MIND
BODYer
SPIRIT
Have You Heard... The Tobolowsky Files
We're Too Fat By Mel Damski
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Making Room For Happiness PAGE 6
EVENTS A highlight of Mind ~ Body ~ Spirit events in Bellingham
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INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND PUBLISHED IN BELLINGHAM WASHINGTON - AND ENJOY BY PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
Edition #2
Inspiring the mind, body and spirit
January / February 2014
Seeds of Change The state of Washington may not have passed I522, the resolution that businesses would have to label GMO foods, however the voters of Whatcom and Skagit County voted in favor of it. There are ways to be more proactive for those who may be disappointed that there will not be a new labeling requirement for GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) products. ("A GMO is an organism who’s genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.”) –Wikipedia
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi. The good news for consumers is that many companies that do not use GMO’s may begin to label their products as GMO free. You can find a list of non GMO food company brands at www.undergroundhealth.com. Their printable list includes where you can purchase these brands. A quote that I live my life by is “be the change you wish to see in the world.”- Mahatma Gandhi. Instead of fighting against a system, I encourage you to try a more empowered approach of leading by example. Paving the way for change by being part of the solution. Be aware of what you are buying and purchase products from companies that fit with your values.
Photo by David H. Johnston Do you know where in Bellingham this photo was taken? Post your answer on our website, www.bellinghammuse.com under the comment section of the Seeds of Change article. All correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a free massage! Contest ends 02/28/14.
While attending a lecture from Whole Foods Co-CEO John Mackey, the question of GMO’s was raised, his very poignant reply was that as consumers we vote with our dollars. Business owners will carry what sells. If we choose items that are labeled
GMO Free, we create the demand that businesses will supply. We can see this happening already with Walmart beginning to carry items that traditionally could only be found at a health food store. Continued on Page 5
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A Letter From the Editors Thank you for picking up a copy of Bellingham Muse! With the New Year here and the constant bombardment of New Year’s resolutions, we have been reflecting on the craziness of this tradition. We are in the middle of the winter; a time of dormancy and hibernation, yet many of us take this time to start new (and sometimes impossible) resolutions. Nature around us is resting and is in a cycle of sleep. This is a time for reflection, healing and letting go of the past so that when the spring arrives we are ready to start anew. With these thoughts in mind we have themed the second edition around reflecting and seeking answers within vs. reinventing or making bid changes. We encourage you to be gentle with yourself, follow your own intuition and listen to what your body needs. We hope that these articles give you the inspiration to get back in tune with the natural rhythms of life and find your path to fulfillment and a joyful life. Kerri Burnside is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Hypnotherapy Instructor and Spiritual Life Coach. Her background is in public speaking and teaching leadership courses in the corporate environment. She now teaches spiritual classes which focus on centering yourself in the present moment, and leading an authentically empowered life and is the owner of Inspiration Alley.
We hope that you enjoy this edition and we ask that you help us grow the Muse by sharing it with your family and friends. We have added social media share buttons on the website to make it easy to pass along your favorite articles.
In This Issue... Mind Seeds of Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Have You Heard... - The Tobolowsky Files. . . . . . . . . 5
We encourage you to visit our website frequently as we will be updating and adding content regularly. Information available on the website that you will not find in the paper includes but is not limited to: *Updated calendar of events (Have an event you want listed? Add it on the website!) *Links to podcasts and videos *Special guest interviews *Sign up for the e-version *Input from our readers! (We would like to hear from our readers and invite you to share your own thoughts on your spiritual journey and anything that inspires the mind, body or spirit. ) www.bellinghammuse.com A big heart felt thank you to all our wonderful contributors! Thanks for letting the Muse inspire you. -Kerri & Alana Alana Simler is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Pilates Instructor. As well as owning and running a successful massage practice for 18 years, she has instructed massage therapy at Ashmead School of Massage and Whatcom Community
Origins of the Gregorian Calendar. . . 10
Body Optimal You - I'm Talking to Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 If I Ran the Zoo - We're Too Fat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Inflammation and Gut Health? - Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Spirit Making Room For Happiness. . . . . . . . 6 The Fool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Inspiring the Muse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
This and That Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Verry Berry Smoothie. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Western Washington University Wind Symphony The Western Washington University Wind Symphony presents a winter concert of contemporary and traditional music for Wind Ensemble. This concert will feature WWU Saxophone Professor and Seattle virtuoso Fred Winkler on Saxophone. He will be performing Paul Richard's "Bat out of Hell for Solo Saxophone and Wind Ensemble". Other highlights include contemporary work by Texas composer Scott Mcallister titled "Krump". Krump is a classical contemporary work that will feature dancers from the Bellingham area that will engage in a traditional Krump Battle. This performance is family friendly and will give listeners something to sink their teeth into. Other major works to be performed include Pieces by Persichetti, Debussy and Whitacre.
February 26, PAC Concert Hall Christopher Bianco 8PM- Free! Wind Symphomy Conductor and Music Department Chair
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Inspiring The Muse Letters From Our Readers
Bellingham Confessions
Bellingham Muse wants to know! Keep an eye out for us around Bellingham as we snag locals and pick their minds. If you want to join the fun go to our website www.bellinghammuse.com and environment so I wouldn't feel upload your picture and answer to our latest question. desperately alone. Whenever I would ask for advice she would simply tell To get started we thought we would entertain you with our staff me that she was here for me, that she answers to the first question which will be asked in the trusted me with my own wisdom and March/April edition. Start pondering your answer now... if prompted, would share about her What inspires you? own current of unknown. Not present in her telling was advice or superiority Meet Kerri ~ under the guise of, "I've been there, Whatever poetry she was done that" often present in the reading somehow led her shadows of storytelling. Her ability to to creating the idea for listen was one of the greatest gifts of this newspaper. Keep my life, one that continually serves me reading, Kerri, obviously and allows me to create a space of good things come from it! connection in the mystery.
We asked our readers to share stories about their own journey or process for spiritual and personal growth. Thank you for sharing! How I learned to listen without giving advice or my agenda (I'm still learning) Learning to listen is one of my greatest challenges. As the old year wanes and the new year waxes, the best hope I have for listening is written in the light of the moon. The unknown is illuminated by a distant yet bright hope, sometimes hidden by passing clouds. I may not need to know, I may just need to wait for clearer skies, but oh, the waiting. It is challenging to wait for an answer, to sit with the unknown and be uncomfortable and sometimes it pulls me right out of my body and my sensations, drawing me up and out into the cloudy sky. Over the years, I have developed a greater capacity to listen to my mistakes, missteps foibles, and unknowns. I grew up not knowing how to listen to my body or my intuition. I am grateful for the people and animals who have taken time out to teach and continue to teach me the art of listening. One of the greatest teachers I've known, held me and all of my mystery, even when I had trouble holding myself. Her listening created an expansive and safer
Having a person listen to me, without advice, opinion, fix or agenda has made it possible for me to start listening and trusting myself. It is a great service in this loud world to be still and listen. Not only does listening serve the self, it serves the community. -Anonymous
Meet Alana ~ See that look on her face? I think she's daydreaming about trying out that smoothie recipe on page 6. It could be that she's deep in thought about what future readers will post!
We would like to hear from you! Submit your stories, poems or ideas on our website:
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Optimal You I'm Talking To Me By Alana Simler, LMP I'm talking to me and you're talking to you - whose listening? Well, ideally we all are! Our bodies are giving us constant feedback about all sorts of information, but unless we get to know the language it speaks we are missing out on the conversation. I had a lady on my table the other day whose words stuck in my head swirling around causing me to contemplate our body/mind connection in a different way. Coming from
someone who obviously communicates quite well with herself, she told me that her body called to her to have a conversation about her eating habits. She explained that she journals in a conversation style that allows her to ask questions and without over thinking or filtering she writes whatever flows from her. I get this might sound a little out there to some, but don't tell me you haven't talked, scolded or asked questions of yourself before. You probably just didn't wait for a reply... Therein lies the problem, we could all do with a little more patience in waiting for the answers. The body has all kinds of things to say; the reply isn't going to be a formed word, but more
Meet Lissa ~ Her inspiration is something a true artist would say... We are inspired by her art often with all the great work she's does helping to make the newspaper a work of art itself. like a feeling, sensation, emotion or intuition. I believe the first key to listening to our bodies is awareness. How can we hear what is being communicated to us if we have the volume turned down or we are shut off completely. You know that saying "we don't know what we don't know". I see it all the time on my massage table. Lifting an arm or a head for a passive range of motion only to be 'helped' by the client. "Just let your head feel heavy" or "let your elbow drop" are some of the nudges I coach my clients with. These are typically followed by professions from the person on the table that they were not aware they were helping. Continued on Page 5
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Inflammation and Gut Health? (part 2 of 2) By Cherrelyn Seegers, D.C. So how does one keep from triggering this kind of inflammatory cascade? By keeping the digestive tract functioning optimally. Here are just a few things to ensure more optimal function: #1) Diet-In order to bring the inflammatory response back under control, the diet must be our primary form of medicine. The following guidelines, when adhered to, will gradually and then more permanently bring chronic inflammation under control. Consume live, raw foods whenever possible. Examples of raw foods go far beyond salad with conventional lettuces. Try using a mix of the dark green, hardy leafed veggies like Swiss chard, kale, mustard, collard and beet greens. Each of these contain a much higher vitamin, mineral and medicinal value than many of the standard lettuces. Adding in sprouts to salads, sandwiches and smoothies will increase nutrient value as well as fiber. Try broccoli sprouts for the additional role that the cruciferous vegetables play in
liver detoxification. Raw nuts and seeds are important staples as they add much needed fats (mostly the Omega 3’s), vitamins and minerals, and help balance the pH of the body. Fiber: 4-10 grams/day will help rid toxins from the body. Soluble dietary fiber is fermented in the gut. This acts as a probiotic aid, like a fertilizer of sorts, that creates an optimal environment for flourishing gut flora. Among other beneficial aspects of fiber, high fiber foods help slow the rate at which carbohydrates are converted to sugar in your body, and we are all aware that fiber helps to cleanse the digestive tract. Protien: When choosing sources of protein, the main
concern in your mind should be, “in what environment was this animal or fish raised?”. Beyond our concern for humane treatment of animals and conservation of our oceans, the way in which the animal lived, directly effects the quality of their meat. For example, we know that the cholesterol content of pasture raised beef is 500% less than that of lot raised beef. That almost makes grass fed beef a different species. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acid content is 60% higher in grass fed beef. This just goes to show, they and we, really are what we eat! #2) Supplementation: I believe in “bang for your buck” supplementation. Meaning that there are a few things that when taken in therapeutic dosage will help improve one’s health and decrease systemic inflammation and help heal the gut. They are the following: EPA/DHA 2-3 g/day, Vit. D3 2000-6000 i.u./day (average Northern Latitude dosage), Glutamine 2000-5000 mg/day, Probiotics 25-50 billion c.f.u. broad spectrum (6-10 species of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium), Digestive
lead where it may. Leaving the sea cliffs behind, the Fool travels without rest. Weary from his travels he comes upon a man at a crossroads who is surrounded by roses and lilies that are growing out of season. The flowers are well tended and give order to the wild land. In front of the man is a table with a sword, a coin, a chalice, and a staff. “You have traveled far and are tired. Sit and we can talk.” The man says. “Who are you and what are these The Magician objects?” Asks the Fool. He sits in the By Chad Saunders offered chair across from the man. The Fool has decided that he must focus “I am the Magician, and I have been on the future. He knows that he has waiting for you. Depending on where you trials to overcome, but he can’t foresee decide to go, one of these objects can what is to come, so he travels. With no help you.” The Magician goes on to destination in mind just letting the road explain that the fool has traveled too
Path of the Fool
Enzymes taken with each meal, Fiber supplement (Clear fiber, G.I. Fortify, Spectrafiber) to increase overall dietary fiber. #3) Lifestyle: I include in this, not only activity level and intensity, but also our daily actions and commitments. When counseling patients about lifestyle, the goal is to take whatever the individuals daily reality is, and insert small manageable changes first, allow small successes to occur and gradually make bigger changes. In the category of daily actions and commitments, sleep is one of the main focuses. Sleep is a great healer and is grossly underrated in our production driven society. Our physiology depends on 6-8 hours per night in order to have time to release and integrate certain hormones whose balance we depend on to sustain vital energy day after day, year after year. By Cherrelyn Seegers, D.C. If any of this information piques your interest or concern for your own health, contact Dr. Seegers at (360) 647-1970 for an appointment to begin a sustainable approach to correcting and maintaining your health through nutrition.
long without a focus. He must now decide what it is he wants. If he wants to start a family he then the chalice can help him find his lady love. To build his fortune he will need many coins. If he desires merely for the simple life of hard work he only needs to take up the staff. His character and strength of being will be tested if he chooses the sword. The fool looking over the objects picks up the sword and he sees himself traveling with the wind at his back. He must take up a life of duty and responsibility. Fighting not only in the wars of nations but also within himself. He knows that he can rise above and help if only he is strong enough, and there will be many who will wait for him to fall. Continued on page 8
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Have You Heard... The Tobolowsky Files By Joel Simler
Everyone who has no clue who Stephen Tobolowsky is, raise your hand. For those of you with your hand still down; congratulations! You have earned a gold star. For those of you with your hand still in the air, I’m going to go out on a limb and bet that you actually do know Stephen Tobolowsky, just not by name. Do you watch television? Stephen has been in a multitude of roles; from Californication, Heroes, and Glee, to CSI (both Miami and Las Vegas), to animated roles such as King of the Hill. Perhaps you know him instead from his numerous movie roles like Spaceballs, Thelma and Louise, Memento, and more current films like Magnificat. He has over 200 credited roles listed on IMDB, plus more credits as writer, director, and even a voice acting role in the video game Batman: Arkham Origins. Still don’t recognize him? Ok then, let’s try one final time. Most will recognize him in his role as...
point… twice; and playing in a band with teenage Stevie Ray Vaughn) is pretty humdrum like most of ours. What catches the ear about this podcast is Stephen’s story telling abilities, and also his incredible ability to find lessons in the mundane as well as the extraordinary.
Honestly, I have no idea where to tell you to start on this one readers. Take your pick, because every episode is a great one to start on. All the same, let me narrow down your search a bit, and point out some good highlights to listen for. While there is a sort of timeline within the series, it is not necessary to listen chronologically. Stephen does a great job of referencing a past episode and not making a listener feel left out for not hearing it yet. However, I recommend starting at episode 26. Why 26? I would love to recommend an earlier episode, such as episode 1, but, they aren’t available to listen to! Now, given the depth of the internet, I’m “Ned. Ryerson! ‘Needle Nose Ned’? ‘Ned the Head’? Come on buddy. sure episodes pre-26 are around, but I haven’t dug that far yet. As it is, Case Western High. Ned Ryerson: I did the whistling belly button trick at only 26-60 are available. the high school talent show? Bing! Ned Ryerson: got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn’t graduate? Bing again! Ned Ryerson: I dated The Tobolowsky Files’ tag line “Life, love, and the entertainment your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? industry, as told by legendary actor Stephen Tobolowsky”. It is quite spectacular how Stephen manages to take those 3 elements and combine Well?” them into stories that manifest into more than one actor talking about His Role as Ned Ryerson, the annoying and unremitting insurance good days and bad days on the set of any given movie/TV. Each show salesman from Phil Connors (Bill Murray) recurring personal hell, is begins with host David Chen greeting the listener and introducing where a vast majority of people will recognize Stephen Tobolowsky. If Stephen via one of his many acting credits. After that, something you haven’t seen Groundhogs Day, then stop whatever you are doing and interesting happens. Most podcasts I’ve listened to involve an interview style format, and it seems like that is how this will start. Suddenly go find a way to watch it post-haste. you’re listening and realize that David (the host) has not spoken in 30 What makes this prolific actor so unknown to a large portion of the minutes, and there is no sign of him coming back. Instead we find populace, is that he is so incredibly ordinary. His look is that of anybody ourselves hearing Stephen talk about his life and his deep introspections you would see on the street in almost any town in the U.S.A., and perhaps that typically transcend the situation he is referencing to something we that’s why he so often plays the supporting roles without being can all relate to in some way. Stephen, whether it’s intentional or not, is recognized by most. Much of The Tobolowsky Files is about his life, a great motivational speaker, as well as an excellent entertainer. which, while having some crazy moments (like being held at gun
Seeds of Change Continued from page 1 A way that you can “be the change” here in Bellingham is to participate in the Bellingham Community Seed Swap and grow your own non-GMO food. -By Kerri Burnside What is the Bellingham Community Seed Swap? "Getting Seeds into the Hands of the People!" Bellingham Community Seed Swap Sunday, January 26th 2:30pm - 5:30 pm The Majestic 1027 North Forest St. Bellingham (Intersection of Maple St, near the Co-op)
2:30 Doors Open 3:30 "Basic Seed Saving" talk by Celt Schira 4:30 Master Seed Saving talk by Brian KERKVLIET 5:30 Swap Ends & Clean Up Light Refreshments Will Be Served
Who Should Attend: * People with Extra Seed, Seed-Potatoes & Edible Tubers to Share (Please have items in labeled envelopes or containers) * People without seed who want seeds to grow! Please, no saved squash seeds or GMO seeds!
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Optimal You I'm Talking To Me
Continued from page 3 The next popular statement sounds statement sounds something like "I didn't even realize that spot was sore until you touched it." Again, this comes back to awareness. It's hard to relax if we aren't conscious of the fact that we are tense. Where do we begin, who teaches these language classes, is there a home-study course? Have I always been closed off or separated from myself, or did this gradually happen due to a trauma or chronic pain that caused a need to disassociate in order to survive the constant feedback my body was giving. Of course there are books and classes out there that can be incredibly insightful, but for starters just practice checking in. Continued on Page 7
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their life can overshadow everything else. Happiness comes when you are living purposefully and joyfully from your authentic center. You are in this life for a reason. You have skills and abilities that are meant to be shared. When you have cleared away old thoughts, emotions, and habits that keep you stuck, you become more clear about your life direction and you feel better about yourself. This affects you and your family. Do your thoughts sometimes feel like Photo by David H. Johnston bees buzzing around in your head? Are you sometimes caught off guard by emotions that are triggered when you least by Arlene Arnold expect it? Do you find yourself stuck in Your house can be beautiful, clean, organized, warm, patterns of behavior that don't get you and inviting, but it is not a home until those who live there what you want, but you just seem to fall are a happy family. Family means anyone who lives there, into the old habit anyway. including someone who is single with cats or living with a Remember that Einstein said, " Insanity roommate. is doing the same thing over and over As a Color Therapist, you may wonder why I don't again and expecting different results." It focus on the colors in the home. I could do that. It is can feel like a bit of insanity when you important! But, how people feel about themselves and find yourself stuck in ways you
Making Room for Happiness
Page 6 recognize, yet don't seem to know how to change. When I first became passionate about changing my own patterns, I went to a psychologist to get some help. I learned a lot, but as I looked at the process, I figured it would take me several lifetimes to finish clearing up what kept derailing me. Later, I discovered that thoughts, emotions, and habits are all energy. The psychologist was having me change patterns through my mind, but that's where the problem started! Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." In fact, I find that solving problems is less about changing the mind and more a matter of changing energy. Color therapy offers a simple, effect way to change energy. Working with Complementary Colors means you are bringing together a warm color (your human aspect) with a cool color (your spiritual aspect). When you are operating Continued on page 8
VERRY BERRY SMOOTHIE Everyone enjoys a good smoothie. Here is a smoothie recipe which has gone through many variations and is now practically perfect in every way. I enjoy it almost every night and it keeps my immune system super strong. I never get hungry between meals anymore (thanks chia seeds!), never cold colds/flues, and have never grown tired of it. Its not only delicious, it's gorgeous purple/red color makes it visually appealing. As a vegan it gives me crucial vitamins I might not get regularly or in large enough amounts with other meals. -Submitted by one of our readers (read more about the importance of cruciferous vegetables on page 4)
VEGGIE/BERRY MIXTURE 1 head red chard, chopped slightly 1 head rainbow chard, chopped slightly 1 large beet or 2 medium beets, uncooked, chopped into chunks 1 medium head red cabbage, uncooked, chopped into chunks 2 pounds strawberries 1 pint blueberries and/or blackberries and/or black grapes "Vitamix fruits and pour equal amount into 16 jars. Divide vegetables equally into three bowls. Pour liquids (below) into Vitamix, blend 5 seconds with one-half of a bowl of vegetables, add remaining half of bowl, blend 5-10 seconds (may be slightly lumpy, but you'll be mixing it more each night). Pour equal amounts into 16 jars. " 1 cup pomegranate/blueberry juice 1 cup water or orange juice
SMOOTHIE RECIPE 1 T nutritional yeast 1 T hemp seeds 2 T chia seeds 2 T golden flaxseed, ground (Bob's Red Mill - in refrigerated section at Fred Meyer nutrition center) 1 10 oz. jar veggie/berry mixture (recipe left) 2 bananas handful raisins/goji berries ice cubes "Put dry ingredients into Vitamix first, add veggie/berry mixture, blend 5-10 seconds. Add banana, raisins/goji berries, ice cubes, blend 45 seconds. Let sit a few minutes to allow flavors to blend. Serve with straw."
NOTE ON VEGGIE/BERRY MIXTURE: "You can also just add the chopped veggies and berries/juice to the Vitamix each time you make a smoothie, if you don't want to make the veggie/berry mixture ahead of time. I started making the mixture because my fridge is tiny and then discovered I like having the mixture ready so I can quickly make smoothies each night." Note: For best taste results use a vitamix or equivalent. However, don't let this detour you from mixing with a blender if that is all you have. Just blend for extra long!
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If I RAN THE ZOO We're Too Fat By Mel Damski So many of us have jobs that simply don’t Recently, I went to a local eatery for a very require any exertion. We drive everywhere, inexpensive buffet lunch. What I saw even around the corner. We have to invent basically ruined my appetite–a parade of ways to exercise, and even hire trainers to help overwhelmingly obese people lined up at the keep us on task. trough. You might think that’s not a very scientific sampling–people mostly on vacation looking for a cheap, all-you-can eat buffet–but unfortunately it is a microcosm of what is happening around the country. In Washington State, over 26 percent of our population is considered obese. Darwin would have a tough time with this scenario. Aren’t we supposed to have evolved into a smarter, healthier species? Somewhere along the journey from hunter gatherers to farmers to industrial workers to white collar computer users, we’ve lost our way. If you spend your day working your ass off, literally, to make enough money to feed yourself and your family, you’re not going to have to count calories. But if you can sit on your ass all day and make enough money to buy a 1500 calorie lunch at McDonalds, you’re going to have a problem. Take a moment to close your eyes, breath slowly and do a scan through your body. Basically, that is a type of meditation. By doing this more often you are taking the time to get to know yourself and will more efficiently converse - as if with an old friend. If you feel pain, consider what kind of pain it is. Pain can feel dull, sharp, nagging, intermittent, burny, etc. Each one is a detail in your body's effort to chat with you. It isn't always necessary to run screaming when you notice a pain sensation. A certain 'someone' was terrible about this for the longest time! It was incredibly frustrating to massage this person at times due to particular sensitive areas that I knew needed help yet they would jump around and retract if I tried. After literally years of persistence we were able to have break throughs that have led to a deeper understandings of how these sensations are interpreted. Try evaluating what pain sensations are conveying to you.
We mostly eat food that has been has been over processed by huge corporations, laced with hormones and preservatives to be shipped long distances to look good on the supermarket shelf. (See the Oscar nominated documentary Food, Inc if you want the scary details.) After a big dinner, we sit in front of the television or at the computer, or in many cases, both. Our brain continues to process but we aren’t doing anything to help digest all of those carbs. And when I say “we”, I mean it. I love pizza and french fries as much as the next guy. I’ve struggled with poor nutrition and weight issues my whole adult life. Recently, I went through old family pictures and either cropped myself out of them or dumped the whole damn picture in the trash. How did that college wrestler turn into that fat guy? No wonder I’ve had two knees replaced!
Optimal You I'm Talking To Me Continued From Page 5
I’m a big supporter of health care, but when I see the parade of overweight tourists walking down First Street in La Conner, I just don’t see how the numbers are going to work. So many diseases accrue from obesity: heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure. Can we really afford to subsidize that kind of lifestyle? And these are the grown-ups. Our children and grandchildren have replaced kickball and capture the flag with video games and social networking. The rate of adolescent obesity is alarming, and if they aren’t getting exercise as kids, the future can’t be rosy. Science and medicine say that obese kids grow up to be even more obese adults. (Statistically, American kids have three times the obesity Continued on Page 9 or criticisms your body delivers about what you have ingested. Have you ever noticed that when you are regularly physically active you tend to eat/crave healthier foods? Take a look at your emotions, talk about a large smoke signal sending a message! Whether happy, sad, glad or mad the way your feeling within your body harmonizes to match your mood. On the flip side, if you can stop for a moment and pay attention to how your body is feeling you might find it has effected your current state of mind. What if making a change in one could have a desired affect in the other.
Mind boggling? True, but very attainable when we tune in and pay attention. Other ways to get to know the messages are massage, yoga, pilates, meditiation - the list goes on. A relationship with Have you thought about how you feel after ourselves is best one we can develop! eating particular foods? Blood racing through veins, bloated full stomach, surges of energy, By Alana Simler, LMP lethargic or even contentment are all applauses
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Making Room For Happiness Continued from Page 7
from both the human and spiritual sides of you, your viewpoint changes. For example, you have a family member that pops into anger that seems out of place or out of control. This could be the color red. When the vibration of red is stuck, you can experience anger on a scale from frustration to rage depending on the source of the anger. Bringing red together with its complement green allows the heart to open. A person then can step back, observe what is really going on, and see that his response is way beyond what just happened. Sometimes that leads to remembering an incident earlier in life that caused the anger. This in itself may dissolve the anger. Other times, one needs to go deeper. My point is that a happy family comes when those in the family have been willing to see where they are stuck and then seek help dissolving the energy that has shown up as thoughts, emotions, or habits. Color therapy is one way to address stuck energy. I like it because it's easy and sometimes almost playful, even though what you are doing is quite serious. Perhaps you are the only one in your family willing to look at stuck places. That's okay. The only person you can change is you anyway. It's quite interesting to see that when one person changes, it shakes up the norm. At first, this may cause discomfort and probably
WEDNESDAYS JANUARY 8TH
www.bellinghammuse.com some anger in others, but ultimately it can create all kinds of shifts in family patterns. Changing because you think it will change someone else is not a good reason to shift, but you can change and then notice what happens. It can be quite surprising! You can start your own process by noticing what feels uncomfortable in you. Sometimes that shows up in physical discomfort or sometimes you just know something isn't right. That's the time to take action. If you have noticed patterns in yourself that just don't fit who you are, consider contacting a color therapist for help. I suspect you will be amazed at how fast and simple change can be when color vibrations are working with you and through you! By Arlene Arnold Arlene Arnold is a Certified Spiritual Guide and Healing Facilitator (1995 )and Color Therapy Expert. She is founder of Complementary Color Therapy, a method of changing lives through the power of color. Her color therapy school is training practitioners around the world. She is on a mission to develop easy, effective tools using the power of color that allow people to release old patterns that keep them stuck, so they can move forward as the brilliant light of their inner truth. www.ThePowerofColor.com
The Magician Continued from page 4
The Fool puts down the sword unsure of what he has seen and picks up the coin. The land spreads out before him and he is able to grow his wealth, trading his
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goods where they are needed. He builds a house and it grows becoming more to him, his home. There will be those who will want his wealth but as he will need help in the beginning, he can be there to help them grow. The coin becomes heavy from the responsibility so the Fool sets it aside and takes up the staff. He sits before a fire knowing he has worked an honest day. He works the fields and the land around him grows. As he takes care of the land, he is taken care of in return. It is a simple life following the orders of another so the land can grow and become prosperous. Setting the staff aside the Fool looks upon the Chalice. What will he see? Curious he picks it up as if to drink. He sees himself traveling the cliffs he has just left with the ocean to his side, beside him is a woman. He has never seen her before but he knows everything about her as she knows everything about him. He smiles at the children she has given him, and he sees Continued on page 9
FEBUARY5TH MARCH 5TH
Bellingham Muse
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www.bellinghammuse.com
Have you Heard... Continued from Page 5
As we enter a fresh new year, many of us think about ways to refresh ourselves. Many see new years as a time to start over. However, life does not always (or even usually) chug along in nicely cut yearly increments. In episode 35 we follow Stephen as he starts his “new year” at the age of 36 when he and his girlfriend of many years, actor Beth Henley, break up. Stephen must then move forward and find out what works for him. As you move forward in your life, and the New Year, consider this quote that Stephen gives us from Van Cliburn “that you only need 3 things in life: mathematics, physical education, and music. Mathematics to plan the journey, physical education for strength to make the journey, and music to make the journey worthwhile”.
And lastly I would like to apologize. Apologize for getting you hooked to this podcast which may change your life, only to have it stop short. While the series was moving along at a good pace, it suddenly stopped and left us hanging with a 9 month gap between the latest episode and the one before it. What does this mean? I can’t tell you, but I’ll be looking every day for the next installment of the Tobolowsky Files.
We're Too Fat Continued from page 7
By Joel Simler
rate of kids in Europe, where Step Outside. It’s a great national health care has been concept. Let’s get the kids back successful). on the playground. And let’s take a long walk after a Diets make for good reality nutritious dinner of locally television but we all know that fad grown food. diets don’t work. We have to figure out how to compensate for After all, we live in one of the our sedentary lifestyles. We need and produces his own local concerts in his healthiest environments in the spare time. healthier food, and less of it. world. Fresh air, fresh food, ******************************************************************************** clean water. If we can’t do it, How do I gain access to all these podcast’s you ask? I will tell you… We have a store in town named nobody can. The good news is that finding and listening to podcasts’ is easy; the bad Go Outside and another called news is that… wait a second, what am I saying… there is no bad news! Originally published in the La Conner Weekly News The most convenient way to get a podcast is to download episodes on By Mel Damski - the Producing-Director of the TV series "Psych" and your smart phone. Windows, Apple, Android, and most any other phone winner of the Best General Interest Column by the Washington on the market now come with a podcast app already on it. There are also Newspaper Association. many podcast playing apps available in your phones market place that will give you control over what you download. Born in Seattle, raised in Bellingham, Joel is a real cloud loving, tree climbing, North Westerner. He can be found living by a Troll in Seattle, often exploring a vast array of breweries, and music happenings. He works as an audio/video technician in Redmond giving him a perfect drive for listening to podcasts. He is also a professionally certified dance instructor,
No need to fret if you don’t have the capabilities on your phone! You can also go to the itunes store, or the Zune store, or probably many more online stores I’m not even aware of, and search for your podcast of choice to download. Once downloaded, you can put the episode onto an mp3 playing device of your choosing. One final choice for you entails looking up the podcast at its host website, which will be listed after each article. For example, Radiolab episodes can be listened to at www.Radiolab.org.
Get more great stories by Mel Damski in his new book "If Mel Ran The Zoo" or visit his blog: www.ifmelranthezoo.com
That’s it! Now go and start exploring and listening to the ever thickening jungle of podcast! And if you come across anything good, let me know...
The Path of the Fool Continued from Page 8
their children after them. He sees the line of is family grow and he is proud, sad and hopeful for each of them. And the Fool sets aside the chalice. “None of these paths will be easy. What is it that you want to achieve? Your intuition is strong; it has brought you to me. I am willing to help you onto the next stage of your life. Where will you go, what path do you choose?” The Fool looks down at the objects before him, standing up reaches out his hand looking forward to what lies ahead. By Chad Saunders
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Bellingham Muse
Horoscopes Aries (3/21-4/19) - This is a time when you can get things done. Life isn’t a competition, what you are able to accomplish shouldn’t be measured by the works of others. This is a good time for relationships.
Libra (9/23-10/22) – This is the time for relationships. Be careful about jumping too early into a committed relationship. Enjoy the company of the one your with without forcing compromises upon them.
Origins of the Gregorian Calendar
Good Days : Jan. 7 & 8 and Feb. 3 & 4
Good Days: Jan. 22 & 23 and Feb. 18 & 19
By Jair Furnas
Taurus (4/20-5/20)- The holiday season is over now is the time to watch what you spend. Holding onto what you make will allow you to have the funds for what you really need, which is coming soon. This is a good time to reflect on what you have, you will see how rich you truly are.
Scorpio (10/23-11/21)– Take your time. Focus on what is important without being too hasty. You have the energy and ability to get things done, don’t let impatience be your downfall.
Whether it lives on our wall, in our phone or in our head, calendars allow us to mark the passage of time and important events in our lives. The calendar we use has been in place for almost 500 years, but it has taken several changes over the last 2000 years to ensure its accuracy.
Good Days: Jan. 24 & 25 and Feb. 20 & 21
Julian Calendar -- The Roman calendar was 355 days long and so was often out of alignment with the solar year, which was approx. 365 days. The chief priest (or Pontifex Maximus) of Rome would add or subtract days to the calendar every year to ensure that it matched the solar year. However, most pontifices were also politicians, so there were instances where the calendar would not be updated if it benefited their political career. For example, they could shorten a rival politician's term of office by not updating the calendar or lengthen the term of their office by the same method. This somewhat arbitrary method of keeping the calendar accurate ended with the calendar reforms of Julius Caesar, who officially set the calendar year at 365.25 days (1 leap day every four years). The problem was that this calendar wasn't 100% accurate either. This wouldn't be corrected for 1500 years, when Pope Gregory XIII sponsored changes that resulted in the calendar we use today.
Good Days: Jan. 9, 10 & 11 and Feb. 5, 6 & 7 Gemini (5/21-6/20)- This is a good time for change, feel free to shake things up. Find a new project and break the monotony, just be careful not to start too many. Find something that you can focus on it will be successful.
Good Days: Jan. 12 & 13 and Feb. 8 & 9 Cancer (6/21-7/22)-This is the time for family, those you were born to as well as those you choose. You will be a source of strength to your family. Don’t get stuck looking into the past, look at what you have now.
Sagittarius (11/22-12/21) - Let your dreams take you where they will. Success comes from an unexpected place. Travelling abroad could find you a new home that you’ll love.
Good Days: Jan. 26 & 27 and Feb. 22, 23 & 24
Capricorn (12/22-1/19)– This is the time to take advantage of all that hard work. You will be praised for the things you do. Keep up the good work.
Good Days: Jan. 1, 2, 28 & 29 and Feb. 25 26
Good Days : Jan. 14, 15 & 16 and Feb. 10, 11 & 12 Leo (7/23-8/22) – This is the time to take charge at work. Others will be looking to you for what needs to get done, be the authority. Watch out for stress though, health issues could arise.
Good Days: Nov. 22, 23 & 24 and Dec. 20 & 21
Aquarius (1/20-2/18)– This is the time for contemplation. Don’t let arguments end long standing friendships. Take care of yourself as well as those you care about.
Good Days: Jan. 3, 4, 30 & 31 and Feb. 27 & 28
Virgo (8/23-9/22) – Don’t go let others take advantage of you. Your willingness to be helpful is a good thing just make sure that you are helping and not doing it for them. This isn’t the time to be looking for recognition.
Pisces (2/19-3/20) – This is a time of quiet contemplation. You will want to spend time alone, but make sure that you don’t overdo it. The time you spend alone now can help you focus and get things done.
Good Days: Jan. 19, 20 & 21 and Feb. 15, 16 & 17
Good Days: Jan. 5 & 6 and Feb. 1 &2
Good days are those days that the moon has moved into your sign making it a good time to start something new. These are the days when things just seem to fall into place.
By Chad Saunders
Gregorian Calendar -- The Julian calendar was off by about 11 minutes per year, which adds up over the centuries. By the time Pope Gregory updated the calendar in 1582, the Julian calendar was off 10 days. But 10 days as compared to what? In 325 A.D. the Council of Nicea had officially set down the rule that all Christians must celebrate Easter on the same date. In order for this to happen, the Julian calendar had to be corrected for the drift that had already occurred and a better calculation developed so that the calendar would be accurate for the future. Many different re-calculations of the calendar were proposed, eventually the one that Pope Gregory sponsored kept the Leap Year calculation, but modified it slightly to skip 3 leap days every 400 years. This fixed the calculation error that existed in the Julian calendar; now all that remained was to figure out what to do with the 10 days that the calendars were off. One idea proposed was to gradually take the 10 days out of the calendar over 40 years by deleting the Leap Day (Feb. 29). Pope Gregory XIII decided to go with a more direct change and deleted ten days to re-synchronize the calendars; Thursday October 4, 1582 (Julian calendar) was followed by Friday, October 15, 1582 (Gregorian calendar). The old calculation was off by 1 day every 128 years, the new calculation is off by only 1 day every 7,700 years. This new calendar, the Gregorian calendar, was adopted by the . Catholic church and over the centuries has been adopted by most, but not all, countries around the world By Jair Furnas
Bellingham Muse
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Events in January and February Occurring Weekly
Special Events at Inspiration Alley 1121 N. State Street Call Kerri (360) 612-2277 to register
Mat Pilates Mondays 9:00am By Simler Massage and Pilates Bellingham Dance Co. 1705 N. State Street $10 drop in Tslagi Moving Meditation (The Cherokee Dance Of Life) Tuesdays 7:00am Center for Spiritual Living 2224 Yew Street Rd Healing Hour 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm Simply Spirit Reading & Healing Center 1304 Meador Avenue, Suite B-11, Bellingham (Haskell Business Center, Building B) $5 drop in
Special guest Arlene Arnold, author of ColorCards and founder of Complementary Color Therapy An Introduction to Color Therapy Friday, 02/28/14 7-8:30pm
$10 (Includes a discount coupon for a color therapy session with Arlene)
Occurring in January
Mike Allen Quartet Jazz Series Mike Allen Jazz Quartet Series Wednesday, 01/08/2014 Wednesday, 02/05/2014-7:30pm 7:30pm BAAY, 1059 N. State St. BAAY, 1059 N. State St. $10 General/ $8 Senior/ $55 Series Free $10 General/ $8 Senior/ $55 Series Free for WWU Students and all students for WWU Students and all students under 18 (w/valid ID) under 18 (w/valid ID) Tickets in advance or at the door, Tickets in advance or at the door, jazzproject.org 360 650-1066 jazzproject.org 360 650-1066
BIONS (Bellingham Institute of Noetic Science) Kirtan & Bahgavad Gita Guest Lecturer Thursdays 6:00pm-8:00pm Thursday, 01/16/2013 7:00 – 9:00pm Krishna Lounge, 1111 N. State St. (Doors open at 6:30pm) Sundays 5:00pm-7pm Fairhaven Library (feast following on 11/10 &11/24) 1117 12th St. 1109 N. State St. Suggested donation $5-$10
Fluid Frequency Explore the waves and rhythms of the body's inherent motion. Fridays, 5:30pm-6:45pm Inspire Studio 1411 Cornwall Ave #201 by donation Be Stress Free! Guided Meditation Saturdays 10:00-11:00am Krishna Lounge 1111 N. State St. $5 drop in Tulasi Tea House Daytime Lounge & Tea Bar Sundays 1:00pm-5:00pm $5 Yoga- 1:00pm & 3:00pm Krishna Lounge 1111 N. State St.
Occuring in February
Intro to Tai Chi & Qigong Fridays, 01/17/2014- 02/01/2014 6:00pm-7:00pm Cost: $28 Powered by Qi 7056 Portal Way, Bldg J, Unit 140 Ferndale 360-296-5740 Winter Dance Showcase Saturday, 01/25/2014 2:00pm and 7:30pm $10/person in advance. Tickets available at Bellingham Dance Co. 1705 N State St. Contact Mary (360) 224-4082 Mary@bellinghamdancecompany.com
Sanford-Hill Piano Series Jonathan Biss Friday, 02/14/2014 PA - 155 - Concert Hall 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Call box office for tickets (360) 650-6146 Combined Choir Sunday, February 23, 2014 PA - 155 - Concert Hall 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM WWU Wind Symphony 02/26/2014 PAC Concert Hall 8PMFree! Vagina Memoirs Fri. 02/28/2014 & Sat. 3/01/2014 PA - 155 - Concert Hall 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Humpty Dumpty Get’s It Together How to Put Your Pieces Back Together Again and Fully Embrace Life Saturday,03/01/2014 10-11:30 am $25 (Includes Arlene Arnold’s new book by this title.) Relax Relieve Rejuvenate Three Simple Ways to Relieve Stress & Feel Better in 20 Minutes or Less Saturday,03/01/2014 1-2:30pm $35 (Includes Arlene Arnold’s upcoming book & CD by this title) Dolphin Song The Dolphins are “in the world, beyond the worlds, and between the worlds.” Saturday,03/01/2014 7-8:30pm Join Arlene Arnold as she introduces the Luminaries ( a book and mandala card set created by Arlene and artist Lahrinda Eileen). $40 (Presentation includes the Luminaries) Transformational Sessions with Arlene Arnold by Appointment Sunday, 03/02/2014 Call for an appointment 206-255-7965
Visit www.inspirstion -alley.com for more information about the above workshops. Call Kerri (360) 612-2277 to register.
"The real test of compassion is not what we say in abstract discussions but how we conduct ourselves in daily life." –The Dalai Lama
See our website www.bellinghammuse.com for a current calendar of events or to list your own event www.bellinghammuse.com
Bellingham Muse
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Humpty Dumpty Gets It Together How to Put Your Broken Pieces Back Together Again and Fully Embrace Life Arlene Arnold $12.95 www.TransformationalTools.com Review of "Humpty Dumpty Gets it Together" "Did you ever wonder if Little Bo Peep found her sheep or if anyone ever found Jack and Jill bruised and unconscious at the bottom of the hill? Sometimes I think childhood rhymes and fairy tales were written by adults with abandonment issues and a fear of hills. In her new book, Humpty Dumpty Gets It Together, Arlene Arnold has brought us back to the wall that was Humpty Dumpty’s final downfall but this time the story is written by a very wise and talented spiritual teacher. The idea that we all fall to pieces once in a while can be a very daunting realization. With skillful writing, delightful insights and a straight forward message, Arlene makes our visit with Humpty Dumpty an inspiring journey to wholeness and wellbeing that is definitely not your run of the mill self-help book. Join Humpty and be there when, “All the King’s Horses and All the King’s Men” are not needed to put Humpty together again. It is a worthwhile read that gives you a treasure of helpful ideas no matter what you are trying to pull together in your own life’s journey." -Peggy Smith, Certified Vibrations Medicine Practitioner and Stress Management Specialist
www.Insight2Energy.com