December 2019 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine by Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Holiday Conscious Joyful Renewals Breathwork Giving Refreshing Traditions

How Breathing Deep Heals

How Generosity Transforms Us

December 2019 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com

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letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

In December, I tend to get delightfully distracted and

immerse in nostalgic side trips to a time when life moved at a slower pace. Being present and living in the moment work for every other month of the year, but December begs us to pause and remember. Growing up during the 1960s and early 70s in a small city, traditions revolved around family, neighbors and community. There was a strong sense of belonging as we gathered around a giant pine tree in the town square, and our local volunteer fire department gave a box of candy to every child. Songs were sung, hands were held as we

JACKSONVILLE / ST. AUGUSTINE EDITION PUBLISHER Rebecca Young Publisher@NAJax.com MANAGING EDITOR Melanie Rankin Editor@NAJax.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION FullCircle Publications

circled the tree and our community was strengthened. Looking back, it was a surreal time,

GRAPHIC DESIGN Wendy Wilson

and I feel blessed to have many similar scenes in my memory bank.

DISTRIBUTION Dan Dickerson

In the spirit of the season, one of this edition’s main themes is “Awakening to the

Evolution of Community.” Many of our wellness partners create community groups by incorporating events, collaborative projects and group activities into their business model. Persephone Healing Arts Center is hosting their annual holiday potluck on Friday, December 13. See the back cover for more information on this event.

During the season of giving, we experience transformative healing benefits from

the most simple and selfless acts. Learn how giving increases balance, connection and happiness from Cindy Ricardo and Dr. Melissa Fenton on page 19.

This month’s Wise Words takes us on a spiritual journey through the eyes of Mary

Neal, an orthopedic surgeon and author of 7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life. Neal relays her near-death experience in which she believes she penetrated the veil dividing the physical and spiritual worlds. Her life-altering experience prompted her to pay more attention to those things that are truly important: faith, family and relationships with others.

The theme of joy appears again in “Inhaling the Joy of Life: Conscious

Breathwork,” on page 16. Simply breathing with depth and quality can help us to be aware of our emotional states and be a doorway to achieving the benefits of deep meditation. During this busy and sometimes hectic season, breathwork will help you center and savor the joy in every moment.

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

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From the Natural Awakenings Northeast Florida team to your family, we wish you a December to remember, filled with joy and peace.

Rebecca Young, Publisher

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.

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December 2019

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

Contents 10 THE EMERGING POWER OF ‘WE’

Awakening to the Evolution of Community

13 THE MERRY VEGAN

People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets

16 INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE

Conscious Breathwork

19 THE GENEROUS HEART

How Giving Transforms Us

20 BEYOND CALCIUM Full-Spectrum Bone Health

22 REFRESH HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Making the Old New and Green

24 SURGEON MARY NEAL On Lessons From Heaven

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 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. NAJAX.COM – COMING SOON 4

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DEPARTMENTS 5 news briefs 8 health briefs 9 community

spotlight 13 conscious eating 16 fit body 19 inspiration 20 healing ways 22 healthy kids 24 wise words 26 calendar 30 resource guide

Mind Body and Beyond Center Expands Holistic Wellness Team

news briefs

M Natural Awakenings Jacksonville / St. Augustine Launches New Community Website

atural Awakenings has unveiled a brand-new, comprehensive online hub for all things healthy and sustainable in the Jacksonville / St. Augustine area. Partnering with the Locable Publisher Network, a software company that works exclusively with local publications like Natural Awakenings, the new website has many exciting features for readers and advertisers alike. The enhanced online calendar will make it easy to share events and discover local happenings in the community. Business owners can list their natural health and eco-friendly products or services for visitors to discover in the new searchable directory. There are opportunities for advertisers to increase their online reach through a community sponsorship, featured event listings, display advertisements and more. Also, the articles and sections that readers have grown to love can be easily found and shared through the new website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excited and passionate are understatements when looking at the growth potential our new web presence brings us and our community. The ability to share content we have been collecting over 25 years, coupled with the local editorial, is fueling my excitement,â&#x20AC;? states Publisher Rebecca Young. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Local directories, free listings, contests and social media linking are but a small part of our new and exciting energies. I hope to make NAJax.com a must to visit.â&#x20AC;? For more information, visit NAJax.com. If you are interested in digital advertising opportunities with certain online placements available on a first-come, first-serve basis, contact Rebecca Young at 386-736-3838 or Publisher@NAJax.com.

ind Body and Beyond Center, an integrative, holistic wellness center in Jacksonville, has added Heather Fisse, LMHC, RYT, and Mara Walker, Certified Professional Life and Career Coach, to its team of wellness practitioners. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are thrilled to welcome Heather and Mara and add to the comprehensive range of counseling and wellness services we offer at Mind, Body and Beyond,â&#x20AC;? says Heather Fisse Founder and President Melissa Fenton, Ph.D., LMHC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a team of highly qualified, compassionate individuals who are committed to helping each client achieve their goals.â&#x20AC;? A licensed mental health counselor with experience in group and individual therapy, Fisse has a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree from the University of North Florida. She has completed extensive training, earning numerous certifications, including Gottman Mara Walker Couples Therapy and Emotion Focused Couples Therapy. Her broad training in psychological and behavioral health modalities allows for a holistic approach in connecting with clients and helping them accomplish their objectives. Fisse is a Qualified Supervisor for Florida social work interns, a licensed massage therapist and a registered yoga instructor. A retired Human Resources leader, Walker has empowered the development of individuals for many years in both the private and nonprofit sectors. She helps individuals create the tools they need to discover their passions and advance their careers. She also works with clients to design a holistic plan that can transform their lives. Mind Body and Beyond Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wellness staff also includes an acupuncturist and other healing therapists to help individuals become healthy, balanced and move forward with their lives. Location: The center is expanding and is in the process of moving from 13500 Sutton Park Dr. S., Ste. 203, to Pablo Professional Park, adjacent to Mayo Clinic. For more information, call 904-992-9930, email Info@MBandBCenter.com or visit MindBodyAndBeyond Center.com. See ads, pages 11 and 19.

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event briefs

Mindfulness Retreat and Shoulder Rehab Workshop Opportunity

he fifth annual Living With the Principles Retreat and Shoulder Rehabilitation Workshop is being offered from January 25 through 29 in the peaceful environment of Jekyll Island, Georgia. This four-day retreat provides an opportunity to slow down and step away from life’s hassles, and balance and heal the mind, body and spirit through mindful practices and movement. This is a true retreat, with time for learning, sharing, being alone—or with others—in a relaxed, peaceful, welcoming and non-competitive environment. Ample time has been built in for interaction, practice and play among participants and family. Each day begins with an all-group meeting and medical qigong. Following that, participants are free to choose among three offerings during each one- to two-hour session. Sessions consist of roundtable discussions and/or standing or seated movement, guided by highly qualified leaders. Topics include meditation, eating seasonally, acupuncture, art and energy, as well as tai chi and qigong (from novice to advanced). There are opportunities for forest bathing, walking a labyrinth and participating in an evening drumming circle, all of which are open to family and friends of participants. To ensure quality sessions, registration is limited to 60 participants, with no more than 20 participants accommodated within each session. A weekend Tai Chi for Shoulder Rehabilitation workshop is held in conjunction with this retreat. This workshop provides an introduction to tai chi, how it can be used to rehabilitate and strengthen shoulders and what makes it so effective. Twelve to 14 CE hours are approved for various professions. For more information, to view the program and to register, visit LivingWithThePrinciples.com. Natural Awakenings readers can receive a $25 discount by using discount code LWPNA25 when registering. See ad, page 21.

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Coming Home for the Holidays at Unity Church in St. Johns

ev. Yvonne McAndrew of Unity Church for Creative Living invites readers to “come home” this Christmas and New Year’s Eve to a spiritual community that is open, welcoming and infused with love as they offer their Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service on December 24 and their New Year’s Eve Burning Bowl Service on December 31. Both services begin at 7 p.m. Rev. Yvonne McAndrew McAndrew shares, “Familiar sights, sounds, smells and traditions move us deep inside when we think of that old, familiar song, ‘There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays.’ Maybe it’s the joyous welcome, the hugs, the happy faces glad to see us. Perhaps it’s the smell of mom’s holiday turkey, stuffing or homemade pie. It could be reuniting with family members we have not seen in a while, and perchance it could be all of these things and more. No matter where we are this Christmas, may we rekindle the holiday spirit and celebrate all that we are so grateful for. Unity is a coming home for the soul. Join us this holiday season and feel the love.” Location: 2777 Race Track Rd., St. Johns. For more information, call 904-287-1505 or visit UnityInJax.com. See ad, page 16.

Unity of Jacksonville Beach Burning Bowl and White Stone Ceremonies

nity of Jacksonville Beach (UJB) will hold its annual Burning Bowl Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on December 29, during regular Sunday services. The intention of a burning bowl ceremony is to identify and symbolically release what

does not serve our highest good. The following Sunday, January 5, UJB will hold its popular White Stone Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. during regular Sunday services. Through meditation, each attendee will identify a unique “name” or spiritual focus for 2020 and record it on a stone. Each person in attendance will be gifted with a white stone sent from Hebron, Israel, that has been blessed and prayed over. UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier, who will lead the services, says, “As we release the past year and enter the new one, we do so willing to receive what Spirit calls us to be in the new year.” Location: 106 6th St. N. (Players by the Sea Theatre), Jacksonville Beach. For more information, visit UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com. See ad, page 21.

December 2019

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk. The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69â&#x20AC;&#x201D;regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity. 8

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New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t respond well to medications. University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina.

Hong Vo/Shutterstock.com

Researchers followed more than 36,000 Japanese men older than 40 for an average of 13.2 years. They found that those that consumed culinary mushrooms three times a week had a 17 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those that ate mushrooms less than once a week. Participants that ate mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk. The trend was even greater for those men over the age of 50 and was unrelated to other dietary habits.

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades Sixth-graders that received mindfulness training each day for eight weeks experienced lower stress levels, less depression and improved academic performance compared to their peers in a control group that studied computer coding, report Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. In addition to that 100-student study, researchers surveyed 2,000 students in grades five through eight and found those that showed more mindfulness tended to have better grades and test scores. They also had fewer absences and suspensions.

Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

community spotlight

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

n the east coast of Florida, just a few blocks from the ocean, sits one of the South’s few anthroposophically oriented medical practices. The Persephone Healing Arts Center, in Jacksonville Beach, has a wonderful, natural atmosphere enhanced by the spirit and focus of A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD. Brought up in a Waldorf school environment, Dr. Pautz is double board certified in both integrative and internal medicine and combines the best of both worlds in her treatment of patients. Her goal is to help her patients achieve their highest level of well-being and balance, using natural approaches whenever possible. This philosophy is evident from the first view of the center: a cozy waiting room looks out onto a lovely garden area where patients can relax in the sun or rest in a spot of shade beneath the trees. Care here is particularly unique—first visits can be two or more hours of one-on-one time with the physician. Dr. Pautz takes time to learn all she can about a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being and then fuses her knowledge of traditional, integrative and anthroposophic medicine (a philosophy that embraces physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the human being) to provide individual recommendations designed to work on the root of the problem. Her treatments are focused on lifestyle changes, counseling and nutrition, and this focus helps her patients not only deal with their health issues, but also maintain their higher level of wellness once the immediate problem is dealt with. Dr. Pautz’s technique has particularly helped those with chronic disorders and diseases such as depression, autism, cancer and any other internal medical disease. Her conviction that all facets of the person must

be in balance for ultimate well-being leads to personalized treatments that examine and help each individual to achieve their level of optimum health. This insightful approach often offers relief to patients who have exhausted their traditional western medical options and are seeking help in alternate methods. Patients may also undergo extensive counseling to facilitate profound lifestyle changes and new ways of looking at things. They receive individualized nutritional guidelines in the hopes of facilitating improved health and releasing what needs to be transitioned. The philosophy “you are what you eat” has never been as true as in today’s quick meal society, and few know the effects of dietary choices better than Dr. Pautz. Providing your body with the fuel and tools necessary for its well-being is the first building block toward total health and healing. Combining her knowledge of medicine and nutrition, she targets habits that contribute to particular disorders and advises her patients in their diets to strengthen their immune systems and help their bodies stay strong. In treating her patients, Dr. Pautz has noticed that their nutritional habits have stemmed from a lack of knowledge about how to prepare healthful dishes. After encountering this need for education, she developed classes in the past that were focused on nutritional cooking, emphasizing the use of whole grains, tons of herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables. With a healthy diet as a base to grow from, therapies then perform better as the body becomes more receptive, receiving the aid the therapies provide. Dr. Pautz can easily suggest recipes in-session with wholesome foods that might be a first step in implementation.

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD Another unique remedy at Dr. Pautz’s disposal is therapeutic eurythmy, an expressive form of movement therapy. Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, eurythmy uses movements to express sounds and music. One of the few medical doctors to be certified in eurythmy, Dr. Pautz uses this approach to supplement the treatment of a variety of physical, medical and emotional ailments. Somewhat like its Asian counterparts, tai chi and yoga, eurythmy helps a person connect to and experience the nontangible realities of spirit and energy that are essential for all souls. Dr. Pautz’s varied background and extensive training provide her with myriad treatment choices to draw from in her practice. Whether addressing cancer, diabetes, asthma, common cold, multiples sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS or any other illness, her treatments are personalized, insightful and far-reaching. By balancing Western and integrative medicine and avoiding chemical drugs whenever possible, Dr. Pautz provides each patient with the opportunity for a road map to longlasting, deep-seated health changes through nutritional and lifestyle advice, naturopathy, homeopathy, counseling, anthroposophic medicine, and art and movement therapy. Persephone Healing Arts Center is located at 485 6th Ave. N., in Jacksonville Beach. To learn more, call 904-246-3583, visit DrPautz.com or join them for one of their monthly open houses. Join them on Facebook. See ad on the back cover. December 2019

Awakening to the Evolution of Community by Linda Sechrist

en master Thich Nhat Hanh’s suggestion that the next Buddha would likely not take form as an individual but rather as a sangha, a community practicing mindful living, led many people to ask, “Why a community?” The author of more than 100 books that explore the Buddha’s core teachings on mindfulness, kindness and compassion, Hanh clarified the meaning of sangha as a good community necessary for helping individuals learn how to encounter life in the present moment, resist the unwholesome ways of our time, go in the direction of peace and nourish seeds of enlightenment. Even the best intentions, he noted, can falter without such a group of trusted family, friends and co-practitioners experiencing mindfulness together.

A Migration to Forming Community

Today’s trend toward collaborative processes and opportunities for transformation through online communities is made easier by the availability of affordable video conferencing providers such as Zoom, Skype and Mighty Networks, as well as online platforms like Facebook and MeetUp. 10

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Although many groups form for marketing, political, civic or social purposes—allowing participants to share values and common interests—thousands more gather as online intentional communities associated with personal growth and spiritual awakening. Myriad individuals have been able to experience some aspect of community through international organizations such as MindValley, Hay House, the Shift Network and Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Jiyo, a wellness-focused mobile app intended to extend the reach of his ideas on health and social transformation from millions of people to more than 1 billion. In MeetUp, spiritual awakening groups recently comprised 1,113,972 members in 3,631 groups worldwide. Additionally, co-housing communities, spiritual residential communities and eco-villages continue to form around the intention of designing and implementing pathways to a regenerative future.

The Old Story Versus the New Story

The increased interest in intentional communities may hint at a possibility that the

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human desire for community might be nature’s evolutionary nudge toward a collective leap that helps us to survive a changing climate and Earth’s potential sixth mass extinction. If so, this possibility needs a new supportive story that includes humans as part of nature, with its evolutionary impulse as a guide for body, mind and soul. With our modern scientific worldview, when people talk about nature, they typically mean animals, plants, geological features and natural processes, all happening independently of humans. A more suitable new story is cultural historian Thomas Berry’s moving and meaningful narrative in The Great Work: Our Way Into the Future, in which humans aren’t above nature by virtue of superior intellect, but instead are equal partners with all that exists in a materially and spiritually evolving universe. From Berry’s perspective, humans are the eyes, minds and hearts through which the cosmos is evolving so that it can come to know itself ever more perfectly through us. Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell shared Berry’s perspective. Traveling back to Earth after walking upon the lunar surface, Mitchell gazed out of the spacecraft

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THE EMERGING POWER OF ‘WE’

window, whereupon he was flooded with an ecstatic awareness. “I was a part of the universe I was observing, and I became aware that everything that exists is part of one intricately interconnected whole,” recounts Mitchell, who founded the groundbreaking Institute of Noetic Sciences to explore the nature of human consciousness.

A Guiding Light

Seijaku Roshi, the abbot and founder of the Pine Wind Zen Community, aptly named for its location in a pine forest in Shamong, New Jersey, advises, “People are searching and hungering for community, which is number one on my agenda. If we aren’t talking about community, we’re squandering the moment. Whether it’s an evolutionary nudge or not, it appears that our tragic world situation is pushing us towards an alternative vision for living a meaningful life that meets the needs of people, society and the environment. We are awakening to the fact we’re interconnected, interdependent and need community, which is the spirit and guiding light whereby people come together to fulfill a purpose, to help others fulfill their purpose and to take care of one another.”

Conscious Evolution

Craig Hamilton, the guiding force behind the movement known as Integral Enlightenment, is the founder of the telecourse training program Academy for Evolutionaries. His spiritual guidance and teachings reach a growing international online community spanning 50 countries. “Transforming ourselves in the deepest possible way is, in fact, an evolutionary imperative, and we need to be able to identify the indicators of emergent shifts and participate creatively with change as an evolutionary force. Evolution up to this point has been playing out unconsciously. We’re now waking up and realizing that we can collaborate and participate in an emerging future.” Hamilton’s experience is that where humans awake to the one that is expressed through the many, they also begin to engage together. “Practicing community isn’t as simple as it seems. In online communities, a lot less can go wrong. The stakes aren’t as high. People come and go, share and engage as they like.” December 2019

A Community of Sisterhood

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful new year!

Laurie McCammon, author of Enough! How to Liberate Yourself and Remake the World with Just One Word, feels certain that humans are evolving. “We were last to the party with our big brains, and now we’re trying to intellectualize our way to an uncertain future without important feminine values such as feeling, intuiting, nurturing, interdependency and vulnerability,” says McCammon, who is deeply involved in the circle movement, in which women gather in small groups to empower each other. A regular participant in Gather the Women Global Matrix, a worldwide sisterhood that connects thousands of women sharing meaningful conversations and celebrating the divine feminine with the intention of bringing about personal and planetary transformation through cooperation and collaboration, McCammon says, “No one of us can bring about large-scale transformation alone. It’s time to tell the new story wherein our lives and actions demonstrate that together we are enough. Non-hierarchical circles that encourage authentic communication are part of this new story.” Citing other important circle communities such as Tree Sisters and The Millionth Circle, McCammon suggests that women tap into The Divine Feminine app, which allows them to find circle communities and events anywhere in the world.

Co-Creating With the Intelligence of Nature

Teacher and futurist Peter Russell writes books that are focused on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. His lectures help humans free themselves of limited beliefs and attitudes that belie many of humanity’s personal, social and global problems. The author of The Global Brain: The Awakening Earth in a New Century, Russell posits that the evolutionary process naturally draws humans together. “Humans are social creatures that need community, which I find very energizing,” says Russell, who cites the Findhorn Foundation eco-village, in Scotland, as a dynamic experiment in community. “Although residents went through hard times, they recognized the need for 12

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honest communication so they could attune to one another in loving ways that would allow everyone to work through their difficulties. Today, life at Findhorn is guided by the inner voice of spirit, and residents work in co-creation with the intelligence of nature,” he says.

The Collective Wisdom of Community

An uncertain future is emerging, making it necessary for new and more intuitive methods and spiritual practices for developing collective wisdom, human potential and the skills for practicing community. “I’m in the process of finalizing 118 chapters from 90 different authors for a Collaborative Change Library: Transforming Organizations, Revitalizing Communities, Developing Human Potential,” says associate editor Carole Gorelick, who clarifies that spiritual practices are now playing a part in bringing about collaborative change. She notes that several chapters are updated versions of The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems (2007 second edition), which included modalities such as World Café, Open Space Technology, Art of Hosting, Appreciative Inquiry and many others. A living handbook for developing human potential and the skills to practice community, Fred Eppsteiner has been teaching Buddhism for 23 years. A student of Hanh’s since the 1960s, he is the founder of the Florida Community of Mindfulness, in Tampa. Eppsteiner sums up why the next Buddha could be a community: “A better future will be created by people who are living the values they want for the world, not just abstractly using only the intellect. In community, we ask ourselves, ‘Can I be what I want to see in the world? Can I practice these things mindfully in community with love, acceptance, deep listening, compassion and kindness?’ These are values that every Buddha has lived for centuries, and certainly ones we need to evolve from a culture of, ‘It’s all about me’ to a culture of, ‘It’s all about we’.” Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.

conscious eating

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Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy. ~Pamela Reed

THE MERRY VEGAN

People-Pleasing Holiday Sweets

by Julie Peterson

he holidays may send too many sugar plums and frosted gingerbread figures dancing in the heads of people with dietary restrictions. Anyone that chooses to avoid highly processed flours or sugars, artificial ingredients and loads of butter will typically be presented with all of this and more at social gatherings this time of year. They arrive on visually appealing cookie platters that tempt with their cute shapes, vibrant colors and sparkle. Some, like the gingerbread and reindeer cutouts, will beckon with glazed

eyes: “Just one,” they whisper. But one can turn into nine and make someone that may normally avoid sugar or gluten feel bodily regrets. Someone that is vegan or allergic may feel they can’t have treats. Making healthier choices about food is difficult for reasons many don’t understand. “People have relationships with food—involving family, comfort and traditions—and they don’t want to give that up,” says James Brandon, of Tampa, founder of Facebook’s Vegan and PlantBased Beginner’s Community. Brandon

says that holiday treats are tough to resist, but staying true to health goals is most important in the long run. The best defense to avoid frustration at social food events is to bring a dish to share that meets your dietary needs, says Megan Gilmore, the author of No Excuses Detox: 100 Recipes to Help You Eat Healthy Every Day and a blogger at Detoxinista. com. “That way, you can introduce something delicious to your friends, family or co-workers and be sure you’ll have something to eat!” A batch of simple, delectable, visually appealing and healthful cookies can be that plate to share, a gift to give or something to keep on hand for guests. Keep the focus on simple, advises Pamela Reed, who blogs at BrooklynFarmGirl.com. There are plenty of recipes that will satisfy the sweet tooth and decorate the holiday buffet (until they’re all eaten, that is). Don’t increase holiday stress by trying a new recipe at the last minute. “Stick with your favorite recipes that you know are going to be a success and are going to leave everyone’s taste buds happy,” she says. Transitioning to a more conscious way of eating isn’t about deprivation or leaving tradition behind. Bring on the new and healthful cookie recipes and name one after your grandma. Julie Peterson writes from her home in rural Wisconsin. Contact her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

To Promote the Religion, Science and Philosophy of Spiritualism British Style Ongoing Psychic Medium Spiritual Development classes See Calendar Section & website for information 407-247-7823 ~ ifsk.org December 2019

Peanut Butter Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free) Yields: About 18 cookies 1 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup coconut sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla ⅔ cup oat flour 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt ¼ cup almond milk Additional sugar to roll cookies in Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, cream together peanut butter and sugars with a hand mixer. Once combined, add vanilla and continue mixing.

Add flour, baking soda, salt and almond milk into the bowl and mix for a few seconds, until combined. The cookie dough will be a little crumbly. Prepare 2 cookie sheets with silicone baking sheets or spray with nonstick spray. Roll the dough into large balls, and then gently roll in sugar to cover them. Use a fork to gently press down on each cookie a little bit—not too much, or they will crumble. Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Once out of the oven, allow to cool for 15 minutes. This is important, as the cookies will be very soft when they come out of the oven, but they will harden up as they cool. Store in an airtight container or freeze. Recipe courtesy of BrooklynFarmGirl.com.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

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photo by Pamela Reed

Oh-So-Healthy Holiday Treats

No-Bake Pecan Snowballs (Grain-Free, Vegan) photo by Megan Gilmore

Yields: 12 balls 1 cup pecan halves ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut 1 cup soft Medjool dates, pitted (about 10 dates) 1 Tbsp coconut oil ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp vanilla extract ½ cup arrowroot or tapioca starch Extra arrowroot for dusting, or coconut sugar Place the pecans and shredded coconut in a large food processor fitted with an “S” blade, and process until the pecans are broken down and crumbly. Add in the rest of the ingredients and process again, until a sticky dough is formed. (It should stick together when pressed between two fingers.) Scoop the dough by rounded tablespoons and roll the dough between your hands, forming balls. Arrange the balls on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place them in the freezer to set, about 1 to 2 hours. For a “snowball” look, roll the balls in additional arrowroot or tapioca starch—just a light coating will do—since the starch will not enhance the flavor. It’s just for looks! Note: If you’d prefer to roll the balls in coconut sugar or shredded coconut, roll them in one of those options before freezing, so the coating will stick better.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free) Chocolate Crust: ¾ cup ground almond meal 2 Tbsp cocoa powder 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil Pinch of sea salt Peanut Butter Filling: ½ cup creamy natural peanut butter 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil Pinch of sea salt Chocolate Topping: ¼ cup cocoa powder ¼ cup melted coconut oil 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the chocolate crust ingredients until a moist dough is formed. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the lined loaf pan and place it in the freezer to set. To prepare the filling, you can use the same bowl to stir the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil and salt. Depending on whether you’re using salted or unsalted peanut butter, consider adding more salt to taste. Store-bought peanut butter cups are quite salty, so I like to add a generous pinch of salt to mimic that flavor. Remove the crust from the freezer and pour the peanut

butter filling over the top, using a spatula to spread it out evenly. Return the pan to the freezer to set. Rinse the mixing bowl and use it again to make the final layer. Combine the cocoa powder, melted coconut oil and maple syrup, whisking well to break up any clumps. Once the mixture has become a smooth chocolate sauce, pour it over the peanut butter layer, and return the pan to the freezer to set until firm, about an hour or two. Once the bars are firm, grab the edges of parchment paper to easily lift the solid bar from the pan, and use a sharp knife to slice the bars into your desired size. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to a month. (The bars become very firm if frozen for too long, so I prefer serving them from the fridge after the initial firming-up time.) Source: Detoxinista.com/no-bake-peanutbutter-cup-bars-vegan

photo by Megan Gilmore

Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to two weeks for best texture.

Source: Detoxinista.com/no-bake-pecansnowballs-paleo-vegan

December 2019

Many people have found that a regular breathing practice has helped them increase energy and decrease anxiety. ~Rachael Walter

INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE

Conscious Breathwork

by Marlaina Donato

ur first breath is instinctual and belly-deep, but as we grow into life, everyday stress and trauma can bring us into the shallows. Mindful breathing can help guide our breath back to its original, healthy rhythm. Both the brain and organs benefit from increased oxygen, and the vagus nerve that connects the two—prompted by changes in the body’s pH levels—releases acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for lowering heart rate. Breathwork can improve vagal tone, a major component in a wide range of conditions like depression, pain syndromes, sleep disturbances, anxiety disorders and chronic inflammation. A 2016 study by the Medical University of South Carolina published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows a lower number of proteins associated with inflammation in the saliva of participants that employed breathing exercises. A study that appeared in the journal Psychophysiology in 2015 found that 20 minutes of mindful breathing at bedtime fostered a good night’s rest for people with insomnia.

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Breathing Breaks

From traditional rebirthing techniques using circular breathing to Middendorf Breath Work for somatic awareness, there are many styles of conscious breathing. The gentler approaches best suit everyday needs and taking a breathing break can actually provide more refreshment than one featuring coffee. “Many people have found that a regular breathing practice has helped them increase energy and decrease anxiety. It is a powerful tool to reset the nervous system when we’re overwhelmed and stressed,” says Somatic Breath Therapy (SBT) practitioner Rachael Walter, owner of Breathe-HereNow, in Keene, New Hampshire. Like many forms of breathwork, SBT bridges the chasm between mind and body. “Conscious breathing can also help people access and understand their emotions,” notes Walter. Pranayama, an ancient technique of yoga that focuses on breath control and employs alternate nostril breathing, can be performed while lying down, seated or on the yoga mat. Kundalini yoga teacher Melissa Crowder, owner of 4 States Yoga, in

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fit body

Joplin, Missouri, advises students to start out slowly, three to six minutes a day, and then work up to a longer practice. “Alternate nostril breathing is a great practice for everyone. As little as six minutes of yogic breathing, as needed, can make a profound difference in decreasing pain and stress,” she says.

and in turn, presses upon the stomach and helps to churn the gastric juices. For this reason, it can aid earlier stages of digestion.” When used in conjunction with other modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, diaphragmatic breathing might be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome.

Belly Benefits

Breathing Into Feelings

The American Lung Association recommends a variety of exercises, including diaphragmatic (belly) breathing, for conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Engaging the diaphragm is key in breathing to fullest capacity. Walter explains, “An open, healthy breath is one in which we use the diaphragm to initiate the breath, followed by the belly expanding and the breath moving into the chest.” Most of us unconsciously fall into shallow and sometimes self-conscious breathing patterns at an early age. “During my training, I read that by age 6, we pick up on cues telling us to tuck in our tummies. This simple, bad habit begins a cascade of physiological responses. Upper chest breathing can create anxiety symptoms and poor digestion,” explains Colleen Breeckner, owner of Colleen Lila Yoga, in New York City. “Diaphragmatic breathing causes the diaphragm to become flat and wide,

The depth and quality of the breath can help us to become aware of emotional states that include “holding patterns”. “Conscious breathing is a doorway into deep meditation, which can help alleviate anger and insecurities. It can also be helpful in dropping addictions,” says Crowder. “Linking pranayama with physical movement [asanas] helps to release tension and emotions that can be held in the body’s soft tissues.” Breeckner agrees, “Developing this awareness can help us to move unpleasant and stuck emotions through the body.” Well-being can be just a breath away, says Walter. “When we open up our breath, we open ourselves to a fuller experience of being human. It has the capacity to bring us into the present moment to access our joy and our life’s purpose.” Marlaina Donato is an author and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Noteworthy Breathwork Styles Clarity Breathwork: Developed from the groundwork of Leonard Orr, with a focus on accessing the subconscious mind for self-awareness Holotropic Breathwork: Developed by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, M.D., and his wife Christina and employs deep, rapid breathing to initiate an altered state of consciousness; training in the Grof method is required Integral Breath Therapy: Gentle technique for an altered state of consciousness that works with the body’s natural healing capacity Middendorf Breath Work: Named after German-born Ilse Middendorf, a gentle technique that does not include forcing the breath to promote healing Rebirthing Breathwork: Pioneering and well-known form of breathwork that was also developed by Orr with a focus on releasing unconscious energy blocks imprinted during the birth process Shamanic Breathwork: Uses specific breathing methods, chakras or energy centers, music and movement to overcome emotional blocks for deep-level healing Transformational Breath: Developed by Dr. Judith Kravitz using uninterrupted breathing, Kundalini yoga and other elements of physical and energetic healing; recommended by Dr. Christine Northrup and Dr. Deepak Chopra

Go-to Breathing Exercises From Rachael Walter: The Three-Breath Sigh Place one hand on your lower belly and the other on your chest. Breathing in through your nose, let your breath start in the belly and move up to the chest. Then exhale through your mouth while making an audible sighing sound. Repeat two more times. The Four-Eight Relaxing Breath Place one hand on your lower belly and the other on your chest. Using a belly breath, inhale to the count of four and exhale to the count of eight, making your exhale twice as long as your inhale to facilitate relaxation. Feel free to play with how fast or slow you count to find a comfortable breathing pace. Repeat for six to 10 times as needed. Breath Walk This is an excellent exercise to do while at work, school or a public place to give your nervous system a break, even when the world is crazy-busy around you. Walk at a slightly slower pace than normal and breathe in for one step; breathe out for the next step, counting three or four for each breath/step. Continue as you walk, being mindful of your breath, counting and surroundings.

For further inquiry, Melissa Crowder recommends these Kundalini yoga breaths: Shabad Kriya for promoting deep restful sleep Sitali Pranayama for lowering a fever or cooling off a hot temper Breath of Fire for improved brain circulation, stimulating digestion and weight control Right nostril breathing for afternoon slumps Left nostril breathing to quiet mind chatter at bedtime December 2019

Seven years without a cold?

had colds going round and round, but not me.” Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” Some users say copper stops By Doug Cornell nighttime stuffiness if used just before cientists recently discovered time. He hasn’t had a single cold for 7 bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had a way to kill viruses and years since. in years.” bacteria. He asked relatives and friends to try Copper can also stop flu if used early Now thousands of people are using it it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians to stop colds and flu. he patented CopperZap™ and put it on placed 25 million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. No viruses were found alive Colds start the market. soon after. when cold viruses Soon hundreds Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams get in your nose. of people had confirming the discovery. He placed Viruses multiply tried it and given millions of disease germs on copper. fast. If you don’t feedback. Nearly “They started to die literally as soon as stop them early, 100% said the they touched the surface,” he said. they spread and copper stops colds People have even used copper on cause misery. if used within 3 cold sores and say it can completely In hundreds hours after the first prevent outbreaks. of studies, EPA sign. Even up to New research: Copper stops colds if used early. The handle is and university 2 days, if they curved and finely researchers have confirmed that viruses still get the cold it is milder than usual textured to improve and bacteria die almost instantly when and they feel better. contact. It kills germs touched by copper. Users wrote things like, “It stopped picked up on fingers That’s why ancient Greeks and my cold right away,” and “Is it and hands to protect Egyptians used copper to purify water supposed to work that fast?” you and your family. and heal wounds. They didn’t know “What a wonderful thing,” wrote Copper even kills about microbes, but now we do. Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills deadly germs that Scientists say the high conductance colds for me!” cold viruses. have become resistant of copper disrupts the electrical balance Pat McAllister, 70, received one to antibiotics. If you are near sick in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in for Christmas and called it “one of the seconds. best presents ever. This little jewel really people, a moment of handling it may keep serious infection away. It may even Tests by the EPA (Environmental works.” save a life. Protection Agency) show germs die Now thousands of users have simply The EPA says copper still works fast on copper. So some hospitals tried stopped getting colds. even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of copper for touch surfaces like faucets People often use CopperZap and doorknobs. This cut the spread of preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci different disease germs so it can prevent serious or even fatal illness. MRSA and other illnesses by over half, used to get colds after crowded flights. CopperZap is made in America of and saved lives. Though skeptical, she tried it several pure copper. It has a 90-day full money The strong scientific evidence gave times a day on travel days for 2 months. back guarantee. It is $69.95. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she Get $10 off each CopperZap with he felt a cold about to start he fashioned exclaimed. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when code NATA15. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold CopperZap morning and night. “It saved toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. never got going.” It worked again every me last holidays,” she said. “The kids ADVERTORIAL Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com 18

Copper in new device stops cold and flu

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inspiration

The Generous Heart How Giving Transforms Us

by Cindy Ricardo

ne of the ways we come into balance and connection with each other and with life is by giving from the heart. When we give to others, whether it’s an act of kindness, generosity or compassion, it helps us live from the heart instead of the ego. Living from the ego is painful and exhausting. It’s like feeding a hungry monster that’s never satisfied. Ego craves, pursues and clings to status, approval, material wealth and control. It views the world through the eyes of fear—constantly evaluating, judging and acting in ways that are self-centered, defensive and protective. Like with Scrooge, ego closes our heart and makes us small, fearful and contracted. By contrast, generosity requires that we open our hearts to the world and each other. We allow ourselves to be vulnerable. In doing this, we open ourselves fully to life, love and relationships. We let go of striving and pursuing things. When we stop striving, we begin to see, value and respond to what’s happening in the present moment in ways that are healthy and healing. Our priority shifts from acquiring things to appreciating what we have and being open to sharing with others. Generosity is a quality of kindness, of living from a place of abundance. We see the world through a clear lens that isn’t clouded by fear, wanting or clinging. When we interact with others, our connection is

genuine. We see people instead of judgments or labels. Being generous arises from the heart, not the wallet. We don’t need to have material wealth in order to be generous. The only requirement is a willingness to open our hearts, to see life as it is and to interact with others from a place of compassion and love. Some examples of generous acts are: n Doing a household chore without being asked. n Setting aside what we’re doing and listening to someone in need of emotional support. n Telling loved ones what we appreciate about them. n Listening to children and trying to see the world through their eyes before offering advice. n Smiling at a stranger. n When asking, “How are you?” looking into the person’s eyes and taking time to truly listen with an attitude of curiosity and compassion. Generosity awakens goodness in the heart, and this helps us open to life, love and relationships. Cindy Ricardo is a Coral Springs, Floridabased psychotherapist who blogs at ACaringCounselor.com. December 2019

healing ways

What’s good for muscles is good for bones. wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com

~Susie Hathaway

BEYOND CALCIUM Full-Spectrum Bone Health

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

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A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

December 2019

Another unique remedy at Dr. Pautz’s disposal is therapeutic eurythmy, an expressive form of movement therapy. Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, eurythmy uses movements to express sounds and music. One of the few medical doctors to be certified in eurythmy, Dr. Pautz uses this approach to supplement the treatment of a variety of physical, medical and emotional ailments. Somewhat like its Asian counterparts, tai chi and yoga, eurythmy helps a person connect to and experience the nontangible realities of spirit and energy that are essential for all souls. Dr. Pautz’s varied background and extensive training provide her with myriad treatment choices to draw from in her practice. Whether addressing cancer, diabetes, asthma, common cold, multiples sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS or any other illness, her treatments are personalized, insightful and far-reaching. By balancing Western and integrative medicine and avoiding chemical drugs whenever possible, Dr. Pautz provides each patient with the opportunity for a road map to longlasting, deep-seated health changes through nutritional and lifestyle advice, naturopathy, homeopathy, counseling, anthroposophic medicine, and art and movement therapy.

Persephone Healing Arts Center is located at 485 6th Ave. N., in Jacksonville Beach. To learn more, call 904-246-3583, visit DrPautz.com or join them for one of their monthly open houses. Join them on Facebook. See ad on the back cover.

Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

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Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that don’t respond well to medications. University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina. SK Design/Shutterstock.com

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Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk

Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades

December 2019

Sixth-graders that received mindfulness training each day for eight weeks experienced lower stress levels, less depression and improved academic performance compared to their peers in a control group that studied computer coding, report Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. In addition to that 100-student study, researchers surveyed 2,000 students in grades five through eight and found those that showed more mindfulness tended to have better grades and test scores. They also had fewer absences and suspensions.

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A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk. The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

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Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades

community spotlight

Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69—regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity.

Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

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health briefs

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

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by Marlaina Donato

ur bones are the Osteoporosis can be menopause and if the bone density is very low, foundation that prevented, and I’ve but we can always make supports our seen many patients some improvements in bodies and the quality of our lives. Unlike the brick reverse osteoporosis. bone health. We need to assess diet, exercise, and mortar and bedrock ~Leat Kuzniar gastrointestinal health, of a building, the human hormones, medications, skeletal system is living pH and even stress levels.” tissue that breaks down and rebuilds; this constant remodeling demands much Synergy of Vitamins more than just taking an obligatory calcium supplement. and Minerals Compromised bone health is most Walter Willett, M.D., chairman of the often associated with postmenopausal Department of Nutrition at the Harvard women, but it can also impact men and T.H. Chan School of Public Health, aryounger adults. Genetics, hormonal gues that the daily recommended 1,000changes and nutritional deficiencies can to-1,200 milligrams of calcium is based all foster bone loss. The National Oson inadequate studies, and advises half teoporosis Foundation reports that 44 that amount. million Americans have low bone density Other minerals may play an equally critical role. The body robs calcium from the and 10 million suffer from osteoporosis, bones when blood levels of this vital mineral facing a high risk of fracture from this fall too low; but taking a calcium suppledebilitating condition. ment—especially without co-nutrients—can Fortunately, it’s never too early or increase fracture risk. “Calcium supplementoo late to do right by our bones. “Osteotation is complex; more isn’t better. Vitamin porosis can be prevented, and I’ve seen D is essential for calcium absorption, and many patients reverse osteoporosis,” says vitamin K2 is essential for getting that Leat Kuzniar, a Nutley, New Jersey, natucalcium to your bones and keeping it out ropath. “It becomes more difficult after

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of your arteries,” Kuzniar says. Magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium are also allies in calcium metabolism. Vitamin C, too, is a key player in bone health, promoting collagen synthesis. Nutrient absorption relies on integrity of gut health, so opting for probiotics is a wise choice across the board.

Bone Up on Superfoods

Optimally, the quest for stronger bones begins with a nutrientdense diet. “Plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein and some fats create a physiology in the body to support optimal bone health. Avoiding too much sodium and animal protein also helps,” says Mary Jane Detroyer, a New York Citybased nutritionist and certified dietitian. She underscores the importance of mineral-packed kale, collards, mustard greens, bok choy and broccoli, but warns against oxalate-laden spinach and chard, which inhibit calcium absorption. “Other calciumrich foods like tofu, edamame, yogurt, kefir and cheese are also good, as well as milk substitutes fortified with calcium.” Omega-3-rich chia seeds, walnuts and other tree nuts are heavy hitters that boost both calcium absorption and collagen production essential for bone strength. A 2016 Brazilian study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a diet with excessive sweets and caffeinated beverages negatively impacts bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Soda consumption also amps up the risk of fractures. An analysis of female subjects spanning 30 years published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014 reveals a 14 percent increased risk for fractures with each daily serving of soda, including diet beverages.

Get Moving

High-impact activities like jumping rope and jogging build strong bones in our youth, but as we age, low-impact exercise is easier on the joints. Mayo Clinic recommendations include walking, gardening, dancing, stair-climbing and elliptical training. Resistance also yields significant results. A 2018 Korean study published in the journal EnM reveals that exercise employing free weights, weight machines and elastic bands increases muscle and bone mass in both women and men. American College of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainer Susie Hathaway, in Fairfield, Iowa, explains why. “What’s good for muscles is good for bones. When a muscle contracts, it gives a beneficial pull on the adjacent bones, stimulating the bone-building cells to be more active.” Hathaway highlights safety and the importance of bearing weight on the feet. “Gravity is important for bone health. Weightbearing aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, provides a mild stimulus for your bones and helps slow down bone loss.” Kuzniar reminds us that with the right care, our bones can carry us through life. “Once we know what factors are at play in the patient, we can address the underlying causes.” Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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Refresh Holiday Traditions Making the Old New and Green by Ronica A. O’Hara

elebrating classic holiday traditions the same way we always have—and maybe the way our parents and grandparents did—is part of the rich family heritage we pass on to our children. These family rituals are binding, grounding, memorable and much more, says Saul Levine, M.D., professor emeritus in psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. A survey of 50 years of family research published in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Family Psychology found that family holiday rituals, as well as everyday routines like family dinners and bedtime stories, build stronger family relationships, enhance children’s health and academic achievement, help teenagers’ sense of personal identity and even boost marital satisfaction. It’s also natural and perhaps inevitable that these traditions undergo changes over the years. “If people from only five or six generations ago could see our modern Christmas, they’d barely recognize it,” says Brian Earl, host of the popular Christmas Past podcast that chronicles holiday traditions. “New trends and customs become traditions in time; every generation has 22

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its opportunity to add new chapters to the narrative and continue the story.” For Elizabeth Newcamp, Christmas festivities took an eco-turn for her military family of five when they were living for a few years in the Netherlands, where “Sinterklaas” traditionally delivers gifts in reusable burlap bags. “In an effort to reduce wrapping paper, we now use the sacks on Christmas,” says Newcamp, who blogs about family travel at DutchDutchGoose.com. She and her husband Jeff also ask for and give experiences as gifts whenever possible; their 7-year-old son asked if he could organize a little library for their Navarre, Florida, neighborhood. Anyone that wants to send gifts to their sons is asked to find them used. “I don’t think we’ve lessened any of the fun of the holidays, but hopefully we are eliminating some of the waste,” she says. For many years, Ginny Underwood’s family in Bluffton, South Carolina, would dress up and go to a restaurant on Christmas Eve, exchange gifts and then return home to watch a movie or play board games. Last year, they tried something new: staying home, putting on pajamas, eating cottage pie and playing handmade

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“Minute to Win It” games that Underwood, a professional organizer who blogs at VirginiasEasyLivingSolutions.com, created. “We had a blast; we didn’t stop laughing all night,” she says. “We saved hundreds of dollars and we had a lovely time.” Lighting red, green and black candles while focusing on principles like unity, selfdetermination or purpose are key in the seven-day Kwanzaa celebrations; but, “Instead of just lighting the candle amongst friends and family and discussing, I want my family to spend that day exemplifying the principle,” says Vanessa Davis, executive director of the nonprofit African Village International, in Jacksonville, Florida. Now her children meditate, journal and practice mindfulness to learn about self-determination; volunteer or pick up trash outdoors to learn about collective work and responsibilities; and buy something at a locally-owned store and discuss future finances for cooperative economics. “I was inspired to change because Kwanzaa isn’t really a religious holiday, but it is a darn good way to reflect on the past year and goal-set for the future,” she says. “Giving children more hands-on experiences for Hanukkah and taking the emphasis off of ‘What am I going to get?’ makes the holiday more meaningful for the kids,” concurs Pamela Morris, early childhood education director at the East Valley Jewish Community Center, in Chandler, Arizona. Each Hanukkah evening, her family of five lights a menorah and says traditional prayers while also volunteering to wrap food packages at a local Feed My Starving Children event, crafting personal menorahs at a pottery studio, going to see Phoenix ZooLights and gathering to make the traditional potato latkes or jelly donuts. “Each night is a focus on family time and welcoming friends to join us,” she says. By observing and evolving traditions, family bonds can strengthen through time, relates Earl: “By participating in holiday rituals, children are learning about who they are. And by passing them down, parents reaffirm what’s important to them and keep the connection to the past intact.” Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based natural-health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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Updating Favorite Traditions n Instead of buying a Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush in a store lot, get one in a pot that can be replanted later. n Take a family holiday photo, either serious or wacky, and recreate it every year with members in the same poses and expressions. n Invite someone to a holiday dinner thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not part of the family, such as an international student or newcomer in town. n Cook up a batch of healthy, vegan cookies with the kids and organize a neighborhood cookie swap. n Have a $10 or $20 gift exchange challenge in which everyone competes to come up with the most useful, creative or eco-clever use of the money. n String together popcorn and cranberries to make a tree garland or door decoration, and later drape it on outdoor trees to feed birds and wildlife. n Give kids $10 to donate to a carefully selected charity of their choice. n Take a favorite holiday story, parable or song and have the kids (and adults) act it out with costumes and all.

December 2019

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wise words

Surgeon Mary Neal on Lessons From Heaven

by Kajsa Nickels

n 1999, while kayaking on the Fuy River in Chile, orthopedic surgeon Mary Neal became trapped beneath a waterfall and drowned. She was underwater for 30 minutes before the current pulled her out. During that time, Neal experienced what she believes to be a miraculous event in which she penetrated the veil dividing the physical and spiritual worlds. There, she was told that it was not yet her time, and of the future death of her eldest son, a prediction that was fulfilled 10 years later. The experience gave her a new perspective on the purpose of our Earthly existence and life after death. She has since written two books on the subject: To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels and Life Again; and 7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life. Her life-altering experience prompted her to pay more attention to those things that are truly important: faith, family and relationships with other human beings. She lives with her family in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she continues to mend broken bones.

How do you think your medical background makes you uniquely qualified to speak on near-death experiences (NDE)?

I am a very concrete thinker and analyze everything. Being a doctor also gave me access to many resources that the common person would not. I spent many months researching scientific and medical literature to try to come up with a logical explanation of what had happened to me. I was forced to conclude that my experience fell outside of the parameters of both science and medicine. I could not find any examples to disprove what happened, especially when the predicted death of my oldest son came to pass.

What was the most profound moment of your experience?

It’s hard to pinpoint the most profound moment of the entire experience, but what impacted me most was the realization that God is real, and He is present to each and every one of us every moment of our daily lives. I realized to the depths of my soul that all God’s promises are true, not just wishful thinking or a vague hope.

How has your NDE made you a better wife, mother and medical professional?

You can’t have an NDE without having your entire life changed. When you realize that there is more to life than what you can see with your physical eyes, it changes your entire perspective on every moment of every day. The things we say and the things we do create a ripple effect that spreads beyond the boundaries of our human sight. Love is ultimately the only thing that matters, to reflect love to the world and other people. I was a “good person” before my NDE, but I now see differently. I see that each human being is incredibly loved, and that we are all one: We are them, and they are us. Everything else in the world is secondary to God’s love and presence in our lives.

How is your approach to everyday life different than it was prior to your NDE?

I am able to be entirely present in every moment of my life. I can experience deep and abiding joy regardless of my circumstances. I am able to trust that grace covers my past, that there is life after death and a plan for my life. No matter what is happening, even if it is terrible, beauty will come out of it. Most people are trapped in regrets of the past and worry about the future. With complete trust in God, I am able to fully have joy in each and every moment.

Is there a difference between joy and happiness?

Absolutely. Happiness is an emotion based on circumstances. Happiness can accompany joy, but not always. Joy is a state of being, of trusting in God, of believing that his promises are true. Joy comes from freedom—freedom from disruptive emotions like guilt, remorse, unforgiveness. Even in the devastation of my oldest son’s death, I can honestly say that I experienced a deep joy from trusting in God’s love and promises.

Why do you believe heaven is written in our hearts?

As a scientist, I firmly believe that we are created beings with physical bodies and spiritual souls. I believe that our spiritual self remembers heaven and remembers joy. Part of our journey here on Earth is to rediscover our connection with God. As adults, we often feel that we have to choose between science and spiritualism. The truth is that they coexist, answering questions in different ways. Kajsa Nickels is a freelance author who lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Connect at fideleterna45@gmail.com. December 2019

calendar of events

Yoga Nidra – 11:15am-12:15pm. With Elizabeth Henrichson. Nidra is a Sanskrit term meaning “sleep.” In yoga, yoga nidra is a meditation practice that induces a state of deep, but conscious relaxation. The goal of yoga nidra is to achieve a state of samadhi (intense concentration), enlightenment or bliss. $20. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 The Unexpected Journey: Resistance is Futile – 10:30am. With guest speaker Cathy DeWitt. Unity of Jacksonville Beach is a come-as-you-are conscious community! Love offerings welcome.106 6th St N, Jacksonville Bch (Players by the Sea Theatre). 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

Death Café of NE Florida – 6:30-7:45pm. Hosted by The Sacred Servant and facilitated by Nada Frazier. Come enjoy a community driven discussion about life and death. Free. New location: Pablo Creek Library, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville. RSVP: Nada@TheSacredServant.com. Info: Death Cafe.com or Meetup.

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Evening – 5-7:30pm. Gift baskets and bags for the holiday season! Join for a fun testing evening. Proceeds benefit the Persephone Building Fund. Persephone Healing Arts Center, 485 6th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. 904-246-3583. DrPautz.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 Luminary Night – 6-9pm. The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum hosts this free evening of lights, music and cheer. Lanterns decorate the museum grounds, while holiday performances fill the night. 1 Lighthouse Ave (use 100 Red Cox Road for GPS). VisitStAugustine.com/event/luminarynight-st-augustine-lighthouse. Experience HU: The Sound of Soul – 7-8pm. HU is woven into the language of life. It is the sound of all sounds for people of all faiths. Learn how to sing HU and tap into your potential for greater happiness, love and understanding. Followed by light refreshments. Gift of contemplation CD at event. Pablo Creek Public Library, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville. Info line: 904-725-7760. Meetup.com/ Jacksonville-Florida-Eckankar.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 Living the Joyous Wisdom of Bhagavad-Gita: “The Song of God” – 10-11:30am. The universal teachings of India’s most well-known scripture give us a joyous roadmap for self-unfoldment through dynamic living, to manifest the best and highest within ourselves here and now. Class includes meditation, explanation of essential verses, discussion of practical application. Led by Swamini Radhikananda (of Chinmaya Mission St. Aug.) with 30 years experience teaching Vedantic (non-dual) scriptures for the western seeker. Center for Spiritual Living, 1795 Old Moultrie Rd, St. Augustine. Info: 904-692-4121. Group Detox Info Meeting – 6:30pm. It takes 21 days to create a new habit. Change your relationship with food, transform your life! Learn about whole food cleansing, no starvation required! Mandatory attendance to start with the group in January (dates TBD). Free. Health By Design Wellness Center, 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville. 904-363-3374. HealthByDesignFL.com. Awaken to Your Divine Nature – 7-9pm. With Jnana, Bhakti and Raja Yoga. Free. Port Orange. GirijaQ@aol.com. Meetup.com/Shanti-MandirMeditation-Port-Orange.

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Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Castillo by Candlelight: Enemy at the Gates – 6:30-8:30pm. A candlelight tour of the Castillo de San Marcos invites visitors to step back in time and observe British and Spanish officers as they prepare for the siege of 1740. VisitStAugustine.com/event/ castillo-candlelight-enemy-gates.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 St. Augustine Christmas Parade – 9am. This display of floats, bands, cars, horses, and Santa will travel downtown from the Mission Nombre de Dios. VisitStAugustine.com/event/christmas-parade. Community Spiritual Discussion – 11am-noon. Monthly focus: Synchronicity: A Spiritual Gift. Look at the impact of our daily experiences in the context of our identity as soul. Share discussion about spiritual tools that can help with the challenges in life and beyond. Gift of Spiritual Wisdom Journal and contemplation CD. Pablo Creek Public Library, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville. Info line: 904-7257760. Meetup.com/Jacksonville-Florida-Eckankar. Talking Stick Circle and Pot Luck – 5-7pm. Native American gathering to share ancient teachings and drumming circle. Bring a chair, family, friends; children are welcome. Bring a dish to share. Andrew Jackson Davis Blvd, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: 386-503-4930 or Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 Pranayama – 10-11am. With Elizabeth Henrichson. 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. $20. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com. The Love Story Continues – 10:30am. With guest speaker Rev. Priscilla Howick. Unity of Jacksonville Beach is a come-as-you-are conscious community! Love offerings welcome. 106 6th St N, Jacksonville Bch (Players by the Sea Theatre). 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com. Experience HU: The Sound of Soul – 11am-noon. HU is woven into the language of life. It is the sound of all sounds for people of all faiths. Learn how this sacred sound can help bring more peace and happiness into your life. Followed by light refreshments. Gift of contemplation CD available. Courtyard Marriott (meeting room) 4670 S Lenoir Ave, Jacksonville. Info line: 904-725-7760. Meetup. com/Jacksonville-Florida-Eckankar.

NAJax.com

Delightful Days of Joy and Peace – 1:30-3:30pm. Join to identify and align your vibrations with pure joy, delight and peace during this holiday season. Universal love will be gifted through arch angels, spirit guides and the God source. Connect to their guidance, knowledge and receive personal guidance for those in attendance. A true gift to self! $20. 56 N Halifax Dr, Ormond Bch. Info: 386-503-4930 or Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 Guided by Your Light - Spirit Circle – 6-7:30pm. Join Judi for this spirit circle where she will call in universal light beings and channel messages to the group. The gathering will provide information, healing energies and personal guidance for a more peaceful and balanced life. Grace and gratitude provided through a universal guided meditation. $20/ class. Hot House Yoga, 400 Parque Dr, Ormond Bch. Info: 386-503-4930. Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com. Open House – 6-7:30pm. Meet Dr. Pautz and learn about her practice and philosophy. Ask questions, learn about the services offered and decide if their unique blend of integrative and conventional medicine can benefit you through integrative, conventional, and anthroposophic medicine with a great emphasis to personalized one-on-one care. Taking patients of all ages. 485 6th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. 904-246-3583. DrPautz.com. Transcendental Meditation (TM) – 6:30-8pm. The TM technique is a uniquely simple, natural, effortless procedure that is scientifically proven to reduce stress, maximize mental clarity and improve health. This introductory talk gives all the information you need to make an informed decision about learning the TM technique. Free. Conference room, Pablo Creek Library, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville. Register: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11 How to Read Labels – 6:45pm. Don’t be fooled by tricky marketing tactics. Learn how to become a smart consumer and take control over what you feed yourself and your family. You might be shocked to find out what is in your favorite products! Don’t let your holiday meal be filled with GMOs and toxins. These are not gifts, though they keep on giving. Free. Health By Design Wellness Center, 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville. 904-363-3374. HealthByDesignFL.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 Living the Joyous Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita: “The Song of God.” – 10-11:30am. The universal teachings of India’s most well-known scripture give us a joyous road-map for self-unfoldment through dynamic living, to manifest the best and highest within ourselves here and now. Class includes meditation, explanation of essential verses, discussion of practical application. Led by Swamini Radhikananda with 30 years experience teaching (non-dual) scriptures for the western seeker. Center for Spiritual Living, 1795 Old Moultrie Rd, St. Augustine. Info: 904-692-4121. cslstAugustine.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

Holiday Potluck – 6-8pm. The office of Dr. A. Schaffer-Pautz, MD, board-certified in both integrative and internal medicine, invites the community to an evening of celebrating the season, nurturing, heart-toheart, fun, good conversation and thanksgiving. This is an opportunity for existing patients to introduce friends and other family members to Persephone. Bring your favorite dish to share. Families with children welcome under your supervision. Persephone Healing Arts Center, 485 6th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. RSVP: 904-246-3583. DrPautz.com.

Bhagavad Gita Study for Wisdom and Knowledge – 2-4pm. Reading and discussion; concludes with 15-minutes of meditation. No previous study is required. By donation. 56 N Halifax Dr, Ormond Bch. GirijaQ@aol.com. Meetup.com/BhagavadGita-Study-Wisdom.

Full Moon Circle – 6:30-9pm. Join one of the thousands of circles around the world gathering on the full moon unifying with the intention of healing. This four stages of healing ceremony will include a drum workshop, healing ritual and heart yoga nidra meditation. Guide: Misti C. Miller, Modern Mystic. Co-host: Entheo Rhythmic, drum facilitator and Natalia Fuentes. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. Registration required: 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com. Healers Under God (HUG) – 7pm. All are welcome as we are guided by spirit to extend hands on healing. Love offering. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns, 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 The Yoga of Life: Joyous Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita for Everyday Living – 11am- 12:30pm. Bring the peace, balance and clarity of your yoga practice into your daily life through the universal teachings of India’s most well-known scripture. Make your life itself yoga, a perfect union with the divine and all beings and situations around you. Led by Swamini Radhikananda with 30 years experience teaching Vedantic scriptures for western seekers. Explanation of essential verses and discussion of practical application offered. Soluna Yoga & Spa, 2105 Park St, Ste 1, Jacksonville. Info: 904-692-4121. SolunaYogaSpa.com. Holiday Regatta of Lights – 6pm. The Victory III invites visitors to brighten up the waters as part of its holiday boat parade. VisitStAugustine.com/ event/regatta-lights. Castillo Holiday Open House – 6-8pm. Lit by lantern light, the Castillo de San Marcos offers an opportunity to interact with more than 300 years of living history, complete with re-enactors and cannon firings. Info: VisitStAugustine.com/event/castillode-san-marcos-holiday-open-house.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 Winters Gift – 10:30am. With Guest Speaker Rev. Lisa Solwold. Unity of Jacksonville Beach is a come-as-you-are conscious community! Love offerings welcome. 106 6th St N, Jacksonville Bch (Players by the Sea Theatre). 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 Santa’s Sip & Shop – 6:45pm. Santa and Health by Design are joining together for a fun, interactive night. Join for healthy cider, organic wine, healthy snacks, BEMER sessions and multiple vendors with gifts for on-site sales: doTERRA, Beautycounter, CBD, Rethreaded, more. Discounts on multiple items, gift card sales and free gift wrapping with each on-site purchase. Free admission. Health by Design Wellness Center, 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville. 904-363-3374.

Psychic-Medium Spiritual Development Class – 7-9:30pm. Designed as an ongoing class. Includes meditation, lesson, hands-on practice to develop your personal skills. $30. Marilyn Jenquin, International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. Held in private home, call for location. 407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 Psychic-Medium Spiritual Development Class – 1-3:30pm. Designed as an ongoing class. Includes meditation, lesson, hands-on practice to develop your personal skills. $30. Marilyn Jenquin, International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. Caring Palms Massage and Reiki, 301-B 10th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. 407-247-7823. IFSK.org. Psychic-Medium Spiritual Development Class – 7-9:30pm. Designed as an ongoing class. Includes meditation, lesson, hands-on practice to develop your personal skills. $30. Marilyn Jenquin, International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. The Noble School, 419 5th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. 407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 Big Christmas Sale – Dec 20-24. Christmas sale on this year’s flower and pre-rolls. Visit website or stop in for details. RootsCBD, 524 3rd St S, Jacksonville Bch. 904-420-7550. RootsCBDshop.com. Lecture on Anthroposophy – 7-9pm. Speaker Howard Pautz discusses the existence of an objective, comprehensible spiritual world, accessible to human experience. Persephone Healing Arts Center, Integrative Holistic & Internal Medicine Services, 485 6th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. Fee per adult. RSVP/info: 904-246-3583. DrPautz.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 Ecstatic Community Dance – Join on the dance floor in a safe space to experience transformational healing and meditation through dance and music. Here, the dance floor is considered sacred and attendees are encouraged to move freely without fear or judgement. Also offering a quiet room for meditation; invite your inner child to come out and play. $20. Hosted by Danielle and Ian Cleary of Heartspace 432. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22 The Gift of Christmas with Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier – 10:30am. Unity of Jacksonville Beach is a come-as-you-are conscious community! Love offerings welcome. 106 6th St N, Jacksonville Bch (Players by the Sea Theatre). 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Service – 7pm. All are welcome. Find the peace, calm and oneness you desire and celebrate the light of Christ on Christmas Eve. Love offering. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29 Burning Bowl Ceremony with Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier – 10:30am. Unity of Jacksonville Beach is a come-as-you-are conscious community! Love offerings welcome. 106 6th St N, Jacksonville Bch (Players by the Sea Theatre). 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31 Beach Blast Off – 4-10pm. Celebrate the New Year with fireworks and family activities at St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park. VisitStAugustine.com/ event/beach-blast. New Year’s Eve Burning Bowl Service – 7pm. Join 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.

plan ahead SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 White Stone Ceremony – 10:30am. All are welcome. Join 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.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 CranioSacral Therapy 1 – Jan 16-19. Offered by Upledger Institute International, a healthcare resource center known worldwide for its extensive education programs, advanced treatment options and products. The institute offers classes in more than 110 countries, with more than 125,000 alumni to date. Contact them directly for information regarding tuition and early registration savings, prerequisites and class times. 800-233-5880. Upledger.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 Living With the Principles – Jan 25-29. The fifth annual Living With the Principles Retreat and Shoulder Rehabilitation Workshop in a peaceful environment. This four-day retreat provides an opportunity to slow down and step away from life’s hassles, and balance and heal the mind, body and spirit through mindful practices and movement. In conjunction, the workshop provides an introduction to tai chi, how it can be used to rehabilitate and strengthen shoulders and what makes it so effective. 12-14 CE hours. $25 discount with code: LWPNA25. Jekyll Island, Georgia. LivingWithThePrinciples.com.

December 2019

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

ongoing events

daily Annual Nights of Lights Celebration – Thru Feb 2. Features millions of white lights outlining the trees and architecture of the city. One of Florida’s most popular holiday events, this brilliant showcase in America’s oldest city will set the stage for many exciting events taking place this holiday season. St. Augustine.VisitStAugustine.com/event/nights-lights. Yoga Den Studio Classes – Sun-Sat. All day. Join for a variety of class styles and traditions at one of seven locations. Whether you are new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, prefer non-heated classes or love the heat, there is something for everybody. Schedule: Yoga-Den.com.

sunday A Course of Love – 9am. Led by Mesha Brightwood. All are welcome. Love offering. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com. A Positive Path for Spiritual Living Sunday Service – 10am. Unity-Isle of Light, American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia St, Fernandina Bch. 904-518-8987. Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service and Youth Groups – 10:30am. Join as we travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

Parent Support Group – 7-8:30pm. For parents of a child with a mental health disorder, including depression, bipolar and schizo-affective disorder. Beaches Resource Center, 700 Seagate Ave, Neptune Bch. 904-270-8200.

wednesday Mid-Week Market – 3-6pm. Featuring local, healthy, fresh and green foods. Bull Park, 716 Ocean Blvd, Atlantic Bch. Tinyurl.com/a4xegwv. Vinyasa Intermediate and Gentle Yoga – 5pm & 6:30pm. Seven class series. $40. Riverside Park UMC, 819 Park St. 904-355-5491. Preregister: CommunityClassesRP.com. Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit website for class information. Love offering. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

Unity of Jacksonville Beach Service – 10:30am. Come as you are to a conscious community exploring universal spiritual principles. New location: Players by the Sea Theatre, 106 6th St N. 904-2461300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

Psychic/Medium Spiritual Development Class – 7-9:30pm. One Wednesday per month. With Marilyn Jenquin, International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. $30. Held in private home; call for location. 407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

monday

thursday

Kundalini Yoga – 9-10am. With Ashley Ireland. This session will include tuning in, warm ups, pranayama (breathing techniques), kriya (set of exercises), deep relaxation and meditation. It is suitable for all ages and stages. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com.

Psychic/Medium Spiritual Development Class – 1-3:30pm. One Thursday per month. With Marilyn Jenquin, International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. $30. 301-B 10th Ave N, Jacksonville Bch. 407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

tuesday Tincture Tuesday – Buy two, get one free. RootsCBD, 524 3rd St S, Jacksonville Bch. 904-4207550. RootsCBDshop.com. Twin Hearts Meditation – 6pm. 1st & 3rd Tue. 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. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: SeventhWonder.com/events.

friday Hemming Plaza Farmers’ Market – 10am-2pm. Local and fresh plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables, jewelry and live entertainment. Monroe St and N Hogan St, Jacksonville. Last Call AA – Midnight. 12-step program. Unity Church of Jacksonville, Riverside, 634 Lomax St. 904-355-5100.

saturday

You can either see yourself as a wave in the ocean or you can see yourself as the ocean. ~Oprah Winfrey

Beaches Green Market – 2-5pm. Jarboe Park, 301 Florida Blvd, Neptune Bch. 904-270-0273.

December 2019

community resource guide

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Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word. ~Goran Persson 30

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

NAJax.com

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UNITY OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH 106 6th St N, Jacksonville Beach (at Players by the Sea Theatre) 904-246-1300 UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com

REV JUDI WEAVER

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

SPIRITUAL CENTERS

Unity of Jacksonville Beach honors all paths to God. Unity welcomes those who might call themselves spiritual but n o t r e l i g i o u s . We welcome seekers and people of all faith traditions. Sunday services at 10:30 am, silent meditation at 10:10 am. Unity explores spiritual teachings through metaphysical study, prayer, meditation and more… Join us! See ad, page 21.

TAI CHI

THE KARMA CASTLE

A Center for Spiritual Growth and Intuitive Development 1437 N US Hwy 1, Ste C8, Ormond Beach TheKarmaCastle.com Classes, workshops and events include psychic and mediumship development, mediumship demonstrations, spiritual healing, guided meditations, psychic fairs and more. See ad, page 25.

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

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 16.

TAOIST TAI CHI

Classes held throughout the city Nights and Saturday morning Info: Jacksonville.fl@TaoistTaiChi.org or 904-733-8180 TaoistTaiChi.org/find-a-class-main The ancient Chinese believed that true health comes when body, mind and spirit work together in harmony. Taoist Tai Chi® grew out of this tradition and is a way to develop a body that is strong, yet supple, balanced and energetic, a mind that is calm and clear, yet creative and dynamic, and a spirit that is light and peaceful, yet resilient.

YOGA YOGA DEN

Mandarin | Fleming Island | Southside | Avondale | Golf Village | San Pablo | Bayard | Yoga-Den.com Founded in 2002, all Yoga Den teachers are graduates of YogaDen’s nationally accredited 200-hour TT Program. Members may use their key tags at all locations with Passport Membership. Hundreds of weekly classes. Our philosophy is No Judgement, and all levels will feel welcome. See ad, page 23.

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.

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 December 2019