ARTICLES
A
Weekend Intensive - Nov. 7 & 8
Fall
Friday Night Forums Set
Meditations:
Soapbox of the President
Remembering
Aztlán
Interested
in being healthy?
from
Whispers to Shouts ~ the Body Speaks
‘Success
Talk’ offers a positive message
Peaceful
Contributions for the Soul
All
About Herbs: Demystifying Earth’s Gifts
Homeopathic
Help For Companion Animals
A Weekend Intensive - Nov. 7 & 8
Whole Life Network Release
As announced last month, The Whole Life Network has
arranged a weekend intensive, bringing to our community The
Work of Byron Katie presented by Tricia McKenzie and Adam
Lewis. The location of all of this activity will be The
Holiday Inn Express, 1391 S. Townsend Ave. in Montrose. The
program will begin at 7 pm on Friday, November 7th with an
Introductory presentation that is FREE to the public. The
weekend gets in full gear with a Workshop on Saturday November
8th from 9:am-5 pm. A $20 donation is requested for the
Saturday workshop, however The Whole Life Network urges that
no one, regardless of personal situation, should miss the
opportunity to internalize this healing.
Some participants in this form of self-inquiry have called
The Work "revelatory," "blockage busting," "unrelenting," "the
most powerful weekend of my life." In just two days, all in
attendance can learn a process that gives them a reliable way
out of depression, anger and confusion.
It was a fortuitous meeting at The Steps to Awareness
festival that introduced Whole Life Network members Polly Cady
and Josh Hayward to Tricia McKenzie and Adam Lewis. Everyone
who meets Tricia and Adam is impressed by their tireless
devotion to The Work of Byron Katie. In short order, this
initial meeting led to discussions of how The Whole Life
Network could assist these two great spirits to facilitate The
Work. In the process this is what we learned about Tricia and
Adam.
Adam Lewis attended his first New Year's Cleanse with Byron
Katie eight years ago and has devoted himself to being of
service to The Work since, traveling the globe with Katie as a
core staff person. Suffice to say that Byron Katie, with her
husband Stephen Mitchell, dedicated their book "Loving What
Is" to Adam Joseph Lewis and Michael.
Tricia McKenzie has also been living The Work for almost
eight years, sharing testimonials from her own experience,
intensives and life with Katie and her children. Adam and
Tricia are graduates of the School for The Work and have
gratefully presented and facilitated The Work for individuals
and groups in private sessions, public gatherings, radio, TV
and press.
We can all learn to "Love What Is." This is an opportunity
no one will want to miss out on and it‘s time to reserve
yourself a special seat. Fill out the reservation form from
your copy of this paper (Page 2) and send it back to The Whole
Life Network with your donation. Seating at the Apex Room of
The Holiday Inn Express in Montrose is limited and we will
honor reservations on a "first come, first served" basis. WLN
members with early reservations will be rewarded with
preferential seating.
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Fall Friday Night Forums Set
Whole Life Network Release
Recently a group of Whole Life Network members which
included Polly Cady, Megan Garcia, Paulene Crespin, Larry and
Sue Lemser and Jody Nixon were celebrating Sue's birthday at
the Camp Robber Cafe. After lunch we decided to do some
shopping at Wind Spirit Gifts. If you haven't been to Wind
Spirit Gifts, set a date to go and see the great variety of
crystals, candles, greeting cards and other treasures. Owner,
Kim Davis, showed us around, and we found that upstairs Kim
has an extra room that would serve for holding the renewal of
the Friday Night Forum. We quickly struck a deal with Kim to
use her upstairs room, and, then and there, the Friday Night
Forum was reborn.
We have a community thirsty for the waters of truth so if
you have something to share that would enlighten, inspire or
simply delight us, what ever the form may be,please contact
Jody Nixon at 240-0234 to schedule your Friday Night Forum
event.
Join us every Friday Night (except hoildays) at 7 pm in our
new location at Wind Spirit Gifts, 612 E. Main St., Montrose
and be treated to the following programs:
Friday September 12th, Julia Gillett R.C.S.T.
from
Whispers to Shouts ~ the Body Speaks
Radiant, vibrant health and well being! Who does not want
this, and yet how many of us feel extraordinarily well all of
the time - ready and eager to meet all that life has to offer?
Sensation is the language of the body and symptoms are simply
the body’s way of trying to get our attention. Health and
vitality are determined, in large measure, by our fluency in
this foreign language. Discover what your body has been trying
to tell you and your symptoms may magically disappear. In this
class we will:
~ Explore our beliefs and ideas about health and
disease.
~ Decode some messages of common symptoms we
define as painful.
~ Learn a simple, yet powerful practice
for shifting awareness from the mind to the body.
Friday September 19th, Edith Johnson, PhD LPC
What's in
Your Decision Making Tool Box?
Let's take a look at tools and techniques for physical,
material, mental, emotional, spiritual achievement. What are
your desires - goals for the different aspects of your life?
What has been beneficial - worked well in the past? What are
some new ideas and different options to know yourself and
experience your desires? Come explore a side road of your
journey and gain greater clarity for the direction of your
journey.
Friday September 26th, Robert "Chi" Sullivan
Pathworking
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is the foundation for The Western
spiritual system. It begins on the earthly plane and ascends
upward and inward to the divine. How to enter and travel these
paths will be revealed.
And coming Friday, October 24th, Kathy Gates, Women’s
Spirit Retreat
Weaving the Web of goodness in all
people
Joining the Devine in a Sacred circle of good will toward
all people. Bringing Peace and Harmony to each other and to
our communities. This will include a loving kindness
meditation and circle of peace.
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Meditations: Soapbox of the President
By Larry Lemser
I may as well confess! Until our Secretary, Polly Cady,
suggested that we contact Byron Katie to be our Symposium
speaker, I had never heard her name. I thought that she was a
man.
As it turned out, Byron Katie is not able to come to
Montrose this year, but two of her trusted lieutenants, Adam
Lewis and Tricia McKenzie, will fill her shoes. Just check out
the page one headline this month for the time and place and
all the details.
Now it seems that every time we utter the name, Byron
Katie, there is not only instant recognition, but also a
strong need by someone to tell a Byron Katie story. As you
probably know, Byron Katie's work is called, simply, The Work
with the 'T' and 'W' always capitalized. After experiencing
The Work, the common reaction is to marvel at how such
effective self-inquiry can be so simple and so fast.
The Whole Life Network has been dealing for almost 15 years
with great teachers, authors and healers. We have never had
the pleasure of meeting and interacting with a more dedicated
group of humans than the staff and associates of Byron Katie.
Tricia McKenzie and Adam Lewis drove from Aspen to Montrose to
attend our Board Meeting and to propose that we partner with
them in presenting The Work. After the Board voted unanimously
to proceed, the next day we received an e mail from Byron
Katie's home office with offers to assist us with publicity
releases, videos, and brochures/post cards. They said, "Thanks
for helping The Work move.
At this writing, Byron Katie is on a European tour. Her
book, Loving What Is, has been translated into 16 languages
and has been on several best-seller lists including
Amazon.com. It sounds to me as though The Work is moving quite
well. However, we will still do our part to assure that The
Work is moving on the Western Slope.
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Remembering Aztlán
A Column of Poetry, Culture & Spirit
by Art Goodtimes
Rainbows flock to Utah’s high Uintas for annual gathering
of peace and light
LITTLE WEST FORK BLACKS FORK .. Who’d
have thunk that Utah would be cool and wet this summer while
Colorado’s been drought-stricken and hopper-ridden? Not me.
But then I’d never been into Utah’s Uintas. What lovely high
country. Huge meadows. Old giant spruce and pine .. It snowed
the week before Rainbow, the annual gathering of peace and
light that’s become a hippie tradition for the past thirty
years, and the ground stayed moist throughout the week-long
celebration, July 1-7 although only the sun shone for the
thousands of folks from all over the country who flocked to
the gathering. There was Mr. Dude, guiding us to a safe spot
at the trailhead the night we arrived. Hippie Lou, telling us
of a ceremony over at the Indigenous Village as we hiked in
(no vehicles or alcohol allowed in the encampment). Moose of
Maine, reminiscing about the great time she had in
Pennsylvania. And Tammy, Jarret, Neil, Carrie and the whole
Lost Valley crew from Eugene leading us off to a Jewish
wedding .. Rainbow is a week of serendipities. New friends.
And old friends found again. Chance encounters. Intimate
discussions. Campfires with song and dance and wild drumming
.. Dozens of kitchens serve up food at all hours. All free.
Like Bread of Life, that Pastor Chuck of the Fellowship Church
in Telluride and his friends provide each year. Simply
Wonderful was another favorite. Brew-Ha-Ha had tea at all
hours. I got into the drum groove at Vegas Lounge, and rocked
.. Since all the food and supplies for the kitchens had to be
hauled in by cart or on foot, lots of time was spent
volunteering, as there was always a lot of work to do. That’s
a big part of Rainbow. Giving back. There’s even a derogatory
name for those who only take - Drainbows, folks call them. But
even that kind of mild name-calling is frowned upon. This is a
gathering of peace and light. And having 10,000 folks holding
that ring of intention is powerful mojo. It creates an
ambiance that sets the tone for all interactions .. Coming
into the gathering, a hike of a mile or so, one is continually
met with the Rainbow traditional greeting, “Welcome home.”
Strangers smile. Often hug you on impulse. It’s a very
different atmosphere than you’d experience almost anywhere
else on the planet. You feel part of a tribe. And that feeling
is enhanced since everyone calls each other brother and sister
.. On the morning of the 4th, silence is the rule. Not that
there are police making anyone do anything. You can talk if
you want. But most folks don’t. Shanti Sena is a peace-keeping
force, armed with walkie-talkies, and their primary job is
alerting everyone to the presence of Forest Service officials.
“Six Up!” they shout (code for -- watch out for the Smokies),
and that call reverberates before and after the foot and horse
patrols that wander about the gathering .. We set up our Cloud
Acre camp near Yo Mama’s heart-shaped fire circle, where
drumming went on day and night. But the 4th was quiet. At noon
folks started assembling in the main meadow where a giant
peace pole had been erected. And then 10,000 people began to
join hands and form a circle. A most impressive event.
Finally, a parade of children all decked up in fairy costume
broke the circle, and with cheers, folks rushed into the
center to dance and party and pray .. Our kids loved the
freedom. Sara made new friends, and wandered around the three
or four mile radius of the encampment unencumbered. Gorio
stayed with Mary and I, or I pushed him around in our handy
jogging stroller - a big wheel tricycle that doubled as supply
cart, as well as conveyance for our little prince. We spent
one whole day at the rope swings that someone had set up in
the Yoga meadow - a luxury I rarely can find the time for in
my busy political life .. Friend Michael Rendon of Durango
convinced us to visit Graceland on the 5th for the annual
Elvis show - a bawdy spoof of a show that had the audience
laughing hilariously .. To be held in the loving intentions of
so many people wishing you well, sending you love. Rainbow
unlike anything I’ve experienced anywhere else in the country.
POETS FOR PEACE .. San Francisco Neo-Beat legend, founder
of the Union of Street Poets, and veteran of the Bay Area
poetry scene, Jack Mueller joined Alan Wartes, creator of the
Peace Poets, who made the recent poet’s walk for peace from
Gunnison to Denver, had a kickoff reading in Telluride June
27th. Wartes carried poems from dozens of us bardic types to
Gov. Owens in hopes of persuading the man to work for peace.
He might have better luck working for Rep. Dennis Kucinich in
the Dem primaries, but he did manage to get some statewide
publicity, not only for peace but for the three nuns charged
with federal crimes for their ecotage actions against a
missile silo in Colorado.
ANCIENT ORDER OF FIRE GIGGLERS .. That’s the name of a
rowdy group of lyric bards and devotees of Lew Welch - the
charismatic poet colleague of Gary Snyder and Phil Whalen and
dead-before-his-time icon of the West Coast poetry scene. Each
year the order meets in the Wet Mountains of Custer County
(this year in early June) to share lyrics, lies, loves and
lunacy (all of us being, quite literally, starry-eyed and moon
mad) .. There’s the ritual archery shoot, the hike to the
peak, gourd circle and evening campfires - with plenty of good
fellowship, beer and stories .. There was Crazy Cloud of
Lafayette doing the Bad Dog Rag, “We never imagined the New
Age would be so far of.” .. The inimitable Mossbeard of
Evergreen, editor of Mad Blood, speaking of “Boredom, that
obese shadow” .. James Taylor III of S.D., the
returned-to-Colorado ex-Earth Firster Mike Stabler and
poet/performer Tara Miller of the North Fork. A great
crew.
DOLORES LACHAPELLE … Each year the keeper of the Way of the
Mountain Center in Silverton invites a few of her friends to
Chinese Mountains - one of the cycle of earth festivals we
poets & other cultural creatives celebrate in Colo-rado ..
“Chinese Mountains” is, of course, Dolores’ private name for a
local mountain park that resembles the high peaks abode of the
Taoist masters. Concerned not to spread the fame of (and
increase the visitor impacts to) this alpine gem, she uses her
personal euphemism. And its location remains a secret ..
However, this year bad weather forced the group indoors, and
Cloud Acre hosted the gathering .. Spending hours in
discussion of new books, old books, breakthroughs and
barbarisms, we all enjoyed our time together - poets,
storytellers and one brilliant illustrator who wishes to
remain nameless .. And a large fire (still legal then) blazed
in the southern sky as we watched Orion rise, club raised
high, and Sirius the dog star, snapping at his heels … The
high point of the weekend for many was the morel hunt.
Potfuls. Devilishly difficult to spot, unless one stopped
foraying and dropped to one’s knees. And then you saw one, and
another. Sometimes dozens of conical lumps. A reaching back
into our hunter/gatherer past. Learning to let go our rational
mind and the more-than-human world do our “thinking”.
© 2003 Art Goodtimes
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Interested in being healthy?
By Dr. Judith Boice, ND, LAc
(Editor’s Note: Following is the section of Dr. Boice’s
August 2003 article which, due to space constraints, was
excerpted. We are pleased to present the second part of the
article in its entirety and are grateful to Dr. Boice for this
information we think is of great importance for all
readers.)
The following information is intended to catalyze your own
thinking about health. I hope the suggestions will assist you
in achieving your life and health goals.
The Foundations of Health
Many people wanting to improve their health focus on
vitamins, minerals, herbs, and homeopathic remedies. While
these supplements can play a vital role in restoring and
maintaining health, they cannot take the place of good
lifestyle choices. The daily decisions you make build the
foundation for health: what you eat, whether you exercise and
take time to relax, and what kind of environment you live/
work in.
NUTRITION
** Choose foods as close as possible to their natural
state. Have you ever seen a Twinkie® bush or a Coca-Cola®
river?
** Select local, seasonal produce. Foods ripen in a
cyclical pattern that supports seasonal needs in your body.
The liver works hard throughout the winter when we tend to eat
heavier, oilier foods to stay warm. The bitter greens that
announce spring (e.g. dandelion & arugula) cleanse &
support liver function.
** Choose organic produce whenever
possible. Studies show organic products contain about 70% more
nutrients than their conventionally grown counterparts.
Organic farming methods also improve the health of the soil
and minimize environmental hazards (see the section on
environmental health below).
** Separate fruits from other
foods by at least one hour. Fruits move quickly through the
digestive tract, usually within one to two hours. Eating other
foods at the same time slows the progress of the fruit, which
begins to putrefy in the digestive tract causing gas,
bloating, and sometimes cramping. Melons digest most quickly
and should be eaten alone. The classic summer picnic of
hamburgers, cole slaw and potato salad topped off with
watermelon is a recipe for digestive disaster.
** Eat foods
that support your body. Work with someone who can help tailor
your diet for your particular needs. An extremely high protein
diet, for example, may benefit one person and wreak havoc for
another.
EXERCISE
** A complete program includes aerobic, strength building,
stretching, and agility exercise.
** When beginning an
exercise program, always do LESS than you think you can. Many
people begin too quickly, strain or tear muscles, and are too
sore to move for weeks. "I’ll never exercise again!" vows the
limping weekend warrior. Do yourself a favor: build up slowly.
If you haven’t exercised for several years, begin by walking 5
minutes a day. Yes, 5 minutes a day. Add 2 - 3 minutes each
week. This conservative approach will reward you in the long
run.
** Aerobic exercise conditions the cardiovascular
system and improves endurance. The minimum amount of aerobic
exercise to maintain aerobic conditioning is 20 minutes, 3
times a week.
** Strength-building exercise, e.g.
calisthenics and light weight lifting, increases muscle mass.
If you are sedentary, after age 35 - 40 you will lose 1 pound
of muscle a year and gain 1.5 pounds of fat. At rest a pound
of muscle burns 32 calories a day. A pound of fat burns 2
calories per day. Each year you lose muscle and replace it
with fat, your metabolic rate (how quickly you burn calories)
slows. You can reverse this trend by including
strength-building exercise in your routine, e.g. 10 minutes 3
or 4 times a week. The older you are, the more important
strength building exercise becomes.
** Stretching limbers
muscles and lubricates joints. Stretching also cues strained
or damaged muscle tissue to repair normally. Without
stretching, muscles repair by laying down a tangled mass of
scar tissue, which over time reduces flexibility and range of
motion.
** Agility exercises, such as standing on one leg
or walking across a log, fine tunes balance and
coordination.
** Focus on the things you love. When asked
what activities she enjoyed, one patient confided she loved to
dance. I encouraged her to dance as part of her exercise
routine. "You mean dancing counts as exercise?" she asked,
surprised. Physical activities that you love still count as
exercise.
RELAXATION
** Two nervous systems, the sympathetic and
parasympathetic, run simultaneously in your body. The
sympathetic predominates when you are stressed, preparing the
body to fight or run away. The parasympathetic nervous system
prevails when you are relaxed and at peace. Healing and
regeneration occur only when the parasympathetic nervous
system is dominant.
** Take short relaxation breaks during
the day. Three to five minutes of deep breathing or a
"relaxation shower" (releasing all of the muscles from head to
toe) can shift the balance toward the parasympathetic nervous
system and allow healing and rejuvenation to occur.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
** Healthy people require a healthy environment for living
and working. You cannot breathe toxic fumes, drink polluted
water, work all day under florescent lights, and still expect
to maintain good health.
** Avoid xenoestrogens. "Xeno"
means "foreign," so xenoestrogens are foreign substances that
act like estrogen in the body. Estrogen’s basic message to
cells is "divide, divide, divide." In normal amounts, estrogen
stimulates growth. In excess, estrogen triggers tumor
formation. The epidemic of breast, uterine, ovarian,
testicular, and prostate cancer is a sad reflection of
xenoestrogen pollution. What are these substances that mimic
estrogen in the body? Chiefly chlorine and chloride-containing
chemicals, e.g. insecticides, pesticides, and off gassing from
plastics. The most potent carcinogen known is dioxin, a
chlorine-based chemical used to bleach paper white.
**
Invest in a good water filter, one that eliminates chlorine,
solvents, and heavy metals.
** Spend at least 20 minutes a
day in the sunshine. The pineal gland requires full-spectrum
light exposure (without glasses or contacts) to stimulate
normal seratonin production. Seratonin stabilizes moods,
regulates carbohydrate metabolism, and stabilizes sleep
cycles. Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression that begins in
the autumn and improves in spring) is associated with reduced
light exposure and diminished seratonin production.
**
Short sun exposure benefits the body; too much promotes skin
cancer. Use sunscreen lotion on the face, neck, hands, and
other exposed areas. Products are now rated using a standard
called "Solar Protection Factor," or SPF. To figure how long
your sunscreen will protect you, multiply the sun exposure
time without burning (usually 10 - 15 minutes for a
fair-skinned person who is not used to being in the sun) by
the SPF and divide by 2. If you are using a lotion with SPF 8,
for example, the formula would be 10 (minutes) X 8 (SPF) ÷ 2 =
40 minutes of safe sun protection. Keep in mind that you can
NOT reapply the sunscreen at the end of 40 minutes and prolong
your sun protection. Remember that your lips also need sun
protection. Look for lip balms with SPF ratings on the
package.
** If you have chronic respiratory problems, e.g.
hayfever, sinusitis, or asthma, consider investing in a good
air filter. You won’t eliminate the cause of your reactivity,
but you can reduce the amount of pollen, dust, and other
irritants in the air.
** Choose to live at least half a
mile from high-tension electrical wires, television or radio
stations, or microwave towers, all of which can disrupt your
body’s own electromagnetic field. Electric blankets also
generate a detrimental electromagnetic field and are
associated with increased rates of leukemia, especially in
children.
** Ultimately your body is the part of the earth
you are most directly responsible for. Your body is your
Earth. This extraordinary vehicle is in many ways a microcosm
of the planet. The healthier the planet, the healthier your
body can be. Much of the information in this section suggests
how to protect yourself from environmental damage, e.g. filter
the water and avoid chemicals. The deepest "cure" is to
support the health of our environment, for its sake as well as
our own.
(Dr. Boice, may be contacted at Seven Winds
Institute, Montrose, 252.0985.)
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from Whispers to Shouts ~ the Body Speaks
by Julia Marie Gillett, R.C.S.T.
Radiant, vibrant health and well being! Who does not want
this, and yet how many of us feel extraordinarily well all of
the time - ready and eager to meet all that life has to
offer?
Most of us pay attention to our bodies in just a couple of
ways. In one case it’s to ensure that it looks presentable; we
work it out strenuously and dress it up fashionably. The other
case is when something seems to be wrong with it; discomfort
disrupts our normal routine. The common response to our
discomfort is to tell the body to "shut-up". We do this by
taking a pain reliever, an antacid tablet, having a drink,
exercising more, turning up the volume with the remote control
or any number of choices that distract us from the
uncomfortable sensations we are experiencing. How often do any
of us use our dis-ease as an opportunity to find out what is
happening internally, from our body’s point of view? Perhaps
this sounds strange, as though the body is an entity entirely
separate from ourselves. Although nothing could be further
from the truth we often treat the body like an unwelcome
guest. When it shouts that it is most in need of our attention
( aching muscles, stiff joints, throbbing pain, heartburn,
etc.) we often push it even harder and then complain when it
rebels, showing us who is really in charge.
Many of us were conditioned at an early age to regard
discomfort as a bad thing. Better Living...Through Chemistry
was the motto of my youth and most bodily sensations were
deemed undesirable and unnecessary inconveniences. Indeed,
there seems to be a pill or potion for every occasion and
sensation. But the prevalence in our culture today of chronic
degenerative disease suggests that the better living part of
that 1950’s motto applies only to the profits of the
manufacturers of the chemistry.
Sensation is the language of the body and symptoms are
simply the body’s way of trying to get our attention. Health
and vitality are determined, in large measure, by our fluency
in this foreign language. Assuming the body is capable of
speaking to us then the body must also be conscious. But where
exactly in the body is this consciousness? Many believe it is
located somewhere in the head, probably in the brain. My
experience as a craniosacral therapist has shown me that it is
actually everywhere in the body, occupying every single cell
and all the spaces in between. Experience has also taught me
that sensations are not subject to our value judgements.
Pleasurable and painful sensations alike are simply messages
waiting to be heard.
The ability to decipher the message begins with a shift in
perception and becomes a change in attitude. The body is
indeed conscious. I have found it to possess a singular
intelligence and wisdom. If radiant health is something we
desire then we surely must first befriend the body, learn it’s
language, become interested in it’s secrets and genuinely want
to hear what it has longed to tell us - about us.
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‘Success Talk’ offers a positive message
Success Talk Release
If you’re looking for alternative talk radio, there is a
new show starting up that will fill the bill. Every Saturday
morning between 9 and 10, 96.1 KSTR FM will present Success
Talk with Tom Averna. The purpose of this program is to
present ideas and techniques enabling listeners to live
successful, positive and joyful lives in Mind, Body and
Spirit.
Tom will feature local, national and international guests
who will talk about how to achieve this end through personal
stories, proven techniques and life tips.
Averna is a 15 year radio veteran and currently is the News
Director at KSTR FM. He also operates an Internet only Radio
Station called Radiopositive at www.radiopositive.com. This
station broadcasts contemporary music from a variety of genres
and beliefs all with a message that is positive, uplifting and
unifying.
Success Talk will be rebroadcast on Radiopositive
throughout the week at 6 pm Mountain Time. Success Talk is
looking for active listeners who will call in with comments
and questions during the show and interesting guests who will
share their stories and talents.
Listeners and guests are invited to tune in and can contact
the program at tom@radiopositive.com with 'success talk' in
the subject line. Change your listening and change your life
with Success Talk
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Peaceful Contributions for the Soul
Where do I meditate and when?
By Kathy Gates
There is no one best time to meditate. Many find it useful
to get up a bit early to meditate before the pressures of the
day start building up. Getting into a peaceful spirit before
the day begins, so your day goes well. Others meditate before
bed so they can unwind and rest peacefully. Both are great
times to meditate and they both create a feeling of
connection. You can also try meditating throughout the day for
brief periods that will calm you and help you to relax during
the stresses of the day.
Choosing a time to meditate, the worst thing you can do is
to tell yourself I'll try to do a meditation today at some
point. This won't work, you have to find a specific time and
stick to it if you want positive results. Meditation is a time
for you. A special time dedicated for your well being so make
it happen, and stick to it. Find a time that will work for
you. Take the phone off the hook, find a place that is free of
disturbance.
Where to meditate-Personally I find nature the best place,
it offers a quiet and beautiful place where you can relax with
peaceful sounds of God's creations. You have the beauty of
nature all around you. It is good to have a very specific
place that is meaningful to you. You can have candles or
incense or both, peaceful music, beautiful pictures, even a
drum or rattle to help you center and feel relaxed. Remember
this is your Sacred Place, so make it special and beautiful
just for you. This is like giving yourself a gift and finding
your true nature and higher self. Some people make a place in
a closet or small corner of their home, where they can relax.
Others like to sit outside on the lawn or in the dirt where
they can feel the Earth. I find that sitting outdoors at
sunrise is a wonderful way to meditate and also at sunset. You
will be amazed at all the voices of nature that come alive at
these times. It is up to you to decide what is right for you.
And remember your worth this very special time. When your mind
has clarity and you become more focused through doing
meditation you'll find you become more efficient in all you
do.
Meditating more than repays you for the time you spend with
it - it will make a difference in your life. And you'll still
be getting a lot done in your day. Once you see and feel the
benefits of meditating you may want to spend more time doing
it. If you meditate daily, you have more of a realistic view
of what is important and what is not. This is when you'll
realize all the time that has been wasted on unimportant
things.
Meditation is easy to learn, blissful to experience and
essential to grow. Are you ready for the new you?
Thought for this month-Choose faith and watch the power of
Great Spirit/God work in your life.
Say aloud, "Thank you God/Great Spirit/Creator for all the
blessings you have in store for me.
Thank you for all the
wonderful things you have already done for me. I praise you
for you are the Creator of Heaven and Earth. I praise you for
you are the One and Only presence acting in my life and world.
Say these words until you feel at peace.
You may want to clip and save the the different meditation
topics, for each month discusses different tools, prayers,
insights, and loving ways to experience your special time.
More on meditation to come ..
(Kathy Gates may be contacted at Women's Spirit Retreat,
856-7665.)
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All About Herbs: Demystifying Earth’s Gifts
Jump Start Herbs
By Alan Joel
Have you been feeling tired or lethargic lately? You may be
suffering from a weak spleen. Most people in this society have
weak spleens, which result in lethargy, chronic fatigue, cold
hands and feet, poor recovery after exertion, lack of appetite
and more. Weak spleens can also cause a craving for sweets,
internal or external bleeding, digestive disorders, weight
gain, weak immune system or excess worry.
If you suffer from some of these symptoms, here is an
herbal formula to help you strengthen the spleen:
Chinese red ginseng, Siberian ginseng, wild asparagus root,
Jujube fruit, lush winter wheat, tangerine peel, wild yam
root, licorice root, cinnamon twigs, fenugreek seed, child
root, relative root, bai zhu, yuan zhu, alfalfa, comfrey root,
and ginger.
The ginseng warms the spleen, which relies on kidney fire
for metabolic processes, while the wild asparagus root, lush
winter wheat, alfalfa, chen pi and licorice root moderate the
force of this ginseng. This formula is gentle and universal
enough so that weak or elderly people or children can take it.
It may be difficult to find this remedy in a health food store
so you might need to order it custom from an herbalist.*
Even if you can’t get all of the herbs, this formula will
still alleviate your symptoms because each herb in the formula
helps to strengthen the spleen.
In addition to using the herbs above, if you have a weak
spleen it’s best to stay away from refined foods that are hard
to digest. Also avoid too much cold or raw food and do not eat
refined sugars. Although sweet is the taste for the spleen,
refined sugar can cause an already weak spleen to fall further
into disharmony.
*Check with your medical provider before adding herbs to
your diet.
[Alan Joel may be contacted at 323-9631 or email
ravenwindstar@earthlink.net]
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Homeopathic Help For Companion Animals
Old age is not a disease! Part 1 of a 2-part series on
ARTHRITIS
MVC Release
"My dog is limping!" This is one of the most common
complaints we hear from the guardians of elderly dogs. Yet
other canines come into the clinic lame and sore and their
owners dismiss the problem as "just old age." What causes
lameness in dogs, and what can we do about
it?
Osteoarthritis, which means "inflammation of the
joint," is the most common culprit, usually affecting knees,
shoulders, ankles, elbows and, of course, hips. Also known as
"degenerative joint disease," or "DJD," arthritis appears as
swelling, stiffness and pain. (Sound familiar?) At
Morningstar, we work to counteract the inflammation and also
to slow the degenerative progress or (ideally) help the joint
to heal by supplying key nutrients, without producing unwanted
side effects. Arthritis is progressive, and often pets suffer
in silence, learning to adjust to their growing disability;
the dog who is slower getting up because of arthritis in his
hindquarters learns to rely on his front legs, but often the
stress will bring on shoulder arthritis until he "doesn*t have
a good leg left to stand on..." If you have a stoic dog, she
may never let out a whimper, so it*s important to be a good
observer.
Though osteoarthritis is the leading cause of lameness in
canines, especially among our older patients, we need to rule
out other possibilities: trauma from a fall or blow; disk
disease, most common in Dachshunds and other small breeds;
autoimmune disorders including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
(very painful but fortunately not common in dogs.);
hypothyroidism; bone cancer, especially osteosarcoma, which
most commonly strikes the limbs of larger breeds; inherited
conditions including hip and elbow dysplasia (especially
common in big dogs) and dislocation of the shoulder and knee
(which we see often in poodles); Lyme disease, (fortunately,
rare in Colorado); and osteochondrosis, where abnormal
cartilage growth causes pain and lameness, and panosteitis,
where new bone grows in the marrow cavity of a leg bone, both
occurring most commonly in large-breed puppies.
Often we see overweight or obese dogs limp into the clinic.
Carrying all that extra baggage may not be the cause of your
pet*s problem, but it*s certainly not helping the situation.
If your pet falls into this category, the most cost-effective
(though not necessarily the easiest) way you can help
alleviate the problem is by implementing a sensible
weight-loss program. Does your dog eat too freely if he*s fed
free choice? Are you dumping too much food in her bowl twice
daily, or offering too many high-cal snacks? What about
exercise? Swimming is great, though not always convenient
throughout the year.... Walking benefits most pets with
arthritis, and it probably won*t hurt you either. "A simple,
brisk walk twice daily is enough to shift your pet*s
metabolism into higher gear," Dr. Hooley says, "and help to
start shedding those extra pounds."
(Morningstar Veterinary Clinic , 717 N. Cascade Ave.,
Montrose. Call 249-8022 or email morningstar@montrose.net Dr.
Bettye Hooley and Dr. Diane Clark)
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