The Edge is celebrating its 20th anniversary in a big way, each month exploring the legacy of this holistic publication in the Upper Midwest…and beyond. We’re digging through its archives to present notable articles, insights and a gallery of covers.

Seventeen editions of The Edge will be explored each month with more legacy content added to this page. We welcome you back to this page each month as we take a walk down memory lane. And we want you to show your support!

Sign our Edge 20th Anniversary Guestbook: Share your comments, memories or sentiments about how The Edge has touched your life. We will share all guestbook entries with our readership later this year. Click to our Online Guestbook Form.

Exploring the vast archives of The Edge in a yearlong celebration of this publication’s service since 1992.

EDGE COVERS 1992-1995

August/September 1992 – March 1994

The Edge was born in 1992 with creative mojo and a blast of spiritual focus. The opening quote on the first cover: “This is The Edge. We’re fresh, innovative and empowering. We’re here for people like you who want change — who feel new rules are needed — who are expanding the parameters by which you live — who want a forum for discussion.”

• A trendsetter, The Edge explored the following themes from 1992-1994: Spirituality in the Workplace • Healing Ourselves: Complementary & Alternative Healing Methods • Spiritual & Visionary Artists & Musicians • Visions, Prophecies & Predictions for our Future • Dance, Movement & Meditation • Herbs, Earth Spirituality & Organic Foods • Healing, Spiritual & Retreat Centers • Body/Mind – The Healing Paradigm • Native American Spirituality • The Symbol • Energy • Remembering Our Star Connections • Men & Spirituality • Women & Spirituality • Angels • Spiritual Empowerment • Relationships in the ’90s.

• The exact timing to birth The Edge was based on astrology. The Edge began as a bimonthly publication for the first three issues, then monthly thereafter. • The Peach Pages was a monthly natural health care section. • Regular columnists included Dr. Jan Thatcher Adams, Suzie Black, Matthew Wood and Doug Munson. • Early advertisers included Present Moment Herbs & Books, Liberal Catholic Church of St. Francis, Stonehenge rocks & rituals, Kathleen Kalil, Sancta Sophia Seminary and Dr. Jacob Mirman.

Edge staff during this time period:
Lynn S. La Froth, managing editor • Gary Beckman, advertising director • Melissa May, peach pages editor & keylining • Dee La Froth, resource directory sales • Nichole Nelson, midwest happenings coordinator • Leah Campbell, photojournalist • Roxane Fogard, sales • Nadia Giordana, sales • Eileen Parker, sales • Helen Bischel, northern sales

We invite you to read these gems published during this time span:

EDGE COVERS 1994-1995

April 1994 – August 1995

The Edge continued to lead the way by providing content on spirituality, healing, creativity and mindfulness — subject matter that remains relevant in 2012.

• At this time: Whole Foods Market opens in St. Paul on May 17, 1995 • New in 1995: magazine redesign with new logo and layout, and new tagline: Exploring the Evolution of Consciousness

• A trendsetter, The Edge explored the following themes from 1994-1995: The Light Body • Summer Activities • Parenting • Earth Changes • What is Reality? • Dreaming • The Mystery of 12 • Intentional Communities • Past Life Healing & Reincarnation • Sound, Music & Healing • Death, Dying & Near-Death Experiences • Creativity & Intuition • Aliens, Ascension & UFOs • Healing Therapies • Business & Spirituality • Intuitive Arts

• A new design, and new columns including “The Light Page” by Michele Mayama, and columns on Food & Nutrition, Channeling, Spiritual Exercise and Astrology, were introduced by The Edge from 1994-1995. Singles listings were featured and discontinued at this time in the early Edge: “Find your soulmate through The Heartline.” A new Natural Health Care section was started, featuring content on healing, herbs and wellness.

• Noted speakers coming to town: Noam Chomsky, Gyuto Monks of Tibet, Larry Dossey, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Sam Keen, Thomas Moore, Jacquelyn Small, Michael Jones, Alberto Villoldo, Gloria Karpinski, Ron Mangravite, Karl Schlotterbeck, Ken Carey, Matthew Fox, Marc Ian Barasch, Melody, Starhawk , Zsuzsanna E. Budapest, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Shakti Gawain.

Edge staff during this time period:
Lynn S. La Froth, managing editor • Gary Beckman, advertising director • Melissa May, happenings editor & keylining / associate editor • Sunshine Sevigny, office/editorial assistant • Doug Bronson, ad consultant • Christopher Exner, music reviewer • Jason La Froth, film reviewer • Dee La Froth, sales representative • Dr. Jan Thatcher Adams, associate columnist • Matthew Wood, associate columnist • Candace Bexell, art director

We invite you to read these gems published during this time span:

EDGE COVERS 1995-1997

September 1995 – January 1997

After just more than three years of publication, The Edge makes a change at editor. Twin Cities Wellness, a monthly publication designed to serve the natural health and healing community, was launched in October 1995 by Edge Co-Founder and Editor Lynn S. La Froth and her sister, Dee La Froth. Both announced at that time that they were resigning from The Edge to fill a community need that had not been adequately served

• At this time: Minneapolis School of Massage & Bodywork celebrated its 20th year in 1995.

• Growth in 1996: Edge published at 32 pages in late 1995, and in March 1996, expanded into a two-section newspaper and grew to 52 pages by October 1996

• The following themes were explored from 1995-1997: Managing Stress • Integrating the Polarities • Ensouling the Physical • Retailing Metaphysics • Sacred Sites & Spiritual Travels • East Meets West • Whole Health & Integrative Healing • The Elemental Kingdom • Summer Retreats & Classes • Body & Energy Work • The Shifting Paradigm of Business • Learning & Education • Sound & Healing • Our Inner Journey • Celebrating Our Creativity • Metaphysical Retailers • Our Sacred Children

• Change and new additions: Tim Miejan becomes managing editor, and Jan Thatcher Adams, M.D., becomes health and wellness editor, in February 1996 • First full-color cover debuts in March 1996 • “Sounds of The Edge” debuts, allowing readers to call in and listen to samples from music reviewed in the newspaper • Natural Healing section becomes Whole Health & Integrative Healing • The Edge launches its separate Kansas City edition in July 1996 • “The Edge TV,” a weekly program on public access in the Twin Cities, debuts in November 1996.

• Noted speakers coming to town: Dr. Bernie Siegel, Barbara De Angelis, Dr. Raymond Moody, Caroline Myss, Dr. Norm Shealy, Alberto Villoldo, Jean Houston, Matthew Fox, Joan Borysenko, Robert Thurman, Ph.D., Melody, Andy Lakey, Gloria Karpinski, James Redfield, Kevin Ryerson, Brad Steiger, Stanton Friedman, Budd Hopkins, Colin Andrews, Don Campbell, Patch Adams and Jonathan Goldman.

• Edge staff during this time period:
1995: Lynn S. La Froth, managing editor • Gary Beckman, advertising director • Melissa May, associate editor • Sunshine Sevigny, associate editor • Doug Bronson, ad design • Dee La Froth, sales representative • Dr. Jan Thatcher Adams, associate columnist • Matthew Wood, associate columnist • Jason La Froth, film reviewer • D. Alexander, music reviewer

1996-1997: Gary Beckman, publisher and advertising director • Tim Miejan, managing editor • Jan Thatcher Adams, whole health editor • Della McGee, sales consultant • Don Strong, music editor/reviewer • Melissa May, production editor • Doug Bronson, ad design • Jeanette Carter, Kansas City ad manager • Janice Mason, Kansas City ad sales • Pam Pyle, Kansas City ad sales

We invite you to read these gems published during this time span:

EDGE COVERS 1997-1998

February 1997 – June 1998

Metaphysical Emporium, a new resource haven for Body, Mind & Spirit, opens in downtown White Bear Lake • Whole Life Expo comes to the Twin Cities, in May 1997 in Minneapolis and May 1998 in St. Paul, featuring hundreds of speakers and even more exhibitors • The first Midwest Health & Wellness Expo is presented in March 1997 at International Market Square • Festival of the Little People debuts in Willow River, MN, in August 1997 •  Edge contributors and columnists Echo Bodine, Cathy Zornes, Cyndi Dale and Michelle Mayama are speakers at Border’s Books, Minnetonka

• Continuing Growth for The Edge: Beginning in late 1996 and continuing throughout 1997 and 1998, The Edge experiences its greatest period of growth, as 56-page editions are common.

• The following themes were explored from 1997-1998: Baby Boomers & Generation X • Our Elders • Visionaries • Summer Events • Body & Energy Work • Entering the Dreamtime • Moving Into the Zone • Tools for Evolution • Co-Creation • Celebration of Life, Love & Connection • Holiday Special • Voices of a New Millennium • Soul • Healing • Sustenance • Honoring the Goddess

• Change and new additions: The very first Edge articles appeared on the Internet, through Digital City Twin Cities, for subscribers of America Online • The Fifth Anniversary of The Edge (September 1997) was observed with a printed interview with Edge Publisher Gary Beckman • Healing with a Heart, a forerunner to the present Edge Directory, debuts in March 1998 • The second incarnation of listings for people seeking love connections, Light Connections, debuts in April 1998 • The Edge’s first unique website, Edgenews.com, debuts in Spring 1998

• Noted speakers coming to town: Gregg Braden • Barbara DeAngelis • Neale Donald Walsch • Dr. Wayne Dyer • Dannion Brinkley • Barbara Maciniak • Zecharia Sitchin • Stephen LaBerge • Wallace Black Elk • Fred Alan Wolf • Joan Borysenko • Barbara Marciniak • Dan Millman and the Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery • Brad & Sherry Hansen Steiger • Shakti Gawain • Judith Orloff • Doreen Virtue • Richard Shulman & Samuel Welsh • Barbara Brennan • Deepak Chopra, M.D. • Nick Bunick • Lee Carroll (with Kryon) • Carol Parrish, Ph.D. • Debbie Ford • Terence McKenna • Barbara Hand Clow.

• The Edge Staff Edge staff during this time period:
Gary Beckman, publisher and advertising director • Tim Miejan, managing editor • Jan Thatcher Adams, M.D., whole health editor • Della McGee, sales consultant • Marla Nelson, advertising sales • Rita Rosenberg, advertising sales • William-Thomas Wegner, advertising sales • Mary Sturgis, new sounds editor / advertising • Don Strong, music editor/reviewer/consultant • Melissa May, production editor • Janelle Bilewitch, production editor • Insiah Beckman, business manager • Rachel Miejan, proofreading • Patricia Singpiel, typing

We invite you to read these gems published during this time span:

EDGE COVERS 1998-1999

July 1998 – November 1999

The Edge Directory debuts in October 1999, featuring more than 120 listings of holistic businesses and practitioners • Gifts of the Spirit debuts in December 1999 featuring gift ideas for the holiday • Debut of Healing from the Heart, a spring guide to the Whole Health community in March 1999

• A trendsetter, The Edge explored the following themes from 1998-1999: Millennial Technology • Shamanic Healing • Recovery from Addiction • Prosperity & Gratitude • Being in Service to All Life & the Planet • Edge Interviews • Our Earth Connection • Love • Healing in the 21st century • Birthing the Universal Human • Summer Events • From Separation to Union: Awakening to the Sacred • Exploring the Evolution of Consciousness of the Animal Kingdom • Christ Consciousness • Whole Life Expo Preview • Our Enlightened Children • Seeing the Divine in the Everyday World

• Noted speakers coming to town: Mark Victor Hansen  • Sylvia Browne • Marianne Williamson • Kevin Ryerson • Wayne Dyer • Gary Zukav • Dannion Brinkley • Lama Surya Das • Andrew Cohen • Phyllis Curott • Lynn Andrews • Dr. Patch Adams • Steven Seagal • Gregg Braden • James Twyman • Bettine Clemen • Debbie Ford.

Edge staff during this time period:
Gary Beckman, publisher and advertising director • Tim Miejan, managing editor • Jan Thatcher Adams, whole health editor • Della McGee, advertising sales • JoMarie Anton, advertising sales • Marla Nelson, advertising sales • Rita Rosenberg, advertising sales • Steve Hokenson, advertising sales • Janelle Bilewitch, production editor • Eric Hove, production editor • Melissa May, production editor • Insiah Beckman, business manager • Mary Sturgis, new sounds editor / advertising • Don Strong, music editor/reviewer/consultant • Rachel Miejan, proofreading • Patricia Singpiel, typing • Sheila Van Houten, transcription • Doug Bronson, classifieds & ad design

We invite you to read these gems published during this time span: