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Sensing the Right Path
It just so happens that our tradition of vacationing in the Outer Banks coincided with Tropical Storm Debby this year. We were already in OBX when my stepmom alerted me to the storm’s path.
The weather was warm and overcast and very comfortable when we got there. Early in the week it started raining a good bit and there was some flooding of Highway 12—normal for the area, I’m sure. I know this because I saw other people driving through the standing water with apparently little concern. (They also had larger vehicles.)
Then Wednesday morning I got up early for my morning walk on the beach and found the entire yard, carport and road flooded. Our rental car was standing in about three inches of water. I felt unsettled. It was very windy, the ocean was quite rough, and as I walked through the flooded road on my way back to the house where we were staying, I started wondering if we should leave. The storm was projected to hit Charlotte by the next morning. If we didn’t get back before then, the potential damage there might make it harder to get home on Saturday. Or Highway 12 could become even more flooded, and our vehicle would have a hard time making it through.
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After much angst and second-guessing, I decided to leave. We arrived in Charlotte around midnight, slept through the storm, and awoke to no electricity (we got it back relatively quickly). It was a relief to be home, but at the same time I wondered if we should have left in the first place. I even checked the NC12 Facebook page and found a vacationer’s comment that they had seen worse flooding on previous trips—quite unhelpful. Finally, I had to let it go and trust the inner voice that guided my decision.
Many of this month’s articles, which are centered on Emotional Healing, talk about accessing our sage, that intuitive power we all have that knows what to do. It isn’t something many of us understand or have developed. For me, trusting this inner voice was a start.
Wishing for you to embrace your intuition this month of fall, Shannon
Navigating Real Estate Amidst a Surge in Separations and Divorces
Scott Pridemore, who has been a real estate agent in Charlotte for 25-plus years, provides the Compass Private Exclusive Program that can maintain privacy for clients that are going through divorce proceedings to be able to sell their homes “off-market” when it’s important to them. Each case is handled individually, depending on specific circumstances, ensuring that client needs and concerns are fully addressed—a tailored approach with additional confidentiality and discretion during an already sensitive time.
“I have never witnessed as many separations and divorces as I have in the last three years,” he says. “This trend has brought about unique dynamics and challenges in the real estate market, particularly when it involves families with children.”
He cites that many divorced couples are opting to live in close proximity to one another, ensuring that their children remain within the same school system and have a more consistent and stable environment. This trend has led to a unique phenomenon where, rather than seeking complete independence, former spouses are actively involved in each other’s housing decisions for their children’s benefit.
“I have witnessed several cases where ex-spouses assist each other in finding separate homes. This cooperative approach extends to the point where each parent takes an interest in where the other resides, understanding that it significantly impacts their children’s well-being.”
“We have worked in collaboration with divorce attorneys, financial planners and CPAs to facilitate the purchase or sale of real estate before, during and after divorce. This team-based approach ensures that all aspects of the transaction are handled smoothly and efficiently, providing much-needed stability during a turbulent time. [This method addresses] the complex financial and legal challenges that arise, making the transition as seamless as possible for our clients.”
Pridemore, who also specializes in sustainable and eco-friendly properties, strives to provide “empathy and collaboration in navigating real estate transactions amidst personal upheavals. As a real estate professional, it’s both challenging and rewarding to facilitate these delicate transitions, ensuring that families, especially children, find stability and comfort during such significant life changes.”
For more information, call 704-562-0792 or visit ScottPridemore.com. See ad, page 21.
A Silva Method Foundation Course, led by certified lecturers Velories Anne Figures, J.D., and Shirley Bridgewater, MS, Rh.t, will be conducted from 6 to 10 p.m., September 27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., September 28 and 2 to 6 p.m., September 29, and also at the same times October 4 to 6, both in-person and online, at the HeartLight Spiritual Center, in Charlotte. Attendees will learn techniques for deep relaxation, which can help boost creativity, focus, overall cognitive function, enhance mental clarity, reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
Methods taught are designed to empower individuals to harness the power of their mind, leading to better decision-making, increased productivity and a more positive outlook. Additionally, the skills gained can enhance personal and professional relationships by fostering better communication and empathy.
Figures has 36 years of experience and studied with Jose Silva including attending several 10-day Mastery Seminars and other advanced classes, is experienced in energy healing and Spiritual Transformation Coaching including Reconnective Healing certifications as Foundation, Reconnection and animal practitioners among other credentials. Bridgewater, with 24 years of experience and the director of Silva in Bermuda, is a certified Advance Consultant/Facilitator, Certified Relaxation Instructor, Intuitive Consultant and Spiritual Life Coach, and is listed in the international Registry of Spiritual Healers.
Since 1966, more than 10 million people worldwide have completed the Silva course which hasn’t been offered in Charlotte for many years.
Cost $333 including educational materials for either 16-hour weekend edition. Early bird discounts are available for both. Location: 7300 Mallard Creek Rd. Discounts available for repeat students. For more information or to register, call 704-599-1180 (voicemail), email Tim@HeartLightCharlotte.org or visit HeartLightCharlotte.org/silva1. See CRG, page 34.
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Holistic Functional Nutrition Counseling
Suzie Franz, owner of Winding Creek Holistic Functional Nutrition, based in Davidson, North Carolina, provides private in-person and virtual consultations and complimentary pre-consultations. She employs holistic strategies to uncover the root causes of illness that can arise from poor nutrition, toxicity, parasites, and other environmental factors. Functional Nutrition counseling utilizes lifechanging strategies to help heal modern-day common afflictions such as IBS and gut issues, thyroid problems and hormone dysregulation, metabolic imbalances, weight loss/gain, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune disorders.
Suzie, who is referred by many types of health care providers, has more than 35 years of experience in health care, including expertise in clinical physical therapy, a national board certification in Functional Nutrition (specializing in cellular detoxing), and is a 350-hour certified yoga instructor with advanced pediatric and special needs training.
Suzie stables her three riding horses on her property in Davidson and for over 40 years has rehabilitated many injured horses and dogs, working closely with veterinarians.
Location: 9870 Harvest Lane, Davidson. For a free pre-consultation or to make an appointment, call or text 618-558-1641 or email WindingCreekFNC@yahoo.com. For more information, visit WindingCreekFNC.com. See CRG, page 33.
Orders Provides Live Honeybee Presentations
Justin Orders of Queen’s Orders Honey, LLC, can provide informative beekeeping presentations featuring live honeybees in observation hives for schools, libraries, organizations and clubs throughout Mecklenburg County from now through the end of this winter. Youngsters and adults can learn about the critical role the pollinators play in nature and helping produce the many fruits and vegetables we eat and more about their fascinating lives and behavior, explained by a seasoned and enthusiastic beekeeper.
Orders has been a beekeeper for over six years and offers a Hive Host program that allows clients bees in their yard with someone to care for them. His favorite part of beekeeping is facilitating working hives with clients and showing them what their bees are doing throughout the year along with observing the unique aspects of each hive. Orders has given dozens of presentations to all age groups, ranging from clubs with adult attendees to kindergarten classes.
Fee for presentations: $70 per hour. For more information or to arrange for a presentation, call 704-315-8935, email QueensOrdersHoney@gmail.com or visit QueensOrdersHoney.com. See CRG, page 32.
Peach to Lead Monthly Reiki Share Events
Jessica Peach, Massage Therapist and Medical Reiki Master, and owner of British Massage and Wellness Center, in Charlotte, will lead a Reiki
Share from 1 to 4 p.m. on September 22 and on every third Sunday on an ongoing basis except for next month which will be on October 27. The sessions, for reiki practitioners and anyone else interested in it, will explore what the modality is and allow participants to share and experience its healing power.
“Healing is extremely important to all of us, especially if we are going through any surgery or particular disease or emotional issues at the time,” says Peach, who has been a massage therapist for 22 years and graduated from Southeastern Massage School. “One of my clients asked me to send reiki to her grandson who needed a heart transplant. Our collective sent healing energy and within a week, he received a heart at Novant in Matthews and is currently in good health. Group reiki is powerful and is what is needed now.”
A National Institute of Health study found reiki effective for inducing a physically relaxed state.
Peach, originally from London, has lived in Charlotte for over 30 years and has been practicing reiki for 26 years.
Cost: Love offering. Location: 2210
Coronation Blvd., Ste. C. To register, call or text 704-572-1310 or email info@BritishMassage.com. For more information, visit BritishMassage.com. See ad, page 5.
Jessica Peach
Suzie Franz and Sam
Justin Orders teaching class
Mama Bessie’s Place Celebrates 17-Year
Anniversary
To celebrate its 17-year anniversary, Mama Bessie’s Place, in Charlotte, will host a free Customer Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 14. Attendees will be introduced to their new line of Sweetwater’s Healing Medicine Bags; enjoy major separate morning and afternoon discounts on various products and items; participate in raffles for the new line along with Joshua Henry Smith’s ritual tools and the store’s own spiritual oils; and obtain a gift with purchases.
The store also has new hours beginning this month of noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
The new line combines the metaphysical tools of crystals, herbs, oils and candles to promote emotional healing of grief, anxiety, depression, blockages, past trauma and anger, fostering improved mood, balancing and stability.
Along with appreciating their customers for all these years and looking forward to continuing to serve them with care and thankfulness, the store is deeply grateful to their spirit guides; Mama Bessie, who guided them to open the store; Joshua Henry Smith, who has shared recipes for his own line of ritual products; and to Sweetwater, the Curandera, who has inspired the popular Sweetwater’s 21 Herbs Blend, Oil and now the new product line.
Camembert and Brie Cheese Risk Extinction
A decrease in biodiversity may lead to the loss of some of the most beloved cheeses—camembert, brie and blue cheese— according to a warning from the French National Center for Scientific Research. The fungi used to ferment these cheeses and give them their unique taste, smell, color and texture are in decline, and it is believed that efforts to engineer consistent results using fungi made in the lab is partially to blame for this decline.
Location: 3010 Monroe Rd., Ste. 104. For more information, call 704632-9911, email MamaBessiesPlace@yahoo.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram. See ad, page 16.
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In the case of camembert, the objective was to create a standardized, pristine-white look and silky texture by using a specific strain of albino fungus. But over time, that fungus has lost its ability to reproduce naturally and is losing its capability to produce asexual spores. Relying on a single form of an organism also makes it susceptible to disease, which could wipe out the whole population. In the future, cheese lovers may need to accept the greater degree of variability in the look and taste of their favorite cheeses that results from using wild fungi.
Natural Awakenings appreciates the generosity of its distributors throughout the area.
Natural Awakenings appreciates the generosity of its distributors throughout the area.
Please consider supporting these major distributors by shopping there and picking up the magazine each month from one of the racks.
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Please consider supporting these major distributors by shopping there and picking up the magazine each month from one of the racks.
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Representing three spirit guides
Cause of Lupus Discovered
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, damaging joints, skin, muscles, connective tissue and major organs such as the kidneys, brain and heart. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, an estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus, with nine out of 10 being women. Researchers at Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, say they have identified the root cause of lupus. In research reported in the journal Nature, the scientists identified a molecular defect that promotes the immune response in lupus, as well as a way to reprogram the lupuscausing cells to correct the imbalance in the immune response. Work continues to find a safe and effective way to deliver these molecules to the body for reprogramming.
Microbiome and Addictive Eating
While food addiction is not considered an official diagnosis, some people have a hard time controlling the amount of highly processed foods they consume. In research published in the journal Gut, scientists analyzed the microbiome bacteria of mice and humans with food addictions. They found that the bacteria in mice and humans with food addictions were different from their counterparts with a healthy food relationship. The food-addicted groups had lower levels of the beneficial Blautia bacteria and high levels of the detrimental Proteobacteria in their microbiomes. When the researchers increased the Blautia bacteria levels in the mice that had become compulsive eaters, the compulsive behavior stopped. While a correlation between the microbiome makeup and eating patterns has been identified, more research is needed to understand whether that relationship is a cause or a marker for compulsive eating.
Childhood Diet Linked to Long-Term Cognitive Health
The findings of a study on the long-term effects of diet were presented at the June 2024 meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Chicago. The study tracked diet and cognitive abilities of more than 3,000 adults enrolled in a British survey since 1946. The participants’ diet was analyzed at five points in time, and their cognitive ability at seven points. The researchers found that higher dietary quality was closely linked with greater cognitive ability, including working memory, processing speed and general cognitive performance. Those with the highest cognitive abilities over time ate more vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, and less sodium, added sugars and refined grains. Only 8 percent of participants with low-quality diets sustained high cognitive abilities. The results of the study suggest that the cumulative effects of diet are linked to how sharp the mind is as we age.
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Tips and Techniques for Balancing Emotions
Balancing emotions naturally can be achieved through a holistic approach that integrates various techniques and remedies. This approach not only addresses the symptoms, but also seeks to understand and heal the underlying causes of the imbalance. Key methods include energy psychology techniques, flower remedies and nutritional support.
Roger Callahan's 5-Minute Phobia Cure is known as Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Callahan discovered that by tapping on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on a phobia or negative emotion, individuals could quickly alleviate their distress. This process is thought to work by balancing the body’s energy system and releasing emotional blockages, allowing for rapid relief from fear, anxiety and other negative emotions.
Building on Callahan’s work, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known as “tapping”, has gained popularity as a powerful tool for emotional healing. It involves tapping on a sequence of acupressure points while voicing specific affirmations related to the issue at hand. This
technique helps to clear energy disruptions in the body’s meridian system, reducing the intensity of negative emotions and promoting a sense of calm and clarity.
Bach Flower Remedies offer another natural approach to balancing emotions. Developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930s, these remedies consist of 38 flower essences, each corresponding to a specific emotional state. For example, Rescue Remedy, a combination of five different essences, is often used to alleviate stress and anxiety in acute situations. Bach Flower Remedies work on an energetic level, gently restoring emotional equilibrium and promoting inner harmony.
In addition to these techniques, supporting neurotransmitter production through nutritional support is crucial for maintaining emotional balance. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that influence mood and emotions. Here are some essential nutrients for neurotransmitter production.
Amino Acids: The building blocks of neurotransmitters. Tryptophan and tyrosine
are precursors to serotonin and dopamine, respectively.
B Vitamins: B6, B9 (folate), and B12 play key roles in neurotransmitter synthesis and function.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish oil, flaxseeds and walnuts, these are essential for brain health and function.
Magnesium: Often called the “relaxation mineral,” magnesium is crucial for nerve function and can help reduce anxiety and stress.
By integrating these holistic approaches, individuals can naturally balance their emotions, fostering a deeper sense of wellbeing and resilience. This comprehensive method not only addresses the immediate symptoms but also promotes long-term emotional health and stability.
Kenneth Haas, DC, CCSP, is the founder of Haas Wellness Center, located at 3315 Springbank Ln., Ste. 102, in Charlotte. For more information, appointments, or a free consultation, call 704-837-2420, email Reception@HaasWellnessCenters.com or visit HaasWellnessCenters.com.
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Find a Large Selection of Spiritual Goods
at Sanctuary Imports
by Martin Miron
Sanctuary Imports sells a large selection of spiritual supplies such as crystals, books, tarot and oracle decks, jewelry, cleansing supplies, incense, furniture, art and clothing. The space hosts a variety of events and classes and offers individual in-store sessions by several gifted intuitive readers, healers and energy workers. They focus on selling products that are fair trade, handmade, locally made, womenowned or a combination of all four.
Owner Julie Fender holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and security licenses series 7 and 66. She attended the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and has experience in sound healing, energy healing, intuitive reading practices, is a Holy Fire Reiki Master and is currently studying death doula practices and shamanism.
She says, “From 2000 to 2022, I enjoyed a successful career in the financial industry in Charlotte, and it was during that time that I felt the undeniable pull of my spiritual calling. In 2014, I began creating and selling my own brand of natural herbal skincare and ritual bath products, as well as Indonesian art and jewelry at markets and events in the Charlotte area.” After receiving divinely channeled details, Fender opened Sanctuary Imports in Plaza Midwood, a safe space to explore a variety of spiritual and healing paths, in 2017. Her mission is to support the community in finding inspiration, healing and creating their own inner sanctuary.
Sanctuary Imports features the largest selection of crystals, including tumbled, raw and specimens, in the Charlotte area. They boast a large selection of herbs and teas for health and magical usage, and carry a variety of singing bowls including crystal, antique bowls, among others, along with a variety of other sound healing tools. Fender says, “We also carry a large array of jewelry, clothing and accessories. In the past
few years, we’ve expanded our store to include an expansive book and tarot/oracle selection, repurposed imported furniture showroom, and a spacious events space where we host events regularly.”
Services include tarot, oracle, astrology readings, reiki, past-life regression and psychic healing. Events include new and full moon circles, yoga classes, sound baths, psychic fairs and aura photography.
Fender and store manager Christina Katsanos personally select all the product in the store. Sanpriti Ireland handles the herbs and is passionate about educating others. Taylor Oland has been with the company since 2021 and runs the store’s social media (@sanctuary_imports on Instagram and @ſanctuaryimports on Facebook). She loves creatively showcasing new products, creating educational content and connecting with the community.
Upcoming events include Aura Photography on September 28; Aura Photography on October 10 and 11; a Women’s Blossoming Heart Experience one-day retreat on October 12; and a Samhain Psychic Fair on October 19.
Sanctuary Imports is located at 822 Lamar Ave., in Charlotte. For more information, call 980-237-4780 or visit SanctuaryImportsCLT.com. See ad, page 2.
In family law, collaborative divorce is seen as a hopeful alternative, promoting respect, transparency, peace, customization, and privacy. This approach involves the whole family and aims for a smoother transition compared to traditional divorce proceedings.
Respect is fundamental in collaborative family law, fostering open communication and understanding. Couples, assisted by trained professionals, work together to find solutions that consider everyone's needs and perspectives, leading to a more amicable separation.
personalized approach ensures the divorce settlement reflects the family's values and priorities, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
Privacy is paramount in collaborative divorce, offering a confidential space for families to navigate separation complexities. This contrasts with public court proceedings, protecting the family's intimate details from unnecessary exposure.
Transparency dismantles the secrecy often present in conventional divorces. Open and honest communication allows parties to understand each other's concerns and aspirations better, laying the groundwork for constructive dialogue.
The pursuit of peace is central in collaborative divorce, avoiding the adversarial nature of traditional legal battles. By choosing collaboration, families prioritize harmony over contention, creating an environment conducive to finding mutually beneficial resolutions.
Customization is a significant advantage, allowing families to tailor solutions to their specific needs and circumstances. This
Neutrals, including a divorce coach, financial neutral, and child specialist, play a crucial role in the collaborative process. They bring expertise and guidance, facilitating smooth discussions and addressing the multifaceted aspects of divorce. The divorce coach helps manage emotions, the financial neutral ensures a fair financial resolution, and the child specialist focuses on the children's well-being.
Rachel D. Rogers Hamrick is an attorney and owner of Cavanaugh Hamrick & McCarthy in Charlotte. She has exclusively practiced family law for a decade, is a North Carolina Family Financial Mediator, Parenting Coordinator, and has been practicing Collaborative Law since 2017. For more information, visit CharlotteCollaborativeDivorce.com.
Stopping the Trauma Cycle
Mind-Body Healing Strategies
by Carrie Gauthier
Trauma can strike anyone at any time. Loss, heartbreak, abuse, violence, displacement, accidents, disasters, health problems—the list of possible traumas is endless. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 70 percent of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives, and more than a third of youth exposed to community violence experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma is a factor in most behavioral health and substance-use disorders. While trauma may be part of our lives,
it does not need to define who we are or how we enjoy our lives. Healing from trauma can take time, but it is within reach.
Health Effects
Left untreated, trauma or repeated trauma has a wide range of short- and long-term effects on physical and mental health. Trauma increases stress and keeps the fight-or-flight response on elevated alert, resulting in the release of chronically high amounts of cortisol into the body. Initial reactions may include exhaustion, numbness, sadness,
anxiety and dissociation. Excessive cortisol increases the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, digestive problems, muscle tension, headaches, sleep issues, weight gain, irregular periods, anxiety, depression and cognitive challenges.
Cycle of Addiction
Trauma is a common precursor to addiction, because individuals often turn to substances as a coping mechanism for their emotional pain. The use of drugs or alcohol gives trauma sufferers a reprieve from their chronic stress by producing pleasure and reducing negative feelings, and may even slow their central nervous system. Untreated, trauma can lead to a vicious cycle where one condition feeds the other.
Holistic Healing
While medications such as antidepressants and antipsychotics can be effective in treating trauma symptoms, they may fall short in addressing the root cause. An integrative approach to trauma healing adds evidencebased therapies to tackle the underlying causes and promote long-term recovery.
Integrative Psychiatry
James Greenblatt, a board-certified functional and integrative psychiatrist and founder of Psychiatry Redefined, believes in a broader view of psychiatric care. “For example, if our patient is suffering from depression and we were to tell them they should exercise because it’s the best antidepressant we have, that could come off as incredibly insensitive, ruin our chances of gaining their trust and add to their feelings of helplessness and isolation. Alternatively, if we show them how to recover their motivation and energy, that is the way to begin the relationship.”
“Our bodies are different, and our genetics are different. How we react to stress and trauma are different too. I start with lab and genetic tests to see if there’s something I can optimize biologically. Then we supplement any nutritional deficiencies to restore their functionality and increase their energy. These tests also partially help inform the way we design the complementary healing
modality plan. This is the piece that gets missed a lot,” says Greenblatt, adding that he tests depressed patients for a vitamin B12 deficiency, which may contribute to depression, anxiety and even psychosis.
Finding a Safe Place
Children are particularly susceptible to trauma, and an adverse childhood experience (ACE) can pose lifelong impacts. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 64 percent of adults say they have had at least one ACE, and 17 percent say they had four or more by age 18. ACEs can rob kids of the magic of childhood, disrupt their development and lead to maladaptive behaviors in adulthood.
Aimie Apigian, a double board-certified physician in preventative and addiction medicine and founder of Trauma Healing Accelerated, started her work with attachment and trauma by working with adoptive families to help their children with attachment insecurity. She explains that childhood traumatic experiences can result in “underlying mistrust—literally wiring a child’s nervous system, brain and body for survival—and overwhelm connection, security and safety.”
Somatic therapy is one modality that Apigian integrates to assist individuals on their trauma-healing journey, helping them connect with their bodies, learn to understand its messages and resolve stored trauma. Apigian explains that just 10 minutes of sequential somatic exercises over 21 days can restore a sense of safety. “For each person, the specific improvement or the degree of improvement will be different, but there will be an improvement as soon as we shift our biology into one of safety rather than of danger.”
By following an essential sequence to safely address stored trauma through somatic exercises, Apigian says people “experience 30 percent less depression, 30 percent less anxiety, 30 percent fewer digestive issues, 30 percent improvement in energy and a 60 percent increase in their feelings of safety. The essential sequence has to start with creating a felt sense of safety, then a sense of support
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and then opening up while pacing our process. It is such a powerful way to empower them for their lifetime.”
Reaching Our Inner Child
Inner-child work can help develop a dialogue to reach the place where we hold past emotions, memories, beliefs, hopes and dreams. “I tell people when they’re starting this journey, if they put their hands on their belly above and below their bellybutton and just let the hands be there, that will calm down an aspect of us so that it begins to feel safe. It’s called the basic self,” says Dr. Lin Morel, a trauma management specialist and founder of Beyond Words Group. “It’s an aspect of our consciousness that is roughly 5 years old, if you were to give it an age. So it gets very fearful, and if it’s not loved, it will act out.”
According to Morel, embracing the basic self can help people out of some of the darkest corners of trauma. No stranger to childhood and adult trauma herself, she empowers her patients with the W.I.N. protocol (willingness, intention, neutrality), which offers them a fresh approach to handling challenges while developing their intuition and regulating emotions as a neutral observer.
Mindful Self-Regulation
There is growing evidence that mindfulnessbased practices such as meditation and yoga aid in shifting focus from the negative to the positive aspects of experiences. These techniques calm the nervous system and empower individuals to take control of their narratives and become more resilient.
A 2017 review of trials involving 650 trauma sufferers that underwent mindfulnessbased stress reduction, yoga and mantra repetition was published in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. The researchers concluded that meditation was an effective treatment for
PTSD and depression symptoms as compared to the control groups.
A 2022 systematic review of 149 records and 11 peer-reviewed articles published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that those that practiced yoga had an increased sense of self-compassion, felt more centered, developed coping skills, had a better mind-body relationship and improved their relationships with others. Participants also experienced a feeling of safety in yoga classes that included others recovering from trauma.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a mind-body practice that uses a trance-like state of deep relaxation to treat psychological and emotional disorders. Guided imagery, progressive relaxation and suggestion therapy are used to explore thoughts, feelings and memories that may be hidden from the conscious mind. Selfhypnosis techniques are also taught for ongoing support, empowering individuals to continue their healing outside of therapy sessions. A 2016 meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis concluded that hypnosis is effective in alleviating PTSD symptoms.
“A miracle, simply, is a shift in the mind. Once you find the root cause of the problem in the mind and bring that to consciousness, we’re shifting from ego to true self, from fear to love, from illusion to truth,” says Matthew Brownstein, executive director of the Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy. “Through hypnotherapy, that shift is actually remarkably easy. You can shift as quickly as I can snap my fingers. So, basically, when you change your mind, everything changes. When a decision is made, it stays in place until you choose again.”
Carrie Gauthier is a writer in the healing arts with interests in clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapy.
Hypnosis Transforms Our Inner World
by Mani Saint Victor, M.D.
Many of us carry old wounds from painful experiences for which we were not prepared. Consequently, we shrink our lives, suppress uncomfortable emotions, and deny our own value. Our ineffective coping causes damage to ourselves or others, and the trauma cycle persists as we pass our shrunken world to our children. All the while, we yearn to discover what lies beyond the threshold of our fear, guilt and shame.
Imagine a hypnotherapist to be a trusted guide to hidden resources for dealing with our internal world. From a safe place, we can connect with our inner healer, repairing wounds and gaining their lessons. We receive suggestions that empower and reset habitual reactions, making room to allow real choice in situations that once triggered us into harmful automatic responses. We can envision handling future situations with newfound strength and connection to our highest self.
Hypnosis is not a miracle cure, though many do achieve amazing results. It is about tapping into our resources, discovering that we can summon the right actions at the right time. This awareness, hope, and confidence become the spark that transforms our world.
Certified hypnotherapist Mani Saint Victor, M.D., is the owner of Mani Saint-Victor MD, located at 8611 Concord Mills Blvd., in Concord, bringing deep compassion and a trauma-informed perspective to empower clients to heal from past experiences and step fully into their power. For more information, call 980-356-2109 or visit ManiSaintVictorMD.com.
Neurofeedback for Reduction of Traumatic Symptoms
Trauma can find its way into our lives via small events such as witnessing a car accident or big traumas involving exposure to violence. Often, neurological changes in the brain patterns occur. In Bessel van der Kolk’s book, The Body Keeps the Score, he writes, “Neurofeedback nudges the brain to make more of some frequencies and less of others, creating new patterns that enhance its natural complexity and its bias towards self-regulation.”
A combination of approaches aims to stabilize the nervous system. Hypnotherapy, yoga and meditation all bring our alpha waves up in areas on the brain that cause calm and clear-headedness. The techniques often used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are deep state protocols that bring a person into this trance-like state where clients are often able to resolve issues without the use of medication or reliving the incident.
A recent meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology provided a clear indication that neurofeedback has been shown to reduce the symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety, depression and other neurophysiological changes. Neurofeedback is a simple set up in office with a few electrodes placed on the head, where the patient relaxes in a safe, quite room and listens to or watches a series of visual/ audio cues that act as the feedback in real time from the brain for 10 to 30 minutes.
Neurofeedback treatment added into the programs has seen added benefits of better sleep. Most clients report falling to sleep quicker and sleeping deeper, as well as having increased energy and better overall mood.
Jason Scianno, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, is the owner of Limitless Wellness and Neurofeedback, located at 16930 W. Catawba Ave., Ste. 206C, in Cornelius. For more information, call 980-999-3069, or email Jason@LimitlessWellnessNC.com or visit LimitlessWellnessNC.com.
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Marvelous Mushrooms
Celebrating a Culinary Powerhouse
by Marlaina Donato
September is National Mushroom Month, and with it comes bountiful inspiration to plate up some earthy goodness. Whether we follow the nearest woodland path to forage or visit the local market to stock up on our favorite fungi, autumn is the perfect time to appreciate the delicious world of edible mushrooms. From creamy vegan risotto to golden soups, or from daring sautés punctuated with chiles to savory broths, consuming more mushrooms benefits our palate and well-being.
Health Benefits
The Mayo Clinic reports that mushrooms help curb high blood pressure and protect
us from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Most mushrooms available at the market are a good source of B vitamins and minerals, especially selenium-rich creminis and vitamin D-rich maitakes.
A 2021 Penn State study published in Advances in Nutrition involving data of more than 19,500 cancer patients over several decades reveals that individuals consuming one-eighth to one-quarter cup of mushrooms daily had a 45 percent lower risk of total cancer compared to those that did not. It is believed that the antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione—present in all mushrooms—contribute to beneficial metabolic
processes in the body. Other research is focused on a correlation between white button mushroom consumption and a lower risk of prostate and breast cancer.
Off the Trail and Into the Kitchen
Mushrooms have been used as both nourishment and medicine for ages, but their versatility in the kitchen is what delights Sharon Palmer, a plant-based dietician and author of California Vegan and The Plant-Powered Diet. “You can sauté or grill them as a side dish, stir them into soups and stews, add them to grain and pasta dishes, chop them into salads or bowls and include them in casseroles,” she advises. “Use finely chopped mushrooms in lentil patties, veggie burgers, veggie ‘meat’ balls and veggie loaves. You really can’t detect their texture, but you get that rich, savory flavor in the recipe.”
Palmer favors certain commonly available varieties: shiitake and trumpet mushrooms for their reliable, firm texture; oyster mushrooms for their delicate softness suited for stir fries; and petite enoki mushrooms for a crisp addition to salads. To obtain memorable flavor, gourmet varieties such as porcinis can be purchased dried and easily rehydrated for soups and sauces.
On the wilder side, foraged mushrooms such as golden chanterelles are an annual favorite among connoisseurs. “The mossy, old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest are some of my favorite fall destinations,” says Langdon Cook, a Seattle-based forager and author of The Mushroom Hunters, who recommends taking a foraging class or joining a mycological society for hands-on safety tips and in-the-field learning.
Cook notes that mushrooms are ideal for vegetarians and vegans because many varieties are firm in texture and pair well with vegetables. “Black trumpet or yellowfoot mushrooms take a basic dish of creamy polenta to the next level, and most grains and pastas will benefit from the addition of fungi,” he asserts. “Try a dry sauté method: heating the mushrooms in a bare pan until they release their water, cooking off that liquid and then adding butter or oil near the end of the cooking process to brown them.”
While mushrooms can dress up gourmet dishes, they are surprisingly quick and easy for everyday eating, too. “You don’t need to fuss over mushrooms too much,” Palmer points out. “Just rinse in water and pat dry; then you’re ready to cook with them. My favorite way to cook mushrooms is to slice and sauté them in a small amount of olive oil with garlic and lemon as a side dish.”
Cook advises, “Don’t try to cook mushrooms too fast or over high heat. Medium heat is fine. Take your time. Mushrooms are mostly water, and you need to cook off that liquid content to give them a nice sear.” He underscores the importance of cooking wild mushrooms fully to prevent digestive upset, especially morels, which “absolutely cannot be served raw or undercooked.”
Palmer concurs, saying, “Eating raw mushrooms may cause mild GI [gastrointestinal] issues in some people; cooking the mushrooms typically eliminates this issue.” She also suggests covering the pot or pan when cooking them in soups or stews to lock in flavor and nutrition.
For Cook, the magical lure of mushrooms goes beyond the tastebuds. “To me, morels mean springtime trips to woodlands reawakening from winter slumbers with birdsong and snowmelt, and porcinis mean long summer hikes to subalpine meadows in the Rockies and North Cascades,” he says.
Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and recording artist. Connect at BluefireStudio.art.
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Saturday Morning Qigong Sessions
with Jason Scianno MSW, LCSW, LCAS
$20 Classes
Starting Sept. 14 at 9 AM
Classes will be hosted at:
PILATES PHYSIQUE
17015 KENTON DR #204 CORNELIUS, NC 28031
Only 10 Spots available
CONTACT
jason@limitlesswellnessnc.com to reserve your spot
limitlesswellnessnc.com
Conscious Eating
Vegan Pot Pie With Sage, Lentils and Mushrooms
YIELD: 6 SERVINGS
FOR LENTIL MUSHROOM FILLING:
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 8-oz sweet potato, peeled, cubed
4 oz fresh green beans, chopped
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 cup brown or green lentils, dried
2 Tbsp fresh sage (or 1 Tbsp dried)
2 tsp thyme
FOR SAGE PASTRY CRUST:
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
¼ tsp salt (optional)
1 Tbsp whole-grain prepared mustard
½ tsp black pepper
2 cups vegetable broth
½ cup water
2 Tbsp gluten-free soy sauce
¼ cup plain, unsweetened, plant-based milk
2 Tbsp flour
Salt, to taste
2 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped (or 1 Tbsp dried)
⅓ cup vegan butter
4-5 Tbsp ice-water
Heat olive oil in a heavy pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add sweet potato and green beans and sauté for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes. Add lentils, sage, thyme, mustard and black pepper and sauté for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth, water and soy sauce and cook for 15 minutes.
Mix plant-based milk with flour until smooth. Stir into vegetable mixture and cook until thickened and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, as desired. Transfer filling into a deep pie dish or round casserole that fits 1½ quarts.
While filling is cooking, make the sage pastry crust. Preheat oven to 425°F. In a medium bowl, mix all-purpose and whole-wheat flours and salt. Mix in sage. Cut in vegan butter with a fork until it makes a crumbly texture. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix using clean hands until it creates a firm dough that holds together but is not sticky. Do not overwork dough, as it will get tough.
Turn out pastry dough on a floured surface and roll out with a pastry roller to create a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Place the pastry over the top of the savory pie and crimp the edges with your fingers to secure the pastry dough to the top of the dish. Cut several vents with a knife along the pie.
Place the savory pie on a baking sheet (in case it boils over) and place in the oven. Bake for about 20 to 22 minutes until golden brown. Remove and serve.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use corn starch instead of flour and gluten-free flour blend instead of all purpose and whole wheat flour.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Sharon Palmer.
Courtesy of Sharon Palmer
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Creamy Polenta With Wild Mushrooms
YIELD: 2 SERVINGS AS A SIDE DISH
FOR POLENTA:
1 cup water, plus more as it cooks
½ cup milk
½ cup polenta
FOR MUSHROOMS:
¼ lb (or more) wild mushrooms, roughly cut into pieces
2 Tbsp butter, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp porcini powder*, rehydrated with ½ cup warm water
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter
Parmesan cheese, grated, to taste
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp heavy cream
1 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
* To make porcini powder, pulverize a store-bought package of dried porcini into powder with a spice grinder. Chicken or vegetable stock may be substituted for porcini powder.
Over medium-high heat, bring water and milk to simmer in a medium-sized sauce pan or pot. Slowly add polenta while whisking to prevent clumping. Season with salt and continue to whisk for a minute or two. Turn heat to low and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water as necessary to maintain creaminess.
While the polenta cooks, in a small pan sauté garlic and mushrooms in a tablespoon of butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook mushrooms until they release their water and then cook off liquid, allowing mushrooms to brown slightly; this might take several minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Add ½ cup rehydrated porcini stock (or chicken or vegetable stock) to mushrooms. Continue to cook on medium heat until the liquid is reduced by half and then turn heat to low. Add soy sauce, cream and a drizzle of olive oil. Stir together and allow to thicken. Keep warm in pan over low heat while waiting for polenta to cook. If sauce becomes too thick, add another splash of water, cream or stock. Just before plating, melt one more tablespoon of butter into mushroom sauce and stir.
When polenta is thoroughly cooked and creamy, add butter and cheese (and more liquid if necessary). Adjust seasoning. Serve in a bowl and spoon mushrooms and sauce on top.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Langdon Cook.
Courtesy of Langdon Cook
Mushroom Bomb Lentil Pasta
YIELD: 6 SERVINGS
1 8-oz package lentil pasta
3 Tbsp truffle oil or extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb mixed mushrooms (enoki, shiitake, cremini, hen of the woods, maitake, oyster), coarsely sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp chopped fresh or dried thyme
1 cup dry white wine
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cook lentil pasta in boiling water according to package directions. Rinse and drain.
While pasta is cooking, heat truffle oil in a large sauté pan and add mushrooms, garlic and thyme. Sauté for 3 minutes. Add white wine and continue sautéing for an additional 5 minutes to reduce liquid and make a more concentrated sauce. Add cooked pasta to mushroom mixture and toss together. Season as desired with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Sharon Palmer.
Stir-Fried Oyster Mushrooms With Chicken
YIELD: 2 SERVINGS
3 Tbsp peanut oil
¾ lb oyster mushrooms, cut into half-dollar pieces
¾ lb chicken breast, thinly sliced into a similar size as mushrooms
4 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 large thumb-sized piece of ginger, thinly sliced
Salt and white pepper, to taste
FOR MARINADE: FOR SAUCE:
½ tsp salt
1 tsp Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing)
1 tsp potato starch
3 Tbsp chicken stock
1 Tbsp oyster sauce
½ tsp potato starch
Combine sliced chicken in a bowl with marinade ingredients, stir and set aside. Whisk together sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
In a wok over medium heat, sauté oyster mushrooms in 1 tablespoon oil, stirring occasionally. Remove to a bowl when slightly browned.
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in wok over high heat and add marinated chicken. When the chicken is partly cooked but still pinkish, add garlic, ginger and green onion. Cook together, stirring, for 30 seconds until aromatic before returning oyster mushrooms to wok. Continue to cook together another minute or so until chicken is barely cooked through.
Pour in sauce, stir to coat and reduce heat. Season to taste and serve immediately with rice.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Langdon Cook.
Courtesy of Sharon Palmer
Courtesy of Langdon Cook
Aimie Apigian
on Releasing Stored Trauma
by Sandra Yeyati
Aimie Apigian is a double boardcertified physician in preventative and addiction medicine with master’s degrees in biochemistry and public health. As the founder of Trauma Healing Accelerated, she instructs individuals and practitioners on how trauma gets stored in the body and what to do once it creates a chronic health condition. Her signature methodology looks at the effects of trauma on cell biology, a missing piece in trauma therapy approaches. Patients begin with a six-week foundational journey before digging into deeper trauma work and the biology piece.
How do you define trauma and the trauma response?
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk uses three words to define trauma: overwhelming, unbelievable and unbearable. A trauma is something that overwhelms us in our ability to respond. We can’t believe it’s happening, and it’s so unbearable we disconnect from our body to not feel it—it’s things like loneliness, shame or abandonment. That’s why we numb, suppress, repress, distract or avoid. The body shifts from using energy to conserving it, so we only do the bare minimum to get through the day—and that includes thinking; many people will have decision fatigue. Also, the diaphragm loses its tone in the trauma response because our body goes into, “I’m going to breathe only enough to keep me alive.”
Why does trauma get stored in the body?
If there isn’t a completion of the trauma response, then the body will hold onto that trauma. The nervous system never gets that completion that says, “That was awful, but it’s over now.” The brain never stores it as a memory of the past, which means that it’s
always in our present moment. When our whole biology continues to operate in fear, this can affect our hormones, immune system, digestion and cardiovascular system. Without a reset back to safety, we stay in danger mode and the body will close down at the cellular level.
How can we achieve a sense of safety?
During the first week of my foundational journey, I have people learn seven somatic exercises intended to help them create an immediate felt sense of feeling safer in their body. So no matter where they are—at the grocery store, at home—if they lose their
sense of safety, they have tools in the moment to get it back.
Can you give an example of a tool? Bring your hands up as close to your shoulder as possible and imagine there’s this huge boulder in front of you. Start pushing it away, going as slow as you can. It’s not easy; you’re going to feel your arm muscles because you’re pushing hard. When you get to full extension, pause and wait for a few seconds. There are changes happening in our body, and it takes time for that message to travel up our vagus nerve to our brain stem to register. Take notice of any changes in your body. You might feel a sense of release. You might have this deep breath come that you didn’t plan for.
What comes next in the sequence?
Once we create that felt sense of safety, the body is opening up, and now it needs to feel support or it’s going to go back into trauma response. I lead people through the process of creating a felt sense of support. Here’s an example: Put your hands over your heart, one on top of the other, and push in quite a bit. A really deep breath comes for me;
Courtesy of Dr. Aimie Apigian
that’s how my body gives me the message that this is nice for me. Experiment and move your hands around—sometimes we can do it higher, more centered, over to the side—and find the spot that feels the nicest for your heart.
What is titrated expansion?
We each have a current capacity for how much we can hold at the moment without being overwhelmed, and I want to build my capacity so that a year from now I’m able to hold more. For many people in my courses, when they feel a lot of joy, then tears, sadness and grief seem to come, so it has been safer for them to just not feel much joy. To expand into your capacity to experience joy, you can’t go all the way immediately. You’ve
got to find a safe amount of joy that you can have today that feels manageable, and then use a tool so that tomorrow you can feel a little more joy and still feel safe. We do this titrated or paced expansion, staying safe enough as we grow.
Can you explain your parts-work approach?
If we don’t complete a trauma response, there’s going to be a part that is still stuck there in that moment of danger, kind of not knowing that we survived. In parts work, I teach people how to know their major parts in order to stabilize their system. Your inner critic, for example, is a major part that we’ve got to work with pretty soon, because otherwise your critic will continue to shame you
and get you into trauma response. I guide people to notice how these parts show up in the body. Next time you feel something familiar in your body, you know, “That’s my inner critic,” and it doesn’t scare or frustrate you anymore. You’re like, “Oh, hello.” That is a true mind-body connection.
Sandra Yeyati is national editor of Natural Awakenings.
To read a longer version of this conversation, visit Tinyurl.com/ApigianCLT or scan the QR code.
Feel Good Fest 2024
Celebrate your inner child. Live music, art, butterflies, fire performances, yoga, food trucks, local vendors, kids’ area. Kids under 12 free.
Sept 7·2-10pm
Greenlife Family Farms 281 Odell School Rd, Concord FeelGoodFestNC.com
National Qigong Association Annual Conference 2024
Experience 15+ expert-led Qigong sessions, discover new techniques and connect with enthusiasts. Perfect for newcomers, beginners and experienced Qigong practitioners, including those familiar with yoga and other health modalities.
Harness the power of your mind leading to better decision-making, increased productivity, and a more positive outlook on life. Facilitated by Silva certified instructors with combined 60 years’ experience. Live or virtual. Attend one or both courses.
Sept 27-29 Course 1· Early bird available Oct 4-6 Course 2· $333/ea
HeartLight Spiritual Center
7300 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte HeartLightCharlotte.org/silva1 Tim@HeartLightCharlotte.org 704-599-1180 (voicemail) Coming in October Whole Body
Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com to request our media kit.
Acupuncture
3NERGY WELLNESS
Camilo Sanchez, L.Ac, MAOM 704-542-8088
3nergyWellness.com
35 years’ experience in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, integrative health, bioenergy therapies. Expertise correcting root cause of chronic pain, digestive disorders, stress, women’s health and chronic issues. Offering authentic Tai Chi, Qigong and Taoist Yoga classes.
Create harmony within, address the physical and emotional, and cultivate a sense of peace and vitality by incorporating Ayurvedic principles into daily routine. Register today for oneon-one or group sessions. See ad, page 2.
Beekeeping
QUEEN’S ORDERS HONEY
Serving Charlotte & Greater Charlotte queensordershoney@gmail.com QueensOrdersHoney.com
NC certified beekeeper hosts hives at client’s homes and provide beekeeper training. Our experts get you up and running; you enjoy fresh honey. Ask how to reserve a hive and help save bees today.
Bodywork
BRITISH MASSAGE
2210 Coronation Blvd, Ste C 704-572-1310 BritishMassage.com
Originally from London, Jessica is highly intuitive, has a natural healing touch and loves to help people feel better physically and emotionally. Medical Reiki Master and offers Reiki classes. Book massage/reiki today. See ad, page 5.
Brain/Mental Health
DOC BROWN BUSH
INTEGRATIVE THERAPY
21000 Torrence Chapel Rd Ste 208, Cornelius 704-491-2216·DocBrownBush.com
Customized natural solutions for healing mental health issues, unhealthy behaviors, and brain health problems. Treats ADHD, eating disorders, trauma, stress, anxiety and TBI with counseling, nervous system/stress rewiring, brain balancing and functional medicine/naturopathy. See ad, page 2.
LIMITLESS WELLNESS AND NEUROFEEDBACK
16930 W Catawba Ave, Ste 206C Cornelius ·980-999-3069
LimitlessWellnessNC.com
Jason Scianno specializes in holistic psychotherapy integrating qigong, sound healing and neurofeedback. Improve energy, stress levels, relaxation, mindfulness and more with Jason’s mind, body, spirit approach. Accepts many insurance plans. See ad, page 20.
Chronic & Difficult Cases
HAAS WELLNESS CENTER
3315 Springbank Ln, Ste 102 704-837-2420
HaasWellnessCenters.com
Dentistry
GENTRY DENTAL
5950 Fairview Rd, Ste 16
704-554-1007
GentryDentalCharlotte.com
Providing the highest quality biological/holistic dental care with compassion and understanding. Modern, spa-like office, state-of-the-art equipment and individualized care and attention. In-office dental savings plan. Call today to schedule appointment.
Biologically minded family dental office offering 3D digital dentistry, preventative dentistry, safe mercury removal and sleep apnea screenings. In a relaxed and caring environment, all patients are given devoted time. Call the office today to request a new patient consultation. See ad, page 25.
Specializing in chronic and difficult cases and holistic and wellness care. We identify and treat the root cause of your health issues. Call today for a free 15-minute consultation. See ad, page 4.
Experience concierge medicine that is more personal and effective. Comprehensive and proactive approach, limited number of patients, unhurried 30-minute consultations for a personal relationship with your physician. Schedule free tour today. See ad, page 17.
Affordable convenient direct primary care from a personalized holistic perspective. Thorough and efficient care with nutrition as the foundation. We want to get and keep you healthy. Schedule a new patient consult today. See ad, page 19.
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Eco-friendly Living
RECYCLED COMPOST & MULCH
140 Valleydale Rd • 980-314-3880
17131 Lancaster Hwy • 980-314-3845
MeckMulchMadness.com
Supports a 360˚ from your yard to our facility and back again. Mecklenburg County upcycles your yard waste to create highquality STA approved compost and beautiful mulch at a very affordable price. See ad, page 29.
SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN
Claudia Josephine Design
860-796-3415
ClaudiaJosephineDesign.com
Proving that sustainable, ecofriendly design can still be stylish, Claudia creates classic, functional, and beautiful interiors. Certified Green Accredited Professional. Specializing in new residential construction and full-service interior design.
Energy Healing
THE NEW YOU MIRACLE BAND
Jeff Nursey, Customer Service Sales@tnymb.com 850-207-6621 · TNYMB.com
Change your frequency, change your life. Our products have an integrated charged disc to protect against 5G and EMFs along with the added benefits of alleviating pain and improving strength and balance. See ad, back cover.
The Carolina's only Integrative practice offering membership based Direct Primary Care and Functional Medicine wellness programs. Wellness programs are individualized to the patient and address the root cause of illness. See ad, page 19.
30-plus years in public and private settings, Dr. Klein uses a functional medicine approach to develop personalized plans that helps patients get healthy and stay healthy. Schedule free tour today. See ad, page 17.
Gardening
AMERICAN BEAUTY GARDEN CENTER
4400 E Independence Blvd
704-334-8651
ABGardenCenter.com
Charlotte’s organic gardening supply store for over 17 years. Knowledgeable staff that answers your questions and makes recommendations. Natural/ organic products, hydroponic solutions, greenhouses, grow lights, and more. Visit us today.
THE PATIO FARMER
Charlotte, NC • ThePatioFarmer.com ThePatioFarmer@gmail.com @thepatiofarmer on IG and FB
Confidently grow food at home with Consultations, Installation and Maintenance Plans. Also, check out Plant Club for indepth gardening knowhow. Contact us today and start enjoying food from your own plants.
Holistic Wellness Care
PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE OF CHARLOTTE, P.A
508 Beatties Ford Rd
704-347-1172 • GetWellnessCare.com
Serving Charlotte for 36 years with continuous low-cost holistic health care for uninsured and under insured. Physicals, first aid, TB and other tests. Certified by NC Board of Medical Examiners and NC Board of Nursing. By appointment.
WINDING CREEK HOLISTIC FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION
Suzie Franz · 618-558-1641
Davidson · WindingCreekFNC@yahoo.com
WindingCreekFNC.com
Board certified in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition with over 25 years experience as a holistic practitioner. If you are looking for a caring one-on-one approach to healing, call/text 618558-1641 to schedule your complimentary pre-consultation.
Deborah Matthew, MD, is America’s Happy Hormone Doctor; best-selling author, international speaker, featured on national television. Her mission is to create wellness through an integrative/ functional medicine approach. Schedule free discovery call today. See ad, page 25
Hyperbaric Therapy
NIRVANA HYPERBARIC INSTITUTE
146 Medical Park Rd, Ste 110 Mooresville • 704-471-4100 NirvanaHBO.com
Dedicated to healing, forwarding the science of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and providing patients a tranquil place to heal. Highly effective in treating many conditions, some covered by insurance. See ad, page 17.
Hypnotherapy
MANI SAINT-VICTOR, MD
In person & Virtual appointments 980-356-2109 ManiSaintVictorMD.com
As a Physician and certified Hypnotherapist, Dr. Mani helps clients rediscover a life of purpose, meaning, authentic fulfillment; increase confidence, decrease anxiety. Align your life with your true values, passions and purpose today. Schedule free consultation. See ad, page 5.
Integrative Healer
KATIE SUTTON
Intuitive Channel, Guided Meditation Coach
828-246-3335
ZenWithinAcademy.com
Katie synthesizes a unique blend of healing modalities with selfactivation techniques–from sound and vibrational therapy, to intuitive channeling, to guided meditation–in order to deliver healings tailored to each person's needs.
Integrative Pediatrician
INFINITE HEALTH, PLLC
Sheila Kilbane, MD 2201 Park Rd, Ste B 704-626-6771
• SheilaKilbane.com
Dr. Kilbane is a board-certified integrative pediatrician who specializes in finding the root cause of illness including reflux, eczema, allergies, recurrent ear and sinus infections, asthma, constipation, abdominal pain and more.
Interfaith Minister
REV KENDALL HEATH
Interfaith/Interspiritual Minister Spiritual Counselor, Intuitive Medium 704-658-1442
LightHouseSpiritualCenter.com
One-on-one services to bridge between higher consciousness and realities of living day-to-day in this world; integral soul healing, medium readings, spiritual mentorship; also national/international sacred retreats. Schedule your free 30-minute tea & talk today. See ad, page 20.
Ozone Therapy
PUREFICO MEDSPA & THERAPY
19401 Old Jetton Rd, Ste 100 Cornelius · 704-655-2719 Purefico.com
Full line of noninvasive wellness/ beauty services including only local provider of cutting edge Eboo Ozone IV Therapy system. Treats autoimmune disorders, infections, viruses, chronic fatigue, Lyme disease and more. Call and mention Natural Awakenings discount. See ad, page 23.
Photography
PORTRAITS • COMMERCIAL •
EDITORIAL
Amy Hart Studios
AmyHartStudios.com Amy@AmyHartStudios.com
Psychic
Specializing in fresh images for health and wellness professionals, businesses and organizations, we provide radiant images for your website and marketing materials. Book an appointment today.
PSYCHIC MEDIUM KELLE
4371 Charlotte Hwy, Ste 22, Clover, SC 978-420-8213 ·PsychicMediumKelle.com
PsychicMedium@verizon.net
Psychic medium +18 years, author and radio show host. Private readings, psychic investigator on missing person cases. Helps those at a crossroads, experiencing unresolved issues or dealing with loss. Call for appointment today. See ad, page 23.
Real Estate Agent
SUSTAINABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY
Scott Pridemore
316 E Worthington Ave, Charlotte
704-562-0792
• ScottPridemore.com
Creating “clients for life” by building lasting relationships for 25+ years, exceptional customer service, beyond ordinary results, advanced strategic planning to adapt to market changes, sustainable home experts. Call today. See ad, page 21.
Scalar energy wellness and spiritual awareness aids. Simple, practical, inexpensive, and imprinted with targeted scalar frequencies to help the body repair itself or work with your consciousness. Free shipping. 15% discount with NAM522. See ad, page 4.
SCALAR HEALTH ENHANCEMENT CENTER
704-920-0963
Members@ScalarHealthEnhancement.com
ScalarHealthEnhancement.com
When you enter the Scalar Health Enhancement Center, you enter a healing zone where the 5th Dimension isn't just a theory, it is a functioning reality! Call for appointment today. See ad, page 4.
Sound &Vibrational Therapy
SPIRIT AND SOUND
Barbara Griggs, LSH, CVSP, CVSC barb.griggs04@gmail.com 248-321-6098
SpiritandSound.net
Call today for free consultation. Discover avenues to overcome uncertainty and fear. As a licensed spiritual healer, intuitive, and Certified Vibrational Sound Practitioner/Coach, let's awaken the strength and commitment necessary to honor your journey.
Spiritual Centers
HEARTLIGHT SPIRITUAL CENTER
Rev David Hulse, Spiritual Guide 7300 Mallard Creek Rd
704-599-1180
HeartLightCharlotte.org
We are a spirit-guided, heartcentered Christ-conscious, loving family providing an empowering, universal, Christ-centered message grounded in the teachings of metaphysics. Meditation 10:30am. Sunday service 11am. Email Shine@HeartLightCharlotte.org.
LIGHT HOUSE SPIRITUAL MINISTRY
Rev Kendall Heath, Interfaith Minister 704-658-1442
Programs to bridge between higher consciousness and the realities of living day-to-day in this world. Grow and heal spiritually, develop intuition, spiritual ideologies and practices; shadow work and steps to self-realization and integration. See ad, page 20.
UNITY OF CHARLOTTE
3200 Park Rd
Sundays at 11am
UnityofCharlotte.org
Vibrant, inclusive Sunday Celebration at 11am, led by co-ministers Revs Lisa and Jim. Inspiring messages/ upbeat music support your spiritual growth, well-being, and abundant living. Shared space with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on Park Rd.
Spiritual Supply Store
MIXED GIRL MAGIK
4005 Flats Main St, Unit 100 Indian Land · 803-228-0316
MixedGirlMagik.com
Spiritual wellness, metaphysical growth and development, healing modalities. Crystals, novena candles, herbs, oils, salt lamps/walls, smudge sticks, pendulums and more. Tarot card readings. Store hours by appointment only. Call 803-228-0316 to schedule.
Sustainability
SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE
SustainCharlotte.org
A nonprofit organization working to inspire choices that lead to healthy, equitable and vibrant communities across the Charlotte metro region for generations to come. Become a member today.
Tachyon
TORCHBEARER TACHYON
19900 S Main St, Cornelius 980-689-1803
TorchBearerTachyon.com
“Connect to Source” through a 45-minute meditation experience with tachyons. Experience spiritual alignment, clarity, and downloads that improve your mental and physical health. Read our reviews and book your experience today.
gaston county natural guide
Connecting Gaston County to leaders in natural health, wellness and green living. To find out how you can be included in the Gaston County Natural Guide, email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com.
Organic Market & Supplements
ORGANIC MARKETPLACE
1012 S New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-864-0605
OrganicMarketplaceNC.com
9am -7pm M/F, 9am6pm Sat. Reliable community partner, local source for education, organic foods, personal care, products, supplements, aromatherapy, organic wine/beer and pet products. See ad, page 6.
Weight Loss
CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE
Lidia Adkins, CFMP, DC, PKT 216 S. New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-271-9757 • CWLI.net
Developer of the “40 Day Transformation” system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.
To place a listing call 704-499-3327 or email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com
Full, comprehensive servicesmedicine, surgery, dental. Alternatives-acupuncture, chiropractic, herbs, detox, ozone, homeopathic. Exotics. Fear Free certified (alleviate fear, anxiety and stress). Delivering outstanding results in a positive, fun environment. See ad, page 7.
Weight Loss
CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS
INSTITUTE
Gastonia • 704-271-9757
Matthews/Ballantyne • 704-243-8560
CWLI.net
Developer of the “40 Day Transformation” system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.
classifieds
Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $40 for up to the first 20 words and $1.50 per word thereafter. To place a classified, email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte. com. Deadline is the 9th of the month.
Home Services
MAJOR APPLIANCE REPAIR – high quality repair at reasonable rates, service all major brands, call/text 336-539-1766.
Jobs
PART TIME MAGAZINE Delivery - needed primarily for Mecklenburg County delivering Natural Awakenings magazine. Fuel-efficient/ Hybrid/EV vehicle preferred. Work 1-2 days per month, paid per stop. Must be available during business hours. Info: 704-499-3327.
For Rent
PRACTITIONER SPACE – available at Haas Wellness Center in Arboretum area. Likeminded professionals: chiropractor, naturopath, psychotherapist, acupuncture, massage. Contact drkenhaas@gmail.com.
