Natural Awakenings Miami December 2015 by Natural Awakenings Miami

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Mindful Life Simple Ways to Airplane

YOGA

SWEETLY VEGAN

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

Sharon Salzberg on a Enjoy the Moment

H E A L T H Y

AWAKENING

TO SPIRIT Prayer and Meditation Heal and Free Us

Happy New Year

A Fail-Proof Recipe for an Awesome 2016

No-Bake Holiday

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December 2015

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December 2015

publisher’sletter Fear v. Love

he lights are twinkling, the songs are in the air, family and friends are visiting, the sales are on (since last month), and there’s even a little nip in the air. Oh, how I love the holidays! They bring such joy, and they even include the prospect of a new year. A new start to the many projects and goals we set out to accomplish. But fear is looming more so than ever. The world’s unrest is indisputably unsettling. It’s distractive to our quest for balance, peace and a healthy lifestyle. Yet amidst this helpless feeling, we find all kinds of tools to keep us on track–or guide us back onto–the path of LOVE. After all, finding the will and strength to never be frightened by the will of others is not just an occasional challenge, but more frequent than we might think, it’s a daily one, and not a difficult one. John Lennon once said, “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness I have a friend I’ve always include in my prayers. She’s faced numerous challenges in her life, and lately is no exception. Facing a difficult bout with memory loss, for the first time she has turned to fear. In a recent conversation, I asked her to analyze her life while asking herself “are you living or simply existing?” Her expression of “WOW, I never thought about it that way,” was as enlightening to her as it was to me. She hadn’t realized that her fear of losing her mind had paralyzed her to the point of nonexistence. She has been going through the motions but creating no future. I reminded her that she need not be fearful but fill her life with LOVE, love for herself as well as others. “Take a look around and connect to the feeling of joy the season engenders,” I told her. “Research ways to arrest or reverse your symptoms, they exist. With so many resources available today, you can find the answers you seek, jumpstart your life and fill it with hope rather than fear.” Marianne Williamson, in A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles” explains it this way. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, or fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” This holiday season give yourself permission to embrace LOVE. Liberate yourself and others by shedding your fears, and unite in sending a wave of love and faith around the world through our prayers, meditations and chants. This is the way to defeat what we are facing. This is the path of LOVE. May your resolve shower you with faith and LOVE. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

20 SPREAD THE HEALTH A conversation with Rebecca de la O

23 WHAT IS PRP THERAPY

AND HOW DOES IT WORK

24 AWAKENING TO SPIRIT

Prayer and Meditation Heal and Free Us by Richard Davenport

27 GENEROUS

PINT-SIZED GIVERS Teaching Kids How to Care and Share by Jennifer Jacobson

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM

•ANXIETY? • INSOMINIA? •DEPRESSION? •FATIGUE? •PANIC ATTACKS? •ADD / ADHD?

by Judith Fertig

32 AIRPLANE YOGA

by Cynthia Bowman

33 SHARON SALZBERG ON MINDFULNESS

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No-Bake Holiday Treats Worth Celebrating

Six Easy Stretches Ease the Journey

WE CAN HELP!

28 SWEETLY VEGAN

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Simple Ways to Be in the Present Moment by April Thompson

34 GREEN

CONGREGATIONS Faith Groups Join in Preserving All Creation by Avery Mack

36 RECIPE FOR A

HAPPY NEW YEAR Fail-Proof Ingredients for a Glorious 2016

38 EAT, BARK AND BE MERRY Healthy Holiday Treats for Our Pets

by Sandra Murphy

41 PULSE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY AND YOUR HEALTH

42 STRESS FREE HOLIDAYS 7 Simple Steps Based on the Chakras by Dudley Evenson

45 MEDITATION Why not give it a try? by Peggy Gaines, RN

46 HEAVENLY SCENTS How to Make Your Own Natural Oil Fragrances by Kathleen Barnes

49 HOLIDAY BLUES:

Stress Less and Parent More by Sahra Y. Robinson, LCSW-R

WHOLE FOODS MARKE T IP, L .P.

52 DECK THE HALLS

SAVE TIME FOR THINGS THAT MATTER.

12 9 newsbriefs 12 healthbriefs 16 globalbriefs 19 ecotip 20 community

spotlight 23 therapyspotlight 16 27 healthykids 28 consciouseating 32 fitbody 33 wisewords 34 greenliving 36 inspiration 38 naturalpet 41 therapy 19 spotlight 46 healingways 54 calendar 57 classifieds 60 resourceguide

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newsbriefs Holistic Growth Group Psychotherapy Opens

iami Clinical Psychotherapy (MCP) is proud to announce its debut as a new resource for psychotherapeutic services in the Miami Dade Community serving children, teens and adults. “Our uniqueness comes through in that we offer traditional psychotherapy such as Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy in conjunction with practices associated with Eastern traditions such as mindfulness, and meditation practices,” explains Fram Sarkari, M.S., LMHC, Miami Clinical Psychotherapy founder. MCP specializes in Growth Group Psychotherapy where groups focus on a specific topic. Topics for children and teens include: Bullying, Conduct Related Behaviors, Court Mandated Teens, Gang Involvement, Human Trafficking, Gender Identity Issues, Coping with ADHD, Grief, Loss, & Bereavement, Managing anger, Managing depression, Self-esteem, Drug abuse prevention, Abandonment, Divorce, and Managing Stress & Anxiety. Growth groups for adults include: Single parenting, Managing Depression, Anger management, Positive Communication, Stress & Anxiety management, Self-esteem, Divorce, Grief, loss & bereavement, Abandonment and Substance abuse. In addition to group psychotherapy, MCP offers individual, couples and family counseling, online psychotherapy through Skype and clinical supervision for Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns. Miami Clinical Psychotherapy is located at 11715 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33176. Group fees for Children & Teen Growth Groups are $35.00 for 90 minutes and Adult Growth Groups is $35.00 for 120 minutes with a 10 member maximum. All groups are led by a licensed mental health professional. For more details on groups and services, contact Sarkari at 786-972-7110 or visit www.miamiclinicalpsychotherapy.com. See ad, page 25.

Zenith Miami Counseling and Coaching Center Relationship Experts Individual and Couple’s Therapy Available in person or via Skype™. Divorce, infidelity, co-dependency, trust, and communication issues. Weekday and weekend appointments. Pyschologists with Ph.D.s at your service Insurances Accepted

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or many, New Year’s resolutions of losing weight, eating healthier including and reducing stress don’t last past the first month. Improve your mind, body and spirit by giving yourself or a loved one a gift of positive changes–a three-day body cleanse and lifestyle retreat conducted by the Livingstone Health Institute in Naples. It is widely known that stress and poor diets, directly or indirectly, cause disease. From January 29th through the 31st participants will learn of the connections–at the biological level–between overall health and the perfect circulation of blood. They will learn how to bring the body to the balanced state of homeostasis. This is when the body is working like a self-purifying machine and performing the duties of selfnourishment and self-cleansing using natural life elements life like food, air, water, relaxation, nature, joy and trust. The retreat will also emphasize how emotions manifest themselves in the way one feels physically—if one’s predominant emotions are stressful and painful, then disease is inevitable—and they strive to get to the cause of physical problems. Retreat costs vary per individual needs and interests. For more information, registration and event location, call 941-200-1028 or visit LivingstoneHealth.org. Also visit at Facebook.com/3daybodycleanse. See ad, page 43.

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December 2015

newsbriefs Go INSANE - Inflatable 5K

f you’re looking for FUN this holiday season, the Insane Inflatable 5K is here! Get ready to experience the most fun, wild and insane obstacle run in the world. Filled with the world’s largest and most extreme inflatable obstacles ever produced, participants will climb, slide, bounce, get tangled up, bumped, jump, duck, dive, and dodge the wrecking balls as they make their way past the tipsy towers, climb the rope ladder and slide their way to the finish line. Get “pumped up” for a 5K distance (3.1 miles) course filled with obstacles as long as 110 feet long and as tall as a 2½ stories high building. Ideally, you’ll complete the course without worrying who is the fastest, most skilled or talented, but if you can’t tame your competitive side and think you can blaze on through the fastest, you are welcomed to do so! But the fun doesn’t stop once you’ve crossed the finish line, head to the INSANE Midway for more fun with inflatable games, experiential activities, music and entertainment, sponsor booths, food and beverages.

The event takes place at the Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65th Street, Hialeah, on December 19th, when you’ll get the chance to be a kid at heart, and insane by choice! All participants must be at least 42” tall, but there’s no minimum age or weight limit. Spectators can attend for Free. Team registration is available and encouraged. For information and registration, visit insaneinflatable5k.com.

High School Senior Inspires Healthy Eating

s kids get older and start wanting to make their own decisions, parents are struggling to give them foods they are willing to eat. The results are lunches filled with sugar-laden drinks and snacks. But there is a solution – teach kids the importance of making healthier choices. This is the idea behind Rebecca de la O’s, a senior at Coral Gables Senior High School, community service project “Spread the Health.” “Kids are really open to eating fruits and veggies if you give them options. If you put a plate of steamed broccoli in front of them they’re probably going to resist or reject it. And if you force them, they’ll associate the experience with negative emotions” explains Rebecca. “Instead, invite them to be a part of the process, let them chose their favorite veggie and fruit to put in their lunch box, help them prepare their favorite sandwich using whole wheat bread, or making a vegetable-topped pizza. That’s why I’m doing this,” Rebecca continues. “I want kids to start making healthy choices at a young age so as they grow older they can establish good eating habits.” Rebecca’s goal is to impact more than just the kids she speaks to. Her hope is to start a chain reaction through the kids that will inspire the parents to learn and implement a healthier lifestyle for the entire family. If you would like to invite Rebecca de la O to present at your school, or simply need more information, contact Rebecca directly at rebeccadelao17@gmail.com. Refer to the Community Spotlight, page 20. 10

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Music for the Children of Nepal

top, Breathe and Smile and Unity on the Bay announced the “Prayer for Nepal: Benefit Concert for the Children” left homeless and without schools after Nepal’s earthquakes this past April. Featuring Manose and local artists Jorge Alfano, Daniela De Mari and Breath of Life and Jeff Deen, this event will raise money to build schools for the children in Nepal. Education is the only way out of poverty and these schools are a precious commodity for children in remote villages. Deva Premal, Miten and Manose support “The Society for Street Children in Nepal” created by Eva Holmberg Tedert, a nonprofit fundraising society working to provide permanent accommodation for street children. Manose Singh, a native from Nepal and a talented flutist who initiated the request for help with this project, will be the featured artist performing at the concert. From the demanding study of raga music, Manose acquired the technical mastery and astonishing ability to improvise. “I’m grateful for all who help, support and make a difference in the world,” shares Manose.

The concert will take place December 5th at 7:00 p.m. at Unity on the Bay (411 N.E. 21st Street) in Miami. General Admission is $33 or $108 for premium seating. If you like to support this event, donate, buy a ticket, become a sponsor, donate Silent Auction items, and/ or leave a prayer. For more information, visit www.stopbreatheandsmile.org.

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Oils, Aromatherapy and Reiki, OH MY!

ince 2003 American Apothecary of Kendall has been the pioneer of pure Essential Oils, offering 100% pure, medicinal grade, premier quality essential oils for everyone and everything. Now they extend their excellent services even further and welcome students of all ages interested in learning about Reiki, Basic Aroma Therapy, Reflexology, and the ancient method of using semiprecious Gems and Crystals to cleanse and detoxify. REIKI is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects. GEM or CRYSTAL THERAPY is widely used to cleanse, fortify and increment our electromagnetic field for better energy distribution throughout our body. REFLEXOLOGY is the practice of applying pressure to the feet and hands based on system of zones and reflex areas that effects a physical change in the body restoring a proper fluid balance in the tissues. BASIC AROMATHERAPY is a first aid workshop to improve safety. It includes 6 essential oils and recipes. All a wonderful way to enhance ones own health. Upcoming Reiki Level 1 course begins Saturday, December 12th, followed by Level 2 on Saturday, December 19th, from 11am5pm, on both days. Holistic Therapies also offered every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by appointment only. American Apothecary of Kendall is located at 12232 S.W. 132nd Court in Miami. For more information or to register call 305-598-2822. www.americanapothecarykendall.com.

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espite the popularity of New Year’s resolutions, scientists have found that post-holiday food shopping decisions don’t necessarily reflect intentions to eat healthier or lose weight. Scientists from Cornell University tracked resolutions and after-holiday food shopping habits of 207 families. They classified about 20,000 food products as either “healthy” or “less-healthy”. Calories and dollars spent were also tracked. Analysis of 37 weeks of activity that included the extended winter holiday period and into the new year found that additional food expenditures and calories began about a week prior to Thanksgiving and peaked during Christmas celebrations. Compared to the rest of the year, this increased shopping averaged just over $16 more a week, about $4 of which was spent on healthy foods. Food expenditures then continued to increase after the holidays to about $25 more a week compared to the average—showing a 24 percent increase. However, $13 of this was spent on healthier foods. Calorie levels also increased. “Total weekly per-serving calories increased by 440 during the holiday period relative to the baseline period, and nearly 91 percent of this increase was due to additional purchases of the more calorie-dense foods,” the researchers reported. “Even more intriguing is that contrary to well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions, additional weekly per-serving calories purchased increased to 890 in the post-holiday period relative to the baseline, more than doubling the 440 calorie increase evident in the holiday season,” the researchers observed. Of this, 63 percent of the additional calories were from high-calorie foods.

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esearch from the Environmental Working Group’s Action Fund has determined that some popular children’s toys contain a chemical that previous research has linked to lung disease and lung cancers. The researchers tested 28 boxes of crayons and 21 crime-themed toys at the Scientific Analytical Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina. They found that four of the crayon brands and two of the crime-scene toys contained asbestos. All of the asbestos-containing toys were manufactured in China. The products included the Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle brands of crayons, the EduScience Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit and the Inside Intelligence Secret Spy Kit. The latter two brands contained asbestos within the fingerprint powders. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asbestos from all sources is responsible for up to 15,000 U.S. deaths each year.

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December 2015

healthbriefs

Superfruit Antioxidants Found in Chilean Maqui Berry

Veterans Yoga Project programs are designed and developed to achieve our mission to support recovery and resilience among veterans, active duty military, their families, and our communities. Many yoga studios honor our nation’s veterans by offering complimentary yoga classes during Veterans Gratitude Week every November, to coincide with Veterans Day. Check your local listings for participating teachers and studios, and if you’d like to contribute your services, contact Veterans Yoga Project.

esearch from the University of Arizona’s Health Sciences Center has confirmed that the South American superfruit maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) can aid the cardiovascular system and reduce blood sugar. Clinical trials found a group of antioxidants, called delphinidins, significantly reduced levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, which is linked to atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. The clinical research found that the delphinidins contained in the maqui berry, known as the richest natural source of the antioxidant, aid the health of blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide and decreasing platelets linked with thrombosis, the clogging of arteries that can cause strokes. The researchers also found that the superfruit may help counteract skin aging from ultraviolet radiation-B (UVB) exposure.

Meditation Linked to Telomere Integrity in Cancer Patients

aintaining telomere length has been directly linked to longer lifespan in a number of studies. A telomere is the structure at the end of a chromosome that protects it from deteriorating or fusing with other chromosomes. Its length is being used to measure the potential success of integrative therapy for recovering cancer patients; now University of Calgary research has found that mindfulness meditation helps. The researchers tested 88 breast cancer survivors with a previous diagnosis of stage-one to stage-three breast cancer. The patients’ telomere lengths were tested after either group-support therapy or mindfulness meditation training that included gentle hatha yoga exercises. Results showed that while the control group’s telomere lengths decreased over time, both the mindfulness group and the support therapy group were on average able to maintain their telomere length throughout the testing period.

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A VITAL KEY TO LOSING WEIGHT

Digital ‘Blue Light’ Reading Disrupts Sleep Rhythms

ecent findings from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, has determined that reading from a light-emitting tablet or computer before bedtime will disturb sleep and may change the circadian rhythms that govern the body’s clock. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tested 12 people for two weeks. On five nights during one week, the subjects read ebooks on an iPad for four hours before bedtime. Another week, they read from printed books for the same duration. During the five days of iPad reading, the participants fell asleep later and spent less time in rapid eye movement (REM)-stage sleep. The light-emitting tablet altered the circadian rhythm, changing the body’s natural sleeping pattern. The researchers also tested other blue-light emitting devices, including laptops, tablets, other eReaders, cell phones and LED monitors. “We found the body’s natural circadian rhythms were interrupted by the shortwavelength enriched light, otherwise known as blue light, from these electronic devices,” says neuroscientist Anne-Marie Chang, Ph.D., one of the study authors. Dr. Charles Czeisler, Ph.D., a leading sleep researcher, remarks, “In the past 50 years, there has been a decline in average sleep duration and quality. Since more people are choosing electronic devices for reading, communication and entertainment, particularly children and adolescents who already experience significant sleep loss, epidemiological research evaluating the long-term consequences of these devices on health and safety is urgently needed.”

Spirituality is Beneficial for Cancer Patients

Potatoes Don’t Pack on Pounds

esearch from scientists at the University of California, Davis has mashed the notion that potatoes cause weight gain. The researchers tested 90 overweight people divided into three groups, with all of them eating five to seven servings of potatoes each week over a three-month period. Two groups reduced their calorie intake by 500 calories per day, with one group eating low-glycemic index (GI) foods and the other group eating high-GI foods. The third group had no calorie restrictions. Despite the increased potato consumption during the study period, all three groups showed slight weight loss and reduced body mass index. The researchers concluded, “Potato intake did not cause weight gain.”

Live Your Life To the Fullest Using Crystal Healing and Energy Healing

ccording to a new review of research published in the journal Cancer, a strong religious or spiritual belief system may improve a cancer patient’s prognosis physically, emotionally and mentally. Researchers from Florida’s H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and North Carolina’s Wake Forest School of Medicine reviewed clinical studies that included more than 44,000 cancer patients. The first review focused on physical symptoms and found that patients with stronger religious and spiritual beliefs reported fewer cancer symptoms and better physical health. They also showed enhanced capabilities in managing their daily lives. “These relationships were particularly strong in patients that experienced greater emotional aspects of religion and spirituality, including a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as a connection to a source larger than oneself,” states Heather Jim, lead author of the first review. The second review focused on mental health and found reductions in anxiety, depression and distress among those with greater spirituality. Lead author Dr. John Salsman comments, “Also, greater levels of spiritual distress and a sense of disconnectedness from God or a religious community were associated with greater psychological distress or poorer emotional well-being.” In the third review, the researchers found that patients with a stronger spiritual well-being reported better social health, as well.

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January natural awakenings

2013

December 2015

globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Fungus Among Us

Mushrooms Offer Pesticide-Free Insect Control Paul Stamets, one of the world’s leading mycologists, invented a fungus (mushroom)-based pesticide in 2006. An industry executive states, “This patent represents the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed.” This “smart” pesticide provides a safe and nearly permanent solution for controlling more than 200,000 species of insects. Entomopathogenic (insect-destroying) fungi are altered so they don’t produce spores. This actually attracts the insects, which then eat them and turn into fungi from the inside-out. The invention has the potential to revolutionize the way humans grow crops.

Uncommon Devotion Religion in America Shows Resilience

A new sustainability policy by the 3M Corporation, maker of Post-it notes, has drawn support for its goal of making a minimal impact on forests, wildlife and human rights. 3M paper-based products and packaging require pulp and paper from sources around the world. Working in collaboration with ForestEthics and Greenpeace, the company launched a comprehensive review of all of its pulp and paper procurement expectations to ensure the materials are produced from sustainably logged timber. 3M will now hold paper and pulp suppliers accountable to one of the highest standards in the industry for environmental protection and respect of human rights, including tracing origins and obtaining consent of indigenous peoples and local communities before logging operations occur. The company intends to publish semiannual updates of its progress online.

On any given Sabbath, four of 10 Americans travel to a place of worship, a number that hasn’t fluctuated dramatically in the past half-century. Gallup polls report that more than 81 percent say they identify with a specific religion or denomination; 78 percent say it’s an important part of their lives; and 57 percent believe that religion is able to solve today’s problems. While recent attendance may be off, Americans are no less likely to attend services today than they were in the 1940s and early ’50s, just prior to the ultra-religious following decade. The reason, says Gallup’s Frank Newport, is that U.S. religious worship is cyclical. Today’s practicing religious communities “tend to consist of the seriously committed, not just those swept along by obligation,” reports Christian Smith, director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame and coprincipal investigator of the National Study of Youth and Religion. Those that worship regularly are more likely to be older, female and Southern; they also are better educated and stronger financially than those that don’t, according to Newport. At the same time, Mitchell Marcus, a University of Pennsylvania professor, characterizes his Ph.D. students as religiously curious, often devout and eager to talk about their beliefs.

Source: ForestEthics.org

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Source: Earth. We Are One. View the patent at Tinyurl.com/FungusPesticidePatent.

Sentient Beings

New Zealand Enacts Bill Recognizing Animal Intelligence The New Zealand Animal Welfare Amendment Bill that passed into law this year states that animals, like humans, are sentient beings. Dr. Virginia Williams, chair of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, says this acknowledges, “Animals can experience both positive and negative emotions, including pain and distress.” The bill thus bans the use of animals for testing cosmetics. Williams says the legal recognition of animal sentience provides a stronger underpinning of the requirements of the existing Animal Welfare Act. The bill also provides for penalties to enable low-to-medium-level offenders to be punished more effectively and gives animal welfare inspectors the power to issue compliance notices, among other measures. Find a link to the legislation at Tinyurl.com/NewZealandSentienceBill.

Post-It Progress

3M Requires Paper Sources to Meet Sustainable Standards

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Good Tithings

Greener Globe

World Powers Vow Cuts in Emissions This year’s G7 Summit of the U.S., UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, plus the European Union, has agreed in principle that the global economy must be completely fossil fuel-free by the end of this century to curb destructive climate change. To that end, the nations agreed to work toward cutting emissions between 40 and 70 percent by 2050. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also announced that the G7 countries would raise $100 billion from public and private sources by 2020 to help poorer nations adapt. Environmental groups such as Greenpeace praised the action. In a statement, the Sierra Club called it “the first time that the leaders of the world have made clear with one voice that we must get off fossil fuels completely.” Two hundred countries are expected to commit in writing to specific plans for greening their economies at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this month in Paris. Source: TheHill.com

actionalert December Deadline for Florida Solar Ballot Initiative

total of 683,149 certified signatures are required to put the Florida constitutional amendment, Limits or Prevents Barriers to Local Solar Electricity Supply, on the November 2016 ballot. Petitions must be signed and submitted by the end of December to insure that this happens. Floridians for Solar Choice, a grassroots citizens’ effort to allow more homes and businesses to generate electricity by harnessing the power of the sun, is promoting this constitutional amendment that would give Florida’s families and businesses the right to choose solar power. Volunteers from organizations including the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Christian Coalition of America and Florida Tea Party are supporting the signing of petitions and collecting signatures at family and faith gatherings, concerts and farmers’ markets. Although sunshine is abundant, currently, Florida is one of only five states in the nation that prohibit citizens from buying electricity from companies that will put solar panels on personal residences or business. This prohibition limits customer choice and blocks the growth of this abundant, clean, homegrown energy source. Past legislative efforts to overcome barriers to solar choice have been blocked by large, monopolistic utility companies such as Florida Power and Light (FPL) and Duke Energy. These power companies do not want to lose their exclusive hold on Florida’s electric customers or their income. Floridians for Solar Choice supporters believe that Florida citizens should have the right and freedom to choose solar power generated electricity if and from whom they want. “Don’t be fooled by the confusing language of Consumers for Smart Solar, an organization that put forth its own solar power constitutional amendment. On the surface it appears pro-solar, but instead will only maintain the status quo. The group, mostly backed by the state’s utility companies, is using the oldest political ploy in the book by trying to confuse people,” says Susan Glickman, Florida director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization behind Floridians for Solar Choice.

To sign the petition, get more information, or print copies to circulate, visit FLSolarChoice.org.

Lend a Hand to Causes While You Shop This holiday season, every gift purchased through GoodSearch. com can earn a donation of up to 30 percent of its value for a favorite charity, along with moneysaving coupons for the customer. More than 2,500 national retailers are participating in the program, including Apple, Target, Toys “R” Us, Ralph Lauren, Macy’s, 1-800-Flowers, PetSmart and Expedia. Instead of limiting qualifying purchases to a particular product and charity, the campaign includes nearly every product in the store. The donation goes to the charity or school of the shopper’s choice with the cooperation of the organization’s GoodShop, which has raised more than $9 million for charities ranging from The American Red Cross and ASPCA to local homeless shelters and schools. Each Internet search through the website also earns the charity about a penny. With GoodDining, meals at more than 10,000 restaurants earn donations, with more than 100,000 charities and schools benefitting. UNICEF has used money from GoodSearch and GoodShop to provide clean drinking water to more than 200,000 children.

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globalbriefs Interactive Government

White House Responds to Online Petitions President Obama has made it a priority to open a direct channel for people to be heard via online petitions. Jason Goldman, chief digital officer at the White House, says that his staff has responded to dozens of requests to take action on a variety of issues in recent months. “We want to make sure those responses aren’t the final page, but rather the start of an ongoing conversation,” he says. Change.org has chosen to integrate with the We the People platform, meaning the future signatures of its 100 million users will count toward the threshold of 100,000 for getting an official response from the administration. “The process of hearing from us about your petition is going to look a little different,” says Goldman. “We’ve assembled a team of people responsible for taking your questions and requests and bringing them to the right people, whether within the White House or in an agency within the administration that may be in a position to say something about your request.” Visit Petitions.WhiteHouse.gov.

Hear Ye!

Dutch Court Upholds Climate Action as a Human Right Perhaps establishing a new global precedent for a state’s obligation to its citizens in the face of a growing climate crisis, a Dutch court has ruled that the government has a legal duty to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2020. The decision came in response to a 2013 lawsuit launched by the Amsterdam-based environmental nonprofit Urgenda Foundation and 600 Dutch citizens that argued the government was violating international human rights law by failing to take sufficient measures to combat rising greenhouse gas emissions. A statement from the court reads, “The state must do more to avert the imminent danger caused by climate change, also in view of its duty to provide care to protect and improve the living environment.” In the United States, the youth-led movement Our Children’s Trust (OurChildrensTrust.org) is suing state governments and what they dub “the ruling generation” as accountable for climate inaction. As 350.org co-founder and Communications Director Jamie Henn noted after the ruling, “If the Netherlands sets a precedent, it’s a whole new ball game.” Other countries are weighing the situation, as well. Source: BBC

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Early Bird Gift Shipping Saves Stress, Money and Resources Last-minute online shopping can be costly in both dollars and pollution. Choosing next-day delivery puts purchased products on a plane that burns far more carbon-producing fossil fuel than ground transportation. But there’s a better way, and how we package gifts for shipping counts. Order and ship early. Building in more lead time affords less costly shipping options. Eco-wise, if the shipper has some freedom in scheduling deliveries, it can choose to hold up a delivery truck until it’s full, rather than sending one out half-empty. Also, if a package doesn’t have to reach its destination by a particular day or time, the company can choose the most efficient local delivery routing. A recent University of Washington study found that a community using grocery delivery services slashed carbon emissions when compared to individuals driving to the supermarket. Plus, they achieved their biggest gains—80 to 90 percent lower emissions—when they could plan deliveries around customer locations, rather than precise

delivery windows, thus minimizing driving distance and time on the road. Seek out available boxes. Many grocery and beverage stores don’t immediately break down incoming cardboard shipping boxes. Ask a store attendant if they have any available. Reusing saved paper bags from checkout (for those that don’t bring reusable bags) can serve to cushion gift-wrapped boxes. GreenAmerica.org suggests repurposing gently-used wrapping paper or old fabrics, newspapers, magazines or calendars for a creative look. Return any foam peanuts in received packages to a pack-n-ship shop for reuse. Know the options. While U.S. Postal Service (usps.com) Priority Mail offers flat rates to any state regardless of weight (up to 70 pounds), package tracking and other year-round features, the cost of using other carriers varies by destination zip code, package size and weight. Verify price and timing options, making sure packages arrive in good time to be under the Christmas tree before December 25.

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communityspotlight

Spread the Health A conversation with Rebecca de la O

he old saying ‘you are what you eat’ has a lot of truth to it. And no one is more dedicated to spreading this fact than Rebecca de la O, a senior at Coral Gables Senior High School. It is widely understood that adopting and maintaining good eating habits is one of the major factors in developing a healthy lifestyle. And this is even truer during the early years. Early childhood is a key period in which eating habits are formed. Many research studies show the relationship between good nutrition and learning in school-age Children, and the direct link to their performance later in life. As a leader among her peers, Rebecca, tthrough her program called Spread the Health, inspires children to ask their parents to take a closer look at ways to improve the families overall health thought proper nutrition. Her goal is to instruct young minds and create a ripple effect that will change future generations, and some old ones, in the process. Rebecca shares her efforts through this exclusive interview with Natural Awakenings.

NA: What inspired you to take on such a project? RO: The idea to teach kids the importance of eating healthy is based on my own passion for the same. As I researched and learned about the impact food had on our body, and tried to pass this knowledge onto my family in hopes of changing their eating habits as well. Unfortunately, I noticed my family eats the way most Americans do; eating overly processed food with few vegetables and fruits, and their lack of interest frustrated me. I also noticed how students at school were throwing away the milk, fruit and vegetable from their lunch. This was upsetting in two fronts; it was a tremendous waste of food, and it meant students were fueling themselves solely with cheeseburgers and chicken fingers. This and my family’s unwillingness to adapt to a healthier way of eating inspired me to think of a ways to reach out and encourage healthier options and eating habits. 20

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NA: How did you get started? RO: I started by contacting 11 schools near me. Establishing communication with schools was the biggest challenge because many times my emails went unanswered. Eventually, I was able to set up presentation dates with 3 schools, so I shifted my focus to preparing the lesson - but I continued emailing other schools. For the lesson, I started by creating a PowerPoint filled with pictures (to capture the kid’s attention) and nutrition information simple enough for the kids to understand. Creating this PowerPoint was another challenge because nutrition is an extremely complex topic, so to simplify it to the point where a kindergartener would understand was tricky. While researching how to teach kids about healthy eating, I came across a handout to help parents prepare healthier lunches for their kids by mix-and-matching foods from different categories. I decided to demonstrate making a green smoothie in front of the kids because 1) I could show kids how to sneak veggies into their smoothies without tasting them, 2) clean up would be easy, and 3) the kids would have fun making their own unique combinations.

NA: Give us an example of your program? RO: I start my lesson by introducing myself and the purpose of my project. I explain why being healthy is important and use a PowerPoint to teach kids about vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and plant based proteins. With younger kids, sometimes I will play a version of Red Light Green Light using GO, SLOW, and WOAH foods. With older kids I play a Trivia game. I also distribute handouts and recipes that parents can use to easily pack healthier lunches. Finally, I like to end the presentation by demonstrating how to make a green smoothie; I love this recipe because 1) kids love smoothies, 2) it demonstrates how you can easily incorporate veggies into a meal without having to taste them, 3) coming up with their own combinations is really fun for the kids. Initially, the kids are reluctant to drink them because of the spinach I put in, but after tasting them, the majority admits the smoothies are “yummy”. I think that’s their favorite part of the presentation.

NA: How are the kids reacting/receiving the information? Are they enthusiastic, curious, etc. RO: Thus far, this project has been a great success because the kids seem excited and engaged. My favorite moment was when a kid approached me after a presentation and said “I’m going to tell my mommy to buy more fruits and veggies”; my heart swelled because that is the whole purpose of my project! I hope they all take that attitude home and be more open to eating a range of plant based foods. I hope they tell their parents about the presentation so they change their families eating habits, and tell their friends about it, which will then change their families eating habits, and so on; a ripple effect. I want to continue giving health presentations because they combine my passion for health, my love of volunteering, and kids are adorable.

NA: Where do you see this project headed?

RO: First and foremost, my hope is that the kids will take their new found attitude home and be more open to eating a range of plant based foods. That they’ll tell their parents about the presentation so they impact their families eating habits. Then I hope they will share with their friends, and so on until a ripple effect is created. Secondly, I want to continue giving health presentations because they combine my passion for health, my love of volunteering, and kids. Currently, I am reaching out to more schools and homeless shelters to set up presentation dates.

of advice to parents or other adolescents? RO: My favorite part of the experience was at the end of one of my lessons when I asked who wanted to start eating healthier, and all the kids raised their hands. Right there and then I learned that kids are open to eating better, but we are failing to teach them. So I urge other young people

to set an example and get involved. Eat wholesome foods then turn around and teach kids why healthy eating is so important. To inquire about Rebecca’s Spread the Health program, or to have the program presented at your school, email her at rebeccadelao17@gmail.com, or call 305-763-1061.

NA: What do you hope to accomplish with this program? RO: The idea to visit schools came from a friend, and I thought the idea to target young children, who are starting to form their own opinions and desires, was brilliant. The more I thought about it, the more important this project became. I figured that if I could change the way kids thought about food from early on, then they would retain the information and put it into practice as they got older.

NA: Do you have any words

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therapyspotlight

What is PRP Therapy and How Does it Work?

ur skin ages over the years, due to the progressive loss of collagen, fat, bone and muscle, as well pollution in the air—smoke, chemicals and environmental toxins. Using your own blood as a natural way to heal the skin and body is the concept behind Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. The process is simple: a blood sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge machine which extracts the blood cells from most of the serum. The concentrated blood platelets are then injected through micro-gauge needles into the skin where fine lines, wrinkles, age spots— or even osteoarthritic pain exists. The body recognizes the platelets as healing agents as they induce production of growth factor proteins, collagen and stem cells to regenerate the skin, tendons or cartilage. Since the thin needle injections go into the epidermis or skin surface, there is only a prick—not pain, and there is little swelling or bruising. Physicians have used PRP Therapy since the 1970’s for wound healing, but now, aesthetic medical practitioners are seeing proof that PRP injections can be a non-surgical method of

remedying the effects of aging and PRP therapy has given momentum to the field of Regenerative Medicine. “The body sees aging skin as a chronic wound and PRP therapy is the catalyst in rejuvenating the skin,” says Dr. Zsuzsanna Seybold, MD and a Diplomat of American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. “We now have studies and extensive experience that demonstrate the success of PRP in awakening the cells. Cells communicate with each other and PRP helps send the chemical message to start self-regeneration. We find PRP a much easier and less expensive way of fine-tuning the body’s aging process—certainly more so than plastic surgery. And, the procedure can be done in an office, leaving the client to enjoy the rest of the day, without any down-time,” she adds. The number of injections necessary depends on the severity of the skin or body issue. Subtle changes are seen and felt after the first injection and others following, one to three months later can help intensify the results. Whether for relaxation of lines and wrinkles, stimulation of follicles for thinning hair or treatment for arthritic conditions of joints, tendons or cartilage, there are no side-effects or rejection— the patient is using his or her own blood, so the assimilation is immediate. The remaining plasma from the blood platelets can also be injected or used topically on the skin as a healing stimulant. The application of the activated platelets into the skin is not painful and generally produces little swelling or bruising. “I find PRP as an effective way to help my patients achieve results that they did not think were possible without surgery,” says Dr. Seybold, “This practice touches people in a different way and gives them a new feeling about themselves, how they look and how they feel. When we look better, we feel better; PRP brings out my artistic senses and gives me a way to provide my clients with a renewed view as they look in the mirror. I enjoy giving people confidence.” Dr. Zsuzsanna V. Seybold, MD, American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM), 17850-B West Dixie Hwy, (2ND Floor – outside), Aventura, Fl 33160. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 1-954-415-3161, or visit www. pureclinicsandaesthetics.com. See ad, page 11.

natural awakenings

December 2015

AWAKENING TO SPIRIT Prayer and Meditation Heal and Free Us by Richard Davenport

By its intimate connection with divine love, Spirit infuses human experience with qualities of amazing grace—unexpected clarity, vision, wisdom, peace, compassion, emotional release, inspirational epiphanies, deep understanding and comprehensive healing of mind, body and soul.

hile society abounds with scientific research, products and practices that promise to enhance our mind or body and the mind-body connection, without Spirit in the mix, neither rises to its full potential. A heart open to a higher power exponentially multiplies the effects of this crucial connection. “Just as a candle spreads light in a darkened room, people who are living in-Spirit give off a higher energy that can bring light to our hearts and minds. In other words, we can be inspired just by being in their presence,” according to renowned bestselling author Wayne Dyer, Ph.D. Experiential, non-verbal and lifechanging encounters with the unbounded power and presence of Spirit in prayer and meditation are difficult to analyze in the same way as mind-body 24

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science. However, Dyer points to the works and outcomes of Spirit as visible evidence of how it lifts us up. We see individuals with rapturous hearts sending out signals that they love the world and everyone in it. Those that live in Spirit tend to see the world as a friendly place, are at peace with themselves, appear to be open and accepting rather than judgmental and harsh, and often report being healed of all sorts of diseases, relationship challenges, career fluctuations and questions of purpose and direction. They attest to how Spirit shines a triumphant light in the midst of dark nights of the soul, redefining the essence of life itself and declaring us worthy in our innermost reaches.

Personal Healing

When a 19-year-old woman entered basic military training at Lackland Air

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Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, and was undergoing initial medical and psychological screening, she was identified as having body and mind issues that would require her to be separated from the service. These problems included organ failures and spinal misalignment, as well as severe consequences of an emotionally abusive upbringing. It was determined that she could not handle the physical and mental demands of military life. Because the policy was to not treat such problems if identified upon entering the service, authorities allowed her to remain in training until her separation from the Air Force could be processed. The woman was impressed and also distressed by the finality of the verdict and assessment tools used by mind and body experts among the medical staff. In talking with a chaplain on the base, she came to understand that she could choose to appeal her case to another jurisdiction, a “higher” court of Spirit. Focusing on the voice of divine love, she grew to see Spirit as more than a higher power. She saw Spirit as a higher authority. She surrendered to divine love’s authority as ultimate law, supremely qualified to reorder her whole being. She trusted that aligning with spiritual power could change her view of her identity and the seemingly inescapable consequences of genetics, environment and human history denying her desire to serve her country in this way. Listening to a higher witness testifying on her behalf and identifying her authentic being as the magnificent expression of the magnificent Creator, she felt encouraged to the point that her mind and body stopped arresting her progress and became more effective servants, responding with greater freedom and joy. One limitation after another fell away, and the military and medical authorities seemed pleased with her progress as she neared completion of training. Finally, performing a mile-and-a-half run within a required time remained the only obstacle to graduation, and she was still 45 seconds too slow. This helpful passage from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah became central to her prayer and meditation as she approached her last running attempt:

nois, author of Listening to Grace, offers personal growth and development programs through EducareUnlearning.com that encourage prayer and meditation that emphasize listening. He practices both approaches and makes distinctions between them. “When I pray, I am directing my thoughts toward God, listening and often affirming what I know to be divinely true. I am yearning to surrender my will and affections in conscious connection with the divine such that I or another receives a blessing,” shares Wilder. In such prayerful listening, he hopes to gain something, often a new insight and corresponding manifestation. “When I meditate, my intention

is to sacrifice every thought, concept, image and feeling to God, the only consciousness. I trust that listening and observing with nonattachment helps me release conscious and unconscious conditioned thought patterns permeated by a human sense of self.” Through meditative listening, he hopes to release everything rather than receive anything, accepting that everyone is equipped and able to be open to, witness and experience nonstop blessings. Helen Mathis has been an educator in the Philippines and Swaziland as well as the U.S., including an instructor of religion at Principia College, near St. Louis; she is now part of a Centering Prayer Circle in Stockton, Califor-

Young people will get tired; strapping young men will stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run—never winded, never weary. They will walk—never tired, never faint. ~Isaiah 40: 30-31 (The Voice) She passed her final attempt with 18 seconds to spare, running on eagles’ wings. So, how can we all discern such a divine witness to our original authentic being amidst loud testimony of all the voices and labels shouting in our head and body, including those imposed by others?

Prayer and Meditation

There are two approaches to listening to the voice within, whether we name it God, higher power, Spirit, grace, Eternal One, or divine love or Love. Complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, both approaches require a capacity, gained through patient practice, of quieting the inner and outer chatter and learning to hear that which calls us to be more than what human experience suggests is possible. It’s who we are in the eyes of grace. Sanford C. Wilder, of Grafton, Illi-

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December 2015

nia. She explains that centering prayer may be seen as a hybrid that embraces both prayer and meditation, nourishing what’s beneath the preoccupied self to awaken a deeper and vastly more authentic self. Mathis appreciates what Cynthia Bourgeault explores in her book Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, that, “This confusion between small self and the larger Self… [the] ‘True Self,’ ‘Essential Self’ or ‘Real I’—is the core illusion of the human condition, and penetrating this illusion is what awakening is all about.” Like Bourgeault, Mathis believes that it’s not about the absence of thoughts so much as detaching from our thoughts, trusting that we can let go and be safe, consent to surrender human will and forgo personal agendas. Only then can spiritual sense come into play. “The goal is to awaken to, open to and get in touch with our innermost being and Spirit,” Mathis affirms. “Clearly, centering prayer assumes we each have a spiritual awareness of the divine within us that acts, as Bourgeault puts it, as ‘a kind of interior compass whose magnetic north is always fixed on God.’”

Core Shift

We often approach a Spirit dimension with the attitude of “what it can do for me.” The higher practice that mystics and other deep thinkers of various faith traditions ultimately arrive at instead centers on transforming our whole self to align with Spirit’s purpose for us, which changes everything. Reverend Dr. Michael Beckwith, founder of the New Thought Agape Spiritual Center, in Los Angeles, and a spiritual mentor to Oprah Winfrey, believes, “The relationship we have with the infinite is more about how we are to serve it than it is to serve us.” Beckwith describes three primary stages of realizing the power and purpose of divine Spirit expressed as our spirit. The first is that of a victim (feeling powerless, unable to effect change). The second is when an individual learns the existence of universal law that responds to our thinking, emotions and attitude; we learn how to use it to stabilize life structures and 26

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demonstrate health and well-being. “Ultimately, in stage three, we become a vehicle of life in service to life. Instead of using the law, the law uses us. Life fulfills its own nature through us,” he says. “All of life is conspiring for our freedom, liberation, wholeness and health.” He urges us not to stop and stagnate at stage two, using divine laws only to manifest personal conveniences, stuff and even people for our use; this can hijack views of abundance into materialism and consumerism. He quips, “We are not here to go shopping.”

Dwelling in Spirit

Grace and Spirit work in us, through us and between us, yet we can’t simply summon them up or outline their outcomes.

To feel Spirit’s presence, we must surrender our own sense of how it will work, its timeline and the impact on our ego or status quo. As with anything worthwhile, conscientious practice is essential. Life, defined by Spirit, gives fresh strength and impetus to mind and body. All three are vital elements of the dance of life. Richard Davenport is a spiritual life educator (HigherGroundForLife.com) and the founding executive director of an inclusive nationwide Bible and spiritual life community (BibleAndSpiritualLife. org). Now based in St. Louis, MO, he is a retired Air Force chaplain, having served at Lackland and other U.S. Air Force bases on three continents.

FIVE WAYS TO PRAY FROM THE HEART by Richard Davenport

rayer from a heart willing to surrender, change, learn, grow and bless others works to keep us centered on pure motives like wellness, wholeheartedness and compassion. Such prayer can help us progress spiritually. These five forms of prayer, found in the Bible, have a universal application to any spiritual practice. Although differing in their approach, all share the purpose of creating a fuller mindfulness of our true identity and relationship to the divine, while enhancing our capacity to bless all creation. If we are not feeling the desired breakthroughs using one form, perhaps the one most familiar or comfortable to us, we might do well to explore others. Praise – a posture of adoration, honoring and surrender to a power, vision, and authority greater than our own. Thanksgiving – or better yet, for its consistency and permeating of our whole self, thanks-living. The garden of our spirit is enriched by embracing a gratitude attitude in all we do. Petition – a relational posture that opens our heart as we learn to ask for help, to seek perspective beyond a limited self, beyond a smaller, egodriven orientation.

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Intercession – praying for others; blessing, honoring and cherishing them as God sees them. When we feel burdened and blocked by our own trials, expressing empathy and compassion for others can unlock our heart and mind. We can lovingly witness the true nature of those that are seemingly tangled in forces blocking or opposing their higher good. Affirmation – release and rest in divine authority, acknowledging the uni-verse as literally one song reflecting the singular harmony that Spirit knows and is unfolding in every moment to meet our need in forms we can see and feel right now.

healthykids

Generous Pint-Sized Givers Teaching Kids How to Care and Share by Jennifer Jacobson

mong a parent’s greatest rewards is seeing their children grow up to be productive, contributing members of society, including knowing how to give back and enrich the communities in which they live. Children can start participating in the giving process as toddlers. Having them observe regular charitable acts can make a strong impression and catalyze later independent initiatives. Learning how to give and developing the associated skill set is a lifelong journey. Giving becomes a way of life—of looking at the world and determining how to help the causes they feel passionate about. Here’s how to take those crucial first steps. Ask kids how they’d like to help. If giving to a cause is new to the household, explain that the family has many opportunities. Then engage children in a conversation about the general areas they may feel strongly about supporting—perhaps individuals or families in need, animals or wildlife habitat—and start a list of those that the family is interested in. Next, start researching related local organizations, facilities and institutions, and matching them to the topics on the list. Ideas may include food kitchens, pet shelters and animal

rescues, nature parks, senior citizens’ residences, camps for low-income or physically or mentally challenged children, zoos, museums, aquariums and local libraries. Make a game plan. Get creative about how to actually help the selected causes. Talk it through together, map out activities—like visiting, donating funds or materials or participating in fundraising efforts—and post the results somewhere at home that is highly visible. “Gamify” it to some degree with tasks that turn into goals that turn into accomplishments that result in chits. Quick tasks can make a big difference. Clear the clutter. Every six to 12 months, launch an all-family household closet cleaning day that includes the toy chest and maybe the garage. Add nonperishable healthy food items they’ve picked out while grocery shopping. Make a “donate box” positioned where kids can add to it and deliver the donations often, even if it’s small. Find ways to raise money for donations. Organize a family or neighborhood yard sale or organic bake sale that involves kids at all stages of the project, and give all or a portion of the proceeds to a selected charity. Associate getting with giving. For birthdays and holidays, include a

handwritten “certificate of giving” that specifies the amount of money available for them to gift to their favorite charity. Take the child to the charity site to make the monetary donation in person, if possible. For non-local organizations, write a check and have the child include a letter with their thoughts and mail it. Volunteer to do community service. Public gardens need weeding, historic buildings need painting and food banks need hands. Find goodwill tasks that are age-appropriate and engaging. Grow the mindset. Tell real-life stories about kids or groups of kids that have found creative ways to give back. Encourage empathy by sharing appropriate stories of struggle. Ask kids, “How would you want people to help you in this situation?” Explain the action the family is taking and the resulting benefit to the recipient. The conversation might be, “We don’t need to store all this stuff when someone else could really use it.” Or, “I bet there is a kid out there who would really like playing with this toy. I know you used to love it, but how about if you pass it along to someone else so they can enjoy it as much as you have?” Keep the focus on the people in need and your child’s ability to share an experience through an item. Establishing an impermanent connection to material things can help kids understand the importance of nurturing relationships over acquiring goods. Develop a language of giving in the household by creating opportunities to incorporate it into regular conversation. Appropriate comments could share concepts such as seeing ourselves as stewards of the planet and the things we think we own; it’s our duty to help those in need when we have abundance; and if there is ever a time when we are without, we hope that others will think of us and help us. Teaching children how their thoughts, words and actions impact those around them is a lesson that bears repeating. Jennifer Jacobson lives in Seattle and has served on the boards of several influential nonprofits and other organizations focused on conservation, education and community.

natural awakenings

December 2015

2015 November PSYCHOTHERAPY PAST LIFEREGRESSION HYPNOTHERAPY Lata Sonpal, Ph.D., FCht., PA

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Licensed Psychologist, Psychotherapist, & Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy.

Dr. Sonpal, with more than 30 years of experience, has been trained by and worked 7 years for Dr. Brian L. Weiss, the author of Many Lives Many Masters, at The Weiss Institute. She mindfully helps children, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families Photo by Stephen Blancett

*Heal from the Past Traumas, *Come to terms with Loss & Grief, *Overcome Anxieties, & Panic Attacks, *Release Fears and Phobias, *Manage Stress, Pain, Weight and Habits, *Enhance Self-Esteem, and Assertive Communication in Relationships, *Foster Psycho-Spiritual Growth leading to Actualizing of their Potential and Creativity through Past Life Regression, Future Life Progression, Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy.

SWEETLY VEGAN No-Bake Holiday Treats Worth Celebrating

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by Judith Fertig

“

isions of sugar plums” have been part of holiday mindsets since the advent of Clement Moore’s classic 19th-century poem commonly known as ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. We love to give and receive special treats and our tastes are evolving. Instead of yesteryear’s sugary bonbons loaded with calories that we’ve come to regret, today’s preferred confections focus more on naturally sweet dried fruits, bestquality chocolate, healthful coconut and crunchy nuts. Vegan, gluten-free delicacies from chefs and culinary experts the world over help us celebrate the season in a deliciously healthy way, including those we highlight this month. “Christmas isn’t Christmas without a traditional pudding,” says Chef Teresa Cutter, author of Purely Delicious. Cutter is founder and director of The Healthy Chef company, in Sydney, Australia, which creates functional foods for taste and optimal health. Her no-bake desserts such as miniature Christmas puddings and carrot cake take only minutes to make.

Emily Holmes, a Queensland, Australia, wellness coach who blogs at Conscious-Foodie.com, says her favorite is Holmes’ Chocolate Cherry Mini-Cupcakes. She serves them with a pot of peppermint tea. Houston-based Joshua Weissman is the author of The Slim Palate Paleo Cookbook and blogs at SlimPalate. com. He shares his philosophy on holiday treats: “My first thought is that I don’t want to feel guilty after eating it. My second is that I still want it to taste and look good.” His Almond Butter Pumpkin Pie Truffles fit the festive bill. In New York City, noted vegan cookbook author and Pastry Chef Fran Costigan is an expert in all things chocolate, including her Chocolate Orange Sesame Truffles. “When you make something really delicious with real ingredients, your mouth knows it, your brain knows it, your body knows it. You feel satisfied,” she says. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible. 28

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No-Bake Festive Vegan Desserts Spoon a little white chocolate over the tops of the puddings if desired and garnish with goji berries, fresh cherries or another fanciful topper. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve puddings with chilled mango coconut custard. Mango Coconut Custard 1 mango, chopped ½ cup coconut milk Juice from ½ orange

Teresa Cutter’s Healthy Christmas Puddings Yields: 6 to 8 small puddings

Spoon the mixture into a large bowl. Add the orange juice, and then mix again. Pudding mix should come together when lightly hand-squeezed. Divide into 6 small puddings. Line the base of 6 small decorative molds with plastic wrap and firmly press the puddings into them. Once firmly packed in the mold, invert the pudding and remove the plastic wrap. Melt white chocolate in a small bowl set over a simmering pot of water.

Add grated raw carrot and vanilla and then process again until combined. The mix should now form a nice dough. Spoon into a bowl. Add and knead oats through the raw carrot cake mixture. Press cake firmly into a 6-inch round baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve chilled with the puddings.

Refrigerate until ready to serve, allowing at least 2 hours for the cake to rest. It will keep in the refrigerator for about a week. Enjoy as is or garnish with macadamia nut cream, a drizzle of honey and walnuts.

8 oz fresh pitted dates—approximately 10 to 15 dates, depending on their size Zest from 1 orange 9 oz dried apricots, chopped 1½ cups almond meal/ground almonds 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground ginger 1 to 2 Tbsp orange juice 3 oz white chocolate, melted, for decoration (optional) Combine dates, orange zest, apricots, vanilla, ground almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a food processor. Process until mixture is combined and looks like fine crumbs.

Combine walnuts, flaxseed, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, orange zest and sea salt into a food processor and run it until mixed and finely chopped. Add dates and apricots. Process again until thoroughly mixed.

Note: Other raw nuts can substitute for walnuts—try pecans, almonds or macadamia nuts. Macadamia Nut Cream Combine 1 cup of raw cashew nuts or macadamia nuts with ½ cup of orange juice or coconut water and a little vanilla. Blend in a high-speed blender like a Vitamix until smooth and creamy.

Teresa Cutter’s No-Bake Carrot Cake Yields: 16 servings 2½ cups (9½ oz) shelled walnuts 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed or whole chia seeds ½ cup (2 oz) rolled oats (or gluten-free almond meal) 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp sea salt 1 cup (6½ oz) of 12 large fresh dates, pitted ½ cup (3 oz) dried chopped apricots or pineapple (sulfur-free) 2 large raw carrots, grated Zest from 1 orange 2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Emily Holmes’ Chocolate Cherry Mini-Cupcakes Yields: 2 dozen mini-cupcakes Cake 1 cup raw, shelled, skinned nuts (such as almonds) 1 /3 cup cacao powder 4 fresh dates, pitted Filling 2 cup shredded coconut 1 cup dried cherries 6 fresh dates, pitted ¼ cup coconut cream ¼ tsp vanilla powder Pinch of sea salt

natural awakenings

December 2015

Joshua Weissman’s Almond Butter Pumpkin Pie Truffles Yields: About 12 to 16 (1½-inch) truffles Warm winter spices mix with fragrant pumpkin and almond butter to make seasonal truffles hand dipped in fresh vanilla bean-infused white chocolate.

Topping 3½ oz melted dark chocolate Process nuts and cacao powder in a food processor until the nuts are finely ground and the mixture is fully combined. Slowly add the dates until the mixture sticks together. Press the mixture into the bottom parts of a 24-cup mini muffin pan. Refrigerate while preparing the filling. Process filling ingredients in a food processor until well combined. Spoon the filling onto the cupcake base in the muffin cups and then top with melted dark chocolate. Place into the refrigerator to set, where it also stores well until served.

Filling ¼ cup canned pumpkin purée (not pie filling) ¼ cup almond butter ¼ cup vegan cream cheese ¼ tsp cinnamon ¼-½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp fresh grated ginger 1 Tbsp coconut flour 2 packets stevia (like Sweetleaf packets) Coating (vanilla bean white chocolate) 2 oz food grade (not for skin care) cacao butter broken up into small pieces for melting ¼-½ vanilla bean pod, cut in half lengthwise to scrape out the interior, or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 20 drops stevia (like Sweetleaf Steviaclear drops) In a medium-sized bowl, combine everything for the filling, including pumpkin purée, almond butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, coconut flour and stevia. Mix thoroughly until smooth-

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ly incorporated and no cream cheese chunks are left. Chill by refrigerating the mixture for 10 to 20 minutes or freezing it for 2 to 5 minutes. Roll chilled filling mixture into medium-to-small-sized balls a little less than an inch in diameter and place them on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place balls back into the refrigerator for 10 minutes or the freezer for 5 minutes so the balls harden enough to allow dipping. Heat a double boiler or small pot that fits into a medium pot of gently boiling water over medium-to-low heat. Scrape out the vanilla bean pod, conserving vanilla beans for adding once the cacao butter is melted. Place cacao butter in the top of a double boiler and melt and add stevia. Then add vanilla beans and mix well. Turn the heat to low to keep warm and melted. Pull out the hardened filling shaped into balls and one at a time drop them into the white chocolate mixture and roll them around until they’re fully covered with mixture using fingers or a small spoon. Carefully spoon out each truffle using a spoon, gently tapping the spoon on the inside of the saucepan to slough off excess cacao butter that may pool on it. Take special care not to drop the truffle.

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Gently place each treat back onto the tray. Repeat the whole process until all the coated balls are on the tray.

Let them cool at room temperature and serve immediately or place them in the refrigerator to harden and serve later. Chilled, truffles will keep for 3 to 5 days.

Local Resources

Fran Costigan’s Chocolate Orange Sesame Truffles

Choices Vegan Cafe 379 SW 15th Road Miami, FL 33129 305-400-8895

Yields: 20 to 24 (1-inch) truffles

Beehive Natural Foods 6490 Bird Road Miami, FL 33155 (305) 666-3360

Truffle Ganache 4 oz dark fair trade chocolate (70 to 72 percent), finely chopped Finely minced zest of half a medium orange 3 Tbsp orange juice ¼ cup agave syrup 1 Tbsp raw or roasted tahini, stirred 1½ Tbsp white sesame seeds, lightly toasted 1½ Tbsp black sesame seeds, lightly toasted Place the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Mix the orange zest and juice and agave in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and add the tahini, whisking vigorously. The mixture will thicken immediately. Don’t be concerned if it looks broken or curdled; it’ll smooth out with whisking. Simmer the mixture for 30 seconds until it’s shiny and smooth. Remove from heat and wait about 30 seconds until it’s no longer steaming and then pour it over the chocolate. Cover the bowl with a plate. Wait 1 minute and then stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Note: The ganache will not be perfectly smooth. Cool to room temperature, stirring a few times using a silicone spatula. Spoon into a small shallow container and refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours until the ganache is firm. The ga-

Photo by Steve Legato

This creamy chocolate truffle has a slightly chewy texture with a coating for color and crunch. Raw tahini is sweeter than when its roasted and either kind is good.

nache can be covered and refrigerated at this point for up to 1 week.

VeganaRoma Organic Cafe 3808 SW 8th St Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 444-3826 Mi Vida Cafe Vegetarian Cuisine Restaurants 7244 Biscayne Blvd. Miami FL 33138 305-759-6020

Shape Truffle Centers Remove the ganache from the refrigerator. Use one spoon to scoop out 1-inch pieces of ganache and another to push it off the spoon into the container. When half the ganache has been used, roll into logs about 1-inch long, washing and drying hands as needed. (If at any time the ganache becomes too soft to shape, refrigerate until cold before proceeding.) Cover and refrigerate the truffle centers 15 to 25 minutes to set, before final shaping and finishing with the sesame seed coating. Truffle Coating Mix the sesame seeds in a small bowl. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons on the bottom of a shallow container. Put a few logs at a time into the bowl of sesame seeds and roll until lightly coated. Pinch the ends to form the oval quenelle (football) shape. Place the finished truffles in the refrigerator to set for 35 to 45 minutes. Adapted from Vegan Chocolate, by Fran Costigan, used with permission. natural awakenings

December 2015

fitbody

Calf Stretch

Airplane Yoga Six Easy Stretches Ease the Journey by Cynthia Bowman

Upper Body Stretch

balance, elbows bent. Take one foot forward and rest it on its heel, with toes pointing up and resting on the wall. Lean forward to the point of feeling a good stretch in the calf. Stretch 30 seconds per foot, gradually going deeper into the pose after a few breaths. Etiquette tip: The next four stretches can be done in an airplane seat or in the back of the plane. The upper body stretch targets wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, back and the upper body in general. Sit upright with feet firmly planted on the floor. Lift arms up and interlace fingers before turning palms to face the ceiling. Relax the shoulders and neck. The arms shouldn’t be covering the ears and can be adjusted by moving them a few inches forward or back. Tall individuals may need to bend their elbows, which still allows for stretching of the upper body. Neck stretches release tension and stiffness by tilting the head from side-to-side. Don’t make circular motions, as they can cause neck and spine compression. If holding the head to assist a deeper stretch, be considerate of neighbors by pointing the raised elbow forward to cradle the neck instead of resting it on a seatmate. Twisting the torso benefits both the spine and back muscles. Yogis believe that twisting motions also massage internal organs. While twisting, hang on to the armrest with both hands and sit as upright as possible, with legs together and feet firmly planted. Don’t bounce into the pose or shift or lift buttocks off the seat, but make slow, fluid movements. Bending forward while seated gives the back, neck and legs a good, deep stretch. All of these movements work well while we’re in the air and are equally useful on road trips, in the office or whenever we need a break.

he majority of the symptoms we can experience during flying—stiffness, poor circulation and swollen feet—are due to lack of movement rather than the altitude or pressurized cabin air. Knowing this can make Neck Stretch healthy flying easier. Drinking lots of water and moving about and stretching every two to three hours on long flights is key; trips to the bathroom naturally help fulfill this. We also can keep blood from collecting in our lower extremities by finding a way to elevate our legs and feet periodically. Wiggle all 10 toes, shift positions and go for these six discreet airplane yoga stretches. Etiquette tip: Do the first two stretches at the back of the plane with adequate space and a wall to lean on. Don’t do these in the aisle; hanging on to someone’s seat back rocks it and can be annoying. A quad stretch involves the shoulders, upper legs, calves and ankles, while elevating each foot and getting the Twisting the Torso blood moving. Hang on to a wall, grab an ankle and bring the heel as close to the butt as possible. Then rotate the ankle in a circular motion. Do this as long as it feels worth doing, and then switch arms and legs. A calf stretch is a simple Cynthia Bowman is a freelance way to target calf and hamstring writer in Los Angeles, CA, who muscles, as well as ankles. Stand specializes in travel, culture and facing a wall, placing both hands Quad Stretch lifestyle topics. Visit JoyJournist.com. at shoulder height on the wall for

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wisewords

daily life and query: How am I speaking to myself or to others? Am I more present? Am I more at ease in letting go? It’s important to look for these subtle changes rather than to set unrealistic expectations for ourselves such as being mindful all day.

Sharon Salzberg on Mindfulness Simple Ways to Be in the Present Moment

Do you have other enabling practices for people new to the state of living mindfully?

by April Thompson

How do you define mindfulness? Mindfulness is the quality of awareness. When we are mindful, our perception of the present moment isn’t so distorted by bias, adding our own storyline to

reality and pushing away what’s happening.

photo by Fabio Fiippi

ew York City-born Sharon Salzberg experienced a childhood full of loss and upheaval, losing her parents and living in five different household configurations. In college, she discovered the power of meditation to transform suffering and cope with life’s neverending changes. Born into a Jewish family, Salzberg first encountered Buddhism in 1969 in an Asian philosophy class, inspiring her to undertake an independent study program in India, where she was initiated into the practice via an intense 10-day retreat. “It was very difficult and painful. I sometimes doubted that I’d succeed, yet I never doubted that there was truth there,” she says. Upon her return home, Salzberg dedicated herself to the path of vipassana- (insight) meditation, becoming a renowned teacher and co-founding the Insight Meditation Society, in Barre, Massachusetts. Today she teaches and speaks to diverse audiences worldwide about the power of mindfulness. Salzberg has authored nine books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness, Real Happiness at Work and Lovingkindness.

Is it possible to be mindful without having an established meditation practice?

Yes, theoretically, but I suspect it’s hard. I honor my own meditation practice for making mindfulness highly accessible for me. It doesn’t take many hours of prep work and is open to everyone. It’s really a practice, like strength training—you have to exercise the mindfulness muscle to reap the benefits.

What’s the best way to arrange time for meditation, and what can motivate us to practice regularly? Having a sense of structure has helped me the most. I believe strongly in the value of a daily practice, however simple or short. We can ritualize certain practices to help remember to pause and be mindful. For example, every time the phone rings, let it ring three times and use that as a trigger to breathe. When you’ve finished writing an email, take a few conscious moments before sending it. There are lots of ways to cut through the momentum of the busyness and craziness of our lives to return to mindfulness. Make a commitment to practice for a certain period of daily time for a month or two, and then reassess. Look for changes during the active course of

Movement meditation is a good place to start; if you’re walking somewhere, try to be more present and feel your feet against the ground. Also, just focus on one thing at a time; instead of multitasking, just drink the cup of tea. We can also use breath to focus concentration. The breath is a tremendous tool, it’s always with us. If you’re in a contentious meeting and tempers flare, you don’t have to pull out a meditation cushion and sit in a funny position; you can work with your breath right where you are.

How can meditation help to ease suffering? Sometimes, we think we can ease suffering by only having pleasant feelings and beautiful thoughts. Rather, we can ease suffering by changing the way we relate to our thoughts and feelings. If something unpleasant is happening, most of us flip into an internal monologue about how, “Bad things always happen to me,” or “This is my fault,” or “I shouldn’t feel this.” We compound our suffering by adding judgment and by pushing away discomfort. Instead, we can learn to observe our reactions and release them. We also tend not to feel pleasure fully or think that something else or more should be happening instead of simply enjoying the moment. We wait for some sense of intensity in order to feel alive, rather than experiencing the ordinary to the utmost. Meditation trains us to be present with pleasant, unpleasant and neutral experiences and stay connected, no matter what’s going on. Reach freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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December 2015

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photo courtesy of View Dynamic Glass

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by Avery Mack

he simple act of switching on a says Rabbi David Freelund, of the Cape bulb can light a room; preaching Cod Synagogue, in Hyannis, Masthat humans are caretakers of the sachusetts. “Going solar made sense. Earth can enlighten a community. “How We leased panels, joined a renewable are we faithful to God’s creation?” asks energy credit program and now generDiana Butler Bass, Ph.D., author of ate 90 percent of our energy.” Grounded: Finding God in the World— The synagogue also upgrades A Spiritual Revolution, in Alexandria, equipment to more efficient levels Virginia. “The connection between the when it’s time for replacement, comnatural world and the world we live in posts waste, maintains a garden to suphelps us understand ply a local food pantry, the remarkable respon- The film Renewal docu- switched to LED lights, sibility we have to the ments this grassroots zoned their facility’s planet.” heating and cooling and movement at Renewal- follows a single-stream Along with an emotional bottom line, recycling program. “We Project.net. many people pose a seek to lead by example. greater question: What is the cost to Members ask, ‘What else can we do?’ our spiritual life if we act selfishly? As Jews, our mission is not fulfilled “We need to know what is sacred and unless we lift up others toward the what matters for generations to come,” divine,” says Freelund. says Bass. “This is an exciting time for Windows often make up a large communities of faith to work together.” portion of a building of worship, but Churches, synagogues, mosques and can be the least energy-efficient comother faith groups are sending a mesponents. Members of Colorado’s Steamsage to their congregations and comboat Christian Center, in Steamboat munities: We need to care for what the Springs, used to wear sunglasses or Creator has given us. change seats during services to escape the sun’s glare and heat. After installShowing the Way ing smart glass windows, everyone can “We wanted to reduce reliance on fornow fully concentrate on the sermon. eign oil, support local businesses, buy “The glass tints like transition American-made and be cost-effective,” sunglasses, based on available light or

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preprogrammed preferences,” explains Brandon Tinianov, a senior director with View Dynamic Glass, the company that supplied the new windows. “It also reduces heating and cooling costs.”

Laying Down Burdens

“Clutter represents postponed decisions,” says Barbara Hemphill, author of Less Clutter, More Life, in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Lack of time, interest and energy keep us from passing along what we no longer want or need. For most of us, 80 percent of what we keep, we never use.” That includes paperwork, another specialty of her Productive Environment Institute. When the United Methodist North Carolina Conference Center’s new building was ready, there was plenty to sort through before moving. “We estimate seven tons of items were recycled. It became an example for individual churches,” says Hemphill. Her own church, Mount Zion Methodist, in nearby Garner, has cleared out two storage rooms. Items were reclaimed, auctioned or donated to a shelter. “We gained Sunday school rooms in return,” she says.

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We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. ~Pope Francis

Practice Makes Perfect

Awareness of the environment and eco-friendly living is a concept religions agree on. At the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, in Sterling, Virginia, an education program encourages community members to recycle, plant trees and lower water and energy usage. Including their Sunday School, they reduced their overall carbon footprint by 13 percent and energy consumption by 21 percent. Interfaith Power & Light is active in most states and can help implement such user- and eco-friendly changes. Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, the director of outreach for the Dar Al

Hijrah Islamic Center, in Falls Church, Virginia, suggests thinking larger and encourages members to ask for changes in public policies by lobbying their representatives. In 2016, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago will promote a Green Ramadan. During Ramadan, members re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. Greener than most, The Garden Church, in San Pedro, California, has no building. “People tell me, ‘The outdoors is my church;’ I take them at their word,” says founding Pastor Anna Woofenden. “We have a central table surrounded by gardens. About 90 percent of what we grow is vegetables, the rest is flowers. This church is a living sanctuary, a place to belong, a place of community. God’s love is made visible as people are fed in body, mind and spirit.” “Eco-friendly teaching represents a new spiritual imagination of how to live well in the world,” observes Bass. “Faith makes a difference.” Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

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naturalpet

Eat, Bark and Be Merry Healthy Holiday Treats for Our Pets by Sandra Murphy

s with families everywhere, special taste treats are on the menu for many dogs, cats and wild birds during the holiday season. Owners are cautioned not to share rich, unfamiliar foods from the table that can be detrimental to an animal’s health. Better fare are homemade treats of organic, safe and tasty ingredients—true gifts from the heart. Homemade assures the quality of ingredients, avoids unhealthy additives and allows the giver to adjust for individual taste or food sensitivities. Most healthy recipes can be made from readily available ingredients.

Wild Birds

Offer them a variety of seeds and fresh water. Always use unsalted, unseasoned seeds. Mix harder-to-crack striped sunflower seeds with the smaller black oil version to attract the largest number of birds. Organically grown peanuts in the shell, dried fruit, oranges, pomegranates or rehydrated raisins offer a burst of energy. Impale round fruits, halved, on a small dowel rod attached to the feeding table to hold them in place. Note that oats go to waste, shelled sunflower seeds spoil and cracked corn attracts raccoons. Pass on any kind of popcorn.

enjoy. Don’t use low-fat peanut butter because birds need to pack in the calories in order to stay warm.

Cats

Organic catnip, fresh or dried and baked into a crunchy treat, will bring kitty running. In recipes, avoid canned tuna because of bisphenol A (BPA) concerns; also minimize the frequency and portion of tuna and salmon treats due to mercury accumulation in the fish. Unseasoned tuna or salmon packed in water in a pouch is a better choice. Many recipes labeled for dogs can be converted for cats by making them into smaller bites.

Dogs

“When possible, I put organic and local foods, non-GMO, hormone-and antibiotic-free, grass-fed and humanely raised properties at the top of my list. A healthi-

DIY Suet

Mix one part organic peanut butter with five parts organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) corn meal. Smear into a pinecone to hang from a branch or directly on tree bark for woodpeckers and wrens to 38

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er dog means fewer vet visits and more years together,” says Tonya Wilhelm, a dog trainer in Toledo, Ohio. “Buy in bulk from a co-op or farmer and maybe share with friends to get the best price.”

Dehydrated Foods

Dehydrating removes moisture from food while retaining nutrients, and comprises a distinct cooking method. Stephanie Raya, resident chef at Excalibur Dehydrator, in Sacramento, California, recommends, “For safe chicken and pork, pre-cook before dehydrating. Beef can be dehydrated from a raw state. My Boston terriers also love dehydrated, sweet potato chips.” A number of commercial dehydrated meat and fish jerkies have been recalled (search DogFoodAdvisor. com/?s=treats). Homemade treats offer superior control of ingredients. “When I make my pets’ treats, I know what’s in their food, including the herbs used for flavor,” says Raya. After she’s ensured that the food is thoroughly dried, she packs it in vacuum bags and stores them away from light. She notes that dehydrating takes longer than baking, but is cost-effective at 25 to 50 cents an hour. Veggie options include dehydrated zucchini chips, butternut squash chips, cherry tomato bites, matchstick carrots or peach or other fruit slices.

Make it Festive

A cat’s sense of smell is 10 to 15 times better than ours, but is still modest compared to dogs that out-sniff us by a factor of 30 to 60 times; that’s why putting wrapped treats under a holiday tree or in a stocking is a bad idea. Store them securely and then bring them out when it’s time to open gifts. Use blue tissue paper for easy-to-open Hanukkah gifts, red or green for Christmas (bows, yes; ribbons, no). For dogs that love puzzles, placing treats inside a wrapped box adds to the fun. Remember that rich or unfamiliar foods can make pets sick. Instead, gift them with their own healthy, safe treats from known ingredients so that everyone has a happy holiday. Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

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Special Holiday Pet Recipes Chicken Bites Yields: Approximately 24 cookies 1 cup filtered water 10 oz chicken breast, boneless and skinless, cut into 2-in cubes ½ cup brown rice, dry 1 cup coconut flour 1 Tbsp ground flax seed Place water, chicken and rice in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer covered, for one hour. Strain and let cool.

Coconut Bites Yields: Approximately 20 cookies 1 orange, peeled, seeded, chopped into bite-size pieces 1 banana, peeled, chopped into bite-size pieces ½ cup coconut flour Lemon zest Preheat oven to 275° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Put the orange and banana into a food processor or blender. Purée until smooth. Combine blended fruit and coconut flour. Mix well. Form into 3-inch flat discs and place on a lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Lightly sprinkle lemon zest on the uncooked treats. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Remove cookies and place them on a rack to cool. Tip: Keep a few treats in an air-tight container and freeze the remainder for later. Recipe courtesy of Tonya Wilhelm

Preheat oven to 275° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Preheat a frying pan on medium heat for three minutes. Add coconut oil. Coat the pan evenly.

Preheat oven to 275° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Add hamburger and stir fry until almost fully cooked. Add peppers, kale and figs to the meat. Continue to stir fry until the kale is reduced.

Place cooled chicken and rice mixture in a food processor or blender. Purée until smooth.

Allow mixture to cool. Then, place mixture into a food processor or blender and purée until smooth.

Place the purée in a large bowl. Add the coconut flour and flax seed; mix well.

Combine the blended mixture and quinoa flour. Mix well.

Form into 3-inch flat discs and place on a lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Remove cookies and place them on a rack to cool. Recipe courtesy of Tonya Wilhelm

Form into 3-inch flat discs. Place on a lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Remove cookies and place on rack to cool. Recipe courtesy of Tonya Wilhelm

Meatball Bites Yields: Approximately 24 cookies 1 Tbsp virgin coconut oil 10 oz grass-fed hamburger, 85 percent lean 4 oz green pepper, washed, seeded, cut in bite-size pieces 2½ oz kale, washed 3 figs, stems removed 1 cup quinoa flour

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

Cheesy Crunchies 2 cups whole wheat flour ¼ cup cornmeal ½ cup cheese (any grated cheese) 1 egg 1¾ cup filtered water ½ cup fine-grated Parmesan cheese

natural awakenings

December 2015

Mix all ingredients except Parmesan. Knead dough until thoroughly mixed.

Dry at 155° F until thoroughly dry and then cut into strips.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until biscuits are hard to the touch.

Roll dough into shapes (like sticks or squares) or use cookie cutter. Roll shapes in the Parmesan. Dehydrate in a dehydrator at 155° F approximately 4 to 6 hours or until dry. For cats, make much smaller shapes.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Stephanie Raya, Excalibur Dehydrator

Cool and place in an airtight container.

Peanut Butter Sweet Potato Dog Biscuits Yields: 36 biscuits

Recipe courtesy of Chef Stephanie Raya, Excalibur Dehydrator

1 sweet potato, boiled or baked ¼ cup peanut butter, low in fat, sugar and salt 1 egg 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 Tbsp coconut oil 1 tsp cinnamon, ground 1½ cups organic old-fashioned oats (aka rolled oats)

Roxanne’s Beef Jerky Strips for Dogs 3 cups ground lean grass-fed beef 1 cup flour 2 tsp brewer’s yeast 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese, drained Combine ingredients in medium bowl and mix thoroughly. Spread on a nonstick 1/8-inch-thick drying sheet.

Recipe courtesy of Livia J. Washburn, Trick or Deadly Treat

Kitty Patties Yields: 8 small patties ½ lb grass-fed, lean ground beef ½ lb lean ground turkey 4 Tbsp low-salt chicken stock 4 eggs ½ cup oatmeal or 1 packet instant oatmeal Mix meat and broth, and then add oatmeal and egg.

Boil or bake sweet potato. Allow to cool before removing the peel if baked.

Form into 8 small patties.

Heat oven to 350° F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Broil one or two at a time, leaving them fairly rare.

Use a mixer to blend all ingredients together except the oatmeal. Once combined, fold in oats with a spoon. If dough is too wet, add more flour.

Allow to cool, and then serve. They’ll keep in the refrigerator up to three days if the meat is fresh.

Roll out cookie dough to ¼-inch-thick sheet and cut with any shaped cookie cutter. Fill cookie sheets.

Freeze the other patties until ready to use, good for up to four months. Recipe courtesy of Janet Cantrell, Fat Cat at Large

Go Go Balls Yields: 30 to 32 balls ½ cup water-packed tuna fish or salmon (from a BPA-free pouch) 4 oz light cream cheese 2 Tbsp dried catnip (or more to taste) Drain the fish. If using salmon, remove the skin and bones. Using a fork, flake the fish into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Form small, marble-sized balls by hand and store refrigerated in an airtight container. Recipe courtesy of Janet Cantrell, Fat Cat Spreads Out 40

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December 2015

seventh chakra going down to the root or first chakra. Check them out and see if they resonate with you.

Set Intention (Crown)

Stress Free Holidays 7 Simple Steps Based on the Chakras by Dudley Evenson ere come the holidays and with them a bundle of stress triggers and challenges that may take away from the fun and festivity of the season. While we love to get together with family and friends, sometimes the extra tasks and pressures can add up to create situations that are less than fun and definitely not festive. Extra shopping, more cooking, cleaning, preparing, crowds, traffic or traveling with flights delayed or other inconveniences can take the fun out of the season. Then, there are the long-term family patterns replete with buttons that are often pushed right at the dinner table after a few too many glasses of bubbly. Whatever form it takes, the strain and tension of being overloaded can sometimes rise up and ruin our fun, family time. So how can we deal with this inevitable stress of the holidays and put the joy back into the season? Here are some simple steps we can take to uplift

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our spirits and make sure we don’t get overloaded and react emotionally in the presence of habitual family patterns or simply collapse from exhaustion when we should be having fun. These seven steps are actually based on the chakra system and begin with the crown or

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Decide in advance how you would like your holiday experience to be. You can use ideas like – peaceful, meaningful, relaxing, fun. Whatever words you come up with, you might want to form them into a simple mantra or affirmation to keep in the forefront of your awareness as you go through your socializing. Remember the aspects of an affirmation are threefold: positive, present tense and repetition. An example would be ‘I am peaceful and relaxed’ or whatever idea you want to remind yourself of when intensity arises. Say it often.

Visualize (Third Eye, Mind) Use mental images to picture how you would like to see the holidays unfold. You can imagine your home beautifully decorated with family members happily enjoying a home cooked meal and conversing with one another in pleasant tones. Or you might picture young children playing well together with their new gifts. Don’t forget to picture yourself attending to your tasks with ease in a relaxed manner. You may want to focus on the deeper meaning of the

holiday you are celebrating and especially the fellowship of gathering together with family and friends.

Communicate (Throat) Talk to family members and friends that you will be socializing with and make plans so everyone is on the same page. Get input and add your own ideas. Try to share the tasks and planning so it isn’t all on one person’s shoulders. If past holidays were overwhelming, perhaps try simplifying your plans. Consider a potluck instead of one person doing all the cooking. You might want to add the element of giving back to the community or to those less fortunate who need some extra holiday cheer. This will make the holiday much more meaningful to you and your family.

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Collaborate (Heart) Invite your family and your friends to be part of your festivities. Work and play together and enjoy each other’s company. Remember the love that brought you together in the first place and be careful not to let stress or emotions trigger unnecessary reactions. This is a time to enjoy and appreciate each other. Express your gratitude in random ways and you will find it returned to you. Minimize gossip and politics. People in the same family often hold different points of view so best to avoid conversations that cause conflict. The long-term benefits of unconditional love will be the reward.

Take Action (Solar Plexus) If you are hosting a gathering, let yourself enjoy the activities and tasks involved. Enlist close friends or family members to help you with preparation and logistics. If you are attending other people’s events, be sure to help in the kitchen and contribute to the workload. Put on happy holiday music to lift your spirit and remind you why you are doing all the extra work – shopping, cooking, cleaning, gifting, decorating and so on. You may want to take time for yoga or stretching to release pent up energy so you

continued on page 44.

natural awakenings

December 2015

STICK WITH THE BEST have the vitality you need to carry out all you have assigned yourself to do.

Enjoy and Play (Sacral)

You can trust us to get your message out to our readers. Advertise in our special

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Remember the reason for the season and even in the midst of all you are doing, be sure to let yourself feel passion and joy for the blessings in your life, your family, friends, food to eat and roof over your head. Many people have much less in life and still manage to keep smiling. In fact, a good laugh is always in order, even when the turkey falls on the floor or your dog overturns the holiday tree or a child knocks over a glass and breaks it. Especially turn your enthusiasm toward your elders or those suffering or in need. This season is a perfect time to reach out to others who can use a physical or spiritual boost.

Grounding (Root) This is the level where you take care of the basics, the details and all that is necessary to manifest what it is you want. This is also the place where you can connect with the earth and honor all that it provides for your physical needs. Be specific and check off the tasks on your list so you can feel you have accomplished what needs to be done. You also may want to ground out by taking a walk in nature or sitting quietly in your room or a sacred place in your home. In this sanctuary, try

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playing some peaceful, relaxing music to help remind you of the inner peace you are so wanting in the midst of life’s normal chaos. I hope these suggestions are helpful and you are able to find peace and fulfillment during the holidays this year. And of course, I welcome any additional suggestions for stress free holidays whether or not they relate to the chakras. Dudley Evenson is a multi-media producer, photographer, harpist, writer and co-founder of independent record label Soundings of the Planet, celebrating 35 years of Peace through Music. She and her husband, flautist Dean Evenson are award-winning sound healing pioneers and have produced over 80 albums and videos that have supported people’s healing or life process. She and Dean have shared their music and guided meditations in live presentations before such luminaries as Deepak Chopra, Joan Borysenko, Larry Dossey, Don Miguel Ruiz, Denise Linn and others. Dudley writes about healing music, chakras, affirmations, toning, meditation, relationships, sustainability and environmental issues. Read more about healing with the chakras on Dudley Evenson’s blog healthylivingdreams.com or listen to the meditations and what she and her husband, Dean Evenson, by visiting their music site: www.soundings.com.

Meditation,

Why not give it a try? by Peggy Gaines, RN

editations popularity has increased. It seems to be the new “must do” in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Everyone seems to be talking about the benefits it offers, such as decreases stress and anxiety, and how it improves focus and concentration. It appears to be relatively simple; just close your eyes and breathe. But when first beginning, something that looks so simple can be very intimidating and can produce an increase in anxiety instead of decreasing it. The most common problem encountered when many begin their meditation, is the feeling of fighting a losing battle. They close their eyes and are bombarded with thought, after thought, after thought, of how on earth is it possible to quiet the mind when so many thoughts come up. Filled with frustration, many often feel like throwing in the towel. The fact is, when

one meditates, the mind does not go blank. Thoughts do not stop. That is not the intent of meditation. The goal of meditation is to get in touch with the quiet space between the thoughts. In the beginning the space between one thought and the next may last just a nano-second but with practice it will gradually increase. And, that one nano-second is enough time to begin to make a difference in the brain. Every time someone sits down to meditate, tiny changes begin to occur in the brain. Research shows that within eight weeks of practice there is measurable change within the brain. This is when the amygdala, the area of the brain that deals with stress, changes. Meditation isn’t a light switch where simply by sitting daily someone becomes the Buddha. Meditation is more like a dimmer switch where gradually, over time, your perspective on life changes. Irritations in life become less pronounced. For example, the stapler doesn’t work. An easily irritated person can respond by picking it up and throwing it against the wall. However, after meditating for eight weeks, when that same person finds themselves facing the same challenge, their response can be a little more muted. Instead of throwing the stapler against the wall, they might simply exclaim, when are we going to get a new stapler? Another great example of the positive attributes of meditation shows up when dealing with holiday stress. Getting together with relatives can often prove to be particularly challenging. Everyone has hot button topics–subjects that provoke negative responses that

can lead to automatic angry outbursts. With meditation, when those buttons are pushed, instead of reacting mindlessly to the irritation, they will pause and take a moment to think about how they want to respond. As a result, better communication occurs and issues can be addressed rationally without senseless bursts of anger. Meditation is a life skill that everyone can master. There are plenty of free apps, books, videos and websites available out there which offer lend a hand in getting started. If more instruction is preferred, you can turn to meditation classes offered throughout the community, and which provide the desired support and encouragement. Peggy Gaines, a registered nurse, offers small group classes. As a nurse she understands how western medicine and Eastern philosophy work together. Peggy is a board certified meditation specialist and offers classes for stressed out individuals. She also works with Wellness programs in corporations helping to decrease stress in the workplace. Contact her for information about the three month Meditation Immersion program that will begin in January 2016. Meditation with Peggy Gaines, RN is located at 1390 S. Dixie Highway Suite 2108. For more information, email info@meditationwithpeggygaines.com or visit www.meditationandreiki.com. See ad, this page and 61.

Finding Calm in a Hectic World

Introduction to Meditation

Learn the Basics to Quiet Your Mind and Improve Focus

Reiki Treatment and Classes Enhance Your Well-being with Healing Energy Peggy Gaines, RN BSN

1390 S. Dixie Highway Suite 2108 Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 609 4433 MeditationandReiki.com natural awakenings

December 2015

healingways

health corner

Healthy Hand Sanitizers without Alcohol Tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic. It is anti-bacterial, microbial and viral. Tea tree oil and Vitamin E oil acts as a natural preservative allowing this mixture to last for at least several weeks. Ingredients: 8 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel 1 T distilled water ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil 16 Drops of Tea Tree Oil 10 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil Optional: Add a few drops of other essential oils such as lemon, orange or thyme Instructions: 1. Mix all ingredients together 2. Pour into a small squeeze bottle  3. Shake before applying This recipe makes a small batch. You can double the amounts for a larger amount. Note: Essential oils can be stored in plastic containers if the essential oils are highly diluted. Make sure they are high quality if you do use plastic containers.

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HEAVENLY SCENTS How to Make Your Own Natural Oil Fragrances by Kathleen Barnes

whiff of sweetness can communicate a personal signature of tranquility, alertness or romance, or it can cause a bout of miserable sneezing, wheezing or nausea for those in the vicinity and even the unwitting wearer.

Commercial Chemicals

“When you see ‘fragrance’ on a personal care product label, read it as ‘hidden chemicals,’” warns the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit watchdog Environmental Working Group (EWG). “A major loophole in the [U.S.] Food and Drug Administration’s federal law lets manufacturers of products like shampoo, lotion and body wash include nearly any ingredient under the term fragrance without actually listing the chemical.” Companies that manufacture personal care products are required by law to list the ingredients they use, but fragrances and trade-secret formulas are exempt. What’s known as a dirty little secret in the fragrance industry is the unlabeled presence of toxic chemicals not only in perfumes, but in any personal care product that includes a scent. Lab tests commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and analyzed by the EWG confirm the presence of parabens

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that interfere with hormone production, cancer-causing phthalates, and synthetic musks that have been linked to hormone disruption, among many other ills.

Naturally Safe Scents

“Opting for natural scents from organic essential oils not only offers a toxinfree alternative, the oils’ aromatherapy benefits have time-proven therapeutic value,” suggests Dorene Petersen, president and founder of the American College of Healthcare Sciences, in Portland, Oregon. Recent research from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica, in Brazil, confirms that lavender oil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and pain-relieving properties similar to those of a mild-dose narcotic. Plus, it smells heavenly, says botanical perfumer Roxana Villa, of Woodland Hills, a California-based spokesperson for the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. “Considering the part of the plant used will give you an idea of its therapeutic value,” says Villa. “A root base will be good for grounding. Since bark is like skin, oils such as birch will benefit skin and muscles. Oils from flowers are excellent for anything related to the head and mind.”

GIFT BLEND FOR MEN Western cultures value “manly” Earth scents like sandalwood and cedarwood, while in other cultures, flowery scents are acceptable for men. An appealing woodsy blend for an American male blends cedarwood, clary sage and lime. Oregano and cinnamon oils have powerful antifungal properties, even against Candida-type fungi resistant to prescription drugs, according to Brazilian research from Universidade Federal. A groundbreaking study from the Slovak University of Technology, in Slovakia, even suggests that rosemary oil can kill cancer cells. These are all scents that can be the foundations of do-it-yourself perfumes.

Customized Blends

“It’s fun to experiment with organic essential oils and create that unique blend that becomes a personal signature,” says Charlynn Avery, an aromatherapist with Aura Cacia, in Norway, Iowa. She explains that essential oils have three basic “notes” and blending them correctly will result in a fragrance suited to last throughout the day. “The base note is heavier and lasts the longest. Patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood and jasmine hang around longer in the atmosphere and on the wearer,” she explains. Blending the base with a slightly lighter middle note

like lavender, rosemary or clary sage and a light and short-lasting top note like orange, lime or peppermint will create a complex and pleasing blend. “That’s the beauty of the art of it,” says Avery. “You can create synergistic blends that harmonize and complement the attributes of each to such an extent that you may not be able to detect the scents of the individual oils.” There are no hard and fast rules, but our experts offer a few guidelines for creating our own unique blends that will be well-received as holiday gifts. Use a base of oil like jojoba or sweet almond to create a perfumed oil. Note that oils undiluted by a carrier can burn the skin. For oil-based blends, use a ratio of 50 drops of bottom note oil, 30 drops of a middle note and 20 drops of a top note in two ounces of carrier oil. Another option is to use an alcohol base of either isopropyl rubbing alcohol or 85-proof vodka to make a spray perfume; the alcohol will evaporate quickly. Alcohol-based blends generally last longer, especially with fragile citrus oils. A usual ratio is 10 to 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of alcoholbased carrier. Oil-based blends are ready to use almost immediately. Alcohol-based blends should age a week or two at least and will become more strongly scented in time. Store fragrances in bottles in a dark, cool place. Bottles with tiny rollon caps are commercially available.

Local Resources VigorMe See page 26 Zenzations Holistic Center 7520 SW 57th Ave, Suite K South Miami, FL 33143 305-740-7800 Good Food Conspiracy 30150 Overseas Hwy (US 1) in Big Pine Key, FL 33043 at Mile 30.2 ocean side 305-872-3945 Whole Foods Markets Aventura, North Miami, Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Coral Gables, Pinecrest) American Apothecary of Kendall 12232 S.W. 132 Court, Miami 33186 www.AmericanApothecaryKendall.com 305-598-2822 “It’s very much trial and error to arrive at a preferred scent, so be creative and keep careful notes of experiments and improve on them as you gain experience,” counsels Avery. “If you crinkle your nose at patchouli, you probably won’t like an oil blend with it, either. Choose scents you like.” Kathleen Barnes is author of numerous natural health books including Food Is Medicine. Connect at Kathleen Barnes.com.

The 1-2-3s of Blending Oils Base Notes Middle Notes Top Notes sandalwood lavender orange jasmine bergamot lemon myrrh geranium grapefruit vetiver rosemary eucalyptus patchouli tea tree lime cedarwood clary sage peppermint A general ratio of 50 percent base note oils to 30 percent middle notes and 20 percent top notes is recommended. Source: courtesy of AuraCacia.com natural awakenings

December 2015

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member that not everything we do with our children has to be for academic enrichment. Even just 20 minutes a week can give us a well-needed respite from the stressors of everyday life. • Make time for ourselves: It can be easy to forget to make time for ourselves. We need to make a list of all that we enjoy, and try to do one thing on the list every day or every couple of days. We also have to learn to say “no.” We must be selective about the projects we agree to help others with and re-assess if our kids really need to be involved in five different sports in less than five days. It’s also important to get enough rest. We should try setting a bedtime rule for ourselves like we do for our kids.

Holiday Blues: Stress Less and Parent More

by Sahra Y. Robinson, LCSW-R

arenting should come with a stress-management manual; while it is enormously rewarding and fulfilling, it is also very stressful, especially during the holidays. Some stress can be helpful, giving us the motivation and focus to face challenges and get things done; however, too much stress can be overwhelming, making it difficult to cope with everyday life. Parents’ ability to manage their “own” stress is a powerful predictor of their children’s well-being. When parents become stressed, that stress becomes contagious. Kids know when their parents are tense and overwhelmed. In fact, according to holistic physician Dr. Amy Saltzman, “Data shows that the greatest source of childhood and adolescent stress is not schoolwork, extracurricular activities or peer pressure but parental stress.” The key to successful parenting is learning to manage our “own” stress. Parents of children diagnosed with a behavioral disorder or developmental disability are at an increased risk of parenting stress. What are effective ways to manage parenting and stress? • Mindfulness: Dr. Mark Bertin, a board certified developmental/behavioral pediatrician, says that “mindfulness minimizes stress so we can parent at our best.” Mindfulness is defined as the ability to pay attention to our experiences with openness and without reactive judgements. When parents practice mindfulness, they not only reduce their stress but are also able to make better decisions and “respond” to their children’s behavior rather than “reacting” to it. We should listen first, breathe, and then respond. • Increase quality time with the family: Spending more quality time together, as we do during the holiday season, improves the parent-child relationship. Planning is one of the more effective ways to manage stress. It’s essential to re-engineer family time so that time is best spent together. We should have fun with our kids. It’s important to re-

• Develop a support network: This is an essential step for all parents. We all need help at some point, and it pays to have a system in place before we need it. We should be proactive in arranging to have extra help. Whether we hire a reliable babysitter, barter services with other parents or seek out help from friends or family, it is essential to take this step. Getting together with other parents that all have kids close in age is beneficial socially for the grownups as well as the children. Despite our best efforts to manage our parenting stress, sometimes things will inevitably be too much to deal with on our own or with our support systems. When we can recognize that we are feeling overwhelmed, we need to take action. We should consider enlisting the help of a licensed mental health professional. We need to always remember that “everything can be done better from a relaxed state of mind.” Sahra Y. Robinson, LCSW-R, is the owner of Serenity Zone— located in Long Beach—and a proud mom. Serenity Zone is a Long Beach-based psychotherapy and stress-management practice. Its team of licensed psychotherapists use therapeutic modalities coupled with effective stress-management teachings, like MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction). Team members incorporate numerous relaxation techniques (light and sound therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing techniques, meditation, visualization and guided imagery) into their work. They treat children, adolescents and adults as individuals, groups, couples or families.

Local Mental Health Professionals LATA SONPAL, PH. D., FCHT., PA 7700 N Kendall Dr, Ste 404 9999 NE 2nd Ave., Ste 100 www.DrSonpal.com 305271-2772 See ad, page xx DANIEL R. MESCH, L.M.H.C. 975 41st St., Ste 303, Miami Beach 10300 Sunset Drive, Suite 460, Miami 305-672-0588 See ad, page xx

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PATRICIA MUNHALL, EDD, PSYA, CST, CLC 305-978-9475-Miami Shores www.miamitherapy.com See ad, page xx MARGARITA BORDA, LMHC DR ERIC TORRES PSY. D. MargaritaBorda.com 305-898-6607 See ad, page xx Miriam Steinberg, Ph. D. Embrace Life MiriamMiami18@gmail.com 305-793-8213 See ad, page xx

December 2015

Be Good to the Bees by Gladys Hutson

any concerned with the decline in our Honey Bee population may know that President Obama has created a task force entitled “Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.” It was implemented in June of 2014. The First National Conference on Protecting Pollinators in the Ornamental Landscapes was held in October and was well-attended. Almost every state college in the U.S. was represented at the conference, which included those from the UK and Canada as well. The president’s task force approved grant money allowing field trials to be conducted regarding the status of our pollinators. A day and a half of reports presented by professors and undergrad students about these field trials showed overwhelming evidence that there has been a decline of all pollinators due to three factors: lack of habitat, pests and pesticides. For those who may not know, pollinators refer to Honey Bees as well as Native Pollinators (Bumble Bees, Orchard Mason Bees, Leaf Cutter Bees, etc.) There was no media present at this conference and none of this made headlines news. The silver lining was learning that studies and trials are now being undertaken by people unrelated to the companies that produce the pesticides in question. Below are summaries of the three issues stated. Lack of Habitat: Urban sprawl is at an all-time high. Subdivisions are popping up all over, on land that was previously farmed or wooded. Most new subdivisions enforce Home Owners Association (HOA) rules and ordinances in their sale contracts. HOA ordinances often include clauses forcing the homeowner to have what could be called a “cookie cutter” yard: grass, no weeds, and all the same button-shaped bushes and shrubs. This is what is referred to as “mono culture.” Many of the Japanese or Chinese cultivated varieties of 50

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bushes and plants have no food value for our pollinators. So what can a home owner in a subdivision such as this do for our pollinators? This is a difficult question because these HOAs have a lot of power. However, approaching your HOA to see if by-laws can be revised to include the addition of some native plants that are beneficial to our pollinators is a step in the right direction. For those not regulated by an HOA, the best thing to do is to plant for the bees. If you must have grass—which is no benefit to our pollinators—don’t use herbicides. Let those dandelions grow! Start some Milkweed, or let the clover intermingle through the yard. Those are foods for bees and pollinators. Dead Nettle and Hen Bit are some of nature’s first foods in the spring for pollinators. Maybe take a corner of your back yard and create a pollinator-friendly area with native plants. They can look quite beautiful if designed correctly. Or for a less structured look, don’t mow and let an area go wild. Simply throw native plant seeds out and let them do what they will. The pollinators will thank you by being around to pollinate the veggies in your garden and fruit on your trees. Pests: The bees are really under siege from a pest called the Varroa Mite. It is a mite that attaches to the bee and kills them. They are horrible pests and are responsible for many losses in the Honey Bee apiaries. The average person can’t do much about this pest. However, much research is being done to breed miteresistant bees. A recent study shows a positive result when mushroom fungi is fed to the bees. Most colleges have research programs studying this pest. N.C. State has a very active program. Those interested in increasing our Honey Bee populations can support these programs with a financial contribution. Pesticides: Everyone can do something in this category! Try to increase your tolerance for a bug or two in your garden. Their life cycles are pretty short. In Mother Nature, there is a balance. There are good bugs and bad bugs. When people kill the bad bugs they reduce the food source for the good bugs, so they go elsewhere. Sometimes a spray of water can dislodge an insect such as an aphid. If we must use a chemical, choose a less toxic one and always spray either early morning or late

evening when pollinators are not out foraging, and please never use Sevin Dust! There is probably a group of Master Gardeners in your county. Before you spray, ask a Master Gardener an alternative way to deal with the pest(s) that you are encountering. You can find Master Gardeners through your County Extension Service. By all working together and learning the best practices to manage pests, we will in turn be helping to save our pollinators. Education is the key! Gladys Hutson is a Beekeeper and Master Gardener, as well as the Piedmont Regional Director of the N.C. State Beekeepers Association and the Secretary of Union County North Carolina Beekeepers Association. Learn more at her website, TheBeeLady.org. To read about the task force, visit the website of the White House at Go.WH.gov/nho8jW.

actionalert Help save bees!

Urge Bayer’s CEO to stop selling bee-killing pesticides in the U.S. Bayer, the German aspirin maker, is also the world’s no. 1 maker of bee-killing neonic pesticides. Urge the company’s CEO to pull his bee-toxic chemicals from the U.S. market—and save America’s bee colonies from devastating collapse. One out of every three bites of food we take relies on bees for pollination. Of 100 major crops, 70 are pollinated by bees— including apples, cucumbers, broccoli, onions, pumpkins, avocados, almonds, and so many more. But America’s bees are in crisis. These critical pollinators are dying at some of the highest rates ever recorded—a whopping 42 percent of U.S. bee colonies collapsed in 2015, well above the average 31 percent that have been dying each winter for nearly a decade. Their devastating decline is due in large part to the skyrocketing use of dangerous pesticides called neonicotinoids, or neonics, unleashed by multinational chemical giants like Bayer, Monsanto, and Syngenta. Neonics are the most heavily used class of insecticides in the United States, applied to an estimated 150 million acres each year. NRDC is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set strong, sciencebased limits on the use of these chemicals on farms across the country, but the agency’s review process has stalled. Get Involved-Make Your Voice Heard! Visit http://tinyurl.com/ savethebeestoday

natural awakenings

December 2015

Decorating Room by Room LIVING ROOM: Add a touch of frost to your room with inspiration from a wintery wonderland. Shining, snowy accents, along with plush pillows and a faux fur throw, create a warm, inviting space. MANTEL: Who says a fire always melts snow? While your hearth heats your home, keep your holiday accents crisp and cool, with plenty of snowflakes, trees and wreaths to go around. FAMILY FEATURES

mong the most treasured of holiday delights is, as the carol says, decking the halls. It’s the perfect excuse to pull out the bling and bring an aura of festivity and fun to your home, whether it’s for your personal enjoyment or setting the stage to celebrate the season with loved ones. All you need is a little imagination and some design inspiration to create an inviting holiday home, both indoors and out. Shopping at stores recognized for a wide assortment of quality furnishings will give you a variety of decor that fits every style at an excellent value. Trim your tree beautifully and learn how to artfully incorporate wreaths and garland into your holiday home decor with online additional tips for a Christmas as merry and bright as you make it. 52

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STAIRCASE: Think beyond the tree and loop garland and festive lighting, such as Glimmer Strings from Pier 1 Imports, around your banister. DINING ROOM: Craft your own centerpieces with a few essential ingredients. A pretty mixture of evergreens, woodland creatures and metallic pillar stands shines in the soft glow of candlelight. BEDROOM: Create a welcome retreat within your bedroom with an elegant headboard, bright bedding and seasonal accents – everything you need to settle down for a long winter’s nap. OUTDOORS: Take your holiday party out to the patio. Lanterns filled with LED candles, soft pillows and garden stools offer all the festive features of indoor decor but with the durability for outdoors.

A tree worth gathering ’round

As the focal point of your holiday trimmings, your Christmas tree should reflect your personal style and make a statement about your holiday spirit. Start by choosing the right theme or look for your tree, from traditional to glamorous to fantastical. Ultimately, you can carry this theme throughout every element of the tree, from the ornaments to the gift wrap to other accents sprinkled throughout. To get started, select a pre-lit tree in the shape and style that best matches your vision: noble fir or pine, in slim or full silhouettes, the options go on. Be sure to spend some time fluffing branches for a more natural look. Begin decorating by placing large elements. Weave garland through the tree branches first. Then start tucking larger ornaments and decor into the branches, placing evenly throughout. Fill in open spaces in the branches with smaller ornaments and floral picks. Keep adding until the branches are filled. Crown your tree with a decorative topper that fits your theme to add height and an extra personal touch. Adorn the base of the tree with a coordinating tree skirt or collar, and remember, you’re not quite finished until the presents are under the tree. Bundle your gifts with high-quality wrapping paper, gift bags, tags and bows that also fit your theme for a cohesive, finished look from top to bottom.

Creative uses for traditional trimmings

Don’t let your vision for a festive holiday home stop at the front door. Wreaths and garlands can actually bring a stylish touch to your holiday decor from the outside in. You can create a wintery landscape in your home by decking your halls, tables and more with inspired Christmas wreath placements. One idea is to nestle a hurricane in a berry wreath for a burst of color and texture; the candlelight will lend an air of cozy comfort. For those homes with fireplaces, home is where the hearth is, and a well-adorned mantel is a must. Make a stunning wreath the star of your fireplace display, and incorporate a supporting cast of berry garland and even a woodland creature or two to help make your look complete. Actually, repurposing garland in different locations throughout your house is another inventive way to infuse Christmas spirit. From staircases to bookshelves to headboards, cleverly installed garland sends a message that you have a passion for the season. You can even use a shimmering Christmas tree garland as a table runner for a simple but elegant touch of joy. Add a natural touch with a garland crafted of pinecones, or go for glamour with golden accents. Make your holiday merry and bright with a hint of starlight and sparkle. As you explore decorating ideas online, remember to add a lighter touch with hanging ornaments, embroidered accents and candleholders. After all, Christmas is the perfect time to let your inner light shine.

along with plush pillows and a faux fur throw, create a warm, inviting space. Mantel: Who says a fire always melts snow? While your hearth heats your home, keep your holiday accents crisp and cool, with plenty of snowflakes, trees and wreaths to go around. Staircase: Think beyond the tree and loop garland and festive lighting, such as Glimmer Strings around your banister. Dining room: Craft your own centerpieces with a few essential ingredients. A pretty mixture of evergreens, woodland creatures and metallic pillar stands shines in the soft glow of candlelight. Bedroom: Create a welcome retreat within your bedroom with an elegant headboard, bright bedding and seasonal accents – everything you need to settle down for a long “winter’s nap.” Outdoors: Take your holiday party out to the patio. Lanterns filled with LED candles, soft pillows and garden stools offer all the festive features of indoor decor but with the durability for outdoors. Source: Family Features, Pier 1 Imports

Decorating Room by Room

Living room: Add a touch of frost to your room with inspiration from a wintery wonderland. Shining, snowy accents, natural awakenings

December 2015

calendarofevents To submit an event listing email: event date, name, brief description, location, cost and contact to advertising3@namiami. com. For additional listings visit www.namiami.com.

DECEMBER 1 – 31 Deering Holiday Wonderland- Guests can tour the historic houses and grounds that are decorated for the holidays. Decorations are created by the District XII Garden Clubs. The holiday decorating effort is an annual tradition and is a special project of the District XII Garden Clubs, which includes 26 branches in MiamiDade and Monroe Counties. Free with Estate admission: $12 for adults and $7 for children (ages 4-14). Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami. 10am – 4pm. Contact: 305-235-1668 ext. 233.

DECEMBER 1 - 6 Art Miami - Showcasing the best in modern and contemporary art from 100 international art galleries and prominent art institutions, and providing unprecedented access to Miami’s exciting art market. The Art Miami Pavilion NE 1st Ave between NE 32nd & 31st St. Wynwood Arts District (888) 772-8926.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 Free healing session with Cristovao Brilho –– 7:00pm – Instituto Cristovao Brilho – 2811 Coral Way – 33145 - call 786-295-8665 must arrive by 7:00pm Mindful Meditation for Stress Alleviation – 8 weeks $20 - 6 to 7:20 pm Mindful Meditation Seminar and Practice 260 Palermo Ave Coral Gables FL 33134, 305 898-6607

DECEMBER 3 - 6 Art Basel Miami Beach-This international art show and American sister event of Art Basel in Switzerland is recognized as the most important annual art show of its kind in America. Two hundred leading art galleries will exhibit 20th- and 21st-century art works from more than 1,500 artists. Miami Beach Convention Center 1700 Convention Center Dr.,Miami Beach (305) 674-1292.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 The Real Happy Hour-Laughter Yoga Class with Erika Ruiz - 5:30-6:30 pm. Combines unconditional laughter and yogic breathing, brain fitness, dancing, and playing. $20, Just OM Yoga Studio, 7520 SW 57th Ave, Suite K, South Miami. (305) 665-4982

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 Relax, Release and Heal Workshop with Vicky Vazquez, 4:00-6:30 pm. Heal mind and body from stress and anxiety, including aromatherapy. $50, Early Bird Discount $10 until Dec 1st Just OM Yoga Studio, 7520 SW 57th Ave, Suite K, South Miami. (305) 665-4982 Free healing session with Cristovao Brilho –– 5:00pm – Instituto Cristovao Brilho – 2811 Coral Way – 33145 - call 786-295-8665 must arrive by 5:00pm Free Kids’ Workshops at Home Depot- “How-To Workshops” for children ages 5-12. This hands-on

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session is offered from 9 a.m. to noon at all Home Depot stores. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin. For more information, visit website, call to reserve.

DECEMBER. 5 & 19 Free group classes for those with Parkinson’s disease or other neuro-motor degenerative diseases. 4 to 5:30 pm - Participants may bring one caregiver with them. Space is limited; call 1-305441-9441, to reserve your spot. Aum Home Shala, 3104 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove, FL 33133.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 FIU’s Annual Breakfast in the Park- 9:30 am Noon. Each year, in celebration of Art Basel Miami Beach, The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University hosts Breakfast in the Park. Each year a noted sculptor is invited to speak. Guests enjoy a complimentary outdoor breakfast, informal lecture and guided tours of The Sculpture Park as well as the exhibitions in The Frost Art Museum. Florida International University 10975 SW 17th Street Miami, FL 33199. Contact 305-348-2890. Wags n’ Whiskers Furtography with Santa - in partnership with Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Free & open to the public. Bring your family pet (dogs & cats only) for holiday photos with Santa at the Deering Estate Visitor Center! Pet adoptions (for a reduced fee) will also be available onsite from Miami-Dade County Animal Services’ HOPE Express mobile pet adoption trailer! Visitor Center at the Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami

after Dec. 6; $60 for Monday-night series or $25/ class. Aum Home Shala, 3104 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove, FL 33133. 1-305-441-9441.

DECEMBER 8 & 22 Tibetan Institute and Library members will continue to study “Beyond Religion” by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama., from 6:30 - 7:45 p.m., at South Miami Library, 6000 Sunset Drive, South Miami, FL 33143, contact 305-667-6121 or 305271-2772. Free and open to Public. Free parking at South Miami City Hall parking lot.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Treatments & Side Effects 7-9 pm. Come learn how to manage the physical and emotional side effects of cancer treatment in order to optimize quality of life during and after cancer treatment. Presented by oncology nurse Kristina Angel of the Miami Cancer Institute. Open to the general public. Call 305-668-5900. Cancer Support Community, 8609 South Dixie Highway, Miami.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 Healing Paws Workshop with Estefanía Mas, 4:00-5:00 pm. Meditate with your dog or cat (max 2). $18 or $15 until Dec 7th Just OM Yoga Studio, 7520 SW 57th Ave, Suite K, South Miami. (305) 665-4982

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 Free Third Friday - Miami Children’s MuseumMCM and Target invite you to celebrate every month with fun interactive activities and crafts, storytelling and much more! You can also explore hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits which are related to arts, culture, community and communication for Free. 3 – 9 pm. Miami Children›s Museum 980 MacArthur Causeway Miami, FL, 305- 373-5437

DECEMBER 6 & 20

DECEMBER 26 - 29

Lincoln Road Antique and Collectible Market - a great place to browse for antiques including jewelry, china, vintage clothing, furniture, and more. 8 am - 5 pm. Vendors are set up between the 800 and 1000 blocks of Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach

Awakening The Illuminated Heart» 4 day Merkaba Meditation Workshop. By Drunvalo Melchizedek, facilitator Tatiana Haggerty at Four Ambassadors 801 Brickell Bay Dr, Miami, FL 33131. $333. Call 305-878-8663 for more information,

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 Personalizing the Treatment of Primary & Metastatic Brain Tumors 6-8 pm. Interstitial Thermal Therapy and Flourescence Guided Surgery will be some of the advances that UM Neurosurgeon Michael Ivan, M.D. will present. Open to the general public. Call 305-668-5900. Cancer Support Community, 8609 South Dixie Highway, Miami.

DECEMBER 7 & 14 MELT Method workshop - Experience the revolutionary pain-relieving power of the MELT Method workshop classes using balls and rollers. 6-7:15 pm - $40 for the workshop by Dec. 6; $50

www.namiami.com

DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 3 41st Annual Miccosukee Indian Arts & Crafts Festival - The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida proudly holds family-oriented events allowing South Florida residents to enjoy fun, educational and culturally rich experiences. These special happenings promote the important relationship the Tribe has established and strives to maintain with the local community. Their signature events include Miccosukee Music Festival and Miccosukee Tribe Celebrates American Indian Day event – both held at Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, and the Miccosukee Indian Arts Festival. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, 500 S.W. 177th Avenue, Miami, FL 33194, 305.222.4600

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For all the details call 305-598-3315 • RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY! natural awakenings

December 2015

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

The Barnacle under Moonlight – Part of the Barnacle under Moonlight monthly concert series. Located at The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove 3485 Main Highway. Gates open at 6pm-music from 7-9pm. $7 for adults- $3 for children ages 6 to 9 and children under 6 are Free. Contact 305-442-6866 for more info.

Florida Keys Holiday Festival - This extravaganza begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at Founders Park, MM 87. A holiday parade follows, featuring Santa, food, kids activity booths and live “on stage” performances. A mountain of snow is the favorite among mitten-clad munchkins. 87000 Overseas Highway - Islamorada, FL 33036 Contact: 305664-4503

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31 New Year’s Eve at Bayfront Park- 7pm - Midnight. Annual New Year’s Eve event featuring a concert performance and midnight fireworks display. Gates open at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m., and the fireworks are at midnight. FREE. Bayfront Park 301 N. Biscayne Blvd. Downtown Miami. (305) 358-7550.

floridakeys

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 Key West Christmas Parade - Holiday styled floats, marching bands and a whole slew of costumed participants will spread Christmas cheer throughout all of the sunny Key West area. Don’t let the winter weather get you down, heat it up with the Key West Holiday Parade. Be sure to bring the whole family out, this is one event nobody will want to miss. Duval St. Key West, FL 33040.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12

DECEMBER 1 - 20 Key West ‘Bight Before Christmas - Live holiday music, games for the kids, holiday cheer and a chance for photos with Santa highlight this event along the historic harbor walk linking colorful seaport restaurants, bars and businesses at the Key West Bight. Created as a gift to the community, the gala is produced by the Key West Bight Preservation Association and tenants of the Key West Bight. Contact: (305) 809-3984

Schooner Wharf Bar 22nd Annual Lighted Boat Parade - Lighted and decorated vessels from rowboats to tall ships proceed around Key West’s Historic Seaport and harbor areas. Holiday revelers can watch and applaud from bars, restaurants and resorts in and around the Historic Seaport. 305-292-3302 Parade of Paws and Holiday Bazaar - Bring your dogs, wear a t-shirt with a picture of your kitty with pride, or walk with a paddle displaying your pet’s photo! Holiday Bazaar inside the dog park features entertainment, food vendors, photos with Santa, gifts for that special person on your list and more! A

unique opportunity to support the lifesaving mission caring for the Keys’ community’s homeless animals, the event supports the Florida Keys SPCA. Event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Higgs Beach, at the Higgs Dog Park. Bring four-legged friends. Key Colony Beach Lighted Boat Parade - Christmas lights on outriggers and displays on boat decks are part of the beautiful festivities during the Key Colony Beach Boat Parade, set to begin at the 7th Street canal. The parade route visits canals and cuts, and passes city hall three times. Great viewing spots include Sadowski Causeway at MM 53.5 and the area behind city hall. Open to the public, any and all boats are welcome to enter. 305-743-7214

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 Christmas on the Sheriff’s Animal Farm - 1-3 p.m., kids and adults can visit the furry, fluffy and feathered residents of the Animal Farm and petting zoo and get a photo taken with Santa. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm is situated at the county’s detention center just outside Key West at 5501 College Road. Free and open to the public. 305-293-7300

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 New Years Eve Fireworks on Blackwater Sound12 midnight. The Marriott Key Largo Beach Resort and several restaurants will be hosting Free parties that evening including The back bay is the setting for the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks extravaganza hosted by Sundowners, Senor Frijoles, Cactus Jacks, Gus’ Grille at the Marriott Key Largo Beach Resort and the Caribbean Club, MM 103-104. 866-849-3753

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ongoingevents

classifieds

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email advertising3@namiami.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or visit swfl. naturalawakeningsmag.com/advertising to submit online.

sunday Shiva’s Circle of Fire: Yoga and Meditation in Motion. 3:00pm - 5:00pm. 1760 NE 144th St, North Miami, FL 33181. Call to schedule. 305.710.0516. Donation only. Women Only – Free Chi gong for cancer survivors and voice lessons for healing and empowerment. 2:30 - 4:30, N & S Miami locations. Call 305948-6878 Dharma Meetings – 2pm. Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Center 3239 West Trade Ave. Unit 10, Coconut Grove. FREE. 305-775-7541. Family Fundays at Fairchild- 9:30am-5pm. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden 1st Sunday of the month 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. 305-667-1651. Jazzercise® - $5. 10am. South Miami Community Center 5800 SW 66 St. Call Cathie 305-666-5457. Miami Center for Spiritual Living- 10:30amFree. Non-denominational. 2490 Coral Way, Miami, 786-206-6355. Sunday Services at SOUL Church – 11am at the SOUL Service at the Elks Lodge, 6304 SW 78th St in South Miami. Free pot-luck lunch. 305-221-6516.

monday Meditation & Message tele-class - 9pm – 10pm guided meditation and weekly message. Call: 312 757 3121. Access Code: 698- 805-965. Minfulness for stress Alleviation $ 20/session 6 to 7:20 pm 260 Palermo Ave # 12 Coral Gables 33155. Changes guaranteed after 4 sessions. Support group for Co-Dependency - 7:30 to 9:00pm $30 fee - Insurances accepted Zenith Miami Counseling and Coaching Center in Coral Gables, 260 Palermo Ave #12, Coral Gables, FL 33134, Dr. Cheour at 786-230-6591 Course in Miracles - 8pm. Free. 7855 SW Coral Way. Contact Mercedes 786-200-8410 or Nimia 305-261-3190. Connected Warriors Free Yoga for Veterans, Service Members and Families. 5:30-6:15 pm - Sampoorna Yoga Miami, 10107 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33173 Power of Meditation – 9 - 9:45pm – 2nd & 4th Monday. Conference Call – 312-757-3121 code: 698805965. Free. Massage Relief for Combat Veterans - 50% off therapeutic massages for our combat service personnel. Call 305-351-0819. Shala Spa 1119 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach.

Military Mondays at Hirooka’s - 50% off Kitesurfing or Paddleboarding for all Military and Public Service Personnel - Hirooka Surf & Sport, 2377 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL. 954-4443942 Bereavement & Grief Support- 7pm, during school year. Children’s Bereavement Center, 7600 S. Red Rd, Suite 307. To register: 305-668-4902. Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)- Bilingual Support group. 305-666-1778. Self-Defense for Women classes- Free. Also Wed. 7:15 – 8:30 pm at Bayfront park in downtown Miami. 305-358-7550

tuesday Support Group for Anxiety and Depression - 7:30 to 9:00pm $30 fee. Insurances accepted. Zenith Miami Counseling and Coaching Center in Coral Gables, 260 Palermo Ave #12, Coral Gables, FL 33134, Dr. Cheour at 786-230-6591 Meditation and ethical discussion - 6:15 - 7:45 - Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami. 7701 SW 76 Ave. Miami 305-546-1556. Donation Kripalu Yoga with Kevin O’Brien. - 10:30-12:00 PM- 7520 SW 57th Ave. Suite K, South Miami 33143. For more info call 305-788-0777 Yoga and Meditation Class- 6:30-7:30pm. Free. West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way. RSVP Lawrence 305-926-3578. Are you a VET living with PTSD? If so, call Banyan Holistic Healthcare Center for help, Miami Lakes or Pinecrest location. Call now to schedule, (305) 663-5696. Yoga at Earth ‘N Us Farm - : 6:15 p.m. $10. 7630 NE 1 Ave. Miami. Contact Leslie: 786-282-3000. Laughter Yoga Sessions - $5.00 each - 9:30-10:15 AM, North Shore Youth Center 501 72nd Street, Miami Beach 33141, 305-861-3616. Yoga for Beginners – 7-9pm. $15. Acupuncture & Massage College, 10506 N. Kendall Dr. 305595-9500. Iyengar Yoga class with Liora Haymann. 7:158:30 a.m. - $18 drop-ins/$75 for a 5-class series. Aum Home Shala, 3104 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove, FL 33133. 1-305-441-9441 Yoga and Qigong for Seniors - 11am -12:30pm. Acupuncture & Massage College, 10506 N. Kendall Dr. 305-595-9500. $15.

wednesday Mind Body Weight, you are not a willpower weakling, 7-8pm - Group session nutrition coach/ counselor Susan Gerrish. Limited space, 8 week

2 listings Max.•$1.50 per word •3 month’s min. required • mail to advertising@namiami.com, then call with CC #, Restrictions apply. Refer to pg 4 for address/ information or visit www.namiami.com.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT. PUBLISH YOUR OWN NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE. 239-530-1377 or visit www.naturalawakeningsmag.com/mymagazine.

CLASSES AND TRAINING 200 HOUR REGISTERED YOGA TEACHER TRAINING. What are you waiting for? Now is the time! Join Key Largo Yoga for this 21 day training in the BEAUTIFUL FL Keys. October 2-23.Call NOW! 305-879-0377. www. keylargoyoga.com

FOR SALE SELLING 3 OAKWORKS ELECTRIC MASSAGE/CHIROPRACTOR TABLES. $2500.00 each. Nancy 561.350.6866. 5 ACRE BOTANICAL HOME FOR SALE CALOOSA - Ever wanted a chance to enjoy herb gardening, butterfly arbors, fruit trees (mango, avocado, mulberry, almond etc) galore and exotics like Rainbow Eucalyptus and Ylang- Ylang trees? This gorgeous 4 bedroom 3 bath home perfectly positioned on five acres in beautiful equestrian Caloosa Palm Beach Gardens offers all this and more in a park-like setting with an extra large covered wrap-around deck overlooking all. The home has extras like an extra large swimming pool, two Rv pads or water craft/truck pads with electricity and water and a fenced animal yard with poultry cage and dog run. Bargain price call Doug Martin asap 859-489-4482.

HELP WANTED P/TIME ADVERTISING SALES POSITION. - Natural Awakenings Miami/Florida Keys is seeking positive professionals who would like to earn extra income. Phone and outbound sales. MUST have sales experience. Must have, own computer, internet access and phone. High Commission income based on actual ad sales. 305-598-3315. YOGA TEACHERS NEEDED- OM Yoga Studio. info@yogamiamijustom.com

PRODUCTS #1 PREMIUM CBD (Cannabidiol) Hemp Oil. Pain, Anxiety, Sleep, Focus. 954-415-0942. PureScienceLab.com.

ROOM FOR RENT SEEKING OFFICE TO SHARE OR ROOM TO RENT in Healing practice, Miami Beach. 786 512-5166.

TRAVEL I GET PAID TO VACATION – Ask Me How? LCQ To Travel, Laura Quinones, Certified Travel Agent, 407-486-8895.lcqtravel@gmail. com. Hablamos Espanol. #ID A1591039.

natural awakenings

December 2015

commitment. Call to schedule, 305 333 4703, Coral Gables.

Meditation for overall well-being- 7:30- 9pm. 8150 SW 92 St, Miami. 786-556-7318. Donation.

Free Meditation - 1:15pm. Acupuncture and Massage College. 10506 N Kendall Dr, Miami, FL 33176. You must check in at the front desk. For more information please call 305-595-9500

Healing Meditation – 6pm – American Apothecary, $5, 12232 SW 132 CT. Miami, FL 33186, 305598-2822

Guided Meditation - All levels welcome- 7 pmDonations-3390 Mary Street Suite 116, Coconut Grove- Please RSVP 305-607-8627

thursday

Kripalu Yoga & Meditation for Beginners. 7:008:30pm - $20 or discount pkg. First class Free. Kevin O’Brien Wellness, 7520 Red Road, Suite K, South Miami, 33143 Tel 305-788-0777

A Course In Miracles (In Spanish) at 8 pm. Free Study Group at 7855 S.W. 24 St. (Coral Way). Contact Nimia 305 -261-3190 or Mercedes 786200-8410

Aromatherapy Workshop – 6PM – Free. For reservations, 305 598-2822. American Apothecary of Kendall 12232 SW 132 Court, Miami FL 33186.

Connected Warriors Free Yoga for Veterans, Service Members and Families. Chair Yoga – 10-11am - Sampoorna Yoga Miami, 10107 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33173

Free Children’s Art Camp - Ages 6 and up, in the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach. 10 am-1 pm. Call 305673-7256 to register. Connected Warriors - Free Yoga Classes for Veterans and Families of Veterans - 3pm at Brickell Hot Yoga 301 SW 17th Road, 33129 305-856-1387. Free orientations for PTSD and pain relief with discount services for military or vets. The Banyan Holistic Please call 305-663-5696 to schedule Free Veterans Sailing – with Team Paradise, the Paralympic Sport Club of Miami. 12 – 12pm Team Paradise Sailing, Inc. 2620 S. Bayshore Drive, Miami 33133. 305-776-8778. Drub-Dhe Meditation- 7:25-9:30pm. Freedonations are welcome. Regency House 353 West 47th St., Flat 7A, Miami Beach. Contact: Robert Phuntsog Ngo-drub 305-213-2577. Hatha Yoga – 6-7:30pm – Free - King David Foundation, 17971 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL Suite #117. Bennett - 305-949-0950. Free Acupuncture for Combat Veterans – 1-2pm, Acupuncture Center for Wellness, Inc., 16663 NE 19 Avenue, Suite 111, North Miami Beach, Fl. 33162, (305) 940-7763. Healing With Dance - South Miami Hospital for physical limitations from illness/surgery. No dance experience necessary. 9:30-10:30am. $5. 786-6628106. Jazzercise® - $5. M&W 6:30pm. South Miami Community Center 5800 SW 66 St. Ongoing classes available all week. Call Cathie 305-666-5457.

ThetaHealing Release negative beliefs, emotions, and trauma blocking you from the life of your dreams!

Mind Body Weight, you are not a willpower weakling, 7-8pm - Group session nutrition coach/ counselor Susan Gerrish. Limited space, 8 week commitment. Call to schedule, 305 333 4703, Coral Gables Introduction to Bach Flowers - 3rd Thursdays - 10 am-11:30 am - Free - 3390 Mary Street Suite 116, Coconut Grove- Please RSVP 305-607-8627 Nutrition Solutions for IBS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis & Migraines - $15, 7-8PM, Coral Gables, Alison Grewal, RD: 786-546-6800. Weekly Yoga Classes $10 per Class! - 5:30-6:45pm Five Sisters…a spiritual journey. 8805 SW 132 ST, 786-250-4170 Postpartum Yoga at Key Biscayne, 10:15 - $20, 305-299-7826 Laughter Yoga Sessions - $5.00 each - 9:30-10:15 AM, North Shore Youth Center 501 72nd Street, Miami Beach 33141, 305-861-3616 Overeaters Anonymous - Beginner Meeting - 7:30 pm Riviera Presbyterian Church 5275 Sunset Dr., Coral Gables, FL 33143 Support group for Women Recovering from Infidelity - 7:30-9:00pm. $30 fee. Insurances accepted. Zenith Miami Counseling and Coaching Center in Coral Gables, 260 Palermo Ave #12, Coral Gables, FL 33134, Dr. Cheour at 786-230-6591 Mindful Meditation for Stress Alleviation Mondays/8 weeks 6 to 7:20 pm 11/30/2015 Mindful Meditation Seminar and Practice 260 Palermo Ave Coral Gables FL 33134 305 898-6607

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Chair massage – 5-9pm - Enjoy 5 minute complementary chair massage every Friday Pecan’s Day Spa, 305-284-8636, 7800 SW 57th Ave Suite 120, Miami, FL 33143. Free Acupuncture for Combat Veterans – 1-2pm, Acupuncture for Wellness Center, Inc., 7550 SW 57th Avenue, Suite 116, South Miami, FL 33143, 305-669-6699. Dharma Meetings – 8pm. Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Center 3239 West Trade Ave., Unit 10, Coconut Grove. FREE. 305-775-7541. Family Night- 3rd Friday of the month. 3-9pm. Free admission & parking. Miami Children’s Museum, 980 Macarthur Cswy. 305-373-5437. Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) - Free jazz concerts on the last Fri. Joan Lehman Building, 770 NE 125 St. 305-893-6211. Coral Gables Art Walk – An art walk centered around downtown Coral Gables, with all the galleries between Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Rd. Free trolly transportation.

saturday Yoga Therapy for 50+ - 10am-11:15am - 1760 N.E. 144th St, North Miami, FL 33181. Call to schedule. 305.710.0516. $10.00 Donation. Intermediate Iyengar Series 8:30am to 10:30am. Experienced practitioners only, with Katrin Loveland. $29 per class. Prana Yoga, 247 Malaga Ave, Miami, 305 567 9812. Yoga with Drishti- 9:00 am - at Biscayne Park Recreation Center, 11400 NE 9th Court. 305-3357618. Lincoln Road Art Walk- 1st Sat. of the month. 7-10pm. 40+ local artists, museums and galleries in South Beach. ArtCenter/South Florida 800, 810 & 924 Lincoln Road. 305-674-8278. Open House/Exhibitions – 2nd Sat. Meet ArtSouth studio artists & staff. Free. Refreshments. 240 North Krome Ave. 305-247-9406.

SHAMAN Let’s Make your Dreams Come True! Fr. Flavio Moy, CRP

Soul Retrieval-Aura CleanseDivination-Rituals-Healing

c. 786.512.5166 www.balithetahealer.com www.miamithetahealer.com

Located in North Miami -1 hour session $97 Phone: (305) 735-1043 Email: SKHM27@gmail.com HealerShaman.com

EMOTIONAL + PHYSICAL + SPIRITUAL HEALING

Miami-Dade/Florida Keys

Monthly Free Reiki Healing Circle - 2nd Friday of the month at Five Sisters…a spiritual journey, 8805 SW 132 ST, 786-250-4170

Initiated Shaman/Mystic and Spiritual Counselor

Certified ThetaHealing Instructor and Practitioner

friday

www.namiami.com

Miami Art Museum - 1pm. Free. 2nd Sat. 101 West Flagler St. 305-375-3000.

Aerobic Dance - 1-1:55pm. CoffeMill Dance. 916 Pohalski St. 1-305-296-9982.

Tai Chi for Inner Harmony - 9:30-11am on Sugarloaf Key. Call Lydia at 1-305-745-2811.

tuesday

Toddler Playtime Stories- Ages 10 months to 2 years and their caregivers. Free. 10:30am-12:30pm. Key West Library, 700 Fleming Street, Key West. 1-305-292-3595.

Healing Yoga/Meditation – 9am. donation The Village Square, MM81 Bayside. 1-305-853-1003.

thursday

Yoga-Style* Exercise, Prenatal - South Miami Hospital. 10:45 am-12:15 p.m. and 5:30-7pm. $10. 786-662-8106.

floridakeys sunday Big Pine Key Flea Market- 8am. South of the only traffic light in town on U.S. 1. Family Swim YMCA. 2-4pm. $3 Adults, $2 Kids. FKCC swimming pool. 1-305-295-9622. Movies at The Spiritual Garden - Spiritual up lifting movies. 1st and 3rd Sun. 7pm. Good will offering is $5. Unitarian Universalist fellowship 801 Georgia St. 1-305-394-2005. Nightly Sunset Celebration - Free. Enjoy a spectacular sunset entertained by the various carnival performers and vendors. Mallory Square, Key West. 1-305-292-7700.

Free Guided Relaxation Class - 7 -8 PM at Islamorada Fitness MM 85.9 bayside. Bring a towel or exercise mat and a pillow. (Sponsored by Keys To Peace. 305-619-0534. Mothers and Babies Group - for new moms, their babies and expecting mothers. Free. 1-3 p.m. Healthy Start, Gato Bldg, 1100 Simonton St., Key West. 1-305-293-7516 or 1-305-293-7511.

Miriam Steinberg, PhD

monday

Holistic and Jungian Psychology Body/Soul & Subtle/Body Work Cardio-Sculpting Hypnotherapy Class 8:30-9:20am.

Healing Yoga/Meditation – 9am. $10 Islander Resort, MM82.1 Oceanside. 1-305-664-2031

Meditation- Free. 7pm. Unity Church, 9591 Overseas Highway, Marathon.

Salsa Dance Lessons- 7:30-9pm. Paradise Health & Fitness. 1796 N.Roosevelt Blvd. 1-305-296-6348.

Miriammiami18@gmail.com

Tai Chi – 7pm. $15. Coffee Mill Dance and Yoga Studio, 916 Pohalski St, Key West, 1-305-296-9982; 1-305-735-3519.

saturday

wednesday

Family Hour- For children of all ages. Free. 1pm. Key West Library, 700 Fleming St, Key West. 1-305292-3595.

Ancient Indian Meditation - 6:30-8:30pm. 1-305292-6958.

Story Hour - ages 5 years & up. 10:30-11:30am. Games & stories. Marathon Library, 3251 Overseas Hwy. 1-305-743-5156.

Pirate Wellness Center, MM21.4 Cudjoe Key. 1-305744-3348 Ph: 305-793-8213

friday

Stories for Children - 10:30am. Key Largo Library, 101485 US1. 1-305-451-2396. Also Thur, 10:30am, Stories for children ages 2 ½ -6.

Embrace Life

The Long Walk Home Interactive Workshops for Veterans & Family– 6 – 7:30pm – Free – Transition to Civilian Life. Open to public. 97.671 Overseas Hwy. Oceanside. 305-504-3795

P.O.Box 403374 Belly Dancing Class - $10. 7:30pm. All levels Miami Beach, FL 33140 welcome.

Key West WPA Walking Tour – Old Town Key West. 10am. $20. 1-305-296-3573.

Keep Your Fun In the Sun

Embrace Life

Lasting all Summer Long!

Miriam Steinberg, PhD EXCELLENT

Pool Service Holistic and Jungian Psychology Maintenance and Repairs Body/Soul & Subtle/Body Work Juan Rafael Sanchez 786-346-2032 Spanish Hypnotherapy

Ph: 305-793-8213 Miriammiami18@gmail.com

305-491-5775 English P.O.Box 403374 (used by Miami NA Publisher) Miami Beach, FL 33140

Embrace Life

Miriam Steinberg, PhD

Holistic and Jungian Psychology • Hypnotherapy Body/Soul & Subtle/Body Work Ph: 305-793-8213 Miriammiami18@gmail.com

P.O.Box 403374 Miami Beach, FL 33140 natural awakenings

December 2015

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email advertising3@namiami.com to request our media kit. ACUPUNCTURE

FENG SHUI CLEANING SERVICES

786-477-1641 www.fengshuicleaning.com

Using Eco-friendly products & HEPA filtration vacuums, our professionally trained staff will thoroughly rid your home of dust, dirt and contaminants until it’s sparkling clean! Call for Free Estimate.

ATTORNEYS

HUI SHAO, AP. MD(CHINA)

ANGIE ANGELIS LAW

3310 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Ste 250 www.AcupunctureInMiami.com 305-461-4046

Traditional Chinese acupuncture by doctor graduated from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We provide supportive therapies: Natural Herbs, Massage therapy, Reflexology. Auto accident, workers’ comp and some health insurance accepted.

Attorney at Law 13554 SW 47th Lane, Suite 100 Miami, FL 33175 305-598-2540, Miami Areas of Practice:

Foreclosure protection/defense, loan modifications, short sales, real estate contracts, buyer/seller representation, title closing agent, wills, probate, real estate litigation, consumer law, traffic matters, disputes, debt settlement. See ad, page 35.

OM HOLISTIC WELLNESS Caroline Faxas, AP, Dipl Ac 110 N Federal Hwy #204 Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 305-912-3262 www.305acupuncture.com

REGINA F. ZELONKER, P.A.

We offer acupuncture, cupping, herbal therapy, auriculotherapy, homeopathy and other holistic healing modalities to help you regain and maintain wellness. Needle-free services are available

Mediation and Collaborative Divorce Coral Gables & Palmetto Bay 305.235.0537 zelonkerlaw.com

When Family Matters...The divorce process does not have to destroy your children, finances, relationships, self-esteem, and future. Other areas: Prenuptial Agreements and Cooperative Divorce. Florida Supreme Court Family and Civil Mediator.

WANDA CINTRON A.P.

Acupuncture Physician 717 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Ste #325 305-445-4494

ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING SERVICES

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

Want to Feel Your best? The Benefits Of Acupuncture is the solution. Soothing, Peaceful atmosphere to help you reach your best. Some Health Plans accepted.

INESSA SOKIRIANSKAYA

305- 405-2505 - Ph. 305- 979-4408 - cell www.ColonicKeystoHealth.com

A clogged colon is a deadly colon. Unclog now with Angel of Water – before it’s too late with Certified Colon Hydrotherapist Inessa.

HALLANDALE HEALTH SPA

Alba Lucia Perez 2500 E Hallandale Beach Blvd., Suite 401, Hallandale FL 33009 954-456-1440 www.hallandalehealth.com

Colonics is a natural, safe, effective method of removing toxins and waste from your body. Improves digestion, detoxifies, and rejuvenates you. $10.00 off first visit.

HOLISTIC CENTER ZENZATIONS HOLISTIC CENTER

7520 SW 57th Ave. Suite K www.zenzations.com 305-740-7800

Heal, relax & rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit through diverse alternative therapies. Holistic Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Healing Massages, Reiki, Bach Flower Therapy, Facials, Foot Detox and more. Call today to find out about our specials. See ad, page 60.

HOLISTIC PHYSICAL THERAPY MANUAL HEALING INSTITUTE Rodrigo Ferrer PT 9655 S. Dixie Hwy #108 786-970-2676

A personalized center for optimal vitality, offering osteopathic-style manual medicine, nutritional/ health coaching,and cellular regeneration with detoxification. Live smart, feel great.

MINSU HEALING OASIS

260 Palermo Ave Ste 1 305-455-6190 www.minsuhealingoasis.com

Minsu’s Healing Oasis, a holistic physical therapy practice, dedicated to eliminating your back and neck pain. We combine Energy Medicine with traditional physical therapy and CranioSacral therapy to help you live pain free!

HOLISTIC PSYCHOLOGY COUNSELING DANIEL R. MESCH, L.M.H.C.

975 41st St., Ste 303, Miami Beach 10300 Sunset Drive, Suite 460, Miami 305-672-0588

Dr. Mesch provides psychotherapy services including hypnosis and regression therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups. Call to participate in our regression group. We provide services in Spanish, English and Hebrew. See ad, page 12.

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PATRICIA MUNHALL,EDD, PSYA, CST, CLC http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/104719

www.miamitherapy.com 305-978-9475-Miami Shores

Voted “Best of” Psychotherapists by Family, Health and Counseling Magazine and “Best” Psychotherapist by the Coral Gables Gazette. Dr. Munhall counsels individuals, couples and families using a psychodynamic approach to help you obtain your goals and resolve conflicts, anxiety, depression and other problems.

MASSAGE IRENE LOPEZ-CAMPOS

145 Madeira Ave. #101 305-444-0442 www.onthematyoganmassage.com

Experts walking on your back! Deep tissue - Shiatsu and Thai; Acupressure and stretching 1/2 hour Free when you purchase 1st hour; By Appointment. MA#29986

SIMO MASSAGE THERAPY

Adrian Simo, MSATC, LMT 305-992-6685 www.Simomassage.com

For over 20 years I’ve used Active Isolated Stretching, Myofascial Release & therapeutic massage to provide relief from stress, trauma, bad posture & sports injuries. Call to reduce or eliminate your daily struggle with pain! MA19189

MEDITATION MEDITATION AND REIKI MIAMI

LATA SONPAL, PH. D., FCHT., PA

Past Life Regression & Progression 7700 N. Kendall Dr., # 404, Miami 9999 NE 2nd Ave., # 100, Mia Shores 305-271-2772, www.DrSonpal.com

Dr. Sonpal, Licensed Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy, trained by and worked for Dr. Brian Weiss (Many Lives Many Masters) at the Weiss Institute for seven years. She provides psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, inclusive of Past Life Regression and Progression, to all age groups. See ad, page 28.

THERMOGRAPHY BREAST THERMOGRAPHY INTL. Shanna Schulze 877-315-7226, Ext 447 EarlyDetectionIsKey@gmail.com www.btiscan.com

YOGA JUST OM YOGA STUDIO

7520 SW 57th Ave, Suite K, (305) 665-4982 www.justomyogastudio.com

New & unique studio offering various yoga styles, including Therapeutic and Suspension, for all ages and experience levels. The intimate, inviting setting is combined with kind & highly qualified yoga teachers committed to your personal physical improvement and spiritual growth. FREE Parking + Mat + Towel + Tea. See ad, page 11.

SAMPOORNA YOGA MIAMI 10107 Sunset Drive (SW 72 St) 305-381-0300 www.symyoga.com

Yoga for Every One!™ Stand on your head? Or barely touch your toes? Feel at home in small classes: Yoga, meditation, mantra chanting, philosophy. AM, PM, lunchtime. Affordable rates.

Radiation Free Cancer & Inflammation Screening. Locations in south FL, west FL & SC. Injury documentation, determine origination of pain, evaluate nerve pathology, and monitor progress of current treatments.

THERAPY MARGARITA BORDA, LMHC 260 Palermo Ave # 12 305 898-6607 www.margaritaborda.com

Heal from break ups, divorce, anxiety, trauma, depression and PTSD, using traditional therapies including EMDR and Mindful Meditation. You will reduce medication and gain control over your life. Some insurance accepted. English/ Spanish. See ad, page 23.

WEST PALM BEACH Sunday

January 10

KRIYA YOGA

I Get Paid to Travel Ask me How! Español

MEDITATION TATIANA HAGGERTY

Four Ambassadors Brickell 305-878-8663 www.drunvalo.net

Change your consciousness and make this world change into a better place to be, for all. Creating from the Brain and creating from the Heart. Activate your third-eye & much more.

ROY EUGENE DAVIS

TRAVEL

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MEDITATION SEMINAR a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda

All Welcome

Get paid while you travel and see the world! As an active Certified Travel Agent I can teach you how to get paid while going on vacation. Relax, Take Some Time for Yourself and begin your dream by contacting me Today! Fulfill your bucket list of travel destinations. Ask your friends and families that travel to book through you and earn commission! The possibilities are endless. See ad, page 30.

Donation

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Embassy Suites Hotel 1601 Belvedere Road (Near the WPB Airport)

Invite Your Spiritual Friends www.csa-davis.org info@csa-davis.org

Learn the basics of meditation and reiki, center yourself and quiet your mind, Reap tremendous benefits including greater relaxation, less anxiety and maybe even a better night’s sleep. See ad, Hablamos page 45.

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natural awakenings

December 2015

A DV E RTO RI A L

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Manuka Honey is gathered in the wild back country of New Zealand from the native Manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium). The bees don’t use the pollen from a variety of other flowers or plants, so the content of the honey is very consistent. A 2013 study in the European Journal of Medical Research used Active Manuka Honey under dressings on postoperative wounds for an 85 percent success rate in clearing up infections, compared with 50 percent for normal antibiotic creams.

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