I came into choir one day. I had already been a monk for over 47 years. Someone had asked me about how it felt to chant. That question had never crossed my mind. In our tradition, a monk or a nun chants whether he or she feels well or ill, whether he or she feels good or bad, whether he or she feels anger or happiness. A monk simply chants. If a monk gives himself totally to the chanting, then all feelings begin to take second place.

Neither monks nor nuns always give themselves completely to the chanting and so there is a spiritual struggle that happens — or worse, no struggle at all and one gives in to letting the mind wander. If it is struggle, then the monk has to keep drawing his mind back to what he is chanting. The goal of chanting for the monk is communion with God, but a communion expressed in his singing and being aware of what he is singing.

Although rarely adverted to, this is the goal of all communication, with one another and with God. We want to be in communion with one another. That simply means that we want to be in union with one another in order to understand one another and communicate in such a way that each of us is both understood and understanding.

When I was a young man before I entered monastic life, I loved sitting in the back of the monastic church and just listening to the chanting. Even though the chanting was in Latin, I already understood it with no problem. However, listening to chant was a very different experience for me. I would just sit still and let my heart be present to the Lord, not trying to express itself in the words of the chant, but in the beauty of the chant.

There are two types of chanting which are normal in our tradition. One is the straightforward chanting of the Psalms of the Hebrew Scriptures to various simple melodies, called modes. Then there are the various Antiphons (for the Psalms, for entrance processions, for offertories and communions), the Graduals, the Tracts, Sequences, Short Responses Hymns, etc. These chants are in various levels of complexity, some of them quite simple and some quite difficult. For the one who is listening, some of these chants are truly glorious! For the one who is singing, some chants are treacherous, but when done well are incredibly satisfying.

Today one need only look up the “effects of Gregorian chant” on the internet to read about the effects that chant can have in one’s life. Some studies indicate that chant can lower the blood pressure, lower stress levels, bring peace and tranquility and help one concentrate. Monks do not chant for those reasons. If the effects are true, then they help a monk be a monk by helping him be a better human being.

One of the challenges in modern Christian monasticism is that we now often chant in the language of the local country or culture. It took centuries for the Latin chants of the Western Church to be developed and each monk spent years deepening himself with the words and the way of chanting. Now practically every monastery that still chants has its own style and its own system of chanting. Recently, when in another monastery, I had to give more attention to the system of chanting than to the praying, which is its goal. It might have been better to have stayed in the back of the church and to have participated by listening.

One who listens to chant — as opposed to the one who does the chanting — actually has more options for his or her prayer. One can lift up the heart to God in the beauty that is heard when the chanting is well done. One can practice being still and wordless. One can let one or two words capture one’s heart and mind and pray that way.

Even a person with no faith can participate by listening and be affected by the chant. When I have been in Orthodox monasteries listening to monks or nuns chanting in a language I do not know or when I have been in Buddhist monasteries or Bön monasteries, I have often just listened quietly, not praying but being still. This is a wonderful gift.

In my own monastery, many people come who are not Catholics and many visit who have no faith at all. Almost everyone finds some positive effect in the chanting of the monks. Many of these people find themselves returning to the monastery or purchasing CDs of chant because of its effects in their lives.

Because chanting is often done in the language of the culture or the country, some people — even some Catholics — find themselves reacting negatively at times to what is chanted. As far as I have been able to determine, Buddhist and Bön chants also — when chanted in a known language — have had the same effect. This is caused by images used, which are sometimes violent or sexist or express thoughts or emotions not acceptable to many in today’s cultures. Helping others understand the role of imagery levels of meaning is not easy. One easy example is from a Psalm which says something like this: he is my enemy, may he become like a woman’s miscarriage in the sun.

People can be startled by such images and levels of meaning. Some try to avoid such challenges by excising all such texts. Such violent language was perhaps intended to be taken literally in the original context millennia ago. Today, such texts have to be understood figuratively, as for example: harm to one’s enemies is understood as the desire to root out from one’s life evil thoughts or deeds — indeed enemies to a deep spiritual life.

If we return to the two basic types of chanting in our Catholic tradition — the straightforward chanting of the Hebrew Psalms or the chanting of the entrance antiphons, offertories, etc. — we find that almost all of the offensive texts are found in the first form of chanting, whereas the second form of chanting rarely chooses that type of text.

Monks and nuns of all traditions keep chanting. Those who are not monks and nuns are welcome to choose to share in ways that benefit their lives.

Denise Poole

Denise Poole, “the Stone Crone” [StoneCrone.com] will offer private Stonesoul Readings on May 18-20 in Maple Grove, her first appearance in Minnesota. This is an opportunity to explore your soul’s journey and gain insight into your own spiritual design and contractual agreements you made prior to incarnation. Something miraculous happens in a reading: sacred space is created and soul wisdom is exchanged.

Denise’s communion with stones unfolded over 25 years — 12 spent in New Zealand where she collected more than a million stones — and she gained the awareness of the ancient wisdom and information they hold. She became a conscious channel for the Earth Mother. The stones became her teachers, guiding her on many other-worldly adventures.

Schedule individual Stonesoul Readings in Maple Grove, MN, by contacting Sheryl or Dale Fisher at 763.420.9017.

We entered a time, in 2001, that is reflected in our common psyche. I remember so clearly the feeling of cocooning that grasped the nation after 9/11. Protectionism followed the shock of terrorism striking “here.”

We became vulnerable. We began a shift to realizing that as a nation and personally, we couldn’t control everything. Even if we had enough money, which we soon realized we didn’t, we couldn’t solve all the world’s problems. Maybe we weren’t meant to…but how could we get out of it? How could we let events unfold around the world with their own timing and not feel at risk?

Parents confronted the same question at home. Doing everything for their children, trying to solve every problem, was resulting in entitlement and depression rather than happiness or confidence. It was building their own stress and the defensive walls that trying to control everything erects.

The Dalai Lama spoke to us in 2001, to Western nations, about our depression in his book on Ethics. He recognized that Buddhist teachings assume a healthy self-image that we didn’t have. He spoke of his surprise over this — that in wealthy nations people were less happy and less satisfied than in poor nations.

It was as if our secret began to leak out: we weren’t invulnerable, we were depleting our resources, inner and outer. We were failing to care, no matter how much we thought we were trying, for ourselves and the vulnerable among us in ways of the heart.

Spiritually, we were grasping at otherworldly states of being, new thought, abundance, and a personal peace that would shield us or relieve our stress. Care of our hearts would have looked like a medical model, freeing us to keep doing it all. This was the state of the world as A Course of Love was published in 2001.

A Course of Love is a three-book series given in the voice of Jesus to be a “new” course in miracles for the heart. Ten years later, it is truly the right message for the times.

In the first book, in a chapter on The Embrace, Jesus begins by saying, “Your longing has now reached a fever pitch, a burning in your heart quite unlike that which you have felt before. Your heart may even feel as if it is stretching outward, straining heavenward, near to bursting with your desire for union.” In the second book, The Treatises, in a section on the “state of the world” he says, “You have not known the secret yearning in the hearts of your brothers and sisters, nor have you known that it matched your own.”

What happeened in Egypt and throughout the Middle East is individual hearts yearning for freedom set to action — revealing that in following and sharing our longing for love, for freedom, for union — we’ll find it.

We’re beginning to become aware of the yearning of our hearts. It’s so individual and so universal. I think we have missed that the more we individuate and honor who we are, the greater our love and the less self-centered it will be. The more we realize that our deepest yearnings are shared, the more we’ll respect all views. The third book of this course, The Dialogues, assures us that if we are intolerant of ourselves, we’ll be intolerant of others.

The slow liberation going on in me over the past ten years has happened amidst changes in the economy that caused my husband’s business to fail, the death of my dad that led me into deep grief that did not remain confined to him, or to the two close friends I lost to cancer, and the birth of my first grandchild that expanded my capacity to love in a way far beyond what I’d imagined.

I feel as if my heart could not possibly have thrived in these ten years without the friends with whom I shared them, each of whom relied on me as well to hold the feelings of their hearts as the changes, so natural to living, came their way.

Reflecting on the meaning of these ten years is a gift. Asked to state what has been most important to me in my experience with A Course of Love (ACOL) sent me down many pondering paths. But I’ve emerged from those reflections with the same theme that has held my attention most the whole ten years:

We have to share who we are to be who we are.

I have at times called “sharing who we are” dialogue, at other times story. I am moved by our stories and I’ve heard so many inspiring ones from ACOL readers around the world. But I’ve found that story and dialogue both need a bit of explanation before what I’m saying about them is understood in the way I’d like it to be. And so I’m settling on “sharing our hearts.”

The thing about our hearts is that the heart’s timing isn’t under our control. Grief flows from our hearts in waves when we least expect it. Vulnerable feelings arise in us. Sadness en-swamps us. Anger boils up. Awe and wonder surprise us. If we can stay with and share these feelings, we create the greatest heart connection possible. In ACOL Jesus said, “In your vulnerability is your invulnerability found.”

In trust and acceptance of such states, none of us can follow a generic plan. We keep finding that we think we know things and, the deeper we go into love, the more we realize that we didn’t know what we thought we knew. These are all reasons for sharing our hearts in openness, story, dialogue.

Many traditions teach that we must know ourselves to know God. The idea that we have to share who we are to be who we are says that’s the way we come to know ourselves. It follows that when others share who they are, we are equally gifted. As the Gnostic gospel of Thomas assures us, “If you bring forth what is inside you, what you bring forth will save you. If you don’t bring forth what is inside you, what you bring forth can destroy you.”

A Course of Love reminds us of the love within…and to bring it forth.

The Mojo Doctors — Bradford Keeney & Hillary Stephenson — are now presenting eight hours of recorded ecstatic teachings free to the public.

In spite of all the spiritual teaching now taking place, few have heard of “the spiritual classrooms” — the original source of teaching where the world’s oldest wisdom traditions have received guidance, healing, and spiritual know-how. With music, rhythm, and ecstatic talk, these original productions are infused with spirit and delivered as a direct transmission of the teachings Bradford Keeney personally received through his own visits to the spiritual classrooms over the course of many years.

“There is more to knowledge than what colleges and universities teach, including the college of hard knocks and street smarts,” reads the online intro to The Spiritual Classrooms. “In the world of spirit there are virtual classrooms, outside the radar of scientific measurement, where the highest transformative teachings are dispersed. This is the original mystery school.

“When you have a rope to God, you may be led to these extraordinary classrooms. Here you are infused with life force, transformed, and anointed to help others. The teachings you bring back help awaken hearts and renew souls.”

Bradford Keeney, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned traditional healer, creative therapist, cybernetician, anthropologist of cultural healing traditions, and improvisational performer. He is presently Professor and Hanna Spyker Eminent Scholars Chair, University of Louisiana, Monroe, and has served as a professor, founder, and director of clinical doctoral programs in numerous universities.

Hillary Stephenson, Ph.D., has been working in the fields of coaching, social justice, diversity education, and community-based leadership development for over ten years. She is presently Distinguished Visiting Professor, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico, and director of the New Orleans-based project, “Circular Poetics: Traditional Healing Wisdom for the Mental Health Professions.”

Find The Spiritual Classrooms at www.mojodoctors.com/spiritualclassrooms.php.

Beaten, bloated, stupid and being taken advantage of, living a life of complete excess, I decided to change my life.

I began by viewing my lifestyle through the eyes of a stranger. Applying shamanism to my existence, I was able to shake my ego and spend time in reflection and meditation. I made the decision to replace all my bad habits with good, taking time to recognize personal failings and move on from them.

I’ve changed what I eat and how it is consumed. I found ways to develop my body, treating every situation as one where I would need to be at my peak performance. Instead of putting poison after poison into my body, I’ve replaced them with micro-nutrients. Instead of being lazy and restless, I exhaust myself with exercise. Instead of being angry, offended or self-righteous, I try to be patient and understanding, allowing situations to unfold naturally — watch and learn.

I went deep within. Conversing with my soul, watching the signs of life and paying attention to the opportunity for spiritual growth. I began trusting my intuition and following my heart.

Now I live by a series of guidelines I call the brighterlife. Here are some of them.

Brighterlife guidelines

• Be Awesome/Do Awesome: At every opportunity do the best to serve those around you with the most positive attitude. If we think of this as a fun game or a way of burning calories, we become accustomed to doing better and better while making others’ lives easier.
• Acting in the moment: Release all previous anxieties associated with a current situation and act according to whatever role you choose to create.
• Unnecessary Worry: We have the insight to foresee the completion of a task, yet we spend hours in worry and doubt, knowing the outcome will most likely be successful. Releasing this unnecessary worry will allow us to focus on more creative maneuvers to accomplish the current task and make way for more practiced work in the future.
• Recognize Vice: Vice is something that makes us who we are. It has been said that we carry vices from past lives, and must fully embrace or defeat the affliction in this lifetime so we can be rid of it in the next. Step outside of your lustful feelings toward vice and decide if it is good for your spiritual mental physical development. If not, recognize the vice, in search for the positive. If none can be found, leave it.
• Meditate: Meditation is the key to thoughtfulness. Start out small; only meditate for 5 minutes. Think about a word you use often and its meaning to you. As your patience grows, take as long as you can to concentrate on a short interaction. Dissect the situation and explore every possible outcome. View reactions of those involved and discover what will benefit everyone involved. Meditation allows us to tap the subconscious, allowing us to find answers outside the laws of reality.

These are some of the basics to a brighter life, my brighter life. As I develop my intuition and spiritual existence I will provide you with my findings.

Maitreya

No more need man fear and fight his neighbor, no longer need millions starve amidst plenty. Thus can be born a new time, a time when Justice and Sharing control the present chaos and irresponsibility, a time when men respect and care for one another, when the divinity of men becomes manifest and the secrets of life known. Sufficiency will replace abundance as the aim of sane men.

Thus will men come into right relationship with each other and with the Source of all. Under the inspiration and guidance of Maitreya and his group, men will blossom in their divinity and make that manifest in all they do. The abominations of war and terror will fast fade from their memory, and a vast creative burgeoning will take their place.
 
Men will renew and beautify their cities, making them worthy of the new time. These will be greater in number and smaller in size, linked by transport, fast and noiseless. People will educate their children in many different ways, each child linked to the educational system as determined by their rays. In time the interchange between the Masters and the race of men will grow in ever increasing closeness, and children will move happily and logically from stage to stage in growing awareness. In all these measures, in this transformation, each one will play his part.
 
Presently, there will appear a series of signs which will mystify those who experience them. No one will be able to explain this phenomenon but it will presage a change in the thinking and understanding of men. From that time onwards, a sense of expectancy will grip most nations, which will prepare men for the extraordinary events that are to come. As you know, not all men take seriously the new time which lies ahead for mankind. These happenings will prepare more for this revelation.

A Gluten-free, Dairy-free Whole Food Recipe 

We all need a little comfort food every now and then. So here’s a dessert that’s a satisfying alternative from the usual high-sugar confections — not only because it is mildly sweet, but it also contains healthy fat from coconut milk.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sushi rice
3 cups water
2 TBS raw agave nectar
1 TBS of vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
2 cans of organic coconut milk
Chunks of banana or pineapple

Directions
1. Combine rice and water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid. Rice is done when all of the water is absorbed. This rice takes less time to cook. Check it after 20 minutes.

2. Let rice cool to room temperature and then add the coconut milk, a pinch of salt, agave nectar and vanilla extract. Adjust amounts to taste. Makes 8 generous servings.

Herbs are essential components of everything, from dietary supplements to incredible cuisine, beautiful gardens, effective personal care and vital nutrients. To honor the myriad ways herbs enhance the lives of people everywhere, the 7th annual international HerbDay will take place Saturday, May 5.

HerbDay is a coordinated series of independently produced, public, educational events that celebrate the importance of herbs and herbalism. HerbDay activities are held at retail stores, schools, farms, botanical gardens, garden centers and public parks worldwide, on and during the weeks preceding and following May 5. Events include lectures and workshops, herb walks, in-store cooking demonstrations, presentations by herbal product companies, and herbal-themed children’s activities. More events are being planned and added to the HerbDay website, www.herbday.org.

In Minneapolis:

• Magus Books & Herbs, 1309 1/2 4th St. SE, will participate with this sale: buy five herbs and get 10% off, 10 herbs get 20% off, and 20 herbs get 30% off. Pre-order your herbs for that day three days beforehand and get a free 2-inch Tea Ball and a bottle of Magus water. Call 612.379.7669, email support@magusbooks.com or visit magusbooks.com. Magus will also be offering Herb Cookies and a Rose-blended tea for customers in the store that day.
• Nature’s Wisdom Health Shoppe, 2516 Lyndale Ave. S., will sell herbs at 20% off on Friday, May 4, in honor of HerbDay. The business is closed on May 5. Call 612.872.4210.
• Present Moment Herbs & Books, 3546 Grand Ave. S., will sell all herbs at 20% off on HerbDay, Saturday, May 5. Call 612.824.3157 or visit presentmoment.com.

HerbDay was founded in 2006 by the HerbDay Coalition to raise awareness of the significance of herbs and the many ways they can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty and culinary enjoyment. The HerbDay Coalition is comprised of the American Botanical Council, American Herbalists Guild, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, American Herbal Products Association and United Plant Savers.

“Herbs are an important health option for many people in America and around the world. Whether a simple tea or a sophisticated extract, these products continue a long tradition of self care, and HerbDay celebrates the value of botanicals,” said Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association.

“HerbDay events will enable many people to discover reliable herbal resources in their own communities, including herbalists and other experts who can help in making informed choices to improve and maintain their health,” said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council.

All are invited to participate actively in HerbDay 2012, either by attending or hosting an event or providing sponsorship in the form of financial support. Past HerbDay corporate sponsors have included GNC, Vitamin World and Nature’s Resource.

One autumn afternoon I was driving, feeling somewhat melancholy about the world and the general feeling of indifference in our society. I slowed my car to enjoy a beautiful blazing red maple tree. Across from the tree stood a 10-year-old boy. Seeing me, he lifted his hand to wave hello. I waved back, deeply touched by the simple act. Tears streamed down my face as I drove away. That child’s wave instantly shifted my glum demeanor. The world seemed much less bleak with that simple connection.

If you had the choice of making a positive difference in someone’s day or not making any difference at all, what would you choose?

Most people would say that they would make the positive difference. Who wouldn’t want to brighten someone’s day?

But when we’re not consciously presented with the choice, most of us don’t make a difference — or worse, we negatively impact someone or something else.

I frequently visit a local non-profit organization where one of the women at the front desk greets every patron with a smile, kind words and cheerfulness. She makes a connection with every person who walks in the door, without judgment. She is indifferent to no one. Everyone’s day is made better by her warmth and charisma, no matter whether she is having a bad day or not.

There are other employees that I have encountered within the same organization who have left a bad taste in my mouth. These people seem miserable and I can’t seem to leave them fast enough.

Most of us are somewhere between the charismatic, outgoing receptionist and the miserable employee when it comes to work or a social setting. We may not have indifference to others in our job or our relationships, but what about our indifference to strangers? How often do we go about our day, ignoring people we pass in public? How often do we connect with a perfect stranger and share a moment, a smile or a laugh? When we’re stuck in our minds and are constantly distracted, we have no time or energy to be charismatic. We only have space for indifference.

There are other ways we can perpetuate this indifference — by not caring for plants, by polluting the earth, by killing spiders and insects, by eating food that is not ideal for our health and well-being, by not getting enough rest, by not honoring our insight and intuition, by hiding our talents, by supporting businesses that have had some negative effect on the community, laborers or the environment.

Take a deep, introspective look at your life. How have you been perpetuating indifference on this planet?

Here are some simple ways to break free from this indifference:

• Make a positive connection with three complete strangers daily.
• Prepare and eat food consciously — listening to your body and choosing the best whole foods for you.
• Shop locally and responsibly.
• Reuse as many items as possible.
• Capture a spider or insect and free it outside your home rather than kill it.
• Share your talents — music, artwork, storytelling, dance, photography — with the world.
• Get enough rest and alone time so that when you are out in the world, you have the available energy to connect with and appreciate other people.

You may have instant feedback letting you know how much you are making a positive difference in the world and you may not have any feedback whatsoever. Make that positive difference anyway. Sometimes the simplest acts will completely alter the day — or life — of someone or something else.

For as long as I can remember, there have been two constants in my life – my love of cats and my love of books. I was an extremely quiet and reserved being who much preferred to live vicariously through the endless mountains of books I owned than draw attention to myself. My cats were content to leave me in peace — as long as I provided a soft voice and warm lap, prying me out of my shell was not of importance to them.

The adults in my life, of course, did not have the same courtesy or intelligence as these creatures and always persisted in extracting a conversation out of me. I had to hear the ridiculous “cat got your tongue” more times than I care to admit, but in all truthfulness, it was not that I had nothing to say, it was that I preferred not to say it to them. The cats were far better listeners and judges of character in my young opinion.

Now, officially “middle-aged,” I have become a much more social and contemplative being and my internal clock was ticking away. I began to wonder what my purpose was. I had a career as an executive assistant for more than 25 years. Was that it? I just felt something was missing – an elusive connection that I could feel within my reach, but I just did not know what it was.

I am a strong believer in the synchronicity of Past, Present, and Future in one’s journey, but as we live the snapshots of life in “real time,” we don’t always understand the message in front of us until sometime later down the road. For example, I had always toyed with the idea of writing a book, but never pursued the dream in any serious format. Then, fate intervened in the form of two major events:

• Zee, my male Maine Coon cat, and Zoey, my female Bengal cat, fell madly in love and subsequently had a litter of kittens together.
• I was laid off in my late forties in an unstable economy and no longer had a steady paycheck.

It seemed the answer to my elusive search for my greater purpose was closer to my reach than I had realized; the subject matter was right in front of me. After the birth of the kittens, I began to send out a weekly series of emails to various people documenting the growth process of them with a humorous narrative that was complimented by photographs taken by my fiancé, Dan, who also was laid off on the same day from the same company.

These emails were sent out every Friday morning, and soon became a sensation, with many recipients suggesting I write a book. I was honored by the compliments, but I still was not seriously contemplating a career change. That was until “Week 7″ of the life of the kittens when the lay-off happened, and I had A LOT more free time….

The process that followed was a long and difficult road for me, filled with uncertainty and severe depression. I now had the time to write a book, but emotionally I was not capable of being an author with any authority or talent. Getting through the endless day was my main goal, and being that I couldn’t even muster the energy to smile, writing a sweet story filled with adorable kittens and humorous antidotes was a task too large for me to tackle.

As it turns out, my felines were far wiser than me and were about to teach me some invaluable life lessons.

It was through them that I began to see life through their mind’s eye and my mental healing began. Cats live in the moment. They do not dwell on circumstances, and, as long as they are loved, fed, have clean litter and a lap to nap on, then life is good. They always seemed to find a silver-lining moment in everything they encountered — and it was then that I realized I had a story to tell and an inspiring message to teach. I wanted to use my cats as more than a cute story about kittens climbing up a curtain. That is how my book, The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary, came into being.

There is no doubt because of them that I am who I am today — a published writer who dared to follow a dream.

The Edge invites you to join us on the 12th of each month as we explore the various, diverse aspects in the Twin Cities community. Each month we will feature a different business and highlight parts of our community to help you explore and network through consciously-based wholeness. Professionals, as well as Individuals (seekers), are welcome to participate.

On Saturday, May 12, we will meet from 1-3 p.m. at Amanae FOB Retreat Center, 2324 37th St. E., Minneapolis. Pat Burdy will talk about the benefits of having a retreat center in a local community, and how it can help a local community be more at peace and how it plays a part in the overall health of a community. Each individual/professional will also receive about two minutes to share about themselves and/or their business before the mini-workshop presented by the featured speakers. Participants will have time to mingle afterward.

The Edge’s Networking Event is free to attend and open to the public. Our goal through the networking group is to help build a stronger community through meeting each other face to face in a safe, social setting while also giving you an opportunity to learn more about your community.

Why did we pick the 12th of each month? Well, one, it’s 2012… and second (and more importantly), 1+2 = 3. In numerology, 3 is all about merging and coming together. Three is the epitome of goodness, pure love, creativity and self-expression. Jupiter is also the “lord” of the number 3, and is often called the “Guru” or Spiritual Master.

For more information, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Edge-Small-Business-Professionals-Network-4414536

Your social life is not as important as you think.
Popularity is an illusion that ends on graduation day.
It’s attachment you feel, not love.
Those who cultivate their talents at an early age usually do great things in life.
Don’t believe them. Your teenage years are not your best years.
Video games and TV are traps that millions have fallen into. Don’t become a zombie.
Most people follow the same old blueprint for life. Most people are also unhappy. What does this tell you?
Actors and rock stars are rarely good role models. Be careful who you look up to.
If you truly like yourself, others will, too.
A good reason to do well in school is to give yourself options later in life.
Never be afraid to ask for help.
Having tons of money, a nice house, and a fancy car does not mean you’ll be happy.
Seek happiness first.
The reason so many are unhappy is because they are asleep. Wake up to life and see what is already around you.
You don’t have it as bad as you may think. Right now there’s a kid wondering IF he’ll eat today.
You have to go to school, so you may as well learn all you can. Some people would give anything to get an education.
Seek activities that help you create and express yourself. Those who don’t eventually feel trapped.
Life owes you nothing. You have to make it happen.
Boredom is your mind pleading for you to be creative.
Going along with every new trend is a good example of not really knowing yourself.
Serving others and adding value to the world is the only way to true success.
It’s far better to have one or two great friends instead of many acquaintances.
Caring only what others think is a death sentence.
One mistake can change your whole life. Choose your actions wisely.
Don’t choose your future career on what makes the most money. Choose what brings you the most joy.
Your mind is a precious asset. Protect it, always.
Always tell the truth and you won’t have to keep track of all your lies.
Don’t hate mean people. They’re just ignorant and living in fear.
Insecurity brings out the ugliness in many people.
Friends will disappear from your life. Don’t rely on them for your happiness.
Get great at something you love to do and one day people will pay you for it.
Don’t ever lower your standards in order to fit in.
Life is happening now. Quit focusing so much on the past and future.
Stay active. Don’t grow stagnant. You’re too young to be running out of breath.
Don’t make your life one distraction after another. Take time to find yourself. Allow space to enter.
Bad things sometimes happen in order to teach you more about yourself.
Most of what you fear will never happen. Stop wasting your time and live!
You don’t have to seek revenge. Life will always balance the story.
The human ego is responsible for most of the world’s suffering. Study and learn to overcome it.
Competition brings out the best and worst in some people.
Make it your life’s goal to be one thing: true to yourself.

We live in what could be called a “post-modern consumer” culture. All day, every day, we consume. As we change our surroundings from moment to moment we are constantly flooded with the opportunity to consume, whether it is food and drink, fabric, plastic, entertainment, intellectual material, or opinions, to name a general few. This influx is a never-ending chain of events systematically created to give us the sense of meaning and fulfillment in our daily lives.

The problem, as we see it, is that none of these consumable products actually gives us that meaning or grounded sense of beauty and awe in a world so full of that and much more. To find real meaning in our lives, we must a take a vastly different approach, one that does not require paper or plastic money.

If we are to truly build a new world, where all have the means to life (food, clothing, shelter), something must shift in our daily routines. We have been stuck with the same consumer culture since the end of feudalism in Europe simply because we were sold the idea that freedom to BE and freedom to buy were synonymous notions. We have all heard that money cannot buy happiness, but from the looks of it, many of us do not actually believe this well-worn wisdom. We still value riches, wealth, flashy consumer products such as cars, clothes, fine dining, jewelry, houses, and most of all, lifestyle. We clamor for the latest in celebrity news not because we love, but because we loathe those who have what we cannot seem to find. This cycle is full of ups and downs that are based not on what can be given to the world by the individual, but what is or isn’t received constantly in every moment of every day.

These distractions cannot bind us unless we willingly oblige. As individual bodies and minds, part of a larger human race (or collective), we hold the keys to our own “enlightenment” or “freedom.” When we choose to observe our desire to spend, and subsequently consume, we can alter the framework of an only seemingly physical reality. If collectively we can come together and choose to place importance on self-love, silence, reflection and compassion, we shift the matter which constitutes the physical world. This means less activities which require money for participation, more time for communion with friends and former strangers. We will celebrate more often and for no reason other than celebrating life. Work will not be a necessity but a willing obligation that allows you to take part in the building of a new world full of Peace, Harmony, Equality and so much more.

The highest aspect of reevaluating our consumption habits is the space we create for the suffering of the world. We can heal the planet simply by spending less money. We can bridge the gap between the rich and poor, the glamorous and the displaced. We have seen so clearly these past hundred years, that for a consumer culture to exist, the planet must be raped of its resources while people in neighboring cities and countries foot the bill for our mindless waste.

Be not discouraged. The change must start in each one of us. If we choose not to look at our own thoughts and patterns of behavior, we allow ourselves to be led like sheep to the slaughter. If we accept our part in this collective masterpiece and work each day, never falling into self-doubt, we will create a paradise on Earth.

My most vivid dream memory from childhood is a recurring dream. Because of my age, and what I would later learn, I had no idea this dream was something of great importance and a sacred blessing.

My dream would go like this: I would be in a dark forest with large trees that would be making noise. I was always on a path trying to reach a destination (much like Little Red Riding Hood) and then I would realize someone was following me. I would then see the bear — a very large bear — and I would be frightened. I would always try to get ahead of her by running as fast as I could, but I could never move. I was always in the paralyzed dream state.

Out of fear, I would wake up.

The oddest thing for me to grasp at such a young age was this: I grew up in a city in a large, old house, and my bedroom was on the second floor. I would try to fall asleep when I’d see this huge bear’s head looking at me through my screen window.

It was alive, and very real.

I knew in my mind that this could not possibly be a bear. In the city? Suspended in the air, staring at me intensely? I would see the bear’s head on top of my radiator. The bear would always appear in a different place in my room.

It was not until I grew up and was twenty-something that I came to understand the bear’s spirit and power. I learned this was my animal spirit guide that was given to me. My first totem. The bear. The Nahual.

In his book, Intimate Nature, Rigoberta Menchu tells us: “Every child is born with a nahual. The nahual is like a shadow, his protective spirit who will go through life with him. The nahual is the representative of the earth, the animal world, the sun and water, and in this way the child communicates with nature. The nahual is our double, something very important to us. Trees can be nahuals too, trees chosen by our ancestors many centuries ago.”

I used to struggle with rage and anger. I had an explosive temper and I would fight — especially when justice was deserved. I often think there is an angry, wild bear that lives and expresses itself deep from within me. My calm side is the bear in hibernation, and the awake bear is the part of me that most people regret to know. Including myself.

Now that I’m older, the bear befriended me in a new way. She rears and stands tall to support me and continues to guide me. I had a beautiful dream about her last summer. It took place at Hidden Beach, on the east side of Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. The dream went like this…

People were running in panic around in the woods behind the beach, saying, “Oh my, have you seen the bear?” They were frightened, because there are no bears in the city. I had to walk through the woods to see the bear. She was on her hind legs standing in the sand by the shoreline — and she was mine. She came back to me after all these years. She appeared very much as a pet to me in this dream. Others were in awe that I was not frightened of her. She was glowing in the sun and appeared as if she was being worshipped, by me anyway.

The message was clear. When I had awoken the next morning, I was so thankful and happy to have reconnected with my childhood guide. She surprises me when I least expect it. I’m humbled and grateful.

My little sister, the youngest of seven siblings, has Down Syndrome.

She is 47 years old and lives in a supervised setting and is very happy with her life. She has a job, lots of friends and a full social calendar.

I received a letter from her one morning. When I pulled it out of our mailbox, I was amazed that it even made it to me.

Her handwriting is very difficult to read. Usually when she sends us things, the address is written by the staff that takes care of her. This letter arrived in a long business envelope with six Elvis stamps pasted across the top. The address was made out by her tiny, wrinkled, Down Syndrome hands.

I opened the envelope and two scraps of paper fell out. They were approximately 4″ by 4″ in size. She made sure she didn’t waste any of paper by not leaving any space between her words.

I could picture her, carefully ripping, (not cutting), the paper out of her notebook and thinking about what to write. She didn’t use excess ink on words such as “the,” “and” and “is.” The note was mainly nouns, verbs and a few pronouns thrown in for good measure. She trusted me to fill in the blanks.

The part of me that fills in the blanks wasn’t working very well that day, so I called her. As we talked, I tried very hard not to let her know that I didn’t understand what she had written. But, of course, she caught on and then thoroughly explained (by spelling the nouns after saying them to me) what she wanted.

This process took about 20 minutes and the message was that she wanted my husband and me to go with her to the Oak Ridge Boys concert the next night at the local casino.

I politely declined and tried not to feel guilty when I heard the disappointment in her voice. I told her I hoped she would have a good time at the concert. She replied with, “Okay sister, I love you.”

The next morning as I was having coffee, I glanced at the two scraps of paper she had sent us. I picked them up and re-read them. After her explanation, they actually made sense. I could make out the words Oak Ridge, even though she spelled it Olkrige. Knowing what I knew now, I was able to get the point of her letter.

I finished my coffee and stepped out onto my porch to greet the day. All of a sudden the song “Ya’all Come Back Saloon” by the Oak Ridge boys popped into my head. I couldn’t get rid of it! I had to play that whole song through, surprised that I even remembered the words.

I started thinking about all the thought and effort my little sister had gone through to send us that invitation.

She could have relied on her staff to help her. Instead, she did it all by herself. She had come up with a plan and followed through. She had somehow, on her own, gathered everything she needed and did what she needed to do.

You might think this effort was trivial. But, considering her reading and writing abilities and considering that everything is monitored in her home, right down to the postage, she accomplished a great deal.

She had an opportunity to experience something wonderful, and she wanted to share this occasion with me.

I went back into the house and woke up my husband.

“We’re going to the Oak Ridge Boys concert tonight,” I said.

“Okay,” he said. I have such a wonderful husband!

I almost started to cry when I saw how happy my sister was when we joined her at the concert. I started to think about the times we cared for her during a holiday. I felt that I was doing my duty because it was expected of me. But, I realized how much we meant to her and how much she appreciated our time together. I vowed then and there to never take her for granted or feel like spending time with her was my duty. It meant something to her. It was important. I was important to her.

“I knew I was right!” she said. “I trusted you to have a good time!” We did have a good time. We were truly blessed at that concert. She hugged me as we left the event.

“You’re my favorite sister,” she said. I hugged her back and told her she was my favorite, too. And then I prayed a prayer of gratitude for having such a wonderful sister.

First of a two-part series introducing the work of Peter Mandel: Light Therapy Pioneer

The application of light and color as a healing modality is a rapidly developing field with roots in ancient medicine. Color light therapy offers a pain-free, non-invasive therapy with no side effects. Light exhibits a unique capacity to effect psychological and spiritual healing while simultaneously supporting physical health.

The health systems of ancient cultures were based on an understanding that light and colors heal. The Greeks, Romans, Indians, Aztecs and Chinese all recognized the sun as a giver of light and a healing deity. Color as a part of light was known to have the same therapeutic effect as light itself. The Egyptians, for example, designed temples that split the sun’s rays into different colors, allowing patients to bathe in the appropriate color for their particular condition.

Recently, research in biophysics has confirmed the fact that light is a “language” by which our cells communicate with each other. German physicist and biophoton researcher F.A. Popp has shown that cell metabolism and communication between cells would be unthinkable without light. Popp proved that the cells of all living creatures emit biophotons or electromagnetic vibrations. This radiation represents a regulating power field that surrounds the whole organism and influences all our biochemical processes.

In his studies of cell communication, Popp demonstrated that normal living cells emit a steady stream of biophotons and act as carriers of information in living organisms. He observed that a cell will show an increased emission of biophotons whenever its functions are no longer in a state of balance. Any disruption in a cell’s homeostasis can lead to a change in the balanced flow of information (light) in the body. This transformation from harmoniously oscillating light eventually leads to incoherence, i.e. disease. Peter Mandel, a renowned German Naturopath and Acupuncturist, carried Popp’s observations forward and suggested that the resultant cellular changes also eventually affect the electrical receptivity of related zones and acupoints on the surface of the skin.

Given that human cells exhibit energetic properties of light, and that light and color have a modifying effect on the body’s system of energetic information, it seemed obvious to Mandel that the informational properties of light and color could be used to restore coherence, or health.

Light waves enter through skin receptors. These receptors respond to both light and color. According to Popp, biophotons allow a faster means of impulse communication than the transmission of electrical impulses along neural pathways. With biophotons the impulse spreads independently of nerve conduction to the smallest components of the organism through the atomic structure of the cells. In keeping with the principle of resonance, the smallest oscillation will initiate the greatest effect.

Color and light therapy utilizes this effect to address and reverse pathological processes. Colored light can transmit information to the inside of the body via the disturbed zones and help restore malfunctioning systems by virtue of their inherent resonant forces.

In the early ’70s, Peter Mandel began to use acupuncture and meridian channels to introduce light into the body. His decision to use acupuncture points and meridians was influenced by the research being done at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Nowosibirk, Russia.

The Russian physicist Dr. Sergei Pankratov proved that our body has a coordination system that always, and without exception, transmits incoming light from point A to point B. He demonstrated that the coordination ability of light in the human body exists solely along meridians and is only able to enter or exit the body on the known acupuncture points.

At the same time, scientists at the Parisian Necker Institute injected a fluid enriched with radioactive technetium into certain acupuncture points and were able to make visible its distribution within the body using an electric camera. The camera recorded gamma rays radiating from the technetium. The distribution of the fluid followed the exact pathways described as meridians in Chinese medicine.

Colors as pure vibrations represent the various frequencies of visible light. Since acupuncture points are reactive to a variety of stimuli, Mandel theorized that they would also react to stimulation by light. Through extensive experimentation, Mandel determined that certain acupuncture points display a particular relationship to certain colors. Moreover all acupoints corresponded to one of three complimentary pairs of colors: red/green, orange/blue and yellow/violet.

Peter Mandel’s color aculight instrument provides a means of affecting yin-yang balance between complimentary pairs of points. The three complimentary color pairs command the entire spectrum of the cells within which their biophotons as information carriers can transmit these vibrations to the cells.

By the late 1980s, Mandel’s early treatment protocols were established. His concept of medicine is a synthesis of key principles from ancient esoteric doctrines with the thinking of modern scientists. A common theme in many esoteric doctrines is that each human being as a soul comes to life to manifest a unique potential or “life path.” This potential can only be discovered if the individual accesses his inner wisdom or consciousness. Modern scientists, such as David Bohm or the biochemist Rupert Sheldrake, suggest that our physical material reality actually exists against the backdrop of a greater order. Bohm speaks of an all-encompassing background to man’s experience and consciousness called the “implicate order.” Bohm feels the work of each individual is to continually unfold his potential out of the greater implicate order into individual material reality.

In many cases, colors have the same indications on the psychological, as well as the somatic, level. Green, for example, has a detoxifying effect. It stimulates secretion and releases spasm. Psychologically, this color is soothing and relaxing.

For Peter Mandel, spirit and body are inextricably connected. His view is that most physical complaints have a psychosomatic cause. He feels that if we treat the cause, then this will be the end of symptomatic medicine. The difficulty is that the patient himself may not be able to reach the depth of his subconscious to bring the cause of his disease to the surface. Psychotherapeutic treatment sometimes has the disadvantage of lack of objectivity by the therapist and the client.

Light and colors, on the other hand, are pure information — genuine and penetrating. The correct use of color and light can bring deeply buried blockages, however chronic, into an acute state. In this way, they can be treated more effectively. Hence, Mandel calls his therapy “a non-verbal psychotherapy.”

Dr. Steven Hiebert

Later, I asked Dr. Hiebert what it means to be an intuitive chiropractor.

“New patients usually come to me because something hurts,” he begins. “But the healing always starts with a long, comprehensive interview. If I have the patience to listen and wait, I find that the client will tell me what is wrong. This leads me to ask questions, which on the surface may not seem to make sense. Yet, asking the right questions is very important.”

Dr. Hiebert describes his intuitive process as an inner seeing or sensation that may direct him to a particular area of a client’s body. This energy is often expressed through him as movement. Sometimes the stimulus is so strong that he can barely keep still until he can actively begin the healing. Over time, his healing gifts have evolved from traditional chiropractic to such an active form that he is surprised when his clients tell him they felt so relaxed during a session they almost fell asleep.

His extensive background in alternative medicine enables Dr. Hiebert to address the specific needs of each individual client. So, while a group of people may have the same symptom, each individual may require a different approach. For one, a simple physical adjustment may be all that is needed. For another, the same symptom may be corrected through nutrition. Someone else may need work on an emotional level and yet another may require energy work of a spiritual nature. In all cases, relationship is pivotal. Who the patient is determines what he can do for them.

“What I do” he says, “is to span a space for them, which allows them to discharge or regain, restore balance or whatever needs to happen deep down on this level of spirit and facilitate the same sort of process.” For example, a client who has a history of being really nice, to the point of letting people walk all over her, manifests debilitating low back pain. Adjusting her and working on the level of spirit and energy, Dr. Hiebert helps her to discharge that energetic distortion that has not really been her. If all I did was to adjust her back, I probably would not be able to help her that much…that exists, but it goes with this other set of patterns.”

These patterns infiltrate the emotions and manifest as symptoms. The things that affect us the most are the things that we are least consciously aware of, Dr. Hiebert says. We are only conscious of about 3 percent of the beliefs that influence us. The remaining unconscious beliefs tell us what we are and are not and what we can be or cannot be. They are almost always interwoven with emotional lack of expression.

“My work,” Dr. Hiebert says, “is to help people go back and find those beliefs, the emotions that are woven with them, so that they can begin to express that and discover the places inside them where those unconscious beliefs that hold them back and hurt them physically come forward and express. Then we can change it and we can be who we want to be — and not just 3 percent of our conscious awareness. When we can be ourselves, in harmony as much as possible, then we can be happy and our body can be happy. We can feel unencumbered and we can do what we want.”

As I listened to Dr. Hiebert, these words from the I Ching came to me: At times, one has to deal with hidden enemies, intangible influences that slink into dark corners and…affect people by suggestion…. It is necessary to trace these things back to the most secret recesses to determine the nature of the influences to be dealt with. This is the task of the priests; removing them is the task of the magicians…. When such elusive influences are brought into the light, they lose their power over people.

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor with one of the brain structures that will be on display.

BLOOMINGTON, IN — A collaborative community art event, “Brain Extravaganza!” will be launched throughout Bloomington, Indiana, on April 28 to promote appreciation awareness, and education about the human brain, sponsored by the non-profit organization Jill Bolte Taylor BRAINS, Inc.

Twenty-two enormous (5′ x 5′ x 4′) fiberglass brain sculptures will be on display as a collection from Noon-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, at the Bloomington South gymnasium. Immediately following, the 22 brains will be installed around Bloomington (13 brains) and on the Indiana University campus (9 brains). The brains will be on public display from April 30 through October 15.

“We’re placing 22 enormous brains decorated by wonderful artists all over Bloomington, and they are neuroanatomically correct,” said Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. “They are absolutely magnificent, and nothing thrills me more than to have a dream of having brains on street corners actually manifest with support from the city, the local university, the business community, the art community, the school system, the volunteer programs. I mean, it’s a beautiful network that we’ve created here in Bloomington, and it thrills me!”

Dr. Taylor told The Edge that she hopes kids who experience the “Brain Extravaganza” will recognize that “brains are cool!”

“That’s my motto: Brains are cool,” she said, “and that’s what I want kids to take away from it, and if kids think brains are cool then they’re going to learn more about them, they’re going to become more aware of theirs and they’re going to appreciate theirs a little more. Hopefully, that will translate into them taking better care of theirs — whatever it takes to make a small shift in humanity towards the positive.”

The citywide event in Indiana includes:

• A dedicated website at JBTBRAINS.org will be the source of information about the project for the public .
• A mobile app for smart phones will contain a brain game (requiring people to visit each brain to “color their brain”).
• On April 26, Young Frankenstein will be presented at Indiana University Auditorium; Dr. Taylor will give the pre-show public lecture and three of the brain sculptures will be on display outside the IU Auditorium.
• Bloomington’s first Friday Gallery Walk of 2012 will feature “A Night of a 100 Brains,” whereby nine Bloomington Art Galleries will have on public display 100 brains that are designs, paintings, drawings, cartoons and poems created by local school children.
• A Gala will be presented later this year by Jill Bolte Taylor BRAINS, Inc. whereby the brains will be sold at auction, with funds received for the sale of the brains to be used for future projects that serve the mission of the organization.

That now familiar feeling I had come to know as my mother was poking at me again. Strong enough this time to wake me from my night’s dream. My heart felt so full as her gentle warmth curled up around me, peace radiating in such a way that it became my very being. There was no doubt in my mind that the etheric hands of my mother were holding me in a hug as I felt the rays of her love soothe me like a baby being sung a lullaby.

It had been six months since I had gotten engaged, three years since my mother had died, and tomorrow was my wedding day.

We had planned on wedding at sunset. That had been an easy decision, branching back to the first days of engagement. My soon-to-be husband had very thoughtfully asked me to marry him while at the cemetery where my Mom had been laid to rest. I was ecstatic that he had popped the question and proud of the way he had done so, by bringing my Mom into the experience in such a way that I could not have done so for myself.

But I, too, was determined to make her a part of the wedding. For many nights leading up to this night, I had lain in bed, head on my pillow, eyes closed, trying desperately to connect with her. Through the reaches of my heart and the silence of my words, I would ask her, “Please Mom, be at my wedding and let me know you are there. Give me a sign like a beautiful sunset so that I will know it is you.” Again on this night I repeated my prayer, closed my eyes, and very comfortably drifted back off to sleep.

The next day passed quickly and as the sun began to set, our marriage was blessed to begin. In the ceremony we shared in a quiet moment of remembrance for my mother. Again I spoke silently to her hoping that my heart could reach the spaces of hers and she would hear my words, “Mom, I love you and I wish you were here.”

But that was just a brief moment and then time went on again.

The ceremony ended, we shared in a toast and proceeded with pictures. Each moment was full of celebration, even though there was no special sunset. I did not let this get me down; I only held on tighter to the moment I had shared with her the night before.

Then, with that thought released, a miracle occurred. We had all been facing the photographer and the sea, and as I looked out at the grayish, blue, almost dreary sky, I spoke to my mother once more.

This time I said, “OK, Mom, where’s your big thing?”

And in a flash, an answer whispered back, echoing through the shards of light that had charged up through the clouds to cast colors of pure love across the sky now ablaze. There was my sunset.

The response was immediate and the message clear, my Mom showing me, “I’m right here.”

The shades of orange, pink, and gold struck me with awe — the moment became too much for my heart to hold and I burst into tears. I cried as I told the others of the silent spoken connection and the long held prayer for this exact occurrence. And then I reveled in the undoubtable proof, taking in the sky as it exploded with my mother’s light and my mother’s love. The best wedding gift I could have ever received, love sent down from Heaven, directly from my Mom.

So you see: It really is true. Love does transcend all. This is especially true when we speak of the love a mother has for her child. This connection is truly unbreakable, a sacred bond that reaches far beyond physical boundaries, as it is rooted in the heaven from which we all have come, and through our mothers, who are our sacred companions for the span of our whole life.

So “Thank you Mom, and I Love You.”
 

channeled from Mother Mary

Friends are people who you can trust and who trust you. We all have friends who have known and trusted us throughout our entire lives. And we have not seen them, but they have seen us, and have known us intimately from the moment that we are born.

Who could these people be?

We, who have watched you from the heavens through each moment, are the people who have loved you from before you were born. We are many friends, available to each of you. Some of us are angels; some are your relatives or ancestors. Some of us are wisdom figures that you know about, though you may not have realized that we are here for you. We will stand by you, guide you, and help you achieve your life’s purposes.

If you do not know already that we are available, how can you meet us and become friends?

This year is not like the years you have lived before. We are now here among you. Though you don’t see us yet, you can begin to hear us, and speak to us as friends. Simply begin, and we will help you. When more of you actually begin these friendships, many more will find it easy to do so, until the opening becomes an avalanche of grace. If you are uncomfortable doing so, find physical friends who will accompany you on this journey. Or find a person who is already doing so, and ask to work with them.

You could simply wait until others take the first steps and do so later when it seems easier and safer. However, your rewards will be greater if you make these friendships sooner.

What would be the benefit? It is so valuable to feel truly loved in your deepest self. This is available to you. It is also helpful for you to have a major spiritual source available to answer your spiritual questions. This also is available to you.

And how do you know this is possible? Try it. Listen. And try again. You’ll soon find out that it works, and that we are just as available as if we have cell phones and you have our phone numbers.

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. will share her life-changing experience at the upcoming Celebrate Your Life Chicago

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

“It was 7:00 a.m. on December 10, 1996. I sluggishly awoke to a sharp pain piercing my brain directly behind my left eye. Squinting into the early morning light, I clicked off the impending alarm with my right hand and instinctively pressed the palm of my left hand firmly against the side of my face. Rarely ill, I thought how queer it was for me to awaken to such a striking pain. As my left eye pulsed with a slow and deliberate rhythm, I felt bewildered and irritated.”

From her widely acclaimed book My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey (Viking Penguin), Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., introduces us to the life-changing event that led to eight years of therapy to completely recover her ability to walk, talk, read and write and recall her life. And since her recovery from a life-threatening stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain, this Harvard-trained and published neuroanatomist has recommitted her life to helping survivors of stroke and inspiring all of us to to be more conscious about our brains and make life choices that support this incredible organ. She also is the national spokesperson for the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center and educates the public about the shortage of brain tissue donated for research of severe mental illness.

Her story became a viral sensation in 2008 when her presentation at the TED Conference (Technology, Entertainment, Design, focused on “ideas worth spreading,”) went online, and she became a premiere guest on Oprah’s Soul Series webcast. She was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2008, and her book is currently being translated into a major feature film, with Ron Howard directing, and Howard and his Imagine partner Brian Grazer producing.

Dr. Taylor will be one of four keynote lecturers at the Celebrate Your Life conference in Chicago from June 8-11, an event designed to help you transform your life from the inside out.

She spoke by phone from her office in Bloomington, Indiana, with The Edge about her upcoming talk in Chicago and the incredible insight she received as a result of her experience with stroke.

As a neuroanatomist who focuses on the brain, do you have a specific focus of study?
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor: Before the stroke, my research was related to schizophrenia and severe mental illnesses and what are the differences between the brains of individuals who experience symptoms and those of us who do not.

And how about since the stroke?
JBT: Now I’m very interested in neurological rehabilitation of individuals from brain trauma.

Has your stroke shifted your perspective on the study of the brain itself?
JBT: I think that I care much more about the differences between the right and the left hemispheres than I cared about before.

Most people know there is a left side and a right side. Can you share with our readers the differences between what is going on in the two sides?
JBT: Well, essentially the right brain is looking at the big picture of the world and the left brain is looking at the details of the world.

What do you know now about the brain that you didn’t before your stroke.
JBT: Well, I know that I have a full conscious right hemisphere, independent of my left hemisphere. When the details of my life were taken away — including my identity as I am, an individual, and the boundaries of where I began and where I ended — I had a very different perception of myself and my relationship to the world around me.

How did your experience add to our overall knowledge about how the brain operates?
JBT: It certainly gave insight into how our two hemispheres work together in order to create our perception of reality.

I read in an interview with you that you are grateful that you had the stroke. Why?
JBT: I didn’t say I was grateful. What I said was that it has been a blessing to my life. It has given me an insight into how my brain functions — and I learned as much about how my brain functions through the eyes of a neuroanatomist having a stroke as I did through all of my years of academia.

Do you feel like you are a different person now than you used to be?
JBT: I think that the person I used to be went offline when I experienced the stroke and that circuitry shut down, and in the absence of that dominant personality, there was another me inside that was kinder, gentle, more compassionate, more open, much more right-brained. Then, over time as the circuitry of my left brain recovered, I had to renegotiate which of those two characters was going to predominate in my life at any moment. I do believe we each have the ability to pick and choose, moment-by-moment, who and how we want to be in the world, and that we have that choice based on our brain circuitry.

When you were in rehabilitation you had, did you have access to your past memories of who you were?
JBT: I did not.

But, over time you were able to distinguish between the two, your former self and the self that you were creating?
JBT: Well, the old self wanted to come back online and I wasn’t necessarily jumping up and down about relinquishing the power to her.

In your interview with Charlie Rose, you said a moment of clarity for you was that we are wired for peace, that within us is the capacity to experience this. How can we tap into that experience?
JBT: I think the most important thing is to recognize that we have these two very different hemispheres. The left brain is focused on the details of our lives, and it’s our site for language. The language can be going on and going on and going on and it says a lot of things and keeps our brains really busy. But we do have the capacity to quiet that language center and to not listen to it all the time — and in the absence of all of that language that our brains are saying to us, there is this incredible sense of peacefulness within us.

And then Charlie followed up on that question by suggesting different ways that people can do that, shut down the constant talk from our left brain, and you mentioned meditation, walking in nature and prayer as ways to help quiet that language part of our brain.
JBT: Exactly. When we pray, we are repeating a prayer over and over again, which interrupts the incessant flow of new ideas in the language center. When we meditate, we may meditate reciting a mantra, which we repeat over and over again, again replacing the incessant new material coming in. It is an opportunity to push a reset button or to say to the language center, “I’m going to preoccupy you for a little while so that I don’t have to focus on you,” and when we do that it becomes more quiet. As it becomes more quiet, the left hemisphere becomes more quiet. The right hemisphere opens up with incredible possibility, and I believe that that is the site of this experience of peace.

How do we create balance between our two hemispheres?
JBT: I think it’s a matter of looking at our lives and paying attention to what we are doing, how we live, what is our skill set of our right hemisphere, what is the skill set of our left hemisphere and how much time we are spending living in one or the other or, really, in an open flow between the two.

I am familiar with some groups that use sound and other technology to help achieve that, such as the Monroe Institute.
JBT: I do not endorse any products. However, I believe that it’s a choice and the choice is a free choice. Sure, you can use all kinds of instrumentation and manipulate yourself in all kinds of ways, but the bottom line is you’re the only one who is going to be able to control what’s going on inside of your head — and you have to choose to do it. You have to decide to do it 1,000 times a day in the beginning because we are running habitual circuitry.

The bottom line is that what you are running inside of your brain is circuitry, and you do have some say in whether you’re going to put your mind on it and focus energy into it and strengthen it, or if you’re going to put your mind somewhere else and put energy into that other circuitry and strengthen it.

What you’re describing is the act of living consciously.
JBT: Exactly. Mindfulness. Paying attention to what’s going on inside of your brain and knowing that you have some say in that. Take a little responsibility for what’s going on in there.

Do you get a sense that humans overall are becoming more mindful as a species?
JBT: Well, I think there certainly is a movement that is ongoing now that is stronger than it’s been in the past.

You write that you care about our personal relationships with our brains, but I would guess most people don’t think much at all about their brains. Why should we care, and how does one develop a relationship with his or her brain?
JBT: I think it’s a matter of looking at what’s going on inside of your head and looking at what’s going on in your life and making a determination as to the quality of your life and how you feel about that.

When you start to pay attention to what’s actually going on inside of your brain, you realize that every ability that you have is because there are cells in your brain that perform that function. I can watch a moving target move through space because I have cells that perform that function. If I don’t have those cells, then I can’t do that. I can wiggle my index finger because I have cells in my brain that perform that function. If they are not well, then I cannot perform that function. If I lose the cells that permit me to speak, then I cannot speak out loud.

When you stop and think about each of your abilities and start making assessments of what is going on with yourself emotionally — that those, too, are just cells performing a function — and when you create a relationship with your brain, it helps you figure out what you want more of in your life, what you want less of, and it puts you more in the power chair of control.

So, once you identify something that you want more of, how do you create that in your life?
JBT: It’s just like learning anything. If you want to learn how to pole vault, you are going to do it over and over again and you’re going to exercise your body and you’re going to grow your muscles in very strategic ways and you’re going to work with your coordination and your balance and you’re going to develop the skill set. The same is true for your emotional situation. Say, for example, you’ve experienced anger and you would like less anger. Then, it’s a matter of how you lessen the strength of that specific circuitry that results in anger.

If you were able to speak to everybody in the world about the brain and they would hear you and understand you, what would you want to tell people?
JBT: I’m all about appreciation, awareness and education about this beautiful organ. The better we understand how it works, then the better we can get ours to work well in our lives.

What are the things we do that are most harmful to our brains without knowing it?
JBT: The biggest thing we do is that we deprive ourselves of sleep. We function in a society that is sleep deprived. And we all know how we feel and how much more poorly we function when we don’t pay attention to getting enough sleep. So it’s number one.

What does the brain do when we sleep?
JBT: It rests. It stops processing new information and organizes and files the information that we’ve brought in, allowing us to make sense out of it. And then we wake up fresh, ready to bring in new data.

Aside from getting more sleep, are there things that we can do in our everyday lives to strengthen our circuitry to improve that sense of peace within ourselves?
JBT: Oh, absolutely! It’s about paying attention to what are we doing with our bodies. First of all, our bodies are designed to move, so how much movement are we actually giving our bodies? What are we eating? What are we drinking? If we’re pumping a bunch of sugar or caffeine into our bodies, then we are essentially telling the neurons in our brain that we want them to accelerate and function more quickly.

Where is your mind? How much time are you spending in the big picture of things versus the details of things. I always encourage people to take the first five minutes in the morning and actually think about your body and say, “Thank you!” There are a group of cells inside of the brain stem that are responsible for you waking up in the morning, so take those moments to say, “Wow! I’m awake! I’m awake! I’m alive! Wow! I get another day!” Because there are people that did not have that opportunity today.

I believe in functioning from a state of gratitude and to really celebrate what I am as a living being. That is such a choice. And at night before I go to sleep, I say thank you to myself for another great day, and I encourage them for the next eight hours to bring me health. There are living beings in the brain. Who knows what they’re going to be doing for the next eight hours if I don’t tell them what I want.

So I have a real relationship with my body, with the cells that make me up. They make up the consciousness of all that I am. I have this incredible brain that I can consciously choose to focus, to give it directives on what I want, so why wouldn’t I do that?

Paying attention to water is incredibly important. Sleep is incredibly important. Nutrition and movement are all incredibly important. So too is your overall attitude. I can wake up in the morning and feel angry, or I can wake up in the morning and think thoughts that are going to fill me with gratitude. I take responsibility and I choose gratitude.

How do you personally respond when your left brain begins to overwhelm you with day-to-day concerns or fears?
JBT: I usually respond by taking off my glasses and sitting back and looking out the window and allowing my eyes to lose their focus — and I go back into the present moment experience. I have a great terrific awareness of when I am feeling stress, when I am pushing things so hard or juggling so many different things. I’m really clear on my own circuitry and I take responsibility for it. As soon as I feel that level of stress and I know I am going into a zone that isn’t particularly healthy for me, it doesn’t feel good to my body, and I choose to shut it down as quickly as possible.

What did your experience teach you about the way modern medicine helps people recover from strokes?
JBT: Ooooohhhhh, I think that we treat people as though they will not recover. What I’ve learned is that when you treat someone as though they can recover, then they are more inclined to recover more than if you treat them as though they will not recover.

In past interviews you have spoken about the word “victim” versus “survivor.” That does seem pretty powerful to me, also.
JBT: Very powerful. If I treat you like you are a victim, I instill in you a belief from me very different than if I celebrate you as a survivor.

Why did you write your book?
JBT: I wrote my book because so many people called me on the phone and said, “Why did you recover? What did you do?” And my mother said, “Honey, you’ve got to write a book because, you know, you’re on the phone all the time.”

What did you learn during the process of writing your book?
JBT: I learned that it’s really hard to go back and be in the past, and that my mind is much more excited in the present.

You’re going to be speaking in June in Chicago at Celebrate Your Life. What message do you want to leave with your listeners there?
JBT: Peace is just a thought away. That’s pretty much my fundamental message, and so I just hope people understand from a brain perspective what’s going on. What is the circuitry that we’re running? How is it organized? And what say do we have in how we live our lives in a more peaceful way?

On your website I discovered something exciting about your trip to Antarctica. Tell me about what went on there and how that affected you.
JBT: It was profound. I was invited by Al Gore to join him and a team of 140 other individuals to go to Antarctica. For me, it was a realization that our relationship with the planet is a total projection of what’s going on inside of our brains. We are living in a non-sustainable way because we are living more out of our left brain value structure, which is all about me, the individual. It’s about me and mine. It’s about money. It’s about materialism. It’s about usage of resources as compared to the right hemisphere value structure, which is more about our relationship with one another, our relationship as humanity in relationship with the planet, which is much more sustainable thinking.

What I realized was that by expressing ourselves through our left brain way of being, we are skewed in relationship to the resources on the planet, which is contributing to the problems that we’re having. For me it was the awareness that when we become more in balance — living between our right hemisphere and our left hemisphere value structures — then that will naturally shift the way we live in relationship to the planet, back more towards health.

What are your dreams for the coming year or two? Do you have anything exciting planned?
JBT: Yes, a couple of things. The first thing is our event in Bloomington, but I don’t want to just see brains in Bloomington. We’re creating a model that we can then re-create in communities around the world. Cows have been on parade in over 100 cities. I want to see brains all over the world. I want people talking about brains. I want them thinking about their brain. I want them creating a relationship with their brain.

I really think the more we become aware of what is going on, then the better overall relationship we will have with our own brains and it will help shift humanity. So I am all about brains everywhere.

The second thing is that I care about neurological rehabilitation, so I’m invested in a program to create a video game that is specifically designed for the neurological rehabilitation of people with trauma. That’s very exciting for me.

And the third is the movie. The book has come out in 30 languages, so it is all over the world. I think a movie will hit even a bigger audience. It will take you on that journey into the process of losing your mind by giving you a sense of what that experience was really like. And then it asks you, “Would you want to come back and under what circumstances and what kind of person would you be if this experience had happened to you?” So, I’m very excited about all of it.

Video & Audio Resources:
TED Talks  •  Oprah Soul Series  •  NPR, with book excerpt

For more information on Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, please visit DrJillTaylor.com. For information on Celebrate Your Life Conference, go to www.mishkaproductions.com.

It isn’t really necessary for me to tell you that smiling is good for you, that it is associated with good things in our lives. You already know it. You knew it every time you smiled when you learned something new or how something worked.

Your mother knew it too when she smiled at you when you were born. When you made a new friend or got a new job or earned a good grade on your test, a smile was there. You did let out a little bit of a smile, even if it was the crinkles around your beaming eyes.

Maybe you didn’t notice because you weren’t looking in the mirror, and maybe nobody saw you or acknowledged or told you, but every time there was joy in your life, there was a smile.

A smile, like a picture, transcends cultural boundary and conceptual boundaries.

There is alchemy, a magical science, behind the smile. It can infect the world with laughter, joy and humor, all of which boost the functioning of the mind, the brain, and the intelligence. It actually reinforces and adds texture to our experience of positive emotions, like appreciation, happiness or love.

Instinctual & primal
Smiling says so much and with so few words. From the beginning of time, a smile indicated a lack of hostility and a willingness to share and communicate. It has also been used as an extension of diplomatic well wishing throughout history. Smiling is not something that one has to study arduously and learn over a period of time…it is instinctual and primal.

A smile costs nothing. It has been investigated as medicine and as a healing agent; it is here now and always has been available. It is practiced by newborns as well as centenarians, and it is acknowledged in every country throughout the world. Smiling is a globally accepted panacea that history, research and clinical data confirm is one of the simplest therapies for whatever it is that ails you.

The practice of smiling can positively affect your own life. Smiling, as Dr. David Allen, M.D., explains “…is a simple facial movement, the contraction of just a few muscles in the face, that can dramatically change our internal state. What I mean by internal state is how we feel, think, what body sensations we have, our attitudes and our points of view.”

So often, we seek to remedy our physical, mental, spiritual and social relations through “…psychotherapy, drugs, religion, sports, travel, and sex just to name a few. Smiling costs less, you can do it all by yourself, and the results are immediate,” Dr. Allen says. Smiling fits the global demand for simple solutions.

Powerful & practical
There is nothing so powerful and practical as a smile — nothing that can so easily bring about harmony and respect, nothing that so universally elicits a positive response from others, than the simple act of smiling. If something takes a lot of effort or is beyond the experience of the average person, there is only a slim chance that people will follow through.

They have to choose where they make their commitments, and even when people, whether they are patient or a healthy individuals, may want to make changes and transformations in their mental, emotional or physical state(s), they are just not equipped with enough time or motivation or money to stick with the standard clinical methods of bringing about change in a healthy personal and social attitude.

There are just too many factors working against a person, even if they are sincerely seeking change and healthy new growth and integration within themselves and in society. With the innumerable varieties of psychology available today, the premise of Ockham’s razor is the still the best measure: “The simpler the proposal or theory, the better!”

But smiling is anything but simple. The smile results from complex biochemical, bioelectrical and emotional mental factors. The brain receives messages from all over the body — including the 42 muscles that regulate our facial expressions.

Thus, in the physical act of smiling, our facial muscles send a “feel-good” message to the brain. Like the heart’s message, this signal from the facial muscles also helps to create and sustain positive emotions.

Authentic smile
Psychologist Paul Ekman discovered that a spontaneous authentic smile, or the Duchenne smile — the spontaneous and authentic smiling with your lips, with your eyes, and with your heart — was accompanied by increased activity in an area of the brain known as the left prefrontal cortex. This area, the positive seat of emotions or pleasure center, brings about a sense of euphoria, happiness, joy, and genuine well-being. So, by smiling, you actually change the pattern of information going from your body to your brain. 

This has big impact on health and well-being, both short-term and long-term. Even if you are not doing the authentic, heartfelt Duchenne smile, you still get brain activity in the pleasure centers, producing positive emotions by just acting like you’re smiling.

There are authentic smiles and inauthentic smiles, but we must also realize there is an authentic try at being happy, and an authentic try at smiling.

The smile has the power to bring about a healthy personal attitude in the sense that the biochemistry and emotions behind a smile serve to optimize social interactions. Since smiling is an integral part of social life, and in some societies an integral part of spiritual and health practices, it is time-proven. The smile can transform an individual into an optimally self-actualized person.

Smiling is a simple, effective, and universal way to communicate with yourself internally, as well as being a way to communicate externally with those you meet in life.

A smile can be your greatest tool in negotiations, relationships, and elsewhere in your daily personal life. Don’t underestimate its simplicity. When an individual relates to others in society, the smile is a simple innate response that works to bring about healthy cooperation.

It is essential.

Appreciation for all life
Communicate your joy, your happiness, your abundance, your generosity, and your appreciation for life, all of which will return and affect you beneficially on all levels – mental, emotional and physical. A smile will take you the extra mile.

Smiling takes no time, literally, and it is a universal currency known in every culture around the globe. Wherever you travel in the world, a smile is the currency that buys you just about anything you want and it definitely buys you things you need. No matter where you travel, a smile means the same thing and it creates the same thing – love, sharing and communication.

Smiling has proliferated globally as the “Universal language.” No matter what village or town or city you go to, a smile means the same thing regardless of your age, culture, ethnicity, financial status, faith, or nationality.

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, further explains that “…smiling is an invitation to transcend racial and cultural barriers. The smile is an open invitation to not judge an individual by their culture, but to be open to receiving from them this transcendently positive emotional expression.” We can defuse global antagonisms and misinterpretations and create an optimum “win-win” situation wherein the smile giver and those receiving the blessing of the smile both experience a state of wellness and joy, as well as an open door to extended dialogue. Fredrickson states that the openness generated through smiling “…can be used in peace negotiations, where an authentic smile breeds an environment of receptiveness and willingness to learn, rather than insisting on negotiating from a position of power, without regard to the information being shared by the other side.” Despite linguistic and nationalistic differences, the smile gets through. It speaks to the heart rather than the mind. An authentic smile is the quickest way to an agreement, mediation, or conflict resolution. A frown says no, a smile says, “Yes, of course!”

Have a reason?
Research disproves the old belief that one has to have a reason to smile first. We always assume because of our social and emotional conditioning that we smile because we are happy, and we cry because we are sad, and we frown because we are angry.

According to the 20th century psychologist Dr. William James, it would be more rational to say that we feel sorry because we cry, angry because we strike out at others, afraid because we tremble, and not that we cry, strike, or tremble, because we are sorry, angry, or fearful, as the case may be.

We can create our own reason to smile by smiling first, a preemptive smile. The smile is a learned response.

Yes, you can literally make yourself happy by smiling!

The more you do it, the more it becomes natural.

The more you do it, the better you feel and the more reasons you have to feel good and to smile. If smiling doesn’t feel right, just stand in front of the mirror and try out what looks like a smile.

You don’t have to be an actor to get into the mood. Just remember that even a forced smile will make you feel good by releasing endorphins and other feel-good biochemicals. The more you do it, the better you will get at it, whether you feel like smiling or not.

When you don’t feel like it
One of the best times to smile is when you really don’t feel like it because doing it will make you feel better. Smiling will give you the natural painkillers to make it through any challenge you are facing, be it mental, emotional, or physical.

At times, you may think it is inappropriate to smile because the challenges in the world are too serious, or a critical situation demands a serious face. When you feel committed to transcending suffering, remember this: nothing helps pain better than a smile.

A smile is always appropriate; there’s never a time when a smile is tactless or improper. You might ask, “What about a funeral, a death, an accident?” You can always put forth a gentle, benevolent smile of acceptance, an acknowledgement that something is working behind the scenes, a divine order, an acceptance of the soul that has passed on.

A smile can communicate that an accident can be healed.

Gertrude Stein said that a smile is a smile is a smile. If you observe people in conversations, you are likely to discover that it is not the exchange of knowledge and information that is important, but the expression and communication of emotions and feelings.

Something so simple, so inexpensive as a smile, with such profound and health-giving and peace-bestowing effects, should be taught in schools. It comes from the heart, so there are no misinterpretations. Innately, we know that we are all in this world together and by smiling, we can unleash powerful forces from within.

Smile and feel its power to transform every moment of your life.

It will!

Many of us imagine a world in which there would be peace, not just the absence of war, but true peace — peace that is as personal as quietude and self-acceptance and as global as the whole human race living together in harmony and mutual respect. On May 19, on St. Anthony and Main, the Inner Peace Festival will honor this dream through a gathering of diverse religious, cultural and artistic expressions.

The Center of Light, a non-denominational Christian Mystical Center in Uptown, is sponsoring the event. Its mission includes the perpetuation of inner peace through meditation and healing. The regional director of the center of Light, Lucille Michaels, states this as her vision of the Inner Peace Festival: “A place where the energy of healing, mutual love and open hearts can draw diverse people together in an experience of peace and compassion.”

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19 across from Wilde Roast Cafe overlooking the river on Main Street SE between Merriam Street and Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis.

The Inner Peace Festival will have a focus on healing, music and art. Michaels believes “art and music have a way of by-passing rigid boundaries and identifications and allowing people to relax and open their hearts to richer and deeper understanding of ourselves and others.” The Inner Peace Festival also will include information booths and opportunities for peace workers, spiritual groups and community organizations of various kinds to share their work and vision.

The day-long event is designed to be a highly engaging event in which people are invited to participate with each activity rather than being casual observers. Free yoga classes will take place all day, as well as interactive art projects, cultural experiences and the opportunity to join in sacred dance and music. A variety of healing experiences will be offered, including blessings, energy healing and meditation.

“The energy of the festival will not be one of commerce, but of community,” Michaels says. “There will be very little sold and all activities will be offered without cost.”

She hopes that this will allow all people, regardless of financial status, to engage freely and she hopes those who can give will donate generously to allow the Inner Peace Festival to support itself. Michaels acknowledges that the event is “a leap of faith” but one that is worth the effort to foster a sense of sharing and generosity, rather than one of consumerism.

The Inner Peace Festival will feature spoken word, several Kirtan (sacred chant) bands, Dances of Universal Peace (Sufi interfaith Zikr), a Christian hip-hop singer, yoga classes, henna art, drum circles, blessings, energy healing and collaborative art. Many other activities for adults and children will foster a sense of forgiveness, peace and connection to others.

For more information, visit Minneapolis.innerpeacefestival.com or www.facebook.com/MinneapolisInnerPeaceFestival. Center of Light is a non-denominational Christian organization with the mission of bringing world peace through developing each person’s inner experience of peace. In addition to events like the Inner Peace Festival, the Center of Light also offers free classes with topics on meditation, prayer and connecting with God. Visit Minneapolis.CentersOfLight.org.

Third in a series

Within a month of being diagnosed with breast cancer I had completed several important tasks: I met with the oncologists — surgical, radiology and medical — and had an MRI ; saw a health coach at Pathways, gaining mental clarity concerning my own thoughts and feelings about having cancer (read: March 2012 Edge); and owned my repressed resentments and began peeling away the layers (read: April 2012 Edge). It also became clear that a traditional approach to cancer was not the path for me.

I also consulted with various peers in healing professions and friends who used alternative health practices. On October 26, my birthday, I celebrated by meeting with Dr. Paul Westby, founder and director of Wellspring Chiropractic Center in Fridley, who practices Functional Medicine. We’d talked several times via phone and email, discussing medical reports I had sent him. He answered my questions and shared his professional knowledge.

Dr. Westby is a 1983 graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic (now Northwestern Health Sciences University), a full-time practicing chiropractor and a certified licensed acupuncturist who is board certified in nutrition. He has provided natural health care alternatives in the metro area for more than 25 years and has provided natural, safe and effective treatment, using Functional Medicine, in the evaluation and treatment of chronic health conditions. This approach is based on finding the cause of dis-ease and empowering the person to return to optimal health rather than merely managing symptoms. He also has worked with various athletic teams, including the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, U.S. Ski Team, Coors Lite Cycling Team, and University of Minnesota Wrestling Team, as well as various national and local athletes.

Growing Hope
Dr. Westby helped me realize that cancer (or any disease) germinates like a seed, as opposed to exploding like a volcanic eruption. It can take root from poor lifestyle choices and stressors: emotional, environmental and physical. To undo it would take some time, like dismantling a tree limb by limb. Since the tumor was stage one and only the size of a pea, I felt I had time to let my body naturally rid itself of the cancer cells — just as it’s designed to do.

Dr. Westby was open and encouraging, and he helped me gain confidence that I — we — could find a protocol that would bring me back to optimal health. The Functional Medicine approach is a true partnership between doctor and patient, with the goal of empowering the patient to find and heal the cause of any dysfunction. The measure of success is not about being “not sick,” but instead achieving and maintaining one’s health.

Fine Tuning
My first in-person session with him involved testing my body’s alkalinity and determining that I was acidic, an excellent environment for growing cancer. Next, we discussed lifestyle and eating habits. First and foremost, Dr. Westby suggests that we — especially those with cancer — stop smoking and reduce stress. “And no carbonated beverages because they increase your acidity,” he says. “Drink filtered water instead.” He also encourages exercise, spiritual practices and stretching.

I shared with him that I have been vegetarian and an athlete all of my adult life. I’ve never smoked. I can barely remember the last time I had a carbonated beverage, maybe 10 years ago; I prefer water and herbal tea. I have many spiritual practices, including an annual solo canoe trip to Quetico. In my situation, we would need to look deeper to overcome cancer.

I began with a Liver Cleanse Powder to drink each day and a “prescription” for a detailed blood test to assess what was actually going on inside my body. Included were two specific cancer tests, both tumor markers. With follow-up blood analyses, we will track the growth or reduction of the tumor. I’m counting on the reduction of the tumor!

Blood tests also provide concrete data as to what is happening physiologically. “This helps me select the best supplements for my patient’s specific situation,” Dr. Westby says.

My birthday gift was recommitting to a healthy and happy life. And I am willing to do whatever it takes to affirm life and live accordingly!

Destination: optimal health!
In October my body was completely derailed; I was ready to get back on track and get going. Surely, I did not want to get on just any track — I wanted to go in the right direction and choose the right tools.

That fine fall day I knew I was in good hands. For the first time in five weeks, I had a clear strategy. The internal flags were green! They were waving from that part of me that had taken good care of me before…before I had overridden it…before I had let the opinions of others take precedence, even when I could feel their warning quivers.

On the Right Track
Two weeks later and armed with test results, Dr. Westby recommended specific supplements — vitamin and mineral supplements, plus ones for increasing the stomach acid to aid in digesting proteins.

Since then I’ve learned that cancer does an excellent job of highjacking the body’s natural systems to supply the cancer cells instead. One tactic is to disrupt the digestion of proteins. Cancer first sends out its stealth airplane to assess the terrain and then sends it special forces to dismantle the body’s systems that prevent invasions. It creates supply lines and fortification mechanisms to feed itself. It even stays under the radar — creating a way to keep the immune system from detecting and eliminating it. Very clever!

To be sure the supplements are correct, Dr. Westby uses Applied Kinesiology (AK), a means of assessing the body’s acceptance of the supplements. AK is used to determine which supplements are best and the proper doses. AK is an additional tool for accurately determining the proper nutritional support.

I knew I was on the right track several weeks after starting my three-times-a-day supplement regime. My energy level increased, and with it, my thoughts became clearer and more positive. I am very grateful that I found a strategic way to tackle the cancer while keeping my body intact! I am eager to stay on this track and at some time in the future be retested and declared cancer-free.

Listen: Edge contributor Cheryl Hiltibran describes her journey on the archived Edge Talk Radio program “Innerviews” with Cathryn Taylor at http://tiny.cc/az5ucw

Cristina: Mer, why do you care what I think?
Meredith: Because you’re my person!
~ “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC

My father-in-law Herb Mielke, a beautiful soul

In early April, after several months of pain from metastatic cancer, my father-in-law Herb Mielke had made peace with God, and now he wanted his people by his side.

Oldest son Cary, driving in rain and hail in Kentucky — on a college visit with his son, a high school senior — turned on a dime upon hearing the news and drove all night to get back to Minnesota. Middle daughter Rachel, living in Madison, had been making the four-hour drive every weekend to support her father in his time of need, and now she sat by his side. Younger son Greg jumped in his beater truck, placed his well-worn Bible next to him, and headed down from Duluth to pray with Dad. Grandson Kyle sat on the carpet next to Grandpa’s feet, holding the hands of a man who shared unconditional love with him for all of his 23 years of life.

And wife, Sherry, who has been his source of love and comfort for 55 years of marriage, touched his outstretched fingers with hers, holding back the tears.

Herb passed away peacefully, leaving his people to mourn their loss and to celebrate his life. He was so fortunate to be surrounded by the ones he loved, to be able to say his farewell to each one of them.

Some don’t have people by their sides. Many die alone, fearful, forgotten.

“Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention…. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.” ~ Rachel Naomi Remen

Hope Avery, a beautiful soul

On Easter weekend I drove down to Northeast Nebraska where my people were gathering to celebrate the arrival of Hope, the 2-week-old daughter of my niece, Lindsey. Swaddled tightly, the newborn lay quietly and looked upward at the many faces who appeared over her, each one making goo-goo sounds and an unnaturally big smile.

My mom, now a great-grandmother for the second time, held Hope with the care of someone who had done this before. She didn’t need to say a word. Her eyes, and those of the babe in her lap, connected and shared timeless truths that passed effortlessly in the light between them.

I couldn’t help but think of the juxtaposition of this scene — moms and aunts and great-uncles and family of all variety laughing with joy in the presence of this new child on the planet — with the living room where I had just been, a hushed vigil honoring the accomplishments of 79 years of life fully lived, a testament to the commitment and dedication of a passing generation.

Two different moods entirely, but the players remained the same: people connecting with a shared love for each other.

“Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others…for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” ~ Albert Einstein

This is a new age. We have seen the passing of a time in which someone would select a favorite pen and sit down to write a message of love to his or her person, taking all the time needed to share deep sentiments. Now, messages are tweeted in seconds; most are misspelled, and many are not understood.

The urgency we feel in our bones, to get everything done as quickly as possible — thoroughness be damned — has altered the connection with our people. Long letters are now reduced to 140 characters. Overnight visits are now quick chats on the cell in between commercials. How well do we know our people, and how well do they know us? No wonder we all feel alone.

Each of us has a choice to connect with each other. Let us not wait to tell our people how we feel about them. Choose to step outside of the urgency and into the timeless present moment. Connect with your people. And share deeply from the heart.

With Mars back to direct motion, the pace of life picks up in a positive way in May. The first eclipse of 2012, a solar eclipse in Gemini on the 20th, ratchets up the energy and could make things feel a little chaotic.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Very positive money energy for you in May. With your ruling planet Mars finally back up to speed, you’re primed to take advantage of this opportunity period. You’ve got the energy and drive to work hard — both on your financial goals and on your own health and fitness. Good times!

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…The Venus retrograde that starts mid-month could have you reevaluating your finances. You might decide you’ve been working too hard at things you don’t enjoy and it’s about time for a change. You’ve got so much positive energy around you this month; anything is possible if you believe in it.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…If it feels like life is moving too slowly, I want to encourage you to enjoy the leisurely pace while it lasts. Once the Sun moves into your sign on the 20th, you’re going to be blasted into a much more frenetic period. The solar eclipse in your sign (also the 20th) challenges you to turn your career fantasies into reality. You might have to drop some old beliefs about what you can and can’t do.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…You feel pulled to reconnect with old friends or colleagues this month. One of these people from the past helps you see where your current life path or career arc is not proving to be as satisfactory as you’d planned. Once you tune in to what’s really important to you now, you find that your tribe is actually quite willing to support you in going for it.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…You feel stronger and surer about your career (or your public self) than you have in many moons and life responds to this confidence with an influx of great opportunities. Although you might still be spending more money than you want to, you also have the drive and focus to make more money. Sooner or later the expenses will die down but the new income you create in May will continue to be there.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…With Mars finally direct in your sign, life looks totally different than it did for most of 2012. Make sure you’re channeling your anger energy into assertive action, because you can make a great leap forward this month. The solar eclipse on the 20th challenges you to redefine your career goals or diversify into a new area.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…The Venus retrograde and the solar eclipse on the 20th both fall in your 9th House of spirituality, intuition and beliefs. This powerful set of influences wants to help you open your mind and align your actions with your ideals. The Full Moon on the 5th could bring a very positive new income stream into your life and you’ve got positive money luck all month long.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…With your traditional ruling planet Mars back to direct motion that feeling you’re walking through life dragging a ball and chain behind you has disappeared. This fortunate energy shift brings career opportunities and the chance to connect with positive people who share your ideals. You also benefit from wonderful relationship energy this month!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…It’s like someone hit the “restart” button on your career and public life this month. Plans that have dragged or stalled out over the last three months suddenly come back to life and start shooting forward again, and the hard work you’ve been putting in shows signs of paying off. A relationship needs to shift at the eclipse on the 20th.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…Honor your creativity this month. With Jupiter and the Sun hanging out in your 5th House, you can get your work done and still make plenty of time to enjoy the good things in life. In fact, you’ll find that the more you make time for your creative self, the more your professional activities flourish.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…The first half of the month continues the recent theme for you of focusing on home, family and your emotional life. Remember this is the best time in twelve years for you to find your spot and put down roots. As the energy shifts into Gemini at the solar eclipse on the 20th, you’re ready to re-emerge and plunge back into the world of ideas and social intercourse.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…May is a time of “mind healing” – you find it easy to tune into the most graceful, helpful, positive thoughts and you naturally want to share those with the world. You could see a surprising success come from a writing project, teaching gig, or public speaking opportunity this month, so put it out there. FYI: The eclipse on the 20th might find you moving or dealing with a family or parental issue.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, May 2, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

In recent years, I’ve felt an increasing importance to live authentically. I am who I am. In the past I cared (too much) about what people thought of me and made some choices based on whether or not I thought they might judge me harshly. And I’m talking about silly things: the music I enjoy, my sometimes dark and overly silly sense of humor, my love of wildly dancing in the kitchen to the Bee Gees.

I thought perhaps some people would think me less spiritual if they knew that in the same hour, I’d meditated and then posted a crazy photo of a cat licking his behind on Facebook. I finally stopped and said, “What am I so worried about? I’m a joyful, compassionate person who loves to have fun. What in the world is wrong with that? And if someone judges me for any part of what sparks my heart, it’s a reflection of them, not me.

All of this might sound silly to some, but for me, who’d experienced years and years and years and years (you get the picture) of being a top-rate people-pleaser, this was a revelation. Hey! I can openly be who I am without any fear of what others might think! Once that realization finally sunk in, my joy felt an unbridled intensity; I felt like a prisoner finally released from a sentence. I love every part of me, twisted humor and all. Not everyone has to like what I like, but I certainly don’t have to change myself to appease others. It wouldn’t even be possible to meet every single person’s expectation…plus, how completely exhausting!

Cats are pure joy. Whether stretched in a sun puddle, playing with a ping pong ball, stealing a piece of lunch meat from the kitchen counter, or cleaning himself in front of company…during dinner, they embrace every bit of it with pure gusto. And ask a cat if he cares what we think about any of it. Go ahead, ask him. He’ll respond with a giant NO and then flick his tail and proceed to knead your full bladder. Cats love life — living authentically is just what they do. And they do it exceedingly well.

And on top of it all, they don’t judge us for being our true selves. They couldn’t care less when I want to take crazy photos of myself doing cat-things for my blog. As I posed lying on a pile of clean laundry or with my “paws” pressed against the heat vent, they continued doing their day-to-day whatnot.

My kids on the other hand…well, they ran for the hills, completely embarrassed one of their friends might happen across my blog and see their crazy mom in action. The only feelings my cats may have felt were jealousy for my jacking some of their favorite spots!

I’m not 100 percent there yet, but every day I feel more and more confident in my ability to live openly and authentically, even in small ways. Writing this article is another step in that direction. We are each unique and shining lights of joy and love. To hide any part of that for fear of someone else’s opinion simply blocks our own ability to fully embrace life and all its pleasures.

Cats get this and, as usual, we can look to them as models for living a happy and balanced life. I would not, however, suggest cleaning oneself in front of dinner guests. That might not go over especially well.

Dear Nadine,
I’m a practicing Wiccan and some kids in school are making life hell. They say stuff about what I wear and how witches were burnt in the past. They say I better watch out. Sometimes I feel so intimidated, I don’t want to go to school. Sometimes I just want to get even – with a black spell. Help! — Sam

Dear Sam,
While high school should be fun — it’s a place to make friends, try new experiences and study interesting subjects — for some kids, school sucks. They’ve been bullied.

Bullies are present in every school, in every state. Bullies pick on kids who stand out and kids that don’t. Bullies bully based on where a person lives, what a person wears, who a person’s friends are and what a person believes.

Statistics show that 1 in 4 kids are bullied at school, 80 percent of arguments with a bully ends physically and that 160,000 students stay home daily to avoid bullying. Bullying is scary and it must be stopped, because whether you’re red, white or blue, Catholic, Sikh or Wiccan, every student deserves to study in a safe, school environment, their personal space held sacred.

The first step for any victim to take (Wiccan or otherwise) is to speak out. Use that magical inner courage to speak to school staff (teacher or counselor) and report the bulling. Provide a detailed, written account of what happened, where the bullying started, and the people involved. Tell your story and use the school and the police to bring you justice. Speaking out may even prevent another kid from being victimized, too, and that makes for powerful magic!

Of course, sharing your story can create its own anxiety — and that’s why building a circle of support (your Wiccan coven) is so helpful. Support circles should include adults you can trust (parents, relatives, school counselors) and friends. These people will provide the encouragement you need, to speak to the school administration and ensure you are heard. Talk to members of your support circle if you are feeling depressed, or even suicidal. Embrace your inner wise woman and don’t suffer alone or silently. Take back your life.

If building a circle is powerful stuff, so too is ridding yourself of negative energy. Today, bullying doesn’t end with the school bell; it can continue online. Last year alone, 1 million children were bullied via Facebook (http://puresight.com) and sadly, other kids can get involved, which makes a bad situation much worst. So, turn off Facebook and block email from kids who aren’t there to help you. The Wiccan Rede states, “With a fool no season spend” and that’s good advice for anyone. Kids who participate in bullying — or who condone it by staying silent on the sidelines — are despicable and no friend to you, so lose them.

As for casting black spells, I can see why you might be tempted to throw one or two in the direction of the bully — but don’t. People who use black magic are, in my opinion, no better than the bullies themselves. The fact is that like attracts like! If you sow black thoughts, words and deeds, you grow black thoughts, words and deeds and eventually you reap them, too. So, try a spell that’s a lot more healing and far more powerful — it’s called love!

Put out a positive intention for healing. Ask for your own healing from this situation, body, mind and spirit. Then ask for the bully to heal, too. Yes, those bullies require good medicine, after all, only a person who is sick would choose to bully. And as you put out those loving intentions into the world, know that your compassion connects you to forgiveness and being able to forgive is truly divine.

We say it takes a village (or a coven), to raise a child — and that is true. It also takes a village to stop abuse at school, because all children deserve the right to study safely. And everyone — whether tall, short, academic, athletic, artistic or Wiccan — should be able to look back at their school years and say they were some of the happiest days of their life.

Resources:
www.stompoutbullying.org • puresight.com • wicca.com • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca • www.wicca.org

I have long been fascinated by the phenomenon of crop circles. In 1994 I made a pilgrimage to England to study the mysterious formations, appearing consistently now for over 20 years. While the glyphs have been the subject of controversy and some have been fabricated by hoaxers, an intelligent study of them points sharply toward the expression of interdimensional intelligence. (For an illuminating overview of the state of the art in the crop circle phenomenon, watch the DVD What on Earth? — www.whatonearththemovie.com.)

Michael Glickman, author of The Bones of God, is a renowned architect who illuminates the sacred geometry behind the crop circles. Michael identifies two distinct camps of crop circle investigators: “One camp is founded in scientism, focused on the study of various chemical and electromagnetic forces associated with the circle formations. While that’s interesting, a far more significant camp explores the meaning of the formations. Who is communicating to us? What are they trying to tell us? How will this extraordinary phenomenon affect the destiny of humanity and enrich the quality of life on earth?”

Whether or not you believe the crop circles are a paranormal communication, Glickman underscores a broader lesson in the distinction between mechanics and meaning. To know how things work is important. Yet, knowing how things work is useless unless you know why things work. If you are obsessed with the details of life, you may miss the experience of life.

“To receive the gift of a Rembrandt painting, you must let the painting speak to you,” Glickman suggests. “You feel it, absorb it, and live it. If you spend all your time analyzing the chemical composition of the paint, you miss the purpose of the painting.”

This lesson is brought home by the Sufi rascal-sage Nasrudin, who was traveling on a ferry boat when he was approached by a pompous intellectual.

“Have you ever studied astronomy?” asked the professor.

“I can’t say that I have,” answered the mystic.

“Then you have wasted much of your life. By reading the constellations, a skilled captain can navigate a ship around the entire globe.”

A few minutes later the learned one asked, “Have you ever studied meteorology?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Well, then, you have wasted most of your life,” the academician chided. “Methodically capturing the wind can propel a sailing ship at astounding speeds.”

After a while the fellow inquired, “Have you ever studied oceanography?”

“Not at all.”

“Ah! What a waste of your time! Awareness of the currents helped many ancient peoples find food and shelter.”

A few minutes later Nasrudin approached the scholar and asked, “Have you ever studied swimming?”

“Haven’t had the time,” the professor haughtily responded.

“Then you have wasted all of your life — the boat is sinking.”

Considering the challenges facing humanity, one might wonder if it’s time to put less emphasis on activity and more emphasis on awakening. Less what and more why. The form of life is the chalice through which we drink the essence of life.

In the classic film To Sir with Love, a high school student develops a crush on her English teacher. Eventually she gathers the courage to send him a love letter. A few days later she is thrilled to receive a response from him. When she opens the envelope, however, she finds that he has simply corrected the spelling and grammar of her letter, the paper filled with red marks. He made no response to her communication. He analyzed the form, but missed the message.

A Course in Miracles defines a miracle as “a shift in perception.” Miracles don’t always change the facts of life, but they do change the viewing point of life. It’s possible to live in a miraculous universe, but not know it because you are looking elsewhere. C.S. Lewis declared, “Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.”

Our culture is saturated with mechanics while starving for meaning, filled with the mundane while famished for miracles. While the crop circles offer us signs in fields of wheat, the universe is offering us signs in the fields of our lives. One message on both fields might be to get our heads out from under the hood and catch a glimpse of the widening highway before us.

What makes one person
  So much more
important than the rest
          Someone who
excites you
          Someone who
entices you
Someone who has all the qualities you’re looking for
   Or someone who
catches you totally off guard
                Brings
something new to you
                      you never knew you wanted
                              and now you can’t live without
   two versions of one self
      easy -
comfortable
            reinforcing
or someone who challenges you
   brings you where you’ve
never been
 what makes a man a good friend
  and another a
passionate lover
the things you have in common
  or the mystery of
something else
the ways they give you what you want
  or the ways they
challenge your desires
the way they balance life out
  or the way they take
you higher
                      a
whole new world  outside of your own
                                  fascinating — yet far from home
                       being something you thought you couldn’t
                       enjoying things you thought you wouldn’t
 qualities that make you curious and compelled
    or keep you in your own little cell
the challenge of opposing sides
  or the same safe easy
ride
the confrontation of something new
  or someone to agree
with you
seeing things the same
comfortable way
  or waking up in each
brand new day

 there are no answers to these questions, you know.  The scientist in me was striving to find a formula, or course, a recipe for my desire.  And now that love has finally appeared to me, I realized that love is all these things.  It’s not an either, but simultaneous. True love is a miracle, it is.  And worth waiting for.

Karma won’t permit

unwarranted promotion.

The tests we fail this life

will set the next in motion.

Night Winds Settle Down
as the Hunter’s Moon Rises
All Shadows are Still

* * *

Swaying on a Reed
The Startled Black Redwing Trills
I Will Return Soon

Holy Molé…sponsored by: Harmony Green, Intuitive Healer, owner of All about the Journey…a healing center, 5352 1/2 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, 612.354.2149, www.allowharmony.com | click on cartoon to go to Holy Molé’s Facebook page.

We often think of Therapeutic Massage as a way to relieve stress, but more practitioners view it as an essential aspect of holistic healing. The following businesses and individuals offer a variety of modalities of Therapeutic Massage in the Upper Midwest…and beyond:

• Adagio Holistic Therapies LLC, 2457 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55405, 612.288.0488, www.adagioholistic.com — Maya Abdominal Therapy, an ancient technique known and practiced by healers for 5,000 years, specializing in digestive and menstrual issues, fertility enhancement, PMS, prostate enlargement/discomfort, urinary issues, menopausal symptoms, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, pregnancy discomfort, postpartum healing/depression, breach presentation, aids in a more vital and easy birth, reduces scar tissue.
• Affordable Therapeutic Massage and Ear Coning, Fannie Livaditis, LMT, 612.578.5443, www.massagebyfannie.com — Licensed massage therapist serving you in Eagan and Minneapolis. Personal Injury Claims Accepted. Medical and Chiropractic Referrals Welcome.
• The Balancing Act Acupuncture – Massage, J. Hicks M.Om, L.Ac, NCTMB, 763.360.7672 — Life’s all about balance. Focused rehabilitative, sports and deep-tissue massage tailored to your individual goals and needs. Performance improvement? Aches and pains? Stress? What are you waiting for? Your body will thank you. Mention this for 20% off first visit. Acupuncture, Acupressure, TuiNa, Reflexology, Reiki and cupping also offered.
• Hands That Care Massage Therapy, Katrina M. Duley, 920.948.3598, sk.duley@gmail.com — Experienced Massage Therapist, WI State Licensed and NCBTMB Certified 12 years relocating to Minnetonka. Are you retiring, cutting back hours or relocating? Looking to place your clientele into the Hands of Experience and Care? Deep Tissue and ability to modify the quality of touch according to individual needs.
• Harmony for Body and Mind, Heidi Gilman, at Total Health and Healing Clinic, 11417 Hanson Blvd., Suite 101, Coon Rapids, MN 55433, 612.229.8578, 763.241.7852, www.harmonyforbodyandmind.com – Heidi Gilman is a Nationaly Certified Diplomate in Shiatsu Oriental Bodywork Therapy, with 13 years experience, and member of the AOBTA. Sessions may include: Shiatsu, CranialSacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, EFT, Ionic Cleanse footbaths and some forms of energy work. Clients wear light clothing, no oils used. Therapeutic, Relaxing, Healing!
• Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage, Andrea Linnes-Bagley, 5352 1/2 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417, 612.568.4486, andrea@healinghandstm.com, www.healinghandstm.com — Healing hands offers a unique service in addition to therapeutic deep-tissue massage. Experience the eco-friendly, clean, green, alternative to hot stone massage. Using beautiful Tiger Striped Clam Shells from the South Pacific and a patented self-heating technology, you can receive all the benefits of a heated therapeutic massage.
• Katheen Kaczuwka Lynch Healing Arts, 1516 W. Lake St., Suite 210, Minneapolis MN 55408, 612.281.6457, kazzlynch@gmail.com, KLHealingArts.com — Kathleen has more than 20 years experience in the Healing Arts. Her extensive training in Massage and Energy Therapies provides unique healing options. Preventive bodywork helps keep the body strong and healthy. Our bodies are wise and want to be in harmony with our mind and spirit, living joyfully.
• Kimala Kai, Massage & Soul Level Counseling, 612.867.0776, sarella55@yahoo.com, www.SoulEssenceMassage.com — Kimala is a Massage Therapist, Energy Worker, Ordained Minister in Madonna Ministry. In honor of her 25 years of service, she offers $25 off to new clients for a 90-minute session of her blended Soul-Essence Massage and Soul-Level Healing work. She specializes in Body & Soul integration, Recovery from Addictions, Abuse Issues and opening Love & Intimacy in your body and life.
• Keystone Massage, Susan Stearns, NCTMB, 3810 Alder Lane, Eagan, MN 55122, 651.334.6038, stearns _susan@hotmail.com — Susan Stearns is Nationally Certified in Massage and Bodywork, offering 20 years experience in Esalen, (therapeutic, relaxing, pain relieving) Swedish, Deep Tissue Massage, Accupressure, Hands-on Healing, Reflexology, and Energywork. Chair Massage and Gift Certificates available. Affordable prices. Call to schedule an appointment. Keystone Massage is located within Keystone Communities of Eagan.
• Lavender Spa, Angela Englund, CMT, Uptown Minneapolis , Inver Grove Heights & house calls, 651.332.0283, www.coolbeans.vpweb.com — Massage & bodywork therapies for healing and deep relaxation. Release pain, acute or chronic with Raindrop therapy. Let your stresses melt away with relaxation massage. Balance the body and mind with Shiatsu. All treatments include Reiki energy. See my website for details and new-client specials!
• Lunaisity, Mobile Therapeutic Massage, Jill Romanek, 2112 Broadway St. NE, Suite 230, Minneapolis, MN 55413, 612.598.0490, Lunaisity.com — Jill is ABMP Certified. She believes in improving the quality of life by developing an individualized massage routine to assist clientele in reaching a deeper level of relaxation, on and off the table. Soothing the senses though massage, aroma and sound. Providing education on how to better nurture the physical, emotional, mental and energy bodies that make us individuals.
• Magus Books, Mela Amara, 1309 4th St. SE, Lower Level, Minneapolis, 612.379.7669, mela@magushealingcenter.com, www.MagusHealingCenter.com — Performing CranioSacral and Zen Shiatsu techniques, Mela specializes in assisting her clients in getting in tune with their body, emotions and spirit. Mela’s forte in sessions is doing facial and scalp massage. This is perfect for those who suffer from headaches, sinus pressure, and jaw pain and tension.
• Simply Grounded Therapeutic Massage, 33 Wentworth Ave. E., Suite 240, West St. Paul, MN 55118, 651.276.6388, sigrounded@aol.com, www.simplygrounded.abmp.com — Our mission is to provide a comfortable, supportive environment allowing for relaxation and healing. Massage therapy is a path to wellness and our professional therapists believe in showing compassion and creating a sense of well-being. Our various techniques will tap into each individual’s unique inner self and personal needs.
• Tranquility…for you massage therapy, 1960 Cliff Lake Road, Suite 124, Eagan, MN 55122, 651.686.5671, www.tranquilityforyou.net – We offer various types of massage and relaxation techniques, including Cranio-Sacral, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pre-natal and Chair, as well as Ear Candling. We believe massage offers multiple benefits, including relief in migraine pain, stress and tension, increased joint flexibility and the release of endorphins. We charge $1 per minute.
• Zen Experience-Massage & Wellness, 1675 Southdale Center, Edina, MN 55435, www.zenexperiencespa.com — Zen Experience-Massage & Wellness offers a regenerating pause from the pressures of everyday life while taking into consideration your budget and busy schedule. Serving Edina since 2003 and winner of several awards for best massage. We view massage as a necessity and not as a luxury.

Each month, The Edge features a segment of the holistic community that supports your needs. In June 2012, we will feature  – those who assist others with the life journey. Your Community Listing includes your business name, address, phone, email and website + a 50-word description of what you offer. Community Listings are only $50 for placement in print one month and online for 12 months.

STEP ONE: Pay for your listing online:

OR: Call us at 763.433.9291 or email us with questions or for more information.

STEP TWO: SUBMIT YOUR LISTING: Send your business name/your name, address, phone, email, website + 50 words describing what you offer your community. Email your listing to: cathy@edgemagazine.net
To submit your listing online: click here and then select “Edge Directory Listing”

The past 24 hours have been almost surreal. I was sitting at the dinner table with some friends at an Indian restaurant when I received a call from my father that my cousin Brad was dead. Brad was four years older than me and had been my superhero while I was growing up. As a kid I used to tell my friends incredible tales about the amazing feats that my cousin could do, as though he was some mythical figure with superhuman powers.

Truth be told, in a lot of ways he kind of lived up to that. He was very good looking, smart, funny, incredibly strong, and was one of those guys that everybody liked. So, when I was told that Brad was dead, I was in shock. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of the bad news.

A short time later, I received another call informing me that my father and I would not be allowed to attend Brad’s funeral because I was Wiccan and Brad’s wife didn’t want me to “pollute their church” with my evil presence. I was dumbfounded by this. Even as I write this, I still have a hard time believing that this really happened.

Does being Catholic mean that you cannot be accepting of other spiritual paths? What makes Wicca, which is one of the most gentle and forgiving spiritual paths, so “evil”? Would Jesus have barred me from saying goodbye to a deceased family member because I wasn’t Catholic?

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this kind of thing had happened. Only four months prior, Brad’s father, Bruce, was found dead in a hotel room. When I attended his funeral at the church, most of the family would not even look at me or say hello. During the luncheon that followed the funeral service, I stood up to say a few kind words about my recently deceased uncle. As I looked out at the faces in the crowd, I could see several people looking at me as though I was some kind of leper. There was an almost palpable look of disgust on many of their faces. As we left, both my father and I commented on how unwelcomed we felt.

This whole situation is very disturbing on so many levels. How can any spiritual tradition, be it Christian, Hindu, Shinto, Pagan or Jewish, justify denying someone the fundamental human need to say goodbye to a deceased family member? How can the Wiccan spiritual path, which is founded on the reverence for all living things and celebrating the diversity of life, be considered so disturbing, so evil, that followers of the Catholic faith can feel justified in shunning members of their own family?

Although I am not a Christian, I often reflect a famous prayer attributed to St. Francis where he speaks: “Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, than to be understood; to love, than to be loved.” Perhaps if those who so vocally profess their piety would simply follow their own prayers, the world would be a place with much more comfort, understanding, and love.

And I would have had the opportunity to say goodbye to my superhero. Goodbye Brad, I love you.

Inette Miller 'Imaikalani and 'Iokepa Hanalei 'Imaikalani

When Inette Miller — a single mother, former war correspondent, nice Jewish girl, and respected journalist — traveled to Hawaii for a week’s vacation, little did she dream that she would stay for a lifetime. And not a lifetime of luxury in paradise, either, but a grueling physical and spiritual journey that would tax every desire and concept she ever held dear.

For on that vacation she met ‘Iokepa Hanalei ‘Imaikalani, guardian of the Aboriginal Hawaiian Culture, who was “living rough” on a beach in Kaua’i and seeking a way to bring his deep insights to his own people and to the world.

‘Iokepa, she soon learned, had given up all trappings of his former life — an upscale home, fancy cars, and multi-million-dollar construction business — to heed the inner call of his ancestral Grandmothers to assume his role in an ancient prophecy.

“What do you mean, your dead grandmothers spoke to you?” Inette asked him, initially incredulous. But as ‘Iokepa related his own story, Inette felt similarly called to join him.

Perhaps you feel called to hear the rest of their remarkable story? Inette Miller ‘Imaikalani, the author of Grandmother’s Whisper — Ancient Voices, Timeless Wisdom: A Modern Love Story, will be joined by her now-husband, ‘Iokepa, for an evening of authentic and experiential teachings of the Hawaiian Grandmothers, ‘Iokepa’s traditional matrilineal culture.

The event will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Eye of Horus Metaphysical, 3012 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis (just south of Lake Street on Lyndale Avenue). Admission is free.

For 12,300 years, the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands embraced a culture that refused the possibility of war. The seminar will awaken the ancient wisdom-ritual and practices that dissipate anger, prevent violence and foster harmony. The guest speakers will share the teachings’ profound implications for the 21st century.

“My ancestors are your ancestors,” says ‘Iokepa Hanalei ‘Imaikalani. “The ancient wisdom is universal, and our ability to access it is unlimited. I am not a teacher; I’m only here to remind you of what you already know.”

At this unique literary event, ‘Iokepa will chant, he and Inette will share their stories, and Inette will read from her book, Grandmothers Whisper, which won the national 2011 Visionary Award for Book of the Year for excellence in spiritual writing. The event will offer ample time for discussion and book signing.

For more information, visit www.ReturnVoyage.com, or call Eye of Horus at 612.872.1292 or visit www.EyeofHorus.biz.

When I was in my mid-twenties, I had a beautiful dog. I’m sure some of you have had pets that you deeply loved. I had this wonderful dog, and he was a constant companion. He went with me everywhere. Any room I went to in the house, he followed me. Anywhere I went in the car, he was my companion. We were together almost all the time.

And then he developed a form of epilepsy, at which time I took him to the vet. They tried to give him medication to treat it, but the question of how much medication to take or not take is sort of an art. We were just starting to treat him, and after a few weeks, I came home, and he was in the midst of an epileptic fit. And the fit didn’t stop. It went on and on and on, and there was no way to save him. Eventually, he ended up having to be put down.

This was one of the saddest moments in my life. Prior to that moment, I’d experienced some amount of grief in my life. I’ve had grandparents die and friends die, and sometimes people very close to me die, but I was never affected like I was when I lost this great companion. I found myself in deep sorrow — a sorrow that I couldn’t really understand, because I’d never experienced it before.

One afternoon, some friends, family and I went out in the back yard for a final goodbye. I had my dog’s collar and a few other things that had belonged to him, and we put them in a box. I had written out what I wanted to say, and as I began to read his eulogy, I began to weep — tears just started pouring out of my eyes. At some point, the grief was so immense that I decided to just completely give in to it. I completely let go into this great well of sorrow and grief.

I was crying and crying, while still trying to continue with the eulogy. And then something very mysterious happened, something that I didn’t expect at all: right in the middle of this immense grief and sadness, right at the point of the heart in my chest, there was this very small pinprick of light. And right in the midst of this pinprick of light, there was a smile. I could literally almost see a smile in my mind in this pinprick of light.

When it started, it was just a small point within this vast expanse of grief and sorrow. But as I kept crying, as I kept speaking the eulogy, this point of happiness began to expand. After a few minutes, this point of happiness had vastly grown and become absolutely immense, and there was this very strange, paradoxical experience. On one hand, I was enmeshed in this deep state of grief and sadness. But at the very same moment, there was a greater happiness and a greater sense of well-being than I’d ever experienced in my life.

It was one of the most profound experiences I’d ever had. What it revealed to me was that even in the deepest states of darkness, even in the most intense states of loss, grief, or depression, we can find some measure of happiness and well-being when we really open to the difficult feelings, when we really let go of our resistance, when we completely let go of trying to contain those painful experiences, when we finally just allow them to be there, to be as overwhelming as they may want to be. The peace and happiness can arise when we profoundly let go, when we really decide to stop struggling.

I’ve told this story many times, and I’ve received many letters and cards from people who’ve shared similar experiences. I received a letter from one person who had been lost in a deep depression for decades, until one day she decided to stop — to stop struggling, to stop trying to push it away, but also to stop indulging in it, to stop feeding it — just to simply stop.

In the moment of stopping, something completely unexpected was born: the opposite showed up. As deep as her depression was, there arose this sense of well-being when it was met fully. It’s not like the depression just went away and disappeared forever, but it began to exist simultaneously within a field of absolute well-being. When the depression exists within a state of well-being, one is not overwhelmed anymore. As time went on, at least for this person, the depression began to wane. It’s as if the depression had something to give itself up to; it could let go into well-being.

This phenomenon of finding well-being amidst the difficult isn’t something that most people have experienced, because they haven’t really ever stopped trying to grasp at or push away a certain quality of thinking and feeling. If you just completely surrender to the emotions or thoughts, you will see the invitation there, the invitation to wake up from your idea of yourself and the whole emotional environment with which you identify. There is a way that you can really stop.

The truth is that a whole new state of consciousness already exists, that every part of your experience that’s unfolding right now is already enclosed within absolute stillness, absolute ease. And so there really isn’t anywhere to go or anything for which to search.

Struggle only gets us deeper into the very thing we’re trying to escape. This is a very important thing to know about egoic consciousness: The harder we try to get out, the deeper we dig ourselves in.

Second in a series

As a society, we value knowledge and information, which requires us to exist more in our heads than in our bodies. This causes us to focus on external results, rather than an internal view. Thus, we can get overly involved with affirming ourselves through our accomplishments, comparisons, and the opinions of others.

Embodied Leadership invites you to reverse this perspective and operate from a place of wisdom, peace, passion and purpose. Through practice you can create balanced movement between external and internal worlds.

There are five main principles of Embodied Leadership: Presence, Passion, Purpose, Partnership and Practice. Last month, we began with the first principle, Presence and Presencing. Presencing was introduced by Otto Scharmer from MIT. It means to be present and sensing by practicing “open mind, open heart, and open will.”

This month we are reviewing “open heart” practices to arrive at our second principle, Passion. Research from scientific evidence proves the importance of this position. In fact, the Institute of HeartMath uses instruments to measure the impact of one’s energy. They find when a person’s heart is open and available, their energy extends 8 feet beyond the body. This is far more impactful than when a person is closed, judgmental, cynical or fearful.

Further support comes from the Chinese proverb that states: “Nothing in the world is accomplished without passion.” And quantum physics has brought awareness to the fact that thoughts and emotions are energy. Therefore, this leads us to understand that heart-centered intentions can improve our effectiveness in both work and life.

How do we do this? I take the lead from my experience as a ballroom dance instructor, one of my passions. Often called “emotion in motion,” dance is a beautiful expression of passion, especially when combined with inspiring music. Sound improves whole-body connection and stimulates our heart. Further studies show that opening the heart improves brain function and overall strength. This is clearly demonstrated in dance.

A few years ago, a couple who loved to dance became frustrated because they were no longer moving well together. After observing them in their dance, it was obvious that the man, as leader, was forcing the movements from his arms and upper body. The woman — feeling over-powered, instead of guided — felt his force and was choosing to stop and not participate. After several lessons they learned to re-engage their hearts, which improved the communication through their whole bodies. Now they connect from this centered power and delight in the joy of their dance together.

They learned the importance of engaging their passion. In our work lives, passion arises from knowing your strengths and being able to apply them into your daily life. Ask yourself how are you being called to serve your organization, your clients, your work and your community.

I experienced this when I moved to LaCrosse, WI, and found a need within the community for quality ballroom dance. I decided to take this on as a hobby business and share my passion with others. As a result, my consulting and coaching work grew. It provided connections with people and exposure that expanded my business quite quickly. Now, having moved back to the Twin Cities, I feel called to serve in other ways that expand my passions more fully.

How can one go about putting their heart energy in motion?

1. Notice what touches you, what inspires you, what speaks to your heart. Listen to beautiful music to uplift your spirit and expand your body sense.
2. Put your hand on your heart and breathe with it. When our heartbeat and breath are in rhythm with each other, we are most able to engage the creative mind.
3. Remember your mission — why are you doing what you are doing? Ask: “What is my heart longing to do next?”

It takes active listening to attune to your heart, and for some it is easier than others. Through practice, you can use heart wisdom to put Emotion in Motion.

The emotional undertow of aging, I think, is a feeling of loss — loss of youth, loss of dreams, loss of possibility. This quality is what used to be referred to as mid-life crisis. Other phrases have come into vogue now — such as the cheery “60 is the new 40″ — but the undertow of such homilies is still loss.

Is there some way out of this sense of loss, some fresh point of view that assuages the pain of it? Actually, there is. Aging is not a matter of years — 40, 60, 80 — but of life process. Everything is aging, all the time. We age from our first breath. The problem is not aging per se, but our view of it.

It is natural to want to avoid pain and abide with pleasure. Even a sunflower wants to turn to the sun as much as possible. Why should it be otherwise? And yet, this pleasure bias does not really maximize our pleasure. Even pleasure turns to pain as it fades. Though we want to maximize gain and minimize loss, gain and loss are actually interwoven in each moment.

In teaching Zen meditation, I sometimes talk about breathing in terms of gain and loss. We breathe in and gain a new moment of life; we breath out and that moment is gone, never to return. This is how our life is.

Or rather, it is how our life actually is. How we want it to be is heavily weighted toward the in and not the out — we want more new moments, less old moments, more sun and less cloud. This is our bias, and yet there is something powerfully liberating to return to the actuality of just breathing in and breathing out. We imagine that there is joy in minimizing loss, of staying with gain. But strangely enough, when we just rest in the equality of gain and loss, of every cycle of time containing both in equal measure, there is a different kind of joy — fundamental joy, we might say.

The way Buddhism has often been taught in the West, it appears to many as a rather “down” or even depressing worldview. Friends of my son who know about his being raised a Buddhist say to him, “Oh, I could never get into that ‘life is suffering’ Buddhist thing.” Well, they might be surprised to know that the Buddha never taught that life is suffering, only that it seems that way from a self-centered point of view. What he actually taught is that it is possible to transform and transcend both our moments of suffering and joy.

Loss is not really loss if we don’t hold onto it. Gain is not ephemeral if we do not continually invent strategies to make it permanent. Fundamental joy is somewhere outside of this loss/gain calculus. I think that the natural process of aging is also the natural process of wisdom about all of this. It is those of us who are older — who have, if you will, experienced many more cycles of breath than the young — who are the natural experiencers and teachers of joy.

This is our birthright.