Natural Awakenings Phoenix & Northern Arizona, April 2019 Edition

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Earth Day

Local Listing of Events

POWER HOUSE Going Off the Grid Ocean Robbins on

Food, Community & Planetary Health Into the Woods Hiking for Health and Happiness

April 2019 | Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition | NaturalAZ.com

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE PESTICIDES IN SCOTTSDALE

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20 POWER SWITCH Taking a Home Off the Grid

22 EARTH DAY SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES

Protection Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

26 POTLUCK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Breaking Bread, Building Community

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27 SACRED SPACE

Bringing Bliss to Every Room

28 THE JOURNEY TO HOME

John Butler Inspires Hope and Awareness

30 OCEAN ROBBINS ON Personal and Planetary Health

32 INTO THE WOODS

Hiking for Health and Happiness

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WHAT DO YOUR TOES KNOW?

36 THE ART OF HEALING ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please email PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

Email articles, news items and ideas to: PhoenixEditor@NaturalAZ.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

Submit calendar events online at NaturalAZ.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

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Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

38 BRINGING UP KITTY Get Off on the Right Paw

40 LOVING NATURE Outdoor Adventures for Kids

42 NATIVE INTELLIGENCE Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

DEPARTMENTS 10 news briefs 14 health briefs 16 global briefs 18 action alerts 19 eco tip 26 conscious eating 27 inspiration 28 artist spotlight 30 wise words

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film brief fit body healing ways natural pet healthy kids green living calendar classifieds resource guide April 2019

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

PHOENIX & NORTHERN ARIZONA EDITION PUBLISHER Tracy Patterson, BSc, MES DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca COPY EDITOR Sara Gurgen WEBSITE Kyle Hass Rachael Oppy

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings – Phoenix 17470 N Pacesetter Way Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Tracy@NaturalAZ.com NaturalAZ.com

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave

© 2019 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.

letter from publisher

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fter reading the inspiring article “Into the Woods—Hiking for Health and Happiness,” in this month’s Fit Body section (see page 32), I felt compelled to share a story from my university days.

My friend and I lived close to the Rocky Mountains, and we decided one summer that we were going to hike every weekend, which constituted three days since we only worked a four-day week. The first couple of weekends, we drove the hour or more out each day to hike, returning to the city in the evening. It didn’t take long for us to realize that we’d rather cut down on the driving and stay out there enjoying two nights in the wilderness.

I had an old Ford half-ton truck with a regular cab at that time. We packed everything we needed for camping into black garbage bags because there was no cap on the truck and we had to be prepared for the rain (or snow!) that might descend on us at a moment’s notice. I slept in a pup tent, while my friend who had rheumatoid arthritis slept in the cab of my truck because it was better for her to be as high and dry as possible.

Given my friend’s condition, she wasn’t sure how she would fare with all the hiking. I, on the other hand, was in tiptop shape. We figured out a way to accommodate both our needs: She would simply go at her own pace, and if I felt like pushing myself further, I would just go ahead and truck up a slope, for example, come back down, and hike back up with her. It worked like a charm! We mostly stuck together, but I could get my “extra” hiking in by implementing this little trick.

It didn’t take long before we were hiking farther and farther—my friend looked back over the area we had traversed one day and said, “I can’t believe I hiked that far!”

To her, it didn’t feel like she’d worked very hard to make such progress. As the summer wore on, we would set out with no time limit except darkness, hike, stop along the way for lunch, hike some more, and arrive back at our campsite near dark to relax and make dinner over the open fire.

Apparently, this form of activity helped my friend’s arthritis immensely, as it wasn’t too much too soon, it was varied terrain and usually a soft trail, and there were stunningly beautiful wilderness views that kept us wanting to see what was around the next bend. Before she knew it, she was hiking miles and miles without any soreness, and staying in the cab of the truck seemed to work for keeping the dampness away overnight.

And needless to say, I am a complete believer in the practice of “forest bathing,” mentioned in the “Into the Woods” article. The whole experience allowed us to ignite our inner beings by listening to our individual body’s needs, becoming aware of our surroundings (sensing, for example, if there might be a big ole grizzly bear up that next corridor!), and generally knowing what it was to be grounded and humbled in the vast peaks we called home for the summer.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please contact us to find a location near you.

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.

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DEADLINE REMINDER! Please note that all deadlines (advertising, editorial, calendar events) are the 10th of the month prior to the edition being published.

For example, April 10 is the deadline for all May edition submissions.

news briefs

Inaugural Arcosanti International Film Carnivale

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Photo credit: Arcosanti

rizona’s first all documentary film festival, the Arcosanti International Film Carnivale, will take place Friday, April 26, to Sunday, April 28, in the beautiful, otherworldly eco-city of Arcosanti. More than just a film festival, this groundbreaking event will be an eclectic culture hub celebrating every art form under the sun. While the festival accepts documentary short and feature films on every topic, there are also special divisions for films on sustainability, conservation, Native American culture, holistic and organic living, art and design, architecture, fashion, culinary arts, social change and the human condition.

The Arcosanti International Film Carnivale’s mission is to celebrate the art of documentary cinema and enrich the community by presenting an annual world-class event with art exhibitions, educational workshops, panels and outreach programs, an open-air mercato, live music, locally made wine and beer tastings, globally inspired cuisine and desserts, and a Venetian-style masquerade ball. The event is anticipated to become one of Arizona’s top destination film festivals because of its unique locale and multi-artistic and multi-cultural facets.

Aside from the showcasing of independent documentary films, the Arcosanti International Film Carnivale will feature a full weekend of activities, experiences and culinary delights.

Cost: General admission day passes range from $20 to $85 or $100 for a weekend pass.

A limited number of VIP tickets are also available, which include a variety of additional perks and experiences, such as an exclusive dinner, cocktail reception, ultra-exclusive after party inside Paolo Soleri’s apartment, and more. VIP day passes range from $40 to $150, or weekend VIP passes are available for $300. The lineup of films and a full listing of events will be continually updated. Location: 13555 S. Cross L Rd., Mayer. For updates and ticket information, visit ArcosantiFilmCarnivale.com.

Kunlun Seminars Are Coming to Phoenix

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he Kunlun seminars take place Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, at Embassy Suites by Hilton PhoenixScottsdale. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to learn once-hidden alchemical teachings directly from Ching Fung Dao Shr (Max), the founder of the Kunlun System and true spiritual master, in a fun, friendly and light-hearted environment.

The Kunlun System reveals the root, the key to awakening within one’s self. Through meditative practice and breathing techniques, this method allows the practitioner to access the divine potential hidden within by facilitating the complete opening of the energy body, including chakras, meridians, and three specific energy storage areas Taoists refer to as dantiens.

People will have the unique chance to talk with Max prior to taking a seminar on Tuesday, April 9, from 7 to 9 p.m., at a free Talk Night and Meditation at A Mindfulness Life Center, located at 10339 North Scottsdale Road, in Scottsdale. Max will reveal his training, the origins of the Kunlun System, lead a meditation, and share some priceless stories along the way.

Cost: Level 1, $300; Level 2, $200. Times: Level 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 13 and 14; Level 2 (minimum six months of Level 1), from 4 to 7 p.m., April 13.

Location: 4415 E. Paradise Village Pkwy.

S., Phoenix. For more information or to register, visit PrimordialAlchemist.com/ events. See ad, page 13.

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Embracing Your Journey Expo Slated for April 28

P Verdin. Photo credit: Doug Von Gausig, Critical Eye Photography

The 19th Annual Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival

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ocated 100 miles north of Phoenix in North-Central Arizona’s Verde Valley, the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival gives participants the opportunity to experience birding during the peak spring migration season. The four-day event, which runs from Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28, provides a unique recreational experience to anyone interested in the natural world and fosters awareness of the importance of habitat for the enrichment of all life in the Verde Valley.

The festival is held at Dead Horse Ranch State Park on the banks of the Verde River. With close proximity to the Verde River, Oak Creek, Sycamore Creek and other perennial waters, festival participants get to choose from more than 60 field trips, hikes and walks in one of Arizona’s richest birding habitats.

There are also workshops and seminars, educational activities for kids, exhibits, a keynote speaker and entertainment.

Field trips are led by experienced guides who have extensive knowledge of birds and the habitat that make this region so unique. Guided walks and workshops, vendors and exhibitors along with special events round out this event.

New field trips are added each year to the schedule of old favorites.

urple Lotus Productions (PLP) invites you to “embrace” Earth Day with them at their holistic, wellness and metaphysical expo on Sunday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, in Phoenix.

Grab the family, bring a friend or enjoy some me time and explore ways to live a more healthy, holistic, green life at this family-friendly event.

This is PLP’s fourth year producing the Embracing Your Journey expos in the Valley of the Sun and the second year celebrating Earth Day. There will be eight free lectures to select from as well as some fun and free Earth-wise activities to enjoy.

In addition, there will be 60 vendors offering everything from nutrition to feng shui to reiki healing, as well as all-natural health and wellness products, affirmation kits, sprays and jewelry, tarot and angel readings, multiple healing modalities and so much more—all designed to expand people’s awareness and appreciation for this wonderful planet Earth.

Cost: Tickets are $5 (plus tax) in advance and $8 at the door (children 10 and under are free). Location: 7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.com/e/embracing-your-journey-expo-april-28th-2019tickets-58730978939. See ad, page 43.

Location: 675 Dead Horse Ranch Rd., Cottonwood. For more information or to register, call 928-282-2202 or visit VerdeRiver.org/birding-festival.

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news briefs

Rent Eco-Friendly Moving Boxes for Your Next Move

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oving season is right around the corner! Green Bin rents eco-friendly moving boxes for less than it costs to buy cardboard boxes. No assembly or tape are required.

Green Bin bins are used 400-plus times before being recycled, reducing the environmental impact of local moves. One- to four-week rentals start at only $60. Every package includes 100 percent recycled packing paper, a four-wheel dolly and labels.

Green Bin delivers to the Phoenix Valley, north to Carefree, south to Queen Creek, east to Fountain Hills and west to Goodyear. To see a map of Green Bin’s service area where it provides free delivery and pickup, visit RentGreenBin.com.

For more information, contact Jeremiah Rosenthal at 602-6889956 or Info@RentGreenBin.com, or visit RentGreenBin.com. See ad, page 17.

35th Anniversary Open House at Longevity Medical Health Center!

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oin the doctors and staff of Longevity Medical Health Center on Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. for an evening of all things naturopathic— meet and talk with the doctors, tour the office, and learn about exciting natural treatments. Healthy food and snacks will be served. The center has been providing excellence in naturopathic medicine to its patients since 1984.

Location: 13832 N. 32nd St., Ste. 126, Phoenix. For more information, call 602-493-2273 or visit LongevityMedical.com. See ad, page 23.

Free Class at Hypnotherapy Academy

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he Hypnotherapy Academy of America, in Albuquerque, is excited to announce a special free, two-hour class being held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. The class will be facilitated by Tim Simmerman Sierra, lead instructor at the academy, who will be sharing three secrets to create positive life changes by showing attendees how their subconscious mind works.

“Feeling stuck, blocked or stagnant originates with limiting thoughts held at the subconscious level. Learn how the techniques taught at the academy are specially designed to liberate you from those thoughts and help you lead a more fulfilling life—enjoy more peace of mind and a joy-filled heart,” says Sierra, who will also present recent scientific research on Hypnotherapy Academy methods being used by the National Institutes of Health and will also discuss hypnotherapy as a career. “Integrate your interest in healing, the mind science and practical spirituality into a career helping people as a hypnotherapist.”

Sierra has been director and award-winning lead instructor at the academy for 23 years. He is a former two-term president of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. He is also on the board of directors for the International Board of Hypnotherapy, and the author of the definitive textbook, Medical Hypnotherapy, Principles and Methods of Practice.

Call 505-767-8030 to register and reserve your seat for this special free class. See ad, page 33.

Deva Premal and Miten with Manose

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On the Wings of Mantra World Tour 2019

oin Deva Premal and Miten with Manose and their international band for a deep immersion into the power of mantra on Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center and Monday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Premal’s golden voice and Miten’s songs of love and gratitude carry us beyond our daily worries. It will be a celebration of open hearts and moving into a timeless space together. Attendees will go beyond music to the mystical realms of mantra. Sponsored by Cities of Light Media, these evenings will feature mantras from their best-selling recent release, DEVA, including the transcendental Seven Chakra Gayatri Mantra.

Cost: $35-$108, May 4; $40-$108, May 6. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit BrightStarEvents.com for May 4 event or ScottsdalePerformingArts.org for May 6 event. To connect with the event sponsor, Cities of Light Media, call 928-274-6412 or email CitiesOfLightMedia@gmail.com. See ad, inside back cover.

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Primordial Alchemist® Inc. Presents

Free Lecture with Meditation & KUNLUN Seminar with

The Founder Ching Fung Dao Shr & Diana Christensen The KUNLUN System is the Celestial path to enlightenment; only two Celestial systems exist also known as the Water Path in the world the rest are Þrebase system. This is a Traditional Taoist system, dating back from the 3rd & 7th Century with a very long lineage of accomplished masters.

This system is considered the ÒShenÓ level after mastery of Qigong, and Neigong. It is the opposite in theories and methods commonly seen in the ÒFireÓ ways of Taoism.

Since times going back to antiquity True Alchemical Teachings that gave authentic awakening were only reserved for the very few individuals who were fortunate enough to Þnd and learn under such knowledgeable masters, attaining the highest spiritual awakening of the ÒLiving body of Light.Ó In this late 20th century such rare teachings are now made public to those individuals walking the path of true knowing. The ÒKUNLUN System" is for those who are seeking the path of Òno -moreÓ learning. This ancient method is from the sacred ÒKunlun MountainsÓ where the temple of the ÒGreat Taoist ImmortalsÓ originated and the place where ÒFu XiÓ the Dragon Immortal of the east Þrst taught these ancient skills.

Ching Fung Dao Shr (Max) and his wife Diana teach this tradition in a light-hearted and simple way leading the practitioner to the quick awakening of their true dormant potential without taking many long years to attain results in their alchemical practice.

The BeneÞts of the KUNLUN System: • Self Healing • More Internal Energy • True Self Awareness • Clear negative energy • No Guru just you & Nature

Free Lecture & Meditation Date: April 9th, Time: 7-8pm Loca7on: Mindfulness Life Center 10339 N ScoDsdale Rd, ScoDsdale AZ

• • • • •

Empowerment of Humanity Clear All Energy Channels Safely Healing your Ancestral line 7 Generation Direct Experiences of Spiritual Truth Discovering the True Heart Mind

KUNLUN Level 1

Date: April 13th & 14th Time: 10am-2pm Cost: $300 Loca7on: Embassy suites Hilton, 4415 E. Paradise Village Pkwy S. Phoenix

Registration & Information: www.primordialalchemist.com April 2019

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The heavy use of household cleaning disinfectants may contribute to changes in infant gut bacteria and weight gain, reports a new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. University of Alberta researchers collected fecal samples and studied the gut health of 757 babies between the ages of 3 and 4 months; then restudied the children at 1 and 3 years old. They found that children in households that used disinfectants at least once a week had higher body mass index (BMI) scores and elevated levels of Lachnospiraceae, gut microbes linked in other studies to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. Babies in households that used vinegar or other eco-friendly cleaners had lower BMI scores and much lower levels of a family of bacteria that includes E. coli.

By mixing food additives with human gut microbes in petri dishes, scientists at the Czech Republic’s Institute of Microbiology found that gut microbes with anti-inflammatory properties were highly susceptible to being harmed by additives, while microbes with pro-inflammatory properties were mostly resistant. “We speculate that permanent exposure of human gut microbiota to even low levels of additives may modify the composition and function of gut microbiota, and thus influence the host’s immune system,” wrote the authors.

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Household Cleaning Products Affect Babies’ Guts and Weight

Gut Susceptible to Food Additives

Smoking Bans Lower Blood Pressure Non-smokers that live in areas that have banned smoking in public spaces such as restaurants, bars and workplaces have lower systolic blood pressure. In a Northwestern University study reported by the American Heart Association, blood pressure readings of 5,115 adults ages 18 to 30 in Birmingham, Chicago, Minneapolis and Oakland were taken over a 30-year period and correlated with changes in local laws that banned public smoking. A meaningful decrease in systolic blood pressure readings was found in non-smokers when no-smoking laws were enacted, indicating a reduction in heart disease risk.

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health briefs

Sperm counts have plunged by half in the last 40 years among American and European men, according to a recent review of scientific studies. In a new double-blind study of 56 infertile men, researchers at Iran’s Qazvin University of Medical Sciences found that curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, can boost sperm counts. Each day for 10 weeks, half of the men took 80 milligrams of curcumin nanomicelle, in which curcumin is better absorbed; the other 28 were given a placebo. The researchers found that the curcumin significantly boosted sperm count and motility.

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Curcumin Boosts Fertility in Men

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Research on 66 patients with bipolar disorder found that patients receiving probiotic supplements were three times less likely to be rehospitalized than those given a placebo. The study from the Sheppard Pratt Health System, in Baltimore, gave half of discharged patients a placebo and the other half a capsule containing two probiotics, Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Within 26 weeks, 24 of the 33 people that received the placebo returned to the hospital, but only eight of the 33 on probiotics were readmitted. The probiotic treatment was especially effective for those experiencing considerable inflammation, say researchers.

Happenings

• FREE ‘Intro to Herbal Healing’ Seminars April 14th & 27th - check website for details • Advanced Formulation weekend April 6 & 7, learn how to put all those herbs into powerful medicine. $299pp

(Strong knowledge of herbs necessary) • Next Herbal Cert Class: NEW 2 weekend class, Friday evenings/Saturdays, Call to RSVP

Our online store is OPEN:

www.Store.SWHerb.com

Stress May Be Worse in the Evening

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Drinking lots of sugar-sweetened sodas and juices significantly increases the risk of chronic kidney disease, reports a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Using health questionnaires for 3,003 African-American adults in Jackson, Mississippi, covering a 13-year period, the researchers found that the top third of subjects, those consuming the most sugar-sweetened drinks, were 61 percent more likely to develop kidney disease than those in the bottom third.

SW Herb Shop

Probiotics Ease Bipolar Disorder

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Sugary Drinks Linked to Kidney Disease

Acute, late-day stress may be harder on our bodies, say researchers at Japan’s Hokkaido University. They measured the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in 27 young, healthy volunteers, and then put them through 15 minutes of stressful events that included making a speech and doing mental math. Half of the volunteers were tested two hours after awakening, the other group 10 hours after awakening. The subjects’ levels of cortisol, which helps provide the body with energy in the face of a perceived need for fight or flight, rose strongly in the morning, but not in the evening, suggesting that the human body is more equipped to deal with stress early in the day and becomes more vulnerable later.

April 2019

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Under final rules released by the current administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national labeling standard for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) completely exempts foods made with highly processed ingredients grown with GMOs, including sugar made from sugar beets, high-fructose corn syrup and refined soybean and canola oils. The change will allow 78 percent of products containing GMOs to avoid disclosure, according to the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

Companies don’t have to comply until January 1, 2022, and the new labels will use the term “bioengineered” instead of more common identifiers like “genetically engineered” or “GMO”. Small businesses, to-go food prepared at grocery stores, and meat, eggs or dairy from animals that are fed GMOs, which involves virtually all livestock not certified organic, are exempt from the labeling requirements.

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Over Dose

Citrus Crops to Receive Human Antibiotics

Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressed concern over a recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that opens the door to widespread use of the antibiotics streptomycin and oxytetracycline to spray commercial citrus crops. The antibiotics, which are often used on people, can kill insects that transmit a bacterium that causes citrus greening, which renders fruit small and bitter. But the EPA ultimately ruled that the economic benefits outweigh concerns about antibiotic resistance and potential harm to the environment, people and wildlife. The USDA says the amount of antibiotic exposure to people who eat fruit or juices still will be far less than what people are exposed to when prescribed antibiotics by their doctor. The antibiotics will have to be sprayed repeatedly over years just to keep the trees alive and producing fruit until they succumb to citrus greening. Public interest groups are protesting the action.

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GMO Labeling Diluted

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Muddled Message

Environmental risks are the top three concerns among the 1,000 global decision-makers surveyed in the latest Global Risks Perception Survey of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

For the third straight year, “extreme weather” ranked first, followed by “failed climate change mitigation” and “natural disasters”. The survey was part of a WEF annual report produced in advance of the recent confab of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland.

The World Bank has calculated that the real cost of natural disasters to the global economy is $520 billion per year.

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Environmental Risks Register as Top Threat

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Worldwide Worry

global briefs

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Fuel Folly

Nuclear Waste Disposal Remains Elusive

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Endangered Species on the Rebound

The Endangered Species Act seems to be working, with more than 75 percent of marine mammals and sea turtles protected by the act recovering, according to a new peer-reviewed study by scientists at the Center for Biological Diversity published in the academic journal PLOS ONE. North Atlantic green sea turtle nests on Florida beaches have increased by more than 2,000 percent and Hawaiian humpback whales more than 1,100 percent between 1979 and 2005.

A new report issued by environmental watchdog Greenpeace details the growing global dangers of accumulating nuclear waste that will remain hazardous for hundreds of centuries. Several of the designated storage facilities in the seven countries surveyed are nearly filled to capacity now. Unresolved safety issues across the industry include fire risk, venting of radioactive gases, environmental contamination, failure of containers, terrorist attacks and escalating costs. More than 65 years after the start of the civil use of nuclear power, 250,000 tons of highly radioactive spent fuel exists in 14 countries, and underground storage, seemingly the most viable option, has encountered major obstacles.

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Balancing Act

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action alert

local action alert

Are you concerned about toxic pesticides in our soil, water, air and food?

Approximately 160 communities in more than 20 states restrict the use of toxic pesticides. Scottsdale BELIEVE, a grassroots group of Scottsdale residents, is working to make Scottsdale the first in Arizona.

The group takes its name from a Barry Goldwater quote: “While I am a great believer in the free enterprise system and all that it entails, I am an even stronger believer in the right of our people to live in a clean and pollution-free environment.”

Local governments are pre-empted by Arizona state law from regulating pesticide use on private property, but they can control pesticide use in their municipal operations. Scottsdale BELIEVE has organized a petition drive to ask the Scottsdale City Council to curtail the use of herbicides and other pesticides on municipal properties, such as parks and athletic fields, by adopting a “least hazardous first” policy. Under this tiered approach, nonchemical strategies are employed first and higher toxicity chemicals are used only when necessary to preserve public health and safety.

The group hopes the “least hazardous first” approach will spread from Scottsdale municipal operations to school districts, homeowners associations, and other municipalities. But first, the group must achieve success with the city of Scottsdale.

If you are a Scottsdale resident and would like your city to curtail its use of herbicides and other pesticides, take this opportunity to make your voice heard.

For details on how to sign the petition, collect signatures on your own, or to volunteer for a signature collection event, visit ScottsdaleBelieve.com.

The group also welcomes the support of local businesses where people can sign the petition during business hours. See the full petition text and illustrative graphic at ScottsdaleBelieve.com/petition.

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Take Action to Reduce Pesticides in Scottsdale

Support Citizen Action Against Plastics Every minute, the equivalent of an entire garbage truck of plastic gets dumped into our oceans, reports the World Economic Forum. Many of the materials are disposable, single-use plastic products like straws, bags and Styrofoam containers, which some cities and towns have banned.

This type of citizen action is increasingly blocked by the Plastic Industry Association (PIA), which has spent big money to successfully ban plastic bag ordinances in 10 states where 70 million Americans live. This means local communities are prohibited from taking effective action that could reduce the plastics that litter our streets and pollute our waterways.

The Sierra Club is calling on nine major corporations that are members of the PIA to withdraw from it with an online petition. So far, two have indicated they will not be renewing their memberships this year: Clorox (which owns companies like Burt’s Bees, Brita and Glad) and the Ascena Retail Group (which includes Ann Taylor and Loft).

To participate, sign the online petition at Tinyurl.com/PlasticPollutionPetition. Other action steps, including tweeting and involving friends, are also detailed.

Healthier Dry Cleaning Non-Toxic Ways to Lower Risks

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eco tip

Chemicals used in dry cleaning clothes have long been linked to health concerns for both people and the environment. Perchloroethylene (“perc” for short) is most commonly used in this process.

Federal regulatory agencies have documented myriad negative effects from exposure to the petroleum-based solvent.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration links it to dizziness, blurred vision, loss of coordination and other nervous system effects, including memory loss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls perc a likely human carcinogen “by all routes of exposure.” The EPA also warns that the chemical can leak into the ground, contaminating water supplies, and react in the air to form smog, which has been associated with respiratory effects.

Earthtalk.org suggests there are safer alternatives through products and processes used by independent “green” dry cleaners nationwide. These include a

biodegradable liquid silicone—essentially liquefied sand—which doesn’t chemically react with fabric fibers. It’s safe to use on delicate garments like beads, lace, silk and cashmere, and won’t cause shrinkage. GreenEarthCleaning.com includes a store locator function.

Another good option is wet

cleaning, whereby fabric is laundered in a computer-controlled washer and dryer that uses water— along with specialized soaps and conditioners instead of solvents— and spins its contents much more slowly than a typical home washing machine.

Because wet cleaning is free of hazardous volatile organic compounds like those in perc, it eliminates health and safety risks, as well as environmental hazards associated with traditional dry cleaning, according to GreenAmerica.org. As an added benefit, the equipment and operating costs are lower. While the biggest disadvantage to wet cleaning is that it produces waste water, it’s still a highly energy-efficient method.

Another method is liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning, in which some commercial cleaners use the pressurized gas in combination with other gentle cleaning agents to dissolve and remove dirt, fats and oils in clothing instead of using perc; or consider simply handwashing delicate clothes and fabrics in a mild, non-toxic detergent, and then hanging them outside to dry.

April 2019

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Solar: Plunging Costs

Power Switch Taking a Home Off the Grid

by Jim Motavalli

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esse Stafford and Alyssa Craft quit their jobs in 2015, bought five acres of remote land far away from utilities and began building their 36-foot-by-36foot timber frame home from scratch.

Next up was a septic system, then a clean water source and, of course, alternative energy. Their rooftop solar panels are backed up by a reliable Honda generator.

They had some setbacks, which is to be expected. Now they’re blogging about it. “We didn’t want corporate jobs, we didn’t want to live in the city, commute to work or have a mortgage payment,” they write in their online homestead journey at PureLivingForLife.com.

Off-the-grid living has become downright fashionable, especially for the eco-conscious. But leaving the rat race isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone.

Yet, anyone that wants to become more energy-independent can succeed without moving to an isolated cabin; and there’s never been a better time, because prices keep coming down and technology keeps improving. Choosing the best option depends on several factors, including the

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specific residence, climatic zone, town and neighborhood.

Preliminary Considerations Power source: Choose from among

solar ($12,000 to $50,000, depending on the system’s size), wind ($6,000 to $22,000, including installation) or geothermal ($20,000 to $25,000).

Ample resources: Find out if there’s steady wind, plentiful sun, a place to install geothermal pipes and whether the home is properly oriented for solar without obstruction by trees or tall buildings.

Electricity needed: Get a quick

average by adding up the wattage of all appliances, and then add 50 percent. The American average is 10,000 kilowatthours annually, although frugal folks can make do with less. The local utility company can also estimate energy needs based on past usage.

Realize that alternative energy doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

For instance, a solar system doesn’t have to power the whole house. A smaller and

Solar panels for electricity, usually made of silicon, consist of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC). Their cost has come down dramatically in recent years. In January, the average solar panel cost $3.14 a watt, a bottom line of roughly $18,000 with a six-kilowatt system big enough for most homes. The price fell 6.5 percent from January 2018, reports EnergySage.com, a solar vendor pricing source. A federal tax credit covers 30 percent of the cost, so the out-of-pocket cost for a system would be approximately $13,000 if installed before year’s end, when the full residential tax credit is available. Partial tax credits will be available until they are phased out in 2022.

Ron Blumenfeld, a retired doctor in Fairfield, Connecticut, serves on his town’s sustainability task force and “went live” with his rooftop installation six years ago. “It’s turned out to be one of the best investments we’ve ever made—financially and environmentally,” he says.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working toward residential solar to generate power at just five cents per kilowatt-hour by 2030, which means it will be far cheaper than grid electricity.

Consumers can either buy a system outright or—as a popular alternative—lease the system with no upfront costs. Leasing companies like SolarCity (now part of Tesla) pioneered this approach, in which consumers agree to buy electricity from the system installed on their roof.

Herr Loeffler/Shutterstock.com

cheaper array with battery backup can be connected to essential services like the water heater, refrigerator and electric stove, with the grid handling heavier loads. Advantages are lower upfront cost and access to the grid when needed.

Connecting to the grid makes sense for all alternative power sources, because wind and solar are intermittent, and don’t always provide power. Also, most states offer net metering, which requires the local utility to pay for the electricity a homeowner puts back into the grid.

Herr Loeffler/Shutterstock.com

Whether to add the extra expense of battery backup is important. A pair of Tesla Powerwalls will cost about $14,000 installed and store enough electricity to power a home for seven days. It’s suitable for people looking to go off the grid because the sun doesn’t always shine, and power generated on sunny days can be stored and used when it’s overcast.

Off-the-grid solar is not just for those living in sunrich states. Installers can look at a property—often remotely, through applications like Google Earth—and determine if solar is appropriate. Sometimes a few trees will have to be sacrificed, but the benefits are manifold, and not just because there will be power during grid blackouts.

Wind: If the Resource is Right Wind power accounted for the largest share of renewable energy growth in 2017, reports the International Energy Agency, but it’s in its infancy for homeowners, partly due to an average cost of $48,000 to $65,000 per installed project. Residential turbines have been installed in all 50 states, but many parts of the U.S. have marginal resources. Check the Department of Energy wind resource guide for local data at WindExchange.Energy.Gov. The best-case scenario is strong winds plus few neighbors close to a large property (and lenient zoning laws). Wind may work for the 19.3 percent of the population that lives in rural areas and the 21 million American homes built on properties of an acre or more.

However, it isn’t for everyone. James Weston, of Greene, Maine, installed his turbine 10 years ago, and considers his rooftop solar panels a better investment. “By the time you put up your 100-foot tower to get the tower above the tree line and optimize the wind resource, the return isn’t there,” he says, noting that his savings from the turbine amount to a few hundred dollars a year.

Bergey WindPower, maker of the 10-kilowatt BWC Excel 10 turbine ($31,770), recommends that a property have at least a 10 mph average wind speed, coupled with high electricity prices of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour or more. Also consider the neighbors: The system’s turbine is typically installed on an 80-to-100-foot tower, and so-called “viewshed” objections have taken down

If a Stream Runs Through It

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roperties with moving water have a fourth sustainable power source available to them: hydroelectric.

If opting to harness the energy in a nearby flowing stream or river, 10-kilowatt micro-hydropower systems can power even large homes. They combine piping from the water source to a turbine, pump or waterwheel with an alternator or generator, regulator and wiring.

According to Home Power magazine, a fully installed hydro system for the average use of a modern household might cost $20,000 to $100,000.

many projects (including Cape Wind, in Massachusetts).

With annual maintenance, the DOE reports that small wind turbines should last about 20 years, the same basic lifespan as solar panels. The federal production tax credit for wind is available this year, but won’t be available afterwards. Some states offer incentives. A useful small wind guidebook can be found at WindExchange.Energy.gov/small-wind-guidebook.

Geothermal: Available Anywhere

Some common misconceptions about home geothermal are that consumers need to live in one of the planet’s “hot spots” (think Iceland, California or Utah). But the truth is the Earth’s temperature just below the surface almost anywhere is a constant 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Northeast and Midwest have the highest geothermal adoption rates. Geothermal doesn’t necessarily require a large piece of property. Local geology will be a factor in siting and sizing the system.

Geothermal systems use underground pipes filled with refrigerant that absorbs warmth from the ground through a heat exchanger. In summer, that same underground temperature can be tapped to cool a home, combining heating and air conditioning in one system.

While it necessitates a relatively high upfront cost, low operating costs mean the systems can pay for themselves in less than 10 years. Most include a ground-source heat pump with a 50year warranty. For a 2,500-square-foot home, an average off-theelectrical-grid system will cost $20,000 to $25,000 to install. Bill Martin, in Quincy, California, runs an efficient three-ton geothermal system installed in 2014. “It’s been a very good experience,” he says. “I’m ecstatically happy.”

The same 30 percent federal tax credit that applies to solar also applies to geothermal for systems installed by 2020. States also provide incentives. A detailed guide on availability is available at Tinyurl.com/GeothermalHeatPumpListing.

Special Considerations

Buildings, especially older structures, are usually sieves in terms of energy loss, so before investing in a system, check to see if the local utility provides free energy audits. Even if it’s not free, it’s worth finding out if the home needs new windows or strategically applied insulation.

There are scammers in every field, and alternative energy is no exception. Ask providers for references to previous customers and check for online cautions from the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and others.

Alternative energy in any form can save money and precious resources. Explore the options thoroughly and choose wisely before pulling the plug.

Jim Motavalli, of Fairfield, CT, is an author, freelance journalist and speaker, specializing in alternative energy, clean automotive and other environmental topics. Connect at JimMotavalli.com.

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Protection Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

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Location: 455 N. Galvin Pkwy. For more information, visit PhoenixZoo.org/eventitems/earth-day.

Coping with Sloping: Ground Covers and Erosion Control 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 13

by Ronica A. O’Hara n April 22, eco-conscious citizens will join together again in communities across the country to celebrate Earth Day and work for the planet’s healthy, sustainable future. This year, the Earth Day Network (EDN) is asking people to join its Protect Our Species campaign to raise awareness of the crucial roles that plants and animals play in the ecosystem and the current threats faced by many of them.

The nonprofit cites that the world is facing the greatest rate of extinction in 60 million years because of human activity, including climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides. But the good news, EDN says, is that the rate of extinctions can be slowed, and many of our declining, threatened and endangered species can still recover if we work together now. This will necessitate a united global movement of consumers, voters, educators, faith leaders and scientists that demands immediate action.

EDN is asking people to advocate government policies that protect species and their habitats, and to continue to build on the worldwide efforts that embrace the value of nature.

It is also asking people to undertake such individual actions as adopting a plant-based diet and stopping pesticide and herbicide use. More information, including teach-in toolkits and facts

Celebrate Earth Day at the Phoenix Zoo with Earth-friendly games and activities designed to inspire and motivate others to care for our natural world. All activities are included with general zoo admission.

on threatened species from whales to insects, can be found at EarthDay.org.

Help Natural Awakenings Phoenix & Northern Arizona celebrate and promote progress in species sustainability efforts by participating in these local Earth Day 2019 events.

Earth Day Celebration and Ladybug Release 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 6 Come learn how keeping our community healthy keeps us healthy. Plant seedlings; learn how to build a planter box; listen to music; eat amazing, delicious fruit and veggies; and create art. Release thousands of ladybugs at 10 a.m. Releasing ladybugs is a hands-on experience!

Cost: Free. Location: EarthHeart Park and Community Garden, 625 N. Plaza Dr., Apache Junction. For more information, visit apm.ActiveCommunities.com.

Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 13 In pursuit of all things green, enjoy a funfilled morning of live animal presentations, crafts, information booths promoting conversation and sustainable living.

Cost: Free. Location: Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler.

For more information, call 480-782-2890 or visit ChandlerAZ.gov/earth-day.

Soften that rock look with these easy-togrow alternatives to a grass lawn that can take the summer heat. These fast-growing plants stay low and tight with less care.

Learn which shrubs, herbs and vines soften all that rock, keep soil from eroding, and stay cool in summer while looking great. A few plants go a long way when you know which plants to use locally.

Cost: Free. Location: Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd., Prescott. For more information, call Ken Davis at 928-445-4159 or visit WattersGardenCenter.com/classes.

Mesa Bike2Work Day: Pancake Breakfast and Earth Day Expo 6 a.m. (check-in), 7 to 9 a.m. (food and expo), Wednesday, April 17 Ride your bike to the Mesa City Plaza to enjoy the festivities. Join the city of Mesa staff as they bike to downtown Mesa to meet up with residents for a pancake and smoothie breakfast where proceeds raised will benefit Roosevelt Elementary. Again, this year will also host an Earth Day Expo during the event to highlight ways residents and employees can go green with different city department offerings.

Cost: Pancakes ($3) and smoothies ($3) or both ($5). Location: East side of the Mesa City Plaza building along the paved walkway. For more information, visit MesaAZ.gov/residents/transportation/ bike-pedestrian.

Khanthachai C/Shutterstock.com

EARTH DAY SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES

Party for the Planet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 13

123rf.com/ Simon Dannhauer

Khanthachai C/Shutterstock.com

Earth Day Cleanup 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 20

Sedona Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 27

Green Gilbert is hosting a town-wide cleanup.

This family-friendly event will feature games, guided hikes, special presentations, crafts for kids, and environmental education exhibits and activities. Spend the day learning more about our natural environment and enjoying the beauty of our park.

Location: San Tan Vista Water Treatment Plant, 3695 E. Ocotillo Rd., Gilbert.

AllEvents.in/gilbert/green-gilbert-earthday-clean-up.

Earth Day Celebration at Grand Canyon National Park 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (main event), Saturday, April 20 This year’s Earth Day event is in concert with Grand Canyon’s National Park’s 100th centennial celebration. The theme is Sustainability ... Then and Now. There will be special exhibits portraying the history of transportation, visitation and concessions, along with modern-day efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and “green our rides.” There will be additional opportunities scheduled in the park the day before the main event for volunteers to participate in litter pick-ups and potential revegetation projects.

Cost: Free. Location: Grand Canyon Visitor Center Plaza, S. Entrance Rd., Grand Canyon Village. For more information, contact Kim Park at 928-638-7329 or Kim_Park@nps.gov.

Flagstaff Earth Day 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 20 The event will focus on education and outreach that promotes sustainable living and Earth-friendly practices. Join for community cleanup from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

There will be food trucks at this event.

Location: Bushmaster Park, 3150 N. Alta Vista Rd. For more information, visit Flagstaff.az.gov/1439/earth-day.

Earth Day Phoenix 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, April 22 The ninth annual Earth Day in Phoenix will feature exhibitors, mini eco-classes, and more at this zero-waste event— meaning everything will be recyclable or compostable. Alternative modes of transportation encouraged (light rail/bike).

Cost: $4/adult (14+), $2/youth (7-13), free/6 and under. Location: Red Rock State Park, 4050 Red Rock Loop Rd. For more information, visit AZStateParks.com/redrock/events.

Earth Day at Embracing Your Journey Expo 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 28 Embrace Earth Day with us. Come and explore eco-friendly products and services to help reduce your impact on Mother Earth. Find a large selection of holistic, wellness and metaphysical products and services all under one roof.

Cost: $5 in advance, $8 at the door. Location: Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, 7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix. For more information, visit EmbracingYourJourneyExpo.com.

Cost: Free. Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza, 201 W. Washington St. For more information, visit EarthDayPhoenix.org.

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Copper in new device prevents cold and flu 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 feel a cold about People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try to start. 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. as a gift and called it “one of the best even save a life.

Tests by the Environmental Protecpresents 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.

This cut the spread of MRSA and other ventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci 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 “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” he felt a cold coming on he fashioned each CopperZap with code NATA10. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses Cop- toll-free 1-888-411-6114.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold perZap morning and night. “It saved me Buy once, use forever.

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POTLUCK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Breaking Bread, Building Community

by April Thompson

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mericans are eating alone more than ever, with adults going solo for nearly half of all meals, according to consumer research consultants at the Hartman Group. Yet, fellowshipminded foodies are bucking the trend by finding new and unique ways to bring strangers, colleagues and friends together for healthy, home-cooked meals.

Meal sharing not only builds community and camaraderie; it can also save time and money and minimize food waste. Eating with others can also encourage mindful consumption, a boon to physical and mental health. A number of emerging ideas and platforms from around the block to across the globe are helping singles and families young and old connect over food.

Linking Diners Through Technology “I wanted to find a place to create more meaningful conversations and meet 26

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new people than bars where people often meet up, and thought home is that place. Who doesn’t like dinner parties or potlucks?” says Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes, in Washington, D.C. Within two years, MealTribes has grown to more than 200 members that can host or join potlucks via a private Facebook group open to area residents in their 20s and 30s. To encourage participants to be fully present, the group encourages guests to leave their phones in their bags.

Instead of strict food do’s and don’ts, MealTribes encourages attendees to bring a contribution that makes them proud.

However, guests are discouraged from bringing alcohol in lieu of a food dish to avoid it becoming the focus of the table.

“Lasting friendships and business opportunities have come from our potlucks,” says Gold. “Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the best-case scenario; nice people,

homey environment, with good food and conversation.”

Jay Savsani, co-founder of Meal Sharing, in Chicago, got the idea for the “Airbnb of meals” after seeking out a home-cooked dinner while backpacking in Cambodia. He was invited to a farm feast in the countryside, connecting with local hosts over great conversation and delicious food. “I returned home wanting to find a way to use technology to recreate that serendipitous moment,” says Savsani.

Today, the platform uses technology to connect curious diners with affordable, home-cooked meals in 150 countries. “The concept is open; we encourage hosts to make whatever they believe in,” says Savsani. “That can be a top chef serving nine-course meals or a simple spaghetti someone offers for a few bucks or even free.”

Savsani says the meal becomes secondary to the deeper social interactions that can manifest through these gatherings. “We even got an inquiry from a local fire department interested in hosting meals to get to know people in the community better.”

Organically Grown Gatherings Lilia Fuquen, who directs the Food and Community project in Virginia, participates in several gatherings intended to nurture community through food.

Fuquen’s project aims to bring people across the state together to document, celebrate and share traditional, contemporary and emerging foodways, initiating a deeper conversation about and the

Cabeca de Marmore/Shutterstock.com

FotoHelin/Shutterstock.com

~Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the best-case scenario: nice people, homey environment, with good food and conversation.

conscious eating

Cabeca de Marmore/Shutterstock.com FotoHelin/Shutterstock.com

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

inspiration

connections between food, place, culture and community.

Last fall, the project convened more than 200 people around a feast celebrating indigenous foods, people and foodways in Virginia. The meal was prepared from locally farmed and foraged ingredients representative of the diverse native culinary traditions of the region, including greens, mushrooms, wild rice and fish sourced from fields, forests and streams.

On a more grassroots level, an intergenerational family potluck dinner “helps create community and a sense of family among people who often live far from blood relatives,” says Fuquen, who lives on a small farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia.

The workplace can also be a great place to break bread together, says Fuquen. Her office enjoys hosting the Souper Club, where co-workers each bring a key element like salad fixings, a loaf of bread or a pot of soup to enjoy together—away from their desks.

Rebecca Shaloff, a fundraising consultant in Washington, D.C., has participated in work lunch swaps, which she says promote camaraderie, new food discoveries and healthy eating. She also takes part in a closely knit monthly supper club of four young families in her neighborhood.

“We all value each other’s friendship and company, but there’s something about coming together for dinner that makes us feel more like family than friends,” Shaloff says.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

SACRED SPACE Bringing Bliss to Every Room

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by Maya Whitman

acred space is most often associated with places of worship, but it can be any place that connects us to meaning or joy. In the blur of daily living, nooks of inspiration and beauty provide spiritual sustenance, remind us of our dreams or celebrate lovely memories.

Having “bliss corners” in the home or workplace is a wonderful way to stay connected to the positive.

Most parents or grandparents can confess to having a bliss corner on the refrigerator door where drawings and accomplishments of young family members are proudly displayed. Having a place of inspiration in any room doesn’t have to take up much space and can easily add to the décor. It can be as simple as a wedding veil hanging on a bedroom wall or a bowl of shells, sea glass or sand from a beach vacation in the bathroom.

It can be sentimental with dried flowers from a momentous occasion or a small table dedicated to loved ones with framed photos or letters and a piece of cloth that holds special memories.

Corners of bliss fulfill their purpose best in places where they can remind us to follow our heart’s “true north” or help

us to foster inner peace during busy days.

Such places are office desks and bedroom nightstands near an alarm clock. The kitchen is an ideal room in the house for sacred space; designating a corner to light a candle during meal prep; filling an old teapot with fresh flowers every week; and displaying the photo of someone who once nourished us are all beautiful ways to bring more meaning into our relationship with food.

Cultivating bliss can be a form of active meditation, simple rituals that can include prayer or other forms of mindfulness. On more practical levels, it can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Creating a bliss corner can be a creative and fun activity for teens to express a passion, whether it be a hobby, sport or favorite singer. Many of us have boxes of mementos or nostalgic things from childhood taking up space in a closet.

Making a bliss corner is the perfect way to remind us why we kept them in the first place.

Maya Whitman writes about natural health and living a more beautiful life.

Connect at Ekstasis28@gmail.com.

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artist spotlight

Everyone has a responsibility to take an active role in life— participating in one’s family, community and society. I care about life, justice and equality. It’s not a political thing, it’s common sense.

The Journey to Home John Butler Inspires Hope and Awareness

by Meredith Montgomery

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hen singer-songwriter John Butler sees a performance that gives him chills, he leaves the show feeling like he could do anything. “If I can give that feeling to one person at every gig I play—because of what that experience gives to them, what it gives to me and in turn, what it gives to the world—if I can be a vehicle of that energy, then I’m doing my job.”

But Butler, who is now Australia’s highest-selling independent artist of all time, never thought this would be his job. “I thought I’d be in Special Forces, a professional skateboarder, an artist or a teacher, never a musician,” he says.

Butler was 11 when his family moved from Los Angeles to Pinjarra, Australia. He lived a Huckleberry Finn-like life in this beautiful but isolated riverside town, but he also experienced xenophobia and racism firsthand. “It seemed my skin was the right color,

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but I had the wrong accent. Things could change really quickly when I’d begin to speak—like suddenly I was getting chased,” he recalls.

These experiences have kept him humble and down to earth through his musical success, but they’ve also helped fuel his outspoken and impassioned advocacy efforts for peace, environmental protection and global harmony.

“We live in an opulent society where everything is done for us. Our trash gets taken away—we put it in a bin, put the top on it and it’s like putting the top on your mind. We don’t know what hole it’s going in and there’s no sense of responsibility once it leaves our hands. And the opportunity to pollute and use plastic is getting easier and easier. It’s a convoluted situation,” he reflects.

His activism efforts are currently focused on the anti-fracking movement in Western Australia and speaking out against plans for the world’s largest coal mine to be built in North Queensland (which poses a threat to the Great Barrier Reef). A portion of his ticket and album sales often benefit charitable organizations, meet-and-greet experiences include a reusable water bottle and the band has utilized Globelet’s system to eliminate single-use plastic at some of his concerts.

Butler carries his own straw, utensils and water bottle and has a garden and rain catchment system at home, but he wishes it were easier to do more, noting, “If we’re sending people to Mars, we should be able to have greater access to green energy.”

As a parent, Butler is careful not to discourage the future stewards of our Earth, so he keeps his fatherly advice simple—treat others as you wish to be treated, and recognize that everything has a cost. “When our kids say ‘I want this’ or

photo by Kane Hibberd

~John Butler

photo by Kane Hibberd

‘I want that’, I remind them to think about the cost of having those things. What resources were used to make it? How does that affect the environment? Is it worth it?”

He also encourages his son and daughter to find a form of self-expression that they love as they navigate their teen years. “I want them to have a friend in something they can do on their own,” he says. “Whether it’s making something with their hands, playing music, sewing—there’s something really beautiful about escaping with yourself and your tools, something you can’t get with anybody else.”

For Butler, his guitar is that unwavering companion. While making his latest album, Home, a flood of emotions and anxieties surfaced once he stopped touring. “Bringing a song into the world is an enlightening process, and each one demands different things from me,” he says. He worked through intense introspection, which was challenging yet therapeutic and productive.

“Throughout the years that it took to make this album there were tears and frustration, confusion and chaos. But, there was family and friends, honesty and vulnerability, gardens and harvest, service and surrender. And amongst it all,

ultimately, there was joy,” Butler reflects.

To balance the demands of his career, Butler leans on family and friends for love and laughter, plus skateboarding, running and meditation to clear his mind. He regularly seeks solace in nature and is also very spiritual. Traveling with a portable altar while on tour, he carries a collection of tokens from his ancestors, candles, photos, feathers and sage—bits and pieces that represent the tapestry of his faith. “I am struck by spirituality’s ability to bind cultures in story, song, ethics and morals for generations to come, so we can somehow make life a little bit more doable,” he says.

Butler’s music and actions have a similar effect on the audiences he touches.

The band’s deep layers of chant-like vocals and heart-pounding drums can bring a sea of strangers together in song and dance, while the words he speaks and the life he leads inspire reflection and action by multiple populations. He’s doing more than his job—he’s cultivating hope and awareness on a global level.

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/ Mississippi (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Centered around John Butler’s virtuoso guitar stylings and powerful, progressive lyricism, the John Butler Trio draws upon a remarkable variety of musical genres, spanning folk, blues, funk, classic rock ‘n’ roll and beyond.

MAY

Mental & Emotional Well-Being plus: Healthy Vision

WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE

Readers are Seeking These Providers & Services:

Energy Healing • Life Coaches Spiritual Practices Retreats/Workshops • Natural Eye Care Natural Health/Vision Supplements ... and this is just a partial list!

JUNE

Brain Health

plus: Green Building Trends

LOCAL FOOD ISSUE

JULY

Urban & Suburban Agriculture plus: Gut Health

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS

THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL

photo courtesy of Nettwerk

CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER

Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at: tracy@naturalaz.com

April 2019

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wise words

communities. It distills his lifetime of knowledge and wisdom on food, health and activism into an accessible how-to guide.

Learn more at 31DayFoodRevolution.com.

What connections do you see between personal and planetary health?

In what ways have you seen members of the Food Revolution Network transform their communities?

Ocean Robbins on

Personal and Planetary Health

by April Thompson

F

ood revolutionary Ocean Robbins has dedicated his life to inspiring others to rethink their food choices to transform both personal and planetary health. It’s a path forged in part by his father, John Robbins, who walked away from the family ice cream company, Baskin-Robbins, to become an acclaimed health advocate and author.

Together, father and son founded the 500,000-plusmember Food Revolution Network, an online education and advocacy platform that works for healthy, sustainable, humane and delicious food for all. Ocean launched Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!) at age 16, and directed the organization for 20 years.

Ocean’s new book, 31-Day Food Revolution: Heal Your Body, Feel Great, and Transform Your World, aims to help individuals revamp their diets, and in turn, themselves and their

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We hear incredible stories from members all over the world who are seeing radical changes in their health—reversing heart disease, losing weight, gaining energy and mental clarity. And we also hear inspiring stories of people turning food deserts into wonderful oases of healthy living; for example, Ron Finley, in South Central Los Angeles, who is known for saying that drive-throughs kill more people than drive-by shootings in his neighborhood.

He planted vegetables for the community in the curbside dirt strip in front of his home—and got cited by the city for it.

He ended up getting the laws changed, and has since started The Ron Finley Project to create an urban community food hub where the community can come together to plant, learn and nourish themselves.

What are some ways busy people can connect with like-minded individuals to support healthy lifestyle and diet changes?

Start by finding out if you have loved ones who do share your food values, and nurture those relationships. Lean into those healthy relationships; you might be surprised how many people around you are also quietly trying to achieve similar goals.

You can also ask friends and family to be a food ally; even if they are not a full participant in your health regimen, they might be a fan or friend. That can mean preparing particular foods if you come for dinner or simply checking in on how you are doing with your goals and commitments.

You can widen your circle of healthy eating through meal swaps or other shared meal programs. It’s always easier to cook in larger quantities, and there is the added benefit of greater social connection with shared meals.

If you are looking for new friends and allies, it helps to

photo by Lindsay Miller

In many situations in life, we have to compromise—but when it comes to food, the choices that are best for us personally also happen to be best for the planet. Eating a plant-based diet, organically grown when possible, is not only linked to the best statistical outcomes for long-term health and well-being, it also helps ensure healthy topsoil, water and a stable climate for future generations.

photo by Lindsay Miller

In many situations in life, we have to compromise— but when it comes to food, the choices that are best for us personally also happen to be best for the planet. ~Ocean Robbins

connect to organizations that are already promoting healthy food hubs. There are many listed in the back of 31-Day Food Revolution.

So many people struggle with loneliness, and some are afraid they will feel even more isolated if they step out into a healthy eating regimen. On the contrary, you can become a magnet for people who care about their world and aren’t content with the status quo. These friendships can often become deeper and more valued than ever.

What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in living a lifestyle against the societal grain, and how have you overcome it?

Impatience. I grew up eating all-natural food; my parents almost named me Kale, and I ate a lot of it growing up. At a certain point, I saw that I had become judgmental and dogmatic when encountering people whose choices did not align with my own, though as Martin Luther King Jr. said, we have no moral authority with those who can feel our underlying contempt. I have since developed a profound respect for each individual’s unique values, needs, experiences and priorities. I advocate for people’s right to make their own choices about what they need. My goal is to help facilitate people’s choices, and to do so with compassion.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

Coming Next Month MAY

Healthy Vision

plus: Mental & Emotional Well-Being

WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE April 2019

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film brief

fit body

Our Planet

Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

Netflix Series Reveals Its Fragile Beauty

Ten years after the groundbreaking documentary Planet Earth, an eight-part sequel, Our Planet, shows even more rapturous scenes of our planet’s most precious species and fragile habitats. Premiering globally April 5 on Netflix, it was filmed during four years in 50 countries across every continent, involving more than 600 film crew members and 3,500 days spent in such habitats as the remote Arctic wilderness, the vast landscapes of Africa and the diverse jungles of South America.

The series, narrated by worldrenowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, is a joint venture of Netflix, the World Wildlife Federation and Silverback Films, whose director Alastair Fothergill was the creator of the critically acclaimed original Planet Earth and Blue Planet series.

“Our Planet will take viewers on a spectacular journey of discovery showcasing the beauty and fragility of our natural world,” says Attenborough. “Today, we have become the greatest threat to the health of our home, but there’s still time for us to address the challenges we’ve created, if we act now. We need the world to pay attention.”

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Into the Woods Hiking for Health and Happiness

by Marlaina Donato

M

any of us Walking and hiking Walk and Live Longer equate fitness balance the body Any kind of walking can with going through natural movebe a great boon to health. to the gym, but a good ment, oxygenation Recent research by the hike in a natural environment can foster unique of the cells and the American Cancer Society benefits for both body use of our muscles involving 140,000 older adults correlates a lower and psyche. as they were designed mortality rate with even Hiking or walking to be used. short intervals of walking. outdoors not only proIndividuals in the study motes heart health, help~Dami Roelse that walked six hours a ing to balance both blood week lowered their risk of dying from sugar and blood pressure, it increases hip cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory bone density to help reduce fractures, disease. It also shows that just two hours according to research on postmenopausal of walking per week could significantly women from the ongoing Nurses’ Health improve health.

Study. Navigating uneven terrain also “Walking and hiking balance the necessitates lateral movement, which can strengthen core muscles and improve bal- body through natural movement, oxygenation of the cells and the use of ance more significantly than working out our muscles as they were designed to be on a treadmill or cycling.

Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

used,” says Dami Roelse, of Ashland, Oregon, author of Walking Gone Wild: How to Lose Your Age on the Trail. “Walking is in our genes; DNA molecules need to be stimulated regularly to express themselves, and walking does just that. It also improves mood and cognition.”

The beauty of hiking is that it offers a tailored experience according to ability and personal interests. Day hikes, whether in the countryside or in urban botanical gardens or parks, are uplifting and ideal for any fitness level.

Longer or overnight treks with a backpack of supplies offer healthy challenges and opportunities for total immersion in nature. Bringing the kids on a hike offers family fitness time and a healthy way to unplug from technology and sneak in a fun learning experience about local flora and fauna.

Trek for a Healthier Brain

Exercise stimulates feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, but getting a workout in a natural setting fortifies the whole nervous system. A 2015 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science led by Stanford University researchers shows that walking in nature for 90 minutes decreases activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain most affected by depression. In contrast, individuals that walked in an urban environment did not reap the same results. Another 2015 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that nature walks improve memory and decrease anxiety in teens.

The Japanese philosophy of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, woven into Japanese Shinto and Buddhist traditions, has become an important part of science-based health care in Japan.

A significant 2009 study by Japanese researchers published in

Helpful Links and Inspiration National trail guide resource: AllTrails.com 13 best hiking apps: AtlasAndBoots.com/best-hiking-apps Hiking with the kids: Tinyurl.com/HealthyHikingWithKids Beginning with day hiking: SectionHiker.com/10-tips-forbeginner-day-hikers Backpacking tips for beginners: REI.com/learn/expertadvice/backpacking-beginners Practical advice, inspiration and tips for women hikers: GirlsWhoHike.net Walking to stay fit: VeryWellFit.com/walking-4157093 Library of forest bathing articles: TheForestLibrary.com/ forest-bathing-online-articles

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine shows that just 20 minutes of walking in the woods decreases stress hormones.

Forest bathing has also been shown to speed postoperative healing, improve concentration in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and fortify immunity with an increased number of NK, or natural killer cells.

Naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, in Washington, D.C., knows about Mother Nature’s therapeutic gifts firsthand. “I participated in some of the health research both in the field and the lab during a forest bathing trip to Japan,” says the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. “My vital signs were checked before and after shinrinyoku walks, and in the lab my brainwaves were measured while viewing urban and forest scenes. My blood pressure was lower after every walk, and my brainwaves calmed while viewing forest scenes.” Choukas-Bradley emphasizes that forest bathing doesn’t require a forest setting, noting, “You can forest bathe in the desert, at the beach or even an urban park during a lunch break.”

Hitting the trails can also help us see life from another perspective. “Forests are living, breathing organisms. Mountains transcend my humanness,” muses Roelse. “It’s both a humbling and uplifting experience.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books on spirituality and clinical aromatherapy. She is also a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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by Claire Rabe

T

he story of our lives, with all its twists and turns, appears in a place many of us wouldn’t think to look—our toes.

More than 5,000 years ago, healers in India and China began the practice of solistry, or toe reading. It was believed that the events, emotions and traumas we experience are stored in our cells. This energetic memory extends to the tissues of the toes. The size, shape and position of our toes tell a story of where energy is being used.

That’s where toe reading comes in as a way to gain insight into personality and progress along life’s path. Deb Lovejoy is the owner of Lovejoy’s Enchanted Cottage, in Sedona, where she practices her art of holistic pedicures, a blend of toe reading, reiki and reflexology. “People either love or hate their toes,” Lovejoy says, adding that “your whole body is reflected in your feet.” Lovejoy trained as a toe reader nine years ago and adds that dimension of empathic understanding to the services she provides clients. She has seen clients make positive changes in their lives through understanding the messages sent by their toes. Often, corresponding changes appear in their feet as well.

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Toe readers learn that each toe has a significance, with the left foot indicating how we appear privately and the right foot how we present to the world. The big toe denotes spiritual destiny, while the second toe corresponds to creativity and communication. Action and responsibility in life can show up in the third toe, while the fourth indicates relationships, including love. The fifth or pinky toe points toward feelings about trust on the left side and money and sexuality on the right. The angle, size and shape of the toes are also clues that toe readers interpret. Philo, a Mesa-based toe reader who prefers to use just one name, stumbled into toe reading when she brought her sister for a pampering day that included a pedicure. When her sister received a toe reading as well, Philo was fascinated.

“Each toe has its own little story,” she says. “When you put it all together, the story is complete.”

Philo trained as a toe reader more than a decade ago and now practices her art to help and encourage her clients to understand their life path so far, and make changes when indicated. Since each toe is aligned with the chakras and meridians of the body, Philo can receive energetic messages as she works. She

Claire Rabe has written for The Arizona Republic, Phoenix Business Journal, Phoenix Magazine, and many other print and online sources. She has written a book on autoimmune health, a popular Arizona restaurant guide, and an e-book on journaling for caregivers. Rabe teaches writing workshops to students age 8 to 80. For more information, visit ClaireRabe.com.

Curious About Your Toes?

Learn More: Take a class: Toe Reading Assessment – Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, swiha.edu.

Read all about it: The Language of the Feet, by Chris Stormer.

Schedule a toe reading: Sedona – DebLovejoy.com; Mesa and surrounding areas – Philo, 480-560-3242.

123rf.com/ kenishirotie

What Do Your Toes Know?

encourages clients to journal or reflect on the observations she makes in order to gain insight for positive change. Both Philo and Lovejoy agree that we all have free will and can choose to alter our path at any time.

While there are no hard-and-fast rules to toe reading, there are some accepted commonalities. Bunions can indicate a tendency to take on the burdens of others, while hammertoes can show up in a stubborn individual. A long second toe denotes a leader or teacher, Philo says, someone who will take charge, while a second toe that stands by itself indicates an independent thinker. The bottom line is, whatever occurs in our lives shows up, sooner or later, in our toes.

“When things happen,” Philo says, “they happen to your toes,” adding with a laugh, an occupational hazard she discovered as a toe reader. “You just want to peek at everyone’s feet.”

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healing ways

THE ART OF HEALING MISSION

STATEMENT To empower individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet.

To educate communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability.

To connect readers with local wellness resources and events, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives.

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Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

by Marlaina Donato

F

or decades, creative expression has been a valuable tool in healing, and expressive arts therapy—the integrated application of two or more art forms—is now considered a life-changing modality for veterans and anyone else struggling with anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Also called creative arts therapy, this form of psychotherapy helps patients to process and express what is often beyond verbal language using music, art, dance, theater and writing as its primary modes of communication. “Individuals need no previous arts experience in order to benefit from working with a certified creative arts therapist,” explains Azizi Marshall, founder and CEO of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence—an outpatient clinic specializing

in traumatic brain injuries at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland—ranks creative arts therapy among the top five most effective approaches in helping veterans.

A study of combat veterans and creative arts therapy conducted at Concordia University, in Montreal, reported considerable progress, especially in areas of expressing emotions resulting from trauma and gaining understanding of symptoms such as depression, thoughts of suicide and insomnia.

Psychotherapist Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., has authored several books, including The Art Therapy Sourcebook, and uses expressive arts therapy in her Louisville practice. “I’ve worked with soldiers for the past 10 years, and find that much of their healing comes about through telling their stories on stage or participating as an actor within a play or improvisa-

RossHelen /Shutterstock.com

tion.” Malchiodi also incorporates mindfulness practices, visual arts, music and some simple forms of yoga in her sessions.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Creative Arts Therapy for Multiple Diagnoses

Expressive arts therapy is also making a positive impact on those suffering from panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, eating and attention disorders, dementia and chronic physical illness. “Creative arts therapy can be used across life challenges; for example, dance or movement therapy has supported women with breast cancer and eating disorders,” says Marshall, who has also witnessed the power of drama therapy to help reduce feelings of fear in clients diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD. A 2015 study at Butler University, in Indianapolis published in the Journal of Speech Pathology & Therapy shows the significant effects of theater arts on individuals with autism spectrum disorder. “Creative arts therapy can be successful in supporting children with autism, especially ways to practice social skills,” says Marshall. “The drama therapist uses role play, improv and games in order to facilitate interpersonal communication.”

Dopamine and Creating Art

The multitasking neurotransmitter dopamine is one of the brain’s natural antidepressants and plays a key role in feeling pleasure and reinforcing habits. It reaches its highest levels during the initial stages of love, observing something of beauty or creating art.

A recent Drexel University study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy shows the neurological effects of drawing, coloring and simple doodling. Increased circulation in the area of the brain correlating to pleasure and reward was evident, and this dopamine-dominant response is responsible for decreasing symptoms of anxiety and increasing feelings of joy and accomplishment.

Psychotherapist Doreen Meister, in Oakland, California, encourages her clients to focus on the process of creating, rather than the result. “Expressive therapies are an extension of the self-discovery continuum. I often hear, ‘I draw like a 2-year-old.’

To this I say, ‘Great! Draw like a 2-year-old!’ I believe that somewhere, many of us are told that creative expression must be a certain way. Creativity is a natural state, a human quality that we are born with, and the product of creation is not as important as the process.”

Creativity from a clinical perspective allows for new emotional vantage points, distance from situations and viewing experiences through a different lens. “Bringing in creativity offers a wider palette of tools or access points, and gives us another way to understand ourselves,” says Meister. “Creativity as a life force is accessible to all of us.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Organizations

American Art Therapy Association, ArtTherapy.org International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, ieata.org American Dance Therapy Association, adta.org North American Drama Therapy Association, nadta.org American Music Therapy Association, MusicTherapy.org

Books

Arts with the Brain in Mind, by Eric Jensen (Tinyurl.com/ ArtsWithTheBrainInMind-Amazon) Writing to Heal: A Guided Journal for Recovering from Trauma and Emotional Upheaval, by James W. Pennebaker (Tinyurl.com/WritingToHeal-Amazon)

Online

51 Art Therapy ideas to decrease stress: CorinneMelanie.com/ reduce-stress-art-therapy National Organization for Arts in Health: Tinyurl.com/ Arts-HealthAndWell-Being For anxious kids: Tinyurl.com/FamilyTherapyBasics

If you are passionate about healthy living and enjoy inspiring others to make choices that benefit themselves and the world around them, consider becoming a Natural Awakenings publisher.

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natural pet

BRINGING UP KITTY Get Off on the Right Paw

by Karen Shaw Becker

T

here’s nothing as endearing as a big-eyed kitten hopping sideways across the floor or curled into a small ball of fluff on our lap. Getting a new kitten started off on the right foot will ensure they grow up to be a healthy and happy companion.

1

Prepare a sanctuary for the family’s new kitten.

When bringing a new kitten (or adult cat) into their new home, it’s best to separate the new addition in a little bed-andbreakfast-like setup of their own for at least a week. Put their litter box, bedding, food and toys in their space and keep noise, confusion and foot traffic to a minimum.

2

Provide warm, snuggly sleeping quarters.

Felines, especially tiny ones, like their environment warmer than what humans generally prefer. Look for bedding that hasn’t been treated with flame-retardant chemicals such as PBDE; Swedish scientists have linked the chemical, commonly found in foam, to hyperthyroidism in cats. The

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best choice is wool, which is naturally flame resistant.

3Consider crate training.

Most cats fight being put into a carrier because it only happens when someone’s about to take them to a place they don’t want to go to. That’s why it’s a good idea to set up a carrier for a kitten on their first day home. Entice them to enter on their own using food treats, toys and comfy bedding.

4

Go slow with family introductions.

Introduce other members of the household to the new kitty one at a time.

Ideally, introductions occur in a neutral location, like the living room, when the kitten ventures out to investigate.

5

Offer this tiny carnivore the nutrition they were born to eat.

To provide the very best start in life, feed the little one either a homemade or commercially available, nutritionally balanced, fresh food diet (preferably raw) designed for cats at all stages of life.

Olhastock/Shutterstock.com

6

Help the kitten learn to love their personal litter box.

Most kittens can use a litter box at about four weeks. Just make sure its walls are low enough that they can hop in and out on their own. If a kitten or cat is avoiding the box, there’s likely a reason: location, type of litter or failure to clean it often enough.

7

Provide appropriate climbing and scratching surfaces.

Climbing and scratching are natural feline behaviors. Try burlap, cardboard and carpeted scratching surfaces, placed vertically and horizontally to meet all preferences. Keep the scratchers in areas where the kitten hangs out.

8

Train kitty to use the scratching post.

Initially, it might help to apply catnip or attach a feather toy to make the scratching area especially appealing. Discourage any feline from scratching on inappropriate surfaces by attaching double-sided tape or inflated balloons to rugs or furniture that are off limits.

9

Offer toys that bring out the feline hunter.

Think like a cat and buy or create toys that draw out their hunting instincts. A piece of string wrapped around the end of a stick dragged on the ground will bring out the stalker in almost any cat. So will ping-pong balls or small wads of paper flicked across the floor.

10

Indulge most kittens’ love of boxes.

When cats in the wild feel threatened, they head for trees, dens or caves for safety. Domestic kitties don’t have that option, so their obsession with hiding in boxes may be an adaptation.

Providing “hidey holes” may also help a kitten acclimate faster to their new home and family.

11

Provide easy, safe access to the outdoors.

Indoor cats need time outside. Consider building or buying a safe, secure, outdoor enclosure (catio) for them to hang out in when the weather is nice.

12

Consider adopting two kittens at the same time.

One of the best ways to avoid many common behavioral problems is to adopt a pair of kittens. Because they crave stimulation and interaction, adopting two provides instant playmates to occupy each other’s time.

Karen Becker is a proactive, integrative doctor of veterinary medicine who consults internationally and writes for Mercola Healthy Pets (HealthyPets.Mercola.com).

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~David Sobel

Here are some simple ideas to get started:

LOVING NATURE Outdoor Adventures for Kids

by Ronica A. O’Hara

G

etting kids off the couch and into the great outdoors can be a challenge when they tend to be better acquainted with the popular Angry Birds video game characters than with the real warbling ones. Unfortunately, studies show that digital devices, parental work overload and media-stoked fears of the outside world are currently making our kids nature-deprived.

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Yet, they have an instinctive love of the outdoors, experts agree. “When given free access to nature, children’s play follows the same patterns all around the world,” says prominent environmental educator David Sobel, author of Wild Play: Parenting Adventures in the Great Outdoors. “All kids like creating special places, going on adventures, befriending animals, following maps and paths, and so on.”

Build fairy houses. In a park, forest or backyard, ask the child to find a quiet spot, like the base of a tree or under a bush, and build a tiny house using only their imagination and natural materials such as sticks, bark, grass, pebbles, feathers and pinecones. “The fun is ageless and connects you to nature in magical and memorable ways,” says Tracy Kane of Maine, whose website, FairyHouses.com, offers ideas and books.

Befriend a bug. Help them look for

bugs and crawling things in the dirt and on leaves, then ask them to draw them.

Back home or at the library, kids can search in guidebooks or online to learn the critters’ names and traits.

Engage in real-life tweets. Show them how to listen carefully for bird songs and count how many different ones they hear. See if they can imitate the tweets or find words that describe them. Check out a bird-song beginner’s guide at Audubon.

Dmitry Naumov/Shutterstock.com

All kids like creating special places, going on adventures, befriending animals, following maps and paths, and so on.

The more we encourage them, the more likely they’ll discover the thrills of the natural world—and numerous studies show that they’ll then be calmer and less stressed, better able to concentrate and less likely to be obese. Kids also are more “responsive and connected” when they are talking outdoors with adults than talking indoors, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

all about people/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

org/news/a-beginners-guide-commonbird-sounds-and-what-they-mean.

Create mud art. “Make a batch of mud

all about people/Shutterstock.com

and use it to create sculptures, paint a masterpiece or just use it to jump in and get messy with,” suggests MaryEllen Mateleska, director of education and conservation at the Mystic Aquarium, in Connecticut.

Dmitry Naumov/Shutterstock.com

Make dolls and critters. Kids can use

Incorporate digital delights.

Rather than competing with digital devices, integrate them into the nature experience. “A phone app like iNaturalist lets kids take a picture and will identify the creature or plant for them,” says science teacher Jemma Smith, of The Education Hotel, a UK-based tutoring service. “Or have them take three artistic pictures of nature.”

hibiscus or hollyhock flowers and toothpicks to make dolls with flowing skirts. Or they can collect leaves of different shapes and sizes and glue them together to create leafy creatures. “You can take it an extra step by inventing a story and creating a one-of-a-kind storybook,” says Mateleska.

Try geocaching. This game for older

Grow a garden. Using a kid-sized plot

Time It. Simply set the timer for an hour, open the door into the back yard and let the kids “go at it,” as does writer Attiyya Atkins, a mother of four in Pompano Beach, Florida. “Mostly it’s self-play, but I come out sometimes and teach them about nature, or we do art projects with leaves, rocks or dirt. It’s always naturally fun, and they’re pretty tired afterwards!”

of land—it can even be a big pot of dirt— give them a trowel, a watering can and easy-to-grow seeds such as radishes and carrots. Not only will they get exercise, a Texas A&M University study shows gardening makes kids more likely to choose veggies for snacks.

Invent a cozy hideaway. Under

the limbs of a big tree, old blankets and pillows can be used by a child to build a “secret” hiding place, stocked with lemonade, apples and fun books.

kids requires them to use their phones as a GPS to find tiny treasure boxes that have already been hidden all over the countryside. “Most boxes have small trinkets to swap and a tiny book to sign their name,” says Smith.

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YOU BET DOWNLOAD THE NATURAL AWAKENINGS APP TODAY

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based natural health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

EVEN MORE IDEAS

Maker Lab Outdoors: 25 Super Cool Projects, by Jack Challoner Nature in a Nutshell for Kids: Over 100 Activities You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less, by Jean Potter Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder,

by Richard Louv

Search “Natural Awakenings” and download

Introduce Kids to the Geocaching Adventure Game: Tinyurl.com/ GeocachingGameInstructions April 2019

41

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

M

by Avery Mack

aintaining a grassy yard or ornamental shrubs can be time consuming and less than eco-friendly. That’s why conservationminded gardeners are turning to lush, native landscaping as an aesthetically pleasing alternative to spartan, water-free xeriscaping.

Native plants not only save water, they enhance local ecosystems by providing food and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies and wildlife. “Indigenous plants

build healthy soil and retain and replenish ground water,” says Michael Fleischacker, chair of landscape architecture and environmental sciences at Delaware Valley University, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Accustomed to the climate and nutrients in their habitat, they don’t need the extra fertilizer required by exotic transplants. Natives are also better equipped to fend off harmful insects, reducing the need for pesticides.

“When pests did show up, I used insecticidal soap and neem oil. Both are great eco-friendly remedies,” says Kimberly Button, an Orlando-based freelance journalist and author of The Everything Guide to a Healthy Home: All You Need to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers.

A genuine indigenous plant in the U.S. predates European settlement. These natives grew in the wildlands of the regions where they evolved and adapted over hundreds or thousands of years.

However, what’s wild isn’t necessarily native. These days, the woods and forests are rife with alien species that escaped from non-native gardens or were planted to perform some specific purpose that went awry.

Kudzu, for instance, was imported from Asia and installed along roadways to prevent soil erosion. The perennial vine, which can grow up to a foot per day, has become the plague of the South, rooting out native plants and toppling trees under the sheer weight of its smothering foliage.

In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a report summarizing numerous studies that concluded that non-native plants disrupt the food web and present a growing problem for “organisms that depend on native plants for food, shelter and places to rear their young.”

Natives vs. Nativars

While the harm caused by many invasive plants that evolved in a foreign habitat is well-documented and profound, the ecological impact of plant variations derived from native species—known as cultivars or nativars—is sometimes more subtle.

Cultivars have been developed to highlight specific traits, like larger blooms or longer bloom times. They may be bred for a stronger scent, or have the scent bred out of them in pursuit of another trait, making them less enticing to pollinators and wildlife.

One drawback to cultivars is what those “improved” traits can affect. “The native serviceberry (Amelanchier) has small, bright red berries birds love to eat,” Fleischacker says. “Because they 42

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green living

Native varieties have longer growing seasons, a decades-long lifespan and tight plant groupings to prevent weed growth.

wk1003mike/Shutterstock.com

~Michael Fleischacker add color to a winter yard or are used for wreaths and décor, cultivars were bred to produce larger berries. Birds choke on the bigger berry, unable to swallow them.”

A current, multi-year research project at the Mt. Cuba Center’s native botanical gardens in Hockessin, Delaware, is seeking to determine whether certain cultivars are as attractive to insects as their native counterparts.

What’s certain, say the experts: A gardener can’t go wrong with indigenous plants. “Native varieties have longer growing seasons, a decades-long lifespan and tight plant groupings to prevent weed growth,” Fleischacker says. Despite the perception by some that natives are boring, they can be showier than their cultivar cousins and also thrive in their region’s unique conditions.

“I keep my yard as natural as possible to co-exist with my neighbor, the Hiawatha National Forest, and its small animals and birds,” says Monica Cady, co-founder of the Herbal Lodge and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa tribe in Hessel, Michigan.

Going Native

Transitioning to native landscaping isn’t as daunting as it might seem. Small changes can make a difference, and local plant nurseries can assist. Some may have a staff horticulturalist to help distinguish the natives from the nativars and to steer gardeners clear of invasive, water-guzzling, nutrient-needy non-natives that will spread quickly and overwhelm the landscape.

Going native isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition, says Fleischacker. “Consult a local nursery or landscaper about adding natives to the mix. There are plants that love shade or sun, dry areas or damp.”

When planning, look past what’s trendy. “The ecosystem is set up to protect and promote beneficial insects and pollinators,” says Button. What was old can be new again.

photo by Kimberly Button

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@ mindspring.com.

NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES Tinyurl.com/GardeningWithNativePlants Tinyurl.com/AboutNativePlants Tinyurl.com/NativePlantFinder Tinyurl.com/NativePlantsForPollinators Tinyurl.com/ChickadeesAndNativeTrees

THANK YOU for your loyalty and support over the past 25 years.

April 2019

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calendar of events

Rd, Prescott. Info: Ken Davis at 928-445-4159 or WattersGardenCenter.com/classes.

Find More Events On Our Website!

NaturalAZ.com Click “Calendar” NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted online at NaturalAZ.com by the 10th of the month, and adhere to the guidelines that can be found on the submission pages. No phone calls please.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Advanced Formulation Weekend – Apr 6/7.

Learn how to put all those herbs into powerful medicine. Strong knowledge of herbs necessary. $299. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. 480-694-9931. SWHerb.com.

Earth Day Celebration and Ladybug Release – 9am-1pm. Learn how keeping our community healthy keeps us healthy. Plant seedlings; learn how to build a planter box; listen to music; eat amazing, delicious fruit and veggies; and create art. Release thousands of ladybugs at 10am.

Free. EarthHeart Park and Community Garden, 625 N Plaza Dr, Apache Junction. Info: apm.

ActiveCommunities.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Farm-to-Table Raw Plant-Based Intuitive Cooking – 10:30am-1pm. With author Melanie Albert and Soil & Seed urban farmer Billy Anthony. Enjoy a private tour, learn a few key gardening tips. Learn simple raw culinary techniques and food art skills with sauces, layering and textures. Enjoy your culinary creations.

Menu: Spring Olive Tapenade, Deconstructed Raw Lasagna, and Raw Superfood Pie. $55.

The Farm at South Mountain, 6106 S 32nd St, Phoenix. 602-615-2486. Mel@MelanieAlbert. com. ExperienceNutrition.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Plant Spirit Medicine – 6-9pm. Includes meditation, traditional kava ceremony, and workbook. Details/RSVP: 480-694-9931. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. SWHerb.com.

Talk Night and Meditation – 7-9pm. Have the unique chance to talk with Ching Fung Dao Shr (Max) prior to taking a Kunlun seminar (Apr 13/14). Max will reveal his training, the origins of the Kunlun System, lead a meditation, and share some priceless stories along the way. Free. A Mindfulness Life Center, 10339 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale. Info/register: PrimordialAlchemist. com/events.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 Intro to Classical Feng Shui – 5-6:30pm. If you’re curious, confused or have always wanted to learn Chinese feng shui, join us so you can feel more comfortable incorporating this valuable knowledge in your life. Free. RSVP:

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FengShuiByJen.com. Feng Shui by Jen, 6207 N Cattletrack Rd, Ste 7, Scottsdale. 480-280-9911.

FengShuiByJen@gmail.com.

Free Class at Hypnotherapy Academy – 7pm.

Facilitated by Tim Simmerman Sierra, lead instructor at the Academy, who will be sharing three secrets to creative positive life changes by showing attendees how their subconscious mind works. 2132 Osuna Road, NE, Ste B, Albuquerque. Call 505-767-8030 to register and reserve your seat for this special free class.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 Inspirational Speaker: Tara-jenelle Walsch – 7-9pm. Learn to step into your genuine self, identifying and shifting the resistance and default programs that have subconsciously distracted you from connection. $40. 1500 E Greenway Pkwy, Phoenix. Info/tickets: 602-978-3200 or UnityPhx. org/events.

Purification & Fasting Retreat – Apr 1215. 7:30pm. In celebration of Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, we will engage in a special purification practice emphasizing compassion for all living beings. The retreat involves two days of fasting and prostrations. $15. International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon, 6701 E Mountain Ranch Rd, Williams. 630-2027757. epc@MeditationInNorthernArizona.org.

MeditationInNorthernArizona.org/compassion.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration – 9amnoon. In pursuit of all things green, enjoy a funfilled morning of live animal presentations, crafts, information booths promoting conversation and sustainable living. Free. Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler. Info: 480-782-2890 or ChandlerAZ.gov/earth-day.

Party for the Planet – 9am-4pm. Celebrate Earth Day at the Phoenix Zoo with Earth-friendly games and activities designed to inspire and motivate others to care for our natural world. All activities are included with general zoo admission. 455 N Galvin Pkwy. Info: PhoenixZoo.org/event-items/earth-day.

Coping with Sloping: Ground Covers and Erosion Control – 9:30-10:30am. Learn which shrubs, herbs and vines soften all that rock, keep soil from eroding, and stay cool in summer while looking great. A few plants go a long way when you know which plants to use locally. Free.

Watters Garden Center, 1815 W Iron Springs

Kunlun Seminars – Level 1, Apr 13/14, 10am2pm; Level 2, Apr 13, 4-7pm (min six months of Level 1). Rare opportunity to learn once-hidden alchemical teachings directly from Ching Fung Dao Shr (Max), the founder of the Kunlun System and true spiritual master, in a fun, friendly and light-hearted environment. Level 1/$300; Level 2/$200. Embassy Suites by Hilton PhoenixScottsdale, 4415 E Paradise Village Pkwy S, Phoenix. Info/register: PrimordialAlchemist. com/events.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Intro to Herbal Healing Seminar – Free. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. 480-694-9931. Details: SWHerb.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 Mesa Bike2Work Day: Pancake Breakfast and Earth Day Expo – 6am (check-in), 7-9am (food and expo). Join the city of Mesa staff as they bike to downtown Mesa to meet up with residents for a pancake and smoothie breakfast. Again, this year will also host an Earth Day Expo during the event to highlight ways residents and employees can go green with different city department offerings.

Pancakes ($3) and smoothies ($3) or both ($5).

East side of the Mesa City Plaza building along the paved walkway. Info: MesaAZ.gov/residents/ transportation/bike-pedestrian.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Shamanic Journey Circle – 7-9pm. On the full moon. Led by medicine woman and spiritual elder White Star, this is an evening of exploring powerful shamanic connections for self-healing and spiritual development. $20. Call 617-6978924 for location (Scottsdale).

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 Earth Day Cleanup – 8am-noon. Green Gilbert is hosting a town-wide cleanup. San Tan Vista Water Treatment Plant, 3695 E Ocotillo Rd, Gilbert. AllEvents.in/gilbert/green-gilbert-earthday-clean-up.

Earth Day Celebration at Grand Canyon National Park – 10am-2pm (main event). Special exhibits portraying the history of transportation, visitation and concessions, along with modernday efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and “green our rides.” Additional opportunities before the main event for volunteers to participate in litter pick-ups and potential revegetation projects. Free.

Grand Canyon Visitor Center Plaza, S Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon Village. Info: Kim Park at 928-638-7329 or Kim_Park@nps.gov.

Flagstaff Earth Day – 11am-2pm. The event will focus on education and outreach that promotes sustainable living and Earth-friendly practices.

Join for community cleanup from 9-10:30am.

There will be food trucks at this event. Bushmaster Park, 3150 N Alta Vista Rd. Info: Flagstaff. az.gov/1439/earth-day.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 Easter Services at Unity of Phoenix Spiritual Center – Outdoors: 6am (sunrise service) and 7:30am; inside sanctuary: 9am and 11am. Learn

to truly live with renewed positivity, peace, love, joy and prosperity. 16th St and Greenway (NW corner). 602-978-3200. UnityPhx.org.

plan ahead

MONDAY, APRIL 22

SATURDAY, MAY 4

Earth Day Phoenix – 10:30am-2pm. The ninth annual Earth Day in Phoenix will feature exhibitors, mini eco-classes and more at this zero-waste event—meaning everything will be recyclable or compostable. Alternative modes of transportation encouraged (light rail/bike). Free.

Cesar Chavez Plaza, 201 W Washington St. Info: EarthDayPhoenix.org.

On the Wings of Mantra World Tour 2019 – May 4/Sedona (May 6/Scottsdale–see event listing).

7:30pm. Join Deva Premal & Miten with Manose and their international band for a deep immersion into the power of mantra. Sedona Performing Arts Center. Tickets: BrightStarEvents.com.

DevaPremalMiten.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 19th Annual Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival – Apr 25-28. Field trips, local tours, workshops and seminars, educational activities for kids, exhibits, keynote speaker and entertainment.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park, 675 Dead Horse Ranch Rd, Cottonwood. 928-282-2202.

VerdeRiver.org/birding-festival.

MONDAY, MAY 6 On the Wings of Mantra World Tour 2019 – May 6/Scottsdale (May 4/Sedona–see event listing). 7:30pm. Join Deva Premal & Miten with Manose and their international band for a deep immersion into the power of mantra.

Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Virginia Piper Theatre. Tickets: ScottsdalePerformingArts.org.

DevaPremalMiten.com.

MONDAY, MAY 13 Massage Therapy Program – Morning classes begin. Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, 1538 E Southern Ave, Tempe. 480-994-9244. Info@ swiha.edu. swiha.edu.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 35th Anniversary Open House at Longevity Medical Health Center – 6pm. Join the doctors and staff of Longevity Medical for an evening of all things naturopathic—meet and talk with the doctors, tour the office, and learn about exciting natural treatments. Healthy food and snacks will be served. Info: 602-493-2273 or LongevityMedical.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 10 Massage Therapy Program – Evening classes begin. Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, 1538 E Southern Ave, Tempe. 480-994-9244. Info@ swiha.edu. swiha.edu.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Inaugural Arcosanti International Film Carnivale – Apr 26-28. Showcasing short and feature films on every topic, as well as special divisions for films on sustainability, conservation, Native American culture, holistic and organic living, art and design, architecture, fashion, culinary arts, social change and the human condition. Also featuring a variety of activities, experiences and culinary delights. $20-$85/day passes; $100/weekend pass. VIP passes available.

13555 S Cross L Rd, Mayer. Updates/tickets: ArcosantiFilmCarnivale.com.

Every drop in the ocean counts. ~Yoko Ono

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Intro to Herbal Healing Seminar – Free. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. 480-694-9931. Details: SWHerb.com.

classifieds

Sedona Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration – 10am-2pm. This family-friendly event will feature games, guided hikes, special presentations, crafts for kids, and environmental education exhibits and activities. Spend the day learning more about our natural environment and enjoying the beauty of our park. $4/adult (14+), $2/youth (7-13), free/6 and under. Red Rock State Park, 4050 Red Rock Loop Rd. Info: AZStateParks.com/red-rock/events.

Place a Classified ad: $25 for up to 25 words, per issue. $1.00 per each additional word, per issue. Must be submitted online at NaturalAZ.com.

Recovering the Natural Voice Workshop – 1-4pm. This workshop is intended to create the collective space where you can reclaim your natural voice. This is the capacity to make sound, sound emotion, make words, speak truth, communicate and tone for health. $30. Unity of Mesa, 2700 E Southern Ave, Sanctuary, Mesa.

480-892-2700. Admin@UnityOfMesa.org.

UnityOfMesa.org.

HELP WANTED

PRODUCTS

ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople in the Phoenix area to help others grow their business. Commissionbased. Full- or part-time. Unlimited potential.

Tracy@NaturalAZ.com.

ORGANIC CLEAN-CRAFTED WINE – Small family vineyards supplying wine with no added chemicals or sugar and low sulfites.

Delivered to your door. Call Kerry 347-3441197 or visit TheCleanGrape.com.

SERVICES/CLASSES

OPPORTUNITIES

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

ADVERTISE HERE – Are you hiring, renting office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your business needs in the Natural Awakenings classified ads section. To place an ad, visit Submit.

NaturalAZ.com/Classifieds-Payment-Page.

Embracing Your Journey Expo – 9am-5pm.

Mind, Body, Spirit Expo—holistic, wellness and metaphysical event presented by Purple Lotus Productions. Free lectures, hourly raffles, gift bags for the first 100 attendees. $5/advance, $8/ door. Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, 7677 N 16th St, Anasazi Ballroom, Phoenix. 480-2961928. Info@EmbracingYourJourneyExpo.com.

EmbracingYourJourneyExpo.com.

TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE PESTICIDES IN SCOTTSDALE – help to make Scottsdale the first city in Arizona that restricts the use of toxic pesticides. Details on how to sign the petition, collect signatures on your own, or volunteer for a signature collection event can be found at ScottsdaleBelieve.com.

Full petition at ScottsdaleBelieve.com/petition.

30-MINUTE FREE COACHING SESSION – Anti-Aging, “The Art of Owning It.” The future is now. We’ll work together to create a crystal-clear plan. Own your perfect age indefinitely. Ray: 520-870-7228. youthfulintention.com.

CAREER TRAINING IN HYPNOTHERAPY – 500-hour state-licensed certification course. Next session enrolling now. 505-7678030. HypnotherapyAcademy.com.

RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST – Helping you evolve your own personal recovery plan, to be all that you were meant to be.

John Kai: 520-339-2315 (Central Phoenix).

April 2019

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ongoing events

monthly Virtual Changing & Living on Purpose Group Coaching – Three-month groups in 2019/start Apr, Jul, Sep. With Dr. Melanie Chase. Clients are better equipped to change in their relationships, careers, life with more peace, joy, focus, and receive practical tools for making a change on purpose. Discover insights through experiential learning, worksheets, and applying insights with tools. Online participative, confidential meeting space. $450/mon includes two one-on-one sessions (up to 90 min), $350/early bird. Register: Info@DrMelanieChase.com. 971-266-1380. Info: DrMelanieChase.com.

sunday Sunday Services at Unity of Mesa – 9am & 10:45am. A Positive Path for Spiritual Living.

Childcare for infants thru fifth grade at 9am service. Nursery for infants thru kindergarten at 10:45am. Youth ministry classes in the Education Annex at 10:45am. All are welcome.

2700 E Southern Ave. 480-892-2700. Admin@ UnityOfMesa.org. UnityOfMesa.org.

Sunday Services at Scottsdale Center for Spiritual Living – 9:40am (meditation), 10am (service). Discover a path to happiness, successful living, and the Law of Attraction each Sunday in a loving community of positive growth. All faiths welcome! Love offering. 8600 E Anderson Dr. 480-788-6628. siBlack1@CenturyLink.net.

Scottsdalecsl.org.

The Spiritual Quest – 10:30-11:45am. 1st & 3rd Sun. Featuring a step-by-step pathway to higher consciousness with The Teachings of the Ascended Masters. Free. The Summit Lighthouse, 4105 N 20th St, Ste 115, Phoenix. 480-442-5020.

SummitLighthousePhoenix.org.

GROW Your Business Secure this ad spot!

Contact us for special ad rates.

PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com

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PLANS CHANGE Please call ahead to confirm date and times

How to Transform Your Life – 11am-12:15pm.

The profound tools of transformation within Buddhist meditation give us the ability to become peaceful, kinder, more dynamic, confident, happier and more loving. Classes are based on the book How to Transform the Mind, by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. You can download it for free at HowTotyl.com. $10. International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon, 6701 E Mountain Ranch Rd, Williams. 630-2027757. epc@MeditationInNorthernArizona.org.

MeditationInNorthernArizona.org/flagstaff.

Kadampa Buddhism and Meditation – 11am12:30pm. Learn powerful meditations for reducing attachment and cultivating balanced and peaceful minds of equanimity, authentic love and empathy. $10. International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon, 6701 E Mountain Ranch Rd, Williams.

928-637-6232. MeditationInNorthernArizona.org.

Archaeology Guided Hike – 1pm. 3rd Sun. Thru May. Hike is included with park entrance fees. $7/ ages 14 and up, $4/ages 7-13, 6 and under/free.

Red Rock State Park, 4050 Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona. 928-282-6907. AZStateParks.com.

monday Tai Chi Easy – 10-11am. With Shirley Kemper.

Offers ancient Chinese practices that promote optimal health, vitality and longevity. Newcomers welcome. Drop-in. $10-$15 donation. Unity of Mesa, 2740 E Southern Ave, Sanctuary, Mesa.

480-892-2700. Admin@UnityOfMesa.org.

UnityOfMesa.org.

tuesday Watercolor Art Classes – 9:45am-12:30pm.

With Allura Westly. All levels, beginner-toadvanced. Learn fluid color technique, drawing and composition. Small class of eight students.

No talent required, just a desire to create. Paradise Valley. 602-469-0524. AlluraWatercolor@cox.net.

Rewind Yoga – 10:30-11:30am. With Kim Carter. Designed for people 50 and up, the class focuses on balance, increasing flexibility, and building functional strength. Beginners especially welcome. $10/class (maximum six students). Restoring Balance Mind & Body, 2045 S Vineyard, Ste 139, Mesa. Preregistration required: KCarter444@gmail.com or call/text 253-549-5342 to reserve your spot at least two hours before start of class.

How to Understand the Mind – 6:30-8pm. This course is a practical guide for understanding our mind so that we can develop and maintain a light, positive, constructive mindset amidst the challenges of modern life. Drop-in. $10/$5 for students. Unity Church of Prescott, 145 S Arizona Ave, Prescott. 630-202-7757. epc@MeditationInNorthernArizona.org.

MeditationInNorthernArizona.org/prescott.

wednesday Watercolor Art Classes – 9:45am-12:30pm.

With Allura Westly. All levels, beginner-toadvanced. Learn fluid color technique, drawing and composition. Small class of eight students.

No talent required, just a desire to create. Paradise Valley. 602-469-0524. AlluraWatercolor@cox.net.

How to Understand the Mind – 3:30pm.

With Gen-la Kelsang Jampa. This course is a practical guide for understanding our mind so that we can develop and maintain a light, positive, constructive mindset amidst the challenges of modern life. Drop-in. $10/$5 for students. Beacon Unitarian Universalist Church, 510 N Leroux St, Flagstaff. 630-2027757. epc@MeditationInNorthernArizona.org.

MeditationInNorthernArizona.org/flagstaff.

Gong Meditation – 7-8:30pm. 1st Wed. With Gretchen Bickert. Experience deep relaxation and uplifting meditation through the power of the gong. $10-$20 donation. Unity of Mesa, 2700 E Southern Ave, Sanctuary, Mesa. 480-892-2700.

Admin@UnityOfMesa.org. UnityOfMesa.org.

thursday Rewind Yoga – 10:30-11:30am. With Kim Carter. Designed for people 50 and up, the class focuses on balance, increasing flexibility, and building functional strength. Beginners especially welcome. $10/class (maximum six students). Restoring Balance Mind & Body, 2045 S Vineyard, Ste 139, Mesa. Preregistration required: KCarter444@gmail.com or call/text 253-549-5342 to reserve your spot at least two hours before start of class.

Topical Thursdays – 11am-3pm. Stop by and learn why topical administration of CBD is a fantastic option, as topicals are higher in bioavailability than orally ingested compounds.

Try an in-store complimentary sampling of our organic CBD pain-relief cream and experience the wonder of CBD for yourself. CBD Store AZ, 3314 N 3rd St, Phoenix. Open Mon-Tue 10am-4pm, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 602-2926133. cbdNutritional.com.

A Vision of Enlightenment: Finding the Hero Within – 6:30-8pm. With Gen-la Kelsang Jampa.

Learn profound meditations for ripening our potential for a life of great meaning and altruism.

Drop-in. $10/$5 for students. Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Rd, Sedona. 630202-7757. epc@MeditationInNorthernArizona. org. MeditationInNorthernArizona.org/sedona.

Reiki & Singing Bowl Circle – 7-8pm. 4th Thurs.

With Darlene Moore and Arne Richardson. Join in for a relaxing, healing experience. Singing bowls will be played to enhance the energy of reiki during this hour of energetic healing and expansion. Donation. Unity of Mesa, 2700 E Southern Ave, Sanctuary, Mesa. 480-892-2700.

Admin@UnityOfMesa.org. UnityOfMesa.org.

friday A Course in Miracles – 7-8:30pm. Join Peter Gant and discover A Course in Miracles. Donation.

Unity of Mesa, 2700 E Southern Ave, Annex Rm 1, Mesa. 480-892-2700. Admin@UnityOfMesa. org. UnityOfMesa.org.

Are you ready to be an entrepreneur in beautiful DENVER, COLORADO?

Local

FARMERS’ MARKETS Take advantage of fresh, local produce from the best Arizona farms. Visit their respective websites for the most current information.

Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market 3502 East Cactus Road, Phoenix Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ahwatukee Farmers’ Market 4700 East Warner Road, Phoenix Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun City Farmers’ Market 16820 North 99th Avenue, Sun City Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Anthem Farmers’ Market 41703 North Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Capitol Farmers’ Market 1700 Adams Street, Phoenix Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Care 1st Farmers’ Market 328 West Western, Avondale Tuesdays 8 a.m. to noon

Uptown Farmers’ Market 5757 North Central Avenue, Phoenix Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Carefree Farmers’ Market 1 Sundial Circle, Carefree Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Chandler Farmers’ Market 3 South Arizona Avenue, Chandler Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Gilbert Farmers’ Market 222 North Ash Street, Gilbert Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon

The Denver Mile High edition of Natural Awakenings is for sale.This is a meaningful home-based business opportunity. No previous publishing experience is required. Extensive training & ongoing support is provided.

Learn more today!

303-770-1981

publish@milehighnaturalawakenings.com

Goodyear Farmers’ Market 3151 North Litchfield Road, Goodyear Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon High Street Farmers’ Market 5415 East High Street, Phoenix Sundays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Old Town Scottsdale Farmers’ Market 3806 North Brown Avenue, Scottsdale Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Peoria Farmers’ Market Park West, 9744 West Northern Avenue, Peoria Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Phoenix Public Market 721 North Central Avenue, Phoenix Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Verrado Community Farmers’ Market North Market Place & West Main Street, Buckeye Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com GilbertMarket.com MommasOrganicMarket.com PhxPublicMarket.com UptownMarketAz.com ..................................

NORTHERN ARIZONA Prescott Winter Farmers’ Market Prescott High School, 1050 Ruth Street Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sedona Community Farmers’ Market 2201 West State Route 89A, West Sedona Sundays noon to 4 p.m.

PrescottFarmersMarket.org Sedona-Farmers-Market.com

April 2019

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123rf.com/Chris Curtis

community resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com or visit NaturalAZ.com and download our media kit.

BAREFOOT ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC Don Matesz, LAc, MA, MSOM Tracy A. Matesz, MSOM, CCHt, RM 6722 E Avalon Dr, Ste 1, Scottsdale 602-954-8016 • Barefoot-Acupuncture.com

Over eleven years’ experience providing a ff o r d a b l e , e ff e c t i v e acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet/nutrition therapy, hypnotherapy and reiki for fertility, menstrual disorders, menopause, insomnia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, stress, headaches and pain. Private acupuncture for as low as $35/session. Call/visit our website!

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE CBD STORE AZ

Open Mon-Tue 10-4 | Wed-Fri 10-5 | Sat 10-4 3314 N 3rd St, Phoenix 602-292-6133 • CBDNutritional.com A CBD specialty store devoted to Hemp derived cannabinoids.

C l i n i c a l stu d i e s show CBD is effective on Inflammation, Pain, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders and much more! Non-GMO, organic USA sun grown, and 3rd party lab tested. Below 0.3% THC—No high and No card required.

Open Mon-Tue 10am to 4pm, Wed-Fri 10am to 5pm, and Sat 10am-4pm.

NATURAL PAIN TREATMENT AND WELLNESS

MacKenzie Kalt, Owner 8282 W Cactus Rd, Bldg E, Ste 144, Peoria 623-866-3023 • NatPainTreat.com Providing some of the most advanced natural technologies for those struggling with chronic pain, injuries, stress, migraine headaches, PTSD, insomnia, Lyme disease, autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, and much more. Visit our website to learn more. See ad, inside front cover.

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RESTORE DETOX AND WELLNESS Kelly Baker, Owner 602-318-5965 EastValleyDetox.com

Products and Services to assist in drainage, detox and sustainability of health and wellness.

Specializing in colon irrigation, ozone sauna, far infrared sauna, lymphatic treatment, foot detox and holistic nutrition. See ad, page 11.

SALT CHALET ARIZONA

Pavel Gershkovich, CHP, CRP 5011 N Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale 480-621-6041 SaltChaletArizona.com ArizonaLeechTherapy.com Our rooms are coated from floor to ceiling with multiple layers of pure, untreated salt from the Dead Sea. Providing relief for many health conditions. See ad, page 31.

SW HERB SHOP & GATHERING PLACE

148 N Center St, Mesa 480-694-9931 • SWHerb.com Store.SWHerb.com Kathy Gould and Madalyn Johnson, herbalists and proprietors, offer medicinal bulk herbs and specialty tea blends, herbal extracts, certification classes, community and therapist rental space, medicine-making supplies, and more. See ad, page 15.

ART CLASSES WATERCOLOR ART CLASSES

Allura Westly 3611 E Sunnyside Dr, Phoenix AlluraWatercolor@cox.net 602-469-0524 • AlluraWaterColor.com Allura Westly, master teacher, opens her sanctuary studio to all levels, beginner to advanced. Learn fluid color technique, drawing and composition. Small class of eight students. No talent required, just a desire to create.

CLEANING SERVICES BENNETT’S CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

Valleywide Service • 480-994-4988 BennettsCarpetCleaningAz.com Eco-friendlycarpet and upholstery cleaning.

Featuring organic cleaners and odor removal products derived from renewable seed and vegetable sources. No perfumes, solvents or other hazardous products. No phosphates.

Products also available for in-home use. Licensed and owner operated since 1974. See ad, page 38.

PURMAID

844-PUR-MAID PurMaid.com An eco-friendly home and office cleaning company and offers natural cleaning products. See ad, page 19.

COACHING DR. JACQUE JOHNSON

2Empower LLC Scottsdale • 480-226-9977 Dr.Jacque@2Empower.org • 2Empower.org Dr. Jacque Johnson is a certified Empowerment Life Coach and psychometric assessment specialist who identifies behavioral traits and cognitive footprints to assist with transition, grief, anxiety and achieving personal goals.

She also works with parents and children as an educational advocate and coach.

WHITE STAR

Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Medicine Woman 617-697-8924 (Scottsdale) DivineLightMinistries.org White Star is a Spiritual Elder, Mystic, Medium and Master Psychic and Healer with 40 years' experience. She offers profound clairvoyant readings covering any subject. She can heal serious conditions and restore emotional and spiritual wellness. Classes and trainings on psychic development and many healing modalities are available in person and online.

123rf.com/Chris Curtis

ACUPUNCTURE

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DOCTORS

INTEGRATIVE DENTAL ASSOCIATES

ANDREA PURCELL, NMD

Providing biologic dentistry personalized to fit your needs in a caring and supportive environment. Offering many holistic procedures using the latest in modern technology. Dr. Butler is a member of the Holistic Dental Association and the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology. See ad, pages 4 and 25.

Dr. Purcell assists her patients by identifying and treating the underlying cause of disease. She specializes in Women’s Health, Hormonal Balance, Medical Nutrition, Body Detoxification, Prolozone Joint Therapy and Weight Loss. By taking a look at the whole body, emotion and diet, she then creates a personalized path to optimal health. This is HealthCARE. See ad, page 5.

MY DENTIST

ANN CHARLOTTE VALENTIN, NMD

Lisa M. Butler, DMD 4202 N 32nd St, Ste A, Phoenix 602-956-4807 • IntegrativeDental.com

Dr. Michael Margolis and Dr. Stephen Kovar 2045 S Vineyard Rd, Ste 153, Mesa 480-833-2232 • MyDentistAZ.com A holistic and biological approach to your dental needs and overall health. Bio-compatible dentistry, esthetic dentistry lumineers/veneers, family dentistry and much more. See ad, page 3.

NATURAL DENTAL PARTNERS

Dr. Ingo Mahn 3134 W Carefree Hwy, Ste 9, Phoenix 602-775-5120 • MyNaturalDentist.com Dr. Mahn takes the time to listen to your concerns and uses his extensive experience to help you achieve better health. Author of A Healthy Mouth—The Missing Link to Optimal Health, he utilizes the latest advances in dentistry (low dose digital x-rays and single visit biocompatible restorations) to deliver the highest level of holistic dental care. Check the calendar of events page on his website for upcoming seminars. See ad, page 6.

3008 E Jeanette Ct, Phoenix 800-318-8582 • DrAndreaPurcell.com

Jason A. Jones, DMD 7231 E Princess Blvd, Ste 207, Scottsdale 480-585-1612 • PureSmilesAz.com Exceptional dental service with dedication to comfort and compassion. We carefully assist each procedure and select the products to help preserve and protect your overall well-being. See ad, page 9.

HOLISTIC HEALTH PURE LIGHT THERAPIES

Center for Integrative Medicine 16421 N Tatum Blvd, Ste 129, Phoenix 602-888-2320 • cinmed.org

Judy Richter, LMT, RMT 3740 E Southern Ave, Ste 214, Mesa 480-695-2002 • PureLight1111@gmail.com PureLightTherapies.com

Dr. Valentin specializes in Integrative Medicine and is trained in Botanical Medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition and Pharmaceuticals. She treats many conditions, such as Menopause, Menstrual issues, Thyroid, Digestion, Allergies, Anxiety, Depression, Heavy Metal Toxicity, and many chronic and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Valentin has post-graduate training in Bioidentical Hormones and sees patients of all different age groups.

With more than 20 years of experience, Judy can help you heal your body, mind and soul with therapeutic massage, cupping, essential oils, and healing energy modalities. The techniques used to stretch and release tension and tightness in necks and shoulders are unique and very beneficial.

Incorporating energy work to each session is powerful in balancing one’s energy to allow the body to heal naturally.

ENERGY HEALING KIM CARTER, MA, HTCP

2045 S Vineyard Ave, Ste 139, Mesa 480-773-6599 KCarter444@gmail.com Kim Carter is a Healing Touch certified practitioner specializing in grief and loss, serious/chronic illness and spiritual growth. Her emphasis is on empowering clients to recognize, trust and act on their own intuition.

PURE SMILES

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DENTISTS

FENG SHUI/ CHINESE ASTROLOGY FENG SHUI BY JEN®

6207 N Cattletrack Rd, Ste 7, Scottsdale 480-280-9911 • FengShuiByJen.com Jen Stone is the only IFSA Accredited Classical Feng Shui Master in North America and affiliated with the Raymond Lo School of Feng Shui & Destiny.

She offers traditional Chinese Feng Shui consultations for homes and businesses, BaZi astrology reading, formal training programs, and educational workshops. See ad, page 40.

HYPNOTHERAPY TRACY A. MINTON-MATESZ,

MSOM, CCHt, HHC, RM Strong Spirit Woman Self-Empowerment Plan 6722 E Avalon Dr, Ste 1, Scottsdale 480-323-5272 • StrongSpiritWoman.com Get from where you are, to where you desire to be. Learn empowering and effective tools to help you release negating habits, and consciously create your most illuminated life. Harmonize your energy. Weight loss/coaching packages, energy healing, readings, in person/by phone.

Call/visit my website!

MOVING GREEN BIN

602-688-9956 • Info@RentGreenBin.com RentGreenBin.com Mon-Thur 8am-8pm | Fri-Sun 8am-4pm Rent eco-friendly moving boxes for less than it costs to buy cardboard. No assembly or tape required. Free delivery and pickup included within the Phoenix area. One- to four-week rentals starting at $60. Every package includes 100% recycled packing paper, four-wheel dolly and labels. See ad, page 17.

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Organic Pest Control 602-923-1457 • ArizonaOrganic.com

Avoid being exposed to dangerous chemicals when all-natural and safer alternatives work just as well and last longer. See ad, page 40.

PET CARE

A LOR A ORGANIC STUDIO

7329 E Stetson Dr, Ste 11, Scottsdale 480-318-7555 • AloraOrganic.com An organic eco-friendly hair salon where beautiful cuts and color coexist with the best natural hair care. No harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances – just beautiful healthy hair. New client special: $10 off your first service. Energy healing sessions are also available. See ad, page 12.

SCHOOLS

ANDREA SOBOTKA, AKA “CRITTER DOC”

ASAM, Sh. Reiki, HTAP Animal Communicator and Counselor 602-317-1543 • CritterDoc1@cox.net SpiritAnimalWisdom.com With a gentle healing touch, Andrea provides earth medicine and energy healing, animal communication, and intuitive counsel for pets and their people.

SOUTHWEST INSTITUTE OF HEALING ARTS 1100 E Apache Blvd, Tempe 480-994-9244 Info@swiha.edu • swiha.edu

Nationally accredited college offers holistic health and wellness degrees, diplomas, certificates of excellence, continuing education and personal development, oncampus and online. Financial aid available. See ad, outside back cover.

RETREATS/WORKSHOPS EXPERIENCE NUTRITION GROUP LLC Melanie A. Albert Phoenix • 602-615-2486 ExperienceNutrition.com Facebook.com/NewViewHealthyEating

Intuitive cooking experience: workshops, cooking classes, team building events, and retreats for organizations. Learn simple culinary techniques; create plantbased healthy meals; enjoy beauty of food.

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ARIZONA ORGANIC PEST & TERMITE CONTROL

SALONS

SPIRITUAL CENTERS INTERNATIONAL KADAMPA RETREAT CENTER

6701 E Mountain Ranch Rd, Williams 928-637-6232 MeditationInNorthernArizona.org Meditation retreats and classes in modern Buddhism; dedicated to providing the local and worldwide community an opportunity to learn and engage in Buddhist practice and meditation retreats. Everyone is welcome.

THE SUMMIT LIGHTHOUSE® OF PHOENIX

4105 N 20th St, Ste 115, Phoenix 480-442-5020 SummitLighthousePhoenix@gmail.com SummitLighthousePhoenix.org Dedicated to sharing Saint Germain’s Violet Flame. All faiths welcome. Learn how you can become a modern day mystic. We are dedicated to sharing the Teachings of the Ascended Masters® to help you bring in joy and peace to the world. Learn what the requirements are to make your ascension. See ad, page 38.

UNITY OF MESA

2700 E Southern Ave, Mesa 480-892-2700 • UnityOfMesa.org Offering practical spiritual teachings for abundant and meaningful living; we are a progressive spiritual community that explores universal principles and practices.

Weddings, memorials, christenings, classes and activities for the “spiritual, not religious”. Sunday services: 9am & 10:45am. Youth programs: 10:45am. All are welcome. See ad, page 10.

Your Market is Our Readers.

Let Us Introduce You to Them!

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UNITY OF PHOENIX SPIRITUAL CENTER 1500 E Greenway Pkwy, Phoenix 602-978-3200 • UnityPhx.org

We are a friendly, loving, all-inclusive community that honors all paths to God and welcomes all people – regardless of race, beliefs or sexual orientation. Wherever you are in your life's journey, we invite you to visit us and discover your new spiritual home. We inspire people to live better lives. See ad, page 42.

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