July 2020 Mile High Natural Awakenings

EE R F

H E A LT H ,

H O P E

&

H A P P I N E S S

Outdoor Feasts Inspired Picnics and Healthy Grills

Beyond Factory Farms

Big Meat Comes at High Cost

Rethinking Lawns Mindfulness In the Bedroom

July 2020 | Denver Edition | MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com

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Health, Hope & Happiness

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 9 OUTDOOR FEASTS Inspired Picnics and Healthy Grills

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13 BEYOND

FACTORY FARMS

‘Big Meat’ Comes at High Cost

16 GREENER GREEN

GRASS

Why Organic Lawns Make Eco-Sense

18 STEPHEN DINAN

16

on a Sacred Vision for America

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EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

19 MINDFULNESS IN THE BEDROOM

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CALMING KIDS

18

Ways to Turn Anxiety Around

GUT TALK

Tips for a Healthy Microbiome

CULTIVATING CONTENTMENT The Spiritual Discipline of Evoking Joy

EARTH-FRIENDLY PETS Our Animals Can Go Green, Too

DEPARTMENTS 5 news briefs 6 health briefs 7 global briefs 9 conscious

eating

16 green living 18 wise words 20 calendar 20 classifieds 22 resource guide July 2020

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HEALTH, HOPE & HAPPINESS Publishers Doug Zerbarini Terry Chriswell Editors Terry Chriswell Doug Zerbarini Design & Courtney Ayers Production Stephen Gray-Blancett

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Health, Hope & Happiness

news briefs

Intimacy Retreats Go Online

D

iana and Richard Daffner have been leading Intimacy Retreats for 23 years in places such as Siesta Key, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Jamaica. As a response to our new “socially distant” world, they have successfully taken their retreats online.

Virtual weekends will be held July 17-19, August 7-9 and September 11-13. They start Friday at 6:30 p.m. EST and conclude on Sunday evening, making it possible for couples to attend from various time zones. The group sessions are live and experiential, and screen time is spread out over the weekend.

Between sessions, couples are given “home-play” assignments to enjoy in private. These reinforce and personalize the workshop’s teachings, providing participants with life and loving skills that will be with them forever. (There is never public nudity or sexual activity during Intimacy Retreats.)

The Daffners’ easy, meaningful and fun practices are drawn from Tantra, mindfulness studies and relationship trainings in communication, movement and touch. Married since 1985, the Daffners are authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples: How to Deepen Your Passion in Just Ten Minutes a Day. Both Diana and Richard are certified sexologists and Diana has a M.A. in Counseling.

For information on Intimacy Retreats, call 941-349-6804 or see ad page 17..

LifeWorks Accepting Patients

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r. David Minkoff and his wife Sue Minkoff, RN, founded LifeWorks Wellness Center, in Clearwater, Florida, in 1997, as a healing haven where people could obtain the best medical care possible in an environment where they would be treated like family.

They have continued to provide the highest-quality natural medicine treatments and services for their clients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV therapy, ozone therapy, enhanced external counterpulsation, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy and more. LifeWorks is especially suitable for those with undefined and unresolved underlying health issues, or for anyone just not feeling right. They have been successfully treating patients with a variety of stubborn conditions, and conduct research to discover what has changed in the patient’s body and mind, revealing the root causes of health issues, and then treat them naturally with life-enhancing supplements and healing modalities.

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Eat More Citrus for a Thinner Waistline Research published in the Phytotherapy Research Journal analyzed 13 studies from around the world involving 921 people. The studies showed that eating citrus fruits or their extract can significantly reduce body weight. The research data found that citrus and its extracts reduced body weight by an average of 2.8 pounds per person and almost an inch of waist and hip circumference. It also reduced body mass index among those studied.

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Health, Hope & Happiness

OSTILL is Franck Camhi/Shutterstock.com

In good news for the 10 to 20 percent of people over age 65 that suffer with mild cognitive impairment, research from China’s Central South University, in Hunan, shows that practicing the gentle ancient martial art of tai chi can significantly improve memory, learning, mental speed and attention, the ability to formulate abstract ideas, mental flexibility and visuospatial perception. The research analyzed data from 10 studies that included 1,061 people with symptoms such as forgetting conversations and names, and having difficulty with complex tasks.

“As it emphasizes mental concentration, physical balance, full-body stretching and relaxation, and relaxed breathing, tai chi has a great potential for becoming widely integrated into rehabilitation interventions for various medical and psychological conditions,” write the study’s authors.

Berberine, an alkaloid compound found in goldenseal, Oregon grape, barberry and other herbs, can potentially reduce artery plaque, concludes a new study from the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine. Researchers studied the metabolic pathways for atherosclerosis using protein interactions developed from drug research. The database-driven research confirmed that berberine reduces artery inflammation and the thickening of blood vessel walls that can lead to atherosclerosis—the hardening of the arteries. Previous studies have found that berberine reduces blood sugar levels, accelerates weight loss and lowers bad cholesterol levels.

Try Turmeric, Ginger and Black Pepper for Osteoarthritis For people suffering from the crippling pain and disability of osteoarthritis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen and Tylenol (which comes with a black box warning) come with side effects that include gastrointestinal distress, higher blood pressure, and risk of death. In a study of 60 patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis, researchers at Iran’s Isfahan University of Medical Sciences compared naproxen in a double-blind trial with a turmeric extract, ginger and black pepper combination. After two doses a day of each for four weeks, the levels of prostaglandin in patients taking the herbs matched the improvements in those patients taking naproxen.

Prostaglandin levels gauge joint inflammation in osteoarthritis.

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Reduce Cognitive Decline with Tai Chi

Reduce Artery Plaque Risk with Berberine

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health briefs

Natural Thinking

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global briefs

Tree Believers

Forest Loss Leads to Spread of Human Disease A new Stanford University study published in Landscape Ecology reveals viruses like COVID-19 that jump from animals to people will likely become more common as people continue to transform natural habitats into agricultural land. Researchers found the loss of tropical forests in Uganda put people at greater risk of physical interactions with wild primates and the viruses they carry, with implications for the emergence and spread of infectious animal-to-human diseases in other parts of the world. People have converted nearly half of the world’s land into agriculture. Tropical forests have suffered the most, with some of the highest rates of conversion occurring during the last few decades.

Study co-author Tyler McIntosh says, “At the end of the day, land conservation and the reduction of forest fragmentation is our best bet to reduce human [to] wild animal interactions.”

Spending Time in Nature Increases Cognitive Performance

More of our time is spent indoors than ever before. One of the ways by which nature may improve cognitive function (i.e., the acquisition of and goal-oriented use of knowledge) is by improving memory formation and recall, specifically that of short-term or working memory, and goal-oriented or directed attention; the kind that requires focused effort. By comparing and contrasting 13 studies, a team of researchers has shed light on this complex interaction in research published in Frontiers in Psychology.

The studies used the backward digit span task, which requires participants to invert a series of numbers and repeat them back. All demonstrated significantly improved cognition in nature as compared to urban environments. The benefits of studies like this are two-fold: not only are we learning more about how the brain interacts with its environment, but also how to leverage this interaction to lead healthier, more productive and happier lives.

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July 2020

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Music as Medicine

A simple strategy–listening to music for 30 minutes a day– can lower post-heart attack anxiety and significantly reduce future cardiac risks, reports a new study from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine, in Serbia, presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session and World Congress of Cardiology.

The researchers recruited 350 patients diagnosed with heart attacks and early post-infarction angina at a medical center. Half were randomly assigned to receive standard treatment while half were assigned to regular music sessions in addition to standard treatment. In a follow-up seven years later, the patients with music therapy on average had anxiety scores one-third lower than those on standard treatment and reported lower angina symptoms by about one-quarter. They also had an 18 percent reduction in the rate of heart failure; a 23 percent lower rate of subsequent heart attack; a 20 percent lower rate of needing coronary artery bypass graft surgery; and a 16 percent lower rate of cardiac death.

In addition to reducing stress and improving general health, mindfulness and meditation techniques have been linked to longevity, as marked by longer telomere length, a biomarker of human aging. In a new research paper in Scientific Reports, Spanish researchers at the Navarra Institute for Health Research, in Pamplona, reported that aging, which typically shortens telomere length, showed no association with that marker in a group of long-term meditators. They theorized that long-term meditation could be related to epigenetic mechanisms, in particular, gene-specific DNA methylation changes at distinct sub-telomeric regions. Lead author Maite Mendioroz, M.D., Ph.D., suggests that yoga practice and meditation are related to longer telomere length in blood cells, writing, “Leukocyte telomere shortening has been associated with several age-related conditions such as cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction and cognitive performance.”

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Mindfulness and Meditation May Promote Longevity

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conscious eating

spreads and pickles and a little something sweet, and you’ve got all you need to create a memorable meal outdoors.”

Robyn Lindars, of Fort Myers, Florida, author The Healthy Electric Smoker Cookbook: 100 Recipes with All-Natural Ingredients and Fewer Carbs, says, “I love grilled veggies paired with goat cheese and fresh herbs on French or Italian bread. You can add capicola or just stick to veggies for tasty sandwiches that do well in a cooler.”

Great Grilling

OUTDOOR FEASTS Inspired Picnics and Healthy Grills

by Marlaina Donato othing defines the summer seapicnicking not only in woodlands and son quite like firing up the grill or on beaches, but on rooftops. Being open escaping with a picnic basket to a to different times of the day welcomes a favorite hideaway. From luscious fruits to shift in mood. “I’m particularly fond of gorgeous greens, enjoying a meal outdoors breakfast picnics. They’re an excellent way inspires us to eat what is in season and to clear your head and get motivated, as invites us to sip the moment. Most of all, they’re an activity fully engaging all of the it gives us special time with loved ones or senses. Twilight picnics are another favorwith ourselves. ite. As the sun begins to set, the light is less Ashley English, of Candler, North Caroharsh and the mood outdoors becomes lina, author of A Year of Picnics: Recipes for decidedly quieter. I find picnics during Dining Well in the Great Outdoors, sees picthis time of day to be especially relaxing,” nics as a delicious excuse to eat healthy and says English. in sync with the seasons. “No matter what Simple tasks like washing salad greens time of year you’re picnicking, there’s always or whipping up a quick hummus dip the going to be something ripe and in season night before a picnic can save considerable to showcase. We all know that foods eaten time. Traditional picnic baskets are not reat their peak time of ripeness simply taste quired, and English recommends vintage better, so use your summertime picnic as an suitcases, wooden crates or a backpack, opportunity to bite into a ripe watermelon or especially if the picnic destination involves your autumn picnic as the ideal time to bake an uphill trek. She also emphasizes siman apple crisp.” plicity: “While a lavish spread with myriad options is quite fun, a simple picnic can be Portable Pleasures equally enjoyable. A grazing board to-go Thinking outside the box can jazz up is quite easy. Pack up a medley of fruits, the ordinary. English sings the praises of veggies, charcuterie or cheeses, crackers,

N

Grilling “adds a ton of flavor to food without needing to add additional fat or calories. Cooking over fire is also the oldest method of cooking,” says Lindars.

Happily, the health risks associated with barbequing meat over hot coals can be reduced by using flavorful marinades or opting to go vegan.

Reducing temperature decreases carcinogenic compounds associated with grilling meats and can be best accomplished by waiting until charcoal turns to embers or turning the gas grill down a notch or two. Grilling further from the flame on an elevated rack is also a good option.

Citrusy or balsamic vinegar-based marinades naturally minimize toxic potential by reducing the formation of unhealthy compounds, studies show.

“You are what you eat and what you eat was eating. Opt for the highest-quality protein possible—grass-fed beef, organic, humanely raised protein,” suggests Lindars. “Make your own marinades and rubs to avoid ingredients like soybean oil and corn syrup. You can easily make your own with simple ingredients like olive oil, fresh herbs, vinegars, sea salt and spices.

Fresh rosemary, lemon zest, juice, sea salt, pepper and garlic with a splash of olive oil makes for an amazing marinade, and can even be paired with grass-fed butter to put on chicken. A basic rub of smoked paprika, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and dash of garlic powder is great on just about anything.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

July 2020

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Recipes for Outdoor Feasts

Fire-Roasted Gazpacho 3 lb small-to medium-size tomatoes, possibly a mixture of San Marzano and Campari tomatoes (The smaller tomatoes will get more exposure to the grill) 2 large cucumbers 1 poblano pepper 1 head of garlic 8 oz mini-bell peppers 2 tsp white wine vinegar 1 cup water (or more) Dash olive oil 1 Tbsp sea salt (preferably bourbon barrel smoked sea salt) 1 Tbsp black pepper (preferably bourbon barrel smoked pepper) 1 tsp sugar 1 large bunch basil 1 ripe avocado, diced

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Preheat a charcoal grill for medium direct heat—about 350° F. (Gas works, but will not produce as much smokiness as charcoal.)

Prepare the veggies to go on the grill: wash everything and slice the cucumbers into thin lengthwise pieces; put the garlic cloves onto skewers.

Grill the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, garlic and poblano pepper until char marks form on all sides.

Remove the veggies and place in a big pot.

Add water.

With an immersion blender, mix everything together until uniform in consistency.

Add the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste; more water for a thinner consistency; and the basil at the end with one last blend with the immersion blender.

Chill at least 3 hours before serving so the flavors have time to meld together.

Garnish with diced avocado and fresh basil.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Robyn Lindars, GrillGirl.com.

New Twists on Old Favorites Brew up delicious and colorful herbal teas for gourmet lemonades. Try hibiscus, lemongrass, lavender or fresh ginger tea, adding fresh organic lemon juice and a sweetener of choice.

In a blender, whip up unsweetened plant-based milk (almond, coconut or cashew) with a ripe banana, a small handful of dates and a splash of vanilla extract, and pour into popsicle molds.

Combine peanut, almond, sunflower or soy butter with cocoa or carob powder, a tablespoon of plant-based hazelnut creamer and a pinch of salt.

Roll into balls and then add sesame, chia seeds, cinnamon, coconut sugar or chopped dates.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

Health, Hope & Happiness

Grilled Romaine Hearts

Fruta Picada

1 romaine heart per person

Yields: 8 to 10 servings

1 Tbsp olive oil Sea salt to taste Fresh ground black pepper Parmesan cheese or another hard, aged cheese Prepare the grill for direct heat.

Rinse/dry the romaine hearts, drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and pepper.

Grill the romaine hearts on direct heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until char marks form and the lettuce begins to wilt.

Remove the hearts from the grill, grate a generous amount of the cheese on the hearts and add a little more olive oil.

For a crowd, chop the hearts up and put them in a bowl to serve as a large salad on the side of the main course.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Robyn Lindars, GrillGirl.com.

A combination of fresh fruit, lime juice and chili seasoning, fruta picada is served at markets and roadsides throughout Mexico. The combination of spice and salt partnered with sweet fruit is guaranteed to take the edge off of a blistering summer’s day.

Spice Blend 3 Tbsp chipotle powder 3 Tbsp smoky paprika 1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp sea salt 1 Tbsp cumin seeds 1½ tsp celery seeds

Fruit 1 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into spears ½ watermelon, peeled, cut into spears and seeded 1 large jicama, peeled and cut into spears 1 large papaya, peeled, seeded and cut into spears Juice from 2 limes Grind all of the spice blend ingredients together in a spice grinder or food processor or with a mortar and pestle until finely powdered.

Transfer to a lidded container with a shaker screen.

Place all of the fruit spears onto a serving platter. Squeeze the fresh lime juice evenly across. Let guests serve themselves as much fruit as they’d like, and then sprinkle with the spice blend.

From A Year of Picnics: Recipes for Dining Well In the Great Outdoors,

by Ashley English. Photo by Jen Altman.

Reprinted in arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc.

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BEYOND FACTORY FARMS Envisioning a Brighter Future

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

I

ndependent animal farmers are disappearing while factory farms are getting bigger, causing more air, soil and water pollution in rural communities nationwide, reports the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Large industrialized farms known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), rely on the routine use of antibiotics to both prevent the spread of disease and promote animal growth and weight gain—a practice known to fuel antibiotic resistance and compromise human health.

High Cost of Cheap Meat

Concrete reservoirs designed to hold manure present a problem as well, he adds, “They always leak into the groundwater, spreading antibioticresistant bacteria and making the source of water to neighboring communities unusable and toxic.”

Joan Olive says she is living proof that exposure to air pollution from factory farms is every bit as toxic as scientists and health experts have warned about for years. On one fateful December day 16 years ago, Olive was outdoors on her family farm near Spencer, Iowa, when she noticed a strong, sickening odor. Feeling nauseous, she went inside, but later that evening she recalls, her tongue swelled, she became disoriented and began shaking and sweating profusely.

Olive’s symptoms subsided over the next few days, but since then she has experienced multiple chemical sensitivities, transient

SaimonSailent/Shutterstock.com

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a push toward greater efficiency created the shift to industrial livestock

production. However, attempts to maximize production for higher returns at minimal cost come at a price.

For example, a growing body of evidence shows that CAFO leads to the social and economic decline of rural communities. “Research has consistently found that living near a CAFO is associated with an array of negative health impacts, including respiratory disease, mental health problems and certain types of infections,” says Keeve Nachman, Ph.D., director of the CLF’s Food Production and Public Health Program.

Everett Murphy, M.D., a retired pulmonologist from Kansas City, concurs, “Not only are the odors from factory livestock farms offensive, but individuals living within three miles of industrial animal operations are at risk for serious, life-shortening illnesses and permanent disabilities.”

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symptoms of brain fog, muscle twitching, migraines, respiratory and circulatory problems. Health experts at the University of Iowa identified the source of the sickening odor as toxic hydrogen sulfide from liquid CAFO waste that had been sprayed on farmland one mile from Olive’s home. In addition to the region’s concentration of hog CAFO, her home sat two miles from 1.5 million chickens.

Today, Olive drinks filtered water and eats organic food to protect her health, but she notices that her symptoms return when triggered by exposure to CAFO air pollution and pesticides. In March, Olive moved to Spearfish, South Dakota, where she’s breathing easier and enjoying time outdoors. But she knows she left behind “thousands of rural residents who are having their lives and health destroyed by Big Ag.”

There Ought to be a Law

“Government oversight and policies designed to safeguard the health of individuals and the environment from these operations have been inadequate,” says Bob Martin, director of the CLF Food System Policy Program.

Citing environmental and public health hazards, the American Public Health Association issued a new policy statement last November calling for a precautionary moratorium on all new and expanding CAFO. It advises a complete halt until additional scientific

Once you learn how our modern industrial food system has transformed what most Americans eat, you become highly motivated to eat something else. ~Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, Chew on This and co-producer of Food, Inc. data has been collected and public health concerns addressed.

Bypassing Industrial Eating

Many consumers don’t realize that the majority of beef, pork and chicken sold in supermarkets, served in restaurants and distributed to institutions nationwide come from the industrial food system. According to the Public Justice Food Project, 85 percent of the meat Americans consume is produced by four corporate giants—Tyson, Smithfield, Cargill and JBS—each accused of hiding labor, animal or environmental abuses behind folksy brand names and packaging images.

To shed light on abuses and steer consumers away from industrial meat, the Center for Food Safety created a website that pulls back the curtain on CAFOs. It recommends replacing half of the meat we eat with humane, sustainably raised, grass-fed and organic meat, while replacing the other half with plant-based sources of protein such as beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds—a dietary approach that benefits our gut microbes and protects us against a host of chronic diseases.

Meat Alternatives

As concerns mount about the health, ethical and environmental impact of animal products, the food industry has responded with more plant-based, lab-grown meat alternatives. Yet, according to the Food and Technology 2019 report by the market research firm The Hartman Group, many meat replacements rely on highly sophisticated technologies that hardly meet consumers’ definitions of “natural”.

“It’s all about what isn’t on the label,” says Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., chief science advisor of the GRACE Communications Foundation.

According to Rangan, many plant-based and fake meat products are actually ultra-processed foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients and rely on petroleum-based chemicals that are not required to be listed on the label.

“The Impossible Burger introduces over 48 new proteins to the human diet without a thorough safety investigation,”

Critical Questions to Find and Support Good Food Where does my food come from? Who produced it and under what conditions? Were workers treated fairly and animals humanely? What’s in or on my food? Were pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, genetically modified ingredients or additives used in producing it?

Is it rich or poor in nutrients? What might be the unintended consequences of my food and farming choices? How might those choices affect our environment and future generations?

July 2020

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Learn More, Eat Smarter Center for Food Safety: EndIndustrialMeat.org Consumer Reports: Tinyurl.com/MeatGetsMakeover Food Print: Tinyurl.com/WhatIsFoodPrint Friends of the Earth: foe.org/resources/from-lab-to-fork A Greener World: AGreenerWorld.org 10 Things You Can Do for the Planet Instead of Giving Up On Animal Agriculture: AGreenerWorld.org/ a-greener-world/10-things-you-can-do Humane Society Food Industry Scorecard: HumaneSociety.org/resources/food-industry-scorecard Keep Antibiotics Working: KeepAntibioticsWorking.org Public Justice Food Project: Food.PublicJustice.net/ communityresources Right to Harm film and resources: RightToHarm.film One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts film: Tinyurl.com/100000BeatingHearts 14

Denver Mile High Edition

Health, Hope & Happiness

Eating Less, But Better Meat

“Our bodies are designed to be omnivores, and animal products are part of a diverse, real food diet,” says Rebecca Thistlethwaite, director of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network at Oregon State University. She believes in ancestral eating and eating as close to nature as possible. She is mindful of portion size and eats only organic and pasture-raised animal foods to avoid synthetic chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures, in Bluffton, Georgia, declares, “It’s not the cow, it’s the how.” Harris transitioned his livestock operation from the industrial model to certified humane animal husbandry and sustainable practices that emulate nature. The switch to a pasture-based system yields healthier animals, he explains, and helps take carbon out of the atmosphere and back into the soil.

oxinoxi/Shutterstock.com

The COVID-19 health crisis highlights inequalities in how we produce and distribute food. A new bill, the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA), will help to create a more healthy, sustainable and equitable model, by placing a moratorium on new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (commonly known as factory farms), cracking down on the monopolistic practices of multinational meat corporations and supporting farmers to transition to healthier, pasture-based models and organic farming. To support the FSRA, the Sierra Club has made it easy to contact members of Congress at Tinyurl.com/ BlockFactoryFarms.

Power To the People

Rangan and Harris emphasize that the power of consumer spending can shift the market. However, Thistlethwaite says, “We cannot just vote with our forks, as many people don’t have that luxury.” She urges change at both personal and political levels, favoring incentivebased approaches with fewer subsidies going to the industrial system.

“We need more farmers raising high-quality animals in a humane, ecologically responsible manner,” says Thistlethwaite. But we also need more small-scale slaughterhouses and meat processors throughout the country to get quality meat to more of our tables.

In addition to farmers’ markets, co-operatives and community supported agriculture (CSA), organizations such as the American Grassfed Association and Local Harvest connect consumers directly to farmers using sustainable practices to help rebuild regional food hubs and networks.

“Start with small steps,” suggests Thistlethwaite. “Buy milk from a local creamery, eggs from a farmer in your community or one-quarter cow to fill your freezer from a local, grass-fed beef producer. Reward the farms and ranches that are doing it right by purchasing from them, promoting them, supporting them.”

Melinda Hemmelgarn is an award-winning registered dietitian, writer and nationally syndicated radio host based in Columbia, MO. Reach her at FoodSleuth@gmail.com.

Tune into Food Sleuth Radio at kopn.org.

Tribalium/Shutterstock.com

Take Action to Stop Factory Farms

warns Rangan. She questions whether these new meat alternatives are better than meat from animals raised on pasture without routine drugs and synthetic fertilizers.

Make the most of your

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL

Summer Music Festivals

B

Go Online

by Raisa Nastukova

ars are shut down and yoga class is canceled, but the latest COVID-19 casualty is summer itself, as festivals formally declare defeat. While music festivals may be put on hold, it doesn’t mean festival goers can’t have a vibrant summer.

To spread happiness and support the community, some Colorado artists are bringing their acts online, offering free or cheap epic lineups and deeply authentic shows.

Instead of dancing in a crowd of hundreds of sweaty strangers, festival goers will likely be meeting with friends on video chat and tuning into online events. It’s certainly different, but it could be the next big change for live music. In fact, the virtual festival season might even be better than a physical festival. Attendees don’t have to drive hours to the venue, cram into packed tents, brave the hot summer sun, or buy expensive tickets. They just tune into these cheap or free events to rock out to some amazing lineups sure to brighten up quarantine.

Arise Festival, a transformational music festival in Loveland that combines yoga, community, art, and live music, has dived head-first into crafting Colorado’s virtual music scene. Like Burning Man and Coachella, Arise’s annual in-person August festival is canceled, but they’ve moved their community online by hosting their own monthly gathering. Not only are there live streams from local musicians, but also yoga teachers, live painters and other artists, and sound healers. All proceeds from the events go directly to the performers.

Explains Arise Producer John March, “People want to support these artists and

live music itself but, right now, that’s not really very realistic. So, Arise can only serve its core function now, which is to create the best possible experience for the artists, for the attendees, and for the workers - we’re just doing our best to provide that.” John suggests supporting local artists and musicians by donating to a local musicians’ relief fund.

Arise was the first sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Virtual Music Festival based in Denver which streams every Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It features 45-minute sets of local artists like Future Joy and Float Like A Buffalo. Viewers can tip musicians or visual artists on their streams through virtual tip jars.

“We’re just doing the best we can and Arise is trying to fulfill its natural function, which is a community resource and an opportunity to show really good music and art,” said March.

As the world struggles to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, events of all kinds, not just music festivals, are being pushed online or canceled all together. The #WeAreDenver podcast and art collective, for instance, streams a collection of videos from creatives in Denver. World famous Comic Con in San Diego is now hosting an online event in the summer for anyone to tune in to. A new phenomenon called “Zoom nightclubs” have sprung up, in which attendees can party with famous DJs and models from the comfort of their own homes, often for a small cover charge. This is a time where the frontiers of connection and communication on online platforms are being explored.

EXPERIENCE

• One of the most fun elements of festivals is donning colorful, crazy makeup or outfits. Just because you’ll be sticking to your living room doesn’t mean you can’t go all out! Take some time before the event to put on your favorite party clothes and accessories.

• What is a festival without vibrant light shows? While you likely don’t have the technology for a full-on light show, you can still make your space groovier by putting up colorful lights. Even Christmas lights would do the trick!

• Bring all your friends together on Zoom or another video chatting app to catch the performances. Catching the shows with friends and other loved ones will make the events seem more social.

• If your friends aren’t the online festival type, use social media to connect with strangers. Whether just venting about the pandemic or raving about the most recent show, connecting with people right now is more important than ever and social media is the perfect place for it. Shows are often streamed over Twitch, which has a built-in chat feature for the audience.

Contact Raisa at raisanastukova@gmail.com July 2020

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Greener Green Grass

Why Organic Lawns Make Eco-Sense

W

by Julie Peterson

ith its dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, America’s 63,000 square miles of lawns rely on fossil fuels, put pressure on water supplies and devastate soil, watersheds, animals and people.

Fortunately, green turf can be attained organically, with important benefits.

“In addition to protecting public health, eliminating our use of pesticides and fertilizers will allow us to build healthy soil and sequester more carbon as we face climate chaos,” says Mackenzie Feldman, executive director of Herbicide-Free Campus, a San Francisco organization working to transition colleges nationwide to organic lawns.

The Harm Done

Homeowner desire for lush swaths of monoculture grass has been fueled by lawn chemical ads equating model families with flawless lawns. Unfortunately, the “green grass of home” isn’t an ideal dream, it’s a nightmare.

Research shows that it exposes people to cancer-causing, reproductive-harming and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, many of which are deemed safe by government agencies. The Pesticide-Induced Diseases database at BeyondPesticides.org holds myriad studies linking chemicals to asthma, diabetes, autism, lupus, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease,

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Denver Mile High Edition

Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxins due to their developing organs.

Exposure to lawn chemicals also comes through the air, on indoor surfaces and in water.

A U.S. Geological Survey report found pesticides in 99 percent of urban streams. In mixed land use areas, 100 percent of major rivers and 33 percent of major aquifers were tainted.

While the culture around the aesthetics of landscapes is strong, the tipping point has arrived.

“People are becoming more aware that their children are at elevated risk and that there are deficiencies in the laws that govern toxic chemical use,” says Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, in Washington, D.C. Lawn chemicals are also feeding climate change. “Not only are they fossil-fuel intensive to produce, they harm the biology in the soil and destroy its ability to sequester carbon,” says Diana Carpinone, president of Non Toxic Communities, a pesticide reform nonprofit, and founder of Non Toxic Dover, in New Hampshire.

Front Yard Activists

Recent lawsuits and climate change have given activists more power to effect

Health, Hope & Happiness

Greener Communities

Concerned citizens are asking local governments and school districts to eliminate chemical turf management protocols at parks and schools. Nonprofit campaigns such as Beyond Pesticides, Non Toxic

aslysun/Shutterstock.com

sweeping changes in policy. “This isn’t just a niche idea. We have a mandate, given looming environmental crises, to transform our current chemical intensive systems to organic,” says Jay Feldman.

Organic turf experts have devised methods to grow monoculture grass. According to Ryan Anderson, a community outreach specialist at the Integrated Pest Management Institute of North America and leader of Midwest Grows Green, “Homeowners can keep their lawns organic by increasing cultural controls.” These include aerating, over seeding and mowing high to build the soil, turf and plant system.

While pristine lawns are possible, reconsidering aesthetics is another option. “We could let native plants grow and embrace plant diversity as fundamental to ecosystem resilience,” says Mackenzie Feldman.

Indeed, “weeds” are beneficial. Clover feeds nitrogen to grass, benefits soil organisms and stays green long after turf. Dandelions were once considered a source of food and medicine, and all parts of it are edible, including flowers, roots and leaves.

Instead of living with weeds, some homeowners are choosing to tear out lawns and put in indigenous plants to attract pollinators and other wildlife. But it takes time for society to adopt new views and front yards can be polarizing.

“You can’t go from zero to hippie in a day.

People need realistic goals,” says Carpinone.

Whether someone rents, owns or only has access to shared green spaces, Shaina Rico, founder of The Generation Ground, an Austin-based organization helping farmers launch regenerative businesses, feels everyone must “take ownership of our green spaces. If you are not the one managing the land, ask questions of those that are. What are we doing to support the soil biology? Can we achieve the goal without using chemicals?

How can we increase soil organic matter?”

gan chaonan/Shutterstock.com

green living

Communities and Herbicide-Free Campus can sometimes send a spokesperson and provide ample data to overcome common objections. “We can show that organic is viable and economical. Organic systems end up reducing costs over time,” says Jay Feldman, who helps install community pilot sites.

Transitioning to organic practices requires a focus on soil health, building up microbial life and organic matter, understanding the ecosystem and creating a balanced ecology. Once in place, it’s a functioning system that doesn’t need much management.

“You can have a beautiful, organic, green lawn that’s safe for all living things,” says Carpinone.

Julie Peterson writes about wellness and environmental issues from rural Wisconsin. Reach her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

FOODNOTLAWNS.COM

Attend Via ZOOM July 17-19 • Aug 7-9 • Sept 11-13 Call for ADD’L DATES & Free Brochure: 941-349-6804

IntimacyRetreats.com natural pet

What happens when friendly neighbors share seeds, land, tools, labor and resources?

ABUNDANCE! “Using friendship-based community organizing and principles of permaculture, gift economy, and mutual aid, Food Not Lawns has been turning yards into gardens and neighborhoods into communities since 1999. For more than twenty years, small self-organized groups of grassroots gardeners have been organizing local seed swaps, joining together for garden work parties, and making lots of friends while learning that the simple act of growing food can radically improve your home, your community, and your life.”

Make a Difference

Non Toxic Communities (NonToxicCommunities.com) offers resources to create healthier schools, lawns and landscapes throughout the country.

Beyond Pesticides (BeyondPesticides.org) has a database of pest management and lawn service companies that don’t use dangerous pesticides, lawn signs for the organic yard and a sign-up for The Action of the Week to contact elected officials about current issues.

Earth-Friendly Pets Our Animals Can Go Green, Too

MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com/categories/natural-pet

The Integrated Pest Management Institute of North America (ipminstitute.org) provides low-risk pest management solutions for farms, greenhouses, facilities and homes.

Herbicide-Free Campus (HerbicideFreeCampus.org) is working to transition every campus in the country to organic.

The Great Healthy Yard Project (tghyp.com/downloads) has downloads on how to grow without gunk and encouraging others to do the same.

Check website for details July 2020

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How do we do this?

STEPHEN DINAN ON A SACRED VISION FOR AMERICA

by Linda Sechrist

S

tephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network, is committed to creating a healthy, sustainable, peaceful and prosperous world, as are the 200,000 members of his worldwide organization. Interested in personal growth and spirituality since his early 20s, Dinan’s core passion has been to shift society, not just the individual. In his book Sacred America, Sacred World: Fulfilling Our Mission in Service to All, Dinan harvests the world’s wisdom and his own experiences to show how humans can grow, evolve and mature psychologically and spiritually, laying out an envisioning process for what’s possible when America achieves its full potential.

Positing that envisioning is not only the work of leaders but of all of America’s citizens, Dinan sheds light on a new sacred conversation and overriding vision that can guide us to finding the will and the way to midwife a new chapter in American history.

What is a sacred worldview?

We have a lot of forces pulling us into our separate identities, whether this is as Americans, Democrats, Republicans or identifying as counterculture or mainstream culture. Bifurcations, which happen when we identify with a part of reality and make the rest wrong, bad or problematic, keep us in a state of suffering.

A sacred worldview means living in reverence for all humanity and all life; seeing divinity in all people and things, not just in a few people, a group or political party; seeing the higher, nobler and deeper dimension to all manifest reality that is expressed 18

Denver Mile High Edition

in humanity’s spiritual and religious impulses. A different way of engaging each other and designing how life works flows out of seeing life as the great mystics do; from a higher vantage point of interconnectedness.

At its heart, what is Sacred America about?

Sacred America, Sacred World is about recognizing our role within the larger whole. It’s about our unity as one human family. When we can redesign our society from this standpoint, we’re fulfilling the deepest principles upon which this country was based. Part of the fulfillment of a sacred vision for our country is building upon our most ancient principles. For example, “E pluribus unum” is a deep metaphysical concept meaning out of many, one. It’s not that all is oneness. This principle tells us that we evolve out of our “manyness” into our oneness, with each of us having a different role. Our manyness, our individuality, the unique flavors of life, different cultures and languages, is not something we want to erase. We do want to remember that we share this unitive ground and vision, as well as the powerful founding code of liberty, equality and justice for all.

Our country is coded with a mission to lean toward unity, to lean toward oneness.

As the melting pot for the world, we integrate more cultures than any other country, creating unity from a great diversity of traditions, cultures, philosophies and religions.

This is our shared inheritance.

Ultimately, Sacred America, Sacred World is about building a movement of awake, conscious and caring citizens who are powerfully committed to building a new era for America.

Health, Hope & Happiness

America can fulfill its higher potential and promise in the way that parallels how an individual matures to his or her next level of development. I believe that America’s next level of expression is within each of us, but it requires that we do some internal housecleaning, clearing out the past, letting go of our different political polarizations, being more solutions-focused and more focused on fulfilling our larger mission in service to the globe, rather than just in service to ourselves.

We have to go beyond partisan warfare to embrace those with other political views as our deepest allies. They are also part of the team that is here to help America shine; yes, even the people you can’t stand.

In short, we need to open to a vision of possibility for our country, one in which we successfully navigate the crises, polarizations and political warfare of today to create a country that reflects our highest ideals and that truly serves the birth of a new, global era for humanity, one that is peaceful, sustainable, healthy and prosperous.

AAraujo/Shutterstock.com

wise words

Why are the largest demonstrations in our history against racial discrimination not only an issue for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), but also for all of humanity?

Living in a culture that accepts oppression of others holds back the development of everyone. It increases fear, decreases compassion and leads us to think more of personal safety than the good of the whole. If we are to move toward being a global society that honors the sanctity of all life, racism and the effects of racism must stop. Doing so creates a context in which we can all raise conscious children, and black, indigenous and other people of color can have the opportunity to make their full creative contribution to the whole as well.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com. To listen to the full interview, visit Tinyurl.com/SDinanInterview.

MINDFULNESS in the Bedroom

by Diana Daffner

T

he concept of “mindfulness” has become widespread across many fields. Mindful parenting, mindful eating, mindful writing, mindful walking. Mindful leadership.

Mindful listening. And, yes, mindful sex.

Mindfulness describes the process of bringing one’s attention into the present moment. While the term may be somewhat new, having been introduced in the last quarter of the 20th century by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh and his student, American author Jon Kabat-Zinn, it is NOT a new concept.

The word itself, mindfulness, was coined by a Buddhist scholar, TW Rhys Davids, over a hundred years ago. It was his attempt to translate into English this thousands-year-old practice of turning one’s mental attention to whatever sensory

experience is going on, rather than focusing on thoughts that take us out of the moment.

Tantra, an ancient spiritual teaching from India, enhances sexuality by providing a framework of mindfulness for our most intimate encounters. Greater pleasure and more feelings of intimate bonding with one’s partner are the most positive outcomes.

It would seem simple to pay attention to what’s physically going on during sex. Yet, in spite of the many sensory sensations that lovemaking provides, we are often distracted, disengaged from the delight itself.

Or, we get caught up in seemingly related thoughts such as wondering if our partner is happy, or being concerned that we’re not “performing” well, and so on. When we are evaluating or worrying, we’re not experiencing. Our attention must be in the here and now in order to blend with our partner.

Training in mindfulness alerts us when we’ve wandered away, and reminds us to shift back to an awareness of what’s actually going on.

Mindfulness is a fluid activity, a way of walking through life (which includes bedroom activities). Mindfulness invites us to notice how we’re walking, what we’re walking past, what we’re noticing, what we’re thinking.

Breathing is often used as the gateway, the path back to the present moment. Our breath is always here, always happening, always available for us to focus on. Tantra Tai Chi provides an easy blueprint for returning to center. When a couple shares an understanding and appreciation for a pattern of bodily focused mindfulness, lovemaking is taken to extraordinary heights and awakens spiritual joy.

Mindful lovemaking can create a vibrant intimacy throughout a couple’s lifetime.

Diana and Richard Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples: How to Deepen Your Passion in Just Ten Minutes a Day lead workshops for couples at IntimacyRetreats.com.

See ad page 17.

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calendar of events

classifieds

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONFIRM ALL EVENTS BEFORE ATTENDING All calendar events must be placed online at MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com/calendar by the 5th of the month prior to publication in order to be placed in print. Printed events are $10; add $10 for highlight; add $10 for expanded to 70 words. Classifieds are $25/50 words; Save the Date (70 words + graphic + title in special highlight box) are $75. Ask about “Featuring” your event online. Email us at Publish@MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com

JULY 7 TUES Self Healing 101–thru 7/28 Tuesdays 7:30–9pm over the phone. Learn how to meditate and heal yourself with easy-to-use visualization techniques. FREE first class today. Register online BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

JULY 18 SAT

JULY 8 WED Trance Medium Healings–2nd & 4th Wednesdays over the phone from 5–7pm. Receive a channeled healing from our postgraduate students. Come with any healing intention and get rid of pain, mental blocks, emotional turmoil, and spiritual imbalances. $15. Schedule online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

JULY 10 FRI Psychic Fair Weekend @ For Heaven’s Sake Metaphysical Bookstore–thru Sun. Psychic Readings @ $1.50 per minute/30 minute minimum. Double Reward Points on purchases. 4900 W 46th Ave, Denver and 1923 N Wadsworth, Lakewood. Forheavensake.com

JULY 11 SAT Day of Healing–11am-3pm. Celebration-picnic and healings! Celebrate you; celebrate Journey Within being in Lakewood for 11 years with private healings and food. Many different ways to give to yourself: Private Energy Healings, Angel Card readings and more. Healings and Readings by appt.

Journey Within; 777 S Wadsworth Blvd. Bldg 2 #108, Lakewood. Anita Destino, 720-413-7303 or AnitaDestino.com Pet Readings–2nd & 4th Saturdays over the phone from 11am–12:30pm. Improve your relationship with your companion animal. Clarify relational dynamics and negotiate issues. All species welcome. $30.

Schedule online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

JULY 17 FRI Virtual Intimacy Retreat for Couples–thru 7/19.

Create magic in your relationship! Live, experiential workshop via Zoom. Led by Diana & Richard Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.

Homeplay assignments break up screen time. Add’l dates: IntimacyRetreats.com or 941-349-6804.

Sacred Drumming Circle, Sound Celebration & Meditation–7-9pm. (THIS MAY BE ONLINE) Join the community for sharing the intentions and the sacred vibrations of the Drum Circle. Fill yourself with appreciation, celebration, and release using Sound, Breath, Mindfulness and Meditation in the Energy of the Circle. Bring a snack to share and your instruments. $10 donation. Journeys For Conscious Living, 303-731-6695. J4CL.com. (Watch emails and website for updates on location)

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Denver Mile High Edition

FREE Aura and Chakra Healings–1st, 3rd, & 5th Fridays over the phone from 6–7pm. Receive a 10-minute cleanse and release negative thoughts, emotions, pain, and fear. Get replenished with positive energy and feel great! Register online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

Home & Business Healings–1st, 3rd, & 5th Saturdays over the phone from 11am–12:30pm MT. Got ghosts?

Sleepless nights? Consistent household or business conflict? These are great in times of transition! $60.

Schedule online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

JULY 19 SUN The Secrets of Heaven with Sarina Baptista– 5-7pm. Tix $25pp For Heaven’s Sake, 4900 W. 46th Ave, Denver. Order tix online: forheavensake.com or call 303-964-9339 5-Week Class on Chakras and Auras via Zoom– 6:30-8:30pm. Learn about your Chakras and how they coincide with our Aura; clean and align your Chakras;easy technique to set energetic boundaries. Early/$235 Reg/$250 Journey Within, 777 S Wadsworth Blvd Bldg 2 #108, Lakewood. Anita Destino, 720-413-7303, journeywithin@hotmail.com or AnitaDestino.com

JULY 20 MON

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Looking for a way to bring in extra money but don’t want to get “another job”? Need something flexible to fit it into your life? What if you could transform your health and your wealth in the next 90 days by partnering with us? What if you could work a handful of hours each week and bring in a nice side income? We are looking for people who want the above and want to make a difference in the world while having FUN! WHAT IF YOU COULD? Please call for more info @ 303.903.8248 Mile High Natural Awakenings is for SALE! This is a meaningful home-based business opportunity that provides extensive training and ongoing support. No previous publishing experience is required; you must love having conversations with people. Make your own schedule, use your creativity and inspire others to learn about health, hope and happiness. Learn more today by calling Doug and Terry at 303-770-1981 or email Publish@MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com

JULY 24 FRI Psychic Fair Weekend @ For Heaven’s Sake Metaphysical Bookstore– thru Sun. Psychic Readings @ $1.50 per minute/30 minute minimum. Double Reward Points on purchases. 4900 W 46th Ave, Denver and 1923 N Wadsworth, Lakewood. Forheavensake.com

JULY 25 SAT Pet Readings–2nd & 4th Saturdays over the phone from 11am–12:30pm. Improve your relationship with your companion animal. Clarify relational dynamics and negotiate issues. All species welcome. $30.

Schedule online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

JULY 26 SUN

One Heart Song Global Peace Meditation–7-9pm.

(THIS MAY BE ONLINE) Join with millions of other One Heart Song groups around the Earth to create peace, share love and raise consciousness and frequencies for all and the Earth herself. Meditation/ peace program starts at 7:30 and runs for one hour.

Bring your drums prayers, or your own contribution.

The goal of the gathering is to Journeys For Conscious Living, 303-731-6695. J4CL.com. (Watch emails and website for updates on location)

Guided Meditation; Surrender and Uncertainty via Zoom–6-7pm. A Guided Meditation of healing as release past expectations and welcome the mystery of what is uncertain. Pre-pay $25, $30 day of event; Journey Within located inside Irongate Executive Plaza, 777 S Wadsworth Blvd Bldg 2 #108, Lakewood. Anita Destino, 720-413-7303, journeywithin@hotmail.com or AnitaDestino.com

JULY 22 WED

JULY 31 FRI

Trance Medium Healings–2nd & 4th Wednesdays over the phone from 5–7pm. Receive a channeled healing from our postgraduate students. Come with any healing intention and get rid of pain, mental blocks, emotional turmoil, and spiritual imbalances. $15. Schedule online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

FREE Aura and Chakra Healings–1st, 3rd, & 5th Fridays over the phone from 6–7pm.

Receive a 10-minute cleanse and release negative thoughts, emotions, pain, and fear. Get replenished with positive energy and feel great! Register online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

Health, Hope & Happiness

Find

MORE GREAT EVENTS NEAR YOU AT

MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com/calendar

on going events

daily Free Healing Therapy for Individuals with Cancer–Reiki and Healing Touch support healing on all levels. Remote sessions available. Sign up for free sessions at one of our partner locations, or in-home for those too sick to travel, at LifesparkNow.org

mondays Psychic Read in gs –over the phone from 5–6:30pm. Performed by our graduate students.

Enjoy an advanced skill set and ask questions about relationships, career, health, and more! Schedule online. $30. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

tuesdays Longmont Spiritual Transformation with Transmission Meditation–7pm. Join us for a group meditation that is a stimulus to our individual development and also a potent form of world service.

Free. Connie 303-834-0526 Wheatridge Spiritual Transformation with Transmission Meditation–7pm. Join us for a group meditation that is a stimulus to our individual development and also a potent form of world service. Free. Tim 303-239-8101

wednesdays

looking ahead

Energy Healings; Aura Clearing and Chakra Balancing–6-7pm. A healing is an energy clearing, release negative energy blocking growth and create the life you desire. $10. Face masks required. Free for first time visitors. Journey Within @ Irongate Executive Plaza 777 S Wadsworth Blvd Bldg 2 #108, Lakewood. Anita Destino 720-413-7303, journeywithin@hotmail.com

fridays

AUG 7-9 Virtual Intimacy Retreat for Couples–Create magic in your relationship! Live, experiential workshop via Zoom. Led by Diana & Richard Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.

Homeplay assignments break up screen time. Add’l dates: IntimacyRetreats.com or 941-349-6804.

SEPT

Listening to your Intuition - Psychometry–6-8pm. We will share messages from others’ energy objects after meditation.

Great way to meet others and more importantly validate your intuition. $25. Soul Star Holistic Healing Arts, 899 N Logan Street, #310, Denver. 303-223-6336 RSVP SoulStarInc.com.

saturdays

11-13

Virtual Intimacy Retreat for Couples–Create magic in your relationship! Live, experiential workshop via Zoom. Led by Diana & Richard Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.

Homeplay assignments break up screen time. Add’l dates: IntimacyRetreats.com or 941-349-6804.

OCT 23-25

Psychic Readings–over the phone from 11am–12:30pm (no readings on July 4). Performed by our undergraduate students. Get a holistic view of yourself, and enjoy a set reading format where you’ll learn about your soul essence, past lives, and the layers of your aura. $10. Schedule online. BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

sundays North Boulder Spiritual Transformation with Transmission Meditation–7pm. Join us for a group meditation that is a stimulus to our individual development and also a potent form of world service. Free. Lon 303-746-7118

Virtual Intimacy Retreat for Couples–Create magic in your relationship! Live, experiential workshop via Zoom. Led by Diana & Richard Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.

Homeplay assignments break up screen time. Add’l dates: IntimacyRetreats.com or 941-349-6804.

NOV 20-22 Virtual Intimacy Retreat for Couples–Create magic in your relationship! Live, experiential workshop via Zoom. Led by Diana & Richard Daffner, authors of Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.

Homeplay assignments break up screen time. Add’l dates: IntimacyRetreats.com or 941-349-6804.

Coming Next Month AUGUST

Biological Dentistry plus: Environmental Education

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 303-770-1981 July 2020

21

community resource guide Connecting you to resources for health, hope and happiness in our community. Special packages available for print and online. Email Publish@MileHighNaturalAwakenings.com for more information.

AUTOMOTIVE CARE

COUNSELING

Two Locations!

RENEE ELLIS, MA LPC RMT

HINSDALE AUTOMOTIVE 15455 E Hinsdale Dr., Centennial 303-617-0152 / HinsdaleAuto.com

DC AUTO IN MORRISON 303-801-1959 / DCAutoshop.com Professional Mechanics, Not Professional Prices! Owner Darrell Weddell’s motto is to take care of your problem, educate you to make an informed decision, and to advise on future repairs and maintenance.

Whether it’s major or minor issues, your electrical system, or a combination of mechanical problems, Darrell’s team has the experience and know-how to diagnose and accurately repair your vehicle.

Counseling for Women, Grief Counseling, Spiritual Counseling Internal Family Systems (IFS), Past Life Therapy, Energy Healing 1211 S Parker Road, Suite 103, Denver 720-984-9575 / Liveyourknowing.com Experience the benefits of traditional counseling while openly acknowledging the role of intuition and the soul's journey in achieving wellbeing. Move through grief, relationship challenges and life transitions. Discover your path, reveal clarity and experience sensitivity as strength. Get started today with a complimentary consultation and bring wisdom to life.

DENTISTRY CHI HEALING / QIGONG CLASSES

VIBRANCE DENTISTRY Dr. Cate Vieregger 7400 E Crestline Circle, Ste 230, Greenwood Village 303-770-1116 / VibranceDentistry.com

CHI WELLNESS, THE CENTER OF QIGONG Debra Lin Allen, Founder/Director 720-427-0406 DebraLin.ChiWellness@gmail.com ChiWellness.net Thrive in balance and flexibility in body and life, physical vigor and health, spontaneity and inner peace through chi cultivation, care and practice with Debra Lin Allen. Medical Qigong and Qigong Lifestyle Coaching by appointment. Group qigong self-care classes throughout the week. Professional certification programs to teach qigong and do medical qigong therapy also available. The best of health and prosperity await you, call today!

JOURNEYS FOR CONSCIOUS LIVING 7401 West 59th Ave., Arvada 303-731-6695 / J4CL.com Discover a life of passion, purpose and contribution.

Journeys for Conscious Living is an organization leading the world in conscious living, hosting world class events, speakers and event center (space rental) to empower people to create thoughtful changes in living their lives every day, thus creating the space and energy to stay centered and expand the community.

Denver Mile High Edition

ENERGY HEALING/ MEDITATION JOURNEY WITHIN Anita Destino 777 S Wadsworth Blvd. Bldg 2-108, Lakewood 720-413-7303 / AnitaDestino.com

CONSCIOUS EVENTS AND SPEAKERS

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Whether your goal is to encourage a healthy attitude towards oral health in your children or ease your own anxiety about dental procedures, our friendly staff and relaxing atmosphere will change the way you approach dental care. Our state-of-the-art equipment and spa-like amenities allow us to offer services that transcend traditional dentistry and promote whole-body wellness.

A safe place for people interested in creating change in their lives, Journey Within helps you focus on spiritual growth, developing your intuition and personal development. Give to yourself with Energy Healings, Angel Healings, Guided Meditations, Meditation Classes, Workshops and Intuitive Readings/Healings. Join us for Aura Clearing and Chakra Balancing every Wednesday from 6-7 pm, open to everyone. $10 per person. Free to first time visitors.

EVENT CENTER & MEETING ROOMS JOURNEYS FOR CONSCIOUS LIVING 7401 West 59th Ave., Arvada 303-731-6695 / J4CL.com Discover a life of passion, purpose and contribution. Journeys for Conscious Living is an organization leading the world in conscious living, hosting world class events, speakers, and gatherings, and offering an event center (space rental) to empower people to create and express thoughtful changes in living their lives every day, thus creating the space and energy to stay centered and expand community.

FAMILY PRACTICE/ HEALTHY AGING CLEAR SKY MEDICAL Katia Meier, MD 9085 E Mineral Circle, #260, Centennial 303-790-7860 / ClearSkyMedical.com Feel and look your best at any age with Katia Meier, MD, Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine, Specialty trained in Bio-identical Hormone Therapy, Holistic and Naturopathic medicine in Europe and certified in laser and injectable aesthetic dermatology. Specializing in whole body health with customized approaches. All ages; most insurance welcome. Set up your appointment today.

HEALING STRATEGIES FOR HEALING/ LIFE VESSEL DENVER Gary & Sharon Worrell Addressing Stress Energetically 303-564-2723 / StrategiesforHealing.com The Life Vessel™ is a chamber that utilizes frequencies of light, sound, vibration and Infrared to balance and reduce stress in the body, allowing it to perform its innate, natural ability to heal itself. Research shows that time spent in the Life Vessel balances the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and helps with stress reduction, detoxification, and pain management. When the ANS is in balance, other systems in the body are affected in a positive way.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Health, Hope & Happiness

INTEGRATIVE CARE CLEAR SKY MEDICAL with Dr. Katia Meier. Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine and specialty trained in BioIdentical Hormone Therapy and Functional Medicine. See full listing under PHYSICAN.

NO-PAIN OPTIMAL ALIGNMENT NEUROENERGETIC RELEASE™ (NER) Donald W. Kipp, Founder 303-697-4923 Body-awareness.com NER helps people be Healthier, Decrease Pain, and Increase Peak-Performance...In Seconds!

Control systems, not force are used to painlessly and quickly realign and rebalance the entire body. This releases whole-being patterns causing seemingly unrelated symptoms (such as back pain, headaches, indigestion, brain-fog and asthma). NER predicts and prevents injuries, degenerative changes, and dis-ease. Call now for optimal health and performance.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING CLEAR SKY MEDICAL with Dr. Katia Meier and staff offer Certified Nutrition therapists, specializing in the foodbrain connection, nutrition for cancer prevention, autoimmune diseases, food sensitivities/allergies, elimination diets and medically supervised weight loss.. See full listing under PHYSICAN.

PHYSICIAN: BOARD CERTIFIED HOLISTIC CLEAR SKY MEDICAL Dr. Katia Meier 9085 E Mineral Circle, #260, Centennial 303-790-7860 / ClearSkyMedical.com Feel and look your best with Dr Katia Meier, Board Certified Holistic MD specializing in whole body health for children and adults. Customized approaches to Healthy Aging, Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Nutritional Analysis and therapy, medical aesthetics and non-surgical rejuvenation treatments, Homeopathy, Herbology, Naturopathic Medicine, Personalized Detoxification Program, Medical Weight Loss for men and women. Make your appointment today.

SHAMANIC SERVICES WOLFHEALS SHAMANIC SERVICES BJ Brown, MSW, CIBP Shamanic Practitioner & Teacher Boulder 303-808-4006 Wolfheals.com Shamanism is known to benefit disease on any level while deepening a sense of wholeness. This ancient spirituality and methodology, found in all cultures, works directly with the compassionate Spirit realms and Earth wisdom. BJ offers Body-Centered Psychotherapy, classes, house clearing, ceremonies, and various shamanic methods (Soul and Power Animal Retrievals, Extraction, etc). Remote shamanic healing is free. See website for events and offerings.

This sacred work can restore connection with self, soul and enhance spiritual autonomy.

PSYCHIC SCHOOL BOULDER PSYCHIC INSTITUTE

Choose your thoughts.

Choose your emotions.

Choose your life.

1332 Pearl Street (2nd Floor), Boulder 303-530-0920 / BoulderPsychicInstitute.org

Being psychic makes life easy! Our first class of the Self Healing 101 course is free—you can take it over the phone or in person. Develop your intuitive and healing abilities in our vibrant and fun community. Check out our free events: • Free Aura & Chakra Healings: Thursdays from 6–7pm • Free Healing & Meditative Services: Fridays from 6–7pm. We also offer affordable readings and healings—you will gain clarity and get your life going in the right direction!

THERAPY POSITIVE ASSIST Crystal Deichert, LPC In Aurora and Westminster 720-767-1994 / info@crystaldeichert.com CrystalDeichert.com Crystal is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master's degree in Marriage and Family therapy. She is trained in Synergetic Play Therapy for Children, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Mind-Body Connection, Dolphin Energy Healings, and mental causes for physical illnesses. She works with all diagnoses. “I focus on getting unstuck rather than analyzing the problems.”

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. ~Jimi Hendrix

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Exclusive Online Content in July SATURDAY JULY 11TH

Day of Healing @ Journey Within – 11 - 3pm Celebration picnic and healings!

Celebrate 11 years of Journey Within in Lakewood with Private Energy Healings, Angel Card readings and more.

Our Community Partners offer classes, products & services for your health, hope & happiness.

Visit Anitadestino.com for more information.

CALMING KIDS Ways to Turn Anxiety Around Check the Healthy Kids section for this and other great articles!

BALANCING ACT Exercises for Strength and Stability Check the Fit Body section for this and other great articles!

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