out without an agenda, and it can become a harrowing experience. Namely, now that you have an abundance of time on your hands, fears, and memories may begin to appear in your thoughts. What will you do? This may play out as, how did you get what you have, and did you consider all who were a part of your consequential experience? Of course, love was in your heart, and all was deliv-

ered respectfully with integrity and authenticity absolutely.

How brave of you. It's all fun, fun, fun.

It has been said it's a dog-eatdog world, and for some, this is obviously a true and everyday functioning fact. Do we judge because we have been told and educated we are better, or are we afraid to know the reality that exists outside one's comfort door via our purposeful pre-trained human mind?

Keep jugging along, as we will never know much of anything. At least not until centuries have passed, and even then will, we have finally moved beyond "knowledge is power." Dare you to look around, as that famous quote hasn't done much for us up to this day; physical garbage is on the increase; verbal garbage is on the increase, and your freedom is on the decrease. What's next?

Fear less in 2023 is the motto of the brave and courageous human.

If time is a Bitcoin, then your health is the only currency worth buying into. The problem is, now, every month, there is a new food diet to better your physical and mental state of being. Yep, you guessed it, the last fifty diets didn't do anything, either. It appears to be guesswork at its best, and then there's the behind-the-scenes marketing sales force; good on you guys, sell it like it is.

The roadside sign says, "Stay woke as your future depends on it" they spelled aware incorrectly. Have you noticed that woke is also a four-letter word?

History, believe it or otherwise, plays an important role in buildings the next adventure. As a matter of fact, did you know history plays a major role in everything humans create and do?

,,

Spiritual Growth Checkpoint:

By Sherri Cortland, ND

Photo by Jan Kopriva

MOLDAVITE MEDITATING with

Moldavite is a glassy-like stone, classified as a tektite, and in its raw state, it is not smooth, but actually rather rough. It is usually green, and sometimes brown. Many believe that it came to Earth as part of a meteorite and is, therefore, extraterrestrial in origin.

Sometime back in the late 1980s, I read Moldavite: Starborn Stone of Transformation by Robert Simmons and Kathy Warner. I immediately ordered a raw moldavite pendant; and on the day it arrived, I put it on and wore it to a meditation class I was taking that night.

Sitting in class, I suddenly found myself thoroughly ungrounded, feeling like I could sense the individual atoms in my body racing around; and truth be told, I felt a little high and had no idea why. Something was happening to me physically and mentally, but it didn’t occur to me until the next day that it was an initial reaction to the moldavite.

As I started wearing my moldavite daily and my vibrational energy level gradually adjusted to the stone, I no longer felt like I was about to leave my body at any moment--which made it much easier to drive to work. During meditation sessions, I started putting the moldavite on my third eye, while holding a piece of clear crystal quartz in one hand and an amethyst point in the other.

I have always felt like wearing moldavite helped me open up to direct communication with

Spirit because it wasn’t long after I started working with that crystal that my Guide, Jeremy, made first contact via automatic writing. I had been trying to do automatic writing for months and was getting nowhere until that night. In fact, after I bought a new piece of moldavite in 2010, the first time I meditated with it my Arcturian Guide, Akhnanda, began communicating with me via automatic writing and channeled some very interesting information for my second book.

Would I have started receiving messages from my Guide Group if I never got that first moldavite crystal? I feel sure that I would have, but I am also very sure that it made “breaking through to the other side” easier. For those who would like to give Moldavite a try, here’s some information I researched about the stone, followed by how I personally use it in mediation to help you get started:

Shimerlings.com says that “Many find moldavite to be extremely transformative when worn in jewelry form. This may be due to the manner in which the energy flows in and out of our bodies. As rings or earrings, the gem is placed on meridian points of our energy bodies, and the focused moldavite energies flow throughout our entire system, raising our vibration levels…Exposure to the moldavite begins a process of energetic resonance in which the vibratory rate of our entire being is increased, again bringing us to why this is such a transformative gemstone.”

Photo by AdobeStock

Lightandlovereiki.com notes that “Placing moldavite on the third eye chakra helps once you see more clearly…Moldavite can enhance communication …with your higher self or those of extraterrestrial origin.”

Bestcrystals.com: Moldavite works well with the third eye, throat, and crown chakras. It corresponds to all astrological signs.

And at Nighwing.awebspider, I found the following: “It is generally considered to be one of the stones that are very important for this particular phase of human evolution. Many people feel that at this time there are countless souls who are not originally from Planet Earth, but from the Pleiades, Sirius, Orion, and other systems. The belief fueling this thought is that for our Earth to fully heal itself new races of beings are needed, those with what might be described as a more cosmic view of existence. These souls, incarnating for the first time on this planet, (and in some cases for the first time in a physical body) need a way to be grounded in the unique energies of this planet, and moldavite is one of the helpers for this. When placed on the third eye Moldavite helps us to establish the cosmic connection. When placed on the heart it teaches us to appreciate the gift of being here on Earth.”

Meditating with moldavite: I meditate with moldavite on my third eye to help open up

to direct communication with Spirit. I also wear a moldavite pendant that falls directly over my heart chakra, which I believe helps me open my heart to what I receive from Spirit. When someone asks me which stones to use to help them open up to communication with Spirit, I never hesitate: a main course of moldavite with sides of clear quartz and amethyst are my crystals of choice.

My way of meditating with moldavite is certainly not the right way or the only way to incorporate moldavite into your meditation and your life. In fact, I found while I was researching information for this article, I found an interesting mediation using moldavite at MeditationYGOY, which I’ve now tried and love…

“…people do meditation with moldavite by placing the palm of their hand over it. To practice a moldavite meditation, you just have to sit legs crossed on the ground or on the cloth placed on the ground and keep your palm over the moldavite. Focus on the moldavite by keeping your eyes closed then slowly you can feel the pleasant warmth which spreads from your palm…”

My advice: get yourself a nice piece of moldavite, create your own personal way of interacting together, and see where your journey takes you next. Just don’t drive while you’re doing it! Namaste.

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

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

www.Sherri-Cortland.com

When placed on the third eye Moldavite helps us to establish the cosmic connection. When placed on the heart it teaches us to appreciate the gift of being here on Earth.”

By Susie Schroadter

STRENGTH THE of Vulnerability and the Lessons BOUNDARIES OF

For many, the connotation of the word vulnerability is often that of allowing ourselves to be hurt physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Many of us have learned to view vulnerability as a weakness, as we can suffer harm. Yet the strength of vulnerability comes from understanding that we can withstand any injury because of our faith and inner peace.

To see vulnerability as a strength is to define it as the willingness to open your heart, to love, and to be loved with no assurances of external safety. It is a strength more powerful than any other as we must trust that we have the ability to get through anything, any heartache, any trauma, and any loss, and come through it on the other side still whole, still connected to the divine, still in love with ourselves and with others. Finding true vulnerability requires us to be present at the moment so as to release the sadness of the past and the anxiety of the future. When we work on this level of consciousness, faith, and trust, we naturally start to tune into unconditional love for ourselves and others, which emanates from each of us as an eternal light of love and healing.

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Boundaries are one of the most beautiful and effective acts of self-love, thereby allowing the space for true vulnerability. To guard our own space, we do not need to be harsh; we learn to love others differently.

Staying present and learning vulnerability is a practice, and those of us who have gone through trauma have more difficulty doing this than others. Through our life experiences, our brain has been re-wired, and we cannot access information as we previously had been able to. Moreover, the trauma is actually stored in our body, so it is not always about what happened to us but how our nervous system responded and integrated that experience. When we are stuck in this trauma response, we are stuck in darkness and fear; we cannot see the beauty of the world, the kindness of others, nor the lessons in a painful situation; therefore, we are unable to access the strength in vulnerability.

This does not occur only to those that have gone through severe trauma; it happens to everyone at times. Life is stressful, more and more every day. The past few years especially have taken a toll on marriages, friendships, physical health, mental health, and our ability to connect with others. None of us have escaped without being touched by the world.

When we live under stress, it is easy to believe the negative thoughts and stories that we have created in our solitude and allow them to replay like a tape in our minds throughout the day. Many of us have become conditioned to fear the future, of what may be,

and of getting hurt. Our brain and body have developed different coping tactics as a means of inner protection so that we may survive the outer situation. We form defenses that do not allow us to feel joy.

However, living a life in fear of what may happen is not our only option. We have a choice of how we want to show up in this world. We have the ability to begin to change our lives at any and every moment. We have free will to work on being present at the moment and to release our stories. Stress in our daily life comes from looking at the past through a dark lens and from believing that we know what will occur in the future due to our perception of the past. In this manner, we may actually be creating a future we do not want. What if we can stop the tapes playing in our minds long enough to enjoy the present moment, long enough for us to be aware of the blessings that we do have? We can do this through meditation, prayer, or by simply noticing the touch of the air upon our skin, the feeling of our bodies being grounded into the earth, the taste in our mouths, or the sounds we hear. When we become present at the moment, lightness and awareness enter our bodies. Only this moment matters, and we can believe everything will work out for us, and we can be vulnerable.

When we can shift and recognize our own magic, we experience an energetic shift from fear to love. To keep our light shining and our hearts open, we must be mindful of with whom we surround ourselves; these boundaries are there to save our own souls and protect our hearts.

Then, as we continue to breathe into the next moment, we find that it is through the cracks that we may allow the light in, the love to heal, and our trust to grow. Trust that there is more than what our eyes see. Trust that there is beauty in sorrow. Trust that we will find our peace. It is at this point, when we use our light to perceive the past and the present, we no longer see the faults and mistakes of ourselves or of others. We forgive all involved, and we dissolve any anger. Once we surrender into trust and release the need to control, we are able to be fully free and experience a limitless abundance of love, joy, and peace. When this occurs, our desires seamlessly flow toward us, knocking upon our door when we least expect them.

Yet how do we quiet our minds enough to allow ourselves to feel the present? True peace, and the strength of vulnerability of living life, fully comes from an inner sense of worth. Love can only arise when we are within ourselves. Putting the responsibility of our happiness on another is neither fair to ourselves nor to another. It creates the possibility of a dangerous cycle of stories and fear, and loss. When we can shift

and recognize our own magic, we experience an energetic shift from fear to love. To keep our light shining and our hearts open, we must be mindful of with whom we surround ourselves; these boundaries are there to save our own souls and protect our hearts. They are an act of self-love. We must set boundaries and only allow those that cherish, respect, and see us as divine beings into our circle so as to keep the light shining within us.

Boundaries are one of the most beautiful and effective acts of selflove, thereby allowing the space for true vulnerability. To guard our own space, we do not need to be harsh; we learn to love others differently. For those that attempt to dim our light, we gently release them from our circle and love them from afar. We do this by knowing their soul is beautiful and loving the eternal part of them, yet realizing their personality, and their physical actions do not serve our goal to maintain our light.

Remember, your light is your beauty, power, and gift. Treasure it, lean into it, and let it shine bright today and always.

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

www.sanctuaryforpeace.co

Photo by AdobeStock

By Polly Wirum

7WAYS TO EMBRACE Your Spiritual Awakening

Photo by AdobeStock

Ihave been feeling a transformation in my heart, accompanied by a shift in my awareness. My feelings are supported by the changes that have occurred in my home and family, yet something is happening on a much deeper level. Sometimes it feels like I am playing a waiting game while I seek signs of my future. Other times I totally trust the Universe and divine timing.

I am in Sedona for a couple of months while my home is being remodeled. I had searched online for the perfect little writer's nook surrounded by trails and sunshine.

When I arrived in Sedona, it was cold, and snow was in the forecast. This paved the way to discovering my little cabin had no Wi-Fi during the day and my cell service was really poor. I hunkered down for the night, trying to stay warm while attempting to have a good attitude. After all, Sedona is a magical place.

The next morning, I went to one of my favorite trailheads. Funny enough, there were great views and really good cell service. I started up the trial thinking about Wi-Fi and my phone. When my pace became a slow run, my thoughts evolved to Universal connections.

As the narrow trail became steeper, my breathing became louder. The Energy around me began to shift. In my mind's eye, I could see deep purples, greens, and blues imposed over the red rocks.

I felt the energy of an old crone guiding me up the rocky incline. I was pushing through a barrier. I could feel exterior layers of selfbeing pulled off and set free. My awareness included the Earth, yet much more.

My stress began to evaporate. I could let go of all the tension I had been holding onto. At the top of the saddle, I took in the view and felt true gratitude for so many things, including my body and all I could see.

What is a spiritual awakening?

We all experience many spiritual awakenings and evolution in our human lives. They occur when our compassion for ourselves and others deepens. Awakenings also hold a curiosity about other realities besides the one we woke up to.

An awakening knows the deep connection between you, I, and the divine. We remember on some level that each of us carries a spark that is connected to Universal oneness.

If you are seeking a spiritual transformation, release all expectations and have fun. This opens your heart and welcomes compassion, joy, and curiosity

There is a sense of gratitude and peace found within a spiritual awakening. Life becomes easier because distractions from truth lose their shine.

There are many layers and intricacies woven into your energetic makeup; spiritual awakenings are just as unique and varied in the time and way they show up. This feeling of ease and enlightenment may last forever or until you return to work or some other responsibility.

Enlightenment will come around again, even if it is fleeting. Thinking about how your enlightened moments feel helps anchor high vibrational energy into your everyday life.

More About Your Spiritual Awakening

One of the most important concepts to understand about spiritual awakenings is there is no magical timeline. Some people experience a gradual shift in their awareness; other people have a complete transformation in a very short window of time.

Spiritual transformation is a continuous process of change. Much like the human body has times of rapid growth mixed with times of less change, our spirituality is the same. We can't rush our awareness any more than we can rush adolescents maturing or stop middle age from coming. You are aligned with the divine timing of the Universe.

In the same way, we can embrace wellness practices for our human experience, we can embrace our spiritual health. These include meditation, prayer, and

exploring new ideas. You never know what is going to be the catalyst for your transformation.

Seven Ways to Embrace Your Spiritual Awakening

1. Release expectations of what and how a spiritual awakening is going to look and feel. We are each different and view the world differently. We will get exactly what we need to evolve as person and a spiritual beings. When we let go of our expectations, we begin to see new possibilities that can inspire us in unexpected ways.

2. Explore different ideas and spiritual belief systems. Chances are you will begin to create your own idea of spirituality that only partially aligns with one belief system. Ultimately it is the relationship and love that you have for yourself that becomes the healthy foundation for your growth.

Photo by Luke Southern

3. Have fun with your spirituality! It is easy for us to judge ourselves or others, believing there is a right or wrong way to live a spiritual life. Part of spirituality is truly finding gratitude, laughter, and joy in our lives. Our spiritual practices should not feel like a chore or burden. Being able to laugh when we take ourselves too seriously is a gift. An example of having fun with your spirituality might be believing that your animal guides are busy gnawing away at any fears that are holding you down.

4. Angelic energy is a beautiful way to tap into spiritual awareness and help bridge the way to a new understanding of life. The energy is light, fun, and recognized in many religions and spiritual practices. Talk to your angels, even if you don't know who they are. I love this practice after meditation, but there is no wrong time to discuss life with your angels.

5. You have spiritual guides helping you on your path. Just like you can talk with your angels every day, you also can develop a relationship with your guides. Just before you fall asleep is a really nice time to open up to your guides. You can ask them to introduce themselves in your dreams. You can talk out loud or have a silent conversation. Keep a journal so you can track who shows up in your dreams. Try different things, and keep what feels good. Your practice will evolve and change just as you do.

6. The idea that your thoughts create your reality is something worth contemplating. The easier your thoughts flow, the more

ease you will have in your life. Ease is a great place to expand your awareness.

7. Some transformations come in times of great challenge; spiritual practices can ease the difficulty. There is a gift in being familiar with the feeling of Enlightenment when life is harder. It will be easier to trust the Universe and let go of expectations.

Finding Ease in the Awakening

On my way down the trail, I was enveloped by a softness. It was like my body and mind were wrapped in the vibration of peace. The answers to my greatest questions began to nudge at my consciousness.

I was reminded of the power of our mind and where we put our attention. I also recognized I was completely in the moment and connecting to what the Universe was sharing.

I'm not sure what happened on my trek up the trail. I can still feel the energy of the crone. Is she one of my guides? Did I go through a portal to another dimension?

I was able to surrender to the prevailing energy and have an experience worth remembering. That was enough to bring about a shift in my awareness.

If you are seeking a spiritual transformation, release all expectations and have fun. This opens your heart and welcomes compassion, joy, and curiosity. Ultimately it is the collective that is awakening. We are all on time to take part in this beautiful experience.

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

BODY LANGUAGE

HOW TO READ ON A FIRST DATE

When making a first impression, your nonverbal cues speak volumes.

By Linda Clemons

Your first date went great! You came home believing this could be the romance of a lifetime! So, why are you being ghosted now? What went wrong? “Your date may have said words that suggested interest, but you may have missed the nonverbal cues communicating exactly the opposite,” speculates noted body language expert Linda Clemons.

“Did you know that 93 percent of your overall communication is nonverbal? If you know how to read the cues, you can tell a lot about how a person feels, what kind of mood they’re in, and if they are being genuine.”

While Clemons has trained with ATF, CIA, and FBI behavioral experts, she stresses that understanding body language is not about becoming a human lie detector. “It’s becoming attuned to the subtle signals from those around you and paying more attention to how your

nonverbals affect others. We can use this information to make our interactions more successful and meaningful.”

Watch for these body language cues during your first date. Not sure how your date is going? Clemons says these nonverbal cues say a lot about someone’s interest:

• “I’m attracted to you” Your date is giving their full, undivided attention. They’re not checking their phone or checking out someone across the room. They’re nodding as you speak. They laugh at your jokes (you are funny, right?). They appear open and relaxed.

• “I can’t wait for this date to be over” Your date is slouching, avoiding eye contact, and crossing their arms. They’re constantly checking their phone and barely acknowledging what you have to say.

Making a great first impression: non-verbal dating tips for wome. While everyone is unique, some body language cues to signal interest are pretty much universal for women. They include:

1: Make eye contact. “It’s been said that the eyes are the window to the soul. Maintaining eye contact creates a bond between you and the other person. The eyes enable you to see the beauty, integrity, and honesty of another individual.”

2: Flash your smile. “Your face is extremely expressive; it conveys countless emotions without saying a word. We have 43 facial muscles. We use 37 of them to make at least 27 different expressions. One of these is the smile, which is synonymous with happiness and is one of the most exceptional interpersonal skills you can master, especially when it’s genuine. It communicates friendliness and can help diffuse tense situations.”

3: Listen with your head titled. “Nodding, lifting, and tilting our noggin’ can send different messages. For women, especially, listening with your head tilted is known to be a more feminine gesture. While it signals that you’re showing attentiveness, it also leaves the neck ex-

posed and vulnerable. This type of nonverbal cue signals non-confrontational behavior.”

4: Breath from your belly. “The way you breathe affects your facial expression, posture, movements, and tonality. Breathing deeply from your belly is calming. It allows you to relax and pause, which then helps heighten your ability to listen and be aware of your emotional expressions. And as you relax, the person can get into cadence with your breathing pattern. This is a form of mirroring, where they subconsciously switch their body posture to match yours. This signals that you’re both connected and engaged, and it’s incredibly helpful when you’re trying to make a romantic impression.”

5: Subtle touch. “We do not like to touch people who we do not like. Our touch can create a loving bond. There are various types, depending on the situation. These include handshakes, touching the person’s arm or wrist, hugs, a pat on the shoulder, and even kissing. A touch signals safety and trust releases oxytocin, and decreases stress. Do it with permission, of course. You don’t want to chase your interest away with an unwanted gesture.”

Non-verbal dating tips for guys who want to make a positive first impression. These body language cues can help guys be more charismatic and communicate interest.

1: Give an eyebrow flash. “The eyebrow flash is a small yet powerful gesture that often signals sexual attraction. It signals goodwill. It says, ‘I am friendly. I welcome you in.’”

2: Stroking hair. “Hair is not just a flirtatious signal for women. It’s for men, too. So imagine this: You take your hand and stroke your hair. The other person follows this movement with their eyes as it draws attention to your head. This then makes it easier for your eyes to meet. Cute, right?”

3: Adjusting clothes. “You might have heard how clothes affect a person’s perception. As a way to boost their attractiveness, men will often preen (or make themselves sleek, according to Merriam-Webster) themselves by adjusting their clothes. So if you’re looking to use subtle preening gestures, here are some examples to note: Unbutton the top of

your shirt and adjust your shirt sleeves. As the saying goes, “Clothes maketh the man.’”

4: Crotch display. “Talking about things that “maketh the man”…ahem. Okay, it’s not as crass as it sounds. It’s when a man’s feet are pointing toward the other person, legs apart, and with their crotch ‘on display.’ It’s also more prominent when a man is sitting with his legs wide open. This power stance is a subconscious way a man shows that he’s present and interested.”

5: Look and lean in. “Humans are wired to put distance between themselves and anything unpleasant or dangerous. Leaning in, on the other hand, indicates interest and curiosity. So leaning in will indicate that you like them, trust them, or are interested in them.”

Finally, as you sit face-to-face with your date, pay attention to how fast and how loudly you speak. “Don’t barrel ahead or speak in a whisper,” advises Clemons. “Your tone will let someone know if you welcome getting to know them.”

Linda Clemons from Indianapolis, Indiana, is the CEO of Sisterpreneur® Inc, which educates and empowers female entrepreneurs. She is an award-winning, recordsetting sales producer. Being a body language expert trained and certified in Analytic Interviewing and Statement Analysis™ (a process used to detect deception) has made Linda one of the top global sales trainers, assisting her clients in generating over two billion in sales.

Learn more about body language from Clemons by visiting her website, https://lindaclemons.com/

Photos by AdobeStock

Journey to Awaken A Psychomagic

Lucid Dream Consciousness

By Sarah Janes

An excerpt from “Phase Four. Temple Sleep and Dream Sanctuaries: Ancient Egypt 3150–332 BCE”

Photo by By boscorelliAdobeStock

Thousands of years ago, people all over the world were known to have engaged in an activity known as temple sleep. Sanctuaries, temples, and sometimes tombs were the sacred precincts of resident goddesses, gods, and the dead. These were special places where the divine would appear to mortals. Usually, the deities and dead would manifest in dreams or as apparitions in other altered states.

In antiquity, those seeking healing, assistance, or oracles believed that sleeping in such places would facilitate a dream encounter with the god, goddess, or dead person associated with that particular sanctuary or tomb. In ancient Egyptian metaphysical thinking, aspects of a dead person’s spirit or their immaterial essence—in particular their ba and ka1—were at times believed to return to the safe sanctuary of their tomb and perfectly preserved body.

EGYPTIAN DREAM INCUBATION AND INTERPRETATION

There is very little textual or monumental evidence of dedicated dream incubation complexes in Egypt before the Greco-Roman period, which is when the Hellenic god of medicine Asklepios syncretized with the earlier Egyptian deified healer Imhotep. However, it is unlikely that such a widespread and well-documented practice was not taking place in some form or another in Egypt before that time. It is more likely that a form of temple sleep with elements of necromancy was a folk tradition connected to honoring ancestors. There was probably a widespread cultural understanding in predynastic times, and the practice, therefore, required no formal institutionalization. It’s possible that the structured oracular culture of dreaming and dream interpretation was developed when the influence of other religious systems in the Near East merged with the private rituals of native ancestor worship.

Temple sleep as a ritual practice is frequently attested to in ancient Egyptian narrative texts and inscriptions. A divine dream might be solicited—asked for, prayed for, or requested—or it may come unsolicited, occurring spontaneously, particularly when the sleeper dozes at a site of godly power or is boozed up at a festival of drunkenness. Egyptologist Kasia Szpakowska, who specializes in ancient Egyptian dreams, nightmares, and demonology, describes instances of such dream encounters with Hathor, goddess of the sky, of women, and of fertility. Szpakowska gives an example of recorded testimony to this kind of encounter during an episode of holy drunkenness associated with Hathor’s festival. Suchfestival activities involved sacred intoxication, seen as a spiritual communion with the goddess. In such a state, an attendee might hope to experience the divine presence of Hathor.

Beer and wine were sacred to Hathor, so to experience divine adoration was to be enraptured and intoxicated. Divine drunkenness could soften the boundaries between the mortal and the divine and allow for the realms to overlap. The heart could fill up like a cup with the foaming beer of Hathor’s love, nourishing the ka and ba. Drinking Hathor’s beer in the festival was thus a way of becoming one with the divine essence of the goddess.

From the stele of a New Kingdom man named Ipwy: It was) on the day that I saw goodness my heart was spending the day in\festival thereof that I saw the Lady of the Two Lands in a dream and she placed joy in my heart. Then I was revitalized by her food without that, one would say, “Would that I had, would that we had!” One is bathed and inebriated by the sight of her.

Descriptions of this sort remind me a lot of my own lucid dreams. Frequently excluded from dream studies is the exploration of lucidity, ecstasy, and dream-induced orgasmic experiences. Dreaming is a multilayered, transformational state. The feelings that arise within a dream can linger for a considerable time upon awakening. Everyone is familiar with that awful gloom that pervades the day following a nightmare. An afterglow effect is similarly experienced following a divine dream. We shall explore these ideas further in later chapters, but Ipwy summed it up nicely here.

DREAMS THAT DELIVER THE FUTURE

Dream interpretation was certainly a respected profession in ancient Egypt, considered an art and a science. Some dream diviners would dream on behalf of another person. In doing so, they intended to extract from the dream gods’ instructions for a cure, an omen, a course of corrective action, or the identity of the perpetrator of a crime.4 Many prognostic dream texts have been discovered that list common dreams and their meanings.

It is very useful to consider that unlike modern psychoanalysis, in which dream interpretation is almost exclusively concerned with unraveling the dreamer’s inner world, their complexes, and childhood traumas, ancient Egyptian dream interpretation was overwhelmingly focused on discovering the future. I believe the nature of the ancient Egyptian language and writing to be of vital relevance in this respect— that the reason for the employment of literate scribes in the job of dream interpretation and the abundance of wordplay

and puns in the prognostic texts lies in the concept of the divine, god-given nature of the ancient Egyptian linguistic system and script. The idea that the gods communicated through the visual language and sound values of the hieroglyphs mean that literate scribes were most able to translate dream visions into coherent interpretations.

A good example of a dream interpretation text is the 19th Dynasty Papyrus Chester Beatty 3, known as the Dream Book. This papyrus was owned but not originally penned by the scribe Qenherkhepshef, who wrote a poem about the Battle of Kadesh on the other side of the papyrus. The papyrus was discovered in the artisan town of Deir el-Medina and is currently held (not on display) at the British Museum in London.In this text, many dream scenarios are simplistically listed and classified in a fashion similar to a modern dream dictionary. Good, auspicious dreams are recorded in black ink, while bad, ominous dreams are indicated in red. Examples of auspicious dreams include eating donkey flesh, being given white bread, and burying an old man. Examples of bad dream omens include looking into a deep well, munching on a cucumber, and copulating with a wife during daylight. Most of these interpretations rely upon homophones and punning within the ancient Egyptian language.

The unknown dream interpreter/scribe of the text further divides the (all-male) dreamers into extra categories. Some are determined to be followers of the falcon-headed, righteous god Horus. These characters exemplify the beneficent, humble, and ideal type of male qualities in ancient Egyptian culture. And

Dream interpretation was certainly a respected profession in ancient Egypt, considered an art and a science. Some dream diviners would dream on behalf of another person. In doing so, they intended to extract from the dream gods’ instructions for a cure, an omen, a course of corrective action, or the identity of the perpetrator of a crime.

there are those who the text’s author describes as being followers of Set, the god of war, chaos, and storms. These men are immoderate, violent, and lusty redheads. Red was the color of Horus’s enemy and murderous brother, Set. Set was also associated with reddish animals and the inhospitable and ferocious red desert. The dream interpretation would differ according to which category the dreamer was in.

Luigi Prada is another contemporary Egyptologist who specializes in ancient Egyptian dream texts and inscriptions. He makes the intriguing observation that a large part of a dream interpreter’s skill involves analysis of the dreamer, whose status, sex, and other characteristics may have determined the way in which a given dream would be interpreted.

Depending on one’s status and temperament, the same dream events could have different meanings. For example, if an unmarried woman dreamed she had sex with a snake, this would be considered auspicious and would indicate she would soon meet a husband. However, should a married woman have the same dream, it would suggest infidelity.

The entries in Qenherkhepshef’s Dream Book are generally no more than a couple of lines of hieratic, the priestly cursive form of hieroglyphs, often used for writing on papyri. The dreams described give good examples of the perceived law of opposites in dream logic. For example, dying violently in a dream is classi-

fied as good and somewhat cryptically means “living after his father.” Whether this means reflecting on the good qualities of his father in life or succeeding him in death is unclear. To be seen in a dream copulating with one’s sister or mother was also considered auspicious and generally indicated a gain of some kind. Sex with wives and other women, however, was often considered a bad omen, and bestiality usually incurred a loss of property. Snakes are curiously associated with words, and many interpretations in the dream book reflect the punning and wordplaying nature of dreaming.

To fully understand the many converging elements of these interpretations, it would be necessary to be very well-versed in the language, script, material culture, and social conventions of ancient Egypt. Texts such as Qenherkhepshef’s and similar tomes were produced all over Egypt and Mesopotamia, and wordplay is a significant and vital feature of all ancient dream interpretations. It continued to inform dream interpretation methodology and the stylistic presentation of interpretation into the later Greco-Roman period.

Texts such as the Assyrian Dream Book and the Egyptian dream interpretation texts of the Ramesside age eventually came to influence dream diviners such as the third-century Roman soothsayer Artemidorus of Ephesus, who famously produced a five-volume work of dream interpretation titled Oneirocritica (“Interpretation of Dreams”).

Artemidorus himself claims to have collated the information presented in his voluminous treatise as a result of many years of traveling in different countries and gathering oneiric insights, wisdom, and texts from a diverse array of diviners. The last section of Oneirocritica includes ninety-five dreams collected during his travels for his son, a wannabe dream interpreter himself, to practice on.

DREAM SANCTUARY

Imhotep shared a sanctuary with another deified architect, Amenhotep, at Deir el-Bahari.16 This complex provides some of the best evidence of a dedicated incubatory site in ancient Egypt. It is well documented in various inscriptions, graffiti, and ostraca that therapeutic and oracular dreams were purposefully sought within its walls. Here, during the Ptolemaic period, even though Amenhotep appears to take precedence, Egyptian visitors petitioned Imhotep for divine dreams, and the Greeks called on their god of medicine, Asklepios, and his wife, Hygieia, goddess of health and cleanliness. Cleanliness is next to godliness, after all!

Amenhotep is referred to as the “good physician,” while Imhotep/Asklepios is the “famous physician.” Presumably, Amenhotep presided over other therapeutic treatments offered by the sanctuary, but dream healing was the domain of the famous one. It is believed that those who came seeking a cure at Imhotep and Asklepios’s sanctuary initially wrote letters to the gods about their maladies. In this way, the temple attendants would have been able to tailor their treatments and provide relevant advice. Unlike visitors to the healing sanctuaries of Asklepios, it seems that those who came to

Deir el-Bahari rarely received long-term care. Most patients seem to have come with minor ailments and left after a couple of days. It is believed the small barque shrine there was the chamber dedicated to dream incubation in the temple. A barque shrine was often the closest room to, or in some cases part of, the inner sanctum of a temple. Therefore it was considered a place of incredible divine power, one that the public would not usually be granted access to.

This suggests that supplicants came to request a dream from the priests on their behalf. A barque was a sacred boat in which the gods traveled to the otherworld. Often these barques would be taken on ceremonial processions from one shrine to another during festivals, as they were considered divine housing for the living statues of the gods.

HIEROGLYPHS AND MAGIC

The entanglements of heka, Egyptian magic, and the divine manifesting power of the mdw ntjr, or hieroglyphs, are vital components of the dream culture of ancient Egypt. They help us understand Imhotep’s role as a magician, scribe, and divine physician. As was the case in Mesopotamia, magic, and medicine were inextricable from each other in ancient Egypt. I suggest that the nature of the hieroglyphs encourages particularly bihemispheric thought processes; they provoke an expanded, constantly cross-referencing system of verbal and visual recognition. In fact, this language system is especially sympathetic to the way human memory works by encoding, storing, and retrieving information. The study of hieroglyphs is, therefore, a natural primer for conscious dreaming.

Sarah Janes has been an enthusiastic lucid dreamer since childhood.

She is a writer, public speaker, and sleep hypnosis workshop facilitator. She runs Explorers Egyptology, an online lecture series, and with Carl Hayden Smith, operates The Seventh Ray, a virtual reality Mystery School.

She is also a producer and co-host for the Anthony Peake Consciousness Hour podcast. Sarah is currently working with Rupert Sheldrake and The British Pilgrimage Trust to reinvigorate the practice of dream incubation at sacred sites.

She lives in the UK. https://themysteries.org/

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for Spiritual Growth

4TOOLS W

By Adora Winquist

herever you are on your path of spiritual development, there is far greater potential awaiting you and your experience of life. From the moment we come into consciousness, we are seeking. We search for greater clarity, understanding, connection, communion, and answers to deep questions in our hearts and souls. Hence, you are here, right now, poised in perfect timing and alignment for the next levels of unfoldment of your soul’s journey.

This process of awakening to deeper levels of our consciousness is multifaceted and can be intense. You know that there is something more meant to do, be, create, experience, and embody.

But what is it?

And once you know, how do you actualize it?

Do the journey of healing and personal growth end when you realize that you are a spiritual being having a physical experience of life?

As a fellow seeker of light, I can tell you that as long as you are in physical form, there will always be greater comprehension, integration, and assimilation to be experienced. Once you reach a tipping point in your personal healing process, your soul purpose can be anchored and actualized with a positive impact for the greater good of all.

Wherever you stand along your spiral of selfmastery, today is a new beginning.

Every step and every breath you have taken since your first has brightened you perfectly here and now.

This invitation will open and align your body, mind, and spirit to deepen your spiritual growth. Pair this with the anointing oil below to further potentiate your intention.

“I invite my highest self to open and illuminate my most benevolent path of spiritual awakening.”

ESSENTIAL OIL AlCHEMY

Essential oils are the most potent form of plant medicine. They are the volatile, concentrated extracts of plants produced via steam distillation. Biochemically active essential oils sometimes contain hundreds of chemical constituents that contribute to their aromatic profile, as well as their physiological benefits.

From an alchemical perspective, aromatics represent the spirit or the “quintessence” of the plant. Their energetic nature offers us a profound ability to open, access, and actualize our highest nature and potential for a vibrant life rich in all facets of health and harmony.

The Power of Olfaction

Essential oils work in a multitude of ways, but the most immediate and sustainable way is inhalation. This is because of the proximity of the nose to the brain, specifically the limbic system, which regulates so much of our physiology, including mood, memory, and emotion.

Uniquely, in part due to their molecular size, essential oils pass through the blood-brain barrier, providing important phytonutrients throughout our body. This aspect, along with their vibrational nature, allows us to clear old dysfunctional patterns and re-program healthier new ones.

The right essential oils in the correct formulation have the ability to literally shift our mood, our thoughts, our conscious awareness, and, therefore,

our overall physiological response.

As you deepen your exploration of essential oils, here are a few practical applications. As you begin to build a more intimate relationship with the aromatics, notice your physical, emotional, and energetic responses as you incorporate the oils into your daily, intentional practices.

Essential oils gently awaken the ancient wisdom within our spirits, encouraging us to claim our greatness.

Cistus Anointing Oil

2 drops of Cistus essential oil (Cistus ladanifer)

1 drop of organic Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens)

2 drops of organic Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin)

Blend these oils into 1 TBSP of coconut oil and infuse it with your intention to open & align your being for the most benevolent growth and expansion of your soul’s light.

Apply to wrists and inhale deeply as you invite your intention for transformation. Also, apply over the heart and on the belly right below the belly button.

Photo by Chelsea shapouri

From an alchemical perspective, aromatics represent the spirit or the “quintessence” of the plant.

CRYSTALS ALCHEMY

The ancient healing properties of crystals are relatively untapped phenomena of the modern world. The Earth is composed of thousands of minerals with specific and potent abilities to heal, balance and fortify our existence. Their vibrational patterning receives, transmits, and amplifies energy and can be found in countless areas of modern and innovative technology, from cars to clocks to communications equipment.

Commonly known crystals like amethyst, lapis lazuli, and turquoise have been worn, traded, and incorporated into rituals and ceremonies to remind us of our deep connection to the Earth. These rich offerings of the natural world can restore our intrinsic human design for vibrancy and wholeness.

Crystal Alchemy to Stir the Soul

Rejuvenation and reflection, and quietude are critical components of optimal well-being. This stillness invites deeper assimilation and the integration of our soul work. The mineral kingdom invites our co-creative practices. Calling upon the potent alchemical patterns of the crystals through meditation and other mindful practices accelerates our ability to understand our path and purpose in life.

Love & Harmony in Relationships: Rose Quartz brings the energy of love and compassion to all relationships and communication.

Calm Emotions and Anxieties:

Amethyst eases anxiety and calms the nervous system to relax the body and mind.

MEDITATION

Meditation is, in its simplest form, the art of being: listening and attuning yourself to the benevolent forces of the Earth, the cosmos, and the presence of spirit within you.

Meditation allows our energy and auric field to easily align and ground with the Earth. It’s here that we can find stillness in the chaotic world around us. In this stillness, we can begin to explore our emotional triggers and habitual responses while visualizing healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and increased emotional resilience. Harnessing our thoughts and emotions in this way allows us to create empowered decisions.

• Meditate in the morning to set your intentions for the day

• Start a 5-minute daily practice and journal your experience

• Use quick meditations to calm and clear your mind in moments of stress during the day.

A meditation practice does not need to be lengthy to be effective. Starting with 5 minutes a day consistently is a great way to cultivate a commitment to yourself that is simple to keep. Over-committing can create a sense of overwhelm that is counterproductive. Once you feel like you have a solid 5-minute daily practice, increase it by a few minutes each time as long as it feels easeful. Work up to 20 minutes a day. Journal your experience and benefits for the first 21 days to see the beneficial power his new habit has brought you.

Photo by AdobeStock

Creating a Sacred Space

Creating a space in your home for your daily meditation practice will emphasize the sacred, self-honoring practice. This will build the momentum of harmonious energy, which, through the law of attraction, will draw you to meditate on even the most difficult of days.

Simple steps to create your sacred space could include a lighted candle, a bit of incense, and a cup of soothing herbal tea. Returning to this space at a set time each day will enhance your practice.

When you are ready to start:

• Select your favorite essential oil.

• Start your timer for 5 minutes.

• Place one drop on your left palm and breathe in while you invite in your intention.

• Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and let your muscles relax with each breath.

• Visualize yourself surrounded by a golden orb of light and allow this light to shift, expand and move along with your breathing.

• Continue to focus on your breath and invite a loving presence to any and all parts of your body that your attention is brought to.

• When you are finished, offer a breath and prayer of gratitude to yourself for carving out the time for a healthy self-care practice.

AFFIRMATIONS

Affirmations offer a potent alchemical synergy of intention, spoken word, and mindfulness to harness the power of the present moment. Our intention directs the flow of energy within our physical and non-physical bodies, known as our energy field. When we have a positive intention for beneficial change in a specific

facet of our lives, we can work with affirmations to signal our body-mind to create the conditions for easeful energy flow towards our dreams and desires.

Practice

Affirmations are best repeated three times with your mindful presence engaged.

To further potentiate your affirmation, add your favorite pure essential oil blend to your intentional practice. This will anchor your affirmation into your cellular consciousness and the limbic center of your brain.

Sometimes the shifts in our awareness are subtle. I recommend journaling your experience of working with affirmations. As you continue to open, explore and integrate the wisdom from these alchemical interventions, your spiritual journey will enhance every aspect of your day-to-day life.

Greater understanding, increased compassion, and a loving presence will enliven your passion and purpose in new ways. Your soul will magnetize even more abundant resources through signs, symbols, and other benevolent allies along the way.

Just remember that as spiritual beings, our transformation process is unending; there is always more to be discovered and more growth to be had. Never stop seeking the light which burns brightly in your soul!

If you are interested in an immersive way to integrate all 4 of these tools on a daily basis to support and elevate your path of self-mastery, check out the Love Frequency, my new online program offering divine knowledge of ancient healing traditions for sacred leaders in modern times.

Adora Winquist is the founder of The Soul Institute for Quantum Living.

She is an expert in the fields of essential oils and vibrational medicine and a visionary in the nascent arena of Quantum Alchemy. Adora is the co-author of “Detox Nourish Activate: Plant & Vibrational Medicine for Energy, Mood, and Love” (named one of the Most Notable Books of 2021 by Spy magazine).

Adora intertwines the divine knowledge and ancient wisdom of esoteric philosophy, psycho-spiritual dynamics, essential oils, and energy medicine through her twenty-five-plus years as a facilitator, educator, formulator, and entrepreneur.

As you continue to open, explore and integrate the wisdom from these alchemical interventions, your spiritual journey will enhance every aspect of your day-today life.

The story here is autobiographical and retrospective. Also, it is moving forward at the same time. The author brings the reader inside his life, relationships, the ups, the downs, the good and bad, and most important, the love that lasts forever. Sharing his growth, both personal and spiritual. Which is the focal point here.

His relationship with his wife, their meeting, and the twists and turns of the union and its beginning. Their children, and extended family careers, are all woven into a story that resonates with Faith. A Faith that grows with each chapter one reads. The Chapters all have Scripture and Verse, used like a touchstone or narrative to the unfolding story.

As the reader finishes the book, they are left with a feeling of "Life Goes On"! There is a tomorrow and new joys and experiences to come.

We can bounce back from odds that appear to be overwhelming at times. Live in the light and continue on one's journey filled with promise and hope.

Keep the Faith. We can all learn this lesson from Bill Leone , who embraced the bitter Goodbye to his beloved wife Diane, knowing their faith and love always remain alive.

Book reviewed by Philip Smith

Photo by Elahe Motamedi

WithMyLifeMyWife

By Bill Leone

The following excerpt from My Life With My Wife, Chapter 9, is "What Comes Next?". This excerpt shares one of the many adventures packed full of shenanigans that we experienced together as a family…the best of times!

"Diane and I loaded up our tenement on wheels, and we headed out to see sights unknown, looking forward to exciting new experiences! We all arrived without a hitch, mainly because we left so darn early that the kids slept most of the way there. I didn't know how much of a blessing that really was at the moment until we left to come home. Our living quarters on this adventure was a three-walled, tin roof tent concoction that had a broken-down enclosed wooden fence that created a small yard space. It was really useless in keeping anything or anybody out. But hey, we had an LAPD Officer with us who brought his off-duty weapon: what could possibly happen? We settled in quickly.

Diane soon got to work looking over the brochures to see what we could find to explore. Hiking was the obvious thing to do.

So the next day, my lovely wife and I took our kids on a hike. The area was beautiful this time of year because all of the mountain and forest flowers were in full bloom. Oh, the colors, oh, the many smells, and oh, the pollen! We took off down this path that put us right in the middle of it all. Then it began. It hit me all at

once. The sneezing, the itchy burning eyes, the running, no, gushing nose. Diane and the kids continued on because I had become overtaken by the alien life force that dwelled in the disguise of lovely flora. Diane was laughing so hard at one point she was unable to help guide me out as I could not see through all of the puffy eyes, the tears, and the snot that covered my face! One of my kids asked her, "What's wrong with dad?" She lost it even more. I eventually made it out of "Meadow 51." But all in all, it still was a great day. Night came, and it was time for dinner. We ate, but of course, we had trash to deal with. There was a trash can, but this was no ordinary receptacle. These had to be bear-proof trash cans, a very important detail. I had forgotten to put our trash in them just one time. That night was an allout war with the wildlife around us when attack time began at 4 AM. I was awakened to find a 300-pound bear digging through the trash I forgot to secure. I think I surprised him as much as he surprised me. My poor Diane was wondering what all the ruckus was about. It was just me shooting the bear in the behind with a halon fire extinguisher that I had brought along.

He took off running, and I of course, chased him out of the campsite and up a hill. As I was returning to our most unsecured dwelling, I came face to face with what seemed to be a 9-foot raccoon who was headed straight for the trash that the bear was just enjoying! It goes without saying that he got lit up with the fire extinguisher as well! By the way, I was a dead-eye with that extinguisher. There were more run-ins with the fauna but nothing that me an Ol Red, couldn't handle (insert tobacco spit). Maybe it was from lack of sleep, but I swear I thought I saw the Bald Headed Bear from the movie "The Great Outdoors." We had many cool adventures and saw some awesome wonders of nature while visiting this historic park, but all too soon, it was time to go home. As usual, Diane took care of the inside of the motor home, and I took care of the outside. By the way, we weren't allowed to sleep in it per park rules because we weren't in the motor home part of the park. Anyway, we started our trek down the mountain, and all of us were wide awake this time. All of a sudden, someone began to feel car sick.

You can only guess what happened next. One kid started, and then a chain re-

action occurred that made Pompeii look like the beautiful water show outside the Bellagio in Vegas! Our oldest boy used one of his sister's shoes while blankets and pillows were being destroyed—it was pure mayhem. For some reason, nobody ever thought to try and get to a sink or the bathroom! Remember, I'm not a poop-and-puke guy... I'm okay with blood and guts. I had that motor home pulled over and stopped in record time, and I was out of the vehicle running down a path that I had found not too far away, barely escaping with my life. It was a very traumatic experience for me, so stop laughing! I left Diane alone to deal with that mess because, in some weird way, she understood. Don't judge me! Again, I think it was the same kid who asked, "What's wrong with dad?" way back in Meadow 51 that also asked, "Where's dad?" I had disappeared so fast that no one knew where I was! All I could hear when it was all over was Diane's sweet voice calling for me to come back. Things got tied to the rear bumper and placed in outside compartments after SPEWNADO had finally passed. We had about six more hours to go, but we made it home unscathed the rest of the way. PTL!"

Rev. Bill Leone is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and is the Associate Pastor/Worship at Faith Church of the Nazarene in Burbank, Ca. He also volunteers as a Police Chaplain. Bill has been blessed with a gift from God (beginning at the age of 4), allowing him to become an accomplished \musician who longs to share it with others. He has led worship at various adult and children’s events and has written children’s praise and worship songs for many VBS events.

In addition, Bill has traveled throughout the US, entertaining and giving concerts on the organ, piano, and keyboards as a product specialist for various instrument manufacturers.

He married in 1993 and is a dedicated and loving father of a very blended family with 5 children and 5 grand children.

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HOSTED BY Alan Nevins & Joey Santos

Experts reveal the best ways to stay fit working from home

• 5 of the best tips for staying fit while working from home

• Experts reveal how you can stay fit on any budget

By https://totalshape.com

Research conducted by online fitness resource Total Shape found the best ways to keep active while working from home.

Since Covid-19 swept across the globe, many industries have shifted to fully remote or hybrid working. During covid, 70% of the workforce was working from home (WFH), and since then, 61.9% of companies have planned to incorporate remote work, be it fully remote or hybrid.

With more and more people working from the comfort of their own homes, a Health Impact Assessment found that home working may be associated with more sedentary lifestyles and, in turn, increased risk of obesity. Most of our calories throughout the day are burned through non-exercise activity thermogenesis, which is things such as walking and other basic activities. When working from home, sometimes our activities can be even more limited.

This guide from Total Shape includes some great ways to stay fit even when you are working from home.

Photos by AdobeStock

Standing desks have gained popularity over the last few years and have been proven to provide many positive health benefits. Some of the benefits of standing desks are that standing burns more calories than sitting, even if you simply stand still. Research has also shown that 66% of workers felt more productive, and 87% felt more energized. Standing activates the muscles in your legs and core while stimulating circulation, which can help you to burn extra calories and build your strength. Standing desks come in a range of styles and cater to all different budgets meaning this is an accessible option for all.

Cost: $150 - $600

Calories per hour: 60 - 90

Although it is a more expensive option, this is one of the most effective ways to stay fit while working at home. It essentially takes the standing desk a step further by adding the walking element. Studies have shown that walking between 1 and 2.5 mph can lead to an extra 170 – 240 calories burned per hour. Not only have people encountered the physical benefits of getting more exercise, but walking helps to oxygenate the brain by stimulating blood circulation. So, we think better and more efficiently when we walk. With most people having busy schedules outside of work, it can make getting the recommended amount of physical exercise difficult, which makes this a great way to stay fit while working from home.

Cost: $200 - $800

Calories per hour: 170 – 240

• Standing Desk

• Desk Treadmill

• Under Desk Bikes

A very similar concept to the desk treadmill, an under-desk bike features a small set of pedals that can slide under your desk so that you can pedal while sitting. The small machines can be altered to have more resistance which makes it harder or easier to pedal. This type of aerobic exercise is good for staying fit and can help strengthen your legs and joints. Studies estimated that peddling while seated can burn up to 10 calories per minute, depending on the intensity, which means you could burn up to 600 calories an hour. However, the average gentle peddling will most likely burn 100-300 an hour.

Cost: $50 - $200

Calories per hour: 100 – 600 (depending on intensity)

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are an affordable option to help train your body and get fitter. You can perform plenty of more passive resistance band workouts even when you're doing something at your desk. This means that in between typing and during brainstorming sessions, your body can keep active alongside your mind. Exercises could include bicep curls, overhead tricep extensions, and shoulder raises. However, there are many variations and other exercises that can be done with resistance bands.

Resistance bands can help you build muscle and burn calories while seated at your desk. A study published in 2022 showed that resistance band training lowers body fat in people who are overweight better than other forms of training, including free weights and bodyweight exercises.

Cost: $15 - $40

Calories per hour: 180 – 252• 7 Minute workout

Searching "seven-minute workout" on the app store will reveal a fantastic app that will guide you through various workouts that you can do in your own home, which take just seven minutes at a time. The best thing about the seven-minute workout app is that its programs are designed especially for people who are doing the workouts at home and who have no special equipment. While there are

some in-app purchases available, you can use the app completely free – so there's nothing stopping you from getting started.

The 7-minute nature of these workouts allows people with busy schedules to fit in exercise and can help break up your working day, which can increase productivity. Building muscle will also help you to burn more NEAT calories as well which in the long term will help you stay fit and healthy.

Cost: Free

Calories per 7 minutes: 20 – 50

• Diet

Exercise and living an active lifestyle are obviously important in staying fit and healthy; however, diet is a key contributor to overall health and fitness. People with few distractions at home may find that they are more aware of hunger than they would be at the workplace, which can lead to more snacking and possibly an unhealthier diet. By focusing on eating healthy foods and healthy snacks, people who work from home can ensure that they are staying fit and keeping their bodies healthy. Studies show that both the overall composition of the human diet and specific dietary components have been shown to have an impact on brain function; this means that diet isn't only going to keep you fit, but it's going to improve cognitive function and, thus the quality of work produced.

A spokesperson from Total Shape commented: "Roughly 2 in 3 people in the US are overweight, and with many aspects of life becoming more sedentary, it's important that people try to find new ways to keep fit and healthy. Life has become busy and more expensive, meaning that it's harder to find the time and money to attend gyms or activities that help us to remain fit.

This guide provides a plethora of choices for people on various budgets and with specific preferences to ensure we are keeping ourselves healthy."

The study was conducted by Total Shape, which is a fitness resource site providing information about workouts, supplements, and fitness to help you reach your goals.

Losing my dear friend

In Loving memory of Doris Bergmnan

I was devastated to have discovered that my good friend Doris Bergman had perished in an incendiary consuming fire along with her husband, Albert, and their pet cat. Their Mar Vista house was utterly ablaze from a fire rumored to have started from the kitchen. I had last spoken to her only over the previous weekend. Her departure was a sober reminder of the evanescent fragility of our human existence and how we are here for only a whisper of time.

I am completely saddened by this loss as Doris and I had gotten to be close friends with great camaraderie during the COVID lockdown, and we had a good mental rapport and an intellectual bond. I will greatly miss her on so many levels—her great sardonic wit, her intelligence, her generosity of spirit, and her wicked sense of dark, black humor. Rest in peace, dear Doris and Albert. I honor you for the great magnanimous human beings that you were. Continue on in your soul’s journey towards everlasting Light. You will be missed beyond measure and never forgotten. With Love Forever,

Doris and her wonderful husband, Albert, is such a terrible tragedy. Doris was the creative genius behind so many fantastic events that celebrated Hollywood celebrities and popular brands while giving back to charity. In particular, Doris took great pride in knowing that her efforts on behalf of the charity Wednesday’s Child helped to bring attention and action to adopting children in the foster care system. Albert equally took great pride in serving his many clients as a well-respected Los Angeles attorney.

I will never forget Doris’s soft heart that sometimes took a few minutes to discover while hidden behind her fire engine red hair and gruff voice. However, once Doris called you her “friend,” the magic and beauty of knowing her began. I will miss her countless phone calls where she would belt out a Broadway show tune or tell me about a classic tv re-run she had just watched. She was one of the most colorful people you will ever meet, and the saying, “When God made her, he threw out the mold,” holds more true for Doris than for anyone I have ever met in my lifetime. Doris and Albert will never be forgotten. Although their story had a tragic ending, their time on this Earth was well spent. I feel blessed and honored to have been a part of their lives. I now rest easy knowing they are at peace, and I look forward to seeing them on the other side.

~ Anthony Turk, Entertainment Publicist and longtime friend of Doris and Albert

~Sue Wong

Doris was the most incredible human being I had ever met, full of kindness, compliments, and giving. I’ll miss her since I was always her Queen whenever she used to call me, sometimes I’ll never hear again from her she was my best friend. She always is in my heart, and I know she’s watching over us with her big smile.

~Gloria Kisel-Hollis

Hollywood publicist, known for hosting style and gift suites at awards shows like the Emmys and Oscars. One of her gift lounges was a feature for 15 years at the George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic.

UNDERSTANDING SLEEP HYGIENE AND HOW TO IMPROVE IT FOR A BETTER NIGHT'S REST

By hush.ca

Photo by AdobeStock

The quality of your sleep hygiene can make or break how well you manage to get some shut-eye at night, and it all falls down to bedroom environment and routine. So, if you struggle to rest easily at night, it's likely that you have poor sleep hygiene.

Having poor sleep hygiene can lead to feeling exhausted during the day, which poses a risk to your own safety as well as the safety of others; in fact, drowsy driving is one of the many risks of insufficient sleep, which leads to over 6,000 fatal car accidents every year in the U.S.

Thankfully, experts at Hush. have provided five tips to improve your sleep hygiene to ensure you catch some Zs at night.

Be consistent with your bedtime routine. Never underestimate the importance of a bedtime schedule – being consistent is vital to help your body's circadian rhythm match your desired bedtime. Going to bed at the same time and repeating steps like brushing your teeth before bed will allow your body to associate sleep with your routine to release melatonin, known as the sleep hormone.

Allow time for relaxation

Instead of turning on the TV to watch your favorite show or using your phone just before bed, opt for a wind-down period that requires no screens. The blue light from screens delays melatonin production, thus affecting your sleep hygiene by preventing you from getting into a deep sleep quickly – so it's best to prepare for the night by eliminating this. Try delving into a book or even having a warm bath – once you get out, your body cools quickly and imitates the natural cooling that happens when your body prepares for sleep to help you feel more tired.

Add exercise to your daily routine

Exercising regularly isn't only beneficial for your physical health; it can also positively impact your sleep hygiene. Incorporating moderate-to-vigorous exercise can into your routine daily increases time spent in deep sleep by using up lots of energy, therefore making you feel fatigued. However, be sure to keep the last three hours before you go to bed free of exercise to avoid increased heart rate, body temperature, and adrenaline that make you feel more awake.

Eliminate light and noise

Blocking light and noise isn't as simple as closing the drapes and keeping your bedroom door shut. It may do the trick to an extent, but there are still ways for both light and noise to creep into your bedroom and disrupt your sleep at night. Investing in a blackout curtain prevents light from disrupting melatonin production or even wearing a blackout eye mask. As for noise, consider a white noise machine that covers up irregular sounds by creating steady and soothing background noises, such as static or ocean waves.

Ensure your bedroom is a cool temperature

While you may expect that a warm bedroom will allow you to get comfortable and sleep well, it's actually better for your sleep hygiene to sleep in a cool environment. Doing so reinforces your body's natural instinct to sleep, as our temperature drops near bedtime as a signal to get some rest. As well as this, a cool bedroom regulates your body temperature to prevent any disruptions and also promotes melatonin production. So, if your bedroom is toasty, consider adding a fan to your room, leaving your window open, or even drinking water a few hours before bed to reap the benefits of its cooling effect.

"Sleep is a vital part of our daily routine, and while many may think that a cup of coffee can help on those days suffering from little sleep, it's only a short-term solution. Understanding the importance of good quality sleep hygiene is crucial, as lack of rest can lead to many problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. With these simple tips, you can drastically improve your sleep hygiene to ensure that you are well rested at night."

~Hush

LA ART SHOW

WRAPS UP A SUCCESSFUL RETURN WITH AN IMPRESSIVE GLOBAL LINEUP AND AN

IMPACTFUL

CLIMATE AGENDA

Photography by Sheri Determan

The LA Art Show, largest and longest-running art fair, wrapped up its 28th iteration following a triumphant return to the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 15 through 19, 2023. Guided by the leadership of LA Art Show producer and director Kassandra Voyagis, the fair kicked off the City's art season, uniting galleries, curators, collectors, and celebrities alike. LA Art Show 2023 saw a more significant global presence than ever, with over 120 galleries and 35% higher attendance than last year's show, bringing the total attendees to around 60,000.

The fair debuted with a successful Opening Night Premiere Party hosted by actress Ashley Tisdale, raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the show's charitable partner of 9 years, who received 15% of all ticket proceeds. Visitors gathered to see iconic LA artist Robert Vargas live painting a powerful mural as part of the series, The sacRED Project. "Protect The Life Givers" was on view throughout and is the third mural in a three-city series – Albuquerque, New York City, and now Los Angeles – addressing the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and the #MMIW movement.

The European Pavilion returned along with an increased presence from Asia, marked by the launch of the Japanese Pavilion and 15 galleries from South Korea, a testament to the country's thriving arts scene, which was celebrated with an opening night reception for Korean dignitaries.

"I spent much of 2022 traveling to scout international participants, and it was inspiring to see attendees blown away by the scope of the work represented at this year's show. It was an honor to help bring it all together, and we will continue to expand our international presence," says LA Art Show producer Kassandra Voyagis.

A few LA Art Show 2023 highlights included:

• Ramona Otto's Holy Cow: Pray For Peaceful Coexistence made its debut at LA Art Show (bG Gallery). As a call for peace in a divisive world, Holy Cow combines thousands of religious artifacts from major religious groups, human rights leaders, and iconic peace symbolism.

• First-time exhibitor Markowicz Fine Art showcased pioneering artist Carole Feuerman's hyper-realistic sculpture of a swimmer, "Bibi on the Ball," which captured the attention of visitors and the local networks alike.

• Song-Word Art House's exhibit was based on the song "LA Woman" by The Doors, which featured an original artwork by legendary guitarist Robby Krieger inspired by the mysterious words "MR MOJO RISIN," an anagram to the name "Jim Morrison."

• Artist MARCK's "GEGENSTROM XXL" at Licht Feld Gallery attracted the crowds, showing a woman trapped in a box filled with water, searching for a way out, seemingly unaffected by the hopelessness of her situation yet never losing faith. The power of MARCK's work is enhanced by his choice of materials, transforming an ordinary appliance into a stunning video sculpture.

• Artwork by actor Val Kilmer at Fabrik Projects included works from his Icon painting series in which Kilm-

er investigates the nature of Icons and explores themes of identity and American mythic archetypes.

The fair's non-commercial platform DIVERSEartLA, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, inspired dialogue through art, featuring 9 interdisciplinary projects examining the climate crisis, including The Museum of Latin American Art's "When God Was A Woman, 1980-2021" – a double-sided mural - by artist and ecofeminist, Judy Baca. Thirteen women represent Latina, Chicana, and all women, with their naked bodies shown in the volcano synonymous with life. At the same time, the other side depicts a goddess possessing vital energy, Mother Earth. Korean artist HanHo's "Eternal Light" showcased a massive nine-part multimedia work presented by ReflectSpace Gallery (City of Glendale Library). The work, inspired by Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment," re-imagined an apocalyptic scenario for the 21st century.

LA Art Show 2023 ended with DIVERSEartLA presenting their inaugural Museum Acquisition Award - created and chosen by Spain's La Neomudejar Museum - to artist Hogan Brown at Arcadia Contemporary, who will now be part of the Museum's collection.

Mark your calendars for next year's show at the LA Convention Center from Feb 14-18, 2024. Visit: www. laartshow.com

PALEOTSUNAMI Detectives Hunt for

Ancient Disasters

Photos by AdobeStock

Gigantic tsunamis have been decimating coastlines since time immemorial. We ignore these prehistoric warnings at our own peril.

By Nathaniel Scharping

Aboulder weighing more than 40 tonnes sits on the sand high above the ocean. Dwarfing every other rock in view, it is conspicuously out of place. The answer to how this massive outlier got here lies not in the vast expanse of the Atacama Desert behind it but in the Pacific Ocean below. Hundreds of years ago, a tsunami slammed into the northern Chilean coast—a wall of water 20 meters high, taller than a six-story building, that swept boulders landward like pebbles.

The tsunami that lobbed this behemoth happened before written records existed in Chile. But we know about it today thanks to the detective work of a small group of researchers who are uncovering the signs of ancient tsunamis around the globe. Using diverse scientific techniques, these paleotsunami researchers have found evidence of previously undocumented colossal waves. In the process, their work reveals that coastal communities could be in far more danger from tsunamis than they realize.

As scientists expand their search, they have continued to find ancient tsunamis bigger than those found in historical records, says James Goff, a paleotsunami researcher at the University of South-

ampton in England. The implications are clear: if a huge tsunami happened once in a given location, it could happen again. The question is whether we’re prepared for it.

A tsunami is more than just a big wave. Conventional waves, even those tens of meters high, are usually generated by the wind and involve only the uppermost layers of water. They carry relatively little energy, and typically crash harmlessly on the shore.

A tsunami, by contrast, is spawned by geological forces—an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or the side of a mountain crashing into the sea. A tsunami involves the entire water column. While large tsunamis can measure 20 meters or more in height—with some particularly monstrous ones rising hundreds of meters—they need not be exceptionally tall to cause widespread damage. Instead of collapsing on the beach, a tsunami rushes ashore like a battering ram. After racing hundreds of meters or more inland, the water recedes into the depths, carrying away nearly everything in its path. But tsunamis almost always leave evidence of their passage—like an outof-place boulder high in the desert.

Goff has been searching for ancient tsunamis for almost three decades, mostly in countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. He’s one of just a few scientists worldwide who specialize in finding evidence of paleotsunamis, or tsunamis that predate written records.

The easiest way to tell that a tsunami hit hundreds or thousands of years ago is to look underground, Goff says. When the wave recedes, it leaves traces of everything it contained strewn across the surface. This thin layer of silt, rocks, tiny shells, and other marine deposits gets buried over time, preserving the tsunami’s path between layers of sediment. In some places, the layers are so well preserved that researchers can see evidence of multiple tsunamis stacked on top of each other like a layer cake.

An excavation in Maui, Hawai‘i, shows four bands marking tsunami deposits. Scientists have yet to deduce when these tsunamis occurred.

In southern Chile, you can dig a hole near many coastal rivers and count the bands. “One, two, three, four,” Goff says. “And you can just see these layers, and you know that they’re paleotsunamis.”

In places with rocky or more barren terrain, a paleotsunami’s track can be harder to discern, and the techniques used must be tailored to the environment. Goff and other researchers also look for microscopic marine organisms like diatoms and foraminifera, ancient DNA from marine life, changes to geochemistry, and, as in the Atacama, unexpected boulders.

That Atacama tsunami likely happened in 1420, says Tatiana Izquierdo, a paleotsunami researcher based at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Spain who helped to discover it. She and her colleagues dug underneath the boulder to find undisturbed sediment. They radiocarbon dated some of the marine shells they found, giv-

ing a range of potential dates from the 14th to the 16th centuries. With further research, the team found historical records of a tsunami in Japan in 1420 that fit with their dates. Izquierdo says their tsunami likely originated off the Chilean coast following a large earthquake and crossed the Pacific to Japan.

In other cases, paleotsunami researchers have drawn insights from the archaeological record. Izquierdo says archaeologists in Chile previously noted that suddenly, around 3,800 years ago, a number of coastal sites were systematically abandoned, with new sites soon appearing farther inland. Additional evidence, like shell middens that bore evidence of having been eroded by strong currents, hinted at a potential paleotsunami.

Those dates line up perfectly with a huge paleotsunami that Goff found evidence for an ocean away, in New Zealand, where boulders the size of cars had been tossed almost a kilometer inland. It’s a disaster that doesn’t appear in historical records, Goff says, and it’s a tsunami that likely affected islands all across the South Pacific, including in Vanuatu, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. Paleotsunami researchers have yet to look for corroborating evidence on those islands, so they don’t yet know the full scale of the destruction it caused.

Finding out how big and how bad a paleotsunami was is more than a matter of historical interest. That data has a lot of value for contemporary coastal communities.

Predicting tsunamis is impossible. At best, residents might have minutes to hours of warning from agencies like the National Tsunami Warning Center in the United States and Canada that use buoys and seismometers to detect potential tsunamis before they reach land. The resulting alerts are based on computer models fed data on how past tsunamis behaved. If they’re missing key events that don’t show up in the historical record—like the ones paleotsunami researchers are steadily uncovering—the warnings may not be fully accurate.

Goff points to the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami in Japan as a prime example of the perils of ignoring evidence of past events.

That 2011 tsunami, generated by a Magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the seafloor off Japan, spawned waves up to 40 meters high that traveled as far as 10 kilometers inland. The water overwhelmed sea walls and inundated more than 100 designated tsunami evacuation sites. It destroyed entire towns and crippled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. More than 15,000 people died.

Part of the problem was Japan’s inadequate defenses. Researchers knew of three large tsunamis from historical

records dating back as far as the 17th century, one of which produced waves nearly as tall as the 2011 tsunami. Yet officials based their tsunami defense preparations, including the construction of a sea wall and the location of tsunami evacuation zones, on a 1960 tsunami generated by an earthquake on the Chilean coast that produced waves in Japan just six meters tall.

“We knew how big they could be [in Japan]. We knew that these things must have been generated just off the Japanese coast. And yet, we were completely unprepared for it,” Goff says.

The 2011 Tōhoku tsunami was more destructive than nearly any other in modern times. But as paleotsunami research is showing, it was hardly unprecedented.

Back in Chile, Izquierdo says she’s particularly worried about what would happen if a tsunami comparable in size to the one that flung boulders into the Atacama Desert hit today. In popular vacation spots, like outside the city of Caldera, people have built homes right near the beach. Should a tsunami hit, those homes could be in grave peril.

Paleotsunami researchers are revealing that the tsunamis we don’t know about were often more destructive than the ones we do. Those disasters may have happened thousands of years ago, and those locations may never see such big waves any time soon. But somewhere, sometime, we will.

After racing hundreds of meters or more inland, the water recedes into the depths, carrying away nearly everything in its path. But tsunamis almost always leave evidence of their passage—like an out-of-place boulder high in the desert.