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contact us Publisher Janet Lindsay Managing Editor Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer
Contributing Writer Juliette Jones
Design & Production Susan Jones Social Media Manager Amy Hass
chool schedules are winding down, tourists are beginning to arrive on our beaches, and summertime is just around the corner! This glorious season calls for long afternoons in the outdoors, backyard cookouts on the weekends and being our healthiest, most energetic selves. Along those lines, this month’s issue of Natural Awakenings is packed with ideas and inspiration to make your summer one to remember. Let’s take a peek inside! First, we’re spotlighting “Women at Work Healing the World” in recognition of the dynamic female healers, both in our community and beyond, who have dedicated their life’s mission to helping others discover physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Find out how these women are reshaping healthcare through an integration of modern technology, ancient wisdom and holistic practices. We’re fortunate to live in a part of the country where these are embraced, and this article offers insight on how alternative medicine practitioners are leading the charge to make such modalities more accessible everywhere. Next, in keeping with our vibrant seasonal theme, check out this month’s “Green Living” feature on “Summer-Hardy Herbs” to enhance your garden, spice up a nutritious meal or even add flavor to happy hour gatherings on the patio––because who can resist fresh mint in their mojito, right? Also, don’t miss our “Conscious Eating” article which offers a breakdown of the healthiest plantbased milks to fuel your summer activities such as hemp, coconut, rice, almond and more. Finally, we can’t forget about the furry members of our families, and this season is perfect for romping around with them outside. This month’s “Natural Pet” article discusses how off-leash playtime for dogs will benefit their health and quality of life. That’s just a snapshot of everything inside this issue, and I hope you’ll find enlightenment and pure enjoyment within these pages. As always, please send comments, feedback or questions to Publisher@NASRQ.com. Here’s to a wonderful beginning to all your summer adventures!
To contact Natural Awakenings Peace River Edition: 941-564-0885 publisher@nasrq.com © 2017 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
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contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more 8 6 newsbriefs balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal 8 healthbriefs growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle. 11 ecotip 12 globalbriefs 14 DECODING DOG 15 14 naturalpet BODY TALK Three Signals of Anxiety 11 15 fitbody 20 healingways 15 MASTERING 21 inspiration SELF-DEFENSE Staying Aware Avoids Problems 22 consciouseating by Susan Briggs
by Aimee Hughes
23 greenliving 12 24 wisewords 26 healthykids 28 calendar 30 classifieds 31 resourceguide
advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 941-564-0885 or email Publisher@ nasrq.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.
16 NATURAL
MOTHERHOOD
Creating the Best Start for New Life by Deborah Shouse
20 HEART-BASED LEADERSHIP Women Mobilize to Heal the World by Linda Sechrist
21 WHEN WE SET OUT Let Spirit Steer Us by Mark Nepo
Evaluating Alternatives to Dairy
Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@nasrq.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.
23 HERBS THAT
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Favorite Varieties that Flourish in Summer
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22 MILK MINUS THE MOO
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Email Calendar Events to: calendar@nasrq.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.
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by Judith Fertig
BEAT THE HEAT by Barbara Pleasant
24 TAGGART SIEGEL Seeks to Seed an Agricultural Revolution
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by April Thompson
26 THE JOYS OF
GRANDPARENTING How to Mindfully Love Little Ones
by April Thompson
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May 2017
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There is a fountain
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of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. ~Sophia Loren
Silver Colloids Support Sinus Health Naturally
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or people with sensitive sinuses, life can seem like a contest between breathing more freely and staying off of steroid sprays and antibiotics, because using them regularly in a preventative manner can lead to serious health consequences. Naturally maintaining sinus health requires an antimicrobial agent that kills offending microbes, yet is harmless enough to use several times a day indefinitely. A natural protocol that uses an enhanced aqueous silver colloid of greater than 30 parts per million is now being used to relieve the burden on the immune system and prevent chronic irritation of sinus passageways. One crucial function our sinuses perform is filtering the air we breathe, which is filled with viruses, bacteria and fungi. The easiest way to maintain sinus health is to kill these pathogens before their numbers become large. Silver colloids, delivered through the nose with either a neti pot or nasal spray bottle are one way to do this, according to Steven Frank, author of Managing Sinus Health: Clearing Sinus Infections Without Antibiotics. For the remedy to work, it is important to blow the nose prior to use and then coat the tissues of the nasal passageways, allowing the liquid to remain there as long as possible. Then a second, similar spray application can follow after a few minutes, avoiding blowing the nose in the interval. Frank is the founder of Nature’s Rite and chief technical officer at Klearsen Corporation—two companies that research and develop herbal formulations and natural health products. He holds numerous patents on antimicrobial colloids and respiratory infection therapies. For more information, email SteveF@NaturesRiteRemedies.com or visit MyNaturesRite.com/blog.
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Alain Menard Brings Vibra Plate Pro to Sarasota
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his whole body vibration training system is now available at Colon Therapy Clinic. Simply stand on this sturdy, oscillating platform for 10 minutes, which feels like getting a massage, and experience various health benefits including toned muscles to enhance strength training, weight loss and management, higher bone density, increased blood circulation, lymphatic drainage and boosted hormone profile. Location: 7733 Holiday Dr., Sarasota. For more information, call 941-922-7744.
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May 2017
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n August 2016, Cat Depot received the Florida Animal Friend Backyard Sterilization Program spay/neuter license plate grant. This funding provides free spay/neuter services for community feral cats at Cat Depot’s Rose Durham Cat Care Veterinary Clinic. This grant also covers pets in low-income residences in zip codes 34232, 34234 and 34237. Pet cats in other Sarasota County zip codes can be spayed/neutered for $20 for residents who meet income restriction guidelines. All procedures include FVRCP and rabies vaccines, microchip with a free lifetime registration and one Revolution flea treatment. Cat Depot, a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) no-kill, free-roaming facility, is recognized for its progressive design and commitment to helping homeless, abandoned and injured animals. Cat Depot’s mission is to save lives, find loving homes, and provide the resources and education to improve the destiny of homeless cats. Cat Depot supports more than 130 cats and kittens on any given day.
Prenatal Omega-3 Reduces Kids’ Asthma Risk
To schedule an appointment, call 941366-2287 or email SpayAndNeuter@ CatDepot.org. Cat Depot Location: 2542 17th St., Sarasota. Hours: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 941-366-2402 or visit CatDepot.org. 8
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esearchers from the Copenhagen University Hospital, in Denmark, discovered expectant mothers that take omega-3 supplements while pregnant reduce the risk that their babies will develop asthma. Analyzing blood samples from 695 Danish women at 24 weeks of gestation and again one week after birth, the study tested the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)— long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, fish oil and DHA-algae supplements—in the women’s blood. The health of the babies was monitored for five years and compared with the blood analysis. The children of the mothers given 2.4 grams of long-chain omega-3 supplements during their third trimester displayed an overall 31 percent reduced risk of developing asthma. “Asthma and wheezing disorders have more than doubled in Western countries in recent decades,” explains Professor Hans Bisgaard, of the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood at the hospital. “We now have a preventative measure to help bring those numbers down.”
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Cat Depot Offers Free Spay/Neuter for Sarasota County through Florida Animal Friend Grant
esearchers from the United Kingdom’s University of Winchester have found that cycling improves brain function. The study tested the cognitive function of 17 physically active men in their 20s before and after two, 30-minute sessions on a stationary bike. The results showed significant cognitive improvements following each session. Biking to work is also a good way to reduce our carbon footprint, but breathing in exhaust fumes and other pollutants is a concern for street cyclists. Alexander Bigazzi, a transportation expert in the department of civil engineering and school of community and regional planning at the University of British Columbia, has studied the relationship between average-speed bicycle travel and inhalation of potentially harmful air. Using a U.S. Census-based computer model of 10,000 people, Bigazzi found that the ideal bicycling speed to inhale the minimum amount of pollution is between 7.5 to 12.5 miles per hour (mph), placing the lowest risk for women at nearly eight mph and for men at just over eight mph. “The faster you move, the harder you breathe and the more pollution you could potentially inhale, but you are also exposed to traffic for a shorter period of time. This analysis shows where the sweet spot is,” says Bigazzi.
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Not-So-Speedy Pedaling Boosts Benefits
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Even One Drink Daily Increases Melanoma Risk
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study from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, has linked alcohol consumption with an increased risk of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Using data from three studies, researchers followed 210,252 adults for an average of 18 years each using food-frequency questionnaires to measure alcohol consumption. Comparing the results to instances of melanoma among the participants, they found that each alcoholic beverage consumed on average per day was associated with a 14 percent increased risk of melanoma. An associated conclusion was that individuals that regularly drank alcohol were 73 percent more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma on the trunk of the body than non-drinkers. “The clinical and biological significance of these findings remains to be determined, but for motivated individuals, counseling regarding alcohol use may be an appropriate strategy to reduce risks of melanoma, as well as other cancers,” explains Eunyoung Cho, Sc.D., the study’s lead author and an associate professor of dermatology and epidemiology at the university.
DNA Markers Link Lifespan to Nutrition
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elomeres, located at the end of human chromosomes, protect DNA from deterioration. Multiple studies over the past decade have associated longer telomeres with increased longevity and a slowing of the aging process. A study from Kookmin University, in Seoul, Korea, collected nutrition data from 1,958 men and women between the ages of 40 and 69. The information included a baseline food frequency questionnaire assessing the consumption of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 (folate), C and E, as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc, during an 18-month period. Researchers measured the length of the subjects’ telomeres after 10 years in a follow-up examination and compared these results with the nutrition information. The study found an association between longer telomere length and vitamin C, folate and potassium intake in all participants. These nutrients are available in many fruits and vegetables.
Spring is independent of our compulsion to manage and direct. It’s beyond our reach. ~Roger Fransecky
Primavera Baby Robyn Bellospirito Nature and spirituality are the wellsprings of creative inspiration for artist Robyn Bellospirito. The Huntington Station, New York, artist works across disciplines, channeling her spirituality through painting, dance, storytelling and poetry. “Primavera Baby was inspired by spring, and the Northern European goddess Freya,” said Bellospirito. “I had inherited these oil paints in rich reds and purples I had never used before. I really didn’t plan it—I just put the colors on the palette and out came this painting, more colorful than I could have imagined.” In addition to her many renderings of queens, goddesses and other female figures, Bellospirito often personifies nature in her otherworldly paintings by incorporating elements such as trees and cloud formations bearing human faces. An oil painter since childhood, Bellospirito received a degree in art history from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries and venues throughout the U.S., particularly her home state of New York, and featured in several magazines. Bellospirito has also worked for New York’s prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection. The artist’s portfolio can be viewed at RobynBellospirito.com. natural awakenings
May 2017
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A will finds a way. ~Orison Swett Marden
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Latin American Tree Bark Improves Diabetes Markers
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study from the University of Prague, in the Czech Republic, has found that extracts from the bark of the Hintonia latiflora, a tree grown in Mexico and South America, can help regulate blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers administered a capsule containing a dry concentrated extract from the plant to 32 subjects with the condition and monitored their blood glucose levels for six months. The subjects experienced an 11 percent decrease in glycated hemoglobin, an indicator that the body can better regulate blood glucose levels during the period, as well as a slight reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides. The researchers also found the natural treatment resulted in a 25 percent reduction in fasting blood glucose levels and a 22 percent reduction in post-meal glucose levels. Liver enzymes showed improved levels in the subjects, as well. No adverse side effects were observed.
Negative Stereotypes Sabotage Girl Soccer Players
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esearchers from Germany’s Goethe University, in Frankfurt, sought to determine the impact that the belief held by some that females are poor soccer players would have on their performance. The study had 36 teenage female soccer players engage in a ball-dribbling drill before and after reading a pertinent article. Half of the subjects read about the perceived incompetence of female soccer players and the other half read a piece about the growing popularity of the sport. The players that read the negative article needed significantly more time to complete the drill than those that read the positive article, possibly highlighting the impact that negative stereotyping has on women.
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tiful: BeauNaturally!
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Greener Diapers
Cloth Better than Disposable for People and the Planet Disposable diapers are the third most common consumer item in landfills. When even those labeled “eco-friendly” are covered by other debris after being discarded and hidden from sunlight and air, they don’t readily biodegrade. Producing disposables also makes major demands on water, energy, nonrenewable resources like oil and renewables like wood. Many brands contain harmful ingredients such as polyacrylate, dioxin, phthalates and heavy metals that can be absorbed by a baby’s soft, developing skin and promote rashes. According to SmallFootprintFamily.com, 90 to 95 percent of American babies annually generate 27.4 billion single-use plastic diapers, or 7.6 billion pounds of garbage. While comparable statistics on adult diapers aren’t available, Euromonitor International forecasts a 48 percent increase in U.S. sales to $2.7 billion in 2020, up from $1.8 billion in 2015. In a decade, sales of diapers for adults could surpass those for babies at Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble, attributed to bladder control issues relat-
ed to health and age, according to the Urology Care Foundation and Mayo Clinic. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association advise that in all cases, fecal matter and urine should be rinsed and flushed down the toilet instead of put in the trash, so that contaminants don’t enter groundwater and potentially spread disease. Traditional cloth diapers are the way to go for several reasons beyond budget: 4 Using cloth facilitates earlier potty education by quickly communicating to the baby when they are wet. New cloth diaper systems like Nicki’s Diapers (NickisDiapers. com) can be easily cleaned in regular and high-efficiency washing machines. Some popular brands are listed at DiaperPin.com. 4 The nonprofit association at RealDiapers. org helps connect local groups of mothers to communicate and share best practices in use, cleaning and potty training, such as learning a baby’s cues for needing to go. It also hosts informative events such as the annual national Great Cloth Diaper Change. 4 Cloth diapers in good condition can be resold on eBay and sites like DiaperSwappers.com.
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News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Safe Harbor
The French government has expanded the Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Françaises, a highly protected marine reserve in French-controlled, sub-Antarctic waters of the southern Indian Ocean, from about 8,000 to more than 46,000 square miles; it now includes seven areas surrounding the islands of Crozet and Kerguelen. France intends to designate 10 percent of its oceanic territory by 2020, and this action brings the total as of the end of 2016 to 1.3 percent. These large-scale, fully protected marine reserves may serve as climate refuges for many species. The rich biodiversity of the new addition includes marine mammals, fish, seabirds, orcas, penguins, Antarctic fur seals and the critically endangered Amsterdam albatross.
Turtle Turnaround
Record Hatchlings Give Hope Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered because of human activity. A ray of hope now shining from conservation efforts is that nesting sea turtles have posted record numbers of successful hatchlings in South Carolina the last three years, with Georgia and Florida reporting similar results. Decades of helpful efforts are paying off due to increased public awareness of turtle-friendly practices at seaside locations. Heed these rules:
Source: PewTrusts.org
Cycling Chicago
Pioneering Bike Paths Promise Easy Commutes Chicago has created 100 miles of new bike lanes in the last five years and plans to add another 50 miles of upgraded lanes with curbs to protect riders from cars by 2019. Beyond that, a series of floating, solar-powered bike paths along the edge of the Chicago River is on the drawing board; each mile of pathway may cost between $5 million and $10 million. The architecture firm SecondShore first proposed the idea. “You look at the river, and while it used to be the main commercial artery in the city, it’s not much of one anymore,” says firm cofounder James Chuck. “This fits with the mayor’s general economic strategy for the city—how to make use of latent infrastructure.” The floating bike paths, named RiverRide, would give pedalers a truly auto-free place to ride for part of their commute and connect with existing bike lanes. The system would fill gaps in the network, creating around a 17-mile stretch of continuous bike paths connecting 28 neighborhoods. Floating on concrete pontoons, the paths would use solar power for lighting. Solar panels could also heat the surface so the path doesn’t ice up in winter. Plans call for the path to intersect with river bridges so bikers can cross to the other side. 12
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Marine Reserve Preserves Ocean Biodiversity
4 Keep lights off on beachfront property during nesting season. 4 Refrain from using flash photography on the beach at night. 4 Keep beaches and oceans clean. Litter such as plastic bags and balloons can cause injury or death when sea turtles mistake them for jellyfish, a favorite food. 4 Respect sea turtles by observing them from a distance. 4 Report dead or injured sea turtles and nest disturbances to 1-800-9225431. Learn more about sea turtle conservation and how to get involved at dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle. Find an introductory video at OceanToday.noaa. gov/endoceanseaturtles.
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Far-Flying Rubber Harms Sea Creatures Helium-filled balloons look pretty when released at special events, but they eventually become earthbound trash littering land and water, often traveling great distances before reaching their final resting places; spans of up to 1,300 miles have been recorded. The Ocean Conservancy recently picked up nearly 94,000 balloon remnants in the course of a year’s worth of cleanup operations. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fish, dolphins, whales, seabirds and sea turtles have all been found with latex balloons in their stomachs, blocking their digestive tracts. One study of two stranded sperm whales in California attributed their deaths to huge amounts of consumed ocean debris. Another found that more than half of one species of sea turtle surveyed had trash in their gut; mostly balloons. The problem is so serious that several states and cities have already outlawed mass balloon releases. Latex balloons are technically biodegradable, but that process can take six months or more, according to the UK National Association of Balloon Artists and Suppliers. Celebratory alternatives include laser shows, music performances, bubbles, banners and reusable inflatable characters. Source: Grist.org
Choo Choo Breakthrough jan kranendonk/Shutterstock.com
Wind-Powered Trains in Holland
Nederlandse Spoorwegen reports that all of its electric trains are now running on energy harvested from wind. Working with Eneco, a sustainable energy supplier in the Netherlands, the goal was to operate the trains via wind turbines by January 2018, but they beat their own deadline. Electric locomotives don’t use conventional engines; instead, they act like a component in an electric circuit transmitted via high-voltage power lines. Three options for usage include onboard energy storage systems such as batteries; an overhead wire; or an extra live rail, which has current flowing through it at all times. It’s used to power lights and air-conditioning, as well as for propulsion. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, turbines capable of generating 586 megawatts of electricity are the workhorses. In 2016, a 700 megawatt offshore wind farm near the town of Borssele became the most cost-effective of such installations in the world.
Eco IKEA
Designing Cabinets and Chairs Made from Recyclables Swedish design firm and retailer IKEA is introducing a new line of “no waste” products that includes seating, vases and kitchen cabinets made of recycled materials. IKEA hopes that the design will help people see waste not as garbage, but as just another material that can be used in creating new and beautiful things. The Kungsbacka kitchen employs affordable, sustainable supplies that look stylish, including cabinet doors incorporating recycled plastic bottles and recycled wood; the entire cabinet is said to be 99.9 percent recycled. The Odger chair is 70 percent recycled plastic and 30 percent renewable wood. The design, available in a range of colors and wood finishes, is the result of collaboration between Swedish designers at Form Us With Love and eschews the environment-harming plastics of other chairs. IKEA also melts recycled glass to turn it into beautiful vases. Each mouth-blown vase is unique, thanks to the materials.
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Balloon Doom
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naturalpet Lip licking such as quick flicks of the tongue is meant to appease and may prevent an uncomfortable situation from escalating into anything resembling a confrontation. Dogs do it with each other and with us, too. A look away that avoids direct eye contact likewise signals that a dog is urgently processing their current environment. Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas, author of On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, identifies the lip licking and averting of the eyes as self-calming behaviors. She affirms, “When dogs are stressed by the environment, they start using calming signals to ease the stress.” When this happens, first try creating more space or distance between the dog and any perceived threat; this may return them to their body language norm. If not, consider using holistic calming aids like a properly mixed lavender essential oil spray or Bach Rescue Remedy Pet flower essences, keeping these well away from their face. Also try mentally engaging the dog with learned cues. A quick game of sit, down, sit plus high-five allows them to engage in a familiar activity while they by Susan Briggs adjust to a new environment. If the pet does not respond to attention, we can readily learn to amily dogs frequently accompany normal cues and continues to display understand the changes in canine body multiple stress signals for an extended us on errands and outings away posture and behavior that communifrom their familiar home environperiod, leave the scene altogether. Their cate their emotional state. ment and we want them to enjoy these anxiety hasn’t been relieved. If it’s still Start by observing the dog’s posture important that the dog learns to enjoy expeditions, so understanding their view of the world is important. when they are relaxed at home. It’s the troubling environment, work with To a dog, every experience is either likely that their weight is balanced on a professional trainer that uses positive familiar or unfamiliar. The first time they all four legs and their mouth is slight- reinforcement tools to aid the transition encounter a new sound, place or perly open; movement is relaxed, loose (see PetProfessionalGuild.com or apdt. son, they may feel anxious. We can help and agile. com). The trainer will assist in creating with the adjustment by introducing them When a dog feels happy or playa plan that allows the pet to adjust at a slowly to each new experience and step ful, notice how their ears may perk up pace that allows them to remain comaside to provide them distance or space or tilt slightly forward. Their tail might fortable. to observe it first at their own pace. rise and wag, and they may emit a By observing a dog’s posture, we Knowing the “tells” that signal cheerful bark. Using their visual and can be confident of choosing mutually when a dog is comfortable or uncomaudio demeanor as a baseline prepares good outings. fortable goes a long way to a harmonius to be alert for three secret tells that ous experience. Allison Culver, assistant signal a change in their emotion. Susan Briggs, of Houston, TX, is director of The Lightfoot Way holistic Closing their mouth routinely co-author of Off-Leash Dog Play: occurs when a dog is unsure or anxious. A Complete Guide to Safety & Fun, animal learning center, in Houston, When their mouth remains closed for a co-founder of The Dog Gurus remarks, “Knowing how to communiminute or more, it’s a sure clue that they and owner of Crystal Canine cate with your animal can save a lot need more time to process information. (CrystalCanine.com). of heartache.” With a bit of applied
DECODING DOG BODY TALK Three Signals of Anxiety
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fitbody
MASTERING SELF-DEFENSE
Staying Aware Avoids Problems by Aimee Hughes
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began my personal training in the Non-Violent System (NVS) of self-defense with Grandmaster Verkerke in 1996,” says Eddie Rose, senior instructor of NVS Peace in the Midst of Non-Violence at Shangri-La Springs, in Bonita Springs, Florida. This aspect of the martial art form seicho jutsu was created by Canadian Daniel Verkerke, Ph.D., as a simple self-defense system to teach and perpetuate nonviolence; he continues to share it with the public, law enforcement, corporations and private security firms in the U.S. and internationally. Nonviolent self-defense is akin to the dynamics of bullfighting. “The matador never matches his strength with the enormous animal; rather, he redirects the energy of the bull with simple and precise movements—counterbalancing— and letting the bull’s energy move past him,” explains Rose. He’s trained everyday people of all ages and walks of life in this approach, in the U.S., UK, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. “As they train, students begin to feel more secure wherever they go, because they are learning how to be safe even in the midst of physical confrontation,” says Rose. “They wind up feeling more empowered as they learn how to neutralize aggression simply and effectively.” Practicing NVS increases balance, coordination, overall flexibility and joint mobility. Its soft, circular, martial arts movements, combined with slow-to-fast linear movements, also enhance cardiovascular health. “Mental and spiritual training includes the awareness and development of a state of being conscious of energy and mind. Everyone’s actions and reactions directly reflect the development of their mind,” says Rose.
Another nonviolent form of self-defense is Shaolin five animal kung fu, a martial arts style that mimics the characteristics of five animals—the tiger, leopard, snake, crane and dragon. Instructor Lloyd Fridenburg owns Fitness with a Purpose, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, where he emphasizes the awareness and avoidance concept as the psychological heart of nonviolent self-defense. Fridenburg, founder and senior instructor of the Waterloo Kung Fu Academy, explains, “The concept emphasizes being constantly aware of your surroundings while avoiding obvious areas of potential danger.” He also stresses the importance of proper body language—being able to read that of others, as well as how to diffuse confrontation upfront in how we present ourself. “Martial arts are a two-sided coin,” he says. “There’s the martial aspect, which involves techniques that allow a person to defend him- or herself in a wide range of situations. Then there’s the art aspect, which encompasses a deeper study, encompassing forms of movement and mental, philosophical and meditative techniques.” “Overall health benefits are no different than one might expect of any disciplined fitness regimen,” notes Fridenburg. “However, the nature of a quality martial arts program forces practitioners to focus their entire attention on what they are doing. The mere act of staying grounded in the present moment dramatically reduces stress and sets martial arts practices apart from many other forms of movement.” Tai chi, an ancient, softer style of Chinese martial art, leverages relaxation, posture and energy work, rather than muscular tension. As a Taoist art, it embodies the way nature works, using minimal effort to accomplish a lot. “Demonstrating tai chi as a form of nonviolent self-defense is much easier than describing it,” says Aaron D. Nitzkin, Ph.D., of New Orleans, a Tulane University professor, tai chi master and certified medical qigong instructor. “If someone attacks, you don’t resist; you can use tai chi principles to yield to their movements with a natural, circular, continuous motion, turning their own force against them. When you move aggressively against a master, it feels like you’ve just bounced off them and fallen down. In order to win at tai chi fighting, you need to remain completely calm and centered and most of all, listen to your opponent’s energy with your hands, so that you can yield to it and then redirect it.” It’s a profound lesson in interpersonal communication. “My students report stronger immune systems, greater clarity of mind, better sleep, less anxiety and depression, and greater emotional stability,” says Nitzkin. “Practitioners become much more sensitive to and conscious of the internal condition of their bodies, and even develop the ability to feel bioelectric fields.” Whichever form of nonviolent self-defense suits us, experts advise that students study with a certified and experienced instructor for optimum results and safe practice. Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy and senior staff writer for Longevity Times online. Connect at Aimee@LongevityTimes.com. natural awakenings
May 2017
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NATURAL MOTHERHOOD Creating the Best Start for New Life by Deborah Shouse
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woman’s body is exquisitely designed to conceive, nurture and give birth,” says Dr. Carol J. Phillips, an Annapolis, Maryland, prenatal chiropractor, doula and author of Hands of Love: Seven Steps to the Miracle of Birth. Judith Lothian, Ph.D., associate editor of the Journal of Perinatal Education, professor of nursing at Seton Hall University, in South Orange, New Jersey, and a natural childbirth educator, knows the significance of women’s deep intuitive instinct. “Women who feel supported and encouraged can tap into their own wisdom and find deep satisfaction in giving birth naturally. The process itself perfectly prepares mother and baby to continue on their journey together.” Several gentle strategies help mothers-to-be prepare for the joys of natural pregnancy and childbirth.
be a sign she’s stuffing down an emotion. She can ask herself, “What am I suppressing?” “Eat a lot of protein, including vitamin B-rich foods, during both pregnancy and breastfeeding,” advises O’Mara. “Nursing moms need to eat nutrient-dense foods frequently, along with getting adequate fluids,” says Wilson. She recommends foods that assist lactation called galatactagogues, like almonds, avocados, legumes, kale and spinach. To increase milk production, add fennel to meals or smoothies, or turn to capsules.
Build a Baby-Friendly Body “Follow your urges,” counsels Peggy O’Mara, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, former editor of Mothering Magazine and author of Having a Baby, Naturally. “Eat when you’re hungry. Sleep when you’re weary. Go to the bathroom the moment nature calls. Practice this in pregnancy so you’ll be in the habit of listening to your instincts when you give birth.” This simple advice counters women’s common habit of attending to other people’s needs instead of their own. Along with eating organic whole foods, Kristy Wilson, of Las Vegas, a certified professional midwife, labor doula and placenta preparation specialist, recommends both a plant-based food supplement with iron and whole food prenatal supplement. Vitamin C is important for a strong amniotic sac; she suggests at least 500 milligrams daily. A high-strung mom can take magnesium chloride baths or sip a soothing cup of red raspberry leaf tea. “Women that are concerned about their diet can tune into the baby and ask what they need,” says Lori Bregman, of Santa Monica, California, a doula, birth coach and author of The Mindful Mom-to-Be. If craving a certain dish, she can research its benefits and healing qualities. The yearning for comfort foods like pizza, macaroni or ice cream may signal the need for more nurturing. Eyeing popcorn or chips could
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Discover Intuitive Nutrition
tions for pregnancy and birth. Examples include: “Birth is a safe and Wilson recommends yoga, swimming, wonderful experience. I am choosing walking or light jogging three to five the right path for my birth. I trust my times a week, for 20 minutes a day. body and my instincts. I have all the “Squatting like a child on your haunches support I need.” Wilson recommends is a great exercise for childbirth,” she choosing two to four that resonate, says, noting that 20 squats daily will repeating them every morning while strengthen core muscles. Sitting on an gazing into the mirror, placing them exercise ball instead of a desk chair or on the refrigerator door and even couch also engages core muscles, while having them pop up on a smartphone. improving posture. “Meditation prepares you for child “Regular exercise brings more enbirth and can also be soothing during ergy, better sleep, reduced stress, higher labor by offering tools that push away spirits, better odds of an easy labor, faster fear,” says O‘Mara. She likes this manpost-delivery recovery and reduced risk tra from Thich Nhat Hahn’s book, Being of gestational diabetes and high blood Peace: “Breathing in, I calm myself, pressure during pregnancy,” Bregman breathing out, I smile.” finds. She recommends a prenatal yoga To begin, sit comfortably in a quiet practice that includes breathing and viroom with eyes closed. For women sualizations. This restorative form of yoga new to meditation, Wilson suggests offers gentle stretching, promotes good The connections established lighting a scented or colored candle circulation and naturally supports relief between mother and and noticing the colors and movement or healing of many possible pregnancy of the flame for something physical ailments. child are much stronger to focus on. “This calming practice is “To alleviate physical distress, try when she progresses through important because labor becomes like chiropractic prenatal care,” says Phillips. a meditation,” she says. The mother Light finger contact from an experipregnancy and birth from copes through the contraction, then enced practitioner helps realign bony a natural perspective. uses her meditation skills to reset, segments and restores the body’s refocus and ground herself before the normal tone. “A prenatal expert can ~Kristy Wilson next contraction. adjust so the mom’s body maintains its Wilson and Bregman both encourbalance and the baby is free to move.” age expectant mothers to keep a journal during pregnancy. Craniosacral therapy reestablishes balance to the mem“Record thoughts and experiences. Sometimes dreams tell branes that encapsulate the brain and spinal cord. things about the child, who has a story too,” advises Wilson.
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Keep Moving with Intention
Prepare the Mind
“Just say, ‘No thanks,’ to friends who want to burden you with stories of their long, excruciating labors,” O’Mara advises. “Protect yourself from toxic people and their horror stories. Focus on maintaining your own good health and surround yourself with people that have experienced a normal birth. Plan to have uplifting support during the birthing process and in the postpartum period.” A woman easily influenced by others might ask her doula, midwife or spouse to be her advocate. A woman that needs to exercise control might seek such assistance for peace of mind, knowing that her wishes will be followed. “‘Pain’ is a fear-based word,” to be avoided in conversations about labor, Wilson explains. “Don’t fear the strength of contractions. They are doing exactly what your body needs to do to give birth.” As a midwife, she helps moms relax and embrace these intensely important sensations by focusing on what is going on in their body. Research published in the journal Cell Adhesion & Migration shows that the hormones released during labor enter into the baby’s immune system to also strengthen the child.
Spark the Spirit
Affirmations can positively state the mother-to-be’s inten-
Design a Special Experience Create a Birth Plan
Those that prefer a home birth can find a compatible midwife through a natural birthing community such as the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, International Childbirth Education Association and La Leche League. For a hospital experience, look for low-Caesarean rates, a personally compatible doctor and a distinct birthing center. Either way, a doula or midwife can help craft the desired birth plan. Upon selecting a venue, the expectant mother may imagine the ideal birth environment and write positive statements, such as, “I want to move around freely. I want my husband and sister with me at all times.” “If a home birth is a mother’s first choice, design two plans; one for home and one for the hospital,” suggests Phillips. “If the mother needs hospital care during labor, the attendants will know her wishes.” Wilson encourages the spouse to be involved from the beginning. “The partner’s energy plays a role in how the birth progresses during labor. Plus, being part of the planning keeps him engaged and attuned to her wishes.” natural awakenings
May 2017
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JUNE Hybrid Vehicles Plus: Chronic Pain
June articles include: Hybrid Vehicles Update Natural Remedies for Pain Prevent and Ease Shingles and so much more!
Orchestrate a Childbirth Team
“The birthing mother needs continuous support from someone that can focus on her and her needs,” says Phillips. “The partner also needs to have access to experienced support. Both need to surround themselves with people that know how to enfold them in love.”’ A birthing team includes the medically trained attendant appointed to help deliver the baby; either a midwife or a doctor. Many women choose to have a trained doula collaborate, as well. She provides continuity of care and advocacy, lessens the need for medical intervention, stays with the mother, honors and includes the partner and supports the parents in making informed decisions. With home births, family members tend to invite themselves over. The mom needs to have control of her birthing atmosphere. “I encourage moms to be firm regarding who they want in the room when the baby is born,” Wilson says.
Honor the Postpartum Mother
“Giving birth is the first big unknown of parenting,” says Wilson. “You plan for it and then you have to trust and accept the outcome.” She encourages postpartum appointments for discussing the birth. “A breastfeeding mother’s nutrient requirements are actually higher postpartum,” Wilson says. To prevent deficiencies, she suggests moms nourish themselves during this period, delaying any focus on weight loss and regaining muscle tone. The birth team and other friends can deliver meals, do light housecleaning, run a load of laundry and bring groceries. The new parents will welcome this generous and loving help. Deborah Shouse is a mother, writer, speaker, editor and health advocate in Kansas City, MO. Her latest book, Connecting in the Land of Dementia: Creative Activities to Explore Together, focuses on life’s meaningful moments (DementiaJourney.org).
Blessing the Birth T
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he blessingway ceremony helps a woman prepare mentally, emotionally and spiritually for the work of birthing, opening her to instinctive abilities that will guide her in mothering,” says Donna Miller Watelet, interfaith minister and co-author of Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey into Motherhood. Miller Watelet, a facilitator of dozens of blessingway rituals, shares an example of a nourishing gathering: In a comfortable and safe room, a group of friends circles the mother-to-be, signifying their support. They discuss the intention for the blessingway and invite the mom to symbolically let go of any fears blocking a harmonious experience. Once her fears are emptied out, they fill her up
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with affirmations, appreciations and adornments. Women can gift an object that has meaning to them, such as a bead, flower or scrap of cloth, as a sign of their commitment to her. These gifts will then be fashioned into something lasting, such as a necklace for the mother. The circle may then bind themselves together, each woman wrapping red yarn around her wrist before passing along the skein until everyone is connected. As they discuss this intertwining, they cut the binding yarn and keep the bracelets, a reminder of their caring for the new family. “Finally, we enjoy a feast together,” Miller Watelet says. “Sharing a meal reminds us to bring the intentions of the blessingway back into everyday life.”
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by Deborah Shouse
Priming the Pump of Prosperity
by Rev. Elizabeth Thompson riming the pump” is a common term used for when we have a desire to stimulate the flow of prosperity or ideas in our lives. It originates from the literal need to pour water in a pump to a well before we are able to draw water out from its resting place below the ground. As a child, I watched my parents prime the pump at our beach cottage when we arrived. They taught me the importance of saving a reserve of water for pouring down the pipe so that we could have an abundant flow of water as needed. It worked every time. This same metaphor holds true for many aspects of our lives. Personal energy, finances, relationships and creative endeavors all need to be primed with a fresh flow of energy in order to remain vital. I find that simply shifting my attention is often enough to prime my spiritual, mental, emotional or physical energetic pump. “You can’t ask for the reward first and then produce results later. You can’t ask for crops now and plant seeds next year.” ––Zig Zigglar Energy priming is based on a Universal Law of Circulation, or giving and receiving. In other words, like my mother would tell me as a child: to have a friend, I must first be a friend. At nine years old, that made a world of sense, and I immediately applied this principle with great success. Being skilled at dodgeball, I could quickly catch and throw, but instead of hogging the ball, I began to pass it around to those who were smaller than I. For me, it was easier to get the ball than to have a friend at that time. However, I found that sharing and helping paid off in friendship. I was thrilled to be invited to a birthday party for one child who I assisted often with the ball, and the correlation was not lost on me. Even to this day, I know that when I desire to have a demonstration of any sort, I must prime the pump––whether in relationships, income, physical energy or creative ideas––by first giving of myself. I prime this well through energy, attention, tithing and service.
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There is no limit on the flow of energy, ideas or desires. It is simply a matter of taking the available resources and freely sharing them with an open mind and heart. When we are present to those in our immediate space, they feel it. As we listen, we are engaging the gift of our attention. The universe is always listening and responding to our willingness to flow, both in peace and abundance. Priming the pump is based on an understanding of the Law of Abundance. There are times when the flow slows to a trickle. Just like a pump in the well, the problem might be an air leakage. In our lives, when the affluence of resources seems to dry up, we often discover the leak exists within ourselves. Perhaps we fail to steward our time and personal energy, or we forget to nurture our relationships in ways that can revive the flow. Usually, the fix of an energy drain lies in adjusting our own minds, attitudes, or habits of self-care. Paying attention to our direction of thinking, feeling and action will guide our lives to reconnect with the flow. “We may be floating on Tao, but there is nothing wrong with steering. If Tao is like a river, it is certainly good to know where the rocks are.” –Ming-Dao Deng On May 7, 12:30–2 p.m., Rev. Elizabeth Thompson, Senior Minister at Unity of Sarasota, is offering a seminar on building deeper awareness to the affluence present in the universe. Register for this event in the Fellowship Hall or call 941-2235060, ext. 22. The cost to attend is $15.
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healingways
HEART-BASED LEADERSHIP
Women Mobilize to Heal the World by Linda Sechrist
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he Heart to Lead: Women as Allies for the Greater Good, a documentary film directed and produced by Cheryl Gould, of Naples, Florida, explores the emerging paradigm of heart-based feminine leadership and how it is attuning women to their inner strengths, beliefs, each other and our Earth. “Women’s deeper unity of being is empowering them to take action and lead. Women who once longed for a culture that would reflect their highest priorities are now creating one in which they support each other and make a difference,” says Gould. She notes that for centuries, a vast number of women have led and served as change agents. “Unfortunately, the majority of them never made it into the headlines or history books. A prime example—few individuals knew that 12 women ran for president before Hillary Clinton.” In a recent Yes! magazine article, Rucha Chitnis reports that women are rising up to push back against growing corporate power, land grabs, economic injustice, climate change and more. Women’s groups and networks offer a paradigm shift, she concludes, exposing links between unbridled capitalism, violence, the erosion of human rights and destruction of the Earth. 20
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A woman’s style of leadership in America’s corporate boardrooms, activist-led movements or state and federal government may not be plainly evident. Feminine wisdom’s emerging solutions are compassionate, collaborative and consensus-building, and pursue universal outcomes and group cooperation. They contrast with conventional competitive strategies and solutions, according to The Legislative Effectiveness of Women in Congress study at Vanderbilt University’s Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, in Nashville. Jean Shinoda Bolen, a medical doctor, Jungian analyst in Mill Valley, California, and author of Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman, has been advocating since 2002 for a United Nations Fifth World Conference on Women (5WCW). “Empowered and equal women are the key to peace and sustainability. We need to rise up together and fulfill the Dalai Lama’s words at the Vancouver Peace Summit: ‘It will be up to Western women to bring about peace.’” Bolen’s 5WCW vision joins millennial women worldwide now entering their era of activism with the feminist movement spearheaded by a boomer generation of women that’s forwarded the equality and empowerment of women this far. To this end,
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she marched in Washington, D.C., on January 21 in the Million Women’s March that globally attracted 5 million participants. “To make human rights women’s rights, we need a united global women’s movement,” she states. Sande Hart, from Orange County, California, director of the Charter for Compassion International-Women and Girls sector and president of the women’s global interfaith organization Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope (SARAH), participated in the Los Angeles Women’s March with 750,000 others. “There’s a sense that we’ve had enough. We’re not angry. We are morally outraged and seeking peaceful solutions wrapped in compassion and based in justice for all. In nearly 15 years of women’s community building, I’m convinced that healing our communities with resilience and a regenerative spirit is our biological and innate imperative. I see women emerging in unprecedented ways to make this happen,” says Hart. The Rising Women Rising World organization provides tools and training to help women and men develop feminine wisdom and the qualities of potent compassion, deep listening, intuition and inclusivity. Hazel Henderson, an evolutionary economist in St. Augustine, Florida, host of the Ethical Markets online TV show and researcher of The Love Economy shared in her book The Politics of the Solar Age: Alternatives to Economics, has mentored staff members of Rising Women Rising World. Henderson contends that to shape a future for the good of all, we must bring into balance the masculine and feminine energies and learn to value the long-marginalized qualities of feminine wisdom. Henderson’s Love Economy paradigm reflects the sharing and caring sector not presently reflected in the nation’s gross domestic product. “Women’s unpaid work—raising children, taking care of households, serving on school boards, volunteering, caring for aging parents, etc.—constitutes 50 percent of all production in the U.S. and 70 percent of that in developing countries. This unvalued economic sector underlies and supports the public and private parts of the entire economy,”
Tinyurl.com/ WomensHeartToLeadFilm Vimeo.com/ondemand/ AsSheIs advises Henderson, who observes that competition cannot be the sole basis for an economy with any expectation of high quality of life on a small planet. In her film, As She Is, producer and director Megan McFeely, of Marin County, California, captures her own journey to understand the collective potential of the feminine and how to live true to its innate knowing. She queries: “Can you imagine what might happen if women here and around the world rose up together and used our power of longing to heal the Earth?” Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.
A woman is like
a tea bag—you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. ~Eleanor Roosevelt
inspiration
When We Set Out Let Spirit Steer Us
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Women Rising Resources
by Mark Nepo
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eaching me how to steer the 30-foot-long sailboat he built, my father would say, “It’s the sail that follows the wind, and the rudder that follows the sail.” The sail, by its nature, will catch the wind and lean into it. The rudder is for steering once we’ve set sail. Our soul is like a sail. Once hoisted, it’s filled by the wind of Spirit, which establishes our course and direction. Our will is our rudder; its job is to follow where the soul filled with Spirit leads, helping to steer our way. When we lean on will to make things happen, we can grow stubborn, confused or lost. Clear sailing comes when we’re being carried toward a vision greater than our self, feeling wholly alive along the way. Scudding along the sea, my father was living once for all time, feeling the sensation of all life in that moment. We all yearn to live in these moments forever, yet even a taste of aliveness can fill, sustain and refresh us in the midst of daily tasks. We all face times beyond our control when life doesn’t follow our designs and we’re asked to work with life and not fight, curse or hide from it. When insisting on our way, we can get so tangled in our will that we can’t find or feel the wind of Spirit. During these times—when we fear there is no meaning and it seems there’s nothing holding us up—our will can puff, snap and flap
about in a desperate attempt to fill what looms as an empty life. But even setting out on the sea, it’s never easy. My father remarked, “It’s always harder to sail toward a fixed point, because you will inevitably have to cross the wind several times to get there.” By contrast, a boat moves its fastest and cleanest when it simply follows the wind. It’s the same when we listen for where life is taking us, instead of busily thinking about where we’re going. Devoting ourselves to experiencing the journey, rather than determining a destination, we discover our way. Like a sail, our life must be out in the open before the wind will show its face. Likewise, Spirit fills us when we can inhabit our true nature. We miss what awaits us if we hover too close to the shore of our past, our family, someone else’s dream for us, or an old identity. To feel the wind in our face, we must leave the shallows and harbors for the deep. Only then will the larger, timeless destination show itself and our soul be filled enough with Spirit that our smaller self will have no choice but to engage in steering us toward all that matters. Adapted excerpt from The One Life We’re Given: Finding the Wisdom that Waits in Your Heart, by Mark Nepo (Atria). Connect at MarkNepo.com and ThreeIntentions.com. natural awakenings
May 2017
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Rice Milk
Milk Minus the Moo
Evaluating Alternatives to Dairy by Judith Fertig
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hen dietary concerns, food sensitivities or curiosity prompt us to try alternative milks, it helps to know the basic facts about the leading types, to choose the best ones for us.
Almond Milk
Pro: Almond milk is low in fat and can be easily made at home, so ingredients are known. One cup of homemade almond milk has about 40 calories, one gram of protein, 6 percent of the daily value (DV) for calcium, three grams of fat and eight grams of carbohydrates. As for storebought options, one cup of Silk Organic Almond Original contains 60 calories, with one gram of protein, 10 percent DV for calcium, two-and-a-half grams of fat and eight grams of carbohydrates. Con: Almond milk is neither high in protein nor calcium; it’s not as nutritionally packed as other alternatives. Some might not care for the faint nutty flavor.
Coconut Milk
Pro: Dr. Josh Axe, a functional medicine physician who owns the popular natural health website, DrAxe.com, and the Exodus Health Center, near Nashville, Tennessee, points out, “High in medium-chain triglycerides, coconut milk is a very filling, fat-burning food.” One cup of homemade coconut milk has about 22
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450 calories, six grams of protein and 64 grams of fat, plus trace minerals such as manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and copper. Canned coconut milk is similar: one cup of Native Forest Unsweetened Coconut Milk Classic contains 420 calories, three grams of protein and 45 grams of fat, plus trace minerals such as manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and copper in each cup. Con: High in fat and calories, coconut milk may not be the best choice for drinking every day, but is delicious in Asian-style soups and curries.
Hemp Milk
Pro: Hemp milk, made from hulled hemp seeds, contains 10 essential amino acids, including key fats. “Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are vital for healthy functioning of the brain,” says Axe. Hemp milk works well for people with tree nut allergies. One cup of Pacific Hemp Original has 140 calories, three grams of protein, 50 percent DV for calcium, five grams of fat and 20 grams of carbohydrates. Living Harvest Tempt Hemp Milk has 80 calories per cup, two grams of protein, 30 percent DV for calcium, eight grams of fat and one gram of carbohydrates. Con: Grassy-tasting hemp milk tends to separate in hot coffee.
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Pro: High in vitamins and calcium when fortified, rice milk made from brown rice is also high in vitamins. According to Ted Kallmyer, author of Flexible Dieting, in Bend, Oregon, rice milk is the least likely alternative milk to trigger an allergy. One cup of Pacific Rice Milk has 130 calories, one gram of protein, 30 percent DV for calcium, two grams of fat and 37 grams of carbohydrates. One cup of Rice Dream Organic Rice Drink has 120 calories, one gram of protein, 30 percent DV for calcium, 2.5 grams of fat and 23 grams of carbohydrates. Con: Low in fat and protein, it’s also relatively high in carbohydrates. It has a less creamy texture than hemp, coconut or soy milks.
Soy Milk
Pro: Soy milk provides more protein than other alternative milks. Look for a calcium-fortified, organic brand that doesn’t contain the thickening agent carrageenan, suggests Dr. Andrew Weil, founding director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tucson. Different brands have different nutritional components. For example, one cup of Organic Valley Soy Original has 100 calories per cup, with seven grams of protein, 30 percent DV for calcium, three grams of fat and 11 grams of carbohydrates. One cup of Organic EdenSoy Extra Original Soymilk contains 130 calories, with 11 grams of protein, 20 percent DV for calcium, four grams of fat and 13 grams of carbohydrates. Con: Some people might not like the thick texture and soy aftertaste. Dr. Frank Lipman, founder and director of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center, in New York City, says that limiting soy is a good idea due to soy’s prevalent pesticide saturation and its researched links to thyroid, endocrine system and sex hormone dysfunction (Tinyurl.com/SoyDarksideStudies). If soy is eaten, “Choose certified organic, soy products—preferably fermented versions like miso, natto and tempeh—with the Non-GMO Project seal; and do so sparingly, no more than twice a week,” advises Lipman. Judith Fertig writes food health articles and cookbooks from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).
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greenliving
It’s easy to grow in a small herb garden and will last through the winter in most parts of the South.” An unrelated tropical plant from Africa with strong oregano flavor, the leaves of variegated Cuban oregano are pretty enough to grow alongside flowers, and the plants thrive in humid heat. Cuban oregano readily grows through hot summers, and the plants produce more leaves each time leaf tips are harvested.
Herbs that Beat the Heat Favorite Varieties that Flourish in Summer by Barbara Pleasant
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ome of the best plants to keep as summer companions are herbs that enrich life with their flavors, fragrances and beauty. It’s not too late to pot up a few herbs or plant them in the garden if we choose varieties that thrive in hot, summer weather.
Reliable Basils
“I place basil as the number one herb in popularity, as well as heat tolerance,” says Cristina Spindler, owner of the Peconic River Herb Farm, in Calverton, New York. “Basil actually prefers heat.” There are many types, and greenleafed culinary varieties are easy to grow through the summer, provided they’re not allowed to dry out. Two particularly heat-hardy types are purple-leafed varieties such as red rubin and African blue, which debuted in 1983. “Purple basil is shockingly fragrant and beautiful on the plate. Plus, it’s easy to grow in a small space and produces quickly,” says Lisa Kessler, who for several years has co-owned with her husband, Ben, the White Hills Lavender and Herb Farm, in Dearing, Georgia. “The flowering tops are usable as herbs and as beautiful cut flowers, so don’t toss them away.” “African blue basil flourishes in summer heat and is an especially beneficial nectar plant for bees and other
pollinators,” says Traci Anderson, who has been running Seminole Springs Herb Farm, in Eustis, Florida, in their family for more than 20 years. Vigorous and heavy-flowering, it can grow to over three feet tall, and usually persists as a perennial in Florida, Texas and other mild winter climates.
Mediterranean Flavors
Rosemary is the most adaptable and heat tolerant of Mediterranean herbs; it can be grown as a perennial where soil doesn’t freeze hard in winter. “My top herb garden choice for the hot, humid conditions in the South is Tuscan blue rosemary, because it is beautiful, easy to grow and is wonderful in all kinds of foods and products,” Kessler says. “It blooms in several seasons and provides bees with off-season food.” Thyme is a top cooking herb, although too much summer rain can lead to mildew and leaf blight. This rarely happens with Summer savory, which has a punchy flavor that Spindler describes as “a peppery cross between oregano and thyme that’s perfect on all of the classic summer veggies—squash, green beans, tomatoes and corn.” Kessler recommends oregano as part of our summer planting list. “Let your kids or grandkids have the experience of putting it in the pasta sauce.
Tempting Tropicals
In Central Florida, Anderson recommends culantro, aka Mexican coriander, as a summer herb different from the better-known cilantro. “Culantro equals the flavor of cilantro, but with no bitter or medicinal aftertaste.” A great longterm performer, it continues producing flavorful new leaves even after the plant starts blooming. Anderson also suggests growing West Indian lemongrass for its fragrant leaves and thick stalks. A vigorous, clump-forming grass, lemongrass can be grown in containers anywhere or served as an edible ornamental in landscapes where summers are hot. “Lemongrass enjoys a sunny and moist environment, so it benefits from being near an air conditioner drain or downspout,” she advises.
Growing Tips
Herbs always need watering in hot weather, and pouring from a watering can at the base is far better than bathing the leaves with a hose. Should containers become so dry that they refuse to take up water, place them in a broad dish or pail filled with three inches of water for 30 minutes to rehydrate the roots. Always grow herbs in pots with large drainage holes, so excess water can drain quickly. Make a habit of pinching off a few herbal leaves, crushing them between the fingers and inhaling their fresh aromas. For maximum benefit, repeat daily. Author Barbara Pleasant’s new book, Homegrown Pantry: A Gardener’s Guide to Selecting the Best Varieties & Planting the Perfect Amounts for What You Want to Eat Year Round, is now available (Storey Publishing). Connect at BarbaraPleasant.com. natural awakenings
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Taggart Siegel Seeks to Seed an Agricultural Revolution by April Thompson
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or more than 30 years, Taggart Siegel has produced award-winning films on little-known aspects of the natural and cultural world. His diverse documentaries range from the story of a Hmong shaman immigrant adjusting to American life to a Midwestern organic farmer that salvaged his family’s farm. Siegel’s latest film, Seed: The Untold Story, follows global seed keepers from Minnesota to India battling multinational agribusinesses in a quest to protect our agricultural heritage and food sources—ancient seeds passed down through untold generations. Interviews with farmers, ethnobotanists and activists explore the importance of the genetic material that these tiny time capsules carry. Siegel is the founder and executive director of Collective Eye Films, a nonprofit media company in Portland, Oregon. He co-directed and produced this latest offering with documentary filmmaker Jon Betz, with backing from Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei.
Why does the colossal loss of food crop diversity during the past century matter? Up to 96 percent of seed varieties have been lost since 1903. During this period, we have destroyed the infrastructure of traditional agriculture: 10,000 years of seeds saved from families and farmers. It threatens our survival. We 24
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can’t rely on genetically modified seeds to see us through climate changes. We need non-genetically engineered seed varieties like the thousands of different types of rice grown in India to be able to adapt to extreme events like floods and droughts. Universal responsibility to save seeds began to dwindle in the 1920s, when hybrid corn crops came onto the market, promising higher yields; instead of growing crops from seeds saved, borrowed or shared with neighbors, farmers bought seeds from stores. In the 1990s, huge corporations bought up some 20,000 seed companies, and the number of cultivated seed varieties dropped precipitously. Ten agrichemical companies now control more than two-thirds of the global seed market.
How do hybrid seeds differ from open-pollinated seeds? You cannot save a hybrid seed; if you try to use it, the results are unreliable. Hybrids are engineered to be planted for one year only. With open-pollinated and heirloom seeds, you’re planting reliable seeds saved from year to year, generation to generation, bred for the consistency of their qualities. Indigenous people in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, for example, have successfully cultivated local seeds for at least 8,700 years, right up to today. Hybrids require high levels of chemical inputs to produce. Illustrat-
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ing the contrast, Hopi corn, grown for thousands of years, requires little water and contains much more protein than today’s commercial crops, without poisoning the land with heavy industrial inputs. The Hopi think of seeds as their children, intimately connected with their heritage and culture, so they protect them. Beyond big, strong crops, farming is a spiritual act.
Why do so many farmers voluntarily choose hybrid seeds, given the troubling issues involved? Most farmers just want streamlined labor and the biggest yield. Often, commodity crops using commercial seeds and chemical fertilizers have the biggest yield and make them the most money, even though severe downsides like the loss of flavor and nutrients mean it’s ultimately not the best result. In India, more than 250,000 farmers have committed suicide during the past 20 years to escape onerous debts accrued to purchase industrialized agricultural inputs. An Indian seed salesman interviewed for the film despairs, “The seeds we sell don’t taste good and require so many chemicals that many farmers kill themselves.”
What is the seed-saver movement achieving, and how can everyday gardeners and citizens take action? Seed libraries and banks are critically important because the seeds are adapted to the local environment. Seed libraries have multiplied from only a handful a few years ago to as many as 300 located in towns across America today. Public libraries check out seeds to plant in your garden, asking only that you return harvested seeds for others to enjoy. Farmers can now “back up” their seeds in local seed banks, which are also becoming important educational resources to teach students about these issues. To locate a screening or purchase a DVD of the film, visit SeedTheMovie.com. Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.
Nature’s Living Tapestry by Juliette Jones
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ay is the merry month when Mother Nature celebrates her immense creative ability, restructuring from the latency of winter into the bloom of new life as evidenced through the flowers of the field and chirping of baby birds. Before our very eyes, life is weaving a remarkable tapestry out of its own power. Like a dream, it just happens. The forces behind creation are always expressing into the world of form, following patterns of design and evolution. Yet so much of what is happening lies beyond the world of our senses. In the old world, weaving was deemed a metaphor for the creative expression of the cosmos, and this was especially true throughout goddess and matriarchal cultures where this feminine activity was central to the home and hearth. In ancient Greece, the process of weaving figured into creation mythology. Aspects of destiny were woven into the pattern of every human life by three sister goddesses named “The Three Fates.” Clotho (meaning spinner) spun the threads of life; Lachesis (unbending) measured the length of a life by determining the length of the thread; Atropos (inevitable) cut the thread of life, thus determining its endpoint. If we were to examine the fabric of life and culture, as we would a woven tapestry, we would first see that it manifests through a series of dualistic or opposing phenomena. A woven tapestry has two sides which often differ in appearance. We might look at this as a metaphor for the seamless relationship between what we see as external versus internal reality, as in the relationship between form and consciousness. As the overall weave of a fabric is composed of many threads in relationship to one-another, so the fabric of life experience arises from many threads of energy and activity. Our small band of the senses doesn’t permit us to see all these threads. We live in a state of ordinary conscious awareness, focused mainly on the external fabric of things. Threads are left out of what we are able to perceive. For example, we don’t see electromagnetic radiation, molecules or gravity, but these components are indigenous to the weave of life.
The truth is that everything and everyone emerges from an infinite web, or weave of relationships. All elements and events are united in this; everything is related. Objects that seem different are actually individual aspects of the same thing. It’s easy to understand that weaving emphasizes the concept of interdependence and integration of opposing threads. The opposing directions of warp and weft are needed to create this fabric. Each separate, fragile thread is minimized unless bound into the tapestry of the whole. It’s also interesting to reflect that an integration of opposing elements and forces is part of the quest of every spiritual seeker. Our Selvages Are the Forward Moving Edge of Our Lives. The interdependence of everything in the world is not yet understood as a paramount principle in the practical theories of modern psychology, politics or treatment of the environment in general. Yet we can be inspired through the experience of weaving our own lives and staying in service to what is really life-giving. “The weft (of a fabric) is built thread by thread, weaving in and out between the warp threads, touching each one as it passes by; in the same way our daily actions weave through our values, touching each one on the way. Weave your threads in, remembering your values as you touch them and lift them to guide the weft threads through. This is how you integrate your life; you touch your values one by one as you guide your actions back and forth to build the fabric of your life.” ––Dario Valcarenghi Of course, there are places where we appear to make mistakes in the process––a skipped thread, a place pulled too tight, a hole left in the fabric. Perhaps these are the places where we can look upon the weave in another way, from a new perspective. I was told a wonderful story about an old mother who spent her last days weaving snow white blankets for each of her seven adult children. As her time to pass drew near, her vision dimmed, and she accidentally wove a bright red thread into the last blanket. Guess which blanket everyone
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“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” ––Abraham Lincoln The Divine Mother’s Love Both Embraces and Transcends.As the season confers an opportunity to honor mothers, grandmothers and other important life giving influences, we might want to remember that we are also celebrating billions of years of evolution and transformation. How intimately the threads of our lives are entwined with the lives of mothers! Whether seen as tender and comforting, fearless warriors or terrifying and ferocious––as all of these possibilities exist within the universal mother archetype––all mothers everywhere are an aspect of the Divine Mother principle, each bestowing the fundamental threads of physical life and the opportunity for the formlessness of spirit to emerge as physical presence.
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healthykids Ruslan Guzov/Shutterstock.com
wanted? Sometimes imperfection has a value not immediately apparent, and sometimes a mistake can unmask a deeper truth within the weave. The final gifts of this old mother would continue to touch her children’s lives long after she had departed from their sight. How many times, as a young mother, had she covered them with the blanket of her love in their infancy and childhood? Such handmade woven blankets would surely evoke a certain comfort of continuity in the face of such profound transition––kind of like an adult “assurance blanket” to connect them to deep feelings of love, gratitude and fond memories.
The Joys of Grandparenting How to Mindfully Love Little Ones by April Thompson
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eing a grandparent can be magical; an opportunity to create both lifelong memories and formative experiences for grandchildren. However, it can also pose challenges that need to be managed mindfully, say experts. For more than 25 years, Patricia Salem, of Louisville, Kentucky, a licensed and board-certified art therapist, has taught mindfulness practices and art therapy in such diverse settings as hospitals and schools. Aiming to help kids and adults learn to harmoniously ease life’s challenges, her work across generations has led her to seek ways to support entire family systems on their individual and familial journey to more mindful living. Her classes focus on skills like cultivating awareness, communication, self-compassion and self-care. “Teaching mindfulness and stress reduction to children is a start; however, teaching parents and grandparents is important, too. Children need reinforcement at home for practices they are learning in order for them to take hold,” says Salem. Carolyn Tucker, a psychotherapist in Atlanta, started offering classes on mindful grandparenting six years ago after witnessing a rise in grandparents seeking therapy. “In working with new
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mothers, I’ve found that a common area of friction is too little or too much support from grandparents. I thought it wise to help prepare them,” says Tucker. She helps grandparents develop realistic expectations of their role. “It’s easy to revert to what you know—the parenting role—so it’s important to set mindful intentions,” she observes. Tucker encourages grandparents to make mindful memories during time spent with the grandchildren. “You can find joy by being still and marveling at a grandchild’s beautiful little hands and dimpled knees while registering how the air in the room feels to create a vivid mental snapshot of the moment. “Parents and kids can become too busy, and grandparents can help them slow down. Lie on the grass together and look at cloud shapes or blow a dandelion. To me, that is the romance of grandparenting, and mindfulness allows the romance to blossom,” she says. Susan Moon, a Berkeley, California, author and grandmother who has practiced Zen Buddhism for nearly 40 years, sees grandparenting as an opportunity to release expectations; this feat can be difficult for parents caught up in their youngsters’ identities. “It’s easier for grandparents to accept
grandkids for who they are and just be joyful with them. They get to be in the moment with the kids without worrying about the day-to-day details of caregiving that can consume parents.” She explores such ideas in her book This is Getting Old: Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity. Being past their working years, grandparents are often more accepting and peaceful themselves, which can be inspiring for younger generations, adds Salem. For Moon, it’s vital to be mindful of the image of aging that’s projected; “I try to model that old age isn’t tragic, and show the joy in this stage of life,” she says. Yet grandparents also should be mindful of any physical limitations and set boundaries with grandkids as needed. “It’s okay to say, ‘I can’t hang on the jungle gym with you,’ and suggest an alternative,” says Moon. Good relationships with the grandkids begin with maintaining open relationships with their parents, experts note. To do this, consistently engage in compassionate listening. “It can be tempting for grandparents that know
what may have worked in raising their own children to react or jump in, but it’s important to avoid giving unsolicited advice,” Salem cautions. At the same time, grandparents can notice aspects a harried parent may miss and, if handled carefully, can provide important insights. “I was known as the ‘fairy mom’, offering magic, art and imagination. I was grateful my own mother was there, too, because one child needed more structure and stability than I was providing,” says Tucker, a mother of four. “She gave me mindful feedback without making me feel like she was trying to usurp my role.” Moon suggests practicing “right speech”—messages that are positive, affirming and loving—with everyone. “It’s important to be humble and recognize the huge job of parents and all they juggle. Let them know that you are there to support them in whatever way you can.” Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.
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Conscious Grandparenting Create new memories, but also share old stories. “Kids want to hear about how their parents were as children, and it gives them a sense of history,” advises author Susan Moon. Be open to learning new technology to communicate across the generational divide. “While grandparents learn about the world of social media from their grandchildren, they can also encourage them to cut back on checking their cell phones in favor of interpersonal activities,” says art therapist Patricia Salem. When visiting grandkids, especially if they live in different cities, “Always have some ‘grandma magic’ up your sleeve—like games, puzzles or craft projects that can be collaborated on—to maximize precious time together,” suggests Moon. Invite grandchildren to try out meditation or breathing techniques practiced by their elders. “It can help lessen the stresses they encounter in school and at home,” says Salem. “Be careful to foster cooperation rather than competition in any shifting relationship with a child-turned-parent,” advises psychotherapist Carolyn Tucker. Otherwise, it can create chaos, undermine a parent’s confidence and strain relationships.
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calendarofevents WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 Paddle Lower Peace River - 9am-3pm. Join Master Naturalist Bill Schuyler for a bird watching paddle: Loop down to a rookery and then up Deep creek to the Nav-A-Gator for lunch. Return via a different Peace River route. Participants must provide pfd, watercraft and be able to swim. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are gratefully accepted. Reserve at: 941-763-9248.
SUNDAY, MAY 7 ECK Worship Service – 11am-noon. Taking Responsibility for our Actions. Everything you do has an effect. The seeds you plant come back to you, two weeks, two months or two lifetimes away. Free, Charlotte County Cultural Center, Rm A, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.
TUESDAY, MAY 9 Monthly Anchoring Light Channeled Meditation Charlotte County - 6:45pm. With Rev.Sharon-Elizabeth James - Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light every Monday since July 16, 2007! Love Offering. Port Charlotte Beach Park, Room A, Port Charlotte. 941-371-9333, CCOSL.com.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 Paddle Alligator Creek and Lunch at Calahoo Restaurant - 10am-2pm. Explore the shoreline of Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda, with Florida Master Naturalists Helen Buonviri and Bill Schuyler. We will enjoy a lunch at the Calahoo Restaurant before returning to the launch. Participants are required to wear a PFD. Bring your kayak/canoe (no inflatables) lunch money, water, bug spray. Donations to the Sierra Club are gratefully accepted. Reserve at 941-467-0974 (Helen) or 941-763-9248 (Bill).
THURSDAY, MAY 11
Paddle Deer Prairie Creek - 8:30-11am. Join us as Florida Master Naturalists Jim Knoy and Jamie Reynolds guide us along this natural waterway, its banks full of wildflowers, and a myriad of waterbirds. Participants must provide their own watercraft, PFDs and be able to swim. Voluntary donations are always accepted. Must reserve, 303868-8337. Guest Reader, Deborah Chadwick - 10:30am– 5:30pm. Using a deck of regular playing cards, Deborah is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients. Throughout her readings, Deborah brings forth humor and healing to aid her clients in achieving a higher level of understanding and focus. Cost: 15mins/$30, 30mins/$60, 45mins/$80. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com. “How to Connect to Higher Dimensions” Class with Indira – 7-9pm. Interested in increasing your intuitive abilities to connect with higher dimensions? Would you like to connect with Beings of Light for guidance and insight? First, you need to know where to find them! In this introduction to the “How to Connect” workshop series, we’ll explore the 7 Planes of Existence-or different levels of vibrational energy and the beings, such as angels, ascended masters and spirit guides, native to each plane. Indira will lead a beautiful and deep meditation straight into the highest Plane of Existence allowing you access to both your divine source and the divine
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beings waiting to assist you. Join us and get connected! Please bring a sweater, pen, notebook, water bottle and crystal of your choice. Cost: $25. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota. 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
Community HU Chant – 11am-noon. Come experience in a group of like-minded persons how your days can be enhanced by chanting the word ‘HU’ from your heart to God for 20 minutes. You can also do this on your own at any time. It is for everyone of any background or religious belief. You are invited to stay for light refreshments that follow the HU chant and meet others who can share the benefits they’ve received from singing HU. Light refreshments follow. Free. Jacaranda Library, Children’s Activities Rm, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, 941-358-0325, Meetup.com/ EckankarInSarasota.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? – 6:307:30 pm. Have you had dreams of a departed loved one, an out-of-body or near-death experience, wonder about past lives? Learn more with like-minded people, also receive a free CD with special techniques. Free. Elsie Quirk Library conference rm,100 West Dearborn St., Englewood. 941-3580325, Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. Astrology Discussions with Catherine – 7- 9pm. In this month’s class we will be coming together to talk about the new 8-year Venus cycle and to get perspective on what’s happening in current times based on the Universal map within the stars. Bring an open and fun attitude, your questions, a sweater, and pen and paper. All levels accommodated. Cost: $25. Pre-registration required. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 18
Paddle Lower Peace River - 9am-3pm. Join Master Naturalists Rick Fried for a bird watching paddle: Loop down to a rookery and then up Deep creek to the Nav-A-Gator for lunch. Return via a different Peace River route. Participants must provide pfd, watercraft and be able to swim. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are gratefully accepted. Reserve at: 941-637-8805.
FRIDAY, MAY 19
Guest Reader, Joanne Leo - 10:30am–5:30pm. Join us in welcoming back our popular guest reader, Joanne Leo, who has more than 30 years’ experience as a psychic reader and life coach. Combining psychic-channeled numerology and astrology with her tarot card readings, Joanne is able to provide detailed insights about your life based on your birth date and birth name. Her candid “Readings with a Heart” provide a unique and profound guide to all aspects of your life. Cost: 15mins/$30, 30mins/$50, 45mins/$70, 60mins/$90. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-3613006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 20 Intuitive Arts Fair - 10:30am–5:30pm. Elysian Fields has been offering this long-standing Intuitive Arts Fair for over 2 decades! Come try one of our professional and seasoned readers for an intuitive reading, featuring: Deborah, Laura, Michelle, Stephanie, and Suzanne. No appointments made by phone. First come, first served. Cost: 30mins/$35. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
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Book Discussion – 3:30-4:30pm. How to Survive Spiritually in Our Times. A spiritual exploration class based on the book by Harold Klemp . Everyone is welcome with or without the book. Ask questions, share stories and insights or just listen to learn to grow and thrive spiritually. Free. Mid-County Regional Library, Meeting Room A, Port Charlotte. 941-358-0325. Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.
MONDAY, MAY 22 Paddle Woolverton Trail Mangroves and Lunch on Big Dog Island - 10am-2pm.Explore the extensive mangrove tunnels of Lemon Bay then paddle to Big Dog island with Florida Master Naturalist Helen Buonviri and Bill Schuyler. Enjoy a leisurely lunch/snack exploring Big Dog before returning to the launch area. Participants are required to wear a PFD. Bring your kayak/canoe (no inflatables), water, bug spray, lunch/snack. Donations to the Sierra Club are gratefully accepted. Reserve at 941-4670974 (Helen) or 941-763-9248 (Bill).
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 “Beginner Tarot” class with Skye - 7–9pm. Skye Samuel, Fourth generation psychic reader and teacher, invites you to join her in this class and share the mystery of the Tarot cards. Skye will explain the basic foundation of Tarot, the elements involved in the minor arcana cards, and the Fools Journey of the 22 major cards. She will be using the Rider Waite Deck. Please feel free to bring your own deck or purchase one at the store for your own study. This is for Tarot students past, present, and future. $20. Pre-registration required. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-3613006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 25 Guest Reader, Deborah Chadwick - 10:30am– 5:30pm. Using a deck of regular playing cards, Deborah is able to communicate with her guides and angels, quickly receiving very specific information for her clients. Throughout her readings, Deborah brings forth humor and healing to aid her clients in achieving a higher level of understanding and focus. Cost: 15mins/$30, 30mins/$60, 45mins/$80. Elysian Fields, Midtown Plaza, 1273 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 941-361-3006, ElysianFieldsOnline.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 27
Paddle Myakkhatchee Creek in North Port9am-1pm. Be in good shape for this paddle. It will involve portaging over a dam and good skills moving yourself through overhanging branches. We will take a break at Morgan Center before returning the way we came. Participants must provide their own watercraft, be able to swim, and have a PFD. Voluntary donations to the Sierra Club are always gratefully accepted. Must reserve, 941-423-2713. Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? – 11am12:30pm. Have you had dreams of a departed loved one, an out-of-body or near-death experience, wonder about past lives? Learn more with like-minded people, also receive a free CD with special techniques. Fellowship and light refreshments. Free. Mid-County Regional Library, Meeting Room B, 2050 Forrest Nelson Blvd., Port Charlotte. 941358-0325. Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota. Have You Had a Spiritual Experience? – 11-Noon. Come share and/or learn about spiritual experiences such as coincidences, guidance from departed ones or angels, dreams, past lives, soul travel. These topics come from the Spiritual Experiences Guidebook which will be given as a gift to attendees. Free. Nokomis Community Park Art Rm, 234 Nippino Tr., Nokomis 941-358-0325. Meetup.com/EckankarInSarasota.
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ongoingevents sunday Sunday Services Cosmic Center – 10am Hands on Spiritual Healing. 10:30am Open Arms Metaphysical Spiritualist Service: Inspirational lectures and messages from your loved ones and friends on “The Other Side”. Reverends Thomas & Mary Linn Clarke. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. Silent Retreat – 10am-3:45pm. 2 Sun. Venice Mindfulness Community. Come to all or part. Silent brown bag lunch Noon-1:30pm. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice, RSVP 941-615-7613. nd
Unity of Sarasota-10:30am. 3023 Proctor. Rev Elizabeth Thompson shows the expressions of God we are. Music: Rob Satori. 3023 Proctor Rd., Sarasota 941-350-3301, UnityOfSarasota.org. Sunday Worship Service – 10:30am. Start your week renewed and encouraged. Join the CMF for a morning of inspiration, spiritual healing, inspirational talk, special music and Spirit messages. Fellowship period follows the service. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota. 941-266-8435. cmfSarasota.org. Chess – 11am-3pm. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. Info & sign-up 941-625-4175. A Cosmic In-Service Gathering of Lightworkers – 12:15pm. A call to Planetary World Servers to Anchor Light and work with our Family of Light to bridge Heaven and Earth. Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com. Open Heart Divine Healing Service – First Sunday. 12:15pm. Through the Gathering of the faithful, experience and co-create the Anchoring of Powerful Divine Healing Energies within the Sacred Circle. Expect miracles! Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333. ccosl.com.
monday Paddleboard Lessons & Tour – 9-10:30am. Learn how to stand up paddleboard while exploring the barrier islands that surround the North Jetty. Great opportunity to see dolphins, manatees and other wildlife. $25. N Jetty, Nokomis. 941234-4311. SUPEnglewood.com. Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels and bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.
tuesday Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels & bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403.
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Transformative Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. The literal translation of Nidra is sleep. However, Yoga Nidra is a dynamic state, not the unconscious sleep of nighttime. It has the ability to alter your unconscious programming. You tap into creative powers beyond the ego-mind and have access to healing on physical, mental and emotional planes. First class complimentary, $10 thereafter. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Register, Facilitator Rick Rabalais 941-539-9149.
The Greater Charlotte Harbor Group of the Sierra Club – 7-9pm. 3rd Tuesday monthly. Open to the public, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to discover what your local Sierra Club is all about. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building, 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd, Port Charlotte. Info, 941-4232713, AllainHale@hotmail.com. Anchoring Light Channeled Meditation Charlotte County – 7:45pm. 2nd Tuesday monthly. Reverend Sharon-Elizabeth James. Serving the Ascension of our planet with the Ascended Realms as Anchors of Light since July 2007. Love Offering. The Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Mdw, Bldg G-2, Sarasota. 941-371-9333, ccosl.com.
wednesday Free Healing Clinic – 4-6:30pm. Our Masters tap into the Divine Source of energy to balance and heal your being. Relax and enjoy this renewing and enlightening experience. Love Donation Appreciated. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, angelministriesfl.org. Sarasota Essential Oils Presents 8-Week Series – 6:30-8pm. Exciting, fun, informative classes on green, clean, chemical-free living. Different topics weekly. Join the Green Living Challenge where you earn Green Points to win prizes. We’re creating a safe and healthy environment for people, pets, plants and planet. 2700 Orchid Oaks Dr (1 blk north of Bee Ridge off Tuttle). $5/class or $25/Three-for-Free with advance registration. Info and Registration, 941-2031225, Facebook, SarasotaEssentialOils.com. Square Dancing – 7-9pm. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St, Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175.
thursday Kundalini Yoga/Gong Meditation – 8-9:30am. A blend of postures, mantra & gong meditation offering a technology that aligns with the ever-evolving universe. All levels. $15; $52/4; $88/8. Moving Toward Stillness Wellness Center, Osprey. 941-812-8695. Zumba/Yoga Class with Allison – 9-10am. Feel young & energetic on Venice Beach. Dance & relax. Donations. W Venice Ave, on the Beach, Venice. VeniceInformationCenter.com. Englewood Farmers’ Market – 9am-2pm. Find a wide range of fruits, organic vegetables, fresh baked German breads, gourmet French foods, fresh seafood, bonsai plants, orchids, garden plants, kettle corn and much more! Olde Englewood Village, W Dearborn St, Englewood, EnglewoodFarmersMarket.org.
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classifieds SUPPORT HELPING PARENTS HEAL. At Unity of Sarasota on second Wednesday each month, 7–9pm. $5 donation. Sandi Crea 814-449-7481. Gentle Mixed Yoga – 9:30-11am. Gentle mixed level yoga. All levels & bodies welcome. $10. 238 W Tampa Ave, Ste 250, Venice. 941-468-0403. Deep Water Aerobics – 10-10:45am. Some swimming ability required. $3. S County Regional Park, 670 Cooper St, Punta Gorda. 941-629-0170, 941505-8686. Awakening Spirit Kundalini Yoga – 11am12:15pm. Awaken spiritual energy with breath, movement and meditation, with Jana and Hannah. $10. Venice Holistic Community Center, 714 Shamrock Blvd, Venice. Register 941-488-1828. Mindful Movement – Noon-1pm. Qigong with Daniele. $10. Sarasota Mindfulness Institute, 1530 Dolphin St, Studio 6, Burns Ct, Sarasota. Details SarasotaMindfulness.org/calendar.html. Open Gym Basketball – 5-8pm. Drop in & enjoy a game of indoor basketball. Shoot some hoops. Play 3 on 3, 5 on 5 or a pickup game with friends. Times subject to change. $2/player. Tringali Recreation Ctr, 3460 N Access Rd, Englewood. Gentle Restorative Yoga – 6pm. Unwind the body with this gentle restorative class. All levels. $15/first class free. Moving Toward Stillness Wellness Center, Osprey. 941-266-6962. Law of Attraction Class – 7-9pm. Jan 12 to May 25. This class takes you to the leading edge, working with the Principles of the Laws of Cause/Effect or Sow/Reap. We are entering a study series of intention for living life as masterfully as we can, given our various quirks and preferences. $10. Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Rd, Sarasota. Rev Zan Benham, 941-922-7839. Zan@Woman-Spirit. com. Woman-Spirit.com.
friday Mindful Basics at SMI – 8:30-9:45am, Yoga Basics with Larisa, $10. Noon-1pm Sitting Meditation, Donation. Sarasota Mindfulness Institute, 1530 Dolphin St, Studio 6, Burns Ct, Sarasota. Details: SarasotaMindfulness.org/calendar.html. Astrology Fridays at the Power of One – 11am3pm. Know thyself and know what’s coming in your future. New relationship, order a synastry chart. Accurate, affordable prices. Call for an appointment or stop by the store to talk. Ask for Astrology Bob. $35/Natal or Progressed chart. The Power of One Metaphysical Shop, 238 W Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-493-6096. Green Door Organics Co-op – 1-5:30pm. Every Friday of the month. Premium organics, affordable prices, no cross-contamination. Four locations, 941-378-9036 or OrganicVeggies.net.
Private Readings Walk-in – 6-7:30pm. End your work week on a pleasant note, and with helpful guidance from your spirit guides and angels! Come and receive a 15-minute message from a loved one or guide from one of our gifted workers. Stop anytime during 6-7:15pm on Fridays, no appointments needed. Two workers available; minimum wait time, if any. $20 donation. Center for Metaphysical Fellowship, 2044 Bispham Rd, Sarasota. 941-266-8435. cmfSarasota.org.
men, bakers, artists and others gather in the heart of historic downtown for a weekly celebration of the best of Venice where you can get fresh seasonal Florida fruits and vegetables direct from local farms. You can’t find any fresher shrimp or seafood. There’s incredible tasty homemade baked goods, trinkets, crafts, soaps, flowers, plants, locally roasted coffee, and more. Tampa Ave between Nokomis & Nassau. 941-929-5304. TheVeniceFarmersMarket.com.
Friday Night Concert – 7-9pm. Join us in Downtown Venice for our Free Friday Night Concert series at the Gazebo in Centennial Park, 200 W Venice Ave, Venice. Info MainStreet.com.
Bradenton Farmers’ Market – 9am-2pm. Over thirty-five vendors offering locally-grown fruits, vegetables, plants, organic products, fresh seafood, prepared foods, as well as the s of local artists, craftspeople and musicians. 1005 1st Ave W, Bradenton. 941-932-9440. RealizeBradenton.com/our_vendors.
saturday Punta Gorda Farmers Market – 8am-Noon. Voted the ‘Best Small Market in Florida’ and 15th in the USA, we have a large number of vendors offering fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, Italian bakery, fresh homemade pasta, kitchenware, cupcakes, beef and fresh seafood, fresh citrus, jewelry, candles and soaps, dip mixes, Florida arts and crafts, cheese, French bakery, baguettes and olives, homemade pies, orchids, organic produce, personalized pens, kettlecorn, coffee beans and drinks, native and exotic plants. Taylor St (across from Historic Charlotte County Courthouse), Punta Gorda. 941-391-4856. Info@ PGDowntownMerchants.com. Venice Farmers Market – 8am-1pm. Every Saturday morning, local farmers, fisherman, crafts-
Love’s in Bloom, Find Your Sweetie!
Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market – 9am2pm. Featuring a special activity including guest chefs, raffles, arts & crafts vendors, children’s activities. Old Main St, Downtown parking/free on weekends. Dogs on leashes welcome. 941-744-7484. Psychic Fair – 10am-3pm. 2nd & 4th Saturdays. Are you searching, questioning and seeking answers? Choose from some of the best Intuitive Artists in the area! See what your future holds! Complimentary refreshments. Private Readings $1/Min. Angel Ministries, 2269 S Tamiami Trl, Venice. Rev Patricia Charnley, 941-492-4995, revpat@angelministriesfl.org, AngelMinistriesfl.org. Free Sleep Consultation at Sleep Organics – 10am-5pm or by appt. 650 Central Ave, Sarasota, 941-312-5906, Sleep-Organics.com.
communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email publisher@nasrq.com to request our media kit.
MINERAL SPRINGS/SPA THE SPRINGS AT DAYS INN
18051 S Tamiami Tr., Fort Myers 239-267-7900 TheSpringsResortFL.com From over 1,000 feet below, warm mineral spring waters bubble to the surface and cascade from our large fountain beneath our domed pool. Even those with sun sensitivites can enjoy our local fountain of youth. Come and enjoy the healing and resorative powers of our high-mineral-content waters. Just 30 minutes away.
ORGANIC SALONS EUROPEAN HELIX HAIR DESIGNERS
Jutta Mestas, P.H.D. The Vines , 701 JC Center Court, Unit # 10 Port Charlotte, FL 33954 941-629-0074 Discover the “Magic” of Helix. Adds Volume, Body, Curls or Waves. We do with Scissors what others do with Chemicals.
PEST CONTROL GOOD NEWS PEST SOLUTIONS
Dean Burnside, President Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice 941-371-1311 GoodNewsPestSolutions.com Go Green Plus 3 • Pest Control, Termite Control • Rodent Proofing and Trapping • Bat and Bird Exclusion • Mosquito and Mole Suppression • Bed Bug Control • Residential and Commercial.
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