Natural Awakenings North Central Florida August 2016

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Leftover Makeover Ways to Halt Food Waste

Just Walk

22 Minutes a Day Boosts Well-Being

FREE

Growing Up Empowered

Helping Kids Step into Their Best Selves

August 2016 | North Central FL Edition | GoNaturalAwakenings.com natural awakenings

August 2016

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contents 7 newsbriefs 8 coverartist 10 10 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 14 ecotip 15 actionalert 11 16 business

spotlight

25 practitioner

profile

27 wisewords 14 32 greenliving 38 calendar 42 resourceguide 43 classifieds

advertising & submissions

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

17 WE CAN CREATE

by Nuris Lemire

19 THYROID AS A FACTOR

In Infertility and Miscarriage

by Michael John Badanek

20 A GOOD FOOD FIGHT

Keeping Food Out of the Trash Bin

by April Thompson

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22 GROWING UP

EMPOWERED

Helping Kids Step into Their Best Selves

by Judith Fertig

28 JUST WALK

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 352-629-4000 or email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

22 Minutes a Day Boosts Well-Being

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

WITH CARE

by Randy Kambic

30 HANDLE WILD THINGS How to Help Injured Animals

by Sandra Murphy

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

33 EARTH GUARDIANS

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

34 SALT AIR IN THE CITY

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OUR WORLD

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Kids Say No to Global Warming

by April Thompson

30

Salt Rooms Soothe Allergies and Skin Conditions

by Avery Mack

37 YAY FOR PLAY

Ways to Spark a Child’s Creativity

by April Thompson

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letterfrompublisher Cathy and I are thrilled to bring you this

contact us Publishers Cathy Culp Shannon Knight National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Editor Martin Miron Design & Production Stephen Blancett Steven Hagewood Chelsea Rose Martin Friedman Sales Cheryl Loos Distribution Del Culp Jules Gollner Vicki Gard Natural Awakenings North Central Florida P.O. Box 831038, Ocala, FL 34472 Phone: 352-629-4000 GoNaturalAwakenings.com GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com Follow us on: Facebook.com by searching: Natural Awakenings North Central Florida

©2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

issue of Natural Awakenings North Central Florida. We love the way it allows us to share the valuable articles and information from our national editorial team and the knowledge Shannon Knight, of our local practitioners. It has helped me Cathy Culp, co-publisher co-publisher spread the word about things I’m passionate about and also help spread the word about the passions of others.

This month, our focus is on the power of creativity. While I don’t think of myself as a creative person in what one might call the traditional sense of being a good artist or musician, I have always found my life steering toward creative people and experiences. In my early career in the restaurant business, I managed the administration while being surrounded by world-class chefs and restaurateurs. I eventually opened our family’s restaurant, handling all of the interior design of the dining room.

My favorite of them all is my husband Dean, who grew up an Iowa farm boy and found his creative outlet in theater in college. His theater and musical days were before our time together, although he sang James Taylor’s Something in The Way She Moves to me at our wedding. His current passion is building and restoring wooden boats.

I think it’s safe to say that creativity is a state of mind. Building a barbecue pit in the yard, doing yard work, cooking in the kitchen or writing a poem—or maybe even just thinking about those things—always summons our resources to express the intrinsic impulse to make something that wasn’t there before. April Thompson’s story “Yay for Play,” advises us how to nourish that creative spirit in our children and teach them to nurture it throughout life.

On the local scene, learn about the role the thyroid plays in infertility, discover how Grub Hub is connecting people with farmers and read about the ecological significance of Amendment 4 in the upcoming election.

It gives us great joy that this magazine means so much to so many of you and love hearing about it. A lovely reader recently left a message thanking us for the publication and said that it has provided exactly what she needed when she needed it. This and similar stories from many of you make us very proud! We thank you for bringing us into your lives every month by enjoying our free, communitysupported publication.

Be well in love and peace,

SUBSCRIPTIONS To sign up for a copy of our monthly digital magazine, visit

GoNaturalAwakenings.com Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint.

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Shannon Knight, Co-Publisher

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newsbriefs Bhaktiland Presents Indian History on Stage

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live performance of mantra music and classical Indian dance based on the Shadows of the Sun Dynasty books will take place at 6:30 p.m., August 27, at the Cofrin Theater of the Oak Hall School. There will also be readings by author Vrinda Sheth and original art by Anna Johansson.

This multi-city performance tour of sacred sound, dance and theater is a unique production created by an ensemble of Western artists steeped in Indian arts and culture. It explores the lives of the central characters of India’s ancient epic, the Ramayana. establishing a magical bridge into the timeless world of Sita and Rama using artwork, music, sacred sounds, classical dance and theater.

Tickets are $15 advance/$20 door/$12 students. Location: 8009 SW 14th Ave., Gainesville. Order at BrightstarEvents.net. For more information, visit SitasFire.com.

See ad, page 24.

Big Sugar Summit Meeting

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he Big Sugar Summit 2 will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., August 20, at the Embassy Suites West Palm Beach, sponsored by Florida chapters of the Sierra Club. The sugar industry’s influence and impact on Florida and its citizens is felt from the Panhandle to the Keys. There is no more powerful lobbying force than Big Sugar at the local, state or federal levels. Experts from around the country and the world will pull the curtain back on the sugar industry and empower Floridians.

Location: 1601 Belvedere Rd., West Palm Beach. Register at SierraClub.tfaforms.net/59.

New Medical Practice in Mount Dora

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for all Health Challenges

aniel Thomas, DO, and his wife, Sylvia TorresThomas, Ph.D., have opened a new medical office at 344 South Highland Street, in Mount Dora. It features a full-size working kitchen that will be used to conduct Daniel Thomas and cooking classes, make delicious and healthy treats for paSylvia Torres-Thomas tients during their office visit and host monthly potlucks.

Thomas says, “Because food is medicine, it’s not enough to tell patients how to eat; we will show them that eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of time nor cost a lot of money, and it is really delicious. Furthermore, we will show patients how to incorporate the world’s greatest superfoods into every meal, snack and beverage.”

Thomas has 30 years of experience and is one of the nation’s leading authorities in preventive, anti-aging, functional and integrative medicine; people from across the country seek his medical expertise. Torres-Thomas is also a seasoned registered nurse and a published clinical researcher with more than 30 years of experience.

They treat their patients with a level of care, compassion and respect and are passionate about helping their patients enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives.

For appointments, call 866-214-4584. For more information, visit HealthyAndStrong.com. See ad, page 16.

H

olistic Medicine

* Classical Homeopathy * Heavy Metal Detox * Nutrition * Preventive Health Care * Allergies

* Chronic Fatigue * Environmental Toxicity * Stress Management * Biosyntonie * Holistic Pediatrics

Learn how to enhance your own unlimited self healing potential.

Hanoch Talmor, MD

4140 NW 27th Ln, Suite C, Gainesville

352-377-0015

Free Monthly Webinars www.drtalmor.com

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newsbriefs

coverartist

Bliss Yoga Moves to Downtown Ocala

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lissful Life Corporation, a nonprofit yoga and wellness community, has relocated to “the Victorian on the boulevard”, at 725 East Silver Springs Boulevard, Suite 5, in downtown Ocala. They offer a variety of yoga classes, massage, reiki, Pilates, private yoga sessions and yoga teacher training. All regular classes are donation-based, while workshops and training are fee-based.

Jennifer McCracken, lead instructor, says, “Our new location is bigger and better than ever, and more accessible to trauma survivors. Our facility is open to all who wish to find mind/body balance. Our open-door policy and trauma-sensitive practices make Blissful Life a great place to complement and nurture healing, as well as balanced living.”

For more information, call McCracken at 352-694-9642, email Info@blissyogacfl. com or visit BlissOcala.org.

Unity of the Villages Is Moving

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nity of the Villages has purchased property at 509 County Road 468, in Fruitland Park, and will hold their first Sunday service in the new location on September 4. Rev. Marge Brown says, “Unity of the Villages offers a positive path for spiritual living.”

Location; For more information, call 352-454-3120, email UnityOfTheVillages@ comcast.net or visit UnityOfTheVillages.org. See ad, page 15.

Unique Instruction for Yoga Teachers

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yoga teacher training course, Teaching from the Heart, will begin September 9 at Samacore Yoga & Barre, in Mount Dora. Owner Shata Ben-Avari, EYRT 500, RYS 200, says, “Whether you are in the health and healing world or simply wish to be a part of raising consciousness and sharing the possibility of transformation through yoga with your local and global community, everyone can benefit from this program!”

Topics include yoga philosophy history, study of asana and alignment, effective and intelligent sequencing, the art of assisting, practice teaching, meditation and pranayama, mudras and bandhas, modifications for different bodies and abilities, preparing powerful and focused classes, becoming an inspiring teacher, finding your authentic voice and more.

“Now is the time to awaken and remember the health and happiness that is our birthright. We have experienced this truth over the last 25 years through thousands of hours of our own practice and sharing yoga, and then as we have begun to teach others to become teachers over the last 10 years,” says Ben-Avari.

Location: 301 N. Baker St., Ste. 212, Mount Dora. For more information, call 352409-3646 or visit SamacoreYogaAndBarre.com. See ad, page 15.

News to share?

Submit information to GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

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Spring Fever

by Mary Leslie Drawing since the day she could hold a crayon, Mary Leslie also spent much of her childhood collecting stray dogs and cats, injured birds and the occasional squirrel. Because her love of all things furred and feathered was matched by her passion to create, she learned to carefully observe and draw the creatures in her care.

Leslie studied art at the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Art Institute of Atlanta, going on to paint murals throughout the Southeast. After moving from suburban Atlanta to a small farm in Madison, Georgia, she began focusing on nature and animals.

Spring Fever was commissioned by a grandmother who asked Leslie to paint a representation of her five granddaughters. “She told me that they loved to dress up and dance,” says Leslie, whose richly hued oil on canvas captures the sheer exuberance of youth and joyful movement. “It’s my goal in every painting to convey the character and personality of my subjects and pass it on to the viewers, hoping they can catch a glimpse of what I enjoy so much.”

View the artist’s portfolio at MaryLeslieStudio.com.

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healthbriefs

Delayed Kindergarten Reduces Attention Deficit

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elaying kindergarten enrollment for one year shows significant mental health benefits for children, according to a Stanford University study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Reviewing results from a mental health survey completed by more than 35,000 Danish parents, the researchers saw that youngsters held back from kindergarten for as little as one year showed a 73 percent reduction in inattentiveness and hyperactivity for an average child at age 11, compared to children enrolled the year earlier.

Measuring inattentiveness and hyperactivity reflect a child’s ability to selfregulate. The generally accepted theory is that young people that are able to stay focused, sit still and pay attention longer tend to do much better in school.

“This is some of the most convincing evidence we’ve seen to support what U.S. parents and policymakers have already been doing—choosing to delay entry into kindergarten,” says Stanford Graduate School of Education Professor Thomas S. Dee. In addition to improved mental health, children with later kindergarten enrollment dates also exhibited superior emotional and social skills.

The number of U.S. children entering kindergarten at age 6 instead of 5 has progressively increased to about 20 percent, according to the study. Many parents are opting to delay kindergarten enrollment for a year to give their children a leg up in physical and emotional maturity and social skills.

Grape Juice Boosts Memory and Driving Skills

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esearch from the UK University of Leeds has confirmed that drinking just one glass of grape juice a day increases spatial memory and driving abilities. The researchers attribute the brain boosting benefits to the polyphenols in the grapes.

The study followed 25 healthy mothers between the ages of 40 and 50. Each had young children and worked more than 30 hours a week. The mothers drank 12 ounces of Concord grape juice every day for 12 weeks and had their driving skills tested before and after the study period using a computer simulator.

Louise Dye, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Leeds and senior author of the study, notes, “This research is very promising, as it suggests that the cognitive benefits associated with Concord grape juice are not exclusive to adults with early memory decline. We saw these benefits even after the grape juice was no longer being consumed, suggesting a long-term effect of dietary flavonoids.”

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Breastfed Babies Have Fewer Colds and Ear Infections

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study from the University of Texas has found that increased breastfeeding decreases ear infections among nursing children. The researchers followed 367 babies between 1 and 12 months old from 2008 through 2014.

The scientists analyzed family history traits of smoking, ear infections, breastfeeding and formula feeding. Nose and throat mucosal samples were taken throughout the study period to identify infections, and parents informed the researchers whenever the baby experienced an infection.

The study was led by Dr. Tasnee Chonmaitree, a pediatrics professor from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. “We clearly showed that frequent upper respiratory infections, carriage of bacteria in the nose and lack of breastfeeding are major risk factors for ear infections,” he states. “Prolonged breastfeeding was associated with significant reductions in both colds and ear infections, a common complication of colds.”

Aromatherapy Young Adult Insomnia Linked to Chronic Pain Soothes R Allergies

esearch from the University of Groningen, in The Netherlands, has found that young adults between 19 and 22 years old that don’t sleep well may have more chronic pain later in life. The researchers followed 1,750 people for three years.

About 50 percent of the participants that had sleep problems at the beginning of the study still had them at the end of the study. Roughly 38 percent of those reported chronic pain after three years. This compares to 14 percent of those that didn’t have sleep problems at the start of the research, but reported chronic pain at its conclusion.

Overall, the study found that sleep problems were associated with more musculoskeletal pains, headaches and abdominal pain. The relationship occurred in both men and women, but was stronger among women.

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esearch from Korea’s Chung-Ang University has found that inhaling aromatherapy infusions comprising a combination of sandalwood, frankincense and ravensara for five minutes twice daily significantly reduces symptoms of allergies after seven days. The researchers tested 54 men and women, half of which were tested using a placebo of almond oil.

Total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) results were both significantly lower in the aromatherapy group. TNSS scores decreased by more than half and RQLQ scores decreased by more than 60 percent. Scores for fatigue and sleep quality also improved in the aromatherapy group.

“These findings indicate that inhalation of certain aromatherapy oils help relieve perennial allergic rhinitis symptoms, improve rhinitis-specific quality of life and reduce fatigue in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis,” Chung-Ang University’s Seo Yeon Choi and Kyungsook Park explain in their paper.

thrive

Prenatal Sun Exposure Lowers Asthma Risk

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esearch has shown that children with mothers that live in sunnier locations during their second trimester are significantly less likely to have asthma than other children.

A consortium of researchers from the University of Kansas, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology analyzed data from both hospitals and national surveys to determine sunlight exposure for the mothers. Increased exposure to sunlight increases levels of natural vitamin D.

“We’re not looking at sunny places versus non-sunny places,” clarifies David Slusky, a University of Kansas assistant professor of economics. “We looked at the relative differences of the level of sunlight at a particular place at a particular time of year.”

Legumes Facilitate Weight Loss

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review of 21 clinical trials has found that just one daily serving of legumes can facilitate an average drop of three-quarters of a pound over a six-week period. Published in the journal Obesity, the research analyzed results from studies that tested a total of 940 men and women eating about three-quarters of a cup of beans, lentils, chickpeas and other legumes each day. The subjects reported feeling nearly one-third fuller on average after eating about 5.6 ounces of these foods with their meals, compared with a control group’s diet. These beneficial legumes may also reduce body fat percentages.

According to senior study author and physician John Sievenpiper, Ph.D., of St. Michael’s Hospital’s Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center and the University of Toronto, “Ninety percent of weight-loss diets fail, resulting in weight regain, which may be due in part to hunger and food cravings. Knowing which foods make people feel fuller longer may help them lose weight and keep it off.” natural awakenings

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Scrambling Species

Climate Change Favors Some Birds over Others Decades of data show that climate change is manipulating the way avian species move across continents. For instance, the orchard oriole is losing prime habitat in the South, but gaining more up north. Thousands of species worldwide face the same dilemma. Specific birds need a particular habitat, such as open spaces or groves of trees, and some of their traditionally preferred spots are becoming unlivable.

England’s Durham University ecologist Phillip Stephens, along with researchers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the U.S. Geological Survey, have compiled nearly half a century’s worth of occurrence data from thousands of citizen scientists. Birders submitted their observations to the PanEuropean Common Birds Monitoring Scheme and the North American Breeding Bird Survey for 145 terrestrial bird species native to Europe and 380 species native to the United States.

“We used that information to generate a prior expectation for whether the species would’ve been advantaged or disadvantaged by climate change,” says Stephens.

The predictions were compared with actual bird abundance data from 1980 through 2010, and the populations that were expected to lose suitable habitat declined, while those expected to find their habitats improve increased. He states, “Recent climate change has already favored one set of species over another.”

Read the report at ClimateChange.Birdlife.org.

LOL TTYL

Hope for a New Generation Despite being less confident than their elders, a new study by PsychTests.com, in Montreal, reveals that Millennials (those born between 1980 and 2000) are an ambitious and tenacious generation that continues to prove potential critics wrong.

Labeled by some as self-entitled, arrogant and immature from being coddled by hovering parents, the company’s research says that Millennials are not afraid to push themselves to achieve lofty goals, work hard or take on difficult challenges.

Collecting data from 1,035 people that took their Ambition Test, the researchers looked at the differences between Millennials, Generation X (born between 1960 and 1980) and Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1960) in terms of their levels of aspiration, persistence and sense of self-efficacy. The study reveals that while Millennials lagged a little behind the other two generations on some factors related to ambition, the potential of these young adults should not be underestimated.

“One can argue that Millennials’ hopeful and determined nature is a case of idealism,” explains Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D., president of PsychTests. “Some have just started out in the workforce, so they’re eager to prove themselves, which could also mean that at some point they’ll be blindsided by the reality of what it’s like to be out there in the real world.”

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Toxic Trinkets

Low-Cost Jewelry May Harbor Cadmium In recent years, the European Commission has banned cadmium in all jewelry sold in Europe, but those shopping for low-cost jewelry in North America from popular fashion chains may be wearing products made with cadmium, a heavy metal that can be particularly toxic for kids. There are no known risks for people that wear contaminated jewelry, but swallowing or chewing on a piece containing high concentrations of the toxic metal could allow it to seep into the body.

James Van Loon, director of risk management at Health Canada’s consumer product safety branch, says that children’s bodies more readily absorb the toxic metal, and because they are more likely to put things in their mouths, jewelry that is marketed to those under 15 should contain virtually no cadmium.

Dr. Gérald Zagury, who performed tests and has published several studies on heavy metals in jewelry, says one sample contained the highest amount of cadmium ever reported in Canada for such a product. “It’s pretty close to pure cadmium,” he says. According to Health Canada, cadmium is cheap and melts at a lower point than more commonly used zinc, lowering energy costs for product makers.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, cadmium is a known carcinogen that can also lead to kidney failure, bone loss and other complications in those that are chronically exposed over time.

Source: EWG.org

Good Reads

Fiction Readers Have More Empathy The love of books may begin at any age, but for most, it starts in childhood. Now, scientists are studying the effects of reading on the brain with MRIs, polls, surveys and experiments. The results indicate that readers of fiction are more empathetic toward others. By engaging with a story, they are temporarily placing themselves in a character’s shoes, thus fostering empathy in real life, and literary reading amplifies this effect.

According to a Stanford University study, reading a challenging book also helps us become smarter, as well as more empathetic. By attempting to tackle harder books, we create new connections in our minds that we might not have done otherwise. Neuroscientist Bob Dougherty remarks, “The right patterns of ink on a page can create vivid mental imagery and instill powerful emotions.”

David Comer Kidd, author of another related study, observes, “Like opening a window to let fresh air into our home, literature opens up our minds to the myriad ideas that we wouldn’t be able to experience on our own. We can pause to analyze the experiences depicted as if they were our own, expanding our experience of the world.”

Green Serenity

Sikkim Now a Wholly Organic State Sikkim, the northeastern Indian state located between Bhutan and Nepal, has rid its agricultural land of pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified crops and other artificial inputs on around 75,000 hectares, or about 300 square miles, of agricultural land, making it its country’s first organic state. Instead, farmers use natural alternatives such as green manure and compost.

Twelve years ago, the Pawan Chamling-led government decided to make Sikkim an organic farming state through a declaration in the legislative assembly. After the entry of chemical inputs for farmland was restricted and their sale banned, farmers had no option but to go organic.

Source: TheHindu.com

C lass is more important than a game. ~Pat Summitt natural awakenings

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ecotip Vegan Leather

Walk the Talk with Cruelty-Free Shoes

Caitlin Her second chance at life

made possible by an organ donor

First grader, liver recipient

Every year, over 1,700 children are saved by organ donors.

Caitlin received a liver transplant at 5 months—because someone said yes to donation. Help save more children.

Sign up online as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.

Imagine what you could make possible.

Go to organdonor.gov. organdonor.gov donaciondeorganos.gov

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With a wealth of luxury faux alternatives available in today’s market, shoe lovers can obtain the quality footwear they desire without incurring the usual environmental and human health costs.

Vegan leather is an animal-friendly alternative to real leather, derived from synthetic materials. No cow, sheep, goat or any other animal is killed in order to make vegan leather shoes, and for most people, that’s a good enough reason to choose it over the “real” thing. Provided that we pick the right maker, it also boasts the added advantage of being far more eco-friendly and sustainable than conventional leather.

Elizabeth Olsen, founder of the luxury vegan shoe brand Olsenhaus, says, “The only difference is the materials—one uses a dead animal’s skin preserved in toxic chemicals; the other is made from a mixture of natural and manmade materials that are better for animals and the environment.”

Twenty times more energy is used to create a leather hide than what is required for synthesized material. Conventional leather tanning involves treating animal skins with large quantities of toxic chemicals, including mineral salts, lead, cyanide and formaldehyde. This process wreaks havoc on our environment and the people that work in or live near tanneries, where chemical exposure can cause sickness or even be lethal.

Olsen cautions that just because a shoe is vegan doesn’t mean it’s been made in an eco-friendly way. She uses natural and manmade materials such as linen, cotton, cork, wood, imitation leathers and recycled faux suede in her vegan shoe line.

To assess the quality of vegan leather shoes, she advises, “Shoppers can feel the material and look at the grain to see if it’s faux; with faux, the grain will show a repeating pattern. Also, look for labels noting materials either inside or on the bottom of shoes.”

Olsen notes that an online search for vegan fashion will yield everything from adult couture to baby clothes.

Several websites and blogs report on the latest vegan products. She especially likes GirlieGirlArmy.com for vegan lifestyle and fashion.

Practical Christianity for Positive Spiritual Living Our spiritual community offers practical, spiritual teachings to inspire abundant and meaningful living.

We warmly welcome you!

11 am Sundays—Sanctuary Service

Sunday School & Nursery Care Reverend Jennifer L. Sacks, Senior Minister

Gwen Lindsley, Youth Ministry Dir. & Cathy DeWitt, Music Dir. 8801 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32606 352-373-1030 — unitygvl@gmail.com 10 am–3 pm Mon-Thurs & 9:30 am-1 pm Sun www.unitygainesville.org FB: Unity of Gainesville, Florida

actionalert Vote Yes on Amendment 4 on August 30

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lorida residents can obtain lower energy costs, lower taxes and get more access to solar by casting a yes vote on Amendment 4 on August 30. If passed, the amendment will exempt solar systems from the burdensome tangible personal property tax

for a period of 20 years.

A yes vote by at least 60 percent of registered voters will allow the amendment to become law and remove property and real estate taxes on solar energy systems, lowering the cost to lease or buy solar panels for homes and businesses.

This makes solar more affordable and accessible for everyone. Better solar economics means more solar development to lay the groundwork for cleaner air and a more sustainable future for the state.

Amendment 4 should not be confused with a utilitybacked proposal on the November ballot. Here is the full text of Amendment 4 as it will appear on the August 30 primary ballot.

Solar Devices or Renewable Energy Source Devices; Exemption from Certain Taxation and Assessment “Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to authorize the legislature, by general law, to exempt from ad valorem taxation the assessed value of solar or renewable energy source devices subject to tangible personal property tax, and to authorize the legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of such devices in assessing the value of real property for ad valorem taxation purposes. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2018, and expires on December 31, 2037.�

For more information and to vote by mail, visit YesOn4.org.

See ad, page 20.

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businessspotlight

Florida Grub Hub Provides Essential Link

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lorida Grub Hub (FGH) is the local consumer’s direct connection to Florida farmers. President Laura McCormick states, “Our farm partners produce local foods mindfully, ethically, honestly and with incredible pride.

We visit our farmers and learn about their practices, methods, challenges and accomplishments so we can share that information with you. At FGH, we believe it is important to know where our food comes from and to support sustainable farming practices.”

McCormick, with Audrey Hamberger, in farmer relations, Joey Linde, warehouse manager, and Cheryl Tomlinson, sales team member, supply locally grown, source-identified, seasonal produce and naturally raised meats, as well as other Florida-made products that can be ordered online and delivered to home or office or purchased in their retail storefront.

“We are the only company providing source-identified produce and full transparency regarding the production of our Farm Partner’s products,” says McCormick. “We know our farmers, visit their farms, learn about their individual practices and procedures and pass that information along to our customers so they can make the best choices for them! We do not buy off the truck and we do not offer foods that are not accessible through our farm partners.”

Online ordering of seasonal, fresh produce, meats and other Florida-made products is available and all orders

can be delivered to the customer’s home, business or a pickup location within the Marion and Alachua county area. A 9,100-square-foot local food hub is under construction in Reddick to serve as a centralized location for aggregation, washing, processing, packaging, labeling, storage and distribution of local products from approved farm partners.

“That community members realize the importance of supporting local farmers and knowing where their food comes from has been key to our success and growth, says McCormick. “Solid relationships in the North Central Florida area ranging from business leaders to consumers, educators and municipalities have helped us approach the business from all angles.” She notes that smallto-mid-size local farmers continue to be the catalyst behind the movement and the inspiration for all they do.

Farm to Table Chamber of Commerce After Hours brings together the Alachua and Marion County Chamber of Commerce, serving more than 400 members of the business community and sourcing from more than 10 local farmers. “Educating consumers about real food,” says McCormick. “Working with local processors and within USDA regulations and competing with large-scale, commercial producers and distributors and their foodlike products and price points.”

The Florida Grub Hub store is located at 304 S. Magnolia Ave., in Ocala. For more information, visit FloridaGrubHub.com.

At FGH, we believe it is important to know where our food comes from and to support sustainable farming practices. ~Laura McCormick, Florida Grub Hub President 16

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We Can Create

OUR WORLD

by Nuris Lemire

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e are not always aware that we create our own life script. Our thoughts are the driving force to manifest our reality. We have a choice. If we are not feeling peaceful, relaxed, connected to our inner self, but instead rushed, fatigued and stressed, we can do “baby steps” to become grateful, healthy and balanced person.

Listen The body is asking us to listen. It speaks to us, offering generous insights about how and what we eat and how we feel, along with what to eliminate to become healthy and balanced.

Relax and Breathe The more we relax, the better we feel. Breathe using slow, deep, even breaths to fill the lungs to their fullest. Hold the breath for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly. The relaxation state is the body’s preference. It’s time to relax more with our meals and our life. Trust more. Play more. See if we can commit to inner peace and to finding the still place inside ourselves—the “master within”. Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu has written, “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.”

Slow Down Slow is the speed that best regulates people and moves the body into parasympathetic dominance—the ideal state of metabolic supremacy. Take more time with meals. It’s time to let go of the rush. Value each experience. Slow down with food, loved ones and our lives. Be present in the moment. Capture every moment, stop trying to multitask; it’s more of a hindrance.

Celebrate Remember that we’re here to live, to enjoy and to celebrate.

Allow experiences to be a time when we can smile, share with loved ones and affirm our beautiful life. Listen to the body. It speaks in a hidden language and has some wonderful messages to share.

Nuris Lemire MS,OTR/L,NC of Natural Medicine Physicians/Lemire Clinic, in Ocala, offers a free patient education seminar on the first Mon. of the month.

For appointments, call 352-291-9459. For more information, visit LemireClinic.com. natural awakenings

August 2016

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Thyroid as a Factor in Infertility and Miscarriage

by Michael John Badanek

T

he emotional and physical traumas associated with fertility and miscarriages during the first and second trimester of pregnancy are in many cases avoidable.

Documented case studies in the medical peer review literature note that simple testing procedures and protocols due to abnormal function of certain body organs or organ systems could easily prevent conditions of infertility and miscarriage from ever occurring.

Even before the era of sophisticated, precise thyroid testing, doctors were aware of the effects of thyroid imbalances on reproduction. At the turn of the 20th century, physicians administered thyroid hormone to women to improve their fertility and treat menopause. Today’s doctors recognize that adequate thyroid hormone levels are essential to help regulate the production of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and the hormonal cycle responsible for ovulation. Both an excess of thyroid hormone or more commonly, a deficiency of the hormone alter the harmonious functioning of the reproductive system and sometimes prevent ovulation. Even if ovulation and conception occur, a thyroid imbalance can lead to a deficit in progesterone, which can render the uterus unsuitable for implantation of an embryo. This prevents a normal pregnancy.

Doctors estimate that one of every six couples of childbearing age has a problem with fertility. With modern infertility protocols, which are frequently expensive and timeconsuming, approximately two-thirds of all couples can be treated and successfully conceive. An inability to conceive can generate a profound feeling of failure, which can lead to a state that psychologist Erik Erikson described as “stagnation and personal impoverishment.�

Quite frequently, women being treated for a thyroid imbalance enter infertility programs with no idea that their thyroid condition could be preventing conception

and a normal pregnancy. Even more alarming, a significant number of reproductive endocrinologists and gynecologists that treat infertile couples are unaware that a minimal thyroid imbalance can compound or even cause infertility. Nor do many of these doctors realize the importance of detecting sublet thyroid abnormalities. One study showed that approximately 25 percent of women referred to one infertility clinic had low-grade hypothyroidism.

When a couple seeks help for infertility, a female-related issue is identified 45 percent of the time. The most common identifiable female-related issues are ovarian dysfunction, tubal diseases and endometriosis. One study showed that even when the woman has an identifiable cause of infertility, she is more likely to have an autoimmune thyroid condition and thyroid dysfunction than a woman not having an infertility issue. Antithyroid antibodies were elevated in 18 percent of infertile women, compared to 8 percent for healthy women. The female issue that is more frequently associated with autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid imbalance is endometriosis.

These thyroid disease can be an additional contributing reason for infertility, even if there are other issues that could explain the infertility problem.

Those experiencing problems with fertility should discuss the possibility of a thyroid imbalance with a doctor before spending two years engaging in an infertility protocol. Although infertility usually affects both partners, the person suffering from infertility usually has greater feelings of guilt, inadequacy, failure and low self-esteem.

Contact Dr. Michael Badanek, DC, in Ocala, at 352-622-1151 or visit DrBadanek. com or AlternativeWholisticHealth.com.

Those experiencing problems with fertility should discuss the possibility of a thyroid imbalance with a doctor before spending two years engaging in an infertility protocol.

natural awakenings

August 2016

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consciouseating

A GOOD FOOD FIGHT Keeping Food Out of the Trash Bin

by April Thompson

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s much as 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. is wasted, even as one in six Americans goes hungry. Instead of feeding people better, we are feeding the city dump. Of all types of trash, food consumes the most space in our municipal landfills, followed by plastic and paper. Rotting food then releases harmful methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

While food waste is a big problem, social entrepreneurs see a big opportunity. Around the country, they are working to reduce, recover and rethink discarded food valued at more than $160 billion a year. In the process, they are not only cutting food costs, but also creating jobs and fighting climate change.

University of Maryland College Park alumna Cam Pascual co-founded the nonprofit Food Recovery Network (FRN) after watching hundreds of pounds of food hit the trash in her campus dining hall every night. Pascual and her colleagues mobilized a volunteer network to shuttle leftovers from the university to soup kitchens, donating 200 meals a night to feed the hungry.

In the last five years, FRN has recovered more than 1 million pounds of food from 184 campuses in 42 states, proving that ingenuity and philanthropy can together fight the food waste travesty. “There are two major barriers to recovering leftover food; one is awareness, like helping businesses to understand the laws that protect them from liability,” says Pascual, the organization’s current director of innovation and operations. “The other is the labor involved. Universities are the perfect ecosystem for food recovery because college students have flexible schedules and are community service-minded,

Food waste reduction can be engineered in ways less noticeable to consumers, such as doing away with dining hall trays or using smaller plates. ~Cam Pascual offering a ready supply of volunteers.”

The latest FRN initiative is a certification program to verify that farms and restaurants are engaging in food recovery that includes creating a toolkit to help restaurants safely recover leftover meals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture recently set a goal of slashing food waste in half by 2030, with several supporting bills approaching the floor in Congress. The EPA food recovery hierarchy calls for reducing food waste first and foremost, with recovering food to feed people or animals as a fallback and utilizing landfills only as a last resort.

“It’s one thing to set goals, but to realize those reductions in food waste, we have to change our behavior,” says Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do About It). Farms and households are the two largest generators of food waste, according to Bloom, whose blog at WastedFood.com offers dozens of beneficial tips for keeping food out of the trash bin.

Fighting food waste starts before we go to the grocery. Bloom recommends consumers organize cupboards to know what’s already in stock, plan meals and stick to the shopping list. Post-purchase, easy tips include serving smaller portions, freezing leftovers and sharing surplus with friends and neighbors.

Bloom’s website fans contribute more ideas like mixing veggie scraps into pet food or making them into soup stock. Using a smaller refrigerator keeps shoppers from bulking up while saving energy costs. The battle against wasted food needs to start at home, where small steps add up to big change.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

A FOOD FIGHT WORTH WINNING

Diverting Unsold Food from Full Landfills to Hungry Tummies

J

onathan Bloom speaks to college students around the U.S. explaining how fighting food waste requires changing beliefs and behaviors about food. “Recognize that taste should trump appearance, and don’t be so concerned with superficialities,” is a leading message.

He cites replicable countermeasures like Hungry Harvest and Imperfect Produce, both predicated upon giving “ugly produce” a second chance. Based in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco’s Bay Area, respectively, these businesses offer low-cost home delivery of surplus produce, much of which is rejected for not meeting grocery stores’ high cosmetic standards.

Here are more examples of the community pioneers working to divert food from overstuffed landfills to people.

Daily Table (DailyTable.org) purchases excess food from growers, manufacturers and supermarkets to provide healthy food at fast-food prices for populations in need. The Dorchester, Massachusetts, retail grocery store offers fresh produce and grocery items, plus ready-to-cook and grab-n-go prepared meals.

Fruitcycle (TheFruitcycle.com) makes healthy dried snacks from produce that would otherwise be tossed. The Washington, D.C.-area business also provides jobs for formerly incarcerated, homeless or otherwise disadvantaged women.

Food Cowboy (FoodCowboy.com) reroutes food rejected by distributors. Truck drivers use a mobile app to communicate availability of such produce and find a charity or compost site to accept it.

Re-Nuble (Re-Nuble.com) transforms food waste into affordable, organic fertilizer for hydroponic growing, thus contributing a solution to hunger.

BluApple (TheBluApple.com) makes a plastic, fruitshaped device that can triple the shelf life of refrigerated food. It absorbs ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that accelerates spoilage.

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GROWING UP EMPOWERED Helping Kids Step into Their Best Selves

by Judith Fertig

T

he plugged-in, stressed-out world that challenges adults can be even more difficult for teens in the throes of hormones, peer pressure and a selfie culture. Parents can help their children thrive and become empowered individuals by nurturing desirable character traits such as resourcefulness, resilience, perseverance, self-reliance, independence, empathy and social competence.

Child psychologist Michele Borba, Ed.D., of Palm Springs, California, is a former classroom teacher and the mother of three grown children who dispenses advice at MicheleBorba.com/blog.

Her main parenting focus is character education, as reflected in her latest book, Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. “Tune in to what your kids love,” advises Borba. “Then find learning experiences that help them develop traits they need to be happy, productive adults.”

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This positive parenting approach—accentuating youthful desires and strengths, instead of deficiencies and weaknesses—helps young people develop a secure footing in life. “Kids are driven by their hearts,” observes Borba. “A positive parent doesn’t do the cookie-cutter approach, as in, ‘That’s what worked for other kids in the neighborhood,’ nor even reference what the parent did as a teen.” Teens also impose upon themselves, thinking that being trendy, beautiful, rich and famous are valuable life goals. “The positive parent looks at each child as an individual, listens to what really makes them light up, and then supports that.”

Dreaming Big

Landmark Worldwide, active in 125 cities globally, is committed to the idea that people everywhere have the possibility of achieving success, fulfillment

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and greatness. Corporate leaders praise its programs for helping participants relate, communicate and perform well.

Josselyne Herman-Saccio, a Landmark program leader in New York City, remarks, “Every one of us has a dream, yet too many of us choose our path with fear, disguised as practicality. Our kids might get the message that, ‘You don’t do your dream as your career.’”

That thought can leave anyone feeling like something is missing.

After putting off her own career as a singer and ultimately deciding to go for it, Herman-Saccio recorded That’s What Love Can Do with her group Boy Krazy. The song rose to the top of the pop charts in 1993.

That empowering experience helped her decide to help others—including her own three children—fulfill their dreams. Today, Herman-Saccio leads the Landmark Forum for adults, and the company also offers a version of the course for 13-to-17-year-olds, an interactive, three-day program in cities across the U.S. It helps teens first understand their existing patterns of thoughts and behaviors and then move forward to create new possibilities and face new challenges and discover a new level of power, freedom, self-expression and peace of mind. For a teen to register, a parent or legal guardian must register for or have completed the organization’s adult forum and provide permission.

Teens planning for life after high school get help identifying their career passion at schools such as Upland Hills School, in Oxford, Michigan. Its emphasis on experiential learning culminates in a senior project the teen produces, whether it’s writing a novel, building a storage shed or volunteering at the local senior citizen center. Each must someway contribute to the community.

Beginning with the student’s dream, they must work their way through obstacles, setbacks and all the steps required to bring a dream to reality.

Emotional Literacy/Healthy Risk-Taking

Sometimes parents need to address a teen’s longing for friends and social connections. For youths that especially need to nurture their social skills, such as high-functioning kids with autism or

Asperger’s syndrome, film school might be an answer. At the Joey Travolta Film School and summer camp, in Lafayette, California, kids work together to make a movie; they start with a script, create sets, operate the camera, act and direct.

At the Hunter School, in Romney, New Hampshire, kids dealing with attention challenges can nurture mindbody awareness, energetic mindfulness and sensory integration. It all helps them get to know themselves and relate better to others.

Outdoor skills can help teens develop healthy risk-taking behaviors, as well as teach resilience, perseverance and self-reliance. SheJumps (SheJumps. org), in Salt Lake City, offers young women 6 to 18 years old an opportunity to master outdoor living skills, boost confidence and encourage leadership via collaborating with strong female role models. Fun activities include mountain biking, skiing and trailblazing.

Leadership

Over time, experiential learning can help youths develop leadership skills.

Lander, Wyoming’s National Outdoor Leadership School, a gap-year program

move beyond fears and limiting beliefs, accomplish goals and realize true desires. Application requirements include a good academic record, at least 20 hours of community service and a guidance counselor’s recommendation.

Robbins maintains, “Grow and give is what life is all about.”

Service to Others

for high school graduates taking a year off before college, offers courses lasting two weeks, several months or even a full year. Activities include sea kayaking, Alaskan mountain and glacier climbing and wilderness medicine.

Teens already on track and wanting to develop additional leadership skills can tap into motivational speaker and self-help author Tony Robbins’ annual Unleash the Power Within youth leadership program event. Groups of youths 14 to 17 years old collectively participate to create individual breakthroughs,

A way for youngsters 5 to 19 years old to become empowered is by joining a 4-H group in urban, suburban or rural areas.

If we envision a farm kid raising a calf to show at the state fair, that’s still one facet of today’s 4-H, but far from the entire scope. Founded in 1902, 4-H is a global nonprofit dedicated to learning by doing; specialties now range from computer science and graphic design to leadership, healthy living and the performing arts.

Positive mentoring by adults and developing community spirit ground 4-H clubs, camps and programs.

Research by Tufts University’s Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development and America’s land-grant colleges and universities shows that people with a 4-H background are more likely to give back to their

An ADHD coach knows students can…

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communities than others (see Tinyurl. com/YouthDevelopmentStudy).

For Grammy-winner Jennifer Nettles, of Nashville, 4-H meant learning to perform at an early age, even flying to Chicago to do it. “I don’t know that I would be where I am today without 4-H,” she says. “Mentors there help you. They helped me with the skills of performing and learning about being on stage; they also taught me the importance of giving back.”

Sustainable Sustenance

Growing food for themselves and others can be a great adventure for teens, while fostering resourcefulness, perseverance and ecological awareness. Seventeenyear-old Katie Stagliano launched Katie’s Krops, in Summerville, South Carolina, several years ago based on her desire to fight hunger by growing food for people that need it. Today, the enterprise offers grants for youth in any area to start and maintain a local garden, provided they give away the produce to the hungry.

The initiative has grown to more than 50 gardens around the U.S.

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Both Mobile Urban Growers, in Mobile, Alabama, and Closer to Earth, in Oklahoma City, empower youth through exercising organic gardening skills, environmental and food justice advocacy and personal mentorship.

Empowering experiences for teens don’t have to cost a lot or involve travel.

“Dream big, but start small. Look around your own backyard, in your community,” says Borba. “Teens can learn to pay it forward in all kinds of ways. They can get together with their peers and take on a doable project to help others. They may even need to start by learning to self-regulate and manage stress by getting away from their phones and instead being outside getting exercise.”

Casual family activities can provide opportunities for conversations about what teens want in life or what they’re worried about, and that opens the door for adults to step up to help mentor and empower their children. “Boys are more likely to talk while they’re doing something, like shooting baskets with you in the driveway,” observes Borba. “Girls are more likely to talk if it’s one-on-one.”

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Positive parents actively listen and then clarify what they heard from their teens, says Herman-Saccio. This information helps point the way forward, to more interactive dialogue, brainstorming, problem-solving, helpful experiences and eventually, youth empowerment.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

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A Coach That Gets It

H

elen Kornblum, MA, owner of Natural Order Coaching & Organizing, is a trained life coach for kids and adults based in Gainesville who specializes in attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). She states, “I go to the homes of the kids/ teens or meet them in a place such as the library or a coffee shop. Coaching Helen Kornblum adults is usually done by phone.

She opened her business in 2004 after taking classes approved by the International Coach Federation, knowing people that have difficulty with the linear thinking needed for keeping life organized would probably need special strategies.

“I started reading about chronic disorganization, attention deficit disorders, autism and Asperger’s syndrome," says Kornblum. "The National Association of Professional Organizers and the Institute for Chronic Disorganization offer webinars and conferences for basic and advanced education. ADHD coaching has gained considerable recognition, so there are now amazing resources on the web and in the printed literature.”

She notes that people sometimes think that a coach is supposed to tell them what to do. “That doesn’t happen when you’re an ADHD coach,” she says. “Much of my training taught me how to listen. I’m looking for the immediate agenda (how can I make friends?) as well as the big agenda (how can I become the kind of person that people like?) My clients all know what they are ‘supposed’ to do; they often can’t get motivated to start or finish work that they find boring. One of my biggest responsibilities is to educate adults and teens so they learn that there’s an explanation for their behavior, but it cannot be used as an excuse. When I work with teens, I’m usually coaching the parents, too.”

Kornblum is not a therapist or a medical professional and says, “I don’t overstep boundaries. If a teen or adult is not ready for coaching, I’m the first to suggest that a different treatment might be needed. I also don’t take any stand in the medication controversies.”

For more information, call 352-505-0541, email Helen@ CoachAndOrganizer.com or visit CoachAndOrganizer.com.

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wisewords

Barnet Bain on How Creativity Can Save the World Fresh Thinking Challenges Rigid Mindsets

by Linda Sechrist

F

ilmmaker Barnet Bain’s credits include writer/director of Milton’s Secret, due out this fall, starring Donald Sutherland and Michelle Rodriguez and based on Eckhart Tolle’s book, producer of the Oscarwinning What Dreams May Come, executive producer of the Emmy-award nominee Homeless to Harvard and writer/producer of The Celestine Prophecy movie. Now, as author of The Book of Doing and Being: Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work, he offers tools that everyone can use to develop a creativity practice designed to move us beyond our unconscious hand-me-down worldview, escape mental and emotional straightjackets and unlock great reservoirs of imagination. In so doing, we discover we can create anything we like; from a work of art to a fulfilling relationship.

Why is creativity so vital now?

More than ever before, the nature of human consciousness today is making it apparent that we live inside stories and are pushing up against their edges. Strategies we’ve used to try to attain control, success or empowerment—structured ideas about how the world works, false assurances and guarantees about life— may not be working. As a result, we are mired in anxiety, stress and crises. It all offers us the opportunity to wake up to a larger truth that supersedes everything else: We must discover where our true safety resides, in building newly intelligent relationships within, as well as with

others, using capacities beyond logic and reason.

Why do we need an internal sense of safety?

Safety found within shows up in our experiences of the world. As we become increasingly reliant on and confident in our creative skills to survive and thrive, we give ourselves the gift of resilience in chaos.

Humanity’s creativity must be awakened in order to meet the challenges of a changing world and effectively address problems that appear to have too few solutions. The same inner awareness and skill set that give birth to the creative process can be applied to all aspects of life. Only through creative acts can we rise above unworkable paradigms, group thinking and earlier conditioning to create new and more fluid stories that grow from revised thoughts, beliefs, choices and attitudes that mature from the inside out.

Deep, compassionate understanding of how we arrived at this point allows us to shed restrictions. It begins with facing the whys and wherefores of our most intimate consciousness.

How do male and female energies play into this?

Everyone possesses both masculine and feminine energies; neither is better or less valuable than the other. Doing and acting characterize masculine energy, which makes things. It builds, structures, orders and files. Being

characterizes the feminine, womb-like energy, pregnant with possibilities and subsequent manifested outcomes. The capacities to imagine, feel and receive also are feminine. In the dance with the masculine, the harmony of these feminine qualities is the primal desire for and the impulse of creativity itself.

When the masculine and feminine energies are balanced and intimately joined, they express the ability to act, create, manifest, build and bring order.

When we learn how to balance them, we become more creative and effective, individually and collectively. We are better at meeting challenges and responding to opportunities.

How does chauvinism block creativity?

Chauvinism, an elevation of masculine over feminine energy, would separate us from our feelings. It does violence to femininity and castrates legitimate masculinity. The mildest trace of such subordination diminishes and reduces primal creative energies to second place, so that nothing new can arrive. Civilization suffers from this systemic disorder to the degree that we believe our needs won’t be met unless we are controlling or relying disproportionately on action principles. A culture that elevates doing over being is ignorant of how to pop the clutch and shift into neutral, and so keeps driving down the same road without hope of changing direction.

When spirituality was more alive inside religious traditions, we honored the sanctity of the Sabbath and the importance of putting aside doing in order to be intimate with the mystery of life. It’s what breathes new life into our thoughts and feelings, arousing body, mind and spirit to new heights.

Every creator understands that all creativity is a gift of the feminine energy and a gift of the gods. Integrative masculine energies are always constellated around such a gift. Allowing ourselves to become intimate with a greater state of being rather than doing, we open ourselves to receiving a new relationship with life.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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fitbody

JUST WALK 22 Minutes a Day Boosts Well-Being

by Randy Kambic

E

ven mainstream media have picked up on the many physical and mental benefits of walking, including weight loss, reduced stress, increased energy and better sleep, and that’s only the beginning. These additional compelling effects may well catalyze us to consistently step out for a daily walk, understanding that cumulative steps count, too. For more inspiration, check out this month’s race walking at the Summer Olympics.

Walking helps heart health and diabetes. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking program launched last fall, the risk of heart disease and diabetes can be significantly reduced via an average of 22 minutes a day of brisk walking.

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“Physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and even depression,” says Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of the division of preventive medicine at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Can you imagine if there was a pill that could simultaneously have all those benefits? Everyone would be clamoring for it.”

Walking reduces anxiety and clears thinking. The results of a national survey of nearly 3,000 women between the ages of 42 and 52 published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that those that walked as part of a regular physical activity

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showed fewer signs of depression compared with inactive women. The more physical activity a woman logged, the less likely she was to exhibit such symptoms, suggesting that moderateto-intense levels of exercise may help protect against mental illness. The survey further revealed that 85 percent believe walking helps reduce any present anxiety and feelings of depression, while two-thirds reported that walking stimulates their thinking.

Walking facilitates doctor-patient communication. Columbus, Ohio-based Walk with a Doc (WalkWithADoc.org) helps organize free walking events each month via 230 chapters nationwide.

They’re led by physicians and other healthcare authorities. “It’s a casual forum in which to communicate and also learn about the health benefits of walking,” says Executive Director Rachael Habash, who’s aiming for 350 chapters by year’s end. When doctors emphasize the benefits of exercise, patients tend to listen.

Walking boosts life performance.

“Until the late 1960s, 90 percent of America’s children that lived up to a mile away walked to school. Today, that figure is 30 percent,” says Sheila Franklin, of the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, in The Walking Revolution documentary (scroll to the video at EveryBodyWalk. org). Experts warn that less walking by youngsters can create sedentary habits and lead to shortened life spans.

Daily walks to school boost cognitive performance in students, according to Mary Pat King, the National Parent Teacher Association director of programs and projects. Dr. Richard Jackson, a pediatrician, professor and chair of Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health at University of California,

The moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~Henry David Thoreau Los Angeles,. and former environmental health director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, reports that walking improves children’s learning ability, concentration, moods and creativity.

Even lifelong walkers are moved to walk more by using a pedometer to track their steps and distance traveled, says Dr. Lauren Elson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation instructor at Harvard Medical School, who is also the medical editor of the recent Harvard Special Health Report Walking for Health (Health.Harvard.edu/walk). A meta-review of 26 studies found that using the device raised physical activity levels by nearly 27 percent, adding about 2,500 steps per day. Most stores that sell exercise equipment offer inexpensive pedometers, while smartphone users can download an app such as Moves, Breeze or Pedometer++. Apple’s iOS includes the free app Health.

Walking leads to meaningful exchanges. Social connections and honest conversations between two people can be aided by walking outside instead of sitting inside. Clay Cockrell, a licensed clinical social worker in New York City, began walking with clients 12 years ago. He notes that casual venues like parks have been especially helpful for men. “They sometimes have a more difficult time making eye contact in sessions. Outside, they are looking where they are going, looking at nature, other people—the pressure is less. My own health has improved, as well,” he says.

He shares ideas with the public and other therapists at WalkAndTalk.com to maximize the benefits. He sees moving the body forward along a path as a metaphor for moving forward in life.

Adds Habash, “We believe that engaging in health should be simple and fun, like putting one foot in front of the other at every opportunity.”

Well done is better than well said. ~Benjamin Franklin

Randy Kambic is an Estero, FL, freelance writer and editor who regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings. natural awakenings

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com

naturalpet

HANDLE WILD THINGS WITH CARE How to Help Injured Animals

by Sandra Murphy

W

hen encountering a bird or animal that appears to be abandoned, take only minimal steps to help. “People mean well but a lot of rescues we see, didn’t need help,” says Lacy Campbell, wildlife care center operations manager for the Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon. Make sure the animal is away from traffic or predators, and then call a local wildlife rehabilitator before taking further action, especially if the animal is injured.

Vulnerable Little Ones

Baby squirrels can fall out of the nest.

“Leave him at the base of the tree,”

says Jennifer Keats Curtis, author of the children’s book Squirrel Rescue.

“Mom will rebuild the nest before coming to get her baby. If it’s cold, put it in a box with a towel. Once squirrels have been treated as a pet, they can’t be released.”

Tiny, not-yet-feathered nestlings should be returned home; it’s a myth that human scent poses a problem.

If the nest is out of reach or can’t be located, make one with a box and soft cloth. Put it in the tree, so the parents can resume feeding. Leave the area so as not to frighten them.

“After young robins, scrub jays, crows and owls leave the nest, they

typically spend up to a week on the ground before they can fly,” says Campbell. “At night, the parents will escort the fully feathered fledglings to safety beneath a bush.”

In parks, ducks and geese may nest away from the water. Mama will lead her babies to the pond, even across busy streets. If it’s safe, stop the car to halt traffic, act as their crossing guard, and then resume driving.

A box turtle operates on innate GPS. “It lives in an area the size of a football field,” explains Curtis. “It will go onward, no matter how many times people try to redirect it. If injured by a car or lawn mower, the shell can be mended by a rehab center.”

Bunnies eat at dusk and dawn. Inbetween, the nest may look abandoned.

“Wild baby rabbits are difficult to keep alive if injured,” says Curtis. “At sundown, see if mom returns; if not, they need a wildlife rehab expert.”

A lone, young raccoon is either old enough to climb a tree by itself or the mother will carry it. If we feed a raccoon, it will become a beggar.

Opossums are dramatic actors. When cornered, they hiss and fall over and play dead in a coma-like state for up to four hours. Check back later. If a mother possum has been killed by a car, call a rehab official to check her pouch for potential babies.

“If you find a young deer fawn or moose calf, leave it. The mother comes back several times each day to nurse,” advises Amanda Nicholson, director of outreach for the Wildlife Center of Virginia, in Waynesboro. “Its coloring helps it remain undetected by predators.”

please recycle mwvetservice@gmail.com

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Local Resources: Wildlife Rehabs

The best outcome for injured animals is rescue, rehabilitation and return to the wild.

Other Unexpected Encounters “Don’t feed wild animals or leave out food or accessible comestible trash.

Bobcats, wolves, bears and coyotes will avoid people unless food is involved,” cautions Jennifer Place, program associate for Born Free USA, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. “Wild animals protect their space, food and young, so stay on marked trails when hiking and never turn your back on them.”

For unexpected meetings, stay calm. “Make sure there’s an escape route for the animal,” says Place. “With foxes or coyotes, throw sticks or small rocks, but don’t hit the animal. Make yourself look large and yell.” With snakes, sidestep away slowly for more than six feet before walking in the other direction. Bears require a different response. “Speak in a low voice so the bear realizes you are not prey. Never climb a tree,” says Place. “Bears know the terrain, can run faster than a horse

and can climb trees, too. Sidestep away, remaining carefully upright, calm and unthreatening. If the bear moves toward you, keep talking until he moves away.

Running kicks in its prey drive.”

Yellowstone Park regulations require visitors to stay 25 yards away from most wildlife and 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Selfie photos with animals can result in injury or death for humans and animals through carelessness; safety depends on good judgement, respect and common sense.

Friends of wildlife know beforehand how to contact local rehabilitators if there’s an emergency, observe before taking action, and protect pets. “Always leash dogs when going into the yard at night and keep cats indoors,” says Place. “Peaceful co-existence allows for the safety of both people and animals, domestic and wild.”

Skunkie Acres

16990 NE 30th Ct., Citra 386-397-1464 or 386-397-1465 SkunkieAcres.com

Florida Wildlife Care

3400 SE 15th St., Gainesville.

352-371-4443 or helpline 352-371-4400 FloridaWildlifeCare.org

Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary 352-835-0451 GivingAHoot.org

Hope Wildlife Rehabilitation 352-628-9464 or 352-678-9519 HopeWildlife.org

Forest Animal Rescue

640 NE 170th Ct., Silver Springs 352-625-7317 ForestAnimalRescue.org

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

Wildlife Transport Tips If a wild animal is injured, wear heavy gloves in its vicinity to avoid being bitten or scratched. Completely cover the animal with a blanket so it stays relatively calm, and place it in a carrier for transport to a rehabilitation facility. A warm hot water bottle can help ward off shock.

Do not give the animal water, milk or food. Time is of the essence to ward off dangers of stress. Wild animals can carry disease without appearing to be ill. Fleas, ticks and mites are likely, so keep injured wildlife away from pets and children.

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Nature is my medicine.

greenliving

Heal Body and Spirit

by Sandra Murphy

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir Renew

Since ancient times, gardens have been employed as a place of healing for body and spirit. Japanese healthcare providers prescribe shinrin-yoku, meaning, “walking in forests to promote health” or “forest bathing”. Its intent is to use sight, sound and smell to connect with nature through stressreducing, meditative walks.

Based on a program created by the Morikami Japanese Gardens, in Delray Beach, Florida, Washington state’s Bloedel Reserve, on Bainbridge Island, conducts Strolls for Well-Being. Participants sign up for a free, 10-week session of 12 self-guided walks and three group meetings. A companion workbook is provided to encourage journaling on themes such as forgiveness, gratitude and joy.

“Public gardens are a safe place where people can focus and do the work,” says Erin Jennings, with Bloedel.

“We see people that wish to reflect and refuel or simply be more aware and intentional in life.” With 150 acres of natural woodlands and landscaped areas, ranging from a moss garden to a bird marsh, participants can take as much time as they need.

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Refresh

Bees are an integral part of any flowering garden, and Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary, in Floyd, Virginia, sustainably hosts 30 hives on six acres adjacent to a field planted with buckwheat, mustard, sunflowers and clover for its biodynamic beekeeping. An orchard on the property dovetails with an organic farm next door. Tours, talks, plant sales, food and music enhance the hospitality.

Hope Hill Lavender Farm, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, adds lavender to soap, sugar scrubs, lotion and essential oil. “It takes 11 pounds of hand-picked fresh blossoms to make one ounce of essential oil,” says Troy Jochems, coowner with his wife, Wendy. A member of the mint family, lavender adds distinctive flavor and fragrance to both sweet and savory dishes (find recipes at HopeHillLavenderFarm.com). Visit the farm on summer weekends through mid-August and plan to partake of the annual lavender festival next June.

In Glen Allen, Virginia, visitors enjoy a cool serving of lavender lemonade or honey ice cream at Lavender Fields Herb Farm after a stroll

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

Photo courtesy of The Boiron Medicinal Garden at the Rodale Institute

The Garden Cure Natural Sanctuaries

~Sara Moss-Wolfe through the garden. Greenhouse tours and fall classes on growing herbs, vegetables and lavender include how to make an herbal wreath.

Restore

Tea Wellness classes and tastings of fair trade heirloom varieties are a big draw at Light of Day Organics, in Traverse City, Michigan. They’re taught by founder and horticulturist Angela Macke, a registered nurse. It’s the only dual-certified organic and Demeter Biodynamic commercial grower of tea plants in North America.

The Boiron Medicinal Garden at the Rodale Institute, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, emphasizes the importance of plants in homeopathy. Maggie Saska, plant production specialist with the research farm, explains, “Walking tours with educational signage in the garden let visitors know which species to look for when planting their own organic healing garden. Plants from a store may not be organically grown or of the correct species,” although a nursery may afford more options.

Christophe Merville, D.Pharm., Boiron USA director of education and pharmacy development, attests that many familiar plants can offer benefits beyond beauty, such as reducing stress, promoting healing or easing congestion. He cautions, “People think plants are naturally safe, but they can be dangerous. St. John’s wort extract, for example, can relieve mild depression, but interacts with prescription medicines. It also reacts to light, so users may experience rashes from sun exposure.

“Lemon balm can be made into an antioxidant tea. It can be grown in a garden, on a balcony or indoors, and combines well with chamomile or lavender.

We like it for helping to relieve anxiety or to improve mental performance.”

Merville suggests steeping German chamomile tea for relaxing sleep.

He says breathing in the steam helps a stuffy nose. When used as a compress, it can relieve pain and itch from rashes. “Don’t drink too much or make it too concentrated,” he warns,

inspiration

EARTH GUARDIANS Kids Say No to Global Warming

by April Thompson

Americans’ Inside Story n Only 12 percent of U.S. adults go outside nearly every day, 8 percent several times a week and 6 percent only once or twice a week. Two percent never venture outside. n When U.S. adults take time out of doors, just under a third spend more than an hour there and almost a quarter spend at least 30 minutes while the rest average five to 10 minutes or less. n Thirty-eight percent of Americans 55 years and over invest at least an hour outside each day, compared to 25 percent of those under 35.

Source: National Recreation and Park Association because of its blood-thinning properties. Saska and Merville recommend that enthusiasts take classes, work with an herbalist and find a good reference book. Merville prefers Rodale’s 21st Century Herbal for beginners.

Vicki Nowicki, founder of Liberty Gardens, in Downers Grove, Illinois, observes, “The world is seeing the first generations that don’t have a relationship with the land or know how to grow their own food.” Its seed-lending library, classes and tours, along with other healing gardens throughout the country, aim to get everyone back to basics including going outside.

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

A

t age 6, climate change activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez gave his first speech to a packed crowd in his hometown of Boulder, Colorado.

Raised in the Aztec tradition, he was taught that as indigenous people, they are descendants of the land and inherit a duty to protect it.

“I felt such sadness that my generation inherited this crisis to clean up.

That night, I saw that those emotions could be channeled into action and my voice could make a difference,” says Martinez, founder and youth director of the nonprofit Earth Guardians.

Ten years later, his impassioned message has sparked a global movement. More than 2,000 “youth crews” from Bhutan to Brazil are fighting climate change and improving their communities in other ways.

These activists aren’t yet old enough to vote, but are still making their voices heard by global policymakers. On their behalf, Martinez delivered a plea to representatives from 192 countries at the United Nations General Assembly meeting on climate change last year, asking for stronger measures to protect both the planet and its people. He particularly pointed to the ever-increasing “climate refugees” that have lost their homes to rising oceans and other havoc caused

by Earth’s warming trend.

Although Martinez serves on President Obama’s youth council, he

and 20 other young plaintiffs filed a landmark lawsuit earlier this year against the federal government for failing to protect its citizens from climate change. The plaintiffs are seeking a court order requiring America’s president to establish a national plan to decrease atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide to “safe” levels by 2100.

At home, Martinez is working with Boulder County community and environmental organizations to locally eliminate pesticides from parks, charge for plastic bags at retail, regulate coal ash emissions and ban fracking.

EarthGuardians.org offers many ways anyone can plug into the movement, whether taking individual actions to lighten our carbon footprint, creating school gardens or signing its Silence into Action pledge, inspired by Martinez’s younger brother Itzcuauhtli’s 45-day silence strike for climate action.

“The most important thing you can do is educate yourself. Whatever makes you come alive, use that passion to make a difference,” says Martinez, whose performances as a pianist and hip-hop artist inform and enliven music festivals worldwide. “Together, we can create a legacy we can be proud to pass on to the next generation.”

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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healingways

Did you know that the Florida School of Massage hosts a Six Level Certiication course in Traditional Thai Massage? Do you want to learn a transformational and prootable healing modality that promotes the health and longevity of the practitioner as well as the recipient?

Salt Air in the City Salt Rooms Soothe Allergies and Skin Conditions

by Avery Mack

A

ccording to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, as many as 50 million Americans are affected by seasonal or year-round nasal allergies. Additionally, 56 million suffer from eczema, psoriasis or rosacea. Prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs may help, but aren’t a cure. Salt therapy can be a gentler, all-natural solution for easing associated symptoms.

While eating too much salt is bad for the body, breathing it is a healthy activity. The Greek word for salt is halos, and halotherapy provides a welcome alternative to conventional pills, sprays and injections.

In the mid-1800s, after salt mine workers in Poland were found to have a low rate of respiratory illness, the Wieliczka Salt Mine Health Spa was established on the site of a mine to treat clinic patients for asthma and allergies. That pioneering facility is still in operation.

“In the beginning, I think salt

therapy was seen as a time-consuming novelty. Now, holistically minded people are more supportive,” says Clay Juracsik, owner of the St. Louis Salt Room, in Maplewood, Missouri. The room’s walls are covered in salt, with blocks of backlit Himalayan pink salt at floor level. Clients wear disposable booties to walk through inches-deep, loose, mineral-rich Dead Sea salt to reclining chairs. The lights dim, soft music plays and salt, rich in negative ions, infuses the air for a 45-minute session.

“We have a second, smaller room where the walls and floor are not salted, so a child and parent can move around or play without disturbing others. Our youngest client was 2 weeks old,” says Juracsik.

With the help of specially designed machines and software, microscopic salt particles one to five microns in size are circulated through the air to be deeply inhaled. As a natural anti-inflammatory

With the help of specially designed machines and software, microscopic salt particles one to five microns in size are circulated through the air to be deeply inhaled.

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agent, salt helps reduce For a list of U.S. like bronchitis and pneumonia. We don’t need a swelling of throat tissues salt rooms, see new, fancy pill for every and nasal passages, makillness. Salt is historically ing breathing easier for Tinyurl.com/ proven to be a natural and individuals suffering from SaltSpaLocations. effective way to improve such respiratory ailments respiratory health.” as allergies, asthma, bron Options go beyond basic treatchitis and sinusitis. ments. “Meditating in the salt room

“True halotherapy is based on using 99 percent pure sodium chloride allows double relaxation,” comments Patrick. “Salty yoga is one of my favorite in the halogenerator,” says Leo Tonkin, co-founder of the Salt Therapy Associa- therapies because clients can exercise and breathe easier at the same time. tion, in Boca Raton, Florida. “Dead Another option comprises a sound Sea, Himalayan or other salts can be bath, during which crystal bowl music used as décor.” creates a vibration similar to piano

“My husband, Gary, had three notes to quiet and focus the mind sinus surgeries before he discovered a during a salt session.” salt room during a trip to London and

Salt treatments can be experihad a eureka moment,” relates Ellen enced regularly, seasonally or as needPatrick, owner of four Breathe Easy salt ed. For those free of respiratory issues, a rooms in New York City and nearby salt room visit provides a refreshing way Westchester County. to relax, sit, chill and breathe. Patrick

“A client’s 4-year-old son tells views it as a form of stress management Mom when he needs a treatment to to increase well-being. ‘make his nose work better,’” reports Lisa Cobb, owner of Luxury on Lovers, Connect with the freelance writer via in Dallas, Texas. “He uses a salt bed AveryMack@mindspring.com. similar in style to a tanning bed and large enough for his mother to be with him for a 20-minute treatment. Pilots and flight attendants like salt rooms to counteract the recirculated air on planes. Athletes use them to increase lung capacity. A treatment works like a visit to the ocean.”

A recent pilot study conducted at The Salt Room, in Orlando, Florida, and published in the International Journal of Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine, concluded, “Halotherapy is associated with improvement in symptoms of sinus disease in cystic fibrosis and should be explored as an adjunct treatment.”

Salt’s anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties may also reduce skin swelling and itchiness, and even acne, without drying the skin. Increased lung capacity aids blood circulation, which also helps improve skin health. Salt room operators note that frequent treatments are needed during early stages of therapy or during acute outbreaks of conditions, but can be reduced to a maintenance level over time.

Juracsik remarks, “The best success I’ve seen is with respiratory ailments

Local Salt Room Facilities Ocala

Himalayan Salt Room 11115 SW 93 Ct. Rd., Ste. 500 Ocala 352-237-4653 HimalayanSaltRoomOcala.com

Lady Lake

The Salt Room at The Villages 480 N. Hwy. 27/441 Lady Lake 352-750-9909 Info@SaltRoom Villages.com SaltRoomVillages.com

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Our providers: The first combined Anti-Aging, Holistic, and Family Practice Clinic in The Villages, Central Florida “We are committed to aid and promote the body’s innate mechanisms to heal and achieve homeostasis for optimum health by introducing and using natural approaches with innovative and cutting-edge technology.”

Services Offered: F Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy F Sequenced Amino Acid for treatment of autoimmune diseases F Lymphatic Drainage F Magnetic Wave Therapy for Incontinence F Massage Therapy F Laser therapy for pain F Chelation and IV Nutrient Therapy F Acupuncture F NAET (Allergy Elimination) F Colon Hydrotherapy F Nutritional Counseling F Bio Energy Balancing F Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hours and Location: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 1501 HWY 441, Suite 1700 The Villages, FL, 32159 Call to Schedule Your Appointment: 352-750-4333

Nelson Kraucak, MD

FAAFP-ABFP-ABCMT-IBALM-ABHM-MOCI Family Practice Alternative Medicine Dr. Nelson Kraucak has been practicing holistic medicine since 1995. Dr. Kraucak is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Kraucak has advanced certificates by the American Board of Holistic Medicine, International Board of Anti-Aging and Longevity Medicine, Heavy Metal Detoxification and Immuno Modulation. He is Associate Professor at FSU and UCF College of Medicine.

Aaron Perry, DOM

Acupuncture Physician, AP1813 Licensed Massage Therapist, MA25126, MM31501 Since 2003 Dr. Perry has been a practicing Acupuncture Physician, a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist. He has a M.S. Degree in Oriental Medicine from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine. He also has an Associate of Science Degree in Natural Health from the Florida College of Natural Health.

Natalie Vincent, LMT

Licensed Massage Therapist, MA56651, MM31501 Ms. Vincent joined the practice in November 2012.

She is a Licensed Massage Therapist. She received her training at Community Tech Adult Education in Ocala, FL in 2008. She is a Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist. She received her LDT training at the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

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healthykids drop in original thinking that happens as students move into early adolescence,” reports Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind.

Creativity isn’t only child’s play; parents also could do well to infuse their own lives with its discoveries and delights. “Through creativity, parents can reawaken a sense of wonder and joy, and nurture characteristics like patience,” says Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children.

YAY FOR

PLAY

Ways to Spark a Child’s Creativity

by April Thompson

W

hether it’s playing dress-up, making forts from sofa cushions or drawing pictures, creative moments can define and distinguish a happy childhood. Yet it’s not all just fun and games, according to experts. Childhood creativity, nurtured both in the classroom and at home, is crucial for developing qualities such as sound decision-making, flexible thinking and mental resiliency.

Analyzing more than 150 studies across the fields of psychology, neuroscience, education and business management, the Center for Childhood Creativity, in Sausalito, California, found many important life skills are affiliated with a creative upbringing.

The resulting white paper, Inspiring a Generation to Create, underscores that rather than simply being an innate trait, creativity can be taught.

“Creativity should be an integral part of every child’s education. The research shows that we can avoid the

Engaging Parents

Cameron wrote the book in part to guide her own daughter, actress and film director Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, in her creative journey through motherhood.

While many such works focus on art projects for kids, Cameron’s book emphasizes activities that put creative fuel in the parental tank. For example, she recommends parents take up the ritual of “morning pages”; writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts the first thing each morning.

Jean Van’t Hul, author of The Artful Parent, started a daily sketchbook practice for herself and to set an example for her kids. “I like that the kids see me creating regularly and they’ve joined in a couple times. I also want to get over my self-limited belief that I’m not a good artist,” remarks Van’t Hul, who blogs at ArtfulParent.com.

Engaging Kids

A family ritual, like a bedtime story or relationship with a pet, can be re-imagined to inspire household members to co-create together. “Instead of always reading to my kids, we take turns making up stories by ‘giving’ each other three things, like an airplane, a shovel and a pair of pants, which we have to use in a story,” says Nicole Corey Rada, a working mother of two in Richmond, Virginia. “Sometimes, we pretend our pets are having conversations, and use different voices and accents to express what they might be saying, given their

Every child and parent is creative. Exercising our creativity is an act of faith. ~ Julia Cameron circumstance at the time. This is a family favorite; we laugh constantly.”

Mark Runco, Ph.D., a University of Georgia professor of gifted and creative education, founder of the Creativity Research Journal and advisor to the Center for Childhood Creativity, notes the importance of balancing unstructured and structured activities, creating space for both individual expression and creative collaboration.

To foster the former, Van’t Hul encourages “strewing”, which she refers to as “the art of casually yet strategically leaving invitations for learning and creativity out for kids to discover on their own.” Invitations to play could be a basket of non-toxic blocks, a recycled-paper sketchpad opened to a blank page or some nature finds from a walk in the woods.

As an example of the latter, Cameron suggests that parents lead kids on a weekly creative expedition, allowing the kids to choose a new place to aimlessly explore such as a park, bookstore, pet shop or museum. According to the author, that sense of shared adventure, fostered in a safe space, naturally nurtures the creative process, both for now and the future.

“If you make art the center, insisting that kids be creative, they may feel a sense of pressure,” advises Cameron.

“If you make inspiration the center, it spills over into art.”

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted via our website by the 10th of the month and must adhere to our guidelines. Visit GoNaturalAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1 Register to VOTE – Last day to register to vote in Florida Primary Election on August 30.

Smithsonian Institute Traveling Water/Ways Exhibit and The High Springs Community Springs & Rivers Exhibit – 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Saturday; 1-4pm, Sunday. Through August 27. High Springs Historical Museum, 23760 NW 187th Ave, High Springs. 352-514-3300. HighSpringsMuseum.org.

Patient Education – 6pm. Learn about the clinic followed by Q&A. Free. Seating is limited, call to reserve your seat. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2 Advanced Super Foods Smoothie Class – 6pm.

Certified Raw Food Chef from New York. $30.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 Genealogy Help – 3-5pm. Genealogy gurus from the Marion County Genealogical Society assist with your search. Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview. 352-438-2500.

Soul-to-Soul – 7-9pm. Hosted by Rev. Cindy

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Grimes. Bringing people together who want to change the world. Guest speakers, refreshments and music by Eddie Watkins, Jr. Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. 352629-3897. OakbrookCSL.org.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 Free Class – 6-7:45pm. “Loving Communication.”

Learn powerful and simple tools as published in Making It Safe To Love by acclaimed author, Frey Keyser.

Free. Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St, Ocala.

Info: Evie 858-922-2964. FredJKeyser@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 Quantum-Touch Workshop – August 5-6 – 10am5pm. A Spiritually Focused presentation of an extremely powerful form of energy healing. LMT CEUs. $400 fee. Location: Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. Register: Patricia@LookingForLight.net. 352-369-3029.

Art Before Your Eyes – 10am-noon. See the creative side of life with the artists from Gallery East!

Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview. 352-438-2500.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 Grassroots Summit to Stop Sabal Trail – Details

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

TBA. The summit will help to educate and empower the public on the proposed 515-mile fracked-gas pipeline, landowner rights, air and health impacts, and the fracking & pipeline link. Location TBA in Gainesville. Register: HealthyGulf.org/ GrassrootsSummit or OurSantaFeRiver.org.

Quantum-Touch Workshop – August 5-6 – 10am-5pm. A Spiritually Focused presentation of an extremely powerful form of energy healing. LMT CEUs. $400 fee. Location: Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. Register: Patricia@LookingForLight.net.

352-369-3029.

Aura Photography and Soul Contract Reading with Harold – 10am-6pm. Thirty minute sessions. $50. Call the store to register early, space is limited. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592.

FairyDustCrystals.com.

Reiki Share – Noon-3pm. With Raven. Free.

High Springs Emporium, 660 SW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. Register: 386-454-8657.

HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Psychic / Medium Spiritual Development Class – 2-4:30pm. Includes meditation, lesson and practice. $30. Held at Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. ifsk.org.

ter. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Soul-to-Soul – 7-9pm. Hosted by Rev. Cindy Grimes.

Bringing people together who want to change the world.

Guest speakers, refreshments and music by Eddie Watkins, Jr. Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. 352-629-3897. OakbrookCSL.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 Women’s First Sunday Brunch – 11am. Least Likely Vacation. Bring something to illustrate the most outrageous vacation imaginable. An amazing assortment of women, locally grown food, an entertaining program in an atmosphere of quiet, respect and contemplation.

Sliding scale from $10 to whatever you can contribute.

Crones’ Cradle Conserve Foundation, 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra. Reserve by noon August 4 at 352-595-3377 or CatCrone@aol.com. CronesCradleConserve.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9 Belleview Talespinners Storytelling Club – 4:30pm. Discover the power and magic of storytelling and share the experience with others. Learn and practice with tellers of all levels. Everyone is welcome! Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview. 352-438-2500.

Transformation, Detox/Healing Group series – 6pm. Decrease weight, lower A1C and cholesterol, increase energy. Seating is limited, must pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinc.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10 Iridology – 8am-5pm, by appointment. Learn about your health’s needs through your eyes. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352291-9459. LemireClinc.com.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Back Pain – 1-2pm. Pain is a symptom, the body’s way of telling you something is out of balance. Join us for an in depth discussion of Traditional Chinese Medicine and back pain. Free. Seating is limited, reservations required.

Ni’s Chinese Medical Center, 1501 N US Hwy 441, Ste 1106, The Villages. 352-391-9266. DrBoNi.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18

discovering the divine within, the power of the moon’s cycle, cleaning and renewal and much more. $60. Call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592.

FairyDustCrystals.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 Reiki Level One Certification – 9am-4pm. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. Level One covers history, chakra knowledge, self-healing and practice sessions.

Certification upon completion. $175. SamaCore Yoga and Barre, 301 N Baker St, Ste 212, Mount Dora.

352-409-3646. SamaCoreYogaAndBarre.com.

Aura Photography and Soul Contract Readings – noon-4:30pm. With Howard Minton. $50 for Aura Photography, $50 for Soul Contract Reading, $95 for both. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. Register 386-454-8657.

HighSpringsEmporium.net.

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 Thermography Screenings – 8am-5pm; by appointment. Thermography is a healthy alternative to mammograms. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16

Understanding Mystical Magical Dreams and Their Spiritual Connection – 6-7:30pm. Three-week program presented by Rev. Janet Reynolds. Join in a class of dream studies as she helps interpret and understand the wispy impression that is called heavenly aid. Dream work is a kind of high play that can intertwine the basic nature of the conscious mind and the Wise One (Spirit) who dwells just at the edge of reach. $25. Call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Lemire Natural Eye Program – August 16-18.

Learn what you can do about wet/dry macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts without injections. Seating is limited, call to pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala.

352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

Crystal Bowls Sound Bath Meditation – 6-8pm.

Jim Red Sky will lead us through a journey of sound from gongs, rattles, drums and crystal bowls. $20.

Blissful Life Corporation, 725 E Silver Springs, Ste 5, Ocala. Register: BlissOcala.org.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 Aura Photography and Soul Contract Readings – 11:30am-5:30pm. With Howard Minton. $50 for Aura Photography, $50 for Soul Contract Reading, $95 for both. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. Register 386-4548657. HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Women’s Healing Circle – 12-4pm. Will be calling on the Four Directions for support, feeling the support of Mother Earth, reaching up to Father Sky,

Transformation, Detox/Healing Group series – 6pm. Decrease weight, lower A1C and cholesterol, increase energy. Seating is limited, must pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinc.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 Lemire Natural Eye Program – August 16-18.

Learn what you can do about wet/dry macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts without injections. Seating is limited, call to pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala.

352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

Awaken the Goddess Within with “Billie” Weiss – 6:30-8pm. Come hear from both a female and male perspective on the Divine Feminine. Learn about the ancient Goddess and receive Divine Guidance through Goddess Oracle cards. A guided meditation to the Goddess Temple will help activate the divine feminine blueprint within. $25. Call the store to regis-

Lemire Natural Eye Program – August 16-18.

Learn what you can do about wet/dry macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts without injections. Seating is limited, call to pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala.

352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

Natural Health Presentation – 6pm. Dr. Garemore to present on the topic of Natural Health through Chiropractic Care. Free. Seating is limited, call to reserve your seat. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 Movies Under the Stars: Gone with the Wind – Begins at dusk. Free, food and drinks available for purchase.

Elizabeth Evans Park, 100 N Donnelly St, Mount Dora. Parks and Recreation Department 352-735-7183.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 Men’s Group – 9am. Calling all gentlemen for food and fellowship on the third Saturday of each month. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177th Pl, Ste 504, Summerfield. For details, contact Jon Bluth. 352-633-9306 or JonBluth@iCloud.com.

UnityOfTheVillages.org.

Metaphysical Movie – 11am. Every third Saturday, Unity shows a metaphysical movie. Unity provides popcorn and drinks; attendees may bring their lunch. Love offering. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177th Pl, Ste 504, Summerfield. 352-454-3120.

UnityOfTheVillages.org.

Rocks for Kids – noon-1pm. With Travis Hetsler.

All about geodes! $10 per child, parents are welcome at no charge. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. Register 386-4548657. HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Liberation Flow – 2-4:30pm. The Art of BackBending. This workshop is designed to help everyone experience the joy and healing benefits of backbends.

Participants will be exposed to a variety of different backbends and will learn important elements of alignment to ensure that their experience is safe and rewarding. Must have one to two years’ minimum experience. $30, prepaid; $35, day of event. SamaCore Yoga and Barre, 301 N Baker St, Ste 212, Mount Dora. 352-409-3646. SamaCoreYogaAndBarre.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 Informative Class – 11:45am-1pm. With Rev. Prentiss Davis. What We Believe. Learn more about Unity. Based on the booklet “Keys To the Kingdom” for purchase for $5. Love offering. Unity of Ocala. 101 Cedar Rd, Ocala. 352-687-2113. mail@ UnityOcala.org. UnityOccala.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23 Save Your Mind Intensive Program – August 23-25. Seating is limited, need to pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

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Transformation, Detox/Healing Group series – 6pm. Decrease weight, lower A1C and cholesterol, increase energy. Seating is limited, must pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinc.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 Wings and Wildflowers Festival. Oct. 14-16.

The festival will offer more than 100 activities and programs over the course of three days and feature more than 25 birding, wildflower and nature experts.

Venetian Gardens, 109 E Dixie Ave, Leesburg. 352742-3918. WingsAndWildflowers.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24 Save Your Mind Intensive Program – August 2325. Seating is limited, need to pre-register. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 Save Your Mind Intensive Program – August 2325. Seating is limited, need to pre-register. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala. 352291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 Private Readings – By Appointment. With Marilyn Jenquin, British style evidential mediumship. $75.

Held at Fairy Dust Crystal & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

Workshop – 2-4pm. The Falcon Cannot Find the Falconer – Stones for Grounding and Centering with Sharron Britton. Guided meditation, creating a grounding grid. $20. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. Register 386-4548657. HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Multi-Disciplinary Production – 6:30pm. Presented

by Bhaktiland. Performance of sacred sound, dance and theatre based on Shadows of the Sun Dynasty,

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Book 1 of the Sita’s Fire Trilogy by Vrinda Sheth.

The production is steeped in Indian arts and culture, exploring the lives of the central characters of the Ramayana. Tickets: $15/advance, $20/at the door, $12/ students. Cofrin Theater of the Oak Hall School, 8009 SW 14th Ave, Gainesville. BrightStarEvents.net.

MONDAY, AUGUST 29 Florida Native Plant Society – 6pm. Native Plants and Beneficial Insects presented by Taryn Evans.

Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview. 352-438-2500.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 Remember to VOTE – 7am-7pm.Florida Primary Election.

plan ahead THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 Mount Dora Bicycle Festival – Oct. 7-9. 7am. Florida’s oldest and largest bicycling event. Registration capped at 1500 guests. Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce.

352-383-2165. MountDoraBicycleFestival.com.

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 Walk 4 Wellness – 8am registration, 9am event begins. Three-mile walk to benefit World Wellness Education. Music, wellness vendors, award ceremony. The Villages Polo Field, 703 Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages. Walk4Wellness.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 10TH Annual Fall at the Farm – 5:30-11pm. A country casual evening of dinner, drinks, live music and silent auctions to benefit Haven Hospice patients and families. $75. Drummond Farm, 311 NE 9th St, Chiefland. 352-271-4665. HavenEvents@Haven Hospice.org. HavenHospice.org/FallAtTheFarm.

The Florida Center for the Blind’s Third Annual Dining in the Dark – 5:30pm. Guests will walk and dine in total darkness to experience the same challenge faced every day by blind and visually impaired persons. SWAT teams of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department will escort guests into the darkness and serve the meals using night vision goggles. $75 per person, $140 per couple. Advance sales only. Seating is limited.

Jumbolair Ballroom, 1201 NE 77th St, Ocala. 352873-4700. FLBlind.org.

ongoingevents

tion. Call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592.

FairyDustCrystals@gmail.com.

NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted via our website by the 10th of the month and must adhere to our guidelines. Visit GoNaturalAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday The Sunday Village Market – 9am-2pm. Superb quality local produce, eclectic food, handmade crafts with ample parking. Location: Evans Park, 100 N Donnelly St, Mount Dora. MountDoraMarket.com.

A Course in Miracles – 9:30am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville. 352­-373­1030. UnityGainesville.org.

Sunday Spiritual Service – 10am. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, Ocala. 352­687­2113. mail@Unity Ocala.org. UnityOcala.org.

Unity of the Villages Sunday Service – 10am. Transformational message focuses on oneness, sustainability, the use of prayer, the power of your imagination and remembering who you are and why you are here.

Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Ste 504, Summerfield. 352­-454­-3120. UnityOfTheVillages.org.

Sunday Celebration – 10:30am. Awaken to your spiritual magnificence. Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala.

OakbrookCSL.org.

Unity of Gainesville Worship Service and Sunday School – 11am. Nursery care provided during service. Potluck lunch the first Sunday. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville. 352-­ 373-­1030. UnityGainesville.org.

Brewery Yoga at First Magnitude – 1-2pm. Bring your own mat for yoga in the warehouse. All experience levels. Suggested donation $5. First Magnitude Brewing Co., 1220 SE Veitch, Gainesville. 352-727-4677.

monday A Course in Miracles – 9am. ACIM is a philosophical/psychological approach to the Reality of Love. The material is channeled through two Jewish agnostics and substantiates the spirituality of all the seers and sages. Love offering. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Ste 504, Summerfield. 352454-3120. UnityOfTheVillages.org.

Qigong Classes – 10:30-11:30 and 5:30-6:30. Led by Anne Young, Flowing Zen-certified Qigong Instructor. Qigong is an ancient Chinese form of meditative and expressive movement that has been shown to improve health and increase energy. $10 per class.

Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville.

Info: 352-665-6727. UnityGainesville.org.

tuesday Acupuncture – By appointment. With physician Susan Snelling. Chinese Pulse, Herbs, Twina, Cuppping and more. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ocala. 352­-291-­9459. LemireClinic.com.

A Course in Miracles – 9:30am. ACIM is a philosophical/psychological approach to the Reality of Love. The material is channeled through two Jewish agnostics and substantiates the spirituality of all the

friday

seers and sages. Love offering. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Ste 504, Summerfield. 352454-3120. UnityOfTheVillages.org.

Technology Help Center - 2-4pm. Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview.

352-438-2500.

wednesday Hearing Screenings – 8am-5pm. With Dr. David Ditchfield. By appointment. Free. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd, Ocala. 352­291­9459. Lemire Clinic.com.

Yoga Class – 9:30am. Call for details. Wallace Fitness, 252 N Donelly St, Mount Dora. 352-735-4881.

WallaceFitness.com.

Qigong Classes – 10:30-11:30 and 5:30-6:30. Led by Anne Young, Flowing Zen-certified Qigong Instructor. Qigong is an ancient Chinese form of meditative and expressive movement that has been shown to improve health and increase energy. $10 per class.

Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville.

Info: 352-665-6727. UnityGainesville.org.

Prayer Service – noon. Facilitated by LUT Norm Bogert. Take a step away from your business and enjoy deep prayer as other Unity churches join together in prayers of peace. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Ste 504, Summerfield. 352454-3120. UnityOfTheVillages.org.

Union Street Farmers Market – 4-7pm. Rain or shine, 52 weeks of the year. Local produce, musicians and artisans. Location: corner of SW 1st Ave and SW 1st St, Downtown Gainesville. UnionStreetFarmersmkt.com.

Pilates – 5:30pm. Stretch and tone with Anabelle, certified Pilates instructor. $15. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd, Ocala. 352­-291-­9459.

LemireClinic.com.

Health Happens Farmers Market – 9am-2:30pm.

Shop for fresh produce, seafood, honey, baked goods, gluten-free snacks and prepared meals for lunch. McPherson Governmental Complex field, 601 SE 25th Ave. Ocala. 352-438-2360.

Tarot Readings – 11am-4pm.With Doreen Lavista. $25/25 minute reading. Karma Cottage, 652 #A North Citrus Ave, Crystal River. 352-566-0300.

KarmaCottage.com.

Open Energy Healing Circle – 7pm. 1st & 3rd Fri. With Dee Mitchell, Reiki Master. 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville. 352­-373­-1030. UnityGainesville.org.

saturday Leesburg Saturday Morning Market – 8am-1pm.

Local farmers, craftsmen, bakers, artists and more.

Location: Towne Square, 501 W Main St, Leesburg.

352-365-0053.

Haile Farmers Market – 8:30am-12pm. Open rain or shine, heat or cold. Haile Village Center in Haile Plantation, SW 91st Terr, Gainesville.

HaileFarmersMarket.com.

Farmstead Saturdays – 9am­3pm. Free. Crones Cradle Conserve, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352­595­ 3377. CronesCradleConserve.com.

Ocala Farm Market – 9am-2pm. Locally grown farm fresh seasonal produce, homemade jellies and jams, crafts and plants. Location: Historic Downtown Square, Ocala. 352-426-8244.

Tarot Readings – 11am-4:30pm. With Katie Novak.

Gain insight and wisdom from your focused energy working with Katie’s experience. Katie is certified by the Aspen Program for Psychic Development. $25/25 minute reading. Karma Cottage, 652 #A North Citrus Ave, Crystal River. 352-566-0300. KarmaCottage.com.

thursday Acupuncture – By appointment. With physician Susan Snelling. Chinese Pulse, Herbs, Twina, Cupping and more. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ocala. 352­-291-­9459. LemireClinic.com.

The Heart of Living in Meditation – Noon. With Joanie Kniseley, LMT (MA41047) and Reiki Master. Prayerfully-guided meditation and Reiki circle.

Please bring a yoga mat, pillow and a blanket for comfort. Love offering accepted. Held in the Sanctuary. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville. 352-373-1030. UnityGainesville.org.

A Course in Miracles – 10:30am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville. 352-­373-­ 1030. UnityGainesville. org.

A Course in Miracles – 4pm. Discussion Group.

Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, Ocala. 352-687-2113.

Mail@UnityOfOcala.org. UnityOcala.org.

Guided Meditation – 7pm. With Mary Dodd.

Breath-work, recharging and chanting. Love dona-

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE SUSAN SNELLING, ACUPUNCTURE PHYSICIAN

The Lemire Clinic 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Ste 600, Ocala 352-291-9459 LemireClinic.com

BODY WORK NEUROMUSCULAR MASSAGE

BY DESIGN

Patricia Sutton LMT, NMT, CRT MA22645 1920 SW 20th Pl, Ste 202, Ocala 352-694-4503 Offering Certified Neuromuscular Masssage, cranial release technique, ETPS acupuncture to treat the pain you were told you would have to live with. Specializing in back, neck and post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, migraines and TMJ therapies. See ad, page 25.

Lemire Clinic welcomes Susan Snelling, Acupuncture Physician, to the Lemire team. Susan has been practicing for many years and combines the traditional needles with cupping, twina technology, pulse diagnosing and Chinese herbs, along with emotional release to bring back into balance mind, body and spirit. See ad, page 2.

AUDIOLOGY DAVID DITCHFIELD ACA BCHIS Audioprosthologist 352-291-9459

David has served the hearing needs of people in this area since the 1980s. He is the president of TriCounty Hearing Aid Inc. and has joined the audiology department of the Lemire Clinic. His practice has fit thousands with hearing instrumentation and has been appointed exclusive area dispenser for Nuear products with the renowned Starkey engineering.

By appointment.

CHINESE MEDICINE NI’S CHINESE MEDICAL CENTER

Bo-Shih Ni, LAc, DOM Lisa Forsythe, LAc, Dipl OM 1501 N US Hwy 441, Ste 1106, Bldg 1100, The Villages • 352-391-9266 DrBoNi.com Bo-Shih Ni is an Internal Health Practitioner using the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine to maintain and restore health and wellness. Acupuncture Practitioner Lisa Forsythe joins Ni using a variety of methods and treatments including Chinese Pulse Diagnosis, Chinese herbs, acupuncture, cupping and moxa as well as an onsite herbal pharmacy.

See ad, page 4.

COACHING/ORGANIZING NATURAL ORDER COACHING & ORGANIZING Helen Kornblum, MA 352-871-4499 352-505-0541 Helen@CoachAndOrganizer.com CoachAndOrganizer.com

Helen helps teens and young adults deal with the challenges of ADHD by working on strategies for positive change, building selfesteem and confidence. With her help, students can develop better social skills and improve their organizing skills. See ad, page 23.

COLONICS GENTLE WATERS HEALING CENTER 352-374-0600 • Gainesville Info@GentleWatersHealing.com

The therapists at Gentle Waters Healing Center assist each individual with detoxing using colon hydrotherapy, far infrared sauna, and/ or aqua chi lymphatic drainage. Call Dawn Brower for more information or visit GentleWatersHealing.com.

MA41024, MM15426.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY REBALANCE PHARMACY

202 SW 17th St, Ocala 352-368-3683 • ReBalanceRX.com John Lyon, Pharm.D. of ReBalance Pharmacy offers individualized compounded prescriptions, quality supplements and hormone consulting with Paul Franck.

Compound medications are also available for sports medicine, veterinary needs, pain management and hormone replacement therapies. See ad, page 14.

YOGA IS THE POETRY OF MOVEMENTS Today’s business climate poses new challenges. Advertise your products and services in our

September Yoga & Music Issue

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 352-629-4000 42

North Central FL

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

S E P T

HOLISTIC MEDICINE MICHAEL J. BADANEK, BS, DC, CNS, DACBN, DCBCN, CTTP, MSGR/CHEV 3391 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ste B, Ocala 352-622-1151 AlternativeWholisticHealth.com

Thirty-three years in clinical practice with alternative holistic complementary health services.

Treating the body to support all health challenges with Wholistic Integrative Medicine. Treatments include autoimmune disorders, Lyme disease, autism, ADD/ADHD, musculoskeletal conditions, heavy metal toxicity, cardiovascular and endocrine conditions, nutritional deficiencies/ testing. See ad, page 9.

HANOCH TALMOR, M.D. Gainesville Holistic Center 352-377-0015 DrTalmor.com

We support all health challenges and the unlimited healing potential of God’s miracle: your body. Chelation, nutrition, cleansing, homeopathy, natural energy healing, detoxification, wellness education and more. See ad, page 7.

DR. DANIEL THOMAS, DO, MS Mount Dora 352-729-0923 HealthyAndStrong.com

Dr.Thomas has 30 years of experience, superior academic credentials, and is one of the nation’s leading authorities in preventive, anti-aging, functional, and integrative medicine. People from across the country seek his medical expertise: From those who are healthy and want to maintain or improve their health, to those who are seriously ill and need to recover their health. See ad, page 16.

LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE CRONE’S CRADLE CONSERVE FOUNDATION 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra 352-595-3377 CronesCradleConserve.org

The conserve is an ecological preserve, retreat center and organic farm. Local fresh produce can be bought at The Farm Store on property, through Farm to Fare weekly Baskets or delivered to your restaurant. The Farm Store is open 7 days a week.

Certified kitchen honey house and event space available. See ad, page 17.

SCHOOL

classifieds

BODHI SANGHA THAI MASSAGE AND SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL THAI FOLK MEDICINE 813-417-6745 ArielaGrodner@yahoo.com BodhiSangha.com

Students can advance in their studies of Thai Massage and Traditional Thai Folk Medicine.

Courses offered are; Thai Foot Reflexology, Double Practitioner Thai Massage, and Thai Herbal Bundle Therapeutics. The Bodhi Sangha Shala is a place to grow and learn, to build community, to cultivate mindfulness and compassion, and to deepen one’s studies of the ancient healing art of Thai Massage. See ad, page 34.

VETERINARY CARE ALL HOLISTIC VETERINARY CARE Lynn S. Peck, DVM, MS, clCAK Gainesville – Ocala 352-367-0709

Holistic veterinary medicine for horses, dogs and cats.

Health maintenance/ restoration; vaccine titers, detoxification, nutrition, thermal imaging, functional neurology. Chronic health problems, cancer, geriatrics, chronic pain/muscle weakness/subtle lameness; emotional trauma, thunderstorm phobia; performance improvement, saddle fit. Certified Applied Kinesiology (equine), Animal Bowen™ (Instructor). See ad, page 31.

MEDICINE WHEEL VETERINARY SERVICES

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

ADVERTISING ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ads section. To place an ad, email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

HELP WANTED PART-TIME SALES/MARKETING– Natural Awakenings Magazine has part-time Sales/Marketing positions available in Marion, Alachua, Lake, Sumter and Bradford counties. Must be eco-friendly and have a passion for natural health. Commission based. Send your resume to: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

DISTRIBUTION/DRIVERS-Wanted to distribute Natural Awakenings in multiple areas in Marion, Alachua and Lake Counties. Two to three days at the end of each month. Per stop pay. Reliable transportation required. Inquiries: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

OPPORTUNITIES START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/MyMagazine.

Shauna Cantwell, DVM Ocala 352-538-3021 ShaunaCantwell.com

Holistic veterinary medicine for small animals and horses.

Arthritis, neurologic and hormonal dysfunction, skin, a l l e rg i e s , c a n c e r, p a i n , immune and chronic disease.

Certified veterinary acupuncture, certified-AVCA animal chiropractic, herbal therapy, tui na medical massage, functional neurology, postural rehabilitation, ozone therapy, homotoxicology and nutrition. Available for workshops. See ad, page 30.

Creativity is

allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

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