A New Year - A New Opportunity
Whole Life Network Release
The Whole Life Network
has served its membership and the community in various ways over the
years. It has hosted numerous
educational forums providing information to the general public and its
membership about cutting edge complementary health care and integrative
medicine practices, the science of consciousness, spiritual practices, and
other topics of interest. It has given
members the opportunity to introduce their health care specialties to the
community through both the Health Fairs and the monthly speaker’s forums. It has continued to print Connections
which allows members to advertise their work, write articles, share recipes and
access a calendar of complementary health care events and classes.
The Whole Life Network
is at a crossroads at this time. While
solvent, membership is down and a very small board of committed members meets
monthly to discuss how to best carry on the traditions established by the
founders as well as meet the present with new vision and goals. An on-going question is how to invigorate
the WLN and attract more members. What
activities and projects are most relevant to the concerns and desires of the
members and the community-at-large? How
might the WLN play a more influential role in the decisions which are shaping
our rapidly growing communities?
What follows is a
description of three community partnerships which have formed in the past year
and in which members of the WLN are involved.
In the fall of 2005, the WLN board made the decision to apply for a Colorado
Trust grant called Healthy Communities 2010.
The Colorado Trust funds health related initiatives in communities
throughout Colorado. The Trust selects
for funding communities which demonstrate strong collaborations of community
health care agencies, both public and private, schools, law enforcement,
businesses, government, non-profits, and interested individuals. A request was made to members of the WLN
board to make the application because no agency in the public domain was doing
so. With three weeks within which to
pull a proposal together, calls were made and 21 individuals gathered
representing the WLN, Montrose County Health and Human Services, Midwestern
Mental Health, the Montrose school district, Dolphin House, Hilltop, Juvenile
Diversion and interested citizens. The
discussion focused on the health care needs of the uninsured, the underinsured,
children and families, migrants and the elderly. It was acknowledged by everyone present that our communities can
benefit from greater collaboration for visioning and program design to provide
better health care services, including preventative care, education about
available health care options and access to services. Even though the WLN was not awarded the grant it was out of that
initial association that the Montrose Health Partnership (MHP) was born.
The MHP has been meeting
once a month with facilitation from Colorado Collaborative Partnership (CCP) of
Colorado State University. (For more
detail please go to the MHP website, commonhealth.net.) Membership has grown to over 50
participants. The Partnership applied
for another Colorado Trust grant this fall regarding immigrant integration and
was selected to receive funding for the initial planning phase of this
initiative. The focus of this
effort is in integrating new immigrants into the community and working together
to meet their needs. A separate grant
has been received to promote responsible fatherhood in our community. Other members are working with Dr. Richard
Gingery on a program to provide health care for all Colorado. And, perhaps the most emotional issue, we
are involved in the Uncompahgre River Corridor campaign.
Eighteen years of
service are in jeopardy if the WLN is unable to attract new leadership and more
volunteers to carry on these activities.
A rally is planned for the evening of January 10th at 7:00 pm
at the Montrose Library Community Room.
No potluck – no reports, we will just share our ideas and find
out if we have the energy to perpetuate our network.
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Unconditional Gratitude
by Charley Cropley
At 58, I am not one inch
closer to satisfying my desires or avoiding my fears than at age 8. They have
only changed form. It¹s a losers¹ game. Fear of pain and poverty and insatiable
desire for pleasure and security haunt me.
I have never had enough
to quiet this. I awaken and go to sleep driven by thoughts of what I might do
to earn more, to spend less, to further my career, my health, relationships.
Desire for pleasure seduces: luscious sex, beauty, health, status, influence,
power, wealth, clothes, homes, cars, food, leisure, travel. My thoughts are
infected with the disease of want, insufficiency and never enough. Never!
Anxiety and fear are the
inescapable background of my life. I am helplessly vulnerable, indefensible. A
splash in the eyes of a chemical, a moment’s unawareness on the freeway, an
unexpected medical test and pain becomes my life. My children and family,
reputation, marriage and career are all equally at risk. My mind is driven mad
with fear. And, yes, I appear normal.
As a mortal, my
happiness is hardwired to events, with my mood being dependent on outcome. But
I am sick and tired of being unhappy. I want to be happy, and I want it with a
passion. So I have chosen to go directly for what I want most. I refuse to
allow my most valued treasures <my peace of mind and happiness<to be
destroyed by the spinning wheel of Fortune. Rather than letting external events
dictate my happiness, I can learn to see the blessing and opportunity in every
moment and circumstance, even illness and struggle.
I am learning not to
misuse my mind. Just as I respect my body¹s needs for warmth, rest, food and
water, I respect my mind’s need to feel love and appreciation. It is made to
blossom in the light of gratefulness. When I express appreciation, I¹m happy.
No gratitude, no joy. Period.
The term
"heliotropic" describes the way plants naturally orient themselves to
face toward sunlight. We humans are spiritual heliotropes. Our inner world of
thoughts and emotions naturally turn towards the light of love and gratitude.
It is our nature, our destiny to do this.
Gratefulness is the
spiritual light in which my mind becomes happy, intelligent and bright.
Deprived of appreciation I cannot understand how life works. I cannot feel the
fundamental goodness of life. I become unhappy, sad, disappointed, angry,
apathetic, afraid, tired, sick. My soul becomes infected and oozes tension into
my body. My countenance, posture, breath, movements, circulation, appetites,
sleep and moods<every aspect of me becomes distorted and eventually sick.
In the atmosphere of
sweet gratefulness, my humor returns. I relax and smile, become creative,
practical, intelligent, alert, full of energy and immune to everything.
My challenges are
quickly consolidating into one "What will I allow to capture my
attention?" Will I allow myself to be seduced by desire and want or
frightened by pain and loss? Or shall my attention be given to the service of
appreciation?
My aspiration is that in
every moment I would ask myself only “How much can I find to appreciate? How sincerely, how deeply can I love
this?” I want to learn to search every
situation until I find something, anything I CAN appreciate and indulge myself
shamelessly. I aspire to drink wantonly of gratitude until I become drunk,
losing all perception of my former reality.
A teacher told me “All
happiness for a reason is, in fact, misery.
(Because the reason will change.) I’m discovering that the source of my
feeling good is not in money, sunsets, my children or anything outside myself.
Gratitude is not dependent upon any circumstance. It is the core longing of my
soul. It is me, my true nature. I love loving. Gratefulness illumines its own
likeness in myself and everything that comes into my awareness. Just as
sunlight is essential for the color inherent in a flower to manifest, so the
beauty, goodness and intelligence inherent in everything requires my
gratefulness for me to see it.
Previously I
unconsciously restricted my expression of gratitude to conform with my default
programming which reads: "These are the conditions under which you are
allowed to feel deep gratitude: e.g. Winning the lottery, sex with a movie
star, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize... Gratitude was scarce. Now my heart
grows richer with appreciation because I want it to, not because some outer
influence told me to!
As I grow more skillful
at appreciation I find myself sometimes relishing challenges. My greatest happiness occurs in those
precious times when I cannot find any obvious external reason to justify being
grateful; such as in the face of loss, trauma, insult, or especially my own
selfishness, laziness, cowardice and stupidity. Many times the best I can muster is the feeblest prayer for gratitude. The prayer for gratitude is actually the
first emergence into my consciousness of gratitude.
Abe Lincoln said “Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Likewise I find myself grateful (happy)
mainly because I want to be so. I am
grateful because I have the freedom to be so.
Without this essential freedom I would be a slave of Life’s ever
changing circumstances. My body is
subject to circumstances. My spirit is
not. Appreciation is the definitive
proof that I am free, evidence of my immortality. I am happy precisely and solely because I choose to be so. Joy does not get any more real.
Happy Thanks giving!
Dr. Charley Cropley,
N.D. is a practicing Naturopathic Physician, teacher and author now living in
Paonia. He has trained hundreds of
doctors, taught at medical colleges and universities, produced DVDs, books and
many courses in nutrition and self-healing. He uses no medicines. He teaches
people to Heal all types of Health problems through the power of wholesome
nutrition, strengthening exercise, positive thinking and honest, caring
relationships. For Personal Appts,
DVDs, books or courses call 970-527-7008 or charleycropley@tds.net.
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Remembering Aztlán
A Column of Poetry, Culture & Spirit by Art Goodtimes
FORCED REMOVAL … It
had been four days of conferencing, talking about oil and water, both the
physical reality of those two fluids, but the larger metaphor of native and
non-native, science and the sacred, of how Western thought and Native American
thinking may mix, can mix, or don’t mix at all. Tribal elders spoke of a world
in which all action takes place in a spirit context. And these were not just
traditionals, but a Navajo astronomer, a Tigua physicist, a Laguna architect …
Westerners talked politics, environmental activism, and the need to protect
water from our generation’s addiction to oil … But as much what was said, there
was the eating and mingling – allowing people from many different traditions to
heal wounds made before our births … Santa Fe’s La Fonda Inn, doorstep on the
plaza, provided an elegant and historic backdrop to this Lava Lamp sea change
of perspectives … So, with Halloween Eve fast approaching, worrying about how
I’m going to emcee the Oil and Water Conference costume party, I watch
Dennis Martinez of the Indigenous Peoples Restoration Network gives a powerful
talk about the need to accept Native American practices in public land
management. Which prompts a quiet grade-school teacher from the Ute Rez up at
Fort Duchesne, Utah, to start speaking. Quietly at first. And then her voice
picking up force. Not anger, but a determined insistence to give witness. To be
heard … Loya Arrum told about the forced removal of three Ute bands to Utah --
the Uncompahgre (Tabeguache), White River (Yamparika) and Grand River
(Parianuche). How her people were uprooted and forced to live on a consolidated
reservation with the Uintah Basin Utes …That memory still burned like a candle
on the Arrum family altar – being forced at gunpoint away from one’s tribal, ancestral
home. It’s one thing to make treaties between sovereign nations and another to
arrest without provocation and escort into exile under armed guard. “It’s not
over,” Loya explained. … She also spoke of the 400 Utes who fled to South
Dakota following what the Mormon historians call the “Ute Outbreak of 1906-08.”
Loya has been involved in going out to the high plains and finding Ute burial
sites and information on the Nooch upstarts who fled Utah … As an Anglo who’s
living on the land that her people once called home, I couldn’t help but be
moved by her words … The entire five-day conference, organized by the Seed
Graduate Institute of Santa Fe, touched many issues, from Alan Savory’s
Holistic Management decision-making process to Hazel Henderson’s video
simulcast to Santa Fe, talking about sustainability and ancient wisdom; from
Bohmian dialogues with Miljenko Juricic of the Nicola Valley Institute of
Technology in British Columbia and Peter Warshall of Sixties’ Bolinas and Whole
Earth Catalog fame to lectures by Chellis Glendinning on our addiction to
Western Civilization and Estaven Arrellano on the history of acequias to
ceremony with Lloyd Pinkham, Nancy Maryboy, Leon Secatero, and Pat McCabe …
Yes, there can be a connection between spirit and science, oil and water, the
indigenous mind of place and this dazzling technolithic wonder of an
age-on-the-brink … I needn’t have worried. The Halloween party was a hit after
all – even Loya showed up after her emotional words earlier in the afternoon.
Cypriano y Familia played a great first set, getting many of the costumers up
and dancing. But it was Vicente Griego and his guitarist and Flamenco dancer
that took our breaths away. I have seen old men bring the duende alive with
their voices, beautiful women with their bodies, and Vicente Griego sang from
deep within that tradition, alternating between blood and chocolate, melting
every emotion into the pure flow of duende. It was a gripping performance.
Three marvelous pieces … And then, as can only happen in Santa Fe, a visiting
delegation of shamans from the Altai Mountains of Mongolia joined the
festivities, their regalia costume enough for any party, and one of them was a
throat-singer with a one-stringed guitar-like instrument who came and did a
duet with Vicente – two bellowing spirit frogs approaching the sacred spring
waters atop San Francisco Peaks during the Home dances at Oraibi … A most
amazing healing as well as a significant information exchange.
ROSE MORSE … With
the studio help of Telluride troubadour Martin Thomas, the West End’s own
Paradox Rose has announced her latest CD release, Cowboys & Angels:
“There’s a young Eagle needs to learn how-to-fly, hold on, be strong, like Don
Juan…” The Rose ropes, writes, wrestles and sings her way past the Trickster:
“He’s dressed his best … and ready to go.” That’s because she’s the real thing.
“Listening with her eyes.” The Western Slope’s Slickrock Madonna. Listen up, if
you can find a copy!
SPUD HARVEST … It
looks like I managed to grow seed for all 49 heirloom varieties of potato that
I have in my inventory at Cloud Acre this year – rare spuds being my small
local contribution to the coming peak oil crisis and global warming phenomenon.
If we have to move to local crops without a lot of petrofuel transport, Solanum
tuberosum will be a great mountain staple. Easy to store through the
winter. Nutritious staple. Does well at high altitudes … Not that my yield was
that good. Only 176 pounds harvested from 300 mounds. Just a little better than
eight ounces per planting. Two or three pounds per mound is my target. But this
season we had too much rain. Many of my varieties didn’t like the constant
moisture. Although, as always, a few did spectacularly – Desiree, Peruvian
Purple, Kerr’s Pink, Red Gold, Dazoc, Caribe, Alaska Frostless, Blossom, Early
Rose, Dakota Rose, Lone Cone Erstling, Maroon Bell and Pink Wink … I should
have some of all of those to sell or trade next spring. Find me (or come by
Lone Cone Road) to get some.
TROUBLESHOOTING … For
years, Rick Hollinbeck up on Ed Joe Draw was the local supplier for computers
in the Norwood area. A value-added retailer, as they said back then, he didn’t
just sell the gadgetry to you, he actually helped set it up, make it work and
would even come fix it, when it broke down (which it did fairly often at first,
until one got the hang of cyberspace hardware). I don’t think he made much
money from doing that, but he provided one helluva service for us dot.com
wannabes. I bought several machines from Rick … One of the big companies that
Rick hated (probably Microsoft) had a motto, “plug and play.” It supposedly
spoke to the ease of installation and operation of their products. However,
Rick used to always joke that the saying ought to be, “plug and pray.” And he’d
religiously intone that mantra after attempting to fix some bug or malfunction
with one of my machines … Of course, I wouldn’t bother Rick until I’d tried
everything I could think of to make things right – rebooting several times,
different options, the help function. When I’d eventually call Rick, he’d come
down with his toolkit and programming expertise (his CC Rider software tool
being legendary in programming circles). He’d listen to me explain the problem,
and first thing he’d bang on the machine a couple times – analogous to kicking
the furnace or taking a hammer to a sticky motor. And, unbelievably, half the
time that banging was all it took to make the darn machine start working again.
Loose wires. A bad connection. Gremlins. Who knew what he’d fixed? But I learned
the Hollinbeck Troubleshooting Technique #1 – before employing advanced
diagnostics or fancy technowizardry, give the problem a couple good whacks. And
chances were 50-50 the malfunction would be solved … Well, that lesson came in
handy last month. Driving out to Portland for a community-based forestry policy
meet (representing the Public Lands Partnership the county belongs to along
with Ouray, Montrose and Delta), I’d pushed myself 600 miles in one day – from
Gunnison (where I’d attended the annual Headwaters Conference at Western State
College) to Spencer Hot Springs on BLM land outside Austin, Nevada. I’d spent
the night in my car (saving on hotel expenses) after a luxurious evening soak.
I woke up before sunrise, raring to go, another full day of driving ahead of
me. A light snow had blanketed the sagebrush and my trusty Geo. I turned the
key in the ignition, expecting to drive off into the night white. But nothing. Nada.
Dead silence … Here I was miles off the Loneliest Highway in America, in the
dark, alone, in an immobile automatic I couldn’t push down the hill I was
parked on, tied to a strict schedule and now stranded. But I didn’t panic.
Remembering Rick’s troubleshooting technique #1, I grabbed a hard-soled shoe,
popped the hood and banged a few times on the battery cables. I got back
inside, turned the key, and mirabile dictu, the Geo fired right up.
Voilá! I was mobile again and one my way to Portland. Thank you, Rick.
POT & ALZHEIMER’S … A
new study in the scientific journal Molecular Pharmacology suggests a
previously unrecognized molecular mechanism through which cannabinoid molecules
may directly inhibit the progression of this debilitating disease … “A
Molecular Link between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer's
Disease Pathology” by Lisa M. Eubanks, Claude J. Rogers, Albert E. Beuscher IV,
George F. Koob, Arthur J. Olson, Tobin J. Dickerson, and Kim D. Janda of the Departments
of Chemistry, Immunology, and Molecular Biology, Molecular and Integrated
Neurosciences Department, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, and Worm
Institute for Research and Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550
North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
COLORADO BOOK AWARDS … Colorado
College prof and poet friend Jane Hilberry took the prize for poetry with Body
Painting from Red Hen Press. A skilled writer, Hilberry’s poems combine
haunting beauty with eerie sensuality … CU law prof (and mentor for Town
Attorney Kevin Geiger) Charles Wilkinson took first place in the
history/biography category with Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian
Nations from WWNorton … CSU prof and new friend SueEllen Campbell won the
anthology prize, along with Gary Wockner and Gregory McNamee, for Comeback
Wolves: Western Writers Welcome the Wolf Home from Johnson Books, a
division of Big Earth Publishing.
THE TALKING GOURD
Aztlán
Salsa
In
Tierra Amarilla
the sign beside the highway sez
“Tierra
o muerte”
&
there’s a picture of
a Mexican revolutionary graffiti’d in red
“Viva Zapata!”
Just
down the road in Los Ojos
Tierra Wools
has a churro cooperative.
where
I buy skeins for my baskets.
Ay, carrumba!
Both
make me hot.
©
2006 Art Goodtimes
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Rock Soup - Let there be Peace on Earth
by Dea Jacobson
.......and let it begin
with me. So goes the song in my church,
always sung at the close of the service, while we slowly sway, holding hands
and realizing our deep connection.
It was also spoken by
the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, as she announced
the new Majority leadership. It was a
breath of fresh air to hear these words spoken by the first woman to serve as
Speaker, sacred words that remind us that peace begins in each of our
hearts. As the New Year approaches, we
all hope that our new political leaders put peace at the top of their agenda.
As we move into the
season that celebrates the birth of the light of the world, make room in your
hearts by forgiving and releasing any past hurts. Then, create the space for a deeper understanding of the
connection we share with one another and all Life, and allow peace to fill that
space to overflowing.
We have so much to be
thankful for and so much to share. And
I wanted to share with you some past recipes from holiday columns, and wish
you, your family and friends the most wonderful holiday season ever! Here goes!
This appetizer is a hit
everywhere I bring it. I like to dip
fresh apple slices in it, especially the fresh, local kind.
Creamy
Maple-Pumpkin Spread
3/4 cup light cream
cheese
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup packed brown
sugar
1 TBSP. Maple Syrup
1 TSP. cinnamon
Combine cream cheese,
pumpkin and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and mix till well blended. Add syrup
and cinnamon, and beat till smooth. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
Now, here's a great Cranberry
Relish recipe for your holiday dinner, or to give as a gift.
1lb. fresh organic
cranberries
1 cup fresh orange juice
Zest of 1 orange
1 cup raisins or dried
cherries, or combination
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground
cardamom
Dash Sea Salt and ground pepper
Organic sugar to taste
In a non reactive
saucepan, combine all ingredients (start with 1/4 cup sugar and keep it tart!).
Simmer till cranberries pop and flavors blend, about 10-15 minutes. Cool and
serve.
Lastly, my favorite
potluck holiday dish...looks festive, tastes amazing, and is very easy to
prepare. Can’t beat that! I often double or triple this recipe, so
those who find it irresistible can have seconds.
Corn
Fiesta
1 can creamed corn
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup red pepper
¼ cup green onion
½ cup grated cheddar
1 can regular corn
½ cup tortilla chips, crushed
¼ cup evaporated milk
¼ cup minced carrots and celery
¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
Paprika, Powdered cumin
and chili powder to taste
In a saucepan, sauté
onion, celery, carrots, pepper, and greens lightly. Combine in a baking dish
with the corn, beaten eggs, butter, and tortilla chips and seasonings. Spread the cheese over the top, and a few
more crushed chips for fun, and then sprinkle paprika over that. Bake for about
35 minutes in a 350 degree oven. This recipe lends itself to variations, so
feel free to get creative with the spices and vegetables.
Remember to chant the
mantra of happy eating as you enjoy your meals with friends and
family...Yummmmm!
Dea Jacobson, owner of
Blue Heron Yoga, is a registered yoga teacher and therapist registered with the
Yoga Alliance, as well as a Religious Science Practitioner. She can be reached at www.blueheronyoga.com,
at Box 95 on Cedaredge, CO, 81413 or at 970 856 4905.
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Peaceful Contributions for the Soul
by Kathy Gates
Happy Holidays Everyone
I would like to invite
everyone to come and see our Children's Winter Program called Dance From The
Fountain Of Spirit to be performed on December 17th at 1 pm, where: 7th and
Howard St at the Center of Religious Science in Delta. This is one program,
where a divine idea came into manifestation. Where loving people came together
with their talents and skills to make something wonderful happen. I am always
amazed at the beauty of Spirit when you truly believe in something fully.
So come and enjoy, it
will be a delight to have you there.
To complete this 2006
Peaceful Contributions for the Soul I would like to say thank you, for reading
about meditation, maybe even trying some of the meditations and ideas I have
brought forth. And Bless You. I have been writing about meditation for 3 years
now and I have grown through the blessing of writing and sharing some of the
techniques. As the seasons change so do I. Looking back over the articles I've
written I realized I have made some huge leaps in my own consciousness and have
stayed strong on my path to spiritual awakening. As I grow deeper in spirit my
writing comes from a deeper level as well. I appreciate the opportunity the
Whole Life Network has given me to share some of my ideas and love of
meditation. For that I am grateful. I
am also grateful for all the great teachers I've had over the past few years
that have helped me to awaken to my own beauty in many areas of my life.
What I want to share
with you this month is along that line. It's about how truly beautiful each and
every one of us is. To understand how important life is, the experience of it
all and the great blessing it is to be here in this great time of evolution. I
feel the energy of good in the universe, the Angels are here in full bloom, and
our planet is awakening at a tremendous speed. Love is in the air.. We are all
a part of it here and now. Take some time to meditate on the goodness of life.
Think of every good thing in your life and be grateful for it. Once you get
started your list will grow and grow and grow. The gifts are divine, and freely
given.
Thank you Larry and Sue
and to all the wonderful people who make a difference in our world. May the blessings of Truth, Love, Peace
and Joy fill all hearts everywhere during this Holiday Season
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Hawthorn
© Anne Calzada Herbalist
The Hawthorn (Crataegus
oxycantha) tree is an esteemed tree in history and sacred to herbalists.
Hawthorns are shrubby bushes or trees that can grow up to 30 feet tall. There
are 200 known species of hawthorn. Large tales surround this tree of intrigue.
Famous in England, it is said that Joseph of Arimathaea came to Glastonbury to
spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. When he touched his staff made of hawthorn
to the ground, it became rooted and thus a church was built there. The crown of
thorns placed upon the head of Jesus was made from hawthorn. I've heard there
is an old grove of hawthorn trees still standing today outside of Jerusalem on
the Mount of Olives.
Blooming in May it is
heralded for use in May Day or Beltane celebrations in England. The original
may pole was said to made from hawthorn. The doors of homes were decorated with
hawthorn branches and it was customary to decorate the top of a maypole with
hawthorn flowers. In Medieval Europe, witches were said to use hawthorn in
their practices. No doubt as to their knowledge of this tree for healing as
many a wise woman kept its use in that day and age. Fairies are said to adore
hawthorn trees and become upset if one is ever cut down or disrespected. Smart
these fairies are, as hawthorn is so effective in its cardiovascular
applications.
It is indicated as an
adaptogen for the cardiovascular system. It nourishes and strengthens the heart
muscle, arteries and veins. Hawthorn improves vascular insufficiency, rapid
heartbeat, hypertension, hypotension and circulatory imbalances. It has the
ability to increase oxygen utilization by the heart. It helps to dilate the
blood vessels and acts as a peripheral vasodilator, thereby helping to reduce
blood pressure and increase proper effective blood flow. It helps to reduce
vascular inflammation and soften deposits.
Hawthorn helps to reduce
instances of angina, stroke and circulatory problems. It also helps to relieve
heart-associated conditions such as nervousness and insomnia. Hawthorn helps to
strengthen connective tissue in the body due to its high bioflavinoid content.
Containing vitamin C, bioflavinoids such as rutin, quercetin, proanthocyanidin
and the alkaloid crategenin, saponins and tannins, it relays nutritional and
antioxidant benefits. It may also help to decrease the need for certain
pharmaceutical drugs; however check with your healthcare practitioner before
working with hawthorn when you are taking heart medications and blood thinners.
Being a member of the
rose family, the flower of beauty and harmony, hawthorn is not only indicated
for issues of the physical heart, but also the emotional/spiritual side of your
heart. As a flower essence, it is recommended for "broken hearts". It
is also used for expanding and opening your heart chakra. Hawthorn helps to
relieve anger, sadness and even hatred. It can balance and reintroduce peace
and nourish self-love. Happy hawthorning!
Heart
Healthy Tea
2 part hawthorn berries
1 part gingko
1 part lemon balm
½ part ginger
This blend increases
circulation, is warming and toning. Use 1 tsp. per 1 cup of water. Enjoy as
desired.
Heart
Chakra Bath
2 part hibiscus
2 part roses
1 part rose hips
1 part hawthorn berries
Blend together and float
in your bath or put in a cloth and enjoy a lovely botanical soak!
Anne Calzada is a
Certified Herbalist and founder of Healing Heart Herbs. For consultations
please call 626 5663 or email her at annecalzada@aol.com.
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Cool Cities
Whole Life Network Release
Other than the obvious
geographic relationship, what do Aspen, Basalt, Boulder, Frisco, Gunnison and
Telluride have in common? The leaders
of these Colorado cities have decided not to be paralyzed by the threat of
global climate change. Instead, they have all taken an important first step
towards curbing global warming pollution. The mayors of these Colorado
communities have signed the U.S. “Mayors Climate Protection Agreement”, part of
a Sierra Club initiative. This agreement sets the goal of reducing citywide
global warming carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution to 7 percent below 1990 levels by
2012. To date, more than 200 mayors representing more than 42 million Americans
in 38 states have signed on. They are
not waiting for the federal government to act, mayors and other local leaders
are putting into place winning energy solutions right now. By using the
innovative technologies of cleaner cars, energy efficiency and renewable
energy, cities across America are protecting our health and environment, while
saving taxpayer dollars. How can your city become a “Cool City”? Go to sierraclub.org/coolcities to see how
you can help.
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The Advent of Love and Peace
by Dr. Jerry Overton
For those of us who have
ties in the Christian tradition, December is the season of Advent, that time of
great expectation and hope. That season of preparation to receive once again a
reminder of God’s greatest gift to us, Love Incarnate. I share with you here
two poems of Advent wonderings—questions, really, that I might have asked. Enjoy!
Good
News or Bad?
“Hail, O favored one,”
the angel said.
“The Lord is with you!”
Now, is that the good
news or the bad?
Well, if you know the
rest of this story,
you know it all depends
on how you look at it.
Is it ever good news to
be 13 and pregnant?
It is ever good news to
try and convince your boyfriend,
the one you are supposed
to marry,
that you didn’t cheat on
him?
Is it ever good news to
try to persuade your family, your neighbors,
all the town-folk, even
the whole world,
that you’re pregnant
alright—and yet, still a virgin?
Can there be any good
news in any of that?
So, you ask him a
clarifying question, hoping perhaps to stump him,
or at least buy yourself
some time.
“How shall this be?” you
ask.
His answer? “With God
nothing will be impossible.”
So, you say the only
thing your faith will let you say:
“Let it be to me
according to your Word.”
And, then………you wait.
Do
You Have Any Idea?
Do you have any idea?
Sweet little Jesus Boy,
as you lay there all soft and cuddly,
so warm and safe in your Mamma’s arms,
with only gentle shepherds and sheep watching on
as angels attend your coming,
singing their songs of glory and praise,
Do you have any idea?
Do you have any idea how
they’ll receive you,
how they’ll treat you, those who have waited so long for you,
those with so many and varied expectations,
those who have pinned
all their hopes and dreams on you, the long-awaited one, the anointed one,
the one who is expected to be the Savior of their world?
Do you have any idea?
Can you even fathom at
this tender age,
Sweet Baby Boy, what your life will be like,
how harried and chaotic
it will be
as day in and day out they clamor for your attention,
as they shout for you to take notice of them,
as they demand that you take responsibility for their lives,
for their health, their happiness, their good fortunes?
Do you have any idea?
Can you bring yourself
to imagine how unreasonable they will be,
how irrational, how hateful, how cruel they can be
as they look to you to take sides, take charge,
defeat their enemies,
set them up on high,
and, in every conceivable way, make their life better
as only they are willing to define it?
Do you have any idea,
you Sweet, Precious Jesus Boy?
Any idea at all?
And then, I caught his
eyes,
the very eyes of God,
and got my answer:
“Peace!” was what I saw.
Copyright 2006 Dr. Jerry Overton
Jerry is a practitioner
of the Emotional Freedom Techniques, a powerful tool for healing all sorts of
suffering and illnesses. He can be reached at 970-252-9311.
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