A Focus On Mental Health | Spring 2024 | Therapeutic Thymes

EDITOR / PUBLISHER / SPECIAL EVENTS Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT / MYSTICAL THYMES Mary Soanes mysticalthymes@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jacqueline Bilder | Brighid | Dana Jefferson Chuck Kruse | Sally Norton | Asha Scatchard IT & LOGISTICS Glenn Eckman CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alex Lucas of Oh The Raven Studio | Alex@ohtheraven.com EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Article guidelines are available on our website: therapeuticthymes.com/submissions.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION To request a media kit, please email info@therapeuticthymes.com or call 717-419-8796.

Deadline for our Summer Issue (due out in June) is 1 April.

DIGITAL INFORMATION: Therapeutic Thymes Magazine is available digitally by subscription or online at issuu.com/therapeuticthymes.

OFFICE: Therapeutic Thymes, LLC PO Box 4731 | Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone: 717-419-8796 | info@therapeuticthymes.com © 2024 by Therapeutic Thymes, LLC. | All rights reserved. | ISSN 2474-8315

SPRING 2024 ISSUE 30 | MARCH, APRIL, MAY ABOUT

Founded in 2016 by former journalist and freelance writer Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, Therapeutic Thymes Magazine was originally an independently published quarterly print magazine with an emphasis on herbs and gardening. Today, we continue to honor and serve as a resource to both the herbal and the holistic (mind-body-spirit) community through our digital publications, our Mystical Thymes brand of intention-based products, and our hosted and sponsored events.

MISSION

Therapeutic Thymes is dedicated to promoting a more natural, therapeutic, and sustainable way of life. We serve as a resource to the mind, body, and spirit community through our print and digital publications and our hosted and sponsored events.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscribe today and save! Subscriptions are available by sending your check for $20 (for 4 issues) or you can pay online using a credit card/PayPal. DIGITAL ISSUES:

Therapeutic Thymes is now available digitally thru Issuu.

Explore indiviual issues at: issuu.com/therapeuticthymes Subscribe at: issuu.com/store/publishers/therapeuticthymes/subscribe DISCLAIMER

Therapeutic Thymes, LLC does not necessarily endorse the opinions and statements expressed in the articles and advertisements. We are also not responsible for any products or services advertised. If you have a condition requiring medical attention, you should see your primary physician. © 2024, Therapeutic Thymes, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Spring 2024

CONTENTS Materia Medica: Plantain (Plantago major)

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman Why Choose Heirloom Seeds

By Jacqueline Bider

COVER IMAGE

By OksaLy

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The Case for Meat

By Chuck Kruse Could Your Healthy Foods be Stressing You Out?

By Sally K. Norton, MPH

DEPARTMENTS Turning on the Light

By Dana Jefferson, C.Ht., Ph.D., CAHA Brighid’s Astro Planner

Astrology by Brigid Our Creative Self

Editor’s Note News & Tidbits Garden Thyme Book Thyme Contributors Advertiser Index

by Asha Scatchard

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Handmade intention-based essential oil blends kissed softly by the full moon.

Wholesale and retail available!

717-419-8796

ORDER TODAY! Thymes Magazine 6 | Therapeutic

EDITOR'S NOTE

Welcome to our Spring 2024 Issue.

The theme of this issue is Mental Health.

Mind – Body – Spirit … the mind has its own special health needs.

It is fitting that this issue’s theme is Mental Health. For several months now, I have been waking up in the middle of the night with horrible anxiety attacks and depression has been an almost constant companion.

Therapeutic Thymes Magazine is an independently published quarterly magazine. It began with an emphasis on herbs and gardening and grew to serve as a resource to both the herbal and the holistic (mind-body-spirit) community. We do that through the magazine, our Mystical Thymes brand of intention-based products, and our hosted and sponsored events.

Beginning with this issue – Spring 2024 – we will be making some changes. Some subtle. Some pretty noticeable! Our first major change is that Therapeutic Thymes Magazine is now a digital publication.

Our website will be a major project this year. We will continue the Seasonal Subscription Boxes. Mystical Thymes will be adding a few new intention-based blends this year. We are looking for a second location for a Fall show, in addition to our Midsummer Holistic Expo in July.

As always, whether you are new to the natural, holistic, and selfsustaining lifestyle, or an expert in a related field, I am so glad you joined us on this exciting journey. I thank you all for your support, both over the last eight years, and going forward. So please, grab a cup of your favorite tea and join us a spell.

Blessings! ~ Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman Editor / Publisher

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NEWS & TIDBITS

MAY IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Nearly one in five – that’s almost 20% - of Americans experience some form of mental health issue every year.

Mental health is a broad category and encompasses everything from depression

and anxiety to ADD and ADHD to PTSD to bipolar disorders and so much more. It touches every ethnic background, every race, and every creed. ❁

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NEWS & TIDBITS

MUSIC CAN ENRICH THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER’S A recent article in AARP Magazine stated that “Dementia patients who listened to favorite songs daily showed a marked improvement on memory tests.” The Alzheimer’s Association agrees, citing that music and art can enrich the lives of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The Association suggests letting the person choose the music, choose a source without commercial breaks, and to avoid sensory overload. For more information, visit: alz.org. ❁

5 MAGNESIUM BENEFITS 1. Promotes new tissue growth 2. Soothes skin

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3. Alleviates skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

4. Relieves aching muscles.

5. Reduces anxiety. ❁

MAGNESIUM BARS Reveka Skincare has developed a magnesium body bar! It’s a 3-in1 soap, shampoo and shaving cream with its rich lather. Our bodies require magnesium. It is instrumental in nerve and muscle function. For more information, visit: RevekaSkincare.com.

Editor’s Note: Our staff was provided a couple bars for trial. Each had great reviews and loved how energized they felt using it. My skin has been loving it!

Winter is not kind to my skin normally but since I have been using the magnesium bar, it has felt smooth, and my eczema has not acted up as it normally would. ❁

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NEWS & TIDBITS

UNDERSTANDING AND TAPPING INTO THE HEALING POWER OF ACUPUNCTURE LOS ANGELES, CA - It is estimated that there are around 10 million acupuncture treatments administered each year across the U.S. It is one of the most commonly used complementary modalities that people turn to. Over

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the last 50 years, it has become more popular nationwide. While people are catching on here to the many benefits it provides, acupuncture has a lengthy history and is used to help treat many conditions.

“It's really an art. That's why finding the right acupuncturist is important. Through examination of the tongue and pulse, we uncover the root cause of the problem,” says Crystal Anderson, owner of California Mobile Acupuncture (californiamobileacu. com). “It allows you not only to get better but thrive."

Acupuncture stands out as a timetested alternative to traditional medicine. Those who opt to try it have either tried traditional medicine and been disappointed

or want to avoid taking the conventional medicine route. Both options can be powerful in helping people to heal and improve their overall health and wellness.

When most people hear the word acupuncture, they immediately envision needles being used but don't know much else beyond that.

How it works is a mystery to most people. Acupuncture operates on the principle of stimulating the body's natural healing processes.

Through the placement of needles, it achieves several beneficial effects. ❁

Are you interesting in learning more abour your family history? Need help connecting to your ancestors?

Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman can help you connect to your ancestors and walk your Ancestral Passage.

Learn More at ancestralpassages.com @AncestralPass

@AncestralPassages

Contact Jeanne at jeanne.eckman@comcast.net or 717-419-8796 SCAN ME!

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NEWS & TIDBITS

SOME KEY BENEFITS OF ACUPUNCTURE Pain Management. Acupuncture is renowned for its effectiveness in alleviating pain naturally, offering a non-invasive and side-effect-free alternative. According to the National Institutes of Health, acupuncture is used in 103 countries.

They report that it is most commonly used for back, joint, and neck pain.

MENTAL HEALTH. The practice

GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH.

promoting mental health, offering

gastrointestinal well-being,

has shown significant benefits in

a holistic approach to stress relief and emotional well-being. By

activating points that modulate various organs and regions of

the body, acupuncture engages the central nervous system,

contributing to holistic health.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING. Widely covered by most insurances,

acupuncture has demonstrated

efficacy in addressing nausea and

vomiting, providing relief to patients undergoing various treatments.

WOMEN'S HEALTH. From menopause to fertility support and menstrual cramps, acupuncture offers a

natural and supportive approach to women's health concerns.

RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS.

Acupuncture benefits various

respiratory conditions, managing symptoms and improving overall respiratory health.

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The practice contributes to

offering a natural means to address digestive issues.

SKELETAL INJURIES. Acupuncture

supports healing skeletal injuries, promoting faster recovery and restoring mobility.

INCREASED BLOOD FLOW.

Acupuncture enhances blood

circulation, facilitating nutrient delivery and waste removal for improved health.

ENDORPHIN RELEASE. The

treatment triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, promoting wellbeing and pain alleviation.

BALANCING QI. Addressing

imbalances or blockages in the flow of qi, acupuncture helps

restore harmony and vitality to the body, promoting healing and overall well-being. ❁

LADIES TURN GLOBAL MAKES MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN LAS VEGAS — The mission at Ladies Turn Global is simple yet powerful: to provide women with the resources and opportunities they need to create and establish themselves within a safe, healthy, sustainable and scalable ecosystem. Since the nonprofit’s inception as The Emerald Foundation in 2017, the organization has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of women and their children, fostering their growth, and providing them with the resources they need to thrive.

AMONG THE NONPROFIT’S VITAL SERVICES ARE: Anti-Trafficking Support and Awareness: Their mission is to raise awareness; design technology to warn young ladies, locate victims and identify “Bad Guys”; advocate for stronger laws and policies to protect the rights of victims; and provide support and resources for survivors to help them rebuild their lives.

Mental Health Support: Ladies Turn Global works to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by women with mental illness, provide support and resources for those in need, and advocate for better access to mental health care and services

“Collectively, we can work toward a world in which women are celebrated, their voices resonate and their potential flourishes,” said founder and CEO Roxana Valeton.

For more information, visit ladiesturnglobal.org

Holistic Expo Aims to Bring Awareness of Holistic Services BUCKHANNON, WV – The Soul Peace Holistic Expo, organized by Soul Peace Holistic Wellness Center, will be held Sunday, 1 June at The Outpost & Event Center in Buckhannon, WV. This will be the first Holistic Expo in Buckhannon (Upshur County) Vendors will include Reiki, Holistic Health Practitioner, Acupuncture, Massage Therapist, Aura Photos, Herbs, PEMF Therapy, Microgreens, local honey, Integrative Medicine, Yoga, Chiropractic, channeled readings, astrology readings, Natural products, & much more! The mission of the expo is to bring awareness to the local community of the holistic businesses and products. The expo will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ❁

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NEWS & TIDBITS

FIREFLY HOLLOW EXPANDS HOLISTIC HORIZONS YORK, PA – Firefly Hollow Holistic Wellness Center, York's premier destination for natural healing and well-being, is thrilled to announce several additions: Brigit Webb, RN, specializing in clinical aromatherapy and clinical acupressure; Janelle Manley and Krista Dixon, VitaDrip IV therapists; Michael DeHoff; and Dr. Angela Marrick, a visionary chiropractor offering an innovative approach to well-being.

Brigit Webb: Bridget's expertise expands our menu of holistic offerings, allowing us to cater to a wider range of client needs and preferences. She brings a unique blend of clinical knowledge and holistic wisdom, creating personalized healing journeys for each individual.

She utilizes therapeutic-grade essential oils to address a variety of physical and emotional concerns. From pain management and stress reduction to improved sleep and respiratory support, this gentle yet powerful modality offers a natural path to healing. Drawing

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on the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bridget applies gentle pressure to specific points on the body to activate its natural healing systems. This effective technique can alleviate pain, improve circulation, and promote overall balance and well-being.

Janelle Manley and Krista Dixon: VitaDrip IV therapy is a cuttingedge treatment that delivers essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients directly into your bloodstream through an IV drip.

This bypasses the digestive system, ensuring maximum absorption and delivering a powerful boost to your health and well-being.

Firefly Hollow is thrilled to expand their offerings with VitaDrip IV therapy. Manley and Dixon are exceptional nurses with a genuine commitment to their patients' well-being. Their addition allows the Center to cater to individuals seeking a personalized and effective way to optimize their health and achieve a radiant glow.

Michael DeHoff: A dynamic personal trainer and Greatest of All Time Actions (GOATA) movement specialist, Michael DeHoff, combines cuttingedge training techniques with innovative Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, Michael offers a revolutionary approach to unlocking your body's full potential. His passion for holistic fitness and expertise in the GOATA movement aligns perfectly with the Firefly Hollow vision to empower individuals to achieve optimal health and performance. DeHoff brings a unique blend of personalized training, cutting-edge technology, and a dedication to building a strong mind-body connection, making him a valuable asset to our community.

Dr. Angela Marrick: Dr. Angela goes beyond traditional chiropractic by incorporating mindfulness practices, coaching techniques, and intuitive guidance into their sessions. Their unique approach addresses not only

musculoskeletal misalignments but also energetic blockages and emotional imbalances that can impede optimal health. She received her BS from Cornell University, and graduated valedictorian with a DC from Palmer College of Chiropractic.

In 2022, Dr. Marrick founded Joslin Collaborations, a non-profit dedicated to education and opportunities in Kenya. With the support of the non-profit, she has co-created the Joslin School, also in 2022, a private primary school with 65 students!

Experience the Firefly Difference: Firefly Hollow, located at 200 Farm Lane in York, PA, invites you to experience the transformative power of clinical aromatherapy and clinical acupressure. New patients can book appointments online at fireflyhollowwellnesscenter.com or by calling 717-814-9136. ❁

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COOKING W ITH HERBS When your recipe calls for fresh herbs, you can use dr ied herbs in mos t recipes. Gen er al ly, if your recipe calls for one cup of fresh flowers or h erbs, replace with one-third cu p with dried herbs or flowers.❁

10 HERBS FOR MENTAL FOCUS ❁ Ashwagandha ❁ Rosemary ❁ Spearmint

AL ’S HERB KERS N E M O TW EA MIDWES ANNOUNCES SP ra will E ENC isa Gano ez, and L d CONFER n ’s a rn e t Women imi H

idwes Dog, M Annual M ona Low th 13 e a based th Dr. Tiera t akers a an Arizon e p is s g d o re D atu er.

Low be the fe way find May. Dr. a wellness ference in n d o n a C rbal l e r, a e H Herb ored th seek nora auth ler, a tru a a e G h t. s ic li a l th choo of empa d herb olorado S uthor an C a e n a th t is a z r e ecto Almond, Hernand a past dir 6 May in -2 is 4 d 2 n e a b l ts en e wil m. ❁ Constitu onferenc herbal.co twomens sm. The C s li e a w rb id e m H : it Clinical ation, vis ore inform m r o F I. W

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ENING TRENDS

2024 GARD PHS ANNOUNCES

6. Mitigating Global Climate Change for 7. Using Substitutes Boxwood

vironment 1. Considering the En as You Garden me 2. Growing Fruit at Ho useplants 3. Decorating with Ho al 4. Achieving Ecologic s Certification r 5. Planting Pollinato Friendly Gardens

asses 8. Planting More Gr es dg and Se ea Mania 9. Growing Hydrang of 10. Enjoying a Taste the Tropics ❁

UNITED BY FL OWERS

CELEBRATE HERB A DAY IN GAHANN for herbal Spring is the time plant sales. related shows and y in Gahanna, Celebrate Herb Da a plant sale, Ohio. There will be ities, and plant-related activ s. The annual herb-related vendor Saturday, 4 event will be held to 3 p.m. at May, from 10 a.m. in Gahanna. the Creekside Plaza n, visit: For more informatio herb-day. ohioherbcenter.org/ a? Google Not local to Gahann ea.❁ herb fairs in your ar

United By Flow ers is the theme of the 2024 Philadelphia Fl ower Show. The Philadelphia Horticultural So ciety will host its annual Flower Show fr om 2-10 March 2024. There will be Behind th e Bloom Tours, Know to Grow Educationa l Sessions, a Bloo m Bar Cart, and a PHS Philadelphia Fl ower Show Coloring Book.

Some favorite ac tiv ities will return as well. So me are: a Previe w Party on Friday, Artis an Row, Butterfli es Live, early morning to urs, photograph y tours, and flowers afte r hours. There w ill also be a time on Fr iday evening to br in g your leashed pets. Th e Makers Marke t th is year will showcase 32 local artists. Th e Show is held at the Penn sylvania Conven tion Center, located at 1101 Ar ch Street. ❁

NATIVE PL AN

TS

Native plants are plants th at occur nat in a given ar urally ea or ecosys te m . Native plan adapted to an ts have d have form ed a symbiot with the ecos ic re la tionship ystem. They naturally su birds, and bu pp or t bees, tterflies. To find a list of in your area native plants , contact your state’s Depar of Conservat tment ion and Nat ural Resourc es. ❁ WINTER 2023 | 19

MATERIA MEDICA: PLANTAIN (PLANTAGO MAJOR)

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

FAMILY: Plantaginaceae COMMON NAME(S): Broad leaf plantain, Plantain, Dooryard plantain GENDER: Feminine USDA HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 12 NATIVE RANGE: Eurasia, Europe, Central Asia. Also found throughout North America.

DESCRIPTION & CULTIVATION: This perennial weed has broad oval leaves with a straight stem. The flowering stalk can grow to 18 inches tall and flowers from May to October.

PARTS USED: Leaves

CULINARY USES: The leaves can be eaten like spinach. Teas and juices can be made too.

problems. Chewing on her root may help relieve toothaches. It is also used for treating urinary tract infections.

MEDICINAL USES: Drawing the toxicity from the body, it can be used to treat bites, stings, cuts, as well as sore feet. It can be used as an astringent, and as a diuretic. It has been used to relieve various skin

MAGIKAL USES: Hung in a car, plantain guards against the intrusion of evil spirits. Wearing a piece of the root in one’s pocket is said to protect one from snakebites. ❁

Sources: Cunningham, Scott. Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2014. Pp. 206-207 Gladstar, Rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs. Storey Publishing, 2012. Pp. 16-17, 188-191.

Lust, John, N.D, D.B.M., (1974) The Herb Book. Bantam Books, pg. 344.

“Plantago major” North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/plantago-major/ Retrieved 1 January 2024.

Tierra, Michael, C.A., N.D. (1990) The Way of Herbs. Pocket Books, pp. 212-213

SPRING 2023 21

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Why CHOOSE Heirloom SEEDS

By Jacqueline Bilder

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It is hard to hide my excitement when my Seed Catalog from Rare Seeds: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds arrives. As soon as it is in my hands, I have to read it from cover to cover. Yes, that is right! It is like reading a favorite book. There is so much information on each seed packet; where they come from, planting and cooking tips and many articles about the farmers from around the world who grow and then save the seeds.

I sit down with my tea and think about what I am going to plant. This year’s list includes purple skinned tomatoes with yellow interiors, Filderkraut cabbage that is shaped tall like a pear rather than round, Japanese

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Mountain Swiss chard, yellow carrots, giant spinach with red interwoven through the leaves, tomatoes that resemble peas, mini red and orange striped melons, and lots more.

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The reason I am drawn to Heirloom seeds is because these seeds have been passed down from generation to generation. If I want to save seeds for the following year I can. This would be different than if I bought a tomato in the supermarket, I could not save those seeds, plant them, and expect I will grow that tomato. That tomato was probably genetically modified for disease resistance, to ripen after it is picked, and to be able to be shipped and transported long distances. Heirloom produce typically does not last as long and might not look perfect like each tomato in the store, but

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it tastes so much better. Saving and or planting Heirloom varieties will allow you to get the same results year after year.

Another important factor for consideration is Heirloom seeds have not been modified in any way, so you are growing the same plant that grew generations ago. Heirloom seeds tend to be much healthier and contain many more nutrients. Additionally, you are preserving the genetic diversity so that this produce will be around in its healthy original state for generations to come. ❁

2024 PENNSYLVANIA HERB AND GARDEN FESTIVAL Friday, April 12 11am - 5pm Saturday, April 13 9am - 4pm York Expo Center/ Memorial Hall 334 Carlisle Avenue, York, PA

Celebrate Gardening & Gain Knowledge Of Growing & Using Herbs for Creating Culinary Flavor, Natural Beauty Products, Healthy Living & Wellness NATIONALLY KNOWN SPEAKERS, VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS, NUMEROUS VENDORS OF PLANTS, GARDEN ITEMS, HERBAL CRAFTS, PRODUCTS FOR THE GARDENER, COOK, AND CRAFTER Admission $10 (Children 12 and under Free) Free Parking

(Children age

www.paherbandgardenfestival.com

THESE A CR FORAT ME

By Chuck Kruse

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To eat

meat or not?

For many of us, that is an open question. Book after book gives you reasons to be a vegetarian or vegan, and others suggest a life of meat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I have tried many of the extreme dietary regimes, and I am here to tell you the answer does not lie in any extreme.

As frequently happens, our ancestors were right. Think about dinner at your grandparents’ house. The meal consisted of a variety of foodstuffs.

Now some of them were certainly not healthy (think canned vegetables, any processed food at all, and sugar desserts) but the basic idea was

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correct. There was meat, and there were vegetables. And so, it has been since the dawn of humankind.

It is thought that about six million years ago, our distant ancestors came down from the trees and diverged from other primate species and began the march towards becoming the humans we are today. Around two and a half million years ago, something amazing happened, our brains began to grow in size. At the same time, the first stone tools and evidence of hunting animals began to appear in the fossil record. It seems that eating meat gave our ancestors the energy to grow our brains and evolve into the intelligent creatures we are today. Our nearest primate cousins, the chimpanzees, never began to eat meat, and they have not changed significantly from when we split off from them. The correlation looks apparent that meat eating is what made us human!

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Let us look into the benefits of eating meat. A good place to begin might be to consider some of the nutrients that meat provides.

Here are a few: » Amino Acids L-Carnitine and Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) » L-Carnitine is critical for transporting dietary fat into cellular mitochondria for energy production. Meat is the densest source of L-Carnitine and it is helpful for heart health among other functions.

» CLA improves insulin sensitivity and helps with fat loss. » Meat is a high provider of these nutrients. Actually, meat provides the entire spectrum of necessary amino acids and is the only food that does so on its own.

foods and as we all know, protein is vital for muscle, bone, skin, and cartilage building and maintenance.

Sarcopenia is a known disease of muscle mass loss that can result in falls and trouble doing your daily chores as you age. Some strength training and adequate protein intake can prevent or reverse this. Meat can be helpful in obtaining the required protein.

Iron and Minerals Meat is a great source of these important nutrients.

And the list could go on and on!

With all of this, consider the fact that nutrients consumed in the form of meat are very 'bio-available' to you. What this means is that your digestive system is able to process the food and use the nutrients more easily than if consumed in another form. A quick web search for "bioavailability of nutrients in meat vs vegetables" will show you at once that it is generally conceded that animal

Glutathione This nutrient is your immune system's friend. It has been called the 'Master Antioxidant' and helps to detox your body.

Protein The elephant in the room! Meat supplies more protein than most other

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sources are superior to plant sources of nutrients. This fact alone is a powerful reason to include meat in your diet.

OK. So now perhaps you are ready to put some meat in your meals, at least I hope so! This brings us to the all-important issue of how to start with meat.

How much meat to consume is critical. You can certainly eat too much and like any over-indulgence, it can be harmful. A good way to figure out a meat portion is to tie it to your daily protein requirement.

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You can calculate your daily protein requirement like this: Convert your weight in pounds to your weight in kilograms by dividing the pounds by 2.2. Now don't cheat! If you weigh 220 but should weigh 150 use 150!

150 / 2.2 = 68.18 Round this down to 68 for simplicity Then multiply 68 by 0.8 which is the number for 'grams of protein per kilogram' for a normal person. An

athlete or pregnant/nursing woman would multiply by 1.5 to account for the greater protein need. If you have any questions at all about what category you fall into, please consult your physician and do not just guess. So, assuming that you are normal, 68 X 0.8 = 54.4, round this to an even 54. This is 54 grams of protein that you should have each DAY. Now an ounce of raw meat or fish or an egg has about seven grams of protein.

Dividing this up throughout the day gives you an average portion of two or three ounces of meat per meal. Now you can begin to see why people have trouble with meat. In our culture, the 'eight-ounce burger' or even 'quarter pounder' is prevalent and it is just too much to eat at one meal for your health!

Remember that we are not going to any extreme, we are seeking the middle way.

Since we are eating meat to enhance our health, we should do all we can to obtain grass fed beef, pastured chicken, and wild caught fish. The nutritional benefits of organic, naturally raised products are overwhelming. Also, please understand that we are talking about raw, unprocessed meat and not processed meat. Lunch meat, canned hams, hot dogs, and other such products should not be on your menu at all. Throw them in the same garbage bin that you threw your sugar and white flour into when you decided to take care of yourself.

coals. There is really no one way and you can find exact recipes in your old cookbooks or on the internet with ease.

Finally, let us consider the ecological impact of animal-based food. A fairly recent government study put the impact of the beef industry upon greenhouse gas emission at 1.9 percent of the total. For comparison, that is half the greenhouse gas impact of farming, and 15 times less than electricity generation, which is the worst offender, for the same time period.

Meat does not make the pollution that the current narrative would lead you to believe, and you do not have to apologize to anyone for including it in your meal plans.

So, there you have it. For your good health and well-being, take a tip from your ancestors and cut into a nice little piece of meat when you sit down to your next dinner. Do not be surprised if you hear cheers from the 37 trillion or so cells that make up your body! ❁

As far as cooking meat goes, you can roast it in the oven, sear it in a pan, boil it, stew it, stir fry it, or grill it over the

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COULD YOUR HEALTHY FOODS BE STRESSING YOU OUT?

By Sally K. Norton, MPH Author of “Toxic Superfoods” 38 | Therapeutic Thymes Magazine

SPRING 2024 | 39

Are you suffering from anxiety, mental fatigue, stress, or issues with memory or sleep?

Your favorite healthy foods may not be helping! Caffeine and sugar are not the only chemicals in food that can mess with your mind and your mood. Lurking in our daily meals are lesser-known chemicals that can damage mental health: Oxalates!

Even individuals with nutrition degrees and professional careers in health and medicine still lack sufficient information about the profound impact oxalates can have on both our physical and mental health. It is astounding the number of individuals who are improving their mental health by simply reducing their oxalate intake. The profound impact food has on the brain and body is taking on a whole new dimension. Let me share some memorable reports of “miracle” responses to simple dietary shifts.

Helen found relief from six decades of addictive urges and food cravings within a month of changing her diet.

Herb was so depressed that he told his wife he wanted to commit suicide. His high oxalate foods caused him intense bladder pain that interfered with his sleep for 50 years. His lack of sleep and constant pain had made life unlivable.

Changing his diet proved to him that

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his foods were the cause of his pain and anguish. Not knowing the source of the problem for so long created chronic problems. He is slowly recovering.

Marilyn was low-spirited and depressed from age eight or even earlier. She too experienced a profound shift in mood and mental outlook after she learned to cut out high oxalate foods.

As she puts it, she at last has “life” after changing her diet in her early thirties.

Many others report relief from headaches, migraines, ear-ringing, and depression—with the welcome bonus of a new-found sense of calm that had evaded them.

Before I learned to avoid high oxalate foods for my arthritis, I was way-laid by a disabling sleep disorder

where my brain would settle into sleep for only a few minutes at a time, only to awaken repeatedly—29 times every hour—all night long. Medications did nothing to improve the situation. I was stuck. Ten days of avoiding high oxalate food was enough to show me the permanent fix to an otherwise untreatable problem that had ended my career.

So, what exactly are oxalates and why are they so bad?

Like caffeine, oxalic acid (and the oxalate crystals it forms) are natural toxins found in plant foods that can negatively affect mood, mental self-talk, and sleep quality.

Oxalate-loaded foods are popular and trusted, making it easy to consume toxic amounts unknowingly. Although both caffeine and oxalates influence brain function, their mechanisms differ.

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"Like caffeine, oxalic acid are natural toxins found in plant foods that can negatively affect mood, mental self-talk, and sleep quality."

Oxalates are metal chelators that “steal” calcium, iron, magnesium, and other minerals. Excessive oxalate consumption can result in celldamaging mineral loss, electrolyte imbalances, and oxidative stress.

The resulting cell damage and the inflammation it induces can trigger a myriad of brain-related issues that can manifest as insomnia, cognitive challenges with focus and recall abilities, reduced motivation or apathy, feelings of dread, anxiety, and even depression.

Another concerning outcome of high oxalate intake involves its ability to cause excessive calcium buildup in the brain. Surprisingly,

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elevated levels of Vitamin C, which degrade into oxalate, may exacerbate this situation, adversely affecting neurons and cell function.

Over time, the constant use of high-dose vitamin C or the oxalate-rich foods that are so ubiquitous in our modern diets, such as potatoes, peanuts, almonds, chocolate, beans, chia seeds, turmeric, beets, and spinach, leads to accumulation and toxicity.

For optimal brain function, the body must maintain healthy blood vessels, cell membranes, mitochondria, and precise control of calcium concentrations in specific cell compartments. Oxalate’s

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stealthy ability to interfere with basic cell maintenance underscores the significance of managing oxalate intake for sustaining mental health and explains the powerful recoveries.

What does a lowoxalate diet look like?

To start adopting a brain-friendly, oxalate-conscious diet, we need to be open to questioning the cultural belief that high-oxalate foods are beneficial for health, despite their potential harm. A common example of this is justifying alcohol consumption by believing that red wine provides meaningful amounts of potentially beneficial compounds from the grapes—it does not. Remember high oxalate foods are all optional, nonessential foods (like wine) that are not in any way critical (or even helpful) to human health. Many are surprisingly new additions to the human diet.

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If you are in love with your dark chocolate and spinach smoothies—do not freak out! That panic, anger, or addiction may just be the oxalates talking! Oxalate-aware eating is completely within your reach. Not all plants have heavy loads of oxalate.

“Low-oxalate” does not mean “nooxalate.” The key is to know what you are eating and how much, and to choose your daily staples from nourishing foods with less potential to create chronic problems.

The starting point for low-oxalate eating is to identify the worst offenders in your diet. I would especially warn you to avoid chard, beet greens, spinach, bran, almonds, cashews, peanuts, and sweet potatoes. Gradually reduce portions then make swaps to low oxalate foods to minimize your oxalate consumption. Learn to find and prepare new, safer ingredients that are low in

oxalate. For example, use romaine or leaf lettuce as your default salad greens. For cooked greens, try mustard greens, turnip greens, and cabbage.

Winter squash stands in nicely for sweet potatoes. Alternatives for almonds, cashews, and peanuts are (modest portions of ) pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and chestnuts. Of course, cheese, eggs, and meats are all free of oxalate and very nourishing for the brain.

For details, consult my website and book, Toxic Superfoods. At Sallyknorton.com look for my self-evaluation Symptoms and Exposure Inventory, Beginners Guide, and cookbook for great

recipes using low oxalate ingredients.

Keep coming back to improve your understanding and consistently.

Take Away Thankfully, although an oxalateoverloaded diet is a common problem, it is easily fixed with a few simple food swaps that can make a dramatic difference. With just a bit of information, you will find it simple and inexpensive to swap out highoxalate foods for low-oxalate foods.

Many people experience prompt relief. Try it for a few months and see what it does for you. You might be surprised how much better you feel! ❁

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TURNING ON THE LIGHT

By Dana Jefferson, C.Ht., Ph.D., CAHA

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

— ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

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It should be stated upfront that I am not a clinical psychologist, but I have experienced and witnessed depression way too often.

What causes depression in one person may not be what causes it in the next person. Therefore, the solutions will vary. For example, for some there may be a chemical imbalance creating depression.

For others, there may not be a known physical cause. If there

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is a physical cause, the physical cause needs to be addressed. If physical etiology is ruled out, there are many possibilities that could help. Remember that if depression is expressed with suicidal thoughts, then help should be sought immediately. Crisis hotlines are available in most locales.

There are times when all of us are sad or even full of grief. As a former hospice bereavement counselor, I have been part of that process for many individuals.

There are numerous situations such as the death of a loved one that make

"Remember that if depression is expressed with suicidal thoughts, then help should be sought immediately. Crisis hotlines are available in most locales."

us sad or full of grief which would be an appropriate response. There are other situations where deep sadness reasonably occurs such as being laid off from a job during a recession, losing a limb, or receiving a difficult health diagnosis such as cancer. Typically, the focus shifts to survival and recovery.

What happens when there is no apparent reason for our sadness or grief? As a hypnotherapist who assists individuals with past life regressions, my first thought tends to be whether or not the sadness and grief is arising from a past life experience. A past

life regression may be a way to either explain what you are feeling or to rule out a past life as a probable cause.

While we call them past life regressions, time is not necessarily linear so what pops up to your conscious mind may be important to help answer the question of what is the cause of the sadness or grief. The cause could be something from earlier in this lifetime, but I never specifically use hypnosis to find memories from this life as they have been found to be unreliable unless they arise without the therapist’s direction.

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After physical and past-life causes have been ruled out, consider thinking about the onset of depression. Was there an event (or the lack of an event) that triggered depression? Did a relationship end or was a promotion given to someone else? Is it your first Saturn return (mid-life crisis time) and are you questioning what has not happened yet that you expected to happen by this point such as a wedding or being made a partner at work? If a triggering event can be identified, then you have a starting place to begin working on emotional and/or rational solutions.

If it were the end of a relationship, then figuring out what went wrong and how you could change to make the next relationship more successful provides hope for the future. A wise counselor once told me that once I changed, that the type of man that I would attract would change.

This may be something to consider. If the trigger was around a work issue, consider what went wrong from your perspective and your employer’s perspective. Is there something that you could change to help your future business success or are you picking the wrong job situation? I once had to fire an employee who was a terrible human resource representative, yet I am sure that same individual would have made a terrific social worker. How can you find the right organizational fit? These are just examples of how you can change your trajectory once you have insight into your trigger.

Sometimes triggers are specific. They can be an accumulation of events over time.

These may be harder to identify, but with

"If you do not have trusted friends, then consider getting a pet." thought, you may be able to identify the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Once you have that you may be able to backtrack to see all the pieces that were part of this process.

Many tools have been offered in previous articles that can be helpful dealing with a non-clinical depression. Research meditation, mindfulness, shamanic journeying, and breathing practices especially the Tonglen. Shadow work and the Toltec process of recapitulation can be immensely helpful. Even non-clinical depression can often be assisted not only by therapists, but also by a large variety of healing processes and professionals (such as Reiki, various forms of body work, EMDR, etc.). Nobody has to be alone unless they choose to be so. If you do not have trusted friends, then consider getting a pet. The benefits of pet ownership are well documented as are the benefits of getting out in nature which can be facilitated by dog or horse ownership.

What if the mental health problem in your life is not directly related to you?

You might have a friend or loved one that is dealing with the type of nonclinical depression discussed early. It is common to have family or friends that are

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dealing with some kind of diagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. This is a very different type of challenge that can impact your life in many ways. You may have to learn how to be a supporter but not an enabler. You may need to learn as much as you can about the mental illness to ensure your loved one gets appropriate care.

Navigating mental health care systems, especially when health insurance resources may be limited, can be quite challenging. It may be difficult for you to navigate these systems, but it can be even more challenging, if not impossible, for someone actively dealing with a mental illness. Your role in supporting your loved one getting care can be invaluable.

Many of you are savvy enough about your own regular health care that you research all potential forms of care from traditional to complementary to alternative.

This same continuum of care may exist for the mental illness of your family member or friend. Know enough to ask questions from what the possible treatment plans are to asking what you would do if your loved one was dealing with this same problem. I have found that sometimes options are not presented because they are not covered by insurance.

This does not mean they are not the best option. For example, I was about to have shoulder surgery when I researched and

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discovered plasma replacement therapy.

When I asked the surgeon’s office about this, I was told they could do it and did not suggest it because it was not covered by insurance in the United States. The cost was not prohibitive at all, so I chose to go that route. I am extremely happy that I chose that alternative to surgery.

All this to say, it is important to do your homework for that loved one who does not have the capacity to research.

This article is titled “Turning on the Light” which might apply to the darkness in your life, or the darkness created by non-clinical depression or the mental illness of a loved one. We’ve all likely seen images or videos of giant sunflowers following the sun. It is natural for them to attempt to receive as much light as possible for their photosynthesis.

Both scientists and New Age advocates are questioning whether photosynthesis in humans may be part of humanities future. Even without photosynthesis, humans often gravitate towards the light. I’ve recently been binging a show called “Naked and Afraid.”

It is common in episodes to see the naked participants looking for sunlight to bring them warmth. In one episode, a young woman named Makani Nalu, was about to finish the challenge without losing the typical amount of weight of normal contestants. She actually discussed getting her food from the sun as she laid out on

"Try lighting a candle if you have not had the best day or try taking a walk in the sunshine. Even better to try doing these things with a pet and/or loved one. Be the light in the world." rocks tanning during hours of sunshine.

She also seemed much less irritable than other contestants. There are studies of a condition called SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder created by days of reduced sunlight for humans. This has been associated with reduced serotonin levels (a brain chemical that impacts our moods). There are lamps that can help with this as well as getting outdoors when there is sunshine even if that sunshine is on a snow-covered ski slope. Whether it is for us or our loved ones, we need to turn on the light whether it be actual sunlight or the light of love entering our hearts. Humans do need the dark for the healing repair work that deep sleep

brings to us, but it is important that the balance of light and dark not be neglected.

Our ancestors followed the solstices and equinoxes for a variety of reasons way before neurotransmitters like serotonin were discovered. Today many of us light candles on the Winter Solstice hoping to bring more light into our lives during the Winter months. In lighting these candles, we give ourselves hope which is a critical need for anyone’s mental health.

Try lighting a candle if you have not had the best day or try taking a walk in the sunshine. Even better to try doing these things with a pet and/or loved one. Be the light in the world. ❁

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ASTROLOGY

By Brighid

THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2024 HAS NUMEROUS CONFIGURATIONS THAT WILL CHANGE ALL OUR LIVES IN A POSITIVE WAY! We will all feel some luck in a part of our lives due to our destiny of birth! We will be preparing for future success and of course focus for this quarter on our mental health and achieving our innermost goals and dreams. Let us start the Astrological New Year in March, knowing exactly what we want and how to maintain healthy boundaries and self-care practices that will help control stress. We will explore the overall Astrological Happenings and how they affect each sign and what we should be asking ourselves about work, family, and friends. Our collective mission is to take on the challenges of life, feeling better and doing better for our communities.

We started revving our engines with a lucky Solstice/Cazimi in Mercury,

on 23 December 2023 within each of our signs. It will shine the light of luck in an aspect that your sign will be able to move at lightning speed. Mercury goes retrograde.

When Jupiter in Taurus occurred on 16 May 2023 and will be there until 25 May 2024, all signs will be asked to work on your contribution to the world, and the Universe will open its doors to opportunity! Lastly, Pluto will enter Aquarius, from the first of the year, lasting until 2044.

This last configuration will bring societies shift to focus more on spirituality and the shift to Earth and the well-being of our fellow man. Below you will find each sign, with journaling questions for better self-examination and navigation with 2024 planetary energies.

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ARIES Aries we start with your lucky Solstice energies focused on promotion and earnings. 2024 is going to be a great year for increasing income and achieving in your career. In addition, you will be broadening your social circles and influence throughout your year. You may be asked to further your education or be asked to teach.

Relationships will thrive with solid communication and commitment. A Journaling question for reflection is: Where do I want to be and are my actions in accordance with those goals?”

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TAURUS Taurus 2024 focuses on family and the structure of your family. Marriage, birth, and death are the energies that shape the family. Your dependability is your cornerstone, and your dedication will move your career forward with the finances showing great improvement.

Make sure that your complete projects and issues in the first quarter of the year because from March on, your schedule is busy. A journaling question is more a “to do list” for you! “If I completed, degrees, project, conversations would my completed tasks free up my life for my passions or new opportunities?”

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GEMINI

CANCER

Gemini 2024 starts out with contemplating your true-life purpose. Lucky Jupiter may bring you large sums of money through investments, property, or family. A focus of a new love or improvement of love partnership will begin the year. Possible new directions or opportunities will be offered in your career. Examine your true interests and goals. A journaling question would be “If I could design my life what would it look like?

Cancer your year begins with an emphasis on romance and family.

It is time for you to make sure you are maintaining healthy boundaries and establish relationships based on respect. This is your time to cut unnecessary expenses and save the financial gains of 2024.

Raises and promotions are in your chart this 2024 with the year being calmer and more organized.

Your journaling question is “How are the people in my life bringing me joy and happiness?

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LEO Leo, your start of 2024 has you on the fast track with career and finances. Your business connections will expand as well as your money-making opportunities.

Marriage and partnerships will demand your attention along with elders of your family. Opportunities for teaching or mentoring will also broaden your horizons. Your journaling questions for the first quarter of 2024 is asking “What are my priorities, and do I live my life in alignment with what I hold most valuable?”

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VIRGO

LIBRA

Virgo 2024 begins with opportunities for education, mentoring and or training. Your first quarter of the new year will bring the platform for abundance in the third quarter of 2024. Children and creative projects take the forefront of your energies. Instead of always investing in others, try self-examination to bring that special someone into your life if you are single. Virgos will end up with a side hustle that may replace their 9 to 5.

Engage in self-care and dream with the lid off. Your journaling question is “What do I want most in my life?”

Libra starts with past reflection as well as wondering if they could have done something differently. The key to progress is to have learned from the past, to gain insight on how to do it better in the future. Matters of real estate and inheritance are part of your focus in the first quarter of 2024. Of all the signs, Libras big month of the year is February. In this month, promotions, raises and possible real estate gains. Your journaling question is “What of my many accomplishments am I most proud of?”

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SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Scorpio 2024 begins with establishing positive self-care habits. Being patient with yourself and others is not your usual style, but your sign is being asked to slow down and ask “why?” 2023 was incredibly busy with familial turbulence. The new year will have you making plans for home improvement and or possibly moving. Career and business endeavors pick up, but midyear. Your journaling question is “What are your goals that you would like to achieve in 2024?”

Sagittarius begins 2024 with their emphasis in their third house of communications. Marketing will be exponentially effective during the first quarter of 2024 as well as if you are asked to train or pursue higher education will lead to greater gains.

Siblings will be in the forefront regarding family life. Anything involving contracts, legal matters and property will need your attention to detail at this time. Your journaling question for the first quarter of 2024 is “Where do your see yourself in 5 years?”

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CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Capricorn 2024 starts out with prosperity and opportunity knocking on your front door. New career paths lay ahead with more financial gains. Due to the past year’s financial disappointments, this year is all about catching the lucky breaks. Love and family will be celebrated with renewed energy in your house of family/love/ marriage. Your journaling question for the first quarter is “What are the things that bring you joy?”

Aquarius, the Planet Pluto just entered your sign in January, making you spiritual and making life all about a better you! You will have the energy to transform your life this year. The New Year begins with changes in family and in the home.

Moving and home improvement may be your focus. Financial gains from property, legal contracts, and inheritance. Your journaling question for the first quarter of the year is “What do I want to change about me?

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PISCES Pisces begins the year, with a slower more methodical manner. Last year’s energy was overwhelming with opportunities to be overloaded at work and overwhelmed with the changes in your evolving in your personal life. Take your time and enjoy the steady positive energy of 2024. Plan the year by taking time to see what changes you would like to implement in your life! Establish habits of self-care, finish the plans that were interrupted in 2023. Your journaling question for the first quarter is “Can I finish what I did not complete in 2023 and build a better 2024?”

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF THE YEAR! If you would like a more personalized reading, please call 419.351.9704 for scheduling and fees. If you would like to have a meditation link for combating stress, please email me Brighidsees@gmail.com.

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Our Creative Self

By Asha Scatchard,BHS, IKH

Whether it is writings of the Scriptures, esoteric literature, or from a beloved teacher, “you are a creator and the creator of your life experiences.”

I learned this powerful truth from my teacher when I interviewed for acceptance at a school called A Society of Souls. I related the dramatic events in my life, which included a terrible automobile accident with a year of healing, the death of my spouse, and my job loss. Everything occurred within three years. Shortly, after these revelations my teacher said, “Why did I create it?” I was stunned and went completely silent. As time went on and I learned more, the answer is we do create our experiences. Of course, this is a very complicated issue and needs more exploration.

In essence, we are gods, made in His image. This is powerful information to be made aware of.

This issue of Therapeutic Thymes is about Mental Health. So let us begin with spiritual truths.

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1.

Since we create and are the creators, we must become mindful and conscious of our thoughts and the programs that run in our heads 24/7.

2.

Here is something I learned in my early yoga days. The art of witnessing, becoming aware of ideas and thoughts that suddenly drift into consciousness.

They seem to come out of nowhere. These thoughts are very important and are to be looked at and questioned. You will learn a lot about yourself and what is happening in your current experiences.

3.

We all have early childhood programs running through us.

These are unconscious until they are discovered, and we begin to connect the dots. When understood they lose their power, and we gain more of our true selves. We should remain vigilant because it is very easy to slip back into habitual pathways.

4.

Another universal law is like attracts like. The question is are you more positive or negative in your daily outlook?

Remember like attracts like.

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5.

We live in an energy world and are always exchanging energy.

This occurs automatically and we have no conscious control.

When I work with clients and read their energy field it reveals what is happening within their life experiences and the effects within the body. The effects can be on the physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual levels of their being, thus creating pain and suffering.

These effects remain until they are made conscious and understood.

6.

Understand your body is hard-wired to self-heal, only at times you do need some outside assistance.

7.

Healing begins when you experience the “aha” moments and you begin to question and explore on deeper levels.

They are important clues.

"Remember like attracts like."

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8.

Life becomes an exciting adventure of exploration and discovery. You are like an onion and as you peel away layers of defenses you discover your true self. These defenses were put in place to keep you safe, especially as a child. They are buried and forgotten but remain very active within us. These defenses no longer serve us as adults.

9.

10.

When you begin this journey life will never be the same. You begin to attract new things and relationships will change or drop away when they no longer fit.

11.

The work of energy consciousness healing is currently on the frontier, but it will be a future modality to be included in current healing professions.

Your greatest gift is to begin healing the wounds we all possess and discover how magnificent you are.

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BOOK THYME

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BOOK THYME

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NEWS:

Discovering Your Sacred Feminine Wisdom Can Heal Your Stressed-Out, Burned-Out Life VANCOVER, BC - If 2023 taught us anything, it is that we desperately need a break from busyness and chaos.

Our schedules are maxed out, we are struggling with stress and overwhelm, and we get nowhere near the rest we need. It is time for a major reset, says Andrea Menard—and that means tapping into your innate feminine energy to find the calm you crave.

“Western culture, with its addiction to overactivity, depletes our energy and keeps us divorced from the stillness we need to feel and be our best,” says Menard, author of Seeds from the Sacred Feminine: A 52-Card Wisdom Deck with Handbook.

“This is far from normal and healthy, and yet too many people live this way year after year. As 2024 commences, people of all genders can stop the cycle of depletion and experience wellness and peace by embracing the Sacred Feminine.”

Menard, an Indigenous thought leader of Métis heritage, says stress and exhaustion are the result of an overabundance of masculine energy that makes us gravitate toward assertive, competitive, and actiondriven behavior. To achieve balance, we must also embrace traits that honour

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our feminine energy, such as stillness, intuition, gentleness, and creativity.

The Seeds from the Sacred Feminine wisdom cards and handbook offer gentle reminders on how to connect to your feminine spirit and find your way back to your center. They channel the wisdom of the Grandmothers, gentle feminine teachers in the spiritual realm who are respected by Indigenous cultures all over the world. The messages in this deck give you direct insight and offer simple guidance to rearrange your life in a more harmonious manner. Adorned with beautiful painted imagery by Leah Marie Dorion, the cards, paired with the handbook, provide all the tools you need to learn how to enter the realm of the Sacred Feminine, walk in a sacred way, and

BOOK THYME live in harmony with the rest of Creation.

For more information about the cards, please visit andreamenard.com/cards.

Use the wisdom cards for daily connection with the Sacred Feminine. There are several ways to use the 52-card deck. For example, you can select one card and ask for clarity on a specific situation. Or you can choose four cards (each card representing one of the four sacred bodies) and absorb the messages or teachings they bring. You can also simply choose a card and ask for a seed of daily wisdom. Upon receiving any thoughts, intuitions, or messages from the cards themselves, you can read the corresponding message in the Seeds from the Sacred Feminine booklet.

knowledge between all people. Her paintings honour the spiritual strength of Indigenous women and the Sacred Feminine. Her original paintings have been brought together as a collection for the first time in this deck of wisdom cards.

For more information, please visit leahdorion.ca.

About the Cards: Seeds from the Sacred Feminine: A 52Card Wisdom Deck with Handbook (Mango Publishing, 2023, ISBN: 978-1-64250956-4, $34.99) is available from Mango Publishing and major online booksellers. ❁

About the Author: Andrea Menard is the author of Seeds from the Sacred Feminine: A 52-Card Wisdom Deck with Handbook. She is an accomplished Métis singer, storyteller, speaker, and the founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge.

She is a proud Métis woman.

For more information on her workshops, courses, music, and products, please visit her website: andreamenard.com.

About the Artist: Leah Marie Dorion is an interdisciplinary Métis artist raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. A teacher, painter, host, filmmaker, and published writer, Dorion views her Métis heritage as providing her with a unique bridge for SPRING 2024 | 73

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NEWS:

New Book Offers Timeless Message of Hope KENNEBUNK, ME - It All Belongs: Love, Loss, & Learning to Live Again is an exquisite juxtaposition of perspectives tracing Judy and Roy Smoot’s final four years together. Much more than a book, It All Belongs is an immersive experience that opens a rare window into uncommonly candid end-of-life realities through a soulful mosaic of expressive art, journal entries, poetry, and deeply personal writings.

“This is a book to be used,” Roy Smoot explains. “It’s filled with ideas, tools, and examples to help guide individuals and groups in discussing and contemplating their own inevitable journeys of love and grief.”

When Judy, a spiritual director who used expressive arts to help others cope with chronic illness, receives the devastating diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme, she must put these spiritual practices to the ultimate test. Because she knew how making art sustained her, Judy continued to paint or draw until the very end of her life. As Judy lives fully into her own mortality, she models her practices for others. But that’s only half the story.

Following Judy’s death, Roy, Judy’s

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husband and soulmate of nearly 40 years, enters a world he didn’t know existed, a world he didn’t want to know, a world of searing pain, grief, and grace beyond anything he could conceive. It All Belongs invites readers to follow Roy from the raw angst of navigating immediate day-today realities to his deep introspection. In constantly journaling through his travels, including a long road trip out west and a spiritual quest in Iona, Scotland, Roy mirrors Judy’s work to find his own path through his devastating grief.

This unique pairing of perspectives offers spiritual tools and healing practices to help readers face end-oflife realities by exploring the beauty, light — and even joy — tucked within even the most tragic of circumstances.

It All Belongs encourages readers to listen deeply, explore purposefully, and fully embrace this sacred time.

“Hold nothing back in your questions,

BOOK THYME rantings, thoughts, emotions,” Roy Smoot writes in the book’s introduction.

“As this book’s title affirms, everything you feel, think, ask, experience, live through, and release is a sacred part of your journey. It all belongs.”

About the Authors Judy and Roy Smoot met in college at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; were married following graduation; and for the next four decades lived and loved in Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and Maine.

Roy enjoyed a successful banking career; Judy served as a Wellstreams spiritual director, a Dominican Associate, and an Expressive Arts Florida Institute (EAFI) certified expressive arts therapist. Judy established Always We Begin Again (AWBA), a nonprofit organization to support people with chronic illnesses. Later in life, they made their home at “Sunrise Ridge,” their

cottage and retreat center renovated and created in the breathtaking beauty of Ohio’s Hocking Hills.

Melinda Folse is a writer, editor, and collaborator on a mission to tell stories that make a difference. She believes this story will strike a meaningful chord in every life it touches. It All Belongs is her eighth book, joining Grandmaster, Dream Catcher, and Lessons Well Learned as her favorite explorations of lives and passions well lived. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

About the Book: It All Belongs: Love, Loss & Learning to Live Again Publisher: Spark Point Press Release Date: 1 December 2023 ISBN-13: 978-0982696064 ❁

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NEWS:

Mama, Where Did Nanna Go? is a wonderful tribute to the beautiful and unique relationship between child and grandparent.

OXON HILL, MD - Aurelia L. Spencer, the owner of Enlightened Path, a business that focuses on the betterment of all people through energy healing and enlightenment, has completed her new book “Mama, Where Did Nanna Go?”: a meaningful children’s book that honors the important relationship between a child and a grandparent and helps parents begin the fragile conversation with their child about the death of a loved one in a loving and supportive way.

Spencer writes, “The next day, Lulu looked for Nanna, but Nanna had gone away. So, Lulu asked her mama, ‘Mama, why couldn’t Nanna stay? She knows

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how much I love her and how much I like to play. Nanna knows she is my best friend; I will miss her every day.’

Published by Page Publishing, this impactful tale is written in a heartwarming poetic format. The book allows the child reader to better understand their feelings of pain and loss while also bringing comfort that their loved one is always watching over them.

About the Author Aurelia L. Spencer, the owner of Enlightened Path, a business that focuses on the betterment of all people through energy healing and enlightenment, has completed her new book “Mama,

BOOK THYME Where Did Nanna Go?”: a meaningful children’s book that honors the important relationship between a child and a grandparent and helps parents begin the fragile conversation with their child about the death of a loved one in a loving and supportive way.

About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, fullservice publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to

create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Page’s accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating.

Learn more at pagepublishing.com.

About the Book: Mama, Where Did Nana Go? Publisher: Page Publisher Release Date: 31 July 2023 ISBN-13: 9798889602538

NEWS:

Veteran Yogis Share Balance Boosting Postures to Reduce the Risk of Falling CARSON CITY, NV - Yoga for Better Balance is a comprehensive guide, by Howard VanEs and Dr. Rick Harvey, that aims to help readers improve their balance and stability to reduce their risk of falling.

“Maintaining and improving physical balance throughout your lifespan is critical for sustaining independence, confidence, mobility, overall wellbeing, and perhaps most importantly, for avoiding falls — which all too often lead to life-altering or life-ending outcomes,” explained VanEs, who has been teaching yoga for more than 26 years.

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BOOK THYME

A unique feature inside Yoga for Better Balance is a self-test that helps readers identify areas where their balance may be compromised — providing valuable insight into specific places that need attention and guiding readers toward a tailored yoga practice.

The book provides step-by-step instructions, plenty of accompanying photos and options for beginners as well as experienced yoga practitioners to make the postures and exercises accessible to people of all skill levels.

Yoga for Better Balance also offers simple lifestyle suggestions that can make a significant difference for improving balance and reducing the risk of falls.

From looking at wear points on shoes, to sleep habits, to living environments, a variety of practical tips will help keep readers safe while improving overall health.

“Whether you're a senior looking to enhance your quality of life, an experienced yoga practitioner wanting to deepen your practice or an athlete seeking improved performance, Yoga for Better Balance offers an effective and thoughtful approach for enhancing stability, strength, flexibility and vitality,” Harvey added.

About the Authors Howard VanEs, M.A., is a dedicated practitioner of Iyengar yoga and has been teaching yoga for more than 26 years in the Bay Area of California. He has led yoga retreats and workshops around the globe and is known for his attention to detail, coupled with a

78 | Therapeutic Thymes Magazine

lightness and sense of humor. He has a deep passion for helping people learn about the many ways they can improve the quality of their health and lives through mind/body methods. He has also written many yoga-related books, as well as numerous others focused on health and wellness. Additionally, he has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is a former psychotherapist.

Dr. Richard Harvey, D.C., has been helping people heal for over 45 years through chiropractic and other natural healing methods. He possesses an exquisite knowledge of the human body and how it functions.

Dr. Harvey graduated with honors from the renowned Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 1976. He has postgraduate certification as a Chiropractic Sports Practitioner (CCSP) and an Industrial Disability Examiner (IDE). He has completed further advanced studies in postural analysis and rehabilitation.

Throughout his career, he has worked with many Olympic, professional, college and high school athletes.

Howard VanEs and Dr. Rick Harvey have worked closely together for over 25 years, integrating the benefits of yoga and chiropractic care for their students and patients. They are also the coauthors of Yoga: The Back Pain Cure.

BOOK THYME

About the Book: Yoga for Better Balance Publisher: Let’s Write Books Release Date: 27 October 2023 ISBN-13: 978-0997118575

REVIEW:

Bird Vibes Meditation Cards REVIEW:

Alzheimer's, Aromatherapy, and the Sense of Smell

By Jean-Pierre Willem, M.D. Reviewed by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman There is a strong correlation between Alzheimer’s and high blood sugar levels.

Being a diabetic, this book grabbed my interest from the beginning.

Alzheimer’s Aromatherapy and the Sense of Smell describes the disease in an understandable manner. Dr. Willem explores several essential oil blends to aid in cognitive function. A great resource.

Publisher: Healing Arts Press (July 2022) ISBN-13: 978-1644114438 Paperback

By Catherine C. Bastedo, Art by Heather Bale Reviewed by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman Birds have held a fascination since ancient times. They have been, as Catherine Bastedo points out in her guidebook, companions to spiritual guides and teachers, as well as to the gods themselves. Each bird in this 52-card deck is aligned in their chakras and the card offers an insightful meditation point.

Artwork by Heather Bale is beautiful.

The Raven – Corvus corax - is probably the card that spoke to me the most. Each time I picked up the deck, she appeared.

Publisher: Beyond Words (9 January 2024) ISBN-13: 9781582709109 Cards

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BOOK THYME

REVIEW:

Oracle of the Mythic Heroes

By Letao Wang.

Reviewed by Brennah Hermo The Oracle of the Mythic Heroes by Letao Wang is one of my new favorite decks on the shelf! It’s unlike what you would find in the usual oracle deck. Letao does a wonderful job combining the beauty of heroes and heroines from Greek and Roman mythology with a guidebook that tells each of their unique stories, where it falls in astrological alignment, and the crystal to connect a bit deeper.

This deck is a great addition to any daily reflection practice or to simply learn more about what Greek and Roman mythology has to teach us!

When I first opened my deck, I pulled the card for Medusa, representing the “unlimited emotional strength and freedom we possess as individuals.” It was a great reminder to reflect on negative past experiences and transform them into the start of a new beginning.

Editor’s Note: Letao Wang is a astrologist, numerologist, and tarot authority.

He is a certified spiritual counselor and the founder of The Kingdom Healer (thehealingkingdom.com).

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Publisher: Beyond Words (9 January 2024) ISBN-13: 9781582709093 Cards

BOOK THYME

REVIEW:

The Heart and It's Healing Plants Written by: Wolf D. Storl, Ph.D Reviewed by Michele LeMon O’Steen Every single person has been affected by the heart in one way or another.

This book is a gem for any library. Its pages are loaded with information from days of old and ancient beliefs to plants and their healing properties. Heart health, both physical and emotional, are so important. We should all be seeking ways to improve. There were parts that were difficult to read,

in that they were run on sentences and more medical than layperson.

Overall though, a worthy read.

Publisher: Healing Arts (2 January 2024) ISBN-13: 9781644118382 Paperback Pages 320

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BOOK THYME

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BOOK THYME

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CONTRIBUTORS

JACQUELINE BILDER Jacqueline Bilder has a degree in Dietetics and is a National Board-Certified Health Coach.

BRIGHID Brighid started her curiosity of the Solar System, at the tender age of nine! She became a Certified Astrologer, through Linda Goodman’s program when she was in her teens. She has been following and interpreting the Universe’s messages for people and businesses ever since! She can provide a detailed chart, and explanation of how it will be affected by current and 84 | Therapeutic Thymes Magazine

projected configurations of planets and stars! Her contact information is: Brighidsees@gmail.com. Her Facebook is fb.com/AstroBrighid DANA JEFFERSON, C.HT., PH.D., SPHR Dana Jefferson has a private practice at the Natural Connection Wellness Center in Huntingdon, PA where she is President of the Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association. She is a certified hypnotherapist and honors graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute. Dana is a member of the

CONTRIBUTORS

American Hypnosis Association and Hypnotherapy Union Local 472.

Dana is retired from her work at the University of Massachusetts Boston and as the Director of Human Resource (HR) Management for the state of Delaware. She has a Ph.D. in Psychology, is certified in conflict resolution, and is a Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Facilitator. Dana has taught psychology and HR management at the University of Delaware.

Dana has had the opportunity to train with many gifted spiritual leaders including: Michael Harner, Ph.D., Sandra Harner, Ph.D., Larry Peters, Ph.D., Tom Cowan, Serge King, Ed “Two Moons” Rothwell, Jane Ely, Kay Cordell Whitaker, John Perkins, Sandra Ingerman, Geo Cameron, Doña Bernadette Vigil, Nicki Scully, and Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq.

Dana is an ordained interfaith minister. Dana is a Reiki Master in two traditions and graduate level Feng Shui practitioner. She is a graduate of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies Three-Year Program of Advanced Initiations in Shamanism and Shamanic Healing and a three-year apprenticeship with the Buffalo Trace Society (including a vision quest). She has completed coursework in Harner Method Shamanic Counseling and advanced studies in Celtic, Toltec, and Tibetan Shamanism including studies

in foreign countries. Dana worked with women’s groups for over 20 years including conducting weekend retreats and Croning ceremonies. She is a member of Red Tents in Every Neighborhood Global Network and has trained in Purple Tents. Additional advanced hypnotherapy certifications incudling Smoking Cessation, Weight Loss, Pain Management, and Past Live Regression provide a comprehensive toolkit of services to Dana’s clients.

CHUCK KRUSE Chuck Kruse has lived in the woods in Alaska, worked as a deckhand on a freighter, done logging in the Pacific Northwest and North Pennsylvania, owned a residential tree service, and programmed computers for major hospitals. Through it all he has studied and practiced herbalism which he finds fascinating. He can be contacted at woodsman98@gmail.com.

SALLY K. NORTON Sally K. Norton, MPH holds a nutrition degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in public health. Her path to becoming a leading expert on dietary oxalate includes a prior career working at major medical schools in medical education and public health research.

Her book “Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload is Making You

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CONTRIBUTORS Sick-and How to Get Better” is available everywhere books are sold.

For more information, visit SallyKNorton.com or follow Sally on her YouTube channel (Better with Sally K Norton) and social media. She is @sknorton and @toxicsuperfoods_ oxalate_book (on Instagram), @ BeFreeToThrive (on Facebook), and @BetterLowOx (on Twitter.)

JEANNE RUCZHAKECKMAN Jeanne is the heart, soul, and Publishing Editor of Therapeutic Thymes Magazine, bringing together people and resources in a therapeutic and natural manner. As publisher, she leads the editorial direction and manages the business operations. She has her degree in Mass Communication / Journalism from Lock Haven University as well as a Print Certificate in the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s Digital Design program.

Jeanne is also a genealogist, seeking Ancestors, hers, and yours. She has authored various articles pertaining to genealogy and maintains AncestralPassages.com.

ASHA SCATCHARD Asha Scatchard is a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, an energy-consciousness healing school, the work is known as Brennan Healing 86 | Therapeutic Thymes Magazine

Science. A Society of Souls, training in Integrated Kabbalistic Healing now called Non-Dual Healing. She also studied the work of Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing, a naturalistic approach to the resolution and healing of trauma. She has a total of eleven years of professional training with premier schools.

Her work is called Energy Consciousness Transformational Healing (ECT Healing) and has over 30 years of experience in the field of energy consciousness healing. She resides in York, PA. Visit her website at energybodyworks. com. She can be reached by email at: ascatchard@yahoo.com or by phone at 717-843-5672.

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@therapeuticthymes RESOURCE DIRECTORY IS AVAILABLE AT: THERAPEUTICTHYMES.COM/RESOURCES-2

CONTRIBUTORS

I spent my life helping other Veterans I spent my life but not helping other always myself Veterans

but not always myself

As a Veteran, when someone raises their hand for help, you’re often one of the first ones to respond. But it’s also okay to get help for yourself. Maybe you want

As a Veteran, when someone raises with their hand for stress, help, you’re often of or the or need assistance employment, finances, mentalone health finding theBut rightit’s resources.

No matter is, you earned it.Maybe And there’s better first ones to respond. also okay to getwhat helpit for yourself. younowant time than right now to ask for it. Don’t wait. Reach out.

or need assistance with employment, stress, finances, mental health or finding the right resources. No matter what it is, you earned it. And there’s no better

Find resources at VA.GOV/REACH

time than right now to ask for it. Don’t wait. Reach out.

Find resources at VA.GOV/REACH

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