INVITING IN THE WILD

CALENDAR

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Inviting in the Wild

by Marlaina Donato

Amidst the whirlwind of our daily busyness, Mother Nature goes about her own affairs, conjuring everyday miracles from the humble trinity of tangled roots, dark soil and sunlight. On our way to our next task, we might catch snippets of afternoon gold blur past in a window, but we may long for more time to accept October’s invitation of long shadows.

Having an indoor haven touched with nature’s balm takes the edge off the work-athome days, the can’t-catch-a-breath days and the won’t-stop-raining days. Bringing a bit of the outside in helps us to remember the big picture. The 12th-century mystic and healer Hildegard of Bingen called the energy of the Earth veriditas, or greenness, and it is easy to tap into this life force by aligning our senses with the rhythms of nature.

Beauty is an often forgotten necessity, but can gently lead us back on track when we place a vase of fresh flowers, pine branches or wild rose hips on a windowsill. Designating one wall in the house for a photographic tapestry of spring cherry trees, mountain snow, a turquoise beach or majestic oaks can lower blood pressure just as effectively as actually being there. Keeping a “scent jar” on the desk filled with dried garden basil, bee balm or sweet grass clippings from the lawn can give us a breath of summer all year long. Placing a piece of found driftwood, preserved birch or a bowl of handmade potpourri on a coffee table can make afternoon breaks more mindful. A simple table fountain can bless any space with the harmony of its waters. Creating a “changing season” shelf and celebrating the hour invites the whole family to contribute to inspired whimsy.

Even if we simply place found branches in a basket with amber holiday lights in a cozy corner, living more closely with nature can help us maintain core serenity. The dance of each season is brief, but tuning into their wealth can make our own dance a bit more magical.

Intuitive & Healing Arts

Gigi Oppenheimer

White Lotus Grace Offers Workshop at the World Peace Sanctuary

Gigi Oppenheimer, of White Lotus Grace, in Millbrook, will be facilitating a Harmonizing with the Rhythm of Nature’s Cycles workshop on October 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the World Peace Sanctuary, located at 26 Benton Road, in Wassaic.

“Intuitive practices will support what you need personally to be at ease and in sync with the changing season,” says Oppenheimer. “In keeping with the spirit of autumn, the introspective journey that I will guide will gently explore letting go and moving inward to rest and regenerate, which is integral to the natural cycle and flow of creativity.”

The studio is also resuming regular weekly classes in October, both in person and virtually, including Healing Dance, Meditation, Moving by Faith and Bhakti Healing Arts. “Bhakti is a Sanskrit word for devotion as well as an ancient spiritual tradition deeply rooted in the wisdom of Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and other Vedic literature,” explains Oppenheimer, also known as Giri Govardhana Dasi through initiation in that lineage. She draws from more than 35 years of experience in bhakti, dance and intuitive healing arts to highlight the transformative power of these practices and their accessibility in life today.

Cost: Suggested donation for workshop is $25. Location: World Peace Sanctuary, 26 Benton Rd., Wassaic, NY. For more information about classes, private readings, healing sessions or spiritual courses, contact Oppenheimer at 845.677.3517 or whitelotusgrace@gmail.com, or visit WhiteLotusGrace.com. See page 38.

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

One Light Healing Touch Penny and Ron Lavin, MA Sessions and Schools OLHT1.com/845.878.5165

INTUITIVE ENERGY HEALING

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

HEALING SANCTUARY

Moss and Moonlight Workshops, Yoga, Reiki, Women Circles, In-Person & Virtual Hopewell Junction, NY MossAndMoonlight.com

INTUITIVE HEALING

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

NEW AGE STORES

Persephone’s Pearl 1014 B Main St., Peekskill 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

PSYCHIC MEDIUM

Celestial Touch Laura Schek, Psychic Medium, Reiki Master 7 Arch St, Pawling, NY 845.244.1767 celestialtouchllc.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