Healing Wisdom from Ancient Ways submitted by Barb Culbertson
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hree and one half years ago Nikki (the client’s name has been changed to protect privacy) was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer which is an aggressive type of breast cancer. Although the cancer has come back three times since she stopped taking radiation and chemotherapy treatments, her own efforts to change her lifestyle and her willingness to learn self-healing techniques that practitioner Barb Culbertson shares with her, along with Culbertson’s healing skills, allows the cancer to leave her body. Before Nikki arrives Culbertson creates a ceremonial space full of unconditional love that will hold and feed her client’s healing. She cleans the space with sage in the ways of the Ka Ta See people and use sprinkles of tobacco to welcome spirit guides. As Nikki lays on the table, Culb-
ertson cradles her head, acknowledges her spirit and ask permission to do the healing work they are about to begin. Throughout the session Culbertson communicates with the intelligence of Nikki’s body, and the spirit guides present, all working together to create changes and understandings that produce health. The Ka Ta See healing tradition is known to be 50,000 years old is a win-win-win tradition. The client wins. They gain health and wisdom. The practitioner wins by having the honor of contributing their skills to the healing. The disorder wins. In the Ka Ta See tradition disorders are known to bring healing messages for the client. After their job is completed they are glad to leave the body. It is easier now for Nikki to let her Ka Ta See healer know quickly when she senses the inflammation and
tiredness coming back. She doesn’t feel powerless now and that reduces the anxiety caused by the re-occurrences. They work together. They both keep close watch over the symptoms as they change and eventually go away again. They’ve learned how to catch the cancer when it has a small momentum which makes it easier to remove from her body. The prognosis for inflammatory cancer is 18 months from diagnosis. After recently caring for her dying mother for several months she is now exploring what more she might want to do with her life. Barb Culbertson is a practitioner at Santa Fe Soul Health and Healing Center. She is a Shaman in the Ka Ta See Tradition, a Lymph De-Congestion Therapist and Licensed Massage Therapist. She can be reached at TheWaysofBalance.com or at 919-4528490. For the full version of this article, visit NaturalAwakeningsNNM.com. See ad page 9.
Viable Sunflower Farming in New Mexico by Asaera Patricia Coté
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olistic, sustainable and ecofriendly are all buzzwords in the new green economy. These words mean nothing unless they actually solve a problem; at least so says local entrepreneur Asaera Coté. She has a problem with a solution she thinks can help a lot of people. Because of her own sensitive skin she started a handcrafted soap company many years ago in the mountains east of Albuquerque. Her soaps have now garnered a loyal national following because of their skin-softening and moisturizing emolliency. The key ingredient to these spa quality soaps is sunflower oil. As someone who strives to act globally responsible, buy locally and leave a minimal manufacturing footprint, Coté imagined a sustainable local source of sunflower oil. After a little
research, she discovered that the entire Estancia Basin was once covered in sunflowers that farmers tilled under for bean and alfalfa production. After a little more digging she discovered there is a migration toward the southwest for sunflower oilseed production. “Why not create a new industry” she thought, “that would help New Mexico’s farmers and create jobs for my local community?” To that end EarthGift Herbals has worked with federal, state, municipal and local rural authorities to analyze natural awakenings
the soil, water, seed and economic conditions necessary for viable sunflower farming and oil seed processing. Though still in the exploratory phases ‘The Sunflower Project’ has gathered together a small community of change agents for a more abundant economy and ecology for New Mexico. The draw of working with the sunflower is its versatility. The sunflower is essentially a zero-waste plant. Given enough imagination, political will and funding many different businesses with subsequent jobs could be established. Cote also reminds us, “Growing sunflowers and having them dot the landscape is a beautification that enlivens the soul.” Asaera Patricia Coté is the owner of EarthGift Herbals. She can be reached at 505-281-8588 or 505-288-2233. See ad page 9. October 2013
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