2021 November

STEVEN H ALPERN’S MUSIC ENTRAINS THE BRAIN, TUNES YOUR CHAKRAS, & BALANCES THE BIOFIELD.

“ Each album creates an organic ‘Auditory Contact High’ …just by listening!” NewLife magazine

CHAKR A SUITE

45th A nniversary

STEVEN HALPERN is the most trusted name in New Age Sound Healing music.

“ Through the years, his albums are consistently our top sellers. Our customers love him, and come back to buy his other titles.”

— East West Books, Mountain View, CA

• Balances the 7 chakras with 7 musical keynote frequencies

• The original #1 bestseller

• O ften imitated, never equaled

• O ver 800,000 sold worldwide!

SOUND HEALING 432 Hz

• “Every track radiates healing energy.”

— NewLife magazine

• A 40 year retrospective from ‘the Maestro of Sound Health’

• Tuned to 432 Hz for optimal healing resonance

• 2012 GRAMMY® nominee

• 60 weeks on Top Ten New Age chart

• #1 Best-Selling Brainwave entrainment music for relaxation and healing

47th

“Steven Halpern’s music has uplifted a generation of seekers. He has created a soundtrack for our evolutionary journey.”

— MARIANNE WILLIAMSON, bestselling author, A Politics of Love

DEEP ALPHA

• Mesmerizing soundscapes that automatically orchestrate ‘higher’ consciousness

• Includes Earth resonance alpha brainwave entrainment tones

• Ethereal vocals on title track feature Kristin Hoffmann

From the Editor

Time to reset…

Nothing recharges the soul more than learning how to reset the mind and disconnect from troubles and worries from time to time (especially for us entrepreneurs). When you feel that the pressure of everyday life is trying to throw you off balance, centering on solitude may be just what you need to energize and find yourself before reconnecting again.

I hope you can find the quiet moments you need in order to reboot your energy this time of year. Recap this year’s journey and challenges with acceptance and gratitude by creating a space in your heart for the new and unexpected — experiences, new ways of thinking, refreshing ideas or simply a boost of energy that you need to continue doing what you love most — whatever it is, you can successfully achieve it. As Henry David Thoreau said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

I hope the knowledge we shared in this issue can help you realize your goals and build confidence in yourself because you’ve got this!

Here’s to an amazing New Year ahead of us!

See you again in 2022 and until then …

Have an insightful reading!

Roberta G.

Roberta G. Editor-in-Chief

Editorial

Retailing Insight Magazine is a bimonthly trade magazine specializing in the conscious living retail market. The magazine is published exclusively for qualified retailers and small independent businesses in the United States. Our mission is to share one on business advice, product reviews, advertisement from top sellers and makers in the industry, and exclusive topics to help business continue to thrive.

Editor-in-Chief

Roberta Gazzarolle

Copyeditor

Sean Ruck

Designer Marina Avila

Digital Media & Sales

Karen Johnson

Contributing Writers

Melinda Carver

Tracee Dunblazier

Dyan Garris

Steven Halpern

Megy Karydes

Madame Pamita

Jacki Smith

©2021 New Way Publishing, LLC.  All rights reserved. ISSN 2372-7977. Volume 35/ Issue 6/ Year 2021. The magazine is published bimonthly/ six times a year (January, March, May, July, September, November) by New Way Publishing, LLC. 4117 Park Road, 12252, Charlotte, NC 28220. Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to Retailing Insight Magazine, P.O. Box 12252, Charlotte, NC 28220.

WWW.RETAILINGINSIGHT.COM

Retailing Insight Magazine is published by New Way Publishing, LLC. 101 S Tryon Street, 27th Floor Charlotte, NC 28280 800-730-1147 I circ@retailinginsight.com

20 54

FEATURES

Retail Review Rituals for Mindful Minds:

A Year-End Reflection for Success in 2022

AS A SPIRITUAL BUSINESS OWNER, you are aware of the seasons on a very different level than the rest of the world. You do your holiday purchasing while everyone else is thinking “back to school,” you look ahead toward Valentine’s Day in December, and plan Halloween decor while people are in bathing suits on the beach. That constant awareness of lead times to serve our customers can take us out of the present moment and drive us to always look ahead instead of being mindful in the

present and take stock of what we have accomplished.

However, there is a beautiful moment in the cycle of the retailer’s year when it just feels natural to take pride in all that we have achieved, to look back on the creativity and ingenuity that we utilized to grow our business, and to set intentions for the future — that moment is the end of the year. That post-holiday week or two is the perfect time to review, renew, revise, and reflect. When you turn that reflection into a

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MADAME PAMITA is a teacher, author, candle maker, spellcaster, Tarot reader, and a maker of magic, music, and mischief. She is the author of The Book of Candle Magic, Madame Pamita’s Magical Tarot, and Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft (upcoming in 2022). She is also the proprietress of the online spiritual apothecary, the Parlour of Wonders. She lives in Santa Monica, California.

ritual, you recharge your batteries and feel reinvigorated for the year to come.

While you might think that these year-end rituals must be done on New Year’s Eve, they can really be done any time around the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one or even any time of the year when you need to take stock and set new

goals. They can be a solo activity or expanded to your entire team to reignite enthusiasm, instill a sense of accomplishment, or replenish optimism after the holiday hubbub. If you set aside a little time to do one, two or all three of these rituals, you will start your year with high vibes, excitement and you will set yourself up for success in 2022.

The first WESA Trade Show took place in 1922. Back then, the founders envisioned the Association would “…advance fellowship and good feeling between retail merchants and the traveling salesmen’” and “promote the exchange of new and successful ideas”. Today, this early vision is still upheld through WESA’s core values of trade, education and fellowship but the WESA Trade Shows also grew to be the most comprehensive trade experience for retailers of the Western and English industry.

A Year-End Candle Ceremony

Candles are inherently magical and a simple candle lighting ceremony can bring everyone together in the present moment in a meaningful way to look back at the year. Gather your staff in your space and provide one small taper candle for each person and one extra for the group. If you are going to place these candles on a table, you will also need a holder for each candle; if you are planning on each person holding their

candle through the ceremony, then poking a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and pushing the base of each candle through the hole can be an easy way to prevent hot wax from dripping on hands.

Put on some peaceful meditative music, turn out the lights and then light the group candle. Guide your team to reflect on something they are proud of that you accomplished as a team over the past year. As the leader, you begin the ceremony by lighting your taper from the flame of the group candle. As you do so, speak a sentence or two about a company success that you want to celebrate from 2021. Once you have finished, the person next to you lights their candle off your flame and states something that they are proud of the team accomplishing. One by one, each person in the room lights the candle off the flame of the person next to them and states something that they are proud of that required team effort.

As the room gets more and more illuminated by the light of the candles, it’s a visual reminder of how each member of the group contributes to the success of everyone and how you all bring light into the world through your spiritual business. It’s also possible to do this ritual on your own. Set up a candelabra with several candles and light each one with a reflection on each thing that you accomplished over the year and then bask in the glow of that beautiful light.

End of Year Tea Ritual

Holding a ritual tea for your team can also be a beautiful way to slow things down for a moment of reflection. Gather and prepare a special tea or mulled cider for the celebration. You might want to choose to work with herbs that will magically support community and connection:

Cinnamon for Motivation

Cloves for Friendship

Star Anise for Spirituality

Allspice for Abundance

Honey for Optimism

You can prepare the tea or cider together with the team and, as you add each ingredient to the pot, each person can speak words for making the coming year personally and communally successful. After the mixture has had time to brew, serve a cup to each member of your team, telling them the special way they contributed to the success of the past year and how much you appreciate them.

You can also brew a tea for yourself as a solo ceremony. Hold your hands over your cup and list out loud what you achieved over the past year. Set the intention of even more success for the new year and then drink your tea to take in these intentions.

New Year Journaling

If you are a solopreneur, then it may be difficult to justify the time and energy for a full-blown ritual. Instead, you can do some powerful reflection on what you conquered and set the course for an even more successful year by spending some time cozied up with your journal.

To make this ritual extra magical, light some incense and put on some meditative music as you write. Wave your journal and pen through this incense to empower your reflections and intentions for the new year, then begin writing. The point of this ritual is not to make you feel like you didn’t do enough or weren’t

perfect; think of it as sharpening your talents and gifts as a business owner.

Use these prompts to do a deep dive into your 2021 and make plans to have an even better and more satisfying 2022:

How would I summarize this past year?

What accomplishments am I most proud of this year?

What were my intentions for the past year? Did I manifest them? Were they important?

Where did I invest most of my time and energy?

What areas would I like to take a step back from?

What areas need more assistance?

What would a successful 2022 look like to me?

What intentions from last year can I roll over into the new year and what new intentions can I add to that list?

While we might often push ourselves to do more, be better, and have more abundance, it’s important to give ourselves a moment to get together with our team and on our own to look back and see all the goals

that we absolutely crushed. While our minds are on all the gift giving at the end of the year, let’s also make some time to give ourselves and our staff a very special gift: the gift of pride, encouragement,

and invigoration. By taking a look back and giving ourselves and our team praise, we can light a spark within that will create passion, enthusiasm and creativity to inspire a whole year of successes. •

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

A small business owner in Brooklyn first came to understand what predatory pricing meant in 2014 when customers started walking into her kitchenware shop and asking why prices for select items — mostly KitchenAid electrics — were higher than those advertised on Amazon.

What she wanted to tell them was that not only was the store’s price following the minimum advertised price (MAP) set by KitchenAid — prices that netted them only a small margin — but that Amazon’s retail prices were often below the wholesale cost itself.

Does This Scenario Sound

Familiar?

This scenario might change if lawmakers in Congress pass a package of six bipartisan bills aimed at restoring competition to the digital marketplace and rein in the largest tech platforms including Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple.

Making this happen won’t be a small feat but there is growing support by retailers across the country and legislators who are recognizing how catastrophic not doing something will be for our economy and communities.

“Right now, unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy,” Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust David N. Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island, said

in a press release. “They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers, and put folks out of work. Our agenda will level the playing field and ensure the wealthiest, most powerful tech monopolies play by the same rules as the rest of us.”

The bills garnered support from both sides of the aisle, with many Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues to express their support. “Big Tech has abused its dominance in the marketplace to crush competitors, censor speech, and control how we see and understand the world,” Representative Ken Buck, a Republican from Colorado, said in the press release. “Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google have prioritized power over innovation and harmed American businesses and consumers in the process. These companies have maintained monopoly power in the online marketplace by using a variety of anticompetitive behaviors to stifle competition. Doing nothing is not an option, we must act now.”

“A Stronger Online Economy: Opportunity, Innovation, Choice” package features six bills, four of which are of particular importance to small and independent retailers:

The American Choice and Innovation Online Act The bill will ensure that small and independent businesses can compete on fair terms on the big tech monopoly platforms. It will bar the tech giants from forcing small businesses to buy services or products in exchange for access to or preferential placement on their platforms, and from spying on their users and scraping their data in order to make and sell their own competing products. The bill will prevent the big tech monopolies from gouging small businesses with sky-high tolls they charge in exchange for placement on their platforms — fees that inevitably drive up the cost of goods and services to consumers. The

bill will also ensure customers are seeing the best, most high-quality results when searching online, rather than seeing the goods and services the tech monopolies want its users to see.

The Platform Competition and Opportunity Act Includes some important provisions to protect third-party sellers like independent retailers and other businesses from predatory behavior by Amazon and the other dominant platforms.

The Ending Platform Monopolies Act — Federal legislation unveiled in June would create a competitive online market by

barring the Big Tech companies from owning both a dominant online platform (a “covered platform”) and a line of business that sells products or services on the platform. This would, for example, require Amazon to spin off its retail and product division into a separate company from its online marketplace.

The Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act — Creates a high hurdle that the four tech giants must overcome to be allowed to acquire other companies. This bill could block many or most acquisitions.

Small Business Rising Is a coalition of over 20 national and local associations representing over 150,000 small and independent businesses nationwide. Its members include booksellers, apparel and gift shop owners and fair-trade businesses as well as national trade associations such as the American Booksellers Association, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, Local First and Main Street Alliance.

Visit www.smallbusinessrising.net to learn about how to get involved and to learn more about what’s happening on Capitol Hill and how it might affect you, your community and your business. •

12 Retail Tips for 2022

FEATURES

REMEMBER APRIL OF 2020 when we were all wondering what the new normal would be post-pandemic? Today, we are inching toward 2022 with the understanding that the pandemic is still a part of our world and the new normal is here. This coming year will set the new shopping trends in stone for the next decade and create a new standard for retailers to pay attention to and master.

Here are the top tips for you to take note of as we head into 2022 with a new strategy.

IN-PERSON SHOPPING

Has dropped from 60% of sales to 37% of sales, according to the Verizon Look Forward Study. They anticipate as the pandemic continues to ease, that number will return to about 42%, with more than 50% of shoppers continuing to shop online. When people return to stores, they want the experience that makes the trip worth their while. Customer service, product interaction and interaction with specialists that can answer all of their questions are the top requests for in-store shopping.

CONTACTLESS CHECK-OUT

Which includes contactless credit cards and alternative payments are on the rise. The same study says that more than one in five adults anticipate they will be using self-checkout and contactless credit cards to reduce exposure to germs. Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Samsung pay can all be used through the phone and consumers will return to location where there is compatible equipment that will make the transactions easier for them. Watch out for Cash App and Venmo options for contactless payments in the future as well.

POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JACKI SMITH is the founder, witch and enchantress at Coventry Creations. Jacki’s bestselling Blessed Herbal Candles started the intentional candle industry almost 30 years ago. Check out her brand of magic in Coventry Magic with Herbs, Oils and Candles, or visit her website www.coventrycreations.com.

An article published by Deloitte last September, says “Holiday Retail Sales Expected to Increase 7-9%,” expect an in-person increase of 7-9% and an e-commerce increase of 11-15%. As vaccination rates rise, there is more consumer confidence for shopping in-person, yet the convenience of online shopping is reshaping the norm. Again, the experts talk about

how consumers are looking for a positive experience in their shopping interactions, top notch customer service, product knowledge and quality over price.

FASTER & FREE SHIPPING

Consumers will pay more! The instant gratification of in-person shopping is being replaced with faster shipping. Consumers will pay more for a product if they get free shipping. With the shipping crisis created by COVID, customers are sensitive to wait and will change plans to get what they want, when they want it. Amazon has set the standard expectation of the two-day shipping, allowing consumers to make last minute purchases.

“AT-HOME” ECONOMY REMAINS

Home improvement, hobbies, cooking, binge-watching, and online shopping will continue to trend in 2022. There is still a great number of remote workers that have the time to enjoy their living space in new ways. Those who are going back to work have found

the need for the time at home to balance out dealing with larger numbers of people and the commute to work. Personal care and spiritual development are a big part of that “at-home” economy. Make it easy and attainable and your customers will return for more.

RETAIL SPACE REDESIGNED

The big-box retailers have been re-designing their spaces to increase the feeling of health safety for customers including wider aisles, with more options for space distance recommended by the CDC. These redesigns are used as a part of their marketing campaigns to draw customers back to the brick-andmortar locations.

ONCE MORE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK

Customer experience is still the largest driver of in-store shopping. The pre-COVID trend of large retailers closing their doors due to the increase in online shopping continues and online retailers work hard to create the shopping experience that is inherent to in-person shopping. Identifying, enhancing, and promoting your unique in-store experience will be a big draw for walk-in consumers. Being able to touch and try products before buying them is still a driver for in-person shopping.

YOUR BRAND IS BIGGER THAN YOUR NAME

The first driver of your brand is your reputation; in-store experience, quality of products, how you interact with a wider community, and how you give back. Businesses that have a clear mission and vision will gain faster customer loyalty. Private label

products, special packaging, and items or services unique to your store are trends you will see gain traction in 2022.

VALUES ARE THE NEW BLACK

Customers are paying attention to the values of the brands they are loyal to. A report from Accentures, states, “Global consumers have new motivations beyond price and quality. They are ready to abandon brands that don’t support their reimagined values. And to pay more to those that do.” Accenture is calling these the Reimagined Consumers and they are 50% of the 25,000 people surveyed. “A full 50% of consumers say that the pandemic caused them to rethink their personal purpose and re-evaluate what’s important to them in life.”

Forty-two percent say the pandemic made them realize they need to focus on others more than themselves. These consumers — we call them the “reimagined”— are changing their buying habits accordingly across all 14 industries we covered.”

LIVE STREAMING

The pandemic created a popular new buying experience. Live streaming creates a personal experience that engages your customers and creates an urgency to buy. Customers who are at home can connect with the virtual interaction and develop that loyalty they would get with an in-store experience. This seems to be specifically effective for one-of-a-kind and limited-edition items where you show the unique value.

HEALTH & WELLBEING REMAIN PRIMARY CONCERNS

Illness, stress, long haulers, and the impact of our changing world continues to keep health and well-being top of mind for most consumers. Customers are looking for products, services, and information in personal care. Easily adaptable self-care solutions are in demand.

FAMILY, FRIENDS & RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Is a major motivating factor for today’s consumer. People are craving deeply personal experiences that remind them of and confirm their meaning of life. The reimagined consumer wants things that simplify life, bring ease to their buying decisions, have amazing personal service, build trust, promote well-being, and that have a positive impact upon the world. There is a new compassion for the world and the people who inhabit it.

As you create your strategy for next year, keep customer convenience as your driver. Stress levels have never been higher, confusion over what is true and what is a conspiracy, decision fatigue, and self-preservation create the need to simplify the buying process. This may involve a continual reimagining of your own business. Although this is not the new normal, it is the first foundational step into a new way of consumerism. Take small, regular steps toward incorporating what works for your business. •

GIFTS THAT INSPIRE

"The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. everyone should follow one path.

It can’t be organized or regulated. It isn’t true that Listen to your own truth.” – Ram Dass

Gifts from the Heart

CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WITH SPECIAL GOODS MADE BY CONSCIOUS HEARTS .

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1. Mraba Ring by www.meyelo.com Handmade by skilled artisans in Kenya, Africa. A portion of every purchase goes directly to support sustainable community development projects in Kenya! (Retail Price $38) 2. Grass Recycled Glass Bracelet by www.wishbeads.com This collection features African recycled glass beads handmade by members of the Krobo Tribe in Ghana, Africa. (Retail Price $48) 3. Handwoven Decorative Basket, Colors of a Campfi re by Amazon Ecology Made by local Peruvian artisans. (Retail Price $26) 4. Chakra Didi Macrame, 7 Bracelet Set By www.soljewels.com Made of lead free, nickel free and cadmium free brass, silver plated. Their chords are water resistant and can be worn at the beach. (Retail Price $39.99) 5. STRANDS Gold (24K) & Tagua Necklace, Ivory White by www.muichic.com A sustainable, organic, vegan and biodegradable necklace made with 100% vegetable ivory. (Wholesale Price $40) 6. Haiti Metal by www.beautifullymadefairtrade.com Handmade in Haiti from recycled steel drums. Each purchase supports the artisan who handcrafted the piece. (Retail Price $32) Editor'sPicks

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7. Earring Travel Case by www.amaniafrica.org This travel case has 8 individual pockets which allow for easy and safe storage for earrings, as well as a larger compartment in the center for bracelets, rings and necklaces. Handmade by the women of Amani Kenya. (Retail Price $14) 8. Hamsa Serving Tray by www.catalystcollections.com This Hamsa tray is hammered from recycled oil barrels. (Retail Price $55) 9. Coral Tassel Earrings by www.nicalifeproject.com These earrings are handmade in Nicaragua using tassels handmade in India to provides jobs and funds to end violence against women. (Retail Price $35.99) 10. Patchwork Tote by www.ravenandlily.com Created in collaboration with SurfearNEGRA, the custom tote is made with repurposed cotton, hand-spun, hand-woven, and hand-dyed by artisans in West Africa. (Retail Price $70) 11. Golden Grass Bangle, Coral by www.crosstrade.org Handmade in Brazil by local artisans. (Retail Price $10) 12. Fantasy Box, Turquoise & White by www.melaartisans.com Handmade from bone, this precisely handcrafted piece, with its daring and geometric pattern, is mesmerizing in its details. Handcrafted in India. (Retail Price $42). 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

FEATURES

Time to Reboot

EVERY RELATIONSHIP we engage in leaves a connection or imprint on our heart…

When we are physically unwell, we take an action to help our bodies release the toxins that are making us sick. If our business is losing money, we cut expenses or strengthen our marketing strategy. If we have running negative thoughts about life, we do what we can to affirm a new thought pattern — but how many times in your life have you done a heart cleanse? Your heart is the central organ that carries the emotional weight of all your hopes and dreams, beliefs, and ideals. Every relationship you’ve engaged in — business or personal — resides there over a lifetime even many

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TRACEE DUNBLAZIER , GC-C, is a Los Angeles-based spiritual empath, shaman, and eleven-time national award-winning author, publisher, and the current president of COVR: Coalition of Visionary Resources. As a multi-sensitive, Tracee’s blend of intuitive information combined with different modalities, has provided the opportunity for many to achieve deep healing and create the success and peace they seek in their lives. Her latest bestseller is Conquer Your Karmic Relationships: Heal Spiritual Trauma to Open Your Heart and Heal Your Soul

that have all but ended or no longer serve you. Now is the time to reboot your heart and create space for all the new opportunities coming your way.

You’ve probably heard someone say, “You know who’s going through something right now? Literally, everyone.” No matter how you do business, online or in a brick-and-mortar location, each customer, employee, or acquaintance you will happen upon, is struggling with new experiences, financial insecurity, physical instability, a shift in beliefs, emotional overload…or all of the above. The pandemic has created a unique set of dynamics all hitting critical mass at the same time, so how can you sustain your

equilibrium, or get it back during such a momentous time, while still taking care of your business?

As the year ends, it is a natural response for our biorhythms to point us towards some self- reflection on our year, our business, our health, and our connections. However, if you’re like me, instead of giving time to that internal inventory, we get swept up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and all the work that entails. It’s easy to do a physical purification or change a habit, but how do we clear our hearts of outdated beliefs, information, or relationships that no longer are in balance with who we are and what we’re doing?

At the end of the day, our lives are made up of the perceived

relationships we have accumulated over time. How we feel about people and how we think they feel about us. It is not just our bonds with others that weigh us down, it’s our connections to the work we do, the environments we live in, the conditions we live with inside and out, the news we watch, the food we eat, and the body we nurture. Experiences we have long forgotten about may still be energetically expressed in the way we treat ourselves or others.

Any relationship we choose to harbor must be a reciprocal

one — a give and take that maintains balance and sustains us on some level, in some way, and that inspires us to make contributions that support others.

This is the powerful human entitlement that our deepest self intends. It’s amazing, the

transformation that comes from a slight shift in any direction, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or physically. So, in the spirit of renewal and restoration, I offer a simple ritual for you to do at a time and place of your choosing. Of course, I proffer nothing that I don’t use myself, and let me tell you, this one was a profound experience.

The time I choose, is just before bed or upon waking. This exercise only requires a fairly relaxed state of being and the free flow of pictures, thoughts, and feelings — although, it is just as effective when you are doing mindless work or menial tasks. It is an energetic cord-cutting ritual to help you visually recognize

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the energy and connections you carry in your heart, and in your body in general.

I started with my focus on relationships with people I found I harbored in my heart, but quickly moved to thoughts, beliefs, and old news stories I’d been giving refuge, in my stomach, arms, and legs. It’s amazing the way our consciousness witnesses everything, and we hold onto what we resonate with or may need for future use. However, our cognizant mind only recognizes a small portion of that information, and when we’ve changed our feelings or minds about certain things, we may not take the opportunity to deliberately release the outdated fodder.

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| The CordCutting Ritual

Take a few deep breaths to bring yourself into a moderate state of relaxation, and ask yourself, “Whose energy am I carrying in my heart?”, and let the fun begin. As names or faces come to mind, visualize a gentle stream of energy between you and them and see yourself clip it with a pair of scissors. Now, take notice of the place in your body where it is connected (it may not be your heart) and let the “root-ball” of energy fall to the ground, now continue-on where your heart

and mind lead you — to the next person place or thing that comes to mind. It’s like a spiritual haircut, now rinse and repeat. (You’re not removing people permanently from your spirit, just gaining some perspective.)

You can continue this ritual for as much time as you have or during your daily chores, until you feel sufficiently, rebooted. While the ritual is simple, its effects are not. Often, we are carrying energy from deep in our past and it may bring up grief or sorrow. When that’s the case, let the tears gently flow till they run out. In grief, the resistance we experience to expressing the tears is the difficulty, not the emotion itself. Gentleness is the key, allowing

feelings to float to the surface—to rise and fall in equilibrium. This is the practice of mindfulness, and as you get used to the rhythm, it can be as joyful and cathartic as a walk.

Don’t be surprised in the process, the things that come to mind. We have a lot of space to carry what we value like our relationship to politics, news stories that touched our hearts, deep losses and minor transitions, friendships that dwindled or ended abruptly, or our relationship with food or consumerism. All these elements of daily life must be offered the opportunity to transition in our perspective and focus when we no longer need them to achieve balance.

The final phase in your reboot is gratitude

Now that you’ve allowed all that no longer serves you to fall-away, visualize in your mind sweeping all that energy into a hole in the Earth so that it can become useable energy for the planet. Take moments to offer reverence to the many ways that this energy or those people have served you and give thanks by drawing down light from the ethers into the places in your mind, body, and spirit where you once held them. Send to all that you are releasing this light as well.

As a final thought, doing this ritual often can really allow you to process on all levels — where you’ve been, who you are — and create space for all you’d like to accomplish and become. It will upgrade your level of ease and let you know where important changes are to be made. It only takes one small clip to change the future. •

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“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Nelson Mandela

FEATURES

Finding Inner Peace Through Meditation Music

AS I REVIEW MY FIRST 74 YEARS, it’s become increasingly clear I’ve been a spiritual seeker all my life, even before I had the vocabulary to articulate it. To paraphrase Reba McEntire, who was “Country before Country was cool,” I was “New Age” before New Age was cool.

I came of age in the mid-60s, perfectly placed at one of the centers of higher consciousness of that era, at the Universe-City of Buffalo. I studied with master poets and musicians, and read all the spiritual books I could find.

My primary mode to access that state has always been riding the soundwaves, first as a trumpet player getting deep into jazz improvisation, and then as a sound healer, exploring the sacred space and silence between the notes of the audible music.

| Growing Up Sound-sitive

I came into this life highly sensitive to sounds of all kinds, which is a mixed blessing. At 9 years old, it meant that I complained to my parents that the sound of the rumbling refrigerator in our tiny kitchen was hurting my stomach, causing

discomfort, indigestion, and gas. My Dad said, “It doesn’t bother me, so it can’t bother you. Shut up and eat your peas.”

It meant that I could hear a quiet ticking clock across the room at my professor’s home and complain that it was making me distracted and irritated.

I was never invited back.

But it also provided the sensitivity which allows me to tune in to the silence and the space between the notes that I physically play when I discovered how to channel music while sitting at the piano.

In so doing, I align with the quantum field, and enter a mindful state of being totally in the moment. When I am at the keyboard in the studio, there is no past or future, there is only the Now. To record the music that I do, I must be in a balanced, peaceful state of mind.

| Music as Vehicle, Music as Portal

How did I discover how to do this? The music came to me. It arrived during a life-changing meditation. It was not, however, out of the blue.

You, too, can find inner peace on the wings of meditation music. More on that shortly.

In November 1969, I was studying cross-cultural expressions of music for healing and higher consciousness and playing trumpet in an eight-piece jazz rock band in Buffalo. During summers after junior and senior semester, I would practice up to eight hours a day, learning all the scales and chord progressions.

Inspired by the music and philosophy of John Coltrane, Gurdjieff and Sufi Master Hazrat Inayat Khan, I also learned about ancient traditions of sound healing in the East and West (of course, there were NO recordings of Pythagoras jamming on his lyre in 6th Century BC Greece).

I owned a few albums that took me to peaceful places, but they were Indian raga and Zen flute music. They sounded too ‘foreign’ to most people, though. Why wasn’t there a modern form of meditation and healing music for us in the West?

I prayed to hear what healing music would sound like in the mid-20th century.

The answer came to me in a spontaneous, deep meditation in a sacred redwood grove in the hills above Santa Cruz, California

in November 1969.

It was the first time I ever heard angelic music inside my head, and one of the only times I’ve heard a voice speaking to me. It said, “This is the music you have been praying to hear. Now, your mission is to share it with the world.”

Two hours earlier, I had been mistaken for a job applicant at a leading human potential institute. I was invited to audition for the vacant staff position in a few hours. When I went to the meeting room, I did not find anyone.

What I did find, though, was a wonderful old upright grand piano. Although I had never formally studied piano, I could play simple blues and rock riffs. This time, however, as soon as my fingers touched the keys, I went into a light trance, and became one with the music. (Beginning in 1965, I had experienced going on automatic a few times, playing trumpet in a high-intensity John Coltrane-inspired jazz group.)

Playing this soulful piano, I could hear symphonies of ethereal overtones as I played poly-quartal harmonies. I was instantly transported to an exquisite place of light and love in the space and silence between the notes that I physically played. I felt like I was levitating. After about 10 minutes, I heard some rustling in the room. It was the staff.

“Who are you, and how did you learn to play like that?”

Their feedback let me know something special had just occurred. They all felt it.

Thus began my new life in California, guided by many cosmic coincidences and synchronicities that connected me with research scientists who proved that my original music balanced the brainwaves and the human biofield (aura) better than any classical, pop or jazz music tested.

|

Tuning In to Inner Peace

Listening orchestrates high coherence alpha and theta brainwaves, and balances the human biofield, at the speed of sound, as you listen:

Take a deep breath: Stop multi-tasking. Allow yourself to fully focus on the music, with attention and intention.

Stop ‘thinking’ about what you are hearing as you were taught in music appreciation class. Thinking T H E Z E N S T O N E G A R D E N

Kelly Barker Newport, OR 541-961-1285 kelly@kellybarker.com

Artist # 22255 www.IndieMe.com

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involves the left hemisphere of your brain and is involved with intellectually analyzing the structure of the composition, and the direction of the melody. l call this the “Scalus Interruptus Syndrome” the paralysis of analysis that keeps you locked into anticipating future moments where the music will go. That is the complete opposite of what you need in order to be in a mindful state of awareness of the present moment...in the here (hear) and now. You see… relaxation and inner peace only happen in the present moment, not the future.

I get to a mindful state when I am at the keyboard composing/channeling/recording my albums. I set my intention to bring through the highest and best audible vibrations to open the heart and uplift the soul. For me, if music is too fast, or busy (too many notes), as the Emperor said to Mozart, it gets in the way of accessing the inner silence.

HINT:

To enhance your experience of inner peace, at the speed of sound, listen to records mindfully by selecting songs that include brainwave entrainment tones, and enjoy the trip!•

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Books PRINT FINE PRINT

A curated selection of new & upcoming books in body-mind-spirit

The High 5 Habit: Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit

By Mel Robbins

Publication Date: October 2021

Published by Hay House

ISBN: 9781401962128

Pages: 264 I Price: $16.49

In this book, Mel teaches you how to start high fiving the most important person in your life, the one who is staring back at you in the mirror: YOURSELF. Using her signature science-backed wisdom, deeply personal stories, and the real-life results that The High 5 Habit is creating in people's lives around the world (and you'll meet a lot of them throughout this book), Mel will teach you how to make believing in yourself a habit so that you operate with the confidence that your goals and dreams demand. The High 5 Habit is a simple yet profound tool that changes your attitude, your mindset, and your behavior. So be prepared to laugh and learn as you take steps to immediately boost your confidence, happiness, and results.

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Your Intuition Led You Here: Daily Rituals for Empowerment, Inner Knowing, and Magic

By Alex Naranjo, Marlene Vargas

Publication Date: December 2021

Published by Harmony Books

ISBN: 9780593139486

Pages: 272 I Price: $20.49

A practical beginner’s guide to magic that helps people achieve healing, transformation, empowerment, and personal growth — from the owners of the destination boutique House of Intuition. With wit, lightness, and accessibility, Alex and Marlene guide you through the process of tapping into your intuition, intention, and self-empowerment. The book contains a Magic 101 primer, an appendix with the symbolism behind key magical ingredients, and 32 tried-and-true rituals that allow you to align with your true self. The authors empower you to hear your inner voice and design your own powerful rituals in response. This book is ultimately a path to accessing the healing of magic, understanding your power, and putting your intuition into practice.

Angels in Waiting: How to Reach Out to Your Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

By Robbie Holz with Judy Katz

Publication Date: November 2021

Published by Inner Traditions

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A step-by-step guide to engaging powerful angelic assistance to overcome challenges and manifest your desires. Revealing the angels’ strong desire to assist us, Robbie Holz explains how to initiate contact with angels and spirit guides, how to recognize their signs, and how to appeal to your guardian angel. She provides exercises and guided meditations to help strengthen your intuition and develop a closer connection to your celestial team.

The Little Book of Moon Magic: Working with the Power of the Lunar Cycles

by Sarah Bartlett

Publication Date: February 2022

Published by Little, Brown & Co.

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The Little Book of Moon Magic will show you how to maximize potent lunar energy at the most auspicious times, to make your life what you truly want it to be. From wishing on the new moon and manifesting success, to knowing when to attract new romance, this guide reveals how to go with the flow of the moon to bring you the happiness you seek. This book also reveals how to track and utilize astrological lunar cycles throughout the year for self-improvement, work with moon goddess rituals for positive empowerment, as well as discover how your moon-sign determines your moods, comfort zones, emotional needs, and so much more.

The Witch at the Forest’s Edge: Thirteen Keys to Modern Traditional Witchcraft by Christine Grace Foreword by Cory Thomas Hutcheson

Publication Date: November 2021

Published by Red Wheel Weiser

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An in-depth course of study in the modern practice of traditional witchcraft. The Witch at the Forest’s Edge offers the means to reflect on the multiple cultures that inform the practices of modern witches, encouraging the reader to think deeply and undergird modern practices with ancestral knowledge.

on Your Spiritual Journey

By Eknath Easwaran

Publication Date: January 2022

Published by Nilgiri Press

ISBN: 9781586380700

Pages: 175 I Price: $12.99

A master spiritual teacher invites us on a journey — to the summit of self-discovery. This is a book to lift the spirit of anyone aiming to live a kinder, calmer, more meaningful life, in the midst of all the challenges facing the world today.

Climbing the Blue Mountain: Take the Next Step

Playlist

REVIEWS OF GREAT MUSIC TO SELL & ENJOY

PIECES OF FOREVER

Laura Sullivan, Sentient Spirit Records www.laurasullivanmusic.com

Any musical artist knows that every time you write a piece of music and put it out there, you’re taking a risk, a risk of the heart. And it’s a risk taken in hope that the listener will understand and connect in a deep way with what you’re trying to say from your heart. It’s a vulnerability all its own. Grammy winner, Laura Sullivan’s new album, “Pieces of Forever” is like that. The 11-track, “Contemporary Instrumental” album is inspired by the lives of her late parents. Directly from the heart, it’s a gentle loving tribute to them, to life, memories, and to love.

AURORAL MAGIC

Chakuna Machi Asa, 4 Directions Records www.chakuna.com

Auroral Magic is a tribute to Chakuna Machi Asa’s Nordic lineage and her ancient ancestors with whom she co-created this album. The term “auroral” in the album title, represents the Aurora Borealis as well as a new beginning: the light of dawn. So, we have an interesting, intriguing combination of piano, with a bit of guitar and strings, and some chant and vocals, all in a definitively “New Age” style. Softly uplifting, glowing, like the Aurora Borealis, the music is gently transportive. Here, you may just catch more than a glimpse of the interconnectedness and eternal nature of human consciousness.

WINDS OF CHANGE

David J. Peña, Independent www.davidjpena.com

Winds of Change is vibrant, “feel-good” music. From the very first few notes of this brief “New Age Contemporary” album, you already know this is something special. Melodic, upbeat, and cinematic are a few descriptions that come to mind. David’s piano performance is outstanding. And the cinematic orchestration by Judah Earl is completely gorgeous. One thing I love about this whole album is the way David plays the piano. There is a confident, passionate touch here, emotionally evocative, along with gentle moments in all the right places. There is a synergistic depth and emotion to this recording that is phenomenal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DYAN GARRIS is an award-winning New Age recording artist, award-winning author, and music reviewer, who has recorded and produced 14 albums. Garris’ recordings include a series of independently tested music and meditation CDs that earned The National Health & Wellness Stamp of Approval. Her music can be found on Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, SiriusXM, Muzak, Music Choice, airlines, and more. To know more, visit www.DyanGarrisMusic.com

ELEVEN AFTER MIDNIGHT

Holland Phillips, Ageless www.musicbyholland.com

Eleven After Midnight is the 10 th album from award-winning, multiinstrumentalist, Holland Phillips. Every song on this spectacular “New Age Contemporary Instrumental” album was created in the hours between midnight and the sunrise. Holland says that’s when he does his best work. I agree. Mainly piano based, with varied instrumentation such as synth, guitars, flutes, strings, percussion, and percolating electronica, the music is influenced by the isolation of the pandemic times, but it is decidedly upbeat, uplifting, forward moving, and positive. The 41- minute, 11 track album is structured, flowing, passionately played, and with intricacies and details we don’t find everywhere.

THE GRAND PIANO SPA: LEGACY

Darlene Koldenhoven, Time Art Recordings www.darlenekoldenhoven.com

It’s not an easy thing to continue to top oneself as a musical artist. Earlier this year, Grammy winner, Darlene Koldenhoven, released her first solo piano album, “The Grand Piano Spa.” That album made its way to #4 on the Billboard charts in its first week of release. So, I wondered. ...what comes next? “The Grand Piano Spa: Legacy,” of course. The lovely, flawless album is 10 tracks, 46 minutes of grand solo piano that is uplifting, radiant, and relaxing all at the same time. This is a true treasure in the deep sea of New Age solo piano.

BROTHERS

Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster & Tom Eaton, Retso Records www.jeffoster.bandcamp.com

A quiet, acoustic album, straight from the heart of three musical legends collaborating as “one,” “Brothers” is the tender, touching, and profoundly poignant album from Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster, and Tom Eaton. The album is eight tracks, featuring Will Ackerman on guitar, Jeff Oster on flugelhorn and trumpet, and Tom Eaton on piano, keyboards, and bass. There’s a timeless synergy here that is incomparable. The music is a relaxing, effortless breeze rolling softly through your soul and touching your heart in its deepest spaces, ever so gently, like a caress. And there it remains, like the unbreakable, eternal bond between brothers/soul family.

HOLIDAY SELLING TIPS: Divination Decks

TAROT AND OTHER DIVINATION decks are super sellers, right after crystals and jewelry. Are you showcasing your decks in your store to maximize your sales? Here are some promotional tips to boost your bottom line...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MELINDA CARVER is a Spiritual Business Expert and an award-winning Author, Psychic Medium and Speaker. She is the President of the Church of Radiant Lights located in Cleveland, OH. www.PsychicMelinda.webs.com.

1.Use Social Media

When you receive a new shipment of divination decks, announce it on your social media platforms. Take a photo of the full open box of decks to generate excitement. Grab artwork photos from publisher websites to share on your post. Artwork sells the deck so promote it.

2.Sizzling Sellers Display

Create a display of the best-selling decks for the holiday season. Make a sign announcing

“hottest decks” or “top-sellers” to be prominently shown with your display. This assists your customers with making fast gift selections.

3.

Customer Wish Lists

Allow your customers to sign up for “wish lists” of the brand new decks that you carry. Their non-magical family members can contact you to order those wish list decks for delivery or pick up for the holiday season.

4.Themes to Sell By

Some of your customers are obsessed with specific themes like animals, fairies, witchy, goddesses, etc. Organize your display by themes so these customers can see ALL of the decks in their favorite divination focus.

5.Decks are so popular, and they make perfect stocking stuffers. Creating excitement and prominently showcasing your decks to your customers will increase your sales during the holiday season.

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