Natural Awakenings December 2018 Edition by Natural Awakenings Magazine

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

BEYOND TOYS Spark Kids' Creativity

GLOBAL Spirited Sheet Pan Community AWAKENING Suppers Local Trailblazers Show the Way

Consciousness Nears a Spiritual Tipping Point

Simplify Holiday Cooking

December 2018 | Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition | eNaturalAwakenings.com December 2018

The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center z

The Natural Choice

Optimize Your Smile and Your Health! Whole-Body DentistryÂŽ provides comprehensive oral health care using traditional and holistic approaches. We understand the "mouth-body connection." Mark A. Breiner, DDS

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Mercury-free for over 30 years. Dr. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of biological and holistic dentistry.

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Caring Integrative Physicians Offering the Best in Holistic Healing The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center

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Whole-Body Medicine, LLC ~ The Natural Approach for Optimal Health 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 108 | Fairfield, CT | 203-371-8258 | WholeBodyMed.com 2

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

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December 2018

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Contents 20 TLC: A COMMUNITY

BY CHOICE

Connecting Fairfield’s Holistic Tribe for More than 20 Years

22 A GLOBAL

WAKE-UP CALL

Collective Consciousness Nears Spiritual Tipping Point

28 SPIRITED COMMUNITY

Local Leaders Do Good to Benefit All

32 NATURAL AWAKENINGS:

SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS

36 CONSCIOUSLY CREATE

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THE SECOND PHASE OF YOUR LIFE

Choice is a Great Power; Use it Wisely

39 SIMPLE SHEET PAN

SUPPERS Family-Pleasing Holiday Meals

42 BEYOND TOYS V A L L E Y

S P I R I T

WELLNESS CENTER Ac up unc t ure Ayur v edic Me d ic ine Est he t ic A r t s C hin ese He rbs Massag e T he rap y Med it at io n

Gifts that Evoke Kids’ Creativity

48 PET-SAFE HOLIDAYS

Tips to Keep Them Merry and Safe

50 HEALING FROM

A DISTANCE

Intention Sends Compassionate Energy Across Miles

En er g y He aling Tai C hi / Q i G o ng Yo g a / P ilat e s Pr iv at e In st r uc t io n In-Ho m e S e r v ic e s

Kristin Kunhardt

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 16 eco tip 18 health brief 19 inspiration 26 mastering yoga 38 inspired table 39 conscious eating 42 healthy kids 44 wise words

eNaturalAwakenings.com

46 naturally healthy pet 48 natural pet 49 pet resource guide 51 calendar 55 resource guide 61 classifieds 62 cosmic rhythms 62 ad index

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

Holistic Psychiatrist

Resolve the cause naturally!

In Waterford since 1984. Now serving adults,teens and children in Westport.

In private practice since 1982 and Assistant Prof of Psychiatry at Yale since 1987, Dr. David London uses highlysophisticated genetic, hormonal & nutrient testing to detect the root causes of cognitive and/or mental health disorders. Natural, integrative, holistic methods often resolve them without negative side-effects. While meds are still an option, he prefers Functional Medicine, Nutrition, EMDR, Acupuncture with Essential Oils, Psychotherapy as well as Coaching in Meditation, Yoga, Qi Gong, Exercise, Relationships and Lifestyle changes.

David London, M.D. 544 Riverside Avenue Westport www.DavidLondonMD.com

Call now 203.557.6574

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 203-885-4674 or email FFCAdvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for News Briefs: the 12th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit eNaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for magazine calendar listings: the 12th of the month. Website calendar listings may be entered at any time. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. December 2018

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

FAIRFIELD COUNTY/ HOUSATONIC VALLEY PUBLISHER Nicole Miale EDITORS Michelle Bense Ariana Rawls Fine DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kathleen Fellows Erica Mills CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lisa Day-Lewis Linda Derick Roger Dubin Mary Oquendo Tom Scally SALES & MARKETING Alexa Ferrucci Nicole Miale WEBSITE Erica Mills DISTRIBUTION Man in Motion LLC

CONTACT US 137 Danbury Rd, #323, New Milford, CT 06776 Phone: 203-885-4674 Fax: 203-516-2392 NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com eNaturalAwakenings.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman NATIONAL EDITOR Alison Chabonais MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE DIRECTOR Anna Romano FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Scofield Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2018 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Nicole Miale

he golden thread shared among the world’s major religions and faiths is that we are all one, and there is no real separation between us. That means we are each here to raise the consciousness of our communities—friends, families and strangers alike—by accepting the gifts of knowledge we are offered every day. Whether it’s making conscious choices about the foods we eat, how we live from an environmental perspective or following a spiritual path, we have opportunities each day to raise our vibration. When we understand that all we truly need is being provided, we realize there’s no need to sit in judgment of any experience or anyone else; all is as it’s supposed to be. Each of us has the ability and responsibility—should we choose to accept it—to identify and share the experiences that resonate most within us. Speaking our inner truth is going to help find and awaken our chosen community while helping us thrive during the inevitable (possibly painful?) growth. This month’s features focus on consciousness and community, from a broad global perspective as well as a look at what’s going on right outside our doors. The national feature story about global awakening is likely to interest many of you, no matter what your personal interpretation or philosophy regarding what consciousness really is. The article includes insights from some of the world’s leaders in the consciousness movement, who affirm that we are perhaps on the verge of or even in the midst of a mass awakening. I know I’ve been feeling the effects of that. How about you? Our local features focus on individuals and organizations who offer spirited leadership to the community in different ways, inspiring and collaborating with like-minded others along the way. Our area is blessed with so much talent and strength of purpose; you all are truly awesome! We included Natural Awakenings as a subject in this issue to acknowledge the role the magazine has played in the community for the past14 years; we hope you enjoy the peek into our approach and inner workings. My wish for all—as we close out this year and prepare to begin again—is that you will find encouragement and hope in our pages. No matter what you are going through or how it may feel sometimes, you are never actually alone. None of us are. We’re all in this together. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad and Happy Holidays to you and yours, With love and light,

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

“Understanding the new science that points to consciousness as all-pervasive and the fundamental building block of reality can change what it means to be human, as well as possibly make violence and economic, social and political crises things of the past.” - Zaya Benazzo, founder, Science and Nonduality Conference

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

See our advertiser index on page 62, making it easier to find the resources you need. eNaturalAwakenings.com

news briefs

Sita’s Light to Lead Unique New Year’s Eve Experience

“S

ita” Miriam Zernis and her ensemble of musicians known as Sita’s Light will lead a special entry into 2019 offering the group singing practice known as kirtan. The soul-filled evening will include chanting, meditation, Dances of Universal Peace, light refreshments, special midnight moments and more. Kirtan is a movement which extends across all cultures, races and Miriam Zernis religions. The Oxford Creative Center in Stamford is excited to be sponsoring the New Year’s Eve event. Doors open on December 31 at 6:30pm and close at 12:15am on January 1. The cost is $60 until December 15, $70 until December 29 and $80 thereafter. It is cash only at the door on December 31. There will be a Westchester County preview of the experience on December 8 at 7pm at Sacred Spirit Yoga in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Zernis has been guiding a welcoming kirtan experience in New York City, Westchester and Fairfield Counties, Europe, Costa Rica and Canada for more than 10 years. Her kirtans offer a combination of traditional old world and original chants framed by eclectic sacred music as she is joined by several other spiritual musicians. This will be their ninth New Year’s Eve event.

Holistic Health Center Comes to Bridgeport’s Historic Section

For more information, email Info@OxfordCreativeCenter.org. For registration, visit OxfordCreativeCenter.org. New Year’s Eve event location: Oxford Creative Center, 1231 Washington Blvd, Stamford.

ew holistic health center Total U Health and Wellness Center has opened in the historic section of Bridgeport with a family photo festival. Diahann Phillips, the owner, is a certified aesthetician, acupressurist, aromatherapist and reflexologist since 1993. She has been a photographer, videographer and make-up artist since 1981, as well as an event Diahann Phillips planner. “Recently, I’ve earned my Behavioral Scientist Certificate and I’m going for my Human Services Degree,” she says. “Body, mind and spirit is who I am and what I do.” The new center features BEMER (bio-electric magnetic energy regulation) magnetic mat therapy, which Phillips is excited to offer the community. BEMER has been used for 20 years overseas and for the past 10 years in the U.S. Currently used in 4,000 hospitals around the world as well as by NASA, the technology has five patents and is developing additional uses. “I personally have been to two of their 2-day Gold Seal Academies, and I get continual training as it becomes available, because the field of electroceuticals is growing by leaps and bounds,” Phillips says. In addition to the BEMER, Total U Health & Wellness Center will offer aesthetician services, facials, waxing and aromatherapy body care, paraffin wraps, salt scrubs, nutrition consultations, acupressure, aromatherapy, reflexology, and a hydrotherapy whirlpool. Other services include Reiki, and eyelash and braid services. Gift certificates are also available. For more information, call 203-543-WELL (9355), or visit DiahannPhillips.com or Facebook.com/pg/TotalUHealthandWellness. Location: 630 Brooklawn Ave, Bridgeport. See ad, page 9.

You Have a Choice!

We oﬀer non-medication alternatives for healing, including: Neurofeedback and Biofeedback , Counseling, Hypnosis, EFT/Tapping and our 360° Reboot® Program

203.438.4848

info@drroseann.com  www.drroseann.com

We treat the following conditions: ADHD / ADD / Executive Functioning Anxiety & Anxiety-Related Disorders Autism Behavioral & Social Issues Chronic Pain / Fibromyalgia Concussion / TBI Depression / Mood Issues Learning Disability / Dyslexia Lyme, PANDAS/PANS Chronic Health Conditions PTSD / Trauma Seizures Sleep Problems December 2018

news briefs

Deep Healing in Sacred Community

Make Time for Joy with the Happiness Club

he Happiness Club is an organization with the mission to promote the benefits of being happy through meetings, newsletters, and an informative website, to people in local communities and around the world. Meetings are held monthly on a Thursday. Everyone is welcome, and admission is free. The Fairfield Happiness Club’s next presentation will be on December 13 at 7pm, entitled Learn the Secret to Happiness by Lionel Ketchian. Come and take part in getting valuable tools and techniques for making your life the best it can be. Do you really need to suffer anymore? Are you ready to learn to be happy? Master strategies to lessen your suffering. External events are difficult without the right tools to deal with the turbulence you experience unhappiness in life. Your happiness will empower you and keep you on track. This is a rational, common sense way to accept a positive view of life and deal with the things we cannot change. Directing energy to the things that are in your choice and control will make you a happier person. Happiness is the best self-improvement plan to be a better and friendlier person. It benefits your relationships and the world you live in. It has also been proven that being happy benefits your health. There are no dues or any other charges. All it costs is the time spent to go to a meeting and learn about happiness instead of watching television for the evening. It may cost your unhappiness. What is unhappiness costing you? For more information, call 203-258-7777, email PrintLRK@aol. com or visit HappinessClub.com. Location: Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Rd, Fairfield.

xperienced depth psychotherapist and author Judith Barr works with individuals and groups exploring the mysteries of life in her Sacred Circle healing in community. Passionate about her desire to help heal and transform the planet, and committed to making a difference one-by-one and on a global scale, Judith Barr Barr brings natural gifts interwoven with life experience and professional skills to her Brookfield practice. Individuals can work with Barr one-to-one and there are a number of women who also work with Barr monthly in a committed Sacred Circle community. The women in this circle have worked deeply to heal their wounds and traumas at the root. They welcome new women to join this safe group, those who have the same intentions, commitment and longing to heal and help heal. For more information, visit JudithBarr.com.

Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

n December 10 from noon to 1:30pm, herbalist Beverly E. Lewis will teach participants how to make elderberry syrup now in order to be prepared for the approaching cold and flu “season.” During this class, you will also learn the immuneboosting benefits of elderberry syrup while preparing the syrup. Lewis will share her Beverly E. Lewis expertise in herbal medicine and provide information to help keep you and your family healthy and resilient throughout the winter months. The class is $10 per person and will take place at Shalva Clinic in Westport. Lewis also offers Reiki, shamanic healing sessions, herbal medicine classes, space clearing and distance healing, and flower essences at the clinic. For more information, call 203-916-4600, email Info@ ShalvaClinic.org, or visit ShalvaClinic.org or Facebook.com/ events/345440069338364. Location: Shalva Clinic, 8 Lincoln St, Westport. See ad, back cover.

We Are Making Spirits Bright! INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY GREAT MUSIC UPLIFITING EXPERIENCE INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES

Celebration Service Sundays at 10:30 am 3 Main St, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 (203) 855-7922 www.unitycenternorwalk.org

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

Join us for Advent Sundays: Hope, Joy, Peace & Love Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6:00 pm See all events in the calendar listings

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Rev. Shawn Moninger Minister

Celebrate the Full Moon Solstice in Woodbury

For more information, visit NewMorn. com/Classes-Events and Facebook.com/ events/342826909626344. Tickets are available online at NewMorn.givezooks.com/ events/full-moon-solstice-celebrationfullmoon-solstice-celebr and in person at the New Morning Market registers. Tilden’s music can be found at BradfordWTilden. bandcamp.com. Location: New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. See ad, page 43.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature. ~Samuel Butler

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Bio Electric Magnetic Energy Regulation

203-543-9355

BMRUniversity.com

Diahann Phillips

rystal Music Healing will host a full-moon solstice celebration on December 21 at 6pm, at New Morning Market in Woodbury. The event is part of holistic psychotherapist Bradford Tilden Sachin Hazen’s Living as Gods (Keikiananda.com) series. Bradford Tilden and Marcelo Sousa will lead the two-hour event. You will celebrate the winter solstice in conjunction with the power of the full moon when the veil between the dimensions is thin. It is the optimal time to set intentions for the new year and these will be amplified by the sonic alchemy of crystal bowls, and angelic and shamanic vocals channeled through sound healing master, Bradford Tilden. Bring a journal or notebook to write out your aspirations, dreams, hopes and visions for the future. The evening will culminate with a performance and group toning led by Tilden and Sousa to embody the unified force of collective sound.

FEATURING: BEMER

CHANGE YOUR LIFE

FOR YOU. FOR LIFE. FOR ENERGY. 630 Brooklawn Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604 Corner of Capital Ave.

diahann.phillips@bemermail.com Visit my online store: diahann-phillips.bemergroup.com Authorized Dealer

Calm Kids & Stress-Less Solutions

Teaching children practical skills to reduce anxiety

Diane Bahr-Groth CHy, TFTdx

Help their star shine!

Mind-Body Transformation Hypnosis Center

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news briefs

Celebrating the Holidays in Greenwich

CLEANSES, SPECIAL DIETS, AND MORE… short term detox • meals to freeze dinner parties • cooking classes personalized coaching programs seminars

Eliana Grubel, C.H.C.

Licensed and Insured In-home Cooking Services • Coach • Chef

203-559-8946 www.cleanfood4urtype.com

Massage Therapy

The Gift of Relaxation Specializing in: Swedish • Pregnancy • Injury • Infant Trigger Point • CranioSacral Therapy

Robin Ordan, LMT 203-561-8535

www.robinordanlmt.com Located on the Old Greenwich/Stamford Border

Positive & Nature Based Psychology Promoting well-being and resilience.

Happiness • Strength • Hope • Wisdom • Coping • Flourishing Ann C. Reeves, Psy. D, CAPP Licensed Psychologist

203-451-6208

annreevespsych@optonline.net • www.annreevespsychology.com 3 Hollyhock Lane, Wilton, CT 06897 10

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

anta and his live reindeer— Dasher, Dancer and Prancer—are coming back to Greenwich for the 10th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village and return to “the North Pole on North Street” until December 24. Visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer and also enjoy the new Santa’s Village just minutes from downtown Greenwich. The festival, village and holiday stroll are produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment, LLC. Parking is free. Throughout the month, the reindeer will make Sam Bridge their home, thanks to Pepsi, the reindeer stable sponsor. Children, adults, corporate groups and even pets (on leashes) can have their photo taken with Santa at Santa’s Workshop, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich. Photo packages begin at $29.99 and include a gift bag filled with promotions redeemable at participating downtown Greenwich stores. Hours for photos with Santa are Monday through Friday from noon to 6 pm, and Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Sam Bridge is closed on Sundays. The reindeer will depart on December 22, but Santa will remain for photos on Christmas Eve from 9am to 3pm. Also celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend, presented by Whole Foods Market, will take place on December 1 (10am-6pm) and 2 (noon-5pm). The “shop, dine and be merry” event has expanded this year to include Greenwich, Byram, Cos Cob and Riverside. There will be live music entertainment tents sponsored by Greenwich Hospital, among others. The Holiday Stroll will feature a live nativity scene, horse-drawn carriage rides, professional ice sculpture demos, a food truck village on Greenwich Avenue and letter-writing to Santa. There will be more than 140 participating retailers and restaurants offering promotions, refreshments and holiday cheer. New this year, in the season of giving, over 40 stores and restaurants will showcase a Greenwich-based nonprofit organization to bring awareness to a special cause. Twenty percent of this year’s evening sales will benefit Kids in Crisis. For more information, visit GreenwichReindeerFestival.com, Facebook.com/GreenwichReindeerFestival, Instagram.com/GreenwichReindeerFestival and Twitter.com/ReindeerGwich. Festival location: Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North St, Greenwich. Holiday stroll location: Downtown Greenwich. See ad, page 16.

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Winter Solstice Event in Fairfield

n December 22 at 4pm, participants are invited to take part in a community ceremony to welcome the full moon solstice. The event will include sound meditation healing and intention-setting using crystal and Himalayan bowls, gongs, drums, chimes and vocal toning. Suzanna Antal Proietti will lead the two-hour Suzanna Antal Proietti event, which is hosted by Spirit School of Connecticut in Fairfield. This event is a special sound ceremony and group healing session for those seeking mind-body-soul healing, a relaxing meditative experience or spiritual connection. This ceremony includes special anointing oils to deepen the meditative healing journey. Proietti has a background in life coaching, teaching, mindfulness, holistic health, and creative arts and sound. She works with individuals to understand how intention, intuition and creative gifts can enhance their capacity for empowerment and authentic potential.

Be Inspired in Creative Connection Workshop

xperience the power of movement, art, writing and drumming in a Creative Connection workshop hosted by Magical Mama at The Ruby Tree and The Ruby Tree. Stephanie Boisits, a licensed creative art therapist and board-certified dance/movement therapist, will lead the December 9 event at 1pm in Woodbury. Are you feeling stagnated in your creativity or not identifying as creative? Are you overflowing with creativity and simply want to celebrate it? Is there a quiet voice within you that is asking for your attention and time? Do you need to fortify your heart before the holidays? All inspiration and motivation are most welcome at this Creative Connection workshop. Reserve a spot as art supplies will be included. Bring a drum if you have one; supplies will be limited. The pre-registration fee is $40 or pay $45 at the door. To register, visit Paypal.me/TheRubyTree. For more information, visit Facebook.com/events/301264320489093. Location: The Ruby Tree, 670 Main St S, Sherman Village, Woodbury. See Community Resource Guide listing, page 57.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/ events/330967234369073. Location: Spirit School of Connecticut, 85 Mill Plain Rd, Ste M, Fairfield.

This Medicine of the Future is Here Now! PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Treatments & Adult Stem Cell Therapy Advances in Regenerative Medicine allow Dr. Henry Sobo to offer these cutting edge technologies.

PRP - Platelet Rich Plasma

Stem Cell Therapy

A natural and safe, non-surgical method for healing: • PRP for Hair Restoration • PRP for Arthritis/Joints • PRP for Erectile Dysfunction

• Arthritis/joint problems–avoid steroids and surgeries. • Stem cells for your joints are being used by leading doctors and institutions around the country. • Stem cells are being applied for an expanding list of many other conditions.

Call for your FREE CONSuLTATiON with Henry C. Sobo, M.D. to see if these new, safe, and natural therapies are for you.

203-348-8805 Optimal Health Medical, LLC | 111 High Ridge Rd. Stamford, CT 06905 | www.drsobo.com December 2018

Tai Chi & Chi Gong

news briefs

for Seniors in rehabilitation or homebound

Enhances overall health and wellness, improves balance, posture, immune system, strengthens muscles, and helps with depression. For more information please call:

Linda Dohanos

Tai Chi & Chi Gong Instructor Reiki Practitioner

Mindful Heart Tai Chi

Linda@mhtaichi.com • mhtaichi.com

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Ingri Boe-Wiegaard Licensed Acupuncturist

Call today for an appointment

Mention code NA44 for 20% discount Fairﬁeld 203-259-1660 | Bethel 203-778-6551 | Wilton 203-762-3646 www.ctacupuncture.com | Most insurances accepted

Explore a Personal Growth Worskhop

egin 2019 by nourishing your emotional self during a unique personal development weekend. Eileen and Patrick Howley Beginning Friday, January 11 and concluding Sunday, January 13, Patrick Howley, Eileen Howley and Kelly Falvey will facilitate a deeply caring, listening community at the Farmhouse at Wisdom House in Litchfield. They have created a safe, powerful and supportive process that combines personal growth, meditation and selfreflection. With the help of their weekly meditation group participants, they have researched and refined their approach so it fosters growth no matter where a person finds themselves on their personal growth journey. The meditation group has been meeting for 10 years and has created a deep connection using the process developed by this team. Using an integral approach, the team helps people to learn and explore common archetypal stages of development. The team helps participants integrate information they may have about their MyersBriggs type and Enneagram type. The main tool in their work however, is helping people to use a percept orientation process that fosters deep self-reflection. In their workshops they demonstrate this process by engaging in an unplanned, unrehearsed, spontaneous dialogue as they share their reflections on the inner life. Participants are then invited to “try on” a new language for self-inquiry. For more information, contact Patrick Howley at PatrickHowley0@gmail.com and visit his website at IntegralSchoolhouse.net. Workshop location: The Farmhouse at Wisdom House, 229 E Litchfield Rd, Litchfield.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Second Saturday Cacao and Sound Ceremony

n December 8 from 8 to 10pm, come celebrate community and self-healing during an evening exploring cacao, an ancient plant medicine that has been used for hundreds of years to facilitate ceremony and celebration. It is known for its heart-opening and communication-enhancing abilities. This class, hosted by Valley Spirit Cooperative & Wellness Center, runs year-round. The focus of this ceremony will be “the journey inward” as Sean Flanagan and Pauline Koinis offer support and guidance to connect with the heart. The sound healing and meditations will help support people’s experience of connecting with their bodies and opening their hearts. A safe environment will be created and held throughout the ceremony, allowing people the opportunity to be fully present and experience another way of “be-ing”. The event is $35 for pre-registered attendees and $40 at the door. For more information, call 860-619-2788, email Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com or visit ValleySpiritCoop.com. Location: Valley Spirit Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington. See ad, page 4.

Kure Spa Marks Fourth Anniversary

orwalk’s Kure Spa & Wellness Center is celebrating its fouryear anniversary. The “sanctuary for peace and healing” center’s services include heat and whole-body vibration and PEMF therapy for cellular health; massage, reflexology and Reiki for therapeutic bodywork; fascia integration and other synergistic combinations; and an organic juice bar and personalized diet planning. Kure also offers diagnostic imaging and monthly presentations on various topics. Kure Spa is one of the only places in the Northeast that is a Vibrosaun authorized clinic. Whole body vibration combined with therapeutic sauna heat relaxes the mind and eases muscles and joints, including stiff, sore areas. The user controls the level of vibration and temperature at all times during a private session. Since the gentle vibrations and sauna heat relax the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system, the treatment is beneficial before a massage or other bodywork. Vibrosaun has been used for more than 30 years in Europe and Australia. For more information, call 203-857-1500 or visit Kure-Spa.com. Location: Kure Spa & Wellness Center, 430 Main Ave, 2nd Level, Norwalk.

December 2018

news briefs

The Salt Cave of Darien Celebrates Its First Anniversary

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

he Salt Cave of Darien has celebrated its first anniversary by completing the installation of a new individual salt room. Built with the same aesthetic as the main cave, this room will be dedicated to massages, private salt cave sessions and additional services. The Himalayan salt cave alleviates stress and promotes relief from respiratory and skin conditions through the use of halotherapy. This alternative therapy is the inhalation of medical-grade salt that has healthy negative ions, 84 minerals and nutrients, and is anti-inflammatory. Many activities are offered inside the salt cave, including yoga, stretching, coffee chatters, meditation and groups that can rent the cave for private happy hours up to 12 people. Special events are held each month. There are also a wide variety of salt-related products, such as lamps, cosmetics and jewelry, offered for sale. Visitors will find a line of cosmetic products made with brine created from the health resort inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Krakow, Poland. Jewelry featuring the sand of local beaches is also available. For more information and to make an appointment, visit SaltCaveofDarien.com. Location: Salt Cave of Darien, 555 Post Rd, Darien. See ad, page 9.

Support Adults with Special Needs through Holiday Purchases

ecember 13 heralds a holiday shopping night at the YES WE CAN Gift Shop in Fairfield. Come see what they have been creating for the holidays. Shop original lines of candles, soap, dog treats and home decor products all made by young adults with special needs. Your purchases support their opportunities at employment. Light refreshments will also be available for purchase. Yes We Can provides adults with special needs the tools, training and work experience to run a successful business. Students design their own greeting cards, calendars, apparel and more. Each gift is designed and packaged by the students at The Pilot House Special Needs Center. The young adults learn marketing, sales, production and product design. For more information, visit ThePilotHouse.org/YesWeCan. Location: YES WE CAN Gift Shop, 240 Colony St, Fairfield.

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Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times, you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

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eco tip

n Save energy in tree lighting. Today’s LEDs look good, use up to 75 percent less power and typically last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, reports the U.S. Department of Energy. Turn them off when not at home and overnight.

Earth Christmas

Guide to Sustainable Merry-Making

n Consolidate shopping trips to reduce fuel emissions and buy gifts that support the community. Buy from independent, locally owned stores or galleries that showcase local artists, instead of from national retailers whose products are shipped from faraway places. Consider choosing gifts in the sustainable realm like solar-powered chargers for e-devices. Share gift certificates for holistic services or art classes. Use reusable tote bags when shopping.

There is symmetry between living in an ecoconscious manner and the spirit of Christmas. Striving for peace on Earth and good will to all can also be expressed in reducing the holiday’s impact on the planet. n Alternatives to a cut or artificial plastic Christmas tree abound. Purchase a potted tree to replant later; buy from a local Whole Foods grocer or farmers’ market, even seek out an organically grown tree; or make an artful tree from driftwood or a large houseplant.

n Give of yourself. Play outside as a family. Gift a collect-on-delivery IOU for skills or assistance based on personal talents. The most meaningful gift of all may be writing an admiring letter from the heart.

n Instead of hanging plastic icicles and placing Styrofoam ornaments on Christmas tree branches, go natural and unique. MindfulMomma.com suggests checking nearby woods or gardens for pine cones, evergreen boughs, bark, holly berries and fresh mistletoe; those living close to coastlines can pick up seashells with holes in them. TipJunkie.com guidelines include making paper ornaments and holiday yarn pieces.

n According to MotherEarthLiving.com, Americans generate 25 percent more waste during the holidays, much of it wrapping paper and cards. Don’t overdo it with tape when wrapping presents and then instruct everyone to carefully unwrap them so the paper can be stored and reused next year. Instead of buying and snail-mailing holiday cards, send emails with photo attachments of the family.

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health brief

Essential Oils on Acupuncture Points for Emotional Relief

or centuries, Chinese medicine has included the application of essential oils directly to acupuncture points to treat emotional disturbances. Essential oils are the very essence of the plant, and thus extremely potent. As with herbs, each of the oils has an affinity for several of the 12 channels in the meridian system of acupuncture. Applied directly to the correct acupuncture points, they can help bring energy flow back into balance from within the body-heartmind-spirit axis. Here are some essential oils that are commonly used to relieve emotional disturbances. • Vetiver, a rooty grass that is grounding and calming, helps with insecurities, low self- esteem, self-doubt and discouragement. It is also good for ADD/ADHD. • Rose has antidepressant qualities and is also calming, particularly for emotional relationship issues or self-sabotage. It helps with forgiveness, and transmits compassionate acceptance that helps with overcoming shame. • Clary Sage helps relieve anxiety and depression characterized by changeable moods, indecision and emotional confusion. It helps us reconnect the body and mind, facilitates deeper intuition, relieves an over-focus on sexuality, and brings greater ease in love and sex. Do not use during pregnancy. • May Chang can uplift and stimulate us while promoting calm. It clears the anxious mind, and relieves mental fatigue and fog. It helps us claim our true nature. • Bergamot is known for bringing balance to the nervous system as well as clearing agitation, conflictual thinking and holding patterns in the mind. It can help restore connections to schisms in the body-mind and heart-mind. It’s phototoxic, so avoid going in the sun with it on. It also needs to be diluted to at least 25 percent potency when placed on the skin. Avoid the face. • Roman Chamomile brings nurturing to the spaces where we feel uneasy and don’t know why, and the emptiness we carry inside ourselves. Helps reduce fear, anxiety, depression, shock, insomnia and loneliness. While essential oils have become quite popular as a self-care modality, contamination and corruption are relatively common in the essential oil business. When used medicinally, it’s highly recommended to source organic oils from a reputable company. In addition, several of the oils require substantial dilution. Without taking necessary precautions—especially during pregnancy—they can cause skin reactions or become toxic if too much is ingested. And, when overused, they can disrupt our natural rhythms; it’s best to rotate them. David London, MD, is an integrative psychiatrist with offices in Westport and Waterford. An assistant clinical professor at Yale University, he has also studied Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, functional medicine, nutrition and other natural approaches to mental and emotional health. Connect at 203-557-6574 and DavidLondonMD.com. See ad page 5.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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inspiration

Give the Gift of the Outdoors This Holiday

“E

The first article I contributed to Natural Awakenings was titled “Take a Hike with Your Kids”—and that’s my recommendation for the holidays as well. If you think it’s too late to go to someplace exotic, don’t worry. There are many beautiful places around here. Of course, my first choice would be one of the National Parks, but there’s no need to go that far. There are plenty of parks and hiking destinations nearby. Simply Google “parks near me” or “hiking near me” and you find lots of options. I am sure you’ll be amazed by what you find nearby. And winter is a great time to go for a hike. One of the best things about hiking in the woods in the winter is you can see farther and see more. With the leaves off the trees, you don’t have to get to the top of the mountain to see a beautiful panorama or the river, lake or next mountain nearby. You can see it right through the trees. So what’s my recommendation for holiday giving? Get outside. Have an adventure in the city or somewhere close. Experiences, not possessions. Roger Dubin is marketing director for Natural Awakenings and a volunteer trail supervisor for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, managing trails in South Eastern Harriman State Park. Contact him at MrNaturalNYC@gmail.com or on Instagram @ MrNaturalNYC.

by Roger Dubin

xperiences, not possessions.” I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, and I love hearing it. This is the way I live now. I no longer have to have another shirt, an extra belt or a fifth watch. I can’t possibly use all the stuff I have already. Instead I will go on another hike, or travel to someplace like Colorado or Spain. When I visit my young cousins, nephews or nieces, I see rooms filled with toys—so many that they don’t mean anything, and the kids don’t focus on what’s in front of them. They go from toy to toy, not using their imagination as they would if they had less to distract them. It’s the same thing with many adults. How many pairs of shoes do you really need? We build houses now with closets the size of rooms. Nothing is special. And when the years pass, what will the kids remember? What will you remember? Think about it. What do you remember from a few years or a few decades ago? Was it that trip to Paris or the Grand Canyon? Or was it that extra thing you got? We accumulate so much stuff these days because we are conditioned from early childhood to think that we need the latest or more of this or that. There are several reasons for this—among them the fact that it keeps the assembly lines moving and the dollars flowing, mostly upstream. But it also consumes resources and depletes the planet. And it doesn’t really help us live better lives. Once you have what you need, self-fulfillment is possible without having extra stuff. This is not a new concept. Think about Maslow and his hierarchy of human needs.

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community spotlight

TLC: A Community by Choice Connecting Fairfield’s Holistic Tribe for More than 20 Years

by Beth Leas with Nicole Miale

hen Beth Leas discovered energy healing more than 25 years ago—she practices Reiki and Jin Shin Jyutsu— she immediately felt she had found her calling. At that time people still had phone land lines so Leas had a second line put in her office to support her new energy healing practice. The answering machine message said, "You have reached the TLC Center”; it was just Leas in her spare bedroom. As the saying goes, begin with the end in mind. In 1997 Leas found space in an old Victorian house in Norwalk and created a TLC Community that to that point had only existed in her mind. “I was referring my clients to other practitioners for services I did not provide—and I thought it would be wonderful to have

a place where clients could have a choice of many holistic health services under one roof,” Leas explains. “My vision was also that it would serve as a community for the practitioners. TLC was founded with the premise that a single candle burns brighter in a gathering. There is a synergy that is born when people come together to serve the greater good.” The TLC Community began as a small group of practitioners offering private sessions and group classes and workshops out of the space. Initially most of the TLC members were holistic professionals such as medical doctors, naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, energy healers, acupuncturists, herbalists and nutritionists. Over the years, the community grew to include yoga teachers/studios, financial advisors, psychotherapists, web designers, lawyers/mediators, graphic designers and others. “It began to attract anyone whose target clientele included people who are interested in healthy living/holistic health,” Leas says. “We offer the practitioners not only community via networking and support events, but also marketing to a targeted audience of almost 5,000 people with a specific interest in healthy living.” After 20 years as Fairfield County’s largest holistic resource center, TLC lost its lease one year ago when the building was sold. Leas was initially concerned that not having a brick-and-mortar space would prove detrimental to the cohesiveness of the community but the opposite has proven true. For the past year, the TLC Community has been meeting at local restaurants and TLC members’ offices and is thriving as a result of the change. New practitioners are joining each month and Leas says members are developing deeper relationships by visiting each other’s locations instead of one central location. The staying power of the community’s connections and support for each other is exactly what Leas had in mind when she began. “Early on in my private practice, I realized the number of people I could offer healing sessions to was limited,” she says. “I realized if I supported other practitioners in growing their businesses, it would exponentially increase the number of people who could benefit.” The business coaching and mentoring services Leas provides to TLC members have proven instrumental to the growth and enhancement of countless practitioners and holistic businesses in the area. Leas says she loves supporting other practitioners/ entrepreneurs and helping them expand their ability to reach

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more clients. “It’s all about effecting greater change,” Leas explains. “Over the past 25 years, I have seen many super-gifted practitioners struggle with getting enough clients simply because the business aspect is a completely different skill set and one they just didn’t bother to learn.” The challenge inherent in coaching passionate entrepreneurs is that they are independent-thinking people by their very nature. Leas says getting people to come together sometimes feels like herding cats but she draws even the most reluctant to join in the fun offered by the larger group. “I often say our networking events are the anti-BNI,” she laughs. “We welcome everyone. I don’t believe in competition. There is plenty of business for all of us. We can all learn from one another and there is synergy in collaboration. There’s enough pie for everyone. We can always make a bigger pie!”

“… although we alone are responsible for our healing, there is tremendous power in being witnessed along the journey. We are all connected at a very deep level, though we appear separate at the surface.” Leas says despite—or perhaps because of—an abusive childhood, she has always been a "the more, the merrier" kind of person. Having a place for people to come together—a center— appealed to her in part because it created an opportunity for her to do her own deep healing around the meaning of family. Her personal healing journey began when she was 15 and learned to meditate as a way to deal with the harsh reality of being a trauma survivor. She discovered a powerful lifelong practice which decreased her anxiety and helped her process traumatic events. “We can’t take people where we haven’t been. I have spent 40 years meditating, writing, in therapy, receiving energy healing, acupuncture, massage, doing yoga, more therapy,” Leas says. “Through it all, I came to understand that although we alone are responsible for our healing, there is tremendous power in being witnessed along the journey. We are all connected at a very deep level, though we appear separate at the surface.” Leas’ vision for TLC continues to evolve. She would love to help build TLC Communities in other areas and link the TLC Communities. She enjoys creating connections and nurturing relationships and wants to explore synergistic collaborations. She says, “Community isn’t a luxury—it’s essential to our well-being. As our extended families grow further apart in modern times, finding and supporting our communities of choice becomes all the more important.” For more information, connect with Beth Leas at 203-856-9566 or visit 203TLC.com for a directory of practitioners and to sign up for the newsletter including a list of upcoming events. See ad, page 25. Nicole Miale is Publisher of Natural Awakenings Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley, CT and Natural Awakenings of Greater Hartford, CT. Connect at NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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A GLOBAL WAKE-UP CALL Collective Consciousness Nears Spiritual Tipping Point

by Linda Sechrist

all it enlightenment, awakening, transcendence, self-realization or any of the myriad terms used to describe the ultimate higher state of consciousness. People have been seeking it for millennia, but beyond peak experiences of heightened awareness, only a few spiritual figures, Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha among them, are known to have lived in this exalted state. Yet, an unprecedented awakening has been underway since the 19th century.

Modern-Day Advances

Humanity’s collective consciousness took an unexpected turn in 1968 after The Beatles captured the world stage. The iconic British group became agents of change in more ways than music when 22

their search for answers to life’s big questions led them to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s spiritual center in Rishikesh, India. Their interest in Transcendental Meditation (TM) sparked a surge of interest in enlightenment and meditation, providing the West with a popular means of cultivating higher states of awareness. A movement to bring about global awakening has been growing ever since. Fresh impetus, in the form of quantum physics, the science of yoga and spiritual practices rooted in ancient cultures, disseminated by books, teachings by spiritual luminaries and websites such as Conscious. TV, has exposed millions to the concept of consciously participating in the evolution of humanity to bring about a world that works for all.

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In 2000, Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, provided a ray of hope for the estimated 50 million individuals involved in the world enlightenment movement by introducing the concept of critical mass. This occurs when an unshakable belief is held by 10 percent of the population. Scientists that tested the phenomenon at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in upstate New York, discovered, “Once that number grows above 10 percent, the idea spreads like flame.” Mahesh predicted that only 1 percent of humanity is needed to create enough good vibrations to usher in world peace. While the figures required to reach this critical mass can be debated, it’s certain that the old ways no longer work, and we are quickly running out of time to adopt viable solutions to mounting global crises. Despite this sense of urgency, we have no clear idea of where we are on the scale of transformation. Yet leading voices point to promising signs of progress in a developing collective awareness that acknowledges life’s interconnectedness and embodies life-affirming beliefs and values.

Global Consciousness Accountants

Deepak Chopra, a physician, pioneering author and co-founder of Jiyo.com living in California and New York, believes that we may be in a phase of the necessary transformational shift, experiencing disruption along with the emergence of a new paradigm. “The ultimate goal with our Jiyo.com community, a collective well-being project, is to build a critical mass of people that will create a more peaceful, just and harmonious inner and outer world,” says Chopra. It begins with personal transformation through yoga, meditation, pranayama breathing exercises, nutrition, sleep, personal growth and relationships that enhance awareness. “Evolution should be gradual and comfortable,” he says. Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, in Beverly Hills, believes humanity is in the midst of an emerging renaissance

Benjavisa Ruangvaree/Shutterstock.com

Attaining Critical Mass

Benjavisa Ruangvaree/Shutterstock.com

of kindness, love and compassion, with millions embracing the planet as a living being. “This isn’t making news because mainstream journalists are still reporting from an old worldview,” he says. Beckwith, a renowned minister and teacher for 40 years, leads a 9,000-strong trans-denominational spiritual community. He remarks, “Those of us focused on adding our energy to the global enlightenment movement see aspects of it emerging in changes such as health care rather than sick care, businesses adopting multiple bottom lines of people, planet and purpose—rather than only profit—and the shift from a me to we consciousness.” Dianne Collins, author of Do You QuantumThink?: New Thinking that Will Rock Your World, in Miami, suggests it’s time to wake up to the fact that we are living in a quantum age and still using thought and language shaped by the Industrial Age. She discovered a burgeoning underground culture that she calls the “consciousness crowd” while researching her book tour audience.

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“These individuals are using new thinking and recognizing the worldview of interconnectedness based on modern science. The media doesn’t recognize that thinkers such as these represent the new mainstream, and no one realizes the tipping point is already here,” she says. Cate Montana, author of The E-Word: Ego, Enlightenment and Other Essentials, in Hawaii, likewise is convinced the movement has reached critical mass and is hopeful the perceived tipping point is closer than we think. “Every moment we’re awake, we’re being conditioned to believe in our limited physical nature and separation from everyone and everything around us. This is why we must re-educate ourselves regarding our full nature,” she says. News headlines of global conflicts and ecological decimation make it appear that we are regressing, Montana says, but we are not going backwards. “The nature of life is growth, expansion and evolution. As one example, some among the medical community now accept the validity of energy practices such as acupuncture, tai chi,

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Truth is what we are. It is our essential nature and Being. It is the pure Self, the limitless One, the ultimate reality—it is awareness itself. But we have become unaware of the magnificence of our true nature on account of our upbringing, conditioning and education, which paint a very different picture of who we are—and all of which we believe. ~Mooji

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

Coming Together

Today, an estimated 5 million people practice TM, which has been incorporated into some schools, universities, corporations and prison programs in the U.S., Latin America, Europe and India. “Those learning this meditation practice number as many as 30,000 to 40,000 a year, which significantly contributes a positive effect to the collective consciousness,” says John Hagelin, a leader of the TM movement in the U.S. Hagelin, president and professor of physics at the Maharishi University of Management, in Fairfield, Iowa, has been leading a scientific investigation into the foundations of human consciousness for 25 years. He’s one of the world’s preeminent researchers on the effects of meditation on brain development. “I think that we are much closer to a global spiritual tipping point than ever before,” he says. Ron Dalrymple, Ph.D., a quantum field psychologist practicing in Fort Myers, Florida, believes the threshold is close and that his quantum unified field theory explained in his film, The Endless Question, can win over skeptics. “I use mathematics, science and storytellers that have studied consciousness to explain in lay language my theory, which proposes that the mind is an energy field that extends beyond the brain, and its nucleus is the superconscious. Viewers are led to the undeniable reality of what we all are and to the need for creating a culture of enlightenment where we encourage and inspire one another to greatness,” says Dalrymple, author of Quantum Field Psychology: The Thoton Particle Theory. Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo, founders of the Science and Nonduality Conference (SAND), agree that individual awakening and the collective movement toward the understanding of our fundamental oneness is crucial to social transformation. Their nonprofit organization is designed to foster a new relationship with spirituality that is both based on timeless wisdom traditions and informed by cutting-edge science. For 10 years, biannual SAND conferences have energized the global enlightenment movement (ScienceAndNonduality.com). Early audiences of 300 individuals now number from 800 to 1,000, and often include business people and trainers developing programs for workplaces. “Understanding the new science that points to consciousness as all-pervasive and the fundamental building block of reality can change what it means to be human, as well as possibly make violence and economic, social and political crises things of the past,” says Zaya. Thus, the spread of awareness and the harmonic convergence of science, psychology and spiritual thought seem to be bringing humanity closer to the enlightenment that has been elusive for millennia. “Tremendous progress is being made, and I am confident that within a year or two, we’ll see a victory for the enlightened evolutionary forces already present on the planet,” says Hagelin. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.

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Personal Development

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Learning with Horses Carrie Brady Possibilities Farm Wilton 203-210-7484 LifeYouveImagined@gmail.com PossibilitiesFarm.com

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Tesa Baum, CHT, RM Certified Hypnotherapy Practitioner, Usui/Karuna Reiki Master, Shamanic Practitioner Ridgefield 203-364-4084 TesaBaum.com

December 2018

Mastering Yoga

www.RichardNesdale.com

The yoga community in Fairfield County and the Housatonic Valley has never been more vibrant! This section provides connections to studios and teachers in the area, as well as helpful editorial to support your efforts to improve your practice.

Finding Spiritual Connection

Bhakti Communities Foster Kindness and Love by Lisa Day-Lewis

any people start their search for spiritual community at a young age, when they may start asking questions like: Why am I here? What is the purpose of suffering? What will happen to me when I die, and how should I live my life? One of the books that addresses these questions is Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada came to the U.S. in 1966, bringing with him only his love of God and religious texts that outline the path to God through “Bhakti”, or devotion. With no money or backers, on the strength of his devotion he managed to establish a worldwide movement in Bhakti Yoga, establishing temples, centers and restaurants worldwide. What do these temples and centers look like today, and where are they? One 26

such example exists in Glastonbury in an old church, relocated from East Hartford where it began. When one enters any of the temples associated with Srila Prabhupada’s movement, they will experience a feast for the senses. Contrary to Buddhist traditions, Bhakti teaches that rather than detaching from the world and withdrawing from sense gratification, one can get closer to Krishna or God by engaging the senses in His Service. Accordingly, incense fill the air, and there are brightly colored altars with statues of Radha and Krishna and other ornately decorated deities. The altars are regularly covered with flowers and during worship time, or “arati”. One may see a woman or man dressed in traditional Indian garments offering various items to the deities such as candles, essential oils—or even waving

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a large fan made out of peacock feathers in the warmer weather. During arati, a group of musicians will play lively music featuring drums, a small pump piano and cymbals, while the congregation chants back in the call-and-response fashion that is typical of “kirtan”. Cooking and preparing meals for Krishna is central to the Bhakti community. After meals are offered at the altar, the congregation takes part in receiving the remnants, which they call prashadam. Prashadam is typically vegetarian Indian cuisine, but can be any vegetarian dish that is prepared with love and for the divine. Locally, there are many places to learn about and experience Bhakti, both within an ISKCON temple and without. One of the core principles of Bhakti is that one can get to know God through developing an intimate relationship with Him. That relationship can be like any of the relationships we experience as humans—as a lover, a parent, a friend or a child. The idea is that by engaging God in a relationship that feels natural for us, we will be better able to serve Him. For instance, if a person has a strong maternal inclination, they can worship the form of Krishna as a toddler, who is called Gopal, and in doing so it will come easily and naturally to them. Since God is limitless, he can manifest in countless forms, has countless names and possesses all of the qualities that make him attractive. The word Krishna actually means “all-attractive”. Another component of practicing Bhakti that is helpful for newcomers is the idea that Krishna, similar to a human, appreciates it when people are kind to his followers, or devotees. So when practicing Bhakti, one actually receives the most benefit from being kind to or

Contrary to Buddhist traditions, Bhakti teaches that rather than detaching from the world and withdrawing from sense gratification, one can get closer to Krishna or God by engaging the senses in His Service. “serving” Krishna’s devotees. This becomes an especially important principle when one accepts a guru as their primary teacher, because by learning to serve that teacher or guru, one is able to make progress on the path of Bhakti even if he or she is not very experienced in the traditions, etiquette or methods of pleasing Krishna. As with most religious traditions, it might be daunting at first trying to understand the extent of all of the various rituals and etiquette, but if a practitioner is sincere, there is no reason to feel discouraged. There is a quote early in the BhagavadGita, chapter 2 verse 40, which is the main text of the Bhakti tradition that speaks to this: “In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”

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Locally, there are many places to learn about and experience Bhakti, both within an ISKCON temple and without. The temple in Glastonbury is run by disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and a new center is opening in Willimantic within the same tradition. To learn more before visiting a temple, a great place to start is the documentary released in 2017 called Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All. Lisa Day-Lewis joined ISCKON in 1998 at The Boston Temple on Commonwealth Ave. In February, she and a partner will be opening The Bhakti Center CT, in Willimantic. The Bhakti Center will offer classes and training in Bhakti as well as yoga and Ayurveda. Connect at AhimsaAyurveda.co, Facebook.com/AhimsaAyurveda or Facebook.com/BhaktiCenterCT.

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EILIS PHILPOTT

Soul Healing Journey, LLC •Academy for Soul Healing 203-767-5954 • Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com • AcademyForSoulHealing.com

How do you define “community”?

Community is a group of people who are bonded on a very deep level. They are our soul family and often can give us the love and support that our family of origin cannot. They may come from many different walks of life but somehow feel a connection they cannot logically explain but feel intensely.

How was your community started?

SPIRITED COMMUNITY Local Leaders Do Good to Benefit All

he region covered by this magazine is large and diverse, inclusive of busy cities, leafy suburbs and farm towns. What all areas of the territory have in common is a plethora of terrific individuals who have made “doing good” their raison d’etre. In so doing, they have inspired and continue to inspire many others along the way. They are leaders of spirit and heart, blazing trails for others to discover. This month we invited some noteworthy holistic community leaders to speak directly to our readers about what community means to them, what gets them excited about what they do and what they look forward to in the coming days. This feature is not exhaustive but simply a snapshot of the great work being done all over our area. We could have doubled the size of the feature and still had more names on our list to invite for submissions! Each day, as you make your way through life, know that all around you are people like the ones featured here. They are people who represent organizations dedicated to the improvement, happiness and integrity of our world. We are never alone and the people surrounding us are truly remarkable. Take the time to acknowledge the spirited leaders in your life. These are people who make you feel excited, hopeful and purposeful about the things you do or want to do. The primary thread that binds community is no longer location, but a sense of shared ethos and mission. Find people who resonate with you, get to know them, collaborate with them and then shine your own light, bigger and better because you were able to cocreate within a soulful community! 28

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

My community has grown from my desire to teach. I received the energy of the 13th Octave (joining with Source while still in a human body), and then a few years later the 13th Octave LaHoChi in the early 2000s. I knew part of my purpose and mission was to spread this powerful, all-encompassing energy to all who were ready to receive it. I also needed to share the information and the energies of all I have learned from this lifetime and many others. To this end, the Academy for Soul Healing came about, and in 2019, I am teaching A Year of Healing in Norwalk. I was shown a vision of what the Academy is to be. In this vision, I see that rather than many of us having individual pieces of the puzzle, we are moving into the integration of all we have learned and remembered in this and many lifetimes, to make the puzzle whole and complete. It is the integration of many modalities in their purest form being used to support the growth and expansion of humanity, individually and on a global scale.

What makes you feel most inspired about the community you have been instrumental in building?

Over the past two years, many of my students are now stepping forward into their roles on a larger scale. Many feel so connected with their fellow students that they can give and receive as never before. In 2019, many of them will take their personal and joint spiritual journey to new heights when they attend A Year of Healing. I accidentally started this community. I didn’t fully realize the impact of connecting like-minded people and it’s such a joy to witness.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings readers to know about the community you represent and its mission/members?

When I teach any class the modalities I know, the information, techniques and processes students learn are only the surface layer of what is going on in those trainings. Some students want to be practitioners and learn the “how to.” Others don’t necessarily want to be practitioners but want to clear whatever is getting in the way of living their truth. There are many layers below the surface—just like an iceberg—that will be happening for each and every person attending every class I teach. The above surface level is the “doing” part of the training, while below surface there will be so much more happening. We are transforming Earth into a planet based on love and to do that we have been and are continuing to clear out anything not of love. We are also learning how to accept and acknowledge ourselves as the divine beings that we are, right here, right now.

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UNITY CENTER OF NORWALK

3 Main St., 2nd Fl (above Ford Dealership), Norwalk 203-855-7922 • Office@UnityCenterPS.org UnityCenterPS.org / UnityCenterNorwalk.org Facebook.com/UnityCenterforPracticalSpirituality Twitter.com/UnityNorwalkCT

How do you define “community”? A community is a group of individuals who have the same values and are on the same or similar search for a higher understanding.

How was your community started?

It began as a fellowship in Norwalk after breaking off from another fellowship in Bridgeport. It has evolved as members’ minds and hearts have opened further and Divine Ideas have stepped into play. The individuals have become more committed to a spiritual community that they are passionate about.

What makes you feel most inspired about the community you have been instrumental in building?

It has led me to a greater expression of myself. I have witnessed the teachings in action through the individual expression of the group. This community is creative. They have allowed themselves to open to their creative selves. They are singing, not just in church, but in professional venues. They have opened cabaret rooms and gotten themselves cast in shows. Others have opened businesses and therapeutic healing venues.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings readers to know about the community you represent and its mission/members?

Our mission is to continually discover, demonstrate and educate that our “source of good” is God within. Whether you call that power God or another name, it must be recognized as a power within each person that leads to amazing demonstrations of confidence, poise and joy.

CHRISTEL AUTUORI, RDH, RYT, MA, DIRECTOR Institute for Holistic Health Studies Western Connecticut State University AutuoriC@WCSU.edu • WCSU.edu/IHHS 181 White St, Rm. 103, Danbury

How do you define “community”?

A community is a group of people who share common interests, values, passions, practices, and ideals.

How was your community started?

The Institute for Holistic Health Studies at WCSU began in the early 21st century by the efforts of now retired faculty member Dr. Jeannette Tedesco. It has been growing and attracting interest from the WCSU community and the greater Danbury community. The institute offers workshops, programs and lectures in the holistic and integrative approach to health and wellness.

What makes you feel most inspired about the community you have been instrumental in building?

I am inspired most by the excitement and passion that our WCSU students have for the holistic and integrative approach, which encompasses and intertwines the best of Western medicine and non-Western modalities. The students are open-minded and eager to embrace and practice this multidimensional and integrative approach. Many of our students, upon learning about meditation, Reiki, aromatherapy, naturopathy and other non-Western healing modalities, become interested in pursuing a career in the field of holistic and integrative health.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings readers to know about the community you represent and its mission/members?

The IHHS programs, lectures and workshops are open to everyone. Nearly all of our offerings are free of charge and open to the public. We invite educators, practitioners and professionals to join us in sharing information about the holistic and integrative approach to health and well-being.

December 2018

MIRIAM ZERNIS

STEPHANIE L. BESSON

Sita’s Light Kirtan SitasLight@SitasLight.com • SitasLight.com

203-491-7581 InnerStrength3@gmail.com StephanieBessonLMT.weebly.com CTWellness.weebly.com

How do you define “community”?

To me, community is being with others who have no fear of being themselves. They express their true essence through dialogue, spiritual practices like meditation and chanting, and joyful celebrations of life passages including milestone birthdays, childbirth, retirement. A community is also what happens when someone is ill and/or facing death, and the offering of comfort and love through the process.

How was your community started?

My community of kirtan, or devotional chanting, started many years ago as an offshoot of my traditional yoga training. I felt others could join me in the raising of energy and vibration of body, mind and soul, even on a small level. At first, we gathered in small spaces like living rooms in private homes; that has now evolved to yoga studios, sacred spaces and even during retreats, complementing other spiritual work.

What makes you feel most inspired about the community you have been instrumental in building?

I am always inspired by the look on people’s faces after they participate in chanting events with us. The peace and joy is the reason I continue, because to me it is a form of service. Anything we can do to uplift others brings us to our highest good as humans. For some, that means charitable works; for others, volunteering in a senior center. To me, it is to gather in community to sing with others and spend even just an hour from time to time in the love and support of each other on the journey of life.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings readers to know about the community you represent and its mission/members?

Kirtan is for everyone and transcends all boundaries of religion, race, age, gender or any other labels we isolate ourselves in. It is an invitation to open the heart and sing, meditate, sit quietly, dance or just breathe in a safe, non-judgmental and loving space with others who crave the same freedoms to connect to their soul’s longing. The outcome is often a deep sense of peace that can nurture and protect us all from the trials and tribulations we may encounter in our day-to-day lives.

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How do you define “community”?

Community to me is a safe place to be seen in our authentic selves in order to grow into our highest personal potential. Communities that are a fit are not about what they give to us but what they bring out of us.

How was your community started?

Our online community known as CT Health and Wellness Practitioners, as well as our community that meets for our Soulful Connections Gatherings, was started because of a mission to bring practitioners with different knowledge bases/ skill sets, different traditions, and modalities that collectively practice from a place of compassion together. The goal is to offer the best of health and wellness to our larger communities.

What makes you feel most inspired about the community you have been instrumental in building?

What inspires me the most about our community is when authentic connections are made.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings readers to know about the community you represent and its mission/members? I’d like people to know that our community is � about creating relationships that are close to our hearts and that can last a lifetime or more.

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DORIS HANLEY 203-470-4666 DorisJuicePlus@gmail.com DHanley.JuicePlus.com DHanley.TowerGarden.com Shred10.com

How do you define “community”?

I define it as a group of individuals that feel a sense of connection to one another for a multitude of reasons— whether it is similar interests, values, locations or beliefs—there is a common thread that binds them.

How was your community started?

When someone is in alignment with themselves, people who align in a similar way appear. My own life experiences led me down a path of self-awareness, self-improvement, and a quest for better health and life balance. I have a strong connection to mind-body-soul balance. As a result, I attract those types of people into my life. I believe in layers of community. For instance, my personal quest for “taking healthy back” was something I quickly realized many people were also pursuing. I was surrounded by health and wellness practitioners who had so much to offer. My own team, called Team Energy, shares a mission of “inspiring healthy living around the world.”

What makes you feel most inspired about the community you have been instrumental in building?

It has been my experience that the people I attract want to improve themselves in some way. The quest for personal growth might be the thread that binds us. Personally, I believe that everyone deserves to live up to their potential and have the health to enjoy it. I build teams of loving, supportive, dynamic people who are making a positive difference in thousands of lives at this point. That inspires me. When I first set out on my own healing journey, I felt alone and unsure of myself. Once I took my own “power back”, taking healthy back was so easy.

What do you most want Natural Awakenings readers to know about the community you represent and its mission/members?

Being a part of Team Energy has been the key to becoming the best version of myself I could imagine. Our team believes that we should all follow our dreams, believe in ourselves and lead with our hearts. We help people take healthy back one person at a time. We believe that financial and nutritional fitness go hand in hand. Striving for mind-body-soul balance makes room for many more blessings to come your way.

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years. In this Spirit of Community edition, we asked Miale about the role the magazine currently plays and what is next for this edition.

How do you define the role of Natural Awakenings in the local community?

Natural Awakenings: Serving the Community for Nearly 15 Years

Fairfield County Seeks New Steward

hen the first Natural Awakenings edition was published in Naples, Florida, 25 years ago this month, it was to fill a specific community need. Founder Sharon Bruckman wanted to make it easier for people in her area to find information in one place about local farmers’ markets and healthy living

activities and events. This may seem quaint in the post-Google era we’re in now, but Natural Awakenings was born from one woman’s honest desire to help people be informed. That mission is what has informed Nicole Miale’s leadership as publisher of the Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley edition during the past five and a half

This magazine is an extension of the people in the community and a reflection of the interests and passions expressed there. The magazine is for, by and about the local community. Natural Awakenings continues to be a free community resource, supported 100% by members of the community and containing news and educational articles from many others. We connect people in the area who need and want help with people and products they think may help them. We work hard to be actively involved in the community: introducing new businesses, sponsoring events, having a visible presence at workshops and fairs; distributing the magazine at more than a thousand local businesses. The more people who can find us, the more people we can help. That’s my job; to ensure the magazine is easy to find all over the broad area and packed with information people can use to improve their daily lives.

How long has the Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley edition been publishing? I’m the third owner of this franchise; Natural Awakenings will have been pub-

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lishing in Fairfield County for 15 years in June 2019. It is the oldest Natural Awakenings franchise in the Northeast and for the past five years has consistently been one of the largest franchises in the country. The magazine’s success in recent years has been gratifying for me and the team but mostly it is a mirror for the limitless energy and ability of the people in the local community. It’s pretty phenomenal to appreciate that, in part because of their involvement with the magazine, many practitioners, businesses and enterprises first established themselves and have been thriving for years.

What is most rewarding to you about publishing Natural Awakenings?

The knowledge that information we provide has lasting value and, in some cases, life-altering meaning for so many people. When someone comes up to me at an event and says, “I love your magazine!” I say, “Great! Thank you. Please tell me what you love about it and tell me what we can do better.” I am passionately concerned with the reader’s experience. The goal is to consistently create and put out a high quality product that inspires, educates and informs on subjects that may be new to many. When I hear that faculty members at the Institute of Holistic Health Studies at WCSU have used some of the magazine’s articles as required reading for their modules, I know we’re doing something right. I am proud of the impact that our collective work is having.

What brought you to this work?

My passion for service is in my DNA. Compassion and concern for others were modeled for me by my parents. I’m a seeker by nature; no matter what job I held before—writing, publishing, sales, and education—I tried to go beyond and make it better. I looked for rough spots so I could help smooth them out and break new ground. I brought that “change for the better” mindset to my role as publisher by creating new editorial sections, and building partnerships and collaborations with other community organizations. Empowering people to make positive change is rewarding. My ongoing challenge is to get more people involved in the magazine each month. I feel like I’m doing my readers a disservice if something innovative is happening in the area and I haven’t yet included it in the magazine.

What might surprise readers about you?

My deep fascination for the diverse subject matter we cover has surprised people over the years. At no time has publishing Natural Awakenings ever been ‘just’ a business for me; I’m passionate about the information in our pages. I am a certified energy practitioner myself (Reiki and 13th Octave/LaHoChi) and I hold a master’s degree in integrative health and healing, in addition to my undergraduate journalism degree. I haven’t wanted the magazine to be about me. It turns me off when a publisher makes their magazine too much about their interests and ventures (yes, I’m talking to you, Oprah!). My focus has been on how I can support others and how I can, through the magazine, contribute to the overall health and growth of the communities in the area.

HEALTHY LIVING

HEALTHY PLANET

2019 EDITORIAL CALENDAR

JAN

Feature: Mental Wellness Plus: Multiculturalism in Health

NATURAL LIVING DIRECTORY

FEB

Feature: Cardiovascular Health Plus: Socially Conscious Investing

NATURAL FOOD ISSUE

MAR APR

Feature: Inflammation Overload Plus: Herbal Wisdom Feature: Lyme Disease Plus: Evolving Living Arrangements

WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE

MAY JUNE

Feature: Personal Empowerment Plus: Mysticism and Medicine Feature: Traditional Chinese Medicine Plus: Holistic Vision and Dentistry

LOCAL FOOD ISSUE

JULY AUG

Feature: Urban and Suburban Agriculture Plus: Natural Beauty Feature: Autism Spectrum Plus: Healthy Relationships

HEALING MUSIC & MOVEMENT ISSUE

SEPT

Features: Sound, Music, Yoga and Dance Therapies Plus: Vibrant at Any Age

ALIGNMENT & LONGEVITY ISSUE

OCT NOV DEC

Features: Chiropractic and Orthopedic Care Plus: Healing with Frequencies Feature: Hormonal Health Plus: Natural Sleep Solutions and Healthy Home Feature: Uplifting Humanity Plus: Earth-Friendly Holidays

December 2018

What’s on the horizon for the magazine in 2019?

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Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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We’re on the verge of a big change in the coming year. For a variety of reasons, I have decided the time has come for me to step away from publishing the Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley, CT edition. I am now making the franchise available for sale. Reaching this decision has been a long time coming. It has not been easy because I truly love what I do and the people I work with. At the same time, there are other things I’m being called to do now. The clarion call of those initiatives is becoming too loud to ignore. Taking over the magazine in 2013 was divinely-guided; so too is this coming change. Because of that, I know there is someone ready and waiting for the opportunity to lead this edition into the future. They will have the chance to redefine its mission again, extend its reach even further and build more community significance for the next chapter.

Will you be running the magazine until that new leader appears?

Yes, absolutely. I’m not going anywhere until the magazine has competent new hands on the reins! Until then, I look forward to continuing the work of supporting the diverse and dynamic communities of Fairfield and southern Litchfield Counties. I will continue to provide intentional leadership for the collaborators, readers and advertisers I am so grateful to work with each month. When I took over the magazine I knew I was stepping into a role that would enable me to empower tens of thousands of people in their efforts to change and become better, happier versions of themselves. I didn’t realize until recently how profoundly doing this work has empowered and changed me as well. I feel incredibly blessed to have held this role and had the opportunity to serve so many. For more information about the sale of Natural Awakenings Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley, CT, contact Nicole Miale at 203-885-4674 or NicoleM@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. See ad, page 37.

From In to Out of the Box Gifts Found After Job Loss

by Linda Derick

e arrive at work one day, and without notice, our position has been eliminated, and we have no or little time to wrap up and leave. Our job may be our life work, financial security, our community and the structure through which we know who we are. Perhaps we have had a premonition, or increasing levels of strain and signs leading up to this conclusion, but still it is a shock to the whole system. In recent years many people have experienced lay-offs or reduction in force (RIF) job eliminations. What happens when we are suddenly thrust out of the box and find ourselves out on our own and vulnerable? As one tumbles through the many layers of shock, loss and recovery, it is possible to find grace during this transition. In creating a new life, the challenge becomes how to keep feet on the ground, connected to our inner wisdom and life goals, even as the newness has not yet transitioned into a new normal. For better or worse, working in the box, we grow accustomed and habituated to functioning within a kind of safety, predictability and assurance. Leaving that safety is a shock. “Psychological shock is when you experience a surge of strong emotions and a corresponding physical reaction, in response to a (typically unexpected) stressful event,” explains Alice Boyes, PhD, on PsychologyToday.com. “You may feel jittery or physically sick... Your mind will likely feel very foggy, and you can’t think

straight. You may feel out of body. You may feel anger and want to scream or yell. Since it’s hard to think straight when you’re in shock, you should give yourself a chance to calm down before acting. You need to give yourself a few minutes (or months) for your rational brain to take over—or at least to rejoin the party.” Barbara Kingsolver’s new book, Unsheltered: A Novel, touches on some of the aspects of losing the shelter of one’s job: “No creature is easily coerced to live without its shelter… Without shelter, we feel ourselves likely to die…Without shelter, we stand in daylight.” It can be so scary to be thrust out of the box, the known-ness, the routine, the community, the confidence of skillful, experienced helmsmanship, the financial assurance. Yet there can also be a sense of freedom; the exhilaration of being released from a box that had grown tight, restrictive or even soul-killing. This is potentially blissful, if you can surf the fear and stand in the daylight. There can be grace from a position of unsheltered vulnerability when we have been kicked to the curb. Wise teachers will tell you that life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you. Can you negotiate these “gifts” of free fall, skinned knees and broken heart, with equanimity and courage—and most of all, with loving kindness to this sweet tender soul that is searching for its full, sacred expression of the chip-off-theold-Buddha-block that it is?

As you negotiate the creation of your new life, there are many survival skills that can support grace. Mindfulness meditation calms and disciplines the mind, and physical activity is a great stress reliever. The practice of yoga and therapeutic massage can support us through life’s many transitions, whether surprises or planned. Relaxation and mindful awareness provide a base from which to remain centered and to find our next step, with confidence and grace. What we practice on the mat or on the massage table, we carry into our daily lives. We practice equanimity—calm amidst intensity. We practice finding balance between working hard and letting go. By practicing together, we support ourselves and one another in a community of breath, movement and peaceful attention. A commonly practiced yoga posture known as camatkarasana is often referred to as “wild thing”, but its name also means “the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart”. The translation from Sanskrit can also mean miracle or surprise. As we practice, we get stronger, more yielding and assured that yes, grace is all around all the time. With each anniversary (weekly, monthly, a year out), take time to notice how you are changing as you grow through the transition. Kingsolver says, “We are given to live in a remarkable time. When the nuisance of old mythologies falls away from us, we may see with new eyes.” If losing your job, getting thrown from the box, should happen to you, take heart. You are not alone. You will find your way through this shattering time and perhaps find yourself growing into and seeing from a new vantage point of your whole, sweet self. Linda Derick, MA, MA, RYT, LMsT, has been practicing yoga for 50 years and has been a licensed massage therapist for 40 years. She is a certified Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) instructor and runs the SUP Yoga program on Andover Lake in the summer. A Yoga Alliance certified instructor, Derick teaches all-level yoga classes as well as yoga for people with movement disorders for the “Beat PD: Boxing for Parkinson’s” program. Connect at Willin@comcast.net or find Yoga & Massage Therapy at Andover Lake on Facebook. December 2018

Do you filter?

Consciously Create the Second Phase of Your Life Choice is a Great Power; Use it Wisely

by Tom Scally

any of us are at a crossroads of some kind, ready for change but unsure what comes next. Consciously creating the next phase is something we all need to do at some point. How do we do that? A recent study from Harvard suggested that 90 percent of our day is spent on autopilot; our thoughts, words, actions and behavioral patterns are done automatically. Before you decide to suddenly become someone you are not, it is best to realize who you are right now. This type of selfexamination can help you make better decisions further down the new path you choose. If things are good but not great, you may be settling. So it may not be long before your inner voice starts challenging you to reach for more. Instead of letting your subconscious patterns make the choices for you, take that power back. Choice is our greatest power, more powerful than love. For instance, you choose if you love conditionally or unconditionally. How would you honestly answer if asked how you choose to love? It will tell you a lot about yourself and whether or not you are “fit enough” to take yourself into a new phase. Maybe you need to do more self-examination before proceeding.

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We all filter; but the sooner you are aware of it, the sooner you can improve your relationships with yourself first and foremost, and then those around you. Filtering is a classic subconscious pattern, and one that can keep you in the cycle of pain and pleasure. You are doing one of two things when engaging others. You are either listening, which is being present, or hearing, which is just waiting to talk and, in this case, filtering. The second keeps you stuck and missing big opportunities to transform a key area of your life. The differences in engaging can cause stress and communication gaps in relationships. For example, you may come home one day and excitedly tell your spouse about an action you are going to take. S/he could turn to you stating that they have been telling you that for years, but you only acted when you heard it from someone else. It might be helpful to become a better listener more often. These may be indicative of some of your struggles that you are not aware of. Before you can consciously create the second phase of your life, investigate where and who you are now. It may help to work with a guide, coach or mentor to efficiently get answers now rather than spending time learning by trial and error. The latter may eventually end up costing you more than coaching due to lost time, money and missed opportunities.

What pattern controls you?

Recognizing your patterns and changing them is bringing them from your subconscious to conscious. What would happen if you simply cut out the bad habits, stopped indulging in limited thinking, and ceased believing the negative thoughts floating in your mind? When you do, you will be happier, evolving as effectively as possible by learning about yourself and your environment rather than changing to improve it. You will have more freedom with less anxiety and stress. Having more control in your life and not simply reacting to whatever comes up will enable you to become your own coach at your own speed. Tom Scally is an intuitive life and stress coach. He has worked with hundreds of clients, facilitated workshops and presented seminars. His mission is to help unlock your hidden talents and abilities so you can live a life by design and not default. Connect at Tom@TomScally.com and TomScally.com.

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Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be a publisher? Are you interested in a meaningful career? Curious about franchise opportunities?

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For more information: Call 203-885-4674 or email NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com December 2018

Dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cacao can have positive effects on stress levels, inflammation, mood, memory and immunity, according to two new studies from Loma Linda University, in California. Ten participants ate a 48-gram bar of dark chocolate at the beginning of each study and then ate a piece of dark chocolate every two hours when they were awake for several days. Blood tests revealed the chocolate heightened sense perception and nervous system responsiveness and increased both anti-inflammatory agents and infection-fighting cells. Gamma waves recorded by an electroencephalogram (EEG) suggested the treat could positively impact cognitive function and creativity even two hours after eating it.

Rosemary Lowers the Blues, Aids Sleep and Memory

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TABLE

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In a double-blind, randomized study at Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 68 university students took either 500 milligrams of rosemary or a placebo each day for one month. Those taking the rosemary saw their levels of anxiety and depression significantly reduced and their memory scores boosted by 14 percent; students reporting nights of good sleep rose from 47 percent to 62 percent.

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Scientists at Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Neumayer Station III, in Antarctica, have harvested their first crop of vegetables grown without soil, daylight or pesticides as part of a project designed to help astronauts cultivate fresh food on other planets. They picked about eight pounds of salad greens, 18 cucumbers and 70 radishes grown inside a high-tech greenhouse as outside temperatures dropped to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. NASA has successfully grown greens on the International Space Station, but the Antarctic project aims to produce a wider range of vegetables that might one day be grown on the moon or on Mars.

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Antarctic Greenhouse Yields First Crop

conscious eating

Yams Protect Against Liver Damage Serving yams with a holiday dinner helps protect liver health, new research shows. Scientists from the University of Mississippi and King Saud University, in Saudi Arabia, found that steroidal glycoside compounds in wild yam root known as furostans can help protect liver cells against damage from free radicals.

Alcohol Fallout

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Beer and Wine Contaminated with Monsanto Poison In 2016, beer testing in Germany revealed residues of glyphosate, a suspected carcinogen, in every sample of beer. The environmental organization EcoWatch has found glyphosate in all of the most popular brands of wines in America and the world. One common factor in the tests is the presence of Monsanto Roundup, which is commonly sprayed in vineyards. Glyphosate herbicides do not dry, wash or cook off. They have also been proven to be neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors and a cause of liver disease even at very low levels.

SIMPLE SHEET PAN SUPPERS Family-Pleasing Holiday Meals

by Judith Fertig

he festive season might signal indulgence, but it also calls for simple, healthy recipes with easy cleanup. We might have friends that drop by, family staying for the weekend or lastminute guests. The simpler we can make meals, the better. Many chefs and home cooks have found the ideal method: the sheet pan supper. Simply arrange the protein and vegetables on a baking sheet and place it in the oven, where the ingredients burnish to perfection as the flavors concentrate. Experts recommend a heavy duty, 13-by-18inch sheet pan, also known as a half sheet or a rimmed baking pan. They’re available at local cookware shops and box stores that carry kitchenware. “Sheet pans combine easy prep, process and cleanup, and deliver interesting, sophisticated flavor,” says Molly Gilbert, a Seattle chef and the author of Sheet Pan Suppers: 120 Recipes for Simple, Surprising, Hands-Off Meals Straight from the Oven. Yet, even this streamlined cooking method has a few best practices. Carla Snyder, a cookbook author in Hudson, Ohio, lines her sheet pans with unbleached parchment paper for easy cleanup. The author of One Pan: Whole Family – More than 70 Complete Weeknight Meals also sprays the liner with olive oil, so food won’t stick.

Naomi Pomeroy, a chef in Portland, Oregon, recommends preheating the pan in the oven, and then carefully adding the food. “If you put a room-temperature tray in the oven with, say, Brussels sprouts, it can get steamy, and then they can get soggy,” she says. Gilbert favors groupings of foods that will cook in about the same time, such as fish fillets and tender vegetables for a shorter time, or bone-in chicken and root vegetables that take longer.

Dinner and Beyond

Sheet pan entrées can serve up meals beyond just dinner, making them a big help during the holidays. Sarah Britton, the Toronto author of My New Roots: Inspired Plant-Based Recipes for Every Season, arranges blocks of feta cheese on a sheet pan, surrounds them with fresh bell pepper slices, quartered cherry tomatoes, black olives and preferred herbs. She drizzles it all with olive oil and then bakes at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, just until the cheese is soft. It can be served as an appetizer with whole grain crackers or as an entrée with crusty bread and a salad. The rest can be used as a sandwich filling the next day. Sheet pan meals can be a gift that keeps on giving. Judith Fertig writes award-winning cookbooks plus foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com). December 2018

Surprising Sheet Pan Recipes This salad, packed with tasty browned vegetables, nuts and cheese, really satisfies. Yields: 4 servings 1 medium red onion 2 carrots 2 zucchini 2 red peppers 2 cloves garlic 1 lemon 2 Tbsp plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil ½ tsp sea salt plus more for sprinkling Freshly ground black pepper ½ cup chopped smoked almonds 1 small shallot, peeled and minced 1 tsp minced fresh thyme or chives 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 6 large handfuls of a mix of bibb lettuce, radicchio, romaine or arugula Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a sheet pan with unbleached parchment paper and preheat it in the oven. On a large cutting board, cut the onion into ½-inch slices, the carrots into ½-inch pieces, the zucchini into 2-inch pieces, the pepper into 2-inch squares, chop the garlic, zest the lemon and transfer it all to a large bowl. Add the 2 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and toss to coat. Arrange the vegetables on the heated sheet pan and spread them out so that they cook evenly. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. While the vegetables cook, chop the almonds, mince the shallot and thyme, Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible. 40

and set aside into separate piles. Squeeze the lemon into a small bowl. Sprinkle the almonds over the vegetables during the last 5 minutes of cooking to toast them lightly. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

photo by Colin Price

Roasted Vegetable, Feta and Smoked Almond Salad

In a very large bowl, combine the vinegar with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Add 2 pinches of salt and the shallot and whisk until the salt dissolves. Whisk in the remaining ¼ cup olive oil and taste for seasoning, adding more vinegar, oil, salt and pepper if needed. When ready to serve, add the lettuce to the bowl with the dressing and toss to mix. Divide the dressed lettuce between plates and top with the still warm vegetables, feta cheese and fresh herbs. Grind a little freshly ground black pepper over the top and dig in. Reprinted with permission from Carla Snyder’s One Pan: Whole Family from Chronicle Books.

Roasted Arctic Char and Asparagus with Pistachio Gremolata Pink-fleshed Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and lake trout, with a flavor somewhere between the two. Feel free to substitute with either fish. Yields: 4 servings Olive oil cooking spray 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 lb total) ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 boneless fillets Arctic char (5 to 6 oz each) ½ medium red onion, sliced into ¼-inch thick half-moons ½ lemon, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rounds ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes Grated zest of 1 lemon 1 clove garlic, minced

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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½ cup packed fresh, flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped ½ cup roasted, salted and shelled pistachios, roughly chopped Preheat the oven to 350° F with a rack in the center position. Mist a sheet pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Using both hands, gently bend one asparagus spear held between fingers and thumbs to snap off the bottom where it breaks easily. Line up the rest of the bunch and slice off the bottoms at the same distance from the tips. Place the trimmed asparagus on the prepared pan, drizzled with the olive oil, and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Toss to coat and spread the asparagus in an even layer. Place the Arctic char fillets on top of the asparagus, evenly spaced apart and sprinkle with an extra pinch of salt and pepper. Scatter the onion, lemon slices and cherry tomatoes around and on top of the char.

photo by Stephen Blancett

Bake until the asparagus is crisp-tender and the char is almost opaque, 20 to 40 minutes.

Bake this second pan on the upper rack until ingredients are soft and start to brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the mushrooms and shallots cool to the touch on the sheet pan.

While the fish cooks, mix together the lemon zest, garlic, parsley and pistachios in a small bowl; this is the gremolata. Sprinkle it over the char and asparagus before serving warm.

Pour the marinara sauce into a large bowl. When the squash are cool enough to handle, flip them over and use a fork to scrape the flesh from the shells, taking care to leave the shells intact. (These will become the “bowls”.) The result will be long strands of squash “noodles”.

Recipe courtesy of Molly Gilbert, author of Sheet Pan Suppers.

Spaghetti Squash “Noodle” Bowls Spaghetti squash are those yellow, football-shaped winter squashes. When cooked, the squash’s flesh is easily raked with a fork into long, skinny, noodle-like strands. The squash noodles are faintly sweet and slightly crunchy, like pasta cooked al dente. Yields: 4 servings 2 small spaghetti squash (2 to 3 lbs each) 4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil ¼ tsp kosher salt ¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 cup chopped cremini or baby bella mushrooms (3 to 5 oz) 1 small shallot, diced 2 cups good quality marinara 15 to 20 small balls fresh mozzarella cheese (bocconcini, about 1¾ oz, sliced in half) 4 to 6 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped, for garnish

Turn the squash over (skin side up) and bake on the lower rack until the squash has softened significantly and browned at the edges, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let the squash cool to the touch on the sheet pan. After putting the squash in to bake, toss together the mushrooms, shallots, remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Arrange the mixture on a separate sheet pan, spreading it out in an even layer.

Add the squash strands and the mushrooms to the sauce and stir together to thoroughly combine. Divide the squash noodle mixture among the empty squash bowls. Place the mozzarella on top. Bake the squash on the lower rack until the filling is hot and the mozzarella has melted and browned in spots, about 10 minutes. Serve the squash pasta bowls hot, garnished with the fresh basil. Recipe courtesy of Molly Gilbert, author of Sheet Pan Suppers.

Preheat the oven to 425° F, with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a very sharp chef ’s knife, carefully cut the two spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash halves, cut side up, on the prepared sheet and drizzle 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over them. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

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December 2018

DickBlick.com offers hundreds of free lesson plans for art lovers of all ages, skill levels and interests, all designed to meet the National Standards for Visual Art Education.

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healthy kids

Beyond

TOYS Gifts that Evoke

Memorable Experiences

Kids’ Creativity by Sandra Murphy

hoosing thoughtful gifts for kids can be a challenge, especially when opting for creativity over this year’s hot toy. It’s possible to find gifts that appeal to both parent and child, involving the whole family or working as solo projects. Some expand beyond the boundaries of home.

Go Robo

The Tinkering Kit will have boys and girls, moms and dads all clamoring for their turn to build a robot that does more than merely walk. Challenge cards urge kids to make a machine to scramble an egg or build a robot that moves without wheels. Robotics teaches science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, also known as STEAM learning. Computer programming is the last step (TinkeringLabs.com/catalyst).

Language for a Lifetime

Benedict Beckeld, Ph.D., of New York City, speaks 11 languages and teaches students via online video chats (Skype) (BenedictBeckeld.com/contact). Locally, find teachers or grad students to tutor a second or third language at home for the whole family. Search online for interactive, game-like classes that maintain a child’s interest. American Sign Language, the fourth-mostused language in the U.S., is fun to learn and helpful to know.

Budding Foodies

Take a quiz, experiment, learn more and find kid-approved recipes at 42

AmericasTestKitchen.com/kids/home. Kids learn to make sriracha-lime popcorn, hummus, and chicken and broccoli stir fry. Use organic and non-GMO (not genetically modified) ingredients. Sign up to receive recipes and tips for hands-on activities via email to keep good meals coming. The onsite equipment reviews help with selection of affordable and safe kitchen tools.

Emerging Artistry

Carolyn Dube, a mixed-media art adventurer in Batesville, Indiana, gives her followers at AColorfulJourney.com permission to play and even make mistakes. “My free online workshop shows ways to use found items like recycled cardboard to make art,” she says. For kid-safe paints, look for the Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) seal that certifies products are non-toxic and properly labeled. Certified Arteza-brand acrylic premium paints are packaged in less-waste pouches to use as-is or to refill original containers. The Danish company Sprout Pencils, operating from Boston, engraves quotes on biodegradable Love Pencils, which contain flower or vegetable seeds. When it’s too short to write or color with, plant it. In Cleveland, Faber-Castell USA makes their colored pencils from reforested wood with an ergonomic, triangular shape, perfect for learning the proper grip. The Young Artist Essentials Gift Set contains eco-pencils, non-toxic crayons and oil-pastels.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Erica Hartwig, director of operations at Organic Moments Photography, in Boca Raton, Florida, has five children. “I want to give a memorable experience, rather than a toy that will sit in their rooms,” she says. “Football season tickets, dance lessons, an art class or vacations supplement the packages under the tree.” Crystal Bowe, a mom and physician in Belmont, North Carolina, suggests gifting memberships to encourage new activities for kids. “The zoo is fun and allows parents to spend quality time with their children. Tickets to a movie or a play stimulate the imagination.” Museums, science centers and area attractions are other inviting options.

More Ideas

Wonder Crate, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, offers a monthly subscription service. “We inspire kids to think big and make a difference,” says co-founder Corrie Wiedmann. “Each month brings a box that educates, entertains and empowers kids to contribute to the world. Our December crate highlights Leonardo da Vinci and focuses on ways kids can use innovation to help others, spotlighting a kid that created an app to help people with disabilities.” Maple Landmark, in Middlebury, Vermont, a wooden products company, makes puzzles that include an activity clock for toddlers and bookends featuring a fire truck, pirate ship, school bus or train tunnel. Owner Mike Rainville says, “We work hard to ensure that all of our wood is sustainably harvested and finishes are safe and non-toxic.” Gifts that engage the mind, spark imagination and deliver fun yield immediate and long-term benefits, including being fondly remembered. Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

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December 2018

wise words

Jacob Liberman

on Light as Our Essential Nature by Deborah Shouse

s a boy growing up in Havana, Cuba, Jacob Liberman struggled with reading—that’s one reason this Maui resident finds it miraculous that he was called to write books. An optometrist, Liberman initially specialized in helping children with vision-related difficulties find ways to better learn and pay attention. That evolved into working with professional athletes and eventually earning a Ph.D. in vision science. Through a profound meditation experience, Liberman’s vision spontaneously “corrected”, catalyzing insights that fueled his first three books: Light: Medicine of the Future; Take Off Your Glasses and See: A Mind/Body Approach to Expanding Your Eyesight and Insight; and Wisdom from an Empty Mind. His new book, Luminous Life: How the Science of Light Unlocks the Art of Living, offers a fresh way of seeing and being (JacobLiberman.org).

Why is light so important to us all?

Light is the foundation of everything that exists. That’s why light marks the convergence of science, religion and spirituality. The Bible speaks of the source of all creation as light. Throughout history, spiritual texts from various traditions speak about God, light and consciousness as if they are interchangeable. Physicists consider light to be the fundamental energy from which all life emerges. Everything is made of solidified light. Our entire physiology is light-dependent. 44

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

We are a living photocell, and light is an integral part of our guidance system. When we get an intuitive “hit” or spiritual insight, it’s the luminous intelligence of life effortlessly directing us toward the next step on our journey.

What can we do to more fully harness light as part of our guidance system?

Everyone asks: “What do I need to do?” It’s the idea of our doing something that puts a wrench in the works. The universe is an example of optimal efficiency, which means we invest nothing and get everything. The individual does no work, yet creation appears. The doing occurs by itself. This is not metaphorical; I am speaking about the law of the universe. This is fact.

What are some examples of such doing occurring by itself?

God’s wisdom—or light—funnels through all living things all the time; all beings have an inseparable connection. Everything in the body, everything in nature and in the universe is naturally self-activating and self-regulating. Yet even though everything is taken care of, we still think we have to do something. We’ve been conditioned into this way of thinking. Until we uncover the truth, we continue to live our ordinary, hard-working life. But when we understand that all of this is happening by itself, something inside us relaxes and breathes a sigh of relief.

What fuels our desire to act?

HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET

We think something is wrong with us or someone else, or that we’ve done something wrong in the past, and so try to fix it. Research shows that most of our responses to life are conditioned. I try to help people go beyond their hardwired reactions to explore the facts. When someone tells me he’s made a regrettable mistake, I say, “Tell me one part of your body that you control.” He may answer, “I control my thoughts.” I reply, “Are you sure those are your thoughts? You are aware of them after they surface. But did you create them?” As I keep asking such questions, it becomes obvious that the mistake has nothing to do with him. It’s an illusion that each of us is the god of our reality. The truth is that there is nothing to do because in the greater reality, nothing is wrong.

PUBLISH A

MAGAZINE

How has this exploration of light enriched and expanded your life?

It’s allowed me to live without a net. In the circus, tightrope walkers usually have a net in case they fall. We’ve been taught we must create safety, security and predictability. We work, save, plan and pray, trying to ensure our lives are filled with these three “fail safes”; qualities that have never existed on planet Earth. Most of our stress comes from trying to create something that doesn’t exist. It was liberating when I realized that the universe doesn’t work that way. Deborah Shouse is the author of Connecting in the Land of Dementia. Learn more at DementiaJourney.org.

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The Monthly Naturally Healthy Pet Section Starts Here!

Pet Owners Need a Pet First-Aid Class Prepare for Your Pet’s Unplanned Accidents by Mary Oquendo

T News, articles, resources, events— all dedicated exclusively to happy, naturally healthy living for our furred, feathered and scaled animal companions For information on how you can be a part of a future issue, call

203-885-4674 or email NicoleM@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

he holiday season is upon us. Thoughts of what we should get for our pets are top of mind. What if instead of getting them another stuffed toy and bag of cookies, we give them the gift of saving their life? Accidents can and do happen so as pet owners, we owe it to our pets to be prepared for the unplanned. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) says 60 percent of all veterinary visits are emergency in nature. They go on to state that 25 percent more pets could have been saved if only one pet first-aid technique was applied before emergency veterinary treatment. A study in the American Veterinary Journal found that only 10 percent of pets needing cardio pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, would survive if it was not done before arrival at the veterinarian’s office. Another study by the AAHA shows preventable accidents as the leading cause of death and disability among pre-senior pets. Without their owners receiving proper training, these percentages are not in favor of injured or sick pets.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

What are some safety issues that relate directly to pets?

Sudden blunt force trauma happens if a pet falls off a deck, or two pets collide while playing. We can slip while carrying a pet. Take advantage of the “golden hour.” It takes approximately one hour for adrenaline to dissipate from the body after an injury. Symptoms are not felt until the adrenaline is gone. Once symptoms present, it’s generally too late. Look at Natasha Richardson as an example of someone who wasted that hour. She was an actress who died after hitting her head in a ski accident because she refused on-site medical treatment. When symptoms presented later, it was too late. Neck injuries or strangulation can happen when a collar of a pet gets snagged on anything and the pet struggles to get loose. Hypothermia can be caused by prolonged exposure to cool or cold temperatures. It may not take long to induce hypothermia as the pet’s temperature only needs to be lowered by four degrees.

Dehydration can be a result of no fresh water provided to the pet. Stress can also cause dehydration. It can lead to organ failure or death in a very short time. Burns can result from overexposure to hot sun or pavement. Other common causes are chewing on electrical cords or spilling hot food on them if they are under foot. Heatstroke from being left too long with a hot car can easily happen. In 70-degree weather, it only takes 15 minutes to reach an intolerable temperature inside that car. The young, old, immune-suppressed and brachycephalic dogs—and any cat—are particularly susceptible. (Brachycephalic dogs have pushed in faces, such as shih tzus and pugs.) Bleeding injuries and wounds occur. Heart failure can be caused by stress, chewing on electrical cords, electrocution and preexisting medical conditions. A seizure can be brought on by poisoning,

stress and preexisting medical conditions. Poisoning occurs when a pet ingests, inhales or otherwise absorbs improperly stored cleaning and pesticide products. Older dogs are more susceptible to a seizure brought on by the HV dryer. Choking can take place with an inappropriately sized treat or toy, and any treat given to a dog that gulps his food. Allergic reaction to a bug bite or food. Most of the above are preventable accidents. However, accidents are not planned. In spite of a pet owner’s due diligence, a pet may still become injured. What can we do? Take a pet first-aid class. Written materials and videos alone are not a pet first-aid class. To properly learn these skills, an instructor must be properly trained. Be choosy and ask questions. What did their training consist of? Pet first aid and CPR is best learned through a combination of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on skill teaching.

A class should include responses for bleeding and shock, restraining and muzzling, primary pet assessment, rescue breathing, CPR, fracture and limb injuries, insect bites and stings, snakebite, seizures, first aid kits and emergency preparedness kits, poisoning and poisonous substances, and choking and snout to tail assessments. An even better class will also advocate a healthy pet lifestyle. This includes the importance of dental care and should also stress the importance of when to seek veterinary care and of establishing a relationship with the veterinarian. Taking a pet first-aid class is the right thing to do. It may prevent an injury from escalating and putting a pets’ life at risk. In addition, injuries attended to quickly will heal faster and with less pain than if treated later. We are responsible for the pets in our lives. Mary Oquendo is a Reiki master, advanced crystal master and certified master tech pet first aid instructor. She is the owner of Pawsitive Education. She can be reached at PawsitiveEd.com. See ad, page 49.

December 2018

PET-SAFE HOLIDAYS Tips to Keep Them Merry and Safe

by Sandra Murphy

olidays promise joy and celebration, but the festivities can also lead to stress and anxiety for people and pets. It is important to remember that visiting strangers, a tree, shiny ornaments, gifts to sniff and food to beg for can pose danger for pets.

Maintain Calm

Christina Chambreau, a homeopathic veterinarian, author and educator in Sparks, Maryland, suggests that petting a dog or cat several times a day can lower stress levels and instill a sense of normalcy. “Flower essences like Bach’s Rescue Remedy help attain calm,” she says. Add it to a pet’s water bowl in the days before a party or drop it directly onto the tongue if unexpected guests arrive. All-natural ingredients make daily use safe for pets and humans.

Avoid Bad Foods

“Fatty dishes are a problem, from oily potato pancakes to rich gravies for the turkey,” says Ann Hohenhaus, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center, in New York City. “Spilled food, unguarded pans and forgotten eggnog or liquor put animals at risk for severe gastrointestinal upset.” Other common holiday fare can also pose a significant danger for pets: 48

n Chocolate—especially dark chocolate and dry cocoa powder—can cause seizures and heart arrhythmia. n Onions, often used in dressing, can cause anemia in pets. n Raw, yeasty bread dough expands when ingested, potentially causing bloat, a deadly twisting of the stomach. n Raisins and grapes in desserts, cookies and fruitcakes can cause kidney failure in dogs. n Nutmeg is toxic for pets. The trash can itself contains numerous hazards for furry family members. The string that binds roasted meats is tempting and may require surgery to remove if ingested. Trimmed fat can mean pancreatitis. Swallowed bones pose a dire threat to the entire digestive tract.

Provide Good Foods

Naked foods are best. Pets don’t need brown sugar, marshmallows, butter, salt or gravy to appreciate a treat. “Unless there’s a special diet, share skinless turkey breast, sweet potatoes and green beans,” says Dana Humphrey, aka The Pet Lady, in New York City. “There’s always a friend or relative who thinks one taste won’t hurt. Turkey or sweet potato jerky and homemade treats let guests dole out risk-free bites.”

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Preservatives that keep the evergreen tree fresh can turn tree water into a drinking hazard for pets. Mesh netting or screen wire allows the addition of fresh water, but prevents pets from quenching their thirst. Tinsel, garland and ribbon bits are easy to swallow, glass ornaments can cut and tree needles aren’t digestible. Small dreidels become choking hazards, so play while the dog sleeps and put toys away when done. For safety, add edibles to the stockings at the last minute. Keep light cords out of sight and unplug them when not in supervised use to preempt chewing. Carefully monitor lit candles: A wagging tail or leaping cat can knock them over and start a fire. Update holiday candles with rechargeable, batteryoperated versions for a pet-safe holiday glow. Pet parents everywhere employ creative strategies to ensure maximum mirth and safety during the holidays. Mystery writer Livia Washburn Reasoner opted for a tabletop tree in her Azle, Texas, home, “because our rescued Chihuahuas, Nora and Nicki, peed on the tree skirt.” In Festus, Missouri, retired school bus driver Darlene Drury suggests that a baby’s recycled playpen or a dog’s exercise pen can separate pets from holiday trees. Patricia Fry, author of the Klepto Cat mysteries, in Ojai, California, decorates the lower branches of her tree with unbreakable ornaments and puts more fragile ornaments out of her cats’ reach.

Other Options

If a large party is planned, a guest is allergic or many children will be present, consider boarding a pet. “Slipping out the door as guests arrive is a hazard,” says Veterinarian Carol Osborne, owner of the Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic, in Ohio. “If your pet is very young, very old, pregnant, aggressive and/ or suffers with a chronic disease, consider personal pet sitters, kennels, pet hotels and doggie spas to ensure a joyous holiday.” Pet-proof the house by getting down to the pet’s level and make a family schedule to take turns keeping track of fourfooted friends. Then the whole family, pets included, can enjoy the season worry-free. Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

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Pet-Wise Tree and Candles

natural pet

pet resource guide ADOPTION/RESCUE ANIMALS IN DISTRESS INC

TAILS OF COURAGE

238 Danbury Rd, Wilton 203-762-2006 Animals-In-Distress.com

1 Pembroke Rd, Danbury 877-63-(TAILS) TailsOfCourage.org

BRIDGEPORT ANIMAL CONTROL

WESTPORT ANIMAL SHELTER ADVOCATES (WASA)

236 Evergreen St, Bridgeport 203-576-7727

COMMUNITY CATS PO Box 4380, Stamford CommunityCatsCT@yahoo.com CommunityCatsCT.org

DANBURY ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY (DAWS) 147 Grassy Plain St, Bethel 203-744-3297

FRIENDS OF FELINES INC PO Box 8147, Stamford 203-363-0220 Cats@AdoptAPet.org AdoptAPet.org

LOOKING GLASS ANIMAL RESCUE Ridgefield • LGARinc.org On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

1 Tower Ridge, Westport 203-557-0361 WestportWASA.org

VETERINARY SERVICES NUTMEG SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC 25 Charles St, Stratford 203-690-1550 • NutmegClinic.org

The Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is a low-cost, high-volume facility for cats and dogs, the first such professional clinic in Fairfield County. The clinic offers other low-cost services during the spay/ neuter appointment. Nutmeg honors state spay/ neuter vouchers at face value from adopted shelter pets and qualified low-income families, and offers further low-cost incentives to nonprofit rescue groups. Pit bulls and mixes are welcome at an even more reduced rate, and the clinic offers spay/neuter and vaccine discounts for feral cats. See ad, page 47.

NFSAW 223 State Rt 37, New Fairfield 203-746-2925 NFSAW.org

PET ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY INC (PAWS) 504 Main Ave, Norwalk 203-750-9572 PAWSCT.org

PET PROTECTORS 2490 Black Rock Tpke, #453, Fairfield 203-330-0255 PetProtectorsRescue.org

RIDGEFIELD OPERATION FOR ANIMAL RESCUE (ROAR) 45 South St, Ridgefield 203-438-0158 ROAR-Ridgefield.org

STRAYS AND OTHERS PO Box 473, New Canaan 203-966-6556 StraysAndOthers@hotmail.com

PET ASSISTANCE, INC

PO Box 2015, New Preston 860-355-PETS • GetaPet@gmail.com PetAssistanceInc.org Pet Assistance helps keep pets in their homes in times of financial and medical crises, providing emergency veterinary subsidies to pet owners in financial need. We only give grants for pets that have a good prognosis, unless the knowledge we gain from the treatment or surgery may help future animals in need.

Final Journey,

LLC

( Pet Euthanasia Service )

Kristen Klie, D.V. M. and Associates

( 203 ) 645-5570 www.finaljourneyllc.com December 2018

Healing from a Distance

Intention Sends Compassionate Energy Across Miles

by Nicole Miale

merging understanding of the collective unconscious suggests we are not separate and distinct beings at all, but instead are wholly linked. This opens a Pandora’s box of questions and also creates new opportunities help each other feel better. Remote or distant healing—a healing practice where the client and practitioner are not physically near each other—is not a new phenomenon, but it is achieving a new level of attention and acceptance as paradigms shift. Distant healing includes a broad range of healing practices, many based in ancient spiritual traditions. Major religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, encourage the use of distant healing among their followers, based on prescribed rituals such as prayer. Some practices focus on treating a specific disease state while others emphasize creating a compassionate environment to have a healing effect on whatever part of the individual might need support. All distant healing practices are concerned with alleviating suffering and increasing the wellbeing of others; there are no known negative effects.

How Does it Work?

Explanations for how remote healing occurs are based largely on the belief system of the person being asked. Some believe a deity can intervene to alter physical reality, so it is the deity’s action that brings about healing. Other practitioners believe it is the power of consciousness itself that brings healing through the transfer of energy or information. Mary Oquendo, Reiki Master and Advanced Crystal Master, explains it this way, “The energetic and magnetic fields surrounding our planet act as its communication lines. Think Verizon for the world. As an energetic practitioner, I can tap into our planet’s 'phone line' and then send energy anywhere in the world.” The benefits of this are many, she says. Since Reiki and other forms of energy healing can be so relaxing that clients want to fall asleep, one practical benefit is that the client can go directly to sleep afterwards rather than having to get in their car and drive home. The benefit to the practitioner is that their work is not limited by locale; Oquendo has clients all over the world. Researchers have observed that the skill all distant healing 50

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

practitioners have in common is “an ability to hold a compassionate intention for another at a distance.” Different modalities offer a variety of training; some traditions may require a practitioner to pass initiation rites and learn complex healing rituals. Debby Stein is an energy practitioner and certified Reiki master who has also trained in healing touch and integrative energy therapy (IET) techniques. In addition to her current work on the medical oncology unit of Greenwich Hospital, she has volunteered for the past 11 years at the hospital, offering energy sessions to patients, families, nurses, technicians and doctors. Stein explains distant healing this way, “Because space and time are not absolute, energy can travel through space and time. Objects, all living beings, our thoughts, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays and a beam of light are forms of energy. When we speak, voicing words releases sound waves of energy, causing ripples in the air around us. These concepts helped me to understand why and how I am able to pick up 'feelings' and information about people and animals without hearing a word, and sometimes from a significant distance away.” Stein’s distant linking approach is an energetic methodology where she “links” her higher self with that of the client. This enables her to remotely receive information about the individual’s physical, mental and emotional bodies in order to identify issues and energetic congestion that can cause discomfort and/or stress. “I begin to sense and sometimes see where too much energy has accumulated in one place,” she explains. “I vision myself using my training in various energy modalities to move, balance, infuse and clear to bring about an even flow throughout the body. I then document everything I heard, saw in my mind’s eye and felt in my hands during my visions. A final detailed report is provided via email to the client to use for ongoing healing.” While remote healing can be done when the recipient is unaware (for example, prayer), Gregg Kirk of the Lyme Recovery Clinic in Darien schedules his remote energetic healing sessions as if they are in person. There is a specific date and time when both the client and the healer are dedicated to the appointment. The session is real-time and interactive, with the client on the phone and ongoing communication between the two during the period. Kirk begins each session with relaxation, protection and opening rituals that serve to fully hold him and his client in the healing work. “I find that remote sessions can be extremely powerful, for me and the client, because neither of us is distracted by the physical body,” he says. “That was a little unexpected for me, but the feedback has been consistent. People are loving the remote sessions.” He says for many people there is a mental leap required to believe that a practitioner can actually be of help to them when the two are in different physical locations. “Most people expect that when you seek energy healing, you’ll be in the same room as the practitioner,” he says. “It’s another leap to understand that the same type of work can happen when the client and the healer are not physically near each other. It challenges our preconceived ideas about what healing is.”

Group Healing

Eilis Philpott, principal of Soul Healing Journey, LLC and the Academy for Soul Healing, has been training practitioners in an energy healing modality known as 13th Octave LaHoChi for the past two years. As part of the training, all practitioners are given instruction

eNaturalAwakenings.com

and practice in how to conduct remote sessions using a proxy (i.e. a stuffed animal). Philpott suggested the idea of remote group healing sessions to the more than 50 practitioners she has taught. “My thought process was that offering remote healing sessions would support them as well as the individuals who received them,” she explains. “For the more experienced practitioner, it would be a means of being of service to their community. For the less experienced, it would afford them the opportunity to practice, hone their skills and give them more familiarity with this powerful energy.” The volunteer remote healing group began in mid-October. One practitioner/ coordinator receives the requests and assigns them to teams of three practitioners who then have one week to complete the healing session. Requests are currently for friends and family of the practitioners as well as the practitioners themselves. “To date, we have completed 30 sessions,” Philpott says. “These are free, all remote and given with love. We have received requests for family members and/or friends in hospital, for injuries and flu-related symptoms as well as individuals grieving a loss. It is such a joy for me to witness the growth and expansion of these practitioners.” When choosing a practitioner, the best advice is always to select with someone who inspires trust and confidence in you. Stein encourages everyone to put all available information through their own personal filters. Each individual must ultimately decide what techniques are relevant to them and how best to apply them. Nicole Miale is Publisher of Natural Awakenings Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley, CT.

LOCAL RESOURCES Gregg Kirk • Lyme Recovery Clinic 203-858-9725 • LymeKnowledge.com Mary Oquendo • PawsitiveEd.com Eilis Philpott • Soul Healing Journey, LLC 203-767-5954 • Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com AcademyForSoulHealing.com Debby Stein • Debby's Energy 203-353-1725 • DistantLinking@gmail.com DebbysEnergy.com

calendar of events All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Calendar submissions must be entered online at eNaturalAwakenings.com: click on “submit calendar” at the very top of the page.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 Reiki 1st Degree Workshop – 9:30am-5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti. Learn Western style from an experienced Reiki Master (21 years). Includes latest info. Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. 2 manuals and certificate. $125. Angelic Healing Center for Reiki, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@ snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com. Boost Your Immune System with Yoga – 2-4pm. With Marlene Tendler, yoga instructor. Practice a combination of passive restorative poses that quiet the sympathetic nervous system and active restorative poses that energize and refresh the circulatory, lymphatic and endocrine systems. $40/pre-registered; $50/day of event. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@ Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

markyourcalendar ALBERTSON MEMORIAL CHURCH UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, December 1 & January 5 Spiritual/Psychic Fair • 11am-4pm • $35+ Saturday, December 1 Enhancing Mediumship with Energy Jenn Shepherd 4-7pm • $25/$35 non-members Thursday, December 13 White Light Healing Night Service • 7-8pm Saturday, December 15 Thomas John - Mediumship Dem 7-9pm • $50 ($55 at Door) VIP Tickets $100 (limited number)

ONGOING EVENTS:

Sundays Service • 11am-12:30pm Bereavement Group for Parents • 1-2pm Tuesdays Spiritual Philosophy & Development Circle 7-9pm • Suggested donation $10 Beginner Psychic & Mediumship Class • $20 Wednesdays • 7-9pm and First Saturdays • 2-4p Cancelled events will be posted on our website Albertson Memorial Church 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich 203-637-4615 • Info@AlbertsonChurch.org AlbertsonChurch.org

Enhancing Development Through Energy Awareness – 4-7pm. With Rev. Jenn Shepherd. Workshop on enhancing mediumship through Energy Awareness and Cultivation. $25; $35/ non-members. Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Info@ AlbertsonChurch.org. AlbertsonChurch.org. The 6th Annual Tisch Memorial Concert – 7:30pm. The Schubert Club of Fairfield County presents the 6th Annual Wendy Tisch Memorial Concert. This year, we will be welcoming our guest Pianist, the incredible George Li to honor the memory of the late talented pianist, Wendy Tisch. $35. The Greenwich Library’s Cole Auditorium, 101 W Putnam Ave, Greenwich. Tickets: BrownPaperTickets.com. WenGros7@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 Christmas Candlelight Meditation – 5:306:15pm. Join us for a guided meditation to be held by candlelight. In celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, we can also celebrate that which is within us that we wish to give birth to. $18/advance; $20/day of event. Yogaspace, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@ YogaSpace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com. Holy Fire Reiki 2 Class – 10:30am-5:30pm. With Gail Christie, Usui/Holy Fire III and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher. Deepen your experience of Reiki healing in a Level 2 certification class. $275. Joyful Living Reiki, 55 Three Lakes Dr, Stamford. 203-979-0918. GailChristie.Reiki@gmail.com. JoyfulLivingReiki.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 Liquid Gold: 10 Ways to use Honey for Health and Healing – 6-7:30pm. Marina Marchese, founder of Red Bee Honey, will present a talk and honey tasting while discussing the many benefits that honey provides inside and out. Free. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. NewMorn.com. Herbal Gift Making – 6:30-8:30pm. Learn how to make several handmade herbal gifts featuring bath bombs, and receive bonus ideas and instructions for even more herbal and natural gifts. $25. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077. BekahTwinstar@gmail.com. TwinstarTribe.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 New Moon Meditation/Reiki Share with Horses – 6-8pm. Enjoy a silent, candlelight meditation in the barn with the horses, followed by the opportunity to give and receive positive energy. All are welcome, whether or not you have training in Reiki or other forms of energetic healing. $30. Possibilities Farm, 189 Cannon Rd, Wilton. 203-803-8333. PossibilitiesFarm@gmail.com. PossibilitiesFarm.com.

December 2018

calendar of events

markyourcalendar

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

Reiki Level 1 Workshop – 10am-5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti. Learn Western style from an experienced Reiki Master (21 years). Includes latest info. Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. 2 manuals and certificate. $125. Angelic Healing Center for Reiki, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

Reiki 1 Class – 10am-4pm. Reiki I is an introduction to the ancient art of hands on healing. You will receive the first set of Reiki attunements that align your upper four chakras. This is a certification class; you will receive a manual along with the Reiki I attunements. $150. The Jiiva Center, 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford. 203-345-7747. Support@ JiivaCenter.com. Jiivacenter.com.

Yoga Nidra Guided Meditation and Relaxation – 7:30-9:30pm. With Allison. For Yoga Nidra, or yogic sleep, to experience full-body relaxation and a deep meditative state of consciousness. Bring your chronically exhausted and overstimulated self. $30. Yoga Culture, 105 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury.

Holy Fire Reiki 1 Class – 10:30am–5:30pm. With Gail Christie, Usui/Holy Fire III and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher. Enjoy the profound and lifechanging experience of being initiated into Reiki Level 1. $175. Joyful Living Reiki, 55 Three Lakes Dr, Stamford. 203-979-0918. GailChristie.Reiki@ gmail.com. JoyfulLivingReiki.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 #End Gun Violence-Remembrance Event – 2-4pm. Free. Wilton Quaker Meeting House, 317 New Canaan Rd, Wilton. 203-354-2933. JGMConrad@gmail.com. FGCQuaker.org. Patanjali Yoga Sutras and the Power of Now – 1:30-3:30pm. Opportunity to begin to understand that there is a different set of tools that one can use to get to see and understand the essence of your mind, the ego and life’s so-called problems. This course will guide you through a new dimension of insight that can free you from suffering. $22/advance; $28/day of event. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@YogaSpace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com.

markyourcalendar A YEAR OF HEALING with Dr. Eilis Philpott Soul Healing Journey, LLC The 2019 dates are: January 11-13 • February 8-10 • March 8-10 April 12-14 • May 3-5 • June 7- 9 • July 12-14 August 9-11 • September 13-15 October 11-13 • November 8-10 December 13-15 Meet one weekend a month for 12 months and receive what I have learned from trainings, life and guidance in a way that integrates the various modalities. By the end of this 12-month training you will have catapulted your personal, professional and spiritual journey into the stratosphere. Investment: $350 monthly billing or $4200 for year to pay in full Payment plans available. Be prepared to commit to one full year of healing. Registration required • 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com/A-Year-Of-Healing

Family Yoga Class – 2:30-3:30pm. All levels family class will include postures for everyone. We will explore standing poses; sun salutations; partner poses; breathing and relaxation techniques; and fun, interactive yoga games. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $5/per person. Yoga Culture, 105 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. 203-733-4807. KrispyFalcon@hotmail.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 Holy Fire Reiki Share – 10am-noon. With Gail Christie, Usui/Holy Fire III and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher. Enjoy the profound and life-changing experience of being initiated into Reiki Level 1. $175. Joyful Living Reiki, 55 Three Lakes Dr, Stamford. 203-979-0918. GailChristie.Reiki@ gmail.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 Holy Fire Reiki Circle – 7-9pm. With Gail Christie, Usui/Holy Fire III and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher. Enjoy the profound and life-changing experience of being initiated into Reiki Level 1. $175. Joyful Living Reiki, 55 Three Lakes Dr, Stamford. 203-979-0918. GailChristie.Reiki@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 Thomas John: Mediumship Demonstration – 7-9pm. Thomas John - The Seatbelt Medium as seen on Lifetime will be giving a Mediumship Demonstration $50/general admission; $100/VIP. Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. MediumThomas.com. AlbertsonChurch.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 Angels and Crystals – 7-9:30pm. Class will join your love of both angels and crystals. It will allow you to take a deeper look at one Archangel and a crystal associated with that Archangel. $25. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Unit 121, Monroe. 203-556-7777. MuktinathHC@gmail.com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 CBD Informational Talk – 6-7pm. Learn about the uses and benefits of CBD oil hosted by the founders of Ropana. Attendees will also be able to take advantage of an extra 15 percent off Ropana products during the event. Free. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. NewMorn.com.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

SHAMANIC INTUITIVE HEALING JOURNEY CIRCLE Healing with the Energies of the Winter Solstice Friday, December 21 • 7:30-10pm Join us in sacred circle for healing and guidance from the helping spirits! Circle Pre-Requisite: A solid and experienced ability to do a Shamanic Journey $40 with pre-registration For more info, visit HunterHealingHands.com Plant Partner: Cannabis – 6:30-8pm. We will discuss botany, parts used, actions, energies, traditional uses, essences, remedies and more. There will be visual and tangible examples of the herb, along with various different remedies made with the herb to taste, smell and feel. $25. Twin Star Community Apothecary, 57 Bank St, New Milford. 860-350-0077. BekahTwinStar@gmail.com. TwinstarTribe.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 Full Moon Solstice Celebration – 6-7:30pm. Please bring a journal or notebook for writing your dreams, hopes, and visions for the future. The evening will culminate with a performance by Bradford and his partner Marcelo. $20. New Morning Market, 129 Main St N, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. NewMorn.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – 6-7:15pm. Join us for a special Candlelight Christmas Eve Service By donation. Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St 2nd Fl, Norwalk. 203-855-7922. Office@ UnityCenterNorwalk.org. UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 Reiki Second Degree – 10am-5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher (21 years). Learn to send distance Reiki healing, deepen use of Reiki for others and yourself. Two powerful energy connections from my short Japanese/Usa Linage. Two manuals and certificate. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 Reiki Second Degree Workshop – 10am-5:30pm. With Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher (21 years). Learn to send distance Reiki healing, deepen use of Reiki for others and yourself. Two powerful energy connections from my short Japanese/Usa Lineage. Two manuals and certificate. $215. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

monday ongoing events

sunday Tal Fusion: Sunday Sweat – 9:15-10am. With Tal Fagin. Get your heart pumping and blood flowing with this eclectic, spirited, high energy class. Class is 50 minutes in length, so get ready to get in high gear. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative & Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com. Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 9:3010:45am. Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga. Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org. Satsang Meditation – 9:30-11am. Satsangs are wonderful spiritual and community gatherings of like-minded people. Satsangs with Shanti Mission Healers are filled with music, mantra, meditation, spiritual instruction/discourse and spiritual blessings to help you reset, recharge and get ready for the week ahead. By donation. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@ gmail.com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com. New Beginnings in Community Sunday Service – 10am. Join this group of spiritually-minded people embracing and honoring all world religions, belief systems, cultures and traditions. Come together to share thoughts, experiences and wisdom in a supportive environment. Free. Mystics By The Sea, 394 New Haven Ave, Milford. 203-980-6272. NewBeginningsInCommunity.Weebly.com.

markyourcalendar EXPLORING YOUR WAY OF BEING Friday, January 11 – Sunday, January 13 6:30pm-11:30am Begin 2019 by nourishing your emotional self in this personal development weekend. Our deeply caring listening community welcomes you to the Farmhouse on Litchfield, CT’s Wisdom House campus. Many options are offered throughout 5 sessions. $195. Visit IntegralSchoolhouse.net for details and registration.

Family Meditation Program – 10-11:30am. Second and fourth Sunday. Ages 4-13. While the adults are meditating in the main building, young people can connect with others in their age-group, learn about mindfulness, compassion toward self and others. 203-244-3130. MMKeeler@gmail.com. ReddingMeditation.org. Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 10-11:30am. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life, and discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org. ReddingMeditation.org. Celebration Service – 10:30am-noon. With Rev. Shawn Moninger. Inspiring message supports your spiritual unfoldment with thought provoking, soul -healing topics and uplifting music. By donation. Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St, 2nd Fl, Norwalk. 203-855-7922. Office@UnityCenterNorwalk.org. UnityCenterNorwalk.org. Sunday Morning Meditation – 11-11:45am. Experience stillness and peace, establish a regular practice, reduce stress and tension, and enhance health and well-being. Meditation class for beginners and experienced meditators. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga. Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org. Sunday Albertson Memorial Church Service – 11am-12:30pm. Join us for inspirational sermons, meditation, energy healing and messages from Spirit. By donation. Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615. Info@AlbertsonChurch.org. AlbertsonChurch.org. Monthly Mystical Market – 11am-4pm. Third Sunday. Psychics, mediums, intuitives, CT artisans, vendors and holistic practitioners. Free admission, vendors prices vary. The Ruby Tree, 670 Main St S, Woodbury. 203-586-1655. Christina@ TheRubyTreeCT.com. TheRubyTreeCT.com. Lorrie D. Therapeutic Massage, Pain Relief and Relaxation – Noon-5pm. With Lorrie D. Lori specializes in therapeutic massage, pain relief and relaxation. Advanced appointments are recommended, walk-ins are always welcome. $75. Black Cat Mystical Shoppe, 143 Bennett St, Bridgeport. 203-941-9408. BlackCat@aol.com. Hip Hop Yoga – 1-2pm. Class combines mindfulness and hip hop. The class is designed for teens, using music they love by Drake, Post Malone and Rihanna. Students are encouraged to bring their own music. $60/six-week series; $12/single class drop-in. New Morning Market, 129 Main St North, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. NewMorn.com. Karma Community Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Fourth Sunday. Our monthly donation-based class. Bring a non-perishable food donation, and enjoy an hour for your mind, body and spirit. The Ruby Tree, Sherman Village, 670 Main St S, Woodbury. 203-586-1655. Christina@TheRubyTreeCT.com. TheRubyTreeCT.com.

Yoga for 50+ – 9:30-10:45am. Created for people over fifty who need a gentle approach to learning yoga, these classes include yogic breathing, relaxation and restorative rejuvenating postures. This class will help you gain confidence, balance, strength and joint function. $10. New Morning Market, 129 Main St North, Woodbury. NewMorn.com. Yoga All Levels – 10-11am. With Caroline. Class given according to whatever level of student happens to show up. All levels welcome. The class is hatha flow based with elements of relaxation, meditation, breath work, strength and flow. $18/ class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative & Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com. Ayurveda and Wellness – 6-9pm. Ayurveda counseling and therapies. $150. Pryority Wellness, 46 Groove St, New Canaan. 203-857-4123. JMDaptardar@hotmail.com. AyurBeautyAndLifestyle.com. Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness, simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life, and discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org. ReddingMeditation.org. Reiki Share – 7:30-9:30pm. Fourth Monday. With JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT. Practice Reiki in a small group setting. Share experiences and help each other develop in a safe, fun environment while providing a wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating experience. $20. Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center, 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointReiki.com.

tuesday Slow Yoga – 10-11am. With Lella Ilyinsky. Class is set to a slower pace, and may include elements of restorative yoga, yin yoga and foundational flow sequences, depending on the needs of the class. Beginners welcome. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative & Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com. Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 12:30-2pm. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness, simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life, and discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org. ReddingMeditation.org. Monthly Information Sessions at The Graduate Institute – 6:30-7:30pm. Join us for an info session every 2nd Tuesday of the month at The Graduate Institute. Please contact us to let us know that you’ll be attending. The Graduate Institute, 171 Amity Rd, Bethany. 203-874-4252. Reiki Share – 7-8:30pm. First Tuesday of the month. With June and Tracy. Come join our circle of practitioners for sharing and caring and healing. All levels of practitioners are welcome. Please RSVP. $20/drop-in. Kindred Spirits, 197 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-938-3690.

December 2018

ongoing events Reiki Share – 7-9pm. Second Tuesday. Practice and enhance your Reiki healing and grow your intuition. All will receive healing time and practice time. You must have completed at minimum Reiki Level I in order to fully participate. $15/suggested contribution. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail. com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com. Spiritual Philosophy & Self Unfoldment – 7-9pm. Through a process of structured meditations on potent spiritual phrases, students will be exposed to the internal spiritual development of Jacob’s Ladder. $10/suggested donation. Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Info@AlbertsonChurch.org. AlbertsonChurch.org. Reiki Healing Shares – 7:30-9:30pm. First and third Tuesdays. With Gigi Benanti, Usui Reiki Master/ Teacher. For Reiki practitioners only. Includes short instruction and discussion. Must RSVP. $20. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com.

wednesday Mat Pilates – 9-10am. With Suzette Caldwell. Classic mat Pilates work out, vigorous class but open to all levels. You set the challenge bar for your workout. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative & Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ValleySpiritCoop. com. ValleySpiritCoop.com. Midweek Retreat – 3-4:30pm. With Dr. Tanvi Gandhi. This sacred time will consist of intention setting with a small tea ceremony, followed by breath work, and a combination of acupuncture and meditation. You will leave with insight on your experience and a self-care tip for the week. $30/drop-in; $150/series. Barefoot Living Arts, 85 Mill Plain Rd, Bldg V, Fairfield. BarefootLivingArts.org. Tai Chi Classes – 6:30-7:30pm. With June Fagan, Tai Chi Instructor. A slow movement meditation for all levels of fitness. Known to reduce stress, increase focus and balance and improve self and well-being. $25/drop-in; $85/1 class per week; $150/unlimited classes month. Kindred Spirits, 1197 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-938-3690. Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 6:45-8pm. Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/ level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga.Wendy@ gmail.com. HCCYoga.org.

A Course In Miracles – 7-8pm. A Course in Miracles was born out of a commitment between two people to find a better way to live in this world; a study group grows out of a commitment to be an unconditional, non-judgmental place of sharing, joining and learning, where everyone is welcome. $15/suggested donation. Registration required. Call for address. 203-767-5954. Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com. SoulHealingJourney.com. Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness. simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life, and discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org. ReddingMeditation.org. Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Meditation that often includes chanting, music and requires your active participation. All faiths and cultures are welcomed. By donation. Muktinath Holistic Center, 731 Main St, Monroe. 203-518-5808. MuktinathHC@gmail.com. MuktinathHolisticCenter.com. Heartspeak – 7-8:30pm. First Wednesday. With Cindy Miller and Bruce Zboray. The Art of Amazing Yourself: A GEM (Great Energy Moment) is a 2-minute audio, which will inspire and uplift you. We will select a few gems each month and discuss it by phone or internet. $8. Contact@Heartspeak. life. Heartspeak.Life. Holistic Moms Network Fairfield County, CT Chapter – 7:30pm. Second Wednesday. Associates in Family Chiropractic and Natural Health Care, 156 East Ave, Norwalk. Home.Homewebs.com/ HMNFairfieldCtyCT. Yoga with Curves – 7:30-8:30pm. Your body, your yoga, your way. Yoga is not for a specific body type. If you can breathe, you can do yoga. In this 4-week series, you will explore mindful movement in a supportive and non-judgmental environment, using props and modifications tailored to your comfort. $60/4-class series. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Info@Yogaspace-CT.com. Yogaspace-CT.com. Learn to Love Yourself – 7:30-9:30pm. Second Wednesday. With Ginny Brown and Ellen Kratka. Little-known spiritual truths applied to everyday life. Let go of negative judgment and unconditionally accept yourself. $40. By phone or internet. 203-263-2643. E.Kratka@sbcglobal.net. Results-BeyondBelief.com. Turning Point S.H.A.R.E. Divorce Group – 7:30-9:30pm. Third Wednesdays. Offering support, healing, advocacy, resources and education for women in the process of, or recently divorced. $20, $150/10-session card. Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center, 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointShare.com.

thursday Kundalini Yoga and Music Meditation – 9:3010:30am. With Leesa Sklover, PhD, C-IAYT, Certified Yoga Therapist, Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Experience the yoga of awareness weekly to heal your mind and your life. All welcome. Register for first class. $15 per class/monthly discount. Short Beach Union Church, 14 Pentacost St, Branford. 917-860-0488. DrSklover@gmail.com. LoveLifeProductions.net.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 9:30-11am. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness. Simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Discover the benefits of becoming more present. By donation. Redding Center for Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org. ReddingMeditation.org. Family Story Time and Craft – 10-10:30am. Each Thursday morning, we will be joined by Kate Pratt, who will have a bird-themed story followed by a fun craft. Registration required. Free. New Morning Market, 129 Main St North, Woodbury. NewMorn.com. Healing Gong – 10:30-11:30am. Healing Gong, a form of Sheng Zhen, is a restorative medical qigong that blends an ancient tradition with gentle, meditative movements performed seated on a chair. Healing Gong is an integration of healing traditions, using the power of nature to heal oneself. $25. Barefoot Living Arts, 85 Mill Plain Rd, Bldg V, Fairfield. BarefootLivingArts.org. Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 6:45-8pm. Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/ level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga.Wendy@ gmail.com. HCCYoga.org. Reiki Healing Circle – 7-9pm. First Thursday. All welcome. Share and experience Reiki. Please join us while we enjoy a peaceful, powerful night of healing. Hosted by Gigi Benanti, Reiki Master/Teacher. $20. Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReikiGigiB@snet.net. AngelHealReiki.com, UnityCenterNorwalk.org. Mindful Movie Nights – 7:15-9:30pm. Fourth Thursday. Inspiring movies, documentaries, Ted Talks, new ideas, conversation and more. $9. Yoga Space, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-809-4409. VeronicaMarr4@gmail. com. YogaSpace-CT.com/Events.

friday Releasing The Heart Qigong – 9:15-10:15am. Monday and Friday. Practicing Releasing the Heart has the power to bring about peace by removing distinctions between people, and reducing conflicts and quarrels. It is a uniquely carefree and vigorous form. $25. Barefoot Living Arts, 85 Mill Plain Rd, Bldg V, Fairfield. BarefootLivingArts.org. Reiki Share – 9:30-11:30am. First Friday. With JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT. Practice Reiki in a small group setting. Share experiences and help each other develop in a safe, fun environment while providing a wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating experience. $20. Registration required. Turning Point Healing Arts and Education Center 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield. 203-438-3050. TurningPointReiki.com. The Monroe Farmers’ Market – 3-6pm. Shop at a seasonal farmers’ market that offers fresh, Connecticut Grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, seafood, eggs and more. Free weekly entertainment and activities for children and families. Free. Monroe Town Green, 7 Fan Hill Rd, Monroe. 203-452-2800. Info@MonroeFarmersMarket.org. MonroeFarmersMarket.org.

Kids Cooking Club – 3:45-4:45pm. Kids will make allergy-friendly, no-bake snacks that are perfect for a lunch box. Kids will make and eat their creations, and will take home recipes to enjoy later. Suggested age: 5-10-years old. Free, registration requested. New Morning Market, 129 Main St North, Woodbury. 203-263-4868. NewMorn.com. Discussion with The Higher Realms – 7-9:30pm. Last Friday. Bring your heartfelt questions and receive the wisdom of The Ascended Masters and The Divine Feminine specifically for you as channeled by Ginny Brown. $45. Address provided upon registration. HeartAndHealing@hotmail.com. GinnyBrown.net.

saturday Find Your Edge Yoga – 9-10am. With Pauline Koinis. For yoga practitioners. A chance for yoginis and yogis alike to get a Saturday morning groove on; where laughter, challenge and heart all meet on the mat. $18/class; $16/senior. Valley Spirit Cooperative & Wellness Center, 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot. 860-619-2788. Info@ValleySpiritCoop.com. ValleySpiritCoop.com. Gentle Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation – 9:3010:45am. Relax, release and flow into wellness in beginner/level 1 yoga classes with work on mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, alignment, flexibility and strength. Modifications suggested and props used when needed. $5/donation per class. Hindu Cultural Center of CT (HCC), 96 Chapel St, Stratford. 203-521-0359. HCC.Yoga. Wendy@gmail.com. HCCYoga.org. Mahasati or Insight Meditation – 10-11:30am. Learn how to live your life more skillfully through the development of self-awareness and mindfulness, simple practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life, and discover the benefits of becoming more present. 203-244-3130. Info@ReddingMeditation.org. ReddingMeditation.org. Spondylitis Support Group – 11am-12:30pm. Last Saturday. Led by Dr. Andrew Cummins, naturopathic physician. Having lived with the chronic inflammatory disease Ankylosing Spondylitis for the last 18 years, Cummins understands what living with chronic pain and limited mobility is all about. Group provides education, empowerment, understanding and support. Free. Shalva Clinic, 8 Lincoln St, 1st Fl, Westport. 203-916-4600. DrCummins@ShalvaClinic.org. ShalvaClinic.org. Spiritual, Psychic and Healing Fair – 11am-4pm. First Saturday. Would you like a second opinion on your life issues, or a personal message from a departed loved one? Are you curious about your purpose in this life, or seeking a bit more direction and focus? Come join us. $35+. Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. 203-637-4615. Info@AlbertsonChurch.org. AlbertsonChurch.org. Open Mic Night – 7-9pm, 3rd Saturday. Bring music printed out in your key and Kenneth Gartman will accompany you at the piano for your moment at the microphone. Comedians, poets, writers and musicians welcomed as well. Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main St, 2nd Fl, Norwalk. 203-855-7922. Office@ UnityCenterNorwalk.org. UnityCenterNorwalk.org.

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 FFCAdvertising@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE KURT BEIL, ND, LAC, MPH

72 North St, Ste 100A, Danbury 914-362-8315 DrKurt@earthlink.net HudsonValleyNaturalHealth.com Naturopathic and Chinese medicine for acute and chronic disease, including acupuncture, botanical medicine, cupping, moxa, homeopathy, nutritional and lifestyle counseling, mind-body medicine, ecotherapy and functional lab testing. Helpful for muscle/ joint pain and headaches, autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, mental health, boosting immune function, balancing hormones, tobacco addiction, and stress reduction. See ad, page 36.

INGRI BOE-WIEGAARD, LAC  Fairfield, Wilton, Bethel 203-259-1660 CTAcupuncture.com 25-year full-time practice

Ingri’s treatments help alleviate pain, depression, neck and back, anxiety, headaches, stress, allergies, asthma, arthritis, digestive, menstrual, infertility, smoking, and weight-loss issues. See ad, page 12.

JAMPA STEWART, MSOM, LAC  Board Certified Acupuncturist Valley Spirit Wellness 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 ValleySpiritCoop.com

Concierge care for those suffering from pain, internal disorders, menstrual issues and menopause, infertility, depression and anxiety, insomnia, addiction, fatigue, tune-ups and more. Facial rejuvenation/ cosmetic acupuncture also offered. See ad, page 4.

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 CMYK 1, 99, 1, 0 unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constituCMYK tion (dosha), a plan may include 58, 79, 0, 0 supplements, diet/nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. See – Bold ad, page 5. Aleo CMYK: 72, 66, 65, 79 P R O X I M A N O VA – S E M I B O L D

BIOFEEDBACK CMYK: 72, 66, 65, 79

ADAM BREINER, ND

The NeuroEdge Brain Performance Center Full Color Division of Whole-Body MedicineOne Color 501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 • TheNeuroEdge.com The NeuroEdge is dedicated to keeping your brain sharp and high-functioning. We treat head injuries and brain traumas—such as concussion and stroke—as well as help athletes, students and businesspeople improve their performance. Learn and view our cutting-edge neurotherapies at TheNeuroEdge.com. See ad, page 2.

ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EDD, LPC, BCN, LLC

898 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield Offices in Ridgefield and Newtown 203-438-4848 Info@DrRoseann.com • DrRoseann.com Advanced Bio-Regulation (BRT) is a unique approach to health and wellness that uses Biofeedback and PEMF-based Electromagnetic Technology to help the body better self-regulate, adapt and heal naturally. It is used for chronic pain, depression, anxiety, hormonal issues, Lyme, etc. See ad, page 7.

December 2018

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY ALBA THERMAL IMAGING LLC Safe, painless early detection 71 East Ave, Ste D, Norwalk 203-856-1421 AlbaThermalImaging.com

Thermography can detect breast disease at its earliest stages and monitor and assess pain in any part of the body. Safe, painless, non-invasive, FDA registered.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC

501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 WholeBodyMed.com Breast cancer screening with medical-grade thermography is safe and noninvasive. We are pleased to have ThermaScan, the world’s premier source for the analysis and reporting of medical thermology, available at our health center. Early detection matters. See ad, page 2.

CHINESE MEDICINE ACUBLEND PLLC

Dr. Sian James, DAc, LAc, LMT, RYT Offices in Fairfield County 203-987-6585 AcuBlend.com AcuBlend will serve your healthcare needs by blending the art and science of wellness. offering acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, Gua, Sha, Tui Na, massage therapy, movement therapies, herbal medicine and much more. See ad, page 31.

COLONICS COLONICS

914-921-LIFE (5433) LifelineHygienics.com Experience and personalized service you can trust. The finest in colonic irrigation and personal care. Serving the tri-state area since 1993.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC

501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 WholeBodyMed.com Good health depends as much upon how well we eliminate wastes from our bodies as it does upon how well we eat. Our physiciansupervised colonics promote relief from a variety of disturbances by gently cleansing the colon and opening our body’s natural detoxification pathways. See ad, page 2.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY/ ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE VINCENT FRASER, CST, CAT, SEP Craniosacral Therapy, Alexander Technique, Somatic Experiencing Greenwich and Norwalk 203-570-2059 Vincent@VincentFraser.com

Vincent offers paths to wholeness which lead to resolving pain and trauma, ease of movement in one’s body and life, and a fuller conscious embodiment.

True Health Family Chiropractic 7365 Main St, Stratford 203-923-8633 TrueHealthCT.com As a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, Dr. Braglia has received advanced training in Pediatric Adjusting and Prenatal Care, including the Webster Technique. We are proud to serve patients from all over Fairfield and New Haven Counties with our unique and gentle approach to health care. See ad, page 20.

16 Trowbridge Dr, Bethel 203-505-1743 WorkspaceEducation.org

Workspace Education is a vibrant community of parents, K-12 students, educators and professionals. With an authentic culture and the freedom to design custom educations, Workspace delivers not only on the foundational literacies, but also enables students to pursue their passions. See ad, page 3.

ENERGY HEALING BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com TLCTarot.com If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 20 years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 25.

SOUL HEALING JOURNEY, LLC Eilis Philpott 40 Livingston St, Fairfield 203-767-5954 Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com SoulHealingJourney.com

Eilis is a certified Rebirther having completed Rebirthing and Advanced Rebirthing training. She is a certified Soul Language practitioner and is certified in Akashic Field therapy. She is a Reiki Master in Usui/Raku-kei Reiki and Angelic Reiki. She is an approved teacher for 13th Octave LaHoChi. A transformational healing session supports you in healing all aspects of your life. See ad, page 14.

EDUCATION

CHIROPRACTIC PETER BRAGLIA, DC

WORKSPACE EDUCATION

INSTITUTE FOR HOLISTIC HEALTH STUDIES

Western Connecticut State University Christel Autuori, RDH, RYT, MA, Director 181 White St, Danbury 203-837-8559 WCSU.edu/IHHS The mission of the IHHS is to provide the University and Greater Danbury area with an opportunity to engage in and explore different aspects of holistic and integrative health through programming and instruction. Programs include Wellness Wednesday lunchtime workshops, monthly meditation program, lecture series, health wellness and fitness fair.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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FREQUENCY SPECIFIC MICROCURRENT SARAH ROTELLA

Enlightenment Center, Integrative Wellness Therapies 100 Danbury Rd, Ste 102, Ridgefield Additional location in Greenwich 203-525-5830 S.Light@mac.com • SenLightenment.com Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) uses a low-level current to reduce inflammation and scar tissue formation, as well as regenerate injured tissue. The frequencies target specific tissues and issues. Anyone who has experienced accidents, traumas, injuries or athletic strains can benefit.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TAMARA SACHS, MD

Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC 15 Bennitt St, New Milford 860-354-3304 TSachsMD.com Using Functional Medicine, Dr. Sachs prevents and treats chronic illnesses by addressing their underlying root causes, remaining respectful of the uniqueness, complexity and intuitions that make us human. Trained at Mt. Sinai Medical School and Yale University Hospital in Internal Medicine, in 2003 she opened Functional Medicine and Integrative Care LLC. She has great success with IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, autoimmune problems, toxicity and more, by creating individualized, realistic and comprehensive Personalized Wellness Plans. She consults in her New Milford, CT office, and also by phone or video using telemedicine.

HEALING ACID REFLUX HEALING ACID REFLUX NATURALLY Susan Berman, Med, CHHC 860-670-4152 Susan@HealingAcidReflux.com HealingAcidReflux.com

I work with health conscious individuals to help heal their acid reflux or GERD to avoid further damage and prevent esophageal cancer. Find your unique food and lifestyle triggers. I work with groups or 1:1 through a virtual classroom so you can be anywhere to take the program.

HEALING CENTER THE RUBY TREE

Metaphysical Shop and Healing Space Sherman Village, 670 Main St S, Woodbury 203-586-1655 TheRubyTreeCT.com Rocks and crystals, magical objects, singing bowls, herbal candles and more. Local artisans, an array of holistic practitioners, a monthly Mystical Market fair, regularly scheduled psychics/ mediums/intuitives, yoga, meditation, and workshops galore—all to enhance the health of your mind, body and spirit.

HEALTH COACH MARY GILBERTSON WELLNESS Mary Gilbertson, MS, BSN, CHHC Licensed RN, Nutritionist and Certified Health Coach 500 Purdy Hill Rd, Ste 2, Monroe 203-521-4733 MaryGilbertsonWellness@gmail.com MaryGilbertsonWellness.co

Using the concept of “Food as Medicine” to create your customized nutrition and lifestyle plan for whole living. Working one-on-one, in groups and in corporations to develop customized healthy lifestyle plans. Works with patients on metabolism and weight loss, detoxification, gut health, cancers, inflammatory conditions and stress management.

COMING IN FEBRUARY

2019 Natural Living LAST CHANCE DEADLINE Directory JANUARY 12

HEALTHY EATING CHEF ELIANA GRUBEL, CHC

Licensed and Insured In-home Cooking Services 203-559-8946 • CleanFood4UrType.com As a Board-Certified Health Coach by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and member of the Unites States Personal Chef Association, Eliana’s passion is her clients’ success. She has been serving CT for over 15 years, and is now offering new services including short-term detoxes, meals to freeze, dinner parties, cooking classes, personalized coaching programs and seminars. See ad, page 10.

HOLISTIC DENTIST DAVID L LERNER, DDS, CAC, FIND Yorktown Heights, NY 914-214-9678 • HolisticDentist.com

We offer a unique approach to the health care of the mouth based on a holistic understanding of the whole body. I invite you to explore our website to learn how we can serve your needs. See ad, page 13.

WHOLE BODY DENTISTRY

Mark A Breiner, DDS 501 Kings Hwy East, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-0300 • WholeBodyDentistry.com Mark Breiner, DDS, is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry. His patients have found solutions to baffling, unresolved and seemingly unrelated dentalrelated health problems. He is the author of the award-winning book, Whole-Body Dentistry. See ad, page 2.

203-885-4674 December 2018

HOLISTIC PSYCHIATRY

INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE

DAVID LONDON, MD

544 Riverside Ave, Westport DavidLondonMD.com Contact@DavidLondonMD.com 203-557-6574 David London, MD, honors emotional, spiritual and biochemical individuality to assist healing psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Sophisticated genetic and lab testing help identify underlying causes. Treatment may include acupuncture, psychotherapy, EMDR, herbs, vitamins, nutrients, lifestyle changes, medication. See ad, page 5.

HYPNOSIS HEALING TREE WISDOM

Thea Litsios, CHy Locations in Norwalk and Stratford 203-693-1493 • HealingTreeWisdom.com Use the power of your whole mind to transform your life: Hypnosis for weight loss, smoking cessation, stress relief, and past life review. Certified teacher of Active Dream work. Individual dream consultations available, as well as workshops and monthly Dream Groups. See ad, page 12.

MIND-BODY TRANSFORMATION Diane Bahr-Groth, CHy, TFTdx 1177 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-595-0110 MindBodyTransformation.com

Fast, effective methods for weight, stress, fear, pain, smoking, etc. Certified Hypnotherapist, Thought Field Therapy, Time Line Therapy, NLP and Complementary Medical Hypnosis, since 1989. See ads, pages 9 and 34.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN HENRY C. SOBO, MD

Optimal Health Medical LLC 111 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-348-8805 • DrSobo.com Advances in Regenerative Medicine allow Dr. Sobo to offer cutting-edge technologies such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatments and adult stem cell therapy. Dr. Sobo’s integrative approach addresses a variety of conditions such as: food allergies, Alzheimer’s/ dementia, chronic fatigue syndrome, weight loss, hormonal health, fibromyalgia, anti-aging medicine, and MTHFR-Genetic Mutation. See ad, page 11.

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.

WHOLE-BODY MEDICINE LLC Adam Breiner, ND, Director David Brady, ND, CCN, DACBN David Johnston, DO Elena Sokolova, MD, ND 203-371-8258 WholeBodyMed.com

Using state-of-the-art science combined with holistic medicine, our caring integrative physicians correct underlying imbalances and address issues which may interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself. We treat many conditions including Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, immune disorders, allergies, thyroid conditions, pain, neurological conditions, stroke, concussion, ADD/ADHD, depression, insomnia and more. We offer hyperbaric oxygen, neurofeedback and neurotherapies, osteopathic medicine, functional medicine, IV nutrient and chelation therapy, energetic medicine, homeopathy, Japanese Reiki, nutrition, colonics and detoxification, enhanced brain, athletic, scholastic performance, and more. See ad, page 2.

INSPIRATIONAL BOUTIQUE THE ANGEL COOPERATIVE

Purveyors of Positivity 51 Ethan Allen Hwy (Route 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 • TheAngelCoop.com A unique lifestyle boutique featuring the first Shungite room in the U.S., The Angel Cooperative has products and experiences designed to care for your body and soul while also offering beautiful and healing goods for the home. We offer a regular schedule of workshops, meditations, classes, and other holistic and spiritual events. See ad, page 15.

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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INTEGRATIVE OPTOMETRY EYECARE ASSOCIATES, PC

Dr. Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD 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 CTEyeCareAssociates.com We offer behavioral optometry, comprehensive vision exams, contact lenses and vision therapy. See ad, page 4.

LYME DISEASE HEALING JUSTIN SPELLER, CHP, CST Source Energy Healing 617-435-7798 HowtoHealMyLyme@gmail.com HowtoHealMyLyme.com

I am creator of a unique Lyme Disease healing protocol. I specialize in working with clients on inner growth work and soul-centered transformation.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE THERAPY SARAH ROTELLA

Enlightenment Center, Integrative Wellness Therapies 100 Danbury Rd, Ste 102, Ridgefield Additional location in Greenwich 203-525-5830 S.Light@mac.com • SenLightenment.com Advanced manual lymphatic drainage therapy is applying specific techniques to support, pre and post operative surgical procedures, detoxification, the immune system, neuro fascial release, the glymphatic system and the brain. This is supportive of both neural and cognitive functioning.

MASSAGE AND BODYWORK JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 JiivaCenter.com We offer Traditional, Thai Massage and Prenatal massage. At Jiiva Massage, our goal is to provide our clients with a variety of experienced therapists and modalities to choose from. Our hope is to provide you with an assortment of different techniques so you can find what works best for your individual needs. See ad, page 27.

ROBIN ORDAN, LMT, LCSW, CICMI Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-561-8535 RobinOrdanLMT.com

Robin has been providing massage and Reiki for over 15 years. Specializing in Swedish, pregnancy, trigger point, injuries and infant/child massage instruction. Sessions are individualized to meet your needs. See ad, page 10.

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 self-awareness 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.

VALLEY SPIRIT WELLNESS

6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 ValleySpiritCoop.com Meditation can be easier to master than you think. Taoist, Buddhist and generic meditation. Beginners and experienced practitioners both welcome. See ad, page 4.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN ADAM BREINER, ND

Whole-Body Medicine LLC 501 Kings Hwy E, Ste 108, Fairfield 203-371-8258 • WholeBodyMed.com Dr. Adam Breiner has helped patients with a wide variety of neurological conditions—including stroke, concussions, TBIs, ADD/ADHD, depression and anxiety—as well as seeing patients for enhanced sports, scholastic and workplace performance. His center was the first facility in the country to offer the powerful combination of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neurofeedback. Dr. Breiner also has natural and cutting-edge approaches for the treatment of Lyme disease. See ad, page 2.

SHALVA CLINIC LLC

Ellen M Lewis, ND, Director 8 Lincoln St, Westport 203-916-4600 ShalvaClinic.org Dr. Lewis offers comprehensive holistic care for women including well-women exams, fertility, thyroid and menopause support. CMYKShe also has a special 1, 99, 1, 0 interest in pediatrics and utilizes a variety of natural modalities when working with patients with ADD/ADHD, CMYK autism, allergies, eczema asthma. Treatments 58, 79, and 0, 0 include herbal medicine, functional medicine, biotherapeutic drainage, homeopathy and more. See ad, back cover.

Aleo – Bold CMYK: 72, 66, 65, 79

NEUROFEEDBACK

P R O X I M A N O VA – S E M I B O L D CMYK: 72, 66, 65, 79

NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA

ADAM BREINER, ND

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 5.

The NeuroEdge is dedicated to keeping your brain sharp and high-functioning. We treat head injuries and brain traumas such as concussion and stroke as well as help athletes, students and businesspeople improve their performance. Learn and view our cutting-edge neurotherapies at TheNeuroEdge.com. See ad, page 2.

Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies 805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111 DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com

NATURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

Lisa Singley, ND, MS 2103 Main St, Ste 2, Stratford 203-874-4333 Info@NHAWC.com • NHAWC.com We use advanced diagnostic testing with safe, effective, all-natural healing modalities and treatment options to treat acute and chronic conditions; restore balance; and treat the mind, body and spirit. Specialists in endocrine disorders, digestive issues, pain management and chronic fatigue. We offer comprehensive solutions to prevent illness and maintain optimal health for body, mind and spirit. See ad, page 21.

The NeuroEdge Brain Performance Center Division of Whole-Body Medicine Full ColorHighway E, Ste 108, Fairfield One Color 501 Kings 203-371-8258 TheNeuroEdge.com

ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EDD, LPC, BCN, LLC

898 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield Offices in Ridgefield and Newtown 203-438-4848 Info@DrRoseann.com • DrRoseann.com We work with children, adolescents, teens, adults and families around a variety of issues with non-medication therapies. We provide brain-based treatments like neurofeedback, biofeedback, EFT, hypnosis, meditation, etc. Our staff provides non-judgmental support to help alleviate stress and promote wellness. See ad, page 7.

OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN DAVID L. JOHNSTON, DO

MARVIN P. SCHWEITZER, ND Wellness Institute 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203-847-2788 DrMarvinSchweitzer.com

Family Health Care using all natural therapies for 25 years. Acupuncture, bioidentical hormones, homeopathy, Chinese/Western herbs, allergy/ toxin testing, oxygen therapy, Meridian stress assessment, nutrition/enzyme therapies. See ad, page 25.

158 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield 203-438-9915 OsteopathicWellness.net

Dr. Johnston has been providing gentle, holistic, hands-on osteopathic manual treatment and nutrition for over 20 years. Excellent for newborns, birth trauma, concussions, headaches, sports injuries, neck and back pain, digestive issues, brain support, stress, fibromyalgia, detoxification and weight loss, specialized bloodwork. See ad, page 24.

December 2018

ORGANIC SALON ECO CHIC SALON SPA & BLOW DRY BAR 16 Center St, Wilton 203-966-5655 • EcoChicSalonCT.com

Eco Chic Salon Spa & Blow Dry Bar is committed to the healthy way of life so many people strive for each and every day. Mindful stylists are dedicated to the use of environmentally friendly products, including Eco Chic branded products, and alternative hair services with less toxic variations from the typical salon experience. Be well. Be beautiful.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT DR. LORI MONACO

Inspire and Empower, LLC 203-395-9832 • DrLoriMonaco@gmail.com DrLoriMonaco.com Dr. Monaco is a Transformational Speaker and Coach who helps people break bad habits and change negative behaviors and beliefs to unlock their full potential and manifest abundance. She offers one-on-one or group coaching sessions, lectures and workshops, and Laughter Yoga sessions. She works with children to adults.

JANUARY

Coming Next Month

Mental Wellness

Plus: Multiculturalism in Health

PSYCHOTHERAPY

ROSEANN CAPANNA-HODGE, EDD, LPC, BCN, LLC 898 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield Offices in Ridgefield and Newtown 203-438-4848 Info@DrRoseann.com DrRoseann.com

Our highly trained and experienced therapists utilize a variety of brain-based tools and techniques that allow the CNS to calm down so one can address their issues without heightened anxiety. We specialize in pediatrics, parenting and supporting individuals with chronic issues. See ad, page 7.

ROBIN ORDAN, LCSW Family, Child, Individual and Couples Therapy Old Greenwich/Stamford 203-561-8535 RobinOrdanLCSW.com

Robin has more than 18 years of experience working with families and children. Specializing in divorce, parent/child conflict, grief, attachment/bonding, child development and parenting. See ad, page 36.

NANCY SCHERLONG, LCSW

Coaching/Psychotherapy/Consulting Offices in Danbury and Ridgefield 914-572-3167 WellnessMetaphors.com Manage stress with relaxation techniques. Re-discover 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.

REIKI GIGI BENANTI, USUI REIKI MASTER Angelic Healing Center 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk 203-852-1150 AngelHealReiki.com

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

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.

203-885-4674

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

eNaturalAwakenings.com

JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 JiivaCenter.com Berta Prevosti is a Usui and Karuna Reiki Master and has been practicing Reiki for over 20 years. We also have several experienced Reiki Masters and practitioners. We offer private Reiki sessions for physical and emotional pain. We also have ongoing Reiki classes that are taught in the traditional Usui method by Berta. See ad, page 27.

TURNING POINT REIKI LLC

JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield 203-438-3050 TurningPointReiki.com TurningPointShare.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, Lyme disease and back pain. All Reiki levels taught.

TAI CHI/QIGONG MINDFUL HEART TAI CHI Linda Dohanos Linda@mhtaichi.com MHTaiChi.com

With more than 20 years of experience teaching tai chi and qigong, I have developed a gentle, therapeutic exercise program for homebound seniors and seniors in rehabilitation. I teach to all levels and ages in a class setting as well. I also offer Reiki sessions. See ad, page 12.

JAMPA STEWART, MSOM, LAc  Board Certified Acupuncturist Valley Spirit Wellness 6 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot 860-619-2788 ValleySpiritCoop.com

Develop physical and mental fitness and find a new harmony of the mind, body and spirit using ancient Chinese arts. Starting with basic movements, warm-up techniques and breathing exercises, you will learn a set of flowing natural movements done slowly with calmness, balance and awareness. Weekly classes, weekend workshops and retreats. See ad, page 4.

ermal Imaging (DITI) THERMOGRAPHY pproved full body screening. WHOLE HEALTH • No Radiati on THERMOGRAPHY LLC  ars earlier breast Rachel Mazzarelli, MS, CCT Locations throughout Fairfield County, n vs mammogram Southbury, New Haven, Milford and New York for detecti ng and 203-257-3785 mber of diseases WHThermography@gmail.com cal injuries. WholeHealthThermography.com

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is an FDA-approved, noninvasive, no-radiation 85 screening for the whole body. It offers possible earlier detection of ut breast disease and can aid in thbury, diagnosis and improved ord, prognosis of many health conditions and injuries.

elli

phy@gmail.com TRANSFORMATIVE thermography.com

HEALING

ESSENTIAL HOLISTIC HEALING, LLC Jackie Karabin, Reiki Master, LMT Wilton 203-984-1491 Info@EssentialHolisticHealing.com EssentialHolisticHealing.com

Find balance and enhance the health and well-being of your body, mind and spirit through Reiki and massage therapy. Offering a holistic approach with tailored sessions to honor the specific needs and goals of the client.

BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot 203-856-9566 BethLeas.com • TLCTarot.com If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 20 years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, page 25.

WELLNESS CENTER BAREFOOT LIVING ARTS

85 Mill Plain Rd, Fairfield 203-955-1955 BarefootMedicalArts@gmail.com BarefootLivingArts.org Barefoot Living Arts is a wellness center in downtown Fairfield that provides acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, massage, qigong, meditation, counseling, yoga and more. Our practice consists of two naturopathic doctors, a licensed massage therapist, a licensed clinical social worker and an advanced practice registered nurse. We strive to gently assist our patients to develop a deeper, more authentic connection with themselves.

HAUTE HEALING OASIS 792 Pacific St, Stamford 203-595-5304 Info@HauteSauna.com HauteHealingOasis.com

SALT OF THE EARTH THERAPEUTIC SPA

787 Main St S, Woodbury 203-586-1172 NaturalSaltHealing.com

Haute Healing Oasis is Fairfield County’s premiere wellness spa. Featuring luxurious, private infrared sauna spa rooms, Young Living aromatherapy, chromo light therapy, BEMER physical vascular therapy, elite massage services as well as other holistic, safe, noninvasive healing modalities. Come and experience the HAUTE difference in health and wellness today. See ad, page 29.

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 transformation, healing and grounding for mind, body and spirit. See ad, page 19.

JIIVA YOGA, REIKI AND MASSAGE CENTER

346 Main St S, Woodbury 203-405-2241 203-586-1172

Berta Prevosti, Usui and Karuna Reiki Master 2900 Main St, Ste 1A, Stratford 203-345-7747 • JiivaCenter.com Jiiva is in the business of building a community for yoga and healing. We offer yoga classes, a school of Reiki, private Reiki treatments, traditional massage therapy, Thai massage, meditation classes, workshops and community events. See ad, page 27.

SALT OF THE EARTH HEALING ARTS SANCTUARY/ATHENA HALL

A space of calm and beauty, healing and restoration of the body and spirit, Salt of the Earth Healing Arts Sanctuary offers a tranquil place to refresh and renew in a house charged with the energy of old. Beautiful Athena Hall, inside the Sanctuary, can be rented to like-minded people for classes, workshops, lectures and special events. Heart and Home is a unique store in the sanctuary; a cozy place to shop, have tea, scoop and bag salts, purchase a variety of artisan goods.

SALTANA CAVE

590 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield 203-969-4327 SaltanaCave.com Fairfield County’s first and only therapeutic Himalayan salt cave provides relief from respiratory issues such as allergies, asthma, and side effects of smoking and pollution. Salt is naturally anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. See ad, page 34.

SOUL SYNERGY WELLNESS

1492 High Ridge Rd, Stamford 203-356-5822 SoulSynergyWellness111@gmail.com SoulSynergyWellness.co Soul Synergy Wellness offers a variety of aesthetic services and noninvasive techniques to support mind-body wellness. Services include anti-aging and oxygen facials with aromatherapy, Torc Plus bioelectric stimulation for muscle activation and weight-loss, infrared sauna and the DietMaster weight-loss program.

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December 2018

COSMIC RHYTHMS Winter Solstice:

Commitment, Compassion and Contentment

by Michele Leigh

s we begin the month of December, Mercury is still moving retrograde and rolling backwards into Scorpio. Expect communication during this time to be passionate due to the Scorpio energy, but a bit murky due to the retrograde. It may feel like reading the pages of a book through cloudy water. This energy will lift around December 6 when Mercury completes its retrograde. On December 2, Venus goes into Scorpio, the sign of her detriment. Our planet of relationships is not happy with this intense, probing energy. Expect a perceptive, focused energy to surround associations with others. This could be useful in business dealings but may feel uncomfortable in personal situations. We have a new moon on December 7 when both the sun and moon are in the sign of Sagittarius. This energy encourages a new beginning in the area of our lives that represents far-away places and higher education. This is a great time to start planning for the next adventure. Embrace the energy of the centaur with a new optimistic 28-day cycle. The sun leaves rebellions Sagittarius for structured Capricorn on December 21 at 5:23 pm EST and ushers in the winter solstice. This is the longest night of the year, when ancient man would dance around a bonfire to encourage the light to return. It is a time to embrace the dark part of the year and perform our own hibernation. Stay inside, reflect, journal and light white candles. Incorporate poses into a yoga practice with a focus on the Capricorn energy, which is connected to the knees. This winter solstice embodies the spirit of commitment, compassion and contentment. We end the month with a full moon in Cancer on December 22. The moon has great dignity in the sign of Cancer, as it is her home sign. Expect this nurturing energy to intensify the nodes of the moon, which recently moved into Cancer/Capricorn last month. We may feel the push/push between water versus earth, emotional versus practical and home versus career. These themes will be the focus of this full moon. December is a time to release those things that might still be dragging us down and prepare to start anew in 2019. Michele Leigh is an astrologer, author and yoga teacher. A practitioner of ancient techniques, she is an active member of Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA). Connect at DarkMoonAstrology@gmail.com. 62

Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley Edition

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The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center: Medical

The Breiner Whole-Body Health Center: Dental

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32 5

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Salt of the Earth Spa & Sanctuary Shalva Clinic

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Copper device stops a cold naturally last holidays,” she said. “The kids had colds going around, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” Some say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.” Copper may even stop flu if used earNew research: Copper stops colds if used early. ly and for several days. Lab technicians ew research shows you can went away completely.” It worked again placed 25 million live flu viruses on a stop a cold in its tracks if you CopperZap. No viruses were found alive every time he felt a cold coming on and take one simple step with a soon after. he hasn’t had a cold since. new device when you first feel a cold People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try coming on. and say it can completely prevent ugly it. They said it worked for them, too, so Colds start when cold viruses get in outbreaks. You can also rub it gently he patented CopperZap™ and put it on your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat the market. don’t stop them early, they spread in infections. Soon hundreds of people had tried it your airways and cause misery. The handle is curved and finely texand given feedback. Nearly 100% said But scientists have found a quick tured to improve the copper stops way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. colds if used withcontact. It kills in 3 hours after the Researchers at labs and universities germs picked up first sign. Even up agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills on fingers and microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, to 2 days, if they hands to protect still get the cold it just by touch. you and your That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- is milder and they family. tians used copper to purify water and feel better. Copper even heal wounds. They didn’t know about Users wrote kills deadly germs Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. that have become viruses and bacteria, but now we do. things like, “It Scientists say the high conductance stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it resistant to antibiotics. If you are near of copper disrupts the electrical balsupposed to work that fast?” sick people, a moment of handling it ance in a microbe cell, destroying it in Pat McAllister, age 70, received one may keep serious infection away. It may seconds. for Christmas and called it “one of the even save a life. Tests by the Environmental Protecbest presents ever. This little jewel really The EPA says copper still works tion Agency (EPA) show germs die fast works.” Now thousands of users have even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of on copper. Some hospitals tried copper stopped getting colds. different disease germs so it can prevent for surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. People often use CopperZap preserious or even fatal illness. ventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci This cut the spread of MRSA and other CopperZap is made in the U.S. of used to get colds after crowded flights. illnesses by over half, and saved lives. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave back guarantee when used as directed times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When to stop a cold. It is $69.95. Get $10 off he felt a cold coming on he fashioned “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” each CopperZap with code NATA6. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Go to www.CopperZap.com or call people are sick around her she uses Cop- toll-free 1-888-411-6114. gently in his nose for 60 seconds. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold perZap morning and night. “It saved me Buy once, use forever.

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