THE LOTUS SPOKANE

The Lotus Spokane Fosters Collaboration, Community Spirit

by Sheila Julson

Aft er closing during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, Th e Lotus Spokane is returning with a renewed commitment to their core values of collaboration, learning and unlearning, wellness—and a new location. Co-owners Erin Meuer and Sam Karorero have offi cially moved Th e Lotus Spokane into a beautifully renovated building in the East Central neighborhood and are opening up applications for healers to rent studios. Located on East 5th Avenue, the refreshing space features all-new interior construction, convenient amenities and even deeper healing. Although Th e Lotus Spokane is still taking it slow on group classes and events due to the pandemic, they are renting out their holistic healing offi ces, which are available as full or shared rentals. Th ere are already a handful of talented resident healers practicing in aff ordably-priced offi ces with soundproofed walls, new heating, air conditioning and more. Th e Lotus Spokane provides the opportunity for partnership and community, while allowing practitioners to run their businesses on their own schedules in alignment with shared values. In addition to one-on-one appointments with resident healers, Th e Lotus Spokane plans to continue featuring providers from

throughout the United States and abroad to lead classes and events, with special services available by appointment only.

Uplifting Humanity

Th e Lotus Spokane consists of like-minded practitioners that deeply believe collaboration, learning, growth and wellness are essential components to healing individually and collectively. “Th e healers will be able to enjoy creative freedom, stability and opportunity to grow,” affirms Meuer. “It allows them to off er much more than anything they each could have done separately. We are excited to be part of a community-based neighborhood and want to make our off erings accessible for everyone; healers are encouraged to off er community pricing and/or donate to local charities.” Th e new building has two side-by-side business spaces with a colorful mural painted on the front. Th e space next to Th e Lotus Spokane will be a community outreach studio for Impanda, a nonprofi t formed to work with at-risk youth through creating music and art. Both Impanda and Th e Lotus Spokane believe in the power of sound and music as potent vessels for healing. Impanda staff hope to have concerts and diff erent events centered on that mission—community art and eff orts that raises the collective vibration through music and creation. Th e Impanda studio will open this fall with limited off erings. Impanda is looking for fi scal partners to support the outreach programs and logistical costs. Th e Lotus and Impanda go hand-in-hand in creating this healing space, and uphold the values of collaboration, learning/unlearning and wellness in action.

Th e Lotus Spokane is located at 3026 E. Fift h Ave., Spokane. For more information on current off erings, to book an appointment with a practitioner or for a practitioner application, please visit Th eLotusSpokane.com. To donate or become a fiscal partner for Impanda, go to ImpandaRwanda.org.

Corporate Hero

Apple Seeks 2030 Carbon Neutrality Apple, Inc., the maker of the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, has committed to becoming 100 percent carbon neutral overall, from its supply chain to retail outlets, by 2030. The goal is to achieve a zero net climate impact. According to BBC Science Focus Magazine, CEO Tim Cook says, “Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share. The innovations powering our environmental journey are not only good for the planet, they’ve helped us make our products more energy-efficient and bring new sources of clean energy online around the world. Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovative potential, job creation and durable economic growth. With our commitment to carbon neutrality, we hope to be a ripple in the pond that creates a much larger change.” If successful, the 10-year plan will reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent and develop solutions such as the use of low carbon and recycled materials to achieve the other 25 percent.

The Link Between

Stress and Fat by Sheryl Quesnel

We’ve been hearing for years that the hormone cortisol causes belly fat. But why? First, let’s cover the positive aspects of cortisol. Th is natural anti-infl ammatory helps to regulate blood sugars and metabolism. It’s what stirs us awake in the morning and helps us to get up and go. When our body perceives danger, the adrenal glands release cortisol, sharpening our alertness while initiating the fi ght, fl ight or freeze response. In dangerous situations, cortisol is a hero that can save our lives! Stress also puts our body in a state of red alert, which activates the fi ght, fl ight or freeze response. Chronic stress, which many people are experiencing right now, means the body is always in this state. If we don’t manage the stress well, we can fi nd ourselves with a build-up of toxic levels of cortisol in the body. So, how does this relate to body fat? Cortisol build-up in the body begins to break down the body’s proteins and converts these proteins into glucose/blood sugars. An individual struggling with adrenal problems will oft en have an enlarged belly that droops, along with atrophied muscles in their legs and bum. Th is is because toxic levels of cortisol are literally eating the muscles and converting their meals into sugar to be stored away in the fat cells. To avoid this, we don’t need expensive supplements or hard-to-stick to exercise routines. Instead, we can focus on stress management, along with satisfying low carb meals combined with intermittent fasting. Th e easiest way to begin a new lifestyle program like is to take a relaxing walk. Walking helps to break down excess cortisol build-up in the body. It’s easy, it’s free and can be done anywhere at any time. Th is, combined with proven stress management techniques and a consciously created diet, can bring your cortisol levels back down to the healthy levels where they belong.

Sheryl Quesnel is the owner of Process to Wellness. For a free, no obligation consultation or to learn more, call 208-267-1990. See Resource Guide listing, page 30. The Power of Meditation by Syena Harris

We’re all in this together. We’ve all heard this phrase many times of late. And for good cause—it contains vital truths which have the power for change. Th ere’s an energetic fi eld woven throughout creation. Scientists call it “the unifi ed fi eld.” It’s a unity of infi nite parts all working together. We each live, breath and have our being within this fi eld. Taking this truth and applying it to everyday acts—including thoughts—we see that what each part attends to infl uences the whole. It’s vibration changes accordingly, even if only slightly. Positive, uplift ing actions and thoughts create higher vibrations; it’s that simple and that profound. We experience this principle when feeling uplift ed by another’s smile or kind gesture. An inner shift happens, creating a change for both people involved. Parts were connected, and we feel lighter, happier. Th is eff ect can be seen on a grander scale as well. Take for example, a group of monks who once lived in the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Th e Ishaya Monks were members of the Society for Ascension and held daily meditation practices focusing on the upward spiraling energies of praise, gratit ude, love and compassion. Th ey studied the eff ects on the surrounding community and found that all types of crimes had decreased substantially. Th eir combined intentional energies were profoundly transformative. Th is is the power of meditation. It’s not necessary to feel praise, gratitude, love or even compassion to have an eff ect. All that’s needed is the intention of bringing Heaven down to Earth. When enough of us have this focused intention, change inevitably happens. It’s the hundredth monkey eff ect. When light turns on change occurs, as darkness always disappears. We are each a transmitting station for that light. We each have that power and are truly in this together.

Syena Harris lived, studied and meditated with the Ishaya Monks and became a teacher of the Ishaya Ascension Meditation. She has taught Ascension throughout the Western United States and now resides in Coeur d’Alene. You can contact her at Th eInnerWayNow.com.