November 2021 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine by Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

GOOD-MOOD HOLIDAY FOOD Thanksgiving Fare that Boosts Mental Health

Spiritual Connection Through Dance How to Preserve Brain Health Ways to Heal After Losing a Pet

November 2021 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 11 HAPPY FALL Y'ALL 12 DYING WELL

Four Steps to a Good Death

14 HEALTHY BRAIN STRATEGIES

How to Prevent Cognitive Decline

16 DAVID CROW on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

18 HONORING THE

LOSS OF A PET

Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal

22 SACRED DANCE Moving into Divine Energy

24 EAT WELL TO FEEL WELL

Thanksgiving Fare that Boosts Mental Health

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise in Natural Awakenings, please call 386-736-3838 or email Ads@NAJax.com. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Editor@NAJax.com. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com. NAJAX.COM 2

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

DEPARTMENTS 4 event briefs 6 health briefs 9 global briefs 10 eco tip 14 healing ways 16 wise words 18 natural pet 20 inspired reading 22 fit body 24 conscious eating 28 calendar 30 resource guide

letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

Dear Readers, As we enter the season of giving thanks and exchanging gifts, I urge you to consider the value a strong network of locally owned businesses adds to our community. Shop Local! is a cry heard from green-minded people, but what does ‘buy local’ mean? If Target is a mile from my house, does that mean I’m shopping locally? Does buying from my local supermarket count as local? Think Independent business when you think of shopping local. We’re fortunate to have many healthy living and lifestyle businesses locally. Independent grocery stores, spas, cafés, restaurants, wellness clinics and specialty stores are just a few examples of locally owned businesses where you can find great gifts. You’ll enjoy a higher quality product in many cases when supporting a local small business. Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and employ our friends and neighbors. They are less likely to close their doors during a downturn, and more likely to invest money back into the community’s local non-profits, events, schools, and teams compared to national chains. Buying from local businesses requires less transportation which generally means less congestion, habitat loss and pollution. How many times each day does a delivery truck roar through your neighborhood? Small businesses that select inventory based on their knowledge of local interests rather than on a national sales plan will have a more relevant selection of products. Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take time to get to know their patrons. Keeping these basics in mind during the holidays will guarantee you’re doing your part to support your community, and that you’ll see the benefits of that support in the coming year. This month’s conscious eating section has the feel-good ingredients that boost physical and mental health plus a healthy portion of deliciousness. From the goat cheese, honey and fig appetizer to the Cherokee cornmeal cookies, eating well to feel well is easy. Have you explored the benefits of scalar energy? Enjoy a free 15 day trial of personalized treatments followed by a twenty percent discount on a scalar light package with our special discount. See the article on page 8. Preventing cognitive decline is the focus of healing ways, with strategies to reduce the effects of a stroke or brain injury and prevent brain decline as a healthy brain ages. Discover the healing power of medicinal plants as a spiritual and meditative practice with author David Crow, a foremost expert in botanical medicine. Move into divine energy and fortify your body’s intrinsic life force with sacred dance as you explore one of many cultural dances described in fit body. We hope you enjoy your November edition, and remember to Shop Local this holiday season!

JACKSONVILLE / ST. AUGUSTINE EDITION

Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@NAJax.com Writer Erin Floresca

Editor Sara Gurgen Calendar Editor Sara Peterson

Design & Production Melanie Rankin

Graphic Design Josh Halay

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Jacksonville / St. Augustine Office: 386-736-3838 Publisher@NAJax.com P.O. Box 731466 Ormond Beach, FL 32173

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some par ts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Rebecca Young, Publisher

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

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

November 2021

event briefs

First Annual Persimmon Festival at Eat Your Yard Jax

at Your Yard Jax, in Jacksonville, invites folks to attend their first annual Persimmon Festival on November 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and discover a North American native fruit that is both underrated and underutilized, along with an Asian version, Fuyu, which is as crispy as an apple. There will be many fun cooking demonstrations, health talks and food tastings, as well as activities for the kids. The mission of the Persimmon Festival is to raise awareness about this underappreciated fruit, which is not only sweet, versatile and full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and beneficial plant compounds, but can also be easily grown in one’s North Florida backyard. The festival was inspired by Ohio’s annual Pawpaw Festival, which Eat Your Yard Jax founder Tim Armstrong had the pleasure of attending. Eat Your Yard Jax is a family-run farm-nursery specializing in edible landscape and garden plants. They firmly believe in practicing organic principles and sustainable agriculture. Visit on Fridays and Saturdays and pick up some plants to “eat your yard”. Cost: $20. Location: 6500 Utsey Rd. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit EatYourYardJax.org.

Upcoming Events

www.jacksonvillebusinessconnections.com/upcoming-events

Handmade in the South

Homemade Craft & Vendor Event

Nov 06 • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 500 Outlet Mall Blvd. • St. Augustine

9th Annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Event

Holiday Market in the South

Quarter

Auction Event

Polar Express Holiday Event & Movie

Nov 20 • 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM World Golf Village Renaissance 500 S. Legacy Trail • St. Augustine

Have fun winning items & services for just quarters!

Nov 20 • 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM World Golf Village Renaissance 500 S. Legacy Trail • St. Augustine

Meet Santa, Shop & Watch the Polar Express

Dec 11 • 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM IMAX Theatre World Golf Village 1 World Golf Place • St. Augustine

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Celebration for Rev. Yvonne McAndrew at Unity Church for Creative Living

nity Church for Creative Living (UCCL), in St. Johns, will celebrate Rev. Yvonne McAndrew’s five-year anniversary on November 14 at 11:30 a.m. All are invited to this funfilled outdoor event; there will be music, entertaining activities, food trucks and fellowship. “I feel so loved and blessed by the UCCL community,” says McAndrew. “We have come a long way baby in a short time, Rev. Yvonne McAndrew and we are not done yet. Join me as we celebrate our five years together. God is good … all the time!” Location: 2777 Race Track Rd. For more information, call 904-2871505 or visit UnityInJax.com. See ad, page 10.

Writing Group Provides Opportunity for More Conscious Connection

Photo by Craig O’Neal

oin Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville for a more mindful way of connecting in community this fall. The group offers a variety of programs highlighting the words and wisdom of women, with the goal of creating stronger community connection Executive Director Jennifer Wolfe through writing, art and women’s leadership. “We facilitate supportive writing circles that encourage people to craft more conscious lives through the art of writing and the practices of community,” says Jennifer Wolfe, executive director of the group that she founded in Jacksonville in 2014. “We offer not only regular writing circles in our community, but also art exhibits featuring women artists; an annual anthology of women writers and artists; and a number of special events highlighting our women writers, artists, leaders in the community,” says Wolfe. This “radically inclusive” community works to create a safer space for women’s voices and to celebrate women’s leadership. Their current art exhibition, titled Rivers: A Journey Beneath the Surface and curated by author and art historian Mallory O’Connor, calls attention to the importance of water and its symbolic connection to women as a vital force of our community. The group will present several connection opportunities this month at their headquarters at 1610 Osceola Street, in Jacksonville, including the Wine, Women and Words: Celebrating Rivers program on November 7, featuring Nancy Powell, executive director of Scenic Jacksonville and the Riverfront Parks Now initiative. They will also hold an Open House of the Rivers Exhibition on November 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., and a Public ReadAround of women writers on November 21. More writing classes will begin in January, including a “write and hike” event focusing on combining mindfulness with one’s writing practice.

Personalized treatments for eﬀective results Specializing in Acupuncture 15+ years Doctors refer their patients for Quality Acupuncture Certiied by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Oﬀering Acupuncture, AcuPoint Injections, LED Therapy, Facial Rejuvenation, Massage and more

Gift Certiicates available!

904-373-8415 www.AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com

For more information, visit WomenWritingJacksonville.org.

November 2021

Boost Kids’ Learning Abilities with Exercise

yulianto poitier/Pexels.com

The right kind of exercise can help kids learn vocabulary better, suggests research from the University of Delaware. An article published in the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research reports that when 48 children between 6 and 12 years of age were taught new words before swimming, they scored 13 percent higher on a test of the words than children that did CrossFit-like exercises or colored pictures. Lead researcher Maddy Pruitt says that exercise is known to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein she describes as the “Miracle-Gro of the brain.” Swimming made a difference, she says, because it is an automatic movement, while the CrossFit exercises were new to them and required mental energy.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Lose Weight with Small Calorie Reduction A reduction of just 200 calories a day combined with aerobic exercise four times a week produced greater weight loss and better heart health in obese, sedentary adults than exercise alone or a 600-calorie reduction plus exercise, reports a new study in Circulation. Researchers from the Wake Forest School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tested 160 adults ages 65 to 79. Those that combined exercise with 200 fewer calories a day lost 10 percent of their weight, about 20 pounds, over five months. They had a 21 percent average increase in the aorta’s ability to expand and contract, a key indicator of heart health. Measures of aortic stiffness did not change significantly for the exercise-only group or the 600-calorie-reduction-plusexercise group. Weight loss was similar for both caloriereduction groups, even though one group consumed nearly three times fewer calories per day. mentatdgt /Pexels.com

health briefs

Boost Cognition with Green Tea Compound

anna pyshniuk/Pexels.com

A single dose of 100 milligrams of the compound L-theanine—the amount found in four cups of green tea—improved reaction times and working memory of men and women in new research from Japan’s Central Research Institute, in Shizuoka. In the doubleblind, placebo-controlled study, 69 adults that selfreported cognitive decline reacted more quickly to computer-generated promptings and answered more questions correctly after ingesting the compound compared to the placebo.

Eat High-Flavonoid Foods to Reduce Cognitive Decline

trang doan/Pexels.com

Eating foods high in flavonoids—the antioxidant-rich plant compounds found in strawberries, oranges, peppers and apples—can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent or more, reports new research published by the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers followed more than 78,000 people in their late 40s and early 50s for 20 years, asking them what they ate and to evaluate their cognitive skills. They found that those foods with more flavones, such as yellow or orange fruits and vegetables and some spices, reduced cognitive decline the most, at 38 percent—the equivalent of being three to four years younger in age. Anthocyanins, found in blueberries, blackberries and cherries, were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. “The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears,” says study author Walter Willett, M.D., a nutrition and epidemiology professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “And it’s never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago or if they started incorporating them more recently.”

YOUR NEW HEALTH STORY STARTS HERE A holistic, heart-centered and evidence-based approach to care for people living with neurological conditions and symptoms.

Compassionate care to help you author a new health narrative and lead a happier, more fulfilling life. Specialties include: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Parkinson’s Disease Dementia • Headache Disorders Neuropathies • Chronic Pain Fibromyalgia • Dizziness Stroke Prevention • Stress Depression • Fatigue • Memory Loss Tingling • Gut-Brain Issues

Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse MS Certified Nurse

Dr. Weigel is a Nurse Practitioner with nearly 20 years experience in neurology who brings a unique integrative and holistic approach to her patients and care.

Monday Mantras with Megan

Follow First Coast Integrative Medicine on FB & Instagram for more information!

14215 Spartina Court Jacksonville • FL

CALL TODAY! 904.543.3510

Online course begins

January 3rd • 2022

F l R S T C O A S T I N T E G R AT I V E M E D I C I N E . C O M

Into the Rhythm Community Drumming & Facilitation

Into the Rhythm LLC offers a guided rhythm session with all instruments provided for your team, company, private party, school or special event. Seeking corporate sponsors for programs with at risk youth in local Title 1 schools and community centers.

Into the Rhythm LLC offers a guided rhythm session with all instruments provided forDrumming your team,is company, party, No experience necessary. a great wayprivate to connect of special event. No experience necessary. humansschool by building agreement through positive interaction in a fun, hands-on way. It’s time to get back into the rhythm of life together.

Drumming is a great way to connect humans by building agreement through positive interaction in a fun, hands-on way. It’s time to get back into the rhythm of life together. Schedule a session today! 904.669.1002

Amber Hall, Owner

NE Florida / SouthEastern US

www.intotherhythm.com

www.intotherhythm.com intotherhythm@Gmail.com

November 2021

Exploring Scalar Energy

he two main energies in the universe are electromagnetic energy and scalar energy. One vast difference between the two is that electromagnetic energy degrades over time or distance. For instance, a radio wave only travels so far before the signal fades. Scalar energy, or scalar light, on the other hand, is a light wave that can travel from one side of the Earth to the other instantaneously with no loss of power. Neither time nor distance affects the power of a scalar wave; scalar waves are faster than the speed of light. When electromagnetic energy degrades, the term used is “entropy”, while the scientific term associated with scalar energy is “syntropy”, or negative entropy. When we lose some of our life force energy due to stress or illness, we experience entropy. Vibrant health would be considered syntropy—no loss of life force. So disease states are a state of “losing light”—a human form of entropy. Scalar light instruments harness scalar energy from the sun and the stars. This vital energy is abundant in our universe and is the thread that connects all things. The following are some of the many testimonials of clients that have benefitted from scalar light sessions:

soon as I get back to work (I was in such a bad place, I had to quit my job). I feel balanced and whole again. God bless!” – Joanne

“Thank you so much for this work! My sense of well-being has increased so naturally. I am grabbing more out of life.” – William

Receive a 15-day free trial. After the trial, Natural Awakenings readers will receive a 20 percent discount for any single month of scalar light sessions until Dec. 31, 2021. Visit ScalarLight.com and use discount code NATURAL.

“Thank you, for this was the healing I needed. I feel like the scalar light trial was sent to me from above. I will be using this again as

“The changes for me have been subtle. I sleep sound through the night. I have greater mental clarity. I've had diverticulitis in the past, which left me constipated. My daily elimination is normal and regular. This is a very big deal. My sinuses are clear. I've always thought I was pretty healthy, but I feel better than ever. I've signed up for 30 days. Scaler light is amazing!” – Lana “The Scalar Energy 15-day trial, which is on day 10, has convinced me to subscribe for a year. I feel better about my future; have felt lighter in my body and spirit; and definitely felt the detox, so I know it’s working! Thank you.” – Barbara “First of all thank you so much for the opportunity to try this free trial! The first two weeks, I felt very noticeable changes occurring in my body. I had a clear sense of well-being, more energy, tuned in with my self-care needs, and felt very positive. Also, my sleep became much deeper and longer, and I felt more refreshed in the morning. I was going for walks after dinner more and more. I can’t say enough positive things about this process. Thank you so much.”– Diane

– Advertorial – 8

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Sorting Soirée

global briefs

Renovating the Recycling Stream

Knock On Wood

courtesy of Svenskt Tra

A Swedish method of building using cross-laminated timber (CLT) is emerging as a climate-friendly alternative to traditional, concrete-based construction. The foundation is cement, but multistory wooden structures of 13 floors and higher are possible. Using timber has environmental benefits in the form of lowered carbon emissions. Mathias Fridholm, director of Svenskt Tra (Swedish Wood), an industry organization, says, “Wood is in many ways an excellent material for building in dense cities, because we can prefabricate all the elements in factories instead of onsite.” Prefabrication speeds construction and reduces truck traffic. CLT is not only strong and light, it is breathable; it holds heat, but doesn’t need plastic layers to manage moisture like concrete, which also requires sand, a non-renewable resource that requires drudging seabeds. Managed forests are renewable and serve as a carbon storage facility. Anna Ervast Oberg, a project manager at Swedish real estate developer Folkhem, advises that just changing the structure of a building to wood from concrete would result in an immediate 50 percent reduction in emissions. “What we have to do now is to stop the emissions, very fast. This gives us a hint of where we should be focusing; where we can make the biggest difference.”

Americans use a single recycling stream in which everything goes into one bin to be sorted and cleaned at the designated collection point; a system that requires too much labor with less-than-stellar results. A study conducted by the South Korean SK Group asked 1,500 U.S. adults about sustainable packaging and found that 72 percent prefer products with easily recycled or reused packaging, but don’t understand what can actually be recycled. Forty-two percent were not aware that containers such as plastic bottles cannot be recycled without removing the label. When dirty and labeled recyclables are deposited with clean recyclables, they contaminate the whole batch, creating massive amounts of unnecessary waste. SKC Inc. has introduced Ecolabel, the first shrink sleeve label that doesn’t need to be removed from plastic bottles to be recycled. This removes the burden from the consumer and recyclers while making the process easier. Recyclops uses independent drivers to service recycling routes, creating income for locals and sustainable living options for residents. They’re innovating the recycling pickup process by using an Uber Eats-type phone app to enable the pickup of recyclables from areas that aren’t being serviced. courtesy of Recyclops.com

Tree House

Wicked Wonders

Banned Invasive Weeds for Sale

pornsawan/AdobeStock.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has labeled cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), a native plant of Southeast Asia, as one of the world’s worst invasive weeds. It’s banned as an invasive species by the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, but a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment by the University of Massachusetts Amherst discovered that this and about 1,300 other invasive plants are sold at garden centers, nurseries and other retailers. Lead author Evelyn M. Beaury, a graduate student in organismic and evolutionary biology at University of Massachusetts, says that she and her fellows found cogongrass was being sold by 33 outlets in 17 states. She notes, “This is a tricky case, because plant breeders are marketing a sterile cultivar, but research shows these plants are not completely sterile and can still become invasive.” According to the USDA, there are no known effective biological control methods. Beaury states, “While patchy state regulations definitely contribute to the widespread availability of invasive plants in the U.S., it’s clear we as a public also lack awareness about which plants are invasive and how they spread to new areas. If we want to continue to protect native ecosystems, regulators and managers need more resources to do so.” November 2021

eco tip

david pereiras/AdobeStock.com

Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure Plastic is a petrochemical-based, non-biodegradable pollution nightmare. As discarded water bottles and shampoo containers pile up for hundreds of years in landfills, we continue to produce more and more of the stuff. Meanwhile, plastic breaks down into microparticles that contaminate waterways, air, soil and even snow. They show up in foods and beverages we consume. While more research is needed to understand the human health impacts of microplastics, here are some ways to avoid ingesting these tiny particles.

DON’T DRINK PLASTIC-BOTTLED WATER. Plastic-bottled water has approximately double the microplastics of tap water, studies have found. Ditch single-use, plastic-bottled water. Instead, fill reusable stainless steel or glass containers with filtered tap water, chill and enjoy. Filtering tap water can help improve the taste and reduce other undesirable elements, and most carbon block filters with a micron rating of two or less will remove microplastics. AVOID BEAUTY PRODUCTS WITH MICROBEADS. To reduce exposure to microplastics and dissuade manufacturers from using plastic, avoid any beauty products with microbeads, including certain toothpastes and facial scrubs. Some words on product labels that indicate microbeads are polypropylene, polyethylene and polylactic acid (PLA). WEAR NATURAL, NON-SYNTHETIC FABRICS. Synthetic fabrics shed microplastic fibers in the wash and as we wear them. Clothing made with natural fibers such as cotton is preferable. WASH AND DRY SYNTHETIC CLOTHES DIFFERENTLY. When we wash and dry synthetic fabrics, significant levels of microplastics are released into the environment. To lessen this effect, air dry clothes or decrease their time in the dryer. Products are emerging to help filter and collect small synthetic fibers before they wash down the drain and into our waterways or get released into the air. Among the most promising are a washing bag (GuppyFriend.us), laundry ball (CoraBall.com) and in-machine filtration devices (XerosTech.com). REDUCE MEAT AND FISH CONSUMPTION. As microplastics proliferate and marine and land animals eat them, they are finding their way into our food supply. We can limit our exposure by eating less meat and fish. VACUUM AND DUST REGULARLY. Our homes are filled with microplastics. Regularly dusting surfaces and vacuuming with a HEPA filter that traps dust is a great way to reduce these particles in the indoor air environment. DRIVE LESS. As we drive our cars, microplastic flies off the tires and becomes airborne pollution. Find ways to drive less; opt instead for carpooling or public transportation. 10

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Happy Fall Y’all by Megan R. Weigel

e have come to a crossroads of sorts this autumn, having spent most of the past year and a half in isolation and introspection. You may feel the urge to open the gates and run free as fall seasonal gatherings start: football games, Thanksgiving, travel to cooler and more colorful places. Thousands of years of ancient forms of medicine, like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, tell us this is the time of year for letting go, turning inward, and gathering what you need for nourishment. So, how do you reign in the FOMO, enjoy enough to be fulfilled, and avoid being depleted? According to TCM, autumn is the time of the metal element, composed of the lung and large intestine meridians. The lung holds on to vital new breath and the large intestine lets go of waste. These meridians can be supported with foods that are heartier, preparing us for winter, yet also cause a slight bitterness, helping us to focus and organize the year’s harvest. In general, foods that are baked and sautéed for easy digestion are helpful in the fall. Soups and stews with root and sulfur-rich vegetables, mushrooms, grains and certain greens (watercress, chard, mustard greens) allow easier digestion of higher fiber foods. Adding in small amounts of sour-flavored foods stimulates inward focus. Ayurveda teaches us to fill the fall with stability, groundedness, warmth, and close and loving relationships to soothe the vata dosha—the most powerful of the three

doshas (energies that define every person's makeup); it controls basic bodily functions as well as the mind. Remember, trees let go of their leaves in the fall. They stand sturdy as the leaves blow away; they don’t frantically try to pick up all the leaves! Reach out to loved ones and activities you find deeply satisfying, rather than satisfying your to-do list. If you are struggling to feel grounded, diffuse essential oils, like vetiver, geranium and citrus oils. Incorporate a daily gentle yoga practice that includes a sun salutation, cat-cow pose, child’s pose, legs-up-the-wall pose, and savasana. With the approach of Thanksgiving, gratitude comes to mind. Its transformational power has been associated with improvements in subjective happiness, life satisfaction, and even the release of oxytocin (also known as the “love hormone”). Harvest your gratitude this season with a new journal. Perhaps list three things you are grateful for each day or start a new dinner conversation routine to involve the whole family and pass around the journal. Create a new tradition by purchasing a piece of cotton fabric (large enough to be a tablecloth) and permanent markers, and on Thanksgiving asking family members to write what they have been most grateful for this year on the tablecloth. Bask in the abundance of your harvests each year when you bring out the tablecloth. Finally, consider a visualization of letting go to create space and stability. Sit comfortably, preferably in a patch of sun. Let your breath become slow and deep, inhaling

through your nose to a count of five and exhaling to a count of five. Picture a scene of beautifully colored leaves swirling about on the ground in the breeze underneath a clear blue sky. Imagine the leaves as things you have let go; things that may be heavy, fragile, sad, completed or no longer serving your highest good. See how the wind carries them gently away. If emotions well up, focus on deepening your breath and expanding your chest from front to back and side to side. Allow the emotion time to neutralize as you breathe. When your leaves are out of view, focus on the warmth of the sun on your body. Feel the space you have created in letting go. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Send gratitude to that thing, that person, that word. Take a few more deep breaths. Let your last exhale be an audible sigh. Megan R. Weigel, DNP, is a nurse practitioner specializing in neurological care in Jacksonville, where she brings a unique integrative medicine and holistic nursing perspective to her practice, First Coast Integrative Medicine, located at 14215 Spartina Ct., Ste. 200. She has been a multiple sclerosis certified nurse since 2005 and a nurse practitioner for more than 20 years. She is also a board-certified advanced practice holistic nurse. For more information or to make an appointment, visit FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com. See ad, page 7. November 2021

Four Steps to a Good Death by Ronica O’Hara

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

nikkizalewski/AdobeStock.com

n his deathbed, Apple founder Steve Jobs looked for a long time at his children, his sister and his wife, then moved his gaze to the space behind them. “Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!” he gasped. No one can know for certain what he was experiencing, but his words point to the deep, mysterious potential of our final hours—the awareness of which can transform our life long before its end. “An awareness of dying, of death, can wake us up to life. It helps us live a life that’s rich and full and meaningful. When we deny the truth of dying, we live less wholeheartedly, less completely,” says Frank Ostaseski, founder of the pioneering San Francisco Zen Hospice Project and author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully. The pandemic has 51 percent of us thinking more about our own mortality, a survey shows. The subject of death has been slowly opening up in America: TV programs like Six Feet Under and Alternative Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America present dying and grief more realistically; thousands of small conversational gatherings called “death cafes” are being held each year; people are designing their own funerals and choosing green burial sites; and the field of “death doulas” is emerging to help families navigate the legal and emotional shoals. Half a century after the release of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ seminal book On Death and Dying, palliative care to ease pain is offered by two-thirds of American hospitals, and Medicare funding for end-of-life hospice care has grown tenfold over the last two decades. Yet for many, death remains the last taboo—85 percent of us have not discussed our last wishes yet with loved ones. Thousands of studies in the emerging field of experimental existential psychology have found that when reminded subconsciously of death, people tend to drive faster, drink harder, smoke more and get meaner to out-groups in attempts to lower their anxiety. But when we look death squarely in the face, that anxiety recedes, the research concludes. Gratitude, self-honesty and the humility of recognizing our place in the larger whole are also proven antidotes. With less fear, we are better able to take the proactive, concrete steps that ease our passage—getting clear on our values and desires, having important conversations, attending to final decisions and opening to our spiritual process. Although death has its own ways and means, these four processes can make it more likely we will die as we would like to.

Defining What We Value “Deeply consider what your

priorities in life are,” says Tarron Estes, founder and CEO of The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, which has trained more than 6,500 doulas since 2013. “Ask yourself, if I had only three months to live, what’s important to me spiritually, emotionally, physically? What do I still need to do or say?” She recommends Stephen Levine’s book, A Year to Live, for exercises and meditations for that process. “Don’t wait until the time of your dying to discover what it has to teach you,” advises Ostaseski, who has sat beside more than 2,000 hospice patients in their last hours. “When I’m with dying people, the things that are important to them are not their spiritual beliefs, but are more about relationships—‘Am I loved? Did I love well?’ Those two questions are useful inquiries now. They help us to discover where value and meaning can be found.” By applying our values to the dying process, we can start sorting through options. Do we want to die at home or in a hospital? What medical procedures will we accept or decline? What measures do we want to be taken to sustain our life? Who do we want to be at our side? And what do we need to say before that time?

Having Important Conversations As daunting as the prospect of an end-of-life talk with family and friends may seem, it can start with simple words like “I want to talk with you about something important to me.” Without spelling out our desires, death can become inadvertently medicalized: Nine in 10 of us say we want to die in our homes, but only two in 10 do. “The default systems are all to treat, treat, treat, until someone finally says, ‘No,’ so many people end up on a high-tech conveyor belt to the ICU,” says award-winning journalist Katy Butler, author of The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life. Among people that undertake such talks, 73 percent describe the experience as positive, reassuring and productive. A downloadable Conversation Starter Guide (TheConversationProject.org) provides practical guidance for these critical conversations. Attending to Medical and Burial Decisions Taking care

of business—the paperwork aspects of death known as advance directives—spares loved ones from having to make tough decisions later. A last will and testament precludes pain and infighting among family and friends. A living will specifies what treatments are wanted under what conditions. A medical power of attorney designates a trusted person to make medical decisions if a patient is not capable. A Do Not Resuscitate order approved by a doctor means emergency medical workers are less likely to give CPR, which frequently causes trauma and broken ribs in elderly or frail patients. Either cremation or a burial can be decided upon; environmental options such as a forest burial in a wooden casket can be explored. Local hospice options can be surveyed in advance; nonprofits generally are rated better than profit-making groups.

Opening to the Spiritual Process Whether or not we have

religious beliefs to carry us through waves of loss and sorrow, death can spur spiritual insight. “In dying, we withdraw from our outer circles and come into the inner circles of our lives—the relationships that matter most to us,” says Ostaseski, who has worked

four decades with hospice patients. “There’s a growing silence that has us becoming more contemplative and reflective. Our sense of time and space changes and we enter into a kind of free flow. The boundaries we have lived by begin to dissolve, and we start to feel ourselves as part of something larger—not as a belief, but as a natural occurrence. Often people realize themselves to be more than the small, separate self they had thought themselves to be.” Joan Tollifson, a Zen-trained spiritual teacher and author of Death: The End of Self-Improvement, concurs: “When the future disappears, we are brought home to the immediacy that we may have avoided all our lives. With no future left to fantasize about, the focus of attention may finally be fully on right Now, the only place where our life ever actually is. Really getting that ‘This is it,’ there may be a sudden recognition of the absolute preciousness and wonder of every simple ordinary thing and of the people around us, just as they are, with all their flaws and foibles. Old grudges and resentments often melt away, and love shines through. “All the things which may have been part of our self-image—independence, physical strength, cognitive sharpness, good appearance and so on—have either disappeared or are rapidly collapsing, which invites the discovery that none of that really mattered, that what we truly or more fundamentally are is not dependent on any of that. “The greatest gift we can give to a loved one who is dying,” says Tollifson, is to “simply be present, listen, follow your heart, trust the process. Everything else will follow from that. There’s no right or wrong way.” It can be difficult to know what to say to a loved one near the end, but hospice workers recommend five phrases that have deep healing potential, even if a person seems unconscious: “I love you,” “Thank you,” “Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” and “Goodbye” or “Until we meet again.” As Butler points out, the first four phrases can be said any time in our lives. Increasingly in hospice care, loved ones are encouraged to sit with the body after the death, touching it, sharing stories, perhaps gently bathing it and dressing it in favorite clothes. “Touching the body, feeling the coolness, makes the death real to the family,” Ostaseski says. “Research shows that people that went through that process still grieved, but they were able to be with the emotion and not be overwhelmed by it.” Facing the reality of death—as hard and heartbreaking as that can be—can free us to truly live life, said Jobs. After his terminal cancer diagnosis, he told Stanford students in a commencement address, “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com. November 2021

healing ways

Healthy Brain Strategies How to Prevent Cognitive Decline

benjavisa ruangvaree/AdobeStock.com

by Linda Sechrist

healthy brain performs mental processes known as cognition, which is the acquiring of knowledge and understanding by means of thought, experience and the senses. This includes functions and systems such as memory, learning, language, problem solving, decision making, reasoning and intelligence. The aging process, a stroke or a brain injury can cause a mild to severe reduction in healthy brain

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

functioning resulting in impaired memory and concentration, and difficulty in learning new things or making decisions that impact daily living. Functional medicine experts focused on preventive health care agree on the ABC’s for optimizing the brain and protecting against decline: eating a healthy diet, exercising, reducing inflammation and stress levels, balancing hormone levels, cultivating healthy relationships and getting enough restorative sleep. With their expertise, they are helping to shift the old paradigm of inevitable aging and cognitive decline into a new one based on the brain’s neuroplasticity. Harvard-trained neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, author of the bestseller My Stroke of Insight and the recent Whole Brain Living, is a true poster child for demonstrating the brain’s neuroplasticity and ability to recover from a massive stroke. She writes about the congenital neurological brain disorder that became a problem when an arteriovenous malformation exploded in her brain’s left hemisphere. For four hours, she observed her brain functions systemically shutting down one by one. On the afternoon of her stroke, she could not walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. Eight years later, she was not only slalom waterskiing again, but also explaining to the world, “We are the life-force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. We have the power to choose, moment to moment, who and how we want to be in the world.” Devaki Lindsey Berkson, author of Sexy Brain, a hormone formulator and former researcher at Tulane University’s estrogen think tank, advises, “Most people think hormones are sexy, reproductive things and when they get older, they’re relieved that they don’t have to think about them. Not true. The body has a virtual physiological internet system. Hormones are the email signals to most cells. While the robustness of hormones and their signals affects lungs, gut, kidney and vocal cord health, it especially affects the brain. Balancing hormones with bioidentical hormones is one solution.” David Perlmutter, neurologist and co-author of Brain Wash, cites food as the biggest player in both brain and overall health in his books and PBS workshops. “Eating inappropriately causes intestinal permeability, resulting in inflammation, which in the brain, threatens good decision making—from deciding on the foods we eat to turning off our televisions at night, getting

a good night’s rest, making sure that we exercise regularly and connecting with other people. Not good for the gut are dairy products, alcohol, highly processed foods that are low in fiber, high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, as well as antibiotics,” he says, adding that meditation and exposure to nature are powerful ways of reducing inflammation in the body and brain. As explained by neurologist Dale E. Bredesen, author of The End of Alzheimer’s, stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels that can be toxic to our brains—in particular the memory—consolidating the hippocampus, one of the first structures affected by Alzheimer’s. Studies show that high stress levels can also contribute to brain fog, involving difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and mental fatigue. The Bredesen Protocol, available from health practitioners and online, includes exercising, eating a plant-based diet, supplementing to reduce insulin sensitivity and optimize cognitive function, reducing both gut inflammation and exposure to toxins, treating pathogens and optimizing sleep. HealthyBrains.org, Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Brains Initiative, is an online resource center with information on how to manage brain health and create a brain span that matches a life span. It offers six pillars of brain health as explained by brain health experts, including exercise, sleep, relaxation, mental fitness and social interaction. Supplementing for brain health should be done wisely, says Mark Hyman, author of Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and director of functional medicine at Cleveland Clinic. He recommends at the very least taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement, omega-3, extra vitamins B3, B6 and B12, folate and a good probiotic that enhances the brain-gut relationship. Mastery of the ABC’s in kindergarten is required as the foundation of language and a lifetime of learning. Living the fundamentals for a healthy brain can result in a brain span that equals our life span.

The Cycle by Brian Dean A leaf falls from a tree. It softly hits the ground and rests. Over the winter, change begins. The leaf is changed, reformed, restructured. It reaches a stage where it is repurposed. The remnants of the leaf seep into the soil. And as the spring approaches, the leaf becomes food for the tree from whence it fell. Seeds are planted. The tree is strengthened and gives birth to new life, new leaves. And so is the cycle of life. As we live and then die, we plant seeds. These seeds are in many forms, ideas, belief, energies and deeds. Through this, the cycle of life continues. The body of humankind grows and strengthens as the energy of one generation and the next adds to and strengthens the core of all there is. That is the energetic cycle of life. Brian Dean is a licensed massage therapist, reiki master, and medium in Jacksonville Beach. He also teaches meditation, energy modalities, massage, and offers continuing education for massage therapists. For more information, call Caring Palms Healing Arts at 904-246-2206 or visit CaringPalms.com. See ad, right.

Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Connect at Linda Sechrist.com. November 2021

wise words

energies in forms that plants provide; our physiology, respiration and metabolism is a mirror image of photosynthesis. We have complete biological dependency on plants in every moment; understanding this is the basis of reverence for nature, which is ecological spirituality, the only long-term solution to the environmental crisis we have created through lack of sensitivity and appreciation of our place in the biosphere.

David Crow on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants by Randy Kambic

photo by Simone Anne

How is self-care changing to empower people?

avid Crow, author of In Search of the Medicine Buddha, among other books, is a foremost expert in botanical medicine and other natural health applications. As a teacher, telemedicine consultant, researcher, certified master herbalist, aromatherapist and acupuncturist, he has studied Chinese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic and Western herbal medicine for more than 30 years. He is a strong advocate of the safe use of herbs and essential oils, and installing gardens in public and private spaces. As one of the first medical pioneers to use essential oils and aromatherapy in clinical practice, integrating them into comprehensive treatments, he is also the founder of Floracopeia Aromatic Treasures. 16

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Why do you feel humanity needs to reconnect a sacred relationship with plants? For our survival as a species. Plants created the biosphere over hundreds of millions of years, including the ozone layer, the oxygen in the atmosphere, the fertility of the soil, the regulation of the seasons and the foundation of the food chain. From those conditions, higher life was able to emerge and evolve: Humans emerged from conditions created by plants. Since we cannot live directly on soil and sunlight as plants do, the structure and function of the human body are designed so that we can extract those

NAJax.com

The doctor/patient paradigm is changing in many ways as a result of the internet, availability of natural medicines and awareness of the limitations and dangers of pharmaceutical drugs. The availability of nutraceuticals and herbal products from around the world has created a golden age of natural medicine, but has also brought widespread confusion from the overwhelming amount of information combined with marketing of products. People are asking more about drugs and prescribed procedures; they are seeking natural alternatives, and in many cases, either reducing or eliminating their need for pharmaceutical drugs. This change is an important step toward greater health consciousness, which is linked directly to other aspects of creating a healthier society, like the increased demand for organic food that’s driving more organic agriculture.

Why are cultural medical systems inseparable from spiritual and meditative practices? Classical medical systems such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, along with indigenous and shamanic uses of plants for healing, have evolved and are inseparable from the spiritual practices of their cultures. For example, Chinese medicine evolved from and with the same philosophical roots and practices as qigong and Taoist alchemy, and Ayurveda emerged from and in turn influenced yoga, tantra and Vedic philosophy. The significance of this is that medical

practices were used both for healing the body and to support yogic and spiritual practices, and vice versa. Now we have modern scientific research confirming the health benefits of spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer, but more importantly, traditional medical systems remind us that there is an ultimate spiritual goal that is higher than mere physical health.

What is your view on the resurgence of psychedelic plant medicines for healing? All plants have healing properties and also have potential dangers and toxicity, depending on how they are used. The psychoactive plants, specifically the entheogens (those that awaken the perception of divinity) have been used in ceremonies and mystery cults throughout history for healing conditions of body, mind and spirit, but those traditions have always been under the care of highly trained and experienced priests, priestesses and shamans. The experiences while under the influence of these plants are highly dependent on the container of the environment, the cultural mythologies, the ritual, its leaders and the other people present in the ceremony, and it can be highly unpredictable with both good and bad outcomes. The use of these medicines at higher doses is an excellent opportunity for deep inner transformation, exploration of consciousness and appreciation of the visionary realms that are available to us, but like all intensive spiritual endeavors, requires preparation, orientation and guidance. Using these plants at lower doses, like microdosing daily with psilocybin mushrooms for treating depression and anxiety, offers great benefits for some people without the risks of the psychological, mental or emotional disruptions that can occur at higher doses.

(904) 829-4847 (HUGS) www.jaxhugs.com

Feeling the Healing Power of Hemp Holistic and Alternative Pain Management

CBD helps with Pain, Depression, Anxiety, Muscle Tension & More

One of Northeast Florida’s Largest Selection of Qualitv CBD Products for People and Pets Sublingual • Topical • Tinctures • Vape • Oil Dry Flower • Broad Spectrum • Full Spectrum and Isolate Products

Get the health benefits without the psychoactive effects with CBD

Now Carrying DELTA 8® Edibles, Vape Cartridges, and Flower Call about our Cannabis Grow Class so you can begin growing when laws change.

8622 Baymeadows Rd • Jacksonville (Behind McDonalds off Philips Hwy)

Call and tell us your needs and get the help you deserve.

Get Your

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD

FASTand EASY MARIJUANA HELPS WITH OVER

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

For more information, visit CrowConsultations.com or Floracopeia.com. Randy Kambic, in Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer.

Jacksonville

10695 Beach Blvd. (904) 299-5300

CALL AND TELL US YOUR NEEDS AND GET THE

HELP YOU DESERVE Orange Park

920 Blanding Blvd. #4 (904) 420-0044

PRE-CERTIFY BY

PHONE FROM

HOME

St. Augustine

2085 A1A S, Ste. 203 (904) 299-7373 November 2021

natural pet

Honoring the Loss of a Pet Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal

kerkezz/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

rench novelist Anatole France’s sentiment, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened,” rings true for anyone that shares a love story with a beloved pet. Whether we lose a cat, dog, horse, bird or lizard, the final parting can be quite emotional. Society supports us with empathy and rituals of closure when we suffer the loss of a human love, but grieving an animal companion can be a uniquely silent passage. Surrendering fully to the mourning process, creating a joyful ceremony and celebrating the life of a loved one invites healing and solace.

Sacred Grief

The animal-human alliance is hallmarked by the absence of emotional baggage, and is therefore capable of provoking grief that equals or exceeds losing a close relative. “This is a deep bond that is never judgmental on how we look, spend money or what we do for a living, as long as we love and nurture. And, in return, we receive undying, unconditional love,” says Pam Baren Kaplan, a pet loss grief counselor and life coach in Chicago. Diane Stout, a pet parent and retired dog groomer in Paupack, Pennsylvania, knows the impact of this unconditional love, especially through life’s changes. “Long after a spouse has died and family have moved away to other lives and preoccupations, the family pet remains the faithful dinner or TV time companion,” she says. “A cherished pet is often the last true companion.” 18

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Cancelling appointments or taking time off from work after a pet’s passing does not connote emotional weakness. “Treat yourself with the same kindness you would show another person going through this difficult time,” advises Cheryl Wyatt, a certified grief companion at Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a national network of veterinarians that provides compassionate end-of-life care. “Allow yourself the time to do your mourning work. Tears are cleansing. If they happen to come 10 hours or 10 years from now, you have permission to shed them.”

Compassionate Transitions

Loving an animal until the last goodbye includes relieving their suffering to the best of our ability. In-home euthanasia can

make a heartbreaking time more bearable for both pet and owner. “Providing beloved pets euthanasia at home differs from a clinical setting because it allows them to remain in their safe, happy place. At home, the veterinarian can greet the pet family and provide the loved one’s peaceful passing wherever they are most comfortable—a favorite bed or spot on the couch—surrounded by all those who love them most,” explains Wyatt. Pet funerals are becoming more common, and ceremonies are as unique as the animal remembered. Stories, poetry and memories can be shared by family and they can include a living memorial such as a tree planted in the animal’s name. Stout, also an accomplished artist, finds joy in painting her pets that have gone and suggests “a scrapbook of pictures and memories, because a look back at puppy or kitten pictures can bring an instant smile.” Kaplan agrees, “Creating what I refer to as ‘a legacy of love’ can be done by the entire family or by one person. This is a book that you put together with favorite photos of your pet and journal the story around the photo. This is a great way to include family member’s memories from their perspective.”

Choosing a unique, handmade vessel for ashes can honor an animal. Mary Jane Panebianco, owner of SpiritpetShop on Etsy.com, was inspired by the passing of a co-worker’s dog. “At the time, I worked in a mixed media art gallery, and she had one of our ceramic artists create her dog Sandy’s memorial urn. It was beautiful and so well done. I did some research on the pet industry, and everything I found was so commercial and mass-produced. I knew pets and their owners deserved another option.” Panebianco works with a small number of award-winning American artisans and accepts custom orders for handcrafted urns. “Many of my pet parents have told me how having a beautiful memorial for their beloved pet helps them make peace with their pet’s passing. It’s the last thing you will do for them.” In the beginning and in the end, it’s all about the love. For Stout, it’s what animals teach us. “To play and dance often, to give unconditional love, loyalty and friendship, to find joy in the little things, and that life is too often short.” Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Advice for the Bereaved Cheryl Wyatt, of the Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, recommends:

n Continue to speak to your loved one, sing to him/her whatever brought you joy in being together.

n Honor the memories.

n Wear a piece of jewelry that bears your pet’s name or contains a small amount of his/her remains.

n Light commemorative candles in his/her honor. n Create a memory table—include all of the things that remind you of

ECO-DECOR FOR THE HOME

your beloved pet. Leave it up for as long as you like.

n Set aside some time each day to be alone in a quiet place to give yourself space to grieve.

n Write out your emotions freely in a journal; compose a poem or letter to your pet.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE CONTENT at NAJax.com!

n Join an online group or meet in person with other people that are going through the mourning process. n Don’t let people that don’t grasp the depth of the human-animal bond tell you how you should feel.

Plus

MINDFULNESS FOR STRESSED TEENS THE HEALING POWER OF A HUG November 2021

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. “The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.” Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said. By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast. September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.” “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched. Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished. Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses. Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA23. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?” Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives. Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever. The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and ADVERTORIAL

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

inspired reading

Review of Dolores Cannon’s Between Death and Life by Marilyn Jenquin

eading the title of this book, you may think I’ve accidently reversed the words— that it should be Between Life and Death. No, it’s correct—Between Death and Life. Delores Cannon worked for 45 years doing hypnotic research and past-life therapy with hundreds of patients. She recorded sessions and wrote them in this book just as they occurred. Cannon has written at least 17 other books, and as I learned while visiting England, the Brits just love her. Her writing style is very reader-friendly. On the book’s back cover, Cannon lists some of the topics contained, including the death experience, different levels of existence in the spirit realm, guides and guardian angels, the existence of heaven and hell, ghosts and poltergeists, planning your present lifetime and karmic relationships before birth, perceptions of God and the dead, the significance of “bad” lifetimes, the various councils and their influence on humankind and the universe, and walk-ins. She also covers Akashic records. If you’re like most people that choose to study mediumship and life after death, you have lots of questions. This book answers most of the questions I’ve been asked during my 20ish years of teaching. The biggest question it helps to answer is that … yes, we live more than once—different bodies and different experiences, but more than

once. We possibly even live several hundred lives; each with a purpose and a specific learning goal. In the book, Cannon tells us that we should think of a student in college that studies chemistry. When they finish their studies, they have acquired book learning but not an actual handson understanding of the subject. And this is why we incarnate so many times—for the hands-on experiences, so we can fully “get” the concepts and grow into the higher levels in the spirit realm. If this book is your first introduction to life in the spirit realm, it may seem hard to believe, as it likely will be so different from what you have “normally” been taught. But consider it. It’s a lovely future—one with hope and joy and love to look forward to. Marilyn Jenquin has been involved in spiritualism since 1980. She is a professional medium; spiritualist teacher; and founder and director of the International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit religious educational foundation established in 1999. She teaches British-style evidential mediumship, and is also available for private readings. For more information, visit her website, ifsk.org, or email her at Dependablepc@EarthLink.net. See ad, this page.

HEALING ENERGY ByTED

Reiki • Reconnective Healing The Emotion and Body Code Divine Healing • Amethyst BioMat • Healy

(904) 613-7608 Jacksonville, FL

www.healingenergybyted.com

Curious about

ECKANKAR?

Request FREE BOOKS

www.eck-florida.org ECKANKAR

The Path of Spiritual Freedom Jacksonville ECK Information: 904-725-7760

November 2021

fit body

SACRED DANCE Moving into Divine Energy

viktoriia protsak/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

eart-healthy dancing of all types is known to promote overall physical and mental health. When they are spirit-infused, forms like African, Middle Eastern, ecstatic and yoga-inspired kundalini dance offer us the opportunity to stay in shape while also fortifying the body’s intrinsic life force. Classes in these styles of dance, which are most often conducted barefoot, draw upon a deep cultural well and include the infectious heartbeat of live accompaniment. Just about anyone can find their own blissful groove when going with the flow is the focus. “In class, I choose to emphasize the feeling more than the step itself. The goal is always to get a spiritual release,” says Darian Parker, a Brooklyn-based West African dance teacher, professor and choreographer. “I always encourage my students to privilege ‘having a good time’ over succumbing to self-criticism from not perfecting a step.”

Modern Moves, Ancient Roots

There are more than 3,000 ethnic groups on the continent of Africa, and each dance style has a purpose that is defined by its unique history. In the West African tradition, dances are designed to heal the individual and from the broader perspective, restore community. Parker, a faculty member of Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, in Brooklyn, celebrates the culture and art of the Mande people. “In short, Mande dance trains your spirit just as much as it trains your body,” says Parker. “In many Mande cultures, the ground is thought to be the habitation of our ancestors, who are thought to animate our 22

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

bodies when we dance. In this way, you can think of dance as a ritual technology that renews our connections with those who came before us.” While an African dance class encourages high energy and joyous expression, ecstatic dance can be a portal to self-discovery and connectedness. Springboarding from ancient societies worldwide, modern ecstatic dance is freeform and hallmarked by trance or tribal beats. “Ecstatic dance has offered me a portal to my subconscious, my spirit, my deep knowing. It’s a way to, as Gabrielle Roth, the creator of 5Rhythms, put it, ‘Get out of my head and into my body,’ and in my body there is wonderful wisdom,” explains Heidi Sheldon, a seasoned ecstatic dancer and licensed counselor in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. “Your spirit knows what to

do when it hears and feels the rhythms. You just need to allow your body to follow.”

Yo u r B o d y C A N H e a l !

Belly of Bliss, Heart of Light

Middle Eastern dance is comprised of many dance styles—folk and tribal, classical and most widely known, belly dancing. In ancient times, the latter was practiced in rituals for fertile harvests and women’s fertility, including physical preparation for childbirth. In 2017, a pilot study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies showed that belly dance improves depressive symptoms, fatigue and quality of life in women with breast cancer. “Belly dancing is a tantric form of dance that empowers women to release shame and accept and love themselves and their bodies just as they are. The movements open us to pleasure and sensual bliss in our very own skin. In this way, it is very healing and therapeutic,” says Banafsheh Sayyad, a Persian dance artist and founder of the Dance of Oneness Academy, in Los Angeles. Sayyad’s movement, a fusion of Persian and Middle Eastern dance, flamenco, contemporary dance and meditative whirling, is deeply connected to an ancient feminine ethos. As a teacher, she brings the Sama—the dervish (pronounced “darvish” in Persian) dance of the Sufis historically reserved for men—into the hands of women.“In the traditional Sama, the right arm is extended up toward the sky with the palm facing up,” she says. “The left arm is extended out with the palm facing down toward the Earth. In so doing, you transmit and emanate the light you’ve received into the world through your heart. So, this dance is about becoming a channel for light and love in the world.” In essence, stepping into any dance class can be good for the soul. Sayyad reminds us, “Every movement and dance style, if done with the intention of surrendering one’s sense of separateness into an experience of the greater or dissolving one’s identity as a drop of water into the greater ocean of oneness, can be sacred.” Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

(904) 363-3374 See our website for upcoming Events:

HealthByDesignFL.com

2002 Southside Blvd. • Jacksonville • FL 32216 See Our

WEBSITE for

UPCOMING

EVENTS!

Avoid the guesswork, wait and see, trial and error. Get to the root of the problem. Don’t waste your time, money and effort on programs that don’t work. Our wonderful, caring staff is here to provide individualized healthcare and restore hope to those who haven’t been able to get help elsewhere.

S E RV ICES AT HE A LT H BY D ES IGN :

Nutrition Response Testing® • Chiropractic • Kinesiology

BEMER Sessions • Nutrition Coaching • Ionic Foot Bath and more!

Find us on the web! Access the Record of Your Soul’s Journey

Find Your Life Mission

AKASHIC RECORD CONSULTATIONS By Stephany “Stevie” Levine ARCI Trained Certified Consultant/Teacher Over 8 years of experience

Create Better Relationships

Solve Challenges

For Appointments: Phone/In Person-Contact Me At: stephanylevine@ymail.com

904-545-2447

www.stevielevine.com

For additional information – www.akashicrecordconsultantsinternational.org

“Each celestial body, in fact each and every atom, produces a particular sound on account of its movement, its rhythm or vibration. All these sounds and vibrations form a universal harmony in which each element, while having it’s own function and character, contributes to the whole.” Pythagoras November 2021

conscious eating

Eat Well to Feel Well thanksgiving fare that boosts mental health by Christy Ratliff

jchizhe/AdobeStock.com

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

cross America, people of all ages are struggling with mental health issues. Nearly one in five people is living with a mental health condition, and the number of people seeking help for anxiety and depression is skyrocketing, reports Mental Health America. According to the organization’s 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report, suicidal thoughts are increasing among both adults and children, and 9.7 percent of youth is experiencing severe major depression compared to 9.2 percent last year. The highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant has only exacerbated these mental health challenges. The hope and help we seek may be as close as our own kitchen. Accumulating research shows that a diet rich in highly processed foods may increase the risk of developing or worsening various mental health conditions. But a nutrient-based diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables; omega-3 fatty acids; nuts, seeds and legumes; whole grains, fresh herbs and spices; fish and olive oil, may help to support and enhance mental health. We can start this Thanksgiving by serving up healthier, nutrient-rich options to alleviate anxiety and depression, stabilize mood and promote mental health and wellness. “The gut/brain connection helps us understand the food/ mood connection,” explains Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutrition specialist and author of the national bestseller This is Your Brain on Food. “The enteric nervous system—that is, the nerves supplying the gastrointestinal tract—totals over 100 million neurons and communicates directly with the brain, or central nervous system, by way of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for our ‘rest-anddigest’ response. “It’s also vital to note that the gut contains the highest number of serotonin receptors, and the gut itself produces all the neurotransmitters that are also made in the brain, including serotonin, often called the happiness hormone. In turn, these neurotransmitters are implicated in sound mental health or potential problems when they are deficient.” “What we eat affects mental health in many ways,” adds Amy Spindel, a functional holistic nutritionist in Plano, Texas, and founder of FoodWithThoughtNutrition.com. “Nutrient deficiencies can cause poor neurotransmitter production. Insufficient vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 can be implicated in depression and anxiety

symptoms, as they are all needed for various stages of neurotransmitter production, especially serotonin, dopamine and GABA.” “Traditional sugary, high-carbohydrate foods promote unstable blood sugar and selectively feed inflammatory gut microbes,” Spindel says, suggesting that we skip the typical foods many of us associate with the holidays such as pecan pie, marshmallowtopped sweet potato casserole and canned cranberry sauce. “Blood sugar fluctuations cause the body to scramble in an attempt to re-regulate glucose, which may mean spikes of cortisol or adrenaline, as well as insulin. The end result can be depression and anxiety from excessive stress hormones and a glucosestarved brain.” But making such changes, particularly during the holidays, isn’t easy. “If the thought of changing up the traditional Thanksgiving menu gives you pause, you are not alone—and this is why I believe in adding in habits (and in this case, dishes) which have a positive ripple effect on our bodies and our brain, allowing for a self-sustaining cycle in our lifestyle,” advises Naidoo. “As a nutritional psychiatrist, I feel that we are more emotionally nurtured by a feeling of abundance in ‘adding’ new Thanks-

giving dishes than thinking about this as ‘excluding’ foods,” she notes. “For example, tossing a fresh, folate-rich spinach and arugula salad with bits of antioxidant-rich strawberries, crisp roasted chickpeas and omega-3-rich olive oil adds color, flavor and a plethora of mood-nourishing ingredients to the dinner table. Even adding extra veggies to existing dishes, such as allicin-rich garlic to green beans or extra celery and fresh herbs to stuffing, adds in powerful phytonutrients with gut-loving fiber.” “Thanksgiving favorites that are ample in neurotransmitterproducing nutrients include turkey, shellfish, sweet potatoes and acorn squash, asparagus, leafy greens, oranges and green beans,” Spindel adds. While it’s true that we cannot control a global pandemic or solve the mental health crisis in America with positive thinking alone, we can minimize our feelings of powerlessness and despair by making small but significant dietary changes—not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year. Christy Ratliff is a professional health and wellness writer based in Central Florida.

Feel-Good Recipe Ingredients Some study-proven foods to enhance mood found in the following recipes include: n Pistachios. These tree nuts, which are actually

seeds, are rich in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. According to a Pennsylvania State University study, eating pistachios may reduce the body’s response to daily stress.

all images via AdobeStock.com

n Honey. A National Institutes of Health study

shows that the nutrients in raw honey may enhance mood and help with insomnia. It’s also rich in antioxidants, which contain anti-inflammatory properties that help protect the brain. n Fresh herbs. Sage provides natural anti-anx-

iety properties, while thyme and rosemary are rich sources of micronutrients and flavonoids, shown to protect against inflammation in the brain, a key factor in major depressive disorder. n Apples. Nutrient-rich apples are a good source of

quercetin, a plant flavonoid, which studies suggest may be beneficial for mental health.

n Green beans. An excellent source of vitamin A, green beans

help fight inflammation and support the nervous and immune systems. They are high in folic acid, a B vitamin that studies have shown to potentially lower the risk of depression.

n Tomatoes. Several studies show that regular con-

sumption of tomatoes may help ward off depression.

n Olive oil. Multiple studies show that low levels of olive

oil, in conjunction with a Mediterraneanstyle diet, has a positive impact on mental health and brain function.

n Cornmeal. Naturally gluten-free, cornmeal is an

excellent source of folate, an important B vitamin. Research from the National Institutes of Health suggests that those with low levels of folate are more likely to experience depression.

n Raisins. A great source of vitamin B, raisins can help the

brain produce serotonin, an important neurotransmitter for reducing many anxiety-related symptoms.

November 2021

Goat Cheese Appetizer with Honey, Fig and Pistachios 1 medium, fresh goat cheese log (about 11 oz) ¼ cup roasted pistachios, chopped ¼ cup honey (this recipe calls for 2 Tbsp; others call for ¼ cup) 1 to 2 Tbsp fig spread Healthy selection of whole-wheat crackers, vegetable chips, etc.

photo by Christy Ratliff

Spread chopped pistachios on a small plate. Roll goat cheese in pistachios to coat sides and top. Transfer to a serving tray and sprinkle whole pistachios on top and around the cheese. Drizzle honey over and around cheese log. Warm fig spread for 5 to 10 seconds in a microwave. Drizzle spread over cheese log or half of cheese log, as desired. Serve with whole-wheat crackers or chips. Courtesy of Susan Randall. For more information, visit SimpleHealthyKitchen.com.

Buzz’s Fresh Herb and Apple Sage Stuffing

photo by Christy Ratliff

1 loaf bread, toasted (whole wheat (WW) or half WW, half French bread) ¼ cup unsalted butter 2 cups celery, chopped 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped (to taste) 3 Granny Smith apples, chopped, with skin on ¼ cup sage leaves, chopped ¼ cup fresh rosemary, chopped 1 to 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped 2½ cups reduced sodium vegetable or chicken broth 2 eggs 1 to 2 tsp salt to taste (may substitute nutritional yeast or fresh dill)

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a large, 2-to-3-inch-deep casserole or baking dish. Toast bread and cut into 1-inch cubes. Set aside. Melt butter in a large pan. Add celery, onion, garlic, apples and fresh herbs. Stir to mix and cook until softened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add bread cubes and apple/vegetable/ fresh herb mixture into the egg mixture. Add broth and salt (or nutritional yeast or fresh dill) and mix well. Spoon stuffing into prepared casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes more or until goldenbrown crust forms. Remove from oven, uncover and cool. Courtesy of Buzz Spence. For more information on fresh herbs for emotional health, visit MotherEarthLiving.com.

Greek-Style Green Beans (Fasolakia Lathera) ⅓ cup olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 lb green beans 1 medium potato, sliced (¼-inch thickness, cut in half) 3 medium tomatoes, grated, or 12 to 15 oz chopped tomatoes ¼ cup parsley, chopped 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp salt Fresh pepper

photo by Christy Ratliff

In a medium pot, heat olive oil on low to medium heat. Sauté onion until softened. Add potatoes and heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add beans and mix with olive oil until coated. Add tomatoes, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add just enough hot water to cover the beans halfway. Cover and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until beans are soft and most of the liquid is absorbed. May be served as a side dish for four people or a vegetarian/vegan entrée for two. Courtesy of Elena Paravantes, RDN. For more information and Mediterranean recipes, visit OliveTomato.com.

Seluisauganasda Cherokee Cornmeal Cookies Here’s a creative, nutritious way to celebrate indigenous tradition during the holidays while also being mindful of mental health.

photo by Christy Ratliff

¾ cup softened butter ½ cup organic brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 1½ cups flour ½ cup cornmeal 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ½ cup raisins (Other versions of this recipe include nuts and dark chocolate pieces.) Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Using a wooden spoon, mix butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add egg and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Add flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add raisins. Mix well. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful onto baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until slightly golden. Makes about 2 dozen small cookies. Courtesy of La Potosina. For more information, visit IndigenousFoods.wordpress.com. November 2021

Starseeds and Me – 1:30pm. Each of us have connections that we can feel beyond our mind into an intuitive intelligence with the sky. Join this gathering of like-minded souls for an exploration of outer space and receive live channeled guidance messages from beyond by Rev. Judi Weaver, Spiritual Trace Channel. $40. Holistic House of Holly Hill, 1321 Ridgewood (US 1). Info: Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail. com or 386-503-4930. SpiritualServices.online.

calendar of events To submit calendar listings, or for more information about submission requirements, please email Publisher@NAJax.com.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. The phases of the meditation are physical exercise, invoking divine blessings, relaxation/cleansing and energizing, selfintrospection, and inner reflection, activating heart chakra and crown chakra, achieving illumination, releasing excess energy, and expression of gratitude. Free. 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686 or SeventhWonder.com/events/.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. Developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, this advanced meditation technique is aimed at achieving illumination of universal consciousness. This is a free service by instructor Falli Shah, to bring more positive awareness and harmony to the community. Mask required. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Development Class – 3-5:30pm. Understanding how we receive information from the spirit world. Zoom class. $36. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge: ifsk.org or 407-247-7823.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Pranayama and Meditation – 10-11am. Through guided breathing, you will increase the oxygen to your brain and all your internal organs which facilitates physical healing. Class limited to eight people. Held outside if weather permits. Bring your own mat and accessories. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. Register: 904-3818686 or Seventh-Wonder.com/events. Yoga Nidra – 11:15am-12:15pm. Guided meditation. Nidra is a Sanskrit term for sleep. In yoga it is a meditation practice that induces a state of deep, but conscious relaxation. The goal is to achieve a state of samadhi (intense concentration), enlightenment, or bliss. Held outside if weather permits. Bring your own mat and accessories. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. Register: 904-381-8686 or Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Juicing 101 – Learn how to harness the power of juice feasting to optimize your health and longevity. Restorative Health Instructor, Amanda Johns, will demonstrate simple and easy ways to create fresh juices. In addition, learn ways to keep motivated during your juice cleanse with our list of approved snacks. Includes helpful food preparation tips, a booklet and juice samples. Free. Jacksonville Health and Wellness Center, 9957 Moorings Dr, Jacksonville. 904-268-6568.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – 6:30pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Reiki I Class – 10am-5pm. Healing Self and Others hosted by Caring Palms Massage and Reiki. $150 ($75 deposit required). 6 CEUs available for FL massage therapists. Register: 904-2462206 or Brian@CaringPalms.com. Info/register: CaringPalms.com. Healthy Holiday Dinner – 5-7pm. Restorative Health Instructor, Amanda Johns, will demonstrate how easy it is to create simple plant-based foods for all occasions. This pre-paid class will include helpful food preparation tips, a booklet and a delicious four-course holiday menu: Un-Pumpkin Pie, Holiday Stuffing, Coconut Butternut Squash Soup and Nut Loaf Turkey. $55. Seating is limited. Jacksonville Health and Wellness Center, 9957 Moorings Dr, Jacksonville. 904-268-6568. Info/location: 904 994-4802 or AmandaJHWC@yahoo.com. Lesson on Veganism – 6-7pm. Join Sunil at Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa as he walks through some of the biggest reasons as to why now may be the perfect time to transition to a vegan lifestyle. Free. 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686 or Seventh-Wonder. com/events/.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Vegan Cooking Class – 5pm. Join spa owner Falli Shah and her husband Sunny Shah for a vegan, Indian cooking class. This delicious event includes the meal that is freshly prepared in front of you. The class will be held on a lovely outdoor deck overlooking the garden. $45. 4236 St. Johns, Ave. 904-381-8686 or Seventh-Wonder.com/events/. UCCL Anniversary Celebration – 11:30am. All are welcome to join the Unity Church for Creative Living Community for a fun-filled outdoor event celebrating Rev Yvonne’s five-year anniversary with music, fun activities, food trucks, and fellowship. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

NAJax.com

Spirit’s Calling Zoom Chat – 6:30pm. Spirit is loudly calling: sending messages, inspiring you for more with physical urges, a longing, energy surges or a high-pitched buzz. Join Rev. Judi Weaver for this new monthly gathering of like-minded souls as we unite to support our own community and understanding of what is happening to you and around you. Learn how to tap into these beautiful energies for personal guidance and growth. $25. Register: SpiritualServices.online. Info: 386-503-4930. Rev. Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Native Plant Walk – 10-11am. Native pant walk through the grounds at Eat Your Yard Jax. Learn to identify local wild edibles. $10. Eat Your Yard Jax, 6500 Utsey Rd, Jacksonville. Visit Register: EatYourYardJax.org/workshops.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Reiki III Class – 10am-5pm. Master Instructors hosted by Caring Palms Massage and Reiki. $150 ($75 deposit required). 6 CEUs available for FL massage therapists. Register: 904-246-2206 or Brian@ CaringPalms.com. Info/register: CaringPalms.com. Development Class – 10:30am-1pm. Understanding how we receive information from the spirit world. Zoom class. $36. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge: ifsk.org or 407-247-7823. Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk – 1pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Postell Market, Casino Bldg, 530 Beachview Dr, Rm 112, St. Simons Island, GA, 31522. Register: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Heart 4 Souls Spiritual Guidance – 2pm. A virtual monthly event on the 4th Sunday. Guests receive an overall group message from the heart, followed by a live channeling session where Universal Light Beings provide guidance and answer questions for spiritual wisdom and support you with the expansion of your soul. Universal Light Beings may be messages from the God Source, Great Spirit, Arch Angels, Masters, Spirit Guides, Lemurian’s, etc. Free on Facebook Live virtual gathering on Heart4Souls. Info: 386-503-4930. Rev.Judi.Weaver@ gmail.com or SpiritualServices.online.

ongoing events

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Illuminate Your Life Webinar – 6pm. Shine the light and get clarity on moving forward to integrate and embodying your spiritual practice. Learn the language of your intuition, improve self-confidence, release resentments and embrace self-compassion. Free. DeLunaCoaching.com 941-544-7756.

plan ahead THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – 1pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service – 7pm. All are welcome to join in-person, on Facebook Live or YouTube Channel. Find the peace, calm and oneness you desire as we celebrate the light of Christ on Christmas Eve with the Unity Candle Lighting Service. Love offering. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 New Year’s Eve Burning Bowl Service – 7pm. Join in-person, on Facebook Live or YouTube Channel for a time of release and renewal. All are welcome. Love Offering. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 White Stone Ceremony – 10:30am. All are welcome. Join in-person, on Facebook Live or YouTube Channel to celebrate a New Year, a new you, and a new spiritual name that will support you on your ‘dreams come true’ journey. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

sunday Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

wednesday Wednesday Pier Farmers Market – 8am12:30pm. Oceanfront shopping at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park. Approximately 60-80 vendors can be found at the market selling locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, arts, crafts and more. Free. 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-315-0952. Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

This CHRISTMAS

I PLEDGE

Shop SMALL Eat LOCAL

•

Spend LOCAL

Enjoy LOCAL

and support the local businesses that support me & my community

Music by the Sea – Thru Sept 1. 7-8:50pm. This annual summer music and food celebration features local bands and performers paired with local food trucks to entertain visitors. A different band will be featured each week, along with a food truck to offer fresh, tasty, food. Guests are welcome to bring coolers and picnic baskets. Chairs and bug spray are encouraged. Free. St. Augustine Beach Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-347-8007.

thursday Farmers Market – 5-8pm. Vendors offer locally grown produce as well as homemade and handmade products. Yamo Italian and Captain Scallywag's food truck are onsite offering local cuisine as well as two other food trucks, which rotate each week. Local musicians provide entertainment throughout the evening. Free. The Artisan Market Coconut Barrel, 3175 US 1 South, St. Augustine. Concerts in the Plaza – 7-9pm. Bring a chair or blanket to relax on the plaza lawn and enjoy summer evenings filled with music in the heart of historic St. Augustine. Picnic dinners are allowed, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. Gazebo of St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitución (between Cathedral and King Streets) Downtown St. Augustine. 904- 825-1004.

friday First Friday Garden Walk – 10am. Join a Ranger the first Friday of every month for a garden walk. No registration required. Walk included with park entry fee of $5 per vehicle. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Info: WashingtonOaks.org.

saturday The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Farmers Market – 8:30am-12:30pm. Shop more than 100 tents loaded with local produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade arts and crafts and more. Admission into the market is free. 1340 A1A South, St. Augustine. 904-315-9252.

November 2021

community resource guide FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

ACUPUNCTURE

JACKSONVILLE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER

A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE

4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com Dr Christine Yastrzemski, NCCAOM, AP AP2255 Dr Sarah Thomas, DACM, AP AP4183

Dr Jon Repole, DC, CFMP 9957 Moorings Dr, Ste 403 Jacksonville (Mandarin) 904-268-6568 • DrRepole.com

NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncture Physician specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. We offer the highest quality of care while customizing treatments that best suit your needs. See ad, page 5.

CBD HYDROPONIC UNIQUE GOODS

8622 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 904-829-4847 • JaxHugs.com Hemp is all relaxation without intoxication, research shows numerous health benefits. Garden and hydroponic supplies: Leading brands of soil, nutrients, grow tents and LED lights. See ad, page 17.

ENERGY HEALING

Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. Find the cause of your health challenge. Our office will create a doctor supervised custom-tailored health program that will include the following: meal planning, supplemental prescriptions, detoxification guidance, food/lifestyle coaching, exercise prescriptions, accountability, on-line patient portal, and more. We utilize the most advanced diagnostics testing available to aid both our diagnoses and treatment. See ad, page 15.

GROCERY NATIVE SUN

1585 3rd St North, Jacksonville Beach 904-853-5497 NativeSunJax.com J a x B e a c h ’s community organic grocer, local food and essential items. Order online for curbside p/u.

HERBS

HEALING ENERGY BY TED

Ted Kostek 7500 Plantation Club Dr, Jacksonville 904-613-7608 • Healingenergybyted.com Certified in Reconnective Healing, The Emotion Code, The Body Code, Reiki Master. Powerful healings, with great compassion and care. Clean chakras, aura, entity removal, in-person and remote sessions for humans and animals.

LAURENCE LAYNE, LMT, HERBALIST Healing Waters Clinic & Herb Shop 26 Clark St, St. Augustine 904-826-1965 • HealingWatersClinic.com MA0010746 MM005595

A holistic center specializing in pain relief and chronic health issues. Certified in neuromuscular and deep tissue bodywork, myofascial therapy, craniosacral balancing, east-west herbalism. Offering attunement energy healing since 1978. See ad, page 19.

HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA SEVENTH WONDER HOLISTIC SPA 4236 St John’s Ave, Jacksonville 904-381-8686 • Seventh-Wonder.com

A true sanctuary away from the stresses of the world since 2002. Offering: Ayurveda consultation and services, natural alternatives to facelift, massages, facials, eyebrow threading/tinting, reiki, pranic healing, ear coning, sauna, and a Himalayan salt room.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE FIRST COAST INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Megan Weigel, DNP 14215 Spartina Ct, Jacksonville 904-543-3510 FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com A holistic, heart-centered and evidence-based approach to care for people living with neurological conditions and symptoms. Dr Weigel has nearly 20 years experience in neurology and neurological care. See ad, page 7.

MASSAGE A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE 4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com

Licensed professional massage therapists provide Swedish, deep tissue, therapeutic, hot stone and other therapies. Massage can play a huge part in your overall health. MM37388. See ad, page 5.

CARING PALMS HEALING ARTS

Brian Dean, LMT MA36835 MM41272 476 Osceola Ave, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-2206 • CaringPalms.com Professional massage and energy work. Many styles of massage, Reiki, meditation, mediumship, massage & Reiki classes. Continuing education for Florida LMTs. See ad, page 10.

MEDITATION TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CENTERS

• Karen & Herb Bandy, Certified Teachers 904-375-9517 • Jacksonville@TM.org • Regine de Toledo & Richard Pinto, Certified Teachers 904-826-3838 • StAugustine@TM.org The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious, evidence-based practice for eliminating stress, increasing well-being and expanding consciousness. Certified Teachers give individual instruction and ongoing support. See ad, page 4.

MONTHLY PLANNER MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD CERTIFIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS

10695 Beach Blvd • 904-299-5300 920 Blanding Blvd, Ste 4 • 904-420-0044 2085 A1A S, St Augustine • 904-299-7373 CMMDR.com Get your medical marijuana card and pre-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. See ad, page 17.

METAPHYSICAL STORE SPIRITUAL UPLIFTS

2186 Park Ave, Ste 102, Orange Park 904-292-4555 SpiritualUplifts.com Metaphysical services, including life coaching, spiritual readings, energy work, crystal healings, biomat, aura photography, chakra and astrology reports and more. World-renowned speakers and demonstrations to further your spiritual journey. See ad, page 5.

NUTRITION/KINESIOLOGY HEALTH BY DESIGN

Dr Kristy A Harvell 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville 904-363-3374 • HealthByDesignFL.com Nutrition Response Testing™ gets to the underlying cause of your condition by testing for food sensitivities, heavy metals, and chemical toxins. A Clinical Nutrition Program will be designed for your individual needs. See ad, page 23.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS UNITY CHURCH FOR CREATIVE LIVING IN ST JOHNS 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns 904-287-1505 • UnityInJax.com

Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com

energy distance.

Channeled spirit messages, crystal light healer, divine personal guidance, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counseling, guided meditations, home/property blessings, vision quest journeys. For individuals or groups—in person, virtual/on-line, phone or

uplifting humanity

Unity offers positive, practical teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. They take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all life. Join to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. See ad, page 10.

SPIRITUAL COACH DELUNA – GIFTS FROM THE BELOVED 941-544-7756 DeLunaCoaching.com Serving North Florida & Virtual

JANUARY

health & wellness

Spiritual mentoring, Reiki, sacred sound with harp, flutes, Tibetan bowls. 1:1, groups and custom downloads. Certified Dream Builder Coach, Universal Life Minister, certified music practitioner. New course “The Illuminated Journey” starting soon.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION LAUREE MORETTO

Soft Tissue Specialist 321-271-1678 Flagler & Daytona Bch LaureeMoretto.com 90% of pain is linked to structural misalignment. Your pain is really just a symptom. My work addresses the cause to give you lasting relief. Get your life back now. MA20965.

FEBRUARY heart-centered living

YOGA

PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER

DECEMBER

YOGA DEN

learn about marketing opportunities at:

386-736-3838

November 2021

YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL ONLINE DESTINATION FOR

Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits 24/7 ACCESS

KnoWEwell is a One-Of-A-Kind Platform that centralizes today’s trusted global knowledge, resources and community to Prevent and Address the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases. Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners. Learn from Top Educators and Experts. Access Evidence-Based Resources. Make Meaningful Connections in Community Topic Groups. Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner Services.

Invest in Your Optimal Health & Well-Being.

Visit KnoWEwell.com Today and receive 50% Off your first year.

Practitioners Apply: NAPUB0221P | Individuals Apply: NAPUB0221

November 2021 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

Articles inside

HEALTHY BRAIN STRATEGIES

DYING WELL

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

SACRED DANCE