SPRING IS A STATE OF MIND

by Marlaina Donato

Every year, spring lifts us from lethargy, her blossomed enthusiasm nudging us to take down the curtains for an annual wash, clean out the closets, and plot this year’s garden. If we pause and listen carefully, we can also hear an invitation to shake off the winters of our lives—the failures, aborted plans and could-have-beens.

All of life depends upon nature’s green ambition, yet we tend to take it for granted, not unlike the faint whisper of discontent that hints at the need for change. In the darkness of our fear-based comfort zones, there is a thwarted impulse to take that class at the community center, plant new ideas or try our hand at something new.

“I’m too old,” we proclaim. “I can’t do that,” we assume. “They’ll think I’m crazy,” we say. But spring begs to differ. The most delicious possibilities are those that give us stage-fright butterflies in the belly and wake us up at night with the nagging question, “What if?” Perhaps, if the caterpillar could foresee its winged destiny, it would be too overcome with self-doubt to even begin. Author Marianne Williamson says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” “Spring, in all her punctual glory, teaches us the vital necessity to court our passions, and there is no better time than now.”

As April puts on a new playlist of birdsong and our gardens remind us how to grow one inch at a time, we can make a point to wear that colorful shirt, begin the first chapter of a long overdue memoir or decide that we are deserving to fall madly, happily in love. For today, make an appointment with delight and put fresh flowers on the desk, walk barefoot after the rain or simply try on a new perspective. If we tune out the naysayer in our brains, we might even hear loved ones cheering us on. Spring, in all her punctual glory, teaches us the vital necessity to court our passions, and there is no better time than now.

Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and visionary painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Intuitive & Healing Arts

January Flood Inspires Renewal at Persephone’s Pearl

At 3 p.m. January 16, a frozen pipe burst above Persephone’s Pearl, pouring water into the Peekskill store. “Later that night, the pipe in the bathroom broke and finished the job,” says owner John Omilana. “Two inches of water everywhere forced The Pearl to close for a total of 35 days. That’s how long it took to ensure that everything was properly dried and certain areas rebuilt.” What many might have seen as a setback, Omilana saw as an opportunity to revitalize and rearrange. “Deconstructing The Pearl and John Omilana putting her back together was a challenge, but it forced us to rearrange the energy and the products in the store,” he says. “It also gave us time to work on our next phase, which is having an online shop and offering regular classes and events.”

In early March, The Pearl launched a store on Shopify, so its products—many of them unique and handmade—would be available beyond the immediate community. They also standardized their classes, virtual readings and other services. Monthly events now include crystal classes, Tea Time with the Angels, goddess work and African diasporic spiritual traditions. Weekly events include healing circles and a session on wisdom, wellness and empowerment.

“We want to be a place that is grounded in the needs of our community,” Omilana says. “We welcome everyone to try our activities and see if any of them resonate with you.

Location: Persephone›s Pearl, 1014B Main St., Peekskill, NY. For more info, call 914.737.3460 or visit PersephonesPearl.com.

INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALING

The Temperance Center Merrill Black, LCSW Reiki Master/Instructor Light Body Quantum Healings 914.793.2600 TheTemperanceCenter.com

INTUITIVE HEALING

White Lotus Grace Healing/Dance/Readings 845.677.3517 Millbrook & Remote Whitelotusgrace.com

NEW AGE STORES

Persephone’s Pearl Spiritual Development Center Candles, Books, Tarot, Jewelry Psychics, Crystals, Classes, etc. 1014B Main St., Peekskill @persephonespearlpeekskill 914.737.3460 PersephonesPearl.com

The Soul Connection Shop Metaphysical Shop; Crystals, Jewelry, Reiki, Tarot, more at Universal Healing Arts Center Cortlandt Manor, 914.737.HEAL SoulConnectionShop.com

Synchronicity Psychics/Crystals Candles/Tarot/Sage 1511 Route 22 Brewster @synchronicityny 845.363.1765 SynchronicityNY.com

PSYCHIC MEDIUM

Angel Aura Spiritual Boutique 12 West Main St, Pawling, NY 845.493.0432 AngelAuraBoutique.com

QIGONG

In Balance Concepts Qigong. Tai Chi. Meditation 2505 Rt. 6, St. 108, Brewster 845.803.1992 Inbalancetaichi.com

REIKI

Balancing 4 Life Anne Bentzen, Jikiden Reiki Certified Teacher/Practitioner 25 Broadway, Pleasantville, NY 914.588.4079 Balancing4Life.com

Edit Babboni, CHC, RYT 200 Reiki Healing. Health Coaching. Yoga. 61 Lakeview Drive, Yorktown Heights, NY 917.721.2529 yoga.zengarden@gmail.com

Laura DeToia In person and Long-Distance Reiki 914.645.7704 MerkabaPeace.com

The Loving Lotus In person or remote sessions 914.557.8213; lovinglotus.org the.loving.lotusx3@gmail.com

TAROT CARD READINGS

Purple Lotus Zen Michelle B Whitney Tarot & Oracle Readings, Medium, Energ Healing. By phone appt. 914.513.8398; Purplelotuszen.com

WELLNESS BOUTIQUE

The Healing Collective NY 267A Central Ave. White Plains Shop & Heal: 914.236.HEAL thehealingcollectiveny.com

ASTROLOGY

Pam Cucinell Phone, online & in person 917.796.6026; InsightOasis.com

ENERGY MEDICINE

Bernadette Bloom, MI Energy Healing & Teacher 239.289.3744 theesotericbloom.com Celestial Touch Laura Schek, Psychic Medium, Reiki Master 7 Arch St, Pawling, NY 845.244.1767 celestialtouchllc.com

Discover more healing resources on WakeUpNaturally.com

Find local classes and workshops on pages 44-50.