Holistic Community Professionals HCP
Our professional team of holistic and natural businesses provides community outreach and education. We are committed to improving the health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit in the communities we serve.
Certified Intuitive Life Coach
Elizabeth Raver, PhD
Evidential Psychic-Medium, Loving Hearts Connections™ Facilitator, American Association of Psychics, Red Barn in Durham. Online & in person sessions. Drlizmedium.com • Ravelizabeth516@gmail.com
203-400-9212
E nergy Medicine
Kathy Stalter, Owner, Sanaré Wellness, LLC This energy field system creates an environment for the body to recharge and restore, so it can heal itself. • Sanare.life • Kathy@Sanare.life
860-600-0106
Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Nicole Klughers, ND, PharmD, MSAc Vis Wellness Center. Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncture Provider. Rocky Hill, CT & TeleMedicine Statewide • DrNicoleKlughers.com info@DrNicoleKlughers.com • (234)2-ACU-DOC
Psychotherapist, Intuitive Reader and Healer
Carolyn Coleridge, LCSW Psychotherapist and Mindfulness Meditation, Spiritual Readings, Mentor. Helps people find Purpose & Healing. Classes on Universal Consciousness and Intuition. intuitivesoulhealing.com • Carcole9@hotmail.com
Spiritual Health Practitioner
Rev. Bradford W. Tilden, MM, CMT, UWT Starseed Support, Universal White Time, Crystal Healing, Sound Healing • Sessions and Trainings crystalmusichealing.com • linktr.ee/bradfordtilden 860-830-5841
See more holistic practitioners at: HolisticCommunityProfessionals.org
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10 TRADITIONAL WORLD HEALING WISDOM
Lost Practices Gain New Respect
14 HARNESSING THE HEALING POWER OF TRADITIONAL WORLD MEDICINE
Exploring Amazonian and Global Herbal Remedies in Western Lifestyles
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HCP
To join the HCP contact Shirley R. Bloethe at: 860-989-0033
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Natural Awakenings is a network of natural lifestyle magazine publishers empowering local communities with knowledge, resources and connections to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.
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FAIRFIELD & SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTIES
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With gratitude and respect,
Aswe embrace the vibrant colors of autumn and the crispness in the air, October brings with it a profound opportunity to reflect on our connection to the land we call home. This month, we come together to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to honor the rich heritage of Native Americans and the land they have cherished for generations.In this spirit, I invite you to explore the Native Land Digital archive at native-land.ca.
This invaluable resource offers a window into the lands that have been inhabited by Indigenous peoples across the world. It is a reminder that every step we take, every home we build and every business we operate is upon land that has a history, a culture and a story.
This month we focus on Traditional World Medicine and the rich tapestry of modalities to explore and learn more about. Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Jin Shin Jyutsu and countless other modalities find a place in our hearts and our communities throughout Connecticut. These healing practices connect us to ancient wisdom and remind us of the importance of holistic well-being.
Thank you for being a part of our collective journey of discovery, respect and appreciation for the lands we inhabit, and the traditional healing practices that unite us in our pursuit of well-being.
Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties
eNaturalAwakenings.com
203 TLC
203TLC is a community of accredited health and wellness providers offering a wide variety of services and products.
Founded in 1997 by Beth Leas, the TLC Tribe is Fairfield County’s largest holistic health resource - a vibrant and growing community of over 90 Members, committed to living consciously and offering healthy lifestyle opportunities. We offer high quality private sessions, products, workshops, classes and resources designed to help you live life well.
Career Coach/Kolbe Consultant
Thea Litsios, Certified Career Coach and Kolbe Consultant. Find the career or college major that is in alignment with your natural talents and strengths. Discover the joy of having a career that is right for you!
Thealitsios.com • 203-693-1493
Energy Transformation Coach
Lauri Ingram, The Liminal Studio
Connect with your authentic self, remove what blocks you from thriving in life & deepen your spiritual life. Ordained interfaith minister & life event officiant. Bethany, CT • Lauri@LauriIngram.com
LauriIngram.com • 203-435-5650
Salt Cave
Salt Cave of Darien
Salt therapy, massage, meditation, yoga & more! 555 Post Rd, Darien Info@SaltCaveofDarien.com SaltCaveofDarien.com
203-658-7667
Energy Healing
Gail Christie, Joyful Living Reiki Holy Fire Reiki Master. Private Reiki sessions, Reiki-infused meditations and all levels of Reiki classes. Online and in Stamford, CT and Mt Kisco, NY JoyfulLivingReiki.com
203-979-0918
Energy Healing/Meditation/Tarot
Beth Leas
25+ Years Experience
Private Sessions, Workshops, Events
In-person or by phone
bethleas.com
203-856-9566
Life Coach Lyme Disease Healing
Diane Nicosia, MBA, ibalanceLLC
Certified Coach & Reiki Master Teacher. Move forward toward your personal & business goals. In person or Zoom. NicosiaDiane@gmail.com ibalanceuthrive.com
203-858-5848
Transformation Coaching/Healing
Katie Augustyn, MA, CPC Transformation Coach, Shamanic Practitioner, Spiritual Evolution Trainer, Energy Healer, TV Host TransformationCenterCT.com
203-820-3800
Gregg Kirk, Lyme Recovery Clinic & Detox Center
Heal from chronic illness through all-natural herbal treatments, intensive detox, cleanses & energy healing.
528 Post Rd, Darien
Gregg.Kirk@gmail.com
203-858-9725
Yoga Studio & Wellness Center
Ingrid Prueher, Yoga For Everybody A serene yoga studio where you can experience yoga, meditation, and aerial classes in-person, online or by video-on-demand, plus other workshops & trainings.
85 Mill Plain Road, 3rd Fl, Ffld, CT 203-254-9642 • Yoga4Everybody.net
Info@Yoga4Everybody.net
Get to know us at TLC’s monthly networking breakfast!
Looking for a relaxed group of professionals offering a supportive community, free networking events, many affordable marketing opportunities, and FUN?
We meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Valencia Luncheria, 164 Main St, Norwalk, CT, from 8:30 -10:00a.m. Come the first time as Beth's guest - and if you find your time with us worthwhile, we invite you to become a TLC Member. Please RSVP to Beth Leas at: 203-856-9566 (call/text) or TLCBethLeas@gmail.com so she can reserve your place.
Deepen Your Connection to Crystals and Gemstones
This past June, Bradford Tilden, of Crystal Music Healing, became the third person in North America approved to teach the Level 4 Universal White Time Gemstone Healing Certification Course.
UWT Gemstone Healing is a universal education known, taught and practiced by the oldest and most advanced spiritual beings in the Universe. UWT has been developed and approved by a coalition of light masters for humanity now, to accelerate our growth and consciously ascend with Mother Earth to the 5th Dimension and the New Earth.
Start your journey of true awakening with stones by registering for the next Level 1 UWT Gemstone Healing Certification held on the weekend of October 21 to 22, at The Center for Higher Living in Berlin, Connecticut. Register by October 15, and mention this event brief to receive $125 off the cost of tuition.
Level 1 is an introduction to the philosophy. Level 2 focuses on color healing and raising the frequency of the body. Level 3 examines the evolving chakra system in response to the Earth’s rising frequency and introduces one to higher Universal Forces. Level 4 is about the cosmic human awakening to the divine within, as well as connecting with higher forms of angels, light beings, extraterrestrials and divine forces. Each Level concludes with an initiation that removes spiritual blockages acquired when incarnating at birth. Healing, activation and permanent, effective change may result.
For more information and to register, call 860-830-5841, email Info@CrystalMusicHealing. com or visit CrystalMusicHealing.com/events-trainings. See ad, page 2.
Passport to Health & Wellness Expo
The Passport to Health & Wellness Expo will be held October 15, from 10am to 4pm, at The Bristol DoubleTree by Hilton. The benefit holistic fair, presented by the Holistic Community Professionals, will feature speakers on the halfhour, over 75 vendors and readers, free raffles all day, and a grand prize of a Hilton overnight stay with breakfast for two, as well as a free sound healing event from 4-5pm.
Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with vendors and exhibitors as they learn about available resources to help promote healthy living and overall well-being. Visitors will have the chance to gain inspiration by visiting the booths and participating in the scheduled events.
The Passport to Health & Wellness Expo, co-sponsored by the Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties and New Haven & Middlesex Counties editions of Natural Awakenings, is a free event to the public with advance tickets available on EventBrite at Tinyurl.com/ PTHW101523. All door proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Health Defense New England Chapter.
For more information, call Shirley Bloethe at 860-989-0033, email YourHolisticEvents@ gmail.com or visit YourHolisticEvents.com. Location: The Bristol DoubleTree by Hilton, 42 Century Dr, Bristol, CT. See ad, page 19.
New Free E-Book Features Simple Tips to Ease Pain
Tokick off Pain Awareness Month, holistic health coach Deborah Charnes is offering free downloads of her best-selling book September 2 and 3 on Amazon. From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram: Wisdom for Mind, Body and Spirit highlights enjoyable, accessible, inexpensive and effective drug-free practices to minimize both physical and emotional pain.
For example, she speaks about no matter what, keep smiling. It increases neuropeptides, dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. Sing every day to stimulate the feel-good hormones. Also, just laugh as even simulated laughter releases natural morphine-like opiates.
“I think this book will help every reader change his or her life,” says the founder of The Ayurvedic Institute, Dr. Vasant Lad.
Unfortunately, one in five adults in America deals with chronic pain. The widespread condition is responsible for hefty health care expenses, job-related disability and negatively affects the emotional well-being of the sufferers. While the CDC discourages addictive drugs for treating pain, synthetic opioids were responsible for 100,000 deaths in 2022. Drawing on a network of mentors and gurus from around the world, Charnes distills life lessons they taught her into a collection that addresses chronic pain. This practical and adaptable guide can help you navigate some of your toughest battles in life.
For more information, visit DeborahCharnes.com/Book. Download the book at a.co/d/1jyEYdu.
Free Livestream Advanced Screening of Major Alzheimer’s Film
KnoWEwell and Natural Awakenings magazine will host a free, advanced screening of Memories for Life: Reversing Alzheimer’s, a documentary-style film that follows the journeys of six Alzheimer’s patients that refuse to accept their prognosis and are instead turning to a new, clinically proven method to help reverse the hands of time and retain their memories. This innovative approach, called the ReCODE (Reverse Cognitive Decline) Protocol, was invented by top neurologist Dr. Dale Bredesen. Narrated by Grammy Award-winner Michael Bublé and directed by Hideyuki Tokigawa, the film will be live-streamed on KnoWEwell’s Regenerative Whole Health Hub at 8pm ET (5pm PT), on October 14. As an added bonus, Bredesen, New York Times’ bestselling author of The End of Alzheimer’s, will participate in a live, post-screening Q&A session.
This is a rare opportunity to view the film at no charge prior to its formal release and to interact with the creator of this exciting new Alzheimer’s protocol.
For more information or to register, visit Tinyurl.com/Film-Screening158-9. See ad, page 17.
Age-Reversing and Regeneration Retreat in Mexico
An advanced age-reversing healing and quantum regeneration retreat with pioneering doctor in psychology and holistic health Aurora Juliana Ariel, Ph.D., a leader among a team of experts in cuttingedge stem cell therapies, will take place from January 17 to 23, 2024, in Cancun, Mexico. Highlights will include a blend of advanced anti-aging stem cell therapy protocols along with spiritual psychology technology, age-reversing subconscious re-coding, Master Divine healers and more, all geared to restore youthful health and beauty from the inside out.
Participants will experience the Total Regeneration Training and Healing protocols each day plus a partial day of stem cell therapy IV and treatments of their choice, all at an outstanding, world-class clinic. Healing circles will address the inner causes of aging, distress and disease that can cause the body to degenerate.
The basic retreat cost of $4,444 includes staying in a luxurious oceanfront resort room, healing circles and trainings with Dr. Ariel and a free consultation with a top U.S. doctor in stem cell therapy to design an individual plan at additional costs for optional stem cell therapy packages, along with free transportation to and from the nearby clinic. For more information or to register, call 239-207-2775 or visit gem.godaddy.com/s/2b50b61.
“Highly recommended! The atmosphere was lovely. This is the place to go if you are skeptical or have any reservations about Laser for your skin! Your skin will love you for it.” Michelle
Awaken Wellness Fair
Awaken to Your Best Self
The Awaken Wellness Fair, the longrunning body, mind and spirit expo, features expert speakers, unique vendors, gifted healers and intuitive readers, in Tarrytown, at the Westchester Marriott on November 5, from 10am to 5pm. Attendees will learn about both ancient and state-of-the-art modalities involving wellness, personal development and spiritual exploration. Exhibitor spots are still available for vendors and businesses wishing to present wellness goods and services to the public before the holiday rush.
“We create a very special event—kind, expansive, supportive, compassionate and fun—it's really a party!” shares Paula Caracappa, founder and CEO of the wellness event. “We bring you the best exhibitors, healers, vendors, readers and speakers fostering a message of holistic wellness for you.”
The lineup of vendors includes LifeWave, presenting wearable stem cell activation patch technology; Two Eagles Crystals, with handpicked crystals and minerals; and oHHo, offering full-spectrum CBD products.
The keynote speaker will be Maria Marshall, who will be giving a talk titled “Creating Conscious Community to Support Global Change” at 1:15pm. Other talks include “Best Kept Secret in Healthcare” with Dr. George Gertner and “Healing the Body with the Mind: Mindset Work to Heal Body Image” with Alana Van Der Sluys.
The day will be rounded out with intuitive readers and energy healers, whose sessions are available at a discounted rate up to the day before the event.
Cost: $20 online, $25 at the door. $30 VIP tickets are available online only and include access to early entry. Location: The Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, NY. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AwakenFair.com. To book sessions, visit AwakenFair.FullSlate.com.
TRADITIONAL WORLD HEALING WISDOM
LOST PRACTICES GAIN NEW RESPECT
by Carrie JacksonWith time-tested wisdom and natural roots, traditional and Indigenous medicine has been an integral resource for centuries in communities around the world. According to the World Health Organization, 88 percent of all countries are estimated to use traditional medicine, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and shamanism. The contribution of these practices is increasingly being recognized by Western medicine, especially in collaboration with integrative, holistic and regenerative medicine. The pandemic prompted renewed interest in traditional treatments, and incorporating them into wellness and healing modalities is easier and more valuable than ever.
Herbalism
Herbalist and spiritual coach Lucretia VanDyke integrates rituals, plant-spirit meditation, holistic food and ancestor reverence into her practice. An expert on Southern folk healing, VanDyke notes in her book, African American Herbalism, that Indigenous practices were never lost, but people had to go underground for fear of persecution.
“Herbal and sacred ceremonial practices of enslaved people of African descent were highly regulated or banned by the United States government in an effort to control the people most affected by colonization,” she explains. “In the mid-18th century, Virginia and South Carolina made it a capital offense to practice herbalism, resulting in harsh punishment or even execution if found guilty. Additionally, in 1883, the U.S.
Department of Interior came up with the Code of Indian Offenses, which implemented laws that applied only to Native people until 1978. They were punished for dances and feasts by imprisonment or withholding food rations for up to 30 days.”
Noting a resurgence of these once-forbidden practices, VanDyke adds, “Today, I see people trying to branch out on their spiritual journey and seeking sources outside their Christian upbringing to answer questions within themselves with practices like herbalism and African traditional religion coming more into the mainstream.”
Linda M. Conroy, MSS, MLSP, is an educator, herbalist and community organizer who dedicates her life to connecting with the green world. She is the founder of two annual gatherings: the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference and the Mycelium Mysteries Women’s Mushroom Conference. She also provides herbal education, workshops and individual consultations through her Wisconsin-based business, Moonwise Herbs.
“Herbalism is a practice where people connect and work with plants for healing and nourishment,” she says. “Plants, herbs and mushrooms have been around long before we have and provide an innate connection to the earth. Everyone has ancestors that grew and foraged for their own food, and we remember that in our being. It’s a different experience from buying a plant or pill from the store shelf.”
Misconceptions about herbalism are common in America, Conroy asserts. “In other countries such as Cuba, Germany and China, conventionally trained physicians still learn about more than 50 herbs in their training, but the United States all but abandoned herbalism after the development of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals,” she explains. “The pandemic has helped spawn a resurgence of interest, with people increasingly disappointed by Western medicine and turning to herbs for respiratory support, stress management and other conditions.”
Conroy stresses that working with herbs is both an art and a science. Learning their unique properties is key. “In order to be truly effective, it’s imperative that people know how to properly choose and use the correct herb for each situation. This includes being mindful of the dosage, method of delivery and sourcing. Herbs are much safer than most things out there, and with the right assessment skills, they can be truly transformative,” she says. Another recommendation is to establish a wellness routine that incorporates herbs as maintenance to remind the body of their
healing value. “Herbs are not drugs but can work in synergy with them. Many common ingredients can be used every day, such as a stinging nettle infusion to nourish the kidneys and lungs, and oats to fortify the nervous system,” Conroy says. “Acquiring our herbs and foods from local sources also strengthens our connection to the plants. Most things we need, such as garlic, cabbage, eggs and raw honey, we can find in our own garden, from neighbors or at a farmers market.”
Energy Healing
Billie Topa Tate’, a member of the Mescalero Apache tribe, is founder of MSI Wellness, in Evanston, Illinois, and author of the upcoming book, Spirit Guide Invocations: Seeking Wisdom from Sacred Helpers. Dedicated to creating a sacred space one person at a time through her Indigenous teachings, she is a mentor, teacher and healer. Her work has been shared by several universities and publications.
Although Indigenous healing practices do not have scientific studies to support their efficacy, they do have the observational and traditional support of her people, Topa Tate’ says. “The Apache learned medicinal properties from the plants and honored the position of being stewards of the land,” she asserts. “We learned from our virtuous elders that plants provide us with medicine and food, as well as spiritual qualities, such as smudging, essential oils and incense, which help to cleanse the body, mind and spirit.”
According to Topa Tate’, a shamanic journey is a visit to the energy world and can lead someone to insightful wisdom regarding their life’s purpose. “The spirit world provides a release of the thoughts that limit us and brings us into a realm where we can be guided by higher thought,” she explains. “Visiting the spirit world with proper guidance allows us to access the worlds of healing, wisdom, angels, the past, the future and even the symbolic energies of our present lives through our mind. Another way to find this release is to understand that words are energy carriers and can provide our mind, body and spirit with a source of enlightenment. We do this through our drumming songs and ceremonies, but also by becoming more aware and harnessing the power of words as medicine in everyday actions.”
Energy work can help us reconnect with that part of ourselves that facilitates healing, says Topa Tate’. “I recommend beginning the day with a five-minute morning ceremony that gives thanks to the creator for a beautiful day and invokes our helpers to offer assistance with particular projects. As a healer, it is important to teach people how to manage their stress with more productive
platforms, such as meditation, nature walks and seeking out their life’s purpose. There is a misconception that only Native people can do this energy work, but we are all one family and can learn how to integrate the natural wellness that the Native people have used for centuries,” she explains.
ping is beneficial for relieving stress and muscle soreness. Tui-na, a form of therapeutic massage, is used for musculoskeletal disorders, digestive issues, pain and more. Gua sha helps manage stress and alleviate muscle tension and pain. Moxibustion can boost energy, improve digestion and address cold-related ailments. Qigong and tai chi are gentle, mind-body exercises that reduce stress and promote relaxation and overall mental well-being. Chemical therapy includes herbal medicine and dietary therapy to emphasize the connection between food and health,” he says.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the philosophy, experiments and experiences indigenous to Chinese culture. It has been practiced for more than 2,500 years and is used for health maintenance as well as the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental illness. According to Dr. Heming Zhu, NCCAOM, a board-certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, author, educator, scientist and founder of Harmony Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, in Maryland, the basis of TCM lies in the belief that the human body is a holistic system deeply connected to the universe.
“TCM is influenced by the flow of vital energy called qi. To restore the balance of qi and gain the harmony of life’s paired aspects known as yin and yang, TCM practitioners use various techniques, including acupuncture, moxibustion [burning herbs at acupressure points], herbal medicine, massage, qigong and dietary therapy,” Zhu explains.
Zhu says that TCM modalities fit into either a physical therapy or chemical therapy category and can be introduced for regular maintenance. “Acupuncture is commonly used for addressing fatigue, stress, pain, gastrointestinal issues, arthritis and improving overall well-being. Cup-
TCM can be incorporated into an established wellness routine, and Zhu offers a few guidelines to ensure the best results. “People should seek education on the basic principles of TCM and be intentional not to judge it by Western medicine standards. They should find a licensed and experienced TCM practitioner and keep an open mind in initial consultations. Simple TCM practices, such as mindful breathing, gentle stretching or drinking herbal teas, can be incorporated into a daily wellness routine, and lifestyle changes, such as sleep routines and stress management, are part of the healing process,” Zhu says.
Emotional Healing
“There are multiple factors to illness, but often our emotions and trauma, either intergenerational or personal, are at the
core,” VanDyke says. “Creating ceremonies based on the old ways gives you the strength to show up for yourself and makes it a little easier to move through the experience. Grief is a multilayer process, and it takes a holistic approach to co-create a path to a new normal. Our emotions are like invisible chains that bind us in a trauma loop, and having support for that is important. Nurturing the spirit is one thing that Western medicine does not talk about. I find that laughter, joy, pleasure and feeding the child-like spirit in us helps with this when life gets heavy. Ask yourself how you prioritize joy, and create your own rituals that center traditions while honoring your true self.”
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Harnessing the Healing Power of Traditional World Medicine
EXPLORING AMAZONIAN AND GLOBAL HERBAL REMEDIES IN WESTERN LIFESTYLES
by Jessica Scofield ChichesterIn our fast-paced world, advanced medical innovations sometimes overshadow the ageold wisdom shared by cultures globally. Traditional medicines, drawing from plants and herbs, have long been health keystones in many societies. Join us as we dive deep into herbal medicine, highlighting Amazonian treasures and their place in Western lifestyles. Across the globe, different cultures champion their unique herbal remedies. From Ayurveda in India, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Native American herbal practices, to remedies of Amazonian tribes, each culture’s philosophy stems from nature’s healing power and generations of wisdom.
Ayurveda: The Science of Life
Originating over 5,000 years ago in India, Ayurveda focuses on the balance of mind, body and spirit. Central to its practices are herbs like turmeric, neem and ashwagandha. By welcoming Ayurveda, you could be adding these herbs to your meals, taking supplements, or using skincare products infused with their goodness. Known as adaptogens, these can assist with stress, inflammation and infections, and even enhance hair and skin health.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
More than 2,500 years old, TCM centers on balancing the body’s “qi” or energy. Key herbs include ginseng, ginger and astragalus, which are perfect for cooking or crafting herbal teas. These herbs support digestion, serotonin and dopamine production, immunity, and even help regulate blood sugar.
Native American Herbalism
Native American remedies highlight the deep bond between humans and nature. They utilize plants like sage, cedar and sweetgrass, often in smudging ceremonies, to foster healing and spiritual growth. When dried and burned as smudge, these herbs are said to purify, promote healing and grant wisdom and protection.
Amazonian Tribal Remedies
The Amazon, with its diverse tribes, is a treasure trove of medicinal plants. Noteworthy remedies include Una de gato (cat’s claw), sangre de grado (dragon’s blood) and ayahuasca, along with its cactus counterpart, Huachuma. Recognized for their effectiveness, these remedies tackle a variety of health concerns, both physical and spiritual. Amazonian herbs are believed to offer benefits like joint health, immunity boosts and even help with trauma, addictions and PTSD.
How to Integrate Traditional Herbal Medicine into Western Living
Understanding this global array of herbal solutions, here is how you can make them a part of your daily Western routine.
• Herbal Supplements. Taking supplements is a direct way to introduce traditional herbs into your regimen. It’s essential to choose reputable brands, be it for turmeric pills or sangre de grado extracts. For potent medicines like Ayahuasca and Huachuma, it is advisable to seek experienced practitioners, as they require careful handling and expertise.
•Herbal Teas. Herbal teas are a delightful gateway to the herbal world. Whether you’re sipping on calming chamomile or enjoying the digestive benefits of peppermint, there is a blend for everyone.
• Culinary Adventures. Infuse your meals with a touch of global flair. Introduce herbs from world cuisines, like Thai lemongrass or spices from the Amazon, to elevate both taste and health. Try something new and cook beyond the scope of recipes. Adding coconut milk to dishes can strengthen the taste and savory sweetness of the verbs you’re using.
• Aromatherapy. Experience the wide-ranging benefits of essential oils, from the calming properties of lavender to eucalyptus’s respiratory aids. Diffuse them or apply topically for best results. Always verify the origin of the essential oil you’re considering. Due to a lack of strict regulations, an oil labeled as “organic” may only contain 5 percent organic ingredients. Investigate your supplier thoroughly. If you find a trustworthy source, you might be able to use the oil both internally and externally for diverse therapeutic advantages. Keep in mind that essential oils are highly concentrated; one brand, for instance, uses 50,000 rose buds just to produce 5mL of oil. Never overlook the potency of essential oils.
• Mindfulness and Meditation. Traditional practices from Buddhism or yoga can be integrated for mental serenity and clarity. Incorporating these into your daily practice can help soothe the mind and elevate your frequency.
• Gardening. Growing and caring for medicinal herbs allows you to directly connect with nature’s healing properties. Herbs such as basil and rosemary are versatile, catering to both the kitchen and medicine cabinet. Engaging in gardening and feeling the earth’s energy can bring about a feeling of tranquility and a deeper connection to the world around us.
Blending time-tested herbal wisdom from the heart of the Amazon to the vast landscapes of Asia with our Western lives opens doors to nature’s innate healing abilities. Through supplements, teas or meditation, there’s a plethora of paths to a more holistic health approach. By uniting the modern with the ancient, we not only strike a balanced life but also honor the enduring wisdom of those who came before us and the knowledge of how to heal ourselves.
Rev. Dr. Jessica Scofield Chichester, renowned in health and spiritual sciences for 25+ years, a Hall of Fame athlete and Kundalini coach, co-founds Haute Healing Oasis. Her expertise shines in leading life-changing plant medicine retreats with indigenous healers and doctors, guiding profound healing and self-discovery in South America. Connect at 203-595-5304, Info@HauteHealingOasis.com and HauteHealingOasis.com.
JIN SHIN JYUTSU Like Chinese Acupuncture, Without the Needles
by Julianne Roshan DowAre you in pain and need help? Are you living with an illness that is not being resolved and you need support? Are you looking for a drug-free, non-invasive approach to wellness? Do your emotions feel out-of-control? Do you want to be empowered to help you heal yourself? Do you just want to maintain your health in general?
Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ) translates as “the art of the creator through compassionate man”. It is an ancient Japanese healing art that is thousands of years old and was passed down from generation to generation for healing and harmonizing the life force energy in the body.
The Kojiki (AD 712), an ancient cultural text, has references to the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. JSJ fell into obscurity overtime and was re-discovered in the early 1900s by Jiro Murai, a research scientist who had access to the Imperial Palace Library to research these ancient texts. Murai lived a life of excess, and eventually became deathly ill. He retreated to his family’s cabin in the mountains for isolation and to die. After many days of JSJ self-help mudras, Murai miraculously healed himself. In turn, he decided to dedicate his life to the study and resurgence of JSJ for the world. He established a school and treated people with illnesses.
Mary Burmeister, a Japanese American residing in Japan, fell ill, and Murai offered her JSJ treatments. After a month of weekly treatments, Burmeister was able to return to full health. In turn, she decided to dedicate her life to the learning and teaching of Jin Shin Jyutsu. She eventually returned to America and asked for Murai’s permission to bring this healing art to the west. She held classes and gave treatments in the U.S. starting in the 1950s until the end of her life. There are currently 17 international JSJ teachers and many more practitioners throughout the world.
“The truth is that within each one of us lies the power to cast all misery aside and to know complete peace and oneness—to be that beautiful creation of the perfect harmony— to truly know (help) myself,” Burmeister once said.
Physio-Philosophy and Methodology
Jin Shin Jyutsu is a physio-philosophy integrating spirituality and the esotericism of
astrology, numerology, music tones, color, ancient wisdom, elements, attitudes, age, seasons, tastes, smells, minerals, metals, day of the week, direction, planets and cervical vertebrae—all in relation to the body and its qualities. From this physio-philosophical foundation, the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu was born, and the essence of which is simply being the channel though which the infinite aesthetic powers of the Creator flow. Jin Shin Jyutsu is also known as: the Art of Happiness, the Art of Longevity and the Art of Benevolence.
Like Chinese acupuncture, where needles are placed along energetic pathways to release blockages and support balance in the body, JSJ has the same effect, but using only the hands. We can place our hands on ourselves, or on another person, in a variety of different hand placements in response to an individual body’s medical and emotional needs. It is used privately by certified practitioners to help clients with health challenges and dis-ease, including hospital settings and cancer centers for relieving symptoms of anxiety, pain and nausea.
Like Chinese acupuncture, JSJ goes to the cause of the disharmony, rather than just the symptoms. A JSJ practitioner uses several different diagnostic tools to determine a patient’s need in the present moment. The patient’s medical history can help give some foundational information, as well as body reading, pulse listening and how the patient expresses their needs. All these factors determine the course of treatment toward harmonization during a session.
As a patient, you receive the treatment lying on a cushioned table, fully clothed (removing belts, jewelry and shoes), lying face up. The practitioner would assess the treatment protocol and place their hands on various areas on the back and front of the body. These specific hand-placement areas are called Safety Energy Locks (SEL), which are areas of energetic vortexes spiraling through the different depths of the body that move freely when the body is in a
“Pains are effects. Use them as guides to the cause.”
~ Mary Burmeister
harmonious and healthy state.
There are 26 SELs found on each side of the body and down the middle, and these SELs are known as a “precious toolbox”. When the SELs are blocked or congested due to an injury, illness, toxins, genetic condition, change in weather or extreme emotion, they lock up and we experience the pain and discomfort of being imbalanced.
These SELs act as a safety valve to communicate where the body needs attention and needs harmonization. The harmonization of the life force energy in the body is done by placing the hands on two SELs at a time to “jumper cable” the energetic pathway and free up the blockage or congestion felt. The relief and healing effect can be immediate or take place over time. Most people fall asleep during the session.
Self-Help
After a treatment, a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner will also educate and empower the patient to care for themselves. The patient is encouraged to treat themselves with Self-Help frequently over time for it to have an effect. It is cumulative.
An example of a Self-Help practice for overall arthritis throughout the body is placing the left-hand fingertips into the crook of the inner right elbow, while bending the elbow to place the right-hand fingertips over the right shoulder. Drop the shoulders, relax the breath and the body. Breathe fully. Hang out here for two or three minutes or longer until you feel a swirling, pulsating or effervescent sensation under both fingertips equally. This is the life force energy in the body harmonizing toward health. Do these hand-placements as often as you think about it. It does not matter which side of the body, or where you are. It can be done while sitting, standing or lying down. It can be done while meditating, watching Netflix or waiting for a bus.
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Jin Shin Jyutsu may help the following projects: anxiety, depression, panic attacks, deep grief, emotional regulation, pain relief, insomnia, skin conditions, migraines, mobility, concussion, nausea, healing from injury, tinnitus and seasonal issues. It could also help critical medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes, as well as conditions involving the heart, digestive, urinary, kidney, respiratory, endocrine and circulatory systems. Jin Shin Jyutsu is used for both people and animal health.
Julianne Roshan Dow is the Founder and Director of the Dow Integrative Institute, located in Riverdale, NY and Kent, CT. She is a certified Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, Self-Help teacher and a yoga teacher who integrates several different healing modalities to help others with their emotional and medical needs. She has worked as a private practitioner and in a hospital setting for the past 20 years. Her area of specialty is women’s health and fertility, emotional wellbeing and animal health, and she welcomes long-COVID patients. Connect at JulianneDow.com.
“Turn all problems into projects.”
~ Mary BurmeisterA DOCUMENTARY FILM BY HIDEYUKI TOKIGAWA
Four Reasons to Combine Alternative Health with Traditional Medicine
by Carolyn Coleridge, LCSWTraditional Medicine (TM) is an effective and efficient way to help heal people of ills, ailments, cuts and accidents. TM can manage and treat severe physical trauma. It is here to stay. However, just like everyone does not like the same food, not everyone can take the same medication or tolerate the same treatments. Alternative health provides another way for people from vast different backgrounds to get the healing they need. We now live in a global world. Cultures, traditions and people are intermixing now and some treatments may feel foreign to people who grew up in different environments. The following are four reasons why alternative health is needed in traditional medicine.
1Embracing our uniqueness:
Different people heal in different ways. We have a multiethnic and cultural world and communities. People’s different history, trauma and genetics affect what can work for them. Traditional methods of healing were originally very linear, working with just the physical body system. But people from other cultures have worked with the whole body and soul for centuries for fullbody healing.
For example, acupuncture, reiki and qigong help people to resonate with their ancestral, physical and historical trauma. Many people are coming into this lifetime to heal ancestral pain. This is stored in the cellular, physical and energetic body. Traditional medicine won’t always heal the genetic preprograms. The book The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton, PhD, discusses how beliefs affect health. Since acupuncture heals the inflammation in the meridians in the soul body, there is more of a chance it will help clients’ cellular memories. The movement of qigong will also heal, and the energy of reiki can heal the soul body of an individual.
2Calming
the mind: Mindfulness meditation is a great method to calm the mind. Anxiety and depression are feelings that are buried from the past and fear of the future. Mindfulness helps people to learn to stay in the present moment. If you are ruminating about the past, you can become depressed. If you have chronic fear of the future, you can become anxious. These belief systems program your mind to draw in those traumas and pains from those past frequencies.
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Meditation can begin to erase those horrible memories and those future fears. Meditation also helps with releasing physical tension in the body—lowering blood pressure and learning how not to catastrophize your life. It can help you download your soul memories to start to help you move forward and learn your purpose in life. Meditation is a wonderful tool to unplug from life and to get out of the fantasy worlds of social media that programs people to create a non-substantive reality.
3Treating deep soul issues:
Psychotherapy is the traditional treatment of mental health. It can be helpful to those who have emotional traumas and pain. Some souls on the planet have multilevel soul issues. Some heartache can be from past life memories that may come as gender and/or cultural issues, deep traumas from challenges that do not fit into any simple diagnosable category.
Plant medicine may help to ease soul traumas. Some people may be drawn to limpias and smudging with sage to clear their energetic fields and help recalibrate their spirit. Shamanism, which is found in many indigenous cultures, helps to go to the core of an emotional trauma and work with their shadow self—not just what is presented this lifetime. Every generation brings more awareness of their soul essence. Dancing and singing with a call and response has a long history of healing within Black culture. Soul healing is thought of daily. The planet is evolving and so are the people who are incarnating here. Many alternative methods target these transitions.
4Nature as a healer: It has been documented that people who spend time in nature do better in life. There is the term forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. The term emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a physiological and psychological method of spending time in the woods. The elements of nature help balance us. It helps with lowering stress, blood pressure and anxiety and depression. Two hours of nature sounds a day help to activate 650 DNA segments in our body that are wired for healing.
Our body can naturally heal by communing with nature, using essential oils and breathing healthy air. Nature, along with traditional mental health, is quite impressive as a collaborative method of well-being.
Traditional Medicine is a staple in the world for medical treatment because it is traditional. But now during the Aquarian age, we are creating and merging different ways to heal. We need to merge things together and create new paradigms of treatment. We can go to an MD, then get an acupuncturist treatment and spend time in nature. Eating whole, natural foods without all of the preservatives in so many foods can also assist.
Collaboration and cooperation will be the new paradigm for healing as mandatory treatment—and not just alternative.
Carolyn Coleridge, LCSW is a psychotherapist, intuitive and healer. She has a meditation and healing center, Conscious Creations, in Bloomfield. Connect at 323782-9085 (text), IntuitiveSoulHealing.com or @Conscious_CreationsCT on Instagram. See ad, page 2.
The Modern Macrobiotic Diet
MORE THAN TOFU AND SEAWEED
by Veronica HinkeAre we comfortable or uncomfortable? In Chinese medicine, we are either in a state of ease or dis-ease, which became the word disease, but in Chinese medicine, it really means uncomfortable. What do you do to get back into that state of ease, or balance? That’s really what macrobiotics is about; how do you rebalance the body—the organs—to be comfortable?”
tered and warm. The risotto is cooked really long, so there’s a lot of warming energy that will help you in cold weather.”
“There has to be a period when the body transitions from the heat of summer into the cool of the fall,” says Chicago area-based macrobiotic counselor Karla Walter. “That’s when we have those beautiful orange foods starting to come out, and the squashes start arriving. We have this really lovely, sweet time of the year that actually nourishes the body and helps the immune system ramp up and get ready for colder weather.”
Walter recommends the macrobiotic diet for finding calmness and rhythm. “When we eat healthy foods that sustain us, our goals come to the surface where we can see them a lot clearer. People don’t know their potential until they start to feel good about themselves,” she says.
So much has evolved in the 100 years since Japanese educator George Ohsawa created the macrobiotic diet. For one thing, the recipes have become more flexible, empowering people to save time and use ingredients that they love.
“The modern macrobiotic diet is about much more than tofu, seaweed and miso,” says chef and author Christina Pirello, the Emmy Award-winning host of Christina Cooks, on PBS. “It’s about seasonal, whole, unprocessed food cooked in accordance with each person’s condition and lifestyle.”
“In the beginning, there was rigidity that didn’t give you the freedom to say, ‘I don’t want to eat adzuki beans again,’” Pirello says. “Variety is key. You can’t just eat kale and drink smoothies and hope for the best. You have to get balanced nutrition with enough protein, fats and carbohydrates.”
According to Pirello, “What we eat determines how we move through the world.
Eating in accordance with the natural order—with the seasons—is an essential concept of the macrobiotic diet and includes fall, winter, spring, summer and a fifth season, “late harvest.” The idea is to follow our intuition, Pirello advises: “If you walk into the supermarket in November, you’re not immediately attracted to cherry tomatoes and strawberries, but the winter squashes, pumpkins and parsnips call your name. Macrobiotics allows us to understand that—even here in the United States where foods are so widely available that you can have strawberries at Christmas.”
Her recipe for Winter Squash Risotto, which is featured in her new cookbook, VegEdibles, is just one example of the delicious macrobiotic dishes she has developed. “This risotto is perfect for cooler weather, when we need to keep energy in our middle organs so we are warm and cozy, centered and balanced,” Pirello says. “Come winter and fall, we want foods that are going to help the body hold onto heat. Squash, pumpkin, turnips and rutabaga are going to help relax the body and the middle organs and help us keep grounded, cen-
Lisa Books-Williams, a plant-based chef, educator and therapist in the San Francisco area, encourages people to find their own plant-based path. “I found my answer at the end of a fork, instead of in a bottle of pills,” she says. “The most loving thing I ever did for myself started with changing my food choices. Sure, it would be more delicious to be eating a pizza, but eating a salad with beans and rice is how I love myself.”
Books-Williams believes that taking the extra time that is required to follow a plantbased lifestyle is worthwhile. “We can eat well inexpensively if we are willing to take an extra couple of hours each week to chop vegetables. We are worth the time it takes to batch-cook and freeze beans in single servings so we have them when we need them. Each of us has to be committed to our own well-being. No one is going to do it for us.”
While much has changed since Ohsawa introduced the macrobiotic diet, Pirello still adheres to its three core ingredients. “I still eat rice, seaweed and miso soup,” she says. “Not as much as I used to, but I still do, because miso is the greatest probiotic on the planet, followed by kimchi. Those are the greatest macrobiotics we could ever eat in our lives, and both are delicious.”
Veronica Hinke is a food historian and the author of The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining and Style and Titanic: The Official Cookbook. Learn more at FoodStringer.com.
BEETROOT AND ORANGE MISO SOUP
YIELD: 4-6 SERVINGS
4 medium beets, washed and with stems trimmed to about 1 inch
2 tsp ginger, finely chopped
2 Tbsp green onions, finely chopped
2 cups water or vegetable stock
1¼ cup orange juice
2 Tbsp raspberry vinegar
1 Tbsp barley (mugi) miso
½ cup chopped chives or green onions
Place the beetroot in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain the beets.
Next, run the beets under cold water and peel them. The skin and stalks should fall off easily. Chop the beets into ½-inch cubes.
Reserve ⅓ cup chopped beets and set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the remaining beets, ginger, green onions, water or vegetable stock plus one extra cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in orange juice.
Purée soup in small batches in a blender until smooth.
Remove a small portion of the soup into a bowl and dissolve the miso. Add miso back into the soup and stir through. Add the vinegar and stir through.
Garnish with the chives or green onions.
Recipe courtesy of Karla Walter.
DELICIOUS, EASY THREE-BEAN CHILI
YIELD: 8 SERVINGS
FOR CHILI
3½ cups fresh tomatoes, diced
1 15-oz can tomato sauce
1 15-oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups cooked pinto beans)
1 15-oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups cooked kidney beans)
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed (or 2 cups cooked black beans)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
½ small red onion, finely diced
½ small yellow onion, finely diced
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, finely diced
1 zucchini, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
2½ Tbsp chili powder
1¼ tsp cumin
⅛ tsp cayenne powder
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 can diced green chilies (optional)
1 cup fresh or frozen white corn
FOR CASHEW SOUR CREAM
1 cup cashews, soaked for 2 hours
½ cup pure water
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Place all of the ingredients, except corn, in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook until the chili begins to boil. Note: For a meatier consistency, before placing them in the pot, place all of the veggies (except corn, tomatoes and green chilies) in a food processor fitted with an “S” blade, and pulse-chop until the ingredients become confetti size, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the corn, cover and simmer an additional 5 minutes.
Serve over brown rice with the cashew sour cream.
To make the cashew sour cream, use a blender to combine all of the ingredients together, pulsing until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Seal and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Recipe courtesy of Lisa Books-Williams.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
SUPPORTING PETS WITH ANCIENT HEALING WISDOM
by Kiki PowersFor years, we have seen a growing appreciation in contemporary culture for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the complementary role it can play within Western medicine. Based upon thousands of years of observation, this natural healing approach can be valuable not just for humans, but also for animal companions.
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) includes the use of food therapy, acupuncture, Chinese herbs and tui-na massage to maintain health and treat disease. Some pets with chronic arthritic pain, inflammatory bowel disease, nerve damage, epilepsy, cancer and other long-term ailments may not respond well to conventional treatments, or the side effects of Western medicine may cause even more problems. That is when TCVM can intercede to provide relief.
There are a few basic principles governing TCVM. Qi is the life force that flows freely when a pet is healthy and may be blocked or weak when a pet becomes ill. Yin-and-yang refers to the interplay between natural dualities—such as light and dark or hot and cold—and the need to maintain a balance between these opposing properties. There are five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—which also need to be in balance for optimal health. During an examination, a TCM vet will determine what is out of balance and develop a customized treatment plan.
Food Therapy
Dr. Ruth Roberts, an integrative veterinarian and pet health coach, applies TCM principles when designing a whole-foods diet to optimize pet well-being and support healthy longevity. “Under TCM principles, foods have warming, cooling or neutral properties when they interact with a pet’s natural energy, and the goal is to find a balance,” she explains. “Many pet ailments may stem from or be related to imbalances within the body, as well as environmental factors, all of which underscore the need for the proper nutritional balance.”
According to Roberts, in a hot climate, a pet might need cooling foods, such as turkey, fish, banana, celery, kelp, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber and melon. In colder temperatures, warming foods such as mutton, deer, chicken, ginger, squash and pumpkin are advisable. When designing a balancing diet, neutral foods may be needed, including pork, bison, salmon, tuna, carrots, green beans, peas, olive oil and shiitake mushrooms.
Acupuncture
Veterinary acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular to relieve pain or treat ailments, including allergies, seizures, reproductive problems and liver and kidney disease. The procedure involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific points on the body, thereby stimulating nerve endings, which then conduct impulses to the brain and spinal cord. It is best to consult an experienced, licensed acupuncturist or TCVM specialist that specifically treats pets.
In a 2017 study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, researchers found, “Acupuncture alone or in combination with
analgesics reduced pain and improved quality of life in dogs with neurological and musculoskeletal diseases. Dogs with musculoskeletal disorders had a better improvement in chronic pain and locomotion than those with neurological disorders.”
Chinese Herbs
TCVM uses a number of herbs, roots, mushrooms, bark and other plant-based ingredients to help pets with immune dysfunction, gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions, liver and kidney disease and other long-term, chronic conditions. When it comes to more serious pet health issues, such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), Roberts suggests the strategic use of full-spectrum hemp extract (CBD), cannabis oil (THC) and medicinal mushrooms. Dosages will differ for each individual pet. It is best to consult an integrative veterinarian or pet nutritionist.
“In several documented cases, a combination of homeopathy, TCM, medicinal mushrooms and CBD-THC solutions working together synergistically with a healing diet have helped dogs outlive their bone cancer diagnosis without harmful side effects, stressful procedures or complicated vet visits, all at a dramatically reduced cost,” Roberts says. “As they say, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ especially where our beloved animal family members are concerned.”
Tui-Na Massage
Also under the TCVM umbrella, tui-na massage uses kneading, pressing and rolling techniques to improve a pet’s health and balance. Among the conditions that respond well to this type of massage are arthritis, muscle tension and soreness, stress and anxiety, joint paint and mobility issues. The technique focuses on stimulating acupuncture points and energy pathways, or meridians, that promote the smooth flow of qi throughout the body. This treatment can be used in conjunction with complementary therapies to enhance results.
Integrative Medicine
“I strongly believe Traditional Chinese Medicine is good medicine. Western medicine is great medicine. However, the best medicine is an integration of both because each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses,” says Dr. Huisheng Xie, DVM, Ph.D., a clinical professor of integrative medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, in Gainesville.
According to Xie, TCVM is weak in diagnosis because it does not have sophisticated diagnostic technology. Western medicine’s weakness is the large amount of side effects associated with conventional drugs. “That’s why the best medicine is to integrate both to avoid the weaknesses and take advantage of the strengths of each,” he says.
Kiki Powers is a health writer, blogger and national speaker specializing in plant-based nutrition and healthy green living. Learn more at RawKiki.com.
Nature’s Germ Killer
Stop bad germs before they stop you!
Scientists prove pure copper kills germs in seconds, just by touch, including viruses, bacteria, and fungus. High-power microscopes show germs instantly start dying when copper touches them.
The new studies explain why ancient Greeks, Egyptians and others used copper to fight infections and heal wounds. They didn’t know about germs, but now we do.
Kill germs in nose, mouth, skin
The National Institutes of Health, the EPA, and the American Society for Microbiology all vouch for the power of copper to kill germs. It even kills the really bad germs that have become antibiotic resistant CopperZaps® are made of pure copper, shaped to reach bad germs where they lurk in your nose, mouth or skin. The inventor has gone 11 YEARS without even a single cold. Now over 100,000 sold.
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People use CopperZaps against: Colds, Flu, Covid
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ADVERTORIAL
RECYCLED ART
TRANSFORMING TRASH INTO TREASURE
by Gisele RinaldiIt takes a special kind of artist to create a work of art out of discarded items. These imaginative, multimedia visionaries see beauty and purpose in the most mundane materials, including paper, computer parts, bits of plastic, leftover fabrics, used tires and random game pieces. Their thoughtprovoking, surprising works reduce waste that would otherwise populate landfills and prove that trash can indeed become treasure.
Motivated by a desire to educate and inspire, many upcycle artists often interweave a message of environmental consciousness into their artwork, thus spreading awareness about issues or making social commentary. Plastics found along the beach may become a collage of a thriving sea turtle, for example. Old rusty metal parts may be transformed into a steampunk clock face or a modern hanging sculpture that spins in the wind.
Creating to Preserve Our Planet
Artist and interior designer Noelle Turco, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, comes from a legacy of artists that found ways to be creative with things that were left behind. “Repurposed and upcycled art is inventive and gives a second or third life to everything from packing materials and wood to bottle caps and string,” she explains. “It’s one of my favorite things to do and challenges me mentally because it makes me think about how I am going to take the treasures that I have found—the bits, pieces and even words on paper—and make them into art.”
Cesar Aguilera, art curator at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, in Fort Myers, Florida, makes art to create consciousness about what humans use and consume. “My personal artwork and the exhibitions I design encourage others to reconsider how much we throw away,” he says. “There is not another species on Earth that creates the
amount of waste that does not naturally decompose. All that we create has an impact.”
Jen Hardwick, a mixed-media artist who resides in Longview, Washington, loves working with vintage game pieces, toys, wood and metal. “When I moved to Seattle in the late 80s, I started going to markets, junk stores and donation centers, and I would collect all these little ‘treasures’. A lot of these materials would end up in a landfill, so I hope that by using them in my art pieces, it’s helping the environment in a small way.”
Artist Gracie Berry, who also lives in Lancaster, loves the challenge and inspiration that creating upcycled and repurposed art brings. “It allows me to use my creativity to rename things from my perspective,” she explains. “While each of my creations has their own stories and set of rules, a common message is that my art is purposeful and needs to be here.”
Ideas Unfold Into Art
Aguilera, Berry, Hardwick and Turco concur that when making repurposed art, the creative process unfolds in a messy, nonlinear way. Sometimes they begin with an idea in mind, but inspiration occurs while working with the pieces, so the work often takes a different direction. Canvas, wood, metal and fabric become foundations for intricate layers of found items placed, sewn and nestled into nooks and crannies, like puzzle pieces fitting oddly together.
“Materials seem to find me way before I ever go looking for them,” Berry shares. “Sometimes the material itself gives me inspiration for my next piece. It’s magical the way it all unfolds. I welcome challenges when it comes to learning techniques that work for specific projects. It’s exciting to find solutions through trial and error, cementing techniques that can be used again.”
Aguilera makes art from discarded computer parts, fabric and furniture. “Technol-
ogy consumes precious resources but gets discarded as newer inventions become the focus,” he explains. “Showcasing the interior workings of a computer draws attention to hidden beauty. A fresh coat of paint or a design remodel breathes new life into a piece of furniture or clothing.”
Creative Materials Are Accessible
“For those just starting out, simple projects can be created using magazines, cardboard, yarn and glue,” explains Turco. “Visit secondhand and thrift shops. Often, these stores are nonprofits, so by shopping there, we are not only keeping stuff out of landfills, but also supporting our local communities.”
“Choose materials that inspire you. Pieces can be as simple or detailed as you want them to be, but most importantly, have fun,” enthuses Hardwick. “I love all the things I collect individually, but putting them together to create a robot or a bug or an animal opens up a whole new world for me.”
Look for beauty in unexpected places. Berry suggests that repurposing upcycled objects is not only more sustainable for the planet, it also allows creativity to be accessed anywhere. “When we think outside the box, we can create change through art,” believes Aguilera.
Gisele Rinaldi is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings publications.
markyourcalendar
AWAKEN WELLNESS FAIR!
…Awaken to Your Best Self…
November 5 • 10am-5pm
Unique Vendors, expert Speakers, intuitive Readers and gifted Healers
A day of education and inspiration!
Awesome new location!
Westchester Marriott
670 White Plains Road (Rte. 119)
Tarrytown, NY 10591
AwakenFair.com
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NEW AGE & CRAFTS EXPO
Sponsored by Natural Awakenings
Sunday, November 5 • 10am-5pm
Come Experience a Day of Spiritual & Creative Enlightenment
• Intuitive Readers
• Aura Photos & Crystals
• Tibetan Singing Bowls •Healings
• Handcrafted Jewelry, Soaps, Oils
•Reiki Circle
• Spiritual Art
2 Rooms of Dynamic Speakersand much more!
$6 Admission
$1 off with this coupon
Wyndham Southbury
1284 Strongtown Rd, Southbury
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THE ARCHANGEL EXPERIENCE
November 11 • 1-3pm
Join us for an extraordinary multi-dimensional quantum healing journey during the 11:11 Ascension Portal guided by Archangels Michael and Uriel, accompanied by channeled music and the power of specially charged gemstones within a profound Scalar Wave field generated by the Energy Enhancement System. Hosted by Bradford Tilden, this experience offers every participant two uniquely energized gemstones, one aligned with each Archangel’s energy. VIP guests will receive complete gemstone layouts for an even deeper connection.
VIP Tickets: $111 • General Admission: $77
Sanare Wellness, 92 North Summit St. Southington
Contact: Kathy@Sanare.life
860-600-0106
calendar of events
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
UnWINEd Yoga with Alessia Adler – 6:307:30pm. Join Alessia Adler in a unique yoga class—the only class where you drink wine while getting fit. No yoga experience necessary. Please bring a yoga mat and wear white socks to walk into the cave. $60. Salt Cave of Darien, 555 Post Rd, Darien. 203-658-7667. SaltCaveOfDarien.com.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
Monthly Social Support Group for Empowerment –7-9pm. A group of like-minded individuals looking for conversation and support without judgment on spiritual beliefs. Walk-ins welcome. Gulls Landing, 394 New Haven Ave, Unit 8, Milford. 203-980-6272. MysticsByTheSea@gmail.com. MysticsByTheSea.com.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
Ajna Light Sessions – 9am. The Ajna Light is light therapy that helps you experience a deep state of meditation with little effort. $50. Trumbull Physical Therapy and Wellness, 6527 Main St, Trumbull. 203-880-5925. PhoenixStarlightWellness.com.
markyourcalendar
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS
IN-PERSON EVENTS
HARVEST DINNER
October 15 • 12:30-3pm
Readers at every table. Space is limited • $50
ANIMAL REMEMBRANCE
Memorial Service
October 21 • 10-10:45am
SPIRITUAL, PSYCHIC & HEALING FAIR
October 21 • 11am-4pm Free Admission – Reservations accepted. Mediumship, Tarot, Psychic and Past Lives Readings $65 for 25 min. Reiki Healing $30
VIRTUAL EVENTS
PAST LIVES MESSAGE CIRCLE with James Luse • $30
October 25 • 7-9pm
WHAT IS SPIRITUALISM CLAS
November 5 • 1-2pm
ONGOING EVENTS
WEEKLY SERVICE
Every Sunday • 11am-12pm
CHILDREN’S LYCEUM
Third Sunday • 9:30-10:15am
SPIRITUAL HEALING SERVICE
Third Thursday • 7-8pm
Cancelled events will be posted on our website Center for Spiritual Development
293 Sound Beach Ave Old Greenwich, CT • 203-637-4615
Register: CSDPastor@gmail.com
Website: Center4Spiritualdev.org
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
Mini Retreat – 1-3pm. Join us for a unique and rejuvenating experience that combines head massage, acupuncture, sound healing, and the special gemstone layout “Inner Nourishment” $70. Wholeness Acupuncture Center, 10 Forest Park Dr, Ste 1, Farmington. 860-404-2197. WholenessAcupunctureCenter@ gmail.com. Tinyurl.com/MiniretreatOct2023
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10
White Time Healing Circle – 7-9pm. Second Tuesday. Round-robin style healing circle featuring White Time Energy and Gemstone healing. Facilitated by Bradford Tilden. $30. Center For Higher Living, 130 Webster Square, Berlin. RSVP: 860-830-5841 or Info@CrystalMusicHealing.com. Tinyurl.com/WhiteTimeCircle.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
Harmonize & Empower: Libra New Moon Sound Healing Journey – 5:30-6:30pm. Embrace the transformative energy of the Libra New Moon as we guide you on a profound sound healing and energy balancing voyage. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, or cushion. Wear comfortable clothing. Limited spaces available. $59. Haute Healing Oasis, 792 Pacific St, Stamford. 203-595-5304. HauteHealingOasis.com.
Shamanic Sound Healing Meditation. 6-7 p.m. Every other Thursday. Join guest sound healer Katie Cavanaugh for a deeply restorative Sound Healing Meditation. Bring a blanket, chair or yoga mat. $20-$35. Walk-ins welcome. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-404-2578. Tinyurl.com/BridgeSoundBrad2023. BridgeHAC.com. Holy Fire Reiki Circle - 7-8pm. Online via Zoom with Gail Christie. Join us to release anxiety and connect to peace and joy with a Holy Fire meditation and shared Reiki healing. Free. No experience needed. Sign up by 5pm on 10/14, for logon link. Joyful Living Reiki. 203-979-0918. GailChristieReiki.com.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14
What’s your Dosha? Introduction to Ayurveda with Karen Pierce – 1:30-3:30pm. Ayurveda, the “Science of Life”, is the sister science to yoga. You will learn about your unique constitution (dosha), how it affects your health, and practical tools to create more balance and harmony in your life. No experience necessary. $39. Special Offer bring a friend for free. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Yogaspace-CT.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15
Holy Fire Reiki 1 Certification Training - 10am5:30pm. With Gail Christie, Holy Fire Usui, Karuna and World Peace Reiki Master. Learn the techniques for releasing stress, balancing your own energy and sharing Reiki with others. Receive a Reiki 1 attunement, manual, course materials and certificate. No experience needed. $200. Register by 10/8/23. Sign up with a friend and each save 20%. Joyful Living Reiki, Three Lakes Dr, Stamford. 203-979-0918. GailChristieReiki.com.
calendar of events
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18
Sharp Again Naturally Hosts Screening of “Memories for Life: Reversing Alzheimer’s” Documentary –Memories For Life is a powerful documentary that features six patients fighting back against their diagnoses by turning to a new method spearheaded by top neurologist Dr. Dale Bredesen. You will receive the link via email to access the documentary. Registration closes at 9pm on 10/17. Free. Tinyurl.com/Film-Screening158-9
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19
Revitalize Your Body & Mind: ELDOA & Spine Wellness – 6-7pm. Join us for an enlightening and rejuvenating event focused on ELDOA and creating space for your spine. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your physical and mental state through ELDOA and spine-focused practices. $55. Haute Healing Oasis, 792 Pacific St, Stamford. 203-5955304. HauteHealingOasis.com.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21
Universal White Time Gemstone Healing 1
Certification – 10/21: 10am-6:30pm; 10/22: 11am6:30pm. Learn to heal yourself, others, animals and the environment with this rare and ancient universal knowledge. All levels welcome. $600 includes a basic stone kit. The Center for Higher Living, 130 Webster Square Rd. 860-830-5841. Info@CrysalMusicHealing.com. Tinyurl.com/UWTGHL1
Sanctuary Yoga Adventure! Goat Yoga – 12-1pm. Join us at the sanctuary for an unforgettable Goat Yoga session with Bradley Mountain Farm, led by the expert instructor, Heather M. This is the perfect opportunity to unwind and indulge in some muchneeded self-care alongside some adorable and playful goats. Pre-registration is required. $30. Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, 8 Commerce Rd, Newtown. CVHFoundation.org.
Reiki and Guided Meditation - 1-2pm. Online with Gail Christie. Join us to release stress and connect to balance and joy with shared Reiki healing and a Holy Fire Reiki meditation. No experience needed. Free. Sign up by 11am on 10/21 for Zoom link. Joyful Living Reiki. 203-979-0918. GailChristieReiki.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22
Holy Fire Reiki 2 Certification Training - 10am5:30pm. With Gail Christie, Holy Fire Usui, Karuna and World Peace Reiki Master. Deepen your Reiki connection with Holy Fire Reiki, learn to use the Level 2 symbols and practice giving and receiving a complete Reiki session. Receive a Reiki 2 attunement, manual, course materials and certificate. $275. Certification in Reiki 1 needed. Register by 10/15/23. Joyful Living Reiki, Three Lakes Dr, Stamford. 203-979-0918. GailChristieReiki.com.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26
Shamanic Sound Healing Meditation. 6-7 p.m. Every other Thursday. With Bradford Tilden. Deeply restorative Sound Healing Meditation. Bring a blanket, chair or yoga mat. $20-$35. Walkins welcome. The Bridge Healing Arts Center, 304 Main St, Farmington. 860-404-2578. Tinyurl.com/ BridgeSoundBrad2023. BridgeHAC.com.
ongoing events
sunday
Online Meditation Practice Session – 10-11am. Online meditation practice sessions and Dharma talks using Zoom. All levels welcome. No formal charge. By donation. Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. ReddingMeditation.org.
Sunday Services at Center for Spiritual Development, NSAC – 11am-12pm. A loving, non-judgmental environment where everyone can seek and search for spiritual understanding and personal unfoldment at their own pace. Zoom and in-person. By donation. 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Pastor@ Center4spiritualdev.org. Center4SpiritualDEV.org.
tuesday
Gentle Yoga with Christy – 9:30-10:30am. Flow through gentle sequences that invoke the energy of the gods/goddesses. Each class will honor a god/ goddess. Open to all. Your first class with Christy is free. Use the code CHRISTY. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
TLC Networking Lunch in Milford – 11:30am1pm. Second Tuesday. Opportunity to meet other healthy living entrepreneurs and practitioners at Tribe TLC’s networking lunch event in Milford at Stonebridge Restaurant. RSVP to Beth Leas: 203-856-9566
(call/text), TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. Stonebridge Restaurant, 50 Daniel St, Milford. 203tlc.com.
Vinyasa Yoga with Kailey – 6-7pm. Join Kailey on for vinyasa to quiet the mind and awaken your inner spirituality. Your first class with Kailey is FREE. Use the code KAILEY for the discount. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
wednesday
Yoga with Leah – 7:30-8:30am & 4:30-5:30pm. Fragrance free class. Class begins by connecting with the breath and setting an intention for the day ahead. Ignite the fire within and wake up the body through core integration. First class free - use code LEAH. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
Vinyasa Yoga with Kailey – 9:30-10:30am. Begins 7/12. Join Kailey for vinyasa to quiet the mind and awaken your inner spirituality. Your first class with Kailey is free. Use the code KAILEY for the discount. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
Purple Lotus Womens Group (21+) – 5-6pm. A therapeutic support group for women geared toward personal growth. Group is held in person on telehealth. Most insurance accepted. $40. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3793. WolfSpiritWellness.org.
Finding Your Voice – 7-8pm. Every other Wednesday. This is a therapeutic group for survivors of sexual assault. Via telehealth. Most insurances are accepted. $40. Seating is Limited. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, St B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3793. WolfSpiritWellness.org.
Online Meditation Practice Session – 7-8pm. Online meditation practice sessions and Dharma talks using Zoom. All levels welcome. No formal charge. By donation. Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. ReddingMeditation.org.
Mysticism: Where Science, Art and Religion Meet –7-8:30pm. What is the purpose of life? Our intent is to address these issues through lectures, readings and guided group discussions. We will present ancient concepts, cuttingedge theories, speculations, assertions, data, and most of all, thought-provoking ideas for discussion. Free. Aleph Talks, 606 Post Rd East, Ste 667, Westport. AlephTalks.com.
thursday
Kundalini Yoga with Gong Bath with Stephen – 9-10:30am. Kundalini Yoga is an empowering, holistic practice that synchronizes physical postures, breathwork, meditation, and sound (mantra) to align your body, mind and spirit. The practice will culminate with a relaxing gong bath. All levels welcome. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
Sound Yoga (Online) – 11am-12pm. With Barbara Soares, yoga/vocal yoga teacher and Reiki Master will help students explore the power of sound to relax, inspire, and listen deeply. Learn and practice humming, deep listening, and medicine melodies to improve wellness and reduce stress. Students should bring a yoga mat and wear loose, comfortable clothes. $50/5 sessions. Tinyurl.com/SoundYogaBobbi.
Beach Yoga – 6-7pm. With Karin Holmgren. Enjoy the benefits of your practice with a sunset in the background. All levels and abilities are welcome. Bring a mat or blanket, favorite props and a light layer. $80. Short Beach, Dorne Dr, Stratford. TownOfStratford.recdesk.com. Salty Yin Yoga with Kelly Warters – 6:30-7:30pm. Second Thursday. Join Kelly Warters for this 8 part Chakra Yin Yoga Series. You may attend one of the classes or sign up for all 8 for maximum healing benefits + a discount. $37.22. Revive Salt Therapy & Wellness, 374 New Haven Ave, Milford. 203-283-5968. ReviveSaltTherapy.as.me..
friday
Yoga with Leah – 9:30-10:45am. Fragrance free class. 75 minutes of mindful movement. Class begins by connecting with the breath and setting an intention for the day ahead. First class free - use code LEAH. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
Reiki 1st Degree Workshop: Online or In-Person
– 10am-5pm. First Friday. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher (24 years). Learn Reiki 1st Level (Western Style). Learn how to use Reiki for healing. Two manuals and certificate included. Zoom link will be given with e-mail and payment. Please call to register. Also held on the first Saturday. No drop-ins. $135. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReiki.com.
DBT Skills Group (21+) – 3-4pm. A therapeutic group to learn skills to manage emotional distress and mindfulness. Group is held in-person. Call for pricing. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203263-3793. WolfSpiritWellness.org.
A Queer Experience (18-30) – 6-7pm. Open ongoing in person group. A supportive psychotherapy group primarily for individuals from 18 to 30 years of age to discuss the experiences and challenges of being a part of the queer community. Call for pricing. Wolf Spirit
If a metal does this to your skin... Imagine what it will do implanted inside of your body?
ongoing events
Friday Night Fun Networking – 6:30-8pm. First Friday. With Beth Leas of Tribe TLC. Each month will feature a fun activity designed to enhance getting to know one another . RSVP to Beth Leas at 203-856-9566 (call/text) or TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. Free. Yoga for Everybody, 85 Mill Plain Rd, 3rd Floor, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. Yoga4Everybody.net.
Monthly Yoga Mom’s Night Out – 7-9pm. Second Friday. Join us for an evening that’s all about reclaiming you time. Calm your mind and body with candlelight yoga, a few other experiences. Space is limited to 16 moms, so please pre-register. $40. Come with a friend and get a special gift. $40. Yoga for Everybody, 85 Mill Plain Rd, 3rd Floor, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Yoga4Everybody.net.
saturday
Saturday Dharma and Morning Meditation – 7:308:15am. Discuss various works on topics such as selfstudy, meditation, self-improvement, mindfulness, joy and much more. Discussion will be followed by 30-minute guided meditation. Proceeds donated to our charity of the month. $10/cash. Yoga Culture, 105 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. 203-730-0250. WeAreYogaCulture.com.
Kundalini Yoga with Gong Bath with Stephen – 9-10:30am. Kundalini Yoga is an empowering, holistic practice that synchronizes physical postures, breathwork, meditation, and sound (mantra) to align your body, mind and spirit. The practice will culminate with a relaxing gong bath. All levels welcome. $25. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.
Align with Source – 10:30am-12:15pm. A Spiritual Empowerment meeting via Zoom. Comprises a talk, inter-action and a guided meditation. Request Zoom invite by emailing AlignWithSource@gmail. com. By donation.
In-Person Meditation Practice Session – 10-11:30am. Limited in-person meditation practice. All levels welcome. If it’s your first time, please let someone know so that we can provide a brief introduction. Must register online. Donations encouraged. Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. ReddingMeditation.org.
Reiki Second Degree Workshop: Online or In-Person – 10am-5pm. Fifth Saturday. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher (24 years). Learn Reiki Level 2 (Western Style). Learn how to send reiki distance healing, deepen your use of Reiki for yourself and others and more. Two manuals and certificate included. Also held on the last Friday. No drop-ins. $225. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReiki.com.
Finding Your Voice – 1-2pm. Every other Saturday. This is a therapeutic group for survivors of sexual assault. In-person. Most insurances are accepted. $40. Seating is Limited. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, St B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3793. WolfSpiritWellness.org.
Eyesofwings Soulcial in the Garden – 1-5pm. Our mission is to provide accessible and reasonably priced Healing Arts services and products to facilitate people in their self-healing. $22. Carmelina’s Garden, 172 Welton St, Hamden. 203-589-4614. Eyesofwings.live.
community resource guide
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 Advertising@eNaturalAwakenings.com to request our media kit.
AMPCOIL CENTER
AMPCOIL
Freddie Kimmel, Product Expert 95 Cross Hwy, Redding 833-267-2645
Freddie@AmpCoil.com AmpCoil.com
CHIROPRACTIC / NUTRITION
THE HOMESTEAD FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS
Extraordinary Wellness!
AmpCoil is an extraordinary system that delivers sound frequencies through PEMF to harmonize, balance, and support you on your journey to wellness. 90% of AmpCoil’s most active users reported that AmpCoil has been instrumental to their personal wellness, and over 55% reported that they experience relief from symptoms related to Lyme or other chronic conditions.
AYURVEDA
NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies
805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111
DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com
AyurvedicInstituteCT.com
A combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may include supplements, diet/ nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. See ad, page 11.
CAREER COACH
THEA LITSIOS
Certified Career Coach
Career Coach and Kolbe Consultant
TheaLitsios.com
203-693-1493
Find the career or college major that is in alignment with your natural talents and strengths. Discover the joy of having a career that is right for you. See ad, page 5.
Dr. Annamarie Nardini, DC & Dr. Matthew Nardini, DC 433 Boston Post Rd, Darien 203-244-8544
Info@TheHomesteadChiropractic.com
TheHomesteadChiropractic.com
Drs. Anna and Matt Nardini are dedicated to helping you reclaim your health. With specialized
training for pediatrics and pregnancy, they provide gentle, safe, and effective chiropractic care for the entire family. Drs. Nardini also provide you with personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise recommendations to get you functioning your best!
EDUCATION
EMBODY THE SACRED Deana Paqua, MA, LMT Ridgefield and New Milford Deana.Paqua@gmail.com
EmbodyTheSacred.net
Offering classes, training programs, healing sessions and mentoring in cross-cultural energy medicine and contemporary shamanism for healers, spiritual seekers and the energy sensitive. Learn self-healing, self-empowerment and trauma transformation through the sacred.
BRADFORD TILDEN, MM, CMT, UWT
130 Webster Square Rd. Berlin
860-830-5841
Info@CrystalMusicHealing.com
CrystalMusicHealing.com
Courses in Universal White Time (UWT) Healing and Gemstone
Healing. This powerful new modality gives us the possibility to direct healing through time and space. Trainings include contact healing, aura clearing, chakra balancing, organ clearing, point balancing, and the laying-on of stones. See ad, page 2.
& Southern Litchfield Counties eNaturalAwakenings.com
ENERGY HEALING
BETH LEAS
Transformative Healing • Tarot
Virtual and In-Person Sessions
203-856-9566 • BethLeas.com
If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 30+ years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 5.
ENERGY MEDICINE
KATHY STALTER
Sanaré Wellness, LLC
Southington
860-600-0106
Kathy@Sanare.Life • Sanare.Life
The Future of Energy Medicine is here! This 24-unit Energy Enhancement System creates multiple bioactive, regenerative energy fields, including scalar waves and biophotons, that can assist your body’s ability to repair and heal itself from disease. The body can become capable of rejuvenating and recalibrating itself back to homeostasis. Appointment only. See ad, page 2.
GEMSTONE HEALING
BRADFORD TILDEN, MM, CMT, UWT
130 Webster Square Rd. Berlinand via ZOOM 860-830-5841
Info@CrystalMusicHealing.com
CrystalMusicHealing.com
Bradford specializes in Universal White Time energy, sound, and gemstone therapies. He helps people attain inner peace, empowerment, and improved quality of life. Clear your fear and trauma. Get support during spiritual awakenings. Experience wholeness and find your purpose. See ad, page 2.
INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE
SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER
Ken Hoffman, DACM, LAc, Medical Director 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300
INM.Center
Using naturopathic and Chinese medical principles, we get to the source of your health concerns. Diagnostic methods include functional testing such as advanced bloodwork analysis, cardiovascular testing, hormone evaluation and thermography. Our customized treatment program includes acupuncture, herbal and nutritional medicine, diet and lifestyle counseling and more. Most insurance accepted.
INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY
EYECARE ASSOCIATES, PC
Dr. Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD
Dr. Robert Byne • Dr. Allie Decker
Dr. Jason Grygier • Dr. Ken Landesman
Dr. Diana Ngo • Dr. Maryam Nizami
Dr. Justin Rapp • Dr. Sonia Singh
Dr. Magy Tepliz
Locations:
6515 Main St, Trumbull • 203-374-2020
444 Westport Ave, Norwalk • 203-840-1991
2600 Post Rd, Southport • 203-255-4005
1425 Bedford St, 1M, Stamford • 203-357-0204
572 US-6, Mahopac, NY
103 S Bedford Rd, Mount Kisco, NY CTEyecareAssociates.com
We offer behavioral optometry, comprehensive vision exams, contact lenses and vision therapy. Call to schedule your appointment today.
MEDITATION
CENTER FOR MINDFULNESS & INSIGHT MEDITATION
9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding 203-244-3130
ReddingMeditation.org
We teach and practice Mahasati meditation. Mahasati meditation cultivates selfawareness through attention to the movement of the body and, at more advanced levels, to the movement of the mind. No prior meditating experience is necessary. Ongoing weekly meditation classes, retreats and events. Please check monthly event calendar or visit ReddingMeditation.org for updated information.
METAPHYSICAL STORE
THE ANGEL COOPERATIVE
51 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959
TheAngelCoop.com
Follow us on Instagram (@shungiteroom) Facebook and YouTube (The Angel Cooperative)
The Angel Cooperative is a unique lifestyle boutique and metaphysical store featuring the first Shungite Room in the USA. Explore a wide selection of crystals, jewelry, candles, essential oils, divination tools, spiritual gifts, statuary, oracle decks and tarot, and home décor. Available in The Shungite Room: private energy sessions, angelic, tarot and oracle card readings, channeling and mediumship, reiki, workshops, aura photography, and guided meditation led by a group of talented and experienced practitioners. Shungite is the only natural material known to contain fullerenes, a naturally occurring antioxidant. Shungite is believed to have active metaphysical properties with strong healing powers. See ad, page 12.
NEW INSIGHTS BOUTIQUE
Metaphysical Boutique and Center for Conscious Living
Susan J. Bucur
111 Church Hill Rd, Ste 2, Sandy Hook 203-204-6263
Info@NewInsightsBoutique.com
NewInsightsBoutique.com
New Insights is committed to cultivating a community rooted in positivity and mindfulness. We offer an extensive variety of tools for spiritual healing and expansion, and a full team of metaphysical practitioners. Visit us and soak in the good vibes!
NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN
HEALTHFUL HARMONY
Dr. Amy Wiesner
91 East Ave, Second Floor, Norwalk 203-962-588
DrAmyWiesner@gmail.com
HealthfulHarmony.com
Dr. Wiesner, practicing for almost 20 years, uses acupuncture, lifestyle medicine, nutritional supplementation and homeopathy to help her patients achieve health and well-being. Infertility, Diabetes, Stress, Pain, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Allergies, Headaches, Cardiovascular Disease, Lyme Disease, Menstrual Disorders, other imbalances.
NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies
805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111
DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com
A combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may include supplements, diet/nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. See ad, page 11.
NICOLE KLUGHERS, ND, PHARMD, MSAC Vis Wellness Center
Rocky Hill & TeleMedicine Statewide (234) 2-ACU-DOC
DrNicoleKlughers.com
Info@DrNicoleKlughers.com
Dr. Nicole Klughers offers comprehensive naturopathic care to restore optimal health and prevent disease. Dr. Nicole’s “health detective” approach identifies the root cause of symptoms and provides all-natural solutions such as personalized nutrition (food as medicine), herbal medicine, nutrient therapies, acupuncture and more. In-depth assessment is often done with detailed testing of vitamins/ minerals, hormones, advanced cardiovascular markers, inflammation, food sensitivities, gut/ microbiome and more. See ad, page 2.
NUTRITION
OFFICE OF DR. MICHAEL WALD
29 King St, 2nd Fl, Chappaqua NY 10514
914-552-1442
Info@BloodDetective.com
DrMichaelWald.com • #BloodDetective
Dr Wald is a holistic DC, Nutritionist, and Dietician whose Blood Detective software, labs and detailed consult help get to the cause(s) of persistent health issues. Conditions include autoimmune, weight loss, anti-aging, cancer, GI issues, depression, and more. See ad, page 7.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY COACH
CONNECT2FLOURISH, LLC
Andrea Garin Kopilak
917-583-3218 • Andrea@C2FCoach.com
Connect2FlourishCoaching.com
As the Founder of Connect2Flourish, I use a coaching process grounded in the science of positive psychology and awareness coaching to help empower clients to utilize their strengths, so that they can build resilience, make important connections, and choose what flourishing looks like for them. Explore coaching with a 45-minute complimentary session by emailing Andrea@c2fcoach.com.
. PSYCHOTHERAPY
NANCY S. SCHERLONG, LCSW, SEP, PTR/CJT, CM
Coaching/Psychotherapy/Consulting
470 Main St, Ridgefield 914-572-3167 • WellnessMetaphors.com
Manage stress with relaxation techniques. Rediscover your creativity through writing and the expressive arts. Resolve trauma with EMDR, IFS or SE. Or book an experiential workshop! Nancy has over 20 years of experience with children, families, groups, adults and corporate wellness programs. See ad, page 18.
REIKI
GIGI BENANTI, USUI REIKI MASTER
Angelic Healing Center
7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk 203-852-1150 • AngelHealReiki.com
Gigi is an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher. She offers all levels of Reiki training monthly. All classes and Reiki sessions include the latest techniques including Karuna, Angelic and Jikiden Reiki.
JOYFUL LIVING REIKI LLC
Gail Christie, Holy Fire Reiki Master Stamford and Mt Kisco, NY 203-979-0918
JoyfulLivingReiki.com
Gail will help balance your energy and help you reach a whole new level of healing with Holy Fire Reiki. She offers gently powerful Holy Fire healing sessions, Reiki-infused meditations and Usui/Holy Fire and Karuna Reiki certification classes.
See ad, page 5.
REIKI WITH DINA
1177 High Ridge Rd, Ste 207, Stamford 203-952-4871
Dibeinc@gmail.com
ReikiWithDina.com
I’m a passionate energy healer (hands-on & distance healing) with an alternative approach and am dedicated to helping my clients move through a wide range of physical, emotional and spiritual transitions in the most efficient and transformative way possible.
TURNING POINT REIKI LLC
JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield 203-438-3050
TurningPointReiki.com
JoAnn uses intuition, experience and a deep spiritual connection in her Reiki, IET and Reconnective Healing sessions. Specializing in care for individuals with cancer, back pain, Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses. All Reiki levels taught.
SALT HEALING THERAPY WELLNESS CENTER
REVIVE SALT THERAPY & WELLNESS
374 New Haven Ave, Milford 203-283-5968
Hello@ReviveSaltTherapy.com
ReviveSaltTherapy.com
A Holistic Healing Spa for Body, Mind, and Soul. We offer Halotherapy/Salt Therapy, Infrared Sauna, Reiki, Quantum Healing, Massage Therapy, Sound Healing, Yoga, and Wellness plus a Crystal Shop. We offer unique and potent products and services to accelerate physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing.
SALT OF THE EARTH
THERAPEUTIC SPA
787 Main St, S Woodbury 203-586-1172 • NaturalSaltHealing.com
Combining an array of natural therapies that have been used since ancient times with today’s technology, Salt of the Earth Spa provides a sanctuary for deep transformations, healing and grounding for Mind, Body and Spirit.
SOUND HEALING
HUMMINGBIRD SOUND YOGA LLC
Barbara (Bobbi) Soares
Merryall, New Milford
860-946-9470
BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com
heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga
Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga
Barbara (Bobbi) Soares, MA, CYT, is a sound yoga and vocal yoga teacher, blues/jazz singer, and Reiki master, certified in several modalities of energy and sound healing. She offers Hummingbird Sound Yoga and sound healing immersions for groups and private sessions. Using earth, dance and symphonic gongs, bowls, tuning forks and humming-for-health meditations, her goal is to help individuals experience becoming “one with sound” to promote a deep relaxation response that balances energy and encourages healing. See ad, page 9.
SPIRITUAL HEALING
BRADFORD TILDEN, MM, CMT, UWT 130 Webster Square Rd. Berlinand via ZOOM 860-830-5841
Info@CrystalMusicHealing.com
CrystalMusicHealing.com
Bradford specializes in Universal White Time energy, sound, and gemstone therapies. He helps people attain inner peace, empowerment, and improved quality of life. Clear your fear and trauma. Get support during spiritual awakenings. Experience wholeness and find your purpose. See ad, page 2.
THERMOGRAPHY
SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER
Ken Hoffman, DACM, LAc, Medical Director 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 • INM.Center
Women’s Health: hormonal balancing, breast cancer prevention. Breast and full body thermography screening. Screening and treatment of chronic inflammation using medical infrared thermography (MIT). Safe, painless and non-invasive, thermography can detect early changes in breast tissue up to eight years before a mammogram. FDA-registered, our high-definition camera is the most advanced in the region.
Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties eNaturalAwakenings.com
TRANSFORMATIVE HEALING
KATIE AUGUSTYN, MA, CPC
Transformation Coach, Shamanic Healer
203-820-3800
TransformationCenterCT@gmail.com
TransformationCenterCT.com
Katie will assist you in reaching your true potential and heal what has been holding you back. You will experience real self-acceptance and start to live in alignment with who you truly are so you can create a life you love, a life of meaning and purpose. See ad, page 5.
BETH LEAS
Transformative Healing • Tarot
Virtual and In-Person Sessions
203-856-9566 • BethLeas.com
If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 30+ years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 5.
TRANSITIONS COACHING
ASPIRE, LLC
Amy Jacques, CPC, ELI-MP, CLDS, CTDS 19 Main St, Ste 3, New Milford 860-222-0797
Amy@AspireSelf.com • AspireSelf.com
Aspire, LLC. offers a safe, judgment-free space for adults and teens to work through life transitions, build confidence, find empowerment, or learn how their attitudes and perceptions shape their lives. A higher level of consciousness and consistent joy awaits you!
VOICE & SOUND COACHING
HUMMINGBIRD SOUND YOGA LLC
Barbara (Bobbi) Soares
Merryall, New Milford
860-946-9470
BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com
heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga
Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga
Improve your voice, expand your range, find your ‘goldilocks’ note using soul singing, improvisation and ‘one with sound’ exercises. Learn from a certified vocal yoga teacher, sound healer and experienced performer who has studied with Bobby Mcferrin, Silvia Nakkach and Heather Lyle. Some of her music can be found at http://www.wisefishworld.com. Online Zoom groups and one on one sessions starting in May. https://heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga. See ad, page 9.
WELLNESS CENTER
THE ANGEL WING, A DIVINE SPIRITUAL CENTER
Located next door to The Angel Cooperative
49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959
TheAngelCoop.com
Follow us on Instagram (@shungiteroom)
Facebook and YouTube (The Angel Cooperative)
The Angel Wing hosts workshops, retreats, group and private readings, energy work sessions, Reiki, massage, cosmic facials, sound healing and gong baths, group guided meditations, acupuncture, and a wide selection of yoga classes (vinyasa, gentle, yin with sound bath, kundalini with gong bath, restorative with sound bath, restorative with tarot, and flow and restore with guided meditation). We also offer myriad certification courses: Crystal Healing, Meditation Levels I and II, Reiki I, II, and Master, Karuna, and Foundations of Sound Healing Levels 1 and II. See ad, page 12.
CERESET WESTPORT
Crista Mathew, Owner/ Tech Coach
18 Kings Hwy N, Westport, CT 203-557-3299
Info@Westport.Cereset.com
Cereset.com/Centers/Cereset-Westport Cereset (Cerebrum + Reset) is a proven technology that helps the brain to relax, rebalance and reset itself naturally by listening to its own echo. There is no outside intervention, stimulus, or medication of any kind – the brain does its own work while you may nap or relax quietly in a comfortable chair. A relaxed and balanced brain helps clients of all ages to flourish as they experience improved sleep, mood, energy, focus, memory and response to stress.
SALT CAVE OF DARIEN
555 Post Rd, Darien 203-658-7667
Info@SaltCaveofDarien.com
SaltCaveofDarien.com
Our wellness destination offers an oasis of peace, calm and serenity. Whether you want to release stress, address a health challenge, or gather with friends and family, the Cave is inviting, warm and soothing. Check out our website for the many different ways to experience the benefits of our healing salt! See ad, page 5.
YOGA
THE ANGEL WING, A DIVINE SPIRITUAL CENTER
Located next door to The Angel Cooperative 49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959
TheAngelCoop.com
Follow us on Instagram (@shungiteroom)
Facebook and YouTube (The Angel Cooperative)
The Angel Cooperative offers a variety of yoga classes at The Angel Wing, our divine spiritual center next door. Class options include vinyasa, gentle, yin with sound bath, kundalini with gong bath, restorative with sound bath, restorative with tarot, and flow and restore with guided meditation as well as yoga workshops such as Introduction to Yoga, Aromayoga, and Yoga for Spiritual Awakening. The yoga teachers who teach at our spiritual center hold true that yoga is for all people, all bodies. We all belong. See ad, page 12.
HUMMINGBIRD
SOUND YOGA LLC
Barbara (Bobbi) Soares
Merryall, New Milford 860-946-9470
BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com
heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga
Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga
Barbara (Bobbi) Soares, MA, CYT, is a sound yoga and vocal yoga teacher, blues/jazz singer, and Reiki master, certified in several modalities of energy and sound healing. She offers Hummingbird Sound Yoga and sound healing immersions for groups and private sessions. Her goal is to help individuals experience becoming “one with sound” to promote a deep relaxation response that balances energy and encourages healing. See ad, page 9.
YOGA STUDIO & WELLNESS CENTER
YOGA FOR EVERYBODY
Ingrid Prueher
85 Mill Plain Rd, 3rd Flr, Fairfield 203-254-YOGA (9642)
Info@Yoga4Everybody.net
Yoga4Everybody.net
A serene yoga studio placed in the heart of downtown Fairfield at the Sportsplex where you can experience yoga, meditation, and aerial classes in-person, online or via video-on-demand. There are also a variety of workshops and trainings that you can attend: Drum Circles, Gong, Reiki Trainings, Wim Hof Method and Yoga Teacher Training in the heart of Fairfield, CT. Also available: Thermography, Reiki, Massage Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Tarot, and Shamanic Therapy private sessions. See ad, page 5.
As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see.
—Vincent Van Gogh