Issue 23 | Face the Current

Issue 23

May/June 2019

fAce the current TRAVEL

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CULTURE

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MUSIC

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SPORTS & FITNESS

the liberating power of dance & yoga with

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HEALTH

parashakti The Stage is a Temple:

Musical Journey of Trevor Hall 10 foot lightning bolts transforms audiences with

SkyFire Arts

Part two of Toltec and Indigenous Wisdom with

Don Jose Ruiz and Dr. Anita Sanchez Mountain Madness

Scotland Highlands Trek

Fuel for an inspired life.

fAce the current

Editorial

Issue 23 · May/June 2019

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www.facethecurrent.com FtC Team For advertisement and sponsor inquiries(*) (*)Sasha Frate, Founder & Editor in Chief sasha@facethecurrent.com (*)Ainsley Schoppel, Co-Editor in Chief ainsley@facethecurrent.com (*)Bibi Mathur, Partnerships and Sales bibi@facethecurrent.com

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Sema Garay, Executive Designer sema@facethecurrent.com

Face the Current is creating a ripple effect, inspiring positive change in the world and enhancing lives by encouraging one another to relentlessly discover, explore, question and learn from current and emerging information and perspectives. Driven by a deep-rooted love of learning, creative minds and a great appreciation for connection with other individuals who are passionate about what they do, Face the Current has quickly developed into a growing team and global community of incredible people who believe in living life to the fullest and discovering their true potential.

Chris Assaad, Music Content Curator chris@facethecurrent.com All Rights Reserved DISCLAIMER The information provided in this magazine is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

Opinions and other statements expressed by the kind souls sharing their viewpoint, users and third parties are theirs alone, not opinions of Face the Current. Content created by third parties is the sole responsibility of the third parties and its accuracy and completeness are not endorsed or guaranteed. Face the Current Website and third parties may provide links to web pages, web sites, and various resources or locations on the web. Face the Current has no control over the information you access via such links, does not endorse that information, and shall not be responsible for it or for the consequences of your use of that information.

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Cover Image Credits: • Front cover: Featuring Parashakti Photography: Vanessa Viola Apparel: Onzie

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All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Face the Current may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this magazine.

May/June 2019 CONTRIBUTORS

We are a growing team of Up-Standers whose intention is to create positive change in the world through networking, connecting, supporting, and developing our global thought-community at both an individual and a collective level. We are passionate about building our crew of experts and industry leaders to deliver cutting-edge information that is created “by our global community, for our global community.” This issue’s FtC team and contributing crew are based in the U.S, Spain, Canada, Guatemala and Portugal.

Penelope Jean Hayes is a self-help and metaphysics writer, contemporary philosopher and theorist, host of “PENELOPE: A Podcast Show” on Apple Podcasts and iTunes, and on-camera television host. She is the author of the upcoming book titled, “The Magic of Viral Energy: An Ancient Key For Happiness, Empowerment, And Purpose” about the contagious nature of energy. Penelope has appeared as an expert for numerous TV programs including Dr. Phil and ABC News; and has been quoted in Men’s Health Magazine. www.1penelope.com Twitter: @PenelopeJean

Yoan Guerreiro Santos

is 28 years old and the son of a Portuguese father and a Brazilian mother. Born in Switzerland, he currently resides in Portugal. Yoan furthers his love for photography with a degree in Audiovisual and Multimedia, and his recent passion for drones was born out of his love of piloting. With this hobby came the realization that aerial photography lends an incredible perspective to the subjects he wishes to capture. Now, Yoan follows his passion to travel, to seek, to grow, and to realize his potential while pursuing photography. In September 2018, Yoan embarked on a 5-month journey through Southeast Asia, which was the most amazing experience of his life (to date).

Instagram: @yoanguerreiro YouTube

Ed Thurlow

is Co-Founder of S33D. His dream to build a distributed seed and story library has had many twists and turns. Having been attracted to the local stories and wild animals of lands he was lucky to visit at a young age. The importance of organic and transparent supply chains, paired with conscious use of them, later came into his fields as the most promising solution to preserve the wilderness that has always inspired him. S33D was born to assist the calibration of our collective value systems to re-align with preserving, protecting and learning from the earth’s body. www.s33d.life Instagram @ejthurlow

Jawn Angus

is a runner who has competed in 44 marathons in 38 US states, Canada and Australia. He is also an Ironman triathlete and owner of Marathawn Jawn Coaching based out of Seattle, WA and Scottsdale, AZ. Jawn is an RRCA Level II run coach, USA Triathlon Level I coach, and ISSA Strength & Conditioning certified trainer who offers running, triathlon and strength coaching online. He holds a degree in Healthy Lifestyles Coaching from Arizona State and studied Sports Nutrition and Exercise Immunology in Australia. When he’s not running, Jawn likes to soak up the Arizona sunshine. www.marathawnjawn.com

Lisa Guy

Ed Pratt

is S33D’s Co-Founder, a young product designer who is passionate about both blockchain and organics. Following his online studies in sustainable agriculture, environmental science, and distributed ledger technologies, Ed realized the potential S33D could have in restoring and preserving biodiversity through organic trade and education. www.s33d.life Instagram @ed_barefoot

is a well-respected Australian naturopath, author and passionate foodie, with over 18 years clinical experience. Lisa runs a naturopathic clinic called ‘Art of Healing’ and is an avid health writer and recipe developer for leading publications.

Lisa is also the founder of Bodhi Organic Tea, an award winning herbal tea company who makes beautiful unique tea blends all naturopathically blended to enhance health and wellbeing. http://artofhealing.com.au/

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may/june CONTENT

06 From Edinburgh to Inverness to the Highlands: A Trekker’s Guide to Scotland

travel 06. From Edinburgh to Inverness to the Highlands: A Trekker’s Guide to Scotland 12. An Aerial Tour of Portugal’s Gem: Foz do Arelho 16. FtC Travel Connection: Brandon Olmscheid

culture 22. Don Jose Ruiz. Waking Up to our Purest Hearts: Toltec Wisdom to Tend the Gardens of our Lives 30. Spiritual Alchemy and the Power of Listening: A Continuation of The Four Sacred Gifts with Dr. Anita Sanchez

22 Don Jose Ruiz .

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Waking Up to our Purest Hearts FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE

music 42. Michael Ravenwood of SkyFire Arts: Electrifying

Audiences and Shifting Mindsets

FtC Issue 23

42 Michael Ravenwood

of SkyFire Arts

58 Spirit in the Body:

Dancing with Parashakti

54. The Stage is a Temple:The Conscious Musical Journey of Trevor Hall

sports & fitness 58. Spirit in the Body: Dancing with Parashakti 64. Opt Outside: The Health Benefits of Earthing

health 68. S33D: Restoring Earth’s Sustainable Food Systems Through Global Seed Pods 72. Boost your happy hormones: A natural approach to improving your mood and treating depression 80. Using Light Energy Immersion Therapy for Ultimate Health

54 The Stage is a Temple:

The Conscious Musical Journey of Trevor Hall www.facethecurrent.com 5

FtC travel

From Edinburgh to Inverness to the Highlands:

A Trekker’s Guide to Scotland

By Steve Guthrie and Ainsley Schoppel Scotland: home of kilts, bagpipes, haggis, single malt whisky, and a vast wilderness of extraordinary mountains and lochs. Barren and rocky mountains rise from moorlands pocked with heather, thistle, and wildflowers, and long valleys with deep and mysterious lochs divide the mountain ranges. Ancient castles stand guard over traditional landholdings, and Clans still preserve centuries-old traditions.The Highlands are sparsely populated and mostly desolate save for scattered villages and farms, with many more sheep peppering the landscape than people. Narrow roads wind through the countryside like trails, and solitude is all but guaranteed. It truly is the perfect place to go trekking!

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The Highlands are rife with history—including a long record of climbing—which is part of the allure for climbers and trekkers venturing to Scotland.Victorian-era hill walkers rode trains to the Highlands where they spent holidays bagging peaks.

Among other things, the development and advancement of climbing equipment and modern rock and ice climbing techniques took place in Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s.

Volunteer Scottish mountain rescue teams also created many of the skills used by contemporary rescue groups.

With the barren mountains, steep faces, and wild weather, Scotland has been the perfect location for the evolution of climbing techniques, clothing, and equipment. Because of this, a culture of characters was forged in the Highlands, including Dougal Haston, Hamish MacInnes, and Malcolm Smith,

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those characters were at the forefront of climbing for decades.

If you’re planning a group exploration of Scotland, arrive early and spend a day or two wandering around Edinburgh before heading to Inverness where your trip will really begin. It’s a small enough town that it truly is more fun to ask locals on the street for directions than it is to look at a map or guidebook. Local history, food, architecture, weather patterns, street names, and buskers on the corners all burst with intriguing charm.

Every nook and cranny in Edinburgh seems to have significance, whether it’s a medieval castle or the café where the first Harry Potter book was written. Arched doorways dot the architecture, leading to winding

staircases, alleys, and courtyards.

Cobblestone streets lined by gothic buildings with towers and turrets aplenty evoke images of ancient Scottish intrigue and feuds as well as the Renaissance era. Statues of famous Scots throughout history stand tall at every turn, and looming over the city is a rather large castle, which serves as a spectacular landmark with which to regain your bearings if you ever find yourself turned around. Despite its cultural heritage, Edinburgh is a modern and busy city. Trams and buses make it easy to traverse the city, but really, if the weather is fine and your shoes are comfortable, Edinburgh is the perfect walking town. With plenty of hills and stairs to help you reach your daily cardio goals, you’ll find most things that you’ll want to see and do are within walking distance. www.facethecurrent.com

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After you’ve soaked up Edinburgh, fly or take the train to Inverness.

Arriving in the largest of the Highland cities, you will stay a night before driving along the shore of Loch Ness to Kinlochleven. Stop at the canal-side village of Fort Augustus for a satisfying lunch and take a leg-stretching hike afterward to shake off the travel cobwebs before you drive to Edencoille— your bed and breakfast—where you will be ensconced for the next three nights.

Over the following days, be sure to hike the Devil’s Staircase, Ben Nevis (the highest peak in the UK), and maybe Bidean nam Bian (The Three Sisters), one of the jewels in Glencoe. Undertaking these hikes in what the Scots call “full conditions” gives them an air of authenticity and seriousness.You will discover that wild weather is a big part of outdoor recreation in Scotland—people are in the hills having fun even in dreary and unwelcoming conditions. The hotels and inns all have drying rooms for your gear, and a stop at the nearest pub (some right at the trailheads) to

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dry out and rehydrate is the norm.

The Ben Nevis Inn, touted as “the wee inn at the foot of the Ben,” will delight with delicious fare, including traditional “cullen skink” (a Scottish soup made from smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions), or “neeps and tatties” (rutabaga and potatoes). For those with a sweet tooth, you can’t

go wrong with sticky toffee pudding or shortbread to raise spirits and recharge the trekking batteries.

Highlanders are also fond of live music and if you’re lucky, you may get to be part of an informal jam session at one of your stops. With this in mind, another can’t-miss stop is Clachaig Inn. It’s a charming place

with about twenty-five rooms, two restaurants, and three bars. One of their bars has won multiple awards including “Best Pub” in Scotland and “Best Pub” in the UK. Their dedication to food and drink is a proper introduction to Highland hospitality.

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After the excitement of Inverness, head northwest to the mountainous region of Torridon; a haven for many of Scotland’s classic peaks. After a spectacular hike on Kintail, stop off at picturesque Eilean Donan Castle before laying your head down for a couple nights at the lovely Tigh An Eilean Inn, located in the small village of Sheidaig. The rooms overlook the salt water loch just in front of the

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inn and are comfortable, quaint, and decorated in an eclectic fashion. As might be expected in a remote and tiny Scottish village, the pub next door is the gathering spot for local characters. With no shortage of jokes and spinning yarns to overhear, you will feel as if you’re in the midst of a scene from a BBC show or a movie.

The mountains of Torridon offer many hiking options amidst the unusual ancient landscape of Torridonian sandstone. Opt for a summit hike up Ben Damph for sweeping views, or a steeper, more challenging ascent up Beinn.

Whichever you choose, don’t forget that you get to refuel with a heartily delicious breakfast at Tigh An Eilean in the morning!

On your last active day, enjoy another leg-stretcher around Loch Clair, then head back to Inverness for your last night. Hit the town for one more group dinner and enjoy yet another evening telling your own jokes and recalling your wonderful Scottish adventures. Everyone will disperse in the morning, traveling back to their respective realities with the memories of the Highlands.

Scotland leaves you with an air of the familiar—it’s history played out in real time.You will walk in the footsteps of the famous and infamous, climb mountains no matter the weather, soak in the atmosphere of small village life, eat great meals, taste deliciously aged single-malt whisky, and enjoy the hospitality of every Scot you meet; all while traveling with an amazing group of companions.

The Highlands will be the historic backdrop of treks you won’t soon forget, and they will most assuredly call out to you long after you’ve left, beckoning you back for another adventure.

ymore info: www.mountainmadness.com www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC travel

An Aerial Tour of Portugal’s Gem

Foz do Arelho

By Yoan Santos Guerreiro From a very young age, I’ve always felt that Foz do Arelho, located eight kilometers west of the city of Caldas da Rainha in Portugal, is “my” beach. It was the beach I frequented, first with my parents and later with friends, on blissful days that stretched into the night. Foz do Arelho is a beach where the sand divides the Atlantic Ocean from Lagoa de Óbidos, one of the largest natural lagoons in Europe.This is what gives this beach an almost fantastical quality.

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When I began to feel that photography was my passion, this beach became part of my daily commute. I was fourteen years old when I took my first photo on this beach: an impossible-to-miss rock called Gronho that rises at the end

of the beach. Since then it was almost routine: a trip to Foz at the end of the day to try to photograph one of the best sunsets you can see in Portugal. I still treasure this collection of photographs.

About four years ago, I bought a cheap, second-hand drone and I mounted an inexpensive action-cam to it. The drone had about seven minutes of autonomy, but it was enough to fall in love with the vision that I had gained from above. For a www.facethecurrent.com

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few weeks straight, I was only interested in piloting the drone and absorbing the beauty of the incredible resulting photographs.

Returning to Foz do Arelho, it is brilliant how this beach changes every day, especially the beach on the lagoon side. By flying the drone over the lagoon, I discovered that it is possible to walk in search of shapes, patterns, and designs, because they really are there. (And believe me, they really do change every day.) I’ve never captured the same photograph twice as there is always a surprise when I position the camera gimbal down.

This particular lagoon is also home to a very old smallboat fishing tradition: the search for the infamous mollusks of the lagoon—cockles. It is amazing to fly over these fishermen hard at work on their boats. I often see them looking up, perhaps wondering what that UFO is all about. It is always worth interrupting these fishermen, however, because the photographs I get are of a very cultural and original character that I have only succeeded in capturing in places like Thailand and Myanmar.

For those of you who already fly a drone, I’m sure you can understand my addiction. For everyone else, imagine a place where there is total freedom to fly with everchanging scenery and unrivaled beauty; where the color of the water makes you think that you’ve found paradise in the far corners of the world.

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Without a doubt, leaving Foz and traveling the world was a positive experience. Traveling and seeing other cultures, other places, and other possibilities made me look at Foz do Arelho with new eyes—I found more attentive artistry within myself. When I look at my recent photos of Foz, I see more care, more composition, more dedication, and, above all, much more passion for the moment.

Something I learned and discovered during the months I traveled in Southeast Asia was that fear often makes us miss life-changing moments.

Photography is not something to learn once and master. If we look twice, we discover that there is still so much to know, so much to see, and so much to photograph right in front of us. Try not to focus on one single place to repeatedly photograph; we must distance ourselves and perhaps a day later we can absorb a new essence of that place with new visions. I have proof of this in a photograph I took very recently of Gronho, the aforementioned imposing rock. I never thought it was possible to get that photo after years of photographing in Foz do Arelho, yet I managed to take the one that I can say is arguably the best photo I’ve ever been able to capture there.

As my journey unfolds, I hope to continue traveling the world and whenever I return home, I want to be able to look at Foz do Arelho with fresh eyes and to uncover new possibilities within it. My ultimate heart’s goal is to continue to show those who follow me and my work everything that my eyes see and that my imagination projects. That’s the power and beauty of aerial photography.

ymore info: Instagram: @yoanguerreiro YouTube: Yoan Guerreiro Santos www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC travel

FtC Travel Connection Wanderlusters, Adventurers, Explorers, and Travel Photographers –‘Sharing Our Stories’ ftc travel connection

Brandon Olmscheid

PLACE I Call Home: Minnesota, USA Instagram: @blolmscheid brandonolmscheid.com

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Do you see travel as a path to pursuing one’s dreams?

Yes, you will benefit from traveling in so many ways no matter what your passion is that you plan to pursue. Traveling puts you out of your comfort zone and opens your mind in ways you couldn’t while not traveling. Traveling could simply be that missing part to your life that could change everything for you in the best way possible.

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What is one place you’ve visited that truly felt like you were in a dream?

One of the most surreal places I’ve experienced was definitely The Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, USA. It felt like I was walking on a different planet! It’s so unique. As the sun started to set over the horizon the sand started to glow bright orange. It’s hard to put the feelings into words! It truly was an experience I’ll never forget.

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ftC fAce the current

travel connection

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ftC fAce the current

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Do you believe we were meant to be nomadic?

If we humans were meant to stay in one place we would have roots instead of legs. The earth was created to be explored and experienced. Be adventurous. Put yourself in different cultures and lifestyles. It will form you into the best you possible.

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FtC culture

Don Jose Ruiz Waking Up to our Purest Hearts:

Toltec Wisdom to Tend the Gardens of our Lives

By Sasha Frate In part two of Face the Current’s soulful sit-down with don Jose Ruiz, we dive deeper into our responsibility to future generations, the acceptance of our imperfect life paths, getting off of our “islands of safety,” being our own angels, breaking our addictions to suffering, facing and accepting the currents of our lives, and freeing ourselves from negative habits for the health of the gardens of our lives.

We continue opening our minds to the healing wisdom of the Toltecs, as don Jose Ruiz enlightens and empowers us to live our lives with accountability and the purest of hearts with insights from his latest books “The Wisdom of the Shamans” and “The Fifth Agreement.”

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Credit: Lisa Hantke

Sasha Frate: Our intent is manifesting through word and is responsible for the creation of everything as the messenger delivers his or her message.

What are some of the more powerful, positive messages that you believe are being delivered today? don Jose Ruiz: Humans are respecting life more. They’re respecting life in animals’ right to live.

And, they’re also respecting their own lives. We’re just beginning to respect the great essence that we really are.

And this way, people are beginning to have a voice, and their voices are being heard. People are the ones to pass on this legacy of negativity to the next generation. So, in this beautiful place, it’s a step toward

consciousness. Waking up, we can never go back to sleep, and by taking action, we remain awake. So, this is a very beautiful time we are living in.

SF:Yes, and that’s something I really saw on my travels––all the community coming together.

It’s amazing how much––even if you’re not going on these journeys or you’re getting the message from a messenger–– it really starts to amplify and creates that ripple effect. It spreads when each person goes back home and back to their normal environments. It’s really happening. dJR:Yeah, and I love that word “amplification” because that’s what we really are in our current bodies.

Our life is an amplification of the planet, and the planet is what we call in the many traditions the Mother.

And we’re amplifying for Her. So, every idea that we have, every act of goodness that comes from our heart, everything that we can deliver, we begin amplifying. This is why the Toltecs are named artists, because we’re really creating art with whatever we feel from the Mother.

So, it’s a beautiful word, amplification.

I love it.

SF: Awesome, yes.You’ve described one of the biggest lies of the present time with the statement that nobody’s perfect.

Why do you call this a lie? And, why is it not enough to simply say, “We are perfect”?

“

Our life is an amplification of the planet, and the planet is what we call in the many traditions the Mother. And we’re amplifying for Her. So, every idea that we have, every act of goodness that comes from our heart, everything that we can deliver, we begin amplifying. This is why the Toltecs are named artists, because we’re really creating art with whatever we feel from the Mother.

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Credit: Aaron Landman

dJR: It’s like I was saying before: We are an amplification of Mother. Even the negative things that we have done are part of it; that was also supposed to happen, so even that is perfect. When we are negative, when other people are negative, it makes an action in life that sparks the people who are living in positivity to have a voice and to speak up. They begin raising that love, raising that vibration, raising that awareness. The consciousness is being opened and the eyes are being opened to that way of living. So, whatever makes

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us change is whatever we live in our life. Every experience that we have was perfect because it was supposed to happen. It happened because it was supposed to. When we waste our time disrespecting ourselves, the problem is when we say it wasn’t supposed to happen, or it was supposed to be some other way. No. Everything is perfect and when we surrender to any situation, to any circumstance, we can wake up to really begin serving. We need to no longer expect stuff from the art of complaining, because complaining

and getting paralyzed doesn’t do anything––it doesn’t change anything.

But, when we see what it means to be change, and we begin taking action in our own home, this is when we really know that we’re perfect.

Making a change in our home begins the ripple effect that will begin happening everywhere. So now, maybe every human and artist will respect their own art and the world will be a better place.

This is a beautiful thing to do, so that’s what I mean when I say everything is perfect.

Credit: Lisa Hantke

SF: And truly, every person that crosses our path––even those that we feel might have come through with some kind of negativity or challenge––is serving us in some way. Right? dJR:Yes. It even becomes a blessing when we understand our situation; when we no longer have emotional attachment. When we really let go of the situation, we begin seeing it for what it was. It was a learning lesson.

And, no matter what, it’s about the act of kindness to ourselves. Because letting go of somebody negative is half the penance to ourselves. It’s like getting the negative person out of our home or getting the big dog that abuses the little dog out of its space. When we begin seeing this, it’s a blessing to learn how to take care of ourselves. When that happens, we say that it will never happen again, because we are now present.

This is why I love that phrase when Siddhartha wakes up to become the Buddha. He says, “Architect, you will not be building your home here anymore.” It’s because he woke up to that point and sees life as it is.

SF:You were saying that you also really welcome and invite these sorts of conflicts, because it allows you to practice not taking things personally. dJR:Yes, it’s a reminder to remain humble, to keep one foot on the ground, and to learn that everybody’s going through something. We might not know what they’re going through––they might have a good mask. But, everybody is going through something. And, when we begin to have a foot on the ground, are kind to ourselves, and are humble in any situation––even when we fall––that’s how we learn. The most beautiful thing is how we can serve and support one another to not spread that negativity anymore.

SF: Now, why do you say that

Credit: Lisa Hantke the biggest fear in this world is actually the fear of the truth? dJR: It’s because when we begin lying, we put ourselves on an “island of safety,” like we say in my tradition.

On that island of safety, we prefer to live in a lie than to live in the truth. If we don’t want to focus on the truth, it’s because it hurts so much. It’s like putting alcohol into an open wound

in an attempt to heal it. And, we don’t want that wound healed, because we’re addicted to reopening and reopening it. Like my older brother says, there will come a point that you see the truth and that will lead you to change. It’s just like the old sacred town quote, “The truth will set you free.” But many people don’t want to be set free; they want to remain in habitual suffering. My pain is building www.facethecurrent.com

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your pain, I pass on the pain, and it passes to everybody else, all because I’m suffering and didn’t know how to heal. When you’re ready to go through any situation to get yourself out of living in pain, that’s when you make the decision to stop living that way. If you don’t want to, it’s because you’re afraid of the truth, because most people know exactly what they need to do for themselves. (Not what they want to do because wanting and desiring is something else.) But, if you don’t take action, it just puts you into a bubble. Stop blaming everybody else and only start doing.You’re breaking the curse—the curse that we place on ourselves. That’s why it’s important to always be honest with ourselves and to be humble, because when we do that, we can see

the truth and let things go. Let not that evil grow. Let go of your pain to always have clean gardens so your flowers can grow.

SF: Beautiful. As you’ve made clear, there’s a lot of unlearning to do, and a lot of constant reinforcement to navigate before reaching second attention or even the third attention in the upper world that you call the dream of the masters. Is this truly achievable to become a master? dJR: Oh yes. The beautiful thing about the old traditions is sometimes they make the world so powerful, so mystical, that we believe we cannot attain them. But you know what? It’s like vision questing for me; it’s simply

day dreaming and allowing your voice to be heard. So, with this being said, everybody can achieve what they desire. In this moment I can say, “I want this in my life, or I don’t want that in my life.” I’m saying this prayer that the angels will hear, but who is really listening? I am listening because I am that angel. I’m praying to myself and now I take action. I can achieve whatever I want, and I can let go of whatever I don’t want, because it’s an action of sowing. It’s the fourth agreement: always bring your best.

With that action bringing you to the fourth agreement, we begin to manifest things and we begin to let go of things. In the Toltec tradition, it’s about unlearning and learning what the old negative habits are that don’t let us grow. This is where we’re

“

It’s the fourth agreement: always bring your best. With that action bringing you to the fourth agreement, we begin to manifest things and we begin to let go of things.

In the Toltec tradition, it’s about unlearning and learning what the old negative habits are that don’t let us grow.

“

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Credit: Aaron Landman

Credit: Aaron Landman calling a light to the darkness inside of us. Because we believe in ourselves so much that we want to learn to live the old way, no longer paralyzing ourselves with our own stinger, our own poison, our own mad words of corruption. We are back with the old ways and we don’t take things personally. Only then will we stop making excuses about the things we cannot change. When we begin practicing the beauty of the word, one day we begin thinking impeccably and we begin to take care of our garden; the love of our lives. It is possible—everybody can do it.

SF:Yes, I agree.You said that the fifth agreement is intended for messenger training or angel training for messengers who are aware that they have a message to deliver. How will awareness make a difference in these messengers?

dJR: Well, it’s an important question because this is what it is all about: service. When you become aware and live this way, the message that we give is to ourselves. When we give it to ourselves, we can give it to others, because we cannot give what we don’t have. When we’re prepared and know what we want and what we don’t want, we know what “good message” truly is. It also proves a point: we’ve got an ally in our lives, and that ally is ourselves.

In this moment of understanding, we’re no longer a victim; we see how the world is. It’s addicted to suffer, but then we wake up; we take an antidote. We then have the second attention; we have a line in the sand.

We’re going to be loyal to the love of our lives because that is us. No matter what happened in our lives, it was supposed to happen and now we’re grateful to be alive; we’re

grateful to reawaken and from this point on, we’re experiencing the messenger training. We are the angel; we are the messenger.

We’re training ourselves and like we ask in the book, what kind of messenger are we? What is the mission we give to the people? We say we give with all of our hearts.

Well, what we give to others is ourselves—our presence; our dreams. We can give others our drama and negativity, or we can give them our love, understanding, and support. When we wake up, what we give is given back to us, so we become very aware. What is the price that I’m going to pay to enter a debate? What is the price that I am going to pay for letting evil live?

When you recognize the price, you say, “Oh no, I don’t want this.”

Sometimes we want something, but www.facethecurrent.com

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we don’t read the hidden legal fees.

We just go for it and then wonder what just happened. It’s because the action came with a price. When we pretend with ourselves, we are living in a dream. It’s an understanding when we wake up in our purest hearts. Toltec work is all about coming home and training yourself, and like I said, the younger generation is ready for the regeneration of the tradition. But, it’s not what we say to them; it’s how we live our lives.

SF: Something that really resonated with me was this analogy that you shared because it relates to the perspective of “facing the current.” It also

dJR: Facing the current is so powerful, because facing the current is facing life. It’s not about facing the past or facing something that life took away. There’s a story about the river; the mastery of the river.

Many women come to this river, and

I remember going to this river and going within my imagination with my daydreaming and with my vision questing. I closed my eyes and heard the stream coming, and I saw myself at the side the river. I then noticed that I had something precious in my hand; something that I adored. Then, all of a sudden, I lost my balance.

Nature didn’t lose its balance, because nature is always there. I lost my balance. So, when I moved, I dropped what I held precious, and the river began taking it away. The stream was so powerful because it was nature’s force, so I turned around and began chasing it. It was like in the movie Castaway when Tom Hanks is chasing his buddy ball, “Oh, Wilson!

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provides this really beautiful perspective for considering this concept.You explained the story of attachments and hanging onto things, and how it would be better if you would just face the current and face what’s coming to you (instead of continuing to chase everything downstream that doesn’t serve you anymore).

Could you share that story?

Facing the current is so powerful, because facing the current is facing life. This is what the whole world needs to be doing: facing the current and letting the old dream go. The new dreams will come to you and live.

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Credit: Aaron Landman

Wilson!” I was chasing what the river took away, and then suddenly the current is calm. Now the sun is up, the birds are singing, and everything is so beautiful. But I am so sad thinking about what the river took away. One month passed, one year passed, and I’m still looking at what the river took away. People come to drink out of the river, and we begin to talk. And, the only thing I could talk to them about is what the river took away. I was like a ghost—haunting the place.

Until one day, I had this thought: What if the river didn’t take away the fruits of the cacao tree? If the river didn’t take them away, then I would never get to have them in my hands and to enjoy them. It’s time to let it go.

Let the current serve a purpose.

And so, in the new dream the river is bringing today is just to let it go. I never looked back after that. I was just too excited about facing the current. Now when the people come and visit the river, they don’t see someone haunting the place; they see somebody living in the place. Now, someone is not lamenting what the river took away, he’s saying, “Come.

Join me in what the river’s bringing to us today.” So, facing the current is the way of living. And, I’m so grateful for everything that Face the Current shares. It’s beautiful because it’s from the heart. This is what the whole world needs to be doing: facing the current and letting the old dream go.

The new dreams will come to you and live.

SF:Thank you for sharing this, it’s so beautiful. I’m so grateful for you. dJR: Grateful for you, Sasha. Much love.

ymore info: Website: www.miguelruiz.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/ToltecLife IG: https://www.instagram.com/donjoseruiz www.facethecurrent.com

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Credit: Aaron Landman

FtC culture

Spiritual Alchemy and the Power of Listening A Continuation of The Four Sacred Gifts with

Dr. Anita Sanchez

BY SASHA FRATE In part one of FtC’s enlightening discussion with Dr. Anita Sanchez, Dr. Sanchez revealed ancient wisdom from her book, “The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times,” explaining the importance of remembering and understanding our Oneness. She shared with us The Four Sacred Gifts of the elders, reminding us all that we are bound together in the great sacred hoop of life.

Now, Dr. Sanchez further illuminates the importance of listening with an open heart and a calm presence.This type of spiritual alchemy is interwoven in each of “The Four Sacred Gifts”, and through the power of stillness, many layers of healing can begin. When we realize that we have the capability to quiet our busy, thinking minds, we can drop the illusion of time, breathe in the reality of the present, and share the gift of Oneness with those in our lives that may need it the most— including ourselves.

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How does one listen? You have to shut your mouth, stop the mind from racing, and be still. When we don’t do that, we’re operating from that hurt or whatever it is that’s being called unforgivable.

or group. It’s not personal against you, it’s coming from something much deeper for that person or group. We need to consider the broader and deeper picture of things; I think it also helps us to be more forgiving when we do that.

Anita Sanchez: Yes, when you’re talking, what I’m hearing is that you’re listening. Listening is part of all of the gifts, and it’s really important in forgiveness and for healing. How does one listen? You have to shut your mouth, stop the mind from racing, and be still. There’s something in that. It’s the pause that you’re talking about that is part of your practice. It allows you to see the fuller picture of what is here. When we don’t do that, we’re operating from that hurt or whatever it is that’s being called unforgivable.

A week after my father was

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Sasha Frate: I’d like to circle back to the act of forgiveness.

You mention in your book that the act of forgiveness can be considered spiritual alchemy.

I’d love to see people allow themselves to keep their mind open a little bit longer and not be so quick to judge, as there appears to be a need to look deeper at the root of things and be more expansive instead of so concentric. Let’s look at oneness instead of the disparity for example. I see this really applying to the concept of forgiveness being as powerful as spiritual alchemy. For instance, with a traumatic situation, our quick judgment takes it personally and points a finger at whomever or whatever inflicted the experience on us. When you step back and look more expansively at the situation, perhaps it’s not that one person

murdered, the wife and son of the man who killed my father came to our home. I was with my mom at the screen door and the woman said, “I had to come and talk to you to let you know my husband was a good man. He never would have killed your husband, except he thought he was black, and you know how black people are.” I had never heard my mom scream at a stranger until then, but she said, “Stop! You don’t even know what you’re saying.You don’t even know the hatred you’re teaching your son. I want you to know that I’m going to try really hard to pray for your soul but get off my porch.”

She gathered us kids that night and so clearly told us that a white man had murdered our father, not the white race. My father’s murder was in the Kansas City Star and there was a picture of him on the bloodied floor of the bar. My mom said, “This is racism. We have to end this.” www.facethecurrent.com

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We are human beings, so we never truly arrive; there is always something. It’s about not denying parts of ourselves that we may not like. We truly need each other and unconditional love.

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Years later, during my work with corporations, I began forming talking circles with people in business, so they could share how they had been taught in life. Many of the white people in the circles were taught by their parents that they were better than other specific groups. They still said they loved their parents, but they were choosing to be different. I could see that change because I watched policies change. It didn’t ever seem fast enough to me, but nonetheless, different paths were taken.

After working in the corporate world for a few years, I kept having a dream where I’d see the woman and her son on the front porch. The dream was in living color but at first, I couldn’t see the boy’s face. Over weeks of this dream, his face became clearer and clearer, to the point that I’m confident I would recognize this boy as a man now. When I was a

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little girl, I was caught in all the pain of my father’s murder and I wasn’t able to process beyond that. We need to honor and respect people’s healing processes, because here I was teaching diversity inclusion, and a part of me believed that little boy was going to be the same as his father.

After supporting people through my work and creating cross-culture teams, I learned that we have to free ourselves, heal, practice unity, and use the gifts. In my ignorance, I had taken away that white boy’s face; I took away his humanity. I was caught in the assumption inside of me that hadn’t come to the light.

In one deep breath, I realized that I lost my father that July in 1967, but that little white boy lost his father, too. He had to grow up knowing his father was a murderer. I suddenly hoped he had a good life. I wish I had the awareness then that I do now

because I would have invited that boy and his mom into our house.

We as humanity have got to stop this, and we can. We have the abilities to stop all the real and imagined killing and hatred. We can’t sit back; we have to have positive action. The four gifts of the elders are part of it so that we can stop floundering. We need to use them! Pick any one and start anywhere because they are all eventually interconnected, just like the hoop of life.

SF:Yes, that’s beautiful.You just spoke about something that you also outlined in your book, which is listening, having supportive relationships, unconditional love, and committing to change and positive action.These are four key elements that you also describe as the most basic elements of healing. Do you believe that everyone has this “healing” to do?

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We know now that science affirms that quiet listening allows glucose to come to the frontal cortex and settle in the amygdala.

Indigenous wisdom keepers have known these results for a long time; there is something about stillness.

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Photo by Nichole Kramer AS: Yes. We are human beings, so we never truly arrive; there is always something. It’s about not denying parts of ourselves that we may not like. We truly need each other and unconditional love. Growing up, I thought unconditional love was only possible from a mother to her children. But after the horror of what I experienced, I would be with my grandmother and she’d teach me how to be a sunflower. I learned what unconditional love is and it’s about being open to ourselves and others, so there just isn’t an arrival point. Listening is a great practice because all it takes is shutting your mouth, being present, and realizing that someone else’s needs are more important than yours right now. This takes some maturity but there is so much in the silence because we can more readily heal something if we know it exists.

I’m so glad I get to heal and call on that gift every day, but I’m not perfect; I’m going to forget. It’s not about, “Oh look, she’s arrived.” It’s about honesty, transparency, and listening.

Bill Urie started The Abraham Path Initiative and has an amazing energy.

He’s brokered peace and is the sweetest, kindest, best listener. I’d put him up against some of the most amazing indigenous elders when it comes to listening. He once said, “We’ve got enough peace talks. What is really important is peace listening.”

Listening is the greatest gift; it’s the most important thing we can do for ourselves and for each other. When we listen, we discover hurt and pain, but we also discover creative things.

Listening doesn’t have to be a long endeavor; it can be 30 seconds, or a couple minutes, multiple times a day.

It really makes a difference. We have to create the space to transform;

that’s spiritual alchemy and the four elements of healing.

I used to do once-a-month podcasts for Hewlett-Packard in which I did a quiet internalist portion. I didn’t want to call it meditation because I wasn’t sure how that would be received, but I did a one- minute quiet time. The reviews were amazing! My listeners said they felt like they’d gone to a spa.

We know now that science affirms that quiet listening allows glucose to come to the frontal cortex and settle in the amygdala. Indigenous wisdom keepers have known these results for a long time; there is something about stillness.

SF:There really is. Generally speaking, people really seem to have a difficult time listening these days. We’ve lost the way of the campfire stories or the talking circles, and many people www.facethecurrent.com

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also don’t feel safe to share their stories without judgment. Could you elaborate on the purpose and benefit of communitybuilding talking circles and why we ought to practice becoming better listeners?

AS: Indigenous people all over the world have been doing talking circles.

The model of a talking circle is that you’re not responding to each other, you’re just sharing what is wanting to come through. Each person’s talk can be as long or as short as they need it to be. Everyone listens and holds that person in their sacredness.

It doesn’t mean you agree with what is being said, but you hold the safe space true for that person. A level of healing happens even when you’re not the one talking. Something can go through the circle and provide you with healing. Something can be released and provide you with the clarity to see what is wanting

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to be created within you. Leading a meaningful life means you must take care of the hurts, create, inspire, trust, have life-giving relationships, and listen.

Indigenous people talk about listening with the softest part of your ear and the softest part of your heart. I often treat people by listening that way. If we get to something really deep, I make them go outside and sit by a tree or take off their shoes and stand in the grass. People begin to drop into the place of really feeling connected to the self. We’ve been so disconnected from our own head and heart, let alone other things outside of ourselves. When we start to re-establish connection, it is immediately like an energy source. It doesn’t require instantly becoming a Buddhist monk or a reclusive elder.

It can just be moments and it can be life-changing. We can do that as parents with our children, with our

co-workers, or even total strangers.

It creates a world that you’re glad to be in when you wake up in the morning.You can heal the things that aren’t working and be grateful for the things that are.

When my son was 21, he met a girl, fell madly in love, they moved in together, and were happy for 2.5 years. He came home for a visit the fall of his senior year absolutely sobbing. All I did was listen; I didn’t ask him a single question. When we ask, “What happened? Are you all right?” it may be a bit about that person but really, it’s about getting answers to comfort ourselves. I heard the elders’ voices telling me to give him the gift of listening. This is obviously a person I love so I just stayed with him. His relationship turned out to be unrequited love and it was a months-long process of healing. When our two sons were little kids, they weren’t allowed in

our bed, but they could sleep on our floor. Here was my 21-year-old son sleeping on the floor outside my bedroom for over a month instead of going back to his new apartment. He got better over time and saw his exgirlfriend at a party over Thanksgiving.

He told her he didn’t want to get back together, he just wanted to understand what happened because he thought they were happy. She told him her parents had decided that she could do better than him. He thought it was because he wasn’t making a lot of money yet, but when she said no, he knew. He asked if it was because he was Mexican and Native American, and she said yes. When he told me, my first instinct was the “Mama Bear” wanting to protect her son, but instead, I listened. I found that listening can actually heal a broken heart because it not only healed my son’s heart, it healed mine, too. It’s another example of interconnection.

SF:This is a really great example where it’s really easy to take the situation and point fingers at racism being the culprit; being the problem. But if we step back and look, that’s not the only scenario.The same thing happened to my dad when he was sent to Vietnam. He was engaged when he left but he never heard from his fiancée again. He was sending letters, but she would never write back.

She came knocking on his door many years later, and she told him that her mom was keeping all the letters from her. Her mom intercepted them because she didn’t like the fact that my dad wasn’t Catholic.That situation was about religion, but it can be about age, ethnicity, financial stature...

AS: It’s always something, right?

SF:There’s always something.

We need to step back and ask where the problem is truly lying.

It’s still in this separateness and this judgment at these different forms, perhaps.

AS: I’m so glad you said that. With my son’s story, he ran into his exgirlfriend and her father and he asked my son if they could talk. Her father said, “I want to apologize. My wife and I told lies about you.You don’t have to forgive me, but I feel horrible and things have changed for me. My wife will never change but that’s just how it is.” My son accepted. Again, it’s transmuting, it’s the spiritual alchemy to shift things. He told us the situation taught him a lot about who his friends were and weren’t.

Some friends told him to just get over her, some listened to him cry at 2AM, some listened and offered him a drink. He learned the strength of his own heart and her journey is her own, but he knows who he is.

As a parent, it was really painful to listen to that, but it was definitely of

service to my son. He has our love and it is living life, and we can send her love from afar. Being the best we can be means loving ourselves and understanding the loving connection we want with others.

SF: Yes, and again, it’s so easy for us to just jump to taking it personally and pointing our finger at where we think it just came from. It’s that immediate, concentric view. But we can’t take it personally because things go deeper; they’re coming from something much further. Even for your son, you could decide not to point fingers at his exgirlfriend anymore and turn to her parents. But, it’s not even her parents! It’s so much deeper.

AS: It’s like forgiving my father.

He raped me for nine years and everyone, including my therapists said, “You should be dead. How can you forgive him?” I forgive him www.facethecurrent.com

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Our higher self is that sacred part of ourselves that knows we are far more than just our bodies. It doesn’t exclude the body, but it’s the whole of who we are. It includes our thoughts, guides; everything that is wishing us well. It can include people who have passed, people who are here, the earth, trees, water; everything. Bringing our higher self is bringing the fullest and best version of you. The circle of a whole human being is to live in harmony with people, earth, and spirit.

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because it’s freedom. He died at 41 and never got to reconcile his life and I used to carry great sadness about that, but I’ve released that, too.

AS: Yes, I think it’s what we’ve just been talking about; our life examples.

It’s not about belittling the narrow focus…

Everything is interconnected, and it really is about the original wisdom.

I’ve shared the four gifts all over the world and everywhere I’ve gone, people stop and write down what I’ve said because they don’t want to forget. Forgiveness, healing, hope, and unity are simple gifts, but people still wanted to remember. It’s all within us if we listen and pause. Spiritual alchemy is a process and sometimes it can be quick, other times it takes some time. Instead of asking “Why?” ask, “What is here for me? Is this for me to do?” Stop and pause; you don’t have to immediately move. If we could do that, maybe we’d have more peace. Maybe we’d be able to listen to the earth that is telling us so many things right now, and perhaps we’d be able to integrate the wisdom from science, the elders, and different sectors.

SF: Right, yes, because that has a purpose as well.

SF: In terms of the listening, you made a really great point in your book about how we as humans tend to be very focused on a specific type of attention that seeks answers, conclusions, and responses. So, we’ll be listening, but not really. We stop listening because we’re already trying to form our next response in our head.You mentioned wideangle attention and how it can actually result in a different and potentially sacred type of outcome.

AS: The problem is that if that’s all you do is narrowly focus, you’re losing out on a lot. With really wide angle, we’ll be able to bring in a lot of information. Human beings were meant to do both.

About a year and a half ago, during a time of many publicized killings, I really felt like I wasn’t doing my job well enough. I asked myself how I could get people to listen. How can I get people to not only care about each other, but to really love? It’s in that love that people can really live and bring out the best in themselves and in others. It’s about realizing the interconnectedness. Nature never turns me down, so I sat on my mountain top, I lowered my eyes, I breathed deeply, and I waited. In my relaxation, my focus went from narrowly looking for an answer to this one problem, to a wide-angle realization that made me laugh. Here I was, listening to the leaves and the trees, I’m supported by the earth and I felt this voice come forth. It said, “Okay you’re breathing. When you breathe, is 38% going to the Native American in you, 42% to the Mexican, 7% to the Greek, and 2% to the Jewish? Is some going to your female qualities and some to your male?” I couldn’t help but laugh.

We can narrowly focus and look at those parts, but if you do that, you

lose track of the whole. When that happens, you lose track of all of our similarities. That experience has been really helpful and impactful to me, and has been a support to other people, too.

SF:Yes, definitely; wow! In speaking to the power of unity, a quote from your book says, “To understand the power of unity and the potential for our extraordinary collaboration requires not just bringing your past experiences with you and not just your dreams and visions for the future, it requires each of us to bring our higher selves.”

What does bringing our higher selves entail?

AS: Our higher self is that sacred part of ourselves that knows we are far more than just our bodies.

It doesn’t exclude the body, but it’s the whole of who we are. It includes our thoughts, guides; everything that is wishing us well. It can include people who have passed, people who are here, the earth, trees, water; everything. Bringing our higher self is bringing the fullest and best version of you. The circle of a whole human being is to live in harmony with people, earth, and spirit. I’ve been using that phrase since I was a teenager, and nobody has ever asked me about it.

Bringing our higher selves means not bringing our lesser selves. It’s about not bringing neediness that creates wants upon wants. That’s not the be all, end all. There is value in the higher self with high breath, loving www.facethecurrent.com

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Rev Michael Beckwith, Anita Sanchez, Jamaican singer, Phil Lane Jr-2

relationships, and wanting peace. Even when I traveled to warring countries, I discovered that people want the same things. To get them, we must stop and do the peace listening.

When we find that commonality and the power of unity, when we embrace our similarities and our differences by bringing our higher selves, all sorts of wonderful things can happen.

I love that you asked this question.

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Heart Math, but there are several ways to measure the rate variability of the heart. We know from the study of emotions that the fastest, most quickly transmitted emotion is anxiety. Anxiety has an 8 to 14-foot radius and has the ability to impact everyone’s heart rate near you. The

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second most powerful is calm. So, when we talk about bringing higher self, it’s about bringing the grace and space to allow the other person to just be. This then allows the grace and space to be and do together.

I thank you for that question because it was a great reminder to me to bring my higher self. I can get frantic with things in life, too, so I need to bring my ever-present higher self. It’s too often denied in this world or perhaps not consciously known.

SF:Yes, just being conscious about it. It’s really fun to see that some people are starting to use this terminology more and more. Becoming more familiar with the concept helps us to connect to it. Along the same

lines as bringing our higher selves, I see a lot of people starting to use the phrase, “vibrate higher.”

AS: Yes, isn’t it wonderful? It’s the vibration; people are getting energy.

We’ve always talked about ourselves being energy. Now scientists are saying yes, we’re all energy in different forms. The discussion is also about where energy goes. So, if we’re energy, we know there are low and high vibrations. These have different impacts on themselves and the other energy around them. It’s so great that we get to be alive at this time. In spite of the hardships out there, it’s also so amazing that we get to live meaningful lives at the conscious level so that we can choose to belong.

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When people say, “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” that’s very different than “I won’t,” or “I choose not to.” “I can’t” is so disempowered; so imprisoned. In terms of the whole human being, it’s bad on every level. So, if some of these trigger words start to come up, I advise to go within and sit in silence.

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We can choose wisdom and good medicine, and not just go along in default mode. We can be reflective and full of choices.

SF:Yes, that’s wonderful.You also mentioned a discipline called Tai Ji, which aims to quiet the thinking mind. We have such busy minds these days, so how do you guide or advise people to know when to stop the thinking words and, as you say, “start the dancing”?

AS: There are different cues when I’m working with people. When people say, “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” that’s very different than “I won’t,” or “I choose not to.” “I can’t” is so disempowered; so imprisoned. In terms of the whole human being,

it’s bad on every level. So, if some of these trigger words start to come up, I advise to go within and sit in silence. Or, if that doesn’t work for some people, go for a walk. Walking meditation always exists. Just go and walk; walk and breathe. In no time, you begin to quiet the mind.

There are many different methods.

Another way to know when it’s time to stop the mind is when your body is contracted and not in a state of ease. When you’re knotted up, you’re not in a state of strength. I do Chi Gong, walking meditation, and walking the spirit in my every day. Whether I’m on my mountaintop, in the middle of a city, out in the community, or in the Amazon, it’s easy. It’s walking everywhere to stop those thinking

words and to start to dance and laugh. It’s not all serious! I love that about true wisdom-keepers; there’s such joy. Laughter, sharing, and eating are things that bring you back to life; they’re nourishing.

SF: In your book, Elder Ilarion Merculief is quoted as saying, “Humans lost track of the present when they invented time.” How do you believe that people can find balance in the modern world that thrives on time-keeping, to better keep track of the present moment?

AS: I quote Ilarion on that all the time. Time is an illusion. That’s not to say deadlines don’t exist in business, though. I’m not trying to make light of that or to forget that. However, we www.facethecurrent.com

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can get caught up in time. With a racing mind, time can be a constrictive thing rather than, “I’m here and I’m doing what I need to.” With writing, sometimes deadlines can be stressful, but if you let go of that and just get in and start, you get lost in it. Before you know it, time has passed, and you’ve achieved a lot. It’s the game of the mind. If we can stay present, we can accomplish, or be, or do whatever it is that is supposed to happen.

For me, the practice comes in many different ways. When I get still, I ask, “What is calling to me? Is there a gift that is calling to me?” Being present is a very wide focus, but you can also go into the present by watching a little insect on a leaf or doing precise accounting work. The nice thing is you can toggle between narrow and wide focus. I would love if Ilarion could have sat and spoken with Einstein. I think it could have been a marvelous conversation because they both understood that the past, present, and future are all happening at the same time.

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Anita Sanchez Co-authors #1 best selling book, “Yo Tambien” released March 2019. Credit: SteveLucero@SteveLucero.com

Whenever I start getting wired, I think of Ilarion’s quote that humans lost track of the present when they invented time. I ask myself what I’m doing right now, and what I want to be doing and being.You start to feel released right away and from there you can start the dance again and be more in harmony. It comes from the heart not the head and you move from there.

SF: Right; wonderful. Well, this brings us to our final question.

What is the best way to take all this knowledge and integrate and express it in our lives?

AS: I will ground that in the current context of the time we’re living in.

First of all, pause enough so that you can start to listen. To do that, you really do need to put down your computer, your smart phone, and all the other gadgets. They are not bad or separate things, but we do need to put them down so that we can begin to embrace the gifts.

We as a society have gotten out of balance, too focused on ourselves as individuals. But, the hoop of life knows that we’re “we” and the “me” is included. We need to embrace and

use these gifts that the 27 elders got from spirit. It’s not a hardship; even if you just use one, call on it and use it. It will bring you closer to who you want to be in the world and allow you to understand not only abundance, but sufficiency, joy, happiness, and what it really means to love. A lot of the cynicism then goes away.

I think those are the key things: pause, listen, and put away obstructions. Put them away for little bits of time, even just five minutes. People wake up in the morning and are immediately on their phones. Science tells us that this is patterning our brains for disruption. We need to be patterning the ability to be present, so try not to touch your phone for 30 minutes in the morning.

Keep using the four gifts and the remembering will happen. It’s not like it was never there, we’ve just been patterned with messages from the outside that have become our messages on the inside. Once we remember that we’re part of the hoop of life and that we’re all connected, then all these things become integrated. The joy is that I’ve found it doesn’t stop. I don’t know of

any wise person who has said they’re done. Of course, in indigenous belief, we believe that when you die, you’re not done; you still get messages and wisdom.You can always support the wisdom that is wanted, that is hungered for, and that is nourishing.

SF: Right! It’s really a practice and a maintenance, and it’s constantly evolving.

AS: Yes, and people might feel that it’s too much work, but if we think about what we have that we really value, it’s generally experiences. It’s a smile from someone or a kind word; we’re never alone. We might get lonely, but we’re never alone and we all belong.You belong.

SF:Yes, beautiful.Thank you.

AS: Yes, thank you! Really, thank you.

This has felt like a both a closure and an opening for me.

SF: Oh, wonderful! It was great connecting with you.

ymore info: https://sancheztennis.com www.Anita-Sanchez.com www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC music

Michael Ravenwood of SkyFire Arts Electrifying Audiences and Shifting Mindsets

By Sasha Frate Harnessing the power of nature can be a difficult and dangerous task. Each of the four elements can prove unwieldy and unmanageable in extreme circumstances, and civilizations throughout history have felt the awe-inspiring force and consequences of nature’s dominance. Michael Ravenwood and SkyFire Arts are using dance, storytelling, and all-natural electricity—yes, ten-foot crackling arcs of real electricity—to unite audiences in transformational performances.

Using Tesla coils, fire, and LED dancers, Los Angeles based SkyFire Arts pairs ancient and futuristic technologies to project their heroic theme of personal and cultural stability. The danger is apparent—one million volts of electricity pulsing at 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit—and the attractive hypnosis is palpable. Just last month, SkyFire Arts and founder Michael Ravenwood performed an electrifying Tesla coil show at the Hollywood red carpet premiere of the DC Comics movie, Shazam!. In addition to creating one-of-a-kind shows on a grand scale, SkyFire Arts work includes outreach and education to spark interest in sustainable energy and ecological lifestyle practices. SkyFire Arts Academy’s program focuses on helping people become aware of and intentional about their use of energy in all its forms.

As they continue to travel the world bringing their unique performances to global audiences, Michael Ravenwood sat down with FtC to chat about his story, the origins of their Faraday protective suit, and his personal philosophies on our oneness and harmony with nature, dance meditation, and the need to shift our mindsets to live with intention.

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Sasha Frate: Can you share what sparked the idea to create the fire and lightning performance?

How did it all originate?

Michael Ravenwood: That’s pretty much my favorite story in my whole life. It all started about twelve years ago. I was a fire dancer for a couple years and I thought to myself one day, “God, how I love to spin fire.

The roar of the flame, the light and the shadows—such a beautiful art form with a primal energy.” Fire used to be so important to us as humans. We used to see it and use it every day, and now we hardly see it even though it powers much of our society. I was just conceiving of how wonderful fire is for me and then all of a sudden it just came to me: what would it be like to spin electricity or dance with electricity?

It’s another primal energy—it’s thrilling, a little bit dangerous, and a little bit edgy. Just like extreme sports, there’s nothing like something

that’s a little bit dangerous. It puts you in a flow state or in a really high state of concentration and focus.

“What would it be like to dance with electricity?” I thought.

Two weeks later, I’m standing in line and a man standing next to me (Jeff Parisse) starts talking to the woman over the counter about his lightning project. I think to myself, “That is too weird.” I turned to the guy and said, “I don’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, but I totally did; I can’t help myself.” I told him the story of my electricity inspiration and explained why it’s so important to me that he would be talking about that right now. He says, “That is really weird that you would think those thoughts and then run into me, because I build some of the largest Tesla coils in the world... In fact, I’m teslacoil.com!” He went on to explain that he had also designed a high-voltage protective “Faraday suit” in which I could effectively dance

with electricity.

SF: Oh, wow!

MR: This was very different from my original idea. My big idea was to strap stun guns to the end of a stick, tape their buttons down, and get a pair of goggles and a groin cup to do something that’s probably going to hurt a lot. (At least in the experimenting phase.) I would’ve been working with two inches of electricity and here was this guy with devices that could throw fifteen-feetlong arcs of electricity.

SF:That’s amazing!

MR: It actually took years and another set of coincidences to put me back into a room with this man to actually start a project together.

We happened to be in the same meeting (unbeknownst to us) and I was sharing the story of how I met him. He leans forward from the table and says, “I knew you looked familiar. www.facethecurrent.com

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You’re telling the story of how we met. I’m that guy!” It was so meant to be. When we decided to work together on the project, I realized, “Hey, if we do this, if we create this performance/installation, we’re going to attract a lot of attention. Let’s be really intentional about what we’re drawing people’s attention to.” What better thing than to take Nikola Tesla as an inspiration and say, “Alright, he was into making technologies that bettered the lot of every human on the planet. He wanted to see energy in everyone’s hands. He wanted to see what our lives could be like if all of us had opportunities afforded to us by the gift of technology.”

We decided to use this opportunity

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to draw people’s attention to being in harmony with nature in two distinct ways: One, through the four elements and the energy they provide outside of us. The sun is constantly radiating energy down to the planet, for example. We just have to open an aperture to receive that energy and be able utilize it. This energy of the elements includes solar energy, wind power, tidal power, and geothermal energy. It truly is the four elements: earth, air, fire, water. Being able to tap into those, we can bring our culture closer in harmony with nature where we have no need to pollute it or use sources of energy that are not renewable. Secondly, there’s the energy that comes from within us as we connect to the things that we

love.You might feel exhausted one day and then somebody tells you your favorite band is playing that night. All of a sudden, you’re throwing on your clothes, you’re racing out the door, and you’re dancing all night long. Where did that energy come from? It’s like free energy that nature provides us from within when we connect to that which we are passionate about—what we really love to do. It’s this infinite energy that’s within us. If we can connect to what it is we love to do—and even take it one step further and do that for a living—then we complete what I call the “human energy circuit”. We get free energy from nature that just arises from within us and we devote ourselves to something that we love.

I realized, ‘Hey, if we do this, if we create this performance/installation, we’re going to attract a lot of attention. Let’s be really intentional about what we’re drawing people’s attention to.’ What better thing than to take Nikola Tesla as an inspiration and say, ‘Alright, he was into making technologies that bettered the lot of every human on the planet. He wanted to see energy in everyone’s hands. He wanted to see what our lives could be like if all of us had opportunities afforded to us by the gift of technology.’ We decided to use this opportunity to draw people’s attention to being in harmony with nature in two distinct ways: One, through the four elements and the energy they provide outside of us.

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You can say, “We’re all one,” but what does that mean for our everyday lives?

What does that mean for our behaviors? What it really means to me, and what I’m trying to express through the project, is being intentional about your use of energy in every way, because the metaphor of our project is power; it’s energy. So, I want to invite people to recognize how powerful they are—how powerful we all are, and that we actually create our own destiny with each and every choice that we make. We’re using our power with every choice.

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If we can produce something of value, something that’s of service to our society, then people naturally want to pay us or contribute to us for providing that service. We can use what we love to do to feed ourselves.

Our lives become an endless sort of play—doing what we love and living on that. So that’s what we want to do with the project. We want to help people to improve their performance and enhance their life-experience through educational programs, and use these entertaining shows to draw attention to that education. The implicit purpose behind the project is my belief that the cultural paradigm shift that’s necessary for us to survive this next phase in human cultural evolution is for people to recognize we are one and we are all connected.

We need to start actually living like that.

SF:Yes! MR: You can say, “We’re all one,” but what does that mean for our everyday lives? What does that mean for our behaviors? What it really means to me, and what I’m trying to express through the project, is being intentional about your use of energy in every way, because the metaphor of our project is power; it’s energy. So, I want to invite people to recognize how powerful they are— how powerful we all are, and that we actually create our own destiny with each and every choice that we make.

We’re using our power with every choice. If we take a step back and reflect on our choices every once in a while, we’ll recognize that even financial energy is a type of energy.

Every time I spend money and I choose to buy, I’m feeding a certain entity. I’m feeding a corporation,

I’m feeding an individual, I’m helping something flourish with my energy.

It’s the same with how I treat the people that are physically around me. I’m seeking to use my energy intentionally and encourage others to do the same.

SF:That creates a really incredible metaphor. It’s something that people can visually and physically wrap their minds around by seeing the energy of throwing and projecting electricity.The energy that we’re projecting out to other people around us and in our lives, however, is not something that we can necessarily physically see or understand as easily. We all have different ways that we are putting energy out and we need to be mindful of where that www.facethecurrent.com

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energy is going. We have to have and live with intention.

MR: Thank you.Yes, and what you’ve touched upon is something particularly important to me, which is the relationship between the tangible and the intangible, because most people separate the two. On a certain level, they’re obviously separate.You wake up from dreams and the things you experienced in your dreams didn’t actually happen; they’re not going to affect your physical reality. But when you’re living your life and you have an experience, and then you reflect on that dream that you had, you approach the situation differently because of the effects of the dream. Then the intangible actually does have tangible effects.

As I sit here, I can imagine the things that make me really happy, and the people that really excite me and that

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I love to be around. Just by thinking about these things, I am actually dumping certain kinds of neurological chemicals into my system by directing my mind somewhere (even though my mind is an “intangible” thing). It’s my mind’s eye—my imagination— but it has physiological effects and cascades down into my immune system. If I take enough time to visualize or do breath work and some meditation, then I have physical, tangible effects in my life from this intangible space. That’s something that I’m basically using as a fulcrum for the educational program: the mind-body connection. I want to help people to determine how this mind-body connection could be used in their lives to enhance their life experience and improve their performance, because everybody wants to achieve excellence, just not at the cost of fun.

SF: So, you were born in Japan

and you trained in martial arts.

You became an international performing artist and a dance meditation instructor. Can you explain the role of a dance meditation instructor? And how have these different elements of your personal background influenced the creation of this show?

MR: A lot of people are familiar with sitting meditation but not as many people are familiar with lying meditation or walking meditation.

In yoga, they call lying meditation position Shavasana.You just lay on the floor and there are different kinds of things you can do: you can do meditations or visualizations, or you can just completely relax and allow yourself to witness an experience without trying to direct or consciously contrive what it is you’re thinking about or doing.

Some people are also familiar with standing or walking meditations. It’s essentially like being in a very present, focused, yet relaxed state as you’re walking. There’s another way to enter into a very relaxed yet focused state, and that is by dancing and allowing a musical piece to find yoga, or “union”, with your movement. It’s about allowing the music—which is actually simultaneously touching everybody in the room—to find its own unique expression through your own movement. Each person will represent that song in a different way because they have different ways that they naturally move their bodies and express themselves when they hear things. Dance meditation is about developing a state of focused relaxation but through movement and dance. What are the universal things that every human body can do? Maybe you’ve never flapped your arms like you’re doing the chicken.

Just try! Try all of the various ways that your body can move. Figure out what feels really comfortable to you as you’re expressing yourself through the movement of the dance.

I also teach how to wield instruments during dance meditation. That instrument could be a staff, a sword, or what are called poi—chains or cords with a weighted end. I use these instruments for performance, but they can be used for meditation, too. There’s nothing that can put you on point quite like doing something where you might whack yourself.

So, I find that training people in flow arts, or dancing with instruments, is basically like partner-dancing but with an instrument instead of another human.

Through learning this skill, people learn about themselves, too. What do you do when you make a mistake in developing a certain move? Do you

feel the desire to put down the staff and walk away? Do feel the desire to try it faster or harder because you think it will make it easier or make it better for you? Or, do you slow down and feel how it changes your sensations as you’re moving the instrument in different ways.You learn how you deal with problems, and you develop another way of dealing with issues or problems through the training of the craft. The point is that any artistic pursuit or any pursuit of expression can inherently be a path to personal realization and fulfillment, because any expression, any way of trying to express yourself or create something, is going to put you up against yourself.You’re going to not be able to do certain things right away, or maybe you’ll find that you’re naturally talented at certain things.

Even then, there’s still a persistence that needs to take place to really get to the highest levels of expression.

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As you’re doing something complex, think to yourself, “This doesn’t have to be difficult. This could totally be graceful.” It is most likely going to require effort.

If you’re going to do a complex task or achieve something really great—become a great painter, a great martial artist, or a great dancer—it’s going to require effort. It’s probably going to involve some physical pain or physical discomfort of some kind or another.

Your body and mind are naturally geared and programmed to avoid pain, because pain usually leads to injury.

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Do you just rest on your laurels and not go that extra distance?

From my background in Kung Fu, any artistic path can be a road to personal realization and fulfillment.

In the Chinese language, the word Kung Fu can be used in a much more general way. Kung Fu mastery could be in any craft or any art. So Kung Fu mastery could be achieved by a cobbler or a seamstress. First and foremost, Kung Fu mastery involves being able to perform a difficult or complex task with ease and joy. It’s about being able to bring joy, enjoyment, or pleasure to the process of doing a task that would normally be a chore. Once you can do difficult tasks with ease and joy, then the rest of your life becomes a cakewalk. I personally separate difficulty from things that require effort or are complex, because difficulty is only in the mind. Things can be physically painful; things can require effort, but we create difficulty

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in our mind.

SF: Maybe it’s also the fear of being the first? Would you say that could factor into why we might identify something as being difficult? Maybe we fear that we’re going to be unable to complete the task?

MR: Yes and, to some degree, we all want to commiserate over things.

We want to say, “Oh yeah, that was difficult!” and have someone agree. Of course, once we’ve assigned difficulty to a task & then accomplished it, it does give you a feeling of satisfaction.

SF:That’s true!

MR: As you’re doing something complex, think to yourself, “This doesn’t have to be difficult. This could totally be graceful.” It is most likely going to require effort. If you’re going to do a complex task or achieve something really great—become a

great painter, a great martial artist, or a great dancer—it’s going to require effort. It’s probably going to involve some physical pain or physical discomfort of some kind or another.

Your body and mind are naturally geared and programmed to avoid pain, because pain usually leads to injury. But in some circumstances, physical exercise for example, if you really want to improve, you’re going to need to strain your muscles a little bit; not pull them, or cause injury, but push them.You can reinterpret that in your mind and use it to give you energy. That’s a valuable tool.

Martial arts training feeds the intention of my project. It influences the way I choreograph and communicate to dancers how to move during the show. Of course, I want them to call on their own training, but I give them a foundation of certain stances and transitions that we use in martial arts. There are many postures that come out

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‘What is the nature of reality?

How is it that we can share this experience of unity with one another?’ It really became my life’s mission to try and communicate this experience to others.

I bring a lot of my training and upbringing into my performances. I grew up in Japan for only six months, left to the Philippines for four years, then went to Singapore for five years, and then moved to the United States. I’ve lived in California ever since. I got my degree in psychology while studying quantum physics and environmental science and ethics.

SF:That’s quite the combo!

MR: I was taking environmental ethics at the time with a great man

named Bill Harger. (Shout out to Bill Harger!) So, he and that class really gave me a perspective to look at everything as being worthy of ethical consideration. Not just that you don’t want to hurt another person, but you don’t want to unnecessarily hurt another animal or plant.You have to also say, “I’m worthy of ethical consideration, too. So, if I need to breathe and eat, I need to be in that consideration.” That gave me a perspective of the earth as an organism. We are organs or cells of the body of the earth. In fact, we are the earth. We are what the earth has done to itself over billions of years of evolution. There’s nothing here that is not of the earth.

It’s a whole other story, but after I studied that perspective I had a spontaneous awakening experience in which I fully realized our connection with all things. And I don’t just mean an intellectual realization, I mean a direct experience of our oneness.

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of martial arts. To some degree, the artistic expression of the show is through my background. I also write pieces that we include as storytelling pieces in the show. They’re intended to take people through a certain journey in their mind. I like to phrase things with “we” instead of “you”; “What if we were in this situation?

What if we thought about things like that?” It creates a different frame of reference in the mind.

It was then that my studies really began. I wanted to know, “What is the nature of reality? How is it that we can share this experience of unity with one another?” It really became my life’s mission to try and communicate this experience to others. So, that’s really what motivated me to take quantum physics courses. I’ve always been interested in things like psychic phenomena and the meaning behind the relationship between mind and matter. I took a course called “Conscious Universe” which was really pivotal for me and my understanding of how science has absolutely established this unity that exists in all of reality, and how mind—or this intangible thing we call spirit—links to all that. I also took a class called “Self, Health, and Culture” which was a really amazing look into how people’s belief systems interact with their health. It all has a profound effect on whether people actually get well under certain circumstances, www.facethecurrent.com

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Almost every culture has some sort of musical tradition that they use for their rituals, especially in certain Shamanic traditions. They use a specific drum beat to create certain states of consciousness.

Electronic dance music and the beats that are used can often encourage people to experience a state of consciousness where they are in unison with everyone around them. The electronic dance music culture has a very strong emphasis on the ethos of peace, love, unity, and respect.

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and the profound influence that our minds have on our health.

SF: What type of music, or what genre, do you prefer to perform with?

MR: We have done shows to a variety of different kinds of music, but it’s primarily electronic dance music.

The way that I became a performer and established in a community was through electronic music events. I went to Moontribe and ended up going to a number of different kinds of electronic dance music events, ending up at Burning Man. That is really what gave me a huge boost of inspiration and confidence in my life.

I felt like I had come home, because there were so many people who, under normal circumstances, would be considered as “fringe.” These gatherings were the place where all the fringe people got together, so the fringe was the norm. I felt: “Wow, this is where I’ve belonged my entire life.” Through Burning Man,

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I ended up getting connected to a lot of communities and different performers and musicians.

I have to acknowledge that I am not that savvy about the types of EDM. I don’t know the difference between techy glitch bass and deep house. I know what I like when I hear it, which is relatable. We have used the music of amazing Djs like Phutureprimitive.

I actually just saw him and performed with him at Lucidity Festival a little while back. I also performed with David Starfire just this last weekend at a fundraiser for two Burning Man camps. We sometimes receive music from our clients, so we’ve performed to a number of different genres, but we primarily work with electronic dance music.

Almost every culture has some sort of musical tradition that they use for their rituals, especially in certain Shamanic traditions. They use a specific drum beat to create certain states of consciousness. Electronic

dance music and the beats that are used can often encourage people to experience a state of consciousness where they are in unison with everyone around them. The electronic dance music culture has a very strong emphasis on the ethos of peace, love, unity, and respect. I actually wrote a storytelling piece using that as the theme.

I’ve also worked with a classical composer named Jeremy Weinglass.

I do want to ultimately incorporate more classical and what might be considered more exotic musical instruments. When I say classical, I mean the cello and the flute or wind instruments. That also includes different kinds of drums like the kettle drum. When I say exotic, I mean the sitar or the hang drum. I love to incorporate those. While we haven’t used them for the music in our Tesla shows yet, we have done performances with those kinds of acoustic instruments during fire

SF: Wow! MR: Depending on the kind of show, we’ve used different kinds of musical accompaniment. For an intimate fire show, what has been really amazing is drummers; African drummers, for example. Or a single hang drum. I’ve also been lucky enough to have two sitars playing at the same time while I was doing a show. For our larger shows—our Tesla coil shows—it’s typically electronic dance music. I should also mention that the Tesla coil itself can play music. We don’t

always do that, but we have used our Tesla coils to play music in the past.

SF: Amazing!

MR: Yeah, solid state Tesla coils can be programmed to play music.

We’re hoping to incorporate that into our upcoming gig for Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas. It’s North America’s largest electronic music festival.

SF:Yeah, that’s a big one!

MR: Yes, and I’m excited to say that we’re doing EDC Vegas for the third time this year.

SF:You guys have actually also been touted as the most electrifying performance in the music festival scene. What are some examples of other festivals that you’ve played at?

MR: We have done 5tardium in Korea, and EDC in Brazil. I have also performed nearly every year that

Lucidity has been around. There’s also a festival called IgNight where I’ve performed & we had a Tesla coil at one year. It’s technically a fire & flow arts conference, but they do have great electronic dance music there every night. Everybody who takes their classes during the day goes out to the fire circle in the evening and jams out. So, I would call that a music festival for sure. I’ve also performed at Moontribe events years ago and YouTopia Festival more recently. That’s a Burning Man regional event, and we have also performed at Los Angeles’ Burning Man Decompression Party a couple of years.

SF: Burning Man isn’t really considered a music festival, per se, right?

MR: I’m not really sure. Music goes on there all the time.You could call it a music and arts festival, because it’s kind of hard to determine if music should be defined as an art form or

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Solid state Tesla coils can be programmed to play music.

We’re hoping to incorporate that into our upcoming gig for Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas.

It’s North America’s largest electronic music festival.

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performances. While Tesla coil performances are the most unique thing we do, we also do fire and LED shows as well. For LED, we use pixel instruments that can create any image you want.You can upload whatever picture you want to display, and then you basically spin this stick that flashes at a certain rate. The persistence of vision that takes place with the way your eye naturally functions puts the image together.

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something onto itself. I think it’s an art form, and just a sonic rather than a visual art.

SF: What would you say or what do you believe are the most mesmerizing aspects of the show?

MR: Wow! Well, I think the fact that we create a very primal, visceral experience. There’s the sound of the coil and the experience of seeing electrical arcs flying through the air. If you see an arc out in the world, it’s usually a tiny spark from a lighter or a huge lightning bolts.

The latter’s uncontrollable and usually (hopefully ; ) far away. Our show allows you to witness lightning close as you dare; see electricity laid bare and controlled.You know how

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you hold a flame and you look at it and it’s beautiful and mesmerizing?

We’re holding lightning. We’re holding electricity and it’s just right there. It peels off in all directions and is capricious and random in its movements but held there… And it’s truly mesmerizing.

Also, to some degree, people are fascinated by death. They’re fascinated by the extremes of life and our coils are like raw power—if you got too close to it, it can kill you. It’s like, “There’s death right there, and it’s just hanging out. It’s beautiful and gorgeous and it’s death.” It also makes a sound that makes part of you want to run away, but another part of you can’t move.

SF: Wow!

MR: There’s a hypnotizing quality to it. I’ve also been told that the storytelling is a really powerful component of it. People are even surprised: “Oh wow, this character on stage that’s throwing lightning and fire, dancing around, jumping in the air, and doing crazy things, is talking to me!” I’m very happy to say that we are conveying something profound and meaningful about compassion, about courage, and about what it really takes to be happy in your life.

What does that look like for you?

I’d like to share a piece right now that has gotten some really amazing feedback: We dance to summon courage. Not only the courage it takes to face physical dangers, but the courage we need to say difficult things to people... in the

moment of truth.When we learn to see... even the most irritating people... as merely reflections of ourselves in our own moments of confusion… we can overcome any temptation to judgment or sarcasm... and afford them the sincerity that... we might hope to receive.

In this way, we can transform situations of conflict, into opportunities for growth and communion, transcending fear and inspiring love.

People have told me that, after hearing that piece, that they never forgot it. That, even years later, they still think about it sometimes & react to situations in their lives differently because of it. That just makes me feel like my life is worthwhile; like I’ve done something meaningful. I’ve also had people tell me they know exactly how they need to communicate with someone they’re fighting with after hearing my storytelling. I really feel good about my life having had people say that to me. I think it’s really the story in relation to the primal energies we’re performing with. It will just wake you up.

Some studies have shown that memory is improved when information is paired with a fearful situation. If you have someone on a suspension bridge five-hundred feet over a cliff and then you give them information, they’re more likely to remember what you’re saying than if you were, say, in a boardroom.

We tend to keep our storytelling pieces short and we sprinkle them throughout the performance.

SF:That almost sounds like a type of meditation that hits into the subconscious for people when you’re combining it with that whole environment and experience. And you’re creating a ripple effect, because they walk away with inspiration to take into their lives.

MR: Yeah, I feel like a ceremony is happening.

We actually do meditations before the show, too. We talk about what energy we’re going to be holding with our bodies as we move certain ways. There are neurons in our brains that activate when we witness somebody else doing a physical activity or witness somebody else in a different posture. We want to activate people’s mirror neurons in a way that they subconsciously recognize we’re moving with passion, grace, and dignity. Our ceremony is an open invitation to experience shifts in states of consciousness that are commensurate with our message. For example, in the storytelling piece I just shared, I invite people to realize that everyone makes mistakes and we should treat others with sincerity if we want to receive it in turn.

This helps us move from conflict into opportunities for grace. It transcends fear and inspires love. We give people that doorway to another state of mind.

I think that’s what all religious ceremonies try to do. Our ceremonies are not a religion but it’s a practice in the same way.You can be “religious” about lots of things. I’m helping people practice mindsets of compassion, humility, and courage. Ours is a ceremony in which everyone is invited to participate in different mindsets and it’s amazing to see the ripple effect as they carry their new perspectives out into the world. And, hopefully, they use their energy more intentionally to create harmony in their lives.

SF:Yes, yes; love it. Well, thank you, Michael!

ymore info: www.skyfirearts.com

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FtC music

The Stage is a Temple:

The Conscious Musical Journey of Trevor Hall

By Ainsley Schoppel As a child, it’s rare to know with conviction what one wants to do in life, but this was the case for singer/ songwriter, Trevor Hall. Raised on an island in South Carolina, Trevor realized at a young age that music

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was more than just a hobby—it was his life’s purposeful expression.

At just sixteen, Trevor recorded his first album and subsequently left his home state to attend Idyllwild Arts Academy in California to

study classical guitar. There, he was introduced to yoga and meditation practices which would prove to be greatly influential in his life and music. Hall’s personal musical style is an eclectic blend of roots and

folk music, interwoven with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. He often intermingles Sanskrit chantings that echo with the names and teachings of divinities. This powerful combination earned Trevor a growing and dedicated fanbase now known as The Villagers and saw him evolve into a leader of the burgeoning conscious musical community. His music maintains a refreshing and universal message that has captured the hearts and ears of fans around the world.

While on the road, Trevor sees the stage as his moving temple—a place where he can share the experience of his spiritual journey with his audience. Trevor has also experienced numerous pilgrimages to India and has also completed a series of soldout tours and collaborations with

artists including Steel Pulse, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd, and Nahko & Medicine for the People.

Trevor’s previous full-length album releases, Chapter of the Forest (2014) and KALA (2015) respectively debuted at number three and two on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart and were extensively toured around the U.S and Australia. In addition to his intention to spread love and healing through his music, Hall also fundraises to support the education of children in India and he has continuously donated to various charities and relief efforts.

After more than a decade of recording for established labels such

as Geffen and Vanguard, Trevor’s first independent release, The Fruitful Darkness (2017), became the number one music campaign of its kind. With the album’s inspiration originating in the stars, Hall’s astrological studies also helped him understand that everything is related, and nothing is separate. “There have been many hurdles and triumphs along the way,” Hall notes. “This album conveys the deep vulnerability of journeying through the unknown as opposed to playing it safe.” The album explored new sonic terrain and was unconventionally released in threeto-five song installments on specific lunar dates. The full-length album premiered at number four on the iTunes Alternative Charts—the most successful of Hall’s career to date. www.facethecurrent.com

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On this journey that we’re all on, sometimes we push love away. It’s the only thing we want, but still, we push it away. ‘Moon/Sun’ is about the eternal space of the heart. The space in your heart is never going away. No matter where you go, that love is always going to be there.

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In the fall of 2018, Hall announced the release of the music video for “Moon/Sun”, a single off of The Fruitful Darkness in celebration of the full moon, which was filmed over the course of one day in Santa Barbara and is directed by Jordan Taylor Wright, Founder of Taylor Cut Films. “The message of ‘Moon/Sun’ resonates with me and is a beautiful message to receive,” Wright said.

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“After discovering Trevor Hall’s music via social media, I connected with him and asked about collaborating.

He appreciated my work as well, so we worked together to create this music video. It was an honor to create with Hall on such a meaningful single about love.” One of Hall’s favorite tracks off the album, “Moon/ Sun” quickly became a fan favorite, garnering millions of listens within

weeks of its release. “This is a song of jubilation and a celebration of spirit,” Hall reflects. “On this journey that we’re all on, sometimes we push love away. It’s the only thing we want, but still, we push it away. ‘Moon/Sun’ is about the eternal space of the heart.

The space in your heart is never going away. No matter where you go, that love is always going to be there.”

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During these crazy divisive times, it’s important for us to remember that we are all in this together and that no progress will be made unless we move forward as one people.

After kicking off the twenty-five-city national Moon/Sun Tour, Trevor then performed at several music festivals including stops in Costa Rica and Australia and has since extended the tour to continue through August 2019. Also on tour with Hall is Indie/ Americana trio, Dirtwire, and Will Evans, frontman of Barefoot Truth.

In March of this year, Trevor and Dirtwire also announced and debuted a brand-new musical collaboration single, “Strength in One”. “Psyched up for our upcoming tour opening for Trevor Hall, we reached out to see if he was down for a collaboration. He was and kicked if off right away with a vocal melody he had recently written over a tambura and acoustic guitar line,” Dirtwire explained. “We started building a beat and recorded some instrumentation alongside it, and days later he sent over the complete song with verse, chorus, and lyrics. We were blown away!”

“It was kind of cool how we created this song before we even met each other,” admitted Hall. “The song is really about strength and power in unity. During these crazy divisive times, it’s important for us to remember that we are all in this together and that no progress will be made unless we move forward as one people. We hope this song inspires unity amongst listeners.”

Whether you catch him on tour this year or find your favorite tune to chill out to at home, be sure to check out the unique vibe and evocative connectedness that is Trevor Hall.

ymore info: Facebook @trevorhall Instagram @trevorhall Twitter @trevorhallmusic https://www.trevorhallmusic.com/tour

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FtC fitness

Spirit in the Body: Dancing with Parashakti

By Stella Marcus

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body.”

~ Martha Graham

Jerusalem-born shamanic dance practitioner and soul healer Parashakti journeyed halfway around the world to find her home in Native American spiritual practice. Her work weaves together textures and threads of ancient wisdom to help modern spiritual seekers come into contact with Spirit as an embodied, felt experience, and as a transformative tool for finding sacredness every day. As the creator of Dance of Liberation™, an ecstatic dance modality that incorporates ritual and shamanic blindfold practices, Parashakti’s work has touched the lives of over 10,000 people across the world.

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Parashakti also created 7 Foundations, a guide for embodied spiritual connection and vibrant living.

After serving as spiritual director of Breathe Life Healing Center, an inpatient addiction recovery facility in Hollywood, Parashakti co-created Sanctuary in the City, an outpatient recovery program based on the 7 Foundations. She facilitates trainings for addiction recovery specialists at New York’s Open Center, holds collaborative retreats with the International Kabbalah Center, and maintains a residency at Rythmia Life Center in Costa Rica where Dance of Liberation™ serves as the closing ceremony.

It’s a long way from where she began, although in many ways, she had a sense of where she was headed from an early age. At four years old, Parashakti knew what she was born to do. She wasn’t Parashakti yet, just a big-eyed, energetic girl named Sigalit— the Hebrew word for “violet.” Violets are rich purple with yellow centers— passionate and bright—and she suited that name. Sigalit started ballet class and took to movement right away.

From the way she speaks about it, dance felt like her skin. Skin is what encompasses us, stretching to contain all of our inner workings, protecting us from the outside world, and allowing us to bend, curve, and adapt to its pressures.

Photograpghy: Vanessa Viola. Design by Eli Morgan

Dance helped Sigalit work through the trauma of her parents’ divorce and her father’s abandonment of the family when he left to pursue UltraOrthodox Jewish doctrine. When Sigalit was diagnosed with profound learning disabilities that were made more difficult when her family moved from Israel to California and back, dance was the only language she felt comfortable speaking.

An injury at twenty-two destroyed her dreams of dancing professionally, so Sigalit entered what she has called the “dark night of the soul”: a profound disconnection from her body and connection to source.

Yoga delivered her home, beginning her eventual path to shamanism.

Living in several ashrams, studying with Swami Satchidananda and dedicating herself to a life of spiritual discipline, Sigalit became Parashakti and found her way to dance again.

This time, it was in the Naraya dance, a ceremonial dance tradition of the indigenous peoples of the Great Basin, where Parashakti began envisioning the 7 Foundations and Dance of Liberation™.

The 7 Foundations are practices intended to ground participants in the physical, tangible practice of spirituality.They include:

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Creating Sacred Space

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The Journey of Intention

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The Blindfold

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The Breath

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The Rhythm

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Dance of Liberation™

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Integration and Joyful Service

Her personal and spiritual journey with dance has been captured in the feature documentary, Dance of Liberation™, launching on FMTV, iTunes, Google, and Amazon.

“Some people think that Yoga means standing on your head. But, before you even want to stand on your head, you should be standing firmly on your feet.” ~ Swami Satchidananda

www.facethecurrent.com 59 Photograpghy: Vanessa Viola

We invite you to join in this “dance” with Parashakti in this interview about her work, its origins, and what it means to embody spiritual experience.

Stella Marcus: Why 7 Foundations?

Parashakti: The number seven is imbued with sacredness as it has profound and powerful spiritual energy in traditions across the planet.

For me, it began with the seven directions of the Native American Medicine Wheel. There’s also significance with seven in the Bible and in the Chakras. There are also the seven days in our week, and the seven sense organs in our heads: two nostrils, two ears, two eyes and one mouth!

SM: The 7 Foundations are in many ways about giving people a roadmap for spiritual experience and discipline. How did they emerge for you?

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P: The Native American Medicine Wheel is based on seven directions and has complex symbolism.

It contains power animals and relationships with earth and time. I started really inquiring, exploring, and physically dancing with each direction, and through dancing, I received the roadmap. One foundation leads into the next and back and forth.

Everything is interrelated, just as it is in the Medicine wheel and the Native American tradition. It’s like storytelling—we’re rewriting the soul’s contract.

SM: There is a real emphasis on practicing spirituality in your value system, not as something one does separate from the rest of life, but something woven into the fabric of life and something that involves doing.

P: Rituals can be as mundane as brushing one’s teeth. On a hygienic level, it makes you feel so much

Onzie Yoga Attire. Photograpghy: Alegria Ford

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When our eyes are open, we can get distracted and we can dance in a way that is more about an external experience: being seen. Dancers reach levels of intimacy with themselves when they wear a blindfold that otherwise would not be there. When the blindfold comes off, there’s not that neediness; it’s more about being one’s authentic self.

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Location: DOL at Wanderlust Hollywood. Photograpghy: Alexa Gray

better when you brush your teeth.

When you set your mind to a practice and you do it on a regular basis, that’s just what ritual is to me.

When you are consistent with this practice, you begin to develop a deeper trust within yourself; a sense that you will follow through. And so, this is about an inner relationship with oneself; about developing a deeper practice, a deeper connection, a deeper source of commitment.

And when you take it to the next level of ritualizing and building an altar for example, then take care of that altar everyday, just like you brush your teeth every day.You will start to make a connection with the

sacredness of your life. For example, every single morning I will sage my apartment. And that ritualistic piece gives me that that inner sense of a clearing. There’s a cleansing; there’s a purification. And I feel the difference when I don’t sage.

When I lived in the ashram, there was a lot of meditation and meditation is a great gateway. For me personally, I felt a lot of energy being stuck when I was in meditation. And so, the practice of being able to embody and physicalize the work began. The second foundation is the journey of intention: you can have intention and if you don’t stay active with it, it just remains a thought. Thoughts

are powerful. They are. And it’s much more powerful to have an intention and to take action from it.

SM: Dance of Liberation™ is different from other ecstatic dance practices in a few ways.

It involves ceremony and also incorporates blindfolds. Why the blindfolds?

P: When our eyes are open, we can get distracted and we can dance in a way that is more about an external experience: being seen.

Dancers reach levels of intimacy with themselves when they wear a blindfold that otherwise would not be there. When the blindfold comes www.facethecurrent.com

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Rythmia DOL teachers in Costa Rica. Onzie Yoga attire. Photograpghy: Silvia Estrada

off, there’s not that neediness; it’s more about being one’s authentic self.

I’ve seen it!

SM:You’ve described experiencing the dark night of the soul before arriving in the Ashram at Integral Yoga. How did yogic wisdom help see you through that?

P: What I learned to do that I didn’t know how to do was breathe. There had been a sense of meditation in the years that I danced, though I wouldn’t call it meditation. It was more of an external experience of energy moving through me that was being given to the audience. I wasn’t really experiencing my own spirit. Breath is the physical form of spirit. The

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journey was about giving and about showing the audience rather than taking the journey inward. And once I started finding that connection to my breath, that’s also when I started a regular yoga practice. That’s also when I started exploring dance in a whole new way. I would put on a music track and I would close my eyes and my body would start moving without the need for any sort of external choreography. It started moving in ways that felt like it was my heart moving and my pulse moving.

The blindfold wasn’t introduced yet, because my eyes were closed, I started going into the darkness, experiencing a lot of healing through my closed eyes. When I would open them, it would go away. And so that’s

when the laboratory [for Dance of Liberation™] started. I also found a teacher training, which was Integral Yoga in New York City. After teacher training, I decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to the practice and to the lifestyle of yoga. That’s when I was accepted to live at the Integral Yoga institute.

SM: What drew you to American indigenous practices— something so far away from your own father’s experience as an Orthodox Jew? P: Native American spirituality is earth-based wisdom and medicine, and it allowed me to connect more to the wisdom of nature.

It’s not religion-based and it’s not

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Native American spirituality is earth-based wisdom and medicine, and it allowed me to connect more to the wisdom of nature. It’s not religion-based and it’s not book-based. I would attend these ceremonies and even if the chants were not in my language, I would understand them on a level that was beyond language. I would experience deep, deep healing through the ceremonies and not only individual healing; I would experience collective healing.

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Pitango of Winged Ones Jewelry. Photograpghy:Yosef Funke

book-based. I would attend these ceremonies and even if the chants were not in my language, I would understand them on a level that was beyond language. I would experience deep, deep healing through the ceremonies and not only individual healing; I would experience collective healing. It really attracted me because of my history of having an Ultra Orthodox father and my rebellion against that. That never felt like me.

Native practices felt like I was home.

I’m home; I’m in this ceremonial expression and way of being, and I’m somewhere that I feel like I can actually learn.

SM: What are you up to now in your life and what collaborations

are you excited about?

P: What I love most is co-facilitating and collaborating with visionaries. I’ve been honored to partner with Karen Berg of the Kabbalah Center, with Rythmia, and with Onzie, a brand of yogic wear that has become my uniform and has helped me come out of my ascetic yogini shell with a blast of color. I’m super thrilled to launch Winged Ones, a sacred jewelry line in collaboration with jewelry designer Pitango. It’s been deeply initiated and inspired by the medicine of the Eagle, which is the power animal I’ve been dancing with for the past twenty years and which birthed Dance of Liberation™. Pitango is a Seer in his own right; a medicine man. In LA, I am

in collaboration, facilitation and offer one on one SoulHealing sessions at Urban Exhale, a family-run yoga center that is my home away from home. In New York, I teach regularly at the NY Open Center, Omega Institute, and Kripalu, where I lead retreats, facilitate the 7 Foundations training and train DOL teachers.

ymore info: www.parashakti.org Facebook: @ParashaktiDance Instagram: @danceofliberation www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC sports

Opt Outside: The Health Benefits of Earthing

By Jawn Angus In today’s world we are constantly bombarded with countless “life hacks.” Soothing oils; weight loss pills; and supplements to help us sleep, slow the aging process, cure our aching back, or improve our mood. But did you know that there is a natural way to improve blood circulation, strengthen immune response, relieve stress, decrease inflammation, and repair sore muscles?

“Earthing”—also known as “grounding”—is the process of absorbing the earth’s charged electrons through the body. This is done via direct body contact with the ground. As we stand or walk outside with our bare feet, these electrons enter through the trigger points of our feet and flow throughout our body.

For as long as the earth has been in existence, a freeflowing natural energy has been pulsing through its core and radiating to the surface, providing a rhythm of electrical healing power to all creatures. Only recently have scientific experts and health enthusiasts begun to delve into all that is offered by Earth’s electronic energy.

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My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth’s loveliness.

— Michelangelo

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Our ancestors walked barefoot or wore shoes made from animal skins, which gave them direct contact with the earth. Medicines were minimal in ancient times and the earth’s surface served as an anti-inflammatory haven.

Our species has since evolved to spending copious amounts of time sitting indoors at a desk, and we very often get our exercise at a gym. To make things more difficult, modern shoes are designed with rubber or plastic soles, which disconnect us from the earth’s natural electromagnetic energy. Our body is a walking, conductive battery made up of cells and tissues that hold water and need to be recharged. By staying indoors and wearing protective shoes, we are disconnecting ourselves from the earth’s energetic surface, often leading to chronic fatigue and low energy. Earthing has been shown to improve sleep patterns, reduce stress, accelerate muscle damage from exercise, and speed the healing of wounds. Even still, a very small

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percentage of us are taking advantage of all that earthing has to offer.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits A recent study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research revealed that healthy individuals who practiced earthing after strenuous exercise experienced decreased delayed-onset muscles soreness (DOMS) compared with participants who did not employ earthing.

DOMS is temporary muscle damage (muscular stiffness) that takes place hours to days after vigorous or unfamiliar exercise. When we damage our muscles or experience an injury, our bodies are quick to respond.

Neutrophils immediately invade the injured region and begin breaking down damaged cells so that the tissue can regenerate. This is done through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals. Unfortunately, these free radicals can also damage healthy cells near the injured area.

In this particular study, measurements were taken before exercise and one, two, and three days thereafter. The study showed that the grounded subjects had fewer neutrophils circulating the injured area and the negative electrons from the earth had neutralized positively-charged free radicals that would have otherwise damaged healthy cells, forming what is known as an “inflammatory barricade.” Pain was also monitored between the two groups and the grounded subjects experienced less pain and had the ability to tolerate a higher pain threshold.

It is hypothesized that electrons from the earth enter the body and act as a natural antioxidant. The electrons become semi-conducted through the body’s connective tissue and can neutralize free radicals and other oxidants, preventing healthy cells from becoming damaged in the process.

Our body is a walking, conductive battery made up of cells and tissues that hold water and need to be recharged. By staying indoors and wearing protective shoes, we are disconnecting ourselves from the earth’s energetic surface.

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Stress Relief Earthing also reduces stress and brings harmony to our body by balancing cortisol levels. Cortisol is often described as the “stress hormone” due to its role in helping control blood sugars, reducing inflammation, and limiting blood pressure. It is a vital hormone that protects bodily health and contributes to well-being, but when elevated, cortisol can be the cause of a host of bodily maladies including a weakened immune system. When we are grounded, Earth’s negative

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potential allows our bodies to become stable, efficient systems.

One of the first published earthing studies examined the effects of sleep and circadian cortisol levels. The study showed that after six weeks, participants displayed lower signs of stress due to lower cortisol secretion rates during sleep.

Slowing the Aging Process Evidence also implies that earthing may promote anti-aging effects. It is widely accepted that aging is the result of cumulative damage caused

by free radicals that are produced through normal metabolism or in response to injury and other pollutants. By neutralizing free radicals through earthing, cells remain strong and this keeps our healthy tissue from being compromised during inflammation. With healthy cells and a healthy balance of cortisol, a good mood becomes the norm and happy people age graciously.

How to Practice Earthing

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One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken.

— Leo Tolstoy

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So, how often and how long should you practice earthing? While many studies show the health benefits of earthing, most have taken place indoors using conductive mats that are connected to outdoor grounding rods. This allows for accurate data to be compiled while controlling for the placebo effect. It has been shown that the earth’s electrons can be immediately absorbed upon direct skin contact, so any time we are outdoors and grounded, the better.

There is limited research as to how much earthing is truly beneficial. I

suggest starting with at least five minutes each day of being grounded outdoors, ultimately working up to a minimum of thirty minutes. This can include walking barefoot on grass, soil, sand, gravel, and even concrete.

Sit outside in a chair reading your favorite book with your bare feet rested on the grass, or swim in the ocean or a lake. Laying on a cotton towel or blanket is also suitable since these fibers do not interfere with grounding.

We all know that spending time outdoors with nature can be a

peaceful and therapeutic way to deal with the stressors in our lives. Now, research shows that we are literally charging our internal batteries and strengthening our immune systems in the process. So, get out there; feel the earth and feel better!

ymore info: www.marathawnjawn.com www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC health

S33D: Restoring Earth’s Sustainable Food Systems Through Global Seed Pods

By Ed Thurlow and Ed Pratt A dream to grow a globally distributed seed and story library is taking root in the heart of the world.

With our recent journeys in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Colombia, we hope to grow spaces for your (yours and ours) stories and answer the questions surrounding the origins of the produce we consume while looking at the subsequent spaces our influential energy flows. From the sacredness of water that connects all life, to the multitude of plants that have and continue to help humanity thrive, we invite you to help explore and attribute a collective value to the origins of life on earth.

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WHAT IS A POD? A S33D Pod is a sustainably built community structure; a focus point or “hub” for localizing trade, learning, and investment. Each Pod provides the infrastructure necessary to collect, cast, curate, and verify the seed-stories we share around the vast supply chains of our consumables. The germination of Pods in communities around the world will form S33D’s Distributed Library (SDL), an open-source educational network focused around the restoration of biodiversity and its circulating knowledge. The Pods will act as hubs to verify organic trade and the local stories around native plants. The S33D will germinate a web of ledgers to incentivize transaction trails back to the origin of the plants we consume. Through their own conscious consumption, communities preserve the stories around the world’s plant species and feed the conservation of wilderness and biodiversity.

Co-Founder Ed Pratt with some magic beans

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Whilst sitting in meditation on the foundations of the Genesis Pod, it didn’t take long to understand why these types of ecosystems are worth preserving.

Naturally home to a wealth of biodiversity including rare birdlife, plant species, and an extensive range of ancient knowledge, the Sierra Nevada is the perfect platform to begin showcasing the values we wish to amplify, preserve, and protect. Integrating clean water, preserved wilderness, and sustainable food systems on both local and global scales is essential.

SOWING On March third of this year, S33D reached a remarkable milestone in its journey thus far, launching our Alpha build, which began with the sowing of the Genesis S33D Pod on the soil of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We began with an eleven-day workshop at Aloha Ke Akua, a conscious garden community located in the mountains above Minca, Colombia. The Aloha workshop focused our energies around sustainable building, and dream and story sharing, with an imagination-stimulating introduction to permaculture and the future of food forests.

We all felt the Genesis Pod was born exactly where it was meant to be as we looked onto the snow-capped twin peaks of one of the world’s highest coastal mountain ranges. Whilst sitting in meditation on the foundations of the Genesis Pod, it didn’t take long to understand why these types of ecosystems are worth preserving. Naturally home to a wealth of biodiversity including rare birdlife, plant species, and an extensive range of ancient knowledge, the Sierra Nevada is the perfect platform to begin showcasing the values we wish to amplify, preserve, and protect.

Integrating clean water, preserved wilderness, and sustainable food systems on both local and global scales is essential. www.facethecurrent.com

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FLOWERING TOOL BOXES FOR PRESERVATION AND EVOLUTION We believe that by providing tools to allow individuals to establish clearer connections with the origins of their food and medicines, we will collectively begin to value the biodiversity of the planet as the abundant resource it truly is. As we were building the Pod in Colombia, the sense that our earth requires a diverse makeup of ecosystems for survival was constantly apparent. By providing tools and trust networks to accelerate purchasing and restoring large portions of the earth’s land to its natural state, we are aiding in stabilizing the earth’s systems, increasing crop security, and preserving languages and stories that might otherwise be lost. We see S33D developing as a toolbox to assist us in collectively bringing our consumption and creation into balance.

Co-Founder Ed Thurlow and Aloha Gardener Max Benzie

ORIGIN TRIALS AND YOUR FUTURE “Today you are You, that is truer than true.There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

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Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

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Despite these reassuring words from Dr. Seuss, the question of “Who is the you?” still remains. There are two main threads to this: Many of you will have experienced or heard about someone else experiencing a sense of oneness or an intuition that everything you can see, imagine, or feel is one with it all—its whole self. The other thread is that of individuality and when these two threads knit together, we come to the knowing that every individual is a unique expression of the one being. If you are then inevitably what you eat, growing the connection to the produce we chose to consume increases our own self-awareness, enabling us to deepen and sweeten the way we live. Origin trails can help us efficiently direct our energy to tidying up areas of the planet. For example, we hope to make it easy for you to support producers who fairly contribute to their surrounding environment in ways that resonate with you. This might take the form of supporting education initiatives, preserving wilderness, or growing diverse seed stock. We seek to give you the tools to feed a world you hope to live in.

NOWTEES We aim to launch and fundraise S33D Alpha by distributing 999 limited edition hemp t-shirts—the Aloha NowTees. This sale will help fund the establishment of The Papaya Foundation, an organization to help guide S33D’s early growth, including the development of our first mobile application, as well as the continuation of building S33D’s Pod network. The NowTees will be both a collective and collaborative work of art, interweaving facets of both blockchain and organics to create a new medium on which to experiment and fundraise. Each NowTee will be assigned a set of unique private keys (a non-fungible digital token), allowing buyers to prove rarity and ownership of the item. These supporters will also be rewarded with the opportunity to gain early access to our mobile application and aid in the curation of the Genesis Pod’s inventory.

Furthermore, the NowTees also

act as an experiment in developing S33D’s smART canvas trade template—a contract template that allows merchants to curate a product’s story and origin trail for the education of the end consumer.

Our aim is to open-source and grow the protocol for curating these educational trade templates for all we collectively consume and produce, unifying a web of plant and knowledge-backed capital pools in the process of gathering together physical seed libraries.

GOLDEN-AGE DAWNING The Aloha Alpha build cemented the knowing that a story corroborated by a trusted community can add enormous value to strengthening our human connection. The modern world now offers the worldwide connectivity to reimagine the way this is achieved, and the ancient world retains the heart-connection to guide us through this transformative stage of humanity’s conscious evolution.

S33D’s Alpha app features center

around social governance tools for communities and their Pods.

Demonstrating the possibility of cocurating a shared space shows we now not only have the connectivity but also the will to shift the trade and educational paradigms in harmony with the ecological restoration we must now undertake. Following in the footsteps of the evolutionary proof of work protocol pioneered by bitcoin, our vision for an open web of organic trade transactions consists of separately validated transaction strings and guardian councils for each plant species. We hope the gamification of this planet’s restoration through the mapping of ancient trees, trade flows, and our shared story patterns can increase the efficiency and number of hands committed to the important task.

ymore info: Instagram: @s33dgram www.s33d.life www.facethecurrent.com

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FtC health

Boost your happy hormones A natural approach to improving your mood and treating depression

By Lisa Guy, Naturopath and Founder of Bodhi Organic Tea

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Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in America and around the globe.

It is estimated that one in seven people will suffer from some type of depression in their lifetime. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that depression will become the second cause of morbidity worldwide (1).

life-threatening illness. People who are depressed can find it extremely difficult to function on a day-to-day basis; they commonly have feelings of worthlessness and anxiety, often lack energy and motivation, and have poor concentration and sleep.

Significant weight loss or weight gain is also commonly seen in depressed individuals.

It’s normal to feel a little sad or low at times, but being depressed is so much more. Depression can be very serious, debilitating, and a potentially

Contributing factors that are associated with a greater risk of developing depression include hormonal imbalances (particularly

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women pre-menstrually, postnatally and during peri-menopause), environmental factors (financial and work stress, relationship problems, death of a loved one), neurotransmitter imbalances and nutritional deficiencies, certain prescription drugs (corticosteroids, the contraceptive pill), regular recreational drug use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Those with a family history of depression are also more likely to suffer from the illness at some point in their life.

Antidepressants are generally the first line of treatment for depression.

Antidepressants have their place— especially for those suffering severe depression—however, like with any medication, some people can experience unwanted side effects.

Common side effects associated with antidepressants include weight gain, sexual dysfunction, tachycardia, and drowsiness.

There is definitely a great need for complementary and orthodox practitioners to work together for the greater health and treatment of their depressive patients. Along with diet, herbal and nutritional medicines play a huge role in the management and treatment of depression.

After consulting with a medical practitioner for diagnosis, a consultation with an integrative doctor, naturopath, or herbalist to discuss the best natural treatments for depression is also recommended.

A counsellor or psychologist should also be an integral part of any treatment plan. If pharmaceutical medications are required, herbs and other natural medicines have been

shown to help improve the efficacy of antidepressants while helping to lessen their potential side effects.

NUTRITION Good nutrition plays a fundamental role in the management and treatment of depression. We need optimal amounts of specific nutrients to support the production of neurotransmitters that enhance our mood, sleep, and emotional wellbeing.

POOR WESTERN DIET AND ITS ROLE IN DEPRESSION There is a definite link between fast food consumption and depression.

Common nutritional deficiencies associated with the standard Western diet—rich in refined sugars and fats, particularly high fructose corn syrup and trans-fats—can make you more susceptible to developing depression.

A large European study followed 12,000 non-depressed people for six years. Those who ate a diet rich in trans-fats (from pastries and fast food) had a forty-eight percent higher risk of developing depression compared to those who did not

consume these harmful fats. (2) There is now plenty of scientific evidence supporting the importance of eating a wholesome diet for emotional health and prevention of depression. A well-balanced diet delivers brain-boosting nutrients that help regulate brain chemistry to support emotional health.

Specific amino acids, vitamins, and minerals received through a healthy diet are needed to produce the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid). Deficiencies in these neurotransmitters are associated with the development of depression.

(3-5) The healthy Mediterranean diet rich in healthy fats from olive oil and fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables, with lower amounts of red meat and dairy, has been found to be associated with a lower risk of depression. (6) Alcohol and coffee are also a common part of the Western diet.

Excessive amounts of caffeine can exacerbate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Too much caffeine www.facethecurrent.com

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Switching your morning cup of coffee to a caffeine-free herbal tea like chamomile, liquorice, holy basil, ginger, or peppermint is a great way to lower your caffeine intake while reaping the health benefits herbal teas have to offer. Green tea is another excellent lowercaffeine option.

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The best food sources of these key amino acids include eggs, poultry, red meat, fish and seafood, dairy, soy and legumes, nuts and seeds. Bananas are also a great source of tryptophan.

can negatively affect dopamine transmission which will alter normal neurotransmitter function. Too much caffeine will also disrupt sleep, deplete essential B nutrients needed for neurotransmitter production, and will put stress on the adrenal glands.

Adrenal stress is associated with depression, fatigue, and the inability to cope with stress. Drinking too much alcohol can also exacerbate depressive symptoms since alcohol is a known depressant. Switching your morning cup of coffee to a caffeinefree herbal tea like chamomile, liquorice, holy basil, ginger, or peppermint is a great way to lower your caffeine intake while reaping the health benefits herbal teas have to offer. Green tea is another excellent lower-caffeine option.

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vital role in the synthesis of important neurotransmitters needed for emotional health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that supplementing with amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and methionine is beneficial for enhancing mood and is useful in the treatment of depression. (7-9)

AMINO ACIDS NEEDED TO PRODUCE KEY NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for making us feel happy and content, is manufactured in the body using tryptophan. This essential amino acid cannot be produced in the body so it must be supplied through the diet or supplementation.

Tryptophan is also needed to produce melatonin which is vital for sleep. Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue. Supplementing with tryptophan has been shown to help restore serotonin levels and improve quality of sleep. (10)

Including adequate good quality protein in the diet is paramount for anyone suffering from depression as protein plays a

A study published in JAMA psychiatry reported that people with clinical depression also have significantly lower brain levels of dopamine. (11)

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Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for creating a positive mood and enjoyment of life.

People with low dopamine levels feel a loss of pleasure for things they once enjoyed like exercising, socialising with friends, or sex. They have poor concentration and focus, and little or no motivation. The amino acid tyrosine is a natural dopamine booster. Tyrosine is converted to dopamine in the body, which makes it beneficial for enhancing mood and motivation.

Methionine is an amino acid that is needed by the body to make S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe).

SAMe is a precursor to serotonin and dopamine. Supplementing with SAMe in the treatment of depression has been shown to be very effective without the common side effects of antidepressants. Supplementing with SAMe can also boost the efficacy of pharmaceutical antidepressants.

(12-14)

Mucuna

GREEN TEA According to a Japanese study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, higher green tea consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. (20) Polyphenols such as flavonoids found in high levels in green tea have been found to have antidepressive properties.

Scientists have also discovered that L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, has an antidepressant and anti-anxiety effect. (15,16) L-theanine can help improve mood by increasing brain dopamine, GABA (a neurotransmitter that inhibits the activity of nerve cells), and serotonin levels. (17) People with depression have lower brain GABA levels, so improving GABA levels will help promote relaxation to relieve anxiety and improve mood and sleep.

MUCUNA Mucuna pruriens, or velvet or lacuna bean, is a legume native to

Africa and Asia. Mucana seeds have been traditionally used in Ayurveda medicine as a nerve tonic for the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Mucuna naturally contains high levels of L-dopa (levodopa) which is converted into dopamine. When taken as a supplement, it can cross the bloodbrain barrier and boost dopamine and serotonin levels. (18) GUT HEALTH The health of your digestive system is closely related to your emotional wellbeing. Our gut plays a key role in guarding against the development of anxiety and depression-related disorders. A large percentage of our brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, GABA and norepinephrine are produced in the gut. In fact, around ninety percent of our serotonin is produced in the gut.

Dysbiosis (altered gut microbiome) and gut inflammation have been linked to altered levels of serotonin levels and several mental illnesses

including anxiety and depression.

Incorporating probiotic rich foods in the diet and supplementing with a good quality broad spectrum probiotic will help restore normal gut microbiome to help improve mood and promote emotional health.

Studies have shown that probiotic supplementation is effective at alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms. (19) Some of the best probiotic rich foods include yoghurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and kvass.

MOOD BOOSTING VITAMINS AND MINERALS Omega-3 essential fatty acids: Current research has shown that people suffering from depression commonly have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in the development and function of the brain and central nervous system.

Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can significantly improve depressive symptoms. (20) www.facethecurrent.com

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(B6), and folic acid (B9) all work together with tryptophan to produce serotonin. Deficiencies in B vitamins are associated with mood changes, depression, insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue. Researchers have recognised that depressive symptoms are often seen in people with folate and B12 deficiencies. (22, 23) A study has shown that supplementing with 500mcg of folic acid can also enhance the efficacy of antidepressant medication. (24) Eating a diet rich in B vitamins and supplementing with a good multi B-complex vitamin is recommended to help maintain optimal levels to support good neurotransmitter production. Foods rich in B vitamins include legumes, wholegrains, nuts, seeds, green leafy veggies, eggs, chicken, red meat, and milk. Diets high in processed foods and refined grains will lack these important mood-boosting vitamins.

Green Veggies

Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized in the body so they must be supplied through the diet or supplementation.The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish (salmon, trout, sardines, krill). Chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, and dark green leafy vegetables are also good plant-based sources of these healthy fats. A good quality fish oil supplement is recommended for anyone suffering from depression.

Dosages of two grams daily have been found to be beneficial

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for alleviating depression. (21) A fish oil supplement with a higher ratio of EPA to DHA is recommended for treating depression.

B vitamins are needed to help maintain good mental health and emotional wellbeing. B vitamins are important for treating and preventing depression as they are required for the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. B vitamins also support the body during times of stress and are needed to produce energy. Niacin (B3), pyridoxine

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies worldwide. Females—in particular teenagers and pregnant women—are prone to low iron levels. Iron plays a role in our emotional health as it is a cofactor for enzymes responsible for dopamine and serotonin synthesis, and it’s required for GABA homeostasis and energy production.

Deficiencies in iron can strongly impact mood and are associated with apathy and the development of depression and anxiety. (25) Ironrich foods include red meat, fish, chicken, eggs, legumes (lentils), and wholegrains. Supplementing with around 20mg of elemental iron daily is recommended for anyone with an iron deficiency.

Vitamin D is an important fatsoluble vitamin that plays a role in our mood and brain function, and prevention of depression. A majority of Americans are thought

St. John’s Wort

to be deficient in vitamin D due to lack of sun from either spending too much time indoors or wearing sunscreen all the time when outside.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to the development of depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), insomnia and anxiety. If you are deficient in vitamin D, it will affect your cognitive function and the production of dopamine and norepinephrine.

Sunlight is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to get sufficient vitamin D as your skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to UV light.

Sensible sun exposure of around fifteen minutes daily in summer, and two to three hours a week in winter, on the arms, legs, hands or face (without sunscreen) is all you need to help maintain adequate vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is also found in oily fish (salmon, trout, mackerel, tuna, and sardines), eggs, organic butter and

milk from grass-fed cows, cod liver oil, and mushrooms (exposed to UV light). It is recommended to supplement with around 6,000-8,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily if you are deficient in this important moodboosting nutrient.

Spending time exercising outdoors is not only a great way to top-up your vitamin D levels, but exercise is an excellent natural antidepressant.

When you exercise, endorphins and serotonin are released, which help boost mood. There is abundant evidence favouring the positive effects of exercise on mood, energy levels, quality sleep and, of course, a myriad other health benefits such as cardiovascular care, weight management, and social interactiveness. Choose a form of exercise that you enjoy—walking, swimming, dancing, soccer, surfing, etc.

TOP HERBS FOR IMPROVING MOOD

St John’s Wort St John’s wort (hypericum perforatum) is a medicinal herb commonly used by naturopaths and herbalists for its antidepressant effect. St John’s wort’s mood-boosting action is due to its ability to increase the availability of serotonin, dopamine and norephinephrine to the brain.

Studies have shown that St John’s wort is beneficial for treating mild to moderate depression and anxiety, and is just as effective as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac and Zoloft. (26) St John’s wort has also been found to be successful in treating SAD, and mood swings associated with pre-menstrual syndrome and menopause.

St John’s wort can interact with certain medications so take caution when taking this herb with pharmaceutical antidepressants, sedatives, migraine medications, or heart medications. www.facethecurrent.com

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Ashwagandha Ashwagndha (withania somnifera) is a highly effective ‘adaptogenic’ herb that helps improve the body’s resistance to stress. This popular Ayurveda herb is widely used by herbalists and naturopaths to treat anxiety and depression. Withania supports adrenal health and calms the nervous system.

In studies, withania has been found to help combat stress and improve people’s emotional health and wellbeing. (27) Rhodiola Rhodiola (rhodiola rosea) or golden root has been used for thousands of years in Europe and across Asia to improve stamina, strength, and mental performance. Rhodiola is another valuable ‘adaptogenic’ herb that is beneficial for improving depression and intense physical and emotional stress.

(28) Studies have shown that rhodiola can significantly reduce mild to moderate depression without the side effects of pharmaceutical antidepressants. (29)

78 FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE Rhodiola

Ashwagandha

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) Lemon balm is a member of the mint family that has long been used for its soothing medicinal qualities and aromatic properties. The Arabs in the eleventh century introduced lemon balm as a remedy for depression and anxiety. They believed it caused the mind and heart to be merry.

Today, lemon balm is popular among herbalists for treating insomnia and anxiety-related conditions as it has a sedative and calming effect on the nervous system.

Lemon balm and one of its key active compounds, rosmarinic acid, boosts levels of GABA in the brain by inhibiting the enzyme that normally breaks down this relaxing neurotransmitter. (30) Elevated GABA levels can help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.

If you’re dealing with depression in your life, or you know someone who is, know that there are many avenues to take to improve mental health.

While it can sometimes be difficult to believe, happiness isn’t an elusive gift meant for everyone else. With traditional medications, counselling or therapy, and naturopathic remedies, depression’s foggy layers can be peeled away, and your body can reset to reveal the happy, positive, and optimistic person you deserve to be.

ymore info: www.bodhiorganictea.com References are available in web version of this article. www.facethecurrent.com Lemon Balm 79

FtC health

Using Light Energy Immersion Therapy for Ultimate Health

By Penelope Jean Hayes The following is an excerpt from Penelope Jean Hayes’ upcoming book, The Magic of Viral Energy, with Morgan James Publishing

Pray for your good health and the good health of others, yes, but pray a praise of thanksgiving. There is a parable of a drowning man who asks The Universe to save him. Three times boats approach and offer help.

Three times the man declines the earthly intervention, saying, “No thanks, The Universe will save me.” As the story goes, the man dies waiting for The Universe, doing nothing to help himself. For Heaven’s sake, don’t be closed-minded like the drowning man; The Universe is listening and sending you the people, events, circumstances, resources, ideas, new medical trials, and the deep wisdom

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of holistic and ancient tradition medicine. Recognize The Universe everywhere that She is.

In terms of the role of energy in your health, there is an energy-alchemy for good health. It’s important to understand that even in poor health and terminal disease, you are growing in your spiritual evolution.

It would greatly benefit you to embrace the gifts in illness. Haven’t you reprioritized in a hurry? Haven’t you felt and given more love in the face of sickness? Through the gift of diminished physical health, you are balancing the heavy weight of physical

things and becoming enlightened.

What else could do that? In fact, many other forces can accomplish that such as heavy forces like a sudden financial loss, or light forces of conscious intention and spiritual evolution.You see, the balance that you need doesn’t have to come through trauma or loss. It’s your choice about what will get your attention and fulfill the purpose of your soul.

Now say to the great teacher named Disease, “Thank you for everything that you’ve shown me; I release you.”

When you feel like crying because of your infliction, don’t be in fear that your doubt will out you in your faith. Instead, let your emotions be welcomed with the same love that you would give to a child. Cry if you need to. Let the heavy energy pour out from you and let it be an energetic release. Then, through your tears, repeat out loud, “Disease (or injury etc.), I no longer need you. Thank you for all that you have opened my eyes to. I release you.”

In living as though you have no power, you have no power. In living as though you have no peace, you have no peace. In living as though you have no right to take a break, you have no right to take a break. In living as though you have no purpose, you have no purpose.Your life’s purpose

is the one that you give yourself and it has everything to do with this question: what will you create, next?

Elevating your creation energy and your light presence is the key to your restored good health.

Even in the face of disease, be in light.

Let light energy radiate in you and from you. Let it heal you.You will recognize light because it will feel light. Let light dissolve all that is heavy.

Let light dissolve the burden and blockage to your health.You cannot be separated from light any more than a cloud will sometimes separate us from the sun. Light is always there for you.

Focus not on driving out darkness and heaviness, but on being light.Yes, be in light, and also be the light. Get

around others who are beacons of light. Let them infect you with their light. Do not invite under your roof any force of heaviness like the toxins in your environment, in the news, in your own words and thoughts, or in negative conversations with others.

These are kryptonite to your goal and purpose. Let your lips speak only words of love. After all, love is the highest of light energies.Your clear access to light energy is your medicine. It’s worth repeating—your clear access to light energy is your medicine. Fully commit to igniting deep within your body and being a generator for light energy. And in doing so, witness the experiential light of Life: The Universe, creating Yourself anew.

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Visualize this: imagine for a moment what it would be like to be The Universe. (Oh, just let go of your small self for a minute and allow your HigherSelf this visualization.) The Universe can do and be anything and so She chooses to be everything in order to witness Herself ultimately choosing light, and by doing so She experiences the pure joy of remembrance with the light that She is from the beginning. The Universe knows that even shadows exist due to the presence of light. Nothing can block His light that He doesn’t allow. The

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Universe can have and do anything, and so even darkness must be under order by Him. And because all is The Universe and The Universe is all there is, She is being everything, even that which appears to be blocking the light. The Universe is being you. The Universe is being all that you create.

The Universe is being the disease or infliction. The Universe is being the joy and pain.

Likewise, you are choosing what you will be.You are being all that you create and choosing to create.You

are being your disease or infliction and choosing its contribution.

But you can choose again, right now.

Don’t waste your energy on denying the existence of disease; choose something else.You don’t want the experience of disease? Okay then, what do you want to experience and create? Be precise about it. In being as though you have purpose, you have purpose. In being as though you have health, you have health. In being as though you have life, you have life.

The Universe wants you to know

this: you are the Creator. The light is in you, of you, and for you.Your journey is whatever you create it to be. The Universe is for every version of Themselves; They can never be against you.Your unknowing of being part of the Whole does not change that fact.You cannot offend Them.

Your lifetimes as an individual delight Them just like a parent finds joy in watching their infant child stumble and walk and stumble again. When you walk or stumble, it makes no difference to Them nor changes Their love for you in any way. It only

takes you longer to get to where you decided you wanted to go. If you decide to keep going, decide to keep going.

The realm that we call Heaven is a wonderful state to be and your soul remembers it well. Choose why you want this physical body experience to continue. Make it so juicy that it outweighs any reason that your soul would have to return, quite yet, to the Whole of Life. Write it down and renew your agreement with Life about what you will create. Accept

your power to create; don’t give it away. Call under task all of the parts and systems of your body to get on board. And for goodness sake, treat your body like you want it and love it.

ymore info: www.1penelope.com Upcoming Book Release: The Magic of Viral Energy: An Ancient Key For Happiness, Empowerment, And Purpose

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Fuel for an inspired life. Be your potential.

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